@harrgrove Got me thinking about something I almost never see but now have a voracious craving for.

Consider, platonic soulmates Jonathan and Billy.

It would take them a hell of a lot to start talking, and even if they did, they’re both awkward as all hell so it wouldn’t be immediate like it was for Steve and Robin. It’s a little more hard won, but once they start talking, they quickly find they have so much in common it’s frankly ridiculous they haven’t talked before.

Imagine them finding they have incredibly similar outlooks and they think almost the same way. They quickly fall into that pseudo mind-reading thing, and they’re able to tell at a glance how the other is feeling even if no one else is able to see past their fronts.

Billy helps Jonathan learn to be a little more assertive where he needs to be, or if he’s around he’ll just do it for him since he has no problem sliding into that role. Jonathan helps Billy learn how to calm the hell down, how to handle the anger he lives with. They balance each other in a way neither realized they needed until it happened.

Of course, the obligatory understanding between them due to their shit dads. Something something, Billy is spiraling about it, something something Jonathan takes the first step to show vulnerability by showing him one of the scars Lonnie left on him, something something, Billy becomes fiercely protective of him while also seeing him as a safe place to be vulnerable about how badly Neil has hurt him. Jonathan helping him through the process of unlearning all the shit Neil beat into him, and in turn Jonathan feels a part of himself healing along with Billy.

Why pit them against each other when we could have this??