Never before in his life had Billy felt that safe. As he climbed under the cool sheets of Steve's guest room he felt entirely secure, like nothing there could harm him. It was one of the deepest sleeps he'd ever had, probably due to a concussion but Billy placed it under the safe environment. He woke up to the smell of left pizza and coffee floating through the house, he had no idea what time it was, or what day for that matter, all he knew is that the growling of his stomach wanted to go exactly where that smell was originating from. Steve was in a state of undress as he sipped at a cup of coffee, merely wearing a shirt and boxers. His hair was a complete mess, a style that most certainly would never be seen by anyone outside of this house. He watched as Steve nibbled at a left-over slice of pizza, staring off into space.

"Good morning princess. I see you've prepared a feast." Billy joked as he grabbed a slice. Steve jumped as he was pulled from his thoughts, letting out an embarrassed chuckle.

"There's no food in the house, thought I'd put the left overs to good use." Steve shrugged, a small blush present on his cheeks. Billy couldn't help but appreciate the sight before him, just in that moment Steve looked so good in his messy appearance. The blonde smiled to himself as he grabbed another slice of pizza, taking a massive bite.

"I was serious about what I said last night." Steve announced, the statement had seemed random, especially when the two had been so contempt in their silence. "That you can stay here for as long as my parents are away." Billy blinked at Steve. He wanted to jump to the conclusion that Steve must've had an ulterior motive, a reason to keep Billy at his home that would ultimately end badly but he swatted the thoughts away. Steve was a nice guy. It was unquestioned, it must've been a genuine offer. To be able to stay away from his father, even if it was just a small while seemed like a utopian concept so to say the offer made him happy was an understatement. He was ecstatic to be able to stay with Steve in his big house, hell he might even use the pool. He had no idea how to express that gratitude to the other boy though, he'd never been good at showing how he truly felt, usually he just resorted back to being his asshole self but he knew that in the current situation that wasn't even an option.

"Thanks man. I'll try and stay out of your hair." Steve seemed content with the response as he finished off his coffee.

"Cool. I'm gonna grab a shower and get dressed. You can borrow some of my clothes and then we can go grab your stuff while your dads at work?" Suggested Steve. Billy agreed to the proposal and Steve headed back upstairs, leaving the blonde to his own devices. He simply stood there munching away at the remains of the pizza before he heard the sound of water coming from upstairs. It was odd to think that this was temporarily his new home. He took the opportunity to being alone to explore a little, he'd been in the house many times but most of the doors had been closed, presenting no availability to be snooped in but now was his chance. The house wasn't too exciting, just plainly decorated rooms, the only impressiveness was the quantity of rooms. After his nose had been stuck through every doorframe, Billy headed to his room to change. Steve had laid out a white t-shirt and some underwear for him which looked intimidatingly small. Billy's suspicions were correct when he pulled the shirt over his head to see that it clung, it really clung. There wasn't a muscle or contour that wasn't visible through the fabric. The blonde almost laughed at himself as he looked in the mirror, he was all for showing off his abs, but this just looked like he'd been shopping in the kids department. Steve seemed to share the same thought as his laughter came from the doorframe, dressed and ready after his shower.

Living with Billy hadn't been as difficult as first anticipated. Steve had expected the house to turn into a complete mess, have girls over every night, to argue with Billy at every opportunity but the blonde had been very courteous. Of course there were nights where he'd hear Billy finally come home in the early hours, coming back from a date with some girl or something but in general, they just laid around and watched TV like slobs. Steve was really enjoying the experience, he no longer dreaded the idea of coming home from school, instead he was excited to chill out with Billy, the impending feeling of loneliness no longer hanging over him. They still drove in separate cars to school, partially to avoid any raised brows but also due to the fact that Billy was particularly clingy to his Camaro and Steve's fear of the reckless driving of it. Life seemed to be looking ever so slightly uphill for Steve, he even found himself getting over Nancy. He was in a place where he no longer wanted to bend to her will or push her away, subsequently their friendship was so much better. Better enough for him to invite her round.

Billy was out which meant Steve didn't have to explain the whole situation, not yet at least. He sat in the front room with Nancy while she chatted on about something that happened at school. Steve found it a fulfilling experience, after all, his ex was sitting in his house, completely alone with him and yet he felt no urge to even touch her. All their chemistry was gone, and he was glad just to be her friend. They stayed that way for a couple hours, just laughing with each other when the sound of the front door opening took them off guard. Steve knew who it was immediately and settled down, Nancy however seemed tense.

