kukkijar | Teddy Altman ; APPOINTMENTS

...Mm. Whatever you want to do, T. No one's gonna force you one way or another.

[Especially not him, even if his baking is terrible- even if the stupid elf demands that he bake a million of them. He'd never want to intentionally cause Teddy that kind of pain.

He tightens his grip for a moment longer, then draws back, nudging his head against Teddy's to urge him up, pressing their foreheads together.]

Hey... I'm proud of you, too. You're so strong, Teddy... and I'm not going anywhere, okay? I'll be right here.

[He lets out a long sigh and shuts his eyes, his hands moving up to caress Billy's cheeks, then down to rest against the sides of his neck, where he gives a gentle squeeze while letting out a sigh.

Just give me a minute.

After that moment, he takes in a deep breath, slides his thumbs lightly against Billy's jawline, then opens his eyes to give a little smile.]

Thanks. I... heh.

[He finally pulls back, giving Billy's elbows one last touch before he wipes at his cheeks and eyes, then moves to the sink to wash his hands. Man, he should've done that before he even started...]

You'd better stay. Maybe you can learn a thing or two about baking.

[Billy gives him as long as he needs, finally nodding patiently and leaning in to kiss Teddy's cheek as he washes his hands, smiling faintly and sliding back into what he hopes is a more neutral expression and posture. He's learned not to coddle Teddy much after the fact, to give him as much of a normal interaction as possible once he's finally let himself have a good cry. They're such polar opposites when it comes to this, so it took some adjusting, but he figures he's gotten it down pat now.

And at least Teddy didn't try to say that he's okay again.]

I think getting you to make them by yourself would count as cheating anyway, and I'd rather not get scolded by a freaky-looking doll. We'll do it together.

[He knows he's no replacement for Teddy's mom - nor would he ever try to be - but maybe they can make a new tradition. And if not, at least they can try to enjoy themselves.]

[There's a small pause in Teddy's movements. Doing this together, huh? It won't be the same, he knows it, but...

Maybe it can be a new memory.

So he turns to smile, dimples and all.]

I'd like that a lot, actually.

[And with that, he goes back to the dough and gesture to a small bowl, where the melted butter is.]

You can at least brush this onto the dough, right?

[Ahhh, there's the smile he loves. Billy relaxes at the sight, stepping up to stand at Teddy's side, shoulder to shoulder, and eyes the butter bowl dubiously.]

Brush it on? That's what you do with that?

[Guess who didn't read the whole recipe before starting things out? Maybe that's why he can't cook to save his life.]

[Any other person might have thought it was obvious, but Teddy just nods patiently and begins to press the dough into a rectangle, one of the things he was trying to do before he attempted to smash the countertop. Not everyone was born to cook, after all.]

Yeah. It helps the rest of the ingredients stick to the dough, and it gives it a little more flavor. Think of it like you're painting it on. Let me just...

[It only takes a moment longer before he finishes, then gives Billy's shoulder a nudge with his own.]

Now. Show me what you've got, Mr. Future Artist.

[Billy can't resist a quiet scoff at that - really, he's comparing art to this? - but he smiles anyway, because while it is silly, it's Teddy being silly, and he's very glad to see that. So he follows Teddy's instructions, carefully smearing the butter over the surface of the dough, and once it's coated to his satisfaction, he brings a finger up to Teddy's face, 'painting' the melted butter over his boyfriend's lips.]

Well? What does the art critic say to that?

[Teddy makes a face and pulls his head back slightly, though a smile still graces his buttered up lips. He would make a quip about how Paula Deen would love to kiss these lips, except for the fact that it would sail over Billy's head; that's more of a joke to say around Jeff. Instead, his smile grows into something playful, and he leans in to brush his lips against Billy's, effectively smearing some of the butter against them as well as indulging in a kiss.

When he breaks the kiss, he lets out a quiet chuckle before he looks down to survey the work, idly peeking his tongue out to lick along his lips.]

Mm. I'd say it's something of a masterpiece myself. [Cooking is something of an art, after all, just of a different variety. Billy might not be able to cook well, but he's sure he can pull off parts of it, like this, with ease because of that.]

[Well, that's a pretty good reward for his supposed masterpiece. He licks his own lips somewhat thoughtfully, leaning in to check the recipe book for the next step.]

Good to know. The filling's next, right? Just spread it in evenly?

Mmhmm. And press it into the dough a little; gotta make sure it doesn't fall off or anything.

