#max and billy good siblings

[queer-coded-camaro-driver]

Max, slamming the Ouija board down on her bedroom floor: Listen up, asshole; I come bearing gifts. 

Billy/Planchet: W H A T  I S  I T?

Max, pulling several polaroids out of her hoodie pocket and setting them on the floor: Steve took his shirt off at the pool and El took a bunch of sneaky pictures. I snagged a few of the good ones while she was busy. You’re so fucking welcome. 

Billy/Planchet: B E S T   S I S T E R   E V E R!

Max: I know. 

Billy/Planchet: N O W  G O  A W A Y

Max: What, why? There was swimsuit clingage, dude. Don’t you want the rest of the details? 

Billy/Planchet: N O  I  W A N T  S O M E  P R I V A C Y

Max, flipping the board over and gagging: Oh, gross! Ugh, you’re so nasty. Jesus fuck, Billy, even in the afterlife? That’s so- ewwwww. 

[makeadealwithdean]

billy & max in stranger things 2x09 "the gate"

[cavinginhisfvce]

'IT'LL ALL WORK OUT'

Disclaimer: I'm honestly not a fan of Susan, but I thought this fic idea was cute!

Paring: Harringrove.

When Neil married Susan, he was against Susan adopting Billy, claiming the boy's real mother couldn't bother to be tasked with raising him, so no one should ever burden themselves with such a thing.

Susan, surprisingly, was firm in wanting to pick up the slack Billy's mother left in her wake, eventually Neil relented, and the adoption process was underway.

It's been four years, and a move to Hawkins, Indiana since Billy legally became Susan's child, something Max was displeased with initially, quickly became a comfort to her when she discovered what Neil did to his son. It had shaken her to her core, and when she relayed the information to her mother, the woman simply pulled her into a hug and murmured, "I know, baby. It'll all work out."

Max didn't know what that meant, or if she should trust her mom. But, she silently nodded, she had no real options here. She had to wait for the future. 

The future as it turns out, was just three months later; Neil had laid into Billy with more fervor than usual, and when Susan made to step in, her husband struck her. 

It hadn't detoured the red-haired woman, she continued her self-appointed task of checking on Billy, who was staring up at her with a look she's never seen on his face, a look no seventeen should ever wear. 

She gave him a small, comforting smile, just as Neil got a fist full of otherwise pristine hair; his freehand raising to strike once more.

The action worked quickly in pulling Billy from his Susan induced trance with a start, his body moving faster than his brain as he lunged at his father, swiftly knocking the man to the ground.

For years, Neil's abuse had only ever been turned towards his son, and in truth he was grateful; because Billy doesn't know what he would do if it was ever Max on the receiving end. She was a child, she was his shitty little sister. Max, who brought him the stupidest (best) hoodies he owns, the fabric softer than any he had previously. Max, who despite hating Billy in the beginning, now comes to his room when she has a nightmare or generally needs comforting from someone other than her mother. She's the only person to hug him since the day his mom took off. 

His sister who despite everything, tries so hard to show Billy someone loves him. She loves him.

Susan had tried to comfort him, but Billy always brushed her off. She never seemed to take it personally for some reason. Maybe because she knew he was afraid of what would happen if Neil even suspected Billy felt safe in their home.

The knowledge that Neil could hurt Susan was always present in Billy's mind, but he often wrote off his concern with a scoff. She knew what she married, she knew what he was like. It was her problem, not his.

However, seeing Neil actually hit Susan had set something off in Billy, because while she may have never defended or stood up for him as she had today; she still made sure he was properly tended to after encounters with his father.

If Neil sent him to bed sans dinner, locking him in his bedroom for however long, she would have Max sneak him a sandwich, Max was always more than happy to take said food. 

The times when Neil kicked Billy out intent on making the boy sleep in his car, Susan always snuck a bag of snacks, blankets, and whatever else, into the bushes by their house for him to grab. Despite always going to Steve's and sleeping in the boy's guestroom on those nights, it still showed she was trying.

If Billy was bed ridden after his father caved his chest in, a few too many times, she would come into his room, soothe his pain with hushed words and gentle touches. Billy was usually too tired and in too much pain to reject her warm hands and kind fingers working through his curls after she'd patched him up.

Seeing Susan cradle her cheek, seeing Max sob at the display, finally gave Billy the nerve to stand up to Neil.

