Billy Kaplan

For all the anxiety they've had over the past month and doing whatever preparation they can, once the day actually comes, it's almost kind of familiar.

In a terrifying, oh god the world is ending again kind of way.

The only exception is this time, there are no powered heroes to step in to save the day. Cap and Tony can still help, but they're only two people against everyone's deepest fears and nightmares. Two guys and Thor's giant hammer, anyway.

With no powers and a couple month's worth of self-defense classes, Billy feels completely helpless as he and Teddy make their way to the New Atlantis safe zone. Being under a shield and doing nothing while people are in trouble is not their style, but without powers he can't do much to help anyone, let alone keep Teddy safe.

It's his nightmare that will eventually be coming to life today, and there's no way he'll let anything happen to Teddy. Not today, not ever. Not if he can help it, and if that means hiding under a shield for they entire day while everyone else goes off to be heroes, then so be it.

The New Atlantis shield is kind of pretty - much prettier in person than it ever looked on television - and he can hear it coming down and going back up to let people in before they even approach it. Once they're in, once the shield goes back down, a quiet settles around them and Billy relaxes a little.

It's not exactly shame that keeps Billy from seeking anyone out, but more an awareness that he probably isn't wanted around just yet. He'd happily spent the days after Chris's party with Teddy, being touristy and enjoying the city together between his classes.

Paying attention to Steve and his own sketches is an easy enough excuse to avoid talking to Maxxie, but Billy can't stand it by the end of the class. He waits just long enough to time his exit from the room with Maxxie's, and he catches the other boy's elbow gently. "Hey. Can we talk?"