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, that makes two of them queer, probably Jewish mutants. And Tommy's magic. This is... awkward.

Towels are good. Tommy nods and moves to pull one out.

"They won't mind if I use a good bit of the hot, right? I miss hot showers. Best part of gym class at school."

Which is another one of those statements that are weirdly telling about his home life.

[wearingthestars]

There's another frown, but Billy doesn't push this time, just shakes his head and puts on a reassuring smile.

"No, it's fine. There's plenty. Um, soap and shampoo and conditioner and all that's inside, use whatever you want. Mom's stuff smells kind of flowery, but no one cares who uses what."

[doubled_speed]

Yeah, he's going to pass on the flowery.

"Any clue where you'll be when I'm done? Like, poking around to find you would be weird."

[wearingthestars]

"I'll stay around my room," he offers. Easy to find him that way. And easiest place to have a private phone call with Teddy. "I'll look for something for you to sleep in while I'm thinking about it."

[doubled_speed]

"And maybe some blankets to put on the floor for me to sleep on," Tommy suggests. The floor isn't much different from the metal pad that he slept on back there.

[wearingthestars]

Billy's pretty sure they've covered Tommy not sleeping on the floor all ready, but he's not surprised to hear him say it again, giving him a brief look, but nodding, knowing he in no way intends for Tommy to actually spend the night on the floor.

"I'll see what I can find."

[doubled_speed]

"Thanks. Now, get out?"

What? Maybe he wants to have just a little bit of privacy. Sure he changed in front of the guy, but no one wants to shower with their brother hovering right there.

[wearingthestars]

Billy flushes, giving a small laugh, and in the blink of an eye Tommy's alone.

Retreating to his room, Billy needs to moment to decompress, releasing his worries over Tommy long enough that he can put his focus back on Teddy, privately working through his own anxieties before calling.

[doubled_speed]

And of course, in true Teddy fashion, the phone is answered pretty instantly.

"B? You heading to bed this early?"

[wearingthestars]

They've been texting, but hearing his voice calms Billy in a way he can't fully explain, and he feels his remaining anxieties melt away, smiling softly and shaking his head despite the fact that Teddy can't see.

"Not yet, but might not be alone later, so I wanted to check in while I could. How's everything over there? You doing okay?"

[doubled_speed]

Okay? Teddy gives that sigh that says 'no I'm not but I don't want to admit that I'm not'.

"I'm... doing as okay as I can be, Billy. A lot of stuff has happened since yesterday afternoon."

[wearingthestars]

He winces a little at his word choice. Of course he's not okay. But Billy doesn't know how to else to broach that without asking far more directly.

"A whole lot," he agrees, "...I wish I was there with you." He knows Teddy wants and needs his space, but it feels so wrong to be away from him when he's hurting.

[doubled_speed]

"Yeah, but abandoning the new guy to your parents is probably rude. Cap said he wasn't coming back tonight," Teddy admits. "Guess that means I don't have to be the one sharing a room with him."

Which would be awkward.

[wearingthestars]

"Yeah," Billy laughs softly, "That'll be me. There's um...a chance he's actually my brother? Like...for real. So...yeah. Mom basically chewed Cap out."

[doubled_speed]

A long moment of silence.

"You're... a twin? What? I don't... so K'lrt may have been right?"

[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.