Week #17 Prompt: "I can't believe you!" | Word Count: 1938 | Rating: T | POV: Nancy | Characters: Nancy, Robin, Steve, Eddie | Relationships: Ronance, Steddie, Past Mentions of Stancy, Fruity Four | CW: Language, Alcohol Consumption | Tags: Future Fic, Bisexual Nancy Wheeler, Old Friends, And Maybe New Love, Getting Together, First Kiss
Nancy lets her eyes adjust to the darkness and flashing lights of the club. It's not exactly her comfort zone. But she watches as the men, and the women, move to the beat of the music that's bouncing the speakers, thumping so hard she can feel it in her chest.
She's never been anywhere like this, not really. It's not exactly her scene, never has been.
So, she finds a spot to stand in the corner, leaving a buffer, so she can take it all in. She always needs to study first, she never just dives face-first into anything. Unless it's an emergency. And this? Not an emergency.
This is just an unknown, an exploration of her sexuality that might be coming later than most. She thinks she should have done this sooner. Maybe not the club part, but the acting on her interest in women. But she didn't. Not the women, and definitely not the club, so now she'd like to know more before deciding to be all in on being a club-going person, especially at her age.
Watching, it's clear that everyone seems to be having a really fucking good time, and aren't paying any attention to her clinging to the shadows, like a wallflower.
She's about to maybe make a move more towards the center of the action, when she catches a glimpse of a familiar smile, and she steps to the side to see better, to clear her sightline, to really make sure. And, yes, it is Robin, bouncing, laughing, dancing with a guy, seemingly having a hell of a good time.
It's not Steve, this guy is far too short, and it isn't until he turns that she realizes it's Gareth. He's just chopped off all his curls, which she thinks is kind of a shame.
But, beyond that, she knows if Gareth's here, that means Eddie's here, and if Eddie's here, well...there he is. Steve Harrington, bouncing, hair flying, looking twenty instead of over forty.
Looking free.
And happy. Really, really happy.
She hasn't seen any of them in person in years, only recently watching from afar on the new Facebook thing that she was bullied into joining by Dustin. She's not too mad about it, since it means she gets to see pictures of all her old friends, and gets to know that they're doing okay out in the world, living their lives. At least when she remembers to login and check.
Nancy hasn't decided if she's going to approach them or not. This is new to her, and while she knows they'd be supportive and fun and totally in her corner, she was really only looking to dip her toes in, not plunge headfirst.
But she doesn't get to decide, because Robin's caught sight of her and is waving frantically, with an enthusiasm only Robin can muster. She's missed her, she realizes. Missed all of them.
She sees Robin turn and yell in the other direction, hands flailing, nearly hitting those around her.
She hasn't changed a bit.
So, Nancy waves back, and heads her way. She's kind of glad the decision was made for her. It's easier that way, and she gets to see Robin.
When Nancy approaches, Steve is suddenly there, picking her up and swinging her around so hard, she feels her back pop. She's not sixteen, not anymore, but he doesn't seem to have gotten that message as he squeezes her against him, before finally putting her back on her feet but still doesn't let go.
"I can't believe you! You're here!" Steve says, smiling wide and so fucking happy.
He's glowing.
There's a ring through his eyebrow, and tattoos crawling up his arm, and yet, he looks exactly the same, somehow. Just really, really happy and all grown up.
It's a good look on him. Honestly.
He giggles, squeezing both of her arms, "Nancy Wheeler."
She almost corrects him, but it is Wheeler again. Her divorce was finalized and she took her own name back, and she doesn't expect she'll ever give it up again. It's who she is, and she kind of hates that she ever forgot that.
"Where's Eddie?" Nancy asks, leaning towards Steve's ear, trying to be heard over the music.
"The bar!" Steve screams back, and she looks that way, expecting to see him in line for drinks, but he's behind the bar. Putting on a show, as always.
It's a little mesmerizing. But Eddie Munson always was, for better or worse. He had an unique skill for capturing an audience and refusing to let them go.
Steve wraps his arms around her neck from behind, forcing her to walk in front of him, leading her right towards Eddie.
"Look who I found!" Steve shouts and Eddie grins, leaning up on and over the bar to cup her cheek, kissing the other one.
"Hey, Wheeler. What can I get you?" Eddie asks, waving his arm down the bar in a sweeping fashion.
She isn't sure, so she lets him pick, and he gets to work, sliding and twirling, dragging the bottle upwards as he pours, and she grins. He was made for this, she's pretty sure. Putting a show, holding an audience.
She hadn't realized he was a bartender, but she crawls up on an open bar stool, to watch him work. She expects that Steve will sit down next to her, but instead he walks around behind the bar, and kisses Eddie before he makes himself a drink. It's not as impressive as watching Eddie do it, but it's definitely not Steve's first time behind a bottle either, that's for sure.
"Do you own this bar?" she yells, and they both nod.
Of all the gin joints in all the world, she happened to stumble into theirs.
It really is a small world after all.
She hadn't heard they'd bought a bar. She must be more behind on that Facebook thing than she thought. Or they've owned longer than Facebook has been a thing, and it was old news she'd just missed out on hearing. She'll have to ask Dustin, or Mike. Get filled in on what they know.
"It's great!" she screams back, and it is. It's a little loud, a little overwhelming, but it seems like a really fun atmosphere.
They both smile, and Steve is holding his own drink, and Eddie leans over putting the finishing touches on it. Then Steve's back across the bar, sitting next to her.
"You're here by accident?" Steve shouts to be heard, and she nods. She heard about the queer friendly bar, that wasn't really a club exclusively for young people, and it looked like something she might want to check out, now that she's open to exploring that side of herself.
She should have known she'd be drawn right to Steve, the only other bisexual person she really knows. That's just how these things work with them. There are no accidents. They've all been tied together for a long, long time, even as they've drifted and lived their own, separate lives.
They try to talk over the music, but it's impossible, and Steve takes her by the hand and leads her behind the bar, and into an office. He closes the door, and the sound is suddenly gone. Silenced.
"Soundproofed?" she asks, sitting down on the couch.
Steve nods, "I still get headaches sometimes. It gives me a place to go to get away from the noise if I need to, without having to go all the way home."
"Smart. That's smart," she says, looking around. There are pictures lining the walls, filled with tons of familiar faces.
"It was Eddie's idea," Steve says, grinning, "he just wants me to be comfortable."
Then he smiles a different smile, a softer one, "And nearby."
Nancy smiles back at him, happy he's happy.
"He looks good, by the way," Nancy says, "really good. You both do. Robin, too."
Steve just smiles, because he knows that's true. Time has been kind to them, all of them, it seems.
"Gareth should have kept those curls, though," she teases.
"Don't tell him that, it's a sore spot," Steve says with a grin.
"Mum's the word," she promises.
Then the door opens and closes, Robin sliding inside. She bounces up and down, clapping her hands, "Nance! I can't believe you're here!"
Nancy stands up, and hugs her. Robin isn't as awkward as she was at eighteen. But she's still got that funky style that Nancy's always been a little jealous of, if she's totally honest. That innate ability to just be herself.
Steve is standing there smiling, and then says, "I'll let Robin show you around and catch you up. Eddie'll cry around if I skip out on helping him."
Nancy knows that's not true. Eddie Munson worships the ground Steve Harrington walks on, and has since 1986. At first it felt like Nancy was losing something that she might want again someday, and wanted to bristle up at Eddie. Claim her territory.
But she quickly saw how Steve looked back at Eddie. She knew that look, and well, and she was happy for him, even if it was kind of hard to let that door close for good.
By the time they all went their separate ways, it was pretty obvious Steve and Eddie were in it for the long haul, and probably would always be.
And here they are, still together, and they still look fucking happy.
She's not surprised one bit.
And good for them. She isn't sure what it would be like to pick right the first time. She's picked wrong twice now, and she's not excited to do it again.
Women. She might try women for a while. Forget all about men for a stretch and see how that feels, how it goes.
Robin is sitting next to her, and as soon as the door closes behind Steve, leaving them in quiet again, Robin's asking a million questions.
Always curious, Robin.
Nancy answers them. Mike's good. Three kids that act just like he did, which he definitely had coming.
Robin catches her up on everybody she's still close with that Nancy hasn't seen in a while, and it's nice. Comfortable, like no time has passed.
"You want another drink? Dance? Some food? Anything?" Robin offers.
"Yes," Nancy says, and hell, she thinks she might want it all.
Another couple drinks in, they are bouncing around the dance floor as much as their middle-aged knees will allow, when Nancy reaches forward to brace herself against Robin's hip.
She didn't mean anything by it, but the sudden shift on Robin's face is telling another story.
Oh shit.
Okay, yeah. That.
She steps forward, and Robin meets her halfway. Lips pressing against hers in a way that she only barely let herself think about, in a time gone by. The curiosity was there, down deep, back when they were just getting close. But Nancy didn't know how to define it, how to understand it within herself.
She does now.
Robin's hand slides up her back, pressing between her shoulder blades, as she kisses her in a way Nancy's never been kissed. Not by anyone, maybe.
She should have known. She should have realized that this is what she was looking for, missing, late to understanding.
When Robin pulls back, she smiles, and Nancy smiles back, her heart beating hard against her chest.
