revivalproject | One Night in Bangkok ~ Murray Head

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One Night in Bangkok ~ Murray Head

WHO: Billy Hargrove, Tommy Shepherd, Max Mayfield, and YOU!!
WHERE: Agrii Ship
WHAT: Agrii New Tick
WHEN: New Tick things
WARNINGS: Billy’s got a ~~gun~~ weapon

The message gives Billy time. Time to pack up his axe, tape player, vase of shells, sleeping meds, and Tommy’s blanket he had been borrowing since coming out of the Warrens. In exchange, he had left one of his for his boyfriend in the diner. He hopes, while arranging all this stuff in his room on the ship, that they’re not going someplace with fireworks like last year.

Billy couldn’t be that lucky.

Under Pressure ~ David Bowie, Queen

This is almost worse than last year’s arrival.

The snow village was one thing, but this? With the aliens cheerfully greeting them, slinging a red and blue striped scarf around his neck? No. He doesn’t like it. One of the Agrii get too close to try and help with the accessory, and Billy pushes them. That gets him the space he wants and he moves at a quick pace further into the ship.

Even with his more… aggressive approach to the Agrii, some are still… bowing to him? As he walks. It’s enough to take some of speed out of his step. Why were they bowing to him? Fucking aliens. Was it something they had done down on Temba? The Warrens come to mind, the trip down into the depths of them with the rest of the group, but then he remembers the ordeal of the ship. Helping Soldier with his axe. Was it related to that? There was no telling.

But Billy walks slower, keeping quiet as he moves from the arrival party and bowing aliens.

Despite all of the decor glittering around all of them, Billy’s noticed something else. Even with all of the festive decorations and merry music, something doesn’t feel right. It feels… tense. Like the crest of tension right before a fight breaks out. That’s a feeling he’s familiar with and it puts him on edge a little himself as he tries to make his way towards the living quarters. There are different colors decorating Agrii, like they’re part of factions. It vaguely reminds Billy of politics back at home, how Neil had been a staunch supporter of red in the red versus blue Billy himself only half paid attention to on the television.

Video Killed the Radio Star ~ The Buggles

Now this he remembers from last year. The gifts. Everything was clearly labelled, but Billy couldn’t resist testing a couple not marked out for him. Which results in him getting a little zap from one of the robots roaming around on patrol. With a devious grin, he pushes one off of the table before retreating away from one of the robots starting for him. "Quit it, quit it, it was a joke!" he shouts at it when he’s got enough space between himself and it.

Finally he finds a large and flat one for him, a small box wrapped in orange, and one more pink one shaped with what he hopes isn’t a book.

Please don’t be a book.

He goes for the flat, large packaging first, ripping the paper until his mouth drops open enough to show his shock. In his hands is a brand new Hawkins High varsity jacket, with his name embroidered in fancy script on the right side. There’s a basketball patch stitched onto the right arm, and the ‘Class of’ in matching fancy script over the bold numbers of ’85’.

His own letterman jacket. Something Neil would’ve never paid for back home. Something he’d never get now. It doesn’t even cross his mind that they’re in Tommy’s colors, too. Happy coincidence.

Shrugging it on (perfect fit, holy shit), Billy moves onto the other packages. The orange wrapping gets pulled apart and a small box opened to find some brass knuckles. They fit his fingers great, and feel like a great weight. His axe was great, but what if he lost it? There were plenty of people in the city that were stronger than him - maybe this would even it out.

And then the last one, Billy pulls to him. More wrapping paper to litter the ground and he blinks at what are clearly DVD cases. Ten of them with various movie titles he recognizes. But what kind of shit was this? He cracks open Halloween and pulls out the disc to inspect it.

"Is this some weird fucking Frisbee?"

We Built This City ~ Starship [Closed to Tommy]

Message 1: mDe fort no boom in our room. thats where i’ll be if you need me tomothy

Message 2: < 3

And he has. Billy’s taken as many pillows and such as he could find to act as squishy walls. Over the top is a sheet, then a blanket, pulled down and tucked under the wall of pillows to help keep it in place. Inside, there’s a couple of pillows for them and a blanket, the tape player with its headphones ready to go, and the bottle of Billy’s sleep medications.

Oh, and something wrapped up in some green cloth under the tape player.

Fort No Boom is go. He repeats, Fort No Boom is a go.

Billy picks up a glass of water he brought with him, chugging half of its contents before pacing a little. They knew about the fireworks in advance, but would it be a different reaction knowing it ahead of time? Would it be easier now that he had someone with him from beginning to the end? Unlike last year, where Tae and Tommy stumbled upon him after the panic attack started.

Damn. He’s already feeling a little nauseous with dread. He continues to pace, with one hand going up to gently scratch at the scarring on his left arm.

Faith ~ George Michael [Closed to Max]

‘come to cockpit.,Shitbird’

It was a space for the two of them. Billy and Max have had a couple of sibling talks in here, and without their permission, or some dick with Engineering overriding it, they can sit here and talk with someone accidentally walking in on them.

It’s also quiet, if you ignored the hum of the ship’s workings around them. It’s just a hum, nothing compared to the Camaro when she’s fired up, but this is… nice. Soothing at least.