He doesn't really remember much after straddling his father, his fists flying rapidly, their intended destination Neil's face, but he does remember Susan scrambling to call 911. Remembers her soft words of assurance that Neil was down.

He remembers Max's look of relief as their eyes met.

He still feels the phantom hold as Susan tugs him from his place over his dad's limp frame. Can vaguely recall the frightening seconds he thought he killed his father before the man was gasping awake, his eyes widened with fear as they landed on Billy. He was actually afraid of Billy. 

Everything beyond that was a blur, Billy doesn't really know what was said, or done. He just knows Neil was in police custody, something that would've left Billy parentless, if not for Susan having adopted him all those years ago.

Especially since his own mother had taken off when he was barely five, and relinquished her rights as a parent in the same breath she'd divorced his father. 

He always wondered why he wasn't enough. For his mother or Neil.

When Hopper came by to ask if they wanted to press charges, both Billy and Susan agreed easily. It was the most gratifying decision Billy has ever made in regards to his father and the abuse he's endured at his hands for years.

Billy and Steve started officially seeing each other a few weeks after Neil's trial ended. Hopper saw to it that his father was hit with the max sentence for child abuse, and domestic violence. Both Max and Billy would be well into adulthood when Neil gets released, something that made the decision to be with Steve all that sweeter.

He hadn't wanted to come out to Susan, the lingering fear that she would object to her newly seventeen year old son being with a guy was too prevalent. 

Though, technically, he didn't come out to her, she came to him one morning with her hand on her hip and a warm smile on her lips demanding he "bring his 'Pretty Boy' to dinner."

Billy wanted to be upset that she'd found out, but he was far too humiliated that it was his own fault she'd figured it out. Apparently calling Steve 'Pretty Boy' like it was going out of style, was a dead giveaway for the woman.

Much to Billy and Max's (dis)pleasure, Susan and Steve got along easily.

On Billy's eighteenth birthday, Max had barged into his bedroom, shrieking in horror when she was met with an eyeful of her brother and Steve in a slight state of undress, Billy had thrown a pillow in her direction, his voice rough with embarrassment as he shouted, 

"Mom, tell Maxine to fucking knock!" 

Both siblings froze at that, Max had a wide smile on her face, while Billy looked slightly mortified, his words echoing in his ears.

The look morphed into one of pain when Susan slipped into his room, her smile rivaling Max's with how big it was, "That's the first time you've ever called me mom…"

Billy swallowed thickly and nodded his head, though he refused to make eye contact with the woman, even when she was throwing her arms around his bare shoulders in an iron grip hug, "okay, okay, I get it! Can we maybe talk about this shit later, you know, when I'm not trying to get laid on my birthday?" 

Billy wasn't actually going to have sex with Steve with both Max and Susan home, but their presence in the house definitely wasn't going to prevent Steve from watching Billy fall apart beneath him, especially not if the brunet had any say in the matter.

This had Susan reaching out to lightly slap his shoulder, a faux look of exasperation on her features,"maybe next time you or Pretty Boy over there will remember to lock the door, hm?"

With one last smile at Billy, accompanied by a wink, she then ushered Max out the room, Steve almost immediately leaping up to lock the door behind them; his face beet red when their eyes finally met.

"I'm fuckin' moving out." His tone was embarrassed, but there was no heat behind, no real threat to his words. 

He wouldn't leave his sister and his mother for any reason short of them wanting him gone.

[bentnotbroken1fanfiction]

There's not a lot of things Max does that go unnoticed by Billy. He seems to just know things. He always knows where she is, who she's with, what she's doing with her time….

But there's one thing he is completely unaware of and Max knows he'd kill her for sure if he ever did find out…

That when he's absolutely plastered, eyes glazed over and breath smelling of booze, or after he's taken a particularly bad beating from his Dad and has passed out cold….

She takes pictures of the evidence. 

She doesn't know what compelled her to start doing it, but one night she just followed the impulse and grabbed the camera her father had sent her for Christmas. It had been past midnight when she'd heard him slink back into the house and she'd waited a good hour after that to make her move.  He'd been slumped against his bed, stinking of whiskey and dead to the world when she'd shut the door behind her. His black eye from earlier had looked so much worse than when he'd left. It was big, dark and ugly against his pale washed out face and there was a circle on his cheek bone that looked like the inverted insignia of Neil's ring. 

That fucking bastard.

