Happy Boostlethon, poisonivory! Part III
Title: A Whole Lot of Walking to Do
Fandom: DCU
Rating: PG-13 for language
Word Count: 17010
Characters: Ted, Booster, bunch of other people
Summary: Warnings for an overabundance of cameos and name drops, references to geek, retro and pop culture, and a timeline that probably wouldn't stand up to actual scrutiny. It started with just a little tutoring...
Part One
Part Two
There was something to be said about the fact that, instead of lounging in front of his computer, catching up on Sixty Symbols and Minute Physics and maybe going through his favorite Simon's Cat videos, Ted was bundled up in a sweater, jacket and beanie outside. He had no idea what that something to be said was, but he had a feeling someone was, if not saying it then thinking it loudly in their head. Someone who was likely one of the so-called friends he was trying to huddle with. None of them appeared to care that they were back at school after dark, shouting along with the crowd of people around them. Nor did they try to sneak Ted knowing looks and smug little grins when he asked them to come to a football game with him- least of all Michelle and her friends, who regularly attended her brother's games, or Scott, because Barda played safety and lead the district in interceptions this year. Ted never really cared for football, but Booster said something about the team going to the playoffs and their first game being at home.
"If you want to come and watch," he said with a little shrug that nearly bordered on shy. "If we win, we'll be playing at Charlton next Wednesday. If we don't, well... at least you get to see us play before our season's over."
Ted said yes. He had no clue why except, apparently, he thought his evening wouldn't be complete without having cement bleachers seeping all feeling out of his ass.
Which wasn't to say he was miserable, just colder than he'd prefer. It was actually fun being as loud and obnoxious as he wanted- provided he was loud and obnoxious at the right time -and Ted was always quick to his feet whenever Booster or Barda made an impressive play (not that he knew what an impressive play looked like). It was also an excuse to hurl out some of the creative abuse he'd been sitting on at the other team, plus come up with some new ones, and make the people around him crack up laughing.
Except for when Belle Reve's tight end plowed into Booster for the fifth time in the game, just after he snapped off a pass to Wally for a touchdown. Booster was still flat on his back while the stands cheered and, if it wasn't for Scott holding the back of his jacket, Ted would've marched down and... done something. He exactly sure what.
On the field, Pushkin and Everett leaned over Booster as his arms moved vaguely. Pushkin threw his head back with a laugh before they hoisted the quarterback to his feet, slapping at his shoulders. Wally caught up to him as they jogged off the field, giving Booster's helmet a shove, and Ted could hear Booster’s laughter all the way in the stands.
As the teams lined up for the extra point and Michelle said, "That's Major Disaster."
"What?" Ted said intelligently.
"66, Booker. They call him Major Disaster because he's good at messing up the quarterback's game. Last time we played Belle Reve he gave Booster a concussion."
Ted looked horrified. "What? When was this?"
"Last month, I think. It wasn't bad, but Coach made him sit out for a week."
If Ted's eyebrow went up any higher it would've detached itself from his forehead. "You and I have very different definitions of 'not bad'." Around them the crowd stood up and cheered as the kick sailed between the uprights. When Ted looked back toward the field, he saw a familiar head bobbing near the bottom of the stands. Or, rather, a familiar hat. Ted pushed himself to his feet, "Hey I’m going to talk to someone. Be back."
"Bring me back hot cocoa!" Sue called out.
"And a corn dog!" Ralph added.
"And a cushion- these seats are terrible!" Bea added.
Ted just raised one finger at them as he hopped down the stairs. Two levels from the ground, he started sidling along the stands until he made it to the hat, the space just big enough for him to not feel guilty for squeezing in, but small enough he was nearly sitting in two laps anyway. "Heya, Vic! What're you doing here?"
Vic's mouth twisted into something between a sneer and a long-suffering sigh. It never failed to make Ted smile, getting Vic to actually make expressions instead of just wearing a neutral mask all the time. "Really, Kord? Do we have to have another talk about personal space?"
"Nah, that's boring. We should talk about how, if it bothers you so much you can move over instead."
Vic didn't even look over at the freckle-faced kid with unruly red hair next to him, frantically taking pictures as if every second was a Kodak moment. So Ted just threw an arm around Vic's shoulders and said, "That just means we get to be extra friendly tonight!"
"My joy is unbridled." The other boy deadpanned.
"What are you doing here, anyway? Do you even know anything about sports?"
The sneer was back. "I know enough that Mr. White's making me cover the rest of football season as probation."
"Oh God, what'd you do this time?"
"He found out I was calling the superintendent's office about school funding discrepancies."
"Again?"
"So now I'm stuck doing mindless drivel while Lane, Lang, and Park don't do the stories that matter."
"Vic," Ted patted his shoulder, "you are going to make a wonderful anarchist some day."
"Bite me, Kord." There was a brief pause and then, "Since when did you care about football, anyway?" Vic's eyes flickered from where Scott was shouting in the stands as Barda slipped around a defensive end for a sack. Vic waited until the cheers died down before adding, "You don’t normally come to support Free's girlfriend."
"Okay, the fact that you say that with such certainty is a little scary, and I'll now be checking my things for hidden cameras. I'm actually cheering on someone else." Ted waved a hand toward where Booster was on the sidelines shouting something to guys on the field. Probably encouragements or 'don't fuck up's.
"You mean 13? Carter?"
"Yeah. I was tutoring him for a while, and we ended up buddies."
"Tutoring him? In what?"
"Chemistry. Well, he was playing some kind of prank with Gardner or something. He wasn't actually having trouble with chemistry."
"I'd imagine not. We share a couple classes, and Carter has always been studious." Vic peered back over the field then looked at Ted from the corner of his eye. "You're aware that Carter likes guys as well as girls, right?"
The non sequitur threw Ted for a loop. "Uh, should I be?"
"He was dating the kid who painted the mural in the cafeteria for a while last year."
Ted knew the guy- Kyle -in question. Knew him better when he started dating Ollie's adopted brother because that was all any adult in their social circle talked about for a month. "Why are you telling me this? Are you planning to start up a gossip column or something?"
Vic shrugged. "Just letting you know. Not like it's a secret, of course."
Jaw squared and eyes narrowed, Ted demanded, "His team isn't giving him trouble, are they?"
"If they tried anything, they'd get thrice as much hurt back from Dawkins."
"Who?"
"77, the exchange student from Australia? He's pretty open about being gay, too."
Something deep in Ted's chest twisted around in a way it definitely wasn't supposed to. "Wait, you mean him and Booster are... together?"
Vic facepalmed so hard he nearly knocked off his fedora. "Sometimes I can't believe the way your mind functions."
"Yeah, I am pretty unbelievable."
"Go back to your group, Kord." Vic's tone was half patronizing, half amused.
"What- not gonna update me on Booster's love life? If this football thing doesn't pan out, maybe you should look into a gossip column."
When Vic turned to look at Ted he had a very faint, very rare grin. "He's going to be single for the foreseeable future, of that I have no doubt."
