doubled_speed | For Wearingthestars

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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.

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Silently leaving the drinks as offering, Billy carefully retreats back to his mothers, face brightening at the offer, and he gives an eager nod.

"I think- if they talked you guys at least. They wouldn't just take my word for it." But even Cap can't say no to Rebecca Kaplan. He brow creases then, glancing back towards his room, "...You won't let them make him go back, right? With his parents or to juvie? It was horrible there, Mom."

Juvie? Rebecca seems shocked by that revelation. But then she's frowning.

"I will do what I can, Billy. And... I may have an idea for how to keep him from going anywhere."

She seems thoughtful. And hesitant.

"Can you ask him for something for me, Billy? If he has a birthmark, about here?" her hand comes to rest on her own hip. Right where Tommy's mark had been.

There's a lot he still need to explain. But he's forever grateful that his mother trusts him enough not to be completely thrown by that new fact.

His parents have had a bit of time to get used to Billy's powers, the way he sometimes can't operate at a 'normal' speed even if he tries, but now, he's slowed right now, blinking numbly at the area his mother pointed to before giving a slow nod. "H-...he's does. I saw it when he was getting dressed. Mom...how do you-?"

They really have had time, which is impressive. After all, Billy couldn't exactly hide the increased appetite of the first fumbling awkwardness that came with lack of control with his speed. Frankly it was impressive that he managed to hide being a hero in training as long as he had. Of course, they'd known about the second the Young Avengers were in the news paper. They weren't stupid, but they hadn't pressed.

"This... is going to sound crazy," his mom says, looking uncomfortable, "but... Billy, you were born in a hospital in New Jersey. I knew I shouldn't be working that late into my pregnancy, but there was this conference. Your father came down with me, we plotted out every hospital in the area. But we knew I had a month. You and your brother just wanted to come early, though. You were born in a hospital not far from where the conference was in New Jersey."

There are tears in her eyes as she wrings her hands. Clearly this was an emotionally wrought story for her.

"You were a lovely, healthy young boy. Your brother Thomas... We didn't even have half a day before he died. But your father swears that when he helped put on that first diaper, Thomas had a birthmark there. After..."

Yeah, the tears are threatening seriously now.

"After, he thought maybe he was crazy. Because we'd only seen him the one time before... Before there was an emergency in the nursery. Two baby boys ended up in the NICU briefly. Your brother died. The other one, well, I wouldn't know what happened to him."

"Oh, Mom-" Billy hurries forward to pull her into a hug at the appearance of those tears, fighting back his own as she gets to the end of her story. Seeing her hurt like this makes his heart ache, and he understands better why it was something they'd kept from him for so long.

But this-

This could explain everything.

Tommy could really be-

"W-we could get a blood test- if he's really- if he's- they'd have to let us keep him, right?"

Rebecca hugs her son back, holding him close.

"He just... he looks so much like you, Billy. The name, being from New Jersey, we just... Hospitals don't make that mistake often. It's not that movie stupidity or contrived plot. But it does happen. And if that poor boy is Thomas, than we've failed him for all of our lives."

Because Jeff could have insisted. Yes, they had been grieving parents, but he was a doctor. He should have insisted, gotten the little boy's footprint and DNA checked, just in case.

There's so many what ifs, and Billy understands the guilt his parents must feel, though he's quick to shake his head. "It's not your fault," he insists softly, "And if he's yours then...we've been given a second chance to give him the family he deserves. Even if he's not...he needs us, Mom."

"I'll do everything I can either way, Billy," Rebecca agrees. "But... I don't want to offer him false hope. Your father could get the testing done easily. You just have to convince your friend."

Billy nods, though there's an apprehensive look on his face, glancing back to be sure Tommy's still well out of ear shot. "...I'll try to convince him, but...I think they were abusing the kids there, Mom. Like...testing them and stuff. He said they were trying to make him into a weapon. I'm not sure how keen he'll be on letting anyone do tests on him, even to help."