"I thought your parents aren't back for a while?" She whispered, clearly concerned about whatever intruder had made their way into the house. Before Steve could even answer Billy turned the corner into the room, only to stop in his tracks.

"Hey Harrington, I'm thinking Chinese food to- oh. Nancy's here." Steve couldn't read Billy's expression as he stood in the threshold. There was something off about it.

"Uh yeah- I invited her to hang, you can come join us?" Steve offered, feeling the uncomfortable awkwardness of the situation.

"Steve, I can go?" Nancy suggested, starting to move from the couch.

"No!" he exclaimed "I mean, there's no reason for you to go." Nancy seemed to accept this and sunk back into her seat, eyes glancing from Steve to Billy curiously.

"I'll go- uh- upstairs, just call for me when you want food." Billy managed to get out before turning on his heel and half storming off up the stairs. There was a moment of quiet as they listened to Billy's footsteps ascending up the stairs before Nancy blurted out the question she so desperately wanted to ask.

"What the hell is he doing here?!"

"Well, he's kinda staying with me for a while." He knew that it was hardly an explanation, but he was sure Billy would not be too happy with his dirty laundry being aired so he remained ambiguous.

"What? That doesn't even make sense! He nearly killed you!" Nancy exclaimed quietly.

"Look Nancy, I can't tell you what happened, it's not my place. He needs somewhere, and I have an empty house. It's good for both of us." Steve said with a sigh, hoping desperately that Nancy would pry no further like she usually did.

"This is weird Steve."

"Oh trust me, I know."

Nancy stayed for a little over than an hour longer. Jonathan had swung by to pick her up, Steve was pretty certain he'd have a couple questions about the Camaro in the drive way but that was an issue for another day. Apart from the tension that had originated from Billy's arrival home, seeing Nancy had been relaxing, something he really needed. Not only could he find a friend in Billy, but he could lean on Nancy again too. Feeling bad that Billy had cooped himself up, he headed upstairs to coax the blonde out with the offer of food. Billy was sat on the floor of not his own room but Steve's; he noticed the record player spinning around a vinyl which lead up to the headphones placed upon Billy's head. When Steve entered the room, Billy's eyes looked up to his and removed the music from his ears.

"She's gone so you can come out of hiding now." Steve joked.

"I'm not hiding. I just didn't wanna get in the way." Billy offered with a lazy shrug.

"In the way of what? We were just talking."

"You don't have to play dumb Harrington, trying to get back with your ex isn't that embarrassing, although, I'm sure there's plenty other girls at school who'd happily lay on their back for you." He said with a smirk. Billy rose to his feet and approached Steve who was gazing quizzically at him. "I can call a few for you if you want?"

"Wha- No? I'm not trying to get laid?" Steve didn't understand what had given Billy the impression he was trying to get back with Nancy, after all the way there was at least like 3ft. between them as they sat was clearly an indication otherwise. Billy was smiling as he brushed past Steve, finding the expression on his face funny.

"I'm gonna call and order food? What'd you want princess?" and with that Billy left the room. Leaving Steve completely stunned.

The food place wasn't running delivery meaning that Billy had to drive out and collect, which as annoying as it was resulted well because Billy also returned with beer in tow. Steve had no idea how Billy got served alcohol, he probably just sweet talked the cashiers or something, but it wasn't worth thinking about because it meant they could get drunk. The two wolfed down their food, leaving barely any scraps behind, clearly hungered by their long days at school. Billy riffled through the vinyl's as Steve cracked open his first beer.

"And Billy's music choice of the evening will be…" Steve began to aggressively slap a drumroll onto the carpet as Billy laughed; the blonde slipped the record from its cardboard casing before delicately setting it up. Steve waited in anticipation for the music to start, he had no idea why he loved it so much when Billy chose a record, he just knew he always enjoyed his choice. Soon enough the familiar sound of guitar filled the room.

"And its Pink Floyd!" Billy jokingly took a bow before sliding onto the floor next to Steve. The brunette couldn't help but notice how warm Billy's shoulder was against him, it almost burned to touch. Billy opened up a beer of his own and the two of them knocked their cans against each other, spilling some of it onto their clothes before yelling our a 'Cheers'.

