Billy's sitting in the same spot he was when Steve left, eyes closed while he dozes sitting upright. He doesn't get up to help and he tells himself it's because that's not his job and not anything to do with the way it feels nice to have the Alpha looking after him.
He smells the food before Steve talks and he's still for a long moment before his stomach rumbles loudly and he reaches for a sandwich, shoving a good half into his mouth at once.
It doubles as a chance to give him time to think.
"Maybe." His dad would know, immediately, if he stopped taking them, his omega scent coming through once more. But Steve was right; too long ad it would make him sick and his heats would just get worse when he finally had them.
He settled down next to Billy, hesitating before wrapping his arm around
behind him. "You'd be safe here. My room used to be a heat room. My mom
refashioned it into my bedroom though. Everything is still in good order.
Air tight window seals, dead bolt door if you need it. I would...I'd be
here for you. To help make sure you have everything you need." He said
softly, reaching out and slowly rubbing his back, hand moving underneath
the blanket wrapped around him.
He snagged a cookie and a soda, munching away as he settled close to him.
He'd heard rumors, but he had to be careful not to upset the other. "And
you know...if you're worried about other things. About what people will
think or say..." He cleared his throat, scrubbing the back of his neck and
looking down. "I wouldn't treat you any different, Billy. And...you're
almost 18. You're old enough to...stop taking suppressants so religiously."
He said softly, finishing off his cookie and looking down again.
"Why did you need a heat room?" Steve was, somewhat surprisingly, an Alpha and therefore had no need for a heat room to spend a few days in once a month. His mum, then. Like Billy's only without the abusive alpha father to make it so much harder.
It's like a switch flips in his brain when he remembers that and his soft gaze hardens into something mean when he says,
"It's not about what I can do at 18 or what you think. I can't be this, Harrington! I can't be some weak little omega bitch that just spreads his legs every 28 days for whatever alpha is around! My d--." He's able to cut himself off before he says it though. Steve knows about Neil, let's Billy stay when it's bad at home, but they don't talk about it.
He frowned, moving his hand up to the back of his neck to gently squeeze so
he could calm him down.
"Hey whoa now wait just a minute. I...no. No one would ever think you are
weak, Billy. I mean it. And if they did, well you'd beat their ass for
saying so." He said softly, cupping his chin gently and making the other
look at him.
"You had a heat and nothing happened. No one did anything. I wouldn't let
that happen either. You..." He sighed, shaking his head. "There is nothing
wrong with being an omega. He is just an asshole. He is. And I won't
let him hurt you either. Not anymore."
Not that Billy really needed Steve to protect him. Well, maybe when it came
to Neil, but he wouldn't do anything unless he thought Billy wouldn't hate
him for it.
Billy let's out a soft noise at the pressure on the back of his neck and he immediately melts underneath the touch. He wants to be mad about it but with his hand still there, squeezing gently, he can't feel anything but the relaxing release of hormones.
"How can you stop him, Steve? I have to go home some time and you can't protect me when I'm there." The words only fall out his mouth because of the post-heat pheromones and the alpha's grip on his neck.
The truth is, Billy is scared of Neil, always has been and he's the one person Billy can't defend himself against.
"How can I stop him? Well..." He shifted a bit, staring at the table before
shrugging. "Put my scent on you. He'd think there is a chance you might be
starting to bond with someone and if so...its kind of illegal to mess with
the bonding process." He tried, but he wasn't sure if that would help
either.
"I mean, or I can just kick his ass and tell him to stay the fuck away from
you." He looked at Billy, complete and utter sincerity as he said it. He
really would try to kick Neil's ass for the other teen.
"You put your scent on me and he'll all but beat it off of me." It's not the first time Billy's put into words what Neil does behind closed doors, but it isn't a common thing and it's the easiest way to know just how upset and stressed he is about the idea that he isn't able to bite the words back.
His eyes narrowed at the words and he couldn't help the deep, angry growl
that escaped him at the thought of Neil hurting Billy like that. His jaw
went tight, hands balling into fists before he glanced over at the omega
out of the corner of his eye.
"I'll win that one. He lays a fucking hand on you again and I swear to God,
Billy, I'll rip him apart. I'll tear his throat out." Sure, Steve had been
angry before. Billy had even seen Steve angry before.
