revivalproject | [Backdated] Storm: Our Lives On Display

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[Backdated] Storm: Our Lives On Display

WHO: Tommy Shepherd, Open
WHERE: Temba
WHAT: Two Stormy Memories
WHEN: During Storm Week
WARNINGS: CW: Child Abuse in starter 2

I. A Memory of Delight

Storms. Tommy hates the storms. In fact, if he could just have 100% less storms, he'd be very happy. The happiest a man can be. With the storms he's just... He's lesser. It's always upset him. Always hurt him. Always left him frayed around the edges. But hey, this time they were supposed to be spotty? So he tries to go about his life.

Problem is, this one hits when he's alone, and man if Tommy wasn't on his way back from the new Avengers manor or whatever Tony was calling it. Turned out he didn't like being in his room there, still a work in progress, when the storms and world felt so draining. So walking back was a thing.

And of course, that's when a storm rolled in over him. The second the rain started he felt his powers go and Tommy just cursed. Because, well, what the fuck was going on here? Why did the rain hate him in particular? Cursing one more time, this time in Polish just for good measure, he finds a bit of stone overhang and sits his ass down. If he doesn't move, logically he shouldn't have troubles, right?

Except there's something different today. Of course there is. The rain is getting thick enough that it's hard to see beyond his hand and for some reason... it almost looks like he's in his room above the diner, which makes no sense at all.

II. A Memory of Pain | CW: Child Abuse will be depicted in threads from this starter

That was an experience that was shaking, and for a while, Tommy just stays back in his room at the diner, cuddled up by the fire even though it made him too hot because it just reminded him of what was happening in the moment. It was safer. It was better.

It wasn't enough because anxiety was prone to driving Tommy out of comfortable situations. Which was why he was outside again, heading for the greenhouse. His other safe place. The one that made him feel like he was useful and had a place where he fit in. Even if he had no powers, he could help the plants, right?

What a mistake that was, going outside. Because while it was clear when he stepped out, by the time he made it across the square and was nearing the greenhouse, the rain started. And this time, well, the change comes quickly.

Too quickly.

Comes in the form of his feet stepping not on the road but on familiar worn down wood. He knows the creak his foot produces almost instantly. And there's the sound of a truck door closing.

Sure it's Tommy there, but it also isn't Tommy there, because to another person's eyes it's Tommy but younger. Tommy but with hair as dark as his brother's, not a hint of white in it. A younger, childhood Tommy who is flinching at the sound of booted footsteps nearing in the rain...

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"Of course I promise, Billy. On my life. On my brother's life. I'll come back if it's safe because that's what you do when you love someone."

Because Tommy falls hard and Tommy falls fast. He's different than he is at home. He's lost enough people that it would be impossible be too afraid of saying it anymore. Because now they could go not because of him, because of the world, and they'd never know. He can't keep being the scared boy that won't say what matters. Love matters. And it needs said. Even if Billy might not be ready to hear it.

Billy certainly wasn't ready to hear it. There's a brief flicker of wonder if Tommy could feel the shock on his face against his shoulder. No one's told him that they loved him in years, not until after he was dead where it didn't matter anymore. All of his protests die from the shock of hearing that Tommy does actually love him.

His hand drops Tommy's to hug him with both arms, tighter. "I—" there's a soft, choked noise, like his throat really is choking on trying to get out the same sentiment. "It is," he finally settles for, squeezing a little tighter as if to translate the sentiment through physical action instead of just words. "It is what you. You go out and save them from storms too."

Of course he doesn't have to say it. Not now. Maybe not ever. Because this is a violation of Tommy's rule of 'at your pace, Sunshine', and in this moment, it's an important violation.

"Yeah, you do," Tommy agrees. "You're my hero, baby. And I'm grateful for that. But you've got to let me protect you from me. Just like I have to trust you to protect me from you."

Because it would destroy the relationship if either of them hurt the other in the ways they feared. It just would.

"Did you know you're in a pretty small and prestigious group, Sunshine? The people who have gone out of their way to save me for me. You and David. I mean, he dragged my team with him into it, and Kate and Billy and Teddy were happy to do it. But it's just you and him. The people who believe too much in me, in different ways."

Billy will find a way to say it one day. He will. He has to. One day he'll say it because he knows that he's worth being loved and it's worth it to tell it to other people. Tommy wasn't his mom. Tommy promised now to come back. "If you don't come back, I'll get your brother to summon you back and unleash an over-caffeinated Munson on you as punishment."

There's a hard sniff and he's pulling back so he can press his lips against Tommy's cheek. "Of course I'm in a....a prestigious group. A-class right here. And I believe in you so much because you believed in me after we first met."

No, he doesn't have to. That's the thing. Some people say it, some people show it. And some people get blindsided by a speedster who can cram two weeks of thought into five minutes to just ponder the beautiful shade of Billy's eyes. Who has had months to love Billy, had months to love him after only a week.

