Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Blurred vision clouded Billy’s sight. His chest ached as he drew in a slow, steady breath. His breathing broke and shuddered, rattling through him. A steady ringing echoed in his ears, the constant roar dulling out his other senses. Confusion settled over his thoughts.

What happened? Where was he?

It took a moment for him to remember.

At first, he thought that he must have been in an accident. He could recall driving out towards the old motel. He was going to go meet Karen Wheeler that night. He’d been excited, although he wasn’t really sure what to expect.

Despite his flirtatious and somewhat cocky personality, Billy had never been with a woman before. Not all the way. It was a bit nerve-wracking. He wasn’t even sure if he even liked Karen at all, but… She was willing, and he was eager. So, he went. Off to meet her at some cheap motel. Off to prove something to himself.

He had every intention of going. He wasn’t going to back down now… What he hadn’t expected was for some animal to run in front of his car.

With a soft grunt, Billy slowly rolled onto his side before using his arm to attempt to lift himself up onto his knees.

A strained gasp broke from his lips, as he wheezed weakly. His whole body hurt, but he remembered the accident. It hadn’t been bad. He was a little banged up but that wasn’t why his body ached all over.

A cold chill shivered down his spine. It had been something else. Not an animal. Some fucking… creature. He had no clue what that thing was.

As he tried to remember what happened, he could recall the slick touch of the creature’s tendrils pressed against his body. His stomach twisted in knots. It was as if he could feel its touch now, creeping slowly beneath his shirt, pressed against his chest as it drew him in.

It… did something to him.

Another flip of his stomach was all it took for him to double over slightly as the contents of his stomach escaped through his mouth. Harsh gags followed suit; it didn’t taste right… it didn’t feel right.

Through the dim illumination offered by the moon’s pale glow, which bled in through the holes in the room and broken windows, Billy could spot why he felt something wasn’t quite right.

A dark substance pooled beneath him as his arms trembled. He was able to keep himself propped up on his hands and knees, although his vision still seemed blurry, growing worse the more he moved around.

Regardless of how he felt, he wanted to understand what the hell was wrong with his body. Why was he staring down at a puddle of dark, inky liquid? It tasted like rot.

Waves of nausea crashed over him, as he recalled being pulled down into the abandoned warehouse by those tendrils.

Billy managed to slowly push himself up to his feet, stumbling slightly as his body swayed.

Everything felt wrong. He felt like he’d been pulled out of his skin and pushed back in. It felt like he wasn’t alone anymore though. Like something was sharing his skin. A shadow, a… parasite.

“What the fuck?” His voice broke as a trembling hand slowly dragged through his curls, pushing the front of his hair back out of his face.

Soft clicking sounds seized his attention as he spun around, his eyes glaring through the dimly lit building. A chill hung in the air. Billy could feel the hair on his arms stand up. It felt wrong. His body tensed. A deep internal instinct seemed to scream at him, telling him he was in danger, pleading with him to run.

So, he did.

Without hesitation, Billy let his feet carry him toward the stairs of the warehouse. That thing. That creature… had dragged him down to the basement level. He had to climb back up. He had to get out.

He nearly tripped over his own feet as he pushed himself to move faster through the long corridor. A shrill growl rumbled through the building, seeming to rattle what was left of the windows. Billy knew it was coming for him. He blinked away fearful tears as he pulled himself desperately up the stairs. He felt the touch of its tendrils graze the back of his legs, but it wasn’t able to grab hold of him.

Just as he managed to pull himself up to the top of the stairs, the tendrils reached out again, this time looping around his ankle.

A sharp cry escaped his lips as he lost his balance, crashing down onto the metal staircase. Pain ignited throughout his body as it connected to the cold, unforgiving surface the stairs had to offer.

Despite the agony Billy was in, his hands gripped the railing of the staircase, a loud cry escaping from his lips as he tried to kick the tendril away, “Fuck! Let go!” He screamed out. He knew that it was pointless to cry out for help, but he couldn’t just let this thing- this… monster. He couldn’t let it drag him back under. Billy felt certain he’d die if he didn’t escape.

“Help me!” His voice cried out once more, a faint sob of desperation parting from his lips as he felt his hands begin to slip from the railing.

With one more firm tug against his legs, Billy lost his grip entirely. He screamed, the sound of his voice echoing around him. He didn’t want it to end this way. He didn’t want to die.

Billy could feel himself being dragged back down the stairs, but only for a moment before the warmth of a person’s hands grasped at his arms. The individual's hold on him was firm as they then began to pull him back, away from wherever the tendrils were trying to drag him off to.

With a stuttered gasp, Billy began to kick at the tendrils wrapped around his ankle, trying to break free desperately as his eyes shifted up to determine who it was that had come to his rescue.

Much to Billy’s surprise, Steve Harrington had been the one standing over him, his powerful grip digging into Billy’s arms as he pulled back against the creature’s hold.

“I’ve got you!” He called out, reassuring him.

Knowing that he had a chance at being saved, Billy felt a sudden burst of adrenaline.

After a few sharp kicks, he knocked the tendrils loose as Steve pulled him free and helped him off the staircase entirely.

Following the momentum of Steve’s pull against Billy’s arms, when the other slipped free from the creature’s grasp, he fell forward against Steve’s body, his head landing on the other’s chest as they both crashed backward against the concrete below them.

For a moment they remained like this, Billy laying against Steve’s chest as he tried to catch his breath. He could feel the steady rise and fall of Steve’s chest against his, the pulse of his heartbeat racing, drumming away beneath his ribcage. It was the only thing that kept Billy grounded. He wasn’t sure if any of this was real, but he knew the warmth of Steve’s skin felt real.

A shrill roar rang out from the basement of the warehouse.

Real or not, Billy wasn’t willing to wait around for that creature to attack once more. He knew they needed to get out. Now.

A faint wheezed gasp escaped past his lips as he began to slowly push himself up. Once Billy pulled himself up enough for Steve to roll out from beneath him, he did so.

Quickly, Steve moved onto his feet before reaching out to help Billy up. “We need to get the hell out of here.” He muttered breathlessly, his body tensing up against Billy’s as the creature roared once more. It sounded louder now… closer.

After looping Billy’s arm around his shoulder and holding the other close, Steve began to move forward, nearly dragging the other along as he pushed him to move quickly out of the warehouse. He could hear the metal staircase behind them creaking.

Adrenaline took hold as Steve moved faster, pulling Billy along as the other stumbled against him while moving forward.

Steve could have sworn he felt the chill of wind brushing past the back of his neck as if something had moved swiftly just behind him, close enough to make his hair flutter slightly. He pushed Billy out, letting him fall out of his arms as he moved to kick the doors shut. After looking around with a panicked expression, he managed to find a large metal pipe lying near the door. He slipped it over the handles, just as the doors began to rattle violently.

“Fuck... We seriously need to get out of here now.” Steve’s voice was strained, filled with panic as he stumbled back before reaching down to help Billy up. He could see that the other man was in an exhausted state. It looked like Billy had been injured, as well although Steve could not pinpoint any injuries just by looking the other man over. “Let's get you to a hospital.”

Billy didn’t have the strength to argue. He let Steve help him back up and onto his feet before leaning against the other as strained breaths shuddered through him.

