#i just had to write harringrove in this situation

[makeadealwithdean]

read a fic one time years ago (from a different fandom) that was a teacher!au, and holy shit, i need to write this with harringrove.

go with me on this— billy needs someone to substitute teach for him while he’s out of town for a bit. (billy is a high/middle school teacher). so steve gets walked into the classroom by the principal to meet with billy before he leaves to get the basic rundown.

billy’s in the middle of a lesson, so steve just takes a seat near the back of the room to wait for him to be done. the principal leaves, steve can introduce himself, no problem.

billy finishes the lesson and hands out a practice worksheet, and the kids get into groups to work on it.

he sits down with steve and says, "so are you the sub?"

and steve flushes bright red for some reason, "uh, y-yeah, i guess so."

billy cocks his eyebrow, cause why is this guy acting like he just asked him something scandalous, "okay, so how long have you been subbing?"

steve averts eye-contact, "not long, but why...does that matter here?"

billy laughs, confused, "because you're subbing here?"

steve looks a mixture between horrified and confused.

oh.

billy clears his throat, "um, sub-stitute teaching," he clarifies.

steve inhales quickly and tries to mask the look on his face, but he still looks as if he's been splashed with cold water, "yeah," he laughs nervously, "of course. i know. what else would it be?" laughing it off obviously isn't going as well as he'd hoped.

billy just raises a single eyebrow and tries half-heartedly to dissolve the smirk creeping onto his face.

[steddieunderdogfics]

This week’s writer spotlight feature is: Atalia_Gold! @ataliagold has 77 fics on Ao3 in the Stranger Things fandom and all of them are in the Steddie tag.

Our anonymous nominator recommends the following works by @ataliagold:

My, My, Those Eyes Like Fire

Keep My Hand In Yours

I Can Wait For You At The Bottom

Oh Darling, Please Be Mine

The Wreckage Of You I No Longer Reside In

"Atalia_Gold has written fics I just go back and read over and over again. I love the way they write the characters and all the very different universes and situations they end up in. One of my favorite authors of all time!" -- Anonymous

Below the cut, @ataliagold answered some questions about their writing process and some of their recommended work!

Why do you write Steddie?

I love the pairing so much. Steve is my favourite character ever, I loved him since series 1, but I never had anyone to ship him with until series 4 as Harringrove just wasn’t for me, so when Eddie came along I just thought wow they’re so perfect together.

What’s your favorite trope to READ?

Hurt/comfort, sick/injured Steve and Eddie doing the comforting/caretaking is my absolute favourite, but there’s a lot of stuff I love to read.

What’s your favorite trope to WRITE?

Same as the above, I love Steve so much but I love to hurt him haha. (So long as there’s a happy ending!)

What’s your favorite Steddie fic?

You’re Divine by Oonionchiver. I love so many of their fics, but this one consumed my soul and was a big contributor to me wanting to write my own fics. A close second would be Take the Money and Run by thisapplepielife - so damn good.

Is there a trope you’re excited to explore in a future work but haven’t yet?

I have a modern AU idea, and I have done one modern AU before but this one will be quite different, the subject matter is much lighter/more humorous and I’m excited to try that - usually a lot of angst slips in even when I try to keep things light so we’ll see how that goes haha. Also planning to throw in the good old one bed trope into that, which I love reading but haven’t written before.

What is your writing process like?

…there is no process haha. I have an idea, usually a scene or a line or just a feeling, and I start writing and see what happens. I don’t plan anything ahead, I don’t write anything down that isn’t literally just the story, I don’t know how long it’ll be etc - I just start writing and see where the characters want to go. I tend to write up a chapter or a oneshot in a day (sometimes two if I’m busy), then think about it overnight, edit the next day, and then post it once I’m ready.

Do you have any writing quirks?

Maybe a couple of little ones - I’m a fan of ironically both run-on sentences and line breaks - can never have enough line breaks for me. I use them a lot to emphasize things or just because they feel right. Run-on sentences I often use to show a character being indecisive/spiraling/emotional just because it sort of reflects that state.

Do you prefer posting when you’ve finished writing or on a schedule?

…neither. I have no schedule, but I also don’t wait until I’ve finished because I’m too impatient, and I find posting chapters as soon as I’m finished quite motivating. I’m a fairly quick writer so I can usually comfortably post a few updates a week.

Which fic are you most proud of?

That’s hard. I guess it would be The Wreckage Of You I No Longer Reside In, because it was the second fic I ever wrote and the first one longer than a small oneshot. I had covid, a lot of free time on my hands, and no idea what I was doing, but people seemed to really like it and I was floored by the response it got. There’s other fics too though, like My, My Those Eyes Like Fire or Keep My Hand In Yours that come close.

How did you get the idea for Oh Darling, Please Be Mine?

This fic happened while I was writing something else that I was struggling with a bit. Oh Darling, Please Be Mine was me returning to writing something familiar, something I felt comfortable with, and I enjoyed that one. I had worked as a vet nurse before and I really wanted to write vet tech Steve and Steddie with kittens.

When writing I Can Wait For You At The Bottom, what was something you didn’t expect?

That some people would comment and tell me it was accurate to their own experiences with depression. That’s one of the heaviest fics I’ve written and it dealt with Steve seriously struggling with his mental health. I was a little worried when writing it that I wasn’t depicting depression accurately - I’ve never been diagnosed with it myself despite definitely struggling with it or something very similar before. So I just wrote from the heart and people seemed to appreciate it, and I’m glad people found it authentic.

What inspired Keep My Hand In Yours?

I’d wanted to do a post-apocalypse fic for a long time. I love that genre so much, I love the idea of these characters being completely stripped down and having to survive in a very difficult world. Also, the title is from the Noah Kahan song Everywhere, Everything, and a lot of those lyrics inspired the fic too, especially the relationship between Steve and Robin.

What was your favorite part to write from Keep My Hand In Yours?

I think the reunion scene between Robin and Steve, or the scenes with Steve and Eddie at the cabin by the lake. I’d had those scenes in my mind for months before even starting to write that fic, and couldn’t wait to get to them.

How do/did you feel writing My, My, Those Eyes Like Fire?

I loved writing that fic. For me it was just such fun to write - I love sword fights/ancient history/that whole…genre. So I really loved writing that one, and it was literally entirely inspired by Joe Keery’s lovely gladiator outfit.

What was the most difficult part of writing The Wreckage Of You I No Longer Reside In?

That one wasn’t difficult, it really flowed. The most difficult part was actually maybe just sharing it - for so long I was terrified of putting my work out there, because I was convinced people would hate it or it wasn’t good enough/nowhere near as good as other authors’ works.

Do you have a favorite scene and/or line from any of your fics?

It’s hard to think of one, there’s so many that are special to me for different reasons, but I think it would have to the be the Steve and Robin reunion scene from Keep My Hand In Yours: In the distance, two figures approached. Steve ran to them, caution thrown aside – he couldn’t make out their faces from here, but he knew one of them was Robin. He’d know her in the dark; would know her even if he were blind and deaf. One of the figures broke away from the other, running for Steve. They met in the middle of a dirt road at the end of the world, Steve scooping his best friend into his arms and dropping to his knees in the dust.

Do you have any upcoming projects or fics you’d like to share/promote?

I have five fics ready to go for the Summer Things Fest, they’ll be released anonymously at first and then creators revealed a bit later, so keep an eye out for those later in July! Other than that, my current WIP We Made Universes Out Of Bitten Lips And Broken Hands is nearing the end at the time of writing this - a few more chapters to go and that’ll be complete. I’m away for the whole of July so not starting anything big until I get back, but I have a few ideas brewing, including a modern AU where Eddie and Dustin drag Steve along to New Zealand (where I’m from) to visit Lord of the Rings filming locations, and I’m quite excited to write that later in the year - planning at this stage for it to be upbeat and fun.

Outside of these questions, Is there anything YOU would like to add?

Just a thank you to anyone who has ever read my fics and dropped kudos or comments, I never expected people to even read my fics let alone enjoy them, so I’m really grateful to everyone who has. There’s some massively talented people here and their fics have helped me in so many ways over the years. And I’m happy to have met some lovely people through writing fics too :)

Thank you to our author, @ataliagold, and our anonymous nominator! See more Atalia_Gold's of works featured on our page throughout the day!

Writer’s Spotlight is every Wednesday! Want to nominate an author? You can nominate them here!

[fantomefawn]

Barely Tolerable ch.2

Take 2… apparently… I posted this yesterday but it’s being marked as m a t u r e?? For some reason this is literally a chaste little pride and prejudice harringrove au??? Anyway so I don’t believe too many people can see the original post. So we try again.

Whatever anyway sorry it’s taken so long I had just written 19 pages of a first draft for another chapter since I wanted to be further ahead with writing vs posting? (This is on ao3 as well btw) anyway 19 pages and then my doc force quit and when it recovered it had only save 2 pages so I had to rewrite the whole draft. It sucked. But like no use in crying over spilt milk. Re wrote it. Im good.

Many way chapter 2 wherein the Harringtons meet Ms. Cunningham and Co.

Please tell me your thoughts on my choice of characters. I’m so curious.

By all means let me think who else you think for cast in certain roles

It was nearly immediately that once the party has crossed the room onto the other end that the music was restarted, and dancing resumed. The new grouping standing away to look over the rest of the assembly, lording over them and looking down on them like they were peons.

��Oh, Robert Harrington, you must introduce her to the children!” Natalie had broken out of her own awe very quickly realizing that there were other guardians ready to circle Ms. Cunningham like sharks to a blood filled ocean, “It is the perfect time, let us be quick!”

Mr. Harrington’s face fell out of good humor rather quickly whilst Nancy puffed up in a preen not unlike a painted peacock her brother had called the others. Her being the closest to her parents physically she felt this might be her chance to be first introduced to Ms. Cunningham and her party, sure that she would for once be seen as the superior sibling she was, as she would finally be given the chance and the position to prove it.

Steve himself had Robin’s hand caught in his own grinning as he addressed his suddenly bashful sister, “Smile. Smile toward Ms. Cunningham. Smile”

Robin did her best and gave a beatific smile toward that end of the room where Ms. Cunningham and company were gathered. Her friend and siblings were looking fairly derisively over all of them.

It would be difficult to capture her attention in the pandemonium, but he wanted her to try, for some reason he was sure this would be her great love.

There was no one in the world he wanted such a love for the way he longed for Robin to find it. It pained him to admit how worried he was for her. He was well aware what the entailment in their family line for them meant and with her being the eldest and prettiest meant she was the one in the unlucky position to have all the pressure and burden on saving them all when their father inevitably passed. In his heart of hearts, he knew she would fulfill it honorably.

There was no one better than Robin.

He loved her so much he swore their souls were twins, and pieces of them belonged to each other, broken off at birth and floating away to fit into each other.

There was no one better than Robin.

It was not an opinion but a point of fact for him. He felt lucky because even if she was less dramatic about it, he knew she held him in the same regard.

There bond was undying, and the thought of Robin miserable because of the situation created by the entailment and hindered further by their parents was horrible and too much to bear.

Steve was lucky in that he was young enough that there wasn’t as much pressure on him and being so sure in his sister’s inevitable good fate to be both happy and successful in her mating meant he did not worry much about his own. He was sure somehow that he’d be taken care of if no love came his way.

He was determined to believe however that love would come aggressively looking for his prized soul mated sister. He was also rather hopeful it would be the Alpha Ms. Cunningham for whom even now he was only hearing good things about. The party had barely begun and before there could even be introductions, they were receiving word of her party and their personhood.

The Harrington siblings were particularly good at gathering information as they were perhaps the best liked family, thanks mostly to to Steve and Robin as well as their standing in the town being the wealthiest family prior to the arrival of Ms. Cunningham and her crew.

First impressions amongst everyone were quickly formed.

Ms. Cunningham as it turned out was good looking and gentlewoman-like. She was pleasant and possessed a cheerful demeanor and came across as having an easy temperament and an unaffected quality. Her strawberry blonde hair was a source for jealousy amongst the rest of those in attendance, she had dark blue eyes that held a certain cheer and a winning smile that endeared people to her. She was friendly and kind and lacked any pretension that was found amongst the company she kept.

Her siblings were elegant and clearly were into the latest fashions, which while beautiful stuck out poorly in the room and while some envied them, many did think them a bit gauche and altogether too much.

Both of her siblings were clearly older than her. The oldest being the Omega, the age difference a fair margin. She was brunette and petite with large eyes and and her smile could best be described as fake.

The middle sibling was a Beta boy with messy dark hair and a shock of freckles that galavanted across his face, his smile was shark like in manner. He was a person out for for blood. Whose blood they couldn’t quite tell.

Her sister-in-law, Mrs. Perkins was a beta that looked like a gentlewoman but was decidedly not one and was lacking a certain sophistication the rest of the room expected. Her hair was more dramatically red than the Alpha and she was smaller than even the Omega sibling, Miss Cunningham.

Outside of Ms. Cunningham herself it was her friend Mr. Hargrove who gave the greatest stir amongst the lot of them.

He was perhaps an inch shorter than Steve based on the gossip, though that was hard to tell since Steve’s brown locks had buoyancy and natural inclination towards blatantly ignoring the concept of gravity it could be said it gave him some additional height. His blue eyes were piercing, and he was as pretty as Omegas were taught that they ought to be, regardless of his unimpressed demeanor. His dark gold locks were long and had a slight wave to them, they looked soft and gentle where his facial expressions suggested otherwise. His features, though set in a fashion exuding his designation, would have had everyone questioning his designation with the delicate beauty of them, but his build was give away to his designation. He was firm and even well covered by clothing it was clear his body was thickly built and stocky. Impressively muscled most likely. No slightness in sight. He was a standard of Alpha male beauty in that regard.

Slowly it was filtered around through the room that this high standing fashionable man had 10,000 a year.

