Billy Kaplan (somecallmebilly) wrote in newalliance, @ 2012-06-17 11:12:00 |
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Entry tags: | hulkling, wiccan |
Who: Billy Kaplan and Teddy Altman
Npcs: Mr. and Mrs. Kaplan, and Billy’s younger brothers.
Where: Kaplan Residence.
When: Tuesday, June 12th (Backdated).
What: Dinner with the family and the boyfriend. Talk of Wanda afterwards.
Rating: Worksafe.
Status: Complete in gdoc.
Dinner at the Kaplan home was usually a family affair. Yes, there were times when Billy would eat in his room, because of homework or just general teenage rebellion, but for the most part, Mr. and Mrs. Kaplan insisted on their three children sitting down with them in the dining room for a family dinner and conversation. Tonight was one of those nights, though different because of the fact that there were not only the Kaplan’s present, but Teddy as well.
At least Billy’s mother had refrained from too many questions during the salad. However, now that she was scooping out portions of the chicken, carrots, and couscous, the questions started to flow as well, much to Billy’s chagrin. Fortunately, Billy’s father wasn’t keen on interrogations, preferring to leave those to the psychologist in the family.
“So, Teddy. Billy says that you’re going to be a senior at Midtown next year. You excited?”
Billy paused chewing long enough to shoot Teddy an apologetic glance.
==
“That’s right.” He was a little nervous, but overall was managing with the pressure of his second dinner with the family rather well. “And I am. My other school wasn’t nearly as good as Midtown’s stats. My mom does realty, so she has an eye for school districts.” He nodded toward one of the little brothers. “Can you pass the couscous, please? It’s delicious.”
==
Tiny hands offered the large bowl to Teddy and Billy couldn’t help but grin. He watched the exchange for a few moments before noticing his mother’s quizzical gaze at him. He turned back to his food, almost coughing the water that he quickly started to drink.
Amused, Rebecca cut a dainty slice of her own chicken and ate it, dabbing her mouth with a napkin before continuing. “Were you thinking of playing any sports?”
“Mom... He didn’t come over for an interrogation.”
“Of course not, Billy.” She turned to look at her son. “I’m just trying to get to know your friends, that’s all.” Rebecca smiled at Teddy. “You’re not uncomfortable, right? He’s got so few of them, my Billy.”
“MOM.” At least the second utterance seemed to derail Mrs. Kaplan, though she kept her winning smile in place.
“So... where were we?” She drank a sip of her wine. “Oh... sports?”
==
Teddy couldn’t help but duck his chin to hide the amused grin. Not that it worked. “It’s fine,” he assured lightly, looking to Billy briefly. He shrugged to Mrs. Kaplan. “Honestly, I was going to avoid sports this time around. I had a bad experience with the teams at the old school. Way too much sports politics for my liking.”
He looked at his nearly empty plate. Yeah, he was really becoming a fan of the kosher dishes. He started taking much smaller bites. “As far as friends go... Better to be picky and have a few rather than a lot who aren’t really friends.”
==
“Help yourself to seconds, or even thirds. Billy told me you’re a healthy eater, so I made sure there was plenty.” She glanced at Billy for a moment, then the two younger Kaplans. “These two would eat me out of house and home if I let them.” Toothy smiles erupted from Billy’s brothers.
“So how was work, Dad?” Billy asked, hoping to change the conversation.
“It was okay,” Mr. Kaplan replied noncommittally, clearly content to allow his wife free reign of the table.
Thanks for the assist, Dad, Billy thought as he slid his carrots around on the plate. “I was thinking about maybe getting into some clubs next year. You know, for my upcoming college applications.” It had been a point of contention during the previous year, and though Billy didn’t really want to be in any clubs, perhaps the offer would be enough to mollify his mother, or at least distract her from relentlessly questioning Teddy.
==
Teddy’s glee at the offer of thirds was obvious. Emotionally everything showed in Teddy’s eyes. If he was happy, uncertain, sad, hungry--it was easy to tell. Food equaled happy. He had a silent, light mock battle with forks with one of the brothers, but a quick one so as to avoid disapproval and tucked in to another plate.
