Legal Disclaimer: My work is my own creative intelligence and property, but I do not own the original source material it stems from (I wouldn't be writing fanfiction if it was). The opinions and interpretations of characters reflected in my stories may not follow what is portrayed from the source material. Please don't sue me, I'm a stay at home mom.

Competition/Challenge Block:
Written for/Stacked with: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Term 14); Monthly Challenges for All (Year 4)
Hogwarts: Auction D22A3 ([Fandom] Stranger Things)

MC4A: Ship War (Creamers; Su Big [Ice Cream]); Ship Bingo (5C-Public Declaration); Link (Same Fandom); Fireworks (Femme Fatale; Pick Me Up; Fruit Basket); Garden (Daphne Special [Lipstick]); Chimera (Cerulean)

Word Count: 861

Dessert with a Treat

Robin could not believe how normal everything reverted back to after the horrific incident with that sci-fi monster that attacked the mall and her friends over summer. Not to mention the Russian base that was underneath her very feet. It was quite interesting to see how fast government officials worked so sufficiently and quickly when it was something that could potentially cause an uproar among the citizens and them, she supposed.

Swearing to them about not uttering a word about what transpired in their small little town of Hawkins had her laughing in their faces and demanded that they owed everyone involved some serious therapy compensation to curb the impending trauma that it all caused. Of course they had to be accommodating of this demand or she would most definitely blab to the papers about it, not like a written contract would stop her from doing it anyway, but she wanted to look out for her friends first, and after a power struggle between the ones in charge and her complying, they managed to get a hold of a skilled counselor to be issued to Hawkins and her selected group of friends who was equipped and briefed on the topics of interest that would be held.

Nevertheless, Robin still kept her job at the ice cream shop in the mall that reopened without a lick of damage and secret basements to it just in time for the holiday sales. Steve even came back to work with her and she was glad for it. He became one of her best friends, and even went so far as to play wingman one day when she was in back cleaning while he held down the front.

"Got a special customer for you here," he said, peeking his head between the doors. "You got this!"

Robin quirked a brow, curious about what he was on about, but didn't bother to ask questions as she dried her hands after washing them and fixing her vest. Steve gave her a double thumbs up before she slipped between the doors, slapping a smile on her face. Her smile faltered some when she saw Nancy looking over the ice cream flavors through the glass. She had to refrain rolling her eyes at Steve's comment now, why did she confide in him her secret crushes again?

Right… best friend privileges.

"Welcome to Scoops Ahoy! What can I get for you today, Miss Wheeler?" Robin said in her fake sweet work voice.

Nancy looked up with her big doll cerulean blue eyes and Robin had to bite her tongue at just how pretty she was.

"Hey, Robin," Nancy said, smiling softly at her. "How are you?"

"Better now that you're here," Robin blurted.

The two looked at each other in mild surprise before Robin nervously chuckled at herself.

"Are you looking for any specific flavor combination? Or would you like your classic vanilla?"

Dammit, what is going on with her brain and mouth communication? That was certainly a very play on word of a question, wasn't it? She could hear Steve stifling his laugh behind the door and she had half a thought to give it a good push to whack him with it in retaliation.

She knew Nancy had recently gone through a bad breakup with that weirdo Jonathan and wasn't exactly sure how she'd been handling it, but she hoped her not so subtle flirting wouldn't come off too strong and scare the beauty away.

"I don't know. Do you have any recommendations?"

Nancy looked back at her from the ice cream window expectantly, hoping for a proper reply.

"Well," Robin said, licking her lips lightly and pulling her attention from Nancy to look at their flavors. "I've been told I make a really good recreation of strawberry shortcake if you're interested in giving it a try? It's strawberry and vanilla ice cream with crushed graham cracker and whipped cream toppings."

Nancy smiled broadly at this. Jackpot.

"That sounds remarkable, I'd love to try it."

She went to pull her wallet from her purse when Robin reached over the counter and placed a hand over her arm.

"Please, it's on me. Just in case by some miracle you don't like it."

"Thank you," Nancy said, her cheeks tinging a little darker pink than the blush she already had on. "I'll just get a seat then."

"I'll have it out in a jiffy."

Robin watched as she took a seat by the window before grabbing a bowl to prepare her signature combo. Grabbing a quick sip of her iced green tea to wet her very dry throat before walking the treat out to Nancy.

"Enjoy!" she said, adding a little dollop of whipped cream with a whole strawberry on top for proper presentation.

As she turned to return to the counter, Robin felt a hand on her arm and her heart skipped a beat.

"Are you able to sit and chat for a few?"

Robin met those wide blue eyes and full pink glossy lips smiling at her. Feeling weak in the knees, she quickly took a seat and put a hand on her chin, smirking back.

"I'd love to."