As they drank Billy found himself talking about some of his old antics, telling Steve about how he'd been arrested for arson once because he set fire to some dumpsters behind a liquor store. Billy's life sounded way more exciting than Steve's he thought, well, excluding the monsters and other dimensions. The Californian seemed to have story upon story that entertained Steve to every degree and he didn't know how he managed to do so many fun and reckless things, all Steve did to rebel was drink and let people sleep at his house. They were several beers in when Steve felt a weight on his shoulder and his heart practically stopped as he felt hair brush against his bare neck. He turned ever so slightly to see that Billy had leant his head upon his shoulder as he kept on talking. Steve went straight into a panic. Why the hell was Billy Hargrove leaning on his shoulder? What did it mean? Was he drunk? Was it even weird? Maybe it wasn't weird for guys to do that in California. Steve could barely concentrate on Billy's words as he spoke, too caught up in the meaning behind the contact.

"Steve?" Billy's voice brought Steve straight out of his thoughts, forcing Steve to focus in on Billy's blue eyes that stared at him. Steve missed the warmth against his neck almost immediately, yearning for Billy to place his head back there.

"Yeah?" He croaked out, barely able to find his words. Billy was so damn close to his face, so close. He could feel Billy's breath on his lips, his eyes trailed down to the other's lips, noting how plump and slick they looked.

"I asked you a question." Billy breathed out, the warmth behind each word being felt on Steve's bottom lip. He knew he should pull away. That's what any ordinary guy would do, just pull back or push Billy away but he didn't, he was so painfully still. There was clearly a strong part of him that just wanted to see what would happen next.

"Ask again." The atmosphere was heavy as it weighed down on Steve's chest, Billy wasn't moving, nor was he speaking, leaving him in complete suspense. He was almost scared to breathe in the moment, it was way too quiet. Billy's mouth opened his mouth to speak but no words came, that's when blue eyes shot to the ground. The blonde moved back so he was back to sitting next to Steve.

"Don't worry." He mumbled, his voice ever so slightly breathy. Steve's hand shook ever so slightly as he brought his beer can to his lips, in a state of complete confusion. He cursed himself silently for zoning out, he would've heard the question at least. The curiosity would eat at him for days, he already knew it was, it was practically killing him already. He decided not to pry, the moment didn't call for it. Maybe he'd ask Billy in a couple days.

Days past and he still didn't ask. It was as if the moment had never occurred, especially with how Billy went about his days as if it had never happened. Something awoke in Steve in that moment, something foreign that left him with an unshakable feeling of discomfort. Just being in proximity of Billy sent him a hideous lightness in his stomach, his chest practically ached from how hard his heart pounded when Billy smiled. Steve found it terrifying that he even felt that way. Deep down he knew what the feeling was, what the cause of all his problems were, but it was something he'd never admit to himself, it was a passing phase so what was the point of dramatizing it all. Steve often told himself he was just getting too excited at the prospect of friendship and projecting all the bad emotions from the breakup onto Billy. That must be it, it had to be. A flick came at Steve's cheek causing him to wince in pain.

"Whats got you thinking so hard?" Billy asked curiously as they sat in the canteen. Steve hadn't realised he had zoned out thinking about Billy which sent a light blush across his cheeks.

"Oh, nothing. I guess I'm tired." Steve mumbled. He felt eyes scanning his food as his own were glued to his food, he hated it when Billy stared him over like that. It was almost predatory the way he analysed every move, forcing Steve into a sense of vulnerability. He knew Billy didn't believe him but it was hardly something to argue about, they both knew when to pick their battles.

"I have a date tonight." Billy announced, Steve looked up at him with a shrug.

"So? you have a date nearly every night."

"Yeah but I kinda need a favour from you." He replied hesitantly. Steve didn't like whatever proposition Billy had for him already. Billy's love life was territory that Steve never daren't enter, at first it was purely due to lack of interest. He didn't really care for which girl Billy was trying to lay each night, but Steve couldn't pretend that was the reasoning anymore. There was just something that left a horrendous nausea in his stomach every time he saw Billy drive off into the evening in a cloud of his own aftershave. Steve couldn't sleep either until he heard the door's latch followed by the sound of Billy's lonesome footsteps.

"I'm seeing Jessica Brown tonight, and she is so fucking hot y'know? The thing is, she won't come on her own. She wants me to bring a friend for her friend." Steve definitely did not like where Billy was going.

