#if billy was ready to take on the mindflayer and DIE over El being nice to him for .01 seconds

[symbioticsimplicity]

@harrgrove Got me thinking about something I almost never see but now have a voracious craving for.

Consider, platonic soulmates Jonathan and Billy.

It would take them a hell of a lot to start talking, and even if they did, they’re both awkward as all hell so it wouldn’t be immediate like it was for Steve and Robin. It’s a little more hard won, but once they start talking, they quickly find they have so much in common it’s frankly ridiculous they haven’t talked before.

Imagine them finding they have incredibly similar outlooks and they think almost the same way. They quickly fall into that pseudo mind-reading thing, and they’re able to tell at a glance how the other is feeling even if no one else is able to see past their fronts.

Billy helps Jonathan learn to be a little more assertive where he needs to be, or if he’s around he’ll just do it for him since he has no problem sliding into that role. Jonathan helps Billy learn how to calm the hell down, how to handle the anger he lives with. They balance each other in a way neither realized they needed until it happened.

Of course, the obligatory understanding between them due to their shit dads. Something something, Billy is spiraling about it, something something Jonathan takes the first step to show vulnerability by showing him one of the scars Lonnie left on him, something something, Billy becomes fiercely protective of him while also seeing him as a safe place to be vulnerable about how badly Neil has hurt him. Jonathan helping him through the process of unlearning all the shit Neil beat into him, and in turn Jonathan feels a part of himself healing along with Billy.

Why pit them against each other when we could have this??

[harringrovehouse]

Steve’s nervous, even though he shouldn’t be. Even though he and Billy have been ‘hanging out for weeks’, even though this isn’t like a real date! They’re just going for some food and then maybe to a movie. Totally not a date.

Steve’s fucking very nervous.

He fidgets with his collar before sighing, pulling yet another shirt off and throwing it to the side. He’s standing in his close glaring when someone knocks.

Which is weird.

He’s alone. Like he lives alone! His parents moved to Indianapolis after he graduated and left him the house because they were sure he’d die on the streets if they didn’t at LEAST do that.

“Uh, come in?” Steve calls out, already gripping his bat. It hasn’t needed to be used in years but hey, Steve’s not that stupid.

The door creaks open and Max’s freckled face pokes itself into the room. Steve sags slightly and tucks the bat away again.

“Hey Max, what are you doing here?” Max shifts her weight before stepping fully into the room and coming to stand directly in front of Steve.

“I know you’re going on a date with my bro-with Billy!” The two are still weird about showing affection for each other around other people. Steve pales, grabbing a random shirt and hurrying past Max.

“It’s not a date!” He pulls the dark fabric over his head and huffs. “We’re just hanging out, going to grab some food and then see that new slasher flick.”

Max gives him a look. “So dinner and a movie, a date.”

“No! Hanging out! Like when you asshole used to steal food from Scoops and then use the back hallway to sneak into whatever movie you wanted.”

“We took candy and sprinkles. Billy’s packing a freaking picnic!” Max crosses her arms over her chest and glares. Steve’s cheeks pink. A picnic.

“He is?”

“Well yeah, Billy style, some fried chicken, few beers and I think I saw some potato chips. But he like put it all in a basket Nancy had!” Steve can’t help but smile, he forces himself to look away towards his mirror. Pretending to fix his hair.

“Theater food is expensive. And nasty. Too much butter.” Behind him Max makes an irritated noise.

“I didn’t want to have to do this.” Suddenly he’s being wheeled around and shoved backwards into the wall. An impressive feet for someone who’s like 5’ 4”. “Steve Harrington I want to know your intentions with my brother!”

“Jesus Max! Clam down!” Steve gently pushes th finger she’s waving at him to the side. “I don’t have any intentions with him!” That doesn’t seem to be the answer Max is looking for. She steps even more into his space and pokes him in the chest.

“Don’t think I haven’t heard about you King Steve! Billy’s worked really hard to get to where he is! I don’t want to see someone hurt him, even if it’s you!”

Oh.

Ohhh.

So that’s what this is. A ‘don’t hurt my brother or I’ll hurt you’ speech. Steve smiles down at Max, before ruffling her hair and patting her shoulder.

“I promise I’ll take good care of Billy okay Max. I really like him.” For the first time sonce she entered the room Max’s shoulder relax. She scruntches up her nose and sighs.

“You better!” Steve nods. “We worked too hard for him to go back to,”

“Hey, stop.” Max blinks and looks away. Steve sets both hands on her shoulders. “You’re right, we have worked too hard, Billy’s gotten so much better since he came home. I promise I take care of him okay.” Max nods and Steve pulls her into a hug.

“I’d kill you with your bat if you didn’t!”

Steve smiles.

