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runraerun · 2 months ago

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leotards & sun-in

Written for the @harringrovemicroficandart challenge for September. The prompt was: ☀️Summer & Jealous💚

ao3 | rating: T (just for language) | length: 1k

summary:

Billy takes another puff of his cigarette before blowing the smoke out the window in a pathetic attempt to delay the inevitable.

“I saw you with her.”

“With who?”

“Teal leotard! Fucking Jane Fonda, I don’t know!”

“Cindy? We were just talking.”

“She was touching you! And you weren’t—you didn’t stop her.”

“Baby…” Steve smiles. He fucking smiles! The no-good cheating bastard…

Or, Billy catches Steve cheating. Or does he?

Billy should’ve known when he had to park his Camaro at the ass end of the Starcourt parking lot that the place would be packed. The heatwave was driving everyone inside, and the mall had a pretty bitchin’ AC system. Billy didn’t mind the heat—in fact, he’d be out there right now, shirtless, soaking up some rays if he didn’t have to pick Steve up from his shift at Scoops.

The whole him and Steve thing was still sort of fresh. They’d been messing around for a while, but it was only in the last few weeks that they’d agreed to put a label on it.

Boyfriends.

Jesus Christ…

He knew moving to Indiana would change him, but he didn’t know to what degree. Not the queer part—Billy knew he didn’t like girls. The only thing that got his dick hard was another dick.

But the boyfriend part? The holding hands at the movies, the making out on the hood of his car, the pet names, the Valentine’s Day gifts… he was turning into a fucking sap.

It’s almost embarrassing how gone he is for Steve.

So when Billy catches sight of an exceptionally pretty girl through the glass store front of Scoops, clad in one of those leotards that look like they're painted on, and with her hand buried in Steve’s hair—he sees red.

Billy’s furious entrance through the glass doors was somewhat damped by the stupid little bell chiming above him.

The girl jumps, pulling her hand free from Steve’s—his boyfriend’s—hair.

“Oh, hey Billy.” Steve says, all smiles.

And as much as Billy wants to fucking explode, he keeps it bottled up. Knows he can’t lose it right now. Instead, he focuses on taking deep, even breaths.

Both the chick and Steve stare after him, waiting for Billy to make some kind of reply. When it’s clear that that isn’t gonna happen, she just turns back to Steve.

“Well, thanks for the tip, Steve. See you tomorrow.” She says.

“See ya.” Steve returns. The girl then gives Billy a wide berth as she walks out of the store.

“Ready to go?” Steve asks, like nothing was amiss.

Or maybe this is just Steve’s own way of keeping his cool. Maybe… he was waiting until he got Billy alone to explain. To call this whole thing off.

It was all sort of too good to be true anyway. Real pie in the sky shit. It was stupid. Billy was stupid.

So he just nods, not trusting his own mouth. Doesn’t know whether he’ll yell or cry.

It’s not until they’re walking across the parking lot that Steve nudges him with an elbow. “You okay? You’re kinda quiet.”

Billy’s fingers are suddenly itching for a cigarette, so instead of answering Steve, he fishes out a smoke and his lighter.

“Did something happen? Your dad? Did he–”

“It’s not my fucking dad.” Billy snaps.

“Then what is it?” Steve stops walking. He looks at Billy with his head tilted, eyes squinting against the sunlight.

Billy takes a drag of his cigarette and holds it in his lungs for as long as he can before he exhales through his nose. It barely touches his frayed nerves. “Don’t play dumb with me.”

The line between Steve’s brows deepens. “What?”

But Billy turns his back to Steve, taking long strides toward his car.

“Wait! You can’t just–”

“Do you really wanna do this here?” Billy turns, motioning with his cigarette to the handful of random shoppers just searching for their own vehicles.

“Do what?” Steve asks in a voice pitched higher than normal.

“I saw you!” Billy barks, probably too loudly. But in the moment he doesn’t fucking care.

“Saw me? Saw me do what?”

Billy just huffs and takes his last remaining steps until he reaches his vehicle. “Just get in the car. I’ll still drive you home.”

They get in, but when Billy puts the keys to the ignition, Steve swipes them from his hand and holds them out of reach.

“Harrington, I swear–”

“We’re not going anywhere until you explain to me why you’re practically foaming at the mouth.”

Billy takes another puff of his cigarette before blowing the smoke out the window in a pathetic attempt to delay the inevitable.

“I saw you with her.”

“With who?”

“Teal leotard! Fucking Jane Fonda, I don’t know!”

Steve pauses for a beat. “Cindy? We were just talking.”

“She was touching you! And you weren’t–-you didn’t stop her.”

“Baby…” Steve smiles. He fucking smiles!

“It’s not funny!” Now it’s Billy’s turn for his voice to go high.

“It’s not funny, you’re right. I’m sorry. It’s just–Cindy’s married.”

“So? Married people cheat.”

“So she was just asking me where I got my highlights done, because she wanted some. I told her my boyfriend put me onto Sun-In, and I was just explaining to her that it didn’t dry out my ends. I told her she could feel my hair to prove it. And, I don’t know, maybe that’s weird but I wasn’t really thinking about–”

Billy’s mind had gone blank after hearing— “You told her you have a boyfriend?”

Shifting uncomfortably in his seat, like he actually had been caught doing something wrong, Steve confesses, “well, her yoga instructor is definitely gay and she doesn’t seem to care, so I figure it wouldn’t be that big of a deal… Look, I know it’s stupid, and dangerous but… I like telling people.”

Steve’s excited to be dating him, Billy realizes, his chest suddenly feeling tight enough to burst. So excited that he wants to tell people.

“Oh.” Is all he can say.

Steve finally lets himself laugh. “I’m sorry! It’s just… You’re really cute when you’re jealous.”

“Shut up.” Billy says, but there’s no heat behind it. He leans over and presses his lips to Steve’s.

