𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 - cracked it

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 𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐄𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐎𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐍 be found completely covered in paint and led; oftentimes she'd stay awake so very late that the birds would begin to chirp, and light would begin to flood into her bedroom like a morning alarm... only she'd already be well awake with dark circles residing beneath her eyes.

 Late nights filled with brush strokes or the carving of a line across cream-coloured paper were a common occurrence. Hopper would always shake his head, damp an old cloth and toss it her way, watching with a raised brow as pink paint was rubbed from her cheek, or as pencil led was swiped away from her palms.

 It was easy to get lost within her pictures, to let her mind be filled with something... desirable, rather than the nightmares that always seemed to await her with open arms. She'd paint her family, she'd detail their faces... Eleven's bright grin and crooked teeth, or Hopper's bushy moustache and furrowed brows, sure to catch that minute twinkle in his eyes. She'd capture Steve from moments within her memories; when he'd been so enraptured with the view of Skull Rock that he'd tripped over, or that one time he'd accidentally blown into his milkshake... only to be covered by it moments later.

 It was easier to picture them, the people who brought her ease, rather than willingly descend into darkness.

 But that wasn't to say that Scarlet wasn't grouchy after such long nights.

 In fact, as Scarlet sat upon the back counter whilst Robin served her customers with a fake smile, Scarlet was very grouchy. She had slumped into Scoops Ahoy with eyes narrowed in fatigue... and yet the moment she'd hoisted onto the counter, a sketchbook was whipped out of her backpack and a pencil was clasped firmly within her paint-stained fingers. This time, her digits were coated with a bubblegum blue and a peachy orange; the colour of a setting sky.

 Scarlet peered up from her work; tearing her eyes away from the sketch she'd begun that very morning. The lines were rough like jagged cat scratches but its contents was already as plain as day; Max and Eleven cuddled so very closely, that they might have conjoined within the summer heat.

 Scarlet had tiptoed into Eleven's bedroom that morning, an early greeting on the very tip of her tongue... but she'd fallen silent at the light breaths and snores escaping the girls... the door had soon been closed and she'd left them be.

 Scarlet tore her attention away from the unruly lines depicting Max's bundle of hair and instead focused on Robin. There wasn't even a glimmer of attention within her friend's eyes, her cerulean gaze had hazed over, intent on focusing only on the Russian streaming from the headphones she'd blanketed her ears with.

 They had hoped that perhaps listening to the words like a chant, they would soon uncover their meaning. It didn't seem likely, but it was all they had.

 Robin's movements were almost robotic; her head bobbed whenever a customer spoke, her lips tugging upwards only momentarily as though a puppetmaster held the corners by strings. She'd scoop a perfect ball of ice cream and plop it onto a cone, holding it out for her customer to snatch... she'd almost dropped six of them, thinking the little girls and boys who were actually too short to grab them, had already pulled their sugary treat free.

 Scarlet watched the mall-goers mill about like little chickens, each one squawking to their friends before chittering on like normal. They bobbed to and fro, snatching chairs from booths and plonking into them with ice cream at the ready. Babys and toddlers sat snug in their highchairs, each one dribbling strawberry, chocolate or vanilla desserts down their faces.

 But then the bell chimed. An annoying sound that grated the ears like a tornado warning... Scarlet stooped her gaze, trailing over the store until her whiskey sights landed upon the culprit; Erica Sinclair.

 Where to begin with Erica Sinclair? The littlest of the Sinclair family was certainly the loudest and proudest of the bunch. Erica could always be seen sporting vibrant shades of bubblegum pinks and blues, even now there were pretty beads clinging to her hair, each one clinking against one another like a little wind chime.

 Scarlet had come to know the young girl quite well over the former months; after Lucas' outright gushing, Mr and Mrs Sinclair had called with haste and almost begged for her to babysit their children... apparently, nobody else could quite contain the wrath and attitude of Erica.

