#no secrets from stobin

[bylertruth3r]

thinking thoughts (episode 7 being about Byler), the boxes were there during Jopper's first kiss and Jopper was also a slow burn like Byler, I think their first kiss will be in episode 7 or it's in episode 6 and they get together in episode 7

more about the teaser here

Interesting, that's from the same season stancy broke up, "secrets" I wonder what secrets Mike has.. (he's gay and in love with Will), i hope Mike is being honest about his feelings for Will here and he's scared El won't accept him but she will and they'll be actual friends, i also think that El is about to do something dangerous and Mike is worried for her so she comforts him, i don't see this as romantic, this scene reminded me of the stobin hand hold aka straightbait, i hope they'll also be friends like stobin after the break up

[thisapplepielife]

Written for @corrodedcoffinfest.

Open Wider

Prompt #29 - The Office | Word Count: 1000 | Rating: M | CW: Talk of Sex | POV: Robin | Pairing: Platonic Stobin, Steddie | Tags: Post S4, Eddie Munson Lives, Roommates, Secret Relationship, Robin the Long Suffering Dental Hygienist

"Fine. Just let me look," Robin says, pushing Steve down into the chair, "Open wide. Wider, dingus."

Steve opens a millimeter wider. She didn't want to bring the office home with her at all, and this is how he repays her kindness?

"Steve."

"What do you want, me to unhinge my jaw?"

"If that's what it takes," she states.

They had an agreement. She knows that. She swore to herself that she wouldn't mess with his teeth. That he would see another hygienist, because it's weird to have your best friend messing around in your mouth. She knows she'll be too rough on him, even if she isn't on everybody else that sits in her chair.

But he's been whining all weekend that he's pretty sure this filling is loose, and it's Sunday. Things like this always happen on Sunday. It's supposed to be her day of rest.

It never is.

Eddie comes in the front door just as Robin's starting to get a good look, which just accentuates her point. 

"Oh good, free dental care. Me next," Eddie says, dropping onto the couch.

Robin ignores him.

"Which tooth?" Robin asks. Steve tries to answer with her fingers in his mouth. It's not easy.

She lets him point with his tongue, and as she follows it up, she sees it. The tell-tale bruising, the spattering of red dots in his soft palate. It's kind of bad. Some of the worst she's seen, and it's like he's been—

"Uh, oh, no. That's. That's fine," she says reflexively, and then tries to catch herself. She knows Steve can tell when she's lying. She's a terrible liar. 

But, Eddie's here. And she's not doing this in front of Eddie. She knows how he feels about Steve, and she's not about to let him know that apparently Steve does like cock, and that Eddie's just missed his window by being such a big chicken.

"Robin!" Steve says as she presses his chin, closing his mouth.

"It's fine," she reassures. "It's not falling out anytime soon. Just see your dentist, dingus."

"Why're you being weirder than normal?" Steve asks, and Robin rolls her eyes. 

"I'm not!" she says, trying to deflect.

I just know you've been sucking cock. A lot of cock. Maybe cocks, plural. A buffet of cocks. That's all.

Cock, cock, cock.

Her inner monologue needs to be muzzled.

There are other causes, sure. But he hasn't been sick, and she just knows. She can tell. 

"Rob, c'mon, are my teeth that bad? Am I going to a bad dentist?"

"Steve," she says, taking him by both shoulders, "Your teeth are fine. Your dentist is fine. Let it go."

He doesn't let it go. 

Fine. 

"You've just got some bruising on the roof of your mouth."

He looks like she called him a troll, "Oh my god, am I dying? Is it bad? Is it ugly? How can a person even bruise their mouth? Is it from burning my mouth on the cheese on last night's pizza? I knew it was too hot."

"No, but I saw that, too. That's behind your front teeth. This is further back."

"What is it? Robin. Robin, why? How do I fix it?"

"It's called palatal petechiae. It's normal. People have it," she says, but she's not touching the why or how with a ten foot pole.

Because you've been sucking cock. You fix it by stopping doing that so goddamn much. Come up for air once in a while. Goddamn.

She shakes her head.

The less she knows, the better. And maybe there is another explanation. Another cause. Yes. Definitely. He's taken up deepthroating suckers. That's probably it.

But she doesn't think so. That's the work of a cock, she can tell. 

"Do you have it? Open your mouth, let me see."

"I certainly do not have it," she says, and then mutters under her breath, "Never have. Never will."

"Do I have it?" Eddie asks, and Robin rolls her eyes at him.

"Seems unlikely," she banters. She hasn't seen Eddie go on a date, in well, ever. She's never seen that. Unless he can suck his own dick? Gross. That seems like something Eddie could, and would, do.

"Look. Make sure," he says, and she humors him.

Jesus Christ. He does, too. Not as bad as Steve's, but it's definitely there. Is everybody in this apartment getting laid more than her?

She pulls back. 

Looks at Steve. Looks at Eddie. Back and forth.

Jesus Christ.

"How long have you two been fucking?" she asks, and the squawk that comes out of Eddie's mouth is embarrassing for him, surely.

"We're not!" Eddie yells, hands flailing.

Steve. Steve, though. He's just sitting there, unflappable. He's not a bit embarrassed, not a bit concerned that she knows.

"Steven," she says.

"A few months," he says, "How'd you know?"

If she had a rolled up newspaper, she'd hit him with it.

"Because your mouth is bruised from all the vigorous dick sucking you're doing. Lay off. Jesus." 

He laughs. He fucking cackles. And it infuriates her. 

Eddie is red, and she didn't even know Eddie could get embarrassed. It's a novel look. 

She feels just the tiniest bit sorry for him. Taking him by the shoulders, she looks in his eyes. 

"I'm happy for you. But I want to know less than nothing about you jamming your cock down Steve's throat. Got it?" 

He nods, cheeks still red. 

"Good. Use your hands, make an appointment for next week. Late next week."

Steve salutes her, and honestly, she shouldn't be surprised. He's complained very little about his love life these past few months. She should have realized something had changed for the better. 

She's happy for him, for both of them, but she never wants to think about it again.

"Okay. What's for supper?" she asks, knowing that will get them focused on something else. They might be fucking, but they can't decide on a meal to save their souls.

If you want to write your own, or see more entries for this challenge, pop on over to @corrodedcoffinfest and follow along with the fun! 🦇

[wheneverfeasible]

Wiggly Wednesday!

I wasn’t tagged by anyone but this brain worm has been in my head for a while I just have to get it out.

🧠 🪱

Pre-S4 canon divergence because fuck that shit.

Steve secretly plans to learn how to play D&D to surprise Dustin with a game for his birthday. He obviously ropes Robin into learning with him since she’s gonna play with them whether she likes it or not. After all, they do everything together and Scoops Troop sticks together too, no matter what. It’s for Dustin’s birthday after all! She equally obviously agrees, though she makes fun of Steve for being such a good step dad.

Now, Steve can’t let any of the brats know, not even Erica, because he knows that they’ll spill the beans, so he goes to the only person he knows who plays who won’t snitch on him: Eddie Munson.

Which, yeah. Eddie thinks Steve is there to start some shit at first, or to make fun of him or whatever. He’d think it was just to score some weed had Steve’s first words to him as he accosted him by his van not been “Hey! You run that nerd dragon club, don’t you?” So forgive him for expecting some form of bullying.

Of course, Steve clears the matters up and, though he reluctantly has to listen to Eddie wheeze laugh at the prospect of teaching The Hair how to play DnD in secret for a few minutes, Eddie eventually agrees. So they set up a schedule for Eddie to go to the Harrington house to teach Steve and Robin how to play and get some characters set up for them.

After some back-and-forth, Robin decides to play as a half-elf Druid, while Steve goes for something much simpler and just chooses a human Fighter, smirking over at Robin as he noted a spiked club as a potential weapon.

And Eddie is…confused. Steve is nothing like he thought he was, and the relationship between him and Robin is even more confusing. He thought they were dating at first, what with how weirdly close they were, feeding each other snacks, sharing the same drinks, and practically sitting on top of each other on the other side of the table from Eddie. He was pretty sure they shared the same piece of gum at some point too.

That is, until during one of the tester games Steve’s and Robin’s characters shared a bed for the night and Eddie had joked that even in DnD, the Hair could get anyone he wanted in his bed.

Robin had promptly made gagging noises and shoved Steve away from her, while Steve had thrown his head back and laughed before making kissy faces at Robin, who promptly screeched and threatened to rub her chip greasy fingers in his hair. Steve broke into a truly horrendous parody of what sounded almost like Kermit the Frog, causing Robin to actually throw chips at Steve while shouting “You suck! You suck! You suck!”

They eventually got the game back on track, and though Steve came close to dying, they managed to survive Eddie’s (incredibly easy) starter game. They made plans for more, and somehow even convinced Eddie to come up with a special one-shot just for Dustin’s birthday too.

Despite himself, Eddie was having fun.

And, if he didn’t know any better, he would swear that Steve Harrington was flirting with him…

🪱 🧠

Anyways yeah that’s all I’ve got for it now, but I liked the idea of Steve learning how to play DnD in secret for Dustin, asking Eddie to teach him, and the two of them falling in love in the process.

Honestly this could even be pre-s3 if you want to have Steve still in school for this too, and opens it for an alt meeting between Stobin. Because Stobin will always be #1 in my heart.

This idea is absolutely open to anyone who wants to do their own version of it, just please tag me in it so I can your vision!

Just gonna tag my Hostage Hotties (my permanent tag list), no pressure tho and everyone else is welcome to consider them tagged, but also if any of y’all ain’t a writer, feel free do the tag with just something you’d love to see or your favorite tropes!

@derythcorvinus @katyawriteswhump @scoops-aboy86 @dotdot-weirdlife @everywherenothere

@bumblebeecuttlefishes @hiei-harringtonmunson @estrellami-1 @nebulaoz @renfrisol

@tinyplanet95 @hairspraywhore

[queenie-ofthe-void]

The Stobin fandom has seen two-versions of Steve coming out as bisexual to Robin. One where she coaches him through it, teaches him everything he needs to know. Another where she's just as lost as he is, and they figure it out together.

What about the secret third, no good, horrible option?

