Rage has such focus

[wearingthestars]

Who: Billy Kaplan, OTA
What: Return of the Rage Bugs
When: Before the Mermaid Event
Where: Temba (Various)
Warnings: Violence, TBD



Working on building the cabin meant a lot of time outdoors. Thankfully Billy was a lot more used to that than in the past. If the weather stayed nice, he might even get a tan. Less fortunately, a hidden nest of rage bugs had awoken to the pleasant weather as well, and one had ventured out and found itself a host. Billy didn’t feel the bite, and life carried on for a while. He was testier than usual, quicker to anger, and then abruptly the rage took hold.

Eyes a glow, he banished a tree, fragments breaking apart and disappearing piece by piece. However it had offended him was unknown, but it revealed his next target to him, eyes narrowing and lightening crackling at his fingertips as he sets his sights on you.

Maybe you know Billy. If you do, you know this is very out of character. Before you have long to think about it you better start dodging.

(ooc: Set before the mermaid event. There is a planned resolution/end to the thread, so anyone tagging in won’t be able to stop Billy, but they can try their best. If you want them to get hurt/not hurt please let me know and I can make that happen for you. Also feel free to encounter Billy in a different place/set up than the one started here, he'll be flying about causing havoc all over.]

Comments

[wearingthestars]

There was a concerned frown from Billy at the difference in care that Soldier showed for himself compared to Billy. If he had the strength he would have intervened and repaid the kind treatment with his own gentle touches, but Soldier would have shoo'd him off regardless.

"You need to be kinder to yourself," he said softly, but he nodded and took a few wobbly steps. "I'm ready."

[sinistral]

"It's not what I need right now." There were times that the Soldier stood under water hot enough to scald, scouring his skin nearly raw to remove the (imagined) tackiness of dried blood. He didn't want to linger just to treat himself gently; it wouldn't serve any useful purpose.

"What I need," he started, an arm snaking around Billy's middle to support him, "is to get you settled so you can rest, and I can keep you from harm." The reassurance that he could keep Billy safe would do more for him than any physical cleaning. Feeling Billy resting and knowing that Billy trusted him, even though he couldn't prevent the bag infection, would be as healing for him as anything else.

[wearingthestars]

That wasn't a battle Billy was going to win today or anytime soon. He was able to move easier with the support, and the framing at least gave Billy more incentive to let Soldier take care of him. If it let Soldier feel better too then he couldn't refuse him that.

"Mmm, you're so stubborn, you know that?" he murmured fondly, as they found the towels to dry off. "There's no where safer than beside you."

[sinistral]

"I am," he acknowledged, as if it was a compliment. He maneuvered Billy toward the sink, where he could lean against the counter of needed while the Soldier retrieved towels. One he'd drape around Billy's shoulders so he didn't get too cold while he used another to help Billy dry off.

"How are you feeling? Steady enough to get dressed?"

[wearingthestars]

With them it more or less was one by now, and Billy's lips curled a little.

He leaned against the counter and held the towel close, rubbing at his arms when he remembered to.

"Yeah, I think I can handle that," he agreed, half because it was truth, and half because he was embarrassed with how much Soldier had done for him all ready.

[sinistral]

"Come on. I'll help." Since he was still kneeling it made sense to help Billy into the legs of the sleep pants he'd grabbed, tugging them up to his hips where Billy could tie the drawstring. He stood, consent his partner. "Do you want the shirt?"

Billy might get cold without it, but he didn't know if the fabric, soft as it was, would irritate healing wounds.

[wearingthestars]

Help was probably the right call, given that just lifting his legs into the pant legs felt exhausting. He'd used so much magic in such a short space of time.

Tying the pants, Billy shook his head before murmuring his thanks. "I don't deserve you, Soldier."

[sinistral]

"That sounds like thinking. Didn't we agree no thinking tonight?" He picked the edge of the towel away from Billy's shoulders, reaching up with it to dry his hair.

