Chapter Text
“God, finally. Thought you up and died or something.” Robin chaffed from behind a shelf as Steve entered the Family Video.
“Ha ha,” Steve replied dryly, squinting at her.
The morning air was crisp yet thick with heat as May began to shift to June. It’d been about 3 or so months since Vecna was slain, and things were finally starting to feel normal again. Normal for Hawkins, anyway.
Steve glanced up at the clock on the wall, the subtle ticking still managing to send a small chill down his spine.
9:42 a.m.
“Shit.” Steve mumbled under his breath.
“Yeah, you’re late, dingus.” Robin popped her head out from the ‘Drama’ section of the store.
“I’m well aware.” Steve responded, shooting Robin a cold look.
“I already reshelved most of the tapes. All we really need to do is pick the morning movie.” Robin began shuffling through the films on the shelf. “Anything in mind?”
“Hmm…” Steve wandered through the aisles, looking to see if anything jumped out at him. He stooped down and grabbed a tape, holding it up and waving it gingerly. “King Kong?”
“Ehhhh,” Robin made a face. “King Kong’s so predictable and…'male gaze’-y.”
“Oh come on, you gotta admit Jessica Lange is super hot in it.” Steve waggled his eyebrows, causing Robin to smile and roll her eyes. “I mean yeah, but that doesn’t make it a good movie.”
Steve shrugged and put the tape back on the shelf.
“Ooh, what about-” Robin made her way across the store to the ‘Comedy’ section and plucked a tape off the shelf, chewing on her lip like she does when she’s excited. “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” Robin proclaimed, displaying the tape in both hands.
“Rob, I’m pretty sure you’re the only person who actually likes that movie.”
“But it’s genius filmmaking! It’s the perfect example of how you don’t need a massive budget to make a good movie!” Robin paced eagerly around the aisle. “Oh, and did you know that for the sound of the horse’s hooves they used coconut shells—”
Before Robin could delve further into her film ramblings, a loud banging sounded at the door. Both Steve and Robin jumped at the sound. Despite it being a good long while since everything went down, Steve still found himself on edge as of late.
As soon as he saw that tri-colored cap, however, his anxiety immediately melted into annoyance.
Steve sighed and lolled his head back, then marched over to the door. Dustin watched as Steve unlocked the door and cracked it open slightly, leaning forward so his head was peeking out.
“Can’t you read?” Steve asked exasperatedly and jerked his head towards the sign hanging on the door. “Store’s not open yet, dipshit.”
“I can see the sign, Steve,” Dustin retorted, the remnants of his lisp accentuating the S’s in his speech. “Just let me in-”
Steve groaned but moved away from the door to let Dustin in.
“Fine. What is it, Henderson?” Steve leaned back on the counter and folded his arms across his chest.
Dustin inhaled sharply, before clapping his hands together and pointing them at Steve. “Eddie’s band is playing at the Hideout tomorrow night, and I really need a ride.”
Before Dustin could even finish his sentence, Steve was already shaking his head. “Uh uh, absolutely not.”
“But Steve-”
“No 'buts'!” Steve interrupted. “I have a shift tomorrow night, so as much as I’d love to see Eddie and his little ‘freak show’,” Steve quipped sarcastically, making air quotes with his tone. “Can’t. Sorry.” Steve feigned an apologetic smile.
“Well, how the fuck else am I supposed to get there then?” Dustin threw his arms out in frustration.
“I don’t know? Go ask your mother?” Why was Dustin making this his problem?
“Steve.” Dustin stared at him blankly. “Do you think—that my mother—would take me to a metal concert—at a disreputable hangout spot—on a Tuesday evening ?”
Steve opened his mouth to reply but immediately shut it, already knowing the answer.
“Exactly.” Dustin continued, knowing he had put Steve in checkmate. “And Nancy said she has a paper to edit. Hence, where you come in.”
“I think you mean to say where you give it up.” Steve huffed at the audacity of this kid. He’s persistent, I’ll give him that. “I physically cannot take you, Dustin, I have to work.” Steve stated, punctuating the ‘K’.
“I could get Keith to take your shift.” A voice chimed.
Both Steve and Dustin whipped their heads around to look at Robin, who was now behind the counter, elbows resting on the top and head propped up in her hands next to Steve.
“Wha-” Steve stuttered in disbelief.
“Yeah, he owes me for covering for him when he had the flu.” Steve’s jaw dropped.
Oh, fuck you, Robin.
Dustin turned back to Steve slowly, a smug grin plastered across his face. “Well wouldja look at that, Steve. Looks like your evening’s free after all.”
Steve really wished he was El right now, just so he could explode Robin with his mind.
“No, no, no,” Steve rose from his relaxed position, desperate to save his evening. “I am not babysitting again.”
“I’m literally 15-” Dustin muttered before being cut off a second time.
Steve gestured at Robin. “If you aren’t working tomorrow why don’t you drive him—” He remembered as soon as the words left his mouth.