What about the bi-erasure version? More common and more heartbreaking than people are willing to talk about, especially pre-90s. Where small-town Robin only knows she likes girls, and some boys like boys, but most people Choose.

And everyone knows Steve Harrington loves women just as much as Robin does.

Steve admits to Robin that spending time with Eddie gives him butterflies, that he misses him when they're not together. Robin says, No dingus, you just finally have a decent male friend who treats you like a person.

So Steve believes her, because she'd know if he was gay. Right?

Steve admits that he thinks Eddie is beautiful, loves his hair and his big doe eyes. Robin says, No dingus, you just miss Nancy.

So Steve believes her, because he did kind of miss Nancy, just a little.

Steve tells her that sometimes he thinks about kissing Eddie, that sometimes Eddie's in the kind of dreams where he wakes up craving. Robin says, No dingus, you're just touch-starved and need to get laid.

So Steve believes her.

Steve moves on from Eddie. From the guy he befriends at his office job. From his new girlfriend's brother. From the neighbor across the hall.

So Steve gets married, has kids. And he's fine. He still has the cravings, the thoughts, the nagging question at the back of his mind he's spent decades ignoring. He repeats Robin's words over and over in his head.

Maybe Steve figures it out later in life. Maybe Robin figures it out before he does, and decides not to say anything because it's too late anyway.

I hurt my own AND @carolperkinsexgirlfriend feelings with this idea, so of course I had to share!

[after-the-end-times]

Not Just A Townie

~This was not the drabble I set out to write at the beginning of the night~ Rating: T◈Words: 2,21◈CW: Steve has low sense of self worth, Robin's just now realizing how low ◈Tags: Platonic Stobin, Robin POV, Secret Relationship Steddie, Lots of Emotions, Lots of Hugs, Sibling-like bantering, Bitchy Steve, Bitchy Robin, Retail Personas For @steddiebingo Square: Family Video Ao3

Steve smiled a friendly retail service smile at the two girls walking into Family video. "Welcome to Family Video, let me know if you need help finding anything!"

"Thanks."

"Sure"

They headed straight back to the wall of New Releases.

Robin poked him. "Go talk to them. They're pretty."

Steve glanced sideways at her. "Yeah no. Not interested. I mean, they're clearly not interested."

"You got that from thanks? They're pretty girls and you're a... not bad looking guy. Two plus two equals four, ergo go talk to them."

Steve turned to lean his hip against the counter, crossing his arms. "You do know dating doesn't work like that, right?"

"Really." She gave him a highly skeptical look. "I'm pretty sure it does. Otherwise, why flirt with whoever walks in?"

"That's to feel out the vibe. See if you click. It's not just, oh pretty, let's date."

"You know what? No. I'm gonna go talk to them."

"Oh! Good for you! Proud of you."

"Not for me! For you, Steviepoo"

"Ew, Robin, no."

Robin flicked his ear, he lightly slapped her shoulder, she jabbed a finger into his ribs, he flipped her hair, she went to-

"Ok, enough! What does the post-it note say?"

Steve heaved a sigh and recited in monotone, "'No slap fights. That means you, Steve and Robin. I mean it. No more customer complaints.' With three underlines under 'no more'. But, can I just say, you started it?"

"So? You could just not retaliate!"

Steve gave her a flat look. "I can't believe I used to beg my parents for a sister. Shoo. Go talk to the pretty girls."

She started walking backwards. "Oh, I will. Just you watch me."

"Don't trip."

"What?" She tripped. "Ow."

She popped up and spun toward him, sending a 'I'm watching you' signal and a middle finger hidden by a movie rack.

Robin walked to the back wall where the girls were holding up a couple videos, debating which to get.

"I see you've picked a couple good ones there. Is there anything I can do to help you decide? I'm Robin, by the way, and I have to say I've seen the one in your right hand about five times now, so, good choice!"

The brunette girl held up the movie. "Yeah? We've been wanting to see it, but didn't know this one had come out already." She held up the one in her left hand.

"Well, how about you check out the one you've been wanting to see. And perhaps my friend, Steve, over there can check out the other one and you could watch it with him? He makes the best popcorn."

The girls looked at each other and back at Robin. The blonde girl spoke up, "Oh, uh, no, I think we'll just see if it's still here next weekend."

"Really? You don't think Steve's a good looking dude? He's also really nice." She failed to mention the tendency for slap fights.

"Sure, he's hot," Blondie said. "But we're dating college guys these days? No offense to your friend, but-"

"We don't date townies." Brunette stated, with a little smirk.

Robin, honest to god, gasped.

She didn't remember the last time she gasped in offense like some southern mama, but this, she thinks, warrants it.

How dare they think they're above Steve.

Her face fell flat, switching to costumer service voice. "I'm sorry, but I believe those two videos are on a wait list. I'll just take them, thank you. I need to let the next people on the list know they're available. It's just store policy, you understand."

She walked back to Steve, holding her captured videos. She slid the movies under the counter, making a mental note to put them back out once the girls left.

"Sooo, how'd it go? Two plus two work out for you there?"

She flicked a glare at the girls across the store. "They weren't good enough for you."

"Awwww Robiiin!" He grabbed her up in a tight bear hug, wiggling her above the ground a couple times, before lowering her back down.

She slapped at his chest once she was free.

"Robin, it's chill, seriously. I can't really compete with the college guys a lot of the girls my age are meeting."

Robin gasped. Again. She's mildly horrified at herself.

"You listen to me, Steve-Marie, you're just as good as any of those college guys. You've saved this town. What have they done? Gone to class? Ugh! Stop looking at me like that!" She flicked his nose.

Steve twitched his nose and just kept gazing at her, love and amusement shining from his eyes and smile, for anyone to see. "Nope! You loooooove meeee!"

"You're annoying."

The girls walked back toward the front of the store, movie-less.

Robin gave a little wave. "Have a nice day! Sooo sorry about those movies. Not sure when they'll be available for you. You know, since all the townies are already waiting for them."

She continued smiling until they were out the door, dropping it once they're back in their car. Steve was smirking when she turned back to look at him.

"That's what got you in a twist? They called me a townie? I am a townie. Townie. Tooownie. Welp, word's lost all meaning."

"No, you're not, Steve. You're gonna get out of here, do something awesome."

"Why can't I do something awesome here?"

"Because! Because, it's Hawkins, Indiana. You belong out there. Somewhere they'll appreciate you! Ugh! Stop it with the face!" She put her hand over his eyes. "Why are you making me say nice things about you! You're you! You're Steve Harrington. Why would you stay here? Here?!"

Steve's smile slowly dropped, suddenly looking too serious and resigned. "Where would I go?"

She pulled her hand off his eyes, suddenly aware the conversation just went serious.

"Steve."

"Would it be so bad? Staying here? Maybe get a job somewhere I actually like? Get a little house with a yard? And just, build a life here?"

"What about the nuggets?" That got a small smile out of him, at least.

"There's other townies." The smile dropped. "Besides. I don't know if that's for me. Not anymore."

Her chest started to feel tight; she started this, she led them down this conversational path. "Steve."

"Hey, it's ok." He pulled her into a hug. "It's ok. You're gonna go off to college and you're gonna see the world. Just, maybe come visit townie-Steve, every once in a while, yeah?"

Silent tears spilled down her cheeks, soaking into Steve's vest. How could he be so resigned? Yes, there were a lot of good people just living their lives here, but- but Steve was- they all were, meant for more. How could they be happy here? How could he think she'd just go off without him?

He just kept holding her tight.

Finally, she pulled back, swiping angrily at her wet cheeks.

"Ok. Ok. Here's the plan. I'm going to defer college for a year-"

"No, Robin. You're not. You're going to college in the fall."

"Ok, Dad. No, I'll defer. I got into a few that I applied to. We'll use this year to get you in, too. Where'd you apply last time?"

Steve just looked at her.

"Steve?"

"Nowhere."

"What?"

"I didn't send in the applications. Told my parents I didn't get in."

"What."

"Where would I go, Robin?"

She blinked at him, she was so angry and sad and confused. She couldn't even form a thought, let alone a response. He'd just- But he was always so- How could he-

"Ok." She finally said.

"Ok?"

"I'll defer and you're going to update and send in your applications. If you want to come back here after we graduate, fine. But, we're leaving for four years first. Got it?"

Steve just looked at her, expressionless, it was unnerving, but she figured he was processing.

"Why?" He finally said, looking at her like he'd never met her before.

"What do you mean why?" She grasped his shoulders. "Because, you deserve to get out of here and experience more than what Hawkins has put you through."

Somehow, he was still expressionless, still just looking. She could always read him, his face usually betrayed every emotion, every thought. This was something new and Robin didn't think it was something good.

"No. Why would you defer? I'll just come later if you want. Why would you change up your life for me?"

Robin's chest was tight again. "Why wouldn't I?"

"People don't do that."

And there it was.

She could hear the silent for me tacked onto the end of that statement and it killed her.

Robin wanted nothing more, in that moment, than to hurt every single person who did this to Steve, who left him feeling like he had to give everything of himself while expecting nothing in return.

"Well, it's what I'm going to do. Ok?"

Steve didn't speak, just nodded, eyes finally filling with emotion. Robin pulled back him into a tight hug.

The bell over the door rang.

"Get out, we're closed!" She yelled without looking. "Flip the sign on your way out!"

She heard the thwap of the sign hitting the glass as the person did what she told them.

She did not hear the bell again. She turned her tear wet face just enough to see the door.

Eddie.

From his position, he could see Steve's face and Eddie looked gutted at what he saw.

Robin motioned him with a hand to join them. He was there before she could even let Steve know. His arms wound around them both, his head pressed to Steve's other shoulder.

She rubbed Steve's back, big up and down swipes of her hand, taking slow, deep breaths. Her tears finally dried up.

She heard Eddie's voice murmuring to Steve, too low for her to really make out the words, but she felt Steve nod against her shoulder.

And finally, Robin felt Steve take a deep, shuddering breath, letting it out slow.

Steve gave her one last big squeeze and pulled back slowly. She kept an eye on him, watching for...something, anything, she didn't even know anymore.

Robin just wanted to make this better for him, whatever that meant. She just wasn't sure if she was helping or hurting him at this point.

