Dear Billy

[the_freak]

It was risky, hanging around the hospital like this when pretty much all of Hawkins was still convinced he was to blame for all of this, but Eddie felt like he owed it to Max to visit. It was rough seeing her like that. And he couldn't help the gnawing guilt that if any of them should have lost to this thing it was him. Each of them meant so much to so many people, and here he was, bruised and bandaged, but alive. And the only person who might have cared to know it had to think he was dead. It didn't seem fair.

He ducked outside for a smoke, keeping his head down, but people were too preoccupied with the mess that had opened up under them to be worried about hunting the Freak. As far as they were concerned the Munson boy was dead, and good riddance.

Trying to get the damn smoke to light, Eddie grew still, eyes suddenly catching a familiar set of piercing blue ones, and seeing that moment of recognition in them he paled. He abruptly turned tail, walking aimlessly around the side of the building and praying silently he'd only imagined that look of recognition.

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[playingtough]

Even like this, apparently Hargrove could still be terrifying. He feels the weight of something against the door. Maybe a chair or a dresser. It's not budging like he wants and it's pissing him off more. He wants in, so he can shake down Eddie for answers. "Then why are you on the God damn news, Munson?!"

He hears steps moving from the door and Billy kicks at it this time. It doesn't budge until a well aimed kick at the handle breaks it and knocks it open. "Why the fuck do people want you for murder if you didn't do it?!" He's storming over, picking up the pace despite each step feeling like a whip cracking over his head. It still hurts, and now he's dehydrated and hungry.

[the_freak]

"Come on you piece of shit-" Eddie strains with the window, which refuses to budge, and he starts back with wide eyes, corned now, and with out anything he can use as a makeshift weapon.

"Look- just-...just trust me, Man, I swear-" he stammers, holding up his palms to try and keep Hargrove at a distance. "I didn't hurt her. I didn't hurt any of them-"

[playingtough]

Palms up or now, Hargrove gets into Eddie's space and slams his arm up against the other's throat to pin him against the window he had been trying to pry open. "How the fuck can I trust you to not lie? You kept us away from all the cops and hospital people, you were going to her room when you shouldn't be hanging out around her at all. Then you hijack someone's car, and have a wanted poster in the shop. You're on the fucking news, Munson," and it's all hissed out like a snake.

"A lot of this shit is making you seem really fucking suspicious, Munson."

[the_freak]

Flinch, Eddie opts for a submissive nod, lifting his chin to try and earn himself some more breathing space, fingers catching at Hargrove's arm. His all ready wide eyes are even wider, and shinning with unshed tears he's trying to blink away.

"It was-...nnn- it's was him," he offers with a desperate emphasis on 'him' that wouldn't mean much to most of the residence of Hawkins, but might mean something more to Hargrove. Though Eddie still doesn't know much about the Mind Flayer.

[playingtough]

Hargrove isn't pressing to harm. Just threaten. It's working, if those unshed tears are anything to go by. And he holds that position, just waiting for Eddie to slip up with the wrong phrase or words. Almost like he wants the other to do so.

It's just that one word that changes his facial expression. The angry and hard gaze softens with realization. Him. Hargrove knew a him. A him that Hawkins wouldn't understand. A him that he protected Billy from after the mall incident. He recalls how the Mind Flayer answered to a him, though that man didn't have a name. The arm stays up, but it's not pressing as hard now.

"...Who do you mean him." It's supposed to be a question, but it comes as a soft statement.

[the_freak]

He hates that fear is still his go to reaction after all this. Sure, he can muster up moments of bravery, but at his heart, he's still a god damn coward.

"...W-we called him Vecna," he returns hesitantly, expression one that worries he won't be believed. But if anyone's going to understand this crazy shit you can't begin to explain without sounding crazy, Billy Hargrove is one of them. "But he's...all of it. The whole fucking hivemind- I didn't touch any of them."

[playingtough]

Fear is Eddie's, and aggression is Billy's. It shouldn't make sense, but it does. He watches Eddie as the teen stammers out his explanation. A hivemind. It makes sense. God it makes so much sense. He hates that he understands, but it's nice that someone else seems to get it.

"...Vecna." A whisper as he tries to take it all in. Being split and locked away, treated like an animal. That must've been what the scientists wanted from him before he was abandoned. The arm eases up more until it drops. "...Mind Flayer."

[the_freak]

Eddie nods, swallowing thickly. He's heard that one before. He rubs at his throat, movements small despite Hargrove having backed off a little, not wanting to provoke further reaction. "From Starcourt," he confirms, "And Byers. And all the other fucked up shit that's been happening the last few years. He killed them. Tried to kill Max." Did. For a minute. But now's not the time to let that one slip. "I lied but I didn't hurt anyone."

