the_freak | Dear Billy

"You really think I care about my bedside manner?" Billy wasn't known for his manners after all. "And yeah, of course California, not this shitstain of a hick town." The words are all but spat out. Billy hasn't warmed up to this city by now, especially after being shut away somewhere dark and unknown for the longest time. The blond moves in closer and gets a better look.

"Won't take too long to stitch this back up." He had done it to himself once, stitching up a gash on his arm caused by a plate. The skull tattoo covered the scar left behind for the most part.

The stitching starts and for whatever it's worth, Billy's hands are as gentle as they can be. He remembers this shit hurting when he closed up his arm. "I hate it here," comes the quiet admittance. "California has it's flaws, but at least the ocean makes up for it."

"Heh, well not for someone like me at least," Eddie teases lightly. The only times he's seen Billy lay on the charm and behave a bit has been for whatever girl seems to catch his eye.

Eddie doesn't jump to defend Hawkins. A little hard to after everything, but he does frown a little.

He closes his eyes, exhaling through the first bite of the needle, but he's sat through enough tattoos that he handles it better than either of them were likely expecting. "Never seen the ocean," he notes, matching Billy's softer tone, "You going back? After you-" he cuts himself off, remembering abruptly it's not a question of waiting until after graduation. There's not going to be graduation for either of them.

Easier to lay charm on women when word could get back to his dad about charming anyone else. But now if he was supposedly dead and Neil was gone...

Well that changed things.

Billy concentrates on his task, only glancing blue eyes to meet brown before continuing. "I would, if I had the money. Can't afford to drive all the way out there with my stuff and get a place to live." And he'd have to figure out graduating, but there was no telling how that shit was going to work with all of this Upside Down nonsense. And that he was a literal dead man by government records.

He ties off the end and rummages through the kit to pull out bandages and medical tape. It gets cover and secured before he gives it a light smack. "You're done. Don't rip it open again. Did that happen because of that shit the kids talked about? Upside Down or something?" He remembered Max talking about it.

He remembered something taking over his brain and how it split that brain apart a month later.

Eddie gives a hesitant nod, shrugging his shirt back on carefully. It still feels wrong to talk to anyone outside of the circle of people who filled him in on all this shit to start with. But Billy's not going to think he's crazy based off what Eddie's heard and pieced together, and he's not going to run off to the cops, so...

"Yeah. It happened down there. When we were trying to destroy him. Coulda been a lot worse," he dismisses with a guilty shrug. Obviously whatever hurt he'd suffered was nothing compared to Max.

Billy is going to be the last person to think Eddie is crazy. Hell, he doesn't even know he's mentally unstable now. He does look surprised, though it's not clear if that's a good or bad thing yet. "Oh. I didn't... know it was an actual place."

The fasteners on the first aid kit snap into place, locking it. Billy gathers up the garbage he made before heading back into the kitchen to throw it in the bin. He thinks about making more toast while he's in here, but the blond passes for now and just heads back into the living room. "I'm guessing shit is still going on with it too? There was... an earthquake. I think I passed out during... or maybe after it happened." Meaning it wasn't safe and it was jarring and Hargrove took the driver's seat again.

"Did that place make it do the quake?"

Eddie gives a nod that says it's a whole long story. "It's a place. A fucked up version of Hawkins with monsters and shit," he summarizes grimly.

As for what's going on... Eddie hesitates again, but nods. "Vecna, he um...the earthquakes were him opening up a gate. A real big ass gate. Between our world and the Upside Down."

"Didn't think this place could get worse," he mutters. But it can and it has and Billy doesn't like it. He stands there for a long moment, showing on his face that he's debating something. The cupcakes in the fridge, even if it's too early for his birthday.

A decision is made and he sits. "Great. More upside down bullshit." He wants a beer. He almost wants a smoke. At least being hidden away made him clean of cigarettes, to his dismay at the time. The couch creaks as he sits once more. "I guess I have to stay here right? And you too since you're wanted for murder?"

Because Billy remembers that before he passed out.

"Hey, you only had to spend a few years here," Eddie teases with a pointed look. "I promise, you do not know the depths of how much this town sucks ass."

And god, Eddie wants a beer too. A smoke. A joint. Anything to clear his head. He's only got one of the three, and a limited amount at that, so he tries to hold off a little longer, finger tapping anxiously.

"You don't have to, but it's probably safest for now at least," Eddie agrees, "I have a few connections I can talk to, but you're going to take some...explaining."

"And Hawkins had to deal with you your entire life," he shoots back with his own teasing smirk. "I don't need to know the depths of it, this place is shallow. Princess seemed pretty shallow at first, but Scoops Troop pulled it together I guess." Any time to make fun of Steve was a good time to Billy. Especially when he wasn't here to defend himself.

