He closed the door behind her. The house was small and had a certain air of chaos still attached to it. The windows with plastic blinds were pulled partially down and faded with years of use, while the downtrodden pastel yellow carpet did little to hide the scuff marks on the wooden floor.

She took another step forwards, eyes flickering through the living room. The only family photo in the living room seemed to be of Max and a woman with the same fiery red hair and gentle blue eyes who could only be her mother placed on top of the fireplace mantel.

Billy had evaded speaking about his parents, but now her curiosity was piqued. It certainly didn't look like they moved to Hawkins for a salary raise. A lamp was placed on-top of an upside-down moving box acting as a makeshift stand, like they were too busy to properly settle down. Or perhaps they were still living with one foot out of the town, ready to move at a moments notice.

Billy's hand flashed out and gripped Max's face lightly. He jerked it from side to side, eyes flitting over her face. "Anywhere you're injured?"

"No." She said.

"Good." He answered, then gripped her arm and pulled her close as his voice lowered in warning, "Don't do shit like that again; and I'm not fucking kidding."

Max scowled in response, perturbed by his reprimanding tone as she jerked out of his grip. "I got it."

Then he glanced over at Diane. Beneath the ceiling light his eyes trailed the small shards of glass glittering on her cheek to temple. She swallowed harshly as another wave of pain wracked her body and Max took immediate notice.

"You should probably have sugar, uh—" Max looked around, before moving around trying to locate something specific.

Billy watched the red flurry that was Max dart around the living room. "Why would she need sugar?"

"When someone gets hurt they need quick energy or they'll faint." Max grumbled at her older half-brother before she strode over and began digging into the couch pillows of the brown plaid couch.

While Max was rummaging, Diane shrugged off the heavy jacket and draped it over the side of the couch. It didn't even have one tear in it, meanwhile her clothes were full of rips and holes.

"You ever seen me eat sugar after I get in a fight?" Billy said.

"No, maybe that's why you're always such an ass." Max shot back. She pulled out a strip of gum still in its foil. Partially unwrapping the silver, she handed it to Diane.

Diane took it and popped it into her mouth. The thought of gum from a questionable location made her stomach roil in fear of the diseases that could be lurking in there, but it came from an earnest Max and she was helpless looking into those big blue eyes. "Thanks."

Max smiled before it tapered off as an uneasy silence smothered the good mood.

"So what the hell happened?" Billy asked, cutting through the growing tension.

Diane and Max glanced at each other, and she caught the silent plea in the younger girls eyes. But both of them were standing in the living room looked frazzled and with the look Billy was spearing her with, she doubted a cover up was going to work. He'd seen as much as she had this night, there was no point in trying to hide it.

As she turned back to Billy, preparing to tell him everything, Max spoke first. "Some animals tried to attack me— while I was walking with a girl from school by the road on the way home. Good thing Diane happened to be driving by at that moment. " She lied without so much as a hitch in her words, even followed by a judgemental tone that placed blame on him as Max knew him and Diane had spent time together prior. "She hit it with her car, but it just got up again so she got out to distract it while we got into the backseat. Then she fell as she was getting back in."

If Billy thought it was a lie, he didn't show it as he flashed his teeth. "Did it now? You and your little girl friend really shouldn't be out this late. Which I know you know. It's good you're not hurt, now Susan won't have to worry her pretty little head over you."

Max narrowed her eyes, but didn't rebuke him. Fighting him now would just open up Pandoras box.

"What are you still doing in here? Don't you have you have something else to do?" Billy added impatiently.

With a scowl Max flipped him off and went to her room. His gaze lingered on Max for a moment, before turning his attention to Diane. He was giving her a critical one-over like he'd just done to Max. "Come on." He jerked his head towards the end of the short hallway.

She passed by a weight lifting bench with the cast iron dumbbell hazardously on the floor next to it as she followed him into the small bathroom. Diane waited for some comment tinged with mockery about how she was back so soon after they'd gone separate ways.

His piercing eyes followed her as she stepped over the threshold. "What really happened?"

He hadn't even been fooled for a second, despite how smoothly Max had lied. If Diane hadn't been there herself, she would've believed Max.

Diane was still mulling over why Max had omitted all the boys from her story when he leaned closer. His thumb trailed lightly over the bruise still blossoming beneath her eye with a feather-light touch that was a cool reprieve against the warm injury.

His lashes swept across his cheeks and for the first time she noticed how long they were, almost feminine in nature. Without warning his eyes flashed up to meet hers.

