(no subject)

[doubled_speed]

WHO: Wanda Maximoff, Vision, Tommy Shepherd, Billy Kaplan, Sansa Stark, Vision
WHERE: Billy and Tommy's room, then Wanda and Vision's space
WHAT: Some Secrets Shouldn't Keep? Aka Billy and Tommy FINALLY tell Wanda she's a mom. Sorta? And then Wanda goes to Sansa and Vision to talk about what she has learned.
WHEN: Early January
WARNINGS: Emotions, discussion of death of previous incarnations.



They'd been putting this off too long. Far too damn long. Since they showed up. Tommy sighs and when he wakes up he's high energy. High anxious energy. Because they've been doing this too long. They've been hiding and lying and Tommy? He can't take it anymore.

So he reaches over to Billy, starts shaking his shoulder and keeps prodding until Billy wakes up.

"Get up, dude. We're going to talk to Wanda. I can't do this anymore. We gotta... We just gotta. Today. Now. Get up."

Comments

[wearingthestars]

Billy groans, rolling over and trying to evade the attempts to wake him until he's forced to sit up, blinking at him bleary eyed. He is not a morning morning.

"Wh-....right now?" he asks, yawning and trying to force himself to summon his energy. "Why so urgent?"

[doubled_speed]

Yeah, well, Tommy's not much of an any time person. Or maybe he's also just an always person. He's going to go with that.

"No, Billy. I mean in seven months when this world has decided to eat us and we're dying an ultra dramatic death and our tearful passing will inspire true love and unity in everyone and the Agrii."

Of course he meant now. This was Tommy, and when he got it in his head that he wanted to do a thing, he wanted to do a thing. Which was why he was up and pacing now.

"Because... because what if she's gone tomorrow? What if we're gone? What if she loses Pops and things there isn't anything here for her? What if one of us says it stupidly on our own and then it's all a fucking mess?"

This has been eating at him since he met her here. Shouldn't Billy get that? He was the one that had spearheaded the 'find Wanda' thing in the first place. Back home.

[wearingthestars]

He gets it, he really does. He's just not entire conscious yet, and that it a whole lot of words and-

Billy nods, scrubbing a hand through his hair. This is important to Tommy. He needs to focus up.

"Right, no, I know. We can tell her. Let me just...get dressed and stuff."

This is all very different from telling their Wanda. A whole different set of nerves, a whole other twin leading the charge.

"...Do you know what we want to say?"

[doubled_speed]

Probably helps that this whole other twin already loves the parents he's got here, even if he won't say that to Wanda. He thinks Vision knows though. He thinks the guy gets it, gets it in what Tommy's taken to calling him. The claiming with the term.

"No. I... I don't know. I just know we have to say it. I keep slipping up around her, okay? I'm going to say it sooner or later and then she'll know and she'll be upset because I did it WRONG. She can't know about the whole mutants thing. Or killing Vision. She probably shouldn't know about people not liking her because it's fucking bullshit or what we went through to get Wanda back."

There's a lot of bad. He only wants her to know who they ARE to her.

"And we've gotta talk about the reincarnation stuff. Because she saw the super juvie thing. And doesn't know how a parent could let me go through that."

Doesn't want her to think it was HER fault.

[wearingthestars]

"You're not going to do it wrong," Billy assures, magicking up some clothes and making a vague attempt to tame his hair so it doesn't look so much like he was dead asleep a few minutes ago.

It's good to have the talking points to avoid though, and Billy commits them to memory with a frown. Knowing him he'll probably reveal way too much if he's allowed to go unchecked.

"Retro-reincarnation," he corrects, trying for humor to help Tommy relax a little, "...It's okay. We've had practice. We can do this."

[doubled_speed]

"Yeah, whatever the fancy word you totally made up for it was," Tommy said. Which was silly, because he used it too. Around Vision, and around Sansa. But the humor had to be returned in kind so there you had it. But he nodded and offered his arms out to his brother. "Let me carry you there. I know where they stay. Mostly because I really wanna avoid it at night because, you know, parents getting it on."

Which would be SO WEIRD.