Safest. He feels that pull again, the one that usually means he's gonna pass out, but Billy holds fast and keeps awake. Or maybe he's just tired. It's so hard to tell. "Yeah, I guess." He runs a dirty hand through his matted curls, sending... dirt? dust? into the air around them. "I've eaten enough toast, maybe I should shower and then try something else to eat..."

Eddie flips him off with an amused roll of his eyes, "Half my life," he corrects, not that it changes much, "Lived in Indy before the Old Man got himself in prison." Wasn't any more popular there.

His lips press into a thin line, not quite leaping to Steve's defense knowing their history, but he's definitely a bit cagey about the subject.

He nods. "Yeah, go for it. You're a mess dude."

"Different name, same shitshow," Billy points out, getting up. Though he honestly hasn't heard much when it comes to Indianapolis. He thought about riding out that way a couple of times, but never did. Who knows what his dad might've done.

Now he had some freedom it seems. All he's gotta do is get his name back to life and his car, and Billy will be good. If he notices Eddie's slight reaction to making fun of Harrington, it doesn't show on Billy's face, nor does he remark on it.

He heads out of the living room, footsteps quieter than when Hargrove pounded up them earlier. Stripping himself of his filthy clothing, he crouches into the tub and starts the water. And it takes awhile. Probably to the point that Eddie might think he's done something horrid to himself in there. It just takes a long time to get all of the dirt and blood off of his skin. His hair... the style can't really be saved. It's grown out, but it's matted to the point he can't do much with it. Conditioner helps some, but Billy knows what'll fix it, and it's a barber.

The water is cold by the time he's done, and the taps squeak when he shuts them off. He still crouches in the tub, shivering. The towel on the far wall gets snapped off and pulled around his thin figure as he savors its minimal warmth.

That- Eddie can't really deny, shrugging a shoulder. Big city versus small town, he was still a freak in both of them. And to a Cali boy he's sure Indy seem every bit as a small town as Hawkins.

He lounges while Billy's gone. Or tries to. He can't quite relax, especially not here, at least not when he's alone again. He keeps getting up to glance out the window and make sure no one or no thing is out there after them.

Billy's taking...a while.

Eddie tries not to dwell on it, but after a while he wanders half way up the stair, listening for- he's not sure what honestly. He finally hears the water shut off, and feels an embarrassing rush of relief.

"...you good in there?" he calls, "Need me to bring you anything?"

Billy startles when he hears Eddie's voice on the other side of the door. A hand claps up to the wall and knocks down a bottle of 2-n-1 shampoo and conditioner before his brain catches up. It's just Eddie. Only Eddie.

He set the bottle back on the little shelf and looks to the door. "I didn't bring clean clothes in here with me." A small pause, thinking. "I think my hair is fucked. I... can't get the tangles out." He finally stands and wraps the towel around his waist to cover himself, then sits on the tub's edge.

Eddie winces at the clatter, but can't take back startling him now. Maybe he can make a mental note to be a little less Eddie about things for a while. He goes to collect a few things from Rick's room, pausing outside the bathroom to assure, "Rick's gotta have scissors around here, if it comes to that."

He raps his knuckles on the door, opening it enough to pass his hand through with the clothes. "There's more to choose from, but one of these should fit," he offers.

At least being startled didn't cause a switch. Billy would be very confused and probably upset later if he woke up wearing clothes. He would more than likely think the worst of Eddie.

He hears the knock and sees the hand with the clothes. "You can come in, I've got a towel on for now." He does get up and retrieve the offered clothes and sets them on the counter for the moment. "You can probably see if my hair is salvageable or not." And without regular clothes hanging on him and dirt covering the rest of him, Billy is thin. It's clear he's not eaten regularly since Starcourt. There's a gnarled scar in the middle of his chest from that ordeal, and one on each of his sides. Marks from the Mind Flayer.

Eddie peers inside and then lets himself, trying to act casual. He hasn't done the locker room scene since they stopped making him go to gym, and even then, he was never the biggest fan. But jocks all seemed to be super casual about it from what Eddie could tell, especially given how quick they were to throw around accusations at anyone outside their inner circle.

"I can take a look," he agrees, gaze clearly distracted for a moment by Billy's body...by the scars. He flushes and clears his throat, fidgeting a little and gesturing for Billy to turn. "Let me uh...let me see," he prompts.

His fingers are a little tentative, but gentle as they try to see if he can work free any of the tangled matts. It feels intimate, and Eddie catches Billy's eye in the mirror, quick averting his gaze again. "...Probably have to cut some of it," he agrees, "I might be able to work a few more out."

During high school, Billy had no hold ups when it came to showing himself off. He had been proud of the way he looked, and as long as no one looked at each other's dicks in the locker room, everything was fine.

