#robin and eddie gay solidarity

[rotteneldritchhorror]

Eddie pulls Robin aside after noticing how she's interacting with Nance and how she keeps reassuring that shes Not Dating Steve and asks her if shes "a friend of dorothy"

[lokiiied]

this picture is so powerful

[findafight]

Less wlw/mlm solidarity between Robin and Eddie more wlw/mlm hostility between them.

[mytranssnakes]

i need more robin & eddy wlw - mlm solidarity, i need fics, art, hcs, anything

[himbosandhardwear]

It's a stupid fucking scheme, and he never would've gone along with it if he was sober, but she really didn't give him much time to contemplate it, she just shoved him into the pantry and yelled for Eddie to come into the kitchen.

Now he's got his head pressed against the slats while Rob asks Eddie if he thinks Steve is cute. Like they're in the fifth grade.

“Uhh,” Eddie drawls, clearly confused and put on the spot.

“C'mon,” she coaxes, “you can tell me, gay to lesbian solidarity.”

That's terrible, using that to weasel the information out of him.

“I mean…sure, I guess he's alright,” Eddie admits. “He's not really my type though.”

Oh.

Well…that's…fine.

“Seriously?” Rob asks like she doesn't believe him. “You don't think he's hot?”

“I wouldn't kick him out of bed for eating crackers, but, yeah, seriously. Not my thing. He's too…I don't know, high maintenance or something. I like my guys a little more, like, dingy.”

Steve nods to himself in understanding. He should've seen that coming but he hadn't. It's sobering.

Robin isn't finished arguing her case, the beautiful idiot. “Steve's dingy!” She yells, making Eddie laugh. “He is! He's plenty dingy! And he has other fine qualities! Like, uh, loyalty! And being helpful!”

“Are you trying to set me up with your painfully straight best friend or a golden retriever?”

“Steve's not-”

“Okay!” Steve shouts, bursting out of the pantry, yes he understands the irony, with both hands waving. “This was fun but let's wrap it up.”

Eddie stares at him, wide-eyed, but it quickly melts into anger. “What the fuck, Buckley? What kind of weird, pointless ambush is this?”

“It wasn't pointless, you fucking troglodyte. If you were paying attention-”

“Rob.” Steve didn't mean for his voice to do that but it has the intended effect. She clamps her mouth shut and pouts. “Sorry,” he says to both of them. To Eddie, “Seriously, it was a stupid idea. We're both drunk and being stupid, just forget this happened.”

Unfortunately, it doesn't look as though Eddie is going to forget any time soon. In fact, it's more like he's studying them both for clues, the wheels turning despite the whiskey and weed gumming them up.

Steve's about to turn tail and run when the lightbulb goes off. Eddie doesn't look like he believes the conclusion he's come to but he's figured it out nonetheless. “Wait. No. Seriously? No way.”

His eyeballs are aching. He pushes against them, causing starbursts behind the eyelids. “Can we please not do this?” He begs.

Eddie sputters. “If this is me finding out you're queer, Steve Harrington, then yes, we most certainly are!” He looks at Robin but she's stonewalling him in solidarity.

The fact that neither of them has said anything to the contrary is damning enough. Steve might as well have ‘bisexual’ tattooed across his forehead.

“Holy shit.” Eddie snatches Robin by the wrist, she tries to wrestle her way out but he's jangling her about like a rag doll. “Holy shit! You were trying to set us up! Holy shit!���

“Let go, asshole! You ruined it, remember?”

He does let her go, so he can stare at Steve in horror. “No! Fuck! Steve, I was bullshitting! I was lying my ass off, I swear!” He tries to round the corner of the island but Steve moves to keep it between them, unsure of this sudden development. Eddie stops when it's clear Steve isn't reciprocating.

They stare at each other until Robin breaks the awkward silence. “Prove it.”

Eddie shakes off the cobwebs. “Huh? I mean, how? I wasn't exactly doodling Mr Edward Harrington into my journals.”

She crosses her arms. “Then I guess we're done here.”

Steve doesn't point out that she's not actually in charge of this situation because it seems to motivate Eddie into action. He gives them the ‘one moment’ finger and then dashes outside.

“You believe him?” She mumbles.

“I don't know. At this point I'd probably settle for him looking to turn me into a bedpost notch.”

“Have some self-respect.”

“Nah.”

Eddie comes back, dragging Jeff by the arm.

“Tell him!” He shouts, finger pointed at Steve.

“Tell him what?”

“The thing that shall not be spoken.”

Jeff raises one eyebrow. “How am I supposed to-”

“Oh my god, just tell him.”

“No.”

Eddie blanches. “No? What do you mean, no?”

“You made me swear.”

“So?! I'm unswearing you! This is important! I need you to unfuck this situation, pronto! You can give him all the gory details, I don't give a fuck, just tell him!”

A gleam sparkles in Jeff's eye. “Every gory detail?”

Now Eddie, correctly wary, hesitates, glancing at Steve nervously. “Well, maybe not all-”

Jeff interrupts Eddie, turning fully toward Steve with, “Eddie is bananas in love with you. Probably has been since school, but it's gotten so much worse since this spring. I'd say seventy five percent of the songs he's written are about you. He's also got a fully fleshed out fantasy life involving you, including, but not limited to, five adopted Vietnamese kids, two cats and a dog.” He turns back to Eddie. “Can I go back outside now? Those hotdogs aren't going to eat themselves.”

Eddie, eyes closed, waves him away.

Before he's fully out of the kitchen, he turns and says, “Oh, also he has a VHS copy of one of your swim meets. Bought it off of some AV kid for sixty bucks.”

Steve's stomach, already roiling with excited nerves, erupts in butterflies.

Eddie does not notice this, head buried under crossed arms on the island.

“I think we've swung too far in the other direction,” Rob points out, oblivious to Steve's excitement. When she finally does notice, it's met with rolled eyes. “Of course you're into that. Absolute freaks, the both of you. You know what? Good. Take each other off the market. My job here is done.”

She hops off the stool and leaves them alone.

Eddie cautiously pokes his head up, sees Steve smiling at him and jolts up straight like a prairie dog. “You believe me?”

He wants to toy with him for a minute, a touch of revenge for the dismissal he made earlier. “What swim meet was it?” He asks, like a test.

Without missing a beat, Eddie answers, “March of ‘85. You beat some kid from West Jefferson by four seconds.”

Steve preens. Eddie isn't bullshitting, he really did beat that kid from West Jeff. Only someone who gave a shit to pay attention would know that off hand. The whiskey makes another appearance in his bloodstream, giving him the courage to lean over the counter, into Eddie's space.

“So…you like me?”

Eddie has this incredibly endearing habit of hiding behind his hair when he’s nervous, it takes Steve out at the knees every time he sees it. “I'm gonna be really pissed off if this is some convoluted prank but…yeah, man, I fucking like you. Romantically. In case that was in question.”

“Mmm,” Steve agrees. “What are our kids' names?”

Eddie closes his eyes against Steve's smug stare. “I hate Jeff so much.”

“I don't. I'll thank him at our wedding. Maybe we name one of the kids after him.”

When Eddie peeks at him, one eyed, Steve does his best to convey his amusement and fondness both.

His body goes lax, finally, at seeing Steve take all it seriously. “Okay, so I like the idea of all of them keeping their Vietnamese names, except one who we name James.”

“After Hetfield?”

“Can I kiss you?”

“Yes. Please.”

Some time later, after making out in the pantry for a while, Steve vetoes James, but only because he doesn't want the poor kid to grow up with a complex.

“We’ll call the dog Jimmy.”

“Cool.”

[steviewashere]

Thinking about a fic idea right now where Steve comes out (maybe with a little Steddie...maybe; might be best to start them pre-relationship in this). Walk with me here.