If this number, that ran through the room was correct it placed him in the top one hundred wealthiest people in the country at the very least all without knowing anything else about his lands and holdings. Mr. Hargrove was immediately a more sought-after catch for the Mama’s and Papa’s of the town than Ms. Cunningham.

Every Alpha promptly pronounced him to be a refined man and all the Omegas and Betas declared him far more handsome than even the waifish elven like Alpha that was Ms. Cunningham.

This thought process lasted approximately half the evening before it had started to turn.

~

While Jonathan and Steve were still urging Robin to lure Ms. Cunningham in mentally with sweet smiles, that they hoped she would eventually see, Natalie Harrington decided she would not take it to chance and had made way to gather her two eldest and herd them over toward the Alpha of Cherry Lane.

The introduction would be made even if she had to force it because her husband would not bend as quickly as she wanted.

Steve and Robin gave each other looks but followed their mother dutifully. Steve had glanced around trying to find sight of his father, hoping that the man would rescue them by curtailing their mother’s less than perfect manners and what the repercussions of them would mean for Robin.

Thankfully, Steve could relax his stance a little when he saw his father, mouth drawn down in annoyance pulling along a sullen Nancy.

Her scent was strong and sour with upset like the grass and petitgrain finish of her natural scent had gone rancid, substantial enough he wondered if she had her tea that day. It seemed unlikely that she wouldn’t have drunk it but he knew Nancy was prone to aggressively strong emotions that could and would break through over even the strongest of brews.

She also didn’t care much to self-regulate her scent as she ought to. She was old enough to know better but it really was her only act of defiance. Steve often wondered sometimes if she just lacked a mind body connection since she willingly let her embarrassment steep the air when it happened. It was a skill one learned over time but generally by fifteen one had it under control and Omegas were typically learned by twelve lest it be unseemly.

Teas were always an added precaution and considered important for chaste Omegas of proper breeding and good standing. Only a little of your natural scent should be accounted for especially in mixed company unless properly mated. He felt she should be more careful and considerate of it since he was sure this was where Angela got this nasty habit of throwing out her scent. Steve raised his eyebrows at her, a suggestion she needed to take notice of how much she was projecting and perhaps a way of asking her if she could stop. It was unlikely to work. Nancy did so love attention, even if she wouldn’t admit it.

Nancy sneered at him, and he rolled his eyes not willing to deal with it and faced forward again, following like a duckling behind his mother and older sister and she came to halt in front of a smiling Ms. Cunningham and her coterie. He could smell Nancy and his father coming to round them out. Robin did a quick glance at Steve; her smile having gone brittle for a moment over the smell of their little sister before rounding quickly back to perfect at their full stop. Jonathan had looped his arm through Steve’s for moral support knowing full well this was mostly for Robin’s benefit but knowing his dearest friend would always worry most for his older sister. Robin’s face has smoothed over in the upset, wondering what was wrong with Nancy and also just knowing the awkward position they were in had pushed her into her more reserved tendencies.

Mrs. Harrington grinned at everyone in front of her, her smile making her look younger than she was and giving way to show what a sight she had been in her younger years. She gave a look at Sir James before glancing back and grabbing Nancy’s hand and pulling her closer to her and her siblings, squeezing tightly letting her know she needed to get herself together immediately and she would not take any disobedience. The scent rapidly smoothed out and softened as Mrs. Harrington faced them all once more.

Sir James knew his queue, “Ms. Cunningham, this is my eldest child Master Jonathan Hopper who you already know,” he smiled at his son and made a hand motion toward him, “This is Mrs. Harrington, Ms. Robin Harrington, Steven and Nancy Harrington.”

Each of the siblings made half bows in the direction of Ms. Cunningham at the mention of their names.

“It is a pleasure, that is true, and I have two other children, but they are dancing currently so you must excuse them for not being here for introduction.”

Ms. Cunningham was all smiles as she looked over the brood, it was very exciting to lay eyes on the Harrington siblings finally.

“I am delighted to make your acquaintance.” She was positively beaming at them, though her eyes had definitely wondered to Robin, she was enchanted by the family so quickly and so thoroughly that she was entirely unaware of her dearest friend looking like stone statue of disapproval and her elder sister looking absolutely shocked and appalled at her statement.

Sir James cut in once more, “May I introduce Mr. Hargrove of Lenora in California.” Steve bit his lip as they all bowed once more for Mr. Hargrove. His eyes were set on the floor as was proper, so he missed out on all that Jonathan was observing; Ms. Cunningham’s eyes were on his sister and Mr. Hargrove’s body was being slightly more directed toward Steve, something even the Alpha himself seem unaware of. He wasn’t looking at Steve, but the rest of his body had twisted to mirror him.

Had it not been for Ms. Cunningham and Robin looking so starstruck at each other the silent awkwardness that took over the rest of them would have been unbearable.

Thankfully the music coming to a close signaling the end of that particular dance coming to an end came upon them. The ensuing claps meant that most knew it was time to continue milling about. With a look from his mother and a hand squeeze from his father, he knew even without those silent messages he would be playing dutiful chaperone for his sister as the rest of the party left to mill about with others.

Robin’s freckled face was set in a sun beam smile as she gazed Ms. Cunningham, “How do you like it here in Hawkins, Ms. Cunningham?”

“Oh, very much.” Steve watched them ping pong back and forth with amusement his smile growing as her heard the breathy quality Ms. Cunningham’s voice had taken in response to Robin. He was worried they would all die there still smiling at each other with the way this was going.

“The Library at Cherry Lane, I’ve heard is one of the finest in the country,” Steve played with his hands as he opted to progress the conversation for the young, hopefully future couple, directing this statement at Ms. Cunningham.

“Yes, I fear it fills me with guilt,” Steve’s face started to fall thinking he’d perhaps misstepped, but the strawberry blonde Alpha was still all smiles, “I’m not a very good reader, you see. I prefer being outdoors.”

The Alphas face blanched a little as she looked directly at Robin.

“Oh, I can read, of course,” Robin’s smile grew more enchanted by Ms. Cunningham’s lack of grace and nerves, “And I am not suggesting you can’t read outdoors, of course.” Her nerves seemed to grow not lessen and her eyes grew bigger, clearly hoping the ground would swallow her up.

Robin was happy to put out her misery like gentle water to fire.

“I wish I read more, but there always seems to be so many other things to do.”

Chrissy Cunningham’s eyes scrunched with how big her relieved smile grew.

“Yes! Yes, that’s exactly what I meant.” Steve tuned out of the conversation a little just to give the couple a little space now that it seemed there was no real awkwardness to be found. He found his eyes wondering and noticed Mr. Hargrove and Ms. Karen Cunningham standing near them, the older omega clearly trying to entertain and entice the younger Alpha. He could hear her speaking to him if he tried heard enough.

“We are a long way from Starcourt Square, are we not Mr. Hargrove?”

That Alpha it seemed was not paying her the slightest bit of mind, his attentions were clearly in trying to surreptitiously spy on Ms. Cunningham and Robin’s conversation.

Steve hoped he was not set on trying to go after Robin, he really like Christine Cunningham, the Alpha was potentially just lovely enough to be worthy of breathing the same air as Robin, which was not something he thought often.

Steve’s attention was quickly drawn elsewhere by the squeals of his two youngest siblings, loud excited and unabashed. He turned his head to look at them, feeling in equal measure fond and annoyed at their lack of propriety.

~

There was a measure of unending chatter all around them so he was unable to tell what they could possibly be saying.

Angela had been clearly looking for their mother, Dustin following suite in equal excitement. She quickly jumped up and down when she had caught sight of her, Nancy and their father. Bypassing the other two without any care they went straight to their mother jumping up and down like eager puppies.

“Mama! Mama,” Angela grasped Natalie’s arm still jumping up and down in glee swinging their mother in a circle, “You won’t believe what we’ve just heard! I promise you won’t possibly believe what we are about to tell you!”

Angela and Dustin were so excited and focused solely on their mother that they either didn’t notice or didn’t care about the look of extreme derision sent their way by Nancy.

“Tell me quickly my little loves.” Natalie was all affection toward her youngest two.

“She’s going to take the veil,” said their father teasingly but no one paid him any mind.

“The regiments are coming!” This was said in perfectly squealed unison and their mother dropped her mouth in shock.

“Officers!” She held her children’s hands in her own, more excited than even they were.

“They’re to be stationed here the whole winter,” Dustin was speaking quickly a habit he always reverted to when in moments of intense excitement. Angela took to fanning herself with her hands in a dramatic show of her enthusiasm, “Stationed in the village just there!”

Natalie was nodding and murmuring the word officers under her breath all eagerness at the idea of more Alphas for her children to be with and for her to look at.

Angela spun quickly her bright blonde ringlets catching the air as she took her brother’s hand so they could jump and swing in circles together his own natural curls bobbing with the exertion.

“As far as the eye can see,” she spoke loudly, “we shall be surrounded by Officers!”

Mr. Harrington nearly jumped in surprise as he felt his wife’s hand attack his arm in quick slapping motions.

“Look,” she spoke gleefully, “Robin is dancing with Ms. Cunningham! Mr. Harrington are you paying attention to your wife? I am telling you that Robin is dancing with Ms. Cunningham!” When he looked over, he did indeed see that Robin was in a group dance with Ms. Cunningham as her partner.

His eldest was beaming out amongst the crowd, her light brown hair was was pinned back and he was impressed at the picture they made. Typically, Robin was considered fairly tall for a female Omega reaching 5’8 and somehow Ms. Cunningham was still a few inches taller than her which didn’t often happen with female Alphas of which there had been many. Robert had disliked how many had shown Robin admiration early on. Robin didn’t often get to feel small, not that his eldest needed to, she was strong minded and forward thinking just like Steve.

Still, it was lovely to see the Alpha look off to the side instead of facing forward as the dance called for just to stare down slightly at his daughter with awe. The Alpha was Steve’s height based on the difference between her and Robin and from what he could ascertain during their brief family introduction.

He was utterly amused over the fact that the Alpha nearly bungled the dance being stuck so enamored by his child. The fondness overtook his chest, and he couldn’t bear to watch it anymore lest his heart grow so big his body couldn’t contain it.

He blinked his eyes away hopping around the room looking over at everyone, he watched as Sir James was entrapping the new fashionable Beta couple in conversation. From where he was standing, he could make out the mischief in the man’s eyes and their own desperation to leave. This trait they shared was what made the friendship between Sir James and himself unbreakable. They were both of a certain level of discernment. Sir James was somehow more people oriented than himself, but that was the biggest between them as he saw it.

He continued over the room coming to observe the newest shiny Alpha standing around unsociable with his own eyes looking over the crowd, while the older Omega stood near him trying in vain to gain his affections and attentions. He almost felt sorry for her, but she seemed to be the type to look down on everyone in the room. He wondered how she could possibly be Ms. Cunningham’s sister, from what he could tell Christine was of impeccable character. Still while he couldn’t say there was much to recommend the company she kept; he also couldn’t bring himself to care much about them to continue thinking about them.

With that he let his eyes continue to drift until he came across Steve, a smile overtook his face as he saw him walking with Jon toward the punch bowl, both their faces smiling and laughing as they spoke, though he could see Steve’s gaze wondering over to Robin every so often to check on her.

~

Steve was sitting beneath in a small alcove with Jonathan as they watched all the couples dancing around, only in partial view of everyone. Steve was well aware of the ratio of Alphas, Betas and Omegas in the room and couldn’t bring himself to mind sitting out for a few dances.

From where he was, he could see that Robin was engaged with a Beta friend in a dance, while Ms. Cunningham after their first dance had been the loveliest social butterfly, ingratiating herself with the town.

“Jon, did you see how she admired Robin?” Steve was flush with ease and joy, while he was normally calm Jon could confidently say he’d never see his friend quite so pleased and near shaking from it.

“I did! Did you see the older omega who won’t leave Mr. Hargrove an inch to breathe?” Steve hummed not much care in it. The man while handsome was not his interest at this time. He was far more invested in the potential love match for his soulmate.

“No, I can’t say that I have. I’ve been a bit distracted,” Steve was a bit sheepish knowing that he was taking away from the conversation with his friend being unable to add to the gossip, so he straightened up determined to be a better friend to his dearest friend in the whole town, “Tell me everything I’ve been too remiss to notice. I promise you have my full attention.”

Jonathan squinted and hummed at him, his little nose raising into the air in faux distrust.

“I don’t know Steven; it seems you perhaps don’t wish to gossip with me” Steve laughed brightly at the teasing as he watched his friend turn his chin up in mock upset.

“Forgive me! Oh! great master of gossip, I beg for mercy at your altar,” he gave pleading hands toward his friend a winning smile plastered on, “I have disrespected the God of earthly knowledge, and I must repent.”

Jon barked out a laugh at his friend's theatrics.

“Fine, fine. I will tell you everything. Because I am a good friend and a good person, and I am willing to overlook and accept your penance since you are so endearing in your unending love for your sister.”

“Thank you! You are a benevolent God, and I shall remember to let the others know when they enter your holy place that they have chosen correctly on who to worship as you are a generous God.”

“Well Steven, let me fill you in on the latest party of people in attendance,” Steve wiggled in his seat a little showing he was prepped to pay attention and nodded for Jon to continue as he took a sip of his punch, “The newest Alpha is nearly a scandal.”

“Oh my. Already! How so?”

“Well, he certainly isn’t keen to make any friends,” Steve just raised a brow, “He has danced with only his own party, just three times in total. Once with Karen Cunningham, once with Tommy Perkins and once with Carol Perkins. He accomplished all three dances in a quick succession and will not dance further. He’s refused introductions with any other Omega or Beta in the room and has thus far only spent time walking around in a cloud of judgement, speaking only to his own friends when he occasionally runs into them.”

“My word, how do you have time to learn and observe so quickly? Actually, before you tell me your secrets, please take note that I was correct about him owning the miserable half of California.”

