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]

"Dude, I don't even know if what he makes is any good yet."

What, he's never had crepes. But he wants to.

[wearingthestars]

"...You're going to love it," Billy concludes with a smirk, checking his phone to see if there's been any activity while he's slept, making a show of mussing up the blankets on the air mattress to make it look slept in, unaware they were caught in the act last night.

[doubled_speed]

Tommy smirks at the mussing and, after some consideration, leaves the new rabbit on the air mattress.

"So, uh, do we wash up before breakfast or something?"

[wearingthestars]

Glancing back at him, Billy gives a surprised sort of smile, and gives a shrug.

"...It's encouraged, but rarely observed," he offers with a smirk. With three sons there's some battles they don't bother fighting. Still, he thinks Tommy's going to earn himself some serious brownie points, he's like the perfect son.

[doubled_speed]

He’s a horrid son. He’s the worst. His parents told him that a LOT. To the point where he honestly believes it.  And he so desperately wants the Kaplans to like him. 

“Well let’s do it then. Don’t want them throwing me out for not observing rules.”

[wearingthestars]

"Right?" Billy snorts, starting to nod, and then he realizes that Tommy means it. There's a short pause, where Billy frowns, before adding, "I break the rules all the time and they've never tossed me out. You should be good. Don't worry about it so much, 'kay?"

[doubled_speed]

“You’re their son,” Tommy counters. But his tone says ‘that doesn’t really count for anything.’

[wearingthestars]

Well, in a few days they'll know whether that's true for Tommy as well, but clearly the Shepherd's must have given him the impression this was a real possibility, so maybe that wouldn't be quite the assurance he thought it would.

"So bask in this short time where you are their son's friend and have even fewer expectations on you," he tries, "We can cover our bases though, if you wanna wash up."

[doubled_speed]

Well, that's not a bad idea. Tommy offers a brief nod and gestures for Billy to lead. Still doesn't know that he'd be welcomed on his own.

"They... your brothers going to be home today?"

More people. He might not be cool with that yet.

[wearingthestars]

Taking the lead, Billy has to think, not really sure how long his brothers will be away for. "...Probably latter?" he guesses uncertainly, "They're not so horrible. They'll probably like you."

[doubled_speed]

Tommy's having a hard enough time dealing with Billy's parents, which probably isn't fair to them. They'd nice people, they really truly are. But that doesn't mean he knew how to handle them or other kids. Sure, he tried his best, but that was what it was. Which wasn't enough.

"We should, you know, go get food."

[wearingthestars]

"I almost can't believe you're hungry all ready," Billy teases lightly, leading the way back out to the kitchen. But given what he's learned about Tommy's life...not so surprising.

From the smell of things breakfast is nearly ready, but Billy's all ready helping himself to some fruit from the counter, needing a calories boost. "Smells good in here."

[doubled_speed]

Why wouldn’t he be hungry? It is early. Dinner was hours ago. So he does follow Billy out to face all that is waiting. Which is just Jeff.

“Your mom already headed off,” Jeff tells them both. Like it was easy to assume Tommy belonged. “She’s taking the samples to the hospital for me. Then she’s off to speak to some lawyers.”

“Lawyers?” Tommy asks.

“About the whole thing,” Jeff shrugs.

[wearingthestars]

Given how much ate, Billy just assumed. Most times if anyone kept even close to his appetite they were feeling pretty sick after.

"Do you need any help?" Billy asks, moving to set the table, back again before Jeff's even had time to turn and answer.

[doubled_speed]

"Well, we do have to figure out something for you boys to do today," Jeff muses aloud.

"I think the Avengers will expect me back," Tommy admits, frowning down at his plate that is now in front of them. "Because I'm their responsibility."

[wearingthestars]

"Oh-" Billy looks up in surprise, like he'd completely forgotten Tommy wasn't just going to stay here forever. "...Right." He looks to Jeff with a hopeful expression. Maybe that's all been sorted. Maybe they won't take him away. Teddy would have some company at least...

"...Does he have to?"

[doubled_speed]

Jeff frowns at Billy as he listens to what is said. "Billy, at the moment, we don't..."

"They're not my guardians. They don't have a right," Tommy observes quietly.

[wearingthestars]

Billy nods quickly, too quickly, not wanting to hear the words and nodding to dismiss what he doesn't want to hear before they continue. "We can still eat though, right?"

[doubled_speed]

"As much as you want. I don't have to head to work until noon. But once I do, you'll have a few hours you'll have to be there until your mother gets back."

Tommy just nods. "I... Cap said something about going to talk to my family anyway."

[wearingthestars]

Glancing to Tommy, Billy looks a bit guilty, and he tries to offer a reassuring sort of smile.

"...The test should only take a few days."

Then they'll have all the proof they need that the Kaplans are his real family.

[doubled_speed]

"If they take me to see the Shepherds, will you comes with me?"

Tommy looks to Billy like he NEEDS that answer to be yes. Desperately.

[wearingthestars]

Billy nods quickly. Too quickly probably, and he slows to give a more readable nod.

"Yeah- of course," he promises. And his tone suggests he doesn't care if anyone says he can't. If they take him there then Billy's going.

[doubled_speed]

Jeff frowns. This doesn't sound like a good choice to him.

"I'll protect him," Tommy swears.

[wearingthestars]

"Superspeed, Dad. I'm basically untouchable. And there'd be actual Avengers," Billy adds, a determined look on his face. He's more or less followed the rules his parents have set out for him since discovering his powers, even allowing himself to be grounded, but they all know if he set his mind to it there's very little they could do to keep him here.

[doubled_speed]

Jeff frowns, and doesn't seem ready for this comment. The idea that his son can protect himself has always been upsetting. It's a parent's job. And he can't protect his son.

"He saved my life. That isn't something light," Tommy insists, his hand clenching into a fist that sparks with electricity briefly.