Long after the bitter, sweetness remains
anonymous
June 18 2011, 23:09:15 UTC
Probably more depressing than you wanted, but Children's Crusade influenced me. Hope you like!
Billy loved Teddy more than he could ever imagine loving anyone.
But he hadn't, always. Before there was Teddy, there had been Eli. Sure, it had been entirely one-sided, the kind of dorky crush-on-the-leader-before-Kate-had-come-into-their-lives that was probably seven different types of cliche.
But Billy had still loved Eli fiercely. How could he not? Eli was everything that Billy wasn't. Billy had always been timid and weak in the face of bullies; Eli was never afraid to stand up to them. Eli was confident about practically everything, just as Billy struggled to deal with his new powers and the courage to say something to his crush.
It hadn't been meant to be. Eli hadn't ever returned his crush (awkward making outs after a battle didn't count, Billy was pretty sure, especially not now that Eli had decided that bisexuality didn't exist and he was in fact straight) and Billy had Teddy now.
For a while, Eli had sort of had Kate.
But now, none of them were going to have Eli, because he was leaving the team.
Billy thought perhaps he should feel guilty, but he thought of his mother, safe and sane once again. He also thought of Cassie's father, and the happiness that Cassie had felt when she'd been able to hug him again.
With everything that had happened to Eli's grandfather, Billy didn't know why the price hadn't been too high to pay.
But if the screaming match between Eli, Kate, Cassie and Tommy was any indication, Eli didn't understand.
Billy could scream too. He could think of Wanda and have the same sort of rage as his teammates. But in the end, as they say, you forgive your first love for anything.
Which was why when Eli turned to Billy to say his goodbyes, Billy shook his head to stall the explanations. "I understand," Billy said simply.
The tightness of the hug was bittersweet, but that was more sweetness than Billy had expected their parting to be.
Billy loved Teddy more than he could ever imagine loving anyone.
But he hadn't, always. Before there was Teddy, there had been Eli. Sure, it had been entirely one-sided, the kind of dorky crush-on-the-leader-before-Kate-had-come-into-their-lives that was probably seven different types of cliche.
But Billy had still loved Eli fiercely. How could he not? Eli was everything that Billy wasn't. Billy had always been timid and weak in the face of bullies; Eli was never afraid to stand up to them. Eli was confident about practically everything, just as Billy struggled to deal with his new powers and the courage to say something to his crush.
It hadn't been meant to be. Eli hadn't ever returned his crush (awkward making outs after a battle didn't count, Billy was pretty sure, especially not now that Eli had decided that bisexuality didn't exist and he was in fact straight) and Billy had Teddy now.
For a while, Eli had sort of had Kate.
But now, none of them were going to have Eli, because he was leaving the team.
Billy thought perhaps he should feel guilty, but he thought of his mother, safe and sane once again. He also thought of Cassie's father, and the happiness that Cassie had felt when she'd been able to hug him again.
With everything that had happened to Eli's grandfather, Billy didn't know why the price hadn't been too high to pay.
But if the screaming match between Eli, Kate, Cassie and Tommy was any indication, Eli didn't understand.
Billy could scream too. He could think of Wanda and have the same sort of rage as his teammates. But in the end, as they say, you forgive your first love for anything.
Which was why when Eli turned to Billy to say his goodbyes, Billy shook his head to stall the explanations. "I understand," Billy said simply.
The tightness of the hug was bittersweet, but that was more sweetness than Billy had expected their parting to be.
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This was beautiful, bittersweet and very wonderfully done :)
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