Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/4742804.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Underage
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      Young_Avengers, Runaways_(Comics), Marvel_(Comics), Marvel_(House_of_M)
  Relationship:
      Teddy_Altman/Billy_Kaplan, Implied_Gertrude_Yorkes/Chase_Stein, Minor
      Victor_Mancha/Nico_Minoru, Minor_or_Background_Relationship(s)
  Character:
      Billy_Kaplan, Teddy_Altman_(Young_Avengers), Gertrude_Yorkes, Nico
      Minoru, Victor_Mancha, Kate_Bishop, Eli_Bradley, Lorna_Dane, Wanda
      Maximoff, Pietro_Maximoff, Chase_Stein, Karolina_Dean, Luna_Maximoff,
      Erik_Lehnsherr, Tommy_Shepherd, Xavin, Noh-Varr, Kl'rt, Logan_(X-Men),
      Raven_|_Mystique, Rogue_(X-Men), Kurt_Wagner
  Additional Tags:
      Alternate_Universe_-_House_of_M, What-If, Billy_and_Teddy_First_Meet,
      Star-crossed, Atlantis, Kree-Skrull_War, Kree_(Marvel), Skrull(s),
      mutans, Love, Love_at_First_Sight, Canon-Typical_Violence, Aliens, First
      Love, POV_Multiple, explicit_-_Freeform, Kinda, but_mostly_teen_rated
      tho, Time_Travel, Complete
  Stats:
      Published: 2015-09-06 Completed: 2017-10-11 Chapters: 10/10 Words: 95554
****** Son of Magnus ******
by AzulDemon
Summary
     “Iwanttobenormal, Iwanttobenormal, Iwanttobenormal…”
     Billy Magnus has it all: Magical-reality-warping-mutant-powers,
     riches, and power. All courtesy of being the grandson of the most
     powerful man in the world. Except Billy doesn't want any of that.
     Billy wants a normal life. Billy wants to be free.
     Teddy is a normal teenager...because normal in this world is having
     super-strength and shape-shifting powers. But then he meets Billy and
     then Teddy has to question everything he thought he knew to be true.
     When these star-crossed lovers meet the world of M will never be the
     same as they are swept up in a storm of politics and war...but they
     might just save all of reality in the process.
Notes
     First chapter in a longer series that I hope to continue working on.
     House of M, the Young Avengers, and the Runaways obviously do not
     belong to me and are products of Marvel. Feedback is always
     appreciated.
***** Royal Class Hero *****
                                        
“Iwanttobenormal, Iwanttobenormal, Iwanttobenormal…”Billy murmured repeatedly
to himself letting his eyes fall shut, releasing the shackles he kept on his
powers. He felt a gentle swell in his belly that rose high into his chest as
the magic responded to his wishes, taking those simple words and altering the
world to suit his desires. There was a flutter around his skin like he was
awash in a swarm of butterflies. In an instant the sharp, stiff, and course
royal garb had morphed into a simple black t-shirt, jeans, and a pair of
converse sneakers. He let out a contented sigh, relishing the simple comfort of
the change of cloths.
“Centralpark, Centralpark, Centralpark.”There was another swell of magic. It
was an intoxicating feeling. It was like pure euphoria swimming through every
cell of his body, tingling and reaching out, whispering thousands of tempting
little nothings. He took a deep breath, using the air flowing in and out of his
lungs to anchor himself, just as his mother had taught him. The magic, the
power over the very fabric of existence itself, could overwhelm and consume you
if you did not keep one foot firmly planted in reality.
His t-shirt ruffled around him and his hair was swept back as the teleportation
spell took him from his posh chambers, in the House of Magnus Royal Palace, to
a grove of trees in New York’s Central Park. He smiled up at the familiar
treetops. He had been sneaking out of the palace like this for almost a year.
Tommy would be livid that Billy had snuck out without him. But unlike his twin,
Billy was not interested in nightclubs and getting into trouble. He wanted to
see what it was like to be a normal citizen instead of the dutiful prince being
groomed to for leadership and royal responsibility in his grandfather’s court.
He wanted to see what everyday people lived like, what they thought of his
family, he wanted to be able to act without feeling like his every move was
watched and scrutinized. Most of all, he just wanted to go to comic shops.
He set out from the stand of trees as casually as he could manage, trying to
purge himself of the stately gait that had been ingrained in him since
toddlerhood. At first he had been afraid that people would recognize him. He
had thought he would need to use a glamour spell to alter his physical
appearance. He was a prince of House Magnus after all. The whole world must
have seen him on everything from a television screen to a StarkPad. He soon
realized however, that despite his family’s notoriety, all it took was a simple
change of cloths and he was just another mutant teenager roaming the city.
The scent of the city hit him slap as it always did, a florid mix of exhaust,
garbage, and the foliage of the park. It was vastly different from the flowery
smell of the palace. He moved down a familiar walkway that wound its way out of
the park and out into the city streets. Around him the roads were full of
honking cars and the sidewalks were bustling with people. The sun was high in
the sky and there wasn’t a cloud in sight. It was a picturesque summer day.
He was making his way to Astro Comics, his favorite comic shop, when he noticed
a strange cluster of movement. Three teenage boys were pushing at a girl around
Billy’s age.   The girl had short, bright purple hair, and wore horn-rimmed
glasses. She was carrying a bundle of what looked like signs in her arms. Her
face was pinched into a vicious scowl and whatever she was saying to the group
of boys was only making them laugh. Billy almost stopped in his tracks as they
began to push her off toward an alley. He could not believe his eyes. He looked
around, casting his head side to side waiting to see someone do something, say
something, call the police, anything. But no one did. A few people cast
uncomfortable glances toward the harried girl but no one gave any hint of
taking action.
What the hell?He thought in disbelief as he followed them, pushing his way
through the crowd. That was when he heard the screams. No one else seemed to
hear them, or no one seemed to care. He was rushing into the alley following
the screams when he heard the cruel laughter.
“Filthy sape!” Someone hooted.
“Yeah!” Another agreed.
“You should know better than to come to this side of town.”
“Back off!” A desperate, angry, feminine voice cried out. “Back the fuckoff! I
mean it asshole’s.”
“Shut up!”
As he neared he saw the three teenage boys ringing the purple haired girl. She
was wearing a skirt with knee high, mismatched socks. Her back was against the
wall her fists balled at her side. The signs she had been carrying were
scattered throughout the alley floor.
“Get away from me.” She warned low and feral. “I’m warning you!”
“What you gonna do about it sape?” One of the boys asked as a ball of flame
appeared in his hand, his companions laughing.
“My friend will be coming by any minute. He’ll be pissed.” Her eyes narrowed.
“You wouldn’t like him when he’s angry.”
“Ewww, another sape. I’m sooooo scared.” He tossed the ball of flame from one
hand to the next and they all laughed.
“Leave her alone!” Billy yelled bringing all the force of his regal authority
to bear in his voice even though his arms were shaking.
The girl gave him a look of mixed puzzlement and relief.
“Who are you?” The boy with the flame in hand said. “You her friend? The one we
wouldn’t like if he was aaaannnngry?” He mocked in a high childlike tone.
“No,” Billy remarked trying to sound as flippant and nonplused as possible.
“Just a concerned citizen.” His eyes narrowed. “Leave. Her. Alone.”
The boy laughed. “Three muties to one sape. Not such good odds for you.” He
hurled the ball of fire right at him.
Billy didn’t miss a beat despite his frazzled nerves. He extended his hand in a
stopping gesture and the ball of flame dissipated into a cool gust of wind that
passed Billy running ethereal fingers through his hair. “I’m not a sape.” He
said forcing himself to smirk confidently.
You’re still shaking son of Magnus. Get it together. Heroes don’t shake in
their sneakers when saving the girl.He pointed the fingers of his outstretched
hand at the boys and tendrils of lightning streaked forward, and the boys cried
out and dove for cover. See…just like all those training exercises with the Red
Guard…easy as pie…I should totally get pie after this.
The boy who had thrown the fireball was struck by one of the bolts of lighting
and went down shaking as sparks arched through him. He’d be fine. Billy had
made sure his bolts would only stun. The other two boys had recovered and one
slammed his hands together and a shockwave came sweeping towards him picking up
stray pieces of trash and debris with it.
Shit.
Billy crossed his arms in front of his face. The blast struck his force field
with a thundering crash. Billy felt the corners of his lips curving up.
I’m pretty good at this. I’m kinda like Spider-man!He brought down the barrier
preparing to lash out with another flare of lighting blasts when—
Poof!
Teleporter. Damn!
One of the other boys was already materializing behind him as he formed the
thought. He tried to bring up the proper way to neutralize a teleporter in
combat but his lessons had fled his mind in his surprise. The confidence he had
felt coursing through him only moments before had vanished and the quaking in
his limbs returned. He spun, but his legs began to tangle together underneath
him.
Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!
“Got you now sapien lover.” The boy said coming out of his port, fist pulled
back and aimed at Billy’s face.
Billy winced his eyes shut anticipating the impact. No matter how many times he
was throttled by Tommy in training bouts he could never seem to get used to it.
Go limp, flow with the impact, and roll to recover. He reminded himself.
But the blow never landed. He peeked from one eye hesitantly and the other shot
open in surprise as he watched the scene unfold in front of him. A massive
green hand connected to an even more massive green arm, rippling with corded
muscle held the teleporter suspended by the back of the neck. The arm itself
was attached to a monstrous looking guy, tall with muscles bulging to the point
where his white t-shirt was ripping in places.
“Not if thissapien lover has anything to do with it.” The hulk of a boy
answered with perfect superhero grace and charm. With a flick of his arm he
sent the teleproter sailing into the wall of the alley with a hollow thud. The
boy groaned and collapsed to the ground.
“Fuck you guys!” The boy with the shockwaves yelled bringing his hands together
again and sending an even bigger shockwave at them than his first.
Before Billy could react, big green arms were around him, spinning him about.
He felt himself pressed tight against the solid muscles of the massive, green
hulk of a boy. He felt a ripple go through the other boys skin and realized
that it had morphed into hardened scales. There was a sudden jolt as the
shockwave hit and the green boy dropped to one knee with a grunt, arms
tightening around Billy. He could feel the heat radiating off the body of his
protector. Billy was vaguely aware of the fierce blush creeping up his neck and
into his face at the sudden close contact.
Keep it together son of Magnus.
He wiggled from the other boys grasp as the grip on him was loosened, spinning
as he crouched, extending a hand and sending a singular bolt of lightning
arching from his palm. It hit the shockwave boy, sending him flying backwards.
“Not bad.” The green guy said behind him as he got to his feet. The back of his
shirt had ripped further due to the large protective scales that had grown
there to protect them from the blast. “We make a pretty good team.” He gave
Billy a wide, green-lipped smile.
Billy uncurled from his crouched position, the muscles of his mouth returning
the grin automatically as though it were infectious. He was reminded again of
being pressed close to the other boy, big arms wrapped around him protectively.
He felt the blush reemerge on his cheeks.
C’mon brain…mouth…get it together…make words. “Yeah, a regular dynamic duo.”
Could you have sounded like more of a nerd?
The green giant arched an eyebrow. Yup, he thinks I’m a totally geek.
“Then I guess the question is which one of us is batman and which one of us is
robin.”
Heroic, strong, and a nerd. Billy breathed. He felt his pulse quicken. “I guess
it also depends on which robin we’re talking about.” He followed up trying with
everything he had to keep the conversation flowing, hoping he hadn’t descended
too far into total geekdom.
The green boy’s smile broadened. “If it’s Carrie Kelly I call dibs on robin.”
Billy felt himself bubble over with laughter. “Good choice.”
“Best choice.” He replied with a chuckle.
“Ugh! Would you both quit whatever nerd mating ritual you’re doing over there?”
The purple haired girl growled from further down the alleyway. Billy turned
away from the other boy feeling his face heat up. He did not dare to even risk
a glance back at the other boy for fear of seeing disgust play across that
green face.
In all honesty, Billy had almost forgotten about the girl he had gone into this
alley to save. “Damn it, they’re ruined.” She was plucking up her signs from
the alley floor. They had fallen into a puddle and the paper of the signs was
sodden and falling apart. She blew out and exacerbated breath and stomped over,
pushing one of the mutant boys over with her foot as he grumbled trying to
rise.
“Sorry Gert.” Tall, strong, and green offered sheepishly. “I should have been
here sooner.”
“It’s not your fault these guys are racist pricks Teddy.”
Teddy. His name is Teddy.Billy thought.
“Besides, turns out I had a guardian angel looking out for me.” Gert said,
walking up to Billy. She cocked her head to the side. “And what should I call
my mutant knight in shinning armor?”
William I of House Magnus.“Billy.” He replied cringing as his voice caught in
the back of his throat.
Gert extended her hand. “Gertrude Yorkes. Pretty much everyone just calls me
Gert though.” Billy took it and she gave it a firm shake. “Thanks for stepping
in. Most people would have just kept walking by.”
There was a swishing sound behind them and Billy heard the green guy clear his
throat loudly. Gert rolled her eyes. “My sometimes green friend is Teddy
Altman.” She said jerking her chin to indicate her friend.
Sometimes green?
Billy turned around extending his hand in greeting, expecting it to be engulfed
by a massive green hand, only to have the hand clasping his be sun tanned and
only somewhat larger than his own. Rather than rough scales, the skin was soft
and smooth aside from some calluses on the palm. Even more shocking was the
body it was attached to. Gone was the massive green muscled giant and in its
place was pretty much the hottest guy Billy had ever seen. He was a little
taller than Billy, around his age, and still well muscled. His torn shirt hung
around him limply, offering glimpses of said muscles and Billy kept fighting to
keep his eyes from drifting to shamelessly ogle those patches of exposed skin.
Artfully unkempt, blond hair brushed Teddy’s brows and his blue eyes were like
twin pools that Billy felt quite certain he’d be comfortable drowning in. Billy
suddenly realized that they were just standing there hands clasped together and
felt a jolt run through his hand and into the rest of his body. Cue even more
blushing…
“Um…hi, I’m Billy.” He forced himself to mutter cursing himself for not having
something wittier to say.
Teddy’s free had was at his waist holding up his stretched out basketball
shorts and he tugged them up absently. “Teddy Altman…like she said. Or did we
decide that it was robin now?”
Billy was more focused on the dimples that formed in Teddy’s cheeks when he
smiled than the words that left his mouth.
Oh my god, he’s perfect.
He realized too late that they had lapsed into silence for too long once more
and were still holding hands. Teddy’s grin widened as his gaze moved down to
their clasped hands and then back up to meet Billy’s eyes and Billy thought he
might have seen a blush start to show on the other boy’s face but then promptly
vanish. It was gone so quickly he thought he had imagined it. Billy released
his grip hurriedly and brought his hand to rub the back of his neck absently.
“Thanks for having my back with the teleproter.” Billy finally managed to say
unable to follow up with any clever banter. Gratitude would have to do. “And
saving me from that shockwave.”
“Don’t mention it.” Teddy continued easily. “You’re the one who took out the
other two guys. I’m pretty sure you had it under control.”
“OMG.” Gert breathed irritably. “Are you two done fluffing each other’s egos?
Cause we gotta get to the rally Teddy and thanks to these jack wads I’m gonna
have to stop at a store so I can make some last minute signs.”
“Oh yeah, the rally.” Teddy replied pulling his eyes from Billy. “Almost
forgot.” He grabbed the drawstring of his shorts and pulled them as tightly as
he was able and tied them into a hasty knot. “I should probably change my
shirt. This is the second one I’ve ruined this week…my mom’s gonna murder me.”
In one fluid motion the ripped and stretched out t-shirt was pulled up over his
head and he turned and bent over to open a discarded messenger bag. Billy may
or may not have pretended to casually glance down the alley in an attempt to
get a good look at the tanned, muscular torso, and (obviously) perfect butt. He
turned quickly when he thought he caught Gert rolling her eyes and pretended to
straighten out and dust off his own t-shirt.
“Hey, you should come with us.” Gert suddenly said excitedly. It was the least
dry and sarcastic he had heard her sound since he met her. “You’re obviously
not a fascist mutant bigot. You’ll be right at home with the rest of us.”
“Umm…thanks? Where to?” Billy was grateful to have something to focus on other
than Teddy and hoped the change in attention would allow his blushing to cease
and his heart to slow down.
“The Sapien/Mutant alliance.” Teddy offered moving up next to him. Billy had to
fight the shudder of excitement that rocketed through him at the awareness of
just how close Teddy was. “Gert here is the president of their youth division.
She’s gonna be a big shot politician someday…or some sort of civil rights
activist slash terrorist.” He quipped nudging Billy’s side with his elbow and
giving him a conspiratorial wink.
Stop it face! Don’t blush. Don’t blush. Deep breathes. Think Zen thoughts.
“Before he was head honcho, King Magnus was considered a terrorist.” Gert
remarked. “You have to be bold in order to enact change.” She lifted her chin
in pride before looking back at Billy. “So, you in?”
“Unless you had somewhere important to be or something.” Teddy offered, brows
furrowed ever so slightly together as he looked up from his lashes.
About a hundred different strategies began to claw their way through Billy’s
head. Should he pretend to have some important social event to go to? Would
that show that he was cool and popular or make him seem like a shallow jerk?
Should he eagerly accept? Would that make him seem like someone Teddy has yet
another thing in common with or too eager? If he declined how would he be able
to see Teddy again? The best option seemed to be to pretend to have a prior
social engagement but then express interest in attending the next gathering. It
was the safest option. But how long would it be till the next gathering? What
if he couldn’t make it to that one? In the end, impatience inevitably won out.
“Sure, I’d be down to check it out.” He answered, trying to seem casual. “I was
just going to Astro Comics anyway.”
“Dude, I love that place.” Teddy said with an excited grin.
Billy was assaulted with the mental fantasy of lunging forward and kissing him.
Seriously brain…could you not?
“Maybe we can go by after the rally.” Teddy offered enthusiastically.
Billy’s heart fluttered like some spaztic bird in his chest. “Y-yeah, that’d be
cool.” He looked away from those clear blue eyes and fought the urge to read
into that suggestion. He could not bring himself to believe that Teddy was hot,
strong, charming, a total nerd, and either gay or bi. Life could simply not be
that perfect. It would have to be some sort of statistical anomaly worthy of
study by Dr. McCoy.
“Is this gonna be a thing?” Gert asked in annoyance. “Am I going to have to
deal with the two of you geeking out and getting all giddy each time you
realize your mutual nerdyness? Alright, you’re freaking soul mates, can we move
on?”
Billy and Teddy both took a startled step away from each other at that last
statement and looked in opposite directions. Billy could literally hear his
heart beat thudding in his ears.
“Gert…” Teddy muttered irritably scuffing his shoe on the floor.
“Let’s go, we’ve got signs to remake.” And with that Gert was off heading down
the alley with confident strides.
Teddy gave Billy a tentative look and slight shrug and then jogged after her.
Billy followed and the two boys feel in on either side of her.
Gert looked back and forth between the two of them and smirked. “My own
personal body guards.” She japed.
They made their way through the crowded streets in silence after that. Billy
was both glad for the proximal distance from Teddy and also trying to think of
a casual way to move next to him or engage him in conversation. Every scenario
he cooked up in his head ended with him putting his foot in his mouth or being
rejected so he opted to maintain the silence. In the end, it was Teddy who
broke the silence.
“So…lighting huh. You an electrokinetic?” Teddy asked breezily.
Billy nodded. “Something like that.” He didn’t dare divulge the full extent of
his mutant abilities. Telling people you could wrap reality around your finger
if you concentrated hard enough tended to freak them out. Plus, it might give
away his identity. “You some kind of shape-shifter?” He returned.
“You could say that.” Teddy replied. “Gert here is supper snarky.”
Gert snorted a laugh. “And super smart.”
“Snark and smarts trumps electrokinesis and shape-shifting any day.” Teddy
teased in an almost singsong tone.
“Don’t you forget it Altman.” Gert retorted.
“You know…” Teddy said lacing his fingers behind his head and looking up at the
sky. “Something about beating down juvenile mutant supremacists makes you
hungry.” He glanced over at them with just his eyes. Billy’s irrational brain
thought they were mostly focused on him. “I could totally go for some Chinese
food.”
“No time now Altman, world changing rallies to attend, remember?” Gert replied,
voice filled with importance.
“After? How bout you Billy?” This time those blue eyes were locked on him. “How
about some good’ol Americanized Chinese after saving the day?”
Incredibly hot, impossibly perfect Teddy just asked me to dinner. No, he
invited you to hangout with him and Gert. That does not constitute a date. Get
it together…but he also wants to go to Astro Comics after…
Billy could not help but grin despite the war ragging in his head. “Yeah, post
bully thrashing and world changing rallies chow mein is pretty much a
tradition, right?”
Teddy’s perfect teeth moved into a wide grin. “Sweet, it’s settled then. Maybe
the others will want to join. Even though they did zero superheroing.”
Billy fought to keep his smile despite the heavy, sinking sensation in his
stomach.
Others?
It was one thing to eat with just Teddy and Gert. There was plenty of time for
he and Teddy to speak one-on-one. Plus, he was certain at this point that Teddy
and Gert were not in a relationship. If other people were there Teddy would
have to divide his attention further. There might even be someone in the group
that Teddy was dating or already had a crush on.
“Others?” Billy forced himself to verbalize the thought. To his astonishment he
had kept the tone mostly casual.
“There’s a whole little group of us who go to school together.” Gert answered.
“Well, except Kate. She goes to some fancy private school. But we’re all
members of the Mutant/Sapien Alliance’s youth division.  
“Oh…that’s cool.” Billy replied.
“You from around here?” Teddy asked. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you at
school.”
Billy shook his head. “I’m from the upper West End. I go to school up there.”
“That figures.” Gert laughed.
“What?” Billy asked.
“Gert…” Teddy scolded.
“What!? Did you really think he was from the Bronx or something? He reeks of
upper SES.”
“I really hate that you took sociology last semester.” Teddy sighed with an eye
roll.
“College prep my dear Rufus.” Gert replied.
“Rufus?” Billy asked, unsuccessfully stifling a laugh.
“Hey!” Teddy shot at Gert.
“It’s Teddy’s middle name.” She whispered leaning toward Billy. “Quite sad.
Named after his mother’s late bulldog you see.”
“I repeat: Hey!” Teddy protested.
Billy did not even attempt to hold back his laughter now. “Oh c’mon, every
superhero has to have their quirk, right?” Billy offered.
“You guys suck.” Teddy huffed.
“So many hilariously X-rated responses…literally cannot choose.” Billy quipped
back, astounded at his own brazenness. Once again he thought he saw a flash of
blush flow across Teddy’s face but then vanish.
They walked up to a Wal-Plus store and Gert directed them to an aisle with
markers and poster board. They purchased what they needed and Gert dutifully
instructed them as to what to write on the posters as they sat at a picnic
table and she tried unsuccessfully to keep Billy and Teddy’s banter to a
minimum.
This is what it must feel like to have friends. Billy thought to himself with a
soft smile and warm feeling in his chest.
Growing up at the palace it had always been he and Tommy and their cousin Luna.
The three of them had played together but there were precious few other
children to interact with. Despite Tommy being his twin, the two of them
bickered as much as they got along. Luna was being groomed even more intensely
than Billy due to her father, Billy’s uncle Pietro, being heir apparent. Any
other people his age Billy had met had always been the children of dignitaries.
It had always been formal, even in private. It was not until he and Tommy began
sneaking from the palace that he had begun to experience anything like what it
was like to interact with his peers.
“C’mon, admit it, it’s clever.” Teddy was trying to convince Gert.
“How is ‘catch em’ all even relevant’?” Gert asked pointedly.
“Humans, mutants, inhumans, superhumans, gotta catch em’all for peace!” Teddy
was grinning at her, marker in hand prepared to write it.
“That makes it sound like we all need to be placed in prison.” Gert sighed in
exasperation. “It makes no sense.”
“Did you just try and turn a rally poster into a Pokémon reference?” Billy
laughed.
Teddy leaned in and bumped their shoulders together returning the laugh. “I
still say it’s brilliant.”
The sudden contact was enough to get Billy’s heart rate up once more. He could
feel the muscles of Teddy’s arm and caught the scent of him as well. It was a
smell he had been trying to categorize all day. Some intoxicating mix of citrus
and worn leather, Teddy’s cologne perhaps?
“You play?” Billy asked, ignoring the flurry of activity that a simple touch
had brought about.
“Yeah, you?”
“Yeah…’
“You should give me your username. We could link up, trade, battle, you know…”
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes!
“Um…yeah, that’d be awesome.” Billy replied licking his lips.
“Sweet!” Teddy reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone while Billy
tried not to stare at Teddy’s hips and crotch as they rocked forward.  “Hit
me.” He said typing it in with his thumbs. “You wanna give me your number too?”
He asked and Billy was almost certain there was slight quiver to his voice but
could not differentiate wishful thinking from reality at this point. “I
mean…we’re soul mates right? So…we’re, like, destined for epic super hero
antics and all sorts of joint nerdy pastimes.”
Billy prayed Teddy would take the redness in his face as a sign of the summer
heat. “We did say we were a dynamic duo.” Billy answered before giving Teddy
his phone number.
“Yes and we still need to clarify who’s who.” Teddy grinned, and there knees
brushed together. Billy had never realized such fleeting touches could be so
amazing.
 
                                     ~ ~ ~
 
The rally was held in the last place Billy wanted to be. It was right across
from the Human Reeducation Center. It was an organization that Billy’s
grandfather had instituted in order to deal with the remnants of the human
resistance. It was not one of his grandfather’s more popular ideas. Now Billy
was standing in a crowd of protestors amidst a forest of signs that read things
like: ‘Humans are People Too!’, ‘Unite the Races’, and ‘Mutant + Sapiens =
Love’.
Billy held his own sign timidly trying to keep his face down and avoided
meeting anyone’s eyes.   What he had thought was a great idea only minutes
before seemed like the most foolish thing he had ever done; and he had allowed
Tommy to convince him to help him let chickens loose during a ball held for
Queen Ororo’s birthday celebration last year. If anyone recognized him at this
event it would ignite a PR nightmare for his family. His grandfather would flay
him alive. A hand rested on his shoulder and he looked over to see Teddy giving
him a reassuring smile.
“It’s a bit much at first but you’ll get used to it.” Teddy said.
Worth it.Billy thought returning the smile and feeling himself puff up with
renewed confidence.
“Gert! Teddy! What took you?” An Asian girl dressed in ripped fishnets and a
black tutu asked as she made her way toward them. Her arm was linked with that
of another girl with long, flowing, blond hair.
“We had to remake some signs courtesy of some mutant-supremacist-pricks." Gert
answered. "Luckily Billy and Teddy came to my rescue.”
“Who’s Billy?” The girl asked.
“This is Billy.” Teddy said, clapping Billy on the back and nudging him
forward. “He saved Gert from being jumped.”
Billy ran the fingers of his free hand through his hair. “Umm…hi.” He waved,
all social graces having fled his mind.
“You saved her?” The girl with the flowing blond hair asked.
“I—I mean Teddy took out the teleporter.” Billy replied awkwardly to the bubbly
enthusiasm of the girl.
“Of course he did.” She smiled gliding over and flinging her arms around
Teddy’s neck with practiced familiarity while he returned the gesture, slipping
his arms around her slender waist, and spinning her around.
She was every bit as perfect as Teddy, with sky blue eyes, a warm smile, and a
figure that was willowy and shapely. Together they looked like one of those
ridiculously gorgeous couples you see in a hip clothing add. Billy felt the
pangs of jealousy dig into his chest. Was this Teddy’s girlfriend?
“I helped a little.” Teddy said placing her down. “But Billy did most of the
heavy lifting.”
The girl spun out of Teddy’s arms and extended her hand. “Karolina Dean.” She
beamed. “Thanks for saving Gert.”
“No problem.” Billy replied. “Tough I’m sure she would have taken them down
with snark and smarts if I hadn’t gotten in the way.”
Karolina laughed a bright, sunny laugh. “Looks like you’ve discovered Gert’s
super powers already.”
Billy felt the corners of his mouth moving up in a genuine smile despite the
continued pangs of jealousy he felt toward Karolina. But her mood was so bright
and earnest that he could not seem to help himself.
Maybe she's related to Teddy.He found himself hoping.
“You’ve met Karolina, and you kinda met Nico, but there are a few more
introductions to make.” Teddy said laying an arm casually across Billy’s
shoulders and leading him over to the others. A jolt of pleasure passed through
Billy at the touch. He hesitantly brought his own arm up to rest along Teddy’s
shoulder, returning the gesture. A small group of teens had formed around them.
Normally Billy would have felt nervous around so many normalteens his age. Give
him the podium in his grandfather's crowded main audience chamber any day, or a
royal banquet. But something about being in a crowd of people his own age and
being forced to interact with them set him on edge. But with Teddy's steady
presence beside him he felt bolstered and just smiled widely at his peers. “May
I introduce Chase, Kate, Victor, and Eli. Billy, this is everyone. Everyone,
this is Billy.” The others all waved or verbalized a greeting.
To his giddy delight, Teddy did not immediately remove his arm after the
introduction, keeping it there as if it were the most natural thing in the
world as he began to regale Victor with the tale of their daring rescue. He
would jostle Billy as he theatrically explained the details of the encounter,
embellishing here and there for dramatic effect. Billy looked up and over at
him, fully content to just bask in his presence but forced himself to play
along by interjecting jests and playful jabs into Teddy's narrative.
"You're an electrokinetic too?" Victor asked flipping stray strands of light
brown hair away from his green eyes.
"Um...yeah." Billy replied not wanting to talk much about his powers.
"Me too, I've also got magnetokinesis." Victor replied, demonstrating by
spinning a metal coin around in the air. "I keep trying to convince everyone
that I must be the long lost son or grandson of King Magnus or something." He
laughed at the notion and Billy joined him, hiding his discomfort.
"Being a prince of House Magnus seems kind of dull to me." Billy said trying to
continue to seem casual.
"Are you kidding!?" Victor asked with laugh. "Servants, riches, and power.
That's pretty much the dream right?"
"There's more to it than that Vic." Teddy replied. "With all that power comes a
lot of responsibility. Ruling over half the planet seems pretty daunting to
me."
As ever, Teddy was perfect. Billy could not have dreamed up someone better.
"Way to ground my fantasy back in reality Ted." Victor chuckled. "I suppose
your right, being in charge of the lives of millions doesn't leave much time to
globe trot, play video games, and hang out with Supermodels."
Throughout the rest of the rally Billy did his best to mingle, taking time with
each member of the group between peace chants, and rousing speeches over a
hissing microphone about equality and civil right. Part of him was doing this
because he was enjoying feeling as tough he could be part of a group of friends
his age. Another part of him was doing this to try and ferret out Teddy’s
relationship to these people, to understand him better, to get closer to him.
Nico was a bit like a caramel filled chocolate: dark on the outside but sweet
on the inside. She and Victor had been dating since winter semester. Victor,
for his part, was pretty much on the same level of nerd as Billy and Teddy and
was a blast to talk with. Kate's father was some rich businessman and she was
new to the group and had met them all as part of the Mutant/Sapien Alliance
Youth Division. Chase had been friends with Gert, Nico, and Karolina since
grade school. He was into skateboarding and sports and from what Billy
gathered, his relationship with Gert was as complicated as they came. Eli was
the most guarded of the group. From the way Eli got some of the comic and pop
culture references Billy, Teddy, and Victor threw around, he was probably a bit
of a closet nerd, even if he used that knowledge to mock them.
Before he knew it, Billy was having a great time. He was laughing and making
jokes and chanting along with the crowd. In the whole year he had been sneaking
out of the palace he had never had this much contact with people his own age.
It was incredibly freeing and for a moment he could almost pretend he was just
a normal kid out with his friends. Then his phone started buzzing at him from
inside his pocket. Just like that the illusion of normalcy was shattered into
sharp, brittle fragments all around him. The image of the Red Guard storming
the rally and forcibly carting him back to the palace flashed through his head.
He stuffed his hand into his pocket pulling his phone out and swiping to unlock
it. He stepped away from the group to read the stream of messages that had
piled up in his phone. He must have missed them while he was distracted at the
rally.
 
Tommy:Hey where you at? You missed combat training.
 
Calendar Reminder:Council Meeting Today at 5:00 pm
 
Tommy:Did you sneak out without me!?
 
Luna:Tommy's acting funny. He's asked about you, like, 13 times in the last two
minutes. What's going on? You better not have let him talk you into another
stunt.
 
Tommy:I swear if you snuck out without me I am gonna accelerate the particles
of your entire comic collection until their atoms split!
 
Auntie Lorna:Where are you? Everyone is looking for you. Council meeting starts
in 15 minutes.
 
Tommy:C’mon Billy! We could totally be out dancing, or defacing national
monuments, or underage drinking right now!
 
Mom:Council meeting is going to start soon. Where are you? I'm getting worried.
 
Shit!Billy thought. It was 4:50 pm. He was going to miss the council meeting.
He had completely forgotten.   How was he going to explain his absence? He had
to get back now. He did not want to have to explain why he was walking in on a
council meeting late. He really did not want to have to explain why he missed
one altogether. He glanced back at Teddy who was laughing at something Nico had
said. His dimples were flashing, sunlight was gleaming on the rows of silver
earrings in his ears, and a rally sign was propped back lazily against his
shoulder. Billy sighed, resisting the urge to shuck his duties in order to
spend more time with him.
He shuffled back over to the group shoving his phone irritably back into his
pocket. Teddy noticed him and his brows furrowed in concern as he moved towards
him.
"Everything ok?" He asked uncertainly.
Billy plastered on his best smile but could tell it didn't reach his eyes.
"Yeah, everything's totally cool." He assured. He looked around at the group.
"It was really nice getting to meet you guys and hang out, but I have somewhere
important I'm supposed to be—like 30 minutes ago."
There were murmurs of goodbyes and "nice to meet you's" and Gert walked up to
him. "Seriously, thanks for saving me back there."
"Hey, I had to." Billy replied, his smile becoming more heartfelt. "You're
gonna be important someday and save the world right?"
Gert returned the smile and then surprised Billy with a hug. "You bet your cute
ass." She stepped back and pushed her glasses up with a finger. "Teddy's got
your number right?" Billy nodded. "Good I'll steal it from him. I'll let you
know the next time we meet."
"Sweet." Billy replied.
When Billy turned to say goodbye to Teddy he swore he saw disappointment on his
face. Please, please let that be disappointment and not some delusion of
grandeur.
"So..." Teddy said.
"So..." Billy replied.
"Sure you gotta go?"
"Yeah, my family will legitimately murder me if I miss this thing."
"Gotta love family right?" Teddy replied.
"Yeah."
"So...I'll hit you up for Pokémon battle later?"
"Yeah, totally. That'd be great."
"Cool...so...see you later."
Billy rocked onto the balls of his feet slightly. Was he supposed to hug him
now? Bump fists? He had no clue how to conclude this goodbye and it was rapidly
spiraling into mortifying awkwardness. He stuck out his hand for Teddy to
shake. "It was nice meeting you Teddy."
Teddy gave him a confused look but took his hand and gave it a shake. "Yeah,
uh, nice to meet you too Billy."
Billy pulled his hand back and then the panic of being late resurfaced and
combined with the growing mortification of how bad this departure was going.
"Ok, later." And with that he turned sharply on his heels and jogged from the
crowd.
Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid!He berated himself as he went. Could you have
said 'yeah' anymore times? He probably thinks you're a complete loser!
He cleared the rally and moved off to the side reminding himself that he didn’t
have to hide in some alley to teleport since people probably saw that kind of
thing all the time. He looked down at the time on his phone, 5:58 pm.
“Backtoreality, backtoreality, backtoreality…”he said over and over again
making sure he transformed his cloths back into the appropriate attire for the
council meeting in the process of teleporting. He arrived back in the palace in
an empty hallway not far from his grandfather’s preferred room for council
meetings. Not for the first time, his powers surprised him. His desire to not
be seen appearing but also needing to be close to where he needed to be had
caused him to port into the perfect spot even though he could never have known
where a private hallway near his grandfather’s chambers would be. Without
hesitation he strode toward the meeting chamber.
Outside of his grandfather’s meeting chamber was a small crowd of family and
advisors consisting of his mother, Uncle Pietro, Aunt Lorna, and Cousin Luna.
As he neared, his mother broke from the huddle of his other family members and
made her way toward him her flowing, scarlet gown billowing around her legs as
she moved. Billy had not taken the time to consider a plausible story for his
absence and lack of communication and his mind scrambled for one now.
“Where have you been?” Wanda asked, her green eyes intent, one hand coming to
cup the side of his face.
“No where.” Billy replied evasively.
“William.” His mother pressed, her eyes narrowing.
“I just teleported to the beach.” Billy answered knowing that being vague with
his mother would never work. “I just wanted some quite time away from the
palace.”
Wanda sighed and shook her head sending soft, brown ringlets tumbling about her
face. “The teenage need for privacy…you know how dangerous it is for you to go
anywhere without an escort.”
“Mom,” Billy complained.
She smiled at him. “We’ll talk after the meeting.” She nodded her head toward
his grandfather who was marching toward them.
King Eric Magnus always cut an imposing figure. Even at his age he was still
well built with a barreled chest and strong arms. His white hair was still
thick and full and his stride had lost none of its force and power. His
grandfather always managed to intimidate him. King Magnus nodded his
acknowledgement of those gathered for the council meeting without pausing and
marched into his main meeting room.
At first Billy had seen it as an honor when he was asked to join in on the
council meetings along with his cousin Luna. It was an acknowledgement of his
potential as a future ruler. It meant that his grandfather took him seriously.
Tommy was not allowed to attend meetings due to the fact that Tommy could not
seem to take anything seriously. It had not taken long however, for Billy to
realize how hard and cold his grandfather could be. He was not cruel or evil
like some people outside of his inner circle sometimes thought, it was just
that his life—the world—had hardened him. He also held a grudge against humans,
he did his best to curb it, but Billy could see it as clear as though it were
written on the panel of a comic. After Billy began to sneak out of the palace
Billy began to disagree more and more with his grandfather and uncle. He had
met humans like, Gert and Nico and they could be amazing. He had also seen that
mutants could be every bit as oppressive as the humans had been. People it
seemed, were just people, no matter if they were human, mutant, or inhuman.
They filed in after the king and Billy's cousin Luna fell in beside him and
leaned in to whisper to him. "Where were you?" She asked.
"Just took some time to hangout at the beach and get some peace and quite, away
from Tommy." He gave his cousin his best disarming smile.
Luna's blinked and her once blue eyes became gold. "I can tell if you’re
lying." She said, reminding him of her empathic abilities.
Billy kept his grin in place. He liked Luna. She had always been wise beyond
her years. She took her role in the family even more seriously than Billy did.
That made her slightly annoying sometimes. "And I could always be using a spell
to block your empathy." He quipped.
His cousin's eyes blinked back to blue and she smiled at him as she tossed some
of her blond hair over her shoulder. "Just try and keep out of trouble.
Grandfather is really starting to respect you."
Billy and Luna separated upon entering the meeting chamber sitting next to
their respective parents at the long rectangular table where their grandfather
sat at the head. Billy was between his mother and his Aunt Lorna.
"We have a number of important matters to address today." King Magnus said,
informing those in attendance that the meeting was beginning. "The first of
which being the kree and skrull peace talks that we will be facilitating in a
couple of weeks. I don't need to impress upon anyone here just how important
this is." The king said casting his gaze around the room. "Not only does this
bring us closer to an alliance with these two races but it also ensures that
their bloody war does not eventually spill over to earth. It will also
potentially open up important trade agreements."
"I'm still leery of this whole thing." Lorna interjected. "Does it not seem odd
that the kree and skrull chose earth? Why not the Shi'ar? There's something we
are not being told."
King Magnus regarded his daughter calmly. "Your concerns have been noted Lorna
and I respect your insight. Rest assured we are not going into this peace talk
blindly. We will be keeping a close eye on our alien friends."
Billy's aunt did not seem satisfied but she simply crossed her arms and leaned
back in her chair.
"All arrangements have been made Father." Billy's Uncle Pietro said, moving the
agenda forward. "The representatives for both races have agreed to our terms.
Both their leaders will be in attendance and both agreed to the limited number
of soldiers and attendants that they can bring within earth's orbit. Rooms are
being prepared and kree and skrull will be boarded on opposite sides of the
palace to ensure minimal contact while the peace talks are being held."
King Magnus nodded in approval. "Next item of business then. There was a rally
held at one of my human reeducation centers in New York today. We need to
formulate a response to the public."
Billy fought to try and keep his breathing even and smooth.
"It was a peaceful rally father, why even give a response?" Lorna asked.
"Because they are questioning my authority." King Magnus said with a slight
edge to his voice.
"Grandfather," Billy swallowed past the lump in his throat. "If I might offer
my perspective. The reeducation center makes us seem like tyrants. Taking
members of the resistance to a prison is one thing, but having them
reprogrammedas though they were faulty computers is inhumane."
A line formed between his grandfather's brows, a sign he was trying to contain
his irritation. "And what would you have me do with those who persecuted our
people William? Those who would see things return to the way they were."
"I would have you treat them with more compassion." Billy replied. "Show them
that we are not the monsters that they feared we would be."
Billy had been steadily growing in confidence in the council meetings. His
mother said that Billy's stance in the meetings had begun to remind his
grandfather of his old friend Charles Xavier. Billy had never expected to ever
be bold enough to challenge his indomitable grandfather's judgment. As he got
older, as his proficiency with his powers grew, Billy could feel himself
becoming more confident and self-assured. Except in scenarios that involved
impossibly handsome, charming, heroic, and nerdy blondes that was.
"I agree with my cousin on this matter." Luna chimed in with the gentle
confidence that she seemed to have had in spades since birth. “We can’t just
use psychics to make people agree with us.”
King Magnus let out a sigh and rubbed his brow. “The idealism of youth.” And to
Billy’s surprise he chuckled slightly. “I will consider this.” He gave Billy a
serious look. “The next matter concerns you grandson.”
Billy felt the color drain from his face. Had his grandfather learned of him
sneaking out of the palace today? His grandfather was the most powerful man in
the world, he had unlimited resources at his fingertips it was not
inconceivable that he would know about Billy’s exploits today.
“As you all know, ensuring the legacy and dominance of this family has been my
priority since ascending to the throne. I have done this for my family and I
have done this for mutantkind.” He cast his gaze around the table. “Part of
securing our position lies in forming alliances and history has proven that
there are few things more effective in securing an alliance than through
marriage and the blending of bloodlines. Many of you have done your part.
Pietro has managed to secure an engagement to Queen Ororo, Luna by virtue of
birth binds our house to the Attilan and is also promised to the son of King
T’Challa joining us with Wakanda. Lorna is being courted by Tony Stark
providing us with a link to the remaining humans.”
“What does this have to do with William father?” Wanda asked leaning forward on
her forearms.
“The only major power we have not sealed to us through marriage is Atlantis.
King Namor has a son who is willing to marry Billy and join our two families.”
King Magnus finished.
Billy felt as if the floor had just opened up beneath him and swallowed him.
Marriage to an Atlantean he did not even know. He knew it was silly. He knew
there were important national matters at stake here but all he could think
about was Teddy, sweet, kind, and handsome Teddy. It was a silly crush. It
should not influence this decision but it did.
“Absolutely not!” His mother cried out. “Billy’s too young to be married.”
King Magnus narrowed his eyes at his daughter. “Don’t be ridiculous Wanda.
Billy is 17, he will be an adult soon, and Luna was only 14 when she was
promised.”
“I cannot believe you would arrange this without speaking to me.” His mother
retorted.
“Atlantis is the greatest threat to our sovereignty. They have the only army on
the planet that could truly rival our own. An alliance sealed in marriage is
the best way to ensure peace between our people.”
Billy still felt numb. He didn’t know what to say. He was not sure there was
anything to say. Once his grandfather had made up his mind there was very
little anyone could do to change it and by his tone he knew his grandfather
would not be considering objections. He knew his mother saw this too. He placed
a hand on hers and tried his best to give her a reassuring smile. He was a
prince of House Magnus. He had always known someday something like this would
happen. Teddy was a silly crush he had. A boy he had just met. He did not even
know if Teddy had feelings for him. Even if he did, it was not as if anything
could come of the relationship.
There’s no such thing as love at first sight. He scolded himself. Time to grow
up.
“It’s ok Mom.” He placed a hand over one of her’s.
She gave him a sad smile and then fell into silence.
“Good,” King Magnus said with a sharp nod of approval to his grandson. “Prince
Nerin will arrive to meet you as part of the Atlantean emissary for the kree
and skrull peace talks.”
His grandfather moved on to the next item of business and Billy did his best to
keep from looking as miserable as he felt for the remainder of the meeting.
When he left the meeting and told everyone he wanted to be alone no one
questioned him. When he got to his chambers he found them completely
overturned, comics and cloths scattered everywhere. Tommy’s handy work, his
twin had thrown a tantrum over being left behind. Billy waved his hand
listlessly and there was a flash of blue light and his room was clean and tidy
once more. He sighed and collapsed onto his bed, belly first, face buried in
his soft mattress.
Eyes closed, images of Teddy came into his mind. The way he smiled, the blush
that was there one instant and gone the next, strong arm across Billy’s
shoulder. He imagined what it would feel to have Teddy’s lips connect with his
own and how it would feel to have their bodies pressed tightly together. He
groaned and flipped onto his back.
“Stop it Son of Magnus.” He growled.
He needed a distraction. He sat up and looked around his room trying to find
something to take his mind off of his recent betrothal and Teddy Altman. His
eyes landed on his DS on his desk. Before he could think, he was up and had
grabbed it, flipped it open, and powered it on. His heart was pounding in his
chest and his hands felt clammy against the gaming device. The familiar Pokémon
logo flashed before he was at the home screen where there was a new
notification informing him of a friend request. He held his breath as he pulled
the stylus free and opened the message.
 
Greenaltman74 Wants to Be Friends
 
Billy let out the breath he had been holding and clicked the Accepticon. He
knew he should have just ignored it. Knew he should never have opened his DS
but when it came to Teddy he was learning he had very little self-control.
Everything would have been so much easier if he had just ignored that friend
request and just drifted silently out of Teddy’s life. There was a ding from
his DS that startled him and he looked down at the glowing screen and the
message that had just arrived.
           
Greenaltman74 Wants to Battle!
 
            Billy could not control the smile that spread across his lips. He
could not control the warm feeling that was blooming from deep inside his chest
and spreading steadily throughout his entire body. He crossed his legs
underneath him and with shaky limbs clicked Accept.
***** The Lies We Tell *****
Chapter Summary
     Teddy and Billy get to spend some QT together. Teddy gets some life
     changing news.
Chapter Notes
     This is a relationship and character building chapter so not much in
     the way of super-powered action or political intrigue, more of that
     to come.
     As always, the Young Avengers, Runaways, and the world of M do not
     belong to me. They belong to Marvel, I'm just borrowing them for a
     bit. Comments and feedback always appreciated.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
 Monday
Billy:Alright, Freddy Krueger (IRL) vs. Leather Face
Teddy:Krueger for the win!
Billy: Are you kidding me?
Billy:Chainsaw beats, weird knife-glove-fetish-attire any day.
Teddy:And you know it’s fetish attire because???
Billy:Erm...wait, what?
Teddy:It's ok, no judgment here man. If you wanna dress in your mom's clothes
while wearing a knife-glove that’s you're business.
Billy:Ass...
Billy:There is no emoji for the face I am making right now...
 
Tuesday
Teddy:Just saw Captain Marvel take out some bank robbers. Almost had my head
taken off by a tire. Totally geeking out right now!
Billy:Accidental dismemberment as part of superhero collateral damage would be
pretty awesome.
Teddy:I know right!? That's like #5 on my bucket list.
Billy:It's good to have goals.
Teddy:Wait...are you mocking me?
 
Wednesday
Billy:Are you still sore?
Teddy:What?
Billy:From the smack down I laid down on you last night
Teddy:Whatever dude.
Billy:Eeveelution dominates!
Teddy:I hate you.
Billy:Awww, don't be a cubone about it man.
Teddy:Hate you!
 
Thursday
Teddy:Favorite video game moment. Go!
Billy:Do I really have to pick just one...
Teddy:Those are the rules.
Billy:Says who?
Teddy:Says whoever invented nerd debates.
Teddy:Now choose!
Billy:Argh! Why do you do this to me?
Teddy:Torturing you has become my new favorite pass time.
Billy:I dub thee Darth Gangrene
Teddy:You're stalling padawan. Choose.
Billy:Darth Sucks-a-Lot
Teddy:That makes me sound like some kind of sith dominatrix
Billy:If the shoe fits...
Billy:Or spiked stiletto...
Teddy:At least I'd get a cool lightsaber-whip-thing.
Teddy:You still haven't answered the question. I'm waiting.
Billy:Ugh...alright...like, the last 45 minutes of Mass Effect...pure epicness
Teddy:Good choice. You pass.
Billy:Pass what?
Teddy:We can still be friends.
Billy:We're friends? I didn't sign up for that.
Teddy:Too late
Billy:Darth Sucks-a-Lot
Teddy: (Insert lightsaber-whip sound)
 
Friday
Teddy:Hey
Billy:Hey
 
"Have you seriously not asked him out yet?" Gert asked, peering over a worn
copy of Man's Search For Meaning.
Teddy dropped his phone and sprawled out on his back in the grass with an
irritable grumble. "No..."
"What the hell are you waiting for?" She demanded putting her book down on her
lap. "You've been obsessing over him since you saw him."
"News flash Ms. Yorkes: It's not that simple when you're a dude who's into
dudes." Teddy retorted. "I can't just ask him out. What if he'snot into dudes?"
Gert snorted. "Are you seriously that oblivious? He was pretty much drooling
over you. You both were painfully obvious in your mutual attraction."
Teddy used his shifting abilities to hide the blush that was forming on his
face. "You really think he was drooling?" Teddy hated just how happy that made
him feel. He could feel a tingle spread from his stomach out all the way to the
tips of his fingers.
"How many times do I need to reiterate that?" Gert asked. "I'm just trying to
get a ballpark figure here so I know how many more times to expect to have to
repeat myself."
Teddy closed his eyes and saw light brown eyes flecked with gold, thick dark
hair he wanted nothing more than to run his fingers through, facial features
that were sharp, elegant, and boyishly handsome. He saw a boy who buzzed with
anxious energy that would break into moments of mature self-assuredness. He
growled and covered his eyes with his forearm.
"French fry goodness has arrived." Victor announced as he, Nico, and Chase
walked up, arms loaded with paper plates piled with varying French fry
concoctions from their favorite food truck.
"We have pulled pork French fries, chicken teriyaki French fries, and of course
good’ol chili cheese fries." Nico followed as she sat down in the grass next to
Teddy. "What's with Teddy boy?"
"Still brooding over Billy." Gert stated bluntly.
"You haven't asked him out yet?" Victor asked.
"For the love of—no, I haven't." Teddy shot, sitting up. "What would I even
say?"
"Dear, Billy I'm ass over head in love with you and I want to have your
babies." Chase teased, sitting down next to Gert.
"They can't have babies together idiot." Gert said.
"Oooooh maaaah gaaaaawd, I like, didn't realize they couldn't dooooo that..."
Chase mocked in his best ditzy impression. Then he stopped and looked up
thoughtfully. "But you area shape-shifter...couldn't you...you know?"
"Oh. My. God." Gert groaned.
"What!?" Chase asked raising his shoulders up to his ears. "It's a legitimate
question."
"Danger Will Robinson!" Victor laughed. "We are veering rapidly into very
awkward conversational territory."
"Gender roles and how they apply to shape-shifters is a bit too heavy of a
topic for a Friday afternoon Chase." Nico agreed, running an affectionate hand
through Victor’s hair.
"Can we please stop talking about this now? All of it." Teddy pleaded.
"Not until you ask him out." Nico replied picking up one of the pulled pork
fries and leaning her head back and dropping it into her mouth.
"Alright, alright! If it will shut all of you up I'll do it." He exclaimed as
he grabbed his phone from off the ground. He stared at it, remembering he had
only written 'hey' to Billy and not responded to Billy's 'hey'. His heart was
thundering in his chest and he could feel the blush burning in his ears. "Ok,
just ask him out. It's not that hard." He muttered to himself.
"Remember: I'm ass over head in love with you and—ow!" Chase whined, as Gert's
elbow collided with his rib. "You're like an angry little librarian. No chili
cheese fries for you."
"I'm literally amazed you know what a librarian is." Gert returned.
 
Teddy:So, we never did get to go to Astro Comics after the rally like we had
planed
 
His palms were sweaty. Did that sound too forward? His phone showed that Billy
had read the message but gave no indication he was typing a response. He stared
at his phone, transfixed on the screen. Then, as if hours later, he saw the
indicator that Billy was typing a response. He held his breath.
 
Billy:Sorry about that. I really did have a family thing I had to go to.
 
Teddy let his breath out in a sigh of relief. That was a pretty safe response.
Not exactly some glowing admission of regret and longing but it was something
to go off of.
 
Teddy:We should really go sometime.
Billy:Definitely.
 
Ok Teddy...just go for it.
 
Teddy:When you free?
Billy:How about tomorrow at around noon?
 
Teddy felt his heart soar. He could feel the silly grin creeping onto his face.
 
Teddy:Yeah that sounds good.
 
It's a date...go ahead. Just write it.
 
Teddy:Wanna meet at the Smoothie Hut and go from there?
Billy:Sure, I'll see you there.
 
