kukkijar | Teddy Altman ; APPOINTMENTS

[Billy's content to just enjoy the quiet and the closeness until they're at the window, when he finally, reluctantly draws away to gingerly climb inside the apartment. Once he's in the kitchen and on his feet again, he steps away to give Teddy some room to join him, absently flexing his fingers a bit to give his body something to do- otherwise he feels like he might just launch himself forward and attach himself to Teddy again, and if he does that he's likely not to want to let go. Maybe later he'll feel justified in doing that, but there are things to be done and discussed first.]

[With Billy through the window, Teddy flaps his wings, staying outside so that he can decrease his size, shift into his human form with regular clothing, then slip inside, his large bat-like wings shrinking into his back as he does so. Once he's inside, Teddy grips the windowsill at first, fighting back that urge to hold Billy that hasn't left him. There's something more important to do, after all; there's plenty of time to attach themselves to each other later.

But now, now that he's quelled that urge some, Teddy steps forward, this time reaching his hands to gently take Billy's wrists in his own.]

Now can I look at these? [Whatever answer he gets, Teddy still starts to lead Billy back to the apartment and towards the bathroom, where the first-aid kit he received from Mia resides.]

[Billy winces despite Teddy's gentleness, but the motion isn't entirely due to pain, at least; he really does feel bad, however necessary it had felt to withhold the truth, and he follows Teddy to the apartment without complaint.]

Yeah... sorry for lying about it. I just- well, you know.

[Teddy had to understand; why else would he have kept silent about it while in Jane's presence? Billy knows how much he lucked out, though now he's sure that he'll be paying the price for it in little ways for the rest of the night.]

... Yeah, I know.

[He practically sighs it out, because as unhappy as he is about the burns and the surprise of discovering them on his own rather than Billy telling them, he completely understands why, so he's not upset about it. Jane was right there, and alerting her to the fact that Billy was hurt wouldn't have gone well. She'd be worried, and... she didn't need that after just returning from a long kidnapping of her own, with odd magical effects that she didn't know as much as Billy did. Topped with her blindness...

That doesn't mean he's not entirely okay with it, either. But once they're in the bathroom, Teddy moves his hands to his shoulders instead, where he pushes lightly down to get Billy sitting on the toilet seat.]

You sit here and stay there, all right? [He turns after that, opening the cabinet and seeming to fiddle with something there.] I got to talking with Mia while you were gone... She said she'd help me out with some things.

[And when Teddy turns to face Billy again: ta da! Anti-septic, bandages, a small towel, and a bowl already stored down there for the water he'll need.]

[Billy sits, the very picture of obedience - anything to keep himself out of the proverbial doghouse, okay - but still leans over to peer at Teddy and try to see what he's up to. His brows lift when he sees the supplies Teddy had ready, visibly surprised.]

You were practicing? [He pauses, another realization dawning in his mind.] ...In case I was hurt when I got back?

[That's... actually really touching, wow. Leave it to Teddy to keep his head clear and think ahead; Billy's pretty sure he'd have wasted the entire week angrily smacking his head against the barrier or something.]

[Teddy glances up at him with a little smile, shy and sheepish, before he turns his attention downward to turn Billy's hands over, palms up.]

You guessed it. [He runs a hand down Billy's inner wrist, stopping just before the burns.] I was... I thought you'd come back really hurt, or something, just like most of the other kidnappings I saw. So instead of thinking too much about it...

[He stands now that he got a good look at the burns, taking the bowl and washcloth up with him, to start filling the bowl with cold water.]

I decided to do something instead. Mia took up my offer really fast, so we started to do some one-on-one practicing, and...

[Teddy trails off once the bowl is full, and then he's kneeling again. With the bowl at his side, and the washcloth now soaked in the cold water, he squeezes out the excess, then gently dabs at Billy's hands.]

These look like electrical burns. Mild, easy to dress. Did you get them from fighting...?

...Well. Good for you, I'm glad.

[And that's the truth; he's proud of Teddy, his accomplishments and initiative. He made good use of his time, and now Billy gets to reap the benefits of it.

His smile is soft, watching Teddy work, though it's a bit sheepish at the question. His hands aren't that terrible, though they're dirty and a bit inflamed after going six days untreated in a crappy prison cell, so they don't look great, either. What's worse in his mind is the cause.]

Yeah, uh. Turns out that super-charging a robot with lightning right before it grabs you isn't a great idea. I should've just tried to zap them apart or something, but they got the jump on me.

