therealmagicboy:

Billy ducked his head and nodded at Eli and Nate’s decision, and thanked some higher power that he wasn’t paired with Teddy- being so close but so far from him would have hurt more than it was worth.

“Yeah, so, how does this work then?” Billy stepped up closer to Nate and chewed on his lip, pondering the many ways this could go fantastically wrong before pushing them aside because how often was he going to get a chance to fly without the aid of a plane? “Bridal style, fireman’s lift or what?”

Eli snorted at the question, but it was Nate who answered with a shrug, “Bridal style would probably be easiest, right? As long as you’re comfortable with it, Billy.”

A small smile lifted Billy’s lips at Nate’s concern, and he shifted so he could be picked up, rolling his eyes and purposefully not looking at Teddy because who knew what he might find if he did; disgust was something he never wanted to see on Teddy’s face. But maybe Billy being so close to another guy when he was gay would pull it from him. Maybe he was being irrational, but Billy really didn’t want to find out if he was right or not anyhow.

“As long as you don’t bloody drop me-“, and then Nate was lifting him into the air as if he weighed nothing, and that was so not a squeal that just left his mouth.

When Nate touched back down safely Teddy let out a relieved breath he didn’t realise he’d been holding. Billy stumbled, wobbly from the adrenaline rush. He was flushed and bright-eyed, grinning with nervous energy as if he could’t quite believe he’d just been flying.

And then it was Teddy’s turn. He closed his eyes for a moment and imagined himself with wings — huge, green batlike structures, each one wider than he was tall. He leant forwards a little to balance the weight as they grew.

When he looked around for approval, he was met with three matching espressions of wide-eyed awe. He cleared his throat, suddenly uncomfortable at the centre of attention.

“Okay, um, Eli?” He gestured to Eli, who shook himself and stepped forward. Teddy scooped him up into a bridal-style lift, then crouched, steadying himself, and took off. Eli didn’t make any noise like Billy had, but his usual stoic demeanour all but disappeared as he clung on for dear life and pressed his face into Teddy’s shoulder.