Steve Harrington who has always been a huge Wham! fan. And then eventually a huge George Michael fan. He's got all their albums. Collects magazines with interviews in them (y'know, if there's a U.S. release). So, he's pretty much up to date with all news, music info; that kind of thing. He's always on the money about when interviews are.

George Michael who comes out publicly in 1998 after his arrest. Which, you can watch the clip from the interview here. He's thirty-four at the time, had been private about his sexuality and romantic life up until then.

Steve who's freshly in his thirties.

He's thirty-one. He's had some thoughts in regards to his sexuality for years now. Since Robin came out to him in 1985, he's thought about little things. The way certain guys walked that caught his attention, maybe the plushness of their lips, how they styled their hair. She's introduced him to queer culture at the time—pride parades & protests, some lingo, the handkerchief code, etc. So, he's well aware of a lot of things before the CNN interview airs. He hasn't made any hard connections between his sexuality and the thoughts in his head; maybe he's had a few, soft, questioning moments like: Am I gay? Am I bisexual? Is this what I really think or am I searching for something I don't actually want? Am I just being too observant?

(Okay, thinking about pre-Steddie now. And a lot of platonic soulmates Stobin. Also, I totally (accidentally) half-wrote a fic. Stay with me here.)

Eddie's been a part of Steve's life since 1986. Somehow he survives (don't ask me the fine details, I don't know). And Steve tries his hand at being Eddie's friend because he kind of—no, really—wants a guy friend who's around his age. Cue their shenanigans: the chaos they cause together, the pranks they pull on their other friends, the shit Eddie makes Steve get into (drag racing (cars), stealing scrap from the junkyard, throwing rocks over the quarry to guess the impact they made, other little town shit). Eddie who learns that Steve's a true ally to Robin, so he comes out to Steve, too. They all form a very great, deep bond of solidarity. Become roommates outside of Hawkins, somewhere a little more progressive. They protect each other. Listen to each other.

Cue the day in 1998 when the CNN interview is being aired live, unseen up until then. Steve's already ready to watch, having taken up the middle cushion on the couch. Robin's on his left, criss-cross and making a set of beaded bracelets for the three of them. Eddie's on Steve's right, uncapping a couple bottles of beer to pass over. And they're watching with Steve because Steve likes George Michael and, well, they like Steve and his interests. So they're all there when George Michael comes out. They're all there when the words are said live.

Robin and Eddie are wide-eyed, then laughing something a bit triumphant, high-fiving over Steve's head, maybe chanting something: "One of us! One of us!" Maybe becoming huge George Michael fans as they speak. But, Steve's silent. He's sitting on the edge of his cushion, palms down on his thighs, staring off into nothing. All the celebration stops as the interview continues, words being missed. And Robin and Eddie share an odd glance, a questioning one. Until, finally, Robin asks, "Steve-O? You OD over there?"

Steve blinks back into existence. Mutters, "Did George Michael just come out on live TV?" Eddie answers him truthfully, voice a bit soft and concerned. Steve licks his lips, doesn't move his eyes from his socked feet. "...He knew for a little while," he comments. "Right? He knew for a while."

"Sure, Steve," Eddie answers again. "He probably knew about himself for a long time. Probably...Honestly, probably while he was still in Wham."

Maybe Steve nods at that. Maybe he just stays kind of stoic, thinking too hard. "He's thirty-four," Steve points out.

"That he is," Robin answers this time. "Thirty-four and proudly out."

Steve hums some sort of acknowledgement and then goes back to watching the TV, moment drifting away. He sort of watches in a daze. Up until he turns in for the night. Well after Robin has slumped over on the couch and Eddie's gone to bed earlier—because he has work, or so Eddie's said. And Steve maybe sits in his bedroom, up at his headboard, looking down at his albums. At his Wham! and George Michael albums. Turning the tapes over in his hands, reading the track lists, maybe tracing the edges of the cases with his thumbs. Thinking about how George had said he was telling his life story, even through some of his earlier solo work. He's thinking about how successful George Michael has been. And then he thinks about how George Michael came out later in his life. In his thirties, not in his twenties, not in his teens. Sure, yes, it was definitely more negatively criticized to do so, but it means something to Steve. To be thirty-four and freshly out. And he thinks, too, about being thirty-one and things clicking into shiny clarity—he's into guys, too. He's into women, but he's into guys. That word, "bisexual" looking like the final jigsaw piece. To be thirty-one and proudly out, too.

And he's comforted in that thought, as he drifts off to sleep.

And when he wakes up in the morning, he bustles around Eddie and Robin in the kitchen. They make a shared breakfast of scrambled eggs and sausage and toast with jam. They sit at the dining table, forks against plates, shooting the shit back and forth.

Steve cuts a slice of sausage, puts it in his mouth, eats as usual. And just as the conversation is beginning to drift again, he finally speaks what's on his mind. "I'm bisexual," he's able to proudly state.

Maybe Eddie and Robin cheer, too for that. They ask him for his taste in guys. Maybe they tease him a little. Maybe Eddie realizes he fits the bill a little; maybe he waits a little bit before taking a shot, but he still does eventually.

And right before they head off for their respective, regular lives outside of the comfortable space of their apartment, Robin knocks their shoulders together. "Proud of you," she states. "Thirty-one and proudly out. How does it feel?"

They're in the kitchen, washing and drying the dishes because Eddie left for work already with a promise to bring home pizza for dinner. They're in the kitchen, the lights a little fluorescent like the Starcourt bathroom. They're in the kitchen, in each other's orbits, two friends who've seen it all and will continue to see the world together.

"It feels...I feel good. Excited."

Robin smiles at him, something soft and understanding. And as his focus goes back to the plate he's about to hand off, she snorts. "So, Eddie, huh?" And he scoffs, rolling his eyes. She just laughs to herself. Then, when she's calmed a little bit, she states, "He kind of looks like Rowlf. You and I have a thing for Muppets, Stevie. Muppets."

And after their laughter dies down and they live out the rest of the day, Steve thinks about how he can send a letter of thanks to George Michael. And maybe he cherishes those albums a little closer. And he is confident in himself for the first time in a while, all because the representation he didn't know he was seeking, is finally right in his face.

Sorry that got long. But I'm just thinking about Steve who comes out later in his life. Maybe he couldn't make those connections because he didn't have the safe atmosphere to do so; feared the worst if his parents ever realized he didn't care too much about women sometimes, if his eyes drifted to men a little too much, fearing that they'd catch his contemplation. Maybe he found his safe space through Robin and Eddie, but needed a little more of a push and he just didn't find it yet. Up until now.

[artiststarme]

Eddie and Steve only break up once. It’s not because of a fight or a disagreement. There’s nothing nefarious about it but it isn’t quite a mutual decision either.

They break up at Steve’s request for a night so he can properly commiserate with Robin about being single.

He felt like he can’t accurately discuss her feelings and feels badly about giving her advice that he can’t even fathom anymore, not since falling in love with Eddie. As her bestest friend and the co-owner of their shared brain cell, he decides to fully support Robin by being single with her for a night.

He plans on going to gay bars with her, hyping her up as the best single wingman he could be, and commiserating the impossible dating scene with her. That’s not quite what happens though.

Instead of having a fun night out on the town as single queers in the big city, Steve spends the night wrapped up in Robins arms under a fluffy blanket on the couch wailing about not being loved anymore and Eddie breaking up with him.

Robin very much thinks it’s real, very much hates Eddie for approximately 14 hours for breaking Steve’s heart and comforts Steve to the best of her ability. She even watches sucky rom-coms with him and listens to Tears for Fears on repeat.

They cuddle together on the small couch in their apartment, loving each other and scolding Eddie in solidarity. Robin spews words of anger towards the dumbass metalhead that decided to break her best friend’s heart so callously on a random Friday night. And for no reason as well! Blasphemous in her mind.

She stews quietly all night and much more loudly when she and Steve are awoken to Eddie bringing them coffee and waffles from their favorite cafe down the street.