When he gave her even an inch of himself, she could tell by the defensive look in his eye that it felt like a mile. But her wild appearance was slipping through his glacial barriers a mile high and she saw the apologetic look which sharpened into frustration.

"Doesn't look good." He hummed. The concern would be too obvious if he asked outright, so he took a detour in the form of an obvious statement. She was trying to solve the mystery of Billy Hargrove with the few puzzle pieces she had. Sometimes she thought she got closer to understanding who he was.

But then he seemed to present to her a full picture shallower than a puddle and she wondered if she was needing an answer from more than what was blatantly presented. As for what her question was, she didn't know yet. That question existed only in the shadows of her mind, nothing more than a quiet whisper lost in the wind.

"It looks worse than it is." She answered, voice wavering as she tried to sound nonchalant.

With the same ease he'd seen through Max's lie he saw through hers, evident in the quirk of his brow.

There was a flicker of movement from their periphery vision and their gaze broke. Max was staring at them, leaning against the wall. Her brows had flashed to to hairline as her eyes shone with disbelief. Slowly a crease formed between her eyes at the same rate she seemed to be stringing together several observations into a revelation.

"Didn't I tell you to scram? Go put on MTV or somethin'." Billy shut the door.

Max's train of thought was broken and she rolled her eyes before plopping down on the couch and hitting the On button with more force than necessary. MTV News was on, starting right on a new segment with the sound loud enough to flow through the door, "Allen Hunter with you and I'm way gone. I stayed up way too late last night, and I am definitely not feeling fresh . . . these are just some slang words, and this is a slang segment . . . "

It was on an obnoxiously high enough volume to make her point: she was very much watching TV.

Billy reached behind her, opening up a drawer and pulling out a plastic bag full of cotton balls and a metal pincer.

"Guess you were right about those little shits being out." He muttered; both his tone and expression were apathetic, like tonights events were a mundane occurrence. But she could see the stress in the way his jaw was wound tight, and the way he was smoking through cigarettes like they were supplying him with oxygen.

"They wouldn't be able to sit still if you duct taped them to a chair." It wasn't his fault he'd underestimated them. Those kids were too smart for their own good. He placed a finger along the curve of her jaw, and gently guided her head to the side.

"Don't move, this is going to hurt." He commanded, and she gripped her hands on the counter behind her in preparation. The silence hung heavy between them. He was staring intently at her as the pincer hovered above a tiny shard of glass and her eyes slid to the small sliver of space beneath them. The hiss of the ember filled the apprehensive silence as he inhaled his half-way finished cigarette. "Tell me what happened."

Then he pulled out the first piece and her knuckles whitened. He dropped the first piece on the counter.

She told him everything. The scene with the abandoned car lot, the demon dogs — leaving out the part where she reached out towards one — the Upside-Down. That was what she was stuck on, still trying to wrap her mind around it herself.

A world that was still, technically, their world. One that ran parallel maybe, if she were to go with Steve's definition. She was rambling now as he set down another piece and his lip quirked.

"What?" She asked quizzically, pulled mid-sentence from her attempted Upside-Down explanation.

"I like when you look at me like that, Dobler."

Her brow furrowed.

"Like you think I'm smart." He set down another shard. His tone was sardonic like it was balancing on a knives edge, dipping between seriousness or mockery and she was never quite sure if he was one or the other. Or it was for her to decide how to take his words.

"You are." The words came out so quickly and matter-of-factly they couldn't be anything other than true. "When you're not being a plagiarising, lazy ass and getting me kicked into detention."

"Well, if you'd just done what I asked, we wouldn't be here." He sang quietly.

She breathed a laugh devoid of amusement. "Yeah."

They tapered off into silence which lingered until it became an unbearable chasm for her; when she glanced up she saw he was already looking at her. There was the muted sound of what she assumed to be Max shutting the door to her room.

He was staring at her with a look she couldn't quite pinpoint, but she could see the respect that burned the ice away in his eyes. "You protected Max."

"She was going to get attacked— they all were. I couldn't just stand by."

"'Course you couldn't." Then he gave a slight shake of his head. "Both stubborn as shit." He murmured almost absent-mindedly as he narrowed his eyes at a shard that was dug into her skin particularly deep.

She swore just for a second she saw the respect for Max that ran deep and she thinks she might be wrong about how he feels for his half-sister. He did care for her, thought Diane has a strong suspicion he'd rather die arguing he didn't care for her rather than admitting it for whatever bizarre reason. A lot of the actions he took were without logical to her.

