calm before the - wait, what? [open]

[sharpes]

Characters: Brandon Sharpe and ~open~
Location: All over the place during the Storm System This is forward-dated a little to accommodate various timelines whoops!
Situation: Brandon is giving that Big Damn Hero thing a try. He's about ten shades of not sure if want.
Warnings/Rating: Brandon's attitude.
Notes: Not really anything. Fly at, have fun. PM me if you wanna hash out something a little more structured.





[So, maybe storms aren't the usual superhero fare, but Brandon wouldn't exactly be up for facing anything more threatening than the Condiment King (whoops, DC crossover) on a bad day at the moment. Between missing his team, the dead bodies on the altar, losing his shit for a week and all the really hard conversations he's had with Steph? He's sort of feeling the aster.

But when you're somebody that controls lightning, a little bad weather really can't get you down.

So maybe his suit's soaked and chafing in all the wrong places, but Brandon is out and about, helping people get to safety (still sort of weird) and diverting lightning strikes when he's in the area (less weird) and generally trying not to live up to Pym's expectations.

For which you can totally thank Stephanie Brown.]

Comments

[sharpes]

[He stiffens a little in surprise -- at her words, not at the kiss. He won't lie and say he isn't doing this for the recognition, but... Steph's recognition is different somehow. It means more.

It makes him feel like trying. Like the fact that he's tired and sore and aching all over is a good thing instead of just a massive pain in the ass.

This isn't perfect. It doesn't feel right. She's still-- and he just can't push that thought out of his head long enough to matter. He wants to tell her. Two words. Well. Two and a half.

'I'm gay.'

No big deal, right?

Instead, he just tucks his hands into her hair and kisses her back.]

[controlledvariable]

[It's kind of hard to smile and kiss someone at the same time, so Steph manages to keep the smile off her face for a little while.

She's still kind of peripherally aware of Tommy in the suite, and that he did threaten to throw something at them if they got caught making out, so she pulls away after a moment, presses a kiss to Brandon's forehead and smooths her hands across his shoulders.]

So, what does it feel like to get hit by lightning?

[She's curious.

She's also not sure how to deal with the sudden tightness in her chest at - all this. Feelings are the real kissing disease.]

[sharpes]

[He presses his forehead to hers and laughs a little.]

It hurts like hell. Afterwards I couldn't decide if I wanted to throw up or leap a tall building in a single bound.

[controlledvariable]

Sounds intense. [He can probably feel her frown slightly in concern.]

I'm glad you're alright. Is there any chance I can get you to promise to never do that again?

[sharpes]

Yeah. It was... yeah.

[Unpleasant, sure, but he doesn't want pity for it.]

Hey, if it needs to be done...

[... Maybe he'd be smarter about it next time, though. He kisses her again, gently.]

[controlledvariable]

I'm banning any extreme weather activity.

[So that he doens't have to do it again, because this is something that's within her power.

Reluctantly, and after one last quick kiss, she extricates herself from his arms with a wry smile]

Let's not find out if Tommy'll make good on his threat of throwing stuff at us. [she's pretty sure he wouldn't, but still] Are you sure you're not hungry?

[sharpes]

I'm right there with you on that one, yeesh.

[He groans and rolls one of his shoulders, rubbing at the join with the opposite hand.]

I should probably try and eat something, yeah. It just doesn't sound like the best idea ever right now, but... you know, intellectually it's smart. I haven't had much for a couple days.

[controlledvariable]

As opposed to something being intellectually stupid. [Sorry, she can't help teasing.]

I'll make a noodle soup, you can just have the broth and pick at whatever you want to eat.

[She reaches out to lightly drum her fingers against his shoulder, before turning to walk to the kitchen.]

And I'll give you a massage later, you look like you need one.

[sharpes]

[quietly,]

I'd like that.

[To all of the above. Even if the idea of being (mostly) naked and (probably) in bed with his (sort-of) girlfriend is probably a bad idea right now.]

[crotcharrow]

[Tommy probably takes longer than he really needs to in the shower just soaking up the warmth (and probably using up all the hot water) trying to reheat his core. He's only just realising slowly how exhausted he actually is--his limbs ache all over and he's tracked down a series of bruises and scrapes all over him when he did eventually fall down on the turtle shell. Honestly, with it as slick as that, he's surprised he doesn't have concussion from smacking his head against the shell one too many times.

It's strange though. He never expected to have ended up not minding Brandon as much. Sure, he was a dick, and they bickered constantly, but he was actually a pretty good fighter and they made a good team. He wasn't sure why that warranted him to insist that Tommy stayed and caught up on his rest though, especially not with Kate back home. Or, he hoped she was smart enough to stay indoors. He'd been too exhausted to check on her when they detoured back to the Young Avengers HQ.