[wearingthestars]

"Hey, it's a good word. I'm proud of that word." Billy pauses then and gives his brother a reassuring smile. "...Really. It's going to be fine."

He nods and steps closer so Tommy can carry him, twisting a face at the mental imagine, thank you SO much for sharing, Tommy. "That's all I'm going to be able to think about now-..."

[doubled_speed]

"Dude, it makes us sound like we are the hipsters of reincarnation," Tommy grumbled. And hipster was bad. Clearly. "And yeah, you can join me in the horror of thinking about how Wanda and Vision PROBABLY did it back home too."

Then he picks up his brother and, regardless of the energy toll it was going to take out of him given he hadn't eaten anything yet, put on a burst of speed to reach the abandoned shops and come to a stop just short of the entrance to Wanda and Vision's space. Only then does he put his brother down and struggle not to sway on his feet.

"Okay, let's hope they're awake and not, you know... engaged."

[wearingthestars]

"Aren't we?" They were being born before they were even born, ultimate hipsters. Magic is weird. "Yeah, most parents do it, Tommy. You just don't think about it, ugh," Billy groans.

Billy's a little unsteady himself from the disorientation, but he frowns, moving to offer support. "We should have eaten first. Do you want something? I can magic something?" Now he feels like his parents, anxiously pushing food as a sign of love.

"You keep saying it and it's going to happen, that's like a law of the universe."

[doubled_speed]

"The universe can bite me," Tommy grumbles, waving off the offering of food. That isn't his concern right now. Instead he starts pushing Billy forward. "It's time. Let's do this."

And to that end, he really hopes the folks are home.

[wearingthestars]

"Oh, what, I have to knock now?" Billy half protests as Tommy pushes him forwards. And okay, maybe he's a bit more nervous about all this than he's been letting on. He reaches to give Tommy's a hand a quick squeeze and knocks on the door before he can take it back.

[seeingscarlet]

"Just a minute!" Wanda calls from the other side of the door. But they have nothing to worry about - Vision had already left for the day, and Wanda was only still around since her days were much less structured.

She answers the door with wet hair, still in her loose-fitting sleep clothes. "Billy? Tommy? Is everything all right?"

[doubled_speed]

Oh man, there she is. This is happening. They are doing the thing and the thing is this and it's here and it's now. Tommy bites his lip and pushes Billy forward again.

"We... sorta need to talk. Is that okay? Do you have a few minutes? And maybe somewhere to sit down? You should probably sit down for this. Iwannasitdownforthis."

He's gotten SO good at controlling the tempo of his speech over the time he's had his powers. So good. But he can't seem to keep it down now. He's too nervous. Probably won't even be able to sit, he'll pace too much.

[wearingthestars]

Billy catches hold of Tommy's wrist so any pushing will pull him along too. They're in this together.

He flashes a bit of a sheepish smile at Wanda and nods.

"Breathe," he reminds gently, eyes skirting to Tommy with faint concern as his words start to run together.

"I know it's kind of early, but it's important."

For Sansa

[seeingscarlet]

[Wanda manages to hold it together until they leave and then she just crumbles. She really hopes their psychic bond won't let Vision feel her distress because she just can't face him right now - she's the only reason this can't be their future, if they wanted it. Her powers just don't work like that. She'd tried, oh how she'd tried, to will life back into her brother's body. She'd tried until her powers turned painful under her skin but no matter what she'd done...

There are many things she can't forgive her other self for. Having the ability and safety to choose, that giving her children powers didn't seem like an unspeakable cruelty...that's just another one for the list.

How in the world is she going to explain all of this to Vision?

She has no right to ask him for any comfort or to help her process everything when this is her fault, so...not Natasha, not when Wanda knows what had been done to her. Maybe Sansa, if she's feeling up to it, except she's probably in the greenhouse. Where Vision also is. And also Wanda's not confident in her ability to hold it together in public right now. Text it is, then.]

Are you free?

[theladyofwinterfell]

( Sansa is still learning most of the plants on Agra 10 but for Wanda, she could always drop something if need be. Wanda is a confidant and someone she's come to care about as deeply as her own family; there's nothing Sansa wouldn't do for her or Vision if they asked it of her. )

For you, always. Did you want to meet?

