max stepped out of her room, the hallway dim with early morning light filtering through the curtains. her socks made soft shuffling sounds against the hardwood floor as she rubbed at her eyes, still groggy from sleep. the house was quiet in that peaceful way it only ever was when neil and susan were gone. no yelling, no slamming doors, no tension thick in the air. just the smell of something warm and sweet drifting from the kitchen.
she paused at the corner, peeking in.
billy was at the stove, flipping pancakes shirtless with a concentration that looked almost comical on his usually scowling face. steve stood beside him, leaning against the counter a cup of coffee in hand, grinning like he’d just heard the best joke in the world. he said something low, and billy snorted shaking his head, but max saw it…the way his mouth twitched into a smile he didn’t bother hiding. steve bumped his shoulder gently with his arm and billy nudged him back with the spatula, mock-annoyed but clearly not.
it was strange, seeing billy like this. not just calm, but soft. open. happy.
when billy had first told her about him and steve, she’d been surprised. not because it was steve (though that part had taken a second to process) but because billy had told her at all. he’d sat her down one night, awkward and tense as if he were bracing for impact. she remembered the way he’d looked at her, like he wasn’t sure if she’d yell or laugh or silently just walk away. but she hadn’t done any of those things. she’d just nodded, let it sink in, and said, “okay.” because it was okay. weird, sure. unexpected, definitely. but not bad. not wrong.
and now, watching them in the kitchen, she felt something warm bloom in her chest. maybe she hadn’t realised how much billy needed this. someone who made him laugh like that, who stood close without flinching, who looked at him like he wasn’t just the angry guy with a chip on his shoulder.
steve spotted her first. his eyes lit up, and he waved her over.
“morning, max,” he said, voice bright and easy. “come sit. we made wayyy too many pancakes!”
she stepped into the kitchen, the warmth wrapping around her like a blanket. billy glanced over, gave her a nod, and turned back to the stove. he didn’t say much, but he didn’t have to. instead he plated a stack of pancakes with toppings she liked and set them in front of her with a quiet “here,” then slid into the seat beside her, his knee bumping hers under the table.
steve joined them, sitting across from billy, and for a moment, it was just the three of them, the clink of forks and the soft hum of morning settling around them.
max watched them out of the corner of her eye. steve didn’t touch billy much, not like he probably would if she weren’t there, but there were little things. the way she knew his foot tapped against billy’s under the table. the way their gaze lingered on each other when they thought she wasn’t looking. the way steve’s smile softened every time billy spoke.
they were in love. she could see it now, clear as day.
and billy…he was different. not completely, not like he’d turned into someone else overnight. he still had that edge, that sharpness in his voice when he got annoyed, that guarded look when someone pushed too hard. but with steve, it was like some of that melted away. like he didn’t have to be on defence all the time. like he could just…be?
max took a bite of her pancake, syrup sweet on her tongue, and let herself relax. this was nice. quiet. safe. she couldn’t remember the last time breakfast had felt like this.
steve leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms above his head. “so,” he said, looking at max, “any big plans today? or are we all just gonna be lazy and eat pancakes until we pass out?”
max shrugged. “lazy sounds good.”
billy smirked. “you’re always lazy.”
“and you’re always annoying,” she shot back, but there was no bite in it. just habit.
steve laughed, and billy rolled his eyes, but he was smiling again, that soft kind of smile that max was starting to think only steve could pull out of him.
they talked a little more about movies, about school and the arcade about nothing important. and max found herself still watching them, not in a nosy way, but in that curious, quiet way you watch something rare. something good.
she thought about neil and susan, about how different the house felt without them. how billy didn’t have to flinch at every sound. how she didn’t have to brace herself for the next argument. how steve had slept over for the first time last night, and it hadn’t been weird or tense or anything but normal.
and maybe that was the best part. how normal it felt. how right.
after breakfast, billy started cleaning up and steve helped, their movements easy and practiced, like they’d done this a hundred times. max stayed at the table, sipping orange juice and watching them move around each other like they belonged in the same space.
she didn’t say anything, but she didn’t have to. billy caught her eye once, and something passed between them. an understanding, maybe a thank you.
max just nodded. because yeah. she was happy for him.
Major Tags: Harringrove, soft Billy, slightly ooc Billy, playful Harringrove
Summary (for fan fiction): What does one do when snowed in? Well, shenanigans ensue, especially for said couple, one of which has never encountered snow to this level before. Also, part two to my previous work “A Cup of Love”.
My second fill for @harringrovewinterbingo !! Hope you enjoy!
Warm. Cozy. Safe. Loved.
Those were words that Billy never thought would go together, especially with the way his life was going. He wasn’t sure how he had lived life this long without having such a luxury, such a safety.
Soft little ‘tink-tinks’ were heard off the window as he laid in bed. His eyes shifted from the ceiling for a second to see what was happening outside. He sits up for a second to take in the sight of the snow falling faster, more furiously than the previous day. He sighed to himself, shifting to let his feet touch the floor. Hissing at the cold kissing the bottoms of his feet, he trudged to the bathroom and rubbed his arms. It was certainly cold outside of his little cocoon.