Billy actually flinches away at the growl, has to remind himself that it isn't directed at him the way it is when his alpha father starts up. He isn't at risk of being punched or shoved into a wall, not by Steve.
"Steve. You can't." If Billy couldn't win that fight, Steve couldn't. Billy had spent years trying to build up muscle and strength in the hopes to be able to defend himself and it still wasn't enough. He'd done all he could to play the part of big, tough alpha and it still wasn't enough. "You can't."
"Bullshit I can't. I might not look like much, but I'm stronger than you
think, Hargrove." He said, still looking at him before sighing. Instead he
just shifted away a bit, crossing his arms over his chest so he wouldn't do
anything to rub his scent on the omega.
"I'm at least giving you a ride home when you're done eating. You are in no
condition to try to drive." He mumbled, staring down at the floor. He
felt...defeated? Hurt? It was hard to explain.
Especially since he wanted to defend Billy. To take care of him, but the
other obviously didn't want him to. And that was it. The thought echoing in
the back of his mind. Still.
"Steve..." The smell of Steve's hurt and disappointment stings in his nose and he subconsciously tucks in on himself. He knows it's because of the recent influx of hormones and pheromones that are still sitting in his system, because otherwise there's no way Billy Hargrove would shrink in on himself normally.
Sighing, Billy nods. He can compromise. It's the least he can do. "Okay, Steve."
He doesn't need the alpha to take care of him, has been doing fine by himself all these years but the omega in him wants to let him. Wants to bare his throat and let Steve mark him as his. But he knows they can't and knows that in a day or two, the feeling will lessen and he'll be himself again.
Steve couldn't sit there for long, only watching Billy for another minute
or so before he got up and started moving around the house. He cleaned up
and made sure Billy had everything he'd brought with him. Just...taking
care of him even if Billy didn't want it. It wasn't typical. Not like this.
Alphas were protected, they provided. They didn't cook and clean up after
their omegas. But this was just Steve being Steve.
Once Billy was done he got him out to the car, pulling out and driving him
home. He pulled up outside, eyeing the house carefully before shifting and
turning his head. "Billy look...I know what you're gonna say but just
listen and shut up." He said, sighing and scratching the back of his neck.
"I get it. I mean, I don't but I do. I'm not gonna push or
anything...just...if you need anything. I'm here."
Billy ate his share and drank far more of the water than he probably should have with how it was sloshing around his stomach. Meanwhile, Steve cleaned up and made sure all his stuff was together for him. It was typical omega behaviour which was odd for an alpha but not for Steve and so Billy isn't too shocked.
The drive to his place is silent but not uncomfortable and when they pull up, the words that leave Steve's mouth don't surprise him at all. "I know, Steve." He offers a smile. "But I mean what I said. This doesn't change anything. You knowing I'm an omega... Treat me any different and I'll kick your ass."
"Yeah I got it." He said back, making sure Billy had his stuff before
watching him get out of the car. He chewed on his lip, eyes going from
Billy to the front door and back before sitting up just a bit straighter
when he saw the curtain shift. Then the door opened just a minute later and
Neil Hargrove was standing in the doorway.
His hands curled around the steering wheel of the car, never once taking
his eyes off the older man.
"Okay, good." Grabbing his stuff from the backseat, Billy looks at Steve for a long moment. "Thanks. For this week." For taking care of him throughout his heat, for not pressuring him, for being there. He offers one more smile before he gets out of the car.
His dad meets him at the door and Billy freezes as soon as Neil opens his mouth. His dad can smell the heat on him and he drops his head.
And that's the wrong thing to do, apparently. He only knows he's been hit from the burning sting that blooms across his face.
He'd still been watching, though he had put the car in reverse and was
ready to back out.
That was, until he saw the way Billy's head cracked sideways and heard the
smack of his hand against Billy's face. No, when that happened Steve
slammed the car back into park and before he even realized what he was
doing he was out of the car.
He slammed the door behind him, racing around it and crossing the yard in
only a few strides, that deep, threatening growl back in his throat,
rumbling in his chest. He was seeing red. He pulled Billy behind him and it
was like he was a different man.
"How the fuck dare you!?" He started in, still advancing on the surprised
older man. "You lay a fucking hand on him again and I swear to fucking god
I'll rip your knot out through your god damned throat!" He snarled,
slamming Neil up against the wall.
