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A couple weeks after the events with the Russians and the Mindflayer, Steve and Robin sat on Steve’s couch in front of his television late at night, watching the ever repeating news on the supposed “Mall Fire” and the events following it. Hopper’s death, the arrest of the mayor, the chaos. Robin turned to Steve with a strained smile “I guess that means we’re out of a job.”
Steve snorted and covered his mouth, turning to look at her with wide eyes, “Robin you can’t say that oh my god.”
Her strained smile softened slightly and she picked up the remote, turning the television off, “I can’t watch any more of that. And seriously, we should probably look for a job soon. From what you’ve told me about your dad, the moment he finds out about all this, he’s gonna be on your ass about needing to get back to work.”
Steve sighed and closed his eyes. Even weeks after everything, Steve continued to get bad migraines. He had gotten a concussion while being held by the Russians under the mall and after quite a few concussions in the past few years, they were starting to get to him. Eventually he nodded in response to Robin’s comment, “You’re right. I just wish I didn’t have to. He’s gonna try to make me work with him and.. I won’t have any freedom if that’s what I have to work around” He looked at Robin with a sad smile.
Robin’s eyebrows furrowed and she stood, shaking her head. She started to pace in front of the couch, “Steve, I said we should look for a job. I don’t exactly expect to be anywhere but with you for the continuing months. I get that you’re Mr. Popular but, after everything I… I just can’t imagine leaving right now.” Robin let out a heavy breath and she stopped her pacing, standing in front of Steve. She smiled at him and put her hands on her hips, “If we can get a job together, I would much prefer it. If you would too.”
Steve nodded slowly, looking up at her with wide eyes. He didn’t know completely how to react to her rant but he knew what she was trying to say, “I… would also prefer working with you. Especially over working for my dad,” Steve chuckles, “But… How exactly would we even do this? Most places don’t hire friends. They think it’s bad for business.”
Robin shrugged. She wasn’t completely certain how she wanted to go about this but she would figure it out, “Maybe.. You and I look for applications in a few places that are desperately hiring around here, and try our luck?”
Steve huffed and smiled at her, nodding. He didn’t know how this was even going to work in their favor but he was willing to try. At this point in the evening, he was getting tired so, he rose from the couch and grabbed a blanket for Robin, handing it to her, “I’m heading to bed. Need anything?” Robin shook her head so Steve made his way up the stairs to his room and quickly fell asleep.
~ ~ ~
Over the course of the next few days, Steve and Robin paid attention to the businesses around their small town. The first time they saw a “Now Hiring” sign up when driving around, Steve whipped around and pulled up to the local theater. They both rushed inside together, running up to the counter, both breathing heavily. Behind it sat someone not much older than them, with a name tag reading, “Benjamin H.” with a “Manager” one underneath it. He was working on the crossword in the paper.
Steve spoke first, “It says outside you guys are hiring?” He said nonchalant, as if he hadn’t rushed in here just as quickly as Robin.
The guy across the counter slowly looked up at them with a bored expression on his face and he sighed, seemingly annoyed that they dared to bother him today, “Yeah. But… We only need one person. So, unless only one of you wants it, I can’t help you.” He looks back down at his crossword, rolling his eyes.
Steve sighed frustratedly and glanced over at Robin. She gestured in disbelief at Steve and pinched the bridge of her nose. She turned towards Benjamin and sighed, leaning on the counter, “Are you sure? I can imagine the extra helping hands could be worth it? Especially with the closing of the mall?” she smiled hopefully.
Benjamin glanced up at Robin and shrugged, “You might be right, but the boss says only one person. Sorry ladies.” his lip quirked up into a slight smirk at that and he focused back down at his crossword puzzle. Robin turned back to Steve and they both dejectedly made their way out of the theater, their heads hanging low. Steve opened the passenger door for Robin. She climbed in and he shut the door behind her. He jogs around the car and gets in the driver’s seat, letting out a huff of frustration, “That was disappointing.” he states.