 Scarlet, however, had become one of the very few people that Erica could actually stomach. Perhaps Erica simply dialled down her attitude because Scarlet was far more... lenient. Later bedtimes, older-rated movies and a tonne of junk food... How could Erica possibly say no to that?

 Plus... Erica Sinclair actually thought Scarlet Hopper was pretty cool. You'd catch her dead before she'd ever admit liking any adult, of course.

 Scarlet plastered a dazzling grin onto her strawberry chapstick-coated lips, and Erica simply couldn't help but wiggle her fingers in a light wave. Then, like the flick of a switch, Erica's face became stony once more, her eyes narrowed upon Robin as she asked — rather, demanded — yet another sample of ice cream.

 It had been this way for weeks. Erica's bubbly and bright little self would stroll onwards as though she owned the entire mall, her little posse of pals glued to her back. Her hand would dart out, a slight smirk on her lips as she requested flavour after flavour of sugary ice cream. Scarlet had offered to buy her a cone... but the little girl just had to have her own way about things.

 Now Robin couldn't be swayed just as easily as Steve. While he would coil and crumble beneath any child's stare, simply wishing they'd all leave him alone... Robin sniffed and shrugged, brushing them off with a resounding no.

 Erica Sinclair did not like that word.

 "Where's the sailor man?!" She shrieked, beads in her hair clattering with utter ferocity as she stood upon her tippy toes, trying to spy into the back window.

 Scarlet tossed her drawing aside, carefully laying her pencil atop the scribbles before she sauntered to Robin's side, "He's busy."

 "With what?" Erica's lips twisted, "You're right here."

 There was a rather loud snort from Scarlet's left, leaving the teenager utterly confounded. Robin Buckley had just laughed at a child's joke... a joke made at her best friend's expense. How dare she.

 She made to retort, but then, after a moment, her lips faltered. Erica wasn't all too off, really. Scarlet and Steve could scarcely be found apart; from tagging along on his work days, to driving around their dreary little town when he was free to do as he pleased... Hell, even when the sun began to set and the nights began to creep in, they could be found settled within one another's homes.

 So what ground did Scarlet have to differ? Though that snarky tone of Erica's voice did make her eye twitch. Everyone seemed to take that tone with her as of late, the sly and coy edge, the glimmer within their eyes. She knew what they were insinuating... of course she knew, and she hated it.

 Scarlet wasn't oblivious, despite what her friends may have thought. She was simply... well-versed in hiding her emotions when the time called for it.

 With a swallow, Scarlet flicked her ever-faltering stare across the mall, "You're funny, Erica."

 "Mhm, I know."

 Robin's arm found its place around Scarlet's shoulders; she quite enjoyed towering over her friend and using her as a very convenient shelf for her gangly limbs wherever the occasion arose. Robin's freckled cheeks heightened with her grin and she teetered forwards — dragging Scarlet with her — to whisper, "He's busy with spycraft."

 Robin wasn't totally wrong... For Steve and Dustin had trailed off, further into the mall with binoculars in hand and a goal in mind; the problem was that their goal was a little... unattainable. The boys had developed a glimmer in their eyes when Dustin had slung his backpack from his shoulder and heaved out anything and everything that could help them discover more clues about the Russians.

 Now, whilst Scarlet gave them props for the absolute dedication, she wasn't all too certain of what they really expected to find. Did they think they'd stumble across one of the Russians just... lurking within The Gap? Did they think that maybe, just maybe, they'd find one in Victoria's Secret; Scarlet certainly hoped not, if only for Dustin's sake.

 Still, she'd watched them stalk out of Scoops Ahoy with straight backs and nothing but determination glinting within their gazes...

 "You see anything?" Dustin murmured beneath his breath, shoulder bumping Steve's. He peered at his accomplice, watching as Steve's narrowed eyes glared through the lens of the binoculars.

