Who: Billy and Teddy When: First day of Truth plot Where: Teddy’s place What: No lying boys! Rating/Warnings: Low/None Status: Complete
As far as Billy was concerned it was just another normal day, he was heading over to Teddy’s because his boss had received an offer for a job and he wanted to talk to Billy about it. So far things had been working out great and Billy was enjoying the work and he was thankfully fitting in really well living with Clary and her mom. He was even managing to keep his attraction to Teddy at the back of his mind.
Parking the car he headed up the path and knocked on the door before entering, “Teddy, it’s just me,” he called out.
Teddy blinked one eye sleepily when he heard Billy enter and call out.
Right. He’d told Billy to come over today to help him pick out a new project. And then he’d fallen asleep reading scripts--which were current scattered all over his bed.
“Upstairs,” he called back, hoping he sounded casual and not panicked. “Not gonna lie--I just woke up, so if you love me you’ll bring me a coffee?”
“Always will,” Billy called back before moving to the kitchen before he could say anything else that might get him in trouble. Making coffee he then popped it on a tray and took it upstairs, knocking on Teddy’s door before entering. “As requested,” he said with a smile, “Been reading scripts without me?” he asked indicating the papers all over the bed.
“Trying to,” Teddy admitted, and sat up. He reached for his t-shirt and tugged it back over his head, and then accepted the coffee from Billy. “You are amazing, and I love you,” he said, and then froze, because...okay, that wasn’t what he meant to say. “...um.”
Billy smiled, “I love you too.” Wait hold on, where had that come from? What was going on? Teddy looked as confused as Billy was. Were they under some kind of love spell or something? He hadn’t sensed anything this morning.
Teddy blinked up at Billy--his face was still red from his inadvertent confession, but--Billy had said he loved Teddy too.
He stared a little, scared, his heart pounding--but he didn’t want to take it back. If anything, he wanted to say it again--and say it more.
He pursed his lips. “Are we....I mean, I was trying really hard not to pressure you, because of Justin, because it’s not even been a month, and I’m not...really sure why I just said that, but...it’s the truth,” he admitted. “I love you, and not just the you I’ve dreamed about.”
“I love you too. My feelings for you are here and not just in the dreams. But I love Justin too. My feelings for you aren’t turning those off. I love you both. And I don’t know what to do about it. I don’t want anybody to get hurt,” Billy found himself confessing, he couldn’t seem to stop.
Teddy nodded. “I know,” he replied softly. “You wouldn’t be you without that capacity to love.” He lifted his coffee and blew on it lightly before taking a sip--perfect, because of course Billy knew how he liked his coffee by now.
“...you don’t have to stay,” he added. “I invited you over to look at scripts because I still need excuses to spend time with you, but I’ve already picked out my next project.”
And that was definitely not something he’d meant to say ever.
Billy smiled, “Thank you. You wouldn’t be you without being so wonderful and ridiculously understanding,” Billy replied, watched fondly as he sipped his coffee. Which was, naturally, perfect.
“I want to stay. I want to spend time with you as well,” Billy said which wasn’t at all what he’d said in his head, “I miss you when we aren’t together.” Definitely not what he’d said in his head.
“I miss you too,” Teddy confessed quickly. “And I don’t...I’m not sure why I’m telling you everything. I haven’t wished on any stars lately--I promise.” He pursed his lips, thoughtfully. “...did you? I mean--is this something that you...wanted?” Billy had the ability to warp reality, after all--and might not have even been conscious of himself doing it.
Billy shook his head, “No, well yes it is something I wanted but this isn’t me. I promise, I don’t know why I can’t lie or why you can’t but it isn’t me,” he said, honestly.
Teddy nodded, taking that answer for truth, and then sat back. “More ‘OC weirdness’ I guess,” he joked, then took another sip. When he finished, he cleared his throat. “So, um. Do you want to hear about the project?”
“I guess so. I can’t feel any magic. I get the feeling this place isn’t exactly magical the weird things are kind of part of it so it doesn’t feel different.” That was what Billy thought anyway. “I’d love to. I think you’re a wonderful actor.” Which, of course, was the truth but not something he’d meant to reveal. Teddy was obviously surprised by the compliment, and he tried to hide it behind a blush and a soft laugh. “I’m not--I mean, my parents were much better, and I’m not...I never feel satisfied or proud of what I do,” he admitted. “But...thank you,” he added, softly. “If it wasn’t for this...truthiness...I’m not sure I’d believe you.”
“You should be. You’re brilliant Teddy.” Billy told him reaching out to lay his hand over Teddy’s with a smile. “Now come on show me what you’ve chosen so I can prepare for the work to come.”
“Um,” Teddy felt distracted, and returned the smile briefly. “It’s shooting in New York,” he said, almost an apology. “But the director is one I’ve been wanting to work with for awhile, and the part he offered is small but...different,” he said, consideringly. “There’s a kind of...gay fantasy scene,” he admitted.
“New York? My home town,” he grinned, he didn’t really mind it might actually let him spend some time with his parents which would be a nice perk. “That’s amazing Teddy, really. It’s exactly the sort of thing you should be doing. Even if I will have to bear the jealousy of watching you with someone else,” he added without meaning too. Because he knew it wasn’t fair, not when he’d been with Justin. Normally those words would never be spoken out loud.
“...would you really be jealous?” Teddy asked, which, maybe wasn’t fair, but he also couldn’t help asking. “I mean, you have Justin. I didn’t think you thought of me...like that.”
“Yes,” Billy said, unable to stop himself, “I think of you like that more than I should. Which is why Justin and I are on a break because it’s not fair that I have fantasies about you while I’m with him,” he gave Teddy a sassy look, “You are not playing fair,” he added.
Teddy admitted that, looking chagrinned, but he smiled, a little boy caught, but hoping not to get disciplined. “I’m not,” he agreed. “But I honestly didn’t know you thought about me like that--or that the break with Justin was my fault,” he added, guiltily.
“It’s not your fault. It’s mine,” Billy said immediately, “It’s my feelings that are messing things up for everybody. I’m sorry,” he added with a sigh.
“No--it’s…” Teddy huffed a laugh and set his coffee cup on the side table. “Even if I wasn’t feeling compelled to tell the whole truth, I wouldn’t tell you that I think you having feelings for me is a bad thing. I just wish you didn’t feel bad for having them, because that makes me question even talking to you. You were obviously so much happier when I didn’t exist.”
"No," Billy said immediately, "Despite everything I'm glad you're here. I couldn't handle it if you went away now. I need you Teddy. I buried everything from my dreams so deeply when I thought there would be nobody else around from them but I shouldn't have because they are me," he said with realisation dawning as he spoke truths even he didn't realise. Teddy looked up at that, because maybe this whole truth thing wasn’t so bad after all. “They are you,” he agreed, and reached out, took Billy’s hand carefully. “They’re us.” He smiled a little. “And I need you too, Billy. In that universe and this one. You’re...it. For me. There will never be anyone else.”
Billy nodded, “I’m slowly starting to see that,” he smiled because he was, those people were them. “You don’t know how much I wish I could say the same,” he said a little sadly but Justin had been someone else and Billy did still feel for him.
“Hey, no,” Teddy protested, and shifted closer, squeezing Billy’s hand. “I’m grateful you found someone to care for. You need that. And I would never begrudge you being with someone else when you didn’t even think I was real.”
Billy gave Teddy a smile, "You really are too good to me you know," he said looking down at their hands for a moment, they fit together well. Maybe New York would be good for them, as people as well as work for Teddy.