Archive of Our Own ^beta

When Billy woke up, it felt like he just could not move, like he was paralysed. And, maybe, Billy had thought, he was paralysed. There had been a fight, Billy remembered slowly. A difficult, violent fight between the Young Avengers members and a bunch of bad guys trying to rule the world or something. 

Remembering more of the fight, Billy shot up in his bed. Or, at least, he tried to. He only got about halfway to sitting upright before he felt a huge wave of pain from near his ribs, and he collapsed back onto his bed with a strained grunt. Luckily, now he knew he wasn’t paralysed. 

Teddy had gotten shot, Billy remembered. It was some scientifically enhanced bullet too. Billy could still hear the agonising shout Teddy had let out when he was hit. 

“Billy!” A voice exclaimed from next to Billy’s bed. 

The going mage turned to see Teddy by his side, alive and well-looking. Well, Teddy was always well-looking to Billy. But Teddy was okay! 

“You’re okay,” Billy breathed out, gazing at Teddy with half a smile. 

“I’m okay? Are you okay?? You scared me and the others when we saw you collapse,” Teddy said, throwing the question back at Billy, a worried look on his face. “Can I get you anything to help with the pain?” 

“No thanks. And it’s ‘the others and I’,” Billy corrected snarkily. 

Teddy just shook his head. He got up from the chair he was sitting in. “I am gonna go tell the others you’re awake.” He moved to leave, but Billy grabbed his hand before he could. 

“Please don’t go yet,” requested Billy quietly. 

“I won’t.” 

— • — 

Teddy had returned from getting Billy some food when he heard Billy crying in his room. It had been a few hours since Billy woke up and the teenage mage was yet to heal himself, explaining that he was still too tired. Which Teddy completely understood. 

Knocking softly at the door, Teddy spoke through the door. “Billy? I’ve got some food, I’m gonna come in.” Slowly, Teddy opened the door and walked in. 

He saw Billy sitting up, tears streaming down his face, with both hands pressed against the wound on his side. “Let me heal, let me heal,” Billy was muttering between his sobs. There was a light flicker of blue that kept fading, appearing and then fading again. Billy looked up at Teddy. 

“Is your magic not working?” Teddy asked him gently, walking over and placing the food on a nearby nightstand. 

Billy shook his head. “I don’t think it’s my magic that’s broken.” He didn’t look at Teddy, shaking as the tears continued down his face. “It won’t work because I don’t want it to work.” 

Teddy frowned, confused as to what his boyfriend meant by saying that. “What do you mean?” He asked. 

“We were all there because of me. I suggested… we go after those guys. It was my fault we were there. It-it was my fault you nearly got killed.” 

Realising what Billy was talking about, Teddy sat down on the edge of Billy’s bed. “Bee, I don’t blame you for me getting shot. I know you blame yourself, but there is no need to. If we hadn’t been there to stop those guys, they would have hurt other people, innocent people who can’t defend themselves. If you find you still can’t heal yourself, then that’s okay. We’ll nurse you back to health the normal human way.” 

Billy nodded. He moved forward and wrapped his arms around Teddy. “I love you.” 

“I love you too, Bee.”