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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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."

"Didn't you say you wouldn't cry? How dare my boyfriend lie to me." It's teasing because Tommy's only tearing up, but Billy's all grin and sunshine even as the actual sun dips further and further down. The light from it catches the earring he wears and Tommy's latest addition.

He leans in to kiss Tommy's cheek. "Don't worry, took care of that, too. Who do you think I got to make it into a pendant in the first place? Practically had a nervous breakdown by the time I was done hanging out with Kaplan and back in my room." But he had done it, had gotten what he wanted to make Tommy's birthday here special. "I'm gonna take a guess and say you like the gifts."

"Shut up," Tommy's voice croaks out. Dude, this is so moving. An undeniable sign that someone was claiming him.

"I guess I thought Tony," Tommy admits, but he's so pleased that his boyfriend thought of it too. "But yeah. I love it. Thank you, Billy."

"Aww," he coos gently, trying his best not to laugh in a good natured way. Those arms go around and pull Tommy into his lap to hold him, near full body. "I figured Tony would be a good fallback if I couldn't muster up the balls to go talk to your brother."

He kisses Tommy's temple. "And since Kaplan knows you so well and how your power works, it's easy for him to know what to do with the necklace so it won't break. And you're welcome. Only the best for my little speedster."

So much teasing.

That's a good point. Tommy settles happily into his boyfriend's lap and leans against him.

"You know, it's... this is probably one of the best birthdays I've ever had, not even kidding. Thank you."

Billy holds in a medium embrace, protecting him from the breeze and keeping him warm. "You mentioned something about birthdays at the Avenger place. So I knew this had to be special and it had to be for you. Not a joint birthday, not a shared party. Something just for you."

Hope you don’t mind a hand combing through your hair, Tommy. Because that’s what he does now. It’s soft. God, it’s so nice.

"I have another bit I can give you, because between the two of us, you’ll probably appreciate it more." He smirks a little, though it doesn’t fully reach his eyes on it.

"Oh. About sharing them?"

That was a whole thing, and he knows it. But people had still thought of him, and he'd liked that. But after a while it was... tiring. Especially when his team went about their own lives and his shared birthday was mostly facilitated by the Kaplans. Who, don't get him wrong, he loved them. But he wanted to be number one to someone.

"Huh? Another thing? Other than the cake?"

Billy thinks he deserves more? But he's already given Tommy so much!

"You said Vizh was the only one that celebrated your birthday. I took that to mean the only one to celebrate you, so I decided to remedy it for you. Give you a birthday you won’t forget so easily. Just like you did with me." The hand is still going in that white hair.

It’s soothing.

"Yep. One more thing to go with the cake and the necklace." Billy finally pulls away enough to have movement of his arms again. There’s a brush of fingers against Tommy‘s new necklace. "Everyone gets to see this, but only you get to have this."

Now he strips off his shirt, showing off his physique. All of his body that he’s kept up with in training and workouts. But now his scars were on display, fully healed but still rough under gaze and touch.

"He... he gave us gifts. For our birthday. The first year here. He painted them. None of us were together that day. But he still did it, just for us."

And it felt so good, to be appreciated like that. To be appreciated like this. And then... God, he does more. That shirt coming off. Being willign to show his vunerability like that. Wow. Tommy smiles at him.

"You's so beautiful. And so brave. God, I'm going to dream about this body so much."

"The painting." Billy remembers the day in the Avenger room. Or whatever it was called. 'Avenger room' had to be close. He sets the shirt aside and then thinks better of it before lumping sand on it to keep it from blowing away.

He leans over to kiss Tommy's cheek. "Yeah? You can touch it, too. I won't even put my shirt back on." He laughs, though he can feel his nervousness dancing all in his skin. He could do this, Billy could totally keep his shirt off for his boyfriend like this. "I'm only brave for you. And you deserve a good looking treat before cake for your birthday, babe."

The painting. Yeah. Tommy nods. an acknowledgement of a family he could and would never have. The dream that he and Vision had both shared.

"You can, you know," Tommy says, his voice soft. "The offer is so good, you know that, right? But I'm not going to force you to it if you feel uncomfortable. Promise you'll tell me when you need it back on."

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