revivalproject | I didn't mean for it to happen

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"...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."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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?"

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."

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-"

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."

Oh. Lauri-Ell. Billy winces, remembering how she'd tried to wake him from this mess from the start.

"How's she doing?"

Had she tried to wake him? Well, Tommy would judge her for failing if he knew. But he doesn't, so he doesn't judge her for failing. She hadn't even been caught in the spell as fully as Tommy had.

"Don't know. We don't talk much. She's... I don't get her. I mean, I get it, Accuser and all of that, and you and your man's bodyguard or something, but I've never seen a Kree act like that."

"I don't think she's really a typical Kree? Not exactly, anyway." Billy doesn't really know a whole lot of Kree, but Lauri-Ell was made for a very specific purpose, and didn't seem to be exposed to much else apart from that.

"I'll talk to her," he promises.

"Whatever, I don't care about her," Tommy offered with a shrug. But he pulls his brother to his feet. "Back to bed. I can probably send her for water or something. She sorta adores your damn nerd ass."

Bed. Bed was good.

He nods, and manages a small smile. "By extension, I guess," he agrees, laying back down, feeling drained. "...thanks for looking out for me, Tommy."

"Always, bro. You're my family. And if I hadn't you know Rebecca would found a way to tear through the worlds to find me and give me the 'disappointed Jewish mother' look."

Once he has Billy to the bed he goes to the door and peaks out. A few quick words and there is the sound of someone walking off.

"A lot of people ask after you, so you know. You might not be in too much danger."

"She would've," Billy agrees, a bit of a sad smile that she hadn't been part of that world.

"It's not me I'm worried about," he murmurs, but shakes that thought off quickly enough.

"I know," Tommy answered, sitting down on the edge of his brother's bed, stroking his hair.

"I could go look for Mo-"

No. Wanda isn't their mother, no matter what that world had suggested.

"Wanda. I could see if she might help you sleep without dreams. She's done it for me before."

Billy leaned into the touch, glancing up at that aborted word before shaking his head.

"...No. It's...it's okay. It'd be...I don't know if I'm ready to see her yet."

"Alright then," Tommy assured his brother, frowning at him.

What is he supposed to do, Billy? How is he supposed to make this better? All his powers and he can't fix this.

"...Lay down," Billy prompted, shifting aside to make room.

There was no easy fix for either of them. It was going to take time.

Yeah, he can do that. Tommy moves, when Billy gives him space, to lay down next to his brother. And, of course, he wraps Billy in his arms.

He knows people would judge them for this, but he doesn't care. They both need the comfort.

I didn't mean for it to happen

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