 They had stuffed themselves behind a potted plant, hoping the gangly vines and sprouting leaves would obscure them from view, but with Dustin's vibrant clothes and Steve's outrageously garish uniform... they'd be lucky if an old man with perishing vision didn't spot them.

 Steve cleared his throat. He'd been glimpsing through the binoculars for the better part of ten minutes, eyes just... passing people by. They were searching for Russians... Steve didn't exactly know what to look out for.

 Perhaps Scarlet had been right when she'd snorted and muttered something about finding some Russian dude trying on a new sweater in The Gap; maybe it was a dumb idea, after all, it wasn't like a gaggle of Russians who deemed it necessary to speak in a very convoluted code would just be... strolling about with a large and glittery sign saying 'Here we are! You found us!'.

 He lifted his shoulders, pulling his sights away from the mall for just a moment, "I guess I don't totally know what I'm looking for."

 "Evil Russians."

 Steve's eyes rolled skywards whilst a scoff dangled on his tongue, "Yes, thank you, Henderson. What does an evil Russain even look like?"

 "Tall, blond, not smiling. Also, look for ear pieces, camo, duffle bags... that sort of thing."

 "Right, okay, duffel bags..." Steve echoed, his head bobbing as though he'd actually registered the words he'd spoken at all. He hadn't. He peered through the binoculars once more, eyes trailing over The Imperial Panda — a great waft of orange chicken drifted by — and its customers milling about, The Gap... even despite Scarlet's mocking, he still narrowed his gaze at the man who dawdled inside.

 But then, in such Steve Harrington fashion, his eyes landed upon something else, "Oh, you've got to be kidding me."

 Dustin scooched closer, eyes almost bulging in excitement... you'd think they were searching for a star or planet in the sky, not a Russian that would likely have some... problems with being spied on. He shifted, tossing his head here and there trying to see exactly what Steve was seeing, "What? What have you got?"

 As ever, Steve's response caused Dustin to deflate entirely, "Anna Jacobi's talking with that meathead Mark Lewinsky."

 Dustin couldn't help the disgruntled groan that tore through him, "If you're not gonna focus, just give me the binoculars."

 Steve ducked from Dustin's grappling hands and coiling fingers; eyes still narrowed and completely focused upon the teenage couple he'd spied. Then he moved on, drifting left until he caught sight of yet another odd duo of his former schoolmates... he judged them and uttered words of disgust all while Dustin blinked away his fatigue.

 He wasn't actually tried, rather Dustin Henderson was full of excitement at the mere thought of cracking the code and hunting down the Russian who'd accidentally sent it his way... but Steve always managed to make a haze flitter by. His dull words of judgement, his investment in the love lives of those around him...

 Dustin snatched the binoculars from Steve's hands, "Dude, you are the worst spy in history, you know that?"

 Dustin commended himself for the restraint he portrayed as Steve swiped at the binoculars. He tightened his hold, moving them through the air and away from Steve's wiggling fingers each and every time; the urge to bash them into his shoulder was strong, yet dutifully ignored. He couldn't understand Steve, not a single bit.

 Steve Harrington spoke about wooing girls and charming them with his silly frock of hair every chance he could get; he'd moan and groan when his romantic endeavours were turned down with a laugh or a side-eye... yet Dustin knew those girls were not the objects of Steve's affection.

 It was as plain as day that Steve Harrington had the biggest, boyish crush on his best friend. How did Dustin know? Well, actually... he had asked Suzie. He had spilled all about his older friends, the babysitter who took him to 'batting practice', and the girl who had managed to stumble into their lives and make them all that much better.

 He told her about the dopey grin Steve would sport, the way his hands always seemed to reach out as though he was trying to steer Scarlet away, or perhaps even move her away from some bustling crowd... or even to just grab ahold of her fingers.

 He recalled the flush that always seemed to alight Steve's skin... it had taken a moment to remember that Steve wasn't naturally a vibrant shade of pink.