To his boyfriend’s lips.

Jesus Christ…

He’s so fucking gone. It should be embaressing, but Billy’s too fucking in love to care.

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camaro-and-smokes · 9 months ago

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Snowfall on the Sahara

Notes: When I started to think what to write for @harringrovelovefest 2024 I remembered that I had a draft for this laying around and @lovebillyhargrove wanted to know what happened to the boys after Snow on the Beach. So, here it is. Lovefest prompt would be 'Being crazy in love' 💜 Title from the song 'Snowfall On The Sahara' by Natalie Cole.

Rating: Mature (tagged this as such just in case even though there's really nothing like that) Warnings: No Warnings Characters: Billy Hargrove, Steve Harrington, Robin Buckley Tags: Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Boys Kissing, Boys In Love, Steve Harrington and Billy Hargrove have a crush on each other, POV Steve Harrington, Love Confessions

Read on AO3 >>

Summary: It's hard to be with Billy, yes, the world isn't ready for them. But still Steve had been with him since that one night at the quarry when Steve saw everything anew. He's been wanting to say the three little words ever since, but has been afraid to. What if Billy gets scared and runs away? What if he doesn't feel the same?

But... what if...what if he does feel the same?

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“Oh, for fuck's sake!” Steve shouts when he accidentally nudges the pile of film posters on the backroom table of Family Video, making every one of them, except Mad Max, spill on the floor.

He's collecting the pile when Robin peeks into the room. “Hey, we could hear you all the way from the counter. The four of us,” she says. “Me and the mother and her twins, who I just rented Bambi for the tenth time. I am not sure if there will be eleventh time or if there is, she'll complain about our language through it.”

Steve pinches the bridge of his nose with his fingers. “I'm sorry. I was about to leave and I nudged the pile and... I just...” He sighs. “I have a date, I wasn't even supposed to be working today, and now I'm late.”

Robin's eyes bulge from her eye sockets and she walks into the room, closing the door behind her. “You have a date? An actual date with a living, breathing girl?”

Steve's not in a mood for her sarcasm and just glares up at her as he keeps collecting the posters into a pile next to him.

She squints as she leans to the door and crosses her arms over her chest. “You haven't told me anything about any girls. For a very long time, I might add. Which is kinda odd, but let's not get into that now. Who is she?”

“None of your business,” Steve retorts, and winces immediately. He looks up. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. It's just... Uh... err... Her, umm, dad doesn't know and he really wouldn't like it, so we'd like to keep it like that. It's a secret. No one can know.” Steve shakes his head vigorously. “Honestly. No. One.”

“Secret? Steve, hello, it's me. There is no secret you couldn't tell me. I'm supposed to be the one who's afraid of you accidentally spilling the beans on my secrets, not the other way around.”

Steve stands up, places the posters on the table and leans his back to it, looking ashamed. “Yeah, well, I never knew before there could be secrets like this. Secrets that...” he couldn't end the sentence. He swallowed. “Secrets that could get someone killed,” he whispered.

Robin stares at Steve blankly for a while. “Okay,” she says slowly, “the dad really doesn't like you.”

Steve plays with his car keys and shakes his head. “It's a double-sided dagger, the whole thing.”

When he looks back up, Robin is looking back at him, concerned. After a while, a smile tries to force its way on her face. “Has to be one hell of a girl if you're willing to go that extra mile.”

Steve snorts. “Not just one but several, trust me,” he replies, amused. He feels his cheeks heating, and he looks down. “Yeah, it's worth it.”

“Okay, Casanova,” Robin smiles, “you go to your mystery date. Tell her I said hi and that your secret is safe. Because I don't even know who she is.”

“Sure, I'll tell...her,” Steve chuckles as he walks out through the backdoor.

Steve drives out from the parking lot and speeds towards the Lover's lake. He is late, he's already supposed to be there, and he's not sure if Billy will wait for him to show up this time.

Once Steve was five minutes late and Billy didn’t speak with him for a week because he thought Steve was punishing him for something by being late. Another time Billy left in the middle of their date because Steve had looked at him funnily, as if he was trash–Billy's exact words.

On some nights, Steve stared at the ceiling and wondered if it all was worth it. The hiding, being super careful of not accidentally revealing anything to anyone, making sure no one knew who he was meeting with and where. Not being able to tell everyone that he was in love with Billy and shout it from the rooftops.

It wasn't what he had dreamed of.

But then he thought of Billy listening to him talking about being lonely and being forced to live alone most of the time, not even his parents really caring about him. How he had nothing to wait for in the future. He sure as hell wouldn't get into college, and he had no idea what he could or wanted to be or do when he grew up.

And Billy understood what he meant, the feeling of being lost and alone, feeling like no one cared. Later, Billy had quietly whispered how he feared his dad and that if he ever found out about him and Steve, he'd surely beat him to death, if not both of them.

Them sharing their deepest fears, trusting each other with truths that they shared with no one else, couldn't share.

And then he thought about Billy's laughter and a smile spread across his face. Not the mean one he let out on the basketball court, but the other one. The one that bubbled out from his throat effortlessly into the air when he felt safe.

Steve had heard it for the first time when he'd taught Billy new pool tricks in their basement–because playing pool was one of the few things Steve was actually really good at and his parents supported it by buying him a real pool table. Anyway, Billy had known the basics, but Steve had given him some pointers, and when Billy had cleaned the table for the first time, he'd laughed that laughter.

It was like a fucking siren song. Something had shifted inside Steve at that moment, never to be the same again.

Since then, he'd done all he could to make Billy laugh like that.

One of the ways to do that was to make out with him on the couch until they both were rock hard and desperate for each other, almost on the brink of coming. Either would take the other's hand, pull him to the stairs, and no matter which one it was, Billy would always laugh and giggle all the way to Steve's room.