Oh, that was not something Rebecca Kaplan wanted to hear. And her eyes narrow. She even holds out her hand.

"Your phone. I'm calling that Captain America right now."

Someone is about to get an earful.

Oh, that is an expression Billy's seen enough times to know she means business, handing over his phone without hesitation, a little frightened and honestly a little excited to see 'that Captain America' get an earful. Who else could even dream of doing such a thing? He's honestly not sure anyone but his mother would even dare.

"...He's under 'Cap'."

"Alright then. Go on and check in on... on Tommy."

The name still gives her pause.

"Your father will bring the pizza rolls when they're done. I'm going to see if the boys can stay over at a friend's tonight. Give Tommy some privacy. Tell him he's staying the night. I'm not accepting arguments."

She really is the realest super hero Billy knows, and he flashes her a grateful smile, stealing a hug and kiss to her cheek, nodding easily.

"...Thanks Mom. For...everything."

He's quiet letting himself back inside the room not wanting to wake Tommy if he's still asleep, unsure of how much he should let him in on just yet.

Ah, consciousness takes a bit. It isn't too much longer, but the sound of Billy slipping around in the room gets Tommy to jar awake at last, his eyes opening as he stares at Bily. And blushes in a bit of shame.

"Sorry. Your bed is so comfortable."

Billy freezes up apologetically, but is quick to flash Tommy a dismissive smile. "It's fine. You're exhausted, you need the rest."

He nods towards the assortment of drinks he'd brought earlier, "I brought a couple things to choose from. And uh...Mom says you're staying the night. She's talking to Cap now."

"Your parents just kidnapping me or something?"

Still, he gets up and moves to the drinks and chips. Sits himself right down on the floor and starts into it with the greed of someone who hasn't eaten in a while.

"Something like that," he teases with a lopsided smile, shrugging a shoulder, "So long as you want to be kidnapped."

He watches Tommy and moves to join him on the floor, helping himself to a small bit so Tommy doesn't feel weird about eating alone.

Really, a small bit. Tommy scoffs, perhaps like Billy would with his younger siblings if they are being silly. Perhaps not. But he pushes the tray over toward Billy.

"Don't be stupid. You're fast, right? You've gotta need a lot of food. And... yeah. I just don't want to be in that place with them judging me."

He doesn't want to be behind locked doors where people might try and take his power away from him again.

"I can sleep on your floor."

He laughs, cheeks flushing with an easy sort of smile, and he helps himself to a bit more with a knowing look. "There's still more coming."

He gaze softens a bit, and he shakes his head with his own scoff. "We can share. If...that's not weird," he amends, unsure how comfortable Tommy might be with that.

Weird? Tommy reaches out and his hand comes to rest against Billy's arm. The touch as comforting as ever. Like he belongs here.

"Yeah, like your parents want their gay son sharing a bed with another guy."

The touch makes him smile, though his cheek go pink at Tommy's words.

"I don't think they're worried about that with you," he assures with a flustered laugh, "They haven't done a random pop in like they do when Teddy's over."

"Yeah, well, I was sorta sleeping, wasn't I? And what, I'm not good enough for their baby boy? Or is it the mirror thing? Gotta say, some people are narcissists. They'd totally go in for that."

But Billy's a good boy, so totally not. So Tommy keeps eating.

He laughs, flush spreading and he shakes his head. "Maybe they just trust me not to want to cheat on Teddy. But it's probably the face twin thing." Or the possible real twin thing, but Billy thinks it's best not to mention that for now. That might be Mom's story to tell.

"If sharing an issue though, I can bunk in my kid brothers' room. Mom's sending them out for the night."

And how was he ever going to get Tommy to agree to a blood test if he didn't mention? But he doesn't care.

"I... would feel safer if you were close. I feel like I should be. Is that... okay with you?"

That is a hurdle he'll need to address before too long.

Billy smiles easily and nods. "Yeah, of course. I'd feel better about it too," he assures, reaching for a drink. "...I'm really sorry it took so long for us to actually find each other Tommy, but...I'm so glad you're really here."

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