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[Okay, so. Post-draft, he's given himself a few days of seclusion and bed-rest (apparently being infected with a zombie virus is exhausting), and even Billy can freely admit to himself that he's been pretty depressed lately, a fact for which he feels no shame considering that depression was well and truly earned. One can only spend so much time fretting, moping, and dwelling on one's own misery for so long, however, and today? He's decided that enough is enough. Billy will be going out today, limping around the village and visiting the people who were on the draft whose fate he's still uncertain of. The ones he can't find or has no reason to actually visit, he'll check with a light location spell, and he'll spend a few hours at Seventh Heaven people-watching out the window while he doodles in a book that Teddy had given him containing a series of patterns (much like this) that resemble inkblogs, and bit by bit Billy's turning them into something like this instead. It's been a tiring week, though, so you could always catch him napping on the table, instead.

At some point he'll attempt to find Peter, and when both a location spell and a teleport fails, he tries to teleport to the apartment he'd been staying at instead, finding it almost completely emptied. All he manages to dig up is a small cartridge that, after a moment of scrutiny, he identifies as a web fluid cartridge. His fanboyish glee at the discovery is tempered by the fact that the empty apartment means one more piece of bad news.

After his visits and window-watching is done, he'll return home to make the announcement, along with one more message-]

Hey out there... just wanted to let his friends know that Peter Parker went home. So... sorry. Yeah.

[Locked to Loki]

...We still on for tomorrow, or do you want to take a break? Because... you know. [Draft. Awfulness all around. He wouldn't blame Loki if he wanted to take a week off.

Later on in the evening he'll be over at Ben's barbeque, if anyone wants to bother him while he's there.]

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[Griiiiiinning.]

You asked how I'd feel, and that's how I'd feel. I don't see the problem.

[Billy scowls at him for a long moment, eyes narrowed, and then something clicks, and he sits up a little, his brows lifting. He sees a chance to tease back and he is so taking it.]

What, you've never had that kind of fantasy? No secret thoughts about, you know, watching?

More like ask if there was room for one more in your interactions! [He cracks a laugh, it's a bit forced but that blush was humorous enough.]

[Oh he sees that, Billy Kaplan, and Teddy just shrugs in response and shakes his head, arm easily winding around Billy's shoulders to support his weight.]

Not really. You moving in to kiss me? That's something I want to watch. Some other guy? Hell no.

[.....Spoilsport. 8| The wind knocked out of his sails somewhat, Billy relaxes his muscles, tilting his head back so that it bumps against the arm of the couch.]

I guess I should be saying that's good news, huh.

[That earns an eyebrow raise, though the slight quirk of his lip seems to indicate that he's not done teasing. In fact, this might have just opened the floodgates.]

What, do you want me to fantasize about Tommy sticking his tongue down your throat?

[Oh no, Altman. If he doesn't get to tease, you're not allowed either.]

Is this going to be one of those games that couples play where they dance around the kink until someone admits they like it?

[No he never needs help. He's just generally had someone to make food happen for him. The eating was pretty rad way back when he had a butler. At least things are off the fire now. And only slightly charcoaled! It was a good run, all things considered.]

Which ones were responsible? All Lucetians? [He's thinking Doctor LeBlanc seemed the most capable of the draftees.]

We'd sure be moving on up in the world.

[After a bit of thought, Teddy gives just one little uneasy glance to the side.

If you wanted me to change into someone, I could -

Billy wouldn't. Simple as that. He'll just quickly squish that insecurity bug before it can grow to a monstrous size, seeing how he knows how fast it happens otherwise.]

But maybe you should be teaching me more about first aid, Master Kaplan.

[Does Tony feel it too? Pepper has to wonder, and she reaches over to touch his hand. But it isn't just them, and when Billy speaks up, asks if they're okay, she offers him a smile.]

We're getting there. I'm still on bedrest until tomorrow. Or couchrest, as the case may be.

[Physically is easy to answer; she's got a doctor's words for that. The rest--Pepper really doesn't know where to begin when it comes to everything else. But maybe the way that she curls her fingers around Tony's might be a clue.]

[Loki laughs quietly.]

I don't know if it is that strange, considering the alternative.

Mm... I guess.

[Billy is quiet for a long moment at that, brows furrowed, considering Teddy's tone, and the expression he'd noticed there for a moment. Hmm... maybe he'd taken it too far? He'd assumed Teddy would know better, but maybe those insecurities aren't completely gone just yet.

