[fic][DCU, Ted, Booster, Ronny, Will, PG-13] Lead Me to You

[ajremix]

Title: Lead Me to You
Fandom: DCU
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 3261
Characters: Ted, Booster, Ronny, Will
Summary: Set sometime in the middle of Extreme Justice 16.Another stab at the Booster-Ted-Ronny triangle I'm somewhat happier with.

Added notes: Writing this I realized two things- 1) I feel kind of guilty for only knowing a character of Ronny's history just from this short run (which didn't paint him in the best light), and 2) how much of an anchor Ted could possibly have been for him. Almost as soon as Booster's body was healed (along with his and Ted's relationship) Ronny sort of falls to pieces. I'd like to do a follow up to this as I don't at all doubt Ted would feel partly responsible for it, but I don't have any of the comics (if there are any) that deal with it.




"Four. Five."

"I hate this, you know."

"Six- what are you talking about? You used to spend hours in the gym before. Eight."

"Working out is one thing," Booster grunted as he pressed the barbell (his usual weight quartered) up, "but this 'keep going until you're tired' junk is boring as hell."

Ted marked down the eleventh rep before saying, "Too bad, it's necessary. We already know your overall strength, speed and flexibility is where it was before everything happened, but we need to see how well everything works. Your agility and coordination is shot comparatively and, since your body was so dependant on the armor, we need to see where your stamina is at before you're allowed back on the field. Repetition is a good way to measure it out. Fifteen."

"It's gonna take forever with this weight."

"Yeah? Then how come I'm seeing you sweat already, tough guy?"

"You're just jealous," Booster puffed, "'cuz I still look good, even sweaty."

"You're starting to sound short of breath there, buddy. I think that's a sign you should shut up. Nineteen."

"Hey, Ted," they looked up to see Ronny draped on one of the other weight machines, "mind if I ask you something real quick?"

"Hang on." Ted looked down at Booster who was intently focused on the bar between his hands, practically snarling at it. "How you doing?"

"Fine," he bit out.

"Just take it nice and easy, alright? Don't push yourself. And the room is covered in mirrors so I'll know if you try to claim ten extra reps." Ted went over to Ronny, barely five feet away and kept his eyes on Booster's reflection. "What's up?"

"How's the rehabilitation going?"

"Not bad. Monarch was nice enough to give him a fairly in-shape body instead of, you know, leaving him atrophied."

"Hmm. Don't suppose you feel like going drinking tonight?"

"Nah. I don't think Booster's ready to hit the bars yet and I wanna make sure there's no other side effects."

Ronny's lips pressed into a thin line. "Thought so. Just figured I'd ask."

Ted gave him a warm smile, "Appreciate the invitation."

Looking away quickly, Ronny nodded toward Booster. "So what's up with the skin show, anyway? Noone's got clothes he can fit into now?"

"He's been stuck in armor for the better part of a year, he's allowed to indulge." Ted turned to watch Booster's arms pump, noting the slowing pace and the strained flush on his face. Sweat beaded Booster's skin, making him shine under the lights and Ted couldn't help noting Booster was almost as pale as Ted now. He'd have to remind Booster that he couldn't sunbathe as long as he used to, not until he tanned more, anyway. Ted's eyes traced the way Booster's chest and stomach heaved with each breath, with each repetition and Ted realized he'd forgotten how good looking his best friend had been.

Ted licked his suddenly dry lips and when he turned back to Ronny there was an odd, intense expression in his eyes. "What?"

"Nothing," the younger man said a tad too quickly. "Happy hour just won't be the same without you is all." Then, before Ted knew it, Ronny's hand cupped his ass and squeezed.

CLANG!

"Booster!" Ted was already at his head, lifting the barbell off Booster's chest and helping the coughing, shaken man to sit up. "Are you alright? Jesus, Booster- you should've said something if you were tired!" He picked up the water bottle that had been kicked over but Booster waved it off, instead wiping off his face with a towel. Ted glanced over and found Ronny was already gone. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gotten distracted like that."

There was a red mark just below Booster's collarbone where the bar hit. Booster rubbed it gingerly and said, "Forget it, I'm alright." He draped the towel over his head to keep Ted from noticing the furious glare he sent down the hall Ronny had disappeared into.

~*~*~*~

"Hey."

Ted looked up from where he was crunching some numbers in hopes of updating the Bug's power converter. Booster, with his hair slicked back and skin still damp from the shower, stood in the doorway.

"Let's go out."

Ted spun in his chair, leaning back to give his best friend an amused look. "Out?"

Booster shrugged. "Yeah. When was the last time we went out drinking together?"

