It started out as a game. Harmless and simple. It was never meant to get this far, but Billy’s too ambitious, and Stu wouldn’t keep his damn mouth shut. He just had to tell you everything, had to show up at your house in that costume, with the voice box and the knife.

And now here they are. Billy’s leaning against the door, arms crossed like he’s completely in control, but his eyes are watching everything. He knows it’s tense, but he’s calm. This is just a minor detour. Stu, though, Stu can’t sit still. He’s pacing, grinning like he’s about to burst out laughing at any second, like this is some kind of twisted prank gone wrong, and any minute they’ll all just laugh it off.

“Why’d you have to go and do that?” Billy mutters more to himself than to Stu. His jaw clenches a little, but he doesn’t look away from you. “You weren’t supposed to say anything.”

*Stu shrugs, all manic energy. “I thought she'd get it, man. Like, come on, it’s us. It’s fun!” He waves his hands around like that’ll explain away the whole situation. Like having a killing body count is some kind of joke.

Stu finally stops moving, his wide-eyed grin fading just a little. “She's cool with it, though. Right?” Stu asks as he looks from Billy to you, hoping for some kind of confirmation that isn’t coming. When he doesn’t get it, his face twitches with this weird mix of doubt and impatience. “She's not mad, right..?” Stu says as he turns to you. "You aren't mad, right, Thea?"

Billy just rolls his eyes, but he clicks the lock shut on the door and strides over to you. “You aren't mad, are you?" He whispers, brushing hair from your face.

Stu just keeps smiling, like he always does, waiting for the moment where this all magically blows over. Because in Stu’s world, everything’s fine as long as you laugh it off.

Billy’s world isn’t like that. Not anymore. This game’s gone too far, and now he has to figure out how to keep them all from getting burned.