𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐓 𝐒𝐈𝐗 - send it, sinclair

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 It was quite sweet to watch as Steve padded his way around an old basketball court tucked neatly away at the edge of Hawkins while Lucas Sinclair followed swiftly behind. The two jogged in time with light smiles on their faces.

 Scarlet couldn't hear the words they'd spit, but she was certain that she'd heard Max's name slip from Lucas' sheepish smile as they passed her by. Steve had positively bellowed following Lucas's words before delivering a hearty clap to the teenager's shoulder.

 Max did rather delight in torturing Lucas. Bless his poor little heart.

 So while Scarlet would very much have liked to be tucked away beneath Steve Harrington's duvet with chocolate surrounding her and her very own heater — boyfriend — beside her... watching as Steve smiled freely, bonding with the boy who had an absolute heart of gold was a fair trade.

 Back when Lucas had sauntered up to Steve, asking with a nervous and hesitant smile if the older boy would teach him how to shoot and dribble, Steve had beamed. Scarlet knew that Steve's hobbies had never quite resonated with the others; Dustin couldn't have cared less about sports, and Eleven couldn't quite remember whether baseball or basketball was the one with a bat...

 It had been up to Scarlet to purposefully toss his old and scuffed basketball into the trunk of his car, and very skillfully ask him to stop at a rather random part of Hawkins... when he'd seen the ball in her hands and the court just over the road, he'd cocked his head.

 Scarlet wasn't exactly built for sports, she quite enjoyed shooting the ball but with the tower that was Steve Harrington... she could never get it to soar far enough. He never let her win.

 'You have magic, I have a basketball.' Was his excuse... which was fair enough.

 Lucas had tryouts in just two days, and the teenagers had been practising for hours each and every evening. Two weeks was all it took for Steve to turn Lucas into a pro. It wasn't at all surprising, given Lucas' astounding accuracy with his wrist rocket and his astounding ability to be good at everything he tried his hand at.

 Scarlet knew that while Steve appreciated finally having somebody he could gush over sports with, somebody who'd happily spend an hour in any weather tossing a ball about... It meant the world to Lucas too.

 Dustin and Mike had practically sneered at Lucas' choice of extracurricular activity while Will had grinned like he always did and simply cheered him on.

 Scarlet brought her shoes from the ground, inspecting the soles for any dirt or grime, before folding them beneath her. She balanced atop an old metal bench, the forest-green paint had worn away over time... but it had a perfect view of the setting sun slowly descending from the sky while Steve and Lucas hopped around the old court.

 Lucas had improved in every aspect; his footwork was phenomenal and had he been facing anyone other than the King of the Court, Scarlet had no doubt that Lucas would steal any game to his name.

 "Come on Lucas!" Scarlet cheered, her balled fist pumping through the chilled air. The lilac sleeves of her — Steve's — sweater drew down her wrist, bunching around her arm, "You can make the shot!"

 Steve spread his arms wide and it was easy to see the sweat glistening on his skin beneath the warm light of the setting sun. A peach colour dusted his cheeks, blood rushing through his veins with every step he took... then he parted his lips with a falsified scowl, "Hey! You're supposed to cheer for me!"

 "We all have our favourites, it's understandable." Lucas had said it so smoothly and with such ease that Steve had gaped.

 Steve pointed a finger, clicking it once, "She's a bad influence on you."

 Lucas' shoulders hunched higher, hands still batting at the ball bouncing against the uneven ground, it kicked up gravel and glass from smashed beer bottles, "Scarlet was my babysitter, Erica is my sister, and Max is my girlfriend."

 "Huh." Steve paused, arms falling to his side. Lucas really was surrounded by some of the strongest personalities known to man... three of Hawkin's loud-mouthed girls that all loved one another... it was like the three of them fed off one another's energy, "You didn't stand a chance."

 "Nope." then, seizing his opportunity as Steve cast his eyes back to Scarlet swaying on the bench as she mumbled the lyrics to that same song she loved... Lucas threw the ball. It soared through the air, a slight whizzing sound following almost comically. Steve didn't even notice, "But neither did you."

 It was Scarlet's witch-like cackle, her balled fists rising high into the sky that broke Steve from his love-sick daze.

 Steve was a fool. That much was a very well-known fact to those who were constantly around him... but none of them cared, because Steve was a fool for Scarlet. He'd turned her way, trying to summon that look of hurt to try and sway her to his side... yet when he'd caught sight of her, his poor and struggling brain cell had clocked out for the night.

 The setting sun had doused the sky in a pretty peach and sweet orange. It glimmered over her cheeks, making her skin glow in the way he missed... she'd neglected herself ever since the funeral. Even the little things like rubbing her vanilla-scented soap on her skin, or painting her nails with glitter just to see a smile from Eleven.

 She was putting too much of herself into keeping everybody else sane and happy.

 So to see that smile and glowing skin beneath such a pretty backdrop... Steve had almost topped to the floor with drool dribbling from his lips.

 The bright orange ball landed at his toes. Scarlet was cheering, hopping on her feet atop the bench without a care in the world. Lucas had already started zooming around the court with his hands in the air... He'd made the shot.

 Steve shook his head, and yet he couldn't find even a sliver of disappointment at losing their silly little game, "Good play, Sinclair." He scooped the ball into his hands, holding it against his hipbone whilst holding a hand towards Lucas, "Good play."

 Lucas grinned and his smile nearly split through his cheeks. His palm met with Steve's and a firm shake was all it took for the eldest of the two to drop the ball, ignoring the way it bounced and bounced until it lay silent upon the decaying grass lining the court.

 He rose Lucas's hand into the air, whooping as loud as he could, "And the newest member of the Hawkins Tigers is... Lucas Sinclair!"

 Lucas felt a burst of heat rush to his cheeks. His friends wouldn't have ever taken the time to sit at the court's side and cheer with such enthusiam. They'd never have hoisted his hand into the sky all the while singing his praise...

 He felt almost... flustered.

 Scarlet rushed forth, converse slapping against the ground, hair down to her middle fluttered behind her in an obsidian flurry. Her voice was high and so very exaggerated, but Lucas knew the praise was still very real, "Yay Lucas!"

 Lucas' laughter spilled as Scarlet hurtled into him, arms tightening around his waist. He was taller than her now, much taller, and it was strange to see the person who'd always kept him safe looking so proud of him.

 Insecurity rushed up his spine, and suddenly the shell Lucas would hide within was back. His voice was a whisper, unsure if he should have been speaking at all, "Will you —" He cleared his throat as Scarlet peered up at him, as Steve's hand fell to his shoulder again, "If I get the spot... will you guys come to my games?"

 Scarlet almost scoffed, who the hell did he think they were? They might have tried to keep an air of dignity... but no matter how hard they tried to pretend that the children were just their friends, people they protected, the kids were almost like their own.

 "Every. Single. One." It was a hearty promise, but if Scarlet had to force herself to attend her classes with a clogged nose and vomit swaying in her stomach just to be 'sick' on the days of Lucas' games, she would in a heartbeat.

 Steve tutted, pretending to think for a moment, but the joke was soon sliced in two as Scarlet huddled beneath his arm, head toppling against his damp chest, "All of 'em, Sinclair."

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DATE: 10/12/2022

:·ﾟ★ from calling steve a douchbag, to becoming one of his lil nuggets. I love lucas <3

we actually need more lucas sinclair love. that's my boy, my son i tell you. appreciate him.

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