Take Me Back (Deja Vu) -- For @crawlingbackwards

[california_dreaming]

Hawkins, Indiana. Friday, June 30th, 1995.

Ten years ago to the day a young lifeguard was kidnapped by her coworker from the pool, an act that ultimately led to hear death. Ten years and one day ago, the life of a particular asshole from California had been changed forever. Later on he'd blown out of town, not looking back, unable to face the horrors that the now infamously cursed town had in store.

A bit under a year later he read newspapers about a state of emergency that almost made him get back in his beat Ford Escort and drive back. But no. Nothing could ever get him to go back to that hellhole. That's what he told himself.

Hilarious that ten years to the day that his life had been ruined he had done just that, holing up in a hotel for some sleep to recover before what would be yet another life changing weekend in the cursed town. His ten year high school reunion. Hell, Billy didn't even know for sure just how the invitation had gotten to him. Someone must have found his contact information, because it had come and for a laugh he'd agreed.

Mostly because it was long past due when he should check in on Max, and he'd heard she might be in town checking on Susan. The drive was nice too. Good for inspiration. He'd taken it slower than the trip back to California, stopping at points with great views, hauling out a sketchbook, and getting ideas down on paper when he needed it. Never knew when some small detail would create something beautiful. Or terrible. Worked either way. Still gets into town, crashes on the couch in Susan's place after a meal (she'd actually gotten a bit better at cocking, who could have expected it), and then prepares for what comes next.


Billy Hargrove knows how to make an entrance. Has already made one in this small town before, but he does it now for old time's sake. Waits until he'll be half an hour late, so he can ensure all eyes are on him. If he's going to be back in this place of nightmares and memories, he wanted to live out some of the good ones. Which means tearing into the school parking lot in his blue and white Chevy Chevelle, engine roaring, music blaring. Barely anyone is outside of the school building, already headed into the gym, but the few who are...

Oh the looks he gets. They know this entrance. They know what it means. And before he even gets out of the car he knows there are whispers. But he does get out, smooths his fitted and well worn jeans over his legs as he does so. Back then he'd be in some shirt he hadn't bothered to do up all the way. These days he's still too mindful of old scars, choosing instead to have one where he can have the sleeves up and the buttons all done, like self respect. After a moment to psych himself up he gets out and makes for the gym.

"Well damn, Carol, you sure aged like fine wine," he says as he comes to a stop at the check in desk, smiling down at her. She looks so shocked. Like she can't believe he's here. Neither can Billy. But he keeps smiling and she reaches for a badge that is really deep in the box, like no one expected it to be needed.

"You too," she says as she hands it up. "Like what you did with your hair."

Billy reaches up, considers the curls. They're bleached more blonde than ever from all the sun back home, just as changed by California as he had been. But when he touches it he almost laughs. Apparently he'd forgotten to pull his hair out of the sloppy bun he'd put it in earlier while helping tidy a bit around Susan's place. Even reaches for the tie when Carol shakes her head.

"Oh no. Leave it like that," she grins. "You look tasty."

And Billy laughs as he accepts the passed over name tag so he can affix it to his shirt.

"When have I not been a snack?" he asks before nodding to Carol. "See you inside later."

Then he heads past her into the gym and feels the eyes turning on him.

Billy Hargrove had come back to Hawkins High School. Now he just needed to make it through the night. Maybe it would be easier this time, because so much of the old arrogance and steel had been worked off of him, just leaving a softer, happier man in its place.

Comments

[california_dreaming]

"A prominent role," Billy assures him. How can he not when he knows this is allowed?

"They are. Who is the better judge of aesthetics here, Harrington? The self conscious teacher who has clearly been failed by the women in his life, or the artist?"

The answer is clear. And with that said he gets to his feet.

"I should mingle. Because if I let myself look at your hair and smile and glasses and blush any longer, I'm going to say things that can get me run out of town."

[crawlingbackwards]

And oh does that blush only get deeper, between the admission to Billy flat out flirting with him Steve can't help it. Clearing his throat he nods once again raising his empty cup to his lips only to roll his eyes at himself.

"Hey uh, how long are you in town for? Maybe...maybe you can swing by? I still live in the same house. You can come by...re-meet Robin? We can hang out and talk? You can tell me more about California?" He didn't want to just let Billy leave without saying something, even if it still left it more up to Billy. For all he knew the blonde could leave town and he'd never see him again. That would suck but...he'd also understand.

[california_dreaming]

"The weekend," he says. Which means at least another two days. He smiles at Steve from where he's standing, looking a bit pleased with the question. "Don't know Robin, never met her. But yeah. I could do that if you want. Check in with me before you leave. Or before I leave. We'll figure something out."

[crawlingbackwards]

"Right..." She was only Steve's best friend in the entire world and one more person who helped Steve figure out a lot about himself. Granted he almost forgets for a moment that Billy never would have seen her much in school.

