Chapter Text
Monday
Billy shuffles to class, seriously about to pass out. He misjudged how long it would take him to finish his lab last night and he’s definitely paying for it today. As he walks past the campus Starbucks, he thinks to himself that he definitely deserves a treat.
The line isn't too long which is good since he has about twenty minutes to book it across campus so he isn't late for his first class. He checks his text messages while he waits (three from Eli reminding him that he should get some sleep) and has to be called three times before he realizes he’s next.
“Sorry,” he says, stumbling up to the counter, “Mornings and I aren't really friends.”
He looks up for the first time and comes face to face with a blonde hair, blue eyed and pierced ear form of perfection. The guy grins at him, all gleaming white teeth and understanding eyes and says, “No problem. What can I get you?”
Your number. Your babies. Your eternal love.
“Iced latte,” he squeaks and the barista grins at him.
“Sure. Coming right up.”
Billy tries to see if the guy has a name tag when he comes back with his drink but his shirt is strangely absent. So, really, all Billy can do is pay and thank him.
“Have a good day,” the barista calls out after him.
XxX
Tuesday
Billy doesn't have a morning class but he still rolls out of bed at eight am because, you know, sleep schedule. Shouldn't get messed up. And if he happens to decide he needs coffee well then he needs coffee.
Barista is working today and Billy is so glad he actually put on real clothes instead of coming out in his sweats and ratty old Avengers hoody.
He grins when Billy walks up to the counter and says, “Hello, again.”
Billy knows he’s blushing. “Um, hey.”
“What can I get you?”
He needs to stop asking it like this.
“Iced latte,” Billy says.
“Ooh, original,” the barista teases and Billy laughs.
“I’m a dull guy, what can I say.”
“It’ll be right up.”
There’s no one behind Billy so he totally stays where he is at the counter and maybe kind of checks out the guy’s ass. No big deal. He notices there’s still no name tag when he returns with his latte.
“Thanks, um,” Billy glances obviously at the guy’s shirt and he smiles.
“Teddy. I’m new; name tag is on my to-do list…?”
“Billy,”
“Billy,” Teddy repeats, “It was nice to meet you.”
“Y-you too.”
Teddy’s bright smile follows him all the way out of the coffee shop.
XxX
Wednesday
It’s raining as Billy rushes back to his dorm; he’s hoping he can get back before the actual brunt of the storm but right when he reaches his halfway point, the clouds open and rain just pours down.
He curses; his laptop is in his backpack and he cannot risk that getting wet. He high tails it over to the Starbucks and thanks everything they aren't closed.
It’s empty as he ducks inside, he thinks, until Teddy’s head pops up from behind the counter and he grins wide when he sees Billy.
“Hey! Is it raining outside?”
“What gave it away?” Billy tries to deadpan but he’s grinning right back. “Hi, again.”
“Hi, again,” Teddy straightens up, “Iced latte?”
Billy tries not to feel too pleased Teddy remembers his order. “No, thank you. Just hiding from the storm.”
Teddy comes out from behind the counter and, oh God, he’s even more gorgeous up close. He peaks out the window at the empty campus and whistles.
“You are free to stick around as late as you want; I’m closing tonight.”
“Cool. Thanks.”
Billy pulls off his jacket just as Teddy steps away from the window and he catches Teddy’s wide incredulous stare; before he can ask what’s up, Teddy points to his chest.
“Scarlet Witch? Nice!”
Billy looks down; he totally forgot he threw on his Scarlet Witch t-shirt in his hurry to not be late today.
“Um, yeah. Favorite Avenger.”
“It’s so hard to find people that love the not as well known ” Teddy says. “Props dude. She’s probably the most badass Avenger.”
“Um,” Billy raises an eyebrow, “Probably? I think you need to rethink that assumption. There’s no probably about it.”
“Hulk could crush her,” Teddy points out.
“And she could use her magic to revert him back to Bruce Banner permanently or something,” Billy counters, “Sorry, Scarlet Witch is perfect. Your argument is invalid.”
Teddy snorts. “I bet I can come up with one Avenger she would totally fail against.”
“Bring it on.”
The rain ends soon after but Billy doesn’t leave, debating superheros with Teddy until he has to close down.
XxX
Thursday
“I’m just saying: they’re really bad adaptations.”
“Oh please,” Teddy waves his hand, “Everything is a bad adaptation.”
“Wow. Cynical much?”
