~*****~

Robin stared blankly at Erica Sinclair as she tried yet another flavor of ice cream. For a little girl, she sure could pack in the dairy. Erica set her spoon into the little cup for used spoons and peered back up at Robin. "Can I try the peppermint stick?" Erica asked in a sickly-sweet tone.

"Haven't you already tried the peppermint stick?" Robin asked irritably.

"Yes, and I'd like to try it again." Erica retorted in a haughty tone.

Robin grit her teeth and whirled her head around. "Steve!" She barked angrily. She heard nothing but bickering with Dustin about the Russian recording she'd heard them talking about. She rolled her eyes when she got no response. She stormed into the back. "All right, babysitting time is over. You need to get in there!" Robin warned as Steve backed up from her sudden appearance. Robin glanced over at the white board and groaned loudly. "Hey, my board! That was important data, shit birds!"

"I guarantee you, what we're doing is way more important than your data." Dustin hummed haughtily. Steve nodded in agreement.

"Yeah? And how do you know these Russians are up to no good anyway?" Robin asked as she approached the table.

Dustin peered up at Steve in shock. "How does she know about the Russians?" Dustin asked in a whisper.

"I don't know, dude!" Steve hissed back.

"Hello, I can hear you. Actually, I can hear everything! You are both extremely loud. You think you have evil Russian's plotting against our country, on tape, and you're trying to translate, but you haven't figured out a single word because you didn't realize Russian's use an entirely different alphabet." Robin explained. "Sound about right?" They all stared at one another before Robin lunged for the cassette player.

"Whoa! What do you think you're doing?" Steve asked wildly, snatching the cassette player away from her.

"I wanna hear it." Robin shrugged.

"Why?" Dustin and Steve chirped.

"Cause maybe I can help," Robin shrugged. "I'm fluent in four languages, you know."

"Russian?" Dustin asked hopefully.

"Ou-yay, are-yay, umb-day." Robin hummed to Dustin.

Both boys began grinning and swatting at each other excitedly before the window snapped open. Juliet's irritated gaze slid into view. "That's pig Latin, dumbasses." Juliet commented. "Will one of you come out and deal with Erica? Because I'm this close to punting her across the mall."

"Uhm, I heard that, you anger prone freak," Erica chirped haughtily.

Robin gestured to Juliet as Steve tried to hastily to swallow the banana he'd been eating as she trailed into the back room. "Point is, I can speak Spanish, and French, and Italian, and I've been in band for twelve years." Robin recited. "My ears are little geniuses, trust me."

Juliet took the cassette player from Steve and sat on the table as she rewound the tape. "Go deal with the Satan Spawn. It's not fair to put all the work on Robin."

Steve grumbled irritably before slumping. "Fine, just-- don't have too much fun without me."

Juliet's lip quirked up in a wry smile. "Good boy." Juliet chirped. Dustin didn't miss the way Steve's knees nearly buckled as he strode to the door.

~*****~

Juliet whipped open the window that separated the backroom from the cash register to speak to Steve. "Hey, Captain Flavor," Juliet hummed as she leaned against the railing, beaming as Steve turned his body towards her, hands holding up two ice cream cones. "We got the first sentence."

"Oh, seriously?" Steve asked, brows quirked up in surprise. He approached quickly, leaning his hip against the counter.

"The week is long," Juliet recited in her worst Russian accent.

Steve smiled fondly at Juliet. "Well, that's-- that's thrilling," Steve commented.

Juliet shrugged. "I was hoping for like, an admission to guilt so we could become famous for saving America from the Red Threat." Juliet mentioned. "How's ice cream duty?"

Steve rolled his eyes and tilted his body to the side, revealing Max and Eleven waiting at the counter for their ice cream cones. "They mentioned you weren't at work, so they came here to bother me into finding you." Steve explained as Eleven offered a wave with a friendly smile on her face.

Juliet pursed her lips. "Why would you come bother me at work?" Juliet asked.

Eleven smiled fondly. "Because you're my friend." Eleven mentioned sweetly.

Max rolled her eyes. "That and you're like, the coolest person in the world." Max stated.

Juliet grimaced. "It's like I'm turning into you," Juliet mentioned to Steve. "A babysitter." Max and Eleven giggled. "What the hell are you doing out, anyway? I thought Hopper was trying to keep public interaction to a minimum."

"We wanted to have fun without stupid boys around," Eleven chirped.

Max laughed. "Mike's been ignoring her."

Juliet reeled back as if she'd been offended. "Mike's lucky to have such a pretty girlfriend with the way he is. I say dump his ass." Juliet exclaimed angrily.

Max gestured to Juliet as she whipped back into the backrooms, furious. The group continued to translate late into the night before they finally managed to get the entirety of the translation. "The week is long, the silver cat feeds, when blue meets yellow in the west." The four murmur together.

Juliet swung her keys around absently as the four left Scoops Ahoy to go home. "I mean, it's just... it just can't be right." Steve mentioned as he slammed the gates to the ice cream shop shut.

"It's right," Robin retorted.

"Honestly, I think it's great news," Dustin hums.

