selfhelp | [IC] Appointments Post

Mm... probably for the best. I study better in the morning.

[He inches over just enough to tilt his head against Teddy's hip, weary eyes gazing up at him. He knows Teddy isn't good with mornings, so maybe if he wakes early enough and meditates, or he sleeps in for once, or...

....

He really just wants to do this together, is all.]

...Did we pack a lantern or anything? Candles?

[That look on Billy's face just makes Teddy's smile soften, and he lowers one hand to cup his boyfriend's cheek and jawline. That's the look of someone who's tired, very tired, and a bit nervous. And with him seeking out contact like that...]

I think there's a lantern in my bag. And a flashlight. And candles too, actually, but they're for the ambiance effect thing.

[He doesn't move to get any of those things out yet, though. Instead, he's thoughtful for a moment as he strokes his thumb along Billy's jaw.]

You know... I can probably wake up earlier tomorrow. This is important enough to not sleep in for the day.

[Billy's response at first is simply a vague, musing sound; of course Teddy brought the important stuff. Billy may be the one who likes camping, but this time around he'd been too nervous and scatterbrained to pack some of the real necessities. At best he remembered the matches when it comes to survival gear... damn.

Well, there's a reason Teddy is considered to be the best boyfriend ever. Still, the offer makes him smile a bit guiltily.]

Compromise? This isn't all about me.

[At least, he's trying not to make it that way.]

[A compromise... Teddy makes a light hum of thought as he slides down to lay beside Billy instead, shoulder against his boyfriend's head rather than his hip.]

Maybe I'll sleep for a while, and you can wake me up whenever you feel like it's time?

[Which is... pretty much how they work at home anyway. But it's a method that works; it gave Billy his morning time and Teddy his rest, until it was time to really be ready for the day. He suspects it'll be the same way here too.]

Mm... okay, deal.

[It helps, in a way- makes this whole experience feel a little bit like home. A home away from home. ...A home away from home away from home.

Whatever. He shifts once more, nuzzling his face against Teddy's shoulder and getting close until he feels sufficiently cozy, closing his eyes. There's a long moment of silence, pleasant and peaceful, only interrupted by gently rustling leaves and chirping crickets.]

....We probably should've done this in the tent.

... Hmm. Yeah.

[Here Teddy had tilted his head to nuzzle his nose against Billy's hair and shut his own eyes, and probably would've drifted off already if it was just a bit noisier. He still kind of misses the sounds of New York at night, with the cars that pass through the less busy streets, the people who work all night or have dealings only at night passing by, a dog faintly barking... it's really nothing like wind and leaves and crickets.

Still, it's definitely peaceful, and it's something Teddy's slowly been getting used to. More importantly, it's the perfect atmosphere for what he and Billy want to do tomorrow; he knows how hard it was to concentrate back at home when a stray car horn would sound off just below.

He kind of doesn't want to move, satisfied in the entirely too noiseless atmosphere with his fiancé by his side. But Billy does have a point, and it makes Teddy slowly push himself up to his elbows and look down at Billy with a raised eyebrow.]

Wanna get inside? Or am I going to have to carry you over the threshold?

[... Heh. He really can't stop the smile that comes with that question; two months later and the thought of marrying the man beside him still fills him with absolute joy.]

[Billy snorts faintly at that, reluctantly sitting himself up and stretching his arms over his head. God, but he's stiff. Way too much climbing in one day.]

Threshold? Of a tent? You sure know how to seduce a guy.

[Not that he's protesting... although he can get up if he has to. He just knows how much Teddy enjoys doing that kind of thing, so it would be one small concession for making him go through all this nonsense again. Carrying rights in exchange for all the mini-zaps that will inevitably happen in the morning.]

[Well. Billy does have a point; the tent is a little too small to actually carry anyone through it without some uncomfortable ducking going on. But Teddy can unzip the front of it and hold his hand out to guide Billy over the threshold. (Hopefully it won't be this pathetic when the time comes.)]