"Cool, yeah, I'll come find you later. Or you can come find me...whichever works." Why did he feel so much more nervous than before!? He felt like a teenager asking out a cute guy. As Billy left the table Steve ran his hands through his hair and over his face under his glasses. Who knew that Billy Hargrove had chilled out so much and had ended up being so...calm? Sure everyone knew the man was handsome back in school but...actually flirting back with Steve? In public even! Sure they were being careful enough but still.

He had to tell Eddie and Robin about this. They'd never let him live it down. Getting up from the table Steve made his way over to the refreshments table again to get a refill and something to snack on while mingling with some of their classmates. Sure he hadn't gotten along with his old friends any more but it was better than nothing.

[california_dreaming]

There's a lot of people who want to see him, who want to talk to him. So many people that try and corner him out and Billy doesn't bother trying to stop them. Talks again, whenever people ask. Confesses to being an artist, that he doesn't play basketball anymore, that he still doesn't remember much of that fourth of july ten years ago.

It's jarring. Upsetting to relive it all so many times once more. In the end it's only an hour before Billy is trying to sneak out to get space to breathe away from the mess of people who keep bothering him.

[crawlingbackwards]

Steve knew the look when he saw it. The way Billy was shying away from talk about before he left, the near haunted look he started to get when ever anyone mentioned it. All that mixed with the subject matter of his art, that Steve had seen, made it very obvious to Steve that it all still haunted the young man. The last thing anyone deserved was being reminded of the worst night of their life.

It's after one of the pushier people brings it up that Steve steps in with a frown. "That was a pretty dark time for a lot of us, don't you think it's the wrong place to bring it up." Shifting into the conversation Steve ran a hand through his hair and removed his glasses. "If you ladies don't mind, I need to steal Hargrove for a minute. You still good with cars Billy? Let one of the brats borrow my car and it's been making a weird noise ever since."

The look he gave Billy was one clearly meant to say 'I'm giving you an out, please take it' but he wasn't sure if the blonde would.

[california_dreaming]

Two things Billy wasn't expecting: Steve hovering nearby and Steve stepping in. The first was frustrating, the second made him grateful as all fuck. Even if the excuse was a piss poor one. He nods, weakly, barely even making his polite excuses and definitely not promising to come back and pick up the conversation. There's no chance. Hell, he might not come back in at all. He's done his thing. Wowed people with his still being alive. Made his showing and if this was all the small town wanted to talk about why should he even stay.

"Sure, show me the clunker. Tell me it's not the Beamer still. That shit isn't made for long term."

[crawlingbackwards]

"I mean it's not the same Beamer." Steve rolled his eyes, leading his way out to the parking lot. Of course as they got further from the doors and the people he turned to glance over his shoulder.

"There isn't really anything setting, you just looked like you really wanted out, sorry."

[california_dreaming]

Thank fuck. Those things were practically built to be replaced. So rich people would buy new ones. But if it’s another Beamer, dude, that would be a choice. It’s nice, though, once they get outside. Billy feels like he can breathe again. Hell, he lets himself do so.

“Yeah,” he admits as he comes to a stop. “You’re the sort to be a responsible dad. If you heard a noise, you’d have taken it in by now, right?”

[crawlingbackwards]

"Basically. Not to mention I'd never let those hellions near my car. Period." Steve laughed, stretching his arms over his head for a moment as he did in fact lead Billy towards his car, more because he was thinking about leaving too and Billy was following him than anything else.

While not the newest model it's still a newer BMW than what he used to drive. Complete with a child seat in the back and an array of toys strewn through out at a glance.

"Mom insisted that I get one, I just wanted to get something sensible. Lizzie doesn't care what she's in so long as her toys are there, ya know?"

[california_dreaming]

Alright, he could stand walking a bit. Though of course when he’s in sight of the car he bursts out laughing. What the hell man?

“You know, if you hadn’t said that I was going to rag on you about how there are more affordable vehicles with good safety ratings that are suitable for kids. At least she’s being a good grandma. She pay for it too?”

She better have, with what Beamers cost. But he is just peeking through the window to see the mess.

“Absolutely disaster area.”

[crawlingbackwards]

"are you kidding?! I wanted to just get a minivan with how I keep getting used as a taxi. I definitely asked her to pay for it." Steve laughed and shook his head.

"But yeah, and to think I cleaned it yesterday." There's a find sorry if look as he moved to lean against the hood of the car, looking at the blonde.

"I'm not gonna say anything about what happened before you left but... I'm glad you're doing better, I'm glad you showed up."

[california_dreaming]

“Seriously, the brats are, what, twenty fucking four? They can get themselves around,” Billy dismisses as he pulls away from the window. Clearly not impressed by your Beamer, Steve.

“I am. Most days. Some days…”

His hand rubs unconsciously over his shirt, over the skin under it, over the scar that was placed just barely far enough to the right to keep it from being instantly fatal. Sometimes he wondered if his survival, if the suffering with that survival, was another intentional wound.

“Some days aren’t as good. Guess this one is skewing that way now.”

