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

[doubled_speed]

Well, Teddy DID just sorta imply that he might have a crush on Billy too. And that giddy look? Definitely makes Teddy happy. Happy enough that his eyes flash toward Billy's lips. Briefly. And maybe he leans a bit forward too.

"I think she'd like you."

[wearingthestars]

Times like this Billy wishes he wasn't as quick as he is. Each brief moment, and slight movement is exaggerated, unmissable. And he has to pointedly keep from jumping the gun. Flirtation is all about slow, that moment of 'will he?' and trying to keep that balance is hard.

His own gaze drops to mirror Teddy's, catching those lips and jumping back up to his eyes with a flustered laugh, closing the gap a little more.

"She won't think I'm a bad influence?" Sneaking out with her son? Looking at him like...well, how he's looking at him.

[doubled_speed]

"I think she'd like how much you make me smile," Teddy allows. Way better than his old friends. Than Greg, who he used to be after. She'd been happy when that name hadn't shown up more.

And still Teddy leans in closer, his near hand settling over Billy's again. He doesn't even think about how going this slow must be torture for Billy. Instead he's trying to see if what he's about to do would actually be welcomed.

[wearingthestars]

"Yeah, well...that's may be a bit selfish on my part," Billy admits, "...If I'm being honest. I really like seeing you smile."

His hand turns under Teddy's, just enough that his fingers can curl around the edge of his hand, heart racing like he's running at top speeds while everything seems to be at a standstill. He leans that much closer, hesitating with a shy duck of his head.

[doubled_speed]

Okay that's... that's definitely enough. Teddy's free hand comes up to cup Billy's cheek, lifting his face to meet Teddy leaning in and down enough to press their lips together for their first kiss.

Much better than dreary thoughts about a kid that probably did hurt other people.

[wearingthestars]

If he knew what is what he was forgetting Billy might feel more guilty about how easily his thoughts are turned away. But how can he worry about whoever they are when the loveliest boy in the world is lifting his face up to meet him?? Everything else in the world ceases to exist in that moment when Teddy's lips meet his, and there's no worry, no doubt.

He smiles into the kiss, returning it easily, moving to press closer when a noise in the hall startles him back, cheeks red hot.

[doubled_speed]

Damn. Teddy sighs and pulls back too, shifting the blush away from his face. Yeah, this was not something they could get caught doing.

"Back to safe topics, like comics?"

[wearingthestars]

Billy laughs, ducking his head, and he nods. Probably safer. He's not ready to get the more thorough lecture about dating, and consent, and safe sex if his mother gets a whiff of what's going on.

"Oh like that's much safer," he teases, "Let me find the ones we were talking about before, you can borrow them."

[doubled_speed]

Teddy smiles and nods.

"Awesome. I promise to take good care of them. Because that's what I do."

[wearingthestars]

"And maybe next time we hang out at Midtown comics, or...you know...somewhere no one's going to walk in on us?" he suggests, not all as subtle as he wishes he was.

[doubled_speed]

Well now Teddy's the one blushing, just a little. If only they could flirt back. But no, they don't have the time, they don't have the chance with his family so close.

Not that they don't get time. There is always time to be had. Tons of it. There will always be time to figure it out, later. There is always a later. Until there isn't. Until Teddy's mom dies in Billy's living room, and Teddy's been grabbed, and there's no answers. There's only pain. There's only the rush of do something now. There's only a younger, newer Vision that is there, that might have answers that they need.

And here that Vision is now, responding to a question by bringing up a holographic listing from the Failsafe program.

"What if I could locate more?" Vision asked.

"More Avengers?" was what Eli said in response.

"No. More Young Avengers," he offered, and then he was guiding them down an elevator to a lab and bringing up holographic displays.

"There are a limited number of possibilities in the easily accessed area. Within the time limits that are available. Are there parameters I should apply, in terms of powers? We are against a Super Skrull, correct?"

[wearingthestars]

If anyone should have been able to stop this it's Billy. He should have run them as far as possible. Not home. Why home?? His mind keeps replaying it all, trying to figure out where he went wrong. Why had he frozen up? How had he let Teddy be taken after failing to save his mother?

He paces and twitches, trying to remain patient as they plan and talk, thoughts jumping ahead and away countless times before cycling back.

"Whose closest?" Billy presses anxiously.

[doubled_speed]

Vision keeps a very calm tone and doesn't let himself be rushed too much.

"Thomas Shepherd. Sixteen years old. Springfield, New Jersey," Vision lists off.

Eli frowns and considers it, stepping forward. "What's his specialty?"

"According to the Avengers Fail-Safe Program, he's electrokinetic."