Too long, Ted thought, but shook his head anyway. "I don't think so."

"Why not?"

"You were a light weight to begin with. Now, one beer is probably going to end your night."

"So let's get dinner, then."

"You're on fluids."

There was a desperate, almost hurt look in Booster's expression. "So we'll go some place that has soup!"

"Booster-"

"I'm finally out of that tin can and suddenly you don't want to hang out with me?"

Ted sat, blinking dumbly at Booster who stood there, jaw snapped shut and visibly wishing he had shut up one sentence ago. The chair squeaked a bit as Ted leaned back, a soft smile on his lips. "I see. I know what this is about."

Booster's cheeks heated up. "You... you do?"

"Look- I know you want to get out of this place, stretch your legs out and enjoy all the things you've been missing out on, but I think it's best if we eased you back into being active again."

Booster sagged against the doorframe, looking a little flustered. "O-Oh?"

"Like I said earlier, your body is learning to rely entirely on itself again. The last thing either of us needs is to be out at a bar somewhere and you suddenly passing out on me. Cap sure as hell wouldn't like it and I doubt I'd be able to drag you in without him noticing."

"So, then..."

Ted stood up, crossing the room to put his hands on Booster's shoulders. "Tell you what- we'll see how your endurance is holding up and, if you think you can handle it, we'll grab dinner and a movie this weekend. How's that?"

"I... yeah. Sure, Ted." Booster gave a small, grateful smile. But he had that odd look in his eyes that Ronny sometimes got and Ted had no idea what it was. "That sounds good."

"Great!" Then, still beaming, Ted looped an arm behind Booster's neck and dragged him out of the lab. "For tonight, how 'bout we grab something from the cafeteria and see if there's a game on?"

A hand tentatively touched the small of his back before settling with purpose against his side. Another thing Ted had forgotten- how good it felt to have Booster next to him, around him, warm and strong. "Works for me."

~*~*~*~

It had been staring Ted in the face all day. He had known, on some level, about it for a while now, but now he couldn't just pass it off as silly thoughts. It was looking him straight in the eye and Ted had to say something about it before Ronny felt like he was just being tossed aside. He caught Ronny just as he was going off monitor duty. "Hey. Mind if we talk?"

Ronny tucked a strand of hair behind his ear, leaning against the wall near Ted. "What's up?"

"I need to tell you something important," Ted hedged. He rubbed at his neck, scuffed a foot, looked everywhere but at Ronny and when he finally did, there was a resignation in the younger man's expression. "I'm sorry," Ted blurted out.

Ronny sighed. "Knew it. For what?"

"I... I've been using you. Mostly. I don't really know how to explain it," he hedged more, still not really looking at his teammate. "Hanging out with you was fun and I did have a good time with you but, really, I was just using you as an escape. Because I couldn't handle what was going on in my life- I didn't want to admit that I couldn't help Booster. And you were available so I used you," he finished lamely, hands limp at his sides.

"To be honest," Ronny said, arms crossed, "I kinda figured that."

"You... did?"

"Part of the reason why I kept bugging you to go out was because it looked like you could use a break, but it was obvious you were too obsessed with Booster to go unless someone pestered you. Also partly because you and Will are the only ones that don't treat me like a kid or an idiot, you know? And it's nice to feel like someone appreciates you."

"Well," Ted shrugged, "I know the feeling."

"And, yeah, part of the reason why I kept hanging out with you was because it annoyed Booster and I thought it was kinda funny."

That made Ted frown. "Hey-"

"It's just... after a while I realized I wasn't joking as much as I thought."

"Wait- what does that mean?"

Ronny stepped in close and Ted automatically caught him by the arms. "But this is how it ends, huh? Now that Booster's whole again, everything that's happened between us is void? I'm supposed to just stop trying?"

"Trying? What are you talking about?"

"Ted-" Ronny's eyes flickered aside briefly and then he suddenly had Ted's face between his hands and against his lips.

Ted was frozen for a good second or two before his brain jumpstarted itself. He jerked his head backwards, flabbergasted. "What-"

Ronny flashed a thin smile that his heart wasn't into. "Had to while I still could." Then, before Ted could react, he was out of his hands and practically running out the hall.

Utterly thrown by his younger teammate's actions, Ted could only shake his head in confusion. He turned around and Booster was standing right there. His expression was unreadable except in the lost line of his brow and the angry tension in his jaw. "Boost-" but he was gone, storming off the other way and Ted tried to make his feet follow, not know what to say if he caught up.

Instead he practically ran into Will. "Whoa, hey." A hand clamped down on Ted's shoulder, "What's going on?"