“It’s a gift and a curse I will tell you. Seriously though Stevie, you can’t tell me you haven’t noticed how handsome he is. It’s a waste how much an Alpha so handsome and able has been so lacking thus far. I know there is still time left. Perhaps he is shy, but it is so hard not to compare him to Ms. Cunningham who has been extremely lovely to everyone.”

Steve nodded at Jon agreeing with all of his points but again while in some respects part of him longed to be seen by that very handsome Alpha the majority of him couldn’t bring himself to give much care toward the Alpha from whom he’d not seen much in the way of manners.

“He is handsome to be sure, possibly the most handsome Alpha I’ve seen yet but that doesn’t mean much when I don’t know if I can respect him,” he shrugged at Jon who looked at him incredulously, “What else have you learned about his party?”

Jon shook his head in disbelief at Steve’s seemingly uninterested take on Mr. Hargrove but forgave it for him simply being too invested in everything Robin and Ms. Cunningham.

“Well, not much to be said about the Betas yet, they haven’t caught my interest enough, but they do come across rather snobbish,” Steve nodded back with a smirk. The whole party minus Ms. Cunningham seemed rather snobbish, “I think the most interesting person maybe Karen Cunningham.”

Steve gave Jon a quizzical look. He didn’t understand what was so interesting about such discourteous pompous people.

“Honestly Steve, you ought to be more invested. If Ms. Cunningham turns out to be half as lovely as everyone thinks and gives into your hopes and desires and marries Robin these people will be your family and considering how close you two are and how close they are it seems likely your paths will cross quite a bit.”

Steve’s mouth gave a moue of dislike.

“Oh, I didn’t need to think about that. How awful. Okay, give me the whole lay of land. They are now all of them intriguing. Including those married Betas and her darling dearest friend Mr. Hargrove. Now what makes Ms. Karen Cunningham so especially intriguing?” Steve straightened up to show he was paying much closer attention and that he was very invested in the conversation. Jon smirked at his show.

“Well—” Suddenly Steve was squeezing his friend's hand tightly, big brown eyes wide as saucers going from Jon’s eyes to Mr. Hargrove and Ms. Cunningham who were walking near to them, in a conversation together. Jon went silent and gave his own wide eyes back to him in quick agreement that they needed to know what was being said and anything else could wait. They quickly pretended to still be in conversation.

Ms. Cunningham was all smiles at her best friend, “I have never seen so many pretty Omegas in my life! Really Billy, you should join the dances yourself. Really you must! I hate to see you standing around by yourself so stupidly. I am serious you simply must dance.”

Steve and Jon squeezed each other’s hand excitedly knowing she had been talking about Robin when mentioning the pretty Omegas. They watched the duo from their place in the alcove grateful they had a good vantage point while the other pair did not have as good of one. It was for naught because it was clear that Ms. Cunningham knew they were there and attempted to wave at them, but Steve and Jon gave a good show of looking engaged with themselves and their conversation after a brief wave. They gave each other a look to suggest they needed to be subtle.

They saw Mr. Hargrove scoff without looking at his cheery strawberry blonde friend.

“I certainly shall not. Chrissy, you were dancing with the only handsome Omega in the room. I will not dance. You know very well I find no pleasure in it when I don’t know my partner very well. At and even such as this… it would be more than can be endured. Your siblings are all engaged at this moment and there isn’t a single Omega it would not be a punishment to dance with.”

Ms. Cunningham clasped her hands together joyfully before telling her friend, “Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I have ever beheld.”

Steve bit his lip and stared at Jon his eyes huge while shaking their clasped hands in elation before quickly looking back to not miss even a minute expression on the pretty Alpha’s face and was warmed by the affection he saw on it and he watched her continue.

“Good God, Billy. I wouldn’t be as fastidious as you are for a kingdom. You shouldn’t be so quick to say that! There are so many Omegas here who are uncommonly pretty.”

Billy sneered at his friend before looking over the room his eyes landing on Robin, “I said you were dancing with the only pretty one here.”

Christine Cunningham was sparkling eyes and teeth at the thought of her pretty dance partner.

“She is an angel I swear. The most beautiful Omega I’ve ever seen. But you know Billy, her brother Steven is very pretty and very agreeable.” Jon knocked his shoulder rocking into him in excitement at her words while Steve scrunched his nose at being brought up but in their attempts to act normally, they both smoothed their faces and pretended to be in conversation whilst still stealthily eyeing the pair and listened in on them.

“Which one do you mean? Doesn’t she have more than one brother?”

Ms. Cunningham had clearly pointed out Steve but he was determined to act like they knew nothing and could hear nothing but Mr. Hargrove stared at him so intensely that had they not been able to see and hear everything he still would have felt it so he eventually raised his head and made eye contact with him.

They saw Mr. Hargrove’s face take on a small grimace, before looking away and his swift reply was cold, “Barely tolerable, I dare say, but not handsome enough to tempt me. I am in no humor to offer social standing to young Omegas slighted by other Alphas and Betas. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her pretty smiles. You’re wasting your time with me.”

Jon and Steve shared incredulous faces at the Alphas rudeness and vulgarity quickly before letting them fall away with something more affable. It was impolite to be so aggressive about an Omegas looks. To comment so freely was rather unseemly especially since he clearly thought that there was a chance Steve could hear him. It was done with purpose.

It was also somewhat untrue. Mr. Hargrove and Ms. Cunningham both had more money perhaps, but the Harrington’s were neither poor nor lacking in social standing. Steve and his sibling's future may have been bleak because of their dowry’s but that was due to poor planning by their fathers and an entailment that wasn’t made in their favor not because of lack of money or standing. To be sure in social rank they were above even Ms. Cunningham and her siblings and were considered Gentleman and Gentlewoman because of their father’s holdings and money.

Steve was not being slighted by anyone, he’d chosen to hide away as to not fill his dance card, knowing the assembly had a skewed number for designations and wanted his younger siblings and other Omegas to have a chance at dancing throughout the evening. Steve had never lacked for partners unless he chose for it to be so.

It wasn’t long before the walking duo parted ways and while Ms. Cunningham had taken his advice to heart and went to find Robin the miserable blonde stayed where he was to stew in silence.

Frankly, Mr. Hargrove deserved to be taken to task for the way he spoke. He wasn’t even the highest-ranking person here socially, financially was a different story, but socially his status in society was not the highest amongst them even if it was still impressive. He may have had a fair amount of money, but Sir James and his family were titled and even if they didn’t have as much money, they were still nothing to scoff at.

Jon was exceedingly upset on his best friend's behalf. Steve was one of the prettiest Omegas in the town only compared with that of his older sister. Jon could not boast to be particularly pretty, knowing he was a plainer Omega and he was getting on in age not like Karen but still growing to be older, but to be sure even more than Steve was pretty he was unreservedly kind and joyful and charming and loving. He had no doubt that because Steve loved him, he saw no feature as plain but as beautiful as Steve and Robin were themselves. He was generous and lovely, and he couldn’t imagine someone seeing Steve and saying he was plain. It was like a bad fever dream.

If Steven Harrington was plain, what did that mean for anyone else in the world?

It was clear to him that Steve while not admitting he was intrigued by the Alpha; he actually was even if he himself didn’t know it. He also knew his friend was not used to being spoken about so roughly especially not in plain sight or at an event. It was unthinkable. Steve was sarcastic at times and could be snarky as well but rarely ever would he slight someone unless it was well deserved.

“Count your blessings, Stevie. If he liked you, you’d have to talk to him.” It was whispered lest the Alpha in question hear him.

Steve’s face starting to give way to give him a halfhearted smile for just a brief before giving a loud cracking laugh, head thrown back over the whole thing.

“Precisely, as it is, I wouldn’t dance with him for all of California, let alone the miserable half.” They both laughed heartily at it. They were positively cracking up. He would pay no mind to the self-important Alpha who had glanced at them feeling wrong footed over their laughter. It was sure for Steve that he certainly held no friendly thoughts toward the Alpha and was determined to use him for entertainment by telling everyone this story in lively fashions. He would be spirited and playful since he delighted in all things ridiculous, and he couldn’t think of anything more so than this.

Steve paid no more concern to the matter and decided to oblige in some dancing himself with some of others at the ball. The exertion and hearty laughter and smiles gave him a pretty pink glow across his cheeks. He and Robin were unknowingly stared at by two different Alphas. Ms. Cunningham stared unabashedly at his sister, clearly enamored even while dancing with Jonathan who was simply amused as her near constant missteps and inability to multitask. Jon did give her credit though she was able to maintain a conversation while dancing. On one end of the room Mr. Hargrove stared at the brunette boy he has earlier insulted, face flat whilst he attempted to ignore the elder omega attempting to gain his attentions nearly draping herself on him as she barely stayed on the line of proper. He still wasn’t taking in the other boy entirely; he was just stewing in a perceived slight at the suggestion of dancing with him and his sparkling laughter.

By the time the party ended Steve found himself with the knowledge that Mr. Hargrove’s wealth had not been enough to sweeten him and endear him to the rest of the gathering. He also learned it was his mother being crossed that had caused the changeover into firmly disliked.

~

Ms. Cunningham was the talk of the ball in only the best ways, she was kind and gregarious. She was fun loving and not the least bit stuffy, she had danced for most dances and was even sad when it came to an early end, complaining she should like to never have it end. She also declared she might need to have one at Cherry Lane. While the hopefuls of the town wanted to hate Robin for being the one to gain her attentions when no one else could. They were all too happy for her and annoyed at just how happy they were when it meant their own chances were clearly dashed.

For Mr. Hargrove it seemed that it was not just Jon who had noticed his three dances and slights to the rest of the room. His character has been decided by the whole room as the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world. It was the wish of the whole room to never see him again. He was not rich enough to negate it all. The most violent on this team of people was Steve’s mother who had heard his slights against her son and would not let it lie. The town knew and while that was humiliating it was also vindicating to see just how upset everyone was on his behalf. He was beloved by the community, proving once again that Steve and Robin were the most well received persons in the town.

Even with the slight against one of her children Natalie Harrington was nearly on a cloud she was so high in her happiness. Seeing her eldest child so admired by the Cherry Lane party had been such a highlight for her. While Ms. Cunningham’s family had initially been rather standoffish, they have singled our Robin in attention.

Robin shyer in her delight was just as gratified by it, so much so it was palpable to Steve even if it wasn’t to anyone else.

Nancy was also quietly gloating; Ms. Karen Cunningham was heard mentioning that Nancy was the most accomplished Omega in the neighborhood, this was not enough to make her less upset as she had felt her mother had scorned her by leaving her with her father in order to go firstly to introduce Robin to Ms. Cunningham, not even thinking of her other children. Dustin and Angela had never once been without dance partners and as far as they were concerned that was all that mattered when it came to parties.

When the family returned to the Loch Nora, the village where they lived and were the primary inhabitants, they found that there would be no sign of immediate sleep. Their mother was far too excited and had to go over the events of the evening. It was with rueful resignation that they were to take seats in one of the living rooms and hear her ramblings.

Mr. Harrington had to admit part of him was sad his wife hadn’t found Ms. Cunningham wanting. Perhaps he would be sleeping if she had just been awful.

“Oh Robert! It was wonderful!” She was frantically pacing in front of all of them, strung up in elation, “It was the most brilliant night! Oh, to see Robin so admired by everyone was a dream come true. I don’t know how well you payed attention tonight, but she was looked at by everyone, and they all had something to say about her loveliness. Ms. Cunningham! Ms. Cunningham, Robert, she danced with her twice! Did you notice? I swear there was no one else in the room for her when she went to ask for the second dance.”

“I was there, Dear. I did notice.”

She paid her husband no mind and even less attention was given to her children who looked near sleep at they listened to her continued ramblings.

“I know she asked Mr. Hopper to dance, but to be sure even though I was initially furious over it I realized it was fine for she did not admire him at all, not that one could. She couldn’t part her eyes from Robin’s face. She danced with Ms. Holloway and then with little William Hopper and even once with Steve and the next was—.”

“If you have any compassion for my nerves, please take note that I do not care my dear to hear about dances that I saw in person. For heaven’s sake please stop talking of her partners. I am nearly wishing she had sprained her ankle.”

“For Heaven’s sake Richard anyone would think that our children were coming into a fine inheritance with the way you are carrying on.” She only had a moment to admonish him before she was back to speaking excitedly.

Dustin was yawning as Angela leaned into his side. Nancy had her head falling into her cupped hands she was so tired she couldn’t bring herself to hold it upright. Steve and Robin were leaned in together holding hands in solidarity.

“She was so wonderful! So exceedingly beautiful! Her smile though flawed was endearing. Her siblings were also lovely and charming. Such fashions! Have you ever seen such fine lace?”

“No! Absolutely not, Natalie. I won’t hear anything about the finery. I won’t do it. See to reason now.”

The eye she gave her husband was cold, she was not happy to have her fun so thoroughly dashed by him.

“Fine, well since you’ve ruined my mood I suppose I can talk about the other thorn in my side this evening. Mr. Hargrove. Did you notice the slight against your dearest Steve? I heard all about it. What a truly awful man.”

Steve pinched the bridge of his nose as he noticed his father stand at more attention, finally happy to listen to his wife speak. Robin squeezed his hand in commiseration sensing his unease rather than paying attention to what was going on and when he turned his head to look at her, she gave him a matching wince upon seeing one of his face, he knew she was prone to worry normally but was grateful her mind was not fully present for once.

“Slight my Stevie did he?”

“I didn’t care for him either, Papa. So it’s of little matter.” Steve was smiling at his dad as he said it, keeping his voice quieter to not bring attention to himself from his sleepy sister at his side.

“Another time, Steven. I would not dance with him if he should ever ask you. I can assure you that Steve is losing nothing by not suiting his fancy. He is the most disagreeable, horrid pompous man I’ve ever had the displeasure to meet. So superior and conceited. He is not to be endured! He thought himself so fine, walking around so sourly. Not good enough to dance with he said! I wish you’d been more aware so you could have dressed him down. The most detestable man.”