When she finds out that they only broke up for the night and it was very much not real, Robin is absolutely furious and makes them take her to a Blondie concert in revenge. It’s the least they can do after stressing her out so much in just one night. Deep down though, she’s happy it wasn’t real because she can see how happy they are together, if not the stupidest people she knows.

[sarcasticassian]

whenever someone asks how Robin and Eddie became best friends they just say it was through Steve because the soulmate of my soulmate is my best friend blah blah blah

what they don't tell people is they jumped headfirst into being besties when one day Steve was having a lollipop and of course he's gonna share it with Robin, they're platonic soulmates, its not gross to share the same lollipop but then later without thinking Steve also offers it to Eddie because Eddie has had Steve's dick in his mouth before, he's not gonna care about sharing a lollipop so all three of them share it without realising, sometimes it goes straight from Robin to Eddie and back without Steve even having a lick and afterwards they realise and decide, fuck it, the pact of friendship has been sealed with saliva, gay solidarity and a love of Steve so we may as well go all in

[qprstobin]

Gonna be frank, y'all constantly making posts about Robin and (gay) Eddie being friends based on their queerness that is its own thing separate from Steve, almost always paired with st/ddie being a thing is biphobic lol. It's always like omg wlw/mlm solidarity!!! Even tho stobin is already there being two queer people as friends? Like y'all are straight up treating Steve's queerness as different and lesser than Robin and Eddie's (especially bc I only ever see this with gay Eddie, never with bi Eddie). Y'all can make Eddie and Robin friends without the biphobia, y'all know that right?

[steddieunderdogfics]

I'd like to rec Queer Solidarity by snarkatthemoon for the 20 comments challenge monday!

Queer Solidarity by snarkatthemoon

@snarkatthemoon

Rating: Explicit

6,227 words, 1/1 chapters

Archive Warning: No Warnings

Tags: Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Clubbing, Friends to Lovers, Jealousy, Bisexual Steve Harrington, Gay Eddie Munson, Porn With Plot, Big Gay Everything, First Time, Blow Jobs, Anal Fingering, Anal Sex, Riding, Semi-Public Sex, kind of, Top Steve Harrington, Bottom Eddie Munson, Topping from the Bottom, Getting Together, Robin Buckley is a Little Shit

Summary:

“Look at you, Harrington. All prepared to be my big gay wingman during your first big gay experience. You’re too good for this world, Steve.” “Stop. Calling it. That,” Steve grit out, ignoring Eddie’s laugh coming from the back of the van. . Or, Steve takes it upon himself to accompany Eddie to a gay club in Indianapolis when Robin gets sick.

Thanks for the rec!

This rec is a part of Challenge Monday. The challenge this week was Fics with 20 comments.

Know a fic that deserves extra love? Submit through our asks or the submission box!

[grilledcheesehasfeelings]

A Cosmic Summer

Stobin Month Day One: Summer

Rating:Teen

Cw: Mention of a car accident and mention of concussion. Nothing graphic

Tags: Platonic Stobin, Background Steve/Eddie, Background Nancy/Robin, Medical Inaccuracies definitely, Dialogue heavy

Okay, so according to her calculations Robin is pretty sure it's roughly a bajillion degrees today. Sweat seems to be pouring out of every inch of her, bangs stuck to her greasy forehead. Glancing at Steve, she notices he isn’t faring much better, his hair shoved in a cap, poorly shading him from the sun, his cheeks are red and his breaths are shallow.

Eddie and Nancy came strolling back outside not a care in the world that Hawkins is actively melting. Steve and Robin catch each other’s eyes, Steve makes a “what the fuck” gesture towards their respective (and sweat free) partners.

Robin gives a huge shrug with her eyebrows shooting up into her damp hairline. While distracted she doesn’t notice Nancy coming over until the coldest can of Coke is pressed to her inner thigh. 

Robin lets out a guttural yelp and tries to get as far away from her girlfriend as possible with the limited room the chair offers. “Nancy Francine Wheeler! In the wise words of one of the gremlins we appointed ourselves to look after, I dump your ass!”

Nancy chuckles before pouting, “Would a kiss make it better, Chicken?” She starts putting sweet, cool kisses right where she placed the can, ignoring the eyeroll Robin gives at the nickname.

While the girls start to play fight, Steve turns his attention to Eddie, who cracks open his own can of Dr Pepper. Noticing Eddie has nothing else in his hands he decides it’s the perfect time to start a little argument of his own. “Wait wait wait. So let me get this straight– Don’t even.” He says shutting down whatever little remark his boyfriend was about to fire at him. “You and Nancy go inside, leaving Robin and I to die in the heat and then you don’t even bring us anything? Wow you know Robs I thought I’ve seen it all but this might be the cruelest betrayal in human history.” Steve crosses his arms ignoring the fake guilty pout Eddie’s trying to distract him with.

The biggest puppy eyes block Steve’s view of literally anything else, “Stevie, light of my life, my eternal flame, the future mother of my children, God’s greatest work, world’s most gifted cocksu–”

“We get it.” Nancy and Robin said in creepy unison. Steve tries to cover his cackle as a cough.

“We intended to bring you and Bucks a popsicle but unfortunately I think your secret stash was raided last time the kids came over. Sorry lover boy.” Eddie said as he shoved Steve over to make room for his bony ass. 

Robin and Steve both groan, they have one of their trademarked SteveandRobin silent conversations, before Steve sighs, “I’ll get me keys, let’s rock and roll Robby.”

Nancy boos him, Eddie just rolls his eyes and mutters something about being in love with a dorky dad. 

Robin shoots them obnoxious finger guns in lame solidarity with Steve. “Leave him alone for he does not know what he’s doing, or something like that. I don’t know, I didn't pay any attention at church camp.”

“Uh huh you were too busy paying attention to Counselor Gabby.” Eddie retorts.

Nancy brows furrowed, “You guys went to church camp? The two gayest people in Indiana?”

“Gay and poor thank you very much, it was basically free daycare for the summer if your family made under a certain amount. Plus I think Wayne thought it would give me an outlet, when that didn’t work he got me my guitar.” He gives them all a smirk. 

Steve and Robin leave Eddie and Nancy to their weird sibling like bickering, and make their way to the garage. “I know your parents are objectively garbage, demon people–”

“Pretty sure that’s offensive to Demons.”

“Mhm right well you’ve clearly been spending too much time with your satanic boytoy. But my point was. My point was… Actually it’s too hot to remember. Consider yourself lucky Harrington.”

Steve reaches over to thoroughly mess up Robin’s hair, which she valiantly tries to fight off. “Awe everyday with you makes me lucky.” He punctuates his statement with a swift poke to her ribs.

With the assurance that the Upside Down was sealed off for good, to never return again, there’s been this heavy weight lifted off of everyone’s shoulders. Yes, they still had all the heavy trauma, the nightmares, insomnia, you name it and they all had it. The kids, the adults, even the adult adults had their own hosts of issues. But this was the first summer in five years they’ve been able to take a breath and have stupid fun together.

Most of their summer has been spent showing Eleven a bunch of normal kid stuff that was stolen from her by the stupid fucking lab. Steve and Robin had been in charge of El’s self expression. Which sounds ridiculous but after being told who she’s supposed to be her whole life, Steve had the experience of letting those notions go. He was able to figure out who he was with the help of Robin, so together they had a million conversations with El about preferences, they watched movies, listened to every kind of music, just trying to figure out what things spoke to their own little superhero. Suffice to say, it’s been the most rewarding summer of either of their lives. 

But this is still Hawkins obviously life couldn’t keep being that easy. They hadn’t even made it downtown before the beemer was sent rolling because some asshole ran a red light. Two arms reach out to provide safety for the other, instead they cling together and all they can hope is that they can make it out on the other side one more time. 

***

“No, I get what you’re saying. Trust me we know this hospital’s policy inside and out, but they’re a special case. They will freak out when they wake up and can’t find each other, it will be bad for everyone. We’re just asking if we could move them to the same room, please.” Nancy’s eyes were wet and she was pleading to the charge nurse.

