Heading Into The Storm

[doubled_speed]

WHO: Tommy Shepherd, Twin Roses Crew (or , OTA anyone heading into the Storm
WHERE: In the Storm
WHAT: Tommy can't help but be a hero; Seeing people who aren't there; Finally collapsing in a cave to wait out the storm.
WHEN: During the Storm
WARNINGS: References to the death of a teammate who was only a teen, possible discussion of his family history.

Storm Watch | Open to Twin Roses Crew or a ship heading into the storm

Agrii need you.

That had been all Tommy had needed to hear to know he was going into the storm. He'd stayed silent on the bridge while the thing had been talking, and once it was done he was gone to the dorms. Tommy stripped the pillow from his bed and then immediately started stuffing what clothes he had in there, as well as other items. Things that will help him get through the storm.

And then he heads to the cargo hold and waits by the hatch.

"You going?" he asks whoever comes close. "To the storm? I mean, that's why we're here. The sooner we fix this shit, the sooner we go home."

And later, once he's bummed a ride on another ship heading into the storm, he has a similar enough question as he waits in their cargo hold.

"You ready for this? It's not going to be easy."


Storm Warning | Anyone in the Storm

This, it turned out, was a bad idea. Tommy hadn't gotten too far into the storm before it happened. Before he could feel the weakness, draining his energy. It almost makes him sick, makes him keel over. He's had this sensation before. The way the 'juvie' he'd been in had devices all over to suppress his powers, radiating the power outwards when he wasn't in the cuffs. There's no strength, no energy, no speed. And he hates it. But he's not a coward, and he keeps moving, at a normal person's pace.

But what stops him are the people. A flash of lightning, a peal of thunder, and there he is. Vision.

"Pops!" Tommy shouts. The Agrii said he was gone, but clearly he wasn't, he was right there. Tommy runs, as fast as any other human, and he can't get there. Can't MAKE IT. No matter how fast he runs, now matter how much he reaches out, he can't catch up. Another strike and there's a voice nearby.

"Speed?"

Cassie. Tommy turns and spins and Vision is gone but there she is, on the ground, crumpled up in pain. Again he's running, and this time he closes the distance. Or nearly does. It's so hard to see, the winds and the water so hard to deal with. But the ground's uneven, and he doesn't see it coming. A crack there and Tommy's foot gets caught and he falls, his hand outstretched. But she isn't there, and the pain is there, so much pain. His ankle is... Tommy just curls up and holds his ankle because it hurts so much.


Storm Shelter

He doesn't even remember getting to the cave. Maybe someone carried him here, maybe he crawled here on the what he now realizes is broken ankle. Or maybe only sprained. But definitely hurt and the pain has Tommy curling up well away from the mouth of the cave. He can't heal as fast, and his bones are clearly weaker than they normally are. But mostly he's just curled up on himself, trying to stay warm despite his soaked through clothing.

He's a coward. He should have been out there, trying to find answers, and instead...

You're a useless boy, you deserve to die out here.

Tommy shudders against the memory of one of the things he'd seen in the storm. And he'd run away as fast as he could. For a given definition of run, since he couldn't get to his feet. But he'd crawled away and the next thing he remembered, he was here.

"I... wanna go home," he whispers, shivering. "I just want to go home to my stupid shitty apartment and my stupid shitty job and all the food I can buy and my favorite blanket. I just... I can't take this anymore."

He's a coward, and he hates it.

Comments

[doubled_speed]

The voice is... something. Familiar. Tommy, in the mud and wet, shivers against the storm still pounding him. Everything keeps happening. People keep... they keep talking. So fake, so wrong. And yet there he is. A hand on his shoulder, and a familiar voice.

Billy.

"I'm hurt," Tommy hisses out. He hasn't been hurt like this in a long time. "I can't... I can't stand."

[wearingthestars]

Billy winces in sympathy, and tries to keep his head, giving a nod, and reaching almost instinctively as though to cast a spell before pausing. That won't work.

"It's okay-" he tries to reassure, putting on a brief smile for him as he tries to approach from a different angle, "Um...we'll- I'll get you somewhere out of the rain, and I can...um...I can fix it, don't worry." He hopes he sounds like he knows what he's doing. He's trying. "Is it just the one ankle?"

[doubled_speed]

"I don't know. It hurts. It hurts a lot," Tommy winces. His bones were too strong. It should NEVER have happened. Because his bones are too strong. "I can't walk. Billy, I can't..."

There's panic in his voice. More than any visions here could give him. More than the pain allows for. He's a speedster. His legs were EVERYTHING.

[wearingthestars]

"Shhh- hey- hey, it's okay-" Billy attempts to soothe, trying to hold Tommy's gaze, "Breathe- okay? I'm going to figure this out. I promise. You're going to be okay. I know it hurts, I know you're scared just breathe."