She'd raised the camera….

Click. 

Click. 

Click.

The photos fluttered down at her feet and she'd scooped them up and fled the room as quickly as she could, terrified that he'd wake up and kick her ass for being in there. For seeing him vulnerable. 

For taking photos of that vulnerability. 

Her fear of him didn't stop her from coming back and doing it again, though. 

No.

She'd gone back....

Again and again. 

Any time she knew he wouldn't hear her, wouldn't feel her lift his shirt. Wouldn't notice he'd been moved. 

She'd gotten disturbingly good at it. 

At documenting the injuries. 

Black eyes, busted lips, bloody noses. 

Click click click. 

Finger shaped bruises on his arm, a partial bootprint on his abdomen. 

Click click.

The imprints of a belt buckle on his back. 

Click. 

And every time he sneers at her, yells at her, makes a nasty remark, she reminds herself that this is why he does it. It's not because he is angry at her. It's because he is angry at his situation. He's pissed because he is alone and he's trapped.  

He's been imprisoned in this house a million miles away from anyone that cares about him while she's been made into one of his unwilling jailers, or maybe even a noose around his neck. 

One wrong move from either of them and he wears the consequences on his skin. 

And it just keeps getting worse. 

Neil has had a hair trigger lately and Billy can't even breathe in his Dad's direction without facing his ire. 

And it's been going on long enough that Max has a shoebox full of polorioids in her hands and she's going to throw up. 

Because it's now or never. 

She has a chance to finally put a stop to her brothers torture. She has a box full of evidence. Neil can't talk his way out of pictures. Billy didn't do all of this to himself. 

She can do this. She can...she just needs a little help. She doesn't think she has the courage to do it alone...

So, she takes a deep breath and opens the glass door. She hears Steve's greeting but she doesn't respond. She just sets the box on the video store counter and pushes it toward him. 

"What's this?" Steve asks, fiddling with the lid but not opening it. He looks up at her and his face looks as wary as she feels.

"It's about Billy, "She says, licking her lips nervously. "I think I need your help." 

[chrisbitchtree]

Max is on Billy’s bed, looking through his tape collection, a little pile of ones she’s going to borrow beside her.

She watches Billy as he adds one last spritz of hairspray to his bangs, making sure they’re just perfect. She nods along as he rambles about how excited he is for his first date with Steve tonight, and gives her opinion when he asks her if leaving every single button open on his shirt it too much. It is, Billy.

He can’t find his lipgloss so she runs to her room to grab a long neglected tube of it for him. When she returns, she can smell cologne strong in the air, like it’s just been sprayed. He already spritzed himself earlier, so she doesn’t want to know where he’s sprayed it now.

When Steve knocks on the door, she answers it so Billy can have a moment to himself and regain his composure before stepping out into the hall to greet his date, who’s eyes have gone wide with awe.

[prettyboybillyhargrove]

Aren't you curious, what would happen if Billy would actually have sex with Karen and Nancy & Max find out?

I- this idea fucks me up. But i feel like if the girls heard about it they wouldn't be mad at Billy no. They'd be so mad at Karen. Also I imagine Billy crying to them about it. Not for the pity more like having a breakdown about it. Max and Nancy find out one way or another. Maybe when Karen was talking about her other mom friends and being proud about fuckin the eye candy.

At first Nancy would be so pissed at Billy. Like grab her gun and going to him. Maybe try to scare him like "stay away from my mom" but when she confronted him Billy just break down and starting sobbing. Max coming to Billy's room with the sound of his sobbing. And hugging him tightly without even knowing what's wrong.

And Billy tell them everything. EVERY thing. Since his mom's left to that day. How he didn't know any other way to be around woman that age because they remind him his mom and he's scared. Also he wants their love because he fucking miss his mom. How he actually didn't want it. But he doesn't know how to say no to Karen. How she jump on him and didn't stop until she's satisfied. How dirty he felt after that. How he come home and cry his eyes out.

Girls hold him until he stops crying. And help him to get better. Nancy find him a therapist. And thanks to Steve they did pay for his therapy sessions. Also Steve helped him about his sexuality. Slowly but surely helped him open about his feelings. Realizing he's not really attracted to women. And maybe his feelings towards Steve now is not just friendly but more.

They didn't do anything except kissing hugging or holding hands for the first few months. And Steve was not mad at all.