Well. One way to fix that. He reaches up to grip the couch, using it as support to pull himself the rest of the way up, then turns around in his spot to face Teddy directly instead of away. It's slow-going to avoid hurting his leg, but if Teddy tries to help, he'll be batted off. It's a matter of pride, okay. Besides, his leg needs the exercise.

Especially since what he does next is use his good leg to swing the injured one over Teddy's thighs, plopping down to straddle his boyfriend, hands sliding up his chest.]

Lesson number one: how to know when a patient requires medical attention.

A lot of people look like they'd benefit from some comfort food and a friendly face. Maybe a cup of coffee or two to boot.

[Selphie knows that feel, Billy.]

Aaaaah, not sure what to think then. Take your time, I say. You'll figure it out in the end.

[Teddy had tried to help; he does like to dote on his boyfriend, after all, but he'll stop and merely hold his hand out as an offer instead upon being swatted away. Right, right, Billy's got his pride, just like he himself does, might as well offer help rather than force it.

Then Billy's straddling his hips and oh.

Should they really be playing this game? Billy's leg is still hurt, after all. But... well, there is that pride to consider. If this is what Billy wants, then he'll get it, as long as he doesn't push it. Teddy will draw the line there.

But for now, he moves his hands up to rest on his hips, then slide down to the middle of his thighs, eyes glancing down at the touches against his chest.]

I didn't know this was part of the procedure. [He looks up at Billy again, a quirk of a smile on his lips.] So. How do you know, other than the obvious signs?

[Her eyebrows went up.]

Seriously what?

[Because she wasn't going to just go talking out of her bum here and there were two things she could think Billy might be referring to.]

[Billy's fingers brush over the material of Teddy's shirt at first, toying with it a little, then drags his hands further up, cupping Teddy's cheeks and leaning in, keeping distance enough to avoid a kiss. His expression is somewhat scrutinizing.]

Well. It's hard for your average person to notice- this kind of diagnosis requires an expert. There's a few signs here- [His thumbs briefly tug down Teddy's lower eyelids,] An excellent indicator of pain or stress. And then here- [His fingers slide up even more, lightly pressing on Teddy's eyebrows, furrowing them,] They sort of scrunch in when something's wrong. And this- [His hands go lower now, back to Teddy's cheeks, turning his head a little to the right-] The neck muscles seem to reject the idea of there even being a problem, so they try to resist facing it. And the biggest sign is here, of course. [His fingers stop on the corners of Teddy's lips.] What we have here is a part of the body that never knows what to do itself. The rest of the body is telling it to this- [He curves Teddy's mouth slightly downwards-] But for some reason, they always do this- [Upwards into a smile, now, holding it in place for a long moment.] And that's just not natural.

[Oh god what is Billy doing to his face

The moment it starts, Teddy frowns and blinks and moves his hands to touch Billy's forearms instead, because he is sure this isn't how to tell if someone needs medical attention. Of course, he should've known with the straddling, but jeez.

It takes Teddy a moment to realize what Billy's really talking about here. And he seems to look resigned as a result, and a bit guilty. The reason why he hides things like that, especially what he was thinking earlier, is because he knows it's nothing to worry about. He knows it and Billy knows it, so why bother anyone with it? You only hear about these kinds of things in girls who cry to their friends in high school about their boys and what they fear the most.

And it... didn't even used to be so bad. It was after Teddy's image of himself, already so fragile, was kicked out from under him by Kl'rt and the Kree army, rendering him from having a small sense of belonging to none at all. After that, it seemed to bleed into everything else, too, despite how much Teddy tried to stop it and didn't want it.

It's been easier, better, thanks to his friends, thank to being a hero, and thanks to his boyfriend. But it still causes problems sometimes, such as right now.

Once Billy finally stops abusing his face, Teddy averts his gaze to look down at his chest instead, his hands still touching Billy's arms. Caught, of course. Billy's gotten good at telling if something's wrong.]

Mmm. It must be serious if it isn't natural.

Then what kind of diagnosis would you give, Doctor Kaplan?

[Once it becomes evident that Teddy understands what he's trying to do, Billy's expression softens, and he shifts his hands to rest on the blond's shoulders instead, gently rubbing them for a moment, hoping to soothe his concerns.]

Doctor Kaplan would say that the patient needs a generous dosage of understanding, mixed with a healthy amount of reassurance, and above all else, lots of TLC.

[His arms snake around to gently hug Teddy's head against his chest, fingers brushing through his hair.]

Of course, it wouldn't hurt if he'd occasionally tell his boyfriend when he's being a jerk.

