"The whole point is to..." he hesitated, searching for an appropriate word. "Embarrass someone with a spectacle?" Maybe best to leave the occasion unmarked, in his opinion. He had no desire to be subjected to a singing crowd and whatever other mischief that entailed.
Mischief that apparently included a silly paper hat perched suddenly atop his head. He decided then that birthday traditions were just weird. "You're teasing now."
"That seems like it has the potential to be uncomfortable. I am glad there is no additional audience today." Truly the Soldier would have been happy to let the day pass unmarked, but considered Billy's keeping it private a great gift indeed.
"It looks ridiculous." But it made Billy happy, which mattered more than appearances. "You're still teasing."
"That is my preference." Not that anyone would want to celebrate someone shown to be a liability. The Soldier had found new reason to keep himself away from others in the wake of Beck's actions.
"It makes you happy." That mattered more than the presence of the hat, though he felt glad enough to have it gone. "And hopefully feeling better?"
"It does," Billy agreed with a small smile. "And I am. But my goal for today is to make you happy, remember? Maybe see that smile...?" He gives a teasing grin. "Maybe even actually relax for a minute or two?"
"If I'm happy just by your presence?" He shrugged; the memory of being trapped during the storm still felt fresh so the fact that the weather was clear and calm made all the difference now. "We don't have to just stay here and sit. We could take a walk if you want. Not a training walk, you can have the day off."
"Unless you want to train. We could do a marathon." Was he joking? Maybe.
"I trained this morning. Took an inventory of my supplies. Took advantage of the ship to eat. It is not a bad day." One of his better ones, all things considered.
"Twenty six point two miles," he readily replied. "A casual jaunt."
(Billy, do not let this fool have a birthday marathon. No one needs that.)
The Soldier shrugged. "I wasn't paying attention. The one on the end." The protein gel was nothing more than fuel for a heightened metabolism. It would never be a wonderful culinary experience.
He wouldn't put Billy through that kind of ordeal, not without specifically training for it. But Billy's expression spoke volumes, even causing a dry chuckle to escape the Soldier.
"No marathons for you. I promise."
He shrugged again. "It's preferable to some other means of nutrition. And it doesn't use resources that others need." Practical as always.
He laughed, looking grateful. "I think I might die. But we can work up to it one day. Maybe. Not sure I'll ever be a good runner. Tommy might've taken all the good running genes."
"You sound like Tommy," Billy teased. He gets it, but he still wishes he could convince the both of them to indulge more often. Or let him magic up something.
"Do you want to?" Billy was not built to be a serious runner and while he could probably train for it the Soldier saw little sense in so doing if Billy didn't enjoy the activity in the first place. "Outside of our training sessions, do you actually enjoy running?"
The Soldier rolled his eyes. He'd been compared to worse and he knew Billy meant it affectionately. But at the same time food was nothing more than fuel, and his metabolism required a lot of it. Since he had no desire to join the communal meals that meant feeding himself. "What would you suggest instead?"
"So you'd force yourself to it, even if you hated it. Do you really think I'd want you to do something like that?" It'd make him a worse friend than had already was; the Soldier held no illusions about his inadequacies in the friendship department. He didn't even know how to graciously accept the birthday gift.
"And that won't cause tension?" The brothers had clashed before. He didn't know if he and Tommy would get along. There existed a very real possibility of bringing tension into the household, and a meal with Billy wasn't worth it if that was the end result. "Me just showing up?"
"Nothing as physically demanding as a marathon run." Especially since the Soldier could manage quite a fast pace, given his enhancements. "If I truly minded something, I would tell you."
The truth of the suggestion brought him up short. He and Tommy weren't antagonistic or anything, but likewise they weren't close. From what he'd seen Tommy was pretty protective of Billy though, and the Soldier didn't exactly consider himself the safest person to be around. "Then I guess I should take your offer."
"Other kinds of demanding," Billy countered with a fond smile. Physical trials weren't so hard for Soldier compared to the social or emotional hurdles he took on regularly for Billy. "I know you would," he said, "I think I might be more of a hiking person than a runner? I like the scenery."
"Really?" Billy grinned, not expecting Soldier to actual agree, and he looked positively giddy for a moment, eyes lighting up.
"Perhaps." Emotions were hard. And largely more annoying than anything else. But he chose to focus instead on Billy's suggestion. "I didn't know you'd enjoy that kind of activity. I used to explore and hike often, when the Fleet brought us to various planets."
He nodded. Billy looked so happy that it didn't even occur to him to rescind. "Yes."
"I haven't done it a lot, but yeah? I think so at least. You must have seen some amazing things out there at least. As much as being stolen away sucks...the universe is just bonkers beautiful sometimes, right?"
