Work Text:
1
Hanging out with Nancy ‘The Priss’ Wheeler had to be the most shocking thing. Not the other mirror world, not the little girl with superpowers, and not finding out Steve ‘the hair’ Harrington was actually an okay dude?
I mean okay that was shocking for Robin too but finding out Nancy Wheeler wasn’t so prissy and uptight? A shock. One she learned last summer seeing her stare Billy down while shooting at his fucking car. Which may have led to some dreams she may or may not want to share with anyone. Dreams that made her feel dirty and disgusting. Which had to be why Robin couldn’t stop staring at her god damn lips as Nancy rattled off her plan to sneak into Pennhurst.
Robin could have avoided looking at them if said girl wasn’t pinning her to her god damn bed and putting eyeshadow on her after forcing Robin to wear her ‘Sunday’s Best’. Itchy frilly material Robin would never be caught dead wearing under any circumstances, except to help Nancy Wheeler apparently.
Which she’d panic about that thought at a later date. Right now her thoughts were filled with Nancy, Nancy, Nancy.
“Are you even listening to me?”
“What? Yeah! Yes. You’re Ruth, I’m Rose, walk in, ask to see spooky creepy grandpa killer Victor Creel, interrogate the bastard, get the answers we need, and save Max. Pretty straightforward.”
Nancy’s eyes narrowed at her as they did back in the library making that stupid hot feeling in her stomach return. In the library, she could ignore that feeling but here? Like this? Trapped under her body with no means of escape? Robin couldn’t escape how that look made her feel.
Staring up at her with wide eyes Robin hoped Nancy couldn’t feel the rapid beating of her heart as she kept looking down at her. Had she said something wrong? Missed a step? Could Nancy Wheeler read her mind right now? Her mouth parted to apologize for having these impure thoughts about her when Nancy leaned down even closer.
Oh my god is she going to kiss me? Robin’s mind reeled at the thought, breath catching in her throat as the distance kept closing until Nancy was right there in front of her. If she tilted her chin up she could bridge the gap between them and feel those soft-looking pink lips on her own. Her head pressed into the pillow as her chin tilted without her permission to lean her closer until –
“Hold still. I missed a spot.”
Oh.
Disappointment washed over her like an ice-cold wave. Of course, she wouldn’t kiss her. Nancy Wheeler was straight. She had a boyfriend, and maybe lingering feelings for Steve if the earlier hostility was anything to go by. Why the fuck would Robin think she had a shot in hell.
She couldn’t, wouldn’t go down this path again. She had a chance at having another friend here. A crazy smart and beautiful friend. She couldn’t ruin it because her mind ran crazy with what if’s and false hopes.
They had to focus on saving Max too. That’s what mattered here. Nothing else.
She wouldn’t have these thoughts again.
2
Steve took off to go tackle Eddie to the ground to give Dustin a fighting chance against him. Turning a 1 v 1 to a 2 v 1 in a matter of seconds. Robin couldn’t help the fond smile break across her face at the offended look on Steve’s face when Eddie pins him and Dustin pretends to spear him through the chest. Iditos. she thought fondly. But they were her idiots.
Idiots who she wouldn’t let die no matter what. Her somber talk with Steve ended on a light-hearted note but she knew that they all weren’t going to be okay unless some miracle occurred. She knew, that whatever happened she would see Steve return home. See Dustin come back to be a genius off at MIT or wherever. Make sure Eddie got back to see his name cleared and become some sort of rock star. Nancy would come home to her family. To go off to Emerson to be a kick-ass reporter and put shitty men in her place. Robin would be sure of it. Even if it meant she –
“Did Steve dump you with the rest of the work to go play with the children?”
Nancy’s voice quips, snapping Robin out of her thoughts. Whipping her head around she looks up at Nancy whose staring down at her with a look between amusement and annoyance. She’s so distracted by the cute little scrunch of her nose that she misses the opening of the bottle and poured gasoline over her fingers.
“Ah shit.” She pulls the gasoline back, setting it to the side so she can wipe her hands in the grass. “Technically yeah, but he was moping seeing Dustin with dad number two so told him to go win custody back of his kid.”
No god damn wonder she wasn’t as heartbroken over Vickie as she thought she would be. Well okay so maybe she had known this was coming since spending so much time with her over the past few days. Life and death situations really bring people together. But it went beyond that too. See how Nancy really was. All the little moments shared between them how could she not have a little crush? And – oh shit she was talking to her.
