Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Mike, Will, Lucas, and Max were hanging out at one of the tables in the center of the mall, with a perfect line of sight to Scoops Ahoy, and Steve working there.

Robin almost passed by without saying anything, like she had a dozen times now, but it had been bothering her for a while.

“Hey weirdos, you’re Steve’s kids right?”

They started at that, all of them tensing at the surprise statement, before relaxing as saw it was just her.

God, why do they do that all time, like they’re scared of something she thought to herself.

“We’re not literally his kids,” Mike said.

Robin waved that off “I figured that, I meant that you’re the group that’s always hanging out with him”

There was a chorus of nods.

“Ok, why?”

They looked at each other.

Max spoke first “you mean why are we friends with him?”

Robin pointed at her “exactly”

There was another pause as they looked at each other, some hidden meaning clearly passing between them.

Will spoke to her “cause we like him, why are you friends with your friends?”

Robin pinched the bridge of her nose “ok, let me be more specific, why are you always hanging out around him”

Lucas spoke “cause we like hanging out with our friends”

Robin groaned, they were doing this on purpose, she could tell by faint smirks they were sharing.,

“Ok, how about this, I get when you are harassing him for the hidden hallways, or buying ice cream, or just talking with him, why is it you always have to sit within eyeshot of him.”

They shared another look, full of secrets, before Max turned to her

“We feel safer when we can see him”

Robin almost laughed, but she saw the looks in their eyes, all four of them meant it.

Will spoke up “and we like to make sure he’s safe”

Robin looked between the four of them.

“Safe from what?”

They didn’t answer

She looked at them incredulously “ok, but him?” She said pointing at him, working at the ice cream counter.

“He’s actively being shot down by multiple girls, and he’s wearing a stupid sailor outfit, and even I’ve heard Billy Hargrove telling anyone who will listen that he beat the shit out of him”

Max cut in “Billy’s a jackass, and he got a cheap shot”

“So you admit that he got the shit beaten out of him, and look at him! Who could he keep safe?”

Max stared her down “Us.”

They all nodded seriously.

Robin between them in confusion “wait, were you there when he fought Billy?”

Silence.

Mike’s eyes brightened with an idea.

“Hey, aren’t you late for work? Cause Steve is clearly swamped”

He stood up “HEY STEVE” he shouted.

Steve looked up instantly, across the walkway.

“LOOK ROBIN’S HERE, SHE'S COMING TO HELP YOU RIGHT NOW”

Steve had a visible expression of relief as he saw Robin, before refocusing on the dozen customers.

Robin turned back to him “that was sneaky, but you’re lucky that I respect that”

Mike just raised his eyebrows at her, a shit-eating grin on his face.

“Smug bastard, this isn’t over,” she said as she headed to Scoops Ahoy.

They watched her walk in behind the counter, before letting out a sigh of relief, tension easing out of them.

Lucas clapped Mike’s shoulder “that was a good idea”

“Thanks,” he said with a sort of bashful smirk.

Will glanced over at Scoops Ahoy “That was closer than I’d like”

Mike’s smile faded “yeah, and it probably got her thinking about stuff”

Lucas nodded at the Ice cream shop “Think she’ll try to get stuff outta steve?”

Max snorted “Steve can handle himself against a high school snoop”

“Yeah but he doesn't have to do it alone,” Will said, “not anymore”

There was a heavy pause.

Max nodded “he’s got us now”

“Yeah,” Lucas said, “do you think he knows that?”

Mike leaned back, keeping his eyes on Robin “If he does or he doesn’t, we’re still gonna be there. We keep an eye on him.”

They all nodded, a glint of determination in their eyes.

Max smirked “I knew you secretly didn't hate him”

“Oh Fuck off,” he said as they all burst out laughing.

Chapter Text

They were slammed for hours, so she did not have a chance to ask Steve anything that wasn't “we’re out of Rocky Road, Get some from the back” at all.

Finally, they got to a lull, after getting Erica Sinclair what had to be her third ice cream cone in 2 hours.

Steve looked over to where the kids were sitting, it was just Mike and Will at the moment, but Steve still relaxed slightly as he saw them

“You keep doing that”

Her voice startled him out of wherever he was.

“Doing what?”

“Looking over at your kids, why do you keep doing that?”

Steve shrugged. “I like making sure they’re safe”

“That!” She half yelled, “what the hell are you all talking about?”

Steve looked in her confusion “what do you mean?”

“I asked them the same question, and they said the same thing. A bunch of stuff about being safe, why is that a thing you are thinking about?”

There was a pause, Steve’s eyes darting back and forth, before he smirked “what, is it so weird to want to make sure your friends are safe?

Robin pinched the bridge of her nose “you’re dodging the question.”

Steve smirked “I’m the champ at dodging questions, do you know how many girlfriend's parents I’ve talked to? Do your worst”

“Fine, you win this for the mystery trauma, I’ll drop it”

Steve smirked, the smug bastard

“so, “ she said, hopping on the counter “do you have any friends your own age?”

“Yeah of course,” he said dismissively

“I need a number”

He started counting on his fingers, “three”

“Not counting me”

Steve scowled “Fine two”

“Name them”

“Jonathan Byers”

“Weren’t you a notorious asshole to him”

“Yes I very much was, I have been very open about that”

“And now he’s one of your two friends that are actually your age”

“Uh, yep”

“There a story there?”

“Yes”

“Long story?

Steve snorted “oh yeah”

“Ok give me the cliff notes version”

Steve shrugged “I stopped being a jerk, and I apologized”

She gave him an incredulous look “that’s it?”

“That’s all you’re gonna get right now”

“Fine, who’s the other?”

“Nancy Wheeler”

She snorted derisively “didn’t she dump your ass?”

Steve's face had an odd smile, tinged with sadness

“Yeah she did”

Robin laughed out loud, “So one of your only friends your own age is your ex-girlfriend?”

“Uuh, yeah”

“And aren’t they dating each other now?”

Yep” Steve said, deliberately not looking at her now

“Wow that’s rich, Steve ‘The Hair’ Harrington's only friends are his ex-girlfriend, and her new boyfriend”

Steve rolled his eyes as he grabbed a white hand towel and started wiping the counter “yeah yeah, laugh it up”

“Not only that, but your ex is Nancy Wheeler”

Steve stopped wiping, his whole body going still, “what is that supposed to mean?

“Well Nancy sucks”

Steve rolled his eyes “no she doesn’t”

“Please, everyone knows that Nancy Wheeler is a prissy stuck up bitch”

Steve scowled and slapped the towel on the counter, the sharp sound killing the words in her throat

“That is it!” he shouted

She froze, startled by his outburst

Across the room, both Mike and Will’s head’s shot up

“You talk a lot of shit about a lot of people, which I am completely fine with. You talk a lot of shit about me, and all of it is fair, I was a dick to you in High School.”