She wants to do it again.
So she does, leaning up, pressing her lips to Robin's one more time, eager to see where this can go from here.
Hopeful, and excited.
Ready.
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“We are not recreating The Shining,” Eddie says firmly, plucking the hatchet from her hands and holding it above her head before she can swipe it back.
Robin and Steve have a nice day out. Eddie accidentally locks a baby in a room. Nancy spirals.
Eddie & Nancy, Steve & Robin, Nancy/Robin, & Steve/Eddie
I’m just imagining Eddie walking in on you and stobin ‘getting up to things’ when you’re with the fruity four. Without him and poor Nancy!
*sighs dreamily* oh the fruity four my loves...
Sharing Is Caring
Fruity Four x reader
“Well well well... What do we have here?”
Eddie leaned against the wide open door frame to your bedroom. Inside it was dark, only a lamp in the corner on, but it was enough for the three inhabitants of the room.
On your bed, you were laying naked. Looking like a goddess of Greek legends, to Eddie. And with their mouths attached to one boob each, both notably still mostly dressed, were Robin and Steve. Who seemed to harmoniously be sharing your chest. Both now glowering up at Eddie from where he stood smirking.
Those two friends were very good at sharing. Of course all four of your lovers were, in this relationship, and so were you. But Steve and Robin definitely seemed to pair off occasionally to share you. As did Nancy and Robin. Or Steve and Eddie. Or Nancy and Steve! A number of mixes. All with very different styles of sharing in their own ways.
Robin gave a burst of breath as she latched off your left nipple, closest to the doorway as she bored at Eddie, with not a very impressed look in her eyes. “Go away Eddie.”
“Yeah! Get out.” Steve joined forces, before going right back to lounging on your other nipple. His eyes open and innocent up at you, as he mouthed hungrily over your breast.
“You three were keeping so quiet!” Eddie announced humorously, still not bothering to close the door, even an inch, spreading light into the room and your devoured form. “Trying to keep her away from me, and poor Nancy before we got back from work?”
Eddie finished around the same time as Nancy did on Wednesdays, and every other Tuesday, so he usually picked her up.
Eddie now lowered one hand to motion at you, his eyebrow raised as he kept up his coolness. “Did our highness, in all her loveliness, agree to be hidden away?” Eddie asks, the others not bothering to respond. Robin wasn’t even looking at him as her hands grabbed and fondled your tit hungrily, her mouth still moving with no intention of stopping, ignoring Eddie completely. Steve was still lightly scowling at Eddie a little, but he always looked back up at you with those same wonderous eyes, happily sucking on your breast without a care what was happening.
Eddie walked only a step into the room, but he made it clear he was speaking to you now. Something that was sparking a small fire in your chest, with his large brown eyes playfully right on yours, while Robin and Steve still selfishly sucked and grasped there. Your chest hammering below them. “I don’t know if someone as exquisitely bewitching as you can not be yearned for. Don’t you languish for me, your simple boyfriend, too sweetheart? Am I not allowed to play? Am I to be thrown away like so many others, and not be able to worship you in all your beautiful glory? Do I-“
“Eddie will you shut the hell up! I am trying to focus!” Robin loses her patience. When she accidentally goes back down on you, she bites your boob in her frustration. Causing a small gasp of pain from you, that she quickly apologises for. Brushing over your tiny marks with her soft hands, hushing you as she kisses it better. When she starts lapping it better with her tongue, with kitten licks, it definitely starts to make you feel a whole lot better.
Eddie, however, feigns hurt. His hand on his heart. And then he winks at you, making eye contact with you, and Steve, as he starts again. “Well if you need to focus you’re not doing a very good job.” He quips back, laughing when Robin doesn’t even bother to revolt.
But before Eddie can finish his romantic plea again, you raise your hand out for him, your other brushing Steve’s hair as your eyes beg for your other lover a little. Even though it’s hard to pay attention, when Robin and Steve are pinning you down with their mouths alone. “Hey. There is somewhere else you can put your mouth. Somewhere that’s free right now.” You offer, excited at the way his eyes light up. And especially how his tongue eagerly licks at his lips, in subconscious anticipation. God Eddie’s tongue thing was cute. And not even the tongue thing you were hoping he’d move onto in a second.
But right after you’d spoken you had looked down to your two other lovers. Robin first, then Steve, to make sure they were okay with Eddie’s participation.
Robin grumbled something, and Steve, who apparently heard her, agreed with the sentiment. “Yeah. He can kiss my ass.”
“Don’t tempt me Harrington.” Eddie raised his brow at him. But as the others, slightly begrudgingly but too enamoured to care much, went back to their task at hand, both of them humming around your tits as you carded your hands through their hair, something that made you sigh in pleasure, Eddie checked over his shoulder. And then, he yelled for Nancy.
“Yeah?” Nancy jogged up the stairs, a smile piqued on her face, hand bracing against the doorframe as she looked to Eddie, and then her eyes met with the room. Specifically, with you.
Robin and Steve both looked over now. They still kept grazing around you, you didn’t even need to be able to feel it, since the mouthing sounds rang through the quiet room, but they both met Nancy’s eyes, with a tad more curiosity than they had Eddie. And after Nancy had finished her glances at them, oh was her tight smirk devilish in the glow of the hallway, the way she swayed on her feet so innocently, but how she eyed you up like a piece of meat... it made you shudder. Something your two lovers clinging onto you, stroked your naked chest over. And you couldn’t tell if Nancy had seen your reaction, or if she was smiling more deviously between you and Eddie just because of the scenario alone.
“Oh. I see we’re having a party.” Nancy spoke slowly, teasingly. Her tone always able to get that more subby side of you out. She smiled oh so politely up at the other in the door. “Are we invited Eddie?” She asked him. Even though at this point, Steve and Robin were both having to hold down your legs, with their free hands, that you were bucking for both your other lovers.
Eddie crosses his arms, smiling back at her in a shared way. “Well I suggest we party crash.” He shrugged.
Nancy hummed. “Good idea.” She was cut off by a whimper from you, both of them looking over at the way Robin and Steve were having to use their own legs to keep you down now. Their mouths around your breasts becoming even more intense. Robin was sucking hard, one had clawed on your under boob, and staying there. Meanwhile Steve was sinking his teeth around your breast, his tongue frantically trying to swirl around your hardened peak. Both of them panting slightly with the effort, to enjoy their selfish time as much as possible, while keeping you down, and for themselves.
Nancy largely ignored this fact, making you whine for them again, as both her and Eddie were only looking to each other, just glancing at you, and your paramours.
“You think they’ll provide entertainment and a feast?” Eddie asked Nancy with a toothy smile, getting another hum in return, as well as her thought out answer of “If there’s enough to go around. I’m sure our lovely partners aren’t going to be that greedy.”
Robin mumbled at this. Pulling you closer, but not away from Steve, who she was still amicably sharing with. One hand latched protectively over your waist, as her other gripped the side of your boob she was now only heavy breathing over. Steve scrambling just that inch closer, hugging your side with such adoration and ease. Her leg was thrown over your bare one, and she nosed at the side of your chest as she had to lick her lips before she could grumble, seemingly having spent all of her spit on your boobs. “I wanna be greedy.” She said, not too loud, but somehow being stern, and slightly whiny, although you’re sure the latter wasn’t on purpose. She immediately went back to you when she was done, and you gently brushed her cheek as she did so, her look far off and stubborn, as her mouth moved about to latch again and again onto your breast, the plush of her tongue flattening against it with each new angle she tried.
You could tell by her darting eyes, and the way she clung to you more desperately, she could hear Nancy walking into the room. And while you, and Steve, looked up at her so wonderously, especially now Eddie was following behind, Nancy only gave you a greeting little smile and jovial raise of her shoulders, as she set her sights on Robin. She gently stroked her hand through the blonde girls locks, something you could tell Robin liked, leaning into it even as she stayed adoring over your boob. Your hand joining Nancy’s in her hair, by brushing Robin’s forehead at the same time.
“Now.” Nancy spoke cordially, moving by your head so Robin only had to look up to see her, which she did so. Mouth still bobbing around you. “Surely you’d like to share some of my attention too?” Nancy asked, with a hand delicately to her own chest. You didn’t miss how it was aimed just askew enough from her heart, to be just more poignant on her actual chest, just subtle enough for Robin’s lusted out mind. “If you can be soooo good and let me share y/n as well?”
Something that Robin, while definitely not letting go of you, seemed to be accepting of. Easily falling under Nancy’s soft, and sweet, and calculated dom tone that got you all.
But Steve on the other hand, was rapidly kissing at the side of your chest. Pecks smushed all over you there. Speaking more to himself, but alerting the others to the fact “Need to make y/n feel so good...” The mission of actually pleasuring you, instead of letting you just lay there. Causing a shiver up your spine as you suddenly had the singular attention of all four of your lovers, dedicated with the shared aim of making you feel good.
“I don’t know. I could ogle a bit longer.” Eddie scratched at his jaw while keeping an intensely charismatic eye contact with you, that you just couldn’t look away from. His tongue poking the inside of his cheek playfully, before setting out to stick out his mouth again, hanging onto his upper lip with exuberance.
