Chapter Text
“There you are, god finally.” Robin made a relieved sound from behind a shelf as Steve entered the Family Video. “Was starting to think you up and died. Humidity gave you hair trouble this morning?”
“Har dee har,” Steve rolled his eyes at the stupid smirk in Robin’s tone, combing a hand through his hair despite himself.
He pulled at his polo, grimacing as the fabric peeled uncomfortably from his skin.
Steve groaned. “There should be a saying like ‘April showers bring May flowers’ for June. Like ‘May flowers bring gross June heat waves’ or something.”
Robin finally popped up from her hiding spot behind the aisles, resting her chin in her palm. “Tell me about it,” she sighed, swiping at her bangs. The way they stuck to her forehead made it look much larger than usual, and Steve bit back a chuckle at the sight. “Doesn’t help in the slightest that Keith still hasn’t gotten the AC fixed. I’m going to kill that man.”
It had only been about 3 months since Vecna was killed, give or take. Things were finally feeling calm again, “normal” at least by Hawkins standards. Despite his complaining, he’d take the sweltering Indiana heat over freaky Upside Down bullshit any day.
He glanced up at the clock on the wall, suppressing the shiver that ran down his spine at the obnoxiously loud tick it made. They really needed a new one.
Robin turned at the sound of Steve’s exhale and scoffed. “Late again, Steve-o.”
“Thank you—for the info, Robin,” Steve raised his voice in annoyance. “Also no, technically I’m not late. We open at 10.”
“Mmh…you know what they say,” Robin walked over to the checkout and sat on the countertop. “5 minutes early is on time,” she said in a sing-songy voice.
Steve shook his head, walking over to stand beside her. “Never heard that in my life.”
“James Clavell. Noble House? No?” Steve levelled her with a look and Robin huffed. “I need to get you into more literature.”
“Hey, I’ve read To Kill a Mockingbird!” Steve defended. “That’s pretty profound stuff!”
“Yeah, in Mr. Hauser’s class.” Robin crossed her legs onto the counter, which probably wasn’t sanitary but did he care? “What’s the last book you’ve honest-to-God read that wasn’t for a grade?”
“…Don’t you have work to do?” Steve changed the topic, giving her a sideways glance.
“Don’t you?” Robin lifted her hand in a shrug. “I’ve already done my part of opening. Your turn, dingus.”
Steve jerked his head reluctantly. “Fine. What’s left?”
“Morning movie, you’re welcome.” Robin shuffled off the counter. “Lucky for you, I was feeling nice today.”
Steve nodded in mock gratitude. He wandered the shelves, running his finger across the titles. “Planet of the Apes, Space Odyssey…”
“Ooh yes. That one.” Robin piped, pointing.
“My turn, dingus.” Steve threw her own words back at her, chuckling as she stuck her tongue out at him. He grabbed a cassette and held it up. “King Kong?”
Robin snickered. “Do all your choices involve monkeys because you’re a goof?”
Steve gave her another look. “Yes or no?”
“Ehhh,” she made a conflicted face. “I don’t know, King Kong is such a damsel-in-distress film. So predictable.”
“Come on, this one has Jessica Lange in it.” Steve persuaded. “You were practically drooling over her in Tootsie.”
Robin rolled her eyes, although Steve could see her fighting a smile. “That’s because Jessica in Tootsie is every lesbian’s dream. In King Kong, she’s a prop. A very–hot prop.”
Steve sighed, but put the tape back.
Robin’s eyes scanned the room until she perked up, squealing. “What abooouut-“
She bounded across the room in a few steps and plucked a tape off the shelf, displaying it excitedly. “Monty Python. Holy Grail.”
Steve flicked his wrist dismissively. “Normal people don’t watch that movie, Robin.”
“Hey!” Robin frowned. “I like that movie!”
“My point,” he smirked when Robin scoffed offendedly. She held up the cassette, shaking it lightly.
“Monty Python are comedy legends, you empty-headed, animal food trough wiper.” Robin exclaimed in a thick French accent. “Not my fault you can’t recognize genius.”
“What—?”
Before he could even question what that meant, a loud banging interrupted their back-and-forth. Robin yelped at the sound and Steve just barely suppressed a flinch, head whipping toward the door.
Despite having the less trauma-induced reaction of the two, he couldn’t deny the way his blood pressure shot through the ceiling. The second he saw that tri-colored cap he knew all too well through the glass, his nerves immediately melted into irritation.
“Jesus,” Steve scrubbed a palm down his face as Robin shuddered out a breath, head in her hands. He marched over to the door, unlocking it and flinging it open. Dustin grinned as if he hadn’t just given them a heart attack.
“Can’t you read?” Steve leaned against the doorframe, nodding towards the sign on the door listing their hours.
