#pairing work

[jonathan-byers-fic-recs]

Patterns by stoprobbers (@stoprobbers)

Rating: M or higher

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Relationship(s): Jonathan/Nancy

Summary:  -i guess it would be nice to help in your escape from patterns your parents defined If you asked Nancy Wheeler how long she'd known Jonathan Byers, she'd say forever. But in the months after their adventure to bring down the big baddies in the government and the most terrifying monster hunt she's ever lived through, the months after the quiet thing between them shifts to something louder and stronger, she realizes she may not know him much at all.

Genre: Romance

Submitter’s recommendation: I think everything this author has written for Stranger Things is worthy of being recommended on this blog, but I'm choosing this one because I find it to have everything that I'm looking for in a Jonathan Byers centric fanfic. Character development for him, his relationships, and writing that feels so natural while shining a light on his hidden depths.

Additional notes: Everything stoprobbers writes is gold, so once you're done checking this one out, read the rest of their stuff!

Jonathan-centric (yes/no/notsure): Yes

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[jonathan-byers-fic-recs]

where the hours bend by wanderleave (@wanderleave)

Mod note: This was actually recced by two separate submitters! Clearly, a well loved story (and rightly so!). Responses from both forms below.

Rating: T or below

Warnings: Teen And Up Audiences - Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Relationship(s): Jonathan Byers/Nancy Wheeler

Summary 1: “Tomorrow,” Jonathan says, hesitantly. “If I don’t believe you right away. We should have a code word, or something.” “It won’t . . . ” Nancy sighs, and shrugs a little. “That won’t work. You won’t remember this at all.” She gives him a rueful smile. “I’m the only one who will.” Summary 2: Nancy is stuck in a time loop, stuck on the day that Barb goes missing and has to try to fix it. Jancy slow burn

Genre 1: Time Loop

Genre 2: Romance

Recommendation 1: it`s more nancy centric but i love how she fall in love with jonathan

Recommendation 2: S1 jancy is already such an angsty delight and this fic is so meticulously good at taking the traits of both characters under a microscope. Its characterisation of Jonathan is so endearing.

Additional notes (2nd submission): More than anything, I find this fic such a wonderful execution of a Romance that rings so true to the characters as seen on the show. Very special, and feels so fully detailed and realised.

Jonathan-centric (yes/no/not sure) (2nd submission): Although it's Nancy-centric and from her perspective, I think the slow-burn jancy romance of it all makes it very satisfying in that regard.

Mod note: I agree that it's more Nancy-centric, but I also highly recommend it. Jonathan has a substantial role here, and he is excellently written. (As is everything else! Great story.)

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[jonathan-byers-fic-recs]

Mod Rec Monday

Looking Through Windows by Inthemorninglight (@weirdo-twins)

Rating: G

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply; eating issues

Relationship(s): Jonathan Byers/Nancy Wheeler, Jonathan Byers & Will Byers, Joyce Byers & Nancy Wheeler

Summary: 

He knew his mother was drinking in the kitchen. He knew the Will thing hovered like an awkward, dismal specter in the corner of the evening. He wonders, now, why he pushed it. Why he wanted to bring her home so badly and sit her in front of a family he knows is worn thin on good days. ... Or, the first time Jonathan brings Nancy home for dinner

Recommendation: This is a gorgeous fic that deftly teases apart the complex Byers family dynamics to reveal the beating heart of love at their core and what it's like for Nancy to see into it. Jonathan is as dutiful, responsible, and caring as we know him to be, but he's allowed to be a little frustrated, too, and his soft joy with Nancy is so warm and lovely. There is so much subtle, quiet, supremely effective character work going on, all wrapped up in such evocative writing that I had to stop and sit with lines as I read, just to roll them around a little and really soak it in.

Additional notes: I really enjoyed all of the characters and dynamics here, but I particularly appreciate this take on Will's response to the traumas he's experienced.