"If I don't come back and power comes back on, you call my brother immediately, okay? Because if I don't come back, I got hurt, and I need rescuing. And it's easier for him to find me than even someone with Comms. And you really don't need Munson to lecture me on it either. Billy's really good at the mom routine. He learned it from Rebecca. She's really good at the 'i'm not mad I'm just disappointed' routine."

Still, he's pleased for the kiss, for the affirmation. Because you know what, sometimes being a hero means something other than superpowers and fighting villains. Sometimes it means pulling people out of the funks of their own lives. And Tommy's particularly good at that aspect.

"You're a wonder to behold, Sunshine."

Billy is more of an action person than a speaker, if all of his actions are to go by right now. "I'll have my phone ready to call him if you're not back by then. I'll go out and look for you myself if I have to."

Hell, Billy might call for the city to search for him.

"Oh, he wouldn't lecture you. That's Harrington. Munson with too much caffeine would talk about everything probably really manically or some shit."

Billy's finally calming enough that his hug loosens from being too tight to just holding Tommy close. "Only because my superboyfriend has promised to come back. Now c'mon. No storm or screaming moon is going to rob me my fucking cuddling time with my boyfriend."

"I have a table in the diner that is defacto his for all the walking on it, trust me, I know. I can't begrudge him that. Energy is my thing too."

He just channels it better into farming. That takes more than one might expect out of you. Which Tommy's grateful for. Has always been grateful for.

"Yeah. Show me to your room. I'm going to wrap you up in my arms."

"Are you fucking kidding me? That's nasty." Even if it was just Eddie's table. Finally, he straightens up and lets one of those hands stroke down Tommy's arm to take his hand. "Yeah, c'mon. I wanna get in as much as I can before you run off to get a break from my amazingness."

Which they both knew it wasn't that, but it helps Billy feel better. Tommy promised to come back and Billy knew he'd keep to it. He kept to giving Billy all those chances and believing in him, so the guy wouldn't slip up now.

He leads them up to the top level, into a room that's decorated with green and purple stuff. Not his taste, but it was a place to live while the winter raged on outside. His bundle of stuff is by the door where he put it after getting the tape player, and he undoes it now. Blanket and pillow, his medication, the precious vase of shells, all get put back in their winter spots. The matching earring from Tommy's birthday gift catches what little light streams in through the window as he sets the vase down. "Not the beach house, but this place did well for me during the winter."

"Yep."

Which Tommy has/will deal with by telling Eddie he's responsible for cleaning it.

When they enter the room, though, Tommy has to stop. To chuckle. Because of course.

"You found her room," Tommy observes. "Explains why you're so far up. Bet she chose this space because the stairs were part of her exercise routine. Geez. Building a gym and obstacle course wasn't good enough for the Accuser I guess."

He moves right to the bed, drops his damp shoes that he hasn't bothered putting back on by the wall, and sits.

"At least she had taste. And you were smart. Higher up means warmer. Good plan. Plus possible emergency egress by getting to the roof and calling me or one of the fliers. Smart boy."

A brow raises at the chuckle. There's about to be a protest about the colors when Tommy explains that it was someone else's room at some point. He had no idea who this person was that Tommy was referring to, but she had to be some kind of badass to use the stairs as part of her routine.

"Yeah, warmer up here, even if it takes longer to get to the showers downstairs. Figured if someone came after me here, they'd trip on the stairs and I'd hear them to give me a headstart out." Billy sits down next to Tommy. Reaching behind where he threw it, he pulls the blanket over their shoulders and leans his head to Tommy's. "I'm your smart boy, and you're my pretty boy."

"You're my pretty boy too," Tommy points out. Then he leans against his boyfriend more fully.

"Lauri-Ell developed some personality, but apparently couldn't separate it from the Empire. Uh... You got here after she left. Kree woman, Billy and Teddy's bodyguard when Teddy becomes Emperor and Billy is the Prince-Consort. She was so protective of Billy. It was nice having another set of eyes on him. And now he's got Soldier."

"Handsome boy," he corrects instinctively, then frowns. Because if 'pretty' was too feminine for him, then what did that mean when he used it for Tommy? "Well, okay. Only you get to call me a pretty boy." One hand makes it way up and around to hold onto Tommy's shoulder."

And he listens. "Yeah? No idea what a Kree is. Er, who. Who a Kree is. But I guess I just took her place but as your bodyguard. Bodyguard with boyfriend benefits. And Soldier's cool. He's training me sometimes."

"Pretty and handsome," Tommy counters. "You're both, babe. And that's okay."

But really, Tommy would happily wear a dress or date someone who did even if they were a guy, so he's definitely more free with shit like that than other people.

"What is fair. They're another species. She was almost seven feet tall, a wall of muscle. Blue skin, white hair. Wielded a giant, scientifically magic hammer that was bonded to her on a genetic level. And she cared about people. She... threw Billy and me a birthday party one year."

