( the shudder running through his spine signifies when billy does start to feel a little better. a little less frayed around the edges with the suppressors out. loki is comfortably familiar, cool temperature bleeding even through clothes and billy's--tilting his head a bit, pressing the bruised side of his face up along the side of the godling's neck. leeching off that cooler temperature. )
Sorry, I--I don't know? I can't remember.
( the caves are all the same dark and dreary. billy can't tell one from the other, especially given the panic he'd been going through earlier, where his attention had been focused during his own escape. but he takes a breath in, breathes out a soft, ) Teddy.
[It's been chaos, but the very minute Teddy saw Spider-Man around, saw other people coming in to save them... he let himself be a little hopeful that everyone would get out, that things could be okay.
So, he's scared, he's panicked... but Teddy is angry too. He's pissed off that anyone touched Billy, that they touched Tommy, and innocent people that didn't deserve any of this. He's not out of the caves yet. He hung back to help people who were too weak to get themselves out, to get a few punches of his own in... and the only thing he kind of regrets? They're not as hard as they usually are. The damn collar keeps him from shifting, it keeps him weak... it's not letting him heal right.
He hates it.
He's a bloodied, exhausted mess, leaned heavily against a wall and trying to not fall apart entirely by the time Loki and Billy seem to find him. He'd lost Billy and Tommy both somewhere along the way -- and he'd hoped to god that they'd gotten out, that they were safely away...
At least he can find relief in the fact that Loki is with him and that Loki can get him out quick, if need be.
He pushes himself off the wall after a moment, wincing as his body protests, but he manages a tired smile. It might be bloody looking, it might contrast sharply to the nearly black bruises and cuts on his face, but it's mostly for Billy's sake anyway. He already freaked out once over the sight of Teddy, over him possibly dying... he doesn't want that again.]
Why are you two down here? You should be out of here-- far out of here.
[He looks to Loki, hoping that he's in agreement with the 'Billy needs to be far away from the caves' train.]
[ It's not by chance that they run into Teddy around the very next corridor; Billy's spell shifted the layout somehow, he's sure. That makes things a lot easier, however, and the look he gives Teddy is a wry one of "Did you think he would leave without you?" In actuality, Loki says, ]
We came looking for you, Billy says Tommy is already outside. [ The collar catches his attention, as do the unhealed mess that is one Altman. ] Need some help with your jewellery? It's out of season.
( the sag to his shoulders is near-immediate when they find teddy--even if it has a hiss as his ribs settle painfully against loki's back, fuck. still, he opens both eyes, looks forward to teddy and offers a small smile in return.
trying nnot to think about all the murders loki committed on the way down here, really. thanks for that. )
We're a no one left behind kind of team, remember? The four of us. ( what young avengers there are left. he counts loki for now. even if he'll probably fire him (again) later. )
[ Waving off the need to be owed anything, he slips his dagger free and waggles it to show what he's using to pick the lock on the collar. One-handed, because Billy needs some support on his back.
The collar clicks free obediently, as most locks do for him. ]
Alright, I vote we head to the hospital first to settle any serious damage, then home later. And, you know, I'm only saying "vote" to give the illusion this is a democratic decision.
I--got kicked around a little. I don't need a hospital. 's just bruises. Kesler gave me worse in school.
( also loki's neck is comfortably cool and he's perfectly fine staying right here, now that they've got the last of them out of the underground. teddy's collar coming off means he'll be fine, right? he pieces himself back together rather quickly, at least. so billy--lets his eyes close once more, presses in closer. )
[There's no words to describe the relief when the collar finally clicks off. He pulls it off and throws it to the ground, rubbing at his neck absently. After that, he's quick to test out his abilities, shifting his hand into a green claw before letting it go back to normal.
Thank-- well, an actual god, he supposes.
But he gives a look to Billy, not quite believing it, and then back to Loki.]
It's fine-- Billy, I'm pretty sure Kesler never starved you or refused to give you water or sleep. Loki, get him to the hospital. I can stay around here and help out...
