revivalproject | It's the Final Countdown

Entry tags:

It's the Final Countdown

WHO: Billy, The Remembers, OTA
WHERE: Billy's City
WHAT: Kidnapping, and Final Showdown
WHEN: Event End
WARNINGS: TBD

Billynapping

It was nice to have a routine, and in a city like this, it could be hard to keep one, the ever changing landscape of hero vs. villain could make things difficult to predict. But this one was still going strong. Billy rode his bike through the streets, making sure to stop for his usual offering of donuts, before continuing on to the comic stand.

He offered a wave towards Peter, busy with a small group of kids, and went to lock up his bike so he could browse, holding the bag in his teeth so he could stoop on the pavement and struggle with the finicky key.

Shadow Monster

This was not good. This was a serious threat to this world where the Shadow had come to enjoy it's free reign.

The Darkness swooped in oozing and spreading like mist, its shape ill defined and ever changing, shielding Billy and attempting to drive away anyone who would try to get near. It spread up through the sky, spreading it's reach and calling out to those it had infected to come protect this world, whatever the cost.

Billy appeared to have no sway over the creature, looking just as surprised as frightened as the rest of them, though the Shadow clearly was determined to isolate him him, whether he wanted it or not.

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Look, kidnapping someone he'd like to think of as a friend (in this life, even if they hadn't really had time to build a friendship in Temba yet) - it usually wouldn't be his first choice. But they really probably should have this conversation somewhere a little less out in the open.

So here he is, at the comic stand, waiting for Billy, smiling when the older young man shows up.

"Hey! Been a while, huh? So did you see that message that got spammed all over the place?" he asks, tone friendly, like it's idle curiosity.

"Ezra?" This was a surprise. They'd hung out a bit before Billy graduated, but they hadn't really kept in touch.

Billy smiles, straightening and nodding, "Yeah, it's been a while. Donut?" he offers, holding out the bag, "They're still hot."

The question has him pausing, momentarily looking the smallest bit uncomfortable before he gives another nod. "Uh...yeah, that was weird, right? Do you think it's some kind of viral ad for something, or...?"

Edited 2021-05-31 01:16 (UTC)

There was enough of a building corner for Kaz to lean against while Ezra got Billy's attention. Once he did Kaz shifted his grip on his cane so his steps would be silent and moved behind Billy when he turned back to look at Ezra.

"Since It was seen by everyone, I doubt if it would spread any more."

The fact that Kaz knew what 'going viral' even meant now was courtesy of Billy's reality. But holding his own memory along with the one Billy created for him both in his head at the same time was challenging.

Ezra glances back at Kaz and then back to Billy, still smiling, "Billy, this is Kaz. Kaz, Billy."

He taps his chin thoughtfully. "And Kaz is right; it doesn't really fit viral marketing. I actually think it was someone trying to be helpful."

The silent approach has Billy starting in surprise when Kaz speaks, turning to glance at the stranger with an anxious crease of his brow. He tries to lessen that worried look when Ezra makes introduction, flushing slightly and lifting his fingers in a tentative greeting.

"Hey- uh...Kaz?" he repeats, trying to shift so he's not quite so bookended. "Well, I mean...it got us talking. Right?" he tries to joke, looking uncomfortable again, "...Helpful how?"

But the idea had been to bookend Billy. Billy's greeting and little wave get nothing in return but Kaz is almost always like that anyway. He still keeps his eyes on Billy wherever he goes.

For the moment he says nothing, letting Ezra try to get through to Billy first.

Ezra holds his position for the moment, because he's picking up on the fact that on some level Billy's situational awareness is on high alert. Nearly bookended my have to do.

"Well - it mentioned...Temba? That rang some bells for me. Reminded me of some dreams I've been having lately." Which is true, as far as that goes, he just also remembers Temba when he's awake, too.

"That's a weird coincidence, right?"

Temba.

Billy stiffens a little- just for a moment- and gives an uncomfortable laugh. "Yeah, I guess that's pretty weird. Maybe it's from something?"

He silent offers the paper bag of donuts to Kaz as well, and tries to turn the subject away from that disturbing message. "So um...you looking for any books in particular this week, or-?"

"No. I've been busy trying to find Bill-E."

Kaz had no patience for beating around the bush and told Billy the truth. Not that Billy could know it but not too long ago Kaz first thought of putting a bullet in Billy's brain. He was better off with Ezra's plan but it was going to be hard to get Kaz to be anything but unpleasant right now.

The boys have done an excellent job distracting Billy. He's focused on them and not really paying attention to anything else.

Good.

Ikora came from behind the group, moving almost silently as she approached. She said nothing to announce her presence, simply reached over and put a hand on Billy's shoulder and the other she wrapped around his arm.

Then... they Blinked. For a moment they existed in the space between atoms, crossing city blocks in the blink of an eye. They reappeared inside a warehouse with the others who were waiting for them.

"Take a breath," she said, her tone calm and gentle. "We're not going to hurt you. We just want to talk. About going home."

Billy's eyes narrow with a frown, but before Billy can say anything he's interrupted by an unfamiliar and unexpected touch. He tries to flinch away from it, but in the space of a second they're in a whole new space, a sensation Billy's body isn't used to in this world. It's not like when Tommy zips him across town, but it does have the same nauseating effect on his stomach, face pale as he attempts to stumble away.

"What th- uggghhh- What are you- who-?" he accuses in a jumbled rush. The layout of this place is a mystery, but it doesn't stop him from trying to bolt.

Eddie felt the call. He didn't know what it was, but he felt a need to help someone. A need to fight. So he hopped in his car and raced towards that call.

