𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘-𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 - kiss and tell

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 𝐑𝐎𝐁𝐈𝐍 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐋𝐄𝐅𝐓 only moments ago, leaving behind a bathroom filled with unhurriedly disintegrating laughter and ever-building tension.

 Scarlet knew it had to be now. She couldn't keep dragging things out, letting Steve's feelings build only to tease and then turn away. But... she also couldn't keep suffocating her own feelings, actually, she just didn't want to. Glimpsing at him now; his head thrown back with eyes cast to the ceiling as he leaned against the bathroom counter, trying with all his might to regain his breath... it was about time.

 "Steve?" she whispered, sure that he could barely hear her voice.

 The uptick of his lips was visible, and all he did was drop his head to the side, looking down through slitted eyes. They were still warm, glittering with the aftermath of laughter. He hummed, a light buzz on the very tip of his tongue like the shock of sour candy; he didn't want to devastate the peaceful silence, he wanted to relish in their moment.

 Scarlet kept her eyes forwards, thoroughly scanning each of the coloured tiles slapped upon the wall, "I uh —" She wavered, blowing out a short breath.

 She just needed to come straight out with it, tell him that she'd heard everything, that she'd known for months now... that she felt the same. It was just so daunting. Scarlet wasn't somebody to open up and spill her feelings over the floor; she preferred to keep them close, to coddle them like scared little children, just so that they'd stay safe... so that she would be safe.

 Steve had finally twisted his body to face her, a hand planted just beside her knee as he leaned closer, "Hey, you okay?"

 Scarlet wasn't exactly known to stammer and stutter, she wasn't known to do anything less than speak her mind. So to see her wringing her hands, picking at her fingers all the while avoiding his gaze... Steve swallowed, he felt the bob of his throat; he hated when she fell silent.

 Time to bite the bullet.

 Scarlet carried her eyes to his own. She had to see his face when she spilled it all, she wanted to see those eyes of his, the way his cheeks grew pink... there was just something about it.

 "I heard everything." She finally spouted, fingers tangling with a stray thread on her shorts.

 "Everything? What do you —" His jaw tumbled, "Ev — Everything? As in... Oh God. You don't have to — I mean I understand if — Like it's me so —"

 "Steve."

 His voice evaporated. Every little bit of air in his lungs was plucked and tossed away, and he couldn't even bring himself to keep up the eye contact. But there was something in the way she'd said his name. No teasing. No firm tone. No little nicknames... just Steve, in that sweet-as-honey voice. Something about it smoothed over his nerves.

 "Yeah?" he managed to croak out. He hauled his head higher, unbothered by the strands of hair that fell into his eyes in clusters. He looked at her. Really looked at her — not like that was anything new for him.

 His gaze always seemed to find her, like she was pulling him by a fish hook, reeling him in with every feature — every damned word. He could have sworn Dustin had told him about some deep sea creature that lured men in with their pretty faces and voice... Seren? Siren? Siren. She had to be one. There was no other explanation.

 She didn't look grossed out; like some freak had just spilled his feelings to her. She didn't look disappointed at having to let a friend down in the best way that she could... There's no way that delicate little smile could have meant anything but the absolute best.

 Then, for the first time, Steve spied something. Her cheeks had gone pink. He wanted to whoop and cheer. He wanted to tease her as she did to him — relentlessly... but he only found himself melting further, like a poor old snowman at the crack of a warm dawn.

 Scarlet could feel her arms heating up, her knees... especially the one that bumped into his hand. It spread like syrup over ice cream, trailing up to her neck where it burned. From her ears that were sweltering... to her cheeks. They were scorching, actually, Scarlet was pretty sure that little fires must have already erupted.

 She took the plunge before her body could really combust, "Those things you said about me, Steve... I've known for a long time, and I just left you in the dark. I let you — I let us keep falling over that line that made us friends... because..." Scarlet felt her throat close up, "Because I get scared when people love me. I don't know what to do with it... I don't know how to accept it."

 Scarlet clasped her trembling hands together, they clung to one another like a lifeline, trying to banish the shaking as though it was the last thing she could ever do, "Everything that's happened to me... genuine love and care is something I've never really had that without a price tag tacked on. It's always been fake. With Hopper and El, it's different I guess — Eleven understands me in a way that nobody will ever be able to, we're kind of... I don't know, bound together? Hop — My dad — he lost his little girl... and he's always" Scarlet could feel her throat closing, the familiar gurgle of tears trying to burst free, "He's always treated me as though we've been together from the day I was born."

