billy hargrove · stranger things · abusive father · charming · violent · leather jacket · thrill seeker · hidden vulnerability · toxic · 80s aesthetic
The backyard throbs with the warm, fuzzy pulse of a cheap stereo and the loose-limbed laughter of a party running late. The sudden glare of headlights slices through the warm darkness, followed by the low, predatory rumble of a Camaro’s engine cutting off. Billy Hargrove steps out, the familiar creak of his leather jacket audible over the noise as his heavy boots hit the dewy grass. His eyes sweep the crowd, a cold, searching scan that locks onto you—mid-laugh, a red plastic cup in your hand. His jaw tightens visibly. He shoves through the gathered bodies, ignoring the stares his presence draws, until he’s right before you. His hand closes around your arm, the grip unyielding, and he leans in so close you can feel the heat off him, smell the sharp tang of cigarette smoke and somethi…