"You want me to go on a double date with you?" Steve asked, nose turned up and brows furrowed at the idea. Billy looked surprisingly awkward as he let out a small uncomfortable laugh.

"I mean, I don't exactly want you to come but, you'd be helping me out. I'd ask someone else but as you noticed, the line of people wanting to be my friend isn't exactly long." Billy's eyes pleaded slightly with Steve, silently coaxing him to say yes. He really didn't want to go, he didn't want to have to watch Billy try and talk his way into bed with some STD ridden cheerleader. On the other hand he really didn't want to say no, he didn't want to sabotage Billy's opportunities to find whatever it was he was actually looking for. He rolled his eyes with a heavy sigh and agreed which only erupted a big smile on Billy's face.

"You owe be big time though!" Steve said firmly with a pointed finger which Billy merely battered away as his other hand tapped at his pockets in search of his cigarettes.

"I'll add it to the list then." Billy replied with a smirk.

Every cell in Steve's body was reluctant to go on the date, he really really despised the idea but there he was, dragging a comb through his hair, perfecting every strand. After double checking Billy was nowhere in sight he grabbed his Farrah Fawcett hairspray from the cabinet and gave his hair four quick sprays. Upon hearing footsteps, he shoved the cannister back away, he knew Billy would never let him hear the end of it if he knew. The younger boy leant against the doorframe with his arms crossed and an eyebrow raised. As he usually looked on a date night, he was sporting a navy button up which defied the name completely as barely any of the buttons were actually done up. Steve had to admit, Billy looked good. From every strand of hair, to every curvature in his visible muscles Billy looked absolutely amazing.

"Are you actually going out like that?" Billy asked. Steve furrowed his brows, unsure what it was Billy didn't like about his outfit, he personally thought he looked quite good.

"Whats wrong with it?"

"For starters your shirt is untucked, and its buttoned way too high." Billy strode across the bathroom and closed the distance between them. It was half a moment before Steve felt Billy's fingers fiddling with his belt, which stopped all breathing from Steve completely. Once Billy had undone the other's belt and jeans he began to tuck Steve's white shirt under the waist line. The side of the blonde's face was practically pressed against Steve's chest as he tucked in the back. There was no denying that Billy most likely heard how fast the heart was beating in said chest, but he didn't comment. Once the jeans and belt had been done back up, Billy's finger glided up the fabric of the shirt ever so lightly. The quick moving fingers fiddled with a couple buttons until Steve's chest was exposed. His shirt wasn't nearly as undone as Billy's, but he couldn't help but feel exposed, plus his skinny frame was hard to compare against the Californian boy's six pack. The blonde didn't move back when his eyes trailed back up to Steve's.

"You ready to go?" He asked, voice ever so slightly breathy, a sound that made Steve's stomach light. He nodded, not trusting his voice. Billy seemed satisfied with his modifications to Steve's look before he turned on his heel, leading the way towards the front door. They both went in Billy's car, seeing no point in taking both, it meant however that Steve had to brave the terrifying driving and heavy Iron Maiden cassettes. They barely spoke as Billy drove towards some food place, Steve had never been before, but Billy seemed to rave on about the fact that there were pool tables and dart boards.

The two girls were waiting for them inside the restaurant, perched next to each other nervously in a booth. They flashed bright smiles at the sight of Steve and Billy. Steve knew the two of them from school, Jessica was in the cheerleading squad which of course led to her falling for assholes like Billy all the time. The other girl, his date, was a girl he recognised from his calculus class, Kate wasn't it? Steve forced a smile as he approached the girls and slide onto the opposite side of the booth.

"Hey Billy." Jessica said with a batter of her lashes, god she looked desperate. "Uh Steve, you know Katie right?" Katie, that was it, Steve mentally hit himself for getting the name wrong.

"Of course, Hey, you look pretty tonight." Steve greeted. He wasn't lying, Katie was a really pretty girl, with long brunette hair that fell past her shoulder, chocolatey brown eyes that were framed by such luscious eyelashes. She was such a beautiful girl but Steve didn't know why he was so against sitting across from her. Surely at the sight of a pretty girl he should be all over her, revert back to his old self and try and get her back to his, but he wasn't. Instead he sat there, forcing fake pleasantries as Billy smooth talked his new prey.