“-pless. They should just co-parent Dustin. He loves them both equally.” Robin laughed some at that. A moment came to her so strong, just like she had wanted on the RV, to test the waters. Share with Nancy her secret of who she was but now wasn’t the time. They had other things to focus on and if she was wrong and Nancy freaked out? She could botch this whole kill Vecna plan if so.
“Please, like Steve likes to share the spotlight like that.”
“Fair point.”
Nancy dropped beside her on the grass taking the bottle Steve left behind and pouring gasoline in it. “Don’t you have your own stuff to oversee? Turning your deadly shotgun even more deadly? Nagging on Lucas for letting Erica do all the work?” an elbow dug into her side in retaliation.
Grinning Robin took the bottle from her hand and stuffed a white cloth into it, ignoring how their fingers brushed as she took it. “I did that. I – “ Nancy paused and Robin glanced over at her. “I sent Max to go spend time with Lucas and Erica, and anyone else just in case we –“
She couldn’t finish the words but Robin understood. It’s why she insisted Steve go off too. “Yeah. I made Steve do the same thing. I – I told him this time might be different. Our good luck has to run out at some point, and if Vecna/Henry/One, shit that’s a mouthful, is so powerful I don’t know if we can expect a flawless victory. Even with your master plan.”
The silence dragged on long enough to have Robin fear she ruined the mood when Nancy let out a slow breath beside her. Her shoulders sagged down as she pressed into Robin’s side. “I know, I’m worried about that too. Or how maybe I won’t get to see my mom, or Holly or even Mike again.”
In a bold move, Robin reaches out to take Nancy’s hand in her own, lacing their fingers together so the metal of her rings presses firmly into Nancy’s skin. Fierce protectiveness washed over her. More determined than ever to ensure Nancy made it back home safe. “Don’t worry Nance, you will. If my movie knowledge is anything to go by, which it totally is, by the way, it’s all very factual, you’re a final girl you know? Tough, badass, smart, you’ll make it to the end and put a bullet right through his ugly viney face.” I’ll be sure of it. she vowed.
Tension seemed to roll off Nancy at that. Having someone be responsible for her instead of the other way around and Robin knew she would do anything for her at this moment. Leaning her head against Nancy’s she let her take all the comfort she needed in this time. Let herself be Nancy Wheeler’s crutch.
They sat like that for a while. Watching the others goof off and enjoy their possible final day with one another. Lucas joined in with the other boys, Dustin and he teamed up to ‘slay’ Eddie and Steve while Erica crept up behind her brother to take him out and Max, she looked happy for once during all of this.
“Thank you.” Nancy’s hand in her own twisted some of Robin’s rings. She let out a low hum, head-turning some to catch a glimpse of Nancy’s face. She was watching the scene in front of them as Robin had, eyes soft and sad, but still holding that fierce determination behind them. Even at this moment when she was taking in the somber mood Nancy Wheeler looked ready to take on God themselves.
So beautiful. her heart ached at the thought. Her traitorous eyes drifted down to her lips and stayed there. A sudden selfish urge washed over her. To kiss the girl she liked just even once before she died. To know what it’s like. If Nancy’s lips tasted like strawberries or cherries if they were as soft as they looked.
She couldn’t. no matter how much her heart yearned for it. Nancy wasn’t like her. No one was like her here in Hawkins if the tragic scene with Vickie was anything to go by. Her logic didn’t stop her yearning for it. Having Nancy be so open and share those thoughts with her – god she was being so creepy wanting to kiss her fears away, wasn’t she?
“You’re a final girl too. I might not have your endless movie junkie knowledge, but, you are too. We’ll come out of this on top.” Nancy’s eyes turned to her and Robin swore her eyes nearly snapped up in her girl with how fast she tore her gaze from her lips, to stare at her.
Laughing some she finally let her worries go for the time and slumped against Nancy. “You know Wheeler, once this is over I’m going to turn you into a movie connoisseur like myself.”
3
Why she trailed after Nancy to the Attic like a lost puppy was beyond her.
Okay well no it wasn’t. Robin found it harder and harder to deny these feelings for the brunette the more time they spent together. Saving the world and nearly dying with someone really jump-starts a lot of stuff. But it wasn’t even all that. It was the little moments too. Like how Nancy had clung onto her after the fight when everyone was leaving the hospital after checking in on Max and asking her to stay the night. How Robin had only left in the days after to go get clothes and see if her mom would ever come back home.
It was all those little moments that made Robin realize she had fallen hard for one Nancy Wheeler. Her best friend’s ex. Who he may still have a thing for, even if she had seen his eyes lingering on Eddie lately.
