faesphere | [Random RP Post

[Teddy's not quite as dazed as the others because of the teleportation, but he still does seem a bit out of it when Billy starts to pull him away. It always does feel weird, and - well, it's just a relief to see that Billy got it right, especially after he'd been locked away and weakened for so long. It's impressive, actually.

He snaps out of it though, enough to look at Billy long enough to nod, wave back at the group with a tired smile, then face forward once more. Home... The Kaplan family are already out of their minds with worry, have been for weeks now. It'll be so nice to be able to bring their son back... even if it probably means he'll have to do something else on his own for a while. That doesn't even matter to him; his boyfriend is here, he's safe, and his family is going to be so happy.]

Home, yes. Let's go.

[Once they get out in the streets, there's still a nagging at his brain to let go of Billy's hand, because people could be looking, because what if they get glares, what if... But no, no. He loves the feeling of Billy's hand in his own, and Billy isn't letting go either, so... that means he probably likes it too, right?

Besides, there's something else more pressing on his mind. He gives Billy's hand a squeeze, a way to get his attention.]

But seriously, B... are you okay? [It's not just physically; Teddy can't imagine what they did to him, what kind of holograms he had to sit through, not being able to do anything...]

[One more flash of magic, and the costumes fade to civvies; Billy doesn't think to ask, but he's done it enough times that he assumes it's okay. He'd honestly like to just teleport or fly right there, but he's tired, and he doesn't want to deal with the superhero stuff right now. He wants to go home as himself, Billy Kaplan, walk through the door like a real person and greet his family like everything's fine. He can deal with all things horrible when he's had time to savour the good that's come of this.

He's ready to rush right for the metro when Teddy's question halts him, and he pauses, not able to face his boyfriend right away. Is he okay? God, he is so, so not. And he'd love to tell a pretty lie and reassure Teddy that yes, he's fine, he's just tired, and he's so happy to be free, and- okay, the last two are true, but... it's too much. Years of misplaced memories, the knowledge that he's the only one who knows about any of it, everything he went through before and after Luceti, everything in Luceti...

He takes a deep, tremulous breath, glances over his shoulder, and gives Teddy a faintly pleading look.]

I... can't talk about it. Not yet. But I promise, I will when I'm ready.

[Please, please let that be enough. He can't bring himself to explain anything if Teddy chooses to pry right now.]

[It isn't really enough, but the promise does reassure him a little. Plus, Teddy doesn't want to upset Billy too much, not after... all of this. Not after he's finally free and back by Teddy's side. He does look a little unhappy, but it's only because he's still scared for him, like Billy's still locked up with nothing Teddy can do for him.

So he sucks up the worry with a breath that's just a bit deeper, then nods, a warm smile on his face as he squeezes Billy's hand again, even though he can't quite get the concern out of his eyes. Hopefully his boyfriend won't notice and add that to the pile of things on his mind.]

Okay. I'll hold you to that. [Or maybe not, but it's enough. The sentiment and the promise is enough for him.]

Come on - [He says it as he pulls ahead this time, leading Billy towards the metro. It's time to get his boyfriend back home - finally, after all this time.]

Edited 2015-07-09 06:44 (UTC)

[Billy does notice, but he has to force it to the back of his mind for now. Pushing himself now would just cause as scene, and he'd probably end up freaking out and making things worse for the both of them. His head's too much of a jumble to explain how he's feeling in a way that won't give Teddy stress nightmares or something. That's the last thing either of them need.

Still, he can't quite stop himself from leaning heavily on Teddy as they head back, gripping his hand like a vice while they walk, tucking himself up against Teddy's side on the subway. Mercifully it's a short trip to their stop. He's already certain that he's going to start sobbing the moment he walks through the apartment door. What the hell is he even going to say to his parents? Teddy's seen the prison- how does he explain anything to them?

Shivering, he burrows his face in Teddy's shoulder and closes his eyes, allowing Teddy to lead them home. Almost there. Almost there...]

Edited 2015-07-09 07:11 (UTC)

[Teddy isn't quite sure what to do with himself; Billy's never really sought out this much of his touch before. Not that they don't do it at all, but soaking up this much of him is... it's so nice, but so different, too. They usually reserve this for when they're in private, is all.

He doesn't think much of it though, for Billy has a good reason to be like this, and Teddy doesn't hesitate at all to return that affection. They just need to get home, get out of the crowd of people that's always around New York and get back home. Billy's not the only one who missed it, even though Teddy still doesn't consider it a home just yet.