"Y'know, Jessica said that Billy was going to bring a friend, but I had no idea it'd be you! It's crazy, I'm on a date with Steve Harrington." She chuckled, Steve could tell she was interested in him. To be quite fair he'd suspected for a long time she had somewhat of a crush on him from the way she always looked at him in class but now he was having to come face to face with it.

"Yeah, I mean Billy sprung it on me today." Steve noticed Billy's eyes turning to him, tuning into the conversation at the sound of his name. Steve slid his hand across the table and held Katie's lightly and playfully before smiling at her. "I'm really glad I came though, couldn't've been set up with anyone more beautiful." Katie's face flushed with a brilliant red as she looked away from Steve, clearly smitten. Steve's eyes drifted to Billy, who didn't even give him a second look as he smiled at Jessica. Steve didn't know why he was so annoyed that his move on Katie hadn't incited any form of reaction from Billy, but it did. He ground his teeth as Jessica jabbered on about some story he couldn't care less for, obviously he laughed when needed and nodded when he needed but the words went in one ear and escaped the other. After a couple Pepsi's and sharing a bowl of fries with the girls, Billy turned to Steve and challenged him to a game of pool which he accepted. The girls followed the two of them as Billy slid a coin in to release the balls. Steve went first, dispersing all the balls with the stick and looking smugly up at Billy when one rolled into one of the corner pockets.

"Don't get cocky Harrington, you're going to lose miserably." Billy threatened playfully.

"Who's getting cocky here?" Shot back Steve. With a grin and a shake of the head Billy took his turn and as he predicted, he pocketed more of the balls than Steve.

The two were probably more competitive than they should've been but the girls didn't seem to care. They cheered on their designated date when needed, Katie had even excitedly started hugging Steve when he made a good shot. His first instinct was to push her away but on second thought he pulled her closer, allowing his arms to slip down to her lower back. Once again, his eyes turned to Billy whose gaze met his. Billy was looking at him strangely, Steve couldn't place his finger on it but the tiniest bit of satisfaction settled in his stomach, it wasn't the exact reaction he was looking for but it was a reaction nonetheless. They continued to play on, Steve didn't even care that Billy was winning, he felt too smug. It wasn't till near the end of the game that Jessica interrupted them. With a dainty hand placed on Billy's bicep she smiled up at him wantonly.

"I've never played pool before, teach me?" Billy let out a chuckle at the words and agreed. Steve couldn't help but stand there and watch as the blonde wrapped his arms around the girl, showing her how to hold the cue. Steve's stomach churned at the sight. There was something that just infuriated so much to see Billy so intimate with someone else. He tried to listen to Katie chat on, he desperately craved the distraction but his eyes couldn't help but to be drawn to the way Billy would whisper into Jessica's ear, lips slightly grazing across her skin. The sound of her breathy giggles made him see red, he wanted nothing more than to drag her away by her hair. He hated her. He fucking hated her. An arm slid around his waist and pulled him close, it took him a moment to realise it was Katie. In a moment of pure rage he pushed her away.

"Get the fuck off me." He snapped. She looked hurt. He didn't blame her, he was being a complete asshole but he didn't care. He couldn't stand to spend one more moment in that place, one more moment watching Billy try his hardest to fuck that, that whore. He saw how the blonde was staring at him, confusion contorting his features. Steve couldn't do it. In a room where Billy fucking Hargrove stood, Steve was being the asshole. He shook his head before pulling on his jacket, without a look back he stormed out into the night.

Steve deeply regretted coming in the same car as Billy as it now meant he was stuck walking home in the cold. Winter was creeping up quickly and being outside at night was hardly pleasant. His feet stomped against the tarmac as he walked along the road. He had half a mind to stick out his thumb and hitchhike but he couldn't stand to be around anyone in that moment, he had no control over his emotions. What was worse was that he didn't even know why he was so mad. Why should he give two damns that Billy was making moves on some girl, he did it every other night anyway, what was so different now? Nothing. Absolutely nothing was different, they were still the same people, Billy was still an ass and Steve was still an ass in recovery. The anger raged through him like a fire in his core, he hadn't been this angry in such a long time, not since his fight with Billy and even before that, not since his breakup with Nancy. He'd gotten so much better at controlling his anger, he was actually kind of a decent guy now but yet Billy Hargrove got under his skin. Without a second thought Steve slammed his fist into a nearby streetlight, letting out a roar of anger. He was pathetic. He was a guy, why the hell should he care about Billy?!