He pointed the towel at her “but you don't get to say a word about Nancy to me”

She faltered for a second, lost for words, stunned by his reaction “You draw the line at Nancy Wheeler?”

“Yes,” he said instantly, no hesitation or doubt in his voice

“She thinks she's smarter than everyone else.”

“She is!”

“She’s just another academic-focused bitch who’s not gonna do anything actually important”

“That’s Bullshit! Nancy has already done more than I ever have”

She shot back with a voice dripping in Sarscam “Oh wow, she’s doing better than you? She must be incredible”

Steve’s jaw was clenched tight “easy Buckley”

“Ok fine, tell me one worthwhile thing Nancy Wheeler has done, and you don’t get to say her doing you, and I’ll stop”

Steve rubbed his hands over his face “look, you know how I’m less of an ass than I was a year ago?”

“So what? Dating and getting dumped by Wheeler changed your life?” she asked, voice dripping with sarcasm.

“YES!”
Steve yelled as he threw his hands up

His voice was sincere, devoid of irony,

She was taken aback for a second, before she sneered sarcastically.

“What, did she convince you to give a shit about your grades, or was she just that good in the sack?”

Steve’s jaw clenched slightly

“That’s not the point, it wasn’t some petty high school bullshit. It was real shit.”

“Oooh, she dumped you so hard you had to take a real long look in the mirror”

“Oh for-“

He pointed out at the foodcourt

“You know those kids I’m friends with”

She nodded, eyebrows raised in an unamused expression

“I only met them because of Nancy, and-“

“Cause her kid brother's one of them right” she interrupted

Steve groaned and then said with exasperation “Yes, but that’s not why, it’s because of what they were involved in and-“

He stopped, his mouth a thin line.

“What were they involved in?”

“Nothing, none of your business,” he said quickly

What the Fuck, what secrets could a group of teenagers and kids possibly have that would make them so twitchy and paranoid?

“Listen, Nancy is one of the smartest, strongest, bravest, kindest and badass people I have ever met, and I would gladly be by her side in any way, at any time, at any place.”

“Cool, you’re hopelessly in love with your ex, whoop de doo”

Steve sighed in exasperation “no it’s not just-”

He cut himself off, composing himself.

“What’s important is, I have real friends now, and I didn’t realize I didn't have any before until I got real ones, I have people I would die for. I have something in life worth fighting for And it all started because Nancy wheeler saw something in me that I didn’t see myself, I owe every friend I have to her”

They stood there for a moment, Steve’s expression hard, a glint of loyalty in his eyes.

“Ok fine, don’t shit talk your exes”

“It’s not the ex part that matters, you can shit talk earlier ones, just don’t shit talk my friends”

She almost envied the way that he said that, she’d never had any friend that cared as much as Harrington seemed to

I’ll unpack that later

“Ok, how many friends do you have”

“Like total?”

“Yeah, grand total, people who you would say are your friend, right now, this instant.”

“Ok” he started counting on his fingers again, “wait duh”

He pulled his wallet out and opened it, looking at some group photo, she couldn't make anyone out on it “Ten”

“I need a list”

His eyes narrowed with suspicion “why?”

“so I know who not to shit talk”

There was a long pause, before he nodded “Ok, those 4 kids, Dustin, Nancy, Jonathan, Ms. Byers and Hopper”

She blinked at him

“Police Chief Hopper?!”

Steve nodded

“Why the hell are you friends with the chief of police”

“A good police chief is a friend to all law-abiding citizens”

Robin looked unamused “A) I know a practiced answer when I hear one, and B) you are not a law-abiding citizen”

“You're just jealous he’s not friends with you”

“But you just said-” she stopped, breathing heavily to calm herself down

“Ok lets back up,” she said “Is your ex-girlfriends new boyfriend's mom on that list”

He grinned “oh yeah she’s great”

“And why are you friends with her”

He stared at her blankly “I babysit her kid, I hope she knows me”

She scowled “shit that’s a good point”

He smiled smugly at her

“That was only 9”

“Hmm?”

You said you had 10 friends, you listed nine”

His brow furrowed, “No, cause,” he started counting off fingers again, before freezing, eyes wide.

“Nope just 9,” he said, a tad too quickly

“That’s a lie”

And just like that the facade was back, the smug smirk and confident tone “ten counting men, I forgot that I count myself”

She squinted at him, that was a slip-up, a mistake, he was hiding something. Something bigger than the rest of the lies”

I’ll come back to that later, otherwise, he’s gonna clam up hard

“You clearly are very close with this random list of people.”

He shrugged

She got an idea, “Do they know you're friends with them”

“Yeah, probably”

She raised an eyebrow “probably?”

He shrugged “I care about them a lot, didn’t say they view me that way”

“We do,” Will said, leaning against the counter

“Oh Fuck!” Robin yelled in shock, as Steve tensed, whirling upon the voice

He relaxed as he was who it was, Robin still holding her chest

“Jesus kid, We have to get you a bell or something.”

Will smiled “You’re our friend too Steve”

Steve paused for a minute, before getting a bashful smile, playfully ruffling Will’s hair “Thanks kid” he said.

Robin blinked Is he getting choked up?

Will motioned to Steve, and he leaned over the counter as Will whispered something to him, with a subtle glance in her direction.

Steve chuckled as he pulled back “I’m fine, thanks though, and you don’t need to worry about me, go have fun”

Will waved as he headed back “still gonna worry!” he said

Steve laughed “That's the babysitter's job!” he yelled after him

Robin was still holding a hand to her heart “How long was he standing there?”

Steve raised his eyebrows “who Will? Probably a decent bit”

Robin “I didn't see or hear him at all”

Steve smiled with a mixture of pride and sadness “He’s good at hiding.”

Chapter Text

Robin was sitting at the fountain, writing in her journal. Most of the mall was closed, just a couple people milling about, a couple restaurants not quite done, and the movie theater finishing some late night screening.

She could see Harrington leaning against the wall by the front of the theatre, probably waiting on those kids. And not looking at her.

She turned to a page near the back of the journal. Filled with scrawled writing

Went missing a year and a half ago, was found a week later, found/kidnapped by government guys (???????)

Probably the center of whatever happened that led to this weird group

Mike Wheeler
Will Byers
Lucas Sinclair
Dustin (Henderson?)

Been friends for years prior to his disappearance. Foundation of the group.

Maxine Mayfield
-moved her recently with her step brother Billy Hargrove (who is a jackass), joined group not long after.

She skimmed the page before turning to a blank page.
What I’ve learned today

-Dustin and Henderson are for sure the same person
-Steve Harrington is chummy with Police Chief Hopper (????)
-Also Friends with kids parents
-Only Ms/Mrs(?) Byers, not the others
-absolutely hung up on ex (Nancy Wheeler)
-Group is about 11 people, counting Harrington
-5 Kids
-Nancy Wheeler and Johnathan Byer
-Ms/Mrs Byers
-Chief Hopper
-Mystery person
-The kids said he protected them from something. (that’s probably the catalyst of them getting close)

She furrowed her brow and flipped to a new page

What could he protect them from?

