Seriously, this song. I could have a whole series of Towen fics based on LP songs.
Wasted Love - LP
"I've … I'm… all sucked out of joy, Teddy" Teddy squints her eyes at the blubbering redhead in front of her.
"What?" She asks
"I don't have any joys anymore" He says. Teddy realizes that he's clearly drunk So is she, but not as bad him.
In this desert heat, with the alcohol, the sun beating down on them, Owen is definitely dehydrated and drunk and rambling to her. They're both on leave officially and flying back to the states in the morning for a full month. Owen and Megan are flying back home to Seattle to surprise their mom for her birthday, and for Owen to spend time with his fiancee. Teddy decided she's going on a cross-country road trip with a friend from back home. She's excited to go back for a little bit, but she's not thrilled to be away from Owen.
"Yes you have joys. You don't get to talk to me about being sucked out of joy. Let me remind you that you have a fiancee waiting for you at home."
"I'm not happy!" He exclaims.
Teddy laughs. How much has he consumed? She's never seen him like this. She catches Megan's eye from afar and telepathically sent a message that she should come over and join them.
"Hey guys" Megan says as she runs up to them and takes the seat next to Teddy.
"Megan!" Owen says, a dopey smile spread on his face. "Megan, I'm sucked out of joy"
"Owen, I do not want to think of you sucked out of anything"
Teddy watches as Owen furrows his brows. Teddy always watching him carefully. Those blue eyes. That red hair. Most of the time she just daydreams about running her fingers through his hair. Holding him at the nape of is neck and pulling him for a kiss. She imagines the way they would feel against hers. Soft, but firm. She imagines grazing her teeth, biting his lower lip gently, tugging.
"Teddy, tell my sister—" He rambles.
"Tell her what"
"What I told you!"
Megan just looks at Teddy confusedly, laughing and intrigued,
"He's not happy. Or something"
"Oh no, what happened? What did Beth say now?"
"She just whines about me not being home—I'm sorry I'm busy fighting for our country right now, you're welcome very much." Owen adds
Megan looks at her brother and then back at Teddy.
"I just feel like maybe Beth is not the one for you—"
Teddy stares at the way his shirt fits against his body. The way his sweat stains on the shirt, but he still smells so good. She imagines herself kissing that neck. The taste of saltiness, the taste of his skin. The way it would feel if she runs her arms down his arms. The way her hand would feel in his.
"She is, Megan! I love her"
"Whatever, Owen. The leash is so tight it's clouding your judgment"
"Teddy can you please tell my sister that adult relationships are complicated"
"I'm an adult and I can confirm that it is complicated, but also I can confirm when a relationship doesn't look healthy."
Teddy doesn't even hear them bickering anymore. This whiskey Owen poured her is definitely running through her bloodstream. She wonders what it would feel to have his hands on her body. Running down her sides, sending shivers down her spine. She bites her lower lip and shakes off the thought in her head.
She clears her throat as focuses on her friend and his sister.
"What?" Teddy asks, clearly missing a whole chunk of the conversation
"I said, do you think Owen should be with Beth" Megan asks
"Oh—I—I'm—" She stammers, thinking it's pretty obvious. She feels embarrassed that now maybe Owen knows how she feels about him but when she looks over to him she realizes there is no way Owen is going to remember this conversation "I mean, he's not happy, so maybe not."
Megan smirks "I think there's someone else you should be with, Owen. Pull your shit together."
"I love Beth. I love Beth" He says, shaking his head. He sits up straight and clears his throat. "We're great. Ted—Beth and I are great" He doesn't seem to realize what he almost said.
Megan's eyes bulge out and laughs hysterically. "Oh god."
"He's just drunk don't think too much into it" Teddy mutters to Megan.
"Teds, we both know you're in love with each other. You can't fool me"
"That's not—"
"I know the look, Altman."
"There's no look!"
"There is a look! Sometimes I see your eyes wander." She says elbowing Teddy's side.
Teddy frowns at her. There is no look, Okay, maybe there is a look. She can't help it sometimes. That shirt. The way his dog tag hangs on his neck.
She can't help it.
When it gets this hot, and it's sweaty. She just want to run her hands down his chest. Pull his shirt over his head. Unbuckle his pants.
"There's no look." Teddy repeats sternly.
"Fine, there's no look." Megan rolls her eyes. "I'm gonna leave you two alone. Please make sure he drinks some water."
"Of course"
"Teddy—" Owen starts as soon as Megan leaves
"What?"
"Nevermind."
"No, what… come on you have to tell me" She says, squeezing his arm.
"In some alternate universe, do you think you and I could be more than friends?"
Well, fuck. Teddy thinks. In an alternate universe, this would be the moment where she would lean in and kiss him. Instead, she just looks at him in the eyes.
"Yeah, I think so. I wouldn't want to be the person sucking the joy out of you though."
"Nah" He says with a laugh "You wouldn't be sucking the joy. Because you get me. You understand me."
She just nods. In this universe, they'd be perfect for each other, but she's not the type of girl you pick over another. She knows this.
"In this universe though, you're the best friend I've ever had"
Teddy smiles at Owen but the words felt like a thousand cuts. She was also just Allison's best friend. Turns out, she's always just the best friend.
It's not like she's undesirable. She's talking to other men. Men who are interested in her. Men who she's mildly interested in. Women, god, especially women in the army, who she's mildly interested in. But there's this pain in the ass redhead in her life. This redhead she just can't stop thinking about. And everyone seem to know this except him.
"Alright, Altman. I'm gonna sleep this off. Long day tomorrow."
"Drink some water."
"Mhm" He waves her off and he walks off to his barracks.
Teddy, hot and bothered and frustrated as always, just takes a deep breath. She reminds herself that it's never going to happen. So she looks around and finds her friend. Some other major she's been friendly with. They'll talk for a little bit. And they will sneak off somewhere and she's going to forget about Owen for a little bit. She's going to spend the night and she's going to actively try not to think about kissing and undressing Owen. She wants to convince herself that she's capable of having fun while loving someone else.
So when Major Cole cups her breast and kisses her neck, she does her best not to close her eyes and picture Owen doing it. When she runs her fingers through Major Cole's dark brown hair, she tries her best not to picture Owen's red hair. When their bodies move together and when she finally comes, she bites her lip so she doesn't scream out Owen's name.