(no subject)

[withamagicword]

In his room, Billy sits, finishing packing all of his stuff. He is headed out soon, within a day or so, and wants to be ready, wants to be sure.

Everything is packed and ready to go. There isnt really much. Clothes, a laptop, a few books. That is it, that is all that shows he was here at all.

He sighs and sits down, and nods.

Soon he needs to head downstairs and set the final steps in motion. Then he can leave.

And the desire to do so burns in him, and he is so very ready to leave this place.

He smiles for a moment and thinks of Rachel. He will need to talk to her too, and make sure she is okay. That is part of his responsibility, part of who he is and part of the him he is holding on to as tight as possible, so as to not fall into the abyss that seems to get stronger and larger every day...

Comments

[futures_of_ash]

It is often thought that thoughts coincide because people think alike. That thought would be wrong, it's a series of sensitivity levels...but it's a nice theory.

So, it shouldn't be suprising when Rachel in full spandex knocks on the door then enters.

[withamagicword]

Billy opens the door somewhat warily, but relaxes when it is her.

"Hey, I was just thinking about you. Come in?"

He eyes her spandex, consideringly, and ponders, as he moves aside.

[futures_of_ash]

She moves with an edge she's been lacking recently. A battlle ready awareness that simply speaks "Back on the hero lists". Or perhaps it's just the spandex...who knew?

"Yeah, figured I'd have to poke you know" she chuckled.

[withamagicword]

He eyes her.

"Why?"

Then he nods to the chair by the sofa and sinks down.

"I need to leave soon, within a day or so."

[futures_of_ash]

"Because we never manage to catch each other in the Bar, and I know it makes you twitchy to be there" she admitted easily, sinking down in front of the chair and leaning back against it.

"I'm leaving too"

[withamagicword]

He nods, then sighs.

"Do you know how long you will be gone?"

[futures_of_ash]

"Nope, never do..." she admitted with a sigh. "I'm hoping I get to come back" but she's not going to let that...hope...distract her from what ever needs to be done out there.

She never does.

"You don't intend on coming back though do you?"

[withamagicword]

He opens his mouth, then closes it.

"No. Probably not."

He sighs.

"Too many memories and too much pain. And... I dont know what will happen out there."

He waves a hand.

"If I do, it wont be for a long time. But you are always welcome on the Rock. Always."

He holds out a hand to her, just touching her shoulder.

"Thank you."

[futures_of_ash]

"This is my home" those words hold sorrow so refined that they could bring a rock to tears, like warm, silken bitterness singing along exposed nerve endings "I'm sorry it hurt you so much"

"I'll do what I can to visit" she promised.

[withamagicword]

He winces.

"Me too, Rachel. Me too."

He hesitates, then reaches out and hugs her, tight.

"You are the best sister I have ever had."

He smiles a little.

"I do have a request of you."

[futures_of_ash]

She wrapped her arms around him, strong and safe. Sheltering defined by a frail human frame and the flame within. "Ask, I'll do what I can"

[withamagicword]

"Put the memories back, all of it, and put it behind a lock until I am ready for it, for them. The way things go out there, there is no..."

He swallows.

"... there is no guarantee we will meet again. I need... I need to be whole."

He swallows again.

"And remember, wherever you go, that you are loved."

[futures_of_ash]

She thought about that for a moment, truly thought. She weighed the repercussion, and she understood. Perhaps better than most "Alright"

Her hug shifted slightly from protective and warm to firm as she didn't wait for actual permission, he'd just tense up and shield if she did.

A falling, glittering spark of celestial might, and there were memories. Memories so swiftly hidden behind locks that glowed starheart's white, hot and real.

No one was going to remove those locks until Billy was ready. No one.

[withamagicword]

He shudders and then relaxes and hugs her again.

"Thank you."

He breathes a little easier and even flashes her a slight smile. He doesn think of the darkness of his own inner thoughts, his own pain. He shioves all of it away right now. Those memories and the newly regained memories have to wait, wait until his breakdown wont hurt anyone at all.

"I have a present for you."

[futures_of_ash]

"No, don't thank me Billy" she said gently. She still wasn't ready for that from him yet.

"Ah, this was the promised "Not named Brian" bit right?"

[withamagicword]

He chuckles, just a little, but he does.

"Yes."

He goes to his closet and pulls out a small box. he hands it to her.

In it is a piece of the Rock, crafted by his magic, infused with his essence, and given a soft glow. It is carved into the image of a phoenix.

[futures_of_ash]

It seems she certainly has a running theme in gifts. Flames or Phoenixes and she's easy to shop for.

"A key?" she hazarded.

[withamagicword]

He nods.

"If you enter hyperspace, or the Time Stream, of any kind of sphere like that and concentrate on this, it will lead you to the Rock, no matter where and when you are coming from. "

he smiles faintly.

"it also turns off the automated defenses."

[futures_of_ash]

"That's always handy...though...could be fun" she mused, obviously referring to the automated defense bit.

"I'll take care of it."

[withamagicword]

He smiles.

"Good."

He sighs then, looking at the two rather small bags on the bed.

"Almost a year here and that is what there is to show it. Not much, huh?"

He shrugs.

"I will miss you."

[futures_of_ash]

"I think I've had over a year...and I've less" she admitted with a gentle shrug "Things don't matter Billy, don't let the lack of them bother you"

"You can always keep in touch, and if I'm around to go reality skpping, you know I'll visit. I'm glad we met, Billy"

[withamagicword]

"Me too, Rachel, me too."

he nods, then, and sighs.

"I just dont weant to feel like this anymore."

[futures_of_ash]

"That's understandablwe Billy, you need healing just like any of us" heroes just...work despite that little fact.

"You going to manage to be alright?"

[withamagicword]

he smiles.

"yeah, I think so. I have a mini-vacation of mindless shopping planned with Melpomene and then I am headed to the source of my powers. One way or another, the Six are ones who have answers and maybe they can help."

[futures_of_ash]

"They give you a hard time, let me know, I'll bounce them off walls" she promised.

"And stay away from novelty hops, they aren't good for you" she warned teasingly.

[withamagicword]

He nods.

"I'll be careful. You too, you hear? I hear those skrull guys get a little rough..."

[futures_of_ash]

"Skrulls are asy, and everyone gets rough when I start growling. It's a natural reaction to imminent biolence" she chuckled.

"I'll be as careful as I can" she reache dup to ruffle his hair softly and smiled. It's probably a rather scary smile for most.

[withamagicword]

He nods and ruffles her hair right back.

"Thanks."

He hugs her again and nods.

Not a bad way to start a day, not at all.