Wild Animal attack?

Possible, But I’m not confident Steve could take an animal, and that wouldn’t be something he would hide. That’s something to brag about.

Abusive Family?

She stopped, raising an eyebrow and muttering to herself

“That could be it”

She began quickly scribbling

Wheeler?
+The kids are not close to their parents, implying friction
-I would’ve heard through my parent’s gossip if there were any rumors about
-Mrs. Wheeler is spoken highly of
-Mr. Wheeler is apparently the most boring person in town, which doesn’t sound like an abuser.

Byers
+His dad is apparently a major dirtbag.
-but he’s been out of the picture for a while.
-and Ms/mrs Byers is apparently making goo-goo eyes with the police chief, she’s probably protected.

Sinclair
+they talk about Lucas’s parents the least
-Mr Sinclair is a close colleague of the chief, and that doesn’t line up with his reputation and how Harrington speaks about him

Hargrove/Mayfield

+They were there when he fought Billy
-That would only explain Max, he couldn't reasonably attack other kids without landing his ass in real trouble, especially if Harrington is as close with the Chief as he claims.

She turned to a new page, Writing at the top and circling.

He totally said 10, why is he hiding them? To protect them? That fits with how he’s acting, but protect them from what?

Celebrity?

Unlikely, he’d brag about it probably, and what celebrity could he know in this town?

Fugitive?

Possible, would explain why he’s cagey about it, but that would imply it’s someone i would recognize by name alone, and i can’t think of anyone who fits that description, and how on earth would he be friends with a fguitive?

Missing?

Why would them be missing need secrecy? and with how often people disappear in this town apperently, I would’ve heard it in the news.

Dead?

She stopped writing Holy shit, that could be it. And that would be why he’s hiding it. And why they’re acting so weird about it

Dead from what?
Disease?

Possible, but how could that have made them trust Steve to protect them? he couldn’t protect them from a disease

Car crash?

Possible, he drives them around alot, and it could’ve been a bad wreck that he narrowly saved them by quick thinking or driving skill, or maybe he dragged most of them physically from the wreck. But why hide that?

Fire?

Again something that he actually could protect them from. I’ll need to check the news for any fires in the last few months.

And again, why hide it?

She groaned, putting her head in her hands

“I’m missing something” she muttered to herself, “some detail that makes this make sense”

She lifted her head and started scribbling

To-do list

Read obituaries that fit timeline (last year or so)

Look through local news for anything that would fit.

Ask more ‘harmless’ questions of them (they’re gonna be paranoid for a bit, I pushed them asking, gotta be careful, or they’ll clam up)

She sighed “God I have nothing going on in my life, do I?”

Main Priority

She scribbled a single sentence, circling it.

“What’s in the journal?” Steve asked

She slammed the journal shut. Her heart pounding

“Hey, you get your secrets, I get mine”

Steve chuckled “fair enough”

He spun his keys on his finger “do you need a ride home?”

She looked up at him “do you have room with the 4 children you drive home?”

“Wheeler and Sinclair got rides home today. So I’m only driving Byers and Mayfield”

She tilted her head “my ride is delayed today, so sure, thanks, just let me call them real quick”

“No problem, I’ll pick you up out front”

She got up, before stopping and looking at him suspiciously

“This isn’t some unfunny prank where you strand me here.”

His shoulders slumped “No I’m not gonna…ugh. BYERS! MAYFIELD!”

“Yes, Steve?” Will Said from behind Robin

Steve rolled his eyes as Robin jumped

“Jesus Will, stop scaring my coworker,” he said with the exasperated tone of someone who had said it dozens of times.

Max came up behind him laughing

“I’m giving Robin a ride but she doesn't trust me not to leave her”

“Cause you were a dick in High school” Max interrupted.

He sighed “yes shithead, because I was a dick in high school, can you two walk with her so that she knows I won’t leave without her”

She mockingly saluted him as Will waved at him, the two of them following Robin to the phones.

Chapter Text

“Yeah I’m getting a ride home from my coworker, so don’t worry about me. OK, see you at home. Love you too. Buh-bye.”

She hung the phone up, and turned to the two kids, who were leaning against the lip of the hallway, talking and looking out at the darkened food court.

Max turned as she heard her, giving her a thumbs up “all good?”

Robin nodded “yeah, canceled my ride, ready whenever Harrington is”

They nodded, “alright just follow us” Will said as they started to head off.

They were heading to the opposite side of the mall, but she quickly realized they were taking the long way, sticking to the dimly lit edges rather than cutting through the dark food court.

“Taking the scenic route huh?” she asked, a hint of a smirk in her voice.

Max answered, “we tried it once and Mike face-planted into a table and nearly broke his nose, so we don't risk it anymore.”

It was a good lie, and she’ll admit it was funny, but she could see the ways their eyes were darting around the room. The fear and tension in their bodies.

“You sure it isn't monsters?” she asked jokingly.

Max tried to laugh that one off, but the look she shared with Will gave it away.

Was that close? She thought. What the fuck, how is that close?

She let it drop as they took the long way to the doors.

Steve was waiting in the car, parked right in front of the doors. The window was rolled down, and he was clearly nervous, tapping the wheel and alternating looking between the door and around the dark parking lot.

He visibly relaxed as they came out of the doors. “Took you all long enough, was about to kick down the door to save you from whatever was clearly holding you up.”

His tone was joking, but she could see the way both he and they reacted it wasn’t entirely untrue.
“Sorry,” she said “took a couple tries for the call to go through.”

Steve nodded “It happens, also you get shotgun,”

Max protested “Why does she-”

“Because she’s our guest Mayfield, so deal with it”

Will laughed as Max grumbled into the back seat.

Robin smirked as she opened the passenger, before stopping, a mixture of surprise and concern on her face.

“Why is there a bat with nails on the floor of the passenger seat?”

Steve looked over “Hm? Oh right!”

He pulled it out with practiced ease, “Max you’re in charge of the bat”

He laid it down on the floor between the two of them in the back. in a special little jerry-rigged holder that had the handle right up where he could reach it.

“Sorry, since it was gonna be Max I left it by her feet.”

Robin looked at him like he was insane “Is it her nail bat?”

“Oh no it’s mine”

She glanced at the two in back incredulously, and they just nodded.

“Why the hell do you have a nail bat??”

“For emergencies, better to have it and not need it.”

She stared at him for a second, before sitting down, muttering under her breath “This is gonna be a weird ride”

Steve started the car as she buckled up.

“Where do you live?