This Steve wasn't one she had a mindmeld with, she couldn't tell what he was feeling, let alone what he was thinking.

She watched as he turned to Eddie. Eddie, who was...awfully close, who lifted a hand to Steve's cheek and gently, slowly wiped under Steve's eye with his thumb, catching a stray tear.

Robin gasped.

Silently this time, thankfully, but that was her third gasp of the day and she was tired from so many emotional revelations in so short a time.

"Steve?"

He smiled, lifting his head to look at her. Purposefully, he lowered his hand, slipping it into Eddie's.

She wouldn't gasp again, but her hand still came up to cover her mouth. "Oh, my god."

"Is that a good oh my god?" Steve asked, eyes soft and a small half smile quirked across his tilted face.

"What? Yes!" Robin felt suddenly thrust back into her body, jolting forward to grab Steve's other hand. "Yes, it's a really good oh my god. I had no idea you were- and my mind's still reeling, but I'm so happy for you! And you, Eddie, obviously, but Steve's- well, you know."

Eddie chuckled low. "Don't worry, I get it."

Robin sagged in relief. She hadn't even realized she was so tense. She wants to go home.

"Can we go home?" She looked up at Steve, when did she look down?

"Yesss. Let's get out of here." He used his grasp on Robin's hands to pull her against his side, walking her back to the break room to get their stuff.

Eddie was writing something on the notepad when they came out.

"Hey babe, what're you writing there?" Steve said.

Babe

"Writing up your excuse for closing early."

"Yeah?" He slid one hand low across Eddie's back and tried to peek around his shoulder. "So, why'd we leave?"

"Computer issues."

"Simple. I like it. Though, what happens when it boots right up for Keith in the morning?"

Eddie grinned over his shoulder. "Yeah, he's gonna have a problem with that."

Robin ducked down to look under the counter, cords hung limp, coiling all over the floor.

"You might not have work tomorrow if he doesn't know how to plug everything back in. Also, there's the computer virus you valiantly stopped that he'll have to deal with."

Robin's eyes met Steve's, he raised one eyebrow, and she doubled over laughing.

She was laughing so hard she couldn't breath, she grabbed onto the counter to hold herself up. Steve caught her just as her knees tried to give out.

She leaned her head against his chest, trying to slow the laughter, trying to breath. Weirdly, she felt better. Lighter.

And maybe they still had things to talk about, emotions to work through, futures to decide, especially now that she knew to include Eddie, but she knew they'd work it out.

They'd be ok. Together.

[dreamsteddie]

Companion piece to my Stobin childhood friends au post because try as I might to resist it, the Steddie brain rot will take over.

Robin and Steve are thick as thieves from that first day of preschool onwards. Their matching friendship bracelets don't fit anymore but have found homes in their "secret friendship treasure chest" which is a shoe box covered in construction paper decorations that lives under Robin's bed so Steve's parents don't throw away any of his "trash" again. They've started a tradition of making a new one for each other at the start of every year so everyone remembers they're best friends, though.

Halfway through first grade (Robin got to start school a year early like the Buckleys hoped) things are going great for Robin. She gets to bring books home from the library and their teacher complimented her drawing of a robin and she helped Steve pass his spelling test last week, so as far as she's concerned this is the best year ever.

Right up until Eddie Munson transfers to their school.

At first, Robin doesn't know that Eddie will be her arch-nemesis. When he's introduced to the class, all she really thinks about him is that he looks a little funny but seems nice. He's got really big eyes and he's taller than most of the other kids with long, gangly limbs. His hair is shaved down to his head, but there are other boys in class who have the same cut. He gets placed at the table group to the left of them in the chair closest to Steve's.

She very quickly forgets about him as the day continues as normal. Robin thinks math block is boring, she'd much rather read her books or play with Steve at recess but her parents said knowing your shapes is important, so she pays extra special attention. That's why she doesn't catch the little wave Steve, ever the social butterfly, gives to the boy across the way or the way Eddie's eyes go even bigger and a soft blush steals across his cheeks.

What she does notice is when Eddie comes up to them in the last few precious minutes of recess slightly sweaty and out of breath holding a little white daisy.

"Hi! I'm Eddie, I'm new!" he says, shouts really, looking directly at Steve.

"Oh, hi Eddie! I'm Steve, this is my bestest friend, Robin." Steve replies.

"Like the bird?" Eddie asks.

"Yeah! They're orange."

"And I hate orange!" Robin buts in, not willing to be left out of the conversation

"Yeah, it's really sad. They should be blue, that's Robin's favorite color." Steve says, real disappointment creeping into his voice. "Who's that for?" he asks, pointing to the forgotten daisy.

"Oh! It's for you! I was out all recess looking for the best one in the field. They kind of match your shirt!' Eddie says proudly, referencing Steve's polo with the yellow body and white sleeves. It's one of his favorites.

"Really? That's so nice, thank you!" Steve exclaims as he takes the little flower into his hands.

Robin's mom says that sometimes when you want to be someone's friend, it's good to start by giving them something nice. Robin's mom says that she should try and make more friends, maybe some girls instead of just Steve, but when Robin tries to talk to the other girls in class, she gets nervous and clams up. She thinks she might be allergic to them. Plus, why would she need more friends when she has Steve, who is worth at least three normal friends.

Steve gets along with everyone, he lends people erasers and pencils and shares his blocks with the other kids when he's allowed to bring them out of his cubby, but no one is his best friend like Robin is.

No one has ever given Steve flowers before, though. That feels like an extra special kind of gift that someone would give if they wanted to be really good friends, and Robin doesn't want that. Steve is her best friend, he doesn't need another one.

"Steve, we gotta go get in line before all the other kids! We don't want to be last!" she blurts out, grabbing Steve by the hand and dragging him across the asphalt to where the teachers are getting ready to call everyone to get in line before Eddie can catch up.

Once they've got their places, she looks back at Steve behind her to see he's turned around. She peaks her head around him and sees him smiling wide at an equally smiley Eddie who's about 5 kids behind them, each of them waving happily at each other.

Oh yeah, Robin is going to have to keep an eye on him.

[queenofshenanigans]

The Daily Drabble prompt from @strangerthingswritersguild was Painter/Decorator, and this little "Steve's plaid room isn't his real room" headcanon was brought to my attention by @vthx <3, so here's a little Stobin drabble inspired by that.

Three days after Starcourt Robin looks around Steve's plaid room and says, "you know, with all your Harrington money, you'd think your mother's decorator would have better taste" and Steve laughs, then considers for a moment. They're still beat up and sad and the Russian drugs aren't entirely out of their system, but he's never been surerer of anyone in his life. "Want to know a secret?" he asks her. "I told you my biggest secret already. Of course I do." "This isn't my real room." She tries to make him explain, but he says it'll be easier to just show her, so he leads her down the hall to another door that looks like it should just lead to a closer bit when it's open it leads to a narrow staircase. "It's not a secret sex room is it?" She's only half teasing. She's heard about King Steve and his Magic Tongue after all. Band geeks get all the good gossip eventually. "It's not a secret sex room." He gives her a devious grin. "You were just in the sex room, Buckley." "Oh EW!" She punches him (gently, so so gently) in the shoulder, then goes up the narrow staircase and into another world. "Mom doesn't like clutter so when she redid my room last time, in middle school, we made a deal. I'd keep my room down there to Harrington standards, but I could do whatever I wanted up here." "Is that..." "Spock. Yeah. Tommy has Kirk. We stole them from the theater when we were like thirteen, when the movie came out." He grins, but it's a little sadder this time as he looks at the cardboard cutout of Spock. There's so much else too, photographs and trophies and a Lego castle still only half built, sat tucked away on the top of a bookshelf crammed with comics and paperbacks and cassettes. She feels like she's being given a glimpse into Steve's soul, maybe something only a handful of people have seen. "Steve...why is this secret?" He shrugs. "I don't know...it started out as a joke you know? Then..." He sighs. "Then high school and King Steve...I didn't think anyone really wanted this side of me, I guess." She hugs him, not as gently as she'd punched him. "I do. I want this side of you. Don't hide him from me, okay?" She doesn't let him escape the hug for a long minute. "Now, I'm going to snoop through every single thing here."

[steviewashere]

Filling Static in the Dead Air

Rating: General Pairings: Robin & Steve, Steddie, Robin/Original Female Character CW: Robin and Steve Being Assholes To Each Other, Friendship Breakup Tags: Post-Canon, Angst, No Comfort, Bittersweet Ending, Unhappy Ending, Dialogue Heavy, Phone Conversations, Letters, Steve & Robin's Friendship, Time Splitting Up Friendships, Platonic Stobin, Steve Harrington Loves Robin Buckley, Robin Buckley Loves Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson is a Sweetheart Am I basing this off of experience? Maybe. Is this kinda out of character? Probably. Anyway.

☎️—————☎️ *BEEP*

“Hey, Robbie…it’s…well, it’s Steve. Um, I-I’ve been trying to catch you for a while now…seems we’re missing each other a lot these days, huh? No big deal, I’ve been busy…you’ve been busy. I get it. So. Just wanted to call and say that I…I really hope you have a good day. Think that’s all I say nowadays, but I mean it. Wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it. And…and I hope that exams go over swimmingly. You’re, like, the smartest person I know—don’t tell Dustin I said that, if you…if you, um, still keep in touch with him—anyway. You’ve got this. You’re gonna do amazing, I know it. Soooo…yeah. Yeah, that’s all. If you need anything from me—or even Eddie—or um…if you just wanna talk to your favorite dingus, I’ll be here. There’s a gap in my schedule, new job on the horizon, hopefully. I’ve got the time for you, that’s all I’m saying. Yeah. I…I think that’s it? Love you, Robbie. Call me soon?”

——— Steve can admit—now that it’s been a couple of years—that when Robin said she was going to college out of state, his heart and stomach dropped out of him to the floor. It was a sort of sixth sense he’s adapted to. This aura, a curdling sick sense, that would sit dormant until the words left somebody’s mouth. “I’m leaving.” That’s all it took. 

Not the kind of leaving when a hangout was over. Not the kind of leaving when the party came to a halt. Not the kind of leaving when the day’s been run through.

