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"Dude, how are you still single?" Robin asked, partially teasing and partially genuine as she re-sorted and re-stocked videotapes. "You're, like, the hottest young guy in town. I'm literally a lesbian and even I can see that"
"I don't know" Steve shrugged, standing behind the counter and watching the doorway.
It was a slow day, and they'd only had a few customers come in. He liked days like this, where it was just him and Robin. It gave them the space to talk about things they couldn't really talk about around other people.
"What about you and Wheeler?" Robin asked. "Isn't she, like, getting tired of Byers or whatever?"
"They're still together, though" Steve pointed out. "And, honestly, I'm not sure I actually like her like that"
"Wait, for real?" Robin poked her head from around the video rack to stare at him in disbelief. "She was, like, your world"
"I just don't think I feel that way about her" Steve shrugged. Robin chuckled and nodded, turning back to the videotapes.
"What about guys?" Robin asked. "See any cute guys around town? That Eddie Munson guy seems like exactly your type"
"Nah, none of them call out to me, y'know?"
"Are you sure you're bi?" Robin joked, though Steve went still at this. Sensing something was off, she set down the stack of tapes and went to see him more clearly. "Harrington?"
"I mean, I feel the same about guys as I do girls" Steve reasoned. "So that makes me bi, right?"
"Well, how do you feel about girls?"
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"Nothing" Steve admitted. Robin gave him a small, understanding smile. "I mean, I love being friends with chicks, but whenever I try to express anything beyond that, it's all... Performative"
"And that's the same with guys?"
"Well, yeah"
"Yeah, I don't think you're bi, Steve" Robin smiled. He nodded.
"What am I, then?" he asked, feeling embarrassed and confused.
"I'm not sure" Robin admitted. "But there's been plenty of people throughout history who were happy alone. "I mean, Marilyn Monroe didn't care about sex or anything like that and she was the sex symbol of the 50s" she went on. Steve smiled. He always liked seeing Robin light up whenever she started talking about the niche things she knew or cared about. "Maybe you're just the Marilyn Monroe of Hawkins"
"You're ridiculous, you know that"
"And you love it"
"Yeah" Steve smiled, feeling more at peace with himself. "I do"