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[Voice/Action]
[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.]
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.]
[Action]
[There's a little smile on Teddy's face as he gives Billy's chest a light nuzzle. It's nice to hear that... that the real him can give Billy such a response. That it's loved, appreciated, even from the start. Billy was honestly the first one to ever say he wanted to hang out with the real him, the only one to not whisper behind his back about something of his. For everyone else, he'd been too short, he needed a haircut, he was too geeky, his dimples when he smiled were weird... just unimpressive in general.
But Billy accepted it all, even embraced it. Each and every time Teddy tried to hide something after that, Billy would call him out on it or move his hand away or - just little things that made Teddy realize how much the real him was appreciated. And he'd never felt such joy in his life.
Teddy tilts his head back then, not enough to dislodge Billy from his hair, but at least enough to press his lips against his chest without his nose getting in the way, instead resulting in his words being muffled.]
You want me to be more honest?
[Action]
[A gentle teasing jab at Teddy's usual response; he shouldn't be pointing fingers, after all, considering how much he loves to mumble. It was mostly understandable, though, and after a moment of quiet cuddling he lowers his hands to Teddy's shoulders again, urging him back a bit.]
I want you to be yourself, whatever you want to be, whatever feels the most natural to you. If you'd told me that day that you thought that form was who you were meant to be, and you really believed it, I'd have been okay with that. If you decided that Hulkling should be your real form, I'd still accept you. So no, I don't want you to turn into Tommy - that really is gross, by the way - and I don't want you to be anyone else, either. Just you. Just Teddy. That's more than enough for me.
[Action]
But Teddy doesn't say it, because the truth is, he does worry sometimes. Who in the world is he? What is he? Who is he supposed to look like, what is it that everyone wants? The Skrull prince? A warrior of Kree like his father? Hulkling? Something in between? Can't he just be him?
No matter what, though, no matter what he might decide... Billy will be at his side. Loving him not for how he looks, but for who he is. And for a teenager who's lived his life on insecurities and constantly shifting, even when he didn't know he had this ability, to fit what other people wanted...
He isn't sure if Billy knows how profound that is, or what it means to him.
So, instead of saying that, Teddy lets out a sigh, and he tips his head back to rest his chin against Billy's chest and look up at him. If the smile and his relaxed posture isn't enough, then that joy and absolute adoration in his eyes ought to say how he feels.]
How did I ever deserve someone like you?
[Action]
I keep asking myself that question, and I'm not any closer to figuring it out, either. Maybe instead of wondering about it, we should just be grateful we're this lucky.
[Because he does feel lucky- even if Teddy has problems,it's not like he's any better, and sometimes they both flounder and fight about it. Sometimes they say or do the wrong thing, and sometimes he says something callous that reminds Teddy of his mom, and sometimes Teddy tries to give him a heart attack doing something stupid. And sometimes they say or do the right thing, like the moment where Teddy built him up by talking about how strong he was without his powers when he was low, or this moment, right here and now.
They're not perfect. But that's what makes them right. And he's giving that look right back at Teddy, fingers curling gently in his hair once more.]
I love you, T.
[Action]
[Teddy would be content with just looking at Billy like this forever. But since the urge is so powerful right now, the smile widens a bit as one hand slides up Billy's back until it reaches the back of his head, then pulls it down, enough to close the distance between them and give him a deep and grateful kiss.
They're not perfect. But damn, does this feel perfect right now.]
[Action]
[Action]
No one here to do that now, which means Teddy can enjoy this for as long as he wants and not hold back the quiet sounds that occur when a pleasant sensation is felt. Without anything to interrupt them, it feels like they've got all the time in the world.]
[Action]
Eventually Billy does ease back, wincing a little, his hands resting on Teddy's chest.]
Mm... T, as awesome as this is, my legs are cramping up. Doctor Kaplan needs to sits properly or he's going to fall over.
[Action]
[Teddy gives a quick grin before he pulls his arms back and holds his hands up as if to tell Billy that he won't touch him. For a few seconds, anyway. As soon as Billy is sitting properly, Teddy rests a hand on his chest and leans in -
Only to stop as he catches sight of that medical book beside them.
Hmmmmmm.]
So, doctor. [Teddy's hand slides down Billy's chest as he looks into his eyes again.] More prescribed TLC? Or [as his hand moves away from his chest to drum his fingers against the book instead.] teaching me how I can do it?
[Action]
How's about you help me change my bandages, and then I reward you with that promised TLC?
[Action]
[Teddy takes the book and holds it up for him to read, both to give it his full attention and to give Billy some space to lie down or get his bandage off or drape his legs over his lap or whatever it is he's supposed to do. Right now, he'll just take the time to read the introduction, the types of open wounds there are, and make a mildly disturbed face of a picture of an open wound they decided to place right there. Jeez, what is it with medical books and trying to give you nightmares for life?]
