The Day After - For WearingtheStars

[helpdesk_hero]

He knows it the second he wakes up. Because there's this void in his head. Can't explain it, can only say it's wrong. As deeply wrong as anything has ever been in his life. Of course the only reason he even woke up was because of all of the shouting. The fear and the pain. And David swallows hard because he's reaching and there's nothing.

Which is what gets him grabbing at his jeans and a t-shirt, throwing himself out of the room, barely even acknowledging Josh as the gold-skinned idiot wakes up. No, his concern is the room across the hall. Is pushing past people so he can pound on it. Billy.

"Billy!" he shouts through the door. He should have fought harder when Emma found out they were dating. He shouldn't have let people change their rooms. He should be in there, knowing if Billy is feeling this same emptiness too.

An emptiness that can't just be David, because he thinks he just saw a girl that used to have purple skin and horns walk by. Without either of those.

"Billy, open up! Dammit, Jay, if you're in there, open the door, I need to see Billy."

Comments

[helpdesk_hero]

I know. So long as we have the X-Men, we'll be safe.

[He finishes a bit more food before moving to sit on his bed. Thing is, at this moment, he really believes it. He thinks they can be safe here.]

[wearingthestars]

[They both do. And so Billy feels sure enough to encourage-]

Exactly, So rest that big brain of yours for a bit, mm?

[He moves to join him on the bed, offer a reassuring presence.]

[helpdesk_hero]

[Big brain? Hardly. David frowns and leans against Billy. It's stupid to ask 'will you still like me if I'm not a mutant'. Clearly Billy already does still care about him. So he isn't going to protest.]

I guess I don't have to fear that i might abuse my powers some day. Can't abuse what you don't have.

[wearingthestars]

...We still don't know if this is permanent.

[Billy reminds gently, but he understand. As best he can from the outside at least.]

With or without your powers, you're going to do amazing things, David.

[helpdesk_hero]

[Will he? How much of his intelligence is even still his?]

Billy? Can you stop being the most amazingly supportive boyfriend ever? Call your parents and tell them you're okay or something.

[wearingthestars]

[Billy flushes, unsure if that's a compliment or admonishment at this point. He nods, and pulls out his phone, shifting away so he can make his call.]

I'll tell them you're okay too. [In a manner of speaking.]

[helpdesk_hero]

You think they care how your team is when their boy could be hurt?

[Secret boyfriends means they probably don’t know what David means to Billy.

At least there is quickly an answer on the line. Rebecca, sounding half scared.]

Billy? Are you okay? The news is saying so many things.

[wearingthestars]

[Billy sticks his tongue out rather than answer, holding back a laugh. They don't know expressly, but they still know he and David are close.

His mother's voice is sobering though, and Billy winces at the sound of it, nodding reflexively.]

I'm fine, Mom. I wasn't- it didn't...effect me. But a lot of the other students lost their powers, so...we're kind of in a lock down sort of situation while they figure everything out. But we should be safe here. You don't need to worry."

[helpdesk_hero]

We were so scared for you. I want you to know that your father and I would have supported you either way, but we didn't want you to lose what you loved. If that miss Stone and Mr. Summers believe you're safer there, I absolutely agree. There are things on the news... I'd worry about you being safe here.

[She genuinely concerned for him, perhaps even a touch afraid.]

[wearingthestars]

[Damn. Billy can feel his eyes welling up, and he tries to keep the tears at bay, swallowing to keep his voice from betraying him.]

You don't need to be scared, Mom. Really. They'll figure out what happened and- ...and there's probably no where safer for us to be right now.

[helpdesk_hero]

Alright. But Billy? If you need to come home, you call us right away, okay? We're always here for you.

[wearingthestars]

...I know, Mom. I love you both. I promise, if anything changes I'll call you right away.

[helpdesk_hero]

Alright, honey. But you make sure you keep your phone on you, okay? A lot of weird stuff is clearly going on here. The Avengers breaking up, this mutant thing, there are even new kid heroes in New York. It's all very concerning.

[wearingthestars]

Y-yeah. It's a lot. [His voice breaks a little at the reminder of the Avengers of all things, and he rolls his eyes at himself. Don't be pathetic Kaplan.] I'm keep it on me. Promise. You guys keep safe too, okay?

[helpdesk_hero]

We're not the ones at risk. But we will, son. Tell your team we said hi and that they are all still invited over for dinner once everything is safe again.

i dont even know how or what that sentence was meant to be in that last comment

[wearingthestars]

I'll let them know. [He glances back to David.] Be in touch soon, kay? Love you.

Clearly the concern of a son

[helpdesk_hero]

We love you too, Billy.

[She sounds sad to say goodbye, then she hangs up. And David reaches over to hug his boyfriend.]

[wearingthestars]

[Leaning into the hug, Billy squeezes his eyes shut to push down that swell of emotion, and tries to lighten the mood by noting in a teasing voice-]

She wants to have the team over for dinner when everything clears up.

[helpdesk_hero]

Well, your mom is made of goodness. If she does, I'll make sure to keep my hands to myself.

[wearingthestars]

[He laughs, and smiles a bit shyly.] ...Maybe when everything clears up, I finally have the talk with them? And then properly reintroduce you.

[helpdesk_hero]

[Oh. That. David smiles and leans in to kiss his boyfriend's cheek. Yeah. He'd... he'd love that.]

And then we can tell my mom. You have no clue how bad Kim wants to tell them. But I told you, if I tell Mom, she's immediately gonna want to talk to your parents and set up a both family dinner or something and...

[He doesn't want his own Mom's eagerness to out Billy. And his little sister gets it.]

[wearingthestars]

[Billy's smile grows, and a flush spreads over his cheeks.]

Yeah...I think I'm finally ready. I want them to know how amazing you are.

[He's grateful for how David's waited, respected that fear Billy's been unable to get past in telling his parents.]

[helpdesk_hero]

Says the guy who can control electricity and could probably fly with it if he ever stopped being nervous about the sparks.

[wearingthestars]

...

[He remembers the shock of awaking abruptly, and he tries to mask that remembrance with a guilty expression. He doesn't want to keep things from David, but it doesn't feel right to talk about with more pressing concerns.]

About that...

[helpdesk_hero]

[About that? David goes from soft and gentle to sitting up straight and looking at Billy with that attentive gaze he offers anyone when an interesting situation has arisen.]

About that?