The Revival Project - IC Inbox

[doubled_speed]

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[playingtough]

Billy holds the mug out with his hand, watching the sprinkling of the cinnamon pepper the top of the chocolate. Once it's settled, he pulls it up to breath in the spicy scent of it. Blue eyes look up to Tommy's green at the question.

That meant he'd have to let go of Tommy's hand again, and something in him doubted it would be as quick to clean up as it was to gather all the materials. He frowns, but nods. Then he slowly lets go of Tommy's hand, like he really doesn't want to let go, but does. Tommy's gotta clean up after all.

[doubled_speed]

His hands is freed and Tommy smiles.

"Back shortly."

And then he lets himself fall backwards into his speed. At these speeds he could get away with some things that he can't otherwise. Like brushing his fingers briefly through some of Billy's loose curls. Something easy to be taken as a gust of wind. Then he moves away at speed to gather things up, put them away, and move to dishes. Washes them all freely as he tries to calm himself. To remind himself that the guy is too young.

For him it's ten minutes. For Billy it's probably all of three seconds because Tommy's still being not too fast. Then he's back at Billy's side, holding another mug steaming with the scent of mint and berries.

"Still want to go upstairs?"

[playingtough]

hat movement through his hair isn't missed, but Billy only thinks of it as the breeze cause by Tommy moving quick. He looks around, trying to pinpoint Tommy, but he's exhausted and a little worn out with just the mug of hot chocolate in one hand.

It's only about three, maybe even four, when Tommy comes back to his side with the other mug that smells like berries and... mint. He recognizes the mint at least and he looks down at the liquid before looking back up at Tommy. "Yeah. I don't think I can go back to the civic center right now anyways." Cluing Tommy in that he's still in the city and hasn't moved back out to the beach yet.

[doubled_speed]

Civics center, was it? Interesting. Tommy just nods and tilts his head back toward the kitchen door.

"Then let's head up, Curls. Get you all settled in. I have spare blankets and pillows. You can use my bed or couch tonight, your choice."

[playingtough]

Surely Tommy already knew that. He had tabs on everyone in the city, right? A thrill shoots up his spine at the name and this time he notices it. It's just a name, right? It doesn't mean anything.

Right?

"Okay. I'll take the couch." He wasn't about to take the bed from Tommy. Perhaps sleeping in the same room as someone that could relate a little to him would help him sleep. "Just need one blanket and one pillow." He wasn't entirely picky.

There's a glance at the kitchen door. "...you're going to turn the lights on up there first though, right? Or at least for the stairs?"

[doubled_speed]

No, he really didn't. He kept tabs only on those he cared the most about.

"Two pillows and one blanket," Tommy says, as if he's negotiating here.

"Yeah, I am. I can turn them on as we walk. You want to follow?"

[playingtough]

"Two pillows and a blanket then." It does feel like negotiating, but the terms were good, so Billy doesn't argue. He takes a sip of his drink and hums at the tastiness. The mug was held in both hands now, though it felt like his hand was itching to be back in Tommy's.

"Yeah. I can follow behind." It wasn't like he didn't know the way or anything. He just didn't do well with dark stairways. Add that to the mountain of other things that had changed that summer. "You won't go far, right?"

[doubled_speed]

"Not far at all, promise."

He's slow walking out of the kitchen, frequently looking back over his shoulder. When he gets them to the door to the stairs he opens it and flips a switch to turn the lights on. Then he's gone and back in a blink to turn off the other lights in the place. So yeah, he did go far, but only in space. Not in time.

"Alright, up we go."

[playingtough]

Not far. Of course it wasn't. They hauled a mattress up there after all. He follows after Tommy, now noticing how his feet hurt from walking across the roads to get here.

To get to Tommy.

It had felt so important to get here.

There's no time for the darkness to creep back in with each click of the lights on. Then in half-a-blink, Tommy is gone and back with the lights on upstairs. Before he starts up the stairs, he grabs the man's hand to hold on as he starts up them. One foot in front of the other to climb each one.

[doubled_speed]

The hand is back in his, and dammit. Tommy had calmed down. His heart had settled. His mind had settled. And now he's holding Billy's hand again, going up the stairs.

"You sure you don't need a hand for the railing?"

