Library, Sunday

[selfhelphero]

After listening to the radio, Billy was glad he had a safe place to hide from whatever weird stuff was going on. He was sitting with his feet propped up on the desk reading through some comics he had to catch up on, feeling grateful that he was fine and that Topher was fine and still in love with him, just like Billy wanted. It really was nice to be him.

[Open and OCD free! Warning: Billy's conversation with Astrid contains mentions of dubcon.]

Comments

[theslashfairy.livejournal.com]

"Billyyyyyyyyy," Astrid sing-songed, entering the library. "What's up?"

Some of the excitement of being around her favorite characters had worn off. Now she had progressed to simply addressing them like they were her pals.

[selfhelphero]

"Hi... uh, there," Billy said, when he realized he didn't know her name. "Not much. How are you? Can I help you find something?"

Thank goodness he'd been taught basic manners.

[theslashfairy.livejournal.com]

Astrid looked like she was about to say no, then hummed briefly and wondered, "Do you have any books on the history of slash fandom?"

She'd get back on track eventually. But... books.

[selfhelphero]

"I doubt it, but you're free to look. I don't know if people have written any, unfortunately." Billy, shhh, no encouraging the scary girl.

[theslashfairy.livejournal.com]

"Boooo," Astrid complained. "I'll have someone write it later."

Because she had superpowers. She could make that happen.

She scurried over to prop her elbows up on the desk, beaming up at him. "So how's your relationship going?"

[selfhelphero]

"Um, it's fine?" Of course it was fine but strangers didn't usually just ask like that. "Sorry, I don't think I got your name."

[theslashfairy.livejournal.com]

"I'm Astrid Lillan," Astrid said brightly. "I'm one of your biggest fans. I love dark ships. And you guys are the darkest. Also the dub-conniest."

[selfhelphero]

"Hey, I'm not dark. I'm a superhero," Billy protested. "I'm almost afraid to ask what you ship."

He was going to be afraid to go on Tumblr for like a week when all of this was over.

[theslashfairy.livejournal.com]

Poor, poor Billy.

"You and Topher, obviously," she said. "I mean, I didn't at first, because wow, I actually liked Topher, and how OOC is that, but once I realized you were using your powers to make him like you, it became way more interesting."

[selfhelphero]

"Wow, you guys really do find out about everything, huh?" Billy asked. "You have to admit, Topher's a lot easier to like now, isn't he? I mean, he hasn't gotten punched in months!" He was clearly the nicest reality warper ever.

[theslashfairy.livejournal.com]

"Not just that, but it makes you way more accessible, because who wouldn't make hot people like them if they had your powers?" Astrid pointed out. "Plus it's so cute that he's a dick to everyone else, but you're still totally the boss of him. I just want a storyline where you guys are fighting and you, like, punish him somehow. Like you could make him sprain his ankle or get a headache or anything."

Her eyes glinted wickedly. Oh dear.

[selfhelphero]

"You think?" Billy said, looking confused for a moment. "But Topher's been really good."

[theslashfairy.livejournal.com]

"But sometimes he's annoying, right?" she pressed. "And you can totally fix that. Why have an okay relationship when you can have a perfect one, you know?"

[selfhelphero]

"It would be nice to have a perfect relationship," Billy said slowly. Sigh, fangirls, sigh. "You're totally right."

[theslashfairy.livejournal.com]

"And I bet people give you weird looks when you say you're dating that guy, but teaching him to be more likable would cut down on all that stuff. Not to mention it would be way hot."

Astrid bounced up and down on the balls of her feet. "Do you think I can get a writer's credit for suggesting that?"

[selfhelphero]

"I don't know about that. But it's still a good idea." One that had him grinning even more. Poor, poor Topher.