“Yes Steve, I can. I read a lot, actually.” Dustin replied, ducking under the arm propping the door open. “Thanks for asking.”
“That was rhetorical.” Steve deadpanned, letting the door close behind them.
“Hi Dustin,” Robin breathed before holding up the two tapes. “Question: King Kong or Monty Python?”
Dustin assumed a hunch-backed posture, mimicking a sort of troll. “What’s the capital of Assyria, Brave Sir Robin?” he asked in a ghoulish voice, causing Robin to grin.
“I don’t know that!” she responded in a poor British accent.
Dustin and Robin cackled hysterically and high-fived, leaving Steve very confused. He’d be lying if he said he didn’t feel just a little out of the loop.
“Hell yeah. Eddie watches that movie all the time, I practically know half the script.” Dustin bragged, beaming.
“‘Course he does,” Steve grumbled quietly, feeling even more left out for some reason. So far his previous statement has yet to be disproven.
Dustin cleared his throat loudly. “Speaking of Eddie. I…have a proposition for you. Steve–”
Right. Henderson’s here at unacceptable hours for a reason. And for another reason Eddie’s also involved somehow. Which will make this so much easier to potentially say ‘no’ to.
“Alright…” Steve sighed before crossing his arms. “Hit me.”
Dustin took a deep breath before rambling. “So Eddie has this band thing tomorrow night at the Hideout, not to be confused with the Hide-away near Melvald’s but I think somewhere near Weathertop and the old steel mill and he’s—”
“Stop, stop—” Steve waved his arms, scrunching his face. “—You lost me.”
Dustin clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture. “Eddie’s gig is tomorrow night and I really need a ride.”
Before Dustin could get the last of his sentence out, Steve was already shaking his head. “Mh-mh, no can do.”
“What?” Dustin shouted, holding his arms out. “Why not??”
Steve threw his hands up incredulously. “Because I have a life? I can’t be your personal chauffeur all the time.”
“What are you doing tomorrow that’s so important anyway?” Dustin scoffed, arms falling to his sides.
Steve gestured wildly around the room, eyes wide.
Dustin hesitated a moment, only to nod sheepishly. “Fair point.”
“Listen. As much as I’m dying to see Eddie and his band of misfits play Metal Mania or whatever it is they play, I can’t. Sorry man.” Steve shrugged his shoulders, arms crossing once more. “Find someone else to take you.”
“That’s the thing, Steve, there is no one else. Nancy has some reporter thing, and Robin–”
“Hi.” Robin waved at the mention of her name.
“–doesn’t have a license.” Steve finished, head dropping.
“Or a car,” she added innocently, though Steve could hear the amusement in her tone. He cast her a glare. She really wasn’t helping.
“Well, wh-what about your mother?” Steve stammered. “Right? I mean, there you go.”
“Steve.” Dustin stared at him blankly. “Do you think my sweet, God-fearing mother—would take me to a heavy metal concert—at a disreputable dive bar—on a Tuesday evening? To see Eddie?”
Steve opened his mouth stubbornly, only to snap it shut.
“Exactly.” Dustin nodded, as if he had just put him in checkmate. Therefore, enter Steven.”
“Uh no, no entering. Nobody is entering anywhere.” Steve straightened his posture, arms making a cutting gesture. “I physically cannot take you Dustin, I have to work.”
“Y’know…” A voice chimed in. Both Dustin and Steve snapped their heads to look at Robin, who was now listening intently to their conversation. She propped her head in her hand, elbows resting on the counter. “I could always get Keith to take your shift tomorrow.”
“You can?” Steve and Dustin asked in two very different tones.
“I may or may not have some…” Robin made a vague gesture. “…emergency blackmail.”
“Emergency—” Steve pinched his nose bridge and squeezed his eyes shut. He was going to kill her. Genuine homicide. This store was about to become a crime scene. “You’ve gotta be kidding me,” he mumbled under his breath.
He opened his eyes to Dustin’s face, eyes hopeful and pleading. “Please, Steve. I promised Eddie I’d be there for when he debuts his new song and this is his first concert since…y’know.”
Dustin frowned. “He didn’t say it, but I think he’s worried no one will come and…I don’t wanna let him down.”
Steve’s heart wrenched. The bad part was that Dustin probably knew exactly what he was doing. The puppy-dog eyes, the genuine, pure-of-heart sincerity, all a bunch of bullshit. Probably.
The worst part is that it was working.
He exhaled loudly and groaned, dragging his hands down his face. “………Fine.”
Dustin’s face lit up. “Seriously??” He whooped, lunging at Steve and enveloping him in a hug. Steve threw his arms up as the wind was practically tackled out of him. Jeez, the kid’s almost as tall as him now. “Thank youuuu!”
