bros before heroes.

“Uh…congrats on that…extremely happy old man.” Jon felt himself stiffen, trying to force a smile on his face that ended up a lot more crooked than what he had hoped for. “Now that’s a great question, but I don’t really name pets all that well. My dad’s dog was named kypto…cause kryptonian and all that. So name something that speaks about you and yours, I guess.”

-

“Imagine?” He asks, turning his head to smirk at the other. “I don’t know about magic but I can do this,” He started to wave his hands around him between his arms feeling the air thicken around him. In between his hands was small storm cloud, forming dark and heavy with precipitation. “I can even turn myself into one if I focused hard enough, but I don’t think  I’d want to be trapped in a jar,” He teased, letting the cloud disappear.

“I can only do create storms though, small or big. Something that was passed down from my father,” He explained, shrugging his shoulders. “I never met him or any of my family for a long time. I met my half-brother once I was old enough to train but eventually even he stopped visiting. So I came here. I was told my sister is here, so I’ve come to find her - and enjoy what the world has to offer while I’m at it.”

Does weather have feelings? Michael might just not be smart enough to understand anything about something that is above him. He glances at the sky around them for a moment and decides in that moment that maybe he could be more respectful of clouds. What if they were a person? If this guy could turn himself into one . . .  Michael realizes a moment later that he’s overthinking it. “You can turn yourself into one?  Groovy. I don’t think anyone would want to be trapped in a jar, that’s just cruel. I’ll never do that to you.” He watches as the cloud disappears. “Magnificent though . . . that’s very cool that you can make small storm clouds.”

“It is but you know, they can’t always stay young forever,” chuckled Zatanna. She cleared her throat quietly, flickering her gaze at Michael’s daughter. The slight grin fell past her lips.  A small chuckle escaped her, thinking back to a memory of her father expressing similar sentiments as she got older. 

Hearing Michael’s situation, however, shifted her focus immediately back to him. Her lips thinned while listening to his seemingly distressed tone. She furrowed a concerned brow, watching Michael put his head in his hands, listening to him ask her what he could do. 

“It’s-” she paused, contemplating her words carefully, “not uncommon for someone to react that way. I wouldn’t take it as if he hates you. How long has it been since this happened? Maybe he just needs some time to process things.”

//

Realization smacks him in the face knowing that his daughter will grow up. The last four years have gone by so fast already and Michael feels his chest ache at the thought of her being an adult and not needing him anymore. While he’ll always be her dad . . . it’s still going to be difficult watching her move out one day. Rani is only thirteen right now so there’s many years before that happens. Will Michael be ready with all this time to prepare? He’s doubting it. This is a feeling the blond didn’t understand until becoming a parent. “They grow up fast even if you don’t want them to.” He gives his friend a knowing look.

He feels bad for unloading his drama on Zatanna but Michael needs someone right now. He finally looks up, a sigh leaving his lips while trying to wrap his head around all of this. It makes him feel better finally getting it off his chest. How long has it been since they’ve spoken to each other?

“I’ve lost track . . . it’s been many, many, many weeks. He’s avoiding me. Which I understand but I miss him. I miss his laugh.” Michael wishes that his time travel device still worked so it would be possible to go back and try again. What the blond wouldn’t do for one more adventure. “Needing space like this is normal? Do you think we’ll be okay eventually? You know both of us so I trust you to be honest.”

Alice’s beaded black eyes regarded the stranger with curiosity, peering her head towards the hand in front of her, sniffing it. Her owner was sitting nearby and surely, this stranger meant no harm. The aforementioned rabbit tilted her head to the side, allowing the girl to pet her fur. 

“It’s nothing I can’t handle. Teams come and go. I still keep in touch with some of them. As for Zach, I try not to delve too much into his privacy. He’s old enough to handle things himself, but that doesn’t mean I won’t help him if he really needs me,” she paused her solemn remarks with a half-smile. “That’s what family is for. And of course you are welcome to ask me for advice.”

//

“It’s interesting how quickly teams will form together and then disassemble.” You hardly get any time to blink before it happens but he knows how busy some of the other heroes can be . . . the Justice League have a lot of priorities outside of their larger scaled missions. Nobody ever thought that Booster Gold did anything worthwhile on his off time in his own world. Although it seemed like his doppelgänger did the same thing . . . all the modeling and socialite gigs. It was a cover really to make himself appear busy while fixing the timeline. “Is it weird seeing Zach all grown up?” It seems like all they do is grow up too fast in this world of heroes.

