"Are you sure? You're certain?" Steve asked again, stomach turning over a bit. Make believe, from time to time, was fun and all - but this felt different. Dustin didn't seem to think so, he was all for it, practically fidgeting off the side of the bench with excitement.
"Uh huh," Dustin nodded repeatedly, eyes big as they stared up at him. "I want you to."
But, Steve didn't really want to. He just wanted to make Dustin happy, so he swallowed down his discomfort. Dustin had told him to go as far as he wanted, even if it ended in bruises.
"Okay," Steve said shakily, before trying to steel himself. "You need to stop running your mouth so much, freak, or else your teeth are going to fall the fuck out."
Steve reached forward, grabbing hold of handful of Dustin's hair, yanking on it, until he tilted Dustin's chin up. Dustin's lips parted some, and his pupils dilated until there was more black in his eyes than blue. "Quiet now, Henderson? That's a change. But, look at that, you're into this, aren't you?" He hated this.
Steve lifted his foot and pushed the end of his sneaker into Dustin's groin, against his arousal. He didn't apply much pressure, but Dustin still winced, and that was enough to break Steve. He immediately stopped, and put his foot decidedly back down onto the locker room floor. Dustin frowned, confused, until Steve leaned over to drop his forehead onto Dustin's shoulder.
"I can't do this, man...I love you, but I..." Steve pulled back, meeting his eyes. "I don't want to be that person anymore, not again."
Realization seemed to dawn on Dustin, who exhaled, nodding his head. "Sorry, I just thought a little nerd and jock roleplay would be fun, I didn't know it would be...weird for you."
Steve had spent years hearing about Dustin's bullies, he'd spent years facing the fact he himself had been a bully - because even around the time he befriended Robin, he'd not thought of himself like that. But, no. He'd said things, done things, that had truly hurt people, and he never, not ever, wanted to consider himself saying those things to Dustin.
"So..." Dustin said slowly, chewing on his lip. "If the issue is... you don't want to bully me; can I bully you?"
Steve felt a flush of warmth across his body. Yeah.
Yeah that would be just fine.