C'mon, it's only three words just type’em.He goaded himself. But instead he
wrote:
 
Teddy:I'm stoked
Billy:Me too
 
That wasn't so bad. It wasn't as clear admission that it was a date but he had
expressed he was excited and Billy had returned the sentiment and that was
something.
"Did you do it?" Victor asked with a mouth full of fries.
"Yeah..." Teddy breathed. "I think so."
"You think so?" Gert cocked an eyebrow at him. "Did you say 'would you like to
go on a date with me' or some variation of that?"
"Or some variation of that..." Teddy replied with a slight cringe. "We're going
to Astro Comics tomorrow."
"You asked him on a date to go to a comic shop?" Gert asked in amazement.
"That's something you'd do with me." Victor interjected. "Wait, have we been
dating? Should I be jealous?"
"Shut up." Teddy grumbled.
"You did ask him on a date though, right?" Gert persisted.
"Something like that."
"Let me see." Nico said impatiently snatching his phone from him before he
could stop her.
"Nico!" He swiped at her but she scurried out of his reach and dropped to sit
between Victor’s legs and leaned back against his chest as she scrolled through
the text thread. Victor peered at the phone from over her shoulder. "That's a
negative on explicitly asking him out." She said to Gert.
Teddy got to his feet and grabbed his phone from her hands. "I seriously need
new friends."
"Now your doomed to an entire afternoon of is-this-a-date-or-is-it-not-a-date."
Chase commented.
"I don't think I've ever seen you so worked up Ted." Nico noted in concern.
"I just really like this guy and—"
And I'm pretty sure it was love at first sight for me.
He didn't want to admit that out loud. Because, Teddy Altman knew better than
that, he was 17 and a senior. He wasn't a child. He was raised by a single
mother and knew how harsh and unromantic the world could really be. But he
really, really felt that way and it scared him a little bit.
"And I don't want to mess this up." He said instead. "And if he doesn't feel
the same or if he isn't gay or bi or whatever...I still really want us to be
friends."
"Yeah, but are you willing to never really know how he feels by keeping things
vague?" Chase asked in one of those rare and startling moments of maturity and
wisdom he had.
“Ugh,” Teddy grumbled knowing Chase was right. “Let me just see where this next
hangout goes and then I’ll decide. I—I just need more to go off of.”
For once his friends didn’t say anything, no clever remarks, no opinions about
how he should handle his life. He knew they meant well and he knew that they
were probably right; but he was not in a place where he could hear them out. He
needed to fly. Flying always made him feel better.
“I’m gonna go.” He said. “I need to clear my head.”
There was a round of protests from his friends.
“Just sit and have some fries.” Victor suggested. “Fries fix all. Then you can
take off an contemplate that nature of teenage love.”
Teddy smiled despite himself and sat back down on the grass. “Alright, pass the
teriyaki fries.”
That evening, as Teddy flew home he smiled thinking about finally getting to
see Billy again. Text messages and video game battles were all well and good,
but it was no substitute for actually being with him. There were no
opportunities to accidentally brush against each other or to gaze at Billy
without him noticing so he could take in the details. If it was a date he’d get
to hold Billy’s hand, he would get to walk him home, he would get to kiss him.
That thought, more than anything, sent his spirits soaring and he let an
updraft fill the sinewy flaps of the wings he had sprouted from his back. The
air current carried him upward.
Off in the west the setting sun was a simmering orb of molten light, casting
its rays upon the clouds, turning the sky a burning, pearly pink. Below, the
lights of the city were twinkling on one at a time like stars being born. Teddy
spread his arms out wide and closed his eyes and just let the air stream take
him. Even if it didn’t turn out to be a date, tomorrow was going to be a good
day. He could feel it.
                                        
                                     ~ ~ ~
                                        
Teddy stood outside of Smoothie Hut, two drinks in hand. The butterflies in his
stomach were floating up into his throat and fluttering about so intensely he
was terrified he might hurl up his breakfast at any moment. He had taken the
liberty of getting Billy a smoothie. It seemed like subtle, date-like behavior.
Something that wasn’t too forward but might help him determine if Billy thought
this was a date. Still, he was already assaulting himself with doubts over the
decision.
What if he doesn’t like it? What if he thinks it’s weird? If this isn’t a date
then it is totallyweird.
More than once he thought of throwing one or both of the drinks away. It was
either determination or fear that kept him from acting on those impulses.
He caught sight of Billy crossing the street and walking towards him. The other
boy lifted a hand in greeting. Teddy held up one of the smoothies in what he
was certain was an awkward gesture. He saw Billy smile and the butterflies in
his stomach stirred into a frenzied whirlwind.
Do not puke.
He could feel the silly, gaping grin that was growing upon his face. He watched
Billy intently as he walked over hoping that something in how Billy was dressed
or behaving would tip Teddy off as to how Billy was interpreting this hangout.
Billy wore a grey Henley with the two top buttons left undone, slim fitted kaki
colored jeans that highlighted the lean muscles of his legs, and the same black
converse he had worn when they first met. His black hair was swept to the side
in an unruly fringe and there was a faded leather cord on one of his wrists. He
looked handsome and put together. His stride was confident. Teddy looked down
at his own light blue button down shirt and jeans. He had wanted to look nice
but no too nice.
Be cool…be cool…don’t puke…
“Hey—” Billy greeted, only a few paces away, as his foot caught the raised edge
of the sidewalk and sent him fumbling forward, eyes going wide. All the easy
confidence he seemed to posses only a moment ago, gone, lost in the panic of
tumbling headlong towards Teddy.
Teddy lunged forward to catch him but his hands were occupied with the
smoothies. He opened his arms and used his body to break Billy’s fall. The
other boy hit him full force, his hands clutching at Teddy’s shirt to steady
himself. Teddy’s arms went around him instinctively; the smoothies sloshing
dangerously in their Styrofoam cups as he and Billy rocked together
tremulously. He was so focused on keeping them from going down in a crashing
display of teenage limbs and blended fruit that it took him a few moments to
realize that he and Billy were locked in an embrace; their bodies wrapped
tightly together by Teddy’s arms, Billy’s leaner build pulled tight against his
own. It was at one moment amazing and the next terrifying. He could feel his
heart thunder in his chest and knew Billy had to be able to hear it.
“Jesus,” Billy breathed dropping his forehead against Teddy’s chest, his
muscles relaxing as they stabilized. Then, as if he too had just realized their
proximity his muscles went rigid like one of his electric currents had gone
through him. He jumped back jostling the smoothies once again. His face was
ruddy and his eyes darted about avoiding Teddy’s. “So sorry.” He muttered
looking down at his feet.
Teddy’s heart warmed seeing the embarrassed flush deepen on Billy’s face. “No
worries, these New York streets are pretty much up there with Sandman in the
villain hierarchy. Spider-man should really do something about them.”
Billy rubbed the back of his neck, eyes cast up at the skyline now, still
refusing to meet Teddy’s. “Um…yeah…we should, like, write him a letter or
something.”
“I did that once. Didn’t go so hot.” Teddy remarked. “Asked him to sling up
my—obviously evil—third grade teacher. I got some cheesy response about making
sure I learned my times tables.”
Billy’s shoulders relaxed some and he gave a slight chuckle. “No way.”
“Way.”
“Please tell me you have that framed.”
Teddy gave him a sheepish grin. “I maaaay have crumbled it up and thrown it
away in my self-righteous 8-year-old rage and called Spider-man a web slinging
poop head.”
Billy gave a full heartfelt laugh at that and finally met Teddy’s eyes. “Fuck
times tables.”
“Fuck times tables.” Teddy agreed his heart fluttering. Returning the laugh.
How can one person make you feel this way? He wondered.
Billy took a deep breath. “Soooooo…can we just pretend that—with the stumbling
and the complete lack of coordination—never happened?”
“Pretend whatnever happened?” Teddy winked. “You just walked up cool as a
cucumber.”
Billy glanced up at him with a smile from under his lashes. “Cool as Iceman.”
“Whoa, whoa, let’s not take it too far.” Teddy japed. “Oh, speaking of cool.”
He stuck out one of the cups in his hand. “I already procured us some
smoothies.”
Billy gave him a look that he couldn’t quit read and panic began to swell up
again. Bad idea. Bad idea.
“And how do you know I don’t have some weird fruit allergy?” Billy smirked
taking the drink. “Or have some a neurotic aversion to all things blended?” He
took a long sip from the straw keeping his eyes on Teddy. “Hey, this is pretty
good. What’s it called?”
“Mother of Dragon Fruit.” Teddy replied managing to suppress a sigh of relief.
Billy cocked an eyebrow. “Mother of Dragon Fruit?”
“Smoothie Hut is riding the Game of Thrones bandwagon hard these days.” Teddy
answered. “They’ve got an entire line of GoT inspired fruit concoctions.” He
shook the drink remaining in his possession. “This right here is called: The
Pear and the Maiden Fair.”
“Aww maaaan, I would have totally picked that one.” Billy complained.
“Oh, I could trade you.” Teddy offered quickly, before he realized Billy had
been teasing. “I’m totally team Kahleesi anyways.”
“Who isn’t?” Billy grinned. “Nah, this one is good.” He cleared his throat
lightly. “Or we could, uh…always…share—if that’s not, like, weird for you.” He
added quickly looking away and then back.
Teddy had to fight the mad impulse to shout an enthusiastic yes. “Yeah, that’s
cool, best of both worlds right?”
“Yeah, my thoughts exactly.” Billy smiled.
Totally date-like behavior…right? People don’t just share drinks…
Teddy took a sip of his smoothie and then jerked his head over his shoulder.
“C’mon, comic awesomeness awaits.”
Billy took another sip from his smoothie and fell into step beside him. “Let’s
do this.”
They set out down the street side-by-side. Just pass it. Teddy told himself. He
suggested it. Just pass it. Without a word he offered his smoothie over to
Billy. He didn’t trust himself to look at the other boy. He was worried Billy
would see him melt into a puddle of adolescent hormones on the spot. Billy took
the drink maintaining the silence and passed his in turn. Teddy could feel his
pulse hammering in his neck. He took a sip, his mind reeling with the
realization that his lips were where Billy’s had just been.
This is like, third degree kissing or something right!? He was dangerously
close to shifting into that melted puddle of adolescent hormones right then and
there.
“So do you think they just have a boardroom of guys who think up these names
and the associated combination of fruits?” Billy asked, breaking the silence
and thankfully keeping Teddy from melting by giving him something else to focus
on.
“Oh, you know it.” Teddy answered. “Can you imagine some of the failed tests?”
“Like the Plantains of Castamere?”
Teddy chuckled. “Yeah, let’s just use the bananas less tasty cousin for the
sake of wordplay.”
Billy laughed covering his mouth as he chocked on a fresh drink of smoothie.
“Worse crimes have been committed in the service of wordplay.” He handed Teddy
his smoothie as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
Teddy took the smoothie and passed his. “In a world of corporate branding,
wordplay trumps all.” He nodded toward a billboard that showed Mary-Jane Watson
holding up a tube of toothpaste.
Billy smiled looking over at the sign and took a drink of the smoothie. “We
live in a crazy world.”
They passed the time just like that: talking, bantering, and passing smoothies
back and forth. Teddy was still unsure if this was in fact, a date but he was
definitely already having the best time he could remember having. If sharing
smoothies with Billy was enough to get him ready to buckle at the knees, he was
not sure what a kiss would do.
When they neared Astro Comics Teddy was saddened as he realized he was slurping
up the last of the smoothie in his hand. He had never hated that sharp
sputtering sound of the last vestiges of liquid being sucked up from a straw
more in his life.
Billy passed him his smoothie. “You bought. You finish.” He said easily.
Sure, I’d love share a straw with you one last time…that’s not creepy…
“Nah,” Teddy said. “I’m good. It’s all you.”
Billy shrugged and sucked up the last remnants of the smoothie. They tossed the
empty cups in the trash as they got the entrance of Astro Comics. Billy pushed
through the glass doors that had been covered with countless superhero posters
and held it open for Teddy.
That’s kind of date behavior…or just good manners. Teddy thought to himself. He
hated that Chase had been right. He was going to be agonizing over whether or
not this was a date the entire time. Just keep cool, don’t think about it.
“New releases, bargain bins, graphic novels, or posters and prints?” Billy
asked as he released his hold on the door and fell back in beside him.
“All of the above.” Teddy said as though it were obvious.
They were shuffling through the plastic covered comics in the bargain bins.
They had been there for over an hour debating the merits of different comics,
suggesting comics that the other should try, and lightly teasing one another.
The theme music of Star Wars was playing in the background as the opening crawl
of the Empire Strikes Back was beginning to play on the large flat screen
behind the counter. Teddy was painfully aware of how close they were standing
together as their fingers absently picked through the rows of comics. Each
shift brought with it a brushing of shoulders or a knocking of elbows. Teddy
found himself transfixed on Billy’s fingers as they walked their way through
the multicolored rows of plastic covered comics. They were long and slender;
the kind of fingers that one would expect a guitar player to have. Before long
he began imagining himself kissing the padding of each of those fingers.
“I just can’t get into the show.” Billy was saying. “I mean, some creative
liberties are cool but they’ve totally gone off the map.”
Teddy shook his head to try and clear the minor fantasy that had just hijacked
his brain. “Um…have you actually watched the show?”
“Just the first episode.”
“You can’t judge a whole series based on the first episode.” Teddy protested,
intentionally nudging Billy with his shoulder.
“The zombies keep their powers.” Billy complained nudging him back. “That’s all
I need to know.”
“They had to make it more appealing to mass audiences.” Teddy countered. “We
live in a world where the majority of us are mutants. Slow moving, brain
craving, zombies aren’t much of a threat if the majority of the population can
just fling them around with their minds or something.”
“Then they should have left it with the population being humans.” Billy
pressed.
Teddy rolled his eyes. “Cause that would have gone over well.”
“I’m just saying the comics are better.”
“Duh,” Teddy said. “The comics are always better. But the show isn’t bad. You
should give it a chance. I’ve got the whole first two seasons. You wanna come
over and binge watch sometime?”
Billy gave him a glance from the corner of his eye. “Two seasons…that’s quite
the commitment, especially if the show sucks.”
Teddy was feeling bold. The conversation between them flowed so well. It felt
like they had known each other since grade school. They had shared smoothies
and they were standing far closer to one another than Teddy felt was strictly
necessary. It may have been wishful thinking but Teddy didn’t care at the
moment.
“If you hate the show you can subject me to any form of equal or lesser torture
that you deem fit.” Teddy answered. “Or I would just owe you dinner or
something.”
“Done.” Billy answered easily.
“But you gotta commit to five episodes.” Teddy added seriously.
“No addendums.” Billy protested.
“Take it or deals off the table.”
“Watch out Matt Murdock…” Billy pretended to grumble in irritation but he could
not hide his smile.
“Deal?” Teddy asked, extending his right hand across his torso toward Billy.
“Deal.” Billy said, clasping his hand and giving it a professional shake.
Score! Teddy thought excitedly to himself as he reluctantly released his grip
on Billy’s hand.
They moved over to the rows of bookshelves that housed the graphic novels.
 Teddy watched Billy as the other boy pulled out a book and began flipping
through it.  Teddy took in the way Billy's brown hair brushed his brow, the
line of his jaw, the span of his shoulders under his shirt, and the way his
clavicle and collarbone peaked through the open buttons of his shirt.  Somehow
everything about Billy was mind numbingly attractive. 
"Have you read Locke and Key?"  Billy asked looking over at him suddenly as he
closed the book he’d been flipping through.
Teddy startled lightly when he realized he'd been gawking and that Billy had
just caught him.  "Erm—Uh—no." he answered.  "Is it any good?"
Billy cleared his throat and looked back at the bookshelf.  "Yeah, it's pretty
amazing.  It's actually incredibly creepy."
Teddy fought to get himself under control and prayed he had not just made Billy
astoundingly uncomfortable.  He tried not to read into the 'incredibly creepy'
statement.  
Dear Teddy, stop staring like a creeper at the guy you may-or-may-not-be (but-
totally-are) falling for.  Thanks, your Dignity.  "I'll have to check it out." 
"I've got the whole collection."  Billy stated.  "I'll lend em' to you."
Teddy almost sighed in relief.  If he had weirded Billy out with his staring he
didn't think he'd be offering to share comics.  "That'd be awesome." 
"Hey, Pax Romana."  Billy said pulling out another book.  "I've heard this was
good."
"What's it about?"  Teddy asked. 
"Not completely sure.  Some kind of political, alternate history, time travel
story."
            "I hate time travel."  Teddy noted, wrinkling his nose.  "Never
makes sense.  And whenever I try to make sense of it my brain hurts."
Billy gave him a grin.  "Yes, I can already smell your hair burning." 
Teddy laughed and shoved him with his shoulder lightly.  "Give me one example
of a time travel plotline that makes complete sense."
"Back to the Future?"
Teddy cocked an eyebrow at him. 
Billy laughed.  "Ok, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban?"
"Do not get me started."
They stayed that way for a whole other hour debating the merits of the time
travel plot device and playfully teasing one another.  Some part of Teddy was
calling this flirting but Teddy could not let himself fully believe that voice.
 If he believed it he was worried he would ruin it all by making some gesture
that was far too forward.  He focused on enjoying the moment.  He and Billy
were complete dorks and it felt sublime.  
They must have been bugging the comic store staff with their loitering because
one of them finally came up and interrupted them as they were using a Lord of
the Ring chess set to debate the plot line of Donnie Darko and asked if they
needed any assistance.  They both burst into strangled laughter after the
worker left.
"Guess that's our cue."  Billy said and Teddy wanted so much for that to be
disappointment he heard in his tone.
"Yeah..." Teddy replied running his fingers through his hair.  "You hungry?
 There's a really awesome noodle place not too far from here."
Billy pulled his phone from his pocket and flicked his thumb across the glass
surface and stared at it for a long moment as if considering something.  Teddy
fought the urge try and peak at what was displayed on the screen by gathering
up the small stack of comics he planned on buying.  Was it a text?  Was Billy
already involved with someone?  He realized that he still knew very little
about this guy.  Billy pressed his lips together as though he were warring over
his next decision. 
"Sure, noodles sound great."  He said with a definitive tone that made Teddy
smile.
Before long, they were sitting next to one another at a bar that overlooked the
street, each of them with a bowl of noodles in front of them. Teddy was
unsuccessfully stifling laughter as Billy attempted to operate his chopsticks.
“You’re shape-shifting your fingers to make yours work.” Billy protested
dropping his into his bowl.
“Nope, I just have normal human dexterity.” Teddy replied smugly.
“Whatever, I’m getting a fork.” Billy groused as he began to rise from his
stool.
“Hold up.” Teddy said placing his hand on Billy’s back, right below his neck.
“Let me show you.” Billy sat back down and Teddy could feel him inhale sharply
and his shoulder blades quiver slightly. Teddy leaned in a closer keeping his
hand on Billy’s back. With his other hand he picked up the discarded chopsticks
and his voice dropped low. “Now, make your fingers into the shape of a gun.”
Billy complied without a word and Teddy pressed one stick into the grove
between Billy’s thumb and forefinger letting his own fingers linger against
Billy’s soft skin for a moment. “And bring those two fingers into a pincer
formation.” Again, Billy complied wordlessly. There was a static pressure in
the air between them. Teddy took in Billy’s scent, something earthy and vaguely
spicy. He could feel his body stirring in response to their closeness. With
slow, intentionality he placed the second chopstick in the pincer hold of
Billy’s forefinger and thumb. “And voilà, perfect chopstick hold.” He said
softly.
“Well, look at that.” Billy breathed, smiling and angling his head toward Teddy
as he maneuvered the utensils. He could feel Billy’s breath on his cheek.
This is it! Kiss him! Kiss him damn it! Teddy leaned in even closer, tilting
his head and letting his eyelid droop and his gaze drift to Billy’s lips. He
felt, more than saw, Billy move nearer in response.
Oh my god this is happening! Every cell in his body felt like it was buzzing.
He was only inches from Billy’s lips and he thought he saw them pucker
slightly. This is perfect.
“How’s the food? Can I get you guys anything else?” The server asked
cheerfully.
Just like that, the moment was shattered and both boys jerked away from one
another reflexively. Billy lost hold of his chopsticks and turned his head away
from Teddy and cleared his throat.
“Everything’s great.” Teddy muttered, unable to mask his irritation. He was
unsure how someone could be that oblivious.
They had been about kiss hadn’t they? He brought his elbows to the table and
dropped his head into his hands rubbing his brows with the heels of his palms.
Hadn’t they? It was going to be perfect, like something out of a movie, and it
was ruined.
“Umm…neat trick.” Billy said, breaking the awkward silence. He had picked his
chopsticks back up and was using them the way Teddy had shown him to lift up a
bundle of noodles. His face was still red but he was forcing a smile. Teddy
would have given anything to know what he was thinking right then. “Your dad
teach you that or something?”
The question caught Teddy off guard. “Uh—no…I never knew my dad.”
“Oh…” Billy replied lowering the noodles back into his bowl slowly.
“He died before I was born, cancer.”
“Oh my god Teddy, I’m so sorry.” Billy offered and when Teddy looked up he saw
genuine sadness in the other boys brown eyes.
In his dejected state over his thwarted attempt at a kiss Teddy had stopped
filtering his responses and been answering on autopilot. “Hey—no, I mean, it’s
ok. Ancient history you know?”
Billy did not seem reassured. “That’s still rough.”
Teddy shifted, molding his face into one of casual reassurance. “Nah, my mom’s
better than the combined efforts of most parents…even if she does try to impose
her disturbing vegan diet on me. I don’t trust any diet that prohibits the
consumption of a cheeseburger.”
Billy seemed to ease at that and Teddy relaxed in turn. “I never knew my father
either.” Billy said looking down into his red bowl.
“What happened?” Teddy asked.
“Dunno,” Billy shrugged. “My mother won’t talk about it and neither will the
rest of my family. I mean, there’s rumors, but no one will actually say.”
“Man…” Teddy sighed.
“Yeah…” Billy replied as if he read everything Teddy had been thinking in that
one word. “My mom’s had a ton of support though. My upbringing was kind of a
family effort.”
“Which was both good and bad, huh.” Teddy ventured.
“Totally.” Billy laughed.
Teddy could feel some of the tension dissipate from around them. There was
still a dark knot in the pit of his stomach and a frantic part of his mind was
still trying to devise a way to initiate another opportunity for a kiss but at
least the tension was bleeding away. They both returned their attention to
their food and ate in silence for a moment.
“Any siblings?” Billy asked.
“Nope. You?”
“One brother; one very annoying brother. And a cousin who’s pretty much as
sister.”
Then, all at once, Billy was telling him about the pressure he felt from his
family and how he just wanted to move away from it all sometimes. And Teddy was
telling Billy about how he sometimes felt responsible for his mother and that
he felt guilty at the prospect of leaving her when he went to college. Time
slipped away as they sat there talking about their hopes and fears. It was a
wholly different conversation from their banter and joking; it was raw and
vulnerable, but it still flowed and it still felt like magic.
There was a sharp buzz in Teddy’s pocket as his phone vibrated. He pulled it
from his pocket and noted the time.
7:07 pm already. He thought in amazement at how time had gotten away from him.
His eyes moved from the time to the caller ID that read: Mom.
“Hold on a sec,” He told Billy. “I should probably take this.” He slid his
finger answering the call. “Hey, mom.”
“H—hi honey.” His mother’s voice sounded oddly shaky. “Where are you?”
Teddy’s mind fumbled for words. Did he say out on a date? Did he say out with a
friend? He felt like either answer locked him into something and carried it’s
own unique risk. So instead he said: “Just out having some noodles.”
“I suppose that means you won’t be needing dinner?” His mother conjectured.
“No, but you know me I could always eat again.” Teddy laughed his eye flicking
to Billy, noticing that he had pulled out his phone as well. His brows were
furrowed as he scrolled through his phone.
“Well, since you're there would you mind bringing me something back?”
“Sure.” Teddy replied. "I'll see you when I get home." He hung up wondering
what was bothering his mother. He could tell something was odd.
"Everything ok?" Billy asked putting his phone away.
"Yeah," Teddy replied. "Just my mom...I guess I'd better get home."
"Yeah...me too..." Billy agreed. “You got us smoothies so I’ll take care of the
noodles.”
A short time later they stood at the street corner facing each other. Teddy had
a box of to-go noodles in one hand and his bag from the comic shop in the
other.  
Billy looked at him. “I had...that is…umm…is it oddly hot out here?” He
scratched absently behind his ear. “This was fun.” He finally managed.
Teddy smiled. “Yeah, it was. We should do this more often.”
“Absolutely.” Billy replied eagerly looking up and rocking forward on the balls
of his feet slightly.
Teddy felt his heart literally skip a beat. Billy looked so cute and eager. He
didn’t know how to proceed. The more time that separated him from the almost-
kiss the more he began to question if that really was what it was. He didn't
know if he should make a move now. His confidence had left him, as tough he had
used it all up on that one move.
“Later this week maybe?” Teddy ventured.
“Sure.” They were silent for a long moment when Billy gestured suddenly to
Teddy’s chest. "Hey, your button’s open and you're kind of flashing all of
Manhattan."
Teddy looked down and saw that it was true. He had always had a problem with
that button. He moved to button it when he realized his right hand was occupied
with the box of noodles. “It does that. I’ll just see how many dollar bills I
can get between here and—” he was silenced mid-joke by Billy’s hands going to
his shirt.
“I got it.” Billy said as his finger moved slowly and deliberately to work the
button through its hole. He had moved in closer and when he had finished he
tipped his chin up slightly. “Now you wont get cited for indecent exposure.”
Does he want me to kiss him? Teddy thought, because he wanted to kiss Billy. He
was feeling fairly certain he had never wanted anything so bad in his life.
Then Billy stepped away his eyes moving down to his feet. The moment was gone.
“Well…I better let you go.” Billy said turning away, putting his hands into his
pockets. “I’ll see you later.”
Teddy had waited too long. The opportunity had passed them by again. He felt
like an idiot. Billy had put himself out there (hadn’t he?) and he had dropped
the ball. He needed to do something, anything. “Text me when you get home!” He
shouted after Billy sounding far more desperate than he had planned. “These
sidewalks get next level treacherous after 6 pm.”
Billy’s strides slowed and then he turned and gave Teddy a light salute and a
smile and then turned and resumed his departure.
Teddy let out a heavy sigh and began making his way home. Despite his failures,
he still felt a glowing sense of happiness in that space between his belly and
chest. It had been a good day and he was feeling more and more certain that
there was something legitimately there between he and Billy. He couldn’t have
imagined it. There had been two—two—almost-kisses. The next time they hung out
he would be sure to act, even if every waitress in all of New York was trying
to interrupt them.
The scent of warm chocolate greeted him when Teddy opened the door to his
apartment. When he entered he saw a plate of freshly baked brownies sitting on
the kitchen counter. He walked over and stuck his nose over the plate and took
a long sniff.
“Did you make non-vegan brownies!?” He called into the dimly lit apartment.
“Your favorite.” His mother said, emerging from her room. She was already in
her pajamas and wrapped in her favorite fluffy robe. Her blond hair, that was
so much like Teddy’s, was pulled back into a messy ponytail.
“Did I forget that it’s my birthday or something?” He asked suspiciously. “Or
maybe you are planning on poisoning me?”
“Does a mom need an excuse to make her son’s favorite desert?” His mother
laughed nervously. “There’s ice cream in the freezer to go with them.”
Teddy gave her a long look. Something was definitely off with his mother.
Multiple animals had to sacrifice their dignity to provide the ingredients for
those brownies. “What’s wrong Mom?” He asked, placing his bag of comics and the
box of noodles on the counter.
His mother sighed and she looked tired and older than he ever remembered her
looking. “Come here. We need to talk.”
Teddy did not like the sound of that. He felt all the happiness from his time
with Billy begin to leech away and be replaced by an anxious knot in his belly.
He made his way slowly to her, sitting next to her on the couch.
“Teddy, before I say this I need you to know that I love you more than anything
in the world.” His mother said. Her hand went to the side of his face, warm and
soft. That hand had comforted him more times than he could count. That hand had
fixed up cuts and scrapes, and wiped away tears.
“Mom, you’re kind of freaking me out here.”
She sighed. “Just tell me you know that. Please.”
“Of course I do.”
She nodded. She pulled her StarkPad out and flicked through some screens before
she stopped and handed it to him. “Do you know what this is?” She asked.
Teddy took her StarkPad and read the news article that was on display.
KREE-SKRULL PEACE TALKS TO BE HELD ON GENOSHA.
The headline read. There was a picture of King Magnus along with two other
pictures of who Teddy assumed were important kree and skrull leaders. He looked
up from the tablet. His mother was wringing her hands together nervously.
“Yeah this has been all over the news for months.” His eyebrows moved together.
None of this was making any sense.
“The kree and skrull will be here next week.” His mother said. She looked about
to say something, then seemed to think better of it and instead said:
"Everything I have ever done has been because I love you and wanted you to have
a good life—a normal life."
Teddy could feel panic creeping into his limbs and he took his mother's hands
in his own. "Mom, seriously, what's going on?"
She took a shuddery breath. "You're not a mutant—neither of us are mutants."
Teddy felt the world lurch around him. His throat felt dry and he tried to
swallow but failed. "What are you talking about?"
"We aren't mutants." She repeated.
"But our shape-shifting, my super strength..."
"Not from a mutation." His mother said.
Teddy felt his breath begin to come in short quick bursts. "Then where do they
come from?"
His mother squeezed his hands. "Try to stay calm.” Her eyes were swimming with
unshed tears. “Teddy, I'm a skrull."
And then the world was spinning. He could feel a cold sweat breakout against
his skin. His heart was thundering in his chest. Blood was rushing to his ears.
"You're...you're a...a...skrull?" He tried to pull back weakly from his
mother's grasp but she held to him tightly. "Then that means...I'm
a...a...skrull?!"
She closed her eyes. "Half..."
"Half..." Teddy repeated slowly. He thought he was going to be sick. "So then
I'm half human?"
Tears began to stream from his mother's eyes. "No sweetheart...your father was
kree."
Half kree...half skrull...The room gave another nauseating spin and Teddy
finally pulled away from his mother grip. He pushed away from her and moved to
the other end of the couch. "I'm half kree and half skrull? How? Why did you
lie about it?"
"To keep you safe." She replied hurriedly. "To explain your shape-shifting and
strength. To try and give you a normal life."
He tried to take deep breaths to still himself. He brought his hands to the
sides of his head and massaged his temples. “You said my father died of
cancer.”
“He did.” She replied.
“Who was he?”
“He was a kree warrior by the name Mar-Vell.”
“Wait…you mean the original—”
“Captain Marvel.” His mother finished.
There was another uncomfortable shift in the world around him. “You were
married to Captain Marvel!?”
The tears flowed more intensely and his mother shook her head. “Teddy…I—I’m not
your biological mother.”
“No! That can’t be true!” Teddy got to his feet his hands shooting to his sides
and constricting into fists.
His mother’s shoulders heaved as she dropped her head into her hands and she
sobbed. “Oh Teddy…I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”
The world was crumbling all around him. Everything he thought he knew was a
lie. He had taken so much for granted. He felt violated. He felt angry. He felt
sad. He felt so many things and they were tangled in a knot he could not even
begin to unravel. One question ran through his mind. It was loud and insistent
and forced all others to the side.
“Who’s my real mother?” He asked.
His mother shook when he spoke the word real. He knew that would hurt. Part of
him felt guilty over that. Another part, a stronger part right now, didn’t
care.
“Princess Anelle of the Skrull Empire.” She said finally.
Teddy took a deep breath. “This…is a lot to process.” He felt like he might be
sick again and dropped woodenly back onto the couch. “How?”
“Your parents met when your father was captured by the Super-Skrull. You’re
mother saved his life and they fell in love.” Her arms wrapped around her belly
and she rocked a few times. “They made you. They fought for peace between their
people. But when your grandfather, Emperor Dorrek VII learned of your kree
heritage he wanted to have you killed. You’re mother risked everything to
prevent that and ordered me to take you and flee. She ensured that everyone
thought you were dead. I’ve raised you as my own ever since.”
Teddy closed his eyes shut and his brows furrowed. “17 years…17 years you have
lied to me…kept this from me. Why are you telling me now?”
“Because the kree and skrull are coming to earth. I have lived in fear of
either side or both discovering you are alive. Your grandfather, grandmother,
and mother all perished when Galactus consumed our home world Tarnax IV. You
are the rightful heir to the Skrull Empire. There are countless individuals on
both sides who would see you dead.”
“You think they might know about me.” He looked at the woman he had known as
his mother his whole life, a woman he thought he had known and was now a
stranger.
“I do,” she nodded. “The kree and skrull have been at war for generations. Why
speak of peace now? Why earth? One side or the other must have suspicions.”
“You said my mother made sure they thought I was dead.” Teddy pointed out.
“No secret remains buried forever.” She whispered sadly.
“This is unbelievable.” He muttered to himself.
“We need to leave New York.” His mother said, some of the strength returning to
her voice.
“What!?” He demanded looking up.
“If they know you’re alive this is where they will come searching.”
Suddenly light brown eyes flecked with gold flashed through his minds eye, a
wry smile, unruly dark hair, and a boyishly handsome face. “Absolutely not.” He
said firmly.
“Teddy—”
“You’ve already yanked the rug out from under me and now you want me to leave
my home, my friends, my school, you want me to leave B—” he had been about to
say Billy when he stopped himself. How could he be making this about Billy
right now?
“Honey—”
“Stop!” Teddy yelled. “Just stop! The kree and skrull are going to be halfway
around the world in Genosha, not here in New York.” He thought for a moment.
“Besides, the kree and skrull can travel between galaxies, leaving New York is
not going to make much of a difference if they know I’m alive.”
The woman he had always known as mother stood. Tears still glinted in her eyes
but they were no longer falling. “I know how much this has hurt you. Believe
me, I wish I never had to tell you. I wish I had never had to lie to you. But
you do not know our people like I do. I love you and I will do anything to
protect you…even if that means having to endure you’re hatred and losing your
love.”
Those words hit Teddy like a physical blow. His anger faded some but it did not
leave him. “I’m not leaving.” But his words had lost their steel.
She sighed heavily. “I am going to pack bags for both of us. If I even suspect
that they know about you or that they are coming anywhere near New York we are
leaving. End of discussion.”
“I—I just need to be alone right now.” Teddy finally managed.
She nodded and he stiffly began to walk to his room.
“I’m still your mother Teddy.” She said softly. “I may not have given birth to
you but I have cared for you and loved you like any mother. I love you more
than anything. I will never stop thinking of you as my son.”
Teddy stopped. He knew he should say something. He wanted to tell her he loved
her too and that she would always be his mother. But everything was too fresh.
Tears began to leak from the corners of his eyes and he wiped at them with the
back of his hand and sniffed. Then he continued to his room, shutting the door
behind him.
He collapsed on his bed burying his face in his pillows. He felt numb. He
rolled to his side and hugged one of the pillows to him. He closed his eyes and
brought the image of Billy to mind. He could bring him to life in his minds eye
easily. It was one of the benefits of being a shape-shifter (or a skrull
apparently). He could perfectly bring the image of anyone he had focused on for
more than a few moments to mind. The image was warm and comforting. He needed
something else to focus on. His feelings for Billy had once felt complicated
but now felt blissfully simple. He imagined what it would have been like to not
be interrupted by that waitress. He imagined what it would have been like to
feel Billy lips pressed to his own, what it would have felt like to have Billy
wrap his arms around his neck and pull their bodies together. He imagined their
tongues gliding over one another’s.
His phone beeped and he opened his eyes coming out of the fantasy. The reality
of the evening returned and the weight of it settled over him once more. There
was no escape from what he had just learned. He retrieved his phone and looked
at the screen.      
 
Billy:Made it home safe and sound Mom.
 
The word mom held a very strange meaning to Teddy now. It brought the entire
revelation with his mother to the forefront again. He didn't feel like he could
deal with it now. In one conversation, everything he thought he knew about
himself was gone. His entire world had been dismantled. He needed something,
something that made him feel normal, something that would comfort him. He began
to text a response.
 
Teddy:Glad I won't be needing to embarrass myself with another letter to
Spider-man.
Billy:Haha saves you having to update him on your grasp of times tables.
 
He smiled at the joke. He needed more of that. He needed more of Billy. It made
him feel like life made sense. It made him feel normal and not so...alien. He
knew he should stay away from Billy. He knew that there were a million reasons
to walk away from any possible romantic entanglements. But he couldn't seem to
stop himself when it came to Billy. It was like they were planets that were now
caught in each other’s gravitational pull. He needed to see him.
 
Teddy:Yeah. Hey...can you hang out tomorrow?
Billy:I dunno. There's some things I really have to do tomorrow...
 
He felt his heart sink. He just wanted to turn off his phone and go to bed.
Maybe he would wake up to find out this was all some crazy dream. What had he
expected? He still barely knew Billy. He had seven other close friends he could
hang out with. Seven other people he had known for years to turn to. But he
only wanted Billy.
 
Teddy:Ok.
Billy:I really want to. It's just that…I may have blown off a few things today
and I'm kinda in trouble with the family.
 
He felt a pang of guilt for making Billy feel he needed to explain himself. He
had no idea what was going on with him; it was unfair to be trying to lean on
him.
 
Teddy:No really, it's ok. Promise.
Billy:What about later in the evening?
Teddy:Yeah I’m free then.
Billy:So maybe around 7:30? Sorry if that's too late.
Teddy:No that works.
Billy:So where do you wanna meet?
Teddy:My place? We could binge watch some super powered zombies try and eat
super powered people.
Billy:Yeah, that sounds good. Address?
Billy: Hey…um…are you ok?
 
Teddy didn’t know how to answer. Billy had somehow picked up on his mood. He
knew it shouldn’t make him feel so good but he couldn’t stop it. He had never
really felt so connected to someone.
 