"I have a few more things to do before I can lay down with you." Dry himself off for one, and change out of the wet undergarments and into something for sleeping. And hang up towels and washcloths so they'd dry overnight. The mess of clothes he'd deal with in the morning. "Do you want to stay near me, or lay down and I'll join you when I finish?"

[wearingthestars]

"Nnn- we did," Billy acknowledged, squinting a eye shut as Soldier dried his hair, another smile coaxed out of himself despite...everything.

If he was truthful, Billy wanted to stay, but it felt more like a selfish urge in that moment. This all had to have been hell on Soldier. He deserved a minute to himself to process things in privacy. "I'll be all right, I can go lay down," he assured.

[sinistral]

"Then stop worrying." He pressed lips to Billy's forehead, a quick little thing. Getting Billy out of his own head wasn't always the easiest.

He did raise an eyebrow at Billy's phrasing though, unconvinced. "I asked what you wanted to do, not what you can do. I'm not going to chase you out of here. But I'm also not going to make you stay if you're tired."

[wearingthestars]

It's hard on the best of days, and Billy's self-aware enough to quip- "I can bend reality but that might be beyond my limits." He nodded though, and took a breath, soothed by the kiss.

"I wanna give you a minute," Billy rephrased, and that felt easier when he thought of it that way, "No chasing. I'm gonna go lay down. I promise I'll call if something goes wrong before you come out."

[sinistral]

"You're not doing bad." Probably because Billy was so tired. But it could work in their favor, if it let him sleep.

"Okay," he agreed. "You call me for anything at all. I won't be long." Drying off would be as quick and efficient as washing, little care taken in the action. But he'd hang all the towels in the aftermath, as well as his wet undergarments, and pull on a pair of sleep pants. The whole process wouldn't take long, though he would abandon it immediately if Billy called.

[wearingthestars]

Exhaustion and shock could be worked in their favor for now. Billy swore he'd call, and padded slowly and silently out to the bed. His pride in making it without falling was dampened by a vicious voice in his mind wondering how long Tommy's boyfriend would need before he could walk again.

He climbed into the bed, determined not to call, reminding himself that there was nothing more he could do until Tommy and Billy asked for it. That was the deal. So making himself sick over it in this moment wasn't going to help anyone.

Once he's slept- once he has some energy- then maybe he could put that guilt to some use, and start working on meaningful apologies.

[sinistral]

As promised the Soldier didn't take long to finish up, even leaving the mess of discarded clothing for the next day. He did manage to fish his dog tags out of Billy's clothes, placing them on the nightstand closest to Billy. Their communicators he placed on the other side of the bed before sliding in behind Billy and wrapping an arm around his waist.

"Hi," he murmured softly. "I'm here."

[wearingthestars]

Despite otherwise being quite still, Billy's hand immediately moved to retrieve the dog tags, sliding them over his head and holding them to his chest with a grateful exhale.

"I lived," Billy murmured, still trying for that humor. He didn't open his eyes, but he settled a hand over Soldier's arm to pull his grip tighter.

[sinistral]

"You did." A serious reply, and a tightening of his grip that led to the Soldier scooting closer until he was practically painted against Billy's back. Anything to make his partner relax; they could face reality in the morning.

"Now you can rest. I will keep you safe."

[wearingthestars]

Soldier had very much proven that he would keep Billy safe, not that it was ever in doubt. Without him-... no- no thinking. Thinking was for tomorrow.

Billy nodded softly, some of the tension leaving his body.

"Love you," he mumbled.

[sinistral]

"Shhh..." The Soldier made a quiet noise, letting fingers stroke against Billy's side. No thinking until tomorrow. Nothing except quiet and rest, the assurance that nothing could hurt Billy or make Billy hurt others. "Just rest now."

[wearingthestars]

No thinking.
The insistent voices and replays slowly faded, Soldier's soothing and Billy's own exhausting working to allow him drop into the void of sleep.

And hopefully once he'd recovered a little of his own strength he could begin to properly make amends.