|
   |
A lazy Sunday afternoon toward the end of May. The weather's getting warm so Teddy's opened the window to get some fresh air. He sprawled on the couch in his usual pair of shorts with a beer in hand as he sort of watches a movie on tv. Only sort of as he's not that interested but doesn't feel like standing up to change the channel.
*
One moment Billy is not there, and the next he is: he just pops into reality. He's carrying a pizza, and for a moment as he arrives he sights Teddy and just… stares. He's never, ever going to get used to the sight of the blond jock lounging around in just his shorts. Its simply far too interesting a sight. Still, he flashes a dimpled grin and heads over, setting the pizza down, "I got half pepperoni, sausage and olives, and half ham and pineapple. I am in a conflicted mood. Did you hear about the explosion last night?"
*
And Teddy, for his part, is never going to get used to Billy just teleporting in. Shaking his head, he sits up and says "I'm never going to get used to you just appearing. But if you bring pizza each time, who cares? Explosion? I didn't read the paper today. What happened?"
*
Setting the pizza on the coffee table, Billy heads for the kitchen to pull out a bottle of coke before heading back and plopping down next to Teddy. "There was this school that was holding some mutant girl a prisoner. Trying to use her somehow. Me and some people— I didn't really know them before hand, they were looking for Lorna when they found me and got me to help— went and rescued her. She then sorta went nova and blew the place up. That wasn't quite ideal." He wrinkles his nose, "If I woulda known she was gonna do that I woulda like… I don't know. Teleported her away or something." He flashes a quick grin for Teddy, "Hey, if I can't teleport into my own apartment …"
*
Teddy thinks about what happened a moment then nods. "Good. It deserved to be blown up. Was anyone hurt?" Who didn't deserve to be. Flipping open the pizza box, he pulls out a slice with pepperoni. So very, very not a pineapple pizza fan. "Course you can. It's just startling. One second alone, next second not. " Pause. "What would happen if I had been standing there?" he asks before biting off the tip of the pizza.
*
"I don't know. The explosion was really big." Billy winces a little bit, looking a bit worried about that subject, "She like… absorbed my electricity. Then turned it into a whole heck of a lot of fire." He goes for the ham and pineapple side, then he gives a curious look to Teddy, "Hm. That's a good question. I'd appear nearby. Its not *exact* unless I can see the destination, so I end up near where I want to be and if something is in the way I get edged around it. However it works keeping me safe is one of the rules. The ability manifested when I was running away from some people trying to hurt me."
*
Teddy nods. "Okay, good. I was going to suggest we just set aside a corner for you to use but if it doesn't matter, there's no need." Pause. "Unless we have guests. Maybe you should always pop into the bedroom in case the landlord decided to come by."
*
Munching on the pizza, Billy squints a little bit, and sighs and gives a shrug, "Okay, I guess. Coming and going shouldn't be this complicated. Teleporting is supposed to make getting around easier. It's the whole point." He gives a shrug, "So, like. Ava's been teaching me to punch things. She's been doing this by randomly ambushing me." He grumbles, "Being a spy is less cool when people try to hit you in the head all the time who are on your side. But I'm slowly kind of learning. Do you need that sorta training or do you rely on green superstrength?"
*
"Well, we don't want people knowing what we are." Teddy points out. And so many ways that can be interpreted. "Just best to be on the safe side." Taking another bite, he reaches for a napkin to wipe off some grease dripping down his chin. "I've been getting some lessons. Actual technique and stuff instead of relying just on breaking things. It's kind of fun." Says the jock.
*
Eyeing Teddy out of the corner of his eye, Billy muses for a moment: lucky napkin! But he nods, "I tried to talk them into it being a waste of time since my TK is stronger then I'll ever be, buuut. I couldn't *guarantee* that someone couldn't nullify it and then I'd be left defenseless… soo, I'm going to see if I can get an anti-TK something something for Ava. Because when she jumps me the first thing I do is go for the TK — on instinct. It makes training hard."
*
"And what if you were gagged?" Teddy asks. "Can you do magic if you can't talk clearly? It's good to have something to fall back on." Not that there's any way to keep Teddy from shapeshifting. That he knows of, anyway. "Say, going back to bedrooms a minute… I was thinking. Why don't we get you a bigger bed?"
