#monster billy

This is for Harringrove. Apologies this took so long, I recently was hired at a hospital so I've been swamped with getting settled in. And of course, to boot, I got a nasty case of writer's block and had absolutely no motivation whatsoever. But I recently found this really awesome prompt that I wanted to try my hand at.

30. "We could...you know, go together if you wanted?"

Steve is actually Seven, a "failed" experiment from the lab that Brenner deemed unworthy of his cause. Steve is taken in by one of Brenner's fellow scientists to keep an eye on him in case of any changes in his ability status.

The lab believes Steve has no powers, but in actuality, Steve's ability is being able to physically see others internal pain as if it was an external one.

For Steve, the pain could be seen as a few scratches, other times it looks as if they've been in a car accident (it varies).

But the first time he saw someone who he couldn't compare an injury to, was a day Steve couldn't forget. Billy was something Steve couldn't forget. 

When the blue camaro with California license plates pulled into Hawkins high school, interrupting the early morning rush of students mingling before classes, Steve got this sudden feeling. It quietly and steadily crept up his spine as he and Nancy watched the passenger door open, a young girl with penny copper hair angrily slamming her way free.

The sensation of his nerves tingling on either side of his spinal column was like the feeling of stepping up to the edge of a cliff. Steve's stomach ached as the Camaro's driver side door slowly opened, as a leg clad in tight apple bottom jeans appeared. As more and more of the mystery student was revealed to the curious eyes of onlookers, the pain in Steve's stomach turned to something he could only compare to the time he once caught a moth with his bare hands. He had held the little bug, feeling its wings pumping frantically in search of an escape route until his mother scolded him for playing with bugs.

As Steve finally got his first glimpse of him, the imaginary moth in his belly fluttered its wings even harder. Steve felt that just looking at the god that lay before his eyes was akin to getting only a glimpse of the sun. Blinding, breathtaking and hot.

But as the young girl, who could only be his sister, skateboarded away, Steve watched as cracks started to form. Blue eyes turned dark, a long fissure faded into view from his curly hairline down over his cheek. Obscuring beautifully sad eyes and sun kissed skin.

And even when Steve met him- met Billy, officially, he didn't hate him. He wasn't jealous of his sudden rise to fame and his own usurp, he was just- sad.

Steve could barely look at Billy without his gaze immediately being dragged to the scars and bruises. They seemed to be a dark cloud that grew the longer he partied, the longer Max flinched at his very presence, the longer he stayed in that house with him.

Steve knew. Everyone knew. But no one saw. 

He did though, Steve saw things that he didn’t understand, things he had long come to accept as the new norm. So, it wasn’t really surprising when Steve finally met Eleven or El, as everyone called her, and she came with a surge of anguish and power that Steve just knew Brenner and his lab of merry men had fueled. 

He wasn’t even surprised when she fixed her gaze to him, a furrowed brow and a tilted head the only acknowledgement she gave him before the chief ushered her out into his idling jeep. 

Steve trembled and gripped his wrist and continued to even long after she and Hopper vanished into the night and it only grew worse as Nancy and the Byers fled their home to an undisclosed location, leaving Steve to watch Dustin, Lucas, Mike and Max. Max, who was Billy’s step-sister and someone Steve knew would only bring trouble. 

They were only left alone for an hour, tops, before Steve heard a rumble and a squeal of tires. He knew who it was before he even side-eyed Max. She sat beside Lucas, pale and shaking as the car grew louder, the music blaring a familiar tune that reminded Steve of sun-kissed skin and apple bottom jeans.

The sound of trouble.

“Stay here and don’t get caught dip shits,” Steve didn’t spare them a second glance as he headed out the door to meet Billy. He should’ve, at least then he could’ve hidden in the house and hoped Billy wasn’t into breaking and entering, before he got the shit beat out of him.

-&-

The next time Steve saw Billy, he was naked from the waist up and sauntering in front of all the mothers at the local pool. Steve himself was far too pale to be out and had decided on a sensible white button-up that used to be his dad’s and was far too big on Steve. He only had a few buttons done and yet it still billowed around him and slipped from one every time he went to flip the page of his magazine. 

He should’ve looked up, it would’ve saved him the embarrassment of ignoring the shadow that fell over him. “Dustin, I’m not rubbing anymore sunblock on your back. Go ask one of the others to do it. Or better yet, ask your goddamn mom before we leave your house next time!” 

In his defense, Steve had been bribed to take all the kids to the pool as a sort of coming home present to Dustin for getting back from science camp. So, it came as a surprise when he heard no whiny retort or Chewie noise and instead heard a scoff that sounded vaguely like a laugh. When he peered over his sunglasses, Steve squinted against the blinding sun and nearly ducked back down against the sight before him.