No, it was the kind of leaving that meant business trips and a stale home, playdates by himself on his knees in the wood chips, and friends going over yonder from grass fields and tornado sirens.

His brain was kind enough to flip an hourglass distantly for him. Once the sand dwindled from one side, it was over. And that had been approaching a while with Robin. He always knew that it would happen in the aftermath of one of those Upside Down free-for-alls. Just…he didn’t expect it so immediately. When Vecna crumpled into himself like a paper bag, wounds scarred over, and July came rolling on in.

And then 1987 passed.

Followed by 1988.

Now, in the dead winter of 1989, during the big college winter break season, before a whole new decade rolled in, he’s not so sure about this friendship anymore. That’s not to say that it wasn’t a good one. That he didn’t laugh and spill his secrets and have weird proximity sleepovers in his basement—despite having the guest rooms upstairs. No, he loved Robin with every coiled fiber of his soul. To the moon and back. All those cliche things.

She was the only girl that ever mattered in his life nowadays. He dreamed of her. Wept over her. Celebrated with her. They chatted for hours after she lost her virginity, whisper calling while her hook-up (now girlfriend) snored in the background. Robin was the first one to hear about when he was eventually kicked out of his parents’ place, when he hauled ass to a dingy shoebox apartment near a dilapidated McDonald’s that didn’t survive Vecna. When he stirred up forgotten feelings in his chest, he laid star-spread on his bathroom floor, spooning melted ice cream past his lips, sobbing about a boy. And, eventually, when he had Eddie problems? To Robin he went.

He knows that she’s busy. Always is. Between foreign language club meetings, study sessions in her college’s library, and having brunch with the girls…Robin’s not a free bird anymore. She belonged to the college life, to sorority parties where she frenched her girlfriend in a linen closet and managed handstands over kegs. Sometimes, he’d be lucky to get a call at those parties, Robin’s syrup slurred voice and her hideous hiccups like muffled laughter over the speaker. Other times, he just had to hope she made it back to her dorm okay.

It’s partially his fault, too. Been switching rapid between jobs. Family Video to RadioShack to Circle K to Walmart. Then, after that, he fell into his couch with a pink slip in his hand. Too many tardies. Too many late nights where he fought sleep as if it were Billy Hargrove’s racist mouth, but he couldn’t call Robin those nights and he couldn’t curl into Eddie the right way. So. He misses her calls, he wipes his answering machine because it gets too full, he’s between jobs on his sorry fucking couch, and Robin’s too busy nowadays to reach out.

But he keeps trying. Boy, does he keep trying.

——— *BEEP*

“Steve…Stevie…*sniff* hey, um, I’m sorry. Keep missing you, dingus. I miss you like crazy. It’s…this place isn’t right without you. But I spent kind of a lot of money to be here. And I think I’m gonna be in debt until the day I fucking die and—*sniff*—sorry, shit. My new roommate this semester…god, can you believe it’s been a whole semester since you called me? I’ll try and get better on that, swear. Anyway. My new roommate is a colossal bitch, just capital B Bitch. Had, um, th-that nightmare about Scoops? You know the one. Where you…yeah…um…she hates that I cry in my sleep. That I—*sob*—do that, sobbing. And then I try and call you on those nights, but either you aren’t home or you’re busy doing Eddie or something or…or she yells at me for calling you. But…but I swear, Steve, I miss you, too. And if I could, I’d come bother the fuck out of you. Finals went well. January’s being January over here. Snowing like crazy. Anyway. Just called because you did, to say I’m sorry, to just…I was hoping to hear your voice. Make sure that you’re not…I’ll call you, okay? If I don’t…if I don’t, I’m sorry. My schedule’s out of my control most days. Yeah…yeah, I’m sorry.”

——— “You’re gonna burn a hole into that phone if you keep staring at it, Steve.”

He blinks, eyes dry, and looks over to Eddie. Backlit by the bright snow through the windows, hanging up his wet coat by the door, stepping out of his shoes. His cheeks are rosy, blushed by the cold. The soft smile Eddie flashes him makes his chest cave, words caught like thorns in his throat, his already pink waterlines burn fresh.

Taking his silence for what it is, Eddie shuffles through to the living room where Steve is sitting hunched on the couch, and bends down to kiss the top of Steve’s head. His left hand comes up to brush through Steve’s tangled hair, stringy and unwashed. “How long have you been out here, baby?” Eddie asks softly. “Look like a leaf that could fall any moment.”

Steve takes a shaky breath. “Robin called.”

“Oh?” Eddie takes a seat in the armchair diagonal to the couch, mismatched blues they are. “After her voicemail the other day? Or were you listening to it back?”

“No, after. It’s just…we had nothing to talk about.”

“Nothing? You guys have all this time apart, how is there nothing to talk about?”

Shrugging, Steve mumbles, “Don’t know.” He runs a tired hand over his face, through his hair, messing with the knots at the end of it. Can’t even bring himself to look Eddie in the eyes. “Chatted about her school. Her new roommate. The foreign language club she’s got. And then we got to talking about me and…and I had nothing to say. I’m in between jobs, I clean all day because I can’t just lay around and do nothing, I can’t sleep at night…told her about how our neighbors argue. Then, well, then I just talked about you.”

Eddie hums. “It’s okay, you know,” he murmurs, “if you guys can’t find stuff to talk about? That’s okay.”

“Is it? I just”—he sighs—“she’s been my best friend for years. We’ve got nothing to talk about. Like we’re just acquaintances on the bus or something. It’s dumb. It’s so stupid.”

“Honey…” Eddie coos. “Steve, what’s stupid about that? There’s nothing dumb about having a stilted conversation every once in a while.”

“It’s not just once in a while, though, Eds!” he snaps. Affronted with himself, Steve curls tighter, shoulders up to his ears. “Every time, now. When I wanna talk to her, there’s nothing. My life is so…so dull and dumb and…I feel so small compared to her now. Which isn’t fair of me to say, because she’s out there following her dreams…And…” He trails off with another shrug.

Once the room goes completely quiet, Steve pushes himself back, deep into the backrest of the couch. He puts his face in his left hand, pointed away from Eddie, and looks off. Nowhere in particular. No more words to dredge up.

“Steve?”

“I think I’m gonna write a letter. Maybe…maybe the phone’s too easy to forget.”

——— Robbie,

New thing. Letters. It’ll be easier, yeah? Just put what I wanna say out to you.

So. No new calls coming for me about my applications. Think a bunch of firings on my resume has employers turning away. Can’t even use my mom as a reference anymore, kinda lost on that end, I guess. Reached out to Hopper, though. Maybe getting a cop’s reference will look good? They’ll see me come in with Jim Hopper’s signature and number and they’ll think, “That kid must be a goody two shoes,” or something like that, and they’ll want to hire me. You think it’ll work? You know better than I do.

Watched The Apartment finally. It’s a good movie. You know, Fran kinda looks like Vickie. I found you out, Robs. You’ve got a big secret lesbian thing for redheads. Who would’ve thought? Does your current girlfriend look like Fran? I’ve been dying to meet her. I feel bad, I can’t even remember her name right now. I hope she treats you good.

Eddie treats me good. Made spaghetti last night for me, meatballs and everything. He burnt the hell out of the corn I bought, though. Ended up with just spaghetti, some beer, and a couple pieces of garlic bread. I’ll make a chef out of him one day. Though, gotta admit, I feel bad somedays. He goes out and works all day, brings home most of the money, and then also cooks sometimes. I try and keep up with him. Do some chores or something. You know, so I don’t look like a bad partner.

Anyway. There isn’t much else to say, really. Just hope you get this. Maybe you’ll take the time to answer?

Your cursive is the only cursive I can read, so. If you do write back, make it pretty for me? I like the way your letters curl.

—Steve

——— There’s been no new mail in weeks. Other than the bills and Eddie’s paychecks. He got one call from the manager of some local, newly built steak restaurant. Got the job as a new waiter, so that’ll be thrilling for him. More customer service.

He gathers the mail that comes in their little mailbox, runs back up the stairs to their apartment, and snuggles next to Eddie on the couch. An arm thrown over his shoulders. Hands passing through envelopes like he can manifest a returning letter.

“Damnit,” he eventually mutters, tossing the envelopes onto the coffee table. Steve leans back, nestled deeper into Eddie’s side, and pouts. “There’s nothing, Eds. What the hell.”

“Give her some time,” Eddie gently says—ever the reasonable one, oddly—“she’s probably still settling into her new semester. Almost a college graduate, babe, not a lot of time on her hands.”

“She could call, you know. Now she’s gonna respond and I’m gonna be too busy with work. This is bullshit.”

Eddie sighs next to him. Heavy and tired. “You’ll find the time, Steve. You always do.”

——— *BEEP*

“I got your letter, Stevie. Listen, I’ve gotta make this call quick, but I just need you to listen. I can’t write back, I’m sorry. My mind’s already scrambled with a million essays and other assignments right now, so letters aren’t really a priority for me. But I’ll call, okay? I missed you this time, but we’ll get it right eventually. I know it. Uhh…yeah. Oh! Yes, my current girlfriend, Rita, she definitely looks like Fran. You got me, dingus, I’ve got a thing for redheads. Anyway. Shoot. Sorry, I gotta go. Rita’s taking me to this new queer place in town. Gonna get drinks! It’ll be awesome. Okay, Stevie, bye. I love you, bye.”

*BEEP*

“Steve…Steeeeveee…I am very drunk right now. And sweaty. So much dancing. *hiccup* Just wanna tell you that you’re a good friend, m’kay? Rita…ooo, Rita ordered nachos. This payphone is crazy sticky. Bye, dingus!”

——— *BEEP*

“I hope you got home safe. Thanks for not answering. [silence] I can’t have you calling in the middle of the night anymore, though. Okay? I love you to pieces, Robs, but seriously. Eds and I were sleeping, we have work today. [disgruntled silence] And if you’ve got homework or whatever, then you should probably stay back at your dorm and do it, right? Instead of getting shitfaced at the bar? I—[*a large sigh*]—Eddie’s trying to tell me I shouldn’t be mad at you. That I should just give you time to reach back. But.

