𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 - henderson!

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 𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐎𝐏𝐒 𝐀𝐇𝐎𝐘 𝐒𝐌𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐃 just as sugary as ever. A delightful waft of... was that chocolate? Scarlet's stomach practically lurched; always hungry and making room for anything to do with chocolate. No wonder they'd run out of M&M's within a few hours just a week prior; Scarlet and Robin had stuffed themselves with chocolate-coated peanuts until they were pretty sure they'd vomit everywhere.

 Steve had heaved a heavy sigh, slapping on a 'we're out!' sign on the little tub, before turning to the two with narrowed eyes. It hadn't been the first time it had happened.

 For once, there wasn't a single person waiting at the counter; Robin was at the register, fingers working quickly to straighten out notes and unfurl bills; she was rather picky when it came to things like that. They just had to be perfect — which is exactly why Steve would find his hat pushed from his head whenever he just shoved a dollar inside without smoothing it out first.

 While Scarlet would have scrambled to the counter, her hand outstretched, ready and waiting for the stupid handshake she and Robin had created together... Scarlet had spied a frock of curly hair secured with a little green cap. 'Camp know where' was plastered on the front in a bold golden thread... Dustin.

 He sat opposite Steve, his sparse teeth tearing through a banana split as though it was the last thing he'd ever do. Between bites of cherry topping and whipped cream, Dustin would mutter something beneath his breath, arms planted on the table as he tipped closer to Steve.

 Scarlet trailed towards the pair, watching with a light buzz as Steve's smile tore at his face, cheeks turning a pale shade of pink as he met her gaze... She clamped her hands down on Dustin's shoulders, her lips close to his ear, "Welcome home!"

 "Jesus Christ!" The boy shrieked. His red plastic spoon clattered to the table, and whipped cream was smeared everywhere. The scoop of banana and chocolate syrup splattered right in front of Steve, narrowly avoiding his fingers.

 Dustin leaned back, his neck twisting, and the slight scowl that had overtaken his features softened immediately at the grin Scarlet had given him. She looked... genuinely happy to see him; just like Steve.

 It was kind of disheartening that two teenagers that he hadn't really been all that close to for long... cared more about his return than his supposed best friends.

 Still, Dustin's brows trailed high, his gappy mouth on full display as he hollered with joy, "Scarlet!"

 Scarlet slid into the booth, legs immediately sticking to the cherry-red leather. An arm curled around Dustin's shoulders as she tugged him into her side, "How was camp?"

 Dustin had been gone for a month and it had been strange to wave him off; both Steve and Scarlet had joined the kids that day, hands waving in the air as the boy peered out the back window of his mother's car as though they were a couple of parents saying their final farewell.

 His entire persona was nothing but elation and, of course, snark. To have him gone for a month was odd; not being able to hear his silly little puns that he always had to explain, and sequentially ruin the amusement. His high-pitched shrieks and bobbing curls had been missed, and Scarlet couldn't have been happier to see him... But she knew Steve was positively elated.

 Steve Harrington couldn't have fooled even a very dumb child into thinking he didn't care for the kids, especially Dustin Henderson. Steve spoke about him often, like a proud older brother who, only sometimes, grew quite annoyed with said little brother.

 In fact, Scarlet had been tucked upon Steve's couch one night watching a movie — she couldn't remember its name, nor the plot she had soon been dozing to — and Steve had pointed at the screen, a giddy little smile on his face as he understood one of the more... intellectual puns a character had made. Apparently, Dustin had said it once. 

 Scarlet had only smiled, prodding his cheek with a finger, "You miss him." she had grinned.

 He'd tried to deny it, but Steve was as easy to see through as a pane of very thin glass.

 Dustin perked up immediately, his hand scrambling for the spoon he'd managed to launch towards the end of the table. He wiped away the remnants of whipped cream, banana and chocolate syrup with a napkin before digging right back in as though he'd never been interrupted.

