Buddy Jepperd Lives AU
This is my imagining of a Buddy Jepperd / Jepp's son lives AU. I got possessed thinking about it a week or two back so now y'all have to suffer with me. I will be calling Jepperd "Tommy" or Big Man in this just because it's a shared last name & might get confusing otherwise!
Again spoilers for at least Season 2 & the comics, read at your own risk!
CHANGES PRE-CANON
Tommy manages to get his son back EARLY. It happens either in a big confrontation with the Last Men wherein he's able to rescue his son but not his wife, OR he still goes the "trading hybrid kids for his family" route. In the case of that second one, he'd quit the hybrid catching business and defect from the Last Men as soon as Buddy is safe with him.
Tldr; he rescues Buddy, and because he's not working WITH the Last Men, he's counted as working AGAINST them and therefore is hunted, actively, and becomes a wanted criminal.
Tommy and Buddy cross paths with the Animal Army a handful of times; yet, they do not get along any moreso than they do in the show. The only thing they can agree on is the goal of taking down Last Men & saving hybrids, and they'll work together for that shared purpose, but anytime else- or once the fighting dies down- they go their separate ways. (And, the Animal Army probably LOVES Buddy).
Buddy and Tommy play ball when they've got downtime, and Tommy makes Buddy feel like a sports star. It's both fun and also helps Buddy develop the strength and muscle to headbutt and tackle bigger opponents, which comes in handy in a tight situation.
DURING CANON
Because of this life on the run, and raising a rambunctious hybrid goat kid, Tommy's leg injury flares up a lot sooner; in fact, it starts becoming a severe mobility issue shortly before meeting Gus. Tommy kinda considers it a godsend that he finds Gus when he does, because Buddy now has someone to rough-house with and allows him time to rest his leg & preserve his strength for travel and defense.
Gus is shy about headbutting and playing rough at first, because- although Pubba taught him to use his natural weapons (his antlers), he hadn't yet met anyone who wouldn't be seriously hurt on the other end of them now that they've grown to the size they are. But Buddy also has horns, and both of them are built a little more resiliently towards blunt strikes & prods, and once they both realize this, well. They're constantly butting heads and throwing each other around.
Tommy is an adept traveler hiding hybrids atp, though plans don't often go unscathed. I like to think when Buddy was real little, Tommy could scoop him up into his coat and hide him there.
Shortly before or exactly when Gus is kidnapped by the Last Men, Buddy is captured by them himself. I haven't really worked out the details of how this part goes, I just know I want an homage to the comics where the Last Men force Tommy into an ultimatum about choosing who to save between his son, and Gus.
That's.. as far as I got lol.