There’s relief in Zatanna agreeing to try giving him some advice. “I might have done a really stupid thing. I know, I always do something stupid but I really messed up this time, Zee.” He takes a deep breath, no use in hiding it from Rani since she already knew what happened. “I told Ted I was in love with him and he got spooked and ran out the door. I haven’t seen or spoken to him since . . .” He sighs, putting his head into his hands. “How do I repair my friendship with my best friend?”

Zatanna looked over at Rani, chuckling at her reaction to the rabbit. The creature hopped towards the girl, raising its head up and sniffling the air in her direction. The magician gave a curt nod in response to her request to pet the rabbit.

“That’s the thing: not much has happened,” she explained. “My old team hasn’t been around since this ridiculous ban. We all went our separate ways and I haven’t been able to contact them just yet. My cousin, Zach, has been keeping his distance but you know, he’s an adult. He doesn’t have to have me nagging at him all the time. I’m sure in time, we’ll both figure things out. Times are tough but I know you’re a guy who will find his way eventually.”

She followed her sentiments with an encouraging smile to her old friend. 

//

Rani seems to be perfectly content with spending time with the rabbit. Which Michael doesn’t mind, seeing her get to have these pleasant experiences is all that he wanted for her after all the horrible things that Darkseid did to her planet. She seems to be giggling softly and reaching a hand out to delicately pet the creature. “So soft!”

It makes the blond smile fondly before turning back to his friend. “I’m sorry to hear that . . . it’s always tough when teams break up. I’m sure if the world needed you to all unite together again then you’d be able to make it happen. I’ve seen what humanity is capable of in the most grim of times.” The multiverse is strange like that . . . but Michael doesn’t need to give Zatanna some kind of crisis by talking about an alternate version of her that he met once. “Kids grow up too fast but is your cousin doing well for himself at least? I’m sure he’ll come around . . . right? I’ve never been good at serious conversations though, which brings me to ask you for some advice. If you don’t mind?”

-

He was being cheeky. Jason had never even met his father before. In fact, Hercules was the only relative he’s met since he was born many millennia ago. But his father was the god of storms and weilder of the lightning bolts so he always figured anytime there was a storm that Jason himself didn’t create, it was his father dropping by to tell him ‘hello’. He decides to tell this to the other - he can’t expect help if those helping don’t know his heritage, which could be a major piece of information when it came to finding his sister.

He follows Michael high into the sky, silently nodding in agreement when the other talks about the view. “I remember the first time I flew up to the sky,” He says. “I was still a child and thought I could gather up the clouds in my hands if I was careful enough.” It was silly, but the young did silly things. He turns to the other, shifting slightly in the air. “My father was Zeus, the ancient god of Olympus,” He blurts out. It wasn’t his first time admitting it to someone, but definitely the quickest.

//

Zeus? Well, that’s not a declaration you hear everyday. Michael can’t imagine what having an ancient god for a father is like . . . surely it couldn’t have been easy, right? His own old man was rotten just as an ordinary human being. He’s openminded about the whole thing. Booster was born in the year 2442 in another universe . . . which is equally as surprising. “There’s nothing quite like the first time you fly.” It makes Michael feel carefree and like nothing in the world could possibly harm him. Which isn’t true but for a little while he feels like everything that’s awful in the world slips away. “Imagine if we could gather up the clouds and keep them in a jar? You could bring it with you wherever you go . . . I’m sure someone capable of magic can make that happen.” Why you would want to put a cloud on your shelf is beyond his knowledge but actually, in a way reminds him of happier moments.

“I think you win an award for more intimidating father. Very cool. What’s that like?” The blond asks while flying through the air above the city toward the ocean in the distance. After everything that the man has seen over the years . . . hearing about greek gods almost feels normal now.

The joy of a father and his daughter. The sight kept her grin intact. Rani’s content expression was almost a dead ringer for the magician in her youth. Flickering her gaze between the two, she figured the poor girl would need something else to bide her time. 

She set her bag of fruit snacks to the side of the couch. Removing her top hat from her head, she waved a hand over the brim, clearing her throat once. Not a moment too soon, a white rabbit’s head popped out. Carefully, the magician lifted the animal and settled it on the floor. 