 "So... I ran from you." Her words were the truth. It was nothing more than running away. She did it with a very good reason... but it was running all the same. She was good at it, and it was far too familiar, so of course she'd fallen into old habits, "I sat and watched you develop feelings for me without saying a word."

 "It's okay —" And when Steve managed to uncover his voice, Scarlet shook her head.

 "It isn't. But you should know something..." Her fingers slackened, and Scarlet could spy the small indents of crescent moons left within her skin. A hearty breath dropped from parted lips, "Those things you said about me? I feel the same about you."

 Like that, Steve's world brightened.

 Scarlet, as per usual, still wasn't willing to let him get a single word in. She'd come ready to bare it all out, lay her feelings out like a children's picture book, and that's exactly what she was going to do, "You think you're dumb, you think you're not worth my time, you think that just because you once held the mantle of King Steve, that you don't deserve to be happy. You think..." Her brows curled together, "You think your parents set the standard. You're wrong. You accepted me, and my sister in an instant. You've been nothing but gentle to me and my family... the kids... You've made me feel happy. You make me happy, Steve, and that feeling was so rare before I came here." A small bout of laughter managed to tear past her tongue as she stooped her gaze to her fingers, "It's strange, I have these powers... but you — you make me feel safe."

 Steve's tongue had gone dry. His heart had positively seized... Through the duration of Scarlet's new life in Hawkins, not once had she ever been so open. This was new, it was a privilege... but hearing those things — Steve almost couldn't believe her. Those words, especially the ones about his parents... they'd brought a haze before his eyes.

 He could barely formulate what he wanted to say. Could he say thank you? Would that be weird? He wanted to, because never before had he felt so wanted and appreciated. Could he let all thought disappear down the drain and act like a fool just because he knew the girl before him, the one he'd been pining for... liked him too?

 He settled for shifting off the counter. He took a step, then another, until he was right in front of her, "You make me happy. You make me feel safe. I thought —" He chuckled, relief so very evident, "I didn't think I'd have a chance, you know. Dustin and Robin... they both told me to talk to you — tell you how I felt but I couldn't picture it, you know? I couldn't picture me and you... it seemed too perfect."

 "I'm not perfect."

 Steve didn't argue. He disagreed... but he didn't argue because he knew they'd be there for hours. Hell, the Russians would capture them and they'd still be bickering, "Neither am I..." His lips quirked, "I'm actually bullshit."

 Scarlet couldn't help the amused breath that trickled from her tongue. Of course he'd say something like that just moments after they'd finally crossed that line, broken the barrier. He was an idiot... a cute, dorky little idiot.

 "You're not bullshit," She said, and like so many times before, Scarlet reached out a hand, and like every instance before... warmth slipped between her fingers and flooded her palms as Steve intertwined his hand with her own, "You couldn't picture it? To be honest, even though I was trying so hard to stay behind that line... I thought I slipped. A lot."

 "According to Robin, I can't take a hint."

 "How about this, then..." Scarlet teetered forwards, her head craned just ever so slightly to meet his gaze. It was different now, knowing that the same eyes she looked towards loved her. They wanted to make her happy... they wanted her. "Instead of a hint... I give you the answer?"

 His brows curled together and Scarlet had to smother a chortle, he really couldn't take a hint.

 Scarlet's free hand shifted. It unfurled from the thread dangling off her shorts and trailed through the air. Her fingers twitched as though they knew exactly where they were going and couldn't wait to arrive. They found his shoulder, stooped the slope towards his neck... Then Steve got the hint.

 He leaned closer, his own spare hand swiftly finding the curve of Scarlet's jaw. He relished in the heat... his thumb swiping the cheeks that he — Steve Harrington — had forced to become so very pink.

 His breath smelt like strawberries and Scarlet had never felt more thankful for that motherly side to have forced him to rinse his mouth and freshen his breath. After so many months of watching him grow flustered, Scarlet could finally feel that heat coming off him in waves, his pulse beating erratically beneath her feather-light touch. Her fingers toyed with the curled hairs at the base of his neck, and, with a light tug, their faces grew close.

