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every-dayiwakeup · 2 years

Note

another 2 songs, first one is a bit short ! “I Want You” by Mitski ✨ and the second one (who knew this was coming) “Daddy Issues” by The Neighbourhood ☺️

Welcome back 🥰

Alright! Another song to add to my playlist (I love Mitski)! Also this became a bit of an AU interpretation so I'm gonna run with it 😏😏) I'm gonna split this into two posts, but I'll tag you in the other one ofc ❤️

The first part of my interpretation is:

*an AU where Steve, Nancy, Robin, Dustin, and Eddie return to the Upside Down to carry out their part in killing Vecna, and they find someone they know to be dead*

*** Part One: AU***

It's the End of the World As We Know It

I want you

When Billy was killed by the Mind Flayer, that was when Steve realized he loved him. Unfortunate timing, right? As Toto wisely put it, love wasn't always on time. Fuck Toto.

I hold one card, that I can't use

Perhaps it was for the best. After all, it wasn't the right era, either. Even if Billy has survived -if Steve had done more than just watch his body get punctured like a piece of paper- there was no guarantee he loved Steve back. Neil Hargrove died of a "broken heart" (Steve didn't know he had one. Fuck Neil.) and Billy should've been here with him, celebrating the death of the old ball and chain.

Billy deserved to know the perks of a Neil-free life. Max deserved to have her big brother.

It wasn't Steve's loss. So why did he feel so empty?

But I want you

But Billy was gone. Dead. The world would move on without him. Steve just couldn't bring himself to follow suit. Fuck the world.

As it turned out, the world had selective hearing, because it did indeed start to fuck itself. Or rather, Vecna did.

You're coming back

Steve was about to become bat food. He writhes around in vain, because he's supposed to stay alive. For the kids. For Robin. For-

His eyes start to roll to the back of his head, foam spewing from his mouth-

Then the tentacle thingy abandones its hold on his neck, and he breathes in and out, his lungs graciously accepting oxygen like a starving man at an all you can eat buffet.

"Harrington? That you?"

Steve bolts upright, eyes wide. They're watery, but they make out a stocky man with matted hair, and fiery blue eyes.

"Hargrove?" he weezes out in disbelief.

"In the flesh," Billy replies. He's covered head to toe with blood and demo guts, and his wife beater is torn, showing purple flowery scars.

It's logically not possible for him to be alive, but Steve's never been more relieved. Fuck logic. He was friends with a girl who could move things with her mind. Plus Billy Hargrove had proven several times before Starcourt that he was immune to logic in all of it's forms. It's almost scary how fast Steve accepts that he's real.

Billy crouches in front of him, doing what he does best; invading Steve's personal space.

Billy hastily pushes back the hair sticking to Steve's face, and Steve swears he sees tears gathering in Billy's eyes.

"I thought... I thought everyone forgot about me... I tried to-to reach out... but-"

Steve gets caught in the moment, cupping Billy's face in his. He's disturbed by the lack of squish, but make no mistake, it's Billy fucking Hargrove. "Me, forget you? Have you met yourself? You're pretty damn unforgettable, Billy."

Billy's mouth forms a small "o".

"Steve, I-"

"Step away from him, or I'll shoot!" A gun is pressed to the back of Billy's, and Steve tackles him.

"Christ, Nancy! Put that fucking gun away, it's Billy!"

Speaking of, the boy is quivering under him, and Steve shoots Nancy a dirty look as he tries to calm him down.

"This isn't the time or place for a Shakespeare play, Harrington! Take your Romeo and let's fucking haul ass!" Eddie practically screeches, waving his arms around frantically.

Billy barks one of his horrendous hyena laughs, causing the other teenagers jump out of their skin. Robin clutches her heart, her other hand gripping Nancy's and Eddie is hiding behind her, shaking his head like a wet dog. Dustin just stares at Billy, trying to process the fact that the guy who died for them is somehow alive.

There is nothing even remotely funny about this situation. They're probably all going to die here, and the world is in potential peril, but Steve can't help joining Billy with a manic laugh of his own. What a strange pair they must be.

A selfish sliver of Steve is alive, and this part of him is glad that of all the people to die with, Billy Hargrove is one of those people.

But if there's one thing he and Billy have in common... they won't be going down without a fight.

Steve's hand finds Billy's, and he squeezes it. Billy looks at Steve like he's just hung the moon, and the asshole squeezes back harder, a competitive smirk on his grimy face.

Fuck Billy Hargrove.

And it's the end of the world

When they return to Hawkins, their group is one member short, and not even Billy has the heart to crack an ill timed joke.

