ax_hulkling (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ax_hulkling) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
ax_main2017-09-16 08:00 pm
ax_hulkling) wrote in ax_main2017-09-16 08:00 pm
Entry tags:
Billy & Teddy, pre-party | September 16
Billy and Teddy get ready for the party and discuss their social lives.
Towel wrapped securely around him, Teddy headed back down the hall to his room, shower stuff in hand and his flip-flops flapping all the way. He rapped lightly on the door before opening it, just in case. Billy had been staring morosely into his closet when Teddy had left, and there was no way of knowing how far along he'd gotten in the process in the meantime.
At the lack of a yelp, Teddy opened the door and headed in, his hair wet and sticking up in odd directions from the quick towelling-off he'd done after the shower. The room appeared to have exploded again. Not in an electric kind of way, thank goodness, but in the pattern Teddy was beginning to recognize as 'Billy, mild panic.' "Problems?" Teddy asked, setting his bucket down.
Billy glanced over at his roommate, turning immediately back around when he saw that Teddy was only wearing that stupid towel. He ran his hands through his hair again, making the mess of dark hair even worse. "Umm, yeah I guess. I have no idea what to wear to this stupid party and I kind of don't even want to go."
Teddy opened and closed his own drawers, grabbing clothes. "Don't overthink it," he advised gently, sitting on the edge of his bed to start getting dressed. "It's just a kegger, except with people you actually know and like."
Billy gave Teddy a look over his shoulder. "What the hell makes you think I have ever been to a kegger?"
He turned back around to give Teddy privacy, letting his mind focus on clothes instead of whatever was going on back there. He picked up his favorite red hoodie, wondering if it was appropriate even if it had small holes throughout the bottom.
Probably not.
"Alright, fair enough," Teddy replied evenly, not taking offense. He hauled his cargoes on and buttoned them up, grabbing for his t-shirt. "Then I could theoretically tell you that it's a secret black magic cult initiation in the woods, virgin goat sacrifice and all, and you couldn't argue any different." He flashed a grin back over his shoulder, then pulled his shirt over his head. "Do you want any help figuring stuff out?"
Billy smiled, but he kept his back turned so he wouldn't give the Teddy the satisfaction of seeing it and shrugged. "I mean, would that be weird? It's what girls do, sometimes, I think, so it wouldn't be weird for guys, right?"
He turned around holding a green Zelda t-shirt with the golden triforce on it and a blue button down. "Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope."
Teddy finished pulling his tshirt down around his waist, joined Billy on his side of the room and stared at him, his lips twitching up in a faintly incredulous smile. "Did you seriously just "no homo" me because I offered to help you with clothes? I thought I was supposed to be the jock meathead in this room."
Billy busted up laughing, tossing the two shirts back down on the bed, turning towards Teddy with a large grin on his face. "Okay, smartass. Help me pick an outfit, complete homo."
"What about...jeans and," he sifted through his pile and pulled up his old debate t-shirt. "This? Or does this just scream nerd more?"
"Maybe not screaming, but definitely muttering under its breath," Teddy replied with an apology in his voice. He chewed on his bottom lips for a moment, surveying the wreckage. He wasn't exactly a fashion guy, but he'd been to enough of the team parties and downtown clubs that he had a general idea of the lines between hip, acceptable and hopeless. "Yes to the jeans, no to the shirt? What about the other one you were holding up. Not the Zelda one."
Billy tossed the debate shirt and pulled up the blue button down he had held up a bit ago. "This one? My mom got me this for one of those hideous matching family photos. You think it's okay?"
Teddy was momentarily derailed by the image. "Matching outfits? Does she have a thing for the Partridge Family? Wow."
"Ugh. Please don't. We all had to wear the same colored pants and shirts and sit on a couch with these awful smiles, which I still had my braces on for so that was fantastic." He shook his head and dramatically shuddered. "I still have nightmares."
He held up the blue shirt and laid it down next to the jeans, seeing them next to each other he could see where the shirt would look good instead of awful with jeans. "Okay. Cool. I think I actually have a decent outfit thanks to your expertise. You party often?"
