Harringrove

Harringrove
GENERAL
Stranger Things
Character	Billy Hargrove
Character	Steve Harrington
Canonical?	Fanon
Status of Relationship	Archenemies/Rivals; Billy is dead
IN FANDOM
Type (?)	Slash
Tropes	• Enemies to Lovers

1

Billy – “Am I dreaming, or is that you, Harrington?”

Steve – “Yeah, it's me. Don't cream your pants.”

— Season 2

Harringrove is the slash ship between Billy Hargrove and Steve Harrington from the Stranger Things fandom.​​​​​

Canon

Billy Hargrove is introduced at the start of Season 2. He is first introduced as Steve Harrington watches him drive up to Hawkins High School, which they both attend. Billy is implied to be one year below Steve.

Billy is immediately set up to be a human antagonist in the series, and his relationship with Steve is not good right off the bat. Tommy Hagan introduces Billy to Steve at a Halloween party, where Billy learns that Steve as effectively stepped down as the most popular guy in school. The two exchange intense eye contact. Billy essentially takes over Steve's role of "popular boy," but Steve remains civil towards him. During basketball practice, Billy plays roughly against Steve in particular, grinding against him in an attempt to get a rise out of him and pushing him down to get a clear shot. Billy helps Steve stand back up, telling him, "You were moving your feet. Plant them next time. Draw a charge," then pushing him down again. Later, in the locker room showers, Billy makes a jab about Steve's breakup with Nancy, saying, “Don’t take it too hard, man. Pretty boy like you has got nothing to worry about. Plenty of bitches in the sea. I'll be sure to leave you some.”

Billy's father, Neil Hargrove, realizes that Max Mayfield, Billy's stepsister, isn't home, he scolds Billy, calling him a homophobic slur before shoving him against the wall and slapping him across the face for disrespecting him. Billy goes looking for his stepsister, visiting Mrs. Wheeler before heading to the Byers residence and finding Steve standing outside. Billy says, “Am I dreaming, or is that you, Harrington?” to which Steve dryly replies, “Yeah, it’s me, don’t cream your pants.” Steve repeatedly tells Billy that Max isn't at the Byers house, but Billy sees Max peer through the window. He shoves Steve to the ground and rushes inside. Billy attempts to assault Lucas Sinclair for hanging out with Max, but Steve pulls him away. Steve manages to get a few punches in before Billy smashes a plate over his head, punching him multiple times when he's already unconscious. Max then injects Billy with a sedative and threatens him with Steve's spiked baseball bat. The kids take Steve away in Billy's Camaro, but it is unclear what happens to Billy himself.

In Season 3, Billy becomes possessed by the Mind Flayer and there are little to no interactions between him and Steve.

Fanon

Harringrove is the second most popular ship ship in the Stranger Things fandom on AO3, second only to Steddie. Since Steddie is a more recent ship, with Eddie first being introduced in Season 4--3 years after Season 3 first aired--Harringrove was the top Stranger Things ship on AO3 for years, up until August 2022. Harringrove shippers view interactions between the two characters as flirtatious--especially the line where Billy calls Steve a "pretty boy"--and say that have sexual tension/attraction to each other.

Even though it is popular, Harringrove is a controversial ship due to it involving Billy, who is quite possibly racist based on some of his actions. Some believe that Billy (and other characters lacking decent morals) shouldn't be shipped with anyone, as it can be interpreted as excusing their behaviors. Most Harringrove shippers assert that they themselves do not condone Billy's actions and are simply exploring the "what-ifs" of his character and story.

Common Tropes in Fanfiction

Hurt/Comfort: Steve takes care of Billy after he suffers abuse from his father, or Billy comforts Steve after he has nightmares about the Upside-Down.

Redemption: Steve tries to help Billy overcome his past, and current, abuse at the hands of his father and helps him down the path of redemption.

Future-fic: Billy and Steve are older and reunite, or are in an established relationship.

Fem!Harringrove: Genderbent Billy (Billie) and Steve (Steph or Stevie) meet under various circumstances.

Fandom

FAN FICTION

Billy Hargrove/Steve Harrington tag on AO3

Steve/Billy tag on FanFiction.Net

TUMBLR

Harringrove tag on Tumblr

Lists

Fandometrics

31th	2022
32nd	2020
68th	2021
69th	2018

Variations

Muningrove refers to the ship between Billy Hargrove, Steve Harrington and Eddie Munson

Stonagrove refers to the ship between Steve Harrington, Jonathan Byers and Billy Hargrove