Game day was a very special day, one Steve always looked forward to since it only happened a couple of times a year. It was hard work planning to get everyone together now they were all grown up and doing their own things. But it was worth it, seeing all the kids again. Not so much kids anymore when Steve realized Mike and Will were taller than him. At least Dustin hadn't outgrown him, and Steve ruffled his hair.
"Seriously?" Dustin complained, trying to fix it as he glared at Steve. "I'm not a kid anymore."
"Sorry, butthead, you're always gonna be that annoying kid asking for rides to the mall. No matter how big you get." Steve let him go to sweep Max into a big hug. "How's university?"
"Boring. Classes are easier than I thought, even if the guys think I'm cheating." She rolled her eyes, making Steve chuckle. "Boys never grow up, do they?"
"Nope. Surely your zoomer skills impress them?"
"Bunch of nerds."
Steve raised his eyebrows, looking around the room at the boys setting up the table for the session. "Nerds?"
"Point taken."
"Steve!" He let Max go as Lucas bounded into the room, grabbing him hard. "Man, I've missed you. You should see the way some of the guys play at the campus. It's insane. We actually stand a chance at winning the championship."
"Awesome. You let me know, yeah?"
"Of course." Lucas grinned and let him go, joining the others around the table.
Robin stumbled in, carrying a precarious pile of Tupperware, so Steve hurried to help her, setting them on a smaller table. Sometimes, he wondered if the kids only kept him around for his baking because even now, they all stopped what they were doing to have a look.
"I made everyone's favorites. We got jam rolls, custard tarts, brownies, cookies, and even some cake." Steve said before they could ask, pointing out each container.
"Jesus, Steve, you feeding an army?" Dustin joked, but he scowled when Steve slapped his hand away from the cookies. "Ow!"
"They're for the break."
"God, you're still such a mom." Dustin backed up before Steve could get him again, so he pointed a threatening finger at him instead. "Fine, fine, I'll wait."
"We're ready!" Jane called from the head of the table where she was standing beside Will. They were sharing the DM position, apparently.
As the game started, Steve sat away from the table to watch, content to just be there rather than play. Sure, he used to sub for them back during their high school games, but he hadn't played in a long time, and he didn't want to hold them up. It was nice to have everyone together again, laughing and joking loudly. It felt like home.
So when he heard Kas' name, Steve jumped so hard it made Robin jump too. Will paused mid-sentence to look at them questioningly before going right back to it. "It is Kas the Bloody Handed. He has a quest for you. Do you accept?"
Kas. A character from DnD. Steve wanted to laugh it was so absurd. Kas was a fucking nerd through and through.
When everyone stopped for a break, Steve approached the table and caught Will's arm to hold him back. "Which one is Kas?"
"That one." Will pointed to the small figurine holding a sword and shield. "Why?"
"Just curious."
He waited until Will had joined the others to take out his phone and snap a picture of the board, sending it to Kas.
Princess - [02:26 PM]
DnD and Lord of the Rings?
You're such a nerd.
"Hey, who's Underhill?" He called over his shoulder. When he turned, it was to find half the group looking at him in surprise. "Lord of the Rings, right?"
"You watched Lord of the Rings without me?!" Dustin looked at Steve like he'd shot him.
"No. I wanna know who Underhill is, okay?"
"Frodo Baggins," Mike explained through a mouthful of custard tart. "It's an undercover name he uses in the first book."
Undercover. Made sense. Steve shook his head with an amused snort, immediately distracted by his phone pinging with Kas' response.
Kas - [02:30 PM]
Is that a problem?
And you're playing DnD without me? I'm hurt, Princess.
I want an invite next time.
"Ew, Steve has a boyfriend!"
Steve jumped, quickly shoving his phone back into his pocket as his face burned. "No, I don't!"
"You're blushing!"
"He's not my boyfriend." Steve picked up a brownie to eat, giving him an excuse not to talk, and avoided everyone's curious eyes as he sat beside the smirking Robin.
"But I have a girlfriend," Robin told them cheerily, and as she handed over a photo to show everyone a picture, Steve squeezed her hand. "Her name's Chrissy, but everyone calls her Chris. She's amazing, like, seriously amazing. And she has an adorable niece. Check the next photo."
Dustin had the phone, and he audibly gasped, thrusting it into Mike's face. "Is that who I think it is?!"
Mike's eyes went wide, too, and they both looked at Robin with impressed expressions. "You know Eddie Munson?"
"The Eddie Munson?!"
Steve caught Robin's eye and groaned. "Not this again."
"Yes, he's the Eddie Munson. He's Charlie's dad. And no, you're not gonna meet him." She glared at them fiercely as they started to object. "Eddie doesn't like to talk about it. I'm not bringing you two to meet him and drag it all up."
"Doesn't like to talk about it?" Mike repeated faintly. "He's a rockstar! Have you heard his band's music? They're amazing! And they were even better when he was with them."
"And now he's a dad," Steve told them firmly, leaving no room for discussion.
After a couple more mutters, they two let it go. Jane took Robin's phone and smiled at the picture. "She's cute. How old is she?"
"Five. Steve's her teacher."
As the kids played twenty questions with Robin, Steve couldn't help imagining what it would be like to bring Kas to meet them. Maybe at the next game since Kas had expressed interest in joining them. But that felt like a lot more than simple sex, bringing Kas to meet his friends, his family.
Did he want that?
Did Kas want that?
