revivalproject | Wouldn't It Be Nice ~ The Beach Boys

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Wouldn't It Be Nice ~ The Beach Boys

WHO: Billy Hargrove and OPEN
WHERE: Beach
WHAT: Surfin' USA
WHEN: Daylight hours
WARNINGS: N/A

It should be a crime that he hasn't really used his board here in Temba until now. The pretty white board with green coloring around the edge really popped against his figure and the waves as Billy Hargrove rode them. It was clear there was skill, as he did well in the waves more often than not, with only a few wipe-outs. His board shorts are soaked through, along with his tank top - both gifts from his birthday ordeal Tommy gifted him with back on the spaceport.

If you know Hargrove, and how angry and prickly he is, this seems like a completely different side of him. One that Hawkins doesn't get to see because there's no surf. There's no sand, no sun, nothing that he has in his beloved California back home. And the aliens seemed to understand that giving him the board for the New Tick.

He goes out again, riding through the curl of a wave before he wipes out, coming back to the surface with a laugh before finally swimming back to shore and walking back up the purple sand with it under his arm with the free hand combing through wet curls to brush them out of his face.

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He was thinking about it, he hadn't decided if he was going yet or not. Leaning towards going because his boyfriend might be there. "Best friend time or some shit I guess?" Not that Billy knew what best friends like Robin and Steve got up to. It wasn't like Billy had much experience in that department. Starting to with Tommy.

"Nah. Just hungry. Surfing kind of whips up an appetite really and I've been at it for awhile. Can't cook lobster all the time, Pretty Boy. Variation in diet and all that shit." He shakes his head back, flinging more water out of his hair behind him. "Surprised you're not just hanging out with Eddie, doing boyfriend shit."

"Expand your vocab beyond 'shit'," Steve taunts. But he still answers. "I can't hang out with Eddie all the time. We both have stuff on our own that we spend time at. You know you can't catch him shooting hoops or working out with Gladio. And I love him, but I get migraines and metal isn't great for that."

He rocks on his feet a few times, hesitating on what to say next. "Well. I don't wanna keep you from fueling back up."

"No," he counters stupidly with. There's a flash in his eyes, like he's gonna rise to some bait that isn't there, and for a moment, it really looks like he will. But then the arrogance is gone and rubs his arm idly over his scarred left arm. "I said I was thinking about it. And I didn't even know you got migraines. I thought only pus——"

No. Billy bites his lip to keep from finishing that statement. Steve didn't deserve that kind of talk.

"He seems like the kind of person it'd be easy to migraines from." Better.

Steve isn't a saint. His eyes flash as he glares at Billy for a second, hearing the unspoken hit. "I didn't get migraines until after my second concussion."

But Billy is backing down and Steve will too. He exhales in a rush and concentrates on not being such a fucking easy target. Easy does it...

"The music is just loud, sometimes. Honestly the weather triggers them worse than anything else. He's at least good about dealing with me when they happen. Good excuse to smoke some pot."

Their eyes meet in that glare, like having a quick standoff between each other without saying a word. How easily things boiled up to this. But then they're both backing down, finding awkward socializing between them. "Is that the one I caused or a different one?"

Steve seems to attract concussions and weird people for friends. Yes, that includes Robin. She's just not loud-weird.

"You should go see Tae about them. She might know a good way to get rid of them. Or even Kaplan." Billy will never suggest Wesker. Still got that chip in his shoulder about the guy not letting him drink. He lifts his head to look at Steve. "Wow, you guys got pot here? Damn, the aliens must've liked one of you during that New Tick bullshit."

He doesn't know that Steve and the others have had weed for over a year at least. Billy looks surprised to know that there's weed here in general. If he could get his hands on some...

"Yeah. Yeah, that one was yours." No heat. Just facts. The advice he offers is surprising though and Steve tilts his head, considering both the information and the source.

"I probably should see her. I guess I got so used to them, I forgot it's something that could be fixed, maybe. It's not a bad idea to at least check."