Billy’s got his feet up on the dash, the notebook on his communicator open as he practices the texting. Still slow, but there’s been improvements at least.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He nods. Hammer and nails. Got it. A little project when they get back. "We have so many homes back in the city, I wonder if anyone considers us greedy? Banger place, beach, civic center, diner…"

Billy reaches to pull over Tommy’s new blanket and wrap it loosely around them. This time he hears the pop of fireworks outside, though still distant. His head nearly snaps looking to the door with eyes starting to look distant.

"Who cares if they do. We're both from poor families, right? Let us live hte good life for once," Tommy laughs. Because it feels indulgent. It feels good.

He's not going to point out how they could share a room on the ship too. That's probably too much like moving in together for real.

"Hey," Tommy coos, reaching out to touch Billy's face. To cup a cheek in his hand. To turn his gaze. "Just think of it like the pop of a shaken up beer bottle, okay?"

The good life. Something he could have here. All the good things he could have. Better relationships with the people he knew, and someone he could have all for himself.

Billy doesn't move to acknowledge the gentle coo to him, and his face is rigid with tension under that careful hand. But soft pressure is what he gives into, and he looks back to the speedster. "A beer bottle," the blond repeats quietly. "It's not out there?" It can't be. There's too many people and they're in space. And Tommy's here.

They could both have good things here that they didn't get back home. And that wasn't a bad thing to be happy with. Perhaps even, for once, content.

"Nope. It's not out there. Trust me. I remember what that fuck looks like," Tommy promises. That had been a horrible birthday. Actually, most birthdays here have been absolute shit. Tommy had not appreciated that one though, not with out much it upset Billy. But he had taken down one of the monster things. Or helped to.

"Only thing out there is a lot of partying Agrii who are probably giving a stupid amount of hugs right now.

Billy remembers what it looks like, too. Thankfully with the passing of the years, coming up on his second one on the alien planet, the monster from his nightmares was growing just a little more faint. It was still there, but not as prevalent as it once had been.

There's a grimace at the mention of the hugs out there. "Yeah, makes me glad we're in here and not out there." The only one he wants hugging him is Tommy.

He breathes in and out through his nose, taking in deep breaths to calm back down. "Whenever we lay down, you wanna be a barnacle?" Because Billy doesn't want him to go too far. "You can lay on me and put your new blanket over us."

"Sometimes it feels like I'm the only one that appreciates Agrii hugs," Tommy notes with a chuckle. But even he could get overloaded on them.

The offer, though, that makes him smile. Yes, he wants that, a lot.

"If you want it that way, it's cool babe. Or if you want to weigh me down, that's okay too."

"Hmph." Billy just got picky on who touched him. Obviously Tommy was allowed and he wanted to make good on that physical affection right now. "No, I want you to weigh me down. Like a shield."

Maybe it would help with the nightmares. Because those were going to be the strongest during holidays like this. He pulls the blanket up and over them, like a protective barrier. Which, it was as it muffles any other sounds of the fireworks that might manage their way in.

"I got a letterman jacket from the aliens. Got my name on it and everything. I want you to wear it sometime."

"Then I'll be your armor, Baby," Tommy promises with the warmest smile. He snuggles down with Billy under the blanket, happy to curl around him.

Then he pauses. Freezes. Blinks in shock and ducks his head to smile to himself.

"You asking me to go steady, handsome? God, I would totally wear it. Yeah. Fuck, is it weird that I sorta wanted something like that when I was in high school. You'd think it would be my brother's dream, but it was mine too."

"You're already my hero," but he doesn't really verbally push back. Having Tommy curl around him like he means something, the blanket and the room hiding them from the invisible horrors in Billy's mind, was enough right now. He tucks his face right against Tommy's neck and lets out a shuddering breath.

He was okay. They were okay. Tommy would be right here.

Oh. He can hear the smile in his boyfriend's voice. "I just told you I love you ten minutes ago and you're wondering if we're steady? You... you better wear it. It's even got a basketball patch on one arm so everyone else knows what I'm good at. Basketball and having a boyfriend. Get you a pair of shades and you'll look like the King of Hawkins, too."

"I'm joking," Tommy rolls his eyes. "That was a thing, before your time as well as mine. Giving a girl your letter jacket to indicate you're romantically involved. Still happens in my time though. I found Teddy's jacket in Billy's closet once. But yea. I wanna wear it."

God he feels so flustered and flattered at this.

"I don't need shades. I use goggles."

"I know it's a thing. That's why I want you to wear it." Even under the blanket, there's some glow from the lights in the room that illuminate Tommy's face. Billy's soft smile. "I like that... here, I don't have to be afraid of anyone tearing us apart. That I can have you and not worry about anyone else."

There was no one like Neil here. They could be together like this if they wanted. God, isn't that nice.

"Yeah, for running. But when you wanna be the fashion talk of the city, you gotta have shades, babe."

At least the talk and the closeness was keeping him out of his head now.

Well now isn't that a warm way to think about it? Billy being confident enough to not worry about someone coming between them. What a beautiful thing.

