lucetilogs | There'll be trouble when the kidz come out

[Teddy can readily admit that touching Billy is like an addiction for him as well. He'd been a little afraid that Billy would pull away, but he doesn't, much to his relief. So he shuts his eyes and smiles, a genuine one, for a moment, his thumb passing gently over his boyfriend's knuckles. It's a gesture of comfort, and it's something of one for him, too. Billy's still alive, still himself, and maybe he can keep his promise.

...

But then he opens his eyes and glances at Billy with a raised eyebrow.]

Better than The Thing.

[If you were thinking of a dirty joke, just like Teddy was right after saying that, then enjoy that fantastic mental image, bf.]

[Oh augh, augh. Thanks for nothing, Altman.

In response to that, Billy sets free a "huff" sound that is almost akin to a laugh, or as much of one as he can muster at the moment. He closes his eyes, his fingers brushing against Teddy's, his expression self-indulgent and a little bit needy. He remains quiet besides that single noise for a long moment, soaking in the affection, before he lifts his head, looking more serious and more than a little unsure.]

Listen, T... we've gotta take about how to deal with this. We both know what's going to happen if we don't get back to the base in time, so... we need a plan. And probably some ground rules, while we're at it.

[It's a small laugh, and a small wonder, especially at a time like this. That's enough for him.

Teddy remains quiet during that time, shutting his eyes and keeping their fingers touching. They're probably wasting time, he knows that... but they both need this right now. This affection between them, this sense of comfort. But they can't spend forever doing this, and they need a plan.

Thankfully Billy brings it up before he can, and Teddy opens his eyes to listen, before reaching out his other hand to entwine his fingers with his boyfriend's free ones. Time to get serious.]

Yeah. We have to keep moving, even if we run out of time. If... [He lets out a breath a little more forcefully than the others, the only sign he gives of how much this tears him up inside.] If that happens, then I'll knock you out and take you with me. Does that sound okay to you? I want you to have a say in this too.

And here I was thinking I'd just eat your brains and join a pack.

[Billy's scowl makes his answer as obvious as the words themselves, masking his fear. He needs that sarcasm like he needs air, to stay sane- to stay himself. He needs to believe that he can't change so quickly.

And being very much a realist is a part of that, too.]

Look at us, Ted... I can't run, and you can barely stand. We need to gather our strength or we'll both get eaten alive out there.

[But there's no time for that- the most they had is 12 hours, and he'd seen how weak and sickly those who were bitten became in that time. They can't have it both ways.]

...We need help.

Ha... Who're you gonna call? Zombie busters?

[Lame. Lame, he knows. But doing this masks his own fear, and maybe it'd help ease Billy's, too. Mutual sarcasm and awful jokes is a go.

But seriously now. Teddy can be realistic as much as he can be optimistic. He glances down at his hip, as if to see if his journal's there, before looking at Billy again.]

Or did you have someone more realistic in mind?

[Teddy. Teddy no. That was terrible.

Billy sighs quietly, rubbing his forehead.]

Rogue told me to check in with her every day to make sure everything's okay. If I don't send her a wave tonight, she'll probably come looking for us anyway. We can at least give a rescue party a location as well as a head's up. [He pauses, then adds-] Maybe one of those proto-cures, if they're fast enough.

Edited 2012-11-04 09:29 (UTC)

Hopefully she'll call in soon.

[He tries to turn his head to look out the window, but ends up just wincing a little and keeping it in place. Yeah, he definitely has an increased respect for normal people now.]

Until then, let's think of other things we can do. [He pauses, before - ] If things get too bad... we can probably find some rope around here.

...Y... yeah. [He half-reaches down with his spare hand to hold his leg before he manages to stop himself- if he gets his hands dirty again, he'll have to wash them or avoid touching Teddy, and that would be both a waste and unpleasant overall. Better to keep to himself.

Instead, seeking something to do with his hands without touching anyone's blood, he shifts to face Teddy, lifting his finger and moving it from left to right.] First things first: can you see clearly? Can you follow my finger? And tell me if you're dizzy, or feel like you're going to throw up.

[Oh wow that is a lot of questions - but Teddy tries to answer them all. His eyes follow Billy's finger well enough, so that doesn't seem to be a big issue. What, is something wrong with him? Why would he feel like throwing up, other than from everything he's had to do these past few days?

Then again, his stomach has been churning a little.]

I can see fine... except my eye gets a little blurry when I blink sometimes. [He closes his eyes and squeezes one eye shut, the one nearest to his wound, before opening them again.] I was dizzy earlier, but it's not so bad now. And... I don't know about throwing up. I guess? But not really.

Why are you asking me all this?

I'm trying to see if you've got a concussion, dummy.

[Wow, shouldn't most people know that? Apparently there are downsides to having a healing factor. Once he's satisfied with Teddy's ability to follow the movement, though, he leans back, brows furrowing.]

I think it's okay, though... you didn't pass out when you fell, did you?

[Since Teddy can't shift away any signs of dishonesty, he's watching his face carefully, to make sure he won't try to play off his injuries so Billy won't worry. This is important.]

[He hardly even knows what a concussion is, honestly. But okay, Teddy can accept that. And - he kinds of seems to be in awe, too. Just the basics, huh?

Though even without his shifting, Teddy's good at hiding what he's really feeling. Not that he needs to right now, so he narrows his eyes in thought and lowers his head a little.]

I don't think I... No, I didn't. It sure felt like I was going to, though.

That's pretty normal, actually.

[Billy manages to relax at that, though; what Teddy's describing is familiar, a lot like how he felt after a particularly bad run in with Kesler and his goons. The difference between a mild head injury and a concussion can be pretty subtle depending on severity, but as far as he can tell Teddy escaped the encounter without any lasting brain damage. It doesn't make the fact that he's hurt or in pain any better, of course, but now Billy knows he won't drop dead or lapse into a coma or something.

