The day arrived slower than they had anticipated it would. It was what they had all been waiting for; the moment when long-lost allies would come strolling through the airport doors and into the wave of Indiana once more. The wait that had turned from months, into weeks, into days, had formed into a mere few minutes, and the want of seeing had become hot on a certain few tails. They had all arrived a few hours back, but much to the annoyance of Steve and the teens, a visit had yet to be pursued- which meant that as soon as the Family Video agenda went into shut down, operation Taxi Service was a go.
From what had recently been heard on the unofficial grapevine of Dustin Henderson, Mike had already gathered them all at the Wheeler's after convincing his mother to invite them round for a welcome-back tea- so there stood Dustin himself, Lucas, and Max- although the last wasn't necessarily standing- slap-bang in the middle of the storefront, giddy impatience running thin.
"So," Harrington started as Robin watched him flip the switches of all electrical sockets, "tell me again why you guys couldn't of just walked?"
"I'm in a wheelchair-"
"-very funny."
Max chuckled as Lucas took the conversation. She had become such a sucker for jokes that could very easily make the wrong person uncomfortable.
"We'd of normally gone on bikes, but we left them at Forest Hills when we picked up Max, since she can't use one anyway. Obviously, I live practically next-door to the Wheeler's, but the Byers' weren't there yet when I went past, so I took the chance to group with these two."
Dustin nodded in union and added to the answer.
"Even though Hawkins is small, it takes quite a while to treck on foot. Took about forty minutes to make our way over here with that thing." He gestured to Max's metal frame.
"Might I add, I did say that you could just go straight there on your bike-" Lucas reasoned with a calm smile, shrugging his shoulders along with it. "I'd of been fine picking her up by myself-"
"It's meant to be a grand reunion, Lucas, of course I was gonna wait for you."
Steve crossed his arms.
"So why couldn't you of just gone straight there instead of coming here?"
"Family Video is closer to the trailer park, and plus, it's excruciatingly hot. If you don't want us all dead, you'll be driving us." Dustin answered with his harsh-tone sarcasm.
"What if I do want you all dead?"
"Then whatever would you do without us, Steve?"
"Have better hearing?"
"Rude."
Buckley chuckled at the interactions, watching them closely to spot the moment where a quick-ended response sprung into their minds. She found that it was easier to read a person when she wasn't eye-to-eye and having to think of a response at the same time. It gave her chance to register their faces more; their movements, their attitudes. Spot the difference was such a fun game to play when it was with facial expressions.
By that point, it was clear that Steve had finished all of his routined jobs, so as the younger three continued quiet conversation between their frantic minds, Harrington took the chance to take a swift manoeuvre out of the area. Robin followed, taking small but paced steps towards the exit in hopes of calling shotgun before the others could.
They were correct- it was swelteringly hot, and Buckley made sure to give quiet gratitude towards Max and Lucas' efforts at lugging her the whole way there. Along with the pure arm power they had to contract, the metal was assumed to be menacingly hot, too. There wasn't a lot of plus sides to having that means of transportation in the summer.
The group had noticed that the elder two had made their leave, and very soon after, they all followed.
A shockwave of warmth piled out from the car doorway as it's frame was swung open on its hinges, the woman lowering herself into the leather seat as it did so. The feeling was sticky on her back, the fervour of held power sitting, burning on her skin. Through the windscreen, Robin watched as her coworker fumbled around in the video-store lock, shouting quiet demands on how to load Max carefully into the back of his vehicle. However, it was something they had all gotten used to. Open the door. Bring her chair to the side. Either let her use her arms or assist her in the reach from one seat to the other. Fold the chair. Put the chair in the trunk of said vehicle. Be on your way.
Routine had become easy.
After the initial struggle of transfer, Max was sat snug in the back before long. Lucas and Dustin quickly piled in, the shorter of the two swiftly pining Steve to hurry up and drive as soon as he sat. A reminder of seatbelt usage was voiced just before the engine revved and spat. Robin reached forward to slam her door, favouring her last moment of fresh air before the drive. A small gust of hot air thrusted into the body of the vehicle, then the sound of the closure made itself known. They were off.
The roads were fairly quiet, having it been just past the time of the initial Hawkins rush hour. The passengers were fairly hushed, too- the slight nerved excitement rattling around them all. The mere few minutes had turned into a mere few moments, and the atmosphere displayed exactly that. It was almost time for familiar faces to be seen again; Joyce, Hopper, Will, Eleven, Jonathan, and Nancy.
Houses blurred past in a whirr, the green of driveways folding into the next just as quickly as they were spotted. They were in the correct neighbourhood before they knew it. The car slowed, the engine straining beneath the lowered rate. Their destination was in eyesight.
Dustin became giddy in his seat as the moving pulled to a stop. His hand reached to the lock, placing his fingers in the correct position to pull. Robin could see that his patience had run clean, and only pure guilt was keeping him from running. She watched as he glimpsed back to Lucas and Max and as Lucas then glimpsed at her, too. Sinclair turned back to Dustin with acceptance for him to get out and leave.
"You go in, we'll meet you inside in a minute."
Dustin blinked with a grin, but it dropped. He knew that it was important for them all to show at the same time.
From the front seat, Steve peered back through the wing-mirror, pursing his lips as he met their view.
"Go ahead, we'll get the chair out." He spoke, gesturing to himself and then to Robin who also nodded. Henderson peered back to his friends. The red-haired girl lifted her lip in something that wasn't quite a smile, but permission. She nodded slightly with a split second of widened eyes.
"Fine with me. Get out."
There was a moment of gratitude before the two boys flipped a switch in themselves and practically shot out from their seats, energy bouncing from the driveway to the door. Hopper's truck was parked adjacent to theirs.
"Right then," Steve nodded as he watched the front door open to a very hyper Mike. "Looks like we better help you out."
"Or you could just leave me in here to rot."
"Good option. I'll think about it."
"You can get the chair. I don't want you manhandling me, thank you very much."
Buckley chucked. Even though Max could sometimes get out by herself, she seemed to act quite weak when she entered, therefore Robin knew she'd have to help.
Steve pulled the keys from the engine as he opened his door to take leave, making his way towards the back of the trunk for the chair. Robin unlocked her seatbelt and left, too, wandering round to the door behind hers and swinging it open with a smile. A rattle from the opening metal frame could be heard from the behind, and then a very confused Steve asking for some advice.
"How the hell am I meant to stabilise it?"
Robin stared at the back of him before meeting Mayfield's eyes with a 'why is he such an idiot?' look.
Max blinked in her seat before telling him that the side of it clicks into place.
A heavy click transmitted.
"Got it."
And so he wheeled it round.
Robin nodded as the transportation arrived at her side, and with a brisk, sympathetic smile, she looked at Max once again.
"Come on then, Max. Let's get you in."
The smaller girl nodded, shuffling herself with her hands to the car edge before lifting them so Robin could take grip under her arm to help with the move. Buckley straightened her posture slightly, tugging gently as she slid the girl across into the other seat. The task was a success.
Steve took ahold of the handles, but Max insisted on independence, saying that she could direct herself from then on out... however a slight push might be needed when they met the doorframe.