#Ronance mention

[sp0o0kylights]

There were a lot of things Mike hated in life.

The demogorgon, and how it had essentially destroyed his life.

 Brenner, and the madhouse laboratory El had survived. 

How each and every one of his friends now did something weird--were weird, because flashing lights or fireworks or some stupid tune a toy horse played dragged up memories that made their eyes flat and faces hollow. 

Most of all though, Mike hated how much they relied on Steve.

There was no reason he should be the person to call when it started pouring and no one wanted to bike home from AV. 

Steve wasn’t Nancy, or Jonathan, or a parent--he wasn’t even dating anyone related to any of the Party anymore so what excuse did he have to keep hanging around? 

(Even if Jonathan was always working, and Nancy was always busy with some club or homework, and everyone’s parents all seemed to be in a race of who could get back to normal the fastest…) 

They should at least try to get a hold of other people, instead of constantly going to Steve first.

“Why?” Dusitn had scoffed at him the last time this had happened, feeding quarters into a phone and staring at Mike like he was the one being unreasonable. “I’m not gonna waste money just to hear your sister tell us no again when we all know Steve will do it.” 

Which was perhaps the most infuriating part of it all.

That Steve would do it. 

Show up and help them, even if he bitched the whole time. 

Hell, Steve Harrington knew more about Mike’s life offhand than Nancy did, and that made him want to punch a wall more days than it didn’t. Why the hell was Steve so involved? 

It was stupid. 

Weird, even! They weren’t friends, (even if Dustin and Max and El of all people said the opposite) he wasn’t being paid to babysit, (Mike had double checked; going round to ask Ma Henderson and Mrs. Sinclair, only to get an earful of how wonderful Steve was from both.) he had no reason to hang around! 

It didn’t make sense that Steve could be harassed into picking them up from school. 

Would take them to get ice cream, or hand over extra quarters for the arcade. He even gave out advice like some kind of--brother that Mike had never wanted. 

Above all?

Mike hated that when he needed someone, the number he punched in on automatic was Steve’s.

“I need you to come get me.” He said into the receiver, mad at himself and the world, but mostly mad that beyond the normal amount of squawking Steve did, he shut up and came. 

Drove up in his rich boy car, stepping out and herding Mike into it like the rain hadn’t already seeped into his bones. 

“You wanna tell me why you snuck into a bar two towns over?” Steve asked, long after Mike had slung himself into the passenger seat, arms crossed defensively over his chest.

“No.” 

One of Steve’s hands went right to his hair, running through it before adjusting the mess he’d just made. 

It was a nervous habit, and Mike hated that he knew that too. 

“Okay, well.” Steve’s hand fell back to the steering wheel, clenching tight around it. “Next time you want to do something dumb could you at least come talk to me about it beforehand?”

“What the hell would that do?” Mike bitched, staring firmly out of the window. 

“Not waste my gas for starters.” Steve bitched right back. “But I dunno man, we could have taken some bats and gone and wailed on cars in the junkyard and talked or some shit, not--whatever this all was.”

‘This all’ was accompanied by a wave of his hand, indicating not just the bar Mike had been standing in front of, but his general sopping wet state. 

“You’d actually go to the junkyard with me?” Mike challenged, doubtful. 

Steve made a face. “Did you lose your hearing in there? I just said--.” 

“Why?” Mike interrupted. “Why the fuck would you come out with me?”

Matching his entire aggressive tone, Steve said; “Because it’s better than trying to sneak into the one local gay bar when you’re barely fourteen, Michael.” 

And that? 

Steve being oddly aware of shit he really shouldn’t have?

Mike hated that too. 

“You knew what the bar was?” He asked, his voice coming out much smaller than he intended. 

“Everyone knows what that bar is, except it’s more of a biker bar than a gay bar.” Steve shot back--which did actually explain about ten different questions Mike had about the place. “Also, language you little shit.” 

Under his breath, Steve continued in a muttered; “I swear I’m going to start carrying around soap.”

“You cuss more than we do.” Mike responded, and if his own voice was a little strangled as he fought back the sudden swell of tears, then that was between him and God. 

He was not crying in front of Steve Harrington, he outright refused. 

“The point I’m making is that there are way better bars to sneak into. That one’s not nearly as welcoming as people make it out to be, probably because they’re sick of all the rumors.” 

Steve seemed to realize what he was implying because he quickly added; “Not that you should be sneaking into any bars at all!” 

“You’re not my mom.” Mike’s voice turned wet as he lost his battle with his throat, voice cracking as he failed to choke the tears back.  

“No shit Wheeler.”  Steve said, and at least he was good enough not to call attention to Mike’s crying. 

If he had, Mike was pretty sure he’d just up and die of embarrassment, right there. 

“I don’t get why you care.” He muttered, angrily swiping at his eyes. 

“I didn’t keep you alive this long just so you could die of something stupid.” Steve countered easily.

Which was kinda fair, if you thought about it.

Mike very much did not want to think about it. 

Any of it.

Ever. 

“Are you gonna tell my parents?” He asked after a painfully long moment. 

Long enough that Steve had begun fiddling with the radio, trying to find a station as they drove back that wasn’t wailing country or gospel music. 

“I’m not a narc, so no.”  

“Not about the bar.”  

Now Steve just looked confused. 

Probably because he was, because he was without a doubt the stupidest almost adult Mike knew. 

(Not that he could say that out loud--last time he had, Max had made one of her pissy faces and then El got mad because Max was, which led to a break up, which led to Mike having to beg his way back into his girlfriend’s good graces while explaining that he hadn’t meant it like that.

“How did you mean it then?” Max demanded, and Mike wasn’t sure how he managed to dodge that entire conversation but he had, on grounds that untangling his own emotions regarding stupid Steve made him want to pull his hair out and scream.) 

“What about then?” 

 “You know. Don’t make me say it.” Mike absolutely didn’t plead, even if it did sort of, kind of, sound like pleading. 

Steve flicked his eyes away from the road to give one long, weird look at Mike. The same one he gave Dustin when he went off on a rant about Cerebro or Lucas when he started discussing the stats of different D&D weapons. 