But – yeah. She found herself trailing after Nancy into her attic like a love-sick fool just to steal some moments along with her. They didn’t even need to do anything special in these moments. It was just special by being here with Nancy.
she thought. Clearing those disastrous thoughts aside she couldn’t help but snicker at the state of the attic. So put together and organized, even with everything coated in cobwebs or dust. “Damn, I see where you get your neat-freak tendencies from.” She teased once she pulled herself up the dinky ladder.
“Oh hush.” A laugh escaped the blonde at Nancy’s playful shove. Making a show of stumbling a few feet as if Nancy had slain her. “Did you see the state of Dustin and Steve’s stuff? They would have had a breakdown trying to untangle any of their stuff. I was just doing the shelter a favor by doing it for them.”
“Mhmm. Right right. Everything to do with that and nothing to do with how looking at their mess a second longer would have given you a brain bleed.”
“Yes. Exactly.”
Glad Nancy was facing away from her Robin didn’t bother to try and hide the goofy smile that overtook her features. This was why she wanted moments alone with her. So no one could notice how hard she was pining for her. Erica maybe had it sorted out. That girl was freaky smart and stared at Robin like she knew all her deep dark secrets, which, she might. Casting one last longing look at Nancy and her perfect girls Robin went to reach for one of the boxes.
“Oh.” Nancy breathed and Robin went on high alert. That soft breath tone was one she was used to hearing when shit was going to go down. “Hm? What is it, Nance? Something wrong?” Robin moved to her side as quickly as her long legs could get her. Putting herself directly into Nancy’s bubble to figure out what was happening.
“It’s Mr. Rabbit.” The toy in question got picked up out of the box by Nancy’s careful fingers, the toy cradled to her chest as memories plagued her. Robin said nothing at first. Unsure what might be going on in her mind but the moment she saw a dimness in her eyes she spoke up.
“He looks much better now that he isn’t covered in nasty goop and soot. Oh hey, he even has both his eyes!” Nancy’s soft laughter spurred her on. “I was seriously judging you hardcore on how you cared for your stuffed animals, Wheeler. You didn’t know it but I docked points off you.”
She was prepared for whatever retort she had when the other girl lost her foot, body pitching forward until Robin reacted with the speed, and coordination, she didn’t know she possessed. After that, it was a bit of a blur. Nancy being so close made her heart race and mind go blank so having the feel of her breath hitting her lips made her mind short circuit.
She can’t recall why she lifted the bunny between them but the next thing she knew she felt Nancy’s lips on her fingers. An accident, she was sure of it but it made her face turn impossibly red. Nancy’s lips were as soft as Robin imagined they would be. So so soft. If she lifted her thumb to her lips would it be like kissing Nancy? Just a taste? A ghost of the feel?
The temperature in the attic spiked. Or maybe it was just her, but everything felt charged. The distance between them was near nonexistent at this moment. Robin became hyperaware of every place that they touched. Nancy’s knee against her own, her hand on Robin’s sternum under the strap of her suspenders, Nancy’s other hand gripping her hip.
The brunette wasn’t pulling away even though Robins’ staring at her lips was obvious. It had to be. She couldn’t bring herself to look away. Feeling herself leaning in Robin tightened her hold on the stuffed animal to give her strength only to lose all the warmth in a split second. Nancy put some distance between them to pick up a box and head back down.
Taking a second to breathe Robin sucked in a shallow breath in hopes to calm her racing heart and fight off the heartbreak she felt. The moment had felt right, didn’t it? Or maybe she was projecting as she always did in these situations. Nancy was no idiot. She had to know what Robin was doing and put an end to it. Or – maybe she didn’t. Robin had never told her she liked girls.
Rubbing her face she let out one more slow breath before taking a box and heading down after Nancy, nearly tumbling down the ladder and earning an eye roll, and also a crooked amused smile from Nancy. One that had her eyes crinkling at the edge and her lips pull up. And that little smile made all Robin’s self-doubt float away for a second.
Doomed feelings or not, Robin knew she wanted to be around her if she could get Nancy looking at her like that again.
4
Sharp pain in her side woke Robin from her restless sleep. Groggy blue eyes blinked open with a groan of pain. “Wha?” her sleep-fuddled voice filled the empty space until a whimper sounded beside her. Snapping awake Robin sat up, hands reaching out for Nancy in the dark. “Nance, hey.” Her voice was soft and low to soothe whatever nightmares were plaguing her mind. “Hey, it’s okay. I’m here.” Her hand reached out to touch her shoulders, giving a little squeeze and shake in hopes of waking her.
