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Billy didn’t realize something was happening until Heather pointed it out. After moving out of the house on Cherry Lane, and figuring out monsters other than Neil really exist, he had gotten closer to Steve and his flock. Of course this didn’t help his major crush on the omega, but he thought he managed to keep it close to his chest.
“He’s scent marking you,” Heather said one day while they walked into work together. “Why else would he be stealing your clothes?”
“I dunno, maybe he wants to try a new style.” Although Heather had a point, Steve stealing his clothes had been happening more and more recently, and he knew that Steve’s clothes were much more expensive than his own. He just couldn’t see why Steve would be scent marking him?
Heather gave him a dull look. “Don’t be stupid, Billy. Your entire apartment reeks of him. And during movie nights he pretends to fall asleep just to rub his cheek against your shoulder. You need to talk to him.” Billy sighed, she was right, he did need to talk to him.
Steve received a similar talk from Dustin. “Dude, why are you scent marking Billy?” Steve stopped what he was doing and looked over at him. He was currently wearing one of Billy’s Metallica shirts that the other had cut the sleeves off of. “I don’t know if you’re doing it consciously or subconsciously, but you’re doing it.”
“What? No I’m not-”
“Subconsciously then. Your omega wants to be with his alpha. It’s gross but true,” Dustin said, matter-of-factly.
“The only thing I want him to do is go away,” Steve lied. He and Billy had actually struck up a sort of friendship, and his horrible crush on the other didn’t help.
“Then why are you wearing his shirt?” Dustin asked, crossing his arms over his chest. “Look, if you don’t believe me, go talk to Murray and his omega.”
A few hours later, Steve was stepping outside his door to go talk to Murray, when Billy pulled into the driveway. “Steve…where are you going?” He asked as he stepped out of the Camaro. He didn’t expect Steve to be going out…did he have a date?
“To Murray’s, actually,” Steve told him, flipping his car keys in his hand.
Billy frowned. “Murray. That asshole? Why?”
“Uh, just to talk-”
“I’ll come with you,” Billy said, getting out of his car completely and shutting the door. Steve knew by the look on Billy’s face that there was no point in arguing with him. They both got into Steve’s car and started off to Murray’s place. Murray had moved into Hawkins after the whole mall fiasco, so it wasn’t too far of a drive from Steve’s house.
Billy glanced over at him. “Is that my Metallica shirt? I wondered where that went…”
Steve glanced at him quickly and then looked back at the road. “You said I could wear it, remember? It’s comfy.”
“It looks good on you,” Billy muttered, looking out the window. Billy should loan Steve his clothes more often, apparently. Or, rather, some of Billy’s clothes should migrate to Steve’s closet without him knowing, and if what Heather was saying was true, he wouldn’t even have to do anything.
They pulled into the driveway beside Murray’s van and got out of the car. The door opened before Steve even raised his fist to knock. “Steve! Billy!” It was Alexei. “Come in, I get Murray.” The Russian stepped to the side so they could walk inside and went to go grab Murray. He only knew so many English words after all.
They were speaking Russian when they came into the room. “Steve, Billy.” Murray said, giving them a look over. “I assume you’re here for a reason.”
“I…” Steve looked over at Billy then back at Murray. “Dustin said that I’m scent marking-”
Billy looked over at him. “Heather said the same thing-”
“And it’s not obvious to you.” Murray guessed, raising an eyebrow and sighing. He looked over at Alexei and said something in Russian.
Alexei responded with an English. “Be nice.” He grinned.
“Sounds like your friends are right. What else is there to say?” Murray shrugged. “Unless…you two are together right, you’re not that dumb…”
Steve and Billy looked at each other then back at Murray.
“Gods help us.” Murray rolled his eyes. “Look how close you’re standing, naturally you’re drawn to one another. Long story short, stop fighting it and get it over with.”
“It?” Steve asked and Murray gave him a dull look. “Oh. But we don’t-”
“Cut the crap.” Murray told him. “And get out of our house.”
“I-” Steve tried again but Billy grabbed his arm and started pulling him out of the house, getting the hint.
“Was that nice enough for you?” Murray asked Alexei and Alexei shrugged.
Billy stopped just outside the car. “You like me…that’s why you’re scent marking my stuff.” Steve just sighed and looked away. Billy assumed he was right and continued, “Why do you think I’ve been letting you steal my clothes? Fall asleep on my shoulder during movie night?”
Steve looked back at him. “You’re…being nice? I wasn’t trying to read into it.”
Billy rolled his eyes and stepped forward to kiss him softly. “Read into that.”
From the house Murray and Alexei were clapping in the open front door. “Good job,” Murray said, “Now get off our lawn.”