#chlprm

[rogueddie]

Platonic Stobin, 590 words, for @thefreakandthehair's Summer Spicy Six Challenge, with the prompt; "Do you trust me?"

Steve misses swimming. He misses the familiarity, the ease… something about the mindless laps is comforting. It made it easy to stop thinking, to stop worrying, just for a moment.

He can barely bring himself to look at his pool after Barb, nevermind get inside.

He originally started avoiding the public pool to avoid Hargrove, but after that summer and Max… he avoids the pool, avoids reminders, avoids the guilt that always follows the relief he feels when he remembers that he’s gone.

And, now, he can’t go to Lovers Lake.

Robin refuses to accept that.

“This is a bad idea,” Steve repeats.

She ignores him, hand tight on his wrist as she drags him through the trees.

When they reach the clearing, the edge of the lake, she lets go. She doesn’t drag him closer, continuing to walk the last steps by herself.

“It doesn’t look so scary in the daylight,” she observes.

Which is when Steve notices the tremble in her balled up fists. He’s not sure why he hadn’t thought that the lake might be just as traumatizing for Robin- and he knows, from the times she’d drag him back to the remains of the mall, just how much exposure helps her.

He steps forward, stands beside her, taking her hand.

“It’s just a lake,” he says. Although, he’s not sure if he’s reminding himself or her. “The gate is closed. There’s no monsters. It’s just water.”

“Exactly,” she agrees, nodding. “Just water. It can’t hurt you.”

Oh, Steve thinks. Something in his chest breaks with the realization.

“Exactly,” Steve echoes.

Squaring his shoulder, he kicks off his shoes and tries to let go of her hand so he can strip down to his swim shorts.

Robin won’t let go, holding onto him tighter.

“Bobbie, you gotta let go,” he nudges her. “Right? We’re going swimming.”

“No, it- you were right, this is a bad idea, it’s-”

“Hey, hey, look at me.” He squeezes her hand. Her eyes are a little wide when she turns to look at him. “Do you trust me?”

“Of course.”

“Let go of my hand.”

It takes her a moment, but Steve is patient. He stays where he is for a second, making sure she’s still ok.

Then, taking a deep breath and reminding himself that it’s for Robin, it’s safe, it’s for her- he sprints into the lake, diving in headfirst once the water is deep enough.

He only plans to stay under long enough to look around, to see that it’s safe. But, almost as soon as he’s under, hands are grabbing at him and pulling him back to the surface.

“What the hell!” Robin yells.

She’s laughing though- a little hysterical, hands still gripping him bruisingly tight, but she’s laughing.

“What?” He yells back, splashing her. “It’s just water!”

“You’re an asshole!”

When he splashes her again, she grabs the top of his head and shoves him back under the water.

It’s hard to remember why he was so terrified to go into the lake when he’s playing with Robin, when they’re laughing so hard that they can’t stay in the water too long, when they’re so happy with aching sides and sore muscles.

They sit at the edge of the water, legs submerged, talking and gossiping for an hour.

The water is cool, comforting…

“Thanks,” he finally says, as they start heading back to his car. “And I’m sorry for doubting you.”

“You better be,” she teases, bumping her shoulder into his. She grabs his hand, squeezing tight.

[rogueddie]

Exception, Not The Rule  Prompt for strangerthings-a-side's aromantic visibility week, day 1: self-discovery

Steve lays on his bedroom floor, limps splayed out like a starfish, staring at his ceiling in hopes that he might find answers there.

"It's not bad," Robin continues, shifting so she can peer down at him from where she's perched on his bed. Her face is upside down from his perspective. "A lot of people fall in love slowly."

"Yeah? You met any that take as long as me?"

"Uh... no... but they have to be out there! There's nothing wrong with you, so there can't be anything wrong with how you feel!"

"If there's something wrong with how I feel then that's something wrong with me."

"Oh my god," Robin groans, rolling her eyes, falling back, out of sight. "This is ridiculous!"

"You're telling me."

He's not sure how they ended up like they are. The conversation had started so simple- fun, even. They'd been joking about his miserable attempts at romance, which somehow twisted into Robin pausing and starting to question him.