 Scarlet held him there, even despite the way he tried to chase her parted lips. Their breath tied together and Scarlet smiled as his eyes flickered open, a look of question, yet a look of utter longing.

 She spared him with a final tug of his hair and planted her lips against his own.

 It wasn't the perfect kiss that was detailed in storybooks and cheesy rom-coms. There were no sparks or fireworks suddenly sparkling above their heads... Steve's lip ached from the cut, and they could both taste just a sliver of a metallic twang. Scarlet could feel Steve's thumb brush against a bruise, a jolt of pain searing through her face... yet neither of them could find the will to care.

 It was long overdue, weeks... months worth of feelings all overflowing and flooding like a tidal wave. Every ounce of fear and insecurity melted away within an instant, as though it had never existed. Scarlet let herself finally take a hold of the happiness she'd been craving for so damn long... and Steve could feel that passion he'd always longed for; a kiss from somebody who wanted it just as badly as he did — a kiss from someone who wanted him.

 There was something so very satisfying about the way Steve's lips had stalked her own when Scarlet pulled herself away. He looked almost affronted, like she had taken something precious away from him, holding it high above his head just to taunt him. He should have learned by now that there was nothing Scarlet Hopper enjoyed more... than teasing him.

 She couldn't smother the light chime of laughter that blew from her smile and pattered across his skin, and she soon leaned forth to plant a single chaste kiss against his swollen lips. He looked a sight; eyes hooded and stuck within a daze, lips hanging open as though he was about to beg for more...

 "I can't believe that just happened," Even his voice had lowered, a haze clouding his words. Steve felt as though he was on cloud nine. Her teasing was often ruthless, yet this... this he didn't mind at all. Then, his dorky little self reared his head once again. A dopey smile slithered on his face, "You're so pretty."

 "Steve."

 "I suddenly like the nickname, you know?"

 "And why is that?"

 "You say my real name like..." He bumped her nose with his own, watching with delight when her lips curled higher, "Like I'm the only one allowed to hear it. Like Stevie is for everyone to hear... but Steve is just... yours."

 He'd said it as though he hadn't just whispered in the prettiest voice anyone could have imagined. Scarlet almost wanted to punch him, right in that perfect face. Her teasing was evident and she proudly displayed it... but Steve... saying things like that, in that voice...

 She played his game... even though Steve was absolutely unaware that he'd made a move on the board at all, "I'll say it as many times as you like."

 He was having a heart attack, he was sure of it. Just when Steve thought he'd topple to the ground in a pathetic — and very flustered — pile of limbs and sailor wear... her laugh broke him free of the spell she'd placed.

 "I do have to ask," Scarlet flicked the side of his face, a rather coy grin showing her teeth, "Am I supposed to be the one making all the first moves? Or are you going to ask me..."

 "Ask you? Oh! Oh ask you to —" He was an idiot. Steve was a bumbling fool, and yet there Scarlet was, grinning as though he'd handed her the chocolaty-est milkshake in all of America. She was giving him a chance, an opportunity... she wanted things to be even.

 They'd just told each other everything. They had just kissed... in the middle of a restroom... and yet Steve found his hands shaking. He bobbed his head, sending mental affirmations to himself — though he knew that Scarlet knew exactly what he was doing. How was he ever supposed to make her blush again when she was always the one holding her shit together while he fell apart?

 He made it a spectacle in the hopes of deepening that glorious shade of rose brushed upon her cheeks, "Scarlet Hopper," he announced, his voice echoing through the stalls... he bet even the fish down the toilets could hear him, "Would you let me be the... Wait, does the Scarlet Witch have a sidekick? The fast dude? Silver..."

 "Quick Silver? That's her brother."

 "Oh, God. Okay..." He brushed by his mortification, and sucked in a breath ready to start over... and then his shoulders drooped and a pout appeared on his swollen lips, "No, I screwed it up."

 Scarlet snorted, her head toppling forwards until their foreheads met. His thumb trailed over the hand he still gripped, they were a little clammy but neither wanted to part. So she kept her hand right where it was, and instead copied him, jutting her head until their noses brushed, "Want me to ask you?"

 "I think that'd save us both from embarrassment."

 "Stevie —"

 "No, no. Not the nickname."

