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myriadof-fandoms · 1 year

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harringrove week - day 7 - a wild and an untamed thing

prompt: the rocky horror picture show

or: will meets some people like him

ao3

“Hey pipsqueak, stay here today, yeah?”

Billy’s hand is warm on Will’s shoulder and his voice is quiet enough that no one around them notices, though for that to happen he’d have to be screaming anyway, everyone is too sleep deprived to notice what the people around them are doing.

“Huh?”

“Skip the day trip to Alcatraz with a scenic dinner in the city Wheeler has meticulously planned for you. We’re taking you on a field trip. Just claim you feel sick or something.”

It’s not like Will has to think about it for long. Whatever Billy has planned is guaranteed to be more fun than Nancy’s plan, she gets pissy when they don’t manage all her planned timeslots. The few residual pubescent feelings of his crush on Billy don’t speak in her favor either.

Basically, Will doesn’t even feel bad when he says he feels the beginning of a migraine when the others get ready. Especially not after the overly worried looks from Dustin and Mike - five years down the road from when they got the Mindflayer out of him and they still treat him like glass sometimes.

Even on the road trip here somehow there was a unanimous decision that Will wouldn’t be allowed to drive through the night. He was only annoyed by it because he's a bit of a better driver than Max and Dustin and worlds better than Mike. (Though that feeling passed after the first night, when he was the only one who was even a little bit rested.)

Being allowed to drive across the country to visit Billy, Steve and Robin in San Francisco had been a task in itself. He’s fairly sure if it hadn’t been planned that he was accompanied by Jonathan and basically all of his friends his mother wouldn’t have let him, nevermind that he turned 18 in March.

He watches the chaos unfold around him while Dustin, Mike and Lucas get ready and the actual residents of the apartment throw in comments, mainly about how tired they are. They don’t manage to be done when Eddie’s van and Jonathan’s car arrive in front of the apartment complex; which was clearly expected since Eddie’s coming up without waiting even a moment for them.

What Will doesn’t expect though is for Eddie to pass over his car keys to Dustin with the words, “A single scratch on her and you’re dead.” Billy’s rough laugh drowns out Dustin’s answer, and then he adds, “Munson, you wouldn’t even be able to tell if there was a new scratch somewhere in between all the others.”

Eddie doesn’t even react but instead pushes the others out of the door he had left open behind him.

“See you later, Will!” Lucas yells and then the door closes and the apartment quiets down.

Steve walks up to the couch Will has been sitting on to watch out of the window onto the street as well, and when the cars leave he breathes out and turns to the others, “Freedom.”

“Thank fuck,” Robin’s voice is muted against her arm, she is sitting at the kitchen counter with her face buried in her arm. She slowly lifts up her head before she continues, “You little shits haven’t even been here a week and I already need a holiday to recover from this.”

“You offered to let us stay here.”

“We thought you would sleep sometimes.”

“I only offered to let Dustin stay here.”

“I wanted Max and El.”

“I feel so very welcome here,” Will deadpans.

“Please, feel honored you’re allowed to stay right now.”

“Right, what’s that about anyway?” Will turns to Eddie, “You’re coming too?”

“Yeah, wouldn’t miss it,” Eddie looks absolutely delighted by whatever is planned for them.

“We’ll tell you later, first it’s time for more sleep. Can’t believe Wheeler planned for you all to leave the house before 10am.” Billy heads towards his and Steve’s bedroom and on the way grabs the back of Steve’s shirt to drag him along. “C’mon Harrington I want reparation cuddles for your ex waking me up early.”

Warmth blooms in Will’s chest. He’s noticed more than once that Billy doesn’t really address that he and Steve share a bedroom, or any part of their relationship, in front of many other people. Definitely not in front of the entire group. Being allowed in a circle of people that are allowed to witness him being affectionate feels special.

“Hey Blondie,” Eddie speaks up.”And where should I nap?”

“Not my problem. Either deal with Buckley using you as a pillow or ask the half pint if he’ll share the couch. See y’all at the earliest in two hours.” With that Billy throws the door closed.

Will does end up sleeping again, alone since Eddie and Robin decided to use the chance to cuddle (apparently Robin is deprived since Billy has been keeping Steve from his best friend cuddle duties and Eddie misses Chrissy), and for a moment when he opens his eyes he thinks he must just be dreaming vividly. The sight of Billy Hargrove leaning over him with a goddamn feather boa around his shoulders is a bit much to just accept as reality.

“Wakey, wakey, sleepy head. C’mon we gotta get you ready.”

On autopilot, Will follows him. Through his haze of sleep he notices a chaos of clothes and accessories that have somehow spread around the apartment since he fell asleep. He hears the others talk vaguely from the direction of the bathroom and Robin’s room before Billy leads him into his bedroom and tells Will to sit down on the bed.

