I didn't mean for it to happen

[wearingthestars]

WHO: Billy, Tommy, Bucky/The Soldier, OTA
WHERE: Temba, YA House
WHAT: The aftermath
WHEN: Early June
WARNINGS: TBD



The Return & What Follows (for Tommy)

Billy screamed, and the world dissolved. The Shadow had shielded him from the worst of it, assaulted by those memories in a non stop barrage for however long they were in there, but now he remembered it all. He dimly registered he was back in his calibration room, hoping he'd managed to release the others before he collapsed heavily onto the floor. He shouldn't have been able to perform that level of magic here. And whatever had allowed it abruptly cut it off with his return, utterly drained from the experience.

He was unconscious, in and out of nightmares for days before he finally jolted awake in a cold sweat, practically tumbling from the bed in his race to the bathroom to retch.

What had he done?

Avoidance [OTA]

Even after he awoke, Billy didn't want to leave the house. He was ashamed and scared, and used the excuse of resting for far longer than was true.

A few faces managed to hunt him down there, and it wasn't like Billy could turn them away, eventually relenting and breaking down a few of those barriers.

After that it was a little easier to venture out. It took a few smaller outing before he was able to get as far as the Hospital, but there at least he could focus on work.

(For Bucky/The Soldier)

Billy knew he probably wanted to stay hidden away as much as he did right now, but after what they'd been through together in the other world, he trusted the man to help him with this. Tommy and the others would refuse, but he was confident Bucky would understand. And he needed to apologize.

His magic was still weak, but it led him to the general location where he was meant to be. Billy couldn't quite meet his eye when he found him, swallowing thickly and looking uncomfortable.

"...Hey. Could we talk?"

Apology- Network- Text

I can't begin to make up for what I put you all through this last month. I had no right, and I'm so sorry you all got caught up in this mess.

I know that doesn't begin to make it right.

They did something to me. Like Calibrations...but worse. I don't know how. And I'm not trying to make excuses for what I did but- I'm scared they'll do it again. To any of us. I thought people should know.

Comments

[doubled_speed]

They both know who that somebody is, don't they? David, that was going to be the one who changed him. Except...

"IT doesn't matter what you want, Mister Prince. Me? I'm just doing my best, and apparently cheating on David or some shit."

[wearingthestars]

Billy winced a little. He definitely hadn't planned any of that for either of them. "Didn't expect that," he agreed, understanding how complicated that must feel. "I'm sorry- the world just kind of shaped itself after the guidelines, some of it was random, and some of it was pulled from what people wanted-"

[doubled_speed]

Some of it pulled from what people wanted. That… answered something he had wanted to ask.

“Do you, well, know which was which? Because I’ve been dealing with a lot of shit while you’ve been sleeping, Billiam, and I don’t know what the fuck to think of any of it.”

[wearingthestars]

"Some of it," he answered vaguely, "Which...shit?" he asked a bit awkwardly, though he suspected he knew.

[doubled_speed]

Oh come on man.

"Kyle," he answers, his voice quavering a little. He had been loved, Billy. He had meant something. "You have no clue how complicated it's been to be around him?"

[wearingthestars]

Billy hesitates, not sure which answer is worse, given Tommy's got David back home.

"...I think...one or both of you had some feelings that might have fed into it," he supplies.

[doubled_speed]

That... Was honestly what he'd needed to hear. A kind of confirmation. And now the question was what he was going to do with it. Especially because of David.

Pining for his significant other Kyle had accused him before. But where had he ever gotten with David compared to Kyle? Shit. All he can do is wonder what to do now.

"And what about you? YOu just want to be normal?"

[wearingthestars]

"I mean...sometimes, yeah," he admitted, knowing that probably sounded crazy. "This kind of power can be...a lot. I mean look at what I did with it. ...I just wanted a place where I was safe."

[doubled_speed]

Just wanted a place where he was safe. Tommy moved immediately to grab Billy and pull his brother into his arms. No, this isn't something he can accept.

"I'll keep you safe. I swear."

