Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Leg 1: Los Angeles → Japan

Robin isn’t really sure why she agreed to this. When Steve had asked if she wanted to apply to the Amazing Race with him, she thought it would be a fun experience - and by ‘it’ she means the application process because she never thought they’d actually get picked - so she said yes. I mean what is so interesting about a small town lesbian and her bisexual disaster of a best friend? Everything apparently, because one second she’s giggling her way through their application video and the next they’re being called in for interviews. 

When the producers tell them they’ve been chosen, Robin’s first instinct is to invent an excuse to make them ineligible - a broken leg, mad cow, dysentery, anything . But then Steve puts on his puppy dog face, reminds her that she’s been talking about stepping out of her comfort zone - she’d definitely meant like say yes more when Steve asks her to accompany him to the bar, or like join a dating app, but go big or go home, right? - and convinces her that they, a couple of broke graduate students, would be idiots to decline a free trip around the world, even if it involves exercise. Exercise on national television .    

So she agrees, albeit reluctantly. They get Dustin, in Hawkins for the summer after his freshman year at MIT, to drive up to Chicago and watch Scoops (their cat), while they’re away. She’s sure the other gremlins will probably spend a lot of time there as well, they usually do in the summers, but now they’ll be completely supervision free, with not even Steve mother henning them, and they are surely going to take advantage of it. Robin refrains from pointing this out to Steve, who would surely have an aneurysm at the thought of his precious babies engaging in any salacious activities, knowing that Dustin will take good care of Scoops, even if he does turn their apartment into a frat house. 

Dustin comes up a few days before they need to leave, excited to see Steve, even though they just saw him when they saved up enough money to surprise at MIT for his birthday in May. Even so, Robin has to admit that she missed the little twerp as well. They can’t tell him where they’re going, or why they’ll be gone for a whole month, and their caginess has Dustin halfway convinced they’re eloping before Robin reminds him she’s a lesbian. 

“Are you dying?” Dustin then asks Steve, eyes wide. “Are you going to get some experimental treatment to save you from a rare cancer?” 

“I’m not dying.” Steve assures him with an eye roll. “We’re just going on vacation. Figured we deserved some time to relax.” 

Yeah, Robin thinks, because the Amazing Race is what one does when they want to relax. 

But that seems to mollify Dustin and before Robin knows it, it’s time to head to the starting line in Los Angeles. Steve hands Dustin a whole goddamn binder, with a frankly heinous amount of instructions on how to care for Scoops, and then they’re off. 

What Robin doesn’t account for in this whole plan, is the fact that Amazing Race is in season 35 and constantly looking for ways to shake things up and keep hold of their audience. So when they arrive in Los Angeles and Robin learns that this season’s gimmick is a partner swap - which is, unfortunately, exactly what it sounds like - she is immediately ready to turn around and get back on the plane. Doesn’t even care if she has to actually break a leg. The only silver lining to this whole goddamn thing had been getting to do it with Steve, and now she has to run it with some rando? Even Steve, who has spent the last several weeks bouncing off the walls in excitement, seems disappointed by the news.

Phil explains that they will leave the starting line with the partners they came with, head from the Santa Monica pier down to the beach and dig in the marked area in the sand for a colored rock. There are two of each color, and whichever team finds the same color is the team you have to swap with. It’s simple enough but fills Robin with dread looking around at their competition. 

She’d been banking on Steve’s natural athleticism (and his ability to drive stick shift) to get them through, and she knows if she stands any chance they need to match up with a team with an athletic dude. Not that a girl couldn’t be athletic (or know how to drive stick shift) but Robin’s seen enough seasons to know the all female teams don’t typically win. And if Robin is going to do this, she wants to win.

She hopes they at least go somewhere where her Spanish, French and Italian will come in handy so she’s not completely useless to whatever poor contestant gets stuck with her. 

Robin continues to regret her choices when Phil raises his eyebrow and sends them off and suddenly everyone is sprinting down to the beach. Robin hates running but she takes off after Steve anyway. They’re not the last ones to reach the sandpit, but they really only beat an older couple and Robin feels a bit guilty for sending off a mental prayer that they don’t find the same colored rock. 

Only a few minutes pass before, by some miracle, Steve digs up the first rock. It’s blue, and it currently means nothing as the other teams continue to dig in the sand. They stand off to the side by their bags, waiting for someone else to find the same color before they can get their next clue. 

“Who do you hope finds it?” Steve asks her as they wait. Robin just shrugs, uncharacteristically quiet, feeling a little too overwhelmed to speak. Steve must sense it and grabs her hand, because Steve knows her, and she knows him, and she should be running the race with her best friend goddamnit. She’s starting to get worked up about it, Steve squeezing her hand in reassurance, when the older couple finds their rock. Robin lets out a guilty breath of relief when she sees that it’s orange. It distracts her enough to shift her focus back to the sandpit and she watches the next two teams to find their rocks (also not blue), eliminating the father and son and the twin brothers as possibilities. 

Then, a man and woman, about their age, are digging up a blue rock. They look maybe like siblings, both with a frizzy head of brown curls and huge brown eyes, but Robin thinks they’d been introduced as best friends. She remembers because she thought it was kind of odd that there were two male/female platonic and not related pairings in the same season. 

“Looks like we’ve got to swap.” The girl says, running up to them. “I’m Nancy.” She gestures to the man beside her who gives a two fingered salute and says, “Eddie.” 

“Steve Harrington.” Steve introduces from beside her, using his full name like a total dork. Then he slings an arm around Robin, who takes that as her cue to give an awkward little wave. 

“Robin.” She squeaks out from under Steve’s arm. 

“How do we want to do this?” Nancy asks, carefully eyeing the four members of their group. And Robin knows she should open her mouth, suggest that Eddie go with her and Nancy with Steve, but she can’t seem to make it work. Eddie doesn’t look particularly like he’s into sports but he’s got muscles, so he must be strong, and Nancy looks so petite. Also beautiful, and Robin knows if she doesn’t function well around strangers in general, she is worse around pretty girls. 

But then Nancy is speaking, stepping closer to Robin. “Us girls can stick together.” 

“Cool with that Steve Harrington?” Eddie raises an eyebrow at Steve, Robin not missing the way his tone mocks Steve’s earlier use of his full name. But Steve either just doesn’t notice or doesn’t care because he smiles easily and nods before saying, “Works for me.” 

And yup, okay, Robin is working with Nancy. She looks at Nancy again in her Lululemon leggings and matching tank top, looks down at herself in a pair of sweatpants and one of Steve’s t-shirts, and has the thought that if they’d gone to high school together they probably wouldn’t have been friends. But she knows that isn’t fair, knows she and Steve were the furthest thing from friends in high school and pushes the thought aside. She can do this. 

They get their next clues, directing them to the airport to fly to Tokyo. Robin is a bit bummed that her language skills won’t come handy, but she has always wanted to go to Japan. They’re the first to leave, already heading to their cars when the second team match is made, and Robin is relieved when Nancy offers to drive them in their marked vehicle. Not that Robin can’t drive, she just hasn’t in years and isn’t particularly comfortable doing so, especially not in LA. 

“Need me to navigate?” Robin finally manages, pulling out the map of Los Angeles that she has stored in her fanny pack.

“No.” Nancy shakes her head, already pulling out of the parking lot. “I uh actually live here?” 

“Oh.” Robin blinks. “Well that’s convenient.” 

“Eddie does too, so he and Steve should be fine.” 

“Good.” Robin nods. “Because Dingus is shit with navigation. He’s usually just the driver.”

“God so is Eddie.” Nancy chews her lip. “Hope there’s not a lot of self driving.” 

“They can always follow us places.” Robin offers and Nancy nods. It makes sense that they should form a sort of alliance, given that Robin was supposed to be running with Steve. 

“Where are you and Steve from?” Nancy asks once they’re on the highway. 

“Chicago.” Robin replies. “But we both grew up in a small town in Indiana.” 

“Oh!” Nancy seems surprised at this information and Robin is going to question why when she continues. “Eddie and I are from Indiana too. You heard of Huntington?” 

“No shit.” Robin chuckles. “Steve and I are from Hawkins. I think Steve used to play against you guys in basketball.” Robin, as a member of the marching band, had mostly only been subjected to home games, but she thinks she remembers playing Huntington. 

“You know, I thought I recognized him and now that you mentioned it, that’s totally from where.” Nancy’s eyebrows scrunch together as she thinks. “His hair was like way bigger back then.” 

“They didn’t call him Steve ‘The Hair’ Harrington for nothing.” Robin snorts, leaning forward in her seat.“Were you a cheerleader?” Nancy barks out a laugh. 

“Absolutely not.” She shakes her head. “I worked for the school paper, used to report on all the games.” 

Robin nods, and finds that, even though she doesn’t really know Nancy, that answer seems to suit her better. 

“Were you a cheerleader?” Nancy returns the question and Robin can’t help her snort of surprise. It might be her imagination but she thinks even the camera man is holding back a giggle. 

“Um no. I was not a cheerleader.” 

“Just curious if that’s how you knew Steve.” Nancy shrugs. 

“Oh. We didn’t even know each other in high school. I mean, I knew of Steve, everyone did, and we shared a history class one year but we didn’t become friends or anything until the summer after he graduated. We worked at the same ice cream shop. We had to wear these god awful sailor costumes, totally bonded over it.” Robin knows she’s rambling and decides to wrap up with a question and put the conversation back on Nancy. “Did you and Eddie meet in high school?” 

“Yes actually.” Nancy nods. “My senior year was his third senior year.” She lets out a light chuckle. “My brother was a freshman and he joined Eddie’s DnD club. That’s-” 

“Dungeons and Dragons.” Robin nods. “Steve’s kids play it.” 