When she'd asked him why he didn't love any of the girls, even after dating them longer than he had Nancy... he didn't have an answer.

But, worse, he had dated his last girlfriend for almost two years.

"Explain it to me again," Robin finally says.

"Robs-"

"Please?"

"It's like you said," he rolls over onto his stomach, propped up on his forearms. "I did love her, just... the way I love you."

"And you don't love me romantically."

It's a statement, not a question, but Steve repeats it in confirmation anyway.

"She asked you out, right?"

"Yeah."

"Why did you say yes?"

Steve frowns, shifting again, kneeling next to the bed so he can rest his forearms on the bed and look Robin in the eye. "What do you mean?"

"Why did you say yes?" Robin repeats, emphatically. "Why did you agree to date her? Why did you want to date her?"

"She asked me!"

"That's not what I'm asking!"

Steve huffs, frustrated, falling back so he's laying on his back again.

"Alright, rephrase," Robin says after a pause, rolling around so she's laying with her head poking off the bed, looking down at him. "Why did you continue to date her, after that first date?"

"I... she's cute?"

"Are you asking me?"

"... no? It's just- it sounds bad."

"Steve, it's me."

"I know, it... I like dating. It's fun, it's easy, it's..."

"What?"

Steve glances away from her, despite how comforting it is to see her unflinching at his confessions.

"It's what I'm supposed to want," he admits in a whisper.

"Eve, babe, you don't have to be what people expect of you. I'm not supposed to want girls and-"

"No!"

Steve jumps to his feet, starting to pace. He has to tug at his hair, using the sting in his scalp to push himself into saying it.

"I don't want to date, at all!" He finally blurts. "Not in the 'people expect me to date girls' way! Nancy is the only girl- the only person- that has ever made me really want to actually date! I mean, I like dating, dating is great, but... you talk about Vickie and- I don't feel like that. I don't want people like that. There's something wrong with me, Rob!"

"That's enough."

"Rob-"

"No!" She jumps to her feet, grabbing him by the shoulders, forcing him to stand still. "There is nothing wrong with you. Nothing."

"But-"

"No buts. You're my Steve, and you're perfect as you are. I would never change anything about you. Never."

"Yeah, I love you too, but this is still... something."

"So we'll figure it out. We have friends who know people. We're not alone anymore. We can find answers."

"What? No, this isn't a gay thing."

"I didn't say that it is. But I don't think it's a straight thing either."

"Did you forget about the Nancy part?"

"The one and only girl you've ever loved or wanted to date, right?"

"Exactly. I want to date girls. This is definitely a straight thing."

"No, Steve, that's the thing. You don't want to date girls, you want to date a girl. Nancy might be the exception."

"I don't want to date boys either."

"Ok? Vickie was telling me the other day about a girl she met through the bar who has never dated anyone and never will. She doesn't feel attraction to anyone, at all."

"Wait, is that why you've been interrogating me?"

"I mean... kinda? You've just been so worried about this for so long and if this is the answer then, like, that's amazing, right? No more confusion! You'll know you aren't wrong or alone too!"

Steve is silent for a moment, staring at a wall. When he finally turns back to Robin, he immediately pulls her into a hug, squeezing her uncomfortably tight.

"Are you sure?" He asks, quiet, voice breaking.

"What?"

"That there's nothing... I mean, others feel like this?"

"Yeah, Steve. I'm sure. I'm pretty sure it has a name or something. It's not common, but there are others. You're not alone. There's nothing wrong with you."

[rogueddie]

Buckingham, 1,760 words, for @thefreakandthehair’s Spicy Six Winter Challenge, with the prompt; snowball fight.

Winter, and Christmas especially, has always been Robins favorite time of year.

Or, more accurately, it used to be.

With the heavy snow, December of '85 is starting to become the worst month of Robins year. She can't even bring herself to enjoy the snow. Nothing her parents usually do to cheer her up works either.

"Until the roads are cleared, I've got to walk," Steve repeats. "I'm sorry, Robs. Maybe the snow will clear tomorrow."

"Maybe," she reluctantly agrees, ignoring the fact that he'd said the same thing yesterday... and the day before that... and the day before that. "At least we're on shift tonight, right?"