And so Steve thought of Billy in bed, underneath him or riding him, so so pretty and so willing, so ready just for him. His lips parted, panting hot and heavy in the rhythm of Steve hitting his prostate. Repeating Steve's name straight into his ear, said out loud just for him, whispered like it was a plea or a prayer. The way Billy's eyes fluttered close just before he came so Steve could always tell when he was close, how he moaned and groaned out loud shamelessly as he rode through his orgasm, a blissful expression on his face. How in the aftermath Billy always wanted to be the small spoon, how he wanted and needed to be held, kept safe even if for five brief minutes before he had to go.

And how Steve wanted nothing more but to do that, how he needed to. To support Billy, to stand by him, to love him, to keep him safe.

Yes. It was all worth it. It wasn't their fault that the world wasn't ready for their love. And they sure as hell wouldn't let the world stop them from loving each other, even if they had to keep it a secret.

Steve parks the Beemer behind Billy’s Camaro on the side of the road where it’s shortest walk to their spot by the Lover’s Lake. At least Billy hasn’t left yet, which is a good thing.

Steve doesn’t just walk but runs through the forest to the lake and then walks swiftly the tiny trail that leads to the small cove they found a while back.

It was incredible that something like it had gone unnoticed, the sand there was untouched when they found it. It had become their safe haven, even though they had to still be careful.

It's still warm even though fall is already reminding of itself by having turned leaves yellow here and there. Steve rolls up his jeans to his knees, and the water is up halfway to his shins when he passes the cliff that shelters the cove.

Steve sees Billy there, sitting by the shore and blowing out smoke rings. He lets out a relieved breath and can't help smiling as he walks out from the water to Billy and sits down next to him.

They're quiet for a while, until Billy asks, "What took you so long?"

There's hurt and insecurity hidden underneath the words.

“Fucking Keith got sick in the middle of the day and I had to cover for him. I would've called if I... I'm sorry.”

Billy looks away and wipes something from his cheek quickly.

An expecting silence falls between them. Steve knows by now not to rush whatever Billy is about to say, letting him say what he needs to say.

Finally, Billy turns to look back straight ahead to the other side of the lake. “I thought you'd forgotten,” he mumbles.

Something warm and fuzzy takes flight in Steve's chest and flutters its wings tentatively. He smiles, leaning towards Billy, nudges his shoulder with his and whispers, “I couldn’t forget you. And I'd never leave you hanging on purpose, gorgeous.”

Billy’s cheeks turn pink and he looks down while a tiny smile forces its way onto his face. He glances at Steve. “Gorgeous, huh?”

Steve wants to kiss Billy so badly. They’re so close, he could just lean in a bit and if Billy turned his face right then... but Steve just smiles. “Yeah. That.”

“Careful,” Billy says, tries to make the word sound like a warning, but it falls flat.

There's nothing Steve has to be careful about and he knows it. He grins. They play this same game each time they meet before they can get into the meat of things. Billy trying to keep up his defenses, his walls, and Steve softly and gently demolishing both one brick at a time. He knows it’s not easy for Billy to let his guard down, so he plays along. “Don’t lie, you like it,” he says, leaving out when I call you that. He'd say it out loud if they were alone in his room, but here out in the open it goes unsaid.

The rosy shade on Billy’s cheek deepens a notch, confirming that Steve is right.

Fuck it. Steve’s tired and doesn’t want to go through the whole nine yards today. “Wanna take a swim?” he asks.

Billy shrugs. “Well, if you want to get your ass kicked in a race to the sunken rock. Again,” he replies. He tries to sound indifferent, but he’s also already taking his boots off, so.

Steve doesn't bother rushing, he knows what's coming. So, he looks around and when he sees no one on the lake he leans back in his hands and unashamedly watches Billy undressing.

Billy is taking off his socks when he stops and looks at Steve, frowning. “Are we doing this or...?”

Steve smiles smugly. “Oh, we're doing it. But there's no harm in looking at first, is there?”

Billy scrunches his nose, but the redness on his cheeks turns darker.

Steve can't help but to laugh a little.

“Asshole,” Billy mutters with a small smile and pulls off his left sock.

“But I’m your asshole,” Steve whispers, making Billy smile wider as he gets up.

Billy throws the sock at Steve, making him yelp. “Come on, pretty boy, I’m going to win at this pace before you even get off the shore,” Billy says and pulls off his shirt.

Steve gets on his feet before Billy has taken barely a step towards the water. He grabs the waistband of Billy’s jeans with both hands and pulls Billy against him. “Not so fast,” he says, wrapping his arms around Billy's waist.

Billy giggles as he tries to pull away, using the damn siren song on Steve to cloud his mind and making his hug looser than he planned. Steve’s readying himself for Billy retaliating by tickling Steve, maybe - that’s Billy’s go-to weapon. But when Billy turns around, he just smiles and lets Steve to pull their bodies together.

Billy's smile and eyes still sparkle with mischief and Steve is not sure what’s it about. “You threw your stinking sock on me,” Steve says, trying to sound hurt.

Billy turns the corners of his mouth downwards, lowers his chin and looks down to the ground for a while like a kicked puppy. Then he turns his gaze back up, opening his eyes huge and fluttering his long lashes while pursing his lips. “I’m sorry,” he whispers huskily. “What can I do to make it better?”

Steve’s insides melt while his lower body forgets the things we don’t do in public -rule. He didn’t know Billy could do that. Look so innocent while promising all the sins Steve's mother always warned him about, all at once. “I, uh...can think...um...uh...” he replies, feeling his own cheeks heating and his mouth being suddenly very dry.

“Can you, now? Think?” Billy asks and his tongue slowly wanders from the corner of his mouth towards the sharp cupid’s bow.

Steve’s eyes lock onto the motion, and he swallows. He’s totally lost for words.

Billy leans closer, raises his chin and tilts his head, ready to kiss Steve.

