Blood In My Sight

[doubled_speed]

WHO: Tommy & Kyle
WHERE:
WHAT: Tommy needs to calm down
WHEN: 6/26, After yelling at Billy and threatening Riley
WARNINGS: CW: discussions of torture and experimentation on children

This was too much. His anger was still roaring, his blood pounding in his ears, his thoughts running too fast for even him to catch up to. And Tommy just had to do what he could to calm down. He'd tried his island and stopped that when he's knocked into a tree with too much force. It fell over and he knew he was going to bruise badly from it. Then dove into the water to cool off.

Even that wasn't enough so he did the next best thing he could. He took off to find the only person he could talk to right now.

Which was showing up at Kyle's room at the hotel. Doesn't even bother to knock, or even open the door. Just vibes through.

"Kyle," he called, shocked by how raw his voice was from his distress.

Comments

[kyley_b]

"That's hot," Kyle said honestly.

But then he shifted to put an arm around Tommy.

"I'll listen, you know. If you wanna tell me stuff. Like if something bothers you, or whatever."

[doubled_speed]

"I think you'd have a hard time finding something that doesn't."

But he supposes he could take the offer. Just... not yet. He wasn't ready yet.

[kyley_b]

"I know that feeling. Everything pisses me off." He hugged him a little closer.

"But all in your own time, dude. I'll be here."

[doubled_speed]

Everything? Man, Tommy knew it was a problem of his a long time ago. HE wanted to be better than that.

"Can I just... be here too? Tonight? I don't want to go home."

[kyley_b]

Kyle shifted again to put both arms around him. "Dude, of course you can stay," he said softly. "Always room for you."

[doubled_speed]

Always room for him. DAmn what a thing to hear. Tommy let himself lean into the touch.

"I'm shit at sleeping alone these days.'

[kyley_b]

"I better warn you now, in this reality I'm still a cuddler," Kyle said, smiling a little.

[doubled_speed]

"You and Billy both," Tommy answered with a shrug. Yes, he knows what his brother is like when he's asleep. Comment and he'll leave.

[kyley_b]

Kyle didn't even register that as odd - he'd slept with his brother in the same bed plenty of times.

"Cool. Well, what do you wanna do now if you don't wanna talk about what you went through?"

[doubled_speed]

Well at least someone wouldn't think he was crazy.

"Can we lay down?"

Maybe he can talk if he isn't looking at Kyle.

[kyley_b]

"Yeah, totally." He gets up and flops onto the bed, patting the spot beside him. It's not a big bed, but neither of them is exactly huge.

[doubled_speed]

They can manage. Tommy is certain of that. He gets up as well and toes off his shoes before flopping down next to Kyle.

"I think he might hate me, for trying to protect him. But after what happened..."

[kyley_b]

"I don't think he could hate you. You're his brother. His twin brother. Even if you didn't grow up together, that means something."

He cuddles up to Tommy's back. "I think what you both need is to figure out the line between respecting his agency and being within your rights to react. It's difficult, I know."

[doubled_speed]

Does it? Tommy wants to believe it, more than anything. He wants to believe he still has a place.

"I'm shit at it. He's the one with the family."

[kyley_b]

"Dude, I have a family and I struggle with it. Ike and I have had rough times. Even more so, my mom is extremely overprotective, and that's led to some issues. So I do kinda see both sides, here." He hugs Tommy a little. "And that's how I know he won't hate you."

[doubled_speed]

"You get it, you're an older brother. But the shit I've been through, that I've experienced... I don't like it happening to him. Ever.

[kyley_b]

"Have you told him all that they did to you?"

[doubled_speed]

Instead of answering Tommy just snuggles in to Kyle. He can't admit how much he kept from his brother. How did he even talk about it?

[kyley_b]

Kyle stays quiet, arms around Tommy's waist. He sighs and shifts to kiss the spot just below his ear.

"It's okay."

[doubled_speed]

The kiss earns a pleased sigh. The comfort is good, and he welcomes it. It wasn't common for someone to offer it so freely.

"I haven't told anyone all of it. Wanda has heard some of it, she sorta came upon it when we shared a dream."

[kyley_b]

"Why not? It hurts too much?"

[doubled_speed]

"I spent years being tormented, Kyle," he answered, his voice soft. "Kyle, the things I went through no one should go through."

[kyley_b]

"No, nobody should," he agrees quietly. "I'm sorry it happened.

"But I don't think your brother knows. Does he? How bad it got. The both of you have been hurt badly, and it's like... you can understand each other."

[doubled_speed]

Understand... he doesn't want Billy to understand.

"He doesn't have a lot of scars, from our time as heroes. I had a lot before I even met him. I got lucky, my body heals enough, fast enough, that the scars I had, they've faded to almost nothing. That's how much my body changes."

[kyley_b]

"But the Atroma... not all scars are physical, and you know that. I dunno, dude, I just think you ought to be honest with him. Because he needs someone who gets it. And so do you."