joesbnbg
joesbnbg
just along for the ride!
4 posts
noaprofessional maladaptive daydreamershe/her, librawriter !
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
joesbnbg · 1 year ago
Text
peace in our life
part two of everybody wants to rule the world
in which erica tricks everyone, the gang goes on a wild goose chase, and dj ends up in a sailor's suit [3.9k words]
Tumblr media
Steve fixated on the ice cream scooper in his hand, passing it between his fingers, watching the light shine against it. He had just perfectly tuned out everything around him - the nautical music, Robin’s fidgeting behind him, the chatter of customers - when two hands slammed against the counter, causing him to jump as he looked up to a haggard looking DJ leaning against the counter. 
“What the hell?” He muttered, looking at the girl’s pained expression. “What’s wrong with you?” 
“I can’t do it anymore.” She choked out, and Steve’s eyebrows knit with concern as he drew closer. 
“What?” 
“She’s driving me crazy.” 
“April?” 
“No.” DJ said, shaking her head. “Not her.” As she finished her sentence, a young girl entered the ice cream shop, and Steve’s face dropped as she sidled up beside DJ with a sinister grin. 
“Hey, sailor,” She said. “Miss me?” 
“Erica.” Steve said, gritting his teeth. “Wonderful to see you again.” The girl rolled her eyes. 
“Whatever.” Her eyes turned towards the case of ice cream greedily, scanning the flavors as if she’d never seen them before. “I’d like a sample of the strawberry ice cream, please.” 
“You don’t know what strawberry ice cream tastes like?” Steve said incredulously. 
“I’m a paying customer,” Erica said cooly, “And I’d like to try the strawberry ice cream.” Steve let out a grunt of disdain before doing as she wished, passing the spoon to her as she gave him another faux smile. 
“Why did you bring her here?” Steve asked through gritted teeth. DJ looked at him with wide eyes. 
“I had nowhere else to go.” She said desperately, and Steve frowned at her again. 
“Where’s April?” DJ shrugged. 
“Working.” She groaned, pulling her wallet out of her back pocket and thumbing through it for cash for Steve. “Like anybody’s actually coming into the stupid library at the beginning of summer.” She turned her attention behind Steve, staring intently. “Where’s Robin?” Steve chuckled.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” DJ’s eyes narrowed and Steve grinned. 
“I’m just curious.” She said innocently. “I’m not allowed to ask about a friend?” 
“Uh��� DJ?” Steve said, scanning the store. 
“Because we are friends, right? I mean, do acquaintances get high together? Probably not, right?” 
“DJ.” 
“I think we’re friends.” She continued instead, ignoring the panicked looks coming from her friend. “She’s cool, I’m cool, everything’s cool-”
“DJ!” Steve shouted, finally getting the girl’s attention. 
“What?” 
“Where is Erica?” Steve asked, and DJ frowned. 
“What do you mean? She’s right-” DJ turned to her left where Erica had been standing moments before, stomach plummeting as she came up empty. “Fuck.” 
“Tell me you didn’t lose Erica.” Steve said, watching DJ’s eyes reach his again in complete panic. 
“Of course I didn’t lose Erica.” DJ said. “Totally did not lose Erica. She’s gotta be here somewhere, right? This is just a sick prank or something? She’s just hiding. She does shit like this all the time.” DJ turned around, dipping her head under tables and over booths. “Erica? Come on, this isn’t funny.” 
“DJ, I don’t think she’s in here.” 
“There’s no way I lost her. This can’t be happening.” DJ said, checking underneath the last table. “Do you think she’s in the bathroom, or-?” 
“Well, wherever she is, she can’t be far.” Steve said. 
“I’m gonna get fired.” DJ said, eyes wide. “Oh my god, I’m gonna get fired. I’ve had this job since I was thirteen and this is the straw that breaks the camel’s back.” 
“Come on, it’s not like this is the fifth time you’ve lost her or something.” Steve said, and DJ looked down. “Right, DJ?” 
“It’s the sixth.” Steve groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. 
“Jesus Christ.” He said as DJ tore off towards the entrance. “Where are you going?” 
“To find her!” She called back. “Call April, we need backup! Tell her it’s a Code Blue!” 
“We need-” 
“To set a perimeter, I know!” 
“Totally not what I was going to say.” Steve said, shaking his head in disbelief. The door opened beside him, and Robin stepped out, novel in her hands. 
“What the hell’s going on out here?” She asked, catching a brief second of DJ’s brown hair as she turned the corner. 
“DJ lost Erica.” Steve said, and Robin frowned. “So now we have to call in reinforcements.” 
“Uh, the Hawkins PD?” She asked as Steve made his way to the phone. 
“No.” He said. “April.” He dialed the Hawkins Library number as Robin looked on, one ear pressed to the phone as he watched out for both Erica and incoming customers. 
“Hawkins Library,” A familiar voice said on the fourth ring. 
“April!” Steve exclaimed. 
“Steve?” 
“Hi. Situation over here.” He said casually. “DJ said to tell you it’s a Code Blue or something, whatever that means-” 
“Tell me she didn’t lose Erica again.” Steve’s jaw unhinged slightly, and he cleared his throat, trying to get himself back on track. 
“Yeah. Yeah, that’s exactly what happened, actually.” 
“Jesus Christ. She has one job.” 
“Well, now she’s asking you to leave yours and get over here and help her.” April huffed on the other line and Steve watched as DJ walked past Scoops Ahoy again, head turning wildly in all directions on the hunt for the girl. “And I think she’s a lost cause. She’s walking around like one of the three blind mice.” 
“Okay, well, I’m working right now, so there’s not much I can do.” 
“Come on. Is anyone really at the library right now?” 
“Are you defending DJ right now instead of me?” Steve frowned. 
“No.” He said. “But if you don’t get over here, then I’m gonna have to abandon my job to search for her, and that makes me want to hang myself from the rafters in the back room.” April sighed again. 
