𝙿𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚎 *𝙻𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚡

*Punches*

*Requests : MayFlowers_luv asked for a one-shot of billy being a decent brother (keep in mind that he'd somehow survived the night at starcount mall). Hope you all enjoy this! Ps, don't be afraid to leave one-shot requests, I will 100% reply. Also, if you guys prefer it not be public, my messages are open.

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In the days following the Starcourt Mall incident, Billy was surprisingly intact, though nursing a few injuries that he'd refused to go to the hospital for. Max, grateful for her step-brother's survival, insisted on taking care of him. Lucas, ever the supportive boyfriend, joined in the efforts to make sure Billy recovered.

Despite having bad experiences with Billy in the past, Lucas was trying to keep an open mind. For Max. The ginger girl tried handing Billy an ice pack, the boy chucking it at a wall. Lucas flinched from his spot on the couch while Max only crossed her arms, unbothered. "Listen, Billy. You can't resist,"

Max huffed as she stomped across the room to grab the fallen ice pack. Lucas, glanced between them, silently hoping for a truce between the siblings. Billy shot a defiant look, "I don't need your help, Max." The girl scoffed, "Well, good thing it isn't a choice." Groaning, Billy plopped himself on the couch across from Lucas.

Lucas cautiously chimed in sensing the tension.  "Maybe we can all just take it easy. No need for drama." Max rolled her eyes at her boyfriend, ignoring his words as did Billy. "Billy, we're not your enemies here. Just let us help." Billy's expression softened for a moment, but he quickly masked it. "I don't need anyone's help," he muttered, avoiding eye contact.

Lucas, still sitting on the couch, sighed inwardly, realizing that navigating this would be more challenging than he thought. Max, still standing in the center of the room, ice pack in hand, went on, "You almost died. Don't think for a second that we didn't forget about that." Lucas looked around, we?

Lucas's eyes darted between Max and Billy once again, caught in the middle of their silent conflict. Lucas hesitated, then spoke, trying to diffuse the tension. "We're all on the same side here." Max shot him a look that conveyed both frustration and understanding. Billy, arms crossed as he finally spoke up. "I appreciate the concern, Sinclair, but I've handled worse on my own."

"I don't need some losers as a rescue squad." Max sighed, exchanging a glance with Lucas. "Billy, we're not trying to patronize you. We just care... That's all." Billy, still defensive, scoffed at Max's words. "Care? Really? I think I can handle my own mess." Max plopped down on the couch beside her boyfriend, her head leant back against the large cushions.

"Billy, no one's calling you weak! It was our mess first till you got flayed, so let us help... please." Billy's gaze hardened, but a subtle shift hinted at a crack in his tough exterior. "I'm not some charity case, alright?" Max, persistent, responded, "We know that. But letting people help doesn't make you weak."

"It just makes you human." The room held a tentative balance. Billy, though still guarded, sighed, the weight of the recent events evident. "Fine, but don't expect me to spill my life story." Max smiled, a mix of relief and determination in her eyes as she shot up. "Deal. We're here to support, not pry."

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As the atmosphere shifted from tension to a somewhat lighter mood. Max and Lucas made their way over to Billy with a first aid kit, ready to get all his wounds cleaned up. As Lucas applied the rubbing alcohol, Billy let out a deep yell, defensively standing up and sending of a reflexive punch. Everyone off guard, Lucas ducked swiftly, and backed away from Billy.

When realizing what happened, Billy sat back down and exclaimed, "Shit! What the fuck, Sinclair! Why'd you do that?" Lucas, defensive, replied, "I was cleaning the wound!" Lucas sat down, a hand on his heart as he caught his breath. "You tried to punch me!" Max, shaking her head at the situation, placed a hand on her boyfriend's shoulder.

In shock, Lucas looked up at her, "He tried to punch me!" Max pursed her lips, nodding as she starred daggers at her step-brother. "I saw," Billy shot Max a sarcastic smile, "Come on, Sinclair, it was reflex. I didn't mean to clock you." Lucas, still skeptical, mumbled, "Reflex or not... We're supposed to be cleaning cuts, not making new ones. "

Max sighed, "Yeah, Billy, can you please not kill my boyfriend?" Billy, feigning innocence, responded with a smirk, "Who said anything about killing?" Lucas rolled his eyes, muttering, "Great." Max, unamused, redirected the focus. "Let's finish this without any more surprises, shall we?" The tension lingered as they reluctantly resumed the first aid process.

"Just... Don't hit me. Okay?" Billy groaned, his head against the couch. Max, seizing the opportunity, chimed in, "No more punches, Billy. " Lucas, still wary, nodded in agreement, "I second that." As they continued tending to Billy's wounds, Max couldn't help but envision a more positive relationship with her step-brother. "Fine." Perhaps, amidst the antiseptic and bandages, a new beginning could be established.

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