“I understand your frustration Miss Wheeler, but unfortunately at this time I cannot make special accommodations.”

“Please, please reconsider, they both have bad experiences with… hospitals. They need each other,” Eddie is doing everything he can to hold himself together and not freak out on this woman. That was Nancy’s lane anyway. 

They both kept pleading with whoever would listen to them. It was killing both of them to be anywhere but their partners’ sides, but they were the last thing either of them needed right now. They needed each other, and Wayne. Wayne was one of the few people who were able to bring both Robin and Steve out of their own minds quickly and safely. 

In the end it didn’t matter.

“Robin! ROBIN!” Steve was screaming. There was a clatter of noise, a rush of faculty heading towards Steve’s room.

“Nance call Hopper, and Wayne! Hey HEY don’t touch him, don’t fucking touch him!” Eddie took off at full speed towards Steve’s room.

Nancy takes a steadying breath as her tears start to fall freely now. She’s able to get ahold of both Hopper and Wayne explaining their situation. They needed Wayne to help Steve calm down and remember where he was, and Hopper was the right amount of authority to have strings pulled in the hospital. 

She hangs up the phone with shaking hands and goes to talk to Robin’s parents about what the doctors have been saying. There’s still a lot of yelling coming from Steve’s room, she winces when she hears a broken sob coming from a scared and worried Steve.

Soon enough both Hopper and Wayne come thundering down the hallway. Hopper is already yelling, asking to speak to whoever is in charge. Wayne is quietly walking into Steve’s room and almost immediately after the staff trying to sedate him vacate with the heads hung a little lower. Wayne follows them out, has a brief chat with Hopper who in turn has a chat with the Chief of Medicine. A few moments later Steve’s bed is being moved right next to Robin’s.

***

Visiting hours eventually end, Wayne and Hopper have to essentially drag Nancy and Eddie out of the hospital. Jon and Argyle thankfully have been keeping the kids at the Wheeler’s house to avoid any more unnecessary antics as the not so helpful nurse described their situation.

Soon it’s just a barely awake Steve softly tapping his fingers on Robin’s knuckles. After what feels like hours (time is still pretty fuzzy) Robin slowly blinks awake. “Eve ‘s going on?” Steve lets out a sob he didn’t even think he had enough left in him to do that. “Whas wrong? Why so sad babes?” Robin continues asking questions, becoming a little more together between each one. “Oh my god. We’re in the hospital? What the fuck?” She’s giggling and Steve is pretty sure she’s certifiably insane. 

“Jesus Christ Robs we literally almost died. How are you laughing?” Which is bold considering he’s not even trying to hide his smile.

“Pretty sure we’ve almost died like twenty times by now Dingus. What’s one more?” Robin’s still laughing until she lets out a wince and puts a hand to her head. “My head hurts.” She pouts.

Steve chuckles but it’s heavy with emotion, “Yeah that’d be the concussion at work. You okay? Should I call a nurse?”

“A concussion? I’m pretty sure that’s your territory,” Giving him a mock glare.

“I thought so too, and let's keep it that way from now on. Gotta promise to stay outta my lane Robby.”

An offended squawk, “That is enough of that, your pretty head can’t take anymore damage, doctor’s orders.” 

“I just hate seeing you like this, especially since I was driving and–”

“Nope! We are not doing this Steve. To be fair I’m still a little foggy on the details but I know for a fact what happened was not your fault.” She doesn’t have a ton of energy left and she really wants him to understand this part. “Hey look at me Steve.” He doesn’t. “Stephifer.” She lightly teases until they catch eyes. “You don’t always have to be the one getting hurt. Which is crazy I have to say because you’re literally in a hospital bed hurt.”

Steve scoffs, “Not nearly as bad bud. You took all the hits this time.” He pushes her bangs away from her eyes.

“Maybe. Well at least you know how it feels this time round.”

Steve’s eyebrows knit together, head cocked like a confused puppy, “What’dya mean?”

Robin stifles a groan, if she had the strength she’d shake him by his shoulders. “Steve, how do you think I felt after Starcourt, or after Spring Break? You literally took on Evil Russians for me, even before we knew we were cosmically destined to be best friends. So… I’m going to take this concussion for the team. I’d rather be benched for a little while than you not ever play again.”

With the most disgusting, snotty, wet half laugh Steve says, “I can’t believe you just cheered me up with a goddamned sports metaphor.”

“I think it was an analogy actually,” Robin muses.

“Oh my god, shut up.” A beat. “I love you Robin Buckley.

“I love you Steve Harrington.”

And they succumb to much needed sleep hand in hand, just as the cosmos decided.”

[rotteneldritchhorror]

I do love the idea that despite Robin being a lesbian and Eddie being gay and them NOT being into each other in the slightest, and yet constantly flirting/making sex jokes to each other, making everyone around them incredibly confused

[steddie-fanfic-recs]

She's Cheer Captain and I'm on the Bleachers

by foxesnotopossums

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationship: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson, Jason Carver/Chrissy Cunningham, Chrissy Cunningham & Eddie Munson, Robin Buckley & Steve Harrington, Robin Buckley & Eddie Munson, Robin Buckley & Steve Harrington & Dustin Henderson Character: Eddie Munson, Steve Harrington, Robin Buckley, Chrissy Cunningham, Jason Carver, Nancy Wheeler, Dustin Henderson, Jonathan Byers Additional Tags: Jealous Steve Harrington, Bisexual Steve Harrington, Gay Eddie Munson, Chrissy Cunningham Lives, Alternate Universe - No Upside Down (Stranger Things), High School, Steve Harrington Has a Crush on Eddie Munson, Oblivious Steve Harrington, Steve's a bit of a dick at first, but he's mostly just confused, First Kiss, Steve accidentally fantasizes about Eddie, Jason Carver is still an Asshole but could definitely be worse, GAY/LESBIAN SOLIDARITY, Period-Typical Homophobia, Implied Sexual Content, Recreational Drug Use Words: 5,089 Chapters: 1/1

Summary

Chrissy Cunningham and Eddie Munson are closer than anyone in Hawkins would have ever expected. Steve Harrington is definitely not jealous at all.

[schrijverr]

I Found Myself a Cheerleader 9

Chapter 9 out of 28

Bumped to the lowest step on the social ladder after his fight with Billy, Steve gets roped in with the cheer team. What starts as a favor to help them out when one member breaks her leg in turn for protection from the brunt of the bullying, sets the universe on a different path.

In this chapter, on the dirty bathroom floor of Starcourt mall, Steve and Robin confess to each other that they’re as queer as they come, finding solidarity despite the world crumbling around them, before they have to go back into the fray. With everything that goes down, the Byers have enough on their plates and Steve is instead caught by the Buckleys.

On AO3.