[seeingscarlet]

[Wanda feels the same - she'd kill for Sansa without a second thought if need be. And it's nice to have someone she doesn't have to pretend to be 'cool' or strong for. Even now, part of her still strives so desperately for the approval of her fellow Avengers.]

Can you come to our home?

I am not hurt but I don't want anyone else to see me like this

[theladyofwinterfell]

( Sansa cannot imagine what is wrong but if Wanda does not wish to be seen, she will come. She sends a quick message to say the same and soon she and Lady are rapping at the door, wanting to take care of their friend. )

Wanda? It's me, it's Sansa.

[seeingscarlet]

[Wanda could have just opened the door with her powers, but Sansa deserves better than that. So she shuffles across the room to do it herself, if silently - she seems smaller, somehow, and it's obvious that she's been crying. Vision or any of her other friends would have strong reactions to seeing her like this.

And right now she just...can't. She can't be strong for Vision, like he deserves, when she's still processing her own emotions and guilty heartbreak, and she can't deal with overzealous fussing.

(Sorry, Steve.)]

Thank you. For coming. I...do you want anything to drink? This is a long story. [She runs a hand through her hair distractedly.] I don't know where to start.

[theladyofwinterfell]

I should be asking you if you want something to drink. I'll make tea for us both and you should sit down and tell me what the matter is.

( It's a bit bossy, yes, but Sansa is concerned about her friend. Lady, for her part, goes over to Wanda and noses at her hand a bit in both comfort and the desire to be petted. )

No matter the problem, we'll fix it. I swear it on the old gods and the new.

[seeingscarlet]

[Wanda has no energy left to argue and so she does as Sansa says. Lady is a very welcome distraction and can have all the pets she wishes.]

We can't fix it. It's my fault. I am...not the right Wanda.

[But she's getting ahead of herself. Wanda takes a shuddering breath and tries to refocus on the things she can feel: the couch under her, Lady's soft fur.]

There are two other versions of our world that I know about. The Wanda in Kitty and Kurt's world...died. The other one... [Gulp.] ...her children are here. And I don't know how I'm going to tell Vision.

[She keeps one hand on Lady but buries her face in the other as she dissolves back into tears.]

[theladyofwinterfell]

( It hurts, painfully, to reveal she knows this but she feels it is her bounden duty to tell Wanda what she knows it and how she does. She clasps her hand between both of her own. )

He knows. One of your sons told me so. I never told you because your son swore me to secrecy and I would never interfere in something so personal. He revealed it to me unbidden and, frankly, I didn't want you to be hurt. I never like seeing you hurt.

[seeingscarlet]

[Wanda holds Sansa's gaze maybe a moment too long before she curls into herself as the tears return. Of course. Vision would do anything to protect her, just like she would for him. Even if it meant hiding his own emotions or his own need for her support. He knew this was going to hurt her, just like Sansa did.

Because it's her fault, even if it's beyond her control.

The possibility of being angry with them for hiding it from her doesn't even cross her mind. She knows them, and she knows it came from a place of love. And Wanda couldn't say she wouldn't have done something similar to spare either of their feelings.]

We don't get to choose and it's my fault. My powers don't...I can't. I am not like her.

[theladyofwinterfell]

You are not her. You are not her the same that I am not the Sansa who went home afraid and frightened of her world. I learned from you, from Vision, from Bucky - I learned how to defend myself and be strong and I became a queen. We aren't bound by our destinies, Wanda.

( Sansa says it with conviction because she knows it to be true. She knows she wouldn't have survived the Long Night or Daenerys or any of it without being in the Fleet. )

For Vision

[seeingscarlet]

[At first glance, all is normal when Vision returns home. Thistle greets him happily and Wanda's not far behind. If she clings to him a little tighter or a little longer than she normally would, well, that's not too terrible. She'd promised herself she'd do her best to be strong for him, because she's sure the lost possibilities are going to hurt no matter how much joy the revelation brings him. Maybe the extended hug is a little selfish, but Wanda doesn't think Vision will mind too much. When does he ever?]

Vizh... [The cracks are starting to show: there's a slight tremble to her voice.] I need to tell you something. We should sit down.