#thread: warlockisaslur01

[immortalmuses]

ㅤㅤㅤThe press of lips in his hair makes Teddy smile, the expression more felt than seen against the slope of Billy's neck. But one kiss isn't enough (it's never enough), so the shapeshifter tips his chin up, murmuring softly spoken words along Billy's jawline as he works his way towards the other man's mouth.

ㅤㅤㅤ“I love you, too” He sighs, low and heartfelt, his lips sliding over Billy's own like two puzzle pieces slotting together. He kisses his consort leisurely, without any underlying goal beyond the simple pleasure of tasting the man he loves.

ㅤㅤㅤThere's a particular kind of contentment that comes with having Billy's body pressed so close, their limbs entwined together. Teddy can't really describe it, except to acknowledge the inherent relief of knowing that if Billy is here, held close within his arms, it means he's not somewhere that Teddy cannot reach him. That he's not alone and in harm's way.

ㅤㅤㅤ(The emperor is aware that this is a recurring theme within their relationship. He can't bring himself to feel too penitent about it, not when Billy seems incapable of keeping himself out of dangerous situations. They are, as his mom would say, well suited to each other.)

ㅤㅤㅤEasing his kisses to small pecks against his husband's lips, Teddy hums a question, “…how's your head?”

Oh, no, he thought, smiling as Teddy shifted down to his skivvies. There was no leaving this bed now. He was trapped, no use trying to fight his way out. His arms wound around Teddy's shoulders, hanging on even as his husband shifted and moved them around, tugging the blanket around from under their bodies. "I'll just do a double good job in the morning so my breath doesn't kill you," he replied, chuckling quietly.

Once they were settled, wrapped up in a chrysalis of cloth, Billy leaned up to press a kiss against the top of Teddy's head. "Perfect." It really was a good thing Teddy did radiate warm like that, because the overall space of the palace had a tendency to be on the cold side. A lifelong New Yorker Billy might be, but he had never tolerated the cold well. Finding out his boyfriend was a living space-heater was near world-shattering.

The tension, already on its way out, melted off him almost immediately. His heart rate slowed, the headache that so often crept behind his eyes nowadays. "I love you."

[immortalmuses]

ㅤㅤㅤWithout lifting his sprawled weight off the mattress, Teddy shrugs the royal cloak from his shoulders. Its semi-sentient fabric slithers off the side of the bed to land in a heap on the floor, where hopefully it won't end up too wrinkled come morning. Flexing the scutes along his shoulder blades, the Emperor's skin ripples with his shifting ability, his own bodysuit just… melting away... to leave him in his fitted briefs (the perks of being a shapeshifter, don't question it too closely).

ㅤㅤㅤTeddy rumbles a pleased hum when Billy's fingers work their way through his hair, going boneless as the other man guides his head to his chest. “..Mmph.” He grunts, “… can't you magic our plaque away?”

ㅤㅤㅤOkay, maybe that's pushing the boundary of 'acceptable laziness.' One would think that being a hybridized offshoot of Kree and Skrull physiology would mean there's no need for battling Gingivitis. But apparently not?

ㅤㅤㅤTucking his arm firmly around Billy's waist, Theodore drags the smaller man into the curve of his own body. The shapeshifter naturally radiates heat, but even so, the air in their bedroom is chilled. Groping beneath their tangled bodies with his free hand, Teddy manages to unearth the covers without dislodging his head from his husband's chest. He winds the bedding around them both, cocooning their entwined forms together.

ㅤㅤㅤ“Hmmm…” He sighs, satisfied, “…a Kaplan-Altman Burrito..”

The arms sliding under him made his smile spread a little wider; while, if asked, Billy would have just gotten up and walked himself to bed, the thing was -- he knew Teddy wouldn't. Like anything else in their relationship it was just a matter of course. Teddy had strength to spare and nothing but adoration for his silly mutant spouse, why wouldn't he carry him to bed when he just didn't feel like walking?

His arms tightened a bit around Teddy's neck, dark head tucking against warm green skin. By now he was used to the sidelong looks, the lingering unreadable glances of guards and retainers who he knew, deep down, definitely didn't think this Earther mutant was right for their great Messianic Emperor. He didn't care.

He had the ring, the title, and most importantly, he had the heart of one Theodore 'Dorrek VIII, the Great Unifier' Altman. He won.

It was with a grateful sigh that they sunk onto the mattress, and a wave of his hand that simply dismissed the clinging body stocking, leaving behind only a pair of black briefs. Once, a long time ago, he'd been shy about the freckled, scarred body beneath his clothes, but no longer. Now, if he was in his bed -- there was no reason to hide. Very few people would bother them in this private sanctum away from it all. His fingers slid up into Teddy's hair, gently pulling the hybrid's head down to rest on his chest.

