–requested by goodnightmoon-

~Billy Russo~

•••••

"Art, gimme the remote."

The smirk on his face long vanished the moment she jumped off the couch. Billy calmly stared at his grinning best friend, who was standing at the other side of the couch with the device in hand. Here they go again. It was the same routine every time they Netflixed and Chilled. Not that he didn't enjoy it, oh he really did. It brought out the inner child that was once lost all those years ago.

"Nope." She stuck her tongue out at him while waving the remote round like a toy, taunting and silently daring him to take it from her. Oh, she was really asking for it this time.

Billy glared at her, "Artemis."

"Billy." she playfully mocked him, waiting for his response. No, actually, waiting for him to begin the war.The two stared at each other, neither willing to look away.

"OK..." he nodded curtly, licking his lips before adding with the slightest nod of his head, "You asked for it."

And the chase began. Much to Art's surprise, the ex-soldier jumped over the furniture and nearly caught the sleeve of her sweater, had she not bolted towards the kitchen. Fits of giggles escaped her as she stood on the other side of the counter. Her black painted toes lightly tapped the cool white tiles before her entire body was lifted off the floor moments later.

"No!" she yelled while failing to contain her laughter. Her hair hung upside down when Billy threw her over his shoulder and she began to thrash around when his fingers attacked her sides, causing more laughter to erupt from her lips. "Billy, stop it! Staawp!"

"Say you're sorry." He held on to her now limp body, as she was tired from trying to escape his grip.

"I'm sorry!" squealed an exhausted Artemis, panting from all the childish activities.

"Say you'll never do it again." said Billy, which she raised her eyebrow at. No way in hell would she ever stop these games. They were way too much fun.

Artemis smirked,  "I'll do it again if I have to."

His head turned just a bit, showing a scowl,"You little–"

"OK! OK, I'll try not to do it again! Now put me down, Russo, we have a movie to watch." Slowly, Billy obeyed her wish and sets her down. She straightened out her black t-shirt, muttering something under her breath  as she walked back towards the living room, which he barely caught, "Bitch."

"What was that?" he challenged her, following closely behind, threatening to continue his previous torture.

"Popcorn!" she bolted and jumped onto the couch, grabbing the snack-filled bowl and took a few to throw in her mouth. "I said popcorn, I swear!"

•••

Two bowls of popcorn and several cans of soda later, Artemis laid on Billy's chest, her legging covered calves tangled with his. Billy's arm wrapped protectively over her back to keep her from falling off him.

The comfortable silence brought peace to the ex soldier. A luxury he doesn't get to enjoy much these days, so he  every bit of it.

They watched the ending of a teen series called Jane The Virgin. And throughout the entire marathon, both of them argued over who was a better match for sweet Jane. At one point, they started throwing popcorn at each other to see who was right.

She has innocent little demons inside her eyes that recklessly played with matches. Billy has never seen sparks so pretty in his entire life. They lit up his entire world into blazing flames of joy and childish madness that never seemed to end. 

"You're a dork, you know that?" Billy softy mummered into her hair while lazily drawing circles on her back. He felt her breathe on his neck, which sent shivers up his spine. It was unexplainable; what he felt for her. He trusted her with his life, yet he couldn't bring himself to tell her everything.

"That's why I'm your best friend and you love me." Artemis responds, lifting herself from his chest. Her knees were now on either side of his waist as she sat on his toned thighs. Billy now got a clear view of what she was wearing, which was a black T-shirt written 'one hundred percent non-human' on it.

If it were any other girl, he would already be fucking her senseless right then and there, but it's not. This is Artemis; his best friend, his soulmate, his everything.

Her eyes were tired, but as usual, they showed that happy spark in them as she spoke with a low voice, "Because you need this dork in your life."

No matter how much sadness clouded over her, she always showed some mischief in her life. For her sake, as well as his, she always found the light in the darkness that surrounded her. And most of that light was found through the games she loved to play.

Playing is such an important part of her life. Not that he realized it, but the reason she was so playful was because she knows its power. Being a mischievous and naughty girl, she knows how much frolicking around can heal someone.

Whether its chasing someone around, or tickling your best friend, it always brings back that innocence one might have lost over the years.

"You never asked why." he gently says, his hand brushing her hair away from her eyes before he gently cupped her face. Her eyes shifted to meet his before grazing over his handsome features.

"Why what?" her voice almost came out as a whisper.

"Why I need a dork in my life...why I need you in my life." Billy confessed, looking away in what she perceived as shame.

