[Billy doesn't answer for a while, his gaze fixated on Teddy's hands around his. Holding him, supporting him. Taking care of him like always.
Sometimes you can't fix it. He wonders, quietly, what that means for him, though he's sure that wasn't Teddy's intent. Maybe he can't be fixed, either. Maybe he can't get better. Maybe all of this is a waste.
...but...
Slowly, hesitantly, he lets his eyes drift upwards, seeking Teddy's once more. He's so sad, but... so determined, too. So strong. After this. After everything. His grip is strong, and his voice, and his words, and...
...and Billy had seen, for the first time in a long while, a hidden fragility there, signs of a wall of strength being chipped away, bit by bit. By him, by what he's become.
That. That... is what he needs to fix. The part of Teddy that he's breaking, a little more every day. And he needs to be strong enough to make it better.
These things take time.
It'll be hard.
...but...
I can fix it, can't I...?
Silently, he adds it to his list. Pushed right to the top, circled, underlined, highlighted. With a footnote. Slowly.
[Action, October 25th]
Sometimes you can't fix it. He wonders, quietly, what that means for him, though he's sure that wasn't Teddy's intent. Maybe he can't be fixed, either. Maybe he can't get better. Maybe all of this is a waste.
...but...
Slowly, hesitantly, he lets his eyes drift upwards, seeking Teddy's once more. He's so sad, but... so determined, too. So strong. After this. After everything. His grip is strong, and his voice, and his words, and...
...and Billy had seen, for the first time in a long while, a hidden fragility there, signs of a wall of strength being chipped away, bit by bit. By him, by what he's become.
That. That... is what he needs to fix. The part of Teddy that he's breaking, a little more every day. And he needs to be strong enough to make it better.
These things take time.
It'll be hard.
...but...
I can fix it, can't I...?
Silently, he adds it to his list. Pushed right to the top, circled, underlined, highlighted. With a footnote. Slowly.
And out loud, he murmurs:]
...Okay.