And Steve leans in and closes his eyes, already feeling Billy’s breath on his skin.

“Race ya,” Billy whispers, pushes Steve just enough to get Steve to let go, and runs towards the waterline, laughing and stopping just for a few seconds to pull off his jeans before running into the water. He’s almost waist-deep before Steve even realizes what happened.

“Not fair!” Steve shouts and starts undressing as fast as he can.

“Snooze it and lose it,” Billy cackles before he dives under the sparkling surface and starts to swim with long, strong strokes towards the underwater rock that’s halfway to the middle of the lake.

Steve has already lost this one, he knows, but it doesn’t matter. He knows what awaits him by the rock.

When Steve finally gets by the rock, Billy already sits on it, water up to his hips. It’s a big rock, and Steve hoists himself up to sit next to his boyfriend.

“You should really work on your concentration. Performance like that...” Billy tsks, “is not gonna fly in a long run.”

Steve leans into Billy’s space. “I’ll show you a performance,” he whispers into Billy’s ear and licks the outer side of his earlobe. When Billy turns to look at Steve, his lips parted and ready for a kiss, eyes on Steve's mouth, Steve pushes him off the rock.

Billy falls off with a yelp. When he comes back on the surface, he pulls his hair away from his face and glares up at Steve. for a moment Steve is the tiniest bit worried that he accidentally made Billy lose his mood altogether.

But then Billy laughs and splashes water on Steve. “Is that all you got?” he taunts playfully, and Steve’s worry melts away. Billy pulls himself back onto the rock and sits next to Steve, closer this time, close enough so that their thighs are touching.

“I’m really sorry I was late,” Steve says. In the water, underneath the surface, he takes Billy’s hand in his and laces their fingers together.

Billy nods.

The shy gesture would be so out of character for Billy if he was anywhere else but here alone with Steve. When the cocky armor he wears melts away, he looks so young, like the eighteen-year-old he is. Uncertain of the world ahead, hoping for the best and truly fearing for the worst–the latter for a good reason.

Steve's happy that he's not the only one who’s lost. He leans to Billy’s shoulder. “What was that you did back there on the beach?” he asks.

Billy looks down and smiles shyly. Crinkles form into the corners of his eyes and he’s blushing again.

Steve can’t help smiling either. “I liked it,” he whispers.

Billy glances at him. “You did?”

Steve nods, smirking. “It was weird. But also hot.”

Billy smiles a wide smile as he lays down on the rock on his back and is almost engulfed by the water. “Want more?”

Steve leans his elbow on the rock, trying not to forget that it’s slippery, and looks at Billy, who looks back with the widest grin. Suddenly, Steve feels stupid. Stupid as in how seeing his boyfriend happy makes him forget every smooth one-liner he planned and practiced, and just stare - probably with a goofy grin.

And it all suddenly tucks Steve's heart in a way he didn’t know was possible. The fuzzy thing in his chest spreads its wings and the wings are so big that it’s a miracle that he's not floating in the air by now. That’s how high he is from the mere sight of the boy he loves. Loves. Who hopefully loves him back. A little. Maybe?

Steve leans down, whispers, “You're hot,” and kisses Billy.

Billy smiles against Steve's lips and lifts his hands to run his fingers through Steve's hair. When they have to stop to breathe, he whispers, “You're not so bad yourself, pretty boy.”

Steve sets his thigh between Billy's legs and his other arm around Billy's torso, hugging him tightly as they continue kissing.

It doesn't even matter that the wind has picked up a little and the water splashes on their faces from time to time in small waves. The water is warm, the sunlight on their skin is even warmer, their insides burning as they breathe through each other.

Until the rock reminds them that, indeed, it's underwater, full time, and slippery.

Steve fixes his position just a little to get even closer to Billy, but the arm he's leaning onto slips just a little and he falls on his side, and the only thing he can try to hold on to is Billy.

They hit the water at the same time.

They both emerge from the water and Steve is immediately on Billy, trying to look for signs of any scratches.

“Are you okay?” Steve asks, concerned. “I’m so sorry, I forgot the stone is...”

Billy looks at his arm and rubs it. “I might have a tiny scratch. Nothin’s broken.” He raises his gaze back to Steve and grins. “But you can show me how sorry you are.”

Steve smiles. Had it been any girl he would be endlessly apologizing to get out of the doghouse. With Billy, instead, it's just nah, it’s just a scratch. Now kiss me.

So easy. So right.

Steve pulls Billy against him, wrapping his arms around Billy's waist, and looks at the sparkling blue eyes and the lips that are already slightly parted, ready for devouring. He wants to say I could spend the rest of my life looking at you, but decides that it's probably still too early for that. “I’m sorry,” he whispers, and kisses Billy.

Billy’s lips are soft, they always are. Warm, too. Kissing with Billy is always a rush this time, too. Steve smiles against Billy’s lips. It's been just a month since they first kissed at the quarry and he is so head over heels that it might’ve been embarrassing if it was anyone else. He wants to tell Billy, but whenever he looks at him in the eyes, determined to say the words, he gets this icy dread inside him. What if Billy runs away when I say how I feel?

Billy pulls back from the kiss slowly, leaving Steve chasing after him until he realizes Billy is looking at him with that tiny smile on his face he always has when they're laying in bed and coming down from their orgasms.

Yeah, he had the cocky, wide grin on his face many times too, making it blatantly clear that there was going to be a round two or three and Steve had nothing to say to it but to endure. But this small one always promises something else: that Billy has something intimate to say, just for Steve to hear.

“I love you.”

The words are barely a whisper, but Steve can read them from Billy’s lips. He blinks a few times, feeling his jaw going slack of the surprise of hearing the words before saying them himself. He's so stunned that Billy apparently takes it as a rejection, because his face turns pale and his eyes dart back and forth in Steve’s, probably thinking that he’s done the worst mistake of his life.