“I live right at the end of Cornwallis”

“Oh so you’re right by the Byers's home, in that case, I’ll drop Max off first and then drop you two of down there”

He put the car in drive and started off.

“Does mean you’re my last stop before going home, sorry about that”

She shrugged “it’s fine, probably should drop off the kids first anyway”

There was a moment of silence, before she decided to try and start a conversation.

“What movie were you guys watching?”

Will perked up “oh it’s this new movie called The Goonies, about a group of kids who find a pirate map in one of their attics, was a lot of fun”

Max chimed in “they honestly remind me of you guys. Weird ass group of dipshits.”

Steve burst out laughing at that.

Will just smiled “you’re in the party now too. You’re just insulting yourself now”

“No, I’m that hot girl that his brother was interested in, she wasn't part of the group”

“She was at the end.”

“Hey!!’ Robin yelled “Maybe I want to see this movie”

Will smiled sheepishly “Sorry about that”

There was another moment of silence, before Robin asked without thinking “Steve, Are you afraid of the dark?”

Steve started, before laughing defensively “What kind of question is that?”

She just raised an eyebrow at him, and he sighed as he looked out into the dark woods “Who isn’t?”

That wasn't the answer she was expecting, and she didn’t like the look on any of their faces as they looked out into the dark.

And she didn’t like that he was right, as she too looked into the woods.

Trying to break the tension Robin brought up a new topic.

“Did you guys hear about New Coke?”

All three of them groaned.

“It’s so stupid-”

“-changing the single most profitable product in history-”

“Been drinking it since I was 5, they don’t just get to-”

“I mean why do it?”

“-shows a complete lack of understanding about why they’re successful in the first place”

She chuckled as they yelled, this was better.

“Lucas prefers it.”

The car fell silent for a long moment.

“He what?” Steve nearly yelled.

“Does he not understand how boneheaded of a business idea that is?” Will asked in disbelief

Max held up her hands Defensively “I didn’t say I agree with him, I’m just saying he does.”

Robin interrupted. “Wait. Which one’s Lucas?”

Steve rolled his eyes “The black Kid”

“Steve!”

“What? She doesn’t know him, specifying that he’s the one who’s dating Max or that he’s the ranger or whatever wont help her”

“He’s dating Max?” Robin asked.

“See!” he said as he pointed at her “She doesn’t who Lucas is,”

“And he likes new coke?”

“Apparently he has no taste,” Steve said.

“Remind me to yell at him about that tomorrow” will said

Robin nodded in agreement, before asking.

“I'm curious now, what’s the relationship drama in this little group? I know you and Lucas are a thing, and Nancy and Johnathan.”

“Hopper totally has a thing for Ms. Byers,” Steve said with a smirk.

Will opened his mouth to protest, before nodding “eh, yeah, that’s true”

“Mike’s dating a girl from out of town.” Max said “kind of obnoxiously”

“Hey, That’s not fair,” Steve said, “they don’t get to spend a lot of time together, it’s normal for them to…”

“Overcompensate?”

“That’s not what I was going to say! But fine yeah that”

“Besides,” he said “you know she deserves the affection”

Will and Max did both nod in agreement.

Is mystery girlfriend 10th friend? Look into that later Robin thought to herself.

“Also, Dustin Claims he met a girl at camp” Will said.

The car lurched as Steve started at that, having to readjust before he went off the road.

All three of them were yelling at him as he got straight again, before yelling “I Know I know!! I’m sorry, but when the hell did you get this info?”

Will furrowed his brow. “I got a letter last night. Why?”

“I didn't know anything about that. Why wouldn’t he tell me?” Concern and stress visible on his face.

Will looked thoughtful for a moment “Well have you checked your mail yet? You might have missed it or might now have been delivered yet.”

Steve relaxed, nodding along

Robin raised her eyebrows. “That desperate for middle school gossip?”

Steve shook his head “Dustin isn’t good with girls, and I want him to know he can ask me for help on anything.”

His sincerity surprised her.

He looked in the mirror “Goes for you two idiots as well”

Will smiled “Thanks Steve”

Max just uncomfortably shifted, before muttering “thanks”

He pulled to a stop in front of the Mayfield house. He turned the car off and turned back to face Max.

“Did they get your radio thing working?”

She nodded “Mostly”

He nodded once “Good, and I talked to Nancy about it, in case of an emergency, go straight to the Wheeler house. She and Mike will take care of you, and their parents are less likely to ask questions than the Sinclairs.”

She nodded solemnly, “Got it”

Will spoke up “but of course, if it comes down to it, trust yourself, go where ever you think is best, or fastest.”

Steve nodded as he pointed at him “yeah that too.”

Max nodded “I know”

He smiled, “Good, Alright, Good night kid”

“Night Steve,” she said with a faint smile as she got out.

Both Steve and Will watched her as she got to the door, only relaxing as she waved and got inside.

There was a lot she wanted to ask as he started the car again and started to pull off, but what she ended up asking was.

“So did you and Nancy get joint custody of them after the breakup?”

That got him by surprise, and he actually laughed at it.

“Low blow, but I respect that Buckley.”

Chapter Text

They were approaching the turn to Cornwallis when Will suddenly went silent.

Steve looked up in concern, before his eyes widened in comprehension.

He reached one hand behind him, and Will grabbed it, his knuckles white as he gripped it tightly.

They were both silent, aside from Will’s heavy breathing.

She glanced over at Steve, who faintly shook his head.

There was a tense moment, before Steve turned the corner, and Will relaxed, dropping his hand from Steve’s with a final squeeze.

Steve glanced at Robin, who was looking at him in concern, before changing the topic quickly.

“Hey Will, are you planning to take that art class next year?”

Will smiled

“Yeah, I’m excited to actually learn at a higher level, Mr. Keery is great, don’t get me wrong, but he is only a middle school level teacher, I'm ready to go to the next level”

Steve smiled “I wasn’t the best student, but Mr. Schnapp was very good. You’re gonna like him.”

Steve pulled into the driveway of the Byers' home. Right as he pulled up, the front door opened and Joyce walked out, waving at them.

Steve turned the car off, and turned to Will

“Everything we said to Max applies to you too. Nancy’s and my doors are open if you, Johnathan, or your mom need anything. And call us or Hopper if you need anything.

Will smiled “thanks Steve” he said as he got out of the car.

Joyce ruffled Will's hair “heya kiddo, have fun today?”

“Yeah Mom, You’d like the Goonies.”

“I’ll have to find a time to, head on inside, Jonathan wants to show you some new song.”

“All right. Good night Steve!”

He waved “Good Night Byers, tell Jonathan I say hi.”

"Good night Steve!”

She smiled "alright, head in and get ready for bed while I say hi to Steve"

She walked dow to his car, bending at the window slightly, arms folded, and a fond smile on her face.

“Hey Steve. How’s work going?”