Teddy: Family stuff…but I’m ok
 
Or at least I think I will be.
Chapter End Notes
     Next chapter, the kree and skrull arrive! So does Prince Nerin. And
     maybe a smooch!
***** As Fast As Fools Fall *****
Chapter Summary
     Billy's betrothed arrives. Billy and Teddy get to spend some more
     time together and blushing continues to ensue. The kree and skrull
     finally arrive and Billy gets his own maternal revelation.
Chapter Notes
     This is kind of a long chapter but lots of new elements are
     introduced.
     As always the characters her in, as well as the reality of House of
     M, do not belong to me. They all belong to Marvel. And of course
     feedback is always welcome. Thanks for all the support!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Billy absently twisted a golden tassel from one of the epaulettes that draped
his shoulders, the shimmery fabric silky and supple between his fingertips. It
was a nervous habit that he was constantly toiling against and a habit that his
cousin constantly pointed out. He released the length of braided threads and
dropped his hands to his sides resisting the urge to form his hands into fists.
He was trying not to appear anxious but he was not sure how meeting ones
intended for the first time was not supposed to make you anxious. Especially
when all he could think about was blond-haired and blue-eyed Teddy Altman’s
hand on his back as he leaned in for a kiss—or at least it had seemed that way.
Billy had been absolutely certain in the moment that Teddy was going to kiss
him, before the world’s most oblivious waitress interrupted them. But then,
when he had leaned in using Teddy’s dislodged button as an excuse, nothing had
happened.
Maybe I should have leaned in more. Billy thought.
He was not exactly experienced in kissing and wondered if he had blundered his
attempt or was misreading the entire thing. He had spent the whole night
imagining ways he could have ensured those two scenarios ended in a successful
kiss. It was utterly maddening. When Teddy had texted him asking him to hangout
tonight, Billy was ecstatic even tough knew he should have said no. But he
could tell that there was something wrong and he couldn’t seem to turn down the
possibility of spending more time with Teddy, at Teddy’s house no less! He
found himself counting down the hours since he had woken, rushing through his
obligations as though that could make 7:30 pm arrive sooner.
Billy stiffened when he realized he had gone back to fiddling with one of his
tassels again. He forced his arm back down. Stop it. Focus son of Magnus.
“What’s the matter?” Luna whispered to his right. “You are a bundle of very
confusing emotions right now.”
“Stop reading me.” He whispered back at his cousin tersely.
“I don’t have to read you.” She shot from the corner of her mouth. “It’s
written all over your face and posture. And you keep fidgeting with your
tassels.”
Billy took a deep breath to try and steady himself. “I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.” Luna returned obstinately. “You’ve been acting weird for over
a week now. You missed supplications and dinner yesterday. That isn’t like
you.”
“I’m about to meet some stranger that Grandfather has arranged for me to marry,
Luna.” Billy gave her a pointed look from the corner of his eye. “I think I’m
entitled to be a little anxious.”
“You think I don’t know how that feels?” Luna retorted. “There’s something more
going on.”
“Shhhhh!” Their aunt Lorna scolded frowning in their direction. “The Atlantean
delegation is close.”
Luna looked as though she was about to persist despite their aunt’s
admonishment, but Billy growled: “Unreadable,” under his breath.
Luna gave him a scowl as he blocked her empathic abilities with a spell. “I
told you, I don’t need my powers to be able to tell that there is something
wrong. Why won’t you talk to me?”
“Luna! William!” Lorna snapped finally.
Luna pursed her lips together and looked as tough she was swallowing her words.
Billy felt a small pang of guilt. He knew Luna was used to him being open with
her, but with this he couldn’t be. How could he even begin to explain what was
going on? He didn’t fully comprehend it himself. Besides, he knew exactly what
Luna would say to him—because if the situation were reversed—It was the same
thing he would say to her. Walk away.
He fixed his gaze on the beach before him, concentrating on the waves of Hammer
Bay as they rushed in towards them in frothy white arches, layering the sandy
beach with bubbly foam. There were heavy grey clouds out on the horizon that
looked as though they were sitting idly upon the ocean. It looked like there
would be rain. That fit Billy’s present mood perfectly.
All his life he had worked to prove himself as a worthy predecessor of his
grandfather. He had always known that he would likely marry someone in order to
solidify an alliance. He had thought he had accepted that. He was obviously
wrong. Suddenly, he was not so sure he was ready to assume the responsibilities
that came with the Magnus name. He was not certain he wanted it.
It would have been easy to say that this was all due to his feelings for Teddy
but the seeds of doubt had taken root before he had met the handsome shape-
shifter. Billy had worked hard to be an ideal royal grandchild. He tried to do
his best to prepare for the responsibility of ruling all the while feeling
grateful that it would likely be falling to Luna and not himself. He made a
show of admonishing Tommy but deep down he envied him. He allowed himself to be
“talked into” Tommy’s antics because he actually enjoyed them. If he was being
honest with himself he was selfishly letting his twin take the brunt of the
irresponsibility. That thought made Billy feel a little sick to his stomach.
There was a sudden upward spray of mist that forced him out of his musing and
out beyond the whitecaps the ocean stirred as the head of a humpback whale
broke the surface. Standing upon its back was a tall, lone figure, arms
crossed. As Billy’s eyes narrowed he noticed several other smaller forms
surface around the whale. The figure upon the whales back leapt into the air
and floated toward them, landing softly upon the beach before them. The smaller
figures jetted forth like torpedoes and burst from the surf. All at once there
was six blue skinned Atlantean soldiers, spears in hand, flanking the prince.
All things considered, it was a rather understated entrance by Atlantean
standards.
Prince Nerin was very much his father’s son. He was tall with sharp regal
features. He had dark green hair that was slicked back, pointed ears, pale
smooth skin, and eyes that were a startling opaque-black. The sleeveless green-
scaled jumpsuit he wore was tight and split into a V that went from neck to
naval, exposing a chiseled chest and abdomen. The only decorations he wore were
a golden belt that bore the trident crest and golden braces at his wrists.
Billy could not deny that he was handsome.
A guy could do a lot worse for a husband.
Prince Nerin gave a bow at the waist and his retinue went to their knees behind
him in one fluid motion. “Greetings, scions of House Magnus.” He said
straightening.
“Welcome to Genosha Prince Nerin, son of Namor, Lord of the Trench.” Billy’s
uncle Pietro greeted stepping forward offering a half-bow in turn, a gesture of
respect that still communicated supremacy.
“Thank you Prince Pietro.” Nerin replied with a confident smile that exposed
his perfect, pearly-white teeth.
“May I introduce my family?” Pietro said, gesturing to the remainder of the
royal family in attendance. “My sisters, Princess Wanda and Princess Lorna.”
Both women offered slight curtseys in greeting. Billy noted that his mother’s
gaze fixed intently upon the prince. “My daughter, Princess Luna.” Billy’s
cousin stepped forward mimicking the motion of her aunts, lifting the hem of
her shimmering yellow dress as she did. “And my nephew, Prince William.” Billy
swallowed past the lump in his throat, his mother touched his arm lightly in
encouragement, and he stepped forward offering a bow similar to his uncle’s.
Billy could feel Prince Nerin’s eyes upon him like a physical presence, like
gravity had somehow increased around him. He could not shake the feeling that
he was on display for inspection. He looked up but was unable to bring himself
to meet those depthless, black eyes so he fixed his gaze at the bridge of
Nerin’s angular nose.
“I see the broadcasts and reports, for once, did not exaggerate. You are
dashingly handsome.” Nerin commented.
Aaaaannnd…defiantly being appraised. Billy thought uncomfortably.
Prince Nerin extended his hand, palm facing upward. Billy started slightly when
he realized he was asking for his hand. He extended it slowly and the prince
took it bowing once more and pressing his lips firmly to Billy’s knuckles.
“A pleasure to meet you betrothed.” He looked up with sultry eyes from his
bowed position.
Billy felt the flush burning up from his neck all the way to the tips of his
ears.
“Come, show me your home.” Nerin said smoothly as he rose and maneuvered
Billy’s arm to link with his own. His guards fell in silently behind him. “I
have never been to Genosha before. Tough, my father says it is passingly better
than the rest of your land locked cities.”
“Umm…well…I’ve never really been much for architecture, so I couldn’t really
say how it compares to other cities, but it’s home.” Billy replied uncertain if
Nerin was joking.
“Where is our transport to the palace?” The prince asked.
“William is our transport.” Pietro answered.
“Takeustogotothepalace, takeustogotothepalace, takeustogotothepalace…” Billy
chanted enveloping the group in pale blue light. In a blink they went from
Hammer Bay to the main courtyard of the Royal Palace.
“Impressive.” Nerin whistled looking around at the change in scenery. “The
tales of your abilities are true then. You’re a reality warper.”
“Welcome to the Genosha Prince Nerin.” King Eric boomed where he stood, flanked
by the Red Guard before the massive, metal doors of the Royal Palace.
Nerin unhooked his arm from Billy’s in order to bow low. “King Magnus, it is an
honor. My father sends his regards.”
“I see you are getting to know my grandson.” King Magnus noted.
“Yes, he has agreed to give me a royal tour.”
Billy saw his grandfather’s eyes narrow somewhat at the remark. “It will have
to be a brief tour. We will be having dinner in your honor in an hour.”
“I’m sure we can get though the highlights before then.” Nerin replied
confidently linking arms with Billy once again. When his guards moved to follow
he waved them off. “No need. We are more than safe in the home of the great
King Magnus.” He told them coolly. “And I have nothing to fear from my
betrothed.”
Billy fought the urge to tense at the continued use of that term. Instead he
gave his grandfather a warm smile. “I’ll be sure that we are back in time for
dinner Grandfather.” He moved to lead Nerin towards the gardens.
“Remember Prince Nerin, you are promised, not married.” Billy’s Mother
cautioned quietly as they passed.
Nerin flashed a dazzling smile. “Fear not Princess Wanda, your son’s honor is
safe with me.”
Well that was fucking awkward. Billy thought to himself, as they (or at least
Nerin) sauntered away.
There was something weird about walking the man he was promised to marry around
the palace. Prince Nerin seemed perfectly content with the arrangement and did
not seem to be at all uncomfortable with the concept. In fact, he seemed
utterly pleased, making small talk about differences between their cultures and
asking questions about statues and parts of the castle they passed. Billy did
his best to be casual and engaging despite his discomfort.
He led Nerin through the gardens and up to a vista that looked over the city
below. It was one of the most impressive views in the palace grounds. It seemed
like an appropriate place to take someone who had never been to Genosha. It
seemed like the appropriate place to take someone you were supposed to marry.
“This is an impressive view William.” Nerin said, leaning forward against the
rail looking out over at the gleaming spires of the city beneath them. “Not as
impressive as some of the views we have in Atlantis, but impressive
nonetheless.”
His mother had warned him that Atlantean’s were a superior bunch.
“I suppose it won’t be too bad living here.” He noted off handedly, turning his
attention back to Billy.
“Live here?” Billy asked dumbly.
“Well obviously we will live here.” Nerin responded breezily.
Billy had assumed it was anything but obvious. He was expecting lengthy
negotiations on living arrangements with his intended. He had assumed that
given the tendency toward Atlantean superiority, Nerin would insist on them
living in Atlantis. Billy had been fully prepared to play the I-don’t-breath-
underwater-card.
Nerin was giving him a curious look. The black pearls that were his eyes
sparkling as they mirrored the light. “After all, you might be the one ruling
the surface someday.”
Billy frowned. “I’m not the one who is inheriting my grandfather’s throne.”
“Of course you will.” Nerin replied easily.
“I think you’re confused about how succession works here on the surface.” Billy
returned. “My uncle Pietro is heir apparent, then his daughter Luna will
inherit after him. If you’re being generous I’m something, like 4th in line to
the throne. If my uncle has any children with Princess Ororo I’ll drop even
farther down that line.”
“You’re grandfather is the first king of Genosha.” Nerin pointed out.
“Succession is something of a new construct for you and your family. Your
grandfather can define how he wants succession to work.”
Billy was unconvinced. “I’m more of a royal contingency plan than an actual
heir.”
Nerin shook his head and gave him a look like one would give a naïve child. “My
father would never have agreed to a marriage between us if there was not a
strong chance you would ascend to the throne. My father and your grandfather
respect power above all things. Your grandfather is an immensely powerful
mutant. He will pass his throne onto his most capable and powerful heir. You
have power over reality itself, what mutant is more powerful than you?”
Billy froze. He had never considered himself to be the most powerful mutant on
the planet. He knew his mutation was formidable but he had never really thought
of it that way. His mother was still more powerful than he was but no one
outside of their immediate family knew that his mother was a mutant. The rest
of the world thought she was human.
“Why do you think that you were chosen as the Magnus link to Atlantis?” Nerin
continued, seemingly oblivious to the slight shock Billy was experiencing. “Why
not Luna if she was truly to be heir? Atlantis is the only nation on earth that
truly rivals your own.”
Billy thought of Luna. He thought of how solemnly she took the prospect of
being heir to her father and, by extension, their grandfather. He thought of
how exceedingly level headed and kind she was. She would be an amazing ruler
someday. Being chosen over her seemed wrong. But there was something that rang
true in what Prince Nerin was saying. He moved to lean over the rail and looked
out over the city below. Did his grandfather truly intend for all this to be
his someday?
“Our marriage will strengthen both our nations immeasurably.” Nerin said
leaning in close and placing his hand over Billy’s.
Billy went rigid at the touch despite himself. Nerin smiled, taking note of his
discomfort.
“You’re marrying me because you think I’m powerful and can give Atlantis a
direct link to the throne.” Billy said looking over at Nerin as a sudden gust
swept up from behind them and blew a stream of fallen leaves out of the garden
and scattered them over the city. Billy felt his hair tumble about his head
while Nerin’s did not so much as stir.
“I was honest when I told you that you’re handsome William Magnus.” Nerin
replied with a crooked grin. “But good looks were not what my father was
considering when choosing my partner.” He gave Billy’s hand a squeeze. “If it
is love that you are hoping for you need not despair. Who is to say that will
not follow?” He leaned in purposefully. “I can be very charming.”
Billy pulled his hand free and took a step away. “I know we’re going to be
married someday but you’re moving a bit fast for me.”
Nerin shrugged dispassionately, the smile never leaving his face. “You surface
dwellers have such odd ideas about intimacy.” He stepped toward Billy. “Are you
not the slightest bit curious about how it feels to kiss your betrothed?”
If Billy had said he wasn’t even remotely tempted he would have been lying.
Some part of him was aware of how good looking Nerin was. He was unwaveringly
confident and possessed an exotic elegance that was otherworldly and alluring.
A week ago, Billy would have given in to that part of himself. But now,
standing before the Atlantean prince, all he could seem to think about was
Teddy. He felt like he would be betraying him somehow, which was utterly
ridiculous. There was nothing to betray. He also knew that he could not afford
to insult Nerin. Their betrothal was new and bruising his pride could cause no
end of trouble for his family.
He took a step back. “I think I’ll keep my curiosity for now.”
Nerin did not seem to be detoured. Billy frantically combed his mind for an
excuse, an exit strategy that would not cause a political incident. There was
another strong gust that kicked up dust and leaves around them and forced them
both to close their eyes against the debris.
“HeyBilly!Watchaupto?” Tommy asked in his typical excited slur. “Who’sthis?”
“Thomas, this is Prince Nerin of Atlantis.” Billy answered giving his twin a
look that he hoped conveyed that he needed to slow down and be serious for a
moment.
Maybe we do really have some sort of twin-sense.   Billy thought. Tommy had
shown up at the perfect time. Billy could not remember the last time he had
been this grateful to see his brother.
“Ah, the prince of fishes.” Tommy said, slowing his verbal tempo enough for
individual words to be clearly deciphered. “The one Grandpa’s dead set on you
marrying despite the fact that it’s made you all broody the past week.”
And just like that the gratefulness over Tommy’s timely entrance was gone. And
cue that international incident. Billy thought dejectedly. But Nerin’s cool
confidence did not seem to fade in the least.
“So this is your twin, the speedster.” Nerin commented. “Prince Thomas Magnus.
The one your family mostly ignores and cleans up after.”
That got Tommy’s attention. He turned to fully face Nerin. “I’m sorry shark-
boy, did you just try and make some sort of royal jab at my honor or something?
Cause, newsflash sublameiner, I soooo do not care.” In a blur of motion he had
turned his back on Nerin and was facing Billy. “Lets get outta here! I just
discovered the awesomeness that is Tokyo nightlife. I’m not sure how we have
gone this long without it. They’ve got this crazy techno music that you cannot
not dance to! Plus they have underground robot fights that put Tony Stark to
shame. Oh and sake! They have sake!”
Billy grabbed his twin by the shoulders to stop him. “We have dinner tonight.
It’s in honor of Prince Nerin’s arrival.”
Tommy blew a stray strand of silvery white hair from his eyes. “For sea weed
brains? Who cares? You skipped dinner last night.” He gave Billy a serious
look. “Withoutme I might add.” He brought a finger to the corner of his mouth.
“You’ve been doing that a lot without me lately.” He frowned. “Not cool. I
almost forgot I was mad at you for that.”
Billy sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Tommy—”
His brother shook free of his grip. “Ugh! You’ve got that serious royal face on
that you and Luna get and you’re also broody somehow. You are incredibly boring
when you’re just one of those things, I am not sure I can maintain sanity in
the presence of both.”
Billy rolled his eyes.
“You both shared the same womb?” Prince Nerin asked in confusion. “How did you
stand it? You must have been clawing your way out by the end just to get away.”
Tommy turned in an irritated whirl. “Oooh very clever Mr. I’m-wearing-a-
jumpsuit-made-of-goldfish.”
A thin line was beginning to form between Prince Nerin’s brows. This was going
to end badly.
“Tommy!” Billy snapped finally. “Enough. I’m not going to Tokyo. And neither
are you. Grandfather will kill you if you don’t show. So go get ready.”
Tommy glared at him from over his shoulder. “Looks like Yoko Ono’s already
doing his thing.” He huffed and then in a blink he was gone leaving only a
trail of dust and leaves in his wake, like a jet stream had just passed
through.
"Well isn't he a treat." Nerin groused looking toward where Tommy had raced off
to.
Dinner was extravagant and delicious, more so than usual. Nerin was given a
seat of honor at one of the end seats at the long rectangular table the Royal
family used to dine with guests. Thus, Billy was thankfully spared having to
sit next to him and able to avoid any further romantic advances. He was
definitely not up for staving off a game of footsies under the table. He just
wanted to get through dinner and get to Teddy's place.
To his amazement Tommy actually showed up for dinner and was dressed in formal
attire. Tough his shirt was untucked on one side and his pants were wrinkled.
He wondered absently if Luna had used subliminals to get him to attend. Their
cousin was not above gently nudgingpeople with her powers from time to time if
she thought it was in their best interests. If she had, she was obviously not
using her powers to encourage table manners. Tommy was ravenously shoveling
food into his mouth at a blinding pace. Finally, their aunt Lorna magnetically
pulled his fork and spoon from his grasp and then thunked him on the head with
the spoon. Luna and Billy chuckled behind hand and napkin and Tommy slouched
grumpily into his chair.
"So how is your father?" King Magnus asked taking a sip of deep red wine. "I've
not seen him since last year's gala."
Prince Nerin reclined casually in his chair, leaning to one side. "You know
Father; spitting image of health and vitality. Restless though, he hasn't had
the chance to scream 'Impreus Rex' in awhile."
King Magnus nodded. "The war never seems to truly leave men like your father
and myself."
Prince Nerin swirled his own wine casually in his glass. "Perhaps if these
kree-skrull peace talks go poorly you will both get your chance to relive your
glory years."
"I sincerely hope that was a joke Prince Nerin." Lorna said. "And if it was, it
was in poor taste. The last thing we need is the kree and skrull breaking into
war here on earth."
"War is inevitable Princess Lorna." Nerin replied. "It is like a force of
nature."
"You'll understand if that comes as little consolation to those affected by
war." Luna pointed out.
"Atlantean’s understand the consequences of war, we accept them." Nerin said.
"Surface dwellers want to pretend they can have the war without innocents being
hurt."
"I think our family has been making a concerted effort to avoid things like
war." Billy said joining the conversation. "I think the last war taught people
some hard lessons about the nature war."
"The way I hear it, some are still not content to keep your families peace."
Nerin countered. "The human resistance continues to survive."
"Humans and mutants have a long and violent history." Billy leaned forward on
his elbows. "That kind of past takes time to heal and move on from."
Nerin smiled. "My betrothed is handsome andwise. How did I come to be so
lucky?"
Billy looked down and picked up his fork and knife and busied himself with
cutting a piece of steak.
"So, Prince Nerin" Billy's mother cut in. "Tell us about yourself." Billy
remembered how his mother looked at Nerin on the beach. He decided he had
better pay attention and be prepared to step in if necessary.
"I'm not sure there is much to tell Princess Wanda." Nerin answered. "I am one
of King Namor's three children, the middle child. I've spent most of my time in
Atlantis, though I have visited the surface on a few occasions. My father
thought it was best my siblings and I be very familiar with Atlantean culture
and politics before we ventured out and spent any extended time on the surface.
He was a bit of the opposite in his youth and sought to correct that in us.
Actually, my older brother Wringor has been spending a great deal of time on
the surface lately."
"What do you do for fun?" Luna asked pleasantly.
"Not much I'm afraid. Father keeps us busy. But I do play undertow."
“Undertow?”
“It’s a bit like your soccer…just underwater.”
“Snails don’t know anything about sports.” Tommy grumbled.
The remainder of dinner went much like that. They asked the Atlantean prince
questions and he answered with cool confidence. Tommy would snicker snide
comments and was generally ignored. All in all, it was not as awkward of a
family dinner with your newly chosen betrothed as one might have feared.
“William,” Nerin called as they were leaving the Royal Dining Room. “Perhaps
you’d care to show me some more of the Palace.”
“Er…I’d love to,” Billy answered. He was already late. It was almost eight
o’clock. “But I am really feeling tired, I’d be happy to show you around some
more tomorrow. Perhaps we could even go out into the city.”
Nerin gave him a long searching look. Billy grit his teeth hoping the prince
would not press the issue. He hoped that his family being around would keep him
from being as forward as he had been in the gardens.
“Get some rest betrothed.” Nerin smiled. “Tomorrow we shall see more of your
city.”
Billy let out a small sigh. His mother came up beside him so quietly she
startled him. “I know this is not what you had been hoping for.” She said
softly, placing her hands on his shoulders. He could smell the jasmine oil she
always wore. It was one of the most soothing smells in the world to Billy. It
carried with it time spent playing blocks among crimson cushions with Tommy and
his mother. Simpler times. “But in time you may come to like Nerin. Maybe
someday love will follow. Sometimes love that grows slowly over time is the
strongest.”
Billy gave her a sad smile. “I know Mom. I stopped believing in fairy tales a
long time ago.”
She squeezed his shoulders. “You grew up so fast.” She muttered, more to
herself than to Billy. She kissed his cheek. “Sleep well darling.”
Billy walked as briskly to his rooms as he could manage without looking too
rushed. The guard at his door saluted and opened the door to his chambers.
Before the doors could close behind him there was a sudden gust of air as his
brother zoomed in after him.
“You’re going to sneak off again aren’t you?” His twin accused after the door
had shut.
Billy growled and tilted his head toward the ceiling. “No, Tommy. I’m going to
bed.”
Tommy gave him an exacerbated look. “You’re lying. You tried to hide it but you
were looking at the clock all throughout dinner. You’re going to meet someone.”
“Tom—” Billy began but his brother held up his hand.
“Save it. I totally support it.”
Billy opened his mouth to speak and then closed it. He was so taken aback by
that statement words failed him. He had expected pretty much anything but that.
“Thanks, Tommy.”
His twin waved the appreciation away with his hand. “Anyone’s better than
Prince Deep-V.” He griped. “Besides, you’d been so serious and resigned to
being the dutiful prince for awhile there, it’s nice to see you willing the
break the rules again.”
“I might hug you now.” Billy warned with a wide grin.
“And that’s my exit cue.” Tommy proclaimed turning and heading for the door. He
stopped at the door and looked back at Billy. “I have one condition.”
“You had to ruin it didn’t you. We almost had a legit brotherly moment.” Billy
moaned.
“I get to meet him at some point. He has to pass your big brother’s approval.”
“You are, like, two minutes older.”
“Still counts.” And then he was out the door and speeding away.
                                      ***
Billy blinked against the thin sheet of warm summer rain he teleported into,
the tiny drops feeling like delicate pinpricks against his dry skin. There was
a rumble of distant thunder, a promise of a larger storm to come. His
teleportation spell had left him hovering over Chelsea above, what he assumed,
was Teddy’s apartment building. The world below him was shrouded in mated
shades of grey, the setting summer sun dulled by the moisture heavy clouds.
“On your left!” A mutant called flying past on what looked like a glowing,
translucent surfboard, obviously in a hurry to get out of the rain before it
went from a light sprinkle to full downpour.
Billy descended down to the front of the building, dropping into a tide of
black umbrellas. No one spared him more than a passing glance. He checked the
address with what Teddy had texted him yesterday. He was at the right place. It
was a redbrick, midrise apartment building with tendrils of clinging, green ivy
covering parts of its surface. He hesitated as he began to call Teddy. He was
close to thirty minutes late. He hadn’t texted him to warn him or explain and
Teddy hadn’t texted asking about his delay. He worried that he had offended
Teddy or that Teddy thought he had flaked. Before he could think much more he
hit the call icon and brought the phone to his ear.
“Hey,” Teddy answered.
“Hey, sorry I’m late.” Billy walked up the concrete steps to the front door.
“But I brought something to make it up to you.”
"No problem. Let me buzz you in. I'm on the fifth floor. Apartment 579."
"Cool, be right up." He hung up and hoisted his messenger bag higher on his
shoulders absently as he waited to hear the buzz that would tell him the door
was unlocked.
Billy had never been inside an apartment before. He had a general idea of what
to expect because of movies he had seen but it still made him a little nervous.
He opened the door when it buzzed then clicked as the lock moved out of place.
He stepped inside and glanced around, there was a wall filled with little brass
doors with numbers carved into them on his left and a little ways in there were
large metal elevator doors. He made his way over and pressed the button with
the upward facing arrow and waited. Billy found himself grinning; there was
something exciting about being in a normal apartment building. Plus he was
about to spend the evening with Teddy in his house. How could he not be
excited? The doors opened and an elderly woman was inside, stooped back, with a
large purse slung from her shoulders. Inside the purse a small dog peeked it's
head out. She shuffled past him eyeing him suspiciously from the corner of her
eye.
"You might want to take an umbrella." Billy suggested cheerfully. "It's
starting to rain out there."
The woman frowned. "Don't talk to strangers, Lucky." She grumbled to her dog.
"Ooookay," Billy muttered as he moved into the elevator taking it up to the 5th
floor.
He made his way to Teddy's door and took a deep breath preparing to knock but
the door opened just before his knuckles hit the door. Suddenly Teddy was
standing right before him, outlined in the soft light emanating from his
apartment, blond hair perfectly tousled like always. He broke into a wide, warm
smile, dimples flashing.
"Good timing." Billy said, returning the smile.
He reached out a hand as Teddy opened the door to admit him intending to
initiate one of the complicated handshakes that he always saw Tommy engage in
when meeting people their age. Teddy took his hand their thumbs hooking around
one another, but instead of moving into some hip series of high fives and
shakes, he squeezed Billy's hand and pulled him in, his other arm going around
him. Billy automatically returned the gesture, bringing his arm around Teddy in
return. Billy went still, the realization that he was hugging Teddy sinking in.
Teddy squeezed him slightly, his chin resting on his shoulder. Finally,
inhaling deeply, Teddy pulled away.
There was a confusing array of emotions playing across Teddy's features;
happiness, sadness, uncertainty, others that Billy could not read. After a
moment he brought his face into a happy and charming expression but there was
still a shimmering quality to his eyes.
Tears?Billy thought in confusion. He knew that there was something wrong. He
had been able to sense it in the text messages the night before.
"I believe there was mention of amends for your tardiness." Teddy asked
wryly.  
"Oh yeah," Billy said, jolting out of his pondering and pulling his bag around
to open it. "I come bearing graphic novels and some sorta mini-fruit-tart-
things my mom made." Which was a bit of a lie. His mother had never baked as
long as Billy had been alive. Marian, the Royal Baker had made the tarts for
Nerin’s welcome dinner. He pulled the contents from his bag. "Ta da!" He
exclaimed holding them out to Teddy.
Teddy took the box containing the tarts and the stack of graphic novels
stiffly. He bit his upper lip. Billy felt like he might have said or done
something wrong. He didn't understand what was going on. Teddy seemed so...off.
He didn't know what to do, so he just kept silent.
"Thanks," Teddy finally managed in a choked whisper. "Uh," he cleared his
throat. "You mind taking your shoes off? My mom's kinda weird about the whole
shoes in the house thing. She says the bottom of your shoes track in pretty
much every nasty thing you can think of."
"Oh yeah, no problem." Billy complied bending down to untie his shoes and
leaving them by the door where he noticed Teddy’s had been discarded. “So,
where is your mom?”
“Working late.” He replied. “She’s a relator. She sells high end real estate so
her clients tend to be…a bit needy.” He opened the container holding the tarts
and took a bite of one. “Hey, these are amazing!” He finished it and grabbed
another and popped the whole pastry into his mouth. “These’re all for me
right?” His words garbled as he chewed.
“If you wanna gorge till you spike your insulin levels, be my guest.” Billy
answered.
Teddy seemed to be lightening up some as they bantered. Plus, Marian’s baking
fixed just about everything.
“So, super-powered zombie marathon?” Teddy asked jerking his head toward the
hallway that ran along the side of the kitchen.
“Lead the way.”
The entire apartment was smaller than the rooms Billy occupied in the palace,
but despite the size he could tell that it was a nice apartment. Things were
clean and orderly and the furniture was simple but well made. It had all been
updated except for the old, red-bricked fireplace that served as the focal
point of the living room. Next to it a wooden bookshelf had built into the wall
and was completely filled with row upon row of books. Billy thought that the
whole space seemed comfortable and welcoming.
Teddy led him out of the living area and down the hall. “This is me,” he jerked
his thumb to a door on the right. “Bathroom’s the next door on the left and
Mom’s room is at the end of the hall.” He opened the door to his room and Billy
followed.
The room was only large enough to fit a full sized bed, a small desk and a
dresser. There was a flat screen TV set up on the dresser facing the bed. The
walls were coated with various posters and prints from movies, comics, video
games, and superheroes. There was even a vintage World War II Captain America
poster set over the bed.
Teddy placed the comics and container of tarts on his desk eating yet another
tart. “I’m pretty much spiraling into diabetes thanks to you.” He accused.
“Not my fault you have low impulse control.” Billy shrugged flippantly.
Teddy grunted his disagreement and moved to the TV and turned it on as well as
the Xbox. “Err, so the only seating is the bed or my desk chair.”
“I’m cool with the bed.” Billy said, trying to seem casual. In truth he felt
anything but casual. He was going to be sitting on Teddy’s bed! He dropped his
bag onto the floor and took a seat on the edge. Teddy placed a disk into his
Xbox bringing the controller with him and joining him on the bed.
Don’t spaz. Just be cool.
“Remember,” Billy said, kicking his legs up onto the mattress. “First five
episodes. If I still think it’s awful it’s dinner or torture of equal or lesser
intensity. But I’m opting for torture over dinner.”
Teddy raised a blond eyebrow boastfully. “By the end of the third you’ll be
asking me to let you stay over all night to watch both seasons.”
Billy took a slow, deep breath trying to stave off a blush at the mention of
staying over the whole night at Teddy’s. Well if that’s on the table I might
say I love it even if I hate it.
“Are you really gonna make me rewatch the first episode?” He complained
instead.
“Yup.”
“I’m gonna start thinking up tortures now. Maybe we could watch a musical.”
“Ugh! We had to watch Westside Story in class freshman year after reading Romeo
and Juliet…it was almost the death of me.”
“Sound of Music then.” Billy concluded.
“I beg to differ on the level of torture here. That is clearly several notches
above any level of torture this might be.”
“We never defined a torture scale.” Billy pointed out. “Besides, it’s
completely subjective.”
“Just shut up and watch.” Teddy groaned knocking their shoulders together.
It was those moments that made Billy so conflicted. It was as if Teddy looked
for any opportunity to make their bodies connect. Except, Billy couldn’t get
himself to fully believe that. He was terrified he was misreading this whole
thing and would make a fool of himself, be rejected, and ruin his budding
friendship with Teddy if he acted on the impulses he was feeling. He couldn’t
imagine anything worse than Teddy looking at him in disgust or pity after an
attempt at a kiss or some other romantic gesture. So Billy just let those
moments pass, resisting his urges.     
Both to Billy’s delight and chagrin Teddy had been right. The show did get
better by episode three and by the time they had finished episode four Billy
had conceded that it was pretty good and honored their agreement, relieving
Teddy of any musical torture. Despite the show being good Billy drifted off
somewhere around the middle of episode five. His eyes had been getting heavy,
the strain and duties of the day catching up with him. He had resolved to only
rest his eyes for a moment but Teddy’s bed was soft and comfy, the rain was
pattering metrically on the window, and Teddy’s presence beside him was warm
and soothing.   Before long, he had sunk into the velvety dark depths of sleep.
He awoke sometime later to the sound of screaming coming from the television,
his eyes jerking open. He was laying on his side, his head cradled on one of
Teddy’s pillows. He blinked a few times getting his bearings, realizing he had
drooled a bit—that’s lovely.
Then the weight of the arm draped over his side registered, the sound of even
breath near his ear. Teddy had fallen asleep as well and they were curled
closely together. Billy’s back pressed up tight against Teddy’s chest and
stomach, toasty and warm—they were spooning.
Billy’s heart rate went from slow and steady to rapid and erratic in an
instant. He froze, like some animal that had just realized a predator was
stalking it from the shadows. His senses seemed to heighten and he could almost
feel every individual hair that was being leisurely swayed by Teddy’s warm,
languid breath. Billy drew in a deep deliberate inhalation to try and calm
himself. He was afraid to move, lest he rouse Teddy and end this perfect
moment. He closed his eyes and savored it.
Teddy whimpered something inaudible. It was a tender, rueful sound. Teddy’s
bicep tensed and pulled Billy even closer and he felt his heart somehow
escalate its frenetic pace. Teddy nuzzled his nose into the crook of Billy’s
neck and released a contented sigh that came up all the way from his belly. It
was as if he had been distressed and was comforted by getting closer to Billy.
It was enough to make Billy melt on the spot.
You know what…I can just die now. Life complete. I’m done.He thought
blissfully, his body relaxing and settling back into the bed, content to spend
the rest of the night just like this.
There was another ear splitting scream from the TV followed by a rumbling
explosion. It was enough to wake Teddy with a start that rocked them both.
Teddy took in a sharp breath and came up on his elbow in his surprise but his
other arm was still slung over Billy. He squeezed his eyes shut then opened
them. When he looked over and realized he had been cuddled up next to Billy he
quickly jerked his arm back as if he had burned it. That motion made Billy’s
heart drop into his belly.
Yeah…just go ahead and kill me now. He thought miserably.
Teddy was rubbing his eyes with his fingers. Billy considered trying to pretend
to still be asleep but decided against it despite it feeling like the least
mortifying option. Teddy had startled so intensely Billy would have had to be
in coma not to wake.
Let’s go for casual and nonchalant shall we. He thought bitterly sitting up and
taking a deep breath in through his nose and holding it for a count of three
before releasing it out from his mouth. He swung his feet over the edge of the
bed coming into a seated position.
“S-so sorry,” Teddy started.
“For what?” Billy asked, bitterness creeping into the edges of his voice
despite his efforts. The thought of Teddy being ashamed of cuddling with him
hurt so bad he felt his heart contract. This was exactly what he had been
afraid of. “We fell asleep, no big deal.”
It wasn’t fair. It was like every time they got close something happened to
break the moment. Billy wanted to tell him just how right it had felt to be
sleeping next to him. How good it had felt. He wanted to tell him that it was
the most relaxed he had seen him since he’d gotten to the apartment. But he
couldn’t bring himself to be that brave.
Teddy let out a breath and scooted forward to sit next to him. “Your right,
sorry.”
“What are you sorry for?”
“I-I just…I’m just…I don’t know.” Teddy sighed and his shoulders slumped
forward and his head drooped low and defeated.
Billy felt himself soften. His irritation over Teddy’s overreaction
dissipating, like morning mist in sunlight. “Teddy, what’s wrong? You said
something happened with your family last night. You’ve been acting…off since I
got here.”
Teddy released a shallow, shuddering breath and it was as if something broke
inside of him. Words poured out, hurried, injured, and hushed. “My mom isn’t
really my mom. She’s been lying to me my entire life.”
Billy’s eyes went wide. He had sure as hell not been expecting that.
“It’s like I don’t even know who I am anymore. Everything, I mean everythinghas
been a lie. How can I trust her now? Is she even really my mom anymore? I
mean—I know she is—she raised me, she loves me…but fuck!” He sighed and seemed
to droop even more. He kept his eyes on the floor. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to
just unload all that on you.”
Carefully, Billy edged a little closer to him. “Why do you apologize for things
that you don’t need to apologize for? I mean, holy shit…you have every right to
be freaked.”
“Thanks.” He sighed. “That’s the first time I’ve said any of that out loud.
It’s all…just been—bouncing around my head all day. It’s been driving me
insane.”
“Yeah…” Billy breathed. “I can’t imagine. I’m sorry.”
Teddy finally looked over at him. He gave him a half-hearted smile. “Now look
who’s apologizing for things that aren’t their fault.”
Billy gave an embarrassed smile in response.
“I just don’t know where to go from here—it just—it changes everything…or maybe
it doesn’t. Shit, I don’t know. I just feel so fucking lost. I’m pissed. I’m
just so—” he sniffed hard and rubbed at his eyes in irritation. “God, we just
met and I’m going all emo on you. I’m s—”
“Don’t.” Billy interrupted, placing his hand on Teddy’s shoulder. “I’m here for
you. I don’t know how you managed to keep it all in this long. You don’t have
to pretend to be ok. I’m here for you.” He repeated and squeezed his shoulder.
“Thanks.” Teddy said, seeming to lighten a bit.
They sat there in silence.  Billy didn't know what else to say. He wanted to
comfort him.  He wanted to make all the confusion and doubt go away.  He looked
over at Teddy. His gaze had dropped back down the floor of his room, head
hanging low.  He was biting at his upper lip and he would wipe roughly at his
eyes with the back of his hand from time to time.  Still fighting against his
tears. There was nothing to say Billy realized.  Nothing could fix the shock of
finding out your whole world had been based on a lie.  All Billy could do was
be here for him.  All he could do was let him know he wasn't in this alone.
 But he wasn't sure how to do that. He wished he knew a spell that would fix
this for him. What good was power over reality if you couldn’t keep the people
you cared about from hurting?   
He placed his other hand on Teddy’s thigh just above the knee.  "Teddy," he
whispered.
Teddy wiped at his eyes again and then turned and looked at him.    His blue
eyes shimmered with unshed tears, catching the light at awkward, shifting
angles.  Was it wrong to think that someone was beautiful when they looked so
sad?   Teddy sniffed inelegantly, his nose crinkling, and somehow he looked
impossibly more beautiful.  Billy wanted to show him how much it hurt him to
see him so sad.  He wanted to show him just how amazing he thought he was. He
wanted to show him how much he wanted to make it all go away.  He wanted to do
something that would convey all of that and more. He thought of how peaceful
Teddy had seemed when they had been sleeping next to one another, how relieved
he had been when he had pulled Billy close to him. He wanted that for him
again.
Then, as if possessed, he was leaning forward. His lips pressing clumsily
against Teddy's, his lips crumpling against Teddy's unsuspecting and
unresponsive mouth.  He felt a startled indrawn breath from Teddy—felt him go
rigid.  Then Billy's mind caught up to him and he realized what he had just
done.  He pulled back sharply.  Panic was quickly filling his chest.  His heart
was clawing frantically within the cage of his ribs as though it were trying to
escape and his breath was coming in quick shallow gasps.
What did you just do!?  He screamed at himself.  He's breaking down and hurt.
 He opens up to you and you fucking kiss him!?  What the hell is wrong with
you!?He shot to his feet.  He was blushing so intensely he felt like his face
was on fire.  He had to get out.  He couldn't face Teddy.  He refused to look
at him. He had made such an unbelievable ass of himself.  He had to get out of
there.  
He began rushing from the room when he felt a hand close firmly around his
wrist and he was yanked back.  He spun, colliding with Teddy's chest.  He was
expecting to get throttled.  God knew he deserved it. He squeezed his eyes shut
waiting to be yelled at or struck.  But instead Teddy's hand was gripping the
back of his neck, pulling his face to him and then, he was kissing him, a
gentle, broken sound rising up from Teddy's throat.  Billy felt himself tense
in pure shock and disbelief, but half a second later he had brought his free
hand to Teddy's waist and was kissing him back.  The stiff awkwardness of it
all beginning to melt away as they fell into a steady rhythm that felt so
natural and normal and yet felt so novel and strange.  
Teddy released his grip on Billy's wrist and moved his hand to press into the
small of Billy's back, drawing them closer together. Billy hooked his now free
arm over Teddy's shoulders tangling them together even further. It was
heaven.  
Teddy pulled himself away, breaking the kiss, drawing back just far enough so
he could speak.  "I've wanted to do that since I first saw you."  He whispered
and Billy could hear the sigh of relief—of release—in his voice, could feel his
warm breath on his lips.  
"Me too."  Billy laughed breathlessly, his own relief bubbling up.  It felt so
good to hear Teddy say that.  It felt so good to be holding him, for his lips
to be tingling from their kiss. He was still dazed. Everything had happened so
quickly, gone from crushing to ecstasy in an instant.
Teddy smiled.  "Even when I was a green, scaly mini-hulk?"
"I mean...the green guy is a little bit cuter..." Billy japed casting his eyes
wistfully to his right.
"Hey!"  Teddy complained with a laugh and thunked their foreheads together
lightly.
Billy surged forward, closing the scant distance between their lips and was
kissing him again; because he could, because Teddy wanted him to, because it
seemed like idiocy not to, because he could not fathom why they hadn't been
doing this sooner. His head was swimming with the actuality of it all.  
Gone was their tentative, shy, and slow kissing; in its place was something
more confident, something full of yearning.  Sparks exploded behind Billy's
eyelids as Teddy's tongue swept past his lips and into his mouth, gliding over
his own tongue.  He responded in kind, unable to stop the moan that came up
from his chest. He hugged himself to Teddy, the feel of his hard muscles
against him and their tongues swirling together sent hot waves radiating
through his body. He could feel the stir of arousal uncoil in his belly.
Teddy’s nails dug into his neck while his hips arched forward, grinding them
into Billy’s. Billy brought his hand up underneath the back of Teddy’s shirt,
the feel of skin warm and smooth. God! He never wanted this to end. He wanted
more.
There was a sudden knock at the door and they pried their lips apart in panting
surprise.  The doorknob turned and the door began to open.  They both startled
away from each other as if they had been shocked.
"Mom!"  Teddy glowered, his cheeks flushed, his lips rosy from Billy’s kisses.
 "Just because you knock does not mean you can just walk in."
“It’s past one-thirty.” The woman with blond hair like Teddy’s replied, poking
her head into the room. “I wanted to see if your friend is planning on staying
the night or something.” Her blue eyes—also like Teddy’s—came to rest on Billy.
She squinted slightly causing fine, almost imperceptible, lines to form at the
corners of her eyes. For one horrifying instant she looked as though she
recognized him.
“Umm—Hi Mrs. Altman,” Billy stammered, stepping forward and extending a hand.
“I’m Billy, a…um…friend of Teddy’s.”
“A new friend.” She noted, eyes narrowing as she took his hand and gave it a
light shake.
“We met at the Mutant/Human Alliance rally last week.” Teddy interjected. But
his mother’s eyes remained on Billy. “He actually helped save Gert from some
guys who tried to jump her.” Teddy pressed.
That broke Mrs. Altman’s probing gaze. “What!?”
“Yeah, who knows what they would’ve done if Billy hadn’t been there.”  
Suspicion still lingered in his mother’s face but it seemed to dissipate
somewhat. She looked over at Teddy. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to have
anyone spending the night right now.” She said, finally giving Teddy a
meaningful look.
“I-I uh…need to get going anyway.” Billy said, rubbing at the back of his neck.
Teddy shot him a desperate look. It made Billy’s chest constrict sharply. It
made him both miserable and thrilled to see that look on his face. Teddy wanted
him to stay. Looked afflicted at the prospect of him leaving. It was
astonishingly unreal.
“I have to.” Billy said quietly, his tone apologetic.
Teddy’s mother did not miss the exchange. Realization dawned on her face. Her
expression eased, though not completely. “I’ll give you both a bit of privacy.”
She said. “It was nice meeting you Billy.” She offered him a smile.
“N-nice to meet you too Mrs. Altman.” He replied, still uncomfortable under her
gaze.
“I suppose I’ll be seeing more of you…much more.”
And Billy thought he saw her wink.
“Mom!” Teddy snapped in humiliation.
“Good night.” She hummed and waved before departing, leaving the door
intentionally cracked behind her.
Teddy gave Billy a remorseful look. “I am so sorry.”
Billy found himself chuckling lightly. “Don’t worry about it. She seems nice.”
“She definitely still acts like she’s my mother.” Teddy replied glumly.
Billy took a shy step closer to him, glancing at the cracked door and then down
at his feet. Somehow he was hesitant about initiating contact even though only
minutes before they had been locked together and kissing. Teddy seemed to
notice and closed the distance, affectionately cupping Billy’s face in his
hands and planting a long, sweet kiss on Billy’s lips.
“Do you really have to go?”
“Yeah,” Billy sighed miserably, bringing his hands to rest on Teddy’s wrists.
“My warden didn’t scare you off did she?”
Billy smiled. “No, I really do have a long day ahead of me tomorrow.”
Teddy’s thumbs rubbed enticing circles against Billy’s cheeks and he sighed.
“Alright…” he dipped in for another kiss.
Billy melted into it. Teddy’s lips were soft and supple. He flicked his tongue
provocatively along Teddy’s bottom lip. “If we start that up again I don’t
think I’ll be able to leave.” He managed to say before things intensified.
“Good.” Teddy murmured, brushing their lips together playfully.
It was so tempting to just stay, to explore this change in their relationship,
to lose himself in Teddy’s kisses. He thought about pushing Teddy down onto the
bed and throwing himself on top of him, letting his longing dictate
everything—but thoughts of Prince Nerin invaded his minds eye and he knew it
would be stupid to risk it. “I have to go.”
“Alright.” Teddy conceded, reluctantly releasing his hold on Billy’s face.
Billy stooped to pick up his bag and flung it over his shoulder and they walked
from Teddy’s room to the front door. The apartment was dark save for a lamp
that was left on in the living room. They stopped at the front door.
“So…” they both said in unity and then fell into laughter.
“We should do this again sometime.” Teddy said with an exaggerated wink.
“All the time.” Billy beamed, not caring how eager he sounded.
“We still got the rest of season one and all of season two.”
“At the rate we’re going it could take months.”
“I’m cool with that.” There was a hungry look in Teddy’s eyes.
Billy felt his incessant blush returning to his face.
“So, you doing anything later this week?” Teddy asked suddenly shy, his eyes
moving down to his feet.
“Yeah it’s kind of a crazy week.” Billy said, wondering at the shift. “But I’m
sure I can manage to get over here a few times this week.”
“Do you maybe…um…like wanna go out and do something…like a…you know…”
“Like a date?” Billy asked smiling so hard it hurt.
“Uh, yeah.” Teddy answered scratching the side of his head.
Billy rocked onto the balls of his feet and kissed him. He couldn’t get enough
of it. The fact that he was leaving confounded him; he didn’t know he had this
kind of willpower. Had Teddy’s mother not come in he was fairly certain he
wouldn’t have left. “Yeah…yeah a date sounds great.”
“Cool.” Teddy breathed.
“Ok,” Billy said stepping away. “If I stay here much longer I will start
kissing you again and then my family will find I never came home and I will be
forbidden from ever seeing you again and we will never get to have our date.”
“Do you want me to walk you to the subway or something?” Teddy asked. “It is
kind of late. Remember, those sidewalks are next level evil at night.”
Billy smiled unable to resist going in for one last kiss. When he pulled away
he held up his hand sending a few thin streaks of lightning around it. “I can
take care of myself, remember?”
Teddy chuckled. “I suppose you can.”
Billy walked out of the apartment building and into the night. It had stopped
raining and he decided to walk for a bit. The air was heavy with humidity and
summer heat that had been baked into the concrete throughout the day. But there
was also a cool breeze moving through the city that was fresh and cooling.   He
felt like dancing. His chest felt warm and light. He couldn’t remember a time
he had ever felt this good. In some back corner of his mind a part of him—a
horribly rational part—was scolding him. It was reminding him that he was
promised to someone else. It was reminding him that there could be no future
with Teddy, even if—even if he really liked him. But that part was very small
at that moment. At the moment Billy could still feel the warmth of Teddy’s body
against his own. He could still taste his mouth. He could still smell him. At
the moment he simply didn't care about anything else.
                                      ***
“Are you seriously here?” Billy asked in open astonishment as Tommy zipped up
to join the royal procession in his full formal attire. "Or am I
hallucinating?"
“What?!” Tommy asked defensively. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because you never are.” Luna returned.
“Maybe I’m trying to take this stuff more seriously.” He replied.
Billy and Luna shared a look and rolled their eyes in unison.
“Or maybe I just really want to get a look at some aliens up close and
personal.” He glanced quickly from side to side and dropped his voice. “And be
close to the action if interstellar war breaks out.”
“Oh good grief,” Luna sighed.
“These are peace talks.” Billy reached out and straightened his twin’s collar.
“There isn’t going to be any fighting.”
Tommy swatted him away. “Auntie Lorna thinks so.”
“Auntie Lorna thinks there is more going on here than we are being told.” Luna
corrected. “She doesn’t think there will be any fighting.”
“Whatever,” Tommy said dismissively. “The kree and skrull have been at war
forever. I’d say the stats are in my favor.” He looked over his shoulder and
groaned. "Ugh, here comes Prince Porpoise Face."
Billy squinted, taking in the approaching form of Prince Nerin and his
entourage.
"Why do you hate him so much?" Luna asked with a curious look.
Tommy gave her an aggravated look. “First off, he’s a dick.   Second, he’s so
full of himself he must secretly be a Russian nesting doll. And third, he’s
only interested in Billy because he wants power.”
Luna laughed soft and light tucking a stray stand of hair behind her ear. “He’s
not that bad. He’s actually kind of charming, prideful yes, but I think he
legitimately likes Billy.”
Tommy’s face twisted into a mix of disgust and shock.
“He’s getting close.” Billy cut in with a curt whisper. “Could you debate the
merits of my someday-husband later?”
“You don’t really like him either.” Tommy shot sharply. “Admit it. I can see it
all over your face.”
Billy resisted the sigh he felt coming up. “It honestly doesn’t matter how I
feel about him. This isn’t about love or even liking. It’s about duty and the
greater good.”
Tommy rolled his eyes. “You can't be serious.”
Luna smiled and lightly touched Tommy's arm. “I think it’s sweet to see you
being so protective of your brother.”
Tommy just scowled at her but didn't flinch from her touch.
"My betrothed!" Prince Nerin called as he drew close his arms flinging wide in
greeting. "You are looking exceptionally handsome this morning."
Billy still had to force back the cringe that assailed him whenever Prince
Nerin used the word betrothed. Tommy was right. Billy didn't like Nerin. He
didn't necessarily dislike him either. He just didn't want to spend the rest of
his life married to him. But Luna was right too. He got the feeling that Nerin
really did have feelings for him, which made things even more complicated. Not
that rebuffing Nerin's advances and ruining diplomatic relations with Atlantis
wasn't complicated enough.
"Prince Nerin," Billy greeted with a slight bow of his head. Luna turned and
offered him a smile and Tommy just scoffed.
"Still so formal," Nerin tsked coyly. "How can we change that?"
It was true. For all his talk of duty Billy continued to use formality as a
means of keeping distance between himself and the Atlantean prince. He knew
that he was rapidly running out of options. Nerin had already been at the
palace for a week. Very soon his continued formality would no longer be seen as
cute shyness to be teased but blatant rejection. He had to get himself to at
least be casual and friendly with Nerin.
"Not formal, just polite." Billy offered knowing it was a weak response. “It’s
part of my charm.”
He still struggled doing anything that might lead his intended to feel that he
was at all enthusiastic about the engagement, that another attempted kiss was
welcome. That all felt like a betrayal of Teddy, and now there wassomething to
betray with Teddy. He knew he had stupidly allowed things to progress too far
with Teddy. He had been ducking out of the palace almost nightly and had been
avoiding Nerin and neglecting duties. Behaviors that had not gone unnoticed. It
was getting old saying he couldn't control himself when it came to Teddy Altman
and—frankly—it was a lie. Billy was actively choosing to continue the
relationship, choosing to let it progress. The truth was that he was in love
with Teddy, even if it was ridiculous to say that after only knowing him for a
few weeks. That knowledge did nothing to ease his turmoil. It made it worse. If
he loved Teddy he should let him go, there was no future for them, but Billy
was being selfish and he knew it.        
“Get into position everyone.” Pietro commanded. “I just received word that the
ships have entered earth's atmosphere.” He looked at Luna. “Prepare yourself.”
Luna nodded seriously. She had been instructed to try and read as much as
possible from the kree and skrull delegates. It was not something Luna would
typically agree to but their grandfather had been insistent. For his part,
Billy was maintaining an invisible force field. It was a precaution in the
event hostilities did breakout but Pietro had been insistent that it was kept
invisible, not for fear of offending their guests, but to ensure House Magnus
did not seem fearful or weak. Billy was not sure what difference that made when
there was a fleet of SHIELD airships hovering over Genosha, the crimson M of
house Magnus clearly visible on each craft, the Red Guard ready to dive into
action at a moments notice.  
Above them, the blanket of white cottony clouds that was coating the sky sagged
in two places before breaking as two ships descended toward them. One was black
and sleek and reminded Billy of some sort of flying manta. The other was
angular and severe looking with sharp pointed edges and was steely gray in
color. Both moved into a dive and drifted dangerously close to one another,
right past the SHIELD fleet.
“Here we go.” Lorna whispered.
“Hold positions, Shaw.” Pietro commanded over his private coms that were
concealed within his collar and ear.
The two ships got so close that Billy thought for a moment they might collide
but at the last instant they banked away and then leveled as they made their
approach to the palace.
Nothing like a galactic game of chicken to start things off. Billy mused to
himself as the ships slowed and came to hover above them.
Both ships lowered to the landing platform kicking up dust and leaves as they
did. Billy smirked, feeling pretty self-satisfied over the force field he had
constructed, as the dust and leaves moved through it without so much as a
ripple. The field would allow innocuous objects to pass through. Unless there
was a direct threat the shield would not manifest itself. It was a complicated
piece of magic and was taking a considerable amount of his concentration and
energy to maintain. In all honesty, he was not entirely positive how long he
could sustain it.
“Excellent work.” His mother whispered behind him appreciating the skill and
effort it took, even if it went unnoticed to the rest of his family.
Finally, each ship opened, extending ramps for the passengers to disembark.
Each delegation was allowed twenty members, which included both political
leaders and armed guards. Both sides had gone light on the politicians and
favored armed escorts it seemed from what Billy could tell.
“Emperor Kl’rt of the Skrull Empire and Supreme General Genis-Vell of the Kree
Empire.” The herald announced as each of the rulers disembarked from their
craft. “King Erik Magnus, of Genosha, Master of Magnetism.”
As his title was being announced King Magnus descended from his private tower
the sun catching on the gleaming steel of his royal armor, crimson cloak
billowing behind him. While visually impressive, Billy knew that the armors
function was more practical in nature. It would serve his grandfather as both
weapon and protection if need be. It was surreal seeing his grandfather in full
armor, helmet and all. It was like something out of history book come to life.
King Magnus greeted each of the dignitaries and then facilitated a greeting
between the two rulers. All the while the news crews were snapping pictures,
flashes of light blinking all around them. They moved to greet the rest of the
Royal Family the news crews in toe. Then his grandfather led the two leaders to
a private meeting in his private study where an exchanging of gifts would take
place as a token of peace. It was all going off without a hitch, much to
Tommy’s disappointment.
With a quiet weary groan Billy released his hold on the force field allowing it
to fade away and dissipate like smoke on the wind.  
“Did you get anything?” Lorna asked, moving up beside Luna.
His cousin frowned. “Not much. They both had something that was blocking my
empathic probes. Some kind of psyblocking tech I’m assuming. I was able to pick
up fragments: distrust, anger, suspicion, uncertainty…all vague but strong.”
Lorna pressed her lips together. “All emotions one would expect given peace
talks between two warring people.”
“Yes and no.” Luna replied. “There was something there. Something that both
sides were worried about…like they both were holding the same secret but
wondering if the other knew…I don’t know…”
Lorna smiled and placed a hand on her nieces shoulder. “Excellent work.”
They all moved to follow Pietro as he led the remainder of the delegation to
the palace where they would be escorted to their rooms so they might all
prepare for the welcome banquet. Billy could see Nerin looking at him and knew
that the prince would be asking him to spend time with him when the scent of
jasmine filled his nose and a gentle clinking of thin, gold bracelets filled
his ears.
“Might I have a word?” His mother asked coming up along side him.
“Of course Mother.” Billy replied offering his mother his arm, rejoicing in the
excuse to avoid Nerin, relief washing over him.
“That was an impressive display of magic back there.” Wanda commented as they
walked toward the gardens. “You are becoming quite the mage. You might be
better than I am someday very soon.”
Billy flushed at the compliment. “Yeah, right.”
“It’s true.” She insisted. “It’s time I share something with you. Something
important. Something you will inherit from me someday.”
“What?”
“It is better if I show you.”
They made their way deep into the palace gardens, past the grave of Charles
Xavier, and into a grove of trees. His mother unhooked her arm from his and
looked as if she were listening to something and then nodded. “Do you sense
anything?” She asked.
Billy took a moment glancing about, listening, and smelling. He shook his head.
“Keep trying.” Wanda coached.
Billy closed his eyes. He reached out with the sense that allowed him to feel
the framework of reality and that’s when he felt it, something unsettling. It
was like cold hands gripped his heart. Then there was a sudden sense of
vertigo, as though the world was being stretched and compressed all at once all
around him. He felt himself stumble with the sensation and felt his mother’s
hands steady him.
“What is that?” He gasped.
“A lesion in reality itself.” She answered.
“A what?”
“A place where reality is beginning to literally come apart at the seams.” She
released her hold of Billy and waved her hand sending a faint crimson ripple
through the air. Then, right there in front of them, a hole appeared. Or at
least that was the best way Billy could describe it. It was more of a square
that led into swirling blackness. The world at the edges of this hole became
pixilated, like an old video game, the tiny cubes constantly breaking off and
fading away. It really did feel like a tear or some sort of open wound.
“I don’t understand.” Billy shook his head.
“These appear around the world.” Wanda said. “Threatening to unravel our
reality.”
“But why?” Billy asked.
“I’m trying to figure that out. But the tears are coming more frequently. I’m
going to need your help.”
“My help?”
“Your help in closing them. If I can’t figure out a way to stop this it will
fall to you someday to learn the answers and close these lesions if I am not
here.”
Billy didn’t like the way his mother was talking. She was still young and
strong. Why did she sound so fatalistic?
“I’m going to show you how to close these.” She beckoned him closer to the
lesion and took his hand. “Reach out to it again.” She instructed. “Pay special
attention to the edges. Remember, don’t focus on the problem, focus on the
outcome you desire, picture it, imagine how it will feel when you have achieved
your goal.”
Billy’s eyes drifted closed. “Iwanttomendit, Iwanttomendit, Iwanttomendit…” He
could almost tactfully feel the pixilated edges of reality as they crumbled.
They were like grains of sand slipping through his fingers. He gripped at them
tighter, trying to will the edges to come together and fuse.
“Gently,” Wanda instructed softly. “Too much pressure and it will collapse
around you. You must be firm but gentle.”
Billy kept chanting: “Iwanttomendit, Iwanttomendit, Iwanttomendit…” his power
uncoiled inside of him. He could feel it curling toward the lesion in thin,
azure tendrils. He felt his power spread around the perimeter, weaving itself
like a needle through thread around fraying edges. Suddenly his mind was
bombarded with information. Images flashed by so quickly he could only make out
the briefest snapshots. A young Captain America—A boy in an Iron Man suit—his
mother in scarlet attire hovering in the air, waves of power emanating in
chaotic whirls from her.
What was he seeing?
He forced himself to breath. He could feel the euphoria of his power luring him
out of the present and into the limitless possibility of reality. The
temptation was stronger than usual. It was as if the whirling blackness that
the lesion opened up to was a black hole whose gravity he had been trapped
within. As he touched it with his power it whispered things to him.
“Iwanttomendit, Iwanttomendit, Iwanttomendit…” he continued, refocusing on his
intent, letting the whispers and images go by, he didn’t fight them or try to
ignore them. He just kept his focus on closing the lesion, on his breath
keeping him grounded. He began to crisscross the tendrils of his magic across
the void willing the edges together again. Slowly, the web he had spun began to
close the gap. Healing the lesion. Images still spun through his head. The
whispers intensified, one word over and over again, blending together and
becoming a high-pitched hiss in his ears. He felt the strain of it all pulling
at his body, weakening him. With one final lurch he felt his spell complete and
the world seemed to come to screeching halt as the lesion closed.
Again his mother was there to steady him. "Excellent work Billy!" She cheered.
Billy felt dizzy and faint. His limbs felt heavy and stiff. He realized he was
covered in a fine sheen of sweat. His breath was coming too quickly and his
heart was straining in his chest from the effort. Wanda led him to a stone
bench and sat him down. She flicked her wrist and there was scarlet light and
the world pixelated briefly around her hand and then she was holding a glass of
water. "Drink." She instructed, pressing the glass into his hands.
Billy did and felt the cool liquid flow down his throat and into his belly. He
drained the glass and took a deep breath feeling better. "I saw things." He
said quietly.
His mother nodded. "Reality is not a singular thing. There are other
dimensions, other realities. The lesions can be like a peephole into these
other worlds; worlds that are gone, worlds that have yet to be."
"It was like it was speaking to me..."
His mother's brows drew together in concern. "Speaking to you?"
"Yeah, I don't know what it was saying but it was whispering over and over."
"Hmm, it is always a mysterious thing when we are working with the infinite
possibility of reality." She muttered, more to herself it seemed, than Billy.
That night, after the banquet, after telling Teddy goodnight over the phone
Billy thought about the lesion, about the things he had seen, about the whisper
in his ears. What had it been saying? He turned out the lights and crawled
under the sheets. He closed his eyes relaxing as he tried to get himself to
sleep.
Demiurge.He sat up sharply. It had been whispering demiurge.
"What the hell is a demiurge?" He thought out loud.
Chapter End Notes
     Next chapter: The kree and skrull make their move!
     p.s. the pace may slow a tad bit as I work on future chapters. Have
     no fear, I'm very passionate about this story and will not leave it
     to a fate of incompletion!
***** Up Against Space *****
Chapter Summary
     The kree and skrull are on the scene! Teddy and Billy got some
     explaining to do.
Chapter Notes
     Thanks so much for all the support! Hope you're liking the story thus
     far!
     Just an FYI Billy and Teddy are in that honeymoon phase of a
     relationship and thus things are heating up between them. If that
     sort of content is an issue for you, you have been warned.
     Just a reminder: The young avengers, the house of M, and the runaways
     do not belong to me. They belong to Marvel.
     As always, feedback and criticism of the constructive variety is
     always appreciated.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
"You really think it's a coincidence?" His mother asked. She was knitting a
scarf or something (because, yeah, she totally did mom-stuff like that). Her
knitting needles were clicking together furiously with a hollow clank as she
worked the strands of red yarn into checkered weaves. Teddy had so many knit
beanies and scarves he could wear a set every single day of winter and never
rewear one. He used think his mother was a bit of a knitting nerd, he used to
like his assorted collection of wool accessories. Now he wondered if it was all
just part of the elaborate façade she had constructed.
"Are you really this paranoid?" Teddy demanded looking up from the volume of
Locke and Key he was reading.
"I just think it's convenient that you meet a boy who is completely new right
before the kree and skrull arrive on earth."
"I can't believe we are still having this conversation."
Teddy had thought that this line of questioning was over and done with. Billy
had been spending a great deal of time over at his apartment for the past week.
Partly because the only time Billy could get away was late in the evening and
partly because Teddy's mother had placed him under sudo-house arrest while the
kree and skrull were on planet. As a result, Billy had interacted much more
with his mother since that initial awkward meeting. He had even had dinner with
them a couple of times. Despite his mother’s distrust and suspicions, Billy’s
awkward charm had won her over fairly quickly. Both Billy and his mother had a
love for musicals, much to Teddy’s exasperation, and Billy was well read and
could debate the finer points of some of her favorite books with her. Teddy had
thought they had really hit it off. Apparently he was wrong.
"You do not know the skrull. Our specialty is infiltration. We are a population
of shape-shifters."She persisted, her knitting pace intensifying. "He could be
a skrull trying to get close and verify your identity, or lull you into
trusting him."
"And the fact that he saved Gert?" Teddy asked.
"A lucky opportunity. Or perhaps a carefully staged show."
"So you think they jumped Gert as part of a plan to get at me? Billy and these
other boys who are all some new breed of super-skrull?" He placed the graphic
novel down on his lap. "Do you hear yourself? If half of what I hear about the
skrull is true then why bother with the charade? Why not just jumpme and kidnap
me and torture me until I talk? Oryou for that matter?"
"Because you are the son of their princess, and you are the son of Mar-Vell.
Your powers are unknown to them and you have royal blood. Better to infiltrate.
Teddy ran his fingers through his hair. "This is insane."
"What do you really know of Billy?"
"I know him." Teddy returned, his eye narrowing.
"You care for him, you like him, but you do not know him."
"Well I used to think I knew you and look how that turned out." Teddy shot,
slamming the book shut. He wished he had something like the Head Key, from in
the comic in his hands, to open his mother’s head and see what was really going
on in there. He wanted to know if she had really told him everything. He wanted
to know who she really was. How much had been an act to help them blend in on
earth and what was the real her, the her that she had been before she had
stolen him away.
His mother kept her gaze down at her needlework but he could read the hurt in
the slump of her shoulders, the way she pressed her lips together. Finally, she
said: "I like Billy too. He seems kind and good…but it could all be an act.
Skrull are supposed to be convincing."
Teddy knew Billy was not a skrull. He didn’t have a good reason for it. He just
knew it. Billy had set his life right side up again when it had been utterly
unrecognizable. When he was with Billy he felt normal again. He made him feel
human, even if he was some sort of weird alien hybrid and the lost heir to an
empire. When he was with Billy he was just some nerd who was in love with
another nerd.
Yup…totally ass over head in love…God, it was too soon to feel that way. It had
to just be childish infatuation. Right?  
"Even if Billy isn't a skrull and he's just another mutant boy, do you really
think it's a good idea to begin a relationship with someone now? When you could
pack up and be gone at a moments notice and possibly never to return? How do
you think that would affect him?"
Teddy glowered, heat rushing up into his neck and face. "That's not going to
happen." He felt fairly certain he would runaway before he let that occur. Now
that Billy was actually his boyfriend—yes boyfriend!—He refused to go anywhere.
The muscles around his mother’s eyes tightened and her knitting slowed. "I was
serious when I said we would leave if I even suspected the kree or skrull knew
of you."
"And it's been a whole week of peace talks and nada." Teddy countered angrily.
"And according to Princess Lorna's press conference yesterday, things are going
pretty well and they should be wrapping up soon."
"Maybe…I think you're letting your feelings for Billy get in the way of
reason."
"And I think you voided your rights to make those kinds of judgments when you
decided to lie to me my whole life."
A heavy silence settled over them, Teddy brought his bare feet up onto the
couch and wrapped his arms around his legs, resting his chin on his knees.
Why am I such a dick?
He knew he was being a bit childish by consistently throwing comments like that
in his mother’s face. But he was still mad with her. He was still hurt. Above
all, he was confused. He didn’t know how to relate to her anymore. One moment
she would feel like the mother he had always known, the only mother he had ever
known. The next moment she was a stranger who was afraid of every shadow,
thinking it was a kree or skrull come to claim him. He couldn’t help but wonder
what had been lies and what had been her genuine love for him. He was
questioning everything now.
He also knew that she was right about it being stupid to start a relationship
with Billy at a time like this. What if the skrull or kree did know about him?
What if his mother did manage to get him to leave? Worst of all, what if Billy
was somehow hurt because of all of this? What if they tried to use Billy to get
to him? He wasn’t sure he could live with himself if something like that
happened. But the thought of not being with Billy left him feeling choked and
hollow. He just couldn’t seem to be logical when it came to Billy.
His mother had returned her focus to her needlework as the silence stretched
on.
"What are you making?" He asked, trying to break the silence, trying to take
the edge off his last comment.
"A scarf for Billy." She said simply, as though it were the most natural thing
in the world. "I think he looks quite handsome in red, don't you?" Teddy just
blinked at her. When he didn't answer she looked up. "What? If he isn't a
skrull super-spy then he's going to be the perfect son-in-law."
"Jesus mom," Teddy blushed and blurted into uncomfortable laughter.
“Theodore Rufus Altman, I didn’t spend all that money on six years of Episcopal
school for you to be breaking the third commandment.”
Then all at once, they were both laughing. It was the first time they had both
laughed together without Billy being there since her revelation. It felt close
to normal, so very close.
“You know…” Teddy cleared his throat. “We’ve never…um…talked…about the
whole…Billy being a guy thing.”
She looked up at him in confusion for a moment her hands stopping. Then she
smiled in realization. “I told you, all I've ever wanted was for you to be
happy. I know this boy means a lot to you. I can see it in you clear as day
when he's around. Besides, gender does not exactly carry the same weight for
skrull as it does for earthlings. I never got the big deal people make of it
here.” Then her gaze became serious again. “But your safety is the most
important thing to me and I will do anything to keep you safe. I swore to your
mother I would protect you with my life and I will."
The silence rolled back out between them. The moment of light laughter and
normalcy they had shared was gone once again. It had been a fragile instant and
it had been ruptured by the ghost of the mother he had never known.  
"What was she like?" Teddy asked softly—hesitantly. He had so many questions
but he had been so afraid to ask. He was afraid of what he might learn. Some
part of him still wanted to try and forget the truth, wanted to try and pretend
they could just…go back.
His mother’s gaze drifted back down. Her grip around the needles tightened.
"She was a good woman...a strong woman...smart and beautiful." Her voice was
choked and it caught. "She would have been an amazing ruler. She loved you very
much."
Teddy dropped his forehead down to his knees. What am I supposed to say to
that? How is that supposed to make me feel?
“Did you know my father?” He asked without looking up.
She shook her head, hands still clenching needles. “You probably know more
about him than I do. I just know he was a great kree warrior with incredible
power.”
I am the son of a superhero and a princess…doesn’t get more surreal than that.
He lifted his head and looked at his mother, his foster mother. She had the
same blond hair as him, the color of straw. She had the same blue eyes as him.
Had she shifted her appearance to match his? Or had he shifted to match hers
like some weird skrull infant imprinting?
“You know…I—I’ve never seen a skrull.” He said softly.
“W-would you like to see me…as I truly am?” His mother asked timidly.
Teddy nodded. He was morbidly curious. He was desperate to know more about who
she really was. She took a deep breath and placed her knitting needles down in
her lap. A ripple moved along her skin causing her form to blur at the edges
like a painting left out in the rain. Her skin shifted from pale to green and
when she looked up at him Teddy was surprised to see that her facial features
were much the same. The biggest differences were the pointed ears and her jaw
had become more squared and there were lined ridges running from her bottom lip
down to her chin. But her hair was still blond. Something about that warmed his
heart. He uncurled slowly from the couch and walked toward her. Her eyes, now
green, were cast down and filled with tears. He crouched down in front of her
and touched the side of her face; it felt scaly under his fingertips.
“I know you.” He said softly.
She smiled and he smiled back.
Things were still far from back to normal between them, but for the first time
Teddy felt like they could get past this. Things could never be what they were
but they could move forward. No matter what, she would always be his mother, no
matter what.
“You’re still under house arrest.” She smiled wryly as he rose and stepped back
from her and she shifted back to the form he knew so well. “I’m not taking any
chances with the kree and skrull on planet. If our luck holds out you can call
me paranoid and lord this over me the rest of my life…and I’ll be able to sleep
again.”
Teddy shrugged and turned back to the couch and retrieved the volume of Locke
and Key Billy had lent him. “So long as you know that I will hold you solely
responsible for the untimely demise of my social life.” He sighed dramatically
as he began to make his way over to his room. “I guess I’ll take a nap. Might
as well take advantage of all this time spent homebound.”
He closed his door behind him and leaned his back up against it. He was
starting to have second thoughts. He had just had a good moment with his
mother. Sneaking out right after that seemed like some sort of betrayal. But he
wanted to be with Billy some place other than his apartment, he wanted to spend
some time being a normal teenager. He needed to be someplace where he wasn’t
forced to think about muddled mess that was his heritage. So he went right to
his window, opened it, and climbed out.    
                                      ***
 Teddy's hand shot out like a snake striking from long grass.  His hand caught
a slender wrist that his fingers coiled around easily.  He could feel the pulse
quicken under his grip as he pulled the arm, and by extension, the body it
belonged to toward him.  The muscles in the arm tightened and the fingers
fanned out wide as the arm jerked up in a reverse chopping motion, breaking
Teddy’s hold.  He could have resisted the maneuver if he wanted, if he had been
using his super strength, but he had been holding back.  It was part of the
game.  There was something very hot about Billy knowing how to break a hold.  
Blue light flashed as thin streaks of lightning crackled along Billy's arm and
he turned to face his attacker.  His eyes glowing blue as his mutant abilities
were brought to bear.  Teddy held his hands up in a placating gesture and
relaxed his body out of the form he had taken as a disguise, his skin rippling
as his features morphed back into their base form.  
"Easy, tiger."  He grinned.
The minor lightning storm that had formed around Billy died away, the blue glow
of his eyes gave way to light brown irises, and his muscles relaxed.  Billy
rolled his eyes.  "I hate it when you do that."  He fixed Teddy with a serious
look.  "One of these days I'm going to fry you and I won't be sorry."
Teddy's grin widened as he reached for Billy again and pulled him close.  "Uh,
huh..."
"I'm serious," Billy lectured.  But there was no tension in his limbs, and he
allowed himself to be dragged off the walking path and into the shadows of the
trees.
"Noted."  Teddy murmured.  He could feel the strange hunger he always
experienced when Billy was near; always ready to spring to life low in his
belly. He could feel it unfurl and spread syrupy warmth throughout his body,
leaving his skin flushed and his head foggy and singularly focused.
"I'm going to need you to be appropriately terrified."  Billy said, his voice
dropping low and husky as they drew closer together, their faces only inches
apart, his arms folding over Teddy's shoulders and around his neck.    
"I'm horrified." Teddy responded, wrapping his own arms around Billy's abdomen.
His skin prickled at the feeling of their bodies coming together.  The
rightness of it always struck him, always sent a thrill through him.
How can he be so fucking intoxicating?
Then that hunger took over and he was kissing Billy roughly unable to suppress
the groan that rose from his throat.  The sound seemed to excite Billy and the
other boy pulled himself close, his tongue snaking into Teddy's mouth as if
exploring where that sound had come from.  Teddy's hands dug into Billy's back,
his fingers pressing into the muscles that writhed beneath the clothes and
skin.  
Fuck.
Billy shouldn't already be making him crazy but he was. Teddy felt his back hit
something solid and rough and realized hazily that he had collided with the
trunk of a tree.  Still Billy pushed forward as though he couldn't get close
enough.
Teddy rolled his torso, deftly spinning them around and pinning Billy to the
tree.  Billy moaned into Teddy's mouth and arched his back.  Teddy roved his
hands hungrily over the expanse of Billy's stomach and chest, exploring the
taught, lean lay of his body. He felt one of Billy's legs move between his own
and couldn't stop himself from thrusting against it. He wanted more, so much
more.
Somewhere in the back of his mind Teddy knew that they were not all that hidden
from view and he managed to somehow tear himself away from Billy’s lips,
groaning as Billy bit lightly on his lower lip.  The stinging sensation had him
wanting to dive in for more, had him burning to take things further than he and
Billy had yet to go.  
Not yet.  Not here.  He told himself, trying to break the spell that the other
boy's presence always cast on him.  
He met Billy eyes and smiled.  "Hey."  He whispered.
"Hey yourself."  Billy replied, closing his eyes and smiling as Teddy leaned in
and kissed the tip of his nose.
"I missed you.  What took you so long?"
Billy's hands moved to rest on Teddy's shoulders, his thumbs massaging light
circles above his collarbone.  "You know, family stuff."  He got that clouded,
distant look in his eyes that he always had when he brought up his family.
 "Anyways, I'm here now.  And I guess I kindamissed you too."  He kissed the
corner of Teddy's mouth as if to seal his last statement.
His eyes locked on Teddy's, the clouded look in his eyes fading away to be
replaced with, what? Love?
God, please let that be what I'm seeing.
He was still too afraid to say those three words. He felt like a fool for
feeling the urge to say them so soon; but every night when they hung up the
phone, or when Billy was leaving his apartment, or Billy had just made him
laugh he found himself having to forcibly stop himself from saying them. So
instead he would contend himself to just think them.
I love you.  
Teddy stepped back and smiled placing his arm over Billy's shoulders while
Billy moved his arm around Teddy's waist, sliding his hand into Teddy’s back
pocket. They made their way out of the brush and back onto the path.  Teddy
knew there was something that Billy was not telling him when it came to his
family but he couldn't get himself to worry about it.  The past few weeks had
been so disorientingly amazing and it felt so good to just be able to hold and
kiss Billy that he couldn't seem to be broody or anxious when they were
together.  Besides, there were things that he wasn't telling Billy either.
 There would be time for confessions later.  Right now it just felt good to be
together.
"Nice bro-tank by the way." Billy japed, jostling their sides together.
Teddy turned and pressed his lips to Billy's temple, the scent of his hair
greeting him. "Just consider it your own personal ticket to the gun show." He
said in his best jock impression and flexed the bicep of his free arm to
demonstrate.
"Lucky me." Billy chuckled, turning and biting playfully at Teddy's shoulder.
Two women passed them along the path casting disapproving glances in their
direction. Teddy just gave them a warm smile and a light nod of his head before
tightening his grip around Billy bringing him even closer and planting a kiss
on his ear. Teddy refused to ever be embarrassed of what he and Billy had and
he knew by the way Billy leaned into him as they walked that he felt the same
way.
“How’d you convince your mom to let you out?” Billy asked. “I thought she was
convinced there is going to be some sort of kree-skrull invasion or something.”
Teddy gave him a mischievous look. “I may or may not have snuck out.”
“Teddy Altman!” Billy admonished in mock audacity. “Why are the bad boys always
so attractive?”
“It’s our roguish good looks.” Teddy offered helpfully.
“That must be it.” Billy agreed.
"So I finally get to meet this infamous brother yours." Teddy said as they
neared Riverside Park and the Hudson River came into view.          
“Yeah, brace yourself.” Billy grumbled. “Tommy’s got a very serious case of
ADHD.”
“He can’t be that bad.”
“He’s obnoxious,” Billy countered. “Buthe’s also always got my back.” He gave
Teddy a crooked grin. “He says he has to give you his big brother stamp of
approval.”
Teddy arched an eyebrow. “I thought you were twins.”
“Allegedly Tommy was born two minutes before me…tough I’ve seen no proof of
that.”
Teddy couldn’t help but feel excited about getting to meet someone from Billy’s
family. It felt like a legitimization of their relationship. It felt like Billy
was letting him into another part of his world, a part that he was keeping
deliberately separate for some reason.
“So we just look for the booth or tent or something?” Billy asked as they made
their way into the crowded field.
“Yeah, Gert said the Mutant/Sapien Alliance has something set up here.”
Summer’s on the Hudson was one of Teddy’s favorite things about New York this
time of year. There was a host of activities that ranged from concerts to
movies, all set against the backdrop of the river under a canopy of stars. He
was excited to share it with Billy.  
They found Gert and the rest of the group near a white tent where Kate and Gert
were manning a volunteer signup sheet and selling t-shirts and pins with the
Mutant/Sapien Alliance logo. Nico, Victor, Chase, Karolina, and Eli had all
claimed the grassy area near there and were sprawled out on blankets and
talking idly with one another. Despite being near a booth they had still
managed to get a decent spot near the center of the giant screen that had been
setup for the movie.
“And the love birds have finally arrived.” Gert teased as they neared. “I
thought you two would never come up for air.”
"Awww, you missed us." Teddy cooed.
"Only because it's time for you guys to manage the booth."
"We came here for a night of theater and social engagement. Not canvassing and
propagating." Teddy complained.
Gert cocked her head to the side. "The way I see it, you and Billy owe your
whole relationship to the Mutant/Sapien Alliance and it's the leastyou can do."
"Is it now..." Billy laughed.
"If it wasn't for the MSA I wouldn't have been on that side of town that day
and neither would Teddy. Those guys wouldn't have tried to jump me, and you
wouldn't've been there to save the day."
"Wow..." Teddy muttered.
"Gert issuper-smart." Billy conceded with a grin. "Guess she kinda has a
point."
“Ugh,” Teddy laughed. “Fine, you win.”
Gert gave him a satisfied smirk. “I always do my dear Rufus.”
“Could you notwith the whole calling-me-by-my-middle-name-thing.” Teddy
grumbled.
He and Billy took Gert and Kate’s places behind the table. Kate flipped her
blue-black hair over her shoulder and gave them a grin. “Just sit there and be
pretty like you both do so well and I’m sure people will be flocking to sign
up.”
Billy leaned in toward him and tilted his head and looked at him with an
exaggerated dreamy look. “You are very pretty.” He hummed before planting a
lingering kiss on his cheek.
Teddy couldn’t help but flush under Billy’s attention. There were moments where
he could not believe that this was real. There were times when it felt just too
perfect to be reality. At that moment, sneaking out of his apartment was
totally worth it.
To be fair to Gert it wasn’t very hard to sit and sign interested people up to
join the MSA. And it was fun to talk with people who thought like they all did,
people who thought the division between mutants and humans and any other
species or race was stupid. Billy was especially good at it. He was a complete
natural. He knew all the current events people brought up. He engaged them
easily and earnestly. Not that Teddy was bad at it, he was pleasant and
easygoing and people liked that, Billy was just able to draw you in with his
words and passion. Teddy found himself staring at him. He was speaking with a
young couple about the importance of peaceful protests and humans having a
voice in politics. Teddy could feel the smile spreading across his face, his
heart winging up into his chest.
God, this guy…
“So you must be Teddy.” A voice cut in, interrupting his gawking.
“Err…yeah…” he turned. “That’s me.” He did a double take, because in front of
him he thought he saw Billy, standing there with his arms crossed and his
expression impatient. But then he noticed the flaming red hair and green eyes.
There was something else about his face that looked different from Billy’s too
but he couldn’t seem to place it. Teddy just blinked. “Ummm…”
The other boy just gave his head a quick shake and raised his eyebrows.
“Tommy I presume?” Teddy asked.
“The one and only!” The other boy said grinning and extending his hand. Teddy
extended his own and found himself engaged in a quick series of high fives that
he failed to adequately keep up with.
“So you’re the guy who’s got my brother all googly eyed, huh.”
“Yeah…that’s me?” Teddy shrugged. The longer he looked at Tommy the more the
differences from Billy became apparent. It was nothing he could put his finger
on outside of the major differences in hair and eye color. There was just
something fundamentally different about the twin boys.
“Well aren’t you the stimulating conversationalist.”
“Tommy!” Billy snapped having just finished with the couple he had been talking
to. “Can you just introduce yourself and engage in small talk like a normal
person?” He put a hand on Teddy’s shoulder. “Sorry, I told you he was
obnoxious.”
Tommy shot his brother an irritated glare. “You know us gingers,” he tugged on
a strand of his red locks and gave Billy a meaningful look. “We’re just soooooo
annoying.” Billy stifled a grin and Teddy knew some sort of wordless
communication had passed between the twins.
“I dunno, I always thought gingers were pretty cute.” Teddy teased giving Tommy
a wink that startled him and caused Billy to burst into laughter.
“Hey guys we’re gonna go and grab us some drinks, what do you want?” Kate asked
walking up with Eli.
Tommy turned and his eyes widened. “Well heeelllooo gorgeous.” He said taking a
startled Kate’s hand in his own and kissing it before she could so much as
blink.
Eli’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Who the hell is this guy?” He demanded.
“This is my brother Tommy.” Billy interjected quickly. “I invited him to come
hangout and see the movie with us.”
Kate brought a hand to chest and blushed fiercely. “H—hi…I—I’m Kate.”
Tommy gave her a wicked grin. “No, didn’t you hear me? You’re gorgeous.” Kate
turned an even fiercer shade of crimson.
Teddy gave Billy a sidelong look and Billy rolled his eyes and they laughed.
“I’m Eli,” the other boy said, purposefully interposing himself between Kate
and Tommy. He gave Tommy’s hand a firm squeeze.
“Whoa, take it easy there captain.” Tommy teased.
Eli’s frown deepened and both Billy and Teddy got to their feet in unison.
Teddy walked around the table and clapped a hand on Eli’s shoulder. “I could
totally go for a root beer.” He gently guided Eli away from Tommy. “How bout
you Billy?”
“Sprite.” Billy answered as he maneuvered his twin towards the rest of the
group, all of who were looking over at them curiously.
“So a root beer for me and a sprite for Billy.” Teddy said congenially. He
fished into his pocket for some cash.
“I got it.” Eli grumbled pulling away from Teddy.
Kate seemed to have recovered and nodded. “Yeah, don’t worry about it.”
“I’ll take a coke!” Tommy called back at them from over his shoulder and Billy
shoved him hard with both hands.
“Well we all know who got all the ass-hat genes in that family.” Eli growled.
“C’mon,” Kate said, taking his arm and leading him away.
Teddy let out a sigh. Between Eli’s temper and Tommy’s obvious penchant for
mockery, they had the perfect ingredients for an actual fistfight. He guessed
Gert had been right about Eli having a thing for Kate. Gert was always right it
seemed. Teddy walked over toward Billy and the rest of the group. Tommy had
made his introductions and was talking excitedly to Chase about underground
robot fighting.
Teddy came up behind Billy and wrapped his arms around his neck, hugging him
from behind. “That was a close one.” He murmured, leaning his head against
Billy’s.
He could feel Billy laugh. “Leave it to Tommy to cause a commotion within two
seconds of meeting everyone.”
“I like him.” Teddy said.
Billy snorted.
“I do,” Teddy replied. “There’s something innocent about him.”
Billy burst into full on laughter. “Trust me, there is absolutely zero
innocence left in my idiot brother.”
“Plus he’s kinda cute.”
“Oh is he now?” Billy asked turning around in Teddy’s arms. He angled his head
to the side, raising a quizzical eyebrow.
“Well he is your twin brother.” Teddy chuckled.
“Mmm…hmm…”
“But…I obviously got the more handsome one.”
Billy’s arms went to Teddy’s waist. “Nice save.” He whispered, just before he
brought their lips together.
“Wow, are they like that all the time?” Tommy asked crinkling his nose.
“Yeah, they are pretty disgustingly cute.” Nico answered.
It was all background noise to Teddy. Everything always faded into a dull
static when Billy was in his arms, when they kissed. In those moments nothing
seemed to matter, nothing at all. Billy stepped away and they moved to sit on
one of the blankets that were laid out. Chase slid over next to them and gave
them both his most mischievous look. He reached into his back pocket and pulled
out a metal flask and gave it a shake in front of them. There was a light swish
from inside.
“Look what I brought to the party.” He chirped.
“Something that is going to sting all the way into my belly and leave me
feeling sick in the morning I’m guessing.” Teddy ventured.
“Something expensive.” Chase twisted the lid off and took a swig and grimaced.
“From my dad’s own private stock.”
He passed it to Teddy and he took it. He drank from time to time, usually due
to Chase’s encouragement. But he was never one for hard liquor he preferred
beer. He sniffed and the pungent smell of whisky burned the inside of his nose.
He scowled. Billy reached over and took the flask from his hand. He met Teddy’s
eyes and took a swig his face contorting as he swallowed. Teddy laughed and
took it back and despite himself took a swig. He grit his teeth as the liquid
burned the back of his throat.
“Myturnmyturnmyturn!” Tommy cried as he snatched the flask from his hands and
took a long pull.
“Hey! Don’t hog it!” Chase protested.
“No worries I brought one too.” Tommy replied wiping his mouth with the back of
his hand.
                                      ***
The sun was starting to set, turning the sky a dull orange, which meant that
the movie would be starting soon. Billy leaned against him, their shoulders
pressed tightly together. They talked about little things with the rest of the
group. Plans for the rest of the summer, where some of them thought they might
go to college. Teddy felt a slight tingle all over his body. His smile and
laugh were both coming just a little easier than they normally did. He felt so
light and happy surrounded by friends and with Billy’s warm presence by his
side. And, of course, that was when the kree showed up.
All at once the sky was filled with men in green armor and jetpacks on their
backs and rifles in their arms. At first no one did anything. The crowd at the
park just sort of stared. It definitely wasn’t the weirdest thing New Yorkers
had seen. Some people pointed. Some people stood. Teddy blinked hard and then
forced his eyes back open wide, trying to be sure his eyes were seeing what he
saw, wondering if he had drank too much, but he felt Billy tense next to him
and sit up straight and he knew it was real. A cold sense of dread filled him
like icy hands coiling around his heart.
What the fuck have I done?He thought in a horror. His mother had been right all
along. The kree knew he was alive, and they were coming for him.
“Kree!” Someone screamed.
“What the hell?” Gert asked squinting up at the dusky sky her hands clutching
at Chase’s t-shirt. “Aren’t they supposed to be in Genosha?”
“Oh no…” Billy whispered.
One of the soldiers was checking a device on their forearm and gestured in
their direction and the squad of kree began flying toward them.
Teddy shot to his feet in panic. “They’re after me!”
He started when he realized that Billy had gotten to his feet as well and said
the exact same thing.
They’re after you?
That made absolutely no sense. What did Billy have to do with the kree? They
both turned and looked at one another stunned. “What!?” They both demanded at
once. Before he could answer, hands gripped Teddy’s arms and began pulling him
back.
“I have the hatchling! We must go!” The voice was guttural and hissing.
“Teddy!” Billy cried as sparks began to form around him.
Teddy tensed his muscles cutting loose the restraints he kept on his super-
strength. It was like releasing the reins on a wild horse that was constantly
straining to be free. He closed his hands around one of the arms that held him
and flung the man up into the air and off into the distance. Instinctively his
density began to shift, muscles bulged, his skin went green and thickened,
scales formed at his shoulders, and he watched his companions shrink as his
mass increased. His shoes ripped as his toes burst free and the fabric of his
shorts snagged. The tank top was more forgiving and stretched thin against his
torso. The man he had tossed, who had seemed normal one moment ago, began to
blur around the edges as a familiar ripple began to move through his skin and
it turned green and his ears grew out long and pointed.
Skrull.
“Skrull!” One of the soldier’s overhead cried and fired their riffle. “Secure
the target, take out everyone around him, they could all be skrull.”
Shit! This is bad. Think. Think. Think!
He could feel his chest rise and fall quickly as he huffed, his breaths coming
fast, way too fast. His head darted around frantically but the world seemed to
be moving in slow motion all around him. People were running and screaming.
Lasers were raining down around him. There was a rustle of movement as people
all around them began to shift. At least a dozen people had become green
skinned skrull. All began to pull weapons from backpacks and purses. In an
instant Riverside Park had become a war zone. His gaze fell onto Billy, who
stood beside him his hands in fists. What if something happened to Billy, what
if they hurt him, what if they killed him!?
Stop it!He roared at himself. Stay calm. You’re no good to him freaking out. He
moved to stand protectively next to Billy. He had to get him to safety. He
wouldn’t let anything happen to him.
“We have to get out of here!” He yelled.
“The hatchling! The prince! We have to get the prince!” A skrull hissed. “Do
not let the kree bastards get their hands on him!”
Once again there were hands around him. But this time the hands almost felt
gooey and they wound around his arms and legs. Four skrull had shifted and
elongated their arms to take hold of him. Teddy flung them about but the skrull
had learned from their companion’s mistake and adjusted their physiology to
avoid being sent flying. Instead their density decreased and they floated
around like sheets of paper only to shift again making themselves heavier when
they landed, trying to pin him down. He couldn’t shake them. His mind was
reeling as he tried to think of a way to morph his body to escape their hold on
him. On pure reflex his skin tingled and spikes jutted up all over his limbs
piercing the skrull who held him. Two released their hold with cries of pain
but two still managed to maintain their hold.
“Let him go!” Billy yelled.
Bolts of crackling blue lightning arched from his fingertips and into the
skrull that still held him. They cried out as their bodies writhed, their skin
bubbling as the electricity moved through them. Astonishingly the lighting
never spread to Teddy. He looked at Billy, his face fierce and protective. He
had no idea that he had that kind of control over his powers. In the midst of
the chaos Teddy felt his heart skip a beat at the look of protectiveness in
Billy’s face. It felt so good knowing that look was for him, that Billy was
willing to face down kree and skrull alike to keep him safe. Teddy drew
strength from that and puffed up, tightening his muscles.
It was then he noticed one of the kree focusing their rifle on Billy. Terror
filled Teddy’s veins threatening to overwhelm him. But instead he harnessed it.
Strengthened his resolve and stretched his arm out towards Billy like a whip.
Billy’s eyes went wide in shock as it coiled around his waist and reeled him in
towards Teddy. The ground where Billy had just been erupted into a cloud of
dirt and grass as the laser bolt missed its mark.
“Thanks.” Billy breathed.
“Dynamic duo, remember?” Teddy smiled.
Billy returned the smile and nodded and wordlessly they moved back to back,
each boy trusting the other to watch their back, to keep them safe.
“I’ve got their weapons!” Victor yelled as his own electrical sparks lanced off
of his body where he stood protectively over Nico. He extended his arms and the
firearms from both kree and skrull were pulled magnetically from their wielders
and into the air. He clenched his fists and they all crumbled in a shower of
sparks and rumpled metal.
“Holy shit Vic!” Chase yelled. “That was so badass!”
“Thanks.” Victor grinned.
“Boast later.” Gert yelled. “We need to leave now.”
It was too late. One of the kree, a man with no helmet and silver hair had
rushed Victor. His fist collided with Victor’s face and sent him tumbling
backwards into the MSA booth. There was a loud crash as the tent went down
around the boy in a heap of metal, wood, and tarp.
“VICTOR!” Nico screamed and ran toward the toppled booth.
The white haired kree was reaching for her when there was a blur of movement
that sent the kree warrior stumbling back. Tommy skidded to a halt in front of
him and grinned.
“Hey, you’re pretty fast. For a snail.” He mocked.
“We have to get to Victor.” Billy said as he knelt down low onto one knee as
Teddy’s arm swept over his head colliding with a kree that had been flying
towards him. Billy spun and sent a jolt of lighting into the chest of skrull
charging Teddy. “I can help him.”
Teddy had no idea what he meant. He was so focused on just trying to stay alive
that he didn’t have time to think about how Billy could help. He just grunted:
“Alright.”
They sprinted the short distance to the collapsed tent where Victor had
crashed. Karolina had become a shimmering rainbow of living light, her arms and
hair had extended out, producing a partial barrier around Nico and Victor.
Chase, Gert, and Kate had also joined them. Nico was cradling Victor’s head in
her lap, tears running down her face.
“Oh shit man!” Chase was yelling. “What the fuck is going on with his face?”
“Chase shut up!” Gert snapped.
“It’s like he’s a robot or something.” Chase pressed on.
“Shut up! You’re freaking her out.”
When Teddy and Billy reached them he saw what Chase was talking about. Part of
Victor’s jaw was hanging lose. The skin had been scrapped away exposing what
looked to be metal and wires. Teddy stared in shock. Did this have something to
do with Victor’s mutant powers?
“Watch our backs.” Billy instructed, kneeling down beside Victor. “I need to
concentrate.”
Teddy nodded and shifted his arm and fist into a large thick shield offering
further cover. Tommy and Eli were still out in the field. Between Tommy’s super
speed and Eli’s enhanced strength, speed, and durability the two of them were
keeping the kree and skrull fairly occupied. It seemed that several other
people in the park had taken up the fight as well.
“Iwanthimtoheal, Iwanthimtoheal, Iwanthimtoheal...” Billy was chanting over and
over. Teddy frowned and looked back over his shoulder. Billy’s hands were
glowing blue, as was Victors face.
“Billy what are you doing?” Nico asked in shock.
“Healing him.” Billy answered. “But it looks like he was already healing
somehow.”
Victor’s eyes shot open wide and were glowing blue.
“Vic!” Nico cried cupping his mended face.
“011011. ERROR MESSAGE. SYSTEM WIDE MALFUNCTION. REBOOT IN PROCESS.” A
synthetic voice droned from Victor’s mouth.
“What the shit?” Billy breathed.
“What did you do?” Nico demanded.
“I didn’t do that.” Billy shook his head rapidly.
“There is a lot of crap happening all at once.” Chase breathed.
“Guys!” Eli yelled as he ran back towards them. “A little help! They’re
focusing on us rather than each other!”
Two kree landed in front of Eli before he could reach them. Eli managed to
block one strike that was aimed at his head but missed the other that connected
with his stomach and barreled him over with a gasp and spray of spittle. Teddy
was about to move to help him when a hand touched his shoulder.
“I’ve got’em.” Kate said as she sprinted from cover and raced toward the two
kree. “Keep the wall up!” She closed the distance between herself and the kree
in no time and yelled: “Hey!” The soldiers turned around in time to see Kate
launch herself into the air one arm hooking around the neck of one of the kree
and her legs scissoring the neck of the other. She twisted her body into a
barrel roll and brought the two soldiers crashing to the ground.
Teddy realized that his mouth had dropped open. Kate had single handedly taken
down two kree soldiers—or she sort of did—kree were far more durable than
humans and the two were already recovering. But Kate had given Eli more than
enough time to recover himself and his fist came down on one and he kicked the
other and the two of them raced back to the safety of the barrier that Teddy
and Karolina held in place.
“Where the hell did you learn to do that?!” Eli panted as they dove past Teddy.
Kate was hunched over, hands on her knees. “I’m a rich girl who lives in a
world of people with superpowers. My dad wanted to make sure I could take care
of myself. I got the best martial arts training money can buy.”
Karolina let out a grown as fire erupted around her barrier. Her face contorted
in pain and effort. “I don’t know how much longer I can hold this. Someone out
there is packing some serious firepower.”
“Shouldn’t the police be here by now?” Nico demanded. “Or SHIELD?”
“I hear sirens.” Gert said looking up.
Teddy shut his eyes and let out a sigh. This is all my fault. My friends are in
danger. One of them has been hurt because of me, all because I snuck out, all
because I didn’t believe my mother.
He looked back at them. He could see Karolina’s shield waning, becoming more
and more translucent. He had to do something. He couldn’t live with himself if
one of them was killed—if Billy was killed.
I’ll give myself up.
It was the only way. It was the only way to ensure that everyone was safe.
There was no guarantee the police or SHIELD would get here in time or be able
to get them out of this. What if there were more kree or skrull in orbit and
heading their way? It was the only option. He was preparing to lower his arm
and head out into the fray when Tommy zipped up in a blur of motion.
“Sooooo…as fun as this all has been it is starting to get kind of intense out
there.” Tommy said, looking at Teddy from the other side of the makeshift wall.
Out of nowhere the kree with the silver hair flipped down behind Tommy. “Play
time is over.” He said, and before the speedster could react he had grabbed the
back of Tommy’s head and slammed it against the wall Teddy had formed out of
his fist and arm. Tommy crumpled to the floor with a thud.
“Fucker!” Teddy boomed. He formed spikes in the wall and thrust it forward with
everything he had, ramming it into the kree soldier and hurtling him backwards.
“Tommy!” Billy cried rushing to his twin’s side.
“I'm ok…” Tommy groaned as Billy helped him sit-up. “Bastard busted my lip…”
“Seriously guys, I can't keep this up!” Karolina yelled back.
“Tommy I need you to go home.” Billy instructed.
“What?” Tommy glared. “I'm not leaving you here.”
“You're the only one who can get there fast enough. Tell grandfather. Send the
Red Guard.”
“But—.”
“I'll be fine.” Billy insisted. They might be after you and me. If we split up
it might throw them off.”
Tommy looked like he might argue but huffed instead and was up and gone in a
flash.
“Billy, they're after me not you two.” Teddy insisted.
“Why the hell would they be after any of you guys?” Gert demanded.
“Karolina, can you manage one final push and give Teddy and I a diversion?”
Billy asked, ignoring the question.
The girl gave Billy a light nod. “I think so…”
“Alright, if it’s one of us they're after then they'll chase us. We’ll get them
away from you guys.” He gave Teddy a smile. “Let’s lead them on a merry chase
shall we.”
“Sure, why not.” Teddy replied, the corners of his mouth quirking upward.
Chase bent down and picked up a metal poll that had been part of the tent.
“Just in case they don’t follow you guys.” Gert followed suit and picked one up
as well.
Teddy sprouted wings from his back and pulled Billy to him, taking him into his
arms. This was insane. Teddy knew they were coming for him. They had to be. Why
else would they be here? But then why was Billy so sure they were after him or
Tommy? Because of that, Teddy knew there was no way to convince Billy to stay
here while he led them away. Instead he focused all his strength down into his
legs and crouched low, winding tight like a spring.
“On the count of three Karolina.” Billy said. “One…two…THREE!”
“Rrrrrrrraaahhhhhhh!” Karolina screamed bringing down the shield and reforming
it into a large bream that sent kree and skrull alike scrambling for cover.
Teddy pushed off with everything he had, so hard the earth cracked beneath his
feet and dust burst up and clouded the air. From over his shoulder Billy
blasted streaks of lighting at their attackers ensuring they saw them and
followed.
“Well that got their attention.” Billy shouted over the wind as they rocketed
through the air. “And they are all in pursuit.”
“That’s both a relief and terrifying.” Teddy yelled back. “Why the hell do you
think they might be after you?”
“Why the hell do you think they might be after you?” Billy shot back. “There’ll
be time for explanations later…if we survive this.”
“Fair enough.” Teddy conceded.
He untucked his wings slightly as the momentum from his kickoff began to
decrease. He closed his eyes and focused on the feel of the air moving around
him, waiting for the right moment to begin flapping. Billy released another
barrage of lightning. And then Teddy gave his wings a flap mustering as much of
his super strength as he could into the motion. He had never flown this fast
before.
“The kree and their high tech jetpacks are gaining, and so is that super-
skrull. The rest skrull took a cue from you and sprouted wings like the flying
monkeys from the Wizard of Oz.” Billy said. “Just a little farther and I’ll
teleport us. I want to make sure there’s plenty of distance between them and
the rest of the group.”
“Teleport us?!”
“Ummm…yeah…I need to be able to really concentrate. I have to perfectly picture
where we’re going.”
“You can teleport?” Teddy repeated. “And heal people? I thought you were an
electrokinetic.”
“Well…uh…it’s more like spell casting…reality warping really. Lightning’s just
always come easy without me really having to think.”
“We are going to have such a talk later.”
“Yeah, we are definitely due for one of those awkward third or fourth date
conversations about family and things we may have exaggerated about in our
online profiles.”
“Now’s really n—uummmfff!” The air was forcibly pushed form Teddy’s chest as he
slammed full force into something invisible and incredibly solid. Reflexively,
he curled Billy against him trying to protect him and absorb as much of the
impact as possible. The collision jarred every muscle and bone in his body and
his teeth rattled violently in his mouth. The world spun, he tasted blood in
his mouth, and things went black and then the whole world was spinning again.
He was falling. Then he stopped suddenly and he realized he had hit another
invisible barrier.
He looked down and realized his arms were empty. He had let go of Billy! Blood
rushed violently to his head. He scrambled to his feet and they slid from
beneath him and somewhere in the back of his mind he realized he was in some
sort of invisible sphere. Below him Billy was tumbling to the earth.
“BILLY!!!” He screamed and slammed against the barrier but it did not budge.
“NO!!! God, no please!”
Outside the super-skrull that had been chasing them hissed something that Teddy
did not pay attention to. His heart was thundering so strongly in his chest he
felt like it might spurt free. He slammed his fist against the barrier again,
again, again, AGAIN! Visions of Billy slamming into the ground in a lifeless
heap filled his mind. His nerves—every cell in his body—seized in unbridled
panic.
“BILLY!!!” He roared. Tears were in his eyes and spit flew from his mouth. He
wouldn't let him die. He couldn't let him die. He had to get to him. His fist
connected with the force field and this time it shattered around his fist and
he tumbled through the opening. He didn’t have time to be shocked and bolted
down after Billy. From the corner of his eye he noticed that the super-skrull
had lurched back, some kind of haptic feedback from the force field. He
compressed his density tightly as he dove, narrowed his form, and flapped his
wings with everything he had. He was like a missile jetting through the sky. A
kree flew into his path trying to stop him and Teddy just tightened his fists
and blasted right threw him sending the soldier careening through the air.    
I’m not gonna make it! He realized in terror. He was too far away. He was going
too slow. I’m not going to make it! The tears in his eyes streamed out behind
him. He felt so powerless. All my fault.
Then, Billy spun in midair and began—to fly!  
Of course he can fly. He thought as relief washed over him so intensely he
thought he might both laugh out loud and cry. What can’t this boy do?
Billy eye’s blazed a dangerous blue and he spread his fingers wide and his
hands flared into the same harsh light as his eyes and he yelled: “Firebirds!”
Instantly dozens of blue, flaming birds burst from his hands, little burning
sparrows that darted away from him. Teddy turned his head and realized that the
targets of the birds were their pursuers; all of whom were closing in on them,
Teddy hadn't noticed them in his mad dive to catch Billy. As each bird neared
its target it erupted into a blinding explosion of fire and light.
“Let’s go!” Billy cried as he flew past him, a purpling bump had formed on his
forehead just above his eyebrow.
“All this time you could fly,” Teddy said as he hurried to catch up. “And you
had me carrying you?”
Billy looked over, dark hair pushed back by the wind as he flew and he smirked.
“You were so gallant I couldn’t resist.”
“C’mon Billy the Teenage Witch. Let’s see if we can lose these guys in the
city.”
“I prefer mage!”
They kept their altitude low and zoomed into the alleyways of the city. Billy’s
spell had mostly been a distraction and the kree and skrull were already
gaining on them again.
“What the hell kind of jetpacks are those?” Teddy puffed as they careened
around a corner, two kree close behind them.
Billy spun onto his back. “Iwantthemtostop, Iwantthemtostop,
Iwantthemtostop...”
Once again, blue light ignited around his hands and eyes and suddenly the walls
of buildings around them distorted and became claylike, forming massive hands
that shot out and gripped the two pursuers.
Teddy knew at some point the sheer scope of what Billy was doing with his
powers by just uttering a few words would catch up to him and thoroughly blow
his mind. At the moment however, he was just thankful that he had them. Without
those powers they would have certainly been captured already.
“Alright, cover me, I’m getting us out of here.” Billy said as he flew back up
beside Teddy. “Iwantustobeelsewhere, Iwantustobeelsewhere, Iwantust—”
Once again they collided with one of the invisible force fields, both of them
crumpling against it and tumbling to the ground below. Thankfully they had not
been flying as fast this time but they were considerably closer to the ground.
Teddy reached out, lightning quick and managed to take hold of Billy and clutch
him to him. He rolled onto his back and an instant later he collided against
the concrete with a crack and cry of pain, leaving an imprint of his body in
the black pavement.
Billy stirred against him with a groan and tilted his head up to look at him,
his nose was bleeding, one of his hands came up and cupped Teddy’s jaw. “You
ok?” He asked, his expression filled with concern.
Teddy coughed, his body aching with the motion. “I really hate those force
fields.”
Billy laughed lightly and rested his forehead to Teddy’s chest. “Thanks for
breaking my fall.”
“You can thank me with that teleportation spell you keep promising.” Teddy said
patting Billy’s back lightly.
Billy began to rise. “Coming right up.”
“Halt! In the name of the Kree Empire.” The kree soldier with silvery-white
hair boomed as he came to hover near them. He pointed two golden pistols at
them. “Do not move.”
“Back off kree scum!” The super-skrull hissed hovering on a spout of flames.
“The hatchling prince is mine.”
We’re officially screwed.Teddy thought sullenly. He tried to gauge the distance
between himself and the kree soldier, trying to determine if he could breach
the distance between them before he could get off a shot. Maybe if I compress
my density again, reduce my mass...He wondered if Billy could distract the
super-skrull with a spell. But Billy was one step ahead.
“Windwaker, windwaker, windwaker…”
“Silen—” the kree was yelling but it was too late. A violent whirlwind blasted
out from Billy hurtling both aliens away.
Billy stood on shaky legs and leaned heavily against a wall, his shoulders
heaving. “I…I don’t know how much more I’ve got left in me.” He wheezed. “I
think I’ve maybe got one last spell…max.”
“Then lets make that one our exit.” Teddy said coming up beside him to support
him.
"Halt!" Another kree commanded, descending toward them followed closely by four
of his companions.
"Not one move!" A skrull hissed, flapping down behind them. Teddy looked up and
saw several other skrull not far behind. They were surrounded.
This was it. There was no way Billy would have time for his spell now. They
were trapped. There was only one option left.
I'm sorry Billy..."I surrender." He said stepping away from Billy.
"Teddy no!" Billy cried reaching for him but Teddy evaded his touch. He didn't
look at him. He couldn't look at him. He had to do this. He couldn't second-
guess himself. He had to keep Billy safe and this was the only way.
Both the silver-haired kree and the super-skrull had recovered and moved in
front of their respective teams. They were obviously the ones in charge.
"He's coming with us." The kree leader said.
"Over our dead bodies.   He's ourprince."
Instantaneously both sides were preparing for a fight.
Maybe we can escape in the chaos.Teddy thought hopefully.
"I command everyone here to stand down!"
Teddy turned in shock. He almost didn't recognize Billy's voice. It boomed with
such authority and certainty.
"You have no authority over us earthling." The super-skrull spat.
"You are on earth, you are in myjurisdiction. I am..." blue light engulfed him
and all at once his t-shirt and shorts were transformed into sleek, black pants
and shirt. Golden tassels draped over his shoulders and several medals were
pinned to his right breast.
Teddy had seen this person before, but it wasn't Billy...it had been...
"Prince William Magnus the First, and in the name of King Erik Magnus I order
both kree and skrull to stand down!"
Teddy felt shock begin to settle in. Was this a trick? Could Billy really be
Prince William? He couldn't be. All those family things.His secretiveness.Could
it be true? Maybe he was playing a trick. Teddy had seen plenty of pictures of
Prince William, everyone had, how had he missed it?
"It's a trick!" One of the kree yelled.
The white haired man held up a hand. "It's him. I met him."
Billy cast his gaze back and forth between the kree and skrull leaders. Teddy
could see that both sides were weighing their options, trying to decide if
their orders trumped attacking a prince of House Magnus. Teddy clenched his
hands into fists, prepared to fight if they attacked.
A spotlight beamed down of them, cutting through the growing gloom of the
approaching night. They all looked up to see a SHIELD aircraft hovering over
them, blocking the sun. A voice boomed over an intercom: "You are hereby
commanded by SHIELD to stand down!"
Bamf!
Suddenly five SHIELD agents appeared in front of them in a cloud of billowing,
purple smoke.
"Secure the prince!" A burly man with graying hair and metal claws protruding
from his fists ordered as they all moved to circle Billy.
Teddy began to feel light headed.
There was a tremor through the earth and a SHIELD Sentinel landed on the street
outside the alleyway. There were twin streaks of blurred motion that zipped
into the alley with them and there before them was Prince Pietro Magnus, heir
apparent to the throne of Genosha, standing tall with a scowl upon his face so
intense it made Teddy cringe back. And next to him was—Tommy? Except his hair
wasn't red anymore, it was silvery-white, just like Prince Pietro's.
The reality of it all began to hit Teddy. He really is Prince William...Billy
is King Magnus' grandson...holy shit!
"Every kree and skrull here is under arrest!" Pietro boomed. "You have violated
the conditions of the peace talks and have attacked citizens of earth as well
as a member of the House of Magnus Royal family. You are hereby ordered to
return to Genosha to await sentencing from King Magnus."
The kree leader placed his guns upon the floor. "Stand down men."
The super-skrull nodded back to his troops and they followed suit.
"Cuff these damn alien bastards and get'em on the ship." The burly SHIELD agent
commanded. Agents moved into action and the kree and skrull were handcuffed and
marched to a grounded SHIELD aircraft that had landed outside the alley.
"William, I would have a word." Pietro said, his voice icy and hard.
Teddy saw Billy swallow hard but he kept his back straight as he walked over to
his uncle. He did not so much as glance at Teddy. He seemed so much colder
somehow.
"What in the name of all that is good in the world is going on here?!" He
demanded pointing a finger at Bill's chest. "And what does it have to do with
you and why the hell are you not at the palace?"
Billy took a breath before answering. "I will explain the whole thing once
we're onboard and were heading back to Genosha. But they weren't after me." He
gestured over his shoulder to Teddy, still he did not look at him. It made
Teddy’s heart drop into the pit of his stomach. "They were after him. One of
the skrull said he was their prince."
"Their prince?"Tommy asked, pulling a face.
Pietro nodded but his eyes were still hard and fixed on Billy. "We'll take him
with us then. You still have a lotof explaining to do." He gestured to one of
the SHIELD agents, the one with blue skin and red hair. "Agent Darkholme, take
this boy into custody as well."
"Remember he's a princeUncle." Billy cautioned, still not granting so much as a
glance at Teddy.
Pietro frowned but said: "Ensure he is well protected and offered every
courtesy and keep him away from our kree and skrull captives."
The woman bowed and moved over to take Teddy by the arm. In his state of shock
he did not resist her. He had also, at some point, shifted back into his base
human form. She led him past Billy but the prince still would not look at him,
he deliberately kept his gaze averted. Teddy wanted to say something but he
didn't know what to say. He wanted Billy to look at him. He wanted him to
acknowledge him. But he never did and Teddy was taken to one of the ships.
He felt like he didn’t know Billy anymore. He didn’t know the person he had
suddenly transformed into. He was a prince, a prince of House Magnus for fuck
sake! Now he would not so much as deem to look at him. What had this all been?
What had Teddy been? Some sort of fling to sew his royal wild oats?
"Agent Howlett," He heard Billy say to the agent in command. "There was a group
of teenagers at Riverside Park, where the attack began..."
"SHIELD emergency medical response is already on the scene kid." The man
answered and his voice was oddly kind compared to what he had seen of the
grizzled agent. "If you give me some descriptions I'll have our men look out
for'em."
"Thanks." Billy said and then Teddy was out of earshot and taken on the
aircraft.
“Have a seat and get comfortable.” The blue-skinned woman instructed pushing
him lightly toward a seat. “We’ll be in Genosha within an hour.”
Teddy sat down stiffly. He felt numb. The entirety of the evening’s events
began to sink in, the attack, almost losing Billy, Billy’s seemingly limitless
powers, the discovery that he was Prince William Magnus. The sudden change in
Billy into someone he didn’t recognize. It all threatened to overwhelm him. It
had all seemed perfect only an hour or so ago, he had actually believed it was
perfect.
So stupid...he thought to himself resentfully. Mother was right.
Then a new wave of shock hit him, a new wave of panic. His mother! What if the
kree or skrull had found her? If they had managed to locate him surely they
knew where he lived, knew where to find her. And Teddy had left her alone and
unprotected.
Shit!
He bolted to his feet and the blue-skinned agent whirled on him. “Sit down!”
“I have to go.” He replied firmly, moving past her.
“The Prince ordered you to be taken to the palace.”
“I have to go!”
She reached for him but he flung her back with ease and she struck the ships
wall with a groan. “Anna!”
The agent at the entrance of the ship with the white streak in her hair turned
sharply as he approached. “Not anotha step sugah.” Even as she spoke she slowly
peeled a glove from her hand.
Teddy didn’t listen. He had to get out. He had to get to his mother. Besides,
he wanted to get away from this new version of Billy that refused to look at
him. He wanted to get away from all this madness. He just kept stalking
forward.
The agent pursed her lips. “Ah warned ya…”
He went to push past her the same as the other agent but she was quick and her
hand caught his arm. It was only the briefest of touches, her skin brushing
lightly against his own. A spasm blew through his body. The strength leeching
from his limbs, his knees began to give and his body refused to obey his
commands. The world began to darken around the edges, his eyelids became
crushingly heavy, he was vaguely aware of his body colliding with the floor.
“Mom…muuuuussss…get…mma…mom…” he mumbled, his lips and tongue moving
sluggishly. Then the black tendrils of sleep claimed him, pulling him down into
the murky depths of unconsciousness.
Chapter End Notes
     Next up: Prince Nerin is not so happy. The kree and skrull make their
     demands known. What happened to Teddy's mother? Billy and Teddy have
     words. Teddy makes a choice.
***** Star-Crossed *****
Chapter Summary
     The shit hits the fan! The secrets that Billy and Teddy have been
     keeping come home to roost. Can their relationship survive it? And
     what will happen to Teddy's mother? The answers are here!
Chapter Notes
     Sorry for the long wait. Real life happens, plus other ideas for fics
     have been trying to lure me away.
     Thanks so much for all the kudos and comments. Means a lot given that
     this is my first real attempt at writing and I'm happy you guys are
     digging the story. Mucho love for you all!
     NOTE: Things get decidedly mature and the fic earns its mature rating
     so if sexy times make you uncomfortable skip the last couple of
     pages.
     As always, the Young Avengers (specifically our young star-crossed
     lover's) nor any other characters here in belong to me. They are the
     property of Marvel.
     Feedback always welcome!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Billy wrung his hands violently together, so hard that it stung the joints of
his fingers.   He had his back to the door of his grandfather's private study.
 His insides were a roiling jumble of emotions and sensations that promised to
overwhelm him at a moments notice.  It had taken everything he had not to
become physically ill and vomit on the ride back to Genosha.  The shit had hit
the proverbial fan…big time.   
He had endured the harsh and persistent questioning of his uncle by keeping
things vague and feigning exhaustion from the fighting, Pietro was not pleased.
 Billy had been stalling. He needed time to formulate a plan.  Besides, his
Uncle Pietro was not the one he needed to convince.  Pietro was harsh and
single minded in matters of state, much like his father.  It was mutant’s first
and family legacy above all else.  In actuality, it was his Aunt Lorna Billy
needed to convince.  She held the pulse of his grandfather's court even if
Pietro was heir apparent.  She was his grandfather's conscience, his voice of
reason.  She was the key to convincing his grandfather.  She was the key to
helping Teddy get out of this mess.
Teddy...God...
Just thinking his name sent searing stabs of pain into Billy's chest that made
him want cross his arms protectively across his body.  He had dragged Teddy
into family politics, something that he should never have been pulled into.  He
had known their relationship was doomed from the start.  How could it not have
been?  Billy had started the relationship under false pretenses. He was
promised to someone else—he was a prince of House Magnus for Christ sake.  And
Teddy it seemed had been keeping secrets too.  There had been much more to
Teddy learning that he was adopted.  He was a prince himself, a fuckinglong
lost skrull prince.  That definitely complicated things beyond measure.  Billy
was going to have to think fast in order to avoid both an intergalactic
incident with the kree and skrull, as well as international incident with
Atlantis.  Teddy's life might just depended on him.
God, what does he think about me now?  He agonized.  
Billy had given Teddy the cold shoulder the instant he had exposed himself as a
prince of House Magnus.  He had to.  He could not risk softening.  He could not
give his uncle any indication of who Teddy was to him.  So much of this hinged
on no one knowing about their relationship.  If his grandfather knew the nature
of their relationship he would ensure that Teddy was sent far away by any means
necessary. Billy knew that Teddy leaving was best, but if Teddy was to be sent
away he wanted to be sure it was not done in reactivity to their relationship.
He wanted to be sure Teddy would be safe. Therefore, he didn't even allow
himself to risk a look back in New York.  He was not sure he could have kept
his princely mask in place if he had met Teddy’s eyes.  He was not sure he
could have resisted running to him to make sure he was unharmed, or resisted
throwing himself into his embrace to try and lose himself in those strong arms
that always seemed so safe and steady.  He couldn't risk Teddy saying something
that would give them away.  He hated how cold he had been, but it was the only
way.  
Don’t think about that now!  He scolded himself.  Now was the time to be the
prince, not the lovesick, teenage boy.  Now was the time for politics and tact,
not emotion. For Teddy...  
The door to his grandfather's study opened with a loud thunk.  "King Magnus
will see you now."  Pietro said, his voice tight with anger. The formality of
that statement spoke volumes about the state of his family's mood. He knew his
uncle felt slighted over his resistance but he would worry about his uncle's
wounded pride later.
Billy spun on his heel, his hands shooting down to his sides, his back going
straight, his shoulders pushing back.  He swallowed down his anxieties and
doubts like bitter bile and stuffed them into someplace deep inside himself,
locking them away.  He could not show fear.  King Magnus was not a man who
would show mercy on the fearful and contrite.  He respected strength and
bravery above all else.  Billy would earn no clemency if he fell to his knees
and begged and pleaded for forgiveness.  He had to be confident without being
prideful, he had to be remorseful without being guilty, he had to be just
honest enough to be convincing while concealing the details that would put his
family at risk. He was going to have to walk a rhetorical tightrope. His
kingdom and Teddy depended on it.
I cannot waver.
He marched into the dimly lit room that was covered wall to wall in bookshelves
filled with books.  Plush red and purple carpets coated the white marble floors
and metal chandeliers hung down from the high, vaulted ceiling.  His
grandfather sat still as stone in his padded high-backed armchair.  Next to him
a table held the chess game he and his grandfather had been engaging in for
over two months.  Billy tried to remind himself that this man washis
grandfather, not just the most powerful man in the world, but the narrowed blue
eyes still managed to send chills running down his spine threatening to break
his delicate resolve.   
"William!"  His mother cried, rushing to him in a flutter of diaphanous silks.
  
