For Wearingthestars

[doubled_speed]

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.

Comments

[wearingthestars]

"...Yeah, that's basically where I'm at," Billy admits with a hushed laugh at the long pause.

"And yeah. Like...flesh and blood twin too. Not just...retro...what ever I said earlier. Like...royal hospital mix up."

[doubled_speed]

Again he's quiet, as he thinks.

"I mean, you were always a little jealous of the twins. I guess maybe you don't have to be?"

[wearingthestars]

"...How do you always know what to say, hmm?" Billy asks, smiling fondly, "You just...I could say any crazy nonsense and you always..." There's a brief silence, and then, "...I miss you. Mom and Dad wanna know if you're up to coming round tomorrow? They want to feed you crepes."

[doubled_speed]

"I'd say I'm magic, but I guess that's more Tommy's speed. I don't know. Maybe I'm just Prince Charming?"

Surely that's true enough. He's both a prince and a charmer.

"Um... I'm not sure if... if I'm ready to come over just yet, Billy."

[wearingthestars]

"It's okay- I wasn't...I knew it was, um...don't worry about it." Billy fumbles a bit.

"I totally understand. I just...promised I'd ask. We can come see you there whenever you want company. Or I can. I know they, uh...wanna see you at some point though."

[doubled_speed]

"Yeah, I know. Thanks. I just need some time to think about everything that's happened."

Which has to be okay, because he doesn't know that he can survive without this time.

[wearingthestars]

"Yeah, of course." Billy tries to speak as though he has any idea what he's talking about, feeling very lost at the moment. This isn't a problem he can fix. Teddy needs time. And space. Neither of which are Billy's strong point. But he'll give Teddy whatever he needs. Or try to.

"You need anything?"

Guess who plays a speedster and talked themself into morning crepes?

[doubled_speed]

“I... am going to need help when I go home.”

Because how does he face that alone?

Nice ^_^

[wearingthestars]

God, yeah. Billy hasn't even thought about that part.

"I'll be there," he promises, "Whenever you want to go back. Or if you want anything from home before hand, let me know and I can bring it out to you."

Re: Nice ^_^

[doubled_speed]

“Thanks. And... maybe your mom could come too.”

His voice is breaking. Because of course it is.

[wearingthestars]

That sound makes Billy's heart ache, and he blinks back stinging in his eyes, nodding again. "Y-yeah. Yeah she'll come, of course. She's here for you, just like me, we all are. We love you, Teddy. I can't...even imagine what you're going through, but I love you so, so much, and we're going to do everything we can to help."

[doubled_speed]

"Yeah. I know. I gotta... I'm going to grab a shower. Cap says I can use the one down the hall. Stark installed it, it's got, like, five shower heads."

Clearly Teddy is looking for SOME good.

[wearingthestars]

"Heh, super cool," Billy offers, trying to match the same enthusiasm that sort of nerdom would earn under normal circumstance.

"'Kay. I'll...let you go. ...Love you."

[doubled_speed]

"I love you too, Billy. A lot," Teddy against, and there is such conviction in his voice. "More than anything."

Because Billy's what he has left.

[wearingthestars]

And there go the tears. Billy hopes it's not too evident in his voice, pushing them away and giving a tight smile.

"We'll figure this out. I promise."

[doubled_speed]

"Yeah," Teddy says. "I... I gotta go."

That's all he can give Billy for right now. His life is sorta in limbo.

[wearingthestars]

"Yeah. Kay. Love you." Billy sighs as the call ends, laying back on his bed. He has no idea what he's doing. If he's saying the right things. Are there right things in a situation like this??

He just wishes he could take all of Teddy's hurt away. Just...turn back the clock and make everything okay again.

[doubled_speed]

There isn't an answer other than doing his best to try and keep Teddy out of the foster system.

Tommy's back soon, a towel for his hair, and one around his waist.

"Showers are n ice."

[wearingthestars]

Teddy and Tommy both. Maybe his parents will take both of them in. Though that might mean moving at this point.

Billy's had some time to compose himself by the time Tommy's back, eyes a bit red still, but he smiles easily, offering up some pjs, having all ready changed himself.

"You still hungry?"

[doubled_speed]

Pajamas? Tommy hasn’t ever worn any. But he does pull them on because they are offered. And hey, comfortable.

“Yeah. I could still eat a little.”

Becaus ehe isn’t sure he won’t be sent back in the morning.

[wearingthestars]

Billy looks away again to offer privacy.

"Well, I do believe we were promised desert then, whenever you wanna do that. Oh, and here-" he offers up a brush while he remembers, "And remind me later, I can find you a toothbrush, I didn't think about that before."

[doubled_speed]

Privacy? What is that? But he does take the brush and runs it through his hair.

“I can probably magic a brush.”

[wearingthestars]

"Yeah, I guess compared to everything else you've done a brush isn't all that hard, huh?" Billy flushes and nods.

"There probably isn't much you can't do."

[doubled_speed]

Tommy shrugs. "It's... about wanting it. I've wanted all I've done until now."

How much will he want a toothbrush?

[wearingthestars]

Billy smiles faintly, glad that he's part of what Tommy wants. It's such a strange power. He can't imagine what it'd be like to have that at his fingertips. What he might be tempted to use it for.

"I don't think I could handle it if it was me."