*
"I can't do spells if I can't talk, but my other powers aren't spells." Billy looks thoughtful for a moment, "The telekinesis, lightning and teleporting— if its just myself— those don't require words. I can't think of any possible way to stop those but I can't guarantee there couldn't be some sort of something that could block them. BUt they aren't like magic… they're more like…" He furrows his brow, "Its like I instinctively edited reality to give myself those powers. AFter that its simply defined in the cosmos' source control: Billy can fly and control electricity. That's just how it is now. The universe says so." Pause, and talk of bed has Billy blushing slightly, "Its not big enough?" he wonders, "But if you want like a king or a queen or something, sure, why not?"
*
Teddy listens to Billy's explanation with interest. His powers are weird and complicated, not simple like his own. "Huh. That's kinda strange. Makes things convenient though if there's no way to stop you from doing them." That he knows of, anyway. It's not like either of their powers are a science with documented instructions. He goes back to his pizza for a minute, taking the time that he's chewing to think. "Well, it's not going to be big enough if it's our bed in our room. If that's something you're okay with, I mean. I just… I mean, why keep going back to one of our rooms each time?"
*
"It's possible someone like Stephen might be able to cast a spell that blocked my power somehow— or your shapeshifting, possibly. But I don't know for sure. I understand magic not even kind of at all." Billy has to laugh sheepishly, but then topic gets about sleeping arrangements. He chokes on a bit of coke, swollows, "Well." he begins, nodding, "That's pretty silly. So, bigger bed… and maybe we turn the second bedroom into a home gym slash fighty-fight-fight practice place. If you can't think of a better use for it." He's still blushing a little bit.
*
Teddy nods his agreement. "Yeah, I thought so too. It's been long enough we don't need two bedrooms." After all, it's gotta be a whole three months now! Almost. "A king I think? Might be a little big for the room though. We should measure." Pause. "Or can you just make the bed bigger?" Weird and complicated. "That's a good idea for the other room. A place to train. And some weights."
*
"If I made it bigger, it would probably end up a slightly weird size, and wouldn't match sheets. Better buy one… you're right king might be too big, besides, two people don't need more then a queen." Billy pauses, and cracks a dimpled grin, "Well, at least if I'm one of the two. I'm not really that big of a guy. If there were two of you maybe that'd be a different thing." Then more seriously, "I might be able to soundproof the training room. So we could bounce around and not bother any downstairs neighbors."
*
"A queen then." Teddy agrees and grins over at Billy. "I'm glad you think we should too. Been thinking about it the last week or so." He glances off toward what's currently his room and nods. "That would be good if you can. Especially if you could do it to the whole place. Just in case Ava ambushes you here or something." Pause. "Or if I do."
*
"It's.. a good idea." Billy nods, even if it sends him flushing a little it. Even after three months. "If *you* ambush me?" asks Billy with a wider grin even as he finishes off his pizza finally, gesturing away; a towel from the kitchen comes floating over, and he wipes it off. "What kind of ambushing are you talking about, mister? I don't think you verses me is anything like a fair fight, jock-boy." He reaches over and pokes one of Teddy's impressive biceps pointedly, "I'm never going to be bulky like you: wrong body type. I might not always be skinny, but in any fight-fight you totally win."
*
"Did I say anything about fighting?" Teddy asks, with a pointed smirk. "Anyway, Tommy can be kind of loud so it won't hurt to make sure no one gets annoyed by the noise we make and if you can do one room you might as well do it all." Reaching over, he grabs Billy's arm to tug him closer. "You're not skinny. You're just built lean. I like lean."
*
Billy is tugged, and is happy to scoot and lean, "Well I don't know what else you could be talking about." replies the young mage as he tries to keep the smirk off of his lips, "Yeah, Tommy is not exactly the quiet type." he agrees, "I'll have to think about it: I'm not sure off the top of my head how I'd actually accomplish soundproofing: do I do it by replacing hte insulation in the walls with a material that dampens sound like a construction crew would do if they were hired? Or do I alter the walls and the floor so they simply do not propagate sound anymore, because the universe is told that's how it works." He has a thoughtful expression on his face, but he does lean over and nuzzle at Teddy a bit.
*
Teddy puts an arm around BIlly's shoulders and leans in against him. "The second, I think. If you can do it safely." After a second, he reaches for another slice of pizza. "We should do something tonight. Maybe with the others? Get together for something other than fighting bad guys."