He won't go to the hospital without you, let alone stay there.
[ He knows Billy better than to hope he will let Teddy out of his sight. Perhaps he might for heroic reasons but what he needs is the comfort of having back what is his. ]
I'm taking us all there in five seconds, both of you complain all you want until then. Five ...
( instead, he gingerly rubs the side of his face right up against loki's neck, hisses at the sting even if the cooler temperature is nice right against hurting skin. )
'll they're going to do is feed me and give me an ice pack. I've got an ice pack.
[Teddy's learned over the years when being stubborn about something just really isn't going to help -- Billy very rarely will budge when his mind is made up and Loki doesn't seem to be any different. After a moment, he holds up his hands in defeat.]
... Fine, okay. I'll go.
[He can always come back when he's sure Billy's going to be okay, at least.]
[ The countdown ends in a flash of green light, then the dingy temple is jarringly exchanged for the far fresher air of the hospital lounge and clean medical decor. Loki sighs in relief and looks around for the check-in desk, still carrying Billy on his back.
You better believe he's giving Billy and Teddy's name to the nurse. ]
You make a much better ice pack than listener. ( it's murmured into the curve of his neck, but whatever. they're in a safe zone, now. nothing's going to come at them in the hospital, so he lets himself relax just that much more. fighting loki's like fighting an ox, there's no point to it. he won't win. any attempts to teleport away are just going to be met with being followed, possibly knocked out, thrown over shoulders like a sack of potatoes and strapped down to a hospital bed while loki tells the nurses he's absolutely insane and doesn't know what he's talking about.
so that's not a great plan at all. he'll be bitter and bitchy instead, arms and legs tightening around him to keep loki from trying to pry him off. ) Teddy are you--okay?
[Normally, he's okay with the teleporting stuff-- but the sudden change from dark caves to a bright hospital leaves him feeling a bit off kilter, a little dizzy. He shakes it off as best as he can though, arms crossing over his chest absently. He should probably feel relieved to be out of there, but he just feels kind of out in the open, exposed.
He nods idly at Billy's question, looking around them.]
Sure, B. Told you I'm always okay, right? Fast healer. A few days, I won't know anything even happened...
[Teddy is going to be reluctant if he has to go let a doctor look at him. Especially when he'd rather just make sure Billy gets looked at and settled in, get at least the relief that the doctors are caring for him and Loki's there to watch over him.]
Teddy will be getting every horrid jab of antibiotics that you do, for moral support.
[ Teddy is Loki's insurance that Billy won't teleport his stubborn ass back to the Sanctum where he supposedly thinks a lack of medical professionals will help him heal better. Pacing into a room, he sits Billy down on the bed and looks around over a shoulder. Will he be released?
That pretty face really is a mess. It feels unreal out here, far from the hectic vicious battle and wounded, but that works for Loki. He would much rather have Billy treated before the rush of emergencies begins. ]
You can remain a koala when the doctors get here but I don't suggest it.
( no, loki's stuck right where he is. billy doesn't trust him not go back out on a murderous rampage, after he shattered one guy and stabbed another to make sure billy wouldn't try and heal him, what the fuck. with an attachment holding onto his back, he's not going anywhere. )
I think you deserve to get jabbed with a needle more than Teddy does.
( teddy has done wrong things but not murder wrong and his wrong was right in a way even if billy really doesn't want it to be. ankles cross in front of loki's stomach, holding on tight even as a hand extends out for teddy. )
Please don't pull a stunt like that again. ( he knows what billy's talking about!! )
I'm a Kree-Skrull hybrid... I don't think I really need antibiotics.
[He gives a curious look between the two, not entirely sure what's going on, but there seems to be some issue between them. It's probably not his place to pry right now anyway.
It's a little awkward, maybe, but he does reach out to take the hand Billy seems to want him to.]
... Billy-- whatever's going on between you two, maybe at least get in the bed? The doctor can't look you over when you're clinging on like that. Loki isn't going to go anywhere the minute you let him go anyway...
