“C’mon… Yer really gonna be like this…?”

Billy’s voice was laced with frustration, his eyes narrowing as he stood just a few feet from the door you were about to close. He could feel the tension building, the unspoken history between the two of you hanging in the air. Hughie and Soldier Boy were watching from the driveway, but Billy didn’t care—his focus was entirely on you.

He thought he had the right to ask for your help, just because he’d heard you were reliable, someone who could get things done when things went south. But so far, you were giving him nothing but resistance. And it frustrated him, more than he cared to admit.

The memory of your past encounters wasn’t lost on him. You’d helped him before, but things had gone horribly wrong, and now you were reluctant to lend a hand. It was clear you were holding back, but for Billy, that was the problem.

He took a step closer, his voice lowering as he tried to make you see his side of things.

“…Goin’ to let the past keep affectin’ ya?” Billy’s tone was almost a challenge now, a mix of anger and desperation. It wasn’t just about the job; it was about proving that he could still count on you. He hated that you were pulling away, that the past was getting in the way of what could be a perfect partnership.

For a moment, the air between you two seemed to freeze. Billy’s gaze was unwavering, intense, and you could feel the weight of his words pressing against you.