“I can get there in about an hour.” 
“If it takes us that long to find her, we might as well put her face on a milk carton.” Steve said, twirling the phone cord around his finger absentmindedly. “I’m excited to see her sneer at me when I go to pick up a jug of two percent at Bradley’s Big Buy.” 
“Steve.” 
“Sorry.” 
“Who’s working with you?” Steve peered his head towards the ice cream cases, where Robin was scooping up a cone of USS Butterscotch for a mom and her son. 
“Buckley.” 
“So ask her to help.” Steve went quiet for a moment. “Did you forget that was an option?” 
“...Maybe.” April laughed quietly. 
“Okay, well, start with that. I’ll be there when I can, okay?” 
“Okay.” He replied. “Toodles.” 
“Gross.” There was a click on the receiver and Steve sighed, hanging up the phone before turning to Robin, who was staring at him with an amused smile. 
“Toodles,” She repeated, and he rolled his eyes. 
“It’s an inside joke. You wouldn’t understand it.” 
“Why, ‘cause I’m a social pariah?” She replied with a challenging grin, following him as he rounded the corner into the back room. “Sounds kinda stupid to me.” 
“Whatever. Listen, can you do me a favor and hold down the fort while I help DJ find Erica?” Steve asked, and Robin crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. 
“You actually want to help DJ with something? That’s shocking.” Steve rolled his eyes.
“I want to help April, okay? And if Erica goes missing, she’ll never hear the end of it, which means I’ll never hear the end of it.” 
“I… guess that makes sense.” 
“Great. And when April gets here, you can help us look, considering we probably won’t have found her by then.”
“And what about Scoops? Do you have some ice cream slinging robot I don’t know about back there, or do you just plan on potentially getting us fired?” 
“We’ll just say we’re out of ice cream. Duh.” Robin narrowed her eyes, looking at the boy with disgust. 
“Seriously, dingus? That is so not a ‘duh’ moment.” 
“It’s the best we can do for now, okay? We’re losing daylight here.” 
“You guys are taking this way too seriously.” Robin said, following Steve back into the main part of the parlor. 
“Way too seriously? DJ lost a kid.” 
“No, she lost Erica. There’s a difference. That girl doesn’t do anything by accident.” She called after Steve, his brown hair bouncing up and down as he made his way into the main part of the mall. His eyes scanned the patrons for the sight of the girl, hoping to see her in a sea of brightly colored neon shirts and short shorts. 
It was far from convenient that it was yet another hot day in Indiana, and just like before, it seemed like the entire population of Hawkins had found refuge from the heat at Starcourt. Bodies were pressed tightly on escalators, children weaved in and out of taller teenagers and even taller adults, gaggles of high school students clung to each other, creating mobs scattered every fifty feet or so that made it impossible for Steve to navigate properly. At this rate, he wasn’t going to even find DJ again. 
“Hey! Sailor!” A voice called behind her, and Steve whipped towards it, spotting DJ across the courtyard, hands raised high in the air as she waved her down. Steve rolled his eyes, hands on his hips as he walked to her. 
“Did you find her yet?” Steve asked once he was close enough. 
“What does it look like, Harrington? Do you see any verbally abusive child attached to my hip at the moment?” 
“Huh. That’s funny, that’s exactly how I describe you.” He said, and DJ’s eyes narrowed as his lips melted into a smirk. 
“So creative, Steven. So very funny and creative. What a biting insult.” She replied, and Steve rolled his eyes, heading for the food court. “Where are you going?” 
“Maybe she got hungry.” He said. “So I’m checking Hot Dog on a Stick.” 
“You just want an excuse to get a hot dog, don’t you?” 
“Maybe.” 
⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆
There was still no sign of DJ, Steve, or Erica when April walked into Scoops, slightly out of breath as she placed her purse down on the counter, the strap slapping the side of the bell hard enough to make it go off. Robin stared at her with amusement as she sighed, her hands on her hips as she looked around. 
“Hey,” Robin said finally, and April smiled exasperatedly, looking at her. 
“Did they find her?” She asked in lieu of a greeting, and Robin shook her head, grimacing as April groaned. 
“Great. Of course not. Apparently I have to do everything, like my job and DJ’s job and everybody else’s job because no one knows how to take an ounce of responsibility for their own lives.” April finished, and Robin’s eyes widened. 
“Are… you okay?” April furrowed her eyebrows. 
“Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be? Now, are you coming, or not?”
“One sec.” Robin grabbed a nearby sheet of paper, quickly scribbling something on it before taping it to the back of the cash register before joining April on the other side of the counter. 
“Be back soon,” April read, “Please do not help yourselves.” 
“Works, right?” Robin asked. “Steve said I should say we were out of ice cream.” April laughed as they headed for the rest of the mall. 
“Works better than that excuse, I’ll tell you that right now.” Robin laughed too as they joined the crowd, eyes peeled for Erica. “We should go to the second floor and get a bird's-eye view in case she’s down here. I think she’ll be easier to spot.” 
“You know, it makes no sense to me.” 
“What, my idea?” 
“You and Steve.” 
“Oh.” April said as they weaved in and out of people. “How so?” 
“You’re so… smart. And he’s so… making three bucks an hour post-grad.” April laughed again. 
“It’s a really long, boring story.” 
“I like stories.” 
“No, let’s talk about you. Do you have a boyfriend?” April asked as they boarded the escalator, watching as Robin’s face pinched up in mild disgust, just as she suspected it would. Maybe she was right about Robin after all. 
“Definitely not.” She said. “I mean, not in, like, you know- I’m just more focused on-” 
“I get it,” April said quickly, gaining a grateful look from the girl as they stepped off onto the second floor. “Steve’s my first serious boyfriend. I had my reservations about dating, too, so, trust me, I get it.” 