When, even with the insane pleasure of two of your lovers desperate on your chest, and the other two riling you up so badly, you couldn’t help but gleam back at Eddie, biting onto your lower lip to stop a moan Robin and Steve were threatening with their depraved suckling, Eddie grinned even deeper back. You could see it in his eyes, how much you were making him glow right now. Followed by another very loving wink.
“Perv.” Robin and Nancy say at the same time, although with drastically different tones. It does get both girls to smile at each other though, Robin going slightly red as Nancy strokes down her neck more this time, a sweet and approving smile on her face.
“Then why do you need to share? Great! More for us.” Steve forlorns, something that Eddie very much does not agree with. Giving a pinch to your boyfriends ass, who still doesn’t rip himself away from your boob, just slapping Eddie’s hand away.
But those two still seemed to be attached to your boobs like gremlins. So Eddie let them be, with his own ideas in mind. Sitting on your bed by your thighs, narrowly avoiding Robin’s legs clung to your body, as he stroked your stomach up and down. “Hi.” He smiled, thankful to be sat with you. Grinning with a soft tickle to your stomach, as you give him a perky “Hi” back.
Once you’ve finished giggling (after giving Robin and Steve a quick earthquake), Eddie looks up to Nancy, who’s taken her own seat on the mattress, by your head, caressing your hair now. “You want her mouth, or pussy?” He asks genuinely, only looking at Nancy for her answer, even though his slow but affectionate stroking of your inner thigh was driving you insane. With how much Robin and Steve had been just blissfully zoned out, but with the new accompaniment of your teasing lovers, you’d been being given foreplay for what seems like forever now.
At least that problem got solved very quickly. As Nancy made out with you so egregiously. Her tongue dipping into your mouth with her constant moans that you just had to drink, there was nowhere else to go with her swallowing you like this. Her lips ruby red with how long she’d been kissing you, tongue occasionally poking out, to smooth over your lips. Eating your face, however she could. Your frequent whines swallowed by her, making you even more needy as you didn’t know if the others knew just how desperate you were. High pitched sighs leaving your lips that Nancy kisses up eagerly. Her lips brushing against your tongue, before licking hotly at your own with hers. Her teeth yanking your bottom lip, until she goes to embrace your tongue again.
Steve and Robin are still at your tits. Both lavishing over the one they have each, and very happy with their share. Their mouths hot and still somehow so wet, lapping and sucking over your chest, with as much devotion as they can possibly manage, as they nearly pass out from pleasure. But simultaneously, have really kicked it up a notch to be so sexual, so depraved, so caring about how wet you must be because of them, as they all work together on you. Something so special.
And below, Eddie’s on your cunt. All their mouthings and more added up to the love Eddie was devouring your cunt with. His long tongue laved and stroked up your pussy. Scooping up your slick, and tonguing around inside you. Lapping wetly with the plush of his tongue all over your outer cunt. Flicking against your clit in every which way, before his lips moaned and messily suckled hard against it, making sure to vibrate against you with his hungry moans of pleasure. His lips nibbling lightly at your clit, before going back to loudly kiss at it. Making out with you from down below, covering you with kisses, as the others were doing everywhere else. There was no escape from Eddie’s mouth. You could feel the breaths of him laughing against you, and he had your thighs wrapped under his still leather clad arms, Robin and Steve still keeping your body down, as Nancy kept your head where she wanted it.
And you writhe, with all four of their mouths, their lips, their tongues, on the most loving parts of you. Wondering what it must look like, if someone took a picture of you right now. How all of you was encompassed by one body, solely devoted to you, on each part. How all four of their appreciative, and real moans, are squashed against the skin of your flushed self. Your body held in the embrace of all four of your lovers.
The Worst Double Date in the World | Rated T | Robin / Nancy, side Steve / Eddie | 9,297 words | AO3
***
“We should go on a double date sometime,” Nancy said.
There was a terrible thumping in her chest that she hoped Robin couldn’t hear. As much as she’d rehearsed this conversation in her head, she was still totally unprepared for how nervous she was to actually have it.
Robin looked up from the book she was reading, frowning. “You know people typically need to be dating someone before they can double date, right?”
Nancy shrugged, as if all of this was just occurring to her now. “So maybe we set each other up,” she said. “I mean, no offence Robin but you’re way too cool to be single.”
Robin rolled her eyes. She’d expected something like that.
“No, I’m serious! You’re funny too, and…” Nancy pressed her lips together. This was the part where the plausible deniability of this plan got a little shaky. “You’re so cute. Like gorgeous, actually. You deserve someone who knows how great you are.”
A little flush had appeared across Robin’s freckled cheeks. God, she looked so cute when she was embarrassed.
“Well, what about you?” Robin challenged. Nancy’s furiously loud heart skipped a beat. Or several. “You’re probably the smartest person I’ve ever met, you’re stupid hot—” Nancy laughed, but Robin looked dead serious.
Could this actually be working? It was her plan, and she’d obsessed over it, but somehow, a part of her was convinced it was doomed to fail.
“I don’t think there’s anyone at this school that could keep up with you, Nancy Wheeler.”
Nancy couldn’t keep the smile off her face. She bit her lip and looked away. It was too good to be true. “I bet you know someone who could,” she said quietly. “And I bet I know someone for you.”
Robin grinned at her, that big showed-all-her-teeth smile that Nancy loved.
“Alright then,” Robin agreed. “Friday night?”
Nancy nodded, barely able to speak she was so happy. She had thought (hoped wished prayed) that Robin might’ve felt the same way as she did.
But the thought of rejection had terrified her. Worse, the thought of that rejection ruining their friendship had all but paralyzed her.
For the two years they’d been at school, Robin had been her best friend. She couldn’t lose that, lose Robin’s friendship. It meant too much to her.
But she’d needed to know… and now she did. And all that fear and terror was for nothing because, somehow, Robin wanted exactly what she did. They were on the same page.
And on Friday night, they were meeting at a local restaurant and going out on their very first date.
Everything was going perfectly.
Standing outside the restaurant, Nancy wrapped her arms around her shoulders, somehow freezing even in the warm air. Her shoulders shook, and she squeezed her eyes shut.
***
Friday night, the air was warm and heavy with the scent of just-bloomed spring flowers. Everyone on campus was buzzing with excitement, elated about the approach of warmer weather and with it—the end of the semester. Final exams were around the corner, but for one night, it seemed like everyone had put aside their anxiety and stopped studying, just for a little while.
She would not cry. But God, she wanted to.
Everything had gone to hell.
She was an idiot, and worse than that, she was an idiot who had just ruined everything. She’d outed herself to her best friend, destroyed their friendship. Humiliated herself.
So fucking stupid.
The restaurant they’d chosen was just off campus, and it was packed to capacity when Nancy had arrived. The front was filled with people waiting for tables, and there was a line out the door for the takeout counter.
Sliding past waiting patrons and delivery guys, Nancy had thought they probably should’ve picked somewhere a little further away from school. Getting a table was going to take forever… but at least they were only two people.
That was when she had seen her. Seen them.
Robin was waiting a little way behind the hostess's desk. Nancy had almost lifted her arm to greet her, was trying to push her way through the crowd… when she saw him.
He was tall, good-looking in a handsome jock-next-door kind of way. He had light brown hair, pushed back on his forehead in a tousled, charming way.
He was talking to Robin. He said something, this tall, handsome person, and Robin laughed.
Nancy wasn’t sure who she'd knocked into or almost pushed over on her way out, but cries of hey! and watch it! followed her until she shoved through the front doors, taking a deep breath of humid spring air.
Robin had actually brought someone. Brought a guy for Nancy. A guy for her to date, so they could go on a double date.
She played the conversation back in her mind. Why had she been so sure they were on the same page? Idiot, she was an idiot.
She stood outside the restaurant, wishing she was anywhere else but where she was, holding herself and trying not to cry.
“Hey, uh… you okay?”
Nancy looked up. It was one of the delivery guys—he had one of those insulated bags with the restaurant logo slung over his shoulder. He was standing a little way off, smoking a cigarette. He looked genuinely concerned.
The delivery guy was wearing faded black jeans and a loose-fitting black muscle tee with a torn hem. His skinny arms were covered in tattoos, and his long, curly brown hair was tied up in a messy bun at the nape of his neck. Nancy could see chipped black nail polish on the hand holding the cigarette.
The solution to her problem popped into her brain with awful clarity.
It had that same, bright, irresistible tug she felt when she was chasing down a story, researching or investigating something that looked like it was probably nothing, except for that loud flashing sign in her head that screamed this is something!
This guy, in his scuffed army boots with too many skull rings on his fingers, was something. Everything, really. The way out of the terrible hole she’d dug for herself. And she hated it, she hated it so much... but what choice did she have?
“Not really,” Nancy said, honestly. She stepped closer to the delivery guy and wiped at her face. It was more of a nervous habit than anything, like she was trying to wipe away tears she’d forced herself not to shed. “I kind of fucked up. A lot.”
“Shit,” he said. “Is it bad?”
“It could be,” Nancy said. She steeled herself. “But uh, how’d you like to be the next contestant on ‘Save Nancy’s Ass?’”
The guy’s brow furrowed. “What?”
