#stargyle fic

Steve keeps his eyes forward, refusing to meet he glare, slouching a little further down in the little swing they're sat on. "It's just how it is, Robs."

"Do you need glasses, is that it?"

"I'm not blind, it-"

"No, you clearly are, it's the only explanation. Jonathan has been complaining so much to Nancy that she's been complaining to me. This is getting ridiculous."

"We're just friends! People talk about their friends! I tell you all about the shit Henderson drags me into."

"If you were talking like that about Henderson I'd have you put on a fucking list."

"You're exaggerating."

Robin mutters curses under her breath, shaking her head. She turns, catching Nancys eyes, mouthing 'he is hopeless'.

Nancy squints at her for a moment, thinking, before nodding at her. She jumps up, quickly walking over to Argyle, crouching beside him. Her back is to Robin, so she can't try to read her lips.

"So... any not-a-date plans for tonight?" Robin asks, when the silence drags on too long.

"Oh, shut up, like you're any better."

"What?! I am not-"

"Yes, you are! 'Oh, no, we were only getting milkshakes and sharing the same drink with two straws'!"

"That's different!" Robin flushes bright red. "I'm actually trying to make it something more, it's just... taking time."

"Because you aren't making moves. She's probably thinking the same as you. If you were interested in her, you'd do something about it, right? You can't make her do all the work."

"You need to start taking your own advice."

"Ah, that's the wisest advice that there is," Argyle says, coming to a stop in front of them. "What problem are you advising?"

"Nothing," they both say in sync.

"Riiiight..." He glances between them, before turning a little more to Steve, holding out a daisie chain in both hands. "I made you something."

"Oh, uh... thanks, that's..." he trails off, holding still, as Argyle very carefully and slowly places it on his head.

"There you go, man," he grins, satisfied. "Pretty as a princess."

He tilts Steves chin up with a gentle finger on his jaw. He looks at him for a long moment, with a smile so soft, that Steve can't help the blush that warms his face.

Robin gawks at him as Argyle walks away, waving her hand in front of his face after a moment.

"What?"

entertaining the unknown // a stargyle fic

He paused, feeling the rush of needing to leave, “What do you say?” Argyle stared at him, first his lips were pursed, and his brows creased in the middle as he mulled over the odd proposition that Steve had just given him. Steve was standing, feeling almost out of breath before realizing he was holding it. Something was telling him he was running out of time. Running out of chances. Then, slowly, the smile spread across Argyle’s lips, loosening something in Steve’s chest. “Alright. Why not?”

Steve and Argyle are dating, this is how everyone finds out. It goes just about as well as you'd expect.

Argyle.

It all began when they had first met.

Argyle just scooped Steve up in his arms, and hugged him for one second too long. That one second, had Steve hooked instantly.

And it kept happening whenever Argyle came around.

The hugs.

Each one would start to last longer, and longer, and longer.

Argyle could tell that Steve really needed these hugs, that they made him feel calm, if the rapid heartbeats becoming steady was any indicator.

He could also see Steve’s sad little face whenever the hug was broken.

So, Argyle decided to give him hugs, without a single thought of letting go.

That’s when the nuzzling of Steve’s face in Argyle’s chest started to occur.

And Argyle was more than okay with that.

Steve didn’t know if Argyle could sense something about what he truly wanted, and he is so happy for what he’s been given, but he really hopes that maybe it could turn into something more.

Cuddling.

Little does Steve know, tonight is the night when Argyle proposes the idea of a full night worth of cuddles… and maybe something more.

And little does Argyle know, tonight is the night when Steve will gladly accept… the cuddles and the more.

Oh. He's at the Byers house.

Steve sighs, relieved, as memories of the previous night finally catch up with him. When he'd had one beer too many, Joyce coaxing him into staying the night on the sofa, even though Argyle had offered to drive him home.

He slowly sits up, grabbing at the sofas armrest, squeezing his eyes shut as he tries to push away the last dregs of his nightmare out of his mind... but it doesn't work. He can't stop thinking about it.

The porch light is on, he finally notices. So he gets up, holding the blanket around himself, quietly creeping outside. Argyle is smoking a normal cigarette. He looks up, smiling when he spots Steve.

"Hey," he says quietly.

Steve sits down beside him, pulling the blanket tighter. "Hey. Didn't expect anyone else to be up."