“Going ok, little boring”

Joyce smiled “that’s work for you”

She nodded at Robin “Who’s your friend?”

“Oh shit, forgot”

He turned and gestured to Robin “This is Robin…” he turned to her,

“Buckley”

“Buckley! I knew that. She works with me at Scoops Ahoy. Robin, this is Joyce Byers, she’s Will’s mom”

Robin raised her eyebrow at him “I pieced that together genius.”

She waved at Joyce “nice to meet you”

“Driving a girl home? That mean things are going well Steve?”

Robin burst out laughing “noooooooo. Not a chance”

Steve held up his hands offended “it was clearly a joke, but it’s not that funny”

Joyce chuckled, hiding her mouth behind her hand.

Steve rolled his eyes “She's just a friend and her ride canceled”

“I figured, just teasing. It’s nice to meet you”

Robin nodded awkwardly.

Joyce turned back to Steve

“Not going to go into detail in front of your friend, but you doing better?”

Steve shrugged “Some, getting a little easier.”

She nodded sadly “Yeah, that’s how it is, gets better one day at a time.”

Steve paused “Are you talking the Nancy thing, or…”

“Both”

“That’s good, because sometimes it feels like it never will, for both.”

Joyce’s eye flicked to Robin, who was staring at her with curiosity.

“It’s getting late Steve, I gotta head in, and you two kids need to get home, we’ll talk soon.”

He looked bashful for a moment. “You sure?”

Joyce tilted her head. A mixture of sadness, and understanding “Of course.”

Steve ducked his head shyly “Thanks”

“Yeah! Here, I’m off this Sunday, and the mall is closed. You wanna grab lunch and talk it over?’

“Yeah… I’d really like that.”

“ok, see you then. Pleasure to meet you Robin, good night Steve!” she said as she headed inside the house

Robin raised her eyebrow at him suggestively.

“Has your string of failures with girls your age makes you wanna try out the older generation?”

“Oh shut up, it’s not like that. She’s just a friend. And I babysit her son!”

“Getting revenge on the guy who took your ex by getting with his mom!”

“It’s not like that,” he yelled, slamming the steering wheel.

Robin shut up, her eyes wide.

Steve saw and stopped, deflating “sorry. Shouldn’t have yelled like that. It’s just not at all like that. She’s really just a friend, and one of the few I have.”

Robin held her hands up “No I’m sorry, that was out of line, I shouldn't have said it” She looked down guiltily “I’m not always great at… words like that. I always say shit I shouldn’t”

Steve nodded “I get that, let’s just say we’re both wrong and call it even.”

She smiled “Ok, I like that”

He smirked “Good”

She said in a small voice “Thanks, not everyone is as cool about that as you.”

He shrugged “Have you seen my friends, that’s nothing.”

He started the car up “Could you imagine me explaining to Will I was gonna be his new stepdad though?”

She burst out laughing “Oh that’d be terrible”

“If you thought Mike hated me when I just had been with his sister, imagine when it’s also his best friend's mom.”

Robin wheezed “Is he-is he the one with the wild black hair”

“Yep”

“Oh man, I don’t know him, but it seems like he would fucking lose it.”

That night was the night that Robin would later say was when she first considered Steve a friend.

Chapter Text

They were just pulling out of Cornwallis when they passed the spot where Will was scared.

Robin frowned in thought before she got the courage to ask.

“What was that?”

“What was what?”

“The thing that happened with the kid”

He looked at her in confusion.

“The thing where the kid, Byers, went silent and you held his hand”

Steve went quiet, looking out into the dark, an odd expression on his face.

“I’m sure you heard that Will went missing a couple years ago.”

“Of course, was all over the news”

“Yeah well,” he nodded back behind him “that’s where it happened”

She whirled back, staring back into the darkness beyond the red tail lights

“There!?”

Steve tilted his head “kinda, it’s where it started, they found his bike right by it”

She stared at him

“Where what happened?”

“Where Will went missing”

“No, I know that,” she sighed in exasperation “what made him go missing”

Steve kept staring straight ahead into the night.

“You’ll have to ask him”

She just raised an eyebrow, tilting her head. “Really?”

“It’s not my place to tell you.”

“You’re kidding, you’re really not going to tell me.”

“You’re saying you don’t don't have a secret that you don’t wouldn't want people sharing without your permission?”

That struck home

"Ok, fine!”

Steve laughed “oooh, somebody has a secret!”

Robin rolled her eyes “You’re dodging the question”

“Oh absolutely”

His smile faded “But you’re not getting it out of me.”

Chapter Text

When she came into work today, she was met with a number of police officers and yellow tape around one of the stores across the plaza.

She nodded at Steve who was already behind the counter

“What’s that about?” She asked pointing over her shoulder at the police tape

“Someone tried to rob a store, happened just before I got in, but mall security got them, and called the police.”

She looked back at it

“Lotta cops for some mall mugging. And I’m pretty sure I see a tan hat among them”

Steve nodded “yeah Chief Hopper’s here, must be a big thing about it, I’ll ask him about it in a bit”

She snorted “why don’t you ask your close friend right now.”

He shrugged “he looks busy, I’ll give him a minute,”

“Mhm,” she hummed doubtfully.

“He does look busy! Look, he’s interrogating that guy, and he does not look happy.”

She rolled her eyes “no, I’m not doubting that, I’m doubting that your ‘close friends with him”

“Ooooh, no I am,” he said nodding

“Yeah yeah,” she said dismissively as she went into the back.

It was almost a half-hour later that Hopper caught Steve’s eye, he nodded at him, that stoic friendly nod he gave to those who knew.

He paused, then said, “Hey Calvin, I need a break and something in my stomach, will you be ok watching this for a moment while I get ice cream?”

“No problem chief, just get me a strawberry cone, and don't let Callahan see you”

Hopper snorted “We’re gonna have to get him one anyway,” he said laughing.

The mall wasn't crowded yet, just some staff and a handful of early shoppers.

There were only a couple of people in line, a mother and her daughter, being helped by a girl he didn’t recognize.

He waited patiently as the kid took too long to decide, before stepping up to the counter.

She smirked as she saw him “Morning Chief.”

He nodded “Good morning, is Harrington here?”

She raised an eyebrow. “You here to arrest him?”

He waved it off “No no, just wanted to say hi to the kid.”

She blinked. “You're actually friends with him!?”

He looked back and forth “...yes?”

She blinked. “Uh… Ok.”

“Steve, your friend the Chief of Police is here! apparently” She said, an expression of incredulity on her face.

Steve came out of the back “Hey Chief! How’s crime?”

He sighed “the damn thing keeps coming back.” he said, a hint of a smile on his face.

Steve smirked, nodding over at the crime scene “on that, what's going on over there?”

“Oh that, some punk tried to hold up that clothing store.”

Robin raised her eyebrows, “lot of yellow tape for a failed hold-up.”