“I didn’t know you made it a habit to visit the pool, pretty boy.” Billy wasn’t glaring, and Steve was taken aback at the sight of a near glistening Billy Hargrove. “I knew Max was being less of a little shit than usual. Now it explains a lot.”

Steve flushed and prayed he wasn’t implying anything like he had back at the Byers house so many months ago. “I’m just letting their parents catch a break from the brats,” Steve hid a wince behind the guise of flipping another page. He had hoped that brat would’ve come out less fond, but at the knowing look in Billy’s eyes, he knew he would’ve failed if he had even tried. 

"You coming to the party tonight? At Heather's?" Steve startled at the sudden question. He hadn't expected Billy to keep talking to him and honestly expected him to move on to making eyes at Mrs. Wheeler.

"Oh- I'm," Steve was glad the heat of the sun concealed his sudden blush. He'd never stuttered before the fight with Billy or struggled as much for words as he did now. It had nothing to do with the questions or conversation, not completely. The unseen scars from past wounds- verbal and physical- lay before Steve's eyes, a constant reminder to him that Billy was just a human and not a monster. "I wasn't planning on it. I was actually gonna take the kids to the faire."

The fourth of July wasn't until next week, but Steve remembered when he was their age and going a week ahead to watch the rides get set up and see the firefighters test run the fireworks. It wouldn't be anything big, but Steve thought it'd be good way to show El something new and different.

Steve winced as a fissure appeared right above Billy's nipple, cresting up and over his shoulder. "You- we could...you know, go together if you wanted?"

Billy looked surprised, his eyebrows disappearing into his curls, and for a moment, Steve could see the indecision, could practically hear the no on his lips. "I'll see you there pretty boy."

Steve gaped as Billy winked and sauntered away, his sunglasses flicked over his eyes. Steve expected the no since he had seen Billy flirting away with Mrs. Wheeler only moments before. And yet, he felt a pleasant tingle in his belly at the thought of Billy skipping out on a bad decision to hang out with him.

All the Harringrove shippers envisioning the rats in the trailer being Billy band of merry minions that turn him full blown Snow White and help him win the heart of King Steve. Along the Mindflayer being Billy's personal self esteem guru and equating their relationship to Venom and Eddie.

Well done guys

Steve is terrified out of his mind. Hair in disarray and eyes wide. He runs faster, checking the kids in front of him one, two, three, four while he listens and turns to see behind him. He hears him- trampling through the forest and making cliking, sometimes hissing noises.

The otherworldly growl comes closer and Max trips. Steve curses and his heart beats faster than before, blood trumming through his veins he can't even feel the fatigue of standing all day. The kids turn one, two, three he can see their faces thanks to the light of the full moon and all of them have this look like it has finally come. When the luck runs out this is the moment El is far and with no powers, the adults are gone too, last they heard of Hopper he was chasing a lead with Joyce some hours ago.

He's the adult now so he grips the bat tight. Steve screams at them to run he's got it and thank god they listen.

Steve manages to get her up and running in time but Billy is closer now. Max's wispy voice cries her brother's name and Billy responds with the growl again, Steve can't see him but Billy is far too close. "Fuck. Max go and don't turn until you get to Jonathan's car okay?" he waits but all she can do is nod. It's the first time he's seen her cry. She's blotchy and her face shines with the tears. He pats her head and then pushes her away four when Billy lands just a few steps away.

Steve looks at him, Billy's right arm is the thing that catches his attention. He swallows, it doesn't look human. Dustin screams his name. Billy sniffs at the direction the kids went.

"Hey, amigo. Just where are you looking, huh?" he bites his lip until it bleeds and wipes it with his thumb. "I'm right here, Hargrove." he flicks the blood towards him. "Come and get me!"

Steve is fast so he runs in the opposite direction, and just when Billy gets close he smacks him with the bat. It works once. The second time he tries the bat gets snatched.

Steve breathes relieved when part of the woods they end up is one he knows so he runs harder barely avoiding the claws at his back. The quarry comes in view and he stalls, there's nowhere to hide there. In no time Billy is there panting and hissing.

"Ah-" he starts. Searches something in the pocket of his shorts. Moving slowly away from Billy but the clawed hand stabs into his stomach. Steve grunts. It seriously fucking hurts. A grimace of pain twists his face.

