[Teddy feels like he should be shrinking away. He keeps trying to shift something, but nothing's working. Never, never in his life, except once in Vaskoth, has he ever cried this much without being able to shift away the remains before he's even finished. His cheeks are wet, his nose and lips are snotty no matter how much he wiped at them, his mouth keeps tilting downward, and his eyes hurt. It isn't even unattractive, it's just gross.
But something stirs a little when Billy keeps talking, and it makes him rooted to the spot, unable to move away. And when he kisses his nose, he squeezes his eyes shut and tries to stop himself, and remembers instead.
"What were you so worried about? You look great. It's nice to meet you."
"Have it your way. Freak."
"They want to be normal. More than anything."
"You are so very human."
"We're unstoppable."
"Normal doesn't exist."
What's wrong with being you? You're a freak, and that's okay. You're a little messed up like everyone else.
It's okay. He likes you the way you are.
... It's the first time he had a thought like that in weeks, and it's catching Teddy off guard. His thoughts had been full of doubt and self-deprecation and loathing and fears, and this one had been... it made him feel okay with himself. Just a little... It's not enough to push him back in line - that'd take a long while. But...
He pushes down against Billy's hand to duck his head anyway, because he still thinks he looks gross. But like this, he ends up looking at the list again, and his voice is quiet and still so choked when he speaks again.]
28th~
But something stirs a little when Billy keeps talking, and it makes him rooted to the spot, unable to move away. And when he kisses his nose, he squeezes his eyes shut and tries to stop himself, and remembers instead.
"What were you so worried about? You look great. It's nice to meet you."
"Have it your way. Freak."
"They want to be normal. More than anything."
"You are so very human."
"We're unstoppable."
"Normal doesn't exist."
What's wrong with being you? You're a freak, and that's okay. You're a little messed up like everyone else.
It's okay. He likes you the way you are.
... It's the first time he had a thought like that in weeks, and it's catching Teddy off guard. His thoughts had been full of doubt and self-deprecation and loathing and fears, and this one had been... it made him feel okay with himself. Just a little... It's not enough to push him back in line - that'd take a long while. But...
He pushes down against Billy's hand to duck his head anyway, because he still thinks he looks gross. But like this, he ends up looking at the list again, and his voice is quiet and still so choked when he speaks again.]
So... everything you wrote...