˗ˏˋ Lovie ˎˊ˗

The dog-like creatures chattered before lunging toward Billy. The one on the left jumped first and he right hooked its meaty slimy head. It flew down with a strangled screech. Before Billy could fully turn, the other fleshy dog came from the right and clamped its teeth around his thigh, sinking into his muscle and tearing his skin away.

Billy cried out in pain, falling down to his knees trying to pry the flesh jaws off of his leg but it only clamped harder and yanked, tearing his muscle even further.

All of a sudden the other creature he'd sucker punched sprung, latching onto his abdomen. Billy screamed and just when he thought it couldn't get any worse the large monster in front of him, its long limbs planted firmly where it stood, shot a tentacle with sharp jagged bone at the end toward him.

Instinctively Billy shielded himself, his arms extended forward holding back the clamping tentacle that was forcing its way towards his face.

Billy screamed until his throat burned, until the sound didn’t even feel like it belonged to him anymore. The dogs held him down firmly, blood gushing from his body out of their mouths.

Billy tried to think of anything to keep him from noticing the pain. He recalled the image of his mother cheering him on as he surfed. The smell of the salt air. The long calls from the seagulls on the sand.

But then, your laugh echoed in his head. Your perfect soft laugh that made his heart swell. Your smile that kept him smiling longer than he ever has. Your eyes that beckoned his soul to you like a siren. His Sunshine. His girl. The only thing in this world that made him feel unconditionally loved.

Despite the gruesome pain he was under, his mouth lifted in a weak smile, missing his girl. He missed you so much it pained him. It was at that moment he knew this was it. There was nothing else he could physically do to survive. At least he would die remembering the softest sweetest thing that will ever bless him. And he was blessed.

His biceps trembled fiercely, his body weakening and the chemical poisoning more than likely catching up with him. Then the monster shot five more tentacles at him, impaling his body like a voodoo doll.

His breath shuddered and his ears ringed, his arms falling down from pushing away the monster's main tentacle. The next thing he knew he was falling down, his eyes rolling to the back of his head as the collapsed ceiling of the mall spun and blurred.

Just before darkness overtook him, he heard the sweet angel voice of his girl one last time.

"Billy!" A voice echoed.

It sounded unclear... Far away. Billy's body felt like it was buzzing and burning all at once. His eyelids twitched.

The voice echoed again. He recognized that voice. He tried to open his eyes again, fluttering under the pressure of his pounding head. His arm felt like it was being ripped out of its socket, a white hot pain flared.

That's when he heard the sobbing in your voice more clearly. A strangled cry for him. "Billy, wake up please!"

He had to open his eyes. He had to.

With all the strength he could muster up, his eyes fluttered, struggling to open. When they finally did, bright red and blue lights flared before he was seeing an angel. Was he dead?

"Sunshine?" His throat felt raw, burning and shredded at his attempt to speak.

You gasped, a broken sob escaping your lips—one he's memorized a thousand times. His vision was bleary, blinking to try to clear what he thought was a dream, he realized was actually a reality. You were dragging his dead weight through the rubble of the mall.

Quickly, you dropped to your knees beside Billy, your small hand never once letting up your vice grip on his. Shouting over your shoulder, "Somebody help! Over here! Please we need help!"

You looked back down to Billy, bringing his hand up to your face with a river of tears flooding down. "Hey," you cooed. "Billy, stay with me. I'm right here, please, stay awake." Your voice cracked with another sob before his jeweled blue eyes rolled back and closed again.

The next few hours were a blur.

Sirens. Ambulances and firetrucks. The vague picture of your face covered in bruises and soot and dried blood.

Billy was laid in a hospital bed, groggy on pain medication and sedatives. He just kept repeating your name over and over again in his head.

He could hear your voice, sad and weepy. "Dear God, please don't take him away. Hear my plea, and heal him. Please, I beg of you, I won't ever complain again."