[reineyday]

sometimes i see posts of steve and max where they call steve "the brother max deserves" and it always irks me a little because billy was the brother max deserved, they just killed him before he could properly show it. 🤦🏻‍♀️

she had a brother, they (the writers) just didnt use him very well. clearly by s3, billy and max were on good enough terms for her to mourn him all the way into s4. her grief and survivor's guilt and the trauma not just from his death but from living in an abusive home and being part of that abusive cycle are the reasons she gets targeted by vecna, and there's an entire episode titled after the letter she writes to him and reads to his gravestone. the last words he ever says are an apology to her.

calling steve the brother she deserves like billy isnt an integral part of her character, like billy isnt worth considering or looking at or like he doesnt exist, like he's somehow a villain that was cast upon max, a punishment she didnt deserve... that aint it. it takes away from their character backgrounds and the nuances held within them imo.

i love steve but the brother max deserves is a living billy, shuttling her around in his camaro and calling her "shitbird" and being like a real brother and sister, the way she wishes for in her letter. i have no doubt that had billy survived starcourt, they would have gotten there. they just chose to let him die instead. :/

[phantombeesting]

I can't stop thinking about Max threatening Neil the way she threatens Billy in season 2.

She hits him over the head with her skateboard after she walked in on him laying into Billy.

Neil's lay there on the floor shock written all over his face. He's about to scramble back up the shock quickly turning to rage, when the red headed embodiment of seething fury towering over him places her foot on his chest and presses him back down. It’s the shock more than the force that moves him.

Leaning forward putting nearly all of her weight on him, she reminds him that Hopper the chief of police is her best friends Dad and if he even thinks of laying another finger on Billy, Susan or her then he would be hearing about every little thing that goes on behind closed doors at 4819 Cherry Lane.

After what feels like an eternity Max takes her foot off Neil leaving a faint outline of her shoe on his shirt. With one last look over his now shrunken form she steps over him and holds her hand out to Billy to help him up.

Billy looks up at her with bewildered tears in his eyes. His gaze drifts down to her outstretched hand and he's hit with an overwhelming surge of admiration for the little shit bird in front of him.

He must have been staring at her hand longer than he thought because Max is now waving it in front of his face.

"Fuck how hard did he hit you? How many fingers am I holding up?"

Billy huffs a half laugh at that and reaches for the offered hand. When he’s off the ground she takes his arm wrapping it around her shoulder, placing her hand gingerly around his waist starting to lead him towards their rooms.

Neil’s still just laying there, his face running through a host of emotions. Anger, confusion, hurt and Billy thinks a hint of fear. It looks so out of place plastered on his face. But Billy gets it, he’s been on the receiving end of Max’s wrath, Neil should thank his lucky stars she’s only armed with a skateboard this time.

When they get to his room Max slowly helps lower him to his bed, lightly rubbing a sympathetic hand in soothing motions down his arm when a hiss passes his lips. It’s not the worst beating Neil’s ever given him but he’ll still be feeling it for days.

“Do you need anything ?”

Billy just shakes his head, something he instantly regretted.

“Yeah don’t make any sudden movement dumbass, with all the head injuries you’ve had I thought you’d have learnt that by now” Her judgey tone is undercut by the fact she’s fluffing up his pillows up for him as she speaks.

An honest to god smile pulls at the corner of his mouth at that.

Once Max is happy with the fluffiness of his bedding, and that he’s not in immediate danger of causing more harm to himself she turns to leave. She’s almost out of the door when she hears a quiet.

"Thanks, Sis"

It was barely above a whisper, so quiet it could be easily denied it was ever said.

Maxs looks back at Billy trying to hide the grin spreading across her face and affectionately mutters "Fuck off"

[biillys]

been flicking between house and er and now i want the billy working at a hospital au's please

[tacobellmildsauce]

help I can't get "max and billy" to the tune of the max and ruby theme song out of my head

[cavinginhisfvce]

'William Orchard Hopper"

Pairing: Harringrove.

Tw: child abuse, mentions of infidelity.

This started out as a headcanon of Jim being Billy biological dad and quickly spiraled into this??? Sorry. <3

Not many people know that Jim Hopper spent a considerable amount of time in California in his twenties.

Jim and Billy's mom, Bria Hargrove met and had an affair that led to Billy being born.

Neil knows Billy isn't his son, and becomes abusive towards Bria and Billy until she can no longer take it. 