Thankfully, the whole trip doesn't take long, and Teddy keeps Billy tucked against his side while he leads the way. Up the stairs of the apartment building, up the elevator, and down the hall until -

Until the door opens suddenly, and Mrs. Kaplan is there, eyes wide with worry and shock and - and relief, utter relief. As soon as Teddy sees her, he lets go of Billy and steps aside - this is something for a mother and her son.]

Billy? Billy, Oh - Jeff! Jeff, he's home!

[She doesn't even finish speaking before she moves forward to pull her son tight into her arms. He's home, he's finally home.]

[And just like that, he's home again.

For a long moment, Billy is frozen, unable to move, unable to fully comprehend this reality. Home. Home. Back to his apartment, back to his family, back to his room and his school and his annoying baby brothers and the team and- and- everything-

Arms wrapped around him, hands on his back, where there are no wings anymore. His mother clinging to his neck where there used to be a barcode, crying into his shirt, his father pulling them both into a strong, hearty embrace. The pleasant scent of something cooking in the kitchen, the hum of the evening news on the TV a dull buzz in the background detailing the battle that had taken place less than an hour ago. His mother is talking, asking questions, but he doesn't hear any of it. There's just a dull ache in his chest as that lonely hole he'd been carrying for more than two years' worth of memories is finally, finally beginning to close up.

Home.

His breath catches, and he finally moves, arms lifting to cling to his parents, and he goes ahead and lets the tears flow freely. This is what he'd needed, all this time.]

[And even the little brothers rush out with calls of Billy's name to cling to their brother's sides and legs. It's an emotional family reunion, a big Kaplan family pile.

And Teddy, standing away from them with his hands in his pockets, just watches with a happy, yet wistful smile. He'd done what he promised; he brought Billy back to his family, safe and well. And he's so happy to see the result of it, and yet - yet he's a bit out of place here, and it feels an awful lot like he's peeking in on an intimate moment that he shouldn't be looking at. When he looks down at the floor because of it, his mind helplessly wonders what it'd be like if his own mother was alive right now. Would she have pulled him into her arms too, cried against his shoulder? Would there be a pleasant scent of homemade food waiting for him? Would she press kisses all over his cheeks and forehead and nose and ask so many questions at once?

He feels like he should leave. The hallway is suddenly too small, and he's intruding on something he shouldn't be. He takes a step back and turns, though he doesn't even make it halfway when - ]

Teddy - No, stay, hold on -

[... How does she know these things?]

No, it's okay, Mrs. Kaplan, I'll be back later -

[Funny, how it's Teddy's name that finally breaks through the fog- not his mother's tearful welcome or his father's careful questions, but Teddy. Then again, it also makes sense- Teddy's been his only family, his sole supporter, for a long time now, even if he's the only one who remembers it. He lifts his head, startled by the words. Back later? He's leaving?

He's genuinely startled by the sudden panic, moving before he can even think about it- wriggling free of the arms of his parents and reaching out to grasp at Teddy's sleeve like a desperate child. His voice is shaky as he speaks up, hesitant- he doesn't understand why Teddy would leave, where he's going, why, don't go, don't leave me-]

Teddy...?

[Teddy looks down at the hand holding his sleeve, then up to Billy's eyes, seeing the desperation there and not entirely understanding it. He would've thought they'd let him go, go to... wherever, probably wander or see his mom's grave, just to give them some time alone together. This was their thing, not... his. He lost his not long ago, after all.

He doesn't keep going, and he takes a step back toward Billy as well. But he does look at him as well as the rest of the family with a question in his eyes, because he feels on the spot, he doesn't know what to think, this is still such a new thing for him.]

I, uh... was going to go out for a while? You know... [He gestures to the them all.] So you guys can catch up. [As a family, goes unsaid. But...]

Don't be silly, [Mrs. Kaplan says as she walks past Billy, squeezes her son's shoulder, then gives Teddy a hug about as equal as the one she gave to Billy.] You're just as much our family.

[Billy can only nod, hoping that just how much he agrees with his mother's words is conveyed through his eyes. There's so much he wants to say, but so much he can't. How Teddy literally is his family, how he has so many memories of their time spent together, how they'd shared a home and a bed and a life, how the ring at his neck, tucked beneath his shirt, is a symbol of just how much of a family they are.

Not yet, though. Not yet. And his heart aches to remember that Teddy doesn't know all those things. He wants to confess it all, but knows how crazy and unbelievable it would be.

Instead he just clings, refusing to let Teddy go, and pleads silently. If Teddy truly wanted to go, no one could stop him. But it's clearly for their sake, not his.]