Billy felt himself smile and everything in his body was screaming to wake up. He said her name in his head again. Repeating it like it was a lifeline. Eventually it was no longer in his head and rather out loud.

There you were, sitting beside him with his hand in both of yours, anxiously awaiting for him to come to.

"Billy?" You weakly gasped, "did– did you just say something?"

Billy groaned, feeling the heavy weight of his body like it was someone else's.

But there was something else. Something that felt claustrophobic and wild.

However, the feeling was lost to the only thought he could manage. "Hey Sunshine," he grumbled, a small twitch played at the corner of his mouth. "Am I dead?"

He opened his eyes and was met with yours that were red and swollen from crying. He missed those eyes. So pretty and full of everything worth fighting for.

You wasted no time in throwing yourself onto him, your arms wrapping around him and digging under his body that felt like lead.

Billy tried to laugh but it hurt just as much as your weight on top of him did. But that was something he was willing to endure to feel you again. To smell your skin was like a drug.

A fleeting thought of how your muscles would feel flashed in his mind.

He flinched.

"Sorry!" You pulled away, but not too far. "Did I hurt you?"

Billy's heart began to race, pounding under his chest like a caged animal. Had he really just thought of you... Between his teeth.

What is this?

After a beat of staring at you and wondering what the hell was going on he spoke, gravelly and strained. "No. No, you didn't sweetheart. Just sore, that's all."

You smiled so brightly he felt at peace with his current state momentarily. "How are you feeling? Do you need anything? Do you want me to get the nurse?" You asked tenderly.

He felt a twinge in his chest and his eyes pricked. "Feel like hell," He managed to say. You were quick to respond.

Your voice light, you said, "I'll get the nurse for you." Billy groaned in disapproval, which made you pause, a lost look in your glossy eyes.

"Don't," he paused, "Please... just stay with me for a while." Wishing he could kiss you badly he attempted to reach for you. But moving was proving to be a bit difficult, painfully so, and that wasn't good on his ego.

To save face he said, "Come're." Your bashful smile he reveled in seeing emerged, decorating your features like a doll, and you intertwined your hand with his. Using your free hand you brushed back his golden curls, your hand warm and comforting, before leaning in.

Your scent was familiar and intoxicating. He practically groaned in impatience as you hesitated. Then he tilted his chin and lifted his head slightly, closing the distance for you in a delicate kiss.

Capturing your soft lips, he opened his mouth slowly to taste you. You did the same, a small breath escaping into his mouth. His tongue grazed the inside of your lip and like a frenzy he crashed your tongues together, like if he stopped he might never be hungry again.

You made a noise of slight surprise, but deepened the kiss with him. A surge of need coursing through your veins. You held on longer. The way his mouth felt was a momentary malfunction for your critical thinking skills. He was an extraordinary kisser even when hospitalized.

A white hot sensation climbed up his throat. The delicious taste of you pulled a trigger and before he knew it, he had taken hold of your bottom lip a little too hard and a little too fast between his teeth.

You pressed your hand to his chest and pulled away, a small squeak of surprise escaping your mouth. Billy's brows furrowed in confusion, suddenly cold, wondering why you pulled back. Your other hand flew to your lip, feeling for blood. A panic rose in Billy's blazing throat.

"I'm sorry Sunshine." He said quickly, muscles tensing as his hand lifted to turn your chin, "Did I hurt you?" His thumb grazed over your lip, checking with his brows pinched. An aching pain screamed at his arm lifting, but he didn't care.

You wrapped your fingers around his wrist and placed your cheek against his palm, shaking your head no. He relaxed marginally, relieved he didn't hurt you.

"Happy to see me Billy?" You quietly mused.

Your smile was so timid and sweet, guilt the size of a bowling ball settled heavy in his stomach. "You have no idea."

Things got strange after he left the hospital.

He had this uncontrollable appetite for all things red, raw, and pulsing. No matter what he was constantly craving steak in the rawest form. Whenever you guys would decide to stay indoors he would feel nauseous.