Dark spots clouded his sight as it began to grow dim, despite being outside near the streetlights and beneath the moon’s faint glow.

Steve was parked near the entrance of the warehouse. He’d only driven by that night because he needed to clear his head.

Thoughts of Nancy had him feeling restless. He knew the roads near the warehouse were typically less populated, he thought that would be the perfect place to get away from all the noise for a while.

What he hadn’t expected to see was Billy’s Camero wrecked off in some ditch next to the abandoned warehouse. He almost didn’t stop, but there was a nagging feeling he had. Something was wrong. Turned out he was right.

A faint grunt broke from Steve’s lips as he shifted to drop Billy into the passenger seat of his BMW. Billy slipped out of consciousness the moment he was set down.

After noticing the other’s unconscious state, Steve’s eyes scanned over Billy’s body, checking for injuries. He didn’t spot anything that would possibly require medical attention. Steve still thought it was best to take Billy to the hospital, although the black, inky substance on Billy's shirt made him question that decision.

It looked familiar to him. It felt familiar. As he reached out to touch it, he felt a chill creep down his spine. “It got you… didn’t it?” He muttered softly to himself. If he brought Billy to the hospital, those lab guys would just snatch him up and turn him into some kind of fucked up experiment. While Steve didn’t like Billy very much, he didn’t think he’d want to let something like that happen to the other man, but he wasn’t sure what else to do.

After shutting the door, he wiped the inky substance onto his pants before walking over to the driver’s side. His eyes shifted back to the warehouse. It looked like whatever had been beating on the doors had given up, but he still wasn’t willing to hang around this place any longer than he needed to. Steve settled into the driver’s seat, pulling the door shut before speeding off away from the abandoned building.

Chapter Text

Steve didn’t know where to go. He was just driving aimlessly as he tried to sort out what he should do. His hands gripped at the wheel, his eyes darting from the road to Billy, then back to the road.

Perhaps it was just instinct for Steve to return to his house. Before he even realized where he was going, he noticed he’d made it back home.

He considered taking Billy somewhere else, maybe just taking him back to where he lived but… he couldn’t help but worry.

What if something happened? Maybe Billy was dangerous. He didn’t want Max to get hurt or anyone else. He just had to figure something out. Steve had a feeling Billy wouldn’t want to stay with him and of course, if the man was a possible danger to Max then, he could easily be a threat to Steve as well. Especially, if he went with the decision of keeping Billy there at his house against his will.

After parking near the garage door, Steve let a heavy sigh part from his lips as he looked down, his mind racing.

What was he going to do?

He was just grateful his parents weren’t home to question all of this, not that they would if they were around. They typically acted as if they hardly noticed him. But. That didn’t matter now. He had to figure out what to do about Billy.

A frustrated groan broke from Steve’s lips as he stepped out of the car, letting the door shut as he began to pace around the vehicle.

“What did I get myself into? What am I doing?” He muttered softly under his breath, his voice panicked as he drew in sharp breaths, moving to drag his hands through his hair. “I should just call Hopper. He’ll know what to do.” As he said this, his eyes shifted up at Billy. What if he never saw the other man again? What if Hopper took him away from this place to keep them all safe?

No… Steve decided. Billy was safest with him. He’d just have to figure out a way to keep him at his house until he knew it was safe to let him go.

After checking on Billy once more, Steve assumed he’d remain unconscious for a few hours. He even tried to shake Billy awake but other than him shifting because of Steve’s touch, Billy remained motionless. Soft, weak breaths whispered from his lips. He seemed to be okay, just completely exhausted. There wasn’t much that could be done, Steve just had to find some way to make him comfortable and- He had to figure out a way to keep Billy restrained.

With a frustrated sigh, Steve took a step back, his gaze hovering over Billy’s sleeping form for a moment longer before drifting over the property. He only had two options regarding where he could keep Billy. The garage or inside the pool house.

If his parents did come home, they might look inside the garage, but they almost never went over to the pool house. It had a futon for him to lay on and a bathroom so Steve figured that would be best to keep Billy comfortable for a long period of time. He just needed a few days, just to make sure Billy wasn’t a threat.

Steve knew he had some rope laying around inside the pool house. It was usually used to tie the pool cover on during the winter months when the pool wasn’t being used as often. Rope wasn’t the best option, he knew he’d have to find something stronger to hold Billy but for now, that was the only option he had.

His eyes shifted back over to Billy, as he drew in a deep breath. “I guess I’m doing this.” He mumbled softly. Steve walked over to the sleeping blond, reaching to lift him out of the car. Billy seemed much heavier now that he was completely unconscious. His body felt cold to the touch. That worried Steve. He really hoped he wasn’t making a mistake by not taking Billy to the hospital.

With a strained grunt, Steve half carried, half dragged Billy toward the pool house. He had Billy’s arm draped over his shoulder; his own arm wrapped around the other man’s waist as he pulled him along. It took a few minutes, but he managed to pull Billy inside and toss him onto the futon in the corner of the room.

Both the head and foot of the bed were made of metal and had small openings that Steve could use to loop the rope into. For now, he’d have to just tie Billy up by his wrists and ankles. Then, he would need to drive out into town and try to find something else that would work. He was thinking that a chain would be best. Something he could use to keep Billy secure but something that could give him the option to walk around the room. He wasn’t a prisoner. Steve was just keeping him here because he thought that would be the best option.

That way, he could keep everyone safe… including Billy.

After tying Billy up with the rope he’d found, Steve tugged on the restraints just to make certain they were secure. He was tempted to give Billy some sleeping medicine, so the other man would rest while he was away, but Steve didn’t want to take any risks. He wasn’t sure what else might be wrong with Billy. For now, he’d hold off on using anything like that.

Steve had looked Billy’s body over for wounds when he worked to tie him up. He didn’t see any open wounds on the young man at all, just a few scrapes and bruises.

He knew leaving Billy there was a risk, but Steve had to take this chance while the other was asleep. He’d leave and come right back after he found what he needed. It would be fine. He just hoped some of the shops would still be open.

After leaving Billy tied to the futon, Steve stepped out of the pool house. He made sure to lock the door before making his way back out to his car.

There were a few shops in Hawkins that were still open. He stopped at a hardware shop first. He didn’t have long to look around given that they were trying to close. He decided to purchase a variety of chains. He’d have to try to install a place where the chain would remain secure. The floor of the pool house was made of concrete so he figured that might be best. He also purchased the plates he would need to secure the chains on the floor. He knew his father had any tools he might need tucked away in the garage so after making his purchase, he walked back out to the car with a few bags containing the items he’d need to hold Billy. He needed one more item, although he wasn’t quite sure where he could get what he needed.

Steve wanted to find metal cuffs, ones he could lock with a key. He figured that would be the best way to keep Billy restrained while still giving him the ability to move around. It would be a limited amount of mobility but at least he wouldn’t be left tied up on the bed for several days.

There was only one type of shop that Steve thought might sell what he needed but he’d have to go to the city outside of Hawkins. He knew he wouldn’t find what he needed in any of the stores Hawkins had to offer.