“I believe, Mama, I can safely promise you never to dance with Mr. Hargrove”

With that rant she had lost her steam, meanwhile her husband was chomping at the bit in anger on his child’s behalf. But it was no use now. His wife was done, and the children were dismissing themselves to bed.

Unsatisfied indeed.

~

Back at Cherry Lane, Karen Cunningham was feeling quite fine indeed. She was being handed a cup of tea and she started walking around still in her elegant dress.

“So,” she said her voice overly cheerful voice, “None of the Hawkins Omegas could please you Mr. Hargrove?”

She was looking at his as walked his way, always ready to try and entice him.

“Not even the famous Harringtons?” Her younger brother cut in and the two shared a laugh as she sat next to him.

“Well,” their little sister started, “I never met with more pleasant people or prettier Omegas and Betas.”

Billy grimaced, “Chrissy, you astonish me. I saw little beauty and no breeding at all. The eldest Harrington Omega, I will grant you, is very pretty.” The two siblings drinking their tea were snickering and smirking into their cups.

“Oh! A fine concession. Come on, Billy! She is a fairytale figure come to life. Admit it!”

Billy gave her a flat look.

“Robin Harrington is a sweet girl,” Karen cut in, only somewhat insincerely, her brother side eyeing her, “But my god their mother! You know I heard Steve Harrington described as a local beauty! What do you say to that, Mr. Hargrove?”

William wasn’t looking at them, fussing with a new book he’d found in the room, “I would sooner call their mother a Wit.”

The Siblings and Carol were in hysterics laughing and calling hims cruel.

Chrissy was not amused in the slightest.

“Billy, I don’t understand why you go through the world, determined to around displeased with everything and everyone in it.”

Billy gave his best friend a flat look, “I will never understand why you are in such a race to approve of everything and everyone you meet.”

“Well, you won’t make me think ill of Miss Harrington, Billy.”

Karen cooed at her little sister, “Indeed he shall not, I shall dare his disapproval and declare she is a dear sweet girl despite her unfortunate relations. I wouldn’t be sorry to know her better.”

The husband and wife in the room nodded their heads in agreement.

“No, nor would we,” Carol said speaking for the both of them, “I am sorry Mr. Hargrove but you see, we aren’t afraid of you.”

“Big bad wolf that he is.” Said Chrissy with a laugh.

“I wouldn’t have any of you so,” Billy said choosing to ignore his best friend’s addition.

While every sibling was lucky enough to have their own rooms much of the time Steve and Robin could be found together having fallen asleep together cuddled together like kittens. Either of their rooms would work but it was likely to happen at least a few times a week. It happened so frequently that their wardrobes held each other’s clothes, so they never even had to concern themselves with leaving each other for even a moment if they did not wish it.

This evening had called for it, a session of giggling gossip and shared thoughts away from anyone else in the surety of each other’s presence. They lay in Robin’s bed, semi sheer sheet pulled over their heads blocking all but the golden glow of the candlelight seeping through so they could still see each other. They lay on their sides facing each other, tired but somehow inexhaustible with the need to speak about this evening.

Robin was blushing something fierce, enough that Steve knew if there were better lighting her freckles would stand out brought forth from the vermillion glow staining her nose and cheeks. She wouldn’t even meet his eyes and her little face was quite solemn.

“Ms. Cunningham is just what a young Alpha should be,” she paused seeming to try and remain collected instead of increasingly overwhelmed by the subject of which she was speaking, “Sensible, good-humored, lively; Truly, Stevie I don’t think I’ve ever seen such happy means! So much openness and her manners were so-”

“She is also beautiful, and conveniently rich.” Steve was happy to cut her off and make light of the situation with some teasing if it meant his Robin would return to less anxious spirits, “which a good Alpha should be, if they can be. Her character is thereby complete.” He ended with a grin as his goading has clearly worked and she rose to the bait of his interruption.

“You know perfectly well; I do not believe marriage should be driven by a lot of money!”

“I agree entirely! Only the deepest love will persuade me into matrimony which is why… I will end up an old spinster.” His words were said in both seriousness and silliness in equal measure as he nodded his head at his older sister.

“Do you really believe she liked me, Stevie?” Her blue stared so earnestly up at him, his heart nearly broke at her even possibly doubting how much the Alpha had been clearly enamored with her, “I was so flattered that she asked me to dance a second time. I never expected such a compliment.”

“Robbie, she danced you twice. She only danced with anyone else because it wouldn’t be proper to hog you the whole evening. When she wasn’t dancing with you, she was staring at you the rest of the time including when she was dancing with other people. I can’t believe you didn’t expect such a compliment. I expected it for you. I suppose this is why you and I are so different. Compliments always take you by surprised and i’m never surprised by them. How could she not ask you for a second dance? She clearly noticed you are ten times as pretty as anyone else in the room and about a thousand times lovelier.”

He was smiling and giggling as she tried in vain to hide her own smiling face in her pillow.

“You know, Robin. I think I give you leave to like her. She is very agreeable, and you’ve liked many a stupider person,” He ignored her admonishing use of his name and continued on, “You are a great deal too apt to like people in general, you know. All the world is good and agreeable in your eyes or at the very least they all have the potential for it.”

There was one person he thought his sister might find increasingly difficult. He purposefully avoided speaking of Mr. Hargrove and he knew she’d tuned out their parents' downstairs in favor of daydreaming of the Alpha who’d stolen her heart whilst dancing.

“I just don’t want to be hasty in making poor judgements about someone, but I do always say I what I truly think.” He noticed that she did not say the word feel.

“I know you do,” he petted her bangs, “It’s that very thing that makes you a wonder. Truly someone with your good sense, being so honestly blind to the foibles and follies of other people! Incredible. You are genuine in thinking the best of people. I think many people say they do but… I think most people just like to think well of themselves and how they view themselves. You truly think the best of people. There is no doing it simply to think well of yourself. You have a gift for it truly. That being said… do you like her family? Their attitudes certainly do not match hers.”

“Perhaps not at first, but they all become more nicer when you speak with them. Miss Cunningham is to live with her sister and to manage her house. If I’m not mistaken, we are going to find her to be a very charming neighbor.”

Steve listened to his sister in silence, because he was not convinced. He sincerely doubted Karen Cunningham would be a good or charming neighbor. Their behavior at the assembly hadn’t been likely to please in general; with a quicker sense of observation and a less flexible temper than his sister and judgement far more unaffected by any attention to himself he was very little likely to approve of any of them.

“I’m sure you’re right Bobbin.”

Robin played with her fingers as Steve attempted to make eye contact, when it finally it happened, he was still smiling at her winningly with mirth until eventually Robin was rubbing her hands down her face and shaking it giggling as it was clear they were both thinking of a petite enamored Alpha.

They laughed and laughed until they fell asleep holding hands like otters, tuckered out by their own joy.

~

The Cherry Lane party were all very fine that was true, none of them deficient in good humor when they were pleased, nor in being agreeable when they chose but they were also impossibly proud and conceited. Ms. Cunningham’s older siblings were rather handsome and had been educated at one of the first private schools in London for Betas and Omegas and each had a fortune on 20,000 that they brought with them.

They also clearly spent more than they should have and spent time only with those of higher rank then themselves, most likely to further pretend that they too were as high ranking. It was clear to most that they thought themselves entitled to think well of themselves and disdainfully of others.

They were a respectable family from the north, a circumstance more deeply impressed on their memories than the fact that their sister’s fortune and theirs had been acquired through trade.

Ms. Cunningham as the Alpha inherited the amount of nearly 100,000 from her mother who had intended to purchase estate but had not lived to see it done. Ms. Cunningham intended to much the same as her Alpha mother, and sometimes made choice of her county but as she now provided with a good house and liberty of a manor, enabling her right to shoot game on the property, it was doubtful to many that knew her and her temperament well that she might not just spend the remainder of her days at Cherry Lane and leave it to the future generations to bring rise to the family rank.

Miss Cunningham and Mr. Perkins were clearly anxious for their younger sibling to have an estate of her own; though they were by no means unwilling to preside at her table even though she was only a tenant. Mr. Thomas Perkins has married a Beta like himself who was more social status than wealth and was less likely to think of his wife’s house as his own, and only when it suited him. Steve felt it was very obvious they were social climbers, that even with Mr. Perkins’ inheritance they were still needy enough to prefer living with Ms. Cunningham.

Ms. Cunningham had only been twenty-three, just two years past coming of age that she was tempted by a chance recommendation to look at Cherry Lane. She has spent only half an hour looking into it, felt at peace with what the owner said and took it immediately.

Between her and Mr. Hargrove there was a steady friendship in spite of a great opposition of character. Ms. Cunningham had the fortune of being Mr. Hargrove’s friend for years, having met through school, being so close in both age and designation. William Hargrove found Christine Cunningham endearing for the fact that she was easy going, open and easily led, because of the latter quality he found himself thinking of Chrissy as a younger sibling he’d needed to help guide for fear of that quality being abused by others. Meanwhile Chrissy found that she held Billy in the highest regard, his opinion and judgement holding the greatest standing in her mind and his reliability was second to none. There was an understanding in her mind, though not his, that he was superior, she was by no means deficient, but Billy was clever.

He was also haughty, reserved and difficult to please, and while his manners were well bred, they were by no means inviting. This was the one area that Chrissy was superior. She was sure to be liked wherever she appeared while Billy seemingly did not much care, if and when he left great offense.

There was a stark difference in how they spoke about the Mirkwood assembly, but it was sufficiently characteristic for each of them. Cunningham has never met with more pleasant people or prettier Omegas and Betas in her life. Everyone had been the kindest and most attentive toward her. There was no standing on formality, no stiffness, sooner rather than later she’d felt accustomed and acquainted with the whole room, and as to Miss Harrington, she could not dream of an angel more beautiful. Hargrove on the other hand merely had seen a collection of people with whom there was little beauty and no fashion, with no one he felt the smallest interest and from none received either attention or pleasure. Miss Harrington, he acknowledged to be pretty, but she smiled too much.

Thomas Perkins and his sister Karen allowed it to be so—but they still admired her and liked her and stated that she was a sweet girl who they were willing to know more of. Miss Harrington was so established as a lovely Omega, and it was from these commendations that Ms. Cunningham felt so inclined to think of her as often as she pleased.

~

Within a short walking distance of Loch Nora was lived the Hopper family. Sir James Hopper had formerly been in trade in Forest Hills where he had made a tolerable fortune and had risen to the honor of knighthood by his address to the Queen. The distinction had perhaps been felt too strongly. It has given way to disgust for his business and to his residence in a small market town; he simply quit both of them immediately.

He removed his family from their small home and the town and placed them in a house only a mile away from Forest Hills, that he promptly named Mirkwood, where he could think with pleasure at his own importance if he so chose. Thankfully he wasn’t as prone to it as he once supposed he would be. He would readily admit that he was happy to be unshackled by the business and enjoyed being only occupied in being as civil or uncivil with all the world as he pleased.

While he had certainly been puffed up at is rank it didn’t make him high and mighty in the slightest. He stayed far more kind than perhaps one would think of someone with his rank. He was mostly inoffensive but could be fairly gruff, still friendly and obliging and to many persons surprise, clever and his presentation at St. Mary’s had made him courteous.

Lady Joyce Hopper was a very good kind of Omega, she was compassionate and caring, clever but able to hide the degree in order to make others more comfortable in her presence. She was not the type to put a person ill at ease or make them feel poorly about themselves. She was truly invaluable to Mrs. Harrington even if she hadn’t found it in herself to say that out loud. The Hopper family had two children. The eldest being a sensible, intelligent young Omega of about twenty-seven, and who was Steve and Robin’s very dear friend.

The day after the assembly it was apparent to everyone that it was necessary that the Omegas should all meet up and discuss the ball. So, the morning after the assembly brought the Hoppers over to Loch Nora for gossip and dissection of the evening’s events.

“You certainly had a good evening, Jonathan,” Natalie was nodding in his direction a while stirring cream into her tea, “Ms. Cunningham danced with you last night.”

Jonathan nodded at her show of attempted subtly in fishing for compliments for her own child.

“Yes! Though I must say she seemed to prefer a certain partner over anyone else.”

Mrs. Harrington straightened up preening and ready to take the invitation for what it was.

“Oh, you must mean Robin, I suppose because the Alpha did dance with her twice,” Natalie was nearly vibrating with glee, an incredible juxtaposition against her falsely modest tone, “It certainly did seem as if she admired her. Indeed, I rather believe she did—I heard something about it—but I hardly know what—something about Mr. Newby.”

Steve and Robin’s faces both suggested they were sighing internally, and Jonathan couldn’t help but smirk in their direction. His own mother looked as though she was already developing a headache. Jon’s amusement was aggressively obvious to his friends who gave him twin looks of annoyance. They resembled each other so much in that moment Jon nearly choked on his tea in mirth.

With a sigh heard only by the younger Omegas in their company, Joyce cleared her throat knowing it was up to her to offer something up to continue the overture of conversation. She sometimes longed for the day she could lord something over Natalie.

“Perhaps you mean what I overheard between her and Mr. Newby; did I not mention it to you? Mr. Newby asked her how she liked our Mirkwood assemblies and if she thought there were a great many pretty Omegas and Betas in the room, and which she thought was the prettiest? Her answer was immediate—Oh! The eldest Miss Harrington, beyond a doubt there cannot be two opinions on that point.”

Joyce couldn’t even be upset that it was never her own child that got this attention for she dearly lovely Steve and Robin. They seemed for all the world to have gotten only the good qualities of their parents and none of the bad. Better still, even better traits that seemed to come from neither of their parents at all, making it a true wonder at their loveliness.

Mrs. Harrington was aglow at these words, while Steve grabbed Robin’s hand under the table comforting her seeing her determined stare at the table knowing full well she did not enjoy the spotlight that was somehow always thrust onto her.

“My word! Well—it certainly sounds very decided doesn’t it? I mean that does seem as if—But—However it may all come to nothing you know.”