"This is just getting…it’s bullshit, okay? I call you and you don’t answer. You call me, I try to get back within the next day. And that’s what I did the last time you called me. And then…what? I start writing you letters, but you’re too piled up with homework to respond? Oh, but you’re not too busy to get shitfaced on a…Wednesday? A Wednesday, Robin. Wednesday? I know you’ve got class today, should you really be out…Never mind. I’m not your parents. I’m not. I’m just your good friend, Steve. Your good friend from back home who you don’t visit when you’re on break because you don’t have enough time. [silence] Promise me you’ll take some Advil and have a few glasses of water? I’d bring you a bagel or something, but…just take care of yourself, Robin. Please just take care of yourself. I have to go to work. Maybe I’ll get some big tips from boyfriends on late Valentine’s Day dates. Send you flowers or some shit. I love you, Robin. Even when you piss me the fuck off, I love you…Bye, Robs.”

——— “You don’t answer either, Steve.”

“Well good evening to you, too, Rob”—

“Don’t be a bitch. Just because I found the time to go out with my girlfriend doesn’t mean I’m fucking ignoring you like you’re…you’re my spoiled little dog.”

Steve tosses a glance over his shoulder, standing with his back to the front door just as Eddie comes through it. He shields himself, shadowing over the phone with his head lowered. “Robbie, can I call you back, please? I’m about to have dinner with”—

“Oh, so you can have dinner with Eddie? But I can’t have drinks with Rita? Fuck off, Steve. You know that’s a bunch of horseshit, right? I’m supposed to make time for you, but you can’t make time for me when I call”—

“Oh, when you finally call me back—what is it—three days later? Sorry, Robin. Guess I have some double standards that I didn’t know about! Guilty as charged!”

Over the line, he can hear her take a steady, deep breath. He imagines it, her face red with anger, and feels a sick lick of satisfaction deep in his gut. “Don’t be such a little fucking brat, Steve.”

He rolls his eyes so hard it hurts. “Like insulting me is gonna keep me on the phone with you. I’ve got chicken that’s thawed in the fridge right now and it needs to be made tonight. So if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna make dinner for my boyfriend and I”—

Suddenly, there’s a hand on his shoulder. He jerks in surprise, turning swiftly with the phone in his tight grip. Eddie’s behind him, furrowed eyebrows and eyes narrowed in concern. Steve throws up his free hand as if to signal, ‘What.’ Instead of a huff or an eye roll, Eddie’s soft with him. Petting his hand down his back. “I’ll make dinner,” Eddie whispers, “I want you to figure this out with Robin.”

Steve muffles the phone with his empty hand, pulling it away from his mouth. “She’s being an asshole, Eds. I don’t want to”—

“Baby, I don’t want you guys to lose each other. You two matter to one another. Figure it out…even if you have to argue, figure it out.”

With a pat to his back, Eddie steps away. Steve sighs, relenting—knowing Eddie’s reasonable and right, damnit—and brings the phone back up to his ear. “You still there, Robin?”

“Yup.”

“Listen…Robs…I-I don’t know what to say to make this better, okay? I’m gonna be honest. I don’t know what to do.” He shifts awkwardly on his feet. Eventually, though, within a matter of seconds, he decides to plop down onto the closest couch cushion. Hunched over his knees, pinching between his eyebrows. “I miss your calls, I know that. And I’m sorry, okay? Shit, I’m…I’m really fucking sorry”—his voice wavers, eyes burning despite trying to pinch the waterworks closed—“there’s no excuse. I’m not in college. I’m not, like, busy with my family or anything. I just. I’m just Steve. With his stupid minimum wage job. And I’m really fucking boring now, okay? I get busy with my shifts and I forget to answer. I try to get caught up in Eddie, trying to—shit, you can’t let him know this, okay? I’m gonna drop my voice”—and he does just that—“I get caught up trying to distract myself from…from myself. That doesn’t make sense, I know it doesn’t. And it’s not an excuse. Sometimes, Rob, sometimes”—and here come the blubbering tears…—“I just stand at the phone and wait for you to call me. Then you don’t. All I do is…all I do is work and sleep and wait.

“I miss you so fucking much, Robin. You…it’s so fucking pathetic…you’re my only, like, adult friend other than Eddie. But he’s in his own category, y’know? So. It’s just. Shit. I don’t know what I’m trying to say, Robs. I just miss you. I wait and I miss you.”

For a moment, there’s a steady stream of stilted silence. Then, quiet, Robin breaks with, “I miss you, too. But…Steve, I can’t be your only friend. And…and you’re not my only friend anymore. I know I’ve been shitty with answering the phone, responding to your letters. Things are busy. And I don’t have the time. And when I find time for myself, I’m sorry, but I don’t think of you first anymore. You have to…you have to understand that, Steve.

“Believe me, I try to reach out to you. When I have the time, when I…when I remember, I call you. You aren’t the first person that comes to mind anymore, okay? I have to be honest with you, too. I’m sorry. I can’t say that enough and I also think I’ve said it too much.

“But I’m about to graduate. Rita and I…we’re moving in together once I get my diploma”—

“Will you send me your new address? If you remember?” God, he can’t believe he just said that. He can’t believe he’s been…forgotten. “Maybe I can send you some congratulatory flowers or something?”

She takes a deep breath. Noticeably settling into something.

He sorta hates that he can picture her, shimmying into her spot. Getting comfy. Can imagine her in her dinky pajamas, the same ones she’s had since freshman year of high school. Thinks of her with her makeup freshly washed off, hair neatly brushed, relaxing in her bed. Wonders if she’s reading anything.

But he won’t ask. It doesn’t feel like that kind of conversation.

“I’ll give it to you before I graduate, okay? We’re gonna settle on an apartment before I’m done here. Um…yeah. Yeah…

“I’m sorry for being an asshole, you didn’t deserve that.”

“I’m sorry, too. You didn’t deserve it either. Just, y’know me, I get in my head.”

“Yeah,” she sighs. And it hurts, only a little—like a minor burn from the edge of a frying pan—that she didn’t reassure him. “I know I called, but I’ve gotta go. I have a test in the morning. And I’m ready for bed, so…yeah.”

“Okay…yeah…that’s—I’ve gotta help Eddie with dinner so”—

“What are we gonna do?”

“Hm?”

“…What are we gonna do? I don’t know when I’ll be able to call again. And I know you’re getting busier. I won’t have a break until, maybe, June? I don’t wanna leave you like this…but I can’t promise anything this time and”—

“I don’t know,” Steve softly interrupts. “We’ll figure it out, though, okay?”

There’s a long lull of silence. Longer than any he’s experienced with Robin. Softly, “Okay,” she says. Though, it doesn’t quite reach his ears the right way. It’s not a hopeful sound. It’s…tired and broken and weepy.

He knows that, after this, they won’t hear from each other anymore.

It’s a claw to the chest. A knife in the gut.

If he removes it, he’ll die. If he lets it linger, he’ll die. The way the word breaks in his head, her soft okay in his ear, he’d rather the knife remain. The pain, the blood, the simmering ache.

“Robin?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you.”

A murmur, “I love you, too.”

The phone crackles between them. Those are the last words he hears before the line goes dead. “Bye,” he whispers into the plastic, to nobody on the other side. And with the receiver gripped tight in both hands, nestled between his legs, he lets the burn behind his eyes engulf.

Tears sluggishly worm down his cheeks. Hot and burning.

“Steve?” Eddie softly calls to him. “You okay?”

When he looks in the direction of his name, Eddie is sitting next to him. A hand between his shoulder blades, the other reaching for the phone. Without much thought, Steve is turning into Eddie’s chest, dropping his grip on the receiver.

In one sweeping motion, Eddie brings him in, burying him closer. “I gotcha, baby,” he whispers into Steve’s hair, “I’ve gotcha.”

“I lost her,” he sobs, “lost my best friend.”

With Robin’s words floating through his head, the soft crackle of her raspy voice, that image of her comfy in bed, he breaks. Coughing, gagging, and crying, he breaks against Eddie’s neck.

——— November, 1985

“Steve? Do you think we’re best friends in every universe?”

“Hm…if we aren’t, I’m glad we’re best friends in this one.”

They’re holding hands, sprawled on his mattress, both sweat drenched from Scoops nightmares.

“Me too,” Robin whispers, “I love being your friend.”

“I love being yours,” he matches, “we’ve got each other for life now. No way to get rid of me.”

“Like we’re ever going to be apart.”

“Yeah,” Steve laughs. “No way is that happening. We’re stuck on each other like glue.”

☎️—————☎️

[formosusiniquis]

something to talk about

Robin Buckley & Steve Harrington wc: 2223 | T | Tags/Themes: Gossip, Stobin Banter and Best Friendism, a Hint of Pre-Bubblescoops a late addition for @stobinmonth day 1: gossip. AO3

Robin had been introduced to gossip through band. Which made her infuriatingly difficult to impress.

Steve was good at gossip. No, the best at it.

When he dropped Tommy, and by extension lost Carol, he went from Steve: the guy who could put together a killer party in his big empty house to what he actually was Steve: nice guy, but a little… The trailing off was usually paired with some kind of hand gesture. One that could mean a bunch of different things, and didn’t get any nicer when he started flinching when the fluorescents flickered during tornado season. 

But he had gossip as social capital.

He made it through that last year bouncing lunch table to lunch table whispering with the cheerleaders or the swim team about break-ups, make-ups, and who’d gotten busted with their latest purchase from Munson on their way back from the picnic table.

But band gossip was something else.

There was a social hierarchy beyond cheerleaders who bounced from football player to basketball when the seasons changed. It was more like the politics from the bodice rippers that he snuck off his Mom’s shelf.

It wasn’t just that Becky G. got caught getting fingered on the bus coming back from the away game. It’s that she’s a french horn and the guy was a percussionist. A word Robin hissed through her teeth like he should know what it meant.

Terri Miller wasn’t just pregnant. She’d gotten pregnant during the band camp social week at the Boy Scout campground. So the dad could be any one of four different guys, and if she didn’t guess right they would definitely know when those nine months were up.

The band was apparently some kind of den of sin and Robin still hadn’t managed to get any. Which was probably as unbelievable as the fact that any of this was happening in the first place.

