selfhelp | [IC] Appointments Post

[It's something Teddy's been thinking about a lot, too. They really have been getting better, and thus more and more affectionate as well, their touches no longer hesitant or restrained. He'd been wanting to share intimacy with Billy so badly lately, eager to make him feel good and experience all those same feelings with him. It might take a bit of work - it's been months and all... But all Teddy can think is that they've waited long enough, and they're both ready.

It is why he packed some extra supplies, after all.]

Gets the... best steam in the springs? [He gives a shrug, letting their hands sway between them as they walk. They do still have to actually get settled in their room before they can do anything together...]

[He finds himself tensing up a bit again.]

It's not like I'm forgiving you! [And then softening again.] I just... am going to accept that that's what you're sorry for.

[Kurt had always been quick to forgive. This time, it just felt... so, so much harder.]

I believe that much.

Sometimes, it feels like it ought to be easier to hide that way.

[There's more. So much more. How it hurts, instead, to see him or anyone else suffering like him turn away from the help of his friends. All of it is a burden he is not well enough to hear about - not when he has so many of his own already, and not quite enough strength to bring them along.]

And sometimes, time for yourself is exactly what you need. But not if the reason is something like...like trying to protect others from "dealing with" you.

[Mia shakes her head again, wanting to offer him more than words.]

If you want to talk any more about that now, you can, but you don't have to.

...Whatever works. [He would prefer the best steam over worms, yes. But he'll settle for hand-holding and romantic evening walks, too- even if it is just to the teleporter.

And speaking of which-]

Think it'll be quiet up there? It's been a long time since we check it out last.

[Last year, actually. It's pretty much the only place to go.]

[He's not much of a gambler, anyway.]

I mean- I wasn't going to. But I don't have to be happy about seeing it. Stopping is hard enough as it is...

It is what it is, Billy. [Neither good nor evil; a simple force of nature.

He raises one eyebrow as if to ask, And I wonder why it's so very hard to stop...?]

Of course there isn't! But there's a big difference between a guy who needs saving because some all-powerful bad guy kidnapped him, and a guy who needs saving because he can't save himself. Especially if the latter got in trouble while trying to play the hero. That's just sad.

[She may be talking from experience here.]

I sure hope it is. We could use some alone time...

[Considering how long they want to be gone? Yeah, Teddy hopes for some nice, quiet alone time. Just a little break, just a way to get away from everything for a little while and focus on each other.]

But then, I wouldn't expect it to be noisy anyway.

Okay, point.

[Billy gives Teddy's hand an appreciative squeeze. They aren't too far, now. Thankfully it's a short walk.]

Just a lot of birds, I guess. Local wildlife. Flowing water. Hopefully nothing exploding.

You say that like something exploding in a relatively peaceful foresty area is normal.

[Not too far indeed. It doesn't take long for Teddy to push the door of the rec center open, his other hand pulling Billy along to let him go in the building first.]

That's like saying explosions are supposed to happen in Bambi.

Maybe in the director's cut.

[He'd watch the hell out of that version.]

Besides, it's us. Disaster just kind of... follows us, doesn't it?

[Hell, Teddy would too.]

Oh, no. Don't jinx it, Kaplan. Next thing we know, we'll be lounging in the springs only for something to explode on us.

I can think of one or two things that I'd be okay with exploding.

[....Wait he said that out loud.]

[... Oh wow. Gosh. Billy really did say that out loud.

At first, Teddy widens his eyes, and he can just feel the flush cross his face. Then he decides screw it, and just decides to take the chance by pulling on Billy's hand again, this time reeling the brunet in until he can wrap his other arm around his waist from behind and pull him in close, then rests his chin on his shoulder with a raised eyebrow.]

One or two ways, huh...?

[Billy sets free a soft little surprised noise at the sudden pull, tilting his head to look at Teddy with widened eyes. A reaction like that means... he likes it? He's okay with that joke?

