𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥

009. A Magic Elf.

       

      IN THE tunnels, Joyce was up ahead of everyone, Lucas and Mike were right behind her, carrying the ladder. Val and Robin weren't far behind them, walking side by side and Will was in the back of everyone else. It wasn't long after they left from the tunnel near the Squawk when Robin softly clears her throat.

"Yeah?" Val glanced over at her, knowing she wanted to say something. "I just wanted to say... you can talk to me about anything. I mean, whatever you're going through, I'm right here, you know?" Robin said and Valerie smiles softly. "I know, I know that, Robin." She said and then she lets out a quiet sigh.

"My... older brother, he was Steve's age... and um, he took his own life when I was only fourteen. Turns out it's a genetic thing from my mom, so... now Stephanie's going through the same thing." She said and Robin reached out, touching her back gently. "That's heavy. I'm so sorry to hear that, Val." She whispered and Val glanced up at her, giving a small smile. "Yeah... It--it is heavy. But I wanna be here. I want to be part of the team, I am part of the team--" "yeah, but you also need to be there for your family." Robin cut her off and Valerie sighs again.

"I know." She whispers, staring straight ahead, "I guess the part where I'm stuck on and has me feeling guilty... is that I wish I could take on that burden for them, and... you know, that way Matty would still be here and Stephie wouldn't be in so much pain." She looks at Robin who just pulled her closer, her arm around Valerie's shoulders. It's a little uncomfortable to walk like that, but Val likes being held by her girlfriend, so she slips her own arm around Robin's waist.

Robin squeezed her shoulder gently and rubbed her arm. "I'm here. Always." She whispered which made Val smile and glance up at her. "I know. And I love you for it." She whispers back and Robin smiled, her eyes are glossy. "I love you more." She whispers and then Val glanced towards the front, slowly pulling back.

The couple still walked closely together, just no longer holding each other and Will kept watching them, especially when their hands brush together. It'd make them smile and glance at one another. He felt the tiniest bit of jealousy, watching the two as he looks away. Just then, Robin glanced back at him, "give me one moment." She whispered to her girlfriend, Valerie watching as she began slowing down and walking backwards, bumping into Will.

Val smiled at the two, before looking up ahead so that she gave them some space and time to talk. She kind of liked that they had some sort of bond, and got along with one another, similar to how she gets along with Dustin. Robin talks to Will about her first former crush that she had that was her first gay crush, and how it worked out because of Steve, that it was never about Tammy, and that it was always about her.

"I was looking for answers in somebody else. But I had all the answers. I just needed to stop being so goddamn scared. Scared of... who I really was. Once I did that, oh, I felt so free. It's like I could fly, you know? Like I could finally be..." She trailed off. "Rockin' Robin." Will said, his own eyes were teary and she laughs. "Yeah. Rockin' Robin." She nods her head, smiling.

"Hey, guys!" Lucas calls out to them when they reached it, Dick. "Take your time, will ya?" Valerie calls out to the two next, her hands on her hips. The two just turned to one another and laughed, before turning. "Did you finally hit Dick?" Robin asked the other four. "Hit the dick." Lucas calls out, putting on safety goggles. "Yup! Let's just hope it's not too hard." Mike looks up. "If it is, I'll soften it." Lucas said and Val glanced between the two with a disgusted look.

Valerie steps back, watching as Lucas and Mike start working on making the hole into the dirt. Will and Robin stand on either side of her as Joyce stood on the other side of the two boys, also watching and waiting. Once they broke through the dirt and made a hole, Mike looks down at Lucas, "we're through." He tells him, before he goes back to breaking away at the dirt to make the hole bigger, with Lucas' help. And then a loud creaking comes from the pipe, "oh, shit." Mike says, looking at Lucas.