"Thought you didn't like her." She said quietly.

"She's a brat. But she's also family now." He replied.

"But you don't have to protect her." Diane said quietly, trying to gauge his reaction. He'd made it clear multiples time Max was nothing more than a hindrance to him, but she swore she'd seen the relief on his face when he saw her on the front porch.

He worked for so long in silence as he continue that she settled for the fact that he was ignoring her and she'd never get answers. Finally he muttered, "It's complicated."

It was an answer, at least.

"Promise you won't kill Max." Diane said. "I said I wouldn't tell you what really happened."

"You're supposed to strike a deal before you confess." He pressed a cotton ball to her cheek as blood welled up. She took it as acceptance that Max would make it alive until daylight.

"You're really good at this." She said with light surprise.

He shrugged. "Got some practice."

For all of Billy's brutish qualities, he had fine hands when it came to his current task. He plucked another tiny shard out glass with precision. In leu of flinching each time, her eyes kept watering over in pain. But keeping her face still as stone made his job easier. The shard plinked into the sink.

"Who knew there was a fighter in you." He said, so conversationally it nearly took her off guard. There was no hint of mockery or edged charm in his voice, just acknowledgement.

"Just because I can doesn't mean I do it."

He didn't seem convinced. "Everyone walks all over you because you what, sit back and let them?"

"It's not a big deal." She said curtly, feeling a certain defensiveness unfurl. By everyone is was clear who he meant. He hadn't even been at Hawkins High that long, but he'd already picked up on who went out of their ways to scorn her.

He looked mildly amused like he didn't believe her. "You left them and what did that get you?"

"Not hanging around people who aren't nice. There's nothing I can do to stop them anyway." She shrugged.

"It's about being the strongest in the room, or others treat you like shit." He said and gave her a pointed look, like her whole life up until this current moment was the culmination of not getting her fists out.

"You can't just fight everything." She sighed in exasperation.

"That's a losing attitude, Dobler."

Diane rolled her eyes in response.

"Alright," he muttered as he re-focused, "this is the last piece. Just stay still."

"There was something I wanted to tell you." She yelped half-way between her sentence as he removed the last shard.

He looked at the glass, "What's that?"

"I wouldn't even have gotten in that car if it wasn't for you. Now I'm driving on my own. So, thanks I guess." She said, carefully watching as a bewildered expression sprang up on his face for half a second before it slipped off into stoicism. Then she gave a strangled laugh in the guise of a whispered breathe.

"It's just driving." He brushed off her words.

Diane couldn't help the slow smile forming on her face, eyes lighting up with mischief. He really, really couldn't take actual innocent compliments, could he? Beneath his air of arrogance was someone who was confused by genuine gratefulness. Guess brute force wasn't the only way to gain the upper hand.

"Yeah you definitely have a concussion." He gripped her chin and then moved her face from side to side, giving her a critical one-over. "Looks like it's fine. Sit on the floor."

"Now?"

He replied with a pointed look. Hesitantly she complied, turning her back to him as she sat down. He sat down on the closed toilet lid and redirected her head to look down. She yelped in surprise as he touched the back of her sensitive scalp and immediately went to protect her head, but he gripped her wrist. "I ain't fixing you up if you're going to struggle the whole time." His tone lacked any bite.

"Just give me a warning next time." She muttered.

But he didn't let her arm go, instead he moved it to the side as he examined it. His thumb traced the white scar on her wrist. "What's this from?"

"Don't know, I think I've always had it." She replied.

"We're not born with scars, they're made."

"Then I got—" she yelped as his fingers pressed against her head.

"I'm doing this as gently as I can, you're just sensitive." He murmured, partially distracted by his damage assessment.

"I'm not used to this kind of thing."

"Yeah I know."

"I'm not a doctor, but I think your head'll be fine." Then he stood up and reached out for her hand before pulling her up. "Think there's bandaids under the sink." He said before disappearing from the bathroom and around the corner. Diane wandered out towards into the living room. Max had gone into her own room. Next to it, she noticed the door slightly ajar.

Curiosity got the better of it and she nudged it open a little wider. It had to be Billy's room and she was drawn in, stepping over the threshold. The stereo was turned low and playing hard rock. Beer cans littered the table and the metal ashtray was nearly overflowing with cigarette stubs. There was a plastic radio on the bed stand and a lamp with a shirt thrown over it. Laundry was shoved in a pile in the corner, burying the plastic laundry basket.

