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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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.

"What?" Well that gets him awake an attentive again. Billy props himself up on an arm and uses one hand to sweep some of Tommy's hair away. "Billy goat gruff or some shit like that. A kid's book I think, isn't it?"

He's not thinking of Goat Simulator. Billy's thinking of actual goats.

"Means I've got horns and a mean headbutt when I want to." Maybe that's what he should've tried against Kaplan. A good old-fashioned headbutt.

"Babe, I never had kids books read to me," Tommy points out, his voice soft and sad.

Frank and Mary had lost interest in him as a kid pretty quickly. Almost to much so. Enough for it to have hurt when he thought about it in the past. So he doesn't have that reference.

"You definitely don't have horns, babe. I would have noticed."

"Maybe we'll fix that one day. Maybe we can ask the aliens for some and see what they give us for 'kids books'." He grins at the thought of it. That free hand pushes gently at Tommy with the intention to try and get his partner to lay on his back, and frowns when the guy doesn't move. Fine.

He lays back down to hug his partner again with a sigh. "I bet I do have horns. They're just hidden in my hair so no one knows I'm a devil outright."

"I think I'm fine with what I already read, babe."

Because he does. Quite a bit, when he can get his hands on stuff. For now, he just lets himself think. And refuse the pushing. He told Billy he needs to be able to get away.

"I've messed with your hair enough not to buy it.

Billy would push more, to try and test the boundary... but he doesn't. Mostly because he's tired, but also because that was Tommy saying no. No was a boundary. "Dashing my hopes and dreams. First about reading shitty kids books to you, then about finding horns in my hair."

He presses his face to Tommy's shoulder so he can feel that playful pout. Then it just turns into a little kiss.

"I like cuddling you. I know I can't, but... but it makes me feel like I can shield you against the stupid shit out there."

"Well, I guess if you are reading them to me, I can approve. Just a bit."

But the horns he can't help with.

"When I'm sure that there won't be any sudden power surges, you can do exactly what you want. I'm okay with that. Promise. I like... Feeling supported. Desired. Anchored."

"I know. I'm trying to be patient n' stuff about it. I know you promised to come back if the power stuff happens, but-" 'I'm still scared you won't' teeters on the tip of his tongue before he bites it back. Rubs his face a little against Tommy's back.

He makes an amused noise. "Heh. Yeah? I like doing that for you. I guess I figured it'd be obvious with how I went out to that storm looking for you and let you borrow my clothes..." He holds onto the speedster just a little tighter, not wanting to let go like this. Even if he did agree that they could flip over so his boyfriend could have a quick escape.

"When we make promises we have to trust them," Tommy says. "Otherwise they're meaningless."

So he's going to stand his ground on that one. And not argue it anymore. Billy can either trust him or not. That's on him, not on Tommy. But Tommy's trusting that Billy will let him go, will let him hold Billy instead. Will give him that chance.

"They are a bit big on me."

Trust. That was the foundation of what they had, right? A relationship. He presses his face firmly into the space between Tommy's shoulder blades, willing to let go and turn over. Tommy said he'd come back. He would.

He would, he would, he would.

His mother had only left. She never made a promise to come back. Just because she left all those years ago didn't mean that Tommy would do the same. Finally, his grip starts to soften and slowly, as if Billy hadn't entirely made up his mind, pulls his hands away. He trusts Tommy. "Yeah? I wonder why that is, hm?" Teasing, keeping out of his head, which is easy enough as he focuses on turning over so his boyfriend can be the big spoon.

"Because I like guys that could theoretically manhandle me," Tommy says. And he's so happy. He rolls over and wraps himself eagerly around his boyfriend. Perhaps holds him a touch tight, but he doesn't have his enhanced strength at the moment either. It's still nice.

Billy's never been the little spoon before. It's strange but...he likes it? Oh. And Tommy's even holding him tight and it feels kind of like a blanket with weight in it.

Oh.

One hand goes up to just lay on Tommy's arm as he basks in being held. "Wait, hang on—"

Billy shimmies a little bit, getting further down on Tommy so that the speedster can put his chin (or face, really) in those golden curls. "How about that? I could manhandle you all the time but only when you say so."

Like at the stairs, he could've done it, but chose not to for Tommy's comfort.

Barnacle mode activated. He did warn Billy. He warned you, bro. He's even highly pleased when Billy shifts so that it's easier. More comfortable. Yeah, that works for him most definitely.

"This works. And you're welcome to manhandle me plenty. Not like I can't avoid it most of the time. When you manhandle me, it's always cause I let you. Except times like this."

The warning was there, and Billy didn't think anything of it. But now that it's happening... he likes it. It's nice and... surprisingly comforting. He even sighs and actually relaxes under his partner's grip.

"I could, right now. I could get what I want and roll over to pin you to this bed." It sounds like he's going to do it, but Billy doesn't move. "But it's like you with my clothes. I respect us too much to actually do it."

Even if Billy REALLY wanted to do it.

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