Unlike those times, Steve’s face cleared. 

“Oh.” He said, blinking, and Mike could practically see the light bulb flash above his head.

Then; 

“Nah.” 

Mike waited.

And waited.

And kept waiting as Steve went back to searching through radio channels, as if that was the end of the conversation.

It couldn't be the end of this conversation.

Not when this was the part that was eating Mike alive.

He didn’t know if this was Steve repressing it on purpose or if this was what he had to look forward to for the rest of his life if he kept trying to figure his own head out, but either way, he knew he had a choice to make. 

To let the unspoken part of today die quietly. Go unsaid, and remain unsaid, for all eternity--or he could let it out. 

Shove the “gay” part of “gay bar” in Steve’s stupid, jock face. 

Make him acknowledge it, even if it got Mike kicked out of the car, and who cared if it did? 

Steve wasn’t the person who should have picked him up anyway. 

The anger climbed higher and higher in his chest, tears and rage combining until Mike spat it all out, furious. 

“You’re not going to ask if I’m gay?”  

Steve didn’t turn to face him, but Mike saw his eyebrow cocking anyway, given how he was currently glaring a hole in the side of the older teen’s head. 

“Do you want me to?” 

“No.” Mike bit out automatically. “Yes. I don’t know!” 

Steve’s hand found its way back into his hair. 

“Okay then.” Steve paused, clearly fishing for something to say. 

Gleefully, Mike watched him struggle. 

“Do you like guys?” He managed finally, looking like he was navigating a minefield more than just talking.

“I don’t know.” Mike stressed, sinking lower in his seat. “Why do you think I was at the bar? I was trying to figure it out!” 

“Honestly I assumed this was some sort of stupid dare--but!” Steve held up a finger, before Mike could interrupt, “But let’s--shit, hold on, I had a speech for this but I kinda wasn’t expecting to use it this soon. Um.”

“You have a speech for me being gay?”

“Not for you.” Steve rolled his eyes. “For--in general! It was an in general, just in case speech!” 

He rounded on Mike, for longer than the younger was comfortable with given Steve took his eyes off the road to do it. “Okay--you can like boobies, you can like, uh--not boobies, and that’s fine! It’s all totally fine!” 

“You are not making it sound like it’s fine.” Mike said, feeling like he’d been taken out by hearing Steve say the word “boobies.” 

Gross, gross, gross. 

“Well it is.” Steve said, in a tone that felt like he was two seconds from adding in a smarmy ‘so there!’ at the end. 

“But I’m dating El.” Mike whined, which really, was both the heart of the matter and the eye of the storm that had been growing in his head for months now. “I can’t be gay if I like her.” 

“Don’t you guys break up and get together like four times a week?”

“No, that's Max and Lucas, El and I are stable.” Mike scoffed. “Or we--we were stable.” 

Before he started to have thoughts about people that weren't his girlfriend. 

Or women.

“Stable for being in middle school, sure.” Steve snorted. “You don’t just have to like one or the other you know. You can like dudes and chicks at the same time.”

Which Mike did not know, on account of being fourteen. 

He did his absolute damndest not to show that realization, instead adding that to the list of reasons why he hated Steve Harrington too.

Steve shouldn't be the one teaching him about who you could like!

“The point is that who you end up loving isn’t a problem.” Steve finally looked back to the road. “Other people might be an issue, and those people we can punch in the face so long as the cops aren’t looking, which isn’t part of the speech so let’s not tell people I said that part, but whatever you do choose, there’s nothing wrong with you.” 

Steve’s voice went firm, as he apparently recalled his speech or something close enough to it because his next words sounded a little rehearsed. “You have people who are here for you, no matter what. Okay?” 

Oh God, Mike was crying again. 

He wanted to punch Steve in his stupid face.

Wanted to hold onto the fury he'd built inside himself. Thrash around, throw himself out of the car, get away from the emotions that felt too big for his chest to contain. 

Instead he felt it all break on Steve's acceptance. On word's he didn't know he needed to hear until they'd been spoken, and sniffed out a quiet; “Okay.” 

Steve of course had to take it too far by reaching over and patting his knee, which they both regretted judging by how quickly Steve took his hand back and the face Mike made at his hand--but it…

It was appreciated, even amongst all Mike's rage.

Steve was appreciated. 

Not that Mike would ever, on pain of death, tell him that. 

Neither said a word for a while, Steve finally landing on a radio that was playing some Top 40 hit, Tears for Fears singing about ruling the world while Mike found himself trying to rebuild his own once again, tired of it having shattered so many times over. 

At least he finally felt better, even if he refused to admit Steve was the reason for it. 

He wasn’t quite done though.

 There was a piece Steve had skipped over, that Mike felt was critically important, if only because it was partly the reason he was having thoughts about being gay in the first place. 

He had to know if Steve saw it too. 

That it wasn’t just him and his stupid head, making up things that weren’t there. 

“Hey Steve?” 

“Yeah?”

“Who was the speech for?” 

Steve sighed. 

“Rule one of the whole queer thing Wheeler, you don’t out other people.” 

Like there were written rules or something.

(Maybe there were, it wasn't like Mike knew.)

“Was it Will?” Mike asked, and pretended like he didn’t desperately want the answer to be yes. 

 Steve didn’t say a thing, but the fact he nearly took the car off the road was a pretty solid answer in itself. 

“We’re not playing guessing games about other people’s sexualites!” He yelped, hands gripping the steering wheel as Mike felt a wave of relief crash through him. 

Will was--maybe, possibly, also--queer too. 

Which didn’t make this any better but it--wasn’t the not preferred outcome, either. 

(It wasn’t just Mike struggling alone, trying to figure out if his best friend wanted to be more than that, if El was breaking up with him and more and more because she wanted to be less than a girlfriend, if things were changing and he would have no one--) 

“I’m not out here picking Will up from a gay bar dipshit, I’m picking you up, and this is your reminder that next time, you should just come talk to me!” Steve ranted. 

Mike snorted.

