doubled_speed | For Wearingthestars

Entry tags:

For Wearingthestars

I wish I wasn't alone.

The words were whispered from inside the relative safety of the tiny closet in Tommy Shepherd's bedroom in Springfield, New Jersey. Whispered because there was no way that he wanted Frank or Mary, fighting in the living room, shouting and screaming, to hear them.

I wish I wasn't alone.

Repeated as Tommy held his hands out before him in the darkness palms up. He put as much conviction behind them as he put into anything he said starting with those two words. He had found rather quickly that whatever this power of his was, it came more readily when he framed it as a wish.

I wish I wasn't alone.

He repeated a third time. Three times always seemed to be the right amount when it came to willfully using his power. Even now he could see the faint green glow of energy radiating from his hands, trying to catch his words and shape them into whate he was asking for. At school he didn't always need it three times. He could feel the energy building in his gut like a tidal wave and crashing over him when he wished the bullies would leave him alone, or that he'd actually gotten a good grade so Mary wouldn't yell at him, or that the shirt that got torn up and bloody was clean so Frank wouldn't hit him for wasting good clothes.

Now, though, the words didn't seem to catch, and after a moment of held breath, the energy faded back, leaving behind only the briefest flash of sparks and static that he had to shake out of his hands. Apparently even magic, or whatever this was, couldn't help him.

It was a stupid wish, anyway, Tommy realized as he pulled his legs up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. And then, of course, he flinched at the sound of a breaking plate. They were getting bad tonight. He didn't want to be alone, not with them shouting like that. Sometimes it turned into Frank driving off to drink. Sometimes Mary stormed to their room and locked the door, leaving Frank on the couch. The former tended to mean Frank not coming home at all that night, and when he did the next day he smelled like booze and some other woman's perfume. The latter tended to mean Tommy couldn't sneak some breakfast in the kitchen before school, or being caught if he tried and he really didn't want to be on the receiving end of Frank's belt.

“Dammit. All I wanted was someone to talk to.”

He feels the rush of power even as he feels his body go limp and the world go dark around him. It’s a strange mix between a sneeze and passing out. When the sensation passes things are weird. For one thing, he can’t feel his body. There isn’t the cold of his room or the rough drag of his scratchy wool sweater that is too small for him or even the gnawing in his belly. No, there is just the swelling feeling of his magic, a prickly energy across his skin, and this place.

This new place is nicer than his room. There is more space. There are nerdy decorations on the wall. There are no cracks anywhere or dents from fists or broken furniture. He hates seeing how much nicer this place is than his home. But he is more interested in why his magic brought him here. And in the soft green light everything around him seems bathed in. Tommy raises his hand, or maybe just the concept of a hand, and is faced with the scary truth. His whole body is green and transparent. Okay. That is a bit weirder than normal.

Welcome, Tommy Shepherd, to the world of astral projection. And Billy Kaplan? Meet the strange, glowing ghostly boy in your room.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All

"Magic can do a lot of weird things," Kate admits, frowning.

"According to the same memory files, though these are very damaged, Wanda managed to restore the Jack of Hearts back to life to..."

"Kill my father," Cassie finishes for Vision.

"This is just crazy," Eli insists, and Tommy...

Tommy just grips Billy's hand tighter. "Seriously, after what I've done today you're saying that?"

"There is a former member of the X-Men who had magic and teleportation," Vision admits.

"I made Billy a rabbit. Out of nowhere," Tommy counters. "And the Skrull guy thinks we're this. What's... He said the souls were dispersed. The Avengers do time stuff all the time. Maybe our souls went backwards."

The rabbit. Billy's expression softens at the renewed memory, and he nods. He still has it. It was important to him, though he couldn't remember where he'd gotten it, or why he cared so much about a stuffed toy.

"Like...retro...reincarnation?" he guesses uncertainly.

Retro what now? People look a bit confused by that. Tommy, though, can't help the bit of a smile.

"Really? You sound so fucking hipster calling it that."

"Perhaps there are more pressing things to consider," Vision suggests. "We could..."

"Wait, who would their dad have been then?" Kate asks.

And wow, is that not an interesting question.

Billy flushes, palming the back of his neck with a shy shrug. "You got a better suggestion?"

He pauses then at Kate's question, frowning softly, eyes skirting to Vision. Maybe waiting for him to supply an answer, maybe all ready knowing.

Tommy follows Vision's gaze, but... well, there isn't really time, is there? Vision barely has a chance to get to open his mouth before the power surge. They were under attack.

"Shit," Tommy curses, looking back.

"Skrull, actually," K'lrt says as he limps up to join them. "They think we're Kree with the Prince."

Tommy sighs and cards his fingers through his hair. "What now?"

Billy's all ready moving before the question has left Tommy's mouth, returning to Teddy's side to make sure no one tries making off with him again, jaw set firmly.

"We tell them the Prince isn't going anywhere he doesn't want to."

Which...probably won't end well, but they're not just going to hand him over.

"No, Billy. If I go out there, maybe I can get them to stop," Teddy insists, heading back toward the door. "I've got to try. To keep you all safe if nothing else."