"Oh..."

Steve's tone only fills her with more dread.

"What?"

"Keith called me before you," Steve says. "Family Video is closed for the day. Something about the snow being too much and no one shopping in this weather anyway."

"So, hey, maybe school will be cancelled too," Robin tries, though they both know school won't cancel.

"I'll walk you home from school," Steve offers. "Or we can go back to my house. I still have that cake we made."

"Yeah, alright, whatever. I'll call you at lunch, yeah?"

"Ok. Missing you already, Robs."

"Love you too, Dingus."

Hanging up, she drops her head against the wall with a soft 'thud', grumbling complaints under her breath.

"No Steve today?" Her mother asks.

Robin turns, glaring when she sees the teasing smirk. "No, no Steve today. By the time he clears his driveway, I could have already walked to school and waiting... whatever. It's not a big deal."

"Mhm," her mom hums, chuckling. "Sure it isn't, sweetie."

"It isn't! It's not like we need to be together all the time. We can go one day."

"Your uncle and I used to use those same excuses, you know. We weren't any more convincing than you two. Now, come on, get ready. You'll be late if you don't leave soon."

Reluctant, and groaning, Robin takes the coat her mom holds out for her. She picks her bag up, sat by the door, and sitting on the stairs so she can pull on her boots.

"Don't rush, there's a lot of ice," her mom warns. "And keep your coat zipped up. And-"

"I know, I know. I love you, too. I'll see you later!"

"Bye sweetheart! Be careful!"

The air outside is freezing. It hits Robin like a brick wall when she steps out and, despite her mom's warning, the idea of spending longer is the cold than she needs to is horrifying.

She jogs, careful to avoid patches of roads and sidewalks that look icy.

She makes it most of the way with only a few stumbles before, inevitably, she slips over.

"Oh my god," someone yelps. "Are you ok?!"

Robin flushes, muttering curses, when she realises that, not only did someone see her fall over and eat shit- Chrissy Cunningham saw her fall over.

"I'm- yeah, fine, totally," she chokes out, forcing a laugh.

"Here," Chrissy pants a little, having ran over to her, offering a hand.

Robin takes her hand, a little surprised at how easily Chrissy pulls her up.

"Thanks," she says, trying to smile.

"Are you sure you're ok?" Chrissy frowns, looking her over. "We have a first aid kit if-"

"Oh, no, that's not... I am ok, really."

"if you're sure." Chrissy shifts, glancing back to the drive. "I'd over to drive you the rest of the way, but..."

Robin leans to look around her, wincing when she sees the drive.

The snow is piled high in the driveway and, despite how much has been cleared, there's no way that Chrissy is going to clear the rest in time.

"Why don't we walk together instead?" Robin suggests.

She almost takes it back, wincing at her own boldness, but Chrissy lights up.

"Yeah? I mean, yeah, let's! Lemme grab my bag, ok?"

"Ok, yeah, that's fine."

Robin wraps her arms around herself, starting to step side to side in an attempt to keep warm while she waits.

Luckily, it doesn't take Chrissy long.

"Ok, I'm ready!" She smiles. She pulls the strap to her back a little further onto her shoulder, the polite smile faltering. "Oh, are you cold?"

"Uh, yeah, but I'm fine, really, it-"

"No, don't worry," Chrissy twists so she can root through her bag. "I've got a spare... aha!"

She pulls out a scarf that's mostly green and white. She wraps it around Robins neck before she can protest.

"You can give it back later," Chrissy easily dismisses, starting to walk down the street. She raises an eyebrow when she glances back at Robin. "Come on!"

Robin stumbles a little in her rush to catch up.

"Careful," Chrissy says, taking hold of Robins right arm and cradling it in both of hers. She glances down at her boots. "Do you have enough grip with those?"

"What? I mean, yeah, these are great, they're sturdy and build for ice- mom got them specifically because they have great grip. The problem is with me, I'm not good at running. Like, I have terrible co-ordination- Steve is always joking about how I run like a windmill and, yeah, I do, but he learnt to walk slower than I did so really, he's the weird one here- I mean, what type of baby tries to crawl backwards, right?"

