revivalproject | Slide ~ Goo Goo Dolls

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Slide ~ Goo Goo Dolls

WHO: Billy Hargrove, Tommy Shepherd
WHERE: The Beach
WHAT: Celebrating a certain someone’s birthday
WHEN: Evening of Oct. 12th
WARNINGS: Boyfriends

It's taken awhile to get everything set up. The hammock posted up on the beach just out of reach of the high tide; the branches and wood of various thickness tented together at a safe distance from said hammock; a blanket with the edges tucked into the sand with a large tray covered by another cloth held down by rocks; candles he had asked Tommy for a month or so ago to use in the beach house. Billy stands back, observing that everything is in the perfect spot with hands on his hips.

Earlier in the month they had a rough start. A bad day for Tommy with bad words from Hargrove in his anger that was mirroring his boyfriend's. But there was something that stuck out to the blond, something that let him know that what he was doing was right.

'The only one that wanted me. The only one that ever celebrated my birthday!' Billy could do this now, could let his boyfriend feel so damn special on his day. No being overshadowed by accident with Kaplan. No joint birthday. Just Tommy.

And of course he's made sure he's looking good. A fresh shower, a good scrub on his cheeks to bring out the color, and yes, even a spritz of cologne (thank you Munson). He's got on his cleanest jeans and a tank top from his own birthday, but has decided against boots for now. He feels really good about this.

Really good about it. Billy thinks it's really gonna make his boyfriend happy and that just feels the blond with this Good Feeling he can't quite describe yet, even after all these months. He reaches down to check, again, that the little wrapped cloth is still there. It is. It won't go anywhere until he needs it to.

Ruffling his hair as a last distraction, Billy crouches to set a spark to the candle wicks, then moves away to text Tommy.

'Took care of dinner for you tonight. Meet me at the beach. Sunset. No is not an option.'

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Fall is a busy time for Tommy. From his experience here the time around his birthday is pretty damn cursed. There have been attempts at birthdays for him and his brother, either planned by Tommy himself or his twin's old guard dog. So yeah, he's not expecting something, especially not coming early.

His boyfriend said he wanted to make sure that they were both providing elements of dates to their relationship. And Tommy had no problem with that. Though he had brought the first of the gifts he'd gotten from Tony for his boyfriend. Because, of course, he wasn't expecting this.

So he shows up, not nearly as turned out as his boyfriend. Cleaned from a shower he took quickly, clad in some comfy clothes and good shoes, and with a new piston assembly for the Camaro in his hands. But when he pauses at the beach with his hands full he's left staring because this was more than he expected.

"Billy?" he asks, his voice soft as he looks around. "Wow. Romantic vibes going on here."

Well that’s on Billy for not saying to dress nice. There’s only a few moments he gets to make sure he’s presentable himself before the Boyfriend Birthday boy is there with him. He closes some of the distance between them with a charismatic grin and a hand to Tommy’s shoulder.

"I would hope so, babe. I know the dates are weird because it’s an alien planet and their calendar is different but I’m pretty sure we’re really close to your birthday. It’s no surfing on a spaceport with ice cream cake, but I hope you like it."

That hand slides around so he’s got the arm around the speedster‘s shoulder.

Birthday? Tommy looks absolutely floored at that. To the point that he's speechless as he looks at his boyfriend.

His birthdays back home since leaving juvie were always shared ones after all. Maybe he'd drag a friend or two out clubbing the night before or after to make himself feel better, but it was never just for him. It was never planned by someone else. What?

"You... I didn't... Oh god that makes bringing you a gift awkward, doesn't it?"

"I did. Found out from Kaplan. Called Soldier to make sure he didn’t bring him anywhere near the beach so we have it all to ourselves for as long as you want." He leans in to press a lingering kiss to Tommy’s cheek. And another, because he can.

"Nah. I’ll consider it a tribute for the good looking party planner. You wanna put them in the beach house and meet me on the blanket?"

Oh yeah, he's even more shocked now. Like, what?

"You talked to Billiam?" he asks, shocked. He thought Billy was still too scared of his brother to have that sort of interaction. Wow. And even as he's asking, he's getting kisses, and that's wonderful. Shocking too.

"Can I leave my shoes there too?" Tommy asks, because clearly they're going to stay on the sand and he doesn't want sand in his shoes.

The grin grows wider. "Yeah I did. On the ship because I figured you wouldn’t accidentally stumble across us there. I was nervous because I know what he can do, but you’re more important." Billy hopes Tommy is feeling spoiled right now, because he should be. It’s his birthday! Or close enough.