I guess we need mild soap water? And honey, apparently...
[Action]
[Billy leans in to puzzle over the book's contents for a moment, brows furrowing, then shrugs it off, kisses his cheek, and pushes himself off the couch, tugging lightly on Teddy's arm.]
Actually, first you can help me walk to the bathroom, because I am not getting blood on the couch, even if I could just magic it out.
[Action]
Nngh, but if it helps him...]
Yeah, honey. It says it keeps the wound moist. But if it weirds you out, then we can probably skip that.
[And with that, he does what Billy tells him to and stands, arm around his waist while maneuvering in a way so that Billy can get his own arm around Teddy's shoulders, then makes the slow trek to the bathroom. Really, Teddy would rather just pick him up and carry him, but eh. Kaplan Pride.]
[Action]
[Maybe it's an herbal thing. Whatever, it doesn't matter. With Teddy's help he limps his way over, and once inside, he sits down on the edge of the bathtub with a quiet sigh, stretching his legs out. He'd been much better this morning, but walking around all day really wore him out. Worth it, of course, but tiresome.
After he's seated, he reaches out, hands opening and closing in a grabbing motion.]
Okay, nurse, hand over the book. First aid kit's under the sink, and there should be a bowl with it, too. Start with that soapy water and a clean cloth- I'll walk you through it.
[Action]
Warm water, I'm guessing? [As he stands and turns on the water, waiting for it to get just right.]
[Action]
[He sets the book on his lap and bends down, rolling his pant leg gingerly up to his knee, grateful for the fact that he has an affection for loose-fitted pants when he's not running around in spandex (or showing off for a certain someone); it sure made this easier. With the bandage exposed, he can see that all the walking around had reopened the wound as he'd predicted, but apparently it wasn't by much, since it was only a little pink. He leans back and returns his attention to the book, flipping through to find his page again.]
Make sure you wash your hands while you're getting the water. That part's important, so you don't get the wound infected.
[Action]
[No more getting infected, okok. As if to make doubly sure, Teddy rolls up his sleeves and soaps his hands and all the way up to his elbows, just like he'd see on -
He pauses, looking at the mirror with a somewhat incredulous expression, before he turns to Billy, arms up and water dripping down his elbows.]
My mom used to watch ER all the time. [He looks at each arm with a raised eyebrow before turning back to the sink to wash off the suds.] I feel like one of those guys now.
[And that's probably one of the very few times he mentioned his mom without there being an underlying pain in his eyes.]
[Action]
For him to sound even a little casual about it... that's progress, isn't it?]
It was Grey's Anatomy at my place, until Mom got tired of Dad's complaining how inaccurate it is. ...Did you know there's a blonde doctor on that show named Teddy Altman?
[Action]
Then a sloooow turning of his head to look at his boyfriend.]
You don't say. [As the recipient of giggling high school girls who constantly told him about this Teddy Altman lady? Yeah. He knows.
But at least this is a much better topic than his own mother.]
[Action]
What, not a fan? But it's such a great name.
[A lot more easy on the ear than Dorrek, that's for sure. (Not that he'd say as much, he's just quietly grateful.]
[Action]
[Finally clean, Teddy takes the bowl and fills it with warm water, a less than impressed look on his face as he remembers quite clearly the results of sharing a name with a famous character, especially when said character also has blond hair.]
The problem is when kids come up and ask if you have a sister who's a doctor, or if you're actually a female doctor, or if I know the actress or wrote to them about my name. Here I thought I was free from the name thing.
[Action]
[He's still teasing; he knows Teddy just loves his full name, after all.
In the meantime he leans in to watch Teddy work with the bandages. Removing them is fairly straightforward unless they stick to the skin, so he doesn't offer any instructions yet.]
[Action]
[Teddy's still slow and careful, despite how easy it ought to be to remove bandages. He doesn't want to make a mistake, is all. With that train of thought, though, he gives Billy a glance before he keeps working.]
Did you know that Draco can say my full name and not make it sound stupid?
[Action]
[Billy lifts a brow at the comment about Draco, though, intrigued.]
I think it's like a law that anything said in Sean Connery's voice sounds awesome.
[He winces suddenly as the bandage catches on some blood and still-healing skin, giving Teddy's shoulder a tap.]
Hey, soak it in a bit of water before you pull that part off.
[Action]
[Looks like this procedure won't be painless, as much as Teddy would like to wish for it. So, he cups one hand into the water, then holds it against the spot, letting it soak into it and hopefully ease it up a little bit.
Once that's done with, Teddy hesitantly pulls at the bandage once more.]
... Yeah, I swear he's the only one who can possibly pull it off. I actually like it when he does it.
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