It’s enough to spike Will’s interest and wake him up some more. When they arrived two days ago they did get a little tour of the apartment but he only got a glance at Billy’s and Steve’s room. The sheets on the bed are messy but surprisingly soft and with a dark blue flannel pattern. Both bedside tables give away their owner clearly, Steve’s has a disarray of pills and water glasses with his alarm clock balancing in between while Billy’s has an ashtray and books. Over the bed are shelves for more books and some trophies and knick knacks. Will is slightly surprised by the fairy lights that hang on the shelves too but then again he guesses it only makes sense that Steve and Billy don’t appreciate sleeping in complete darkness either. There’s one big desk under the window next to the bed on which there’s a clutter of papers and books. Will guesses those are mostly Billy’s since Steve’s already working while Billy is still in college. Over the desk is a pinboard though, full of pictures that belong to both of them. It's mostly pictures of either one or both of them with friends, but a fair share are just of the two of them as well. There's one where Steve has his arms wrapped around Billy's shoulders from behind while they sit on the beach and beam up at whoever took the photo that is so clearly a picture of a couple in love that it makes Will's stomach drop a little. Will does feel honored when he sees the polaroid Robin had taken of him with Billy and Steve at Billy’s graduation up on the board too, though.

Billy reappears from their closet that he had vanished into and only then does Will really take in the fact that Billy’s barely even dressed. Technically the boa is the thing of most substance on him right now. Otherwise he’s only in a tiny pair of golden shorts. It puts his tattoos on display, mostly they are hidden under his clothing but now Will can properly take in all the designs on Billy’s torso. They work their way around the scar tissue that’s littered there too. On first sight the blue whale that stretches over Billy’s rips until just under his left pec has got to be Will’s favorite. Though the different shades and forms on his shoulders and upper arms are too manifold to properly take in at once.

“Alright, we’re taking you out and you gotta dress up. At least a little,” Billy says and throws a shirt at Will. It’s see through .

Will blushes furiously and looks at Billy in utter confusion. It seems to amuse him.

“Promise you you’ll be tame with that. You can even keep on your own pants but if you show up in the nerd club shirt you’ll stick out like a sore thumb, babe.”

“Where are we going that makes see through shirts look tame?” Will is only a little afraid of the answer.

“You’ll see,” Billy says again while he throws the boa to the floor and instead picks up a bundle of leather straps that Will cannot make sense of before Billy entangles it in sure movements and then pulls it over his head so it settles on his chest. Billy Hargrove is standing in front of Will in a leather harness and a tiny pair of golden pants.

Maybe Will is on drugs and doesn’t know it.

“Promise you, it’ll be fine. I don’t want to get on the bad side of your mother so I wouldn’t take you to a sex club or anything during your first trip away from her.”

Will has to admit that that’s fair enough. He wouldn’t want to piss off his mom either.

“Just try that on and then come to us in the bathroom, if you feel too uncomfortable we’ll find something else with Buckley,” Billy tells him and then leaves Will alone in his bedroom.

The fabric of the button up is soft and silky on Will’s skin when he exchanges his own with it. It almost feels like it washes over him, a gentle touch and nothing more. He does his best to ignore how weird it is to see his own stomach while buttoning the shirt and then faces the mirrored door of the closet.

It doesn’t look bad. Not with his hair that’s finally not a bowl cut anymore and how he’s sort of grown into his skinniness, he doesn’t look malnourished anymore the way he used to but instead he’s just a little thin. Lean maybe. The way the shirt falls down his body certainly helps with the shadows it draws on his skin.

He doesn’t want to take it off again and yet his heart is thumping loudly in his chest when he follows Billy’s order and crosses the apartment to the bathroom.

It’s maybe even more messy than in the rest of the living space. There are products and make up and clothes everywhere. And in the middle of it all Robin and Billy are sitting on the floor and Robin is putting makeup on Billy’s face. She’s in a maid outfit with a skirt that’s barely there and her hair looks like it exploded almost. He’s still only in the pants and harness even though he now also has a collar around his neck. Next to the bathtub is another entirely shocking sight: Steve Harrington clearly overwhelmed trying to pull up a fishnet stocking, while wearing a corset. It even alleviates the shock of seeing Eddie in a skirt, also in a corset and with his hair pulled up in a ponytail.

Will can’t help but stare. Eddie notices him first, through the mirror over the sink which he is using to apply eyeliner if Will is not entirely mistaken, he looks Will up and down and then he wolf whistles and all eyes are on Will.

The compliments start flying from all sides and for the second time of the day Will finds himself blushing.

It takes them another two hours to get ready. Robin has to apply makeup to all of them, even if Billy could almost give her a run for her money which he proves by being the one to do Steve’s eyes, and there’s about half an hour everyone spends trying to find the right accessories for Will. They agree on a simple look and so he just gets some necklaces from Robin and earrings from Billy, who was pleasantly surprised to see Will’s pierced ear.