Not only that but the more he was with you the more vivid flashes of your flesh being torn by his teeth would occur.

Billy was too afraid to tell you anything. You assumed it was just PTSD making him a bit squirrely and closed off but one night you felt him panting in his sleep beside you. There were many nights he would call to ask if he could spend the night over.

When you turned on the bedside lamp and moved to wake him up you saw faint black veins on his neck. Your mouth soured. That's when you knew something was wrong.

You brought it up in the morning.

"I'm concerned about you." You had hesitantly said as you both laid in your bed, his hand ghosting scratches up your back under your shirt.

Billy mumbled in a groggy voice, "Why's that?"

You shifted slowly, sitting up to look him in the eyes. His hand slid down your back to your hip, his brows drawn, about to protest.

But you were quick to speak up, voice nearly trembling. "You had six steaks yesterday," you stated, gnawing at the edge of your lip. "All barely cooked and in a pool of grease and blood."

Billy searched your eyes, looking for an ounce of joking to what you were saying. "You serious?" You looked at him firmly, but your fingers played with the tassel of a pink throw blanket that was between you two.

His throat dried, bobbing at an attempt to remedy it. Then his fingers twitched on your hip, heat radiating off of you. "You ever heard of a blue steak, Sunshine? It's common." Billy deadpanned.

You shake your head quickly, "No. No, you've been having the same thing ever since you left the hospital."

"Yeah, well ingesting a bunch of chemicals will do that to a guy." He clipped, his mouth hardened.

Your brows pinched, your lips parting as you tried to understand him, "I didn't mean it like that." You said barely above a whisper. "Billy, last night, did you have a nightmare?"

Billy sat up now, visibly more irritated, "What does that have to do with anything?" His face was close, his hand moved to rest on your thigh instead. His eyes flicked to your neck where your heartbeat quickened.

"Everything." You looked down, unable to bear witness to his eyes that were angry with you. "You promised you would tell me everything from now on. So why do I feel like you're still...not?"

His jaw tightened and his heart palpated. A weird cold boiling sensation rising. He hated seeing you like this, but what was he supposed to tell you? That he feels like the walking dead most of the time. That whenever he's around people his mouth salivates and his fingers burn and itch at the same time, even around you. That he thinks he has a bigger problem than when he was possessed. How can he tell you if he doesn't even know what is happening?

Slowly, Billy brought up his hand and caressed your face, trailing his hand through your hair and to the back of your neck. "You are... the only person I want to be around." His eyes flicked between yours, his dark lashes shadowing his bright blue eyes. "And I don't want you worryin' about me a second longer."

You felt your eyes prick, threatening to spill tears, but he pulled you in and kissed you. Lingering, holding you there like you might vanish if he let go. His lips were slightly chapped and cold, his stubble scratching your chin, sending a shiver up your spine.

Softly he pressed another kiss to your lips then said in a deep and low voice, "My promise still stands." The vibration from his throat traveled to your lips, tickling, then sending butterflies to your stomach.

Later that night, you had a weird gut feeling. The same one. You couldn't shake the feeling away so you decided you would go out to see Billy at his house. Just to check on him.

When you got to his house however he wasn't there.

"You haven't seen him all day?" You asked, voice raising with panic. Max stared at you, her eyes wide and suddenly aware of your behavior.

His car was gone.

"No, why? Is something wrong?" Her voice was firm but also raised in concern. You tried to calm down so as not to escalate the situation when you've only tried one place.

However, that was quickly dying as you just left Steve's house, the sixth place you visited in search of Billy. You were out of options, it was nearing midnight, and you didn't know where he was or if he was okay or even if he was alive. You desperately wished you had convinced him to stay with you this morning.

There's no way you're going to lose him again. Not after all the crap you've been through.

You turned on your heel and marched right back to Steve's house, knocking like a maniac. Steve opened the door not surprised to see it was you given you were just there a minute ago.

