halfnhalf | 002 - [Action/Voice]

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002 - [Action/Voice]

[Late in the morning, only just after he had his morning coffee and just fixed toast for breakfast, Teddy had been surprised to find himself being shoved out of the apartment by his own boyfriend. Soon, he found himself blinking at the front door, a piece of cinnamoned toast still in his hand as the post-it note with his name beside Billy's door sign fluttered mournfully to the ground.

He got out a pitiful whine and forlornly posted the note back up before he ushered himself outside, finishing his toast in the meantime.

During the day, Teddy can be found at multiple places. The first is the Battledome, where he fiddles with the settings, some as harmless as a movie theater and some as dangerous as a warzone, but he doesn't fully go through with them. He's merely going through the options for later use. He may mutter to himself about how this must be what the Danger Room is like, and he may even be up for a light spar or something different if someone found him.

The second is Seventh Heaven, where he eats a light lunch of a small burger with fries, and he's a little proud of how he didn't compare it to New York's food outloud. It doen't mean he doesn't think it, though, and he spends more time subtly people watching and listening to conversations than really focusing on food and what the homelife was like. When he's done, he doodles a few musical notes on a napkin, again to possibly be used at a later date, before he stuffs that in his pocket.

The final place is on the roof of the school. He's not doing much of anything up there, just sitting with his legs pulled up and looking out over the village.

Teddy still can't help marveling over how different this place is from what he's used to. There aren't any sounds of car alarms or horns, no distant conversations or laughter, no police sirens or a far off explosion from an invading force (though, Teddy thinks to himself, he ought to be more thankful for the lack of the latter). Occasionally at night, he still wakes up and thinks that it's too quiet, too dark. And he really hopes he's not the only one who thinks that way.

With that thought in mind, Teddy reaches behind him to take the journal, left open in case Billy decides to let him back into the apartment, and decides to address the masses.]

Does anyone else feel seriously out of place here, or am I just being weird? And I don't mean the whole, "being held captive and having to suffer through lame shifts", but just the setting in general. Anyone else out there come from a home that's completely different from a village straight out of Golden Sun?

[He decides then that he'll chat with people for a while, then venture off the roof and see if Billy will allow him back inside. Not that Teddy knows what he did to deserve being kicked outside, but maybe he can beg for forgiveness enough to be let back in.]

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What do you mean, there's a next part? Of course there is! You think all I did this whole day is cook? Most people do this every day, you know. Three times a day, even.

[Not that he'd expect Teddy to complain- and not that he'd complain if their roles were reversed. Really, there's nothing wrong with making a nice dinner at home with your loved ones into a birthday gift. But he knows that this is their first birthday celebrated together, and more importantly, Teddy's first birthday without his mom.

He just wanted it to special.]

[... You know, knowing Billy, he could take all day to cook just to ensure it came out edible.

But Teddy just lets out a chuckle and gets back to the brownies. Though if Billy leans back, he might see that there's an image of a heart in his wings, one half on each side.]

You make it sound like it's so easy. All right then, Emeril.

All right who?

[Clearly someone does not watch the cooking channel with his dad back home. He leans back, about to fetch the gifts so they can get those out of the way and catch the official Step 2, but then he notices the wings and-]

Ohmygodthatissocute.

[He just. Stares for a while.]

... I seriously can't believe you don't know who Emeril is. Remind me to educate you later.

[Either after this is over, or when they actually get back home. The latter is preferable, but unfortunately, probably impossible. So, the former it is.

And with that jumble of words, Teddy lets out a soft snort, and he flaps the little wings while he tilts his head - get ready, Billy, that is the sign that Teddy's about to do something cheesy like - ]

And here you are, making my heart flutter. [That.]

Oh my god, you- you dork, I can't believe you seriously just said that.

[Billy's smiling anyway, embarrassed and affectionate, and brushes his fingers lightly over the feathers, tracing the pattern. He leans in to kiss Teddy's forehead and turns to move away before he's tempted to do more than that. He still needs to get Teddy's real gifts before they can get going.]

[Teddy laughs quietly; he can't help it, Billy's the one who turns him into a cheesy sap sometimes. He wasn't really like that before he got such a wonderful boyfriend in his life, one he can't imagine a future without.

And as there is a Step 2, Teddy decides not to pull him back to give him a deeper kiss, or to call out a tease or whatever. He'll just wait, meanwhile picking the wax off of one brownie before taking a bite.

... Hmmm. Not bad! Billy can at least make brownies, then. Not that they're that difficult to make, but it's still impressive, coming from someone like Billy.]

[Billy returns with a decent-sized wrapped package, setting it on the table and flopping into the seat next to Teddy's, reaching for his own plate to help himself to a brownie.]

From the look on your face, I'll assume they don't taste like toxic waste the way I'd expected. This is yours too, by the way.

[The package is about the size of a large sketchbook, and twice as thick- a little heavy, and hard to the touch. Once unwrapped, he'll find two detailed sketches: one is of the Avengers Mansion in its prime and the surrounding area, focused mainly on the space where the Young Avengers used to meet. The second is a group shot of the entire Young Avengers group, all of them- even Iron Lad.]