Mmm.

[Unlike earlier, this is a very displeased sound. Yeah, Teddy asked, but he's not sure if he wanted to hear it. That Billy had to fight alone, that Teddy wasn't aware until it was too late...

Pepper assured him that it wasn't his fault, that it was out of his control. But he still feels pretty lousy about it.]

Sorry I wasn't there. [A small pause, and:] The burns aren't that bad, but we'll probably need to do this twice a day or so until the inflammation goes down. It wouldn't be so bad if they'd been treated right away...

[But alas, he knows that one simple cleaning and covering with anti-septic won't immediately heal them. He's always overestimated the human body and, particularly, how long it needs to heal, and it took seeing, reading, and hearing to really understand. All the anatomy and health books in the world couldn't really prepare him for really experiencing it, after all.]

[Since his hands are otherwise occupied, Billy leans forward and tilts his head to nuzzle it against Teddy's, his lips resting in the blond's hair for a long moment. He can tell by the tone that Teddy's not happy, and by his words, even if the mention of it had been brief, he can still recognize why. He'd feel the same way if their roles were reversed; he'd felt it before, after all, seeing Teddy get hurt or taken away and being helpless to prevent it.]

...Hey. It's okay, it's not your fault. I felt better knowing you were safe while I was there.

[Not that it felt great, getting locked up in some grimy science lab, but at least the last image of the village hadn't been Teddy fighting the bots, or lying unconscious somewhere, or worse.

He shudders briefly, wishing he'd pulled back beforehand, but too little too late. He should be focusing on the injuries, and Teddy's good work, not horrible what-ifs.]

[Caught again. Not that Teddy was trying too hard, but he still feels touched when Billy can pick out what's bothering him and zero in on that rather than Teddy's attempts to wave it off and focus on something else. The nuzzle and the half-kiss makes him pause in his movements and shut his eyes, just enjoying the intimacy of it, listening to his words. Feeling that shudder - a movement which makes him lift his own head to press their foreheads together.]

Still wish I could've helped. Or at least found a way to break you out.

[Though he doesn't continue his treatment for now, he does stroke his thumbs gently against Billy's inner wrists; I couldn't do any of those things, but I can do this for you now.]

[Billy indulges in the closeness for a long moment without responding, letting the touch of his boyfriend soothe his frayed nerves and give the bad memories a chance to settle. The touch is a reminder that he's back now, safe again, away from all of that. He's with Teddy, and Teddy can protect him, even from his own miserable head.]

...Mm, I don't know how many times I can handle you coming to my rescue and breaking me out of prison. I'll start feeling obligated to put on a pink dress and a crown. Oh, and dye my hair blonde.

[Because what better way is there to lighten the mood with Teddy than a video game reference?]

[... Yeah, okay, that makes him let out a snort while ducking his head - though with his head against Billy's, he ends up moving both of them as a result. Once he realizes that, he backs up again, getting right back to work, but with a smile on his face. Trust his boyfriend to know when to say the right things, even if the mental images that come with it are a little bizarre.]

And do I need to wear a red hat and shirt with blue overalls? And grow a big mustache? Because I can do it right now, B.

[It's Billy's turn to scoff, leaning back until he hits the tank, leaning against it at an awkward angle.]

I think I'd probably die laughing, so maybe we'd better refrain from doing that. Besides, Buffy said I'm way too cute to go blond.

[As mortifying as that word can be when associated with him, he knows that Teddy enjoys it.]

Well, she's right about that. You are way too cute, and sorry, babe, but you'd make a terrible blond.

[The image makes Teddy grin as he works, because honestly, he's the only one allowed to be the blond around here. There are a few dirty spots still on Billy's hands, and with them being untreated, they're a little hard to clean out. Still, Teddy works at the spot, diligent and gentle, until he can take the cloth away and find clean hands. Still inflamed, still burned, but clean at least.]

Don't I know it.

[Seriously, he knows his skintone. It would look terrible.

He looks down now, spotting his hands and making a face. It's nice to see them clean - they'd looked much worse with days-old dirt caked on - but they're not pretty, either.]

Ugh, those better not scar. I don't want to be stuck with weird-looking fish hands.

[There goes his vanity again.]

I'd love you even if you had fish hands, you know.

[He would press a kiss to them, but not after he just cleaned them, jeez. Now to squeeze out the water from the washcloth, only to pour anti-septic into it instead, allowing the bowl to catch the excess.]