[playingtough]

Hargrove is watching every movement from Eddie like a hawk, like he's going to lash back out at Billy for the aggression. But the words spoken are all true. There's no way Eddie would know about any of that Upside Down shit unless he had experienced it in some way.

He lets go fully, taking a few steps back and looking like he's been stupefied for a moment. What did he know of Eddie anyways? The school called him a freak, but what he did know of him? Nothing comes up aside from his board game and weird club. This was the guy that kept them safe from hospital staff, stole a car for him, and was going to bring him a bottle of pain killers.

What did he know about Eddie Munson?

"You're too scrawny to hurt someone," he finally breathes out. An insult, to be sure, but spoken without the venom it would usually be laced with. Blue eyes glance to the broken door, then away. Almost... like he's shamed.

[the_freak]

Eddie scoffs reflexively, but it's more amused than hurt in this instance. "Yeah," he allows, rolling his eyes, and after a few more breaths he seems to finally be relaxing, "I guess." He scared the shit out of Steve, but he was riding high on paranoia and trauma. Even if the kids hadn't been there to talk him down, Eddie's not sure he could have followed through.

"You're not though, Jesus," he pants, trying to put on a teasing tone, "Shit, where'd they-" he stoops and collects the bottle he lost in the struggle, tossing it towards Hargrove. "I don't blame you, Man. Basically all of Hawkin's thinks I did it apart from Harrington and the kids."

[playingtough]

It's amazing he has any strength left after being starved and trapped for so long. The bottle bounces off of his chest and he manages to juggle it for a couple of seconds before finally nabbing it. The pills rattle about inside, then out as the cap gets unscrewed and he dumps a couple into his hand. Billy downs them with a hard swallow, recaps it, then tosses it back.

"I didn't even put that much fucking pressure on you, pussy," he snaps, missing the teasing tone. God his head hurts and he's still hungry. "I thought that Mind Flayer shit was gone!" He's not... angry, but definitely irritated, as he heads back downstairs. The blond lays out on the couch, pressing his face into the worn out cushions.

It wasn't the best material to put his face against, but after being without any sort of comforts for months, this could be silk for all he knew.

[the_freak]

Eddie's head tilts, expression twisting into something of a 'duh' look at being called a pussy, and despite the snapping tone he's met with he laughs softly. "Uh...yeah. Where have you been?"

He gives Hargrove a bit of space though, fiddling with that door for a moment before abandoning it to follow after him.

He fetches a glass of water, setting it on the table for him, and after an uncertain moment he drapes one of the blankets he fished out over the other man. "...Pretty sure Rick's done some pretty unspeakable things where your face is," he adds, just so he can't be accused of letting the moment get too wholesome or anything.

[playingtough]

There's a slight motion - the sudden blanket startled him because he hadn't been expecting it. But he rolls over to show his face to Eddie again, groaning. "I've had an inter-dimensional son-of-a-bitch in my head, my brain split in two, and you think I give a fuck about cum stains right now?"

Though despite the edge of bite his words have, even Billy smirks at that. "And I'm sharing a house with a wanted murderer." But he gets the hint and rolls so his face doesn't press back into the cushions.

"Fuck I am hungry. Even worse now. I'd eat that soup again if I didn't think I'd see it again."

[the_freak]

"Oh, nastier than that," Eddie pivots with an easy grin, though he's clearly just playing.

"Corpse and a wanted murderer walk into a bar...I've heard that one..." he muses, teasing smile fading some as he considers Hargrove's next words. "...I'll uh...I'll poke around, see if I can't figure out something easier to stomach. You sip on the water. Maybe catch a nap, I dunno."

[playingtough]

The smirk cracks into a grin, even as he tries to make himself comfortable. "I'd walk into a bar if I didn't already feel hungover." Which was true. But he makes himself comfortable at last and watches Eddie leave for the kitchen. His head throbs and he just shuts his eyes.

He doesn't want to nap. There's not really a need for it. God, he slept so much while down in the lab, and it wasn't just sleep when Billy was awake. At least it's safe here. And warm. The blanket is a little scratchy but... it helps. With what, Hargrove doesn't know.

Whatever.

Everything goes dark like he's taking a nap before the eyes flutter open again. Tired. Hungry. He sits up and Billy notes the toast still on the table. That was his right? He's not sure how he got onto the couch, but he sits there and takes the toast to munch on. Crunchy, dry, and plain, but it was something.

[the_freak]

"You settle that stomach in time and we can toast your birthday," he promises. Eddie doubts Hargrove/Billy are going to be feeling 100% any time soon, but guy deserves a drink for his nineteenth.

He's busy in the kitchen for the switch over, though it's not long before there's a loud clattering and a string of curses, a frazzled Eddie peering back in to check on Hargrove and pausing when he sees him munching away on that toast.