Yeah, that's me. Mr. Seduce-tastic.

Well...

[Billy leans over to press his lips against the corner of Teddy's mouth, a soft, teasing kiss. His closest hand lifts to rest on the blond's chest for support, and his ring is there, glinting in the pale evening light.]

...you do alright, I think.

[More than alright. It isn't all about seduction, after all; if it was just sex, or even the dating part, then sure, but now that it's marriage they're working towards, it's a whole new level. The fact that Teddy will do this kind of thing for him, the fact that he's been flawlessly supportive in the decisions Billy's made the last several months when it comes to magic, the fact that he's still here. Seduction doesn't factor in because Billy's already hopelessly smitten with the one who had against all odds or good sense had chosen him as a future husband.

Best not screw this up. And he feels like, with Teddy here to support him, he'll actually do okay.]

[It's the kiss, and the hand against his chest, that makes Teddy blink, then duck his head somewhat shyly with a little smile and a flush to his face that he doesn't bother to hide. He lifts his hand to cover Billy's, feeling that cool metal under his own, and just revels in it for a moment. Seduction skills aside, they'll be at each other's sides for the rest of their lives, wake up and fall asleep together, be supportive of each other just like this, trusting the other more than they could trust anyone else... and each knowing that they'll now have a companion like this at their side for as long as the other lives...

... Still, he can't really let Billy get away with that comment. The tent's door is still open and waiting for the two of them, but Teddy, rather than getting the two of them inside, looks at Billy again with raised eyebrows.]

Only alright? I'll show you -

[And with that, he leans forward to the side of Billy's neck... to blow a raspberry against it.

He knows that there won't be anything particularly hot and heavy out here, that concentration on learning the magic again is what's most important. But he can't help teasing and having a little fun.]

[Billy sets free a choked snort, squirming away, the sound quickly dissolving into a laugh. God, his boyfriend's such a dork.]

Ahh, gross, you spat on my neck!

[He rubs at the spot, then reaches up to wipe his (admittedly not very) damp hand on Teddy's cheek. Take that, raspberry-blower!]

[Who's the dork now? Teddy wrinkles his nose, then wipes at the dampness on his cheek with the back of his arm, though a grin comes up to ruin the face of disgust he was trying to get going.]

Wait, so I can suck on your neck and get spit all over the place, but you can't take something like this?

[Billy sticks his tongue out, letting his hand drop to rest on Teddy's chest instead.]

Please. Sucking on my neck and blowing a raspberry are two totally different things.

Yeah, but still. Spit all over the place.

[Teddy sticks his own tongue out too, wiggling it from side to side as if to say see, there's spit here too - and in contrast, moves his hand to cover Billy's, fingers twining through the spaces between his boyfriend's.]

And you get to live with it for a long time.

Mmhm. As long as we both shall live, I hear, is the phrase.

[He can't quite keep up the teasing expression, saying the words aloud. It's a thrill, a quiet little delight that spreads through him like a shot of concentrated warmth. He's happy for the ring, happy for the promise between them that it represents, happy to have Teddy here, with him. Happy that he gets to share him and his spit and everything other part of him, body and soul, for the rest of his life.]

[It's such a small gesture, but somehow it still makes Billy moan urgently, hips grinding upwards, heated and trembling with need. He doesn't know how to form that quiet desperation into words, and he kind of wishes his dick could do the talking for him. It's certainly trying hard enough as it is.

...Hah. Hard.

You're so lame, Kaplan.]

I really... oh god... Teddy, I really...

[His hips arch again, harder this time, grinding his erection teasingly between Teddy's back cheeks. He wants to be there, he wants to feel that heat around him, he wants to thrust and thrust and-

...shit, had he just said all of that out loud? It was kind of unintentional and he stops himself before he goes too far, face wildly flushed, but it's too late; apparently Teddy got what he'd been asking for after all.]

You forgot the "'til death do us part"... part.