Then he looked up at the mention of clubs. “Can we join the comic book club?” he asked eagerly. “Or environmental sounds cool, too.”
Yeah, he probably wasn’t helping.
“Oh, and concerning environmental,” He turned in his seat to motion to the yard. “Can I swap plant cuttings with you, Mrs. Kaplan? We have some bulbs planted, but really want to get some herbs started. We’re still getting the garden area sorted.”
Well, it wasn’t interrogation when you were discussing plants, at least, and Mrs. Kaplan was more than eager to share all she’d done for her garden and what grew well. Teddy cleaned off the rest of the plate happily while still managing to keep most of his table manners. Besides, in his thinking if he had to trade plant starts, that meant he had yet another excuse to come over and bother Billy.
He hadn’t breached any sensitive subjects since their last exchange of texts. And really, so far he was doing a fine job of pretending nothing had been said. Or, more the case, unsaid.
==
Billy listened to Teddy and his mother talk back and forth, but he wasn’t really in the conversation. Not really. His mind was elsewhere. It was on the street, listening to Wanda again and again and again. Though he made a passable effort of not letting it show. At least today, anyhow. He’d spent most of yesterday holed up in his room, thinking and trying to distract himself from thinking all at the same time. Still, overall, this was... nice? At least they got along. That was worth its weight in gold, as far as Billy was concerned.
Still, as dinner wound to a close, Billy helped clear the table and load the dishwasher, securing permission for Teddy to stay over for a while and watch a movie upstairs. Mrs. Kaplan gave a discerning look to her eldest son before sending him away with a small nod of her head.
“You cool to chill and watch a movie or something?” Billy asked as he walked back into the dining room, pitching his voice up a bit to get Teddy’s attention. Teddy, whose legs were both currently occupied each by one of his brothers.
==
“Rawr! Today is bad day for Tokyo!”
He paused mid step to look at Billy. The two boys also looked up and one stuck his tongue out while the other immediately complained that they were playing.
“Sorry, fellas.” Teddy reached down and grabbed the youngest, swinging him upside down briefly before setting him to his feet. “Movie calls. Your brother thinks I have lived in a cave too long and need to catch up on the --.” He paused to pry the youngest off again, repeating the scooping motion so he landed awkwardly on his feet. “--movies I’ve missed. Ah!” He held up a finger when the youngest giggled and ran at him again. “No more flips.”
The youngest screwed his face up, ready to demand his way, but Mrs. Kaplan came to his rescue, calling the two younger off. Teddy gave her an appreciative wave before hurrying up after Billy.
“Which movie?” He kept his tone casual, warding off the vibes of I’m more than just a friend and am going up to his bedroom alone with him as best he could.
==
Billy walked over to the dvd player and grabbed the first disk his fingers rested on. ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail.’ He popped it into the dvd player, turned on the tv, and then walked over and sat on the futon. He fiddled with the remote control, adjusting the volume a bit before tossing it on the small table.
After a few moments of saying nothing, he looked up at Teddy. “She said that she thought I might be one of her twin boys. Like, reincarnation and magic or something.” It was simple, matter of fact, and designed to answer the unspoken question that had been on Teddy’s mind the whole night. What happened with Wanda?
==
Teddy turned his attention away from the movie, studying Billy. The tension had remained between them, Billy keeping quiet and inwardly stormy, Teddy trying not to pry. Now Billy was finally willing to talk. Teddy was both relieved and apprehensive, glad to not have the hurt of being shut out, unsure of how much he should ask. He gave a weak smile, turning to sit sideways to show the other he had his full attention.
“So that’s it... But... Magical reincarnation?” He turned it over in his mind, then nodded. “That would explain a lot, actually.”
==
Billy blinked a couple of times before looked at Teddy, brows scrunched questioningly.
“How? What does that even explain?” His tone was of exasperation, but he couldn’t help but at least grin at Teddy. Why’d the boy have to be so damn cute when he was trying to sulk?
At best, it was a non-explanation. She was a crazy person that thought he was her son. That wasn’t even close to magical reincarnation.
==
“Tommy,” Teddy replied simply, watching Billy closely.
==
“Tommy?” Billy was confused for a moment before he put two and two together, at least toward Teddy’s thought.