[ The Look he gives Teddy insists he will (pretend to at least) take anything necessary to keep Billy abed. Tilting his head back in a nod that could be to either of them, he pats the ankles around his middle. ]
You're safe here. Teddy's right, I've no reason to leave.
( teddy's hand and loki's midsection stuck between legs means neither of them are going anywhere and that's what he wants, so. teddy's hand gets dragged down to a chest where billy also holds onto loki, fuck his protests from before. this is fine. )
You killed at least two people. You're not going anywhere. ( billy isn't giving him room for means of escape either, thanks. )
And I'm still mad at you. ( not you, teddy. you're great. hasn't done a single thing wrong. )
[Fine-- he'll get poked and prodded. Or at least try to let it happen, if it really makes Billy feel better. Dealing with two stubborn mages? It feels easier to just give in. He lets himself be dragged in giving Billy's hand a reassuring squeeze.
Although that? Earns a shocked look.]
Wait-- what? [Killed?]
You killed people? [They were cultists, sure, but-- they'd get their punishment another way.]
I've murdered entire armies of cultists before, these were no different. Fanatics who wanted to cause harm, holding my family captive and tortured. [ The fleets of Angels went to their deaths unknowingly, good for them. ] The madmen of the temple refused to die so cleanly, that's the only difference. They took away any magic I might have used to teleport them into the middle of the jungle ... but I don't think I would have, in any case.
[ He turns around in the grip of Billy's legs, sighing as he gently brushes back a dirtied floppy fringe. ]
I felt your terror when they took you. It almost drove me to my knees, but I got back up to find you. To save you. That's all I've been thinking about ever since.
( it leaves him on loki's lap with teddy's hand pressed against the godling's back but that's--fine. still doesn't give loki enough room to escape, which is what really matters right now. fingers grip hard onto teddy's own, surprisingly tight considering how exhausted he feels. a sign teddy's definitely not going forgotten, even if billy's a little preoccupied dealing with
well. the little shit in front of him. ) You wanted to close that off, remember? Look, I'm--( not fine, he's not going to lie. ) alive. And we don't kill people. I don't care what you did be--( wait, that's also a lie. ) I mean, it's--I care? But. Don't.
( brows furrow, lips pursing for a second before he realizes how much that hurts with how bruised and bloodied his mouth is. )
[Teddy is too exhausted to even-- really get properly worked up. They don't kill. That's not what they do, but Billy is handling that, and it'll probably mean more coming from him than Teddy anyway--
And he's not entirely comfortable with where Billy has his hand pressed when he and Loki are-- that close. It feels a little too personal... invasive maybe. But it's clear that Billy is not letting it go and Teddy doesn't have it in him to yank it away.
So his eyes trail away, trying to give some semblance of privacy at least.]
I didn't do it before, I wasn't the Old Man. I was me. [ He knows that's where Billy was going with that, shutting it down so that he can scrub off the halo Billy wants to balance on his horns. ] Those people tortured you and Teddy and my brother, I don't care if they're dead. Better that they are. If you were held hostage by Malekith I'd hack that asshole up too! [ Somehow.
Loki drops his head, hands resting on Billy's shoulders. ]
This is me being better. I'm not going to run around stabbing cultists in the back now you're safe, you don't have to hold me prisoner.
( not exactly where he was going with it, but--god, he's too tired to try and argue it too deeply right now. the hand not holding onto teddy releases loki, raises to run through his hair and grip hard onto strands, tugging at his roots a little. )
I can't deal with this right now. ( so he releases loki. uncrosses his ankles, even if he's not moving off of his lap. and pulls teddy's hand to try and get him closer. ) I can't--deal with any of this. I don't know? My head hurts, I don't know what you want, what I'm doing, I want to go to sleep but I don't--( want to deal with the nightmares, and there are others out there who still need help and he can--do something about that.
his voice is notably smaller when he speaks up again, hand pressed to the nonbruised side of his face. ) Why's everything so hard?