“I know, Michael,” she chuckled, “That’s why I’m grateful to hear that the two of you are in the city. Let’s just say I got a bit of a rocky start here and it’s only taken me until now to get my footing.”

//

The gasp that leaves his daughter’s mouth at the sight of the rabbit is rather wholesome. It does startle him initially but that’s his own fault for not expecting the random burst of excitement. Rani is very much like himself in many aspects but he always says that’s a good thing. Maybe she’ll be better than him one day. While Michael always claims to be the best hero you’ve never heard of, maybe his daughter will be the best hero you HAVE heard of.

“Can I pet him?” The teenager asks while putting her own snacks aside to sit down on the floor and offer a hand out to the rabbit. She won’t be satisfied until the two of them are friends. They don’t have any pets but Booster can see Rani trying to ask for one now. Maybe just not a rabbit . . .

“It seems like people like us only know how to have rocky beginnings.” Their lives are never short of being chaotic. “I’m glad to hear that you got your footing. I’m still trying to figure that part out for myself but we’re managing. What happened when you got here though, if you don’t mind me asking?” Things were awkward with Ted right now but that’s his own fault . . . but Michael isn’t going to unpack all of that yet. Speaking about the rejection will only make it that much more real.

-

“Justice League,” He repeated. Unfortunately when Hercules told him about the new heroes of Earth, he failed to mention any of them specifically. Not that he didn’t believe the man in front of him, but he would just have no way of knowing if his sister was among the heroes in the League. At the mention of the oceac, Jason smiled. “There are a lot of things I find calming about the ocean. There’s even a sense of calm when there’s a storm, it reminds me of my father who seemed to enjoy them.”

He nods his head. “I can fly,” He answered. Glaucos would tell him he’s being to trusting, but Jason liked to think he was better at reading people than the old man. To prove his point, he lifted off the ground a few inches. It was surprising to see the people around him barely spare him a second glance, they were so used to these kind of things in their city.

//

“Yeah . . . they don’t call themselves that anymore but we had fun.” Michael has fond memories of those missions and the part of his life. While not everyone took him seriously, that didn’t ever matter to him. He tries to focus on the joyous aspects to his life but that doesn’t always work. Especially in recent years with what happened to his best friend. Oh . . . best not to think about it and ruin the moment here. “Comfort in thunder and rain? I quite agree with you there . . . “ He wonders what it’s like to be close to your father. He has an estranged relationship with his own. “You sound close to your father. Did he take you to the ocean often?” It doesn’t hurt to ask and get to know each other if they’re going to be friends.

Luckily, Michael never takes his legion flight ring off so he also levitates off the ground several inches lite Jason does. “Excellent.  I think flying is the best way to travel.” He ascends higher up into the sky, stopping above the buildings and just enjoying the silence away from those busy city streets. People don’t seem bothered by those who can take flight which is nice. “What a view . . . never get tired of it.”

-

“Flying?” His body perked up a bit as he watched the other. “Are you a hero? One of the many that give protection to the mortals of this city?” Glaucus had told him the heroes kept their true identities hidden so finding his sister among them would be difficult but perhaps his old mentor was wrong. Or maybe the other saw more of Jason’s struggle with the vending machine that he let on. Either way, it seemed the Fates truly were looking out for him on this day. “Any recommendations for living quarters? I’m not picky, although anywhere close to the ocean would be wonderful.” His love for the ocean has been around since he was a young lad - many, many years ago. He was relieved when he left his island to find out that he would start his search in another one.

//

The blond notices how much the stranger perks up at the mention of flying. “Yeah, flying is my main mode of transportation these days.” He doesn’t even have a license but he also doesn’t have a social security number so driving isn’t really in the cards. None of that matters though, Michael wants to focus on the conversation he’s having here with a new friend. “I’m the best hero you’ve ever heard of! They call me Booster Gold. I used to be a member of the Justice League once upon a time!” When it used to be called that . . . and back in his own universe that was still the case. It’s funny how different a universe can be because of one minor alteration in history. “The ocean? I’m sure we can find some nice places over there. We can go look in that area first. The sound of the water can be calming, don’t you think?” He gestures for the stranger to follow him but stops after a few steps. “Are you able to fly also?” Might make traveling to that side of the city easier.