It was weird to think she would do that for him as well. Really weird.

"Soldier's training me a little too. Not many people here fast enough to teach me how to do things."

Damn. Sounds like someone who could train Billy, too. "Wow, that's tall. Good thing she's not here otherwise I might have competition." He gives a very slight pinch to tease, on Tommy's arm. "She sounds like someone who'd be good at training a lot of people. Like Gladio and Soldier."

"I'm guessing you're what they call a fast learner. Literally. Glad Soldier's teaching you. Maybe one day I'll spar with you."

"Competition for what?"

Because Billy's not the tallest, strongest, or buffest here. Just the prettiest.

"She tried. She was a soldier, and cared about people I guess. But she's gone home now. To protect the Emperor and the Prince-Consort."

As for Tommy, he snorts.

"Speed-reading definitely helps me learn things that I don't always retain. But muscle memory is a whole other thing. And being confident with how much speed or force I'm putting into something. I'm starting with Soldier so I can even learn how to fight someone without speed and not shatter their bones."

"Well she's tall and I bet she was pretty. And strong. Sounds like but as a chick with blue skin and white hair." There's a pull at the corner of his lips at the mention of the woman going home. "I guess that happens a lot here. Aliens realizing maybe some people aren't cut out to be the heroes they want us to be."

Maybe that said something about Billy since he was still here. Something about Tommy for certain.

"You seem pretty pacifist in fighting. Which is funny because the shit I hear about superheroes is a lot of collateral damage and stuff. I guess you're trying to offset that kind of stuff."

Now he starts scooting back on the bed, intending to get the cuddling started.

"I don't know if she was pretty," Tommy rolls his eyes. "But she was cut out to be that sort of hero. A soldier for her people, the Accuser for the Throne, she's got nobility seeping out of her pores or some shit."

But Tommy thinks Billy has potential. A lot of it. Which makes him feel good too.

"I try not to hurt people more than I have to, Billy. I've killed on accident. I would prefer not to do it unless I mean it, and I only mean it if someone I love is threatened or there is no other choice."

So yeah, collateral damage happens, but he tries to avoid it. That's not his duty. Then, with his boyfriend moving away, he lays down as well and rolls to cuddle up against Billy.

The title of Accuser didn't sound good in Billy's book, but he doesn't linger on it. Whoever Lauri-El was didn't matter right now because this was his bed now, and he was gonna cuddle on it. "I know. You wouldn't have this whole thing about the moon and stuff if you didn't want to avoid it. You're a superhero after all, not a supervillain."

"I know you wanna be the big spoon, but humor me, and let me be the big spoon first. Then we can switch, okay?" Because he's already pulling gently at Tommy to do just that. Even moves the blanket to try and cover them both.

"I could have been. A supervillain."

It would have been so easy. "But my brother and them, they believed in me. Gave me a chance. Like I believed in you and gave you a chance the best I could."

He could protest, he wants to protest. But the way Billy just moves him, well... He allows it. Because he's still shaken. Still sad. Still scared.

"Okay, but not for too long, alright?"

"But you're not. I'm glad they gave you a chance like you gave me one." What kind of person would he be right now if he had never had someone believe in him to be better? He'd probably be only a few steps further from who he was at the start than the progress he had made by now.

Once Tommy shifts to rest in his arms, Billy tucks his head between Tommy's neck and the pillow. "Not for too long," he echoes in promise. "Just wanna hold you for a bit. Then we can switch. If I fall asleep, just turn us over." Because if he did fall asleep, Billy knew he'd push in his sleep until he was on top of Tommy to keep him there.

Yeah, Tommy is too. Desperately happy that he got a chance to be more than his worst impulses. more than his fear and anger.

"I just... I'll be careful. Just hold me, okay? Shut up and hold me."

Billy shifts his face out from under Tommy's cheek and presses a kiss to his neck. "I am holding you, Tomothy. Just relax. I've got you."

But he does shut up as asked, or demanded of really, then gently pats around until he finds Tommy's hands. Links their fingers together to hold his partner. Then Billy regulates his breathing into an easy pattern to hopefully have Tommy mimic.

"You keep calling me that and I'm going to have to call you Silly Billy or something," Tommy warns him, though he's definitely pressing into that kiss. It's a comfort.

As much of a comfort as having someone else guide his breathing. That? That's a wonder.

Billy keeps it up for five minutes, holding still and just... taking in the moment. Sure, the sound of the storm is still outside, but it's more like ambience now. It's just him and Tommy in the dark room and twined around each other like nothing else mattered.

Because nothing else did in this moment.

Tommy said he loved Billy, a phrase that rocked him to his core and while he couldn't say it back, Billy's sure Tommy knows. He has to get it.

"You could call me a Billy Goat," he finally murmurs, shifting a little to keep himself from falling asleep.

"What, because you're going to headbutt and climb your way to the top?" he asks, half amused.

And of course he's thinking of goat simulator. God that's hilarious.

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