Part 2 of my Serial Killer Steve AU
Billy Hargrove prided himself on his skills of observation. Growing up the way he had, it could have been the difference between going to bed hungry or going to bed bleeding.
Being able to read people and predict their actions and motivations had come in handy over the years and it kept him ahead of the game in his personal and professional life. It never seemed to fail him…
It could just be that his senses were getting rusty, after all, it had been six years since his father died, but it was more likely because his feelings were involved. He couldn't see what was right in front of him because he didn't want to.
He wanted to turn a blind eye to his boyfriend's questionable behavior, to the dried blood beneath his nails. He wanted to ignore the strange feeling he got when he came home extra late, when his smile was too wide and his posture too relaxed when the evening news pronounced another death. He wanted to forget the familiar bruises and scratch marks.
Billy wanted to just explain it away.
Of course he'd get into some scuffles and make someone, or himself, bleed. Of course he'd come home late some nights because of stake outs or paperwork. Of course he'd be happy when a rapist, or otherwise bad guy, was found murdered.
Hell, Billy was happy to hear when assholes got what they deserved, he hadn't shed a tear for his pops after they laid him in the ground, but it was different for Steve. Sometimes he looked….accomplished. Not just relieved that another monster was off the streets.
He looked ….almost proud.
Like he had some kind of personal connection or responsibility for such a violent outcome.
For those few seconds in front of the television, he was a different person.
But even with all of the….weird things he'd noticed over the years, Billy keeps pretending that nothing has changed, because he loves Steve. Steve has always been there for him. He'd taken care of Billy when he needed him and helped make him a better person.
Steve is a good guy. A good cop. Best detective Howard county has ever had.
He is always protecting people and he has the whole town of Hawkins wrapped around his finger. So it was easy to keep going. To keep smiling. To forget what he saw, what he briefly suspected…
His hand slightly shakes as he stares down at the paper bill in his hand.
For a storage unit he hadn't known about.
He wants to shove it back into the desk draw where he'd found it. He wants to leave the office and get a beer from the fridge. He wants to forget he'd ever seen it. Wants to ignore the sick thoughts in his head.