Even if Billy silently peeked when no one was looking towards him. Not that anyone would have tried to go toe-to-toe with Billy Hargrove. He turns for Eddie without complaint, leaning against the countertop while the other assesses the damage.

Blue eyes meet brown in the mirror, and both of them look away. The largest of the mats is in the middle, right at his neck. Others are far smaller, easier to work out by someone that can see what they're doing. "I... I mean..." God his voice is trembling slightly. It's just hair. "...It'll grow back if we have to cut it."

Eddie has the decency not to mention that tremble, though his fingers do pause for a moment, gaze lifting again before he nods, continuing to try his best to see what they could save. He knows what his own hair means to him, and suspects it must feel similar for Billy.

"They uh- they say it grows back faster...after a trim," he offers, "You'll still put the rest of us to shame."

If it was one thing they had in common, it was that their hair was their pride and joy. And he means 'they' as in Billy and Eddie. Hargrove likes the hair too. His appearance was one of the few things he got to choose around Neil, after a lot of fights. Physical fights, mental fights. He doesn't meet Eddie's gaze in the mirror again. He just stares off into space and tries not to think about how they'll have to cut his hair.

"I look like shit, Eddie," he admits softly. "Not gonna put anyone to shame looking like this." Billy gestures to his malnourished state, fingertips briefly dancing over the curves of his ribcage. "I look like the dead man I'm supposed to be."

"I mean...I wouldn't kick you outta bed," Eddie says with that playful smile, banking on his long history of being a weird flirt with everyone to protect him from Billy taking it too seriously. Though he knows he's still risking a pretty negative reaction to even the teasing suggestion.

Really though, Billy doesn't look like he did, no. But he still has those features that make Eddie want to fucking melt in a mess of confusing and very conflicting feelings.

Now that remark gets Billy to look into the mirror, but the gaze is unreadable. He knew Eddie wore the brand 'Freak' like a crown, but the two mostly stayed away from each other in school. But he doesn't react negatively. In fact, while he doesn't show it, Billy is surprised.

Didn't think anyone in this town swung like that.

Billy didn't tell anyone. Neil had his suspicions, so the blond made sure to throw him off the scent and just kept it completely hidden away by teh time they moved to Hawkins. It wasn't worth the beating or the social scandal.

"Guess I'll look like one of those jock shitheads after all. If we have to cut it." One hand goes up to run through the wild curls at the top and minding his hand away from the mat in the back. "You any good with scissors? If... you're wanted for murder and I'm dead, probably not a good idea for us to find a barber shop."

It's not any of the reactions Eddie expects, and he worries for a moment that Billy thinks he serious. Which he is, but people aren't supposed to know that. People like Billy ~freaking~ Hargrove aren't supposed to know.

There's a brief moment of panic, which he hides surprisingly well, cheeks a bit tinged and eyes a bit wide, but nothing too out of character.

He pointedly gives the ends of his own curls a little toss with his finger tips, and gives an amused shrug. "I cut my own," he says, not sure if Billy considers that good or not, but it's cheaper, and Eddie think it looks all right. "And you are one of those jock shitheads, aren't you?"

You'll have to forgive him, Eddie. He's been through a lot of nothing the past few months. He just watches the other for a long moment as his mind stutters to catch up.

It doesn't mean anything, right? Eddie was a freak, a weirdo. This was just normal for him. To point it out would be noting out loud how the sky was blue.

"Just because I can one-up any dick on the court doesn't make me a jock. I'm a car guy that just happens to stomp the competition in sports too." He turns his head to observe Eddie's own style.

"I don't have a lot of options. It's either you or me that cuts it and you'll have the better angle. Rick got a razor in here?"

"You can like two things," Eddie mutters, rolling his eyes with a small smirk. Sure, Billy wasn't as clean cut as most of the jocks round here, but he has that same competitive energy they all seem to have on and off the field, or court, or wherever they do their stupid game. "Hawkins doesn't have car guys, you're gonna get lumped in with the jocks whether you like it or not. And you should be glad. If it weren't for those baby blues and your ability to throw a ball. your taste in music woulda got you labeled a freak."

He nods, reaching past Billy to flip open the medicine cabinet. "Somewhere in here I think."

Billy could act and look clean cut if he wanted to, but he was far from the truth. His car was too loud, his music even louder, and the only goody two shoes he got up to was keeping his grades good.

Eddie gets an eyeroll. "Hawkins does have a car guy. It's me, dipshit." But there's no malice in the insult. Hard to be insulting to the one that's about to have a razor or scissors at your hair. Billy leans to the side so the cabinet can be opened. He sees the razor and nabs it before handing it back. "I'll try not to flinch but I'm not making promises."

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