“Yeah.” Robin said finally as the girls entered the closest store. “Does DJ have a boyfriend, or is she kind of on the same page as me?” 
“Yeah, I’d say you two are in very similar situations.” April said with a nod as they looked through the store. “I don’t think she’s really looking for a boyfriend at the moment.” 
“Hmm.” Robin said. “I feel like guys would be all over her, ‘cause she’s so… cool.” April chuckled lightly. 
“Yeah, that’s one word for her. A very nice word, I might add.” Robin laughed too as they exited the store. 
“I just mean… well, I don’t know what I mean. She’s cool.” She said with a feeling of finality as April led them towards another retailer. 
“Well, we’ve been best friends for years, so obviously I agree with you.” April said. 
“Is that your boyfriend pushing said best friend into the fountain down there?” Robin asked, peering over the balcony, and April whipped towards her in alarm, placing her hands on the railing as she watched in horror as DJ floundered inside of the fountain in the center of the mall, Steve standing nearby. 
“Oh, Jesus,” April said, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Are they serious?” 
“Oh, well, now he’s helping her out,” Robin said hopefully, still watching. “Nope. Just kidding, he pushed her back in again.” April groaned in frustration, walking towards the escalator faster than Robin had ever seen anyone’s legs move before. 
“What is wrong with them?” April said. “Can they not do anything without acting like children?” 
“I’m still sort of new to this friend group, but… yeah, it seems that way.” Robin said, hopping on the escalator behind April, watching as Steve followed a sopping wet DJ back towards Scoops Ahoy. 
“I’m going to kill them.” April said. “Like, seriously, I’m going to murder them. I’m gonna spoon their eyeballs out with that ice cream scooper and make them eat them.” 
“Hey, April?” 
“Yeah?” 
“Remind me never to get on your bad side.” 
“Totally noted,” April said as they reentered Scoops, muffled arguing in the back room causing her eyes to narrow. She pushed the door open, revealing DJ, soaked and shivering, holding an extra uniform and an unamused Steve standing near her with his arms folded. 
“April!” DJ said. “Your dumb rock of a boyfriend pushed me into the fountain.” 
“We saw.” Robin said, making DJ’s cheeks redden as she threw an ugly glare in Steve’s direction. 
“Steve, what the hell were you thinking? I thought you guys were supposed to be looking for Erica.” 
“We were,” He said, “And then DJ said my hairline looks like Pangea.” April crossed her arms, gaping at Steve. 
“What does that even mean!?” 
“I don’t know, but it pissed him off, so that’s a win in my book.” DJ said with a grin, and April rolled her eyes, pointing towards the door. 
“Go change.” She said, and DJ’s smile fell as she nodded and left the room. 
“Did you even try to look for Erica?” April asked. 
“Obviously.” Steve said. “But she’s an elusive little brat.” April sighed, dropping her head. 
“Okay, here’s what we’re going to do.” She said finally. “New teams. I’ll stay with Steve, Robin will go with DJ, and nobody will come back here until we find Erica. Are we understood?” Robin and Steve both nodded. 
“Great.” April said, clasping her hands together. “Glad we have that settled.” 
“Steve?” Robin said, turning towards the boy. “Your girlfriend’s a little scary.” Steve scoffed. 
“Tell me about it.” DJ reentered before the conversation could continue, wearing a sailor’s suit that was about two sizes too large. Steve let out a maniacal laugh as DJ readjusted her pants, eyes narrowed. 
“Keep laughing, jackass, you look just as stupid as I do.” 
“Okay, let’s go. DJ, with Robin.” April said, watching DJ’s wet clothes plop to the floor as she followed Robin out the door, the two of them chattering about the awkwardness of the suit’s waistband as their voices disappeared. “You,” April said, wheeling around to face Steve, who sat on the table with a lopsided grin. “What the hell were you thinking, pushing DJ in the fountain?” 
“Oh, come on,” He said, putting his hands around her waist. “You thought it was funny.” 
“I didn’t think I was funny.” She said, her arms pressed against her chest. 
“Yes, you did.” Steve said, grin growing as he pulled her closer. 
“Steve, we can’t do this right now.” She said, attempting to push him away without any real force. “Erica is missing-” 
“So what? You didn’t lose her, DJ did.” 
“Yeah, but-” She said, looking towards the door, trying her hardest not to concentrate on what Steve was doing. 
“They’ve got her. Robin’s very resourceful.” 
“But-” 
“April.” 
“Alright, fine,” She said, putting her hands on Steve’s face as he moved forward to kiss her. 
⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆
“If I was a ten year old let loose in a mall, where would I go?” Robin said in thought as they rounded a corner, eyes once again peeled for Erica. 
“I would go to The Game Player.” DJ said, and Robin shook her head. 
“April and I already checked there.” 
“Where would you go?” DJ asked, and Robin paused for a moment before answering. 
“Jazzercise. Obviously.” She decided, and DJ let out a laugh, making Robin’s cheeks go red as she ducked her head down to stare at her shoes. 
“Okay, but seriously. Where should we go?” 
“How about the movies?” Robin asked, lifting her eyes again to stare at the neon of the Star Cinemas sign. “If you were trying to hide from someone, isn’t that where you'd go?” 
“There’s nothing to see at the movies.” 
“That Care Bear movie just came out.” Robin pointed out. 
“Erica would rather kill herself than see that.” DJ said. “Seriously.” 
“Okay, what about Fletch? Or A View to a Kill? Rambo?” Robin offered, and DJ gave her a funny look as they walked in tandem towards the movie theater. “What? I like movies.” 
“Erica is not the Rambo type, trust me.” DJ said. 
“Okay. Fine.” Robin said, chewing on her lip as she thought about what to do next. “Well, what’s our endgame here?” 
“What’s our endgame? Find Erica. Obviously.” 
“And what’s Erica’s endgame?” 