"Wanda!"  Pietro growled.  
But she paid him no mind.  She pulled Billy to her and he could feel her heart
fluttering in her chest.   
"I'm alright mother."  Billy assured.
She pulled back keeping him at arms length, her eyes fixating on the bruised
lump on his forehead.  "You've been hurt."
"It's nothing."   
She frowned and brought a finger to his nose.  Rosey light flourished around
them and Billy felt the dull throb in his head fade away and the pain in his
nose disappear.
"Wanda."  King Erik said quietly but firmly.
"The kree and skrull have harmed him.  They attacked him!"  She whirled on her
father, a lioness protecting her cub.  "What do you plan on doing about that?"
"You know that this is a highly sensitive matter Wanda."  King Erik admonished.
 "You know full well that my desire would be to execute all kree and skrull in
our custody, including their leaders, but your sister insists that this
requires a more subtle touch.  Now, I would speak with my grandson and hear
what he has to say about all of this."
His mother remained motionless for a while, locking eyes with her father before
reluctantly stepping away from Billy, one hand gripping the wrist of her other
arm as if to restrain herself.
Billy cast a furtive glance at his Aunt Lorna.  She stood next to her father
her green hair swept up and back and held in place with a golden headpiece that
was woven into the shape of an ornate M.  She wore a two-piece gown of silk the
color of sea foam exposing her midriff.  The sleeves of the gown were billowy
and formed a cape at her back.  She looked regal and poised as always.  Her
green eyes considered Billy thoughtfully.  Something that Nerin had once said
came to Billy's mind.  He had once indicated that his grandfather would
choosehis most powerful and capable heir, that it would not pass down the line
like traditional monarchies.  It was in fact his Aunt Lorna, not his Uncle
Pietro, who was at King Mangnus' side right now.
"Come forward William."  His grandfather commanded.
Billy bit the inside of his lip and complied without a word.  His grandfather
made a summoning gesture and Luna scurried over to his other side, opposite
their aunt.  The tension in the room was palpable, like a warm wet blanket was
covering them all.   His cousin cast fretful eyes up at him from under her
lashes before standing still beside their grandfather's chair.   
"Now dear one," King Erik said, taking one of her hands between his.  "I'm
going to need you to use your wonderful gift to make sure your cousin is not
lying to us."  He gave her hand a light, grandfatherly pat.
"Y—yes grandfather." She gave Billy an apologetic look before her eyes went a
glowing, shimmery gold.  
Shit!  Billy had not thought his grandfather would make Luna read him.  Had he
already lost that much of his grandfather’s trust?  Luna would be able to see
Billy's emotions clear as crystal; she would be able to feel them.  There was
no better empath in the world than his cousin.  He was an open book for her to
leaf through.  This could unravel everything Billy had been planning before it
even began.  If his grandfather knew that Billy was in love with Teddy he would
be sure to send him away by any means necessary.  He would not risk a potential
insult to Prince Nerin.  He would not want someone that would pose a threat to
sealing their alliance with Atlantis.    
"Now William," his grandfather's voice was steady and low but Billy could feel
the anger boiling beneath the words.  He didn't need Luna's gift to see it
plain as day.  Plus he was fairly certain he saw the metal in the room tremble.
 "Explain to us why you were not in the palace, what you were doing with this
supposed lost skrull prince, and what happened between you and the kree and
skrull."  His steely eyes fixed upon Billy, cold and hard.  "Do not try to use
your powers to block Luna's empathy.  That would disappoint me further."  That
was the closest his grandfather had ever come to threatening Billy, and it left
him with a cold feeling running down the back of his neck.
Billy took a deep breath and launched into it.  "I've been sneaking out of the
palace for over a year.  I wanted to pretend to be normal, to just be like
every other teenager.  I wanted to make normal friends."  He let enough emotion
enter his voice to convey the honesty of that declaration.  He only had one
plan and so he stuck to it, even with Luna monitoring the veracity of
everything he said.  "I only met Teddy and his friends a few weeks ago.  They
are part of the Human/Sapien Alliance's youth division."   
King Erik turned to Luna and she gave him a small nod.  "And did you know this
boy was a kree-skrull hybrid and lost heir to the skrull empire?"
Billy shook his head.  "No, I only just found out when we were attacked by the
kree and skrull."
"So you wereattacked."
"Yes, we were at Riverside Park in New York when they tried to capture Teddy.
 Hostilities broke out when the kree and skrull realized they were both after
the same person."
"And what is your relationship with this boy?"  King Erik asked leaning forward
slightly.  "It is said that you fled with him and you were together when SHIELD
arrived."
Billy tried with all his might to force his feelings for Teddy down somewhere
where his cousin would not see them, where she wouldn't feel the frantic,
crazy, stupid love that sprung to life whenever he so much as thought of Teddy.
 "He's become a good friend."  He answered simply.
Luna's eyes widened slightly and her eyelids fluttered faintly.  She looked as
though she was fighting with something inside of herself.  Their grandfather
turned to her once more and a long moment passed before she nodded.
Relief swelled within Billy.  He wanted to run to his sweet cousin and kiss
her.  She had just saved him.  Then the guilt rolled over him like a boulder.
 Now he had brought Luna into this mess with him and Tommy.  She had lied to
cover for him.  
You can't focus on that now.  Keep going.
"I fled because I believed that kree and skrull were perhaps after me.  I
thought they meant to abduct me as part of some sort of political move.  Teddy
was convinced that they were after him instead.  I decided that if they were
after one of us that they might follow if we fled and we could lead them away
from a highly populated civilian area and reduce any casualties."
"Sound tactics."  His grandfather said, a note of approval in his voice.
“We were able to evade them right up until SHIELD arrived on the scene.”
“And when did you learn that this boy was the skrull prince?”
“When the skrull were arguing with the kree troops.”
“Agent Anna Marie Darkholme has confirmed the duel physiology of the boy.”
 Pietro interjected.  “She also confirms that at the very least he believes
himself to be the skrull prince.”
King Erik leaned back in his chair and sighed.  “That definitely complicates
matters.”  He looked up at his son.  “And I suppose our alien guests are both
demanding the boy be handed over to them despite their transgressions today.”
“They are.”  Pietro replied.  “Both sides claim to have the right to claim the
boy as their own.”
“That’s bullshit!”  Billy shot.  “Teddy’s a person not something to be
claimed.”
His grandfather and uncle shot him withering stares for speaking out of turn.  
Get it under control son of Magnus!  Billy bit the inside of his mouth and
lowered his eyes quickly.  
“And what do my esteemed advisors think?”  King Erik passed his gaze around the
room.  “Why shouldn’t I execute them for lying to us, for attacking one of our
own, for injuring civilians?”  His fists clenched and this time there was no
doubt about the metal in the room shaking.
“As much as they deserve to be punished, killing their leaders would plunge us
into war with both species.  I purpose we expel the kree and skrull from earth
along with this half-breed they want so badly and be done with the matter.”
 Pietro answered with an easy shrug.  “This is an intergalactic issue that we
have no part in.  The only matter that concerns us with the kree and skrull now
is the matter of their transgressions against the crown.  Perhaps some form of
reparations should be imposed.”
Billy fought against another outburst of rage and protest.  He knew his uncle
would respond this way.  He needed to hold his tongue and bide his time.
King Erik’s forehead wrinkled as he frowned.  “You purpose a fine?”
“The boy was raised here on earth.”  Wanda interjected.  “He’s barely more than
a child.  Do we not have the right to take some responsibility for him?”  Billy
adored his mother at that moment.  She was a mother through and through.
“He was here under false pretenses.”  King Erik replied.  “He is not a mutant.
 I do not see why we should cause an intergalactic incident over one boy.”
Billy’s hands clenched and unclenched and he ground his teeth.  His Aunt had
been silent throughout all of this, her fingers at her lips, her brows furrowed
in thought.  That was a good sign.  It was time.  He took a deep breath and
then said:  “Surely there is more to be gained here than simply wiping our
hands of matter.”
Luna’s golden eyes were upon him once more.
“Benefit?”  Pietro was incredulous.  “How could we stand to benefit?”
Short sighted as always Uncle.
“Our nephew has a point Pietro.”  Lorna chimed.
“Then by all means, please elaborate.”  Pietro grumbled.
“The kree and skrull lied about the peace talks, they attacked our people, they
attacked a member of the royal family.”  Lorna glanced around the room.  “We
hold in our custody the person they both want, the person they risked so much
to obtain.  If this boy is who they claim he is, then he is not only the true
heir to the Skrull Empire but he is also the brother of Genis-Vell, the ruler
of the kree.  He has the potential to link both those empires.  We hold all the
cards.”
“We have a hostage.”  King Erik mused.
Lorna frowned slightly and shook her head.  “We have the ultimate bargaining
chip.  If we play this right we can bring peace to the kree and skrull and
ensure their allegiance to the crown.”
“An interesting plan.”  King Erik mused.
“Think about it.”  Lorna persisted.  “If we managed to use this boy to unify
the kree and skrull then that would make them a force that would rival the
Shi’ar, and they would be bound to us.  Perhaps a marriage between this boy and
our house could be arranged to seal the arrangement, since we are so fond of
that means of securing alliances it seems.”
Billy’s heart danced madly with hope within the confines of his chest.  For the
first time since all this began he allowed himself to hope that he might be
able to keep his relationship with Teddy, that he could marry Teddy.  It was
dizzying and overwhelming.  It was everything he could have ever asked for.  It
was far too good to be true.  He wanted it so badly.
Don’t!  He admonished himself, trying desperately to stamp out those kindling
flares of hope and want.
“Tommy does not yet have a marriage arrangement.”  Pietro noted.
Yeah, waaaaay too good to be true.  
The thought of Tommy marrying Teddy was enough to make Billy feel like the
walls of the room were leaning in on him.  So much so that he felt himself
begin to sway uneasily as the vertigo set in. The guy he was in love with
marrying his twin brother.  It was like something out of a trashy daytime soap
opera...or maybe Game of Thrones.   
“But Tommy doesn’t like guys—like that.”  Billy heard himself blurting out
against his will.
“The boy’s a shape-shifter.”  Pietro scoffed.  “He can be whatever Tommy
wants.”
This line of thinking had gone in a direction Billy had not anticipated.  It
was all going so wrong.  He felt like somehow his stomach had turned upside
down.  The thought of Tommy marrying Teddy made him ill.  He thought he might
pass out.
“It doesn’t exactly work that way father.”  Luna offered gently.
“The entire matter is far from settled so lets not get ahead of ourselves.”
 King Erik added.  “We would need to be able to properly balance our leverage
in order to accomplish this.”  He turned and looked at Lorna.  “Bold, but if
played wrong it could lead us into war with both parties.”
“We're already balancing on that edge father besides, you’ve always taught us
that victory favors the bold.”  Lorna replied with a wry grin.
“True enough.  I will consider this.”  He waved them all off.  “Leave me.  We
will let our guests wait through the night.  We will grant them an audience
first thing in the morning.”  He fixed Billy under his gaze once more.
 “William, is to be guarded to ensure he does not engage in anymore juvenile
antics.”
Billy hung his head and said nothing.  He walked from the room without speaking
to anyone else.  He didn’t want to have to speak anymore about what had
happened.  He did not want to be reminded of how badly he had screwed things
up.  And still, after all of that, part of him was trying to devise a way that
he might be able to sneak a visit to Teddy, stupid as that idea was.  It would
only make matters worse if he was caught plus, he was now to be guarded.  But
he wanted to see Teddy so badly.  He wanted to apologize for everything. He
just wanted to hold him and just pretend for a moment none of this had
happened.
“William!”  A voice cried from down the hall, startling Billy out of the murky
gloom of his thoughts.
He turned to see Prince Nerin striding towards him, his gait rapid and urgent.
 He looked worried.  Billy stopped and his brows knit together.  He was not
certain he was prepared to face Nerin.  He was not ready to face the guilt that
was already creeping up, guilt for betraying their engagement.  The fact that
Nerin seemed genuinely concerned for Billy made matters that much worse.
“Nerin—”
“What happened?”  The Atlantean prince demanded, gripping Billy roughly by the
shoulders.  “No one here will speak to me.  They will not tell me—a princeof
Atlantis—what has happened with you—my betrothed—and the kree and skrull.
 There are rumors that you were attacked.”  His grip softened and he moved his
hands to Billy’s neck, his thumbs touching the corners of his jaw lightly.  “If
they hurt you so help me, I will pull the spines from their filthy alien
backs.”  He growled low and fierce.
That was oddly touching.  It was a little intense, but touching nonetheless.
 “I’m fine Nerin.”  Billy assured as a fresh wave of guilt spread through him.
 He knew he was being unfair to Nerin.  It wasn’t his fault Billy had fallen in
love with someone else.  Billy reached up and took Nerin’s hands in his own and
pulled them away from his neck and held them between their two bodies.  “Truly,
I’m fine.”  
Nerin angled his head and narrowed his coal black eyes.  “I knew having those
alien bastards on planet meant nothing but trouble.”
Billy gave his hands a light squeeze.  “Thanks Nerin.”
The prince gave him a curious look, as though he did not understand why Billy
would say such a thing.  “You are my betrothed.  An attack against you is an
attack against Atlantis.  It demands swift and brutal retribution.  Atlantis
and Genosha would appear weak otherwise.”
Billy let out a light sigh.  And just like that Nerin had ruined it.  
Once again, Nerin’s eyes narrowed.  “Where were you?  The attack was in New
York.  What were you doing in New York?”
A knot formed in Billy’s throat as he scrambled for words.  He knew he appeared
guilty. He had not been prepared to speak with Nerin about all of this.  He
didn’t know what to say.  He released his grip on Nerin’s hands but the
Atlantean whipped his hands around and griped Billy’s in an ironclad hold.
“Hey,” Billy complained tugging in protest.  “Easy.”
“What were you doing in New York?” Nerin pressed, eyes bearing into Billy.
"There is also a rumor you were with some boy."
Billy felt anger beginning to flare inside of him.  His forearms tensed.  He
was not strong enough to match Nerin physically but he knew how to deal with
super-strength.  Nerin was powerful, but he was so outclassed by Billy it was
almost unfair to say they were both mutants. He was not in the mood for being
bullied.  He was still too raw from everything that had happened today. He was
sick of Nerin’s presumptions and the sense of entitlement he always had toward
him, like he owned Billy. His anger burned away his guilt as though it were
withered, desiccant parchment. He was so fucking sick of being polite and
diplomatic.
“Let. Me. Go.” Billy ordered, low and dangerous, but the other princes' grip
did not so much as flinch, in fact it tightened painfully.
"Iwant—"
“Prince Nerin, you look so tired.”  A sweet, feminine voice cut in, breaking
off Billy's words.  
“What?”  Nerin demanded, turning as Luna walked up to join them, her eyes
glowing gold.  
“It’s been such a long day and you just seem exhausted, you’re eyes are barely
managing to stay open.” She lulled melodiously.
All at once the strength in Nerin’s grip vanish and his fingers slackened and
then released their hold on Billy.  His shoulders slouched and his eyes became
hooded and he rubbed at them sleepily.  “I—it has been a rather long day…”
“Perhaps you should get some rest.”  She offered helpfully.  “Tomorrow will
undoubtedly be a another long day.  You should get some sleep.”
Nerin yawned wide and blinked long, slow blinks.  “Yes...I should get some
sleep…” He cast a weary look at Billy.  “I will see you tomorrow betrothed.”
 And just like that, it was over and the Atlantean prince shuffled off sleepily
toward his chambers. It was like someone had taken a bucket of water and dumped
it on the fire of his anger, extinguishing it.
“Thanks,” Billy told his cousin, absently flexing his hands. He felt suddenly
out of countenance, ashamed at how he had almost gotten into a fight with his
intended.
“I could feel the anger boiling from the other side of the palace.”
“That’s two that I owe you now.”
“The only thing you owe me some honesty Billy.”  Luna stated frankly.
“Didn’t you get a clear enough picture in there?”  He asked dolorously. He
didn't want to say the words out loud. He hadn't said them to anyone. Speaking
the words somehow made everything dreadfully real. There was a pain deep inside
that he was afraid to wake by speaking those words out loud.
“Billy…”
He sighed and it felt like it came up all the way from his toes.  “I love him
Luna…” He looked down at his feet as that pain he had feared swept up through
him, sharp and aching.  Once he had said them he just kept speaking, like the
walls he had built up around all those feelings had collapsed. “I know it’s
stupid.  I know that I am putting our family—our kingdom—at risk...but I just
do.  I wasn’t planning on it, I never expected it, it just happened.”  He felt
his eyes sting and tried to blink back the tears that threatened to fall. The
reality was settling in, the knowledge of what he needed to do was bombarding
him.  More words he did not wish to say out loud. “I know I need to let him
go…” Those words were like tiny razor sharp knives digging viciously at his
insides. He thought for a moment he might lose control over his tears, that he
would break—shatter like glass.
“Billy…” Luna repeated and placed a hand on his back between his shoulder
blades and coming up beside him.  “I’m sorry...I'm so sorry...I wish I knew a
way to fix this.” She moved her arms around him and squeezed him into a hug
that Billy was too overwhelmed to return. He was too busy trying not to fall
apart. Losing Teddy, letting him go, felt so astoundingly impossible. It felt
so unbelievably wrong, like trying to convince yourself to sever your own limb.
“Me too.” Billy responded weakly. It was all catching up to him. He had pushed
so much aside in the post adrenaline rush of the attack and the need to find a
way to deal with the mess he had made.
Luna gave him a light squeeze. And he finally leaned into her embrace.
“Everything makes so much more sense now.  The sneaking out, skipping out on
your responsibilities, avoiding Prince Nerin…I’m kinda shocked I didn’t pick up
on it sooner.”
“Guess you overestimated my sensibility."
“I think we all just grew up assuming love wasn’t something to expect, that it
was the one luxury that we couldn’t afford.”
“Well it sure as hell managed to sneak up on me.”
“Would it help if I said I know exactly how you feel?”  Luna asked with a soft
smile, leaning her head against his own.
Billy felt himself laugh despite himself at the lame joke.  “I guess a little
bit.”  He finally managed to look at her again.  “I’m sorry I got you mixed up
in all of this.  If Grandfather finds out about my relationship with Teddy
he’ll know you covered for me.”
“Grandfather has a softer spot for us than you know.”  Luna reassured.  “He’ll
be furious of course, but he’ll understand...mostly.”
Billy felt his spirits lifting slightly.  Weather it was because his cousin was
manipulating his emotions or because he was finally talking about it all with
someone, he was not sure.  Either way he was grateful.  
“Thanks Luna.”
                                      ***
 Teddy awoke in a large comfy bed surrounded by plush, red blankets and rich,
purple pillows.  There was an odd weight to his limbs and his eyelids felt like
they had been rusted shut.  Drawn curtains that led out to what seemed to be a
patio dulled the morning light.  It didn’t make any sense.  It was all wrong.
 Where was his shoebox-sized room?  Where were his poster-covered walls?
Where am I?  
He sat up and made an unsuccessful attempt to rub the sleep from his eyes.
 Even his brain felt sluggish, like his neurons were rebooting or something.  
Billy…
He had been with Billy.  Where was Billy?  Worry gnawed at him for a moment as
the memories once again began to click into place; sneaking out, the park, the
attack...Billy revealing himself as Prince William Magnus...his mother.
Mom!
He shot out of the bed and onto his feet, his legs quaking unsteadily beneath
him causing him to fall back against the bed.  What had that woman done to him?
 He took a steadying breath and attempted to stand once again.  This time he
managed it with minimal jiggling in the legs.  Slowly he felt his strength
returning, his mind beginning to fire on all cylinders once more.  As soon as
he felt he could trust his limbs again he went for the door.  But it was
locked.  He pounded his fist against it.  
“Hey!  Let me the hell out of here!”  He shouted.
No answer.
He considered knocking it down but was not certain he could rely on his
strength yet.  That SHIELD agent had somehow managed to sap him of his powers.
 
