“Babe” in public. Like when they’re standing in line at Starbucks and Steve is distracted by all the matte black espresso mugs and he wants to buy one but they already have a cabinet worth of just mugs so he knows he can’t have one and Billy needs his order. “Babe, order your damn coffee.”
“Stevie” when Billy’s teasing him. Mostly in private, and mostly when it’s mean. Like when Steve gets caught eating spongebob macaroni and cheese and Billy just won’t let it die, so he always picks up a couple boxes of variously themed Kraft – like Star Wars or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – when he does the grocery shopping. “And two boxes of cheesy dinosaurs for my Stevie.”
“Harrington” for when Billy is mad. Not all the way mad but like, pretty mad. Like the one time Steve covered their rent for the month and acted like he wasn’t expecting Billy to chip in his half and he takes it the wrong way, like he’s the kind of bum that lives off his well-off boyfriend even though he has his own money and works to pay for his shit. “I can pay my half of the rent, Harrington. Jesus.”
“Steve” when Billy’s sorry. Or sad. Mostly sorry, because they usually make up before things get to sad. Like when Billy comes home from work early to make dinner and clean their apartment because he’d been an ass the night before and he’s, frankly, terrible at apologies so he tries to show that he’s sorry. “Steve how do you want your steak?”
“Baby” for all the other times. When they’re tangled in each other and breathless and his hands are all over Steve, worshiping him. When they’re cuddled on the couch and fighting over a blanket and Billy loses so he bats his eyeslashes to get his way. When Steve’s sick and can’t even get out of bed without help and Billy has to feed him his antibiotics. When Steve surprises him with the tricked out sneakers he’d been eyeing at the mall for six months. When Billy can’t help but show Steve how crazy he is about him, in the quiet of the morning. “I love you, baby.”
Ra’s: Our
past history aside, I am not your enemy, Tim.
Robin: Hard
to believe after you had a horde of ninjas drag me here. And the whole zombie look doesn’t exactly scream “good guy.”
Ra’s: Give
me time. I will change your mind. Local delicacies, sikami and khir. I think you’ll find their sweetness refreshing.
Robin: If I
didn’t know that meant dessert, I’d think you were being lewd, Ra’s.
Ra’s: You’ll
find no moral judgment here, Tim.
Robin: Yeah,
and that’s the difference, isn’t it? I may be young, but I can’t be bought
with sugar–of
one kind or another. You’re trying too hard, Ra’s.
Ra’s: Oh,
that was just hospitality. You’ll know when I’m trying. I stand before
you as a man who has conquered death. If I can return in
body and soul…so can others. I can reunite you with your parents,
Timothy. You’re clearly in need of a strong mentor. Someone who can be a
benefactor and powerful friend to you. Luckily you don’t have to look any
further for one.
Robin:
You’re right. Because I already have all that with Batman.
Ra’s: He
already thinks more of Damian than he does you. It won’t be
long before Damian surpasses you both in skill and the Detective’s
affections. History has shown that he will leave you in the cold.
I’m sure you’ve heard as much from Jason Todd. There, Robin. I was
trying right there.
–Tim Drake
with Ra’s al Ghul (Detective Comics #838 – The Resurrection of Ra’s al Ghul:
Part Three – Sins of the Fathers)
Starvinbohemian 