You huffed out an uneasy breath, "I need your help. I don't know where else Billy could be and I'm starting to lose it." Your eyes pleased with him, and his eyebrows raised. "Please, you're his friend right?"

Steve saw you were about to cry and answered quickly, "Friends isn't quite what I'd use to describe us but I'll help you find him. We can start looking in the mor-"

"No! You don't understand. He's been acting strange. At first I thought it was just because of what happened with the Mind Flayer but..." You trailed off, "Steve something's wrong. He's could be anywhere and I can't–"

You took a heavy breath in, "I can't lose him again." Steve took a good long look at your stare, his hands planted on his hips analyzing.

"Alright," he muttered. "Let me get my things."

Waiting for Steve outside his door, you glanced up, staring at the white glow of the full moon, its silver rays beaming down and illuminating the night.

Steve came back out with outdoor wear and a flashlight. "We should get more eyes to search for him. We'll stop by the Wheeler's, the kids are supposed to be pulling an all-nighter on some nerd campaign, they can help out."

You nodded, "Okay that's a good idea." Your voice sounded far away, and no matter how hard you tried, the memory of Billy getting impaled then collapsing haunted you. The air had left your body so quickly you thought you yourself had been struck.

In Steve's car he was trying to calm you down, but you had stuck your head out the window numerous times to keep from hurling with worry, and he wasn't very good at calming you down.

You had sat back down after taking in the fresh air and your hair being windblown when Steve spoke up like he didn't really want to say what's been bugging him.

"You don't think... you know, Hargrove is still flayed do you?" His voice pitched a little and he cleared his throat.

You tensed at the mention of your worst fear voiced out loud. "I hope not. But I do think something unnatural is going on. So unfortunately we can't rule it out."

"Christ, Henderson is gonna have something to say about this." Steve said exasperated.

[meanwhile...]

Billy's head was pounding, a mass feeling like it was pushing against his skull, and splitting his brain into four. He groaned, his fingers tangling in his hair and ripping out strands.

He stumbled over a fallen tree landing on his back. His throat burned and his fingernails itched. Then suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his spine. His fingers dug into the earth, grasping for anything he could get his hands on.

A groan erupted from his throat, strangled and distorted. It felt like a bunch of dynamite exploded in his throat leaving it raw and mangled.

Billy could smell the nature around him so clearly, leaves, mud, the lake four miles away, and a deer just two...

His mind was in a muddled frenzy. He couldn't think straight. His skin felt like it was boiling, and he thought for a brief second he knew what was going to happen.

Then suddenly his spine popped, arching himself off the muddy ground with a wail. He flipped himself over, attempting to stand, the muscles in his body flaring. Then his nails fell out as new sharper ones emerged, blood pooling at the edges. He looked down in horror, his hands shaking.

Something in him was pushing and it didn't care one bit what it did to Billy.

Screaming, the bone and cartilage at the center of his face began to crunch, combusting into smaller pieces like it was trying to extend outward but the skin was too tight. It began to tear. Reshaping unnaturally.

Billy fell to his knees, his clawed hand popping and snapping. Tears streamed down his face as he tried to cry out but his jaw cracked, unhinging itself and hanging low. Blood drained, falling out his mouth like a river.

The thing doesn't cry. It wants to eat.

Snapping like a twig, his spine rattled and extended out of his body. Everything felt as if it was on fire, like he might burst into flame at any given moment.

That's when his flesh started to shed off, a new growth of fur covering his unrecognizable body, his hair completely falling out. Blood sprayed everywhere, matting down the new fur that had forced its way out.

It gave a good shake and more blood spurted elsewhere. It wanted to hunt, a fiery sensation salivated in its muzzle, coating its sharpened teeth. It lifted its nose into the air, sniffing.

It's head snapped, catching the scent of the deer from earlier and bolted off. The beams of the moon engulfed him in something supernatural.

With a mutilated howl, he was off into the night, deep in the forest.

The search had stretched on for five hours. The kids were nearly falling asleep standing up, and Steve was growing more impatient by the minute.