He absolutely hated Steve Harrington, but--

“Fine.” He said, talking so low he could barely be heard. “I will.”

--maybe Mike did have someone in his corner after all. 

Even if it was just Steve. 

xXx

Bonus: 

“Between you and me, that kid is gayer than a two dollar bill.” 

“Wow Robin,” Steve teased, “Isn’t that like, a slur or whatever?” 

He snickered when she rolled her eyes and threw a roll of stickers his way. 

“I’m just saying. Did you see the way he was looking at you when you were showing off your stupid biceps?” Robin said, nudging her shoulder into Steve’s. “Will’s gonna have a rude awakening later if he hasn’t already.” 

Steve nudged her back, but kept his gaze on the Party as they trooped their way from Family Video to the arcade next door, the realization that they now had connections for free rentals making them downright gleeful. 

Will was the last one in, and Steve watched him hurry so as to not be left behind. 

He didn’t like to worry about the dipshits, but Robin was just putting voice to a thought Steve knew he wasn’t the first person to have.

And if he noticed it, then it didn't exactly bode well as being kept a secret. 

“Should we like…talk to him about that?” He asked after a long moment, turning to face Robin.

“Us?” She pointed at herself, before turning her finger on Steve. “Why us?” 

“Well you’re into girls.” He gave her a pointed look, glad that the store was empty of everyone but them so he could actually voice all this. “And I’m fine with it.”

“Yeah I’m sure he wants to know you’re fine with it.” Robin taunted, but she had her thinking face on, eyes out to the middle distance. “I barely know him. You barely know him--he’s the quietest out of all your kids.”

“They’re not my kids.” Steve argued automatically. “They're like a weird cross between shitty siblings and that kid in your class who never leaves you alone.” 

A fact Steve no longer took for granted, even if he made it sound like the worst thing ever.

“I just think it’d be nice if he knew that he had people in his corner, you know? Who supported him and shit.” 

“Steve, you compared my crush to a muppet, that wasn’t supportive.” Robin countered, but it too was on automatic. 

Softer she admitted; “You’re right though. If I had known other queer people, if I had known people would accept me...it would have made things a lot easier.”

A very long pause, in which both of them stewed for a moment, before Robin abruptly slapped her hand down on the table.

“Okay, you got me. We're doing it, and I'm making us a speech.”

“A speech?” 

“Yes dingus, a speech. I know you, you’re terrible when you’re put on the spot with this kinda thing, and trust me with things like this the moment will be spontaneous.”

“It’s Will, how spontaneous can it be?” Steve challenged back. “Getting a dinner order out of him is a chore.” 

“Stop whining and hand me that notepad. Im telling you its gonna happen when you least expect it and then you're gonna thank me later.”

“It better not happen without you.”  Steve sighed, but passed the notepad over.

God the things he did for those stupid kids. 

Bonus x2

Steve would later go on to use the speech on himself, in a gas station bathroom mirror, eyes wide and freaked out after Eddie Munson called him Big Boy in a van they stole, while Robin snickered behind him. 

He would turn on her, snapping that she; “Help me with this dammit!” 

In return she’d remind him that Tammy might sing like a muppet but Eddie  was the guy who stepped on lunches while giving speeches at lunch and sticking his tongue out, and “Really Steve, I think I won best gay awakening, here.” 

Which would promptly start an argument regarding how it wasn’t a competition, which would continue for another fifteen or so odd years before finding its way as a reference into both of their speeches as each other’s best man. 

Nancy and Eddie wouldn’t get it at either wedding, but Mike would.

[steddietism]

« much more than i bargained for »

little warning uh im a minor !! nsfw blogs dni please ^_^

summary — steve goes in for snacks, and comes out with a FAT crush.

promt — ‘ candy ‘

this will have multiple chapters that i will post whenever i have the energy to write more ^_^ im often busy with school+homework ++ so dont expect weekly updates or whatever LOL

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Steve sighs as he enters the shop, the little one at the top of his street, right at the corner. There’s music playing through the speakers, but not the usual kind he hears at the shops. Steve wants to say it’s— cooler? Yeah, cooler.

He bobs his head to the beat a little as he wanders inside, a high-pitched bell ringing as he does. The guy working the till’s head shoots up at the sound, like he’s scared or something. He makes eye contact with Steve, before smiling softly and looking back down.

Steve lets his eyes trail down his body, following his arms, down to his hands, where they’re holding a magazine between his slender legs, which are hanging off an old wooden stool.

He’s got tattooed wrists, and forearms, and hands. His fingers are decorated with delicate little designs, which are mostly covered with his many rings. Steve notices one in particular, a silver band with two little bat wings. It matches the tattoo just under his elbow, the one of a swarm of bats. His eyes begin to travel back up, spotting a bunch of, what look like, homemade bracelets on one of his wrists. They have words, but it’s not like Steve can read them, not from this far away.

It’s a few minutes before Steve realises he literally hasn’t peeled his eyes off the cashier, or even moved at all. He snaps back into reality when another customer enters, ringing the bell behind him.

Fuck, what was he in here for again? Oh— yeah, snacks. Candy. Robin and Nance are probably bored of waiting for him. Or not, Steve doesn't think they could get bored even if they tried, not when they have a house to themselves.

Steve finally moves, and he swears to God, every single one of his bones have been replaced with jelly.

As he wonders around the shop, crossing the different foods Robin requested off his list, he makes a mental note of how much money he’s gonna need.

A dollar fifty, three dollars, four dollars and ninety-nine cents.

He ends up with candy, and drinks, which all amounts to ten dollars and fifty cents.

Steve sort of doesn’t notice that he’s at the counter ‘til the guy behind it asks if he wants a bag. They’re so close now, Steve can see what he looks like up close. He has these gorgeous eyes, that sort of droop down at the ends. Thick, dark, eyelashes that cast a shadow on his cheeks. And, most notably, long, curled hair. A rich, dark brown colour. Strands of it lay on his shoulders, almost blocking the view of the badge on his shirt, his name tag, that says ‘Eddie’, in little, blue letters.

