"I didn't need a hero, Billy." Darian sneers, dusting off his coat, eyes glaring.
Billy only smirks, reaching over and untangling one of Darians dark curls, quickly catching himself, pulling his hand back. "It didn't seem like that a minute ago." B...
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Hawkins, Indiana
July 1985
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Starcourt
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"Help!" Robin yells, her voice echoing around the bunker. It also wakes up Steve and Jeffery.
Jeffery automatically gasps while Steve groans from his side. "Hey, would you stop yelling." Steve asks, he's groggy, looks like shit, but alive. Robin perks up, gasping in relief. "Steve! Oh, my God! Are you okay?" Robin yells "My ears are ringing, and I can't really breathe, my eye feels like it's about to pop out of my skull, but, you know, apart from that, I'm doing pretty good." Steve says while Jeffery looks down at his restraints, tugging at them.
"Well, the good news is that they're calling you a doctor." Robin says
Steve scans the room. "Is this his place of work? I love the vibe. Charming." Steve says 'Yeah, tell me about it." Robin grumbles sarcastically
Jeffery bemoans, "Are you guys serious." Jeffery grunts
"Right, back at task. So, okay, do you see that table over there to your right?" Robin asks Steve
Steve lifts his head and he spots the table. Steve nods, "Yeah." Steve and Jeffery answer. "And do you see those scissors?" Robin asks "Uh-huh." Steve hums "Yeah, well, I think that if we all move at the same time, we could get over there, and then maybe I could kick the table and knock them into Steve's lap." Robin says
Steve nods, following along with the plan. "And I could cut the binds." Steve says "Yeah, and we could get out of here. Fuck your smart Robs." Jeffery says
Robin smirks, "Thanks Jeff." Robin says
"Those morons. They left scissors in here?" Steve scoffs, shaking his head. Robin and Jeffery laugh. "Yeah, morons." The two say at the same time. "Total morons." Steve says
"Okay, so, on the count of three, we're gonna hop." Jeffery says "Okay, good, hop on three. I gotcha." Steve says "All right. One, two, three!' Robin shouts
They hop, in unison, and move a few inches closer to the table. "Okay, that worked!" Robin yells, bouncing excitedly in her chair. "Okay." Steve says "All right. Uh, let's try again." Jeffery says
"One, two, three!" Steve counts
Once again, they hop in unison and inch closer to the table. "Holy shit, this is gonna work!" Robin exclaims "We're close. Ready?" Steve asks the two.
"Okay, one, two, three." Robin counts
This time, they're not as coordinated. They tip over and fall to the floor -- still bound to the chairs. Robin starts to laugh -- which actually sounds more like crying, or at least Jeffery thinks so. "It's okay, it's okay. Don't cry. Robin." Jeffery says worried
Robin catches her breath, giggling. Steve tilts his head confused. "Are you laughing?" Steve asks
Still laughing, she shakes her head. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry. It's just... I can't believe... I'm gonna die in a secret Russian base with Steve "The Hair" Harrington and Jeff the killer, no offense." Robin says "Offense taken." Jeff grumbles
"It's just too trippy, man." Robin says "We're not gonna die. We're gonna get out of here, okay? Just-- You gotta let me just think for a second." Steve says
After a moment of silence. "Do you remember, um, Mrs. Click's sophomore history class?" Robin asks "What?" Steve asks
"Mrs. Clickity-Clackity. That's what us band dweebs called her." Jeffery says
Steve sighs. "It was the first period, Tuesdays and Thursdays, so you were always late. And you always had the same breakfast. Bacon, egg, and cheese on a sesame bagel. I sat behind you two days a week for a year. Mister Funny. Mister Cool. The King of Hawkins High himself. Do you even remember me from that class?" Robin asks
Steve stares ahead, sadly. He doesn't respond. "Of course you don't. You were a real asshole, you know that? You were always busy with the cool kids and Darian, god you were a real ass to him, best friends since grade school and you were an ass even to him." Robin muses
Steve shuts his eyes regretfully, "Yeah, I know." Steve sighs
"But it didn't even matter. It didn't matter that you were an ass. I was still... obsessed with you. Even though all of us losers pretend to be above it all, we still just wanna be popular... accepted, normal." Robin says
"If it makes you feel any better, having those things isn't all that great. Seriously. It just baffles me. Everything that people tell you is important, everything that people say you should care about, it's all just...bullshit." Steve says, silently looking to the ground. "But I guess you gotta mess up to figure things out, right?" Steve asks
"I hope so. I feel like my whole life has been... one big error. " Jeffery says, his mind trailing off to Barb.
They share a slight chuckle. "At least it can't get any more messed up than this." Robin says "You know, I wish I'd known you in Click's class.' Steve says
Slightly touched. "Yeah?" Robin asks
Steve nods. "Really. I do. Maybe you could've helped me pass the class. Maybe instead of being here, I'd be on my way to college right now." Steve says "And I would have no idea that there were evil Russians beneath our feet, and I would be happily slinging ice cream with some other schmuck." Robin says with a chuckle.
"Gotta say, though, I liked being your schmuck. It was fun while it lasted." Steve says "It was." Robin says with a smile.
Just then, the door opens. Ozerov enters followed by Doctor Zharkob and three armed soldiers. Zharkov is carrying a briefcase of special interrogation tools. Coincidently, Zharkov is also wearing thick rubber gloves, and a rubber apron over his white coat. He places his briefcase on a nearby table.
Motioning to Steve, Jeffery, and Robin who were on the floor. "Where were you three going?" Ozerov asks with a tsk tsk, he shakes his head as if admonishing small children. Soldiers step in and lift Steve, Jeffery, and Robin upright in their chairs. Ozerov leans over Steve -- inches away from his face.
"Try telling the truth this time, yes? It will make your visit with Dr. Zharkov less painful." Ozerov says
Zharkov shakes a small vile of blue liquid, before screwing it onto an injection gun. He looks over to Ozerov, who gives an approving nod.
To the approaching doctor, Steve begins to beg. "Wait a second. Wait. Hold on. Okay! Wait, wait, wait! What is that thing?" Steve asks as he struggles in his restraints. "It will help you talk." Zharkov says and he grabs Steve by the hair and jabs the huge needle into his neck.