Steve checked his watch. 4:36am.

He called out your name. You turned around, your flashlight beam landing on his face. "We've been looking for hours. I say we group back at the Wheeler's and come up with a plan."

Your heart sank. There's no way you're leaving, not even if your eyes stung with drowsiness, not even if your ankles were about to fall off. You would find Billy if it was the last thing you do.

Holding your breath to keep from screaming at him you shook your head. "What other plan can there be? We have to keep looking." You frowned at him, a deep crease in between your eyebrows. He sighed.

"Look, everyone is about to sleep on the forest floor, so I suggest we get some rest and try again. You especially." His tone was firm and he was clearly leaving you no room for argument.

Clenching your teeth, you felt your stomach churn. Steve wasn't going to let you search on your own. And you knew it wasn't fair to the kids to make them keep searching.

Reluctantly, you marched back where you guys came from. Steve gave you an apologetic smile and patted your back before holding you in a side hug.

If you let yourself cry that would mean admitting he was gone. So you leaned into Steve's side. The kids saw your distraught face and all slowly followed. Max came to the other side and held your hand, tightly squeezing your hand with reassurance.

You gave her a tight smile, and she said softly, "We're gonna find him. My brother isn't one to give up easily."

Lucas chimed in, his tone soft and encouraging as well, "Yeah, he's tough as nails. And if anyone can find him it's you."

"Yeah, because they're sickeningly in love with each other–" Dustin started, then faltered when no one laughed. "I– I just mean... he'd fight to come back."

Steve smacked his head, "Dude." He whispered harshly. "Read the room."

Back at the Wheeler's house, sneaking in to avoid Mike's parents stirring. You were all in the basement, resting and catching some sleep before you all would venture out again.

Everyone was knocked out. Steve was propped up against the couch, his head tilted back and snoring ever so slightly. Dustin, El, Mike and Will were piled on the floor, pillows and blankets make-shifting a bed. Lucas and Max were on the couch laying opposite of each other, Lucas's foot dangerously to Max's face.

And you... You were wide awake, staring at the ceiling close to the stairs. Your jacket under your head and your arms wrapped around yourself tightly.

"My promise still stands."

The ghost of Billy's hand on your skin made your heart ache and you clutch your shirt in your fist above your heart.

"You are...the only person I want to be around."

"I can't take this." You muttered to yourself, before sitting upright and quickly yet quietly leaving the house. Throwing your jacket on, and turning on your flashlight. It was a chilly early morning. You looked down at your wrist watch. 5:56am.

With haste you sprinted toward the woods and came upon an abandoned campsite. 6:12am.

The sun would be rising soon. Daylight already faintly glowing a dark pink.Your chest was heaving, trying to catch your breath. Taking a few steps around a rotting wooden picnic table, your flashlight reflected off of something in the distance.

Eyes squinting, you neared the shiny reflection and crouched down to find a lighter. His lighter.

Your stomach flipped. "Oh God..." You quivered under your breath. He was here. Which means he must be around somewhere.

You pocketed his metal lighter and trailed your flashlight forward. Pieces of fabric were scattered, torn and buried in dirt. You stumbled to the ground, noticing blood splattered on the torn jean fabric and clutched it to your chest.

Quickly you got up, spinning around not knowing where to go. "Billy!" You cried out, your voice echoing off of the eerie silence of the woods.

Something snapped in the distance and you jerked your head to the sound, your eyes wide and alert. Then you quickly ran towards the sound, weaving in-between trees and jumping over logs.

Gasping, you stopped dead in your tracks. A dead animal lay at your feet, its body mangled and shredded. Your hand covered your mouth, the smell hitting your nostrils with a pungent sour stench, flies buzzing around. You angled your flashlight, finding a trial of its intestines that you began to follow.

"What the hell..." You muttered, gulping your nerves down, a lump so big you nearly choked.

Then your flashlight caught sight of skin. Tanned skin. Your stomach dropped.

