selfhelp | [Action/Written]

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[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.]

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[It's easy to tell what Billy's focusing on. With him kneeling there, Teddy leans forward - well, tries. He's caught a bit off guard by the feeling of the back of his shirt dissolving and falling away from the wings. He glances back at his shoulder, then moves them, enough for his shirt to slide down his arms and fall between his legs.]

Billy... [There's a hint of breathlessness to his tone, and laughter as well. Might as well return the favor, even though he can't magically rip up a shirt like his boyfriend did.

So, he'll just work carefully instead. Pull the shirt up, then away from the wings until they're through the holes in the fabric, then over his head, slowly, always observing to see if he needs to stop.

Once that's done with and the shirt falls on top of his own on the floor, Teddy finally does what he'd been wanting to do. He leans down, cups his hands gently around Billy's ears, then presses his forehead against his.]

Hey. We're okay.

[He slides his hands back, fingertips brushing the back of his ears, then settling against the nape of his neck.]

Always have been. Always will be.

[Billy shudders under his touch - in part out of relief, in part because the distraction of Teddy's naked chest is doing wonders for the tightness of his pants - and curls his fingers slightly against the other boy's stomach, his posture relaxing.]

I know. I know that.

[He could say more to that, go into detail about how that experience has affected him, affected their relationship, made him more protective, more needy, more frightened of that inability to protect- of losing Teddy.

But he doesn't need to. Teddy knows. Teddy knows everything because he was there, he'd lived it, he'd been there afterwards. Because he'd been okay.

They'd been okay.

Always have been. Always will be.

So rather than saying any of that, he pushes those thoughts aside and tilts his head enough to press their lips together instead, the kiss desperate, deep, and needy. He'll say whatever he feels needs to be said like that.]

[He doesn't have to say it, and neither does Teddy. He doesn't have to say how he fears he won't be strong or fast enough to keep Billy from being hurt - to keep from losing him, even though he knows and trusts that his boyfriend can take care of himself. Billy knows. They both know. They don't have to say it.

They're okay.

The kiss, plus the sight of Billy without his shirt, certainly makes the pants he's wearing even more uncomfortable. That desperation is matched by his own, his hands moving to cup his cheeks and keep him there, his body subtly leaning forward more as if wondering if he should stay on the bed or slide off and effectively straddle his boyfriend's hips. Both options seem nice, though they're hazy enough that he doesn't quite follow through with either. He's too wrapped up in the kiss, all too happy to follow Billy's lead in it.]

[The kiss keeps them busy enough for a long moment, but as Billy backs off to catch some air, his hands slide downwards, grazing over his stomach, then his waist, and then- ah. Getting a little cramped down there, hm? He chuckles faintly against Teddy's lips, fingers twisting to undo the belt he finds a few inches up. He's in prime position here, and kissing isn't all that he wants to do right now.

Hopefully Teddy isn't opposed, because he's moving a little quicker now, leaning in to keep his boyfriend's lips busy while he works.]

[AND THEN THERE WERE TWO VERY SUCCESSFUL AND VERY SEXY BLOWJOBS.

AND LO, IT WAS AWESOME.]

[And lo, there is a very happy and satisfied boyfriend snuggling up against you, Teddy. A good time was had by all.]

...I think I'll do the dishes tomorrow.

[And there's an equally happy and satisfied boyfriend lightly hooking an arm around Billy's neck and shoulder, leaning down to kiss his hairline.]

Mm, don't you do enough dishes already?

[Billy tilts his head up to lean into the touch, making a faint, pleased noise muffled by Teddy's shirt. After a pause he tilts his head to more properly enunciate,]

There is kind of a difference between a job and household chores. Besides, you made the food.

[Oh good, he was about to tell Billy to use his words. The arm that's wound around him moves, enough so that Teddy can stroke down his chest with his fingertips.]

That's true. Maybe I should dirty up some more dishes, you're probably a master at cleaning them now.

[Billy's response to that is a slight pout, rolling over to drape himself on Teddy like a body blanket, arms folding to make a pillow for his own chin. You're a brat sometimes, BF.]

Right. Because dishes require so much skill.

[Teddy grins at that, teasing and amused, and moves his hands to card his fingers through Billy's hair. He's not as much of a brat as you can be, BF.]

Well, you're good enough to make Tony want you to keep working for him. You've gotta be doing something special.

[Hush, that is a lie. His brows furrow at that, considering it, and he lets his fingers brush idly over Teddy's chest, just enjoying the feel of one body against another.]

I think they key point here is the fact that I'm doing it. Tony Stark is the laziest man I've ever met.

I believe that.

[After a pause, he lifts his head a bit to look down at him, one hand moving to idly stroke the nape of his neck.]

If you need a hand, I can always come over with you. [Although they'd probably make out more than get work done.]