~*~*~*~
In the end, the team was knocked out in the semi-finals by Stanley High and Booster was fairly disconsolate for two days after, blaming himself for the loss because a touchdown pass got intercepted in the second quarter. Ted didn't know how he was supposed to cheer him up, so he just stayed at Booster's side, making jokes and dragging him along to hang out until his mood lifted.
That happened when Ted had invited him to go ice skating. When Ted went to pick Booster up, Booster was surprised to find Ted was the one driving. "Since when did you have a license," he asked as he piled in the passenger's seat.
"I don't. I've had a learner's permit since spring, though." Ted eased into traffic, the rink close enough his mother didn't feel the need to police his driving but far enough that public transit was a bitch. "It's not hard, and I never really had to unless my mom's too busy."
"I'll take your word for it," though Booster deliberately grabbed the 'oh shit' handle above the door, grinning at Ted the entire way.
The skating rink was, surprisingly, not packed with people despite being an early-December weekend. Ted paid for both their admissions because, he explained, he'd be off visiting folks during winter break, so it was his early Christmas for Booster.
"Despite neither of us celebrating Christmas," Booster couldn't help but point out.
"So it's our way of sticking it to the Man."
"Which Man?"
"Whichever one makes you shut up and accept the gift."
In short order it was clear Booster was the one having the last laugh while Ted wobbled along the boards by himself. "Holy hell, why did I think this was a good idea?" He took the tiniest of baby steps on legs as stable as jelly. It was like that scene from Bamib except Ted wasn't as endearingly adorable or furry.
Booster snickered as he skated by for the second time. He wasn't Olympic caliber himself, but he was good enough that he wouldn't fall over randomly. "Why did you think it was a good idea? Especially since you knew you can't skate."
"Because I hate myself, obviously," his expression was tense, as if he could magically will some balance into his legs. His concentration nearly broke when Booster skated in front of him, patting at his thighs like he was talking to a puppy.
"Come on! You can do it! Come on, boy- almost there!"
Ted growled and lunged. Sort of. His feet shot out from under him as his arms pinwheeled wildly and he curved away from Booster instead. As the blond passed by Ted's arm shot out, grabbed the back of Booster's jacket just as he fell and dragged the larger teen down with him. They landed in a heavy thump, loud enough it drew worried glances from the people around them.
Then Booster started laughing, loud and hard and warm against Ted's cheek. It made Ted snicker until he had to muffle his own laughter against Booster's shoulder. They lay there until they laughed themselves out, the other patrons giving the two weird kids a wide berth.
Booster propped himself on his elbows as Ted rolled himself upright. "Thanks. I always wanted to go to the emergency room for Christmas."
Ted's grin was bright and cheeky, "Glad to be of service."
~*~*~*~
Being of the Jewish persuasion, Ted was allowed to leave school an entire week before winter break. Unfortunately, that also meant that he spent it with family which, to be honest, wasn't inherently bad. So long as his father and uncle weren't in the same room at any point. Or Ted had someone to talk to other than his father. Or someone pulled his grandparents' attention away from him long enough to get away from their embarrassingly invasive questions.
The worst part was that the closest thing to a computer he was allowed to touch for the entire time was either his tablet or smart phone. He spent most of the time texting Barbara because he knew she'd let him whine. Every chain of texts usually started with 'I hate this place' and 'Please get me out of here' before talking about how Tyria was falling to the Risen without him there, or all these TVTropes edits he thought up, or how someone was wrong on the internet and he needed to smack them down in 140 characters or less. He would then ask how her day had been and if he missed anything important.
She caught him up on what was going on with the usual suspects, but she couldn't tell him what Booster was up to, and Ted couldn't believe he'd utterly forgotten to get Booster's phone number after all this time. He'd have to rectify that when he got back.
His phone did the Final Fantasy fanfare (from V, because Ted had a weakness for chiptunes) announcing a new text. It was from Barbara and read, What day are you back again?
The 23rd.
Why miss me already?
I was just wondering if you were going to be back in time for Booster's birthday.
Ted looked at his phone for a long time, trying to figure out what question he should be asking. He eventually settled on, When's his birthday?
The 29th.
I overheard his sister talking about it with her friends in class yesterday.
Booster's birthday was the 29th. He never said a thing about it. Michelle was going to be with her friends but Booster probably wouldn't. He hadn't told Ted so it was unlikely he'd have told anyone else.
So? Barbara texted him
What's the plan?
The plan is
I need Booster's number.
I think Dinah has Michelle's number.
I'll check.
Once he had the number stored in his phone, Ted then went about formulating the rest of his plan. When the 29th rolled around, Ted punched the digits in and waited for the line to pick up. "/Hello?/" Booster's voice came out tinny but familiar.
"Hey, buddy! What's up?"
The shock was apparent. "/Ted? How,/" Booster sounded less confused and more... panicky? "/Did I give you my phone number?/"
"Nope. But I have my ways. Those ways, unfortunately, didn't include your address, so I'm trying to figure out which house is yours."
"/My house? What- where are you?/"
"I got back a couple days ago and thought I'd surprise you on your birthday. So- surprise!"
That was definitely panic in Booster's voice. "/Where are you?/"
"By the park where I usually drop you off."
"/Fuck. Uh- okay. Just stay there. I'll be there in about twenty./"
"Twenty? Minutes? Booster, what-" but the phone clicked and a dial tone was all that greeted Ted. He frowned at his phone but leaned against the side of his mom's car and waited.
Ted ended up retreating inside the car after the ten minute mark to get out of the wind, key fitted into the ignition so he could listen to music and get some hot air on his toes. Something closer to half an hour since the phone call passed and it was just pure dumb luck that Ted caught Booster getting off a bus in his wing mirror. He got out of the car and waved Booster over with a completely flummoxed, "Hey."
Booster had his hands jammed into his pocket, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else in the world. "Hey."
"So..." the word got dragged out as Ted tried to think of what to say. "You don't live here, huh?"
"No."
He lifted his chin down the end of the street the bus had appeared from. "You live down there?"
"Yeah."
"That's, um, that's-"
When Booster finally looked up his eyes were sharp and his jaw hard. "The Projects. Yes."
Booster's defensive attitude triggered Ted's indignation, and his shoulders pulled back. "You know, it's not like me or my mom would have a problem dropping your off in front of your actual house."
"It's not about you. I don't let anyone come to my house."
Ted threw his hands out to the side, "Why? Why would you lie about where you live?"
"Well, gee, Ted- I dunno, maybe because being poor sucks? And me and Shel have to hide the fact that we work on weekends to help Ma pay rent? Because then people look at the new clothes and shoes Ma scrounges every cent to buy and says she could buy us an entire wardrobe from second hand stores, even though they don't last as long and it'll make us look and feel like shit because we're not allowed to have nice things because we're poor?" Booster barely took a breath before continuing. "Because I have friends like you who think I'm weird because I don't have a cell phone or an iPod because you don't think things like that are a luxury? Because I had to beg Shel for ten more bucks so I could see The Hobbit with you, and I feel like a goddamn leech every time you or your mom offers to buy me food?"