“Make us miserable?” 
“Probably. So she’ll have us look around this mall all day like idiots, until she just comes right back to Scoops Ahoy and demands that you take her home.” 
“So what are you saying?” 
“What I’m saying is no one’s gonna try to kidnap her. She’s too smart, and way too mouthy. She’ll show up when she’s ready. I say we just go back to Scoops.” DJ thought about it for a moment, footsteps slowing. 
“Yeah,” DJ agreed. “Yeah, you’re right.” 
“Great.” Robin said. “Because I really don’t feel like getting fired.” 
“They could never fire you. Who else would want to work there?” DJ asked as they switched directions, heading back towards the ice cream parlor. 
“Well, hey, you look the part,” Robin said, looking her up and down. DJ swore she could feel the heat of her gaze as she looked down at her sailor’s suit. 
“I look stupid, is what I look,” She said dismissively, the sweet smell of ice cream growing stronger and stronger with every step they took. 
“No, I don’t think so.” Robin said with a smile. “I think you look… cute.” 
“Oh,” DJ said. “Thank you.” Robin shrugged as they entered Scoops again, heading towards the back room. “You know, not for nothing, but I think you look pretty-” A scream left DJ’s mouth as she opened the door to the backroom, followed by a shriek from April and one from Steve, who were leaned up against the back wall, hair matted and cheeks flushed. 
“Oh my God!” Robin said with a laugh. 
“What are you doing? Shut the door!” 
“This is a workplace!” DJ said, still screaming. “Where is the decency?” 
“Steve, please put a shirt on.” Robin said. “I’m gonna laugh at you.” DJ groaned, covering her eyes with her hands. 
“I want to be blind,” She said. “I want to unsee everything. That is going to be burned into my brain forever.” 
“Can we never talk about this again?” April asked. 
“If Steve puts away the bramble on his chest, then maybe we can consider it.” DJ said, eyes still covered. 
“Oh my God.” April said, lowering her head and burying it in her hands. 
“Guys, this is so not a big deal,” Steve said, reaching for his shirt. “It’s a very natural thing, what we’re doing-” 
“Steve, shut up!” April exclaimed as Robin let out a laugh. 
“What!?” He exclaimed. “It is!” Before anyone could continue, the group’s attention was stolen by the repeated ringing of the bell in the front of the store. Robin rolled her eyes. 
“By the time I get back here, the two of you better be put together.” Robin said, pointing a finger at April, who was bright red, and Steve, who looked sort of proud of himself. She winked before pushing the door open, followed by DJ, who thought she might throw up if she had to look at Steve again, at least for the next seventy two hours. 
“I’d like to file a noise complaint,” A voice said by the counter, garnering DJ and Robin’s attention. “All the screaming back there is making my ears bleed.” 
“Erica!” DJ exclaimed, running around to the other side of the counter and wrapping her arms around the girl, who was quick to shove her off. 
“Don’t touch me.” 
“Where the hell were you?” She shouted, eyebrows furrowed. “You scared the crap out of me. I went on a wild goose chase around this whole mall.” 
“Relax,” Erica said, holding up a hand. “Me and Tina went to see Rambo.” 
“I knew it,” Robin whispered, eyes wide. 
“Rambo?” DJ repeated. “Rambo!? That’s R-rated, how did you even get in?” Erica shrugged. 
“I have my ways.” She said nonchalantly. “And Tina loves Sylvester Stallone.” 
“Tina,” DJ muttered. “I hate Tina.” 
“The feeling is mutual.” Erica said, boredom lacing her tone. “Can we go home now? All that sitting around in a nice, cool movie theater has made me tired.” DJ grit her teeth. 
“Fine.” She agreed, watching as Robin opened the divider between the two rooms. 
“Guys! Guess who’s here.” She called, and it was only a few seconds later before a far more put together April and Steve flew through the door, eyes widening as they set on Erica. 
“Where was she?” April asked Robin before turning towards Erica. “Where were you?” 
“I really don’t feel like repeating myself.” She said before heading towards the door. “See you later, nerds. Remind me not to hire you as PIs if I get kidnapped.” DJ threw a helpless look in her friends’ direction before following Erica out the door. 
“Well, we know who wears the pants in that relationship.” Steve said, and April swatted his arm as Robin let out a giggle. 
“Yeah. I know who wears the pants in your relationship now, too, Harrington. Before it was just a hunch, but unfortunately I got a taste of the real thing.” She said, and April and Steve both groaned. 
“Oh, come on!”
⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆
sooooo sorry for how long it took to get this second part out! i promise i will get better at updating this story on a more regular basis; i just hit super bad writer's block and got crazy busy with school. i'm hoping to put a part out each monday, so i'll see you guys then ;)
9 notes · View notes
joesbnbg · 1 year ago
Text
cruel summer
part one of everybody wants to rule the world
in which the girls get ice cream, robin has a meet-cute, steve throws a pool party, and everybody gets high [4.4k words]
Tumblr media
The summer of ‘85 in Hawkins, Indiana was a scorching one. Tarmac sizzled under the butter yellow sun, cotton candy clouds spun on the saccharine sweet taste of summer freedom. Perfect for soaking sunburnt bodies with chlorinated water at the Hawkins public pool; perfect for long bike rides against the wind, speed and sun burning the rubber of the thin tires; the perfect weather for ice cream. 
Which was right where April and DJ were headed, AC blasting in April's beat up ‘74 Chevy Vega, sun reflecting off its faded orange hood as the two teenagers drove towards the Starcourt Mall. Blondie blasted from the speakers and April sang along lazily as DJ chattered over Debbie Harry with unprecedented speed about everything and nothing at all, fumbling with the fringes of her cut off shorts. 
April's fingers drummed against the steering wheel as she turned into the crowded parking lot, eyes scanning for a place to park as DJ craned her neck towards the entrance, watching couples and teenagers and families alike clamber inside the mall like sweaty zombies who sought cold air instead of brains. 