*
The comparitively smaller man rather likes how he fits against Teddy, and he gives a contented sigh and nods his head, resting his face at the edge against Teddy's chest. "That's a good idea." he muses, "Maybe we can go to Hong Kong for dinner, then go to a movie. Or something else." He shrugs lightly, "Or Greece for some baklava. We can go anywhere we like. And be back for a movie. But that sounds like a good idea."
*
One thing about living with Billy, Teddy's gotten to sample a lot of foreign cuisine. "Yeah, that sounds good. Though I wouldn't mind going back to that place in Germany where I had the sauerbraten. That was so good and I could go for some meat." He's definitely a fan of heavier meals. "Greece for dessert would be great."
*
New York City might have some of the best restaurants in the world, but if you want authentic? A guy whose most practiced magical skill is wormholing sure gets you authentic. Billy nods along encouragingly at the mention of the german place, "I could use some rouladen. Or maybe some kassler since Germany clearly has me pretending not to be Jewish." He likes his heavy meals too, but he rarely eats more then half as a rule. Unless in Spain where his stomach becomes a magic black hole. "Yeah, okay, its a plan." He pauses, then asks, "You know I've never really asked. Altman. I have no idea what your like… cultural … thing … is. I mean I'm Jewish, if one who doesn't especially pay attention to kosher— I love me some matzah ball soup and I could live in a deli happy, but.."
*
Teddy is already looking forward to dinner but is distracted by the question from Billy. A question he just shrugs to. "I don't know, actually. You know I never knew my father though it seems likely he was a shapeshifted alien who fooled my mom. And both her parents died when she was young so we're the only family we have. We've never gone to church either so…" Another shrug.
*
"Well yeah, I know about your dad. I just figured your mom… I don't know." Billy pauses at that, and squints at Teddy, "Does she know you're— special? And does she know about like, us?" But then he's explaining, "The Kaplan's aren't especially *religiously* Jewish as we are *culturally* Jewish. We go to Temple to socialize more then to listen to the Rabbi's. They keep kosher because its… sort of like an identity… thing. Me, I have a thing for pork."
*
Teddy shakes his head. "No, she doesn't know. About anything. All she knows is we're friends and share an apartment, that's it." She's visited after all, otherwise it would have looked strange when he moved out. "I don't know much about Jews. Or any other religion. It's nothing my mom ever bothered with. Outdated superstitions she called itonce."
*
"My Muggle-parents don't know either." Billy nods his head slowly, "I'm not sure they'd really understand. Not for religious reasons— like I said, for us Jew is more like our race then any belief— but just… Well they're seriously, seriously into grandkids." He groans and rolls his eyes, "You would not believe how many nice Jewish girls they try to set me up with. Nurses, librarians, assistant curators. Nice Jewish girls so there can bea nice Jewish wedding and as soon as possible some nice Jewish grandkids."
*
Teddy grins at that revelation. "Glad my mom's never tried to fix me up with anyone. But if your parents are like that, you're probably going to have to tell them sooner or later. Do you think they'll take it okay? Do you think I should tell my mom?"
*
Billy winces visibly, burying his head against Teddy's chest for a moment, and just feeling his warmth and skin. He takes a long, slow breath, "I don't know. Sooner or later they're going to start asking more and more pointed questions— and… I don't know. I can just picture my mom's face and see tears are that way. I don't think they'd take it okay at all— but the worst thing is? They took it *okay* in the future. I mean it wasn't great, but they accepted it. But things are different now. They're as much a part of 1964 as … everyone else around here. as for your mom…" He shakes his head firmly, "I don't know, I couldn't advise you on that, Teddy. You know your mom, your relationship with her. You'll have to decide. I'll support you either way."
*
"She'll have to know sooner or later." Teddy says after a moment. "But not now. No one has to know who doesn't already. There's plenty of time for that. We don't need to think about it now." Pause. "Maybe if we ease them into it. Like, letting them know we've been going to meetings and marches for equal rights for negroes and women and… homosexuals. See how they react and just get them used to the idea that we don't agree with how things are."
*
"Yeah…" Billy nods his head slowly, "That's a good idea. Of course there's a decent chance they'd be all like, 'lets go together', because though we're white and well off? We still get called kikes sometimes. In fact that we're successful is just proof that we're dirty Jews." He shrugs, "So they're pretty liberal on the equal rights front. For my parents it would less be about them being homophobic then this whole idea of the life I'm supposed to live being dismantled. But, at least my brothers can still do the grandkids thing."