Booster scrubbed his face with his hands, stalking off one way then the other before slumping against the park fence. "I hate being poor, Ted. I hate the way people look at me and judge me, and I hate that piece of shit house and the arguing Ma has to do to get the landlord to fix something, and I hate the goddamn rats that are fucking everywhere, and I hate the people on street corners that sneer at us because they think we think we're better than them. I hate every damn thing about it. Of course I wasn't going to tell you." Booster slumped against the fence, visibly deflating from his rant.
When Ted looked at Booster- really looked at him -he could see all the little signs. How the patches on his letterman jacket were uneven, sown on by hand rather than by machine. The frayed ends of his jeans weren't about style as it was the cuffs being unhemmed and the thinness of the material at the knees. Parts of his shoes weren't an even color, the scuffs painted over or re-dyed. And Ted had... he just assumed that...
He slouched against the fence too, wrapping an arm around Booster's shoulder. "I'm sorry, man. That was an asshole-ish thing for me to say."
Booster groaned, but he leaned into Ted, the heels of his hands falling from his eyes. "No. I mean, it's not like you knew."
"Yeah, but I didn't have to accuse you of lying." When he shrugged, Booster's body lifted and fell with the movement. "You can tell me anything, buddy. But it should be when you're ready to, not because I'm forcing it out of you."
"Thanks," and Booster's smile was as watery as his eyes, and they did nothing but lean on each other, heads so close the steam from their breaths mingled together.
Just as Ted's fingers were feeling numb in their gloves, and he thought his hand might've frozen against Booster's shoulder, Booster said, "My dad isn't in the Army."
"He's not?" The cold made the words feel weird on chapped lips.
Even through the thick coat and sweater and heavy gloves, Ted could feel the tension in Booster's shoulders. "He's in jail for debt evasion. He pisses all of his and Ma's money on gambling."
"Oh," was all Ted could say, even though he thought about his own dad and wondered if Booster ever hated how much Ted ranted about him. Because even if he was a crap dad who was always distant, even when he was in the same house, at least he felt responsibility for his family. "Hey, how 'bout we go some place with hot coffee?"
Booster pulled away, "Ted-"
"Okay, hot cocoa for you."
"Ted-"
"I know, I know. But it's your birthday, and if I'm not allowed to spoil you silly on your birthday, then what's the point in having them? Besides," he grinned brightly and winked, "you should be somewhere warm when you open your present."
It was difficult to tell because of the cold, but he was almost certain Booster flushed, even as he tucked his chin into the folds of his scarf. "Alright, fine." His eyes were smiling and warmed Ted through before they even reached the car. "You're a persuasive guy, Ted Kord."
~*~*~*~
New Years passed with Ted supposedly schmoozing with the other rich kids for his father's benefit, but instead of listening to Max Lord trying to impress people with the fact his father let him play with stocks, Ted found a corner away from everyone else and talked to Booster on his phone. Booster still had no inclination to tell Ted where he lived, but that was fine. At least Booster was okay with him calling and, honestly, being able to talk to Booster on the phone was better than chatting on IM anyway. All night long, Booster was narrating the New Years celebration on the television and when midnight rolled around he made firework noises for him.
"/Whoosh boom glitter glitter boom!/"
Ted leaned his head back against the wall, smiling wide even as a cheer went up in the ballroom downstairs. "Wow, man. It's like I'm right there with you."
Booster's laugh was low and warm even across the phone line. "/If only./"
The New Year started off normally enough with the School Returns and Revenge of the Midterms, but it wasn't anything they couldn't weather. The successive months weren’t any more exciting than usual, but when Ted's birthday rolled around interest built up in the form of his very own car. Booster didn't see it until after school, dragged into the parking lot by the beaming teen. Ted was so proud of his present he didn't give a damn that it was far from 'new'.
Booster cupped his face with a palm to cover up his smile.
"So?" Ted spread his arms out wide and, for a moment, Booster thought he would actually lay on the bonnet and hug it. "What'd you think?"
"I'm a little surprised you went for a used car," He said diplomatically since he knew for a fact Ted's parents could've paid for a top-line model.
"Yeah, my dad's not happy about this at all, but I was reading up on cars and all the stuff I could change and upgrade on it and... well..."
Oh yeah, Booster knew. Ted was probably more excited at having something to fiddle with than having the car itself. "I think I'm more surprised that you went for an old style Beetle and not, say, a DeLorean so you could drive around in the Back to the Future car."
"I thought about that, actually, but I don't know if I could add all that stuff and keep it street legal."
"Yeah, I can see how that would be a problem." Booster ran his hand over the curve of the roof, the blue paint a little scratched in places, but it did look good. Not as sleek as some of the newer models but not Herbie level old either. "Are you going to be one of those people that names their car?"
"Already gave it one," Ted replied and Booster heard the passenger door unlock.
"Oh yeah? What?"
"The Blue Beetle."
The doors shutting didn't quite cover Booster's groan.
"What? It's a great name, and you'd know exactly which car was mine if I said it!"
"I don't know which one I have more issues with: your lack of creativity or your weird obsession with insects."
"Hey, if it's good enough for Harry Dresden, it's good enough for me. Besides, nothing wrong with insects! Though, after the ant farm incident, my mom would probably disagree."
Booster's laughter trailed through the parking lot as they left. "Oh man- I gotta hear this!"
~*~*~*~
If there was one thing Ted was grateful for, it was being in a technologically sophisticated time. Ten years ago he wouldn't be able to shows off BBC Two without waiting weeks to download an illegal copy, let alone be able to stream an episode as it aired. Okay- technically he couldn't watch QI when it streamed anyway, since he was at school when it aired, but technology also gave him the ability to record it and watch later. Better yet, he could watch the episode on a Livestream with Barbara so they could chat at the same time. Technology was amazing, and the best part was when one amazing part of technology ended, there were other equally amazing bits to take advantage of. For example, when Barbara logged off to start outlining a paper without distraction, Ted tabbed through his chat program to ask if anyone wanted to hop on the Minecraft server with him.
He noticed a highlighted chat window; it was a message from Booster that read You there?, almost an hour old. Ted didn't normally see Booster online after dinner, but hell. He replied anyway, just in case the other teen was still hanging around.
I'm here if you are.
What's up?
Almost immediately the program said Booster was replying. Ted frowned to himself, wondering if Booster spent all that time waiting. My dad's back.
From what little Booster told him, that couldn't be good. Everything okay?
No. He's drunk and he's yelling
I can't deal with this
I think he hit my ma.
Ted's spine snapped straight, both hands flying over the keys. Dude.
Did you call the cops or anything?
I can't do that.
He's my DAD.
He started typing out That's not an excuse until he remembered Scott talking about what he had to go through to get Barda away from her family, to make her see sharing the same blood didn't mean people weren't poisonous and abusive. So he deleted the half-written line and sent Do you need to get out for a while? instead.
I don't know I just
I want HIM to go.
