tushanshu_logs | Semi Open//Running is the best medicine

Entry tags:

Semi Open//Running is the best medicine

Characters: Tommy Shepherd, Kal-El, Molly Hayes, Natasha Romanoff and Rikki Barnes
Date: After this thread, backdated before the satellite event
Location: Turtles Edge, Metal Sector, Rikki's apartment
Situation: Tommy's trying to deal with the fact he might be a dad, and Molly needs to have a talk about the birds and the bees. And then Rikki comes back to talk to Tommy. It's like straight up teenage drama in here.
Warnings/Rating: Talk of potential pregnancy and explanations of sex through use of handpuppets. And most likely swearing.

[Tommy needed time to clear his head. And whilst running around the shell wasn't probably the best idea, he'd done it anyway, taking a bag of snacks with him. He hadn't known how long he was going to be, and he couldn't get rid of the pit in his stomach that was laced with guilt. Steve had already spoken to Rikki and to him in the least threatening way he could have mustered. Tommy wasn't sure if that made it ten times worse or better. Talking to Steve, about the possibility of there actually being a child had just soured his stomach and sent his head reeling. Why hadn't he just stopped and gone to get a condom? It had been his responsibility as much as hers. And he should be taking the full blame for this.

He knew if Steph was still here she would be pummelling him right about now. As would Brandon. God, he missed them both so much. He would have gone to them with this, gone to them for help even though they both would have smacked him sideways and called him an idiot. But he was stuck wandering the shell on his own, trying to make sense of it all.

He literally can't believe how stupid he'd been. It would have taken him seconds to go back and get a condom, but he'd been too wrapped up, and too convinced that it wouldn't happen to them that he'd not bothered. He was an idiot.

When Tommy reached the edge of the shell he skidded to a halt to watch the waves lap at the edge, flopping down so he can catch his breath and look out over the vast ocean to try and clear his head and figure out what the hell he was going to do.]

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[Kal had of course seen the post Rikki had made. He didn't exactly keep an eye on the network like he knew the bats did and he'd missed a post or two, but overall he liked to have a good idea of what was going on in the turtle. And a post like that was obviously going to get his attention.

But he hadn't looked for either of them. He had respect for Rikki but they weren't close, and Tommy... Tommy was complicated. He was a good guy, he really was- but he seemed determined to make himself look like he wasn't. And every time Clark had tried to approach him he'd ended getting rebuffed.

That didn't mean he wasn't going to approach him in a moment like this though, after stopping to put on the suit.]

Stopping to smell the flowers?

[He's not expecting to bump into anyone--least of all Kal--so when he comes into sight, Tommy blinks in confusion. And then tries to swallow the lump in his throat, adjusting his backpack which had started to slip. He doesn't exactly stop but he does slow. It's not like he was in any hurry.

He wrinkles his nose at Kal, and moves past him, but he's walking. And for a speedster, that's pretty much stopping.]

Do I look like I stopped? [he rubs at his face with his free hand, trying to dispel the headache that had started to niggle at the back of his mind.] What d'you want?

[Well, now Kal isn't really sure what to do. Does he pretend he doesn't know what's wrong or does he tell Tommy he saw the post? He never knows how to act with him.

But when in doubt, the truth tends to be the best option in his experience.]

You look like you're worried about something. And what that 'something' is isn't hard to guess considering the post your girlfriend just made to the network.

[Tommy does actually stop. His hand tightens on the strap of the backpack, and turns, looking up at Kal with a sort of pathetic expression.]

You saw that, huh?

[He wrinkles his nose a little and slumps, sliding the bag off of his shoulder, and buries his face in his hand. It's obvious he's not going anywhere.]

Worried is sort of an understatement.

[He shrugs a bit] I thought as many people as possible seeing that post so it'd reach someone who could actually help was the point. So yes, I saw it.

Well... [He tilts his head, curl bouncing] Do you want to talk about it?

[It had been the point Rikki had been after he figured, but he would have liked to be warned before she'd posted it. Not that it matters now but.

He glances up at Kal and frowns, giving a rough shrug. His stomach is jumping around uncomfortably, and just thinking about it is making him feel sick.]

Augh, I dunno? Maybe? I mean, there's not a lot to talk about. I knocked up my girlfriend and now she could be pregnant and I'm no where near old enough to be thinking about this. That's pretty much it.

That is definitely not 'pretty much it'. [They are talking about... accidentally creating a life, after all. About two teenagers having far too much responsibility tossed at them.

He crouches in front of Tommy to be at his eye level.] What on Earth made you think not using protection was a good idea? I'm 99% sure I can't get pregnant and I still use it.