"Yeah babe. Whatever you want so you can be comfortable." His own toes are in the sand, with some sand clinging to the denim of his jeans. With that cleared up, Billy heads down to the blanket where the covered food waits for them, and takes a seat.

Damn, that's so fucking cunning. And also so... amazing. Done for him. Billy faced someone he was uncomfortable with for Tommy. Someone Tommy loves faced a fear for him. He's that important to Billy.

It means so damn much.

"Back in a moment."

Because he's going to kick up too much sand if he runs too fast. So he strolls slowly to the cabin, smiling to himself. Because he feels like he's floating. Takes him a bit to come back, but when he does his pant legs are rolled up, his shoes are gone, and so is the car part. Hopefully Billy does actually like it when he pays attention to it.

"Hey. I'm back."

Tommy had done so much for Billy that he wanted to pay it back to him. To come up with a romantic atmosphere that could double as date spot in case he got the birthday date wrong. Tommy was important to him in ways he probably couldn't express yet with words. Actions from Billy were always louder anyways.

He watches Tommy stroll from over his shoulder, still grinning before checking the candles. Still good. When Tommy returns, the mutant gets a sunny smile up at him. "Well get down here. I got some food to share with you, and we can watch the sunset before I give you your present."

"You didn't have to get me anything," he says with a smile as he sits. But he's already really excited about this. "Fuck, you really threw something together quickly for me. Thank you."

Because of course he assumes this comes from his own break earlier in the month.

"Quickly? Babe, I've been working on this for awhile. I needed time for things to be made. The hammock, for instance. Your present for another. I sort lied about the candles, but I do use them in the shack."

He runs his hand across Tommy's lower back to pull him close by the waist. "And I wanted to get you something. And it's actually really fucking special. If you get emotional and cry about it and having me as a boyfriend, I won't say anything."

Then he leans forward to pull the largest cover off, showing a large plate filled with breads, cheeses, and meats. "I asked Radley for help during the times it was his turn in the diner yesterday for this. I didn't really know what else to do, since protein paste does not do for a romantic birthday date."

For a while? Tommy's eyes go wide again.

"I won't cry," Tommy says, though he's probably jumping the gun on that one.

"Oooh, food," he coos. Though once more he's shocked again with the news. Radley. Man. The guy hid this from him? That's awesome. "Thank you, babe."

"As much as we thought we could spare since it's getting colder out. I know you gotta keep up the energy with all that speed you use." Billy pays attention, more than some people would give him credit for. He leans and picks up some of the pieces to hold out for Tommy. "Had to make sure your birthday was as special as you are to me. And to try and top you giving me a surfing experience and a romantic awakening on a beach."

He gives Tommy a little elbow nudge at that, grabbing his own portion. The wind ruffles their hair and messes with the candles' flames without going out. "Figured the beach was a good place to go. Out of the way from others, and it's also where you took me for mine." Which was a funny way of saying he didn't know where else to stage this.

"It's special because you're doing this for me. It could have been instant ramen and cokes in a junkyard and it would be up there in the top birthdays."

Definitely top four. But it's already more than that.

Billy's got a really good chance to win 'the best birthday ever'.

"That is a beautiful parallel, handsome," he says, voice soft as he takes that food offered and nibble at it.

"Do we even have a junkyard, babe?" He finishes his portion off easily, and let his fingers dance over Tommy's waist from where he's holding him. The dying light lays orange sunlight over them, complete with warmth. Perfect.

"You're a handsome parallel," complete with a reach up to tap Tommy's nose. "Now, since it's your birthday, you get to decide if you get cake first, or your present."

"We could," Tommy notes before finishing his bites and then making another one so he can continue to eat. Food is always welcome.

"Wait, you... Cake?"

He looks shocked again. Who actually got someone cake? Other than him, clearly.

He smirks at Tommy. "Wow. Maybe I should keep a tally of how many times I'm going to shock you tonight, and there's not even any sex planned. So far, two times. And yes, there's cake. Why wouldn't there be cake?"

He takes another bit of food to eat. "I pay attention to things people tell me a lot more than they give me credit for. And someone still felt really bad for what happened back in the spring soooo I might've managed to get you cake. So a mini-feast, cake, and a gift all on a beach all to ourselves with yours truly. If this isn't the best birthday ever, I'll try to throw in some streamers next year."

