doubled_speed: (Default)
Tommy Shepard ([personal profile] doubled_speed) wrote in [community profile] revivalproject2024-09-28 11:58 am

This Is How We Get Along

WHO: Tommy Shepherd, Tony Stark, Billy Hargrove
WHERE: Tony's Workshop, Tommy's Room in Avengers HQ
WHAT: Trying to figure out a gift; emotional vulnerability
WHEN: Late September, Early October
WARNINGS: To Be Added in the Billy Hargrove Thread

I. What Do You Get For A Surfer Dude? | Closed to Tony
The thing about Tommy was that he was kind of shit about asking for help when he needed it for himself. Things that would benefit him, or make his life better, or help him deal with his shit. It wasn't something he did. Which always made him showing up to ask for it harder.

So yeah, his showing up (after a good bit of searching) at Tony's workshop door, knocking lightly as he did so, was odd. Him looking nervous was probably less so. He was, after all, trying to heal what he thought was some damage between them due to his own actions. But this wasn't about any of that. This was about asking for help. And fuck if he wasn't shit at that.

II. The Terror of Being Known | Closed to Billy Hargrove
Between them they have so many places to withdraw to. The shack on the beach, the apartment above the diner, the rooms taken up by Billy for his winter in the Civics Center. And here. The place Billy is getting to see for the first time while he comes help Tommy make the place more homey.

A room in the established Avengers HQ. A place shared with Steve Rogers and Janet Van Dyne and probably others. A place that was more plain than the efforts he had taken with the diner's space. Which was supposed to change today. That was absolutely the plan.

A plan that was being foiled by the frustrated noise as Tommy tried, once again, to get a table to sit level. He'd been trying to shim this thing for ten minutes now. Ten minutes for someone like Billy. A lot more than that for Tommy. It was a frustration so deep that he finally did something stupid. He kicked a leg of it in frustration. And with speed. Too much speed. The metal leg bent from the force, dumping the table and the box of tools and decorations that had been sitting on it to the floor.

Which in turn only amped Tommy's bad mood up further, leaving him fuming in particular down at a small, potted plant that clearly had a damaged pot now. Something that was going to take repotting.

"Fucking hell."
playingtough: (Watching ∂ Hard)

[personal profile] playingtough 2024-10-09 11:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"Not me," comes the pushback. He holds Tommy as tight as he dares, not wanting him to think it'd be easy to get away. "Your parents are pieces of shit. They're right there with Neil. You be the bodyguard for Billy Kaplan, I'll be the bodyguard for you."

Billy pulls back enough to look at Tommy. "Look at me, Tommy." Reaches up to rub his thumb against that cheek. "I told you, awhile back that Temba was supposed to be my miracle. It isn't. You are, okay? And if you think I'm leaving my miracle behind, you're crazy enough to give Harrington a run for his money."

He thinks for a moment. "Also, maybe the one parent of yours that wasn't shit is... what his name? Vizh?"
playingtough: (Watching ∂ Attentive)

[personal profile] playingtough 2024-10-09 11:54 pm (UTC)(link)
"And? Who cares if he was really a parent? You see him as one, that's all that matters. A parent should be someone that raises you and you look up to them because they're good." That thumb starts up a rhythm of gently rubbing back and forth. He's your parent, I'm your boyfriend, and you're mine. This is one of those bad brain things, right? Keeps telling you lies even though I'm telling you the truth?"

Billy doesn't get it but he does a little bit. Whatever, he's trying. Mental health isn't a thing yet in his era.
playingtough: (Staring ∂ Shock)

[personal profile] playingtough 2024-10-10 12:08 am (UTC)(link)
There he is. Billy doesn't let up the touch, keeping his boyfriend in his arms. "Baby, this is your first experience with me. Do you think I'm lying when I say I'm not going to leave you? The night you had to leave because you were afraid of your powers coming back to hurt me, I hated it. I didn't want you to leave even if it was to protect me. I wanted you right back in bed even though I was asleep when you left."
playingtough: (Staring ∂ Shock)

[personal profile] playingtough 2024-10-10 12:27 am (UTC)(link)
"You don't get to tell me what or who I will or won't want, babe. We decided we were gonna date, so you're stuck with me now. Call it the consequences of actions or something. You are... man, you are really stuck in this, aren't you?"
playingtough: (Worried ∂ Oops)

[personal profile] playingtough 2024-10-10 12:34 am (UTC)(link)
"C'mere." It's not a suggestion, because Billy's already leading them back over to the bed. Gently moving the bundle he originally brought, off to the side, he sits down and pulls Tommy down to sit next to him. "You are a mess. A hot mess, and my hot mess. I'll spend the night more to keep you still. I can't fix it, but I can make sure you're not alone."
playingtough: (down ∂ humbled)

