Tommy Shepard (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
doubled_speed) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
thesphererp2020-06-03 09:59 am
doubled_speed) wrote in thesphererp2020-06-03 09:59 am
Mem Share - Finding Home
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.
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.
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[It's a fight that Tommy doesn't even know how to have with someone.]
And you're right. Some people are just geniuses.
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School is for nerds and people planning to do more than use their powers for a living.
[Ha! Deflected!]
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[Is it though? Is it really?]
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But I’m not smart enough for school.
[Other him was, apparently.]
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What have you got to lose? If you hate it you go and you get to tell Richard to fuck off. That's like a bonus, really. But if you don't hate it, it means that you can learn about whatever you want to.
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[But he knows better than to believe her.]
Dude does this place have to show you my failing report cards or something?
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See, I don't buy this not smart enough bullshit, Tommy. I know you're actually really smart.
What I think is that you're scared to try. And if you can wrap it up in all of this 'I'm stupid and didn't graduate high school' stuff, all the better. But here's the thing: circumstances like the ones you had? They don't mean that you're stupid. You're so willing to claim the bad parts of the experiences that your other selves have had, but you're not willing to claim the good ones.
And one thing that most of the ones that you've talked about or have been shown on the network? Show that you, all of you are way more intelligent than you give yourself credit for.
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I've had problems with school since before my powers came in. Attention issues, people say. Except it's not that. It's that time is different for me. You remember how slow shit went in high school? It's even worse for me. How am I supposed to find something to make that better?
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You love potutine, did you ever think about learning how to do the things that go into it?
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But there's also things like cooking or whatever, but I don't know how that would go with the whole super speed thing.
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[What? He does know SOME things.]
I'm learning to cook, but I don't wanna have that be the THING that I so. It's hard.
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[Awkward. Whatever.]
Uh. Maybe I’ll just try and learn about something else.
Private Audio
Why do I feel like there's a story there, Tommy?
[Because Alex Reagan the reporter is pretty sure that there is.]
Re: Private Audio
Private Audio
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