Billy is already pulling away from Steve when Steve finally manages to remind his brain of how to work.

“Hey,” Steve gasps and smiles. “I love you, too.” Now that he's not the first one to say the words, they fall out of his mouth so easily.

Billy looks at him warily. “You do?”

Steve smiles a bit wider, because now he can free the overwhelming emotion from its cage inside his chest where it's been trapped until now, letting is soar to the open sky. “Yeah. I’ve been trying to find a way to tell you, but it never felt right to say it because I was afraid that...that-that you wouldn’t feel the same.”

An impossibly wide smile lights up Billy’s entire face and he lets out a soft laugh. “You’re the best thing that’s happened to me in this fucking sorry excuse of a town ever since we moved here. Of course, I feel the same.”

“I've felt like this ever since I saw you at the quarry, smoking in the evening sun.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. You'd been a definite asshole until then, and you're that a little still,” Steve says grinning, “but you were so beautiful, standing there in the sunlight... I stood no chance. I was done for right there and then.”

Billy goes red – his entire face, tips of his ears and all the way down his neck – and he looks down bashfully. After a while he looks back at Steve, that wide smile on his face the traps his tongue between his teeth. “That's... uh... That's the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me.”

“Yeah?” Steve asks, feeling his own cheeks heating, too.

The expression on Billy's face changes and he bites his lower lip. Steve knows that look. He knows it so well, the promise, the yearn in it, and he lets out an involuntary breath.

“Wanna say it again?” Billy asks huskily.

Steve's eyes go wide. “Yeah,” he says, with conviction.

He lets go off Billy and the moment he does Billy is already swimming towards the shore, leaving Steve to catch up.

“Snooze it and lose it,” Billy shouts after him.

"Asshole!" Steve shouts and starts swimming.

#harringrovelovefest2024 #harringrove #harringrove fic #billy hargrove #steve harrington #steve x billy #billy x steve #fluff #harringrove ficlet #stranger things fanfiction #billy hargrove needs a hug #harringrovelovefest #harringrove lovefest #suometar writes #snowfall on the Sahara

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onearmedlegend · 2 years ago

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I’m just imagining that Billy’s finally free of his father’s clutches; he’s gone to jail. The Mind Flayer is gone. Max was invited to the Byers for what they called a family dinner. But what didn’t make sense was that people unrelated to them were there? The little Byers’s friends and big Byers’s girlfriend. Oh, and the Police Chief. And Harrington. Basically everyone who hated him, great.

Except for that weird girl El. Who helped him more than he can ever say.

Max said she wanted to go, and Billy had no problem with that; there wasn’t a horrendous ‘curfew�� to be home by anymore. There wasn’t going to be any slurs and punches and throws and things (Billy) thrown around if they were late anymore. No skipping school for injuries or pretending bruises were from someone on the basketball team anymore.

But people were still scared of Billy around town. They knew of his father’s actions and were worried he’d be the same. Or they looked at him with pity as if they had any idea what happened between closed doors.

What used to be unfiltered, flirtatious, and longing stares and empty conversations—now were rapid flashes of glances before scurrying away to the safety of their homes. As if Hawkins was safe. Everybody was too scared to be out on the streets for too long before something in the nights, or god forbid day, swept them off to someplace terrible.

After that summer, more people were afraid. Billy understood. They didn’t, not really. But Billy did. And he was afraid for himself. Of what he could do, now that he saw what that thing did to him without permission. Without fear. Without care. Without a second thought.

So Billy kept his distance when they arrived. Max took off towards the Party, who were all hanging out in the living room. They were setting up the game of D&D or something, but Max watched and pretended to listen. She was pleasantly comforted by their presence. El looked up at him and smiled. He smiled back, and her head dropped to the board game at hand. Nobody else noticed.

Harrington was sitting on the ground next to the kids. Harrington took him by surprise; he wasn’t related to anyone here. He dated older Wheeler a while ago (a year now?), and she was with older Byers. Was he invited by Mrs. Byers? That got Billy’s head scratching.

But then he saw the curly-haired kid named Dustin look back at him and yell something. (It was more of a squawk, but whatever). Max shushed him and apologized to Steve with a smile, and Harrington shrugged her off, softly grinning. Sinclair, little Byers, and little Wheeler asked if he wanted to join, and he calmly said, “Nah, this isn’t my game. You kids go right on ahead.”

The older Byers was cozying older Wheeler on the couch. It was like they were in their own little world. Both of their eyes were glimmering at each other, or maybe that was all the Christmas lights shining from the Christmas tree. No matter what, Billy could tell they were where they wanted to be.

Mrs. Byers and the Chief were huddled in the kitchen arranging everything accordingly. It made Billy charmingly confused that a broad, intimidating man like the Chief was being fussed around by this anxious woman slapping his hand when he took a cookie off the plate. Billy slipped a chuckle but covered it up with a fake ‘clearing of the throat’.

That was when they all realized Billy was there. Time seemed to come to a halting scratch when they saw him. He offered a little wave and small, “Hello.”

The kids mumbled, “Hi, Billy.”

Older Wheeler and Older Byers almost glared at him behind their acknowledgments.

Harrington was more in shock rather than anything else.

Mrs. Byers ran up to him and greeted him with a squeeze of the shoulder.

The Chief took an apple, bit into it, and strode over to him with an unreadable but questioning stare. “How are you tonight, kid?”

“Good, sir. Yourself?”

“Good. Have you tried the cookies yet?”

Billy was frozen. “Oh, um. No?”

“Even better.” He leaned in and patted Billy’s shoulder. “There’s still plenty left.”

“Hopper!” Mrs. Byers exclaimed. “No eating cookies before dinner!”

Billy chuckled when the Chief shrugged and walked back into the kitchen.