He pounded on the door again.  “Where am I?”
He wondered if he should demand to speak to Billy.  
God...Billy…
He didn’t know what to think when it came to Billy...or William...or
PrinceWilliam!  He remembered how Billy refused to acknowledge him.  How he
deliberately avoided even looking at him, how cold he had suddenly seemed.
 Billy had become a whole other person, someone he didn’t recognize.  And now
Billy knew who Teddy really was too.  Maybe he felt just as betrayed.  He bit
his top lip.  He couldn’t think about that now.  He needed to find his mother.
 He needed know if she was alright.
He was preparing to pound on the door once again when he heard it unlock from
the other side.  He jumped back with a start when he saw the female SHIELD
agent who had done this to him in the doorway. His muscles tensed as he
prepared to avoid any and all contact with her. He had seen first hand what a
simple touch from her could do.
“Easy there, sugah.”  She cautioned as she entered.  “No sudden movements or
I’ll have to put y’under again and King Magnus has asked a’try an avoid doing
that if at all possible.”
Teddy took an unconscious step backward.  
She considered him with a curious expression, her head cocked to one side.  He
noticed that one glove was already removed from her hand.  
“Y’have a visitor.”  The woman continued.  “Y’have the honor of beein in the
presence of Princess Lorna Magnus, Mistress of Magnetism.”  At that she stepped
aside to allow a woman to follow her through the doorway.
Princess Lorna was a vision, like some green goddess that had come to earth.
 She stepped into the room with cool confidence and took him in with pensive,
mossy-colored eyes that matched the color of her hair.  
“So you are Prince Dorrek VIII…” She noted.
Teddy cringed at the sound of his supposed birth name.  He gave an almost
undetectable nod.  Behind the princess the SHIELD agent was quirking her head
to the side and frowning at him.  Teddy frowned and it took him a moment to
grasp what she was getting at.
“Oh,” he gasped, bowing hastily.  He had no idea what proper protocol was for
meeting a princess.  “Princess Lorna...i—it’s an honor.”
Princess Lorna smiled.  “No need to stand on formality.  Besides, you’re a
prince too apparently.”
Teddy straightened slowly.  “Um, where am I?  Er—your majesty.”
Princess Lorna’s smile widened.  “House Magnus Royal Palace on Genosha, the
heart of mutant-kind on earth.  These are your guest chambers.”  She gestured
with a hand to the room around them.
“Guest chambers?”  Disbelief laced Teddy’s question.
“You are not our prisoner.”  The princess assured.  “You are a guest, you are
to be treated just like any other visiting dignitary...mostly.”
“So I can’t leave.”
Princess Lorna shook her head.  As she did so her hair flowed around her
shoulders and caused the golden disks that were woven through it to clank
lightly.  “I’m afraid not.  Your situation is...unique.  You are permitted to
wander the palace grounds as you please but only under guard, at least until
this matter with the kree and skrull is resolved.  It is a sensitive matter.
 Both sides are demanding custody of you and we are trying to avoid an
intergalactic incident.”
“My mother,” Teddy blurted.  “I need to know if she’s ok.”
Princess Lorna considered him for a moment.  “You’re mother is alright.  I’m
afraid I cannot say more on the matter at the moment.”
Teddy ground his teeth but was not willing to push his luck with a princess of
House Magnus. He was still having a difficult time processing everything that
had happened. One moment he had been a normal teenage boy with a crush on
another—seemingly—normal teenage boy. The next moment he was an alien half-
breed and long lost prince, then he was being attacked and chased by aliens
through New York and suddenly the seemingly normal boy he had managed to fall
in love with turned out to be a prince from the most powerful family on earth.
Now he was being held captive in a royal palace. To call this surreal would
have been a colossal understatement.
“You will learn more at the hearing.” Princess Lorna added.
“Hearing?”
“Yes, King Magnus will be hearing what the leaders of both the kree and skrull
have to say regarding you and the claims they are making regarding you.” Her
gaze hardened. “And they will be answering for their deception and their attack
in New York. As I said, it’s a complicated matter.”
The realization that the kree and skrull were vying for ownership of him
finally hit Teddy. Two different alien species had tried to abduct him and take
him away from the only home he had ever known. Each had risked war with earth
and House Magnus to obtain him. Now there would be a hearing, a hearing that
would likely decide his fate. The gravity of that settled over him like a slow
moving fog and it was suffocating.
Princess Lorna did not seem to notice the effect this was having on him and
stepped further into the room and made way for two attendants to enter. One was
carrying a tray of food while the other carried a bundle of what appeared to be
green cloths.
“You are of course, expected to attend. It is your life that is being decided
upon after all.” The food was placed on a table near the patio and the cloths
were laid out neatly upon the bed. “Eat and then dress yourself. We took the
liberty of supplying you with some formal attire. Be prepared to be escorted to
the hearing within one hour. “
It was all Teddy could do to manage a nod.
“While you’re voice will be recognized in the hearing I would caution against
speaking out of turn or overtly emotional displays.” Her eyes were serious.
“You are not versed in the politics of Genosha or the kree and skrull.
Sometimes less is more.” She dipped into a very light curtsy, barely more than
a bend at the knees. “It’s been a pleasure Prince Dorrek.” And with that she
turned to leave. Just as she was through the door she stopped and turned her
head to speak over her shoulder. “One more thing. It would be wise to avoid
any…unnecessary interaction with William.” And without further explanation she
was gone, the door shutting behind her.
What was that supposed to mean? Why was he supposed to stay away from Billy?
What did they know about them? He was so in the dark it was maddening.
With nothing else to do Teddy sat and began to force down the breakfast that
had been brought for him, if for no other reason than to gain more of his
strength back. He entertained the idea of trying to escape, he thought of just
flying out of that balcony, but he knew it would be futile. This was the House
of Magnus Royal Palace. There was no way he would get more than ten feet from
his chambers. Besides, Princess Lorna had said that he would learn more about
his mother at the hearing. He didn’t really think he had much of a choice.
Plus, he didn’t fancy having his powers drained again and being placed in
another involuntary coma.
He dressed in the cloths that had been supplied. They were stiff and
uncomfortable, but they fit him surprisingly well and he didn’t have to shift
for them fit properly. It made him wonder if someone had taken his measurements
while he had been unconscious. That thought made him cringe slightly. He
examined himself in a full-length mirror. The cloths were much like what he had
seen Billy transform into when he revealed his identity back in New York. The
main difference was that the material was a hunter green where Billy’s had been
black. He tugged where the collar chaffed against his skin and made him itch.
He had not idea how Billy wore things like this regularly.
He rubbed a hand over his face and groaned. The mere thought of Billy still
sent nauseating waves of unease through him. It was a perplexing mix of
anxiety, fear, anger, and hurt. He had so many questions. He wanted to know
what this had been to Billy, he wanted to know what their relationship meant to
him. Prior to this he had no questions, he had felt certain about what they
had. Now everything was in doubt. What had Billy been thinking? Had he ever
planned on telling him? It felt like there was suddenly some strange, murky
distance between them now. That distance left him feeling a cold sense of
emptiness in the pit of his stomach.
There was a sudden knock at the door, then another. It took Teddy a moment to
realize that they were awaiting his permission to enter.
“Uh…come in.” He called.
Once more the SHIELD agent with the streak of white hair entered. “It’s time
sugah.”
Teddy nodded and moved to follow her. Once outside of his room the blue-skinned
agent joined them. Teddy remembered shoving her roughly and sending her into a
wall before he had been made unconscious. He looked at her and cleared his
throat awkwardly. “I—uh…sorry…about earlier.”
The woman’s pupil-less yellow eyes regarded him in confusion. Those eyes were
staggeringly unsettling when you took the time to look into them.
“For erm…pushing you.” He continued.
Realization dawned on the agents face. “Oh that,” she laughed and gave her
fellow agent a grin. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve been manhandled far rougher
than that before.” With that she gave Teddy a knowing wink.
Teddy felt himself blush at the obvious implication of that statement and wink.
“Gawh, give the boy a break Raven.” The other agent scolded with a stifled
laugh. “He’s a prince remember.”
Well this just keeps getting better and better. Teddy thought dolefully.
The royal palace was fairly awe-inspiring. Teddy was not sure he had ever been
in a larger building and the entirety of it was a level of opulence that Teddy
was not entirely certain he could conjure up in even his most grandiose
fantasies. And this was where Billy had grown up amongst the riches, finery,
power, and politics. He suddenly felt like some dorkey commoner. What could
Billy possibly see in him?
When they reached the main audience chamber of King Magnus the immensity of
actually meeting the King hit him. It was like his brain could only digest
pieces of his current reality one at a time or his sanity would come crumbling
down inside his skull.  
Jesus…this can’t be happening…
“Go in and present yourself before the king and the rest of the rest of the
royal court.” The blue-skinned agent was telling him. “Then take your place at
the bottom of the dais off to the left.”
Teddy managed a nod.
“An don’t worry bout them pesky kree an skrull.” The other agent added.
“SHIELD’s here t’keep em in line.”
Teddy was not sure if that was reassuring. It mostly reminded him that the
threat of intergalactic war was hanging over all of their heads.
The metal doors to the audience chamber opened easily and silently despite
their enormous size. Teddy swallowed hard at his suddenly scratchy throat. He
hesitated for a moment before setting his jaw and marching in. The main
audience chamber was designed like an amphitheater with layered seating
encircling the whole room. As he made his way down the stone steps his eyes
fixed on the colossal steps of the dais across from him. At the top of it was a
great throne made of a single piece of solid, gleaming steel. The back of it
was an enormous M that stretched up almost all the way to the ceiling. Even
more imposing however, was the man seated upon the throne.
King Magus sat motionless upon his throne; one leg propped up to rest on the
knee of his other leg. Somehow he did not seem small or insignificant in such a
large throne; in fact he still commanded your attention. It was as if all the
objects in the room needed to be huge in order to keep from being dwarfed by
his presence. King Magnus’ steely blue eyes were fixed upon Teddy from where
they peered over the steepled fingers of his hands. On the step below him stood
his children: Prince Pietro who looked so much like his father; his twin sister
Princess Wanda, King Magnus’ only human child and Billy’s mother; then Princess
Lorna. The next step down was occupied by King Magnus’ grandchildren: Prince
Pietro’s daughter, the Princess Luna; and then the other set of royal twins
Prince Thomas, who looked very much like his uncle; and Prince
William…Billy…Billy who loved comic books and laughed at Teddy’s stupid
jokes…and who only the day before had been in Teddy’s arms—kissing Teddy.
Shit…It was almost too much to take.
Teddy only allowed himself a passing glance at Billy. Instead he kept his eyes
fixed on King Magnus, as terrifying as that was, it was still easier than
looking at Billy. Besides, Billy had not seen fit to deem him with so much as a
look yesterday, why should he do any different today?
The steps below the royal family were occupied by—what Teddy assumed to
be—other courtiers. One particular group caught his eyes. It was a group of
Atlantean’s, all blue-skinned and wearing strange bubble looking masks over
their noses and mouths, except for one. At first he had thought the other
figure was King Namor himself but upon closer inspection he realized that this
must be one of his kin. Perhaps one of his children based on the age. The
Atlantean fixed Teddy with coal-black eyes that bore into him with such
intensity (and hostility?) that he felt his nervous system responding, urging
him to shift into a more protective and imposing form. He fought the compulsion
back and dropped down to one knee and lowered his head when he reached the
bottom of the dais.
“King Magnus, it’s a honor.” He said. It was the only thing he could think to
say. It had sounded princely enough in his head a moment ago but now felt oddly
silly.
“Prince Dorrek VIII is it?” King Magnus boomed from above.
“So I am being told.” Teddy lifted his head slowly. “Though I prefer
Theodore…or Teddy actually…if you would.”
King Magnus surprised him with a soft chuckle. “The formalities can take some
getting used to. Trust me.”
Teddy did not know what to make of that. He had definitely never thought he
would hear the great King Magnus chuckle. So he held his tongue.
“You may rise and take your place.” King Magnus dismissed. “It is time to see
what your kinsmen have to say for themselves and determine what is to be done
with you.”
If Teddy had been hoping for any leniency for managing to make a king laugh,
those delusions had been promptly dashed. King Magnus had made his position
clear in that last statement. Teddy was not a mutant. Despite being raised on
earth all his life and believing himself to be a mutant all that time, in the
eyes of the court, he was an alien half-breed and a problem to be dealt with.
Without a word Teddy rose and moved to the left of the dais as he had been
instructed. He felt so extraordinarily numb. He had never felt so incredibly
out of control of his life. There were so many much larger things going on. So
many other people—people he had never met—had a say in what happened to him
now. It was a supremely helpless feeling.
“Send in Emperor Kl’rt and Supreme General Genis-Vell.”
The far door that Teddy had entered through minutes ago opened once more,
admitting the leaders of the kree and skrull. Both leaders walked side-by-side,
their bodies rigid. The tension that filled the room was a living, breathing
thing. Both leaders walked with their arms by their sides as though they were
bound there. Teddy swallowed hard as the fear began to slither through him. He
wanted to be anywhere else but here.
“Emperor Kl’rt and Supreme General Genis-Vell,” Prince Pietro boomed. “You have
violated your agreement, deceived the House of Magnus, launched an attack on
civilian soil, and assaulted a member of House Magnus.” He cast a severe look
over at the leaders, though it did not carry the same intensity as his
father’s. “These are serious charges. How do you plead?”
Emperor Kl’rt was the first to speak. “The charges are what they are.” His
voice was dismissive. “Though we were unaware of the attack on your grandsire.”
He met King Magnus’ eyes boldly. “It is a curious thing that he was there with
our prince.”
“Youare in no position to question our house!” Prince Pietro shot.
“We are dealing with the heir to the Skrull Empire. I have everyright.” The
Emperor returned. “Did House Magnus know of our prince? Were you knowingly
harboring him?”
Before Prince Pietro could retort Princess Lorna spoke loud and haltingly
clear. It was like a silver bell was ringing out. “The House of Magnus knew
nothing of your prince. The rest is a matter of family. You would be wise to
choose your battles carefully Emperor Kl’rt.”
That managed to silence the Emperor.
But it was then the Supreme General spoke. “You are correct Princess Lorna,
this is a matter of family.” His eyes turned to Teddy. “It’s my brother you
have in your custody.”
And another one of those pieces of reality digested within Teddy’s brain as he
realized he had a brother…a brother. He had often dreamed of having a sibling,
someone to play with, to torment, to mentor. Now he was faced with a brother
who was the ruler of an entire empire. It was insane.
“As a child of our father, one of the greatest Kree warriors in history, he
must be conscripted into our military. It is the law.”
That was the gust of wind that fanned the already sparking flames.
“He is the hatchling of Princess Anelle!” Emperor Kl’rt boomed. “He is the last
surviving member of his line. He belongs with the skrull. He must claim his
birthright.”
Supreme General Genis-Vell turned on the emperor with cold eyes. “I find it
interesting that you would seek to place my brother on the throne when it was
the death of his family that placed you upon that throne.”
Actual flames began bellow around Emperor Kl’rt. “I sit the throne because I
have to, because someone had to maintain the empire until our prince was found.
I served his family loyally and I would see the prince inherit his birthright.”
“You have no claim.” The general restored. “You have a claim through the
mother’s line, we have a claim through the father, the superior lineal claim.”
Teddy’s hands closed into fists. He felt like some item at a market being
haggled over.
“Gender means nothing to skrull, we change gender as regularly as you change
your ridicules helmets.”
“Enough!” King Magnus bellowed, and the metal in the room vibrated. “Neither of
you is in a position to demand anything. You are here to answer for your
crimes, not bicker over some boy.”
"You both came to earth under false pretenses and launched an attack on our
soil." Princess Lorna followed. "Neither of you told us of the boy and his
lineage and the possibility he resided on earth."
"And provide you with a tactical advantage over us?" The Supreme General
scoffed.
"Or risk the Kree learning of him?" The Emperor added.
"I'm looking for a reason not to flay you both alive along with you're people
we have in our custody. So far I've not heard a single reason." King Magnus
noted.
"Because you want to avoid a war with both our people." Supreme General Genis-
Vell stated plainly. 
"I'd welcome a war." King Magnus growled unsteepling his fingers and uncrossing
his legs as he leaned forward.
"Perhaps there is a way to resolve this without anyone dying." Princess Lorna
interjected. "You came here under the guise of peace talks and negotiating an
alliance with House Magnus. I see no reason that cannot resume."
"Under your terms no doubt." Emperor Kl'rt sneered.
Princess Lorna shrugged. "Of course. You tried to deceive us. You violated the
terms of our agreement. You've placed yourselves at a disadvantage."
"Name your terms then." General Genis-Vell groused.
Princess Lorna then rattled off a litany of trade agreements and terms of an
alliance. Teddy did not need to be an economist or a politician to understand
that the terms all favored the House of Magnus. There was some half-hearted
disputation from both leaders but ultimately they both consented to the
majority of the terms. It was then Teddy realized he was a pawn in this
political game. House Magnus was using him. That realization brought with it a
host of other doubts about Billy and their relationship. Had Billy known who he
was from the start? Was this a part of some royal scheme to gain an advantage
over the kree and skrull? He knew it was more than slightly paranoid but
everything had gotten so mixed up he didn't know what was delusional and what
was sane anymore.
“Let us attend to the true matter at hand.” Emperor Kl’rt demanded once the
other matters had been agreed upon. “Peace and the matter of our prince.”
Princess Lorna gave a light nod. “Let’s,” she looked to her father and the King
gave her an approving nod and she continued. “The kree and skrull are hereby to
cease all hostilities and withdraw all forces from any combat areas.”
“Yes, yes, I think we can both agree to that.” Supreme General Genis-Vell said
impatiently. “Let’s settle the matter of my brother.”
If Princess Lorna was annoyed she gave no hint of it. “Dorek VIII will spend
half a solar year with each race to learn of his lineage and the culture of his
people. At the conclusion of this year he will be of age to determine which
race he will choose to reside with. During this time he will be accompanied by
and guarded by representatives of our house to ensure his safety and that our
terms are upheld.”
“Absolutely not.” The Supreme General retorted.
“You find our terms unfavorable?” Prince Pietro returned his irritation plane
in his face and posture.
“I do,” The kree leader responded easily. “The Skrull Empire is unstable.
Emperor Kl’rt’s hold over the empire is not as absolute as he would like the
galaxy to believe. There is a resistance lead by a fundamentalist religious
faction. This faction has made it clear my brother’s life must be ended. I will
not risk sending him to live with the skrull. I will plunge us all into war
before that happens.”
“How dare you presume to comment on the state of the empire!” The Emperor
bristled. “The prince would be in no danger among his people.”
“You majesties,” A man in a SHIELD uniform interjected.
“Yes, Director Shaw?” King Magnus acknowledged.
“Our own intelligence has confirmed the existence of this skrull fraction.” The
man stated simply.
“You see!” The General pressed. “The safety of my brother cannot be guaranteed
among the skrull. I am still far from convinced the Emperor does not plan to
dispose of him either.”
“Shut your yellow-skinned face!” The skrull Emperor roared as he rounded on the
General flames once more leaping to life around him.
The General turned to face him his skin shimmering like the night sky had come
alive within him. Just when Teddy thought that hostilities were about to break
out, both men were pulled apart, their arms jerking violently above their heads
as they were dragged apart. It was then Teddy noticed the thick metal braces on
both their wrists—shackles.
“If that happens again I will remove your hands.” King Magnus warned
dangerously from his throne.
There was a hum in the air and then both the leaders arms dropped limply back
to their sides. Teddy exhaled and realized he had been holding his breath.
“Now, let us see if we can resolve this matter.” Princess Lorna continued as
though the outburst had never happened.
“We could always take the boy in as a ward.” Princess Wanda suggested. It was
the first time she had spoken the entire hearing. When Teddy turned to look at
her he realized that in some way he could not quite pin Billy resembled her.
“It seems to be the more suitable option. It would also ensure that neither
side violates our terms and tries to kidnap the prince while he is with one
side or the other.”
“You mean a hostage.” Emperor Kl’rt accused.
“Call it what you will Emperor, it does seem the most reasonable option.”
Prince Pietro said.
“Yes,” Princess Lorna followed. “The boy could be tutored here on politics and
state craft and both of you could send people of your choosing to assist in his
education for half a year. At the end of that year we could revisit the
matter.”
“He must be trained as a warrior.” Supreme General Genis-Vell noted. “Half a
year is not nearly enough.”
“He can be trained by the Red Guard.” Prince Pietro answered.
The General gave a loud huff in disapproval.
“I believe you’ve seen what training with my Red Guard can do.” King Magnus
noted. “My Grandson single handedly held off a battalion of both kree and
skrull, I believe that speaks for itself.”
While Teddy knew that was not entirely accurate he could not deny that there
was some truth to that. Billy had handled himself incredibly well under fire
and if it were not for Billy Teddy was certain one side or the other would have
captured him.
“I would have a guard of my choosing remain with the prince.” Emperor Kl’rt
added. “The entirety of the year.”
“I agree a warrior of my choosing should also remain with my brother.” The kree
General replied.
“Granted.” King Magnus conceded.
“There is also the matter of the traitor.” Emperor Kl’rt pressed. “The one your
SHIELD agents apprehended from my people.”
“Yes, let us settle that matter.” King Magnus agreed. “Send her in.”
Again the massive metal doors opened. This time two SHIELD agents led in a
skrull woman with disheveled blond hair. Her hands were bound behind her back
and one of her eyes was swollen to the point where it was mostly shut.
“Mom!” Teddy shouted. Taking an involuntary step forward.
“Hold.” King Magnus ordered. Freezing Teddy in place. He was instantly aware of
all the metal buttons and adornments on his cloths as they pressed forcefully
into him urging him back. He swallowed hard and took a step back.
His mother looked up and was visibly relieved when she saw him. Teddy could not
say the same. His mother had clearly been handled roughly and he could only
guess at what had happened. It was his fault. He left her alone and she had
been attacked. He should have been there to protect her.
“I demand the traitor be given over to the skrull.” Emperor Kl’rt stated
boldly. “It is because of her this all happened. She stole the prince.”
“I did as my princess commanded.” Teddy’s mother retorted defiantly. “If I had
disobeyed those orders the prince would likely be dead with the rest of his
family.”
“Silence!” The Emperor boomed.
“Kill her and be done with it.” The Supreme General dismissed with a wave.
“She will die by skrull hands on skrull soil.” The Emperor replied. “She will
receive a traitors death.”
“So long as she dies I have no objections.” Supreme General Genis-Vell replied.
“No!” Teddy cried out.
They were talking about his mother. They were talking about killing his mother.
Blood or not she was the only parent he had ever had. He could not let them do
this. He had to do something.
C’mon Teddy think!
“I order you not to execute her.” Teddy managed, trying to muster up authority
to will into his voice.
The Emperor regarded him curiously. “You see how he already speaks with the
power of his birthright?” He said to no one in particular. “He has the blood of
a ruler in him.” He looked at his mother and then back at him. “But you have no
authority yet my prince and this woman must be punished in accordance with our
laws.”
“No!” Was all Teddy could manage. “You can’t.”
“This woman violated more of our laws than those of the skrull grandfather.” A
voice interjected. When Teddy turned he was shocked to see that it was Billy
who spoke. Billy’s familiarity with royal politics showed in the steady timber
of his voice. “She lived as a citizen within our kingdom. Perhaps it is House
Magnus that should determine her punishment.”
“What!” Teddy cried up at Billy but the other boy did not even glance his way.
“You can’t be serious. She was following orders! She was trying to protect me!”
Look at me! Teddy screamed in his mind up at the dais at Billy. He could not
believe what he was hearing. He was so sick of Billy ignoring him like he
didn’t matter, like he wasn’t worth looking at.
“You have no right to her.” The Emperor objected.
“I would have to agree William.” King Magnus replied, obviously annoyed.
“I think he actually has a point Father.” Princess Lorna offered. “This woman
posed as a mutant, one of the crimes you take very seriously. She harbored a
foreign royal prince within our kingdom and also led him to believe he was a
mutant. These are Genosian crimes.”
“And prince Dorrek is correct, she was following orders.” Princess Luna added.
“I can vouch for her honesty in that matter. She technically hasn’t broken any
skrull laws.”
“This is blasphemy!” Emperor Kl’rt protested. “She is a skrull. She is ours to
judge and punish.”
“My family makes a compelling argument.” King Magnus mused. “I believe they
have the right of it. If this woman was following the orders of your princess
then she has committed no crime against your people. Her crimes are against the
crown and we will judge her accordingly.”
“You cannot do this!” The Emperor raged.
“I just did.” King Magnus answered dangerously, almost daring the skrull ruler
to object further. “Take the she-skrull back to her cell.”
The Skrull Emperor glowered after Teddy’s mother but said nothing as she was
taken away. Teddy clenched his firsts until his nails dug painfully into the
flesh of his palms as he watched her be taken.
“I believe that just about concludes our business for the day.” Princess Lorna
said.
“I have a matter that I wish to have settled.” The Atlanten prince boomed.
“Prince Nerin's now is—” But the prince cut the princess off.
“I demand to know the nature of the relationship between my betrothed and this
half-breed.”
It took a moment for Teddy to realize the half-breed was him. It took him
another moment to realize he was referring to his relationship with Billy. It
was yet another moment before he processed the word “betrothed”.
Betrothed…Bill was engaged? Teddy felt his jaw slacken and his mouth go open.
He turned to look at Billy who seemed just as taken aback and was simply
staring at the Atlantean prince with wide eyes. Teddy’s gaze flicked between
Billy and the other prince. He felt his knees tremble underneath him. Billy was
engaged. This day officially could not get any worse.
“Well?” Prince Nerin demanded, his eyes bearing into Billy, harsh and
insistent.
“Now is hardly the time—” Billy began.
“Now is preciselythe time.” The other boy hissed. “Who is he to you? Why were
you with him during the attack.” The Atlantean took a step toward Billy. “What.
Is. He. To. You?”
Billy met the other boy’s gaze. “Nothing…he’s nothing to me. Just a friend.”
There was a hot sharp jolt in Teddy’s stomach that traveled up into his chest.
He felt himself go cold all over and his heart begin to thunder far too fast.
It beat so rapidly he thought it might just give out on him or that it might
just as easily explode.
Nothing…he says I mean nothing…a lump formed in the back of his throat and his
jaw began to quiver.
It was all too much. His capture, being sentenced to live with the House of
Magnus, the kree and skrull warring over him, his mother being taken prisoner,
Billy’s demeanor, Billy being engaged, Billy saying that he meant nothing to
him. It was way too much. He just wanted to curl into himself and stop
existing. How had it all gone so wrong? Somehow some part of him remembered to
breath big, slow, deep breaths. Slowly he felt his heart rate steady out to a
less dangerous pace but he still felt cold and weak all over.
“That is quite enough Prince Nerin.” King Magnus instructed. “This is the royal
court not a high school concourse.” Wrinkles formed in between his nose and
brows as his frown deepened. “You will hence forth save such matters between
yourself and my grandson for private conversations. Is that clear?”
Prince Nerin stared defiantly up at the Mutant king for a moment and seemed
poised to argue or attack but eventually lowered his eyes to look at Billy once
more and then simply nodded.
“Good.” King Magnus said leaning back into his throne.
The remainder of the hearing passed by without Teddy being fully present. It
was like he had retreated somewhere deep into himself leaving his body to
operate on autopilot. Everything he heard sounded like he was listening from
underwater; everything seemed like it was strangely far away. He had hit his
limit. It was decided that Emperor Kl’rt would return to earth first after
making some arrangements in order to begin Teddy’s education in matters of
skrull history and politics. There had of course been more arguing and
posturing but King Magnus’ word continued to be the final say. Teddy was also
given his two guards from the kree and skrull. The kree was the white-haired
soldier who had led the kree back in New York named Noh-Var and the other was
the super-skrull who had hit them with all those damn force fields and went by
Xavin. They followed Teddy everywhere. And they followed (escorted?) him back
to his chambers, his new home, and remained outside with the two House Magnus
guards who had been assigned to watch them.
Teddy walked into the room still feeling numb and like he was buried inside of
himself. He walked robotically through the antechamber and then his sleeping
chambers and right out the balcony. He felt an itch and slight rumble in his
back. His body wanted him to flee. It wanted him to sprout wings and just fly
and fly until he couldn’t fly anymore. He resisted the urge, his hands gripping
the railing so tight the stone cracked beneath his fingers.
He let out a heavy sigh. “Fuck…”
There was a flash of blue light that caused Teddy to jump releasing his hold on
the railing and sending crushed pieces of white marble falling to the ground
below. He spun around and then stumbled back when he came face to face with
Billy.
“Sorry,” Billy breathed holding up his hands in a placating gesture. “I—I
just—I’m sorry.”
Teddy was assaulted by the desire to both run to Billy and pull him into his
arms and shove him away. He wanted to fall apart and have Billy comfort him. He
wanted to scream at him and tell him that he had ruined his life. He was all
those emotions and so many more. The sight of Billy had yanked him roughly from
the depths of his own mind before he could sort out what he felt. He squeezed
his eyes shut and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“You’re sorry?” He bit and then laughed coldly.
“Y—yeah…” Billy sounded uncertain. So different from the stately prince he had
seen at the hearing…so much more like the boy he thought he had known. He had
been so wrong.
“For what? For lying to me about being a prince? For getting me involved in
your families political agenda? For lying to me about being engaged to some god
damn Atlantean prince?” He released his nose and opened his eyes and glared.
“Or how about sorry for getting my fucking mother thrown into some palace
prison cell!?”
Billy swallowed hard and looked as though he wanted to back away but he held
his ground. “All of it…” he offered weakly. “All of it…”
Somehow that made Teddy even angrier. He was angry at the way he wanted to
apologize in return, apologize for yelling at him. He was angry with himself
for wanting to hold Billy even more now. It was those feelings that had gotten
him into this mess. He had known he shouldn’t have gotten involved with Billy.
If it hadn’t been for those feelings he might have allowed his mother to
convince him to leave New York. They might have eluded the kree and skrull and
his mother would be free and her life wouldn’t be in danger. Billy might not be
in whatever trouble he might be in with his family. He was so fucking angry at
himself. But Billy...Billy was an easier target.
“Well you damn well should be!” He shot.
This time Billy did take a step back. “Well I am…”
“Gee Billy, that makes up for all the lies and fixes everything.” Teddy
returned with bitter sarcasm. Once he had given into the anger it carried him
like an avalanche. Teddy didn’t get angry often but when his anger managed to
get ahold of him it was like a raging wildfire that could be hard to get
control of.
Anger flashed in Billy’s golden brown eyes. “You lied too Teddy.” He returned
with more force in his voice. “I wasn’t the one the kree and skrull were
after.”
That last statement hit home. The truth of it ringing like a hammer on an
anvil. But it did nothing to sober Teddy and quench his anger. If anything it
intensified it and he lashed out again. “Maybe you should go Billy. I wouldn’t
want your fish-faced fiancé to get jealous and think that there is something
between us.”
That one struck Billy like a physical blow. “Teddy…”
“Just go Billy.” Teddy dismissed as he moved past him making sure not to touch
him. Just a touch would be enough to break him, to unshackle the guilt over his
outburst, to make him reach out for Billy. Maybe this is what needed to happen.
They had to both know that they shouldn’t be together, had to know that that
was impossible now. How else was he supposed to end it? He needed his anger to
do it. He couldn't imagine walking away without the fires of his anger to
buffer him. He was doing them a favor he tried to tell himself. He knew it was
stupid and childish. He slowed as he was in the middle of his room, he could
sense Billy’s eyes on his back, could imagine his hand reaching for him.
“Just go.” He repeated.
He could hear the sharp indrawn breath. There was another long pause and then
there was a flash of blue light and Billy was gone and part of Teddy felt like
it went with him.
"Why do I suck so much?" He breathed soft and miserable.
                                      ***
It was late in the evening when Tommy appeared inside of his room. Teddy had
fallen asleep curled into an agonized ball on his bed. He was at war with
himself. Beating himself up for the things he had said to Billy. The way he had
acted. He hated how cruel he had been. He hated the part of him that kept
trying to say that this was ultimately for the best. He had never been so angry
with himself.
“Are you seriously just laying here?” Tommy demanded with his hands planted
firmly on his hips. “What is with the two of you? Billy wouldn’t talk to me at
all.”
“I told him to leave.” Teddy groaned. “And I want you to do the same.”
Tommy rolled his eyes. “Cut the theatrics.”
“Were you not there Prince Thomas?” Teddy demanded. “Billy lied about who he
is, he's fucking engaged to someone else." He sat up and glared at Tommy.
"What's there to talk about?"
Tommy somehow looked even more annoyed. "Uh, I dunno Teddy, how about the fact
that my idiot family is going to try and force you and me to get married?"
That managed to jounce Teddy out of his brooding and self-loathing and he shot
to his feet. "What!?"
Tommy rolled his eyes dramatically. "Oh now I've got his attention. Yes
married. You and me.”
“B—but Billy?” Teddy stammered.
“Yes there will be no living with him if this goes through.” Tommy grouched. “I
mean don’t get me wrong. I like you. You’re nice and all…but you don’t give me
that below the belt feeling like Princess Ororo does.”
House Magnus never ceased its machinations. It wasn’t enough that they had used
him as leverage in their negotiations with the kree and skrull, used him to
force a cease-fire, and made decisions about the course of his life. Now they
were trying to dictate who he would marry. It was then he began to feel like he
was starting to grasp what Billy was dealing with. Guilt over how he had
treated him earlier swarmed him. But even in the midst of all that, the
resigned voice inside his head spoke loud and clear.
That’s why it wouldn’t work. That’s why it’s better you sent him away.
“What do you want me to do about it Tommy?” Teddy asked feeling that part of
him slowly take control.
Tommy gave him an incredulous look. “I don’t know! That’s what braniacs like
you and my brother are for.”
“There’s nothing we can do.” Teddy replied.
Tommy’s eyes narrowed. “You really did send him away didn’t you.”
“He got my mother placed in your damn dungeon.” Teddy shot defensively. “And
even if I wanted to…be with him still…what are we supposed to do against
someone like King Magnus?”
“So you’re just gonna give up?” Tommy asked lifting a lone, white eyebrow.
“Give me a break Tommy…” Teddy sighed. “My life’s been completely unraveled and
your family has decided to reweave it as they see fit…I’m still processing.”
“I just don’t get you two…” Tommy breathed in frustration. “You’re an alien
hybrid so I guess that makes sense…but you’d think I’d get my own damn twin.”
Tommy pursed his lips and gripped his chin between his thumb and forefinger
thoughtfully.
Teddy had nothing left to say. He did not trust himself anymore. He was out of
his depth.
“That’s it!” Tommy exclaimed snapping his fingers. “You just need some maternal
sense knocked into you.”
“What?” Teddy asked.
“Be back in a sec.” Tommy said and had phased through the floor before Teddy
could even open his mouth again.
Teddy rubbed at his brows with the pads of his fingers and let out a long, slow
breath. He barely knew Tommy but he already knew that there was no point in
trying to stop him when he running with a scheme. He just wished he knew what
he meant.
“Alright, I bought you maybe five or six minutes so chop, chop.” Tommy
instructed appearing again and taking hold of Teddy’s arm.
Before Teddy could protest there was vibration that rippled violently through
his body, like every cell—every molecule—in his body was shaking violently. He
felt dangerously unstable, like every one of those molecules could break free
and scatter into the air around him at any moment. Then he was falling through
the floor. He felt his stomach flip-flop violently. Then they were through the
next floor, and the next, and the next. Down they went until Tommy stopped
them, skidding every fiber of Teddy’s being to a screeching, tooth-chattering
halt.
Teddy wanted to crouch and try and regain some sense of stability but Tommy
yanked him by the elbow and led him down a dark corridor. They stopped at a
corner and Tommy peered around it before pulling him after.
“Tommy,” Teddy gasped. “I think I’m about to be si—”
Again Tommy ignored him and again his whole body convulsed and again they were
falling through the floor. When they landed they were in a dimly lit room that,
while small and not appointed as richly as Teddy’s, seemed comfortable. There
was a narrow bed against one wall, a small writing desk against the opposite
wall with a tiny bookshelf. There was even a TV mounted on the wall.
“Where the hell are we?” Teddy asked, still reeling from the phasing.
“Teddy?” A familiar voice asked.
Teddy turned slowly and realized that there was someone behind him. When he
turned he was only a foot or two from his mother. Her eyes were wide and she
had reverted back from her skrull form. She had a book in her hands and she was
seated in a puffy armchair. The book clattered to the floor and in an instant
she had gathered him into her arms.
“I’m gonna make sure we’re not interrupted.” Tommy said and zipped from the
room.
“I’m so sorry Teddy.” His mother whispered.
“No way, I’m sorry.” Teddy replied. “I should never have snuck out with Billy
and left you alone.”
“Being with Billy is very likely what savedyou.” She said.
“I don’t understand?” Teddy shook his head.
“Billy is a prince of House Magnus. He must have convinced his grandfather to
keep you here as a ward.” When Teddy still didn’t seem to follow she continued.
“Teddy, if either side felt that they would lose you to the other they would
have killed you to prevent the other from having you.”
Teddy felt the cold weight of that statement settle over him. He had never
considered that the kree and skrull would be willing to kill him to prevent him
being an asset for the other side. His head went foggy.
“So when he had you thrown in jail here…he was protecting you...” he said
slowly, realization dawning and with it a wave of nauseating guilt.
His mother nodded. “Had I been sent with the skrull I would be dead.” Her tone
was grave and her eyes were hard. "Right now I am in the safest place I could
be."
Teddy sighed thinking of Billy, thinking of how he had treated him only hours
ago when all he had ever done was look out for him—protected him and his
mother. Looking back, the cold aloofness, his statements at the hearing,
suggesting his mother be placed under arrest, even denying their relationship
it all made so much more sense. He felt like a stupid prick for not seeing it
for what it was, for not trusting Billy.
"God I am such an idiot...what do we do now?"
She reached out and stroked her fingers soothingly through his hair, the way
she had always done since he was a small child. "You keep yourself safe here in
the palace. You learn how to be a leader from the best, you learn how to fight
from the best.” She gave him a wide, warm smile. “And I catch up on some much
needed reading, knitting, and Netflixing." She disentangled her hand from his
hair to gesture at the room around them. "I could use a stay-cation."
Teddy grinned in response. "I'll find a way to visit." He promised.
There was a rattling whooshing sound that Teddy had come to know as Tommy
phasing through things and the white haired prince was back in the room. "K,
times up." He informed. "Time to go before we're busted." He grabbed Teddy's
arm and began to pull him away. “Nice to meet you Miss Altman!” He waved over
his shoulder as he tugged Teddy after him.
Teddy pulled from him and gripped his mother in one last hug. "I'll be back."
"Of course you will." She soothed, patting his back comfortingly.
Teddy stepped away and allowed Tommy to pull at his arm once again.
“Give Billy my love, and thank him for me.” She instructed with a cheery wave.
Teddy only nodded. He didn’t have the heart to tell her that he had repaid
Billy’s hard work and sacrifice with accusations and anger. Then he was shaking
all over and the room was blurring around him and then they were gone.
                                     *** 
Once back in his room Teddy dropped his hands to his knees and hunched down as
he attempted to breathe some semblance of stability back into himself. Tommy
was standing over him shaking his head in disapproval.
"Snails can never handle it." He griped.
"Excuse me for not being used to having my molecules jiggled about to the point
of matter-shifting instability." Teddy protested.
"Pssh..." Was all Tommy offered in response. "Shall we go see Billy now?"
Teddy stood and rubbed his hands down the front of his shirt to straighten it.
"I dunno..."
Tommy scrunched his face. "C'mon, you know you want to. Let's go."
He placed a hand on his shoulder and Teddy once more felt the sense of every
molecule in his body convulsing. Once more his stomach tumbled in his abdomen
threatening to empty its contents. He was fairly certain he would never get
used to this. He closed his eyes tightly and tried to focus on his breathing,
tried to keep his stomach settled with deep rhythmic breaths. Tommy pushed them
forward and there was a rush as they passed through the wall. He allowed Tommy
to guide them moving them through one wall, then another, and another until
they came to a familiar grinding halt that left Teddy gritting his teeth. He
opened his eyes and looked around the room that must have been Billy's sleeping
chamber. All around the room were signs that the boy he had fallen in love with
lived here. Star Wars posters on the wall, a bookshelf filled with comics, a
discarded DS on a desk, a worn copy of A Clash of Kings on the floor near the
large bed. And then there was Billy. He was laid out on his back in the bed
staring up at the ceiling, hands folded atop his stomach. Teddy resisted the
urge to run over to him and begin immediately begging for forgiveness. The
image of Billy staring after him when he had turned his back on him and walked
away in anger earlier that day came unbidden to his mind.
"Listen Tommy, I'm not in the mood—" Billy started as he looked up, stopping
midsentence when he saw Teddy.
"I thought you two should, you know...talk it out, or whatever." Tommy said
gesturing to Teddy.
Teddy shuffled awkwardly from one foot to the next. "Um...hey..."
Really? Is that all you can say after everything that's happened? Hey? Jesus
Altman!
"Hey..." Billy answered sitting up and getting to his feet slowly.
Tommy looked from Billy to Teddy and let out a low whistle.
"Allllriiiiight...soooo I'll just give you two a moment."
"Wait," Billy began but Tommy had already phased back through the wall leaving
them alone. Billy let out a heavy sigh and hung his head. "Great..."
Teddy tried hard not to read too much into that statement. But he couldn't help
but take that as a sign Billy didn't want him here. He was terrified that he
had ruined things between them. He knew that there couldn't be anything like
that between them anymore, not like they had had. How could they? Billy was
still engaged after all. But he at least wanted he and Billy to be friends. He
had to have something. He didn't think he could let go completely.
Say something! He commanded his lips and tongue but neither seemed able to
comply. And so he and Billy just stood in front of each other. Billy looked
down at his feet, one hand gripping the back of his neck and massaging it
roughly.
Finally Teddy managed to get his brain and mouth to work together in verbal
unison. "I'm sorry." He startled when he realized Billy had said the same thing
and chuckled despite himself at the way they both always seemed to do that when
things felt awkward or tense between them. Billy laughed too and that sent
waves of hope ululating up from Teddy's belly and into his chest. Maybe things
weren't completely ruined between them.
"No Billy, Don't you dare apologize. I'mthe one who needs to be apologizing."
He tilted his head down to be sure to meet Billy's downcast eyes. "I'm the
asshole here. You risked so much to keep me safe, to keep my mother safe. I owe
you everything for that."
"You don't owe me a thing Teddy Altman." Billy insisted, his head snapping up.
"I'm the one who got us into this mess...I lied to you from the beginning about
who I really was."
"The kree and skrull were after me.And maybe if I had been honest youabout who
I am we could have avoided the whole New-York-City-kree-skrull-extravaganza."
Teddy pressed.
"I doubt it..." Billy murmured scuffing his shoe against the floor.
"Maybe there wasn't anything either of us could have done to stop this."
Billy looked up again and his face was twisted into an agonized bunch of
emotions. "I should never have kissed you...I shouldn't have let things get
this far..."
Teddy felt like someone had just punched him in the sternum. He couldn't look
at Billy. He turned away and stuffed his hands roughly into his pockets. Billy
was absolutely right. They never should have gotten involved with each other
but it still hurt like hell to hear him say it out loud—to say that he
regretted it. "I—I get it..."
"Oh god—no!" Billy blurted, reaching toward Teddy but pulling himself short as
tough afraid to touch him. "I didn't mean—shit, why is it so hard for me to
make coherent sentences right now?" He took a step toward Teddy. "I...I’ve
never wanted anything so badly in my life...kissing you—beingwith you I mean."
Teddy looked back at him and his heart began to flutter wildly in his chest.
"But we both know..." Billy bit his bottom lip and squeezed his eyes shut
tight. "We both know we can't."
"I know..." Teddy lamented, not caring if he sounded as miserable as he felt.
"I never wanted to hurt you."
"God...but it doeshurt..." Teddy moaned, taking a step toward Billy. "It hurts
so much more than I would have ever thought. It's hurts as bad as all those
crappy country songs say it does. Jesus...just the thought of not being with
you..." He took another step forward.
"Teddy..." Billy murmured, but he didn't step away. "I didn't mean—"
"I think it hurts so bad because...because...I think—I think I'm in love with
you Billy..." He bit his upper lip absently. "I know it's probably weird to say
after we've only known each other a few weeks and only been dating for like a
week or something…but I do…" Billy stared at him with wide startled eyes. "And
I never really imagined I'd be confessing this after our first kind-of-fight…or
after I learned you're actually a prince and grandson of the most powerful man
in the world…or after you learned I'm an alien hybrid and the long lost prince
to an alien empire for that matter…and I know we shouldn't, I know it's stupid
and we could cause all kinds of problems but…well…I can't help it...I love you.
I know it's selfish but I don't think I could go on without you knowing
that...wow, I just rambled a bunch didn't I..." Billy still stared at him in
blinking, owlish silence. Teddy felt himself blush all the way up from his
chest into his neck and face. He lowered his eyes in embarrassment.
"Ummm…now…would be the time to…uh…say something…"
“The rambling’s usually my thing…” The other boy breathed.
“Billy,”
He jolted at that. "Oh! Um, wow…I mean…holy shit…"
Teddy nodded his head forward expectantly, his eyebrows drawing together. He
felt so insanely vulnerable, like he was hanging out on the ledge of some vast
precipice and only Billy could pull him to safety. He was afraid he had
presumed too much. He was afraid he had been too bold.
"I love you too!" And Billy's smile was so wide and ridiculous that Teddy's
heart jumped into his throat. "Oh my god. I'm pretty sure I fell in love with
you back in that alleyway."
Teddy let out a happy sigh. "That feels so good to hear." And before he could
think better of it he crossed the distance between them, his hands cupping
Billy's jaw and bringing their lips together. It felt like an eternity since he
had felt the simple, intoxicating rightness of their lips coming together.
He took his time with the kiss, contouring his lips over Billy's over and over
at different angles, like he was relearning the lay of his lips. Billy stepped
into him, bringing their chests together, hands gliding up Teddy's sides softly
before finding purchase at his ribs. Teddy licked out lightly, tracing the
curve of Billy's lower lip. Billy rocked forward breaking the kiss and bringing
his lips to the curve of Teddy's neck sending warm, tingling sparks radiating
up from his stomach and leaving his head feeling light. Teddy's hands shifted,
one sliding down the back of Billy's shirt and the other gripping the hair at
the back of his head.
"We shouldn't..." Billy breathed, even as he trailed a stream of warm hungry
kisses up Teddy's neck and then up to the corner of his jaw and then right
below his ear.
"We shouldn't." Teddy echoed raggedly. "But you're gonna have to be the one to
stop Billy—" He tried to catch his breath as Billy took the lobe of his ear
lightly between his teeth. "Cause I...don't think I can."
"Fuck." Billy let out a shuttering breath as Teddy swooped his head down with a
moan that came from deep in his chest and began kissing his way down Billy’s
neck.
"That's the general idea." Teddy quipped.
Billy released a throaty laugh. "Guess we're not so good at avoiding the whole
star-crossed lovers thing..." He let out something close to a pant as Teddy
moved down to nibble along his collarbone. "Guess that makes for some dramatic
irony." He paused. "Or is it only dramatic irony if we don't know and the
audience knows?"
"I don't know, I told you I hated the Romeo and Juliet part of freshman
English." He straightened up and met Billy's eyes, his eyebrows quirked. "Are
we really discussing literary tropes right now? Is that your way of sobering us
up and getting us to stop?"
Billy let out a breathy laugh and his cheeks went an adorable shade of red.
"No, I think that's just my brain spazzing from all the hot-guy kisses." he
lowered his eyes and then looked back up from under his long, dark lashes. "I
don't want to stop." Billy's pupils were dilated leaving only a thin ring of
golden-brown, there was an intensity in his eyes that made Teddy's breath catch
in his throat.
"Thank god." Teddy practically growled as he surged forward bringing their lips
back together.
All the gentle teasing was gone from their kissing. It was now frantic and
desperate. Teddy had planned on drawing out their first time. He wanted to
tease Billy to the point of madness. He wanted it to be perfect. But he was so
overwhelmed with burning need that all those plans he’d spent hours fantasizing
over evaporated. He was consumed by the feel of Billy in his arms, the warmth
of him thrusting against him, the torn sounds of want escaping from his mouth
between their kisses. Teddy’s erection strained against the confines of his
pants to the point of pain, but even that somehow felt good. He could feel the
press of Billy’s own arousal as he thrust his hips against Teddy’s with a grin
he could feel against his mouth.
“Billy…” he keened. He felt like he was about to fly apart at the seams at any
moment. How could he already feel so close?  
Billy would always be his first. They might not be able to stay together. So
many things would likely force them apart but they could always have this.
He pushed Billy back toward the bed as his hands gripped at the buttons of his
shirt and tugged. The shirt gave a satisfying rip, several buttons flying
loose. He broke their kiss and pulled back just enough to take in a look. He
took in the subtle lines of muscle on Billy’s stomach and chest, the faint line
of hair that trailed down from his navel until it disappeared below the waist
of his pants.
“You are amazing…” Teddy said absently.
Billy’s mouth dropped open slightly at that but Teddy ignored it and he tugged
the shirt off, tossing it to the side. Billy recovered and grinned, reaching
for Teddy’s shirt in turn, hands gripping and pulling. It did not rip as
smoothly as Billy’s had. Some of the buttons broke loose but two near Teddy’s
throat held stubbornly.
Billy let out a laugh and knocked his head against Teddy’s. “Super-strength,
huh.”
Teddy shrugged and returned the laugh and pulled his shirt off the rest of the
way and discarded in an exaggerated display worthy of any romance film. Billy’s
eyes turned hungry and he pawed eagerly at Teddy’s body before pulling them
back together.
“Jesus Teddy,” Billy’s breath was hot against his mouth. “I want you so bad.”
Those words sent fire lancing through Teddy’s body. He pushed Billy back onto
the bed and followed down after him. The bed jostled under their weight. Teddy
twined their legs together and Billy rutted against one. All Teddy could think
about was getting more of Billy’s cloths off. He roved down the length of
Billy’s body with his mouth with Billy arching and writhing underneath him. He
got to Billy’s pants and licked along the waistline, eliciting more moans from
Billy. And then he went to work on Billy’s pants popping free the button and
yanking down the zipper before hooking his fingers in the waist and tugging
them down while Billy lifted his hips to assist. The rest was easy. It was easy
to take Billy into his mouth. The way Billy hitched and cursed drove Teddy on
eagerly. Shape-shifting, as it turned out, came in handy when it came to
bedroom affairs and it was easy to take all of him into his mouth. Billy bucked
and groaned, snarling his fingers into Teddy’s hair guiding him up and down.
“Shit Teddy—shit! I’m gonna—ok stop—not yet!” He pulled Teddy’s hair stopping
him.
Billy tugged at him, beckoning him up and Teddy complied fervently, straggling
kisses and nibbles along Billy’s torso on his way up before meeting Billy’s
lips again. Billy pushed at his shoulder and rolled his hips flipping them over
and sending the room tumbling about in Teddy’s vision.
“Your turn.” Billy growled biting at Teddy’s nose playfully.
The feel of Billy tongue swirling around each of his nipples made Teddy’s toes
curl. His breath chocked as that tongue slid down to his waist and Billy’s
hands went to work on his pants his fingers fumbling but managing to unfasten
them and wrench them off. Despite not being able to shape-shift Billy still
managed to send sparks flying through Teddy’s vision, working his hand and
mouth in unison to devastating effect. Teddy gripped the covers of the bed and
failed to resist rearing his hips. Billy coughed and pulled back.
“Sorry!” Teddy apologized, rising up slightly on his elbows.
To his astonishment Billy was smiling wickedly up at him and was already moving
back down.
“Wait.” Teddy huffed, curling up and pulling Billy up easily by his shoulders
and kissing him before flipping him on his back and straddling him.
His eyes rolled back as his erection rubbed against Billy’s and Billy took in a
strangled breath, arching his back. Teddy looked down at Billy through hooded
eyelids and spit into his hand before he took them both in his hand and
stroked.
“Jesus!” Billy flung his head back against the bed, his fingers digging hard
into the muscles of Teddy’s back as Teddy worked his hand and thrust his hips
in harmony.
“No…” Teddy huffed. “The name’s Teddy.”
Billy laughed breathlessly, his face and chest flushed and his eyes glossy.
Teddy brought his forehead to Billy’s for a moment and met his gaze. Coils of
tickly pleasure spun out from his groin causing his vision to darken at the
edges.
“You feel so fucking good.” Teddy gasped as his movements began to become
increasingly more erratic.
One of Billy’s hands shot to the back of Teddy’s neck and pulled him down into
a hard series of frenzied kisses as his own hip movements also became
irregular. Teddy cupped the side of Billy’s face, matching the kisses and
muffling the noises that neither of them seemed able to stop making. Teddy
pulled his head back letting their foreheads press together once more. Billy’s
eyes were shut and his lips were parted.
“Look at me Billy.” Teddy pleaded.
Billy’s eyes shot opened and met his. And then he couldn’t stand it any longer.
He cried out as his body was wracked with pleasure and he lost all semblance of
control over himself. He felt himself come into his hand and onto Billy’s
stomach and chest. Less than a second later Billy had followed, his nails
digging into the back of Teddy’s neck his body quaking. Teddy collapsed in a
panting heap on top of Billy.
They laid like that for a long while. Billy stroking his fingertips from
Teddy’s waist all the way up into his hair and then back down sending shivers
up his spine, Teddy planting kisses every so often against Billy’s temple, ear,
or cheek.
Perfect. Teddy let out a contented sigh.
“Alright,” Billy chuckled fidgeting. “We are sticky and gross. We need a
shower.”
Teddy gave a melodramatic groan but had to agree with Billy as he lifted
himself off of him.
“C’mon,” Billy took his hand and smiled at him with sleepy looking happiness
and led him to the bathroom.
Like everything else in the Royal Palace the shower was incredible. It was
large enough to fit half a dozen people and the majority of its ceiling was
dotted with spouts that sent cascades of water down on top of them, not unlike
what you’d experience in a heavy rainstorm. The shower took longer than was
strictly necessary, due primarily to the heavy amount of touching and kissing
as well as Teddy’s insistence on personally washing Billy from head to toe.
When they had dried themselves and returned to the bedroom warm from the shower
and legs still a little shaky from post coital bliss, Billy pulled Teddy into
the bed with him yanking the sheets up around them before nuzzling his nose
into the crook of Teddy’s neck and intertwining their legs.
“I should probably go.” Teddy yawned, as he stroked Billy’s hair. Some small
voice was cautioning him against staying the night. He really hated that voice.
Billy shook his head and attempted to squirm even closer. “No,” his voice was
stifled against Teddy’s skin. “Stay.”
Teddy would have had to been made of stone not to melt at that. He gripped
Billy tighter and pressed a kiss into the top of his head. And before long he
had drifted blissfully off into sleep.
Chapter End Notes
     In our next installment: Things get tense in Magnus Royal Palace. And
     Teddy is faced with a difficult decision. Love can make you stupid.
***** Teenage Reveries *****
Chapter Summary
     Teddy adjusts to palace life. Might as well face it, you're addicted
     to love. Billy makes a choice. Things continue to become more and
     more complicated.
Chapter Notes
     It's here! It feels like forever since I've updated. Sorry for such a
     long delay and thank you for your patience. So many things slowed me
     down but here it is. We are drawing quickly to the end of this tale.
     Not there yet so I shall not heap you with goodbyes and glowing,
     gushing thanks and appreciation. In the mean time, I hope you enjoy
     the latest chapter!
     As always: Comments and criticisms of the constructive variety are
     always welcome.
     Disclaimer: I do not own these characters or the world in which they
     live. That's all Marvel and the various creative talents that work on
     and create comic book goodness for us to indulge in.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
It was blissfully warm. The kind of warm that swims through your veins like a
drug, leaving your muscles feeling like they’ve been turned to goo and your
mind feeling tranquil and woolly. The kind of warm that made you feel like you
must be glowing from the inside out. As if that wasn’t enough, every time Billy
inhaled he was assailed by the comforting smells of soap, warm skin, sleep-
pressed hair, and something…something that was all Teddy. It was a scent that
he could never quite put into words but one that he would recognize anywhere.
Billy could not remember a time he had ever felt so perfectly content.
His head was pillowed under one of Teddy’s arms while Teddy’s other was draped
over him. One of Billy’s arms was pressed tight between their chests while his
other was wrapped around Teddy in return. They were a jumbled mess of limbs,
but ever since last night being as close to Teddy as physically possible was
all that mattered to him. The awakening awareness of just how much of their
skin was in contact began to ignite the gentle warmness he felt into the fires
of want. Without his consent his hips rocked forward slightly. Teddy puffed out
a gravely laugh that rustled Billy’s hair and his sleep heavy limbs came alive
and tightened their hold possessively. Billy pressed his face into Teddy’s
chest and planted a kiss between his pectorals. He was overwhelmed by it all.
There was just so much he wanted to do to Teddy—with Teddy.
Teddy’s hips responded with their own thrust and the feel of him hard against
him—that he was responsible for that—sent crackling awareness throughout
Billy’s body dissipating the fog of sleep and bringing him into full, prickling
awareness.
None of it felt real. It still felt like he might wake up to find out that this
had all been some crazed fever dream or something. The fact that Teddy was
naked in his bed and pressed up tight against him and that he was aroused and
moving against him seemed too good to be true. He kissed Teddy’s chest again as
if to reassure himself of that reality.
He opened his eyes intending to push Teddy over and climb on top of him
(because what else would one do in this situation?) but the light coming in
from the massive windows and balcony registered and sent him scrambling up and
swatting his way out of Teddy’s embrace and sitting up straight and rigid. His
whole body was bustling with panic.
“What!?” Teddy asked, springing up to sit as well.
“What time is it?” He flung himself across the bed to the nightstand where his
phone resided. “Fuck, it’s already almost 8:30.”
Teddy began to wakeup and crash down to reality with him. “Shit…”
Billy rubbed at his eyes with the knuckles of one hand. “Luckily it’s Sunday.
We don’t usually do much on Sundays.” He scrolled through his phone to examine
his calendar. “But I have no clue what my family has in store for you today.”
He flicked through some screens on his phone but fortunately it seemed that all
the excitement had been contained to yesterday outside of his aunt having a
press conference to discuss the attack on New York and the verdict regarding
the kree and skrull. “But since no one is beating down my door or blowing up my
phone I’m guessing they are leaving you alone for the time being.”
“You can’t deny a guy his brood time.” Teddy smiled over at him sleepily. His
hair was the most disheveled Billy had ever seen it.
“Someone is going to be speaking with you today I bet, probably my aunt.” Billy
noted, his eyes still on his phone. “They’ve probably already got a syllabus
and year long itinerary. You’re gonna be starting combat training with the Red
Guard but I have no idea how they plan on dealing with the rest of your formal
education and—”
“Hey,” Teddy interrupted softly, and Billy realized he had been blabbering and
that Teddy had scooted up close to him. Teddy was grinning at him like a fool.
Billy blushed and grinned back. “Hey…”
Teddy’s hand cupped that back of his neck. “Did you know I love you?”
Billy felt himself blush even harder and his heart did a jaunty, little jig.
“You could stand to say it more often.”
“I love you.” Teddy whispered before leaning in and kissing him, all gentle
decadence.
“I love you.” Billy replied against his mouth.
And man, did that send every part of him swinging up into the air. But with it
came an unexpected sadness that grew within him in a slow vicious swell.
Admitting his love, sleeping with Teddy, it made everything hurt so much worse.
Teddy sensed the shift in him and pulled back to look at him. Billy closed his
eyes because he was worried he might actually start to cry.
“Hey…what’s wrong?” Teddy asked, his fingers scratching soothingly into Billy’s
hair.
Billy opened his eyes and forced himself to meet Teddy’s concerned gaze. “Shit
Teddy…” he sighed. “We are so screwed.”
“Oh…” Teddy muttered, picking up the threads of Billy’s thoughts. “Yeah…”
“What do we do?” Billy asked, even though he knew that Teddy had no answers.
“Where do we go from here?”
“I don’t know.”
“I mean, we’re supposed to end it—we’re supposed to stop before things go full
Romeo and Juliet.” He felt Teddy tense, his fingers stilling in his hair. “But
I can’t—I won't.” He said it with such force he surprised himself.
Teddy smiled solemnly and nodded. “Me neither.”
Billy leaned in and kissed him softly. “So yeah…we’re screwed…”
“So screwed.” Teddy agreed. “But you know what? We’ve got a year to figure
something out, right? A lot could change in a year.” He gave the back of
Billy’s neck a reassuring squeeze. “We’ll figure something out.”  
“Yeah…ok…”
And even if it was just reassuring nonsense and they both knew that this wasn’t
going to end well, he still felt better.
“I should probably go, huh.” Teddy groaned, stretching his arms out above his
head. Billy took the opportunity to gape at him for a moment, admiring the
muscles and smooth skin, muscles and skin he was allowed to touch—that he had
spent the entire night pressed up against. “Don’t want anyone to find out that
I am not in my room pouting like a good teenage-political-captive.” He ran his
hand languorously down Billy’s chest. “When in fact, I am doing the complete
opposite of pouting.” His hand slid lower. “When I am in fact…” Billy gasped.
“So happy I could die…aaaannnnd sullying the virtue of their favorite prince.”
“That's you: the fiendish, perverting, alien prince.” Billy agreed, his mind
drifting to things that would involve Teddy not leaving back to his rooms.
But leaving he was. Teddy rolled off the other side of the bed naked as the day
he was born and sifting through the piles of their discarded clothes. Billy
sighed and climbed out of the bed as well. It was time to get back to reality.
There was a humming sound and before Billy could process the familiar noise
Tommy was in the room.
"Hey if you haven't gotten Teddy ou—" Tommy's eyes went wide at the sight of
them and then he slapped his hands over his eyes and began to scream. "Sweet
lord! So much—too much male nudity!"
For a moment both Billy and Teddy just stared at him neither moving to get
clothed.
"Gah! Seriously? I said talk! Not have sex! Ugh! You two—I swear! One minute
it's: you're done and won't even talk to each other and the next you're
knocking boots!?" Tommy was spinning around in wild turns, hands pressed firmly
to his eyes. "I'm gonna need Luna to memory wipe me! After all that I did for
you two! Agh, I might need to burn my retinas!"
"Are you finished?" Billy asked impatiently after pulling on a pair of boxers.
"Are you both decent?"
"Yes."
"Ok, then I'm done." Tommy dropped his hands and grinned, his demeanor
completely changed. "Sooooo...big night, huh, little bro." He strode over and
threw an arm over Billy's shoulders and waggled his brows.
"You're the worst." Billy groaned and shoved at him.
"Teddy!" Tommy raised his hand high. "Congrats on gettin some!"
Teddy smiled and hit Tommy's hand in a loud high five.
"Oh...my God..." Billy moaned into his hands. "How is this my life?"
"So this means Prince Gills is out of the picture right?" Tommy asked
enthusiastically. "And it means Uncle Pietro isn't gonna force Teddy to shape-
shift into a girl and marry me right?"
"Tommy..." Billy said calmly. "Thanks for helping me and Teddy...patch things
up...but even if Teddy and I are together...that doesn't just fix my betrothal
to Nerin or your possible betrothal to Teddy."
The gravity of that settled in on everyone and the humor came to a granulating
halt.
Tommy actually looked distraught and a little childish. "B—but...you two aren't
just gonna give up are you? Like, this—" he gestured frenetically between Billy
and Teddy and then the rumpled bed sheets. "Wasn't like, some goodbye last
hurrah thing was it?"
"No," Billy assured stepping closer to his twin. "Neither Teddy or I plan on
giving up...but...it's just...it's not that simple."
"We're gonna think of something." Teddy added.
"Tell mom!" Tommy offered.
"What!? No!" Billy shot. "We cannot tell Mom!"
"Why not?"
"Because no one can know." Billy replied. "If Grandfather knew he would send
Teddy away and have me walking down the aisle to marry Nerin tomorrow."
"Mom wouldn't say anything. She'd help us figure it out...or warp reality or
something."
"Doesn't work like that." Billy corrected.
"So what, the three of us just keep our mouths shut and keep going like
nothings going on?" Tommy demanded.
"Four."
"Four?"
"Luna knows." Billy clarified. "Or she knows that Teddy and I had a
relationship. She doesn't know about...recent developments. I can't cloak us
all in a spell to block her empathy for a year, plus she'd know I was blocking
her. Luna won't say anything—she won't approve—but she won't say anything."
"Well then maybe she can think of a way to get us out of this mess." Tommy
groused. "Whatever, I've done my part. You guys figure it out." And with that
Tommy had phased back out of the room.
Billy sighed and rubbed at his eyes with the pads of his index and middle
fingers. When he opened them again Teddy was standing in front of him arms
spread wide and smirking. His clothes were wrinkled and his shirt was ripped
and missing several buttons.
"Guess I'm gonna need some new clothes."
"Oh," Billy waved his hand and blue light dappled across Teddy's body. When the
light faded his clothes were pressed and mended as though nothing had happened.
Teddy looked down his eyes wide and mouth agape and then met Billy's eyes, his
lips quirking up suddenly. "I could get used to this whole having a magic
boyfriend thing." He glanced over his shoulder out the window. "You couldn't by
any chance, like, turn back time or freeze it or something could you?"
Billy shook his head and laughed. "Nope, I wish."
Teddy gave a defeated shrug. "Thought that'd be too good to be true."
"We might never leave this room if I could freeze time."
"True," Teddy sighed. "So..." He closed the distance between them.
"So..." Billy echoed.
"Guess I'd better go."
"Yeah," Billy rocked forward slightly and kissed him. As he pulled away Teddy's
hand went to the nape of his neck and stopped him and pulled him in for another
lingering kiss.
"Alright," Teddy breathed. "Going..." he turned to move towards Billy's
balcony.
"And…where are you going?" Billy laughed.
Teddy frowned. "Back to my room."
Billy smiled. "Do you even know where your room is?"
Teddy stopped and considered that for a moment. "Guess I don't."
Billy extended a hand. "Doortoyourroom, doortoyourroom, doortoyourroom..." The
air in front of him shimmered like someone touching the still surface of a
reflecting pool. Then it eddied, distorting the world around it as tough it
were just a reflecting pool. Then it stilled leaving a glowing portal offering
a gateway to Teddy's chambers.
"Oh yeah, magic." Teddy tapped his forehead lightly with the heel of his hand.
"Duh." He walked to the portal and before stepping through looked back at
Billy.
Billy met those deep blue eyes and could not help himself. “I love you.”
"I know." Teddy’s smirk was full of rascality.
Billy balked. "You are not Han Solo."
"I am totally Han Solo."
Billy let out an exasperated breath. "We'll settle this later." And with a self
satisfied grin and a small wave Teddy stepped through the portal and it blinked
closed behind him.
Billy smiled to himself because—at least for right now—there would be a later.
He walked happily over to his bed and hurled himself back onto it. He grabbed
the pillow Teddy had slept on and hugged it to him, pressed his nose into the
fabric and breathed in deeply, taking in the sent of Teddy that loitered.
We are so screwed...
                                      ***
He was pulled from his lazy, half-sleep state by banging on his door an hour or
so later. He sat up and wrinkled his face trying to force the sleep from his
eyes. He slid out of his bed and put on a pair of sweat shorts and a white t-
shirt before padding on bare feet over to the door. When he opened it Luna
swept inside in a stream of blond hair and orange silks.
He shut the door behind her. "C'mon in." He welcomed dryly.
"Are you insane!" Luna demanded in a curt whisper, whirling on him.
"I dunno Luna," Billy replied. "You're the empath. You tell me."
His cousin gave him a frustrated scowl. "Yes, yes you are absolutely insane."
"Well good. Now I can officially plead insanity when this all goes to shit."
"This isn't a joke Billy!"
"I wasn't joking."
Luna let out a heavy breath and pulled her hair back over her shoulders. The
irritation seeped out of her features. "The longer you two keep this up the
harder it's going to be."
"I know..." Billy moaned.
"You should find him and end it now before things get any worse." She
instructed, her finger pointed squarely at his chest.
"I know!"
"But..." She dropped the accusing limb limply to her side. "If I felt half of
what you feel for him I don't know I'd be able to do that either."
"What?" Billy was certain he had suddenly gone delusional.
"You heard me." His cousin shot, sky-blue eyes narrowing. "I'm not saying
you're right, or that this isn't stupid. But...I understand." She gave him a
hint of a smile. "For gods sake, you're radiating it so strongly you're, like,
the world's biggest furnace of adolescent hormones."
Billy couldn't contain the massive smile that broke out across his face
threatening to crack it in half. "I love him so fucking much."
Luna mirrored his expression but glanced cautiously over at the door. "Keep it
down would you."
"So what do I do now?" Billy said, more to himself than Luna.
“I assume that means you’ll be ignoring my sage counsel.” Luna noted.
Billy shrugged.
“We could talk to your mom or Aunt Lorna…” Luna suggested.
“You’ve obviously been talking with Tommy.” Billy muttered. “Do you really
think they wont go straight to Grandpa?”
Luna shook her head slowly. “No…”
Billy exhaled. “Then I guess we'll consider that a hail marry.”
                                      ***
 “I need to go.” Billy insisted, but his hand slid slowly up under the front of
Teddy’s shirt.
“I know, I know.” Teddy grumbled as he continued his slow barrage of lazy,
open-mouthed kisses.
Billy tried to suppress the groan that escaped his throat and failed epically,
his hand skimming farther up under Teddy’s shirt and pressing flat against his
stomach. “You’ve got tutoring.”
Teddy’s tongue moved into Billy’s mouth and his arms tightened around Billy’s
waist. “Yes, tutoring with the mighty super-skrull…the great Emperor Kl’rt.”
His voice was filled with faux awe. “Much more preferable company to this.”
Billy scoffed and pinched the skin beneath his fingers and Teddy lurched in
surprise.
“I call foul!” Teddy protested. “Unnecessary roughness.”
Billy smirked and went to pinch him again but Teddy’s hand pressed Billy's flat
from over his shirt.
“Well if the Skrull Emperor is such better company…”
“I was obviouslykidding.” Teddy informed, kissing Billy’s chin. “What could be
better company than the illustrious Prince William Magnus I, Master of the
Arcane Arts?” He kissed along Billy’s jaw then all the way down to the bend of
his neck.
“That’s better.” Billy’s phone buzzed insistently in his pocket. “Ok that’s the
last warning bell, I reallygotta go.”
Teddy grunted his disappointment but pulled away. “Alright…I guess I’ll go to
Skrull 101. What you got next?”
“Meeting with my mom.”
Teddy’s eyebrow went up. “Another one of those rift things?”
“A lesion, yeah I think so.”
“Don’t you think you guys should, I dunno, tell the king or something?”
Billy shrugged. “My mom’s the resident expert on all things magic. She must
have her reasons for not saying anything.”
“Doesn’t strike you as a little weird?”
“Of course it does.” Billy began straightening out his ruffled clothes. “But
it’s not the only secret being kept in this place.”
“Fair.”
Billy looked up at him and pulled at the bottom edges of Teddy’s shirt as well,
clearing away the signs of their clandestine make-out session. “Speaking of
secrets, I’m amazed your two shadows haven’t told anyone about you sneaking off
on them.”
A ripple stirred through Teddy, making his skin appear malleable and clay-like.
His hair moved back into its artfully tousled place and the flush on his lips
faded away. “And admit that they are failing to keep track of me?”
“Good point.” Billy conceded.
"Besides, they spend more time bickering with one another and blaming each
other than they do looking for me."
"They're still at each other's throats, huh?"
Teddy lifted a shoulder slightly. “They actually kinda respect each other…I
think they might actually almost be friends—when no one’s looking that is.”
Billy beamed up at him. “Teddy Altman, peace maker.”
Teddy looked down at his feet. “I didn’t do anything.”
That was completely untrue. Teddy had a way with people. He brought out the
best in them. He made you want to be something more, the best version of
yourself. Or at least that’s how he made Billy feel.
“Course you did.”
Teddy looked up at him, his expression hopeful. “Maybe I could actually do
something. Maybe I really could help unite the kree and skrull…be their king or
whatever.” He took Billy’s hands clasping them tight in his own. “Maybe if I
did…maybe I could come back and demand to marry you…how could your grandfather
say no to that? I’d offer a better alliance than Atlantis ever could.”
Oh Teddy…Sweet, perfect Teddy.Billy freed one of his hands and reached up and
cupped Teddy’s cheek. “You want to marry me?”
Teddy’s blush was sudden and fierce. “Well—um—uh—I mean—I just though maybe…I
would…”
Billy’s thumb rubbed tenderly against Teddy’s cheek. “You’d come back to earth,
king of space and uniter of empires, and demand my hand in marriage.”
The corners of Teddy’s lips curled up igniting his eyes into burning sapphire
pools. “Something like that.”
“Sounds perfect.” He gave Teddy a light kiss, merely a soft brushing of lips,
any more than that and they’d be here for hours.
Teddy gave the hand he was still holding a feeble squeeze. They both knew that
even if Teddy could unite the kree and skrull it would take years. It would
take him worlds away from Billy and Billy would be married to Nerin long before
he returned. It was a pipe dream and they both knew it.
“Maybe you should tell your mom.” Teddy suggested.
“You sound like Tommy and Luna.”
"What else can we do?"
Billy angled his head up at the ceiling, his nose wrinkling. "I don't know. I'm
just so afraid that she might tell my grandfather—I don't really think she
would but you never know." He dropped his head back to look at Teddy. "The
thought of being sent down the aisle toward Nerin makes me sick."
"Hey, watching you walk down that aisle is a thought that keeps me up at night.
But we've gotta do something. It's been almost two months and we've got zilch."
"Alright," Billy sighed. "I'll think about it."
"Ok," Teddy brought Billy's hand to his lips and planted a long kiss into his
palm. "Gotta go. See you at combat training."
Billy nodded.
"Coast clear?"
Billy’s eyelids drifted closed. "Clairvoyance..." The hallway outside the
conference room they were hiding out in came into view in his mind's eye. "Good
to go." He informed.
With that Teddy opened the door and hurried down the hall.
Billy let out a heavy breath. Having Teddy on the palace grounds was both
amazing and terribly dangerous. It was amazing because now there were no more
secrets, no need for excuses. Everything was out in the open.
It was terribly dangerous because neither of them could control themselves.
Something about the danger of it, the prospect of getting caught, seemed to
intensify the desire. Since that first night in his room it was like they had
become addicted to each other. They snuck off any chance they were able. They
would go to a closet, an empty conference room like the one they had just
occupied, or a secluded grove in the gardens. It was honestly getting out of
hand. Each time they swore this was the last time, swore that this close call
was too close, and every time they gave in.
Billy never had to sleep alone. Teddy was in his bed every night. It wasn't
even all about the sex (which there was plenty of). They would spend hours
talking about adventures they both knew full well they would never get to go
on. They would play video games, read comics, or lounge in front of the TV. It
was amazing. It was a taste of everything Billy had ever wanted. It was all
hurtling them to a tragic pressure point that they both saw coming and could
not seem to avoid.
It didn't help that Prince Nerin had been summoned back to Atlantis by his
father shortly after the hearing. Without Billy's jealous fiancé monitoring his
every move or constantly interrogating him, Billy was bolder, willing to risk
more. Nerin knew that there was more going on between Billy and Teddy than
Billy would admit. It was like he could smell it. The thought made Billy's skin
crawl.
"Tomother, tomother, tomother..." He kept the image of his mother in his head,
her soft brown curls, gentle green eyes, and the smell of jasmine. He willed
the magic to locate her and take him to her. He released the power of chaos
into the order of the real world. He wrapped himself in it as tough it were a
cloak and used it to alter the rules of the reality around him, to bend it to
his will. The conference room, with it's round wooden table and metal chairs,
blinked from view in an azure flash to be replaced with smog clouded skies and
skyscraper rooftops.
Wanda sat on the edge of the rooftop facing him as he appeared. Her feet were
dangling and swaying to and fro. Her smile was small but warm when she saw him.
His sneakers touched down with a crunch on the gravel covered rooftop and he
walked toward her.
Maybe they're right. Maybe I should tell her. Mom only wants me to be
happy...right?
She got to her feet gracefully, her hair flowing around in soft ringlets in the
breeze. "Can you sense it?"
Billy bobbed his head. He had become familiar with how the lesions felt. He
could sense them readily when he was near them without having to actively reach
out and search them out anymore. He could already tell this was a big one, the
biggest he had encountered. He could feel it in the way that the air seemed
alternate between thick and thin all around him; how it felt as tough the world
was tilting unsteadily upon its axis one way and then the other.
"Reveal it." She instructed.
"Iwanttomakeitvisible, Iwanttomakeitvisible, Iwanttomakeitvisible..." He held
out his hands to either side of himself, palms facing forward. The air around
them billowed and the tear in reality became visible, winking suddenly into
existence.
He was beginning to understand what these were, why only he and his mother
would be able to fix them. The lesions operated similarly to how their powers
worked. Billy and his mother injected chaos magic into the world and channeled
it to rework the world to suit their desires. Chaos was like a vast ocean that
reality (order), the world as they knew it, floated atop of. The lesions were
like rips in the fabric that separated the two realms.
Billy watched the swirling, inky, living blackness and the fraying edges of
reality around it. It was pure chaos. That was why his powers felt
exponentially more powerful when he was near them.
“You ready?” Wanda asked, coming up beside him.
“Yeah,” Billy answered taking in a deep breath. Keeping his hands out at his
sides he began to chant. “Iwantittomend, Iwantittomend, Iwantittomend…”
Just as all the times before the writhing infinity of chaos spoke to him.
Demiurge, demiurge, demiurge…
Over and over it went, an insistent whisper. The images flashed through his
mind: a man with a metal arm fighting alongside Captain America in uncanny
synchronicity; Kate with bow in hand alongside a man with a bow of his own;
Nico and Victor facing…giants? All the while Billy worked to keep his focus on
the lesion, on his power dipping into the well of chaos and using that power to
thread it closed. It required the most delicate balance of raw power and
finesse. It was like having to use a bone needle to sew through thick leather.
But Billy was starting to really get the hang of it. What else was to be
expected when he had a teacher like his mother?
The world gave a satisfying list as he managed to seal the lesion, the world
settling back into order. Billy waited for his breathing to even out and his
heart rate slow before blinking his eyes open. The effort still taxed Billy to
the edge of his limits but he no longer felt like passing out every time. That
was something.
“Mom,” Billy asked looking over to Wanda. “What’s a Demiurge?”
His mother’s brows moved together in confusion. “Where did you hear that?”
Billy flexed his fingers inattentively, working the circulation back into the
tips where they had gone cold. “I hear it whispered whenever I start working to
close one of these.”
Wanda pursed her lips. “It’s a term from ancient Greek philosophy. It’s a
being, an architect who crafts the world using the unlimited power of creation
at the behest of the creator. Some claim it to be a malevolent being, others a
force for good, and still others say it is simply an imperfect being much like
the rest of us.”
“What does that have to do with the lesions?” Billy asked.
“I don’t know…” she brought the knuckle of her index finger to her lips as she
thought. “Perhaps the Demiurge exists…perhaps you are contacting it…or
perhaps—” she pulled her knuckle away from her lips suddenly and gave him a
long, probing look. “Never mind.” She waved her hand.
Just tell her. He ordered himself. Now’s as good a time as any. He exhaled
heavily.
“I need to go,” Wanda said before he could get the words out. “And you have
combat training.” She ruffled his hair affectionately. Billy hadn’t realized
just how much time had passed. How long had it taken him to close that lesion?
“I’ll see you at dinner tonight.” And then she had vanished in a flicker of
soft, cherry light.
Billy stared at the space she had just been occupying unable to shake the
feeling that his mother was keeping something from him.
                                      ***
His pen sailed impassively across the grainy paper of his notebook leaving
nonsensical fractals of murky, black ink in its wake. Orderly patterns
repeating over and over flowing from the top of the page and down into the
margins, framing the few scribbles of notes Teddy had managed to pay attention
to in his uninterested doodles. House Magnus really did get the best pens.
“The skrull were divided into six warring territories after the destruction of
the Throne World Tharnax IV…after the death of your mother.” Emperor Kl’rt’s
voice hitched like it always did when he brought up Teddy’s mother.
Teddy was pretty sure he had been in love with her. He wasn’t sure how he was
supposed to feel about that. The current skrull emperor had been in love with
his dead mother. Plus, Teddy got the impression that it was a fairly one-sided
attraction. He was not sure awkward adequately described the situation. Teddy
was the child of the guy his mother had been in love with. Not for the first
time Teddy’s thoughts went to the claims of Supreme General Genis-Vell (his
fucking brother!). Perhaps the Emperor really did want to have him killed. It
wasn’t exactly farfetched. Not only would it remove a rival for the throne but
it would also serve as poetic justice for unrequited love. But then Kl’rt had
no heirs to speak of, who would he pass the throne to if not Teddy?
“I won the throne by becoming the greatest of these warlords and forcibly
joining the fractured remnants of our people once more.”
Teddy gnawed on the ends of his pen, teeth pushing satisfyingly into the pliant
plastic. His thoughts drifted to golden-brown eyes and messy black hair as it
so often did. It went to soft lips and lean muscles. Thinking that maybe
tonight—
This is ridiculous…you’d think I’d be past this phase already. Teddy groaned
inwardly at his imagination. Go back to the lesson idiot!
“I do not tell you this because I wish to impress you my prince.” Emperor Kl’rt
pressed on, seemingly unaware of Teddy’s slip into fantasy. “I tell you this so
that you may understand our people, so that you understand ours is a culture of
war, we respect strength above all else. In this way, we are not so unlike the
kree.”
Teddy looked down at his small leather journal, at the evidence of his lack of
interest and poor focus. He had been hoping he’d be more interested once the
ancient skrull history had finished but that was not proving to be the case.
Teddy decided to ask a question to prevent his mind from drifting back to
Billy.
“What about this Empress Veranke? She rules the only skrull territory that
still resists you.”
Kl’rt’s green lips pressed tight. “Veranke is a religious fanatic.”
Teddy met the Super-Skrull’s icy stare. “If I am to someday rule the Empire
then I need to know what I’ll be up against. I will need to understand as much
about our people as possible. Even the extremists.”
The Emperor let out a rumbling breath. “She is a member of the Dard’van, a
zealous sect of our people that follows ancient prophecies. One of these
prophecies foretold the destruction of the Throneworld…by Galactus.”
That got Teddy’s attention. “Then she was right.”
“This religious sect also believes that this means Earth is to be the next
skrull Throneworld.”
That hit Teddy like a semi. “Earth!?” He looked around wondering if anyone
heard. They were in the royal palace for god’s sake. He had no delusions about
these little sessions not being monitored. But somehow he knew they were now in
a noise deafening force field.
Had he mentioned he hated force fields?
“Yes, Earth. She has been working to undermine my rule since it began. She sees
you as a direct threat. You are the last of your bloodline and the true heir to
the Empire…and she didn’t exactly get on well with your grandfather. Everyday
more and more of our people flock to her because of the accuracy of that one
prophecy.” He leaned forward, lines forming in his forehead. “If she succeeds,
she will bring our people to Earth and she will be the end of this planet or
the end of our people.” His fists clenched on the table. “My rule—your rule—is
all that stands between her and this planet.”
Teddy felt like every part of his body prickling, his heart was thumping in
quick shallow beats. A skrull invasion…the possible destruction of everything
Teddy had ever known and cared about. House Magnus would obviously be at the
center of it all—it would be a target. That meant Billywould be a target.
The Emperor nodded knowingly. “Now you understand. Without you, this planet is
doomed. The longer you are here on this world the more time Veranke has to
gather support and control. This is why our people need you. Your mother was
well loved even if your grandfather was not. Your line is old and has great
power and respect.”
Teddy tried to muster some sense of calm and focus. This could be a trick to
try and get me to leave. He reminded himself. The skrull wanted him on their
side. What better ploy than to threaten the only home he has ever known?
Teddy frowned. “And I suppose you want me to agree to leave with you before my
year is up.”
Emperor Kl’rt shrugged. “You believe this to be a ruse, a trick to get you to
leave and join the skrull over the kree.”
“Can you really blame me?”
He hated this. He never knew who was telling the truth and who was lying.
Someone was always working an angle and trying to get something. You could
never take anything at face value and you were always worrying about your next
word. Teddy didn’t know how Billy could stand it. He was suddenly filled with a
new sense of sympathy for Billy’s position. Being royalty defiantly came at a
cost.
The super-skrull nodded. “I cannot, but that does not change the reality of the
situation.”
“Then you’ll also understand if I’m a bit hesitant to believe you.”
“Then the Earth will suffer the cost.”
Teddy’s brow wrinkled and his teeth ground together in his mouth. “I think I’ve
had enough tutoring for one day.” He pushed away from the table getting to his
feet, muscles tense.
“As my prince wishes.” The Emperor conceded with a dip of his head. “Think on
what I have said.”
Teddy huffed out an irritated breath and turned on his heel and stormed out of
the private room where he had his daily meetings with the skrull ruler. When he
pushed through the door both Xavin and Noh-Var looked up with a start. They
were sitting cross-legged on the floor, facing one another, both with a DS in
hand and backs hunched. Billy had ordered the gaming devices for Teddy to give
to his bodyguards, Teddy had told them it was for killing time for moments such
as this. At first they had both balked at the idea, stating that they could not
rest while guarding Teddy, but it had not taken long for their curiosity to get
the better of them. By the looks of it the two of them had been engaged in a
Pokémon battle.
“My prince,” Xavin was the first to greet him with a hasty bow, long black hair
spilling forward with the motion.
Xavin had taken to shifting into the form of a human girl shortly after taking
up the position as Teddy’s guardian. Or had Xavin always been a girl? It was
difficult to say really, Xavin had been bald and green and alien looking before
taking on the more earthly form. Besides, Teddy had no clue how gender worked
with the skrull. He had always felt like a boy and had always taken that form
without even thinking about it. He had always felt like he was lying when he
took the form of a girl, like he was wearing a full-bodied mask. He wasn’t sure
if it worked that way for other skrull or if his mixed lineage made him
different somehow. It was also possible Xavin had chosen the form to
distinguish herself from Noh-Var, or to rattle the kree soldier somehow.
“Theodore-Vell,” Noh-Var greeted clapping his fist to his chest in what Teddy
had learned was a typical military greeting among the kree.
“Noh-Var, I told you call me Teddy.”
He knew it was pointless but he corrected the kree lieutenant anyway. They had
had this debate for what felt like the thousandth times already and it had
changed nothing.
“Your father was Captain Mar-Vell, your brother is Supreme General Genis-Vell,
it would be a great disrespect to not address you by your true name.”
Xavin snorted, her ebon skin wrinkling around her nose as her face moved into a
mocking expression. “You’re petty kree titles mean nothing. He is a prince, the
true prince.”
Noh-Var was already whirling on the young super-skrull but Teddy was not in the
mood after the tutoring session he had just had.
“Could you guys not today?” He barked. “This whole ‘we are blood rivals’ is
getting old. You guys were just gaming together, that’s like the ultimate nerd
olive branch. You guys don’t have to hate each other.”
They both stared at him for a moment before nodding and expressing their
acquiescence. But just as Teddy was turning to walk back to his chambers he saw
Xavin stick her tongue out at Noh-Var. Teddy could not help the laugh that
sprouted up from his belly. The action was so odd and juvenile coming from
someone who acted so militaristic and aloof most of the time. It reminded him
just how young his two bodyguards really were.
“I give up!” He exclaimed, throwing his hand up. “You two are a lost cause.”
Billy had theorized his two guardians were chosen based on being close in age
with Teddy. He had told Teddy it was likely an attempt to put him at ease with
them and to give him an idea of what was expected of someone Teddy’s age in
both cultures. Teddy felt like a referee most of the time rather than their
charge.
He made his way down the chilly, cavernous marble halls of the palace his feet
picking the route that would take him back to his chambers for a change of
clothing for combat training. The massive, white colonnades were like crimson
clad sentinels looking down on him as he went; stoic and silent as the grave,
reminding him he was an outsider here.
His hand slid into his pocket and grasped his phone, fishing it free.   He
flicked through his contacts and tapped on Gert’s name and brought the phone to
his ear and waited.
“Hi, you’ve reached Gertude Yorkes, President of the Mutant/Sapien Alliance
Youth Division. If you are interested in joining please leave me your full
name, phone number, and an appropriate time return your call. For all others,
speak your truth and I’ll get back to you ASAP. Thank you, and remember, fight
for equity not equality.”
Beep…
Teddy sighed. “Hey Madame Prez, it’s Teddy again. Just trying to get ahold of
one of you guys. Haven’t heard from any of you in over a week and I’ve left,
like, forty voicemails and texts with you all. Is everything ok? You guys mad
at me or something? Ok…I’m sounding lame and needy…just call me when you get a
chance, alright.”
He hung up his phone and returned it to the depths of his pocket. He had really
been hoping to get ahold of Gert. He needed to talk out this whole skrull-
invasion-of-earth thing with someone—someone who was not Billy. Billy had
enough on his plate with his engagement to Nerin, holes being ripped in
reality, general princely duties (whatever those were), and keeping their
surreptitious relationship on the DL. Teddy did not want to burden him with yet
another issue, especially if he didn’t know if it was even worth worrying
about.
He shuffled into his chambers. His chambers. There was still a small gasp of
dismay in the back of his mind every time he entered the multiple rooms that
were his private quarters, even when he was in the depths of his restless
ruminations. First of all, there was the sheer size of the rooms. They were
bigger than the entirety of the apartment he had shared with his mother back in
New York. Then there were the rich fixtures that populated each room. His
bathroom alone seemed like something out of a luxury spa. He even had an
antechamber. Teddy had not even known that sort of thing existed outside of
fantasy novels. Billy's cousin Luna had been instrumental in helping him get
established. Billy publicly kept his distance as much as possible so Luna had
taken on the role of helping him navigate the convoluted warren of palace life.
She helped him set up his antechamber so that it was spacious and clean and
then decorated his main sitting area so he could receive guests in a room that
did not look like a comic shop had puked its insides out into it. That specific
honor was reserved for his sleeping chambers. House Magnus had been kind enough
to transplant the majority of his belongings to his new home but they did not
even come close to filling the large space.
He began changing out of the formal wear that was suggestedduring typical
business hours in the palace. His eyes were distant and unfocused as he moved
through the routine. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong
with his friends. It was weird. He hadn’t heard from Gert, Vic, Nico, or the
rest in over a week. He’d reached out to them all multiple times but had heard
nothing. It was weird.
He had broken the news of his heritage and the situation with Billy over Skype
shortly after moving into the palace. It had taken a few minutes for his
friends to digest his news, and a few more to believe him, but a quick Google
search of Prince William Magnus and the recent kree-skrull attack verified his
story. They had—understandably—freaked. But now this sudden communication
blackout was unexpected and completely out of character for any of them. Even
their social media profiles had become silent. He hated being so far away. He
didn’t go to school with them anymore and he couldn’t just stop by one of their
houses and check in on them. He made a mental note to ask Billy to check on
them magically later. Maybe they could even sneak away to visit them. Chase had
been begging for them to get him a visit to the palace so perhaps they could
even arrange a formal visit or something.
He bent and began rifling though the freshly washed clothes that had been
neatly folded and placed in his drawer (because he had fucking servants now).
His mind still tumbled about like a washing machine with worries about his
friends and the things that Emperor Kl’rt had told him. The drawer, that had
been so organized moments before, was left a jumbled mess after he had finished
and he didn’t remember to close it.
Freshly changed into more exercise appropriate attire (that being cloths that
would not completely rip when he shifted to his “hulkier” form), he made his
way to the training grounds. Agent Darkholm, the Red Guard’s shape-shifter, was
teaching Teddy how to shift clothing as well as physical features and
characteristics but he hadn’t completely gotten the hang of it yet and he
sometimes shifted without manifesting clothing. It had obviously resulted in
several embarrassing training sessions with the blue-skinned agent.
He opened his door to even more bickering.
“I could take Agent Howlett.” Noh-Var boasted.
Xavin puffed out a dismissive breath. “You barely have powers and you think you
can take on the head of the Red Guard?”
“And you could?” The kree captain scoffed.
Xavin flicked hair over her shoulder. “I have four different powers if you
recall.”
“Oh for the—neitherof you could take him.” Teddy grumbled as he brushed past
them. “He’s the Wolverine for God’s sake. You don’t become field leader of the
fucking Red Guard by being a pushover.”
That shut his two bodyguards up and gave him some relative peace on the rest of
their walk.
When they arrived at the training grounds Billy, Luna, and Tommy were already
there chatting in a tight circle. Tommy’s hands were flailing about wildly as
he emphatically told a story. Billy chuckled and his hand raked through his
hair just above his ear and then gripped absently at the back of his neck. When
he looked over up at Teddy as he descended the stairs into the training arena,
their eyes met and locked. The corners of Billy’s mouth curled up slightly.
Teddy’s heart did embarrassing things in his chest and he felt his skin grow
warm. He shifted his gaze down to his hand as it glided down the metal railing
and Billy quickly returned his attention to his twin and cousin. Teddy realized
in that moment that he would do anything to keep Billy safe, even if it meant
leaving Earth—and Billy—behind.
                                      ***
“Today we learn how to fight psychics.” Agent Howlett informed as he paced in
front of them, hands clasped behind his back. “No matter how powerful you are a
psychic always has the advantage, especially the ones that have been trained to
use their powers in combat.”
“Cheap tricks.” Noh-Var scoffed. “Powers do not trump skill.”
The SHIELD agent ceased his pacing and spun to look at the young kree soldier.
“Perhaps you’d like to be part of my demonstration.”
Noh-Var’s chin jutted forward. “Of course.”
The man known as the Wolverine grinned, his teeth flashing. “Excellent,
Princess Luna has graciously volunteered to assist with this lesson.”
Luna took the cue and walked up to join Howlett, a soft smile on her lips as
she pulled her golden hair up into a tight ponytail.
Howlett stepped aside and swept his hand in invitation for Noh-Var to face the
waif of a princess. The kree soldier glanced around as if suspecting a trap.
“What’s wrong kree?” Xavin whispered. “Afraid of the pretty, little princess?”
Noh-Var snarled and strode forward. “I do not see how this is a fair fight.”
Luna’s smile remained unchanged and she stepped back to widen her stance, her
torso angling. “Please, do not fear for my safety my dear captain.”
Noh-Var glanced over to Agent Howlett. “And if I strike a Princess of House
Magnus?”
“Nothing will happen to you,” Luna answered, “if you can that is.”
The kree warrior cocked his head at the challenge his lips quirking into a grin
as he bent his knees and moved into a crouch. “I should warn you princess, even
your speedster cousin was not fast enough to escape me.”
Tommy’s head whipped side to side violently. “Of all th—it was a cheap shot!”
Noh-Var chuckled and charged Luna, his movements quick and deadly. The Magnus
princess’s eyes shone molten gold. The soldier’s attack was quick and brutal,
hooking toward Luna’s face.
Were they really letting a highly trained kree soldier attack a princess of
House Magnus? Teddy felt his face twist into a cringe. He could not believe
Noh-Var was going at her so brutally. But just as he was expecting to see Noh-
Var’s fist collide with Luna’s face, she moved. It was not much, just a slight
shift of her neck that sent Noh-Var’s attack sailing past harmlessly. At the
same time she struck out with a low kick that tripped the kree and sent him
sailing forward onto his face with an undignified umf.
Xavin burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter hunching over with her hands
on her knees.
Noh-Var scrambled to his feet, his teeth barred and grit as he whirled on the
super-skrull.
Agent Howlett stepped forward, a metal-clawed fist baring Noh-Var’s path. “Easy
there.” He cautioned. “Perhaps our resident skrull would like to give it a
try.”
That seemed to take some of the spunk out of Xavin but Teddy knew she would not
back down from a fight, especially with Noh-Var watching. She would not risk
looking timid and would relish the opportunity to show up her rival. She
stepped forward and fire licked across her arms.
“Powers?” She inquired.
“By all means.” The SHIELD Agent replied.
Xavin nodded and then leapt into the air jetting toward Luna on twin gouts of
flame. Again, Teddy was more than a little shocked at their willingness to
attack a member of House Magnus with such abandon. It reminded him just how
deadly the two of them were. It had been both Xavin and Noh-Var who had been
the most relentless during Teddy and Billy’s flight in New York after all.
Xavin was already almost on top Luna when she began to burst into wracking,
uncontrollable sobs that sent the flames below her feet sputtering out. She
landed on her feet and her hands pressed to her eyes. Then all at once she was
laughing so hard it was rocking her entire body. Luna, golden eyes flaring,
walked up to her and sent her sprawling onto her back with a quick swipe of her
leg. Xavin crashed onto her back stunned, all laughter and crying ceased. It
was Noh-Var’s turn to laugh in mockery.
“And there you have it.” Agent Howlett said, sauntering forward and patting
Luna on the shoulder. “Never underestimate a psychic.”
Teddy realized that the agent’s eyes were on him. This lesson, like most of the
others, was primarily aimed at him. Billy and the others had already gone
through much of this. That knowledge coupled with how deftly sweet, slender
Luna had handled his two body guards reminded him just how seriously House
Magnus took this stuff. In the past couple of months Teddy himself had become
far more proficient in a fight. He still took more blows than he gave much of
the time but he had already learned a great deal.
In fights before he had relied on his size and superior strength. It had worked
well with street bullies and thugs. It had even served him well in the brawl
with the kree and skrull but he was far from the level of any of the Red Guard,
or even Noh-Var and Xavin for that matter. Teddy liked the training. He liked
learning how to really use his strength and shifting.
They spent the better part of two hours learning to fight from a place of
detached instinct and not with conscious thought. Teddy had never realized how
much fighting he did based on imagery and verbal thought. When it came to
dealing with someone manipulating your emotions—like Luna had done to
Xavin—that would take more work, which Luna promised to provide special
training on. He felt satisfied at the envious looks both Xavin and Noh-Var gave
him at that promise. Both had been shaken up by Luna’s continued ability to
thwart any of their attacks. Luna’s withholding of the more advanced means of
dealing with psychics made sense, both aliens could still be potential enemies
someday and giving them such an edge was dangerous. The fact that she was
offering Teddy such a gift meant a lot. It meant she trusted him. It was like a
weird sort of blessing. It meant a lot.
Agent Wagner bamfed into existence at Agent Howlett’s side and whispered
something into his field commanders ear.
Agent Howlett gave a curt nod. “Alright, that’s all I’ve got for today.” He
gave a slight bow. “Your Majesties.”
With that, Agent Wagner took them from the training arena in a puff of acrid,
purple smoke.
“I could go for some more sparing.” Teddy said, gripping his shoulder and he
rotated his arm. “Anybody up?”
Tommy, Noh-Var, and Xavin offered their agreement.
“As much as I’d love to spend some more time with you all, I’ve some other
matters to attend to.” Luna informed, already walking away. “You kids play
nice.”
“How bout you little brother?” Tommy asked.
Billy rolled his eyes. “I think I’ll actually hit the weight room for a bit.”
“Booooring…” Tommy drawled.
Billy paid his twin no mind and began his departure. As he passed Teddy their
knuckles brushed casually together. It was fleeting, but it was intentional and
Teddy read the meaning—the invitation—in that simple touch. He glanced after
him from over his shoulder briefly and resisted the itch to immediately follow
him. It had been his idea to spar after all and Billy knew it would take some
time before he could extract himself from the others and sneak away to be with
him.
Tommy had already claimed a rematch with Noh-Var over the comment he had made
at the start of training, which left Teddy with Xavin. That worked out fine
given that super-skrull was one of the few that could come anywhere close to
matching Teddy in sheer strength and durability.
Xavin shifted, her body developing orange, rocky crags and ridges and her bulk
increasing. “Are you sure you want to do this my Prince?” Her tone was
uncertain.
“It’s an order.” Teddy smirked, his body bulking and bulging as he flared out
his feet and clenched his fists. “Don’t hold back.”
Xavin smirked. “As my prince commands.”
                                      ***
Thirty or so minutes later Teddy was sprawled on his back on the floor of the
training arena, his chest pumping up and down in heaving breathes.
“That was most excellent my prince!” Xavin exclaimed from where she was rising
to her feet. “That is the first time you bested me.”
Teddy attempted to roll up into a seated position and then flopped back down.
“Go me…” he pumped a half-hearted fist into the air.
Tommy zipped up to Xavin and waggled his eyebrows at her. “Care to have a go at
me beautiful? I’m willing to bet super-speed trumps all four of your super
powers.”
Teddy saw his chance. “Go ahead,” he waved as he finally managed to sit-up.
“I’ve gotta get some water and use the bathroom anyway.” When Xavin looked
about to protest Teddy shook his head. “We are in the palace. Besides, I think
I can manage to go to the bathroom by myself.”
“I can accompany him.” Noh-Var interjected.
“Oh no you don’t.” Teddy placed up a halting hand. “Then Xavin will be saying
that isn’t fair and be demanding to tag along and then I’ll have a whole damn
entourage outside the bathroom. Thanks but no thanks. I’ll be fine,nothing is
going to happen to me between here and the bathroom.” He did not wait for
either of them to argue and began a hasty departure. “Be right back!” To his
utter amazement, no one followed.
            The weight room was located a short distance from the training
arena. Teddy walked quietly into the room and leaned a shoulder against the
doorframe. The room smelled of iron, sweat, and rubber. He watched as Billy
pushed a pair of dumbbells away from his chest from where he laid supine on a
bench. His hair was pressed to his forehead with sweat and his eyes were
focused up at the ceiling and his brows furrowed as he worked through the
exercise. Teddy watched the lines of muscle in his arms and the drops of sweat
that had gathered at the juncture of his neck and chest. He liked watching
Billy workout. Teddy had an unfair advantage due to his super-strength and
shape shifting. He could give his body more or less muscle to suit his
desires.   Billy worked at staying in shape. He would likely never be
particularly big and muscular, but Teddy preferred Billy lean and toned.
Billy's arms began to shake as he moved through his set and his form began to
suffer for it. Teddy walked over and crouched near his head bringing his hands
to Billy's arms to correct his form and smooth out his motions.
"Easy there your highness, wouldn't want to you pull a princely muscle." Teddy
cautioned. His hands stroked lightly up Billy's sweat damp arms as he continued
to help guide his movements. Billy huffed out a laugh but continued his
exercise. He looked down at Billy's face, knowing he was far too close to be
considered appropriate. He looked at the mix of strain and laughter playing
across the other boys face. He couldn't help himself. He leaned the scant few
inches forward and planted a long, moist kiss to bridge of Billy's nose right
where it met his forehead. He could feel Billy's forehead crease as he smiled
and Teddy's fingertips slid up and down his arms in suggestive caresses. He
slid his nose up Billy’s forehead, nuzzling into his damp hairline, breathing
him in, and closing his eyes. God, he could get drunk on Billy.  
"Get the FUCK away from my fiancé!" A rage filled voice commanded.
It startled Teddy so badly he fell backwards onto his ass. There was a hollow
thunk as Billy dropped the dumbbells onto the rubber floor.
Shit! Shit! Shit!
Billy sat up and spun around on the bench. “N-Nerin—”
Angry fingers shot down and coiled around Teddy’s throat and he was hauled
roughly into the air, his feet dangling below him. His neck muscles and skin
shifted intuitively to protect him from the vice-like grip of Billy’s seething
betrothed.
“I knew it!” Nerin growled.
Spit spattered across Teddy’s skin and he cringed.
“Nerin!” Billy yelled as he pulled at the arm that gripped Teddy. “Please, I
can explain.”
Nerin laughed, a cruel, bitter laugh and flung Teddy across the room and into a
rack of free weights. They clattered all around him dully and his head echoed
with a resound ring with the impact.
“You liedto me! You said there was nothing but I knew there was more going on
between the two of you. I could smell it.” He wheeled on Billy and jabbed an
accusatory finger into Billy’s chest that sent him stumbling backwards. “You
are pledged to me William Magnus! You are mine! You will pay for dishonoring
me!”
Teddy felt his skin heat up. It felt like his ears were on fire. He ground his
teeth so hard his jaw quivered. His whole body quaked as his muscles bulged. He
hatedNerin. He hated that he was going to marry Billy. He hated that Billy was
being forced to marry him. He hated Nerin’s “my shit don’t stink” attitude. But
most of all he hated how he treated Billy like property, like something he had
laid claim to. He was on his feet in an instant. The world was a blazing,
crimson haze. Before he knew it his fist had collided with the Atlantean
Prince’s face with a satisfying crack that sent him careening through a wall in
a crash of dry wall and a clang of metal plates.
That felt so fucking good.His shoulders heaved as his lips curved into a snarl.
“Ted—” Billy began.
“AAAAARRRR!!!” Nerin flew from the hole in the wall like a bullet and slammed
full force into Teddy.
He felt stone and rebar crash around his body as they hurled through one wall
and then another. The world went dark for a moment as a fist cracked across his
face, then another, and another. Iridescent starbursts exploding in his vision
each time his skull was struck. Somehow Teddy managed to move his head enough
to dodge one of the blows and brought his own fist up and into Nerin’s rib
sending him barreling over.
Teddy scrambled to his feet and faced him, balled fists moving up the way Agent
Howlett had taught him. “He isn’t yours. You don’t own him!”
“And you do?” Nerin demanded as he crouched in front of him, a predator
stalking its prey from within the long grass.
“No, he’s a fucking person. But he does love me.”
In retrospect, that was probably not the wisest thing to say.
Nerin hurled himself at Teddy with an ear splitting howl. Some part of the
months of training had lodged itself in Teddy’s brain because he didn’t try and
block the attack or retaliate with one of his own. Instead he shifted the
density of his arms, stepped to the side and caught hold of Nerin’s arm,
spinning, letting his arms elasticize and whip him around violently before
letting him go and sending him flying through yet another wall.
This time Teddy did not wait. He rushed after Nerin. They were past the point
of no return.
So much property damage…
Teddy swung his fist down at Nerin but the prince’s foot shot up and caught
Teddy in the gut and he used Teddy’s momentum to flip him over and into a tree
breaking it into two in a spray of splinters.
A tree?
Somehow they had managed to fight their way out into one of the palace’s
gardens.
Teddy rolled to his feet and prepared for the assault he knew was coming. His
lungs were aching and his muscles were feeling wobbly. He had been training for
hours and was feeling the effects. But he wouldn’t back down. He’d had enough
of this guy. Nerin charged him one fist high above his head.
“Enough!”
There was swoosh and a rush of sweltering heat as a wall of blue flames leapt
to life between them. Teddy took a faltering step back and brought an arm in
front of his eyes to shield himself. Behind Nerin he saw Billy stalking toward
them through the path of their destruction, hands balled into glowing fists at
his sides and eyes ablaze.
Nerin went to continue his attack but as he moved forward the flames reacted
and became brighter, hotter, and grew higher. The Atlantean prince fumbled
backwards, pupil-less eyes going wide and round like disks.
“I said enough!” Billy yelled as he strode right up the Nerin.
“How dare you,” Nerin countered, wheeling on Billy. “You order me after you
have shamed me by cavorting with this alien mutt?” He spat toward Teddy.
The cool, assured prince was there once again, just as he had been back in New
York when he had revealed himself to the kree and skrull. He was Prince William
Magnus I, not Billy. It was hard to believe that this seemingly emotionless and
imposing person lived within sweet, adorably awkward Billy.
“Yes,” Billy answered. “You are in my palace in the heart of my kingdom.”
Nerin’s fists clenched and unclenched and his nose crinkled and his lips rolled
up over his teeth. For a terrifying instant Teddy thought that Nerin might try
and strike Billy. He tensed, preparing to try and fly over the wall of flames.
But Nerin growled and spun to stomp away.
“My father will hear of this.” He shot over his shoulder. “You grandfather will
hear of this.”
Billy stared after him his hands still shimmering, blue fists. Once the
Atlantean prince had disappeared his shoulders slumped and the glow in his
hands faded, as did the unnatural blue flames. Teddy rushed to him but
stuttered to a halt right before he reached him. He extended an uncertain hand
to rest on his boyfriend’s arm.
“Billy…I…”
“It’s alright,” Billy whispered, the hand of his other arm coming up to rest on
Teddy’s hand.
“I should never have—”
Billy’s hand tightened on his and he turned and shook his head. “We’re both to
blame.” His brows looked heavy over his eyes. “We both knew this was probably
going to happen sooner or later.” He sighed and turned to face him but did not
let go of Teddy’s hand. “I need to go and speak with my grandfather.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“No, Nerin will likely be there and I don’t want my grandfather taking out his
anger on you.”
“We’re in this together.” Teddy stepped in closer.
“That will only piss my grandfather off. You go and find Xavin and Noh-Var and
get to your room. You’ll be safe there. I wouldn’t put it past Nerin to try and
have you killed. I need to know you’ll be safe.”
“I need to know you’ll be safe.” Teddy countered.
“Nerin wont hurt me. Besides, I’m going straight to my grandfather.”
Teddy opened his mouth to speak but Billy put his fingers to his lips. “Please,
don’t fight me on this one.”
Teddy closed his eyes and released a slow, heavy breath and gave a feint nod.
Billy’s fingers moved up and raked tenderly over the side of Teddy’s face.
“Love you Teddy Altman.”
“Love you William Magnus…so much…” he couldn’t help but feel like they were
saying it for the last time. It felt like they were saying goodbye.
Billy’s chin tilted up as tough he were about to kiss him but he seemed to
think better of it and whirled abruptly and walked away without looking back.
Teddy closed his eyes and wrestled the urge to chase him down. Billy was right,
he would only make things worse. Billy was in a world of trouble now and it was
his fault. It was all but certain that Billy would be forced to marry Nerin
soon in order to appease Atlantis and sooth Prince Nerin’s wounded pride. Billy
and Teddy would not be allowed to see one another again. It was over.
Palace guards had arrived and were directing Teddy back to his rooms. Teddy
followed their directives in a hollow daze. Somewhere along the way Xavin and
Noh-Var had joined him and were peppering him with incessant questions that
Teddy did not answer. What could he say? His life had fallen into a predictable
pattern of things going great and then things going total shit storm.
Once back in his chambers he walked to his balcony. He looked up at the sky and
felt it calling to him. He needed to fly. It felt like such a long time since
he had let himself soar among the clouds. But there was no way he could get
past the guards and leave the palace. Unless…
He began peeling off his cloths until he stood naked, the wind pecking his
exposed skin. He shut his eyes working to get the details right, even the
uniform. His hips narrowed, his hair went long, curving at his chin and turning
deep red. His skin turned blue and finally, with considerable effort, the black
and white uniform of the Red Guard followed. His eyes flickered open and he
glanced down at himself with approval. He sprouted wings from his back that
complimented his new form and pushed off into the air. No one would question
Agent Darkholme leaving the palace.
Sure enough, when two palace guards flew up to question him they allowed him to
pass when he told them he had business to attend to, mimicking the shape-
shifting agents voice patterns and mannerisms perfectly. Agent Darkholme really
was an excellent teacher.
He flew high and towards the city letting the air currents carry him. He tried
to consider what to do, how he might help Billy. That was when his conversation
with Emperor Kl’rt returned to him. Perhaps he should leave. Perhaps it would
be easier for Billy if he were gone. Maybe he really would be protecting him
from Nerin’s wrath and an invasion of skrull. Perhaps it really was best for
everyone if Teddy just left and returned to space where he supposedly belonged.
Anything was better than having to see Billy marry Prince Nerin.
                                      ***
Billy marched steadily toward his grandfather’s chambers, his feet carrying him
on a path away from Teddy and into the inevitable. His heart was beating in a
heavy bolero, deep and rhythmic. It was not the panicked, stuttering staccato
he would have expected. Perhaps there was a certain peace in facing the
unavoidable. There was no turning back. The gig was most definitely up.
The guards at his grandfather’s chambers opened the doors without a word at his
approach. Billy took that as a sign he was expected, which was a bad sign.
Inside, his grandfather was seated at his usual padded armchair and his Aunt
Lorna was at his side. Nerin was pacing like an angry alley cat before him. His
black-pearl eyes narrowed into fuming slits when he saw him enter. For once
Billy did not flinch or balk. Nerin had essentially caught Billy’s hand in the
cookie jar…or was it Teddy’s hand? It didn’t matter. There was no denying any
of it. It was time to come clean.
“I have never been so insulted!” Nerin boomed. “You defile our marriage pact by
having an affair with that mongrel! I demand recompense!”
“Silence Prince Nerin.” King Magnus commanded.
Nerin went rigid, quivering like a brittle piece of iron struck by a hammer
against the forge. His eyes never left Billy.
“You will explain yourself Grandson.”
Billy lifted his chin to meet his grandfather’s unyielding gaze. “It’s true.”
What else was there to say?
His grandfather’s nose wrinkled along the bridge and his brows bore down in an
ossified frown. He radiated displeasure.
Billy could remember a time when he had feared nothing more than displeasing
his grandfather. So he had been respectful, dutiful, and perfect. He had since
found something he feared more than his grandfather’s disappointment.
“I have been in a romantic relationship with Teddy since before the attack in
New York. It was why I was there.”
“Oh William,” his aunt sighed.
“Fucking despicable!” Nerin ranted, stalking toward Billy.
“Prince Nerin!” King Erik thundered as the Atlantean was pulled up short by the
gold bracers at his wrists and they jerked above his head, lifting him into the
air like he were a petulant child being reprimanded. “That will be all. I will
deal with my grandson in private.” Nerin Jerked against his decorative bracers
turned shekels and the metal screeched as it crinkled and tightened around his
wrists. The foreign prince winced. “Leave us.” The king dropped Nerin who
promptly stalked from the room, the doors slamming behind him.
Silence filled the room heavy and thick like polluted city smog.
“Explain yourself.” King Erik commanded.
Billy’s unceasing calm continued to confound him. “There is little else to say.
I was sneaking out as I said before and I met Teddy and…well…we started
dating.”
“Luna con—”
“I had already cast a spell to confuse her empathy before we spoke of it.”
Billy interrupted, anticipating his grandfather’s line of reasoning.
“You have placed us in a political conflict with Atlantis.” His fingers drummed
lividly against the arms of his chair.
Billy lowered his eyes. “I know. I’m sorry grandfather.”
“You continued your affair when you were engaged and after learning of who that
boy truly was. You knew what such a thing would cost this family. That was
unbelievably selfish.”
“I know.”
King Erik sighed and leaned back. “Fortunately Prince Nerin still wishes to
marry you.”
Billy’s eyes shot up. “What?”
“Yes, he demands to marry you within the week as amends for your
transgression.”
“No.” The words were flat and decisive and escaped Billy’s mouth before he
realized it.
King Erik’s nails dug into the arms of his throne. “Excuse me?”
Billy found he did not regret the statement. “No,” he repeated. “I will not
marry Nerin.”
“Billy,” his aunt cautioned.
“I will not marry him.” He insisted.
“This is not a request William.” His grandfather’s tone was turning dangerous
as he leaned forward.
“I love Teddy.” His chest went light and his shoulders rolled back. “And there
is no way in hell I am marrying that stuck up douchebag.”
His grandfather’s jaw literally dropped. Billy had never spoken to him like
this. His aunt ran the fingers of both hands through her hair, her face going
pale.
Billy turned and began to walk from the room. He had nothing left to say.
“You are not going anywhere William!” His grandfather shot to his feet and the
metal in the buttons and medals on his cloths began to tug him backwards and he
could hear the rankled thrum of his grandfather’s power spread through the
room.
Again, his mouth was moving before he was thinking. “Metalintorubber,
metalintorubber, metalintorubber...” there was a blue flash and all at once the
tugging at his cloths and the hum of his grandfather’s mutant gift ceased. All
the metal in the surrounding area had been transfigured into rubber, rendering
his grandfather and aunt powerless.
King Magnus’ eyes went wide and with a flick of Billy’s wrist the once metal
doors opened at the gesture. Neither his grandfather nor his aunt said another
word, both frozen in place in utter shock. Billy had just broken about five
different laws, his family would be in a political cluster fuck with Atlantis
but still he didn’t care. He was sick of being the perfect prince. He was not
going to be the good little boy he always felt he had to be. That was over. The
cost was too high. If his family couldn’t accept that then he didn’t need them.
There was only one person he really needed. It was stupid and childish. It may
be the wrong decision for so many reasons but he didn’t care. Teddy was it.
Teddy was the truth…he was home. He could feel it all the way down into the
viscid marrow of his bones like a broiling fever.
“Home, home, home…” he chanted, knowing exactly where those words would take
him.
                                      ***
Teddy sat at the top of a skyscraper, feet dangling over the edge, wind
sweeping his hair around in violent gusts, as he looked down at the city of
Genosha spread out under his sneakers. It all felt so quiet and peaceful from
this far up. From here he could almost forget everything that had happened.
From here everything looked as though it had its place and that everything was
going according to some master plan. It was such a tempting illusion. He had
not realized just how much he had bought into that illusion just a few months
ago. Now everything was different. He might never see this place again. He
might not see New York again. Shit, he might not ever see Earth again. It was a
crushing thought. But what choice did he have? There was no way he would be
allowed to stay. Maybe if he left with Emperor Kl’rt now he could prevent a
skrull invasion or foil one that had already begun. Maybe he could begin to
heal the fractured empires of his people—the kree and the skrull. Perhaps he
could throw himself into that so he could distract himself from the throbbing
loss of Billy, from the boy he loved and left behind.
There was a sudden flare of familiar blue light that caused Teddy to look up in
surprise. Billy hovered only a few paces in front of him, just out of arms
reach. There was a smile on his face. Teddy could not comprehend how he could
be smiling.
"How'd you find me?" Teddy asked.
Stupid question. Magic, duh.
"I'll always find you." Billy replied earnestly. Those words made Teddy want to
cry. Those words made his decision seem all that more impossible.
"Billy, I—" He was stopped by Billy gliding forward and grabbing both his ears
and pulling their lips together into a kiss that soft and sweet. He was stunned
at first, eyes going wide, but it never took him more than an instant to
respond to Billy. Immediately his hands were at the other boy’s waist pulling
him in tightly. He felt Billy's happy sigh flow up from his chest and into
their kiss and Teddy's heart ached. Billy's hands moved from his ears and into
his hair as one kiss streamed into another until Teddy was lost in it.  Teddy's
hands slid around to Billy's back so that his arms coiled his waist.  It felt
so right, like they were fractured pieces coming together.  His chest burned
with everything he was feeling. His eyes stung with unshed tears. He wanted so
bad to stay like this forever, high above the world, just he and Billy. For a
moment he could trick himself into believing that things could be that simple,
that life could be that perfect.
It was Billy who broke the kiss panting. He dipped his chin so their foreheads
and the tips of their noses touched. "I'm not letting you go." He said with
such simple honesty those tears Teddy had been refusing to let fall came
flowing forward. "I love you Teddy Altman. I am yours and you are mine."
Billy's arms draped around his neck.
Teddy could feel that awkward strength Billy had flow into him.  Strength that
was profound in that it was born amidst the chaos of self-doubt and
uncertainty, like pure sky after a storm.  There was something so comforting in
knowing that in all the doubts Billy had, Teddy was one thing he was certain
of.
"Runaway with me." Billy urged.
Teddy felt his stomach drop into his knees, extracting the breath from his
lungs. That was the craziest, most irresponsible thing he had ever heard. He
pulled his head back to look at Billy but did not detach from him. He searched
those warm, amber eyes, certain it was a joke, but there was only love there to
greet him.
“What about Nerin? Your betrothal?”
Billy flicked his head back flippantly. “Fuck’em.”
“Billy, your family—”
“I told them I love you and I’m not giving you up.” His grin returned. “They
can deal with it.”
Teddy felt himself blush. “This is crazy…”
“I know it makes literally no sense.” Billy laughed. “But I know that I love
you. I know that I could never have imagined loving someone like I love you. I
know that this is something worth fighting for.” He looked at Teddy and his
eyes were at once pleading and joyous. “C’mon, what do you say? Doomed lovers
on the run?”
Teddy looked back up and met Billy’s stare and tried to communicate everything
he felt with his eyes.  There was so much he felt that he needed to convey but
language failed him, every string of words he could think to string together
fell woefully short of how he felt inside. So instead he said: “I’m in.”
Chapter End Notes
     Next up: Billy and Teddy on the run! Lots of fluff. The choices they
     have made come home to roost and the end draws near.
***** Interlude *****
Chapter Summary
     Billy and Teddy are on the run and attempt to build a life together
     even as the rest of the world hunts them.
Chapter Notes
     Thanks to all of you who patiently stay with this story. Here is some
     fluff and a smidge of smut!
     WARNING: I am changing the rating of this fic to explicit for obvious
     reasons but the vast majority of it is actually probably teen. If
     you're uninterested in the decidedly explicit stuff skip the first
     section.
     I know I'm a broken record but it has to be said. The characters and
     world of this fic do not belong to me, they are Marvel's. Your
     feedback and comments are eternally welcome.
     Much thanks for all the comments and kudos thus far, they warm the
     demon, black icore of my heart!
     **as I was editing I added the dancing bit near the end...because
     this chapter didn't have enough fluff already haha. The scene was in
     my head and so I had to get it out. The song is Sweet Thing by Van
     Morrison**
See the end of the chapter for more notes
                                        