Billy's still reeling from the slap to the face when Steve races over and starts in on his dad. He has no idea what's happening until Steve has his father pinned to the wall.
The commotion has called Susan and Max to the door and they both watch on, horror on their faces. The omega tries to pull the alpha away but instead he gets carefully pushed aside which is a stark contrast to the grip Steve has on his dad.
He'd only stopped for a moment when Billy tried to interject, carefully
moving him back before spinning back on Neil. Even though it would seem
like Neil could take Steve, it was turning out very much the opposite.
He was still yelling, still had the man pinned and had punched Neil a few
times before Billy was finally able to get between them and stop him.
Steve was panting, that growl still just barely coming out as he pulled
Billy back away from the man, boring holes into him with his eyes as he
pointed at him over Billy's shoulder.
"Touch him again. Touch him again and I swear to god, I will fucking kill
you."
Billy knows nothing good can come of this. His dad is going to have a helluva shiner tomorrow and he knows -he knows- he’s going to pay for Steve’s outburst. That’s going to make the alpha even more angry and upset about it all but he can’t worry about that right now.
Now, he needs to get Steve out of here and get his punishment over and done with so he can curl up and sleep and forget the pain in his gut that comes from neither.
He let Billy push him away, though he didn't stop glaring daggers at Neil
until after he took a few steps back and looked at Billy.
"Call me. I mean it. Call me if you need anything." He said, watching him
before huffing and turning to walk away. His knuckles hurt and he felt like
his heart was racing out of his chest, but it felt like it was worth it.
He just hoped Billy didn't hate him for doing it. He doubted Neil was going
to stop, but he honestly hadn't been able to help himself.
"I will." They both knew it was a lie; there was no way Billy was going to be able to call Steve tonight, no matter what happened.
As soon as Steve's in the car and pulling away, Billy lets out a shaky breath and turns to face what he knows is coming.
The door is barely closed behind him before it starts and he drags himself to bed afterwards, curls into a ball and cries himself to sleep. Max brings him water and Tylenol sometime after Neil and Susan are asleep and the young alpha pets his head gently and leaves him be.
The next morning Steve was waiting in the parking lot for Billy, watching
for his car before straightening up when he saw it. He watched Max get out,
looking at the girl who just looked at him before ducking her head and
running off.
"Billy!" He called out, walking over to check on the other. He pulled the
car door open for him without a thought, frowning. "You alright?"
Billy expects that Steve to be waiting for him but it doesn't make it any easier when the alpha comes over and opens his door. He doesn't even have it in him to be upset that he'd opened his door like he was a girl on their first date.
He's slow to get out of the car, wincing at the way it makes his ribs ache even more.
"I'm fine, Steve." He was far from fine but he didn't want to worry him.
"You are a terrible liar, you know." He said softly, shaking his head as he
looked him over before at least following him off to the school. He shoved
his hands in his pockets, staring down at the ground.
"I'm sorry. If he...you know. If he punished you because of me." He
whispered, biting his lip and looking at him.
“He’d have done it anyway.” That’s not a lie; Neil has already been mad when Billy got home. What had happened with Steve had only served to make him angrier and probably done some damage to his ego.
The walk from the car park to the school is slow, one of Billy’s hands tucked inside his jacket to support his bruised ribs. “Don’t worry about it, yeah? It’ll be alright.”
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
He smells the food before Steve talks and he's still for a long moment before his stomach rumbles loudly and he reaches for a sandwich, shoving a good half into his mouth at once.
It doubles as a chance to give him time to think.
"Maybe." His dad would know, immediately, if he stopped taking them, his omega scent coming through once more. But Steve was right; too long ad it would make him sick and his heats would just get worse when he finally had them.
no subject
He settled down next to Billy, hesitating before wrapping his arm around behind him. "You'd be safe here. My room used to be a heat room. My mom refashioned it into my bedroom though. Everything is still in good order. Air tight window seals, dead bolt door if you need it. I would...I'd be here for you. To help make sure you have everything you need." He said softly, reaching out and slowly rubbing his back, hand moving underneath the blanket wrapped around him.