He pushes back some of Tommy's damp hair from his face, and tries to channel his parents. They always seemed to know what they were doing, and to say. "I need to get you out of the rain first though."

[doubled_speed]

Hurts. Scares him. And breathing isn't that easy. The pain is keeping his chest tight. And it's terrifying. His eyes flash with pain. And he doesn't bother to shy away from the touch, which he wants to.

"The rain is too heavy. Can't find anything."

[wearingthestars]

Billy reaches to catch hold of one of Tommy's hands, wishes desperately his magic would work- just for a moment, just enough to let him take away his pain.

"I'll find something." He sounds reasonably sure, despite having no way to know if he can keep that promise. They have to try. They can't just stay here.

"I can carry you- or...if you want to lean on me, we can try it that way-" he offers, knowing Tommy doesn't like to give over control or look weak.

[doubled_speed]

"You can't carry me," Tommy dismisses. He knows his brother, knows his strength. It's less than Tommy's. And damn it hurts. Which means there is only one option.

"Yeah, uh, we can try to walk."

This is one situation where he can't DENY he is weak.

[wearingthestars]

Yeah, carrying was...last resort sort of option, and would definitely have been a struggle.

"Okay. We'll go as slow as you need, okay? Just say if you need a break or anything."

God, he hates this. Without his powers he feels so...helpless. He just wants to make everything okay. Why can't he make everything okay?

"Here, lean on me, I'll help you up-"

[doubled_speed]

The storm was strong enough that it was probably going to cause them problems. But he offers his arm. Just help him up. And then they might manage things properly.

"I fell. The ground was uneven and I couldn't... I didn't react fast enough."

[wearingthestars]

It takes a bit of maneuvering, but Billy tries to bear the brunt of Tommy's weight as they work their way to getting him up, taking a moment to be sure he's properly supported so they can keep any weight off his injured foot. This is definitely not best practice, but they don't have much choice here.

"It's okay- people fall. I can fix it. Once my powers are- once they're back. You'll be fine."

[doubled_speed]

At the very least, Billy's a good height for it.

"I don't fall," Tommy protests. But at least... he's not alone in how his body is failing him right now. And he hates it. "I feel so weak."

[wearingthestars]

"...I know," Billy acknowledges. He can't exactly imagine what it's like to be in Tommy's exact, but he has some idea of how it feels to be powerless.

"You're not weak, you're just...human." For the moment.

[doubled_speed]

"I don't want to be human. Being a mutant is all I have," he groans and he rolls onto his stomach to get his good leg under him. That will make it easier to stand.

[wearingthestars]

Billy keeps a hand on him to help steady and offer support where he can, and he nods understandingly.

"I know. We'll...I'm sure when we get back, we'll be back to normal."

[doubled_speed]

"I'll still have a broken ankle. Won't be able to run."

But with Billy's help he gets up on one leg, the injured one held behind him.

[wearingthestars]

"Literal magic brother. I can fix it." Probably. Maybe. He's not sure actually. Back home no problem. But he still says it as though it's a certainty.

"Okay, we'll go slow. Let's try a few steps, see how it feels," he encourages, shifting to better support Tommy's weight.

[doubled_speed]

Certainty isn't something he much knows how to deal with. Because this is an uncertain world and uncertain time.

Steps? You kidding? Tommy has to hop. There is NO WAY he can handle putting actual weight on it.

[wearingthestars]

Well steps sounds kinder. And this is definitely going to be slow going, but at least it's something. Billy nods encouragingly, moving slowly.

"Have you ever broken anything before? Or sprained anything?"

[doubled_speed]

The winds are harsh, the rain horrid. But there you are.

"Not since I was a child. Pre-mutation."

And never anything like this.

[wearingthestars]

"I sprained my wrist once. Fell off my bike." It's idle conversation, but he hopes it might distract at least a little from the pain. "My pant leg got caught up in the chain and I got all tangled up. Lost a tooth."

[doubled_speed]

"I've never had a bike," Tommy mumbles, trying to find his balance with Billy. He's so terrible at being centered.

[wearingthestars]

"No?" Right. Billy generally doesn't press about Tommy's home life, but he knows enough to understand why. "...I can get us some," he promises, "You'll be doing laps around me in no time."

[doubled_speed]

"I don't want a fucking bike. If my feet aren't on the ground it doesn't matter," Tommy says, hopping along and trying not to let the wind blow him over.

[wearingthestars]

"...Kay. No bike," Billy echoes softly, trying to brace them against the wind, squinting through the rain.

He doesn't know if this is the right way. Or the right thing to be doing.

[doubled_speed]

Tommy doesn't care. He needs to keep going. Just keep going. Don't stop moving. Never stop.

"I saw Pops in the storm. He's out there."