But nurse Altman is on it anyway. Just think of it like an episode of Grey's Anatomy.

[... Much as it displeases him to say it, considering a certain female doctor on the show.]

She's actually- [Hiss, because ow,] A doctor. On the show. ...But you're way better looking, even excusing my personal bias.

[...Nice to hear, though, even if it's something he subconsciously knew. Teddy's stuck with him when he had a zombie leg, too, and when he was accidentally electrocuting teammates, and when he threatened to kill someone... yeah, Teddy's seen him at his worst already.]

Glad to hear a gay man thinks I'm at least better looking than a girl.

[Kidding, kidding, and his smile shows it. Thankfully he's not the panicking, always stopping and asking if he's okay mess that he was when he first redressed a wound of Billy's. These things are painful, yes, but they're brief, even though he really doesn't like to hurt Billy in any way. It's a necessary evil to provide a world of good, so he tries not to bring attention to it.

Also, there's the Kaplan pride to consider.]

Bandages next. Ready?

Ready as I'll ever be.

[His voice sounds about as enthusiastic as his words; he's glad to have his injuries treated properly, but he hates the process, at the same time. He'll just be glad to get it over with.

Sighing quietly, he ducks his head and closes his eyes, teeth clenched. He doesn't know how much it'll hurt, but it's better to expect the worst and be pleasantly surprised.]

Okay, go ahead.

[For a moment, Teddy remains where he is, just watching Billy's face and practically feeling the tension in his muscles. He scoots forward, but Billy won't be feeling bandages on his hands just yet. Instead, Teddy reaches up to stroke Billy's jawbone, where his teeth are clenched, the backs of his fingers caressing away from the center of the body in a gentle, deliberate fashion.]

Hey... it'll be fine. [He lifts his hands away to continue the treatment, this time on the sides of Billy's neck, thumbs still stroking his jaw.] Relax. It's easier if you're not all tensed up for it.

[For a long moment, Billy resists; he thrives on stress half the time, letting it fuel him, and calming down completely has always been hard. Eventually though he lets Teddy's presence ease his worries, tilting his head into the touch, the tension between his eyes and the crease in his forehead smoothing out.]

Sorry... it's just been a while since I could really relax.

[It's not like they hurt him while he was locked up, not really. But you don't need to be physically injured to feel the impact of such an imprisonment, and he'll be relying on Teddy until he gets over that, just like now.]

Mmm.

[Fueled by Billy's words, Teddy moves in to kiss his forehead between his eyes: the sixth chakra, he idly thinks to himself, then moves his hands up to run his fingers through his hair, stroking his scalp and down to the base of his neck, where he continues his earlier gesture.]

You're safe now. You're here, and I'm going to take care of you.

[Billy shudders again, eyes closing, and without a word he bows his head as he leans forward, slumping against Teddy's shoulder. There really is nothing more reassuring than a lover's touch. As long as Teddy doesn't mind - and he's pretty sure he doesn't - he'll just stay like that for a little while, face buried, trembling in silence.

And maybe he'll even cry a little. But at least it's mostly out of relief.

I'm so glad you're still here.]

[Honestly, Teddy feels a lot like crying himself. Spending a week alone, falling asleep in an empty bed, worrying out of his mind, trying to keep his mind on other things lest he thinks too much about his lover and his situation and how Teddy can't be there -

But while he does feel a sting in his eyes, there are no tears. Instead, Teddy seems content with shutting his eyes and leaning his head against Billy's, hands against his neck and fingers caressing the fine hairs at the back, and murmuring quiet words of reassurance and love near his ear. He is here now, and he's safe here, especially with Teddy here, and Teddy wants to ensure that by keeping close, keeping his boyfriend wrapped up and against him.

I love you, I'll protect you, I'm always here for you.]

[Somehow it's the words in his ear that push him over the edge; he knows he's delaying his own treatment, but truth be told it's one of the last things on his mind right now. He needs this. He needs Teddy. He needs to remember this and only this and forget the last week of feeling lost, pathetic, and alone- utterly powerless and without hope.

It's so much better now. He just needs to let it go.]

Sorry... I'm s-sorry. I'm okay. I just... god, Ted, it was...

[He can't even find the words to describe it, but he's pretty sure Teddy understands most of what he's feeling, anyway. He's been there before. They both have.]

Teddy Altman ; APPOINTMENTS

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