Teddy shrugged, memories coming back that he preferred to avoid. "Basketball team stuff, mostly. The team captain liked to throw ragers when his parents were out of town. They were okay. Alcohol doesn't really affect me - healing factor - and I don't like the taste of beer, so I wasn't exactly the target market." He headed back to his side of the room, grabbing the blue flannel he'd set aside. "And try the outfit on before you thank me."
"That must have been fun, being sober around a bunch of drunk guys." He nodded to Teddy's advice and quickly pulled his hoodie up over his head, turning away from the other so he would only see Billy's back and not his pathetic excuse of a chest and stomach.
He pulled his arms through the dress shirt and buttoned it up, rolling the sleeves a little before slipping out of his current jeans to put the ones Teddy had suggested on. "I actually have never been to any kind of party, believe it or not. Unless you count my friend's eleventh birthday party at the roller rink. Co-ed and everything."
Teddy was not watching but he was edgily aware of Billy changing behind him. Come on-- they were going to be living together for a year, at least, and if he managed to give Billy the impression that Teddy was treating him differently now that Billy had come out... ugh. Why did life have to be complicated?
"There's nothing wrong with co-ed parties," Teddy objected mildly, flipping his collar down. He grabbed the leather cuff bracelet from his dresser, toying with the buckle for a moment before slipping it on. It wasn't a bracer or a gauntlet, but something about it made him feel armored-up anyway. It was kind of a talisman that way. "And roller rinks could be fun, in a corny sort of way. I doubt this will be like that was, though," he added after a beat. "Unless your parents were a lot less strict than most."
"Ha! That's hilarious. My mom is the kind of mom who found a paper clip in the garage and went on a weird detective man-hunt cause she thought I might be using. So, suffice to say, I've never been to whatever Warren and Terry are planning." He finished with his pants and went over to his dresser, opening the drawer and staring at it.
"What do you think?" He pulled out a rainbow colored fabric belt and held it up for Teddy's inspection. "Too much? Am I asking for trouble?"
Not for the first time Teddy found himself wishing that he could borrow some of Billy's bravery, just for a night. "It depends on your goals, I think. If you want to come out all at once," he offered up, in no way qualified to give this particular piece of advice. Wishing he had the guts to do a thing didn't mean he should be encouraging Billy to do it, but it also didn't make him right to discourage it.
"For what it's worth, I can't imagine anyone we know here harassing you for it. Except maybe for your brother, but that would be because he's Tommy, not because you're gay."
"Ha, yeah." He was honestly surprised how late in the game it was and he hadn't told his twin, not that he was going out of his way to hide it from Tommy, it had just never really come up. He made a quick choice and looped the belt through his jeans, feeling oddly excited about wearing it again and knowing he wouldn't get his face shoved in a toilet for it.
"It's probably easier than having to have the same conversation with everyone eventually. This way it's out there without me ever really having to bring it up." Billy moved over to the thin mirror they had propped up near his dresser and started messing with his hair again. "Sooo, you met anyone that tickles your fancy?"
That was the worst and least smooth way to try and fish out Teddy's type, but Billy focused on the mirror so it would seem casual.
"That whiches my what?" Teddy repeated, partly dumbfounded at the way the conversation had suddenly ricocheted to focus on him, and mostly as a way to try and figure out something to say. Had he let something slip? Maybe he talked in his sleep? But Billy hadn't said anything -- not until now. He was probably just making conversation.
Right.
Teddy shoved his feet in his shoes, mostly to have an excuse not to make eye contact with Billy in the mirror. "Not... really. That is, I'm not actually looking. Right now. We only just got here," he finished lamely, sure that his ears were flushing warm. And then, a terrible-awful thought, even though it would make his life so much simpler. "Why, have you?"
"Er..." Billy flushed, wondering if it was alright to tell Teddy who exactly he's found attractive and fun. "Well, I mean there are, fortunately and unfortunately, a lot of attractive guys in this school, which is weird right? That's not normal."
He ended up just parting his hair off to the side like he always did, blowing his bangs out of his eyes as he turned to look at Teddy with a shrug. "I mean there are like two, but both are a super no go, so not like anything is going to happen."