Robin finally pauses for breath. She glances at Chrissy, who is struggling to stiffle her giggles.

"Steve Harrington?" Chrissy asks, when she finally realizes that Robin isn't going to continue.

"Uh... yeah... don't tell anyone I told you that."

"My lips are sealed."

"No, really, that's- I think he told me that in confidence or something, I shouldn't have told you that, I just can't stop rambling when I get nervous around- and you're- oh god. I'm shutting up now. No more conversations. We're just... having a nice- silent- walk to school together. Just... me and Chrissy Cunningham. Jesus."

"You say that like I'm scary."

"Well, I mean..."

That only makes Chrissy giggle harder. "You think I'm scary? Really?"

She leans heavily into Robins side, one of her hands curling up around Robins bicep. She's looking up at Robin with an expression that's painfully familiar.

It's the same expression she's seen girls pull out when they're hitting on Steve. The same moves too.

But what would Steve do? Robin thinks, panicking.

She's grown so used to old conversations with Steve repeating in her head, his bad jokes and questionable advice a constant and welcome companion.

But, now that she actually needs him, he's nowhere to be found.

After a few seconds of panicking, Robin is desperate to break the tension that is quickly turning from flirty to awkward.

She ducks down, grabbing a handfull of snow, and throwing it against Chrissys coat.

Robin jerks up, standing stiff upright, frozen and stunned at herself, whilst Chrissy is equally frozen, staring at Robin with her mouth agape.

It doesn't take long for the shock and confusion to vanish though, and soon Chrissys grin turns wicked, a dangerous glint in her eyes.

"I'm sorry?" Robin tries.

"Are you?"

'That means she's flirting, just... in a more playful way', Steve voice finally rings in her head. That day had been confusing for Robin- she hadn't known if the girl had been flirting with him or bullying him. 'I kinda prefer it. It's nice to know you can roughhouse a little with a girl, you know? It can be fun. Sexy'.

That had been one of his more successful dates, Robin remembers. He'd gushed about her for the entire week between their first and second date. She can't remember what went wrong, but he was confident that-

Chrissy ducks down, quick, scooping up a pile of snow with both hands.

Nope.

She takes off running, barely darting out of the way of the snowball in time.

"Hey!" Chrissy yells after her. "Get back here!"

But she's laughing as she says it.

So, almost tripping onto her face as she ducks down, she scoops up another ball of snow. She turns, aim going a little wild with how fast she keeps running.

She yelps, stumbling a little heavier when the snowball sent back in return smacks directly in the back of her head.

"Careful!" Chrissy yells.

"Then don't aim for my head!"

"It's not my fault it's an easy target!"

"Hey!"

Robin scoops more snow, turning and sliding to a stop. Chrissy doesn't have enough time to stop, but she does duck out of the way so it hits the side of her head instead of directly in her face.

She realizes her mistake a second too late.

Chrissy, unable to slow her momentum on the same patch of ice that Robin had slid across, slams straight into Robin.

Robin winces when her back slams into the ground, the snow doing nothing to cushion the fall. She feels lucky that her head didn't also slam into the ground.

"Oops?" Chrissy says, pushing herself up slightly but making no move to get off her.

"No, it's ok, that's on me."

"Yeah..." Chrissy trails off, voice weak- distracted.

Robin holds as still as she can, irrationally worried that if she moves then she'll startle Chrissy out of whatever moment she's having that has her looking down at Robins lips, cheeks flushing.

For a moment, Robin is sure that Chrissy is going to kiss her. Her eyes flutter, shifting up so her face is above Robins, tilting her head and starting lean down, to-

Someone wolf whistles, loud.

Chrissy jerks back, throwing herself off of Robin- but she is immediately glaring at the two boys, laughing and leering at them.

"Fuck off!" Chrissy yells. "Jerks!"

She ignores them when they try yelling back, instead focusing on Robin and helping her to her feet.

"Ignore them," Chrissy mumbles, grabbing hold of her hand and gently dragging her along, walking fast. She glances back, seeming to relax. "What assholes."

Robin glances back, relieved when she realizes that they're turned around and started walking in the opposite direction.

