InsaneJournal

Who: Thomas Raith and Jaina Proudmoore
What: Thomas needs a friendly ear/advice
When: Last month
Where: Jaina's house
Rating/Warnings: Well...Thomas so lower end of medium?
Status: Complete when posted



Thomas had left a note that dinner was in the oven and he’d be back later just on the chance that Tony came back to his house that night instead of staying at the lab until...well Thomas wasn’t actually sure what time Tony had been leaving there lately. He was wrapped up in the start of his Byron pic and he was asleep by 2 most nights so that he could be up and on set in the morning, surviving on caffeine until about noon when he’d finally be awake enough without it. He wasn’t sure that Jaina had ever seen this car of his but he knew she’d recognize him behind the wheel if she wasn’t waiting outside for him. He didn’t really feel like going anywhere - he just needed to get into a different headspace, talk over everything that was going through his mind and try to get some clarity on it and talking with her helped him do that in the past.

He didn’t even turn on the radio as he drove, windows down, hands tight on the steering wheel as he turned into Jaina’s driveway and came to a stop. He climbed out of the car, not even bothering to try and hide the preocupation with his thoughts as he walked to her door.

***

Thomas was lucky that Jaina had recognized him. A stranger showing up on her doorstep, in this day andage, and with her growing dream paranoia (really she would like for her dreams to stop looping through the battle for Theramore please and thank you, she needed to know if their victory was actually a victory), it was something to worry about

But she didn’t fireball his car and calmed herself. “Thomas? Is everything okay?”

***

Thomas looked up when he heard her voice, finding her waiting for him near the door. “Please tell me with dinner we have beer or something. At least one of us is going to need a drink I think. Probably me. I...I got myself in a mess I think.” He admitted to her quietly. He trusted her. Which didn’t come easily to him. Trusting anyone.

***
“Beer is in tap,” Jaina said, then corrected herself. “Figuratively speaking.”

Though it would be pretty cool to have beer on tap. It was something she should look into.

She waited until she’d gotten him inside and with a plate of food on the couch before she spoke. “So why don’t you talk about it? I won’t judge.”

***

Thomas was moving his food around on his plate more than he was actually eating it but he took a few bites now and then. He set his plate down on the table and reached for his beer, cracking it open and taking a swallow before answering her question. “I got myself in over my head I think. I think I’m falling for somebody. Or maybe two somebodies which shouldn’t even be possible but that’s where I am. And I know one of them is horrible for me. He brings out all my worst traits. All the parts of me that are like my dad but I can’t stay away. And then there’s Tony who just...I’m kind of hoping that his penthouse repairs never get done and we can just keep living together because...it feels right him being there. And meeting him is easily one of the best things that’s ever happened to me.” And he didn’t make demands of him, just supported the decisions he made. They were honest with each other.

***

Jaina blinked for a moment, as her mental computer went processing processing before she exhaled and reached over, squeezing his shoulder. “First off, it’s entirely possible to love more than one person. The problem comes when all of you are not on the same page or one of you isn’t in to sharing. Secondly, I can see how that first one might attract you. God knows I’ve dated my fair share of people like that and I don’t recommen--- Tony? Tony Stark?”

***

“One and only. He’s living at my place thanks to the dragon destroying his. We met a few months before that over the Network. Started sleeping together now and then and just….I have no clue when it started changing. When I started having feelings for both of them. Because it started off just...friends with benefits with both of them. No promises of anything more because I don’t do more Jaina. Or I didn’t.” Thomas combed his fingers back through his hair, almost tugging on the curls in his confusion and frustration with himself. “It’s not like it’s never good with Damon and I. It is. He’s got somebody else I think so it’s just...a mess that I’ve gotten myself into.”

***

“You’re welcome,” Jaina deadpanned, since Deathwing had in fact been her fault, or as much her fault as any dream being could be. She leaned forward a bit, food forgotten.

“The heart wants what it wants, even when it’s not good for us.” She thought of Arthas, Kalec. Thrall or Pained. Even Vereesa, though she’d never dare move on someone else’s woman.

“So you have to ask yourself not only what you want, but what you could lose if you pursue something.”

***

Thomas laughed quietly at that deadpanned comment from her. “I would have gotten to thank you eventually.” He teased. “At least on the nights he doesn’t stay in his lab until...who knows when.” He said getting serious again as he looked at her.

“I want...I want both of them. And it makes me a selfish bastard like my father. I...I sleep better with Tony there at my house. But when I’m at Damon’s I sleep great.” When the two of them went to sleep finally he did anyway.

***
“You know, I can emphasize better than you think. There are two people I’m… very interested in too.” Her crush on Neena hadn’t gotten any better and it was very hard to not be enthralled by Aria. “Though I know one of them isn’t exactly the settling down type.”

And she wasn’t sure either were good for her, strictly speaking. Boy did she understand that.

“So I get wanting both of them. And I’m not entirely sure either of them are the type of person who would be okay with sharing. So you really have three choices. One, the other, or neither.”

***

“I’m not even sure either of them would be interested in settling down. Hell I didn’t think I ever would be either.” Thomas said, laying his head back and closing his eyes as he groaned. “When did things get so complicated Jaina? When did I start thinking maybe….something steady wouldn’t be so bad?” He asked, turning his head to look at her even though he knew she probably wouldn’t have the actual answer to his questions. He just needed to get them out there.

“Let’s just go ahead and cross that third one off the list. ….I need to talk with them don’t I?”

***

“Maybe you grew up a little? Not that there’s anything wrong with a freewheeling lifestyle. But no one ever stays the same forever.”

She nodded. “Yes, you need to find out where they stand. Though if they’re both.. As emotionally compromised, that might get tricky.”

***

“Well shit. And I was hoping I’d figured out a way to be a real life Peter Pan.” Thomas said looking back up at the ceiling.

“I’ll give you a hundred bucks to talk to them for me about it.” He said, a small twitch at the corner of his mouth showing he wasn’t serious in the suggestion. Not entirely serious at least. “Might be easier to talk with Tony. Assuming he comes back from the lab while I’m awake.” Although it wouldnt’ be that hard to talk to Damon either. He knew where to find the vampire after all.

***

“I’m not wanting for money even if I’m written out of the will,” Jaina quipped, pointing a chopstick at him. “You’re going to have to do this yourself. But I’ll back you however you need it.”

***

“Mean.” Thomas said, not meaning it even as he said it and winked at her. “So...that include a couch to crash on if this all blows up in my face?”

***

“Always,”Jaina said. She set her food down and leaned in to give him a hug.”Always.”