Small mercies, again. Thank god. He can finally relax a little.]

Good to know.

[He'd rather not go dying on Billy or anything either. He did say they'd both get out of there, after all. Teddy's grip tightens over Billy's hand, as if to convey that. We'll both be okay.

...

And it's after a small pause, and a bit of thought, that Teddy looks up at him again. Now that his mini check-up is over (god that was so weird), he'd like to point out something else.]

Billy? Thank you.

[Billy purses his lips at that, then sighs quietly and ducks his head, brushing it up against Teddy's shoulder, his gaze lowered.]

Don't thank me yet. I could be trying to chew your arm off in a few hours, and none of this will mean anything...

[His own grip tightens, trying to keep it from shaking. Joking, joking, need to be joking about this.]

No, I am thanking you now.

[He finally takes his hand off of Billy's, but only to tangle his fingers in those black strands of hair and move his head to brush his nose against the top of his head.

Right now, there's no joking. This is important, and he needs to get it out before Billy starts to lose it, before it gets to the point where he won't remember this later.]

Do you know what you did, Billy? You saved me. You saved my life. And not just once, but twice. You fought off all those zombies, took down a lot, and you stopped all my bleeding and cleaned up my wound when I had no idea what to do. You even figured out that I didn't have a concussion.

And you did all of that without any power.

[He smiles, a gentle one touched with admiration, and brushes his lips against his hair, his voice quieting down within it.]

You're an incredible person, Billy Kaplan. I'm so lucky to have found you.

[Billy opens his mouth at first, shuts it, lifts his head, ducks it again, then buries his face in his hands. The whole routine of movement would probably be comical if Teddy wasn't being so damn serious about those words.

He'd love to retort that actually, actually, he's only as strong as he is today because Teddy supported him yesterday- the day he was a weeping, stricken mess of useless. Or, hey, he kind of got himself bitten and screwed them over royally in the process of the aforementioned saving, so now they have to be so very cautious about mixing blood and oh, let's not forget the fact that he'll be a flesh-craving braindead monster in a matter of hours. He'd love to use that biting sarcasm to brush aside the sudden rush of... of what, embarrassment? Denial?

Pride?

...He can't. He can't deny a word of it, because Teddy sounds so earnestly grateful. It's too sweet to taint with the bitter reality of his failings.

And maybe Teddy's right- maybe he can do good things, too. Even if he screws up or gets hurt or barely fumbles his way through it. Today he didn't need magic to save a life.

Incredible, indeed. Even if he doesn't feel like an incredible person most of the time, and he's got a monster's bite spreading poison through his body, and they've lost more blood between the two of them than should be considered healthy, he suddenly feels... kind of okay. A faint, choking laugh-sob escapes his lips, muffled by his hands.]

God. God, how do you get away with saying stuff like that with a straight face?

[He really, really needed that just now.]

[Billy's actions have certainly been a far cry from Teddy's; getting hurt in the first place, not knowing how to even treat a wound, being more a liability than anything. He was never meant to be normal, it seems.

But right now? He doesn't mind that so much. He doesn't mind because it let him see just how amazing this person in front of him is with or without power. Sure, Teddy's always thought he was incredible, even when he was fumbling with his magic. And now... here they are. Time and time again Billy keeps proving himself as such a strong person.

Teddy really does consider himself lucky.

He shuts his eyes and presses a kiss to the top of Billy's head when he hears that mix between a laugh and a sob, then smiles against it. He can say all that with a straight face because he's honestly, desperately and crazily in love.]

It's my special ability. No power cap is going to stop me from speaking from the heart.

You're not Teddy. He's been replaced by a Care Bear.

[He finally lowers his hands, though - and despite the noise he'd made earlier he's determined not to start crying all over the place again, because oh god what if his tears are zombie tears now - and against his better judgment, he slides his arms around Teddy's waist, burying his face against the other boy's chest. Teddy's hurt because of him, because he couldn't bear to go out and do this alone, and he feels awful for getting them into this, but- but. he can't regret them going together, either.

He couldn't do this if he was alone. Hell, he'd probably already be dead. And he'd promised himself - and Teddy - that they'd never be alone again as long as he could help it.]

Edited (italiiiiiiics /fuu) 2012-11-04 20:54 (UTC)

Does that mean I just hit you with my Care Bear Beam?

[So it's actually Care Bear Stare. Whatever, it's been a very long time since he saw anything related to it.

Teddy himself wraps his arms around Billy's shoulders in response, one hand stroking up and down his back. He could very well say the same thing, that this was his fault; Billy has a deadly poison that he can't stop or get rid of because of him, because he chose to fight, because he made very poor decisions in battle. But he doesn't regret them here together, doesn't even think about how Billy will probably want nothing more than to chew on his arm in a matter of hours.

He couldn't do this alone, either. And they'd never be alone again, not if he can still do something about it, injuries and all.]

I love you, Billy. [And that is definitely something he wants Billy to remember from all this, that and just how wonderful he is even without his magic.]

Care Bear Stare. [He has two little brothers, okay, this stuff sticks. And then, more quietly:] I love you, too.

[He's scared - terrified - and he doesn't know how they'll get out of this one with the shape they're in. But this? This is okay. This reassurance is going to keep him together, keep him steady, keep him from going crazy with worry and fear. It'll be fine, just fine.

And... if it's not fine... at least they won't be alone.

He'll get back to the important business soon - figuring out a game plan, checking their options, trying to get help. But for now, they both need this.]

There'll be trouble when the kidz come out

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