“Do you? Want a bag, I mean,” Eddie repeats, seemingly now a little annoyed. Steve watches his lips when he speaks, and, fuck, he’s pierced. Angel fangs, Steve recalls in his head. That’s what they’re called, the ones that look like sharp, shiny teeth. He wonders what they’d feel like if he kissed Eddie, how they contrast of his plush, warm lips with cold, hard metal would feel. The thoughts send a wave of heat rushing through Steve’s belly.

“No, I— I’m okay, I’ve got my own,” he says, pulling his rucksack off his shoulders and unzipping it.

Eddie just smiles that same, soft smile, tells Steve how much money he needs to give him.

And Steve gives him the money, wordlessly. He puts his shopping in his bag, wordlessly. And he looks back up at Eddie, again, wordlessly. Like he’s expecting him to do something else. Or maybe he’s waiting on himself to do something.

Eddie swears he can hear the cogs turning in Steve’s brain.

“Well— okay, uh, bye, thank you!” Steve smiles, and practically sprints out of the shop.

He rushes home with a million thoughts in his head, the main one being something along the lines of ‘why, in the absolute fuck, didn’t you ask for his number? Or at least try to make small talk?’

Steve can’t answer that. He doesn't know why.

Well, there’s always next time.

[sweetronancer]

do i sleep or do i stay up thinking about ronance ronancing how its supposed to? hmmm

[strawberrybyers]

i truly would not be mad if nancy breaks up with jonathan and tells steve to move on. and for vickie to tell robin she’s not interested but is willing to be friends. so nancy and robin decide they need to hang out after a long day of heartbreak and throughout their convos of explaining everything that’s been going on, they realize they have feelings for each other. i truly would not be mad at that. in fact, that’s exactly what i want to happen 😌

[kidovna]

yeah robin, she’s trying to ronance you!

[imfinereallyy]

“I think the drugs might be kicking in.” Steve looks at Robin across the really soft carpet they are currently sprawled on. Like it’s really soft. Surprisingly soft.

Like Eddie’s hair.

Robin turns her head, “And how do you know that dingus?”

Steve giggles, “Because I have the sudden urge to tell you about my crush on Eddie and how that is very confusing. And sober me swore to take that to the grave.”

Steve expects her to freak out, but instead, Robin just blinks at him. “Oh good, we’re talking about this.”

Steve frowns, “Wait, you’re not surprised?”

This seems to send Robin into hysterical giggles, the weed suddenly hitting her at the same time. “C’mooooon, Stevie. You’re so obvious. Well obvious to me, at least. The rest of our friends couldn’t spot another queer person for the life of them. Like seriously, half of them gotta be at least some sort of gay—“

“Robbie.”

“Right, sorry. I just know ya, dingus. And I know your heart eyes. The real ones, not the ones you made at me at some point.”

“Gross. Don’t bring that up.”

Robin rolls her eyes fondly, and giggles softer this time. “It’s okay to like him, ya know. Think he might be good for ya.”

Steve leans his head against Robin’s shoulder. “Yea, I think so too.” He grabs her hand, and gives it a squeeze. “Just like Nancy is good for you.”

Robin whips her head towards Steve, clunking their heads together. “You know about that? How?!”

Steve rubs his forehead, “I had suspicions which you just confirmed.” He bumps his head against her gently, “But mostly it’s because I know ya dingus.”

This sends the both of them into hysterical laughter. It’s at this moment Eddie decides to rejoin the two of them, “Why do I feel like I missed something?”

This only makes Steve and Robin laugh harder. So hard they can’t breathe, like they are trying to steal each other's oxygen.

“Hey, this is a new house, and I won’t have you guys tainting it with bad-mouthing me before Wayne and I can properly break it in.” Eddie feigns annoyance, but a fond smile tries to break his way onto his face.

“Sorry Doofus.”

“Sorry Eds.”

Eddie walks over and plops between them on the carpet. “Apology accepted. Now, spill.” He grins wide with a mischievous smile.

Steve and Robin only giggle in response. Eyes locked with secrets just for them, just for a little while longer.

***

shorter than my usual, but felt like a lil fun piece. If anyone wants to add or give this idea a try that would be cool, I’m so tired my brain can’t function (much like the terror twins🧡) right now to write more lol.

good night :)

[80shorrorstory]

The progression of me watching stranger things:

St1: gay...?

St2: gay.

St3: gay!

St4: GAYGAYAGAYGAYGAYGAY

[wheatnoodle]

Robin notices everything when it comes to Steve. Even the things he doesn’t notice about himself.

It’s at Family Video during a slow shift when she walks to where he’s bent over the counter. Her fingers card through his hair and grip, tugging the locks in her fist.

“Your hair’s getting long,” she comments, extending the o in long, “so pretty.”

When he’d usually bat her hand away with a remark of needing a cut, he stays quiet. Instead, she watches as his cheeks tint pink and the corners of his mouth twitch in a smile.

“You should keep growing it.” She says and smiles, tucking strands behind his ears. He nods with a muffled ‘yeah’, chewing on his lower lip.

So he keeps growing it. It touches his shoulders and he keeps playing with it, tucking it behind his ears, tying it back. Max uses his head to teach El how to braid.

He’s sleeping over Robin’s house one night and he’s sitting in the floor next to her desk chair, watching close in fascination as she paints her nails under her light. She glances at him every now and then with a little smile, finishing up her nails as quick as she can. Her smile grows when she turns in her seat to face him.

“Okay, gimme your hands. You’re turn,” she says and his face burns red, stuttering over excuses but Robin’s already grabbed his shaking hand and rested it in her lap. “Do you want this color or a different one?”

“Uh…I thought this one was kinda nice…” Steve says and he reaches on to the desk to pluck a bottle of baby blue polish from her small collection.

“That’s gonna be so pretty with your skin, babe.” Robin gasps and grabs it from his hand, shaking the bottle and cracking it open. When she finishes painting, she blows on his nails, admiring her work. “Well? What do you think?”

