selfhelp | [Voice/Action] Forward-dated to the afternoon of the 9th

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[Voice/Action] Forward-dated to the afternoon of the 9th

[He should have seen this coming- it's like it's some kind of retaliation for what he'd done on Teddy's birthday. He still manages to be surprised when Teddy shoos him out of the apartment some time after breakfast on the 9th, barely given time to grab his coat and stuff his laptop into a bag before he's been officially banished from his own home.

...Well then. Looks like he's in the wind today. First things first: while he isn't usually the type to announce this kind of thing, thanks to having the afternoon to himself (whereas usually his birthday is filled with doting parents and obnoxious little brothers vying for attention) he's feeling indulgent enough to go for it, and he remembers something in particular...]

Okay- first of all, question for everybody. Now that I know about that whole... Valentine's Day thing that's supposed to happen every year, does anyone know how to avoid it? Or should I just lock myself in my room for a few days and hope for the best?

And second, to the X-Men? If the team training is still on for today, it's probably safe to go ahead and assume I won't make it. I'm allowed to have plans on my birthday. But happy birthday to Logan whenever he gets back- 180 is a pretty big landmark, right?

[Hopefully he won't get killed for that one, but he just couldn't help himself. Even if the accuracy of that number is questionable.

The rest of the afternoon will be spent in the following ways: goofing off in the Battle Dome with some self-indulgent hologram scenarios blatantly ripped out of Star Trek, wasting time in Seventh Heaven with excessive amounts of coffee and his laptop like a proper teenage hipster, and then, when his battery's running dry, returning to building #5 to bully Teddy into feeding the laptop's power cord under the door, at which point he'll be curled up on the floor outside his apartment playing Minecraft or something while he waits for his boyfriend to finish... whatever he's doing in there.]

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[OKAY SITTING UP NOW]

Well, yeah, that's why I thought...

[So... was Billy serious or not? The thought makes him flush suddenly, and he runs a hand through his hair as he looks away.]

I mean, you know, I wouldn't... mind, but... it's kind of really dangerous? And... weird? For you?

[Dangerous? He'd laugh at that, if he wasn't so mortified already. He doesn't give a damn what form Teddy's in, his overprotective boyfriend would never hurt him. And he's never felt safer than when he had Hulkling at his back. Why would it be any different in the bedroom?

But then he says weird and Billy kind of... wilts, missing the last bit entirely. He chews nervously on his lower lip, embarrassed, a little humiliated, and finally gives in to his initial urge to grab the sheets and turn away, flopping over and burrowing in a blanket burrito of safety.]

J-just forget I said anything.

[What a stupid thing to say, even in his dreams. Of course it wouldn't be okay.]

[Oi, oi, this is not cool. This is probably the first time Billy's ever looked ashamed, at least in front of Teddy. And about something like this? No, no way. Teddy's not about to let that go.

He rests his hand on Billy's arm; not just any hand, but his Hulkling hand. They're both still worn out, so definitely not today. This is more just observing, how it would feel, touching him like this with skin that's so different.

Before he can muse on it further, though, he ha to take care of his boyfriend. That's top priority.]

Billy, hey... I'm not about to forget, and it's nothing to be ashamed of. I'm just... surprised. This isn't really...

[And he pulls his hand back, looking down at his own skin. Hard, a different color entirely, sharp at the edges and so... not normal. And Billy wants this?]

... so impressive outside of battle.

[The shifted hand against his bare skin makes him start a little - he hadn't expected him to shift for this - but he doesn't flinch or pull away. In fact, when Teddy pulls away first and his words finally sink in through the brunette's worries, Billy rolls onto his back again, tugging down the blanket and reaching a hand out to weave his fingers through Teddy's. The shifted hand, something he chooses purposefully. He still looks embarrassed and unsure, but he manages to offer up a tentative smile, looking unbothered by how much his small hand is dwarfed by his boyfriend's like this.]

You really think this isn't impressive? Haven't you ever seen yourself when you're Hulkling? You're... you're amazing, T. It's the form you found for yourself, not copying anybody, not pretending. It's you. And I love you. Remember?