There Billy was, his body naked and caked in mud and blood. He was groaning, sitting up before snapping his head toward you, his blue eyes reflecting the flashlight in your hand.

He bared his teeth. "Don't come any closer." His voice was gravelly, low in a strange way you've never heard before.

"Billy, it's okay. I'm not going to hurt you." You kept your voice calm, but you'd be lying if you said it didn't crack a little. You took another step forward, holding out your hand.

He was quick to stand, backing away with a hunched defensive stance. "No but I might if you get any closer. Stay back!"

A low sound rumbled in his throat and you froze.

His body urged him to pounce, a long night of hunting and it still was restless. The smell of you wrapping around his brain like a taunt. Your eyes wide with fear, your face sleep deprived, and your lips parted, stunned.

It would be so easy to just wrap his hands around your throat–

No! He shook his head violently, clamping his hands over his temples with a stifled shout, squeezing hard like he might squash the thing that urged him to harm you. He loves you so much. Even now as the impulse to eat you dominated his every thought.

"Billy what's wrong?" You panicked, your body hesitating to move but ultimately slowly approaching him. He acted like he was in excruciating pain.

He cried out, pushing the thing that demanded control away from taking charge. It raked his brain, digging further under his skull to assert dominance. Billy's heart swelled, aching at the possibility of killing the love of his life. He wouldn't let it win.

Screaming, he fell to his knees, slamming his forehead to the ground to keep from smelling your delicious scent.

"Stay back!" He grounded out, barely able to speak. You paused, the hairs on your arm stood on end at his voice.

Your smile flashed in his head. The thing inside him writhed under the mental pressure Billy was forcing on it, the overwhelming feeling of love for you suffocating it.

Then suddenly they merged. His love for you and It were slammed together, almost absorbing like water and a sponge.

Billy released a repressed breath of relief, a buzzing calm easing over his trembling body. He clawed at his chest, then looked to you with welling eyes.

"Sunshine." He said, his voice thick with dread. You quickly scrambled toward him, tossing the flashlight to the ground and falling to your knees as you threw your arms around him, squeezing so hard you thought you might choke him.

His arms wrapped around you tightly, holding your head in his hand as his fingers tangled in your hair. Hot tears streamed down his face, happy to see you—alive, real—not the wide, terrified eyes of prey.

Fresh tears rolled down your face, a laugh escaping your lips. You pulled away enough to look into his jeweled blue eyes. Your hands holding his face, a luxury only you were allowed, and you grinned from ear to ear.

“I knew I'd find you. God, I prayed and prayed.” You laugh out a sob. His face contorted in sorrow and eyes red and glossy. He pulled you in, peppering your face with kisses.

“I love you so much, I'm so sorry.” He started but you shook your head lightly, thumbs caressing his cheek.

“It's okay, I'm just happy you're alive,” you said softly, before shrugging off your jacket. “Let's go home my love.” You handed it to him, and he took it with an undeniably bashful smile as he realized he was nude. He led the both of you to his Camaro that was parked just on the other side of Lovers Lake

Back at your house, you were on the phone with Steve while Billy was in your shower, trying to apologize for ditching like that alone. Steve was pretty stressed in finding you missing.

“I nearly called the police after your little disappearing act!” Steve complained over the phone.

Sighing and awkwardly coiling the phone cord around your finger you calmly said, “I know I'm sorry. I just couldn't be still. You know if you were in my shoes you would feel the same.”

There was silence over the phone, so you continued, “Steve, honest, I won't do it again.”

Another long pause stretches and you thought maybe he hung up, but then he spoke. “Is Hargrove alright…?” You swallowed the lump in your throat and nodded even though he couldn't see you.

“Yeah. I think so.” You said, and hated how unsure you sounded. You thought of Billy barring his teeth at you in the woods, his naked body covered in blood and dirt. “I don't know, maybe not. We haven't exactly got to talk about the details. I just took him straight to my house and now he's in the shower.”