It was Eddie's wicked guitar solo that told him he wasn't alone. He had smoked a few joints with him before Starcourt (in fact Eddie had made him a mixtape for him after Neil stepped on every CD Billy ever owned). In the short time he spent with Munson, he had grown... fond of the greasy haired metal head.

Eddie understood him in ways that didn't require words.

Apparently even being fond of someone was a fucking crime in the 80s, because Billy had seen what Eddie's plan was before he even cut the sheets. And he just... stood there while Eddie finally decided to pull the hero card.

And Max...

He failed her. He failed to look out for her, and now she was holed up in the hospital. Lucas was by her side. Billy couldn't look at either of the them. The shame was too much. Besides, he wasn't sure Max would want him there anyway.

El the girl he died for, had greeted him with a hug, as though they were old friends.

He supposed they were, in a way. She had been inside his head.

Focus on the positive...

According to the doctor, Max was alive.

Try not to focus on brain dead...

His spunky little sister and the d word shouldn't exist in the same sentence.

Somehow he had seen everything, and he couldn't do anything. He wasn't sure how to explain it. It was like he was there, but he couldn't move.

All he could do was watch. Watch his little sister's bones snap, blood pouring out of her formerly blue eyes.

That hurt more than when she said she wanted bad things to happen to him. When she said she didn't think he deserved to be saved.

Steve pulls up to Hopper's cabin, and Billy is hesitant to get out of the car (he and Robin had stolen it, and he remembered that Eddie taught him how to hot wire).

Steve stays with him, even opening the passenger seat to offer a hand to help him out.

He expects Steve to drop him and go be with his friends, but good old Harrington doesn't leave his side. Neither does El. Funnily enough, Dustin doesn't hide behind the Wheeler girl when Billy nods at him. The mop headed kid nods back, a mutual look of respect and understanding in his red rimmed eyes.

Eddie's death reminds him of a book he read once, in which the author killed off a comedic, cowardly character to signify that shit was getting serious. A harsh graduation from heavenly childhood into the descent of hell.

Argyle, Jonathan Byers' buddy, looks him up and down, then offers him something Billy can't refuse- a blunt. And of course, inevitable conversation. "You're from Cali, right?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, sick! What's your opinion on pineapple on pizza?"

Jonathan, who has decided to take a break from trying to explode Mike Wheeler with his mind, slaps his forehead, groaning loudly at his friend. The weed hasn't kicked in yet for him, then. "Dude-"

"Adds flavor," Billy replies, inhaling the smoke in hopes it will numb his brain so he can't think (and by extension not feel). Argyle is a watered down version of Eddie, and the thought brings him a tiny bit of comfort.

"My man! Up top!" Argyle forgets to actually high five Billy, and stumbles off into the bushes nearby.

"Shouldn't he stay closer to the cabin?" Billy asks Steve.

"He's looking for mushrooms," Jonathan answers for him. "He'll be fine. I think."

The younger Byers gasps, touching the back of his neck.

Billy shudders at the same time, a sudden chill coming over him.

The two Williams look at the sky, watching the sun get swallowed up by dark clouds that signal much worse things than rain.

Curiousity gets the better of the mismatched family, and they gather together on a grassy hill overlooking Hawkins, breaking out into duos; Chief Hopper with Mrs. Byers, Will with Mike, El with Dustin, Jonathan with Argyle, Nancy with Robin, and last but not least, Billy and Steve.

This time Billy's hand reaches for Steve's as red lightning strikes the charcoal sky.

Part 2:

**(And I Feel Fine)**

We're starting over

And I love you darling

And I am done here

T.S. Eliot once said, "What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from."

A year after the Final Battle (or as Dustin dubbed it, an encore no one asked for), and Steve finally understood what that quote meant.

As brutal and heartbreaking as it was, he was finally able to be free from the cesspool of Hawkins, Indiana. The Battle gave him a chance to start over. And of course he took Billy with him, because if anyone deserved to experience that same freedom, it was the Boy The World Swallowed Whole.

Billy, who had to let Max go, because he didn't want her to suffer anymore. Billy, who slowly but surely lets Steve into his fragile heart.

They drive to California, where Steve watches Billy come alive in the sun, his curls turning golden. Like a halo. A real life angel who's stolen his wings back, but never needed them to fly. Steve tells him so, and Billy hides his red face in his hands, muttering "You're a fuckin' sap, Harrington."

Steve was learning all of Billy's little quirks, and he couldn't have any of that without the gift of Starting Over.

At the same time, Billy was learning new things about himself, as well as rediscovering parts of himself he never thought he'd see again.

You're in the house, and I am in the car

Of course couples (or whatever they were) fought sometimes, and they were no different.