"I have more modern fashion experience than you do, handsome. I know when I look good. I can handle it."

"And I have 80s fashion experience and you’re wearing a letterman from the 80s, so you gotta stick to the theme," he points out with a little smirk. "I’ll have to hope I get my aviator sunglasses next year so you can wear them."

Already his brain is picturing Tommy leaning against the Camaro fixed up, wearing the jacket and shades with the wind toying with that pretty white hair. "You’d look so handsome with the jacket and shades, babe."

He reached up to run his hand through that hair, then lets it rest against the back of Tommy’s neck.

"But I can freshen it up to the new millenium."

Still...

"If you want to see me in this and shades and, i don't know, those really ridiculously short shorts they used in basketball in your time, I'll do it. For you."

"Man, I should ask for my closet next year. Put you in all my clothes." Wouldn't that be a sight? Billy would probably have to excuse himself seeing Tommy dressed in his jacket, shorts, and sunglasses. "You'll have to find something bulky of yours I can wear."

Finally, Billy pulls back enough to get the blanket off of their heads. It pools around their waists and then he realizes he can breathe again. It was getting too hot under it, and this wasn't the night for that. Too many memories of hot saunas and suffocating heat. He's still alive, and in full control of his mind. He's still Billy Hargrove. "Too hot having it like that. Usually wouldn't... wouldn't be a problem, but not tonight."

His hand rubs up and down Tommy's back again, but mostly for himself, for the soothing motion of it.

"Only if you promise to help take me out of them someday," Tommy says with a grin. Not that he thought the Agrii was going to give them what they wanted.

"Fuck, you think I wear bulky things? Never. Not good for me. I need things that fit close so I don't have problems with running. But I'd wear your things, even if they're too big for me."

He smiles and hugs Billy a bit tighter.

"Just tell me how to make this space more comfortable for you, babe."

Billy has a little laugh at that. No way Tommy needed his help in stripping. If he wasn't getting mentally keyed up by his own triggers, he'd laugh more and taunt back. Something about he'd race to help at Tommy speeds if he could.

There's a muffled groan at the tighter hug. One of relief. Billy feels like he wants to melt into it, and let the heat of his boyfriend negate all of his troubles.

"Maybe... laying down? I don't know. I don't know what would work. I wanted having you with me to be enough. It should've been enough for me. This is all fucking stupid."

Needed? No. Wanted? Yes.

"Yeah babe. Let's lie down and I'll be your anchor."

Yeah, Billy will want it, too. Once his mind gets sorted again. He’ll help Tommy strip all he wants.

There’s a nod to acknowledge that he’s heard and then movement. To lay down, to stretch his legs out and then bend them so his knees were between them. "Maybe next year I’ll get a stereo so we can both listen to some tapes."

For once he didn’t want to hog the headphones. Billy wanted to share with the one person just for him.

Edited 2025-03-06 00:43 (UTC)

"I'll figure out something to distract you better," Tommy promises. If he's there, he's going to figure it out. For now he just wraps Billy in his arms.

"Fuck, Billy, I love you."

Oh how Billy sinks back into that embrace. The heat and scent of his partner calms him down again to something easier to manage. Was he touched starved? Is this what it was? Maybe that’s why he loved it when the speedster held him, touched him.

Uncurling his legs gives Tommy more room to get around him if he wants. He wiggles his own knees between Tommy’s, and almost seems like he’s trying to bury himself against the man. Even scoots down to push his head under Tommy’s chin. Right here. Right here felt like a home he’d always wanted.

And now he has it.

There’s a hard sniff, a nose rubbing against Tommy’s collarbone. "…say it again?"

The closer Billy snuggles, the more the smaller speedster tries to wrap his boyfriend up in his arms. It's all he can do. The best he can do. And he's happy to do it too.

"I love you," he says, the words firmer, fonder.

'I love you,' Tommy repeats. Billy lets it echo around in his head like a mantra to drown out the fear that's threatening to boil over again. He sniffs again, and another time, but slowly he's calming down. Slowly but surely in his boyfriend's arms he's putting himself back together. Despite that, he's not trying to get out from that embrace.

Instead, he sighs and relaxes against Tommy. Like his mind has finally flipped the switch from terror back into safety. He was safe. Tommy loved him. Billy practically goes boneless in that cocoon of arms and love, and then returns it with his arms wiggling under and around to hug the guy back.

"Sometimes think I don't deserve shit like this, but fuck, I'm glad you're with me, babe. I... I love you, too."

"Yeah, I don't think I deserve it often either," Tommy admits, his voice soft and fond. 'Sometimes we have to accept the fact that we're maybe worth more than we really believe for ourselves."

"I can accept for now that you see something better in me than I can, and what you see is worthwhile." It’s a quiet admission, allowed while hiding away from the night terrors and spooky shit that wasn’t there. "I’d be a wreck without you, Daisy Dukes."

He really would. Billy rubs his hands up and down Tommy’s back and picks his head up enough to press a kiss to that chin. And because the guy deserved to hear it often as well, there’s another "I love you, too. I love you, Tommy. I deserve you."

One Night in Bangkok ~ Murray Head

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