[How quickly MJ figures out the truth about Hawkins is directly proportional to his involved Steve is in the upcoming challenges. She's figuring it out regardless, but given how close she's become to Steve and even to Robin, she's much more likely to be in tune to when they're lying or hiding something (especially Robin), or if they get hurt or go missing. And while she might find herself wishing that Steve would have told her willingly of his own accord, she'd understand why he'd want to keep something like that under wraps.
Even if she'd desperately want to be there for him in whatever way she can.
In the back of her mind, she's always going to assume that Nancy can have Steve back whenever she wants him. It might leave him feeling conflicted, but MJ knows his feelings for Nancy aren't ever going away if they haven't yet, and if Nancy ever realizes that her weird thing with the Buyers guy is doomed for failure, there's a good chance she'll rebound and Steve is literally right there.
So if anything, she's approaching this cautiously, as though giving both Steve and Nancy time to figure out what they really want so MJ isn't left getting invested in something that will never work out. But then, since most relationships end in a breakup, she stands a good chance of that anyway.
Nancy isn't on the forefront of her mind right now, though, nor is the potential for breaking up or being heartbroken or any of those things. Steve hasn't stopped looking at her like that. She can't remember ever really seeing anyone look at her like that. And yet somehow, she knows what it means. She just needs to figure out what to do about it.]
Hilarious.
[The word comes out just a little too softly to sound as dry as she probably intends it to, but for once, MJ's not thinking about using sarcasm to keep people at arm's length. If anything, she actually tugs lightly on Steve's hands, hoping that being on the ice will make it that much easier to pull him towards her. With the remaining distance closed, and with them being practically the same height, it wouldn't take much to brush her lips against his, or for him to brush his against hers, if he's traditional enough to want to believe that he's making the first move.
Or if she's reading the metaphorical room entirely wrong, he can also turn his head to avoid the "accidental" kiss, and hopefully save her the embarrassment of rejection.]
[Steve would rather MJ not find out at all. However, that's nearly damn impossible in a town such as Hawkins. One that's spilling over with chaos and horror. It's all bound to come out eventually. MJ is also a very clever, intelligent young woman. She has a way of finding things out pretty quickly. Thankfully, she hasn't found out much as of yet. Steve can only hope that it stays that way.
For MJ's own good and safety. He wants her safe.
Always.
Nancy Wheeler is a complicated subject when it comes to Stece Harrington. She's been a girl that Steve has been hung up on for years but she isn't always on his mind. It was a harsh reality when she lied about loving him and then the final blow was cheating on him with Jonathan Byers. Steve wasn't going to pretend that their relationship was OK, he wasn't going to fight to get her back or force her to stay with him. Very much like Nancy, Steve wasn't going to stay in a loveless relationship. He's experienced that enough with his own parents. It's painful to watch and its also pretty damn shitty.
Nancy also lied to him. She lied about loving him, kept her feelings for Jonathan and even snuck behind Steve's back. He doesn't want a relationship that's a lie, where both he and his partner are miserable. What's the point of the actual relationship? Relationships aren't supposed to be loveless and misery.
Steve doesn't expect for Nancy to come running back into his arms and he's not going to stand around and wait. That wouldn't be fair to him and its time he starts making himself a priority again. He doesn't know if a solid relationship is actually going to bloom between him and MJ. Maybe it's just going to be more sex?
Regardless, if a relationship is to actually happen here. He isn't going to busy bail because Nancy Wheeler is ready to give him a second chance. ]
Uh huh...
[He's lost all focus, dark eyes locked in on her beautiful and lovely face. Shit, she's pretty. Stunning actually and it's enough to drive him a bit crazy.
Goddamn.
Fuck it.
He leans forward to gently test the waters here, lips softly brushing against her own. ]
{MJ would argue that she doesn't need to be protected. She would argue that she and Steve are equals and so they can watch one another's backs. She would argue that she can help him keep an eye on those kids he cares so much about.
But then, she would also argue that there generally isn't a point to most relationships. She would argue that most relationships end in break-ups and most of the ones that don't are generally pretty miserable. She would argue that both of their parents' dysfunctional relationships prove as much.
But for once, she doesn't want to argue. Whatever happens between her and Steve is going to be based on straightforward honestly. If he only wants sex, she fully expects him to tell her so they both know what they're getting into. If either of them want more than sex... that's a bridge they can cross when they get to it.
For now, they're starting off simple. A date. Holding hands. Staring into one another's eyes. And a kiss. A simple, easy kiss.