Steve takes one of his hands back. He holds it out in front of him, staring at the blue paint on his finger tips. It’s takes a few moments but soon he’s smiling brighter than Robin’s ever seen. He looks at her, his pupils blown with a giddiness she’s grown accustomed to and finds rubbing off on herself. She giggles with him and holds his hands, admiring his nails.

“They’re so pretty,” Steve says, looking between his nails and Robin’s face with such awe she can’t help but reach out and tuck his hair back.

“That’s because you’re so pretty!” She smiles at him, her brain working in overtime. She’s never seen him so happy. Dustin tries to get their attention over the walkie but Robin’s quick to shoot him down with an excuse of “girls night” and she doesn’t miss the way his eyes light up at her words. She keeps painting his nails for him and it takes forever for him to stop hiding his hands at work.

Months pass and Robin takes him out to the mall with her because she needs new clothes for when her aunts and uncles come to visit and she needs to look like a “normal” girl. They’re looking at skirts and Robin hates it more than anything, she’s grimacing at every bit of flowy fabric. But Steve? He’s holding them so delicately in his hands, feeling the material and appreciating the colors.

Robin stands next to him, props her chin on his shoulder and asks “do you wanna try it on?”

Steve’s like a deer caught in headlights. He drops the skirt on the ground with a gasp, crouches down to pick up the hanger, hits his head on the rack as he stands back up. “No, no, Robin. No. I cant.” And he’s shaking his head and hanging the skirt back up but he can’t get the hook on the rack. His hands shake and she can tell he’s getting frustrated so she takes the hanger from his grip and links their arms at the elbow.

“C’mon. Let’s go try it on,” she says and drags him to the dressing room. It takes a bit of work but finally Robin convinces him and she’s tugging his jeans off his ankles and pulling the black skirt up his legs. She looks at him through the mirror while she smooths the material over his legs. It hugs his hips and his butt, makes his waist look oh so skinny and feminine. The fabric flows gently over the tops of his thighs, making his long legs longer, showing off the muscle definition in his calves and thick thighs. “Oh yeah. We’re buying this.”

She gives Steve no room to argue, not like he could with how he’s staring at himself. And if they take an extra ten minutes in the dressing room because he can’t help but start crying, that’s between them and the mirror. Robin carries the skirt to the register, looking at the jewelry hanging by the cashier.

“Ooo, do you think the ruby one or the diamond necklace would look nicer on their skin? We’ve never bought them jewelry before, just haven’t had time to think about it,” Robin says to the cashier and steps out of the way, motioning to Steve behind her. His…their…cheeks are stained pink and they’re staring at Robin with wide eyes and a dropped jaw. She just told this cashier the skirt isn’t for her and then asked about jewelry to go with it.

The cashier looks at them, squints her eyes and nods. “The ruby. Definitely.”

Robin switches to purely androgynous pronouns for the next few years and nobody really questions the gradual changes in Steve. How their hair is always braided and done all nice, why their nails are always changing colors. Dustin even compliments the flick of eyeliner that Nancy has drawn on their lash line. Points to his own eye and says “that stuff on your face? That’s good shit”

Robin and Steve move away together because of course they do. They end up on the west coast, finding solace in the acceptance that is the SoCal gay community. They haven’t seen the kids or anyone from Hawkins in a couple of years, what with them all going off to college and the threat of the end of the world at bay.

Finally, they can invite everyone out for the holidays. Dustin, Mike, Lucas, Max, Eleven, Nancy, Jonathan, Eddie, even Argyle who had gone to Indiana that one time with Jonathan and wouldn’t even consider leaving him behind there and just stayed. They all fly out and it’s this big reunion at their house where they’re all told to dress nice so they can take cute pictures.

Robin is in a new deep maroon pantsuit, her lipstick the same shade as her outfit. She’s greeting the guests and calls on her lovely housemate to leave the kitchen and come say hello.

Out walks Stevie in a dress that matches Robin’s suit, her nails red and her hair curled with the top half of her long locks tied in a ponytail. Everyone’s quick to jump on her, complimenting her look and asking how she’s been. It’s an easy switch for them from Steve to Stevie and referring to her with she/her pronouns just feels right. It takes Mike a second before Nancy smacks him on the arm and he greets his old babysitter with a hug and tells her he likes her perfume. Though in his head, all he’s thinking is “holy shit hot guy from hometown is now hot girl with boobies don’t look at boobies don’t look at boobies don’t look at boobies don’t look-“

Eddie’s just standing there in SHOCK. His whole world has just been flipped upside down (no pun intended). He was positive he was gay, hell, he was crushing on Steve back when he lived in Hawkins. But now he’s staring at this girl, at Stevie, and he’s just blown away. King Steve the Hair Harrington is the prettiest girl he’s ever laid eyes on and oh no, is that his crush coming back to him? With a vengeance??

He walks over to say hello, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles in a way he can brush off as joking if it steps too far, but she’s looking at him with her big brown eyes and a little smile on her face and tucks her hair behind her ear. And her nose scrunches when she giggles and fuck, Eddie’s whipped.

Robin’s been watching them all night, how Eddie sits with a hand on her knee and pulls her seat out at the table.

So there really isn’t any surprise when she wakes up the next morning and Eddie still hasn’t left.

But then again, neither has Nancy😏

[netflixnormalthings]

i love how nancy was low-key not interested with talking to steve in the upside down and then he mentioned robin and she was like "oh yeah robin told me she was a weird runner haha shes so cute isnt she??? 🥺🥰❤️💞💖" like girl

[byler-alarmist]

Disclaimer: I am not anti-Vickie by any means. I think Vickie seems very sweet (although there may be something going on with her we don't know) and I will fully support her and Robin if the Duffers can prove to me in S5 why they work together.

That said, I am going to examine the one, glaring issue I have with Rovickie. If you're not put off by that, read on!

So, most of the criticism leveled against Vickie is that we don't know anything about her. That's true; we don't.

However, my main criticism is:

Does Robin know anything about her??

All we hear from Robin in S4 is that Vickie is the girl of her dreams, but we never hear why. In all her gushing/agonizing to Steve, Robin never tells us what about Vickie makes her so special.