[They'd talked about this before- when he'd been worried about learning first aid, hurting someone with his strength, but his appearance hadn't played as much a part of it as his strength had. This is different, and he wants it to sink in just as well as it had back then. Even if Teddy decides that this isn't okay, even if he's secretly grossed out or doesn't want to do it, he needs Teddy to understand that it's okay. That appearance isn't the real reason why they're together. Never has been.]

[He looks down at their linked hands, noting with concern just how small Billy's is, like this. Hulkling is... well, he's huge, and intimidating, just like how he wanted to be when facing down foes. It's just like Billy said, it was his own form, the one that he'd finally chosen after months of cycling through various ones while they were running around as imitations, just in case they could be themselves one day.

And Billy recognizes how important that is, and he loves it. Unafraid, unconcerned, so amazed that he's willing to do something like that with him.

It makes Teddy duck his head down a little, not even bothering to hide the blush on his face, and slowly curl his fingers to cover Billy's hand. It's still worrisome to him, and - and maybe it won't happen, because it really is dangerous in ways Billy might not be thinking of. But...]

Yeah. I remember. [He glances up at him with a tentative smile, a little shyly, a little unsure himself.] Okay. We can... try it someday. You know we'll have to be really careful, right? This is kind of... [He gives another glance at their hands. The scale of power would be tipped way to the side with this, and even one wrong move could seriously hurt the love of his life.]

[Billy is surprised again, brows lifting, jaw dropping, unable to do more than stare for a long moment. Did Teddy seriously just...?

But yes- yes he did. And the blush is back in a rush, but with it, a muted, shy delight. He has the sense to nod at Teddy's concerns, though he does take a moment to lean in and press his lips against Teddy's knuckles. He doesn't care how they feel against his skin- or rather, he does care, but he certainly doesn't mind. Teddy is Teddy, and that's the end of it as far as he's concerned.]

I'd never call it dangerous, but... careful. Careful's good. It's something new, and we'll take it slow. I promise.

[Honestly, he'd take any condition that Teddy wants to enforce just to give it a try. He can't believe his boyfriend's even remotely okay with this.

Maybe it is weird, but... if it's between them, who cares? They're allowed to experiment, aren't they?]

Good.

[And - god, it's so silly, but Teddy finds himself smiling sheepishly and almost timidly while he glances off to the side. It's not that the idea weirds him out; in fact, the more he thinks about it and doesn't think too much about the dangers involved, the more appealing it seems. But it's - it's like -

Honestly, it's like talking about going through with their first time all over again, before they lost it. Which he knows it's dumb; after their first time they had sex countless times, but...

It's very new, like Billy said. And... And the prospect of Billy giving all of himself in response to Teddy giving every single part of him is just... it's enough to make him shy.

God, if they do get that far, how in the world is he going to survive it without dying or something?

He does glance at Billy out of the corner of his eye though, as another suggestion pops into his head.]

Maybe... you can be Wiccan sometime? While we do it?

[Billy lets the relief show on his expression now that it's all settled; he'd been so worried that the very suggestion would be too weird for Teddy, and while he usually doesn't care what people think of him, the idea of someone as close to him as Teddy thinking badly of him is just...

But it was a stupid worry, he knows. He's glad that Teddy thinks it's okay anyway, though.

The question about his alter ego earns him an uplifted brow, though, curious and a bit baffled.]

Wiccan? But I don't change or anything... it's just a costume, T. Wouldn't I have to take it off anyway?

[Or most of it, anyway. He could wear the headband...]

[Now that that's settled, Teddy allows his hand to change back, though he still keeps their fingers entwined. Billy's already taught him that they shouldn't have to be ashamed to talk about things like this with each other, even if he can't help being shy or nervous about such things. So he's glad, too, even if the thought of it still makes him feel a bit uneasy.

But now it's turned around to him, so that blush never leaves his cheeks, and he ends up glancing away again.]

Well... yeah, most of it. But there's your headband, and your... cape. And...