It was nearly midnight when Steve finally found a shop within the nearby city that sold merchandise that happened to be a bit more risqué. He managed to find what he needed. Metal cuffs that could be linked to the chains he’d purchased. The cashier raised an eyebrow at him as he rang up the cuffs. Steve offered a sheepish smile, “Me and the girl, we’re just… trying some new stuff out, you know how that is.” He tried to shrug it off, despite how awkward he sounded as he laughed nervously.

However, the cashier didn’t ask any questions. She simply finished ringing Steve up before handing him a bag with the items he needed. He thanked her quietly before walking quickly out of the shop.

The drive back to his house seemed to drag. His hands shifted nervously over the wheel as he pressed on the gas, wanting to return as soon as possible.

His thoughts raced. All he could do was worry about Billy. He was terrified the other had managed to escape. What would Billy tell everyone? It was just a misunderstanding. Steve didn’t want the whole town to think that he’d do this to someone just for the hell of it. He just needed to explain to Billy why this was necessary. Then everything would be fine.

After pulling up and parking near the garage like he had before, Steve quickly grabbed the bags before making his way over to the pool house. His hands trembled as he fumbled with his keys until he found the key he needed to unlock the door.

Just as he moved to push the key into the door handle, Steve heard a loud crash from within the pool house. His body tensed. He froze for a moment before quickly pushing the door open.

A sigh of relief broke from Steve’s lips as he spotted Billy still laying on the futon. It was obvious that the other man was awake now, Steve could feel his eyes burrowing into him as Billy began to pull on the ropes holding him down.

“What the fuck is this, Harrington? Let me go!” Billy’s voice sounded hoarse. Steve figured he must have laid there screaming, hoping someone would hear.

“I can’t do that,” Steve murmured softly, walking forward as he moved to set the bags down on one of the pool tables sitting by the door. “I’ll explain everything to you. I’ve got to get this all set up first though so I can untie you, so just try to be patient with me. It's going to be fine, man. I need you to trust me.” He offered a faint, reassuring smile before walking out of the beach house. He could hear Billy screaming out at him, although he couldn’t quite make out what the other was saying, given how worked up he was.

After finding his father’s power tools, Steve grabbed what he needed and walked back out to the pool house.

By the time he’d returned, Billy seemed calmer. His breathing was rushed and panicked but he wasn’t fighting against the restraints anymore and he stopped trying to scream at Steve. It was obvious that his pleas and screams wouldn’t make much of a difference anyway.

While Steve worked to drill the metal plates into the concrete floor, he began to explain why he’d brought Billy back to his place and why he intended to keep him there.

“I think you’ve been possessed.” He murmured softly, as he lined up the first plate. “I know that sounds like bullshit but there’s a lot going on in this town that you don’t know about. I just need you to listen to me, so you’ll understand why I’m doing this.” With that said, he began to use the power drill to secure the plate into the concrete.

In between his work, Steve told Billy about what he had experienced during the past several months. It had almost been two years since his entire world changed. Billy’s world would change too now. Steve hated pulling him into all of this, but he had no other choice. Like it or not, Billy was involved with whatever was going on inside Hawkins. He deserved to know the full story, or at least what Steve knew.

While Steve spoke, he finished drilling the metal plates into the ground before measuring the chains out. He figured, eventually he could have Billy just wear one cuff on his ankle, but for now, he felt more comfortable knowing that if one of the restraints failed, at least there were three others that could prevent him from escaping. He wanted Billy to be able to walk to the bathroom and around most of the room with ease, so after measuring the chains out, he secured the length needed onto the metal plates before working on connecting the cuffs to the chains.

“You’re fucking crazy-“ Billy gasped breathlessly as he started to pull on his rope again. He couldn’t believe a single word out of Steve spoke. None of what he was saying made any sense.

Sure, what happened earlier that night seemed strange. Billy still couldn’t quite explain it or even begin to understand what he’d experienced, but that didn’t mean he believed this was all the result of some secret lab in Hawkins... That whatever experiments they were doing formed some kind of rip, like a portal, bringing these creatures Steve spoke of into their world.

None of that made sense. It certainly didn’t explain why Steve was currently installing chains that he intended to use to keep Billy held captive within his pool house.

“You can’t just keep me here! If what your telling me is true, then you aren’t helping me by keeping me locked up like a fucking animal! Just take me to that lab, let them help me!” Billy continued to pull against his restraints. He could feel it biting at his wrists. His struggles seemed pointless. The rope remained firm, holding him in place.

“They can’t help you.” Steve sighed heavily. He sounded a bit frustrated with Billy as he continued to work to fit the cuffs onto the chain. Once he was certain Billy wouldn’t be able to pull free, he moved closer to the bed, pausing as he looked down at the other man’s face.

Billy’s eyes glared back at him. He looked desperate. It was the kind of look Steve expected to see from an animal, but he didn’t blame Billy for behaving this way. He’d probably react similarly.

“I don’t want to keep you here.” He murmured softly, as he leaned down to secure one of the cuffs on Billy’s wrist. It would be snug but not so tight as to dig into his skin. It was definitely tight enough to prevent Billy from slipping free. “This is the last thing I want to do, but I don’t really have any other choice. You could end up hurt or end up hurting someone else. I don’t think you want that.”

Steve was close enough that Billy could lean up and spit into his face. Which was what he did, a fierce rumble ripping from his throat as he pulled against his restraints once more. “Fuck you! Fuck you, Harrington! You can’t fucking do this to me!” His body twisted so violently that the futon began to rattle and shift slightly.

“You’re going to hurt yourself,” Steve mumbled sounding unconcerned, as he paused to wipe his face off with his shirt before working the cuff onto Billy’s other wrist. Once both cuffs were in place, he gave the chains a sharp tug to ensure that they were secure. He’d pulled a bit harder on the chains than he’d originally intended. He figured that was payback for Billy spitting in his face like that. His eyes watched the other young man’s expression, he felt a rush of excitement when a pained look shadowed over Billy’s face, but it wasn’t long before he was glaring back up at Steve. That cold scowl wasn’t as appealing to look at.

With a roll of his eyes and a faint scoff, Steve stepped back to place the metal cuffs on Billy’s ankles, as well. The other man tried to kick at him, but given how tight the rope was, all he could do was shift his legs slightly. Once Steve finished placing the cuffs on his ankles, he took a step back and looked Billy over.

It was going to be a bit tricky, but he thought this could really work. He wanted to determine a way to shorten the length of the cuffs, that way he could get closer to Billy if the other ever became too dangerous to approach. He hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

Billy was quiet now. Steve could see the steady rise and fall of his chest, sharp breaths moving in and out. It was clear that he wasn’t exactly pleased with the circumstances, but he hoped that eventually, he would just let Steve do what needed to be done to keep him safe.

“I’m not going to keep you here forever.” Steve sighed heavily, dragging his hand through his hair before shaking his head slightly. “This is just… all I could think to do to help you. That lab is shut down now. Completely abandoned. There is no one here that can help you. We just have to figure out why this thing is back. I’ll talk to everyone, and try to get it sorted out. Then, once they close the gate again, you should be good to go. Seriously, Billy. The last thing I want to do is keep you here. You think I want to stick around and look after you? I’m only doing this because I have to. It’s the only way you’ll be safe. I found you, so I figured… I should be the one to help you, right?”