 Suzie had looked bewildered, her pretty eyes blown as wide as decorated saucers. She couldn't believe that Dustin hadn't put two and two together.

 But now he had. Now Dustin knew exactly what Steve felt for his best friend... It was all obvious now. From the flushed tips of his ears, the way he seemed to melt into a puddle whenever Scarlet used that honied tone in tandem with her silly nickname for him.

 So that was exactly why Dustin was getting really... pissed off with Steve; watching him speak about these random girls in the mall — when a real-life superhero was back in Scoops Ahoy simply waiting for his return — was treacherous.

 Why was he pretending that his feelings for her simply didn't exist?

 Dustin brought the fogged binoculars to his eyes, a bitter sting to his voice, "I don't get why you're looking at girls. You have the perfect one right in front of you."

 Steve felt his heart positively soar into his throat; there was a gurgle and then he swiftly choked. He could sense Dustin's keen eye peering at him from his peripheral, watching with glee as Steve stammered and pounded his fist upon his chest, willing his wheezes to leave him be.

 Steve blinked, a hearty swallow making his throat bob, "Dude!" He hissed like a viper, though Dustin's brow only rose further, completely entertained, "Scarlet's just a friend, okay?"

 "I never even mentioned Scarlet." Dustin's grinned.

 Steve's face dropped, his heart plummeting from his throat into the very pit of his stomach; he truly thought he'd have to scour the mall and scoop it back up. He'd just dug himself the deepest, darkest hole ever... and Steve Harrington had perused through those damned tunnels last year.

 He wanted to hit himself, to slam his own palm against his forehead until a throbbing patch of red-raw skin was left behind; maybe that would teach him to actually think before he spoke... especially around Dustin.

 The thing is... Dustin didn't look even remotely surprised at all. Just... happy, maybe he was gloating a little — his lips were crooked, a smug smirk directed Steve's way... but it wasn't mocking.

 For a moment, Steve thought that maybe he could have revealed it all to the boy beside him; the way he felt for Scarlet. From the flush that crawled from his neck to his cheeks and dotted along the tips of his ears like an unfavourable rash... to the way his heart positively hammered like a symphony of drums whenever she smiled his way. The way the name Stevie, uttered in that honied lilt, made him completely weak in the knees... but then the harsh reality of his life crashed back down on him, threatening to send him toppling to the ground in a heap; he wasn't good enough... And she was too good.

 His eyes retreated to the side, studying the plant they were sheltered behind and the leaf that he'd almost swallowed... Scarlet Hopper had quite simply stumbled into their lives and had impacted them all in one way or another; she saved them, she helped them, and she listened to them all.

 She was... Steve cleared his throat, halting his thoughts entirely, "Look, Henderson —" his voice sounded weak, as though he'd taken one of Billy Hargrove's punches to the throat, "She'd never — she wouldn't —"

 Even Dustin's face crumbled. It was pitiful to watch as Steve stumbled over his abysmal self-worth, the way his bitten fingers plucked at a stray thread on those stupid shorts he was forced to wear. He looked exactly how Dustin had felt at the Snowball when all of the girls he'd approached... had simply cast him aside.

 Dustin focused on the binoculars once more, hardly seeing as he spoke; "She wouldn't what? Go for you? Please. The two of you are almost as bad as El and Mike." Dustin paused, he looked at Steve's mortified face, and then corrected himself, "Okay, yeah, no, definitely not that bad... but you do act like every couple ever."

 "No, we don't."

 "Uh yeah, yeah you do." Steve moved to defend himself once more, Dustin held a hand out, "Let's see... holding hands? Check. Teasing each other? Double check, she makes you pink, dude. Staring at each other like there's nobody else in the room? Obviously..." Dustin then snorted, "Stevie. When she called you that, I thought you were going to explode, man."

 Steve could already feel his skin warming to boiling point. He really wished his uniform covered more, even if it was the middle of summer... at least he'd be able to escape Dustin's strangely violating gaze.

