Thread: Putting the Threads Back Together Characters: Hulkling and Wiccan NPCs: SHIELD security guard, crowd-folk Location: SHIELD / Avengers HQ, then the city Timeline: Mid-morning, 3/15/2016 Description: Former friends meet and go out to talk and eat Rating: PG+
Teddy had gone about life as usual except for any active missions. The Avengers were staying in a holding pattern. And the alien was taking time between the comic book shop he loved, his tiny apartment, and Avengers headquarters. Today was HQ. Dressed in a black button down short sleeve shirt, black jeans, and midnight blue chucks.
He had to recover from the private memorial for Xavier and his initial reunion with Billy. Stopping along some hidden windows, Teddy looked out at the early afternoon through the Stonehenge monoliths of the New York City skyline.
For the first five minutes, it had been mildly amusing. For the last five, William Kaplan’s nerves were starting to show. He stood at the threshold from SHIELD’s lobby that separated the public area from the more highly sensitive parts, staring down a doorman who was only doing his job. That job, apparently, was being obstinate.
“Would it have helped if I’d showed up in costume? Show off my abilities?” He’d chosen discretion, a basic short-sleeved shirt top and jeans rather than his cape and form-fitting protective gear, because the idea was to meet up with a friend, not look for trouble.
“I have a list, Mr. Kaplan. You are not on that list.” Stoic, eyes hidden behind his shades, the guard maintained his rigid posture.
“Right. Because I’m not an Avenger. I’m just friends with one. Whom I wanted to meet, who is here today. I’d call him but my electronic devices weren’t cleared over there,” Billy pointed to the check-in desk, where he’d submitted his cell phone. “And as you’ve told me a half dozen times, you--”
“I’m not a hotel concierge. Right. You’re welcome to collect your things, leave the premises, and call him from outside.”
“It took me like a half hour just to get here!”
The agent shrugged. “Your choice.”
“Right. Got it. It’s been great.” Kaplan turned on his heel and walked back over to the desk.
Teddy often lingered towards the security checkpoint. It was the best place to catch a glimpses of team members before they got neck-deep in assignments. And it was easy to step out and see how the ‘real world’ was doing. And in the not-so-hallowed halls, the young alien could hear his former boyfriend’s sarcasm and passionate dialogue with the guard.
He broke into a strong walk up the hallway and stopped for a moment with the guard. “Put him on the list. I vouch for him. William Kaplan.” Teddy spoke to him before hurrying up behind Billy.
“Hey,” Teddy breathed.
Billy let out a short, impressed laugh at how much pull Teddy now had, giving the agent a wink and a grin before turning his attention to the man he came to see. “Hey yourself. Nice digs,” he shrugged his arms to bring attention to the scale of the SHIELD campus. “Could use a concierge.”
He made a point to peer beyond the threshold behind the doorman. “What you got in here, anyway? Magneto?”
Teddy had worked hard to be where he was now. Even if he was still deemed a little low on the Avenger totem pole, he was a contributing member and he loved it. His cheeks reddened slightly at Billy’s laugh. The alien’s tender heart was always on his sleeve when it came to other young man. “It’s cool,” he smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
“Uh, don’t think so. Probably Juggernaut. But who am I to know? Just cool toys I don’t get to play with,” Teddy smiled as he stepped close to Billy. “Want to take a walk, get something to eat?”
“Yeah. I was hoping to catch up. Now that I’ve got some disposable income, too. Maybe not comic book shop money, but mom and dad are letting me stay back at home for now while I transition back to the mundy dimension.”
As Teddy stepped closer, Billy was forced to angle his head up to meet his eyes. He realized this was awkward. So many years since high school, since they’d dated, and he was suddenly back around. He wanted to pretend like nothing had changed, but they were both different people now, at least it seemed that way on the surface. Teddy was an Avenger. Billy, a reality-hopping magician’s apprentice. Like the hometown sheriff and Caine from “Kung Fu.”
Different. But not really, at least he hoped not in the ways that mattered. He realized this place was buzzing with other people, people who worked with Teddy on a professional level. Not wanting to undermine that with the hug he was wanting to give, Wiccan put his hand on his ex’s arm, squeezed it, and asked, “Is it too early for sushi?”
Teddy listened, looking down at Billy. He bit back the almost reflexive response of ‘why don’t you stay with me’. It was too soon and would they ever be able to go back to the point where they were just kids madly in love with each other. The alien’s heart was still recovering from the old wound opening up at the mere return of the magical young man. So awkward.
Breathing in deeply and looked off at the people around. There hadn’t been a call to “assemble”, so it was one of those wandering days for Teddy. Then he stilled as Wiccan touched his arm, squeezing it. His eyes went back to Wiccan’s and nodded with a smile, “It’s never too early for sushi.”
The years apart faded at that. Billy nodded, waited until he knew that agent was looking in their direction, then cast a spell, pulling Teddy with him into a vortex, his intent in the words muttered, “takeustosushi.”
An instant later, they were standing in the heart of Manhattan, startling a few passersby who were not used to seeing people appear out of thin air. “Don’t worry!” He said loudly. “Avengers passing through!” With a mischievous glint in his eye, he turned and spotted his favorite market. “So glad they’re still around! Come on. Let’s grab a bite, and you can tell me what the heck DC has been doing to their continuity again.”
Teddy tried to live in the moment, cherish what was happened and who he was with. He blinked and reached out to grasp Billy's free arm as the spell was cast. The alien blinked as they went into the vortex.
Squinting at the brighter light of the location, Teddy smiled brightly and then blushed. He shook his head at Billy's mischievousness. "Ha. Ha. Didn't you know that DC stood for 'Donde Continuity'?" He snickered as he let go of Wiccan's arm.