“I don’t have a-”
“License. Right.” Steve’s mouth pressed into a thin line.
“Or a car.” Robin piped.
Steve squeezed his eyes shut and pushed his knuckle between his eyes. This whole interaction was starting to give him a headache.
“Pleeeease Steve?” Dustin pleaded, his hands pressed together again. Steve was surprised that he wasn’t on his knees by now. “This is Eddie’s debut for his new song and I promised him I’d be there.”
Steve opened his eyes and was granted with the most puppy-dog eyes a human being could possibly muster up. It was pitiful, to say the least. And to his dismay, working. He must’ve taken longer to respond than he realized because both Dustin and Robin were staring at him in anticipation.
At this point, if he said no he’d just be being an asshole.
Steve’s eyes darted between the two of them before pressing his hands into his eyes, dragging them up so they ran through his hair. “Fine.”
“Yes!” Dustin closed the distance between them, hugging Steve around his waist. Steve had to throw his arms out in order to avoid being completely enveloped. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
“Yeah alright, whatever, you little twerp.” Steve patted his hat, an involuntary smile tugging at his lips. “Now unless you’re renting, get out. We open in 5.”
“Tomorrow night, 7:30. On. The. Dot.” Dustin restated the details before turning heel and hastily leaving the store.
“You owe me gas money! ” Steve hollered after him, his hands on his hips. Dustin gave him a halfhearted thumbs up before hopping on his bike and pedaling down the street. Steve watched him until he was out of sight.
“That kid will never not be a pain in my ass.” Steve sighed and turned to Robin, only to see her smirking at him, her elbows still propped up on the counter.
“What?” Steve asked in a peeved tone.
“Nothing.” Robin threw her hands up innocently. “You just really seemed like you didn’t wanna go to Eddie’s concert just now.” Robin faked a pout. “Even after all that bonding you guys did.”
Steve had no idea what Robin was trying to imply, but whatever it was he didn’t like it.
“We were not 'bonding', we just…talked.” Steve countered defensively.
Why the hell was he being defensive? They did just talk. Robin did have a bit of a point though, admittedly. The brief time they’d spent together in the Upside Down and a bit top-side had definitely improved Steve’s impression of the guy.
They weren’t friends, not necessarily, but Steve didn’t scoff at the mention of his name anymore.
“Mhhm, jealousy is a hell of a disease, Steve.” Robin stretched and began preparing for opening.
“What?” Steve protested. “I am not jealous.”
“Oh Eddie Munson, your new best friend who you think is cooler than me because he’s a nerd and meh nyeh neh— ” Robin whined mockingly while flipping the sign from ‘Closed’ to ‘Open’. “Ring any bells?”
Steve glared at her, not at all amused by her inaccurate impression of him.
“That was months ago, ok? I’m over it.” Steve scratched at his chin. “Clearly, Dustin has room in his life for two older male role models.”
Robin raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced.
“It’s just…” Steve continued, trying to find the proper words. “Eddie’s so—” Steve shook his hands around spontaneously and widened his eyes. “Y’know? I guess I worry what kind of influence he has on the kid.”
“Steve.” Robin tilted her head, giving him a look. “Eddie may not be the best influence, but he’s definitely not a bad one.” She shook her head slightly. “You need to trust Dustin’s judgment more. And Eddie.”
“Yeah, yeah, I- I know. You’re right, Rob.” Steve leaned back against the counter and craned his neck, looking up at the ceiling.
It wasn’t that Steve didn’t trust Eddie. If anything, he trusted Eddie with Dustin as much as he’d trust Nancy or Robin.
It was that he didn’t know how to…how to act around Eddie. He was an absolute wild card. Not knowing what Eddie would do or say next made Steve feel tight in his chest. It’s not like he was scared of the guy. He was just…wary.
Yeah. Wary.
“I always am,” Robin stated nonchalantly, tossing a hand up in a half-shrug.
Steve snorted. “Ok, that’s a stretch.”
“Mmmm, 80 percent of the time.” Robin bargained. Steve looked up like he was thinking. “60."
Robin pretended to be offended. “Yeah? Ok, well what about the time when I literally cracked a Rus—”
“Uh, excuse me?”
Both Steve and Robin halted their bickering to see who spoke. It was a girl, she looked to be around the same age as him and Robin. “Do you guys carry Monty Python and the Holy Grail?”
Robin’s head turned towards Steve, a shit-eating grin spread across her face.
“Yes, we do. In fact…” Robin looked back at the girl. “We were just about to make it our morning movie.”
Robin mouthed “85,” before turning her full attention to the girl.
Steve rolled his eyes, but let Robin have this mini-victory.
While Robin checked out the girl’s rental, Steve’s mind began to wander. He needed to suck it up.
This is for Dustin. He kept having to remind himself of that. For all he knows, Eddie wouldn’t even notice they were there. Besides, he’d never been to a concert before.
A small change of plans wasn't going to ruin his day.
Who knows? It could be fun.