Snippet #2134661

Before Frank could say anything there was a yelp from the car. Tommy whipped around just in time to see a shining ball of light form outside of the car before Cat materialized out of the light. Lou let out an impressed whistle before speaking.

"Well I'll be."

Tommy groaned and rubbed his brow. If Frank was hesitant before he'd flip now. Tommy turned to Frankie but the older man didn't say a word. He just looked from Cat to Tommy.

"So you ran? Cause you're a mutie? You ran from your old man?"

Tommy nodded, the shame evident in his demeanor.

"C'mon Frankie, you know how pop is. If he found out I was a mutant he'd carve New York up in a bloody fucking weekend. I couldn't let that happen."

Frank just stared at Tommy for several long moments before he shook his head slowly.

"Tommy... You are one dumb guido you know that?"

"What?"

Tommy replied dumbfounded. Frank put one hand on the back of Tommy's neck to emphasize his words.

"You think you're the only mutant in the family? C'mon kid you gotta be smarter than that. Your old man knew all about who was a mutie and who wasn't, except you obviously. He kept that shit under wraps cause you know how people can be."

Tommy couldn't help but break out into a wide smile and a laugh.

"You're shittin me!"

He said before throwing his arms around Frank for a big hug.

"That's great! That means I can go home, see pop! Tell em what happened and everything will be good!"

Frank and Lou exchanged glances and shook their heads slowly.

"Ahh Jeez Tommy boy I don't know how to tell ya this..."

Tommy's entire demeanor shifted in that moment as he picked up on the gravity in Franks words.

"What happened Frank?"

Frankie sighed slowly before answering.

"Your old man... He got real worked up when you dissapeared. Thought you got grabbed by one of the other families lookin to make a push into our turf. As the weeks went by he started gettin more and more reckless... He was out with only one other guy when..."

Frank looked lost for words but Tommy wasn't interested in his uneasiness at breaking some bad news. Tommy's eyes filled with tears as he already knew what came next. But he needed to hear it. He needed to know. His hands shot out and he gripped Frank's shirt collar.

"What happened Frankie? Tell me!"

Frankie Zuko looked heartbroken to be the one to say it but did his duty.

"He's dead Tommy. He got gunned down."

Tommy's world seemed to come crashing down at that moment. To learn that his own foolish actions caused the death of his father was almost too much to bare. The knowledge that due to his own mistrust of his father resulted in the man who raised him being gunned down looking for him crushed Tommy. He became enraged, unwilling to believe the news.

"NO! NO fuckin way! That's bullshit! He ain't dead! He can't be! He can't!"

Rage gave way to grief and Tommy's legs buckled, unable to support his weight. He almost collasped if it wasn't for Lou and Frankie catching him and holding him up.

"It's ok Tommy boy, it's gunna be ok."