Work Text:
Nancy stumbled into her apartment. A bleak place that only really served as a place to sleep for her. A fact that was evident by the lack of any decoration or color despite her 6 month residency. There was no point. Why decorate when she had no clue how long she’d be able to stay? Why make herself a ‘home’ here when it could just as easily be torn away as her one in Hawkins?
The tears she’d desperately been trying to hold back all day blurred her vision, making it difficult to differentiate anything. She closed the door behind her, finally letting them fall. Finally letting free the sobs that were threatening to strangle her. Slowly she made her way into her room, just barely avoiding bumping into every countertop and door frame that stood between her and her bed. Nancy stared at the bland pink sheets, the only lively thing in the whole apartment, for a moment before falling into them. The tears were coming faster now, and the sobs rang out louder and louder. Nancy just hoped they weren’t loud enough for her neighbors to hear.
She grabbed her pillow and pulled it into herself, gripping on to it tightly. She nuzzled into it desperately trying to find some comfort. It didn’t come. She closed her eyes. Maybe if she could just get some sleep, everything would be better in the morning.
A ringing played from next to her. Just out of her reach. She sighed barely finding enough strength to pull herself into a sitting position. God, what would her friends say if they saw how weak she was right now? Would they even recognise her as the same Nancy who aided them in battling Vecna? She didn’t know.
Nancy found the source of the sound. It was the phone. She contemplated leaving it. Sitting there and just listening to the thing ring. But what if it was important? What if it was her boss? Or her parents? Or Robin?
Robin. Nancy wasn’t sure when it had happened, perhaps during the visit with Victor Creel, or maybe during their preparations to fight his son, but the two had grown quite close. Sure Robin could be a bit much. And she had a habit of rambling, but there was something endearing about it. Charming even. Her vast knowledge on various subjects and fluency in multiple languages were two things that had always impressed Nancy. And likely always would.
She picked up the phone, whispering a hello into the receiver.
“Nancy?”
It was Robin. Nancy relaxed a little bit. The tears still fell but the sobbing had long stopped.
“Hi Robin,” she whispered, struggling to keep her tone even and controlled.
“Are you okay Nance?”
Shit. There was no fooling her, huh?
“Ummm,” she struggled to think of a response. Nancy’d never really been in this situation before. She was always so good at keeping her emotions in check, and not letting them affect her work. Sure, she’d get angry, but she hadn’t cried in front of anyone in years. Maybe not since Barb’s death, and maybe even before that. “Not really? I don’t know. I guess I just didn’t realize how hard today was going to be.”
There was silence on the other end of the line, something unusual for Robin. “I’m coming over.”
“Huh?” Nancy vocalized, barely taking in what she’d said.
“I’m coming over,” Robin repeated, “I’ll be there in like 15, okay?”
“Umm okay.”
“Okay. See you soon ,Nance.”
With that, Robin hung up leaving Nancy struggling to understand what just happened. There was one thing that stuck in her mind though. Robin was coming over. She looked down at herself, still clutching the pillow tightly, and still in her food stained work clothes. Working at a diner for a couple extra dollars was all fun and games till you get covered in ice cream making shakes or covered in soda because the cylinder ran out when you were trying to make a float that had already been made.
Nancy figured she should at least put on something more comfortable before Robin got there. But as much as she thought about it, as much as she wanted to, she couldn’t pull herself up out of bed to do it. Instead she sat there staring off at the blank white walls that surrounded her on every side. Just another reminder of the emptiness.
The door to her apartment swung open tapping the wall behind it just hard enough to be heard. Nancy was glad she’d given Robin her own key. She wasn’t sure she would’ve been able to get up to open the door herself if she hadn’t.
“Nance?”
“In here,” she just about whispered.
The dull sound of footsteps came closer, then Robin’s head peeked through the doorway. Her gaze met Nancy’s own a moment, clearly assessing the scene. She was trying to figure out what the best course of action was. Eventually Robin made up her mind and moved towards Nancy. She took a seat on the end of the bed, kicking off her shoes as she pulled her legs up onto the sheets.
