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At first Billy simply opted to work one handed, while letting his other arm slip around Ladon's waist. As conversation continued though and that was all temporarily set aside, and Billy turned in to Ladon's hug, one arm still around him, and the other finding its way to gently cup the boy's cheek. Those pink eyes were unusually soft, and warm as he looked down at him. A far cry from the usual stoic, almost bored, fake aristocracy everyone else got.

"I would have come for you even if there hadn't been an army at my back. If I had known where you were, I would have done everything in my power to get to you. Even if everyone else didn't give a damn."

But everyone did care. The Negaverse was a family. Billy was realizing that, and figured that he owed it to all of them to at least look at them as people. Without having to earn that title from him. He owed it to them to get to know them and assimilate himself. make friends. Something he'd been scared to do all his life.

"You wanna know why I would? Because you're the person who has opened my eyes to so much I shut out long ago. Made me vulnerable in a way I told myself I'd never me. And while I should find contempt with this weakness, I cling to it like the very breath of life itself. I can't say how. I just know you've opened me up to a world where love is your name and happiness is your smile. You're the treasure I'd do anything to protect. Precious, wonderful, strong, beautiful."

And with any luck, this world that Ladon had created would expand with each friend Billy gained. But Ladon would always be the center of his universe.

Billy's view of Ladon hadn't changed much from his initial thoughts when they met until his ability to truly fall in love with the boy was challenged. No, it was later than that. When he found out Ladon was Wolframite was when Billy had first taken a step back to really see who this person he was with was. Billy would have been a fool to think recent happenings wouldn't have changed him even more. And not just physically. As scared as some of those changes made him, in the end he decided he could accept them.

"Sometimes at night when you leave, I follow you." It was a casual admission as Billy began another round of soothing. The hand that was on Ladon's cheek moved to pet the boy's hair. "I've seen some of the things you've done, heard some of the things you've said. Quite frankly, I think you underestimate yourself. Someone who is weak and pathetic wouldn't have the courage to go out and face their enemies. Someone who is weak and pathetic would run and hide. But you haven't, because you're strong. You're not running and hiding. And I admire your strength and ability to get back out there and face them, harnessing the hate like a weapon. I admire even the vindictive, twisted, plotting part of you that I've discovered." That of course referred to the whole wolf habitat thing. He hadn't been there to see what happened first hand, but when he heard the story in the news, he understood perfectly.

"So what if you're not what I thought you were in the beginning, and so what if you've changed since then? So have I." Billy chanced a smile, "And as far as looks go, don't worry about it. Because if I can't love you when you look your worst, then I don't deserve you. And honestly, love? I still find you quite attractive." The look on Billy's face changed to a half-lidded come-hither, before he pressed his forehead against Ladon's.

"I wish you could see what I see.." It was a whisper that was somewhere between Billy speaking to himself, and a higher power. Not that he placed much stock in there being anything higher than Ladon and himself.

Billy gave a soft chuckle, "Even if I am some big stray who takes up most of the bed?"
Exaggeration of course. Billy was only slightly taller than Ladon, although his frame was perhaps a bit stockier. And BIlly said nothing about Ladon's occasional being a pain. Although it did at times leave him a bit huffy, things weren't rainbows and glitter all the time. That just wasn't realistic. There were bound to be certain things one did that would get on the other's nerves. It was nothing that he couldn't live with.

"I'm glad you've let me stay. It's kinda inconvenient living in an attic without a proper bathroom," Billy said, downplaying just how much better this was. Even the attic would have been fine if Ladon was there.

Billy leant down and placed a light half-second kiss on Ladon's lips before ultimately breaking their embrace, and reaching to stir the noodles. The bread had to go in to the over too.

"We should patrol together some time. Be our own little team." Because eventually they had to incorporate their job in the Negaverse into their every day life again. And not just in fly-by-night sneakiness either. And, Billy thought, they'd make a good team. Partners working together. Not with one there simply to protect the other. No, partners who trusted one another to be able to hold their own while supporting each other.

"But not tonight. Tonight we can just..have dinner, be lazy, make out on the couch, gorge ourselves on sweets, be,...a normal couple."

Billy asked no more than that. A night as a normal couple. And a fairly innocent one as it were!

It had been a while, Billy agreed. Such acquiescence was soothing. Soon dinner was done, and eating under way. Chatter was exchanged, and empty dishes placed in the sink to be washed later. He was decidedly more interested in his boyfriend than the dishes.

A hand reached out and tousled some of that dark haphazard hair. He wondered what Ladon planned to do with it - if anything at all. The asymmetry of it seemed to be in now a days. He looked cute either way. At least this was kind of edgy. There was a mysterious grin there on Billy's face as he leaned in like he was about to kiss Ladon as he walked by, but fled just mere centimeters away - looking back over his shoulder to gauge the reaction to his taunting playfulness.

There was a moment best described as 'question mark' for Billy as the hem of his shirt was snatched, followed soon by a decisive intake of breath and straightening of posture. Touche. Billy could take it. And counter with a PEVERSE ATTACK.

"And here I was taking it slow~"

It...probably wasn't the best thing he could come back with. However that hand was cold and it kinda shorted the knee-jerk comeback part of his brain. None the less, Billy reached back there and took the hand that was on his back and twisted around to face Ladon, taking a few steps back, towards the couch. Mindful of the coffee table.

"Let's stick to first base, hon." Smirk. Only because Billy wasn't sure Ladon wouldn't have a heart attack at second. Of course, that also depended on what Ladon would do.

"Yes, Master" Billy said in a playful tone, taking a seat beside Ladon before delivering the first - a quick simple thing. Pulling back just a fraction, noses rubbed softly, rosey eyes sought then retreated as lips met lips again - softer, lingering. Ladon's hand was still in his own as Billy sat sideways on the couch - one foot tucked under him and the other flat on the floor. He didn't press on with the kiss and instead pulled back, still full of playfulness and pride.

"Better now?"

Billy chuckled before issuing a challenge.

"Well then, how about you show me how it's done?"

If Ladon wanted to play, they could play. Billy was good at games. He felt this one could quickly become his favorite. Neither could lose. They both won. And it would show Billy just how far Ladon was willing to go, because a part of him was afraid of scaring him, or taking things faster than he wanted to go. Billy was being a good boy.