As he grew closer, the feeling grew stronger. He saw a gate in his path. Instead of stopping and opening it, he accelerated. His car slammed into the gate, wrecking both the gate... And his car.

His car limped along for a bit before it finally died. Getting out, he continued on foot. The warehouse was easy enough to find. The shadow lead him straight to it. He tried the door and found it locked. That won't stop him, though. He took a step back and cracked his neck. Leaning forward, he aimed a stream of acid at the locks. It was only a matter of time before he'd get through.

Stark Industries had been about to get snowed in. Well, iced in, if people wanted to get technical. The same hoodie-wearing robot that had been spotted wandering the expo the other week had apparently decided to come back and freeze the front doors. While it wasn't certain what further damage he might have intended, it seemed that something else had suddenly drawn his attention, and that something else was elsewhere.

While he had no car, he managed well enough crossing the distance by traveling in as close to a straight line as possible, leaping along buildings, blinking through walls. He knew the destination. He might arrive a little late to the party, but late was fashionable, wasn't it?

A black cat leapt out from the shadows at Billy and hissed, trying to keep him from running.

"My name is Ikora Rey," she said calmly as she also moved to intercept him. "You have my word, I'm not going to hurt you. We've discovered reality is warped and you are the source. Remember the message?"

That she hoped would perhaps unsettle him, distract him, keep him from running. "We need you to remember. Temba. Home. A rundown city and aliens who need your help. A hero."

Peter had left the stand for just a moment to grab another Gatorade, and came back to ... well .. Billy disappearing into thin air.

"Whoa, whoa, HEY! What -- what's -- I mean, seriously, what?!"

Edited 2021-06-03 15:52 (UTC)

The message from the Agri had brought her memories back, slamming into her like a magazine full of bullets to a kevlar vest, and it had taken Starling a few days to recover. Now that she had, though, she knew that Darkness wasn't a good sign, and loaded up on whatever non-lethal weapons SHIELD could provide someone with her credentials. (There were quite a few.) She had stun darts in gauntlets around her wrists, a tranquilizer gun at her hip, and a prayer on her lips that she wouldn't need to use any of them: especially when she saw the two familiar faces already assaulting the warehouse.

"Cayde! Eddie!" She called out, one hand hovering over the tranq. "C'mon, boys, this's gotta stop."

It took a long time. Tommy hated himself for it. The fastest person on Agra 10 and he was late to the most important battle he could ever fight. Frankly, it wasn't his fault. Quentin Beck was in SO MUCH trouble later, but that was another matter altogether. Everything on him hurt, his leg was only just recovering from a break, and his heart...

He didn't want to get into how his heart was aching.

Tommy walked in and ignored the shadow monsters. Any that might approach were met only with Tommy raising a hand and sending an explosion rippling through them as he called out.

"Billiam, we need to talk."

The plan had been to catch up with Ikora and Billy at the warehouse, as soon as possible. The Darkness oozing out and around from where Ikora had taken Billy sure was a crimp on execution.

Although, really, Ezra thinks to himself, he should have seen something like this coming. He doesn't really want to fight, but he also doesn't like that he's not really in position to do so, even if he wanted.

And, then, when he spots Ben, he finds himself disliking that inability even more.

Chest tight, Billy felt a wash of relief when he saw his brother. The Shadow couldn't get close enough to Tommy to turn him, and though it tried to fence the brothers off from one another it couldn't keep them apart.

"Tommy-" Billy looked frightened, defensive, and worn down, but there was hope in his eyes now that Tommy was there. He'd make this all stop. All this fighting...

He hates this. He hates this a LOT. But Tommy knows that he isn't here to save his brother the way his brother might think. Tommy wasn't the hero in this story. No one here was except... Well, Billy.

Another shadow approached and Tommy pumped another explosion into it.

"Billy, I'm going to need you to stop this. All of this. I'm tired, and I'm hurting, and I could REALLY use the hospital right now. And more red fruit than my body can handle."

"...What are you talking about?" Billy's brow creased, and he took a half step back. His brother didn't think he was behind this too? Did he? That fearful look swallowed up his features, and Billy shook his head.

"I didn't do any of this. I don't know what's happening, Tommy- please-!"

Oh Billy. Tommy moved to close the rest of the space, offering his hands out to Billy. He has two sets of memories overlapping in his mind. He has his real life, and he had this one. The latter was used to his brother reaching back if Tommy reached out. They were close here. They had been raised together here. They loved each other here.

"Wiccan. That's your name, when you cape up. You're a witch, nerd-face."

Almost immediately Billy was reaching back, feet moving to close the distance despite his teary eyes as he took his brothers hands.

He didn't want to remember. Why couldn't they just be happy here? Why couldn't they just pretend?

"I'm not-" he insisted weakly, "I don't have powers."

No, Billy. You don't get to do this. Tommy grabs those hands once they're close and he holds his brother in a far too tight grip.

"Wiccan, Billy fucking Kaplan, don't you DARE pull a Mom! I won't do this. I won't let you stand by in your pain and give us the House of M all over again. We're not Maximoffs, and we're not going to make their mistakes unless you're ready for someone to fucking crush me with a fucking boulder, and we're fresh out of father figures for that."

He flinched, and for all his denial there was clearly recognition in those eyes. Billy knew that story, much as he was trying to fight it.

"I can't- please- don't make me go back- Tommy- please. They wouldn't stop- I couldn't- it hurt too much, please-"

Edited (words) 2021-06-04 03:32 (UTC)

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Page 1 of 3

It's the Final Countdown

Billynapping

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Reinforcements

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just gonna leave this here

hope this is cool!

A Resolution In Words

Shadow monster time (for Ben)

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