I don't own YA.

It didn't rain the day before and even that morning's clouds didn't seem so terrifying. And yet when thunder cracked about lunchtime and the skies began pouring, Billy couldn't even fake surprise.

"Aaaw, rain, no." Teddy whined as another thunder cracked, making the school's windows rattle and shake. "Going home's going to be a real delight."

Billy nodded absently before glancing at Teddy. "You have practice today, don't you?"

"Yeah, let's hope this calms down by then... how about you? We came together, so no bike, but will you be alright? You didn't bring an umbrella, did you?"

"Eh, I have it covered."

Teddy narrowed his eyes and leaned closer in a would-be intimidating manner Billy couldn't help but think was adorable.

"Hmmmm? You're not planning on... zapping the rain, are you?"

Billy's face went blank and he slowly turned away. "I neither confirm nor deny the allegations."

"Dork." Teddy berated and poked Billy's side, making him wiggle with a surprised yelp.

"Pot calling the kettle black."

"So I'm Pot. What of it, Kettle?"

"Just pointing it out." Billy concluded before checking his watch. "Time to head back. I'll see you when I see you?"

Something not unlike sadness flashed through Teddy's eyes and he leaned closer to plant a kiss on Billy's cheek.
"Don't get soaked."

"Don't get your ass kicked."

Teddy growled and clenched his teeth. The two parted ways to resume the school-day apart.

–

Even though classes were out, Billy didn't return home. He remained in school, not quite eager to go home alone in that weather without an umbrella. Numerous solutions came to mind, among them - zapping an umbrella over from home, or zap himself home, but all options left a bitter taste in his mouth - those were options Teddy wouldn't benefit from. He settled then on arming himself with an umbrella when no one was looking and bade his time until Teddy was done. At least he had that comic booklet Teddy lent him to pass the time with...
Practice took a bit longer than usual, and Billy already waited a while by the time the players started leaving the locker-rooms. He glanced briefly at each one as they passed by him before looking back at his phone. He was beginning to feel bored and wished that- if Teddy didn't come, that something interesting would happen- and he immediately regretted it. Boredom was better compared to what came next.

"Fuck off!"

"No, I mean it! You were dragging around like a cripple ballerine! We'd been toast if not for Greg!"

"So you didn't do much either, did you?!"

"I'll beat you up, I swear to God!"

The loud group passed the double doors into the hall, dressed in their training suits and still flushed after shower. In the middle and looking mighty full of himself was Greg Norris, head of the student council, class president, captain of the basketball team. If Billy had to be honest, he would admit that once upon a time he had a crush on the guy, the kind of unattainable fantasy kids his age often had.
But that was before Teddy, and that was before Billy learned what Greg did to Teddy. Greg Norris might've still looked good, but he was no longer on Billy's list of favorite people - quite the opposite.

"Too bad about Teddy, though..."

"Yeah, he really put up a fight. Why didn't you pick him, Greg? Make the game even easier, ha ha."

A look of disdain so fierce it became disgust rose to Greg's face. "Why'd I do that? He's just a freak-"

"Ha! Got that right!"

"You know, I never got what happened between you two. You used to be so tight, ya know?"

Greg came to a stop. He seemed almost angry, but before he got to reply his eyes met Billy's, who was staring back all through the exchange.
"What're you looking at?"

Billy looked away before the hostile question was growled out in full.

"Hey, look, it's Teddy's new plus-one!"

"Like two freak-peas in a pod."

"Hey, hey, easy." Greg silenced his friends, but the smirk on his lips meant it wasn't because he was well-intended. He just wanted his own insults to be heard.
"We all know Teddy'd do anything to fit in-"

Their eyes me again and Billy felt his stomach turn to knots.
"Including you."

"Heh, yeah, you know it too!"

"...that's not what he meant, idiot."

Billy had little attention to spare any of the small-fries. His eyes were set on Greg, his sight painting redder by the second. How dare that ass talk about Teddy like that, how dare he-

"Oh? Looks like he has something to say! Well, out with it, fa-"

The rest of it was swallowed by the sound of something cracking, then breaking, then-
"WOAH!"

"GROSS!"

