kukkijar | Teddy Altman ; APPOINTMENTS

[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 would rather have waited until Billy's hands were treated, until they were out of the restroom and in a better place, like the couch or the bedroom. But with Billy like this, Teddy really can't hold back anymore; he slides one hand into Billy's hair and wraps his other arm around his shoulders, holding him like he's worth everything, supporting him as well as himself.

He needs this as much as Billy does. He needs his boyfriend wrapped up in his arms, warm and alive and okay and here. He needs to hear him breathe and feel his heartbeat. He just needs Billy.]

I know... I know. [And he does know. He's felt it too.] You're safe with me now... god, I missed you so much, do you know how much I...?

[How much he missed him, how much he worried? Though he doesn't have to finish; he's sure Billy knows, and he's sure he felt it just the same.]

I know. I do. Yeah... [He can't seem to form full sentences anymore, feeling that desperation and fear overtake him, all the emotions he'd kept boiled within all day and most of the week, besides. It's good to finally let it out, to stop holding back. He's never been good at that, even with the little things; when it's important, when it matters, when it hurts like this, he needs to share it. And Teddy's the only person he won't try to hide it from, not anymore. Not ever again.] It's okay. It's okay now... we're together. We're good.

[Even if they're not, he needs to say it. He'll believe it when they're right here, like this.]

[With Billy like this, Teddy decides to close the distance between them; rather, pull Billy off of the toilet seat and to Teddy's lap, chest against chest and arms around each other, as physically close as they can get outside of making love. Billy needs to let it out, and Teddy needs to hold him. It's a gesture of seeking comfort on both ends, and it fits together so well, as it always has.]

We're good. We're here, we're together... It's okay. I'm here now. You've got me.

[Billy doesn't begrudge or resist the pull, allowing Teddy to guide him in close, his arms sliding up to wrap around his boyfriend's neck. He doesn't care if his hands hurt or if it seems too desperate or clingy. All he cares about is making sure that the comforting gesture of Teddy's isn't wasted.

He really does have the best boyfriend ever.

Eventually he eases off, somewhat reluctant but recognizing that he can't just sit and weep about it, not with Teddy doing so much for him. It can't have been easy for the blond this week, either - a different kind of suffering, one of longing and worry instead of that familiar, dreary fear. And sometimes enough really is enough; he feels pathetic, but at least now he feels safe. That's good enough for him.

He half lifts a hand to wipe it across his eyes and nose, then thinks better of it - Teddy just washed them after all - and snags a tissue instead, smiling weakly.]

God, sorry... I've been such a basket case lately. How do you put up with me again?

By knowing that you're my basket case.

[Teddy returns the smile, albeit a stronger one, and leans his forehead against Billy's once he's done wiping his face, his hand sliding from his hair to cup his cheek instead. He's missed him. He's missed him so much, and it took all he had to not "hulk out" and pound his fists against the barrier. It's bad enough that he punched the nearest wall hard enough to make a hole and cracks along the wall to appear, though it's likely already fixed by now. And now Billy's here, warm and safe in his arms, looking like a mess and yet still utterly beautiful to Teddy. And...

And oh, his hands. He'd been so caught up with just keeping him close that he'd almost forgotten about that.

He strokes Billy's cheekbone gently a few times, then pulls his head back while he slides his hand down to touch Billy's wrist.]

Not to ruin the moment or anything, but I think I need to finish treating you.

Ah... right, right. Gotta cover up my fish skin.

[Billy turns his hands around, giving them a light wriggle, then winces and regrets it immediately. Feeling sheepish now, he offers them out to Teddy to do with them what he will. It'll be a relief to have them finished and in better shape so they can get out of the bathroom and cuddle up somewhere more comfortable.]

Carry on, Nurse Altman. I promise not to interrupt this time.

[Teddy gives a light snort at that, his own hands moving away to take the bandages and start unraveling them. Billy might not be sitting on the toilet seat anymore, but while that is a better vantage point, Teddy is not about to complain about the new position. They're much closer like this, after all, and now that Teddy's gotten to touch Billy this much, he doesn't particularly want to stop.

Once he actually starts the treatment, he's careful and gentle, his movements much more precise and sure now that he knows what he's doing. Soon, one hand is done, wrapped much more securely yet still loose enough for Billy to move it if he wants to.

As for the other one, well... as soon as he unravels that bandage, he can feel the magic overtake it more than see it, and when he glances down, he sees that instead of a bandage he's holding, it looks more like a fruit-by-the-foot now.]

... Huh.

[Well, he certainly can't do anything with this. Except nibble a bit at the end, eyes glancing up in contemplation.]

Even tastes the same, wow...

[And in response Billy can only stare in horror, then hastily reach out and grab the bandages - fruit-by-the-gross-what-the-hell - and yank it back. So much for relaxing.]

Oh my god did you just- oh my god, Teddy, don't eat that! What if it changes back in your stomach!? Spit it out!

[He hunches over the bandages, muttering under his breath - "iwantittoturnbackiwantittoturnbackiwantittoturnback" - though god knows what it could turn into next.]

Teddy Altman ; APPOINTMENTS

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