- RETROMIX + HEATMETAL

[camarod]

Comments

[retromix]

[ He's ignoring that comment because past game is still game! ]

Are you still flirting, is that what this is?

[ The pizza is not an apology at all! ]

Because it feels a lot like you came here to tell me I'm an idiot for not reading your mind when you were being a dick to me at school and parties.

[camarod]

I came to make peace, actually -

[It's not his fault you're wearing a Metallica shirt like a slut Steve - !!]

You know what, you're right. My apologies. [This does a little sarcastic, and maybe it is. It isn't malicious, the way his sarcasm usually is. It isn't really mean, but it feels like his old defensive mechanisms, which yeah, is comforting. Makes him feel in control, which is all he's really wanted, isn't it? Control. Can't control dad, can't control mom, or Max, or anything, but he can control this, maybe. Enough of it, anyway.

Billy moves from the window. ] I'll give you the full Billy Hargrove seduction, how's that? Will that make you feel better, pretty boy?

[Steve doesn't want him mean? That's fine. He can pretend like it doesn't feel alien to act as blatantly flirtatious like Steve's Heather Holloway, like this wouldn't get him killed. It won't, here. Nobody gives a shit here about him, about this, about anything. He moves like a cat, all lazy strides with his shoulders tensed, ready to pounce. He approaches like he's on the hunt, like Steve is prey, and he might get close enough to lean in to his space, maybe. Put a hand next to his on the armchair neck, pinky close enough to brush Steve's, lean in close, lower his voice and say: ] How's this? This obvious enough for you?

[retromix]

[ Steve leans back a little as Billy saunters over, although he doesn't give any ground out of principle (even if he wants to). Knowing he's the subject of Billy's interest like that has a stalling effect on Steve's brain, he can't come up with any witty replies in the full face of it. His lips are so dry that he has to sweep his tongue over them. ]

Like you said, me and Munson.

[ It's not like Steve can give Robin advice then hide himself, that would be hypocritical in the extreme. He's not sure how else to make his point, is the problem, awkwardly navigating the situation as it comes. ]

[camarod]

[The movement of Steve's tongue catches his eye, gaze downward and holding against the curve of Steve's mouth. There's no point in hiding it, really. The silence after the fact is heavy, he realises. It feels charged, feels disappointing too. He lifts his gaze up again, looking into the brown of Steve's eyes like he's looking for a but - and there isn't one.

He nods, wets his own lips and steps back. Feels air rushing back into his lungs. ] You and Munson. [The jealousy doesn't go away. It feels ugly and painful as it twists in chest, but it isn't suffocating. It's bearable. He can endure it for however long it takes to get over Steve Harrington.

He puts out the joint with his thumb and forefinger, pocketing the remains of it again. The sofa beckons, and it's easy to sit, to spread again, to reach for his beer and a slice like he hasn't just bared some secret part of himself and had it turned back on him. ] Sit down, man. It's fine.

[retromix]

[ Time was, Steve would turn down multiple girls a night at a party without blinking. Currently he's never felt so incredibly far from the King Steve persona in his life, eyes on the way Billy is watching him; Steve's ears and cheeks are so hot and he isn't sure what to do. ]

Were you seeing guys in Hawkins? [ Except be nosy. ] Like, a lot or a few, or ... ?

[camarod]

Nah. Too small, too connected. Everybody knows each others business. 'Sides, most of 'em looked like Tommy H or fucking Carol. I have standards, Harrington.

[Girls and guys. Karen Wheeler was his only dry spell hope rip. ]

And my dad was breathing down my neck about girls. If he thought I was fucking guys too I'd have been dead before Starcourt.

[retromix]

[ That only makes him blush more, Jesus H Christ. How into him exactly is Billy? ]

But you have been with guys?

[camarod]

Yeah. A couple. Cali's a different place, not easier just - more space to breathe.

[Never anything serious. Commitment is - stupid. Sort of fake and exhausting. He shrugs. ]

I was less of a prick there, I guess. Outside home, anyway.

[retromix]

[ His head is spinning. Never expected to hear Billy call himself a prick, wow.

Also, ]

My dad would kick my ass if he, if ... uh.

[camarod]

Yeah, dads are like that. Assholes.

[Cheers to shit dads etc etc. ] Munson was your sexual awakening. Jesus fuck.

[retromix]

It's not a sexual awakening, Jesus. Don't be so dramatic.

[ sWEATING. ]

He happens to be a guy, it's not so different.

[ He's got this. Totally. ]

[camarod]

Sure it is.

[steve.] That's the whole point.