Of course he's okay with that, it's what you'd normally say, it means we're getting back to how things were.

It took you this long to-

He squelches the voice stubbornly, his lips creeping up into a smile.]

...I'll... let you use your imagination for that.

Hmmm.

[Teddy lifts his head, allowing only a second of hesitation before he leans in to brush his lips against Billy's jawline, eyes drifting shut as he feels butterflies in his stomach. It's pleasant, at least, and familiar, like the first few times they...

Keep cool, keep it cool, Teddy.]

My imagination's not so great right now. [He pulls back, only to start guiding Billy to the teleporter with both hands on his shoulders.] You'll have to show me later.

[Billy blinks and walks forward, allowing himself to be led. Is it just him, or is his jaw tingling...?]

...I'll, um. See if I can put together a lesson plan, then. Or something.

You do that.

[And with that, Teddy bullies Billy onto the teleporter, following after him once it's his turn to go. And... it's exactly as he remembers it. Cozy, separated by gender, rooms off to he sides...

... And blessedly empty. Good.

He can't help the smile that comes up; it's nostalgic, just like the first time he came up here with Billy. With all that's happened, it feels like so long ago, like they were so young when they celebrated their first anniversary here. It's only a year later, and Teddy still feels young, but he's felt like he's grown so much since then, too.]

[Whooooa, teleporting without being in control of it is really disorienting. Is this how people feel when he teleports them? No wonder they get sick.

Billy stumbles a bit, one hand over his mouth just in case, but the sensation passes after a moment and he lets himself relax again, looking around.]

This place... it looks the same as ever.

[It's too quiet to be already-occupied, though... good.]

And no explosions. Nice.

[Not yet, anyway. He thinks. He hopes.

But right now, they need to pick a room for themselves and get settled. Teddy takes another moment to look around, though he's mostly just making sure that Billy's stomach is fully settled, then makes his way down the hall to one of the rooms near the end. So far, all of them look pretty empty... but better to take a room that's not right at the beginning of the place.]

Maybe it's the time of year. It sounds pretty crazy to go near water of any kind when it's cold.

That's true... even with the heat from the springs, the air is still chilly up in the mountains.

[He follows Teddy through the place, poking into rooms here and there just to check. Yep, all empty. It's such a relief; even if they don't actually get anywhere this week, being away from the village and having a bit of private time will do them both worlds of good. And he'll be glad to be away from people for a while, even with all the hermiting he's done already. It's different when people are still nearby, after all.]

Everyone else would probably think we're in a polar bear club or something.

[Which he's definitely okay with, if it means no one comes up here to check on them or anything. Not that he's ungrateful for the people who do, it's just... it'll be so nice to be away from people for a while. Away away, even with Teddy's love of being with people. He needs the break almost as much as Billy does.

Soon enough, Teddy looks into one of the rooms for a longer moment, then opens the door to it.]

How about this one?

[Billy glances over, then abandons the room he'd been checking to catch up and look in on the one Teddy had found. After a quick once-over, brows furrowed thoughtfully, he nods.]

Yeah... I think this'll be good. it's closest to the spring, too, so I can feel the heat coming in. We'll need that at night.

[...Well, maybe. Depending on what keeps them busy.]

Like our own personal little heater.

[Although, even if they don't do anything groundbreaking for the week, he's pretty sure they'll still use each other as a good source of heat. Teddy smiles in approval anyway, then heads inside and gently sets his backpack down by one of the beds. He's got a guitar strapped to it, so he can't just go tossing the bag around like he usually would.]

Thank god. You know me, I'm always cold otherwise. I'll probably spend 95% of the week in the water.

[Billy follows suit, depositing his own bag and starting to unpack. It's easiest to get the boring stuff out of the way at the beginning so they can spend the rest of the time having fun. Clothes, books, his music- everything goes to its new, albeit temporary, home.]

[IC] Appointments Post

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