“Alright, alright.” Steve patted his cap, hoping Dustin couldn’t see the smile spreading across his face. “You’re welcome. Now get out, before I change my mind.”
Dustin stepped back until he was at the door, pointing. “Tomorrow night, my house, 8:30 pickup. On. The. Dot. Do not be late.”
“Anything else, sergeant?” Steve replied, raising an eyebrow.
“Uhhh, I’ll give you directions when you get there!” he yelled, opening the door and running to his bike.
“You owe me gas money!” Steve hollered back, folding his arms and leaning against the frame.
“Okayy!” Dustin yelled as he pedaled away. Steve watched until Dustin’s bike was down the street and out of sight.
The bell dinged as Steve swung the door shut, massaging his brow. “You two are insufferable, you know that?”
“You love us.” Robin smirked, leaning up against the counter.
Steve made a disagreeing noise, but didn’t outright deny it either. He sighed and turned to flip the sign on the door from Closed to Open. When he turned back around, Robin was still staring at him, wearing that stupid smug grin.
“What’s wrong with you?” he asked. “You’re starting to weird me out.”
“Nothing.” Robin shook her head. “Someone just really seemed like they didn’t want to go to Eddie’s concert just now.” She faked a pout. “Even after all that bonding you guys did.”
Steve squinted. “What are you talking about?” He had no clue what Robin was trying to imply but whatever it was, he wasn’t sure he liked it.
“The Upside Down?” Robin said as if it was obvious. “Seemed like you two were getting pret-ty chummy down there.”
His face scrunched. “Don’t ever use the word chummy again. And no, we were not ‘bonding’, we just—talked.”
Robin stretched, bending her arms unnaturally. Steve often forgot she was double-jointed and it still freaked him out from time to time. “Listen, Steve. If you’re still jealous of Eddie after all this time then—I dunno what to tell you.”
“Jealous?” Steve furrowed his brow. “I’m not jealous, why do you think I would be jealous?”
Robin gave him an incredulous look before clasping her hands together obnoxiously. “Oh Eddie Munson, your new best friend who’s cooler than me and funnier than me and has better hair than me and—”
“Thaaat’s not what I said,” Steve interrupted, rolling his eyes when she chuckled. “Look, even if I was ‘jealous’ before, I'm over it.” he sighed, scratching at his chin. “Clearly, Dustin has enough room in his life for two older male role models.”
Robin made a face, urging him to go on.
“I just—“ Steve lolled his head frustratingly. “I dunno. Eddie’s still kinda weird.”
“You think I’m weird.” Robin shrugged her shoulder. “And you still hang out with me.”
Steve shook his head. “That’s—different.”
He chewed on his lip. Why was it different, though? Robin was weird, sure, but something about Eddie made his skin feel like live wire. It was uncomfortable, and frankly distracting whenever they were in the same room together.
It’s not like they were close, but his relationship with Dustin and Robin and the rest of the kids made him really damn hard to avoid.
He didn’t hate the guy. He couldn’t, not after what they all went through. Whether Steve liked it or not Eddie was part of the gang, ‘The Party’ in Dustin’s weird nerd lingo. And he was simply going to have to deal with that.
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Eddie, or not even that he didn’t like him. It was just that whenever Eddie was around Steve he felt like he was having an allergic reaction.
He was just…wary of him. Yeah, that’s the word.
Wary.
Robin snapped in his face. “Helloo? Earth to Major Tom? You OD in there?”
“Hm?” Steve blinked, before realizing what she had said. “Oh, too soon, Rob.”
“It’s been a year,” she retorted, a teasing grin on her face.
Steve shook his head, feigning offense. “A year too soon.”
They stood in silence for a second, before Steve had to ask. “Do you actually have blackmail on Keith or did you just say that to throw me under the bus?”
Robin’s grin widened. “Ye-up. Saw him stuffing pornos in his bag last month. Not a single one checked out. He probably didn’t want them in the system.”
“Oh, gnarly.” Steve chuckled, though he wasn’t surprised in the slightest.
The bell chimed and a customer walked in. Pretty, blonde, and ironically, almost a spitting image of Jessica Lange. Steve and Robin made eye contact before he nodded wordlessly.
Robin smiled and Steve watched as she bounced towards the girl, greeting her just a little too loudly. Steve laughed to himself while popping the Monty Python tape in the VCR.
As the tape whirred, Steve’s mind began to wander again.
Maybe it wouldn’t be the worst thing ever. He’d never been to a concert, and as far as he knew neither had Dustin, so that’d be a first for the both of them. He didn’t even have to talk to Eddie if he didn’t want to, although he’d kinda be being a piece of shit if he went that route.
Steve tried to shake any lingering doubts clouding his mind. He was overthinking this. It’d be fine.
Who knows? Maybe even fun.