hulkling_altman (hulkling_altman) wrote in newalliance, @ 2013-01-20 23:20:00 |
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Entry tags: | hulkling, wiccan |
Who: Teddy Altman and Billy Kaplan
Where: Teddy's new residence, New York City, NY
When: Monday, January 31st, 2013
What: Teddy needs company, and also needs to clarify a few things with Billy over their new information about each other.
Rating: PG?
It's the simple brass key... he reminded himself as he looked at the keyring with confusion. He still felt awkward trying to unlock the door, as though he were intruding in this new place. So many changes...
The school office said they had received all of the paperwork. Teddy would be able to resume classes with his updated information. He was essentially under a certain guardianship until he turned 18. Insurance would not cover the fire for the house, considering it non-accidental, but his mom had a mortgage insurance in case of an accident. Life insurance was still pending.
He locked the door behind him, every move seeming loud in his ears. He tossed the bit of junk mail on the counter before dropping his backpack and considering the apartment.
One bedroom, pre-furnished with all appliances. A flat screen TV with free cable. A plush, gray couch. Blue carpet, and all plain white kitchen appliances. The long, white blinds swayed slightly, stirred from the opening and closing of the door. They hid the sliding glass that went out to a tiny balcony. He was on the top floor, so it had a view, but something kept him from changing the way the drapes hung. The place still looked like it was straight out of a magazine, not a single crumb or stain anywhere.
This isn't home. It's too... empty. At the moment, he was certain it would never really feel like it either. Some small voice told him it would pass, but that uprooted feeling was still sharp.
It was fine when he had school assignments or was training his muscles or doing patrol. Once the teen started moving and eating more, he was even able to convince himself he was doing well. He could function and that wasn't going to change. He had time to keep busy and ignore everything. Teddy liked staying focused on the practical things. It kept him grounded.
Then there were the times like these where he just felt terribly alone and out of place. The teen also felt at the mercy of other people's graces, and that bothered him immensely. It didn't feel right, being helped when he was so used to it being the other way around. It made him feel purposeless. When the SWORD agents had met him as he was leaving school Friday to show him the apartment three days ago and let him know they had handled all the legalities, Teddy had been tongue-tied.
All he could ask was why. He hadn't liked the answer, but didn't feel disappointment. Because he expected the answer he had received. Because of what he was. Perhaps that's just as well. They can check in on me, do not have to guess where I'm at, and I'm not at any of my friends' place being an endangerment.
He stood in the living room for a full twenty minutes, staring at the white blinds over the window and the way the disappearing sunlight was creating faint shadow lines, like bars over the blue carpet. Something finally snapped him out of his spiraling thoughts, and he yanked his backpack close, pulling out the phone. He was still clumsy with it, being much newer and sleeker than his old nokia. Still, he seemed to find Billy's name on the contact list all too easily.
Teddy had meant to be calm and just chit chat. He meant to say hi and ask how his day was. They could talk about school or something. But as soon as Billy picked up, he blurted, "Can you come over?"