April pulled into the closest spot she could find, which of course wasn’t close at all, and quickly turned the car off, as ready to escape the summer heat as the rest of her town. She pushed her sunglasses back onto the crown of her head, black frames against copper hair, watching as DJ snaked out of the car window, falling to the ground with an ungraceful thump. April's passenger side door hadn’t worked since she had bought the car over a year ago, but DJ still hadn't gotten the hang of an elegant landing. 
“Let’s go,” April said with an impatient smile, head tilted towards the mall. DJ grumbled, wiping bits of rocks from the indents they had created on her palms as she scrambled to her feet, the old canvas of her black converse tearing slightly at her movement. 
“I thought when you got a car it would come with less injuries,” DJ said, catching up to her best friend as they began towards the building, beat-up shoes moving in tandem against the blacktop. “I’m fighting for my life out here.” April huffed out a laugh, adjusting the strap of her purse on her shoulder. 
“If you were behind the wheel, we’d be fighting for our lives every five minutes. I much prefer these odds.” April responded, pushing through the glass double doors and into Starcourt, a well welcomed whoosh of cool air greeting her. DJ sputtered as she removed the wind blown hair from her face, tucking dark strands behind her ears.
“What, because I went airborne? That was one time.” DJ said as they rounded a corner, making April laugh again. 
“Two times.” 
“One and a half. Only the front two wheels came off the ground the first time.”
“I don’t know if you’re aware of this, Dot, but a car’s wheels aren’t supposed to come off the ground ever. Front or back.”
“They won’t be saying that when cars can fly.”
“Emphasis on ‘can.’ My car is not built for that. No car is built for that. Honestly, I’m starting to think you might have a better shot getting your pilot license.” April said as they walked into Scoops Ahoy, Hawkins’ newest and nicest nautical themed creamery. DJ whistled at the boy behind the counter whose face perked up slightly at the sight of the girls. How this schmuck in an ill-fitting sailor’s suit had managed to win over her best friend was still a mystery to her, but she tabled the thought for later as they approached the counter. 
“Too expensive. Yo, Harrington! How do we feel about another driving lesson?” She called at him, a grin tugging her pink lips upward. Steve shook his head vigorously as he moved towards the tubs of ice cream, head bent as he scooped USS Butterscotch onto a wafer cone. 
“Absolutely not,” He said, and although amusement colored his tone, it was clear he was being completely serious. He stood upright, passing the cone to April, who took it with a bright smile, one he shared as their brown eyes met. 
“Well, take it up with your girlfriend, because apparently, she’d rather sacrifice my palms than get her wizard cousin to fix the car.” DJ said, holding up her scratched up hand as April rolled her eyes.
“Okay, first off, he’s not a wizard, he’s a thirteen year old who happens to know a lot about science, and secondly, he’s not a fucking mechanic. He’s just a kid.” She shot back. DJ shrugged, taking a cone of cookies and cream from Steve’s outstretched hand. 
“Close enough,” She said as she licked a dribbler off the side of the cone. “But I’m pretty sure I saw him blow up Older Sinclair’s blender, so really, what’s the difference?” DJ asked, dropping a loose quarter from her pocket into the tip jar, which made Steve involuntarily grimace. 
“He’s also not even here,” April reminded her. “He’s at that science thing for another three weeks.” 
“Camp Know-Nothing or whatever,” Steve added.
“Camp Know-Where,” April corrected. 
“You want a bandaid for that battle scar?” Steve asked, eyebrows raised and eyes focused as DJ inspected the broken skin on her hand. DJ shrugged like it was nothing, because things like this were always happening to her. Steve turned, opening the partition to the back room, calling towards the coworker neither April or DJ realized he had. “Robin, can you get the first aid kit?” 
“What, did you sprain your wrist slinging ice cream, Stevie?” The voice called back, and Steve rolled his eyes, gritting his teeth with annoyance as he turned back towards his friends. April trained her eyes on the floor and sunk her teeth into her bottom lip to keep from laughing, but DJ couldn’t help the snicker that escaped her. 
“Yeah, Stevie, hurt your little baby wrist?” DJ said, pouting at him. Steve’s eyes narrowed as he turned towards the back again. 
“It was for my friend actually, but forget it, because she’s being an absolute dick right now.” He said, and this time April couldn’t stop herself from laughing into her ice cream. “Let her bleed.” 
“Are you allowed to curse in uniform? Isn’t that, like, against the company image or whatever?” DJ asked, clearly getting more joy out of teasing the boy than the quickly melting treat in her hand. 
“Company image? What is this, Disneyland?” Steve retorted. 
“What? King Steve wasn’t an animated Disney classic? Since when?” DJ replied, eyes widening. She laughed, loudly this time, but all confidence and joy seemed to drain from her face as Steve’s coworker stepped out from the back room, first aid kit in hand. 
“Who needs the first aid kit?” The girl asked. “Had to look through, like, seven different cabinets to find it. I’m also pretty sure the instructions on this thing are in Russian.” She frowned, head bent as she examined it with bright blue eyes. DJ gulped, trying to steady herself, and April and Steve shared a knowing, amused look. 
“Robin, this is April, my girlfriend, and DJ, April's leech. April, DJ, this is Robin.” Steve said, and Robin looked up at them for the first time, eyes training on DJ’s just as DJ’s had trained on Robin’s. Pink rose to her freckled cheeks and she quickly looked down again, focusing on opening the first aid kit again. 
“Hand,” DJ blurted, pointing it out towards Robin, who looked at it like DJ had just shoved a knife in her direction. 
“She hurt her hand,” April quickly supplied. “Climbing out of my car, because the door doesn’t work.” 
