💫✨💫

Universe hopping can mess with your head. People aren’t made for that - jumping from their own universe to somewhere else, then somewhere else, then somewhere else - it’s not exactly the most fun an experience, truth be told. And it can be easy to mesh universes together in your head. Teddy only knows bits and pieces about this universe from his search for Billy, but - one thing he does know is that, no matter how many universes he peeked into trying to find his fiance, he knows this is his Billy. This is his Billy. The realisation hits him like a wave, washing over him and finally, finally putting him at ease. By the sounds of it there’s a lot of shit going on in this universe, but.. they can figure that out. So long as they’re doing it together.

“I’m a little insulted you think I wouldn’t pull out every single stop for you, baby.” Teddy jokes with an amused and very sappy sort of grin on his face. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for Billy when it comes down to it. And he knows how that sounds, know people look at the two of them and think they’re over the top or too much or too dependent, but - they’ve been through a few hells and come back stronger for them, both in their relationship and outside of it. They’re.. right where they should be. Maybe not in the right universe, but in the right place. “I guess if it sucked that much you might be less inclined to go disappearing on me, huh?” Another joke, he knows - but it’s half true. He knows Billy didn’t disappear on him, but he still disappeared. And it definitely wasn’t easy.

He’s okay, though. Teddy listens intently, feeling a little twist in his stomach at knowing that Billy had to go through all of this, spiral through these thoughts by himself. Well - not by himself, if his brother is here too. Tommy would’ve helped, Teddy’s sure of that much. Would’ve at least helped Billy see straight when he was going through this. And he’s okay now. He’s okay now. “Me? Billy, what -” Teddy listens for a moment, a little surprised that this has been playing on Billy’s mind. Though.. maybe he shouldn’t be. God knows he’s worried about Billy so much while they’ve been separated. It makes sense.. Billy would feel the same. “I’m.. okay now.” Teddy answers honestly, letting out a slow breath. And he is. He’s been… all kinds of not okay, trying to find his fiance, but now he’s… he’s good. “I’m good, I just.. I needed to find you. I needed to know you’re okay. So long as you are - I am, too.” 

Years, they’ve been together. Yet years later, Billy still finds himself stumped at just how well Teddy knows and treats him. Is this what it’s like to realise he’s been spoiled, now that he’s lived without it for what feels like months? Probably. The realisation just makes him hold onto his fiance even tighter, plant a firm kiss right to Teddy’s smiling lips. “ That’s my bad. I guess I didn’t realise that multiple universes were included on the stop route. ” In retrospect, perhaps he shouldn’t be surprised by that. And -- okay, as much as that joke hurt, he deserved that. What kind of partner was he, in comparison? Unable to take the man he’d promised to share his life with on a trip across universes. Instead, leaving all of a sudden, without giving him any warning. If anything, Teddy could be irate and Billy would willingly take it. It might alleviate the guilt, especially after imagining if their positions were reversed. Hell, he’d take anything, if it helped the odds of Teddy staying with him. He swallows thickly, and just holds on for a moment, hope that says enough about how unwilling he is to leave Teddy alone again. “ Never again, not if i’ve got anything to say about it. You can even put a tracker on me, if you want. Eternal finger trap, superglue, rope leash like Gollum? I’ll leave it to your judgement. ”

Lorna had a thousand different answers she expected from that question. An accidental tourist from another universe who happened to be related to her? Yeah, not one of them. Her eyes narrowed. But hadn’t she already met someone who was from another universe? Someone who was meant to be related to her? “A familiar face? You know me in this other universe then?” Because the twins hadn’t. They were Erik’s children too, but they hadn’t known or known of her. But this Billy did. “How do I know you’re not just messing with me?”

tommy doesn’t question the good will, just slides the fries closer, drowns them in ketchup, and then digs the hell in.  things come to a screeching halt, though, at the next part.  it’s…not a totally off-base offer.  it sounds like the offer tommy’s been hedging for.  except tommy isn’t actually hedging for any kinda answer, he’s just talking for the sake of talking.  tommy shakes his head quick, shoves the fries back billy’s way like they’re some kinda peace offering.  

     “ hey, fuck that. ”  tommy fiddles with the salt shaker, looks at it just for something to look at.  there’s a weird tightness in his throat, and he doesn’t wanna think about that too hard, either.  “ i’m staying.  i’m where i want to be. ”  he has to look out for billy – billy’s the family he has.  “ teddy can’t be the only one watching your back, right ?? ” 

the fries aren’t really to billy’s taste now they’re almost swimming, but he can take the offer for what it is, and stomachs a gross fry for the sake of twin solidarity. he can’t exactly pretend like he isn’t touched by tommy’s choice. he knows tommy is making a sacrifice in order to be here, just to keep an eye on billy. if he was stronger, he’s argue he doesn’t need babysitting by his baby brother, but really? looking at this place, he knows it’d be a hell of a lot less cool if he was stranded out here by himself instead. 

@universalmxge·

While Stephen spent most of his time in the Sanctum, pouring over old tomes and honing his magical skills, he did venture out from time to time. This particular instance, he went to stop in a cafe a few blocks over. Once inside, he got himself a cup of tea and went to sit at a table. As always, he kept the Cloak of Levitation inside his pocket, disguised as a handkerchief, just in case he might need it. 

But also as always, the Cloak had a mind of its own, and just as Stephen sat down, the Cloak wriggled out of his pocket a bit and knocked his tea over. Thankfully he reacted quickly enough to catch the cup before it hit the floor, but if someone had seen the Cloak move, even worse damage would have been done. Glancing up, he saw that a young man was nearby, and Stephen feared that he had not missed the incident. Hoping to deflect any prying questions, he shrugged a bit and said, “Wow, that was close! This is dry clean only, and tea would be a real pain to get out!”