Tommy, of course, sighs as he looks at his not-twin. "I can go with him. I've got plenty of sparks left."

"Teddy-" Billy frowns, looking anxious, clearly not thrilled with the idea, but he doesn't catch at him or stop him from moving, though it seems to take a good deal of will power not to.

"Just...stay safe. Both of you. No one's taking anyone today."

It's a sentiment that, in the end, doesn't end up being fully true. In fact, K'lrt gets taken, and Eli ends up in the hospital, and Teddy...

"I don't really want to go home alone right now," Teddy admits when the whole group return to the Avengers HQ after the hospital. Because there is still a lot of mess to go. "They've got to figure out what to do about Mom. I've got to figure out a lot too. And then there's Tommy. Everyone's got to figure out what to do about him."

The young witch in question isn't standing close enough to hear. Instead he's standing by, trying not to fume as Captain America and Iron Man talk down to him about breaking out of jail and so many other things.

"I'm half worried they're going to send him back to wherever you found him," Teddy frowns. "He was really useful in the fight, and you two..."

Even the Avengers seemed a bit shocked over how alike Tommy and Billy looked, and what they were going to do about that. Especially since magic was involved.

"If Mom was around, I know she'd offer to adopt him," Teddy frowns. And he looks about ready to cry. He's lost so much today. The mother he knew. The parents he didn't. A whole species he was supposed to be responsible for. "I just need the evening, okay? I'll call before bed. Maybe... kidnap Tommy from under the Avengers' noses before he shocks them out of annoyance? I don't think Wolverine would take that well."

Billy's own eyes sting hearing the hurt in Teddy's voice, and he wishes there was something he could do to take it all back...make it all better for him. All he can give him right now is a long, firm hug, and a nod to promise him the time he needed.

It's been a hell of a day for all of them. No one more so than Teddy. Though Tommy's a close runner up. Billy looks over to him and nods again. "I'll look after him," he promises, "And if you need anything just call. I can be here like this," he swears, snapping his fingers.

It's hard to leave Teddy alone, but he trusts the Avengers to keep him safe. Still, his feet move a little slower than normal as he makes his way to Tommy side. "...You wanna get out of here with me?" he asks softly, "Home's kinda missing a wall right now, but...the offer still stands."

Billy's arrival does happen to make Steve and Tony flinch back a little at Billy's abrupt arrival. Apparently Pietro hasn't been around recently enough to have them on their toes.

"Well," Tommy asks of the two men, seeming a bit annoyed. "Am I at least allowed to go on a field trip with Billy? Apparently the Super Skrull blew up a wall. I can at least fix that before you make me sit in a bed while yet more people poke me."

The two Avengers sigh and there is a whispered conversation before they nod. Though Steve is quick to take a step forward.

"Billy, in light of everything, it might be best if one of us comes back to speak with your parents. It's our understanding that a lot happened today, and with Thomas's arrival..."

"Yeah, not sharing, sorry," Tommy insists, grabbing Billy's hand and pulling at it. He doesn't even care that he hasn't bothered to magic away his outfit. Probably too tired to. "When I'm ready for my new babysitters to come and pick me up, I'll have Billy call you or whatever. Or I'll magically tell you. Just let me keep the guy from having a drafty house."

"It's family stuff, Cap. No offence," Billy defends softly, taking a step back with Tommy's pulling.

"Just...let us have this, okay? You know where we'll be." He doesn't wait for approval, scared he'll lose his nerve if he doesn't go, scooping Tommy up and disappearing in a rush..

"Family stuff?" Iron Man asks, but then the boys are gone. Gone faster than Tommy was even prepared for. And when they eventually ~~though quickly~~ come to a stop, Tommy looks a bit dizzy. Which he refuses to admit.

Instead he throws a free arm over his forehead, and says in the swooniest damsel voice ever, "My hero."

Then he's floating just enough up from Billy's arms to get free and land. His eyes cast about and he pauses. Stares.

"Okay. I think I can figure out which one is yours."

From the giant hole. Huh.

By the look of them it should be obvious enough, even if it makes no sense. But Billy's not prepared to get into any of that.

He tries to move at a speed that won't be too startling for Tommy, and he at least doesn't look like he's going to puke on him once he stops.

Billy laughs, flushing, and blinks in faint surprise when Tommy floats up out of his grip. The mood is rather sobered though when he looks over towards home, wincing.

"...How'd you guess?" he tries for humor, flashing a small smile, but he's clearly still worried. "He made kind of a speedy exit...after...uh, after he killed Teddy's Mom."

Yeah. That's... bad. Tommy frowns. Why couldn't he be the one that people came after? Whatever.

"It... would probably be better for me to do this from out here. Fix the wall, get rid of any other burn damage. Hold on. Give me a moment. Catch me if I fall."

He closes his eyes and starts to rise up, his hands spreading and glowing with that green light as he chants a little under his breath. There is a lot here that needs done so this take a very carefully arranged mantra whispered under his breath. Mostly along the the lines of 'how it was this morning.'