He's not sure how long he's going to stay. Probably wait till people are sleeping and then head on back. He doesn't like being the third wheel in any situation, especially not with a girl he'd been after involved. Even if he thinks Steph is probably better as his friend by this point, he still didn't want to deal with the awkwardness that was going to come with him sitting in the room with the pair of them. Especially since he's not actually apologised to Steph yet.

God, he should have just gone home.

He climbs out of the shower and towels himself off. He opens the door, releasing a barrage of steam to ask where Brandon's clothes are to find a pile outside waiting for him, which he grabs. He pulls the pants on and brings the shirt out with him, tugging it over his head fully just as he gets to where Steph and Brandon are. The clothes almost dwarf him, making him look a lot scrawnier than he actually is.]

Oh man, can I have one too? [he's teasing. Mostly.]

[controlledvariable]

Sure, we can have a little massage circle, it'll be fun. [It's said without missing a beat, either at Tommy's appearance or his comment, she just makes that remark and continues into the kitchen, where she starts getting out everything to make soup.]

[sharpes]

[Brandon, predictably, chokes on his coffee.]

[crotcharrow]

[Tommy snorts, grinning a little.]

I meant the soup.

[No he didn't. Everyone knows he didn't.]

[controlledvariable]

[Steph arches an eyebrow at Brandon, a silent you right, there?]

Too late to back out now.

[With a smirk, because she's a terrible person and this is a horrible thing to joke about considering everything, but she can't help having a little fun at, well, everyone's expense. At least she's wearing pants now?]

Tommy, can I trust you with a sharp object?

[she holds up a knife, and one of the carrot-looking-things that's going to go in the soup. yes, she's going to put him to work if he's up to handling a knife without cutting his fingers off]

[sharpes]

[no it's okay he just tried to inhale coffee no big deal he waves a hand at her in an 'it's all good' gesture.]

Dude, I'm pretty sure I'm too possessive to want you giving Tommy a massage. And then he and I would have to get into one of those alpha male pissing contests and can you really see that ending anywhere approaching well? I mean I only just stopped wanting to kill the guy.

[Steph pls. Also excuse you this is his kitchen why are you asking Tommy to do things in his kitchen he is the man of this house tyvm what's going on here.]

[crotcharrow]

[He looks up at Brandon.]

Still here y'know. And dude, you need to lighten up. If the lady wants to give me a massage, I say why the hell not?

[And then he's right next to Steph and her knife in a quick blur.]

You can. But I gotta warn you, if it ain't microwavable mac and cheese I take no responsibility for food poisoning.

[controlledvariable]

Well... [She looks between them both, the very picture of thoughtful] I could go get some jello for you to wrestle in, pretty sure that'd count as ending well. [a beat] At least for me.

[Steph is just going to casually objectify her male friends, what of it.]

You're not cooking. [that's at Tommy, who's getting directed to a chopping board where she's lined up vegetables] You're chopping these up, and not taking any fingers off.

[Brandon if you have a speedster in your house you might as well make use of him.]

[sharpes]

[He's staring at her.]

Dude did she just... basically verbalize slashfic about us?

[Dude. 4chan. You bet your ass he knows what slashfic is.]

[crotcharrow]

[He stares right back at her. And then glances at Brandon because jesus. What is up with your girlfriend.]

I think... she did. [He wrinkles his nose a little because ew.]

[controlledvariable]

[Steph briefly meets both their stares, managing to keep a straight face for all of five seconds before she starts laughing.]

I'm just trying to look for a positive in all this testosterone fueled posturing.

[the most casual of shrugs, as she puts a pot on the stove to start cooking; luckily she can multitask]

[sharpes]

And that positive is thinking about us wrestling. In Jell-O.

Jeeze, Steph, you could've at least gone for the old standby of pillow fights.

[THIS FEELS REALLY WEIRD TO TALK ABOUT.................]

[crotcharrow]

Yeah, seriously. I just showered.

[and he starts chopping at high speed.]

[controlledvariable]

I could've suggested you do it Greek style. [Naked and covered in oil; she shoots Brandon a look like, count yourself lucky I didn't.

Completely ignoring the fact that she brought it up anyway]

[sharpes]

[...

Well, he'd be game. Of course he's. Not going to mention that.]

Wow. What'd I ever do to you?

[His tone's the tiniest bit plaintive. Please stop making him think about Tommy being naked and oiled up it's really bad for his self control.]

[crotcharrow]

[He almost chops something off when she speaks, but he has enough sense to move his hand. He shoves the board back to her, with neatly chopped veggies, and eyes her.]

I'm not wearing a toga. [IT'S BASICALLY A MAN DRESS.]