Found it. [ He grabs the tube and squirts a bit out, slathering it onto his wound (which thankfully was already thoroughly washed). It stings a little, but compared to being torched it was nothing.
He's eager to get it bandaged up so he doesn't have to look at the enlarged veins surrounding the burn site anymore. ]
Hey- hey. Be careful with it. [ Even if Billy's being as gentle as possible, Steve's still going to try to get the tube off him and do it himself.
Not that he really wants to look at the injury more than he has to, but he wants to make sure it's looked after properly. ] Come on, let's get your shirt off.
[ But alright. Fine. If Steve wants to dote on him a little, who is he to say no? He carefully lifts his shirt over his head and tosses it onto the bathroom floor. ]
Duh. [ Steve's fingers are gentle, tracing the edge of the wound to make sure there's nothing caught in it. He's entirely focused on it, until he looks up and catches the smirk on Billy's face. ]
You're not supposed to be enjoying this. [ but his face is turning a little pink, because they both know how much steve likes getting billy to do what he says ]
[ He leans in close enough to give Steve a quick peck on the cheek. ] Hey, uh.
[ His expression falls a little. ] Do you think I'm like my dad? [ Out of all the things Mickey said, that's the one that's really sticking with him. ]
Shut up. [ He turns pinker at the kiss, still trying to gauge how clean the wound is. It's looking all right, so steve's got no reason to put off getting the bandage on.
[ He sighs, though he can't help but smile a bit at how pink Steve's face is when he kisses him. ] I always thought that I could never be like him. He was so...strict, and disciplined. I was a rebel. He hated everything I did. But we're both violent bastards, aren't we?
I haven't-- I've met the guy like twice, okay. [ Which isn't an answer, he's just thinking.
He puts his head to the side. ]
I think... you could be like him. That's how it works, right? Everyone can end up just like their parents, all that stuff they hated about them. [ Steve's pretty sure they read something in English about this. ]
But-- I don't think you have to be. You think I'd date you if you were still going around running kids off the road?
...No. I probably would've kicked your ass for trying.
[ Because accepting help was for pussies, and Billy had to prove that he was a tough guy. A tough guy who would have walked home in the cold and nursed his own burn wound alone. ]
A little less of an idiot. [ He says fondly, as he runs a hand up Billy's side back towards the wound on his arm. He should really get around to bandaging that.
But not just yet. ] If you don't want to be like your dad then don't be. Figure out what you've got to do and... I'll help.
[ That, more than anything, is what he doesn't want to end up being. He can fight the rest of the world, but his lover should feel safe with him. ]
I've already been a real bastard to you. I know it's not the same thing because we weren't dating back then, but I don't ever want you to be afraid of me.
[ The more Steve hears about Neil Hargrove, the more he wants to take a baseball bat to him. The guy sounds like a fucking psycho ]
Hey. [ gentle, steve runs his fingers around the countour of billy's face, stopping on his jaw ]
You think I'd date you if you were like that to me? Or Mike and the kids? [ He leans in, presses their faces together. He's got you, Billy. He's not going to let you be like that. ] If you start being an actual bastard I'll kick your ass, Hargrove.
...Thanks, Harrington. [ He sighs contentedly, resting with his forehead against Steve's for a moment. ]
Getting better is...really hard. Was it hard for you, too? [ Because Steve's never been an asshole to the extent that Billy was, but he was still an asshole at one point in time. ]
[ Steve needs a moment to consider that. The truth is that he doesn't feel that different. ]
Having someone around to remind me not to be a dick helped. [ He means Nancy, but that's not something they've really talked about. ] But-- ever since I can remember it had been me, Tommy and Carol. When I stopped hanging out with them I... I dunno.
It kind of sucked. [ He's not sure how else to say it. ]
[ A wrinkle appears across Steve's forehead as he focuses, trying both to not hurt Billy and to get it bandaged well. But soon it's done, and Steve's content that Billy isn't about to lose his arm in the next hour or so.