A pair of arms wrapped around his waist. A little voice could be heard into his jacket. “Hello, Billy!” Billy looked down and saw a little girl with blonde hair put into two ponytails hiding at his side.

Older Wheeler hopped off the couch and ran towards the little person hugged into Billy’s jacket. She pulled the girl off and got down to her eye level. “I’m so sorry! Holly, you can’t just ran up and hug people like that, it can scare them!”

“But,” her voice squeaked, “we were supposed to say hello with hugs!”

“Yes,” older Wheeler agreed, “but he didn’t see you!”

Billy cleared his throat. “It’s um…it’s okay. She’s all good.”

Older Wheeler looked surprised and relieved that Big Bad Billy wasn’t going to be pissed at her little sister. Her shoulders dropped as she sighed and got back up. Mrs. Byers called her into the kitchen just then. She walked away, with one last glance saying, “Thank you.”

Harrington walked up to the little girl, Holly, and swooped her into his grasp. He said, “Lookie here! Whatcha doin’, Holly? Hm?”

Holly giggled into his chest as she mumbled, “Nothing.”

Seeing Harrington being good with kids was one thing. Harrington being good with little kids made Billy’s heart skip something awful.

Billy’s face flushed as Harrington’s hair fell forward with a soft giggle. Harrington looked up at Billy and then Holly. She reached out towards Billy.

Steve’s eyes went big. “Ope, looks like she wants you to hold her. You got her?”

“Oh, um…I think so?”

“Billy!” Holly exclaimed and leaned forward, almost completely out of Steve’s hold. Billy held his arms out and arranged himself to hold her properly.

Billy looked at Holly as she started messing with her sweater sleeves. He smiled at her and asked, “That better, Holly?”

“Yes!” she laughed and hid in his neck.

“Yeah?” Billy asked in a lighter voice to meet hers.

“Yeah!” Holly leaned forward and hugged her little arms around his neck. Billy was caught off-guard by the gesture.

Harrington hid his smile behind his hand. His eyes softened when he realized Billy was hugging her a little tighter than before.

Billy’s eyes were tearing up faster by the minute. Harrington reached out his hand and wiped away a stray tear with his thumb. They both shared a sad stare.

Because if Billy was crying over the fact a little kid trusted him, even after all of his actions that summer, that wasn’t anybody’s business but his and Harrington’s.

#steve harrington #billy hargrove #stranger things #harringrove #justalittlebitofharringrove #holly wheeler #she’s a sweetheart #joyce byers #nancy wheeler #the party #its a christmas miracle #billy hargrove deserved better #no but he would be so scared to hurt a little kid after S3 #but Holly Wheeler hugging him would make him burst into tears #What I’ve Done by Linkin Park was inspiration for this piece #harringrove if you squint #pre-harringrove

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i-used-to-wear-the-fedora · 2 years ago

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Post Season 2 of Stranger Things, Max acts weird. Quieter and a little off in a way Billy can't explain. Almost scared. The last thing he remembers is finding her with some random dude in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of other kids acting super weird. Something happened. He doesn't know what, but he's pissed off. Especially at Harrington because he has a sneaking suspicion he knows what happened. He remembers the same thing happening to him when he was thirteen, and his mom just left. No one helped him then. And he may think Max is a shit bird, but nobody deserves what he went through.

He tries to talk to her about it, but again, shit bird that she is, Max refuses to tell him what was going on. Neil won't do anything, and Susan only does what Neil tells her. Billy does what he wishes he could've when he was a kid and confronts Steve after school the next week, ready to beat the other teen's ass.

When Steve is confronted by an angry Billy accusing him of touching Max, he's flabbergasted but also realizes that yeah. From an outsiders point of view, that night looks really bad.

"I can't tell you what happened, but I need you to know, I'd never do that kind of thing. Ever."

Billy doesn't know why he believes him. But after that they come to something of a truce. They have to for Max, at least. Spending time together but not quite friends. Steve has to wonder, though. What the hell did Billy go through to jump to those kinds of conclusions? And why does he feel the need to make sure something like that doesn't happen again?

#billy needs a hug #like #a major hug #stranger things #stranger things au #billy hargrove #steve harrington #harringrove #max mayfield #the mayfield-hargrove siblings go through a lot in the show

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harringroveera · 2 months ago

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He’s functioning really well thanks for asking, Steve

#harringrove #actually hes not doing well steve pls hug him #billy hargrove #steve harrington #billy x steve #incorrect harringrove quotes #billy hargrove x steve harrington #harringroveera #harringrove textpost #incorrect billy hargrove quotes #steve x billy #incorrect steve harrington #harringrove edit #steve harrington x billy hargrove #steve harrington meme #billy hargrove meme #harringrove meme

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ellewritesandrants · 2 years ago

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I was inspired to write some insecure Billy and Steve afraid that the other would leave so here you go!

Billy’s just so used to being left behind or abandoned that he expects it which is why it’s odd for him that Steve sometimes looks at Billy as if he’s the one who’ll be leaving. Sometimes, Steve gets into these moods where he just pulls Billy into his arms and drags them either to the couch or their bed, clinging onto the blond so tightly almost as if he was begging the blond not to go.

Billy was bewildered because, if anything, it should be Steve who should want to go. Billy was a mess, even before this whole thing with the Mindflayer and that just made it all so much worse. Before, Billy could hide behind muscles and charisma and now, he was a shell of his former self, spooked at the weirdest things and incapable of looking at himself in the mirror.

It had been a wonder for Billy to wake up in a hospital bed, with Steve’s hand tightly gripping his not only because he’d thought he was going to die when he faced that monster but because he’d thought Steve had replaced him with Robin before he found out that Robin was a lesbian. Billy had fought, not only for his sister and her friends but also to protect Steve because he didn’t ever want to hurt Steve again after that awful night at the Byers where his paternal trauma was triggered.