Time on the run: 1 hour, 28 minutes
 
“Teddy…” Billy gasped as the other boy bent his knees and grabbed Billy’s
thighs and lifted him up effortlessly.
And god…the ease with which Teddy could manhandle him was just too fucking hot.
Billy instinctively wrapped his legs around him and pulled them even closer
together. Billy’s erection pressed against Teddy’s abs and he just had to be
kissing him. He drove his head forward and caught Teddy’s mouth with his own,
lips parted and tongue darting into the welcoming warmth that waited. Their
tongues crashed together almost violently, smooth and wet. It was desperate,
panting, and utterly disorienting. The world was a tempered haze and the kiss
drove him into a frenzy of eager want.  
He wanted to be closer. He needed to be closer. He never wanted them to be
apart again, he wanted as little space between them as possible. He had chosen
Teddy, chosen him over everything else, and Teddy had chosen him back. They had
cast it all aside just to be together. It was stupid, it was reckless, and it
felt impossibly right. It left them both in a crazed sense of want.    
Teddy made a noise low and feral in his chest and walked him back, pinning
Billy up against the hotel wall, one arm sliding around Billy’s waist. Part of
Billy’s mind attempted to remind him that they were making a racket and
potentially disturbing other patrons but Billy was not sure he could manage to
care less. One of his hands twined roughly into Teddy’s hair while the nails of
his other hand dug into the other boy’s shoulder. Teddy pulled his hips back
and used his free hand to pull his cock up next to Billy’s and then rocked
forward.
Were he not intoxicated on lust Billy would have blushed at the needy whine
that escaped his throat. And then Teddy was moving against him, and by now they
were both sweaty and slick all over. Billy could already feel the burning
pleasure roiling low in his spine, flashing through him in sputtering waves.
Teddy’s mouth was suddenly everywhere, Billy’s neck, his shoulders, his chest,
anywhere he could reach without sacrificing their perfect alignment. Then he
was nipping and worry passionately at the skin at Billy’s collar, driving Billy
insane. All the while Teddy continued to roll his hips, his erection sliding
along Billy’s over and over again. Billy arched his back into it, adding his
own movements to it, chasing his own pleasure.
“Shit—Billy—I’m—you feel—fuck—I’m—gonna—” Teddy stuttered out in frenzied,
broken syllables.
“Yes,” was all Billy could groan, knowing what it was the other boy was trying
to say, and then their mouths were together again.
Teddy’s movements became feverish and erratic his kisses sloppy and aimless. He
grunted, his whole body going into a ragged spasm. Then there was a white-hot
explosion in Billy’s vision, his body scorched raw in ecstasy. He pressed his
face into Teddy’s shoulder and Teddy’s weight crushed him to the wall as he
leaned forward and they rode out the pulses together.
 
