Chapter Text
“Welcome to Jumpstart, how can we help you jumpstart your day?” Robin droned in her best customer service voice when she heard the little bell over the door jingle.
Looking up from her magazine, it felt like her brain was short-circuited when she found a pretty girl standing across the counter from her. Her pretty green eyes scanned the coffee shop like she was looking for someone.
It probably took Robin longer than it should have to realize that she was saying something.
”I'm uh...sorry can you repeat that?” Robin stumbled over her words, feeling a hot flush creep up her face.
“Oh!” The girl exclaimed her eyes landing on Robin almost like she'd just noticed that she was there, “I'm uh looking for someone...Steve Harrington?”
Robin felt like her heart dropped, shattering on the ground when the girl asked for her co-worker. “He's in the back...I can go grab him...”She mumbled dejectedly, pushing the door open, “Hey Dingus, there's someone here to see you!”
The girl stood there waiting patiently, anxiously winding one of her curls around her finger when Steve stumbled out of the back. Her eyes widened a little and she had to stifle a giggle in the back of her hand when she caught sight of him.
Robin didn't blame her, Steve looked ridiculous.
He had a thick wool beanie pulled so far down on his head that it nearly cover his eyes, despite it still being fairly warm out. A crisp white mask covered his mouth and nose.
All he was missing was a pair of shades to complete the look.
“Julie?” Steve exclaimed his head tilted slightly like a confused dog blinking at her, “I though you weren’t supposed to be in town til Friday…”
“It is Friday...” Julie gave Steve a dumbfounded look as he stared blankly at her before an embarrassed flush crawled up his face all the way to his ears.
”Is there somewhere we could talk in private?” She asked pointedly her eyes never leaving Steve, the man shrinking underneath his gaze.
”Break rooms free,” Robin intervened, “just don't spend too long making out because some of us actually have work to do...” Robin felt a little bad watching Julie's face turn beet red, trying to fumble out a response before glaring pointedly at Steve.
“You. Break room. NOW.” Julie hissed through gritted teeth. ”Julie!” Steve yelped as the smaller woman pushed him through the door.
~
”Are you insane!?” Julie hissed at him in hushed tones once they were safely behind the closed door, “Do you have any idea what day it is!!?”
”October first?” Steve answered with a sheepish little shrug, holding his hands up to protect himself when Julie grabbed a rag swatting him with it.
”Don't be a smart ass, Steven,” Julie ground out through gritted teeth, “it's a full moon, a blood moon! Christ, aren't you supposed to be the werewolf!!?
”Little hard to forget with the fangs, Jules!!” He told her, pulling back the mask so he could show off his pearly whites.
”Your eyes are yellow too, dumbass,” Julie snorted watching as Steve fumbled with his phone so he could look, “and I'm sure the beanie isn't just a bold new fashion choice...fuck I thought you called out of work?”
”There wasn't anyone to cover me...”Steve sighed, squinting at the phone screen examining his iris', “shit they really are yellow.”
”Yeah they are...do you have a pair of shades on you?” Julie ran her hand down her face exasperated.
”Couldn't find them this morning...figured it'd be fine...”Steve grumbled sliding his phone back into his pocket.
“What gives you're normally more careful than this...” She shoved him lightheartedly with a huff, “I think I might have a pair in my truck you can borrow...how much longer is your shift?”
“I get off before it gets dark if that’s what you’re asking,” Steve told her, leaning back against the wall, “no closing shifts for this guy.”
They nearly jumped out of their skin when someone started banging on the door, Steve fumbling to pull his mask back on his face hastily.
“Hey lovebirds,” Robin called out, “times up, come out.” Julie looked at Steve feigning a gag at the mention of lovebirds.
“Get the sunglasses first,” She tossed Steve her keys, “don’t let anyone see your eyes got it.” Watching Steve fumble to catch the keys before nodding to her. They left the break room so quickly that Julie almost ran directly into a familiar dark head of hair, and stumbled backward a hand catching her before she fell on her ass.
“Whoa there,” Eddie said, a cheeky little grin on his face that showed off his dimples nicely, “was he that bad?”
”Eddie Munson, you bastard,” Julie grinned, throwing her arms around the older man, burying her face in his chest taking in the scent of leather and cheap cologne, “I haven't seen you since...middle school, not rocking the buzz cut anymore?”
”Nah, got me a full lion's mane now!” Eddie pulled away slightly so he could shake his head showing on his long curly hair, “Birdie told me about you and Harrington...you know you can do better right?”
”Not happening, Eds,” Julie wrinkled her nose, sticking her tongue out, “Stevie and I are strictly friends.” The little bell over the door dinged announcing Steve's return, and Robin snorted.
”You know I didn't get it before but I really think the pink heart sunglasses tie the look together.” She poked fun at him, while Eddie doubled over cackling. Julie shot him an apologetic, feeling a little bad but they were the only ones she had on hand.