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Sorry, I--I don't know? I can't remember.
( the caves are all the same dark and dreary. billy can't tell one from the other, especially given the panic he'd been going through earlier, where his attention had been focused during his own escape. but he takes a breath in, breathes out a soft, ) Teddy.
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So, he's scared, he's panicked... but Teddy is angry too. He's pissed off that anyone touched Billy, that they touched Tommy, and innocent people that didn't deserve any of this. He's not out of the caves yet. He hung back to help people who were too weak to get themselves out, to get a few punches of his own in... and the only thing he kind of regrets? They're not as hard as they usually are. The damn collar keeps him from shifting, it keeps him weak... it's not letting him heal right.
He hates it.
He's a bloodied, exhausted mess, leaned heavily against a wall and trying to not fall apart entirely by the time Loki and Billy seem to find him. He'd lost Billy and Tommy both somewhere along the way -- and he'd hoped to god that they'd gotten out, that they were safely away...
At least he can find relief in the fact that Loki is with him and that Loki can get him out quick, if need be.
He pushes himself off the wall after a moment, wincing as his body protests, but he manages a tired smile. It might be bloody looking, it might contrast sharply to the nearly black bruises and cuts on his face, but it's mostly for Billy's sake anyway. He already freaked out once over the sight of Teddy, over him possibly dying... he doesn't want that again.]
Why are you two down here? You should be out of here-- far out of here.
[He looks to Loki, hoping that he's in agreement with the 'Billy needs to be far away from the caves' train.]
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We came looking for you, Billy says Tommy is already outside. [ The collar catches his attention, as do the unhealed mess that is one Altman. ] Need some help with your jewellery? It's out of season.
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trying nnot to think about all the murders loki committed on the way down here, really. thanks for that. )
We're a no one left behind kind of team, remember? The four of us. ( what young avengers there are left. he counts loki for now. even if he'll probably fire him (again) later. )
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[Bad, from the looks of it, so even if he knows it's not like Billy, he kinda wishes he'd left and gotten help anyway.
But it's a pointless argument and the prospect of getting this collar off-- that actually has him genuinely perking up.]
Yes. Definitely. If you know how to get it off-- I'll totally owe you one, Loki.
[He's dying to feel like his old self again. Hopefully not literally, but he's probably taken on some damage that needs healing up quick.]
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[ Waving off the need to be owed anything, he slips his dagger free and waggles it to show what he's using to pick the lock on the collar. One-handed, because Billy needs some support on his back.
The collar clicks free obediently, as most locks do for him. ]
Alright, I vote we head to the hospital first to settle any serious damage, then home later. And, you know, I'm only saying "vote" to give the illusion this is a democratic decision.
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( also loki's neck is comfortably cool and he's perfectly fine staying right here, now that they've got the last of them out of the underground. teddy's collar coming off means he'll be fine, right? he pieces himself back together rather quickly, at least. so billy--lets his eyes close once more, presses in closer. )
There's more people who need help though.
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Thank-- well, an actual god, he supposes.
But he gives a look to Billy, not quite believing it, and then back to Loki.]
It's fine-- Billy, I'm pretty sure Kesler never starved you or refused to give you water or sleep. Loki, get him to the hospital. I can stay around here and help out...
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[ He knows Billy better than to hope he will let Teddy out of his sight. Perhaps he might for heroic reasons but what he needs is the comfort of having back what is his. ]
I'm taking us all there in five seconds, both of you complain all you want until then. Five ...
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( instead, he gingerly rubs the side of his face right up against loki's neck, hisses at the sting even if the cooler temperature is nice right against hurting skin. )
'll they're going to do is feed me and give me an ice pack. I've got an ice pack.
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... Fine, okay. I'll go.
[He can always come back when he's sure Billy's going to be okay, at least.]
