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[Action/Written]
[Billy has never thought of himself as one of those obsessive stalker boyfriends who needs to be attached at the hip to his significant other at all times. Really, he'd always figured they were pretty good about mutual space. A two-month separation with the potential of spending years in this place without seeing Teddy again is, however, apparently the trigger he'd needed to become one, so after one too many looks from Teddy - some patient, others not so much - he'd officially gotten himself banished from the apartment for the afternoon after too much worried lurking. Which is... not the greatest thing ever on a hot day like today, but ten minutes down the road he realizes that, yeah, he'd been a little ridiculous, either blowing off his responsibilities or dragging Teddy along for the ride. He's happy and eager to have Teddy here, but they'd lived separate lives at least half the time back home; no reason for that to not continue here as well.
It's just hard to let go after you've missed someone for that long.
Still, that's how he finds himself out and about for around five hours today, doing the following (in no particular order):
- a late lunch at Seventh Heaven
- searching around the library for comic books
- combat practice in the Battle Dome (with or without his trusty new teacher)
While at the library, a few sketches find their way into his journal, more or less like the following: this, this, and this. Some time afterwards, a scribbled message appears below.]
What are some good ways to deal with bad dreams?
[Once he's finished all his daily stuff, he'll be bringing groceries home around dinner time, in the hopes that he's allowed. Feel free to run into him at any time.]
It's just hard to let go after you've missed someone for that long.
Still, that's how he finds himself out and about for around five hours today, doing the following (in no particular order):
- a late lunch at Seventh Heaven
- searching around the library for comic books
- combat practice in the Battle Dome (with or without his trusty new teacher)
While at the library, a few sketches find their way into his journal, more or less like the following: this, this, and this. Some time afterwards, a scribbled message appears below.]
What are some good ways to deal with bad dreams?
[Once he's finished all his daily stuff, he'll be bringing groceries home around dinner time, in the hopes that he's allowed. Feel free to run into him at any time.]
[action]
Hey. Couldn't stay away, huh?
[Behold, Billy, there are perogies on the table with all your favorite things stuffed in them: potato, bits of meat and shredded cheese. They're not perfect; a bit lopsided, and a few of them have a bit of the stuffing coming out. But they are delicious, and they're just for you.]
[action] 1/2
I was gone for most of the day...
[action]
...You made those?
[For me? is left unspoken, but obvious; why else would he cook them?]
[action]
He scoots to the side and gestures to the table.] Come on, they're going to get cold if you stand there the whole time.
[It's certainly not romantic, either; no candles, no polished plates or anything. Just a couple of paper plates, cups and drinks. But they've never been the type to do that kind of thing anyway.]
[action]
[action]
He gladly returns that kiss, a hand stroking through his hair and resting at the base of his neck while the other touches his forearm. After a moment, he pulls back, and he gives his arm a light squeeze.]
I'm glad you're back.
[action]
He returns the smile as he withdraws, plopping down heavily into his chair and lifting a fork to spear one of the perogies, turning it around between his fingers to give it a quick onceover. Not the best looking dumplings in the world, but he really can't get over how good they smell.]
Glad to be back. Looks like you put your time alone to good use, though.
[Aaaand he takes a bite.
....
Hrngh that is a goddamned good perogi. He really does have the best boyfriend ever.]
[action]
[It was actually Billy's mom who told him that it was her son's favorite dish, and then showed him how to make it. They had another weird name, but she told him to just call it perogi.
Billy seems to like his own attempt well enough, so he sits down beside him and samples a few himself. ... Heeey, they really weren't so bad! He can totally handle this cooking thing.]
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Only just barely. I'd rather just get take-out somewhere. [He glances to the side, playing with his food just a little.] I kind of had to learn, at least for a little while. [Aaand now to eat again. He didn't move in with the Kaplans immediately after his mother died, after all. But he's tired of moping about it, so he shoots Billy a half smile.] You have no idea how happy I am to hear that you like them, though. The first few times I tried making them were a disaster.