"You really don't make it easy, Billy" he says and for some reason he tries to smile like it matters. Like Billy understands. The smile doesn't really reach his sad eyes. Jonathan screams his name this time and the weirdly quiet Billy tilts his head at the sound. The side of his mouth unfolds mouth full of teeth that glint like knives. It opens, a grotesque joke of his usual smile, the claws that dig into Steve's flesh relax.

He's the adult right? A tear runs down his cheek. He was running at the monster that time with Nancy. He ran in and that's what he's best at it seems? fighting imposible fights. Standing up to monsters for his friends buying time.

He looks into Billy's eyes. They aren't ocean blue anymore "I'm gonna owe you that cigarette, babe." Steve grabs him by the neck and pushes back. Dragging Billy with him.

And then, they are falling.

.

.

.

.

"Steve- hey?" Billy's voice asks. It's thin and whispery about to crumble. "Baby?"

Steve grunts everything hurts. "Billy?" he opens his eyes and Billy's face greets him. He's soaked, his skin grey. When Billy sees him move the frown softens. Then Steve notices the branch sticking out of Billy's sternum. "Fuck, Billy! What," he tries to put weight on his arm and he cries out. Broken. The pain tells him "shit. Okay- let me" he stands against the pain from his arm from his belly and he just moves, if he thinks too hard about the situation he would cry, puke and pass out simultaneously.

Billy coughs something black. Steve steps on the thin log ignoring the scream Billy gives and with his good arm repeats the move from- he looks up at the quarry (they definitely fell) he clears his throat -before. "Can you grab me?"

Billy makes a face, flushed "I don't think you are supposed to move me."

"Billy," Steve breathes. For the first time a glimpse of clarity lets him say "you're part demogorgon." he omits the for now. Since before plunging to certain death Steve jammed a syringe full of something he and Robin lifted from the freaking Russian lab into Billy's infected arm. "So before I start a circus with the main act called Billy and the branch. You will grab me and I'll move you from impalement town. Okay?" he counts to two when Billy complies and lifts. The sounds that come from Billy are nightmare inducing but the wound rapidly starts closing and Billy coughs some more black stuff.

He's healing.

After that he drops besides Billy. He can finally breathe but it hurts like a bitch.

"I'm sorry." Billy whispers and moves until he's enveloping Steve in a hug carefully avoiding the broken arm.

"For once not your fault. So it's nothing you have to apologize. Alright?" Billy kisses the side of his neck.

"I'm still sorry."

Steve sighs "me too."

"Don't, don't do that again okay? I- I think my heart stopped."

"I thing that was the cure thingy."

Billy stills "the what?"

"Ah congratulations. You're not an upside down citizen anymore!" he makes an apologetic face "Sorry I stabbed you." he motions to the arm with the needle sticking out. Billy looks back at it. He lets out a broken laugh.

"Dit- oh fuck. Steve-" he seems to recall he clawed at Steve badly just a few minutes before.

"I'm going to pass out so don't tell anyone you carried me." he says jokingly. Billy plays back but with less cheer than seconds before he remembered Steve was bleeding away.

"It's just you and I tonight. Who am I gonna tell?" Billy stays quiet and he lifts Steve, Princess carry style which will only last until he stops having the monster strength. Billy walks.

"I was really brave." Steve closes his eyes and feels the pressure of Billy's lips on his forehead.

"You are very brave."

The garbage man returns but this time with some fluff!

Kinda merging the concept of monster billy created by @meowmerson with my own of a more BDSM Harringrove. I really wanted Billy to have this cat to calm him down and help him feel less lonely as he hides from the world in his monster form. I cant draw cats, this is a scientific fact, nevertheless I persisted and here we are! Billy playing with Fudge the cat, and Steve whispering cute things into his ear.

I hope you like! ~Kit

Once again I present a sketch my old ass phone camera butchered. Inspired by the latest chapter in @meowmerson‘s wonderful fanfic for harringrove. Here we have Billy recovering from full monster transformation in the confusing safety of Steve's house. In the scene he stands in the doorway looking at Steve, whilst Steve tries to *not very subtly* steal a glance at Billy's chest before just... being his usual awkward self and forgetting to get the clothes. I want Steve's mum to be stupidly into houseplants (partially because i like the framing and decoration), and very very fluffy towels... Things that baffle Billy. I like the idea of such a hardened, fucked over, not-wealthy guy just... juxtaposed with the expensive frill and fluff in Steve's house. Standing in the doorway like POW! just smashed my way into your perfect life like a scar you cant stop mesmerising over. IDK. I am waffling. A5, pencil.  There will inevitably be smut soon, but i gotta clean up the pencil work (i wonder though what the actual point is when my camera is incredibly low res and it will look sketchy as heck anyway).