With the makeup they agreed on simple for Will too, just a little eyeliner on his waterline as Robin explained and mascara. He can’t really stop staring at every mirrored surface now, taking in the way his eyes are changed from the little bit of product. Eddie was the one who insisted on just a tiny bit of lipstick for Will and he’s still trying to get used to the dry feeling, suppressing the urge to lick his lips again and again until everything is gone because the light red does look incredible too.

When all of them are happy with their appearance Steve demands a quick round of pictures and they end up taking so many that they’re nearly late according to Billy when they finally settle in Steve’s BMW. Will sits in the backseat, with Robin next to him, but he has a clear view when Steve reaches out and puts his hand in Billy’s while he drives. It makes his stomach twist a little

He’s quickly distracted by staring out at San Francisco though. Everytime he sees a new palm tree he feels in awe.

A couple of minutes pass where he doesn’t really listen to the conversation around him and then silence settles around them for a moment before Eddie speaks up with a heavy tone.

“So, Young William, let us tell you where we’re going,” he finally starts.

“We’re taking you to a truly unique experience,” Robin continues. “And an essential one at that too.”

Steve laughs, “A must-see for every little queer out there, really.”

“We’re going to see the Rocky Horror Picture Show,” Billy finishes.

Sadly, that means fuck all to Will.

When he tells them that they all just smile or laugh a little and then Robin picks up again, “It will mean something to you when you’ve seen it believe me. It’s incredible.”

“I can’t fucking wait,” Eddie is basically vibrating in his seat. “I’ve never gotten to see it live either.”

“Two virgins, aren’t we lucky?” Billy laughs and Steve and Robin fall in easily.

“Oh, to be that young again,” Robin says wistfully.

The rest of the drive is filled with vague accounts of their experiences during shows, all just adding confusion to Will’s state of mind.

The confusion doesn’t really leave. During the show, even when they’re already on their way home, or later when Will tries to sleep, the confusion stays. A companion through the experience that Will won’t ever forget, only changing from general cluelessness to wonder about how something like this exists and no one fucking told him.

They pulled into the parking lot by a theater and Will was entirely done for. Everywhere at the entrance or leaving their cars were people dressed like them. People who were like them. People like him. Two men in their late twenties walked by them while Will was busy staring and his heart nearly stopped when he saw that they were holding hands. After that it almost beat in double time. He followed Billy and Steve, who were to his surprise holding hands as well, and just tried to take it all in.

Without questioning it he accepts that he gets called a Virgin at the entrance and that the nice lady who had asked, and only kept eye contact with Robin, draws a V on his forehead when the others tell on him and Eddie.

People stare after them, after Billy especially, but even Will feels some eyes on him, heavily so after Steve leads him to a vendor, who’s about Will’s age but with black curls that almost reach his shoulders, which are much more defined than Will’s. The other boy winks at him when he hands Will two bags of popcorn and once again he can feel heat rise to his cheeks. Billy slaps him on the back when Steve smugly tells him all about the vendor, and even whoops a little, drawing even more eyes to them.

They settle into their seats only moments before the show starts.

The lights go down and to Will’s surprise there are actors on stage acting alongside the movie on the screen. He doesn’t think it should work, but it does. Especially, when the audience starts talking.

In all fairness, Will couldn’t explain the plot of the film at all. It just is a little hard to focus on it when everytime Brad and Janet appear everyone around him screams asshole or slut .

But he remembers the important parts.

Will remembers that even though he didn’t know the steps to the Time Warp beforehand, and doesn’t remember them after either, it was easy enough to get the hang of it when everyone around him did it. And that it was so liberating he could’ve cried. Something about moving with the crowd, the simplicity of all of them dancing to this ridiculous song, in their ridiculous outfits just for fun, just being themselves, made him feel more alive than he remembers ever feeling before.

And he’ll remember the fun of snapping a rubber glove against his own hand in sync with Frank N. Furter at Steve’s instruction and the toasts flying towards the stage around them. The way the audience screamed when Frank N. Furter first appeared.

Frank N. Furter, himself. Will can’t tear his eyes away, and he’s fairly sure he couldn’t forget him even if he tried. Not with the way he acts, the way he walks or how he made Will scoot to the edge of his seat just by dragging out that pause between antici- and pation.

He’s shocked at the water hitting him when Brad and Janet walk through the rain and laughs when he sees Robin hiding under a newspaper like most other experienced audience members.

Mostly though Will thinks he’ll never forget the people around him and how they allow him to see them. The strangers who willingly appear dressed in almost nothing, because they know this place to be safe. And his friends, these people that decided he deserved to be part of this community and that he deserved to be part of them.