[crawlingbackwards]

Instead of responding about the "kids" who were very much adults who could take care of themselves, Steve listened to Billy, watched him run at spots that Steve was sure were covered in scars. Unbuttoning the top few buttons of his shirt, Steve triggered his collar aside to reveal a rather wicked looking line of scaring asking his throat.

"You aren't alone. I get it. You got out in time...shit just got worse the next spring."

[california_dreaming]

Shit man. Billy looks shocked, and he definitely looks like he wants to reach out and touch Steve's neck. But nope, he won't do that. Not appropriate, even if they were sorta kinda flirting earlier.

"The freak earthquake?"

jfc I just reread my last post.....sorry mobile tags and me don't get along LOL

[crawlingbackwards]

Steve just nods.

"They aren't the only ones. You should see the ones Eddie got...actually we have matching ones." He sort of chuckled, hand falling from his tie to cross his body an drub at one side before he shrugged it off. "Shit just got worse the next spring. Some of us ended up where that...thing had been from? We faced what had been controlling it...it was a guy. Well he used to be a guy but it was...it was so fucked up."

Steve takes a deep breath but then lets it out and shakes his head. "Sorry, you don't need to hear about all that. It's all fine now. Hawkins is safe, Lucas is safe, everything has been over for years." They all went on to live normal lives. It was fine.

it's really okay

[california_dreaming]

Fuck man. That made sense. Got worse, and Max went through that without him. Makes him feel a bit guilty. Though the idea that Steve has something that matches him to Eddie Munson leaves this... coiling flash of envy in Billy's gut. One he has to brush off.

"Henry," Billy supplies. "He's dead then? Fucking deserved it."

[crawlingbackwards]

"Yeah...him." Steve nods a bit before shakes his head. He'd almost, almost felt bad for the guy when he had heard what Elle had told them. But in the end Henry had hurt his friends and that was something Steve couldn't let go.

"It was good to see you, really good." His head bobs as he bites his lips and looks off towards the gym. "Bet Max is gonna freak when she finds out your in town. I know the rest of the brats," Steve they're adults now. "will probably want to say hi if you're not careful. If only to see if you're still the same Billy Hargrove who left." He laughed and shook his head, knowing better already.

Especially considering how the two had managed to flirt part of the night, something Steve definitely wouldn't mind there being more of.

[california_dreaming]

No, feeling bad for the guy wasn't really that unreasonable. He'd been through shit. But forgiving the choices he made after those choices? Nope. Not possible.

"I'm sure she's going to freak. Susan said about the same. As for them, I'm not here for them."

But when he looks at Steve, he smile a little.

"Might have some time for a cup of coffee though. We still down for that?"

[crawlingbackwards]

"Coffee?" Steve blinked a couple times before his lips pulled into a bright smile. "I mean sure, Robin isn't expecting me back for at least another hour or two if you wanna get a cup now...or another day before you leave. What ever works for you I mean." He feels like he's rambling even if only a little.

"I know a pretty good little café that opened up. They're used to me going there to grade papers while Robin watches Liz."

[california_dreaming]

"Not sure how much time I'll have free in town, Pretty Boy," he points out. "Max might demand a lot of my time. Wouldn't want to miss some hot... caffeine while we can get it, right?"

That was definitely a suggestive statement, even has a little smirk with it. But it's probably only about coffee.

[crawlingbackwards]

There's something familiar about that look, something that makes Steve feel younger in a way. He doesn't miss the suggestiveness of the others tone. Sure Steve wasn't really into the hook up scene, and he never brought guys home if he could help it, but this was Billy. And he wasn't going to be there for that long.

"Well, the cafe's closed this time of night but there's always the diner. I'd suggest my place but...Robin and the kiddo are there." For all Liz would be in bed by now he was sure. "Not that it means that place is off limits...just that you run the risk of having to share my attention with a sleepy kid."

[california_dreaming]

Cafe's closed huh? Interesting. Billy chuckles. Of course Steve isn't going to take him home with the guy's got a whole kid. And that's something Billy respects.

"Pretty sure you've been having to share your attention between kids and other people since you were in high school."

[crawlingbackwards]

"Don't remind me. They really got me ready for this whole being a parent thing." He waved his hand before both fell on his hips. "Do you wanna follow me or..."

This time of night, the diner was probably their best bet if they really wanted coffee. And really, Steve wanted to talk to Billy. See how he was doing, be able to really talk to him without having to beat around the bush about things. Sure he wouldn't say no to a roll in the sheets with someone as attractive as Billy, he also actually enjoyed a real conversation with someone who might get why he had to sleep with a light on some nights. Or why he hated the cold and couldn't stand the sound of fireworks.

[california_dreaming]

Well, not the early stages of parenthood, but Billy just accepts Steve's words with a smirk. Papa Harrington, huh? Who could have ever predicted that.

"Diner still in the same place? Or Hawkins get creative and move a business once in a ten year period?"

Because yeah, he could go for some talking.