[With that, he pulls over the bowl with the filling, placing it between the two of them so that Billy can join in as well, then starts to sprinkle it over the dough.]

We're going to leave about half an inch of a border, too. [And, without looking, he flicks his fingers at Billy's cheek, flinging bits of the filling at him. Starting a food fight is probably a bad idea, but he just can't resist.]

[Billy's about to help with the smearing, but the sudden spattering of filling on his cheek makes him pause, looking at the little dots of sugar in his peripheral. Teddy gets an uplifted brow for his antics, but instead of retaliating, he sniffs softly like he's completely affronted, dipping his fingers into the filling and spreading it over the buttered dough with Teddy. For a few moments it seems like he's letting Teddy get away with it.

And then, as Teddy's spreading it around, Billy finishes his own corner and pulls back to stretch his arms out over his head- and as his hands drop back to his sides, one of them takes a side-trip to smear the sugary filling on his fingers all over the back and side of Teddy's neck.

Just because he doesn't want to waste all their hard work by having a food fight doesn't mean he can't play this game, too.]

[And here Teddy did think he'd get away with it. Sure, it wasn't quite as fun without Billy playing back, but whatever. He still smirks as he spreads the filling over the dough, his movements slowing and turning much more precise when they get to the edges. Gotta make this perfect, after all.

Then, as he's working on his corner, he feels the brush of Billy's fingers as well as filling smear across his neck, and he stops what he's doing to lift his brow and glance at Billy.

So. He is playing this game after all.

Instead of commenting on it right away, though, Teddy gives a half smile, relaxes, and gets back into what he's doing. It's just a moment later, as he's finishing up, that he speaks up.]

Are you going to clean it off, or do I have to do it?

What, now it's my job to clean up the messes you instigate?

[Despite his words, Billy does edge back a step, winding one arm around Teddy's waist, his chin resting on the blond's shoulder to watch him finish with the rest of the filling. His neck smells like cinnamon and sugar now, and it's very tantalizing.

That doesn't mean he has to make it easy for Teddy, though.]

I don't think that's fair, since you didn't clean up your own mess.

[He tilts his chin a bit, pointedly showing off the filling still on his cheek.]

[He raises an eyebrow as he tilts his head back and to the side to get a good look at the mess on Billy's cheek; hm, true. He did kind of leave it there, huh.

Good thing he's just about finished. After a few finishing touches, Teddy wraps an arm around Billy's waist, fingers under the shirt just to get some more filling onto his skin, and the other on his chin both to hold his head still and the same reason as above, then leans in to slowly slide his tongue along his cheek. He didn't get all of it, of course, but he still pulls his head back with a musing little smile.]

Mmm. Cinnamon and sugar and a little hint of you... I like it.

[Between the tongue on his cheek and the hands under his shirt - as if he wasn't sticky enough already - Billy has to bite his lip to keep the noise that escapes him from attracting the neighbours. It's less what Teddy's actually doing and more what his imagination is filling in the blanks for, and he has... a very active imagination.

And a really talented boyfriend.]

...Tease. we'll have to wash our hands like twelve times before we finish this, won't we.

[Not that he's complaining. But he can't get to the back of Teddy's neck like this, so he settles for leaning in to get the mess on the sides first, teeth joining his tongue to nibble at the skin. He can't pull off long-term hickeys but they're fun to do, regardless.]

[The marks themselves might not be long-term, but the pleasant tingles that erupt from his neck sure last long enough, and Teddy ends up giving a light grin, shutting his eyes and tilting his head to give Billy a little more room with that, even though there isn't that much filling to clean off. The hand that was on Billy's chin rests on the side of his neck instead, a prelude to what Teddy plans on doing next, though he can't help opening his eyes to look at the dough they've yet to finish.]

Or more than that, ha... We should at least get this baking, or those elves are just gonna keep watching us.

[Though with the way Teddy starts to stroke Billy's waist and probably making more of a mess there, he isn't really complaining.]

Mm... you know what? Let them watch. It's not like we know for sure that the Malnosso aren't keeping an eye on us all the time, either.

[Which is equally creepy, if not more so, and he's happy to steer his train of thought far, far away from that route. If scientists and elves have nothing better to do than watch a couple of guys make out, well, that's their problem. But he definitely has better things to do than worry about it.

Giving Teddy's neck a little nudge with his nose once he's gotten all the filling off the sides, he presses a kiss to Teddy's jawline and sneaks free, stepping up to stand behind his boyfriend instead and getting his hands around his waist again.]