Is she smart? Funny? Ambitious? Kind? Is she a pro at playing poker?

Even Tammy Thompson, whose role in S3 was purely offscreen, got a shout out of traits that Robin valued ("she has dreams!").

We can't say the same for Vickie. All we know is:

-she laughed at one of Robin's (Steve's) jokes

-she likes Fast Times

-she talks a lot when nervous

-she possibly likes boobies

And those last two were only figured out by Robin in the final episode of S4.

If Robin's feelings for Vickie are more than mere infatuation based on looks, wouldn't Robin have told us more than the most surface-level things about her?

And if your immediate response to this "well, she just hasn't spent enough one-on-one time with her to know!" .......that's exactly my point.

The writers have shown time and time again that the shallow relationships where tbe couple got into it without really talking or getting to know each other do not last .

I'm reminded of Lucas telling Mike "you're just blind because a girl isn't grossed out by you." 👀

All this in the same season where Robin is spending one-on-one time with Nancy, getting to know her and respect the things that make her "her". Rather than just looks, Robin gets to see Nancy's drive, intellect, leadership and bravery.

She calls her a "genius", says she is "full of surprises", and learns even more about her when Nancy opens up about her relationship inecurities. Robin sees her complexity.

I don't know about you, but to me, this is the core of why Rovickie is not as compelling as a ship. If they are meant to be endgame, why was Robin paired with Nancy all season?

Surely there could've been some plot device to bring Vickie into the fold, just like Max was brought into the Party back in S2.

Vickie could've been trapped with Robin and the older teens after some supernatural things happened at rhe pep rally or other school function and they got separated from the rest, or she could've been related to the Creels and the gang needed to ask her for help. It's a TV show; they can do whatever they want.

Either way, they decided not to involve her in the main plot of the show at all, preventing both Robin and the viewers from getting to know her fully. I believe this was intentional and will have consequences for their relationship in S5.

One final thought- in early S4, Robin tells Steve that she has found the girl of her dreams but can't get the courage to ask her out, whereas Steve goes on a ton of dates but has no idea what he wants.

I think it would be VERY interesting if their roles were actually swapped, i.e. by the end of S4, Robin is the one who doesn't really know what she wants, and Steve is the one who realizes he has found the (person) of his dreams.

[estrellami-1]

Forgotten Valentine’s

Robin walks into the break room, where Steve’s trying to get through an article in a magazine he picked up because even on break he’s bored. “Steve? Eddie came to drop this off for you.”

Steve perks up. “Eddie’s here?”

Robin snorts. “No, he popped in for literally like eight seconds, threw this at me with instructions to give it to you, and ran out again.”

Steve grins. “Did he run into the door?”

Robin grins back. “And cursed at it on his way out.”

Steve sighs happily as he takes the note.

Stevie,

Wear something nice tomorrow, big boy. I’m picking you up at 11am sharp.

E

Robin judges him with her eyebrows. “You two are the bane of my existence.”

“Uh-huh. And Nancy?”

“An angel and the light of my life and can do no wrong, shut up, Steve.” She sighs happily, the exact sound Steve had made less than a minute earlier.

He decides not to point it out.

———————

He does, actually, wear something nice the next day. Eddie does pick him up at 11am, Springsteen playing on the radio, which makes Steve grin at Eddie and lean in for a quick kiss.

“Okay, yes, I love you too, but I’ve got plans, sweetheart, and those plans do not involve getting sidetracked by those lips of yours. Which should be legally classified as a weapon, ‘cause damn, baby.”

Steve just laughs, so in love. “You’re so weird.” He means I love you, and they both know it, so Eddie just shoots him a toothy grin in response.

He takes Steve to a wildflower field. “I considered just getting you flowers, but then I figured this would mean even more, right? So. Tell me what you want. Or pick them yourself, even.” He grins and stretches to grab actual gardening shears and twine from the backseat.

“I’m in love with you,” Steve informs him. Eddie does the thing with his eyebrows where his expression gets all melty.

“I’m in love with you, too,” he says softly, then grins again and shoves the shears into Steve’s hands. “Start pickin’, sweetheart.”

Steve laughs, grabs the shears, and runs out of the car.

After they’ve collected almost a full bouquet—and run for their lives from a bee from an ill-picked flower—they tumble back into the car, love-drunk and giggly, before Eddie manages to collect himself.

“Okay, wow, I’m starting to think buying the flowers would’ve been worth it,” he teases, and Steve just laughs at him. “Anyways. Um. How does a movie sound? I know it’s not necessarily super romantic or whatever but I feel like we could use some down time.”

“Sure,” Steve laughs. “Your place or mine?”

“Mine work for you?”

“Always,” Steve promises, and Eddie’s eyebrows do the thing again, so he reaches to grab Eddie’s right hand and run his thumb over the knuckles.

They head back to the trailer, find a vase for the flowers, and cuddle in closer than absolutely necessary for the movie.

Eddie sneaks away halfway through, citing bathroom. Steve catches on the first time he drops something in the kitchen, but doesn’t say anything, doesn’t even move, just keeps his eyes firmly fixed on the TV.

Dinner is delicious, and romantic as hell, because Eddie somehow found candles somewhere, and they don’t match but that isn’t the point, not when he’s looking at Steve with his heart in his eyes and on his sleeve.

They have spaghetti, and Eddie references that one scene from The Lady and the Tramp, and now Steve’s got his heart in his eyes, and on his sleeve, and they laugh like kids as they try—and fail miserably—to recreate the scene.

It ends with spaghetti sauce splattered on their faces and shirts and the table and somehow the wall. Steve immediately blames Eddie. Eddie just kisses him, which works really well to shut him up.

“Not that I don’t love all this,” Steve starts, surveying the table with a grin, “but is there an occasion or is this just ‘cause? Because this feels like an occasion type of thing.”

An expression flickers across Eddie’s face, there and gone before Steve has time to study it, to figure out what it means. “Just ‘cause, sweetheart, what, I can’t dote on my boy every now and again?”

