revivalproject | Frankie said 'Relax'

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Frankie said 'Relax'

WHO: Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson, and YOU!
WHERE: Party at the PEANUT PARTY
WHAT: Steve chilling out and exploring his new home
WHEN: During the mandatory ship bonding time
WARNINGS: SMUT

Gym Rat
Steve, after all the shit that's been going on, has a renewed interest in keeping himself in shape. He has to be ready to fight at the drop of a hat, it seems. And now being dragged onto this ship without any warning? Yeah. He wants to make sure he's in top form. Unfortunately, Gladio is on the other ship so getting the daily workouts done with him is more of a challenge than it usually is. But they do have a pretty legit gym now. So that is going to work at least.

Especially with a device to help him work on sparring.

Steve's been here for awhile at this point, working on both his new Security knowledge gains and his existing fighting skills. He's coming to the end of the latest sparring routine and getting sloppy with exhaustion. It means a few more punches miss than normal. A few more strikes make it through than he would like. In the end he has to just call it quits and take a few steps back to catch his breath. How long has be been here? An hour? More? He pulls his shirt up to wipe the sweat away from his face and considers.

He could call it a day. But had he really done enough? The pilots said there was a sign saying '<i>Soon</i>' in the cockpit. Was he ready for that?

Steve sighs and looks around the room for whatever else he can manage right now. Maybe running? Yeah. He can do that...

Merman

Steve is pretty thrilled to know, if he is going to be trapped somewhere, it's somewhere with a pool. Sadly, he doesn't have a bathing suit to change into, but that's just fine honestly. It's been a long month or so and he deserves to have some fun. Besides, boxers and swimming suits cover the same area. It's all fine.

Steve is almost giddy as he makes his way to the "beach". It really is hard sometimes to remember this is a ship and not just another planet. At the moment he's just happy to not have green lobsters poking at him as he strips off clothes. He goes wading into the water with a grin and immediately dunks his head under. God, he misses swimming. And this one here is guaranteed free of Upside Down gates, dead girls, or anything else to worry about.

Steve smiles to himself and floats up on his back, happy to relax at long last.

Horndog (Closed to Eddie)

One of the great things about being Security turns out to be control over room assignments. Steve is pretty pleased to find out about this power once he looks up where rooms are and which ones are his and Eddie's. Turns out he can just assign himself to Eddie's room, easy as that! Which, of course, he does.

Did you see that bed? C'mon. Having separate rooms is just going to waste time.

Steve grins as he makes his way to Eddie's (and now his) room and opens the door straight away. When he was dragged onboard the ship by the music, he hadn't had time to pack anything so all he has is himself and the bat he'd taken to carrying around more often than not since the Upside Down incident. He sets it beside the door as he goes in and immediately goes to flop onto the new, bigger, more comfortable bed.

"HEY, BABE! I'm moving in! Hope you weren't suddenly excited about privacy, here!"

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"They sound like dying animals because they had to listen to pop music," comes the easy tease back. With the apologies and vulnerabilities shown between them a bit, this hurts less. The ache was still there, knowing what he wants, he’ll never have, but it’s nice knowing that Steve doesn’t actually hate him.

Billy can’t help but watch that hand go through those fluffy brown locks. Hopefully Steve doesn’t notice that, or how quickly Billy looks away.

The playful tone gets a grin from him. For that moment he looks like his usual self. "Yeah? Now that you know I like both sides of the playing field, I can go after everybody. And you should only get worried about me stealing someone’s man if I start borrowing your tapes."

He breathes out and relaxes. There’s less tension in him now with a lot of that just… out of his system. "Promise? To at least treat me a little better?" Maybe not nicer, that was for someone who earned the forgiveness that Billy said he wasn’t after. "You can ask Max, I’ve been doing better with trying to be good."

Steve actually laughs at the joke with the mix tape. What? It's funny. "Yeah, yeah. I'll keep an eagle eye out for that."

When Billy asks him if he's going to promise, Steve pauses and thinks about it. It's an easy thing on paper. In practice? Well. It's something they both need to work on. Steve turns toward Billy and looks at him seriously. "Look. I am not opposed to that, okay? We live on the same ship and we share a lot of friends. But..."

He sighs and cards his fingers through his hair nervously. He can't believe how many deals he has to make with one person just to cohabitate peacefully.

"Look. How about another truce, just between you and I? I will stop being such a bitch, I guess. But you have to stop going after my buttons. Especially when it comes to Eddie. You know what Nancy did to me. I just. Call me Princess or Pretty Boy or whatever you want, but none of the taunting or shit like that. Deal?"

The laugh at his very subtle flirting gets his own... half-hearted laugh. Well, of course Steve wasn't going to pick up on his intentions when he's already with someone else. At least the flirting can't make this awkward. That would be shitty having to live in 'close' quarters and deal with an awkward thing like unrequited flirting between them.

"We live in the same city," Billy points out. "Especially since Max and Robin got me to come back into the city a few days before all of this," which gets gestured to with his hands.