“Oh,” Robin said, clearly nervous herself as she awkwardly opened the kit. She pulled out a bandaid and when she grabbed DJ’s hand to inspect it closer, DJ held her breath. Delicately, Robin placed the bandaid over the spot, patting the brunette’s hand lightly as she let it go. The air was thick with the smell of vanilla and tension, and Robin cleared her throat, stepping into the back room again. 
“...Huh,” Steve said after a moment, head tilted in thought. “I mean, she’s usually awkward, but she’s not that awkward.” 
“I wasn’t-” 
“I didn’t mean you, shit-for-brains.” Steve said, eyes on DJ, whose eyebrows knit in frustration. 
“I should slap that stupid hat right off your head.” DJ replied. 
“You’d be doing me a favor.” Steve said, and April chuckled. 
"How long has she been working here for?" April asked. "I've never seen her around." Steve shrugged.
"Dunno. She just sort of showed up and started insulting me."
"I like her already." DJ said, and Steve rolled his eyes.
"Clearly." He muttered.
“So, Stevie-” 
“Don’t call me that.” 
“Stevie, you know it’s really hot out today.” 
“Mhm.” 
“And you know what people like to do when it’s hot out?” Steve stared at DJ, unamused.
“Go inside and leave other people alone?” 
“Go swimming,” April supplied, and Steve turned towards her, raising an eyebrow before wagging a finger between the girls. 
“You planned this, didn’t you?” He asked, before turning his attention back to DJ. “Don’t you have a pool?” 
“Yeah, but you have something I don’t: absentee parents.” DJ said with a grin, and Steve glared at her, playing with his ice cream scooper. 
“Gee. Thanks. Rub it in my face, why don’t you?” 
“I’m just saying,” DJ continued, leaning on the counter to get closer to him, “We could have a super-fun-no-parents-pool-party to kick off the summer? I’ll get the drinks!” 
“You look younger than Henderson.” Steve shot back, and DJ grinned brightly at him. 
“Okay, then you get the drinks.” DJ amended, and Steve smiled with disbelief, shaking his head slightly. 
“Is that a yes?” April asked, looking at the boy hopefully. Steve rolled his eyes before finally nodding his head in agreement. 
“Fine,” He said. “Fine. Seven o’clock.” DJ broke out into a sly grin. 
“You’re the best, Harrington.” She said, and Steve rolled his eyes again, waving his hand. 
“Whatever.” He said as April dug into her purse for her car keys, extending them out towards her friend. 
“DJ, why don’t you go ahead and get the car started? I’ll be out right behind you.” 
“I don’t think the good patrons of Scoops Ahoy will appreciate the make-out session in the middle of their nautical ice cream experience,” DJ said as she took the keys, twisting them around her finger. 
“Shut up!” April said as Steve ducked his head down, blushing. 
“Wear protection!” DJ called as she headed towards the exit. “I am too young to be an aunt.” April laughed, turning back towards Steve, who gave her a smile. 
“So…” April started, leaning closer to him, “I was thinking…” 
“Oh yeah?” Steve said, grin growing with the girl’s words. 
“We should invite Robin to the pool party tonight.” Steve’s smile faded as he crossed his arms, looking at the girl in front of him. 
“Seriously?” He said, blinking. “Why?” 
“Because!” April responded, lowering her voice slightly. “She and DJ were really hitting it off back there.” 
“That was hitting it off? I’ve seen babies communicate more gracefully than that.” Steve argued, but April pressed forward. 
“There’s something there. Invite her, please.” 
“How do you even know she’s a lesbian?” Steve whispered, and April's eyes darted towards the back room, making sure Robin wasn’t listening. 
“I don’t,” April said, “But I have a feeling if we invite her, it’ll be a good thing. Come on, please?” Steve was silent, thoughtful as he weighed his options. “You know,” April said, closing the space between her and the boy even more, “If DJ has a friend, or somebody, she won’t be as interested in what we’re doing.” Steve stared at her blankly. “Do you understand what I’m trying to say to you, Steve?” 
April watched as the idea registered in his brain, eyes filling with recognition and mouth opening slightly. “Oh,” He said slowly, starting to break out into a thoughtful grin. “Okay. Okay.” 
“See?” April said, smiling, too. “Invite her.” Steve groaned, looking towards the back room, nose scrunching with disgust at the girl who sat inside of it. “Come on,” April pushed back Steve’s cowlick, moving the chocolate colored hair out of his face. “Please.” 
Steve huffed. “Fine.” He said. “Fine. God, I just do whatever you two tell me to, don’t I?” 
“Yeah,” April agreed. “You must be real fucking whipped, Harrington.” Steve rolled his eyes. 
“Get the fuck out of here. I’ll see you at seven.”
⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆
When seven o’clock rolled around that evening, April and DJ found themselves once again inside April's car, bikinis on under cut off shorts and big graphic tees. The sun was dipping below the trees, filtering through the leaves and houses as they drove through Hawkins, the cool breeze that accompanied the late hour playing with the ends of their hair. 
“I wonder what else we could get Steve to do because he’s in love with you.” DJ said, watching the clouds pass by as they drove, hand draping lazily out the window.
“He’s not in love with me.” April said quickly, and DJ quirked up an eyebrow. 
“What do you mean? He’s definitely in love with you.” DJ said. “I mean, come on, who else would put up with me just to date you? Not many people.” 
“Found that out the hard way.” April added. “But can we not… we’re just taking it slow for now, okay?” 
“O…kay,” DJ said finally, a little lost. “I wonder what we could get him to do because he likes you so much,” She amended. “Do you think he’d kill someone, or is that, like, a six month anniversary present kind of deal?” 
“Jury’s still out on that one,” April replied after a moment. 
“No, the jury definitely thinks he’s innocent. They’d think a man who uses that much hairspray probably wouldn’t have any brain cells left to murder ‘cause the aerosol in the can would have killed them all.” 