[Well. How is he supposed to leave now? From Rebecca's hug to Jeff agreeing with his wife and clasping his shoulder, from the way the brothers hold his sides and legs too to...

To Billy looking at him like that, with a plea in his eyes and still holding his sleeve.

There's still a huge hole in his heart where his mother - his only family - used to be, and Teddy knows it could never really be filled. But moments like this... it's not so bad. He even feels a little bit like the family Rebecca's talking about, even though he hasn't known them for long.

So he ducks his head with a somewhat shy and very humbled smile, and the tension that'd previously filled his shoulders relaxes out of him. He still feels like some kind of intruder, like he shouldn't be here. But they want him here, they want him to be part of their family, and... he kind of wants it, too.]

Yeah... okay. Sorry about that...

[And now that that's settled, it's about time for them to stop lingering in the hallway. Soon enough, the boys are bullied back inside by the parents, where they're smothered with affection and worry and, in the brothers' case, annoying questions. But it's home. As much as Teddy can call it a home, at least. He mostly stays quiet with his hands on his knees, as Billy is the one who'd been missing, locked up at a prison this whole time. Yet there are times where he'll reach out to take Billy's hand, or rest his own against the small of Billy's back. He's here, and he'll be here to stay.]

[What a relief. With Teddy at his side, Billy feels less like he's about to fall to pieces; he's still tense, and refuses to say much- something he knows is going to earn him even more family therapy sessions with Dr. Mom later, but screw it, he doesn't feel like talking. Right now he just wants to sit quietly and soak in the presence of his family. When Teddy takes his hand he holds it tight, his breath evening out a little more each time. The mantra is perpetual and hushed at the back of his mind, home, home, home, home. It's incredible. It's like a dream, and if he hadn't walked right out of a nightmare that day he'd have wondered if it was even real. But no- he's seen enough dreams and illusions to recognize it, now.

Eventually he grows too weary of it- the awkward silences, the urgent, fretful gaze of his parents, the questions from his brothers. Half an hour or so into poking disinterestedly at his dinner, he murmurs about feeling tired and not the slightest bit hungry, and his mother immediately rises and brushes a hand through his hair, over his forehead.]

Of course, sweetheart, you must be exhausted. Why don't you go to bed, and we'll talk in the morning?

[Normally such a comment would be halfway a threat, but right now it's all care and concern, and he loves her all the more for it. He nods, leaning in automatically as she kisses his forehead and steps away to let him rise.

Before he moves, though, he glances at Teddy, to see what he'll do. He doesn't want to ask, but...]

[Teddy himself had shared in those gazes of concern, though he also shared in that weary exhaustion that Billy was feeling. It's like jumping from a nightmare and straight into a warm and comforting atmosphere; it's good, it's so good, but it's... weird as well. And he's already been under a high amount of stress, and he's just so tired.

When Billy starts to leave, Teddy looks up at him, and so he doesn't miss the glance Billy gives him. He's not sure exactly what he wants, but he can take a good enough guess. So he shares that glance, then gives a polite smile as he pushes his chair out as well.]

Actually, I'm really tired, too. Thanks for the meal, Mr. and Mrs. Kaplan. Do you mind if I hit the hay early?

[Mrs. Kaplan gives much the same reply, though she'd also given a raised eyebrow as well. Teddy's part of the family, yes, but they do still have some rules about what the boys can and can't do behind closed doors. Yet they did just get out of such an awful scenario, so she's sure that shenanigans is the last thing they're thinking of.

... Even still - ]

Doors open, boys.

["Yeah, BILLY." the brothers call out, all harmless teasing. Teddy, in response, gives the boys a grin and a semi-rough ruffling of their hair before he follows Billy to his room.]

Edited 2015-07-10 06:03 (UTC)

[He knows the rules. Of course he does. Years away from home can't take those memories away. Open doors, no locks, no shenanigans, no crime fighting after midnight-

He doesn't care. As soon as they're inside the room, he quietly shuts the door behind them, leaning back against it and exhaling deeply. Tonight is the only night he might be able to get away with this; after everything, his mother isn't going to barge in to yell at him for this. And he really, really needs the door to be shut tonight.

Like he could even wrap his head around doing anything like that tonight.

Opening his eyes, he offers Teddy a weak smile and heads to his closet to get a couple pairs of fresh pajamas. He knows he has a baggy set that might fit Teddy.]

[Teddy isn't sure what Billy has in mind, but he figures he can be there for him until it's time to sleep for real. So he sits on the bed, elbows on his knees and bent forward in a way that would probably make Mrs. Kaplan tap his back to get him to straighten up, if she were here. He watches Billy, expecting him to just get a pair of pajamas for himself.]