Robin nods in agreement, pulling down the visor to examine herself in the mirror, “Seriously. Do we have any other places we can go today? I don’t know if I can get myself to look any better for an interview than I do now.” She laughs, closing the visor and buckling herself into the seat.
Steve thinks for a moment, buckling himself in and starting the car, “I mean.. I know that Bradley’s Big Buy, the supermarket is hiring? And I know you mentioned the Family Video. We could hit both of those places if you wanted to?” he asks.
Robin turns towards Steve with an excited expression on her face, “You’re so right! Supermarket first?” she grins.
Steve smiles and nods, shifting the gear stick into drive. Something about Robin’s excitement made him feel a glimmer of hope. Maybe they would actually find a place that would take the both of them, “Sounds like a plan.” He pulls out of the parking space and starts the drive over to the supermarket.
The Drive over was quiet, the sound of the wheels against the road and the wind whistling through the slightly cracked windows being the only noise surrounding them. It wasn’t long before they arrived at the supermarket and Steve pulled into a parking spot right outside the store. He parked and turned the car off, stepping out of the car with Robin. They didn’t rush into the store, instead strolling in much more casually this time.
Robin looked around for someone who might be in charge, and quickly set her eyes on a man with a pin that said “manager” on it. She looked at Steve and flicked her head in that direction, beckoning him to follow her. She strolled over to the man, getting there just as he finished up with another customer, “Hi there…” she glanced down at his nametag, “...Melvin! I’m sorry to bother you when you’re working but I heard that you guys were urgently hiring? My friend and I were wondering if we could apply?” Robin put on her most polite smile, her hands going behind her back as she waited for a response. Steve just stood next to her, nodding slightly as if to say “Yeah, what she said.”
The manager, Melvin grinned at them, crossing his arms, “Yes, we are! I will say however, we do have a few qualifications. There is a lot of heavy lifting for newcomers here, mainly back stocking. Would you both be capable of that?” he asked, seemingly looking forward to having some more employees.
Steve perked up at that, “Yeah of co-” he stopped in his tracks when he saw Robin’s face, actively cringing at the idea of carrying heavy loads, “um… are there any parts of working here that… don’t require heavy lifting?” he asks instead. He knew Robin wasn’t the strongest, and was a little bit clumsy, so if there was something else for her to do, that would be preferred.
Melvin shook his head, leaning against the counter, “Unfortunately, no. All of our newcomers start out with stocking, which does involve consistent heavy lifting. But, young man, if you’d be interested, I would be happy to take you on as an employee! You seem like a capable guy.” Melvin offered, gesturing towards Steve.
Steve smiled weakly and shook his head, reaching out to lightly tug on Robin’s shirt, “Thank you sir, I appreciate it, but I think I’ll have to think on that offer. I hope you have a wonderful day!” Steve spun around, Robin following in tow, and they made their way out of the supermarket, back to Steve’s car.
Robin climbed in the passenger seat and groaned, shoving her head into her hands, “Me and my weak arms ruining our job opportunities.” she dragged her hands down her face and let them flop into her lap.
Steve climbed in the driver’s side and leaned back in the seat, turning to look at her, “Hey, Rob it’s okay. We’ve still got at least one more place to check out!” He says, nudging her side with his elbow.
Robin side eyed Steve and gestured towards the road, silently telling him to drive. She was clearly disappointed at another job rejecting them, but there was a certain look in her eye, a sparkle of determination. Steve could tell that she was going to try extra hard to get this next job. Steve sat up and buckled in, turning the car on and pulling out of the lot, heading straight for the Family Video.
The drive over was fairly short and when they pulled into the parking lot of the Family Video, Steve quickly turned into an empty parking spot right in front. Robin turned to look at him, “Do you have a resume on you?” She asks. He frantically searched around for a minute before pulling it out of the back seat of his car, holding it up for her and nodding. She took it out of his hand and read over it as she unbuckled and started to climb out of the car. She cringed as she was reading it, “You put your mom down as a reference?”