Steve laughs, pulling him in by the neck to place a sweet kiss to Eddie’s lips. “I’ll never say no to that.”

———————

“Oh my god, Steve,” Robin says the next day. “You’re not gonna believe what Nancy did for me yesterday.”

Steve raises an eyebrow, slightly surprised that they’d both gone on dates, then immediately thinks weirder has happened and puts it out of his mind. “Tell me.”

“Okay, so I get home and there’s a note, and oh my god why are she and Eddie the same, or maybe we’re the same, which we are, but anyways. There’s just a place and time. So I get ready, because I might not know what she’s planning but I know she’s planning something, and I drive over, and it’s the Quarry, and she made me an entire fucking picnic.” She stares at him, wide-eyed, palms flat on the counter as she leans forward. “So we eat, and she has flowers, of course, it’s Valentine’s, and she was so fucking sweet, and then-”

Steve feels like an entire bucket of ice water has been poured on his head. “Wait,” he says, and oh, God, how could he forget, and that’s what the face was about yesterday- “Robs, oh my God, I’m the worst boyfriend in the history of the world, fuck.” He grips his hair with both hands, feels hot tears pricking in his eyes. Shuts them and hisses out again, “fuck.”

“Whoa,” Robin says, “okay, that’s… quite the generalization, bud, and also if it has to do with Eddie, he’s, like, ass over tits for you, I seriously doubt you could fuck up that bad-”

“I forgot,” he whispers, and she shuts up. “I forgot yesterday was Valentine’s. I- fuck, Robs, I gotta go, I gotta-”

“Steve,” Robin says, stopping his spiraling with two firm hands on his shoulders. “Calm down, or I’m stealing your keys. You can’t drive like this. Take a breath. Eddie’s not gonna hate you, okay?”

Steve takes a breath. Another. “But I forgot-”

“I know. And I’m willing to bet Eddie knows. Did he act at all different yesterday?”

“No… no, I mean, he made a face when I asked what everything was for, but then it was gone so quickly I thought I imagined it, and Robs, holy fuck, I don’t deserve him.”

Robin chuckles. “I think you two dinguses exactly deserve each other, actually. Take a breath and go talk to him. If Keith asks I’ll make something up, you know I’m good at that. Clock out, actually, don’t come back, I’ll tell him food poisoning or something. Take your boy on a date, Steve.”

“Okay,” he breathes, then nods. “Okay. I will. Thanks, Robbie.” He presses a kiss to her forehead and runs out.

———————

“You fucker,” Steve says loudly as soon as he’s in the trailer, accusing finger pointing at Eddie, who raises his hands like a kid with a cookie jar and crumbs on their face.

“I don’t know what I did, but I apologize.”

“No, shut up, you don’t get to do that, you don’t get to plan a Valentine’s date for me and then not tell me! Fuck! Eds, I’m so sorry.” He deflates, hand coming down and shoulders slumping. “I wish I could tell you I had something planned, but I didn’t. And I know there’s ways for me to remember, there’s calendars and sticky notes and shit, and I didn’t do any of that and I have no one to blame but myself and I’m sorry.”

Eddie stands, walking over to Steve to pull him into a hug. “Darling, I need you to listen to me on this, okay?” He asks seriously, pushing Steve’s head back to drop a kiss to his forehead. “I don’t care.” He waits until Steve’s brow begins to furrow before continuing. “I don’t care that you forgot. I don’t care that there might be ways to help you remember. I like you for you, not for whatever mask you wore in high school, even if I did have an embarrassing crush on you back then. Point is I’m here for you now, and the you that I’m in love with sometimes forgets some things. Who cares? Not me. I’ll never care. Every day with you is an adventure, Stevie. All the big dramatic love confessions in those romance movies you like so much are basically wedding vows, I know you know this, and there’s a reason sickness and health are in there. Sickness is as low as a person can get. Once you’ve seen them sick, you’ve seen them hurt and upset. If you can love them then, you can love them. And I’ve seen you in sickness, sweets. There’s nothing you can do to make me love you any less. There’s nothing you can do to make me regret going all out for something that made you happy, even if the reason behind it has to shift.”

Steve blinks back tears. “I hate you.”

“Mhm. Love you too. Give me a kiss, sweetheart.”

He does, pressing in close, keeping it closed-mouth but pouring in all his devotion until Eddie feels like he’s drowning in it.

“Whoa,” he murmurs when they pull back, then grins at Steve, keeping him close. “What’d I tell you, about your lips, they’re dangerous, sweets.”

“Shuddup,” Steve says, and buries his face in Eddie’s chest. “I love you so much.” He pulls back suddenly. “Robin gave me the rest of the day off, because she’s the best platonic soulmate ever, and if you’re not busy, can I take you on a date?”

“Steve,” Eddie starts, and Steve will never get over the way that Eddie just says his name. He’s so whooped. “Is this to make up for yesterday?”

Steve shakes his head. Eddie gives him a look. Steve hesitantly nods.

Eddie sighs and rests their foreheads together. “You don’t need to do that, baby.” At one point they started swaying together, and now they’re dancing in the kitchen to no music, and Steve could cry with how in love he is.

“But… you did all that, and didn’t even mention it when I forgot, and Robin says we deserve each other but I kinda feel like you’re a better man than I will ever be-”

“Steve,” Eddie says again, punctuating it with a kiss. “I’m serious. I don’t need it. You don’t need it. C’mon, c’mere, we can have a date right here, there’s a pizza in the freezer and I have movies, c’mon, just come sit with me. This is date enough for me.”

“Eds, c’mon, it’s not just a date-”

“Says who?” Eddie asks. He’s grinning like he knows Steve doesn’t have an answer. He’s right, but still.

“Eddie. It’s Valentine’s.”

“Yup. I know you love it, sweetheart, but it kinda goes against the Munson Doctrine.”

“I thought you did away with that when you kissed me.”

“Pretty sure you kissed me,” Eddie says on reflex, like he does every time. “But my point still stands. It’s nothing but a ploy to make people buy overpriced shit to make themselves feel better about themselves and their love life or lack thereof. I refuse to participate.”