“Steve’s kids?” Nancy looks thoroughly confused. “I could’ve sworn you guys were like my age. Not that you can’t have kids at 23 but-” 

“Oh, Steve’s 24.” Robin replies, cutting off what is maybe about to become a ramble of her own. “They’re not like really his kids. I guess Steve used to like babysit them when they were younger and then they just sort of imprinted on him like baby ducklings. Now we’re all kind of like this weird found family and it’s a joke among the group that Steve’s the mom. I mean he straight up went to Max’s parent teacher conferences once and I’m like 95% sure that Claudia has had it in her will that he would get Dustin if something happened to her from like the moment he turned 18. Anyway they’re 19 now, so not really kids I guess.” 

And shit. Robin is rambling again. And she sounds like fucking Steve, going on and on about the twerps. 

“My brother is 19.” Nancy responds, totally unfazed by Robin’s info dump. “And also a total nerd. Sounds like they would all get along. He and his best friend were always trying to rope me into their campaigns because they wanted more players.” 

“I’m sure Steve would be happy to adopt another little duckling.” Robin says, tries desperately to keep her response short. Nancy nods, hesitates, and then speaks. 

“So um Steve’s like cool then?” Nancy chews her lip and Robin tilts her head in confusion. 

“What do you mean?” 

“Just, he seems kind of like a jock. And like super preppy?” Nancy winces. “And like Eddie is whatever the exact opposite of those things is and the jocks at our school, they used to give him a lot of shit. Like, they tried to convince the town he was the leader of a satanic cult, that’s how much they hated him. It’s why he went with me to California when I went to Stanford.” 

“Oh.” Robin frowns. “Steve’s cool. He may look like a prep but he is total dweeb, trust me. I’m sure he and Eddie are getting along great.” 

“Good.” Nancy nods. “Good, that’s good.” 

“If you were so worried, why didn’t you pair up with Steve?” Robin can’t help but ask. It was Nancy after all that suggested they split up this way. 

“Honestly?” Nancy answers. “Sort of thought he might spend the whole race trying to get in my pants and I wanted absolutely nothing to do with that. I knew Eddie would be willing to take one for the team, it’s not like Steve is going to try to get in his pants.” 

“Wow.” Robin blinks in surprise, enraged on Steve’s behalf and not because Steve is bisexual and absolutely would try to get in Eddie’s pants, if the other man was interested, but by Nancy’s implication that Steve would continue to try to sleep with her, even though she wasn’t interested. Just because he’d worn a polo? Nancy had seemed nice, she thought they might actually get along but now she’s not so sure. She knows her voice is cool when she says, “You made a lot of assumptions today based solely on his appearance.” 

She meets Nancy’s eye in the rearview mirror and sees that she at least looks a little bit sheepish, but when she opens her mouth, she doesn’t back down. 

“I mean, I was just being cautious. I knew a lot of people like him in school.” 

“You might have known a lot of people who looked like him.” Robin retorts. “But you actually still don’t know anything about him. Yes, he played sports, yes his clothes are a bit on the preppy side, but he’s one of the best people I know. He was my first real friend, the only person in our  god forsaken town who loved me for me, all of me, and you didn’t even spend five minutes with him before reducing him to a stereotype just because of how he looks? Makes me wonder what you’ve been thinking about me.” 

“I-” Nancy starts and Robin doesn’t give her time to finish. Doesn’t know if she was planning to apologize or continue their argument - if that’s what it is - but either way she doesn’t really want to hear it. 

“Can you just drive?” She asks, relieved when Nancy just nods and fixes her eyes on the road. It’s not long after that that they’re pulling into LAX, parking the vehicles in the marked spots, and heading to the shuttle to take them to the terminal. Eddie and Steve are already standing at the little bus stop in the parking lot. Robin can’t make out what they’re saying but Eddie is gesticulating wildly, telling Steve a story that has her best friend doubled over laughing. He catches sight of them approaching and his face lights up even more. 

“Robbie!” He calls, jogging forward to scoop her up into a hug like he didn’t just see her 20 minutes ago. 

“Stevie, stop fraternizing with the enemy.” Eddie calls out playfully and Steve laughs. Robin raises an eyebrow at Steve, mouths ‘Stevie?’ and delights in the way he blushes as he shrugs. They wait for the shuttle together, Eddie and Steve taking control of the conversation and Robin is happy that at least they are getting along. Steve picks up on the tension between Robin and Nancy, because of course he does, Robin can hide nothing from him. 

“Everything okay?” He shuffles close to her to ask and Robin does her best to give him a reassuring smile and a nod. She wants to tell him about what happened with Nancy, but she just knows it will upset him, and she also doesn’t want to mess up the good thing that Steve and Eddie seem to have going. 

“Yeah. Just nervous.” Robin tells him, hoping he’ll buy it because it’s not exactly a lie. 

“You and Nancy getting along? Eddie seemed to think you two would hit it off.” Robin shrugs. 

“I guess.” 

“Good. Hey, guess what?” Steve says. “Eddie used to be Tommy’s dealer.” 

“Yeah Nancy mentioned they were from Indiana.”

“Okay what happened?” Steve drops his voice lower, glancing between Robin and where Eddie and Nancy are having a similarly hushed conversation. 

“We just had a disagreement.” Robin admits. 

“About?”

“She just made some rude assumptions and I called her out on it.”

“Robin,” Steve is looking at her with concern. “Did she say something homophobic?” 

“No.” Robin shakes her head. Steve opens his mouth to say something else when the shuttle pulls up. One last team rushes up just before the doors close, it’s one of the twin brothers and a man who Robin thinks came with his childhood best friend. They introduce themselves as Troy and Ross, and Steve chats amicably with them as the shuttle makes its way to the terminal. 

Once they get inside it’s a rush to the ticket counter but it doesn’t end up mattering because they all get seats on the first flight out to Tokyo to leaves in just an hour and half. Two other teams make it on their flight, and the other 5 get on a flight that doesn’t get in until 45 minutes after theirs. They settle into their gate with only 20 minutes before boarding and Steve pulls Robin away to some empty seats by the window to finish their conversation. 

“Talk to me Rob.” He says and Robin feels nervous, can feel Nancy’s gaze on them from where she’s sitting with Eddie on the other side of the gate.

“It’s really okay Steve.” 

“Don’t bullshit me Robin, I can tell when you’re upset. Why won’t you talk to me?” Steve’s words are harsh but his voice is gentle and Robin chews her lip. “Was it about me? Is that why you won’t tell me?” Robin’s silence must be answer enough because Steve barrels on. “She thought I looked like a total douche canoe or something? An ass kayak? A garbage barge? A-” 

“Yes Steve.” Robin relents. “She didn’t want to pair up with you because she thought you might try to sleep with her and she was worried you were going to like bully Eddie or something.” 

“Well can you blame her?” 

“Yes Steve!” Robin blurts. “You would never do that.” 

“Yeah maybe now but-” 

“That’s the past. And even then, you never would've taken advantage of her or something.” Robin shakes her head. “And it’s not like Nancy knew that, she just took one look at you and was like this dude’s an asshole. It was rude.” 

“I mean yeah.” Steve nods. “And I appreciate you defending my honor and all but you guys are kind of stuck with each other for the next few weeks so like maybe we should try to bury the hatchet?” Before Robin can even say anything, Steve is waving over Eddie and Nancy, who clearly had both been watching them and waste no time getting up and joining them by the window. 

“Look Robin-” Nancy starts when they approach, after a pointed elbow to the gut from Eddie. 

“It’s not me you should be apologizing to.” Robin cuts in and Nancy gaze shifts to Steve, shoulders slumping. 

“She told you what happened?” 

“Yeah.” Steve nods. “But seriously Nancy, it’s okay.” 

“It’s not okay.” Nancy shakes her head. “I shouldn’t have made assumptions. I have this habit of being blunt and kind of coming off as an asshole in social situations and I’m really sorry. You seem like a really nice guy.” 

“He is.” Robin says from beside him, shooting Nancy a pointed look. 

“You were just being protective of Eddie.” Steve waves her off. “I get it. I mean I used to be friends with guys like that and I don’t blame you.” 

“No.” Nancy shakes her head. “I was wrong and I’m sorry. Can you forgive me?” 

“Yeah.” Steve agrees easily. He glances sideways at Robin. “Robs?” 

“I guess.” She says with a sigh, knowing that the race will be more enjoyable if she decides to put this behind them. “But no more talking badly about my best friend.” 

“Okay.” Nancy smiles, looking relieved. “Deal.” 

15 hours later and Robin is definitely regretting her choices. She is exhausted, in desperate need of a shower, and in the process of shoving a 5th piece of sushi down her throat. On television. 

She was no Amazing Race super fan, but she and Steve had done a little research and when they’d walked into the studio to see the giant roulette wheel of sushi, Robin knew exactly what was going to happen. Unfortunately for Robin, Nancy had a fish allergy (or at least claimed to), and so it was Robin who had to down sushi until she was lucky enough to have to shove wasabi down her throat in the allotted time. 

Eddie, the lucky bastard, had gotten wasabi on the first spin and downed it like it was nothing. Steve, the even luckier bastard, had only had to cheer him on from the sides. He called out a “you got this Rob” before he and Eddie opened their clue and disappeared out the door. 

Robin watches as the other 3 teams in the first group get their wasabi and go, until it’s just her. She knows when the wasabi finally lands in front of her seven spins in, that she has to get it on the first try. She’s already feeling uncomfortably full and the idea of having to go through more spins makes her want to puke. Also, she can’t let Nancy down, can’t risk the teams from the second flight catching up with them. 