 He spoke through a mouthful, "It was great! I built a Cerebro —" He swallowed, swiftly explaining exactly what his invention could do, "— It's a Ham Radio that my girlfriend, Suzie, helped me build. It lets me communicate over long distances; we built it so that we could keep in touch."

 The glimmer in his eyes at the mention of this Suzie was rather adorable to Scarlet, "Suzie, huh?" his cheeks grew red at her coy tone, the way her grin had grown crooked, "Cer — Cerebro? Did you name it after that thing from..." Scarlet trailed off, her eyes narrowing in thought, her nose scrunching up, "— Oh! From the X-Men? Charles Xavier?"

 Dustin blinked. He blinked again. This time, he tossed his spoon on purpose as a chortle parted his lips, "You're educated!"

 Steve could only peer between the pair with utter confusion clouding his eyes. Scarlet might have gotten quite the fascination with comic books and superheroes, but Steve had yet to indulge; after all, why did he need to read about them if the best one was right in front of him?

 "Oh," Scarlet muttered. She cocked her head, eyes torn from Dustin and landing upon Steve sitting there with a dopey grin as he stared at the two. His uniform was a little rumpled, and there was a smear of strawberry syrup down his front, "Hi, Stevie."

 There was that name again. His cheeks heated up, and he could only hope and pray that neither she nor Dustin had noticed... and while he might have actually hidden them pretty decently by planting his chin in his palms, fingers stretched to cover his scorching skin... Dustin had snorted at the name.

 "I thought you were spending some time with El today?" Steve murmured, a swift glare sent Dustin's way. That kid caught on too quickly, he was far too observant for his own good; he'd already clocked the red cheeks, Steve was sure of it.

 "I might have..." Scarlet cleared her throat, plucking a cherry from Dustin's dessert, she licked the chocolate syrup off before popping it into her mouth, speaking with a mumble "...Brought her here, to hang out with Max."

 "Wait — what?"

 "Eleven and Max?" Dustin blurted, very much aware of the animosity that had been brewing within Eleven, the sheer coldness she radiated whenever Maxine had ever been brought up, "Really?"

 Scarlet hummed, reaching for another cherry, "They're bonding over dumb boyfriends."

 Steve made an 'O' shape with his mouth, nodding almost sagely. After all, he had been a dumb boyfriend... He could only imagine what Mike Wheeler was like; the kid was full of nothing but sarcasm, eye rolls and tween attitude.

 A beat passed, and Scarlet could quite clearly spy the jittering hands of Dustin curling and unfurling with each second. He fiddled with a napkin, glared when another cherry — the last one — was stolen, and finally... he tossed the napkin aside.

 "So —" he whispered with haste. "I think I intercepted a secret Russian message."

 It shouldn't have surprised Scarlet, and to be honest, it didn't. It sounded so very Dustin that it was like he had merely been discussing the weather.

 So, Scarlet didn't know what more there was to say than: "Sure, that sounds like something you would do."

 Steve snorted from his place opposite them; her words ringing completely and utterly true; after all, it had been Dustin who had taken a Demo-dog into his house like a pet, casting aside Yurtle, his adorable little turtle.

 Dustin, however, chuckled to himself, chest puffing out just ever so slightly. He'd clearly taken her words as a compliment, "Thing is," Dustin added, slowly pushing his spoon around the table, either unaware or completely ignoring the peeved look on Steve's face, knowing he'd soon have to clean the mess of syrup and cream, "We need to translate it, do you... you know, happen to know any Russian?"

 "Well..." Scarlet cast a glance to the side, watching as Robin scooped up a hefty ball of rocky-road ice cream. It was notoriously difficult to scoop, which was evident enough by the scowl on her face and the way her cheeks grew a shade darker with every hefty heave of her scooper.