He nodded “Would be, if we didn't find cocaine on him.”

Steve whistled.

She nodded “That would do it”

“Yeah, so that’s the shit I have to deal with today.”

Steve nodded, “would Ice cream help? On the house.”

“Can you do that?”

“For the Chief of police, who just saved the mall, it’ll be fine.”

“Ok then, One chocolate chip cone and one Strawberry cone.”

“Coming right up!”

“And do you have those weird, chocolate-dipped cones?

Robin’s head snapped up “they’re in the back! Steve knows where it is!”

She turned to him “go get them”

Steve looked indignant “WHy me?”

Robin “cause you’re taller and stronger than me, and because you were mean to me in school, and because I want to talk to the policeman, and-”

Steve threw up his arms “fine fine I’m going”

Hopper raised an eyebrow at her “subtle”

“Yeah but he won't pick up on it, and I wanna ask a couple questions without him hearing”

Hopper smirked

“All right, let me hear em”

“Are you really friends with him”

“Yeah”

“Why?”

“He’s a good kid.”

“Yeah but how’d you, like, meet him”

He shrugged, “he babysits my friend’s kids.”

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Why do all of you keep dodging the question.”

He raised an eyebrow “Are you implying that the chief of Police and his friend’s babysitter are secretly in a massive conspiracy?”

She deflated “...I didnt say massive” she said meekly.

Hopper smirked, “It’s ok, I know what it’s like, you live in a small town where nothing ever happens, you get bored and start looking for something.”

“Didn’t a government building get condemned after it was revealed they killed someone?”

“...well yes, but that's the exception, not the rule.”

“But what about-”

He cut her off.

“How about the town’s incredible chief of police solved all the conspiracies for you?”

She looked at him with doubt “Mhm?”

Hopper sighed, frustrated

“What’s important is he’s a good kid.”

“You clearly didn’t know him in high school”

He raised an eyebrow “and You clearly didn’t know me in high school.”

She opened her mouth, words failing her.

“People can suck when they're young and not suck later, it happens, “

“not always” he ceded “but sometimes.”

She frowned thoughtfully as Steve came back out, carrying a bag of cones.

“Found the damn thing, was buried underneath that bag of ice.”

Chapter Text

“What the hell are you doing?”

Lucas visibly slumped, lowering his binoculars, turning to Erica “None of your business. Go away!”

Erica raised an eyebrow, condescending

“It looks like you’re spying on people, and that’s illegal”

“I’m not spying on anyone.”

Erica raised both eyebrows.

“So you just have binoculars and Walkie talkies and your stupid camouflage ‘stealth’ bandanna. For fun?”

There was a pause, before Lucas nodded “...Yes”

The walkie-talkie cracked to life, Mike’s whispered voice coming through

“Lucas. Do you have a visual on them?”

Lucas pursed his lips as Erica looked at him smugly.

“Lucas? Lucas come in. Is everything-”

He slowly turned off the radio.

“That’s unrelated”

“I see” Erica responded, doubt clear in her voice.

“Yes”

She put her hands on her hips “and what is Mike talking about?”

“...Mike is… talking about a girl he likes, who he wants me to see if she’s here with a boy and-”

“Nice try, I know Mike has some secret girlfriend he is disgustingly loyal too”

Lucas’s eyes widened, pointing at her.

“I knew you were spying on my calls.”

“And I knew you were lying about spying on someone”

Their argument was interrupted by Mike’s voice from the stairs.

“HEY!”

They turned to see him cresting the final steps talking into his radio“I found him”

Before putting it down and glaring at Lucas.“What the hell man!”

Lucas gestured at his sister “Erica was trying to snoop on our business”

Mike stalked toward them

“First off, who cares, it’s not a secret?”

Lucas was taken aback “It’s not?”

Mike met his eyes meaningfully “Us just checking out a girl who’s been getting up in our friend’s business?”

Lucas got it.

“I guess not when you say it like that”

Mike got close to Lucas, talking lowly “You also turned your radio off”

“Yeah cause Erica was trying to listen in on-”

Mike held up his hands “I know that, but…”

He glanced at Erica, before saying under his breath. “Your line went dead suddenly.”

Lucas “Oh shit, I didn’t realize, I’m sorry”

Erica interrupted “Why does it matter if his line went dead?”

They both started, heads jerking to her.

“Damn, she is good at eavesdropping,” Mike said.

“That’s what I’ve been telling you!”

“Yeah, but Dustin thinks you're just bad at hiding-”

Erica rolled her eyes “Um, Hello,” she said, snapping her fingers.

“I’m good at eavesdropping and Lucas is bad at hiding stuff.”

Lucas glared at her, offended

“And why does it matter if his line goes dead?”

They looked at each other, before Lucas spoke.

“I could’ve been hurt, or taken or something.”

Erica burst out laughing “oh that’s rich, someone is gonna come after my dipshit brother.”

Mike and Lucas just glanced at each other as she laughed.

Mike shook himself out of a memory, “look, it’s no big deal, Steve’s coworker is getting a little nosey, so we’re keeping an eye on her.”

Erica smirked “Really?” she asked as she yanked on the binoculars around Lucas’s neck, his voice choking as he got pulled down.

She looked through them at the ice cream shop below “You sure you’re not just spying on the police chief.”

Lucas ut his palm over her face and shoved her away “No we’re not!’

He rubbed his neck “Geez, why does everyone keep thinking that?”

Mike rolled his eyes in frustration “Look, we told you the truth, so will you just leave us alone?”

Erica walked backwards away from them, mockingly saying “Don’t worry, I won’t tell your weird babysitter friend that you care!”

Lucas sighed as he watched her prance off “Sorry about that”

Mike shrugged “Eh, it happens, thankfully she doesn’t know anything that would be a problem.”

“You’d be surprised what she can dig up when she gets her mind set on something, we should probably keep an eye on that.”

Mike looked down at Scoops Ahoy “We’re already doing that on one front, I think we can handle another.”

Lucas nodded.

“I am sorry about the abrupt hang up”

Mike waved it off “Don’t worry, we just panicked, that’s all”

“No you were right, it would’ve scared me too.”

Hopper felt a tap on his back.

He turned, and saw no one behind him, before he heard a sharp *ahem

He looked down and saw a young girl standing there.

“Can I help you?”

“Yeah, did you know a group of teenagers are spying on you?”

He blinked “You’re Sinclair right?’

She nodded

“And is your brother one of them?”

“Yep”

“Then I don’t care.”

She blinked in surprise, before turning to Robin “They’re spying on you too”

Steve interrupted “They’re spying on me Sinclair, leave her alone”

Erica pouted as she left the room.

Robin placed her elbows on the counter and looked at Hopper

“Why is it ok if it’s those kids.”

