robin, early twenties: *nervously* mom, dad . . . I'm gay
her parents: what? no? you're not
robin: *sad, because this is what she was afraid of* i know the things that have been on the news recently, but you can't just make someone not gay, it doesn't work like-
her parents: no, no, not because of that. because of steve.
robin:
her parents: what about steve
robin: what ABOUT STEVE??
her parents: he's literally our son-in-law???? he
drives you everywhere because you hate driving??? he sleeps in your room??? he helps out around the house and cooks dinner???? you always get jobs together, he's ditched two dates because they were jealous of you, you literally change in the same room as him. if you go more than two days without talking to him, you get in the mother of all bad moods--
robin:
robin: *rubbing a hand down her face* okay. i see where there might be some confusion. i'm getting steve so he can help me explain this shit
her parents: he's waiting outside the door, isn't he.
robin: . . . for moral support
her parents: you're not helping your case
robin: THERE ISN'T A CASE. GET YOUR ASS IN HERE, STEVE, WE HAVE TO EXPLAIN CODEPENDENCY TO THEM
Honestly, I LOVE creepy unhealthy relationships. And recently I discovered, that this couple has their own creepy unhealthy tag on AO3, and I cannnnt—
(TW: creepy and unhealthy.)
Like, she is a lesbian, he is bi-curious, and they went through some shit as result of which they became little (Not little. Definitely not little.) codependent. And it depends on the point of view, but people think they are dating. Those who are reasonable think they are still creepy. Maybe Party even thinks Robin isn't a lesbian: bi or something, because of... LOOK AT THEM.
And it's still the '80s. The '80s when you can be crippled or even killed because of your ori... because of rumors about your orientation.
And these idiots think that fuck, I can't imagine life without you, you can't imagine life without me, let's marry. We will be able to visit each other in hospital, to rent an apartment, YOU WILL BE IN SAFETY, it will be easier with documents, etc.
And so they get married.
(Of course, Steve gives Robin a bouquet of lavender.)
And everything is okay, but it kinda complicates the dating process for Robin. Yes, she is married, no, she isn't bi, she is a lesbian, yes, she loves her husband, no, she wouldn't divorce. OK, she can, but it will change nothing. Yes, you will have to build relationships for 3, no, you shouldn't be attracted to Steve. No, what kisses, what sex? Ugh! No, he is just my soulmate and my favorite person in all dimensions... No, I am not bi!
Steve is suffering too, but not as much.
And don't forget, that they are codependent. They are living together, sleeping together (JUST SLEEPING, THEY FEEL CALMER THIS WAY), eating together, going to college together, mastur...
Oh.
Briefly.
One day she comes into the bathroom at the wrong moment and gets curious. And she decides to participate in the process. SHE DOESN'T GET EXCITED, DOESN'T ENJOY IT SEXUALLY, but it is... interesting. Steve doesn't protest.
And once they are very very drunk (or not drunk at all), and they talk about women, about sex with women, and she complains, that she is maybe not good at cunnilingus. Or she has never done it. And he decides to give her a lesson. Very... practical lesson. She imagines her favorite actress, and physical stimulation is physical stimulation, everyone loves physical stimulation. In short, she decides, that it can be repeated. And periodically they repeat. IT IS STILL VERY PLATONIC.
And they live together. She becomes a translator, he becomes a teacher, and everything is completely okay and even better... but Robin understands, that she wants kids. She wants to become a mother. And they can adopt, but she wants to give birth to a child. Her own child. From her own body.
And of course, it should be a Steve's child. Because he is the best person in human history and all dimensions, he wants children, he is kind and pretty. He is already a good father! (Since he was 15 or so!)
The only thing... he is a man. And the perfect option is in vitro fertilization, but there is the '90s and they are too poor for it. Problem. But then Robin looks at other couples, at her parents' friends, her friends' parents, at KAREN WHEELER, and understands, that fuck, lots of women force themselves kinda once a week with an unloved, disgusting husband, but her husband is the best person in her life and all dimensions (including Upside Down, it's easy in fact). And she has to do it like... 3 times? 5? She has endured much worse things.
And Steve is in shock. He is begging her not to do it. He loves her too much to rape her.
"If I want it, it isn't rape."
But he still doesn't want! They can just adopt!The truth is he has no choice. She knows him too well. She knows where to press, how to ask, what to threaten with and he agrees.
(Maybe they try to do something with a syringe(?), but with no result, and he hopes there will be no result this time either, and Robin will agree to adopt.)
And OF COURSE there is no full process. He just... penetrates once at the end. But penetrates!
And then he apologizes like a million times and during the pregnancy becomes an even more perfect husband.
And, to his misfortune, the only thing she really regrets is that impregnation requires... well, the impregnation process.
Yes, it is hard to hang out in gay bars during the pregnancy. Yes, perverts of all sorts and genders hit on her. Yes, she has to lie that she realized her orientation recently. But it is still a great experience.