 People were still milling about, chattering to and fro all while ice cream dripped down their fingers, as sprinkles clattered to the floor like a bundle of glitter. She watched them for a moment, willing away harsh memories in the lab. Flashes of electricity were forced to become electric-blue scoops of bubblegum-flavoured ice cream atop a cone. A flicker of Brenner was forced to morph into the little old man on the far table, slowly making his way through a bowl of pecan ice cream... it had already melted into a pile of cold goo.

 Oddly enough... Scarlet knew some Russian, just as she knew the basics of multiple languages... though really, it wasn't all that odd. Scarlet knew that she was different from the other numbers that had been housed within the Lab; from Eleven and Kali. They had been taught the basics, wherein she had been forced to learn as much as she could. Maybe she was the reason why Eleven had such little knowledge? Maybe they saw their escapee as the one who had enough brain and enough knowledge of her own to use to her advantage...

 Scarlet snapped from those thoughts, the image of Brenner slowly invading her mind once more flittered away in a puff of white smoke. A finger snapped before her eyes, Steve.

 "Hey there," He whispered, "Welcome back. Where'd you go?"

 She peered at him, her lips entirely unmoving. The slightest shake of her head was enough for Steve to lean back against the booth, acting as though he'd never asked the question in the first place. He was like that; he'd worry, he'd ask... but he'd back off if she needed him to.

 Scarlet plucked Dustin's spoon from the table, his discarded napkin too. Her eyes were intent upon the plastic utensil, clearing away any dirt or dessert, "I do, actually. I uh — I was taught the basics in the..." Her voice lowered an octave, "In the Lab."

 Dustin didn't quite know what to say to that; whether to smile and jump for joy because he'd found their translator, or keep completely still as though in the presence of a wild animal, unwilling to disturb her.

 Steve jumped in then, saving Dustin just as usual. But Dustin hadn't quite heard Steve Harrington talk so quietly, so... so softly. Steve swiped a few stray hairs from his eyes, "Hey, your best shot is enough for us, right?"

 The look sent Dustin's way was not one of questioning, it was a silent plea for him to say nothing less and nothing more than a 'yes'.

 Dustin complied, happily, of course. The sweat-slicked curls trapped within his hat jostled in time with his nod; his wide lips tilting into an appeased smile.

 Scarlet caught quite obviously caught on, for neither Steve Harrington nor Dustin Henderson were known for their subtlety. Their exchanged look and Steve's narrowed eyes certainly hadn't helped either of them... but Scarlet appreciated them both nonetheless.

 "Come on then," Scarlet uttered, taking Dustin's banana split into one hand, "Let's go to the back."

 Scarlet had listened time and time again, fingers fiddling with the little recorder, pressing buttons as she went. The voices echoed out again. It didn't make it easier, hearing the voices call out and repeat everything they'd already said... and it certainly didn't help when Steve and Dustin both bore holes into her cranium, staring as intently as anybody could. She thought their eyes might pop out... she kind of hoped they would.

 She pressed play again... She tried, straining her ears as much as she could; but nothing she was hearing made sense. The words she could translate... it felt as though they'd been plucked from a hat and smushed together. The week is long, the Silver cat feeds... What the hell was that supposed to mean? Maybe she was far worse off at Russian than she thought.

 Her pointer clicked the pause button, a groan tearing from her lips as her forehead collided with the notepad in front of her, "It doesn't make sense." Her words were slurred, muffled by the paper that threatened to claw down her throat, "None of it makes any sense. I don't think it's right, I think my translation is off."

 "Damn it," Dustin huffed, flinging himself back in his chair with folded arms, "Shit."

 Scarlet looked up, and there was a little red indent at the very centre of her forehead where she'd pressed a little too hard into the pencil in front of her, "I'm sorry, it's just — It's been a long time, and I mean... how could 'The silver cat feeds' mean anything?"

 They all exchanged looks. Dustin ran a hand over his sweaty forehead, prying his stray curls away. Steve scratched at the back of his neck, a half-eaten banana in his free hand, while Scarlet took ahold of the pencil and jabbed the sharp end into the paper, little dots spraying over the page.