When Billy is ten, she leaves and hides a note in Billy's room for him to find. 

The note tells him that Neil isn't his real father, it tells him his real father lives in Indiana. Hawkins, specifically but that he had once lived in California. She tells him that the man is named Jim Hopper. She doesn't give him any other details. Not that it truly matters, Neil is whose on his birth certificate. Neil is who is raising Billy into the man he's destined to be.

Confused, Billy tucks the note away. He can almost forget about it, but the knowledge that Neil isn't his dad stays with him. Even when Neil married Susan, and he gained a step-sister in her daughter, Max. 

It doesn't become a problem for Billy until Neil announces that their new, fragile thing of a family is moving to Hawkins, Indiana. 

He doesn't know if Neil knows he'll be dropping them in the town of the very man his mother cheated on him with.

A week after the move, Billy makes the mistake of getting high after Neil's latest lesson in Respect and Responsibility that ended with Billy nursing bruised ribs and what's definitely a mild concussion. 

The mistake isn't smoking weed, per say. No, Billy's mistake was forgetting just how loose lipped he gets when high. Because, now he's shown Max the letter his mom left all those years ago, he tells her that Neil isn't his biological father.

Max doesn't say anything, she just stands up and hugs her step-brother. 

The blond tenses briefly, before he's sinking into the hug; his own arms winding around her small frame. 

She's gotten taller, so with Billy sitting, his head is pressed into her stomach.

She doesn't comment on the warmth of his tears, she just hugs him tighter.

What does someone say to their step-brother who's father beats him on a regular basis? What do you say when that same boy knows the man who lords his parental status over him, isn't actually his dad? 

Max decides you say nothing. Billy doesn't seem put off by the lack of response. 

It isn't until after Halloween, after Max has plunged a syringe into Billy's neck to sedate him when a panic attack had led to a violent fit, that they're both forced to confront the very thing Billy has tried so hard to forget.

It wasn't the first time Billy lashed out like this, but it was one of the worst times. Her new friends had gotten permission from Neil and her mother to come over, but something set Billy off when she introduced him to Jane.

To his credit, Billy had fled the house when he noticed his breathing picking up. It hadn't helped much, because Max followed behind him, leading her friends to do the same.

When Jane met his gaze, her eyes were soft but unreadable, like she knew she held the last name of the man his mother confessed was actually his father.

It could've been a coincidence, but his mom had also told him the mystery man was training to become a police officer. 

That was too many coincidences, if you asked Billy.

He doesn't remember much after that, not that ever does. 

He knows her friends had been afraid, but for some weird fucking reason they tried to comfort him.

The curly-haired one even called Steve Harrington, declaring that the elder was good in situations like this. 

Billy seriously doubted that, but he'd never pass up a chance to see Steve. Their relationship was still new. New as in they'd only been official for the past week.

Once Steve had arrived, the kids all seemed to lose interest in everything, and retreated into the living room to play video games. Max took some convincing, but eventually, they were able to pry her away from the place she'd refused to leave at Billy's side.

The couple quickly toed off to Billy's room, and Steve wasted no time in pulling Billy into his arms.

Billy felt bone-tired, the sedative given to him never knocks him out, it mostly tires him out. Makes the world fuzzy, and like it's covered in a foggy film.

But, this felt different. This felt like a tiredness that wouldn't be quelled by resting for the remainder of the day. 

The younger boy hadn't told Steve about Jim, so when he asked what triggered this episode, Billy quickly spilled. He spoke until his throat felt raw, and his hands were shaking. 

He spoke until the room felt as if all the air was quickly evaporating. 

Steve waited until Billy's word vomit came to an end, before gently responding, "It's okay, B. If Hop is your dad, he's a good man. A little grumpy, but he's not like…" he trails off, but Billy can fill in the blanks just fine.

"H-how am I even supposed to broach this subject with him, Steve? What if...what if he doesn't want me just like her, and I'm stuck with Neil until I'm 18, or dead?" 

The brunet quickly reaches out to cup Billy's cheek, his thumb grazing the smooth skin. "That won't happen. Even if it did, you've got me. You're never gonna be stuck with him forever so long as I'm alive and breathing, baby."

There's more the boy wants to say, but he just feels so tired. The sounds of the kids all yelling in the other room serve as nothing more than background noise.