Her red lips parted to respond, but she held back her words. There was a lot she knew about Billy. But there was more she didn't know, a whole lot more that seemed too painful to share. She knew he wouldn't tell her straight away for reasons she couldn't possibly understand, but curiosity kept scratching at the door.

"I figured it's personal, and I thought you'd tell me when you're ready." Artemis pointed out while stroking his dark locks of silk. A ghostly smile brushed the corners of her lips, "Tough guy like you wasn't always born tough, Bill..."

When he didn't respond, she knew she was right. The way his fists clenched and he suddenly leaned into her embrace, letting her hold him with such kindness. It frightened him how much he fell so easily into the palm of her hand. "You went through a lot, I can tell."

He lost a lot of power because of the life he lived. Billy Russo might have been the CEO of ANVIL, he might have had the respect of many for his achievements, he might have the ability to get any woman he wanted, but he's just as powerless as a broken child.

"I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you, Art." His eyes took in her slightly shocked expression as he sat up, her form still on his. He wrapped his arms around her, sharply inhaling her wonderful rosey scent and murmured onto her chest, "My mom was a junkie...she abandoned me... she left me in this sick, disgusting place that I call home."

Billy couldn't face her as he told her this. The shame consumed him, it shredded his pride into absolutely nothing. "I met Frank and his family when I joined the military."

Artemis was silent for a few moments. She wondered if this was really happening. If he was really, and finally opening up to her. When she realized that he was, she slowly embraced him, putting her chin on top of his head, "What was he like?"

"He was the best." She couldn't help but enjoy the feeling Billy's voice vibrating on her collar bone. "He was a good friend, a great husband to Maria and simply the best father to his kids..."

But the more she listened, the more she noticed the longing in his deep voice as he spoke. Art knew what that could do to someone, she knew what a jealous man is capable of. "I just wish I could've had what he had. I want what he had, but... I don't deserve it. Not with all the shitty things I've done."

What could he have done? Her Billy. Her William Russo. What kind of shitty things has he done to make him say things like that?

Whatever it is, it doesn't matter to her. Billy has made her happier than anyone in this entire universe and she couldn't stand seeing him so guilt-stricken.

"You could still have that, you know..." Artemis said after a while of stroking his wonderful glossy locks of dark hair. She wanted him to be happy. And if it were possible, for her to be part of that happiness. "I mean, it doesn't matter whether you deserve it or not."

Billy stared up at her as she leaned back to softly smile at him. To think that she was the reason he's here, alive and brrathing. He owes her so much, so so much, he'd gladly spend the rest of his life repaying that debt. "You know I once gave up."

"On what?" her eyes blinked in confusion, her curiosity was just so enchanting.

"Life..." Swallowing thickly, his hands took hers and he just couldn't look away from them as he confessed, "I just wanted to die."

Artemis felt her heart break in two. How could... Billy's the strongest person she's ever known. Since they've met, not once has he showed signs of lacking the courage to keep going. Not once has he ever been depressed to the point of... She cupped his cheek, "Bill–"

"I wanted to end it all, I just... Wanted to have some peace and I thought the only way to do that would be to..." A single tear left his eye. God, if anyone else saw him now. If anyone saw the broken little boy behind the playboy facade, they'd laugh. But Art... Not his girl, she understood him. She accepted him. "That day we met..."

"At the movies. When my date stood me up, yeah, I remember." She let out a laugh afterwards, despite feeling her eyes tear up because of the sight before her. The walls were caving into him and they were tearing him apart. He didn't deserve it, he didn't deserve such pain.

"I remember wanted to kill myself that day. I was going to, but... Then I saw you." When their eyes met, Billy felt whole again. The walls couldn't touch him anymore. They wouldn't crumble down on him, they couldn't hurt him. The pain stopped.

She was his reason for living. She held his heart, protected it from harm. She healed his soul, put his pieces back together one by one. And not once did she complain. She did it all with smiles and sarcasm. Artemis was his angel from the moment his eyes saw her standing on the dirty sidewalk of Hell's Kitchen. "You were just so sad, I couldn't leave you alone."

She smiled, wiggling her eyebrows, "So I basically saved your life."

"You basically saved my life." He chuckled, tightening his palm on hers. There was no better place to be than here, with her. "I would've gave up if it weren't for you, Art..."

"I'm glad you didn't... Will."

......................................................................................................................................

I'm so waiting for season of The Punisher to see Billy in action again and i really hope they haven't replaced Ben.

Took me weeks to write this, but i think it was worth because I basically forced myself to write this even though I wasn't feeling like writing anything.

Hope you like it💖

If you didn't, well, then... Please enjoy this picture of who I think is Billy Russo at ComicCon

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