"Why do you say that? You never know. Unless they're straight, of course, in which case fair enough." Teddy put his confident face back on and nudged Billy out of the way so he could use the mirror. "You're a great guy," he said firmly. "Anyone would be lucky to date you."
"Erm. Yeah or they’re with someone." Billy flushed at the nice words as he watched Teddy primp in the mirror. He wondered what kind of girl Teddy liked, was it super sweet and kind girls like Kitty or maybe the rebel type like Yana. Shen was cool too though.
"And you sound like my mom, but thanks. You wanna walk down together? I could go get Tommy to, but I highly doubt he waited for his slow double."
"Like your mom? Gee, thanks," Teddy snorted, grabbing his keys off his desk and shoving them in his pocket along with his phone. "And sure. Last time I saw Tommy he was heading for Bobby and Kurt's room, so I assume we'll see them down there."
"Oh cool, Kurt's coming. He's pretty great even if he's friends with my brother. So, he kind of loses a few points there." Billy gave a huge grin so Teddy knew he was kidding as he grabbed his own phone and shoved it into his pockets.
"Erm...should I take my keys even though you have yours?" He muttered to himself, but grabbed them anyway because he was sure Teddy wouldn't want Billy sticking to him like glue the whole evening. "Alright! Let's blow this joint!"
"Not literally, Static Lad," Teddy joked, grabbing the door handle and opening it for Billy. "Try and keep the light show under control, or upstate will end up under an extreme weather watch."
"Why do you hurt me like that? I thought we were friends." Billy walked backwards so he could face Teddy as the talked and stuck his tongue out at the other. "Also, have you met the new girl who actually has weather controlling powers? She looks amazing. White mohawk and all."
"When do you find time to meet all these people?" Teddy asked, faintly amazed. "Between classes, danger room drills and all that, I'm still trying to figure out when I'm going to be able to get all my homework done."
"Ah, but you see, young grasshopper, you are a fool and do things when you're supposed to. Meanwhile, I wait till the very last second to do everything in an ulcer-inducing panic." He turned and slowed so Teddy could walk next to him. "Also, you juniors probably have a bunch more stuff to do than us little sophomores."
Teddy fell in step, his longer stride more than made up for by Billy's constant motion. Tommy might be the speedster of the pair of them, but Billy certainly had some of that same restless edge. "I don't think it's that much of a difference. Maybe I'm just worse at socializing than I thought when I'm not on a team or in a club or something."
And that... probably wasn't far off. His whole social outlet had been Greg and Greg's friends, and that had mostly been the sports crowd. Teddy hadn't been any good at making or keeping friends before that, and now he was... adrift. Unsure. It was a hollow, uncomfortable sort of feeling.
"Oh." Billy pursed his lips when they fell into a small silence before and idea hit him and he jumped back in front of Teddy with excitement. "Join our D&D group! Even if you don't know how to play we can teach you! It's fun, interactive and Kitty is super nice."
It was the kind of impulsive, ridiculously endearing kindness Teddy was starting to anticipate coming from Billy. He laughed, ducking his head before looking over at Billy from under his bangs. “D&D – that’s like live-action World of Warcraft, right?” he teased, but the idea wasn’t a terrible one. There’d been a gaming club at his old school and he’d glanced in once or twice, but Greg had sneered, and Teddy had fallen in line. He didn’t have to worry about any of that judgement any more.
“That could be fun, as long as Kitty doesn’t mind. I don’t want to push in if you’ve already got a party going.”
"No!" Billy grinned, thinking that this was absolutely perfect. "I was actually put on duty to look for new meat! You coming would help us actually be able to start a game ‘cause playing with only two would kind of suck, since one person actually needs to be the DM. I thinking maybe Kitty could drag her boyfriend into playing, then we would have three players!"
Kitty would be stoked and so proud.
"In that case, sure," Teddy shrugged. "Who's Kitty's boyfriend?"
"Bobby! Hot guy who can do ice stuff." Billy chuckled and shook his head. "She's too good for him, but he makes her happy so."