That was a nice bail back there. [And softer:] Did you still want to talk, or did you want to wait a little on that?

[Want to talk? He'd never wanted that. It's an inevitable thing that he'll have to face eventually, but the thought of doing so right now...

He shivers, then shakes his head, dragging his shirt up over his head. It only takes a minute to change, and then he turns back to face Teddy, the extra pajamas in hand, and stops hesitantly in front of the blond, twisting the cloth nervously in his hands. His voice is faint when he speaks up, the words stilted and laced with worry.]

Will... you stay with me?

[He'll talk if he has to, if that's the condition for Teddy's continuing presence. He just... doesn't want to be alone right now.]

[Teddy's eyes widen a bit at that, and he feels like he shouldn't be surprised by the request, but he is. They've never slept in the same bed before; took a nap, sure, and rested up after the shenanigans that they got away with (teenaged boys riddled with hormones and all). But they've never spent a whole night in each other's room, and that's... something usually done later down the road, right?]

Uh... [He looks at the cloth in Billy's hands, then back up at his face.] Are you sure your parents won't mind?

[They won't... probably. This night is probably an exception to that rule. But Teddy can't help feeling a little nervous, a little shy, and still like he's barging in where he doesn't belong. That's a feeling that hasn't faded for a while.

But that look in Billy's eyes... and the fact that Teddy missed him so fucking much, tossing and turning and hardly getting any sleep at the thought of Billy in the prison, not knowing what they were doing to him. Teddy wants nothing more than to be by Billy's side as much as he can, and that's what makes him slowly hold his hand out to take the pajamas, should Billy still offer it.]

[The relief on Billy's face when Teddy agrees is probably a pretty obvious sign that all is not well in his head, and- okay, it's not like he's trying to set a precedent here. He knows this is their one and only chance to do this without getting into trouble, and he'll have a big long talk with his mother in the morning or something, and from then on it'll be back to separate beds or whatever.

But he remembers more. He'd gotten used to spending his nights curled up against Teddy, to waking up an hour or so into his sleep when another body climbed into bed with him, to untangling himself from arms, legs, and sheets and leaving a kiss on Teddy's cheek and a fun little note for when he wakes up. Stupid silly domestic memories that he can't share and desperately wants to cling to.

After all that, and then after waiting alone, lost and frightened in that prison, he just... no. He just needs one night to feel that way again, one night where he's safe and warm in the arms of the one he loves.

In the morning, he'll be stronger.]

It's fine. I'll deal with it, if they get mad. But if... if you don't mind, I...

[He offers the pajamas to Teddy's waiting hand, and steps around to the other side of the bed, giving Teddy room to change - if he chooses - and to subtly sneak the chain from around his neck. Much as it pains him to remove it, he doesn't have an answer to the questions it would inspire if he was caught with it.]

Edited 2015-07-10 07:22 (UTC)

I don't mind.

[It just makes him kind of nervous, but Billy doesn't need to know that. It'd make Teddy look bad, for one, if he up and said something like that, and he doesn't want to deny his boyfriend this either. Especially when it seems like Billy desperately needs it, with the relief he showed upon agreement...

Still, Teddy can't help thinking it's a little weird that Billy would immediately suggest sleeping in the same bed without any hint of embarrassment or nerves similar to Teddy's. But just like Billy's behavior before this, Teddy blames it on his time in prison, and possibly even the events of the Cube, and it makes him hate what happened all the more.

So as Billy walks to the other side of the bed, Teddy takes off his shirt and pants and deliberately keeps his eyes up to avoid looking at the numerous scars on his stomach. It's why he slides on the pajama top first before going for the bottoms; he hates seeing them, hates what they remind him of, hates the thought that his healing might not ever fix them, even though they already look better than they did days ago.]

So, um. [He turns to slide his feet under the covers, noticing Billy putting something away, but not thinking enough about it to look.] I'm... I missed you. So much. [He offers a smile, though he still feels nerves hammering around in his chest.] And I'm really, really glad you're back with me. That it's all over...

[God, he's so bad at talking sometimes. How can he put into words how much he really missed him, how out of his mind he was with worry? How much he... he loves him, even after just a few months?]

[Billy pauses at that, swallowing back the lump in his throat, and quietly slides the drawer shut, trying desperately to think back to what was normal for them at this point. Teddy's nervous, and he knows they haven't really shared a bed like this unless it was really bad, like when they'd first gone on the run in Cap's hideout, and after the Cube experience. They were close, but not especially intimate. So... okay. Talk normally. Don't get too touchy.