A weak scoff broke from Billy’s lips. He could feel the sting of frustration in the form of tears as his eyelids fluttered in an attempt to keep them at bay. He failed as a single stream leaked down his cheek. Exhaustion was beginning to take hold of him once more, but despite this, Billy struggled against the ropes, he could feel the metal cuffs pinching into his skin now as well. Even if he pulled himself free from the ropes, he wouldn’t be able to break those chains.

Terror gripped at his heart, panicked breaths parting from his lips as a frustrated cry pierced through the air. There was nothing he could do. Billy realized this now. He was helpless. Whatever that creature did to him left him feeling dazed and weak. Steve had taken advantage of that. For whatever reason, he’d taken advantage of Billy’s weakness.

What could he do now? He couldn’t break free, not without tools or someone’s help.

Steve had taken a step back at this point, walking back over to one of the chairs propped up near the door, he grabbed the chair and moved it closer, thinking it would be best to just wait until Billy fell asleep before removing the ropes from his wrists and ankles.

Another broken cry escaped Billy’s lips, his body falling still once more as he whimpered faintly. “Fuck-“ He gasped in a breathless, broken voice, “W-Why are you doing this to me?” He didn’t bother trying to hide his tears, sobbing faintly as his shoulders shuddered. “Just- Please… Please let me go.”

“I told you why,” Steve mumbled as he gave a slight shake of his head. “This is the only way to keep you safe, Billy. I just need you to stay here until I can figure out what’s going on. I know you don’t want to hurt anyone, right? You know deep down this is for the best. I mean… We both were there tonight, we heard that creature. I didn’t see it. I sure as hell don’t want to see it either. That thing is going to try to use you. It’s going to pull you in and it’s going to force you to do terrible things. I know you aren’t a bad person, Billy. I know you don’t want to hurt people, but that thing will make you hurt people. It will make you hurt everyone you care about. Your friends, your family, your sister, Billy. Think about them. Think about Max. Do you want to hurt Max?”

Billy sobbed silently for a moment before slowly shaking his head.

“I didn’t think so. I know you’re a good person, Billy. I get that you don’t trust me, but you’ve got to try. I’m not going to make you stay here forever. I swear… As soon as I know you aren’t a threat to yourself or anyone else, I’ll let you go.” Steve held his hand over his heart, smiling faintly as Billy turned his head to look over at him. “I’m going to do whatever it takes to keep you comfortable here and when the time comes, I’ll let you go. Just think of it as a little vacation and I know you’ve probably always wanted to boss me around, so now you get that chance. I’ll take care of you, Billy. I promise. It's going to be alright.”

Despite the other young man’s kind words, Billy still doubted Steve’s intentions. No one in their right mind would consider doing what he did. They wouldn’t hold him captive like this. He couldn’t trust a single word Steve said, but for now… fighting back wasn’t going to make much of a difference. He had to try to catch Steve off guard. He had to get the keys to these cuffs. That was the only way he could get out of this place.

Billy’s breathing grew a bit calmer. He didn’t say anything in response to Steve’s words. The only sound he made was a soft sniffle as he shifted to try to wipe his face off against the pillow his head was laying on.

Nearly an hour passed before exhaustion took hold. Billy felt his eyelids grow heavy as he started to drift off to sleep once more, his thoughts raced, his body shivering as he tried to draw in deep breaths to keep himself calm.

Now that his mind could rest, he was reminded of the other awful event that occurred earlier that night. That horrible creature… It held him down… forcing its toxins into him, flooding deep into his mouth, pushing into his lungs, in an attempt to take hold of his body entirely.

It still felt like that thing was moving around inside of him. Steve mentioned him being possessed. That sounded absolutely insane, but Billy was beginning to question what had actually happened that night. If he could still feel the presence of that creature inside of him… possession seemed to be the proper way to describe his condition, but- that was impossible.

None of this was possible. It all felt like a bad dream, but after giving the ropes on his wrist one more sharp tug, Billy reminded himself that despite how impossible it seemed. This was real. The pain igniting against his wrist as he pulled on the rope proved that he wasn’t dreaming.

So, what now?

There didn’t seem to be any answers to that question. Not yet. For now, he had to try to bide his time. It was best to just go with whatever Steve wanted. If he proved he wasn’t a danger to anyone, Steve would let him go. Then, Billy could go straight to the police and report him. This was too fucked up to just ignore.

Despite what he’d seen that night, Billy couldn’t believe Steve’s story. Not entirely. There was no reason for Steve to kidnap him like this. He didn’t care what the other man believed, it was fucked up and honestly, a bit frightening. Billy had no clue what Steve might do to him now. He didn’t want him to do this to anyone else. So, he had no other choice but to go to the cops. He just had to convince Steve to let him go. That couldn’t be too terribly difficult. Steve couldn’t possibly keep him locked up in this place forever.

With troubled thoughts, Billy struggled with allowing his mind to settle, but once several minutes passed, he finally managed to drift off to sleep.

Steve was cautious as he approached the other man. He didn’t really want to risk untying Billy just to discover that he’d been pretending to be asleep. Billy would be trapped here if anything happened to him. Steve wasn’t sure if the other would even consider that. He might try to kill Steve without hesitation. Then, they’d both end up dead… although Billy would be forced to remain chained to the floor while slowly dying of thirst. The thought of such a terrible outcome frightened Steve. He’d have to drug Billy’s food. Not severely but maybe with sleeping medication… just to keep Billy sedated so he doesn’t end up doing something he’d regret.

After poking Billy in the side and getting no response, Steve began to untie the ropes, starting with the man’s ankles and finishing up with his wrists. Billy didn’t wake as Steve tossed the ropes off to the side, he’d grab them on his way out so Billy couldn’t use them as a weapon.

Steve’s gaze shifted to look down at the soft, peaceful expression on Billy’s face.

It was easy to believe that nothing at all had happened that night as he watched the other man sleep. Steve knew Billy would hate him for this, but he was just trying to do what was best for everyone. As a faint sigh escaped his lips he reached out and patted the top of Billy’s head before walking away, grabbing the rope as he made his way to the door.

“I’ll come by with food and water tomorrow.” He reassured, knowing Billy was still sleeping and couldn’t hear him. “I hope you sleep well, Billy.”

Steve then stepped out of the pool house, making sure to lock up once more as he made his way back over to the main house. After tossing the rope into the garage, he went inside. As much as he wanted to just call it a night and crash onto his bed, he felt absolutely disgusting. The dust from the warehouse clung to his hair and clothes and he’d worked up a sweat trying to save Billy.

So, after dragging himself to the shower next to his room, Steve quickly cleaned himself off before wrapping a towel around himself and slowly making his way back to the bedroom. He didn’t bother drying off better or getting dressed. With a heavy sigh, he crashed onto the bed. He didn’t move to pull the blankets up over him, instead, he just laid there, fighting to keep his eyes open. Within a few short minutes, he drifted off to sleep, exhaustion taking hold of his mind and body entirely.

Chapter Text

As the early hours of dawn approached and the sun began to creep steadily above the horizon, its rays bled past the curtains Steve had hung loosely over his windows. Once the beads of sunlight began to settle over his face, he was swiftly denied of the restful state he so desperately longed to remain in.

