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

[crawlingbackwards]

"Alright alright, I'll think about it. Now go to bed. I'm tired and you know there's gonna be a brat in here in a few hours." Grumbling from his pillow Steve pulled his part of the blanket up further before purposefully tossing the blankets over Robin's head.

"Night."

[california_dreaming]

"Oh hush. We both know I fall asleep faster than you."

Less nightmares. Not none, just less. And that's something. A lot of something. BUt she does curl up on her pillow and put her back against his.

"Night Steve."

[crawlingbackwards]

While he might complain some times, Steve would also admit that having his best friend there helped with his own nightmares. Having a warm person there who he trusted meant the world to him, it also made it a lot easier to fall asleep. Add to that the fact he was absolutely exhausted from the adventure that was that day, it doesn't take him near as long to fall asleep.

To the point it feels like he barely blinks before he's being woken up by the small form of Lizzie crawling into bed between himself and Robin. Looking at the clock he isn't surprised by the time and opts to just doze a little while longer. He'd get up and make them breakfast soon, for now he was going to soak in the warmth that was having his two favorite people, his family, close by and safe.

Granted it's not long before his own stomach is growling, making Lizzie laugh.

"Come on Liz, let's go make breakfast and let aunty Robin sleep, yeah?"

"Breakfast! Can we have pancakes?"

Getting up, Steve picked up the girl, making his way down stairs and into the kitchen where he set her down.

"Pancakes huh? Hm, yeah I think we can do that. How about you go color and dad'll make some us food." Patting the girl on the back he directed her to the messy kitchen table which still had crayons and coloring sheets on it from the day before. He'd have to clean the house at some point today. For now he was focused on starting breakfast...which also meant starting some coffee.

[california_dreaming]

Coffee smells, even 'in progress' coffee smells, are ultimately what bring Robin, yawning and groggy down the stairs.

"Pancakes?" she observes as she comes to hover by the coffee machine. "I'm guessing the princess made decisions this morning. Need any help?"

Because breakfast for four was a lot more work.

[crawlingbackwards]

"Yup." Steve nodded, getting the stuff out to make a full breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Luckily it shouldn't be too hard, even easier with Robin helping.

"Sure, if you wanna keep an eye on the bacon? I'll start the eggs after everything else is done." Grabbing them both mugs, he hands two off to Robin and leaves one down in case the smell of food tempts a certain other guest down from where he was sleeping.

"Got new creamer in the fridge if you want any." Because while yes he could drink it black, that didn't mean he wanted to all the time.

[california_dreaming]

"You know I do," she says, trying to sound more awake than she feels. She'll always take bacon duty because it means she can get a bite of bacon first out of everyone. And yes, coffee is good.

As for Robin, she's fetching out a skillet for the bacon.

"It's a black morning," she decides. At least the first cup. So, any clue when your house guest wakes up?"

[crawlingbackwards]

Mixing the batter Steve takes a moment to make himself a cup of coffee with creamer and a little sugar before getting back to the task at hand.

"Well he was saying he's morning person but....no idea. Besides we were up pretty late." It's an easy rhythm to slip into, making breakfast and chatting while Lizzie sat at the table coloring and singing to herself.

[california_dreaming]

They were, and he'd traveled an insane distance over the day, so who knew how long it would take.

"Have you told the princess about the guest?" Robin whispers, looking back over her shoulder at the kid.

[crawlingbackwards]

"Not yet," Steve shook his head, glancing back at Lizzie before putting the spoon down. "Probably should before he wakes up, right?"

Robin help, there's a reason he doesn't bring guys home. This is one of them.

[california_dreaming]

"Probably. Because otherwise there is a stranger-"

"That coffee?" Billy asks as he enters the room, looking tired but strangely put together. Even in new clean clothes and with his hair tied nicely back.

"-waltzing right into the kitchen," Robin finished flatly. "Think there is any chance he can do pancakes while you talk to the princess?"

[crawlingbackwards]

"Righ-" Steve was about to go over to his daughter to do exactly that, until Billy literally walks in like he heard someone talking about him. "Shit, if you can take care of the first few I'll get the rest."

Turning he smiled at Billy with a quick good morning before moving over to Lizzie, who was currently staring at Billy with the biggest brown eyes before her dad pulled her attention back to him. Sorry Robin, you get to help Billy with getting his coffee and see if he knows how to start pancakes.

Crouched near Lizzie's seat, Steve explained in hushed words that the stranger was her daddy's friend who stayed the night and that he'd be visiting them like how grandma and grandpa did sometimes for the holidays. How he was aunty Max's big brother and was there to visit her.

She seems to look like she's thinking as hard as her four year old brain can possibly think before he asks her if that's alright with her and she nods.

[california_dreaming]

Good news, Steve. Plenty of time to talk to that adorable kid, because Robin foisted a mug of coffee on Billy (so pale with cream that you had to wonder if it counted as coffee anymore). And by the time Steve returns the batter for the pancakes is already finished and Billy has started cooking.

He almost seems like he isn't paying attention to them, but there is already one on the nearby plate, perfectly golden brown and flawless. Apparently there were other skills in the artist's playbook.