We were doing fine until he came back.
Seriously, man. I got a learner's and the Beetle
I have no problems coming and picking you up.
Your sister, too.
I don't know if we can sneak your mom out without your dad catching on, though. Ted was already reaching for his keys with one hand and more public appropriate pants with the other.
No.
I appreciate it but I can't just leave
I'll deal with it, I just needed someone to talk to.
I just hate him so much.
Ted didn't get further than Booster before the other teen logged off. He sat, staring at the empty chat screen for a good minute or more. Then he flipped through his windows until Steam came up, firing up Borderlands 2. He need to blow the shit out of something.
~*~*~*~
The next morning saw Ted at school early, as in before the first bus arrived early. He waited by the front doors, one heel bouncing against the ground as student after student streamed by. Every now and again someone Ted knew passed by with a wave and a brief smile, but he didn't do more than wave back distractedly, and anyone that tried to stop by for a chat left shortly afterward. Somewhere in the middle of the hubbub the bus Ted had been waiting for must have arrived because he could see Booster towering over the sea of bobbing heads.
"Hey! Boost!" He stood on his toes and waved frantically until Booster looked up and started moving toward him. He looked absolutely haggard, roughed up worse than being knocked around by a guy with the nickname of 'Major Disaster' for four quarters. It hit Ted in the chest like a punch, feeling it settle cold and tight at the bottom of his belly. "You okay, man?"
His smile was warm but crumbling. "I've been better."
"Anything happen?" The 'that I should know about' hung heavy between them.
"No. He was just yelling most of the night until he got drunk enough to pass out. Ma made me and Shel leave before he woke up."
Ted frowned, hands tightening on the straps of his bag to keep from grabbing Booster's arm. "Offer still stands. You guys need a place to chill, you can just come to me. Over the weekend, middle of the night- my mom loves you, she won't turn you out. Anything you need, I got you covered."
"I..." Booster's face looked like it was about to melt into something close to approaching tears. "I don't wanna be here right now."
Well, not like it'd be the first time Ted ever played hooky. So he grabbed Booster's arm and dragged him into the parking lot. "Your sister going to be okay?"
"Yeah. Dad doesn't like her much, so he usually ignores her."
"Hmmm," was all Ted said until he fit the key into the ignition and turned. "So, are we going to re-enact Driving Miss Daisy?"
A shadow of a smile passed over Booster's lips. "I'd say yes, but I've never watched it."
"Actually, neither have I but Morgan Freeman is in it, so it can't be all bad. What do you feel like doing?"
Booster's head rolled back against the headrest until he was looking up at the sun roof. "I don't know. Something mindless and dumb, I guess."
"Both my parents are at work. We could chill at my place, marathon every episode of Doctor Who on the big screen and order in a pizza for lunch. How's that sound?"
Booster's entire body relaxed, like the weight of the universe started to roll off his shoulders, as they pulled out of the school parking log. "Yeah. That sounds great."
~*~*~*~
Some time after a large pizza and a half but before the Fifth Doctor drizzled bat milk down Peri's throat, Ted blinked awake, not quite remembering when he fell asleep, and definitely not when Booster wedged him against the side of the couch with his head resting against the soft part of Ted's side and squashing the feeling from one leg. Logic would dictate, in these circumstances, that Ted should either wake Booster up or wriggle his leg around until he could free it from under Booster's hip. Logic, however, had a difficult time drawing attention to itself when Ted was drowsy from warmth and meat-lovers. He just lay there, feeling Booster's belly press against him with every breath, exhales warming Ted's skin through his shirt and making something even warmer stir down below his guts. Ted slid his arm from the back of the couch, thumb circling idly against Booster's neck until it rested on the pulse point.
Ted fell asleep again just as the Sixth Doctor sat up.
~*~*~*~
It was dark outside when Ted woke up a second time- not that it was saying much since the spring equinox was days off. It was also dark inside with the tv off and lights dimmed. The plates had vanished and the pizza boxes closed. Ted's mother must have returned and decided to leave the boys to their own devices. Devices which included Booster acting as Ted's blanket. At first he thought Booster was still asleep, his arm draped across Ted's chest and face tucked against his neck, but Ted could feel his breathing, too deliberate and deep to be anything but conscious. Ted's arm came up, palm against Booster's back, fingers curling over his shoulder, and he felt Booster tense.
"Hey," Ted said mildly, "you awake?"
They were too close for Booster to get away with lying. "Yeah."
"Feeling better?"
"Yeah."
Ted shifted, trying to adjust himself, half propped against the back of the couch. When he did Booster pulled his arm off of Ted, tucked it under his own body, unhooked his foot from around Ted's ankle, and lifted his head from Ted's shoulder. The movement made Ted's hand slip from his shoulder to his neck. Booster's eyes flickered up to the shorter teen's face for a half second, but there was something raw in it, something a little desperate and searching, and uncertain at the same time. Booster looked away quickly and started to push off the couch.
"Sorry. I should-" Ted's hand held tight on the back of his neck and made Booster freeze.
"Stay here." Ted said quietly.
"I can't."
"Sure you can. Stay here. You and your sister and your mom, and your dad won't know where you are."
"Ted-"
"I know my mom won't mind when she realizes the situation, and it's not like my dad's ever here anyway, so fuck what he thinks. If you're worried about paying us back, my mom could find some part time work or something for you guys."
"Ted-"
Some sort of floodgate burst inside Ted, words tumbling over each other in a mad rush. "It's just I want to help you and if things were switched around I know you'd want to do the same. You're my best friend, Booster. You're more than my best friend. You're the best thing that's happened to me. I can't imagine anyone meaning more to me than you do and-" Words jumbled up in Ted's throat as Booster looked at him, and Ted felt all the possibilities, all the what-ifs in the universe coalescing together in the open anticipation and hope in Booster's face. Ted could feel them teetering on the edge of something unknown and wonderful. "And you're perfect and amazing and I kind of really like you."
Booster didn't say anything, just pushed himself up on his elbows until he could press his lips against Ted's. It wasn't a long kiss, and the planets didn't align, and the earth didn't shake but their lips trembled all the same, and Ted could hardly think through his pulse beating loudly in his head. When they parted, Ted licked his lips and could taste pizza, though he didn't know if it came from Booster or himself. He also had no idea why he never imagined how impossibly gorgeous Booster looked with ruffled hair and flushed skin, lying next to him. They were both breathing quicker already, trying to come up with something to say even as they were dumbstruck.
Ted licked his lips again and said the only thing he could think of, "You, um... when you pretended you need to be tutored in chemistry... that wasn't because you were trying to be friends with me, was it?"
Pink looked good on Booster, softening the edges of his high cheekbones, trailing up to the tips of his ears, and Ted could feel it on Booster's neck, warming his palm. "No." He grinned a bit guility.
Ted pulled Booster down until they rested forehead to forehead. "Okay." When he looked into Booster's eyes, so blue and wide, everything slid into place. Like Ted had found the x he needed to solve for and the rest of the equation unraveled afterward. "Okay," he said before kissing Booster again.