At the mention of pot, Steve gets a guilty hole in his stomach. Shit. It was kind of mean of him to just not invite Billy for a smoke, ever. They've had the pot for so long at this point that it's almost sort of mean. "If you're a smoker, you can come over sometime? We're not burning through the stuff just in case we can't get more, but we do enjoy it now and then. If you wanted?"

There wasn't any heat from Steve, but Billy feels it in his gut. He recognizes the emotion it is at this point - it's guilt. He feels guilty for using a tactic he learned from his parent's abuse towards each other in a fight with the guy.

"She gave me some meds to help me sleep because I wasn't. Nightmares." Steve would know what the nightmares were. They had similar ones with fireworks.

There's something else he's about to say, but Steve gets to talking first, actually inviting Billy over for it. There's no hiding the surprise on his face, the straightening up and a little back he does as his brain processes the offer. "You want me... to hang out?"

He scoff-laughs to cover the shock. "Don't like, Steve. You may not hate me, but I'm sure you don't like me. Not enough to have me hang around like that, right?"

"Nightmares. Yeah. Especially around this time of the year, I get it." He nods. He does. No one loves fireworks if they're from Hawkins. Not anymore.

At Billy's scoffing, Steve finds himself on more solid ground. he smirks and shakes his head. "I don't not like you. I mean, you're not the first person invited to my birthday party, sure. But we're a long way from where we started. So long as you're not gonna do anything if I cuddle with Eddie or something like that, I don't see a reason we can't just smoke together. Hell, maybe that will help us even more. Peace pipe or whatever?" He frowns and thinks about everything Robin's said to him. "Fuck, maybe I shouldn't say that. Uh. Whatever. Joy Joint. Perfect."

There's silence, letting the information about nightmares and migraines and medicine settle and then disappear from the conversation as he focuses on the topic of inviting the bully of Hawkins to weed party.

"I'll be jealous, stupid," because he won't have Tommy with him. "But I won't do anything. And of course you won't invite me to your birthday party because it would suck being outshined on your birthday," complete with a little smirk.

Look, he can't help himself sometimes.

"I want to believe that you're actually inviting me. That it's not a trick." But Steve was right and they were a long way from where they were when Billy dropped into Hawkins and then into Temba. "Also just figure out how to grow more in the greenhouse. Maybe then your supply won't be so limited. Hell, maybe you could ask the aliens for some seeds of it."

"You don't have to be jealous, man. We might be together but just think of all the hair maintenance." An attempt at a joke. Steve isn't sure how it will land but whatever. He has to try or they'll never get past the eggshells.

"Just come. Maybe bring Tommy? You know. He's got the whole gardening thing, right?" Yeah. Definitely a plausible reason for him to be brought along. "We can get high and he can figure out how to get a crop going!"

"All that work to get even a fraction of what comes naturally to me," is what gets teased back. The joke landed a bit it seems. Billy is grinning at least. Teasing about hair was easy. Safe. neither of them would throw punches over it.

Billy looks like he’s thinking it over. "I don’t know if he partakes in smoking, but I’d give it a try."

Hm. Has Steve heard that he and Tommy are together? He turns his gaze into a studying one before tilting his head. "I guess Tommy is the only one with agriculture data? I thought about getting security but picked piloting instead." Putting out a tentative, verbal feeler for why Steve was bringing Tommy up.

"Well, I know you two are friends." He's also studying Billy, but more for a sign that he might have some sort of feeling for Tommy. It was true that he hadn't entirely thought about whether or not Billy was interested in a relationship with him, so now was as good a time as any to go digging.

"He told me he was with you on that fourth party. Which...yeah. I'm glad you have someone to help out with stuff like that. Someone you trust."

"Of course we’re friends. He was the only one who stuck it out for me after calibrations," he added with a little shrug. Billy starts up the shack and continuing the conversation.