*
"Well, that's good then." Teddy states, determined to be optimistic. "They should be okay once they get used to the idea. And my mom's never said anything that makes me think she'd be different. Only thing I've ever heard her say is how stupid it was for people to be acting like they're different from each other when they're all humans."
*
Billy nods his head slowly, before he pauses, and squints at Teddy, "That's…. a very weird thing to say." He furrows his brow, "I don't think I've often— if ever— heard someone refer to us as 'humans'. People say… people. They'll express that same thought and be all 'when they're all people.' Makes me wonder if your mom really didn't know about what your dad was." But then he shrugs, and pulls away to rise and give a languid stretch, "So, German."
*
"You know, the human race and all that. As opposed to the white race and the black race, like some people do." Teddy points out but he's frowning at that last thought. "No, how could she? There's no way to tell other than a blood test." Letting his arm drop, he sits back upright. "Right, Germany. Why don't you call the others and see if they want to come."
*
"I know what it means, but still: no one says it like that." Billy shakes his head slowly, "I don't know, you've assumed he tricked her and abandoned her, or something like that. But maybe it was more complicated then that." He nods his head at that, and makes for the phone. "I want a shower before we go, but I can call around."
*
Of course he tricked her. It's what makes sense. "Yeah, a shower's a good idea. We've got time though; we just had pizza. Though it's later there, right? So we don't want to wait too long or they'll be closed." Fortunately, he only had two slices so could still eat a normal meal.
*
"Well I assume people will have to get ready: they might not be ready to just leap at a moment's notice." Billy heads over for the phone, and starts dialing, "And I only had the one slice so I'm still hungry." He still finds the whole humans thing odd, but he drops it. He'll let the suspicion stew for awhile.
*
Teddy stands up and takes the pizza into the kitchen, putting the entire thing into the fridge box and all. "Point. I'll go take a quick shower while you're calling everyone."
*
Ava has arrived.
*
So, Billy called up the Planners and friends, and said, hey, let's go out for some german food. Meet at Casa de Stonewall. People may, or may not, guess that he has a wormhole in mind, and plans on eating German Food in, you know, Germany. But it wouldn't be impossible to guess, since 'meet at Casa de Stonewall' is how wormholing often starts out. Still. He's dressed up for this evening. A pair of slacks, a *very* fitting dark red shirt, and a dinner jacket over it. It gives him this business-casual or cool-but-fancy. Rubbing his hands together, he remarks to Teddy, "I couldn't get ahold of Tommy, but who knows— he might meet us there for all we know."
*
Teddy was just lounging around in shorts till he sees what Billy's wearing. So it's going to be that kind of evening. Not that he was planning on going in shorts but he wasn't thinking quite so fancy either. Still, he's never short of appropriate clothing to wear and then he's in something similar except with sapphire blue and more of a charcoal grey. "Might." he agrees.
*
Ava has been scarce for the last few weeks. Ever since the Winter Soldier went missing in transport, she's been hard to find. Rumors around SHIELD say that her report says she killed him, with a bullet in the head. But anyone who's tried to ask her about it has been met with either icy silence or a statement that she did what she had to do. She sunk back into her undercover work, avoiding the office and even the other members of the Contingency Plan.
But it's hard to resist Billy when he's excited about a plan. And perhaps she's begun to realize that she needs a team more than she might like to admit. So she shows up at the door, wearing a surprisingly stylish dress, extremely short and close-fitting in black fabric, with her hair up in a twist. Hardly even recognizable as Ava.
*
At the door, Billy opens it— and his jaw practically hits the floor. He gawks a little bit before he blinks and shakes his head, "Ava, if I was even slightly into girls and you showed up like that I'd try my very, very best to be inspired by Tommy and ask you out." He flashes a broad, dimpled grin, gesturing her in and closing the door behind her. "We figured we've been fighting and training so much, we should have a night off. And we're in the mood for german food… Have you ever had rouladen? Its these thin beef wrapped around a mixture of bacon, onions, mustard and pickles, and with this sauce, and its just wonderful. There's this little restaurant outside of Berlin we've been to before that's amazing. We're slightly over-dressed, but I figured after dessert maybe we go out and hit up a bar." This last bit is said with a flash of a grin to Teddy.