Ted looked at him and said truthfully, "I have no damned clue."

"Looks like. You need someone to talk to?"

"I guess? Yeah. Yeah, thanks Will."

They went to the team's dining area- abandoned at that time of day -and sat at the table where Will asked, "So...."

"Ronny kissed me."

"He did? Damn," Will rubbed his chin with a thoughtful frown, "I didn't think he would."

"What?"

"I mean, we kinda thought he knew it wasn't gonna go anywhere."

"What?"

"Guess Booster getting is body back made him feel he could go for broke."

"What?"

Will side-eyed Ted. "You mean you didn't know Ronny has a thing for you?"

Ted spluttered. "No. Since when?"

"Man, I don't know. Probably not long after he joined up, I guess."

"And you knew?"

"Yeah. We all did. It was pretty obvious."

"We?"

"Oh boy," Will rubbed at the crease between his eyes. "Seriously- Maxima knew and she didn't even have to read his mind."

"Maxima?"

"Hey, I had to explain it to her! I mean, bad enough I had to explain the entire 'sex isn't just for procreation thing', then I have to explain homosexuality and why some people get uppity about it. That was not a fun discussion."

Ted buried his head in his hands. "Oh, God...."

"C'mon, man- how did you not know? I mean, why else do you think Booster was also so passive-aggressive with you?"

"I don't know! Wait," Ted peered at Will from between his fingers, "why was Booster so passive-aggressive with me?"

Will stared. And stared. And stared more. "No. You are not telling me you don't know."

"Know what?"

"You can't possibly be that dense."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"You cannot seriously be telling me-" abruptly Will raised his hands in surrender, "no. Uh-uh. I'm not doing this."

"Doing what? Will, c'mon!"

"No way, man. You wanna know so bad, you talk to Booster. I'm not going behind his back on this- that ain't right."

"Not like Booster's going to talk to me right now, anyway," Ted groused. "He's pissed."

"Why?"

"He saw me kissing Ronny and stomped off."

Will's eyebrows jumped. Suddenly he was pushing Ted off his seat and out into the hall. "You go talk to Booster before he puts a hurt on Ronny."

"What? Hey-!"

"Ted," Will said seriously, "if there's only one piece of advice that I need you to seriously take, it's this: Talk to Booster. Period. No excuses. You find him and you talk to him. Okay?"

Ted, off balanced by Will's actions and seriousness, couldn't help fumbling out, "Yeah, okay."

"Good. Now apparently I need to cover Booster's monitor duty before Cap finds out he's not there. Tell 'im he owes me."

~*~*~*~

There wasn't too many places to hide in Mount Thunder, even when one wasn't confined to a giant life-support suit, and yet Ted dragged his feet in his search for Booster, trying to wrestle with the puzzle of what exactly it was he was talking to Booster about. He theorized and hypothesized, recalling evidence to refute or support each one until he came upon the most likely possibility. It obviously had to do with Ronny- specifically with Ronny's attraction to Ted. Ted knew from previous conversation (where, much like with Will for Maxima, Ted had to explain homophobia to Booster) that the attraction in and of itself wasn't the problem. He briefly toyed with the thought that Booster didn't like the idea of his best friend being interested in men, but passed that off as not fitting the social views Booster had been raised with. Perhaps Booster was hurt that Ted had never told him... No, that wouldn't work, either. Asides from the fact Booster had been snippy before the kiss, he knew Ted was pretty bad at recognizing when someone flirted with him. Not to mention the fact that Ted's own flirting was hardly subtle. Maybe he didn't think Ted and Ronny matched well? But why be passive-aggressive with Ted when it would be easier to just tell Ted about his concerns in the first place?

So if he wasn't mad, or hurt or overprotective... could he be jealous? Why? Booster had never shown any sort of interest in Ronny- was downright prickly with him. Which would only leave...

The epiphany hit Ted right between the eyes. He bolted down the hall as fast has his legs could take him.

He reached the door to Booster's room and pounded on it- harder than he meant to, partly because he was too busy trying to catch his breath while clutching the doorframe. The faint voices he heard inside (Booster's and Skeets's) halted abruptly and, after a brief moment of silence the door opened to reveal Booster, still in his suit.

Before Ted could stop himself he blurted out, "This is probably a stupid question, but are you in love with me?"

There was an even longer moment of silence. "Sir," Skeets said, "shall I go offline?"

Booster's expression was inscrutable as he looked at Ted. "Yeah, Skeets. Thanks." Booster stepped aside and swept an arm out, silently bidding Ted entrance.

Ted walked into the middle of the room and when the door shut, he turned back to Booster and said, "Well?"