[action]
[Teddy cooking up a meal sounds... really cute. Homey. It's going to be a guilty pleasure of his imagination now until he sees it for real.]
Maybe you and Susan can take turns on dinner duty while I reap the benefits of living around two chefs.
[action]
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If you want to take your life in your hands like that, fine by me, but if the kitchen ends up on fire I'm blaming you.
[action]
Fine by me. I'll help you through it, anyway. [Even though he's not exactly that great of a cook himself. But thinking of one of the things he did help Billy with, he gives a half grin and looks back at Billy again with an exaggerated wave of his hand.] If you want the food to be delicious, then it will be delicious!
[action]
...You think I could just zap us dinner?
[That would, admittedly, be infinitely more easy than actually cooking anything.]
[action]
...
God he wishes he was that fork - NO TEDDY.
He'll lean his cheek on his hand and try looking away again. Goddammit Teddy can't really help himself, not with Billy so... unaware.]
... You could. I bet you could. [Oh god, Teddy, be more eloquent.] That'd probably be cheating, though.
[action]
[Billy trails off, noting Teddy's expression. Is he blushing? He watches Teddy thoughtfully for a moment, puzzled, then glances down at his fork.
....
o h
Well, that changes things. Billy's gaze drops to the fork, smirking rather deviously, and taps the prongs a few times against his lips.]
Something wrong, T?
[action]
[And glance. At that fork tapping against those lips. And that smirk.
He's been outed, hasn't he.]
... othing. Nothing's wrong. [And another glance to the side, more pointed this time, as a smirk of his own starts to work its way up behind his palm. He still feels a bit awkward; not of the action, oh no, but it's just something that comes with having to constantly watch out for people who might walk in on them doing something like this.]
[action]
Doesn't really look like nothing to me.
[Another tap, and he slides the fork into his mouth a bit... then out. In, out. Yeah, he's being obvious now until Teddy surrenders or he comes up with something better.]
[action]
[Even so, he's back to staring at that fork. In, out, in, out, eh. He shifts slightly in his seat before he glances at the door, as if he's just expecting Tommy or Mrs. Kaplan to open the door to say something. Or, in Tommy's case, get right in between them.
It's a little weird to think that they're actually alone.]
[action]
You know this place is ours, right? Nobody's coming in unless we invite them over.
[No parents, no cockblocking speedster brothers, no crime-in-progress-Avengers-Assemble phone call. Just them.]
[action]
He snaps his gaze to Billy's when he speaks up, and... heh. So he noticed, huh. Here Teddy was trying to be subtle about it... But it's pretty hard to hide these things from his own boyfriend.
He chuckles helplessly as a result, and he moves his hand back to the nape of his neck.]
Yeah... I guess I'm having a hard time thinking of it that way. [He gives Billy a glance and a sheepish smile.] I mean... it's our place. [Not just them visiting each other. Not just Teddy moving in with the Kaplans. Theirs. Their own apartment. Teddy really can't deny how much he'd think about that kind of living arrangement the future, when they were old enough.]
[action]
[But nope, nope. Nobody home. He's not dwelling on it this time, though, so there's still a smile on his face. He misses home, and his family, but he's not alone anymore. And he's sure as hell not going to complain about missing them to Teddy of all people.]
[action]
[His mother cheerfully telling him that it's time to get up.
...
Nope, nope. Nobody home. And... well, he doesn't feel any different, living on his own with just his boyfriend. But it certainly feels like a sort of big change on its own.
He'll just stand and follow Billy right to the kitchen, where he'll wrap his arms around his waist from behind and watch what he's doing. Dishes without magic, huh?]
Well, since it's just the two of us... How about you keep that fork out for a while. [He says with a playful nuzzle against his ear. Come on, he was enjoying that.]
[action]
He's filling the sink with hot water and detergent when he feels those arms around him, and he lifts his own to make space, his smile getting bigger, hands resting on Teddy's while he waits for it to fill up. There's a subtle tilt to his head as he feels that brush at his ear, encouraging more of that if Teddy's interested.]
Oh, is that what you were looking at?
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