Work Text:
“How soon can you get here? Papers are ready for you to sign.” PJ asked on the other end of the phone.
“Uh, can you give me about an hour? Does that work?” Steve asked, stifling as a moan as he felt Eddie’s hand on his thigh, head laying on his pillow.
“Works fine. You alright? You sound like you might be in pain.” PJ questioned.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little sore from moving stuff around to get it ready for the move.” He responded, trying to cover up the fact the moans were from pleasure and not pain, bracing his other hand on their head.
“Alright. See you in an hour.” The other man said before hanging up.
“What was that about, princess?” Eddie asked as he looked up at his boyfriend.
“Papers are ready to sign for the new house.” He replied, head falling back as their mouth wrapped around him.
“Don’t want PJ Harrison to know he interrupted your lunch time escapades?”
“Less talking, more sucking. Unless you think you can’t make me come that way.” He huffed, propping himself up on his elbows to look at his partner.
“Baby boy, if I wanted to, I could make it happen without touching you.” Eddie retorted, turning to lick his thigh before biting him.
“Ow, fuck!”
“Shhh. Robin is here and we wouldn’t want them to see you like this.” He soothed, licking the blood that began to pool on his thigh before returning to the task at hand.
“Are you sure you’re not a vampire, Eds?” Steve chuckled before letting out a moan.
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“And just one last paper to sign.” PJ said, setting the final form down on the desk.
“And there…we…go.” Steve said after signing.
“Perfect. I’ll get these filed and you should be able to start moving in on Tuesday. Congratulations.” He smiled, shaking Steve and Robin’s hands.
“You officially have a house that has nothing to do with your parents. How do you feel?” Robin asked as they walked out to the car.
“I feel free!” Steve exclaimed, picking her up and swinging her around.
“You are crazy.” They laughed as he planted a loud kiss on their cheek.
“Thank you for always being there with me, Robs. I love you more than anyone in the world.” He chuckled, holding her tight.
“I love you too, Steve. And I’ll be there with you forever.” They replied, hugging him.
“You are amazing. I can’t wait to be in your wedding and help you pick out a suit.” He said as they got in the car to go to the club.
“I already told Eddie they could be in the wedding.” She said with a sheepish smile.
“Would I not be your maid of honor as your true soulmate and long lost sibling? I am wounded, pained.” Steve feigned hurt, looking over at her with a pout.
“Maybe I’ll be able to convince Eddie to stand with Nancy. I do want you next to me. You are my soulmate.” Robin said with a smile and grabbing his hand.
They pulled up to the club and walked in to find Nancy and Eddie whispering by the bathrooms. Their faces were turned downward before they spotted their partners, immediately plastering fake smiles on their faces. Nancy and Robin exchanged a gentle kiss as Eddie pressed a chaste kiss to Steve’s cheek. Robin grabbed Eddie’s hand, pulling him aside with furrowed brows.
“What’s going on? You two look beyond concerned.” She asked quietly.
“Steve’s mother is here. Sitting on the floor, demanding to speak to him about working here and the house and god knows what else.” Eddie whispered, eyes darting to Steve.
“You gotta be shitting me.” They sighed. “Okay. Take him to a private room or your van. Keep him there by any means necessary. I know you have rope for weird shit. Use that if you need to. Nancy or I will come get you once we’ve talked to Tony and his mother. Got it?” She said in a hushed voice.
“Got it. Good luck.” He replied, patting their cheek before going back over to Nancy and Steve.
“Let’s go to the van, sweetheart. You can tell me about the furniture you ended up buying and the housewarming party you’re planning.” They ushered him outside.
“How’d you know I was planning a party? And why am I going to the van when I’m supposed to be starting my shift?” Steve asked, looking over his shoulder.
“Because I know you and because I feel like I haven’t seen you a lot this week because of work and dealing with the house. I miss you, baby.” He said with a smile and kissed his temple.
“You are a terrible liar, Eds. But I am going to overlook the lying for now because I miss you too.” Stee chuckled and kissed their neck before getting in the van.
“Tony, I need you to keep security nearby. The woman clutching her pearls over there is Steve’s mother and she may need to be forced out.” Robin told their boss after ushering all the other employees out of the club.
“Oh fuck. Why is she here?”
“Homophobic, bible thumping bitch finally decided to come talk to him face to face. He deserves better than his parents and I’m not letting him talk to her.” She responded, pouring herself a shot of whisky.
“Sounds like a plague on society.” Tony scoffed.
“Funny, she says the same thing about gay people, fat people, and generally anyone who doesn’t fit her mold.” Nancy replied, grabbing herself a shot.
