EMOTIONAL DAMAGE

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Billy Hargrove is a goddamn criminal!

He’s a mastermind in breaking and entering. Steve’s parents are part are the few wealthiest citizens of Hawkins, their house a literal target, so it’s no surprise that they would install the best security equipment they could find. It was to ensure not only their safety but Steve’s as well. Since they were always away for work Steve had the house all to himself.

Security cameras along the driveway, at the front of the house, by the pool, and alarms systems at every possible entrance. Unless you had a key it was physically impossible for anyone to make it to the Harrington residence without getting caught by security. But somehow Billy had found a way to bypass every single camera in the vicinity.

It was like he had a cloaking device. He couldn’t be tracked on any camera, Steve would always check the surveillance footage but would be no sign of Billy on the recordings. There were alarms installed in multiple places in the houses-they’d need to be switched off in the morning using a device plugged into the wall- Steve always checked to make sure the device was up and running before he slept or when he left the house. But it was as if Billy had some sort of clairvoyance about the whereabouts of each alarm.

There were some installed into the windows in the kitchen, which was the most common entrance for Billy, they were little things that could be hidden in the smallest of areas but packed a punch when it came to the noise. But when Billy used the windows they wouldn’t make a peep. Almost like they were aware of Billy and trusted him in entering the household. Steve would check the alarms to see if they were damaged or faulty, but they were untouched, completely efficient.

The same went for every other security system in the house. If there was an entrance with an alarm Billy knew how to bypass the damn thing with little to no struggle. What was concerning was that Steve’s parents had the alarms installed years before Billy came to town. So how the hell did he know where every system was if Steve never told him about it?

A part of Steve wouldn’t mind the criminal activity if it wasn’t for the way Billy went about doing it. When he broke in he wouldn’t just go straight up to Steve’s room, no! He had to make himself a snack, turn on the TV, use the bathroom, read any book that was lying about, and have a look through the family photo album. He made himself right at home like he practically lived there. It would always frighten Steve when he would hear a ruckus downstairs and find his boyfriend rummaging through the cabinets. He would prefer it if he used Steve’s bedroom window like a normal boyfriend.

Steve needed to put a stop to this menace. Once and for all.

—–

Steve didn’t sleep tonight. Instead, he sat in his bed waiting, listening for the sounds of a 5'10 beefy Californian breaking into his house. Tonight Billy took the kitchen window, as per usual, Steve waited until the static of the TV came on and the blaring sounds of MTV blasted throughout the household. Steve made his way downstairs to where he found Billy sitting on the couch, his legs on the coffee table snacking on a tuna sandwich.

“Making yourself comfortable?” Steve says sarcastically, his hands on his hips in that disappointed mother stance he would give to Dustin and the rest of the kids.

“Is it my fault that your house is so fucking lavish, pretty boy.” Billy mumbles whilst chewing on a large bite of tuna.

“This is the tenth time you’ve broken into my house, Billy!”

“Oh c'mon, you know you love it.”

“I’d love it even more if you used the goddamn door like a normal person. Christ Billy, what if someone sees you? Then they’ll know how to get in and steal god knows what!”

“I’d love to you use the door, sweetheart,” he replies, “but normal isn’t really my thing.”

“Well, maybe this will change your mind.” From his pyjama pocket, Steve pulls out a little black box being held together by a silver ribbon in a neat bow. He joins Billy on the couch and hands him the gift. “Merry Christmas.”

“it’s July.” Billy remarks.

“Just open the damn box!”

Billy takes the little box from Steve’s hands. He holds the present to his ear and jiggles is about but can’t make heads or tails about the contents inside.

He removes the ribbon delicately so there’s no damage and tosses it aside. He opens the lid to reveal and suddenly his eyes go wide and his mouth agape. It’s a small golden key, placed neatly into the cut-out of the Styrofoam packaging below. It’s connected to a key ring that is attached to a shiny red heart key chain with a bold glittery “B” in the center.

“the golden was specially designed for the security alarms on the front door. Now you don’t need to break in every time you want to come round. And you can use it any time you want. I know the key chain is a little tacky if you want me to return it–”

Steve is cut off at the sudden crashing of lips against. He leans into Billy’s hard kiss, he can feel the blonde smile against his lips.

“I love it.” Billy says. Immediately took the key and key chain off the ring and placing onto his own set along with his house and car keys. “You sure I can use it.”

“Any time. I want this to be a safe place for you. When Neil’s giving you shit or you just want to relax, you’re always welcome here.

They continue with their mini make-out session. Billy tucked his keys back into his pocket before wrapping his arms around Steve’s waist. Steve moans in delight; he can feel the joy radiating from Billy. There’s still one thing that lingers on his mind as they pull away for a brief moment.

“there’s one thing I gotta know,” Steve begins, pulling away from Billy for a brief second, “How did you manage to pass all the security? We’ve got cameras surrounding the entire backyard, and the driveway, they’re are alarms everywhere! And this is so high-tech stuff, so…how did you bypass it?”

“…you have security?”

[ actor!billy’s insta stories, pt.1 ]

steve is here

One reblog = one punch in the face for Neil Hargrove

Me when rewatching Stranger Things and I see any s2 Steve + Billy interaction:

(Is that even correct grammar T-T)

Just a quick, sincere thank you to everyone in the Harringrove fandom and all the hilarious, soft, hot, amazing content you create. Long meeting? Road trip with my family and they’re fighting? Long line at the grocery store? Trying to avoid doing chores? There’s beautiful Harringrove content for any situation, and I’m so blessed to have it all here for my consumption.

watching stranger things as a minority, especially if you are queer, neurodivergent and/or black, is literally the worst thing you can do.

yes it was the 80s. but WE aren't in the 80s, its a show about fucking demons and superpowers. using queer characters to uplift straight couples, killing off queer coded and neurodivergent coded characters for NOTHING and inflicting so much violence on black people out of nowhere is a terrible thing.

"oh but in the 80s there were these issues!" yes. but are the issues talked about? no. they're thrown in the show and basically never addressed correctly. its a fucking disgrace full of prejudice that aren't touched upon seriously.

basically the message is "if you're queer, neurodivergent and/or black, then you're supposed to sacrifice yourself for the ones above you (straight, neurotypical, white) so that they can grow ❤️"

fuck off duffer brothers. im tired of this shit.

Deserved better squad

Miss them :,(

I genuinely do not care that Billy tried to run over children

Harringrove was always canon.

Steve's boxers in Billy's room

Steve wearing Billy's jacket after his death

Steve visiting Billy's grave

"It’s your funeral,” he just says. It’s a terrible sentence he never wishes to say again. “It’s just appropriate.”

Billy’s eyes are a bit more red rimmed than yesterday. His hand lies on his stomach, fingers digging slightly into his tank top and Steve wonders how hungry he’s right now. If he’s starving right now.

"Well, at least something about my life’s appropriate in the end,” Billy snorts. “That’s good to know.”

Chapter 4. Read more on AO3.