Semi Open//Running is the best medicine

[crotcharrow]

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.]

Comments

[crotcharrow]

[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.

[andaway]

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.

[crotcharrow]

[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!

[andaway]

[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?

[crotcharrow]

[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.

[andaway]

[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.

[crotcharrow]

[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.

[andaway]

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

[crotcharrow]

[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.

[andaway]

[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.

[crotcharrow]

[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.

[andaway]

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.

[crotcharrow]

And what if they disappear? Then what?

[He looks up at Kal a little pathetically. He looks like he could use a hug.]

I gotta wait to see if she's pregnant first.

[andaway]

[And a hug he's getting, because Kal can will never be one to deny them that.]

Someone will take care of the kid. I know you'd do your best to ensure the kid isn't alone if she really is pregnant, Tommy. No on doubts you will grow to be a great parent when the time comes.

But I still think you should be focusing on Rikki right now, pregnant or not.

[crotcharrow]

[He squirms in Kal's grip for a few moments, but gives up eventually and just lets it happen. He's not the type to hug back, but he does lean into Kal's shoulder a little, which for him is a big deal. He sniffs and rubs at his eyes (WHICH TOTALLY WEREN'T LEAKING NOPE he's not overwhelmed by this at all NO) and gives a brief nod.]

If Cap and Bucky don't kill me first.

[andaway]

[His lips twitch up, loosening the hug but still not letting him go.]

You think I would let them?

[crotcharrow]

[Tommy snorts softly.]

What're you, my dad now?

[andaway]

God, no.

[Said in a joking way but seriously. No. Being a dad freaks him out.] But I care about you, and I will be by your side.

[crotcharrow]

[He tugs away softly, quite obviously having calmed down a lot. He runs a hand through his hair and gives a short frown, before looking up at Kal. He doesn't know how he got this--would you call him a friend?--and he doesn't even know a lot about him.]

Y'know, I like, know nothing about you.

[andaway]

[He opens up his arms, a smile on his face. He's glad to have a way to keep Tommy's mind away from the whole... mess.]

Well, what do you want to know? Ask away.

[crotcharrow]

Do you even have a secret identity or are you just... Super. All the time.

[God that sounded so gay.] 'Cause that's gotta be exhausting.

[andaway]

[A grin] So 'what do I do when I'm not saving the world'? I'd tell you if I could, but secret identities are a big thing in my world. I've kept mine safe ever since I went public, decades ago.

But I promise you if you ever find out and simply come to me and ask if I'm said person, I'll be honest.

[crotcharrow]

[Tommy frowns.] Yeah, they were big in mine too. But, it's not like we're on our world right now, right?

[He's not trying to pry it out of him, but. Tommy just feels like he knows nothing about this guy. And he seems to know a lot about him. Or cares enough to find out more. There's a brief pause.]

Decades... How old are you?

[andaway]

I still have people to protect. [A hint, if a subtle one.]

I'm older than 30, younger than 40. [Barely since he's almost 40, but still.] I look younger because of my aliens genes.

[crotcharrow]

So what, your nemesis is here or something?

[Not a hint caught.]

Oh, so not a mutant?