milliways_bar | (no subject)

"I know," Billy says, simply. "What have you been up to today?"

"Was talking to someone. And then I think I went and slept some alcohol off." He's still smiling, and trying to pretend to not be evasive.

Yeah, right, Teddy. "Alcohol? That you needed to sleep off?"

"Umm, yes? I'm not sure what it was, exactly... but it was pretty potent. Also, hangover."

It wasn't exactly like Larxene was in the mood for telling what her poison of choice was.

Billy does not hit him over the head. It's a near thing. "I worry. About something that could give you a hangover. What if it were poison?"

"I don't think that it was. I... I'm fine."

He goes for another kiss to avoid telling Billy who, exactly, he got the drink from. See how fine he is?

Billy kisses him back.

"So apparently you impressed Xaldin."

He's a little taken aback by that. It shows.

"I did? How? All we did was exchange sticky notes."

Billy points upward. There's a huge Dragoon -- much larger than Eowyn -- in the clouds.

"He assigned you a guard."

Teddy looks up, and sure enough, there's a Dragoon.

"Oh, wow. That's--I'm honored." Pause. "I guess I have to give it a name, too?"

"Her," Billy corrects gently. "It's not like a puppy, Teddy."

"Right. I keep forgetting they're all girls." He pauses, and turns to the Dragoon, who's floating down. "I'm very sorry; I'm thankful you're here to protect me. Would you like a name?" She nods, inclining her dragon-head.

Then he turns back to Billy. "What should I name her?"

Billy wraps his arm around Teddy's waist. "I don't know. These three are all named after Lord of the Rings characters. Don't tell anyone."

"Yeah, I'd kind of figured that out by now, silly boy." He wraps his around Billy's in return. "Hmm. I could name her after Alia, but she went batshit-crazy after the second book... maybe Jessica? Not Chani, because that would be weird, and Irulan is a bitch..."

"You are so obsessed. And she's not a Jessica. Jessica is Jessica Jones."

"Shh. But I'll concede you that last point. Maybe... what was that dog's name... Ananda! 'That joy in existance without which the world would fall apart and collapse.'That sound alright?" he asks both Billy and the Dragoon.

"Ananda," Billy repeats, testing the sound. "It's pretty."

"It's from... did you ever read A Wrinkle In Time? It's from one of the sequels to that, A Swiftly Tilting Planet. I thought it was appropriate, consider what she's been through."

The Dragoon just nods as best it can, accepting the name.

"Yeah, I read them in middle school," Billy agrees. He kisses Teddy on the cheek. "You didn't manage to distract me, you know."

"...Frommm...?"

Playinnocentplayinnocentplayinnocent.

Damn, if only Billy's spells worked in reverse.

"The alcohol. What it was and why you were drinking it. Who gave it to you, too."

"Um. It was Atlantean, and... the person who gave it to me was Twelve. In roman numerals. One of the people with Xaldin? I'm sorry, Billy, but she said she had things to discuss, and that stickies wouldn't cut it, and I'm sorry and it won't happen again and--"

"Teddy. Teddy, shh," He wraps his arms around Teddy's shoulders. "Larxene. She said she talked to you. She didn't mention this."

"Yeah, it was just... something to help me talk. Which was good, because... it was good. Helped."

He's not going to try not to think about it now. That's not something he can afford anymore. He is, however, going to take Billy in his arms, needing that hug worse than anything.

"I'm fine, really. Better than. It helped."

"I'm glad. That it helped. You can talk to me about it, too, you know."

Part of him thinks that it would have been more helpful if Teddy hadn't needed liquid courage to talk about it. It might set a worrying precedent.