She wants to repeat.
And Steve on one side is extremely happy that he has a kid. But on the other side he kinda traumatized by process of impregnation. THIS FUCKING BULLSHIT WASN'T A PART OF HIS PLANS. But. Robin still knows him too well.
And as a result they have 2 or 3 kids. And it becomes tooooo confusing even for Party. Like... imagine Will's reaction. Poor Will. Maybe Eleven doesn't fully understand (BECAUSE SHE IS ALIVE IN MY HEAD, but with no powers) and she is like "okaay" when others are like "okaaaaaaaaaay".
And imagine. 15 years later one of their kids comes to them with his own coming out, but they are like:
- It is totally ok. Like, 21st century, who cares.
- WHAT? (He/she thought there would be a problem, like his/her parents are totally tolerant (look at uncle Will), but...)
- Your mother is a lesbian, I am bisexual. It's totally ok.
- WHAT THE FUCK?
And they understand, that they need to explain ALL this shit to their own children...
I think it's hilarious.
P.S.: Don't feel sorry for Steve too much. He also knows Robin too well))
I think it would be really funny if Steve thought he had made it obvious that he liked Jonathan when he was talking to robin, but not actually coming out.
EX:
Steve: Jonathan looks reallllly cute with that sweater on, I wonder how soft it is.
Robin: Steve, quit
Steve: What, I'm not even making fun of him! I just think that he looks hot?!
Robin: what??
Steve: I thought it was obvious!!
Robin: No! I thought you were still fighting with Jonathan over Nance!
Steve: I told you! When we were at the family video still!
Robin: No, you didn't Steve!
Steve: What did you think I meant when I was talking about all those hot actors?!
Robin: I don't know, I just thought it was a weird masculinity thing!
Does anyone have any stobin fic recs? Like where their codependent and can talk with just looks and know each other better than they know themselves? I’m desperate so pretty much anything will do but im currently rereading the future Mrs. Harrington for the third time right if that helps.
“Dingus, I’m gonna need you to spell it out for me here, the Russians did a number on how many of my braincells are actually working.”
“How did you know that you liked girls?”
Robin Buckley immediately pushed herself up so she was resting on her elbows, head tilted to catch Steve Harrington’s eyes in the low light of their hospital room.
They weren’t originally even going to go to the hospital, if Robin was being honest. They had just wanted to slip away back to their respective homes, but then Melissa and Richard Buckley caught wind that Robin was hurt. Then the both of them realized that Steve’s parents (if Robin has to use that term to describe them) had less than zero intention of sending anyone to pick up Steve.
Then EMS made the light suggestion of both of them probably needing to go to Hawkins General Hospital… and well, while Melissa and Richard did tend to lead toward more natural remedies… one couldn’t fix a concussion or a drugging with an unknown substance with essential oils and hope.
“Robbie? Did you OD over there?” Steve had himself up on his elbows, easily mimicking Robin. That’s the thing that makes the inside of Robin ache, that he’s so like her. She knows that she’s an only child, knows that, but sometimes Steve’ll just… do something and it makes her question it. Makes her wonder how she spent so long without him, without another brain and two legs and arms and so much hair. “Robbie?”
“No, I am still alive.” Robin slowly spoke, before she let out a soft sigh. “Why do you ask?”
“Like-” Steve huffed as he shook his head from side to side, before he used the one hand that was free from the pulse monitor and saline drip to card through his hair. It’s sleep ruffled, and if he uses product (Robin is sure he does), it’s for sure gone. Steve looks up though, and his eyes are so earnest that it causes something to hurt inside of Robin. “never mind just ignore- fuck - just ignore me.”
“I couldn’t ignore you if I tried, you idiot.” Robin let out a huff, and she winced as the PICC line in her arm shifted as tilted to be able to fully face Steve on her side. “But I just, dingus, this is out of left field for even you.”
“How so?”
“Did you even know that, that people like me even existed until a couple of hours ago?” Robin kept her voice soft, especially as Steve huffed out an indignant sounding sigh. Robin sighs though, and then she cards her own hand through her hair, and forges onward. “I think I’ve just… always known.”
“Always?”
“Yeah like-” Robin shrugged, a careful movement of her shoulders. “When I was like, eight? My uh, parents sent me to this camp thing- like summer camp kind of like what Dustin went to? But with, y’know, with the swimming and archery and dude I was fucking awful at it.” Steve let out a soft and watery laugh at Robin’s rambling, and that gave Robin enough power to continue. “But we uh, had these like songs we had to learn? And there was this uh, girl counselor there that had to teach me because you know, that was her job.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, and uh. She couldn’t have been older than I am now but man…” Robin let out a slow whistle, and allowed herself to fully melt into the hospital cot she’s laid up on. “All I could think was that I just wanted to be with her. Like not even kissing because I thought kissing was gross then, still do now kinda but anyway- I wanted to like, hold her hand and shit. Do the cheesy stuff I’d seen in the movies, y’know?”