Zatanna followed behind the two not too longer after they made themselves comfortable. A quiet chuckle left her lips as she watched Rani reached for the snacks without hesitation. The delight continued when she noticed the teen bouncing on the seat. It was astonishing how she gave off a familiar spirit that was quite similar to her dearest father. 

She made her way onto the couch across from them, extending a hand towards the fireplace to their right. A quick gesture of her index and middle finger ignited a small flame. Looking back at the array of snacks she presented, she reached for a bag of fruit snacks. 

“I’ll only come to dinner provided that neither of you burn anything,” she teased, raising an index finger, matter-of-fact. She crinkled her brow, evoking a playful wrinkle from her nose. “I can’t remember the last time I was ever with you two and something ridiculous didn’t happen.”

//

Magic always fascinates him, wondering what it would be like to be capable of such feats. Booster probably wouldn’t be the best person to have such power but then again he’s kind of a complete idiot. While maybe some might argue that he’s not . . . sometimes his actions don’t reflect any common sense. He’s gotten better over the years, seeing how important it can be to take some situations more seriously. It feels easy to be himself around Zatanna though . . . which is good since he’ll be needing all the friends he can get while stuck in this reality.

Rani seems to have quickly made herself comfortable with the snacks, stacking some of them in her hands to eat while they were talking. The happiness easily seen all over the teenager’s face while the unhealthy foods are stuffed into her mouth. Michael does try to make sure they eat healthy but indulging a little is okay. He reaches for something too, unable to stop himself as he ripped open the plastic packaging to slowly eat the contents.

“I won’t burn anything! We can always order something to be delivered?” Michael laughs a little, teasing right back. “It’s because we make everything more exciting with our sense of humor. Everyone knows by now what kind of shenanigans happen when the two of us are in the same room.” Which is probably why it’s a good idea that Booster isn’t part of this new team that his best friend has joined.

Needless to say, classes at the local college were canceled for the foreseeable future, which left Mattias with nothing to do but wander the streets of a City on the verge of a panicked chaos. Already people were starting to get antsy and on-edge, yelling at one another for the slightest things as the Joker’s face remained plastered on the billboard screens and other devices throughout the City. Despite everything, Mattias’ phone was glued to his hand as the other nervously held onto the strap of his shoulder bag for his life. The phone hadn’t gone off at all - not a single call or even a text message from his parents just to see if he was even okay. Surely they knew, right? Surely NOVA didn’t just turn a blind eye to this city anymore. It didn’t seem like it, though. 

A misstep and his shoulder bumped into that of another man, who immediately whirled around at him. “Watch where you’re going!!!” He shouted viciously. “I—” Mattias had no sooner opened his mouth to apologize than the man angrily dismissed him and stormed off. “–’m sorry.” The words fell flat. 

This turned into yet another circumstance when his daughter refused to sit something out. Booster isn’t keen on her following in his footsteps but she has a suit that resembles his own and after that explosions? He’s thankful for once that the teenager is stubborn and put it on since it protected her. Although Rani is naturally more durable than him anyway being from Daxam . . . granting her the same set of powers as anyone who happens to be Kryptonian. The Carter family have been flying around the city helping people evacuate, find their families, and get somewhere safe. He still doesn’t want Rani to be a hero but today is the only exception.

-

Teddy knew. He didn’t know the details, but he knew enough. Booster was a hero, ‘the greatest hero you’ve never heard of’ he used to joke. In hindsight if might have been a little bitter of a title rather than something funny. But he cared and, even if that didn’t matter much, he hoped it helped a little. The details of Booster’s adventures couldn’t be shared but maybe he could help some now he was here; at least for the foreseeable? Everyone needed a break after all.

But, such thoughts couldn’t really take precedence when they were dealing with, well… him. “Well, it would be awkward if my identity got blown out in a funeral.” He muttered, wondering for a moment what people in Booster’s time thought ‘Ted Kord’ had died of. “Wait… The Trinity trinity? As in Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman?” he blinked, honestly a little shocked to hear that. What on earth would those three be doing speaking at his funeral? Sure they’d worked together in the past but he couldn’t imagine garnering that kind of service.