Yes, this means he expects you to follow, Steve. He doesn’t go inside, only reaching in far enough to grab his towel to start drying off with.

"He helped me out a lot. The Warrens, New Tick, and came to help me during that party." Just mentioning these different experiences softens Billy’s expression for moment before he sobers up. There’s no way Steve wouldn’t have seen it. "I trust three people in this stupid city. Gladio, Max, and Tommy. Oh, four. Soldier."

Which had been a friendship built on trust and work since both had their reasons for distrusting new people." Billy dries his arms off, but doesn’t bother with his shirt. No need to lift it and remind both of them what happens whenever Billy was taken home.

"That's good. He's a good guy." Steve saw that look. He definitely saw that look. Okay, awesome. They clearly like each other. This will be less complicated than even he thought.

Steve follows behind Billy, not commenting on his shirt or anything else. He knows Soldier distantly and that Eddie and he danced at the party for a second or so. Other than that, he doesn't have a lot of information on the dude with the metal arm.

"Gladio is amazing. He's been awesome for me, too." He waits a moment before pressing a little bit more. "I didn't realize Tommy has been with you for so long. You know, helping and all. That's really great." He pauses, considers. And: "And, I dunno, man. His hair is pretty cool. All white and stuff? Might have us both beat."

Yeah, he doesn't believe that at all but he can try to wingman a friend.

This time, Billy smooths his hair back, tucking it behind his ears. There’s a new piece of jewelry hanging from one of his ears, glinting gold and blue in the light. Once he’s dried to a satisfactory degree, Billy starts up the sand towards the path that leads to town.

They can keep talking while walking.

"It started as this stupid sponsor thing. To help me be better than I was, especially after Max left the first time." He flashes a smirk at Steve. "His hair is fantastic, but I’m not letting anyone beat me at the hair game."

Not even his own boyfriend.

"You sure are bringing up Tommy a lot. Munson gotta worry about that?" It’s said with a teasing tone, but there is a dangerous glint in his eyes.

Edited 2024-08-26 13:11 (UTC)

Steve guesses he's meant to follow and tails along a step or two behind. His shoes will go back on once he's off the sand. As they walk, his gaze catches on the new earring and Steve leans in a little to peer at it better.

"Nice earring," he comments blandly. That disinterest fades away fast though at the mention of Tommy hedging in on Eddie.

"What? Fuck no, man!" Careful, Harrington. You're still trying to wingman. "He's great, I mean. Great guy. But no. No, no way. My type seems to be curly-haired brunette nerds. No interest there. He's just nice. A nice dude. With nice hair."

Of course you're meant to follow. What, you think Billy's gonna follow you? Dream on, Harrington. He does slow his pace so that they can walk side by side, rather than one in front of the other.

Equal.

It does put the earring in better focus, and Billy grins at the compliment. "It was a birthday gift to me back on the space station. Then he's laughing at Steve's reaction to the remark about being interested in Tommy. "Easy there, Princess. Just teasing. You wouldn't be able to break Bambi's heart anyways. But Tommy is a nice guy with nice hair."

There's that soft look again because Billy really can't fucking help it.

Steve notices the soft look and can't help but smile. Yeah, okay. This is gonna work. They clearly like each other. This is gonna be easy.

"That is a real nice birthday gift. Had to be from someone who really cares about you. Max?" He has a placid expression but he's betting on it definitely not being from Max.

"Nah. She didn’t do anything for my birthday." Hell, Billy was impressed that Tommy even did anything for it. "Shepherd found the earrings on that spaceport place and figured I’d like them. Only wear one, the other is in a vase of shells I got for the new tick bullshit."

He smirks at Steve as they walk. "You trying to play twenty questions with a twist? Because I don’t know what you’re trying to guess."

Hah. He knew it. Steve can feel smug for a second before the questions are turned back on him. He has to tread carefully, here.

"No, no. Just making conversation," he lies. "But damn, man. Giving out jewelry, dinners, all the time you guys spend together. You ever maybe think..." He trails off with a shrug, trying to let Billy fill in the blanks.

