Who: Herakles and Erato What: TLC Where: Erato's house When: Yesterday Warnings: None
Teddy was not a worrier. He was a deep believer that the world would work out how it was supposed to, as long as you remembered to give it a little push once in a while. He'd decided that when he'd actually been holding up the world for a while. But having not heard or seen from Erato for days had him worried. She was way, way more social than this...
Had he done something wrong? Maybe rushed into it too fast. God, he had the worst luck with women. Sex, no. Women, yes.
Hence the small red rose he had in his hand when he approached her door, giving it a small knock.
Erato gasped. Had they seen her when she'd gone out? Were they looking for her now? She crept carefully to the door. "Wh-who's there?"
Teddy blinked. That voice wasn't the Valentine he knew. But it belonged to another person he knew... or, had known. "It's Teddy. Is V home?"
"Oh." She reached up to unlock the door. "It's open."
Well this was odd, no? He pulled it open and glanced down to a girl he'd never expected to see again. Because she was supposed to be dead. Also, she looked like shit. "Hi, Evie," he said, clearly confused.
"Hey honey," Evie smiled, closing the door behind her. "Its good to see you..." She'd been hoping he would visit her.
He blinked at her again, stooping to enter the room without bonking his head on the doorway edge. "I was worried about you," he said, a little sad to see that maybe his worries were quite in the right. "What's going on? I haven't seen you in ages."
"I had some issues I had to resolve," she murmured, reaching out to pull him into a hug. "I'm glad you're here now though."
He returned it as tightly as he could without harming her, but still give her a sense of security. "Anything I can help with?"
"Actually yes..." she smiled, tiptoeing now to give him a kiss. She was so much shorter like this! "I think I've finally finished my business with this face. I'm ready to be Valentine Ames. But..." She snuggled close against his chest. "Might need someone to look after me for a day or two. Two transformations in a week is gonna be rough."
Teddy nodded in understanding. "I meant like, though, anythin' with those other issues I can help with?" He chuckled, picking her up like a child. "Anyone that needs poundin'?"
"No...I had to deal with that on my own," she said softly, throwing her arms around his neck. "It's sweet of you to offer though."
"Okay." He gave her a kiss. "Anything ya want, sweetheart." Oh, why was he falling for her. It wasn't like they had major past affair... And he couldn't help this slight feeling that something was keeping her apart. Gods, he had horrible luck with girls.
"You're so sweet," she murmured, nuzzling him. Now she could change back to her old face and really give Freyr's challenge a good crack. "Thanks, y'know for helping me with Freyr. He's been a really good friend to me...I don't know if I ever would've gotten better if he hadn't given me the push to do so."
Freyr again? Teddy tried not to look jealous. But he was, just a bit. "You're welcome. You're still in contact with him?"
"Yes...he just finished catching up with his family," Evie explained. Teddy was Freyr's friend too. He might as well know.
Teddy nodded, bringing her to a couch to sit on. "That's good. He'll be a great ally to have."
"I'm gonna change back now, okay?" Evie smiled. She was glad to be in his arms for this... She closed her eyes, wincing a bit as her limbs stretched and morphed. All her features changed to those of Valentine, and when the transformation was complete, she was panting from the exhaustion.
"Whoa, now," he said. "That's quicker than I usually do it. No need to strain yourself.
Val shivered, curling up against Teddy. Gods that hurt. She whimpered, clinging to his shirt.
Shh, shh. Carefully, he threaded a bit of power into her, just enough to make the aches go away, and hugged her tight.
Val sighed, her tense muscles loosening in his embrace. "Thanks Teddy..."
"No problem. A guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do, right?" he said with a chuckle. Aww, she was so cute and little and fragile...
"I'm just...I'm not gonna move for a bit, okay?" She smiled up at him, weary but otherwise in good cheer. "Hope that's not a problem."
thunderbearer: He smiled back and gave her a kiss. He could resist her physical charms to just sit with her. Right. Totally! "Not one bit."
"Love you," she murmured, content to doze with her cheek on his shoulder.
Summary: Teddy comes to visit Erato, and she puts him to use as a caretaker.