Fandom: DCU
Rating: PG-13 for language
Word Count: 17010
Characters: Ted, Booster, bunch of other people
Summary: Warnings for an overabundance of cameos and name drops, references to geek, retro and pop culture, and a timeline that probably wouldn't stand up to actual scrutiny. It started with just a little tutoring...
Part One
Part Two
There was something to be said about the fact that, instead of lounging in front of his computer, catching up on Sixty Symbols and Minute Physics and maybe going through his favorite Simon's Cat videos, Ted was bundled up in a sweater, jacket and beanie outside. He had no idea what that something to be said was, but he had a feeling someone was, if not saying it then thinking it loudly in their head. Someone who was likely one of the so-called friends he was trying to huddle with. None of them appeared to care that they were back at school after dark, shouting along with the crowd of people around them. Nor did they try to sneak Ted knowing looks and smug little grins when he asked them to come to a football game with him- least of all Michelle and her friends, who regularly attended her brother's games, or Scott, because Barda played safety and lead the district in interceptions this year. Ted never really cared for football, but Booster said something about the team going to the playoffs and their first game being at home.
"If you want to come and watch," he said with a little shrug that nearly bordered on shy. "If we win, we'll be playing at Charlton next Wednesday. If we don't, well... at least you get to see us play before our season's over."
Ted said yes. He had no clue why except, apparently, he thought his evening wouldn't be complete without having cement bleachers seeping all feeling out of his ass.
Which wasn't to say he was miserable, just colder than he'd prefer. It was actually fun being as loud and obnoxious as he wanted- provided he was loud and obnoxious at the right time -and Ted was always quick to his feet whenever Booster or Barda made an impressive play (not that he knew what an impressive play looked like). It was also an excuse to hurl out some of the creative abuse he'd been sitting on at the other team, plus come up with some new ones, and make the people around him crack up laughing.
Except for when Belle Reve's tight end plowed into Booster for the fifth time in the game, just after he snapped off a pass to Wally for a touchdown. Booster was still flat on his back while the stands cheered and, if it wasn't for Scott holding the back of his jacket, Ted would've marched down and... done something. He exactly sure what.
On the field, Pushkin and Everett leaned over Booster as his arms moved vaguely. Pushkin threw his head back with a laugh before they hoisted the quarterback to his feet, slapping at his shoulders. Wally caught up to him as they jogged off the field, giving Booster's helmet a shove, and Ted could hear Booster’s laughter all the way in the stands.
As the teams lined up for the extra point and Michelle said, "That's Major Disaster."
"What?" Ted said intelligently.
"66, Booker. They call him Major Disaster because he's good at messing up the quarterback's game. Last time we played Belle Reve he gave Booster a concussion."
Ted looked horrified. "What? When was this?"
"Last month, I think. It wasn't bad, but Coach made him sit out for a week."
If Ted's eyebrow went up any higher it would've detached itself from his forehead. "You and I have very different definitions of 'not bad'." Around them the crowd stood up and cheered as the kick sailed between the uprights. When Ted looked back toward the field, he saw a familiar head bobbing near the bottom of the stands. Or, rather, a familiar hat. Ted pushed himself to his feet, "Hey I’m going to talk to someone. Be back."
"Bring me back hot cocoa!" Sue called out.
"And a corn dog!" Ralph added.
"And a cushion- these seats are terrible!" Bea added.
Ted just raised one finger at them as he hopped down the stairs. Two levels from the ground, he started sidling along the stands until he made it to the hat, the space just big enough for him to not feel guilty for squeezing in, but small enough he was nearly sitting in two laps anyway. "Heya, Vic! What're you doing here?"
Vic's mouth twisted into something between a sneer and a long-suffering sigh. It never failed to make Ted smile, getting Vic to actually make expressions instead of just wearing a neutral mask all the time. "Really, Kord? Do we have to have another talk about personal space?"
"Nah, that's boring. We should talk about how, if it bothers you so much you can move over instead."
Vic didn't even look over at the freckle-faced kid with unruly red hair next to him, frantically taking pictures as if every second was a Kodak moment. So Ted just threw an arm around Vic's shoulders and said, "That just means we get to be extra friendly tonight!"
"My joy is unbridled." The other boy deadpanned.
"What are you doing here, anyway? Do you even know anything about sports?"
The sneer was back. "I know enough that Mr. White's making me cover the rest of football season as probation."
"Oh God, what'd you do this time?"
"He found out I was calling the superintendent's office about school funding discrepancies."
"Again?"
"So now I'm stuck doing mindless drivel while Lane, Lang, and Park don't do the stories that matter."
"Vic," Ted patted his shoulder, "you are going to make a wonderful anarchist some day."
"Bite me, Kord." There was a brief pause and then, "Since when did you care about football, anyway?" Vic's eyes flickered from where Scott was shouting in the stands as Barda slipped around a defensive end for a sack. Vic waited until the cheers died down before adding, "You don’t normally come to support Free's girlfriend."
"Okay, the fact that you say that with such certainty is a little scary, and I'll now be checking my things for hidden cameras. I'm actually cheering on someone else." Ted waved a hand toward where Booster was on the sidelines shouting something to guys on the field. Probably encouragements or 'don't fuck up's.
"You mean 13? Carter?"
"Yeah. I was tutoring him for a while, and we ended up buddies."
"Tutoring him? In what?"
"Chemistry. Well, he was playing some kind of prank with Gardner or something. He wasn't actually having trouble with chemistry."
"I'd imagine not. We share a couple classes, and Carter has always been studious." Vic peered back over the field then looked at Ted from the corner of his eye. "You're aware that Carter likes guys as well as girls, right?"
The non sequitur threw Ted for a loop. "Uh, should I be?"
"He was dating the kid who painted the mural in the cafeteria for a while last year."
Ted knew the guy- Kyle -in question. Knew him better when he started dating Ollie's adopted brother because that was all any adult in their social circle talked about for a month. "Why are you telling me this? Are you planning to start up a gossip column or something?"
Vic shrugged. "Just letting you know. Not like it's a secret, of course."
Jaw squared and eyes narrowed, Ted demanded, "His team isn't giving him trouble, are they?"
"If they tried anything, they'd get thrice as much hurt back from Dawkins."
"Who?"
"77, the exchange student from Australia? He's pretty open about being gay, too."
Something deep in Ted's chest twisted around in a way it definitely wasn't supposed to. "Wait, you mean him and Booster are... together?"
Vic facepalmed so hard he nearly knocked off his fedora. "Sometimes I can't believe the way your mind functions."
"Yeah, I am pretty unbelievable."
"Go back to your group, Kord." Vic's tone was half patronizing, half amused.
"What- not gonna update me on Booster's love life? If this football thing doesn't pan out, maybe you should look into a gossip column."
When Vic turned to look at Ted he had a very faint, very rare grin. "He's going to be single for the foreseeable future, of that I have no doubt."