“Okay, he doesn’t use that much hairspray,” April argued, although she barely even believed herself. 
“Have you ever seen him without hairspray before, or are you guys not that serious yet? Does that also come with the six month anniversary murder?” DJ kept going. “Like, maybe he murders someone because they’ve seen him without hairspray, or maybe they discontinue it so he murders whoever makes - or, I guess doesn’t make - the hairspray, or-” 
“Okay, we get it.” April said as they turned onto Steve’s block, pulling into the empty spot in front of his house, right beside a tree with a branch convenient enough for DJ to use to haul herself out of the car. 
She managed the escape a little better this time, huffing as April retrieved her things from the back of the car. DJ frowned at the sight of an unfamiliar bike resting in the driveway as they got closer, nudging April to make sure she saw it, too. 
“Is that Steve’s?” DJ asked, and April stared at it, doing her best to pretend she didn’t know who it belonged to. 
“Hmm, I don’t know.” She said. “Maybe it’s one of the kids.” 
“He’d invite the kids to a pool party where there’d be alcohol?” DJ said incredulously. “Mr. Mother-of-the-Year? I don’t think so.” 
“Well, who knows?” April asked as she knocked on the large wooden door. “They like to just randomly appear in places. Could be one of them.” It was a few more seconds until the door swung open, and Steve stood behind it, looking far more comfortable in clothes that fit his body correctly. 
“Retired from the navy so soon?” DJ teased. “I thought they were about to promote you.” 
“Shut up,” Steve replied before kissing April in greeting as the girls walked inside. 
“Where’s mine?” DJ asked, puckering her lips at him. He made a face at her as they walked through the house. Music played softly on a speaker outside as Steve made a pit stop in the kitchen, passing cold beer cans to the girls before sliding the glass door to the backyard open. 
“Hey, guys!” DJ almost dropped her drink at the sight of the sandy haired girl in front of her, laying out in a navy blue two piece, nursing a beer. 
“You guys remember Robin,” Steve said, gesturing at her as if it wasn’t April's idea to invite her in the first place. 
“Yeah!” April said brightly, hoping her excited attitude would draw away from the fear growing in her best friend’s eyes. “It’s good to see you. Isn’t it, DJ?” She turned towards her friend expectantly, whose green eyes only grew wider. 
“I-it’s great! Or, or cool! Or, it’s very normal. Awesome. Fun…tastic to see you.” DJ sputtered on her words, drawing a quiet laugh out of Steve. Robin didn’t seem phased as she took another sip of her beer. 
“You know, I think we had English together sophomore year,” She said, eyes focusing on April, who smiled with recognition. 
“Yeah! I think you’re right. God, Mr. Shipman was an absolute trip.” April replied, twisting her hair up into a bun. 
“I took English!” DJ offered, and Steve moved towards her, patting her on the shoulder. 
“Take a lap, champ.” He said, and DJ nodded, still flustered as she moved to dip her toes in the deep end of the pool. “That went so badly I hope she doesn’t drown herself.” Steve muttered softly against April's ear, causing her to stifle a laugh. 
“So how long have you two been going out?” Robin asked. DJ was still on the other side of the pool making splashing sounds with her feet that were loud enough to cause a scene. Steve and April looked at each other.
“Like… five months at this point?” Steve asked, and April shrugged in agreement. Robin looked between them with a smile.
“How exactly did you pull her, Harrington? She seems a little too cerebral for you.” Robin tilted her head, smile taking form into a shit-eating grin as April giggled and Steve’s face dropped. 
“That’s what I’m saying!” DJ shouted from the other side of the pool. 
“Well, considering the fact that I don’t even know what ‘cerebral’ means, yeah, you’re probably right.” Steve said coolly. “We met through her cousin-” 
“Her cousin who is a child.” DJ added in a yell, cutting Steve off. 
“Who I, y’know, look out for sometimes-” 
“He’s a glorified babysitter who doesn’t get paid.” DJ continued, and Steve turned towards her, placing his hands on his hips. 
“Shut the fuck up, Dorothy.” Steve shouted as DJ padded her way back over to them, wet feet slapping on the concrete. 
“Make me, Harrington!” DJ gestured towards him and he moved ever-so-slightly before April put a hand on his arm, redirecting the conversation back to where it had started. 
“I tutored him.” April said. “And to be honest, I thought he was a major douche. But he actually turned out to be a big softie.” 
“Is that why he can’t get it-” Before DJ could finish, Steve turned towards her and pushed her in the pool, causing all three of the girls to yelp as DJ landed smack in the middle of the water. 
“Jesus, Steve!” April exclaimed, though she was laughing. Robin was laughing, too, and Steve cracked a smile, guzzling the last of his beer. 
“Took care of that problem, huh?” Steve said as DJ spluttered, spitting chlorinated water out of her mouth and pushing her sopping wet hair out of her eyes.
“Not fair!” DJ exclaimed, although she was smiling, too. Before she knew what was happening, a whiz of a blue bathing suit was making its way into the pool with a whoop, landing beside her. Once she had popped back up out of the water, Robin smiled at DJ, eyes reflecting the color of the pool. 
“Couldn’t leave you alone in here, could I?” Robin said, and DJ did her best to keep her body from short-circuiting. Still on land, April eyed Steve nervously, body tense as she waited for him to push her in, too. Steve stared at her, his hands on his hips. 
“I’ll at least give you the dignity of taking your clothes off first.” He said, eyes drifting towards DJ, whose large shirt was fanning around her like an underwater overcoat. 
“Gee, what a gentleman.” April grinned, stripping off her denim shorts and t-shirt to reveal an emerald green bikini underneath. Steve waited with amusement as April tossed them to the side, then scooped her up bridal style and tossed her into the pool before chucking off his own shirt and cannon-balling after her. 
DJ swam towards the shallow end to peel off her now soaking denim shorts and t-shirt, tossing them with a loud plop onto the side of the pool. She felt a lot lighter in just her maroon bikini. 
