Scene!
“Sorry, Kaplan. You’re stuck with me. Till death do us part.”
Billy turned away from the window and gazed upward, furrowing his brow and allowing a small smile. “Teddy Altman,” he accused, “did you just propose to me?”
Teddy Altman shrugged. “Depends. Are you gonna get off your ass and do something?”
Billy slowly rose from his seat and was swept into a pair of strong arms. Billy closed the distance between them, leaning down just enough for his lips to brush Teddy’s. It was a movement so subdued it seemed numb. Within seconds, however, he deepened the kiss and pressed himself against Teddy’s chest. The kiss energized bit by bit, like an awakening.
Tapping sounded, and they swiveled their heads to where Captain Marvel was perched on a tree. “Sorry to interrupt, boys. But Cap needs you at the mansion.”
Billy reluctantly pulled back, but he didn’t let go of Teddy. “But,” Teddy tried to protest.
“In uniform,” Ms. Marvel added.
Billy brushed a lock of white hair from his face and frowned. “But - ”
“Now.”
Teddy and Billy exchanged remorseful looks that, as Billy imagined fierce violins introducing both an end and a beginning, morphed into excitement. He felt ready.
“Scene!” David’s voice cut through the dim-lit bedroom of Billy Kaplan. Rufus and Noh detached politely. Their guest star stepped down from the small plastic prop.
Noh cheered and waved his arms. “That was awesome!” He snapped his fingers. “David, tell me that wasn’t perfect,” he ordered.
David smirked from his director’s chair. “I’d be lying if I did,” he praised. “What’d you think, Will?”
Will sat on the floor, legs crossed and an entire box of doughnuts in his lap. He gulped down the remaining piece of a powdered doughnut and clapped his sugar-coated hands. “I totally felt it, guys!” he said around his food.
Rufus smiled proudly. “Thanks. Actually, I really connected with this scene when I was reading your books.” Rufus headed over to Will as Noh tore off the itchy gray hoodie. “I wanted to bring that emotion into the screen adaptation,” he explained.
Will scrambled to set the box on the ground and get to his feet. “You definitely did,” he confirmed, nodding his head eagerly. “I mean, not that you haven’t been nailing the entire season. Or, you know, the seasons before that.”
Rufus laughed. “I like to think I’ve gotten a better hang of Teddy since you started directing with David. It’s too bad you weren’t here for the first couple seasons.”
Will shook his head and held up his hands like stop signs. “No, really, you’re great. You were the perfect choice for this role, and I’m honestly -blown away that I wrote Teddy before I met you. Because I swear, you’re him.” Then Will breathed for the first time and realized how excessive he was being. “Um. Sorry,” he tacked on lamely.
The piercings in Rufus’ ears reflected fragments of the stage lights. Will remembered an interview he saw, long before they had had an actual conversation. Rufus had remarked on how, upon getting the role, he immediately pierced his ears. “Maybe this will sound weird,” he had confessed, almost shyly, “but when I found out the character liked this stuff - it grew on me.”
“That means a lot to me,” Rufus graciously accepted. “And, hey, you remind me a lot of Billy, too.”
“Oh!” exclaimed Will. “Please tell me you don’t also think he’s a self-insert. My foster brother started that rumor on Twitter after I gave the twins similar names.” Will gave Rufus a look which, with any luck, was convincing.
Rufus proffered his palms, placating. “Never crossed my mind. I don’t even check my Twitter. Cathy does that for me.”
Will chuckled. He might believe that. Cathy adored her social media celebrity and used it to invest fans. She coined at least three ship names, all of which involved her character Kate Bishop. “I promise that any resemblance between Billy and I, or Tommy and Tim, is the product of laziness. Not wish-fulfillment.”
“Right,” Rufus agreed. “Wishing is Billy’s thing. Will’s is concrete planning and solid execution.”
“Damn right, it is.” Will folded his arms decisively. “Now help me finish these twenty boxes of doughnuts. I ordered thirty on impulse and apparently no one is hungry anymore.”