 Everything Dustin had said... he was correct. There wasn't a single point he'd gotten wrong. They did act like that, they were — well, Steve and Scarlet were almost joined at the hip. From their ventures alone together around Hawkins and just beyond, to Steve intruding on her family and joining them at the dinner table...

 But that was just —

 Scarlet was just —

 He sighed. That was just who she was. He wasn't special in that regard; no matter how much he wished he was.

 He thought about it from time to time, wondering why the hell someone like her would ever stick around him; he had no friends, he had a shitty job and family... he had a shitty past, and even now he could still mutter things without thinking first. He didn't deserve her as a friend... let alone anything more.

 That's what his father had said, too. It was far too instilled within his brain; Steve Harrington was a good-for-nothing free-loader with a shitty job, a shitty car, and... a shitty everything. He slumped further and further and did just as he always did... Deflected; "Look, she's not even my type."

 "Sure, Steve... okay, what is your type then? Dumb? Ugly? Unfunny? Completely uninterested in you?"

 "Yes, thank you for that, Henderson."

 "Maybe instead of trying to date someone you think is gonna make you cooler, why don't you just date someone you actually like being around? Like me and Suzie."

 "Oh, Suzie. Hotter than Phoebe Cates? That Suzie? And, uh, let's think about how exactly did you score that beautiful girlfriend?" Steve paused, fingers tangling within his hair as he itched at his skull, mock thought pulling his features together... at this point, he'd do anything to get Dustin to lay off; even vaulting over the railing seemed like a viable option, "Oh, yeah. With my advice. Because that's how this works, Henderson. I give you the advice, you follow through, not the other way around, all right, pea-brain?"

 They settled into silence after that; Dustin with his eyes glued to the binoculars, glaring out at the mall, all the while Steve slumped against the potted plant, uncaring if the leaves tangled within his hair of brush his scorching cheek. All he could think about was being read like a children's book by Dustin freakin' Henderson.

 Back inside Scoops Ahoy, neither Scarlet nor Robin had gotten any closer to uncovering just what their little code meant. Scarlet had slaved over the notebook, lips parting silently as her eyes trailed along the words, her pointer finger following along with the sentences...

 Yet none of it made any sense at all. Robin hadn't stopped listening to the recording and the headphones she'd swiped were still glued to her ears even as she cleaned off the counter and took a hearty sip of the Coke Scarlet had retrieved for them.

 "The week is long..." Robin tried again, tapping a pencil against her freckled forehead and coming up short. She peered over her shoulder and to where Scarlet was perched atop the back counter, "We're not getting any closer, are we?"

 Scarlet's shoulders drooped, her pwn pencil tipping from her fingers and clattering against the counter. Her sign joined the noise. They'd been at it for so long, their eyes had stared so very intently at the words... that they'd begun to seem like nothing more than randomly scrawled letters.

 It seemed that no matter how much effort they put in, nothing was connecting the dots. The words they'd uncovered didn't go together at all, they made no more sense in English than they did in Russian, and it was truly beginning to irritate them both endlessly.

 Scarlet had quite the calling to begin tearing at her hair... instead, she pinged the little blue band clinging to her wrist against her skin, "Nope."

 It was then that a knock sounded out upon the back door, knuckles wrapping intently upon the metal... Robin pouted, her forehead connecting with the counter she leaned upon; she always hated accepting deliveries, especially when a particular delivery guy would always make the most boring conversation she'd ever forced herself to listen to. Her cheeks had already begun to ache at the mere thought of having to plaster on a fake smile as a forty-year-old man tried to complain about his wife, his kids and the damned weather.

 Scarlet rolled her eyes, "I'll get it."

 "You're the best!" Robin chirped in response, her pout already slipping from her lips.

 Scarlet padded through the backroom, sure to avoid the banana peel Steve still hadn't scooped from the floor — Robin had taken one look at it before stepping around it, all the while muttering 'I'm not cleaning up after him.'