Exhaustion claimed his body, despite the attentive pull upon his thoughts, dragging him to allow his eyelids to slowly flutter open as a faint groan broke from his lips.

He was surprised at first, to find that he’d fallen asleep on his bed, dressed in a single bath towel he’d wrapped around his waist the night prior.

His thoughts were hazy at first, although he could soon recall what he’d experienced that previous night.

The fluttering of his heart had been enough to encourage Steve to pull himself out of bed. The cause for such a reaction was his sudden recollection that he currently was keeping a guest on the property with him.

Billy Hargrove.

At that moment, Steve couldn’t quite believe it. He thought it must have all been a dream. What would possess him to do what he’d done? He didn’t even understand why he’d stopped when he saw the other man’s vehicle wrecked near the old mill.

But- Steve knew it wasn’t a dream. He didn’t want it to be a dream. This was a good thing. He had to reassure himself as he recalled the weight of the chains he’d held in his hands just hours ago. The ones he used to keep Billy contained. It was necessary. He was the only person who could help Billy. Regardless of whether Billy liked it or not, that was what he was going to do.

After dragging himself to his dresser, Steve began to tug on boxers before pulling on a pair of loose shorts as well.

As he looked down at his shirts, his thoughts began to drift. He realized, while his hand traced over the smooth, clean fabric, that Billy would probably need to get cleaned up. Attending to such a task… was going to prove tricky.

Steve then selected an old t-shirt from the drawer before tugging it on. He took a moment to look through his clothing before grabbing a few shirts and shorts that he thought would fit Billy best. After collecting a few articles of clothing, he tossed them into one of the duffle bags he had lying around before walking back over to his bed. Steve sat down, placing his head in his hands as he groaned softly to himself.

Billy was dangerous.

As much as he wanted to help the other young man, Steve knew there were risks and he wasn’t the sort of person that liked taking risks. The chains were the issue. There was no way for Billy to change in and out of his clothes while connected to those cuffs. While he’d originally thought that using them had been the ideal method to keep Billy contained, he was now finding that he would be faced with challenges along the way.

There was a solution… Although, the only option he could consider was possibly drugging Billy’s food. He did feel a sliver of guilt knowing that he’d be manipulating control of the other’s thoughts and body by using any kind of drug on him. It just seemed to be the only possible option.

Now, he just had to determine if there was anything within the house that he could use on Billy.

Steve knew that his mother usually kept prescription-strength sleeping pills around. She typically didn’t take those with her when she traveled, so he felt confident that he’d be able to find them tucked away in the medicine cabinet in his parents’ bathroom.

He made his way into the bathroom that was connected to his parent’s room and quickly opened up the medicine cabinet that was installed just above the bathroom sink. It didn’t take him too terribly long to find the prescription bottle containing what he needed.

After reading over what had been written on the bottle, he determined that the pills were rather potent. The labels warned of impaired vision, thoughts, and motor skills. That was exactly what he needed. He didn’t necessarily want Billy to lose consciousness, he just needed to ensure that the other man wouldn’t be able to harm him in any way.

Steve decided to take the entire bottle with him back to his room. Then, he pulled a couple of pills from the bottle. It stated that one or two pills would be safe to take, so he figured he would play it safe and use two.

He dissolved one of the pills into a cup of tea he’d prepared for Billy. Of course, he’d ensure that it would be cool to the touch once he brought it in. Couldn’t risk having hot tea thrown at him. Steve also prepared a bowl of oatmeal and after crushing the other pill, he mixed it in before adding another spoonful of sugar to eliminate the taste of the medicine.

With both the drink and food prepared, he set each item onto a small plastic tray. He then went back upstairs to his room. He had to dig through his drawers for a moment but eventually, he’d found a pair of handcuffs he’d tucked away. He purchased them as a joke one evening while he was out with Tommy and Carol, but he kept them, thinking that he might actually use them one day. Steve never imagined that he’d use the handcuffs on Billy, of all people, but he figured it was good luck that he had kept them.

Steve tucked the handcuffs into his back pocket before grabbing the duffle bag he’d filled with clothing and making his way downstairs. He paused at the door to pull on his tennis shoes and then walked back to grab the tray holding the oatmeal and tea. After struggling with the door for a moment, Steve stepped outside, letting it shut behind him. He shivered excitedly as he made his way toward the pool house, balancing the tray on one hand and carrying the duffle bag with the other.

He was eager to see Billy again, believing that surely Billy had time to think about what Steve was doing for him. So, he would probably be in a better mood this morning. Regardless, Steve was going to help him and Billy would let him. He didn't really have a choice.

Chapter Text

While the pool house did contain windows, light refused to filter in past the thick blinds covering them.

Steve hadn’t left any lights on either, so when Billy woke just a few hours before dawn, he was met with absolute darkness. After his eyes adjusted, he found that he could make out the shapes of objects in the room, but he wasn’t able to determine what those objects were.

When he tried sitting up, Billy heard the faint clinking of metal. He wasn’t having any trouble remembering what happened the night before, although he still couldn’t quite believe that Steve had the nerve to bind him with chains. At least he could move around. He found that he was able to move his arms and legs with ease. The cuffs were a bit uncomfortable but otherwise, they were completely harmless.

“What a fucking psycho.” He muttered under his breath.

While peering through the darkness, Billy lifted his arm, watching the shadow of chains hovering over him. He reached out to touch the metal, before tugging on it slightly. It felt sturdy, but maybe he could figure out a way to pull it loose from where Steve had installed the plates. He certainly didn’t plan to just allow himself to be kept captive like this.

Steve had clearly lost his mind. Billy knew that he needed to get as far away from the other man as possible.

If he couldn’t break free from the chains, he would have no other choice but to try to get the keys from Steve. He tried not to feel entirely hopeless. Surely, Steve would make a mistake at some point.

He just needed to remain patient, wait until that moment… and strike, relentlessly.

Billy had no way of knowing what time it was. However, after laying flat on the futon while staring up at what seemed to be endless darkness above him, he began to notice that he could make out more than just shapes above him. While it was still rather dark within the building, as the sun began to rise, faint rays managed to bleed in past the blinds just slightly. This offered enough light for Billy to get a good look at his surroundings.

Groaning faintly, he used his arms to lift himself until he was sitting up. His body felt stiff, even as he began to stretch his arms out, he couldn’t quite relieve the tension that seemed to take hold of his muscles.

It was most likely just the effects of the adrenaline he’d felt the night before. Now that he was able to rest, he could feel the ache of his body, proof of his desperate escape from that terrible creature. At least, that was what Billy told himself as his eyes shifted down, a blank stare settling upon his face while he gazed at his hands. They were stained with that black substance. That terrible taste of rot still remained on his tongue, as well.

As much as Billy would have liked to imagine that most of what he’d experienced the night prior had been nothing more than a terrible nightmare… There were too many reminders left upon his body. The dull ache of his muscles, the bruises, the smell of dust and decay, and of course, that horrid taste.

He’d give almost anything, to have the opportunity to wash away the rot from his mouth, but he feared it would return.

It was within him now. He could feel it. Lurking, like a shadow. It wanted to claim him.