*
Ava has partially disconnected.
*
Teddy's brows rise when Billy opens the door but he doesn't comment. Verbally. His reaction is very plain to see. "Or sauerbraten." he says once Billy's done. "It's beef in a… well, sort of a sour sauce. No, vinegary is a better word. It's hard to explain except it's really good." Though perhaps not to everyone. "Dessert will be baklava in Athens. Unless we change our mind and decided to have something else, somewhere else." Going to a bar is news to him but he's game.
*
"Thanks, guys," Ava says with a small, self-conscious smile. "I thought…Well, I thought I would try something a little new. Like wearing something like this without a cover identity. Besides, I had a feeling you would want to do something that didn't quite fit with my usual gear. I've not had this…either of them. But I do speak German." Of course she does.
*
"Oh, good, I don't have to cast a german spell. The last time I did a language spell things… went stupid." Billy looks a little bit embarassed. He grins a dimpled grin through it though, "On the good side, no one is going to expect you to just show up in Germany, so even though you don't have a cover, Germany is sorta a cover in its own right." And with that he heads over towards the bedroom door, and lays a hand on it, "Ich bin ein berliner. Ich bin ein berliner. Ich bin ein berliner. Ichbineinberliner!" To them, nothing appears to happen: but when he opens the door, beyond is a parking lot. The restaurant isn't particularly big, a sort of mom and pop thing with true, authentic food, and they are exiting the side door at the side of said restaurant.
*
Teddy stands up and lightly tugs his sleeves into place. "If you meet someone and want us to get lost, just signal. We can find something to do for a few hours." he assures Ava. "Just how many languages do you speak?" SHIELD agent, happens to know German when they're going to Germany. Too coincidental that it's the only language she knows. He's familiar with Billy's portals so has stopped watching them by now.
*
"Ah…" Ava tilts her head as she goes through the door, thinking it over. "Russian, of course. Japanese, German, Mandarin, French, and Spanish. They aren't perfect, though. There are words and phrases I don't know, just from not using them. And sometimes it's like they…they go on the fritz, like when you need to adjust the antenna on the television. But for the most part, those. Maybe others, but I haven't come across them yet." She walks around toward the front of the building, smirking slightly as the rest sinks in and shaking her head. "I doubt I'll want you to get lost because of some boy."
*
…Haven't come across them yet? What the hell does that mean? "Haven't come across them yet? What does that mean?" Teddy asks. "You make it sound like you've been implanted with different things that you have no idea about." Pause. "Because of some girl?"
*
Billy's eyebrow climbs up along his head, making a point to close the door carefully once they're through, "Man, and I thought speaking Hebrew and Yiddish was impressive of me." Pause, "Of course, every Jewish kid knows Hebrew, and Yiddish is common for Jews of German descent… but still, that's a lot." He nods his head to Teddy's question: her phrasing was decidedly odd. "And hey, girl, boy, you want some private time we won't mind. Besides, Ava, I have a distinct impression you're not interested in boys. Now, some talented and interesting *man* might turn your eye…" He grins, dimples flashing. Once they make it around the restaurant, he tugs the door open for the pair of them. He's int he habit of opening doors lately.
*
"Girl? No, it wasn't-" Ava stops, catching up to the rest of the conversation with a surprised laugh and a shake of her head. "No, I'm not interested in girls either. Billy is closer, but…" She trails off, shrugging. "I cared very much for someone once. And I'm not ready for that again. So. The how of the languages is a bit more complicated." She steps inside past Billy, taking a look around the place as she does…and if there's something of checking the entrances and exits to it, well. There's only so much you can expect from her, after all.
*
Teddy gives Billy a smile as he walks into the restaurant and looks around. "The beer here is great." he tells Ava. "They have a bunch of different kinds." Given the time difference, it's a little late for dinner in Germany so there's not a large crowd. It's quiet and cozy, more so than usual.
*
Billy smiles at the waitress, and lifts fingers up for three, but since he doesn't speak German and hasn't wooshed him some Germanic, he leaves sign and Ava for interpretation. But he does point to the farthest corner booth. Nice and private. He goes quiet until they're settled, and then he eyes Teddy, "I still hate beer. I'm told its an acquired taste." He wrinkles his nose. But, there's a curious look over for Ava, "Oh, I mean. I'm sorry. I didn't really mean something big and serious, just… fun. I'm not against serious." A sidelong look at Teddy, "But.. but hey. No worries, no pressure. We can hang out. You've been… distant lately. Anything we can do?"