~*~*~*~
In the end, the team was knocked out in the semi-finals by Stanley High and Booster was fairly disconsolate for two days after, blaming himself for the loss because a touchdown pass got intercepted in the second quarter. Ted didn't know how he was supposed to cheer him up, so he just stayed at Booster's side, making jokes and dragging him along to hang out until his mood lifted.
That happened when Ted had invited him to go ice skating. When Ted went to pick Booster up, Booster was surprised to find Ted was the one driving. "Since when did you have a license," he asked as he piled in the passenger's seat.
"I don't. I've had a learner's permit since spring, though." Ted eased into traffic, the rink close enough his mother didn't feel the need to police his driving but far enough that public transit was a bitch. "It's not hard, and I never really had to unless my mom's too busy."
"I'll take your word for it," though Booster deliberately grabbed the 'oh shit' handle above the door, grinning at Ted the entire way.
The skating rink was, surprisingly, not packed with people despite being an early-December weekend. Ted paid for both their admissions because, he explained, he'd be off visiting folks during winter break, so it was his early Christmas for Booster.
"Despite neither of us celebrating Christmas," Booster couldn't help but point out.
"So it's our way of sticking it to the Man."
"Which Man?"
"Whichever one makes you shut up and accept the gift."
In short order it was clear Booster was the one having the last laugh while Ted wobbled along the boards by himself. "Holy hell, why did I think this was a good idea?" He took the tiniest of baby steps on legs as stable as jelly. It was like that scene from Bamib except Ted wasn't as endearingly adorable or furry.
Booster snickered as he skated by for the second time. He wasn't Olympic caliber himself, but he was good enough that he wouldn't fall over randomly. "Why did you think it was a good idea? Especially since you knew you can't skate."
"Because I hate myself, obviously," his expression was tense, as if he could magically will some balance into his legs. His concentration nearly broke when Booster skated in front of him, patting at his thighs like he was talking to a puppy.
"Come on! You can do it! Come on, boy- almost there!"
Ted growled and lunged. Sort of. His feet shot out from under him as his arms pinwheeled wildly and he curved away from Booster instead. As the blond passed by Ted's arm shot out, grabbed the back of Booster's jacket just as he fell and dragged the larger teen down with him. They landed in a heavy thump, loud enough it drew worried glances from the people around them.
Then Booster started laughing, loud and hard and warm against Ted's cheek. It made Ted snicker until he had to muffle his own laughter against Booster's shoulder. They lay there until they laughed themselves out, the other patrons giving the two weird kids a wide berth.
Booster propped himself on his elbows as Ted rolled himself upright. "Thanks. I always wanted to go to the emergency room for Christmas."
Ted's grin was bright and cheeky, "Glad to be of service."
~*~*~*~
Being of the Jewish persuasion, Ted was allowed to leave school an entire week before winter break. Unfortunately, that also meant that he spent it with family which, to be honest, wasn't inherently bad. So long as his father and uncle weren't in the same room at any point. Or Ted had someone to talk to other than his father. Or someone pulled his grandparents' attention away from him long enough to get away from their embarrassingly invasive questions.
The worst part was that the closest thing to a computer he was allowed to touch for the entire time was either his tablet or smart phone. He spent most of the time texting Barbara because he knew she'd let him whine. Every chain of texts usually started with 'I hate this place' and 'Please get me out of here' before talking about how Tyria was falling to the Risen without him there, or all these TVTropes edits he thought up, or how someone was wrong on the internet and he needed to smack them down in 140 characters or less. He would then ask how her day had been and if he missed anything important.
She caught him up on what was going on with the usual suspects, but she couldn't tell him what Booster was up to, and Ted couldn't believe he'd utterly forgotten to get Booster's phone number after all this time. He'd have to rectify that when he got back.
His phone did the Final Fantasy fanfare (from V, because Ted had a weakness for chiptunes) announcing a new text. It was from Barbara and read, What day are you back again?
The 23rd.
Why miss me already?
I was just wondering if you were going to be back in time for Booster's birthday.
Ted looked at his phone for a long time, trying to figure out what question he should be asking. He eventually settled on, When's his birthday?
The 29th.
I overheard his sister talking about it with her friends in class yesterday.
Booster's birthday was the 29th. He never said a thing about it. Michelle was going to be with her friends but Booster probably wouldn't. He hadn't told Ted so it was unlikely he'd have told anyone else.
So? Barbara texted him
What's the plan?
The plan is
I need Booster's number.
I think Dinah has Michelle's number.
I'll check.
Once he had the number stored in his phone, Ted then went about formulating the rest of his plan. When the 29th rolled around, Ted punched the digits in and waited for the line to pick up. "/Hello?/" Booster's voice came out tinny but familiar.
"Hey, buddy! What's up?"
The shock was apparent. "/Ted? How,/" Booster sounded less confused and more... panicky? "/Did I give you my phone number?/"
"Nope. But I have my ways. Those ways, unfortunately, didn't include your address, so I'm trying to figure out which house is yours."
"/My house? What- where are you?/"
"I got back a couple days ago and thought I'd surprise you on your birthday. So- surprise!"
That was definitely panic in Booster's voice. "/Where are you?/"
"By the park where I usually drop you off."
"/Fuck. Uh- okay. Just stay there. I'll be there in about twenty./"
"Twenty? Minutes? Booster, what-" but the phone clicked and a dial tone was all that greeted Ted. He frowned at his phone but leaned against the side of his mom's car and waited.
Ted ended up retreating inside the car after the ten minute mark to get out of the wind, key fitted into the ignition so he could listen to music and get some hot air on his toes. Something closer to half an hour since the phone call passed and it was just pure dumb luck that Ted caught Booster getting off a bus in his wing mirror. He got out of the car and waved Booster over with a completely flummoxed, "Hey."
Booster had his hands jammed into his pocket, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else in the world. "Hey."
"So..." the word got dragged out as Ted tried to think of what to say. "You don't live here, huh?"
"No."
He lifted his chin down the end of the street the bus had appeared from. "You live down there?"
"Yeah."
"That's, um, that's-"
When Booster finally looked up his eyes were sharp and his jaw hard. "The Projects. Yes."
Booster's defensive attitude triggered Ted's indignation, and his shoulders pulled back. "You know, it's not like me or my mom would have a problem dropping your off in front of your actual house."
"It's not about you. I don't let anyone come to my house."
Ted threw his hands out to the side, "Why? Why would you lie about where you live?"
"Well, gee, Ted- I dunno, maybe because being poor sucks? And me and Shel have to hide the fact that we work on weekends to help Ma pay rent? Because then people look at the new clothes and shoes Ma scrounges every cent to buy and says she could buy us an entire wardrobe from second hand stores, even though they don't last as long and it'll make us look and feel like shit because we're not allowed to have nice things because we're poor?" Booster barely took a breath before continuing. "Because I have friends like you who think I'm weird because I don't have a cell phone or an iPod because you don't think things like that are a luxury? Because I had to beg Shel for ten more bucks so I could see The Hobbit with you, and I feel like a goddamn leech every time you or your mom offers to buy me food?"