A chill shivered down Billy’s spine as he moved to pull the blankets up, holding them close to his chest. It was freezing. He just wanted to take a hot bath and forget any of this ever happened. He wanted to go home.

Billy never once imagined he’d miss his home, but now more than anything, that was where he wanted to be.

An immense sense of helplessness weighed down on him as he lifted his knees up to his chest, hugging them close while the blanket remained wrapped around him. His eyes began to sting as he blinked away his tears.

Before he managed to crumble entirely beneath the intensity of his overwhelming emotions, Billy’s thoughts were directed away from his own misery. His eyes lifted up as he heard a sound at the door. The sound of metal clicking against metal, then the soft squeak of the doorknob before light suddenly flooded into the building.

Flinching back, Billy covered his eyes with the blanket while hissing softly. It took his eyes several moments to adjust, meanwhile Steve stepped inside the pool house, pausing to flick the light switch on as he then approached Billy.

That night prior, Steve had measured out how close he could get before Billy would be able to reach him. So, of course, he didn’t dare walk too close to where Billy was laying. Instead, he stopped just far enough to remain out of the other man’s reach, while setting the tray down and sliding it slightly so Billy could retrieve it.

Once Billy’s eyes finally adjusted to the shift in lighting, he slowly peeked out from beneath the blankets before glaring sharply up at Steve.

He didn’t say anything. What could he say? Steve wasn’t going to let him go. It didn’t matter how much Billy screamed or threatened him. He knew he couldn’t change Steve’s mind. The other man seemed hell-bent on keeping him there. Locked away. Chained.

Billy felt a fierce twist within his stomach as he swallowed down bile. Anger burned away within his gut. It overcame the chill he’d felt prior. Now, the only sensation he could feel was a seething rage.

Despite the “bad boy” persona Billy attempted to display, he didn’t necessarily want to harm anyone. The only reason he fought with Steve in the past was because the asshole had his sister hidden away with several other guys. It creeped him the fuck out. Max had reassured him that they were just hanging out and that Billy had overreacted but… He was beginning to think that his reaction that night was entirely justified.

Something was wrong with Steve. He’d known it from the moment they met. This… just wasn’t what he was expecting. How could anyone have predicted any of this?

“I brought you something to eat and I made you some tea. I hope you like it, although it’s kind of bitter. My mom likes the fancy shit from Europe. I don’t know… I think it taste awful but if you add enough sugar, I guess you can’t really tell.” Steve spoke casually as he walked over to one of the chairs near the door and sat down, setting the duffle bag with the clothes he’d brought for Billy down beside the chair.

Billy remained motionless, his eyes remaining fierce while focusing on Steve’s face. How could Steve just sit there and act like nothing was wrong? Like they were just two friends casually chatting? The embers of his rage burned on. Billy felt his muscles tense even more as his hands gripped firmly at the blanket wrapped around him. He longed to rip it to shreds while pretending it was Steve he held in his grip. How dare he! How dare he do this to him!

“So…” Steve sighed before clearing his throat softly, “I was going to help you get cleaned up after you ate. I know you probably feel horrible after being inside that abandoned building most of the night. I think it would help to get you washed up and into clean clothes. I brought some of my old clothes for you to wear while you stay here. They should fit.”

The moment Steve mentioned helping him get cleaned up, Billy’s anger began to subside slightly.

This was his chance. He knew Steve would have to get close to him to help him. There was a possibility that he’d even remove the cuffs. Maybe he wasn’t as cautious as Billy believed him to be.

A spark of hope began to swell within Billy’s chest, causing his heart to flutter excitedly as he slowly moved to push himself off the bed.

The sound of metal scraping against the floor echoed around them as Billy let the chains drag while he made his way toward the food and tea Steve prepared for him.

Given that the tray was nearly out of his reach entirely, Billy had to try to pull it closer before bending down to pick it up. He figured he could toss the dishes and the tray at Steve, but he didn’t think that would achieve much. Steve made sure to bring him plastic dishes as well as silverware. It seemed he’d thought ahead at least enough to prevent Billy from harming him with the items he brought into the pool house. Not that it really mattered. Billy knew he was stronger than Steve.

Soon, once Steve finally approached him, Billy would be able to overpower him. He’d get the keys and set himself free. It wouldn’t be long now. Billy shivered with excitement. He’d only been locked away for a single night, but he was eager to reclaim his freedom.

Steve’s eyes followed Billy as he walked back to the futon before moving to sit with the tray in his lap.

It seemed that Steve wasn’t interested in helping Billy with anything until he finished what Steve brought for him to eat and drink.

There was no reason for Billy to suspect that the food he was consuming would do any harm to him. He trusted Steve enough to believe that he didn’t have any intentions of hurting him. In fact, he felt rather eager to eat and drink anything at that point, longing to rid his mouth of the terrible taste of decay that lingered.

After taking a bite of the oatmeal, Billy made a face. It also had a rather bitter taste, but he didn’t feel too concerned. He figured his tastebuds probably weren’t working quite right, because of whatever that creature did to him. If anything, he was sort of glad it tasted bitter, that helped him to ignore any other flavors that lingered on his tongue.

Billy managed to eat all of the oatmeal, but he didn’t seem too terribly fond of the tea. It was just entirely too bitter. He had a few sips before setting it down on the tray and then moving to set the tray down on the ground.

“If you’ve got any bottled water, I’d prefer that… or beer.” A faint laugh broke from Billy’s lips as he shook his head. He knew Steve wouldn’t likely bring him beer, but he figured it was worth a shot asking for it. That would make his imprisonment a bit more bearable, at least.

With a patient nod and a smile, Steve seemed to agree. “Alright. I’ll pick some stuff up on my way home from work this evening. Although, there’s beer at the house. I could bring you some before I have to go in… If you are good while I help you get cleaned up.”

Billy gritted his teeth. He didn’t like how Steve spoke to him, treating him as if he were a child. A frustrated huff broke from his lips as he opened his mouth to tell Steve to shut up. However, just as Billy attempted to speak, he felt a sudden wave of dizziness pull at his thoughts. It felt like his body was swaying… or maybe everything else was swaying around him. Groaning faintly, he reached up to press his hand against his forehead, attempting to balance himself.

A cold sweat broke out along his face and neck. He could feel a dampness coating the back of his hand as he attempted to draw in deep breaths to steady himself. His heart began to race. Billy had no clue what was wrong with him. He feared it was that creature- Whatever that thing did to him… Maybe it was finally taking its toll on his body.

“S-Something’s wrong-“ He finally managed to choke out those two words as he lifted his head to give Steve a look of desperation. However, he felt puzzled as his eyes focused on the other young man. Steve didn’t appear concerned at all.

Sighing softly, Steve moved to stand up before tugging the metal handcuffs out of his back pocket, toying with them while he waited for the drug to take hold of Billy entirely. “Nothing’s wrong.” He reassured in a gentle tone, “I gave you something to keep you calm. I couldn’t trust you… I don’t know if you’ll suddenly become possessed. I know you wouldn’t do anything to hurt me, Billy. It's just better to play it safe, you know?”