[playingtough]

Of course it is. It's grounding, it keeps him from being dragged back down where he doesn't want to be right now. He can't let himself go back into Steelworks, so holding the hand is what's going to help.

He glares up at Tommy. "If I wanted to hold the railing, I'd be holding it, Shepherd." There's a quicker step as he tries to hold his own against the stairs.

[doubled_speed]

Yeah, well, Tommy wishes he was holding it. Because hey, the Agrii were taller than he was, by a good bit. And the stairs were larger in proportion. So this was hard. He goes silent as he focuses on doing the stairs with no hands to support himself.

And when they make the top he sighs in relief and reaches around Billy to flip a light on.

"Couch?"

[playingtough]

It wasn't anything they couldn't handle, or so Billy liked to think. At the top, he relaxes again and waits for the light to flood the space. It's as cozy as he remembers. Billy shuffles further into the room, then starts towards the couch. He doesn't get far, because he's not dropping that hand again.

"Yeah, couch. Couch is fine. Two pillows and a blanket." Maybe he'd be able to sleep through the rest of the night.

[doubled_speed]

It's actually cozier now. Tommy's made some small efforts toward making the place look better. The painting from Vision is up on the wall now, and hanging nearby are a pair of costumes. On one side the silver and green of his hero uniform. On the other what looks to be dark pants, a just short of sheer but billowy shirt, a vest, and a scarf for both belt and around the top, all in shades of green. His bed has a pile of blankets on it now, and a mound of pillows.

Tommy moves to the couch with Billy and puts his drink on one small table. Then he looks at Billy and then down at their joined hands.

"I need to get the pillows and blanket, man."

[playingtough]

Billy holds his drink and takes a seat, fingers barely holding Tommy's at this point as he does so. Once seated, he looks at the new furnishings making the loft into a home. The painting, the mounds of blankets and pillows on the bed, the garments hung up. It's very cozy now, compared to the personality-less room he had in the civic center.

"Okay." So he lets go and pulls his feet up off of the floor and his knees to his chest. Billy sips at the hot chocolate and ignores the burn of heat against the roof of his mouth and against his tongue. "Usually I'd ask more in advance about staying over n' shit. Just... can't be alone. The nightmare woke me up out of the medicine Tae gave me to help me sleep."

[doubled_speed]

"You're always welcome here," Tommy says. He doesn't move quickly, now that there are somewhere safe and well lit. Just strolls over to the bed, picks up a few extra pillows and a blanket, and carries them over.

"I'd offer you pajamas, but you're still dressed for bed. Mind if I make sure your feet are okay?"

He puts the pillows beside Billy and drapes the blanket on his lap.

[playingtough]

Bill sets the mug down to take the linens, setting the pillows down next to him while Tommy drapes the blanket over his lap. It’s settling, and smells like that fresh laundry scent he remembers from the pillow fort months ago.

"They’re fine. Just a little walk but I forgot my boots." Because boots weren’t important like getting away from darkness and rats were. Despite what he says, the blanket gets pulled up to reveal them.

They’re dirty from the walk, with bits of rubble embedded in the skin, but aside from a few bloodless scrapes, they seem fine. A bit tender maybe from how they twitch. Or maybe someone’s just ticklish.

"I know we’re best friends but… but why are you doing all this?"

[doubled_speed]

Yeah, it wasn’t the furthest walk, but Tommy was still worried. He gets down on his knees in front of Billy and the couch. Reaches out and takes his feet to start checking them over. Soon he’s gently brushing the rubble out and, ultimately, starts to massage them. Why the fuck not.

“Because I fucking care about you, idiot,” Tommy says with a sigh.

[playingtough]

Toes twitch each time a stone or something like it gets brushed out of his feet. At the massage, he starts to pull back, but not because he doesn’t want it, but because—

"Don’t sit down there. Rats. Rats might come up here. Get in the couch." It’s not phrased like a request. Billy starts turning on the couch, intending to sit back against the armrest instead so Tommy can work like he wants.

A small scowl. "Not an idiot. Not used to people caring so much about me."

[doubled_speed]

"If any rats show up I'll catch them and take them to Sh'Ka. Unless they are evil rats. Then I'll blow them up," Tommy reminds him. But since Billy is making room, well, it's for the other guy's sanity. Tommy's own is stress over functional feet. Need good feet to run.