He snagged a cookie and a soda, munching away as he settled close to him. He'd heard rumors, but he had to be careful not to upset the other. "And you know...if you're worried about other things. About what people will think or say..." He cleared his throat, scrubbing the back of his neck and looking down. "I wouldn't treat you any different, Billy. And...you're almost 18. You're old enough to...stop taking suppressants so religiously." He said softly, finishing off his cookie and looking down again.
no subject
It's like a switch flips in his brain when he remembers that and his soft gaze hardens into something mean when he says,
"It's not about what I can do at 18 or what you think. I can't be this, Harrington! I can't be some weak little omega bitch that just spreads his legs every 28 days for whatever alpha is around! My d--." He's able to cut himself off before he says it though. Steve knows about Neil, let's Billy stay when it's bad at home, but they don't talk about it.
no subject
He frowned, moving his hand up to the back of his neck to gently squeeze so he could calm him down.
"Hey whoa now wait just a minute. I...no. No one would ever think you are weak, Billy. I mean it. And if they did, well you'd beat their ass for saying so." He said softly, cupping his chin gently and making the other look at him.
"You had a heat and nothing happened. No one did anything. I wouldn't let that happen either. You..." He sighed, shaking his head. "There is nothing wrong with being an omega. He is just an asshole. He is. And I won't let him hurt you either. Not anymore."
Not that Billy really needed Steve to protect him. Well, maybe when it came to Neil, but he wouldn't do anything unless he thought Billy wouldn't hate him for it.
no subject
"How can you stop him, Steve? I have to go home some time and you can't protect me when I'm there." The words only fall out his mouth because of the post-heat pheromones and the alpha's grip on his neck.
The truth is, Billy is scared of Neil, always has been and he's the one person Billy can't defend himself against.
no subject
"How can I stop him? Well..." He shifted a bit, staring at the table before shrugging. "Put my scent on you. He'd think there is a chance you might be starting to bond with someone and if so...its kind of illegal to mess with the bonding process." He tried, but he wasn't sure if that would help either.
"I mean, or I can just kick his ass and tell him to stay the fuck away from you." He looked at Billy, complete and utter sincerity as he said it. He really would try to kick Neil's ass for the other teen.
no subject
"Have you ever actually won a fight?"
no subject
His eyes narrowed at the words and he couldn't help the deep, angry growl that escaped him at the thought of Neil hurting Billy like that. His jaw went tight, hands balling into fists before he glanced over at the omega out of the corner of his eye.
"I'll win that one. He lays a fucking hand on you again and I swear to God, Billy, I'll rip him apart. I'll tear his throat out." Sure, Steve had been angry before. Billy had even seen Steve angry before.
But never this angry.
no subject
"Steve. You can't." If Billy couldn't win that fight, Steve couldn't. Billy had spent years trying to build up muscle and strength in the hopes to be able to defend himself and it still wasn't enough. He'd done all he could to play the part of big, tough alpha and it still wasn't enough. "You can't."
No matter how much Billy wished he could.
no subject
"Bullshit I can't. I might not look like much, but I'm stronger than you think, Hargrove." He said, still looking at him before sighing. Instead he just shifted away a bit, crossing his arms over his chest so he wouldn't do anything to rub his scent on the omega.
"I'm at least giving you a ride home when you're done eating. You are in no condition to try to drive." He mumbled, staring down at the floor. He felt...defeated? Hurt? It was hard to explain.
Especially since he wanted to defend Billy. To take care of him, but the other obviously didn't want him to. And that was it. The thought echoing in the back of his mind. Still.
"I'll help you get your car tomorrow morning."
no subject
Sighing, Billy nods. He can compromise. It's the least he can do. "Okay, Steve."
He doesn't need the alpha to take care of him, has been doing fine by himself all these years but the omega in him wants to let him. Wants to bare his throat and let Steve mark him as his. But he knows they can't and knows that in a day or two, the feeling will lessen and he'll be himself again.
no subject
Steve couldn't sit there for long, only watching Billy for another minute or so before he got up and started moving around the house. He cleaned up and made sure Billy had everything he'd brought with him. Just...taking care of him even if Billy didn't want it. It wasn't typical. Not like this. Alphas were protected, they provided. They didn't cook and clean up after their omegas. But this was just Steve being Steve.