It didn’t work at first but the second whisper of her name had Nancy’s eyes snapping open with a gasp. Robin held back the urge to pull her into her chest right away knowing last time she had done that Nancy nearly broke her nose with how poorly she reacted. Not that she was being blamed for reacting out of fear just – Robin had learned her lesson. So she waited. Softly speaking to Nancy, reassuring her she was here with Robin in Nancy’s bed until recognition filled those soft blue eyes.
After that it took only a matter of seconds before Nancy was wrapped in Robin’s arms, head buried in her chest as sought out comfort in Robin’s arms. “I’m here. I’m here.” She whispered into her hair. Arms now circling her back Robin traced lazy patterns there. Unlike the first time, this happened while she stayed over Robin didn’t ask what was wrong. Sitting, for once, in silence waiting for Nancy to share what nightmares plagued her. If she wanted to. Sometimes she didn’t which made Robin stressed more but she never pressured her. No matter how much she clawed at herself to ask, to reach out and fight off anything that caused Nancy to feel like this.
Would she win? That was up to debate, but you know, the sentiment still stood.
Bringing a hand up to her head Robin gently combed her fingers through Nancy’s soft curls. “Do you want to talk about it? If not, I can go off and talk about something random Like – once back in sixth grade I tried to curl my hair like what you have now. You know, fit in with the other girls and stuff for my mom but it came out looking like I shoved my finger in an electrical socket. And guess what was even worse? It was picture day.” That earned a wet quiet laugh from the brunette. “If you have a yearbook from middle school, you can even view the monstrosity yourself.” She made a move to get up to go search only to be stopped by hands pulling her back into place.
“Please don’t. Just stay.” Nancy clung even tighter after that making Robin’s air burst out of her lungs. Just a side effect of being in her proximity.
“Okay. Anything you need Nance.” Her hands resumed running through her hair. Giving her any form of comfort she could. Tonight seemed to be one of those nights Nancy didn’t want to talk about it. Which was fine. Peering down at the girl in her arms Robin felt her face flare as she caught Nancy already staring up at her. A look Robin couldn’t place in them. Different from all the other looks she’s received so far. It wasn’t that exasperated look she gets when she and Steven do stupid things around the kids, not the fond eye roll she got for poking fun at Nancy for studying too much, not the jaded look she gets either when Robin pushes too far.
No. This was something different. Something that gave her heart hope. Made it start to race. Could Nancy feel the pounding of her heart like this? This look struck her to the core Robin nearly blurted out her feelings. Knowing that was not a route she could take she swallowed the feeling down and instead focused on anything else. “You know I do miss your Tom Cruise poster. You take it down just because I teased you, Princess? Don’t worry, I’ll get you new ones to put on your locker, or all around your house, and I’ll make copies so when you take them down I’ll replace them.”
She hadn’t torn her eyes off of Nancy since she started speaking. There was a flash of something in those big blues. Disappointment? But what would she be disappointed for? Instead of getting a shove like she thought Nancy just sighed. “You are oddly obsessed with Tom Cruise for someone who doesn’t even like men.”
The quip had Robin’s mouth hanging wide in shock before she burst out laughing. Nancy had to shush her, a smile now on her face, even as she warned her not to wake her parents. A slim hand covered her mouth when none of her shushings work effectively short-circuiting Robin’s brain enough to get her to stop laughing. To stop breathing entirely.
Neither moved for a moment. Waiting to hear if Nancy’s parents’ bedroom door open. Nothing happened long enough both believed they were in the clear. A woosh of air left Robin’s lips, captured in Nancy’s palm. The brunette finally let her hand slide off Robin’s mouth, fingers brushing along her cheekbones until they were settled at the base of Robin’s neck, toying with the edges of her cropped hair.
Being bad at social cues sucked because Robin was pretty sure there were some things she was missing right now. Crucial, critical things that could give her what she’s been longing for since being in Nancy’s bedroom for the first time. But she wasn’t picking up on them. Not picking up on the way Nancy’s eyes darted to her lips or curled a little tighter on her hair, pushing her forward. Robin thought she was bridging the gap and being predatory about it. But the momentum was still happening. Leaning closer and closer until –
Robin tilted her head up last minute to brush her lips against Nancy’s forehead.