“Eat the wasabi!” The crowd cheers, as her two minutes start and Robin has no choice but to unhinge her jaw like a fucking snake and stuff the wasabi bomb into her mouth. She’s pretty sure she blacks out at some point and when the timer buzzes, she’s genuinely surprised to find that she’s managed to eat it all. Nancy is at her side, cheering and taking the clue from their host. They’re instructed to head on foot to the scramble crossing in Shibuya to find their next clue. 

It doesn’t take them long, Nancy spotting a woman with a red and yellow purse, and Robin is beyond relieved when they step in front of Phil in 5th place. Sure they were the last to arrive of all the teams on the first flight but they’re here, they’re not eliminated, and they didn’t fall so far behind that the others caught up. 

Steve and Eddie are waiting for them when they get ushered to their hotel for the night. Buzzing with excitement from their first place win, and playfully arguing over who of them gets to use the trip to Amsterdam. Thankfully, there are no rules about staying with your given teammate and so after Steve, Nancy and Eddie eat some dinner - Robin declines, stomach still uncomfortably full with sushi - Robin gets to be alone with Steve. 

“I wish we were racing together.” Robin says, toweling her hair after a much needed shower. Steve, lounging on the bed, hair damp from his own shower nods in agreement. 

“I know Robs.” He smiles sadly at her. Then hesitantly, “But it was fun, right?” 

“Maybe for you, Mr. First Team to Arrive.” Robin grumbles. “Also, let's remember which of us had to eat their body weight in sushi.” 

“Fair enough.” Steve raises his hands in surrender. “You and Nancy seemed to be getting along better at least?” 

“Yeah.” She nods. That’s true at least. Nancy had even hugged her when Phil had told them they were 5th. “We just got off on the wrong foot but we’re good.”

“Good.” Steve nods. 

“You and Eddie seemed to be getting along.” Robin teases, wiggling her eyebrows at him as she drapes her towel over a chair and climbs in the bed beside Steve. He doesn’t even question why she’s getting in with him and not into the perfectly good bed across the room and Robin loves that about him. 

“He’s super cool.” Steve nods. “Dustin would love him. He’s totally into all that nerd shirt that the kids are.” 

“Yeah Nancy said he plays Dungeons and Dipshits.” 

“That he does.” Steve chuckles. “He was shocked when I complimented him on his D20 tattoo.”

“You’re such a nerd Harrington.” Robin snorts.

“Whatever.” He gives her a little shove but he’s smiling. He leans over a flicks off the lamp beside his bed. 

“Steve?” Robin asks, moments after they’re plunged into darkness. 

“Yeah Robs?” 

“Thanks for talking me into this.” She says. “I admit it was a little fun.”

“Sure thing Robbie.” 

As Robin falls asleep she finds that she’s kind of even looking forward to tomorrow. 

Chapter Text

Leg 2: Japan → Australia

Robin gets up with Steve, even though he and Eddie are departing about 30 minutes earlier. They share some granola bars that Robin packed in her bag, sitting sleepily at the ends of their beds, Steve yawning around mouthfuls of his bar. Once they’re done, and the rumble in Robin’s stomach is a little less persistent, Steve gives her a french braid before he gathers his stuff and heads downstairs to meet Eddie for their departure. Robin has just enough time to pack up her own stuff before it’s her turn to head down. 

Nancy is already waiting in the lobby with their camera crew, grinning when Robin shows up. She bounds up to Robin, looking far too alert for 6:27 in the morning, and way more awake than Robin feels. 

“Morning.” She greets. “Sleep okay?” 

“Yeah.” Robin nods, because she had, even though she still feels exhausted. “You?” 

Nancy nods. “Did you hear who went home last night?” Robin shakes her head, she and Steve had gone upstairs to bed shortly after the 7th team had arrived. “Janet and Dan. You know, the Mom? And the redhead’s boyfriend?” 

“Vicki.” Robin supplies and Nancy nods. 

“She was pretty bummed that he got out.” Nancy frowns. “I felt bad for her, even though Dan kind of seemed like an ass. It’d be pretty weird to not even get to see Eddie in the race.” 

“Definitely weird.” Robin agrees, though truthfully weird isn’t the right word. She honestly thinks she’d have to self eliminate if Steve went home but she’s not about to tell Nancy that.  

They get ushered outside, and instructed to open their clues directing them to fly to Cairns, Australia. Robin is bummed to already be leaving Japan, had hoped that maybe they would go to another city or at least get to explore Tokyo more. She’s also disappointed to find out that the first flight out isn’t for another three hours, and barring no major mishaps getting to the airport, all of the teams will be on the same flight. 

Eddie produces a deck of cards from his backpack at the gate, and they plop themselves down in a circle up against the window to play a few rounds of a game he calls Capitalism. 

“I thought this was called President?” Steve questions, eyebrows furrowing after Eddie explains the rules. 

“My family always called it Scum.” Robin adds. Eddie just shrugs and deals out the cards. It’s fun, and nearly takes Robin’s mind off the fact that they’re in the race. It starts just the four of them but eventually other players wander over and soon they’ve got a little group made up of Chrissy (here with her boyfriend, Jason, who had rolled his eyes when asked to play, but racing with Sam, one half of the older couple, who joins them, and spends nearly the whole game as scum), Murray, his boyfriend, Alexei, and the team they’re paired with (a father son duo named Dmitri and Mikhail), and Vickie. 

Murray spends most of the time muttering about capitalism under his breath, especially as Nancy proceeds to win round after round. Robin takes the opportunity to get to know some of the other races and quickly learns that Dmitri and Mikhail are from Russia, only having moved to the states a few years earlier. So she spends a while talking to them, brushing up on her Russian, Alexei and Murray, who also inexplicably speak Russian, joining in every now then. 

“You speak Russian?” Nancy raises an eyebrow at her.

“Robbie speaks like 10 languages.” Steve says proudly. 

“Try 4, dingus.” Robin rolls her eyes fondly, feeling her cheeks heat. “Spanish, Italian, French and most recently Russian.”

“Wow.” Eddie whistles, impressed. “Stevie, you hiding any fantastic abilities or did I pick the wrong partner?”

“Steve here has lots of fantastic abilities.” Robin says, with a wiggle of her eyebrows. Eddie laughs, and Steve flushes. He’s saved by the announcement that the flight is boarding and they gather up their stuff. 

The flight is longer than Robin expected, she forgets sometimes how big Asia is, and with the hour time difference, it’s late afternoon by the time they exit the airport in Cairns. They’re supposed to make their way to the Cairns Night Market, thankfully by taxi, and Robin and Nancy end up piling into one with Steve and Eddie, as well as Vickie and Heather. 

It’s hot and humid when they hop out in front of the market, the sheer mass of people not doing anything to help the temperature. The entire market is narrow walkways, filled with restaurants and shops of all different types. Their clue box is located somewhere inside, and the 6 of them stick together to find it. It’s Vickie who does, calling them over from the inside of a shop stuffed to the brim with hats. It’s a roadblock: Who likes to shop?

Robin did the last one, and certainly does not like to shop, so she sits this one out. She makes her way outside with Vickie and Eddie, relieved to be outside in the open air and they find a few other team members already waiting. So they weren’t first. But they weren’t last either, Sam and Chrissy, and Cathy and Jason, pulling up in a taxi nearly 10 minutes after them, and Murray and Mikhail a few minutes after that. 

“So Robin,” Eddie shoots her questioning look. “I have to ask. Steve-”

He trails off, chews his lip. 

“What about Steve?” 

“Just like what’s his deal?” 

“Meaning?”

“Jesus Buckley, you’re really going to make me say it?” 

“Say what?” Robin blinks at him innocently and Eddie sighs. 

“Okay so like at first I thought like this boy is straight, 100%, no doubt about it.” Eddie explains. “But then earlier at the airport you made that joke and well I feel like maybe he’s been flirting with me? So like do I have a chance?” 

“You like him?” Robin asks, surprised.

“Yeah, I guess I do.” Eddie shrugs. “I mean he’s not my usual type. Jocks are like so not my type,” He cuts a look at Jason, sitting away from the group and scowling. “But Steve is like also a total dork? And apparently friends with like an army of nerd children? And he’s really sweet and I’m having like so much more fun than I thought I would when I found out I wouldn’t be racing with Nance and-”

“Steve is bisexual.” Robin cuts him off with a smirk. “If that’s what your asking.” 

“Cool, yeah.” Eddie nods. “Thanks Robin. I’m gay.” 

“Lesbian.” Robin points to herself. Eddie grins. 

“This might be some sort of record for the amount of queers on one season of the Amazing Race.” Eddie says. Ticks off on his fingers as he says, “You, me, Steve, Alexei, Murray, and Nancy, as far as we know.” 

And Nancy? Robin’s brain repeats, but she manages to stop herself from stating that out loud or gaping like an idiot. They bake in the heat for at least 30 minutes after that, the temperatures high even as the sun sets, and Eddie wanders off to find them some water bottles. While he’s gone, Troy returns, the first to complete the challenge. After approaching a stranger for directions, they take off on foot down the sidewalk that runs along the water and Robin takes note of which direction they head in. 

Eddie returns with their water and she has just enough time to guzzle down half of it before Steve and Nancy come rushing out of the market, both clutching clues in their hands. Robin doesn’t know how they passed the two other teams that were ahead of them, but she doesn’t question it, offering Nancy the other half of the water bottle as she reads the clue. They’re to head on foot to Muddy’s Playground to find their next clue and Robin quickly confirms with someone that all they have to do his head down the esplanade a bit and they’ll find it. 