[He makes a helpless little gesture with his free hand. Honestly, it's Kate's fault. She just had to get the sexiest material possible for Billy's Wiccan costume.]

[Billy glances down at the gesture - as if that'll help, with him still just in his birthday suit - and then it dawns on him, what Teddy's trying to say.

He can't help but smirk a bit, letting his amusement fuel his sated body with just enough energy to get him upright, swinging a leg over Teddy's hip to straddle him teasingly.]

Teddy Altman. Did you, as my boyfriend, just admit to having a spandex fetish?

[Oh my god it's like Billy's staring holes into his head - at least, that's what it feels like, when he really gets the gist. Nevertheless, he wraps an arm loosely around Billy's waist and gives a somewhat sheepish smile at his chest.]

I wouldn't call it a fetish. It always looks super awkward on a lot of people, but you...

[And now that he's talking about it, some of that sheepishness dies away, and he ends up leaning in to brush his lips over the side of Billy's neck - nothing too sensual, seeing how they're both still pretty sated, but enough to get his point across.]

It's like it's a part of you. It shows off all the best parts - [Particularly the legs, which Teddy finds himself stroking affectionately with his other hand as if it were natural.] - and you know how to move in it.

[There's a small pause, and then he gives a quiet snort of realization.] I've got it. It's not a spandex fetish. It's a Wiccan fetish.

Hmm...

[Billy tilts his neck a bit to give Teddy extra space to kiss, eyes closing, the smirk sliding easily onto a more contented smile. He'd been teasing, so he hadn't expected Teddy to answer seriously, but he certainly can't complain about that response. He shifts his body to stretch out more comfortably over Teddy's instead of straddling him, hands pressed to his chest, scratching very gently at his skin.]

I think that's called "being in love", T. But I can definitely live with that.

[With Billy stretching out, Teddy can't touch his legs anymore, which is just fine. Instead, he strokes his fingers up and down his spine instead, a musing expression on his face as he looks down at Billy's hands on his chest, then his eyes.]

A being in love fetish. I'm okay with that.

[Poor Teddy, denied the legs. Billy doesn't seem to mind at all; he cuddles up closer, fixing the blanket around them before he rests his head on Teddy's chest, one arm sliding up to wind around his boyfriend. He'll probably wake up with a hell of a sore arm, but right now he can't be assed to care. Teddy's just too comfortable, and he wants to stay close.]

Mm. And to answer your question, yes, we can do it in costume. Whenever you want.

[It's not like it's difficult to put on anymore, with his magic.]

[And with Billy getting in close like this, that wonderful, pleasant, drowsy feeling is coming back to him, and Teddy's eyes already start drifting shut. That's one good thing about having a super strong boyfriend, at least: you can sleep right on top of them and they don't need any breathing room.]

Heh... can't wait.

[He's just about to settle down with both arms around Billy's waist, but - oh, one thing. Teddy opens his eyes briefly and reaches up to run his hand through Billy's hair, his expression a little sleepy, yet very much in love.]

I hope you enjoyed everything. Yesterday and today. [Even though they haven't done much today, but what they did do was pretty worthy of adding it on to the list.]

[Billy's eyes open again at that, curving his head up to look at Teddy properly, then he leans up and presses his lips to Teddy's chin, the part of his face that he can reach in this position.]

What, it wasn't obvious?

[One more kiss, and he gives Teddy a proper smile: satisfied, undeniably happy, and smitten beyond measure. More seriously, now-]

I enjoyed it. Every bit. It was the best... and thank you.

Mmm. [Satisfied by that answer, Teddy's smile widens a bit before he leans his head down, enough to kiss Billy's forehead, then lets it rest against the pillow again.] Then I'm glad.

[With that, he lets his hands settle on his boyfriend's waist and shoulder blade, finally shutting his eyes.] Night. Morning. Whatever.

[Billy responds with a mumble, the sound half-muffled into a simple vibration against Teddy's chest, and settles in to get a few more hours of sleep before they get up. Definitely a good start to the day... but he's not quite ready to start it for real, yet.]

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[Voice/Action] Forward-dated to the afternoon of the 9th

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