“What happened?”
Nancy sighed and set the pillow back in its place. Where could she even start? From the moment she’d woken up that day she wanted to go back to sleep. The effort it took to get up out of bed felt almost like too much. She wasn’t tired, just empty. She’d had times in the past like it but she’d always been able to push it down. Not today though. And worse yet, it just happened to be one of the few days she was scheduled at the diner. A seven hour shift too. Just her luck.
“I just…” she started, the tears from earlier starting to fall faster again as she spoke, “I don’t even know. I woke up today and everything sucked. And I messed things up at work and I just… I don’t even know how I made it through the day.”
Robin scooted closer, her knees touching Nancy’s own. She brought her hands up to Nancy’s face, gently wiping away her tears with her thumbs.
“Oh, Nance,” she whispered, “Is there anything I can do?”
Without thinking, Nancy reached out, pulling Robin tightly into herself. Not unlike what she’d done to the pillow. She let herself cry as Robin rubbed wide circles into her back. It was comforting in a way Nancy hadn’t even thought possible. She could feel the shoulder of Robin’s shirt becoming wet with her tears, but she didn’t much care. And it didn’t seem like Robin did either.
“Stay,” Nancy whispered.
“Hmm?”
“Please,” Nancy practically begged, “Please just stay.”
“Nancy,” Robin smiled, “As long as you want me to stay, I’ll be right here.”
Nancy pulled out of the hug, meeting Robin’s gaze with her own a moment. Somehow her ice blue eyes felt warm. Like when the sun rises and reflects its warmth upon a frozen lake. It was comforting. Robin was comforting.
Nancy glanced at the clock. 1am already. She hadn’t realized just how late it was. But then again, she hadn’t gotten ‘home’ till after eleven. Home. It wasn’t an accurate description of the apartment, but what else could she call it? ‘The place I sleep’ was a little too wordy to use consistently. In her mind, ‘home’ was her pretty pink bedroom in her childhood home with her parents and siblings all one shout away. Or maybe ‘home’ was a blue eyed girl with freckles.
“We should get some sleep,” Nancy said, finally breaking the comfortable silence that had held the two of them together.
Robin nodded. She started to get up, only stopped when Nancy grabbed her hand. She turned back, head tilted in a curious gesture. It always reminded Nancy of a puppy when she did that. The thought made her smile.
She patted the spot next to her on the bed, hoping Robin understood. She did. Hand still in Nancy’s she flipped around and laid down next to her. She turned to face Nancy, not batting an eye when she pulled Robin closer. Cuddling wasn’t something they did often, but Nancy’d be lying if she said she didn’t enjoy it when they did.
“Thank you,” she mumbled into Robin’s chest, earning a pleasant hum from her.
“Of course, Nancy,” she smiled, “Anything for someone I love.”
Nancy lifted her head, trying to read Robin’s expression in the low lighting.
“You love me?” she asked.
“Well I mean… Yeah,” she replied, followed by a pleasant chuckle, “Yes I do. I love you, Nancy. I have for… a while now.”
Nancy smiled. She readjusted herself so she was eye level with Robin. For a moment they just lay there taking in each other's features. Nancy’s eyes drifted from Robin’s eyes, to her freckles, to her lips, then back up again. When she met her eyes again she noticed Robin was doing the same. Nancy closed her eyes and leaned in, leaving a tender kiss on the other woman’s lips.
“I love you too,” she said, “I think I have… for a while.”
Robin giggled, her wide smile spreading to Nancy’s face as well. She leaned forward gently pressing her forehead against Nancy’s and closed her eyes. Nancy followed her lead, closing her eyes and finally letting herself relax completely in Robin’s arms. They’d probably have to talk about this in the morning, but for now, she’d just enjoy the moment.
And as Nancy began to finally drift off, one thought passed effortlessly through her mind. ‘Home is a blue eyed girl with freckles.’