Troy and Ross are tying knots to repair a rope wall that runs alongside a bridge on the playground when they get there. The clue reveals their first detour: fix it or paint it. Fix it involves repairing a section of the playground, while paint it requires them to paint a sea animal statue/water fountain that sits in the splash pad part of the playground to the specifications of an example. Robin and Nancy choose to paint and part ways with Steve and Eddie who go to fix it. They’re about a third of the way done when they’re joined by Sam and Chrissy, and later Alexei and Mikhail. Heather and Vickie, Murray and Dmitri, and Matt and James all join the others at fix it and Jason and Cathy are still nowhere to be seen. 

“Check!” Nancy calls, stepping back from their octopus and wiping at her forehead with her arm. The judge does a 360 around their statue before nodding and handing them their clue. They rush to open it and as Nancy reads it out loud, Robin shoots a glance at the playground. 

“Holy shit Nance. We’re the first ones done.” She breathes, noting that Troy and Ross, despite beating them there are still working on their rope bridge. 

“We’re going to the pitstop.” Nancy adds. “We have to go find Phil on the beach.” 

“Holy shit.” Robin repeats and then they’re grabbing their bags and racing off, Steve letting out a cheer from somewhere behind them. Now Robin hates running, but with the adrenaline coursing through her, it barely feels like anything, and she’s not even that tired when they find Phil about a mile down. 

“Welcome to Cairns.” A little boy tells them from Phil’s side and Robin can’t help the grin that spreads across her face. 

“Robin and Nancy,” Phil matches her smile. “I am pleased to tell you, you are the first team to arrive!” 

This time, Robin is prepared for the forceful hug that Nancy gives her, and hugs back just as tight, shaking away the startling thought that Nancy fits perfectly under her chin, Eddie listing Nancy as queer running in the back of her mind. She pushes it all away and focuses back on Phil who tells them that they’ve won a trip for two to Alaska. 

“You and Eddie can have that one.” Robin tells Nancy a few minutes later as they settle under a nearby tree to wait for Steve and Eddie. “Steve and I will go to Amsterdam.” 

“You don’t want to travel with me?” Nancy asks with an exaggerated pout. 

“Please, after this is over you’ll never want to travel anywhere with me again.” Robin tells her, and she says it like a joke but it’s probably true. No way Nancy won't be sick of her after all this time spent together. Most people do, in even way less time. 

“I don’t think so.” Nancy shakes her head, looking at Robin sincerely. And Robin wants to believe her, but in all her life no one has stayed, no one except Steve. And the gremlins she supposes. But Robin isn’t totally convinced that any of them would still talk to her if it wasn’t for Steve. She likes to think they would, but can count on one hand the number of texts they sent to her since they left for college, and would need 10 hands to count the number of times she’d answered the phone and they’d ask for Steve without really talking to her. 

“If you say so, Wheeler.” Robin says, in what she hopes is a tone of nonchalance, realizing she’s been silent for a beat too long. Luckily she’s saved by Troy and Ross racing down the beach in second, and Steve and Eddie a few minutes after that, securing third. 

“Hey first place!” Eddie calls, greeting Nancy with a hug as Steve does the same with Robin. 

“Rob and I are stealing your trip to Amsterdam.” Nancy says matter of factly, and Robin’s stomach flips at the nickname. “You and Steve can go to Alaska.” 

“Is that so?” Eddie asks with a laugh, keeping his arm around Nancy as they make their way to their accommodations for the night. 

“Making plans for after the race Rob? ” Steve asks with a smirk once they’re out of earshot. Robin shoves his shoulder. 

“Shut up Stevie.” 

“Maybe this partner swap wasn’t such a bad thing after all.” Steve muses. Nancy looks back, as if to make sure they’re following, and grins when she catches Robin’s eye. 

“Yeah.” Robin says, cheats heating as she smiles back. “Maybe not.”

Chapter Text

Leg 3: Australia

Robin wakes to a knock on the door. Steve is wrapped around her like an octopus, he always is, and she puffs out a piece of his hair that’s threatening to make its way into her mouth. 

“Robin?” Nancy's voice filters in from the hallway outside. “You awake?” 

“Yeah!” Robin calls back, eyes cutting to the alarm clock on the bedside table, panic shooting through her that she’s somehow missed their departure time. She relaxes when she sees that it’s only 7:00. They don’t need to be downstairs until 9:00. 

After carefully extricating herself from Steve, who remains dead asleep, reaching out for Robin’s pillow to smother in her absence, Robin opens the door. Nancy is already dressed for the day, and Robin feels a bit stupid in an old t-shirt of Steve’s that hits her knees and nothing else. 

“Sorry,” Nancy winces, taking in Robin's appearance. “Did I wake you?” 

“Yeah.” Robin nods honestly. “But it’s no big deal. I had my alarm set for 7:15 anyway.” 

“I’ve been up for a while.” Nancy admits. “Couldn’t really sleep. I was wondering if you wanted to find some breakfast? I tried to ask Eddie but he’s dead to the world right now.” 

“Oh sure!” Robin smiles, she pulls the door open wider and gestures to Steve, sprawled out on the bed. “Totally can relate to that one.” 

Nancy lets a small chuckle but her forehead crinkles as her eyes dart back and forth between Steve, the clearly unused second bed, and Robin, who remembers once again that she is wearing nothing but Steve’s shirt. “I didn’t realize you and Steve were..” She trails off but Robin, though not the best with social cues can pick up on the rest of her sentence. 

“Gross.” Robin shakes her head, nose wrinkling up. “Definitely not. We are very much platonic with capital ‘P’. It’s um sort of a long story, but we just prefer to share the bed sometimes.” 

“Oh.” Nancy just sort of blinks at her dumbly and Robin isn’t really sure what to say. She decides to steer the conversation back to breakfast, the original reason Nancy was here. 

“Give me 5 minutes to get dressed and I’ll meet you in the lobby, yeah?” Nancy nods in confirmation so Robin shuts the door, apparently with enough force that Steve lifts his head, blinking at her sleepily from the bed. 

“Were you talking to someone?”

“Nancy.” Robin answers. “She wants to get breakfast. Saw you and totally thought we were fucking.” 

“Ew.” Steve’s nose wrinkles just as Robin’s had and she lets out a giggle. 

“Anyway, it’s only 7. We’re going to go find some breakfast, want me to bring you back something?” 

“Yes please.” Steve hums happily, settling back down on his pillow with a muffled, “Love you.” 

“I think I saw a cafe near that playground we were at yesterday.” Nancy says as they exit the hotel into the brisque, and somewhat chilly, morning. Robin pulls her jacket tighter around herself. “We can head there? If we pass something closer than we’ll go there but at least we have a destination?” 

“Sure.” Robin nods. “Um do you remember where it was?” 

“You don’t?” Nancy raises an eyebrow when Robin shrugs helplessly. “Robin, we were there yesterday.”

“I was sort of focused on not losing the race!” Robin defends. “Plus it was dark.” 

“Yeah okay.” Nancy smiles at her, a bit teasingly, but drops the subject as they head back down towards the sidewalk by the water. “So you and Steve really aren’t together?” 

“No.” Robin shakes her head. “Definitely not. I sort of thought you knew I was a lesbian?” 

“No?” Nancy blinks at her. “Why would I know that unless you told me?” 

“Well it’s kind of obvious.” Robin gestures at her like general being. “Plus, we both know you don’t really have a problem judging people by their appearances.” Nancy winces, and Robin wishes she could take it back. “Shit, sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” 

“Don’t apologize.” Nancy shakes her head. “I deserved that.”

“Can I take that back?” Robin waves her off. “What I meant to say, is Eddie didn’t tell you?” 

“Eddie knows?” 

“We talked about it yesterday, while we were waiting for you and Steve at the roadblock.” Robin explains. “He was sort of fishing to see if he has a shot with Steve.” 

“Of course he was.” Nancy snorts, shaking her head. “And?” 

“And what?” 

“Does he have a shot?” 

“Oh definitely.” Robin nods with a grin. “Eddie is like exactly Steve’s type. Nerd, curly brown hair, heart of gold,” she pauses. “Is he good with kids?” Nancy nods, adds that both her brother and sister love Eddie, and Robin splays out her hands. “Well there you have it, he checks all of Steve’s boxes.” 

“And Steve is gay?”

“Bisexual.” Robin corrects and Nancy nods. 

“Cool. Me too.” Nancy admits, watching Robin closely for her reaction. “You um, don’t seem surprised?”

“Eddie maybe sort of implied that yesterday as well.” She admits. “He was listing off the surprising number of queer people on this season and included you. Sorry.”

“Well it’s not like it’s a secret. You just didn’t say anything.”

“Well it was only like 12 hours ago and we’ve been a little busy since then.” Robin chuckles. “There wasn’t exactly a good opportunity to be like ‘hey I hear we’re both queers’.” 

“Fair enough.” Nancy lets out a chuckle of her own. “So if you’re definitely not dating Steve, are you, dating anyone?” 

“Not right now.” Robin shrugs. “I mean I’ve been on some dates recently but nothing serious. Never really dated anyone seriously before.” 

“Seriously?”

“I know.” Robin blushes. “I’m 23 and I’ve never had a girlfriend. It’s embarrassing.” 

“It’s not.” Nancy assures her. “I was just surprised because you're totally awesome.”

“Oh.” Robin knows her face is turning even redder. Nancy thought she was awesome? 

“I’ve never had a girlfriend either. You don’t think that makes me embarrassing, do you?” 

“Well I bet you’ve had a boyfriend?” 