‘Gotta be quick. Don’t want pretty boy getting mad at me.’
The words echoed in his mind as he handled his business, stepping out once his hands had been thoroughly washed and dried. He noticed the little lump beneath the covers, a slow rising and falling signalling that he had been asleep– or so he thought.
Slipping into the bed once more, the blond froze for a second when he felt arms encircling his body. He chuckled quietly.
“Mornin, sunshine.” He cooed lovingly.
“Time is it?” A sleepy, slurred voice asks.
“Little after 6, we should get up and eat something.”
“AM?”
“No, baby, PM, we’ve been in bed all day.”
“But you love being lazy…”
“I know, but I also like knowing that you’re fed. Up you get, come on.”
“What happens if I don’t?”
“Do you really want to find the answer to that?”
“...Maybe I do.”
“Get your ass up, Steve, or I’ll make you.”
“Don’t threaten me with a good time.” Steve purred.
That was before he received a smack with the pillow.
“Get up, asshole.”
“Ugh, you’re no fun.”
“You know that’s a lie.” Billy warned before standing to his feet.
“Count of three…”
“You’re not actually-”
“One.”
“Baby, please-”
“Two.” He crouched slightly, narrowing his eyes with a smirk growing across his lips.
“Fine! Fine!”
“Three.” Grabbing Steve’s ankles, Billy dragged him towards the floor, earning a yelp in the process.
Before long, his feet were hitting the floor and Steve screeched. “HOLY FUCK- COLD!”
“I warned you. Don’t say I didn’t.”
“I’m gonna freeze my ass off.” Steve whined.
“Shoulda gotten up when I warned you.” Billy said as he hoisted the brunette over his shoulder, carrying him downstairs to the kitchen.
“Oh, I could get used to this.”
“Shut up you.”
~*~
About an hour later, dinner was on the stove and Steve was tending to it.
“Can’t believe you dragged me out of bed to cook for your ass.”
“You love my ass, so don’t even go there.” Billy smirked, throwing a wink his direction while sipping on a mug of hot chocolate.
“I hate your ass right now.” Steve grumbled, stirring the pot with the ladle.
Somehow, Billy had talked him into fixing a pot of his famous soup. Usually, he only made that when he requested it or whenever the kids were sick. It wasn’t anything fancy, just some chicken noodle soup. His famous secret though? Steve threw in a little bit of rice and some egg in to make it heartier.
Steve wasn’t sure why this was Billy’s favorite soup or why he requested it so often. Part of him thinks it’s because the blonde doesn’t have to cook. However, he was also believing the theory that everything tasted better when prepared by someone you love.
Billy certainly thought so at least. He knew it tasted amazing because it was Steve cooking it. Science did say something about that. He didn’t remember what right now, but he would believe it in a heartbeat.
“Hell yeah, thanks, babe.” He took the bowl happily and the plate of grilled cheese sandwiches that Steve fixed. He pressed a kiss to his cheek with a resounding ‘mwah’ sound to make the brunette flustered.
No matter how long they had been dating, it always made him blush.
He snickered as his face turned as red as the mug sitting on the counter.
“Keep that up and I won’t cook for you ever again.” Steve pointed a finger.
“You wouldn’t.” He gasped exasperatedly.
“Try me.” Steve turned around to clean up the dishes, all the while, trying to hide the fact he was indeed flustered.
~*~
After dinner, the couple usually either watched a movie or they were snuggled up in bed talking.
Right now, neither of those things were happening.
Instead, Billy had an idea.
“Baby,” he started, obviously trying to get the other’s attention, “can we bake some cookies?”
“Bake? You wanna try baking?” Steve seemed surprised.
“Yeah, I want to try my hand at it.” Billy smiled innocently. “How about you teach me how to make those chocolate chip cookies of yours?”
“Well, shit, why not.” Steve figured as he stood up. “But you’re going to help me bake these damn cookies if we’re doing it from scratch.”
“I wouldn’t make you do all the work.” Billy said innocently.
Steve’s narrowed gaze made him smirk again. “Well, I would, but I’ll help.”
“Good, or else.” Steve nodded in approval before taking them to the kitchen again.
They gathered the ingredients in peace per Steve’s direction and laid them out. With Steve’s guidance, Billy was able to start measuring out the ingredients.
That was… until he got a wicked idea.
Grabbing the powdered sugar, he gathered some into his hand. “Hey babe?”
“Yeah, Bills?”
“It’s snowing outside right?”
“Have you seen the snow? It’s more so blizzard-ing.” Steve scoffed. “The hell you asking me that for?”
“Oh, well, I think the window’s open. Some got in here.” Billy responded casually.
Steve’s eyes grew to the size of saucers. “What?! How?!”
Billy smirked before lifting his hand, revealing the small pile of sugar he collected. Taking a breath, he blew it towards Steve’s face, getting it all over the unsuspecting man.
“What the fu-”
He sneezed and shot more sugar everywhere. Billy was howling with laughter, gripping the counter in an attempt to not fall over. Steve couldn’t help but join in. Have you heard Billy Hargrove laugh? Truly laugh? It was so hard not to.
However, Steve had an equally evil idea. Grabbing a fist full of cocoa powder, he blew the tiny mound right into Billy’s face. He started coughing hard.