"Hey, Steve, eat something before it all goes." Max sat beside him and offered up her plate filled with various snacks. Steve took a cocktail sausage and helped her clear the plate. When it was almost finished, she broached the subject. "Boyfriend?"
"Not really."
"So he's your fuck buddy?" She shrugged at his incredulous look. "And you think you're not gonna fall for him?"
"What makes you think I can't."
"Steve, you don't do casual." Max patted his hand, getting up with a sigh. "Remember Tommy?"
Harsh. But accurate. Max never did sugarcoat things. Steve smiled and squeezed her hand. "I know."
"I'm just saying, don't let him break your heart."
"Okay."
Will cleared his throat dramatically as she walked away and called, "The game resumes! Take your places, everyone!"
Once they were all distracted, he leaned close to Robin to whisper, "You told them about Chrissy?"
"Chris."
Steve made a non-committal noise. He didn't want to be too familiar with her, even if she was dating Robin. She was still one of his student's family—practically a parent.
"And yeah. I really like her."
"When's the wedding?"
Robin actually blushed and quickly hid her face in his shoulder as he laughed. But it was his turn to blush when she smacked his shoulder with a smirk. "You're my best man. And you'll dance with Eddie, deal?"
"I don't even know him, Robs."
"Doesn't matter. You'll dance with him."
"Fine." He hoped Kas wouldn't mind. But then, were they exclusive? Steve wanted to be. The thought of Kas sleeping with - or even kissing - someone else made him feel sick and pained. Maybe he could make that a rule, too. If Kas was allowed to, why couldn't he?
"Steve, we need an unbiased opinion!" Dustin called, forcing him to stop thinking about Kas.
Grumbling - but secretly pleased - Steve got up to see what was wrong. How it ended with him playing in the game, he didn't know. He had a sneaking suspicion that had been the plan all along when Dustin and Will shared a conspiratorial smile as he joined the party.
With the party victorious and the quest for Kas complete, it was time to pack up and say goodbye. With them all helping, the table was cleared in no time. It was Steve's least favorite part about the visits, and he made sure to hug everyone extra long because he had no idea when he'd see them again.
Robin had to pry him off Max because she whispered, "Good luck with your boyfriend. Make sure he deserves you." And Steve had almost started crying. Max kissed his cheek as he was pulled away. "We'll see you soon. Me and Lucas will come to Chicago or something."
"Yeah, that'd be nice."
As soon as they were outside, Robin wiped his tears away. "You and that bleeding heart. Going to get you in a lot of trouble one day."
"That's what you're for. To keep me in line."
"More like call out your bullshit." Robin sighed, linking their arms together as they walked to the car. "I'm the one who got your ass to Chicago after all."
"And I still owe you my servitude. Your steed awaits, my princess in shining armor.
He tossed Robin the keys and slid into the passenger seat. She muttered something that sounded like, "Passenger princess." As she got in beside him.
"Are we stopping for takeout on the way home?"
"Uh, yes. Chinese?"
"Sounds good to me. But you're paying."
"No way. I'm driving, so you pay."
"Fine. I get to choose the side then."
"Deal."
After a quick but decisive food fight in which Robin was victorious, and Steve ended up covered in sweet and sour sauce, he decided to call it a night. Showering off the stickiness, he was just contemplating the lesson plan for the morning and whether or not it was too early to introduce numbers to the class when a knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
The door opened, Robin's voice floating over the sound of running water. "Steve, can we talk?"
"Sure." He heard her enter the bathroom, and the door close again. A moment later, the toilet lid clunked down, and he pulled the shower curtain back to see her sitting on it. She rolled her eyes, flashing him a quick smile. "Everything okay?"
"Yep. Go back to washing your ass or something."
Steve snorted but did as he was told, disappearing behind the curtain again. "So what's on your mind?"
It took Robin a moment, but she finally said, "I think I'm falling in love with Chris."
"What brought on that revelation?"
"The kids today asking all those questions about her. I realized… I want them to meet her." Steve was silent for so long that Robin pulled back the curtain to look at him. "What is it?"
"I was thinking the same thing about Kas."
"Oh, Steve." She got up and, before he could protest, was in the shower hugging him. He laughed, wrapping his arms around her. "You're hopeless."
"So are you."
It wasn't their first time having a heart-to-heart in the bathroom. Their first one had been very memorable: they were drunk at a college party, and Robin had confessed to being a lesbian. Their next time was a week later when Steve confessed he was bisexual. It had become a sort of routine between them. Anything said in the bathroom was judgment-free, complete honesty. Even if these days they weren't black-out drunk.
"What am I going to do?" Robin whispered, so quiet Steve barely heard the words.
He sighed and kissed her forehead. "Tell her how you feel."
"And if she doesn't feel the same?"
"Then she's not the one for you."
"Okay." Robin squeezed him hard before exiting the shower. A moment later, she poked her head back around the curtain to glare at him fiercely. "The same goes for you, dingus. Tell Kas how you feel."
"It's not the same."
"Don't be such a pussy."
Scoffing, Steve ignored her even as he considered her point. As insane as it was, a little bud of hope had grown inside his chest and was slowly unfurling. It felt so new and fragile, and Steve was terrified Kas would destroy it if he found out. But maybe he would nurture it instead. Their last meeting had proved Kas was willing to open up with him if only a little.
How far could Steve push him?
"Robin, let's go out next weekend."
"Ooh, sounds fun. Did you have something in mind?" She asked over the sound of her clothes hitting the floor with a wet slap.
"Nope. Just getting shit-faced. Maybe some liquid courage for both of us to grow a pair."
She laughed. "Deal."