"How is this great news?" Steve asks. "I mean, so much for being American Heroes. It's total nonsense."

"I dunno," Juliet shrugged. "No one says that shit naturally. It's too specific."

"What do you mean, a code?" Steve asks.

"Like a super spy code," Dustin hums. "Like how we used to do when Mom wouldn't let us have Poptart's late at night."

"Q-Tips ready to launch--" Juliet nodded in remembrance. 

"That's a total stretch," Steve retorted blandly at the two Henderson's.

"I don't know, is it?" Robin asked.

"You're buying into this?" Steve asked.

"Listen, just for kicks, let's entertain the possibility that it is a secret Russian transmission. What'd you think they were gonna say? Fire the warhead at noon?" Robin asked. "And my transmission is correct. I know that for sure, so... The silver cat feeds. Why would anyone talk like that unless they're trying to mask the true meaning of their message?"

"Exactly," Dustin nodded.

"And why would anyone mask the true meaning of their message unless the message was somehow sensitive?" Robin continued.

"Exactly," Dustin repeated.

"So, I guess that confirms your suspicions, Dust," Juliet mentioned.

"Evil Russians," Dustin nodded.

"I can't believe I'm about to agree with this strange child, but yeah, totally evil Russians." Robin beamed.

"Now we just gotta figure out what the message means." Juliet sighed.

"How?" Robin asks. "Translate the rest of the message and hope a pattern emerges?"

Juliet shrugged. "Possibly. The silver cat could be a meeting place."

"Or a person," Robin hummed.

"Or a weapon," Dustin added.

"It's probably gonna take some super genius to crack it, but..." Juliet sighs as she peers over at Steve, who had been silent, only to find him missing. "Uh, where the hell did Steve go?" She trailed around the corner they'd passed and saw him aggressively shuffling in his pocket in front of an Indiana Flyer. "Hey, you can play tomorrow!" Juliet called out irritably.

"It's a quarter. I need-- do you have a quarter?" Steve asked quickly.

Juliet grumbled irritably and shoved her hand into her pocket, producing a single quarter covered in pocket lint. She slid the quarter into his palm. "It's my last one--"

"Thank you!" Steve chirped, his lips pressing against her cheek before he fed it into the Indiana Flyer horse. As soon as it was in, the familiar tune of Daisy Bell echoed from it, bouncing off of the walls of the silent mall. Steve was kneeling besides it, staring intently.

Juliet stared at him for a moment, then at the horse, then back at Steve before she spoke. "Do you need help getting on?"

Dustin giggled at her comment. Steve shushed them. "Would you three just shut up and listen?" Steve asked.

Juliet peered at the horse; brows furrowed in concentration before it hit her. "Holy shit--" She and Dustin murmured.

"I don't understand," Robin mentioned.

"It's Daisy Bell. It was on the transmission." Juliet stated.

"Maybe they have horses like this in Russia?" Robin suggested.

"Not Indiana Flyers," Juliet hummed. "This code--"

"It didn't come from Russia," Steve nodded. "It came from here."

~*****~

It was later that night when Steve heard the phone ring. He gave an irritate groan, brows furrowed from the impending climax suddenly rushing away at the sound, hand reflexively still palming at the heated flesh over his lower belly as it reluctantly pulled away. His parents weren't home, so he'd have to get up and answer it.

He stomped into the hallway and plucked the phone off it's cradle to shout at whoever was interrupting his personal time. "Steve," Juliet's voice hummed into his ear, causing the words to stop in his throat. "Did I wake you?" An unwilling groan nearly broke his silence as his head felt light from the hot surge of arousal at just her voice in his ear.

Steve grunted and peered down at his pajama pants, shifting a bit to make it more comfortable on his growing problem. "Not-- not really. Just about to head off to bed. Why, what's up?"

There was silence on the other line for a moment. "D'you mind if I come over?"

Steve swallowed lightly. Maybe it was the haze of lust still burning at his body, but he swore it could've been an invitation to finally take things to the next level-- or rather, confessing his attraction and finally having the girl of his dreams in his arms that had him immediately agreeing. "Yeah! Yeah, sure, whatever you want--" Steve mentioned almost too excitedly. "Why, uh-- why though?"

There was silence again. "If you tell anyone this, I'm going to break you nose." Juliet threatened quickly. "I'm just... feeling paranoid. Y'know, since Russians are in Hawkins..." Juliet murmured. It wasn't a total lie. Juliet felt unsafe knowing her town was being invaded by a current issue. She'd feel safer sleeping besides someone, and she was not about to ask her brother to sleep in her room like they did when they were small kids, scared after watching Alien without their mom's permission.

Steve swallowed. "I get it. And I won't tell anyone. I promise." Steve expressed. "D'you need me to make up the guest bed?"

Juliet swallowed lightly and peered down the hall, at her brother's door, hoping he wasn't listening in. "Do you care if we slept together? Y'know, for safety?" Juliet asked.

Steve couldn't breathe. He gave a silent sigh and beamed to himself. "I don't care. For safety, right?"

"Safety." Juliet echoed.