Nancy explained her predicament to him. It meant outing herself, sure, but somehow she had a feeling she was safe with this guy.
When he said, “I can’t go out with your friend, dude, I’m also gay,” she wasn’t surprised.
“Please, uh—?”
“Eddie.”
“Please, Eddie?” Nancy begged. “It’s just for one night; you just have to hang out with us, get dinner—I’ll pay, even!”
“I’m supposed to go on a date with your friend, but let you pay for my meal?” Eddie questioned. “Yeah, I don’t see that going over.”
“Well, I’ll pay you back later than or something, please I am desperate.” Nancy chewed her lip. She needed this to work, she had no other choice. “I can’t lose her, and if she figures out there was never anyone I was planning to set her up with, that it was just me asking her out and being cute about it…”
Eddie looked at her for a long moment. He sighed deeply, then flicked his cigarette to the floor, putting it out with a stomp of his boot.
“Fuck, alright,” he said.
Nancy could have thrown her arms around him and hugged him to death.
He pointed a finger at her. “But we’re ordering appetizers and desserts, and you’re paying me back later, alright?”
Nancy nodded, barely able to disguise her relief. With another sigh, Eddie headed back toward the restaurant. He found another delivery guy to hand off the order he had and then looked around the crowded restaurant.
“Alright, so where are they?” he asked.
Nancy pointed, and Eddie followed her gaze to where Steve and Robin were standing.
Eddie blinked. “That’s who she brought for you?” he asked. Nancy nodded. “And you don’t want him?!”
“No,” Nancy scoffed. “I don’t even know him.” She raised an eyebrow as Eddie pulled the elastic from his hair and started shaking his fingers through it, trying to neaten it up.
“Fuck I wish I’d worn something else, how do I look?” Eddie asked. “Do I smell?” he leaned toward Nancy, who took a step back.
“I am not smelling you,” Nancy hissed. “And don’t forget, you’re on a date with her, not him.” Nancy looked and saw Robin and the guy had spotted them and were making their way to the front of the restaurant. “Crap, they saw us; they’re coming over.” She put a hand on the front of Eddie's shirt and tugged him down. “Be cool, and do not hit on that guy.”
Eddie gave her a slightly evil smile. “Too late, I never agreed to that part,” he practically sang.
“Hey, Nancy!”
Her and Eddie straightened back up as Robin greeted her. Robin had a big smile on her face that looked a little strained. Maybe she was nervous? Nancy knew she didn’t date a lot. And Eddie probably looked pretty wild to her…
“Robin, hey!” Nancy pulled her into a hug. She didn’t know why they were greeting each other like they hadn’t spoken in week, when they’d just hung out yesterday… maybe they were both nervous.
“Uh, Robin, this is Eddie,” Nancy said, pointing. Eddie nodded a bit and smiled at Robin. “This is the guy I wanted to set you up with.”
“That’s great, that’s awesome,” Robin said, the smile on her face still fixed. “Eddie, hi, so great to meet you.” She stuck out her hand toward him, which was oddly formal.
Eddie raised an eyebrow but shook her hand anyhow.
“And uh, Nancy, this is Steve,” Robin clapped a hand on the guy's shoulder. He gave a tight-lipped smile. “Who I obviously also brought for you, on this double date.”
Steve nodded and said, “Hey.”
Eddie grinned at him. “Hey,” he said. Nancy resisted the urge to smack him.
This person was a total and complete stranger and he was doing her a favour, a big one, for no reason. How could she blame him? She couldn’t.
She tried to tell herself that.
It would be okay. Even if the night ended with Steve punching Eddie in the face because he’d spent the whole night flirting with him, it wouldn’t mean anything more to Robin than the fact that Nancy obviously had terrible gaydar.
Although she really hoped it didn’t end that way, because again, Eddie was obviously very nice and doing her a favour. She’d roped him into this to help save her from being outed and embarrassed. It would be too cruel if she wound up causing him the same kind of pain.
But there wasn’t much she could do if he couldn’t keep it in his pants.
“So, did you put our names in?” Nancy asked. “For a table?”
Robin’s eyes went wide. “Oh, fuck, no,” she said.
“It’s okay, I can—” Nancy started.
“No, no no!” Robin all but shouted, waving her hands. “I’ll go do it, I’ll put our names in. I’ll go get us a table for four people, which I should have done before because I was here first and I didn’t, so I will do it now. Excuse me—”
She pressed through the crowd and disappeared.
Steve watched her go, looking pained.
“She seems cool,” Eddie said. He didn’t sound sarcastic, which was a point in his favour. People could be jerks to or about Robin sometimes, and it drove her nuts.
“She is cool,” Nancy said.
Steve nodded. “Yeah, Robin’s great. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who can make me laugh like she does.”
Nancy’s eyes narrowed. There was a look of obvious fondness on Steve’s face. It would be just like Robin, to not realize the guy she was trying to set up with someone was already deeply in love with her.
She never could tell when someone was. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be in this mess.
“So, how do you two know each other?” Nancy asked. “I don’t think she’s mentioned you.”
She felt Eddie nudge her a little with his shoulder. He raised his eyebrows at her, and she scowled. Fine, that sounded bitchy. She would attempt to be nice to him.
He was her date, after all.
“I just mean, usually she tells me all about her friends, so I’m just surprised,” she said, trying her best for a friendly smile.
“She’s in my abnormal psych class,” Steve explained. “She’d lost her copy of the syllabus and asked to look at mine, we got to talking…” Steve shrugged. “I haven’t made too many friends since I started, so honestly, she kind of saved my life.”
“What?” Eddie said. “You can’t make friends?” his tone was heavy in disbelief. “No offence, man, but you look like you finished high school the Quarter Back who just won Prom King.”
Now Nancy nudged Eddie her elbow, but he ignored her.
Fortunately, Steve laughed. “I’m only a little offended, because I was on the basketball team, not football,” he said, then grinned. “I was Prom King, though.”
Robin pushed way her back through the crowd. “They said it’s an hour wait,” she said. “Maybe we should just forget it, call it a night?”
There was a pained look on her face. Nancy hated that, and somehow she felt like it was all her fault. “No, come on, we can wait,” Nancy said, trying to salvage the evening.
Robin looked hesitant.
“Who’s at the desk?” Eddie asked, craning his neck to look. “Oh, okay, it’s Mel. Hold on a sec, I got this.”
Without further explanation, he shoved through the crowd toward the hostess's desk.
“He’s got this?” Robin asked.
“He does deliveries for them,” Nancy explained. “Uh, maybe he thinks he can talk to the hostess, get us moved up the list?”
Steve nodded. “Yeah, actually, he looks kind of familiar; I feel like I’ve seen him around before.” He frowned. “Maybe it was here. I’ve kind of been coming here for takeout a lot…”
“How do you know him, Nance?” Robin asked. There was a look on her face Nancy couldn’t name. “I don’t think you’ve ever mentioned him before?”
Nancy blinked. Shit, she hadn’t even thought about that, how she supposedly knew Eddie. “uh, I also know him from here,” Nancy said.
Robin’s eyes narrowed. “Really, because I didn’t think you came here that much. Remember, when I suggested this place, you said, ‘oh yeah, I’ve only been there once’?”
Nancy did not cringe, being caught in such a blatant and obvious lie. She kept her face blank and impassive. Inside her head, alarm bells rang as she searched for a plausible lie to cover for her first lie. She desperately wished she was anywhere at all but here.
Fortunately, her handsome Prom King date came to her rescue.
“Delivery?”
“Huh?”
“You order delivery?” Steve prompted. “Is that it?”
“Oh, yes!” Nancy agreed, a little too enthusiastically. “Yeah, I haven’t been here too much but I get takeout all the time, and uh, I guess my dorm is on Eddie’s route because it’s almost always him. And yeah, we would chat, and uh, I guess we just became friends.”
Robin opened her mouth, probably to poke more holes in her story.
Fortunately, Nancy was saved from having to add to the bullshit as Eddie forced his way back to them. “Alright, follow me, we got a table,” he said.
“Already?” Nancy asked. They all followed Eddie out of the crowded front and into the restaurant. He led them to a booth in the back, which was currently being cleaned off by a harried-looking waitress.
Eddie greeted her and tried to help her grab some of the plates off the table, but she swatted him away. "No offence, but the last time you helped, there was glass everywhere,” she muttered. The waitress glanced at the rest of the group. “Double date?”
“Yup,” Eddie said. “My good friend Nancy set me up with Robin, so we’re doubling.”
For a moment, the waitress’ eyes slid over to Steve, before Eddie moved to Robin’s side and gave Nancy a small nudge toward Steve. “And Robin set Nancy up with Steve.”
Nancy could almost see the calculations being done on the woman’s face. She must have known Eddie pretty well, and was obviously figuring something weird was happening if he was being set up with a girl. But she just pursed her lips and shrugged.
“Alright, whatever.”
She finished wiping down the table, and Robin, Steve and Nancy took their seats. Eddie hung back for a moment and said something quietly to the waitress, who nodded before walking off. Then Eddie slid into the booth next to Steve.
The four of them stared at each other.
“Is she a friend of yours?” Steve asked.