[Despite that awkward little sentence-ender, Teddy ends up smiling too, and he leans his head down to press a kiss against Billy's hair while squeezing his hand, feeling the ring there between his fingers. He can still see it in his mind: Billy's face when Teddy looked up at him, when he said yes, the best word he'd ever heard in all of his life, and the huge smile on his face...

It's like the joy he felt on that day had never died down. And seeing visual proof of Billy feeling the same way, even the day before something as big as delving into magic again, makes him feel like flying again.

But no. He's cozy here, cuddled up against his fiancé as the evening sky turns into night, as stars start to wink into existence. This is where he belongs, after all.]

[Billy hums softly, expression torn between joy and unease, and closes his eyes. It's true that the vows - the ones they'll say aloud and to one another someday - are wonderful to ponder, with all the close calls they've had, it's hard to say them now without thinking too deeply about what they mean.]

I'd rather focus on our life together than how it'll end.

Mm. Yeah. Me too.

[He says it in Billy's hair; he knows how many close calls they've had, lived through them all, every moment his heart sped up way too fast, and he knows Billy had moments like that too. Best to think about the life they'll have - hopefully long, living together and watching gray hairs start to show, little wrinkles in the face that Teddy would insist are smile lines, kids... maybe. If Billy could get behind it. Lord knows Teddy wants to be a father, and -

Maybe he's focusing too much on what life together would be like. He nuzzles his nose against Billy's hair, then leans his head back down again, a gentle smile on his face as he keeps his eyes shut.

It'll be a great life, that's for sure.

...]

Our first kid will be named Speed Racer.

[Okay, so thinking too deeply about the future is out, but teasing about it is totally cool.]

[There's a moment's pause, and then Billy abruptly snorts out another laugh, turning his head and burrowing it against Teddy to muffle the sound. His shoulders shake with silent laughter at the ridiculousness of it until he finally restrains himself, lifting his head just enough to mumble a reply.]

You realize... if we did that, Tommy would just assume we named the kid after him.

[That smirk on Teddy's face faded as Billy went on, his lips parting as he closes his eyes to take in every word. God, as if Billy wasn't unbearably sensual before, laying there under him with his face flushed, sweat shining on his body and hair tussled and eyes heady with need, this, those words, they make Teddy want more, want every single thing that Billy is saying and more.

When Billy cuts himself off, Teddy lets out a groan, tips his head back and presses his hips down against Billy's, and it feels great but it's not enough; he needs Billy inside him, needs to feel him thrust and thrust just as he said and - ]

Ohhhh god, Billy -

[Why waste more time? Teddy leans down to scrape lips and teeth and tongue against Billy's neck as he opens the drawer of the nightstand, nearly yanking it out entirely, to dig for a condom. His lube covered hand inches back, intending to prepare himself - though once his fingers brush against Billy's erection, he realizes that there's a bit of an obstacle there.]

Nngh, B, could you...

[Could he... what...? Billy's head is spinning a little at the brushes he's feeling on his erection, urgently craving more, and it's hard to think of what Teddy might need.

Once it clicks, he smiles a bit sheepishly and withdraws his hand, bracing it against the bed instead and using it to push himself upwards on the mattress and out of Teddy's path. He can be patient, hard as it might be. Watching Teddy prep himself is enough of a show that he doesn't mind one bit.]

Better...?

So... I got your message.

[You know. The one you sent her after the Dream Shifter nearly ate Loki.]

[Teddy scrunches his face at that, hand moving from Billy's shoulder to thread into his hair instead. Yeah, that's true, huh...]

Yeah, then he'd be all over the kid so much that we'd never see them. Scratch that.

[He gives an exaggerated face of thought, a frown on his face and a pout on his lips as he glances upward.]

Then our first kid will be named Godzilla.

[Oh god. Leave it to Teddy to come up with something worse.]

Is that just because you're hoping they'll take after you, Mr. Jolly Green?

[...wow, they really could have a green kid if they took a biological route rather than adopting and it wound up with a lot of Teddy's traits. How cool would that be?]

[IC] Appointments Post

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May 27th, written

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