“What the hell?” His eyes shot wide.
Now it was Steve’s turn to laugh. He wheezed from the sugar in his lungs, but totally worth it. The tears that streaked down his face leaving little sugar trails.
“You mother-” Billy cut himself off and grabbed some flour, clapping it across Steve’s cheeks.
An all out brawl ensued then. Ingredients were flying around the kitchen without care.
Their laughter died down as it shifted into panting breaths. They wiped their faces and observed the mess they created together.
“Damn, we made a mess.” Billy snorted and a puff of cocoa flew from his nostrils.
He tried not to cough up a lung. After all, he had given up smoking ages ago.
“We sure did.” Steve agreed as his hands went to his hips. “You started it though.”
Needless to say, their brownies were not made that night. After cleaning up the kitchen, they were too tired to bake. Instead, they decided to end their night by getting clean in a different way. Once they were showered, the boys laid down in bed together.
A soft kiss was placed to Billy’s shirtless chest. “Mm, best snow day ever.”
“Agreed.” Billy answered as he rubbed circles on his back.
The moment was nice between them as they listened to the soft music from the radio.
“Too bad we don’t have any brownies.” Billy decided to tease him.
“Fuck off, it’s all your fault.”
The former Californian laughed again. He couldn’t imagine a better way to spend a snowy night in, nor a better person to share it with either.
Written for the @harringrovemicroficandart challenge for September. The prompt was: ☀️Summer & Jealous💚
ao3 | rating: T (just for language) | length: 1k
summary:
Billy takes another puff of his cigarette before blowing the smoke out the window in a pathetic attempt to delay the inevitable.
“I saw you with her.”
“With who?”
“Teal leotard! Fucking Jane Fonda, I don’t know!”
“Cindy? We were just talking.”
“She was touching you! And you weren’t—you didn’t stop her.”
“Baby…” Steve smiles. He fucking smiles! The no-good cheating bastard…
Or, Billy catches Steve cheating. Or does he?
Billy should’ve known when he had to park his Camaro at the ass end of the Starcourt parking lot that the place would be packed. The heatwave was driving everyone inside, and the mall had a pretty bitchin’ AC system. Billy didn’t mind the heat—in fact, he’d be out there right now, shirtless, soaking up some rays if he didn’t have to pick Steve up from his shift at Scoops.
The whole him and Steve thing was still sort of fresh. They’d been messing around for a while, but it was only in the last few weeks that they’d agreed to put a label on it.
Boyfriends.
Jesus Christ…
He knew moving to Indiana would change him, but he didn’t know to what degree. Not the queer part—Billy knew he didn’t like girls. The only thing that got his dick hard was another dick.
But the boyfriend part? The holding hands at the movies, the making out on the hood of his car, the pet names, the Valentine’s Day gifts… he was turning into a fucking sap.
It’s almost embarrassing how gone he is for Steve.
So when Billy catches sight of an exceptionally pretty girl through the glass store front of Scoops, clad in one of those leotards that look like they're painted on, and with her hand buried in Steve’s hair—he sees red.
Billy’s furious entrance through the glass doors was somewhat damped by the stupid little bell chiming above him.
The girl jumps, pulling her hand free from Steve’s—his boyfriend’s—hair.
“Oh, hey Billy.” Steve says, all smiles.
And as much as Billy wants to fucking explode, he keeps it bottled up. Knows he can’t lose it right now. Instead, he focuses on taking deep, even breaths.
Both the chick and Steve stare after him, waiting for Billy to make some kind of reply. When it’s clear that that isn’t gonna happen, she just turns back to Steve.
“Well, thanks for the tip, Steve. See you tomorrow.” She says.
“See ya.” Steve returns. The girl then gives Billy a wide berth as she walks out of the store.
“Ready to go?” Steve asks, like nothing was amiss.
Or maybe this is just Steve’s own way of keeping his cool. Maybe… he was waiting until he got Billy alone to explain. To call this whole thing off.
It was all sort of too good to be true anyway. Real pie in the sky shit. It was stupid. Billy was stupid.
So he just nods, not trusting his own mouth. Doesn’t know whether he’ll yell or cry.
It’s not until they’re walking across the parking lot that Steve nudges him with an elbow. “You okay? You’re kinda quiet.”
Billy’s fingers are suddenly itching for a cigarette, so instead of answering Steve, he fishes out a smoke and his lighter.
“Did something happen? Your dad? Did he–”
“It’s not my fucking dad.” Billy snaps.
“Then what is it?” Steve stops walking. He looks at Billy with his head tilted, eyes squinting against the sunlight.
Billy takes a drag of his cigarette and holds it in his lungs for as long as he can before he exhales through his nose. It barely touches his frayed nerves. “Don’t play dumb with me.”
The line between Steve’s brows deepens. “What?”
But Billy turns his back to Steve, taking long strides toward his car.
“Wait! You can’t just–”
“Do you really wanna do this here?” Billy turns, motioning with his cigarette to the handful of random shoppers just searching for their own vehicles.
“Do what?” Steve asks in a voice pitched higher than normal.