 They were all frustrated... well, Scarlet and Dustin were, Steve just looked a little confused.

They all stewed in the silence, head whirring, gears turning, banana's being munched... then the door was flung open. Scarlet nearly toppled out of her seat, and like that, Steve's banana had found a home on the floor. He looked distraught.

 "All right!" Robin huffed, stalking through the door with her ice cream scooper in hand, still covered in the remnants of vanilla ice cream. She pointed it threateningly at Steve, cerulean eyes narrowing, "Babysitting time is over, Harrington. You need to get in there —" She paused, her lips still pursed to continue voicing her irritation, but then her eyes caught sight of her whiteboard.

 The very board that had once been used to chart and document Steve's flirtatious failures had been wiped clean. The alphabet had been scribbled in place, Steve's wobbly handwriting smeared over the surface. Below each letter was its Russian counterpart; they had hoped it would speed Scarlet along.

 Robin, however, only groaned, "Hey! My board! That was important data, shitbirds!"

 Dustin's eyes rolled so damn heavily that they were sure to get stuck, his folded arms tightened a smug little scoff resounding from his lips; he sounded eerily like Mike at that moment, "I guarantee you, what we're doing is way more important than your data."

 Steve, of course, nodded and took his place beside Dustin with a new banana in hand. He took a bite, hastily swallowing when Scarlet rose a brow. He looked to his abandoned fruit on the floor, and back again. He'd pick it up later.

 Robin's arms folded over her chest, fingers drumming against her skin whilst her eyes never left Dustin's. She propped her head forward, teetering to the tips of her toes while her lips curled, "Yeah?" She chimed, "And how do you know these Russians are up to no good anyway?"

 Scarlet couldn't fathom the shock on the boy's face. Dustin had immediately whipped to Steve, accusing him of spilling their secret while Steve, with a mouth stuffed with chomps of banana, shook his head, slapping Dustin on the arm with his banana peel in retaliation.

 How neither of them came to the conclusion that they spoke loud enough to be heard as clear as day through the little window was beyond her. Scarlet had wanted to cover her ears just to block them out, so no wonder Robin had heard them... Though it wasn't like Scarlet had made to stop them.

 A thought came to her then; while she knew that Robin most certainly could not speak Russian, she did have a plethora of other languages under her belt; she was skilled and somehow managed to get her constantly whirring brain to calm itself when cracking a code — which, apparently, learning a language was akin to — in Robin's eyes.

 "Nobody told me anything," Robin confirmed, halting the little squabble Steve and Dustin were having. Dustin silenced himself and Steve finally put down the fruit peel, slapping it atop the table, "You're both just extremely loud. You think there are evil Russians plotting against our country, on tape, but you haven't been able to figure out a word between your dumb little selves... so you asked Scarlet to help —" She turned then, an accusatory finger darting Scarlets way, "Why do you know Russian?"

 Scarlet shrugged, not missing a single beat, "Why do you know French?"

 "I —" Robin narrowed her eyes, "Okay, fine."

 "She is right, though." Scarlet directed towards the boys still staring agape at Robin; her tangent had been entirely correct and she had gotten each crucial detail. Scarlet felt her lips tug higher; Robin could help them. She didn't have to know about the upside down. She didn't have to know about the Demogorgons or what had really happened to Will Byers.

 Robin had a brain that yearned for activity. She hated being bored, she hated being still. She'd be the perfect partner to help crack the code; so Scarlet wasted no time. Her hand darted out, painted fingers curling around Dustin's little device that had been prattling Russian words into their ears for far too long. She held it out, waiting for Robin to pluck it up while the boys scrambled forwards.

 "Why — why would you —" Steve stammered, and Dustin wasn't far behind in copying his words with complete contempt.

 "Maybe she can help."

 "Maybe I can help," Robin uttered at the very same time Scarlet had spoken. The girls shared a dopey grin at one another whilst Robin's fingers tangled around the item in her hand. She eyed it, ignoring the way Steve spluttered out incoherent nonsense or the way Dustin practically hissed in retribution, "I'm fluent in four languages, you know."