"Hmm, forgot to brush our teeth," he mumbled -- once again making zero effort to untangle himself. What was one missed night, in the grand scheme of things?

[immortalmuses]

ㅤㅤㅤOhh, the apartment… Teddy does miss it like an ache sometimes. The Royal Quarters on Throneworld II offer every creature comfort a person could possibly want, sure. But despite being Dorrek's birthrite, this place still doesn't quite feel like it's truly theirs. (Definitely not like somewhere belonging to two mega-nerds from the New York suburbs, who've built a relationship, a life together…)

ㅤㅤㅤMmh. Teddy shouldn't complain, not when he's been given so much, granted power beyond measure and a future with the man he loves. But the great thing about having a husband that understands him so well is that Teddy won't have to say a word��� Billy will just know.

ㅤㅤㅤOr... he would, if he weren't currently dozing off in the Emperor's lap.

ㅤㅤㅤ“Alright—” Theodore chuckles quietly, adjusting his arms to slide behind Wiccan's back and under his knees “— up we go.” The shapeshifter rises with ease, Billy cradled against his chest bridal style. He steps down from the dais and carries his husband from the throne room, past guards that studiously do not stare, and into their personal wing of the palace.

ㅤㅤㅤOnce in their rooms, Teddy doesn't set the other man down, but simply shifts them both onto the massive bed, his body a warm weight engulfing Billy's smaller frame.

"Hmm..." Billy hummed quietly as he felt the fingers in his hair -- if Teddy didn't want him to fall asleep here, he really knew better... "I was thinking maybe we'd try hosting at the apartment... neutral ground so everybody's on their best behavior..."

He trailed off, only to shift to stifle a yawn against Teddy's shoulder, followed by a quiet chuckle. It had been a long day, after all, and any motivation he had to continue any kind of work had long since gone out the window. "Bed sounds good," he mumbled. "Should probably go do that."

At which point he made precisely zero effort to move from his comfortable spot in Teddy's lap.

[immortalmuses]

ㅤㅤㅤTeddy hums in wordless agreement, his attention not really focused on the topic at hand anymore. Billy in a boneless sprawl across his lap does tend to have the effect of distracting him (…among other things). But the suggestion of both Carol and Lauri-Ell attending High Holy Days at the Kaplan household ��� and all the 2,000 square feet of suburban normalcy contained therein — brings a grin to the Emperor's face

ㅤㅤㅤ“That'd be… interesting, love.” He murmurs, one broad palm sweeping along the smaller man's brow, a repetitive motion that gently combs Teddy's fingers through Billy's dark hair. “We might have to enforce a strict 'no powers inside the house' rule, though, unless you want to be warping reality to repair your mom's formal sitting room.”

ㅤㅤㅤWouldn't be the first time, but still…

ㅤㅤㅤ”—C'mon. Maybe let's go to bed and shelve the planning for tomorrow. We can facetime your parents to see what they think.” Theodore has learned it's best not to assume when it comes to inviting one's super-powered-alien entourage along for a family visit. Billy's parents are cool and all, but they're still just regular people with a very different perspective on what passes for 'normal' these days, re-incarnated magical son or no.

He could fall asleep like this, he knew; how many times over the years had he simply slumped against Teddy, knowing the blond would support him? How many long, exhausting nights had ended with the poor mutant falling limp, trusting that his partner -- his first and only -- would catch him?

How much had it hurt the few times that wasn't the case?

Still, even though briefly dwelling on the aches and pains of the past, Billy found himself smiling fondly as his eyes slipped closed, basking in the comfortable closeness. "I swear, I'm glad my folks are just normal people -- the rest of our relatives are such a mess, aren't they?" His tone was light and amused, it was a common thread of conversation. How very bizarre both of their lineages had turned out to be. Billy, able to claim one of the most powerful mutant families on Earth, he and his twin turning out to be spitting images of their infamous grandsire, and that's leaving out the synthezoid line that could trace all the way back up to Ultron -- and stopped right there, because Billy refused to consider the man who'd been orchestral in keeping him locked up away from his family as part of it. Somebody even said he had a half-sister out there by way of Nightcrawler, but he hadn't managed to meet her, yet.

And then there was Teddy, twice an orphan, but now with a collection of relations of his own. A half-sister of his own -- Phyla-Vell -- another refugee of a defunct timeline. A half-brother, a relic of a past that both was and wasn't in this reality, who wanted absolutely nothing to do with them. That hurt, but Billy could empathize. It was a lot to process, and it wasn't exactly a secret that Genis had struggled with his sanity over the years. A strange connection to a woman who had once been their greatest critic and now fiercest ally -- they called Carol an aunt for want of a better title, but she acted as much like a mother as one could give her credit for. Which sort of made Lauri-Ell a sister to him as well as Carol...