And the shattered rubble of bricks and mortar rise up around them, rise up toward the wall. The light must catch attention because for a moment Mrs. Kaplan's head is briefly visible poking out through the window before the pieces all gather back in and seal up perfectly, like the wall was never hurt.

Tommy? It's definitely the last of his magical power, and sure enough, he starts to wobble in the air and falls.

Edited 2019-09-30 03:09 (UTC)

It's something like Billy couldn't even imagine in his wildest dreams, and he watches the place knit itself back together as though nothing had ever happened. He's so caught up in watching that if he had normal reflexes he surely would have missed Tommy falling, but as it is he has plenty of time to move into position to catch him, expression worried and grateful.

"You need to rest. Come on, I'll take you inside-"

"Inside?" Tommy asks. Which doesn't sound like a good idea to him. "No, man. I'm... I'm supposed to go back to the Avengers, remember? Like, this is your family."

His own was in Jersey. They had abandoned him.

"Just for a minute...until you're feeling better," Billy presses. He'll take him back to the Avengers if he wants, but... "...We're family now. And my Mom's going to want to thank you." Like hell she's going to accept that Billy just let his potential twin leave.

Well, he could stand to eat.

"I didn't... I haven't had food since, I don't know. Breakfast yesterday?"

More than a day ago. Yeah, no wonder he's so drained. He hasn't slept, he hasn't eaten. Not that Billy has either. Has to be a lot worse for him. With a sigh Tommy nods and at the moment he doesn't seem bothered about getting out of Billy's arms.

"Alright then. Carry me up. I'll stand on my own when I get to the door."

Billy frowns in a way that Tommy will soon found is very much like his mother's worried frown.

"Yeah, we can eat," he promises. Eat. Explain stuff to Mom and Dad. Easy.

He carries him at a more normal pace, wanting to give Tommy time to gather his strength, mentally rehearsing what he's going to say to his mother. "You sure you can stand?" he asks when they reach the door.

"Yeah, I can stand."

Tommy definitely can do this. And once they reach the door, he hops down from Billy's arms.

"Rebecca and Jeff, right? Psychiatrist and Cardiologist. Your parents."

Better ones than Tommy's ever had. Which he doesn't like. The noise in the hall, though, must catch attention. Or maybe they were more anticipating because of the wall suddenly getting fixed and seeing them through the opening, but before Billy can even open the door it's opening and there's Rebecca, rushing forward to pull her son into her arms.

"Billy!" she says, fear in her voice when she pulls him into her arms. "I was so scared for you after what happened to Sarah and..."

And then she seems to process that Billy isn't alone. She pulls back and stares at Tommy, who was still in the costume he'd magicked up for himself. Her hand comes up to cover her mouth, her eyes flashing back and forth between them.

"Hello, Mrs. Kaplan. Billy's told me a bit about you. I'm..."

"Thomas?" she says, her voice breaking.

Billy nods, and offers a reassuring smile, moving to give his hand a squeeze when his mother catches them by surprise.

He's grateful to feel her arms around him, arms tangling round her to hug her tight. "I'm sorry- I'm okay- I promise- everything's okay-" he assures, growing quiet when Rebecca finally takes notice of Tommy.

He wets his lips, preparing to explain when she shocks him a second time by supplying his name on her own.

Billy blinks in confusion, looking between the two. "You...know who this is?"

Tommy looks to Billy, nervous, not sure what to say.

But Rebecca, she shakes her head, tears in her eyes. "No, I don't. He just looks so much like you, Billy. Except the hair. Like he could have been..."

Yeah, this is... awkward.

"My name is Thomas Shepherd," he admits, voice soft and nervous. "I'm... I'm the reason Billy asked you about all of that." Shit, he needs an excuse quickly. "We sorta met online. Support forums for young mutants."

That gets a raised eyebrow from Rebecca as she looks to Billy. Yeah, still tears in her eyes.

"Come inside, both of you. Let's not talk in the hall."

And her look at Billy says 'we're going to have a talk later' because she might be putting together why some of her books about children in abusive situations have been moved around on her shelves.

"Jeff! Can you get something to eat for Billy and his friend?"

Her voice, of course, cracks at calling Tommy 'friend'.

Right. Billy's gaze flicks away with a shy short of guilt, and he nods, catching his mother's hand to offer a brief squeeze as they make their way inside.

He owes her a better explanation for...ALL of this. Tommy, and Teddy, and...the events of the last few days, really. But for now he's just grateful she knows what they need in this moment.

"Tommy fixed the wall for us. And helped us get Teddy back safe. He's with the Avengers right now, he's going to call later."

"The Avengers?" Rebecca says as she lets the boys come in and closes the door behind them. Then she's herding them into the kitchen. "Do you mean he's living there with them? What about his family?"

"They're in New Jersey and I'm not going back. No one can make me," Tommy insists, his voice firm.

Nice place. Looks good. Tommy seems more and more upset the more they move through the comfort of the house. And then they reach the kitchen, where Jeff turns to greet them. And drops the plate in his hands out of shock as he catches sight of Tommy and Billy.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject