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.

Comments

[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.