"Maybe," Billy answers his mother, looking back to Tommy and nodding. "No one's going to," he promises, though he knows maybe that's not the sort of promise he can really keep if the Shepherd's decide to fight for him.

And then there's a blur as he zips forward to catch the plate before it can hit the ground. "...Hey dad," he greets, carefully handing the plate back with a wary smile. "...This is Tommy."