The ceiling gave way, dumping an impressive amount of water down on whoever was right below - which was, conveniently, Greg. He was spared any debris, but was soaked with filthy water. His friends, who for some reason were mostly spared, kept their distance as they stared. Finally murmurs began breaking out between the onlookers, and accompanied Greg as he turned on his heels back to the locker-rooms to change into something dry. He stopped once on his way and looked at Billy, accusation written on his features before it was replaced with frustration and a touch of shame. He disappeared behind the doors again, making Billy let out a sigh of relief. His attention free to roam again, all it took was a brief glance for him to realize Teddy was standing there, clad in his own training suit, bag slumped over his shoulder. He had a rather blank look on his face as he watched the scene, even when Greg passed by him. Wordlessly he walked up to Billy and said little even when they left the hall. Billy followed suit in action as well as manner, and only found his voice again after a while.

"When-"
"Did-"

The two stared at each other before chuckling.

"We have got to stop doing that."

"Tell me about it."

Carrying a much more comfortable silence, the two reached the main entrance. Teddy frowned at what greeted them there.

"It's even worse than before." He muttered. He was fully intending to offer Billy they hid and then teleported home, only then he noticed the umbrella Billy had with him.
"...that wasn't there before, either."

Billy smiled. "Told you I had it covered."
Umbrella open, he held it above his head and motioned for Teddy to come closer. Teddy eyed the umbrella skeptically before noticing that spark deep in Billy's eyes and the mischievous if somewhat strained smile he wore.

"A man of your word." Teddy relented and the two headed for home, the rain for some reason decidedly keeping away.

Though the silence was comfortable at first, the more they waited, the heavier it became, and there was no comic cliche to lighten things up this time.

"Do I have you to thank for what happened back there, or...?" Teddy tried, making Billy hunch his shoulders.

"If I told you I'm not sure, will you believe me?"

"Yes."

Billy nodded at first, only to frown next. "When did you walk in?" He asked, thinking for a moment how appropriate a thunder-clap would've been right then, but none was heard.

"Early enough. You two only had eyes for each other, made me kind of jealous."
Teddy received an elbow to his side for that.

"Don't even joke about that! Ugh, I'll be seeing that smug grin of his in my nightmares-"

Teddy chuckled, a forced, hollow sound that made Billy look at him sadly.
"Ted-"

"Ah, I'm getting wet."

Billy blinked before reinforcing the spell.
"Sorry about that."

"It's ok."

The subtle change in mood made Billy hesitate, and in the time it took him to find the words, Teddy beat him to it.
"Don't mind him that much."

The attempt at reassurance, or avoidance, Billy couldn't tell, either way it sounded rather weak and weary and made Billy angrier than he was before.
"He can say whatever he wants about me, I'm used to worse-" Teddy frowned, but Billy went on. "It's you he needs to shut up about! Hasn't he done enough?!"

"I don't care what he says about me."

That's a big, fat lie! Billy wanted to shout, scream, even, but it only made him notice a moment too late that Teddy came to a stop. Billy turned to face him and held the umbrella more over Teddy, for all the good it did with how little Billy was concentrating on the spell.
Teddy looked up and the lost, pained look in his eyes hit Billy as hard as a punch to the gut. It was just the wake-up call he needed, though. Right, Teddy didn't need to be reminded of what a jerk that guy who hurt him was. He needed Billy to do something else for him, so Billy took a deep breath in - and smiled.

"I heard you kicked ass. Can we care about that?"

The lost look became one of confusion, and then broke into something better, accompanied by a hesitant smile. Teddy shook his head and pulled closer, hooking his arm with Billy's, making the umbrella shake in the process.
"That's care-worthy, yes. About as much as the fact we're both soaked despite your best efforts."

Billy nodded slowly, almost sagely and scratched his chin with his free hand.
"I guess you'll just have to take a bath at my place and then we'll cuddle under the covers, drinking hot cocoa while we marathon something."

Teddy looked like a hungry pup just offered a treat, but it only lasted a moment, after which he narrowed his eyes.
"You planned this all along, didn't you?"

"I neither confirm nor deny the allegations." Billy cooed and pulled Teddy faster towards home where he could make that day's nasty encounter be nothing more than a thing of the past, buried under better, brighter memories.