When Billy had woken up, it was Steve’s hand that kept him grounded. It was Steve’s stories that filled his day. It was Steve’s presence that made him want to keep living so it didn’t make any sense why Steve would even worry about Billy leaving. Didn’t he know that Billy was sure thing for him but that he was too good for Billy?

Not only did Steve open up his heart and also his home to Billy but the brunet had taken care of him, dealt with him through the ups and downs of his recovery. Even through the moments he’d wished he’d died, Steve had been his rock keeping him grounded. Sure, Billy was recovered now according to the hospital but he could never go back to being the same person he used to be.

Billy hadn’t even been able to get behind the wheel of his baby yet. It had been fully restored months ago, just waiting for him to make the engine purr but even just being inside the car stirred up memories of the monster that controlled him and he hasn’t been able to get himself to move past it, relying on Steve mostly for rides if not walking to build up the stamina he’s lost. He could never stay out too late or go anywhere near Brimborn or the Holloway’s house. It brought up bad memories and sent him spiralling.

Even the thought of touching a person had reviled him for a long time after waking up, with Steve and El being the only ones he didn’t hate touching. Max was the first one he forced himself to familiarize with again, after promising his little sister that he would take this second chance to be a better brother. He’d eventually forced himself to do the same to Max’s friends and Susan since he didn’t want anything to do with the Billy who killed dozens of innocent people and he wanted to at least try to be someone Steve deserved.

Steve often told him that he was surprised by how insecure Billy really was and how amazing he was to have recovered so quickly but Billy didn’t really think he was all that amazing. If he was, he wouldn’t have killed all of those innocent people. He wouldn’t have had his father killed after the government scientists realized Neil was abusive and therefore, a threat to extinguish in order to keep their new subject. If he was as amazing as Steve thought he was, there might even still be a chance he deserved Steve.

The truth however, would always hurt. Billy didn’t deserve Steve. Steve deserved happiness. Steve deserved love. Steve deserved everything good in the world and there was absolutely no was Billy could ever give that to him, even before he became the wreck he was today. Steve deserved someone whole who could give him the big family he’s always wanted and someone he truly loved. Steve deserved better than him and while Nancy Wheeler wasn’t all that better because she cheated on Steve, Steve loves her and Steve deserves the opportunity to love who he really wants without the baggage of Billy.

That was why Billy had jumped on Mrs. Byer’s offer to take him with them when they moved to California. It would allow Steve to pursue the person he really wants while giving Billy enough space to lick his wounds. It wasn’t Billy leaving Steve. It was Billy giving Steve the chance to be happy and that’s why he didn’t get why this argument was even taking place.

“You’re going with the Byers to California? Why, Billy? I thought you were happy here.”

“I am!”

“Then why are you leaving?”

Billy wanted to lie and make up some excuse about him needing space or sunlight to recover but he couldn’t do that, not to Steve.

“Because you’re not happy with me here.”

“What the fuck are you talking about, baby?”

“You didn’t think I’d notice? Stevie, you only really ever smile and laugh around your friends. You make jokes with them and you play around and you get to be a teenager with them. The minute you’re with me, you’re stuck taking care of me.”

“Because I want to, baby. Don’t you realize that?”

Steve tried to reach out but Billy only moved further away. Billy scoffed.

“You’re just saying that. Look, Steve, you deserve to be happy and I think you’d be happier without me here.”

“What? That’s complete and utter bullshit.”

“No, it’s not. I’m a mess, Stevie. I’m a shell of my former self. I weigh probably 140 pounds soaking wet, I’m covered with scars and I get triggered by the simplest things. I’m dead weight, extra baggage. I didn’t deserve you back then and I definitely don’t deserve you now. You deserve someone who’ll make you happy.”

“And that’s you, baby.”

“Don’t lie to me. Everyone and their mother knows that it’s Nancy.”

“Nancy? Where the hell did you get that from?”

“I saw you and her the other day and I know she’s the first person you ever loved. She can give you the big family you want and don’t even try to tell me that you don’t want that. With me gone, you can get her back and be happy.”

Steve pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath before he took Billy’s hands in his.

“Fuck, darling, you’ve got it all wrong, okay? Nancy wanted to meet up because she wanted to say goodbye. She’s going with the Byers too since she got into the same college as Jonathan. And as for the big family, yes I won’t lie, I do want that but the 6 shitheads we’re usually in charge of are more than enough for me right now. I do want to eventually adopt some kids or even have some of my own but I can do that with you.”

“But you don’t have to!”

“Why not, sweetheart? I want to do it with you.”

“I don’t deserve you, Steve.”

“Stop trying to tell me what I deserve. Why are you trying so hard to leave me?”

Billy couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

“Because I don’t want you to regret me. I don’t want you to waste the next how many years taking care of me and eventually getting sick of me before you finally realize you deserve better than me.”

I don’t want you to leave me like my mother did.

“Fuck, baby, if anything, you deserve better than me.”

“What the fuck are you talking about, Steve?”

“I lied to you and hit you first that night. Everything could have probably been avoided had I told you the truth earlier. Our fight, your posession, everything. It’s all my fault for not telling you. Hell, I was the one who wanted to keep us a secret from everyone until you were possessed by the Mindflayer and that’s why I didn’t know what was happening until I saw you at the mall. You deserve better than my fuck ups.”

It was Billy’s turn to hold Steve’s hands in his.

“Fuck, Stevie, it’s not your fault. You didn’t know about my dad back then and we don’t know if my knowing would have changed anything. You were the only reason I bothered to live when I woke up. Every single part of me hurt but the look of relief on your face kept me motivated to keep going because I wanted to keep seeing you even if it would be the last time. You take care of me better than I take care of myself and you’re so patient and understanding with me. It’s not your fault, babe. I didn’t even know you blamed yourself for this, Stevie. It’s not your fault.”