"Yeah," she agrees, turning back to stare at Chrissy, awed. "You're so brave."

"What? Oh, no, I'm not."

"Yeah, you are! Scary, too."

"I am not!"

"Scared those two."

Chrissy huffs, leaning in so their shoulders bump together.

"You're something else," Robin continues, emboldened. "It's impressive. You're, like, actually cool. Not just popular kid cool, but... truly, really, awesome."

"Shut up." She's mumbling, but she's smiling. She's blushing. She's looking up at Robin through her eyelashes.

"Nope," Robin grins.

[rogueddie]

Sanctuary Prompt for strangerthings-a-side's aromantic visibility week, day 2: Library AU

Sat in Max's hospital room, listening to Lucas reading books aloud for her, felt like the only place that Erica could find any safety in the aftermath of Vecnas victory.

Even when Max woke, blind and confused, Lucas kept reading to her. The stories offered an escape, and Lucas' voice helped keep her grounded. Helped her keep positive.

Lucas is ok, and that was the thing Erica cared about most in those moments.

It wasn't until the next year that they would finally defeat Vecna, until they finally started the slow and arduous task of rebuilding Hawkins from the ground up.

Almost everything had been destroyed in the fighting.

Including the library.

Thinking of those days in the hospital, in those quiet moments when she was finally able to find peace through Lucas and his books...

She insisted on doing anything and everything she could to help rebuild the library. She was volunteering as soon as it opened.

The head librarian often joked about how she was going to take his job one day.

She didn't think he was serious. But, as soon as she turned twenty, he sat her down in his office and explained how the transfer will work.

"I'm old," he told her. "I've done all I can for this place. I can't think of anyone better for the job."

Erica thrived as the head librarian. Having the authority to finally make changes that she's been thinking about feels more like relief than a pressuring position.

None of the issues she assumes to occur ever come around either.

"You're such a pretty young woman," one of the women she works with comments, patting her arm. "Are you ever going to find yourself a man?"

"No," Erica says. She barely looks away from the bookshelf she's organising. "All I need are my books. No man will ever make me this happy."

"Good for you," the woman chuckles. "Never disappointed, huh?"

"I guess," Erica shrugs. "I just don't want that type of love."

"That type?"

"Yeah. I love my family, especially my brother. His fiance always comes over with him too and she's actually cool. I got friends. Tina. I can't imagine needing anyone else."

The woman hums, going quiet for a moment, considering.

Erica almost forgets about her and the conversation for the rest of the day, continuing on with her daily routine.

It's not until the end of the day, as they're preparing to close the library, that she comes up again.

"Sorry if this is crossing a line," the woman starts, before gently putting a little book on the desk. "But you fought hard to get this book in here..."

"I'm not gay."

"Oh. You're not?"

"No. I don't like either."

She frowns, looking down at the book. "Is that something in here?"

"Maybe. I don't know, and I don't care."

"Of course not," the woman huffs, smiling. "Well, as long as you're happy."

"Yes... yes, I really am."

[rogueddie]

Cheerscoops week Day 2 prompt: childhood friends to lovers

Laura Cunningham and Alice Harrington were friends, long before either took their husbands surnames. In the early years of their marriages, they would leave their kids together for a play date whilst they spent the evenings together, gossiping.

Chrissy said her first word to Steve, who gave her the exact excited reaction she had been waiting for. His first steps were heading towards her, too excited to sit and wait for her to be brought to him.

Despite their parents arguments, slowly growing to resent the other for what they have or represent, Chrissy and Steve stay friends. At first, they would sneak away to hang out. When they were six and seven, they built a tree house in the woods between their homes. They’d spend most of their days there, finding safety and reassurance with each other.

Tommy Hagan is the spark that almost burns everything they built together to the ground.

Steve tried to tell her that it was his father insisting he make connections, that the Hagans were close with both his parents and Steve had to play nice. She knows how important it is to keep their parents happy, knows how careful they have to be to stay in their good graces.

But Tommy is not nice- not to her, especially. She makes it clear that, while she understands, she won’t be by his side if she has to share that space with Tommy. But she does also promise to wait for him, that she’ll be there, no matter how long it takes (“best friends forever, remember?”).