"It's no worries, my guy. Dreamland isn't being nice to me either."

Steve hums, unsure whether he should ask. But the quiet is nice, and Argyle seems content to just sit there too. It's comfortable. The night is nice too. Quiet. There's only a few clouds, leaving the stars bright and visible in the sky.

It takes Steve a moment to realize that Argyle is humming some tune, quietly, bopping his cigarette in time. He's sure he recognizes the tune. He thinks it's something he's heard on the radio- though it's not the usual style he'd go for.

He jerks his head back up from where it had been drooping, almost falling asleep.

"Sleep in my bed," Argyle says softly, nudging Steve and startling back awake when he starts to drop off again.

"No, man. Where would you sleep?"

"In my bed? Bro, it's chill, I'm up. I'll nap later. Go, get some sleep."

"No, I'm not stealing your bed. The sofas fine, that's not the problem."

Argyle hums, nodding a little. He turns back to the sky. It looks like he's tracing the stars with his eyes. His little smile, when he glances over, makes Steve feel less weird about staring.

The next time he wakes up, he's a little confused. It's dark- although he can't tell if thats because he's curled up with his face pressed against something soft.

He hums, confused.

"Shhh, you're ok," Argyle whispers. "Go back to sleep."

Lifting his head, he sees that Argyle is carrying him bridal style. "Wha's goin' on?"

"You need to sleep, my guy."

I am tired, Steve thinks. He blinks heavily, slowly lowering his head back onto Argyles shoulder. "'M not stealing your bed."

He slowly wakes again as he's lowered, first noticing that Argyle is humming that song again. But, when he starts to pull the covers over Steve, he grumbles, trying to push them off him.

"I's your bed," Steve mumbles, blearily blinking his eyes open.

Argyle looks at him with a soft, patient smile. "It is my bed. You're sleeping in it." He chuckles when Steve shakes his head. "I carried you all the way here, man. You're not light."

"Oh... but you need'a sleep."

"Would it ease your mind if I slept here too?"

Steve blinks, his sleepy brain taking a moment to catch up. "With me?"

"Yeah." Argyle waits a moment. "Is that alright?"

"Um... yeah? Yeah, that's alright."

Steve shifts over, as Argyle takes his jacket out so he's just in his matching pjs. He rolls over, onto his side, trying to curl away and take up less space.

"Is it alright if I touch you?" Argyle asks once he's in bed.

"Y-yeah, that's... that's alright."

Curling an arm around his waist, Argyle pulls him back so he's not at the edge of the bed. It pulls Steves back flush to his front. He curls around him more snug, shifting around for a moment, nose pressed to the back of Steves neck.

"Still alright?" He whispers.

The little street Jonathan directs him down is one of the lucky ones that have gone completely unaffected. Although, it does seem a little eerie- most of the cars gone, curtains closed, the residents inside long gone.

The house they pull up outside of though is still lively, still packing up a car. A group are standing around the trunk, all turning when Argyle pulls the van to a stop.

Once everyone has stepped out the van, and the initial shock is over, they're all running to greet each other. He shifts to the side, pleased to the weird girl and little Byers hugging the same little guy in a group hug. Byers and his girl too, hugging so tight that he's lifting her off the ground. Even Wheeler and his mom...

He can't help but notice the two, hovering at the side of the group. The man quickly looks away when Argyle catches his eyes. He wonders if he's the one that Argyle could feel eyeing him.

He looks flustered, but doesn't resist when the woman drags him over with a hand on his wrist.

"Hey," Argyle greets, shamelessly focusing on the man.

"Hi," he even waves a little. "Uh... sorry, I don't know-?"

"Oh, right. I'm Argyle!"

"Steve," he offers a hand, which Argyle shakes, patting his shoulder at the same time. "Um. This is Robin."

"Like the bird!" Argyle grins when she snorts. "You guys packing up?"

"The schools been turned into a relief center," Robin explains. "We're donating some old stuff."

"Rad. You need any help? I've got plenty of room in my-"

"Steve needs a lift," Robin says, quickly slapping a hand over his mouth when he tries to argue. "We have the boxes all packed up in the car already, it'd be annoying to move them all now. But there's no room left for Steve!"