Steve hated that he knew deep down there was more to it, he knew that whatever it was he felt for Billy it was definitely more than a fucking friendship. He'd never even looked twice at a guy before, not once yet here was, getting in a hissy fit because he wasn't getting the attention. Being gay wasn't even an option. It was a small town, no one was gay, it was unheard of. He wasn't gay, he couldn't be. He'd just dated Nancy, and he loved everything about her. She was clearly the complete opposite of a guy, such a slim and small physic, such soft features, she couldn't contrast Billy's burly and muscular body any more.

The walk was thankfully shorter than he expected, soon enough he found himself approaching his front door. He fumbled with the keys for a moment, the cold had spread a numbness through his limbs, plus his hand was still throbbing from punching that metal pole. He'd barely been inside five minutes when he heard the roar of Billy's Camaro skid into the drive way. Steve didn't want to see him, he didn't want to even recognise his existence in that moment, after all, it was all Billy's fault that he was even feeling this way. He was in the kitchen when he heard the front door slam. Hargrove stormed in, a scowl present on his face and nostrils flared.

"What the fuck was that Harrington?" He yelled, coming uncomfortably close to Steve.

"Nothing just leave me alone." Steve said through gritted teeth. As mad as he was in that moment, he had no interest in getting his face smashed in again.

"No, I won't leave you alone, you just cost me that whole date!" Billy was just as mad as Steve, it was so clear in his eyes. "You acted like a complete jack ass, so Jessica got all protective of her friend and I had to drive the two of them home. She doesn't want anything to fucking do with me."

"I'm sure you can find another lay, you always do." Steve spat.

"What's that supposed to mean huh?" Billy shoved Steve slightly, sending him stumbling back into the fridge. It was enough to ignite all the rage in Steve back up.

"It means, you can go find another whore, I'm sure you've got the numbers of plenty." Billy laughed at the statement. It was the same maniacal laugh that Steve had learnt to be scared of but he wasn't this time. In all honesty Steve believed he was the one to be reckoned with in that moment.

"I don't understand what your problem is Harrington. Are you jealous? Is that what it is?" Steve's stomach sunk at the words. That's exactly what it was. He was jealous, he was jealous of the way Billy wrapped his arms around her, jealous of how he'd hovered so close to her face with that smile of his, jealous of the fact Billy would never in a million years even consider acting that way with him. Of course he'd never voice that, so he stayed silent.

"You're jealous? Jesus, that's a classic. You're getting pissy because I got the hotter chick? You're pathetic Steve." Shouted Billy, a sadistic smile etched on his face. Steve was slightly relieved that Billy read into it wrong and thought he was jealous that he didn't have Jessica, it was safer that way. Whatever Billy thought he couldn't stand looking at him. He hated the reminder that he was a freak, he hated how clueless Billy was to all of it.

"Get the fuck out." Steve growled in a low tone. Billy stared at him for a moment, in complete disbelief.

"You're kicking me out?"

"Yeah. I am. Get out." Billy laughed again, but it was different this time. It was breathy, like he was trying to compensate for what was truly going through his head.

"Jesus, now I know why you're a loner." Steve didn't want to hear this. He knew Billy's words were about to sting. "I know why Nancy left you for that fucking freak, why no one at school likes you. You're a slimy piece of shit Steve."

"Stop it." Billy didn't stop though.

"At least I'm upfront about being an asshole but you? You fucking sneak your way in to stab people behind their backs." Steve couldn't even think straight, Billy's words cut deep like knives. He wanted the blonde to shut up so badly, he couldn't hear it. He couldn't hear how much Billy detested him. Despite how angry he was, he never wanted Billy to actually hate him. The anger was too much though, Steve couldn't stop the words that sat at the tip of the tongue. He so desperately wanted to suck them back in but he couldn't.

"No wonder your dad fucking hits you if you talk to him like this."

It was too quick. Billy's right hook pummelled into Steve's jaw, knocking him back into the kitchen counter. He didn't even wait a second to process the punch before he lunged at the younger boy, knocking him to the ground. It was a complete role reversal of the previous fights. This time Steve straddled Billy as he threw punch after punch onto Hargrove's face. The sick thing was, that Billy was laughing.