"It happens that way a lot," Teddy grinned. "I know Bobby, at least I know who he is. It'll be fun." They'd reached the door to the stairs and he pushed it open, gesturing for Billy to go before him. "Shall we?"
Towel wrapped securely around him, Teddy headed back down the hall to his room, shower stuff in hand and his flip-flops flapping all the way. He rapped lightly on the door before opening it, just in case. Billy had been staring morosely into his closet when Teddy had left, and there was no way of knowing how far along he'd gotten in the process in the meantime.
At the lack of a yelp, Teddy opened the door and headed in, his hair wet and sticking up in odd directions from the quick towelling-off he'd done after the shower. The room appeared to have exploded again. Not in an electric kind of way, thank goodness, but in the pattern Teddy was beginning to recognize as 'Billy, mild panic.' "Problems?" Teddy asked, setting his bucket down.
Billy glanced over at his roommate, turning immediately back around when he saw that Teddy was only wearing that stupid towel. He ran his hands through his hair again, making the mess of dark hair even worse. "Umm, yeah I guess. I have no idea what to wear to this stupid party and I kind of don't even want to go."
Teddy opened and closed his own drawers, grabbing clothes. "Don't overthink it," he advised gently, sitting on the edge of his bed to start getting dressed. "It's just a kegger, except with people you actually know and like."
Billy gave Teddy a look over his shoulder. "What the hell makes you think I have ever been to a kegger?"
He turned back around to give Teddy privacy, letting his mind focus on clothes instead of whatever was going on back there. He picked up his favorite red hoodie, wondering if it was appropriate even if it had small holes throughout the bottom.
Probably not.
"Alright, fair enough," Teddy replied evenly, not taking offense. He hauled his cargoes on and buttoned them up, grabbing for his t-shirt. "Then I could theoretically tell you that it's a secret black magic cult initiation in the woods, virgin goat sacrifice and all, and you couldn't argue any different." He flashed a grin back over his shoulder, then pulled his shirt over his head. "Do you want any help figuring stuff out?"
Billy smiled, but he kept his back turned so he wouldn't give the Teddy the satisfaction of seeing it and shrugged. "I mean, would that be weird? It's what girls do, sometimes, I think, so it wouldn't be weird for guys, right?"
He turned around holding a green Zelda t-shirt with the golden triforce on it and a blue button down. "Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope."
Teddy finished pulling his tshirt down around his waist, joined Billy on his side of the room and stared at him, his lips twitching up in a faintly incredulous smile. "Did you seriously just "no homo" me because I offered to help you with clothes? I thought I was supposed to be the jock meathead in this room."
Billy busted up laughing, tossing the two shirts back down on the bed, turning towards Teddy with a large grin on his face. "Okay, smartass. Help me pick an outfit, complete homo."
"What about...jeans and," he sifted through his pile and pulled up his old debate t-shirt. "This? Or does this just scream nerd more?"
"Maybe not screaming, but definitely muttering under its breath," Teddy replied with an apology in his voice. He chewed on his bottom lips for a moment, surveying the wreckage. He wasn't exactly a fashion guy, but he'd been to enough of the team parties and downtown clubs that he had a general idea of the lines between hip, acceptable and hopeless. "Yes to the jeans, no to the shirt? What about the other one you were holding up. Not the Zelda one."
Billy tossed the debate shirt and pulled up the blue button down he had held up a bit ago. "This one? My mom got me this for one of those hideous matching family photos. You think it's okay?"
Teddy was momentarily derailed by the image. "Matching outfits? Does she have a thing for the Partridge Family? Wow."
"Ugh. Please don't. We all had to wear the same colored pants and shirts and sit on a couch with these awful smiles, which I still had my braces on for so that was fantastic." He shook his head and dramatically shuddered. "I still have nightmares."
He held up the blue shirt and laid it down next to the jeans, seeing them next to each other he could see where the shirt would look good instead of awful with jeans. "Okay. Cool. I think I actually have a decent outfit thanks to your expertise. You party often?"