 She pried the door open, hands already outstretched and waiting for a signature — Scarlet knew it was probably bad of her to sign off the delivery with Robin's name... but it was just a bunch of toppings and napkins, so what harm could she really be doing?

 The boxes were tossed aside, ready and waiting for Robin to tear into — and likely steal a few small packets of M&M's — the moment they could finally crack the stupid code.

 A small stroke of luck seemed to blossom, for the delivery guy with a hat sat crookedly stop his balding head merely smiled, tucked away his clipboard, and turned to leave. No prolonged conversation that would have Robin poking her head through the window with a grin, no questioning of when the girls would be free... but that wasn't the only luck Scarlet had.

 When the man turned away, Scarlet couldn't help but gawk at his uniform... or, more accurately, the logo printed on his back. The silhouette of a cat in the very same colour that their code indicated. A silver cat, as loud and as plain as day.

 How they hadn't put it together before was — now that Scarlet thought about it — ludicrous. The word LYNX was printed on his cap, on the front of his shirt by the tiny little pocket slapped on his chest. She and Robin had seen it twice this week alone... and yet nothing had snapped into place.

 Scarlet could only faintly recall saying goodbye to the man before her hands scrambled for the door, slamming it shut. She was certain the entire store rattled with her ferocity, but she didn't much care as she clambered her way through the building. She bypassed the pulled-out chair by the table, hopped over the banana peel — hoping with all her might that she wouldn't accidentally slip and break her neck — and vaulted through the door.

 Robin had recoiled at the sight of her, eyes blown as wide as scuttling planets high in space, her lips grinning so vibrantly that Robin thought to put up a warning sign for Steve, knowing he'd be absolutely blinded by it.

 Robin couldn't so much as voice her concern, not when Scarlet had already clamped her fingers around her wrist and began tugging her along. Robin had never been great at keeping up with others, not when her long legs would tangle and twist like a cluster of Twizzlers.

 Her shoes slapped against the ground, uneven steps echoing so very loudly that Robin cringed with each step. Still, she managed to keep upright, though only because Scarlet had become rather privy to her clumsy self. Scarlet kept an iron grip, pausing only momentarily to allow Robin to catch herself, and then they'd rush forth all over again.

 Scarlet couldn't believe it. She'd finally connected a single, little dot. But it was enough, and it was a start. They just need a better view, they needed to see every single inch of the mall before them — like the map of a crime scene.

 They stumbled past the boys, Steve and Dustin trudging towards Scoops Ahoy with dejected looks upon their features. Clearly, they hadn't made a discovery at all. Their eyes flooded with confusion, heads twisting like little puppies as they watched the dynamic duo pass them by. Robin could only offer a shrug before she tripped over her own feet, saved by Scarlet's surprisingly nimble fingers that curled around her sleeve.

 Scarlet hadn't paid them much attention, completely missing their confusion and the pink-tinted cheeks of Steve Harrington. Though it wasn't like they'd catch her off guard, they were always pink, it seemed.

 Scarlet had dragged Robin to the very centre of the mall, neon lights glinted down at them, patrons, customers and kids just along for the ride all stared onwards... until something new caught their attention.

 She hopped atop one of the benches by the fountain, a splash of cool water dampening her converse; dew drops trailing down her ankles. Robin joined, the girls still hand in hand; even if Robin hadn't a clue what was going on.

 "Why exactly did you just make me sprint?" Robin wheezed, her free hand slapping at her chest, willing away the knot that always formed wherever her unsteady limbs were forced to do any form of physical activity, "You know I can barely walk straight."

 Scarlet finally snapped out of her accomplished daze, a lingering laugh tipping from her tongue. But then she delved onwards, rushing words spewing from her lips like a gushing waterfall trailing down a hill. With each word, with each connection... with the revelation of the Silver Cat, Robin's eyes widened, her cheeks rising in time.

