billy hargrove imagines

blue

summary: the one where he takes you to his favorite place.

word count: 1,006

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you breathed in the smell of sea salt. it was invasive, but somehow, it was sweet. you felt a smile slowly curl your lips upwards. you hadn't ever seen the ocean before. it was so blue. you didn't expect it, if you were being honest. the sky was so blue, the water was so blue, his eyes... they were so blue.

you held back a laugh. you hadn't felt this happy in such a long time. your heart was nearly bursting with joy and excitement and every emotion you'd ever felt. looking into the horizon and seeing nothing but endless blue was cathartic. you felt healed. you hoped he felt the same.

you watched him as he danced around in the shallows of the water. you'd never once seen him dance. you'd never once seen that smile. it was so bright and pretty, all his teeth shining in the sun.

he walked deeper into the water, fully clothed, until the water lapped at his hips. he held his hands out, beckoning you silently to join him. you couldn't hold your laugh back this time; it spilled from your lips, the sound loud and natural. you almost felt embarrassed hearing yourself laugh like that. but then you remembered it was him, and suddenly you weren't so embarrassed anymore.

you shook your head vigorously. "i'm not going in!" you yelled loud enough for him to hear you.

he groaned. "why not?"

"i don't have a bathing suit!"

despite the distance, you could see billy rolling his eyes at you. "i don't have a bathing suit either, dummy. the water's just fine."

you shook your head again, another laugh pooling in your stomach and bubbling up your throat. you noticed him wading out of the water, coming towards you. you wondered for a moment what he was going to do, but his intentions became crystal clear when he started running at you. you screamed and ran in the opposite direction. unfortunately, you were no match for his speed.

he picked you up and threw you over his shoulder like you were a rag doll. you screamed again, and softly punched his back.

"billy put me down! i'm serious!" you tried to sound stern, but it was difficult with all the giggling. you felt billy chuckle beneath you. there was no way you were getting out of this.

he walked back into the ocean, still carrying you. your fingertips brushed against the water. all you saw was blue. you felt so at peace, it was difficult to describe. you were sure if there was a life after death, this was it. just you, and him, and blue.

the peace was ripped from you as you were suddenly thrust underwater. you closed your eyes just in time for the saltwater not to burn them, but your mouth and nose were not so lucky. you flailed your arms and legs, desperate to get a hold of your bearings. you felt arms wrap around your midriff and pull you upwards until you were standing. you sputtered and coughed, trying to get the salty taste out of your mouth.

you glared at billy, who only had a smirk on his face. you shoved his chest, but he barely budged. he laughed and picked you up by your waist, spinning you around. you felt like a movie character being reunited with their love.

"come on, baby. you can't stay mad at me," he said, the grin on his face widening.

"i can, and i will," you muttered. you knew it was a lie, though. you could never be mad at him for too long. even when he beat the living daylights out of steve, you didn't stay mad for longer than a couple days. maybe that was wrong of you. sometimes, you knew you shouldn't forgive him for the things he did, but you couldn't help yourself. you focused on the good in him. you loved him.

he just shook his head, the grin never leaving his face. he leaned in, pressing a soft, chaste kiss to your lips. you smiled, tangling your fingers in his golden hair. you ended it to look into his eyes. blue, deep eyes. the setting sun made a halo form around his head. he looked like an angel in that moment, and you were sure you'd died and gone to heaven.

"i haven't been this happy in a long time," you murmured. "is this heaven?"

he gave you a strange look as he considered it. "maybe." his voice was just a whisper.

you played with the ends of his hair, never breaking eye contact. "let's get married," you said.

he gave you a sad smile. "okay."

your brows furrowed in concern. the mood had shifted suddenly, and you didn't like it. "what's wrong? do you— we don't have to get married. i was just saying things."

he kissed your cheek. "what if we really are dead? what if this is it?"

you narrowed your eyes slightly. "well..." you paused, trying to think of the right words. "if we are, at least we're together. that's worth something, right? we were forgiven by whatever god there is. we were good."

he hummed, taking in your words. "yeah. i guess so." he brushed the wet hair out of your face. you gave him a toothy smile in the hopes of comforting him.

you held his cheeks in your hands and kissed his nose, making it scrunch up. he laughed softly. once you'd let his guard down, you pushed him, letting him fall into the water. you laughed, a snort rising up, making you laugh even more.

"i'm gonna kill you!" he howled. "you ruined my hair!"

you tried your best to run in the water. "joke's on you! we're already dead!"

he shook his hair out like a dog, sending water droplets scattering everywhere. you made a sound of disgust.

"c'mere, you," he growled, tugging you toward him by your arm. "you're gonna wish you never did that."

you could only laugh.