You hugged the phone to your ear and heard Steve's sigh. “Alright. Just—keep an eye on him, okay? He needs you right now. And make sure to call us with an update. We're all pretty freaked over here.”

You agreed, a warm sensation crawling up your face at Steve admitting out loud that Billy needed you.

Billy let the water run down his body, his wet curls limp on his face. He scrubbed every part of him that he could reach trying to get the stench of blood off his skin. He scrubbed so hard his skin looked red and agitated, nearly raw with his force, as if it would scrape off the thing he was only a few hours ago.

Flashes of his night in the woods as something he thought only existed in fairy-tales plague his memories. He shook his head trying to get rid of them. Dried blood clung to the edges of his normal nails stubbornly, mud caked underneath.

When he was satisfied with his now cooked lobster appearance, he stepped out and wrapped a towel around his waist. Hesitantly he cleared the mirror with his hand and was met with someone who looked like him yet he didn't recognize himself.

He leaned in over the counter, staring into his own eyes that had almost invisible black flecks veining through the blue. He angled his head slightly and something gleamed in his eye. The black flecks were almost iridescent, undetectable until flashed in light.

Billy leaned back quickly, the thing stirring under his skin. His eyes flicked down to his torso where his scarring from the night in Starcourt were more healed and silvery than just two days ago.

His mind began to race.

Before he could spiral, he stepped out of your bathroom and was met with you sitting at the edge of the bed waiting for him with a woeful look. Immediately he felt at ease, the rattling under his skin stilled. You patted the spot next to you and Billy's mouth lifted, a solemn happiness settling in his chest.

He came to sit next to you and almost immediately you stepped down to stand in between his legs, a smaller towel in your hand he hadn't noticed you had before.

Instinctively his arms came to wrap around you before his hands planted on your hips and pulled you in closer. The action caused your knees to ride his towel up.

You were so warm. He felt like dry ice more often since Starcourt.

You kissed his forehead before ruffling his hair with the towel you had, drying what he couldn't be bothered to do. You had often done this for him and it was something you looked forward to when given the chance. Strands of his loose curls would tickle your fingers and you'd find yourself wrapping some around your finger. His hair was soft and silky.

“Billy…can we talk about what happened?” You softly spoke up. You felt his hand tense a little on your hip.

Billy swallowed hard, his fingers flexing on your hips to ground himself from the inevitable. Vulnerability.

“I don't–” he stopped, jaw clenching hard you could see the muscles working. He stared at the floor between your feet. “I don't know how to explain it without sounding completely insane.”

You didn't interrupt. You just stayed where you were, keeping your closeness intact, your hands now rubbing slowly and soothingly on his shoulders.

“It's like… ever since Starcourt I've been feeling like a whole different person. You saw what I was like after I got discharged from the hospital.” He searched your eyes, “Restless and hungry. All the time.” Billy’s voice was low, talking slowly to wrap his own mouth around the strangeness of his words.

You remembered. You think you'll always remember him scarfing down raw steak like a sport. And his black veins. That was something you don't think you'll ever forget.

Billy swallowed. “When I woke up in the woods,” he continued quietly, “It felt like I was being split in half. There was me. And then there was something else scraping against my skull from the inside.” His hand lifted, fingers pressing against his temple. “It was excited. Hungry. It didn't think like I do.”

Your chest tightened.

“I could feel everything,” he said, voice wavering slightly. “Too much. It burned every part of me, tore everything like I was nothing.”

Billy's lips grimaced, the ache of broken bones a phantom over the very places they snapped. “I could hear things that were nowhere near me, smell things from far away. Your scent.” His voice dropped, rough with shame. “That scared me the most.”

Your breath hitched, but you didn't pull away. Your heart aching for his pain, and for yours when you thought you might never see him again.

“I thought if I stayed away from you, I could keep you safe. I didn't know what part of me would have won if you were too close at the wrong time.” His mouth twisted bitterly. “Turns out, being away from you almost made it worse.”