[personal profile] playingtough 2024-10-10 12:42 am (UTC)(link)
Oh. This sort of sounds like the same stuff Tommy had been scared of during the storms. "Then you hurt me and I know it's an accident. You think I wouldn't know the difference between accidental and intentional? You've seen the way my head looks for yourself, neither of us come from great backgrounds. Screaming means a nightmare. Would you help me through mine? Because you have. Which means I'd help you through yours. We're boyfriends, Tommy. Partners. I'm not gonna be like my dad, I'm gonna try to help you."

Stubborn little shit.
playingtough: (Baby Blues ∂ Soft)

[personal profile] playingtough 2024-10-10 02:49 pm (UTC)(link)
"It’s the same thing with me. You know if I hurt you, it’s an accident. You’re smart enough to know when I mean it and when I don’t." He loops an arm around one shoulder, and then rummages in his bundle with the other.

"Don’t be fucking sorry. You’re allowed to be upset. Here," and he pushes one of the shells he brought with him to Tommy’s hand. "Tell me about this."
playingtough: (Smoking ∂ Arrogant)

[personal profile] playingtough 2024-10-12 11:13 pm (UTC)(link)
"I know you're smarter than you think you are," he points out, still holding the shell. With his boyfriend holding the bronze and teal colored shell, he loops an arm around Tommy's shoulder.

"Yeah? Describe it to me. Like I was blind."
playingtough: (interested ∂ head tilt)

[personal profile] playingtough 2024-10-12 11:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Did he forgive him? Or just understand? Or maybe them being jerks towards each other cancelled things out. Billy was just trying to get him to calm down enough by putting his focus elsewhere for the moment. "Yeah, definitely edible. Scallop. Sometimes people draw them over mermaid's tits."

He leans against Tommy briefly and traces his fingers over those slimmer ones. "Eat a lot of scallops at home? Alfredo with pasta and scallops?"
playingtough: (Watching ∂ Attentive)

[personal profile] playingtough 2024-10-12 11:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Right. Jewish. Things had to be kosher. Hopefully that wouldn't be a problem soon. It wasn't like certain food items came magicked with an ingredient label on them. "Right, strict diet. I should ask about that. And yeah, only work on flat people. Doesn't stop artists from drawing them. Or starfish. Apparently they don't research when thinking of what to give mermaids for bras."

The hand tracing over Tommy's gently covers it now. "Feel better? It's upsetting, but we can fix this. The table, the painting, it can be mended, babe." Billy's voice is very careful and soft, blue eyes looking over his partner's.
playingtough: (Manic ∂ Tongue)

[personal profile] playingtough 2024-10-13 12:01 am (UTC)(link)
"Okay, I got about half of those word, and most of them were not the nouns." He keeps holding his guy's hand, knowing if it wasn't allowed, the hand would be gone. "I know how it feels to be worked up like that. To let it start with throwing a pebble into a still lake and watching it ripple out from there. And then I threw a rock in, and we kept rippling at each other. Felt like you were trying to test me and all the reforming I've been doing."

"Do you wanna try the decorate thing, or you wanna break from here? Maybe a tour of this place? So I know who we're gonna be bothering when you finally let me wrestle you in bed."
playingtough: (Soft Words ∂ Possibly Dangerous)

[personal profile] playingtough 2024-10-15 06:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Billy taps his fingers against Tommy’s hand. Listening. He gets what his partner is saying. The bad dreams of the past, like how Billy gets touchy around the Fourth of July.

"Yeah, I know him. Don’t know Jan though. Figured taking a break out of this room just for a walk would help." Siting here was fine. "If Jan teases you, I’ll beat her up."

He wouldn’t. It’s the thought that counts maybe.

"If you want, I’ll sleep over more in September. Be your guard dog against the nightmares."
playingtough: (Watching ∂ Hard)

[personal profile] playingtough 2024-10-15 07:54 pm (UTC)(link)
There’s a moment of silence while Billy tries to map that out in his mind. Once he’s got it, Billy mentally filed it away to hopefully remember lately. "It’s cool, babe. Trying to figure out what works in helping you. And nightmares like that? You can come to the beach. You get access that only Max gets. A couple of knocks and you can come in."

His thumb rubs the back of Tommy’s hand. "I’m here babe. I know I can’t fix everything and I yell a lot, but I’m right here for you. Just like you’ve been for me since Calibrations."

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Yeah, sounds good to me <3

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