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Tommy flapped his bright red wings helplessly against the roaring wind, his injured wing screaming in protest. He needed to get away and fast . A large gust of wind came from his left and sent him tumbling down to the concrete below. He had really screwed up this time.

He chirped in distress as he fell, trying desperately to catch himself in a glide again.

He watched as slowly, the blurry mass of tarmac became more defined. Soon he was able to make out more and more grit and variations in the colour as he got closer. 

Tommy let out another distressed sound and braced himself before snapping his wings open, trying his best to ignore the pain that shot along his right wing. 

It worked and he was able to slow himself down significantly, only hitting the ground with mild force. 

Tommy landed heavily, breathing shakily as he contemplated his next moves. He was sitting in the middle of a long alleyway, in front of him was a dead end. He couldn't fly anymore– that was for certain. He could shift back into his human form, but he was pretty sure Dream was still after him. And besides, his arm would be in shambles, so shifting back to a full human would only put him in more danger. 

Or you could face the music, a little voice in his head offered. 

He swallowed nervously. Tommy knew that he deserved what Dream had done to him, he had ruined the last mission. He deserved the broken arm and whatever else Dream deemed appropriate. But he was so hurt and he desperately wanted to rest. 

It felt like he never had the chance to breathe these days with the way Dream pushed him. It was always one mission after another, one more training session before bed when the moon was already at its peak, and one more meeting after a long day of patrol. 

One more, one more, one more . 

Tommy knew it was his fault he wasn't comptent, despite what Tubbo told him when he came home exhausted from his day. He knew he was the problem and that Dream was only pushing him because Tommy was capable of doing it. He knew that.

And still he ran. 

(“You nearly blew your cover and you didn't even stop them?!” Dream shouted furiously. 

“They were waiting for me! It was an ambush,” Tommy argued weakly. 

“And yet you called for backup, knowing it was a trap,” Dream snapped. “It was selfish and idiotic. Do you know how many of your comrades you put at risk?”

He had taken Tommy to the training gym where he had forced him to spar again. Tommy had been losing badly when he shifted into a cardinal. He hadn't realized it had happened at first, surprised as to why the world was suddenly so much larger. 

It hadn't been until he had taken a step forward that he had realized. 

Then he had spotted the open window, sent Dream an apologetic chirp, and flew towards it. 

Unfortunately, Dream had jumped off the nearby climbing wall and had caught Tommy. He had struggled to get out of his grip before he had escaped, but not before Dream had managed to injure one of his wings.)

Tommy hesitantly held out his wings either side of him and gave them a singular small flap, nowhere near strong enough to get him off the ground. 

He winced as his injured one protested against the movements. 

“Hey there, buddy,” came a voice from behind him. 

Tommy jumped and turned around to face the mouth of the alleyway. 

To his horror, he saw Duplicate, one of the city’s most feared villains standing there. Duplicate had the ability to create up to four intangible clones of himself, each of which were able to move independently from one another. 

He was dressed in his signature brown trench coat and tragedy mask that covered the top left quadrant of his face. 

But right now he wasn’t attacking, instead, he was kneeling down and holding his hands out invitingly. 

“You’re not looking so great there. My friend Ornith is really good with birds, so why don’t you come over here so he can patch you up, hmm?” he offered gently. 

Tommy let out a fearful chirp. No way was he going anywhere with the villain. 

Duplicate just cooed. 

“Poor little guy, you must be terrified. Here, let me get you something,” he said standing up. “Just stay right there.”

Tommy was tempted to run for the hills, but as soon as he went to fly, he felt the bones of his wing get jostled around so he sat back down. He could probably just walk away, but he was now curious about Duplicate’s behavior. He had sounded so soft when addressing him in bird form.

A few minutes later, Duplicate reappeared with a package of what looked to be plain tortilla chips. 

He sat cross-legged at the mouth of the alleyway and tossed a chip at Tommy. It landed in front of him invitingly. Curiously, he pecked at it, watching as it broke beneath his beak. 

It didn’t look tainted, so cautiously he took a bite. Sue him, he was hungry. It tasted just like a plain tortilla, no sharp or tangy flavours jumped out at him. Figuring it was safe he took another bite.  

Realizing he hadn’t eaten that day, Tommy tore into the chip, making sure to pick up every last crumb. 

Duplicate just laughed as he tossed another one, this time landing a little further away from Tommy. 

Tommy hopped towards it, once again eating every single bit. 

This time when Duplicate threw the chip and it landed closer to the villain, Tommy looked at him and cocked his head to the side, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. 

“Clever bird,” Duplicate said with a grin. “I promise I won’t hurt you, though. You just look like you need some help.” 

Tommy regarded him carefully before once again devouring the chip. Duplicate kept tossing it closer and closer to himself, each time Tommy looking at him suspiciously before eating it, the villain always making the same promise. 

When he was right in front of him, Duplicate just held out a hand with a chip in it. 

“Come on, buddy,” he said gently when Tommy hesitated. “I just want to help you, okay?” 

Tommy steeled his nerves before hopping onto his hand. He hadn’t shown any bad intentions yet. As far as the villain knew, he was just a poor injured bird. That was the one advantage Tommy had since Dream hadn’t yet unveiled his powers to the public, no one would know to look out for him, and even if they did how, how many hundreds of birds lived in the city? 

Tommy knew it wasn't exactly smart to trust the villain, but he needed help. 

Still, he was one of the most feared villains for a reason. He was deceptive and stories of his cruelty towards heroes were of no short supply. And if he was found out to be a hero while under his care…

Tommy shuddered at the thought. 

On the other hand however, knew he needed help that was beyond what Tubbo could do. He knew he shouldn't be so willing to go with Duplicate, but he had been so starved of care for so long that if you showed him the barest scraps of kindness he caved quickly.

Duplicate sucked in a small delighted gasp when Tommy jumped on his hand. 

He let Tommy eat the chip, laughing when Tommy chirped, demanding another one. He gave him another one before he pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket. 

Tommy scoffed. Of course he had a handkerchief on him, pretentious prick. 

He set Tommy down on the ground and held up the handkerchief, showing it to Tommy.

“I’m gonna wrap your injured wing so it's nice and tight against your body until we can get you to Ornith, okay?” Duplicate told him. 

Tommy chirped affirmatively, being careful not to move so the villain wouldn’t accidentally hurt him. 

“Done!” Duplicate said once his wing was snug under the fabric. “I’m gonna put you in my pocket, okay? I promise I’ll walk carefully.” 

Sure enough, he put Tommy into a spacious pocket that felt like the perfect little hide-y hole. In the pocket right in front of Tommy he put in some crushed chips, perfect for Tommy to snack on. 

As soon as they exited the mouth of the alleyway, Duplicate activated his power and they were surrounded by four clones. 

“Don’t be scared little guy, I just need these guys to make sure no one bothers me,” Duplicate told him. 

Sure enough, as they walked through the city there were plenty of shouts of terror but no one bothered them, the cops cowering away from the pack of Duplicates. 

They had only been walking a few blocks before they heard someone land behind them. Duplicate turned around, his body tensing when he caught sight of who had decided to make an appearance.

“Fleetfoot,” he greeted coldly. 

“Duplicate,” came Dream’s equally cold voice. 

“I believe the agreement is that unless I happen to be actively causing you any problems that I’m to be left alone,” Duplicate reminded him. 

That had always been the rule Tommy had been told to follow. Supposedly, it came up because one time while a villain was getting groceries, a hero had recognized them and attacked, leaving an entire sector of people without a grocery store for close to a year. 

It was a lot of bureaucracy that made Tommy’s head spin every time he tried to figure it out. The way Tubbo had found that made the most sense was that there was an honour code between the heroes and villains. Hero’s couldn't attack unprovoked since more often than not it resulted in more damage.

In turn villains wouldn't attack the family’s of heroes nor the hero tower. 

Tommy didn't really understand why, but he just went with it.

It was why villains no longer bothered hiding their identities, although heros did, if only so they could go about their lives in peace without getting recognized by citizens. 

“Yes, I know. I was just wondering why you have your clones out, really,” Dream asked him. 

Tommy felt his heart sink, if Duplicate showed him Tommy, Dream would immediately know. 

“I don’t see why it’s your business,” Duplicate answered shortly. 

“I suppose it’s not, I was just curious,” Dream said lightly. 

“Shame. I’m not gonna tell you,” Duplicate retorted in an overly sweet voice. “Move along now, Fleetfoot. I have places to be.” 

“As you wish,” Dream answered before calling the wind and flying away. 

“Isn't he a piece of work?” Duplicate said, softly stroking Tommy’s bright red head. 

Tommy chirped in agreement, having thoroughly enjoyed the exchange. He felt a little weird about cheering on someone antagonizing his mentor, but Dream wasn't always the kindest so he allowed himself to relish in it. 

Duplicate just cooed again as he continued working. 

It turned out to be a relatively long walk back to the villain base, which Tommy, out of respect for Duplicate since he was helping him at the minute, had pretended to fall asleep partway through. 

He however couldn't block out anything and recognized the sound of Stan’s voice– Stan being the owner of Tommy’s favorite hot dog cart. 

Not too long after they passed Stan, they finally entered the base. Tommy kept his eyes closed until Duplicate nudged him awake. Honour code and all that jazz. 

“Hey, little guy,” he said when Tommy looked up at him.

Tommy let out a little chirp in greeting.

“Isn’t he precious, Phil?” he asked, turning to the man dressed in black that was standing next to him. 

Tommy did a double take, the villain who terrorized the city by calling on an army of crows to do his bidding was named Phil. It was such an ordinary name that if Tommy were in his human form he would have started laughing uncontrollably. 

“He is,” Phil said, coming closer to him. “Do you know what’s wrong with him?” 

“I think his wing is hurt. I was walking and then I saw this red blur fall from the sky. When I went to check it out, I saw this little guy just sitting on the concrete and he couldn't use his right wing. I wrapped it up so it wouldn’t move too much,” Duplicate informed Ornith. 

He nodded. “I don’t have access to X-ray equipment at the moment, but I’ll do what I can until the veterinary office opens tomorrow morning.” 

“Sounds good.” 

Duplicate carefully handed Tommy over to Phil, laughing when Tommy wrapped his talons around one of his fingers. Only when Duplicate handed Ornith a chip did he go to him. 

“Little rascal only wants food,” Duplicate said with a laugh once Tommy was securely in Phil’s hand. 

The other villain just chuckled. 

Phil carried him through the long winding base which made Tommy dizzy just to be carried in. He dreaded what it would be like to navigate it on his own. Long twisting hallways and a mess of staircases and rooms. Before too long, they arrived at a clinical looking room. 

Tommy chirped in confusion, wondering what it was for. 

“This is just the little medical center. The crows sometimes pop by when they’re injured, but more often than not, it’s one of the other two,” Ornith explained the way one might explain something to a child. 

Ornith set Tommy down on the exam table before pulling out a small perch and securing it to the surface below him. He then held out his hand for Tommy to climb onto, which he did, before depositing him on the bar. 

With Tommy comfortable, he carefully undid the handkerchief. He used his fingers to gently prod at the wing. 

“I can’t say for sure without an X-ray, but it feels broken. I’ll put him in a sling for now,” Phil said.

“Poor thing,” Duplicate said softly. 

Tommy let out an indignant squawk, which Duplicate just laughed at. 

Phil took his time wrapping up Tommy’s wing and by the end, it hurt a lot more, but felt infinitely more stable. He hoped it would speed up his healing, he needed to get back to work soon. 

Unbeknownst to Tommy, Duplicate had left a copy of himself behind while he went to get a bird cage. When Tommy saw it he started squawking angrily. He didn't want to be caged up. Tommy wasn't meant to be in more than one place for long, even in his apartment with Tubbo, midnight walks weren't an uncommon occurrence.

The cage was small, barely giving him room to move. Which he supposed was the point, but still. He started chirping wildly as the cage was set down.

He jumped from his perch and pecked at Phil as he tried to grab him. 

“Hey hey hey, you’re injured. We can’t exactly let you just go free. You would hurt yourself more,” Phil said, trying to calm him down. 

Tommy chirped indignantly. 

“This is standard protocol for all the birds,” Phil tried as he tried to once again grab hold onto Tommy, Duplicate standing cautiously behind him. Suddenly, a pair of hands grabbed him from behind, gently pinning his free wing to his side. Tommy pecked at them but to no avail.

“Nice try, little guy,” Duplicate said slyly when Tommy turned his head to glare at him. He looked back at where Phil was and watched as the copy of him thinned out into nothing. 

“Is he okay?” Phil said running over with the cage that Duplicate had set on the table. 

“Other than a little grumpy? I don't think he hurt himself more,” Duplicate told him, using one of the thumbs holding Tommy to stroke his head again.

Tommy couldn't help the satisfied little trill he let out, it felt really nice, rarely did he get such soft touch from someone that wasn't Tubbo. Gently, he deposited Tommy into the cage, closing and locking it. 

Tommy hopped around his new habitat for the time being, finding plenty of water and birdseed in their respective containers. 

“How is it, little guy?” Duplicate asked, leaning down. 

Tommy turned his head away from the villain, letting out one firm chirp. 

“Did- did the bird just snub me?” Duplicate sputtered as Ornith burst out laughing. 

“Birds hold a grudge, mate. You’re lucky he hasn’t tried to peck you,” he said once the laughter had subsided. 

Duplicate just signed heavily and walked out of the room. “Call me if you need me,” he called as he closed the door behind him. 

When he had left Phil turned to him. “Don’t be too mad at him. He was only doing what I asked him to.” 

Tommy just let out a grumpy chirp at that. Phil chuckled and walked over to the counter where he started cleaning. 

Ornith rambled as he talked, and Tommy, still honouring back the fact that they had been so kind to him, tuned it out. He ignored all that Ornith talked about even though he knew he could learn so much from his rambles. 

He owed it to them to at least play ignorant. 

He was left in the room overnight with the promise of being taken to the vet in the morning. They winded up covering his cage to try and keep him calm and walked him to the vet. Once there, she examined Tommy’s wing and told them just to give him a health potion and release him.

They did so happily, using a pipette to send the pink liquid down his throat before walking him outside where he quickly flew off, not even looking around the area before taking off. 

Tommy stumbled through the open window of his apartment, Tubbo jumping up from his desk in surprise. 

“Tommy!” he cried, rushing over. 

Tommy let out a loud squawk before changing back, wincing when his shoulder flared up in protest. 

“Hi Tubs,” he said, now lying on the floor. 

“Where have you been ,” he demanded, crouching next to him. He looked up and down Tommy’s prone form, scanning him for injuries. 

“You wouldn't believe me if I told you,” Tommy said. 

“Try me.” 

Tommy sighed. If he thought he was stubborn, he still barely held a candle to Tubbo’s level. 

“I was with the villains,” he said simply. 

“What?!” Tubbo exclaimed, his eyes widening. 