Will remembers the way Steve and Billy used to stay apart when they still lived in Hawkins. It’s such a drastic difference to the two men who are sitting next to him, Billy with at least one hand always touching Steve, and Steve turned towards Billy more than towards the screen and stage. During Sweet Transvestite Billy has both arms wrapped around Steve’s neck and moves the two of them to the rhythm of the song, like they’re dancing. Steve is laughing and Will is fairly sure he calls Billy an idiot while they’re swaying around but he does also catch Billy’s lips in a kiss.

The two of them are laughing into it and a part of Will yearns suddenly like he does whenever he sees open affection between couples, even with his mom and Hopper, but the bigger part of him celebrates. It can be you, you can get out, they got out, you can find love, you can because they did, there they are, happy despite being like you .

He looks away when they deepen their kiss, allows them the privacy they deserve and instead focuses on that realization, that confirmation, that love isn’t lost to him just because he’s not going to find it in a woman.

The heavy thoughts disappear when a character named Eddie appears and their own Eddie roars and spends the rest of the show jumping every time his name falls. It doesn’t deter him that Eddie dies about three minutes into his time.

Will laughs like a maniac when Rocky is created and Billy’s outfit makes a little more sense.

Heat runs through him when Frank N. Furter joins Brad (asshole) in bed, before the hilarity of it all gets to him again and the heat settles. The little voice doesn’t let him forget it though, just like the two women who haven’t really stopped kissing in the past five minutes, you can have that too .

Little lines get stuck in his head, and he tries to take in as much as he can, but the performance rushes past him anyway.

He picks up one of the playing cards that fly towards the stage during I’m Going Home and carefully puts it into his pocket, a small reminder of the experience.

When they walk out of the theater, Will feels like he’s high, like he’s sailing on a cloud, when a little gust of air draws over his neck and makes him shudder. It's too close to the feeling of a monster's claw caressing his skin. But as if it had cast a protection around him to be surrounded by people like him he can for once just shake it off and focus on the conversation around him instead of overthinking the sensation.

They’re all giddy on the drive home, so they let down the windows and sing along to Queen, apparently the only tapes Steve keeps in his car.

When Billy turns up I Want To Break Free, all of them scream. No one misses a single word of the song. Will knows it’s because they get it. For a moment he feels like he’s tearing up, just because he’s finally not the only one listening to Freddie Mercury and feeling the lyrics in an entirely different way than most people. Or, just because these people just showed him how many more of them there are. Billy turns to Steve and sings I've fallen in love for the first time, this time I know it's for real at him and Will smiles when he watches Billy lean in to kiss Steve's cheek.

Will doesn’t want the drive to end, but it does, and they’re greeted by the sight of the cars from the others in front of the apartment. A tiny part of him had hoped that at least Nancy and Jonathan would've gone over to the motel where they're staying already.

When they open the door everybody is gathered in the living room and kitchen and Jonathan is walking up and down but stops in his tracks when his eyes take them in.

Everybody stops what they were doing actually. They all stare. Mike’s mouth drops open. Nancy looks a little like she’s in shock. Eleven and Max both smile but Dustin and Lucas look entirely dumbfounded too.

“Where- Where the fuck were you?” Jonathan asks, his voice slightly shaky but also with a sort of angry undertone.

“Out,” Will beams.

“Out- You- You were out? But you said you had a migraine?”

“It went away,” Will says. And then he can’t stop it. He starts giggling at Jonathan’s face.

It does turn a bit more sour at that though.

“And where exactly did you go dressed like this?” Jonathan is mostly looking at the others while he asks, but Will can feel the eyes on his own shirt too.

Billy answers, and the perfect innocence in his voice, in contrast to the smeared lipstick and the smudged makeup around his eyes, and the blatant lie of it all sends all five of them into helpless laughter, while the others look at them like they’ve lost their mind.

“Church.”

They have to leave again about a week and a half later, and Will already misses the small apartment with the mismatched dishes. He misses the casual way Steve kisses Billy goodbye when he leaves a room too. And how Robin talks about the girl that has a class with her and wears knee socks that make Robin want to cry.

Before Billy pulls him into a goodbye-hug he hands him a VHS.

“Here, it's so you can learn all the lines, pipsqueak. Next time I expect you to know every word.”

Will doesn’t cry, but it’s a near thing.

He does hug Billy like his life depends on it, though.

Will holds onto the VHS of the Rocky Horror Picture Show with its big red lips on the cover like it’s a lifeline. He holds it close and tries to remember every detail from the show, from the people, just so he doesn’t forget again that he’s not alone.

#i'm not here #i'm asleep #thank FUCK my first two classes got cancelled #stranger things #billy hargrove #steve harrington #harringrove #harringrove fic #harringroveweek #harringrove harvest #mimi's writing #mimi makes things

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