When she'd passed Max's room, she'd seen her skateboard and a seashell lampshade she'd brought with her from California. She hadn't caught sight of who was on them, but there were multiple framed photos leaning against the wall atop her dresser.

But here there were no photos, no seashells, nothing that was personal. There was nothing reminiscent of the past, or anything that showed his future. She didn't think she'd ever truly understand him, and she didn't think he wanted to be understood.

There was a creak and she whirled around.

"Found anything interesting?" He asked, leaning against the frame with crossed arms.

"Sorry." She answered.

He took a step inside, and if she took another step back, she'd feel the bed pressing against her legs. "If you're looking for more gum, check the second couch pillow."

"Do you believe in it?" She asked him.

"A bunch of kids saying the dogs come from an alternate dimension? No. And the fact you're entertaining this little idea is exactly why I don't hang out with kids." He said.

Then a small crease between his brows as he looked at the time on the electric clock on the nightstand blaring bright red.

She crossed her arms. "Of course you don't . . . I guess you had a funner night."

Then he closed the gap between them as that infuriating smirk began growing on his lips. "Interested, Dee?" He carefully put the band-aid over her temple. But his voice was serious when he answered, "Didn't go."

Relief began unfurling inside her, as soft and small as a daisy's first petals blooming. She responded with a noncommittal shrug.

"Now you're in my bedroom so I guess it worked out for everyone." He said. He'd been through as much as she had tonight and yet he just seemed to navigate the rapids of otherworldly revelations like he'd been sailing all his life. He was unstoppable.

"Is everything a joke to you?" She asked.

"Not everything." He murmured, looking down at her.

After she'd shown up on the porch with Max he'd lost some of his usual sharpness. There was something more careful, softer in the undertones of his words. She realised suddenly that there had been something colder, more mechanical in his actions before like he was going through rehearsed motions.

Then the front door opened and Billy whirled around, taking a large step out of his room and Diane instantly followed. Closing the door behind them was who she could only assume were Neil and Susan Hargrove.

Susan Hargrove was like a wiry doe who's eyes flitted between the two of them and her husband, seemingly ready to flee at a moments notice like she hadn't quite decided that the environment she found herself in was safe yet.

Neil Hargrove stood with a back so straight he could only be a Vietnam War veteran. Everyone who came back to Hawkins had a rigid posture like that. They did when they were serious, at least, like an unconscious reaction. His hair was closely shaved and he had a moustache that was dragging down as his frown deepened as he took in the sight in front of him, eyes flickering between Billy and Diane.

Then Neil grabbed the remote from the coffee table and jabbed the black button, turning off the TV.

"Well, I hope we're not interrupting anything." Neil drawled with a small smile forming on his face that didn't meet his eyes.

"Nothing to interrupt, she was just leaving." Billy said curtly. They stood on opposite sides of the living room, neither moving. "We have Chemistry together."

"Is that so?" There was a dark undercurrent to his words, like a trap hidden beneath foliage ready to be triggered and ensnare its prey.

"Yeah."

"And this girl in our house is just here to help you with homework?" His voice was low and sharp as a whip.

Billy's eyes slid to the ground as the fire that always burned in them was snuffed out with one glare from his Neil Hargrove.

Diane bristled at Neil's words. It was evident that the word girl was going to be replaced with whore the second she was out of earshot. A prickling sensation sprang up behind her eyes and she blinked harshly before it threatened to turn into tears. His jagged words like shattered glass tore through her. An adult man — a father — was calling her a whore.

"Yes." Suppressed frustration was dredged up in his answer. "We were just finishing a group assignment together, that's it. I'm a little behind, Hawkins curriculum is different."

"At night, hm? Well, your sessions can't have been that productive because your grades are still so low." Mr. Hargrove said.

The air had changed in the room. It felt like an all-consuming storm on the horizon of Hawkins; the pressure in the air hung low and heavy and a deadly calm that surrounded them. But it came with the promise of explosive strikes of lightning and ground-shaking thunder.

"I'm sorry." Billy said.

"What? I couldn't hear you." His fathers voice was saccharine sweet, a poison making its way through his system.

"I'm sorry, Sir." Billy answered, louder this time. Diane swallowed and felt his own hands beginning to tremble and Billy's shoulders drew inwards a fraction.

"You should be apologising to Susan. You were supposed to be babysitting Max tonight, setting a good example . . . don't even care enough to give your ol' dad a heads up before you throw a little party. Instead you've been spending your time on— what's your name?" Neil's gaze slid to her.

Billy's eyes only felt like a weak replica of the all-consuming fury that burned in his fathers eyes. That was the first time she understood what real rage was. It was destruction without end.