[retromix]

No, it's not. I'm not ... interested because of him being a guy, I like him because ...

[ Lips pressed in a hard line, he rakes his hair back and shrugs open-armed. ]

Even when everybody in town turned on him, he stood up for them, and it isn't even that he's insanely, stupidly brave. He looked out for the kids and made sure they had someone to talk to at school, because that place is shit sometimes and it takes no prisoners.

There was never anything wrong with Munson, we were calling him a freak because we were all worried we wouldn't fit in. It was all bullshit.

[ In conclusion, ]

So, no! I don't care what's between his legs.

[camarod]

Oh, it's deep.

[Three weeks and - a year? Is that how long it takes to develop feelings? Gross. What a waste. ]

I get it. Munson's the exact opposite of me. What he'd do, look in those big brown eyes and promise he'd hold your hand in public?

[retromix]

Hey, smartass, why don't you try holding my attention without pissing me off for more than five minutes, maybe you'd learn something.

[ Huffing, Steve heads into his kitchenette to pour himself a glass of water, needing something to do and wanting the taste of beer out of his mouth. ]

If your grand plan to seduce me was turning up with a half-assed jealous apology, congrats. Real deep.

[ To use Billy's words. ]

[camarod]

[He snorts. ]

That ship has sailed. You and Munson, remember? You chose door number two, amigo.

[Accept him for who he is etc] Now I get to rib you about how you're swapping shirts. Give and take, pretty boy.

[retromix]

[ Hands on hips o'clock. ]

Apparently there are more doors than ever! And not that it's any of your business but we haven't swapped anything, I was in a rush this morning.

[ All of Eddie's shirts look the same and swallow up any colour on Steve's in the floor somehow, he's blameless. ]

[camarod]

You are so sensitive, relax.

[Pot, kettle, etc. ] I'm not judging. At least he left the decent shirt. People might believe you've got taste.

[retromix]

[ Cocking a hip, he levels a flat, unimpressed look Billy's way. ]

I'm not sensi— I'm not playing this game with you.

[camarod]

[The fucking mom pose is going to be the death of him. Death by holding in laughter. ]

I think you kind of are, amigo.

[retromix]

I am not your amigo.

[camarod]

Ouch, Harrington. I'm wounded. That one stings.

[Hand on chest, head back very dramatically - vaguely it feels like Cali again, with his Real Friends. Without the baggage of why they moved in the first place. He could have done this if he weren't too busy resenting Susan. Hindsight really is a bitch. ]

[retromix]

Better get used to it, it's all the action you're gonna see around these parts.

[ Turning his back on Billy to go check his phone it doesn't cross his mind that his ass is now on full display, jeans crunkling with Steve's annoyed hip shifting his weight.

He texts, "Where are you???"

Eddie must have passed out. He really isn't the best without company to keep his spirits up right now. Shit. ]

[heatmetal]

[ he was, in fact, very passed out. when he's not distracting himself with shopping and steve, eddie on his own is a somewhat depressing animal. lamenting the life he'd wasted in hawkins, worrying if he'd ever get back - worrying about potentially landing in jail for the rest of his life if he did, and wondering if he'd ever figure out just what the hell his superpowers were. unless the mere fact he was alive was meant to be his power.

it's a dark and winding road and if he lets himself think, he walks it. and he's not always certain he'll find his way out of those thoughts.

so weed and beer have been used medicinally.

and unfortunately this makes him The Worst and Shittiest - what, boyfriend? friend with benefits? bro? to steve, because he's sleeping off a session of binge drinking when he gets the text.

when he finally rolled over, the message was enough to scare the piss (and booze) straight out of him. billy hargrove was an asshole, and from what steve had been telling him, one who didn't fully grasp the idea of boundaries. there's a mutter of shit and then a louder shout of FUCK as he grabs for whatever is closest to the bed and then he's up and grabbing his switchblade just in case as he books it to steve's room. there's no real announcement to his presence, a cursory knock before he's throwing the door open and skidding in on socked feet. he takes stock of the situation - no blood, there is actual pizza, pizza wasn't a codeword for violence that's good, and rests his hands on his hips. ]

Well! [ he is slightly out of breath, and stinks of weed and day-old drink. what a hero he is. ] Isn't this a fun little Hawkins Highschool Reunion.

[camarod]

[It’s a sight: Billy’s half laughing into his knuckles, eyes glued to Steve’s ass. The pizza is halfway done, there’s still beer and Billy, to his credit doesn’t start. He takes his time acknowledging Eddie with a look, and when he does it’s -

it’s with amusement in his eyes. ] Wow, what a coincidence.