That gets Eli to raise an eyebrow thoughtfully. Definitely could be useful.

[wearingthestars]

That name...

Billy frowns. Why does he know that name? He blinks in confusion and tries to shake away the feeling so he can focus.

"Electricity. That could work. Why was he passed over?"

[doubled_speed]

Here Vision does have the decency to look a bit awkward.

"Why I cannot speak as to why Iron Lad failed to refer him to the project, at this time he is currently incarcerated."

[wearingthestars]

That should set him as a solid no, but something about that only makes the strange feeling settle that much more firmly in his mind. Tommy... Why does he know that name? Why's there an added urgency building in his chest?

"...So we go bust him out," Billy concludes with a determined look that leaves little room for argument.

[doubled_speed]

"He could be a criminal," Eli snaps. "Has to be, given situation!"

"Like we have a choice. We need more people," Kate says. "And even a Super Skrull can't really fully stop electrokinesis, right?"

"There are force fields," Cassie counters. "And turning himself to stone. We should pick someone else."

[wearingthestars]

"We don't have time," Billy urges, "And who says he even did- w-whatever they say he did? Electrokinesis is a good bet. Element against element."

Why are they wasting so much time? The Super Skrull could have Teddy to the next star system by now!

[doubled_speed]

"My research indicates that there was an incident at his school. A violent display of power. The boy most directly impacted is still in a coma," Vision provides without hesitation.

And Eli definitely doesn't look happy with that.

"Then we see about putting him back when we're done, if he's irredeemable," Kate suggests logically. "But this is a long way to go, and we don't have much time. And Billy, you can't just go in alone. Vision, is it possible we can liberate one of Tony's cars? Temporarily?"

[wearingthestars]

Coma doesn't speak too highly to bringing him on, Billy knows, but he doesn't back down from Eli's expression, determined that he has to be the one.

And thank God for Kate, putting things much more succinctly, and Billy nods quickly in agreement, even putting up with the idea of traveling the slow way if it means they'll go get this guy.

"I can take you one at the time-" he offers, unable to help himself completely. Could be faster than driving.

[doubled_speed]

"Not doing that again," Eli grumbles. Because Billy had to do that to get them all into Stark Tower and past security. He's still queasy.

"I can drive," Vision offers. And Kate laughs.

"No offense, guy, you're clearly going to follow traffic laws. That isn't happening," Kate answers. "Tell Billy where the garage is and how to get in. Billy, you'll head down and select the fastest one. And then you can run ahead to scout only."

"Thought I was in charge here," Eli grumbles.

"You're the one that left the team," Kate counters. "My team now."

[wearingthestars]

Billy has time enough for a brief smirk, nodding to Kate and giving a brief salute just to further cement her leadership.

Once he has the information he's racing off to find the team a car, and then on ahead to scout out what he can before the team arrives.

[doubled_speed]

The place definitely doesn't look nice when they arrive. Thick brick and concrete walls topped with barbed wire, guard towers with spot lights, guard patrols? From the outside this place looks less like a juvenile detention center, and more like a full and bona fide jail. Which of course only has Eli looking that much more leery once they get out of the car.

"This is a bad idea," Eli notes.

"Relax, it's just juvie," Kate insists as Vision touches down beside them. There was no reason to have him in the car with the fact that he could fly.

"Yeah, and we want a Young Avenger, not a young Master of Evil," Eli protests, shifting his shield as Vision considers the gates.

"You want someone powerful. This is where we will find him," Vision dismisses, even as his appearance shifts. "I will use this holographic form to go inside to collect him. I should be able to manage this without difficulty. Cassie, if you would consider accompanying me? I believe a smaller size would allow you to pass unnoticed."

"The rest of us can hold things down out here," Kate says. "Backup, if you need us."

[wearingthestars]

Eli's clearly out voted, whether he likes it or not. Billy's not about to back him up on this one, shifting eagerly now that everyone's here, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

"I can come too-" he tries to insist, "I could go fast enough, they shouldn't be able to see." Not something they've really been able to test, and this is maybe not the ideal place to workshop that theory, but...holding down the fort is more waiting.

[doubled_speed]

"You've got to be kidding me, that's a terrible idea," Eli sighs.

"What are we supposed to do?" Kate protests. Not that it matters, given Vision and Cassie have already started inside.

It is rather easy to keep going inside, between Vision being able to sneak well and Cassie jumping people to knock them out. And with Billy as backup, it's pretty easy to keep moving.

"What do we know about Thomas Shepherd?" Cassie asks as they keep moving.

"His parents Frank and Mary are recently divorced. His powers are recently manifested. And he is a noted discipline issue at his school," Vision explains as he moves them through the area as quietly as he can.