So I have been having lots of Tom Berenson feelings lately. This kid, man.
(Spoilers for the end of the series, of course. Do we still have to warn for those?)
Obviously there’s the loss of agency, freedom, and the fact that you’re been taken right in plain sight. For years. Watching as his family moves on around you, no problem. Not only that, but you have to watch as your own hands try to kill your dad. And having to drag your own parents down into infestation. AND learning that your kid brother is the leader of the rebellion. Which probably means that you heard taunt after taunt about how look, your brother has known about you all along but didn’t try to save you, did he? You tried to save him. You broke through once, and you tried to make bargains. And you know that there’s nothing that Jake could have done, but still, the thought remains.
THEN you get to hear about the Yeerk’s plans to bail, leave Earth, and then you’re truly be alone because hey, at least you got to see your family every day, but now? Never again. AND you watch as you think your brother gets killed.
So, you know, just a few things. THEN you aren’t even able to die in your own body. That was taken from you, too. Your grave is empty and there is no closure for your family. Not really.
This kid, man. I know ‘Rachel lives’ AUs are the thing, but damn it, I want one Tom lives AU. Because the fact that he never got to speak to his family after infestation kills me.