Steve huffed out his own laugh, and he tilted his head to lean against his pillows instead of facing Robin. Robin watched though, quiet for once, as Steve swallowed once and then twice- before he cleared his throat.
“I knew it existed before you.”
“What?”
“It.”
“Dingus-”
“Girls liking girls.” Steve’s voice is barely above a whisper, even as Robin can hear him gulp in a lungful of air. “And boys liking boys.”
“You did?” Robin kept her voice quiet, gentle, as coaxing as she could- especially when she could see Steve’s throat bob. “Dingus?”
“I…” Steve doesn’t continue, and that’s enough.
Enough to Robin that she pushed herself up, and ignored the pain that ricocheted down her spine like needles. Ignored Steve’s hurried ‘what are-’, as she stumbled out of her hospital bed and right to Steve’s. She made sure to drag her IV pole and the monitor with her, situating it as best as she could next to Steve’s. Robin huffed quietly as the pain trickled down her spine, and she couldn’t help but smile as Steve curled his hand carefully around her wrist and tugged.
Robin got comfortable, let Steve fret over her as best as he could, his fingers only ever-so slightly trembling as he made sure that the line in her arm wasn’t kinked up. They were pressed close, side to side and hip to hip, and Robin tilted her head down until it was rested on Steve’s shoulder.
“Wanna keep going, Stevie?”
“No.”
“But?”
“I…” Steve huffed again, a small indignant noise that Robin mimicked.
They sat like that then, just the two of them for a moment, before Steve continued slowly.
“I’ve never, told anyone this- like I’ve told Tommy H. so much shit about me - but this is… Robin this is different.” Steve speaks in a hurried and stilted way, like he’s stringing together bits and pieces of sentences, and it shouldn’t work.
But it does because he’s Steve and she’s Robin.
And truthfully, Robin likes that. That they’re Steve and Robin. SteveandRobin. RobinandSteve. Likes that the two of them are so in tune that even her own mother didn’t want to separate them.
That had to mean something in the end, didn’t it?
“Tell me, whatever… whenever.” Robin murmured as she turned her head so she could press a soft kiss to Steve’s shoulder. The hospital gown is thin enough she can feel the heat of his skin from up under it, and that’s grounding. Grounding even as Steve drew in a shaky breath, audibly swallowing again. “Whenever you’re ready, I’m here.”
“I didn’t uh, notice Tammy in Ms. Click’s class or uh, you for a reason.” Steve slowly spoke, eyes wet, and Robin can hear his sniffle as he tried to reign his emotions back. “Ms. Click made him sit uh, right by her desk at the front of the room.”
And oh.
Oh.
If that doesn’t immediately settle something that just usually writhes around in Robin’s chest.
“Him?” Robin is gentle, gentler than she thinks she’s ever been.
“Uh, yeah… Eddie Munson?” Steve huffed out an almost dry laugh, the only thing that he does that ever remotely reminds her of his time as his high school “King Steve” persona. “He uh, got this bat tattoo right before that year’s Thanksgiving break and all I could do was just… gawk at him.”
“And then what?” Robin knew she was pushing, searching for information, but she can’t help it. Not when Steve is right next to her, hip to hip and thigh to thigh. Not when he’s like her. In all the ways that matter.
“I went home and screamed into my pillow.”
Robin immediately smacked Steve’s thigh with the knuckles of her left hand- grinning in triumph when Steve let out a squawk of laughter.
“Eddie Munson?”
“What about him?”
“He’s… he’s a total dud!”
“No he’s not!”
“He stepped in my mashed potatoes once! That is totally total dud material!”
“No way!”
“He wants to be like, like a metal singer!”
“He has a band! Dreams!”
“Do you even know if he can hold a tune?”
“Well, no-”
“Total. Dud.”
Robin grinned wide as Steve launched into a very quick defense about Eddie, and she decides then and there that Steve and her? They’ll be just fine.
Especially if she can get Eddie to come into Steve and her’s orbit just a bit, to see if the crush is still there.
Because while Robin may not have all of the gay knowledge in the world, there is one thing for a complete certainty that she knows.
The black hanky that Eddie kept in his pocket?
Well…
Robin chuffed to herself, before she tilted so she could lay on her side- nose tucked into the place where Steve’s neck and shoulder met.
Right before she falls asleep though, Robin does a very important thing on a mental whiteboard.
You Rule: 1
You Suck: 0
hope you all enjoyed! truthfully think this is one of my favorite things i have written. love platonic stobin. <3
codependent stobin to me means that robin wouldn’t even think about being into nancy because of bro/girl code (yes both they r both)
and robin so totally hated nancy for a while “for fucking steve over” and would give her stink eye. steve doesn’t even care and is friends with nancy but robin will continue to stink eye