And Tommy explained all that happened. When he told Tubbo about his shoulder, he was directed to the couch while Tubbo opened their potion cabinet. Tommy tried to resist but eventually conceded. Potions were expensive things, thankfully Tubbo had someone who could (illegally) get them for cheap. 

“Has Dream called?” Tommy asked a while later, still slowly sipping the potion. 

“He did, but I told him you were too injured to come in or answer the phone,” Tubbo told him.

“That’s gonna be hell to deal with later,” Tommy sighed. 

“It will be. You’ve got this though, he can’t fire you at this point. The public loves you too much,” Tubbo said, patting his blond curls. 

“Whoop-dee-doo,” Tommy said dryly. 

“Sorry man,” Tubbo said, shrugging, “but at least we won’t be evicted.”

“True,” Tommy conceded. 

The rest of the night passed peacefully, the two friends watching a movie together to close out a stressful few days. 

Tommy returned to the hero tower the day after, terror flooding his veins as he walked into the training gym where he knew Dream was waiting for him. 

“Tommy,” he called out in a disappointed tone. 

“Hey, Dream,” he started nervously.He shuffled his feet a little as he stood stock still. 

“You ran off the other day,” he said, raising an eyebrow. 

“I- yeah. I did,” Tommy admitted shamefully. 

“How are you supposed to learn how to be a better hero if you run off at the first sign of consequences,” Dream said 

Tommy just shrugged. He tried to appear outwardly calm. Dream was a shark, if he smelled blood in the water he would pounce without hesitation. On the other hand if he seemed too nonchalant Dream would get angry. It was a delicate balance of the two ends of the spectrum.

“Come on, we need to make up for last time,” Dream told him, getting into his stance. 

Tommy gulped and mirrored him. This wasn't going to be good. He could already feel it. Dream seemed excited, bouncing a little too enthusiastically on the balls of his feet. 

He was right. Dream didn’t hold back. Each swing seemed to carry the wind behind it, every kick was carefully aimed for the most delicate parts of his body. His lungs ached as he breathed in, trying not to irritate the bruises that now littered his skin. His muscles burned from the effort of trying to fight back. 

By the end of it, Tommy felt as though he were made of jello. His strength had left him as he stumbled out of the room, the fire that usually burned inside of him nothing but a dull flicker in comparison to his usual blaze. But just because he was sore beyond belief doesn't mean he didn't still have to patrol. 

With a sigh, he collected his assignment at the head office and headed there. The card read District Five. Five tended to be a bit of a slower one. It was in the middle of the city, the bridge between the upper, middle and lower class districts. At the very least it would be a calm night. 

As predicted, it was a fairly easy night. He broke up more than a few bar fights, stopped a handful of muggings and walked home a few drunk people. Even so, the toll of the fight from earlier weighed heavily in his body. 

His reaction time was slower, his lungs taking shallower breaths to avoid further hurting his ribs. He could tell that any swings at him were far more effective than they would have been normally. 

This wasn't a new concept, Tommy fighting after a morning like that with Dream. But that didn't make fighting with burning bruises or overworked muscles  any easier. It wasn't something you could get used to, but at least he knew what to expect now. 

When he got home that night, Tubbo took one look at him and dragged him to the couch before he pulled out their ice packs and told Tommy to hold them over the worst of it. 

Tommy used to complain about being confined to the couch, but after Tubbo had sat down on his legs to keep him from getting up he had given up. 

A few minutes later, Tubbo brought over dinner. Tommy sat up, accepting the thin dish towels Tubbo handed him, wrapping the ice packs in them and tucking them under his shirt. 

“Anything interesting happen?” Tubbo asked, putting on the TV for some background noise while they ate.

Tommy shook his head. “It was a slow day. I’m glad for that though, Dream got me good this morning,” Tommy said with a bitter laugh.

Tubbo frowned. “I wish you would report him,” he murmured. 

Tommy sighed, leaning back into the couch. He and Tubbo had had this debate so many times already. Tubbo thought it was inappropriate how Dream treated him, Tommy pointed out how everything he did helped him become a better hero. Fighting while hurt was an important skill to learn, making sure he knew not to fight his superiors was crucial (even though Tommy still had problems with that one.) 

Tubbo thought that he shouldn't fight while injured in case it made the injuries worse and took longer to heal. He thought it was important to challenge authority. Tommy secretly agreed, but it was a dangerous mindset for a hero to have. 

“I know you think that, but really, it's ok,” Tommy assured him.

“Just be careful, alright,” Tubbo asked, conceding. 

“I will, promise.”

Tubbo didn't look happy, but he accepted with a tight-lipped smile. 

After they finished dinner, Tubbo cleaned the dishes, waving off Tommy’s offers to do them. They settled into light chatter, the sound of running water and scrubbing creating a calming atmosphere. Their apartment wasn't fancy, it didn't have much. But the one thing it never lacked was a sense of home. 

It was their first taste of freedom after spending so many years being beaten down by their parents. They weren't brothers, not biologically at least, but their stories were so similar, their fates so intertwined that they could easily get away with lying about it. 

Two sets of uncaring parents that saw their kids as a nuisance. Two kids who had needed to fight tooth and nail for every scrap of affection they were given. And then they met each other. And then they were a set of brothers, bound through the broken love they had been given, making each other whole. They were brothers that the stars watched over, brothers who would never back away from each other. 

Tubbo was Tommy’s raison d’etre, he was his whole world. He was the reason Tommy got out of bed and took every beating Dream gave him. Tubbo gave him something to fight for, he gave him a soul to belong to. Someone who’s entire being outshone his own. 

To Tubbo, Tommy was the thing that kept him going. When his world had been bleak, a land of shadows and sadness, Tommy had been a bright beacon of hope, lighting up the treacherous stone path to freedom, to life, to living . 

Soon enough it was time for bed. Tubbo helped Tommy up, inviting Tomy to rest his weight on him. Tommy snorted, what a sight they must have been. Tommy towering over Tubbo, yet still leaning against him. 

Tubbo deposited Tommy on the bed, grabbing him some water before crawling in next to him. Tommy lowered himself on the pillows until his head rested against Tubbo’s chest. When Tubbo didn't do anything he impatiently shoved his head further into Tubbo’s chest. 

Tubbo huffed a laugh before running his fingers through his blonde hair.

“So needy,” he teased. 

“Oh shut up,” Tommy muttered, “as if you don't do the same.”

“Touche.” 

The two of them laid there, patiently waiting for sleep to claim them. When it eventually came for them, It was a fitful night for both of them. 

Their dreams cycled through memories of cold empty houses, of even colder streets. Dreams of small locked closets and wide open fields where they ran from their demons. 

For Tommy, there were dreams of fists hitting his ribs, of a white porcelain mask that promised safety hurting him in the name of the greater good.

 For Tubbo, it was dream of losing the other half of him, it was dreams of finding an injury and only being able to comfort Tommy in his last moments. Dreams of once again being alone, of having no one to turn to as his world crumbled around him. 

—

“Again,” Dream called. 

Tommy nodded, panting as he tried to catch his breath. They had been sparring for well over two hours now and Tommy was exhausted. He managed to have more than a few minutes for water all afternoon. 

He got into position, trying to calm his breathing so he could fight properly. Without warning, Dream launched towards him. Thankfully Tommy was an experienced fighter and easily stepped out of the way. Dream kept coming at him, barely giving Tommy a chance to process what he was doing. 

Tommy went on autopilot, barely thinking as he blocked, parried, and attacked. His feet moved across the training mat as if it were some well choreographed dance. Duck, sidestep, spin, jump. Move, move, move. 

It didn't take long for Dream to find a weak point though, and with one well timed punch Tommy was once again lying flat on his back as the adrenaline worked to numb the pain. 

“You’re getting sloppy, Two-Faced,” Dream tutted. 

“Sorry,” Tommy wheezed out, his lungs struggling to take full breaths of oxygen. 

“It's not a ‘sorry’ moment, it's an ‘I’ll do better’ moment,” Dream scolded. 

Tommy could only nod as Dream continued. 

“I mean, come on. What was that? You didn't even bother trying to get me. All you did was defend yourself. I left you plenty of open spots to get me.” 

More open, not open, 

“And yet you still didn't try and get me. No villain will just let you go on like that. You both have one goal, to subdue the other. It doesn't matter how good your defense is, if you don't go on the offense either you’ll tire yourself out or they'll see an opening and get you,” Dream finished, anger simmering just beneath his words. 

“Right, I’ll do that,” Tommy promised. 

“You’d better,” Dream threatened, “get out of here. You have a patrol in a few hours. You’d better be at the top of your game by then, your name is attached to mine after all. If you do poorly it reflects on me and my abilities as a hero.” 

Retorts warred on the tip of Tommy’s tongue about how he would perform better if he hadn't just spent the past two hours getting his backside handed to him, but ultimately he was too tired to deal with the repercussions that would come from those statements. 

Instead, he just peeled himself off the matt and guzzled cool water from his bottle before walking out of the room. 

When he got out to the hallway he just leaned all his weight against the wall. He was exhausted. He had slept okay last night, but it wasn't anywhere near enough for what he had on the agenda today. 

“You ok, Tommy?” came a concerned voice. 

Tommy looked up and found Ember, or Sapnap, looking down at him in concern. 

“Yeah, Dream just got excited,” Tommy said with a hollow laugh. 

Sapnap just frowned at that, “I saw your name on the patrol sheet tonight, I can swap with you if you want,” he offered. 

Tommy waved him off, “Don't worry about it man, I just need a shower and some food and I'll be good as new.” 

“If you’re sure. Just be sure not to overwork yourself; you can't exactly save the city if you’re the one that needs saving,” Sapnap said with a teasing grin. 

Tommy stood up straight at that, “You’re right, sorry, I should get going.” 

He turned around and headed towards the showers. Sapnap was right. How could he expect himself to be a hero if he needed saving because he was too weak, too inexperienced. Dream had a point in the way he trained Tommy, making sure he was self-sufficient and resilient . 

He had just gone through a tough training session which would hopefully help him to a patrol when he was less than perfect capacity. He needed to learn. 

As he walked away though, a voice that sounded suspiciously like Tubbo whispered to Tommy that he deserved rest, that all the other heroes had partners and backup and access to proper medical attention. The voice reminded Tommy that at Dream’s discretion he was treated differently to all the others in the tower. 

Tommy ignored the voice, pushed away its treacherous truth, suppressed the way he agreed with everything it said because if it was right, then why was Dream holding Tommy back like that. If he couldn't trust Dream to give him access to what he needed, then how could he trust Dream to guide him, trust him to fight side by side. 

But most importantly of all, how could he trust Dream with Tubbo should anything ever happen to him. 

Tommy twirled his staff to block the onslaught of attacks that was coming from the group of muggers he had just found. 

He managed to get one of them in the head and when one of his friends tried to come at him from behind, he just sent his staff backwards into his stomach. Panting, he dodged another knife as he knocked the last one off his feet. 

He took a breath, wincing when he felt a sharp pain on his torso. At times like this he wished he was allowed to change forms, but Dream had forbidden him to unveil his shape-shifting abilities to the public. 

He tapped the comm in his ear, calling the police. 

“Hello, dispatch, how can I help you?” 

“This is Two-Faced, at the corner of 12th and Lyle St—there's a group of three muggers,” he told her. 

“Got it, someone's on the way.” 

Tommy nodded and clicked the comm off. He pulled out his zip ties and quickly attached the muggers to the nearby street  light before running off again. He found a fire escape and climbed onto the roof. 

When he got there he picked a direction and sprinted. The wind rushed between his fingerless gloves and curly blond hair making him feel alive . As much as he wished he could shift on his patrols, running on the roof was a close second.

There was a freedom as he ran through the night. He was a creature that belonged to the inky night sky, he was a predator on the hunt for prey. Between his fingers he could feel the strands of the night sky, and knew how to twist the shadows around him to hide his thin form. The night belonged to him the same way the salt belonged to the sea, the way the skies belonged to the clouds. 

For as long as he could remember, the night had been his refuge. When angry fists were too tired to be dangerous, when the cops got lazy in looking for a thief, when the darkness welcomed him into her embrace. Cradled between the stars and the sun he breathed  in its chill as it whispered promises of safety and peace. 

Even now, as a hero, he was far away from Dream’s influence, away from the danger that larger threats presented. Villains might roam the street but they were using the night as a cover for their crimes. They were watching the moon, waiting for the sky to change into its usual bright blue to make a show of their work, waiting for the heroes to be around to make a point in them. 

The rest of the evening was fairly calm. A few more small muggings, walking a few people home, reporting drug deals. Nothing out of the ordinary. But he was exhausted. His body ached, muscles he didn't even know he had screaming in protest as he took another step. He stepped into a quiet alleyway and changed into a small mouse that he used to scamper home, he wasn't quite ready to tackle the skies again—not after last time. 

He let himself into their apartment through the window, hoping to be quiet enough not to wake Tubbo. Unfortunately, Tubbo was waiting up for him, and the moment Tommy hit the ground he was already being scooped up into his arms.

“Toms,” he greeted softly, running his fingers through his fur. 

He squeaked a hello. 

Tubbo smiled before he walked him over to the couch and put him down and stepped away. 

Tommy just sat there looking at him before Tubbo raised an expectant eyebrow. Oh. Right. 

He shifted back and immediately groaned from the pain. 

“Rough night?” Tubbo asked, already going to the kitchen. 

“Not even, rough training session, patrol was easy, '' Tommy said, shifting around until he found a comfortable sitting position, one that didn hurt his aching muscles. 

Tubbo sighed, “I really wish you wouldn't take those kinds of shifts.” 

“I know Tubs, but how else am I going to make sure I’m a good hero?” he asked with a shrug. 

“Oh, I don't know, by teaching you to take breaks, not overwork yourself, have actually productive training sessions that isn't just Dream beating you up for a few hours,” he asked sarcastically. 

“He doesn't do that Tubbo, he actually helps me,” Tommy protested, even as his arguments felt thinner by the day. 

“You didn't push back the other stuff,” Tubbo pointed out. 

Tommy swallowed, taking a breath, “I know,” he whispered, “I just don't know what to believe anymore,” he admitted. 

Sapnap had offered to get someone to switch patrols for him today. It wasn't the first time that had happened, but this time it was harder to ignore. 

Tubbo walked over to him, arms laden in ice packs wrapped in tea towels. He dumped them on the table and took a seat next to Tommy, pulling him in for a gentle hug. 

“I know Toms. You’ve been working so hard for so long, you’ve been trying to do right by me. I can't ever thank you enough for that, but I think it’s about time you start doing right by yourself. 

“I can't sit by and watch this anymore, not when you come back every night hurting from your head to your heart. Please, take care of yourself, I can't lose you, not when you’re the only thing I have left,” he whispered. 