Steve pauses. Grins. “Today’s the fifteenth.”

“That’s correct.”

“Candy’s discounted right now.”

“Fuck,” Eddie whispers, then starts laughing. “Alright, sweetheart, let’s go buy me candy. But that’s it. Then we’re coming back and watching a movie, deal?”

Steve grins, bright and happy and in love, as he leans in for a kiss. “Deal.”

[sweetronancer]

most ronance coded songs in my playlist woah???

(these songs are amazing and literally everything reminds me of them)

[ronance4life42]

Nancy Wheeler who has been feeling amazing lately as as the papers with her work have sold out instantly every time. Robin Buckley who has taken on extra shifts at family video to pay for all the newspapers.

[her-midas-touch]

do you ever stop and think about how fucking adorable robin buckley is?

All the time, anon, all the time

(ty for the ask and have a good dayy ahh :))

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

Eddie was staring at Steve. Normally, he loved it, but Eddie was looking at him in concern. Steve sighed and paused the movie, turning to face Eddie.

"What's up, Eddie?" Steve asked. "Did you want to talk about something?"

"I don't know how to tell you this, but I've noticed it, and I'm not sure if you have or not, but I figured that you should know," Eddie said.

"Is this about you staring at me all the time?" Steve asked. "Because I like it."

"Look, I know Robin means a lot - wait, you noticed me staring at you?" Eddie asked. "Hold up, you LIKE it? No, wait, getting back to the topic at hand."

"So, what's this about Robin?" Steve asked.

"Well, I noticed she's been spending a lot of time with Nancy," Eddie said.

"They're friends," Steve said. "What are you getting at?"

"You're not worried that Robin is developing feelings for Nancy?" Eddie said.

"Why? Because she's a lesbian and that automatically means she must have feelings for the only girl her age who's seen the same shit she has?" Steve asked. "Just because she's hanging out with a girl doesn't mean that she has feelings for her. I mean, I'm a bisexual and I hang out with Argyle a lot but that doesn't mean I have to have feelings for him. I mean, he does have really great hair."

"You have made very good points," Eddie said awkwardly.

"And even if she did have feelings for Nancy, sure, it would be weird, but I'd get used to it. Besides, I'm over Nancy," Steve replied.

Just then, the front door opened, and Robin came pouncing into the living room. Speak of the devil.

"Hey, what are you two ladies talking about?" Robin asked.

"Oh, we're just talking about the fact that Eddie thinks you have feelings for Nancy," Steve said.

Robin stared at Eddie, who blushed. She burst into laughter, leaning against the doorway. She bent over, clutching her stomach, and pointed at Eddie. He threw up his arms and covered his face with his hands. Finally, she managed to stop laughing and wiped her tear stained face.

"Me and Steve are close, but we're not that close. I've never really had a friend that's a girl before, and it's been a long time for Nancy since she's had one. Besides, Steve means too much to me. In that situation, one of us would have to put our feelings aside in order to make the other happy. I believe in any relationship, there needs to be an equal give and take. Our friendship is also a relationship even though it's platonic, and if we can't take friendships seriously, how are we supposed to take romantic relationships seriously? You know? So, even if I did have feelings for Nance, I still wouldn't be able to do anything with it because it would make me uncomfortable that Steve had once very strong feelings for her and that would make me question just how much we're alike. Are we too alike? Do we spend too much time together? Are we, in fact, combining like I suggested we should? Am I slowly turning into Steve Harrington? It's a risk that I just can't take," Robin said. "There's too much weirdness. Besides, if Steve, a man, can handle putting his feelings aside, then I, a woman, can handle it too. We're all capable of loving more than one person and finding someone else."

Eddie and Steve at her. It was the longest rambles in the history of Robin rambles.

"Okay, that last part about turning into me. Should I be offended? Also, have you thought about this before?" Steve asked.

"A little after everything that happened, but then me and Nancy talked about it. We realized that it was the trauma bond. We're really good friends who can laugh about it now. It still urks me to think about it. Plus, as pretty as Nancy is, there's no beating redheads," Robin said dreamily. "Sorry, I didn't tell you about it, Steve."

"I totally get it, but you know you don't have to sacrifice anything for me, right?" Steve asked.

"I know I don't have to, and I'm not sacrificing anything. There's no feelings, remember? Besides, your parents never sacrificed anything for you. Someone in your life should, considering you almost sacrificed your life for me, for the kids. Me giving up the possibility of a relationship is nothing compared to you nearly getting beaten to death. There's nothing to give up, anyway. I have feelings for someone else, and Nance is focusing on college," Robin said. "I love you, dingus."

"I love you too," Steve said, sniffling.

"So, Eddie, tell me why you didn't just ask me?" Robin asked as she turned to Eddie, her arms crossed.

"I was worried that Steve might still have feelings for Nancy, and I was worried about his feelings getting hurt. I was totally ready to whip out the ice cream," Eddie mumbled. "Okay, from here on out, I promise not to talk about shit I know nothing about."

"Yeah, right," Steve and Robin said.

"Or, and here's a thought, you could just go straight to the source next time," Robin said and winked at him. "I totally get why you did it. You know what, I'm going to leave you to chew him out."

They watched Robin leave and waited for the sound of the front door to close. Steve stared at Eddie, who refused to look anywhere but him.

"Eddie," Steve said. "Eddie, look at me. Other than being a good friend, was there any other reason why you were worried about me?"

"I don't know, would you hate me if I said yes?" Eddie asked.

"No, because I would be a hypocrite since I feelings for you," Steve said.

"You do?" Eddie asked, and Steve grinned, nodding.

Eddie crawled over the armchair, over the end table, causing him to knock over the lamp and crawled into Steve’s lap. He kissed Steve deeply, and Steve laughed against his lips. Eddie pushed him down onto the couch and straddled his waist, slipping his tongue into Steve’s mouth. Steve gripped his waist, sighing into his mouth and broke the kiss.

"So, we're not finishing the movie?" Steve asked.

"Nope."

"You're paying for that lamp."

"Does it have to be with money?"