Silence settled between you, heavy and thick with a word you both were too afraid to say out loud. However, the truth would remain regardless.

Then finally, “I'm not sure what to call it. Frankly I'd rather avoid naming whatever it is, but it's not like before.” Billy concluded. “This thing is feral. Not calculated like the Mind Flayer.” His eyes flicked up to yours, horrified. “It's driven by one thing… and that one thing is to eat.”

Your hands grip his shoulders tighter, a sickening pit in your stomach sinking further and further. You wished you could make it all go away. You wished you could be of more help. And more importantly you wish you knew what exactly was happening.

Then you reached out, slow, deliberate, your fingers brushing the damp curls back that had fallen over his forehead. “I hate that this is happening to you. I hate that I don't know what to do,” you confessed, trying not to let your emotions over take your tear ducts. “Billy, I promise you I won't let this beat us.”

A weak smile curved on his lips, his heart swelling with the overwhelming love he has for you. “I won't either,” he declared, before thinking of how to explain his next words. “When you showed up in the woods… it wanted nothing more than to eat you alive. But I fought so hard. It felt like I was trying to merge cinder blocks.”

Your eyes widened a little but he grazed your skin under your shirt with his thumb, reassuring he was no harm to you. “I don't know how, but suddenly everything got quiet. Like this thing and the thought of you… reconciled.”

You looked down, breaking eye contact with him for a brief moment and smiled softly.

“So you don't know what it is?” You asked gently.

He shook his head. “No. And call me crazy but I don't want to know. Feels like if I do it just confirms how unlucky I am.”

You nodded, whispering okay. You understood that kind of fear intimately.

Another pause. Then, quietly, you added, “I'm glad you didn't eat me.”

The words hung there for half a second.

Then Billy barked out a laugh, sharp and surprised, like it had been punched out of him before he could stop it. His head tilted back and he jostled you by your hips with amusement. You always had a way of surprising him and making him laugh. He missed this feeling.

“Jesus, Sunshine,” he shook his head, his laugh coming to a bubbling end. “Me too. I'd miss my doll's pretty smile.”

Billy smiled at you with adoration. You laugh as well, relief blooming through your chest. You smiled back at him, then froze.

Because when he smiled at you, and laughed again, really laughed, you saw them.

Sharper than before, pointed and glistening. Inhuman in a way you could notice if you paid attention. His canines were longer. His lateral incisors tapering into subtle points that hadn't been there yesterday.

Billy noticed your stillness immediately. “What?” He asked, the humor draining from his voice.

Instead of answering, you lifted your hand. Slow. Careful. Like you were approaching a skittish animal that trusted you not to hurt it. “Can I?” You asked softly, nearly a whisper.

Billy felt your breath fan over his face and he hesitated before nodding. Slowly you lifted his lip with two fingers, your touch feather light. Your thumb ghosted right over the edge of one of his canines, barely grazing it.

Billy's breath stilled, afraid to move. The urge to bite you wasn't there but he still felt uneasy about your fingers being so close to his mouth.

“Well this is different. They're sharper,” You murmured, curiosity outweighing fear. “but… they're still you.”

His eyes shimmered. “You're not scared?”

You met his gaze, steady and certain. “I was. When I thought I lost you.” Your thumb traced his lip once more before dropping away. “Not now.”

Something in him settled fully then. The last of the buzzing under his skin quieted, curling inward instead of clawing out.

Billy fully wrapped his arms around you, hugging you as he took a deep breath in. “I don't know what I'm going to become,” he murmured against your body.

You smiled softly, combing your fingers into his hair. “Whatever it is, you're not doing it alone,” you stated, then pulled back to place a gentle kiss to his lips, “I love you too much to ever let you go.” You whispered against his mouth.

His arms wrapped around you tightened, careful as he understood his own strength. “I love you always Sunshine.”

And for the first time since Star Court, Billy Hargrove believed he might actually survive what came next.