selfhelp | [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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[You and your superpowers, Billy.] I'm glad I could help. I've been having the same problem, but the trick helps. Though if it doesn't, you could always talk to Doctor Law. He might be able to help.

[Same problem, eh? He makes a mental note of that.]

You really think this is something worth bothering a doctor about? It's not like I'm hurt or anything.

Only if you deem it necessary. If it starts getting so you can't sleep, you should ask him.

I don't want to start drugging myself over this. It's just a dream.

[He's not a therapy case, his mother would be so ashamed.]

Just a dream. Is that right? [So this is how Marco felt. Well, Ace is going to take a risk here.]

Do you want to talk about it? That alone can work wonders.

[When has he ever wanted to talk about it?]

It's kind of... involved. And hard to explain.

Okay, then we don't have to talk about them. But if you've got a friend or someone you trust here who does understand it, you should tell them.

Trust me, it only hurts them a lot more when you don't. [AND HE SEES YOU DOWN THERE, MARCO, GOSH.]

[Talk to a friend, huh.

Well, Teddy probably hasn't been here long enough to notice, but he will eventually if this keeps up. Maybe it's time.]

This kind of thing doesn't just go away eventually, does it.

It can. [That much is true, he knows it.] I had nightmares pretty badly for a few months until my brother made me talk about it. He taught me that trick, and you know what? I've barely had nightmares this past month. Talking about it isn't easy, and it probably never will be. But trust me, it'll turn out better for you and others.

[Barely...? If it's that effective, then he definitely needs to give it a try. He's tired of waking up the way he has the last several weeks, since the draft ended, and it came and went even before then. Enough is enough. Especially since he has no way to get answers in this place.]

I do have someone I can talk to, so there's that.

Then there you go. Words of comfort can often do a lot better than medicines, anyway. [And this is speaking from plenty of experience. He just hopes it'll help this kid, too.]

I hope things get better for you. By the way, my name is Ace. Nice to meet you.

[No small relief there. He's not a fan of drugs, medicinal or otherwise.]

Nice to meet you, too- and thanks again for your help. I'm Billy.

I'm glad I could help, Billy. Nightmares can be a pain in the ass, so I find it a good thing to get rid of them before they get worse.

I feel like such a kid. I thought people were supposed to stop having dreams like this when they got older.

[He feels a bit silly, calling them nightmares.]

Tell me about it. I'm twenty-one, and I never thought I'd have nightmares that often. But I had them pretty horribly for a few months.

Don't worry, though. I doubt you're the only one here who's had nightmares.

Looks that way. [And not just because Ace himself admitted it.] I'm glad that thing you tried worked for you. I can't imagine it going on that long.

[Mind you, his own have been somewhat long term, but not really frequent until the draft. Funny how these things go.]

It is pretty hard. But not many things come easy.

Not the stuff that's worthwhile, anyway.

This may sound stupid, but it always feels better to get something after you worked hard for it.

I don't think it's stupid. Actually, that's a pretty common thing you hear parents say where I'm from. "No shortcuts" and all that.

Shortcuts are for the things that aren't that as important as your main goal. We look for them, and may find them. But there's always a little something missing when we do.

A feeling of accomplishment, probably.

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