Telling her that Mrs. Johnson was having an affair with Pat James, a second string baseball player who was young enough to be her son and not even that good looking -- a buzz cut with ears that stuck out from his head like dumbo -- had been met with the most unimpressed look he’d seen since they left Scoops.

“An affair, Steve, really?” She’d said. “Who cares about an affair? Something happened with the trombones and the flutes, the flutes, during Social Week and I still can’t piece together what happened since I missed the biggest week of the year because of all that Upside Down stuff.”

“You’re upset about missing out on some band drama? Not losing your sense of safety, trust in the American government, or your ability to sleep through the night?”

“I only had one of those things before all this. Now I can’t sleep and no one will tell me what’s going on with this cross-instrument family drama.”

Now that they’re in Indy it’s a little different.

It turns out in college even band kids have to study. And, much like underage drinking, some of the fun of a week-long orgy came from the threat of parent disapproval and disappointment.

Now Steve picks up his fair of strange half-conversations and relationship drama at the coffee shop he works at in the morning. Robin catches whisperings of affairs between students and professors. At night, when they barback at the lesbian bar Steve wandered into on accident right after they moved or when they’re curled up on the sofa Robin found at the thrift store two days after they signed on the apartment, they’ll share the best of what they’ve heard.

“No, Profesor Williams is the one with the weird eyes who teaches Philosophy. You’re thinking of the Music Theory professor and he’s definitely got a secret family somewhere but it’s with an age appropriate woman not a co-ed.”

“Green tea with extra lemon was leaning all over Black Coffee this morning when just last week he came in with that babe with the dark hair and glasses. One of them is his wife and the other is his girlfriend, but I haven’t figured out which one is which.”

“The pianist that’s always taking up the practice room is failing Chemistry 101 and when she tried to seduce the TA he reported her to the dean for academic misconduct. She’s a bitch but she’s also the only pianist in the program that can keep time, so I’ve got mixed feelings.”

“Americano and a muffin was telling his douchy coworker who never tips about how he got his secretary pregnant. She wants him to leave his wife, but he’s trying to decide if it’s worth it to keep her on or to hire and train a new girl. It made me remember I forgot to call my Dad’s secretary for his birthday.”

It gets them through the night but gossiping about strangers doesn’t have the same thrill as gossiping about shared classmates and the sort-of friends they'd known since Kindergarten. Doesn’t have the thrill of learning something new and excitingly interesting or terrible about someone they got to then see everyday.

It’s femoral or whatever Robin was saying about why she gets sad when she finishes her book. It doesn’t last and unlike the neat conclusion of the bodice rippers that moved with him from Hawkins -- he has a soft spot for the duchesses who get seduced by rogues and scoundrels, sue him -- the bits and pieces they get are unconnected from any other point in these people’s lives. He probably won’t get to see if Americano’s secretary gets an abortion or if she keeps the baby. Robin might get to see if the professor who has a taste for blondes who've just turned 18 gets busted, but it all depends on her schedule for the next semester.

Which makes what he has for her today perfect. More than perfect, it’s going to be something that’ll actually leave Robin impressed. She might even gape instead of just half-smiling with a single eyebrow raised, her mouth saying “oh wow” while her face says, ‘I’ve heard better.’ There is no better this time. This one might change everything.

“Guess who I saw today?”

“You’re coming from work to work so can be here til close tonight before you open at the job you just left tomorrow morning. There are doctors who work shorter hours than you are this week. Why are you so excited?” Robin uses the well bottle of tequila to point accusingly at him. Not answering the question he asked or even engaging with  his exciting news.

“It’s coffee, Robin. Four shots of espresso will fix anything. Now guess.”

“That guy who basically orders chocolate milk with a splash of coffee and found out his wife was sleeping with his twin brother?”

“No, I haven’t seen him since he saw them out the window that day.”

“Latte with cinnamon? Did he actually ask you out instead of just dropping his wallet condom on the counter when he was trying to pay?”

“No.” He says, that one is pretty tragic. That guy had been hot. The butch across from him clears her throat and he goes back to shaking her martini. “Try again.”

“I don’t like this game.” Robin winks at the blonde at the bar, handing her a shot like what she was saying to him was some kind of line for her.

He debates whether or not it’s worth it actually making her guess again. Steve’s himness has been fluid enough that he does get the occasional number while working here; he isn't sure he wants Robin to continue announcing his dating failures for anyone to overhear. 

“Carol Perkins.”

That slows her hand mid-pour; the vampy looking femme in front of her is getting her money’s worth on her vodka soda.

“Are you thinking of trading down,” Robin asks finally, tucking the tip she gets into the jar and the phone number into her pocket.

“Jealous, you know you’re my only girl.”

“Tell that to Brenda and Debbie and Melanie and Stacy…”

“Only one that matters.”

“Why do I care that you saw Carol Perkins for the first time in years?” Robin says, the only hint that this is actually a question she wants answered is the tick at the edge of her brow and the hand on her hip.

And because Steve is an ass, he’ll say it, he takes his time answering. Mixes a margarita, pours a Long Island, tells someone too young to be here that she’d be better with a coke than a cosmo. When the smoke is pouring out of Robin’s ears, when she’s trying to make it seem like she’s ignoring him now he tells her what he’s been dying to all day.

“She had a carabiner on her purse.”

“A carabiner?”

“On her purse.”

“Kinda defeats the purpose,” Robin says with her nose trying its hardest to stay out of the air.

“Depends on the purpose, doesn’t it?”

“Is Carol cute?” The leather dyke Steve had been pulling a beer for asks.

“Yeah,” he says, easy.

Not that it can be heard over the way Robin snaps, “She’s not your type.” Something snarling and possessive that Steve hasn’t seen since his last date tried to intrude on their SteveAndRobin time crossing her face and curling her lip.

“She’s vapid,” she says in response to Steve’s smile which says just as much as his words would have been able to, at least to her. 

“Sure.”

“And mean. And she always had that gum in her mouth.”

“Those were all true things about her when she was sixteen. The same year you had that perm.”

“Don’t even act like you remember that, Steven Marie Harrington. You had to look it up in the yearbook when you found out.”

“You want me to give her our number.”

“I want you to come back to me with actual gossip instead of whatever this is.”

“So you don’t want to hear about how she told Black tea with sugar that she transferred to IU after a bad breakup with her partner.”

“Nope.”

“Don’t want to hear how she asked me if I knew anyone up here when she was at the register?”

“Why would I care?”

He shrugs, lets it seem like he’s distracted grabbing a fresh bottle of vodka from their stash. “I mean she had some questions about you and what you were doing. Seemed pretty interested, thought you might be too.”

“You’re my least favorite person in the world,” she lies. 

“Consider this payback from when you told me the guy at the library was flagging. I walked to campus just to watch him make out with his girlfriend.”

“I said I was sorry, Mark from my History class said-”

“Mark from your History class was the same guy who tried to play devil’s advocate for person breeding-”

“Eugenics,” she corrects with a wince.

“Mark from History class does not get to be a source for information anymore.”

“Were you wearing your glasses? Cause if you weren’t you don’t get to be a source of information either. Who wears a carabiner on their purse? It could have been a really big safety pin.”

“I can’t believe you’re doubting me.”

“It’s not doubt.”

“It is. I told her where we work.”

“What?” The bottle she’s holding slips from her hand, bouncing on the rubber mat beneath their feet. It doesn’t break but the beer foams and froths as it spills onto the already sticky floor. Robin snatches another bottle, opening it with her ring and handing it off quickly to the woman across from her.

“I told her where we work.” He puts a heavy and weighted pause between each slowly drawn out word.

“I heard you.”

“Then why-”

“You why!”

“Me why! Because there was a carabiner on her purse Robin! Carol likes-”

She slaps her hand across his mouth for just a second, just long enough for it to feel less like a hint than hit. “Don’t finish that sentence here or ever.”

“She could like you, I’m telling you she seemed interested when she learned you were in town with me. That I knew you.”

“So you gave her directions to a dyke bar out of the goodness of your heart.”

“There was nothing good in my heart, it was out of my desire to get you laid.”

“I can get laid all by myself.” Robin snaps, louder than she should. Even with the din of the bar it sounds loud.

“I bet you can,” the voice that answers is as familiar to Steve as Robin’s. The smug and teasing way it curls around what it’s saying. Carol, smirking, with an elbow against the bar and the light catching her hair like a flame.

“I’m just going to go down here,” Steve says, ignoring the way Robin glares like she wants him to be the one aflame. “The opposite side of the bar could use some attention, so you’ve got this, Rob. Care, good to see you again.”

“Steve,” Carol greets and dismisses. “I’ll be sure to give you all something new to gossip about tomorrow.”

“You’ll have your work cut out for you. She’s got a high tolerance for that sort of thing, it may take you all night.”

“I’ll give you something to talk about.”

[steddieunderdogfics]

Sweetheart Services by Pyro_the_Dragon

@pyro-the-dragon

Rating: Explicit

22,690 words, 2/2 chapters

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson, Robin Buckley & Steve Harrington

Tags: Post-Stranger Things 4 Vol. 2, POV Steve Harrington, Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Unreliable Narrator, Secret Identity, Identity Porn, Happy Ending, Platonic Stobin, Touch-Starved Eddie Munson, Touch-Starved Steve Harrington, Bisexual Steve Harrington, Gay Eddie Munson, Sexuality Crisis, Internalized Homophobia, Phone Sex, First Time, Virgin Eddie Munson, Hand Jobs, Frottage, Valentine's Day, Anal Sex, Just the Tip, Eddie Munson's Black Handkerchief, Unsafe Sex

Summary:

Valentine's Day, 1986. Before Vecna, before the Spring Break from hell, Steve initiates a very interesting phone call, and what starts as benign curiosity slowly morphs into a guilty obsession. Months later, the newest member to their end-of-the-world crew is the one calling first, leaving Steve asking himself: what is he going to do about the man on the other end of the line?

Thanks for the rec! This recommendation is apart of our Writer's Wednesday! All of the recs today are written by @pyro-the-dragon. Want to nominate an author? Fill out this form!

[thisapplepielife]

Written for @corrodedcoffinfest and @stobinmonth.

