Work Text:
Freddy and Billy sat on the couch side by side with a homework sheet sat on their two inner legs.
Freddy, frowning, shoved Billy with his shoulder, "The answer is A, dipshit!"
Billy laughed and leaned back into Freddy's side, "Pretty sure it's B."
"No, it's A! Were you not paying attention at all in class?"
No, I was looking at you.
Billy looked off to the side "Of course I was."
Freddy smiled, "You never do, stop lying to me."
Billy casually, very casually (like he hadn't been overthinking on how to do this without making it awkward), put his arm over Freddy's shoulder and smirked.
Freddy didn't seem to notice and said, "It's A, you really need to start paying attention. There's not even anything interesting to look at."
You're very interesting and oh so very handsome to look at.
"Meh."
Freddy sighed, "That's all you have to say, 'Meh'?!"
"Dude, I'm doing perfectly fine in all my classes."
"Yeah, cause of me, dumbass."
I love how smart you are.
"Ehh, Mary helps a lot when she's around."
"Seriously?!" Freddy shoved him again.
Billy doubled over in laughter while clutching his stomach.
Freddy was trying not to smile, "It is not funny, Billy."
Billy just continued while Freddy's contained smile grew bigger and bigger until he too started to laugh.
Billy stopped and admired Freddy, with a love sick grin.
You are so beautiful, I love when I can get you to laugh like that.
Victor walked in and yelled at them to get working.
They both sighed and moved hip to hip again to continue the stupid worksheet.
–
"Billy, get out of the fucking bathroom!" Freddy yelled, his crutch under one arm, leaning against the wall beside the bathroom door.
Billy had been in there for more than 20 minutes.
Billy shouted back, "I'm busy!"
"I don't care if you're pooping! I'm about to piss my pants."
"I'm not pooping."
"Then get out!"
Freddy heard Billy sigh and then a, "Just a minute."
"I swear to God if you're jerking off in there, I'm actually going to kill you!"
"Why would I do that in the bathroom?!"
"I don't know man. What else could you be doing right now?"
There was a clatter and then the door opened. Freddy pushed himself to stand and Billy walked out. He was holding something wrapped in a towel.
Billy scowled at him, "I was not jerking off."
"Sure, man," Billy walked past and Freddy asked, "What's under there?"
Billy spat, "None of your business."
Your birthday present.
"Is it porn?"
"No, Freddy, it's not porn!" Billy walked in their room and slammed the door.
Freddy whispered to himself, "It's porn."
–
Freddy awoke begrudgingly from someone shaking his shoulder. He opened his eyes and rubbed the blurriness away to see Billy smiling widely from where he stood in front of the bed.
Freddy sat up slightly and asked, "Dude, I was dreaming. What do you want?"
Billy rolled his eyes, "It's your birthday."
Freddy hummed, "And for my birthday, I want to sleep in."
"I'll let you sleep after, Just- hold on," Billy moved to climb up the ladder just enough to grab something and hopped back down, "Open my present." He held it out to Freddy.
It was a square box and the wrapper consisted of several superheroes logos. Superman, Green Lantern, The Flash, and Justice League.
Freddy grabbed it quickly and immediately started unwrapping it. He tore open the cardboard and saw a red fabric. He looked up at Billy with quizzical eyes.
Oh God, I hope he likes it.
Billy did a go on gesture so Freddy finally grabbed it out.
He unfolded it and held it out in front of him, blocking Billy. It had Superman's logo on it.
He brought it down and said, "Is it…"
Billy cut him off, "Yeah, it's real! I told him on a mission that it was your birthday and he offered to give you an old cape. He said you are a good kid and he liked meeting you that one time."
Freddy jumped up, almost fell before Billy caught and gave the other a big hug.
Billy startled but melted into it but it was over way too soon. Freddy moved away and grabbed the crutches, cape still clutched in his hands.
He realized he was wrinkling it and folded it up while Billy stood there watching.
He grinned up at Billy and started to leave saying, "I got to tell everyone! This is so fucking cool. Love you, Billy!"
And then he was gone.
He loves me.
He means brotherly love.
But still!
–
Freddy has been known to wear Billy's shirts. It's not like he notices most of the time, he grabs whatever is clean and they share a room so it happens. It's not a big deal to him or the family.
Billy's learned to deal with it and he kind of likes it. If he purposefully leaves his clean shirts out for Freddy to wear, that's his secret to tell.
Today, Billy sees Freddy wearing a gray shirt. It happens to be the shirt he was wearing when the two met. That makes him absolutely delighted.
Billy is waiting for Freddy at lunch. Poor Freddy has gym right before it. Since he's disabled, he can't do much stuff but he is required to do some things at least.
Billy sees him walking over with his crutch and lunch tray. He's extremely sweaty and you can clearly see it, a dark spot from under his armpits and on his back.
Why is that hot?
Freddy makes it over and drops down dramatically at his seat. He looks at Billy and sighs, "I forgot my fucking gym bag so I had to do gym in this. "
I'm not complaining.
"That sucks," Billy picks at his food with his fork.
"Yeah. What's up with you?"
"I got a B on my math test."