“I saw you!” Billy barks, probably too loudly. But in the moment he doesn’t fucking care.
“Saw me? Saw me do what?”
Billy just huffs and takes his last remaining steps until he reaches his vehicle. “Just get in the car. I’ll still drive you home.”
They get in, but when Billy puts the keys to the ignition, Steve swipes them from his hand and holds them out of reach.
“Harrington, I swear–”
“We’re not going anywhere until you explain to me why you’re practically foaming at the mouth.”
Billy takes another puff of his cigarette before blowing the smoke out the window in a pathetic attempt to delay the inevitable.
“I saw you with her.”
“With who?”
“Teal leotard! Fucking Jane Fonda, I don’t know!”
Steve pauses for a beat. “Cindy? We were just talking.”
“She was touching you! And you weren’t–-you didn’t stop her.”
“Baby…” Steve smiles. He fucking smiles!
“It’s not funny!” Now it’s Billy’s turn for his voice to go high.
“It’s not funny, you’re right. I’m sorry. It’s just–Cindy’s married.”
“So? Married people cheat.”
“So she was just asking me where I got my highlights done, because she wanted some. I told her my boyfriend put me onto Sun-In, and I was just explaining to her that it didn’t dry out my ends. I told her she could feel my hair to prove it. And, I don’t know, maybe that’s weird but I wasn’t really thinking about–”
Billy’s mind had gone blank after hearing— “You told her you have a boyfriend?”
Shifting uncomfortably in his seat, like he actually had been caught doing something wrong, Steve confesses, “well, her yoga instructor is definitely gay and she doesn’t seem to care, so I figure it wouldn’t be that big of a deal… Look, I know it’s stupid, and dangerous but… I like telling people.”
Steve’s excited to be dating him, Billy realizes, his chest suddenly feeling tight enough to burst. So excited that he wants to tell people.
“Oh.” Is all he can say.
Steve finally lets himself laugh. “I’m sorry! It’s just… You’re really cute when you’re jealous.”
“Shut up.” Billy says, but there’s no heat behind it. He leans over and presses his lips to Steve’s.
To his boyfriend’s lips.
Jesus Christ…
He’s so fucking gone. It should be embaressing, but Billy’s too fucking in love to care.
Max sits on the sagging brown plaid couch in the trailer, one hand buried in a bag of M&Ms, the other holding a Wonder Woman comic in front of her face, trying to hide her smile as she watches Billy nervously pace the narrow length of carpeting between her and front door, chewing his nails to the quick and glaring at the ugly print of ducks on a lake hung above the tv like it’s personally offended him, his brow pinched like she hasn’t seen it since Neil left six months ago.
There are a lot of words she’d use to describe her older brother. Brazen, brash, brave, caring, loud, smart, antagonistic, thoughtful, yes. But nervous? No. Absolutely not. She’s definitely never seen him act this way about a first date before.
But of course, it’s different with Steve. Everything’s different with Steve. Billy’s gentler, kinder, more likely to laugh and shrug than scowl when something doesn’t go right. He was whistling Wham! while making breakfast this morning. Cooking breakfast isn’t even something Billy does, yet there he was when she woke up, flipping pancakes and doing his best impression of George Michael.
Now though, the nerves are overriding everything else he might be feeling. She doesn’t think he should really be this nervous. Yes, it’s Billy’s first date with Steve, but they’ve hung out a million times before. This is just the natural next step after months of flirting and hang outs as just friends.
He’s changed his shirt twice, and is now muttering about a third option that he didn’t think of before, trying to remember if it’s clean. “Is the cologne too much?” He asks, turning suddenly, sticking his leather jacket clad arm in her face. It is too much, in her opinion, but she just smiles, shaking her head. “No, I think Steve’ll like it.”
He nods once, shooting her a small smile that looks more like a grimace, and resumes his pacing, checking his watch every few seconds.
“Can you please sit?” She asks. “You’re making me nervous, and you’re going to wear a hole in the carpet.”
He glares at her but complies. Flopping down on the couch next to her and grabbing his own handful of M&Ms. He pops them into his mouth one by one, crunching loudly, his knee jangling as he stares at the door.
Finally, it’s 8pm, and as if on cue, there’s a knock on the door. Billy just sits there, continuing to stare.
“Are you going to answer it?” She hisses, hoping Steve can’t hear her.
He shakes his head. “You do it.”
“No way. It’s your date! Go! It’s just Steve! Don’t be nervous!” She slides her hand behind his back, pushing him forward. Of course it’s not just Steve, though. It’s Billy’s heart and his hopes and dreams, his wishes, everything he wants but has never known how to ask for before now.
He stands, takes one last, big, shaking breath, and slowly turns the knob.
Standing in the doorway is Steve, hair a wild, artfully messy flop, clad in a pink polo and bright white Nikes, holding a bouquet of daisies. A grin splits his face as he takes in the sight of Billy, primped and prepped within an inch of his life after spending the entire afternoon in the washroom.
Steve leans over and whispers something in Billy’s ear and Billy’s posture relaxes, one hand clutching Steve’s bicep and the other now holding the daises.
Max scrambles to find her moms one good vase, finally locating it at the back of a top shelf. She takes the flowers when Billy hands them to her and waves them off to enjoy their night.