"Go on Steve! Hit me like my daddy does!" he yelled between punches. Steve didn't stop at the sight of blood, he didn't stop at the swelling, he didn't stop as Billy made feeble attempts to fight back. He couldn't. He was just so mad, every single harsh word and dirty glare Billy had ever sent him played through his mind, making him really hate him in that moment. Every bad moment flooded his mind, the first time he'd seen the Demogorgon, when Nancy had revealed she didn't love him, when he'd found out she actually did go for Jonathan, entering those damned tunnels, the way his parents constantly left him without a second thought. He was just taking it all out on Billy. He didn't realise that he was crying as he through the hits, his shoulders shook violently as his punches became weaker and weaker till his hands were just resting on Billy's chest. He half expected Billy to either be knocked out or about to retaliate but he just laid there, staring at him. Steve couldn't stop crying, especially when he looked down at Billy's battered face, seeing what he'd done to his supposed friend.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I can't-" he could barely speak through the sobs that ripped through his lungs, he didn't know what the fuck was going on. He didn't understand why he was so mad, why he couldn't stop the anger, most of all he didn't know why Billy wasn't throwing punches back. They stayed that way. Steve sobbing into his bloodied knuckles as the blonde simply laid there.

"It makes you feel better doesn't it?" Billy's voice was so quiet when he spoke, and so soft. Steve had never heard the other sound so soft before. The words confused him, he couldn't fathom that in any shape or form that he felt any better, if anything, he felt worse. "That feeling of being so close to the edge that you've just gotta beat the shit out of something. I know it better than anyone."

"Billy, I just-" Steve could still barely talk, his brain was too scrambled to form even a sentence.

The fury that consumed Billy fought back when Steve was antagonising him, the ass deserved it for acting the way he was. Steve still didn't understand his place and it seemed Billy had to knock him back into it. It wasn't until he was knocked to the ground and Steve began to relentlessly pummel his face that he submitted. The pain was almost unbearable and the memories the beating brought up were terrifying, it had been a while since he'd fallen victim to his father's blows, he thought he was safe, that he was getting away from it by staying with Steve; but he was wrong. He wanted to demonise the boy who was beating him senseless, he wanted to liken him to his scumbag of a father but when he stared up at the teary-eyed boy, he didn't see his father, he only saw himself. Steve wasn't hitting him for the sake of hitting him like his dad did, he was lost in his rage, like Billy had been thousands of times. He knew exactly what it was like to be in that position where he just had to destroy something, render it completely submissive to his will, so he granted it to Steve.

Something stirred inside of Billy as he stared up at Steve as he cried. The punching had stopped which was a relief for the younger boy, he knew he couldn't take many more, his vision was already starting to go hazy but it wasn't anything he hadn't experienced before. He could see that Steve was ridden with guilt already, part of Billy believed that it was rightly so but another side felt great sympathy. Billy had always been so wrapped up in his own problems, focusing on how shit his own life was that he never really looked into other people's pain, especially not someone like Steve. He was still angry that Steve had ruined his date and tried to kick him out, he found it hard to let shit like that go but he pushed it aside for a moment. He truly felt the need to sort out whatever was going on with Harrington because it clearly ran much deeper than simple date jealousy. Steve was still straddling his lap as Billy hesitantly sat up, weary of Steve going to plant another hit but none came. The blonde couldn't stand the sound of the sobbing, there was something too hard hitting about the sound.

"I fucking let you stay here to get away from that monster. A-a-and here I am, doing the exact same shit." He cried. Billy didn't know what to say, it was true after all. He was surprisingly calm about just being beaten, Billy let out a small laugh when he thought to himself that maybe it was him that needed to be beaten into his place.

"Steve, you're not like my dad at all, chill out." His hands rose to pull Steve's away from his face, forcing Steve to read his expression. "You needed to let the rage out."

"I don't know why I'm so angry Billy." It sounded like Steve was talking to himself moreso than Billy, it was as if he was trying to reason with himself, desperately trying to find some justification for hurting someone like that.

"Sleep it off Harrington, we'll talk about it in the morning." Billy suggested. Steve nodded as he slowly rose to his feet, finally releasing Billy. The blonde had no idea when their roles had switched, shouldn't Billy be the one mid-mental breakdown with Steve talking sense into him? Damn Harrington rubbed off on him too much. Billy also rose to his feet and hesitantly lead Steve up to his room. The brunette clambered into a foetal postion as he slipped under the sheets. Billy sunk to the floor next to the bed and simply stayed there.

"Billy?" Steve asked, voice still wobbling ever so slightly.

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah, I know."