Suddenly, a couple of lonely boys just looking for purpose had found themselves surrounded by people who gave them that. Truly a wonderful time to be alive.

"You're not wrong. Honestly might just bite the bullet and invite her along. And Lauri-Ell too, because you know she won't agree to anything if she can't keep an eye on you. I'm sure Lan-Zarr and Mur-G'nn can keep things running for a few days without us."

[immortalmuses]

ㅤㅤㅤ“I seriously doubt Magneto — one of the most powerful mutants on Earth — will stop being intimidating just because we joined him for a family dinner....” Teddy replies, a rueful lilt to his words.

ㅤㅤㅤAlthough, he muses... maybe Theodore sells himself short, in this. He did bring about a longstanding and portended peace between two alien races, after all. He's the gosh-darned king of space (sort of). He wields a star-sword that he literally pulled from a stone to fulfill a prophecy and prove himself the reincarnation of a supreme being...

ㅤㅤㅤSooo... okay, Teddy mentally ammends. Maybe Magneto isn't that intimidating. Except for the fact that he's Grandfather to the love of his life.

ㅤㅤㅤOof.

ㅤㅤㅤShifting to accommodate Billy's slow sag in his lap, the Emperor can't help smiling at how his husband unwinds in increments. Teddy's arm tightens fractionally around the smaller man's shoulder, tucking Wiccan's head against the curve of his clavicle. Like this (as in so many other ways), they fit. They've always fit, better than any two puzzle pieces coming home, better than yin and yang. And there's nothing in the known Galaxy that Teddy wouldn't do to keep this, him, safe...

ㅤㅤㅤ“You know I can't promise Captain Marvel won't come knocking..” The Hybrid warns, huffing a low laugh of bemusement. “She's got a real knack for crashing pivotal relationship milestones for us, in case you don't recall...”

ㅤㅤㅤStill. A quiet few days sounds like just the reprieve they both need right now. Something to remind Theodore why all the bureaucracy and politics of this intergalactic alliance is actually worth it.

Billy's legs draped over the arm of the chair, crossing at the ankles, balancing his weight so he wasn't pressing too heavily on Teddy's lap -- not that he'd ever hear him complain, super-strength besides. Teddy just wouldn't, no matter how uncomfortable he got. He was good like that.

Too damn good.

"He's apparently not quite so intimidating when you get to know him -- but we haven't exactly gotten any opportunities that weren't because Wanda was presumed dead." He made a soft huffing noise in his nose. "Would really love to have one family get-together that isn't a life-or-death scenario someday."

Exhaling a long, slow sigh, Billy relaxed by degrees in the gentle hold of Teddy's arms; nothing drew out the tension like sitting like this, and lately he was carrying a lot of tension. He'd started getting migraines again, right behind his eyes; the prospect of a break was a lifeline. "As long as she doesn't call in reinforcements and we wind up with Carol knocking the door down..." He chuckled quietly. "Though Dad would probably drag her inside and make her join in. That'd be something to see."

[immortalmuses]

ㅤㅤㅤTeddy cants his head into the brush of Billy's fingers, eyes going half-lidded as the other man played with his hair. Fingers scritching along his nape is a sure-fire way to turn the Kree-Skrull-Hybrid distracted and pliant, at least when it's his beloved's touch. Teddy's gaze only sharpens back into focus once Wiccan mentions The Big Man, knowing in an instant that he means Magneto. Theodore has been in the presence the Omega-Level Mutant only a handful of times (most notably while Erik myopically attempted to leverage Billy into finding Wanda)... He's never gotten the sense that the Patriarch was particularly impressed with him.

ㅤㅤㅤ“I sort of feel like Magneto liked me better when we all assumed I was a mutant” Hulkling muses, only half joking. He might be the ruler of an intergalactic alliance, and a child of not-insignificant legacy himself, but that doesn't make Teddy worthy in the eyes of Magneto…

ㅤㅤㅤ(Especially as the life-partner to his Grandson.)

ㅤㅤㅤWhen Billy finally slides into his lap, Theodore exhales a pleased breath, one arm hooking around the smaller man to anchor him against his own broader chest.

ㅤㅤㅤ“--My advisors know better than to contradict the wishes of my Court Wizard.” Teddy replies warmly, turning his face into the thick shock of Wiccan's dark hair and pressing a kiss to his forehead. “...I'll leave Lauri-Ell in charge, and we'll spend the Day of Atonement with your family..”

ㅤㅤㅤAfter all, they're Teddy's family now, too...