[crawlingbackwards]

When he's back at the stove Steve can't help but grin. "Seriously? Okay you need to stop being a catch."

Good looking, funny, and he can cook? Damn it Hargrove.

Damn even his first one is a little messed up or pale, maybe he missed it? He marvels for a moment before moving over to the fridge to pull out the eggs and get a bowl. He knew at least Lizzie was having scrambled eggs.

"How does everyone want their eggs?" While there's no room on the stove with the other two cooking at the moment, he can at least figure out how many eggs he needs to toss in the bowl to scramble and how many to leave aside for any other way.

[california_dreaming]

Robin raises her eyebrows at that. Does he even remember that she was implying this.

Meanwhile Billy just grins around his coffee mug.

"I've been living on my own for years, Steve. If I wanted pancakes, I had to man up and do them myself. Plus I did a stint as a short order cook. This isn't quite the same sort of cook top, but you give me a dinner and I could have three course breakfast for four done in about ten minutes."

He looks pleased to shock them though.

"You know how I like mine," Robin said, which meant more scrambled there.

"I like mine over medium, so I can handle them," Billy offers.

[crawlingbackwards]

Look, Robin, he doesn't need you reminding him that you were right. Okay? For all you're going to do it anyways because he really needs to start learning to listen to you.

"Look, I'm still used to most the guys I know not knowing how to boil water let alone make really good looking pancakes." Except Jonathan but that didn't count, he did a lot of cooking for his mom and brother.

Nodding as he separated out a few eggs to do the scrambled ones as well as at least two for Billy and himself both.

"If you want, I can make them too. I usually do mine over easy so I'd just cook yours a little longer."

[california_dreaming]

They always know she's right. Roll with it, Steve.

"You should see me with stuffed shells," Billy says with a smile. "Come on, I told you that today I'm cooking for Max with Susan. Clearly I have to be somewhat good at it."

Otherwise he'd just be in the way. But he smiles as he works on the pancakes.

"That works for me. If you promise to get them right, handsome."

[crawlingbackwards]

"Okay but I thought you were just helping Susan cook, not that you were actually cooking." Steve sighed, elbowing the blonde a bit. "Careful, might be tempted to convince you to cook dinner one of these nights before you leave."

The handsome comment definitely doesn't get missed. It's something he's heard enough sure, but hearing it in his own kitchen with his best friend and daughter in the room while the guy is making pancakes? Definitely not how he was expecting his morning to go. Not that he's complaining.

"Oh I'm sure I can handle it." Rolling his eyes Steve set about whisking up the eggs to have them ready and set aside while Robin finished the bacon and Billy made pancakes.

[california_dreaming]

“You’re saving me money, a good bit. Tell me what you want and I’ll write a list of what I need.”

There, he is already okay with that arrangement and hopefully Steve will be okay with that.

Robin, meanwhile, elbows Steve a little, smiling to herself.

“How many pancakes am I making?” Billy asks.

[crawlingbackwards]

Steve's more than happy with it, even as he rocks with the motion of being elbowed. He has to bite back the grin that pulls at his lips and shake his head. He really doesn't want to get his hopes up, even if it is just a fun weekend.

"Lots!" Lizzie calls from her seat.

That gets a laugh out of Steve as he shakes his head and leans closer to Billy. "She'll only eat like two. How many do you guys want? I'll probably have a few myself."

[california_dreaming]

“Just a few for me. I prefer the eggs and bacon,” Robin says.

Billy nods, humming to himself as he continues flipping pancakes.

“Should I make extras, Steve? To freeze and heat up later?”

[crawlingbackwards]

"I say make as many as the batter will make, if there are left overs I'll freeze them but if not that's fine too." Patting Billy on the shoulder Steve moved around him to grab a couple plates as well as a cup for juice for Lizzie.

Once the bacon is down and out of the way, Steve cleans out the skillet to prepare to make some scrambled eggs first, then he can do the rest after. Who knew working around Billy would feel so seamless, a thought that Steve has to push aside because...he's only there for the weekend.

[california_dreaming]

"Got it," Billy says as he manages the pancake making with ease. "You ever consider making silver dollar pancakes? A lot smaller, cook faster, but you're using the same batter. Might make her feel like she's eating lots of pancakes without eating any more than normal."

It's a strange thing to suggest, but Billy remembers his own mother doing the same for him as a little kid.

[crawlingbackwards]

"Huh, I hadn't." Shrugging Steve looked over his shoulder at the girl before chuckling quietly.

"Maybe next time I'll try that instead." He can imagine piling a bunch of tiny pancakes onto the girls plate and how her eyes would light up. Yeah, he'd definitely have to see about that.

[california_dreaming]

"Sounds like a plan," he says with a smile before finishing a last pancake. He flips this onto the stack and then moves immediately to start cleaning the pan.

[crawlingbackwards]

"Billy-you don't have to do that." Steve makes to stop Billy before he gives up. "You're a guest, I can wash a couple dishes."

Ignore that him washing it meant he could use it for eggs instead of dirtying a new pan. He's not completely thinking that far ahead.