[Teddy regards the present with surprise; it's not that he didn't expect Billy to get him anything, but really, this whole thing is still a surprise for him. Not to mention that he just. Didn't really get presents from people in the past, save for his mom.

Still, he lets that look fade into a smile and he sets his brownie aside to take the package, feeling the weight and shape of it.]

What, so you fed those to me thinking they were going to taste like toxic waste? What were you trying to do to me, B?

[He shoots Billy a grin before he opens the package, being one of those guys who is not careful about ripping the paper.

But his movements halt once he sees what's inside.

The Avengers mansion, particularly where they used to meet. The city in the background, as lit up as a sketch can get in the night sky. The very scene that Teddy finds himself missing the more time he spends here. And all of the Young Avengers: not just what's assembled now, but even Iron Lad. Teddy still regrets the last thing he remembers of Iron Lad - lashing out at him, more enraged than he's ever been, thinking that Billy was gone for good, killed, wiped out from existence, "give him back or I swear I'll -"

But he'd still been a wonderful friend. And if it weren't for him, they would never have become the Young Avengers, and he would never have met Billy. Two of the most wonderful things to ever happen in his life.

Teddy rests his hand on the sketches, careful not to actually touch the drawings themselves for fear of smudging it, and seems to be at a total loss for words.]

Hey, I did a taste test. I just don't know if aliens can even get food poisoning.

[When Teddy gets to the presents, he quiets down, just waiting silently to hear what he thinks, his good arm winding around Teddy's shoulders. He knew it was a nostalgic set of images to create; it had been hard, drawing them, the friends back home that he knew they were both missing. Truth be told, he'd considered sketching Teddy's mother, but he hadn't been sure of what kind of response that would get. That's the kind of thing you only do after getting permission, in his opinion. And the last thing he wanted to do is upset Teddy, especially on his birthday.

This, though... the team? That's family right there, just as Eli had said once. And the mansion is a second home for them by now, as much as their own headquarters is. Where it all began, where they gained a new life, new friends, and much more than that. Strength to carry on, for some of them.

Love, for others. He rests his chin against Teddy's hair, his smile musing. Not bad, overall. He can count out a hundred flaws if pushed for it, but if Teddy likes it, then it's perfect.]

[Billy's right; they are family. They're just about the only ones Teddy has left, aside from the Kaplans, whom he'll never stop being grateful to for welcoming him into the family so easily.

It's home. And it's family. Right there in his hands.

Teddy sets the two sketches down in his lap, just to free up his hands and let him touch Billy's wrist, the other reaching for his hand, though carefully, considering that's the tender arm.]

They're perfect, Billy.

[The warm smile, and that slight shininess in his eyes that is totally just due to the apparently toxic brownies Billy gave him and nothing more, says it all for him: it's probably the best thing he could ever get. Personal preferences like comic books are great, but home and family? Those are the best of all.

And to further make that known, Teddy tips his head back to give the side of Billy's neck an appreciative kiss.]

Thanks.

[Billy just beams, lifting his head into the kiss and sliding his free hand through Teddy's hair. He hadn't been particularly worried, since Teddy is the sort of person who'd probably praise it no matter how it looked, but generally it's easy to tell when someone's being genuine versus when they're just placating. The brownies may have been kind of lackluster, but if Teddy thinks that the gift is perfect, that's good enough for him.

He nuzzles his head against Teddy's, giving his hand a squeeze.]

You're welcome. Come on, though, grab as many brownies as you want and a drink, because we've got somewhere else to be.

Somewhere else?

[There's more? Teddy thought he spent that whole time sketching, and he would've been content with just sitting here for a while with Billy like this.

But no, they have somewhere else to be. Teddy sets the sketches on a clean part of the table, letting a hand hover over them as if they were some kind of precious, mint condition hard to find comic that he didn't want falling or bending or getting prints on, and once he's satisfied, he'll obediently stand.]

What else do you have planned? [There's laughter in his voice, happiness and amazement at once, while he reaches out to grab about four brownies.]

[Billy grabs a few more for himself, as well as a bottle of soda from the fridge and some cups, stuffing them into a backpack he'd stored on the counter. He just smiles at Teddy's questions, slinging the bag over his back, taking Teddy's hand, and letting his eyes glow brightly as he teleports them elsewhere.

The next stop is the battle dome, where he urges Teddy over to a console - so he can get a program started up - then inside the room, where it's basically decked out like a home theater system. Plush seats, a huge screen, popcorn machines. The dome won't fabricate food, but at least it can provide the tools to make it, right? That's the theory, anyway. He grins at Teddy, eyes bright.]

Dinner and a movie is pretty standard for a date, right? If you're game.