Steve just kept smiling to himself. "I'll, uh-- I'll wait in the livingroom. We can pick up Dustin in the morning before we leave for the mall."

Juliet smiled to herself and hummed. "See you in a bit." She murmured before hanging the phone in the cradle.

"Late night rendezvous?" Dustin's voice suddenly echoed out.

"Jesus-- shit, Dustin!" Juliet hissed as she whirled around on him.

Steve waited patiently for Juliet to arrive, his heart pounding in his chest. It sped up when he'd heard the sound of her truck pulling into the driveway. Steve pried open the door before she even knocked, and damn, did Juliet look like a dream. She stood there, in ratty looking flannel pants with a large shirt that Steve knew came from a bigger store for bigger men. Her hair was messy and looked as if she'd been tossing and turning in her bed for a while before she called. Steve led her upstairs, desperately trying to swallow the knot in his throat. Getting resettled for bed was harder than he thought it would be. Something about seeing her curled up on his bed sent shivers down his spine. "Comfortable?" Steve asked softly as he slowly slid into the bed besides her.

Juliet nodded quickly and turned on her side, hand curled against her cheek. "You sure you don't mind?"

Steve smiled softly, mirroring her position. "Safety, remember?" He reminded her. Juliet's lips curled into a relieved smile. She echoed him and shuffled into his pillow, sighing out in relaxation. Time ticked on as Steve peered down at Juliet, her brows relaxing and her lips parting as she succumbed to the deep slumber that had lulled at her senses since slipping into the warmth of Steve's bed. He reached forward, fingers brushing against the soft curve of her cheek where an old scar sat, causing the girls brows to furrow in confusion at the subtle touch. He doesn't know if it's the warmth of the two in the bed, or the reassurance of someone there, but Juliet shuffles closer, her nose barely brushing against Steve's neck. Steve's lashes fluttered in relaxation as he curled his arm around her waist, sleep finally burning at his eyes and weighing his body down.

~*****~

Juliet absently bounced her knee as she sat with Robin in the backroom, replaying the previous night in her head. Waking up had been easy. Almost too easy, in fact. With her lashes fluttering open and her gaze peering up at Steve as he slept on. He'd looked relaxed and so comfortable. Even with Juliet's limbs secured around his body. It should've been embarrassing. It should've made her run for the hills, being so close to a man like that. But it was just too warm and inviting. Juliet scrubbed at her face for a moment as Robin went to the back door to receive a delivery. The usually talkative girl suddenly went quiet as she brought in the package, brow furrowed as she muttered only to herself. "Robin?" Juliet inquired curiously. Robin suddenly bolted from the backroom, earning a shocked yelp from Juliet as she scrambled to chase after her.

Juliet rushed after Robin as she ran out of Scoops Ahoy. "Hey, guys, you'll never believe who Dustin thought was Russian--" Steve stated as he and Dustin approached the shop.

"You did too!" Dustin exclaimed.

"No, I did not!" Steve hissed.

"Robin, what's going on?" Juliet asked hurriedly as Robin leapt up onto one of the planters in the middle of the mall gazing around wildly, muttering the phrases to herself and peering down at her notebook. Juliet tried following her gaze, brows furrowing as she desperately tried to keep up with her frantic muttering.

"Guys?" Steve called out. "What are you doing?"

"I cracked it," Robin beamed after a moment of silence.

"Cracked what?" Steve asked.

Robin leapt down. "I cracked the code." Robin mentioned as she wiggled the notebook around.

"You're a genius--" Juliet murmurs, snatching the notebook and following the phrases with an amazed look in her eye. Robin smiled happily at the praise.

~*****~

Later that night, the four sat in the rain, huddled close together on the rooftop of Starcourt Mall. "Look for Imperial Panda and Kaufman Shoes!" Juliet reminded them, shoving her soaked hair away from her face.

Dustin peered through his binoculars. "They're with that whistling guy, ten o' clock!" Dustin called out.

"What d'you think's in there?" Steve asked.

"Guns? Bombs?" Dustin suggested.

"Chemical weapons?" Robin added.

"Whatever the hell it is, they're armed to the teeth," Dustin retorted.

"Great..." Steve complained. "That's great!"

A guard strolled over to the door and pressed his keycard against the scanner. "Hey, what's in there?" Robin asked.

"It's just more boxes," Dustin stated.

"Let me check it out," Steve ordered, reaching for the binoculars.

"No, I'm still looking--" Dustin retorted irritably, the two starting to wrestle for the pair.

"Lemme see it!" Steve barked.

Robin and Juliet shared an exasperated look as the two boys fought. There was a loud thud and the four leapt to the ground. Juliet's hand was suddenly seized in a tight grip. She snatched her hand away once she realized it was Steve who had grasped it. "We should go--" Juliet muttered, daring to peer over the edge once again. "Come on!"

"Yeah--" Steve nods, the four narrowly escaping from being detected.

"Well, I think we found your Russians," Robin mentioned as the four stalked through the hallways, shivering from the AC against their soaked bodies.

"And maybe a cold, too." Juliet murmured, rubbing at her arms.