She’s sure she’ll hear all about the date from a gushing Billy later tonight or in the morning, but for now, she calls El to talk about how cute Hawkins’ newest couple is.
Many moons ago I applied to the Harringrove Zine with a concept: what if Steve was a lifeguard with Billy at the pool. I ended up writing a completely different concept for the zine after way too many talks with @adelacreations but Lifeguard Steve has been waiting in the wings, ready to promote the Zine Preorder that opened today! The zine is made to support charity and there’s many ways that you can back it and read the crazy thing I had to write after finishing this, and all the incredible stuff the other contributors have come up with. We’re so excited to share it with you. And now without further ado: lifeguard Steve
Billy Hargrove had a new title: King of the Poolside. The whole town fawned over him, all the suburban moms who asked Steve about Billy’s schedule and blatantly stared at his body, all the teen girls who made eyes at him. Even the little kids liked him. Whenever Steve would sub in the aquatots class there would be a chorus of questions about, “Mr. Biwwy.”
It was starting to piss Steve off.
Steve didn’t mind not being King anymore. Billy could have the crown, shove it up his ass for all Steve cared. But they didn’t know the real Billy Hargrove. Despite a teary, drugged apology that night when Steve drove him home after the Byers, and the occasional conversation in the break room, Billy Hargrove remained as he always was: an asshole.
“Stick to your stand, ” Steve grumbled when Billy leaned against Steve’s leg, one golden shoulder pressing into Steve’s calf. Billy was hot all the time. Steve swore he could see steam rising off Billy’s shoulders when he rose out of the pool. Somehow he managed to do it in slow motion. The asshole.
“You can see all of the pool from your stand, though,” Billy smiled and snapped his gum, his eyes hidden by mirrored aviators.
“Then we’ll switch.”
He had to remind himself that Billy was an asshole, because for one millisecond Billy frowned and he almost looked hurt.
“Can’t be near me for even a second, huh?” Billy looked up, but his face was impossible to read behind his sunglasses. They only reflected Steve back to himself. His pink cheeks from Billy standing too close. His slightly wilted hair, curling at the ends from the heat. Billy was so shiny, chest gleaming, golden hair glassy and lustrous. Steve could see himself reflected in all the weirdest ways.
Steve shrugged. “Not my job to tell you what to do.”
Billy snorted, “You act like it enough.”
“Whatever,” Steve rolled his eyes. “One of your fan club is coming over.”
It could be splashing, but it nearly sounds like Billy muttered, “Showtime.”
It’s Karen Wheeler, tottering in a new swimsuit and heels that seem frankly dangerous close to the water’s edge. Steve twitched, the heat from where Billy’s shoulder was pressed to his leg almost throbbing with awareness.
“Hello, Steve,” She smiled too warmly. “Billy.”
“Dig the new suit, Mrs. Wheeler,” Billy pressed his sunglasses up his nose and gave her a toothy smile.
“Thank you, Billy,” She preened, and stretched out on a towel next to Steve’s stand. “The sun’s moved over here, so…”
Billy nodded, leaning into Steve’s leg, “Oh, yeah. Gotta chase those rays.”
She laughed like it’s the funniest thing she’d ever heard, and for some reason Billy did too, his white teeth gleaming.
Steve shuffled in his seat.
“Thanks for your help, Harrington,” Billy punched his leg softly, and Steve glared at him. “See you later Mrs. Wheeler.”
“Bye, Billy,” She called out hopefully. She has a bag slung over the back of her chair that reminded Steve of when Steve and Nancy used to date.
She looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes, and asked him what he’s doing now that he’s graduated while her eyes lingered on his chest hair. Steve gritted his teeth before draping a towel over himself.
Billy Hargrove was an asshole. But Mrs. Wheeler was starting to wig Steve out pretty bad too.
That afternoon, he was still in a sour mood. The stalls at the community pool have these wimpy curtains. They barely gave the illusion of security but King Billy always acted like he couldn't see that this stall was occupied.
“Whoops, sorry, Harrington,” His voice echoed off the tiles and Steve slipped, hand waving out in the middle of nowhere to help him catch his balance.
Billy’s arm shot out and caught him by the elbow
“For fuck’s sake Billy,” Steve’s voice was higher than he wanted, and kind of breathy. Billy was stark naked except for red flip flops. “This is the third time this week.”
“Sorry, compadre, I have a lot on my mind,” Billy nodded and turned, throwing the curtain closed behind him. “Really didn’t mean it.”
“Like what? It better be good, because if my… fucking dick is going to be exposed it better be for a damn good reason,” Steve groused.
“Nothing I didn’t see in school, chill out, baby,” Steve can practically hear that toothy grin.
“What’s on your mind?”
Billy doesn’t answer right away. But the shower next door turns on, and Steve can hear the slap of Billy’s flip flops.
“How do you know if you’re in love, Harrington?”
Steve’s mouth fell open and he got a mouthful of the nasty pipe water.
“What?”He asked.
“Like… I never been in love before,” This was followed by the patter of flip flops. “So I’m trying to get some perspective.”
“I… you think you’re in love?”