And while Steve can't believe how many promises and truces need to be made, Billy can. He's rough to work with and an asshole in his own right. The blond knows this. However, he frowns at Steve. "I did it once. And I also met up with him and apologized for all of that bullshit I did to him when we first found each other. I figured he would've fucking told you that. And I don't know what Wheeler did to you. And I'm not going to guarantee I won't taunt you. Maybe just less meanly if you can't handle it."

Which, he's already falling back into his old ways. Because he doesn't realize entirely that he's doing it.

Steve sighs and figures he might as well just let it all out on the table. Maybe that would help.

"Nancy...at that party? The one we were both at? She got completely wasted and in the bathroom decided to tell me that she thought our relationship was bullshit. She didn't love me and that I was bullshit. Everything was bullshit. And then she fucked off and cheated on my with Jonathan before leaving me for him. Which...yeah. It all really sucked at a time I had pretty much chosen her over my friend and popularity and everything. It ended up being for the best but..."

He exhales and rolls his shoulders to let the old hurt off. He doesn't remind Billy of his own part during that whole thing because then they'll never get out of the past. And the point of this is moving forward.

"I just. I don't care what you did if you made up with everyone, alright? Just don't taunt me with it. Don't try to get a rise out of me because you're gonna be able to do it. And I'm trying here too, alright? I'm not going out of my way to test you, don't do that to me."

Oh. Oh. Billy remembers seeing Steve with the Wheeler girl sometimes, but hadn't thought anything about it. Snotty bitch like her wasn't the blond's kind of girl. Hard to give it to a girl like her when she's already got a stick up her ass.

He pulls out a lollipop from his jeans - the last one from the stash he grabbed from Tae - to unwrap and shove into his mouth. He teeth work at the stick like he would a cigarette, but he didn't bring those because of course he didn't.

"I should've said things to you first and not Eddie. But I didn't want to go anywhere near you after the volcano bu..." A pause. "The volcano shit. Robin's trying to remain fair, Max says if you look at me funny or with a sneer she'll beat you up."

Billy would put his bets on Max every time, too. Every time. There was a reason they were siblings after all.

"How about this. We only get to taunt each other if we spar against each other," with an indication by his hand to his axe. "And we set fucking boundaries on what not to taunt about. Like your friends, and you bringing up my home life. Because I'm going to taunt you and I know it, but I can at least try to not hit the shit you're a little bitch about."

And there that is. Already fracturing this truce before it's even off the ground. Billy looks away, already shamed. Said shame shows on his face even. It was like when he let the 'f' word out around Tommy (and Kavinsky at one point). "...I shouldn't have said that. Stupid of me."

There was a lot in that and Steve is stunned for a second. What struck him the most was how genuine the non-apology was. How Billy seems to realize what was wrong with how things went down. And then he pulled back on 'bullshit'. Not using the word like so many people who know about this story avoid it. Instantly and without Steve even really asking for it.

If there was ever proof of growth, it was that. And it let Steve take the rest of the stuff he said with nothing more than an eyeroll and a snort of laughter.

"Like you're not a little bitch about your shit too, Hargrove?" He says it with a grin as though to wave away the shame. Out of everything Billy could have said, this was almost nothing. If this was the worst things got, the two of them might even manage a friendship some day.

"Alright. How about you throw in a lollipop and we shake on that? Sounds like a solid deal."

Billy was learning that words could be super harmful. It started with Tommy and the word 'freak'. He could call Eddie that, but the blond was finding it was easier to only call him that, and no one else. Small changes that were making bigger impacts than Billy could see. He glances to Steve, waiting for the verbal retaliation that doesn't come for him taunting.

He's surprised to see the stunned look for a moment. So he says nothing and just chews over the candy a little bit longer as the silence hangs between them.

The remark about Billy being a little bitch instantly raises his own hackles. It gets him ready to fight, and he could. He has an axe. So his hand tightens but the grin takes the wind out of his fighting sails. A joke. A joke instead of a reprimand for his taunt. Now it's his turn to be stunned.

The remark for a piece of his candy gets a shake of the head. "Nope. You work on earning lollipops from me and I'll work on forgiveness from you. Maybe one day we'll be able to trade."

Steve smiles. Genuinely smiles. He extends his hand out to Billy. "You've got a deal. But the lollipops better be worth it."

After the shake, Steve feels tired. Not just from the exercise but from the whole conversation. He cracks his back and stands up to stretch the rest of the lactic acid from his body.

"Alright. I am going to call it a day. But I'm taking Lark's dog for a run in the morning and I'll probably hit the gym for a bit after that if you wanna get a start on the sparring." An olive branch. They were on a team together, once. Not the best time either of them had but still. They could be teammates again. "Let me know if you wanna join up anytime."

"They're Tae's. She gave a handful to me when I had to go in for stitches during the portals thing." His hand goes up to touch where the medical thread had closed him back up, running along one of the scars left in the wake of it all. "She's got lime though, so they're not all great."