Freddy smacked him on the shoulder and Billy smiled, "Dude! That's huge. Why do you sound so bored?"
Billy rolled his eyes and frowned, "It's not even an A."
Freddy glared, "Last time, you got a D. This is good progress."
"Hm."
Freddy sighed.
_
After school, Freddy rushed upstairs to change, complaining about being stared at all day because he stank. Billy grabbed an afterschool snack and waited. He came back roughly 15 minutes later with Darla in tow.
"We're heading to the Ice-cream shop, you wanna come?" Freddy said as he grabbed Darla's shoes for her.
"Nah, I'll just do some homework."
Darla giggled, her shoes now on, "You never do homework. "
"Yes, I do. "
Darla shook her head.
Freddy laughed and grabbed Darla's and dragged her to the door.
Darla said, "Remember, vegan strawberry."
"I know, I know."
They said goodbye and left.
Would he act like that with his children?
Billy dropped his snack and looked out of the window, they were leaving. Good, no one's in the room. He practically ran up the stairs and slammed the door shut once he was in.
He looked towards the hamper. The sweaty gray shirt was sitting right on top of it. He walked towards and with one last check around the room, he was a bit paranoid, he snatched it up and ran his fingers over it. He sat on the bottom bunk and just look for a moment, contemplating his entire existence and why he is so worked up over a sweaty shirt.
He tentatively brought it up to his face and sniffed. It smelled like the soap Roda buys, stupid cologne—that was a gift from Eugene because it apparently attracts all the ladies—, but most of all it smells like Freddy.
Billy loves it. He loves Freddy. He's ashamed to admit he has done this before. He lays in bed while Freddy is out, his shirt over a pillow and imagines it's him.
This is pathetic.
He hugs the pillow closer and lays down in his bunk. He keeps inhaling the scent. He wishes this was the real Freddy. He closes his eyes and starts to daydream.
He wants to be able to cuddle with Freddy, waking in a tangle of limbs. Smell him whenever he can. Maybe they can get an apartment when they're older, maybe a lair but that didn't work out the first time. He can make them breakfast because Freddy does not know how to cook. Watch those superhero documentaries that Freddy loves on the couch.
He thinks about all the things they could do and soon falls asleep.
_
Billy was abruptly awoken by a slam. He opened his eyes and rubbed the crusty feeling away and saw Freddy had apparently slammed the door open and was now staring at him.
Freddy moved, or limped, forward and he seemed confused.
Billy was too but then he remembered. He knew he was blushing and tried to hide the pillow behind his back. The pillow that had his best friend's sweaty shirt!
Wow, I am such a creep.
They had a staring contest and Billy was starting to sweat. He was already thinking of how to run away. I mean he loves this family but if Freddy finds out how disgusting he is, the whole family would know and then he can never show his face again. He might be freaking out just a tiny bit.
Freddy said, "Uh, this is weird."
He could run out of here right now, Freddy couldn't catch him. Instead, he did nothing.
Freddy sat down beside him on the bed and looked at the pillow behind Billy's back.
"Isn't it damp?"
Billy nodded slowly.
"Hm. And why were you cuddling with my sweaty clothes?," Freddy smirked.
Billy does not know how to get away with this.
"Wouldn't you rather cuddle the real thing?"
What?
Freddy opened his arms, dropping the crutch. He sat there looking expectantly at Billy.
He has to be messing with me.
Billy finally talked, "Dude, just call me a perv already. You don't have to joke, okay?"
Freddy responded, "Billy. Just come here."
Billy could not resist any longer. He reasons it's alright if Freddy ends up telling everyone, as long as he can cuddle with him.
He scoots closer and hugs Freddy back. Freddy made them fall, prompting an oof sound from Billy, and rolled them over so Freddy had his back against the wall. Freddy threw the pillow out. Their legs became entangled, Billy being mindful of Freddy's bad leg.
Billy looked down to avoid eye contact.
"Did you know people actually consume about 1 to 2 cups of snot everyday because most of it that comes out of your nose ends up collecting in your windpipe?" Freddy asked.
"What? Why did you say that?"
"Weird facts are great at breaking uncomfortable silences."
Billy hummed.
Freddy said, "I would like you to explain why you were cuddling with a pillow that had my sweaty shirt on it."
Might as well say it.
Billy closed his eyes, "It reminded me of you."
A pause.
"Is the real thing better?"
Billy simply nodded.
Freddy teased him, "I like cuddling you too," he smirks, "You know, I've been thinking about this for a while."
"Huh?"
Billy could Freddy's hand move to the back of his head and messing with his hair.
"I have a crush on you. I'm hoping it's mutual because of what just happened."
What the actual fuck.
"You- What?"
"Billy, you are so fucking difficult. I've been freaking out since I found you with my shirt. Do you like me or not?"
Billy opened his eyes and looked at Freddy. He really did look nervous.
He's pretty good at hiding it. When did that happen?
Billy hugged the other harder, "I do. I love you."
"Oh wow, little early but love you too."
Billy scoffed and rolled his eyes.
They both sat in silence for a moment.
Billy said, "So, boyfriends?"
"Yep."
"Do you think I'm weird for the shirt thing?"
"Yep."