It might’ve been inappropriate, but he was touched to hear so many people had turned up to see him off. Next time he saw any of those three he might have to give them a hug. “W-well…” he trailed off, he’d never been the best with emotions, he was better at sarcastic comments or jokes. “Boos… I’m here now? I mean… look you don’t gotta cry. Do you uhh, do you need another hug?” Booster had always been a huggy guy, maybe it would help? “We can adventures here. You don’t have to think about stuff like that.” Cause God knows he was gonna try not to. “He’s okay.” Teddy nodded, sighing a little in relief. “And since you’re here, why don’t we just do the stuff you wanna do? Say what you need to say? No regrets and all that stuff.” he suggested with a small smile.

His head nodding, confirming that those three spoke at his best friend’s funeral. It feels like a lifetime ago now that he let the memory replay through his mind. He had been a mess that day, unable to bring himself to say a word and just broke down in front of Ted’s casket instead. Maybe that’s what everyone expected out of him. They didn’t always understand the shenanigans they got up to, but they knew how close the two of them were. Blue and Gold was a packaged deal! You hardly saw one without the other and maybe it was difficult for everyone to see Booster on his own. It was harder for him to realize it. Ted gave him his company and walking through that building felt strange. He remembers telling himself that it shouldn’t be like this over and over and over and over.

The blond sniffles, trying to pull himself together and stop crying so much. It’s hard because this is the most traumatic part of his life after all. There was so much left unsaid, feelings that Booster never got to express but it wouldn’t really be appropriate to let it out in this moment, would it? “I’d like another hug . . . I’d never say no to one from you.” It makes him feel better . . . okay?

-

Eventually the crowd around him got over the commotion he caused, some even stopping to grab their own goodies for free and giving him a quick nod of thanks. He bends down to grab a snack of his own - a chocolate candy bar - before turning back to the man speaking to him. “Uh, yes,” He agrees. “It appears the Fates favored me on this day.” He quickly bent down again and grabbed another snack, offering it to the other male. “My name is Jason,” He introduced. “Allow me to share my fortune, even if it is a small one.”

He eyed the blonde haired man. He hasn’t been here even a full day and was already having trouble navigating this giant city. “Do you happen to know your way through this city? I could use some help finding my way around.”

//

Michael certainly has no place to judge considering his own endeavors have found him in worse circumstances. He was a criminal once in his own time for stealing from the museum . . . but not anymore. The Ted from his own world set up a secret account to pay it off when the time came so it would belong to him. Which meant that the blond has some experience with thievery but that’s not really his style anymore. He accepts the candy though, smiling as the snack is handed to him. He does really like chocolate. “Well, thank you to the fates for blessing us with these snacks, huh?” He smiles and opens the wrapper of the candy bar. “I’m Michael. Thank you for this. It’s one of my favorites actually.” They don’t have these in 2442 anymore.

“Lucky for you I’ve spent a lot of time flying around the city figuring out the layout. I can show you around if you need help finding somewhere specific.” The blond promises before finally taking a bite out of the chocolate sitting in his palm.

.

Teddy knew how Booster would come and go, even back when he’d been an active hero Booster hadn’t always been there. And that was fine. Other heroes might’ve thought him flighty or unreliable but Teddy knew it was because he was doing important work on the time stream, keeping it stable as best he could. It was something none of them could manage and that he got no credit for it was truly one of the worst injustices he knew. But, when he had been about, they’d always been close, staying in the same Justice League headquarters when they were on missions or tired after a patrol. He remembered late-night fridge raiding, card games till the sun came up or just chilling with a beer and watching TV. Honestly they were some of his best memories, he kinda hoped they’d be able to have that again so long as he was here.

And then any such happy thoughts were promptly steamrolled out of his brain when Booster let him know what happened. His own defence mechanisms had kicked in and he resorted to trying to make out it was no big deal. This was a different time, he wasn’t the same Ted, Booster probably knew a whole bunch of Ted’s and they couldn’t all have great endings. Knowing himself he figured it was kind of inevitable.

“W-well you didn’t have to!” He snapped, crossing his arms and huffing quietly, “The last thing I’d have- that I DO want is any kinda fuss. I’m a schmuck with an insect motif. That’s about it.” he walked away, turned around and walked straight back, pacing on the spot. “You’re blowing this way outta proportion Boos. You lost someone, that’s hard but c’mon Ted Kord? Folks like me are a dime a dozen and I’m positive the JL carried on like nothing happened.” Hearing a lot of people even bothered to attend his funeral… his funeral, was kinda shocking and thinking about it too much made his stomach clench up. “A-and,” he shook his head, “And you can’t mess with time like that! It’s your job to fix it, not try and mess with it to get some guy back. So… so there!” Oh God and he was crying, Teddy didn’t know what to do with the crying. “Jaime?” he asked after a pause, “And he’s okay?” Again, everyone more important than him.        