Slowly, tears started leaking out of the corner of Tommy’s eyes.  He hurt, his soul was wailing in agony. He was lost, he didn't know where to go, what to do. Because slowly, he was starting to realize that everything he had thought was wrong. 

Tubbo held him tighter, whispering sweet nothings into his ears as he cried, the dam slowly opening. He was mourning, mourning the loss of the veil that had kept him blissfully ignorant, mourning the loss of a hero he looked up to, mourning the stability he had managed to build up, mourning once again the childhood that was stolen away from him far too soon, mourning the loss of his direction. 

But as he sat there, crying in Tubbo’s arms, a pile of ice packs ready to be used on him, he knew something. 

While he was lost, he wasn't alone. 

He had Tubbo, his best friend, his brother forged from the stardust of two shattered stars. They were blindly stumbling through life, but they had each other, hands locked in a way that only Lady Death herself could tear them apart. 

He lost his map, his direction, lost the fragile life they had built up together. But he had Tubbo. And at the end of the day, that was all he ever needed. That was all that he would ever need. 

He kept hero-ing. They had discussed it when he woke up and had decided that until they could make a clean break from Dream that he would keep being a hero. He was to go on as normal which was harder than he wanted to admit. 

Now that he knew how wrong Dream was, he couldn't help but catch every flaw. The way he spoke to Tommy a little too sweetly sometimes, the way he never taught Tommy how to defend, the way he kept his co-workers from the gym whenever he was there with Tommy.

Before now, Tommy had never realized just how tightly he held his leash. He controlled every aspect of Tommy’s hero life. Who he spoke to (not counting the small conversations he had while catching his breath in the hallway or in the lunch line when he got the two of them lunch). How he only used his power when Dream gave him the okay, how he only got to try new weapons when Dream gave into him after months of begging. 

Now whenever he walked into the hero tower, Tommy felt dread rather than the boyish excitement he used to feel when the automatic doors slid open.

The ID card that hung on his neck when he walked in now felt like a collar rather than the badge of honour it used to be. He felt trapped, used. Like a marionette doll with taut strings. 

Tubbo was working on a solution for them. He couldn't quit his job any sooner than Tommy could though. Even with the hero paycheque Tommy received, they still needed more money. Tubbo worked at a computer repair shop that paid decently well. But it wasn't enough, it was never enough.

They needed to skip town, they needed new names, new identities. Thankfully, Tubbo both knew a guy and was the guy people know. Tubbo had also decided that he wanted to drag Dream down. If they were going to have to start from scratch, then why should Dream remain unaffected.

Between all that, trying to get Tommy’s name off the power registrar, getting a base amount of money that would last them at least a few months it was a long, slow, complicated process and all Tommy could do was wait. 

Fighting got harder as he lost passion for his cause. He no longer believed in the heroes.

Because all though they had shown him kindness and sympathy whenever he emerged from the training gym and patrols worse for wear, even as they questioned Dream’s methods time and time again in front of Tommy and undoubtedly behind closed doors, they did nothing . They offered to take a patrol, they offered him more food, more water. Kind words and bandaids and ice packs for visible injuries. But beyond that, they stood back and let Dream do that to Tommy. 

He didn't blame them, he supposed. Dream probably had the wool over their eyes.  But Tommy couldn't help the resentment that built up inside of him. 

After his revelation he had become more rebellious. Not everyone had powers, only about thirty percent of the population did. And to have anything remotely powerful, maybe half that. 

Most peoples powers were small things, levitation up to a certain weight, water bending with power equivalent to that of  a garden hose, fire with enough fuel to set a small house on fire. It was part of why the power registar existed, to keep track of individuals who had the capacity to turn dangerous. To keep an eye out for potential heroes, for potential villains . 

Dream wasn't a threat based on his power alone. His wind was strong enough to lift him, to maybe start a small storm if he was by a big enough body of water. But what he had was control. The fluid wind became a solid force under his careful eye. He could create walls of tightly coiled wind to stop villains from running, weave ropes from the air at just the flick of his wrist. 

Tommy, on the other hand, was powerful. While he hadn't had a chance to test his limits, he knew he could easily shift into lions, tigers ,and bears without breaking a sweat. He could become small rodents and birds in the blink of an eye. 

His acts of rebellion were shifting into animals and just roaming the street. He knew of a few other shifters in the city, none with quite as much diversity as him, but he welcomed their presence none the less. 

That was why it was so important for Tubbo to remove his name from the registrar. If he didn't, people would come knocking at their door to check up on him, he could be easily tracked down if you knew where to look. And Dream knew where to look.

It was a full moon, its bright pearlescent glow lighting up the surrounding sky and clouds before it got lost in the light pollution of the city. It was beautiful and wild and Tommy yearned to be a part of it, yearned to follow the light. 

Without thinking he shifted into a wolf. He wasn't quite a full grown wolf, as it was with any of his shifted forms, but it was large enough. Soft grey fur covered his body, paws that were still a little too big for his body and ears that still looked off. 

He looked up at the moon and let out a long howl, hearing the wolves deep in the forest next to the city return his call. 

He let out a playful bark and bound down the street. He was careful to avoid places he knew would have a lot of people, sticking to alleyways and small green spaces. He could tell the night air was cold but felt nothing beyond the wind running its fingers through his fur. 

“Over there,” he heard a voice call from behind him. 

He turned around just in time to see a man holding a gun shoot at him. The sound hurt his ears and before he could blink his back right leg exploded with pain. 

He let out a pained yelp as he crumpled to the ground. 

“Calm down little guy, this’ll be over quick,” the man said, approaching Tommy. 

Tommy gulped, a scared whimper escaping his mouth. The man had approached and seemed to be aiming the gun at his heart. 

“We don’t need you terrorizing more people,” he said again as took another step closer, “I’ll make it as painless as possible.” 

“Why did you shoot him in the first place,” a voice said from behind the man. 

Tommy tilted his head to get a better look at him. It was Duplicate, and he looked furious. 

“He’s been out terrorizing the city, not that a villain like you would get that,” the man said, a note of fear present in his voice. 

“I've been watching him all night,” Duplicate said, “from a distance of course. He just seemed to be having a little wander.” 

“He scared my wife half to death with his howls. Besides, he’s dangerous, there's a reason the city rewards you for bringing in the pelts of any wolf that wanders into city boundaries,” the man said, though he was visibly shaking at this point, apparently the realization that he was talking to one of the city's most feared villains finally setting in. 

“He’s not even an adult,” Duplicate said icily, taking a step closer. 

The man took a terrified step backwards. 

“Look man, you’re a villain, so why don’t you get off your high horse and go and terrorize some other innocent person. I have a gun and I’m not afraid to use it,” he said, pointing the gun at Duplicate's chest. 

Even from the awkward angle Tommy was at, he could see the way the gun trembled in his hand. 

Duplicate smiled, “Shoot,” he invited loftily, spreading his arms out wide. 

A loud bang echoed through the air, Tommy shut his eyes and laid his ears flat on his head, terrified of what he would see. 

When he heard nothing else he carefully opened them up and saw the man lying motionless on the floor with Duplicate kneeling a few feet away from Tommy. He looked around, confused at what had happened when he caught sight of one of Duplicate's clones fading out. That explained it, except he hasn't seen a second version of Duplicate out at all. 

“Hey little guy,” Duplicate called.

“Can you look at me, little guy,” Duplicate called again. 

Tommy looked up and once again met the eyes of the supervillain. Tommy’s ear twitched in fear and his eyes flit briefly to the man on the ground. 

“Don’t worry about him, he's not dead,” Duplicate told him before muttering, “Even if I think he should be.” 

Tommy let out a little questioning yip. 

“I’ve called over a friend and he’s gonna help me get you back to tip top shape alright,” Duplicate told him. 

He shuffled a little closer to Tommy, holding a hand close to his muzzle. 

Right, he was a wolf. 

Tommy took a cautious sniff of the offered hand. Duplicate sat there, letting Tommy sniff away. Tommy wasn't really sure what he was supposed to do from here so he just decided to lick the hand. 

“Awwww,” Duplicate cooed. 

He slowly reached his hand over to Tommy’s head, giving him a chance to move away from it. When he didn't, Duplicate started scratching at his ears. 

A part of Tommy suspected that he was acting too much like a dog and not like a wolf. But if he didnt know the difference he hoped Duplicate wouldn't either. And besides, the head scratching felt good.

After a few seconds of that, Duplicate shuffled so he was closer to Tommy’s hind legs. Tommy tensed but Duplicate just let out a soothing noise. 

He gently poked around the wound, stroking Tommy’s fur apologetically whenever he let out a pained yip. 

“No bullet, clean exit, this isn't gonna be pretty,” he muttered to himself. 

“I’m just gonna wrap this up a little bit, okay little guy?” he told him. 

Tommy nodded and heard a few ripping noises. A few seconds later he felt Duplicate wrap up his leg in cloth. He tied it tightly, when Tommy looked back at him he seemed to be using bobby pins to secure it. When Duplicate caught him watching he just sent him a reassuring smile. 

When he was done he came back to Tommy’s front half, gently shifting Tommy so he was half in his lap, his head comfortably pillowed on his knee. 

Duplicate sat there, alternating between stroking Tommy’s thick grey fur and scratching at him when he heard a pair of footsteps come from down the alleyway. 

Without thinking Tommy stood up, going to protect Duplicate the same way he would for Tubbo. But as soon as he put pressure on his hind leg he collapsed.

“Whoa little guy. Don’t worry. This is my friend,” Duplicate said, gathering Tommy’s wolf form on his lap.

Tommy looked up and was met with the villain Sanguine. 

The blood bender. 

Known for being able to control people using nothing more than the blood that ran through their veins. He was feared, his name able to make even the toughest people afraid.

Logically, Tommy should have expected it. Duplicate, Ornith and Sanguine were a team. But he still couldn't help the nerves that came with seeing the villain that stood in front of him. 

Duplicate, apparently sensing his nerves, put a gentle hand on Tommy’s side, “Shhhh, it's fine, he’s a friend,” he soothed.

Sanguine approached the pair, looking gruff. His long red royal cloak billowing behind him dramatically as he walked.

“How is he?” he asked, dropping down to sit a good bit away from them . 

“He’s okay right now—I think. Bullet made a clean exit so he probably just needs stitches, no need to get any shrapnel,” Duplicate told him. 

Sanguine nodded and moved closer, holding out a hand for Tommy like Duplicate had earlier. Tommy repeated the process of carefully sniffing his hand, trying not to flinch at the faint smell of iron that emanated from it. He gave it a small lick, pleased not to get any of the iron on his tongue. 

“Sanguine here is just going to pick you up, okay pup?” Duplicate told him, scratching behind his ears. 

“Pup,” Sanguine said, sounding amused. 

“Oh, look at him. He’s being so sweet,” Duplicate defended. 

“You say, as he tried to attack me when I walked into the alley,” Sanguine reminded him. 

“Only because he thought you were a threat,” Duplicate defended, “As if I would ever need protection. Not that he knows that,” Duplicate said, sounding soft. 

“I was only teasing,” Sanguine huffed amusedly. 

Duplicate just sighed. 

“Up we go,” Sanguine said, carefully grabbing Tommy from the other villain's lap before hoisting him up with a grunt.

“Did he seem light to you,” he asked Duplicate, shifting Tommy’s weight to better carry him. 

“A little, but I don't know how heavy wolves are supposed to be,” Duplicate admitted. 

“We might have to get the vet to check that out then,” Sanguine said, starting to head outside of the alley. 

“Sounds good, to the base,” Duplicate asked.

“Yep.” 

Like last time, out of respect for the fact that they were saving his life, especially since Duplicate had stopped the gunman, he closed his eyes, nuzzing close to Sanguine as they walked.

The walk there was quiet, the two villains not saying much. A few times, people walked by them,but they usually sped up to get away from the villains if the sound of their footsteps was anything to go by. 

“That’s a new low for you two,” a voice called from up ahead of them. Tommy’s ears twitched. The voice sounded familiar. 

“Nubla, you’ve always been a more… understanding hero,” Duplicate said silkily. 

Nubla. The pink-haired hero who Tommy looked up too. She was sweet but tough when she needed to be. Her power was levitation with the addition of being able to create small clouds, hence the name. 

“I have no understanding for people who hurt animals,” she called.

“Wasn't us, some idiot shot the little guy in the leg and nearly finished him off before I got there,” Duplicate told her. 

“What Duplicate means is that this is the result of the corruption you keep turning a blind eye to,” Sanguine said, his voice taking on a terrifying edge. 

“It isn't as black and white as you guys think,” Nubla said, sounding angry. 

“Sanguine,” Duplicate said placatingly before addressing Nubla again, “I know. I’m sorry, that was out of line of us. We didn't hurt him, we promise. We’re actually on the way to get him looked at.” 

Tommy heard Nubla get closer to them, her gentle whooshing sounds soothing Tommy. 

“I know, I’m sorry I accused you of that. I wish I could do more. I’m a hero though, even if it sometimes feels like I’m less a hero and more a figure head ,” she said softly. 

“You’re not. We’re villains because we think ourselves better than you guys. But at the end of the day we’re all just fighting for what we believe in, you guys at least stick to morals. We kinda just do whatever,” Duplicate said. 

“I guess,” she murmured, “Take care of him though, he didn't do anything to deserve it.” 

With that, Tommy heard her rise up and presumably head towards another part of the district. 

“What even is a villain at this point,” Duplicate asked as they started walking again. 

“Cool it, Aristotle,” Sanguine said with a teasing tone. 

“I know, I know,” Duplicate sighed, “It's just weird sometimes. We have morals, we fight for what we think is right-” 

“Don't think too hard about it,” Sanguine advised, “Everyone is right in their own head. We just have to keep goin’.” 

They kept walking, this time arriving at their destination without further interruption. 

He was placed on the same metal table as last time sans perch. A few minutes later Ornith walked in. The other two quickly filled him in while he examined the wound. 

Ornith got started as soon as he was situated, pulling out various things from the cabinets. 

“I’ll numb the area and give him stitches, he shouldn't need more than a night here and then we can release him back in the wild,” he told Duplicate and Sanguine. 

Duplicate crouched in front of Tommy, holding his paw when Tommy held it out while Phil gave him the numbing agent. 

“I know,” he murmured, “I know, but soon you’ll be good as new, yeah?” 

Tommy only whined in response. Duplicate just squeezed his paw extra hard for a second before going back to the normal pressure. True to his word, Phil was fast and gentle. It felt like no time at all before he announced he was tying the final knot. 

He got Tommy some water, offering it in a bowl for him which Tommy happily drank. 

“Are you guys done in there?” Sanguine asked from the other side of the door. As soon as he had set Tommy down, he had walked out of the room. Tommy hadn't really questioned where he had gone, figuring he had things to do. 

“Yep, one sec, I’ll get the door,” Phil said, walking over. 

Tommy let out a little questioning bark. Duplicate chuckled and scratched him behind the ears, “He was getting you somewhere to sleep tonight.” 