“Probably,” Billy doesn’t sound happy about it. Water splashes on the tiles around Steve and he imagines the water splattering across Billy’s chest, heat rising like steam. Slow motion.
“What makes you think so?”
“I’ve been saving money,” Billy said. “I’m very close to getting back to California. I could go. But there’s this person…”
“So… tell her how you feel?” Steve expected that he would be fucking elated to find out that Billy was leaving, but instead it feels kind of empty and blank.
Billy laughed, a short firecracker burst of a sound, hitting the tiles all around Steve like a whip’s crack. It was very different from the way he laughed earlier.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Just trying to figure myself out, you know.”
“When would you leave?”
Billy sighed, “Sooner is better. They’re never gonna feel the same way. I’m kidding myself, you know?”
Steve scrubbed a hand through his hair, waiting too long before responding. “I’m sorry, man.”
“Don’t worry about it,” This laugh sounds more like the Mrs. Wheeler laugh, loud and, Steve’s starting to suspect, fake.
“You could still give it a try,” Steve offered weakly, “You’ve got nothing to lose, right?”
The laugh got louder, “You’re a riot, Harrington. Really, you are.”
Steve drove home with his head weirdly muddled with this news. He should be psyched about Billy's leaving. And if Billy got with his crush, he would have less time to piss Steve off or flirt with everyone in town. It was a win win.
It’s only when Steve was in bed later that night, the smell of chlorine still hanging in his nose slightly, that he wondered. Why Steve said she, but Billy said they. Like it could be anyone.
Like it could be a guy.
He watched the next day, the way Billy hung back from the crowd of girls, always holding himself apart. He slid away from a girl who was practically falling out of her swimsuit, smile frozen on his shiny face. Mrs Wheeler is staring at him, and Steve is uncomfortable to think how he’s not much better.
Come to think of it, he’s never seen Billy really hang around a girl that long. Oh he talks to them, goes on dates. He sleeps with them, or so Steve has heard. He’s never attached to any of them, he never seems to linger around one more than any other. Steve used to be part of SteveAndNancy and SteveAndMichelle and SteveAndChrissy. Billy wasn’t Billy and anybody.
It’s pretty easy to keep an eye on him because the only place Billy seems to linger is around Steve’s stand. He hangs by Chet at the gate sometimes too, giving him sunny smiles that make Steve’s chest hurt. Eddie Munson rolls by sometimes at closing, sitting with Billy in the back of his van.
Steve started to stare so hard he swore he was getting blinded by the glare off of Billy’s necklace, the gleam of his fake smile.
He showered and started to lock up in a fog, when he heard a splash in the water. The pool is closed… Steve’s blood runs cold. He promised himself if he took this job that nothing like what happened to Barb would ever happen again.
He groped under the check-in desk, coming up with the plank that they use to prop open the window when the weather is stifling, and crept out into the pool area.
“Jesus, Harrington,” Billy bobbed in the water, “What the fuck are you doing?”
Steve exhaled a shaky breath, “Fuck, Billy. I thought you were like a wild animal or something.”
“Who says I’m not?”
Steve dropped the plank to his side, “What are you doing out here?”
Billy leaned back in the water, his hair floating out in a dirty blonde halo, “Taking a dip. It was hot as hell today. You wanna come in?”
“I just showered.”
Billy shook his head, “Haven’t seen you in the pool all summer. Can you even swim?”
“How do you think I got the job, asshole?” Steve frowned.
“So prove it, asshole,” Billy grinned.
Steve grumbled, hating Billy for baiting him and hating himself for rising to it.
“There’s that King Steve spirit,” Billy smiled smugly. “Feels good, right?”
Steve floated along, annoyed that it did actually feel good. He tried not to think of the mass of swimming kids he’d seen opening their mouths underwater in the pool all day, and just enjoy.
“Did you talk to your crush?”
“Talk to them every day,” Billy replied with a laugh.
That ruled out Eddie Munson.
Steve frowned, bobbing closer, “You talk to them every day and you don’t know if they like you?”
Billy smiled ruefully, “I know they don’t.”
Steve rolled his head back into the water, “You could tell them. What’s the harm, if you might leave soon? No regrets, right?”
Billy doesn’t respond, but Steve was content enough to wait, his face turned up towards the late afternoon sunset, eyes closed. He hadn’t gotten into a pool for pleasure in so long.
It almost felt like the water lapping up, brushing Steve’s face. A warm press, something soft brushing his lips. If it hadn’t been for the stifled moan, Steve might have thought it was the pool.
He opened his eyes, and Billy was covering his mouth with his hand, swimming backwards. Steve could see his own shock reflected back in Billy’s bare blue eyes.
“Sorry,” Billy said, “Fuck, I’m… I’m sorry.”
Steve blinked at him, his brain still catching on to what happened.
“I’m so-” Billy swam swiftly to the edge of the pool, pulling himself out, shaking his head.
He kissed him. Billy kissed him?
It didn’t make sense. Steve’s game has been shot. He hadn’t gotten a single date this summer, nor a single kiss. He’d been a dick to Billy, snapping at him with the slightest provocation. He wasn’t King Steve anymore and Billy could have anyone he wanted.
