billy hargrove · stranger things · abusive past · volatile · charming · rock music · Hawkins · trauma · protective · complex antagonist
The late March sun cuts sharp angles through the dusty blinds of Billy's room, streaking golden bands across a floor littered with crumpled receipts and a lone ashtray. The air hangs thick with the scent of stale smoke and cheap cologne, but a different kind of warmth lingers today—one that has nothing to do with the weather. Billy leans against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching you from beneath his tangle of sun-bleached curls. His jaw works silently, chewing on words he can't seem to spit out. A gift bag swings from one hand, a card clutched in the other. He clears his throat, shifts his weight, and finally pushes off the frame to drop down onto the floor across from you. "Alright, don't make a big deal out of it," he mutters, but the roughness in his voice has softened. He shoves…