I thought you were smarter than that.

[Tommy scowls at Kal. As if he hadn't been beating himself up enough as it was, and with the whole Steve talk he's not really in the mood for hearing the same broken tune.]

Yeah, well, apparently I'm not. [He throws his hands up in frustration and then bundles them over his chest to sulk.] I already know how stupid it was, you don't have to tell me again. Believe me.

Son you might have gotten a girl pregnant. This is not something you can just apologize for and pretend never happened, alright? So if everyone on the turtle comes to tell you 'that was stupid' you will have to deal with it because it was, sorry to say.

I'm not your son. [It's said snapped. He's on a pretty short fuse as it is, and Tommy glances up at him. But the irritation filters back down to desperation as he buries his hands in his face.]

I know! Okay. I know it was stupid, I know. I'm already freaking out about this, I seriously don't need anyone else lecturing me on my bad life choices.

[Kal forces himself to take a deep breath and focus. The boy is right, a lot of people are going to tell him how stupid it was already. Kal repeating it over and over won't change a thing.]

Alright. Alright- is your girlfriend alright? She isn't alone, is she?

[His hands move from his face to around the back of his neck and he gives a small groan.]

I. Maybe? Captain America sorta showed up and. I'm pretty sure she's gonna go see Bucky too. She's got an extended family here. [He doesn't.] She's pretty much freaking out as much as me.

That's good, she might need to talk about it with someone else. [And while he doesn't know Bucky he knows Steve is a good guy, he trusts him.

And he doesn't mean the implication that Rikki has people to surround herself with and Tommy... doesn't.]

Do you need someone to talk to? I have never been in this situation but I want to help.

[He shifts uneasily on his feet.]

There's not much to talk about. Y'know? [noooot sureee what to doooo aaah.]

I don't know what to do.

Well... [Imagining what he would do doesn't help because Kal would be deciding on a university for the kid the moment he learned Lois was pregnant.]

First thing would be to decide what to do with the baby in case she is pregnant, I suppose.

[Tommy groans and just. Sinks to his feet next to his bag, knees feeling almost like jelly. His stomach lurches again, and he curls up, pulling his knees up to his chest and frowning at the ground as he sat there.]

God, I don't even want to think about it. I can't--we can't--raise a kid here. And I don't even want a kid right now!

[He places a hand on his shoulder, squeezing softly.] I know Tommy, I know. But the possibility is still there, you can't just run away from it.

Do you want me to fly you to the head of the turtle to try to think about this in a more calming way?

[He makes a frustrated noise, burying his hands into his face.]

Running away is all I'm good at.

[He half heartedly tries to shrug Kal's hand off his shoulder, and rubs at his nose before looking up at him.]

I hate flying. I'm fine, I don't need to go anywhere.

[He nods, putting the hand away.]

Alright. And no, I don't agree- you aren't just good at running away. I don't know Rikki much but I do know she's a smart girl, and if she's dating you she must have seen something in you.

[Tommy rubs at his nose and looks up at Kal from his spot on the ground. He gives a weak laugh.]

I don't even know why I am. [Dating. Brandon had been right. It was okay when it was just for fun, but when feelings got involved? What the hell was he going to do if she disappeared? Maybe this was the wake up call he needed to cut things off with her.]

I should end it.

[He raises an eyebrow.] I know you didn't just imply you'd leave her now that you might have gotten her pregnant.

[His stomach lurches a little, and he looks up at Superman, chewing his lip. It looks like he's hit a nerve, and Tommy shifts uncomfortably, scowling at the memories that suddenly get dredged to the surface.]

What? No. I'm not my douchebag father. I wouldn't abandon her.

[He runs a hand through his hair.] Not out of choice anyway.

[Wait, wasn't his father a robot? But Kal feels that's a bad moment to ask.]

Good. Look, I know you're scared but- you'll do fine, either way. I'm sure you will. But right now, what matters the most is that you should be with her. Baby or not you should be by her side, and help her out.

...And definitely get condoms next time, if she's not pregnant.

[Remember when Tommy said his background was complicated? It's really complicated.]

How the hell am I gonna raise a kid here? What if I just disappear? Huh? Then what?

[He looks up at Kal with some heat behind him, frustrated.]

Yeah, I don't even know if there'll be a next time, so you don't have to worry.

Then you'd have to make sure you had someone to take care of the baby in case that happened. You're getting a bit ahead of yourself there, aren't you?

[He makes a face because they are young to be having a baby scare, it wouldn't surprise him if it put a strain in their relationship. But he liked to think Tommy had someone he could let himself be... himself with.]

Maybe that's the first thing you should do then. Figure out where your relationship with her stands.

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