A stillness filled the air now. Robin’s lips lingered without her meaning to but she was so afraid if she pulled back she’d shatter this moment and their friendship. So convinced Nancy would see through her and tell her to leave. She may be fine with Robin being a lesbian but how would she handle Robin having a crush on her?
Nancy’s body seemed to deflate in her arms. Upset? Relieved? Tired? Must be tired. Had to be. “Go to sleep Nance, I’ll be here.” She whispered only pulling away enough to tuck Nancy’s head under her chin. The other girl sighed and it took everything in Robin not to shutter against the breath hitting her neck.
“Can you sing to me?”
“Of course.” The tone started low. Easing into a song by Cyndi Lauper, one of Nancy’s favorites. Ready to give her comfort in Nancy’s usual rare bout of vulnerability. The moment already mostly forgotten in her mind.
5
“Milkshakes! Milkshakes!” chanting sounded from Steve’s living room as the kids, and Robin took up the chant. Trying to bribe mother hen Steven to change his mind about ‘no dessert before dinner time’. Eddie even joined in as the group got louder and louder.
Steve’s face was set in that disappointed dad stare he had pinned down as he tried to ignore them while Nancy rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help but smile watching on in amusement as Steven slowly started to break.
“Alright alright! Jesus, fine, we’ll go get milkshakes but all you little shits better eat dinner later when we come back for movie night alright?” cheers erupted in the living room before all the younger teens rushed around, throwing shoes and jackets on before racing out the door.
“Such a good and caring mom you are Steve.” Robin gave him a well-deserved noogie. His noise of protest was lost as Eddie come up behind them to help her, wrapping an arm around Steve’s neck to hold him down.
“NO!” He squirmed against the two as hard as he could, trying to push them off to be free from the horrendous torture they were giving him through his hair. Laughing Robin planted her foot behind Eddie’s and shoved them both watching as they toppled over and onto the floor.
“Last one there pays for everyone’s drinks!” She shouted at their shouts of protest. Laughing she took Nancy’s hand and dashed for Nancy’s car where Max, Erica, and El were already waiting for them. “Go Nancy go go go!” the three girls looked startled but once Robin shouted at them it was a race they were all cheering Nancy on as she took off out of Steve’s driveway towards the Shake Shack.
“You are an awful influence,” Nancy murmured to her as they pulled into the parking long followed by Eddie and then Steve. Eric and Max were flipping the boys off with proud smiles and even El flashed a finger, not the right one but no one had the heart to tell her that.
Robin hid her middle finger, acting innocent as if she hadn’t been the start of the chain. “Whatever do you mean Wheeler?”
An exasperated eye roll was what she got instead of an answer as she got out of the car, lingering as the younger teens raced like animals to the counter. “Looks like Steve-O has to pay. What a shame.” She snickered once the older teens joined the group, lingering in the back as everyone ordered.
“I’m only around because of my money huh?”
“Yeah.”
“And the hair dude.”
Robin and Eddie spoke up at the same time, exchanging playful grins with one another.
“And don’t forget the benefits of pawning the kids off to him when we want to get high together.” Nancy quipped and Robin nearly started crying with how hard she was laughing at the look on Steve’s face. Eddie clapped Nancy on the back with a proud grin.
“If you ever want to hit the green Wheeler just ask.” He squeezed her shoulder lightly before cutting Dustin in line to steal his milkshake. Snickering even more the two girls watched as Steve threw his hands up to go break the two up as they started to wrestle.
The two older girls lingered at the back being the last two to order and split the price evenly amongst themselves. Robin had tried to insist she’d pay for it but a stern look from Nancy had her shut up real quick with that idea. Milkshakes in hand the two wandered over to their rag-tag group of friends, settling up under a tree to talk amongst themselves as the others chatted, or tried flicking milkshakes (Dustin and Mike) into others’ hair (Steve and Eddie).
The sun was just starting to set casting everyone in a soft orange glow. One that made bits of Nancy’s hair look auburn and oh so beautiful. Turning her eyes away Robin leaned her head back on the tree, lips wrapped around the straw of her chocolate milkshake just taking a moment to breathe in the normalcy of it all. No threat of the end of the world plaguing them, no friends in hospitals, no thoughts of school. Everything felt normal for once, even if certain parts of the upside-down kept bleeding into Hawkins with the three gates still open, despite all of El’s best efforts. The bitter cold crept up on them even as summer was racing around the corner. You know, besides that, Robin felt like a normal teenager for once. With normal friends doing normal teenage stuff.