For a moment, Billy's free hand went up to rest at the back of his husband's neck, fingertips lightly playing with the loose hairs at his nape. It was certainly a lot of pressure for a couple of early-twenty-somethings. As hard as he thought about it, though, he couldn't fathom what it was they'd be doing if their relationship had ever been normal. Their first real date had ended with a kiss, sure, but then Iron Lad showing up and putting them on their path to heroism -- their path to this.

Then again, how ironic was it? Kang was the threat that had united the Avengers. How fitting was it that Nate was the catalyst for all of this?

"Mm, you're right. Lorna insinuated I should try to see if the big man himself wouldn't mind a visit..." And sheesh, how wild was it that he could number Magneto as a relative? Close enough for social calls? He'd managed to parse a lot of the other details of his strange resurrected life, but that still threw him for a loop every time he considered it.

Eventually, the unspoken invitation got the better of him and he pulled his hands away, but only to undo the cloak-and-mantle, let it flutter over to a hook on the wall, and slid into Teddy's lap, tucking his head against his broad shoulder. "Would your advisors tolerate you abandoning your throne for the sake of my silly Earther customs?" he asked, his tone light and teasing.

[immortalmuses]

ㅤㅤㅤThe press of Billy's hand over his own is a warm and welcome weight, and Teddy instinctively turns his palm upward to tangle their fingers together. Their matching Nega Wedding Rings click solidly against one another, almost like magnets drawn together. Tipping his head to peer at his husband, Theodore leans back in his seat (perhaps leaving enough space for someone to sit in his lap?..) and his expression softens.

ㅤㅤㅤ“I'd like nothing more than to go with you.” He says, the words ringing true despite the niggling undercurrent of doubt that plagues the back of Teddy's mind, even now. Ever since becoming Emperor, a tiny voice has hissed in his subconscious how this whole Intergalactic Alliance business is so very fragile… likely doomed to fail. That Theodore Rufus Altman, of all people, is laughably ill-equipped to keep the universe from trying to destroy itself. The only time that tight clench of uncertainty in his chest eases is when he looks at Billy, who holds so much power inside him and stands unwavering at his side.

ㅤㅤㅤ(Dorrek might not be able to do this Ruling-the-Galaxy thing alone, but... with Billy, he thinks maybe... well, at least he has to try.)

ㅤㅤㅤ“If it's important to you, then it's important to me.” The Hybrid-King adds, lifting their joined hands to press a kiss against the back of Wiccan's palm. “...besides, there were a couple people missing from our wedding celebrations. Feels like we should remedy that, huh?”

He'd been talking more to himself than to get a response from Teddy, as he leafed through a pile of documents of his own -- in spite of living in a technologically advanced civilization, there was a lot that was still done in good old hard copy, mostly because Billy found it easier to keep it all organized if he had it written down. Appointments, declarations, requests for diplomatic visits... He sighed, leaning his hip against the desk and crossing his ankles.

"I almost wish he would. It'd sure be easier than keeping all this straight," he replied with a wry grin, finally getting the stack more or less in order to set down on the desktop. Billy's tone was light, teasing -- he absolutely didn't hate this. But there were certainly times when he missed their apartment in Manhattan and the exciting life of being Avengers.

Not that being rulers of a galactic alliance wasn't exciting... sometimes.

Mostly it was just formality.

"Well, we've got a few weeks. Maybe if we iron all this out," he waved a hand at the cluttered desk, "we can both go." His hand settled on the back of Teddy's, thumb lightly stroking over the thick gold band on his finger. "First year as a married couple. Seems kind of important if you ask me."

[immortalmuses]

ㅤㅤㅤ“Mmm…” Teddy's hum of acknowledgement indicates he's listening, even if his head is bent over yet another royal missive from the Off-World Kree Emissary. They certainly do like sending Emperor Dorrek-Vell multiple play-by-plays of their endeavors to 'right the generational wrongs of their forefathers.' Locating a stopping point on the scroll, Teddy lifts his head to smile crookedly at Billy, “….don't tempt the cosmic forces, babe. You know as soon as you settle in for a nice quiet Yom Kippur, Galactus will wake up and decide he wants to eat Earth for breakfast or something.”

ㅤㅤㅤNot that the Emperor doesn't think his husband should go. If anything, Wiccan has been working even harder than Teddy himself, managing aspects of the Court Life that he himself isn't always conscious of... at least, not until something doesn't go as smoothly as it might have if Billy were present. It's a reminder of how his beloved quietly supports him in this frankly bonkers situation they've found themselves in.

ㅤㅤㅤ“— You should go.” Theodore says, an encouragement and reassurance all at once. “I'm just managing the usual peevishness between Kree and Skrull nobility…” He grins slowly, a teasing glint in the Hybrid's eye, “… it's practically a cake walk in comparison to navigating your family politics…”

"I should probably decide if I'm going to be heading back home for the High Holy Days... if the galaxy can hold itself together for a couple of months."