- RETROMIX + HEATMETAL

[camarod]

Comments

[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.

[retromix]

[ Startling as the door bursts open, he lowers a defensive arm (fighting Vecna makes you twitchy, okay) and gives Eddie a look hopefully conveying Nice, real subtle. The glance Billy gets is far less fond; no point denying Eddie was texted.

Steve folds his arms and leans back on the kitchen counter, jerking his chin to the spread on the coffee table. ]

Like I said: beer and pizza. [ Sniff. ] Maybe go a little easy on the former.

[heatmetal]

[ steve gets a look in turn, hands slightly raised in a shrug. I thought you were in danger? I wasn't going to waste time if you were getting stabbed, or worse, Vecna'd. before he turns his attention back to Billy, the leering not escaping his notice.

There's his own little irrational flutter of jealousy. He quickly shoves it aside, smoothly stepping back into the role of Eddie the Freak, untouchable, confusing and unknowable. ]

Nice to see you back in the land of the living, Hargrove. [ he'll go ahead and help himself to a slice. ] And extra nice you brought a little treat to break the ice. Once I get back in business I'll be sure to give you a nice little discount for being such a good little guest. [ he winks. ]

[camarod]

Munson you sweet talker, you’re speaking my language. [There’s an ancient back and forth he can slip into, however brief the encounters were. He nods to the table, nudging the box with his foot.]

I brought some of the legal merchandise, but it lacks that Hawkins bleachers flavour - and Harrington’s nose is sensitive.

[retromix]

[ The back and forth takes some of the focus off Steve, for which he's intensely grateful. There's something about having Billy lounging around in his own space, open as all hell about wanting to have sex, that makes Steve's fight or flight go into overdrive (and he isn't entirely sure anymore that the sentiments stem from a purely heterosexual point of view). Eddie is a great buffer, he knows how to do that flawlessly.

Steve melts into the background as much as he can, leaning on the breakfast bar with a hip, arms folded as he watches the back and forth. ]

I've done marijuana before, dude, I just don't want the place I sleep to reek of it.

[heatmetal]

Rich boy sensibilities or something. [ classy in this case being 'not a stye' ] But! I don't give a shit. If you want a smoke we can use my room. [ Eddie settles for standing, munching on a sizable slice of pizza. ]