"You're right," Booster's voice was as equally inscrutable as his face, "that is a stupid question."

"You're not answering it, though."

"Are you asking randomly or do you seriously believe I might be?"

"Will told me Ronny's attracted to me. He also told me that's basically why you don't like Ronny and then he told me to talk to you." Ted scratched at his hair, trying to get his thoughts in some sort of order. "I've been thinking about the possible reasons why you've been acting the way you have and then... I realized you've acted like this before, basically any time I spend more time with someone other than you. So either you're jealous because you have feelings for me or you're jealous because you're a particularly clingy friend."

Booster folded his arms over his chest and Ted thought it was unfair he seemed so stoic through all this. "And? Which do you think it is?"

"I don't know!" Ted cried, throwing his arms out wide. "I wouldn't be asking if I knew!"

"Let me put it this way- I know which one it is, but how would that answer affect you?"

"What do you mean?"

"How would you react if it's because I was in love with you? How would you react if it's because I'm a particularly clinging friend?"

"I... I don't know." Ted pulled out Booster's chair, flopping down heavily and trying to wrap his brain around the question. "I guess I'd... if it was just because you're clingy, I think... I'd actually be disappointed."

One of Booster's eyebrows quirked up. "Oh?"

Ted frowned, though. The statement hadn't felt accurate when he said it. "Very disappointed- depressed, even." That felt a bit closer, but still not right. "Maybe even a little hurt."

"Yeah? And if it was the first one?" When Ted looked into Booster's eyes there was an intensity in there that Ted had seen more than once and Ted not only knew the answer to his question, he knew the answer he wanted it to be.

"I think I love you." And that felt right, albeit overwhelming. "I mean, I might. I'm pretty sure I might. I thought I've been in love before but this is... more. It's... I...." he looked into Booster's eyes and said honestly, "everything is better when you're with me, even when we're fighting. I don't ever want to lose you, not even for a minute."

Booster was practically in Ted's lap, kissing him hard and it felt like some offset piece in his chest finally settled properly, making his entire body crackle with emotion, sensation and every possibly cheesy line from every cliche love song possible. It felt like home. Like that was how it was always supposed to be. It felt just like it had when Booster's body was healed, when they were back on the same team, like the first time Booster smiled and Ted knew he'd do anything to make him smile again.

"I love you." It took Ted a moment to realize Booster had said it and not himself. Ted remedied that by murmuring it against Booster's lips, hands slipping over slick material of his suit. By the time Ted got his head back enough to break away, they were already on Booster's bed, Booster's cowl and gauntlets gone, Ted's shirt on the floor.

"By the way," Ted said conversationally as nimble fingers picked the catches on Booster's suit, "you owe Will."

"What for?"

"He took your shift before anyone noticed you were missing."

"Crap." The swear turned into a gasp as Booster arched and trembled under Ted's teeth and tongue against his neck. "Ohhhh fuck. I owe him my first born for this."

Ted snickered. "Unless you've got some extra equipment in your future genes, he may be waiting a while."

"We'll negotiate payment later," Booster flipped them over, pressing Ted into the mattress, tracing over his body with worshipping hands and eyes that almost couldn't believe this was happening. "Right now, I'm all yours."

Ted kissed him slow and deep- because it was happening and it could any time Booster wanted it. "All yours. Always."

Comments

[poisonivory.livejournal.com]

NNNNNNN this is the EJ fic I've been wanting since the first time I read the series. :D :D :D

"...everything is better when you're with me, even when we're fighting. I don't ever want to lose you, not even for a minute."

...And then I cried, because I am ridiculous.

[idiosyn.livejournal.com]

This is almost the EJ fic I've been wanting to see done since I read the series. I say almost because Ronny is still unresolved but gaps in comic knowledge isn't helpful for resolutions :/

But I'm glad to know I'll have at least one person willing to indulge my fondness for this era XD

[poisonivory.livejournal.com]

YES YES I WILL INDULGE THE CRAP OUT OF YOU. I love EJ-era.

[kat8cha.livejournal.com]

Uh-oh, someone better inform Rip that he's been promised to another.

B'aaaaaaaw. ADORABLE. So cute you two.

[idiosyn.livejournal.com]

I'm sure Will turned the offer down, citing any kid of Booster's would be more of a headache than they're worth XD

Good

[kexapush.livejournal.com]

Very happy I found your site. Will note it and return for more info.

Re: Good

[idiosyn.livejournal.com]

I'm very glad you think so and hope you enjoy all you find here^^

[idiosyn.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you like it and I hope you enjoy everything else I have on here^^