He thinks they’re done, that he can leave now but then he’s met by Will Byers. The short boy is hovering in the enterence way, jittering slightly as he watches Max and Steve decend from the second floor. Steve watches as the two Party members exchange looks before Max leaves the house and Will steps in front of him.

“Yes?” Steve asks looking down at the shorter boy.

“Steve,” A pause as Will tries to gather his courage. “I like you, you’re my friend and I like you BUT if you hurt Billy, in anyway! I’ll kill you.” Steve’s eyebrows shot into his hair, well that was unexpected.

Will and Billy had gotten close over the past year, shares trauma, from both the Mindflayer and from the time before that. They’d both really helped each other come out of their shells, so to speak. Will by helping Billy reconnect with humans and Billy helping Will come out to his friends. Steve knew they were close but hadn’t thought they were close enough that Will would threaten someone for Billy.

“Hey I already told Max I’m not going to hurt Billy,”

“Good! Because even though we’re friends and I like you! Billy’s like a second brother to me and-and we’re basically family!” Billy had moved in with El and Hop once he’d gotten out of the hospital, and then shortly after that Billy, El and Hop had all moved into a new home with the Byer’s family. They’d lived together for the better part of a year.

Steve gave Will a warm smile and squeezed his shoulder.

“Billy means a lot to me too Will. I promise I won’t hurt him.”

“You better not. They’d never find your body!”

When Steve makes it out of his house it’s to the sight of Eleven standing next to his car. She’s blowing a bubble of bright blue gum and glaring at him.

“Not you too.” Steve groans. He really doesn’t have time for this. He’s got a picnic waiting that’s getting cold.

El sucks the bubble back in and looks Steve up and down. “You’ll treat him nicely. Like friends.” She’s gotten better at speaking but Steve’s found that when she doesn’t want to be tested, her words fail her. “Or else.” And then she cracks her gum, shattering a larger bubble she’d just made. Steve winces.

“I promise! I promise you, and Will and Max. I will not harm a single hair on Billy’s head.”

El narrows her eye. “Friend’s,”

“Don’t lie.” Steve finishes in a hurry. “Now move. I’ll be late.” Steve winks at her as he slids into his car, El gives him a large smile and a wave as he turns the key. “Now get home, it’ls gonna get late. I don’t want the three of you out at night!”

Steve watches them climb back onto their bikes as he pulls away, headed to the new Byers-Hopper presidents. It’s not far, only about five minutes down the road from Steve’s house, but far enough that he still beats the kids their.

Hopper’s outside.

Waiting.

And Steve groans. Not again.

“Evening.” Hop greets when Steve climbs out of bis car and makes his way up the driveway towards the house. Steve gives him a look.

“Please. Not you too.”

“Steve I’ve know you a long time,” Hopper leans back, displaying his badge.

“Hop. Please.”

“But that’s as good as my kid you’re going to be taking out god knows where.” He taps his hip where his service weapon normally goes ans Steve groans.

“To the Hawk.”

“And I just wanted to remind you that I have eyes and ears all over this town.” The gun isn’t in the holster but that doesn’t stop Hopper from patting the empty place it sits.

“Hop I’m begging you!” Steve just wants to get drunk and see a shitty horror movie with the guy he might love. Is that too much to ask.

“Be good to my kid Steve, or,”

“You’ll kill me?” Steve finishes for him and Hopper nods. “Well apparently there’s a line so grab a number.” Hopper smiles at him.

The front door opens then, and out walks Joyce and Billy. Billy looks really good, Steve takes in everything about him. From the way his now short hair curls at the end, to how nicely his brother leather jacket fits over his tight black v neck shirt down to the new light wash jeans he’s wearing. He looks breath taking, and for a moment Steve has to remind himself to breath.

“Oh! I knew I heard your voice.” Joyce beams at Steve and gently ushers a blushing Billy toward Steve. Who mets them half way to take the basket Billy’s failing to hide. “You both looks very handsome tonight,” She pats Steve’s jacket and fixes the collar for him. “Don’t let us hold you up, have a good time okay.” She gives them both a thumbs up and Steve turns to Billy, who looks away and gruffly mutters a ‘lets go then Harrington’ before stomping away.

Steve watches the back of Billy’s neck turn red.

They make it to the car without anyone stopping them. Steve sets the basket in the backseat before opening the door for Billy, who blushes even more and snaps something about ‘not being the girl here Princess’. Steve just smiles and closes the door for him before hurrying to the driver’s side and climbing in. He starts the engine again and it just about ready to pull off when Joyce calls out to them.

“Oh and boys!” They both turn to look at her, worried they’d forgotten something important. She smiles sweety at them and leans into Hopper’s side. “If either of you hurt the other, I’ll bury you so far in the ground they’ll find your lifeless corpse in China.”

Both Steve and Billy gulp.