It's about an hour later, and Billy's only been fighting his sleep because Steve is showing him various tiktoks and clips of random gamers he enjoys.

Soon though, he's starting to doze on Steve's shoulder, when there's a knock at his door, then a head of brown curls are peaking into his room.

Jane.

His breath hitches, but Steve's hand finds his back and begins to soothingly rub his stress away. 

Metaphorically, of course. Because in reality, Billy is still freaking out.

"Jim is here to pick me up, but he wanted to meet you."

This causes him to bristle, "Me? Why?"

Jane merely shrugs, before turning away. 

Billy has an inkling she does know, but he swallows it down and climbs off his bed to make the short trek to the living room.

When he lays eyes on Hopper, the man is dressed in his uniform, a small grimace on his lips as he observes the sparsely decorated room.

His eyes eventually land on Billy and he offers something that could be considered a smile.

"So you're the owner of that Camaro out front, or is that your dad's?"

Billy wants to laugh out loud at the question, but instead he shakes his head. "No, sir. She's all mine, fixed her from the ground up myself." 

It was true, Billy spent months fixing her up, she'd been all but totaled when he found her body at the junkyard in California. 

He immediately fell in love with the car, despite the appearance and the rest was history.

The chief let out a long whistle, along with an approving nod.

"Damn kid. You lookin' for work? I know the mechanic in town could use someone like you on weekends."

Billy only nods, unsure of what to say. 

"Yeah, yeah that'd be great, actually! Thanks."

Jim nods, his eyes never leaving their place of observing the blond. 

"I'll set it up, just come by my office on Monday and we'll work out all the kinks."

Soon after, Jim leaves with Jane, who promises Max that they'll hang out soon.

Much to Billy's chargin, Steve leaves with the rest of the kids, sans Max, around forty-five minutes later.

Neil and Susan return after Billy has finished cleaning up the dishes from his and Max's dinner. 

His dad seems pissed by something, something Billy can't figure out.

Not that it matters. All that matters is that his bad mood means a repeat of last night. 

As it plays out, Billy doesn't have to wait until Monday, because the man in question all but busts the Hargrove's front door down, catching Neil in the act of wailing on the defenseless blond.

There's a whirlwind of activity that ends with his father in cuffs, and Hopper escorting Billy to the hospital with Max glued to his side while Susan tails the Chief's car.

On the drive there, Billy doesn't expect the chief to blurt out, "Jane heard what you told Steve." Billy wants to play dumb, he wants to pretend he has no clue what Hopper is referring to; but instead he just shrugs and glances back at Max, the red-head at least looks apologetic. 

"Does she always ear hustle that hard?" The large man huffs out a laugh, "you have no clue kid," he pauses, chewing at his lip before he carefully continues, "I knew the last name was familiar, just chalked up to a coincidence. But your ma...you look just like her…"

"Why didn't you say something earlier?" 

"I didn't want to assume, I was gonna do some digging. You know? I didn't know Bria was pregnant when we broke things off. All she said was Neil was getting suspicious. She didn't tell me, if she had…" he trails off, pulling up to the entrance of the hospital. 

"I'm gonna make this right, Billy. I promise."

Billy wants to scoff, but one glance at Max's hopeful face in the mirror has Billy nodding instead. 

"Yeah, okay." His words are soft, lacking any bite. 

It turns out that the police chief busting down your front door to find your "father" beating you bloody, is more than enough evidence to send said man to prison. 

It also turns out that one nicely worded threat is enough to have Neil Hargrove give up parental rights that never rightly belonged to him.

A DNA test for confirmation later Billy was getting a new birth certificate in the mail with the name William Orchard Hopper.

Below it read Bria Hargrove and James Hopper.

Billy was in the middle of decorating his new room in Hopper's place when Max barged in, Steve trailing behind her with a sweet grin on his lips.

"Billy, can you take me and Jane to the arcade?" Jane, who Billy hadn't noticed initially just smiled up at him.

The boy shook his head, turning to Steve, "aren't these your charges? Why am I the chaperone?"

Max rolls his eyes, "you're our brother, so you have to! You love us!"

Jane quickly nods her head, a sparkle in her eyes, "Yeah! You love us."

Steve hums his agreement, which has Billy shaking his head again, "okay, whatever shitbirds. Let me change, at least."

They seem to accept that, and slip out the room, leaving Billy and Steve alone.