*
Ava comfortably takes over the seating arrangement in German - apparently at least that vocabulary is part of what she knows. Once they've settled in, she pulls a napkin over her lap, falling silent for a moment at Billy's question. "I…" Opening up is not her forte. For all she fights for the team and with the team, she's never been one to admit to any sort of personal life, let alone discuss it. "If I am being completely honest? Everything with the Winter Soldier is haunting me," she says quietly.
*
"I know. I told you." Teddy says to Billy. Probably along with others. "Also that there are different kinds that taste different." He settles into his chair but doesn't bother with any menus since he doesn't read German. Besides, he knows what he wants. "Why? Didn't he try to kill Captain America? And would have if not for someone there who could heal? Plus all those bombs?"
*
"Isn't he like, a bad guy?" Billy furrows his brow, uncertain. He never did quite get what the scoop with Bucky was around the 'office'. "That's why he was kept under guard? But he kept escaping? I mean… I'm sure you did what you had to do, Ava. Its not like you go around shooting everyone who is a problem. Or is there more to it?" He doesn't bother with the menu either: last time he was here he did woosh himself up some Germanic, and he remembers his favorite items. But still, he watches Ava with some concern. As an aside to Teddy, "If I'm going to acquire a taste, shouldn't I drink the same one until I like it?" He sounds dubious.
*
"He was a man shaped by bad people," Ava says quietly, tracing an idle pattern on the table top with one finger. "He was a good man, to start. He fought at the Captain's side. And then he was taken by HYDRA, and by the Red Room, and they twisted him. He wasn't in control of what he did most of the time, and even when he was, he was living with the knowledge that he could be forced to be something or someone else at any moment."
*
"Then he'd probably thank you." Teddy suggests. "If he really was a good man had no control over his actions, he wouldn't want to keep doing them. If that meant being killed…" He shrugs. "I wouldn't want to keep killing people. You did the right thing, Ava. And if anything, it wasn't your fault. It was Hydra's."
*
Billy hesitates, and nods slowly, "If someone could make me kill pepole, I'd… well first I'd want you to tie me up and take me to my Dad, because he wouldn't stand for it and there's … Suffice it to say he'd fix it. Or the world would shiver. THat's not even including the rain of doom my Mom would set to. But… if that didn't help, I'd rather be dead then be someone's puppet murderer." He shivers, "When Mojo was kidnapping people and forcing us to do things? When he had Tommy.." His eyes harden, "This sounds like worse. At least I was doing stuff I didn't want to in order to save someone I loved. It sounds like the Winter Soldier didn't even have that."
*
"He asked me to," Ava nods. "While he was in custody. Before I even brought him in the first time. He told me he didn't want to hurt anyone else, and he asked me to stop him if there was no other choice. And it was-" She takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Every other agent was down. There were three mutants there, and two of them were not pulling their punches. I didn't know what they wanted with him, but it couldn't have been good. But it still…" She grimaces. "It still doesn't feel good."
*
Teddy nods his agreement with Billy. "No, it wouldn't. But you did the right thing. And that counts a lot. Just take it out on Hydra and not on yourself. Distract yourself by jumping Billy more often. He was just saying how much he's learning and actually looks forward to it." And he manages to say that without even a hint of a grin.
*
Billy, without showing a single expression, kicks Teddy in the shin. The waitress comes over, and he smiles, and says, "Rouladen, bitte." He knows that much, and only that much Germanic. He waits for others to make their orders, then nods grimly to Ava, "I'm sorry you got put in that situation. It's an awful burden. I can't even imagine it. I've never killed anyone still— its only a matter of time, I figure— but I expect when I have to it'll be because they're *bad people*. Not victims. You saved him, Ava."
*
"I doubt that," Ava smirks back at Teddy, shaking her head. "But it is good for him anyhow." She pauses to put in an order for a pretzel and a sausage, still keeping things simple. "Thank you both. I'm glad to have you for friends." Another pause. "Well. Also glad because all I could think when I was staring down those mutants was how our team would have made mince-meat of them."