“First, they’re good kids, and they’re not gonna cause problems, and second, if her brother is one of them, then she’s probably exaggerating to get him in trouble.”

Hopper smirked “Besides, it’s always good to have extra eyes watching your back.”

Chapter Text

Joyce fidgeted nervously in her chair, at a table near the back of the diner. A half drunk mug of coffee on the table.

The kids were at a table near the door, talking animatedly, and hearing them be ok was calming. She listened to them as she leaned back, closing her eyes.

She looked up as she heard the bell of the door jingle.

Her eyes lit up as she saw him enter the diner.

“Steve!” She called.

He glanced around the room before his eyes met hers, and he visibly relaxed, as he walked over to her.

“Morning Steve,” she said with a smile.

“Morning Ms. Byers.” he said as he sat down across from her.

“I’ve told you Steve, you can call me Joyce.”

“I know, it just feels a little weird.”

“Steve, anyone who saves my kids’ life gets to call me Joyce”

Steve stopped still for a moment.

““…ok”

The waiter stepped up to the table.

“You ready to order?” he asked.

‘Yes, Thanks.” Joyce said, “I’ll have the usual.” she said.

“Of course, and you?” he said as he turned to Steve

“ uh… I’ll have the breakfast sampler, with scrambled eggs, And do you have that new Coke?’

“Yep”

“Cool, I’ll have a root beer.” he said as he handed the menu back.

“Common choice,” the waiter laughed.

“We can talk freely” Joyce said as he left.

Steve frowned at her “what? About everything?”

“Yeah, The lady who owns this Diner is an old friend of mine, we’re not super close, but she lets us use the corner table and sends a waiter who doesn't listen, so we’re open to talk as we like.”

“We?”

“Yeah, Me and Hop use it somewhat often, and Nancy’s met me here for the same reason you are.”

“So how are you holding up?” She asked

He shrugged “Fine.”

She just looked at him, a soft smile on her face.

“Not great,” he admitted.

“And that’s ok.” she said warmly. “God knows I wasn’t,”

“Yeah but you took your … not fine-ness, into something productive,” he said.

“Yeah, when my kids were in danger, then Will and Jonathon were safe, and I was left with all this left over fear and panic, without anywhere to put it. And that’s hard. And I didn’t know how to deal with that.”

Yeah but, I don’t know, it just feels like, like I’m the only one who feels like this, I’m the only one who lets all this get to me.”

Joyce sighed,

“I still get nightmares,” she said.

His head shot up, his gaze concerned as it met hers.

“Not as bad as I used to,” she amended, “But still, at least a couple nights a week I wake up screaming.”

“Will does too, they were terrible when he first came back, but purging it from his system last year massively helped.”

“Yeah but Will went through hell, literally got dragged off by a monster, and look at him, the kid’s pushed through.” Steve said frustrated. “He’s … I don’t know, become stronger, and me, I just feel …weaker.” He said, his voice small.

Her heart broke for him.

“You’re not weak Steve,” she said. “You are so strong,”

He scoffed as he sat back.

“Really Steve, Johnathon told me about the first night, the night they drew it to themselves to help us. And how you showed up, to apologize, and you learned the truth. You could’ve run, no one would’ve blamed you, they told you too even, They pushed you out the door, And yet you went back inside, you stood with them, with two people who were furious with you.”

She leaned in, looking him in the eye.

“And you saved their lives Steve, they are alive today because of you, because you were strong, and not just Nancy and Jonathon, all of us, you saved the kids from Billy, you helped draw fire away from the lab. You helped keep it occupied at my home. I owe you the lives of both my kids.”

She laughed, “hell, I owe the lives of everyone I care about to you.”

“Don’t mention it.” He said, somewhat shyly. “I care about them too.”

The waiter chose that moment to drop off their food. Steaming eggs and Hashbrowns, and they hungrily tore into it.

Max interrupted Mike, “Robin’s here.”

Mike looked back at where she was pointing, to a booth by the window, sitting there with a small oplate of food and a journal, which she had open and was writing in.

“This again?” he asked exasperated.

“At least it’s something to keep our wits sharp.”

“Yeah” Lucas said, “for when shit inevitably starts again.”

Mike nodded, “Not a bad point, but it’s kind of a step down for us.”

Will shrugged, “And going back to the Shire was a step down for the hobbits after Mordor, shouldn’t we relish in this peace?”

Max frowned, “Ok, even I know you took that from Dustin.”

“Well someone has to listen to him, and he’s right.”

“He is, even if he insists on tying every single thing back to whatever he read or watched last.”

Mike chuckled, “We’re gonna focus on the Robin problem right now, but remind me to tell you about the time Dustin tried to explain the Hobbit to Hopper.”

“Hey,” she said suddenly. “You know I don’t like you just for that right?”

“Hmm?” he said startled, mouth full of hashbrowns. He swallowed quickly. “What?’

“I just … just want you to know I don’t care about you just because you saved their lives.” She said “And I do really believe you are so strong, and so brave, but it’s ok if you’re not. I’m not going to think less of you if you are.”

She rested her hand on his.

“I’m here for you Steve, and it’s ok to feel broken. I’m not going to …think less of you for that.”

“That’s what family does, be there for each other, no matter what,”

Robin peered over the top of her menu, watching the two of them.

She had her notebook on the table beside her.

“Saved kids life??” She wrote frantically

“Hey”

She jumped, heart pounding, as she whirled to the voice.

Will stared at her with an unblinking gaze.

“Jesus kid, do you just get off on scaring people?”

He just blinked a“Do you have other friends?”

““…What? What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Well cause it looks like all you’ve done with your spare time the last couple days is spy on mine.”

“I don’t have to justify myself to some kid. Why don’t you mind your own business?”

“Steve is my business,”

“Yes! Yes I know! You love your weird ass babysitter. And I don’t have a damn clue why you like the weirdo.”

He tilted his head slightly, his eyes boring into her “Do you like him?”

She snorted, “yeah, that’s why.”

Will stared at her, “Do you … want to be friends with him?” he asked.

It wasn’t the question she was expecting, and it tripped her up for a moment, and brought a lot of thoughts to the surface. Why was she doing this, why did she care so much. Did she want to be friends with him? Was she envious of such a close knit group? Was she really just this bored?

“Maybe I’m just bored and don’t have anything better to do.”

“Yeah I believe that.” he said, smirking at her.

She rolled her eyes, ‘yeah Yeah, laugh it up,” she said as Mike sat down across from her.

‘Robin! I thought that was you!”

“Oh great,” she muttered as she threw down her pen.

“Oh also, your friend from work is trying to hide at that booth over there,” Joyce said, nodding towards Robin.

“Yeah, I saw her when I came in,” he said dismissively.

She raised an eyebrow, “Is she going to be a problem?’

“Nah, she’s just bored and is convinced I’m hiding something.”

“Did something happen that made her think that?