[TLC. Yes, Teddy definitely doesn't object to TLC, even if he's still feeling a little embarrassed about being caught and out in the open like this. He shuts his eyes and leans against Billy's chest once he's pulled there, simply enjoy the warmth and the feel of the person he loves most, and it's only when Billy talks again that Teddy lifts his arms to wrap them around his waist, pulling him against himself in return.]

You weren't being a jerk. I was just worrying too much again.

Yes I was, and yes you were. So we both have something to work on.

[He kisses the top of Teddy's head, fingers still carding through his hair, and nestles in close to his boyfriend, comfortable and determined to do his best to keep Teddy from feeling bad about it. He'd given Teddy a reason to doubt him, and whether he should or not isn't in question. If Teddy's worried, then he needs to make sure he knows that there's no reason to.]

Remember how you looked on the day we first met? You were so tall, with all that muscle... your face was thinner, too, and all your features were really fine. On the outside you were basically perfect... I had a crush on you almost immediately. Before then, I'd never met anyone who was as good-looking as you.

Mmm.

[It's a sound of acknowledgement; yeah, he remembers, he'd just rather not comment too much on it. That was just a few hours after he broke ties with Greg, and the topic Nate wanted to talk to them about was so surreal that he almost didn't believe it, and so he kept losing attention and thinking of his situation. What would happen now? Would Greg tell his secret to everyone? Would he be outed as a mutant? Kicked off the basketball team? What if the Avengers found out he was doing? He was basically dead.

And he kept the form that he'd shown to get in with the members of the team in the first place, knowing this was what people wanted, this was what got the most attention, this is what got people to notice him. And it apparently worked then too, if it got Billy to think he was perfect almost immediately.]

[The warmth and curl of her fingers bring reassurance, even if he knows exactly what Pepper is trying to say with her gesture. It's not all about her physical state. There was other damage that had to scab and scar, too.]

So - nothing to get your spandex tights in a twist over. [Said with a teasing curb, but it's well meaning. He doesn't want Billy to worry more than he already is. Damn kid had his own issues to deal with.]

It was... what, a few weeks later? Nate hit you with that energy blast that knocked you right out of your shift. You must've been pretty dazed, because you looked different.

[He knows this is hard on Teddy, so instead of pausing too long, he forges ahead, his fingers never stopping their movement for a second.]

It must've been hard on you... feeling like you had to hide yourself from everyone, even your teammates. I can't imagine what that would be like.

[For someone like him, who's never been ashamed of who he is, or even shy about it... he can't even fathom using his power like that. With his magic he could probably wish himself into whatever he wants - he's done it before, during missions - but truth be told, it sounds exhausting, doing it all the time. He loathes the very idea of destroying his own identity just to make other people happy. He knows he's not all that much, and his self-esteem can be pretty low, but at least he knows he's himself.

For a long time, Teddy didn't have that.]

I couldn't stand the idea of not knowing who the real you was. That's why I gave you a hard time about it. Because if you were lying about your appearance... I don't know, maybe you could be lying about other things, too. Maybe everything that was making us friends, or what made us a good team, was just you trying to be perfect for us. And that's not right.

[Teddy's hold tightens a little at that, and he presses his cheek against Billy's chest. Billy knows by now that he hadn't lied about anything else; sure, he'd been a bit of a blank slate at first, trying to see what they wanted him to be. But over time, he didn't adapt, he simply... reacted, as himself. And it felt wonderful, especially when he got someone to laugh, or someone appreciated him. Even if he couldn't look himself, he'd certainly act himself.]

Yeah... It's not. We were walking home and you kept asking about it. I wanted to say that other person was who I was so badly, but after hanging out with you guys so much... I don't know. I couldn't do it.

Right. When you changed that day... I was really happy. I got to meet the real you face to face, and you know what?

[He ducks his head again, resting his chin against Teddy's hair and giving it an affectionate nuzzle.]

I really liked you. The way you smiled and shook my hand? It was so earnest and real... I was crushing on you before, sure, but I think that was the day I first started to fall for you.

[There'd been such hesitance in him, so much reluctance beforehand. And to have his appearance acknowledged, accepted, embraced, even. The relief and joy had made it the most beautiful face Billy had ever seen. And it's that honesty that has him coming back every time- because for all that his magic can change the world, for all that Teddy can change himself, when they're together, it's all real.

And he loves it. He'll always love it.]

Teddy... you know why I'm telling you this, right?

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[Action] It's rude to be dishonest with yourself.

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