Robin’s eyes grew increasingly saucer like as she stared harder still at the cup of tea on the table like it would divine someway for her get away from the situation, she was stuck in.

Steve pursed his lips at her discomfort before silently making eye contact with Jon. Jon raised a brow rather quickly in question before Steve swiftly slid his eyes over toward Robin slid them back to Jon and raised both brows. Jon subtly tilted his head in question before Steve dropped his eyes down to wrist acknowledging himself and a nonexistent dance card and then back to Jon. Jon gave a subtle nod before he took a sip of tea.

“My overhearings were more to the purpose than yours Steve,” said Jon as he poured himself grabbed a cookie from the tray on the table, “Mr. Hargrove isn’t as worthy a voice to listen to as his friend, is he? Poor Steve! To be barely tolerable.”

Natalie Harrington put her cup down harshly, liquid spilling out and jostling the table. It was enough that everyone at the table looked up at her. She was furious at the reminder of such an odious Alpha. Steve was her least favorite child, but still her child and she did love him for all the headache he caused her. She would never forgive that awful Alpha, she silently vowed to herself. She coughed lightly and put her hand to hair as though to perfect it. She gave a strong resemblance to a cat grooming itself after feeling undignified.

“I beg you Jonathan please don’t put it in Steven’s head that he should be irked by abuse. He is a loathsome disagreeable man and it would be a misfortune to be liked by him. Mrs. Henderson told me last night that he sat close to her for half an hour without opening his lips.”

“Are you quite sure, Mama? Are you sure she wasn’t mistaken?” Robin looked conflicted, having just fully taken in the fact that the Alpha had been abominable to her brother, she sat there fisting the fabric of her skirts, crumpling wrinkles into it with anxiety over the situation, “I swear I saw Mr. Hargrove speaking with her.”

Their mother harrumphed inelegantly.

“Yes, because she finally asked him how he liked Cherry Lane, and he could not help answering her, she made sure to let me know he seemed very angry to be spoken to.”

“Miss Karen Cunningham told me that he never speaks much unless he is among his most intimate friends. According to her with them he is always remarkably agreeable and charming.”

Steve and Jonathan exchanged looks at Robin’s words. That was certainly not the Alpha they’d seen last night.

“I’m sorry sweetheart,” their mother was scoffing as Joyce looked like she was trying to find God in her teacup, “I don’t believe a word of it. If he was so very agreeable as a person, he would have spoken with Mrs. Henderson. I can guess how it was though. Everyone said he was eaten up with his own pride, and I dare say he heard somewhere that Mrs. Henderson doesn’t keep a carriage and thought she had come to the ball in a taxied carriage.”

“I can forgive him for not talking to Mrs. Henderson,” said Jon in his quiet tone, “But I do wish he had danced with Steve.”

Steve just gave him a look over his teacup and Robin once more looked deeply conflicted.

“Another time, Steve,” his mother then grimaced at the thought, “I would not dance with him, if I were you.”

“Oh, I assure you Mama, I can safely promise you that I will never dance with him.”

“His pride,” pondered Jon aloud, “doesn’t offend me that much. Not as much as I suppose it normally would because he sort of has an excuse for it doesn’t, he? It’s not a wonder that so very fine an Alpha, with family, fortune everything in his favor really would think highly of himself. He kind of has the right to it?”

“It’s true,” Steve conceded with a nod of his head, “and I could easily forgive his pride, had he not wounded mine. Still you are right, the very rich can afford to give offense wherever they go. We need not care for his good opinion.”

His mother’s face was downturned in righteous indignation, “No, indeed!”

“Perhaps,” Steve continued his musings, “he is not so handsome at all.”

“No! Quite ill favored. Certainly nothing at all to Ms. Cunningham.”

Steve smiled over at Robin who was blushing.

Nancy once again couldn’t help herself and had to make her opinion known at once even if it was late and the subject was due to change. She prided herself on the solidity of her own observations on the matter, never mind it was simply regurgitation of her some lectures she’d read.

“Pride,” she spoke firmly, “is a common failing. Everything I’ve read on the subject has suggested is as common as breathing is necessary. Mankind is particularly prone to it, and there are an incredible few of us who do not hold dear the feeling of self-satisfaction on some scale or another, real or imaginary. Vanity and pride are different things, though they are words used synonymously. A person can be proud without being vain. Pride equals more to our self-opinion while vanity is what we want others to think of us.”

While she was not exactly incorrect it was still annoying have a walking talking sermon always at the ready.

“If I were a rich Alpha like Mr. Hargrove,” declared William Hopper, “I would not care how proud I was. I would keep a pack of hunting dogs and drink a bottle of wine every day.”

Every other young Omega in the room choked on either their food or drink in unexpected mirth, excepting Nancy who choked simply in shocked disgust.

“Well, then you would drink a great deal more than you should,” said Mrs. Harrington with a surprisingly indulgent smile, “and if I were to ever see you, I would take away your bottle immediately.”

William laughed pleased to have cut the tension down so thoroughly, he continued the argument and protested that she wouldn’t. It was a verbal tug of war that lasted until the visit ended.

[foxgirlontherun]

okay so since we were talking about eddie munster (ik it's munson but when he first showed up on my dash i misread and now it's stuck), if you were going to write him into a horror piece *other* your spectacular ghost story, what would it be??

I love Munster. :D I can't give you really detailed stuff because my brain is fried from work and other things but here are two ideas:

I had a harringrove idea where Billy is brought back with black magic and he seems fine at first but then gets worse and worse and craves human flesh and it's just a bunch of disturbing stuff, like Steve's parents being fed to Billy. I really love necromancy in stories. So something like this could work with Eddie, too. Only it would be Dustin who would press maybe Steve (and the others) to help him bring Eddie back. The horror would be the slow disintegration of Dustin's sanity, Steve's desperation to help him and do the right thing and of course Eddie's whole situation of coming back from the dead, trying to find his way back to his old self but just getting more and more sick and then begging the others to end all this (he doesn't want to hurt anyone, but when the hunger gets strong enough he's not himself).

Another one esp for you: a serial killer is taking young boys in Hawkins (it started way back in the 60s with a murder, but they don't make the connection at the beginning of the story), they think Will is the first victim. Police has no leads, Hopper is desperate. Eddie gets involved when Dustin disappears too. He is a suspect because of the satanic panic but they don't have enough on him to keep him in custody. Eddie starts to investigate, gets some help from Dustin's remaining little and not so little friends, too. El is tormented by horrible dreams of the missing and dead boys. This is either just a crime or another potential ghost story so far... hm. We can pepper in some King and have the killer be a human possessed by something dark. So it won't be enough to kill the person, they have to get rid of the supernatural entity feeding on it, too.

[dynamic-power]

Evie @energievie tagged me in an end of year writer interview! This is such a cool idea.

-----

1. How many works do you have on AO3? 

15! I plan to increase that by a lot next year!

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

Just shy of 62k.

3. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Since Prom - Steddie, E

An Offer - Kanej, T

back to the past - Steddie, T WIP

Coach H - Steddie, T

Kinktober Drabbles - various, E WIP (it's finished on tumbr. I just need to move the last few to AO3 lmao)

4. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Ngl, I struggle with this. I want to. I see and cherish every single one! But I forget to reply, or I don't know what to say, or I don't check for comments for a month and when I finally see them, I feel like it's too late. 😅

5. What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

That would be A Coat Or A Blanket. Angst is not my forte. I want happy endings for everyone.

6. What’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending?

Probably Since Prom? Or Arrivals. Just because there's an actual plot and a real ending lol.

7. Do you write crossovers?

Not yet. But maybe in the future? 🤷

8. Have you ever received hate on a fic?

Yes lol. It was on a kinktober fic. Ao3 rule number 1: don't like, don't read. Apparently they didn't get the memo. 🤣

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Most of my fics are kinktober! So kinky, gay sex. 😏 That'll change next year. I mean that I plan to write a lot of non-kinktober stuff, not that I won't be writing kikny, gay sex.

10. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I don't think so 👀

11. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Nope, but I wouldn't be opposed

12. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Nope, but I wouldn't be opposed. Seriously, if you ever want to collab, lmk! 😄

13. What’s your all-time favorite ship?

Currently, it's Gallavich. But my favorite of all time is Drarry.

14. What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

It's one I haven't even started posting yet. It's a Gallavich soul mate AU where the pair have special gifts centered around eye contact. Mickey can see soul mates and Ian severs soul mate connections. I'm absolutely in love with it but I'm also kinda struggling to get through it. 😭😭😭

15. What are your writing strengths?

Word limits. I love the challenge of trying to portray certain emotions or situations in a limited amount of time, and I feel like I'm really good at it. I don't have to get caught up in details, I can just make my readers feel in just a few sentences.

16. What are your writing weaknesses?

Pacing lol. I don't have patience, I always end up rushing my ending.

17. What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

2 situations. If the POV character doesn't speak the language, I try to limit it to things that can be easily assumed without need for translation. Expletives, nicknames, or recognizable phrases. Unless, of course, the POV character is meant to not understand what is being said. And 2, if the POV character speaks the language, I'll usually have them translate in their thoughts. I just want the reader to be on the same level of understanding as the POV character.

18. What was the first fandom you wrote for?

Harry Potter. That was way back in the day. I posted my first fic in 2010. 🤣 On my current account, it was Six of Crows.

19. What’s a fandom/ship you haven’t written for yet but want to?

Hooo boy. Doctor Who comes to mind. I'm obsessed with the idea of Fourteen and Jack Harkness meeting again. I've always wanted to do something for Criminal Minds. I'll probably dip my toe into Supernatural, too. I've done drabbles for Mungrove, Harringrove, and Harringroveson, but i'd also like to do full fics for them. Idk, I've always got too many ideas.

20. What’s your favorite fic you’ve written?

Either Since Prom or Coming Soon To Home Video. I can't pick.

If you write fanfiction, you should totally do this! Consider this me, tagging you.

Our just giving you cake. 🍰

[thatgirlwithasquid]

First Line of Ten Fics Game!

Rules: Share the first line of 10 of your most recent fanfics, and tag 10 (or however many!) people! If you have written less than 10 fics, don’t worry! You can participate anyways! All works are valid!

Tagged by @hargrove-mayfields so ty xx

untitled cunningway short (432 words || cunningway)

' ' A patch of sunlight had poured through the cloudy glass of Chrissy’s apothecary. ' '

2. Blondies, Brownies, and Kitchen Catastrophes (4,595 words || cunningway)

' ' Chrissy has flour all down the front of her jumpsuit, across the kitchen counter and in her bangs when she finally decides to call in reinforcements. ' '

3. Harry Prince and the Philosopher's Stone (WIP || severitus)

' ' The name means nothing to him at first. ' '

4. Red Strings Tether Secret Hearts ( 851 words || cunningway)

' ' Writing when your soulmate keeps tugging on your soul-string is no simple affair. ' '

5. Pink Cheeks, Aching Wrist (1,926 words || cunningway)

' ' The first time Chrissy broke a bone she was twelve. ' '

6. to taste, as you would a galaxy (WIP || byergrove)

' ' It’s late when he hears it - the sliding of his window in the dead of night. ' '

7. I've been there for a while (1,004 words || harringrove)

' ' “I dunno, Harrington,” Billy huffed from beside him, where Steve sprawled on his back on the floor. ' '

8. Princess (426 words || cunningway)

' ' “Do you think soulmates are the same in every universe?” ' '

9. Bone and Black Vein (304 words || POV heather)

' ' Heather’s not the same as she was. ' '

10. The Cat Curse (612 words || cunningway)

' ' The weight atop Chrissy’s legs shifts and squirms in its spot, letting out little huffs of distaste at the current situation. ' '

I have apparently written a bunch of little oneshots, lol. I really should get back to working on my multi-chapter fics.

Tagging: @intothedysphoria @onstrangerthighs @bigdumbbambieyes @kittyphoenix12-xx (but no pressure! you just happen to be the people off the top of my head who I know has written fanfic lol)

[ihni]

I had a bit of spare time on my hands at work so I was rereading Smooth Sailing today. At this point I couldn’t say exactly how many times I’ve read it but it’s… a lot. I’m not sure what it is about that fic in particular, as you have written many great ones. I’ve read many ships for Stranger Things (namely harringrove) but I have a special fondness for the three boys together, I think.

I particularly like the whole part where their memories kinda meld into one and they’re left somewhat stricken afterwards. It’s an intense and emotional moment and I think about it a lot. I think you did a good job of capturing each of them, and I find it a good depiction of the three. I appreciate the focus on Eddie, and his perspective and commentary on the situation.

I would just devolve into gibberish trying to explain why I like it so much. It’s more of a feeling than anything else. But I just wanted to say it means a lot to me, and it’s very well done.

Unrelated, but I’ve never seen any of the Pacific Rim movies, so it was very much a case of learning as I went along when I first read it. You’ve made me interested enough that I might just have to watch them.

Oh wow this was the nicest message I could have gotten, thank you so much! I'm blushing, and it's not even breakfast!

Writing that story was a lot of fun and it's one of my favorites I've written. I found that I really liked writing from Eddie's POV, and the role he has in that fic really fits him in my mind, for some reason.

I, too, have a fondness for these three boys together, it's a lot of fun tilting the dynamics this way and that. (And big robots, and sharing the most personal parts of themselves with others? Knowing someone that intimately? Those are just bonuses, and why I was drawn to this AU in the first place.)

Thank you again, kind anon. This message made my day when the day has barely started. 💜

[disdaidal]

Thank you for tagging me @suometar! 💞

How many works do you have on AO3? 16. I haven't posted my older LJ or AFF.net works there though.

What's your total AO3 word count? 60,990

What fandoms do you write for? Stranger Things, The Witcher and Final Fantasy VII (current obsession). I've also written stuff for RE3, Tekken, Renegades 1989, Young Hercules, Dynasty Warriors 4 and Battle Royale II, but I haven't published them on AO3.