Teddy shrugged, memories coming back that he preferred to avoid. "Basketball team stuff, mostly. The team captain liked to throw ragers when his parents were out of town. They were okay. Alcohol doesn't really affect me - healing factor - and I don't like the taste of beer, so I wasn't exactly the target market." He headed back to his side of the room, grabbing the blue flannel he'd set aside. "And try the outfit on before you thank me."
"That must have been fun, being sober around a bunch of drunk guys." He nodded to Teddy's advice and quickly pulled his hoodie up over his head, turning away from the other so he would only see Billy's back and not his pathetic excuse of a chest and stomach.
He pulled his arms through the dress shirt and buttoned it up, rolling the sleeves a little before slipping out of his current jeans to put the ones Teddy had suggested on. "I actually have never been to any kind of party, believe it or not. Unless you count my friend's eleventh birthday party at the roller rink. Co-ed and everything."
Teddy was not watching but he was edgily aware of Billy changing behind him. Come on-- they were going to be living together for a year, at least, and if he managed to give Billy the impression that Teddy was treating him differently now that Billy had come out... ugh. Why did life have to be complicated?
"There's nothing wrong with co-ed parties," Teddy objected mildly, flipping his collar down. He grabbed the leather cuff bracelet from his dresser, toying with the buckle for a moment before slipping it on. It wasn't a bracer or a gauntlet, but something about it made him feel armored-up anyway. It was kind of a talisman that way. "And roller rinks could be fun, in a corny sort of way. I doubt this will be like that was, though," he added after a beat. "Unless your parents were a lot less strict than most."
"Ha! That's hilarious. My mom is the kind of mom who found a paper clip in the garage and went on a weird detective man-hunt cause she thought I might be using. So, suffice to say, I've never been to whatever Warren and Terry are planning." He finished with his pants and went over to his dresser, opening the drawer and staring at it.
"What do you think?" He pulled out a rainbow colored fabric belt and held it up for Teddy's inspection. "Too much? Am I asking for trouble?"
Not for the first time Teddy found himself wishing that he could borrow some of Billy's bravery, just for a night. "It depends on your goals, I think. If you want to come out all at once," he offered up, in no way qualified to give this particular piece of advice. Wishing he had the guts to do a thing didn't mean he should be encouraging Billy to do it, but it also didn't make him right to discourage it.
"For what it's worth, I can't imagine anyone we know here harassing you for it. Except maybe for your brother, but that would be because he's Tommy, not because you're gay."
"Ha, yeah." He was honestly surprised how late in the game it was and he hadn't told his twin, not that he was going out of his way to hide it from Tommy, it had just never really come up. He made a quick choice and looped the belt through his jeans, feeling oddly excited about wearing it again and knowing he wouldn't get his face shoved in a toilet for it.
"It's probably easier than having to have the same conversation with everyone eventually. This way it's out there without me ever really having to bring it up." Billy moved over to the thin mirror they had propped up near his dresser and started messing with his hair again. "Sooo, you met anyone that tickles your fancy?"
That was the worst and least smooth way to try and fish out Teddy's type, but Billy focused on the mirror so it would seem casual.
"That whiches my what?" Teddy repeated, partly dumbfounded at the way the conversation had suddenly ricocheted to focus on him, and mostly as a way to try and figure out something to say. Had he let something slip? Maybe he talked in his sleep? But Billy hadn't said anything -- not until now. He was probably just making conversation.
Right.
Teddy shoved his feet in his shoes, mostly to have an excuse not to make eye contact with Billy in the mirror. "Not... really. That is, I'm not actually looking. Right now. We only just got here," he finished lamely, sure that his ears were flushing warm. And then, a terrible-awful thought, even though it would make his life so much simpler. "Why, have you?"
"Er..." Billy flushed, wondering if it was alright to tell Teddy who exactly he's found attractive and fun. "Well, I mean there are, fortunately and unfortunately, a lot of attractive guys in this school, which is weird right? That's not normal."
He ended up just parting his hair off to the side like he always did, blowing his bangs out of his eyes as he turned to look at Teddy with a shrug. "I mean there are like two, but both are a super no go, so not like anything is going to happen."
"Why do you say that? You never know. Unless they're straight, of course, in which case fair enough." Teddy put his confident face back on and nudged Billy out of the way so he could use the mirror. "You're a great guy," he said firmly. "Anyone would be lucky to date you."
