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]

[Okay, that's a fair point.]

I'm not as smart, Billy. That's just the truth. But... I think I'm still intelligent.

[wearingthestars]

Crazy intelligent.

[He turns to steal a quick kiss.]

Trust me, I'd know. Smart boys are cute.

[helpdesk_hero]

Are they?

[He smiles and lets his boyfriend have the kiss. Because, well, it's needed, right?]

[wearingthestars]

The absolute cutest.

[Exhibit A: David. The defense rests.]

[helpdesk_hero]

Sap.

[He gets to his feet and pulls Billy into his arms.]

Just let me enjoy you for a moment, right? Try not to stress and all.

[wearingthestars]

S'why you love me.

[He grins and leans into David, wrapping his own arms around him, and he nods softly.]

[helpdesk_hero]

It is.


[He snuggles against Billy, just wanting to stay here. But...]

The danger room may be off line, but we can still go in there to try these powers out.

[wearingthestars]

Yeah? You'd...really be okay doing that?

[Billy seems a bit apprehensive. With all David's lost today, maybe it's too much to ask him to help him work this stuff out...or too soon at least?]

[helpdesk_hero]

Of course I'd be okay.

[He needs the distraction.]

[wearingthestars]

[He smiles softly, and nods.]

Yeah, I'd like that then. Maybe figure out a bit of what I can do. Won't feel so nervous about going to sleep if I know I'm not some kind of ticking time bomb.

[helpdesk_hero]

Mutants who are actually ticking time bombs are rare. Come on.

[David takes his hand, fingers tangling into Billy's immediately. Because it's where he belongs.]

[wearingthestars]

More or less rare then the ones who have secondary mutations?

[He flashes a teasing smile, and his fingers twin easily with David's, starting off towards the Danger room.]

[helpdesk_hero]

Less rare. But there's no guarantee you're having a secondary mutation. Could just be a power you always had and didn't have the push to use this before.

[wearingthestars]

Maybe, yeah.

[That makes it a little less daunting to think about it that way at least. Not something new. Just...something he's finally getting around to exploring.]

You really are my favourite teacher in this place, you know that?

[helpdesk_hero]

I'm not a teacher, Billy. I wouldn't know where to start. But this... this I'm willing to work on.

[He wishes he knew really how to help his boyfriend, but there's only so much he can do. Like getting them to the stairs to take them down toward the danger room. Sure, the place can't give them simulations. They needed a place like that. Was there a way he could make a new one? No, that doesn't matter. What matters now is a safe place to toy with what what Billy's got.]

[wearingthestars]

I mean, practically.

[Smart as David is, natural leader...Billy can't envision a future where David's not helping shape other.

Even without the simulations, the space offers a sort of security. A familiar environment where Billy can experiment without fear.]

[helpdesk_hero]

[Well, David half expects to be send home. So shaping others seems unlikely.]

But maybe we can prove something, get them to take you seriously.

[wearingthestars]

Right. Well...we know I can glow, and...float stuff. What else should I try?

[For all his obsession with heroes and powers, Billy feels as though he's suddenly drawing a blank as to the possibilities his powers may present.]

[helpdesk_hero]

Well, we need to determine the difference between floating stuff and true telekinesis. So, basically, whether your power falls more in line with Julian and Jean Grey, or more with Wanda Maximoff. So, we bring some chairs with us and see if you can deliberately make them float, and if so, if there is any visual cues to go with it. Magic? Usually has it. Telekinesis? Nope.

[wearingthestars]

[That's such a logical starting point that Billy flushes a little for not having thought of it, and then gives a grateful look, nodding.]

And I'll try not to drop you this time. You okay, I didn't hurt you, did I?

[helpdesk_hero]

You didn't hurt me.

[They're almost at the area so David starts grabbing some of the most durable small things around them.]

[wearingthestars]

[Despite being more or less offline, the danger room was at least still open, and Billy looks around the space, feeling very much like he did on his first day here. David was there for him then too, and Billy smiles softly.]

...You remember when I first came here? Was I completely obvious in how cute I thought you were?

[helpdesk_hero]

[David smiles as he sets down his pile of stuff.]

You were literally my bi awakening.

[wearingthestars]

[Billy laughs, cheeks flushing.]

You have really weird taste. But I guess that makes me lucky. ...I'm really glad we got paired up that day. I dunno what I would have done without you all this time.

[helpdesk_hero]

Gone crazy? Fallen in with a bad crowd? Dated Victor?

[He smiles and pulls Billy close and kisses his brow.]