Nobody ever knew that Michael has been busy doing important work. He was keeping the reality they grew up in safe and nobody ever thanked him for his services. Maybe deep down there was part of Booster that wishes that there was a chance for some recognition.  It would be nice for someone to appreciate what he does but that’s also not why he does it. There’s nobody else that can get this kind of job done. Michael doesn’t want to think about what the universe would look like without him — at least his sister is still over in his Universe. She could help aid Rip. It’s enough to get some relief off of his shoulders. This only distracts his mind for a moment until focusing in on the trauma that’s attached to their words. No matter how long Michael had to stay in one place, the adventures that they had meant the world to him. It gave him some normalcy in a world where he was still searching for himself in.

There wasn’t any place for happy thoughts when voicing details of his memories. All Michael knew is how much his heart ached hearing Ted be so adamant that he didn’t deserve to be remembered. He doesn’t know how to convince his best friend otherwise but will never stop trying. Nothing will change his mind. He spiraled so deep into his depression that he grew a beard. Which is weird even for Booster but has kept it ever since. Although . . .  this detail won’t be brought up. It’s not about himself and whatever happened as a result of his grief.

Teddy wouldn’t have them anywhere else. Sure if Booster had his own resources and place to stay then by all means, despite often acting like everyone’s little Jewish grandmother (blame said little Jewish grandmother for that) he wouldn’t stop him being independent. But he wasn’t sure if this Booster would have access or knowledge of where current Booster kept his money. So, for the foreseeable, he and Rani could stay with him and they’d work it out. God knows they’d dealt with enough of time-related issues in the past to be almost experts by now. And until then, he got to be roommates with his best friend and (still crazy) his daughter. It was a win-win.

Teddy waved Rani off with a little chuckle then pouted at Booster, “Awww, you don’t wanna look like you’re about to hulk-out of my clothes at a moments notice?” he asked with another laugh. “Still, same could be said about that one. Gotta say I always wondered how much protection something so tight could offer. But then, I know that suit as well as you.” Future tech. Tech he may have then replicated for his own beetle-pack. “Ehh, not sure. They’re usually pretty quick since I don’t give’em much to do.”

Teddy’s grin quickly faded when he saw how serious Booster became. He blinked and his brow furrowed a little, pushing off the wall and letting his arms fall by his side, unsure what to do with them. When Booster let it out his eyes went wide and Teddy felt the colour drain from his face. He didn’t speak for several moments. What was he supposed to say? Him… Murdered… He wasn’t worth murdering!? He just stared at Booster while the sound of running water in the other room filled the apartment. He eventually swallowed, “I-I uh…” he swallowed again, “I mean, Boos… Michael, I’m really not worth being sad over. I’m just me. Hell, I probably got killed cause I was an idiot mouthing off, right? Probably more annoying for ya even in death right?” he took a step forward and, almost hesitantly, put a hand on the other’s shoulder, “I mean… y’know… Ted Kord’s never gonna have much impact on the world.”  

There’s no place that Michael would feel more comfortable staying. Ted knew him better than anyone and will even know what’s going on with him before he does. He’ll probably look into what the other Booster had been up to and pick up where he left off when it comes to his modeling and socialite career. He’ll need to make his own money somehow but at least until then has a best friend who was one of the richest people that he knew. Besides after living so many years adjusting to a world without Ted in it? There’s something comforting about sharing a space with him again. His daughter will even get to learn about her uncle from firsthand experience and not just through stories or old photographs. Theres some happiness at the end after all. He might have lost hope along the way but is happy to have found it now. Oh, how he missed having these conversations.

The truth comes out and all hints of a smile disappears and Michael wishes it were possible to rewind time right now. His suit is broken so that isn’t an option and doesn’t want to run away from such an important conversation. The blond knew this was coming eventually and maybe it’s better to talk about it now. There was some minutes of silence before anything is said. He would give Ted all the time he needed to process this news.