2023-09-05 14:38![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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thechurbymusebox
california_dreaming in thechurbymuseboxHawkins, 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.
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.
(no subject)
"I figured if it's that late I can crash on Susan's couch. I don't want to bother you," Billy says, equally shocked.
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"What?" He looked between the two. "It's not like I'm giving you the key. I just mean to borrow while you're here. Like a hotel key." It's not that weird is it?
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Robin just has this look because she can't say what she'd say in front of the kid. Like 'what if he brought someone home'. Which is something people can and will do with hotel keys.
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"Is there a reason I shouldn't trust you?" Steve counters. "Because if there is then maybe I shouldn't have offered to let you stay at all."
Great, trying to have adult talk over a small child. Not like Steve hasn't had to do it before.
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"He literally kidnapped you from your hotel," Robin points out.
"Just from graduation," Billy counters with a smile. "And then from the diner we went to. Really, charming guy. Super sweet. Gave me a ride and everything."
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"Daddy kidnapped you!?" Lizzie's eyes were wide as she look at her dad. "But daddy! That's bad!"
"Wha-no, honey it's a joke....Robin." Steve ran a hand over his face. "Daddy didn't kidnap Billy."
"Aunty Robin doesn't lie!" The little girls cheeks are puffed up, crossing her arms as she stares at Steve like he did something wrong.
Oh yes she does, but that isn't the point here. Damn it.
(no subject)
"I didn't... Lizzie they were playing pretend. Like we do when I dress up like a dragon."
She doesn't say 'like when you dress up as a princess knight' because Lizzie IS a princess.
Yep. Nope. Billy can't do it anymore. Can't hold back the burst of laughter. God, this was all so-
"Precious," he says through the laugh. It's fucking precious.
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He has to explain to Lizzie that it was a joke and auntie Robin wasn't lying but she was playing. The girl still seems suspect but Robin mentioning dress up definitely helps.
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"Didn't think it was my job to help."
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"I mean it wasn't, but it's not you job to hinder either as far as I know."
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"I didn't think I was hindering," Billy adds, smiling warmly as he ties off the braid. Dude was competent with his fingers to achieve all of that so fast.
"Anyway," Robin says loudly to Lizzie. It was a game of pretend. Billy was being the prince in distress and daddy was playing the brave knight," Robin says, trying to get back to the important matter here.
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"Yup." Steve nodded, giving Robin the silent 'thank you' look that was pretty common in the house these days.
"Daddy go to be a knight this time!"
"Well yeah, I didn't have the brave Princess Knight to help me save the day." Reaching over, he ruffled her hair a little before running his fingers through it.
wow i blew that last paragraph there in my haste to tuck in husboose
And Billy? God he's just caught up watching this charming family interaction with warmest smile imaginable on his face. A look that is half affection, half longing. He'd love a family like that.
"Yep. But now I gotta go play with my own family and your dad says he wants to let me borrow keys to the castle. What do you think, Lizzie. Is that a good idea or a bad idea?"
all good!
"Daddy! Let him borrow it? He's a princess too! He needs a castle!"
"Uh, sweetie." It takes so much for Steve not to laugh. "Billy's a boy, he's a prince-"
"But he's pretty like a princess! Lookit his hair!"
This time when Steve glances back at Billy he can't help the grin and the quiet hum. "You know, I think you're right, Lizzie. I'll go get the spare."
Standing with a subtle wink tossed Billy's way, Steve disappeared out the kitchen door as Lizzie cheered from her seat.
(no subject)
"Noh, Steve, she might have a point. You were definitely more the princess in high school, but I can live with the recognition now.
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When Steve gets back with the spare key in hand he rolls his eyes at Billy.
"Yeah? Well thanks but I still say I wasn't any kind of royalty in high school. Everyone just liked to push that on me." Okay so maybe in the beginning he had basked in it. The praise and acknowledgement. But what guy with absent parents wouldn't? "Here."
Handing the key over it's on a small ring with a keychain that has a familiar family video logo on it. "Just don't lose it, yeah?"
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"I was expecting to see a crown," Billy teases. "I won't lose them, Steve. I'd hate to let you down like that."
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He's pretty sure he still owes Susan for some help with Lizzie but he'll handle that on his own time and not bring it up. "The littlest Princess's bed time is around 8 so not too loud if you come in later than that yeah?"
(no subject)
So if it gets too late he might just crash on Susan's couch, come by in the morning. But he does pocket the keys. See, he's considerate like that.
"Does anyone who wasn't at the event last night know you're here?" Robin asks Billy, her voice thoughtful.
"Not likely. Didn't even RSVP."
Robin nods, that sounds like him after all.
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"Yeah but Carol saw you," Steve rolled his eyes. "You know it's all over town by now between her and the guys. Probably all wondering what happened after you came to 'check on Harrington's car'."
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"I really don't like the idea that it's already out there. Guess I should race the gossip to Susan's and hope Max doesn't hear it."
As for the other part, like he cares what they think.
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Neither would Billy. But he did owe her on the surprising Max so he should get to it.
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Either way Steve had things to do while Billy was busy.
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God, a key to Steve's place. How weird was that?
Good news, he does his best to stay quiet, tiptoeing in just in case there are already people asleep.
one day I'll get my steve icons back XP
Posted by:Idk, these ones are cute
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