Ships: eventual steddie & buckingham

Warnings: after affects of drugs, period typical homophobia mention, f-slur, fighting, minor character death, injury

~~~~~~~

Chapter 9: The Bathroom

Steve cannot tell you exactly how he ended up on the bathroom floor with Robin. The whole route there is blurry and embarrassing. Nothing says a good end, like throwing up. Though, the urge to vomit is gone now.

He sits back against the wall with a groan and blinks a few times, then comments: “The ceiling stopped spinning for me. Is it still spinning for you?”

It’s quiet from the other stall for a second, then he hears an awed: “Holy shit. No.”

“You think we puked it all up?” Steve asks, not sure if it works like that when they injected it into their bloodstream.

“Maybe? Ask me something,” Robin says, putting on a Russian accent as she adds: “Interrogate me.”

“Okay,” Steve huffs, because laughing at the Russian accent makes it less scary and he needs it to not be scary right now. “Interrogate you. Sure. Uhm…” He thinks for a little. “When was the last time you, uh, peed your pants?”

“Today,” comes the immediate answer.

“What?” he laughs, slightly disbelieving.

“When the Russian doctor took out the bone saw,” she explains as Steve giggles more. “It was just a little bit, though,” she defends.

They burst into laughter again. There is enough in their system to make them giggly and a tad too honest, but uncaring about it.

Excitedly, Robin demands: “All right, my turn.”

And Steve gives in easily: “Okay. Hit me.”

“Have you…” Robin starts, thinking for a second, before hitting Steve with a hard one, “ever been in love?”

“Yep,” bubbles out of his throat before he can stop it and he quickly modifies it to fit what he told other people. “Nancy Wheeler. First semester, senior year.”

“Oh my god,” Robin exclaims in that same tone she uses when Steve tells her some drama he heard while she was on break. “She is such a priss.”

“Turns out, not really,” Steve says, because even if he never loved her like he wanted to, he cares deeply about her and he’s seen to much of her to let her be Ice Princess Wheeler in the minds of people, when she’s so much more.

“Are you still in love with Nancy?” Robin asks quietly after a second.

“No,” Steve says, despite not wanting to. Telling Robin he loves Nancy would be easier, it might discourage her from making a move on him, but he doesn’t want that. He wants to be honest with Robin. After all they’ve seen, he doesn’t want to lie to her.

“Why not?”

Because I’m gay, is what Steve wants to say, but the words haven’t come easy. Never have. Even that time with Eddie, the other guessed and then he agreed. He has never really said them like that, never.

Eddie.

Beautiful, charismatic Eddie.

If there is one person, he wants to kiss, it is him. He wants to know if those rings will get caught in his hair, if Eddie’s tongue will be as wicked as it looked around that sample, if he’ll feel his scruff, how those narrow hips will feel under his hands. Without thinking about it, he starts to try and tell Robin that.

“I think it’s because I found someone who’s a little bit better for me.” He chuckles. “It’s crazy. Ever since Dustin got home, he’s been saying: ‘You know, you gotta find your Suzie. You gotta find your Suzie.’”

“Wait, who’s Suzie?” Robin interrupts him and Steve is glad she’s trying to understand him, trying to get what he’s saying, willing to listen to what he’s having a difficult time communicating.

“It's some girl from camp, I guess his girlfriend,” he explains. “To be honest with you, I'm not 100% sure she's even real. But that’s not- that’s not really the point. That doesn’t matter. The point is this b- person, you know, the one I like?”

God, he nearly fucked up there, nearly said boy. It is what he wants to say, but not like that. Robin needs to know more than that. Needs to know how he’s tired of fitting in, tired of playing this perfect person. She can’t leave before that, he can’t make her hate him yet.

So, he goes on a little more carefully: “It’s somebody that I didn’t even talk to in school. Not really. And I don’t even know why. I mean, at the end, I was already one of the freaks. What would it have mattered if Tommy H. would’ve made for of me or I wouldn’t be prom king? It’s stupid. I mean, Dustin’s right, it’s all just a bunch of bullshit anyways.”

He’s breathing a little more heavily now, chest heavy with regret of how he shut Eddie out after their talk. And how despite that Eddie stood up for him, Eddie was there for him with kind words and understanding when he was kicked out.

“I should’ve been hanging out with this person the whole time,” he says ruefully. “First of all, they’re a little weird, but that makes them so much better to be around. We’ve been through similar things, like we get each other, there’s a connection there. And they’re smart, way smarter than me, can put together things easily. Also a little clumsy, but I love how they move anyway. They’re honestly unlike anyone I’ve ever met before.”

Steve sighs after his little speech. He still hasn’t said what he wanted, instead getting stuck on wistful thinking about Eddie. It’s easier to go on about him as a concept than to say that he’s in love with another man.

He’s pretty sure Robin will be cool, even if he’s ruining any chance she thought she had. Robin, whom he now realizes, is very quiet. Too quiet. Immediately he pictures her having died from drug poisoning or some shit without him noticing and he asks: “Robin?”

Fear only grows when he gets no response, so he taps on the stall and asks: “Robin, did you just OD in there?” trying not to let the panic show as any thought about Eddie disappears under worry for Robin.

“No,” Robin sighs in a way that doesn’t sit right with Steve. Her whole voice doesn’t sit right with him and alarm bells are ringing as she says: “I am still alive.”

Needing to make sure she actually is alright, Steve slides under the stall, uncaring about how gross that is. Relief flooding his veins when she is okay, only looking a little downtrodden as she leans against the other side of the stall.

“The floor is disgusting,” she tells him.

“Yeah, well, I already got a bunch of blood and puke on my shirt, so…” Steve shrugs with a small smile. Robin doesn’t reply to that beyond a tired smile and Steve’s heart is beating in his chest, wondering if she has put it together yet. Softly he asks: “What do you think?”

“About?” Robin shoots back as if she hasn’t yet.

“This person,” Steve clarifies, hating how hard this is, how easy he wants it to be, because this is Robin and they’ve just been tortured in a secret Russian base together, so him being gay can’t really top that. Yet still, he can’t say it, needs her to put it together like Eddie had, so he can agree, instead of deny like he’ll usually do.

“She sounds awesome,” Robin tells him.

Steve wants to pull his hair out, because she isn’t getting him. So he shakes his head and tries to be more explicit about it: “The guy.”

“Look,” Robin starts, looking like she’s not at all having the same conversation he’s having, “he doesn’t even know this girl. And if he did know her, like- like really know her. I don’t think he’d even want to be her friend.”

Now Steve is sure that she isn’t having the same conversation and he realizes that she thinks he won’t want to be friends after today. That takes priority over his bullshit and he frowns: “No, that’s not true. No way that is true.”

“Listen to me, Steve,” Robin says, looking him in the eye like she’s trying to make something clear and she doesn’t know what he’ll say to it. “It’s shocked me to my core, but I like you. I really like you. But I’m not like your other friends. I’m not a cheerleader. And I’m not like Nancy Wheeler.”

It suddenly dawns on Steve that she thinks he is confessing his love to her. He runs through what he says and cringes when he realizes how easily that could be misconstrued. He says: “Robin, that’s not what I-”

“Stop,” Robin cuts him off. “Do you remember what I said about Click’s class? About me being jealous and, like, obsessed?”

“Yeah?” Steve says with a frown, wondering what she’s getting it and a little sure she’ll get mad if he tries to interrupt again. Though he’s mentally trying to figure out how to clear up the misunderstanding before she tries to kiss him or something, though that seems less likely now.

“It wasn’t because I had a crush on you. It’s because she wouldn’t stop staring at you,” Robin says, her tone wistful and it clicks for Steve what she is really saying, how they had the same misunderstanding, but in different directions.

“Who?” he asks, soft smile on his face, though Robin isn’t looking his way. His heart is swelling at the knowledge that she is like him, that she gets him, like he got her on that cold, Russian bunker floor earlier.

“Tammy Thompson,” she hesitantly answers after a second. “I wanted her to look at me, but she couldn’t pull her eyes away from you and your stupid hair. And I didn’t understand, because you would get bagel crumbs all over the floor. And you asked dumb questions. And you were a douchebag. And- and you didn’t even like her and I- I would go home and just scream into my pillow.”

