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Thank god Keith let Robin leave early. A shift without Steve is literal torture. Customer after customer, after shitflick movie, after fuck all stupid shit, all day.
The downside though? No ride. So here she is, biking home.
Well home as in Steve's house.
Why not bother Steve on his day off? What else are best friends for anyway? Honestly.
She squeezes the breaks as she approaches the mansion, parking her bike close to the garage and then walking up the fronts steps to the door.
She approaches the door, getting up on her tiptoes to feel around for the key on the frame.
After she finds the item, she fumbles with the lock and enters the quiet house, dropping the key in the bowl near the entryway.
She can hear faint music coming from upstairs.
ABBA she guesses. Billy Joel, maybe.
Man she really needs to expand Steve's music taste...
She pulls off her shoes, putting them in the small rack by the door, and padding up the carpeted stairs.
The music gets louder as she walks up to Steve's bedroom.
"Steve!" She shouts in her most annoying sing song voice she could muster up.
No response.
"Ugh." She groans and knocks a few times before giving up and barging in.
"Steve?"
Robin said, walking in, eyes landing on him seated in front of his full length mirror.
...
Robin stared at him, dumbfounded. Every type of emotion swirling through her head, all at once.
At the noise, Steve froze, his entire body tense with fear(?)
She could see it when Steve realized, his little bubble wasn't just popped; but obliterated.
His breathe hitched. Robin heard a small, surprised whimper as he just stared at her in the reflection.
Robin stared right back.
Steve, her very much straight, most masculine guy you’ll ever meet, friend, was sit in front of the mirror, lipstick in hand, with a face full of makeup. (amazingly done she might add)
But thats not even what shocks her most. What really gets her is what hes wearing.
A pink, soft, looking dress hung on his body. The fabric straining slightly against the muscle. Frilly sleeves hung low and tight over his broad shoulders.
Now, if robin wasnt so absolutly shocked, she would absolutely be jealous of him right now. He looks...
But before she could fully process her thoughts,
"Robin..." was said, so so softly she couldve mistook it for the air conditioning.
"i-i..i didnt.." he started, hesitating. Biting his lip to stop it from quivering.
He was scared.
Tears welt up in Steve's eyes, shining against the yellow tinted light of the room.
Steve blinked and settled himself quickly, still shaking. Gently capping the lipstick and setting it down, hesitating as he stood. Hands tightening into fists as he walked past Robin.
"Steve-" she tried. But he just walked right past her, out of the room, right down the hallway and into the upstairs bathroom.
She heard the door softly click shut and lock.
She heard the tab start to run, small sniffles muffled by it.
"Steve..." she tries again, treading lightly.
"Go away, Robin."
Robin cringes. Steve never talks to her rudely, even remotely.
His voice is rough and wet with emotion.
"Steve." She says firmly.
The tap kept running, she heard small sniffs and whimpers.
Robin sighed, head bumping into the wood of the door.
"Open the door Steve. Please? I..you know I won't judge you. I mean, look at me." She says, attempting to joke.
She heard a wet huff on the other side.
Progress!
"Steve, you know I don't care if you wear make up, o-or if you like crossdressing or whatever." she laughs a bit, nervous.
"It's not that." Steve's muffled voice comes through. Quiet, hesitant, almost like it wasn't for her.
"What?" Robin asks, slightly confused now.
It's quiet for a moment. She thinks maybe Steve finally got tired of her nagging and jumped out the window to escape. But then, she hears the soft click of the lock again.
She smiles slightly to herself, waiting a moment, before grabbing the handle and opening the door.
Steve, is sitting on the ground, back to the tub edge. And he.... let's just say he looks rough.
Hes practically curled into himslef. Legs to his chest, hands tugging lightly in his hair.
Makeup is smeared across his face and rubbed on his hands. Mascara runs down his cheeks in tears stains, eyes red rimmed and shiny with those unshed. Lipstick was also smeared across his cheek from the corner of his mouth, almost as if he tried to get it off in a rush, frantically swiping at the cosmetics.
And the pink dress from before, was crumpled on the ground beside him, leaving him in just boxers and a baggy shirt he must have had in the room.
Her whole demeanor softened at the sight.
Robin hesitated just slightly, fingers lingering on the cold metal of the door handle, tapping a beat, before moving away and walking inside the bright room.
She's cautious.
When Steve is upset, she's learned to approach him like he's a scared animal. Don't push, don't prod. Not unless you want him to shut down completely and dismiss whatever he was thinking about.
She walks over, feet on tile loud in the silence.
She sits across from him, back hitting the wall with a small thump.
...
It's quiet for a moment. Robin breaking it with a small "Hey."
"Hi." Voice muffled in his crossed arms.
He still hasn't looked at her.
"You okay?"
His eyes finally meet hers, only to give her a deadpan look, one eyebrow raised.
Robin cringes slightly, leaning on the wall with a awkward huff.
"Okay yeah not a good question."
Steve rolls his eyes slightly, a small smile on his lips.
Robin fiddles with her thumbs, unsure what to say.
"Steve."
"Hm?"
"You know I don't care if you wear makeup."
"I know."
"It's not just a girl thing you know." She huffs like it's the most obvious thing in the world.
But for some reason, that seemed to strike a chord in Steve, finally snapping with its last note. His eyes shone with fresh tears, face crumpling.
Oh no. Oh shit. What did she say? She has a habit of saying the wrong thing and not realizing it-
"That's the thing Robin!" his voice shakes, cracking as he raises it slightly. Hands back in his hair, tugging harder than before.
She flinches slightly at the volume
Steve shoots her an apologetic look, before looking away just as quickly. The new tears run down his face, rolling off his chin and dropping onto bare legs.
"I just.." his voice croaks. He swallows.
"That's the thing Robs..." He practically whispers.
He raises his head now, making hesitant eye contact with Robin.
"I...I want it to be a girl thing."
Okay now she’s really confused.
"But...you're a boy?"
…
"Robin…” he says softly, looking at her with expectant, sad, eyes.
wha- oh.
"Oh."
Steve chuckles sadly.
"Oh." He- She repeats.
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