Do you respond to comments? Not always, but I'll try. Sometimes I just forget or don't know what to reply back. 🙈 But I read all and love getting comments regardless. <3

Have you ever had a fic stolen? A long time ago some rare pair ficlet of mine got reposted on Blogger. I asked them to take it down, but they never responded.

Have you ever co-written a fic before? I used to rp Harringrove on Discord with another person for almost a year, and I did the same thing with my ex-gf in another fandom. Other than that, I haven't.

What's your all-time favourite ship? Honestly, I have too many good ships to choose from, this question should be illegal lol. I would say Jin/Hwoarang from Tekken, though. I've loved them since junior high and their rivalry/enemies to friends (to potential lovers) thing is something I can always jump back to when everything else starts to feel bland. They're a 'safe' ship for me in that sense; can always count on their dynamic to get me into 'that mood' again.

What are your writing strengths? I'm not sure actually. I just know I ramble a lot and some people seem to like it. However, I've been complimented on my characterization at least. I try to revisit the source material over and over again and think about what this character would realistically say in this situation and how they would realistically act in this situation. I think it helps to keep them more in character... or something like that.

What are your writing weaknesses? Grammar. Getting to the fucking point instead of rambling nonsense one page after another. Actually writing and finishing my wips instead of daydreaming about how Mr. X should just #%&?! that guy/girl already.

First fandom you wrote for? I was into Japanese rock and wrote some RPF for a few different bands many many moons ago. Met some great friends there and my ex too, so no regrets actually.

Tagging @tantumuna @astaldis @lilypheria and @morewyckedthanyou. Others are welcome to steal this from me, too. <3

Questions for fanfic Authors

Tagged by @dragonflylady77 and @shieldofiron 💜 (technically Guin tagged me on my sb but I'll post this here)

How many works do you have on AO3? 51

What's your total AO3 word count? 432,744 (wow)

What fandoms do you write for? Stranger things for now. I've also written for Preacher (the AMC show) and Witcher

Do you respond to comments? Yes, always if the comment is nice. Negative comments and stuff that points out mistakes gets deleted.

Have you ever had a fic stolen? Not that I know of. I once found a fic that was very close to mine though, but different enough not to be based on mine.

Have you ever co-written a fic before? I'm currently writing two fics with Aggressiveviking. The Family Values Program has already a few chapters out :)

What's your all-time favourite ship? Without a doubt it's Harringrove, even though Cassidy & Eccarius is close number two

What are your writing strengths? I think I'm pretty decent in writing long and detailed descriptions for scenes when I get to it. And smut.

What are your writing weaknesses? Coming up with everything that happens in between major plot points A and C.

First fandom you wrote for? It was RPF but not going to say who.

No pressure tags @disdaidal @medusapelagia @spaceofentropy @black-isthecolour @weird-an and everyone who sees this and wants to do this 💜

[mediocre--writing]

this hc is sad but whenever neil gets too rough and billy’s injuries are too severe to heal on their own, neil will do his own version of “first aid” since he can’t risk a hospital. stuff like holding billy down while doing stitches, stuffing a belt in his mouth and telling him to shut up and stop crying like a pussy. maybe billy views it as a form of love in some warped way, all “he wouldn’t patch me up himself if he didn’t love me, right? he could have left me or had me do it myself but he didn’t” and he doesn’t realise for a long time how not OK it is until he either causally mentions it to someone or someone witnesses it and tells him how fucked up it is

the first time it happens is when neil yanks on billy’s arm when he tries to walk away. dislodges his shoulder from its socket.

billy is already crying and neil huffs like it’s some inconvenience. grabs two wash clothes from a kitchen drawer and tells billy to bite down.

has him lay on the floor and shoves his arm back in (it took three tries). billy swears that he’s never felt pain that bad.

neil goes to the corner store and grabs a cheap sling for billy, just so the shoulder heals right and doesn’t get overextended or anything.

billy’s grateful that neil cared to help him. even gave him ice packs to make sure it didn’t ache too bad.

billy was 11.

it gets worse after that, if you can believe it.

neils a mans man. he expects billy to be as well.

neil knows when a cut is just a scrape and when a cut needs stitches.

he’s neared the line many times, but it’s never reached the stitches level yet.

but it does now.

neil had shoved billy into a wall, right under a cross that was hanging there (can you sense the irony?) and the cross fell and slammed onto billy’s face.

didn’t break his nose or anything, but there’s a deep deep deep cut right by his eye.

there’s blood in his face, but what freaks out billy the most is that there’s blood in his eye, and he fears that’s where the edge of the cross hit him.

neil, again, grabs two wash clothes and tells billy to hush, grabbing an ice cube to ‘numb’ the area (though it does nothing) and sticks the needle into billy’s cheek.

once too scared to open his eyes, billy is now writhing away because there’s a needle in his face and neil looks way too calm to be doing this. shouldn’t a parent be worried?

but neil forces billy back where he was before, holding down on his arm. says something along the lines of “do you wanna bleed out? i’m trying to help you, boy.” and billy just waits it out.

he cries like a baby.

neil let’s him take the day off of school the next day. let’s billy lay with an ice pack on his swollen face and bruised eye for most of the day. even apologizes, in his own, twisted way.

billy was 13.

once, when billy’s being whipped with neils belt for whatever godforsaken reason neil pulled out of his ass, he hits the same spot too much.

then the belt buckle grabs the skin and pulls.

billy’s screaming in pain. can’t describe how unbearable it was to have the raw skin of his back yanked by a dull belt buckle.

but, it turns out, he needs stitches. not wasting a clean washcloth, neil just shoves the belt into billy’s mouth, going to grab the first aid kit.

billy is laying on his stomach, holding his hands in front of his face so he doesn’t lash out and he bites onto the belt as neil stitches the skin back.

but neil doesn’t reprimand billy for leaving teethmarks on his nice leather belt, so billy thinks it could have been worse.

billy was 15.

the first time susan has to witness one of their bad arguments, billy had snuck a boy into his room.

they weren’t even doing anything. barely even flirting. and they were alone.

billy leaned in, but so did the boy, and they met in the middle and billy felt like an inexperienced virgin while kissing his first boy.

it was a life altering experience.

on many levels.

neil comes home early. or maybe not, maybe billy wasn’t watching the clock. either way, billy’s got a boy in top of him, though fully clothed, but making out nonetheless, when neil slams in.

billy’s life flashes before his eyes that night.

he barely even remembers what neil did. what he said.

billy knows at one point he thought about how much he missed his mom. and, apparently, he said it out loud. spurring his dad on with maximum fury.

it was past 3am when billy woke up from his unconscious state to unbearable pain. neil was stitching him up, had already done so on his face and neck. had moved on to his leg (a line of stitches worked all the way up the back of his calf).

billy could feel the bruising on his torso (from numerous kicks and pushes that rolled him into furniture and walls) and around the crown of his head (the result of a plate being smashed over his head).

he didn’t move. he didn’t have the energy.

but he could hear susan. she was yelling at neil, whispering, but scolding him.

“the hell is wrong with you!? he could have died? this is too far, neil, he’s your son! you should love hi—“

“i’m doing this because i love him, su, you know that! you want a faggot in this house? huh? no, you don’t! and do you really think i’d let my son bleed out on the floor? you think that little of me?”

and billy gets it. gets his dads side. because neil could just leave him to bleed all over the carpet. but he didn’t. he helped.

he had good intentions and only did what was best for billy. who was billy to say what his life should be when he wasn’t even smart enough to learn from his mistakes?

that was the reason for their move to hawkins.

billy, during their first week there, didn’t attend school on behalf of all the still healing stitches and bruises, though he was spotted around town a time or two (already instilling his bad reputation)

and once he gets there rumors fly around the school.

apparently, billy had to move from cali because he beat up a biker gang and they kicked him out of the state.

but, then, the night happens. the one where billy beats up steve and comes out looking pretty clean.

hopper drives his half unconscious body home, along with max, so he can ‘explain the situation.’

that night, for many reasons, is a night max will never forget. ever.

she’s seen demo dogs and tunnels from other dimensions, a possessed kid, and a girl who can move things with her mind.

but she also got her first taste of what it looks like when billy gets beat by his father.

it’s like a car crash, you know you should look away, but you just can’t.

and billy, still drowsy from the sedative, is getting in thrown around the living room and kitchen like a rag doll, being shoved into shelves and cabinets, even dislocated his left elbow and there was a loud crack from billy’s ankle.

and, though she’d wanted billy dead mere hours before, this seemed more torturous.

at least when it was billy and steve, they were both conscious. this was just twisted.

neil, for whatever strange reason his mind came up with, made max and susan watch the lesson: this is what happens when you don’t follow rules.

max could barely make out the rising and falling of billy’s chest at the end.

there was blood splattered on billy’s chest and neck, on his jeans and in his hair, on neils hands.

“grab me the first aid kit and a towel, su,” she scurried to the bathroom and back and max wanted to bolt. run. sprint. just get away from whatever was happening.

neil bent down and used the towel to press down on billy’s bleeding wounds, stopping the blood flow. he then disinfected and wrapped what he could, bandaged everything else.

then he rolled billy on his side, grabbed his forearm and upper arm then snapped them together, fixing the dislocation with practiced ease.

this was also when billy woke up. screaming.

“hush,” is was quiet, but stern, and billy knew to listen.

the towel, one side inked in blood splatters, had the other side shoved into billy’s mouth before neil got out the needle and thread, stitching billy’s larger wounds.

if max thought the most scarring part of her night was going to be anything that happened before this, she was wrong.

she knew. she knew that billy got smacked around sometimes. and he kinda deserved it. he was a jackass.

but this. this was a whole new thing. this was downright madness and max didn’t think she’d ever be able to sleep peacefully in her own bed again.

the tears were rolling down her face when she made eye contact with billy, who had equally red and teary eyes, but his held more pain. more suffering. more knowledge.

“see what you did? you made your sister cry,” neil told billy as he pulled especially hard on a stitch on billy’s tender stomach, making billy scream in agony, in more pain than before.

after that night, max listens to billy more. blames herself for being out and getting billy into trouble.

billy is just glad he was able to find the old sling he had years ago and that it still fit. he’s grateful that his dad stitched him up and made sure nothing would get infected.

knew he should have kept a closer eye on max and this is what needed to happen for him to see that. he knew that now.

a week later, the boys were talking about how some guy named (ronnie? maybe lonnie?) had called the byers asking about will. they talked about how joyce chased him out of the house with his own shotgun.

will told her, when they were leaving lunch, that joyce was so mad because lonnie, his dad, had hit his bother, jonathan.

max thinks about that. thinks about how susan would never, not in a million years, chase neil off with his shotgun for hitting billy.

she stood and watched when neil almost killed billy.

she didn’t know what to think. she wondered if billy knew what was happening wasn’t right. wondered if he’d ever tried to run away or was too scared of getting found if he did.

wondered if there was any scenario in which billy would take her harsh criticism of his dad well.

and it takes years.

billy moves out for college, somewhere good where he can focus on being smart, like he’s always been, and gets out from under neils thumb.

he discovers who he is a little better and still comes to hawkins every holiday and break, gets closer with jonathan and steve and robin and even nancy.

the first person he tells about it is jonathan. he hears the lonnie stories for himself and chimes in with his own anecdote. apparently, it’s not as light hearted as jonathan’s.

but he opens up. it takes the night and a little alcohol and weed, but billy has successfully told jonathan everything his dad has done to him. every stitch and relocation.

jonathan tells nancy and nancy tells steve. steve coddles billy and (because they were already close and in that ‘talking stage’) eventually gets some of the truth out.

jonathan, even though he told people, never exposed everything. there’s some things steve will never know about because they’re just too much and billy found comfort and a commonality in jon that he didn’t know he needed.

(joyce would also totally from that point on have adopted billy, doesn’t matter if he’s already like 22, he’s now her child)

[draeken]

Billy Hargrove Season 4 Spoilers 

Just needed to get this out cause i have a lot of feelings right now

I think all us Billy stans were somewhat expecting this outcome tbh. Just due to the blatant disregard the duffers had for Billy’s character to begin with. They always sounded like they openly hated him so I’m not at all surprised that they got lazy with their writing and his characterisation.

Honestly im just incredibly sad for Billy, that his abuse from his father was swept under the rug and never properly acknowledged. That the duffers wrote that Billy’s father, his abuser, was grieving him and didnt want to be in Hawkins without him? Even tho every single scene we saw with the two of them together, it was tense and violent? Billy was literally always in tears after every altercation with his father. I find it to be bullshit that that was how the duffle bags chose to wrap up Billy’s trauma. They showed us his childhood, they showed us the thing he feared most in his life was his father. They showed us his mother being broken down to the point that she had to leave not only her husband, but her child so that she could survive. As someone who has been the child in this very situation, I can say it meant so much to me to see it being told in main stream media. It made me feel seen, heard and honestly its one of the reasons why I was drawn to Billy in the first place. That his character was complex and nuanced, that he felt real to me. Why, while I have never condoned his treatment and behaviour towards the party or the people around him, I can understand him. 

He was an antagonist, but he was also a victim. And it doesn’t take much empathy to understand that everyone has their own demons  that they’re dealing with.

If you’re an anti, fine, I honestly don’t care. I understand you don’t like Billy, hell, that you despise him. That’s fine. I’m not asking for you to like him, I’m not telling you to change your mind or your feelings where he’s concerned. He’s done some deplorable shit and I’m not making excuses for him. 

I’m just saying that I’m sad. So very fucking sad that a character like him, with so much potential to change and grow into something new will never be- where he could learn how to be a better person and be given the tools to control his anger and his feelings. So that he could fix the good relationships he had left in his life and apologise for the shit he had done- I’m sad this opportunity to show that a person can be capable of change has been taken away. That we’ll never get to see Billy dealing with the consequences of his actions and growing from it. 

I wasn’t expecting anything from this new season, and now that we’ve seen how the duffles have treated him, I’m glad he didn’t get as much screen time as we wanted. It would have hurt more to see his character misused and written more poorly than what it had already been. 