The rapid thunder of Billy’s heart drummed even louder, pressure growing beneath his skull. He could feel it weighing him down. Like the weight of an ocean wave, pulling him under deeper and deeper- “Y-You drugged me? What the fuck, Harrington?!” Billy practically growled as he lunged toward the other. Or rather- he tried to lunge. The moment he pushed himself off of the bed, he collapsed, the chains connected to his wrists and ankles bundling around him as the front of his body fell forward. Billy managed to catch himself, moving to lay on his side as he gasped softly.

“Um. I’m not sure you should be fighting it.” Steve warned, sounding somewhat concerned. “You should probably just try to relax.”

The other man’s words made Billy’s stomach turn. Relax? Did Steve really think that he could just relax after being drugged? “Fuck you, Harrington.” He hissed bitterly, curling in on himself as he tried to push back against the futon.

Billy acted as if he were afraid of him, which Steve thought was a bit ridiculous. He rolled his eyes as he began to approach. Steve had wanted the drug to kick in entirely, but he feared Billy would end up hurting himself if he continued to panic. “You are seriously overreacting, man.” He murmured with a roll of his eyes.

As Steve stepped closer, Billy lifted his head to cast a glare up at him. His eyesight was hazy at this point. It looked like there were two Steves approaching him as double vision took hold. “You are fucking insane-“ Billy gasped, weakly reaching his hand out to grab hold of one of the chains. It looked like Steve would walk right next to where the chain was laying.

One final burst of adrenaline coursed through Billy’s veins as he growled faintly under his breath, gripping at the chain in his hand. “I’m going to fucking kill you, Harrington!” With his grip firm, he pulled back with as much force as he could manage. The chain snapped sharply, striking the side of Steve’s ankle as the other man cried out in response before doubling over.

Steve held the handcuffs in one hand while grabbing at his ankle with the other, hoping he could soothe the pain by rubbing where the chain had collided against his skin.

Billy took advantage of the other’s distracted state to attempt another attack with the chain. He knew he wouldn’t be able to escape, he didn’t even have the strength to sit upright much less run away, but Billy wanted to stop Steve, at least. He wanted to prevent Steve from doing whatever he was planning on doing to him.

While drawing in a deep breath to steady himself, Billy pulled the chain back before using the momentum of that motion to swing it forward toward Steve’s face. However, this time, the other noticed what Billy was doing and reacted quickly enough to catch the chain in his hand.

With a sharp glare, Steve looked down at Billy before pulling sharply on the chain. It was connected to Billy’s wrist, so when Steve did this Billy’s arm was pulled forward.

Pain ignited along Billy’s wrist as he felt the metal of the cuff dig into it, he cried out in response, but this didn’t seem to stop Steve from pulling. The pressure of the cuff against his wrist grew immensely as Billy felt his body slowly being dragged by that wrist while Steve pulled him closer with the chain.

“Fuck! That hurts! Stop- Stop!” Billy tried pulling back, which seemed to be a mistake. He could have sworn he could hear the pop within in wrist, he certainly felt it. A harsh scream escaped past his lips as the pain he felt intensified tremendously.

The sound of his anguish seemed to convince Steve to cease what he’d been doing. In fact, he quickly dropped the chain before rushing over to Billy’s side.

“Shit, why did you do that, Billy?” Steve scolded softly, sounding concerned as he moved to kneel down beside him.

While drawing in sharp breaths through his teeth, Billy began to tremble. He pulled his arm close to his chest, cradling his injured wrist in an attempt to prevent himself from possibly being harmed again.

Sighing faintly, Steve reached out to pat Billy’s head, frowning when the blond flinched at his touch.

“Hey, don’t act like this is my fault.” He muttered, his tone becoming sharper. “You hurt me first. Besides, I was just trying to get you to stop. None of this would have happened if you hadn’t tried to attack me with those chains. What the fuck did you think that would do anyways? Seriously… I’m trying my best to help you and to make all of this easier for you, but you aren’t really making that easy for me to do.”

Billy continued to tremble, his body tense as tears dampened his face. The pain had been blinding, but it was beginning to settle, although he wasn’t sure if that was because of the drugs that were currently coursing through him.

“Don’t-“ A faint gasp broke from Billy’s lips. He couldn’t think straight, he was struggling to speak without slurring his words, but he managed to draw in another deep breath, as his body shuddered heavily. “Please. J-Just… Don’t hurt me.” His voice was filled with desperation.

A tense sigh broke from Steve’s lips. He sounded frustrated, offering up no response as he reached back into his pocket, pulling out two separate sets of keys. One set was for the cuffs on Billy’s wrist, while the other was for the ones on his ankles.

Silently, Steve began to unlock the cuffs, starting with Billy’s ankles. Once they were removed, he shifted to sit down beside Billy’s head, crossing his legs as he then gently lifted the other’s head up and rested it on his lap.

“I told you that I didn’t mean to do that to you.” He murmured under his breath. “You’ve got to stop fighting me, Billy. I don’t like to see you hurt. That wasn’t the point of all of this.”

While Billy could hear Steve and could feel the soft touch of his hand as the other began to pet his hair back, he wasn’t able to react.

The drug was taking hold entirely, at this point. Billy could barely keep his eyes open.

Steve didn’t seem to mind when he didn’t respond, as he stopped patting Billy’s head long enough to reach out and grab the man’s uninjured wrist, unlocking the cuff attached to it. He then cautiously took the injured wrist into his hands, holding it tenderly before unlocking that cuff, as well.

After taking a moment to inspect the damage done, Steve noticed a great deal of swelling and bruising but he didn’t think it was broken. He wasn’t really sure what to look for. His gaze shifted down as he looked into Billy’s eyes, frowning at the other man’s tear-soaked face. “I’ll make sure you’ll never get hurt again.” He murmured before bringing Billy’s wrist up to his lips, kissing the bruises tenderly as he then gently moved to set it back down against Billy’s chest.

As shadows clouded Billy’s sight entirely, he felt the soft touch of Steve’s hands brushing his hair back out of his face.

“You were kind of rude to me earlier. Saying all kinds of shit… Like- that you would kill me.” Another heavy sigh broke from Steve’s lips. It looked like Billy was trembling, but he couldn’t tell if that was just a side effect of the drugs. “It’s cool, though. I’ll just assume that you were possessed when you said those things.” He murmured, allowing his tone to lift slightly. “No worries, man. I’m still going to look after you, as promised.”

Steve patted the top of Billy's head one final time before lifting the other’s head off of his lap and gently setting him back down onto the ground. He then pushed himself back up onto his feet. “Moving you while you’re like this is going to be a hassle.” He murmured, “I really didn’t think ahead on these chains. You’ll have to go without showers for a while. I’m not going to want to do this often.” He scoffed, sounding frustrated as he moved to push his hair back with his hands. He remained like this for a moment, drawing in deep breaths as he attempted to calm himself down.

“Oh well!” Steve spoke finally while laughing softly as he gave a casual shrug of his shoulders, “I guess we live, and we learn, right?” Steve then moved to grab hold of Billy’s arms, taking caution to avoid where the other had been injured before slowly dragging him toward the bathroom.

Chapter Text

The bathroom in the pool house didn’t have much. Just a toilet, a sink with a built-in mirror above it, and a basic walk-in shower.

Billy could still reach the bathroom with the chains on, the issue was his clothes.