Even with Nancy leaning into her side she felt so comfortable. Her heart was racing but she felt content. “You know I never did this kind of thing before.” She murmured. Nancy peered up at her under her lashes confused but let her continue. “Go out and get milkshakes with friends. Not to make this sad or anything. Just – one good thing came out of everything bad that’s happened to everyone and it’s you.” A small pause. “guys. You guys. All of us as a group.” Nancy’s free hand landed on top of hers, intertwining their fingers and giving a gentle squeeze.
“I get it. It did bring us together and it’s nice to be bonding outside of life-or-death situations.” Robin let out a hum in agreement, the two lapsing back into a comfortable silence once more. At least until Nancy shivered as a cool breeze swept through and Robin offered up her jacket to her. Her favorite jacket with the bull patch and other pins in it. One Nancy took and wore like a blanket and god, Robin wanted to melt into the floor with how cute she looked. Looking away she tried to distract herself. Counting leaves. Watching the kids fool around, watching Steve turn three shades of red as Eddie hit on him.
It worked, but not for long. Even if she was busy enjoying her chocolate milkshake the nerves settled in as Nancy didn’t let go of her hand and let out this soft breathy sigh that Robin felt on her neck. God it was like she was trying to kill her here. Okay think of something to say that isn’t how pretty her hair looks in the sunset or how you’d do anything she ever asked of you. “You think this shake place will ever be bold enough to mix flavors?” she blurted out instead. So utterly random but it was the loudest thought in her brain over the other ones.
A soft puff of laughter hit her neck making Robin fight off a shiver. “I don’t know if the town of Hawkins is ready for anything so progressive.”
“Whaaat? You mean little ol’ Hawkins, who ignores the end of the world signs and people coming back from the dead isn’t progressive? Wild.”
The little giggle she got in response had her grinning widely. “I know. Crazy to think about.” She tugged Robin’s jacket tighter around her, cheek brushing against the collar. “What would you mix?”
“Oh, all of it. Chocolate and vanilla obviously go together. But Chocolate and strawberry? Would taste fucking great. And for those as bold as myself, a mix of all three.”
Robin’s head shifted some on the tree to peek at Nancy. The smile that had been on her face faded away as her eyes locked on Robin’s face. Staring intently at – was she staring at her lips? Leaning in Robin stopped breathing entirely as Nancy’s hand came up to cup her cheek, fingers settling on her skin lightly as her thumb brushed along her lower lip. Robin stopped breathing, eyes darkening as Nancy pulled her hand away with a bit of chocolate on it to pop into her mouth.
Jesus Christ. This had to be the single hottest thing that ever happened to her. Which wasn’t saying a lot given her history of anything even remotely sexual was none, but this would take the cake even if it was as long as Steve’s since this was Nancy. Nancy let out a hum, or maybe a moan?, at the taste only releasing her thumb once it was good and clean.
“I think,” her voice was so soft, “it mixes pretty well.” Robin had just enough brain function to process that Nancy had gotten a strawberry milkshake. “Do you want a taste?”
And now, Robin was shit with social cues, she knew that Nancy knew that, but this? The way Nancy’s eyes darted back to her lips and her hand came back to rest on her jaw, Robin could pick this up. “Yes.” Her voice was impossibly hoarse, giving away her own desires, but she didn’t care.
Nancy’s hand shift further back until her fingers tangled in her hair to pull her in closer. Robin sat frozen under her piercing eyes. Her eyes jumped from them to Nancy’s lips as they got closer and closer, her own drifting shut as the distance was nearly bridged.
Just as she felt Nancy’s breath on her own something cold exploded on her face jerking Robin back with a gasp. “What the shit!” she sputtered. Chocolate filled her mouth as the milkshake in her hand exploded all over her. Eyes snapping open she stared over at Nancy ready to apologize for being a mega clutz when she noticed she was untouched. Just staring at her in mild shock. Whipping her head around she caught Steven handing Eleven a twenty-dollar bill as the girl avoided eye contact with her.
His face was smug as he made eye contact with her. He had to be fucking joking. Glad her face was covered in a milkshake to have her blazing red cheeks she slowly got up to make her way towards them. Jaw set she marched towards him without a word. “Not so fun when you’re on the receiving end of unfair play huh Buckley?” Steven goaded. Robin didn’t respond as she normally did which made him start to sweat. “Robin? Did – okay I’m sorry! Just we thought it would be a funny joke! Its not that deep I’m sorry! I-“his words got cut off in a muffled cry as Robin launched herself at him, pressing her dirty face into his precious hair and getting as much milkshake as she could on it. “ROBIN! SERIOUSLY!”