“Normally you know I’d dock you for the shots but it sounds like you need them more than I need the money.” He chuckled and patted Robin’s shoulder.
“Go get ‘em, tigers.” He added with a smile.
“Mrs. Harrington. I would say it’s nice to see you, but you might take that as me liking you.” Robin said after taking a deep breath, arms crossed.
“Robin, I can’t say that I’m surprised to see that you work in a place like this. And Nancy, dear, how are you? How is my future daughter-in-law?” Mrs. Harrington said, looking at Nancy with a sickeningly fake smile.
“Oh, give it a rest, Margaret. She is not your future daughter-in-law because she’s not marrying Steve. She’s going to marry me.” They spat out, venom laced with her words.
“Hush. You’re nothing to her. She’ll see that and go back to him because she is his soulmate.”
“One, I’m right here. And two, she’s right, Margaret.” Nancy stepped in. She laced her right hand into theirs before flashing the engagement ring on her left head.
“I’m marrying Robin in the fall. A small affair, of course. Steve’s hosting in the backyard of the house we’ll be living in. Steve, Robin, and myself as well as Steve’s boyfriend.” Nancy spoke slowly, making it clear they were steadfast.
“He does not have a boyfriend and he has no right to sell my house!” She shouted, slamming her hand on the table.
“Lower your voice, Margaret.” Nancy commanded. Her voice was low and calm as she held up a hand to stave off the bouncers.
“He does have a boyfriend. As far as the house, he has every right to sell. You signed the house over to him. All the documents are in his name and legally it’s his. He wants and deserves a place where the memories and reminders of how terribly you and Harold fucked him up aren’t looming over him at all times.” Robin responded with a scowl, her tone less calm than her fiancée’s.
“I thought I told you to be quiet and mind your business. This has nothing to do with you.”
“This has just as much to do with me as it has to do with Nancy. That man out in his boyfriend’s van is my best friend. Nancy and I love him more than life itself. He and I are bonded for life because I need him and he needs me. He and I wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for each other. And after what you and Harold said to him and how you have made him feel his entire life, you’re lucky I’ve let you stay here and speak this long.” They sneered, hands resting on the table as she was face to face with the person she hated most.
“My love. It’s time to take a step back. Go see Eddie and Steve. Eddie has those cookies you like.” Nancy whispered, pulling them back and kissing them.
Nancy watched her fiancé walk away before sitting down across from her ex’s mother. The club all but cleared when Robin and Margaret got into their shouting match. They sat in silence as Tony told the patrons and workers who had come into the club, promising the patrons two free rounds and the workers two hours of double time for their troubles. Tony sat with the bouncers at the bar, watching as Nancy and Margaret stared each other down.
“Margaret, I’m hoping you and I can have a civilized conversation, like adults. As far as I’m concerned, when Robin blocked your numbers and it took you almost two weeks to even try to come up and talk to him, you made your choice. Steve has been infinitely happier working here and dating Eddie. You and Harold have screwed that boy up beyond belief. He deserves better and he has better now. He has a family now. A real family.” Nancy spoke firmly, eyes still locked with hers.
“Nancy, he had no right to sell and buy a new house, let alone have our main competitor act as his agent. That’s an absolute slap in the face.” Margaret said, with her arms crossed.
“Can you blame him? You fired him. And it wasn’t him who decided to go through your competition. Robin set it up after Steve went through an episode where he considered committing suicide after he found out Harold called Robin when he hasn’t heard his voice in almost a decade.”
“And then who does he think he is, saying he has a boyfriend? He’s a good boy, a good Christian boy who is going to marry a nice girl, you, and settle down.” She went on, completely ignoring what Nancy had said.
“Steve and I are over. We haven’t been together since his senior year. I am in love with Robin and he is in love with Eddie. Steve likes men and women. He is bisexual and if you can’t accept that, accept HIM, then you just need to go back to Florida with all the other pompous, geriatric conservative asswipes. And don’t ever come back or I’ll have Hopper arrest you for intent to commit a hate crime. Given that his daughter is dating someone of multiple genders, he is sensitive to those kinds of calls.” Nancy said, voice strong and gaze laser focused.
“You wouldn’t do that.”
“Wouldn’t I? You came into a known safe haven for LGBTQIA+ people, your son included, with a pistol in your purse that I know you don’t have any sort of permit for. You’re openly queerphobic. Not just tonight, but you have been for your entire life. And once again, who do you think the chief will side with? You, who all but abandoned Steve his entire life? Or a group of queer people he considers his adopted kids?”
“So I suggest you get out now and never come back unless you’re ready to make nice with him and accept Steve for who he is. That goes for Harold too.” She added, leaning back in her chair.