“One.” Nancy admits. “Jonathan. Known him since we were kids and we dated for a couple years in high school. We broke up senior year when we realized we wanted totally different things for college. New York and California were just a bit far to do the long distance thing and I realized we’re probably better off as friends anyway. We’re still friends actually.” 

“Steve used to have a crush on me.” Robin says. “He asked me out once that first summer we met. I pretty much already knew I was a lesbian but I thought about it. Figured if there was a boy I could stomach dating it would be Steve, and it would be nice to have the experience, you know? But I couldn’t do it. Not to him, and not to myself, so I told him the truth. I was so scared, he was the first person I ever came out to, but he took it really well. We’ve been best friends ever since. I don’t know what I would do without him.” 

Robin isn’t sure where that all came from, but she figured Nancy was sharing so why not? Nancy takes her hand and gives it a squeeze as they approach Muddy’s Cafe. They order their food to go, wanting to make sure they have enough time before they have to start filming, and they order something for the boy’s as well. 

“Steve and I are vegetarian.” Robin explains to Nancy as they wait for their orders, Nancy questioning her decision to order them both the Veggie Brekky. 

“Oh cool.” Nancy nods, but then her eyes widen as she seems to realize something. “Wait but you ate all of that sushi?” 

“Okay so more like a pescatarian.” Robin shrugs. She doesn’t really eat fish, doesn’t even like it all that much, but she and Steve both agreed if it came down to it they would eat it on the race, and she doesn’t really want Nancy to feel bad. “Plus you were allergic.” 

“I wasn’t really allergic!” Nancy admits, covering her face with her hands. “I just really hate seafood. Oh my god I am such an asshole.” 

“I knew you were lying Wheeler!” Robin points at her accusingly, but she’s laughing. “Seriously, it’s okay. Just, if there’s any meat eating challenges, I’m going to need you to step it up, okay?” 

“Of course.” Nancy replies quickly. “I am sorry. How long have you been vegetarian?” 

“5 years.”

“5 years? Why didn’t you say something?” 

“You said you were allergic!” Robin protests. “How was I supposed to know you were lying? It was either I eat some fish or your die a horrible fish related death.” 

“I am the worst.” Nancy groans, looking genuinely upset. 

“Hey, you didn’t know.” Robin assures her. “Seriously. If it was that big of a deal I would’ve said something and we could've taken the penalty. Steve and I both agreed we’d eat fish on the race if we needed to. We knew eating challenges were a possibility.” 

“Okay, but if there’s another fish challenge, I’ve got it. Okay?” 

“Yeah, okay.” Robin smiles at her and Nancy smiles back. 

Robin is thrilled when they rip open their clue and find out that they’re staying in Australia. 

“I knew they couldn’t send us to Cairns, and not have us do a challenge at the Great Barrier Reef.” Robin says excitedly as they load their stuff into the taxi to take them to the Marina. When they get there, there’s a sign up board with three departure times, each 20 minutes apart. They put their names down for the first one, pleased to see that there are two other spots, meaning Steve and Eddie will probably get one as well. 

They do, as do Troy and Ross. Chrissy and Sam, Vickie and Heather, and Dmitri and Murray get on the second boat. Leaving Matt and James, and Mikhail and Alexei to take the final one. Robin is pleased to see that that fills up all the spots, meaning Cathy and Jason had been eliminated the night before. Jason hadn't really given her the best of vibes and the fact that Chrissy hardly seems upset by her absence helps to confirm that maybe she was right. 

It’s about a 70 minute boat ride out to the reef and Robin spends most of it with her head in Steve’s lap, her motion sickness bands and the dramamine she’d taken at the marina, doing little to soothe the nausea turning in her gut. 

She’s pleased that she manages not to puke, especially with Troy does, and the nausea starts to fade as the boat slows down when it enters the reef. It’s a detour: Air or Sea. Air involves getting in a helicopter and locating the letters to spell their next destination on buoys placed throughout the reef. Robin dismisses it immediately, because even though a helicopter sounds super cool, she’s not sure her stomach is up for it at the moment. That leaves her and Nancy to go snorkeling also in search of the letters of their next destination. 

Troy and Ross choose air, and only one team can go at once, first come first serve, so Steve and Eddie join them for snorkeling.

“It’ll be faster if we work together anyway.” Steve explains as they follow to signs to where they need to change into the provided gear. They split up, Steve and Eddie searching one half, and Robin and Nancy the other, before joining each other back on the dock. When they emerge, Troy and Ross are getting back into the helicopter, so they must’ve missed something, and the next three teams are all there, two of them putting on their gear, while the third waits for the helicopter. Robin hopes they get it right on the first try. 

“Okay what the fuck are we supposed to do with a u, a, q, y?” Eddie asks, after they make the word ‘circular’ with the other letters. 

“I’m pretty sure a quay is like a wharf? Could it be that?” Robin officers, taking the notebook from Eddie and spelling out the word. “Anybody ever heard of a place called ‘Circular Quay’?” 

“It sounds kind of familiar.” Nancy’s brow is furrowed, clearly thinking. “Can’t hurt to try it right?” 

They present their guess and are rewarded with their next clue. Circular Quay is apparently a location in Sydney. The third boat has arrived, so all teams are here, and they’ve got a 20 minutes to wait until the first boat will depart back to shore. They hope they’ll be the only ones but aren’t surprised that Troy and Ross manage to get it right on the second clue, joining them a few minutes before they board the boat. Then, Dmitri and Murray race on with seconds to spare. 

The boat ride back is better, maybe in part to the second dose of dramamine Robin downed, but probably also because of the adrenaline racing through her. This is the third leg and she and Nancy, as well as Steve and Eddie, have managed to stay at the front of the pack for most of it. Maybe they could actually win this? It’s the first time she’s really started to think that since departed from LA a few days earlier. 

She’s giddy with the idea, excitement level increasing when the 8 of them manage to snag the last seats on a flight departing only 30 minutes after they reach the airport. It isn’t until they rip open the roadblock (who’s ready to take in the sights?) in Sydney, decide that Robin is, and find that she’s going to have to do the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb, that her excitement dissipates. 

“Robin?” Nancy asks hesitantly, after they finish reading the clue. “Are you okay?” 

“Not a big fan of heights.” Robin admits. She shares a glance with Steve, the look on his face clearly indicating that he knows she’s downplaying that fear. “But I can do it?” 

“You sure?” Nancy questions. “I already made you eat the sushi and-” 

“I can do it.” Robin says more firmly. She and Steve head over to the area to get ready and see that Murray is already on his way up the bridge. He’s only about a quarter of the way there but he already looks so far away, so small. 

“Robin, we can go together.” Steve assures her. “I’ll look for the flag, you just focus on climbing, okay?” 

“Okay.” Robin nods. Steve goes first, but Robin stays close behind, eyes training on each step she takes and determined to not to look anywhere else. It takes longer than she expects to reach the top, and involves far more effort than she anticipated. Steve could definitely move faster on his own, Robin knows she’s slowing him down, but he stays by her side, even as the distance between them and Murray stretches, even as Troy catches up to, and then passes them. 

“You should just go.” Robin tells him when he informs her that it looks like there are racers from the later flight starting to arrive. “I’m slowing you down.” 

“I’m not leaving you Robbie. We got this, okay?” And he sticks by her side. Murray and Troy are heading back down, which gives her some hope that the top can’t be that much further. It takes them almost two hours to reach the top and Robin grips the railing as Steve searches the surrounding area for a red and yellow flag that marks the location of their pit stop. 

“Shit.” He says, after a few moments. “I think my glasses are with Eddie.” 

“You’re not wearing your contacts?” Robin questions. “Why the hell not?” 

“I took them out when we went snorkeling.” Steve explains. “Plus I don’t normally have a problem finding things that are far away. Do you think you could help me look?” 

“I can’t.” Robin says, knows she sounds childish. “If I look up, then I’ll realize how high up we are and if I realize how high up we are I’ll freeze and if I freeze I won’t make it back down and I’ll get last and disappoint Nancy and probably die on top of this stupid bridge and-” 

“Okay, it’s okay.” Steve assures her. “You don’t have to look up. I can find it.” 

Robin breathes a sigh of relief and keeps her eyes trained anywhere but at their surroundings below. It’s another few minutes before Steve claps his hands excitedly. 

“Got it! It’s in some amusement park across the water. Next to this huge creepy smiley face thing.” Steve says. The descent is shorter and easier than getting up, but unfortunately still takes an hour. When they reach the bottom, Robin has never been more relieved. Nancy throws her arms around her in an hug as Eddie does the same to Steve. 

Robin spares a glance up the bridge, watching Chrissy and Mikhail descend, unable to even make out Heather and Matt. Shit, she can’t believe she was really all the way up there. 

“We’re going to this amusement park on the other side of the bridge.” Steve explains, locates a stranger to ask about the amusement park with the giant smiley face, who informs them the place they’re looking for is Luna Park. They have to travel on foot, and Robin’s legs still feel a bit shaky and she tries to keep up with the rest of the group. 

They have to walk across the bridge, which fortunately is much easier than climbing it, but Robin is still not really a fan of how far they are above the water. Luckily it only takes a fraction of the time and then they’re finding Phil and Robin has to give Steve some credit because the man is standing in front of a giant creepy smiley face. 

Steve and Eddie are proclaimed third, Robin and Nancy fourth, and they aren’t even there for long before Dmitri and Mikhail are racing in behind them to claim 5th. 

They’re informed that where they’re staying for the night is back on the other side of the bridge and are given the choice to walk back across the bridge or take a ferry, neither of which are appealing to Robin. The events of the last few hours catch up to Robin and she throws her arms around Steve, shoulders heaving as she sobs. Steve rubs her back soothingly. 