....

Yeah, fuck that. He climbs up on the bed, hesitates only a moment, and then slumps against Teddy, winding his arms around him from behind and hugging tightly.]

Missed you, too... I didn't know when I'd see you again, I was...

[Scared, angry, worried about you, lost. Powerless.]

[Teddy shuts his eyes and curls his fingers into the sheets below him at those words, the helplessness behind them and the images they bring to him. Of Billy locked up in that chair, the way he'd fallen when they tranquilized him, how the world slowed down at that point and...

Fuck. He takes his fingers away from the sheets to hold Billy's hands instead, holding them closer to his body. He needs that contact, and he knows, knows that Billy needs it just as badly, maybe even more.]

I know. [He lets out a sigh, and his fingers move to find the spaces between Billy's, letting them entwine together.] I know...

[Billy shivers and burrows his face against Teddy's neck, fingers clenching tightly around the blond's. He knows he should settle down, force himself to relax and smile so Teddy won't worry so much. He'd had years to get over this already, he'd done all the talking he'd ever thought he would have to do for it, and most of all, he'd faced that fear before coming back here in the first place. The worst part of it, after all that, had been the waiting. Not knowing when - but not if - he'd be free. Missing Teddy like air, knowing they both felt that same ache of separation. Wishing desperately that his powers were strong enough to break himself out.

Teddy wants him to talk, but... god, he wishes he could just pretend. He just wants Teddy with him, now.

Maybe... maybe I can...]

So... hah... what did I miss? I knew- I knew you'd come, but... how?

[It's an honest question he can ask, at least. This is one part he'd never tried to find out in Luceti, to avoid screwing up the future or something.]

[This question is one Teddy's more comfortable answering. He doesn't want to say anything that might upset Billy too much, nor does he himself want to be too upset. He's always guarded his more solemn emotions as best as he could, because he doesn't want anyone to see how vulnerable - even how broken it makes him. Even Billy - What would he think if his boyfriend just started to cry or something in front of him, even with Billy safe and here, solid and warm and real?

So this, yes, this is a better topic. Carefully, so as not to jostle Billy too much, Teddy turns onto his back, one hand moving up to rest his wrist against his forehead while the other stays entwined in one of Billy's, his gaze on the ceiling for the moment.]

Well... I kind of spent a while stomping around and wanting everyone to hurry up and get on with all their plans and strategies and stuff. I could barely keep myself still, you know? After one those meetings, Cap - Yeah, Cap, he pulled me aside and told me he had a special assignment for me.

[He turns his head then, looking over at Billy with a light smile.]

He sent me to Arizona to find Hank Pym, knock him out, shift myself to look and sound just like him, and break into the prison. While I was there, I heard about the passwords they were using - which were really dumb and old school, by the way, and what I had to do to get past all the doors and everything.

[The smile fades with another sigh, and he looks back up at the ceiling again. He hesitates, because he hates, hates presenting this side of himself. But...]

You know... how hard it was to keep acting like that guy? To keep passing by your cell because I didn't know how to get you out of there yet?

Edited 2015-07-16 10:35 (UTC)

[Billy's eyes widen, hearing that, equal parts surprised and impressed. Sounds like Teddy reacted much the same way he expected - and how he himself would, if their roles had been reversed. It's kind of reassuring, actually, though he's not glad that Teddy had to experience it.

Still...]

My boyfriend is so cool.

[...Oh god, he hadn't meant to say that out loud. But- okay, even as his face goes red in the dark, and he ducks his head, he totally means it. Teddy's being serious, he's expressing how difficult it was, but- seriously!]

I-I mean! You took out Hank Pym. You took out a veteran Avenger. And then fooled everyone from Arizona to the prison, and you freed everyone, and... you're just amazing, you know that?

[That... really wasn't what he was expecting to hear. He looks at Billy, surprised at first, and then he just has to look away as he feels his face warm, and the blush reaches all the way to the tips of his ears. Is this what it feels like to be fanboyed? He covers his face with one hand and turns his head away fully, trying to hide the blush without cheating by shifting.]

- wasn't that amazing, I mean - Ms. Hill was still really suspicious of me, but... heh. Yeah. Yeah, I did knock him out. And did all that stuff. I'm - actually really surprised it all worked? That I didn't screw it up somehow?

[The difference was the high stakes, really; Billy was in there, people were unfairly imprisoned. Teddy couldn't fail, he couldn't.]

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