She’s the first person he goes to, after the Upside Down mess and signing NDAs.

“Did Hagan do this?” She asks, keeping a small distance between them. Her arms are crossed, frowning at him with concern.

“No, but it is my fault,” he gestures to the bruises. “We’re not friends anymore. You were right.”

“I usually am.”

“So…” He clears his throat, surprised at how awkward it is. “Cheerleading…”

“Mom pushed me into it. It’s fun, though. The girls are nice to me.”

“Good, that’s good. I mean, the girls being nice, not-”

“I had a crush on you.” She slaps a hand to her mouth, but soon removes it so she can keep talking- she’s never been one to shy away from what she wants to say, when she means it. “I mean, I still do. I think that’s what’s making this, um… weird? It feels weird, right?”

“It feels different,” Steve corrects. “Weird makes it sound like that’s a bad thing.”

“Is it not?”

“Chris, I don’t think I’ve ever seriously considered a future with any other girl since I was five and you ate that worm.”

“That was a dare! And you said you’d forgotten about that!”

“You sure? Cause I don’t remember saying that. I do remember you saying that the worm tasted surprisingly-”

“Steve!” She gasps, taking a couple strides forward so she can gently smack his arm.

He catches her hand before she can pull away, gently cradling it in both of his. It gives her pause long enough to realize how close their stood together, how much taller he’s gotten since they last had an actual conversation.

“Does this really feel too weird? Or… bad?”

“I don’t know. I thought you and Nancy-”

“No! No, that, uh,” he clears his throat. “No. We did try but��� no. We’re just friends.”

“Oh.”

“Is that alright?”

“Yeah, that’s great. I mean- if we don’t work out, we’ll still be friends too, right?”

“Of course. I’ve already made the mistake of losing your friendship once before, I’m not doing it again. I… I’ve missed you.”

“I missed you too. And you can’t do that again. If I tell you someone's an asshole-”

“It won’t happen again. I promise, Chris. I’m not going anywhere. No matter what.”

“I’m holding you to that.”

Before he can reply, she curls her fingers around the buttons at the collar of his polo and drags him down. She still has to go on her tiptoes, other hand jumping to his shoulder for balance- but he quickly gets with the program.

It’s not a perfect kiss by any stretch of the imagination. She stumbles a little, causing him to laugh. But it’s happy. It feels right.

It makes their second kiss feel even better.

[rogueddie]

Stargyle, 1,084 words, for @thefreakandthehair's Spring Spicy Six Fanwork Challenge, with the prompt; Spring Fling.

Steve isn’t sure what he was expecting the end of the world to look like, but it wasn’t… this.

The high school gym looks painfully normal. The streamers hung up are the ones that the school has always used for the spring fling- Steve can remember having his first real kiss with Laurie under them.

The differences are painfully obvious though; the lights inside are dim, making the blaring lights outside more obvious, there’s nowhere near as many kids, and the small group of young adults inside are all armed.

It’s oddly comforting though. Whenever he glances to the main doors, paranoia keeping him on edge, he sees Hopper guarding the room with Nancys sawed-off shotgun. It almost makes him relax.

“Steve, my guy!” Argyle greets, patting his shoulder before leaning against the wall beside him. He’s the only one who isn’t visibly armed, keeping his pistol tucked away. “I am loving this whole vibe.”

“It’s alright.”

He can’t help but keep comparing it to his own spring fling- he’d only gone to one, in his freshman year, and it had been amazing. It was so fun, bright and lively. He had barely been able to think over the laughter and music that filled the room.

All he was worried about, back then, was impressing the girl and making sure his hair still looked good.

“Alright? Nah, man, this is radical,” Argyle insists, flinging his arm around Steves shoulders, pulling him closer. “Everything’s always, like, happening. It’s nice to have something calm. The kids are all so relaxed! No stressing about monsters, or that Vespa guy. It’s amazing!”

“Huh,” Steve mumbles, looking around the room. “Yeah… I guess you’re right.”

"It was your idea, wasn't it?"

"Not really. Joyce was the one who wanted them to have a night for the kids or whatever. Spring fling was, like, the obvious choice."

"No one else thought of it."

"I guess."

