[Backdated] Storm: Our Lives On Display

[doubled_speed]

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...

Comments

[playingtough]

The moment Tommy is under the blanket with him, Billy is pulling him close. Physically confirming that it is Tommy and not some weird dream or hallucination. Can't be too sure with the aliens. "I should've believed you when you said you'd come back. 'm sorry. No screaming moon? You okay?"

He's trying to be attentive and still half asleep.

[doubled_speed]

"No screaming moon. Just a wonderful man who is going to keep my still cold body warm," Tommy promises. "Smother me with his amazing muscles."

[playingtough]

"Mmm kay." No screaming moon meant they were safe. Actually safe this time. With his boyfriend laid down, Billy lays over his torso, pressing his ear to the smaller man's heart. It takes some finesse to get the blanket back over them, and he shivers at the coolness of Tommy's skin, but doesn't complain. "Thanks for... for coming back."

[doubled_speed]

Oh. This... Feels better than nice. Tommy can't help the little sob that escapes him. He feels safe. He feels warm. He feels wanted. And that's no small thing for him.

"Whenever I can, babe. Whenever I can."

[playingtough]

Oh, he hears that noise and picks his head back up. Curls fall in his eyes but it doesn't matter. "Everything okay? Wha's wrong?" Maybe Tommy was hurt and Billy was laying on the wrong spot? "Need me to put my head somewhere else?"

[doubled_speed]

"I'm just... I'm happy," he whispers. Almost shocked by it. "Please don't move. Let... let me have this."

[playingtough]

Maybe the way Tommy was feeling was the same response Billy had earlier to Tommy dropping the L-word to him. "Okay. As long as you're not hurt." He does lay his head back down to rest on his partner's chest, but watches him with those sleepy blue eyes still. "I'll let you have it all the time, if you want."

[doubled_speed]

Maybe it's similar. But in the moment it's a magical feeling.

"Babe, you're healing all my hurts. I promise," he says, his hand coming up to stroke Billy's hair. "And don't worry, I'll drop by plenty to share this with you."

[playingtough]

If he had the function for it, he'd be purring right now with that hand stroking through his hair. For now he just... groans. It feels nice. Maybe that was healing his hurts too. "Tomorrow. Drop by tomorrow if the storm is gone. I should be at the beach house again. Just us at the sound of the ocean. And maybe the lobsters."

Billy moves one arm to lay a little more on Tommy's leg while the other settles at his shoulder. "Or I can come back and find you at the diner."

[doubled_speed]

"I can help you move to the beach house if you want. Then I'll head back and do some more of the outfitting for the room Tony set aside for me. But next time I visit, gonna show you how to clean and cook those lobsters of yours.'

But the diner's always an option too.

[playingtough]

"Hold my hand while you do it?" Which was a sentence that made no sense. It was the sleep talking, really. He rubs his cheek against Tommy's chest. Maybe it's a little scratchy from that barely there facial hair he's failed to really grow in. "Stark got you a room? You movin' out of the diner?"

[doubled_speed]

"Yeah," he promises. Sure he doesn't know what Billy wants, or maybe he does. Like the night in the diner.

"No. I'm going to have both. The Diner is cozy. It's... personal. Maybe it can be our space. A little nest just for us when we want it. Or when I need space. But I like people around. A lot. So being closer to Jan and Tony and Steve would be nice."

[playingtough]

"Good. Like holding your hand, babe." He smiles, all sleepy and vulnerable, up at Tommy.

"Good, I like the diner. The diner and the beach for us when we need space. Here and wherever Stark's at for social sleepovers." It sounds like a good plan anyways. "We have so many places where we can just be us and I like that. 've you ever noticed your eyes are just so green?"

[doubled_speed]

So many places. And all of the places they want. Together.

"Yeah," he chuckles, his voice soft. "They really are. Greenest in the family. Always wondered about it."

[playingtough]

Together with no one to stop them. Or yell at them. Or hit them. With his head over Tommy's heart, Billy feels the pull of sleep again. They still had hours of peaceful night to go. "Prettiest green to go with the prettiest blue," he says with his voice starting to sigh out as he drifts further to sleep.

"Hey...Tommy...just so you know..." Another rub of his cheek and his eyelids flutter closed. "...I think I love you, too." And Billy's asleep again, content and having the barest snore.

[doubled_speed]

What a thing to hear. Tommy stays still, he doesn't want to wake Billy up. But if he cries himself to sleep, if he cries because he's so happy, no one needs to know.