Do your stuff, master baker. And try not to get distracted.

[Token warning given, it's his turn to get hands up Teddy's shirt, still sprinkled with leftover sugar and damp from licked fingers.

Also? Tongue on the neck. He's cleaning that mess now.]

[... Yeah, that comment about the Malnosso keeping an eye on them all the time is creepy. Billy earns a subsequent look for that, then shakes his head, a quiet chuckle escaping as he gives the two elves a glance. Yep. Still there.]

... Distract - ?

[Oh. Oh, oh, oh - okay. Yeah, he... sees what Billy means by that.

... Well. Might as well try to hurry this along before he gets too distracted, seeing how Teddy already wants to just turn the two of them around until he's pressing Billy against the counter and -

Wow, okay, so much for not getting distracted.]

H-Heh... Challenge accepted, then.

[He takes in a slightly shaky breath and bites his lip as he starts to roll up the dough from one corner to the other. He can do this. He can do this, despite his boyfriend being very talented at the art of distraction.]

[He's somewhat limited by the fact that they're in the kitchen- if they were in their apartment he'd probably have his hands halfway down Teddy's pants by now. (Fastest distraction method, after all.) Still, fingers can do plenty without getting R-rated, so his are dancing teasingly back and forth over his boyfriend's stomach, nails grazing over his sides as well.

He's mindful of the areas most sensitive by now - both good and bad, thanks to their bedroom escapades and the warden, respectively - and knows by touch alone just where to get Teddy riled up.

It's a fun game, and he's smiling against Teddy's neck as he trails his tongue up his neck and catching the blond's ear lobe between his teeth, sucking on one of the rings there.]

[You know, Teddy was doing pretty good for a while. Biting his lip certainly helped with the urge to make any noises other than his heavier breathing, and keeping his hands busy with the dough rather than trying to return the gestures Billy keeps giving him helped out too.

Then Billy just had to start sucking on one of his earrings. He just had to do that.

The dough's rolled up by then, thankfully, which leads Teddy to take his hands off of that, drag them down to the edge of the counter and grip, lips finally parting to let a moan escape. Billy just had to go for one of his weaknesses, didn't he? And there's still a few more things to do with the rolls...]

Billy...

[Billy grins around the ring, feeling particularly shameless, and doesn't let up. He bumps up against Teddy's back, fingertips grazing over the top of his pants.]

Too challenging for you?

[Of course he had to do that. Sucking on things that belong to Teddy is his favourite pastime.

....SEE, SHAMELESS.]

Nnn-Nah, this is... fine. Fine.

[Focus, Teddy Altman, FOCUS. You value your self-control and no boyfriend is going to make you lose it in less than a minute.

He takes in a deep breath, then lets it out as he reaches his hands out again, this time to seal off the ends of the dough. Now maybe, just maybe, he can get Billy's attention away enough to recover a little.]

I'm gonna need a knife.

[Which means either Billy has to move, or back up enough to let Teddy moved. Either way works, as it gives him a few seconds to breathe.]

[Or so Teddy thinks.

See, the thing about dating a mage is that they have tricks to get around the whole "moving when you don't want to" problem. Billy pauses for a moment, hands resting in place, lips pressed to his ear. Then there's the sound of Billy muttering something unintelligible, a flare of blue, and then-]

How's this?

[He pulls one hand away from Teddy's stomach to lift a cutting knife, offering it out, his tone a mixture of helpfulness and gloating. But it's not like he just teleported something that was two feet away from himself.

Nope. Not him.]

[... God, he should've known he'd do that. Teddy just stares down at the knife for a moment, though it's a little hard to focus on it because of that hand that's still against his stomach and those lips right near his ear. And after that, he takes the knife and sends Billy an unimpressed glance over his shoulder.]

Cheater. [Okay, okay, he can work with this. Time to start slicing the dough evenly in eight pieces, though they're not really as even as he'd like them to be.] Lazy cheater.

Thought you'd enjoy the challenge.

[There's a soft huff of air as Billy chuckles against his neck, fingers sliding an inch or two lower and going back to attacking Teddy's exposed skin. It's not like he's touching the food, after all, and if anyone walks in on them- well, they're just kind of that couple, anyway...

And the elves can just go to hell already. He's sick of behaving himself.]

Besides, it's, ah. [Bite.] Magic practice...

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