Lake Michigan, 1987

CCF Spring Break Prompt: Ocean & Stobin Month Prompt: Holiday | Word Count: 1000 | Rating: T | POV: Multiple | Pairing: Platonic Stobin, Pre-Steddie | CW: None | Tags: Post S4, Everybody Lives, Steve's on a Mission to Crash Corroded Coffin's Spring Break Getaway to the Beach, Robin's Along For The Ride

Robin

Robin squirms in her seat. They've been in this car for hours, and she's sweating, legs sticking to the leather. She lifts one thigh, then the other and feels them release, but also hears the little thwap it makes. It's so gross. 

She thought they were supposed to be there by now. 

"How much further?"

"Not sure," Steve says, "look at that map again."

Robin doesn't want to look at the map again. She's not interested in playing navigator. 

"Ugh. This is taking forever."

"Stop complaining, we're going to the ocean!" Steve declares, banging his fist against the steering wheel.

Robin rolls her eyes.

"Lake Michigan isn't the ocean. It's a lake. It's in the name, even."

"Same thing."

"Really not," she says, but lets it go, "How late are we? Because I'm starving and they better have food left. Good food. But I'm not optimistic."

Steve doesn't say anything. 

"Hello? Earth to Steve? Dingus, are you listening to me?"

"I'm listening."

"We're not lost, are we? What time were we supposed to be there?"

"Uh. When we get there, I guess."

"That's not an answer. Do you even know where we're going to meet them? What's the plan? You've been awfully secretive about this adventure."

Steve mumbles something under his breath.

"What?" she asks, twisting the stereo knob all the way down.

"Theydon'tknowwe'recoming," he says in a hushed rush.

Robin flops around in her seat, turning to face him fully, "Steven. Harrington. What do you mean they don't know we're coming?" 

"Surprise!" he says weakly.

Then, after a beat.

"Yeah, we might be lost."

"Steve!"

"Kidding, just don't let me miss the sign for 94 East."

She throws her hands up in the air, exasperated. 

Steve

He didn't know there were this many beaches on Lake Michigan. 

They've checked like a dozen spots, and so far, no Corroded Coffin. No Eddie. He knows they are staying in Indiana.

Well, he thinks that's right. Maybe they changed their minds? Maybe he misunderstood? It wouldn't be the first time.

"I didn't know there were this many beaches," he admits, as they're standing next to his car at a gas station. Robin's continued cooperation paid for with a big bag of snacks. 

"It's literally called the third coast, dingus! Seriously. You thought we'd just pull up to the entirety of Lake Michigan, and what, stumble across Eddie Munson and his band of bozos?! You can't be serious."

That's exactly what he thought. He is a dingus.

"So, we're stalking Eddie Munson?! That's where we are in life now?"

"Stalking is a little exaggerated," he argues. He's been dancing around this thing with Eddie for months.

"Were we invited?"

"No," he admits and she's shaking her head, unimpressed.

This was a dumb idea. 

Eddie

He hears his name being shouted, very clearly. Twice. Which is odd, because everybody he's with is still in the van. He can hear Gareth and Goodie bickering in the back, and Jeff's nose is in a book in the passenger seat. Plus, that was definitely a woman. And women, in general, aren't in the habit of screaming his name.

So, he's hearing things.

Great. This better not be a Vecna thing. 

He swallows. He was trying to get away from Hawkins.

"Psst. Ed. Eddie. Edward," Gareth hisses, and all Eddie can see is his mouth at the bottom of the pop-out window on the back of the van. Ridiculous. 

"What?" Eddie asks, clicking off the gas nozzle in the van. He can't leave it unattended. They have a very strict budget. But he takes a step closer to see what Gareth needs. He clearly crawled over the backseat for a reason.

"Your boyfriend is here," the mouth says.

"Huh? I don't have a—"

Gareth taps on the glass, cutting his thought short, "Steve Harrington. And Robin. Nine o'clock."

Eddie slowly turns his head, and sure enough, Steve and Robin are in the middle of a hand-flailing argument next to Steve's car. He just couldn't see them before, the dispenser was in the way.

So, he did hear his name. 

He turns towards them, and watches. Then, Robin makes accidental eye-contact with him, and he waves. 

She nudges Steve's shoulder, and Steve turns around. And the grin that crosses his face is transcendent.

"Told you, Rob!" Steve declares with gusto, and then he's loping over, grabbing Eddie, hugging him.

"Uh, hi," Eddie says, nose smushed into Steve's neck. Which is definitely fine. For sure.

The side door of the van swings open, and they separate.

Goodie looks them all up and down, and then just says, "No."

Eddie laughs. He's not saying no to whatever this is, "What are you doing here?"

"Stalking you, apparently," Robin says, and Gareth's disembodied mouth laughs as Steve stomps on her foot.

"Ow!" she shouts. Steve ignores her.

"We're not stalking. We were bored, and like, I remembered you said you were doing this for spring break, and I thought, why not? Sounds fun," Steve rambles, and Eddie is very charmed. 

What was Steve's plan? Wander the 1,000 plus miles of coast?

It doesn't matter. If he drove three hours to chase him down, Eddie's not gonna let him slip through his fingers.

"We're camping in the dunes, if you wanna?" Eddie offers.

Steve's nodding while Robin's shaking her head no. Eddie takes Steve's answer, because he likes it better.

Was Steve Harrington chasing him? Is that what this is? That's crazy talk. But…

"Definitely," Steve says, pushing his hair up off his forehead with his hand. "Yeah. Definitely. We'd love to. I'd love to."

He seems nervous.

Holy shit. 

Eddie knows that move. He went to high school with that move. 

Steve Harrington is flirting with him. 

And Robin is disgusted by it.

Eddie smiles, "Let me finish filling up and you two can follow."

"Cool," Steve says, "that's cool."

Eddie steps back, and squeezes Robin's shoulder. He likes Buckley. She'll get over it, and he'll definitely owe her for wing-manning.

If you want to write your own, or see more entries, check out @corrodedcoffinfest to read takes on Spring Break prompts, or to offer up your own!

For more Stobin, pop on over to @stobinmonth to follow along with the fun!

[jncystraumabond]

I still think we should have an AU where Stobin(platonic ofc) and Jancy switch roles completely with one another in S3 so Jonathan and Nancy are serving little kids ice cream, get drugged at a secret Russian base, and are rescued by(Maybe Will and Mike? I would say Eleven and Mike but let’s be real..she’d probably body so fast). Meanwhile, Robin and Steve work at Hawkins post as interns, investigate Mrs. Driscoll, and then experience the entirety of the hospital scene only having aid from Dustin and Erica. Honestly I just want a reason to draw Steve in one of Jonathan’s S3 outfit, Jonathan and Nancy in a scoops shot fit, and Robin in one of Nancy’s S3 outfit

[queenie-ofthe-void]

I've seen a few secret admirer Steddies going around where Steve's the one giving the notes (which I LOVE! I feel like those aren't as common)

