MHA #3 - Monday Late Night

[mother_love]

To say that is had been an interesting weekend for Billy would be a drastic understatement. He still wasn't really sure what he thought or how he felt about it all. The whole suddenly finding out you are a dad....to a 17-year-old... is a bit of a shock. Especially with how much had changed over just a few day's time.

Billy didn't think he would be doing much sleeping that night. He had slept any really while Ben was there but he still wasn't sure his mind would quiet down enough just yet for ay real sleep. So, he was out on the balcony, burning through one of his packs of cloves, his mind wandering over hopeful, nostalgic, tormented, and stormy thoughts, all seemingly at the same time.

This was going to be a night....


(Post is open. Expecting one but open to anyone who has a reason to come by or who spots him out smoking)

Comments

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon had gotten a message that something was wrong with Billy's sink. Could it wait till tomorrow? Probably. Could he fix it himself? ...Debatable, unless the Eye wanted to give him the knowledge and he could improvise the tools. Was he coming by anyway?

Look, Billy was awake, and Jon was very determinedly ignoring both his increasing need for a statement and this entire weekend.

So here he was, knocking.

[mother_love]

Billy turned towards the sound of the knocking, pretty much sure only Jon would be awake at this hour to be calling. He set the partial cigarette in the ashtray and went to open the door.

"Hey Jon" he said, giving the man standing in the doorway a once over. Sheesh the guy looked even thinner and more exhausted than Billy had seen him....if that was possible. "How are you? Everything ok?"

And yes Billy knew that with Jon everything was equally fine and not fine all the time... hence why he had to ask.

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Ha, fooled you! Jon was not fine, he was completely ignoring the question!

"You said you had a problem with the sink."

[mother_love]

You were getting a definite side glance for dodging that questions Jon, don't think Billy wasn't noticing.

"Ah yeah the sinks leaking a bit under the cabinet. I got a bucket under there now so there no mess or anything" Billy said as he nodded for Jon to come in.

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon just nodded, came in, and headed for the sink. "I'll take a look. If I can't fix it myself, I'll call somebody in the morning."

[mother_love]

Billy nodded and watched Jon for a moment.

"I think it might just be a leaky join connection from what I could see. Might even be able to fix it, at least for now, with some plumbers tape. I...I didn't want to jump in a just fix it myself in case there was... you know, anything in the lease contract that voids repairs if we do any repairs ourselves or something silly like that."

Look, Billy had rented for nearly 4 years before he got his own place when he bought the houseboat. He had seen and dealt with all sorts of landlords so nothing surprised him anymore. And yes, he had been under quite a few lease agreements with similar clauses and fine print in them.

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon gave him a sardonic look. "Since I've begun here, the only appreciable changes I've made have been changing the locks after I found a resident doing theirs, and sabotaging the laundry machines to make them free. I wonder what on earth makes you think I'd care if you fixed it yourself. But since I'm here, I can probably fix it, unless you really want to do it."

He paused, then added, "And yes, it is a leaky join. It'll probably need a better washer, but for now, the tape will do."

[mother_love]

"Hey, I didn't know if you needed to clear anything with the landlord first" Billy said with a hint of a smirk. Yes Jon, he had heard you all the times you said you weren't the landlord... he didn't believe you but he heard you. "Glad it should be a fairly easy fix at least."

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon refused to be a landlord. He was a building manager, thank you. It was the principle of the thing.

"I think there's...yes, there's tape in the supply closet." He nodded. I'll be right back."

[mother_love]

Ok, Jon? That whole knowing thing was equal parts cool and creepy at the exact same time dude.

Billy nodded, and while Jon stepped out to get the tape he stepped out onto the balcony to put out the cigarette and save what was left for later. No point wasting nearly half a good smoke. Especially good cloves!

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

It didn't take long until Jon was back. Since he was expected, he knocked briefly then just walked in, carrying the tape and a wrench.

"There's none of the...um, the compound? Which would make this even better, but I'll call in the morning and this should help until then."

He crouched down, opened the cabinet, and squinted at the pipe. He got a grip on it and tried turning, sighed, then held the wrench out to Billy. "If you would, please."

[mother_love]

Billy nodded and took the wrench and fiddled with the pipe joint for a minute.

"Alright," he said as he back out to let Jon in and do his thing. "All yours."

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon wrapped the threads firmly, ignoring his hands' tendency to shake and the lack of grip in his right, then put the pipe back together as well as he could and gestured Billy back toward it. "Tighten it a bit more. That'll last at least a few days if it takes a while to get someone in." He wondered if Dwight did plumbing.

[mother_love]

Billy ducked back under and finished things up and gave Jon a quick thumbs up as he re-emerged. "Yeah that should be good. Thanks." Billy handed the wrench back and then kinda shifted awkwardly as he ran a hand through his hair. "Sorry to have ya... you know... doing plumbing work at this time of night."

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon shrugged. "It's no problem. I was up, so I might as well be working."

He hovered for a moment, but realised there was nothing else to do, and nodded. "Well, I should be going."

[mother_love]

Billy nodded and then spoke up as Jon was about to leave.

"You are welcome to stay for a bit if you want. I... I was just attempting to make some tea. I cant promise it will be up to standards but, you are welcome to stay and try some."

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon dithered, then nodded. "Erm...all right. If you like."

[mother_love]

Billy nodded with the faintest of smiles.

"Alright then. Come on in, it's been steeping for a bit, should be just about ready."

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"Right." Jon bounced the wrench a few times, then fidgeted with it for a moment before setting it down on the table and following Billy.

[mother_love]

"So aside from the obvious things, how 'fine' have things been lately?" Billy asked as he started to get the tea ready to pour.

See, Jon? He could learn. Fine is fine right?

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"Fine. Good." He was probably not fooling anybody. "Um. And I'd like to know how you are."

[mother_love]

Yeah, not fooling anyone at all there Jon. Good attempt though.

"Oh, ummm... it's been an interesting weekend that's for sure. Beyond the normal sleep stuff" Billy admitted as he finished pouring the tea. "Was quite the doozy though for the first Fandom experience. I had heard about the odd things that go on, but had managed to avoid the bulk of it up till this weekend it seemed."

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"I...yes, this one skipped me," Jon said. It might have sounded just a little flat, but that was probably just Billy's imagination, right?