“What do you mean?” His voice had grown softer and he turned his body toward Teddy on the futon, his hands reaching out for the other teen’s. Least he could do was hear him out. Maybe he’d have some insight. Even if he didn’t though, Billy realized that he’d been being kind of an ass about the whole Wanda thing, treating Teddy like he wasn’t important enough to know things.
==
Teddy blocked out the sound of clopping coconuts from the TV, focusing on Billy. His hand squeezed his back softly.
“Tommy... You mentioned his name shortly after... um.” Well, their first kiss. And the memory of that still made a pleased color tinge his cheeks. “And then I met him at the mall, and mistook him for your brother. But of course, he insists he’s not and left it at it being a complicated matter.” He looked up at the ceiling briefly. “Thing is, your faces are exact. That... really doesn’t happen in people of the same age. I won’t say I’m an expert in this, but I can ‘map’ how people look, their structures and features, the little facial imperfections. Even if you two were brothers from Mrs. Kaplan, you still should not look so absolutely similar.
“And more... have different colored eyes and hair on top of it. The fact that you are both mutants, though? That someone is claiming you are a twin? Well, simple genetics can’t explain that. Magic, though...”
==
Billy sorted through the information that Teddy presented and ignored his instant desire to deny what he was saying. Actually, Teddy brought up good points. Good points to explain craziness, but good points nonetheless.
He curled into Teddy’s arms, pulling them around him like a warm, safe blanket, his cheek pressed against Teddy’s chest. “Let’s assume,” he said quietly into the fabric of Teddy’s shirt. “Let’s assume for a moment that you’re right... that she’s right. What does that mean? Who am I then? Am I still Billy Kaplan, or am I this... other person? And what happens as I get older? What happens if I’m not this other soul, but it’s inside me, and it decides that it wants to take the steering wheel, so to speak. What if I disappear because of this other thing?”
==
So that was it... He didn’t want to be unsure of his existence.
Teddy wrapped him up easily, breathing in Billy’s hair softly. It came naturally, their close proximity and comfort in being close. It took him a long moment before answering.
“I’m not... saying that she’s right. There isn’t proof of that. There isn’t proof that even if that is the truth that she won’t hurt you.” He gave a slight squeeze. “But that doesn’t change who you are. If this is the case, if this is the truth and she’s right, it hasn’t changed anything--you’re just finding out more about yourself. Nothing, really, is different. You’re still Billy Kaplan. You have two younger brothers, some fairly cool parents. You’re cute and you have some awesome abilities with magic.” He nuzzled against the dark hair. “It’s like... trying to question what happens to a soul after we expire. You can drive yourself crazy thinking about it. Just... be. If you start acting weird, you can be sure I’ll notice. And we can go from there.” He gave a small shrug.
==
Billy laughed softly into Teddy’s shirt before stretching up to kiss him. “I think you’ve managed to make more sense in five minutes than my brain has in two days.” He adjusted himself so, while he was still cuddled next to Teddy, his head rested on the other teen’s shoulder.
He heard his mom call from downstairs, asking if he wanted some popcorn or anything.
“I’ll be right back,” he said, kissing Teddy’s lips as punctuation before hopping off the futon and heading out the door.
==
A little mental cheer expressed across his eyes. He was glad he had helped, and very glad for the kiss. It was hard not to grab and drag Billy back for another, but oh... right. parents. And popcorn! He grinned dopily and laid down more comfortably, trying to grasp the movie once more. What... what in the world was the plot to this?
Not that it wasn’t funny. The quips were definitely amusing, if British humor. But his mind was also swimming with the things Billy had said and was worried about. The what if’s, the possible steps to take from there to figure things out.
And then there was popcorn, and better, a Billy carrying it. He grinned from where he had invaded the full couch.
“Should we rewind?”
==
“Nah, no need. You do, however, need to scoot over and make room.”
He walked in with the popcorn, pointedly leaving the door open. He rolled Teddy’s legs off the couch and plopped down next to him, snuggling up to him again and offering the popcorn. And just like that, with but a couple of words from Teddy to clear things up, everything was back to normal-ish. Because Billy believed him. He believed that Teddy would notice if something was going awry with him and would help him fix it.
And right now, that was enough.