Tate wasn’t oblivious to the world of the abused . He had actually suspected it for a while , because Billy would turn up with strange bruises — On his face , on his back , one time on his stomach ; He would always ask about them but they’d get brushed off , and he was never one to push the subject . Though hearing it , actually hearing the omission from Billy’s own lips that he would get beat on so viciously by his father … Oh , it caused something heavy down in his belly . He wanted to cry for him , but that’s not what he needed right now . For once in their relationship , Tate needed to be the strong one between them . The one with a stiff upper lip and a hand to hold . “ I’m sorry ,” is all the blond could mumble . He dabbed some Polysporin onto his index finger before reaching out to smear it along Billy’s wound . “ In good news , it’s really superficial . I doubt it’s going to scar — And if it did , face - scars are totally hot .” Tate playfully nudged at Billy’s arm with his own .
“ I’m going to put a butterfly bandage on it anyway , just in case .” Tate wiped his fingers against his jeans before going back to the first aid kid . “ It’s going to look stupid , but just wear it tonight so it’ll scab up . I don’t want you making it worse by moving around in your sleep — Bleed all over my damn pillows .” The little papers were peeled off each sticky side of the band - aid , and like most things , carelessly brushed onto the floor ; He wasn’t the tidiest of teenagers . “ You don’t have to go back there anymore . You can stay here with me ,” he offered . “ We can share my room … I’ll talk to my ma , she likes you so . I’m sure if I tell her the situation , she’ll be cool with it until you get an apartment of your own .” Carefully balancing one knee against the mattress , Tate got up close to Billy’s face so he could place the butterfly at the least annoying angle he could imagine .
That one side could probably still be felt when Billy blinked , but oh well . A little discomfort was inevitable . “ There ,” Tate dropped his hands down onto his thighs with a light smack . “ Good as new . Just call me Doctor Langdon .” Tate knew Billy wasn’t a fan of pity ; That’s not why he was telling Tate all this , it’s because he trusted him . So the last thing he wanted to do was make a big deal , and aggravate him into never opening up ever again . But it was so fucking hard to stay light - hearted after learning for sure that someone of Hargrove’s confidence and stature was going through something like this . “ — I’m serious , you never have to go back there ever again . Just stay here with me .”
He doesn’t want Tate’s pitty. The very thought of it makes the Hargrove boy want to balk. So when that sorry falls from his lips it’s almost like another strike to the face and for whatever reason Billy seems to flinch, if only for a moment and only just a hair. Sad eyes turn hard almost immediately, the soft sheen that coats those sapphires reflecting back anger ; hatred. Billy hated Neil — more than he hated his mother for deserting him in the first place.
A half snort releases from the Hargrove’s lips then and his gaze falls against the wall as Tate continues his caring routine. It’s weird to have someone safe to go — somewhere Billy feels as though nothing bad will happen. But this fantasy idea that the mullet can just move in without repercussion is ludicrous — even Billy knows that. “No. I can’t.” It’s not a playful no, not something soft or sweet. He knows what he has to face back home, what’s going to happen to him if Neil survived the punch — which, lets face it, wasn’t exactly his finest work. No, Neil was absolutely still alive and he was guaranteed to be seething — if Billy left he’d be headed to his own funeral.
“People are gonna ask questions. I didn’t even want to tell you, I’m not gonna announce it to the whole town, Tate.” What he needs is his own place, somewhere he can go that Neil won’t find him ; which is gonna be pretty fuckin’ hard in a small town like Hawkins. The idea falls on him then, so quickly and easily it’s a wonder Billy hadn’t thought of it before. “We should leave.” He means it, just get in the car and drive. They can go back to California — or somewhere else if Tate doesn’t want to go back, maybe somewhere that will be little less judgemental about their . . . relationship. “You me and the Camaro — get as far away from Hawkins as we fuckin’ can, this town is shit anyway.” For the first time in a long time the Hargrove feels something akin to hope bubbling inside his chest. He likes the plan more and more as he thinks about it — the only question is, will Tate say yes.
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