"Sex doesn't have to be shocking," Tommy laughs, rolling his eyes. But he's still pleased to know there is cake.

"Oh god, you leveraged my brother for cake? That's really awesome. We both leveraged for cake. Cakeboy. Wiccake. He needs a new cake-based nickname. But not until after our birthday."

Because his twin gets teased not on their birthday.

"I don't need streamers, Billy. You did this for me. Only for me. So it's pretty amazing."

"It might be with me. We'll find out one day." He takes a couple more pieces to eat, and figures Tommy's going to eat the rest. "And you mean after your birthday. Let Soldier deal with your brother, sweetheart, because I've got you right now."

He leans so he can put his head against Tommy's. "I asked for a lot of help. Even Harrington, if you'd believe it. He tried so hard to wingman for me until I told him we were already together, but now he's trying to help me get my confidence back. So he let me borrow some of his cologne for tonight." Which means they were getting along long enough to be able to hold conversations and start sharing stuff. What progress on that front.

"And you didn't tell me which you wanted first yet. Cake or present?"

"Doesn't matter if we do find out or not. Still want to be yours," Tommy says with a soft shrug. He doesn't want Billy to think he needs that.

"I'm happy to let him have the day with his guy, Sunshine. But he's still my brother and I'm still going to do something for him. So not teasing until after."

Wait, Harrington? Sorry that you're leaning in, man, Tommy's got to pull back to stare in shock. Because what the hell?

"Yeah, his wingmaning was adorable. He tried so hard to get me to date you. It was adorable." And Steve can never know he actually did help Tommy some. A tiny bit. "And you DO smell nice. I'm glad you're talking, though. Not bad to see how you grow like that."

Still, he supposes he's got to consider.

"How about a few more minutes of bread and cheese and meat and the beautiful scenery?"

Just because they don't need it now, doesn't mean Billy doesn't want it. And he does, even if he's been favoring his hand more than making moves on his boyfriend. "Yeah yeah, brotherly love or something. You're my focus tonight."

He looks at Tommy with a questioning look, smirking. "It really was. I tried keeping up the game as long as I could, but I gave it up. What a doofus. Perfect for Munson. And I only grew because I had a great guy that was stubbornly in my corner for a year. And more bread and cheese with the sunset, you got it, birthday boy."

Which Billy serves up for Tommy himself, because who wouldn't want to be waited on like that for their one special day?

Hey, hands aren't a bad thing. They are there for a reason. A lot of reasons actually.

"You're my focus too," Tommy admits. God, this is nice. "Guess I'm lucky you're just as stubborn as me. It's really nice."

So he tucks into the food when passed over, leaning against Billy again, enjoying this moment. This perfect moment. Sure, more perfect moments could happen of course. Which after a bit he has to address.

"Gift I think."

Billy gives over each portion for Tommy with as minimal moving as possible. He wants them to be comfortable and content because no doubt the aliens would throw at wrench at them.

The request will require him to move though."As the birthday boyfriend wishes."

It takes a moment to fish it out of his pocket, but when Billy does, he hands it over. It’s a simple cloth folded gently to keep its contents safe. Inside is the spare earring from Tommy’s gift to Billy, but reworked into a necklace pendant instead. The chain it hangs from looks older, that’s seen years of wear but still sturdy.

It’s Billy’s chain. His own pendant hangs from a new chain made to mimic his own.

"I thought we should match a little."

Tommy accepts the cloth and slowly unfolds it. And is left staring. His mouth is actually hanging open just a bit. Like he's been rendered slackjawed.

Which he more or less is.

"Billy," he gasps out at last, looking up at the other guy. "This... looks like your necklace. And your earring."

"No it doesn't. It looks like your necklace that just happens to match the earring my boyfriend got me for my birthday." He reaches over to push Tommy's mouth gently closed. "I knew it'd be sturdy enough to hold something delicate like that."

Gently he reaches down to take the jewelry from Tommy, unclasping it like it's second nature. Because it is. Carefully he loops it around that slender neck before fastening and settling it. "I know green looks the best on you, but I like some blue on you, too."

Blue wasn't his color. Blue was Billy. But for the first time, Tommy gives exactly zero fucks about that. This is something special. This is something possessive. This was a clear statement of connection. And maybe he's tearing up just a little over it.

"Oh Billy."

No one's ever given him jewelry before. Apparently he's a sucker for it.

"I'll treasure it. Maybe see if my brother can't enchant the chain to keep it from ever breaking."

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