“Hey um, Nancy and I saw this pancake place while you were climbing.” Eddie offers. “They had like this dessert pancakes, covered in ice cream and chocolate and shit. Think that might make you feel better?” 

“Maybe.” Robin grumbles into Steve’s chest. “I’d feel better if I could just teleport there.” 

“I can take your bag.” Nancy offers, picking it up from it’s spot on the ground before Robin can reply. “If that helps?” 

“And if Eddie takes my bag, I can give you a piggyback?” Steve questions. Eddie nods, taking it from him and Steve bends. 

“Your chariot awaits.” He says as Robin clambers on. 

“I feel stupid.” Robin grumbles, which doesn’t help her feel less like a child. But the combination of the breakdown, everyone having to carry her stuff, and a piggyback ride is a bit too much. 

“Nonsense.” Eddie waves her off. “You climbed a whole goddamn bridge, you deserve it.” 

“Hey so did I!” Steve protests. “Where’s my piggyback ride?” 

“I’m sorry, which of us looks strong enough to carry you.” Eddie questions, gesturing between him and Nancy, earning a giggle from Robin when Steve pouts. 

“Whatever.” It’s his turn to grumble. “You're lucky I love you Rob.” 

“Love you too Dingus.” She says, patting at his hair. 

“Onward!” Eddie calls, throwing his hand up in the air. “To Pancakes on the Rocks!” 

“To Pancakes on the Rocks!” The rest of them repeat. Robin catches Nancy's eye and the other girl grins. ‘You okay’ she mouths. Robin nods, and finds that, surprisingly, she means it.

Chapter Text

Leg 4: Australia → South Africa 

The next morning, everyone is equalized at the airport once again to fly to Johannesburg, South Africa. They watch the teams arrive one by one, waiting to see who was eliminated. When Matt and James stroll up last to the gate Robin can’t help but be a little disappointed. For one, they seem like strong competitors and it would have been nice for them to go home so early in the race. But also, Robin had gotten along with Vickie and Heather, and as the only other all girl team she had been rooting for them. 

Matt and James share a round of boisterous hugs with Ross and Troy, and Robin glances around to find that she isn’t the only one disappointed by yesterday’s events. 

“Douchebags.” Steve mutters under his breath from beside her. Nancy, on the floor between his legs while he braids her hair, snorts in amusement. 

“They were neck and neck when we left the bridge.” Chrissy comments, clearly having been eavesdropping from the other side of the aisle. “It must’ve been pretty close.” 

Seems it was, because not 10 minutes later, Vickie and Heather rush up to the gate, apparently survivors of the first non elimination leg. The season before hadn’t had any so Robin wasn’t really sure if they had that safety net or not. It was kind of nice to know they did, and to confirm that the punishment would just be an extra task on this leg and not the abandonment of all your money and personal possessions as it had been in earlier seasons. Robin always thought it was a little insensitive to make them beg for money while cameras followed them around. 

“They beat us in a foot race.” Vickie tells them as they join their group. 

“We didn’t think to drop our bags.” Heather adds, slumping down in the seat beside Nancy. “Thank god it was a non elimination. What a shitty way that would’ve been to go out.” 

Eddie brings out his cards again and the mood goes back up, a clear divide between their group that’s laughing and joking around, and Troy, Ross, Matt, and James who are in a serious discussion on the other side of the gate. Robin wouldn’t say that they’re all in some mega alliance or anything but there’s definitely an understanding that they would all rather one of the boys to go home and than anyone else. 

The flight is 14 hours and Robin is so over these long haul flights. Phil really has them traversing the whole ass globe this season. She spends the first 7 or so hours snoozing on Steve’s shoulder and when she wakes up he delightedly informs her that they have Back to the Future on the flight. They try several times to start the film at exactly the same time on their individual screens and eventually get it on the fourth go.

They’d watched Back to the Future, one of the first times that they'd ever hung out outside of work. They’d been at Robin’s, lounging on the couch and devouring a plate of brownies that her mom had told them not to eat. Half an hour later when they couldn’t stop giggling uncontrollably at nearly every scene in the movie, it became clear why she hadn’t wanted them to have any. 

“Holy shit, did your Mom make pot brownies?” Steve had asked in disbelief. 

“Holy shit, we’re totally eating pot brownies.” Robin had agreed with wide eyes.To this day they can’t watch the movie without laughing their way through. 

“What are you two giggling about?” Eddie asks, twisting around in his seat when their chuckling must get a tad too loud. 

“Nothing.” They answer back simultaneously, leading to another bout of giggles. 

When the movie is over, Robin is in a pretty good mood and switches seats with Eddie to spend some time chatting with Nancy. They navigate their way to the game section of their screens and spend a while playing pretty much every game offered. Robin learns that Nancy is incredibly competitive, something that she’s clearly been holding back through the early stages of the race, and she is thankful that Nancy’s been nothing but encouraging through her struggles so far. 

When their meals come and it’s a chicken dish, Robin doesn’t even say anything and Nancy is passing her fruit and roll to Robin. Robin shoots her a grateful smile and finds her heart beating faster in her chest when Nancy smiles back. She might be in trouble. 

It’s the first self-driving leg of the race and Robin is relieved when Nancy takes the wheel without question. Thankfully, she knows how to drive stick shift, because Robin was really not looking forward to them figuring that out on the go. She navigates them about 30 minutes to FNB Stadium, checking behind her periodically to make sure the boys are following. 

While driving is not her strength, navigation is, and they make it there no problem, the third and fourth teams to arrive. Steve is buzzing with excitement as they make their way inside to find the clue box. 

“I wonder if it's going to be a soccer challenge.” He says. “This is one of the stadiums used in the 2010 World Cup. It’s where the final was held.” 

“Sometimes,” Eddie starts, shaking his head and laying a heavy hand on Steve’s shoulder. “I forget you’re a jock. And then you say stuff like that.” 

“Everybody likes soccer!” Steve protests, looking at the others for support. Robin actually does like soccer. She played it as a kid, and even joined an intramural team with Steve in college. She enjoys following along with the NWSL and they’ve been to a number of Red Stars games. But she wouldn't say that she’s any good at it. 

“For our sakes,” Eddie says, pulling her out of our thoughts. “You better hope it's a roadblock or that it has absolutely nothing to do with soccer.” 

It’s a detour. 

“Rugby or Football.” Nancy reads off, and Steve makes a little excited noise as Eddie groans. Robin looks out at the field to see Dmitri and Murray over at Football (which is actually soccer), attempting to hit targets hanging in the goal. On the other side of the field, she watches Mikhail, who is young and athletic looking, absolutely botch his attempt at a drop goal and determines that they should try Football. 

Steve looks torn between the activities when Eddie steps in. “Steve-o, if you want us to have any chance of passing this we’ve got to choose football. There is absolutely zero chance I am going to be able to accurately kick something out of the air.” 

So the four of them troop over to football after changing into a full soccer kit in the bathroom. It seems easy enough. They have a combined 10 chances to hit 5 targets (one in each corner and one in the center), alternating teammates each time. If they don’t hit the targets in the chances given, they have to wait for the other teams at the challenge to take their turns to try again. 

Dmitri and Murray are finishing up their second attempt, unsuccessfully, as they arrive. The boys decide to go first, Steve aiming for the top corners while Eddie is tasked with trying to hit the corners on the ground. And Eddie wasn’t kidding about his soccer skills. He launches his first shot and it veers off, ending up nowhere near the goal. His second shot he overcorrects and it pitfully rolls towards the goal, practically in slow motion, stopping before it can even make it there. Needless to say, they do not have a successful first attempt. Even Steve only hits 2 of the three targets he was aiming for. 

Robin and Nancy fare a bit better than Eddie, but only manage to hit the two on the ground in their first go. They’ve decided to just aim at the same one until one of them hits it, before moving onto the next. 

The rest of the teams arrive while Dmitri and Murray take their third attempt, Troy and Ross and Matt and James both joining the queue at Rugby, while Sam and Chrissy choose football. Vickie and Heather disappear, Robin assumes to complete the speed bump that she saw waiting for them when they grabbed their clue. 

Dmitri and Murray fail again, missing only one target, and Eddie and Steve are up again. It goes about as poorly as it did the first time and as soon as their turn is over Steve is pulling Eddie to the side to give him pointers on how to kick the ball. Robin is honestly a little concerned about their chances. Either Eddie is going to have to hit one, or Steve is going to have to make all of his. 

“Maybe next time we should aim for the top corners first.” Nancy suggests once their turn is over and they’ve only successfully hit the bottom two targets once again. “Seems like we can hit those lower ones no problem, so maybe we should get the harder ones out of the way?” 

Sam and Chrissy don’t hit any targets on their first attempt and Robin feels a little bit better about their chances. 

Dmitri and Murray nail all 5 on their fourth attempt and leave in first place, everyone else still over at the rugby side of the detour. 

“Go Eddie!” Robin whoops when he steps up after Steve has hit the target in the top left corner. He turns to look at her with a grimace, hair now pulled up into a haphazard bun. 

“You got this!” Nancy adds. Even Sam and Chrissy join in the cheering. When Eddie’s ball bounces off the goal post, his shoulders slump, and Robin can tell that despite their cheering he’s starting to feel a bit defeated. 

“That was your closest one yet.” Steve tells him with a reassuring smile. “You almost looked like a jock.” 

Eddie gags. Steve laughs and hits the target in the middle like it’s nothing. 

“Show off.” Eddie mutters as he takes his place again at the line. This time his ball rolls straight into the target on the bottom left and Eddie whips around eyes wide in disbelief. “Holy shit! I did it!” 