Tommy tilted his head in confusion before he realized what he meant. Another cage, or kennel in this case, he supposed. Sure enough, when Ornith opened the door, he had a large massive crate on wheels that dragged behind him. 

Tommy let out a scared whimper as it was wheeled in. 

“Shhhh,” Duplicate soothed, “I know it's probably not what you want, but this way you’ll stay safe while you sleep tonight.” 

Tommy didn't say anything, only watching wearily as Sanguine pulled a lot of blankets that had been on top into the kennel. 

Once it was ready, Duplicate gently picked him up from the table and set him down in front of it. 

Tommy took a deep breath before he walked in. 

The crate beneath his paws had been padded with blankets and he saw a few chew toys in the corner as well a small bowl of water carefully tucked in with the blankets so it wouldn't spill. 

“I’m glad he fits,’’ Sanguine said as he closed the door behind Tommy. 

“Me too mate, if not I’m not sure what the plan was.” 

The three of them stood there before wishing Tommy a good night and walking out of the room. 

Tommy moved around a bit before finding a comfy position and laying down to sleep. In the morning Phil looked him over again before they ushered him back into the kennel that they loaded into a large van. 

They drove him outside of city limits, going well into the forest before he opened the door and invited him out. 

Tommy took a tentative step out, looking back at them curiously. 

“Go on little guy, I’m sure you’ll find your pack again,” Phil encouraged. 

Tommy let out a happy bark before running off into the forest, noting how his hind leg didn't hurt at all. 

When he was sure he had run a good distance he changed back into a cardinal to fly back to his and Tubbo’s apartment. 

“Tommy,” Tubbo cried as soon as he shifted back. 

“Tubbo,” Tommy said, catching him. 

“Are you okay?” Tubbo asked, breaking the hug, looking him up and down. 

“I am now, yeah,” Tommy said, walking over to the couch and flopping down on it. 

“What does that mean,” Tubbo asked, taking a seat next to him. 

Tommy took a deep breath before he recounted his night, leaving out the meeting with Nubla since he still wasn't sure what to make of it. When he finished Tubbo burrowed into his side, his ear resting on Tommy’s chest listening to his beating heart. 

Tommy just tucked him closer, well used to it at this point. When he had started Tommy had asked him why he did that and Tubbo told him it was because he was so stupid he shouldnt be alive and he liked having the reminder his best friend wasnt some cardboard cutout. 

Tommy, fluent in Tubbo, immediately understood what Tubbo was really saying. 

That sometimes just seeing him wasn't enough to remind him that Tommy was ok. That he needed the physical reminder of Tommy’s arms around him and the steady rhythm of his still-beating heart. 

The two sat there for a bit, Tommy running his hands through Tubbo’s fluffy brown hair the way Tubbo did for him so often, Tubbo clinging to him as if he would disappear if he didnt. 

“We should head to bed,” Tommy murmured a little later. 

Tubbo nodded against Tommy’s chest. 

When he didn't move, Tommy sighed fondly before standing up, shifting Tubbo’s weight so he could carry him to the room. 

“Sorry Tubs,” Tommy whispered as he made his way to the room. 

“Soon we’ll be free,” Tubbo said in response. 

Tommy put Tubbo in the bed, hesitating before he shifted into wolf form. 

Tubbo sat up when he shifted, smiling fondly as Tommy hopped into bed next to him. 

“Hi Toms,” he said softly when Tommy curled up in front of him, “this is a new one, I can't say I hate it though.” 

He lied down, letting Tommy shuffle around until Tubbo’s body was curled into him. They fell asleep like that, feeling warm and loved in a way they only felt with each other. 

Although they had the plan for freedom, Tommy knew better than to act any different at work. If anything he knew he would have to try harder. He needed to make sure that if they ran and Dream somehow caught wind of what they were doing that he could defend Tubbo . 

He spent more time in the gym, changing the way he fought. Tubbo had asked him a while back if he ever thought about taking on a more adaptive fighting style. He was already a shape-shifter after all, he was used to adapting to the situation. 

It took a little to figure out, but already he was making steady progress. When Dream graciously allowed him to fight George he spent more time wearing him down since his powers relied on optical illusions, what better way to beat the Illusioner than by confusing him first. 

With Sapnap he became more offensive, striking before the older hero even had a chance to recover from the last blow. He stayed close to him, too close. Sapnap, or Ember as he was known on the field, had pyrokinetic abilities. By staying close, Tommy was forcing Sapnap to shoot off fire close enough to obstruct his own field of vision. 

The only problem was Tommy also ran the risk of burn, but it was worth the risk when he came out on top every time. 

Dream was still the hardest to fight. He had a sharp eye and fast reflexes, seemingly always a few steps ahead of Tommy. 

Progress at home was slow. Tubbo had approached Tommy after a few weeks and asked if he could buy tech to try and make it easier for him to set things up. Tommy agreed, trusting Tubbo with his life. 

Since then Tubbo had acquired a whole setup complete with three monitors and one super computer that looked like it cost more than their entire apartment building. When Tommy asked about how much it was, Tubbo smiled and told him he had built it from rescuing scraps from the computer repair shop he worked at and the monitors had been given to him by a loyal client of his after Tubbo had done a huge favour for him. 

As weeks turned to months though, Tommy couldn't help but feel as though nothing had happened. It still felt the same, like hope had blossomed but had been choked out by the cruel world they lived in. It felt like an endless cycle of bruises and bleeding wounds, of Tubbo’s loving hands patching them up and hearing his voice promise him that they would be free soon. 

An endless cycle of Dream belittling him and him biting his tongue knowing the consequences weren't worth fighting back. 

It was hard at times. Sometimes Tommy was tempted to tell Tubbo to not worry about it. To stop trying to find freedom. Sometimes he thought it would be easier to be trapped in a cold dark room with small pockets of warmth than wander the endless maze with a light that only seemed to get further away. Giving up sounded so easy, why even try at all. And if he gave up, he would never fail. 

By trying he was running the risk of so much going wrong, of getting hurt. Or worse, losing Tubbo. If he gave up they could keep up the tentative, fragile life they had built up. They would always have each other to fall back on. 

When he voiced these thoughts to Tubbo however, late one night after a particularly long night, Tubbo shook his head. He left their shared bed and returned with two mugs of hot cocao. Then gently, oh so gently with nothing but love and kindness he explained to Tommy how they had to keep going. That giving up was no longer an option. As easy as it sounded, Tubbo was hurting watching Tommy kill himself day in and day out. 

Tubbo whispered sweet words into his ears, soothing his worries, telling Tommy that they both deserve better than the hand life had dealt them.

Tommy fell asleep that night, warm from the rich hot chocolate Tubbo had made him, but also from the loving tone Tubbo had used all night, recognizing that Tommy was going through a rough patch. He was warm with the hope that Tubbo had reignited in him and warm from the way Tubbo had adjudged them so Tommy was safely tucked against his chest. 

He had hope again, he only hoped it would one day be less of a dream and more the reality he woke up to with each rising sun. 

He tried keeping himself sharp by now putting  kre focus on the normal civilians, the innocent peoples who’s worst crime was living in the city. It had started small, staying after a villain fight to help clean up and get the injured ones to the paramedics. Slowly it became more than the battlefield. 

Walks through the sketchy parts of the cities, focusing on bars where violence was a normal occurrence. Cats stuck in trees, stray dogs, lost children. He helped them all. He hated all that Dream stood for, hated his rivalry with the villains, so he focused on the people who had no voice, the people that were more like him, more like Tubbo.

It was noticed. The civillians saw him as a hero by more than name, they saw him and called out to him in thanks. They saw all that he did and began approaching him of his own accord, asking him for small favours. Being walked home, protection against creeps that followed them, asking if he could help them locate a pet or child. 

They weren't the only ones that noticed. Dream noticed too. 

“Tommy, we need to talk,” Dream said, walking up to him, his green cloak billowing behind him as he greeted Tommy at the entrance to the hero tower.  

Tommy approached slowly, running through all his most recent actions to see if he had done anything wrong. When he couldn't think of any he only got more worried. 

Dream turned around, motioning for Tommy to follow him, which he did without hesitation. They piled into the elevator, Dream hanging close to the front while Tommy took up his usual spot half a step behind him. 

No words were exchanged as they went up, not until Dream had taken Tommy to his office. Tommy felt his stomach twist as he stepped in, whatever he had done was really bad if he was here. 

“So Tommy,” Dream said, his voice void of all emotion. 

“Yeah, Dream,?” Tommy answered nervously. 

“Care to explain,” Dream asked, grabbing a remote controller and pointing it at the tv on the left wall of his office. 

Tommy turned his eyes towards the office and was greeted with a news report of himself. 

“The hero Two-Faced, partner of Top Hero, Fleetfoot has been spotted helping civilians for weeks now. The hero seems to have stolen the hearts of the city, rescuing strays, helping lost children and helping pedestrians and drivers after a particularly nasty villain fight. 

“The hero committee has declined to comment on whether or not we can expect more heroes to follow in his footsteps, leading many to believe he is acting of his own accord,” the reporter said as a video of him handing a toddler back to their mother played behind her.

“What do you have to say for yourself?” Dream asked, raising an eyebrow. 

“I don't see the problem,” Tommy told him defiantly. 

“You don't see the problem,” Dream asked incredulously, a dangerous tone underlying his words, “this makes us look bad. If you keep this up you’ll become the favorite hero. How do you think that would look, the most liked hero, a hero that can barely hold his own in a fight,” Dream yelled icily. 

“If your biggest problem is your image then I think you have more issues than you think,” Tommy cried without thinking. 

Dream froze, his eyes flashing dangerously. Tommy shrank back gulping. He had messed up, big time. He knew that look in Dream’s eye, a look he had gotten once before. It had been at the beginning of his hero training, before he was officially approved by the committee. 

SBI had attacked an important government building and Tommy had been sent as backup. He remembered how half the building was on fire, how it lit up the moonless night sky like some twisted beacon of despair. 

Dream had told him to stay back to keep an eye on one of the emergency stairwells. Having been left alone Tommy got bored quickly, pacing around the small room he had been left in while he heard the thumps from above indicating a gruesome battle.

Some time later he had seen Duplicate walking down, whistling as if he was just walking through the park. Tommy had hesitated, it could easily be one of his clones. Deciding to test him, he had picked up some of the plaster that had fallen from the ceiling and threw it at him. 

“Hey, who did that,” the villain had asked, whirling around. 

Without thinking Tommy had just launched himself at the villain and an all out brawl had occurred. By the end of it, Duplicate had fled leaving Tommy a bloody mess. But on the ground was a shiny computer chip. 

When he radio’d Dream the hero had been furious. Even though the chip had ended up being what the villains were after Dream still told Tommy that he had disobeyed direct orders. 

The aftermath was something not even Tubbo knew the full details of. 

Extra patrols, sometimes two shifts a day, longer more grueling training sessions. And the cherry on top. Tommy was to follow every order to a T. One misstep and he was sent back to square one. 

Terror. 

That was all that Tommy had known in the months that followed. He knew that even one mistake would result in more pain, more sleepless nights and more bruises than he cared to admit. 

Before Tommy had realized what Dream truly was, he had rationalized it in his head. It made sense, he was under Dream, if he hadn't gotten the chip he could have been knocked unconscious and not have been able to let the others know that Duplicate had left the premise. It was irresponsible of him tio have just attacked first.

Now though, Tommy wasn't so sure. He had barely been a hero at the time, he needed to learn how to follow instructions. But at the same time he has succeeded. What did it matter? He had done it in an unconventional way. 

He wasn't sure what the answer to that question was, he didn't know if it had a simple answer or if he wasn't thinking hard enough about it. 

“Tommy,” Dream asked, his voice sounding deceptively light, “would you like to run that by me again.” 

Tommy’s mind raced. He had two options, double down and be allowed to continue to do what he was doing with consequences, or back down and face a lighter punishment.

He couldbt stand the idea of more pain than he was already dealing with, especially when it was compromising the hope that burned and smoldered in his heart. 

“I’m sorry Dream,” he whispered, bowing his head in shame. Shame of his cowardice, shame of his lack of conviction, shame at the way he folded so easily, “that was out of line.” 

“It sure was, I’m glad you acknowledge it, “but you know I can’t let you off scott-free. That would be inappropriate. I’ll be putting your name down on the shift rotations more often for a bit. I wouldn't step out of line again, next time I won't be so lenient,” Dream told him, opening his laptop. 

Tommy nodded. When he was given the signal he shuffled out of the office. 

With a sigh he numbly walked to the elevator unsure of what to tell Tubbo. The elevator dinged, he walked in, punching in the floor of the main lobby. There were so many factors at play right now, how much mattered, how much had he just affected their grand escape. 

The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. He walked out, heading for the cafeteria. His shift didn't start for an extra half hour, he had just arrived early to use the training gym. He subconsciously followed the smell of food till he was standing in front of the cafeteria. 

The cafeteria was open to the public on the condition that heroes were left alone while they were eating. Most people were good about that, mostly waving at heroes from their tables, younger kids being corralled by their exasperated parents and teens and younger adults  occasionally walking up to them to let the hero’s know how cool they thought they were.

He blinked, suddenly realizing where he was. As much as he wanted to grab some food, he didn't have the money. Especially not now, if this was anything like last time, Tommy had just taken a huge paycut. Whenever he got lunch for him and Dream, Dream had handed him an employee caf card. Obviously he didn't have that right now.

He turned around to walk away when he bumped into someone. 

“Hey man, you all right,” Sapnap asked, putting a steadying hand on his shoulder. 

Tommy blinked up at him. 

“Yeah sorry,” Tommy said, shaking his head. 

“Were you getting lunch,” Sapnap asked gently, turning Tommy around and keeping a hand on his shoulder as he walked them deeper into the cafeteria. 

“I was just kinda walking and ended up here without noticing,” Tommy explained with a hollow laugh. 

“Sounds like you definitely need food then,” Sapnap said with a chuckle, though Tommy could practically see the concern in his warm hazel eyes. 

“S’not like I can afford any,” Tommy told him bitterly. 

Sapnap froze, the hand on Tommy’s shoulder tightening incrementally. 

“What do you mean by that,” he asked with forced casualness. 

“Exactly what it says on the tin big man,” Tommy said with a shrug, “can't afford food from here. I can barely get it on a normal grocery trip, let alone here.” 

“Right, you do know we have the employee cards to get food for free from here right,” Sapnap asked. 

“Not me, I’m not a proper hero yet,” Tommy told him. 

Sapnap took a deep, steadying breath before he started steering them towards one of the little shops littered around the edge of the cafeteria. It was the little soup shop Tommy loved. Dream only let him get it here when he had been on especially good behaviour. 

“We’re gonna talk about that in a sec. For now we’re getting lunch, on me. Get whatever you want, I don’t pay so this is no hair off my head,” Sapnap told him. 