*
Teddy orders the sauerbraten and, through Ava's translation, an amber lager. "We are pretty good." he agrees. "Though we do need more time practicing together. Which is kind of tough since we've all got our own things going on, especially SHIELD. But at least classes are over now."
*
Billy held up two fingers for a lager too, since.. ugh. The things he does for his hot blond jock of a bedwarmer. Billy nods firmly at the team mention: they'd kick butt, that mush is certain. "You can count on us." And he nods, too, to Teddy, "We do need some group-training… You've been doing good training me and I'll… well I'm going to ask Dad for something for you. A way for you to nullify my TK." He seems nervous about this, "Because until I can stop instinctively going for it first, I won't learn the reflexes you're trying to teach me. But we could use some group lessons. Heck, both SHIELD-wise and Planner both."
*
Ava quirks a brow at the TK nullifying. "That…is an interesting thought," she muses. "And a dangerous thing to exist. But I will trust your and your father's decision on the matter." She sets an elbow on the table, propping her chin up in one hand. "We could practice more," she agrees. "We should, really, if we're going to actually keep doing things as a team."
*
"You could have tasted mine first." Teddy tells Billy but he's a big boy and can make his own decisions. "It's hard with all our different schedules. Easier now with no classes but that also means my own trainers will expect me to put in more time than I have been." Though unlike Billy, he's struggling more with the academic part of training more than the physical.
*
"Oh, it'd be strictly temporary." Even with that said, Billy clearly finds the idea of his nullifying thing… nerve-wracking. "I need you to keep it a secret for as long as it lasts, until we work through my… reflexes…Ava. I don't want anyone at SHIELD to know its even possible. Dad is probably the only person who could pull it off, but I obviously I'm not keen on the idea of someone being able to nullify my most reliable and flexible power. But. Temporary. Strictly temporary." He shrugs at Teddy, "I don't expect I'll like a taste. I might not like it until the second glass." If that. "Well though the Planners need some group-training, we three can double-dip: we can use SHIELD training time to also work on eachother. Frankly, Tommy is hard to train with because he's too fast."
*
"Training with Tommy is mostly a function of us understanding what he can do and him understanding what we can do," Ava shrugs, watching around the restaurant as they talk. It's habit, after all. "But yes, the three of us can train together at SHIELD. I think the Director would let me take over the physical training for both of you, probably. That gives us something."
*
"That would be a good idea." Teddy agrees. "Especially if we end up working together for SHIELD as well. Maybe we should even suggest it. Though I hear the Director has taken some time off because of the baby so I'm not sure who's in charge now."
*
Billy nods to Ava's assessment on training with Tommy. "Yeah. In the … well me and Tommy, before? We worked together on a team. You can't exactly predict Tommy's impact on a scenario, but you know what kinds of things to expect and you trust him to do it. Then he trusts me to do the unexpected." But then he's nodding around to the both of them on the topic of training, "Well, someone's in charge. Governments always have chains of command. Whoever is, I'm sure with Ava's obvious experience being in charge of our trainee-interns, … But.." he tilts his head, cocking a thumb at Teddy, "The pretty blond jock is a lot better at this whole fighting thing then the skinny wizard."
*
"You don't say?" Ava smirks, winking over at Teddy. "Teddy cheats anyhow. He is a shapeshifter. For all you know, his natural form could be three feet tall and four feet wide with a nose that could put a toucan to shame. But he would prefer to be a blond jock, and so there were have him."
*
"Actually, this is my natural form." Teddy corrects. "Though I do cheat, making small improvements for whatever it is I'm doing. A little stronger, a little faster, shifting my center of gravity… Nothing noticeable but it can make a difference. It's why I was always so good at sports in high school."
*
Billy nods to Ava, leaning in a bit, "I'm not even sure he has an idea what his natural form *is*. Would you? I keep thinking about this. He's a shapeshifter naturally." Yes he is totally talking past Teddy, "What does that mean? I don't know exactly but if you look perfect and you can shapeshift do you think that'd be because of chance? Would you even be aware of making adjustments initially? Does shapeshifting come on at puberty like mutation seems to? I think he knows he's hot and he wants to be hot and he appreciates that I can't stop looking at him. The jerk." He grins suddenly, then casting a look to Teddy, he winks, too.