Yeah? [ the forehead wrinkle deepens as he watches Billy move the shoulder, concerned he's going to do something to bust it up already. But it looks fine. It might be a miracle, it could turn out fine. ]
Did you eat, before you went storming over to kick Mickey's ass?
[ speaking of turning into your parents, steve might be turning into his mom, who spends her entire time home making sure steve eats. ]
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He's eager to get it bandaged up so he doesn't have to look at the enlarged veins surrounding the burn site anymore. ]
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Not that he really wants to look at the injury more than he has to, but he wants to make sure it's looked after properly. ] Come on, let's get your shirt off.
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[ But alright. Fine. If Steve wants to dote on him a little, who is he to say no? He carefully lifts his shirt over his head and tosses it onto the bathroom floor. ]
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With Billy's shirt off he steps in closer to make sure the wound is all clean before he bandages it. ]
Sorry.
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Alright. You're in charge.
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You're not supposed to be enjoying this. [ but his face is turning a little pink, because they both know how much steve likes getting billy to do what he says ]
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[ He leans in close enough to give Steve a quick peck on the cheek. ] Hey, uh.
[ His expression falls a little. ] Do you think I'm like my dad? [ Out of all the things Mickey said, that's the one that's really sticking with him. ]
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Until Billy asks that] Do I think-- what?
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[ He sighs, though he can't help but smile a bit at how pink Steve's face is when he kisses him. ] I always thought that I could never be like him. He was so...strict, and disciplined. I was a rebel. He hated everything I did. But we're both violent bastards, aren't we?
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He puts his head to the side. ]
I think... you could be like him. That's how it works, right? Everyone can end up just like their parents, all that stuff they hated about them. [ Steve's pretty sure they read something in English about this. ]
But-- I don't think you have to be. You think I'd date you if you were still going around running kids off the road?
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[ To Billy it feels like every time he gets too comfortable something sends him spiraling back to his old ways. ]
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[ he means bandaging him up, but being close to them kind of applies as well. ]
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[ Because accepting help was for pussies, and Billy had to prove that he was a tough guy. A tough guy who would have walked home in the cold and nursed his own burn wound alone. ]
I'm glad I'm less of an idiot now.
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But not just yet. ] If you don't want to be like your dad then don't be. Figure out what you've got to do and... I'll help.
cw: spousal abuse mention
[ That, more than anything, is what he doesn't want to end up being. He can fight the rest of the world, but his lover should feel safe with him. ]
I've already been a real bastard to you. I know it's not the same thing because we weren't dating back then, but I don't ever want you to be afraid of me.
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Hey. [ gentle, steve runs his fingers around the countour of billy's face, stopping on his jaw ]
You think I'd date you if you were like that to me? Or Mike and the kids? [ He leans in, presses their faces together. He's got you, Billy. He's not going to let you be like that. ] If you start being an actual bastard I'll kick your ass, Hargrove.
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Getting better is...really hard. Was it hard for you, too? [ Because Steve's never been an asshole to the extent that Billy was, but he was still an asshole at one point in time. ]
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Having someone around to remind me not to be a dick helped. [ He means Nancy, but that's not something they've really talked about. ] But-- ever since I can remember it had been me, Tommy and Carol. When I stopped hanging out with them I... I dunno.
It kind of sucked. [ He's not sure how else to say it. ]
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[ He runs his fingers through Steve's hair. ] But being with you is pretty great.
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except-- ]
Hey, hey. Hold still. Let me get your arm first.
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He does appreciate it, but he has to act tough about it. Still, a small smile manages to break through his tough exterior. ]
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He lets his hands drop. ]
How's it feel?
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It's fine. [ He yawns. It's been a tiring day. ]
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Did you eat, before you went storming over to kick Mickey's ass?
[ speaking of turning into your parents, steve might be turning into his mom, who spends her entire time home making sure steve eats. ]
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[ But his stomach growls loudly at the thought of food, betraying him. He scowls. Steve can mom him but he doesn't have to like it.
...Okay, he likes it a little. ]