Billy doesn't see through the lie, and just takes it that Steve is actually curious. He focuses on the path ahead of them, as the ground turns from sand and more into the dirt and path leading into the city.

"Ever think what, Harrington? Stop beating around the bush and just say it." It's not a mystery what's being alluded to, though. It meant Steve didn't know he was late to the info that Billy and Tommy were already dating.

Looks like this could be fun. The smile starts to show on his face again, but a - Billy stops it before it gets too far and b - Steve would probably think the guy was smiling about Tommy again.

Still, it could be both (which it is).

"You suggesting what I think you're suggesting?"

"I'm just saying," Steve hedges, raising his hands in preemptive surrender. There is no real way to know if Billy is gonna be pissed or not and his moods can change faster than weather and just as violently. Steve tries to keep his expression neutral and unassuming.

"You two are good friends, I know Tommy likes dudes, you like dudes. You're really good friends. He's got...good hair?" Steve sighs. "Again. Just saying. Just wondering if you maybe thought about...that. Him."

Steve is right - Billy's moods are like the sea. Calm and serene one moment and volatile the next. It was tough to know what was going to set him off, but so far the blond was doing good. Only because he thought this was a game they were playing.

"We are definitely good friends. His hair is pretty good. Maybe you should try getting to his level before you claim you're at mine." The hand attached to that scarred arm lifts to tousle his still wet hair as they walk. "What makes you so interested in my love life all of a sudden, Harrington? Trying to get me hooked up with someone so I stop telling you to cut out the tonsil hockey while I'm around?"

Not that Billy's been around either of them much since the volcano incident, and definitely not when Eddie and Steve are together. He'll claim up and down that he moved out to the beach shack because the beach felt like home, but never reveal that being in the hotel with those two like that made him feel more ostracized than anything else.

Steve rolls his eyes.

"I can have motives that aren't selfish, Hargrove. Maybe I just want to see you happy. Think of that?"

He notices the scarred arm and thinks about whatever might have happened there. Thinks about home and July 4th. Thinks about everything, and then gentles his voice. "Look. Where we come from? With the...shit. And Reagan. It's..." He pauses, exhales, strokes a hand through his hair and starts again.

"Before I got here, if you asked me if I would kiss a dude, I would probably look at you like you were crazy. Before Robin, I would have done worse. I just. I didn't have to think about it. I wasn't... I didn't have the same shit you and Robin and Eddie had to deal with. The fear and...all that crap. I don't really know what it's like to have to hide because the first time it impacted me, I was here. And...here you don't have to."

He looks over at Billy, hoping he's getting what he's saying. "It's important, right? It's normal here. No one cares. No one has to be scared. And I just... It would be nice if you got to know what that felt like. If someone here cares about you and you feel the same way, it's just. It would be nice to not miss the shot."

"No, I didn't. It's not like we're great friends or anything. Hell for all I know, you could've still had a chip on your shoulder." He won't broaden on that, but he thinks on the events on the beach with their first meeting. The ordeal in the hotel room over the tape player. The small fight at the volcano. Little things that just felt like it widened the rift between them, and Billy hadn't even noticed how much it had closed over time.

Closed so much that Steve was attempting to help Billy Hargrove's love life.

And it makes him smile, all soft again because man. He's almost feeling accepted. He looks to Steve. "It is. I like that it's normal here at least. Got a couple of people saying they'd beat the shit out of Neil if he showed his ugly face here."

He moves close enough to elbow Steve gently. "Whatever it's worth, I'm glad we're getting it here at least."

After such a sincere bit of talk, and the invite to go smoke with Steve and the rest, Billy supposes he'll be good. Another gentle push with his elbow. "I already made the shot, actually."

Billy grins like he's won some kind of competition. "Back in... I guess it would've been late April. Been together since. Hard not to fall for a guy like me."

Wouldn't It Be Nice ~ The Beach Boys

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