The words hurt a little. Steve knows who he used to be and only the fact that he isn’t anymore eases the sting. His heart mostly aches for Robin. How that must have been. He remembers looking at Eddie, how he strutted over the tables, the only attention directed at Steve a sneer. How he longed to touch, but knew it was safer not to.

“I know how you feel,” he sighs, sounding more tired and longing than he’d meant to.

Robin’s head snaps up, brows furrowed in confusion. She’s probably wondering why he isn’t commenting on her lesbianism as she asks: “You do?”

“Yeah,” he gives her a crooked grin. Robin is queer. Robin is safe. He can just tell her. “You’re right, I didn’t like Tammy, hell, I didn’t even notice her looking. I’ve- I’ve never noticed. I was always too busy staring at Eddie. He shouldn’t even have been in that class either. Guess neither of us passed it. But he’d sit in the front row and make all these drawings and I’d just be stuck watching how he blew a strand of hair out of his face continuously and all I wanted to do, was tuck it behind his ear.”

He looks at Robin and her eyes are bulging out of her head and Steve gets it. He has worked very hard to be perceived as straight, especially since working with her. It has been a conscious effort.

“Surprise,” he says, a theme in his coming outs, it seems. “I lied when I said I joined the cheer squad to get in their pants, because I am actually a fag.”

Robin gapes a bit and Steve feels a little proud of rendering her speechless. When she finds her voice she screeches: “You’re- What the fuck, Harrington!”

“I’m sorry?” he says, not sure what to do with her reaction.

“Don’t say sorry, you dingus,” she tells him, grabbing his hand and shaking it excitedly. “Holy fuck, you’re also like me. We could’ve been gay gossiping for weeks now. Why didn’t you say! What was all the macho hetero bullshit for?”

“You know it’s not that easy,” Steve protests, not letting go of her hand. “You’re actually the first person I’ve told.”

“I am?” Robin sounds honored and surprised.

“Yeah,” Steve says. “I mean, someone else also knows, but promised not to tell. They guessed it though.” His voice turns a little bitter as he adds: “Not that it’s hard though.”

Robin squeezes his hand, looking a little tentative as she asks: “Is this related to the fight with your dad Chrissy mentioned?”

Steve honestly doesn’t know why she remembered that, but he finds himself nodding. It feels nice to tell someone now that it’s more settled, feels like less than on that first night with Eddie, yet bigger.

“Uhm, yeah, he- he got real mad. Kicked me out,” he says. “I’ve been living on the Byers couch the whole summer. Trying to save up for my own place.”

“He kicked you out?” Robin repeats with big eyes.

“It’s not that bad,” Steve lies, wanting to assure her that she’s going to be fine, that they both are going to be fine. “Nice to be rid of him. Don’t worry.”

“Alright,” Robin says, not looking like she believes him. They know each other too well for that now. Still, she is content to drop it now that he doesn’t want to talk about it and he’s grateful to her for that.

They sit in silence for a moment, before Robin grins and says: “So, Eddie Munson.”

Steve feels himself blush and he replies: “Shut up.”

“No, come on,” Robin whines. “I deserve to know about your big fat gay crush on Eddie Munson. It is, like, the best thing I’ve heard all summer. It’s Romeo and Juliet, two lovers on opposite sides of the school social sphere.”

“Shut up, no it isn’t,” Steve giggles. “We’re pretty close on the social ladder these days, Robs.”

“Just indulge me, Stevie,” Robin complains, shaking his hand in a demanding manner.

“He’s just pretty,” Steve tells her. “He has these brown eyes you can drown in and his fingers – fuck, musicians hands, you know?”

“Iew, don’t tell me about that,” Robin squeals with delight.

“Oh come on, you wanted to know,” Steve protests, also grinning.

“I wanted to know about how you managed to get a crush on an absolute weirdo, who walks on tables and holds dramatic speeches like he’s the main character in a book,” Robin exclaims. “Not you being lustful for his hands!”

“Lustful?” Steve repeats, nearly choking on a laugh.

“You heard me, lustful. I see right through you, dingus. You and your lewd thoughts,” Robin says, trying to look serious, but already starting to crack.

“Shut up,” Steve laughs. “It’s not my fault I have a crush on someone interesting and cute instead of a total dud.”

“Tammy isn’t a dud,” Robin protests.

“Yes, she is. She wants to be like a singer. She wants to move to like Nashville and shit,” Steve informs her with a teasing grin.

“She has dreams,” Robin pouts.

“She can’t even hold a tune,” Steve exclaims, Robin also starting to smile as he makes a total fool out of himself. “She’s practically tone deaf. Have you heard her? All the time.” He starts to sing Total Eclipse of the Heart in his best Tammy impression.

“Shut up!” Robin is obviously trying to stop from laughing. “She does not sound like that.”

“She sounds exactly like that. That’s a great impersonation of her.” Okay, so Steve can be a bit mean, let him. Tammy is a bad singer and they both know it.

Still, Robin takes it up for her, blinded by rose colored glasses. “She does not. You sound like a Muppet!”

Gleefully, Steve points out: “She sounds like a Muppet. She sounds like a Muppet giving birth,” the statement enough to get Robin to laugh too.

She starts to sing too, sounding like Kermit. Both of them giggling like idiots, not just at their own singing and stupid joke, but at the relief of having told someone and it being okay. Not only that, but having that other person be like them. To have a friend, who knows you wholly, who understands and still loves you.

Steve can practically feel that Robin is going to be his best friend for life.

They get interrupted by Dustin and Erica and their giggly mood is too big to not crack up at his offended: “What the hell!”

After that, the mood goes down pretty quickly. They’re still stuck in the mall with the Russians and not only that, but there has been more going on than just the base beneath Starcourt, which has the entire party coming together from all over town, each through different trail.

And something is wrong with El. She has been injured and Steve feels sick, watching her remove something from her leg with her powers. Fuck, she’s already been through too much for her age, she should be done with this shit and be a kid by now.

The only positive in the whole situation is that Hopper and Joyce also seem caught up in it, which is bad, because Joyce definitely deserves a break, but Steve is glad he isn’t the oldest. That he doesn’t have to be the adult. Happy to defer to them in this situation. Them and their weird friend. Honestly, Steve is over asking questions.

He just sits back and watches as the ping ponging of stories and arguments slowly morphs into a strategy against whatever they’re up against now. It probably can’t get worse than a demogorgon or a horde of Russians, Steve reasons, and he already survived that.

Steve is send with Dustin, Erica and Robin to the radio tower thingy Dustin built. Hopper puts him in charge handing him keys to a stolen car. As he does, he frowns at the state of Steve’s face and asks: “You good to drive, kid?”

“Yes, sir,” Steve says, sending Hopper a smile that hurts his bruised face. His vision is still a little blurry and he has never had a worse headache, not even after Billy, but there is a tentacle flesh monster out there. He’s not letting Dustin and Erica out of his sight after what happened, nor Robin after being separated in the base.

Hopper scrutinizes him a second longer, obviously not fully believing Steve. “Alright,” he does give in in the end. They can’t afford not to. “But after this, I’m dragging you to a hospital, kid. You look like you got run over.”

“Sounds good to me,” Steve agrees and it isn’t even a lie. A doctor would be smart after all the abuse he’s been through today. He can’t afford more brain damage.

So, Steve gets the keys to a car that is honestly a beauty and orders to keep three smart dumbasses alive through the night.

Steve can do that.

He lets Dustin direct him to Weathertop, which is probably another nerd reference he isn’t getting, but that’s okay. Directions are directions and Steve can follow those.

Todfather, the car, the sweet sweet car, can’t make it fully up the hill, so they walk the last bit. The tower looks complicated and Steve is impressed by the smarts of his little buddy. Fuck, that kid is going to make it far.

They listen as Dustin and Erica coach the weird friend through the Russian bunker, sounding incomprehensible as they discuss where he needs to go next. And it is not until the guy goes radio silent for a bit that they check with the others at the mall: “Griswold Family, this is Scoops Troops. Do you copy? Over.”

Silence.

“Griswold Family, I repeats, this is Scoops Troop. Do you-” Dustin’s frantic talking gets interrupted by a monstrous shriek from the radio. All of their hearts stopping. Again Dustin starts up: “Griswold Family, do you copy? Do you copy?”

Instead of an answer, there is more roaring and all of them start to fear the worst. Steve can already envision Joyce coming out of that base to find her children dead, Steve having been safely tucked away at the radio as monsters tore her little Will and brave Jonathan apart.