Mm... up to you. I took the job, so I wouldn't want to drag you into it unless you wanted. I doubt he'd complain about the extra help. [Billy hums faintly, thinking for a moment, then drums his fingers pointedly on Teddy's collarbone.] Unless you're just there to distract me... then he would.

Hmm.

[There's a long pause as Teddy leans his head back against the bed again, as if to look at the ceiling in thought. Then he smiles again, chest fluttering with muffled laughter.]

Not even a little?

[Lying on someone's chest while they laugh is a very weird sensation. At his comment, though, Billy scoffs under his breath, lifting a brow at his boyfriend.]

When is it ever just a little with the two of us?

[... Yeah, that requires some thought.]

... When we first started dating? [He'd been the shyer one - not necessarily shy, really, just much more hesitant to open up so much to someone else at that point.]

[He gets a flick on the nose for that.]

It was rhetorical, T. Anyway, if you want to help me and Pepper babysit Iron Man, I won't be saying no. [He pauses, briefly, then adds,] It might help if you did, actually. If you got to know him.

[He knows Teddy's not about to punch Tony into the ground or anything, but... well, feelings tend to linger.]

[The flick makes him grin and move one hand away to rub at his nose, the other still staying on Billy's neck. What he says, however, makes him pause.

Yeah, maybe he should get to know him. He already had a better opinion of him, at least. He seemed like the guy before he seemed to go insane.

But he's right. Feelings linger. He can't help growing an inch and making his shoulders get a little broader when he sees Tony around, especially if Billy's with him. He can't help wondering, "What if it happens again?" What if he just - goes crazy, starts locking people with powers away just because of who and what they are, what if he... hurts Billy again?

So, after considering, he lightly drums his fingers against Billy's neck.]

Yeah, maybe it would help. I wouldn't mind giving it a try, for all of our sakes.

[Billy makes a faint, agreeable noise, shifting his head to rest it against Teddy's chest again, closing his eyes. He's not tired, it's just a really, really comfortable position, so he's determined to enjoy it.]

I really don't think he's faking it. He can be kind of a jerk, but he's not a bad person.

Edited 2012-07-30 10:10 (UTC)

From what I've seen of him, it doesn't look like he's faking it. I just -

[He cuts himself off and shuts his eyes, the fingers against Billy's neck curling into a very light fist. He just looks at Tony and is reminded of seeing Billy get shot down by tranquilizers before any of them could even do anything, how they were forced to leave him and Cloak behind, how he'd witnessed a hero die by the hands of a crazed clone that Tony himself made -

But most of all, he just sees Billy.

His hand is the only movement he makes, though, and his breathing doesn't even change. He's comfortable, too; he likes being this close to Billy, close in such an intimate way at that. Still...]

[Billy feels the way Teddy's fingers curl, and it makes him pause for a long moment, thinking carefully if how to handle this. He understands what Teddy is probably thinking of- he'd been there himself, after all, when he'd first arrived and met this version of Tony Stark. Who knows how long he'd have hidden his true identity if he hadn't been sent out on the draft? Maybe he wouldn't have revealed himself at all. Maybe Susan's arrival would have triggered some sort of domino effect. Or Teddy's. He wouldn't have been afraid if Teddy had been here.

What-ifs don't really matter now, though; it's the future he'd rather focus on. And if making Tony understand the effects of this possible future might actually prevent it... it's worth the attempt.

He angles himself a little, just enough to press a gentle kiss to Teddy's collarbone, one hand sliding down to rub soothingly up and down his side.]

Nothing's going to happen. Whether it's him or the Malnosso or anyone else they want to throw at us- we'll figure something out.

[He really can't help it - once he feels that kiss and the hand sliding against his side, that apprehensive look fades, and he just gives a little smile instead. He might be afraid, but he's less so with Billy here. It's why he didn't have any qualms with showing who he was; maybe it was because he wasn't afraid, maybe it was a subtle threat. But there he was, showing off his power, albeit carelessly. He's still in training and all.

The words, too, make his smile grow, and he moves his free hand to the back of Billy's head while he tilts his head down, enough to bump it gently against Billy's.]

I know. We always do.

[He lets his fingers card through his boyfriend's hair or a moment, before the topic from earlier works its way into his head. So he tilts his head, his hand moving around to stroke Billy's cheek.]

Speaking of figuring things out, I wanted to ask you something.

[If there's one thing he can give them credit for as a couple (besides the fact that they mesh so perfectly together most of the time), they always seem to be able to bounce back from whatever comes their way. They've faced Kang, drug dealers, Super Skrulls, villains galore, and apparently survived a super hero civil war relatively unscathed. With all of that behind them, what couldn't they handle? This is just yet another bump in the road, and a tiny bump at that.

Billy tilts his cheek just so, leaning into the touch even as his eyebrow quirks curiously at Teddy's topic shift.]

Something on your mind, T?

[Teddy leans his head back on the pillow again, though he keeps his hands where they are.]

Whatever's on your mind, B. Nightmares?

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