Pulling away she grinned at him as she watched him squirm trying to save his hair. “Karma’s a bitch, isn’t it dingus?” He went to tackle her but found himself lifted off the air with El’s eyes locked onto him and the other kids cheering her on as Dustin and Mike finally managed to flick milkshake in his hair earing more outraged cries from him.
Shaking her head she used the bottom of her shirt to clean the rest of her face off best she could. Risking a glance at Nancy she noticed her buried deep in Robin’s jacket, eyes locked on the expanse of skin she had on display, only snapping up to look at Robin who dropped her shirt. Being caught her face turned red but she didn’t look away. Just gave her this shy little smile that had Robin’s heart fluttering. Flashing one back, and in a bold move that surprised herself, flashed her a wink which caused the brunette to turn even brighter red.
Nancy ducked her head down shyly which made Robin’s face soften. Even if the moment was ruined she didn’t feel that disappointed. She just knew she had to find a chance to get her alone to ask about it. Or ask her out on a date. Make her move then. Because Nancy Wheeler deserved the world and fuck Robin was going to give it to her.
+1
Robin didn’t manage to get her alone in the two weeks that passed after that moment. Life got crazy with plans of fixing the mess that is the upside-down bleeding into Hawkins (which they did), working, and trying to keep up with work and all the school work teachers were giving them, even if school was the last thing on her mind. And it especially sucked now given they were put up in the middle school and forced into smaller classes with those that stayed.
Education stopped for no one. Or so their principal said.
But thankfully a long weekend was coming up and the group found themselves just outside of Hawkins to rest after having one last gate to close. Even if some wanted to push on and get it over with others fought hard to get this relaxing weekend to give El a chance not to overuse her powers. Max being the loudest one to fight against her pushing herself.
Which was how Robin found herself away from the group as they roasted marshmallows, laying down in a field where the trees opened to look at the stars. It was obvious she was avoiding the others. Her lame excuse to go find the perfect s’mores stick was so see-through she was surprised Erica didn’t call her out on, but one she was grateful for.
Everything had been fun. Perfect even. Swimming in the nearby lake, hiking the trails, messing with Steve, and joining El on the hunt for the perfect pinecone. Everything had been fun.
Until it got dark and she realized she was going to spend time alone with Nancy in a tent. With the two weeks that passed since the Almost Kiss, Robin had been second-guessing that moment. Replaying it in her mind until she convinced herself she had been the one to try and force a kiss on her. The thought of being in an enclosed space with her sent Robin’s mind into overdrive with panic.
So here she was trying to drown out her panic by staring at the stars and recalling all the facts and stories she could about them. Mythologies from old, new facts they’ve come out about. Anything to keep from spiraling at the thought of sharing a cramped space with Nancy Wheeler.
Of course, for whatever cruel reasons, the said person she was trying to avoid came rustling through the underbrush. “Christ Wheeler! A little warning next time! I thought you were a demo-bear or something.”
“I don’t think those exist.”
“You never know.” She said with a grin, quickly falling back on the first time they met, before quickly snapping her eyes up to the night sky, body taught the closer Nancy got to her. Deep breaths Robin. Deep breaths. she reminded herself.
She had been doing fine breathing until Nancy laid down beside her. So close she could feel the heat of her skin and the brush of her jacket on her arms. “Oh. You – you still have my jacket.”
“Yes. I,” she bit her bottom lip and Robin did everything in her power to not stare at it. “It still smells like you. I wear it at night sometimes when I can’t sleep.” She admitted softly.
“Oh.” Because what the fuck was she supposed to say to that?
“Robin-“
“Did you know that Vega has a pretty sad story? Might be the brightest star in our system but it’s kinda sad. Vega was an immortal princess who fell for Altair, a mortal man. Knowing their time was not long Vega promised to bring him to the heavens but her father was furious upon finding out. He grants the promise, bringing Altair to the heavens yet made sure the two were separated by the Celestial Sea, the Milky Way, so they would only be able to visit each other every seventh day of the seventh month once a year. Or not at all if conditions were dangerous. Sadder than Ro-“
“Robin.”
Holding her breath she looked over at Nancy who was staring at her with a frown. “Did I ruin things with us?”
Now that was not what she was expecting.
“What? No! God – God no Nancy. Not at all.”
“Then why are you avoiding me?”