Tommy nodded, suddenly excited at the prospect of a proper lunch. He usually relied on snacks and energy drinks to keep him going.  

The line moved at a decent pace, but this place was definitely one of the more popular ones so it was still a little slow. 

When they got to the front Sapnap ordered a spicy lentil soup while Tommy ordered a tomato soup. Sapnap also ordered a platter of finger sandwiches to go along with it.

When they got their food they found a quiet corner to sit at. 

“I can't believe you got finger sandwiches ,” Tommy said with a laugh, finding a bit of his old spark. 

Sapnap playfully rolled his eyes, “what else are you supposed to get with soup gremlin.” 

“Just soup,” Tommy responded as if it was obvious. 

“Dude, we’re heroes. We can't just get soups and call it a day, we need something more hearty. Especially when you just get tomato soup,” Sapnap argued. 

“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with tomato soup,” Tommy protested. 

“Sure kid,” Sapnap said, rolling his eyes, “whatever you say.” 

“Besides, it's better than what I usually have. Energy drinks have a limit,” Tommy huffed. 

Sapnaps demeanor shifted, suddenly looking serious. 

“I wanted to talk to you about that actually,” he told Tommy. 

Tommy felt his smile dissolve, leaving a tight frown on his face. 

“What's up man,” he asked nervously. 

“What did you mean about not being a proper hero earlier,” Sapnap asked. 

“I mean, I’m not really a hero yet am I, I’m still Dream’s partner more than anything,” Tommy said with a shrug. 

“Dude, what are you saying? You’re more of a hero than me at this point. I mean, the way you’re putting so much time into helping just the everyday people is so cool,” Sapnap said, pride glowing in his eyes, “and I can't remember the last time Dream was out on the field with you.” 

“Two months to the day last Saturday,” Tommy told him quietly. 

“Kid,” Sapnap said with a sigh, “he doesn't treat you right.” 

“I know that,” Tommy snapped before shrinking down on himself, “at least now I do,” he muttered. 

He looked at the soup bowl, trying to keep back the tears that threatened to fall from his eyes. 

Sapnap got up from where he was sitting before sitting next to Tommy and enveloping him in a tight hug. 

“Oh kid,” he murmured, “what did he do to you?” 

Tommy shoved himself deeper into Sapnap’s chest, relishing in the warmth he radiated. Sapnap just adjusted them so Tommy was more securely tucked up against him. 

Tommy wasn’t sure how long they sat there, only aware of the safety the black-haired hero eminiated. After a bit, Tommy took a breath and whispered all that had transpired in his time as a hero. Not just the recent stuff either, heh told him everything. Right from the beginning to now. Even the stuff he hadn't told Tubbo. 

He didn't know why he told Sapnap, he was Dream’s best friend. But something about Sapnap was so safe, so comforting. The way when he saw Tommy after a particularly rough day he always stopped and asked if he was ok, the way he had caught on to Dream’s treatment of him first. The way he bought him soup and sandwiches, trying to keep Tommy fed. 

By the end, he could tell Sapnap was mad, furious. Rage smoldered beneath his skin like a previously dormant volcano ready to burst. But Tommy felt safe, safe in the arms filled with veins of pure rage. He felt safe because he knew that rage was an umbrella in the middle of a storm, a tall oak in a field. The rage was for him, for his safety. It was a rage fueled by love and concern. Here, with Sapnap, he was safe. 

And although Sapnap couldn't always protect him, he knew he could always go to him if he needed to. 

Patrol was much better than it usually was. Dream hadn't banned Tommy from helping the civilians so he kept going, Sapnap’s words echoing through his mind. 

You’re more of a hero than I am at this point.  

Those words warmed Tommy’s heart. They fueled his need to be a hero more than anything Dream had ever told him. That day he was all smiles and excited laughs as little kids ran up to him whenever he walked along the sidewalk. 

It was a pretty average day, all things considered. But the little things seemed to matter so much more today. 

When he got home that night he was tired to his bones. But it was the good kind of tired. The kind of tired that made you want to curl up in a warm blanket and let sleep call you from the depths of the universe. The kind of tired you knew would lead to a long, slow, lazy morning of warm gold sun peaking through the curtains as you hummed a gentle tune to greet the day. 

Evidently Tubbo picked up on his good mood because he curled up right against Tommy, his body slotting against his own as if the universe had built them to lay against each other.

The movie they played was soothing, the characters gently singing about a future they could almost reach as they moved through the animated world slowly finding themselves. 

Next thing Tommy knew, he was being gently tucked into bed. He blearily opened his eyes, catching Tubbo’s fond gaze. 

“Sleep Toms,” he whispered, “you need it.”

Tommy easily complied, letting Morpheus claim his soul for the night. 

When he woke up he joined Tubbo in the kitchen as they scraped together a big breakfast of leftovers and eggs. They needed to make sure none of their food went to waste. 

When they sat down to eat, Tommy told Tbbo about all that had transpired. 

“Right,” Tubbo said with a sigh when he finished, “we’re going to have to rework the budget as soon as we see your new income. Until then I think we have one grocery trip we need to do so I’ll make sure to only grab the essentials.” 

“You sure it isn't me,” Tommy asked, they usually rotated grocery shopping since they both hated it. 

“Yup, you got me the little bee plushie remember,” Tubbo said, shaking his head. 

“Oh right,” Tommy said with a laugh, “I did do that.” 

Tubbo just sighed fondly. 

“This is probably a good time to mention I’m thinking of quitting my job,” Tubbo said quickly. 

Tommy blinked. 

“What,” he asked. 

“I’ve been repairing computers for a while now. I know how to do it better than anyone in that shop. If I started up my own little business I can set better prices, and when we skip town I can already start that up right away with a client base already built in,” he explained. 

Tommy nodded. That made sense, it gave them a guaranteed source of income to start with. 

“All right, sounds good. Do whatever you think is best, bossman,” he said to Tubbo. 

Tubbo grinned, walking over to his desk and booting up his computer. 

“I’ll keep working there for now but start taking jobs on the side until I have enough clients coming in at a fast enough rate to be making what I’m making right now,” he told Tommy. 

Tommy nodded. He would need to think of a job soon. Neither him nor Tubbo had finished school, but they both had skills that they had learned from their time out on the streets. He only hoped that employers would take him. That was a problem for much later though, for now, he had to focus. 

He walked out of the apartment, his stomach full of nerves to see what he would be doing for the next bit. 

Walking into the building felt damning, like he had sealed his fate using his own blood. Signing over his soul to a cause that would only ever serve to hurt him. He approached h

the large board that was used to assign shifts. Most hero’s would have access to it on their phones, but neither Tommy nor Tubbo had one. They only had the old landline in their apartment. 

He punched in his employee number and let the biometric scan wash over him, it’s cool blue light scanning him from head to toe. 

Then the scanner turned red and aimed itself at its eye. 

Once it was done he hit the tab that contained all his shifts, his stomach dropped. He had shifts and training sessions six days a week, sometimes totalling up to fifteen hours in a single day. Peppered through what were supposed to be off days were short three-hour shifts and hours training sessions. 

“Ah, Tommy. I see you’ve found your assignments,” Dream said walking up behind him. 

“What is this,” Tommy asked, horrified.

“Well, I figured that if you were going to insist on helping civilians that I should give you more time to be able to do your actual work too,” Dream said breezily, shrugging his shoulders as he hadn't just ruined Tommy. 

“Dream, this is ridiculous,” Tommy cried softly. 

“Not my problem. You’d better grab something to eat, you start in fifteen minutes,” Dream told him. 

He turned to walk away before turning back, pulling out a small white card from his pocket. “That reminds me. It seems you had a conversation with Sapnap and he’s demanded I give this to you. I expect you won't do that again, what happens between you and I is private after all,” Dream said, raising a threatening eyebrow. 

Tommy nodded, reaching a trembling hand to grab the card with a mumbled thanks. 

Dream smiled, patting his head condescendingly before walking away. 

Tommy stood alone in the bustling lobby, unsure of how it had all gone so wrong. 

He had no hope now, nothing Tubbo could do would ever be enough to save Tommy. But Tommy could save him, he could send Tubbo faraway to a place he could finally thrive. He swore he would do everything for the shorter, they had been trapped for too long. Dream’s generous offer from a year and a half ago was a trap, suffocating them until they had nothing left. 

Tommy would get Tubbo away, he promised, if it was the last thing he ever did. 

It was hard, harder than he ever thought it would be. He was constantly tired, running on a steady stream of energy drinks and coffee from a cafe in the hero tower. He only ever managed a handful of hours of sleep a night thanks to his hectic schedule. The little sleep he did get was plagued by constant nightmares, leaving him more tired than rested. 

His food intake was way down with no time to stop and eat anywhere. Not to mention the fact that Dream had cut his pay cheque a significant amount, thereby limiting Tommy’s food even more. 

He had sent Tubbo one time with the card Dream had given him but Tubbo had been denied since he wasn't a hero, even though he showed proof that he knew Tommy. 

He was sore, his body a carousel of new bruises and cuts. Fresh ones angry reds and purples, old faded ones in various shades of ugly greens and yellows that had become his base skin colour. 

The citizens still loved him, calling him their hero. He still tried to do right by them. He still went out and helped them whenever they called his name. It was what he was supposed to do. All that he suffered was for them. 

But he wondered sometimes if it was worth it. If it was worth all the pain, all the tears, all the long hours and even longer nights. Where was the line in the sand, and how many times had it been redrawn?

But then he remembered the beaming faces of the children who he helped, remembered the proud sorrowful smiles Tubbo had whenever he came home. Remembered the way Sapnap had told him he was a real hero. He remembered all of this and kept going. It was all he had now. 

Since accepting he was staying behind for Tubbo, he had lost his hope, his fuel. He was running on fumes towards a goal he didn't know. Running towards a time when the sky was a dark grey rather than the pitch black it had become. 

Tommy woke up one day to a coughing Tubbo. He sat up quickly, looking towards his friend, his brother . His face was red and he looked clammy. 

Tommy put a hand on his forehead. It didn't feel too warm, but it was definitely warmer than it was supposed to be. 

“Tubs,” he called gently, shaking him awake. 

“Yeah,” he asked, opening his eyes blearily. 

“Do you feel ok, you look a little sick right now,” Tommy asked. 

Tubbo closed his eyes for a sec, face scrunched in thought. 

“Maybe a little,” he admitted. 

“Ok, I’ll pick up some cold medicine for you after work, just take it easy today all right,” Tommy told him softly. 

Tubbo had managed to quit his job a few weeks ago so he didn't have to call him in sick. That made it easier, although that meant Tommy couldn't stop Tubbo from working. 

“Sounds good, I don't have much to do today anyways,” Tubbo said, pulling the covers back over top of himself. 

Tommy let out a relieved sigh. There was that at least. 

He filled a large glass with water and left it on the kitchen counter for when Tubbo woke up later and headed out the door. 

“Two-Faced you’re needed on Main St,” came a voice from over his comms. 

“On it,” he called quickly climbing the nearest fire escape. He wasn't too far and after only ten minutes of jumping from rooftops did he arrive at the scene of the battle. 

SBI was out today, all of Duplicate's clones were out, sowing the seeds of confusion as wreaking havoc as they ran around the area. Sanguine seemed to be controlling a hero like a puppet, his arms moving at the same time as the others while Ornith's birds attacked the heroes. 

Tommy jumped into the fray, immediately starting to fight with the birds. 

“What's the situation,” he called to Illusioner, who was in a similar position to him. 

“Somehow they got word that the hard drive containing the hero’s budget manifesto was being moved today. The vault was halfway open by the time they got there and it wasn't closed properly. We need to get them away from here,” he yelled. 

That wasn't good. If they got their hands on the hard drive they would be able to see all the weapons, plans for new hero locations or anything of the like, giving them too much knowledge on the future plans of the heroes. 

Tommy decided that he should go after Ornith, not only were his birds causing the most chaos, he was also the ring leader. Take him out and the others would follow. 

He jumped pulling out his weapon. A staff. It was the only thing Dream had allowed him to use in their training.  He was a pro at it at this point but it didn't make a difference if he was up against a sword. Still, it was something. 

Ornith cried out as Tommy rained attacks down on him. He pulled out his shiny black sword. As he raised it above his head Tommy couldn't help but admire its dangerous gleam. 

Ornith swung the blade down and Tommy justy barely managed to dodge it. He rolled out of the way, fluidly getting back up. Ornith narrowed his eyes as he slowly circled Tommy. 

“Give up,” he cried, “you heroes will never succeed. 

“Bold words for someone who has yet to ever retrieve information on heroes,” Tommy called back, taking a running leap on him. 

Ornith’s eyes widened as he sidestepped Tommy’s staff. 

They exchanged blow after blow, dodge after dodge, eachaining the upper hand for seconds at a time before being back on even footing. Unfortunately Tommy’s stamina was way lower than he would like and it didn't take long for Ornith to knock him onto his back, pinning him in place with a black boot on his chest, blade pointed right at his throat. 

Tommy panted, eyes darting wildly at the street around them, desperately looking for an escape. 

Ornith grinned. 

“You’re a pretty good opponent, shame you’re a hero,” he tutted. 

“As if I would ever join up with you bastards,” Tommy cried. 

“I know you’re new, and you sound awfully young, so let me give you a word of advice: not everything is as it seems. If something feels off, it probably is,” Ornith told him. 

Tommy paused at that, memories of the past several months playing in his head. 

“I see you’re thinking. Make the right choice kid, we’ll welcome you with open arms,” Ornith said with a grin. 

“Ornith,” Duplicate,” called, “we got it!” 

“That’s my cue to leave, I have a feeling I’ll be seeing you,” Ornith told him before he walked over to Duplicate, large shiny black wings materializing. In one powerful flap he was off the ground, taking to the skies with Duplicate in his arms. 

Tommy only watched after them, pondering all that Ornith had told him. 

“Two-faced,” Illusioner called, running up and kneeling next to him. 

“Hey Illusioner,” Tommy said, closing his eyes, chest rapidly falling and rising as he kept trying to catch his breath. 

“Are you ok,” he asked, placing a hand on Tommy’s shoulder. 

“Yeah, just a little banged up, you?” Tommy aked. 

“That’s good. Same, only Prismarine has a major injury. Ornith got him with his sword earlier and Sanguine tried to puppeteer him and  made it worse,” George told him. 

“Will he be ok?” Tommy asked, concern flashing in his blue eyes. 

“Don’t worry about it, he was sent back to the tower as soon as that happened. That’s why we called you in actually. Speaking of, you did really well there. Ornith was really struggling. I’m proud of you kid,” George said, squeezing the hand on his shoulder. 

Tommy smiled shyly, “thanks man.” 

Tommy waited a few more seconds before he tried standing up, wincing when his torso protested. 