He was slammed out of his reverie when the gate slams shut, leaving Steve alone, bobbing like a cork.
Billy didn’t come to work the next day. Or the next. Steve felt like he was going through his days under water, in slow motion.
“He quit,” Heather raised one perfect brow, “Will you mop up in the boys bathroom? Some kid threw up a hot dog.”
Steve didn’t exactly want to clean up hot dog but it wasn’t like there was Billy around to hang out with. Billy to jostle and scowl at, Billy to float on the water with. Billy to kiss…
Later, Billy asked Steve when he realized, when he decided he needed to rush over to Cherry Lane right away and bang on the window until Billy opened up. Billy asked when Steve decided to kiss Billy then and there, in front of God and everybody.
Steve didn’t have the heart to tell him that it was when he was mopping up chunks of hot dog, chlorine clogging his nostrils, nothing to do but think. Billy had said he loved someone. Someone he talked to every day, who didn’t like him much. Someone who could be a boy. Someone like Steve.
“You’re an asshole,” Steve laughed as he flopped through Billy’s window and wrapped his arms around him. Billy didn’t gleam like he did at the pool, all shiny surfaces. But he kissed Steve like he meant it, reflected back all the mixed up feelings swirling in Steve’s chest. All of this and in slow motion too.
The only thing worse than being in love with you is knowing that we will never be reunited.
Another Harringrove sketch, this one is a wip actually. Hopefully I will post 2 more harringrove pieces tonight. I loved every single comment under the last post, so every comment / reblog is appreciated!
I don’t know if someone has done this before but what about Steve getting dared to call Billy by all of the pet names he usually gives to his girlfriends?
I’d imagine it would either be Tommy who wants to get Steve in trouble with Billy again during a drunk truth or dare session with the keg gang including Billy or Robin who wants to mess with Steve by daring him do it to to his crush, Billy but either way, Steve has to spend an entire day referring to Billy only using nicknames like baby, doll, babe and sweetheart.
Imagine Steve still being in high school with Billy and that meant he’d have to whisper it directly into Billy’s ear so they don’t give it away. Imagine Billy stomping his way to his locker like he always does, surprised to see Steve whom he’s become friends with waiting for him there.
Steve doesn’t want to give the game away so they talk trivial shit until Billy’s gotten his books out and is just about ready to go. Steve is an asshole so he waits until Billy’s ready to head to class before leaning in close and telling him “Have a good day with your classes, baby.”
The look of pure surprise partnered with the high flush that bloomed over his cheeks made Billy look frankly adorable in Steve’s eyes and coupled with the lack of retaliation for it, it made Steve feel a lot more comfortable with spending the rest of the day messing with Billy.
So Steve does, accidentally on purpose bumping into him in the hallways only to apologize with an “I’m sorry, sweetheart, are you okay?” Steve treats Billy to lunch like he normally does with a “You need to eat to keep your strength up, babe.”
He even goes as far as to spend majority of their basketball practice riling Billy up, to the point of him having a permanent flush that travelled down his exposed chest. Steve was aggressive in defending against Billy, pressing up against him at every opportunity and congratulating him for every shot with a "Good one, doll" or "I'll get you next time, sweet cheeks. Just wait."
Billy is made aware of the dare at lunch so he tries his best to ignore it even if the pet names made him flush worse than when he attempted a 12 minute mile.
Billy doesn't even give Steve the chance to keep going after practice, choosing to rush through the showers as if the hounds of hell are on his heels and peeling out of the school parking lot as soon as Max got in the car.
Max had commented on his need for speed and his flushed cheeks but he didn't bother with fighting her over it, not when he'd spent the entire day being called pet names by his crush.
The next day, Billy was ecstatic to go back to the way things were, only to be surprised when Steve hurriedly parked right beside him and caught up to him before they got inside.
Steve passed Billy an apple while saying "Here, doll. I know you sometimes skip breakfast and you need something in your stomach to keep you going through your classes. See you later!" Billy was shell-shocked into holding the apple while Steve breezed into the hallway.
The rest of the week passed in a similar manner, with Steve flirting with Billy using pet names at every opportunity while continuously increasing his flirting game and Billy trying valiantly to hide his very visible reaction to all of the pet names and flirting.
It all comes to a head after their Friday afternoon basketball practice. For once, Billy bothered to stay until it was just him and Steve left in the locker rooms so he could finally confront Steve about the flirting. Billy doesn't bother to beat around the bush, pinning Steve to the wall.
"Stop playing these games, Harrington," Billy snarled.
Steve played innocent, widening his eyes to feign his innocence.
"What games am I playing, Billy? And what happened to Steve? I thought we were cool now." He pouted.
"We were until you kept on going with the pet names. What the fuck is up with that, Harrington? I know the dare was only for a day so why haven't you stopped with this bullshit yet?"
Steve just smirked at Billy and in a flash, their positions were switched.
"Aw but don't you like them, sweetheart?"
"N-no I-"
"Because I think you do like it, baby."
Billy looked around and tried to push Steve away but Steve had actually planted his feet for once and Billy couldn't get free.
"Stop trying to change the fucking subject!" He cried, trying to get Steve to release his wrists from over his head.