Eddie nodded. “Who, Kayla?” He asked. “Yeah, she’s a friend. When deliveries are slow, I sometimes pick up some shifts, mostly in the kitchen or bussing tables, so I know everyone pretty well.”
“You seem like you get along with people well,” Robin observed.
“Uh... I mean, not really...”
Nancy forced a laugh. “Robin was just asking before about how we know each other,” she said. “So I told her we just became friends after you kept bringing me takeout from here, and you, know we chatted and whatever.”
Eddie raised his eyebrows at this, as if to say is that so? Nancy made her eyes wide at him, begging him to just go with it. He grinned. “Is that what you told them?”
“Is that not what happened?” Robin asked. She was being uncharacteristically cool to Eddie, and Nancy didn’t know what was wrong. Had she expected her to set her up with someone more than Steve, instead of this tattoo-covered long-haired guy?
Nancy had no idea what kind of guys Robin was into, but she’d kind of figured someone like Eddie would be up her alley. She didn’t like normal and drifted toward outcasts and loners.
“Well, we definitely met when I was delivering takeout, that part’s true,” he said. He leaned in conspiratorially. “But she’s leaving a lot out.”
“Uh, you know I don’t think I am...”
“So I’m walking down the hall, I’ve got her usual takeout order,” Eddie began. “And all the way from down the hall, I can hear shrieking. And, of course, it’s coming from Nancy’s room. My first thought was, you know, she’s being murdered, so I banged on the door all terrified, and she yanks the door open—”
Nancy glared daggers at Eddie, trying to get him to stop wherever this story was going through sheer force of will. Eddie ignored her.
“She’s in this hideous bathrobe, like the kind of thing Grandmas wear, it’s this quilted, frilly pink thing—”
Her face heated up, and she resisted the impulse to bury her face in her hands. Robin was leaning in a bit, listening to this story with amused interest. Of course, this is what would have her warm up to the guy.
The worst part was she absolutely did have a bathrobe just like that. He’d only gotten the colour wrong.
“And she’s shrieking, ‘You have to help me, you have to help me!’” Eddie said, putting on a mocking falsetto to imitate Nancy. “'In the corner, there’s a huge sp—’”
“A rat,” Nancy interjected because she was pretty sure he’d been about to say huge spider, and that wasn’t going to go over with Robin, who always came to Nancy to take the spiders outside. She knew she wasn’t scared of them. “A big huge rat, probably diseased, too.”
“Ew, gross,” Robin said, smiling. “There was a rat in your room?”
Nancy nodded. “It was massive,” she said, shuddering as if the memory was just too horrible.
“So what, she dragged you in to kill it?” Steve asked.
“Yup, totally,” Eddie said. “But it wasn’t the rat's fault, and she’d definitely terrified it, trying to whack it with a broom or something, so I just scooped it up into a garbage can and took it outside for her.” He shrugged at Steve, very cool and casual about his heroic rescue.
Nancy smiled. “Okay, now who’s misrepresenting the story?” she asked. “Yeah, he was just as freaked out by the rat as I was. I actually think your shrieks might’ve been louder than mine.”
Steve grinned at this, looking at Eddie. Eddie glared at Nancy, who smiled very politely back at him.
“Don’t worry, dude, I would have been freaking out too,” Steve assured him. “Once Robin and I were headed back from class, and there was this ferret, it just jumped out at us, hissing.” Steve shook his head. “I screamed, and I don’t think it was a manly kind of scream.”
Robin tilted her head to the side. She reached diagonally across the table and put a hand on Steve’s. “Steve, that was a possum,” she said slowly.
Steve smirked. “Pretty sure I know what a ferret is, Robin.”
"Yeah, Robin,” Eddie said, smiling a little at Steve. “The man knows what a ferret is.”
The waitress, Kayla, was coming back now, and Nancy thought she was going to ask if them if they were ready to order. Which would’ve been an issue, since none of them had so much as glanced at their menus. But she just said, “Your waitress will be by in a few minutes,” and then whispered something very quickly to Eddie.
Nancy couldn’t hear what it was, but it made a big grin appear on Eddie’s face, so it couldn’t have been something good. It was the same way he’d grinned right before making up the rat story.
Eddie gave her a small nod, and Kayla walked off again.
“You guys know what you want?” Eddie asked, apparently not going to share whatever Kayla had just told him with the group. “Nancy, just getting your usual?”
This was going to be a long night.
It was kind of terrible, but in a fairly survivable way.
***
Going on a double date with Robin and two random guys she did not know was not as terrible as she had assumed it would be.
Yes, Robin was technically here to date Eddie, and she was technically here to date Steve, which was not ideal.
In an ideal world, Steve and Eddie would be somewhere else, and it would just be her and Robin, laughing and flirting and having a great time, like they always did.
But, all in all, she had to admit. It could’ve been worse. She still got to talk to Robin, make her laugh, and listen to one of her ridiculous anecdotes about something that would have been completely mundane coming from anyone else. But Robin managed to make a trip to the grocery sound hilarious and awkward and silly.
Eddie and Steve were not entirely terrible company, either. Although she had to wonder if Steve was aware of the way Eddie was flirting with him, or the way he kept scooting his chair just a little bit closer every now and again. Any closer, and he was going to be in the guy's lap.
But Steve didn’t look uncomfortable or upset, in fact, it was the opposite. He seemed perfectly happy. So Nancy figured if Eddie was not in danger of having his ass kicked, then the rest of it was not her problem.
She was free to focus on Robin.
“So Nancy, and you have to understand that at this point, we had already been waiting three hours for this seminar, and the guy is clearly hungover,” Robin was saying. “So she raises her hand and starts asking the guy all these questions about the paper he wrote, the thing he’s supposed to be an expert on, and he’s just like ‘hold questions to the end, little missy,'” Robin grinned. “At that point, I thought she was going to physically fight him.”
Nancy grinned and shrugged. “I wasn’t going to fight him,” she said.
“But you weren’t going to let him waste our time and call you little missy, either,” Robin said, grinning back at her.
“If you didn’t clock the guy, what’d you do?” Eddie asked.
“Keyed his car later?” Steve suggested.
“Nah, that’s too subtle, anyone could have done that,” Eddie said. “She’s definitely more the ‘dig into your questionable past and then share your horrible evil secrets with the world to destroy your reputation,' type.”
At this, Robin laughed. “That is actually so right,” she said.
Nancy crossed her arms over her chest, feigning a look of disapproval. “I did no such thing,” Nancy said. “That would’ve taken way too much time and effort, and he wasn’t worth it. All I did was point out that a lot of what he wrote was extremely derivative of a study conducted in Sweden four years ago.”
“I think what she actually said was ‘derivative bordering on blatant plagiarism,'” Robin added. “but yeah.”
Nancy grinned. “And then Robin stood up and tried to start a slow clap. It didn’t work, no one else joined in, and we both got kicked out.”
Robin’s mouth open, shocked. “Oh, you think my failed slow clap got us kicked out, not you, I don’t know, harassing the speaker?”
Nancy shrugged. “I mean, who could say?”
About halfway through the meal, Nancy looked over and saw Kayla approaching again. She was coming over a lot for someone who wasn’t actually their waitress.
“Uh, Eddie, someone said there’s a van on fire in the parking lot,” she said. “And uh, it’s like… yours.”
Eddie looked at her. “My van is on fire?”
Kayla blinked. “Uh, no. It’s… smoking?”
Eddie nodded, like that made more sense. “Shit, yeah, that happens sometimes.” He looked at Steve. “Can you come take a look with me? I know how to fix it, but I could use a second pair of hands.”
Steve nodded, and the two of them stood up. “We’ll be back soon; you two ladies stay and talk,” Eddie said.
Nancy didn’t think too much about this until, as he walked off, Eddie turned back to look at her.
And he winked.
Nancy stared after him, feeling her cheeks flush.
“Is that yours?” Steve asked, pointing. Eddie nodded. “I don’t see smoke.”
***
The night air had cooled a bit with the setting sun, and it felt nice on Eddie’s skin as he walked across the parking lot to his van.
“Oh shit, really?” Eddie said. He looked at the front of the van, tilting his head as if inspecting it. Finding nothing a miss, he shrugged. He leaned back against the van's hood, stretching out his arms. “Guess it’s fine after all.”
Steve raised an eyebrow. “What?”
Eddie grinned at him. Damn, this man was pretty. He’d brought him out here to give poor Nancy and Robin a chance, but it wasn’t like keeping Steve out of the way wasn’t a wonderful added bonus.
“One of the cooks took your order home, by the way,” Eddie told him. Steve went rigid. “In case you were wondering. That’s usually how it goes, when someone places a takeout order and never picks it up.” He raised his eyebrows.
Steve looked at his feet, caught. “Don’t know what you’re talking about…” he muttered, very unconvincingly.
Eddie chuckled. “Come on man, give it up. I figured it out. It’s why we're out here, waiting, instead of inside cockblocking your friend.”
Steve looked up, his brow furrowed. “That’s not—” he said. “I mean, it isn’t… she’s not…” Steve let out a defeated sigh. He moved next to Eddie and leaned back against the hood of the van. “Fine, what gave us away?”
