A Crack In The Glass (steddie with some Rickie)

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It had been several days since Eddie and steves last encounter at the basketball game, and all Steve could think about was eddie. Mostly out of confusion. Eddie made Steve feel a way no one else had. Not friends, family, women he dated, no one was comparable.

Robin seemed to notice how he really isn't acting himself, and decided to try to interrogate him on it. There was usually a 50/50 chance Steve would actually tell her the truth right this second, but it was still worth a shot.

She sat down next to him on the counter, where he was staring off into seemingly nothing in thought. It's been like this for days, nothing has changed.

“Steve, why in the world have you been staring at the doorbell?” She asked, and he looked over to her.

“What?” He asked blankly, and she sighed while shaking her head.

“What's up?” SHe asked sincerely.

“What do you mean? Nothings- nothings up.” He replied with a small, fake chuckle.

“Steve.” She said sternly, and he glanced around to see if there were any customers, which of course there weren't.

“Ok, fine, but it's really confusing me right now so give me a second to gather my thoughts and to think about how to word this.” she nodded, and let him take a good minute of silence. He did his best at organizing the jumbled mess that was this train of thought, trying to convey it in a way that would make most sense to someone who wasn't experiencing what he was.

He let out a sigh. “Ok.. like- i dunno, this is gonna sound weird. But like, I almost have this… want or need or something to become friends with eddie. But at the same time he makes me feel nervous and-and awkward, it's almost like I'm intimidated by him or something.” Steve said slowly, to which Robin nodded and chuckled. “But i also have this great want to get to know him, i want to learn stupid things about him like what his favorite color is and if he owns any pets.its like- i wanna learn stupid things about him, stuff that seems almost pointless to know.” Steve said. Robin continued chuckling.

“How could I be so fascinated but scared of someone at the same time, robin?” Steve's thoughts seemed full of uncertainty and questions to ask the only girl he seemed to trust anymore.

“Steve, have you ever honestly had a crush?” she replied, a dumb and all-knowing smirk plastered on her face. Steve's eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

“No, robin. I'm not- im not gay. This isn't a crush.” He said with a confident certainty.

“Well then Steve, how about this? Tell me what a crush is like for you, and I'll see if I can properly diagnose you.” She said,

“Well, I'll just feel like- really happy and confused around this person. Like they'll make me excited easily, and stuff.” He said. Robin laughed.

“Steve, dear, that's not a crush.” She replied.

“It really isn't.” Chimed a voice. Vickie, to be more specific, who entered without setting off the bell. She grabbed his hand. “An coming from an absolutely bisexual person, i thoink youre expeirencing your first bit of bisexual panic.” steve turned his head like a confused puppy when hearing the word ‘bisexual’. He'd never heard the term before. Robin and vickie sighed,

“Oh dear.” Robin said softly, as vickie began her explanation of sexualities. By the end of it, Steve was a little less confused but a whole lot more terrified of what he'd figured out about himself. First off; it was indeed true. A small part of him had grown attracted to Eddie, for one reason or another. And on top  of it, the term ‘bisexuality’ seemed to fit him well. He wasn't sure how to feel about himself now, he felt almost confused but certain at the same time. Deep down, he knew that was the answer, but he continued to deny it.

He didnt like something about the term bisexual. Something about it made his skin crawl, or something. Maybe it was because he related to it. Maybe it was because he wasn't used to it. He wasn't entirely sure, however. He was now sitting on the floor, the two girls facing him in silence, trying to read his expressions. His face was just…. Blank.

“I think you broke him.” Robin said, laughing.

“Ok, here. Do you know the band queen?” Vickie asked, grabbing his hand. He nodded. “Freddie mercury, hes bisexual. He likes both men and women. It's a completely valid sexuality, you don't have to just like one gender or the other.” He seemed to glance around again.

“I dunno.. It sounds right for me but I'm not sure I'm even comfortable… liking guys.” he hesitantly admitted.

“It took me a long time to come to terms with my sexuality too.” Vickie said. Robin watched as they had a small moment together. It almost made robin feel a sense of confirmation from steve, that vickie was a good partner for her. “I just realized one day that I had… the biggest crush on Tammy thompson.” Robin and Steve looked at each other and shared a laugh. “But when I realized it, it was like I rejected it. I immediately began trying to convince myself I liked guys, which I did and still do, and ended up dating this guy. He kinda made me feel like it was.. Ok, to like both.” she said, a small  smile curling the end of her lips.

“So.. I am allowed to like both guys and girls?” He asked for confirmation, and vickie nodded with a giggle. “I wish I'd known that was an option about, uhh, 2 years ago.” Steve said,chuckling,

“But now you admit it, you have a huge crush on eddie?” Robin asked.

“Hey, whoa, I never said that!” He replied defensively, feeling his face heat by even just the mention of Eddie's name.

“Oh my god look at your face, you totally do!” Robin laughed and she and Steve shared a hug.

“Oh you best stop before i tell vickie who you like!-” Robins hand smothered Steve's face to shut him up.

“No! You can't do this- or I'll tell Eddie you're basically drooling by the mention of him!” She said, laughing as he whined, still muffled by Robin's hands. He pulled her hands away from his face.

“Fine, I wont! I won't!” he said, and she lowered her hands from his face.