"That's amazing. I'll make something really good, I promise. And Tommy'll probably make some actual food. Maybe I could try to too, but the magic food'll taste better-" Yeah, he's way too excited.
"The Fleet wasn't always the best, but we did see some neat places." As much as he hated the kidnapping, it was true. "We can find hiking here too. Or some scenery to explore. Sh'Ka tends to be quieter."
The Soldier had a feeling he'd have to mentally prepare himself for the visit. "Don't go to any trouble. You don't need to do anything special."
"You'll have to tell me about them some time. And I can tell you about all the weird multi-verses I saw. We can trade." Billy smiled easily and nodded, "I think I'd like that. Spend enough time with you and maybe you'll turn this city kid into an outdoor guy."
He laughed bashfully. "I mean...I'll try," he said unconvincingly. He knew it wouldn't make much difference to Soldier what he made, but it mattered to Billy. And how often did they have guests anymore?
"You don't have to be an outdoor guy. I'm just used to a more transient lifestyle than you are. Doesn't mean you have to be too." The Fleet had practically been a break, comparatively. Since his arrival here he'd fallen back into the habits he had on Earth, the need to constantly move around and the refusal to believe a space safe for very long.
Billy's tone convinced the Soldier that subtle was likely out the window. He didn't think he'd be able to ask Billy to tone it down, not when he seemed so happy. "It should be something you like, that you want to share. Something easy."
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Mischief that apparently included a silly paper hat perched suddenly atop his head. He decided then that birthday traditions were just weird. "You're teasing now."
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He grinned, showing his teeth and shaking his head. "It looks cute." He magics one onto his own head. "Better?"
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"It looks ridiculous." But it made Billy happy, which mattered more than appearances. "You're still teasing."
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He put on a brief- pretend pout, but magicked the hats away again with a smile. "I'll stop," he promised.
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"It makes you happy." That mattered more than the presence of the hat, though he felt glad enough to have it gone. "And hopefully feeling better?"
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He licked a spot of chocolate from his thumb and dusted off any remaining cupcake crumbs. "How's your day been, you know...before I ambushed you?"
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"I trained this morning. Took an inventory of my supplies. Took advantage of the ship to eat. It is not a bad day." One of his better ones, all things considered.
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He smirked fondly. It did sound like the sort of day Soldier would enjoy at least. "Nice. What flavour did you go for today?"
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(Billy, do not let this fool have a birthday marathon. No one needs that.)
The Soldier shrugged. "I wasn't paying attention. The one on the end." The protein gel was nothing more than fuel for a heightened metabolism. It would never be a wonderful culinary experience.
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"I dunno...that point two miles kinda pushes it over the edge."
Billy laughed, but it was such a Soldier answer. "The one on the end. Breakfast of champions."
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"No marathons for you. I promise."
He shrugged again. "It's preferable to some other means of nutrition. And it doesn't use resources that others need." Practical as always.
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"You sound like Tommy," Billy teased. He gets it, but he still wishes he could convince the both of them to indulge more often. Or let him magic up something.
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The Soldier rolled his eyes. He'd been compared to worse and he knew Billy meant it affectionately. But at the same time food was nothing more than fuel, and his metabolism required a lot of it. Since he had no desire to join the communal meals that meant feeding himself. "What would you suggest instead?"
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Billy shrugged, casually suggesting for the 5 millionth time- "...You could come round and eat at our place. I can make you anything."
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"And that won't cause tension?" The brothers had clashed before. He didn't know if he and Tommy would get along. There existed a very real possibility of bringing tension into the household, and a meal with Billy wasn't worth it if that was the end result. "Me just showing up?"
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"Tommy suggested it. And even if he didn't, I'm allowed to have people over if I want to."
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The truth of the suggestion brought him up short. He and Tommy weren't antagonistic or anything, but likewise they weren't close. From what he'd seen Tommy was pretty protective of Billy though, and the Soldier didn't exactly consider himself the safest person to be around. "Then I guess I should take your offer."
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"Really?" Billy grinned, not expecting Soldier to actual agree, and he looked positively giddy for a moment, eyes lighting up.
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He nodded. Billy looked so happy that it didn't even occur to him to rescind. "Yes."
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"That's amazing. I'll make something really good, I promise. And Tommy'll probably make some actual food. Maybe I could try to too, but the magic food'll taste better-" Yeah, he's way too excited.
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The Soldier had a feeling he'd have to mentally prepare himself for the visit. "Don't go to any trouble. You don't need to do anything special."
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He laughed bashfully. "I mean...I'll try," he said unconvincingly. He knew it wouldn't make much difference to Soldier what he made, but it mattered to Billy. And how often did they have guests anymore?
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Billy's tone convinced the Soldier that subtle was likely out the window. He didn't think he'd be able to ask Billy to tone it down, not when he seemed so happy. "It should be something you like, that you want to share. Something easy."
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