Three's Company Too

Closer To Fine

Robin was not a morning person, but Nancy was not a gentle knocker. Her tiny fist banged against the front door loud enough to reach Robin's bedroom and wake her from her slumber. Steve wasn't home, but his car was in the driveway so she thought he was there.

Robin groaned from under the covers as the knocking continued. She wasn't a fan of being woken up by anyone, but especially at the ungodly hour it seemed to be. Begrudgingly, she threw the covers back and climbed out of bed, still half asleep as she made her way to the front door. She fumbled with the lock and opened the door to find Nancy standing on the other side, looking just a little too cheerful and alert for the hour.

The smile Nancy wore was clearly to mask her seething rage. "Where is Steve?" she asked in a saccharine tone. 

Robin yawned, still trying to rub the sleep from her eyes as she leaned against the doorframe. "He's at the gym," she replied, her voice still groggy. "Won't be back an hour at least." Robin glanced blearily at Nancy, who was clearly trying to maintain a pleasant facade, despite her irritation. "Is something wrong?"

"Yes, in fact, I do believe there is," Nancy said, more than happy to clarify with an abridged version of the rant she planned to scream in Steve's face. "He's trying to rope my little brother into this now too? And all the kids? Now my mom is asking all these questions and she's about to have me sent to an institution!" 

Robin let out a sigh as she processed Nancy's words. She was also half to blame for all this, accompanying him in rounding up the posse. She rubbed a hand over her face, trying to wake up.

"I'm sorry, Nancy," she said, finally able to string together a coherent thought. "Steve means well, but he's got a habit of getting a little too carried away."

Nancy snorted out a peel of contemptuous laughter, folding her arms over her chest. "I'm waiting until he comes back then. You don't have to let me in. I'll wait out here." 

Robin knew there was no point in trying to change Nancy's mind when she had determined to do something. She stepped aside, holding the door open for her.

"You might as well come in," she said. "You don't need to wait out in the cold. I'll make coffee."

Nancy tried to steel herself, staring back at Robin and finding her invitation unable to refuse for whatever reason. The promise of coffee also sweetened the deal. 

Robin led Nancy into the living room, gesturing for her to take a seat on the couch. She disappeared into the kitchen, starting to prepare the coffee.

"So, the kids are roped in, huh?" she asked from the kitchen, still amused by Steve's antics.

"Even Joyce wants them to help!" Nancy said, getting up to go join Robin in the kitchen.

She looked around at the place, still kind of amazed that they were living here, perhaps feeling regret for leaving to chase her dreams that were now on hold.

Robin chuckled slightly as she measured the coffee grounds. "Yeah, that's Steve for you," she said, shaking her head. "He's got quite the persuasive charm when he needs it."

She glanced over at Nancy, noticing her roaming gaze. It was evident that Nancy was feeling a pang of nostalgia as she looked around the house.
"But he's also really trying to help. We all want Jonathan back," Robin reminded Nancy of the real motivation behind everyone joining in. 

"Yeah. It'll still be like the last time, they aren't going down there. We'll do it. You, me, Steve, maybe Hopper. Oh and that crazy guy who speaks Russian and lives underground," Nancy said, her eyes becoming slowly fixated on Robin's hands and the bracelet she wore.

Steve had a matching one, their friendship bracelets. Nancy smiled faintly, feeling a little jealous, yet intrigued. Robin smiled faintly at Nancy's words before her attention was drawn to her bracelet, noticing Nancy's gaze. She glanced down at the bracelet, running her fingers over the braided leather.