I’m sad, but thankfully fanfiction exists. And you know what? The wonderful fanfic writers and authors we have on AO3 and other websites are much better writers than what canon content has ever given us. Not just with Harringrove, but with all the ships and world building in the ST fandom. And that is something I am extremely thankful and comforted by. 

But yeah, Anti’s, I get you don’t like Billy, but please don’t interact with us stans. Don’t come onto our posts, into our tags and into our areas and shit on him. We’re just minding our own business and dealing with our disappointment. 

We don’t care if you don’t like him, so why do you care so much that we do? 

Think about it 

[pabst-bravado]

People (billy antis) in this fucking fandom just HAVE TO BE kids. They just REFUSE to see situations, scenes and all if it's not in the surface, if it's not superficial. They ignore EVERYTHING what dacre said about billy, they ignore everything what he said about Neil, they ignore everything what he said about the kids, they are so used people on internet trying for some reason being perfect and excluding every behavior that shows their humanity bc its way better pretend to be a perfect-robot, that they just forget that people have flaws, that people are built different, that traumas can change someone in a lot different ways, but, no, they PREACH the same fucking discourse.

They even can like really try to prove their arguments, it's just copy and paste the same shitty reasons.

Two facts, that is interesting about them, a lot of them loooove Eddie, I like Eddie too, but they just hc personality traits about billy in Eddie. Like, "oh Eddie loooves fix cars", since when? Why? Because he connected two wires? Fanarts of him dressed as a mechanic...are u fr? And, a lot of them, the same people who are "boohoo Billy's a psychopath abusive 😔😔" are watching and making edits about him. Not edits like sexualizing him, it's like, harringrove edits, showing how his parents fucked up with him, like, WHY ARE U THERE? Idk man, for someone who's saying that this character is that bad, u are too much into him.

@every-dayiwakeup I saw the post of the both antis who are crying about billy existence that for some reason follow u in ur blog and I had to write about. We suffer for no reason bestie

[emzular]

I really need you as a full grown white adult to analyze why you think a character that hates black people is fun to ship at all. Like I could just make fun of you but just think with your little peanut baby brain for five seconds WHY you think it's okay to "go deeper" on an abusive racist's character at all. Lol

i mean, i shouldn't give you the benefit of a response because you've been rude but i will.

-

before reading: abuse is never an excuse to be a bad person, but it does help to explain why people act in certain ways. tldr: i could talk about this for hours but at the end of the day if a non-white person says "he's a racist" then i say okay and i won't argue with you,

but as you've asked for me to analyse it i will. the second his dad hit him, i got it. if you've been in that situation or a similar one, you get it in that second. does it excuse any of the shit billy did? no. but does his character suddenly have more depth? yes. so that's why it's okay to "go deeper", because the duffers made him deeper. sorry, complain to them for making a character with an abusive homelife. because the way i see billy is that he's been raised with abusively strict rules, to respect his dad's wishes. he has to do everything by the way his dad lives. dacre said he didn't see billy as racist and didn't play him as such, and though the duffers have said contradicting things (they've said both he is AND he isn't), they removed all of the racial slurs. but the implication in those scenes with lucas is that he is racist, yeah i'm not denying that.

because then you see the scene where billy's dad abuses him. and for people who've been through shit like that it clicks. i'm not saying abuse is an excuse to be racist and i'm not saying i want everyone to love the guy, hell i don't love the guy all the time, but i understand him. at the end of the series, billy doesn't give a fuck that max is going to the snowball with her black boyfriend - he knows she'll see lucas there and he doesn't say a word cos he doesn't care, because max has already made it very fucking clear that she's tough and she can handle it. but at the start of the series, when the pressure from his dad is high, he does care cos he's selfish as fuck and he's scared, and if his dad finds out that billy is letting max hang out with a black boy, he'll lose it.

that's how i see billy. is he a cunt? yeah. but he is a cunt because he's been abused, and that makes sense to me. being abused is never an excuse to do bad shit but the character is seventeen and no one's ever intervened, and that's where the fics and the shipping comes in. we don't write the billy direct from the show, we write billy as if someone had intervened. a billy that gets called out for his attitudes, a billy that realises the way things are is wrong, a billy that realises an apology will never be enough: an au billy. and i've done shit (nowhere near as bad as he has) that i had been raised to think was right, that has been ingrained in me from shitty parenting, and it's only in adulthood when someone sat me down and called me out on it that i learned. and mate i'm not sitting here stanning the guy who beat up black kids - i'm stanning the character potential. they could've given this abused angry kid background to robin and she'd have been the one i stanned. hell, if they'd developed johnathan a bit more, i'd be over there in byers-ville.

and abuse isn't an excuse to be racist, no fucking way, but does it explain/shed a light on why he's acting a certain way? yeah. but again, i'm not going to sit and tell you that he's not racist because if you see him as racist, then you have every right to and i'm not gonna convince you otherwise. i just think that the billy you see vs the billy we/dacre see is different.

if you ever read a harringrove fic, chances are the first thing they write him doing is apologising, leaving his abusive dad and explaining this shit. we're not writing and headcanoning an abusive racist billy, we're not sitting around rejoicing in him being racist. that's not the billy we see. we've basically made up our own billy, because the billy in the show is a dick, but the potential future billy could've been less so. and that's the truth.

[ellewritesandrants]

This'll probably be turned into a proper fic at some point down the road but this'll do for now. For some reason, Harringrove stag parties popped into my head and now I have to write about it. Weirdly enough this also can also kind of work for the married in Vegas AU here.

Imagine a more modern AU with Harringrove who’s just about finished with all of the wedding prep and all they really have left is to let their maid of honors, Robin and Heather of course, to plan their stag nights. Billy had worked on all of the details of their wedding with Steve’s input on most of it since he’s paying for most of it.

Since Billy and Heather had a long-standing Friday Bar/Club Night every two weeks, Heather planned to go the completely opposite route with his stag night by spending the entire weekend at a Spa Resort so they can get pampered and gossip the entire time, making sure to include Billy’s sister and his pseudo-sister who were part of the wedding party.

Robin was excited to be the one partying with Steve for once since she and Steve were usually stuck babysitting their respective partners while they got wasted. Truth be told, Steve loved going to the club with Billy because Billy was a clingy drunk who loved being closer to Steve the more wasted he got.

Steve also got to spoil and take care of Billy the next day so it was really a win-win situation for them. Robin enjoyed when Heather got drunk because she loved to pull Robin onto the dance floor with her and it was fun to see her usually bitchy girlfriend let loose and have fun.

Steve and Billy had set aside the weekend before their weekend wedding for the stag night that their maids of honor had planned out. They’d had tearful goodbyes on Steve and Billy’s end because they’d be spending the week apart so that it would make the moment they saw each other at the altar all the better.

Billy had only just gotten into the car when Steve started texting him that he missed him already. Since Heather didn’t want anything distracting Billy, she took his phone and messaged Robin that she’d taken Billy’s phone so Steve wouldn’t panic when Billy wouldn’t be able to respond.

This immediately made Steve pout and be angry at Heather but ultimately, he’d understood why and he’d agreed to it as long it was only for the stag night and not for the entire week that he’d go without seeing his fiancé soon to be husband.

As Heather, Billy, Max and El got massages and facials and got nice and pampered for the next week’s celebration, Steve, Robin, Jonathan and Nancy were having a movie day before getting ready to go barhopping with a few of their closest friends.

Before long, it was nighttime and Max and El had gone to sleep while Heather and Billy had gone to lounge in the hot tub of the hotel they’d booked with a couple of glasses of champagne, Robin was stuck dealing with a Steve who constantly whined about missing his fiancé. Heather hadn’t been able to check her phone either since she hadn’t been able to keep it on her so as soon as she opened her phone, it was bombarded by messages from Robin begging Heather to save her.

Some of them were videos of Steve waxing poetry about Billy‘s abs or his butt. One of them was a clip of Nancy asking what he’d loved about Billy and Steve going a 10-minute tirade about Billy and how absolutely, positively wonderful he was and how lucky Steve was to be able to marry him. There was even a video of Steve running around the bar trying to find his fiancé.

Heather and Billy laughed at all of the videos and they decided to save Robin from how terribly wrong her planned night out was going by Facetiming her. She’d picked up immediately, looking all too weary and worn as she told Heather of the hours of talk about Billy she’d endured and all of the things she wished she hadn’t learned about Billy.

Robin, Nancy and Jonathan had been trying to get Steve to go home but he refused, drowning his sorrows in alcohol at not being able to find his partner and it was exactly the right time for Heather and Billy to call so that they could finally cut him off and get him home.

As soon as Steve saw Billy on the phone, he lit up and eagerly grabbed the phone, quickly telling Billy how much he missed him and loved him and how he couldn’t wait to marry him. Billy laughed at how adorable drunk Steve was but that quickly turned into a cough partnered with a flush when Steve started detailing all of the things he wanted to do to Billy in front of all of their friends.

Billy managed to coax Steve to go home with Robin, Jonathan and Nancy so that they could get closer to the wedding. Steve had managed to get Billy and Heather to promise to Facetime the next morning so Robin was finally able to drag Steve to the Uber they booked. Steve couldn’t help but remind Billy one last time of how much he loved him and couldn’t wait to marry him before he allowed Heather to end the call, making Billy feel warm and fuzzy inside.

They both couldn’t wait until they could finally be married so they could start the rest of their lives together. They’d been through a lot of ups and downs but they’d weathered through the trials and tribulations that life threw at them to get where they were and they couldn’t be any happier.

[hardestgrove]

it’s interesting to me to hear that dacre thinks billy wouldn’t hang out with the crew even if he got saved and things bc yeah that vibes but it also cements for me that of everyone in the main cast that we get he really would be friends with/closest to eddie.

like lbr, out of everyone in the cast he has the most in common with eddie just on paper. eddie’s also a loner/outsider type like billy, he’s just more personable which would help facilitate a friendship. i can actually see them hanging out and having shit to talk about you know? i struggle to do that with him and everyone else, even steve. and trust me i spend a lot of time behind the scenes sweating blood over how the steve-billy dynamic works because i do want it-- usually more in a platonic sense in my own case but that’s because i struggle to see the romantic end. but the reality is i struggle to find a common ground between those two characters that can then be used as a launching pad. they just don’t have a lot in common personality/background or interests wise were billy and eddie do. (i’ll also say having lots of similarity isn’t needed for a friendship/romance but having like 1 thing you both like is an excellent starting point. as it stands i have to work to find ways to get steve and billy in a room and talking which is you know, Work.)

i really think it’s a shame that the eddie fandom is largely dipshits at the moment because they’re missing out on something magical. i’m not even talking shipping. i love mungrove but like, i like it because they have a really solid sense of compatibility. they’ve got Those Two Guys™ energy. if billy and eddie are not best friends in your post s4 written fic then i just-- don’t know what to tell you. but to me that reads as so wrong because i cannot imagine a world where billy didn’t see a dude with a MASSIVE DIO PATCH ON HIS BACK and didn’t go “oh i fuck with this dude”.

and this isn’t an anti-post or anything. while i don’t really see harringrove i do respect it and those who are passionate about it. i just think that mungrove and the potential friendship between billy and eddie is underrated and at times even looked at poorly because of the situation with eddie’s fans atm. which i get. it’s hard to like eddie for some people because of how the fandom treats him vs how they treat billy and how he’s basically used as a hammer against us billy fans and the harringrove comm.

but i also think it’s important to step back, do our best to block out the haters and dipshits and look objectively at eddie as a character. because when i do that i am literally looking at billy’s new best friend. and billy needs and deserves all the best friends. and also the fact is that like 90% of the eddie and steddie fandoms are not even fucking accurately writing eddie. which is so fucking insulting to us eddie fans who you know, like him and see him as he IS.

eddie is not a replacement billy, he’s not a “more socially acceptable” billy. he’s a complimentary force to billy. he’s billy’s ideal sidekick. he’s a weird little freak of a metalhead who can shred like a GOD and has a huge heart. he’s less aggressive or confrontational but he WILL hold a bottle to someone who he thinks is a threat to him. he’s extremely brave when it comes to doing right by others, he cares deeply. if eddie had known billy in s3 he would’ve been championing to save him. he would’ve died trying to save him if he had to. he literally put his life on the line for chrissy who he barely knew just because it was Right in his mind to get justice for her. imagine what he would do for a friend?

steddie is another ship that i don’t inherently dislike but i struggle to see because there’s really nothing in common there to work with. the more i see of the ship and how it’s portrayed by the majority atm the more i don’t think these people actually understand eddie. he’s not an uwu quirky weirdo baby. he’s literally a criminal, he’s ready and willing to commit violence if he needs to, he’s got a huge amount of undiagnosed and untreated issues that are ruining his life, he’s an INCREDIBLY strong personality and most people don’t like him for a reason. he doesn’t give a shit about like 90% of the stuff the rest of the cast cares about. he and steve have completely opposite outlooks and life goals.

It’s very frustrating to me to see the billy-eddie dynamic largely overlooked but i know why it’s happening. it’s also very frustrating to me to see eddie so blatantly fucked up by the fandom and then see others not want to engage with his actual character because of the negative connotations with the assholes in the larger community. like billy’s already canonically had a friend like eddie in the past we meet him in runaway max. his name is sid and he’s a punk dude and he’s very sweet. he shows max a whole magazine of guitars.

tl;dr : billy and eddie would 100000000% be best friends and anyone who thinks otherwise needs to take a moment to really clear their head of biases and look again at what we actually know about these characters and the context they’d be meeting in.

[writer-in-theory]

5 Things You Never Get Tired Of Writing

rules: list five things you never get tired of writing. it can be tropes, themes, characters, phrases, whatever brings you joy. then tag five people!

thanks for tagging me @disco-deviant !!

5. Slow Burn/Pining: there is just so much fun that can be tossed into this. i adore character development and a lot of internal conflict/growth/change and so slow burn definitely lends itself well to this. i also tend to really enjoy ships with very contrasting characters so that also lends itself well to a good slow burn.