[The teleporting makes him give a hard blink and look around, not quite realizing where they are at first, before his brain catches up with his body and figures it out. Ah, the Battledome. ... What, were they doing to simulate New York and fight Doombots like he did with Susan? It sounds super fun, but -

Then they're heading inside, and it's nothing like that. His face lights up - a movie! Teddy had, admittedly, not been to a theater often, only for movies that he desperately wanted to see when they came out, like Lord of the Rings. Otherwise, money was tight and Teddy didn't want to waste more than he did on comics and video games.

This isn't one of those giant theaters, but it's close enough to make him feel excited.]

Are you kidding? I'm totally game.

[And with that, Teddy goes to flop back on the plush seat. And then the question hits.]

So which movie is playing now? [He almost expects The Sound of Music.]

[Sound of Music, bah. It's not even Sunday. Billy grins, tugging some popcorn kernels and butter out of his backpack and wandering over to the popcorn machine to make some snacks. Because brownies are never enough.]

Mm, I was thinking about one with mice, and rats, and a really spastic crow... any ideas?

[There's silence at first as Teddy's mouth hangs open and he stares at Billy's back.

Then said back will have a blond attached to it, seeing how Teddy decided to get up and wrap his arms around Billy's waist from behind.]

No way. Seriously? You got The Secret of NIMH? Billy!

[HE HASN'T SEEN IT IN SO LONG well okay like a month before he got here but STILL.]

[OOF, suddenly a Teddy is attached to him. Billy nearly stumbles in surprise at the impact, but he finds himself held at the waist, so he just grins and brushes his hands over Teddy's, leaning back against him.]

Well, I'm happy you're happy about it. I wasn't sure if you'd be in the mood for a cartoon.

[Even a good one.]

It's not a cartoon.

[Despite his words, Teddy's still all smiles, and to free Billy's hands up, he moves his hands down to slide them into his pockets instead.]

It's an animated feature film. There's a difference.

You say that like I would ever insult a cartoon, ever.

[Billy tilts his head until it bumps up against Teddy's neck, starting up the machine. It starts to whir and heat up, melting the butter and spinning the kernels. Before long it'll smell like a real movie theater.]

Hmm.

[It's more of a content sound than anything, as Teddy's busy resting his head against Billy's and thinking about how much he loves this person in his arms. Once the kernels start to pop and the delicious aroma of popcorn starts to fill the air, Teddy decides to speak, eyes on the machine.]

You ever notice no matter how full you are, the smell of popcorn makes you feel like you went for days without food?

...Well, now that you mention it. [Billy's voice is musing, closing his eyes and rocking his body back and forth a bit, almost in time with the gentle rotations of the popcorn maker. He looks (and feels) utterly contented, like he doesn't want to be anywhere else but right here, right now.] Maybe we should just melt the brownies and have chocolate popcorn instead.

[Teddy could point out how melting brownies would probably end badly and make them horribly burned instead, but he doesn't really care. He shuts his eyes and follows Billy's movements, and it's pretty clear that that contentment is mutual. Billy was the one who did all of this for him, probably even thinking of how Teddy's had birthdays with his lost mother in the past, and they're in this crazy world but they're in this crazy world together.]

We could. We might just invent something great. Brownie covered popcorn.

Hmm... I'm thinking enjoy the movie first, invent hideous food another time. I don't know how much of an iron stomach you've got but throwing up isn't on my game plan tonight.

[Or maybe when he gets himself some more plain old melting chocolate, instead of brownie mix. God knows what's in that stuff (besides the chocolate chips, that was his doing).]

Too bad we can't take this with us. Microwave popcorn is okay, but the good stuff is from a real popper.

[Teddy would rather not end the evening with Billy throwing up either, so he'll just grin and give a nod of agreement. Another time, then, when they both feel brave enough to possibly spend the rest of the afternoon feeling sick to their stomachs because they were being stupid teenagers.

He finally does open his eyes to watch the popcorn at Billy's comment, noting that it's almost done.]

I think we're just doomed to have to visit movie theaters forever for that kind of popcorn treatment. But I'm not complaining. [After all, it means more excuses to go see movies together.]

Oh no, what a terrible fate we have. [His tone dry, Billy lets go of Teddy to reach out and fetch them a big, buttery bag of fresh popcorn, taking his hand again and pulling him over towards the seats.] Okay, birthday boy, pick a seat and I'll get it started.

[IT WAS AMAZING]

[AND IT'S NOT THE END]

[....I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO FROM HERE]

[LAME]

[RUDE AND LAME :C]

[AND... EXTREME RUDENESS AND LAMENESS]

[SASS IN THE FRASS]

[SNAKES ON A PLANE]

[GO THE FUCK TO SLEEP]

[GET YOUR PAWS OFF THAT BLASTED SAMOFLANGE]

[I am not good at movie quotes]

[that's what google is for]

[but why a spoon]

[there is no spoon]

[there is no try]

[oh my god do i try]

[god help the outcasts]

[help me obi-wan kenobi you're my only hope]

[losing all hope was freedom]

[FREEEEDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM]

I KNEW YOU WOULD USE THAT ONE

I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF

no no I'd have done it too

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