First fill for the Spotify wrapped fic meme 🎉
Mid-80s NY. Hustler!Eddie.
“Step right up! Anyone can do it! Anyone can win!”
“It’s a scam, Steve,” Robin says, narrowing her eyes as she watches Steve bite his lip and stare at the man on the street corner shuffling cards from place to place. “Nobody can actually win those things. They cheat.”
“I bet I can come out on top,” Steve says with a wink and jogs across the street.
Robin huffs a sigh and follows, muttering about not wanting to eat lentils for a week when he loses all his cash.
“We have a discerning gentleman stepping up right now,” the hustler says, warm brown eyes twinkling as he looks Steve up and down. His long brown curls shake around his shoulders, hanging over a multitude of patches and buttons on a ratty, sleeveless, denim jacket. “You know the rules, you’re looking for a lady,” he continues, holding up the cards and showing the queen of hearts between the eight of clubs and the three of diamonds. “See the lady, follow the lady, find the lady. It’s so simple, my aunt’s schnauzer could do it. Only ten bucks to find the lady.”
Steve slaps ten dollars on the rickety table with a grin. “I’ve got this in the bag.”
“A confident one,” the man grins and spreads the cards face down in front of him. “He’s got the guts but will he get the glory? Follow my hands see where it lands.”
Steve looks down at the man’s hands as he flips the cards around at speed, rings glinting in the afternoon sunlight, patter falling from his lips like he was born to spin tales.
“She’s here, she’s there, she’s on the L, the R, she’s in Jamaica, Rockaway Bay, treat her right you could find her tonight.” The guy’s hands are a blur as they move the cards around and around until finally they slow and stop, but Steve stopped looking at those a while ago. “It’s 10pm, do you know where your queens are?”
The guy looks up and finds Steve already looking at him. Steve reaches out a hand and taps a card at random making the guy’s forehead furrow.
“Ooh, I’m sorry,” he says with an exaggerated pout of consolation. “Your princess is in another castle.”
“That’s okay,” Steve says, leaning in and cutting the guy off before he can continue his patter. “I was looking for a king.”
“You- Wuh-“ His jaw drops as he stares at Steve glancing briefly at Robin as she slaps a hand over her face, hiding her eyes.
“Damnit, Munson. What have I told you about hustling from my stoop?” A man grumbles, bell jingling as he pushes open the door to the nearby bodega and stares him down.
“Show’s over, folks! Later, Hop!” The hustler shakes himself out of it, collapsing the table in one swift motion and shoving it under his arm as he backs away, grinning at Steve. “I’m Eddie.”
“You’re dead meat if I catch you again,” Hop says around a plume of cigar smoke.
Eddie laughs and jogs across the street, dodging cars in the slow moving traffic. He turns and bounces on the balls of his feet yelling: “What’s your name?”
“Steve!” He calls back, shifting away from where Hop is watching with tired eyes.
“L’Amour tonight, Steve!” He turns and runs down the street, doing an endearing little fist pump before he turns the corner and disappears from view.
“I hate that that worked out for you,” Robin deadpans beside him. “Well, apart from the fact that you just spent ten dollars to get a date.”
“Date? I didn’t get a date,” Steve says, turning back to Robin and shuffling away from the narrow-eyed gaze of Hop.
“L’Amour is a club, dingus. It’s-“
“Oh… Oh! I thought he was just saying he loved the line.” He slings an arm around her shoulder, jostling her as they walk away. “You’re coming with me, right? I’ll do the dishes for a month. Two months. And I’ll remember to water Audrey.”
Robin sighs, patting his hand and linking their fingers together. “I can’t believe I’m going to Brooklyn for you.”
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