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The afternoon sun was warm against the grass behind the Hopper cabin.
For the first time in what felt like forever, things were... okay.
Not perfect. Max still looked thinner than she used to. She got tired faster than anyone wanted to admit. Every once in a while she'd reach up and rub at the scar hidden beneath her hair like she was making sure it was real. But she was here.
Alive.
And that was enough.
Everyone had gathered around her on June 1st, 1987. Dustin was animatedly describing a movie he'd seen while Lucas sat beside Max with his shoulder pressed against hers. El was showing Max a drawing she'd made. Steve was unsuccessfully trying to convince Erica that he deserved respect.
"You deserve a punch in the face," Erica informed him.
"See? This is what I deal with."
Nobody felt particularly sorry for him.
A little ways away, Mike and Will sat together beneath a tree, sharing a bag of chips.
Neither of them noticed Robin approaching until she dropped down between them.
"Hey, nerds."
Mike nearly jumped out of his skin.
"Jesus, Robin!"
"Not Jesus."
She popped a chip into her mouth.
"Robin."
Will laughed.
Robin studied them both for a moment.
They looked happy.
Really happy.
Mike's shoulder was touching Will's.
Will was smiling more than he had in years.
Robin knew enough to know what was happening there.
She also knew enough to know that nobody else seemed to.
Yet.
"Come with me."
Mike frowned.
"What?"
"Come with me."
"Why?"
Robin rolled her eyes.
"Because I said so."
"That's not a reason."
"It is if you're twenty-two and cooler than you."
Will laughed again.
Mike groaned.
Five minutes later Robin had successfully dragged both boys away from the others and around the side of the cabin.
Steve noticed them leaving.
"Where are you taking them?"
Robin pointed at him.
"You don't ask questions."
"That's concerning."
"Good."
Steve looked concerned anyway.
Once they were alone, Mike folded his arms.
"Okay. Why are we hiding behind a cabin?"
Robin looked between them.
Then she smiled.
Not her usual sarcastic grin.
A softer one.
"Because somebody should probably tell you guys a few things."
Immediately both boys turned red.
"Tell us what?" Will asked.
Robin reached into her jacket pocket.
"Older sibling advice."
"You aren't our sibling."
"Emotionally I am."
Mike opened his mouth.
Robin pointed at him.
"Don't."
He closed it.
"Good choice."
She pulled out two small objects.
Will's eyes widened first.
Then Mike's.
Pins.
Tiny rainbow pride pins.
For a second nobody spoke.
The world felt strangely quiet.
Robin looked down at them.
"They're not much."
Will swallowed.
"Robin..."
She shrugged.
"When I was your age I didn't know anybody like me."
Her voice was unusually gentle.
"I thought I was completely alone."
Mike glanced at Will.
Will was staring at the pins.
"So."
Robin handed one to each of them.
"I figured maybe you shouldn't have to feel that way."
Neither boy moved.
Robin sighed dramatically.
"Oh my God, you're both gonna make me emotional."
"You're emotional?" Mike asked.
"Shut up."
She reached forward and gently took the collar of Mike's shirt.
"Hold still."
"What are you doing?"
Instead of answering, Robin clipped the pin to the inside of his shirt.
Hidden from view.
Mike looked down.
The rainbow was barely visible.
"You can't even see it."
"Exactly."
Then she reached for Will.
Will stood perfectly still as she attached the second pin.
The metal rested just inside his flannel shirt.
Close to his chest.
Close to his heart.
Robin stepped back and admired her work.
"There."
Will touched the fabric carefully.
Like he was afraid the pin might disappear.
Mike did the same.
Neither of them knew what to say.
Robin's expression softened.
"You don't have to be loud."
They looked at her.
"You don't have to tell anybody before you're ready."
Her gaze flickered between them.
"You don't owe anyone explanations."
Will blinked hard.
Mike's throat tightened.
Robin continued.
"But you also don't have to be ashamed."
Silence.
The distant sound of Dustin yelling about something floated through the trees.
Robin smiled.
"It's hidden."
She tapped Will's chest lightly.
"But it's still there."
Then she tapped Mike's.
"Close to your hearts."
For a moment nobody spoke.
Then Will surprised her by stepping forward and hugging her.
Robin froze.
"Oh no."
Will laughed softly.
"Oh yes."
Robin awkwardly patted his shoulder.
Mike joined in a second later.
Now Robin was trapped between two emotional teenage boys.
"This is awful."
"You love it," Mike said.
"I hate every second."
She absolutely did not.
Will pulled away first.
His eyes were suspiciously shiny.
"Thank you."
Robin's sarcastic mask slipped for just a second.
"Yeah."
Mike looked down at the hidden pin inside his shirt.
Then at Will.
Then back at Robin.
"Thank you."
Robin nodded.
"Just remember something."
"What?"
She smirked.
"The fact that you're both disasters doesn't mean you don't deserve happiness."
Mike snorted.
"That's your advice?"
"Yep."
"That's terrible advice."
"It's the best advice you'll ever get."
A few minutes later they returned to the others.
Nobody noticed the tiny pride pins hidden inside their shirts.
Nobody except Robin.
As she watched Mike instinctively reach for Will's hand when they sat down together, she smiled to herself.