"Sorry, just, uh... excuse us, for a minute." Steve grabs her wrist, dragging her off before Argyle can agree.

Jonathan and Nancy seem to be finished with their little moment, so Argyle creeps over to them.

"Byers, hey," Argyle glances at the two, where Robin is clearly winning whatever debate they're having. "You guys gonna be ok here for a while?"

"Just for a little while. We're going to need a ride to Hoppers old cabin."

"Right... but you don't need to go, like, right now?"

"Not right now. Why? What are you-?"

A throat is cleared behind them- Steve. He smiles a little awkwardly, shifting. "Um, yeah, I'll, uh... take that offer, if that's still ok?"

"Of course it is!" Argyle easily agrees. "Vans still open if you wanna wait inside, I just need a moment, alright?"

"Yeah, alright."

Argyle waits until he's climbed into the passenger seat before turning back to Jonathan, who's watching with a shocked look.

"I'm giving him a ride to the relief thing."

"Right," Jonathan says, slow with disbelief. He pauses, looking to the van. "Steve?"

"Yeah, seems like a chill dude. I'll be back soon, yeah?"

"Alright, yeah, sure. See you soon, then."

He's already heading back to his van before Jonathan can finish, waving as he goes. He climbs in quick, after calling one last goodbye. Steve gives a little smile again, in greeting, so he risks leaning over, a little into his space.

"You do know the way, right?"

"Yeah, I know the way," Steves laugh is more of a sigh. "We're gonna follow the others though, it'll be easier."

"Ahh, yeah, of course." He turns in his seat, spotting the others as they just finish piling into the car. He backs up a little so they have room to leave. "Your sister won your fight then?"

"My sister? Oh, you mean Robin. No, we're just friends. But, uh, yeah. She usually does."

"Yeah, sisters are like that." He stays silent for a moment, glancing at Steve. He's sure that his silent question is heard, but refused. "You're not Steve Harrington are you?"

"Yeah? What, Jonathan talk about me?"

"Oh, nah, man. The smaller Byers. They don't talk about you a lot, but they both agree that you are one cool dude."

"Really?"

Argyle glances over, smiling at how much he's perked up. "Yeah, man. Gotta say, it's already looking like they're right."

"You're already sure about that?"

"Yeah, it's your whole vibe. You're cool."

"Thanks?"

The rest of the drive is quiet. But, whenever he risks glancing over, he spots Steve quickly looking away. He ducks his head each time too, looking vaguely flustered. It feels like it should be clear messages, but he can remember how confusing some of those initial signals from Jon were.

But his excuse worked the first time, it can work again.

He reaches over, pulling Steves hand closer to his, winding their fingers together. When he glances over, Steve has a little smile, cheeks a little pink.

"Alright?" He has to ask.

Eventually, they settle on something simple; movie night at the Harrington house, every Thursday. There's not a lot of seats in the living room, but there's a lot of space, so they make do.

Steve buys a lot of pillows for those that take their turn to sit on the floor, some fold out chairs so the adults don't have to argue over the sofa or the floor.

For a while, Steve has his own little spot on the floor. He knows there's no point in trying to argue for a spot on the sofa, he'd just end up giving it up for one of the kids anyway.

It's a month in when Argyle first tries to offer Steve his spot.

"Nah, I'm good," Steve smiles, plopping down onto his pillow. "I've got a great spot."

The next week, Argyle offers again. But, again, Steve turns him down.

Before he sits down though, Argyle catches his wrist.

"You could sit with me, dude."

"Huh?"

He gently tugs at his wrist, coaxing him closer- close enough to gently tug him down with a hand on his hip. Steve awkwardly perches on his lap for a moment, before letting Argyle tug him back so he's leaning back against him.

It's comfortable, especially when Argyle curls his arms around his waist, holding him close.

For half of the movie, he's pretty sure he falls asleep. He's so comfortable and warm and held and safe. It's only half an hour, his head jerking back up when the kids scream at a jumpscare, but it's the best sleep he's had in a while.

Argyle rubs little circles on his hip, the motion soothing, almost making him fall back asleep.

He's disappointed when the movie ends, when people start to get up. But he gets up to, moving aside so Argyle can stand to. He tries to ignore the fluttering in his stomach when Argyle thanks him.

"You should sit with me next week too."

"Uh, yeah, that... that sounds great."