Grandbrat

[tommyshepherd.livejournal.com]

Tommy peeked out from his bedroom door, looking left and right, his legs shaking at having to stand still for so long. Billy was busy behind him taking a nap. It was something that Tommy was unable to do for long.

His Eema didn't seem to be here, or there, or anywhere.

Anywhere nearby anyway.

A gleeful grin on his face, Tommy zooms off towards his grandfather's favorite room in the house, determined to spend some time with him, and hoping to make his grandfather side with him and make his Eema ease up on him.

After all, one can only be put on a time-out so many times.

Comments

[lehnsherr-erik.livejournal.com]

He'd had a feeling that Tommy wouldn't be kept down for long by his Eema's ruling. Tommy was at that point where everything felt confining and he was feeling his own worth...but not necessarily indulging in any common sense...it made it hard to believe his mother could know anything.

Erik is in his study sitting in a comfortable chair seemingly doing nothing. In reality he's been watching the magnetic lines closely while thinking but it looks more like a half doze with his eyes still open.

But when Tommy comes in the eyes instantly move to him and there is anod of the head.

"Good afternoon, come in."

[tommyshepherd.livejournal.com]

Tommy zooms into the room and is on his grandfather's lap halfway through a blink. He's wrapped his arms around his grandfather's neck and has kissed him on his cheek.

"Hi!" he says cheerfully. "Whatcha doin'?"

[lehnsherr-erik.livejournal.com]

"I was thinking." The grandson who looks so much and acts so much like him is given a smile and allowed to invade his personal space.

"And what have you been doing?"

[tommyshepherd.livejournal.com]

Tommy looks up at his grandfather, his eyes bright and full of earnestness and honesty. If there's one person he'd never even attempt to lie to, it's him.

"I've been thinking too."

[lehnsherr-erik.livejournal.com]

"I would be interested to hear your thoughts." He heard plenty of them from the boys lips earlier before Isaac was killed, what was he thinking now?

[tommyshepherd.livejournal.com]

Tommy beams up at him.

"I wanna be like you when I grow up."

[lehnsherr-erik.livejournal.com]

"Oh do you?" He smiles a little, he can't help it. But then it fades remembering the things he'd said.

"Tell me how you see me."

[tommyshepherd.livejournal.com]

"You're well-respected and smart and powerful and handsome and really nice too," Tommy gushes as his eyes roam over the desk in search of something sugary. "You're like King Triton except without that hokey tail and beard."

[lehnsherr-erik.livejournal.com]

"And to those outside of our family?" The sugary treat is not forthcoming today.

[tommyshepherd.livejournal.com]

"Aren't you the same to them too?" he asks, mystified.

What else would he be?

[lehnsherr-erik.livejournal.com]

"And yet I have heard you be disrespectful to people who have helped you since you were a child that were not family. I would hope that is not how you see me, as someone who is kind unless I feel superior to them."

[tommyshepherd.livejournal.com]

Busted!

"But, see, I don't understand that! You are superior to them! So why must you act like you're their equal? Isn't that putting yourself down?"

[lehnsherr-erik.livejournal.com]

"How exactly am I superior to them?" The expression is still neutral he's not angry just asking.

"How can I be superior to people who are working to feed their families by taking care of mine? Isaac had more than once put his health and life on the line to care for my loved ones, he would have died to keep you and your brother safe. Should I despise him that he was not capable of doing so even if the desire was there?"

[tommyshepherd.livejournal.com]

Tommy's cheeks and ears burn as he looks down, away from his grandfather's line of sight. Hearing his mother say these things was one thing. Hearing his grandfather say it was completely different. "Because..." Tommy starts. He opens his mouth to continue his sentence but then stops again. What can he say? That he's superior because he makes their paycheck? That he's superior because he has powers and the others don't?

Suddenly, Tommy thought that maybe bringing those points up wouldn't be the wisest things to say.

If only he had Billy for back-up of some sort. Not that that would help much.

"Don't you sometimes think that because you have special abilities that you're a little more...superior...to them?" he finishes weakly.

[lehnsherr-erik.livejournal.com]

"Every man no matter what miracles he can perform can be brought down. I do not delude myself that my abilities are a perfect shield to myself." Watching the war going on in Tommy's head in the expressions on his face tells Erik some of the words are getting through.

"I believe it makes me more able to do what I do, I take pride in what I can do and what my family can do. I believe we are the future. But I also believe we are fallible as well."

[tommyshepherd.livejournal.com]

"..."

Tommy sighs and leans against his grandfather, scrunching up his nose. "So I should think that I am all that, but without the soda and the bag of chips?"

[lehnsherr-erik.livejournal.com]

He chuckles deep in his chest and ruffles his grandson's hair.

"I of course am biased and think you are all that and a bag of chips as you would say. What I wish you would think is that you were given the abilities to make the lives of your family and others better and take pride in that."

"After all someday I shall need your help running the family won't I?"

[tommyshepherd.livejournal.com]

Tommy beams up at this, chuckling. "And then I get to grow up and be just like you!" Clearly this is a thought that makes Tommy incredibly happy. He cuddles up to his grandfather, pleased and content, in spite of the fact that he's realized he's not going to get his grandfather on his side against his Eema.

[lehnsherr-erik.livejournal.com]

"I hope you grow up to be just like yourself, but if I am an influence on the man you become that would make me very happy."

[tommyshepherd.livejournal.com]

Tommy nods and yawns a little. "You're my role model," he says earnestly.

[lehnsherr-erik.livejournal.com]

His role model. Erik can live with that.

"Perhaps it is time for you to start learning more of what we do as a family so that you can see how important these people we work with are to us."