George waited for him, offering Tommy a hand to help him stand up grabbing him so he rested his weight on George. They headed towards the tower to give a full mission report. Tommy hated them but they were mandatory for anyone who was in a big villain fight like that. Smaller villain fights and one on one fights could be submitted electronically. 

Once in the meeting room George deposited Tommy in the seat next to him. Tommy scanned the room, seeing Sam with a large band aid covering one of his arms. Tommy winced, that must've been a nasty injury. 

He had been under the command of Sanguine exactly once and he hated every second. It felt as if he had been standing on his head, all the blood rushing to wherever Sanguine had directed it. He couldn't imagine what it was like to have a wound like that and then all the blood heading out the opening. 

“So, what happened,” Dream asked from the head of the table. 

“Somehow the Sleepy Bois got their hands on the fact that the hard drive was being transferred today,” X-Rose piped up. 

“We were called to the scene but by the time we got there the security had already been heavily compromised,” Sam added. 

Dream frowned. “This isn't good. It means we have a spy on the inside. I’ll be conducting a formal investigation on anyone who had access to that intel.” 

The rest of the meeting continued, the other heroes explaining how the fight had gone down, eventually leading to how Duplicate had somehow snuck into the open storefront without anyone noticing and taken off with Ornith. 

“Two-Faced was doing a really good job at keeping Ornith occupied,” the Illusioner added. 

“And yet he seems to have gotten away,” Dream said, disappointment leaking heavily through his tone. 

“Dude,” George cried, “he was doing so well and Ornith is one of the most dangerous villains out there.” 

“Don't tell me how to handle my protege George,” Dream said icily, “Tommy you and I will be working on that at a later date. That is all, meeting dismissed. 

Everyone immediately got up, breaking into small conversations about the fight. 

“Don’t listen to him,” George whispered, “he has a weird thing about power.” 

Tommy nodded numbly, trying desperately to ignore the pit in his chest that had formed at Dream’s tone. 

“Tubbo, I’m home,” Tommy called as he kicked off his shoes.

“Hi Toms,” Tubbo called back tiredly. 

Tommy walked further into the apartment and found Tubbo on the couch with seemingly every blanket they owned on top of him.

He swore loudly. 

“I forgot the cold medicine,” he yelled, grabbing his shoes again. 

“It’s fine,” Tubbo groaned, “just grab it tomorrow.” 

“Tubbo, have you seen yourself? You look so sick right now,” Tommy said walking closer to him, not bothering to take off his shoes as weird as it felt leaving them on in the house. 

“I’m fine,” Tubbo protested, “just cold.” 

Tommy's eyes widened and he put the back of his hand on Tubbo’s forehead. 

“You’re burning up dude,” Tommy cried, his eyes widening as he took in how warm Tubbo felt. 

“Am I?” Tubbo asked. 

“Yes, yes you are you idiot, we need to get these blankets off you,” Tommy shrieked, already carefully peeling away at the blankets that Tubbo had piled on himself. When Tubbo protested Tommy murmured “I know Tubs, but this is just making you sicker.” 

When he had successfully gotten them off Tubbo he ran to the kitchen and grabbed a clean rag and turned on the tap soaking it. He wrung most of the water out before he gently put it on Tubbo’s forehead. 

“I’m gonna run down to the corner store and see if they sell any cold medicine, I’ll be back soon, promise,” Tommy told him gently. 

Tubbo nodded, eyes slowly shutting from tiredness and Tommy ran out the door. 

With Tubbo the walk to the corner store usually took fifteen minutes, running on his own he made it there in five at top speed. When he got there though, his heart sank. It was closed. 

Tommy put his hands on his knees, panting as he tried to figure out what to do now. They didn't have any at the apartment, they didn't have a thermometer either. Tomorrow he was scheduled for a long day too, leaving before seven and getting home at nine if he was lucky. 

Tommy ran back, thinking of all his possibilities. There wasn't much. Tonight he just had to make sure Tubbo wouldn't overheat. That was the priority. 

When he got there he grabbed another rag and did the same he had earlier before he gently shook Tubbo awake. As he replaced the old rag, he quietly explained to Tubbo about the corner store being closed. 

Tubbo didn't really seem to register what was being said, obviously delirious from the fever. Tommy pursed his lip and hoped beyond hope that they would be ok at the end of all of this. 

That night, Tommy didn't sleep. He set up a small make-shift bed beside the couch after moving their coffee table. Every thirty minutes he would get up and replace the rag on Tubbo’;s forehead, switching between the two. At around 4am he just started quietly stress cleaning the apartment. He didn't know what else he could do. 

When the time came for him to leave, Tommy moved the coffee table up right next to Tubbo and left six large glasses of water on it so he could grab them when he woke up. He also left a pile of granola bars next to him. 

He nervously left the apartment, fearing for Tubbo’s health. He was pretty sure the fever hadn't gotten any worse, but it also hadn't gotten any better. 

Tommy was about to check his schedule for the day when he saw Sapnap in the lobby. He had an idea, an idea Tubbo would probably discourage, but considering he was currently out of commission it didn't matter. 

“Sap,” he called, running over to him. 

“What’s up,” he called, putting out his hands to catch Tommy when it looked like he was about to crash into him. 

“My roomate is sick,” Tommy started nervously, suddenly regretting it, “nevermind actually, this was stupid,” he muttered. 

“I’m sure it isn't,” Sapnap soothed, “you were saying your roommate is sick.” 

“Yeah,” Tommy said nervously before deciding to go ahead, “I was wondering if you wouldn't mind dropping off some soup for him at lunch, and maybe just checking on him?” 

“I can do that, just let me know the address,” Sapnap agreed easily. 

“Really?” Tommy asked, meeting Sapnaps eyes. 

“Yeah kid, why wouldn't I,” Sapnap said with a soothing grin.

“Thanks so much,” Tommy cried. He fished through his pockets for the key and gave Sapnap directions. Sapnap promised him he would swing by in a few hours and that he would make sure Tubbo actually ate. Tommy thanked him profusely even as Sapnap waved him off telling him it was nothing. 

Patrol wasn't anything special that day. Admittedly he was a bit off his game since he was worried about Tubbo all day. But all things considered he was still good.

When he got home, he realized he had given Sapnap the key. Tommy grimaced and hoped that Tubbo was awake and coherent enough to open the door or else Tommy would have to go through their window.

When he knocked, he was surprised to see Sapnap open the door. 

“Hey Sapnap,” Tommy greeted, confused, “what are you still doing here?” 

“Tommy, is this really how you live?” Sapnap asked, sounding pained as soon as the door had shut behind Tommy. 

“I- yeah. I mean, I know it's not the best, but it’s home y’know,” Tommy responded. 

“Kid, this isn't right. With all the hours you put in you should make enough to afford a decent place,” Sapnap said sadly. 

“Life sucks sometimes,” Tommy said with a shrug, crouching down next to Tubbo, “how is he by the way?” 

“Not great. He told me you guys couldn't afford cold medicine so I grabbed some earlier. His fever is stable but it isn't getting any better either,” Sapnap told him. 

Tommy sighed, “can you cover for me if I take the day off,” he asked Sapnap. 

He nodded, eyes alight with a righteous fire. Tommy wished he could tell Sapnap not to talk to Dream about any of this, but he knew better at this point. Oh well, he supposed he could take the hits when they came. It wasn't like he was new to that stuff anyhow. 

That night passed much like the previous one. This time though Tommy ended up falling asleep accidentally for a total of four hours. 

Tubbo wasn't getting any better. He had barely been awake for more than maybe a half hour at a time. All day Tommy managed to get him to take small sips of water and bites of food anytime he had him awake. The rags were a constant stream of being replaced. 

It was going fine until Tommy noticed that he seemed a bit hotter than he had earlier. That wasn't good. 

He gently shook Tubbo awake, and he promptly threw up. 

“Sorry,” Tubbo said weakly.

“Don’t worry about it,” Tommy assured him gently, handing him the glass of water he had been about to give him, “drink that while I get the carpet cleaner.” 

When he came back Tubbo was looking at him with glassy eyes, the cup sitting untouched in his lap.

“Need help Tubs?” he asked softly when he was crouched in front of him. 

Tubbo nodded weakly and Tommy gently held the cup up to his lips, Tubbo’s hands never leaving it. When Tubbo tried to angle it higher Tommy held firm. 

“Slowly,” he told him, “we don't need you being sick again.”

Tubbo nodded reluctantly, letting Tommy control the flow of the water.

When the cup was half empty Tommy pulled it back, promising he could have more later, they just didn't want to rush it. 

When the carpet was clean Tommy grabbed the trash can from the washroom and put it over the spot he just cleaned. 

Good thing two, ten minutes later Tubbo leaned over, ejecting all the water he had previously drank.

Tommy perched himself delicately on the couch. 

“You ok,” he asked softly, taking Tubbo’s hand and squeezing it gently. 

“As all right as I can be,” Tubbo muttered. 

“If your fever doesn't break in a few hours I might have to get you to the ER,” Tommy told him. 

“Please no,” Tubbo said, sitting up suddenly. Well, as suddenly as someone with a high fever, no food and very little water could. 

Tommy gently pushed him back so he was laying down again. 

“Tubs, look at you, you can't even hold down water anymore. You need help, better help than I can give you,” Tommy said sadly. 

“Please Toms. I was in the ER as a kid a lot and it never gets easier going in there y’know,” Tubbo said with a humourless laugh. 

Tommy sighed, “I’ll see what I can do. No promises, my priority is keeping you alive though.” 

“Thanks bossman,” Tubbo said with a weak smile.

He drifted off back to sleep not long after that. 

Tommy paced around his apartment trying to find alternatives to the ER. At this point there was no way to get Tubbo’s fever to break on its own. And he could only take so much time off work before Dream punished him further. 

He stopped to look out the window, the moon shining down on the city below. 

Suddenly Tommy got an idea, a stupid idea. But it was an idea so stupid it just might work.

He led Tubbo down the stairwell as gently as he could. They needed to take a lot of breaks, stopping so Tubbo could sit, but Tommy didn't mind. Whatever it took to keep Tubbo comfortable. 

When they got down Tommy led him down an  alley, checking no one was around. 

“Do you trust me,” he asked Tubbo. 

“Course I do, no one I trust more in this world.” 

“Grab on tightly and let me know whenever you want me to stop,” Tommy told him. 

“Wha-” 

Before Tubbo finished his question Tommy turned into  a wolf. 

He kneeled down, motioning for Tubbo to hop on. He hesitated for a second before he carefully climbed on. Tommy thanked his lucky stars Tubbo wasn't too heavy. Tubbo shifted his weight around before he wrapped his arms around Tommy’s neck. 

Satisfied that Tubbo was safe, Tommy stood up. It was a little awkward with a passenger, but thankfully it wasn't too bad. 

Now he just needed to get the attention of a certain someone. 

Like last time he wandered around the emptier alleyways. He could feel Tubbo’s questioning glances burning through his skull. He kept trotting, no time to explain. 

Tommy kept a sharp eye out, looking for-

There it was. Or rather, he was. 

He looked right at the figure and let out a bark. 

The figure seemed surprised at having been caught but approached slowly. 

“Hey buddy, how are you doing,” he asked, “I didn't expect to see you back here.” 

Tommy barked again, turning his body sideways so Duplicate could get a full view of Tubbo on his back. 

“And who’s this?” Duplicate asked.

Tommy yipped, whining in distress at the question. 

“Hey, you don’t look too good,” Duplicate said sitting down in front of Tommy. 

Tommy took a seat, Tubbo climbing off and leaning against Tommy’s thick fur.

“Fever,” Tubbo croaked out, “the wolf’s been taking care of me. Insisted I get on him today.” 

“Clever boy,” Duplicate said scratching Tommy’s ears, “he got hurt once and my partner fixed him right up. I guess he thinks we’ll do the same,” he explained. 

“Will you?” Tubbo asked. 

“Seeing as though a wolf brought you here, I feel like saying no is a bad idea,” Duplicate said with a laugh. 

“And you won't hurt me,” Tubbo asked. 

Tommy let out a sharp warning bark, looking Duplicate right in the eye. 

“Wouldn't dream of it. Besides, we’re villains, not monsters,” Duplicate said.

At that Tommy stood up, letting Tubbo use him to help himself up. He then walked Tubbo to Duplicate, nudging the villain. Seemingly understanding what he was saying, Duplicate picked Tubbo up. 

“Hey what gives man?” Tubbo cried. 

“You dont look like you can stand right now. Besides, the wolf looks happy with this,” Duplicate said with a small laugh. 

“Course he would, the prick,” Tubbo muttered. 

Tommy jumped up against Duplicate, licking Tubbo's face and giving Duplicate’s ear a warning nip.

“Geez, I wont hurt him, promise,” Duplicate said, using his shoulder to rub at the sore ear. 

Tommy gave one final bark before running back out to the streets. He hoped he hadn't just handed Tubbo over to people that would hurt him, but it was too late to change his mind now. He could only hope that they would carw and love for him the same way they had with Tommy’s various shifted forms.

As he ran back to his home, he thought about how he should have just taken Tubbo to the ER. He didn't even know if he would be able to collect Tubbo later. Unless he showed up as another injured animal he wouldn't even be able to check on him.

Oh. 

Oh.  

That wasn't a bad idea.

He didn't know how long he would wait till he tried to visit Tubbo, but he didn't want it to be suspicious.

When he got home the first thing he noticed was how empty the apartment was. He had been home without Tubbo before, it wasn't new. But the knowledge that Tubbo wouldn't be home for an unknown amount of time really made it feel hollow. 

As tired as Tommy was, he knew he needed to clean up. If he didn't do it now he never would. 

With a sigh he pulled off the couch cushions and took them to the shower to clean them off. He sat there carefully scrubbing each cushion to try and rid it of any leftover whatever virus or something of the like Tubbo had contracted. He then took the rags and did an extra good scrubbing. 

When all that was done he checked the time. 3am. Not too shabby. 

He crawled into bed, suddenly feeling Tubbo’s absence harder. They hadn't spent a night without each other since they had moved in. THey kept each other warm, made eachother feel safe and loved when they had lacked those assurances for so long. 

When he walked into the hero tower the next day Sapnap ran up to him. 

“How’s he doing? Do you need me to go back to your place for a bit. George said he can cover for me,” Sapnap asked him frantically. 

Tommy shook his head. 

“Don’t worry about it. He got really bad so I ended up taking him to the ER. They’re keeping him for a bit,” Tommy explained, the white lie easily making its way out of his mouth. 

Sapnap hummed sympathetically, slowly pulling Tommy into a hug, giving him a chance to refuse it. He didn't. If anything he pulled himself closer to Sapnap. 

“Sorry about that Tommy. Let me know if there's anything I can do for you to make it better,” Sapnap offered when they broke the hug.

Tommy gave him a tentative smile. 

“Thanks man, I really appreciate it,” Tommy said. 