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[jonathan-byers-fic-recs]

Mod Rec Monday

The Sin-Eater's Prom Date by maddie_grove (@maddie-grove)

Rating & Warnings: E & No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationship(s): Jonathan Byers/Chrissy Cunningham

Summary: 

Her husband says that Chrissy's new boyfriend could have turned out much worse, considering. Her sister urges her not to fan the flames of teenage rebellion. Still, Laura Cunningham finds it hard to stomach the presence of Jonathan Byers in her kitchen. OR: An act of perversion, and an act of chivalry.

Recommendation: Jonathan's acts of solidarity, deliberate eroticization of the awkward, and joyous bending of social niceties are so deeply satisfying here. Who else is going to clock that someone's mom is an asshole to them, be willing to make it weird to weaponize the resulting disgust, and also let it be horny? Who but Jonathan Byers, a guy who'll happily help a girl achieve covert revenge on her abusive mom and then fuck nasty over it in the bathroom, judgement-free.

Additional notes: I have a serious weakness for maddie-grove's writing. The way she writes Jonathan (and his relationships) is consistently one of my favorite aspects, but I'm really spoiled for choice here because there are so many things about her works that I enjoy tremendously. If you're looking for Jonathan stories, I can't recommend her works highly enough.

(Though give the less Jonathan-centric stories a chance, too, because they're excellent and insightful, and every character feels incredibly fleshed out, human, and well considered, with a lot of care put into motivation, background, and setting. And if I may nerd out for a moment as a fellow writer who appreciates the nuts and bolts, then I'd like to add how delightful and distinct her narrative voices are, how structurally impeccable her stories, and what a soulful and moving way with words she has. Gorgeous and effective imagery and always so memorable and deliberate. Sharp, spot-on dialogue. Thoughtful explorations of serious topics yet frequently very funny. So much care put into all of it.)

[jonathan-byers-fic-recs]

About You by and_shewas (@andshe-was)

Rating: T or below

Warnings: none so far

Relationship(s): Jonathan/Nancy

Summary:  Jonathan Byers. 1989. New York City. Where starting new isn't the same as moving on. Or: Jonathan meets someone new but some loves, like scars, never fade.

Genre: romance

Submitter’s recommendation: It's mine, shameless self promotion/spreading Jonathan Byers love.

Additional notes: There is initially a new love interest. But rest assured, this is ultimately a Jancy fic that is primarily Jonathan centric.

Jonathan-centric (yes/no/notsure): 

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[jonathan-byers-fic-recs]

laugh until we think we'll die, barefoot on a summer night (never could be sweeter than with you) by scoutshonour

Rating: T or below

Warnings: No Archive Warning Apply

Relationship(s): Jonathan/Steve/Nancy, Jonathan & Steve & Nancy

Summary:  As Nancy waves them both goodbye, Steve pats his back and promises, "This'll be a good summer, Jonathan." Strangely enough, Jonathan kind of believes him. (or: another summer au where Jonathan falls for his co-workers)

Genre: fluff, romance

Submitter’s recommendation: I love love love the way jonathan is loved in this fic!! he's very much cared for and appreciated and also i love how organic the banter here feels in terms of jonathan's character

Additional notes: 

Jonathan-centric (yes/no/notsure): Not sure

this fic is mostly stoncy centric but its also about jonathan in that it's about jonathan's perception of his own relationships and how others feel about him. he's very much careful with falling too hard or too fast here and getting too invested both in the friendship and the relationship which i found very true to form

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[jonathan-byers-fic-recs]

Goldfish by KidA_666

Rating: No rating

Warnings: Creator chose not to use archive warnings

Relationship(s): Jonathan/Steve , Jonathan & Will

Summary:  Steve made his choice, hiding behind his too-big Letterman jacket and later that overpriced Members Only while his friends went out of their way to make Jonathan’s life hell; or what he thought, in the ninth grade, was hell. Hell actually came two years later, when they dragged Will’s body out of the quarry. When Lonnie came home. When his mother sat him down like he was three years old again and said, smiling tightly, I’m going to have a baby. Benjamin, the magnificent life-fixing-grief-resolving-replacement-baby, was born nine months later.

Genre: Angst ig

Submitter’s recommendation: Just so so tragic. It makes me mourn my own brother even though he's alive and well lol

Additional notes: 

Jonathan-centric (yes/no/notsure): Yes

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