[Voice / Action]

[selfhelp]

[Okay, so. Several things need to be dealt with here, one way or another. First being the fact that he has a facetwin hanging around who is pretty damn hard to explain, though Tommy being more or less okay with the "brother" title helps with that. Second is that he knows the truth about his heritage now, which is, in short, a huge weight off his shoulders. Third is that his strength is mostly back in his arm as long as he doesn't bend or twist it in a way that stresses his brace too much, which admittedly doesn't mean much, but it does mean that he's able to finish the sketches he'd promised to Pepper's art gallery.

Thus, since it's so warm and dry today, he'll be heading out to deliver a set of hefty-sized rolled sheets of drawing paper to Pepper's art gallery, and then to swing by Tony's house to catch up on some work and maybe fill his... sort-of employer in on the recent developments. Mainly the kid with Billy's face who is probably going to hate him for a while. Tommy's not as keen to forgive as some people.

His last stop will be the plaza, armed with a miniature sketchbook, and props himself up against the side of the fountain to draw whatever comes his way. Occasionally he might have to stop and give his hand a frustrated shake, but hey, there's no physiotherapy like a good work-out, right?

At some point while he's out, though, he'll be doing what he told himself he'd get done: a journal entry that is better late than never.]

[Voice, locked from Tommy]

Hey, it's Billy. Just wanted to get it out there that if you see anybody with my face - or hear my voice, I guess - that's Tommy, my... brother. Kind of. It's complicated. He might be a bit tough to deal with sometimes, but he's not a bad guy, so just try to put up with him, if you can. He could use some friends.

[....]

Just don't let this get back to him, I'd never hear the end of it.

Comments

[neversurrender]

That's great news Billy. You must be happy to see him.

I guess I won't have to worry about recognizing him.

[Since he has your face and all. Although Steve has no clue that the newcomer named 'Speed' that he spoke to is Tommy. =\]

[selfhelp]

[...happy... does he have to be?]

Probably won't be hard. He looks almost exactly like me, but with white hair and green eyes.

[neversurrender]

At least we don't have to worry about confusing you two then.

[selfhelp]

Small miracles, yeah. Though he's pretty much nothing like me, appearance aside.

[neversurrender]

And that's a bad thing?

[selfhelp]

Not really, I just figured it was worth mentioning, so you're not surprised later. Some people have really weird expectations of twins.

[neversurrender]

I've never actually met a pair of twins before. I don't really have any expectations at all.

[selfhelp]

Oh wow, really?

Some people think that twins get some kind of brain-link. Like we can share thoughts or brainwaves or whatever.

[neversurrender]

Really? That's extremely odd. I mean, I can see how it would be useful if it were true. But you wouldn't have much privacy would you?

[selfhelp]

No, not really. Though sometimes I wonder if he does know what I'm up to. He always seems to show up when I'm with Teddy.

[Stupid cockblocking sibling.]

[neversurrender]

Maybe he's just feeling left out. Do you and Teddy not like him joining in?

1/2

[selfhelp]

[JOINING IN

TOMMY

JOINING IN

WITH HIM AND TEDDY

THE MENTAL IMAGES AUGH AUGH NO THAT'S HIS BROTHER OH GOD]

[selfhelp]

[Sob. Sob. Cap really has no idea, does he.]

N-no, uh... I don't think Tommy would want to be a part of what I'm talking about.

[neversurrender]

Why not? Do you three not get along together?

[selfhelp]

Oh, we get along fine. [More or less.] It's just that Teddy and I like to have some alone time, too.

[Come on, Steve, does he really have to spell it out for you.]

1/3

[neversurrender]

[...Alone time. At first he's confused. He knows that it can sometimes be annoying to have someone butt in when you only feel like being with a certain friend.

That had happened more than a few times when Steve and Bucky were supposed to hang out and one of the women Bucky has dated invites herself to join them.

But 'alone time' almost makes it sound like...

Oh.]

2/3

[neversurrender]

[Oh.]

3/3

[neversurrender]

[This is...embarrassing. And yet...it makes sense. He feels stupid for not noticing before.]

Uh, yeah, of course. I completely understand.

[And then he realizes what he said about Tommy and joining in oh god. All the embarrassment forever.]

[selfhelp]

[Oh dear, extended pauses. Billy is quiet for a long moment, suddenly feeling as uncomfortable as Steve looks. He usually doesn't give a damn what people think of him, but the people he respects or cares about? Their opinions matter. There's a good reason why he didn't actually tell his parents about his sexuality.

He sits in awkward silence, trying to sort out how to even begin dealing with this, before managing a hesitant response.]

Yeah, so... um. Sorry. ...For the blindside.

[Not for being gay, though. That's one thing he'll never apologize for.]

[neversurrender]

[He understands why neither one of them would jump right up and admit it though. At least not to him. But old-fashioned as he may be, he would never disrespect someone over something like that. It just wasn't his business.]

No, it's fine. I just feel really stupid right now is all.

[selfhelp]

Stupid? It's not like I told you or anything...

[Wait, did he just say it's fine?]

[neversurrender]

No, but there have been...hints.

[Like...a lot now that he thinks about it. From both him and Teddy whether they noticed them or not.]

[selfhelp]

Ah, yeah. We're not exactly subtle about it, even if we don't announce it outright.

[Honestly, though, he... really has to ask, now. For Teddy's sake as much as his.]

It's... really fine? You don't mind?

[neversurrender]

[His tone suddenly gets serious. Not mean by any means, but stern enough that Billy knows he's serious about what he's saying.]

That's not really my place is it? Nor is it my business. But no, I don't mind. I may be old fashioned Billy but I've always considered myself open minded. As long as it's not hurting anyone, I don't have anything to say against it.

[selfhelp]

[There is a prolonged pause after that, as Steve's words sink in. It's something Billy's always believed, himself: that it isn't anyone's business, and that he shouldn't be judged for how he feels or who he loves. But what he believes and what others do has always clashed, ever since he was little. Moreso since he decided that yes, he's gay, and the world should just have to deal with it. Because then he learned exactly how they "dealt with it", and...

...it just changes things. It changes too much.

He's quiet, but not because he's upset or anything, even if at that moment he kind of feels like crying. It's just... it's nice to hear that kind of response from someone, especially someone he respects, someone he's looked up to for years and years. The confirmation that yeah, it's okay. That it doesn't matter.

People like Kesler can hate him for it if they want, he won't care- because Captain America doesn't mind.]

...Thanks.