Sapnap just smiled, giving Tommy a firm pat on the shoulder. 

“Don’t mention it dude,” he said before turning away, “I have to go now, but seriously, if you need anything get either me or George. We’re more than happy to help you if you ever need anything. 

Tommy nodded, a small flame of happiness igniting in his chest. “Thanks,” he said, sincerity dripping off his tone, “I cant thank you enough for the offer. 

Sapnap sent him one last grin and headed for the elevator. 

Tommy stood there for a second, trying to process what had just happened before sighing ahd heading to the training gym. 

When he got there, relief flooded his system when he saw George standing there instead of Dream.

“Ready,” George asked, tossing him a staff. 

Tommy caught it, twirling it as he got into an offensive stance. “Born ready.” 

George grinned and ran towards him. 

They sparred for a bit, George giving Tommy pointers whenever he fumbled. Halfway through the allotted two and a half hours he started using his powers. 

George's illusion powers created a smoky landscape where anything could emerge. Anything within his range he could also make look like something else. That was why he rarely used his powers in group fights, he couldn't give different people different illusions. It was too risky to try and use it, unless they knew exactly what was going on. George could easily have heroes fighting each other. 

Tommy stood in the dark cloudy landscape, focusing on his hearing. Whenever he saw a shadowy figure he paused, trying to see if the footsteps matched the sounds they were making. That was one of George's weaknesses afterall. 

He heard loud thundering footsteps come from behind him and whirled around, the staff attacking whatever was coming at him. When it dissolved into a hazy black mist, Tommy took a defensive stance slowly turning around in his place, looking for anything else. 

Hearing more footsteps he turned around, as he was about to stop himself at the 180 mark however, he heard much lighter, quicker footsteps start from where he had just been facing and let himself do a full circle, staff out. 

It hit. Suddenly the illusion dissipated and Tommy was reintroduced to the blinding white lights of the training gym. 

George took advantage of his confusion and came at him. Tommy tried fighting back but ultimately winded up flat on his back, staff pointed at his chest. 

“That was a dirty trick you bastard,” Tommy cried, rubbing his eyes. 

George shrugged, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

Tommy just groaned, throwing his head back onto the mat behind him. 

“That was a good fight though,” George said chuckling, holding out a hand to help Tommy up. 

“Yeah yeah,” Tommy grumbled, “laugh it up.” 

George just grinned as they headed to the edge of the gym. He picked up their water bottles and handed the red one off to Tommy. 

Tommy just shook his head as he accepted the water bottle, quickly draining half of it. 

They stood there chatting for a little bit, George gently picking out a few of Tommy’s weak points and how he could improve them before they parted ways. Tommy off for a quick shower and George to go and help Dream with some paperwork. 

It had been a week and Tommy hadn't heard anything about Tubbo. Each night he left the door unlocked on the off chance he would come back when he was sleeping. In the day he left a note on the door with words only Tubbo would understand, hiding the key in the first alleyway they had ever called home beneath a loose chunk of concrete. 

Each morning Tommy woke up feeling empty, and every night he opened the door to disappointment. 

Finally about a week after he had dropped Tubbo off to the villains, the opportunity arrived in the form of a giant storm. 

Lightning flashed through the darkened sky, for slices of seconds at a time it looked like mother nature was photographing her creation. Thunder followed, the bangs echoing through the night sky as the storm raged on. 

Tommy walked down the alleyway, recognizing the idea was somehow even more stupid than the idea to hand off Tubbo to the villains in the first place. 

He quickly took on the form of a tabby cat, ginger fur immediately getting soaked in the rain. He then tried to remember where the villain's base was. He remembered the hot dog cart from when they had released him in bird form. As much as he had tried to block it out of his memory, he remembered that much. 

With that being the extent of the knowledge he had, he headed there. Few people paid attention to him as he trotted down the street. A few times someone tried to approach him, but every time he just ran away. 

He hoped no one had called animal control on him. 

By some miracle, he made it to the corner where he knew the hot dog cart was located. He took up position under an awning and just waited. He knew the chances of a villain walking out and seeing him were low, the chances of them bringing him in were even lower. 

After a while though, he saw him. Duplicate running down the street, about to pass him. 

Subtly, Tommy got up and took a few steps forward, bracing for impact.

Sure enough, Duplicate crashed right into him, his foot catching on Tommys body. 

“Wh- oh, hello,” Duplicate said softly, looking at Tommy. 

Tommy meowed in greeting. 

“Do you have anywhere to be in the storm, sweet thing?” Duplicate asked, holding out his hand. 

Tommy sniffed it before nuzzling the offered hand. 

Duplicate laughed moving his hand so that he was scratching at Tommy’s head, “I’ll take that as a no for now. Why don't I bring you home and get you out of the rain. If you have an owner I’ll find them once the storm clears up.” 

He slowly stood up and went to pick Tommy up. 

When he was close enough, arms held out, Tommy just jumped onto his shoulders. 

Duplicate laughed, “fair enough,” he said fondly, scratching Tommy’s head around. 

Once again, Tommy closed his eyes on the walk, ignoring every turn they made, filling his thoughts with literally anything else. 

Eventually he was once again placed on a familiar table. 

He meowed in confusion.

“I know it looks like a vet's office. I just want to get you some towels and food. My dad is very particular about using only some towels for animals,” Duplicate told him. 

…Was Ornith Duplicate’s dad ?

That was new. 

A few seconds later Duplicate had a hair-dryer in hand as well as a fluffy looking navy blue towel. 

He plugged it in and turned it on. Tommy immediately cringed from the noise. 

“I know, sweet thing,” Duplicate soothed, “I’ll be fast though.” 

Tommy reluctantly let Duplicate pull Tommy closer. As promised he went fast, only drying his fur about three-quarters of the way before he pulled out the towel. 

Once he was done, he swaddled Tommy like a baby and carried him out the room. 

He walked up a flight of stairs, eventually landing at what looked like a normal apartment. 

It was much larger and nicer than the one he shared with Tubbo. The living room housed three couches instead of one. There was also a dining table off to one corner and the kitchen had a counter separating it from the rest of the house like there was at home. The difference was that this counter looked like it served as another place to eat instead of a storage place. 

“Dad,” Duplicate called. 

“What’s up?” Ornith said walking in. He paused when he saw Tommy, “another stray?”  

“He was out there all alone,” Duplicate protested, a slight whine to his voice. 

Orntih just sighed, “is he all right?” 

“Yeah, just cold and wet,” Duplicate told Ornith, pulling Tommy a little tighter against his chest. 

“Well at least it's better than the last stray you pulled in,” Orntith told him. 

“I didn't bring him, he was brought to me. Big difference,” Duplicate said, stressing the word ‘brought’. 

“I know, I know,” Phil said leaning against the counter. 

“How is he anyhow,” Duplicate asked. 

“Stable, his fever finally went down. He’s a lot more coherent too. I think we should be able to let him go back home within a few days.” 

“That's good. Do you think he’ll say anything though,” Duplicate asked, lowering his voice, glancing at one of the doors down the narrow hallway. 

“I don’t think he will. When I was talking to him earlier he seemed pretty open with me and didn't ask me anything back,” Phil said. 

Duplicate nodded. 

“I still can't believe the wolf found you that night,’ Phil said after a few seconds of silence. 

“I know, just in time too. Another day and I don't think he would have made it,” Duplicate said quietly. 

Phil nodded in agreement, “why don't you bring the cat to Tubbo for a bit, he could probably use the company,” he suggested. 

“What if he has rabies,” Duplicate said. 

“Good point. He looks to be a little on the older side though so there’s a chance he’s had his shots for it,” Phil said looking down at him, “here, set him down on the counter and let me have a look at him.” 

Duplicate set him on the counter and carefully unwrapped Tommy from the fluffy towel. 

Phil opened his jaw, checking his teeth and felt over his body.

“Actually,” he said, standing up and going over to the fridge. 

He pulled out a small vial and set it down on the counter and opened up a drawer that was secured with a baby lock. 

“I have the shot on me. The vet down the street gave me some after I told her about the menagerie we basically run.” 

“Of course she did,” Wilbur said with a fond laugh. 

“Don’t even,” Phil yelled playfully, pointing right at Duplicate, “you’re the one that brought home the wolf and the bird and now the cat. 

“Semantics,” Wilbur said, waving him off. 

“Oh you little-” 

“Just give the cat his shot so we don't have to worry about it biting us,” Duplicate said, cutting him off. 

With a sigh Phil carefully grabbed Tommy, angling him so the needle went in right. 

Tommy squirmed, he hated the idea of getting a shot. 

Unfortunately he was outnumbered. Duplicate walked to his other side and gently grabbed his body, keeping him firmly in place. The entire time he whispered reassuring words into Tommy’s pointed ears.

It was over quickly and after Phil ran a damp cloth over the spot, making sure he hadn't gotten a blood vessel he was being carried over to the room Phil had looked at earlier. 

When the door opened, his heart sank. 

Tubbo looked significantly better. His face had lost the red flush it had taken on when Tommy had last been with him, his eyes looked less glassy, more focused. But there was an IV running into his arm. 

He was currently asleep, his chest rising and falling at a steady pace. 

Onrnith walked in a few seconds later, holding a plate with a sandwich. 

“You can go ahead and wake him up,” he told Duplicate, “it's time for him to eat something anyhow. 

Duplicate held Tommy up to his shoulder, indicating that he wanted Tommy to drape himself on top of it like he had last time. Tommy complied, he needed to make sure Tubbo was ok. 

“Tubbo,” Duplicate said, gently shaking him awake. 

“Hgh,” Tubbo mumbled sleepily, slowly opening his eyes. 

“I have some lunch for you,” Phil said softly. 

Tubbo blinked, looking between Phil and Duplicate before they landed on Tommy. 

His eyes snapped open, narrowing in suspicion. 

“Who’s that,” he asked, looking right at Tomm knowingly. 

“I found this little guy out in the rain,” Duplicate said, reaching up to pat Tommy’s head. 

Tubbo’s eyes flashed in recognition, a warm fond smile tugging at his lips. 

“Can I hold him?” he asked. 

Duplicate nodded, but before he could move to grab Tommy, he just leaped down onto the bed, aiming for a spot right by Tubbo’s legs. When he landed me moved himself onto Tubbo’s l;ap, curling up contentedly and letting out a satisfied meow. 

“Wow, he really seems to like you,” Phil exclaimed, looking at the cat now perched on Tubbo’s lap. 

Tubbo just shrugged, reaching a hand to start rubbing the soft fur on Tommy’s side. 

“What can I say, animals love me.” 

Tommy held back the snort that threatened to leave him at that. They handed Tubbo a sandwich and he dutifully started eating. He tried handing it back about halfway through it but Phil got him to take a few more bites before he was able to put it down. 

Tommy purred happily as he let the gentle chatter wash away any thought he had. He was on the brink of sleep, happy that Tubbo was safe. 

“How much longer till I go home,” Tubbo asked, lightly pinching Tommy. 

Tommy was about to retaliate when he registered the question. He then untensed his muscles, adjusting himself in a way that he knew he would be able to hear everything. 

“Maybe at the end of the week. You were pretty bad mate. And based off what you told us about your living situation it would be best if you stayed here as long as possible to make sure you make a full recovery,” Phil told Tubbo. 

Tubbo sighed underneath Tommy. 

“It really isn't all ba-” 

“You told us you guys only have one bedroom,” Duplicate cut in.

“That’s not uncommon,” Tubbo protested. 

“No, its not,” Phil conceded, “but when you combine that with the fact that you couldn't even afford cold medicine then it paints a pretty concerning picture.” 

“I was barely coherent at that point,” Tubbo argued, “you wouldn't take a drunk man's word for anything wouldn't you. I was probably confused as to what my roommate was saying.” 

“A drunk man's words are a sober man's thoughts,” Sanguine said walking in through the room. 

“Not you too,” Tubbo said, throwing his head against the pillow. 

“Listen, kid. Don’t even say you’re not a kid, you can't possibly be over eighteen,” Sanguine said, coming over and laying a surprisingly gentle hand on Tubbo’s shoulder. When he caught sight of Tommy his face flashed from surprise to a pointedly raised eyebrow aimed at Duplicate’s direction, “we’re not going to pry, and we’re not going to treat you like a charity case either. But there are very few reasons someone like you and your roommate would be living like that, and let’s just say me and Duplicate over there have experience with the most likely one.” 

Tubbo hesitated, taking a deep breath. 

“Home isn't always home y’know. Sometimes it’s just where you live.” 

Sanguine breathed in, sounding as if Tubbo had taken a spear and thrown it clean through his heart. 

“Home is where you find yourself away from the people who raised you,” he said quietly. 

Tubbo nodded somberly. 

With that, the villains took their leave. When they tried to pry Tommy away from Tubbo he let out a small warning meow. 

“You ok with him here mate,” Phil asked after backing away at Tommy’s warning. 

Tubbo nodded cheerily, pulling Tommy so he was more securely on his lap. “Yup, he can stay.” 

“Alrighty then.” 

As soon as the door shut behind them, Tubbo laid down, carefully avoiding his IV and arranged them in a similar way that they slept at home, curling Tommy tightly against his chest. 

“I’m safe Toms,” he whispered, “you can sleep now, I know you haven't.” 

Tommy let out a sleepy meow, the stress of the past few days finally catching up to him. 

He heard Tubbo coo softly behind him. Tommy didn't say anything else, just closing his eyes and relishing in the warmth of his best friend.

When he woke up, his fur was being stroked and voices were floating gently above him. He blearily opened his eyes, squinting at the bright light. When he did he let out a subconscious whine. The person stroking his fur laughed warmly and put something over his eyes and readjusting him so he could sleep again. 

Tommy didn't hesitate and let  himself drift off again. 

When he woke a little later, it was to a dim room and someone gently shaking him awake. 

“Toms,’ he heard a voice whisper. 

Tommy opened his eyes and was met with Tubbo’s warm brown eyes. He took Tubbo in, seeing that he looked significantly better than he had previously, though the sickness still clung to him in still too-pale skin and the slightest hint of a flushed face around his cheekbones. 

“They’re bringing you food in a sec, I figured you’d be pretty hungry. 

Tommy meowed happily. He was, he hadn't eaten since before he left, and even then it had been half a sandwich at the hero tower before Dream had him hastily cover someone else's shift after they had called in sick. 

The door creaked open and in popped Duplicate holding a small cat bowl. Ah. Of course. Tommy had forgotten that he was currently in cat form and would thus be treated as such. 

Duplicate put the bowl down on the floor by the bed. Tommy sat up, his tail waving lazily behind him as he cocked his head to the side. 

“There buddy, food,” Duplicate said motioning to the bowl. 

Tommy raised an unimpressed eyebrow. 

He heard Tubbo holding back a snicker when the villain sighed and put the bowl on a flat part of the bed. 

