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."
"I'm liking it," Billy assured, "Don't think I'll ever wanna go completely off grid or anything, I like my creature comforts, but I like getting out into nature more."
"Is this like...my one shot at having you over? That might affect what I pick," he reasoned with a smirk.
"You can try longer trips with me. If you want." He often spent time in Sh'Ka, sometimes weeks. Billy would visit for a day here or there but if he wanted to try a longer trip the Soldier would do everything he could to make it comfortable. The city had more in vegetation and overgrown areas than Temba; it made a decent enough wilderness.
"Doesn't that depend on how the visit goes?" He shrugged; it might seem a joke but maybe Billy would think him a horrible house guest. "You'll regret asking me, and never want me back."
"Yeah?" Billy grinned, liking the idea of that. A little get away. More stretched out time with Soldier... "You wouldn't miss the solitude?" No matter how many times Soldier assured him otherwise, Billy knew that some element of solitude would always be important to him, and there would be times Soldier wanted him to clear off as well.
He laughed, first thinking Soldier was teasing that if he didn't play host well enough he might not want to return, and then rolling his eyes gently at the notion that he could ever regret asking him. "It'd have to go pretty bad."
"I would trust you to let me have a day alone if I desired it." Billy at least seemed to understand that the Soldier needed time to himself, and that solitude didn't equal loneliness.
"You never know. What if your brother hates having me there?" Not that he thought Tommy malicious in any way, but it made a potential example.
"Well he and Teddy didn't get along at first either," Billy said, and then flushed, quickly adding- "So...you know...just- he's been wrong about cool people before now." Good save.
They hadn't talked about Teddy's appearance. Nor about the ghost of Colonel Phillips. After the storm everything felt too raw, too much on edge. And now the Soldier didn't want to ruin what Billy had meant as a happy day. He let the statement stand. "I will try not to disappoint you."
Yup. Let's breeze right on past that. Billy was grateful that Soldier hadn't called attention to it. He smiled and gave him a doubtful look. "You haven't disappointed yet," he assured.
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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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"Is this like...my one shot at having you over? That might affect what I pick," he reasoned with a smirk.
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"Doesn't that depend on how the visit goes?" He shrugged; it might seem a joke but maybe Billy would think him a horrible house guest. "You'll regret asking me, and never want me back."
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He laughed, first thinking Soldier was teasing that if he didn't play host well enough he might not want to return, and then rolling his eyes gently at the notion that he could ever regret asking him. "It'd have to go pretty bad."
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"You never know. What if your brother hates having me there?" Not that he thought Tommy malicious in any way, but it made a potential example.
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"Did you have an idea of when you wanted this to happen?"
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