A simple, easy kiss that feels far more intense than it has any right feeling, considering how soft and light it is. She actually forgets to breathe for a moment, which is ridiculous; it's just a kiss. A kiss with Steve Harrington.
She tilts her head a little, deepening it just slightly but mostly just wanting to make it clear that she has no intention of pulling back just yet. If that much isn't obvious, she uses her grasp on Steve's hands to pull them to her waist, encouraging him to wrap his arms around her. That done, she tentatively slips her hands along his arms and towards his shoulders, still half-expecting something to blow up in their faces.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Even if she'd desperately want to be there for him in whatever way she can.
In the back of her mind, she's always going to assume that Nancy can have Steve back whenever she wants him. It might leave him feeling conflicted, but MJ knows his feelings for Nancy aren't ever going away if they haven't yet, and if Nancy ever realizes that her weird thing with the Buyers guy is doomed for failure, there's a good chance she'll rebound and Steve is literally right there.
So if anything, she's approaching this cautiously, as though giving both Steve and Nancy time to figure out what they really want so MJ isn't left getting invested in something that will never work out. But then, since most relationships end in a breakup, she stands a good chance of that anyway.
Nancy isn't on the forefront of her mind right now, though, nor is the potential for breaking up or being heartbroken or any of those things. Steve hasn't stopped looking at her like that. She can't remember ever really seeing anyone look at her like that. And yet somehow, she knows what it means. She just needs to figure out what to do about it.]
Hilarious.
[The word comes out just a little too softly to sound as dry as she probably intends it to, but for once, MJ's not thinking about using sarcasm to keep people at arm's length. If anything, she actually tugs lightly on Steve's hands, hoping that being on the ice will make it that much easier to pull him towards her. With the remaining distance closed, and with them being practically the same height, it wouldn't take much to brush her lips against his, or for him to brush his against hers, if he's traditional enough to want to believe that he's making the first move.
Or if she's reading the metaphorical room entirely wrong, he can also turn his head to avoid the "accidental" kiss, and hopefully save her the embarrassment of rejection.]
no subject
For MJ's own good and safety. He wants her safe.
Always.
Nancy Wheeler is a complicated subject when it comes to Stece Harrington. She's been a girl that Steve has been hung up on for years but she isn't always on his mind. It was a harsh reality when she lied about loving him and then the final blow was cheating on him with Jonathan Byers. Steve wasn't going to pretend that their relationship was OK, he wasn't going to fight to get her back or force her to stay with him. Very much like Nancy, Steve wasn't going to stay in a loveless relationship. He's experienced that enough with his own parents. It's painful to watch and its also pretty damn shitty.
Nancy also lied to him. She lied about loving him, kept her feelings for Jonathan and even snuck behind Steve's back. He doesn't want a relationship that's a lie, where both he and his partner are miserable. What's the point of the actual relationship? Relationships aren't supposed to be loveless and misery.
Steve doesn't expect for Nancy to come running back into his arms and he's not going to stand around and wait. That wouldn't be fair to him and its time he starts making himself a priority again. He doesn't know if a solid relationship is actually going to bloom between him and MJ. Maybe it's just going to be more sex?
Regardless, if a relationship is to actually happen here. He isn't going to busy bail because Nancy Wheeler is ready to give him a second chance. ]
Uh huh...
[He's lost all focus, dark eyes locked in on her beautiful and lovely face. Shit, she's pretty. Stunning actually and it's enough to drive him a bit crazy.
Goddamn.
Fuck it.
He leans forward to gently test the waters here, lips softly brushing against her own. ]
no subject
But then, she would also argue that there generally isn't a point to most relationships. She would argue that most relationships end in break-ups and most of the ones that don't are generally pretty miserable. She would argue that both of their parents' dysfunctional relationships prove as much.
But for once, she doesn't want to argue. Whatever happens between her and Steve is going to be based on straightforward honestly. If he only wants sex, she fully expects him to tell her so they both know what they're getting into. If either of them want more than sex... that's a bridge they can cross when they get to it.
For now, they're starting off simple. A date. Holding hands. Staring into one another's eyes. And a kiss. A simple, easy kiss.
A simple, easy kiss that feels far more intense than it has any right feeling, considering how soft and light it is. She actually forgets to breathe for a moment, which is ridiculous; it's just a kiss. A kiss with Steve Harrington.
She tilts her head a little, deepening it just slightly but mostly just wanting to make it clear that she has no intention of pulling back just yet. If that much isn't obvious, she uses her grasp on Steve's hands to pull them to her waist, encouraging him to wrap his arms around her. That done, she tentatively slips her hands along his arms and towards his shoulders, still half-expecting something to blow up in their faces.]