Work Text:
It's like every other morning, he's on his way to work, gets in the car, and turns on the radio, the same station he always listens to. Pink Pony Club is playing in the background and Robin's voice drifts in, chatting about trivial things as usual.
"...it appears to be a sunny day, and we hope it stays that way. Anyway enough about the weather, it's boring... But what's not boring is the gossip I have for all of you guys. As we all know I'm a raging homosexual, like... I like boobs, girls...so yeah, I'm a lesbian"
As always he's ready to start the day, with the chaotic energy of Robin and her crazy stories. It's a long way to the publishing house where he works, and this radio station brings back so many memories and nostalgic moments. He likes to reminisce about that time when everything was easier and he didn't have so many regrets.
"And today... I received an invitation, an invitation to a wedding. What wedding, you might ask? Drum roll " You can also hear background sound effects "My first girlfriend is marrying." A long pause. Pink Pony Club stops playing in the background "To a man. So there's no better way to start this week than by dedicating this first song to my ex-girlfriend who I know is listening to this station..."
Sound effects are heard again to add suspense to the broadcast, a low rumble rising beneath the host’s voice as if the studio itself were holding its breath. The announcer, Robin, pauses deliberately, letting the tension settle, and then… a faint shuffle of papers, a chair creaking, a whispered cue off‑mic.
"But we don't want to start the day being resentful, right? Instead, I'll dedicate this first song to my old friends from Hawkins who I hope are listening." Another song is now playing softly in the background as she speaks. Is that Smalltown Boy?
"Oh, my dear Hawkins, a small town full of mystery, magic and fairytales where anything and nothing can happen...Such fond memories..." There's another pause, this time sorter as if she were remembering those moments.
"Well, as I was saying this song goes to that knight"
knight? Wait, is this for real?
"in shining armor who wears his heart on his sleeve"
Is Robin talking about him? She cannot be talking about him, right? It has to be someone else. For sure.
"and can only dream of living a life full of magic, so he hides in his fantasy stories"
Okay, that's too specific...
"I hope you can finally find your wizard,"
Wizard? Not mage?
"or sorcerer or whatever bullshit you want to call him"
Okay definitely it's no El, it's a him. Maybe it's... But it cannot be referring to him, cause how would she know about that?
"and live your happily ever after together. You both deserve it"
More stupid sounds effects are heard and Smalltown Boy stops playing. Okay, this is starting to get a little scary. It has to be another of Robin's friends from Hawkins. But as far as he can remember, Robin's other friends were his sister Nancy's group, and none of them are queer. The only other gay kid in our group is Will, and he is definitely not the "knight in shining armour". Will's the cleric. She must have made a mistake.
"So buckle up, turn the volume all the way up, and let’s start this ride with the one and only Chappell Roan, with Good Luck, Babe!"
The song start to play with a catchy and cheerful rhythm.
It's fine, it's cool
You can say that we are nothing, but you know the truth
He is listening carefully to the lyrics, simply because he thinks she might be dedicating them to him, but that is probably not the case.
And guess I'm the fool
With her arms out like an angel through the car sunroof
I don't wanna call it off
But you don't wanna call it love
You only wanna be the one that I call "baby"
You can kiss a hundred boys in bars
Shoot another shot, try to stop the feeling
You can say it's just the way you are
Make a new excuse, another stupid reason
Good luck, babe (well, good luck), well, good luck, babe (well, good luck)
You'd have to stop the world just to stop the feeling
Good luck, babe (well, good luck), well, good luck, babe (well, good luck)
You'd have to stop the world just to stop the feeling
Wow, that's a beautiful voice. The lyrics of the song are strangely specific, but he doesn't identify with them at all. So why would Robin be dedicating it to the knight in shining armor?
I'm cliché, who cares?
It's a sexually explicit kind of love affair
And I cry, it's not fair I just need a little lovin',
I just need a little air
Think I'm gonna call it off
Even if you call it love
I just wanna love someone who calls me "baby"
You can kiss a hundred boys in bars
Shoot another shot, try to stop the feeling
You can say it's just the way you are
Make a new excuse, another stupid reason
Good luck, babe (well, good luck), well, good luck, babe (well, good luck)
You'd have to stop the world just to stop the feeling
Good luck, babe (well, good luck), well, good luck, babe (well, good luck)
You'd have to stop the world just to stop the feeling
It's definitely a very beautiful song with a lot of feeling. And he desperately tries to find meaning in it, something he's not getting, because he doesn't quite understand it.
When you wake up next to him in the middle of the night
With your head in your hands, you're nothing more than his wife
Okay, maybe robin it's onto something.
And when you think about me, all of those years ago
And without warning, tears begin to fall down his cheeks uncontrollably. Everything clicked into place at once. He doesn't know how Robin knows this, how she knows his best-kept secret, but it all makes sense now.
You're standing face to face with "I told you so"
You know I hate to say, "I told you so"
You know I hate to say, but, I told you so
He cannot hold back his tears, his vision blurs, and he is grateful to find himself alone on a long, clear road, a straight line with nothing to distract him. All those feelings he has been bottling up all this time are pouring out unchecked. Because, she is right, he finds himself thinking about him again and again after all these years.
You can kiss a hundred boys in bars
Shoot another shot, try to stop the feeling (well, I told you so)
You can say it's just the way you are
Make a new excuse, another stupid reason
He has made so many excuses, lies. He has lied to his parents, his sisters, to Eleven... And although it pains him to admit it, he has lied to Will as well. His best friend. His other half. The only one who understands him perfectly. The one who has been with him through thick and thin and have never judge him in the slightly.
Good luck, babe (well, good luck), well, good luck, babe (well, good luck)
You'd have to stop the world just to stop the feeling
Good luck, babe (well, good luck), well, good luck, babe (well, good luck)
You'd have to stop the world just to stop the feeling
You'd have to stop the world just to stop the feeling
You'd have to stop the world just to stop the feeling
You'd have to stop the world just to stop the feeling
As the music ends, another song by Chappell Roan starts playing, he faintly hears Robin announce the name of the song, The Subway. He can't stop thinking about those words, which have penetrated him as deeply as if they were his own thoughts, as if they had been torn from him without permission.
He has spent his entire life living a lie. And the worst lie of all is that he has lied to himself. Drowning his thoughts and desires in words and stories. Not wanting to face reality. Maybe it's time. Maybe after all these years, it's not too late.
He has arrived at his destination and parks in the same spot as always. He needs to take a few seconds before going up to the office. The radio is still playing. Several songs have played before reaching the parking lot, and a new one has started. He listens to the first notes of the song, a relaxed and nostalgic rhythm. It calms his nerves considerably, and he uses this moment to try to compose himself. He likes the song; it's cute. And suddenly he hears the chorus:
Me and Michael (whoa)
Solid as they come (whoa)
Me and Michael (whoa)
It's not a question now (whoa)
He has to laugh; the hint is obvious at this point, as if Robin laughed in his face. He can't help but laugh out loud. He has to say that it helped for him to clear his head. This is not the time for this, especially early in the morning when he has to work. He takes a few moments to reflect, and in those moments, he promises himself not to let this realization slip away. As soon as he gets off work, he'll have time to think things through and maybe do the right thing for once and stop lying to himself and, above all, stop lying to Will and finally confess what he has been keeping to himself for so long. But for now, a boring day full of paperwork awaits him.
Good Luck, Babe!