ā”ā”ā” hi! if you have the time, just a short lil' something of fluffy teen stenbrough? ā”ā”ā”
Ask and you shall receive! <3 ---------------------------------
For as long as Stan can remember, Bill has always been his right hand man.
Of course Eddie and Richie were important to him too, and once Ben, Beverly, and eventually Mike came along, they became just as integral to Stanās life. But Bill had always been his best best friend.
That's why when things began to shift between them, it just felt natural.
Stan barely noticed the change when Bill began to sit closer during movies, or linger his touches when they were playing board games. They were subtle differences that would have gone completely unnoticed if it weren't for the way Stan's skin would light up every time Bill brushed against him.
The stutter that had gotten progressively better over time seemed to come back with a fury, but only when Bill spoke to Stan. The other Losers picked up on it, but were too polite to say anything. All except for Richie, of course, who had to draw attention to Bill's new inability to string more than two words together whenever Stan was around. It made them both blush and earned Richie a smack from Bev.
Stan had been aware of his growing feelings for Bill for a couple years now. It was hard not to fall for the guy who made everything seem so simple. Life wasn't quite as daunting when Bill was around, and Stan was addicted to the ease with which he carried himself.
Stan knew nothing was actually easy for Bill. They'd spent countless nights sat up in bed, pulling their phone cords taught as they spoke in hushed tones for hours on end. Night time seemed to bring with it a sense of safety that allowed them to spill their inner most secrets to one another. Stan would wager he knew Bill better than his own family by this point, so he could say with honesty that he knew Bill didn't have it easy.
And yet, somehow, Bill managed to make everything seem manageable. Stan wasn't afraid when he was around.
So, despite his still kept secret that he was actually terrified of fireworks, heād agreed to attend Billās 4th of July get-together.
This would be the Losers first 4th of July spent together. They were finally at the age where their parents allowed them to spend holidays with their friends instead of their families, and theyād taken advantage of that ten-fold.
Bill had organized for them to meet up at the Quarry where theyād have a perfect view of the fireworks from the top of the cliff, which he had decorated with blankets, little lanterns, and a cooler filled with drinks and snacks ready for consumption.
It made Stan wonder what lengths Bill would go to for a date, if this was what he did merely for his friends.
"D-d-do you want something t-to drink?" Bill asked, settling in beside Stan and disrupting him from his spiraling thoughts.
"Yes please, Billiam! Watcha got in that magic cooler of yours?" Richie chimed in from the other side of Stan.
"I wasn't asking you, trashmouth." Bill pouted but opening the cooler regardless. "Here." He grabbed a root beer and stretched his arm across Stan, handing the can to Richie aggressively.
"Geez, no need to be so violent about it." Richie mumbled, popping the tab on the can and taking a generous swig.
"I brought grape s-s-soda, i-i-if that's still your f-favorite." Bill looked back to Stan shyly, his eyes reflecting the stars and making Stan all but swoon right before him.
Stan could do nothing but nod, struck silent. Bill passed him a can and he let his fingers linger on Billās for a moment longer than necessary, allowing himself to indulge in the flutter in his stomach.
Time moved like molasses when Stan was around Bill, unable to focus properly on what was going on around him. Richie told a joke and Stan smiled at Billās laugh, Mike pulled out his radio and Stan listened to Bill humming along; the rest of the world was merely background to Billās show.
That was, until a loud boom perforated Stanās eardrums and time suddenly sped up like it was being fast-forwarded at a nauseating pace. Stan remembered exactly why they were there, having long since forgotten his reluctance to attend tonightās activities at the first sign of Bill.
The Losers cheered up at the sky as if the fireworks could hear them, and began settling down in preparation to watch the show.
Stan couldnāt sit still, his nerves alight in a completely different way than when Bill ignited them. He longed for that invigorating feeling to come back and replace the nervous energy that had washed over him, for Bill to make things simple like he always did.
And as if on queue, there he was, leaning into Stanās space and commanding attention.
āYou ok-k-kay?ā
Stan thought about lying, but heād never been able to lie to Bill, and he wasnāt gonna start now.
āNo.ā Stan admitted quietly, peering down at his hands which he was wringing together in his lap.Ā āIām scared of fireworks.ā He said it quietly enough for only Bill to hear, wincing as another loud boom punctuated the end of his sentence as if to prove his point.
āWhy didnāt you t-t-tell me?ā Bill moved closer, their thighs pressing together and offering Stan a momentary distraction.Ā āI w-wouldnāt have made you c-c-come.ā
Stan knew that. In fact, heād grappled with the idea of telling Bill all week, but in his love-sick mind heād convinced himself that the opportunity to spend time with Bill was worth the discomfort.
And he was right, but that didnāt make it any easier as fireworks began to roll out in a steady pattern.
āDo you want to l-leave?ā Bill asked, having to lean in closer to be heard over the rumbling above.
Stan suppressed a shiver as Billās lips grazed the shell of his ear. He shook his head stubbornly, screwing his eyes shut to try and center himself.
Thatās when he felt warm fingers snaking themselves in between his clasped hands, weaving through Stanās own fingers and connecting them. His heart was beating erratically, and only partially because of the anxiety bursting above him.
āIāve got you.ā Bill managed to whisper in his ear between explosions, no stutter present to break up the sentiment. He squeezed Stanās hand and Stanās heart squeezed in response.
And just like that, Stanās anxiety began to ebb away. Not completely, he still jumped every time there was an especially loud explosion, but he was able to let it melt into the background once again, his main focus returning to Bill.
Because Bill made things simple.