But I headcanon Steve as having the worst handwriting. Therefore, I present platonic partners in crime CheerKing (is that right? Idk)

~~~

Under no conditions would Steve ask Carol to write the notes. But he's always liked Chrissy, and she seems trustworthy.

They strike up a deal. Chrissy will dictate Steve's notes and drop them in Eddie's locker herself. In return, Steve has to act as her fake-boyfriend to keep Jason at bay.

Then SHENANIGANS! Eddie gets feelings for Admirer, he sees Chrissy slip a note in his locker after Hellfire one evening. He's never had someone crush on him before, and he's straight (cue internalized homophobia, childhood trauma, big feelings for Steve he can't process) so he tries to convince himself he likes her.

The only problem is she's dating King Steve. Eddie hates the guy, with his stupid shiny hair and his big brown eyes and his moles and his smile... why does he get all the girls? Chrissy's the first girl to ever like him and of course Mr. Dreamy is dating her. They're not even clingy like he was with Wheeler so he probably doesn't even like her that much, just sees her as a rebound.

Eddie actually replies to the notes, leaving them in the library books Admirer tells him to. Steve knows Eddie likes Admirer, the pieces of Steve he shares in the notes, and it's the only way Steve gets to talk to him and he lives for it. But instead of Eddie asking who Admirer is, Steve watches as Eddie starts flirting with Chrissy. Steve gets all hurt and jealous because he thought Eddie was gay but now he's unsure. Still, he can't give up getting Eddie's replies, so he keeps writing.

Does Chrissy play along to keep Steve's secret even though this guy is crushing on her? Chrissy really likes Eddie, but she likes him as a friend. She decides to not tell him he's mistaken, because she wants to keep getting invites to band practice at Gareth's so she can spend more time with their cute friend Jeff.

Let's make it even more complicated! Instead of Tammy Thompson, Robin has a crush on Chrissy and sees her slip a note into Munson's locker on her way out of band practice and decides she's going to tell Steve to take him down a peg and hopefully breaks up with Chrissy. They then have a bathroom scene: she's been watching Steve and Chrissy for months and tells him how it's fucked up that he follows Eddie around, stares at him across the cafeteria, etc (she's saying it's bc Steve's jealous / Steve thinks she's calling him out). So he confesses, and cries. She feels like an asshat so she comes out too. They're just two gay idiots in love with straight people (only one of them is wrong. Sorry Robin!! Idk how to fix that part).

Steve starts coming with Chrissy to Hellfire night. Steve's doing it for protection from Jason, who's getting increasingly angry about Chrissy and Eddie. Eddie thinks Steve's being nice because he's sizing him up, trying to insert himself in between him and Chrissy in some macho way.

It all comes to a head when Jason catches Chrissy hanging with Jeff in the library (she's told Jeff EVERYTHING and is picking up Eddie's last reply). Jason hears them talking about Eddie planning to ask Chrissy out and decides to follow Eddie out to the quarry after school. Robin saw Jason pull out behind him and runs to tell Steve before he starts practice.

Steve rushes out and saves Eddie, then brings him home to patch him up. Eddie's pissy about it, Steve thinks it's adorable but frustrating. Jeff and Chrissy stop by the trailer when Eddie misses practice.

Eddie confesses his feelings to Chrissy, but she's holding hands with Jeff. Steve's forced to admit he's Admirer, sending Eddie head first into a sexuality crisis. But it's happy ever after so it's all good.

We get platonic hellcheer, platonic kingcheer (??), platonic stobin, Jeff x Chrissy (corrodedcheer??), and Steddie.

Idk there's something here but I don't want to write it lol Too many POVs and through lines for a person who already has a million WIPs.

[after-the-end-times]

A Big, Huge Deal

@steddieholidaydrabbles Prompt: Family Dinner 🫂Words: 978 🫂Tags: Secret relationship, Best friends forever Stobin, mild Steve angst, comfort

Family Video at midday, midweek is empty of customers and warm from the sun streaming through the big front windows, despite the frigid air and snow piled up outside the doors. Steve and Robin stand against the counter, using the lull to sort returns.

“So how many dinners do you have this year?”

“Four. Mrs. Henderson’s, yours, my parents, and Eddie and Wayne’s. Plus, Nancy said her mom invited me to go caroling, but since it’d be her parents, Mike, her and Jonathon, and a bunch of their church friends I bowed out ‘cause yeah, no to all of that.”

Robin reaches over Steve to grab a cassette that goes in her genre pile.

“OooOoo you’re going to Eddie’s, hmmm? That’s sweet.”

He side eyes her for that and grabs a video from her side of the pile and adds it his side.

“Um, no, it’s not sweet. We’re having dinner. Just like at yours and Dustin’s. It’s nothing more than that.”

“Uuuuh huh.” Her lips pull into a frown as she turns to lean her hip against the counter, crossing her arms across her chest.

“Don’t look at me like that.” He gathers up one pile of tapes in his arms and turns away, heading toward the back wall showing off New Arrivals.

“Like what?” She says, following behind with her own pile of tapes. “Like I know you’re either lying to me or lying to yourself? Like I know for a fact that Christmas dinner has always been a Family Only night for Eddie and Wayne, ever since Eddie showed up at Wayne’s on Christmas Eve?”

“It’s not-” He walks along the wall tucking the tapes behind their matching display cases. He doesn’t normally feel this far off kilter with Robin, but when it comes to Eddie he just doesn’t know how to address the thing with them. “They’re just being nice.”

“Nice? Ugh!” She stomps over to the Romance section and aggressively, one by one, puts her movies back. “Everyone knows you have a day full of dinners! Nice would be inviting you there if you had nowhere else to be, but you do! He wants you there. At Christmas dinner. Because he likes you. And I have no idea why you don’t believe that!”

Steve is still facing the wall of movies, one last cassette in his hand. He looks down at it and then gently places it in its spot.

Quietly he says, “I do believe it.”

Silence rings behind him. Robin’s never quiet, it’s mildly worrying, what if she became one with the dust particles floating in the sunlight? He turns and leans back casually, uncomfortably against the wall of shallow shelves. Robin is on the other side of the rack and looks, honestly, really surprised, eyes wide, jaw slack. He’s not sure why she’s so surprised when this is what she wanted so badly.

“Oh.” She’s blinking oddly fast and then suddenly turns away to pace the aisle, hands coming up to wave around, punctuating her thoughts. “Ok. So. You know he likes you. You know it’s a big deal that he invited you to his family dinner. You accepted the invitation to his family dinner. You- So- Does this mean you’re finally going to do something about all the eyes you guys keep making at each other? Oh! Are you gonna-”

“Robin.” He takes a breath and knows she’s gonna be so mad at him. “We’re dating.”

“What?”

“Since Thanksgiving. It kind of just- No. It didn’t just happen. We were talking after everyone left ‘cause he stayed to help clean up. And there was this moment. I knew it was then or never. And I really didn’t want it to be never. So, well, that’s the making eyes you’ve noticed more lately. It’s been really hard not saying anything, but then the longer I went not saying something, the more angry I knew you’d b-”

Robin’s arms are suddenly around him, her face against his shoulder. He hadn’t even realized he was talking to the carpet the whole time. But Robin’s hugging him, not yelling at him, not mad at him. She squeezes harder around his neck and he brings his hands up and hugs her back, tight.

“I could never be mad at you for being happy.” With her face still smooshed against him, it comes out squished sounding, but he’ll always understand her. “I’m just so happy for you. And Eddie, of course, but mostly because he makes you happy. And I know you make Eddie happy, I can tell he’s been-”

Steve uses his grip around her to lift her up as he laughs, the sound getting trapped in her hair. As her feet hit the ground, he pulls back to put his hands on her shoulders.

“Yes, he’s happy.” Huh! It’s surprisingly hard to talk when he can’t stop grinning, a laugh sitting in his chest, threatening to burst out again. “We both are.”

“Ok, you’re starting at the beginning. I want to know everything!” She starts walking back to the counter to collect more videos, Steve following behind her feeling lighter than he has in weeks. “Ok, maybe not everything everything, but everything else! And, ok, maybe a little bit of the other everything. Oh my god!”

She stops suddenly, turning fast, and pats a hand against his chest. “So, you’re going to family dinner with Eddie and Wayne! Like, as part of the family! How are you feeling about this? This is big! Huge!”

Steve smiles, he just loves her so much.

He pats her shoulder as he walks past her to grab more returns.

“Well, how ‘bout this. You can tell me what it feels like when, one day, we invite you to our family Christmas dinner.” He sends her a grin. “Cause it’s gonna be a pretty big deal then, too.”

[turinspeachjam]

Stobin Month 2025 - Prompt "What If?"

wc: 528 | cw: Implied Brain Trauma/Injury, Catastrophizing, Implied PTSD | rating: T

Robin sometimes thought about what would have happened if she had not gotten involved. 

Steve would have just been an annoying coworker up until the mall fire. And then he probably would have been dead. Not that Robin believed she was the reason he survived the Russians, but every time she tried to picture a version where she was not there, Steve died. By torture, getting caught in the crossfire, or sometimes her brain superimposed Steve over Billy Hargrove and it was the Mindflayer that killed him. 

She hated it. Which was how she held onto the belief that Steve was better off with her in his life, and him in hers. 

He reminded her as often as he could remember that he loved her and did not know where he would be without her. Robin listened, but there was still a nagging voice in the back of her head who told her no one wanted her. 

So Steve started leaving her little notes telling her exactly how he felt about her. 

You’re the smartest person I know—and we know literal geniuses. 

That one always made her laugh because Dustin had caught a glimpse of it one time when he came to visit and got so incensed over the fact that Steve considered Robin the smartest person he knew and not himself. Dustin almost went to visit Steve and give him a piece of his mind before Robin quietly reminded him that visiting hours were over, which took the wind right out of Dustin’s sails. Robin tried to cheer him up, but she could see that his mind was centered around Steve, so they spent the rest of the evening in heavy silence. 

You make me laugh more than anyone else. 

Whenever she looked at that note, she smiled, remembering his first confession to her in that dirty mall bathroom. The declaration that she was the reason he had laughed that summer more than he could remember doing so before. How it was Steve “The Hair” Harrington of all people who made her feel normal for the first time in her entire life. How he took her rejection and never held it against her. How he held her hand and declared her his best friend. Platonic with a capital P. 

You are the reason I keep trying. 

The first time she saw that note, she cried. She knew how hard it was for him to move forward after everything, how he suddenly felt like the world upended and nothing made any sense. He cried on her shoulder many times, unable to cope with how the world had changed and left him behind. She knew all too well how he felt. 

So, when he got admitted, Robin started leaving him secret notes all over his room, in plain sight and obscured from view. She wanted to surround him in as much love as she could. 

You are the strongest person I know—and we know Nancy Wheeler and Jane Hopper. 

You make me feel braver. 

You are the reason I wake up in the morning and the reason that I can sleep at night. 

You are my soulmate. 

[queenofshenanigans]

WIP Week(end) 6/06

I'm still working through some asks from the past couple weeks, but we're getting there! Making good progress on some things as well! And trying really hard not to add MORE things to the queue until at least a couple are in posting form. So! Make me write!

I was tagged by @queenie-ofthe-void, @sourw0lfs, @turinspeachjam, @felixir-of-moths and @tinytalkingtina this week. <3

⚾ Second Chance at First Love (and Third Base) - Steddie Big Bang! No longer a secret!!

🛼 - Sapphic Mini Bang (90s Bubblescoops, Stommy) I'll share 👩‍👩‍👦 or 🤸‍♂️- if you have a preference, drop an emoji

👩‍👩‍👦 - the Stranger Moms fic - S5 AU ft. the Stranger Moms

🐉 - Steve finds a dragon in his closet - Dustigan, developing Steddie

🏰 - Shenanigans in Steve's attic - Steve has good parents actually, Steddie, Scoops Troop

⚔️ - A Knight's Tale (with magic) - Ronance, Steddie, lots of Wheeler siblings, platonic Stobin, platonic Edancy

🤸‍♂️- The Yeet Aerobics Fic - S3 AU Stedissy, platonic Stobin, matchmaker Wayne, Buckingway

Snippet from A Knight's Tale (continued from here) and tags under the cut

These were the thoughts running through Lady Robin of House Buckley's mind, as she stared out her bedroom window at the forest. It was well past midnight but not yet dawn, and she was—as had been typical for her in childhood—Watching. When she was younger, she'd spent these Watching hours staring out her window at the Blooming Forest, just visible in the moonlight at the edge of the family estate. If she squinted, and stayed still enough, she could see the faintest shimmers of the forest magic, the flutters of wings, as the forest faeries went about their midnight business. Sometimes she would see shadows of larger creatures, hear the howls and growls as they hunted and killed. Her midnight Watchings always left her with a sense of unease, but there was always the sense that she had to keep vigil; that some day it would be important that she be ready.

It had been years, however, since she'd felt the call for a Watching, but tonight she'd awoken just after midnight, skin crawling with an anxious knowing feeling, an itch that she couldn't scratch just out of reach. Wrapped in a quilt, though the summer solstice was just weeks away, she sat at the window and Watched. The forest, dormant for a decade now, was alive again. Flashes of light, flutters of wings. Shadows of larger creatures. The howls and growls of things hunting reached her, though she should be too far to hear--the walls of her family's estate too thick for the noises to penetrate--and yet she heard them, deep in her mind.

The magic was returning to this part of the forest, she realized, and swallowed against the fear, against the sense that this was what she'd been preparing for as a child. Something was coming back—and there were those rumors about the North. The ones no one was supposed to know about.

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