They finish their turn one target short but Eddie is in much better spirits as Nancy and Robin make their third attempt. 

“Mikhail and Alexei just left Rugby!” Steve calls out as Nancy hits the target in the center dead on. Robin aims for the top left corner and misses the goal entirely. She glances apologetically at Nancy but she just gives her an encouraging smile and takes her spot at the line again. This time she clips the corner of the target Robin had been aiming for and her mouth drops open. 

“I was aiming for the right!” She whispers to Robin with a giggle when they share a congratulatory hug. Robin barks out a laugh and feels some of the tension leave her as she takes her turn. She stumbles just as she’s kicking the ball and hits at the wrong angle. Instead of lifting into it the air, it stays on the grass, rolling straight into the bottom right corner. 

“Total accident, right?” 

“Absolutely.”

Nancy and Robin both miss their next two shots, leaving them with one try each to hit the two remaining targets. Nancy steps up first and when her ball veers too far to the right, just missing the goal post her shoulders slump. Robin’s shot is now irrelevant and so they make their way to the back of line. 

“I’m sorry.” Nancy says quietly as Sam and Chrissy take their turn. “I shouldn’t have missed.” 

“Are you kidding me?” Robin says. “You totally killed that. We’ll get it on the next try!”

They don't. 

Or on the one after that. 

Eventually, Heather and Vickie join the line. 

Then the rugby station clears out and Robin starts to feel way less optimistic. 

Steve and Eddie get it on the 7th try, Eddie finally managing to hit both targets on the ground. They whoop and cheer as they embrace in what can only be called a bro hug, before sombering a bit as they bid goodbye to Robin and Nancy. 

“You got this Robbie.” Steve tells her. Robin is not so sure that’s true. “Listen, Nancy has been better at hitting the targets in the air so she should aim for those and you should focus on the ones on the ground. Try to get 'em both on the first two tries and then you can help Nancy out.” 

“You make it sound so easy.” 

“I mean if Eddie could do it…” Steve trails off with a wry grin as Eddie lets out an indignant ‘hey’ from beside them. 

“Okay, get out of here.” Nancy musters up a smile and nods towards the exit. 

“You got this!” Steve cheers one last time, pressing a kiss to Robin’s cheek and then following Eddie out of the stadium. 

They try out Steve’s strategy on their 7th attempt and do manage to hit 4 of the 5 targets. After them, Sam and Chrissy finally pass, wishing them luck before leaving them alone with Vickie and Heather. Luckily for them, Vickie sucks at soccer. Heather is good, great even, but she’s struggling to hit all 5 and Vickie has yet to hit anything. 

“Eighth times the charm?” Robin tries when it’s their turn again. Nancy nods, steeling herself and stepping up the line. She nails the top left corner. Then Robin hits the bottom left, and Nancy just kisses the side of the center of the target. Robin takes her turn and suddenly they only have one target left and 6 shots left between them. 

“Holy shit, Nance, we-” 

“Don’t jinx it!” Nancy cuts in.

And Robin must’ve jinxed it because they miss the next 5 shots and Robin is facing down her final turn. 

“I can’t watch.” Nancy says, placing both hands over her eyes. 

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” Robin huffs, spinning the ball and setting it at her feet. She feels like she’s taking a game winning penalty or something in the World Cup. Her heart is pounding in her chest, so loud that surely the other girls can hear it. She thinks about how she and Steve always joke that they share a brain, and hopes that his jock brain chooses this moment to take over. She takes a deep breath and whispers, “You got this, Buckley.” Nancy is counting on her. She thinks of how competitive the other girl had been on the plane, knows it must be killing her that they’re tied for last and struggling so hard. She has to make this shot. 

She takes a couple steps back, plants her left foot and swings. She squeezes her eyes shut as the ball soars through the air, when she hears the resounding thud of a ball hitting a target and suddenly Nancy’s arms are around her. 

“Holy shit! Robin you did it! Holy shit!” The other girl is cheering, shaking Robin’s shoulders as Robin takes the clue in disbelief from the man running the detour. 

“Good job guys!” Vickie says to them. 

“Thanks! Good luck!” Nancy says back to them. Robin blinks, and comes back to herself just in time to wish them luck and follow Nancy out of the stadium. 

When they arrive at the location of the roadblock, a restaurant in Soweto, Steve and Eddie are still there. Steve is sitting outside with Chrissy and Troy. The other three teams must already be gone. Nancy offers to take the roadblock since it looks like it involves food, and might possibly involve cooking or even eating meat. Robin slumps down beside Steve. 

“I made the winning shot.” She says proudly. 

“Hell yeah you did!” Steve gives her a high five. “I knew there was a jock inside you.”

Sam and Chrissy head out just as Vickie and Heather are arriving. This is closest they’ve all been to the back of the pack and Robin’s relief from completing the detour is quickly replaced by more anxiety. She’s glad that Nancy is handling this roadblock. 

“Ross seems to be having trouble.” Steve whispers to her under his breath, casting a sideways glance at Troy a few feet away. “I keep hearing him making frustrated yells. Maybe Eddie, Nancy, and Vickie will be able to take them out.” 

“Yeah maybe.” Robin nods in agreement, but her mind is stuck glancing at the four of them sitting here and realizing one of them is going home. And Steve’s hopes for the outcome are squashed immediately when Ross emerges about 10 minutes later, ripping open their final clue while Troy stands and gathers their bags. She can’t make out the whole clue as they read it out but she does hear “make your way on foot”, which is just great. Robin has zero running abilities and knows if it comes down to it, she won’t be able to beat Vickie and Heather in a foot race. 

She gulps down some water so she’ll at least be hydrated if they do have to run and then leans heavily against Steve, listening as he rambles in an attempt to distract her. She honestly feels like maybe she could fall asleep, she’s so exhausted, when Nancy bursts out of the restaurant and she scrambles up. 

“You did it?” She asks, starting to gather their things. Nancy produces the clue, a huge grin on her face. And now Steve looks a little worried. They got here at least 30 min before Nancy and Robin, and yet Eddie is still inside. 

“Eddie?” Steve glances towards the restaurant and Nancy seems to pick up on what he’s asking. 

“He should be almost done. He had mostly everything, just wasn’t plating it right and I pointed it out for him.” Nancy explains. “I’m sure he’s got this.” 

Steve looks slightly more relieved and Heather, who must’ve heard their conversation starts to look real nervous. 

“You guys should go.” He nods in the direction Troy and Ross just left. “I’ll see you at the pitstop?” 

They find Phil outside Mandela House and get officially checked in as team number 6. 

“Tough day today?” He asks, probably because Robin almost certainly looks like a mess. 

“You could say that.” Robin grumbles and Phil chuckles. 

“But you’re here, you made it, and yet you don’t look too happy about that.” 

“We’re just worried about Steve and Eddie.” Nancy answers and Phil nods in understanding before he raises an eyebrow and nods behind them. 

“Looks like we have another team coming in.” 

They both whip around and Robin’s shoulders slump with relief when she sees Steve and Eddie racing towards them. The second they drop their bags on the mat, Robin throws her arms around Steve and Nancy does the same to Eddie. 

“Welcome to Johannesburg, South Africa.” The woman greets from beside Phil and they all break their hugs, but Steve keeps his arm over Robin’s shoulder. 

“Steve, Eddie, not used to seeing you this late.” Phil begins. “What happened?” 

“Just wasn’t my day.” Eddie shakes his head. “Sports and cooking are not exactly strengths of mine and they got the better of me today.” 

“Steve?” 

“Not Eddie’s fault. We ran a good race today. All of the teams are really strong and somebody’s got to be last.” 

“Well I am pleased to tell you, that somebody is not you. You are officially team number 7 and you are still in the race.” 

“We figured Phil.” Steve says with a smile. “But it's still a relief to hear. Guess we’ve got some catching up to do tomorrow.” 

“Yeah, now would be a great time to throw a music challenge at us.” Eddie adds with a chuckle. 

“I’ll take that into consideration.” Phil says with a chuckle of his own. After that, Vickie and Heather arrive at the mat, officially eliminated. There are tears in their eyes as Robin and Nancy hug them both goodbye and Robin is struck with how close that was to being them. It’s probably only been a few minutes since Robin and Nancy checked in. 

“Come on.” Nancy tugs on her hand once they’ve said their goodbyes. “I could use a shower and like a 12 hour nap.” 

“Throw in some food and that sounds amazing.” 

They head to where they’re staying for the night and Robin doesn’t even realize that she’s been following Nancy into a room instead of Steve. 

“Oh sorry.” She blinks, once she registers and moves to step back out and join Steve in the hallway.

“I don’t mind sharing with Stevie boy if yall want to have a girl’s night.” Eddie offers, grinning as he throws arm around Steve. Robin looks at Nancy who smiles and she feels her stomach swoop. 

“Wouldn’t hurt to talk strategy for tomorrow?” And of course Nancy just wants to share a room with Robin so they can strategize. I mean why else would she want to? That’s the only reason Robin wants to. Or at least that’s what she tells herself as she bids Steve goodnight and follows Nancy into their room.  

Chapter Text

Leg 5: South Africa

Robin wakes to Nancy’s hair tickling her nose. She’s momentarily comforted by the weight of Nancy sprawled on top of her and is about to drift back to sleep when she remembers suddenly that she and Nancy had gone to bed in separate beds. Her eyes fly open, careful not to jostle Nancy, and she finds Nancy’s bed empty on the other side of the room. She’s relieved that it wasn’t her that randomly switched beds in the middle of the night, but also confused as to why Nancy possibly would’ve crawled into hers. Maybe she sleepwalks? 