Once Billy was done he got him out to the car, pulling out and driving him home. He pulled up outside, eyeing the house carefully before shifting and turning his head. "Billy look...I know what you're gonna say but just listen and shut up." He said, sighing and scratching the back of his neck. "I get it. I mean, I don't but I do. I'm not gonna push or anything...just...if you need anything. I'm here."
no subject
The drive to his place is silent but not uncomfortable and when they pull up, the words that leave Steve's mouth don't surprise him at all. "I know, Steve." He offers a smile. "But I mean what I said. This doesn't change anything. You knowing I'm an omega... Treat me any different and I'll kick your ass."
no subject
"Yeah I got it." He said back, making sure Billy had his stuff before watching him get out of the car. He chewed on his lip, eyes going from Billy to the front door and back before sitting up just a bit straighter when he saw the curtain shift. Then the door opened just a minute later and Neil Hargrove was standing in the doorway.
His hands curled around the steering wheel of the car, never once taking his eyes off the older man.
no subject
His dad meets him at the door and Billy freezes as soon as Neil opens his mouth. His dad can smell the heat on him and he drops his head.
And that's the wrong thing to do, apparently. He only knows he's been hit from the burning sting that blooms across his face.
no subject
He'd still been watching, though he had put the car in reverse and was ready to back out.
That was, until he saw the way Billy's head cracked sideways and heard the smack of his hand against Billy's face. No, when that happened Steve slammed the car back into park and before he even realized what he was doing he was out of the car.
He slammed the door behind him, racing around it and crossing the yard in only a few strides, that deep, threatening growl back in his throat, rumbling in his chest. He was seeing red. He pulled Billy behind him and it was like he was a different man.
"How the fuck dare you!?" He started in, still advancing on the surprised older man. "You lay a fucking hand on him again and I swear to fucking god I'll rip your knot out through your god damned throat!" He snarled, slamming Neil up against the wall.
no subject
The commotion has called Susan and Max to the door and they both watch on, horror on their faces. The omega tries to pull the alpha away but instead he gets carefully pushed aside which is a stark contrast to the grip Steve has on his dad.
"Steve! Stop! Steve, it's okay!"
no subject
He'd only stopped for a moment when Billy tried to interject, carefully moving him back before spinning back on Neil. Even though it would seem like Neil could take Steve, it was turning out very much the opposite.
He was still yelling, still had the man pinned and had punched Neil a few times before Billy was finally able to get between them and stop him.
Steve was panting, that growl still just barely coming out as he pulled Billy back away from the man, boring holes into him with his eyes as he pointed at him over Billy's shoulder.
"Touch him again. Touch him again and I swear to god, I will fucking kill you."
no subject
Now, he needs to get Steve out of here and get his punishment over and done with so he can curl up and sleep and forget the pain in his gut that comes from neither.
“Steve, go! You need to go! Please!”
no subject
He let Billy push him away, though he didn't stop glaring daggers at Neil until after he took a few steps back and looked at Billy.
"Call me. I mean it. Call me if you need anything." He said, watching him before huffing and turning to walk away. His knuckles hurt and he felt like his heart was racing out of his chest, but it felt like it was worth it.
He just hoped Billy didn't hate him for doing it. He doubted Neil was going to stop, but he honestly hadn't been able to help himself.
no subject
As soon as Steve's in the car and pulling away, Billy lets out a shaky breath and turns to face what he knows is coming.
The door is barely closed behind him before it starts and he drags himself to bed afterwards, curls into a ball and cries himself to sleep. Max brings him water and Tylenol sometime after Neil and Susan are asleep and the young alpha pets his head gently and leaves him be.
no subject
The next morning Steve was waiting in the parking lot for Billy, watching for his car before straightening up when he saw it. He watched Max get out, looking at the girl who just looked at him before ducking her head and running off.
"Billy!" He called out, walking over to check on the other. He pulled the car door open for him without a thought, frowning. "You alright?"
no subject
He's slow to get out of the car, wincing at the way it makes his ribs ache even more.
"I'm fine, Steve." He was far from fine but he didn't want to worry him.
no subject
"You are a terrible liar, you know." He said softly, shaking his head as he looked him over before at least following him off to the school. He shoved his hands in his pockets, staring down at the ground.
"I'm sorry. If he...you know. If he punished you because of me." He whispered, biting his lip and looking at him.
no subject
The walk from the car park to the school is slow, one of Billy’s hands tucked inside his jacket to support his bruised ribs. “Don’t worry about it, yeah? It’ll be alright.”
Another lie.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)