Steve leaned down.
"What's the matter with them, babe? They're just pet names."
"I don't like 'em. I don't like you treating me like I'm one of your girls so stop it."
Steve chuckles and moves even closer. Steve can feel how fast Billy's heart is beating and feel Billy's hitched breath on his skin.
"I think you're lying, baby."
"W-What?"
Steve chuckles before he moves to whisper his answer into Billy's ear, firmly pressing the blond into the wall.
"I think you secretly like all of the pet names. That pretty blush of yours comes out every time I use one and I love seeing it on you. See? There it is right now." Steve says, tucking a loose curl behind Billy's ear.
"I-I-"
Steve releases his hold on Billy's wrists before moving in.
"Stop me if I'm reading this wrong, baby."
Billy only melts into Steve's kiss, wrapping his arms around Steve's shoulders as Steve's hands move to grip Billy's hips to pull him in closer.
They make out for a good few minutes before Billy remembers he has to go and bring Max home from the arcade. Billy regretfully broke the kiss to get some air and to deal with everything once and for all.
"Fuck!"
"What is it, babe?"
"I-I need to go. I have to bring Max home before dinner starts or else, I'll be dead." Billy explained, wringing his hands in an unconscious manner.
Steve notices and immediately goes to hold both of them while catching Billy's eye.
"It's fine, Billy. I need to go and pick up the rest of the kids too but if you're free later, come to my house, baby. My parents won't be home for a few weeks so we can have it all to ourselves."
Billy looks down at their conjoined hands before meeting Steve's gaze to clarify where they stood.
"I-W-What are we doing, Steve?"
"Well, I don't know about you but I'd like to be in a relationship with you, Billy. Sure, I went about it in a different way but I'd love to be able to be with you and explore just how far that flush of yours goes, baby."
Billy flushes again but he doesn't try so much to hide it. Instead, he peeks up at Steve from behind his long, blond lashes. Billy dared to hope.
"This isn't a one time thing?"
"Not unless that's what you want. I want to go the whole nine yards with you if you'll let me, Billy. The ball's in your corner."
Billy's silent and contemplative for a few seconds before he mumbles his answer.
"I-I want that."
"What did you say, baby? I couldn't understand." Steve teased.
"I want to be in a relationship with you, okay?"
"Well, then I'll be the luckiest man in the world, baby because I get to call you mine."
prompt from my beloved @artemisthehuntress: “You have some flour... everywhere.”
harringrove, fluff, getting together
---
Max blinked in surprise. Her blue eyes wandered from her stepbrother to the hand-mixer to the mess of baking supplies scattered across the kitchen counter. “You have some flour... everywhere.”
“Yeah,” Billy snapped. “I noticed. Thank you so much for that witty observation, Maxine.”
The redhead flinched. The full-name shuffle was never good.
“What’s wrong?”
“I can’t get the fucking measurements right and I only have a few more hours until the party.”
Max glanced at the calendar and then back to the hand-mixer. “Tonight is Steve’s birthday party. Are you... Are you baking a cake for Steve Harrington’s birthday, dude?”
Billy flushed, glaring a hole through the plastic bowl he had tucked into the crook of his arm. Max could see already that the batter was lumpy and far too dry. They would definitely need to start over.
“Alright, so,” she rolled up her sleeves, “We’re going to need to re-organize a little and wipe the kitchen down, but we can definitely still make it in time.”
“Y-You’re gonna help me?” Billy seemed utterly gobsmacked at the idea. Max bit the inside of her cheek to keep from making a snarky comeback; she knew how much worse he had it around here. The literal least she could do was not be an asshole all the time.
“Well yeah, Steve’s my friend, too. And I want partial credit.”
“Fine, but it was my idea.”
“Why does it need to be your idea?” Max raised her eyebrow. “Not that I care.”
“Just shut up and help me, please.”
“Fine, fine. Jeez.”
---
Max leaned against Lucas next to Steve’s huge pool and watched as Billy presented their (hideous) homemade vanilla birthday cake to the older teen. “He was so worked up about it I thought he was gonna bust a vein in his eye or something.”
“Really? Billy got upset over a cake?”
“He was very insistent that he get credit for the idea, too.”
“Adults are weird, dude. I don’t get it.”
“Yeah, me neither. Wanna go swimming?”
“For sure!”
---
“Y-You made it from scratch?” Steve asked, biting adorably at his full bottom lip. Billy had never been more jealous of someone else’s teeth.
“Yeah, pretty boy. Max helped a little, but I figured I could use the challenge.”
“No one’s ever made me a cake from scratch before,” Steve whispered. He quickly snapped his eyes to from the awkwardly frosted cake to Billy’s face, like he hadn’t meant for those words to be spoken aloud. “I mean, uh, thank you. I really like it.”
“No problem, Steve. Happy birthday, by the way. I got you a present, too, but I left it in my car.”
“I could... come get it with you?” Steve offered, setting the cake to the side where it would be safe. His fingers fumbled against each other awkwardly, tangling occasionally with the bottom hem of his polo. He was too fucking cute, it wasn’t fair.
“Sure.”
They didn’t come back to the party for a good, long while.