She’s carefully considering how she’s going to extract herself without waking Nancy, when the other girl blinks awake. Too late.

“Morning.” She mumbles around a yawn. Either seemingly unaware or unphased that she’s using Robin as a pillow. 

“Morning.” Robin replies, trying to sound cool as a cucumber and surely failing. 

“What time is it?” Robin glances over at the clock on the nightstand, and it’s 6:30. Their departure time isn’t until 8, but the light streaming through their curtains is what woke Robin, and possibly Nancy as well. She tells Nancy as much and the other girl asks if she wants to go find some breakfast, seemingly ignoring the fact that they woke up cuddling. Well Robin isn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

They get dressed and pack their bags slowly, both of them yawning frequently as they work in silence. Their hotel has breakfast so they just make their way down to the lobby where they find Steve and Eddie eating at a table with Chrissy and Sam. 

“Dmitri and Murray just left.” Steve informs them as they sit down after filling their plates. “So we’re about an hour behind first place.” 

“Well shit.” Nancy grimaces. Robin is sure her face looks the same. She hadn’t realized they were that far behind. 

“Maybe there will be some sort of equalizer.” Chrissy muses, ever the optimist. “Like the first stop doesn’t open until 11 or something.”

“We can only hope.” Steve agrees but breakfast is sort of a somber affair as they watch both Mikhail and Alexei, then Matt and James depart. Sam and Chrissy head upstairs to get their bags for their own departure, shooting the others reassuring smiles before they go. 

“So girls, how was your night?” Eddie asks, trying to lighten the mood. 

“Clearly not as good as yours.” Nancy replies smugly and Robin follows her gaze to what looks like a hickey at the base of Steve’s throat. Steve yelps and moves to cover, face flaming. He turns and glares at Eddie. 

“I said where no one could see!” He exclaims, lifting up his spoon in an attempt to get a look at it. “Jesus Eddie, cameras are going to be following us around all day.” 

“I can help you cover it up.” Robin offers, both because Steve looks like he’s going to have a heart attack and because she wants to get him alone. 

“Thanks Rob.” He follows her upstairs, shooting one last glare at Eddie who just looks smug rather than sheepish. Robin digs out some of her concealer, it might be little light given that Steve tans far better than her, but it’s better than nothing. 

“So you all hooked up?” 

“I mean sort of.” Steve pinks again. “We just made out for a while before we both fell asleep.” 

“Who made the first move?”

“Eddie. He is not shy at all.” Steve says, pointing to his hickey as emphasis. “How’d your night go with Nance?” 

Robin can’t stop her own blush and Steve’s eyes widen. 

“Oh my god Buckley. Did something happen?” 

“No.” She protests. “Well maybe.” 

“Spill!” 

“We just talked for a while, went to sleep in our separate beds, very PG.” Robin recalls and Steve nods along. “But then, when I woke up this morning, Nancy was in my bed, like practically laying on top of me!” 

“And then?” 

“And then nothing! We got ready and joined you all at breakfast.” 

“You didn’t talk about it?” 

“No, Nancy acted like it was completely normal. Nothing weird at all, so I did too.” 

“Huh.” Steve muses as Robin pulls back to examine her concealing job. “Well clearly she’s into you.” 

“You think?” 

“I mean, she made the conscious choice to get up in the middle of the night and switch beds, so I’d say yes. Also, she said earlier ‘clearly not as good as yours’ implying that hooking up with you would’ve been good.” 

“She did not mean it that way!” Robin protests. “That’s just a saying, she was just teasing!”

“Yeah maybe.” Steve shrugs in agreement. “But maybe not.” 

“Okay, the evidence of your debauchery is all covered up.” Robin sits back, wanting desperately to stop talking about this. “Let’s go back downstairs.” 

“Oh c’mon Rob.” Steve pouts. “I really think you have a chance. Share a room again with her tonight and see what happens.” 

“You just want to share with Eddie again.”

“I mean, yeah, but I also think you and Nancy could be having an equally good time.” 

“We will not, because unlike someone, we are 100% focused on the race.” 

Steve snorts. “Sure.” But at Robin’s look he drops the subject and they head back downstairs to join the others. Robin does her best to push her confusing morning with Nancy to the back of her mind and focus instead of not getting eliminated. 

–

Turns out Chrissy is right, at least partly. After they open their clue they have to drive themselves an hour to Hartbeespoort to ride some cableway to the top of some mountain for their next clue. When they show up, at 9:15, Nancy points out a sign declaring that the cableway only opened at 9, shrinking down their one hour gap to 15 minutes. They had waited for the boys to follow them, so the four of them take the cableway up together. 

At the top they encounter the roadblock, and giant ropes course that you must complete as part of said roadblock. All the other teams are still there and Robin can see Troy getting into his harness, so they really aren’t that far behind. Nancy offers to do it, clearly remembering that Robin is not big on heights and she’s grateful as she takes a seat off to the side with Eddie. 

They end all leaving in the order that they got here but Nancy returns with their clue only 9 minutes after the first place team and so Robin feels much more hopeful as they drive to a nearby Elephant Sanctuary. 

“Elephants or Monkeys.” Nancy reads out as they open their clue. Elephants involves becoming a sanctuary keeper for the day. They have to clean the stables, feed and brush the elephants, then walk and elephant, to get their next clue. Monkeys requires them to head into the monkey sanctuary and locate a variety of monkey, bush baby, and lemur species within the forest. 

“Relying on an elephant to walk a certain distance seems risky.” Robin says, despite wanting nothing more than to get to brush and feed an elephant.

“Yeah but I mean if any of these species feels like hiding we’re so fucked.” Nancy counters and that’s a good point as well. “Plus like when else are we going to feed an elephant?” 

Robin doesn’t know if Nancy’s saying that because she wants to feed the elephant or if it's because she knows Robin wants to, but she agrees and they make their way to ‘Elephants’. There they find all of the teams except for Steve and Eddie, who are still behind them, and Troy and Ross who are the only ones that chose ‘Monkeys’. Robin suddenly feels even more secure in their decision. 

All of the teams are still in the stables, cleaning them out, so Robin and Nancy join in, keeping an eye on the door for Steve and Eddie. They manage to pass Sam and Chrissy, finishing up their stable first, and as they head out to brush the elephants, they still haven’t seen Steve or Eddie. 

“Hopefully they didn’t get lost.” Robin says, anxiety bubbling up inside of her. “We should’ve waited for them to follow us.” 

“It was a 15 min drive and basically a straight shot. I bet they’re here and they just chose the other side of the detour.” Nancy assures her, but that doesn’t make her feel much better. She just hopes they can do it faster than Troy and Ross, or that it’s just faster in general and they pass all the teams at Elephants. Robin doesn’t want Sam and Chrissy to go home either, but she feels pretty confident that they can stay ahead of them if they need to, assuming that their elephant cooperates. 

Thankfully it does, and they manage to pass Matt and James as well, leaving in third place if the other two teams are still at the monkey detour. They have to make their way to somewhere called the Upside Down House and search for their next clue. Turns out it's literally an upside down house, and it's a bit trippy as they walk on what seems to be the ceiling before they locate their clue sending them to the pitstop, a nearby safari lodge. 

When they pull up to find Phil, Robin can still see Dmitri and Murray on the mat. For once, she kind of hopes that they’re in 5th or 6th, because that means that Steve and Eddie might have managed to rush through the other detour and pass them. 

“Nancy and Robin, you are the second team to arrive.” Phil announces, meaning they somehow managed to pass nearly every other team, even overtaking Mikhail and Alexei who left the detour before them. So Robin should be excited, but it also means Steve and Eddie are still somewhere behind them. Whether that’s lost on the way to the sanctuary or attempting to complete monkeys, she doesn’t feel good about it. 

She musters a smile and reluctantly follows Nancy to their accommodations for the night since production won’t let them sit and watch the other teams arrive. 

“Worried about the boys?” Nancy asks as they dump their bags in the room. 

“Yeah.” Robin chews her lip. “I mean, I know I hope we win overall but I’m not ready for them to go home.” 

“I get it.” Nancy nods. 

“I mean I only came on this stupid race to run with Steve. I almost walked right out when they threw that twist on us that we were going to have to run with some stranger.” Robin rambles, pacing nervously. 

“Ouch.” Robin’s gaze shoots to Nancy who is either actually offended or pretty on a pretty good performance. 

“No hey, I didn’t mean it like that.” Robin shakes her head, plopping down beside Nancy on the bed. “You’re a great partner Nancy, I love running the race with you. But you know, Steve’s my best friend.” 

“I know.” Nancy nods. “I was just teasing.” She pauses and takes a hold of Robin’s hand. “I’m sure the boys are fine.” 

“Really? Because Steve’s eyesight isn’t that good and he’s weird about his glasses and for some reason they chose a task where they are going to have to spot some tiny monkeys in a forest. Either that or they managed to completely fuck up a 15 minute drive and knowing those dinguses they totally would and-” 

Robin’s rambling is suddenly cut off by Nancy’s lips on hers. She barely has a second to realize ‘holy shit Nancy is kissing me’ before she’s pulling back, smiling softly at Robin. 

“Sorry, I didn’t know how else to shut you up.” Nancy says quietly, and she seems nervous, which takes Robin by surprise. She makes Nancy Wheeler nervous? 

“That um, definitely works.” Robin swallows. “I uh feel another ramble coming on if you-” 

And Nancy’s kissing her again. This time she’s able to get it together to kiss back. All thoughts of Steve and Eddie leave her mind as she settles her hands on Nancy’s hips and one of Nancy’s finds its way into Robin’s hair. 

Okay, so maybe she lied. She’s not 100% focused on the race.