AT LAST, I COULD BREATHE | billy hargrove

fight club.

chapter song: Hurt You - The Weeknd

fight club.

Only my car remained in the driveway as we watched everyone pull out. A moment passed while we watched the taillights of the two cars disappear down the road and I turned to Steve. "I'm gonna head to the convenience store, does anyone want anything?"

"You're gonna leave us?" Max asked me, clearly still scared.

I pulled her into a hug, "I'm just saying I've heard so many stomach growls and we all haven't eaten in hours." I released her from my embrace and she flashed me a small smile. "I'm just trying to be a good mom. Plus you'll have Dad to keep you company," I noted, gesturing to Steve. The kids let out small laughs and even Steve smiled.

"No requests, though?" I asked, as the last call.

"3 Musketeers!!" Dustin yelled as I opened my car door. I gave him a thumbs up and no one else said anything so I climbed in and started the car.

At the store, I grabbed a six-pack of water and the candy Dustin asked for before quickly paying and heading back to the Byers house. There was a sense of urgency to get back to the house with each press of the gas pedal and pump of the brake I made, but it was nothing compared to the protective surge I felt when I saw Billy's blue Camaro parked outside the house.

(A.N.: PLEASE NOTE THAT I WILL BE REMOVING THE FACT THAT BILLY WENT AFTER LUCAS BEFORE FIGHTING STEVE. Makes him less villainous and gets rid of the debatably racist storyline!!)

"Shit, shit, shit," I muttered, throwing the car in park and yanking the keys out of the ignition in a hurry. I slammed the car door shut and heard a commotion from inside, making me sprint to the door and open it.

I first made eye contact with Max and everything that followed seemed to happen in slow motion. The kids were huddled over by the entrance to the kitchen from the living room, fear on their faces as I looked to what they were witnessing. Billy was on top of Steve, laying punches right and left onto his clearly beaten cheekbones. The blonde also had blood all over his face, so I was secretly glad Steve was able to get in a few good ones before Billy knocked him out.

Without even thinking about it, I charged on Billy and threw my foot out in front of me, making the ball of my foot catch on his chest, making him fly off of Steve. He looked completely out of it, but sat up when I advanced on him.

"Jesus Christ, Bo, that fucking hurt!" He yelled, trying to get back up, but I shoved him back down onto the ground and straddled his chest, pinning him down. "What the fuck?!"

"Stay down, Billy. And that isn't a request," I spat, looking into his angry eyes. I searched the room for something that could keep him down and remembered that Joyce left a vial of the horse tranquilizer on the table over by the kids. "Max!" I yelled, nodding over to the needle and she knew what I meant.

"I'm sorry," I whispered to him and his brows furrowed before he let out a strained grunt as Max plunged the syringe into the side of his neck and pushed the medicine in.

"I can't trust you right now, Billy," I told him, keeping my voice firm despite the overwhelming need to cry right then. I got up off of him and he got up quickly and looked behind him at Max. My eyes widened and I jumped in between them to protect her from any harm. I didn't think he would actually hit her but it was a risk I couldn't take. He seemed particularly pissed off and unhinged and I wasn't sure what happened earlier but it can't have been good.

He reached to the side of his neck and pulled the syringe out, examining it before he realized what had happened. "The hell is this?" I held my arms out in front of me as he advanced on us, already appearing to be losing consciousness. "You little shit, what did you do? What did you do?"