Okay so maybe she had picked up extra shifts at Family Video or the shelter to keep herself busy and miss out on movie night once or twice. Maybe she made up lame excuses to Steve why she couldn’t join him at the Wheelers to pick up the kids after work.
“I’m not not avoiding you. Just you know, things have been crazy with all that’s been happening and –“
“Robin.” Nancy sounded exasperated this time.
“Look it’s not you.” She found herself saying and now the flood gates opened up. “I didn’t want to see you in case you hated me for what – what I tried to do with you at the Shake Shack, and your bed that one time and – and the attic. I – you. You’re so crazy important to me Nancy that I was so scared I made you uncomfortable because I tried pushing something on you that you aren’t. And if you hate me or never want to talk that’s okay. It’s your choice but you not being in my life would suck because I care about you so much. Maybe – maybe too much. But if you never want to see m-“
“I tried to kiss you.”
That had Robin choking on her tongue in shock.
“What?”
“Robin, I tried to kiss you. I wanted you to kiss me.” She could hear Nancy shuffling on the grass next to her but Robin was too stunned to look at her. Too afraid this might be a dream. It had to be.
“Why? That – that makes no sense. You’re you and I’m just – just me.”
A gentle hand cupped her face gently urging Robin’s head until she was looking at Nancy. God when had she gotten so close? They were nose to nose. “That’s exactly why I want to kiss you Robin.”
That made even less sense to Robin because she was just some nobody while Nancy Wheeler was everything. “Run that by me again?” she heard Nancy let out a sigh but the smile she got from her was soft and warm.
“I want to kiss you. I want you to kiss me if that’s something you want. If not, that’s okay. I care about you so much that this won’t get between us if this isn’t what you want. It won’t change the fact I need you in my life.” Her hand gently stroked a freckled cheek.
She was patient as Robin processed her words. Running them through her mind until she could make sense of them. “So – so if I um, leaned in right now you’d – you’d be okay with it?”
Robin’s question was met with the softest shyest smile she had ever seen. One that filled her heart with adoration. With warmth. “Very.”
“Cool. Cool cool cool. Um.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “Wow okay so – so. You uh won’t hate me if I’m bad at it right?”
“I don’t think you could be, but if so, we can practice until you’re an expert.” Robin’s face turned impossibly red.
Sucking in a deep breath she turned until she was on her side facing Nancy, giving them both a better angle. A hand moved to settle on Nancy’s waist, fingers anxiously toying with the edges of Nancy’s – her – jacket. And Nancy, Nancy just kept staring at her with her big blue eyes waiting for her to be ready. Never pushing just stroking her cheek gently with a smile.
And fuck how could she not kiss her when she was staring at her like that?
Feeling as if she was on the verge of passing out with how fast her heart was going and how little she was breathing Robin pressed forward enough to feel Nancy’s lips on her own. It didn’t last long. Just a brush of lips but it was the most wonderful thing to ever happen to her. Her lips were so soft at the touch. And everything felt electric.
Sucking in another breath she pressed forward once more only to be met in the middle by Nancy who curled her fingers around her jaw to slot Robin’s lips firmly against her own in a kiss much longer than the last. Still gentle and soft between them as their lips glided together. Both leaned into the way everything seemed to click. As if both had been waiting their whole lives for this moment.
The next few kisses traded between them got deeper. A flash of tongue and teeth as the two gave into repressed desires until the need for air got too much and Robin pulled away. “oh wow.” She panted. Nancy was staring up at her with a half-lidded gaze, her eyes catching in the moonlight making her seem like an ethereal being. As if she was created from stardust and moonlight, and God. Robin was so lucky.
“There are stars in your eyes much prettier than the ones in the sky and I want to spend forever just basking in them.” The brilliant smile and blush she got in return had her melting into the grass. “And – and you’re so beautiful. Like a fallen star. You shine so bright and burn even brighter and I-“
Nancy’s lips cut her off with another kiss. At some point, her hand had moved to her hair – which seemed to be a common theme Nancy had now that she noticed – and tugged Robin forward so she couldn’t pull back. “You are such a sap.” She murmured against her lips.
“Just for you.”
That earned her another kiss. They stayed like that. Wrapped up in each other’s arms trading gentle kisses until Nancy tucked herself under Robin’s chin. Both of Robin's arms fell to wrap around her waist and hold her tight. “Tell me more about the stars? Please?” and so she did. The two stayed there long into the night until their friends found them the next morning curled up like that. And while Robin may have gotten the world’s itchiest worst bug-bites that night, she wouldn’t trade a single moment of it.