Work Text:
Dear Robin,
I know you probably weren’t expecting a letter from me. We don’t really know each other that well. We’ve never really talked one on one. We’ve always had Steve or Dustin as a buffer. But that never stopped me from thinking you were one of the coolest people I’ve ever set my eyes on (top spot belongs to El or Nancy when she has a gun). You’re so comfortable being you. And you’re really good for Steve. Like maybe the best thing that’s ever happened to him. He should tell you that all the time but if he doesn’t, I’m saying so now. Even Mike likes you, and Mike hates everyone at first until you save his life or he saves yours and he cares about you forever (speaking from personal experience). There’s just something steady about you. I know I acted like I hated it but I always liked it whenever I came into the video store and you said hi or called me Red or asked me how school was. You didn’t have to. Lots of people aren’t kind and maybe you didn’t do it to be kind but that’s how it felt.
I don’t know if you remember the night of the mall, after everything in the parking lot? I was a wreck, sitting on a stretcher with ice pressed to my face and a shock blanket around my shoulders. You walked up, asked me something, but I was in shock and didn’t respond. You just sat next to me, pulled the shock blanket over you and held my hand. You held it for hours until someone picked you up, even though it was covered in blood. You hugged me when you left. I’ll always remember that. I was falling apart and you were there.
Solving this mystery with you and Steve and Dustin was more fun than I thought it would be. I guess fun isn’t the right word because it’s dangerous and scary and awful but it felt… right. Everything has felt pretty wrong for a while but this doesn’t. Being with you guys again. I wish I could stick around to see how it all turns out but that’s not happening.
I think you’re a realist and you know what’s coming. I’m gonna die and it’s gonna be bad. Don’t let Steve blame himself, I know he probably will. He’s always protected us first and it’ll really hurt him to think he failed. He didn’t fail. Don’t let Lucas blame himself either. I know you don’t talk much but I know he thinks you’re cool too. I know you’re trying to make a plan, find anything you can with Nancy right now but if it doesn’t work, I just wanted you to know all of this. It was probably stupid to write it but I guess we can have one conversation before it’s too late, right? I wish I knew you better and that’s why I had to take this chance now, before I didn’t have any more. Thanks for holding my hand. Stay golden, Robin.
-Max