Steve turned to look at her confused, turning off the car and climbing out, “Yeah! Why not? She’s like- super well respected” he sped up to open the door for Robin.
Robin rolls her eyes and walks past him into the Family Video, “You’re such a dingus.” she walks straight up to the counter, Steve right behind her, putting hand up in confusion at why he’s being called a dingus. He shakes his head and goes to stand next to her at the counter.
Robin set the resumes down on the counter in front of Keith, “Hey Keith. We’re here about the register job?” she smiled and pushed the resumes forward, closer to him. He looked between them, almost annoyed and then picked the papers up, reading them over. Robin leaned in slightly and tilted her head, “Uh, just be clear, we weren’t fired, you know. The mall burned down and, like, killed a bunch of people.”
Keith looked up at her, unimpressed, “Thanks for sharing. Didn’t know.” He set the resumes back down in front of them and pointed at Robin, “Three favorite movies. Go.”
Robin thought for a moment, “uh… The Apartment, Hidden Fortress, Children of Paradise” She smiled and nodded, feeling confident in her choices.
Keith turned to Steve, snapping his fingers and pointing at him, “You, go.”
Steve looks at Keith blankly, “Favorite movies?”
“Did I stutter?” Keither narrows his eyes.
Steve looked around and thought, “Uh… Animal House, for sure.” Robin scoffed at that.
Keith stared Steve down, snapping at him, “Eyes on me, Harrington”
“Yeah, uh… Star Wars.” Steve threw out there, gesturing at Keith, smiling slightly.
Keith raised his eyebrows, “Which Star Wars” he asked, looking at Steve like he was stupid.
Steve leansleaned in, “The one with the teddy bears. Duh.” he makesmade a noise that soundsed like he’s was trying to imitate an Ewok but it doesn’tdidn't work for him, “No? Uh… Oh! The one that just came out. The one with the DeLorean and Alex P. Keaton and he’s trying to bang his mom.” he laughed but he could tell that Keith wasn't buying it. He smiled awkwardly, “Yeah, those are my top three. Classics.”
Keith sneered at him and looked over at Robin, “You start Monday,” Keith pointed at Steve, “You start, never.”
Robin sighed and leaned over to Steve, “Will you just, um. Will you give us a minute?” Robin said to Steve. He went to ask why but she gave him a look and repeated, “Steve” and he sighed, grabbing his resume and walking away. Robin turned back to Keith, “Alright, you have to understand, Keith, I know his taste is a bit pedestrian, but the dingus has other qualities.”
“He’s a douchebag of the highest order, Robin.” Keith states.
“He was a bit of a prick to us in High School, I’ll grant you that, but he remains… a total chick magnet.” Robin shrugs, pointing that out.
“Yeah, okay, and this is relevant to me how?” Keith asks skeptically.
Robin leaned in, putting her hands on the counter, “Uh, earth to Keith? The ladies will come in just to see him. They’ll come in in droves. Droves, Keith. We sold so much ice cream, they had to get a second shipment in from Michigan. Goddamn Michigan, Keith.” She took a breath in, “And these ladies… These ladies are hot. They’re so very hot.” she smirked, “And there are too many of them for little Steve. He needs assistance.”
Keith thought for a moment, looking at her curiously, “What’s in it for you? You got a thing for him or something?”
Robin looked over at Steve with a faint smile, “We’re just um…” she turned back to Keith, “We’re just friends.”
Keith sighed and nodded, “Fine, whatever. You both start Monday. Don’t make me regret this.”
Robin pumped her fist in the hair and grinned at Keith, “Thanks so much. You won’t regret it.” She grabbed her resume and spun around, gesturing for Steve to follow as she walked out of the Family Video.
She bumped into him when he caught up and giggled, “We got the job.” Steve threw his arms in the air and put a hand out to high-five her. She high-fived him back and they both clambered into Steve’s car and drove off together, excited to start a new job together.