“You heard her, ma’am. It’s time for you to go.” Andrew, one of the two bouncers, said gruffly. He nodded to Nancy and walked Margaret to her car.
“You can bring everybody back in now, Michael. Andrew, would you please go get Eddie, Robin, and Steve and have them meet Nancy and myself in the office.”
“Yes, sir.” The two men replied in unison.
Nancy followed Tony to his office, the two of them talking about what had happened. Nancy was still calm and collected after the incident. However calm she may have seemed on the outside, her eyes were aflame in anger and passion. She was proud of how she stood up for her family and protected them.
“Nancy, I want to make you a manager here. You handle yourself really well and keep unreasonably cool under pressure. And I want you to have more responsibility, if you’re up for it.” Tony said before he sat down.
“Are you serious?” She asked, trying not to smile.
“More than. It would mean so much to me and I know the money would help with the wedding. You wouldn’t need to rely on tips. Just think on it, okay?” He said as he heard the other three approaching.
“Will someone please tell me what the fuck is going on? Why…” Steve was angry and frustrated as he walked into the office.
“Sorry, Tony.” He said sheepishly.
“Don’t be. We’re about to tell you what’s going on and it’s frustrating. Please, sit.” Tony said with a gentle smile.
“First off, some good news. Tony has offered me a promotion to manager and I’m going to take it. No more dancing for me.” Nancy said with a wide grin.
“I’m losing my dancing buddy and you’re saying it’s good news? Do I mean nothing to you?” Eddie pouted, a smile betraying his words.
“Tony is letting me keep my current hours and my breaks with Robin. And I’ll make sure to visit my favorite dancer as often as I can.” She chuckled and kissed his cheek.
“I didn’t agree to that.” Tony interjected.
“Do you want me to be a manager or not?” She replied, looking over at him and receiving a nod.
“Then you’ll agree to it.” Nancy said in a matter of fact tone, turning to face Steve as she stood beside his partner.
“Wow. It’s like looking at a set of twins.” Steve muttered as he looked at his ex and partner.
“What was that, angel?” They asked, a smirk pulling on their lips.
“I’ll tell you later, darling. What else is going on? Why was I rushed to the van without even being able to clock on?” He asked, looking between all of them.
The five of them stood in silence, everyone avoiding Steve’s gaze. Eddie and Tony looked at Robin and Nancy. It was their place to say what happened with Steve’s mother. Nancy finally decided to speak up, looking at Steve and placing a hand on his cheek.
“Your mother was here. She wanted to talk to you about the house and Eddie. She was rude and homophobic, as per her usual. She and Robin got into a shouting match, hence why they ended up in the van with you, eating one of Eddie’s special cookies.” She explained, waving Tony off when he went to say something about Robin being high on the clock.
“I actually ate two. Two special sugar cookies.” Robin giggled and smiled at Eddie.
“You should not be high on the clock.” Tony sighed, head in his palms.
“Tony, like you don’t know half your employees are under the influence of something on the clock.” Eddie scoffed and wrapped his arm over Robin’s shoulders.
“Apparently there were two special cookies. After I sent her to the van, I talked with your mother. I told her almost everything and how you have every right to sell the house.” She continued, her voice solemn.
“I also told her I’d have her arrested if she didn’t leave willingly. Told her I knew about the unregistered pistol in her purse and how she came into a safe haven with nefarious purposes. Told her Chief is more likely to side with the gaggle of gay kids he adopted than the homophobic, bible thumping geriatric.” She finished with a chuckle.
“It was amazing, watching her.” Tony interjected.
“Normally, you’d know I’d be upset with all of you getting involved and not letting me handle it on my own. However, given how I feel about my parents, I’m not upset at all. I’m not upset that I didn't see her and get a chance to tell her I haven’t considered myself a ‘Harrington’ in a long time. You guys are my family. Not her. Not Harold. You.” He said with a wide smile, pulling the three of them into a hug.
“We love you, Steve. So much.” Robin told him.
“Now that that’s settled, get to work. You’ll each get two hours of double time and I’ll be working on your promotion paperwork, Nancy.” Tony said, waving them out.
The four of them coupled up, Nancy and Robin walking ahead of the boyfriends, talking about the promotion. Steve silently wrapped his arm around Eddie’s, head resting on his shoulder. They walked a few paces behind, quietly reveling in each other’s company.
“Thank you.” Steve whispered after kissing their arm.
“You don’t need to thank me, baby. I’m here to protect you. And if that means lying to you and holding you hostage so you don’t have to talk to your mother, then that’s what I’ll do.” Eddie said, kissing him before they parted ways in order to go to work.