The Drive-In

16

Steve stays crouched and hidden under the counter of Family Video, silently cursing his luck.

Of course, it made sense that during a life-altering discussion with Robin about Steve potentially having a crush on a guy, mid-way through, that guy turns up.

The door opens, and Steve can't quite make out what they are saying, but he can almost feel the low timbre of Eddie's voice, shortly followed by a slight rattling of one of the chains attached to him.

Robin quickly jogs back around to Steve's side of the counter.

"So, Eddie, how can I help you today?" Robin chirps in her friendliest customer service tone. Which Steve is absolutely not used to hearing, so much so that it makes him screw up his face, but soon he realises he's not the only one.

A clatter of tapes above him and a quiet strained, "Are you feeling ok, Buckley?"

"Yeah! Yeah...really great" Robin adds, a slight panic in her voice as her leg bumps into Steve.

"Er...well... I'M PROBABLY GONNA SPEND A LOT OF TIME HERE BECAUSE IM SO INDECISIVE!!" Eddie yells around the store before dropping to a much quieter, "Do you need me to call the cops?"

Steve melts under the counter. This loud little freak had stubborn-ed his way in here because he thought Robin was in danger. Jesus Christ! Couldn't life have thrown him a softball first? You know, here is a little crush for you, Steve. This guy is kinda cute. Instead, Steve is contending with being taken to a great height and dropped to fall for this guy to his doom, and he just gets kept getting more and more adorable.

Steve was used to the girls he dated. They were all cute, and if he was lucky, they were funny. If he was really lucky, they might physically show their affection or compliment him.

Then there was Nancy. She was all those things, but she fiercely cared about things that mattered to her and defended the people she loved.

But this guy did those things too, sure he probably wasn't as smart as nancy, but he didn't make Steve feel dumb and he didn't think Steve was bullshit. Or, at the very least, he didn't say so.

"The cops? No, why would I...ohhh," Robin says in realisation.

"BECAUSE IF THERE WAS ANYONE ELSE HIDING IN HERE THINKING OF DOING ANYTHING DUMB, THEY SHOULD PROBABLY LEAVE BECAUSE-" Eddie bellows.

"No, Eddie, these are just...um...gifts. Yeah, gifts...gifts for my friend," Robin stumbles a little over her words.

Steve facepalms silently under the desk. What kind of friend would have these gifts?? Come on, Robin!! Then Steve thinks about it. They wouldn't be all that bad as gifts after what they'd all been through.

Eddie snorts out a laugh, "Your friend likes fireworks and huge prop knives, huh?"

"Eddie...no...put that down...that is not a prop, ok? It's very real and very sharp. Don't...Eddie, that is not a toy!!" Robin reprimands over Eddie's giggles.

Eddie's mischievous laughter makes Steve sigh quietly. He wishes he could see him throwing this knife around right now. He probably looks hot as hell doing it. Dumb ass counter with no gaps!

"Alright, Buckley geez. No need to get all uptight about it!"

There is a slight clatter on the counter above. Steve looks up and can just see Eddie clasped hands hanging over this side of the counter.

"Ok, now we've established you aren't in danger. So who are you hiding back there?" Eddie asks in a knowing voice, as his finger points downwards, almost directly at Steve. Was he part bloodhound or something? How did he know?