Third Night

[wasafreak]

The island still hasn't sunken in, yet, not really. Teddy understands how lucky he is- that he got out of Rapture, that he found Billy, that he has an amazing place to stay- but all the trappings of normalcy throw into sharp relief everything that he's been, however strangely, missing for three days. Fighting for time in the bathroom with Billy's younger brothers in the morning before school, meeting Eli and Cassie and Kate and, yeah, even Tommy to train. The fact that he and Billy are alone so much is amazing- he can touch him whenever he wants, they can ramble on for truly impressive amounts of time over the merits of extended cuts versus the inherent corporate greed involved in their releases, and no one gets annoyed. Billy's bed isn't some Gilligan's Island version of one, and Teddy's slept like the dead for most of two nights in a row. Long nights. Sure, he gets jolted awake once or twice a night by some stab of worry, maybe a nightmare- something that makes him snap to wakefulness and check that Billy's still there. A sense of being disoriented, of not knowing where he is that makes his senses light up and his adrenaline thrum heavy in his head for a few minutes before the sound of Billy's breathing lulls him again. That's kind of normal.

They kiss. A lot. With no interruptions. That is the opposite of normal, and Teddy digs it.

On the third night of his island life, Teddy's still digging it. The bookshelf was kind of a revelation, and out of the stack of things he acquired, he's starting with something called Sleepless by an author whose name he recognizes from some comic books.

It's really sad, but it's really good. At one of it's darker parts, he drops it just far enough that he can look over the tops of the pages at Billy, who's stretched out and intent on his homework.

Adorably intent.

Teddy reaches out with one bare foot and gently digs his big toe into Billy's side.

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[wasafreak.livejournal.com]

He catches Billy's hand at the wrist and draws it up, pressing his boyfriend's half curled fingers against his mouth and the tip of his nose. It's not a graceful or well thought out gesture, but it isn't meant to be smooth. With all the uncertainty and the hurt feelings, the now-alien sensation of 'figuring things out' with Billy of all people, he just can't stand to see that hesitation. He doesn't know how to blurt it out without sounding like a moron, but seeing Billy want to touch him helps.

Teddy shakes his head a little.

"No," he mumbles, "because I'm not going to waste a single day."

[halfscarlet]

Billy lets out a shaky sigh of relief, his fingers brushing against Teddy's lips as he moves them to cup his cheek. "Me too," he says, bringing his other hand up to rest on Teddy's waist. "I've had a year without you, I don't want to miss anymore time."

[wasafreak.livejournal.com]

Teddy slides his arm around Billy's waist and pulls him close, at the same time as he leans his face into the touch. He just nods a little, pressing his mouth briefly to Billy's palm, before bowing his head to press his face to Billy's neck.

It still hurts. There's still a lot to deal with. It's knowing that they can, though, that lets Teddy discard it, for the moment. He's not going to pretend like it's not there- denial doesn't work so well for him, around Billy- but he's not going to let it stop him from touching him, from being with him, not in that moment.

The familiar smell of Billy's hair and skin and clothes is comforting, and Teddy drops his other hand to slide over Billy's back and shoulders, pulling them closer together still.