dollpocalypse | Peni Tent, Wednesday Morning

Over the past few days, Topher had learned some things about close-quarters communal living. The first thing he'd learned was that his normal sleep schedule (waking up early to play on his laptop, then taking a few naps interspersed with occasional breaks for video games) wasn't really going to fly here. The light from the computer while other people were sleeping tended to be a little on the annoying side, and while he ordinarily wouldn't care... well. He was sleeping next to Billy.

So.

Morning again, with Topher fidgeting and trying not to make an excessive amount of noise, playing Angry Birds and cupping one hand around his phone to try to prevent the light from bothering anyone.

By which he meant Billy.

If it bothered Mercy or Sam, he was pretty much okay with that. Sorry, guys.

[[open open!]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

selfhelphero

Billy grinned, and scooted his sleeping bag a little closer in return. "Yeah, like that. If it's okay with you."

From:

dollpocalypse

"Totally okay," Topher said with an emphatic nod. "Just as long as I don't kick you. But anyway that'd probably be pretty difficult what with being awake and everything. So that's good."

Making conversation was suddenly much more difficult now, with their sleeping bags basically touching and all.

"So I told Tony how we're in the same tent," Topher blurted out. "He recommended cold showers."

Oh god, Topher. Please stop talking.

From:

selfhelphero

"Cold showers? For what?" Billy asked. It was one of those questions he didn't realize he could answer for himself until after he'd asked it. "Oh. Do you...not like that we're in the same tent?"

From:

dollpocalypse

OH GOD, SO AWKWARD.

"What? No! I mean. I didn't mean-- Wait. What?"

Topher really needed to not say things out loud. Ever.

From:

selfhelphero

Billy bit his lip and decided to try to take it one question at a time. "Do you like sharing a tent with me?"

From:

dollpocalypse

"Um?" See, that was kind of a tricky question. "I mean. I like living near you because you're you, so obviously you're awesome, but it's a little awkward sleeping next to you since I like you and everything. Which apparently is not weird for most people. According to Tony."

From:

selfhelphero

"Am I doing something to make it awkward? Or to not make it not awkward?" Way to maintain the English language there, Billy. "I mean...you know."

From:

dollpocalypse

Topher shook his head. "I think it's... just a me thing," he said. Helpfully and all that. "Like. A thing. Where sleeping next to you is awkward 'cause I like you and all that and we sometimes go on dates, so sleeping in the same room seems... advanced."

Advanced. Okay then, Topher.

From:

selfhelphero

"Ooh," Billy said slowly. "Well, I mean, it's not like we're sharing a sleeping bag." Yes, go ahead and put that image in Topher's head. "It's like we're roommates, only outside."

From:

dollpocalypse

"It was also awkward when we were roommates," Topher mumbled. Then he shook his head, wringing his hands a little as he tried to figure out how to articulate what he was thinking in a way that wasn't completely rude. "Um. Sorry. I mean. It's worth it? Because you're you, obviously, and you're really cool. It's just also a little weird. But manageable. Manageable weird."

Beat.

"'Cause I like you."

That point seemed important to reiterate.

From:

selfhelphero

"I like you too," Billy said, because yes, that seemed important to say. "Is there anything I can do to make it less awkward? Or easier to manage?"

From:

dollpocalypse

"Don't know," Topher said truthfully. "Um. We could maybe, you know, not kiss and stuff in here?" he tried. "Like. Outside it's fine." He blushed a little, then amended, "More than fine. Just. If we did it in the tent it'd be weird. I think."

Lucky Mercy and Sam!

From:

selfhelphero

"That's totally fine with me. It's a lot better outside," Billy agreed. "It's still a little weird to do it with other people around."

From:

dollpocalypse

"Cool," Topher said, relieved. "Yeah. We can... make time for that. Just not where we sleep." For whatever reason.

Then-- "Sorry," he added, a little sheepishly. "I don't really know why it's awkward. 'Cause I like, you know, dating you. If... we're doing that. It's just new and stuff."

From:

selfhelphero

"Hey, it's okay," Billy said quickly, trying to give Topher a reassuring smile. "I think I know you're kind of awkward by now. And that's totally okay, because I am too. This is new stuff to me too, and we can go however fast or slow you want. I promise."

From:

dollpocalypse

"You're the best," Topher said gratefully, meaning it. It was true: Billy was indeed kind of the best. Shifting a little in his sleeping bag so he could prop himself up on his side, Topher offered, "Hey, you want to see Ratman this weekend? We could kiss there, promise."

Beat.

"In between, you know, the action scenes and stuff."

Naturally.

From:

selfhelphero

"Yeah, I'd love to." Topher and Ratman was an awesome combination just waiting to be made. "I might kiss you a bunch then. I've been storing them up."

From:

dollpocalypse

Topher beamed. "Me too," he admitted. "Plus, um, it's like a rule. Nothing's more romantic than a guy in a mask and a cape."

Pause.

"Or sometimes a metal headband and a scarf thing. It's the superhero costume that's the important part. You know."

Edited Date: 2012-06-21 12:17 am (UTC)

From:

selfhelphero

Billy laughed, grateful that he had a sleeping bag to burrow his face into to hide his blush. "You make me want to walk around in costume more often, just to see your reaction."

From:

dollpocalypse

"Oh, it would be spazzy," Topher promised. "Which is not to say you shouldn't do it, 'cause it looks super cool."

Priorities.

"Especially the pants."