Scarlet blew out a breath, and just to appease him and see that smile, she lowered her voice to a sweet little whisper, "Steve, will you be my sidekick — I mean, boyfriend?"

 "You're actually the worst."

 "Is that a no?"

 "No."

 "Good."

 Nothing about them was normal, that much was entirely too obvious. From monsters and superpowers to making out in a bathroom and a confession filled with everything but the ordinary. But that was them... Scarlet and Steve hadn't met under normal circumstances, and the adventures they'd set out on, the very ones that had brought them together... those certainly hadn't been ordinary either.

 Steve couldn't help himself. With the line between them gone and forgotten, with the hard part well and truly out of the way... everything seemed easy now. So it felt like muscle memory to lean forwards and seek another kiss. He felt like a schoolboy when butterflies erupted in his stomach the moment Scarlet reciprocated. No hesitation, no pulling away...

 There was something comforting about the little spell of laughter that followed, breaths intertwining once more, a cluster of strawberry flittering around them. Scarlet's hand still resided in his hair, tugging little strands... and then she slipped it back down his shoulder, his arm, settling within his hand.

 "Sorry for waiting so long." She said, twiddling with his fingers, eyes intent on watching his face.

 "You could have told me in thirty years, I'd still be happy."

 "And wrinkly."

 "Thanks, Scar." He scoffed, nudging his knee into her calf, "Really, thanks for that."

 Scarlet would have quite liked to remain in that little bubble of tranquillity... the little burst or regular teenage feelings... But everything ends, and they were forced to come crashing back to earth and face the reality they found themselves within.

 The door burst open. Dustin walked through like a madman on a mission, hands planted so firmly on his hips, Scarlet truly thought they'd get a proper scolding. Robin scurried behind, a grimace on her lips — she had clearly tried her hardest to give them the time they needed to sort things through.

 But Dustin was nothing if not ready to finish their mission. He stopped in place, his narrowed gaze darting between the two who had split apart with haste, "Okay!" He clamoured, "What the hell? Where the hell have you been?"

 It appeared that Erica was with Dustin. Her lips had thinned, her head cocked as her beads jingled like a wind chime. She quite wanted to know the answer too... but she was far more observant than any of them gave her credit for. Erica soon had a crooked smile on her face; she knew exactly what the pair had been doing.

 Steve stammered for a moment, settling on a very lacklustre answer, "Uh... Here?"

 "Why didn't you come with Robin? Huh? We've been looking for you and she refused to tell us where the hell you were!"

 Robin pushed forwards, "They've been busy, little dingus!"

 "Little —" Dustin sighed at the stupid name, snapping his gaze to the pair he'd cornered once more. His foot tapped against the tiled ground... Then he finally caught on. The way Steve's cheeks were a vibrant red, how Scarlet's were a light shade of simmering pink... she never blushed. Oh. Oh!

 "Ha!" Dustin hollered with glee, "Finally! Grew some balls, Steve?"

 Steve frowned, after everything he'd spilled to Dustin. After quite literally ripping his heart from his chest and showing it to the stupid kid like a show-and-tell project... and he still had to insult him. How rude. But... he couldn't even agree, because it hadn't been Steve, had it?

 "Oh, I don't know —" Robin drawled out, "I bet it was Scar. Little Stevie would have choked."

 Like that, Dustin seemed to forget Steve was even there and he pointed a finger Robin's way, "True, there's no way he'd make the first move — Anyway," He pivoted as voices chimed from the other side of the door. The perfect time to enact their escape, "We have Russians after us and you've been, what? Making out in a restroom? Real classy, Steve."

 Steve tossed a look at Scarlet, one that said nothing but 'why me?'. He shrugged his shoulders with an indignant huff as her laughter filled the room, but he certainly didn't forget to hold out a hand for her to seize. Once her warm fingers comfortably tied with his own, they breezed past Dustin.

 "C'mon then." Steve mocked, wrenching the door open, "We're waiting on you now, Henderson."

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16-05-2020

edited version: 16/11/2022

:·ﾟ★ i KNOW y'all have been waiting! i KNOW you ate this up and left NOTHING on that plate. how are we feeling? i think this whole chapter is so very them. Scarlet taking the lead, Steve becoming an absolute mess... but, we finally have Scarlet going pink ;)

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