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Summer 1990, Will had finished his first year of college, something he never thought he would live to do just a few years ago. But here he is, back home, in Hawkins, sitting on the back steps of his mom and hoppers cabin watching as everyone reconnects for the first time since Christmas.
Not that he doesn’t want to see everyone, he does. Just sometimes, it’s a lot. At this moment it is just easier to watch; music in his ears.
Will never used to be so jumpy. But after the upside down, the demo-gorgon-dogs-bats, and vecna? He always seems to be on edge, not that anyone blames him for it. Even after everything was over, they had finally won. It never truly feels like it’s over, it probably never will.
Music grounds him; always has. Helps to keep his mind off of everything that will be forever lurking in the back of his mind. Waiting for a vulnerable moment to escape back into the forefront of his world.
A hand finds itself on his shoulder, cold enough he can feel it through the cotton fabric of his shirt. This is it. This is the end. He has finally found himself back on death's door, no longer waiting to be pulled under. Will harshly swats his hand towards the figure next to him swinging his body around to face it. Well crap. “I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to hit you,” he says, bringing his hands up to cup his mouth.
Will brings his eyes up to meet with a girl, dressed in black leggings, a black lace skirt, a tee-shirt that appears to also be black but may be red? Topped with a dark grey cardigan, and is covered in jewellery. Nothing she is wearing should go together but somehow all looks cohesive. He allows his eyes to meet with hers, they are warm, understanding as she takes a seat next to him. “All good, don’t worry about it kid, didn’t mean to scare you,” Robin reassures.
“Whatcha listening to?” She asks, tilting her head to the side in a way that makes Will feel safe in ways he cannot describe with words.
“Plainsong, it’s by-”
“I didn’t know you liked The Cure,” a smile spreading across her face.
“Yeah,” Will utters shyly. “This one’s my favourite.”
“Hm,” Robin says calmly, as if to say go on.
“It’s just… it almost makes me feel safe, you know?” She does know. “It’s calm, I need that sometimes with everything that happened. It feels comforting. And I know that doesn’t make any sense but the song just feels warm?” It comes out as more of a question than he intends it to. “Just the concept of a life where nothing happens, where everything is totally mundane is just so out of reach. But it’s something I long for, I miss when I could live in my own little bubble and not have to worry about all the upside down shit. It’s like what Hawkins used to be like: this little town that no one cared about, where nothing happened. I miss that.” He lets out a heavy sigh, “sorry for rambling, that was a lot.”
”Don’t sweat it, it makes sense”
“It does?”
“Makes total sense.” She looks him in the eyes calmly before scooting closer to Will, wrapping her arm around him, placing her hand genuinely on his elbow. Jesus her hands are cold. “Sorry my hands are cold,” Robin says, leaning her head on his shoulder. Almost as if she is reading his mind.
He is safe. Comfortable in her presence. They have this unspoken understanding of each other, they are alike in so many ways. Ways Will never thought he would find someone to relate to, but here he is. And here she is next to him, making everything feel like it is going to be ok. And maybe, it will be.