Dustin holds fast, continuing to radio. “Griswold Family, this is Scoops Troop. Please, confirm your safety. Griswold Family, this is Scoops Troop. Please confirm your safety. Are you en route to Bald Eagle's nest?”

Still no answer and Dustin’s voice is starting to waver as he begs: “Please confirm your safety. Someone, please just answer. Is anyone there? Anyone, please!”

Something in Steve snaps, he can’t listen to Dustin trying and failing to make contact with the others. Something is wrong. Very wrong. Nancy would've said something if they were okay. They are in trouble and Steve is going to help.

He gets up and starts walking to his car with determination. Dustin demands to know where he’s going and Steve snaps: “To get them the hell out of there!”

Robin jumps up and follows, grabbing his hands as they get into the car, radio with them just in case.

Steve has never broken this many speed limits in his life, now glad for his days as King Steve when he and Tommy would race each other over back roads when drunk. Utterly stupid thing to do, he knows that, but it gives him the ability to drift corners even with his vision half blurred and his head spinning.

When they get to the mall, the whole thing is chaos. The rest of the party is standing around a car, but it obviously isn’t starting. Not a moment later, Robin gasps and points at the car that is ready to slam into them, her eyes better equipped to see right now.

Without thinking, Steve revs the engine too as he speeds more. Robin’s hand is on his, clutching it like a lifeline while screaming bloody murder about car safety.

Together they barrel towards Billy’s car. Steve lets go of Robin’s hand to brace both hands on the wheel, while Robin clicks her seat belt on. Steve might not be the one translating the secret message, but he can see the trajectory of Billy’s car and figure out where to aim, so they’ll collide in a magnificent crash.

He nearly hits his head on the wheel and his neck strains on impact. His already spinning head only spins more and he blinks a few times, his brain not yet caught up with the fact that he just crashed the car.

The yelling gets him moving as the others finally get the other car working and they drive away, the Mind Flayer hot on their tail.

Then Steve goes through what might be the strangest minutes of his life as Suzie is confirmed to be real in the weirdest way possible. Part of him thinks it’s the concussion, until he sees Robin’s bemused expression.

However, the hilarity of Dustin and his girlfriend singing cannot erase the horror of the Mind Flayer. How it chases them. How they have to fight it. How El has to fight it. How Billy dies because of it. How Max screams when it happens.

Steve doesn’t think he’ll ever be able to forget those screams. He stands there uselessly, watching, feet frozen.

Robin’s hand finds his again and he takes great comfort in her smaller, yet warm palm in his own as they stand in the ruined hall of Starcourt mall, the place that has held them hostage for so many hours this summer.

The warmth helps him stay grounded. He squeezes her hand once, then starts to walk, letting his grip stay loose in case she wants to let go, but she doesn’t. She follows his lead like she had back in the bunker when she stayed by his side, even though she could have left. It’s nice to be wanted in such a way.

Nancy is checking over Mike, Jonathan has caught Will. Lucas has informed Dustin and Erica about how it went, before going to hold Max together with El.

It still hasn’t fully landed that Billy just died, even as he makes his way to the body. El has gotten Max away from the corpse, but it’s still there, Billy’s unseeing eyes staring up to the sky. His chest is ripped open, white cloth stained red.

Steve has never liked Billy. Ever since the man came into town, he has made Steve’s life as miserable as he could. Steve isn’t going to miss the fear hanging over him with Billy and his harsh words and dangerous fists. How he terrorized Max and Lucas. All the slurs he slung around.

But even if Steve hates Billy’s guts, he won’t forget watching him die and he can be thankful to him for shielding El, even if it was an egomaniac move only done to stick it to the Mind Flayer, not out of any care for El or Max at all.

With mixed feelings, Steve kneels down next to Billy and closes his eyes. He doesn’t have anything to cover the gruesome wound, but he looks less dead like that.

Steve nods to himself, then gets up, walking to Max, Robin hot on his trail. Max doesn’t look to be in a state to move or talk, so Steve asks Lucas: “You guys okay?” wanting to help, but unsure how he can be useful.

“We got her,” Lucas assures him with a tight smile that looks closer to a grimace.

Seems like Steve isn’t really useful. And without purpose, he starts to feel his injuries, starts to shut down. He isn’t sure how he’s still standing right now.

Right as he’s about to start swaying, the mall gets flooded with soldiers in full combat gear. They’re shouting, barking orders, in a way that is too close to the Russians for comfort right now. Steve’s muscles automatically tense and he feels how Robin starts to tremble besides him.

He pulls her a little closer. She’s his person now and the others are all cared for, but Robin is new to this and she is scared now. Steve can be there for her.

So, he holds her as closely as he can, letting her cling to him. His lip wants to wobble, but he bites on it to stop it. He’s been through this before, he knows how to deal with the aftermath and right now Robin needs him to be strong.

There is no Hopper, no Joyce that can take over and be the adult. Steve is the oldest and he has to make it seem like it’s all going to be okay. Like this is normal. Like you can get used to this and move on someday. That they all lived. That they’re fine now. They just need to wait until the government lets them go. He just needs to hold on until Joyce and Hopper get back up from the bunker and then they can be the adults.

His knees start to get unsteady, but he locks them up tight, bites his lip again and lets the zing of pain it sends through him make him aware.

Pain is his hold on.

Instead of letting it drag him down, he clings to it. Focuses on the way his beat in face throbs and his bruised ribs ache, how his ears ring and his vision blurs a bit on the left. It’s easier to focus on that, than the yelling that scares him and the need to be held that overtakes him.

He needs to keep his head in the game. It’s just like in basketball or cheer. Just focus on getting through it, block out the jeering and cheering and just focus on catching and throwing, how his body feels as he moves and where he needs to go.

Steve has Robin, the others are also taken care of. Joyce and Hopper must be on their way back up with their friend. That just leaves Dustin and Erica. They need to be safe too.

With that in mind, he gets the attention of one of the soldiers that looks to be giving orders. He puts on his best Harrington, an attitude that always gets what it wants and informs the man of the two kids out there on a hill alone. Demands they’d be brought to safety too.

The man doesn’t look happy with the news, but Steve doesn’t back down until there are people en route to get the two nerds to safety.

All throughout, Robin stays glued to him and he’s sure it’s the only reason he manages to keep his perfect posture until his demands are met. After the man agrees, Steve stumbles a bit. He tries to stay upright, because Hopper and Joyce aren’t back yet and Steve has to be the eldest.

But Robin doesn’t let him. She loudly starts worrying about all that might be wrong with him, convinced he’s going to kneel over. She is loud enough that a medic that came with the soldiers comes to check Steve over.

Steve protests at first, but Robin doesn’t let him. She tells the man what happened to him – in as much detail as she knows – and the medic’s eyes widen in concern. The medic grills Steve, poking and prodding at him.

It feels a bit too much like an interrogation for Steve’s liking and he gladly clings to the first distraction he sees.

Joyce returns from the bunker and with her is the weird guy, the two of them flanked by American soldiers, their stolen Russian uniforms standing out. Without thinking about it, Steve starts to scan for Hopper, expecting him to see him and frowning when he doesn’t.

He isn’t the only one thinking about that, it seems, because El leaves Max in Lucas’ capable hands and wanders over to Joyce. At this point Steve is flat out ignoring the medic with a frown on his face as he follows the interaction happening a few feet away. El innocently and slightly confused asks: “Where is Hopper?”

And he watches as Joyce starts to cry at the question, the sudden realization that Hopper isn’t coming back, hitting Steve.

“Joyce?” El asks, sounding a little scared as she watches Joyce cry, the meaning of the situation hasn’t reached her yet.

“Oh god, I- I’m so sorry, honey,” Joyce says and Steve can hear her voice crack across the distance as she takes El into her arms. “He- He didn’t make it.”