[wearingthestars]

Billy was a little taken aback by the sudden hug, but was happy to accept it, willing those tears not to well up again.

He wasn't sure Tommy could keep him safe. Not from this. Not for lack of trying.

"...The other me-...the Shadow one...the memories were still going. The whole time." He'd been spared that with his life in the other world, but once he'd accepted the Shadow back into himself- it hadn't been pleasant.

[doubled_speed]

"Then I'll find a way to make the memories stop," Tommy insisted, letting his brother go and standing. Clearly he's about to bolt to go find an answer.

[wearingthestars]

"Tommy-" Billy motioned to halt him, "They've stopped now. Just...while we were in there I mean. I was still feeling them. Part of me. I don't think they can do it outside of that room. Or...if they can they haven't yet."

[doubled_speed]

Tommy's whole body starts to vibrate at that statement. What he wants to do is destroy that whole area, to bring it down. He doesn't want Billy hurting like this.

"I'll destroy this whole world if they hurt you like that again."

[wearingthestars]

"Calm down," Billy insists, not really meaning to use his magic, but the little he has at the moment works to try and still that vibration before Tommy gets too worked up.

"You got me out. Come here."

[doubled_speed]

Tommy had heard once that in the rare instance of sibling mutants, the siblings were inherently more resistant to the power of their other. Unfortunately that had never seemed to be the case for Tommy. The words were said, and the vibration fades before he can catch it back up out of spite alone.

With a sigh he moves to Billy, kneeling by him once more.

"You don't get it. I have to protect you. You're all I have."

[wearingthestars]

"And you did. You stopped me. You got us out. It's not like we knew they would pull us solo like that..." How were they supposed to guard against that?

"...if I fall asleep again, can you put something in front of the door? Just...it's stupid, but- I'll feel better if I know I can't get out."

[doubled_speed]

"Foolish of you to assume I haven't been sleeping across the door for that very fucking purpose."

He's been freaking out for a while now, waiting for his brother to awaken.

"I didn't get anyone out. I got my brain handed to me by Mysterio, fucked my leg up, and showed up late to the party."

[wearingthestars]

"...How long was I out?" Billy frowns, worried for the state he's left his brother in.

"Are you saying we owe everything to Mysterio? That's a first."

[doubled_speed]

"Days, B. I've been going mad. People keep coming to check in. Makes me wanna move."

For Billy's safety. People wanted to kill their mother for similar things.

"I owe that man nothing. Not after what he did."

[wearingthestars]

"Did they have pitchforks and torches?" he teases with a tired smile. He's sorry he's left Tommy to deal with this on his own for so long.

"I dunno if any of it's strictly his fault. I might've influenced that with stuff from our world."

[doubled_speed]

"If the did, the pitchforks would have been atomized. Promise."

Yeah, maybe he takes too much after his uncle.

"I don't care, Bubbles the Wonder Witch. He made me see Frank. That's evil."

[wearingthestars]

"Bubbles the-" he mutters, but he offers his brother a wince. It doesn't exactly disprove his thinking that that might be more on him that Beck, but it's still horrible. "...Are you okay?"

[doubled_speed]

Billy doesn't know enough to have conjured it out of his mind. People might suspect, yes, but Tommy was certain no one knew enough for that. Not the face, the voice, the words. Maybe Billy had given the ability, but Tommy's own mind had given the fuel.

"Not in the fucking slightest. Which means I'm still doing leagues better than you, so don't worry about it. I did manage to weirdly get a best friend out of this whole mess, I guess I came out net neutral."

[wearingthestars]

He reached to squeeze Tommy's hand. Of course he was going to worry.

"...Friend's good," he mumbled, exhaustion threatening to take over again, very aware suddenly that they were sat on the bathroom floor.

He unsteadily tried to push to his feet. "I think I need a drink-"

[doubled_speed]

No, Billy, it isn't. It's hopelessly complicated. Once Billy's on his feet, Tommy is there, a hand at his side to steady him. "ONce we've got you sitting, I'll get you everything you need. I'm your feet, little brother. Just like your Big Blue Dog is the protection. She's been looming outside for days."