"Diane." Was all she could choke out.

"Neil, I'm sure it's fine. I'm sure Diane and Billy kept a good eye on Max." Susan said in a good-natured manner, but her voice cracked.

"Diane go home." Billy said, and the insistent look in his eyes had all the fight leaving her body. She nodded stiffly.

"Thank you for having me over Mr. And Mrs. Hargrove. You have a lovely house." Diane said, her voice sounding beside herself.

Neil glanced over his shoulder with a gentle scoff, like he was in disbelief she cared about his house at all. "Get home safe, Diane. Hope your folks aren't too worried 'bout you being out so late at night." Judgement coloured his words.

With a nod she exited the house, closing the door behind her. Her heart was hammering against her ribcage. As she walked away she crossed her arms tightly across her chest. Then she stopped.

Her keys were in Billy's jacket pocket. She hung her head. Why did this have to happen? She couldn't walk back in there again. Not if she had to face down Neil. Maybe she could just walk home.

But everything hurt and her house was on the opposite side of town. She took another step towards the road before she stopped, then turned to look at the house. She knew where Billy's room was now, she could just tap on the window and get him to hand her the keys.

It was the cowards way out. But Neil had clearly been upset with Billy having her over. Maybe he was getting grounded and her coming back would just incite a longer time washing dishes or without pocket money.

As she turned her back to the street and crept over to Billy's window, she didn't see the black van further down the road, vigilantly watching the Hargrove house ready for her to leave.

Diane crept along the weeds growing by the side of the house. When she was close to Billy's window she hunched down and made her way to the wall next to his room. Someone was yelling, loud enough to be heard outside the closed window. She flinched as something was thrown against the wall.

Peaking in the corner of the window she saw Neil with back turned to her shove Billy into the wall, his head rebounding from the force and teeth clacking together. Neil ran a hand through his hair like he was frustrated he even had to be doing this in the first place.

Neil was nothing but a puppet to his uncontrollable fury, and now the flames were leaping and crackling, desperate to find a new host to spread too. For years, that target had been his son with nowhere to escape to.

They made eye contact, dread in his eyes clashing with her horrified ones. Then she whirled around the corner and ducked before his dad could take notice.

Half of his enigmatic personality was ripped away with one blow from his father to the junction between his neck and shoulder. He wasn't just hiding bits and pieces of his life. He was hiding his entire childhood behind volatile doors.

It's about being the strongest in the room.

Now she knew why Billy didn't want her in the house.

There was a slam of the door. Diane was pressed against the wall with baited breathe. She should leave.

But she couldn't just leave him. What would he think if she just ran away?

If he wanted her gone, she would be. But she had to go in and see if he was okay. Her stomach was flipping again, but for a wholly different reason than the lab. The demon-dogs were predators that could be evaded, the men in the lab stayed there. But how could a monster be fought who lived in a small home where light cheerily spilled out at night onto the front lawn of a quiet neighbourhood?

After a long minute she crept closer to the window again and peaked in. Billy's door was closed. No one was there. Several of his clothes had fallen off their hangers and onto the ground.

She slid her finger beneath the crack in the window and lifted it upwards. Peeking in she saw he was at the corner of his bed, tense and hunched together, staring at the floor. He didn't look up as the window slid open.

A/N:

Crzychigurl343: Protective Seemingly Apathetic Billy might just be the best description I've heard.

MulishaMaiden: I love Max she's so strongwilled and willing to fight for what she believes in. I think it's what Billy would've turned out to be without his dad. Oh yeah, they really are waiting to snatch Diane up and back to the lab which is bad timing with the Mind Flayer right beneath them ready to release an army of Demodogs.

Runaway Fantasy Princess: Here it finally is!

Belovedfinch11: All the way home? Hawkins Laboratory is nice enough to bring the party to her instead with a few guards and maybe even a cattleprod or two . . . they're just like bigger, angrier party sparklers.

Pinkrainbow: Ahhh I know, there's some incorrect facts in the earlier chapters. I'm trying to stay vigilant in fact checking and making sure all the other chapters past 6 or 7 is correct. When I have time I'm going back to properly edit those, but thanks for letting me know :)
Although disclaimer I do not know when that MTV segment came out, so I'm hoping that was before 1984.

Fangirl0012345: Clearly the only solution is to quit your job, it's unacceptable that it's getting in the way of reading this story. Who needs real money anyway?

Amythyst Wolf 1999, Guests thank you for your reviews!