In the past, whenever Tom had gotten out of prison, he had a plan ready to go. Some scheme to start as soon as he was breathing free air. Old contacts to catch up with. New jobs to line up. Such things hardly seemed to matter to him this time. There was nowhere for him to go, and even if there had been, no one to go with.
For the first time, he was well and truly alone. Heād always had someone before. When Maeve had died, heād had Theresa to occupy his time. After Sean left, heād still had his little niece to take care of. By the time he had to let her go to keep her safe, he had Cain. For years, Cain Marko had been a constant in his life. His dearest friend. Someone he could count on to, if not break him out himself, be there when he got out.
His actions when he was not himself - but still himself enough to count - had pushed away the last person in his life that he was close to. The last person he felt truly cared for him had deserted him, and it was his own fault. Nowhere to shift the blame this time. Worst of all, Cain was in the wind. When he got out - broke out, really - he had no way of finding him even to talk. So he did the only thing he could do.
He had a membership in the Hellfire Club. One doesnāt grow up noble and mutant and not have a way into that club. The game was once he knew how to play, too, and he was able to secure himself a place in the Lords Cardinal. A good position to have, especially for his needs. Cain might not want to be found, but that didnāt mean he wasnāt going to come looking for him.
Favors were called in, what influence he had gained was used, and eventually he had a lead. Something he could follow in the hopes that it might lead him to, if not forgiveness, some kind of closure.
Utah. A farm. He takes a jet out, and then a car to drive him into the country. So far away from everything that itās just fields and trees and distant hills as the car rolls slowly down the winding road. Itās not anywhere he would have pictured Cain, but perhaps thatās part of the point. Or perhaps heād gotten so used to how Cain fit into his world of castles, and yachts, and penthouse suites that heād never stopped to think about what Cainās own world would look like. Of how he might fit into that world. Itās an uncomfortable realization.
āI think Iāve got it from here,ā Tom tells the driver as the farmhouse comes into view. A bit of a walk, but he wants to be the first thing Cain sees, not some nondescript car. āJust wait, will ye? One way or another, Iāll be back.ā Whether to retrieve his travel bag or to leave, heās not sure. Heās not even sure he knows which heās hoping for. Not that it matters.
Thereās plenty of time for his approach to be noticed as he makes his way up the rest of the road to the house. He walks slowly, his bad leg stiff from travel, but finally makes it up the steps to stand in front of the door. Itās there he falters. Hand raised to knock, he simply stares at the wood in front of him. Things ended so poorly between himself and Cain. Cain left, and thereās no reason for him to want to see Tom again. This is selfish.
A deep breath steadies Tomās nerve, and he raps his knuckles against the door. Maybe Cain can indulge his selfishness long enough to let them properly say goodbye. If not, the car is waiting.