 Scarlet contained her chortle, slumping further back into her chair whilst her arms folded over her chest. Robin might have been quite skilled in languages — and anything else she devoted her time to — but Russian was certainly not within her arsenal. Still, it would be easy enough to convince both Steve and Dustin to let Robin on board... after all... no Robin would equal no Scarlet. It was simple math, really.

 Dustin perked up, his frown twisting upsidedown as he bolted upright in his seat, a jittery Steve still beside him, grinning with half a mouthful of banana, "Russain?"

 "Ou-yay are-yay umb-day."

 The boys before them began to hoot and cheer, utterly cheesy little grins on their faces... Scarlet tossed a look over her shoulder, a small snort pulling free when she witnessed Robin's smug little smile.

 She faced the boys once more, "That was Pig Latin —"

 "— Dingus!" Robin finished for her, holding her palm out for Scarlet to smack with her own. A resounding crack echoed through the room like a smattering of light thunder; it certainly put a damper on Steve's smile and Dustin's toothy — toothless? — grin.

 "But —" Robin continued on, sashaying around the room with the little device still in hand, "I can speak Spanish, French and Italian... and I've been in band for twelve years." Her chest puffed out, the silly little ascot standing proud, "My ears are little geniuses, trust me."

 Scarlet scooched aside on her chair, a single thigh hanging on for dear life whilst Robin squeezed herself on the little free space. The girls were smooshed together, Robin's arm slung over the back of the chair whilst Scarlet had to topple her head atop her friend's shoulder. 

 "Come on," Scarlet dragged out, her eyes widening with a light spark, her lips pursing together in the prettiest of pouts, "Let her help me."

 "I don't even want credit, I'm just bored..." Robin glared at her hands, fingers clinging together whilst old ice cream acted like glue, "I need a break from sticky little children," She glanced at Dustin, a coy smile on her face, "No offence."

 Dustin rolled his eyes.

 The bell on the counter chimed, a loud and irritating sound that grated each of their ears. Robin plopped her head atop Scarlets, a heavy groan rattling through her body while Steve physically recoiled at the mere prospect of walking back out there and serving irritable children, lovey-dovey couples and old people who couldn't go two seconds without complaining they had a brain freeze.

 "C'mon, Stevie..." Scarlet tried once more. She knew, without a sliver of doubt, that Steve wouldn't say no... Or, at least, he wouldn't mean it. He'd likely say no all the while gathering up his scooper and sulking his way to the front of the store.

 Robin grinned at the nickname; Scarlet always got her way when she uttered it in that sugary sweet voice... and Steve would always become totally red in the face. She cracked an eye open, and just as she'd predicted, Steve Harrington had become as pink as their strawberry ice cream with a cherry on top.

 Steve twisted his head to the side, avoiding any and all eye contact with Robin and that stupid smile she had on her face; and he certainly couldn't meet Scarlet's eyes... not when she looked at him like that. Crinkled eyes forced to clamp halfway shut from her plush cheeks, dimples clawing into her glowing skin, the sparkle of utter mischief in her eyes.

 He groaned, standing from his chair with flailing arms, snatching the ice cream scooper that Robin had swiftly brandished like a sword, "Fine, fine!" He pointed the scooper their way, eyes finally glued to Scarlet, "You owe me."

 Scarlet slid from the chair, legs scrambling to keep her upright. There was a smile on her face; she had known Steve would give in... because he always seemed to. As much as he tried to show some little semblance of resolve, he simply didn't have the willpower. Then again, while Steve tried to cover it up, he was a people pleaser... something else that had likely stemmed from his shitty dad and checked-out mother.

 Those thoughts were brushed away, her fingers trailing into the snug little pocket on her chest. She rummage around — somehow the pocket seemed endless — and finally procured a wad of folded paper. She held it out, watching as it teetered on the tips of her fingers, "Will a perfectly acceptable college application suffice?"

