rp for barnacle_the

[nottome]

So, after a few days of trying not to worry, of taking stupid things too hard, and of pretending he just didn't care anymore, Billy now found himself back in Barney's apartment

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[barnacle_the]

Barney walked in a few moments later, a box of items held awkwardly in his hands. He set it down on his counter and put his hands behind him.

"Oh, are you here already?"

[nottome]

Billy wouldn't admit that he came just as fast as he possibly could and instead shrugged. "Traffic's not bad tonight. What's in the box?"

[barnacle_the]

Barney looked at the box, then Billy, then back at the box. He was hoping he wouldn't have to bring that up yet.

"Uh..something I needed for the house. You want something to drink?" He asked walking over to the refrigerator.

[nottome]

That reaction was like warning klaxons going off in his head. It made him tense. So something was up? Something had to be up. Something was--

No. He was trying to be done with worrying when it may not be necessary. Or something. It was hard to tell what he should or should not be doing given the mixed signals he kept getting. "Sure. A drink sounds good." Might even calm his nerves. Which needed to stop being on such a hair trigger, he decided.

[barnacle_the]

"I got water. Believe it or not. And a lot of milk, Ted didn't want it anymore..long story." Barney went to grab the water bottle with his right hand then stopped midway and used his left. He awkwardly tossed the bottle to Billy.

[nottome]

"...O...kay." No scotch? No scotch. It wasn't scotch. Billy had trouble trying to wrap his mind around the fact that it was water.

"So..." Awkwardawkwardawkwardawkward. "Guess your hands are doing better. Healing. Pretty well. Y'know. Which is good, because if they weren't by now, I'd force you to a hospital."

[barnacle_the]

"Ha! My hands. That's funny!" He laughed awkwardly, shifting a bit. "Hows it going with you? You got a job?"

[nottome]

This...was not going to go well, he could tell already. "Uh, yeah, got an actual paying job, not that I'm giving up the whole, y'know, persona, but like I was really gonna turn down an important big job offer from freaking Tony Stark, so. Y'know. It's...going."

[barnacle_the]

"Gotta make money somehow. Doesn't mean you are a sell out." Barney took a fast swig of his water and shifted around on his feet. He wanted a cigarette..what was that about?

[nottome]

"I didn't say I was." He rolled his bottle between his hands and briefly glanced at the ominous box. "So, um." He didn't want to push. Pushing wasn't good, right? "Come here, let me see your hands."

[barnacle_the]

"What? Why?" Barney looked at Billy skeptically for a moment then laughed awkwardly again. "Ha..I mean, right, sure. Ok." Barney went over to Billy and gave up his left hand, keeping the right one in his pocket.

[nottome]

He was quickly losing patience for the whole not pushing thing and gave Barney a look that said as much. "Both of them."

[barnacle_the]

Barney pulled his left hand away from Billy. "My hands are fine...Why are you here again?"

[nottome]

"One, to check your hands, and two, because you freaking invited me over. Barney. Don't make do the annoying hovering worried panic thing again."

[barnacle_the]

"Oh..right. I think I wanted to show you something. I forget now." He leaned casually against the counter. "While you are here. Would you like some milk?"

[nottome]

"...So, you're just jerking my chain because you know I'll come running. Is that what this is? Because if you don't actually want me here, you can say so, and I'll go. I wouldn't want to, because you're being worrying and creepy, or worryingly creepy, but I'd go."