Billy Batson's Big Birthday Bash

[sayshazam]

If it had been anyone else Billy totally would have begged off hanging out with them after work that night. He had school the next day and was a little tired but he'd have to be mostly dead before he cancelled on his girlfriend. Even then he'd probably do his best to make it to her, especially with everything she was going through right now. She'd told him to just let himself into her place, which gave him a good idea of how she was feeling.

Sliding off Naga as he arrived at her apartment building he sent the polar bear dog off to do whatever it did when not hanging around with Billy. Eat fish and bother Ellie, probably. Izzy had a lot of black clothes and it turned out polar bear dog fur was kind of a pain to get off of fabric so he figured .

Heading up to her apartment he fought back a yawn as he adjusted his backpack. It wasn't even that late but maybe he could just crash at Izzy's place tonight and head straight to school from here. It would definitely save him some time.

Testing the door he found it unlocked and pushed it open. Anyone else he would have definitely said something about how dangerous it was but if someone broke into Izzy's apartment to rob her then they were totally the ones in danger.

"Babe, you in?" he called out, frowning when the lights weren't on. That didn't seem like a great thing, if she was here with the lights off. "I brought some food from work if you're hungry..."

[ooc: Tag Billy by shouting "surprise" at him or hit him up after that while he's wandering around the party. Feel free to tag each other too.]

Comments

[high_warlock]

"You only deal well with unpleasant surprises. Fuck pleasant surprises. Got it," he chuckled dryly. Sometimes he wondered how Alec had chosen Magnus of all people to be with, but Magnus was practically made of unpleasant surprises. Maybe that's why it worked.

When Alec brought up his own lack of birthday parties, Magnus suddenly found his drink utterly fascinating and stared down at it.

"I have enough parties," he pointed out. "There could never be a party grand enough to celebrate just me."

[deflectere]

"Then, I'm not having a birthday party at all," Alec said simply. He leaned back against the wall and let his eyes flick over the people assembled, never staying on one person for too long.

He glanced back over at Magnus, eyeing him for a second or two before closing his eyes and taking a few slow breaths.

"I don't need one."

[high_warlock]

"We've gone over this." He sighed, but it wasn't the sort of sigh one made before revving up for an argument. It was a resigned sigh, soft and discreet. He couldn't help it, but that didn't mean he wanted it heard and made into a big deal.

"It's different for me, Alexander," Magnus said quietly. "For a vast variety of reasons."

[deflectere]

"I'm not having a birthday party again," Alec told him, shaking his head. He wasn't going to bend on this especially not with the general mood he'd been in the past few weeks. Maybe before Max, there'd been the possibility of Magnus being able to persuade him but he wasn't having that right now.

"It's not necessary or needed. I don't want one," he said, staring down at the clear surface the water made in his glass. "There's no difference."

[high_warlock]

Why had he thought that attendance at a birthday party was progress? Why had he deluded himself? Wishful thinking was a powerful thing.

"No difference? It doesn't matter that I'm centuries old and every birthday reminds me that I'm one year closer to watching my friends age and move on and die, leaving me behind? That all it is is marking time until I lose you?" Magnus swallowed past a sudden lump in his throat, anger and sadness competing inside of him until, he realized, he was gripping his glass tight enough that it might crack.

"You liked your birthday party. You enjoyed yourself. Don't be a dick and throw it back in my face like it was a chore for you." He pushed himself away from the wall, away from Alec. "No matter how much you might wish it, Alexander, you don't get to stop living just because Max isn't," he snapped quietly.

[deflectere]

The mention of his mortality would have been enough to sour him on a regular day. The mention of his mortality plus the callous (at least that was how Alec heard it) mention of Max's death nearly made him come undone. He couldn't stop the full body flinch, pain and anguish clear in the lines of his body until he pulled himself back together.

There was a shout right on the tip of his tongue, something aggressive and mean, something he wouldn't have been able to take back if he hadn't gotten a hold of himself at the last second and, instead, glared at Magnus.

"I changed my mind. I'm leaving," he said, tone like steel. Magnus had already moved away but that didn't stop Alec from moving himself.

[high_warlock]

Magnus felt bad. Because this was Billy's birthday party and Magnus' words had lost Billy one party guest. He was not sorry for what he had said because, in his mind, every word was true and warranted. Maybe in a few hours, maybe a few minutes, he would regret being so harsh. But it had been weeks of this attitude and those words -- It should have been me -- echoed in Magnus' head every time he looked at Alec. He couldn't take it, couldn't sit there while Alec closed himself off to everyone and everything, including, slowly, Magnus.

The very fact that Alec didn't fall apart, that he reacted so physically but still refused to acknowledge his feelings even remotely, sealed Magnus' resolved. He let his boyfriend walk away, walk out, and Magnus didn't make any move to follow, instead summoning himself up another drink, something stronger than the last.