Mem Share - Finding Home

[doubled_speed]

The place is quiet, more or less. Quiet in a way that the Shepherd household or even Juvie never really got. The former was filled with the sounds of television or shouting at all hours of the day. The latter had scuffles at all hours and the quiet sound of nearby sobbing or distant screams. The Kaplan household in the middle of the night, after he’d snuck back in through the window in the room he shared with Teddy? You could hear a pin drop, provided you were far enough from the twins’ room to miss out on the light snoring of one of Billy’s younger brothers.

It’s strange, how different it is. Perhaps that’s why Tommy dares to sneak past Teddy’s sleeping form and out into the hall. Why he thinks it’s clear to slip downstairs and into the kitchen. A glass of water, he can probably have that if he cleans and dries the dish and puts it away. No one will be any wiser about the situation. It’s safe.

Which is why Tommy freezes like a deer in the headlights as he comes into the kitchen and there is someone there, framed in the glow of the fridge light.

He must have gasped, because the person pulls back from the fridge and looks at Tommy. Jeff, Billy’s dad. Fuck. Tommy almost flinches away before Jeff ducks back into the fridge.

“Good thing you’re up. I wanted to have a late night snack, but making pizza bagels for myself in the middle of the night seems… I don’t know. Impolite?”

What? Tommy stares as Jeff starts pulling things out of the fridge and holding them out. There’s nothing to be done but to move forward and accept the items he passes out: pasta sauce, shredded cheese, minced up soy-chunks that were flavored to taste like pepperoni or something (they didn’t but Tommy didn’t judge them for it), and some veggies. They were all things that Tommy had helped prepare for dinner hours ago, a dinner Jeff hadn’t been present for because of a night shift at the hospital.

“I’m certain you’re still hungry,” Jeff continued as he closed the fridge and moved to the stove to pre-heat it before flipping on the light. “I’d thought Teddy could put away some food, but I’m guessing your metabolism is a bit more intense. You know, you don’t have to hold back on meals. We buy as much as we do to make sure there is enough for you.”

The words leave an ache in Tommy’s chest, one so tight that it was like he couldn’t speak. Couldn’t breathe. But Jeff seemed oblivious as he moved to pull out bagels to start cutting.

“Though I would request one thing… if you’re going to be out late, please text either Rebecca or myself. I understand your need to be out, being a hero. Or, of course, finding yourself. But we’ll worry otherwise.”

At last Tommy can’t hold his tongue anymore.

“Why, worried I’m going to go blow something up?”

It was Jeff’s turn to freeze, bread knife poised over a bagel. When he turned to look at Tommy he looked very sad.

“No, Tommy. We’ll worried that you’re hurt. This superhero thing isn’t something we were prepared for, but I can only imagine how awkward it would be for all of us if Rebecca called Captain Rogers to ask him to look for you and all you were doing was hanging out an an arcade.”

There’s something Tommy’s not used to on Jeff’s face, and it takes a moment to recognize it. Concern. Serious concern. Fear for him rather than of him. It’s… not something Tommy is used to from an adult.

“You wouldn’t worry so much if I was Billy or Teddy.”

“No,” Jeff corrects patiently, “I’d worry more. You’ve got more street sense than them. That much is very clear. You’d try and get out of a dangerous situation you couldn’t handle. They’d jump further into it. It’s my hope that your common sense and practicality will be a positive influence on them. On all of your team. But at the end of the day, I want all of my boys coming home safe, you included.”

Him included.

“I’m not your son. Or dating your son.”

Well that earned a strange response. A smile.

“Not by name, not by us raising you. But you’re clearly Billy’s twin, magical or otherwise, and that makes you our son. Our oldest at that. Now, be a good son and start spreading some sauce on these. Go heavy, Rebecca and the kids never put enough on there.”

“I… wouldn’t you prefer me just leaving?” Tommy asks, going to do as directed. He WAS hungry after all.

“If you moved out, I’d only worry more,” Jeff shrugs. “I know you will one day, sooner than Billy or Teddy will. But when you do? Be sure to come home and visit us at least once a month, otherwise, you know, worry.”

“And a call to Cap Spangles,” Tommy supplied. And he was shocked to hear Jeff laugh, though the man tried to stifle it against his arm to keep from waking anyone.

“Yes, that too. But remember, Tommy, as long as Rebecca or I draw breath, you’ve got a home right here. If no where else in the world will take you, we will. That’s what home is.”

Something in Tommy believed him. Which was weird. He’d never had a home before. It… felt good.

Comments

voice; TheFunOne

[morethanatrickster]

My that was...wholesome.

[And...he...might be a little envious.]

[doubled_speed]

Billy's parents confuse me. A lot.

[morethanatrickster]

I can see why. [Though...] Those with enough love in their hearts to care for one who is not their blood are rare indeed.

[Like his mother.]

[doubled_speed]

They took in Billy's boyfriend too. The space prince or whatever. Then again, they DID see his mom die right in front of them or something.

[morethanatrickster]

Yes...but they didn't dictate their need to take you in as well, and yet they did.

[doubled_speed]

Yeah, they did it for Billy.

[He tells himself that rather than accepting that the Kaplans cared.]

[morethanatrickster]

[he doesn't say anything for a moment.]

That makes makes it easier, doesn't it?

Voice,

[minus1twin]

I'm really glad you and Billy had people like this.

[Her voice is warm and sweet.]

They seem like they really care about you.

[doubled_speed]

[Shit. He doesn't want HER to see this.]

They care about Billy.

[minus1twin]

And you too.

[It's a nice memory. She's happy to have been able to see that Tommy had people looking out for him.]

[doubled_speed]

I... guess.

[Sometimes it’s hard to accept that. To see it. But he isn’t theirs.]

I’m a problem they don’t need.

[minus1twin]

It looks like they want you around Tommy and I know if given the choice, I want you around too.

[She hopes he can one day really believe it.]

[doubled_speed]

[Tommy scoffs.]

You’re definitely better at it than my Wanda. She... sorta shut us out not long after we found her and made her remember herself. I think she was scared over what we symbolized.

[minus1twin]

[Wanda frowns.]

I am sorry to hear that.

What did you symbolize to her?

[It feels as if there is something that she's missing in the story. She knows some about their birth. Tommy has explained it briefly but it feels like there is something more to its already complicated complications.]

audio un:pnwsalex

[11calls]

They definitely seem to really care about you, Tommy. I'm really glad. It's nice to see.

[A beat and then:]

I mean, I'm hoping that this is a real memory, and it's you know, yours.

[doubled_speed]

[Fuck, he REALLY hates his whole life being on display in a place like this.]

Yeah, that's... what Billy's parents are really like. I haven't seen them in a while, though. I left after... some shit happened.

[11calls]

I'm sorry. I'm glad you at least got to have them for a little while though.

[doubled_speed]

Thanks. They are good people. B's lucky.

[11calls]

Yeah. It definitely seems like he was.

[doubled_speed]

Someone's got to be the lucky one. I'm happy it's him. He's soft.

[11calls]

I think that being the lucky one kind of makes it easier for you to be soft, actually. I think if the situations were reversed, you'd probably have some softness as well.

audio - un: snow

[fuckingtragedy]

[There's a smile in Simon's voice.]

He seems nice.

[doubled_speed]

Jeff is definitely a good guy. Tried to teach me how to be a proper Jew. I sucked at it.

[fuckingtragedy]

[Simon laughs.]

How do you do it properly?

[doubled_speed]

I never really... understood it well. Lots of religion stuff that I don't get.