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[ The countdown ends in a flash of green light, then the dingy temple is jarringly exchanged for the far fresher air of the hospital lounge and clean medical decor. Loki sighs in relief and looks around for the check-in desk, still carrying Billy on his back.
You better believe he's giving Billy and Teddy's name to the nurse. ]
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so that's not a great plan at all. he'll be bitter and bitchy instead, arms and legs tightening around him to keep loki from trying to pry him off. ) Teddy are you--okay?
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He nods idly at Billy's question, looking around them.]
Sure, B. Told you I'm always okay, right? Fast healer. A few days, I won't know anything even happened...
[Teddy is going to be reluctant if he has to go let a doctor look at him. Especially when he'd rather just make sure Billy gets looked at and settled in, get at least the relief that the doctors are caring for him and Loki's there to watch over him.]
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[ Teddy is Loki's insurance that Billy won't teleport his stubborn ass back to the Sanctum where he supposedly thinks a lack of medical professionals will help him heal better. Pacing into a room, he sits Billy down on the bed and looks around over a shoulder. Will he be released?
That pretty face really is a mess. It feels unreal out here, far from the hectic vicious battle and wounded, but that works for Loki. He would much rather have Billy treated before the rush of emergencies begins. ]
You can remain a koala when the doctors get here but I don't suggest it.
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I think you deserve to get jabbed with a needle more than Teddy does.
( teddy has done wrong things but not murder wrong and his wrong was right in a way even if billy really doesn't want it to be. ankles cross in front of loki's stomach, holding on tight even as a hand extends out for teddy. )
Please don't pull a stunt like that again. ( he knows what billy's talking about!! )
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[He gives a curious look between the two, not entirely sure what's going on, but there seems to be some issue between them. It's probably not his place to pry right now anyway.
It's a little awkward, maybe, but he does reach out to take the hand Billy seems to want him to.]
... Billy-- whatever's going on between you two, maybe at least get in the bed? The doctor can't look you over when you're clinging on like that. Loki isn't going to go anywhere the minute you let him go anyway...
[He gives Loki a look.]
Right?
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You're safe here. Teddy's right, I've no reason to leave.
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You killed at least two people. You're not going anywhere. ( billy isn't giving him room for means of escape either, thanks. )
And I'm still mad at you. ( not you, teddy. you're great. hasn't done a single thing wrong. )
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Although that? Earns a shocked look.]
Wait-- what? [Killed?]
You killed people? [They were cultists, sure, but-- they'd get their punishment another way.]
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[ He turns around in the grip of Billy's legs, sighing as he gently brushes back a dirtied floppy fringe. ]
I felt your terror when they took you. It almost drove me to my knees, but I got back up to find you. To save you. That's all I've been thinking about ever since.
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well. the little shit in front of him. ) You wanted to close that off, remember? Look, I'm--( not fine, he's not going to lie. ) alive. And we don't kill people. I don't care what you did be--( wait, that's also a lie. ) I mean, it's--I care? But. Don't.
( brows furrow, lips pursing for a second before he realizes how much that hurts with how bruised and bloodied his mouth is. )
I need you to try and be better than that.
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And he's not entirely comfortable with where Billy has his hand pressed when he and Loki are-- that close. It feels a little too personal... invasive maybe. But it's clear that Billy is not letting it go and Teddy doesn't have it in him to yank it away.
So his eyes trail away, trying to give some semblance of privacy at least.]
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Loki drops his head, hands resting on Billy's shoulders. ]
This is me being better. I'm not going to run around stabbing cultists in the back now you're safe, you don't have to hold me prisoner.
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I can't deal with this right now. ( so he releases loki. uncrosses his ankles, even if he's not moving off of his lap. and pulls teddy's hand to try and get him closer. ) I can't--deal with any of this. I don't know? My head hurts, I don't know what you want, what I'm doing, I want to go to sleep but I don't--( want to deal with the nightmares, and there are others out there who still need help and he can--do something about that.
his voice is notably smaller when he speaks up again, hand pressed to the nonbruised side of his face. ) Why's everything so hard?
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