 "You're a genius!" Robin hooted, her hands already delving into her never-ending pockets until she managed to dig out the little notebook she'd been scrawling within. She flipped the pages, "A trip to China sounds nice..."

 Scarlet whipped her head around, nose already locating that delightful scent of sweet orange chicken. She'd felt her stomach grumble every time she so much as caught a whiff, so much so that Steve had taken her to the Imperial Panda just the week before.

 The Imperial Panda.

 Scarlet spun, her pointer flung in the direction of the restaurant, "A trip to China sounds nice!"

 "No way! No way! No way!" Robin exclaimed, rising to the tips of her toes as she spun in a little circle, notebook close to her eyes, "If you tread lightly..." Then she looked down, watching as her dirty converse moved in time with her writhing toes. She blinked, her lips parting as her eyes flew to the very place she'd seen the newest pair she'd happily buy if Scoops paid her an actual living wage, "Kaufman Shoes!"

 The pair of them bounced like a pair of excited kids. Their hands grappled for one another, each holding tight as they read the final sentence within their grasp, their voices intertwined, "When blue meets yellow in the west."

 They each started their search at the very front of the mall, eyes trained on the doors, watching as a never-ending stream of people filtered through. Scarlet trailed her eyes along the right wall, bypassing the Imperial Panda, past The Gap and Burger King... and then, she spotted it at the very same time as Robin.

 Each of them flickered their gaze from the gigantic clock on the wall, and back to each other. The clock stood tall and proud on the highest of walls, each second causing the hands to tick by... One hand was blue, the other a pale yellow.

 Robin practically burst with haughty laughter, chopped hair bobbing at her shoulders as she jumped in place; Scarlet joined her, curls springing up and down, hooped earrings clattering against each other.

 They had ahold of each other's wrists, "When blue meets yellow in the west!"

 "We cracked it! Oh my God, we cracked it!" Robin cheered loud enough for every patron of the mall to hear. They garnered stares from judgemental teenagers, excitable children and absolutely exhausted parents who wanted nothing more than some peace and quiet.

 Still, they hooped and hollered until there was a flick on Scarlet's calf. She stooped her gaze, mouth frozen as though another burst of laughter would break free at a moment's notice.

 Steve stood there, a hand on his hip and a brow disappearing into his hairline, "What are you doing?"

 He was positively lost. He'd seen it all; from watching as Scarlet absolutely barreled through the break-room door, to seizing ahold of Robin as she dragged her through the mall, tearing through groups of people, hopping down the stairs, and saving Robin — multiple times — from face-planting the ground.

 She hadn't paid him any mind when she'd yanked Robin by; not so much as a look or wave... her eyes had been utterly intent on the fountain she was now stood before, cheering like a child at a birthday party; cheeks flushed and teeth gleaming through her grin.

 He couldn't deny that he'd wanted to leave her be, to watch as she twisted and turned with wide eyes and a dazzling smile... but he was almost concerned as he watched her, and his co-worker, acting the way they were.

 Robin, however, cleared the air rather swiftly. She broke her hold with Scarlet, her thumb jabbing towards her friend. There was an almost... proud look in her eyes, "She cracked the code."

 Scarlet, wasn't about to buy that little explanation at all. While she might have put the pieces together regarding the man and his uniform, she'd never have pieced the rest of the puzzle together if not for Robin Buckley, her partner in crime.

 She hopped down from the fountain, her hand raising to assist Robin — she didn't think Robin would live it down if she just so happened to trip over her own feet and tumble into the fresh-water fountain.

 Once the girls were side by side, Scarlet bumped their shoulders, "We cracked the code."

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25-01-2020

edited version: 14-08-2022

:･ﾟ★ naur, stevie is in LOVE, and dustin read him to utter FILTH. also, scarlet and robin? i love them.

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

graphic design is my passion xoxo