Booster scrubbed his face with his hands, stalking off one way then the other before slumping against the park fence. "I hate being poor, Ted. I hate the way people look at me and judge me, and I hate that piece of shit house and the arguing Ma has to do to get the landlord to fix something, and I hate the goddamn rats that are fucking everywhere, and I hate the people on street corners that sneer at us because they think we think we're better than them. I hate every damn thing about it. Of course I wasn't going to tell you." Booster slumped against the fence, visibly deflating from his rant.
When Ted looked at Booster- really looked at him -he could see all the little signs. How the patches on his letterman jacket were uneven, sown on by hand rather than by machine. The frayed ends of his jeans weren't about style as it was the cuffs being unhemmed and the thinness of the material at the knees. Parts of his shoes weren't an even color, the scuffs painted over or re-dyed. And Ted had... he just assumed that...
He slouched against the fence too, wrapping an arm around Booster's shoulder. "I'm sorry, man. That was an asshole-ish thing for me to say."
Booster groaned, but he leaned into Ted, the heels of his hands falling from his eyes. "No. I mean, it's not like you knew."
"Yeah, but I didn't have to accuse you of lying." When he shrugged, Booster's body lifted and fell with the movement. "You can tell me anything, buddy. But it should be when you're ready to, not because I'm forcing it out of you."
"Thanks," and Booster's smile was as watery as his eyes, and they did nothing but lean on each other, heads so close the steam from their breaths mingled together.
Just as Ted's fingers were feeling numb in their gloves, and he thought his hand might've frozen against Booster's shoulder, Booster said, "My dad isn't in the Army."
"He's not?" The cold made the words feel weird on chapped lips.
Even through the thick coat and sweater and heavy gloves, Ted could feel the tension in Booster's shoulders. "He's in jail for debt evasion. He pisses all of his and Ma's money on gambling."
"Oh," was all Ted could say, even though he thought about his own dad and wondered if Booster ever hated how much Ted ranted about him. Because even if he was a crap dad who was always distant, even when he was in the same house, at least he felt responsibility for his family. "Hey, how 'bout we go some place with hot coffee?"
Booster pulled away, "Ted-"
"Okay, hot cocoa for you."
"Ted-"
"I know, I know. But it's your birthday, and if I'm not allowed to spoil you silly on your birthday, then what's the point in having them? Besides," he grinned brightly and winked, "you should be somewhere warm when you open your present."
It was difficult to tell because of the cold, but he was almost certain Booster flushed, even as he tucked his chin into the folds of his scarf. "Alright, fine." His eyes were smiling and warmed Ted through before they even reached the car. "You're a persuasive guy, Ted Kord."
~*~*~*~
New Years passed with Ted supposedly schmoozing with the other rich kids for his father's benefit, but instead of listening to Max Lord trying to impress people with the fact his father let him play with stocks, Ted found a corner away from everyone else and talked to Booster on his phone. Booster still had no inclination to tell Ted where he lived, but that was fine. At least Booster was okay with him calling and, honestly, being able to talk to Booster on the phone was better than chatting on IM anyway. All night long, Booster was narrating the New Years celebration on the television and when midnight rolled around he made firework noises for him.
"/Whoosh boom glitter glitter boom!/"
Ted leaned his head back against the wall, smiling wide even as a cheer went up in the ballroom downstairs. "Wow, man. It's like I'm right there with you."
Booster's laugh was low and warm even across the phone line. "/If only./"
The New Year started off normally enough with the School Returns and Revenge of the Midterms, but it wasn't anything they couldn't weather. The successive months weren’t any more exciting than usual, but when Ted's birthday rolled around interest built up in the form of his very own car. Booster didn't see it until after school, dragged into the parking lot by the beaming teen. Ted was so proud of his present he didn't give a damn that it was far from 'new'.
Booster cupped his face with a palm to cover up his smile.
"So?" Ted spread his arms out wide and, for a moment, Booster thought he would actually lay on the bonnet and hug it. "What'd you think?"
"I'm a little surprised you went for a used car," He said diplomatically since he knew for a fact Ted's parents could've paid for a top-line model.
"Yeah, my dad's not happy about this at all, but I was reading up on cars and all the stuff I could change and upgrade on it and... well..."
Oh yeah, Booster knew. Ted was probably more excited at having something to fiddle with than having the car itself. "I think I'm more surprised that you went for an old style Beetle and not, say, a DeLorean so you could drive around in the Back to the Future car."
"I thought about that, actually, but I don't know if I could add all that stuff and keep it street legal."
"Yeah, I can see how that would be a problem." Booster ran his hand over the curve of the roof, the blue paint a little scratched in places, but it did look good. Not as sleek as some of the newer models but not Herbie level old either. "Are you going to be one of those people that names their car?"
"Already gave it one," Ted replied and Booster heard the passenger door unlock.
"Oh yeah? What?"
"The Blue Beetle."
The doors shutting didn't quite cover Booster's groan.
"What? It's a great name, and you'd know exactly which car was mine if I said it!"
"I don't know which one I have more issues with: your lack of creativity or your weird obsession with insects."
"Hey, if it's good enough for Harry Dresden, it's good enough for me. Besides, nothing wrong with insects! Though, after the ant farm incident, my mom would probably disagree."
Booster's laughter trailed through the parking lot as they left. "Oh man- I gotta hear this!"
~*~*~*~
If there was one thing Ted was grateful for, it was being in a technologically sophisticated time. Ten years ago he wouldn't be able to shows off BBC Two without waiting weeks to download an illegal copy, let alone be able to stream an episode as it aired. Okay- technically he couldn't watch QI when it streamed anyway, since he was at school when it aired, but technology also gave him the ability to record it and watch later. Better yet, he could watch the episode on a Livestream with Barbara so they could chat at the same time. Technology was amazing, and the best part was when one amazing part of technology ended, there were other equally amazing bits to take advantage of. For example, when Barbara logged off to start outlining a paper without distraction, Ted tabbed through his chat program to ask if anyone wanted to hop on the Minecraft server with him.
He noticed a highlighted chat window; it was a message from Booster that read You there?, almost an hour old. Ted didn't normally see Booster online after dinner, but hell. He replied anyway, just in case the other teen was still hanging around.
I'm here if you are.
What's up?
Almost immediately the program said Booster was replying. Ted frowned to himself, wondering if Booster spent all that time waiting. My dad's back.
From what little Booster told him, that couldn't be good. Everything okay?
No. He's drunk and he's yelling
I can't deal with this
I think he hit my ma.
Ted's spine snapped straight, both hands flying over the keys. Dude.
Did you call the cops or anything?
I can't do that.
He's my DAD.
He started typing out That's not an excuse until he remembered Scott talking about what he had to go through to get Barda away from her family, to make her see sharing the same blood didn't mean people weren't poisonous and abusive. So he deleted the half-written line and sent Do you need to get out for a while? instead.
I don't know I just
I want HIM to go.
We were doing fine until he came back.