Steve figured he could have Billy wear skirts or dresses and just cut them off without having to worry about all this drugging nonsense, but he didn’t think Billy would like that very much.

Then again, if Billy refused to accept his help, he would either have to forfeit wearing the same clothes every single day or agree with Steve’s method.

Another issue was… Steve didn’t really want to go out and buy several skirts and dresses just to be forced to destroy the clothing everytime Billy needed to change into something new or get cleaned up.

Maybe he could find something that zipped up from top to bottom?

He’d look around and see what options were available.

Until Billy decided to behave in an agreeable manner, Steve would be forced to take this method of drugging him or find clothing that he could remove from the chains without having to be set free.

These thoughts raced through Steve’s mind as he struggled to drag his unconscious schoolmate into the bathroom.

Feeling a bit winded, he paused to catch his breath. He’d left Billy in the center of the shower. It wasn’t elevated, so at least it was easier to just drag him over to the tiled floor.

Steve was in need of another solution now. He didn’t want to just hold the other man up the entire time, he’d have to try to keep Billy semi-alert so he could keep himself standing until Steve was finished washing him.

For now, however, Steve thought it best to focus on the task at hand.

After moving to kneel next to Billy, he reached down and with a gentle touch, began to pull the young man's shirt off. Steve tossed the article of clothing off to the side, deciding that he'd come back for it later. Then, shifting slightly Steve moved his hands to Billy's waist, taking hold of Billy's jeans and tugging them down until he managed to slip them off entirely, as well and toss them in the same direction he'd thrown the shirt. He decided not to remember Billy's boxers. Steve figured they would both feel a bit more comfortable if Billy kept them on.

With that out of the way, Steve then pulled Billy's hands behind his back before securing his wrists with the handcuffs he’d carried with him. He figured it was always best to play it safe.

Once he knew Billy wouldn’t be able to easily lash out and hurt him, Steve switched only the cold water on, watching as it rained down from the faucet. A faint smile tugged on his lips when he noticed Billy start to stir slightly. The other man’s eyelids fluttered before he finally managed to peer up at Steve. He still seemed confused. It was sort of cute how he looked up through those heavy lashes.

Steve felt his heart flutter, maybe it was because Billy was still laying on his front. All he could see was the man’s back and now his face as he turned his head to blink up at him. He looked awfully pretty like that, which was a bit amusing, given the nickname Billy had always liked to use for Steve.

“I need you up and on your feet,” Steve mumbled patiently; a soft smile tugged on his lips as he reached over to turn the hot water on as well. He just needed to wake Billy up, but he sure as hell wasn’t about to help the other man in freezing cold water. There was no reason for him to endure that just because Billy couldn’t keep himself awake.

“Might be a good idea to grab a chair.” He hummed thoughtfully, “Of course, you would probably use that to hurt me. Maybe I’ll install one in here, that way I don’t have to try to hold you up for your showers.”

Billy didn’t understand much of what Steve was saying. The only thing keeping him awake was the chill of the water and even as it began to warm up, he could feel his mind drift off again. However, before he could slip out of consciousness entirely, Steve grabbed him by the arm and began to pull him up to his feet.

The sharp pull on his arm forced pressure against Billy's wrists from the metal cuffs. A stuttered cry choked from Billy’s lips as sharp, splintering pain ignited along his wrist.

That would be enough to keep him alert. In an effort to lessen the agony he was Billy struggled to push himself up to his feet, stumbling as his body shifted forward, pressing up against Steve’s.

He felt like he could feel the world spinning beneath his feet. Every inch of his body felt like it was being pulled down into that whirlpool, his mind longing to drag him into darkness.

Steve laughed softly, moving both of his hands to gently hold Billy by his arms, keeping him upright as the water began to grow warmer, so much so that he wouldn’t mind getting his clothes wet. Steve certainly wasn’t going to get undressed. He just assumed that he could always change clothes once he went back over to the house.

A festering rage began to rise within Billy as Steve's laughter filled the room, taunting him, but it was short-lived. He couldn’t allow himself to feel much of anything with the effects of the drug weighing on him.

Due to how Billy’s body continued to sway within Steve’s hold, he decided to gently walk the other man back until he was leaning against the shower wall.

A thoughtful hum broke from his lips as he looked up.

Instead of installing a chair… He could install another small chain on the wall. Something that would keep Billy’s arms bound while forcing him to remain on his feet. It would probably feel a bit uncomfortable, but Steve didn’t really care. That would be entirely Billy’s fault. He was the one being difficult. It wasn’t like Steve drugged him that much.

He couldn’t help but roll his eyes as he watched the blond man stumble back before allowing his weight to press against the wall of the shower. “If you slide down, I’ll just have to pick you back up again. I know that hurts you, so maybe try to keep standing up for me. It would be easier on both of us.” Steve spoke in a reassuring tone, with a hint of scolding blended into his words as he reached out to pat Billy’s cheek, a bit roughly, hoping that would also help to keep him alert.

Billy’s eyelids fluttered slightly, water dripping down from his eyelashes. His hair was soaked at this point, but he’d been pushed away from the shower’s steady stream, causing him to shiver slightly as the chill of the pool house blanketed him. Soon enough, heated steam began to grow around him, offering him some comfort as Steve turned to grab a bottle of shampoo that had been left on one of the shower’s small built-in shelves.

With the shampoo in hand, Steve approached and began to scrub it into Billy’s hair. His touch was a bit rough. Billy could feel his nails digging into his scalp as he made a face, appearing somewhat disgusted.

“Were you rolling around on the ground in that warehouse or something?” Steve asked with a slight laugh, pulling a hand back to show Billy the gritty gray color of the shampoo he’d been using on him.

That comment sparked enough anger within Billy to force him to lunge forward, although all he could really do was stumble slightly before falling into Steve’s arms as the other gasped softly, nearly slipping and falling backward, as he tried to hold the other man up.

“Jeez, this is ridiculous,” Steve muttered under his breath, assuming that Billy was simply unable to keep himself upright because he kept trying to drift off to sleep again.

At that moment, a somewhat devious thought struck Steve and he nearly dismissed it the second the thought crossed his mind. It felt… wrong. Not in the sense that what he would be doing was wrong, but because he knew he shouldn’t do that sort of thing with a guy… but Steve also knew that he would never be able to sleep if certain parts of his body were otherwise… occupied.

Since Billy had stumbled forward, he’d already managed to push himself back beneath the shower water.

Steve used one hand to hold the man up and the other to rinse the shampoo thoroughly before shifting to push Billy back against the wall. Without wasting another moment, he reached over to grab the soap bar that had been nestled next to the shampoo.

A sly grin tugged on his lips as he watched Billy’s eyes gaze weakly up at him.

“Since you’re having so much trouble staying awake, I think I need to go ahead and wash you off.”

Steve then reached out with his free hand, grabbing Billy by the arm and pulling him forward before shifting so he could position himself behind the other man. He could feel Billy’s arms pressed up against his chest, his hands positioned dangerously close to his groin.

In an attempt to ignore the pressure of the other’s body against his, Steve pulled Billy back until the other man’s weight was practically lying against his body. With one arm wrapped around Billy’s waist, he held him steady before slowly dragging the bar of soap along the man’s chest, moving it in slow circular motions until suds began to form.