Chapter Text
Steve Harrington, Robin Buckley and everyone else stared as Jonathan Byers got down on one knee, after Vecna had been defeated- and everyone was in Max’s hospital room.
“Clearly, Jonathan is still trying to outdo you. This is- utterly ridiculous.” Robin shook her head, glancing around the room.
“He’ll win, like Nance will say no to Jonathan- I never had a chance.” Steve couldn’t feel disappointed but, he did. The whole room looked at Nancy, because it had been five minutes and she hadn’t said anything. Instead, she stood there like she’d been slapped in the face - frozen.
“I don’t think he’s won…” Robin trailed off.
“Nancy?” Mike asked, seemingly trying to break her out of whatever spell she was in.
“Hmm?” She blinked, the big sister in her never sleeping.
“I need to get the blood off my hands.” Was all she said, walking around Jonathan and to the sink- everyone looked at her, curiously as she cut the sink on and pumped the soap dispenser- seemingly focused on her hands as she scrubbed.
“I won’t be a housewife- and that’s exactly what you want. Because Joyce had to work all of her life to support you and Will. Never mind the fact that I’m not even properly graduated from high school and I’m eighteen. Were my mother and father friggin married by then? Yeah, but look how that turned out. You get a bitchy unsatisfied housewife, and a man that goes to work, comes home and sits in his damn recliner watching television, completely ignoring the three kids he helped create. They don’t even love each other, they just stay married because they’ve been together- and my mother wants to be a housewife. I don’t want that shit. Have I ever given you the impression that I want that? Because I’m pretty sure everyone in this damn room knows I want a career. Hello- have you even been paying attention to me for a year? Jesus Christ I have a headache - you are a headache.” Nancy had gathered herself after scrubbing the blood from her hands, sounding like the Nancy Wheeler they all knew.
“Nancy, come sit.” Max patted her hospital bed.
“Are you sure? I’m pretty sure I still have monster goo all over me.” Nancy looked skeptical.
“You’re all disgusting- I don’t care. Sinclair can move for a while.” Max waved it off.
“Seriously Nancy, it’s okay. I give Max whatever she wants.” Lucas moved from the bed, flashing Nancy a smile.
“That’s nice of you during her recovery.” Nancy noted, sitting beside Max.
“No- all the time. Lucas does what I want all the time, like a golden retriever.” Max smirked, pleased.
“You’ve trained him well.” Robin noted. Jonathan had left, which everyone rejoiced to.
“Dustin told me about when Vecna almost took you- I’m really glad that you’re not dead.” Max looked at her, that moment lived in his nightmares. The thought of losing Nancy in a final way, he almost couldn’t imagine it.
“It wasn’t nearly as bad as what Vecna did to you or his other victims- I was more of a scapegoat than anything. To deliver a message. But yeah, it was terrifying when I was in there. I can’t imagine how you felt, I’m so happy to see you up and yourself again.” Nancy nodded her head, everyone noticed the haunted look in her eyes.
“Dustin’s childhood crush was Nancy!” Mike yelled out, to break the tension.
“I knew.” Nancy chuckled.
“Well, I stopped when you started dating Steve.” Dustin defended himself.
“Not the first time Steve Harrington has broken someone’s heart.” Robin teased.
“I didn’t even know Henderson!” Steve threw up his hands.
“Heartbroken.” Max smirked.
“No, I was happy for you- you know how it is.” Dustin shakes his head.
“I’d been watching the five of you since I was ten- I know all of you pretty well. Nobody take offense but, Dustin was always my favorite out of Mike’s friends- solely based on the fact that he was the easiest to deal with out of all of you, never gave me any trouble even when he was six. And, it did flatter me.” Nancy laughed, holding a finger up.
“Shit, he still does anything you ask him to. Maybe he’s just naturally easier to deal with.” Lucas shrugged his shoulders.
“Mike should be my favorite but, he’s a punk.” Nancy looked straight at her brother.
“I’m not a punk!” Mike’s mouth opened like a fish.
“Yeah you are.” Lucas argued.
“Are you still going to Boston?” Max asked, slightly deflating.
“I am but, I’ll call all the time. I mean, when one of you gets a license you could even come up and see me. I’d like that, actually. I’ll come down for holidays- I’m not sure I won’t come back to Hawkins after I graduate. The plan is a little blurry right now but, I guess I’ll figure it out.” Nancy answered, Steve saw how excited she was- and he knew that he had to stay out of it. Nancy had always dreamed of getting out of Hawkins, Robin would be leaving too.
“We’ll only be an hour away? Are you kidding?” Robin gasped, she hadn’t realized Smith College and Emerson were so close.
“Shit- really? Fuck, I was terrified of being up there by myself. I know I don’t look it but, I actually am so genuinely scared of being alone.” Nancy laughed with relief.
“We should move in together- please stop me if I’m off base.” Clearly, Robin and Nancy were planning.
“One of us would have to leave an hour early on days we have classes but, I am fine with that. Like I said, I was terrified of going up there alone. I would have done it but, I’d prefer not to be alone. We’re going to be pretty broke- splitting the rent and bills would be nice. How about you look for apartments and then we can look for jobs.” Nancy was always good at planning. Steve smiled fondly at the two most important women in his life- his best friend and the girl he loved.
“I was hoping you’d say yes- I’m prepared for rejection by default. I’m so excited.” Robin really was.
“We can get to know each other better, how many years are you going to be at Smith?” Nancy looked at Robin.
“Four. Then, I could really go into Advocacy, Education, media and Journalism, Law and public policy- because I’m studying Feminism Throry.” Robin responded, Max clapped her hands.
“I applaud you, Robin. I’m obviously going to be an Investigative Journalist- that would take four years, five if I go to graduates school. We’ll see how it goes. I do want to be the best, but I might be burnt out.” Nancy told Robin.
“Come on Nance, you know you’re an overachiever.” Steve smirked at her.
“Steve, you know me too well.” Nancy gave him a look.
“I’ve known you for four years, Nance. It would be weird if I didn’t.” Steve had a ghost of a smile…he was happy for them, but he would be by himself.
“Don’t- be afraid to visit. I don’t like you being all alone here.” Nancy seemed to read his mind.