They're only quiet for a moment, before Argyle snorts and points to Robin and Nancy. They're dancing- or, more accurately, they're trying to dance. They're both trying to lead and Robin keeps moving her hands, looking a little panicked when Nancy finally grabs them and places them on her waist.

"About time, huh?"

"Damn right," Steve agrees. He throws a thumbs up when Robin looks to him. She replies with her middle finger.

"The perfect time for it too."

"Yeah, guess so."

When the song tapers off, switching to a slower song, the whole room seems to shift with it.

Argyle steps forward, clearing his throat, and finally drawing Steves attention back to him. He raises an eyebrow.

"What?"

Argyle holds out a hand. "Dance with me."

"Oh, no, I'm helping guard-"

"Stevie, man, come on! It's a night where we get to be normal and shit, no monster stress! Dance with me!"

"I don't... no, no, I shouldn't."

"You sure?"

Argyle holds a hand out, palm up. He raises an eyebrow, corner of his lips twitching up when he sees the temptation bleed into Steves face.

"Let loose a little," he wiggles his fingers.

Steve sighs, loud and dramatic, before taking Argyles hand. "Yeah, alright, what's the worst that could happen?"

"Maybe you'll have fun," Argyle taunts, leading him towards the center of the hall.

"Ha ha," Steve deadpans.

Argyle tugs his hand as he turns, so that Steve ends up stood close, almost chest to chest. He rests his hands on Steves hips when he tries to step back, stepping with him. He grins a little when Steve flushes.

"This alright?" Argyle asks.

Steves arms hover awkwardly for a moment, before he finally curls them around Argyles neck.

"Yep," Steve says, voice cracking. He ducks his head, clearing his throat. "I mean, yeah, this is- this is alright. This is fine- good. It's good."

"Good."

They start swaying to the music, a little tense and a little awkward. Especially with all the kids surrounding them, something Steve is painfully aware of.

But, after a long, painful moment, Steve finally looks up, making eye contact with Argyle. The tension is broken almost immediately, both unable to hold in their giggles.

Steve turns his head, trying to stifle his laughter in his arm.

Argyle takes the opportunity to step that last inch closer, leaning down so he can talk low into Steves ear; "don't, it sounds nice."

"What? My laugh?"

"Yeah." Argyle pulls back a little so he can see him, smiling softly.

Steve searches his face, expecting it to be a joke, only to find complete sincerity.

They're hovering so close, standing still- forgetting about the music, the dance, and everyone else in the room. Steves focus narrows down to the hands on his hips and the the realization of how close they are- he can feel Argyles breath on his lips.

His breath hitches when Argyle leans that last bit closer, pressing their foreheads together. One hand comes down, cupping Argyles cheek, eyes closing.

When he leans forward, capturing Argyles lips, he's expecting fireworks. Instead, it feels like something in his chest settles. It feels like... comfort.

They flinch apart when the room suddenly starts whooping. Nancy is standing on a little platform set up, holding some cards, and everyone is looking at her.

"Alright?" Argyle asks. He looks a little nervous.

Steve smiles, big and bright. "Yeah. Yeah, great."

When he turns back to the platform, to Nancy, Argyle leans in and pecks him on the cheek. He's already looking to Nancy when Steve looks to him, with a satisfied grin.

To no ones surprise, El is crowned Spring Fling Queen, and when Dustin is named Spring Fling King, Steve is cheering the loudest.

"You want a drink?" Argyle offers as they move out of the way for El and Dustins solo dance.

"Yeah, thanks!"

He looks around, soon finding Robin- who is looking around, for him. She jogs over to him, grabbing his arms and bouncing in excitement.

"Nancy kissed me!"

"What? That's great! Congratulations!"

"Yeah!" She grins, eyes going distant for a moment before she shakes herself out of her little daydream. "What about you?"

"Yeah," he looks to the punch bowl. Argyle looks over a moment later, waving when he finds Steve. He waves back, knowing that the grin on his face is goofy enough for Robin to understand.

"Hell yeah!" She cheers. "This could be the best night of our lives!"

"How about the start of a series of best nights?"

"Alright, Cheese Harrington," she rolls her eyes.