It's a speedster hangup.

But he gets on the couch and takes the foot again to return to the massage.

"I do care about you though. I-"

He cuts himself off. Sighs. Lets Billy's foot go.

"Listen man, I need to say something. And I need you to know I'm saying it to get it out of the way and not because I wanna fuck up or friendship or some shit. And tonight is a shit time to do it all things considered, but it's in my head and I have to. I'm sorry."

[playingtough]

In all this light, it’s clear that Billy is doing better compared to when he arrived earlier. He’s less haggard, pale, and rough. There’s color back in his skin, eyes are more attentive, and looks like someone’s mentally home. Even if he is afraid of imaginary rats still.

He picks up his mug and takes a sip while Tommy picks up where he left off with the massage. The groan he makes isn’t clear if it’s from the beverage or the massage.

Then it’s gone - the massage and the touch and now Tommy looks… unhappy? Worried? Billy can’t quite tell. But he listens without interrupting. His hands grip the mug until his knuckles are white.

"…what is it?"

[doubled_speed]

"It's... Man, I just need you to promise that when I say it you're not going to punch me or something. Just tell me to fuck off with that shit or something, and let us stay friends. I'm fucking amazing at being friends. And my brain, it can let this shit go once I've said it and it's all out there and I'm told to fuck off with it. That's all I need. That's... Yeah."

So now it's Tommy's turn to look... messed up.

[playingtough]

Billy starts to pale at first, thinking the worst until Tommy continues. Whatever it is, the guy wants them to stay friends. Whatever needed to be said had to be big then. Maybe borderline life changing.

He sits up, then instead puts the mug down so he doesn’t spill the contents, and then sits up properly. "Fine. I promise, whatever, unless it’s something bad like you found my dad and you made friends with him. Or found my mom and didn’t tell me. Then I’m not promising and I will beat the shit out of you next time you don’t have your powers."

There’s a nagging feeling that this wasn’t going to be the case.

[doubled_speed]

"That would be completely fair and I would stand still to let you get your blows in," Tommy promises.

But now he's nervous. There's no foot in his hands, there's nothing to do with his hands. Fuck, this is a shit time for the actual ADHD shit to pop up. But it is. He starts tugging at a fake thread that is pretend sticking out of his pants. Should have changed to pajamas. Fuck, maybe he still should. But no, can't. Okay. Don't. He...

"I could really, really be into a guy like you. Am into a guy like you. Actually into you. I'm sorry. I know it's fucked up and, like, the nightmare of straight guys or some shit. The assumption that someone only got to be your friend because they want in your pants. And it's not like that. I like you for you. And I know my age is fucking weird compared to yours. It's messed up. I'm sorry about that too. So, uh. Sorry. I just... I have to say it because it keeps fucking eating at me and it's driving me up the wall and everyone keeps acting like I'm crazy not to tell you. Literally everyone."

Literally only Tony and his brother, and Steve fucking Harrington. And maybe Max? Who fucking knows. It's enough to be maddening.

Still, he takes a deep breath, still staring at his hands, not willing or able to see Billy's face right now.

"Okay. This is the point where you remind me you're straight, and that shit isn't happening, you maybe kick me in the leg or something, and then we just move on, right? Please? Like, my brain can take that and accept it. It's come up with guys I've liked and been friends with before. Eli just rolled his eyes, told me it wasn't happening, and we're still good. Can it be like that now so I can just... so I can get my head on straight but still have my best friend in this hell hole of a place?"

[playingtough]

Whatever Tommy had to tell him, it’s making the speedster nervous. Billy leans forward so he can drink in every word said when the guy starts talking to him. And Billy is silent to let him say his piece so he can find his peace again.

The realization and the weight of what’s being said dawns on him. It shows in his expression as it goes from attentive into stunned.

Tommy likes him? Could be into someone like Billy. That’s what he said. And it’s the truth, it has to be, with the way his friend isn’t looking at him. Tommy wouldn’t lie anyways, not about something like this. There’s a thrill in his chest, a sort of swooping motion his heart seems to do while he absorbs it, even as ropes of doubt strangle it back down.

So all he answers with is, "…you actually like me? Like…like that?" It’s whispered, like some sort of secret Billy himself hadn’t come to terms with yet.