“Mostly the takeout thing, but it was the look on both of your faces when you walked over that made me wonder, at first,” Eddie explained. “You both looked insanely uncomfortable. But that could just be… double dates are awkward, blind dates are awkward…” he shrugged.
“But then?”
“Then Robin was really weird about putting our names in… so when I went to ask Mel if she could get us a table, I asked about it.” Eddie tilted his head back, looking at Steve. “When she got here, she asked for a table for two. ” Eddie held up two fingers. “Then she came back and changed the request to a table for four.” He held up four fingers.
“Damn,” Steve said, looking impressed. “Regular Sherlock Holmes over here.”
Eddie laughed. “Yes, that’s me. I deducted the crap out of you guys.” He grinned. “I had a hunch about why you were really here, so I asked Kayla; she asked the takeout counter about any unclaimed orders…” Eddie spread his hands wide. “Voila, one abandoned meal for a Steve Harrington.”
Steve hung his head, laughing a little. “Yeah, alright. You got me.” He brushed his hair back over his forehead. “I was here getting takeout, I happened to see Robin; we were talking while I waited for my food… next thing I know, she’s flipping out, saying I need to pretend to go on a double date with her and Nancy?”
He shook his head, then looked Eddie over. “What about you?” he asked. “How’d you get roped into it?”
“Pretty much the same way as you,” Eddie told him. “See, Nancy got here, saw you and Robin talking, freaked the fuck out because she thought Robin actually brought her a guy to date…” he paused. “Then I guess grabbed the first dude she saw—” he pointed to himself. “And begged for his help.”
Steve stared at him. “So you and Nancy, you’re not even friends?” Eddie shook his head. For a moment, Steve just looked at him. Then he burst out laughing. “Holy shit… holy shit.”
“Yeah, it’s pretty damn stupid. Those poor girls.” He shook his head. “I figure if we give them some time alone they’ll sort it out and finally get around to jumping each other’s bones like they’re meant to.”
Steve nodded. “Yeah, that’s probably true… Robin’s been going on about Nancy the whole time I’ve known her. One second she’s convinced Nancy is straight and will never love her, and she’s gonna die alone… the next, they’re soulmates, and they’re gonna get married and adopt seven dogs together?” Steve shrugged. “And then a second later, it’s back to the first thing.”
“Can’t believe you’re not interested in getting in the middle of that,” Eddie teased, nudging Steve slightly with his elbow. “I mean, you and Nancy seemed like you were really hitting it off.”
“I mean, she’s definitely cute,” Steve agreed. “But lately, that’s not really what I’ve been going for.”
“Yeah?” Eddie tried not to let that statement get his hopes up. It could mean anything. Maybe he’d been in blondes lately.
“Yeah,” Steve said evenly. “Totally unrelated, I finally realized where I recognize you from.” Steve leaned in a little, a slight smirk on his face. “You know the gay bar off sixteenth street?”
If Eddie had a drink with him, he would’ve choked on it just then.
What was Eddie doing? What did that wink mean? Had he told Kayla to come by and pull him away with some bullshit about his van being on fire?
***
Inside the restaurant, Nancy drummed her fingers on the table, waiting for the others to get back.
And why?
“They’ve been gone for a while…” Nancy mumbled. “You think we should check on them?”
Maybe going through with this had been a mistake. She should’ve taken the out Robin had presented when the wait for their table was an hour.
She would be home by now, quietly bemoaning her failures in peace. And while that wasn’t entirely appealing, it did mean she would be somewhere else and not here.
Because she very desperately wanted to be anywhere but here.
“Yeah, because God forbid you be alone with me for a second…” Robin muttered under her breath.
Nancy’s head snapped toward her. There was a wide-eyed, horrified look on Robin’s face, like she couldn’t believe she’d said that out loud.
“What did you say?” Nancy asked. Except she had heard her perfectly fine, she just couldn’t believe it. Was Robin seriously suggesting she was the one who did want them to be alone together?
“Nothing, forget it,” Robin said. “Do you want some of my fries, they’re really good?”
Robin nudged her plate toward Nancy, as if hoping to distract her with fried food. Which was definitely something that would’ve had a higher chance of success on herself.
“No, Robin,” Nancy said. “Tell me why you said that.”
Robin huffed. “Just forget it, okay? I was just being bitter. Please?”
Nancy looked at her. “This whole evening, you’ve been uncomfortable and pissed off, I could tell. The moment we met up, you tried to get out of it!” Nancy leaned in, frustrated.
All she’d wanted was to take Robin out on a date, just the two of them. Maybe she’d gone about it in a stupid way, trying to be subtle about asking her out in a way that would keep her feelings safe if they weren’t mutual… but she hadn’t wanted this. Hadn’t wanted a date where she had to share Robin with these guys.
They were perfectly nice guys, sure. That didn’t matter. Another time, under insanely different circumstances, it would probably be pretty fun for them to all hang out.
But not this night. Not when it was just supposed to be her sitting across from this girl who drove her crazy.
Robin stared down at the plate of food in front of her. Most of her burger was gone, but she picked at one of the fries, shredding it into potato-mush with her fingers. “I thought it would just be us,” she muttered.
Nancy stared at her.
Again, she had heard her. But she couldn’t believe it.
“What?”
Robin looked up, fear and embarrassment in her lovely blue eyes. Nancy hated that. Hated that she’d probably caused it, although she still didn’t know what the hell was happening.
She hated that too, the not understanding.
“When you said we should go on a double date, I…” she swallowed, forced the words out. “I thought you were just being cute. I thought it would be just us. I don’t know why I just… it was stupid, I’m sorry. I’ve been acting like an idiot.”
A sound like a siren was going off in Nancy’s brain as she struggled to comprehend this statement. “But… no, because you—” she leaned back in her seat. “But you brought Steve!”
Robin blinked. “I didn’t bring Steve, ” she scoffed. “He just happened to be here getting takeout! It was taking forever, so we’re talking while he waited for his food, and I waited for…” Robin gestured at her. “You.”
I didn’t bring Steve.
Oh fucking hell.
Nancy put a hand against her face, not sure if she wanted to laugh or cry. Cry because she’d been so stupid and created a whole mess for absolutely no fucking reason. Laugh because she had been right the first time.
They were on the same page, after all.
She also wanted to laugh because it was kind of funny.
“But then when I saw you, and you actually had some guy with you,” Robin’s lip curled. “I realized I’d been an idiot, and I basically begged Steve to help me. So he—” Robin paused. “Are you laughing?”
Nancy shook her head. “No,” she laughed. She covered her mouth with her hand, trying to stifle the laughter. “I’m not; I’m sorry—”
Robin looked seriously pissed off now, and Nancy knew she needed to explain fast if she wanted to salvage the entire shitshow of an evening.
“Robin—” Nancy took a deep breath, trying to hold herself together. “I had never met Eddie before tonight.”
Robin’s brow furrowed. “Huh?”
“Yeah, he’s a total stranger. He uh, works here, does delivery. When I came in and saw you and Steve, I thought…” she shrugged.
For a moment, Robin continued to look confused. Then, slowly, her eyes widened. “No,” she said, her hand flying up to her own mouth.
Nancy nodded quickly, feeling the laughter bubbling up again. She couldn’t help it. It was a catastrophe, a misunderstanding of epic proportions. They were both such idiots.
“I ran outside, freaking out, he asked me if I was okay, and I…” she laughed, shook her head again. “I begged him to help me.”
Robin stared at her, and Nancy wiped a tear from her eye. She had no idea what would happen now, if Robin would still be furious. She hoped she wouldn’t. She hadn’t ruined the evening on purpose.
Then Robin laughed. It was a big burst of laughter that lit up her face, erasing every trace of sullenness or insecurity. It felt like medicine, like the kind of thing she should be able to bottle and take sips of whenever she felt down.
“Holy shit, we are morons,” Robin said, practically cackling. “Oh my god, did we just sit through the worst freaking double date ever for no reason?”
Nancy nodded, almost unable to speak. She felt drunk. They were morons, they were idiots. They had the worst communication skills that anyone had ever had, since before speaking was invented.
Suddenly bold and too tired to care anymore, Nancy grabbed Robin’s hand. “Robin Buckley, I like you. A lot, in a romantic way. I want to go out with you on a date where it’s just you and me,” Nancy said, being as clear as possible. “And then, if it goes well, I’d like to kiss your face.”
Robin grinned. “That’s a really weird way to say that,” she said. “But yeah, I would also like that. Especially the kissing part.”
There was a very stupid smile on Nancy’s face, she was pretty sure, but she didn’t care. Robin’s words echoed around her skull, making her feel a little floaty and light.
“We should get the bill,” Nancy said quietly. Robin’s hand was still in hers. “And then go dump our dates.”
“Maybe we should just do takeout,” Robin said. “For next time, I mean. Stay in, watch a movie, order food.”
***
Out in the parking lot, they looked around for some sign of Steve or Eddie, or Eddie’s supposedly smoking vehicle. They could see none of these things, but Robin pointed out a van toward the back of the parking lot, and they headed toward it.
Nancy nodded. “That sounds perfect,” she said.
“And it definitely cuts down on the chances of another misunderstanding,” Robin agreed. “No one around but us, nothing can go wrong.”