Teddy laughs and leans back in his seat. Billy’s textbooks are closed and pushed aside for the entire ten minute duration of Teddy’s break. That he chose to spend here. With Billy.
“When I get a job writing screenplays, I’m going to do all the book to movie adaptations and kick ass.”
“And I’ll go see them and judge them horribly.”
“I would expect nothing less,” Teddy says, winking at him.
Billy ducks his head. He’s only known Teddy a few days, only recently exchanged names with him, but it feels like he’s known him forever. He’s still not used to Teddy’s flirting, though. If that’s even what this is.
“I should probably let you get back to work,” Teddy says and Billy’s head shoots up.
“Your ten minutes is over already?”
“Well, no, but you’re busy and-“
Billy snorts. “I am the king of all nighters; this is nothing.”
“God, no wonder you come here everyday,” Teddy muses.
And Billy feels brave. “Well, I mean, caffeine isn’t the only reason.”
He chances a smile at Teddy and feels elated when Teddy smiles back.
XxX
Friday
“I don’t see why you have to come with me,” Billy pouts.
Kate grins. “Because, you are obviously smitten with this guy. I want to see why.”
“You are far too invested in my personal life.”
“See, that would be true, if you actually had one.”
“Ouch,” Billy clutches his chest dramatically, “Just drive an arrow through my heart, Kate Bishop.”
She smiles and hipchecks him and he laughs, loud (because that’s always how he laughs) and Teddy looks up from where he’s making an order and grins at him. Billy waves a little and Kate not so casually peaks around him to look so he pushes her back, grinning. When he looks up, Teddy’s smile as faded and he’s not looking over at them anymore.
By the time they get up to the counter, Cassie waiting on them. She smiles brightly at them and chats for a moment and Billy can’t help but look around her for a view of Teddy.
Kate pays for his coffee because she’s wonderful and Billy tries to stall for as long as they can without being late to study group but finally, they have to head out.
“He’s usually around,” Billy says quietly as they walk through campus together.
Kate shrugs. “He probably got really busy in the back or something. It is a Friday.”
“Yeah…”
But there’s a sinking feeling in his stomach and he doesn’t like it.
XxX
Saturday
The Starbucks is busy and that’s fine. Billy gets his coffee (again, Cassie waits on him) and sits at the table right by the door, where Teddy can totally see him. Aside from one quick nod of acknowledgement, he’s basically ignored and that sinking feeling begins to grow. When Teddy takes his ten, he slips right outside and Billy, angrily, follows him.
“Did I do something wrong?” he demands.
Teddy looks at him coolly and all Billy wants to do is fix whatever happened.
“I-I thought we were getting along really well.”
“I did too.”
“Then why are you ignoring me and acting like this? I mean, I thought we were gonna-“
“Why didn’t you say you had a girlfriend?” Teddy asks.
Billy blinks. Hard. “What?”
“Yesterday,” Teddy says and then he looks embarrassed, “Look, if you didn’t want me to flirt with you, you could have just said that. You didn’t have to bring your girlfriend-“
“What girlfriend!?” Billy exclaims, “I don’t-oh. Oh! Kate!”
“The brunette,” Teddy agrees and Billy shakes his head wildly.
“Kate isn’t my girlfriend; she’s my best friend.”
“Really?” Teddy asks, still looking suspicious.
“Yes!”
“You’re sure?”
“Well, considering she has a boyfriend and I’m gay,” Billy says, “Yeah. I’m sure.”
“Oh,” Teddy says. And then he smiles. “Oh…”
“And for the record,” Billy continues, “I….I really liked you flirting with me.”
“Cool,” Teddy breathes. “I should give you my number, then.”
“You should.”
“I have Sundays off,” Teddy says as Billy hands him his phone. “We could do something, maybe?”
“Yes!” Billy says, then he coughs, “I mean, yeah, sure. Sounds good.”
Teddy hands him back his phone and purposely brushes their fingers together and Billy already wants to kiss him.
“So, I’ll call you?”
Billy beams. “You better.”
Teddy doesn’t swoop down to kiss him, but he does grab Billy’s shoulder his hand warm and tight and swipes his thumb once over Billy’s collarbone.
“I need to get back to work,” he says regrettably. “See ya.”
“See ya.”
Billy smiles dazedly until Teddy is back safely behind the counter. He shoots Billy a wave through the window that Billy happily and wholeheartedly returns.