Once the group was officially cooled off and fully chlorinated, they removed their soaking bodies to lay out by the side of the pool, each nursing cold beers, condensation dripping onto the already wet concrete. 
“So,” Robin said, a grin plastered on her face as she reached her free hand towards her bag, “I brought something that might make today a little more interesting.” Steve raised an eyebrow, his interest piquing. Robin whipped a baggie out of her purse, holding it up for the friends to see, and April laughed. 
“Magic oregano,” DJ said, making April laugh harder as Steve stood up, grabbing the bag from Robin’s outstretched fingers. 
“Brownie points for Buckley.” Steve moved towards the nearby table to begin rolling the joint. 
“I didn’t know you smoked, Robin,” April said, prompting the girl to shrug. Steve scoffed.
“Are you kidding? Look at her. Her nails are painted black and she’s in band.” Robin made a face as both April and DJ laughed. 
“Okay, okay, fair,” April conceded. 
“I wouldn’t think you guys smoked,” Robin said. “DJ, maybe. Steve, sure. Definitely not you, April.” 
April shrugged. “I like to have fun.” 
“She likes to have a break from talking all the time.” Steve translated, licking the rolling paper. April grinned. 
“What does that mean?” Robin asked. 
“I go really quiet when I get high.” April explained, and DJ nodded enthusiastically. 
“Nonverbal, almost.” DJ added. “It’s really kind of funny.” 
“Wish you’d go nonverbal,” Steve muttered, and DJ’s head whipped towards him. 
“Do I have to remind you you’ve never won a fight, Harrington? Want to make that record zero to three?” DJ said, and Steve gave the girl a wary look, going the long way to avoid her as he moved towards Robin, who held her lighter outstretched towards him. “You’re lucky I don’t have that. All it would take is one jab of that fire in your direction and the amount of hairspray up in that wig of yours would make you go bald in an instant.” April couldn’t help but laugh as Steve flicked the lighter in DJ’s direction before bringing the joint to his lips, taking a puff. 
He handed it to April, who took a small drag and suppressed a cough as she handed it to Robin, who took a similar hit, who passed it to DJ, who held it to her lips far too long just to stop herself from thinking about the fact that her hand had brushed Robin’s. She coughed up a storm, handing the joint back to Steve, who laughed. 
“Little smaller next time, Wilkerson.” He advised, and she glared at him with watery eyes, trying to stop the coughs from coming out of her. They each took one more hit, then another, until a little less than half the joint was left, which Steve stubbed out to save for later. 
It didn’t take long until all of their brains were humming, tuned on the frequency of a certain kind of tranquilness that only came from joints like these. They all stared up at the sky, admiring the way the clouds went by, the shapes they made, the way they danced in the air. 
“This is nice.” Robin said. “I honestly wasn’t gonna come, but… this is nice.” 
“Yeah,” DJ agreed with a lazy smile. 
“If I’d have known you’d had weed up your sleeve, I would’ve invited you over a long time ago, Robin.” Steve said, turning towards her slightly. “Where’d you get it?” 
“You guys know Eddie Munson?” Robin asked. Steve frowned.
“Who?” He asked. 
“He’s a senior. He’s in that Dungeons and Dragons club, with the long hair? Looks like he could be straight out of Metallica, or something, and he’s kind of weird, but in a harmless way, and definitely nicer than he looks - but anyways, he sells weed, good weed, obviously, and my friend told me about him, and his prices aren’t too bad, so around last year, I started buying from him and was like ‘Oh! This is cool!’ and so I’ve kept going back and-”
“I think you've made your point.” Steve said, shutting the girl down before she could continue. DJ sat up, staring at him. 
“Let her speak.” Steve rolled his eyes as DJ laid back down again.
“So, anyways, yeah. I buy from Eddie. That was really the end of the story.” Robin said with a shrug. 
“I have such an urge to jump in the pool right now.” DJ said, eyes on the sunlight that danced across the water’s surface. 
“Don’t,” Steve warned, shielding his face from the sun with his arm, “You’re gonna get yourself killed.” 
“No, I’m not,” DJ argued. “And even if I did, you’re a lifeguard, right? So you could just save me or whatever.” Steve gave her a pointed look. 
“I’ll go in the pool with you!” Robin offered, sitting up in her own chair. DJ grinned, looking towards Steve again. 
“See? Two against one. April, you in?” April shook her head. 
“No, I’m good.” She said, eyes closed as Steve played with the ends of her hair. DJ shrugged, moving towards the edge of the pool.
“Okay, still two against one. That’s fine. Majority rules. But don’t worry, Mom, I won’t, like, backflip into the pool or anything.”
“You don’t know how to backflip.” 
“Yes, I do.” 
“No, you don’t.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Get in the pool before I push you in.” Steve said, and though he made no effort to move, DJ cannonballed into the pool without another moment’s hesitation. 
⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚
i hope you guys enjoyed this part! these characters are so special to me and i'm having such a fun time with their dynamics :)
33 notes · View notes
joesbnbg · 1 year ago
Text
everybody wants to rule the world (a platonic stobin x ocs fic)
Tumblr media
the summer of 1985. two best friends. an unlikely pair of ice cream slingers. evil russians threatening the end of the world. what can go wrong?
masterlist:
part one - cruel summer
part two - peace in our world
part three - coming soon!
14 notes · View notes
joesbnbg · 1 year ago
Text
justice for (platonic) stobin (a fic!)
so i've been thinking a lot about how the duffers are just insistent on making robin and steve suffer romantically and i'm determined to change that sooooooo i've been cooking up a new (and technically my first) fic about what it would be like if steve and robin's duo became a foursome! double dates and shenanigans between saving the world from sudden doom because i love them and they deserve it :) a little drabble for a preview coming soon!
8 notes · View notes