Nancy laughed.
They approached the van, but could see neither Steve nor Eddie anywhere. But there was a pair of black fuzzy dice with safety pins stuck through them hanging off the rear-view mirror, so she was pretty sure this was Eddie’s car.
“I should’ve known you guys were full of it when he told that story,” Robin mused.
“Yeah?” Nancy asked. “What gave us away?”
“Because your ugly grandma robe is blue,” Robin said simply. “Not pink.” She grinned. “I think I know where the boys are.”
Robin stepped to the back of the van and knocked loudly on the doors. “Time’s up, sluts!” she yelled.
There was a rumbling from inside the van and what sounded like swearing. Then the doors burst open, and Steve and Eddie tumbled out.
What they had been doing inside the van wasn’t precisely clear, but Nancy could take a good guess.
Steve’s hair was rumpled, and he was hastily tucking his shirt back into his jeans. Eddie also looked somewhat more dishevelled than he had before, and he was fumbling to get his belt re-buckled.
Nancy crossed her arms over his chest. She looked at Steve. “And on our first date?” she asked, sounding scandalized.
Steve shrugged, looking a little sheepish. “Oops?” he said.
Eddie, on the other hand, had no shame. “Come on man, we gave you guys space,” he complained.
“And we thank you for that,” Robin said. “Also, were dumping you both. We paid for dinner, you’re welcome.” She held out Steve’s leftovers to him, and he took the bag with a slightly embarrassed grin.
“So uh… you guys sort it out?” Steve asked. “The misunderstanding?”
Nancy and Robin exchanged looked, then glanced away, embarrassed.
Eddie laughed. “See, I told you. Best thing we could’ve done was get out of their hair.” He clapped Steve on the shoulder. Steve smiled at him, a big stupid smile that Nancy knew. That was probably exactly how she looked when she looked at Robin.
This guy was in trouble. And to think she’d thought the night would end with Steve punching Eddie’s lights out.
“It was a very altruistic move,” Robin said coolly. “And the fact that it gave you time to put the moves on my friend is just a total coincidence.”
Eddie’s mouth opened, offended. “Excuse you, he put the moves on me!” He protested. “I was having a totally innocent, normal conversation, refraining from hitting on him just like you wanted,” he pointed to Nancy. “But all of a sudden, his hand is on my thigh, and I’m just a human, Robin. What do you want from me?”
Robin raised an eyebrow at Steve, who glanced away. “I cannot believe you, Steven,” she scolded.
Steve groaned. “Okay, okay, it’s enough,” he said. “Stop being pretend mad at me, it’s making me feel bad.”
The scowl instantly lifted off Robin’s face. “I’m sorry!” She said.
“Obviously, we owe you both,” Nancy said. “Like, a lot. We’re both crazy people, and I’m sorry we roped you into our crazy mess.”
“Apology accepted,” Eddie said. “Now, how are you making it up to us?” he asked.
Nancy and Robin exchanged a look. “Uh, what do you want?” Nancy asked. They’d already paid for dinner.
Eddie grinned. He leaned against his van, glanced at Steve and then back at Nancy and Robin. “We’re going on a goddamned double date,” he said, that evil grin on his face. “An actual one, come on.” He walked around to the side of the car, smacking the side of it with his hand. “Everyone in the van.”
She had crushes on both boys and girls growing up, which made it all a little confusing, but she was nothing if not a tenacious researcher, and she’d done enough reading by age 15 to determine she was bisexual.
***
Nancy Wheeler had known she liked women since she was about five years old. She hadn’t known what that meant, at the time, or why having crushes on other girls or her mom’s tall, pretty friend with the painted red nails made her different somehow, but she’d known it.
It was something that had worried her a bit, just because she hadn’t ever known anyone else who was bisexual, but she tried her best not to care. She dated boys in high school and kept her crush on her friend Barb a painful secret.
When she’d got to college she started to feel a little less worried. The world seemed so much bigger outside of Hawkins, and even if people were close-minded assholes, well, surely it wasn’t all of them. The people who had written all the books she’d read on gender and sexuality certainly didn’t think it was a problem.
A lot of people were small, petty idiots. But many weren’t. And somewhere out there were her people. The ones who got her, who understood her, who would love her no matter what.
She’d hoped that, at least. But it had been hard not to feel lonely growing up in a place like Hawkins.
Robin was the first person she’d met that she’d started to think of as her people. She’d had a sense about her, the same one she’d had about Eddie. But the risk of telling Robin the truth had seemed too great. If Robin had simply said, “I’m so sorry, I simply do not like women, but we can still be friends,” she would have been crushed. She would have cried and moped and felt extremely sorry for herself.
And she would’ve gotten over it. Not easily, sure, but at the end of the day, she would have been fine. Robin was, above all things, her friend. And as long as she could keep her as a friend, it would have been alright.
It was the other possibility that terrified her into inaction. The possibility that Robin would shriek and say, “that’s disgusting, what’s wrong with you?”
Her brain told her this possibility was remote as hell. She knew Robin, knew who she was. She was kind, and caring. She guarded herself with sarcasm and teasing jokes, but when she loved someone, she loved them completely. She loved to judge people, but it was always superficial. She judged their taste in movies and the way they styled their hair. She judged the chewing noises they made when they ate salad. Silly judgments, stupid things.
She’d never heard her judge anything that mattered. And she knew, logically, that if she told Robin she was bisexual, even if Robin had no such feelings for her, their friendship would survive.
Unfortunately, knowing something with logic did not always mean she believed it. Not in that deep down, far away part of her that had never stopped being a five-year-old girl, unsure of why she wasn’t quite like all the other five-year-old girls.
That’s why when she finally got up the courage to ask her out, she did it in a roundabout, confusing way. She’d thought if it was meant to be, that Robin would understand.
She had been right. Robin had understood exactly. The rest of it, the terrible date, confusion, and anxiety, was all confetti.
But whatever she’d thought when she’d finally steeled herself and asked Robin to go on a double date with her, it had not included this.
This was a bar off sixteenth street, with a neon pink sign outside that said Judy’s. Inside, there were rainbow flags behind the bar and a small stage set up across the room where two men were very drunkenly performing a karaoke rendition of Time After Time.
On one of the walls, the words you’re not in Kansas anymore were scrawled in loopy, painted script.
“Every couple of months or so, they do Karaoke Fridays,” Eddie told them, shouting a little to be heard above the din. He put his arms over hers and Robin’s shoulders, squeezing them. “You’re both singing, and I’m picking the song.”
“Uh-uh, no way,” Robin said, shaking her head. “I do not sing in public, and it’s a rule I have for a very good reason.”
“Is the reason that you hate singing in public?” Nancy teased. The thought of getting up on the stage made her feel a little ill, but considering that she owed Eddie, she wasn’t sure she could say no.
“Come on,” Steve said. “It’ll be fun.” When Robin continued to glare, he added. “You can pick a song for me and Eddie.”
Robin immediately cheered up. “Hell yeah,” she said.
“No, no no I did not agree to that,” Eddie protested.
Steve grinned at him, put a hand on the front of Eddie’s tee and pulled him in. The kiss took Eddie by surprise, and when Steve pulled back he looked a little breathless. “Don’t be a coward,” Steve said. “I’ll owe you one, okay?”
“I uh…” Eddie said, his confident bravado momentarily shaken. “Um. Yeah.”
Nancy shook her head, feeling a little dizzy. “We need drinks,” she said. She took Robin by her wrist and pulled her over the bar. “There’s no way I can be sober for this.”
After several shots and an hour on the dance floor, jumping around in a huge crowd to off-key renditions of Madonna, Cher and Dianna Ross, Eddie and Steve went up on the stage to sing what Robin and Nancy had chosen for them.
“Steve’s not going to mind it,” Robin pointed out. She spoke with her mouth close to Nancy’s ear, so she could hear her without shouting. The feeling of Robin’s warm, slightly booze-soaked breath on her neck made her shiver.
“I know,” Nancy said, turning her face toward Robin. “But there's no way it doesn’t drive Eddie nuts.”
The music started up, and Eddie furrowed his brow, not recognizing the song. Steve did immediately and was clearly enthused. Eddie looked at the little screen that showed the lyrics, and saw the name of the artist.
“No way,” Eddie said, looking horrified. “Not on your life.”
But the song had started and there was no backing out now. Nancy put a hand to her mouth and gave a loud whooping cheer. Steve leaned into the mic and shouted out the lyrics.
“Friday night I crashed your party / Saturday I said, 'I'm sorry’ / Sunday came and trashed me out again!”
Eddie’s eyes scanned the crowd for a moment before they found Nancy. He grimaced, and she saw him mouth, “Billy Joel? Seriously?”
Nancy shrugged and gave him a double thumbs-up. Robin applauded, a huge smile spread across her face.
Eddie shook his head. Steve had now sung two verses by himself, but with a deep sigh, Eddie finally joined in for the chorus.
“You may be right, I may be crazy / Oh, but it just may be a lunatic you're looking for!”
The crowd cheered, shouting and applauding now that Eddie was finally singing along, and both Nancy and Robin cheered along with them.