Time on the run: 18 hours, 47 minutes
 
“Animal style. Google says to get em’ animal style.” Teddy knocked his shoulder
into Billy’s as he stared down at his phone.
Billy glanced over at him with only his eyes, one brow raised. “Animal style?
What the hell is that?”
“Dunno, but the collective wisdom of the internet has spoken.”
“I mean, what kind of name is that?” Billy looked back up at the sparse menu.
“California’s weird…”
Teddy grinned. He felt so lucky. After everything they had been through he got
to have this. Billy in line at burger joint, no one knowing who they were,
puzzling over a menu ready to learn what all the fuss was about. Just two
teenage boys out for a bite to eat. It was so blissfully normal.
“Ok, I got it.” Teddy snapped his fingers together lightly, voice pitched low.
He leaned in close so that his nose grazed the hair at Billy’s temple. “We get
one basket of fries animal style and the other regular.”
Billy snorted out a laugh. “Teddy Altman, you’re a genius.”
Teddy nodded solemnly. “I know. And…I’m getting a double-double.”
“You’re also a pig.”
 
Time on the run: 18 hours, 59 minutes
 
“S’pretty good…” Teddy mumbled around a mouth full of burger.
Billy chewed thoughtfully for a moment. “I still think Shake Shack’s
better…it’s the fries…it’s definitely the fries…”
“Not sure I can trust that assessment.”
“And why not?”
“You don’t like ketchup. How am I supposed trust a guy who doesn’t like
ketchup?”
“Because I’m boyishly handsome.” Billy informed, angling his head and
peacocking.
Teddy blurted out a laugh, breaking out of the skeptical act he was playing coy
with. All around them other people sat at similar stone benches, shaded by red
and white umbrellas, totally uncaring of the two idiot boys and their
ridiculous flirting. The California sun was warm and comforting. It’s rays more
insistent and penetrating than New York’s. In fact, just about everything about
California was different, they put avocados on everythingand everyone was tan,
but anywhere would be amazing so long as he was with Billy. That sparked a
thought.
“You know…I purpose a cross-country burger tour!” Teddy pointed a ketchup-
coated fry at Billy. “Search out the worlds best burger joint! You know, for
science. Before we go and settle down.”
Despite his earlier critiques Billy stuffed more fries into his mouth. “Sounds
like a plan to me.” He took a long sip of his strawberry shake. “We’ve got all
the time in the world.”
Teddy stopped, holding his burger in midair, his mouth a tight line and his
eyes shinning. “Yeah, yeah I suppose we do.”
“Plus we can go anywherewe want.”
“Cause I have a magic carpet!” Teddy exclaimed, shaking a triumphant fist.
Billy frowned. “A magic boyfriend.” He corrected.
“Same difference.” Teddy took another bite of his burger with exaggerated
delight.
 
Time on the run: 19 hours, 8 minutes
  
“Onyoursix!”
A shimmering portal opened in front of Teddy, a window to the backs of their
pursuers. The backs of the SHIELDagents that had tracked them down and
interrupted their lunch. Teddy didn’t need any direction, didn’t need Billy to
say anymore. He read Billy’s intent effortlessly. He had already shifted into
his hulkier form, a giant of green muscle. He leapt through the portal and came
out through the corresponding portal that had appeared behind the SHIELD
agents. His arm elongated, elasticizing, and whipping into the three agents and
sweeping them into a parked food truck.
“Sorry!” Teddy called as he continued his run.
Billy took a deep breath and tried to call an image to mind, a place that they
could flee to that his family, and by association SHIELD, would not anticipate.
This first attempt at escaping had not gone particularly well. It had, in fact,
gone spectacularly bad. They had been caught up in the thrill of running away.
They had just left. They had taken nothing. They had just disappeared in a
flash of Billy’s magic, as tough it were that simple.
Billy had always wanted to see more of LA, so that was where they went. They
had rented a room in a fancy hotel and spent the whole night wrapped around one
another. Billy had blatantly neglected all of his training. Of course the hotel
would have cameras, of course SHIELD would have access to these cameras and be
able to use face-matching technology to pinpoint them. Billy knew all that, he
had been trained by them. It was a painfully rookie mistake.
“So, it turns out we suck at being fugitives!” Teddy yelled as he caught up.
“Didn’t even get to finish my burger.”
“We should’ve been more careful. Ishould’ve been more careful.”
“So we try again. We start over and do it better this time.” Teddy winked at
him.
Before Billy could respond another jet flew overhead. Billy knew what was
coming without looking. The telltale bamfand the smell of brimstone confirmed
his fears.
“We better fly!” Billy yelled as he leapt into the air, leaving the ground
behind.
Teddy was right behind him, the leathery flap of his wings carrying him into
the sky. “This…feels…uncomfortably familiar…”
“Worst case of dejavu ever.”
Bamf!
“Wha—”
Billy looked back just in time to see Teddy disappear in a cloud of purple
smoke. “Oh shi—noyoudont, noyoudont, noyoudont...”
Teddy and Agent Wagner appeared in a burst of light, crashing to the roof below
and both struggling to gain their feet. The Nightcrawler was nimble and rolled
to his feet easily, crouching and preparing to pounce again. Teddy managed to
scramble a few feet away from the teleporter giving Billy his opening.
“Forcefield!”
A glowing, blue bubble enclosed the agent. The Nightcrawler attempted to
teleport only to appear right back where he was. Teddy was airborne once again
and winging toward him.
“Secure the prince!” The familiar rasp commanded.
Above them Agent Howlett was diving down toward them, claws extended, and both
of the Darkholm’s behind him, both of whom were now blue-skinned and had
sprouted wings.
Billy knew what was coming next. They would focus on him and work together to
keep him off balance, keep him from concentrating so that he couldn’t cast
spells. They’d want to get the Rogue in close to drain him of his powers and
leave him unconscious. She had likely absorbed as many SHIELD agent powers as
possible in order to be prepared to deal with him.
He and Teddy were in way over their heads, there was no way the two of them
could take the Red Guard alone. They would catch them, they would take them
back to Genosha, they would send Teddy away, they would make Billy marry Nerin.
He would lose Teddy forever. Teddy could even be killed.
He had to teleport them out of there. They had to get them as far away as they
could. But he couldn’t conjure up an image. He couldn’t focus his mind. The icy
tendrils of panic were slinking up his legs and beginning to welter into his
chest, immobilizing him like a rabbit in headlights. He had to do something. It
was up to him. He had get them to safety. His breathing was jagged and rapid as
he tried to force his mind to settle on a place only to have the image mist
away. All the while the agents continued to descended upon them. He needed time
to think. He needed a moment to collect himself, he needed everything to—
“JUSTSTOP!”       
There was strange, jarring ring in the air after the words ripped from his
throat and he felt his power surge, blistering and wild. He was panting, his
nerves alight and humming under his skin.
“Billy, what did you do?” Teddy’s voice was hushed and filled with awe. Despite
how low his tone was it still felt loud against Billy’s ears.
It was then that Billy realized that the SHIELD agents were suspended above
them, frozen in their decent. But they weren’t merely suspended on a current of
air or some form to telekinesis. Their expressions were perfectly still. He
looked around and realized that not only had the agents been stopped, but the
entire world around them had ceased to turn. Leaves that had been floating on
gusts of wind, cars on the road, the jet in the sky, the people below, all of
it had been locked in perfect stillness. There was no sound, not the chirping
of birds, scraping of feet, or the ambient babel of a city that was alive and
moving. Everything had just stopped.
“Oh my god…” Billy gasped, bringing his hands to the sides of his head. “What
did I just do?”
His voice felt too loud in the complete silence. Without any other background
noise their voices were like the only sounds in existence. Even their breathing
felt uncomfortably brazen.
Teddy moved closer and let their shoulders press together. “I think…I think you
stopped time.”
“Holy shit,” Billy hunched over feeling his stomach roil at the realization. He
couldn’t do that! He wasn’t supposed to do that. He wasn’t supposed to be able
to do that. His mother had always said true time manipulation wasn’t possible,
even for them.
There were hands against his, pulling them gently but insistently away from his
face. “Hey…hey…” Teddy soothed, crouching in front of him. “It’s ok, you’re
ok.”
Billy dropped to his knees and shook his head. “I’m not supposed to…time
manipulation is dangerous.”
“It’ll probably wear off in a few seconds.”
“What if it doesn’t?”
“Then you’ll undo it.” Teddy said it with such genuine assurance Billy finally
looked up at him and met his eyes. Teddy gave him a smile. “You haven’t even
tried to undo it yet, so you can’t even be sure if it’s permanent or whatever.”
Billy nodded slowly. “You’re right…”
“Of course I am.” Teddy smirked and gave his hands a reassuring squeeze.
Slowly, Billy rose to his feet again and Teddy followed him. He took several
long, deep breaths and closed his eyes. He reached out with his senses, feeling
the weave of the spell he had inadvertently cast. He could feel the threads of
it, he could feels it's shape. He dropped into it’s current and bathed himself
in it, becoming familiar with the way it moved and breathed, taking it in. It
was complex, so incredibly complex.
I did this on accident?
“What’s the verdict?” Teddy asked when Billy opened his eyes. “Can you undo
it?”
Billy gave him a quick, shallow nod.
“See, there’s nothing my all powerful boyfriend can’t do.” Teddy leaned in and
pressed a quick kiss between Billy’s eyebrows.
“I shouldn’t be able to do this.” Billy muttered.
Teddy’s eyes crinkled lightly in confusion. “What do you mean? I thought you
could do just about anything.”
Billy shook his head. “I know it seems that way. But all my spells are just
little doses of reality warping. Localized anomalies.” He swept his hands to
indicate the frozen Red Guard. “Time, time is a force all on it’s own. It’s
everywhere. It’s connected to everything. It lives and breathes. Just trying to
manipulate it could have massive consequences. If I really stopped time…even if
it’s just in this area…who knows what it could be affecting…the consequences…”
“Then I guess you’d better do you’re thing, huh.”
“Yeah, let me just think of a place for us to teleport to. I’ll port us the
second I break the spell.” He reached out and took Teddy’s hand and twined
their fingers together.
Someplace…someplace safe…suddenly an image came to mind. He held to it,
clutched it to him tightly, like driftwood in a turbulent sea. He didn’t tell
Teddy where they were going. He didn’t want to chance saying it out loud. No
mistakes this time. We do it right.
He closed his eyes again, his grip tightening on Teddy’s. He placed the image
of where he intended teleport them to the side while he moved his awareness to
the time spell. He unshackled his power and unleashed it into the magic network
knitted around him with a word.
“Unpause...”
The world around them shuddered and sound returned in something akin to a roar.
This time Billy didn’t hesitate.
“Away...”
 
Time on the run: 19 hours, 35 Minutes
 
“Italy huh,”
Billy shrugged. “Florence to be specific. It was the first place that came to
mind.”
“I can get behind that.” Teddy replied. “So, what’s the new plan? You know, the
one where we don’t get interrupted by SHIELD agents while enjoying a nice
relaxing lunch.”
Billy smirked over at him. “You mean the one where we don’t act like total
newbs?”
“That’s the one.”
“We get a flat.”
Teddy raised a single blond eyebrow. “That’s it?”
“And maybe we have aliases.”
“Like spies!”
“Like spies.”
“Sweet, what are they?”
“We’re a couple of well off college students on exchange to study Italian.”
Teddy’s lips pursed. “That’s…kinda boring.”
“That’s the point.”
Teddy sighed. “So what’s my major?”
Billy lifted his shoulders up around his neck and grinned helplessly. “Art
history?”
Teddy snorted.
“Architecture?”
Teddy tilted his head side to side. “I guess that’ll do. What’s yours?”
“Ummm…psychology…”
“So are there burger places here? I’m starving.”
 
Time on the run: 1 month, 14 days, 19 hours
 
Billy yawned and scratched his head groggily as he came out of the bathroom.
 The morning sunshine was imposing itself tenaciously, filtering through pale
green curtains, highlighting the thick woven thread work and illuminating the
bedroom in hushed, honeyed light.  He stretched his sleep-stiff muscles arching
his back and reaching over his head with a yawn then looked around the room.
 It was much smaller than the rooms he had grown accustomed to in the palace.
The large, soft bed took up the majority of it but there was something cozy and
comforting about the space.  He guessed it might have something to do with the
sprawled out form under the coffee colored sheets.  Billy smiled.  He felt so
light and warm. He felt so happy he sometimes thought he might burst into song
or something as equally ridiculous.
He crawled onto the bed, onto a sleeping Teddy.  He heard the other boy mumble
something nonsensical, still half asleep.  He wormed his arms under him and
buried his face into the space where neck met shoulder, his favorite place to
nuzzle. The feel of his bare chest pressing against the sleep-warm skin of
Teddy’s bare back sent tiny jolts shooting up his spine and left his nerves
tingling in anticipation.  He wondered if he would ever get used to it,
wondered if he'd ever get to the point where he'd take it for granted—or
worse—not want it. He couldn’t fathom that reality.  
He nibbled at Teddy's ear. There was a dull clank as his teeth made contact
with one of the steel earrings that lined its shell.  Teddy muttered something
into the pillow.  
"Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey."  Billy chirped teasingly into his ear.
Teddy snorted sleepy laughter.  "You sound like an old man."  His voice was
gravely with sleep and muffled by the pillow.
"It is now past 10 and I am in desperate need of waffles."  Billy proclaimed.
 "Unfortunately for you, you have baked said waffles before and shown me that
you are some sort of waffle guru...or are perhaps mixing crack into the
batter...either way, your Liege demands waffles."  He kissed the corner of
Teddy's jaw.  "The penalty for insubordination is dire."
Teddy chuckled, rocking them both with the motion.  Billy continued to kiss his
way along Teddy's jaw moving up to his cheek, to this temple, and to his brow.
 
"You know, thatis going to get you something other than waffles."  Teddy noted.
"Can't I have both?"  Billy asked, trailing his kisses to the back of Teddy's
neck and down between his shoulder blades.
Teddy gave a throaty groan and then tilted sharply, sending Billy rolling off
of him and onto his back.  Teddy turned over on top of him and pinned him
against the mattress.  His body still radiated heat from being under the
blankets.  Billy felt Teddy’s hands grab his wrists and move them up over his
head their fingers lacing together.  Then Teddy's lips found his.
"You.  Are.  Insatiable."  Teddy managed between kisses.  "You.  Know.  That?
 So.  Demanding..."  
Billy laughed in response and wrapped both of his legs around one of Teddy's
and thrust against him.  "Maybe try being a little less perfect then."
 
Time on the run: 1 Month, 14 days, 20 hours
 
Billy sat at the breakfast bar of the flat they had taken up residence in.  His
legs swinging to and fro happily as he watched Teddy whisk batter in a bowl, a
mug of hot coffee between his hands.  The morning air streamed in from the open
French doors of the balcony and filled the open space that was their kitchen
and living room.  It all felt so blissfully normal.  They had fallen into a
natural rhythm that past month, like it had always been this way.  He found
that he could watch Teddy for hours just doing the most mundane of tasks.
 Billy wanted it to last forever.  He knew that it wouldn’t.  How could it
possibly last? Neither his family nor the kree and skrull were likely to give
up on them. At some point they would get lax, or one side or the other would
get lucky and they would be caught or running all over again.  They both knew
it even if they never talked about it.
Thinking of that reminded Billy that he needed to check the warding field he
had placed around the flat.  He couldn't afford to be lax on those sorts of
things.  He placed his mug down and hopped off the stool.  He closed his eyes
and reached out into the field. He could feel it wrapping around their home. It
felt like the slippery, wet sheen of a bubble, pliable but delicate. He moved
around the perimeter of the room sweeping his awareness along the field, making
sure there were no holes or weak points.  He visited each of the objects around
the apartment that he had enchanted to act as conduits to maintain the field: a
book, a candle, a potted plant.  Everything seemed in order and undisturbed.
 The field kept them safe from probes that were magic, telepathic, or technical
in nature.  It also worked to cast a sense of disinterest on whoever was
looking at the flat.  It was complicated magic that had taken a great deal of
time and effort to conjure, he was actually quite proud of it. He was getting
stronger. He could feel it now, ever since he had managed to freeze time in
California. His powers had likely been growing for some time but that had been
the moment he realized it—felt it. He wanted desperately to consult his mother,
to get her wisdom, but that wasn't possible.
His brows furrowed as he explored the field. It was odd that it had not even
been touched.  Billy had been certain that his mother would have been casting
locating spells and that the evidence of one would have shown across his field
by now but it was as pristine as the day he had crafted it.  Perhaps he had
done a better job in covering their tacks than he had thought on their second
try. Or his family was too caught up in the political fallout of their escape
to be conducting a more in depth search. He didn’t like to think of that option
and brushed it away.
"Your waffles are served my Prince."  Teddy mocked as he placed a plate down on
the breakfast bar with an exaggerated bow.  
Billy took in the delicious scent of waffles and joyfully moved back over to
the bar.  "You know you're a prince too, right?"  He sprung back onto his
stool.
"I'm not as used to it as you."  Teddy replied. "I didn't get to grow up in a
fancy palace."
"Hey, you even cut up strawberries to put on top!"  Billy exclaimed.
"My love knows no bounds."  Teddy answered with a charming grin as he handed
Billy the maple syrup.
Billy sighed, snatching the bottle.  "See, there you go, being too perfect
again."
 
Time on the run: 1 month, 26 days
 
"I'm seriously beginning to question your professed love for me." Billy
complained.
"Exaggerating much?" Teddy returned.
Billy held up the blue rays and shook them. "Uh…the fact that you are trying to
convince me to sit and marathon watch the Star Wars prequels suggests
otherwise."
"I'm just suggesting we rewatch them now that we're older and more mature."
"We know they're terrible." Billy insisted. "We don't need to rewatch them."
"We know everyone says they're terrible. Maybe, just maybe we've been letting
other people’s opinions color our memories." Teddy argued. "Don't you think we
should make our own decision on the matter."
Billy wrinkled his nose. "No…"
"I'll make you popcorn and scratch your head…" Teddy promised, wiggling his
eyebrows.
Billy scowled. "Don't put too much butter." He stomped over to the TV to ready
first movie.
 
Time on the run: 1 month, 28 days
 
“I will stroll my merry way...and jump the hedges first…”
The deep voice of Van Morrison strummed into Billy’s ears, warm and smooth like
honey. It was loud and insistent and pulled Billy from the copy of Dune he had
been rereading. He frowned and put the book down on his chest.
“And I shall watch ferry-boats…and they’ll get high…on a blue ocean.”
Billy smirked and slid off of the bed. He walked from the bedroom, leaning
against the threshold between the rooms. Teddy was in the middle of their
living room, crooked grin on his face, his expression expectant. Billy raised
an eyebrow and Teddy extended a hand. Billy snorted out a laugh but shuffled to
him, taking his hand.
“My sweet thing, sweet thing…” Teddy intoned along with Van Morrison as he
pulled him in close, one hand going to the small of Billy’s back while Billy’s
arm draped over his shoulders. “My, my, my sweet thing…” he whispered into
Billy’s temple and they rocked and trundled to the music.
Billy laughed, light and pleasant, letting Teddy spin them around. This was
theirs. This was everything he could possibly want. Despite growing up with all
the luxuries and riches he could ever want, this was the only thing he really
wanted: His arms full of Teddy Altman as they danced to around the living
room—theirliving room.
“And you shall take me strongly in your arms…”
Teddy dipped Billy backward, letting go of his hand to place them both on his
back. Billy crossed his wrists behind Teddy’s neck, a smile spread across his
lips as he tilted his head back, closing his eyes, as they leaned into the
music.
“And I will not remember…that I ever felt the pain…”
Teddy pulled him back upright bringing him in close, chests pressed tight.
Teddy’s hips swayed and Billy’s moved in time with him. Then he pressed a kiss
into the side of Billy’s head, right into his hair, breathing in a cheerful
breath before whispering: “Oh my sweet thing, sweet thing…”
Billy clung to him tighter, fingers twisting into his plaid shirt and for some
reason he felt like crying.
 
Time on the run: 2 month, 3 days
 
The rain was coming down in unrelenting sheets. The drops were sharp and hissed
as they crashed into the earth and the surrounding building. It shrouded the
lamplights of the tree-lined avenue below, turning them into hazy globs of
gold. It left the air with a fresh earthy scent, a clean scent. It would have
all normally been soothing but Billy’s thoughts were leaden and filled with
clawing dread.
He had made the mistake of turning on the news. Unrest continued to grow
between Atlantis and the surface. King Namor was becoming more and more
aggressive. The kree and skrull had made demands on Teddy’s return. The time to
return was drawing near. They couldn’t stay on the run. How could they? How
could they let others suffer for them? They were risking the lives of people
they cared about if they remained hidden.
The sweet scent of warm coco wafted into Billy’s awareness, a cozy blanket
clouding over his senses. He turned to see a steaming mug being offered down to
him where he sat crossed legged before the open doors of their balcony. Teddy
was looking down at him and smiling.
“Thanks,” he said, accepting the mug. The matted red ceramic was warm against
the palms of his hands.
He turned his head and looked back out into the night, back to his worries. He
was trying desperately to formulate some kind of plan. Teddy dropped down to
sit on the floor behind him, legs going to either side of Billy, his arms
slipping around him, drawing Billy in close so that they fit snugly together,
back to front. Teddy didn’t say anything for a long time. He just stared out
into the rain soaked night with him, a silent and steady support as always.
“We’re gonna have to go back, huh…” Teddy finally sighed. It was the first time
either of them had said it out loud.
“Yeah…”
Teddy’s only answer was to press his nose behind Billy’s ear.
“How stupid was I to think this might actually work?” Billy grumbled bitterly.
“To think that we could actually get away, be free.” He curled his knees up,
tucking in closer to Teddy. “Stupid…”
“I believed it.” Teddy offered. “Hoped for it. Guess that makes us both fools.”
“I thought: ‘my grandfather fought an impossible war, made the world a better
place for mutants when it looked like we’d be snuffed out, he can handle
Atlantis, he can handle the kree and skrull.’” Billy shook his head. “Stupid…”
“Maybe your family will figure something out. Maybe we don’t have to go back.”
“And what about your mother? What about the kree and skrull? Do you think
they’ll ever stop hunting you? Cause I don’t think my family will ever stop
hunting me.”
Teddy’s nosed pressed hard into Billy’s neck, arms tightening. Billy pushed
back against him, both to offer comfort and be comforted.
“They’d never let us be…” Teddy agreed.
“No…”
The silence crept back over them, a looming specter of their fears and doubts.
In the short time they had been on the run they had built a life together. It
had been so easy. It was the ease that made it feel that it could last, that it
was meant to be.
If they went back it meant that Billy would likely be forced to marry Nerin
despite all that had happened. Nerin was pissed but Billy had become a source
of pride, something to be conquered and brought to heel. He would insist on
marrying Billy out of pride if not for genuine want and affection. And Teddy,
well Teddy would likely be shipped off into outer space at the earliest
convenience with little attention being paid to which side laid claim to him.
Billy had wracked his brain over a way to keep both those things from happening
but every scenario he thought of led them down the same path.
There has to be something we can do that will keep them from splitting us
up…some play that will force them to think of a way to deal with Atlantis and
the kree and the skrull that doesn’t involve separating us.      
That was when it came to him. That’s when the idea struck Billy like a physical
blow.
Of course, why didn’t I think of it before!
“What if we were married when we went back?” He blurted suddenly.
Teddy’s head snapped up. “What?”
“What if we were already married? Maybe then they’d all get it, you know? Maybe
then it would force them all to figure out a solution that doesn’t involve
splitting us up. That would connect my family to the kree and skrull, maybe we
could get them to help us deal with Atlantis?”
Teddy shifted his head forward and strained his neck to look at Billy. “Hold
up, did you just purpose to me?”
Billy felt himself flush and ducked away from him. “Not very romantic huh…”
And then Teddy was planting rough kisses against Billy’s cheek, temple, and
ear. “Yes.” He finally said, pressing their heads together.
Billy laughed. “You sure? You can still escape the cluster fuck that is my
family.”
Teddy shook his head. “Not a chance. I’m with you. Always.”
And that left Billy feeling warm and tingly all over.
“Ok, so we just have to hold out until my birthday in a couple of weeks. We
need to both be 18 to get married right? Then we go somewhere and let everyone
recognize us. We let the whole damn world know.”
“Which will force your family to acknowledge it, keeps them from forcing us to
annul it in secret or something.”
“Exactly, and then…we figure it out form there I guess.”
He could hear the smile in Teddy’s voice when he spoke. “Best plan we’ve had so
far.”
 
