Strawberry Ice Cream [steddie]

Blue Raspberry

CW: canon-typical violence

Wednesday, July 3

"Code red, I repeat code red, does anyone copy?" Dustin says into his walkie-talkie. "This is a code red, I repeat a code red. This is a code red, I repeat, a code red, does anyone copy? We are innocent children and we are trapped under Starcourt Mall. The Red Army has infiltrated Hawkins, and if we are found, they will torture and kill us."

They're on top of the elevator again, after Dustin insisting that the extra height was important (like they aren't a million feet underground already). Steve went with him, again, because like hell he's leaving the kid alone for one second.

He's only sort of regretting it, now.

"Hey!" Steve interrupts. "Gotta take it easy on that thing. Gonna drain the battery."

"The mall just opened."

"So?"

"So someone could be in range."

"What do you think, Petey the Mall Cop is gonna rappel down here and save the day?"

"All right, why are you such a cranky pants after getting to spend the night with Robin?"

"Shh! Jesus Christ." Steve rolls his eyes. Not this again. "Will you just give up on your creepy dream already?"

"I heard you guys talking all night."

"Yeah, we were trying to keep calm like responsible adults while you children were sleeping. And I was talking to both Robin and Eddie, okay?"

Dustin crosses his arms. "Do you like Eddie, then?"

For a minute Steve just stares at Dustin. Then he remembers to act normal. "I think so? He keeps acting like we're friends, so, I guess we are now."

"He seems cool."

"Yeah. He's into all that nerd shit you are, so."

Dustin grins. "Are you gonna be into it too, now?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Steve turns and walks to the edge of the elevator.

"Just that if you're so sure you don't wanna date Robin, maybe—what are you doing?!"

Steve scoffs at the kid's accusing tone. "What does it look like I'm doing, I'm taking a leak, look away!" He looks back at Dustin who's just staring at him in mild disgust. "Look away!" He finally does. Steve sighs. Really, what else was he supposed to do? There's no bathroom down here.

After a second, Steve hears Robin call from below. "Can you redirect your stream, please?" Then, quieter, snickering that Steve is ninety-percent sure is Eddie.

He turns. He's a gentleman, at least.

Just after he's finished and turned around, the hatch opens and Eddie pops up. "What's up? Having a party without me?"

Steve rolls his eyes. "You could've come up here anytime."

"I wasn't sure what was worse, listening to the repeated radioing for help or Erica and Robin arguing."

Dustin grins. "We won you over?"

Eddie climbs the rest of the way up, and closes the hatch. "Yup. They're debating whether it's safe to drink the green stuff."

That catches Steve's attention. "You told them no, right? They decided no, right?"

Eddie laughs. "Don't worry, Robin did that for me. Your babysitter alarms can rest."