*
"Well of course you would say that if you were a fat dwarf," Ava grins at Teddy. Apparently she does have a sense of humor. Somewhere underneath all of the distrust and training. "It is all right, though. We don't mind if you want to be pretty instead. Otherwise the competition with Tommy and Billy would be too much. Just look at those delicate hands," she nods toward Billy.
*
"I have pictures of myself as a kid." Teddy protests. "I look just like this. Except younger. And I'm not pretty. Billy is pretty. With delicate hands." he agrees.
*
Hey, how did this turn against him? Billy gives Ava a: you traitor! look. "As if no kid ever wanted to be the blond little adonis. And didn't have abs for miles and arms that— what was I talking about?" Billy waves away cloudy thoughts, and food arrives. So he goes quiet until the waitress leaves again, "Hey, Tommy and I don't compete." Pause, "Well we do but only in ways that are stupid. He's my brother." He nods, "But before I knew that he was my best friend. He's stupid and I'm stupid and we try to be stupidest. That's what brotherhood is about." He looks at his hands, which are indeed delicate, and he scowls. "They are *wizard* hands. Just wait until I get a pointy hat and beard, then you'll show some respect."
*
"I do not think a pointy hat helps your case for respect," Ava snickers at Billy. At least it's given her a chance to lighten up just a little bit. "And I am not sure why a beard would make that much of a difference. Your wizard hands are very nice," she adds, reaching over to pat at one.
*
"Oh, don't do that. I don't like beards." Teddy tells Billy. "Especially those long, bushy ones that wizards have. They probably get them in their soup all the time. And did you ever notice how those wizard hats look just like dunce caps?"
*
Billy narrows his eyes at Ava, a mock-glower. "Everyone knows the Wizard's Pointy Hat is a status symbol within the magical community. The pointyness determines power and authority with the mystic arts. And the beard expresses experience. I've met Merlin, who had the beardest beard of all beards, but his pointy hat was no longer very pointy at all, as the Mantle had passed on." The way he says 'Mantle' is significent. But, cutting into his food, he noms some with obvious delight, and nods to Teddy, "Honestly I am not into the beards. You will never grow a beard or you never get kissed again, Teddy. But as a consequence everyone will forever think me the baby-wizard, even when I'm ancient and bent over with a magic cane of doom."
*
"Pointy hats are a terrible indication of rank. No one looks anything but ridiculous in a pointy hat." Ava is all for starting to eat, digging in with a gusto that doesn't quite fit in with the actually wearing a nice dress thing. "Could you grow a beard on a whim, Teddy? And then make it disappear? Or is hair not really included in the shifting?"
*
"Beards are no different than the hair on your head. So yeah, I can do them." Teddy tells them, focusing more on the sauerbraten than on the conversation. "There's not a lot I can't do, really. Nothing normal, I mean. I can't breath fire, for instance." Which means he's tried.
*
Billy eyes Ava askance, "You do not tell someone with the power to turn you into a frog they look ridiculous due to their clothing choices." Pause, "Or if you do then you get turned into a frog. This is how the story starts. You disrespect the pointy hat and you become a frog and some princess has to kiss you. Trust me, I've met a few of these High Muckity Mucks of the Pointy Hat Society, and you don't judge them by normal standards. They tap into these deep and ancient faunts of energy and shape them into effects— and frankly I have no idea at all how they do that. THat… is meaningless to me. I couldn't cast a proper spell if my life depended on it." He eyes Teddy a moment, while enjoying food, "Man. Dude. Teddy. You just ruined my dragon riding fantasy entirely."
*
"Whether or not you say it does not affect its truth," Ava says around a mouthful of pretzel, shrugging. "Pointy hats. Silly wizards. Magic isn't the only way to manipulate the world, you know. Science is its own sort of magic when you're doing it at a certain level."
*
"Wasn't the one who turned the prince into a frog a witch, if I remember right." Teddy asks, glancing over at Billy. "You don't want to call yourself a witch. Anyway, witches and wizards aren't know for their fashion sense. You should try to dress like someone with class instead. And I didn't say I couldn't do a dragon, just not breath fire."
*
"Actually.. I am calling myself a witch these days." amends Billy with a little shrug, "Wiccan. Its what I will call myself later, and though I don't know what it means, I know it means witch. I'm Aether no more. I'm… Wiccan now." And with that, he leaves things to food.