He sucks on the lollipop for a long moment, then reaches to shake on their truce. Their promise. At least it wasn't all on Billy now to be better than he was before. Steve was going to as well. He doesn't say it, but it helps... it helps him feel less alone about what he's trying to deal with.

And he has no idea what you're thinking about Steve. He had a great time on that basketball team, wiping the floor with you during practice.

"Yeah, I'm usually up early to get my training and workouts done," because he had gotten that schedule in place picking times when it seemed Steve (or the other Hawkins people) weren't at the gym. And no one bothered his running on the beach. "If I'm not already in here, check my room or the beach. I'll push your limits."

"Your room, right." Steve had looked at the layout and noticed where his room was. All the way out as far as he could be. He clears his throat and goes for casual as a tone.

"Uh. So, my room is a little closer to the rest of us. I moved in with Eddie so it's available. I have the Security skill thing so if you want me to move you in closer, I can do that? I am sure if we're on this ship for any amount of time you're gonna want to be closer to your friends and all. Or, not. Whatever works for you. Just wanted to offer."

Another bout of his hackles going up. They'd had a similar conversation months ago, before everything fell to pieces. About Billy moving in closer again, instead of moving out to the beach and being east Jesus nowhere compared to everyone else.

"I don't really use my room here," he points out quietly. "I replicated fabric for a hammock and made it out on the beach here." Billy only used his room when he needed to shut people out physically. Or when he needed to shower. "It's... well, the beach sounds more like home. And it's warm, but not too hot."

Just right. No accidental sauna test.

The last time they had a conversation like this is echoing for him too. It's the reason he immediately backs down. Steve just nods and smiles at the idea of the hammock instead of insisting on him being near them. Distance had allowed this conversation to happen after all. Maybe it was the best thing for him.

"Well, it will be easy to find you then as we pass by the beach. And if you change your mind, just let me know, man. It's surprisingly easy to swap shit around on here."

Having Steve back down... helps. He'd already been pressured out of one 'home' in less than a week, so Billy wasn't keen for it to happen to another beach 'home' he was finding. He finds his body relaxing and Billy moves the handle of his axe against his covered and scarred shoulder.

"There's the weird phone thing too if you really need to call me. I don't do phone sex though. I don't want aliens listening in on that shit."

He breathes in and then gets back to his feet. Stretches before feeling so... tired. He just got here for exercising and yet he's already so drained. Weird. "I'll think about the room thing."

Steve snorts again at the phone sex line. "Don't worry, I'm not gonna be using the network for anything like that. With my luck I'd try to send Eddie a cute message and instead send it to Wesker." He shudders at even the thought.

Steve moves toward the door, ready to head back to his room. He pauses before going too far and then turns back. "Whether you move or not, once we're out of this place, Eddie and I are gonna break into the pot stash and chill out a bit. If you want some, I'm sure I can get you a joint. Or you can smoke with us, if you wanted."

It seemed like a dangerous suggestion; people did things they otherwise wouldn't when on substances. Maybe that would be enough to have them both throwing fists again. But he really was trying here. And this was as good an olive branch as any to have them hang out without being in a gym.

Another line that goes over Steve's head. This time, it makes Billy laugh with his tongue poking out between his teeth. Maybe Steve Harrington was kinda stupid. Though thinking about annoying Wesker with a phone text was hilarious in his opinion.

When Steve heads for the door, Billy lays down his axe on the bench and gets up to start stretching his legs. There was no beach here, so he had to get some laps in somewhere.

At the invite - because that was clearly what it was and rather unexpected, Billy looks over at Steve with a stunned look. Was he... the talk must have gone really well if Steve was really inviting him someplace. Amazing how some massive space between them for months and a decent talk could help change things for the better.

He wants to snap and say he can't because he's got rules at home, but he doesn't. Because Neil isn't here and he doesn't have to adhere to them like he does back home. And it doesn't matter anyways. He never sees Neil again. "I can try smoking pot. Only tried cigarettes, but maybe pot can be something to add to my list of shit to smoke. Now go find your boyfriend - I know you want to gossip to him about all of this shit." He gives a dismissive wave to Steve, finishing up his stretches.

Steve pauses on his way out and turns. He was going to go shower and find Eddie, but the idea that Billy would think he was going to gossip strikes him rough. Like the ghost of King Steve is in the room with them right now and he can feel him breathing against his neck.

"I'm not going to gossip. He doesn't know anything about what I saw in your head during Calibrations. I'm not gonna tell him anything else about Neil or whatever. You can do that yourself if you want."

"He saw some of my head in Calibrations," and he gives a little shrug. Eddie didn’t know about his sexuality, but Billy had been keeping that carefully hidden. Because it was habit and it still felt shameful.

'Fuck Neil,' he thinks in a hard voice, as though that would chase off the anxiety that threatened to simmer into a boil. It doesn’t make it go away entirely, but enough to keep him civilized.

"…I’ll tell others eventually." To those that hadn’t guessed by now. "Thanks. For not saying anything."

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Frankie said 'Relax'

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gotta be careful with wording bc he already outed him in the other thread

he can’t even be mad since he accidentally outed Steve to Max