“Turn out the light, don't try to save me / You may be wrong for all I know, but you may be right…”
Robin cackled, putting her around over Nancy’s shoulder. “You know he’s totally going to torture us now, right?” she yelled.
Nancy shrugged. “Worth it!” she yelled back. Besides, Eddie had been going to torture them anyhow.
Still, when their song wrapped up and Steve waved to the crowd (to massive shouts of approval, which he looked very pleased about and had to be dragged away from the cheering by Eddie) Nancy started to feel a little queasy.
This was a mistake. She couldn’t sing karaoke, she was going to humiliate herself and Robin, who would realize that she could do 1000% times better and never speak to her again.
As Eddie and Steve came back over, Robin gave a delighted squeal and pulled Steve into a violent hug.
“You didn’t tell me you could sing!?” She shouted.
Steve looked confused, but pretty happy with himself. “What? I can’t…”
Eddie rolled his eyes. “Yeah, no one’s buying the false modesty, dude,” he said, giving Steve’s shoulder a little nudge. He looked at Nancy, raised his eyebrows. “Alright ladies, payback time,” he gestured toward the stage. “To the gallows, please.”
Nancy glared at him, and Robin stuck out her tongue, but they made their way over to the short stage just the same. The next song was loaded up already.
When the music started, they both recognized the song immediately and cringed. Out in the crowd, Eddie stuck out his tongue and made devil horns with his fingers. Nancy could see Steve covering his face and laughing, beside him.
She glared. Well, alright, he wanted to embarrass her. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
As the lyrics appeared on the screen, she exchanged a look with Robin and flashed a wide smile. Then she took a deep breath and leaned into the mic.
“Oh, yes, it's Ladies' Night, and the feeling's right!” They shouted, together.
Robin was laughing, and Nancy couldn’t keep the smile off her own face. She felt like an idiot, but she also didn’t care. “Oh, yes, it's Ladies' Night, oh, what a night!”
Robin leaned into the mic, making her voice deep. “Oh, what a night.”
Nancy could see Eddie and Steve hooting and cheering in the crowd, and a few people began to sing along with them, shouting out the words.
Nancy bobbed her head with the music, moving her shoulders in what she hoped was a close approximation of dancing. Based on the way Robin laughed, she wasn’t quite getting it.
“If you hear any noise, it ain't the boys / It's Ladies' Night, uh-huh / Gonna step out Ladies' Night / Steppin' out Ladies' Night!”
The karaoke version of the song faded out a good two minutes before the regular version, and Nancy was incredibly grateful for that. She felt light-headed and dizzy and kind of wonderful despite the burning red blush on her face. But there was something she needed to do, and she needed to do it now before the adrenaline wore off.
The song ended, and the crowd cheered. Nancy gave a small little curtsey and then fled the stage with Robin, still laughing. “Oh man, we are not good singers,” Robin said, shaking her head.
“We’re terrible,” Nancy agreed. She pulled Robin into a corner and hoped that no one else could hear how loud her heart was beating in her chest. Before she could chicken out, she put a hand on the nape of Robin’s neck and pulled her into a deep kiss.
She was pretty sure it was a fast kiss, maybe only a few seconds long. She could taste sweat and alcohol on Robin’s lips, and it was the sweetest thing she’d ever tasted. Robin gasped a little in surprise, but Nancy could feel the press of her lips as she kissed Nancy back, just as delirious and happy.
Nancy pulled back, a massive idiot-big smile on her face. Robin looked a little dazed, a little more drunk than she had a moment ago, as if that kiss had gone right to her head.
“I like kissing your face,” Robin said, a little dreamily.
If Nancy smiled any bigger, she thought her face might split. “What a weird way to say that,” she teased. They laughed, Robin’s head bowing slightly to rest on Nancy’s shoulder.
None of this night had gone the way she’d thought it would, and Nancy Wheeler was the sort of person that usually hated that. She liked to have an idea of what to expect from things, liked to be able to plan ahead.
In this case, however, she was glad she hadn’t known. She was even glad about the misunderstanding and the terrible first double date, because all of it had brought her here. And here was not just a date, finally, with the girl she’d been in love with for two years. It was all of that and more.
Here was laughter and terrible karaoke, and two idiot guys who felt like they were her people in the same way Robin was. Here was drunken dancing in a bar full of her people, swaying and holding Robin and kissing her in a crowd where no one would care.
And for all her plans and her research and her worrying, at the end of it all, there was no place she’d rather be than here.
The Things in Life That I Can't Find chapter 25 on AO3
“Steve, you don’t actually think you’re stupid. Do you?” Dustin asked.
Steve looked uncomfortable so Eddie decided to cut in before he could respond.
“So what if you are?” Eddie asked.
“What?” Steve asked. He looked completely taken off guard by the question.
“So what if you’re stupid?” Eddie repeated.
All the stuff that people said about Eddie had become a lot easier to stomach when he’d leaned into it and stuck to the people who would still spend time with him, regardless of how much of a freak he was. It had become a way to filter out the people who weren’t worth wasting his time worrying about. He didn’t have to worry that anyone would find out how stupid and freakish he was and change their mind about spending time with him when he was the town freak and had been stuck in senior year for nearly as long as most people took to get through all of high school.
“Let’s say you’re the stupidest person who has ever lived,” Eddie said. “So what?”
“Dude, I don’t think that’s helping,” Dustin said.
“No, really,” Eddie said. “What does that change?”
Steve’s brow furrowed in confusion and after a moment he said, “I don’t…”
“Exactly,” Eddie said. “Don’t you think if it mattered, you’d be able to give me a reason why? You’ve still fought I don’t know how many monsters and saved I don’t know how many people. You still have a bunch of people who enjoy your company and want to spend time with your stupid self.” He patted Steve on the cheek as he added, “If you’re stupid, then I guess that’s how I like my men.”
(A post-season 4 fic where Eddie and Max survived, Eddie’s name is cleared, and Wayne has a heart attack then Eddie moves in with Steve while they’re not together yet)
It’s still dark when Steve throws Eddie’s door open. It’s with such force that he’s startled awake, almost falling from his bed. He blinks at him, bleary-eyed, opening his mouth to ask what the emergency is, but words tumble from Steve’s mouth before he can say a word.
“Robin’s alive.”
A Stranger Things Dragon Age AU oneshot.
Steve & Robin, Steve/Eddie & Nancy/Robin // Rated T // 7.8k words
The Things in Life That I Can't Find chapter 24 on AO3
“How would you know?” Steve asked. “You didn’t even know me back then.”
Eddie laughed.
“You’re kidding right?” he asked. “Whether you recognized them or not, everybody knew King Steve. If I hadn’t been too busy worrying that you might murder my ass, I probably would have laughed in Henderson’s face when he started explaining who you were like I’d been living under a rock and didn’t recognize the Steve Harrington.”
“You’re doing it again,” Steve pointed out. “I’m really not some mythical legend. I peaked in high school and all I was even good at when I was there was sports. And Sinclair’s been in high school for five minutes and already beaten my team’s track record. I was too stupid to get into college so now I work a shit job that isn’t going anywhere that I’m still going to be stuck in when Robin goes off to start a real life. And that's only if I’m lucky enough to not be fired before then or not to have the whole building get blown up by some new monster. My best friends are someone that was literally paid to spend time with me and still couldn’t stand me for months and a fourteen-year-old that only spent time with me in the first place because I was the only person he could find after he tried literally every other option first. My only friends outside of you and the lesbian coworker I got rejected by are my ex that I can’t stop embarrassing myself around, a pack of six fourteen-year-olds that constantly make fun of me, and the eleven-year-old that routinely blackmails me and doesn’t hesitate to actively make me feel worse about myself. I’m not impressive, Eddie. I’m not King Steve. Or the Steve Harrington.”
Steve shifted to look at Eddie’s face and was confused when he found him looking at him with a dopey smile on his face.
“Oh. Lucas’s team is better than yours at throwing balls into laundry baskets?” Eddie asked. “I can’t possibly date you now then. My whole image of you is shattered. There’s no coming back from this.”
“Shut up,” Steve grumbled. “I know it’s stupid that I even care about it.”
(A post-season 4 fic where Eddie and Max survived, Eddie’s name is cleared, and Wayne has a heart attack then Eddie moves in with Steve while they’re not together yet)
The Things in Life That I Can't Find chapter 26 on AO3
Eddie woke up and yawned, only to end up with a mouthful of Steve’s hair. He turned his face away and tried to get the hair out of his mouth with one hand. He tried to roll away from Steve's hair but he couldn’t get far on the cramped couch. All he managed was to jostle Steve enough to wake him up too.
“What are you doing?” Steve groaned.
“Trying to get your hair out of my mouth,” Eddie complained.
Steve rolled over to face him and his hair was still all over the place, but at least it wasn't tickling Eddie’s face anymore. Eddie ran his fingers through Steve's hair, pushing it back and away from his face anyway.
“Get your morning breath out of my face, Harrington,” Eddie said with a small smirk.
“I’m sure you’re really offended when you wanted to kiss me after I got a mouth full of demobat blood,” Steve said sarcastically.
(A post-season 4 fic where Eddie and Max survived, Eddie’s name is cleared, and Wayne has a heart attack then Eddie moves in with Steve while they’re not together yet)
