Later on...

[teddyaltman]

After hanging out in the infirmary with Billy and Eliza and Mr. Immortal (Mr. Immortal. How cool was that?), Teddy had wandered off to give Billy and Eliza a chance to catch up. There were things that needed his attention, as much as he'd like to avoid them

Comments

[princeoftarnax]

Xavin was unused to spending the majority of his time in the company of others. And his first attempt at watching popular movies of earth culture had been less than successful, so Xavin did what he did best. Strategizing and examining the layout of the Avengers Tower. He was also doing something he rarely did. Procrastinating.

Not only was he avoiding the Skrull Emperor (or rather making it easier for the Emperor to avoid him), but he hadn't even considered how the conversation would go aside from envisioning him sentenced to exile by the Emperor himself or by the Skrull high command.

Naturally, whilst avoiding Theodore Altman, he in fact ran into him. Almost literally, if he didn't have better reflexes. "I'm sorry." He said perhaps too quickly.

[teddyaltman]

Teddy jerked backwards, nearly tripping over his own feet as he backed away from the Skrull - Xavin? Yes, Xavin - he'd met outside the hospital. He'd almost forgotten that he - she? Xavin had posed as both a guy and a girl - had come back to the Tower with them.

"No problem." he replied reflexively to the offered apology. "I should have been paying more attention to where I was going."

Ooh boy. Awkward. What now?

"Err...how's your girlfriend doing?"

[princeoftarnax]

"She is recovering well." Xavin responded, backing away to provide Theodore appropriate space. "I trust your friends are well?"

Yes Xavin, make small talk with the Emperor of the Skrullos domain, he will be most impressed with your lack of anything to say.

[teddyaltman]

"Yeah, everyone's doing great." Teddy said, forcing a grin that felt a great deal more like a grimace. He shifted his weight from foot to foot, trying to think of some way to politely extract himself from the conversation before it led to the inevitable question of leaving the planet to be a Skrull emperor.

Yeah. A Skrull emperor who was half Kree. That would be a fantastic plan. If Teddy was suicidal.

[princeoftarnax]

"That is... good." Xavin looked around, then back at Theodore Altman. "Shall we get this conversation over with?" He could only avoid someone for so long.

[teddyaltman]

Teddy closed his eyes and grit his teeth. Yeah. Just getting it over with was probably the best plan. Putting it off wasn't going to make it go away or make it easier.

"Let's." he agreed.

[princeoftarnax]

"I was sent to talk to you against my objections, I do not wish to force you to do anything you do not want, but I cannot leave until you agree or I have convinced the High Command that I have done my utmost to persuade you."

Xavin paused. "The Empire needs you. The Skrull worlds have been in disorder since the destruction of the throne world."

[teddyaltman]

Okay. This was a new angle. Someone who was about as interested in dealing with this as he was.

"I think that the Skrull Empire can do a lot better than me." he said, crossing his arms. "I'm sixteen and half-Kree. Everything I know about Skrulls is at least fourth-hand information and comes through comic books, which are edited for good story-telling rather than accurate information. And I am not going to be anyone's puppet."

Teddy found himself flexing his fingers and made a conscious effort to still them. This wasn't Xavin's fault. This wasn't anyone's fault but the stupid Skrulls and the stupid Kree who insisted on fighting each other and ruining his life.

[princeoftarnax]

"The Empire needs someone with a legitimate claim to the throne. That is something only you have. There is no one who can do better than you because there are no other candidates. Besides, the Empire needs a ruler who is not obsessed with war, as so many Skrull leaders are. Perhaps your heritage can be an asset." Xavin kept a careful eye on the would-be-emperor's hands. He had no desire to be caught unaware.

[teddyaltman]

"Yeah, about that "legitimate claim to the throne" thing," Teddy said, quirking an eyebrow. "According to Kl'rt, the last Emperor Dorrek ordered my death when he found out who my dad was. I rather think that negates any legitimacy of my theoretical claim."

He recrossed his arms. "Furthermore, even if I was to go and become the Skrull emperor, I'd have another round of the Kree-Skrull war on my hands, whether I wanted it or not. Both sides have already attacked my friends, the only family I have left--"

Teddy broke off and took a deep breath. Now was not the time to get angry and hysterical.

[princeoftarnax]

Xavin gave Theodore time to regroup before speaking. "The Empire is your birth right, regardless of any orders made by a war mongering emperor."

He paused. "If you don't leave Earth, both sides will continue to attack your friends."

[teddyaltman]

Well, someone had said it. It was out there, where Teddy couldn't ignore it and pretend that it wasn't true.

"I know that." he hissed. "Do you really think I don't know that?! My mother is dead because two aliens I've never met were too damn stupid to use a condom! She gave up her life to take care the goddamned Oops-baby of an intergalactic Romeo and Juliet! She took on the Super-Skrull for me and- and--"

Teddy spun away from Xavin, clenching his fists in his hair.

"I don't even know her name." he whispered.

[princeoftarnax]

Xavin stopped trying to decipher what a "condom" and "Romeo and Juliet" was. He mentally cursed the High Command for sending him here to bother this poor boy.

"I am sorry." He said finally. "My parents are dead too."

[teddyaltman]

Teddy ran a hand through his hair and leaned against the wall. He didn't feel like he had the energy to stand up anymore.

"I'm sorry too." he replied quietly. He looked up and offered Xavin the quirk of a sympathetic smile "But you can wash your hands of this mess now. You tried to convince me. I'm not leaving."

It was undoubtedly selfish of him, to force the entire planet Earth into the middle of the Kree-Skrull War. Selfish of him to put his friends in more danger, selfish for not trying to spare them this. But Teddy had spent too long being what other people wanted him to be.

So maybe he was selfish. Maybe he was a coward.

But he wasn't leaving Earth.

[princeoftarnax]

Xavin sighed. "I wish I could convince my superiors of that." He examined the Skrull heir. It was not the time to press his case, nor would it be any time soon. "You should sleep. I will not impose myself on you further."

[teddyaltman]

"I wish you better luck with that than I'm having." Teddy sighed, levering himself away from the wall. "Lots to do today."

Oddly enough, it didn't seem quite so overwhelming now.