“Well she knew me in high school, back when I was popular and a jerk, so when she started working with me, and I’m less jackassy and being babysitter to a group of nerdy kids, she figured there must be some big reason.”

“Which she’s right about,”

“Oh of course, but she’s way off about it… Hopefully,”

Chapter Text

Jonathan was with them today.

The kids were in a group near one of the stores, and Jonathan was talking with them, a camera slung around his neck, smiling fondly as Will said something that made Mike laugh out loud.

She knew him, they weren’t friends or anything, but they had had classes together and knew of each other, and two outcasts without a lot of friends had a sense of camaraderie, even if they didn’t talk a lot.

But she didn’t really understand his connection to Steve, beyond the fact that his little brother was part of the group of kids he babysat.

She tried not to dwell on it, they were in a rush at work and she didn't need the distraction, but she kept seeing him out of the corner of her eye with the kids.

Thankfully the rush petered out and they had a moment’s respite, and as Robin took a seat, getting off her feet for the first time in hours, Steve waved at Jonathan, who nodded back and started towards them, ruffling Will’s hair as he left the group, weaving through the crowded food court before he came to their counter.

“Hey Steve, looked busy today,”

“You can say that again,” Robin grumbled, and Steve smirked,

“Yeah, we were slammed today,” he said, before he grimaced, “Hey, I’ll help you in just a second, I just have had to use the bathroom for a half-hour now, I’ll be right back,” He said as he slipped into the back, leaving just the two of them alone.

The moment was silent and a little awkward as they didn’t talk.

“Robin, right?” Jonathan finally said.

“Yep,”

“Yeah that’s what I thought, we had algebra together last year, right?”

“Yeah, you sat in the back,” she said.

He nodded, and they fell back into silence, but Robin, always bad with silences, broke it again.

“Hey, can I ask you something?”

“Yeah sure,” he said as he fiddled with his camera.

“You’re friends with Steve right?”

“Yeah,”

“…why?”

That made him pause, and he looked up at her.

“What do you mean?”

“Like why are you friends with him?”

He tilted his head slightly at her, “Why do you think I shouldn’t be?”

“Cause you’re a nerd,”

He blinked at her.

“Shit, that sounded bad,” She said quickly, “that’s not what I meant, it’s just-”

Jonathan just stared at her quietly as she rambled and tried to find her words.

“Well, it’s Steve, he’s a dick, he’s been a Jackass to people for years and I know you were one of them, so how did,” she waved at hand at him, “this happen?”

Jonathan took a second to respond, his expression contemplative.

“He was never that bad, there were some real shit heads at school, he was just kind of an obnoxious dick,”

“Yeah but being less of a jerk than some people doesn’t make him not a jerk,”

Jonathan tilted his head thoughtfully, “You're missing some of the finer details of our relationship, and before hand he mainly just ignored me, everyone did, but there’s two things, one, Nancy was good for him, really good, helped him get away from some bd influences,”

“That doesn’t excuse-”

“I’m not excusing anything” he said, a slight edge of irritation in his voice, “it’s just how he started get better,”

“”Well if that’s how it started, how did it end?”

Jonathan stared at her for a long moment, his jaw tense, before he took a long calming breath.

“What really did was that he actually really apologized, owned up and took responsibility.

“What? So he said he was sorry and that’s it? The end? ”

“He apologized, but then he stepped up, he got better, he acted better, and he has long since earned my trust. Something he earned the hard way,”

‘How?”

“I’m not going into details, but my trust is hard to earn, and I don’t give it lightly.”

She was at a loss for words with that, and she couldn’t find a response before Steve came back.

‘Sorry about that, what’s up?”

“Oh, I’m doing some photography for the paper, they’re doing some article on the mall and they want shots of a bunch of different businesses and stuff like that.”

“Makes sense, you want a pic of us then?”

“If that’s ok,”

“No, let’s do it, what do you need?”

“Just a shot of you with the storefront,” he said, “Or honestly just the two of you behind the counter will do it.

“Oh do you want Robin in it too?” He asked.

“Oh no you don’t want me, I’m not photogenic and they’d probably prefer just a picture of ‘The hair’ Harrington,”

“Oh don’t be ridiculous, you look great, and you’re part of the team, you should be here just as much as me,”

“Oh don’t lie to me, it’s fine, just take the-”

“Oh come on,” he said as he gently grabbed her shoulder and pulled her into frame for the photo, “You look good, and it’ll be fine, c’mon,”

She wanted to argue, but again she was caught off guard with how gentle and encouraging his tone was, and again taken off guard by just how different he was. It was weird.

Jonathan looked between the two of them subtly , before he held up his camera, “Say Cheese!”

They both smiled, and he took the photo with a flash, it was a good one, the two of them standing next to each other in their matching uniforms and the decor of the restaurant, and he could immediately tell this was one that was gonna make it to the paper.

“Thanks,” he said as he lowered his camera.

Steve waved it off, “Of course, glad to help,” he said with a nod, “How’s your mom doing?”

A few minutes after Johnathan met back up with the kids, quietly slipping back into the conversation, before he asked.

“What do you know about the girl that works with Steve?”

“Robin?” Will answered, “not much, we’ve been looking,”

“We're not certain we trust her,” Mike added.

“But we’re keeping an eye on her, why?” Lucas asked.

He looked back at Scoops Ahoy, taking a long sigh , before he finally said, “I think she might be good for Steve,”

“What do you mean?” Will asked.

“Well… after he and Nancy formally broke up, I’ve been worried a little about him,”

“It seemed like he took it pretty well,” Lucas said.

“Yeah but handling a break up well doesn’t make you not lonely.” Johnathan replied.

“And just because you could be doing worse doesn’t mean you’re doing good,” Will added.

“Exactly.” Jonathan said. “And I’m just worried he’s putting on a brave front or something,

“I see your point,” Mike said, “But counterpoint, I don’t want to play matchmaker for my sister’s ex-boyfriend.”

“He’s got a point with that,” Max said, “and besides, I don’t think either of them will really react well to being match made,”

“Yeah you can’t force this,” Mike said, “If it’s meant to be they'll figure it out,”

“Oh is that how you and El now spend your weekends sucking face while hiding from the chief of police,” Max snarked with a raised eyebrow.

“Oh screw you Mayfield, I don’t need to justify our love to you!”

“Justify our love? What are you, a shitty period piece protagonist? You going to wax poetic in the rain before she takes you back to her room and shows you her ankles?”

“You’re just jealous that our relationship is moving faster than you and Lucas,”

‘Woah woah why am I being brought into this?” Lucas interjected.

Jonathan rolled his eyes and smiled fondly as the two of them devolved into arguing, before he looked back at Steve and Robin, back to working the counter.

“I do hope they figure out themselves, I think they both could use each other,” He said to Will, who nodded.

“Yeah me too,”