silly little thing for my @steddiebingo prompt: nerds | 758 words | T |
"Hey, maybe he can help," Robin says, sweeping a hand towards Dustin who's just walked into Family Video for his regularly scheduled afterschool bug Steve and Robin time, interrupting their conversation.
"Oh come on." Steve shakes his head. "The kid doesn't want to hear about my trash heap of a love life."
"Oh, no, I absolutely want to hear about that." Dustin perks up at the opportunity to learn about Steve's trivial suffering.
"We're trying to figure out why Steve goes on a million dates but can't seem to find someone he actually likes," Robin fills Dustin in. "Tell him, Steve."
Steve groans, dragging his hands over his face before splaying them out sarcastically, as that's the only thing he can really do in protest right now. Dustin's looking at him expectantly, and Steve has no choice but to tell the kid all about Linda and Heidi and Brenda and Lucy and whoever else he's been out with recently, doing his best to answer any subsequent questions as PG as possible.
"Well of course you haven't found the one yet, you keep trying to date a bunch of normal, basic, girly girls. That's not your type," Dustin informs him once Steve's done talking.
Steve raises his eyebrows. "Oh, it isn't?"
"You can't really be that stupid, can you?"
"No, please, Henderson, enlighten me on what you think my type is."
"You're into nerds," he says like it's completely obvious.
Steve scoffs. "I am not into nerds. You know, just because I hang around you little weirdos all the time does not actually mean I want to hang around even more weirdos in all the other aspects of my life too."
"Seriously, Steve, think about it," Dustin argues. "Think of all the girls you've actually been really genuinely into in your life. They've all been nerds! Nancy-"
"She's a straight-A student and a journalism super geek. She's a nerd."
Steve rolls his eyes and sighs grudgingly. "Alright, fine, but-"
"And you were into Robin-"
Robin wrinkles her nose. "Ugh, don't remind me."
"-who you can't deny is definitely a nerd," Dustin continues.
"You know what, actually, he does have a point," Robin says.
Steve looks at her in betrayal. "Don't encourage him!"
"That girl you told me about that you liked in middle school who was super into Star Trek, and the other one who wanted to write a fantasy novel one day- oh and the elementary school crush who was always reading a new book every day..." Robin lists, ticking each one off on her fingers.
"I told you all that in confidence!"
"Exactly." Dustin grins, vindicated and insufferably smug. "Ergo, you, Steve Harrington, need to find yourself a nerd."
"I am not into nerds!" Steve protests hopelessly.
"What more proof do you need?" Dustin says. "You're into nerds."
"Totally into nerds," Robin concurs.
Steve huffs and throws up his hands. "Fine! I'll admit I'm into nerds if it will make you two shut up about it!"
Eddie happens to wander into the previously empty store at that exact moment, catching the tail end of the conversation as he approaches the counter. "What's all this about nerds?"
Steve freezes, glances Eddie over and stares at him strangely for a few long seconds. "Holy shit," he mutters.
His gaze cuts to Robin, whose eyes go wide when she meets his look. "Holy shit," she agrees.
Eddie blinks at them. "Are you two having some sort of joint stroke or something?" He looks at Dustin as if the kid might have a better clue of what's going on. "Can you understand them?"
Dustin shrugs, equally mystified. "Don't look at me, man. They're weird."
The incomprehensible parroting conversation is still going on.
"Okay," Steve's saying, taking a deep breath in through his nose and exhaling determinedly.
"Okay." Robin grins and shoves at his shoulder.
Steve finally turns back around and leans on the counter in front of Eddie with a classically charming smile. "So, Eddie, are you free on Saturday?"
Eddie smiles back despite his confusion. "Yeah-"
"Oh my god!" Dustin bursts out suddenly.
"Oh my god," Robin agrees with a knowing smirk.
Eddie glances at Dustin. "Oh no, not you too."
Steve exhales a long-suffering sigh and pushes himself off the counter, marching around to grab Eddie by the hand and drag him away from Dustin and Robin. "So. Saturday?"
"He's into nerds," Dustin whispers, wide-eyed.
Robin nods sagely. "He's into nerds."