Despite Steve insisting he's not a burden, Billy doesn't always believe it. He fires back telling Steve he deserves better than someone who is damaged. His body is scarred and soft in places that weren't before. His hands have done horrible things to the people he loves.

It becomes a ritual of some sorts, where Billy's fears and insecurities are layed out for Steve to see, and Steve focuses on what's eating at him.

If it's his scars or stretch marks, Steve traces them, saying they tell a story, and that he would happily read it for the rest of his life.

Billy isn't sure what to make of that one.

If it's the scar he gave Steve at the Byers house, the older man tells him that it escalated, and Steve would have done the same thing if he were Billy.

If it's nightmares... they both get them. So they hold each other. Steve gets a therapy dog, and Billy adopts the kitty that fell out of a tree and landed in his mullet.

If it's his "fluff" as Steve calls it (Billy prefers it because it makes him feel cute), Steve cuddles with him. Sometimes they have naked days, where Steve traces words onto his soft skin that make Billy come undone.

If Billy's not in the mood for Steve to see him, Steve distracts him by making him laugh.

He tries to compliment Billy on traits that aren't physical, like his bravery, his big heart, his frat boy sense of humor, his Joe Pesci impression... (there's more, but Billy has a short attention span sometimes so Steve keeps it short).

I just need a quiet place

Where I can scream I love you

To no one's surprise, the first time they confess their love for each other out loud, its during an argument.

It's a silly argument that started because Billy is in a particularly annoying mood where he's being childish (and confident) and Steve just wants to fix his hair (and mope because Billy has a date tonight, and it's not with him- even though he has a date too).

Feeling ignored, Billy pouts and grabs his brush, singing "Catch me if you can!" and proceeds to run around their house in socks.

"Dammit, Hargrove, I have a date tonight!"

"You were in the bathroom too long! I have to get ready, too!"

"Then use the other bathroom!"

"I don't want to!"

"Why not? Jesus, Hargrove, just give me the damn brush!"

"No."

"No?" Steve repeats, growing angrier by the second. "What the fuck do you mean, no? Do you have a problem with me going out on a date?"

Billy's plump lips snap stubbornly shut at and the two boys glare at each other. It's just like high school all over again.

"Use your words, Hargrove. What about your date? Shouldn't you be getting ready?" Steve can't keep the scornfulness out of his voice.

Billy, the perceptive bastard that he is, raises a clearly mocking eyebrow.

Why does he have to be so fucking pretty?

"I don't have time for this." Steve makes to yank his brush out of Billy's hand.

"I don't have a date tonight," Billy mutters so quietly, Steve almost doesn't hear him.

"What?"

"I lied. Are you happy now? Have fun on your date, Harrington." He thrusts the brush at Steve, who's objective has shifted to Billy's kicked puppy face.

Steve groans, throwing his hands in the air, as he often does when his brain is overwhelmed by new bits of information. The sudden movement startles Billy, and he backs up, slipping on the hardwood.

Steve stops him before he hits the floor with one hand, and he's thankful for whatever possesses him to pull Billy into his space. He's delighted to spot more freckles dotting Billy's fuller cheeks. He smells like cigarettes and cherries.

Does he taste like cherries, too?

But when I stepped through,

There was no floor

True to Harrington fashion, however, he puts his foot in his mouth. "Why did you lie? Billy?"

"Doesn't matter." Loosely translates to I don't matter.

"Why don't you want me to go on a date?" Steve presses. "Billy, goddammit, talk to me!"

"Because you're supposed to go out with me!" Billy roars, voice cracking.

"Well, I want to go out with you, too!"

"I- what?"

"Billy... I. Want. To. Date. You."

"But-"

"No buts- Stop laughing, I'm trying to confess here!"

That shuts Billy up, and he watches Steve hopefully.

"You've always been something to me. But the thing is... I've never been satisfied."

Billy stiffens, ready to insult him, but Steve pushes on, "Because you're a force of nature. A hurricane. Larger than life, and I knew right then and there I wanted all of you. You were my rival, my hero, my crush, my friend, my roommate... And I want you to be... my partner in crime. My only partner in crime."

Billys eyes grow comically wide, oceans of emotion, absorbing every word. "If we're partners in crime... does that mean we can... kiss?"

"We can do a lot more than kiss. I want you, in every conceivable way."

Billy grins from ear to ear, pink from his face to his neck. "Harrington, you sly dog-"

Steve kisses him. Its not particularly romantic, and their noses are smushed together, but it's perfect.

"I guess you could say... you fell for me?"

"I want a divorce."

"My, my, Hargrove, it sounds like you see us getting married some time in the future."

"S-shut up!"

I love you darling

Is what their wedding vows say ❤️

Tags list:

@whoringrove