"Erm. Yeah or they’re with someone." Billy flushed at the nice words as he watched Teddy primp in the mirror. He wondered what kind of girl Teddy liked, was it super sweet and kind girls like Kitty or maybe the rebel type like Yana. Shen was cool too though.
"And you sound like my mom, but thanks. You wanna walk down together? I could go get Tommy to, but I highly doubt he waited for his slow double."
"Like your mom? Gee, thanks," Teddy snorted, grabbing his keys off his desk and shoving them in his pocket along with his phone. "And sure. Last time I saw Tommy he was heading for Bobby and Kurt's room, so I assume we'll see them down there."
"Oh cool, Kurt's coming. He's pretty great even if he's friends with my brother. So, he kind of loses a few points there." Billy gave a huge grin so Teddy knew he was kidding as he grabbed his own phone and shoved it into his pockets.
"Erm...should I take my keys even though you have yours?" He muttered to himself, but grabbed them anyway because he was sure Teddy wouldn't want Billy sticking to him like glue the whole evening. "Alright! Let's blow this joint!"
"Not literally, Static Lad," Teddy joked, grabbing the door handle and opening it for Billy. "Try and keep the light show under control, or upstate will end up under an extreme weather watch."
"Why do you hurt me like that? I thought we were friends." Billy walked backwards so he could face Teddy as the talked and stuck his tongue out at the other. "Also, have you met the new girl who actually has weather controlling powers? She looks amazing. White mohawk and all."
"When do you find time to meet all these people?" Teddy asked, faintly amazed. "Between classes, danger room drills and all that, I'm still trying to figure out when I'm going to be able to get all my homework done."
"Ah, but you see, young grasshopper, you are a fool and do things when you're supposed to. Meanwhile, I wait till the very last second to do everything in an ulcer-inducing panic." He turned and slowed so Teddy could walk next to him. "Also, you juniors probably have a bunch more stuff to do than us little sophomores."
Teddy fell in step, his longer stride more than made up for by Billy's constant motion. Tommy might be the speedster of the pair of them, but Billy certainly had some of that same restless edge. "I don't think it's that much of a difference. Maybe I'm just worse at socializing than I thought when I'm not on a team or in a club or something."
And that... probably wasn't far off. His whole social outlet had been Greg and Greg's friends, and that had mostly been the sports crowd. Teddy hadn't been any good at making or keeping friends before that, and now he was... adrift. Unsure. It was a hollow, uncomfortable sort of feeling.
"Oh." Billy pursed his lips when they fell into a small silence before and idea hit him and he jumped back in front of Teddy with excitement. "Join our D&D group! Even if you don't know how to play we can teach you! It's fun, interactive and Kitty is super nice."
It was the kind of impulsive, ridiculously endearing kindness Teddy was starting to anticipate coming from Billy. He laughed, ducking his head before looking over at Billy from under his bangs. “D&D – that’s like live-action World of Warcraft, right?” he teased, but the idea wasn’t a terrible one. There’d been a gaming club at his old school and he’d glanced in once or twice, but Greg had sneered, and Teddy had fallen in line. He didn’t have to worry about any of that judgement any more.
“That could be fun, as long as Kitty doesn’t mind. I don’t want to push in if you’ve already got a party going.”
"No!" Billy grinned, thinking that this was absolutely perfect. "I was actually put on duty to look for new meat! You coming would help us actually be able to start a game ‘cause playing with only two would kind of suck, since one person actually needs to be the DM. I thinking maybe Kitty could drag her boyfriend into playing, then we would have three players!"
Kitty would be stoked and so proud.
"In that case, sure," Teddy shrugged. "Who's Kitty's boyfriend?"
"Bobby! Hot guy who can do ice stuff." Billy chuckled and shook his head. "She's too good for him, but he makes her happy so."
"It happens that way a lot," Teddy grinned. "I know Bobby, at least I know who he is. It'll be fun." They'd reached the door to the stairs and he pushed it open, gesturing for Billy to go before him. "Shall we?"