So, Billy’s seen some pretty weird things in his lifetime. More so now he’s here, a whole universe away from home. But he’s got to say, watching an alternate version of his former boss slash mentor slash recruiter get tea knocked over by a magic handkerchief, and try to play that off in any way subtle? Yeah, he’d buy front-seat tickets for that. Kind of wishes he could film it and show it to the Strange back home.

Teddy knows it’s risky to run out into traffic, but he’s not stupid. He timed it carefully enough that he should get through it without a problem, should be able to dodge the incoming traffic and make it across safe. Nevertheless he sees Billy’s magic coming a mile away, his fiance going an extra step to make sure he makes it across safe, and that thought alone is enough to put a ridiculously wide smile on his face as he approaches the other side of the street.

Being without Billy was just - not okay. Not even remotely. Billy’s his family, the only family he has left, Billy is.. he’s everything to Teddy. There’s literally nothing he wouldn’t do for him including taking the risk of universe hopping to try and find him. Was it risky as hell? Yeah, definitely. Teddy’s aware of that. He knew the risk when he started the journey to begin with. He knew there was a chance he’d get stuck somewhere he couldn’t make it back from. But it was worth the risk. It would always be worth the risk, for this moment.

The one where Billy basically launches into his arms, and for the first time in a few weeks Teddy feels like he can breathe easy again. “I missed you too. God - I missed you like crazy.“ He murmurs, holding onto Billy as tight as he can without hurting him. He knows they’re overly cheesy and super cliche, and that he’s way too sappy for his own good, but Teddy doesn’t care. He never cares when it comes to Billy. “I’m here, baby. I’m here, it’s okay. S’all okay.”

He’s not sure he’s saying that more for Billy or for himself, but - he’s probably gonna say it a few more times anyway.

After a moment of hesitation he pulls back - not enough to let him go, but enough to just look at him. To take in this moment. “Don’t mind you stalking me a bit, just… god. You’re okay, right?” A slight frown creases his forehead as he looks at Billy, shifting from relief to protection-mode, in a sense. After so long apart, he can’t help it.

It sounds ridiculously cheesy even to Billy in his own head, but there’s no way this is anyone but his Teddy. Not a stray Prince Dorrek wandering around this universe for him, but the man he loved so much it was like a physical ache to be without him. The guy who meant so much that a whole world without him just felt -- pointless. No wonder the people around here seemed pretty miserable, without the embodiment of everything freaking awesome that Teddy is. ...It’s kind of a relief sometimes, that the embodiment doesn’t include telepathy, or Billy knows he wouldn’t be living any of this down.

“I have no idea how you did this, but fuck i’m so glad you did. You’ve got no idea how universes majorly suck without you, babe.” It’s meant to come off light, easy, but really it’s too laden with relief to be anything but an honest confession. Sure, there’s traffic probably watching and one.. probably irate driver involved in that audience, but they could both pretend they played this reunion off totally cool later. Billy’s not in the mind to give a damn when his fiance is here, when he can feel his magic actually settle back into his skin now he no longer needs to worry, fret, pine, about the most important person left behind. Hell, he can actually kinda believe it that it’ll be okay. Tommy’s here. Teddy’s here. It could be a hell of a lot worse than that.

It’s probably narrow minded and ridiculous to be so focused on one objective in a whole new universe where things are god knows what way, but Teddy is literally here for one reason. To find his fiance and hopefully take him back home. God knows he and Billy have spent enough time universe and multiverse traipsing. Unless their next trip involves a beach and a vacation, he’s not interested.

Finding Billy is easy enough for Teddy - they know each other too well, know each other’s patterns. He’s confident if the situation was reversed, Billy would be able to find Teddy no problem. Finding the exact place he’s renting out is a little trickier, but when Teddy finally does see him making his way inside, he doesn’t hesitate. “Billy! Oh my god -” He calls out, hurrying across the street without even thinking about the incoming traffic. If anyone hits him his skin is tough enough to handle it - he’s more worried about making sure Billy is okay, making sure he’s safe. Getting him, both of them, and Tommy if they can find him, back home.

If there’s one thing Billy’s learned about jumping universes, overall? It tends to suck. It’s not like this place is even that bad. Accords? Avoid them, no problem, easier than getting possessed in space. Hell, he even has Tommy here to make this journey a hell of a lot more bearable. Not that he’s going to tell him that. The worst part, is always the worrying. About his fiance and love of his life, stuck back home. Back Home overall, is it still standing? Will they be able to get back? ...It’s been a bad couple of weeks, as far as anxious thoughts go.

here’s what tommy won’t say: he’d rather be here in a weird little universe with billy than to have let billy go alone.  billy doesn’t need his protection or help, probably.  if either of them has their shit together, it’s billy.  the universe is his bitch, and that’s the technical term for it, yes.  “ i don’t think blue’s my color, bud.  and if you tell mom, i’m gonna suplex you. ”  the thought of disappointing their mom is a new sort of horror – normally tommy lives to disappoint parental figures. 

     “ you know – i used to be an only child. ”  tommy’s only fake-annoyed, if he’s being honest.  but he’s got a reputation to maintain. 

 “ back in those days, i didn’t get dragged into weird universes.  i mean, granted, i was in jail, ” he rambles on, “ but you win some, you lose some.  y’know what i mean? ”  he’ll take this over jail, too.  “ freakin’ reality warpers.  don’t know why everybody’s so crazy about them. ”  tommy loves his brother, really.  he swears.