4. Alternate Universe: a vague one, but I adore writing it. I just have so much fun taking familiar characters and placing them in unfamiliar settings, seeing what would change and what would persist. anything from slight canon divergence to complete AUs are a lot of fun for me.

3. Hurt/Comfort: I know this is a super vague/general one but hurt/comfort is my bread and butter. I love taking a traumatized character or a really specific situation and tossing the hurt and then a really loving, understanding character into the mix. working through trauma is a very big thing for me, it’s a large part of my university research, and so implementing it into my writing is really important. which works out for ST because there’s so much trauma that never gets addressed in canon.

2. Found Family: this could be the queer rejected by their family/hometown in me, but I fucking love found family. there’s so many dynamics that can be explored and grown, so much room for angst and fluff and a whole variety of emotions. i love it.

1. Enemies to Lovers: most of my favorite ships in fandoms already have this vibe in canon so I enjoy exploring that in fics. case and point: harringrove. there’s just so much room for emotional complexity, internal and external conflicts, PASSION. it’s all about the oh moment. the “who did this to you?”, the “i had nowhere else to go.” chefs kisses.

no pressure tags: @steddierthings @serenity-lattes @lcvingprentjss @samuel-de-champagne-problems @gracethieved

[eddiebillysteve]

cat and mouse

(( harringrove prison au ))

chapter four | find chapter one + chapter two + chapter three here

pairing | billy hargrove/steve harrington (+ billy hargrove/eddie munson + billy hargrove/eddie munson/steve harrington)

summary | steve's first trip to the showers results in meeting billy's old cellie, eddie munson

a/n | i'm a slut for harringroveson / mungrove / steddie / harringrove so of course i had to bring eddie into this. there's enough cock of billy to go around for both eddie and steve, or so billy believes (but also if you aren't into eddie dw bc there's more harringrove coming i promise). anywAY FEEL FREE TO MESSAGE ME OR SEND ASKS OR COMMENT BECAUSE REACTIONS TO MY WRITING KEEPS ME ALIVE XXX find it on ao3 here !!

warnings | dom/sub talk, billy considering steve his 'property', daddy kink, steve being a gay panicked confused mess, bottom bitch!eddie and steve, quick mention of suic*de, dark/dom billy hargrove bc he wants to turn steve into his bitch, stuff like that !!

“Get lost. Hargrove’s coming.” 

Billy could hear the shout from down the hall. It was followed by a few dozen men, some still in towels, rushing out of the shower room. Guards shouted at them for making the floors wet, for not changing into their dry uniforms, but they didn’t care enough to chase after them. 

Everyone knew the drill, including the officers. Billy had the showers to himself and whoever he allowed in every morning unless the straggler was looking to be fought or used as a toy meant to be passed around. 

Steve twisted his head to look over his shoulder at the men hurrying past him. He didn’t understand what was happening, what all the commotion was about. 

“You’re quite lucky, Stevie. You won’t have two dozen eyes on you today. Maybe tomorrow, but not today,” Billy snickered a bit, holding open the shower block door and making a grand gesture for Steve to go in before him. There were a few people left inside— Argyle and Jonathan were under one of the streams in the shower room, busy getting handsy to have a good, wet start to their day, and there was one boy left in the changing area. He was just pulling his shirt over his head when they walked in. 

“Who’s this?” He immediately asked, stopping with his sweatshirt in his hands to look over Steve. He had the messiest, curly hair, and tattoos littered over his chest. Steve thought he was a bit lanky and pale, but he was attractive. So much so that Steve had to force his eyes to the floor to keep from blushing. 

He didn’t understand why he was suddenly thinking boys were pretty. 

“My new pet,” Billy’s mouth grew into a playful grin. “You jealous, Eds? You know I’ve still got time for you, baby.” 

Steve glanced back up again. Eds. He wondered what it was short for— possibly Edward or Eddie. 

The man scoffed and flung the sweatshirt at Billy’s chest. Perhaps he was a little jealous, but he’d never admit it. “In your fucking dreams, Hargrove.”

“Don’t be like that, sweetheart. I’ve got enough cock to go around,” Billy was grinning from ear to ear and he tossed the sweatshirt onto one of the benches before pulling his own off. 

Steve thought he was going to pass out. He had gotten naked in the school showers after practice countless times, but the situation he was currently in felt so different. He knew they were going to devour him the second he got naked, fuck him with their eyes. He took a step backwards, debating making a run for it. 

“Hey, big boy, you alright?”

The voice of Eds was directed at him now, and Steve looked up. The boy looked fairly young, maybe in his early twenties, with an energy so soft that Steve wanted to collapse and cry into his arms. 

“Sit down a minute. Jesus Christ, you look like you’re ready to pass out,” Eddie muttered a bit, reaching to gently grab Steve’s arm and pull him to sit on the bench. He completely ignored Billy, who was stripping right off into all his naked glory. 

He had a good body. A really good body. Every muscle was defined; the first time Eddie had saw him naked, he’d asked which God had hand sculpted him. It was the only explanation to how perfect he was. 

“How long have you been in?” He tried again, smacking at Billy’s hands when they went to the band of his sweatpants. He was trying to calm Steve down and didn’t need to be stripped naked because Billy was in a mood. “What’s your name?” 

“Steve,” He mumbled, eyes glued to the tiles on the floor. There was a massive crack in the one right by his right foot and he wondered how it happened, if some man had been shoved to the floor and it had cracked when coming in contact with his skull. 

He was yanked right out of his thoughts when Billy grabbed his chin and forced his eyes up. “What were my rules, huh? You need a refresher? ‘Cause you just broke one, pretty boy.” 

“Would you piss off for a second?” Eddie pulled Billy’s hand from Steve’s chin. The poor boy looked as fragile as a glass doll. “Just go check on Argyle or something. Give us a damn minute.” 

“Someone’s found an attitude since they’ve left my cell,” Billy narrowed his eyes at Eddie. “Your new daddy not doing a real good job at correcting you, Munson? Pathetic. I’ll have to teach him how to properly handle you.” 

Eddie gave him a bit of a bored look before nodding his head towards the showers. 

Steve could barely believe it when Billy headed towards them, but only after clicking his tongue in disapproval. It was obvious he had some sort of relationship with the curly haired boy, and for a second he wondered if he would be in Eddie’s position in a few years. 

Years. He was going to be locked up for years. 

“Hey. It’s okay,” Eddie quickly sat on the bench beside Steve. “This is your first morning, isn’t it? And he’s brought you here already.” He rolled his eyes a little. “Listen, Billy’s not that bad. You just have to do what he says, and he’ll look after you. I was his cellie for years, they transferred me to another cell a few weeks ago. It’s really hard at first, but it gets easier. There’s even some fun moments sometimes.” 

“Billy?” Steve looked over his face. 

“Shit. Hargrove. I meant Hargrove. Don’t call him that,” Eddie ran a hand through his hair, holding onto the curls for a second. He shouldn’t have slipped up. No one got to call him by his first name except for him in private. “Just listen to his rules and do whatever it is he wants to do and it’ll be much better for you.”

“I don’t want to,” Steve felt like he was on the verge of tears again. He hadn’t cried in years, yet he felt like he hadn’t stopped in the last twenty four hours. “I can’t do this. I’m not meant to be in here, I’m not like these people. I just made a mistake.”

“We’ve all just made mistakes. My life is one big mistake. But you don’t have a choice. You can’t leave, and if you try to kill yourself, they lock you in this empty room and take away your clothes and just leave you there with nothing but a toilet. You have to deal with it. The less of a reaction you give and the stronger you look, the better,” Eddie tried to quickly explain, glancing over towards the showers. He could see Billy strolling back towards them. “Just do what he says, alright? It’s going to be okay.” 

“Your girl talk over?” Billy taunted once he was close enough, simple stroll turning into a stalk as he moved closer to them.

It was only then that Steve really got a look at his entire body, not just the upper half, and he was positive his cheeks has burst into flames. He didn’t know why he was affected by it when he’s seen so many of his teammates naked in the past without any sort of reaction, but he internally begged his body not to send any blood down south. 

He wouldn’t survive them seeing him with a hard on not even twenty four hours after arriving, surely. 

“Just trying to make him feel a bit better, since you clearly aren’t concerned. He’s about to break into a million pieces,” Eddie frowned at Billy. 

“Good. That’s what I want,” Billy smirked and didn’t stop moving until he was in front of the bench they were both sitting on. He was wet, his body glimmering and hair sticking to him, and Steve couldn’t look at him. He stared at his feet, instead. “Stevie. Baby,” his voice was suddenly soft, a gentle coo, almost like a song. “Stand up. Time for a wash.” 

When Steve didn’t immediately stand, Billy pulled him up and reached for his top. “I know you’re hiding something real good under there, sweetheart. Let me see my new property.” 

“Why’ve you got to be such an ass?” Eddie asked. “He’s scared. Go easy on him.” 

“I’m going to let you off with one last warning to lose the attitude, sweetheart. I know you’re jealous, but I’m two words away from bending you over the bench and going to fucking town on your ass if you don’t knock it off,” Billy hissed at him, eyes sliding down Steve’s now bare torso. He wasn’t expecting chest hair and was pleasantly surprised. He and Eddie both had fairly smooth chests. “I’m busy with my new toy. Go have a shower, suck my cock, or shut the fuck up.” Eddie grumbled under his breath a bit and Billy finally looked at him. “What was that? Didn’t quite catch it, Eds.” 

“Nothing,” Eddie stood back up and pulled off his bottoms in one go, adding them to the pile he’d started with his top. “Didn’t say anything.” 

“Didn’t think so,” Billy glanced him up and down before his attention was back on Steve. He was still obsessed with Eddie’s body, and he would never not be, but he had a shiny new toy in front of him that he was about to get a look at for the first time. “Go on then, baby. Be a good boy and push ‘em down for me. Or do you want Daddy to help you?” He faked a pout, voice coaxing all over again, and Steve was sure he was a few seconds away from passing out again. 

There was blood rushing to the place he definitely did not want any, and Billy was about to see that his body was reacting to the words and the fear even though he so desperately was trying not to. 

It was the worst betrayal he’d ever felt. It made his stomach churn. He tried thinking about horrible things that’d turn him off, but it didn’t work fast enough. Billy impatiently went ahead and pushed his bottoms over his hips and to his ankles, devouring every last inch of skin as it was revealed. 

Steve wanted the ground to swallow him up. 

“Well, well, well. I don’t think he’s as delicate as you claim he is, Munson,” Billy was smirking, eyes directly on Steve’s cock. Harrington had tried to cover himself originally, but Billy had very quickly gripped his wrists and held them away so his view wasn’t blocked. “What’s done it for you, Stevie, huh? You like me calling myself Daddy? Or is it Eddie that you’re into? You like how soft he is? I’ll tell you, baby, he’s not like that in bed. I’ve trained him real good. He likes being passed around in the showers and treated like a little whore.” 

Steve squeezed his eyes shut. He wished he didn’t have to hear it, but mostly that the words didn’t go straight to his cock. He had never felt so much like a disaster, like a mistake, in his entire life. If Eddie’s whole life was a mistake, his was, too, he decided. 

“Please, you’re scaring him,” Eddie’s voice was quiet that time and he moved forward to touch his hand to Billy’s waist. He took only the quickest look at Steve’s body while his eyes were shut. “Come on, Hargrove. Take him in, we could all do with a wash.” He’d had to really focus on not calling him Bills like he was so used to doing in private. 

Billy silently debated for a moment, still staring at Steve’s lower half. He respected Eddie, loved him even. He’d been taken out of his cell when Argyle had fucked something up with the warden’s order and had only been able to get him his gear a day late. He’d lost his mind and ended up in solitary confinement for a night to calm down, but he was still able to see and play with Eddie every day. Their relationship wasn’t thrown out the window. 

It was just making room for one more. 

“Alright. I’ve got an idea,” his smirk curled into a grin and he weaved his fingers through one of Steve’s hands to pull him towards the shower rooms. Even though it was only the five of them present, all the streams had been turned on. It was steamy from the heat, and normally would have been packed with slick bodies, but not while Billy was around— unless he was in the scattered mood for an orgy. 

Eddie followed behind them. He was going to do the best he could to protect Steve, to carefully talk Billy down from being brutal. 

“I’m gonna give you two choices, Sweetheart. I’m fine with either, just so you know,” Billy started, situating Steve under the stream so he’d get soaking wet. The warm water felt good against his skin and Steve took a second to enjoy it before Billy was clearing his throat to grab his attention back. “Option one. You get down on your knees and suck my cock here in the showers where Eddie can help you and soothe you and make you feel better,” he rolled his eyes a bit. “If you do a good job, I’ll wash your hair and give you a scrub and make you feel real nice.” Billy touched Steve’s cheek, rubbing his knuckles across the soft skin. “Or option two, I can leave you alone to have a shower on your own, and then when we get back to the cell, I’ll fuck your face until you vomit and then some. Your choice, baby. Up to you if you want me to be nice and soft or not.” 

“Can’t you just wait a bit? Ease him into it? He hasn’t even been here a full day,” Eddie murmured, coming up from behind him in hopes of distracting him. He slid his arms around his waist, pressing his front to Billy’s back. “You can play with me instead. Please?” 

“Oh, I will play with you, baby,” Billy murmured. His free hand went to rub over Eddie’s arm that was holding his waist, scratching his nails along the skin. His eyes were glued to Steve’s frightened face, though. “You’ll have to teach him how to please me, Eds. Might save him a whole lotta pain.” 

“I will,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to Billy’s shoulder. “He can watch. I can show him just how you like it, Daddy.” His mouth moved up the curve of his skin, pressing kisses as he went along. He knew not to leave any marks, though; he’d learned that lesson years ago. 

“Fine.” Billy dropped his hand from Steve’s face to look at Eddie over his shoulder. “On your knees. Now.”