The latter smiles at him, before crossing the room to plant a light kiss to his lips.

"Alright, now hurry up, Blondie! We can't let the boys get too cocky, Jonathan dropped them off already and I just know Dustin is trying to beat Max's highscores already. They're gonna fight all day."

Once Billy is dressed, he drags Steve out his bedroom, only to run into Hopper. Literally. 

Billy's head bounces against his chest and everything.

The man just grunts and steadies the smaller boy, his lips parting to speak before Billy is wrapping his arms around his midsection, "see you for dinner, Pops!" before he's grabbing Steve's hand and ushering Max and Jane out the door.

Jim doesn't miss the smile that graces his son's lips before he calls out, "be safe!"

He can almost see the way Jane and Billy roll their eyes before responding without missing a beat, 

"Us? Always!" Jim doesn't mention the time he had to put out a small fire from when Billy tried to teach Jane tricks with his zippo.

Yeah, always my ass, he thinks.

[ickypuppi3]

When was it decided that Billy abused Max? How was it decided? We see him grab her arm once. He called her shitbird once. Yelled at her maybe three times, but all of that in my opinion is just normal sibling shit. I should know since I have 5 of them. So why are people calling him an abuser? Genuinely curious.

hi !!

i’m also genuinely curious about this tbh

i do think a lot of it is just word of mouth and people automatically believing something they’ve read because i’ll see a post about billy that’s literally not true and the comments are just ‘omg yeah’ ‘he’s so bad’ and it’s like ?? did you even ?? watch the same show as me ??

as you said, it’s pretty much normal sibling behaviour ?? if i had to guess i’d say a lot of these people haven’t got siblings because… yeah… they’d have A Lot to say about me and my sisters if they react like this to max and billy’s interactions lmao

to me his behaviour is pretty tame compared to what people think it is

he’s controlling, yeah, but.. he has to be

i think people should ask themselves what they’d do in his shoes because i’m pretty sure a lot of us would act the same if we knew our siblings doing something ‘wrong’ (in neil’s opinion) would get our shit rocked tbh

i wonder if a lot of it comes from the book runaway max? i haven’t read the whole thing but maybe that’s a possibility?

thanks for the ask !!

[writingtea98]

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning: Major Character Death

Category: M/M

Fandom: Stranger Things (TV 2016)

Relationships: Billy Hargrove/Steve Harrington, Billy Hargrove & Maxine "Max" Mayfield, Steve Harrington & Maxine "Max" Mayfield, Billy Hargrove & Steve Harrington & Maxine "Max" Mayfield

Characters: Billy Hargrove, Steve Harrington, Maxine "Max" Mayfield

Additional Tags: Billy Hargrove Redemption, Steve Harrington is in love with Billy Hargrove, Max and Steve bond, It's Max's birthday, and Billy got her a gift before he was flayed, Steve gives it to her, NO BETA, Angst, Sad Steve Harrington, Sad Max Mayfield, Good Sibling Billy Hargrove, Billy Hargrove Dies, Billy Hargrove Tries to Be a Better Person, Letters, Established Relationship (See work for more tags)

Words:2290

Chapters: 1/1

Dear Max

writingtea98

Steve pops open the trunk to reveal a long rectangular box neatly wrapped with bright blue paper and a yellow bow stuck to one of the corners of it. It’s early evening, Fall is on its way in and there’s a light breeze. They’re standing outside of the Byers house and there’s a birthday party going on inside. On top of the box is a blue envelope with ‘Shitbird’ printed and obnoxiously underlined twice in neat, but bold handwriting on it.

Max pauses and looks from the envelope to Steve with a look of hard confusion sliding onto her face.

Steve looks like he doesn’t know what to say and he’s staring at the envelope as well. Max would have lost her patience if not for how sad his eyes looked. He takes a moment to blink and wet his lips before he begins “B-He…he picked this up. Like, a month or so… before everything happened… He left it at my place for safekeeping. I thought I should give it to you for him…”

~~~~~~~~~~~

Something I thought about a very, very long time ago and just finally decided to put down on digital paper because this show just pumps me full of inspiration every time a new season drops.

[where-our-stories-start]

[boffeeceans]

Was gonna write but then the Billy Hargrove & Maxine "Max" Mayfield tag on A03 wrapped its claws around my throat and it won't let go. Help me.

[rockfact]

oh i love the same thing over and over in fics