“If you say so. Y-You do know I didn’t date you out of some misplaced sense of guilt, right? I’m here because I want to be, because I love waking up in the morning holding you. I love messing around in the kitchen with you. I love being able to take care of you and spoil you the way you deserve. I love you, Billy and I know I don’t say it enough but I love you.”

“I love you too, Stevie.”

“Does that mean you’ll stay?”

Steve looked so hopeful that Billy didn’t have it in him to leave. If Steve wanted him here, Steve would have him. As long as Billy was wanted by Steve, Billy was willing to fight the voices in his head that told him he wasn’t enough.

“I guess so. I’m sorry for trying to leave, Stevie. I promise I didn’t want to. It’s just, I thought you needed me to.”

Steve pulled Billy in for an all encompassing hug and Billy melted into his lover’s embrace.

“Don’t ever try to leave for my sake again. Now you know that I both need and want you in my life and as long as you’re willing to stay, I’m willing to have you here with me.”

Billy couldn’t help himself.

“Even if it means forever?”

“Even if it means forever. You’ve got me whipped, Hargrove and I don’t ever want to be free.”

Billy groaned.

“You’re such a sap, Harrington.”

“Ah, but I’m your sap.”

#billy hargrove #billy hargrove au #harringrove #steve harrington #billy deserved better #billy hargrove deserved better #billy x steve #ellewritesandrants #billy hargrove redemption #billy hargrove angst #harringrove angst #harringrove fic #s3 au #billy hargrove needs a hug

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cavinginhisfvce · 2 years ago

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"You actually thought I loved you?"

Ship: Harringrove. Unedited.

TW: Child abuse, SA mention, toxic relationship, manipulation, breakup.

"You actually thought I loved you?"

Those words replayed in Billy's mind for hours after he'd left Steve's house, after he'd slipped into the Camaro and sped down to the Quarry to get trashed.

When Steve all but shouted it at Billy, the boy had wanted to yell back, "no, because no one fucking loves me. Not my mom, not my dad, not Max. Not you." But he knew the elder wouldn't care. It would just be a bunch of noise, embarrassing, soul crushing noise added to the room. The room where Steve once laid him down, and peppered kisses down his body, held his hands, and called him baby, sweet boy, he told Billy he was his. He belonged to Steve. The room where he told Billy he loved him. Told him he wanted to take the blond away from his shitty father.

He was so fucking stupid to think this thing with Harrington had meant anything to him, he was a goddamn fool to believe those round, chocolate pools when Steve showered him with praise.

It had never been anything more than lust induced infatuation, but stupid Billy went and fell in love. He fell for the boy with doe eyes and a shy, yet captivating smile. That same boy could spit vitriol in ways Billy could never imagine.

He was so dumb to believe that King Steve could ever love a damaged person like Billy, it was naive for him to give into the siren call of being loved and valued.

Boys like Billy don't get tender touches, and sweet kisses, and if they do, they definitely don't get them long term.

It hurt, mostly because Billy had gone against his better judgment to be with the brunet, had defied his father's lessons, his rules, the same ones he spent years beating into his son, for a chance with the boy who smiled brighter than the sun shined.

He told Steve about his childhood, about his mother leaving him with his father, he told him about the babysitter who touched him, and the cop who followed in his footsteps the first time Billy was arrested for fighting.

Steve knew every intimate detail of Billy's life, he told him he was worth loving, only to quite literally laugh in his face.

Two months after the breakup, Billy found himself holed up in Harrington's bedroom, his brows pinched in discomfort as the elder frantically attempted to apologize for his words just weeks before. He was red in the face as tears spilled down his cheeks, his voice trembled when he spoke. His hand was sweaty, something Billy once found amusing.

He wanted to fold, wanted to jump onto Steve's lap and kiss the air out his lungs, chasing the sweetness that always accompanied one of the boy's millions of kisses.

Instead, Billy did none of that.

He slipped his hand from Steve's and abruptly stood up, his sock clad feet made no sound when they met the carpeted ground. There was no sound aside from the squeak of Steve's door as it swung open.

There was silence until Billy was pulling on his boots at the door, and Harrington had breathlessly trailed behind him.

"Why are you still leaving me? I need you, Blue Bird…Y-you can't leave…"

Steve's words almost tune out the ones from a few weeks ago, but they still ring louder than any confessions Billy's ever gotten.

He shakes his head, clicking his tongue as he turns his head to glare at the boy he wanted nothing more than to lay in bed with, cuddled up like they spent every free weekend together for the past ten months.

"You left. You don't get to cry, or pretend you're so heartbroken to be rid of me."

Steve is quick to object, his bottom lip quivering, Billy just wants to laugh, "I love you, please don't do this! I need you, Billy."

The younger boy takes a shaky breath, his eyes turning misty despite the anger fluttering in his stomach.

"I'm tired of being treated like shit, by everyone, Steve! You dumped me, you don't love me, and if you do, you're gonna have to do more than cry to fix this." He pauses, flexing his fingers.

"You haven't even told me why you said that, why you had to go for the one thing you knew would hurt more than if you would've told me I deserve the crap I've been through!

You love me, but what happens next time you change your mind, Steve?"

"I would never say that.

I won't change my mind, Billy…please. Just give me one more chance, and I'll make this right…"

Billy scoffs, now turning to face the door.

He doesn't believe Steve, not even a little, but he's so desperate for this to work out, so desperate to have something that makes his life of hurt just a little less painful. Even if that something might destroy him in the process.

"You want a second chance, Harrington? Fuckin' earn that shit."

Steve doesn't reply, not that Billy gives him the chance to.

By the time Billy's blinking, and Steve is about to confirm or deny his willingness to fight for the blond, he's peeling out Steve's driveway, his tires skidding with the movement.

"You actually thought I loved you?"

"No," Billy thinks bitterly. "But I love you."

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