Seriously, man. I got a learner's and the Beetle
I have no problems coming and picking you up.
Your sister, too.
I don't know if we can sneak your mom out without your dad catching on, though. Ted was already reaching for his keys with one hand and more public appropriate pants with the other.
No.
I appreciate it but I can't just leave
I'll deal with it, I just needed someone to talk to.
I just hate him so much.
Ted didn't get further than Booster before the other teen logged off. He sat, staring at the empty chat screen for a good minute or more. Then he flipped through his windows until Steam came up, firing up Borderlands 2. He need to blow the shit out of something.
~*~*~*~
The next morning saw Ted at school early, as in before the first bus arrived early. He waited by the front doors, one heel bouncing against the ground as student after student streamed by. Every now and again someone Ted knew passed by with a wave and a brief smile, but he didn't do more than wave back distractedly, and anyone that tried to stop by for a chat left shortly afterward. Somewhere in the middle of the hubbub the bus Ted had been waiting for must have arrived because he could see Booster towering over the sea of bobbing heads.
"Hey! Boost!" He stood on his toes and waved frantically until Booster looked up and started moving toward him. He looked absolutely haggard, roughed up worse than being knocked around by a guy with the nickname of 'Major Disaster' for four quarters. It hit Ted in the chest like a punch, feeling it settle cold and tight at the bottom of his belly. "You okay, man?"
His smile was warm but crumbling. "I've been better."
"Anything happen?" The 'that I should know about' hung heavy between them.
"No. He was just yelling most of the night until he got drunk enough to pass out. Ma made me and Shel leave before he woke up."
Ted frowned, hands tightening on the straps of his bag to keep from grabbing Booster's arm. "Offer still stands. You guys need a place to chill, you can just come to me. Over the weekend, middle of the night- my mom loves you, she won't turn you out. Anything you need, I got you covered."
"I..." Booster's face looked like it was about to melt into something close to approaching tears. "I don't wanna be here right now."
Well, not like it'd be the first time Ted ever played hooky. So he grabbed Booster's arm and dragged him into the parking lot. "Your sister going to be okay?"
"Yeah. Dad doesn't like her much, so he usually ignores her."
"Hmmm," was all Ted said until he fit the key into the ignition and turned. "So, are we going to re-enact Driving Miss Daisy?"
A shadow of a smile passed over Booster's lips. "I'd say yes, but I've never watched it."
"Actually, neither have I but Morgan Freeman is in it, so it can't be all bad. What do you feel like doing?"
Booster's head rolled back against the headrest until he was looking up at the sun roof. "I don't know. Something mindless and dumb, I guess."
"Both my parents are at work. We could chill at my place, marathon every episode of Doctor Who on the big screen and order in a pizza for lunch. How's that sound?"
Booster's entire body relaxed, like the weight of the universe started to roll off his shoulders, as they pulled out of the school parking log. "Yeah. That sounds great."
~*~*~*~
Some time after a large pizza and a half but before the Fifth Doctor drizzled bat milk down Peri's throat, Ted blinked awake, not quite remembering when he fell asleep, and definitely not when Booster wedged him against the side of the couch with his head resting against the soft part of Ted's side and squashing the feeling from one leg. Logic would dictate, in these circumstances, that Ted should either wake Booster up or wriggle his leg around until he could free it from under Booster's hip. Logic, however, had a difficult time drawing attention to itself when Ted was drowsy from warmth and meat-lovers. He just lay there, feeling Booster's belly press against him with every breath, exhales warming Ted's skin through his shirt and making something even warmer stir down below his guts. Ted slid his arm from the back of the couch, thumb circling idly against Booster's neck until it rested on the pulse point.
Ted fell asleep again just as the Sixth Doctor sat up.
~*~*~*~
It was dark outside when Ted woke up a second time- not that it was saying much since the spring equinox was days off. It was also dark inside with the tv off and lights dimmed. The plates had vanished and the pizza boxes closed. Ted's mother must have returned and decided to leave the boys to their own devices. Devices which included Booster acting as Ted's blanket. At first he thought Booster was still asleep, his arm draped across Ted's chest and face tucked against his neck, but Ted could feel his breathing, too deliberate and deep to be anything but conscious. Ted's arm came up, palm against Booster's back, fingers curling over his shoulder, and he felt Booster tense.
"Hey," Ted said mildly, "you awake?"
They were too close for Booster to get away with lying. "Yeah."
"Feeling better?"
"Yeah."
Ted shifted, trying to adjust himself, half propped against the back of the couch. When he did Booster pulled his arm off of Ted, tucked it under his own body, unhooked his foot from around Ted's ankle, and lifted his head from Ted's shoulder. The movement made Ted's hand slip from his shoulder to his neck. Booster's eyes flickered up to the shorter teen's face for a half second, but there was something raw in it, something a little desperate and searching, and uncertain at the same time. Booster looked away quickly and started to push off the couch.
"Sorry. I should-" Ted's hand held tight on the back of his neck and made Booster freeze.
"Stay here." Ted said quietly.
"I can't."
"Sure you can. Stay here. You and your sister and your mom, and your dad won't know where you are."
"Ted-"
"I know my mom won't mind when she realizes the situation, and it's not like my dad's ever here anyway, so fuck what he thinks. If you're worried about paying us back, my mom could find some part time work or something for you guys."
"Ted-"
Some sort of floodgate burst inside Ted, words tumbling over each other in a mad rush. "It's just I want to help you and if things were switched around I know you'd want to do the same. You're my best friend, Booster. You're more than my best friend. You're the best thing that's happened to me. I can't imagine anyone meaning more to me than you do and-" Words jumbled up in Ted's throat as Booster looked at him, and Ted felt all the possibilities, all the what-ifs in the universe coalescing together in the open anticipation and hope in Booster's face. Ted could feel them teetering on the edge of something unknown and wonderful. "And you're perfect and amazing and I kind of really like you."
Booster didn't say anything, just pushed himself up on his elbows until he could press his lips against Ted's. It wasn't a long kiss, and the planets didn't align, and the earth didn't shake but their lips trembled all the same, and Ted could hardly think through his pulse beating loudly in his head. When they parted, Ted licked his lips and could taste pizza, though he didn't know if it came from Booster or himself. He also had no idea why he never imagined how impossibly gorgeous Booster looked with ruffled hair and flushed skin, lying next to him. They were both breathing quicker already, trying to come up with something to say even as they were dumbstruck.
Ted licked his lips again and said the only thing he could think of, "You, um... when you pretended you need to be tutored in chemistry... that wasn't because you were trying to be friends with me, was it?"
Pink looked good on Booster, softening the edges of his high cheekbones, trailing up to the tips of his ears, and Ted could feel it on Booster's neck, warming his palm. "No." He grinned a bit guility.
Ted pulled Booster down until they rested forehead to forehead. "Okay." When he looked into Booster's eyes, so blue and wide, everything slid into place. Like Ted had found the x he needed to solve for and the rest of the equation unraveled afterward. "Okay," he said before kissing Booster again.