Time on the run: 2 Months, 7 days
 
“I think you might’ve developed a caffeine addiction since we’ve been living
here.” Teddy noted as Billy gripped the mug eagerly between his hands.  
Emerald eyes lighting up as he brought it up to his lips, letting out a pleased
hum as he sipped.
Even after a couple of months it was still odd looking at Billy while his
glamor spell was in place; unruly red hair, pale skin, and a dusting of
freckles brushing over his nose and cheeks. It was unsettling to look at
someone you felt like you knew better than anyone else and somehow see a
stranger looking back. Like looking in a mirror and seeing someone else staring
back.
Ever since their first botched attempt at running away Billy had become extra
cautious. They never left the flat without having their chosen disguises firmly
in place. He had gone as far as to forge them the necessary documents to attend
school at the local university where they took an Italian class. Thus, they
came and went with backpacks and books like many of the other students
resulting in, what Teddy thought, was a pretty convincing cover. So convincing
it was tempting to think that they could disappear like this forever.
“I’ve just developed an appreciation for the local favors.” Billy replied,
still fully enraptured in his caffeinated beverage.
Teddy rolled his eyes preparing to retort, when a blond girl rushed in. “Turn
on the telie! There’s been an attack!” She cried out in a British accent.
The barista behind the counter complied without a word and the BBC winked onto
the screen. Both Billy and Teddy jerked their heads around to see what the
commotion was about.
“Our reports say that approximately 15 minutes ago Genosha was hit by a massive
tidal wave but it does not appear to be an act of nature. Reports are claiming
this was an attack by Atlantis. The Royal Palace was hit directly—wait—this
just in. It appears that this was an attack from Atlantis. Atlantean troops
have begun a siege of the island and both SHIELD and the Royal Army have taken
up the islands defenses.”
Teddy realized that his mouth was gapping open. He turned to look at Billy who
was still clutching the mug in pale hands. His eyes were hard and fixed on the
screen.
Teddy felt his heart give a painful lurch. He was filled with a confusing array
of emotions. He felt guilt over the trouble they had cause, worry over his
mother, and selfishly he was angry that this would signal the end of their time
alone. It was the end of the life they had built together, a reminder of just
how brief that time was. Their plan to get married and return to Genosha was
ruined and there was no telling what would happen now. They couldn’t seem the
catch a fuckingbreak. He would have been lying if he said he wasn’t at least
somewhat tempted to keep running and never look back. But they wouldn’t. That
wasn’t who they were.
Teddy didn’t feel guilty about his doubts, about the urge to be selfish. His
mother had once told him that to act honorably in the face of your own doubts
and reservations was the mark of true courage.
Billy placed the mug down firmly onto the table. “Time to go.”
Chapter End Notes
     Up next: The end! The finale! It's all led up to this! The war has
     begun. Billy and Teddy return home. How will it all end? Will our
     young heroes have their happily ever after?
     Just a heads up: I will be rereading all previous chapters in order
     to get my head in the game and ensure that all major story threads
     are sure to resolve. As part of that, previous chapters may undergo
     some minor edits for grammar and possible incongruities.
     Thanks for reading!
***** Deus Ex Magnus *****
Chapter Summary
     The final battle begins. Everything has led to this moment.
     Sacrifices will be made and it's up to Billy and Teddy to set things
     right. This is the end.
Chapter Notes
     It's finally here! It has basically been forever since I updated (so
     sorry for that!). This fic took way longer and grew into something
     much larger than I had originally planned. This is always how I
     imagined it would end and I am both excited and sad that it's drawing
     to a close. This was my first fic and it's been quite the journey.
     I've learned a ton in the process and want to thank everyone who has
     stuck with me, left comments and kudos. You are all amazing and
     fueled me through this!
     I also kinda lied. There will be one last short chapter, an epilogue
     really, that I will post very soon.
     Thanks again and please enjoy!
     P.S. as always I am doing this purely for fun, no profit. I do not
     own these characters. They are Marvels.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Ocean spray and sea foam blasted them as Billy and Teddy burst into existence
on the shores of Genosha in a halo of electric-blue. Screams, explosions of
sand, and the harsh smell of chard flesh and atmosphere whirled around them in
a disorienting, sensory bedlam. The waves crashed and churned and the ground
was rumbling beneath their feet. Billy stumbled back a step and Teddy's big,
green hand was at the small of his back, steadying him. Billy breathed, drew
strength from that simple gesture.
He didn't have long to savor it however. Battle roars boomed and a battalion of
Atlantean soldiers was already rushing them, spears and rifles raised. Teddy
let out a feral growl and rushed into the fray, a blur of green in a cluster of
blue.
Billy extended his hand and lightning crackled from his fingertips like he was
some kind of Sith Lord. Which, come to think of it, felt pretty badass. He
wanted to say something cool like "sith happens" but decided this might not be
the time.
The bolts of lightning glanced harmlessly off of Teddy and arched violently
into the attacking Atlanteans. They cried out as their limbs jerked and
contorted as the currents of electricity ran through them while Teddy continued
to throttle them. The victory was short lived. The beach was packed with blue-
skinned soldiers and more continued to surge up from the sea. There was a
sudden burst of laser fire as more soldiers descended upon them. Billy extended
his arms casting a barrier that blocked the energy attacks.
Overhead helicarriers were raining fire down into the ocean, crimson M's
flapping violently in the air. Tiny fighters jetted from the water, swarming
over the SHIELD carriers like a flock of angry wasps, relentlessly peppering
the massive airships. The tiny ships seemed poorly suited for engaging such
large crafts but they managed to take one helicarrier down sending it nose
first into the water with an ear-splitting crash. Death by bug bites.
Off to his right Billy saw his aunt engaged in battle with a battalion of
soldiers. The weapons and ships that Atlanteans were using must not have been
made of metal because his aunt was relying on a sheet of metal to both attack
and defend as she shaped and reshaped it over and over to suit her needs
dancing through her attackers, green hair lashing about unbound as she fought.
She flattened out the metal to block laser fire and instantly reformed it into
a cannon ball with a gesture, pinballing it into her foes and then calling it
back to wrap around her forearm and pivoting to block a spear with her arm as
it was brought down on her. Before she could counter, a twin set of blurs
zipped by, dispatching her attackers and then sprinting back over the ocean and
into the din.
“Pick up the pace, sis!” Pietro called back.
“I think you’re doing a great job, Auntie Lorna!” Tommy added.
There was a cry as Teddy hurled an Atlantean soldier into an oncoming cluster
of his fellows. Billy pressed the insides of his wrists together fanning his
hands and fingers out into something resembling a clam.
A blue fireball erupted from his hands as he yelled: "Hadoken!"
The blue ball of flames grew in size as it went, cutting a steaming swath
through the surf and exploding in an eye-aching burst when it collided with a
battalion of advancing soldiers.
"Nerd!" Teddy shouted back at him.
"You love me!"
Teddy gave a flippant shrug as his arm stretched out and his hand turned into a
massive claw that plucked up and flung a soldier coming up on Billy's left.
"Meh..."
"Seriously, a Street Fighter reference is probably the least nerdy reference
you've heard from me." A stream of blue fire burst from his hand, blasting
another Atlantean away.
Billy was shocked out of their easy, seemingly ever present, banter when he
caught sight of Agent Darkholm diving into the water. Her body quickly shifted
into the form of a shark before it sliced through the surface of the water.
Moments later she reemerged, jaws clamped down on an Atlantean soldier only to
be taken by the jaws of an orca in turn, disappearing back under the waves once
more.
This was battle. This was war. It was nothing like the movies. It was nothing
like the comics. It was savage, brutal, and terrifying. People died, people who
were born and bred on battle, people like Agent Darkholm. You could be the best
and you could still meet a gruesome end because, when all was said and done, it
all still came down to chance. This could really be the end for him…for
Teddy…for all of them. This wasn’t a game.  
“Sandintoquicksand…” Billy said, floating into the air and transfiguring the
ground around him and trapping the troops that had tried to surround him.
Teddy roared under a mound of soldier. He grew even larger and his body became
coated in spikes as he sent the blue-skinned warriors flying off of him. Billy
glided to his side. If this was the end, then Billy intended to face it, with
Teddy. There was no going back. But that didn’t mean Billy was going to move
haphazardly through the battlefield without a plan. That would be an easy way
to drain himself and become more of a liability than an asset. They needed a
plan.
"How about everybody just chills..." Billy said, causing the surf of the sea to
freeze and encase the majority of the advancing Atlanteans in ice.
It bought them a bit of time. Billy needed to speak with his Aunt and help
devise a strategy.
His magical display had managed to garner Lorna's attention. When she caught
sight of Billy the muscles in her face relaxed in blatant relief and she flew
to them.
"Billy! Thank god!" The sheet of metal she had been using had shifted and
cupped her torso as a breastplate. "I'm not even going to ask where you've been
or what possessed you to run. I'm just glad you're here. We need you."
That made Billy think. His mother should be here. His mother should be able to
make short work of this army.
"Where's my mother?" He asked.
Lorna's gaze swept away from Billy’s. "She's...occupied..."
"Meaning?"
"I don't have time to explain. We're being overwhe—”
The ice along the beech began to crack. The tide receded, crawling back and
leaving shards of ice and dark, damp sand. The Atlantean soldiers didn’t fight
the change in the current and allowed themselves to be pulled out to the sea
with it. Billy felt his stomach drop out from underneath him. This was bad. He
didn’t know what it meant yet, not exactly, but every nerve in him could sense
the deadly shift in the atmosphere.
“Shit!” Lorna cried, leaping skyward. “Get into the air!”
Billy and Teddy complied without thinking. That was when Billy saw the ocean
swelling out in the distance. That was when Billy realized what was happening.
Tidal wave!
He watched in horror as it rushed back inland, picking up speed and height. His
brain spun with images and ideas in an attempt to determine something that
would stop this. Stopping an entire tidal wave was going to take a lot,
something big.
Before he could so much as utter a word there was a thunderclap and a flash of
lightening. Queen Ororo flashed into existence, hovering over the beach and
facing the violent wave that was speeding inland. Her snowy hair billowed out
in violent tendrils, her eyes glowing white like the lightning she commanded.
The wind swept in harder and louder than an explosion, screaming towards the
ocean. The two elements collided in a raw clash of primordial power that sent
he, Teddy, and his aunt tumbling backwards even at their distance. Every nerve
in Billy’s body felt rattled and his ears were ringing. He instantly pitied
everyone that had been caught in the middle of it, but knew it was the only way
to save the majority of their forces. It was an incredible display of power
from the Kenyan Queen. It didn’t stop the tidal wave, but it prevented it from
being as truly devastating as it could have been.
The silence that followed the dueling elements was eerie and shockingly
complete as the waters and wind began to settle. That silence was shattered by
a single shot that resounded through the air. Queen Ororo’s body went rigid,
her eyes shooting open wide, their glow fading. Then she was falling, mouth
slack, and body limp, a goddess falling to the earth. A life snuffed out in the
blink of an eye. Again Billy was forced to face the chaos of battle, the chance
of it all. Someone as powerful as Queen Ororo, who had the elements at her
fingertips, could be shot down by some random Atlantean grunt.
There was a pained scream and a blurring streak of motion. His uncle Pietro was
underneath Queen Ororo, catching her before she hit beach. Billy had seen his
uncle with many different expressions on his face, known the man all his life.
He had never seen that look in his uncle’s regal features. It was pure anguish.
He cradled the motionless queen to him, his face buried in her hair.
“This is bad…” Lorna breathed, hand coming to her mouth. “Without Queen Ororo
those tidal waves are going to decimate us.”
“I can deal with them.” Billy said before he even thought about it.
Of course it had to be him. Without Queen Ororo, and without his mother, who
else was there that could deal with a force of nature like a tidal wave? It had
to be him.
I can do this.
“What?” His aunt demanded.
“What!?” Teddy echoed, albeit louder and higher in pitch.
Billy reached out for the hand that he knew was there without looking and then
turned to meet Teddy’s eyes. “I can do this.” Teddy’s eyes were pleading. “I
need to do this. I can turn this around.”
Teddy swallowed and it was as if he was chocking back the protests he had been
preparing to make. He gave Billy a single nod, his lips pressed together in a
tight line.
“Billy, what are you going to do?” Lorna asked, moving between them.
“I’m gonna take control of the sea.”  
                                      ***
Teddy pulled Billy in for a quick kiss. “I got your back.”
“I know.”
“Be careful.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Love you.”
“I know.”
“Oh, now you’re gonna pull that?” Teddy laughed.
Billy nodded in self-assured seriousness.
Teddy chuckled and shook his head. “Whatever you say, flyboy. Go kick some
Atlantean ass.” He morphed his face into that of Princess Leia’s and altered
his voice to match. “You’re our only hope.”
A surprised and delighted laugh burst from Billy’s chest, his smile wide and
brilliant.
Teddy’s face morphed back. “Seriously, you got this.”
Billy nodded. Reluctantly, Teddy released his hold on him.
This isn’t the last time we laugh together. Teddy assured himself. This isn’t
the last time I’ll hold him. This isn’t the end.
Billy’s eyes shut and he began to chant: “Poseidon, Poseidon, Poseidon…” his
eyes went blue like they always did when he worked those astounding powers of
his. The clouds swirled over him and the sea began churning beneath him,
twisting into a whirlpool below his feet until Billy hovered within the nexus
of a spiraling sea and sky. Thunder boomed and lightning skittered from cloud
to cloud. In an instant, in the reiterative utterance of one word, Billy became
the sea. He became something otherworldly. He became something devastating,
primordial, and godlike.
Billy rose high into the sky, like the break of dawn, a corona of blue light
and a jets of water arching around him in a protective cage. Teddy and Princess
Lorna flew in crisscrossing loops around him, ready to defend him from any
incoming threats. Billy swept his arm in a dismissive gesture and the ocean
complied with his command, torrents of water moving away from him and pushing
the Atlantean fleet farther out to sea as tough they were merely a child’s bath
toys. He lifted his other hand and the surface of the water erupted into a
blade of pressurized water that sliced through the hull of one of the ships,
sending its bisected halves sinking below the waves.
The tiny fighters that had been engaged with the hellicarriers changed tactic
and zipped toward Billy. Teddy tensed, ready to attack the fighters by any
means necessary but Billy’s arms whipped up and around in a fighting pose and
the ocean stirred. Massive tendrils of water snaked their way up around Billy,
kraken tentacles poised to defend him. As the fighters came the aquatic
appendages swatted them away like they were nothing more than annoying gnats.
Teddy realized he was holding his breath. He let it out with a huff. He had
seen Billy do some incredible things but this might be the most impressive.
Billy had given himself the power of an omega class mutant and was
singlehandedly turning the tide of a war. It was like nothing Teddy had ever
seen before.
SHIELD and the royal army rallied around Billy’s sudden command of the
battlefield. What had been looking like a loosing battle was swiftly turning
into victory for House Magnus. That meant that Atlantis quickly changed tactics
and focused everything they had on Billy. More fighters flew at him, and troops
soared skyward. Billy was their main target now.
Teddy threw himself at his boyfriend’s attackers with a savageness that
surprised even himself. At one point he flew through the engine of one of the
tiny fighters causing the aircraft to explode in a shower of debris, flames,
and smoke. It left Teddy coughing, his ears ringing, and feeling disoriented,
confused about what was left or right. He shook the confusion away as best he
could. He had to keep his head in the fight.
“BETROTHED!”
Teddy turned to see Prince Nerin rocketing toward Billy fists out in front of
him, prepared to act as a bettering ram to knock the mutant prince out of the
sky. Teddy knew first hand just how strong and fast the Atlantean Prince was
and Billy was distracted with halting yet another tidal wave. Teddy threw
himself in Nerin’s path without a thought. There would be no one to stop their
fight this time. This would be the end, one way or another.
Teddy managed to catch Nerin around the torsos and they tumbled out of the sky,
crashing into the shore. Teddy must have been crashing to the ground far too
often lately since it hardly seemed to affect him and he had managed to regain
his feet easily. Nerin had recovered just as easily and was already charging.
“Filthy, fucking half-breed!” He roared.
Teddy’s skin hardened like stone, his muscles corded and bunched, and he
drugged up every ounce of his strength and training. He elongated his arm and
enlarged his fist, bringing it down onto Nerin’s back and slamming him into a
sandy creator.
Hitting that asshole would never get old.
He brought his fist down for another attack but Nerin rolled away and Teddy
only struck beach, a cloud of sand pluming into the air. Then his opponent’s
knee was jabbing into Teddy’s ribs and he roared out as pain speared up all
along his side like fire. He pivoted but Nerin was already inside his guard
hands gripping his shoulders as he drove his knee into Teddy’s gut. But Teddy’s
density had shifted and become even harder and this blow was less painful,
though not by much. It was enough however, it did not unbalance him. A third
arm produced from Teddy’s stomach and sent Nerin soaring into the surf with an
uppercut.
Nerin was incredibly strong and fast. He had a lifetime of experience and
training that Teddy did not have. But Teddy’s power set provided him an edge—a
slight edge—he had to remember to use. Agent Howlett had told him to never give
quarter when he had the upper hand and he had no intention of going against
those teachings now. He leapt skyward, hardening his fist, preparing to end
Nerin with one devastating strike.
Once more Nerin’s speed and ability to recover saved him and he managed to leap
to the side, narrowly escaping Teddy’s attack. Suddenly there was an arm around
Teddy’s neck and a knee slamming into his back. Finger’s clawed into Teddy's
hair and pulled. Kicks landed on the back of Teddy’s knees and he was falling
forward into the shallow water. He cried out instinctively and was rewarded
with a gagging mouthful of briny, ocean water. His eyes stung and his lungs
ignited in his chest as though they’d been set afire. Panic claimed him and he
flailed madly in an attempt dislodge the prince from his back, but to no avail.
Nerin was strong and had leverage on his side. The angry fingers in his hair
clawed into his scalp and pushed his head into wet sand.
Black bursts began to irrupt in Teddy’s vision. He felt his muscles beginning
to spasm. This was it. Nerin had won. But perhaps by now Billy had done enough
to ensure victory. Billy might live. That was something, something worth dying
for.
Goodbye…I’m sorry…
He closed his eyes and was prepared to meet his end when a rush of oxygen swept
into his chest in a shuddering rush. He felt the water expel from his chest and
the crushing pressure within it ooze away. His eyes snapped open, thinking he
had been pulled from the water but he was still submerged. He realized the
oxygen was coming from somewhere other than his mouth or nose.
Gills! I’ve sprouted mother-fucking gills! He realized in a mad, giddy rush. He
was breathing underwater. His body’s ability to adapt to his environment on its
own never ceased to amaze him.
Nerin thought he had won, he had to have felt Teddy’s muscle spasms and sudden
stillness. It was time to surprise him. It was time to end this.
Teddy relaxed and shifted the composition of his body. He let his entire body
become pliable and rubbery like goo. He slipped from Nerin’s hold, snaking
around his back, eliciting a cry of shock from the Atlantean, and coiling
himself around him like a serpent. Now it was Nerin’s turn to be cut off from
air, to feel the life giving force be denied, to feel death slowly claim him.
Nerin thrashed and raged but Teddy’s form had become wholly elastic and
absorbed the assault without trouble. The attacks served only to deplete
Nerin’s energy and air supply further and soon Teddy felt a familiar shuddering
in Billy’s former fiancé’s muscles before he finally went limp. Teddy withdrew
his hold and let the prince slump to the ground. He reformed into a more solid
state and noticed a shallow rise in Nerin’s chest. Even in battle, killing did
not come easily to Teddy.
Fire exploded across Teddy’s chest as a laser cut through him, then another,
and another. He was surrounded by Atlantean troops that had come to the aide of
their Prince. He went to a knee trying to refocus but they closed ranks on him
and overwhelmed him with a never-ending barrage of laser fire. He couldn’t
concentrate, couldn’t get his body to respond to his mental commands. He lashed
out blindly but couldn’t see past the blaze of energy blasts.
Screams spewed from the soldiers and there was a brief break in their attack.
It was all Teddy needed. He leapt up, sprouting a few extra limbs, a barrage of
fists and legs slamming into the attacking soldiers. He caught a glimpse of
what must have bought him his opening. One of the Atlantean troops had turned
on his fellows, firing into their backs. One of the soldiers tackled his
unlikely ally to the ground and Teddy plucked the soldier up and flung him off
and into the distance.
“I suppose a ‘thank you’ is in order.” Teddy said, offering the traitor his
hand.
A ripple moved through his savior, skin going from blue to pale, and baldhead
growing a long main of sunny-blond hair. Warm, familiar eyes crinkled at the
corners with a smile.
“Mother!” Teddy pulled her to him in a crushing hug. “Thank god.”
His mother patted his back. “Well, hello there.”
“How did you escape? How did you find me?”
“The prison cells were damaged in the initial attack. I worked my way out when
it was clear things were getting bad out here. I saw Billy up there and knew
you wouldn’t be far away.”
Teddy pulled back, hands on her shoulders, and smiled. “Lucky guess.”
His mother rolled her eyes.
“Where’d you learn to shoot like that?”
“I learned a few things when I worked for your mother.” She winked.
“Clearly…listen you—”
There was a rumble above and suddenly there were four cruisers that dropped
down over them. Two looked like some strange, floating, hornets nests. The
other two looked something like zeppelins crossbred with rockets. They were
harbingers of violence and death hovering over them. The kree and skrull had
arrived.
Of course…of course they’re here…we’re so fucked…
                                      ***
Billy jerked his head upward at the unexpected appearance of the star cruisers.
Alien troops began to immediately poor from the ships, flying down on wings and
jetpacks. It was an unfortunately familiar sight, albeit a much larger force
than what had attacked him before. That was the last thing they needed. They
had barely begun to deal with the Atlanteans, there was no way they’d be able
to repel both the kree and skrull as well.
They were probably screwed, but that didn’t mean Billy was willing to just
throw his hands up and surrender. He looked up to the clouds and they went dark
and heavy. Poseidon was god of more than the waters of the ocean. He was a god
of storms. Lightning began to rain down on two of the cruisers in furious,
white-hot streaks. It wouldn’t be enough to take either ship down but it might
be enough to weaken them, buy their forces some kind of opening. He could only
hope his family or SHIELD could use it to their advantage.
Overhead the cannons of the Skrull cruiser pivoted toward Billy aimed and
locked. The barrels went hot, glowing an angry, pulsing orange. Billy gestured
wildly, hoping to summon enough water from below to shield him from the attack
but he knew it was way too little, way too late. There was a hiss as the lasers
fired and a rush of heat. Billy screwed his eyes shut against the blast waiting
to be seared out of existence. But it never happened. Billy blinked his eyes
open to the blast dissipating around an electromagnetic energy field. His
grandfather and aunt were hovering just above him, arms spread out and faces
contorted in effort. They had just saved his ass.
"Keep it up, William." His grandfather commanded with a nod and the barest hint
of smile. "We will guard your back."
Billy could not help the swell of pride that blossomed in his chest at his
grandfather's words and simple gesture. His Aunt Lorna smiled at him as she and
her father moved back to back.
“Commander Shaw, shift hellicarrier fire to those cruisers. My grandson will
deal with the Atlantean bastards.”
So that’s the plan…not exactly tactical brilliance…
But Billy could not claim to have a better one in mind.
Once more the world detonated into violent disarray. It was anarchy. Mutants,
Atlanteans, kree, and skrull were all locked in combat. It was very unclear who
exactly was fighting who at that point. It was a free for all. There was no
discrimination, too many armies on one battlefield.
Paging JRR Tolkien…
Billy refocused his efforts on the Atlantean fleet swirling a portion of the
ocean into a whirlpool and pulled two ships in, spinning them about until they
came in close and crashed into one another. His newly obtained power over the
sea was highly effective over the Atlantean forces but there was one area he
could not penetrate, one area where the sea did not obey him. It was magic,
sirens most like. Whatever was behind that magical barrier was causing the
tidal waves. It was also likely that Atlantean command was there as well. If
that wasn’t enough Billy could sense the workings of another spell, one that
was already beginning to take effect. It was a power-dampening spell of some
kind. More problems they did not need.
That barrier needed to be taken down along with whatever other spells were
being worked within it. Magic needed to deal with magic however, and Billy’s
powers were locked up in maintaining the Poseidon spell. He would have to break
that spell in order to properly address whatever magic the sirens had in play.
That would also mean giving up the one major advantage they held over Atlantis.
Billy bit his lip in frustration. He wished that his mother were here. They
needed more than one magic user on the field.
“IMPERIUS REX!”
Billy whipped his head in time to see yet another member of the Atlantean royal
family flying towards him. This time however, it wasn’t Nerin. It was his
father, gleaming, golden trident in hand and aimed at Billy’s chest. Once again
someone came to Billy’s rescue, but this time it wasn’t Teddy, it was his
grandfather.
The trident was ripped from King Namor’s grip and spun in midair, preparing to
impale the king. Namor barrel rolled away from his weapon however and continued
his flight toward Billy. King Erik pressed his assault, shards of metal slicing
into the Atlantena king. Still he came, his skin healing where the metal had
pierced him. King Magnus managed to pull a sheet of metal in front of him to
shield him as Namor hurtled into him pushing them up higher into the sky.
Billy was unable to track their movements as more opponents were swarming him
already. Kree, skrull, and Atlantean’s all came at him. Once more he
transformed the ocean waters into tentacles, weaving them around him to swat
down his attackers. A streak of flame lanced toward Billy and he only just
managed to block the fires with a tendril of water, steam hissing into the air
around him.
“What have you done with our prince!?” Emperor K’lrt demanded, a rocky fist
aimed at his face.
He was almost on top of Billy when a thick chain wound around the super-
skrull’s neck and he was yanked, violently in an arch over Billy’s head. His
Aunt Lorna hovered in closer wrapping the chain tighter and tighter as she
pulled the emperor in closer. There was a sharp, metallic snap as Emperor K’lrt
caused a force filed to bloom out from around him, shattering the links of the
chain. Lorna’s face remained impassive as she reformed the links back into a
chain and brought it in close like a pet python as the emperor rushed her.
Not wanting to be left out of the fun, Supreme General Genis-Vel was next to
come at them. But Billy had seen him flying out from one of the ships from a
long way off. He struck the kree general with a well aimed bolt of lightning
that sent Teddy’s half-brother careening out of the sky.
Billy was an obvious target for all sides to attack. He was the trump card for
House Magnus and both the kree and skrull would want him due to his connection
to Teddy. He was insanely vulnerable floating where he was, but focusing on
that fact wouldn’t help. As previously acknowledged, Billy was the ace in the
hole for his family and he needed continue his onslaught in order to try an
remove at least one army from the battlefield.
He went back to focusing on the Atlantean fleet but apparently Genis-Vel wasn’t
finished just yet. His skin was a translucent, shimmering canvas of the
nighttime sky.
Right…stellar energy absorption…fuck.
Billy swan dived backwards and flew down close to the water, abandoning his
tactical position at the Genosian battle line, but there was nothing to be done
about it. Seawater spurted to either side of him as he jetted across the water
and head-on into the Atlantean fleet. Energy blasts singed past him as he
dodged left and right on pure instinctual whims. He spun over to fly on his
back and sent arches of razor-sharp, pressurized water pinwheelling at the kree
general only for him to evade them or swat them aside. Billy switched tactics
and sent geysers skyward at him, turning water into ice as it struck Genis-
Vell, encasing him. It served to only slow the kree leader for a moment and he
broke free and continued with his relentless pursuit.
Billy zipped toward one of the Atlantean watercrafts, slicing through its hull
with a streak of water. He jetted through the wreckage of metal and screaming
crew and began to work the water into a heavy mist that obscured the
surrounding area. Abruptly, Billy pulled up to a stop and turned to face the
Supreme General. He fired spears of ice like missiles that only served to brake
harmlessly against the cosmically powered kree.
Billy’s eyes went wide and his mouth gaped wide in terror. Genis-Vell’s speed
increased and his features became confident. Or at least Billy thought they
did, it was hard to tell with the whole The Starry Nightthing he had going.
Then Billy pulled the mists closer around him and dropped under the water and
waited.
BAM!!!
Genis-Vell struck the siren barrier that the Atlanean’s had constructed and
plopped motionless into the water. Billy burst from the water to face the
magical field. It had not broken but the kree warrior had damaged it. Billy
shed the Poseidon spell like a cloak in warm weather. He reached out and felt
the fractures in the spell, the chords of siren song.
“Unchained Melody!” Billy cried out, fist pulled back and shrouded in blue
flames.
He struck the barrier with everything he had and the blue fire spread along the
cracks the Supreme General created. The arcane flames began expanding those
cracks widening the gaps and corrupting the deadly nocturne and turning it in
upon itself violently. It was a magical chain reaction that culminated in
something akin to a thunderclap, bone splintering and eardrum shattering, and
then a blinding explosion that sent Billy crashing backwards.
                                      ***
 The sea ignited into a sizzling flash of blue heat that knocked Teddy and his
mother backwards. Teddy knew that shade of blue. Teddy did not know if it was
possible, but somehow he could even feel something familiar in the force that
sent him thudding onto his back. It was familiar in a way that you could hum
the melody of a song without being able to recall the lyrics.
Billy…
He didn't know what Billy had done but it had thrown the Atlantean troops into
feverish disarray. It had Teddy worried. He looked up. Billy was gone from his
place in the sky. That couldn’t be good. He sprouted wings from his back and
moved to leap skyward once more only to have a hand grip his shoulder to
restrain him.
“You can’t.” His mother hissed. “You’re more vulnerable in the air.”
Teddy turned to her. “I have to. That blast was Billy. He’s in trouble.”
“He’s a prince, remember? House Magnus will be making his safety their top
priority.”
“The kree and skrull are looking for you.”
“I can’t leave him.”
His mother gave him a small smile, a sad smile. “I know, dear. But you have to
be smart about this. You can’t just fly around the battlefield looking for
him.”
As if to punctuate his mother’s point they were swarmed by a group of kree
soldiers. He shifted his arm into a shield to block the incoming laser fire
from their blasters. His mother returned fire from behind the cover he provided
in quick, clipped bursts. She managed to knock two out of the sky while the
rest continued to close in on them. Before they could reach them however, they
all lost consciousness and flopped limply to the ground without so much as
word.
“Teddy!”
He turned in time to see Luna jogging toward him. Her face was smudged with
dark patches of what looked like soot and the golden armor she wore was dented
and singed. As she drew near, the princess faltered and slumped into his
shoulder. Teddy brought an arm around her waist to support her.
“You okay?” He fretted.
“Yeah,” Luna panted. “Just need…to catch my breath.”
“Thanks for the assist.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Do you have a fortified position to fall back to?” Teddy’s mother asked.
Luna pushed away from him to stand on her own and began re-gathering garbled
strands of her hair into a ponytail. “We did…before the kree and skrull showed
up. Everything went to hell after they got here. And it’s only getting worse.
Whatever Billy did out there broke any semblance of order the Atlantean’s had.”
“You can tell that was Billy too?” Teddy asked.
She nodded. “That’s why I’m here. He’s unconscious. We need to get to him.”
“What are we waiting for, lets go!”
“Follow me.”
They ran after Luna. Teddy could read the fatigue in her stride and the heaving
in her shoulders as she breathed. She was at the edge of her limits but he
would worry about that once they had secured Billy.
They wove their way through the battlefield, encountering enemies on all sides.
Teddy and his mother focused on their opponents letting Luna conserve her
energy and focus on finding her cousin. They continued down the coastline until
Luna finally broke away and waded out into the surf.
He’s here!” She cried out bending to lift Billy’s head from the water where
he’d been floating on his back.
Teddy was there in an instant and scooped his unconscious boyfriend from the
sea and pulled him in close to his chest.
“C’mon, sweetheart.” He whispered frantically. “You’re okay. Don’t do this to
me.” He laid him down on the beach and realized in a panicking flash that he
wasn’t breathing. “Shit!”
“Ted,” his mother’s voice sliced through the terror, like a bullet through
glass. “Tilt his chin up, plug his nose, and give two quick breaths into his
mouth.”
“Right,” he nodded and began moving through CPR, counting to 30 as he pushed a
palm into Billy’s chest. “Breath Billy.” He ordered before blowing into his
mouth twice more.
Sooner than he expected Billy coughed and spurted ocean water out of his mouth,
managing to get a fair bit into Teddy’s mouth in the process. That should have
been gross but Teddy was too overwhelmed with relief to even register it.
“Scared the shit out of me, Magnus.” Teddy breathed.
“Well…” Billy coughed out, eyelids still droopy. “Y’know me…always gotta be
dramatic.”
“Yeah,” Teddy sighed.
“Hey there idiot.” Luna interjected with a fond smile. “Finally decided to join
the party.”
Billy reached out a hand that his cousin took. “Sorry Luna, this is all my
fault.”
“Our fault.” Teddy corrected.
“No time for that.” Luna said. “Besides, I get the feeling that Atlantis was
looking for an excuse to invade anyway.”
“We need to get to a defensible position.” Teddy’s mother cautioned peering
around nervously before glancing down to smile at Billy. “Hello there,
William.”
“Ms. Altman.” Billy smiled.
They were interrupted by more laser fire. Luna cried out as a bolt hit her in
the back of the knee and she fell forward.
Billy’s hand went up and a shimmering dome sprung up around them. The lasers
dispersed around the barrier but Teddy could tell it was fragile defense and
that Billy was still feeling weak.
“We’re being surrounded.” His mother cried, spinning around and taking in the
forces coming in.
The situation was looking particularly bad, which was saying something given
the day they had been having. Teddy began running through their options but
with both Billy and Luna in their weakened states there weren’t many. There was
one option. It was stupid and would likely end in his death but…
“Don’t even think about it.” Billy gritted out, fingers twisting into the
collar of his shirt.
“What?”
“I know you, Altman. No trying to go and surrender yourself to save the rest of
us.”
“He’s right, Teddy.” His mother chimed in. “That won’t work.”
With his only idea deflated, Teddy hung his head feeling utterly helpless.
There was no telling how long Billy’s force filed would hold and more and more
enemies were closing in on them. This couldn’t be it, after everything, this
couldn’t be how it ended for them. But it could couldn’t it. Life wasn’t fair.
This wasn’t a comic book or a movie. This was the real world.
There was an unexpected flash of crimson light and a glowing pyramid grew into
existence next to them, just outside of Billy’s barrier. Out of that mysterious
triangle a giant girl stepped and began swatting at the soldiers and ships that
were around them. As the gunfire shifted to focus on her she suddenly shrunk to
normal size, falling out of the sky, and momentarily baffling her attackers.
That was when a man in an ironman suit rocketed out of the pyramid of light and
caught her before she could hit the ground. He dodged and wove through the
airborne soldiers and ships before tossing the blond up into the air and she
promptly grew to enormous proportions once again. Hands free, the iron boy then
began unleashing lasers out of the palms of his metal-gloved hands.
Then a girl with flowing brown curls joined them, brawling her way through
kree, Atlantean, and skrull alike. Teddy could tell she was strong because each
hit sent her foe’s rocketing away with stunning force. As if that was not
shocking enough, that was when Teddy’s friends emerged from the glowing pyramid
to join the fray.
“What. The. Shit?” He breathed.
Karolina soared into the sky and linking up with the curly haired girl and
iron-armored man and adding her rainbow colored blasts to the fight. Chase ran
out onto the beach, fire jetting from mechanical gauntlets on his hands forming
a wall of flames that scorched along the shoreline.
Victor was next to make his presence known on the field of battle, moving up
beside Chase and spread his arms wide into the air, pulling hundreds of metal
scraps into a swirling maelstrom around him and assembling them into metallic
monster. When it was completed Nico joined him brandishing a golden staff. She
pointed the staff at the metal piece of modern art Vic had assembled and
shouted:
“Golem!”
Pink light from the staff enveloped Victor’s construction and it began to come
to life its massive metal limbs sweeping through the soldiers on foot and in
the air alike.
“Knock, knock!”
Teddy turned to see an amused, and familiar bespectacled face through the
barrier.
“Gert!”
Billy allowed to pass through the barrier and she rushed in while Kate fired
arrows into the few enemies that had managed to evade the attacks of their
friends and Eli protected her from incoming attacks with a shield. Gert made
her way over to them and on her heels was a—
“Is that dinosaur!?” Teddy gaped.
The creature in question had a golden nose ring and was placing itself
protectively between Gert and the battle.
“Oh, yeah,” she smiled. “This is Old Lace.” The dinosaur regarded them with
bit, predatory eyes.
“A Deinonychus, nice.” Billy admired.
“Velociraptor?” Luna attempted to correct, not sounding certain.
“Nope, Jurassic Park got that wrong.”
Teddy kissed both of Billy’s cheeks before planting one on his lips. “I love
you, you glorious nerd!”
“Well, nice to know some things haven’t changed.” Kate smirked. “Still
disgustingly cute and in love.”
“My prince!” Xavin cried, streaking over on a stream of flames. “Where have you
been!?”
“Theodore-Vel!” Noh-Var followed suit, twin guns firing into their attackers
casually as he sprinted toward them.
Teddy rolled his eyes. “Seriously, you two never learn.”
“Stay back!” Teddy’s mother ordered, the muzzle of her gun sliding between the
kree and the skrull as they came through the force field.
“Mom,” Teddy started.
“They’re alright, Mrs. Altman.” Kate assured. “They just want to keep Teddy
safe. They’re not interested in capturing him.”
“That’s right, they’ve helped us.” Gert confirmed.
“How in the hell did you even get mixed up together?” Teddy asked.
“Long story.” Eli grunted. “We’ll entertain you with it when we’re not under
threat of death by about ten different armies.”
“Right, now we have to get the two of you to safety.” Gert informed.
Billy sat up. “Why us?”
“Mostly you actually. Nate will explain when we get someplace safe.” Gert
answered.
By then Nico and Victor had also joined them. The brief advantage they had held
by the sudden arrival of their friends—and the new friends of their friends—was
beginning to wear off. They were being swarmed again as more soldiers from the
more soldiers of the three armies were drawn to the commotion.
“Billy?” Teddy asked, noting how pale he seemed.
“M’alright,” Billy assured. “Just drained. Need to rest.”
“I can help.” Nico offered, stepping forward. “I think…” she presented the
staff out in front of her. “Magic staff.”
“You know how to use that thing?” Teddy asked skeptically.
“Of course—mostly…”
Billy nodded his permission to her and she pointed the tip of the staff at him.
“Recharge!”
The staff shimmered pink once more, as did Billy. A buzz broke into the air
around them, a buzz that became a screech as Billy began to glow blue and a
link of light formed between him and the staff. Nico gasped and pulled on the
staff and Teddy hauled Billy away, bodily shielding him from the offending
magical item.
“S—sorry!” Nico got out as she managed to pull her staff upright. “I’m still
new at this.”
“It’s okay.” Billy breathed. “The spell worked.”
“That was…weird…” Nico glanced down at the staff in her hands.
“There was a…reaction…” Billy supplied, patting Teddy’s hand reassuringly.
Teddy kept his hands on Billy as the other boy got to his feet. “A reaction?”
Billy nodded. “Yeah…my magic and the Staff of One’s magic are…different, but
similar. It’s complicated”
“How do you know the Staff of One?” Nico asked.
“I had a pretty good teacher.”
“Alright, Billy’s juiced up. Let’s go.” Gert interjected.
“Where?” Teddy asked.
“The Great Hall.” Luna suggested from where she was seated as Teddy’s mother
wound a strip of cloth around her injured knee. “It’s close and meant to
withstand missile assault in the event of an emergency.”
Billy held up a hand that crackled with blue lighting. “No problemo. I’m back
in the game. Assemble the troops.”
“Incoming!” Xavin cried out, arms going up to add her own force field to
Billy’s.
A blast from the cannons of one of the kree cruisers tore toward them. There
was a sizzling flare that blinded Teddy as the blast struck the combined
barriers Xavin that protected them. He heard the barriers shatter under the
assault and a concussive force heaved them off of their feet. Teddy’s ears were
ringing so loud it was all he could hear. He blinked over and over, trying to
clear his vision with marginal success. Gradually, images and shapes began to
reemerge but they tumbled about in dizzying circles that caused his stomach to
roil and forced him to squeeze his eyes shut again.
“Billy! Mom!” He cried out.
“I’m here,” Billy called back. “We all are. We’re all okay.”
“Thanks to you and Xavin.” Luna added.
More blasts hailed down around them causing the ground to shudder.
“Are they mad!” Xavin coughed, from where she had fallen to her hands and
knees. “The prince is here!”
“I told you!” Teddy’s mother cut in. “They will kill him before they allow him
to be captured by their enemy.”
Teddy took several deep breaths and tried to focus on the feel of his limbs
beneath him and finally felt like he could trust his eyes again. Around him all
his friends were also in various forms of disarray. Above them the aerial
battle had drawn closer as kree and skrull fired on one another as well as down
onto the beach and ocean. Combatants were everywhere. Things were devolving
more and more rapidly.
“Do we have a plan?” Karolina asked as she flew in to land near them. “This is
getting bad.”
The girl with the dusky skin and curly hair landed next to her. “We got to
move, chico’s.”
“Agreed. Billy’s safe. Mission accomplished.” The mechanized boy joined in.
The blond giant-girl had joined them as well, though she was once again down to
a reasonable size.
“Yeah, as happy as I am about that,” Billy said. “Why was I the target of some
ragtag group of teenage heroes rescue mission?”
“It’s complicated.” The mechanized voice answered.
“It involves time travel.” Gert added.
“And dimension hopping.” Kate chirped.
“Fuck…” Teddy huffed.
“Right, info dump later.” Billy conceded, rubbing his fingers into his temple.
“That’s all of us.” Chase said. “Make with the teleportation magic and lets
move.”
“Wait!” Luna cut in. “What about my dad, Tommy, and the rest of our family?”
“Billy’s all that matters.” The iron boy returned. “The rest of us are bonus.”
“This whole, ‘only Billy matters’ business, is starting to feel ominous.” Teddy
grumbled, stepping closer to his boyfriend.
“Can we get a message to them? Call them in?” Kate asked.
“No time princess.” The curly haired girl replied. “Nate’s right. Prince
William is the one we need to save or all of reality goes hasta luego.”
A fresh round of explosions rocked them.
“We go. Now!” Nate commanded, clearly used to calling the shots.
Above them, the fight between the kree and skrull cruisers was beginning to
result in debris toppling down around them. King Magnus and Namor were charging
back at one another and Princess Lorna was sending spiraling disks of metal at
Emperor K’lrt. Billy was beginning to chant his teleportation spell when the
sky literally ripped open as tough it were merely a tapestry. Which seemed
impossible—and weird—but that’s what happened. It cleaved apart right across
the cruisers, King Magnus and King Namor. All of them disintegrated instantly
in a burst of polychromatic, pixelated cubes.
“Grandfather…” Luna gasped. “Aunt Lorna…”
“It’s a lesion.” Billy whispered.
This day just wouldn’t let up.
                                      ***
Billy’s gaze jerked from Teddy to the sight he was gaping up at in the sky
above. Where his grandfather and aunt had once been. Where now resided the
biggest lesion Billy had ever seen. Back and forth his head whipped between to
two sights, Teddy and the horror in the sky. His breathing came in harsh,
panting heaves and he could feel the hammering of his heart throughout his
entire body. He could feel the lesion spreading. He could feel it disrupting
reality around them. He knew that it wasn’t going to stop, that it would only
continue to grow. He was the only one who even had the barest hint of a chance
at closing the lesion before it continued to expand and devour everything.
His eyes pricked with tears as he looked at Teddy, knowing that this likely
meant his own death. He knew Teddy would be angry, tell him that there had to
be another way, but there wasn’t, there truly wasn’t. Billy bit his lower lip
until he tasted the sharp, tang of his own blood on his tongue. He squeezed his
eyes shut forcing the tears out of his eyes. He looked back at the rip in
reality as it disintegrated everything in its vicinity, just as it had his
grandfather. He looked at Teddy, the boy he loved more than anything, the boy
he would do anything to save. He began to slowly step away from him.
As if sensing his thoughts, as if sensing his distance, Teddy tore his eyes
away from the horrific scene above and searched out Billy, anxiety already
blooming in his features. Teddy’s brows furrowed in confusion, seeing something
in Billy’s expression. His eyes glanced up at the lesion and back at Billy. He
knew. His eyes went wide and pleading and he slowly shook his head.
“I’m sorry.” Billy muttered. It wasn’t near enough. It was pathetic really.
“NOOOOOO!!!” Teddy roared, lunging at him.
Billy took a shuddering breath and jumped into the sky.
“BILLY!!!”
“Supersonic.”
In a blink Teddy and the rest of his friends were gone. He was far away from
the beech and hovering near the lesion. It was like stepping from the desert
into the rain forest. The air around him had become thicker somehow. It became
difficult to breath. Yet he also felt strong, he felt all-powerful. He knew the
feeling but it had never been so intense. It had never been so excruciating, so
exquisite. His cells sang with it, a chorus of chaos and creation. He was
adrift in that vast ocean of infinite power, losing himself.
Breath! He commanded himself. Fucking, breath!
He forced himself to inhale, to feel the air filling his lungs, expanding his
belly and chest. He pushed it out in a forceful exhalation, feeling himself
empty. He fell back into himself, heavy as a feather. Another breath in, his
power welled up within him. He was a conduit of chaos magic, he was a shaper of
reality, he was the son of Wanda Magnus.
“Iwantittomend, Iwantittomend, Iwantittomend…”
He spun coils of chaos magic and laced them along the edges of the lesion. It
was so much larger and wilder than the ones he had dealt with before. He had to
draw on more power than he ever tried to wield but he still had to maintain the
fine tuned control he had learned over the course of his training. He also had
to attempt to keep from losing his mind in the process, that would be good. He
knit the ropes of his power across the void while trying his best to maintain a
barrier that kept the disruptive power that radiated from the lesion from
hurting anyone else.
“Iwantittomend, Iwantittomend, Iwantittomend…”
His muscles strained so hard he felt like the veins in his neck were going to
burst. Sweat poured down his forehead and soaked his cloths. He realized that
he was in pain. It was gushing through his body aching waves. But it wasn’t the
stabbing pain of being cut or punched. It was the dull pain of being drained,
of losing too much blood. This is what it felt like to die, to be sucked dry.
“Iwantittomend, Iwantittomend, Iwantittomend…”
He felt the lesion pulling in on itself as he willed it to close. He knew this
was the end for him. He knew that this spell would utterly drain him, like a
used up battery. But he would close it. With his last breath he would shut this
lesion and save everyone he cared about. This was the moment that Nate had been
talking about. This is what he needed to live for. He had to save reality from
the lesions. He had to pray that this would fix the whole mess.
A fresh wave of pain vaulted through him and he cried out, breaking his chant,
his concentration shattering into broken shards inside his mind. He clamped
down on the scream and ground his teeth. Deep lines burrowed into his forehead
as he fought to maintain his hold on the lesion. He couldn’t fail. He couldn’t
let them down.
Teddy’s face flashed through his minds eye.
Teddy smiling at him as he held out his hand beckoning him to dance…Teddy’s
dimples flashing in the neon glow of a noodle bar…the citrus, summer-sweet
smell of him…the warm press of his lips…the taste of him. He saw Teddy laughing
heard it deep, and honeyed.
Billy roared out at the lesion. “Iwantittomend! Iwantittomend! Iwantittomend!”
He had to succeed, for Teddy. It was going to be close, but he had to do it. He
could do this one last thing.
The lesion edged closer and closer in upon itself. Billy felt more and more of
himself siphon into the spell. His head was getting light and his breathing
felt labored but he held fast to the spell. He felt coldness seeping into his
limbs and consciousness was becoming tenuous. He began to realize he could
fail, that he could die and it would mean nothing.
The scent of jasmine wafted into his awareness. The tinkling of thin bracelets
flittered into his ears. Then his mother was floating in front of him, brown
locks fluttering in the wind. For an instant he thought he was hallucinating in
his weakened state, but when her hand cupped his cheek he knew it was her. He
could have cried in relief if he had had the strength.
“It’s alright.” She whispered.
Her hand dropped away from his face and took one of his. He felt a channel open
between them as their powers joined, forming a link. Together they set about
mending the lesion.
That was when Billy detected it. That was when everything started to make
sense, clicking into place like pieces of a puzzle he only now saw the shape
of. His powers, his mother’s powers, the connection he and his mother had to
the lesions. The images he saw when he mended them, it all finally made sense.
This was why his mother never wanted him experimenting with his powers on time.
Now, with a lesion this size, with his mother’s power combined with his own, he
saw it all clearly for the first time. It horrified him.
Time and reality were wrapped and fused together in the lesion, writing
together like oozing ingredients in a pot. As he reached his senses into it he
saw it, the inconsistencies in the pattern, the flaws. This wasn’t real. It was
constructed. The reality in which they lived was artificial—a lie. The lesions
were a breakdown in this fabricated existence, like reality and time were
fighting back against the abomination. Billy inhaled sharply in disbelief.
There was only one person in all existence that could do something like this.
“Now you understand.” His mother sighed. “This is all my fault. This world…I
created it…I thought—I thought I could sustain it…but it’s crumbling around
me.”
“Why?”
Bully turned to her. They were suspended in the maelstrom of their magic,
reality, chaos, and time. They felt outside of it all somehow.
“It is a long, sad story.” She lowered her head and tears leaked from the
corners of her eyes. “One we do not have time for. It’s up to you my son…my
sweet, gifted, courageous boy. I wanted you to be happy. That’s all I ever
wanted for you and your brother. But now my sins fall to you. I’m so sorry.”
“What do you mean?” Billy shook his head. “You’ll help me. We’ll fix this
together. We’ll make things right.”
Wanda shook her head sadly. “Too much of me is wrapped up in the spell. It’s
joined with my very existence. With each lesion I lose more and more of myself.
Even now I am barely holding on.”
“No,” Billy recoiled at the realization.
“But I can give you what’s left of my power. I can grant you what is left of
the Life Force stole and locked within myself. I can give you a chance to make
things right.”
“Mother don’t!” His grip tightened on her hand but to his horror his hand
closed in on itself as his mother’s hand dissolved between his fingers.
“Goodbye, William.” Her form was fading right before his eyes. “Tell your
brother I love him.” Billy reached for her but his hands drifted right though
her. “I believe in you.”
“Mother, don’t!”
She erupted into a flurry of scarlet motes of light. They fluttered around him
like curious fireflies before whipping into a whirling frenzy and colliding
with him. A surge of power hammered into Billy with the force of a hurricane,
filling him with more power than he had ever felt before. The Life Force…a
magical glimmer of near infinite power danced through his veins. He understood
the lesion better than he had before. He could read it as tough it were a
child’s picture book laid out before him. He felt removed, above everything. It
was all so easy. It was all so clear. He was the Demiurge and all of creation
was his to do with as he saw fit and he saw much that needing doing.
“Mend…”
                                      ***
Teddy flew after Billy. He had no chance of catching him. Billy’s spell caused
him to break the sound barrier as he rocketed toward the lesion, but there was
no way in hell Teddy would not give up that easy. He had seen the look in
Billy’s eyes. He had seen the resolve and the sorrow. He knew that Billy and
lesions were linked, that each time he sealed one it drained him. One this size
was going to kill him.
“My prince!” Xavin cried as she zoomed up beside him. “You must come back. It
is too dangerous near that thing!”
Teddy didn’t even bother to look over at his skrull guardian. “Go back Xavin.”
“With all due respect your highness, no.”
Teddy didn’t have time to argue and didn’t have the energy to waste on
convincing Xavin to turn back. He had to get to Billy. He had to get to him
before he sacrificed himself. They were honestly ridiculous. It was like they
were in some kind of morbid race to see who would sacrifice themselves for the
other first. They really were in some sort of Shakespearean drama.
He pumped his wings hard and kept his focus on the lesion. As he neared it the
air became denser and it took more energy to fly, like trying to fly through
syrup. A strange wind gusted from the lesion, pushing against them. Above, the
air around the lesion whirled and twisted like the inside of a soapy bubble. He
couldn’t make out any exact shapes. He couldn’t see Billy.
Then Teddy collided with something solid. Because of course there was another
force field, it was the story of his fucking life. He tumbled backwards only to
feel cool metal hands gripping him by the armpits and guiding him back up
toward the lesion. Nate.
“We’ve got to get to Billy.” The iron clad boy said in his mechanized voice.
“We’re still at the divergence. Fixing this lesion won’t solve the problem. He
can’t die here.”
Teddy shook free with a flap of wings, desperation was beginning to eek into
his mind. “There’s a barrier.”
“Then lets hit it with all we got, chicos.” The girl with long, curly brown
hair and the jean jacket embroidered in the American Flag said.
“That might not be enough, America.” Nate noted.
“Got any other brilliant ideas?”
“Nope…”
“Then operation smash is a go.” She pulled the sleeves of her jacket up and
punched a fist into the palm of her other hand.
“I’ll help too.” Karolina added as she flew up.
Nate nodded. “Alright, Karolina, Xavin, and myself will blast it at the same
spot with all we got and then America and Teddy can pummel it with fists of
righteous fury and love.”
“Lets go!” Teddy said, impatience winning out.
“I’ll hit it first, you two aim for the same spot.” Nate instructed to Karolina
and Xavin. “We have to time this so we stop just as Teddy and America hit it.”
“Be careful, America.” Karolina said.
“The woman is a living, breathing battering ram. She will be fine, darling.”
Xavin returned with a sneer at America.
“Says the space lizard.” America rolled her eyes.
Nate extended his hands out and blasted twin laser beams of startling white.
“Less jealous bickering, more taking out the force field to save the reality
manipulating, sorcerer prince.”
Karolina and Xavin followed his lead and Teddy and America jetted up on either
side of the beams of lasers, rainbow colored energy, and jets of flames.
Erratic ripples skittered across the magical field that separated him from
Billy, like waterfall spilling into a still pool.
"Ready?" He roared over the deafening roar of the energy blasts drilling into
the barrier.
"Bitch, please!" America dismissed.
"Three, two, ONE!"
As one, he and America slammed their fists into the shield. Teddy didn't know
where his super-strength came from. It had always just been part of him. It had
grown with him as he got older. He didn't really know how to summon it and he
had no idea how he was going to throw all of it into this one strike. He just
did it.
Please be enough. Please be enough!
It wasn't enough. The barrier held. Because maybe when it came down to it…maybe
they were all just gnats compared to Billy and his reality warping powers.
"Shit..." America cursed.
"No!" Teddy hollered, slamming his fists into the barrier again and again. "No!
No! NO!!!"
He hit it over and over until he felt the muscles and bones in his fists
protest loudly with razor-sharp pulses of pain. He didn't stop. He hit the
stupid fucking shield over and over. He was so angry. He was angry with Billy
for sacrificing himself. He was angry at the kree and the skrull for starting
this war. He was angry at House Magnus for not allowing he and Billy to just be
together. He was angry with Atlantis for just generally acting like a
collective nation of dicks. He was angry with himself for not realizing what
Billy had been doing sooner.
He realized he had stopped hitting the barrier at some point and was leaning
against it, eyes close and stinging, breath coming in panting heaves.
Billy...
And then there was silence. It was so sudden and so out of place over the
tumultuous rush of the lesion and the sounds of the confused armies that it was
somehow as loud as atom bomb. He looked up and realized that barrier was gone
and the lesion with it.
And there was Billy, hovering in a glowing corona of living gold. He looked
ethereal, and serene, and utterly devoid of everything that made him Billy. He
looked like some kind of otherworldly spirit or god. Teddy felt something sharp
and hot lance through his chest.
Too late...I'm too late...
He flapped his wings and approached his boyfriend slowly. He wouldn't be
afraid. If Billy willed him out of existence then fine. He'd rather not exist
than live in a world where he had failed Billy, where Billy was no longer the
boy he loved.
"Teddy!" America hissed in warning but Teddy ignored her.
Billy's glowing, vacant gaze fell on him and Teddy swallowed hard. "Hey there,
handsome." He greeted, flashing a wide smile. "Had me worried there." The blank
stare didn’t waver. "That was one hell of a lesion, huh? Way to show it who's
in charge." Teddy tried to keep the frantic panic that he was feeling jitter in
his gut from his tone.
"I can see it." Billy muttered, almost to no one, voice distant as tough coming
from the bottom of an old well. "The pattern of everything. It's so
complicated...and so simple...I can rewrite it all. I can make it better. I can
make it perfect this time."
"Not sure the whole of reality is something you should play around with,
Billy."
"I am the Demiurge. All of creation is my domain." And that voice echoed and
resounded like a rolling thunderclap, coming from everywhere at once.
Teddy could not stop the wince that darted across his face. He pushed it back
and forced himself to meet those depthless eyes. He flew closer. "I know you
are, sweetheart. I've always known you were the center of everything…” he
looked down and whispered to himself: “Or at least the center of everything for
me."
The Demiurge's features softened and seemed to almost become confused.
"I just need to know you're still with me, Billy." He was close enough to touch
now and reached shaking hands out and cupped his face and the Demiurge blinked.
"I'll follow you into any realty you want but I need to know I haven't lost
you."
The Demiurge let out a long breath and his eyes shut.
"Billy?" Teddy pleaded.
"Teddy..." The eye's opened and those warm, light-brown eyes that he loved so
much stared back at him. "M'still here."
"Scared the shit out of me, Magnus." Teddy sighed in relief and pressed a long
kiss to the corner of Billy's mouth. He almost dropped out of the sky in
relief. "What'd I say about running off and sacrificing yourself to save me and
the rest of the world?"
"You're one to talk." Billy snorted and looped his arms around Teddy's
shoulders and leaned their foreheads together.
"Let's make a pact then, huh?" Teddy suggested. "We both put an end to that
shit. You go I go. I go you go. Period. One for all and all for one and all
that."
Billy nodded. "I can do that."
"Deal."
"Teddy..." Billy's voice broke. "I've got so much power right now—too much. I
can feel myself slipping. I'm afraid to use my powers. Like, I’m freaked to
even transmute water into soda. If I open that door I don't know if I'll be
able to come back again. I can't anchor myself. But reality is crumbling around
us, if I don't do something we'll literally be unmade."
Teddy cupped his neck. "You came back for me. Let me be your anchor. I got
you."
Billy shuddered but nodded again. "I might have a plan."
Teddy could hear the sounds of gunfire again. He heard screams. "We might be on
a bit of a time crunch."
"Yeah, okay..." Billy pulled away and gripped Teddy's hand tightly. He took a
deep breath and muttered: "Regroup."
Blue light exploded around them. Teddy lost sense of the world around him like
he always did when Billy teleported them. Sound, smell, sight, and touch all
faded into the glow of Billy twisting existence around them, except the feel of
Billy's hand in his. He willed everything he could into that touch used it to
try and tether Billy to him.
When the light faded he immediately turned to look at Billy and was relieved to
see that Billy's eyes were still human. It had worked.
"Told you I had you." Teddy assured.
Billy smiled back.
He looked around and realized Billy had taken them to the Great Hall, like Luna
had suggested earlier and they weren't alone. He had teleported all of their
friends, including the new friends of their friends. He had even managed to
bring Teddy's mother, Princess Lorna, Prince Pietro, and Tommy and, to his
surprise, agent Howlett and Agent Darkholm (the power draining Darkholm not the
shapeshifter). The group all looked around at one another in surprise at the
sudden change in surroundings and then all eyes were on Billy and Teddy.
Billy stepped forward but didn't release Teddy's hand. He held it like a
lifeline. Despite that, his voice was steady and clear.
"This is where we make our last stand." Billy informed to all he had gathered.
"This is about more than Atlantis. This is more than the kree and skrull. This
is about all of reality." He cast his gaze over everyone. "You all saw the
lesion. That was just the beginning. Even now I can feel more and more of them
slicing through the world, unmaking it."
“Who decided that you’re in charge?” Prince Pietro demanded. His eyes were red
rimmed and his lips pulled into a snarl. “I am the crown prince! With my father
gone—”
“Shut up, Pietro!” Princess Lorna barked. She was dabbing at a gash that was
bleeding over her right eye with a piece of ripped cloth. “Let William talk.
He’s the only chance we have.”
“Only chance!? He abandoned us! He ran off with his alien boy-toy and caused
this whole mess.” Pietro countered. Teddy tightened his grip on Billy’s hand.
“Dad,” Luna ventured.
“Where’s my sister?” Pietro demanded. “Where’s Wanda?”
Teddy could feel Billy tense.
“She’s gone…” Billy said in a quivering voice, just above whisper. “She’s
gone.”
Pietro squeezed his eyes shut, mouth quivering, and wrinkles forming along his
nose and brow. “I knew it.” He whispered.
“Mom…” Tommy breathed. “Billy?”
The twins locked gazes and communicated in that silent way they always did.
Teddy watched as Tommy shuddered and pressed the knuckles of his closed fist to
his mouth.
Billy’s eyes drifted shut and he took a long, slow breath. He released his hold
on Teddy’s hand. "This world. The world we have been living in…it isn't
real...it was created by my mother in her grief over the loss of my brother and
I in our original reality. This reality is crumbling, coming apart at the
seams. My mother tried to keep it together but she—she gave me what was left of
her power, to try and fix this—to try and undo what she did.”
Teddy watched all of Billy’s poise and strength begin to waver. He stepped up
behind him and placed his hands on his shoulders and squeezed. He stepped in
close, forehead pressing to Billy’s temple. He knew Billy was trying to be
authoritative and strong. He knew Billy was strong. But he also knew the toll
losing his mother had taken. He understood the magnitude of the burden he
shouldered. He knew they were stronger together than they were alone and he
didn’t give a shit what everyone saw now. Billy’s engagement to Nerin was the
least of everyone’s worries now.
“Can you fix it?” Lorna asked.
Billy’s back straightened. “No.”
Panic skittered throughout those gathered like a swarm of frantic bees.
“My mother couldn’t even fix it. This world isn’t real. It goes against the
natural order of things. It’s being rejected like an organ that has been
transplanted into someone else’s body.”
“Then what will happen?” Karolina asked the fear apparent in her voice.
“I don’t know.” Billy answered. “Reset, start from scratch…” He shrugged.
“Then what do we do?” Pietro demanded.
“I can’t fix this reality. I can’t stabilize it. I can’t undo a spell that
someone else wove. But I think I can rewind it.”
“Rewind it?” Lorna asked.
“Yeah…it’s sorta like re-stitching a blanket along where it has been ripped.”
Billy explained.
“Then what?” Luna joined in. “Will we remember? Does that buy us time?”
“None of us would remember any of this.”
“Then what’s the point?” Pietro shot.
“I can’t reverse my mother’s spell but I can introduce a…a wrinkle into
it…create an opportunity for it to be reversed by my mother.”
“She can fix it?” Lorna’s tone was hopeful.
“I don’t know if this reality can be saved.” Billy conceded. “But she could
undo the spell and return things to the way they’re supposed to be.”
For the first time in this conversation Teddy felt dread grow in his gut and
seep into his bones. He knew nothing of this other reality. He didn’t know who
he would be—who Billy would be. He didn’t know if they would ever meet in that
world.
“It’s the only chance we’ve got at even existing.” Billy said, voice soft and
apologetic. “Most of us—most of us will meet again.” He looked back at Teddy
and he knew he was speaking to him.
“But we wont remember any of this.” Tommy fumed.
“No…”
“Then what’s the point?!” Pietro raged.
“We exist.” Nate refuted. “I’ve seen the time stream. America and I have seen
the multiverse collapsing. We’ve seenthe void, the complete emptiness we could
become. Billy is the only chance we have. He is the only chance creation itself
has.”
Luna moved to Pietro’s side and took his hand. “Father, grandfather…Aunt Wanda,
Ororo…they could all be alive again.”
Pietro rubbed at his eyes angrily with his free hand. “Alright…alright…just do
it.”
“What do we need to do?” Lorna asked, her voice lined with steel.
“I don’t know how long the spell will take. It’s complex, I can’t rush it or I
could make things worse and I doubt we’re so lucky that the three other armies
out there will go home and let us be. Most of you will need to keep me safe
until I can complete it.”
“Easy enough, kid.” Agent Howlett stepped forward. “Got you covered, just give
us all a second chance to fix it.”
Billy nodded his head in thanks. “I’m gonna need access to the timestream,
it’ll make it easier, one less spell to cast.”
“I can help with that.” Nate affirmed.
“I’ll also need access to the Life Stream. I have what my mother had left but
I’ll need more if I’m going to pull this off.” He nodded toward Nico. “Think
you and the Staff of One can help me out with that?”
Nico hugged the golden staff to her chest. “I—I can do that.”
“There’s also…” Billy faltered for an instant. “The power…it’s part of what
drove my mother—to do this. With access to the timestream—I need to be
anchored, I need to make sure I don’t become consumed by it.”
“I’ll be with you.” Teddy assured, easy as anything. “I already told you I’d be
your anchor.”
Billy glanced over at him from under his lashes. “You’ll have to be in there
with me, right in the spell. I don’t know what it might do to you. It could be
dangerous.”
“I’m with you.”
Billy gave him a relieved smile. “Then I guess that’s it, then.”
“Alright,” Lorna boomed. “Let’s get moving. Agent Howlett, I trust you and
Agent Darkholm to organize Prince William’s defense.”
The Agent saluted and immediately began barking out orders.
Lorna walked over to them and she reached out and smoothed out the windswept
fringes of Billy’s hair. “You can do this William.”
“I’m sorry for…for everything.” Billy said, eyes dropping to the floor.
“Oh, William.” Lorna sighed. “If you’d only stayed—”
Billy’s golden brown eyes shot up and Teddy could see fire scalding in them.
“And wait to be married off to that asshole? Let you all use Teddy like a pawn
for your political schemes?”
His aunt regarded him calmly with her clear green eyes. “No, if you would have
stayed I would have ensured that you got to marry Teddy.”
Both Teddy and Billy started at the same time and spoke in unison. “What!?”
"Do you think I would have really forced Teddy to marry Tommy? When Tommy isn't
gay? Or force Teddy to shapes-shift to be a woman? Do you think I would force
them to marry when it was so obvious the two of you were in love?"
"I—I don't understand…" Billy muttered.
She shook her head slowly. "Who do you think helped your grandfather arrange
all the marriages? I tried to ensure each of you had a suitable partner, one
you could be happy with while still ensuring an alliance. Once I understood
what was going on between you and Teddy well…I began working on a diplomatic
way to rescind your engagement to Nerin. I just needed time."
“I didn’t realize…” Billy offered weakly.
“I suppose that’s my fault for not telling you. But I did not wish to risk
anything giving it away.”
Teddy felt his heart lurch. They could have had a chance to be together, to be
married. If they had stayed maybe Billy and his mother could have worked
together to fix things, they could have kept this crazy reality and not had to
risk this “true” reality where he didn’t even know if he would know Billy.
“I suppose it wouldn’t change anything.” Lorna conceded. “I think it all might
have already been too far gone by then anyway.” She touched Billy lightly on
the arm. “What’s done is done. It’s up to you to make sure we have a chance to
make things right.”
Billy gave his aunt a lopsided smirk. “No pressure.”
“You have had a whole lifetime of that. I think you’ll manage.” Lorna chuckled
and turned to join her brother and Agent Howlett.
“I should talk with Nico for a bit, prepare her for her part.” Billy said as he
made his way toward their friend.
“Go ahead, I wanna talk with my mother.” Teddy replied.
Billy nodded and Teddy walked over to his mother’s side where she was listening
to Agent Howlett discuss fortifications and fallback points.
“This is not how I thought this would end.” She said, sensing his arrival but
not turning to look at him.
“Yeah,” Teddy exhaled. “Remember when the worst thing we had to worry about was
the kree and skrull.”
His mother gave a short, abrupt laugh. “Never would’ve thought I’d be wishing
for that.”
“You’ll always be my mother.” Teddy blurted.
She faced him then and smiled warm and wide. “I know.” She cupped his face. “I
lied about many things Teddy, but I never lied about loving you—about you being
my son.”
Teddy could only bob his head in reply and squeezed his eyes against the tears.
“You keep Billy safe. Help him see this through.”
“I will.”
“No matter what you and I will always be connected.”
“Love you, Mom.” Teddy’s voice broke and he pulled her in to a fierce hug.
“Love you, son.”
Teddy left her after a moment of silent farewells. He wove his way through his
friends then, saying goodbyes, exchanging hugs, offering encouragement. It was
weird to think of this being the end, to think that he might never even know
these people who had been his friends for so long, that he might not even know
to miss them.
“See you on the other side, Altman.” Gert offered as they embraced.
“We might not.” Teddy replied honestly.
“Nah, we’ll all see each other again.” Gert gave him a punch to the shoulder.
“Trust me, my parents were time-traveling-mad-scientists and there are
universal constants and I know we all are.”
Teddy blinked at her. “Wait your parents were—you know what, I don’t even want
to know.”
“Nope, you don’t.” She winked.
Chase came up and took Gert’s hand to lead her and her Dino companion toward
their places. He exchanged one last fist bump with Teddy. “Go get’em.”
“Yeah…” was all Teddy could offer in reply as he turned and made his way back
to Billy.           
                                      ***
“It’s not just about the word.” Billy instructed. “It’s also your intent. The
word is just a way to channel that intent. You need to focus on your outcome.
You have to see it. Center on the emotions you’ll feel when you’ve succeeded.
Emotions are powerful they can be a catalyst. If you’re filled with worry it
will disrupt the spell, cause it to backfire.”
Nico released her bottom lip from between her teeth. “It seems simultaneously
more complicated and easier than I thought magic would be.”
“Intuitive magic is different from order based magic. We don’t use complicated
incantations, symbology, or alchemy. Chaos magic is about belief and that can
be a difficult to control.”
“The Witchbreaker…” Nico held the Staff of One out in front of her. “She said
it was about pain.”
Billy nodded and reached out and took the staff from her. Nico’s eyes went wide
when the staff didn’t attack him or resist. He smiled at her and swept the
staff in a shallow arch and it glowed blue releasing a flock of ravens that
soared toward the ceiling before vanishing into the shadows like they had never
existed. He extended the Staff of One back to Nico.
“Channel that pain. Give it direction.”
Nico nodded.
“Wizarding School done?” Victor asked tentatively, scratching behind his ear
with a single finger.
“Yeah,” Billy replied. “She’s got this.”
“Sure, just need to open a portal to a river of infinite mystical power. No
problem.” Nico mumbled.
“B’s right,” Vic smiled and took her hand. “You got this.”
“Thanks…” Nico smiled over at Victor.
“I’ll let you two—” Billy waved a hand between them. “Y’know.”
“Thanks Billy.” Nico said.
“Don’t thank me yet.” Billy replied, aiming for humor but coming out more self-
deprecating.
“Dude, you got this.” Victor extended his reassurance. “We all do.”
Yeah, if we don’t it’s not like we’ll even exist to know. Billy thought darkly
but kept it to himself and opted to smile at his friends instead. Rallying the
troops and what not. He turned as Victor touched Nico’s cheek and kissed her.  
Billy tried not to think about how much the people closest to him were counting
on him. He tried not to think about how badly he could screw this up. He
breathed in and tried to let those worries flow through him, letting them go,
not attaching to them. He needed to follow his own advice.
He felt a sudden wave of calm and confidence cascade through him. It was like
showering after spending the whole day training in the sweltering summer sun.
It was like waking up next to Teddy in their flat in Italy, strong arms around
him and swathed in soft sheets. He smirked and looked over to his right.
“Appreciate it, Luna.”
His cousin swooped in and threw her arms around his neck and pressed a kiss to
his cheek. “I believe in you, William Magnus.”
There was sudden gust and another set of arms were around him. “Yeah, guess I
do too, little bro.” Tommy joined in.
Despite everything Billy laughed and tried to pull his cousin and twin closer.
This is something he’d be giving up, the two people he’d grown up with. He was
going to lose his whole family. As crazy and screwed up as they all were it
left him sad and aching somewhere deep in his bones. He’d know them all, he’d
seen it, but they’d never have that easy familiarity that came with growing up
together. Not even he and Tommy would get that again.
But we’ll exist. He reminded himself and squeezed his eyes shut and savored
this moment. We’ll exist.He promised.
There was a sudden boom that shook the hall and sent a shower of debris raining
down on them. It broke the moment and caused the three of them to glance up.
Something was happening, either an army or a lesion. Time was running out.
“Show time!” Tommy winked, and zipped away from them.
Luna touched Billy at the elbow and followed at a more sedate pace.
Billy made his way to his grandfather’s dais. “Nico, Nate it’s time.”
“Te amo.” He heard Victor whisper as he passed the parting lovers.
“Watashi mo anata o aishitemasu.” Nico replied softly.
Teddy waited for him at the bottom step.
He looked at Billy and shrugged. "So…time travel, huh?"
Billy stopped in front of him and looked down at his feet. "Yeah, time travel."
Teddy walked closer. "I hate time travel stories." He said with a sad smile.
Billy laughed remembering that conversation back in Astro Comics and stepped
into his arms. "They never make sense." He could feel the strength and
stability that Teddy always had. He squeezed Teddy tightly, pressing his face
into the nape of his neck.
"We won't remember any of this." Teddy said, his tone flat and hollow.
Billy shook his head. Tears were stinging his eyes.
"But if this works…we meet again right?" Teddy asked, his tone uncertain.
"Yeah…" Billy suddenly no longer felt all that sure.
Teddy nodded. "I'll find you." He said and that strength and stability came
through in every word. "I'll always find you."
Billy pulled back and met his eyes. "In every reality."
“In every timeline.” Teddy avowed.
Billy angled upward and kissed him. It was shorter and more innocent than he
would have liked but he had a feeling that even with hours to themselves and
total privacy it wouldn’t be enough. It was never enough with Teddy.
“You ready?” Nate asked, visor back over his face and voice synthesized.
“As I’m gonna be.” Billy answered.
Nate pressed a few buttons on his metal gauntlet and the crimson pyramid that
served as a gateway to the timestream bloomed into existence. Nico met his eyes
from the other side of it and Billy nodded to her. He watched her whole body
rise as she took in a deep breath. She closed her eyes and with Staff of One in
hand spread her arms out wide over her head like she was about to burst into
song.
“Wellspring!”
A ripple flitted out beneath the pyramid creating a pool of golden, liquid
light. Nico’s eyes went wide in surprise but held her position and the gateway
to the Life Force did not wane.
“Alright, Magnus.” Teddy took Billy’s hand. “Time to show time, space, and all
of reality whose boss.”
Together they stepped into the combined portals of time and energy. Instantly
Billy felt the surge of power the Life Force provided. It sought him out like
metal to lodestone. He thought he had felt powerful before but it had been
nothing. He tensed, his hand gripping Teddy’s like a vice. He willed the flow
of power to slow, regulating it, creating a funnel to channel it in a more
controlled manner. He stretched his senses out around him, melding himself with
the fabric of time and space. He ordered his mind, and imagined the outcome,
and spoke.
“Deus ex machina…” The power of the life force surged, railing against the
arbitrary restraints he had placed upon it, fighting to surge forth.
“Deusexmachina, deusexmachina, deusexmachina…” On and on he chanted, reaching
into the timestream and turning back the its flow, stitching back the tattered
shreds of reality as he went.
He lost all sense of himself as he worked, he felt himself becoming scattered
and spread throughout all time and space. Pain and sorrow moved through him and
he began losing his grip on what he was doing, why he was there.
I am the Demiurge…He remembered. All reality is my domain. I could remake it
with a whim. I could remake it in my image.
“Stay with me, sweetheart.” Someone whispered close to his ear. “I got you.”
Billy knew that voice. It reached down into the core of his being and yanked
him back down out of the intoxicating glow of omnipotence.
Teddy… He realized. Half-kree, half-skrull, heir to an empire, shapeshifter,
handsome, my favorite person, my love…
Everything rushed back to him, like being woken from a dream by a bucket of ice
water. Sorrow quickly followed. He was going to lose Teddy. There were no
guarantees that this would work. Any number of things could affect the outcome
after he finished the spell. He would have no control once he had turned back
time and completed the spell.
I could make us our own world. He thought. One that is perfect. A world where
we are together forever.
“God, you don’t know how bad I want that.” Teddy’s voice was heavy and somber.
“But we both know that wouldn’t work. Look at what happened when your mother
tried.”
Billy knew that. He knew Teddy was right.
“Deusexmachina, deusexmachina, deusexmachina…”
“I got you.” Teddy continued. Billy felt arms wrap tight around him. “I’m with
you. We can do this.”
Billy pried the spell back into place, forcing the images and feelings back
into the forefront of his minds eye. “Deusexmachina, deusexmachina,
deusexmachina…”
“That’s right. You got it.”
Billy felt all of existence moving, felt it stitching back into place. He felt
the present—their timeline—fade from existence. He reached into the web of his
mother’s spell trying to grasp what she had done, tried to determine where best
to intervene, to give them a chance, but nothing so drastic as to destabilize
things too soon. He reached shaking hands into the magical array and plucked a
string and then one more. He dared not try for more.
It was time. It was time to end the spell, close the portals to the Life Force
and timestream and release himself and Teddy into nothingness to wait to be
born. He gripped the spell with white knuckled terror, the final step before
leaping off of a ledge.
A kiss pressed into his temple, warm and firm. “I love you. I’ll find you.”
Billy let out a shuddering breath and ended the spell. It was like being pulled
into an undertow. He lost all orientation and felt himself slipping, felt
himself fading. It wasn’t as terrifying as he would have thought. It was a bit
like drifting off to sleep after sex all downy softness and purring warmth.
“In every reality.” Billy murmured.
And then there was nothing.  
 
Chapter End Notes
     For those of you who prefer a more conclusive and less ambiguous
     ending the epilogue should scratch that itch. For all who like things
     a little less defined feel free to stop here and consider this tale
     finished. I figure anyone familiar with the House of M comic will
     know what Billy did at the end ;)
     Considering a side story about Gert and the rest of Teddy's peeps and
     how they all linked up and their adventures. let me know if you'd all
     be interested in that fic.
     Also, I don't speak Japanese (#googletranslate) and may have
     butchered that last bit with Nico, so if I did feel free to let me
     know and I shall fix it.
     Thanks so much once again!
***** Epilogue: Farewell and Into Infinity *****
Chapter Summary
     Some parting fluff and a tie-in to current cannon.
Chapter Notes
     And here is the finally installment of Billy and Teddy's excellent
     adventure! Thank you to all of you who read this, left kudos, and
     commented. You were all the literal fuel that I needed to keep going
     when this fic became the plot monster it evolved into.
     This was my first fic and I literally expected pretty much no one to
     read it. So thank you so much once again.
     I am a huge Billy and Teddy fan and I love their relationship since I
     think of them as this generations Sue and Reed. I wanted to showcase
     that relationship and how it improves, pushes, and strengthens both
     characters. I am also a huge fan of the House of M universe and
     wanted to give Billy and Teddy a chance to live in that world
     (looking at you Secret Wars House of M, they were BARELY in it!).
     Enjoy!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
"God...you ever see so much sky?" Billy asked, bare feet propped up lazily on
the dashboard and his right hand resting on the edge of the open car window.
The warm, arid air raking invisible fingers through his hair and gliding over
his skin.
 
Out before them the sun was high and blazing in sharp spears of golden-yellow.
The sky was a pure and boundless azure and seemingly stretching on for
eternity. It was a dazzling contrast to the red-rocked cliffs that grew up from
the dry, dusty earth of the New Mexico desert.
 
Short Change Herobelted out from the stereo (which was a bit cliché? Or maybe
ironic?).
 
"We definitely don't get views like this back in New York." Teddy agreed from
behind the wheel.
 
They were already a month into their cross-country-post-graduation-road-trip
and leaving the green, alpine countryside of Colorado and off to explore the
southwest and eventually the Grand Canyon. Billy wasn't sure where the urge to
embark on this adventure had come from. The idea had just popped into his head
one day as he and Teddy had been discussing their upcoming graduation. Oddly,
it had felt like it had always been a goal of his. It was weird. Teddy, for his
part, was perfect as ever and had agreed to the idea instantly and with equal
enthusiasm. He hadn't even balked at the idea of renting a car and driving the
whole way. That was when it had evolved into a cross-country cheeseburger tour
in an attempt to find the nation's most delicious burger. Teddy was convinced
Shake Shack was king but seemed eager to test the hypothesis and thought that
this was the perfect opportunity. Who was Billy to turn down a cheeseburger
tour de force? When had Billy ever been able to deny Teddy anything? It felt
perfect somehow, like he was fulfilling some long forgotten promise.  
 
Kate had teased them about renting a car and driving the whole way (like she
hadn't done the same when she ran off to California) noting that they could
both fly there in less than half the time, or Billy could whisk them anywhere
in the world they chose with a few well spoken words. Which was all very true,
but it wasn't about the destinations, it was about the journey (and yeah, Billy
knew he sounded like one of his cheesy graduation cards, but he didn't care
because it was true).  
 
Noh-Var had hinted—in his typical not so subtle fashion—at wanting to make a
team trip of it, a sort of local version of their dimension hopping antics the
previous year. He had gone so far as to develop an entire road-trip playlist.
Teddy had been the one to break it to him. This was something for the two of
them to do alone, partly because there was still some healing to do after
Loki's manipulation of Teddy's existential doubts, and partly because…well just
because. Tommy had blatantly demanded to join in only to abruptly change his
mind when he realized that they were serious about their intentions to drive.
 
Going alone had been the right choice. Billy couldn't remember a time they had
gotten so much time together with just the two of them or so much time free of
time-traveling-would-be-villains or Demiurge-hungry-interdimensional-parasites.
It was, quiet simply, glorious.
 
Billy also realized that it wasn’t going to last. How could it when he was the
reality manipulating, reincarnation of the Scarlet Witch's son? Or when Teddy
was heir to a skrull empire and son of the original Captain Marvel? Quiet and
uneventful just wasn’t in the cards for them. Besides, neither of them really
wanted that anyway. They were superheroes. Billy had hidden from that
responsibility, that truth, for a long time after the whole debacle with the
Avengers and X-men and his spirit-mom. He had taken responsibility for Cassie’s
death; taken it as a sign he wasn’t cut out to be a hero. But he had moved past
that. His guilt wasn't gone but he'd learned to carry it with him and forge it
into a weapon and harness it to make himself better. He was a superhero. The
stakes were always going to be high. Sometimes doing nothing was worse than
doing something and making as mistake. It was time to stop running from that.
It also didn’t hurt that Cassie was alive again and off living her life in
Miami.
 
That brought him to the email. Roberto da Costa had sent both Billy and Teddy
an invitation to meet. He had something of a business proposition. It had been
the most flamboyant and obnoxious email he had ever received, it was like
having an unwelcome parade stream from your phone and march into your ocular
nerves and throw a rave inside your skull.
--
 
Dear Mr. Kaplan,
 
You are cordially invited to a meeting with his supreme awesomeness and newly
(self) appointed leader of A.I.M. (formerly evil, but totally legit now) and
the New Avengers, Roberto da Costa (formerly Sunspot of New X-Men fame).
 
Your talents and experience would be an invaluable asset to the team we are
forming, which has need of someone with magical affinity within its ranks
(because, duh). In addition, your ability to operate as a unit with Mr. Altman
is a clear bonus.
 
As such, we invite you and your lovely fiancé to join Mr. Da Costa and his
second in command Ms. Gold (AKA Songbird, formerly of Thunderbolts fame) at our
newly constructed, state of the art base of operations. There will be food,
Champaign, and all the cool tech gadgets your little hearts could desire. Did
we mention robots? We got robots.
 
We hope to see on the appointed date and time.
 
Sincerely,
 
Advanced Idea Mechanics (again, totally legit now, no evil mad scientist stuff.
We promise.)
 
P.S. We'll pay you. 
--  
"Earth to Billy." Teddy called, his voice thick with laughter.
 
"Hmm?" Billy turned his head from the window to look at him. He looked so
ridiculously handsome in his faded Zelda tee and aviator sunglasses. "Sorry, I
was zoning."
 
"I can see that."
 
"You now have my undivided attention."
 
"That's all I could ever want." Teddy replied with a dreamy, exaggerated sigh.
 
Billy grinned and blushed. Teddy could stilldo that to him. He gave Teddy a
halfhearted punch to the shoulder.
 
"Hey! No roughing up the driver." Teddy protested. "As I was saying…" he gave
Billy a glance that Billy knew was mocking despite his eyes being hidden behind
the dark lenses. "We are coming up on the Thing. The Thing, Billy!"
 
"Like from the Fantastic Four?" Billy asked with a wry grin, knowing very well
that was not the Thing the giant billboards with ghostly, wavering letters were
advertising. "Is it some kind of exposé? Will there be rock dancers? A tasteful
musical number?"
 
"Very funny. No, sweetheart." Teddy corrected slowly. "Not TheThing. The
Thing."
 
Billy rolled his eyes. "Anothertourist trap? Like, the snake woman? Cause I’m
pretty sure that was just some papier-mâché and what I am assuming was drunk
dude in a wig and bikini top."
 
"That's not the point! Roadside attractions are a requirement for cross-country
road-trips." He turned to Billy briefly and gave him a serious glance from over
his sunglasses. "What if it's something like a long lost skrull poodle? Or
maybe previously unknown species of desert lizard? Or a mutated, sentient
cactus!? Can you live with not seeing a skrull poodle or living cactus? Can
you? Because I don't think I can, Billy!"
 
Billy burst into fond laughter despite his attempts at keeping up his mask of
stony disinterest.
 
"Or what if it's really a dangerous, forgotten kree experiment? We have a
superhero duty to check it out and ensure it's not a danger to the planet."
Teddy nodded solemnly as though he had just made an inarguable point.
 
"Fine!" Billy conceded laughter growing and throwing his hands up into the air.
 
Teddy was already turning the car onto the appropriate exit having correctly
assumed Billy would agree. Again, when had Billy ever been able to deny Teddy
anything?
 
The Thing turned out to be a moldy, bizarrely grown ear of corn. The sign
claimed that it had been mutated by the terrigen cloud that had been roaming
the globe and that it had once been alive, like a little vegetable gremlin.
 
They stared down at the Thing from the other side of the faded red rink that
the famous ear of corn resided. Teddy leaned lazily against Billy, one arm
propped on Billy's shoulder. His lips were puckered up in thought. "Well, I was
right about the kree thing..."
 
Billy gave him an unconvinced glance with just his eyes. "This cost us ten
bucks each..."
 
"Hey, it could have been mutated by the terrigen mist."   Teddy defended. He
leaned in closer to whisper into Billy's ear. "At any moment it could rise up
and snarl and begin shooting irradiated kernels at us." He curled his fingers
into a claw and held them in front of Billy's face and contorted his features
into a vicious sneer.
 
Billy shoved Teddy away playfully as he turned from the rink and the
ridiculous, would be, side dish. "You owe me ten bucks."
 
“Umm,” Teddy hummed. "I'll buy you a bottle of water."
 
"Fine."
 
Billy sat on the hood of their rental car while Teddy procured said bottle of
water from the old guy in the grimy trucker hat, ratty cutoff shorts and the
dirty looking ice chest. It honestly didn't matter who bought the water. They
had opened a joint banking account to pull their financial resources (mostly
graduation money. As it turned out, saving all of reality didn't pay) in
preparation for this trip. It also made sense given their plans to save up and
move out to live on their own. It also seemed appropriate given that they were
going to get married, he had no idea when and they hadn’t discussed a single
detail but it was going to happen. Billy knew it. They both did.
 
Teddy returned with the promised overpriced bottle of hydration. He stood
between Billy's legs and looked down at him as he held out the bottle. Billy
smirked and snatched it and took a deep, long swig. Teddy dipped his head down,
eyes on Billy's mouth and let their foreheads thunk together lightly. Billy
reached up and crossed his arms behind Teddy’s neck. He noticed a few people
looking at them from out of his periphery vision. He knew some were likely
scowling or whispering hateful things, because the world hadn't come that far
yet, but Billy had long since accepted that. He had spent years learning to
focus on being present and enjoy the moment. Otherwise what the hell was the
point of it all? It was crazy that either of them even existed, the events that
had led to their births was the stuff of fairy tales. That they had found one
another was a whole other wonder. It was a gift, or fate, or something equally
fantastical. So he soaked it in and enjoyed Teddy's warm, comforting presence
above him and savored the sureness and steadiness he always felt when they were
together. He didn't think twice about tipping his head up to trade slow, tender
kisses with him. Teddy tasted like tangerine and peppermint. Because despite
his obsession with burgers, fries, and shakes Teddy was actually kind of a
health food nut.
 
When they finally broke apart Billy murmured: "I think we should meet with da
Costa."
 
Teddy quirked an eyebrow but made no joke. Because he knew Billy, and he knew
he was being serious and knew he'd elaborate on the seemingly random
declaration.
 
"This trip," Billy pressed on, "It's been so great getting to just bewith you.
I want us to have our own place where we don’t have to respect my parents’
rules or navigate around my annoying little brothers. I want a place that's
ours. I want to start building a life with you. And this offer from the New
Avengers, it pays us money and we could actually do that. We could pay for
school, afford a place to live."
 
"Pay for a wedding?" Teddy added with a grin.
 
Billy smiled back and felt his cheeks heat up. "Yeah, that too, definitely."
 
"Cool."
 
"I mean, we should make sure he's legit and that A.I.M. really is on the
straight and narrow now. Obviously."
 
"Obviously."
 
"Okay, so we're gonna do this?"
 
"Yeah, let's see what the eccentric, billionaire, playboy's got to offer."
 
"Cool." Billy replied.
 
With that decided, Teddy stepped back and Billy slid down off the hood and they
climbed back into the car and resumed their trek through the desert.
 
"Hey," Teddy, noted suddenly as they turned back onto the highway. "Maybe we
could see if Nico, Vic, and the others are up for a visit when we get to
California."
 
"Yeah, that sounds cool. It'd be nice to see them all when there's not some
cataclysmic event going on."
 
"Sweet, I wonder where they're living now. I feel like they move, like, once a
month."
 
"You mean destroy their residence once a month." Billy corrected with sly curve
of his lips.
 
"I was trying to be polite." Teddy returned drolly.
 
Billy rolled his eyes.
 
"Hey, I'm polite. People always say I'm the polite one."
 
"Only because they don't really know you." Billy informed, raising a single
finger sagely. "I know the real Theodore Rufus Altman. The one who's sarcastic,
hogs the covers, and has a thing for dark-haired guys with boyish good looks."
 
Teddy snorted. "You know nothing Billy Kaplan."
 
All at once Billy was so full of emotion, so full of love, he felt like he was
brimming over. Without a word he reached out toward Teddy. And as if reading
his mind, as if feeling just the same as Billy did, Teddy was already reaching
for him in return. Teddy took his hand and brought Billy's knuckles to his lips
in a firm, lingering kiss.
 
"I know something." Billy said.
 
"And what's that?" Teddy asked, all crooked grins and sly humor.
 
"I love you." Billy answered, gruff and with more feeling than he had intended.
 
Teddy pressed a kiss into pulse point at Billy's wrist. "Love you more."
 
Billy smiled. "Love you most."
 
"We're doing it again!" Teddy laughed.
 
"We are too gross for words." Billy agreed bringing Teddy's hand to his lips
for a kiss in return.
 
Teddy cleared his throat to break some of the emotion that seemed to be
claiming him as well. "So green chili cheeseburgers? I hear they put green
chili on cheeseburgers here. The people here are apparently ape shit for green
chili and put it on everything.”
 
"Sounds good to me."
 
"So burgers, then we find a place to stay the night and I ravish you."
 
"Zero complaints here."
Chapter End Notes
     And it's over. I am so sad it's done but also feeling pretty
     accomplished. I'll probably return to this universe to showcase the
     shenanigans of the Runaways before they showed up to save the day in
     the final chapter. But for now I need a break.
     Thanks so much again for reading this! I cannot express that enough!
     P.S. for those of you who are interested I have posted a Tim (aka Red
     Robin, formerly Robin) and Conner (aka Superboy, aka Kon-El) fic that
     I have been working on. I see these two as something of a counterpart
     ship to Billy and Teddy in the DCU even if they aren't cannon (though
     if you've read Young Justice, Teen Titans, and Red Robin you know
     they should be, haha).
     Much love to you all!
***** Shameless Plug *****
This is just what the chapter title says it is, an utterly shameless plug.  If
anyone is interested in more Billy and Teddy stories by me I just posted a new
fic titled The Words Upon Your Fingertips.  Please check it out!
Please drop_by_the_archive_and_comment to let the author know if you enjoyed
their work!