Steve watches as it hits El that she has lost her first parental figure. The only dad that ever cared for her in a way that mattered. The man, who has been her whole world for nearly two years now. Who took her in and let her be a person.

If Steve thought he would never forget Max’s scream, that doesn’t hold a candle to how El wails at the news, clutching Joyce as she collapses.

The two hold each other, mourning the loss of a man they both loved.

It hits Steve at that moment.

Hopper is gone.

The chief is gone.

The man, who drove him home and made sure he didn’t drown in vomit after Billy kicked his ass, is gone. The man, who searched all night for him after his father kicked him out, is gone. The man, who stopped in the middle of a crisis to check in if Steve was alright enough to be part of the plan and made him promise to get checked out, is gone.

Hopper has always been El’s dad. His gruffness melting for this kid, who wormed her way inside his heart. However, he’s always had a soft spot for Steve too and he now starts to feel the emptiness where that cushion used to be.

This is a situation where he would defer to Hopper for. Look at him to see what has to be done now. How to make it better. But Hopper isn’t here. Hopper is dead.

Steve is the one, who has to step up now. Take charge of clean up and make sure everyone gets home alright. His body aches, both with grief and injury at the thought, but he pushes it away. He has big shoes to fill.

Mentally he goes over everyone. Mrs. Henderson will be in a worry when she hears, come for Dustin and coddle him until he’s exhausted. Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair also have been through this before, so Erica and Lucas are in good hands. Nancy has Mike and knows how to steer her parents in these situations. They’re good too. That leaves the Byers, El, Max and Robin.

The Byers have been through this before. They’re going to be fine, but Joyce lost Hopper and Joyce is the one El clings to. They might turn out to be fine, but they have a lot on their plate. Steve decides he’ll find a place of his own to stay tonight. Lighten Joyce’s load. El can go with them, get the understanding and love of someone who knows.

With that mentally settled, he moves on to Max. God, Max. Max just lost her brother. She’s going to have to go home to her step father, who just lost his son. Fuck, what does Steve do about that? Will the Sinclairs take her for the night? Will her parents come? When will they know that Billy hasn’t made it?

He focuses back on the medic, who’s been giving him a moment and asks: “What will the cover up be?”

“I don’t know, kid,” the medic tells him. “Not my department.”

“Will you let Billy be found?” Steve asks. “Give the family some closure. It’s the least you can do after Max had to see him die. Make that she can talk about it to someone.”

There must be something in his eyes, because the man gives him a sympathetic nod and says: “I’ll mention it to the higher ups,” which is all Steve can hope for. He can’t offer Max a home for the night, safety, a shoulder to lean on. But he can give her that.

“Is Steve going to be okay?” Robin asks from next to him, changing the subject. She’s still there, fierce and loyal. In another life, Steve could have been in love with her.

“I’m fine,” Steve tells her. He doesn’t feel fine, but Hopper would have been fine, if he were here, no matter what. Steve can be fine too. Move on. Be a rock.

“No you’re not, kid,” the medic says, foiling that plan. “You need to be under supervision tonight. You have a concussion and cracked ribs. You need to take it easy. Stay still. Do not strain yourself, do you understand? But you did get incredibly lucky, these injuries could have been a lot worse.”

Steve sends him a scowl, but Robin jumps in: “My mom is a nurse. He can stay with me tonight and she’ll make sure he won’t die.”

The offer sends warmth down Steve’s spine. Robin wants him by her side as much as he wants her at his. She is looking after him, even if he doesn’t need it. And she just solved one of the biggest problems of the night.

“That sounds like a good idea,” the medic smiles. “I’ll let you be for now. I’m sure someone will come by with a story and then you’ll be able to call your parents.”

Then the medic leaves and Robin heaves a deep sigh. She rests her cheek on Steve’s shoulder and he leans his head against hers. Quietly she asks: “Are we going to be okay, Stevie?”

“I don’t know, Robs, probably,” Steve answers honestly. He has always returned from these, but he hasn’t been the same since he knocked on the Byers door, now already so long ago. He thinks it’s been for the better, but he doesn’t know.

They sit there together as around them the government starts with the clean up, going through everyone and getting their story. Steve wants to go comfort them or help, but Robin keeps him chained to the bench and he’s too tired to fight her. Nor does he want to. Getting up and taking over means accepting Hopper isn’t here to do it. That he’ll never be again.

After what seems like hours – and probably is, if Steve thinks about it – they get fed a story about a fire, before Robin can call her parents as Steve tells Joyce where he’ll be, her face grateful as she cards a hand through a distressed El’s hair.

They nod along and sign what needs to be sign, just happy that they can get out of here.

Robin’s parents are two hippie looking people that Steve’s father would have a lot of unsavory opinions about. But all Steve can see if love and affection as they fuss over Robin as he keeps in the background.

Though Robin quickly drags him into the spotlight, dramatically recounting a made up story about how Steve made sure she wouldn’t get stuck under the falling rubble. How he got injured because of it and needs to be watched tonight. How he can’t go home. How he has to stay, pretty please, he’s my friend, he saved my life and he’s injured because of it.

Steve waits for the inevitable further questions, the arguing about her request. Instead, they surprise him by saying: “Of course he can come home with us. Thank you so much for saving our girl. Here come to the car, you look like you need to sit down, sweetie.”

“Oh, I’m alright, Mrs. Buckley,” Steve stammers.

“None of that nonsense. I’ll take care of you, okay?” Robin’s mom says. “And call me Daisy. None of that Mrs. Buckley stuff.”

And with that Steve is taken home. His brain isn’t fully caught up. He barely remembers the drive to a small house and he falls asleep easily, only remembering the gentle hands of Robin’s mom as he is tucked in on the couch.

~~

A/N:

Nothing will ever be more iconic than the bathroom scene, okay, it is permanently part of me, it shaped me, I will never shut up about it and it will always be the best Stranger Things scene. Period. But I did make both of them more stupid, bc they loose braincells when put together and I love that for them xp

[heavencasteel420]

what post were u talking about, the one about eddie and robin?

I can't remember where I saw it (except that it was on tumblr), but it basically expressed displeasure at people writing Robin and Eddie as friends in fic, because (a) it detracted from Robin and Steve's friendship and (b) it was somehow problematic to make them friends "just because" both are gay (referring to the popular but not ubiquitous headcanon that Eddie is gay).

Which, like, I think it's a total non-issue if some people aren't interested in reading about Robin and Eddie being friends, or if they genuinely don't think the two would vibe because of their character traits. But (a) there is something kind of immature about being bothered at the idea of Robin having any other friends (I feel like my second-grade teacher had to address this issue); (b) I never even thought about a Robin-Eddie friendship before seeing that post and I can already think of a few reasons why they might get along (both musicians, both hams, both weirdos) that have nothing to do with sexuality; and (c) are people seriously arguing that queer solidarity is problematic?

(I don't think they are, honestly; they're just not thinking because they're lost in the friendshipping sauce.)

[ithinkimightbeagoose]

Hi! My name is Dakota Byers. You…probably know my stepsister El.

So, I'm not really huge in that stuff, but I think someone told me I was a "Leo".

My best friend is Robin Buckley. Gay-lesbian solidarity. Plus we both work at Scoops Ahoy.

Yes!! I'm dating the lovely, absolutely adorable Steve Harrington. I love him so much!

Eddie. Hands down.

Me or Eddie.

I'm 19 as of four months ago.

Head Over Heels.

Something masculine, also peppermint because we both love peppermint tea.

Probably my mom, I always go to her when I'm sad.

Answer Questions As Your DR-Self

I wanted to do one of these like i saw on tiktok bc i think theyre so fun hehe, and its a good way to connect w ur DR - you can answer these to yourself, or in the comments/tags whatever, don't worry about spam ♡

What is your name?

What is your astrological sign?

Who is your best friend?

Do you have an S.O.? If yes, who? If not, are you interested in someone?

Who causes the most trouble in your group?

Who is more likely to to crack a joke at an inappropriate time?

How old is your DR-self?

What song makes you think of 'Them'?

What scents remind you of 'Them'?

Who knows you best?