”Starting a new trend or just trying to win a fashion contest, Harrington?” Eddie jabbed at Steve joining in the ribbing, and Steve's face flooded with hot shame. Turning a lovely shade of pink that matched the glasses.
”Laugh it up, Munson, at least I have fashion.” Steve jabbed back, rolling his eyes behind the rose-colored lenses.
”Oh yeah because your collection of polo shirts just screams fashion, sorry I think I'll stick with my battle vest,” Eddie sniffed, thumbing at his nose, “you look like a gap model.”
”You think I could be a model?” Steve flashed a charming smile, smoothly bringing his hand to his chest feigning as if he'd received a genuine compliment from the older man.
”My mistake, Gap is too sophisticated, I heard baby gap is hiring.” Eddie looked up at Steve with a devilish grin on his face. Steve felt like his face was on fire as he opened his mouth to retaliate.
”Enough, with the pissing contest, I'm drowning over here, ”Robin call out from where she was making drinks, “you're supposed to be on the register, Steve.”
Steve's mouth snapped shut. It didn't matter anyway since Eddie's attention wasn't on their conversation anymore. He was using his wrist to scrub at his nose now turning it a lovely irritated shade of pink.
”You good, Eds?” Julie asked, but Eddie only held up a finger pausing for a moment. His mouth hung open slightly, eyelids at half mast as his chest swelled slightly with hitching breaths.
”Hhih'! Ih'GXSHht!”
He sneezed off to the side, pinching his nose between his fingers so that he could rub at it with a little squish. “Gh...sorry about that...probably allergic to Harrington's shitty cologne.” Eddie nodded in Steve's direction.
”I don't wear cologne, asshole.” Steve grumbled, passing off an order to Robin before going back to the counter to take another order.
“Can't be much else...sndf,” Eddie knuckled as his flushed nostrils, “I'm only all-
heh
allergic to pollen, your shitty colo-
hhh
-cologne...and dogs.”
”Oh, I forgot you were allergic to dogs...”Julie started covering her mouth with her hand, as Steve's head snapped towards her nearly dropping the drink in his hand.
”Yeah, wha-
hah...
what does that have to do with anything?” Eddie snuffled thickly into the back of his wrist. Swiping at his nose.
”My old roommate in Cali had a dog, and I haven't gotten a chance to wash the fur off my clothes!” Julie answered a little too quickly, “It's probably what's setting you off...is what I'm saying?”
Eddie gave her an odd look which quickly turned hazy with the need to sneeze.
“Hih’IH’GSShxt! ‘GXXSHht! ‘XSHhtiew! HIh’GSHIEW!!!”
He pulled his bandanna out of his pocket pressing it to his leaky nose. “gh…shit sorry I gotta get out of here, later.” He gave a little wave while taking his coffee before dipping out of the coffee shop.
~
Julie watched Eddie outside for a moment while he snapped to the side with an itchy fit before disappearing into his van.
”So just curious...does that happen a lot?” She asked, watching Eddie's van pull out of the parking spot with a bit of a sputter. Julie popped herself up onto the counter now that the morning rush was on the way out, watching Steve clean and prep the equipment.
”The pissing contest or the sneezing?” Robin asked, relaxing a bit now that things had started to calm down.
”The pissing contest, I've known Eddie long enough to know about the sneezing.” Julie clarified with a cheeky little grin that made Robin's face feel like it was on fire.
”Anytime Eddie decides to grace us with his presence, though it's usually worst the longer they're in the same room,” Robin answered with an eye roll, “...I thought Eddie only moved here after his freshman year?”
”Oh yeah, but he used to just come down to spend summers with his Uncle...we actually used to be pretty close the three of us...” Julie shrugged like it was no big deal.
“Fuck off!” Robin scoffed, “I refuse to believe Eddie and Dingus over there used to be friends.” She gestured toward Steve who rolled his eyes at their conversation.
“Ah but it’s true, I’ll make sure to dig out the pictures when I get around to unpacking.” Julie grinned, already thinking of all the fun pictures of little Steve that she could pull out to embarrass him.
“Hey, stop making nice,” Steve swatted at Julie with the rag he was holding, “you two are not allowed to be friends.”
“Fiinnnne!!” Julie shoved back with a cackle, throwing up her hands in defense, “I won't show all your cute baby pictures.” She grinned, sticking her tongue out at the man hopping off the counter.
“Oh please, I’m begging you,” Robin said, clasping her hands together with pouty lips, “I have to see thee Steve Harrington’s baby pictures.” She begged, shrieking a little when Steve sprayed her with the watered-down cleaner.
“Don’t you have something else better to do?” Steve glared pointedly at Julie from behind the pink lens, and the girl glanced at her watch cursing.
Julie wrinkled her brow before looking at her watch. “Fuck, I actually have somewhere to be...see you later?” She waved to Steve.
