Room 307, Monday Early Afternoon

[dollpocalypse]

The second Topher stepped out of his portal onto the Causeway, he wanted to turn back and head back to Peter's place. That place had technology, a blissful lack of noise and visitors, and a guilt-free environment free of awkward apologies and blaming himself for stuff. Basically, it was perfect. Fandom was... not.

It was even less perfect after Topher went to class, where all that guilt-free philosophy imparted unto him by Peter was promptly zapped away by the same scarily-persuasive Wiggin rationalizing that had gotten it into his head in the first place. Weighed down by the fresh reminder of all the bad stuff he'd done that week, he trudged back to his room and without even bothering to close the door properly, strode on in, flopped on the bed, and stared at the ceiling.

Seriously, he'd love a portal back to Haiti. Even one that took him through a layover filled with giant rats would be fine. Maybe if he intentionally took one of those, the schadenfreude would be enough for Peter to let him stay a little longer?

...Whatever, he could dream.

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[dollpocalypse]

"Deal," Topher said at once.

And fine, that might change when he got a job later on, but it would be an accident, okay? Evil didn't even count when it was the accidental kind. Right?

"But you can't either," he added. "No more weird eyeliner and... meanness." YEAH, NIKOLAI.

[selfhelphero]

Billy made a face as he remembered that weekend. "I won't be mean again unless the island messes with me. But you didn't like the eyeliner?" he teased.

[dollpocalypse]

Topher opened his mouth several times to make totally dignified responses to that, really, before ultimately settling on, "I might like it more if it wasn't evil eyeliner."

Nice, Topher. Smooth.

[selfhelphero]

Billy tried not to laugh, but he couldn't help it. "What if it's nice heroic eyeliner?"

[dollpocalypse]

"...That might be okay." Priorities, see? "I could support that."

[selfhelphero]

"I'll have to keep that in mind," Billy said, leaning over and giving Topher a kiss on the cheek. "Are you doing better now? I can tell you I'm not mad at you a few more times if you want."

[dollpocalypse]

Topher smiled at him, surprised by how sincere it was. "Maybe like two more times?" he suggested, bumping Billy's shoulder with his own. And then because that was actually pretty comfortable, he left it there, and tried scooting a little closer until it probably qualified as some very tame cuddling. Which was...really new, and really nice. "...Or I could just take your word for it."

[selfhelphero]

"I'm not mad at you. Not at all," Billy said. He scooted closer too, and then put his arm around Topher in a more blatant attempt at cuddling.

[dollpocalypse]

Okay, so it was possible that cuddling was amazing. That was basically what Topher was learning here.

"'Kay," he said, leaning a little closer. It was hard to keep worrying when Billy was this close and this comforting, after all. Obviously that meant that maximum closeness was necessary. "I believe you."

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "You're -- I mean, you're kind of the best." There, Ender, how was that for 'appreciating the people he cared about'?

[selfhelphero]

Billy practically beamed, because how could he not after a compliment like that? "You're awesome too. That's why I'm not mad, because I know you wouldn't be like that for real. Not when we could be doing this instead," he said, resting his head against Topher's shoulder.

[dollpocalypse]

"Yeah, this is... way better than anything in that other place," Topher agreed, hesitantly uncurling his hand from around Billy's waist and moving it up to where he could stroke Billy's hair. People did that, right? He hoped he wasn't doing it too awkwardly, though. "Other-me had some really messed up hobbies. I mean, like, who goes evil when there's this as an alternative option?"

[selfhelphero]

Yeah, Billy was just going to close his eyes and enjoy this moment, if Topher didn't mind. "You were really smart there, I'll give you that," he said. "But using your brains for good will get you much better rewards, I promise."

[dollpocalypse]

"Yeah, like you did," Topher agreed. "Taking my only weapon was kinda genius. I mean, I went and built a new one and it sort of worked, but for the short-term, you know, good planning." That felt like it should have been weirder to say than it actually was. "What ended up happening, anyway? I mean, I know Victor found you--" okay, that was weird to say-- "but then what? Did you get that spell thing?"

[selfhelphero]

"No, I just got tossed into detention, thankfully. And it actually turned out to be really awesome because... well, did you hear how everyone escaped in the end?"

[dollpocalypse]

"Oh, okay, good." That was definitely a relief. "I didn't want to ask Victor to make sure or anything 'cause it would've been weird, but... yeah. I didn't want you to get all mind-controlled."

As for the rest of it... somehow that had not made his list of priorities. Self-pity was waaaay more important than learning about Hulksmash.

"It was something about Kitty, right?" he tried. "Phasing and stuff?"

[selfhelphero]

"Well, yeah, Kitty phased in with some folks, but then whatever was stopping people from using their abilities in detention messed with her abilities too so she couldn't get anyone out right away, but then the Hulk--uh, he's this guy who sort of turns into a giant green monster when he gets angry and he's not the one from my world but he's here and he was in there in detention and I guess he finally got angry enough because he Hulked out and like, knocked through the wall and we all followed him out like lawyers after an ambulance because he makes the best shield ever."

Oh Topher, weren't you glad you asked now?

"Anyway, I wouldn't have seen it if I hadn't been in detention, so things worked out okay, as far as I'm concerned."

[dollpocalypse]

Topher was left kind of staring by the end of that story. "Dude," he said. "That's awesome. Seriously?" WHY DIDN'T HE EVER GET TO SEE COOL THINGS LIKE GIANT GREEN MONSTERS? "I can't believe I was too busy tying up Peter to see it."

Damn it, Peter.

"Think anyone might have filmed it?" he asked hopefully.

[selfhelphero]

"I think everyone was a little busy getting out of dodge. Seeing the Hulk is kind of something you wouldn't want to happen here for real," Billy said. "But maybe we'll see him the next time we visit my New York."

[dollpocalypse]

Yeah, weird how people didn't tend to film stuff going on around them while they were fleeing for their lives, right?

"Awesome," Topher decided. "We totally should." Best pitch for a date night ever. "What's he like when he's not all monster-y?"

[selfhelphero]

"As far as I know, he's a nice guy," Billy said. "It was a science experiment gone wrong, or something. He's worked with Iron Man and Captain America though, so he's totally one of the good guys."

[dollpocalypse]

Topher made a face at that. "I want a totally badass science experiment to give me powers so I can work with Iron Man and Captain America." Topher. No you didn't. "But that's cool. Does he go to school here? I wonder if he'd be okay with people doing tests..."

TOPHER.

[selfhelphero]

Billy leaned enough to pinch Topher in the arm. "No, bad Topher," he said. "He's an adult, and no, no tests."

[dollpocalypse]

"Awww. Okaaaaay." Topher gave an exaggerated sigh, laying his head down on Billy's shoulder. "If you say so."

Huh. That was new.

[selfhelphero]

Yes, that was new, but Billy had no complaints. Hopefully, Topher wouldn't have any complaints about Billy reaching over to pet his hair either.