Oh. Right. The toast. His cheeks colour, and he holds up a finger without explanation, ducking back into the kitchen to abort whatever he's been working on. "You're going slow, right Hargrove? You start ralphing again and I'm not holding your hair back."

[playingtough]

The toast is good. Maybe there's some butter or jam in the kitchen he could put on another slice to make it better. Billy looks up when he hears the clattering and swearing, mouth pausing mid-chew on a bite. When Eddie peeks in and addresses him, he frowns.

"You can call me Billy. That's my name," he points out, then munches on another piece. "I don't know what you're talking about, but this is helping. Is there any more bread? I can probably eat this for a bit. Is there jam?" He recalls a distant, hazy memory of being sick, and someone with blonde and curly hair like his, taking care of him.

[the_freak]

Fuck. Billy again. Eddie's expression definitely betrays that there's something larger at play in how he blinks and hesitates a moment.

"...maybe sit with that one for a bit first?" he suggests casually, "A few minutes, and then if you still want more I can make it?"

[playingtough]

The way Eddie looks just makes the frown deepen. Was there something wrong? He had passed out earlier - Eddie probably put him on the couch and was just worried. Maybe he hit his head? Eddie said he vomited, so maybe he did while he was out of it. There's no telling.

A huff and he sits back with the piece he's halfway through at this point. "Yeah? Make me feel like a child with a timer and shit for my food." But he eats what he's got, and sits back with the blanket still in his lap. The headache is at least ebbing, his stomach cramps lessening with some sort of food in it. But he waits, drumming his fingers on a knee while he does.

Because he wants more. He's hungry, damn it.

[the_freak]

"Yeah, well, if you're a real good boy you get a shiny gold sticker," Eddie teases lightly, lips spreading into a grin.

He's not really sure how to properly fuss, dropping a second blanket into Billy's lap and pretending to get one for himself, quickly dropping it unused onto a chair and forgetting about it as he settles into a completely different one.

"So um...do you...how are you...feeling?" he asks carefully, not sure how to broach this. Hey, do you feel like you have a whole other guy in your head, but not THAT guy? Cause you do!

[playingtough]

There's a bit of staring for a very long moment. Then another, then he finally looks away. He hears Eddie approach, and accepts the random blanket being added to his lap. He pulls it around his dirty figure, sinking into its warmth. Well, what little warmth it has at the moment. Hopefully it'll have more from what little Billy's radiating.

"Mostly hungry. A little... almost like being hungover I guess? Just, the usual feelings after you get sick." Eyes glance over Eddie, lingering on his hands like they'll magically produce more toast. "A bit tired too, but I'm always tired." Billy didn't realize that being tired was just a side effect of switching, especially when they body had to deal with Hargrove's high energy.

[the_freak]

Eddie glances reflexively at his broken watch, but naturally it gives him no idea how long he's actually made Billy wait. He wants him to be able to keep it all down this time. If he caves too soon and Billy gets sick he figures he'll feel worse than he does now.

"God, I know. Like...five more minutes, okay? Pills should kick in soon," he offers, though maybe Billy doesn't remember taking them...that was Hargrove. "...do remember how you wound up on the couch?" he tries to prompt.

[playingtough]

What pills? Was Eddie trying to drug him or something? Fuck. Or maybe he was thinking too hard about it, it was probably just aspirin. He notes how his head hurt but less now. He rubs his forehead with a grimace, thinking on the question.

"I remember… sort of collapsing. Over there," and the blond points to the area where the switch had happened. When Hargrove had deemed Eddie a threat and went for answers. "Figured I had blacked out or some shit and you put me on the couch. Better than staying on the floor."

A moment or two passes. "Do I seriously have to wait five fucking minutes for another piece of toast?" Maybe Billy will apologize for what he's saying while he's hangry.

[the_freak]

"Something like that," Eddie agrees. He needs to wrap his own brain around this before he tries to explain it properly to someone else. And he doesn't need Hargrove jumping out to try and strangle him if he freaks Billy the hell out.

"I mean...I don't actually have any authority here." Eddie points out with a grin, "But if you want me to make it for you, then yeah. You're gonna wait five whole fucking minutes." There's a playfully challenging look directed at Billy.

[playingtough]

It wouldn't be the first time he's blacked out, it won't be the last. Billy takes that in stride and is at least glad someone was here to get him off the floor. Blue eyes linger on the vase and he gets up to pick it up and carry it back to the couch. Billy looks like he's about to say something, but Eddie beats him to it. Talking about making the toast.

Instead of giving a smart retort, Billy throws his blanket over Eddie's head and sets down the vase on the coffee table before heading to the kitchen. "Fuck you, I'm not waiting for you to burn the house down to make toast." Ah, there's the snappy remark. He goes to the kitchen and fishes out another few pieces of bread. He eats at one while the other two toast. The stomach growls again, protesting the meager offerings but it's better than nothing.