”Yeah...”Steve's brow furrowed watching Julie leave, not actually expecting her to have to be anywhere but he wasn't going to question it.
~
Steve gets off his shift an hour or two later and everything just...hurts.
It almost felt like the beginning of a migraine, the world around him feeling too loud and bright. The smallest things made a stiff ache at the base of his neck swell with fury.
Glancing at the clock in his car as he got in he kept an eye on the time, despite knowing he had plenty of time to get home before things really got going. He considered stopping on the way home to grab something to eat but thought differently when his stomach rolled slightly at the thought of food.
Pulling into the parking lot outside of his apartment, he saw Julie sitting on the hood of her truck parked outside of his apartment. She had a couple of brown fast food bags giving him a little wave as he pulled into the spot next to her.
At least he wouldn't be completely alone tonight.
”I got the burger as rare as I could without, Benni thinking I'm completely crazy.” She told him passing him one of the bags.
The food smelt good, even slightly nauseous from the headache his stomach grumbled as he pulled out the burger. They ended up sitting at the top of the stairs to the basement of the apartment and he pulled the beanie off his head shaking out his ears.
Julie reached up to scratch behind one of them with a cheeky grin.
”Stop that...” Steve lazily batted at her hand with a huff but he didn't pull away, not wanting to admit the action felt good.
”You love this.”Julie teased, giving his ear one last scritch before pulling her hand away before pulling away. Sticking her hand in the greasy brown bag pulled out a fry.
They sat in comfortable silence eating their food, the only sound was their quiet chewing.
”Sooo...how're things going?”Julie started breaking the silence as she stole a pickle poking out of Steve's burger.
”I don't know what you're talking about Jules.” Steve huffed, taking a bite of his burger and chewing hard as he could just trying to ignore the question entirely.
”Come on Steve, you know what I'm talking about...” Julie sighed, picking at her nail polish, “Dustin told me you dropped your classes...what's going on with that?”
Steve swallowed hard, running his finger through his hair with a long drawn-out sigh.
“A lot…happened,” Steve sighed, running his fingers through his hair exhausted, “I guess I got sick of being under my dad's thumb, and it's not like I was doing great anyway...a business degree didn't feel right.”
Julie made a noise of agreement, understanding where Steve was coming from.
”Your turn, what's going on with you?” Steve nudged her with his foot, turning the question back on her watching her falter slightly.
”Nothing...”Julie's expression soured clearly not enjoying having the spotlight pointed back at her.
“Julie Anne Richardson!”He started watching her nose wrinkle up at the use of her full name, “You were doing something you loved at your dream school, there's no way you came back to hang out in a basement with a college dropout.”
”Maybe I did!” Julie joked crumpling up the paper that her burger had come in tossing the greasy wax paper at him.
Steve just gave her a bored look catching the paper in hand before stuffing it in the brown paper bag with the rest of their trash. Clearly not satisfied with her answer.
”Gotta have money to go to college, Stevie.” Julie answered with a sigh, knowing that it didn't explain anything and that Steve wasn't about to let her get off that easy.
”But you had money...what happened to your money!?” Steve exclaimed a sick feeling of dread filling his stomach, “You've been saving up since freshman year!”
”It's not my money anymore, it's Nickie's now.” Julie shrugged staring hard at her hand as she picked at the chipped polish.
”Nickie!?” Steve stared at her in disbelief, mouth hanging agape, “You mean your twelve-year-old brother, Nickie!? What does he even need with that kind of money?”
”They wanted to start him a college fund...and you know my dad feels about women in the workforce.” Julie rolled her eyes slumping with her arms folded over her chest.
”So they just gave, Nickie your college fund...the one that you spent like four years working at Benni's Diner earning...that has to be illegal!” Steve sounded exasperated.
”It's a joint account, they can do whatever they want...”Julie sighed with a sad tired smile, “It was either go into debt with student loans...or move back in with my parents.”
”Move in with me!” Steve blurted out the words rolling out of his mouth like it was just the easiest thing in the world. Asking Julie to move in with him.
”I don't think there's enough room for both of us in your studio, Steve.” Julie laughed, slumping against Steve's shoulder as he slid his arm around her.
”We'll make it work, better than being trapped with your parents...” Steve squeezed her shoulder warmly pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head.
“We’ll talk about it…”Julie huffed, sitting there with Steve for a moment before he got up with a wince stretching his arms muscles tight and sore. He knew it was time.
”You want me in there with you?” Julie asked taking his hand and squeezing it bringing it up to her face so that the back of it could brush against her cheek.
Steve hesitated for a moment and it almost seemed like he was going to say yes to her offer. But instead, he shook his head. ”No I'll be fine...just promise you'll be here when I come out.” He asked, voice thready and anxious staring at her with his doe brown eyes.
”Promise.” Julie squeezed his hand before letting it slip from her grip. He opened the big heavy door, glancing back with a little wave before slipping behind the heavy door.
Letting it shut behind him with a heavy thump.