 "Wait." Steve goggled. He took a tentative step, untied shoe laces scuttling over the floor like little mice. His eyes couldn't move, they couldn't be torn away from the paper in her hands.

 They'd been at it for so long, writing and rewriting his application almost every single damn day. Steve had gotten so tired of it, that he'd thrown it away... only for Scarlet to pry it from the bin, flatten it out, and absolutely assault it with a pencil of her own.

 She's stolen it away just a few days prior, slaving over the application for hours on end... Even Hopper had stared at her in concern, peering over her shoulder... his frown had swiftly dissolved, however, when he caught sight of Steve's scrawly writing scratched over the surface.

 Every muddled word had been corrected, T's had been crossed, I's had been dotted and commas had been placed. It was as good as new... but it was still Steve's work. That was the main thing.

 Scarlet hadn't been able to stomach the look on Steve's face when he had balled the paper in his hands and thrown it into his bin... to add insult to injury, the paper had bounced right back out. Steve had slumped, throwing himself backwards on his bed while Scarlet had hopped from his side and stuffed the paper into her pocket.

 He always got so very frustrated with himself, kicking himself with every word that was twisted. It wasn't like he didn't know how to spell, or that he couldn't... his brain and fingers just... they taunted him. He'd picture the word in his mind as it should have been, but then when he'd peep at the paper, while each letter was there... they'd be the wrong way around.

 Steve blinked as he took the paper from Scarlet, cradling it like one would a newborn child. He unfurled the paper, eyes taking in each little mark she'd made, every stroke of a pink and glittery pen that told him to change one word to another, or a little pink dash to indicate where a new comma would go.

 He looked up, eyes as earnest as they could ever be, "Thank you."

 Scarlet shrugged, ignoring that sizzling burn beneath her ribcage at the utter fondness within his oak-coloured eyes; the way they melted into molten chocolate, sweet and smooth. It was positively torturous.

 "We should just about meet the deadline... if you send that off first thing tomorrow morning." Scarlet said, fingers worming their way into the waist of her dungaree, thumbs hooking around the material; she had no idea just how much of a 'Hopper' stance she had taken... all she needed was a porch and a lit cigarette.

 "I'll get it done." Steve held the paper like a pot of gold, like a bundle of buried treasure that had taken years to uncover.

 "You better, I'm not going there alone."

 "I wouldn't do that to you."

 Robin groaned, her foot darting out to smack Steve right in the shin, "Go, dingus! Ice cream awaits! Profess your undying devotion later."

 He swatted her away, fingers grappling to take ahold of her shoe. He managed to catch a shoelace and tugged it from the little bow Robin had crafted; it was a big enough win for Steve, apparently, for he shot her a smug smile and bounded for the door... he might have bumped into the wall, attention far too focused on the paper within his hold, but he'd worry about Robin's commentary at a later date.

 Scarlet couldn't help the way her eyes followed him, watching that dumb sailor hat tilt upon his head, or the way his ascot flittered with his movements. He tossed a final glance over his shoulder, catching her eyes with a wide and special Steve Harrington smile that was all teeth and wrinkles by the eyes.

 "Mhm." Robin drawled out, finally stealing Scarlet's attention, "You have him wrapped around your pretty little finger."

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18-01-2020

edited version: 06-08-2022

:･ﾟ★ babes, how are we feeling about the new cover? kinda slay? how do we like the consistent chapter memes?  i make most of them myself because i'm actually a comedic queen el-oh-el <3

oh! also, follow my account pls and thx, i respond more to mb messages than anything else (i never respond to wattpad dm's though), n e way, luv u x

don't forget to let me know what you think; and remember that i now require a particular number of comments and feedback before i consider releasing the next part (this is just to ensure people remain engaged and supportive, as well as to allow me to see what you all enjoyed most!), and please do NOT leave comments telling me to update; they'll be ignored and you'll be muted, much love <3