“I don't know why this cat seems to love you so much,” Duplicate told Tubbo who gave up holding in his laughter. He let out a giant laugh, the sound coming from deep in his lungs. It was a sound Tommy was familiar with, a sound he had come to associate with safety. 

After a few seconds he started coughing hard. 

Tommy quickly turned around from where he had been bent over his food bowl and placed two paws on Tubbo’s chest as if to steady him. His coughing fit died down a few minutes later, small wheezes still making their way out of his mouth. 

Duplicate handed Tubbo a glass of water that he downed gratefully. 

“You ok?” he asked. 

“Yeah,” Tubbo said, taking a steadying breath, “but that was too good. That cat made you its bi-” 

“Tubbo are you alright,” Phil asked worriedly peeping in through the door. 

“Yup, I’m fine,” he reassured the villain, “the cat was just being really funny.” 

“Yeah yeah, laugh it up,” Duplicate grumbled. 

Phil just laughed, walking back to the main part of the apartment. 

Duplicate walked out of the room, coming back a few minutes later with a water bowl.

“This one is staying on the floor,” he warned, pointing a firm finger at Tommy, “I don't want to have to clean up the sheets cause you spilled water on then.” 

Tommy meowed his assent. That was fair, he supposed. 

Once he left Tubbo scooped Tommy back into his chest. 

“You should be a cat more often, you’re a lot more snuggly like this. 

Tommy let out a displeased meow and wriggled his way out of Tubbo’s arms. He hopped off the bed and went to the window sill where he planted himself, firmly facing away from Tubbo. 

“Oh come back,” Tubbo whined, “you know it's true.” 

Tommy let out a single huff, pointing his chin upwards. 

“You’re a prick, you know that,” Tubbo asked, and Tommy could practically hear the pout on his face. 

Tommy turned back around and stuck his tongue out at him before curling up to take a nap. 

“Oh no you don’t,” Tubbo said. 

Tommy heard some shuffling, and as tempted as he was to look, he kept his eyes firmly closed. 

Then, out of nowhere he felt himself be grabbed. He looked up to face his captor and saw Tubbo’s smug grin right back at him. 

Tommy squirmed in an attempt to get Tubbo to let go of him when he felt nails gently scratch at his head. He melted into the arms holding him as Tubbo carefully readjusted him. 

“You think you’re all that until someone gets their fingers in your hair or on your head. Then suddenly you just turn into a pile of goo,” Tubbo said fondly. 

Tommy looked up at him as he paused his scratching, flicking an impatient ear at him.

“Geez, alright. I’ll get back to it,” Tubbo said, rolling his eyes, even as he quickly returned to what he was doing. 

Tommy meowed happily and settled back into his arms. 

“Tubbo, are you alright? I thought I heard some-” Phil asked, peeping his head into the room, “you know you're not supposed to be up yet,” he reprimanded gently. 

“In my defense,” Tubbo started, “the cat was being a prick and I needed to set it straight.” 

“Oh,” Phil said, sighing exasperatedly. 

“The little bastard wouldn't let me cuddle with it just because I pointed out it was snuggly,” Tubbo told him.

Tommy took the opportunity to nip at Tubbo’s fingers. 

“Rude,” he exclaimed, pulling his hand.

Phil just laughed, “that's cats for you alright. Just be sure you’re not making him uncomfortable ok?” 

Tubbo nodded, “no worries, I’m being careful. 

“Good, let's get you back to bed now shall we,” Phil said, walking over and offering Tubbo an arm. 

Tubbo grumbled but complied once Tommy settled himself in a way that only needed one arm from Tubbo.

Once he was back in bed Phil checked on the IV, nodding when it was still securely in Tubbo’s arm. 

“How much longer till I can move around and stuff,” Tubbo asked as Tommy settled himself back on Tubbo’s lap. 

“A few more days at most,” Phil promised. 

Tubbo sighed but accepted the answer. 

Tommy stayed with them the next day since it was one of the days Dream had mercifully given Tommy off. The only thing was now he had to leave. Tommy sat at the window sill, looking back at Tubbo even as the outside called to him. After some persuasion, Tubbo had convinced Duplicate to open the window. 

“Go on,” Tubbo encouraged, careful not to call out Tommy’s name when it was so loud. Phil had done that earlier that day with Duplicate, or Wilbur apparently. What a stupid name for a villain. Wasn't that the name of that pig from Charlotte's Web.

Oh no, Tommy was so scared. He scoffed at the thought. 

Back to the window. He had gotten all that he needed. He knew Tubbo was being cared for, knew he was safe. He knew he would be returned to him soon. But still, he couldn't make himself leave. He had never been separated from Tubbo like this. 

When they had met each other they had started meeting up constantly. At first it was a form of solidarity, of knowing they had similar stories and knowing they could talk about them free of the judgement other people would have. 

But it had evolved into so much more than that. It was a friendship that had one day sparked and was now powerful to set the entire world ablaze. The fire of love they held for each other was enough to be seen from millions of lightyears away, enough to warm up even the coldest nights and light up even the darkest days. 

They always had each other, but right now Tubbo needed something Tommy couldn't give him. So with one last sad meow, he jumped out the window, leaving the safe little bubble that was the villain's base. 

He laughed at the irony. 

Just like last time he just ran in a direction, not paying attention to the turns he took until he had decided that he had run far enough. He looked at where he ended up and ducked into a nearby alley and turned back into a cardinal and flew back home.

As he flew back, he saw the sun setting. The fiery light bathing the skies in rich oranges, golds, with the clouds turning a hot pink colour Tommy had trouble believing was real. 

Seeing the sunset, having just come back from the villain's base, he felt something he hadn't felt in a while. 

Hope. 

Hope for a better future, home for a brighter tomorrow. Hope for the freedom he and Tubbo had been dreaming of for so long. 

He had been so desperate for those tentative wishes that had fueled him for so long that he had let himself become blinded at the first empty promise. 

No more though. Now he would make sure that he and Tubbo would actually be free, be safe, be loved in the way they deserved. 

He had been so ready to give his entire life if only so Tubbo would be happy. But after spending so much time away from Tubbo, he now knew that wasn't an option. They needed to be together as they had promised each other so many years ago, as the stars had heard them whisper in the dead of night when not even the moon was out.

As he flew home, Tommy understood so much more. 

Most importantly, that whatever life they carved out needed to be together. And they would carve out that new life together. They had run before, they could do it again. 

He was sure of it. 

The next few days somehow passed both better and worse. Better because Tommy was more at ease knowing that Tubbo was safe. Worse because now all he could think about was leaving. It was getting harder with each passing day to accept that he had to keep going like this for a little longer.

He had been a bit spacey and Dream noticed, pushing him harder than usual in their training sessions.

“What's up with you,” Dream hissed as Tommy lay on his back in the training gym. 

“Sorry Dream,’ he said panting, “it's just a hard schedule.” 

The lie came easily, mostly because it was mostly the truth. 

“How do you ever expect to be a proper hero if you can't even handle a little bit of stress,” Dream sneered. 

Ouch. As much as Tommy was trying to force himself tio rely less on the feedback from Dream to fuel his mood and thoughts, he was still too easily affected by it.

“Sorry.” 

“Whatever,” Dream said walking away, clearly annoyed, “just don't let it keep happening.” 

Tommy nodded, slowly pushing himself up. He grabbed his water bottle and drank it greedily. 

He felt the itch to shift, so he decided after swinging by the cafeteria that he would go out as a wolf tonight. 

With that, he made his way to the shower. 

Sapnap was nowhere in sight as he walked into the cafeteria so he just got dinner on his own. 

He was starving, so he grabbed food from a few places. When he was done, he felt energized and ready to go home. 

He walked back home, relishing in the cool night air.

Once he got there, he turned into a little mouse and leaped out the window and wandered for a bit before he turned back into a wolf. He was really enjoying the wolf form at the moment.

He wandered around the city, careful to avoid where he knew crowds tended to gather. 

It was probably around 2am when he saw them. Ornith, Duplicate, Sanguine and Tubbo walking down the street. He let out an excited bark and barreled towards them, heading right for Tubbo. 

Just before he could hit Tubbo however, he knocked into a solid wall. 

He looked up and saw Duplicate looking down at him fondly. 

“Hold on buddy. Tubbo’s only just recovered. You have to be gentle with him all right,” he said, moving out of the way to allow  Tommy access to Tubbo. 

Tommy nodded, letting out a small yip. He approached Tubbo, this time much slower and gently booped him with his nose. 

“Hi T-” he paused looking up at three villains that surrounded them, “-bud.” 

“You guys can leave me with him, he’ll make sure I get home safely.” 

Wilbur was already shaking his head, “it’s too dangerous. I don't know how he hasn't gotten caught yet but way too many people in this city are way too happy to hurt wolves. That’s how I met him. We’ll take you to your apartment and take him back to the forest,” he told Tubbo. 

“But-” 

“He’s right,” Sanguine said stepping closer from where he had been standing behind Tubbo next to Phil, “it's too dangerous. Sorry kiddo.” 

Tubbo looked down at Tommy, his eyes wide with worry. Tommy just nudged Tubbo again with his nose, letting out a small bark of agreeance. 

“You guys won’t hurt him right,” he asked looking up at them. 

“Not a chance,” Sanguine said, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder, Ornith nodding next to him. 

“All right,” Tubbo conceded. 

With that, Tommy pushed his way so that he was walking right next to Tubbo. With that they kept walking down the street. 

People gave them a wide berth as they walked, no one wanting to mess with three supervillains and a nearly full grown wolf. The night was calm, peaceful, the moon shining its love down on the city. The wind blew softly, sending the odd patch of fallen leaves flying. 

Of course, the walk couldn't go right. 

“Unhand him,” said a voice from behind him. 

The group whirled around and was met with- 

“Fleetfoot,” Ornith greeted cooly, stepping forward. 

“Ornith,” Dream said, nodding. 

“Oh sure, forget the rest of us,” Duplicate said sarcastically. 

“It’s not like you greeted the other members of my team,” Dream said. 

Tommy was confused, he was alone. 

Suddenly a wall of fog rolled up from behind Dream. When it dissipated, he was left staring at Ember, Illusioner and Nubla. 

Sapanap, George and Niki. 

“And I thought I was the dramatic one,” Tommy heard Wilbur mutter under his breath. 

“Unhand the civilian,” Dream called, “I won't. Ask. Again.” 

“We’re taking him home,” Sanguine said, coming to stand beside Phil. 

“And why would you do that,” Ember asked, raising a suspicious eyebrow.

“He’s been crashing at our place for the last week, got a nasty bug,” Duplicate, placing a protective hand on Tubbo’s shoulder, “this wolf brought him to us.” 

Realization flashed in all the hero’s eyes. Crap . 

“Is that so,” Dream asked silkily, taking a few more steps. 

“How interesting. We’ll allow you to take the civilian home. But wolves aren't supposed to be here. They know that, we’ll see to it that it makes it… home, and that it stays  there. 

But Tommy could read in-between the lines. Dream was going to take him back to the hero tower and make sure he regretted ever meeting Tubbo. 

“I don't think you will, I have no reason to trust you when you say you’ll take care of the wolf,” Phil said icily. 

“This doesn't have to be an all out fight you know,” Dream informed him, “just give me the wolf and you can go on your merry day. 

Tommy looked up at Tubbo, knowing what he would have to do. Tubbo met his eyes, his brown ones hardening when he caught sight of Tommy’s expression. 

“Absolutely not you idiot,” he hissed, grabbing onto his scruff. 

Tommy tried pulling away, but Tubbo held firm. 

“You are not about to get either of them,” Duplicate said, stepping forward, his clones already phasing into existence. 

Dream narrowed his eyes. “Fine, have it your way.” 

And with that, an all out brawl started. 

It was chaos. Between Niki’s clouds, Sapnap’s fire and Dream’s wind it was nearly impossible to see.

Tommy managed to gently drag Tubbo to safety. He sat him down by leaping up, placing his front paws on his shoulder and pushing Tubbo down. He then sat protectively in front of him, barking sharpley whenever Tubbo tried to move. 

Out of the smoke, Sapnap stumbled, his hands flickering with his power. 

“Tommy, is that you,” he asked carefully. 

Tommy nodded, his body taking on a defensive stance. 

“I won't hurt you guys. I promise. I’m sorry it had to be this way,” he told him, carefully standing up before running back to the fray. 

Tommy just sat there, watching after him, unsure of what to think when suddenly a large gust of wind came out of nowhere. 

Tommy curled down, trying to stay on his feet. 

When he opened them he didn't see Tubbo. 

He immediately knew what happened. Dream had taken Tubbo. 

Rage fueled his system as he turned back into his human form. 

“Two-Faced,” he heard Illusioner call. 

“Illusioner,” he greeted curtly. 

“The wolf was… was that you?”

Tommy nodded stiffly. 

“Did Fleetfoot take Tubbo?” 

Another nod. 

Tommy watched a whole rainbow of emotions played on George’s face before he eventually landed on grim determination. 

He threw his staff at Tommy’s feet. 

“Give him hell, he’s crossed the line this time.” 

Tommy took a breath, steeling himself as he picked up the staff. 

“I will.” 

He walked through the smoke, realizing how much less there was. He assumed what was gone belonged to George while the rest was Niki’s and Sapnap’s. 

He heard the sound of a fight and he approached it. He saw Dream and Sapnap fighting Phil and Sanguine. Sanguine had Sapnap under his control while Ornith and Fleetfoot were nothing more than a whirl of lime and black as their blades danced beneath the moonlight. 

“Dream,” he called, no longer caring about keeping Dream’s privacy. 

Everyone stopped, looking right at Tommy with a mix of confusion and worry. 

“You have something of mine, and I want it back ” Tommy yelled. 

“Tommy, you’re supposed to be a hero . Hero’s don't side with villains,” Dream spat. 

“Real heroes don't kidnap people,’ Tommy cried. 

“You don't know anything about being a hero. You’re just some lowly shifter. You’re lucky I even took you in,” Dream called.

Tommy met Sapnap’s eyes, the hero looking down at the staff in Tommy’s hands, silently asking a question. When Tommy nodded, he stepped back. 

Without hesitating, Tommy ran at Dream. 

They fought like a storm out in the sea. They fought with power and fury, battling for the attention of the moon and all her stars, pleading with the universe to remember them as its inky vastness watched on. 

Tommy found, for once, that this fight came as easy as breathing. He let his body go on autopilot, dodging each blow as if they were simply leaves being swept up in the wind. He landed hits as easily as a moth found a flame. 

He fought like it was a well choreographed dance, each step carefully adding to the steady rhythm of the battle. He fought with all the anger in his veins, all the passion in his heart. He fought for all the days he had felt like giving up, he fought for all the light that Dream had stolen from his eyes. 

But most importantly of all, he fought for Tubbo. His sun, his moon, his night sky, his entire world and beyond. 

He managed to sweep the staff under Dream, knocking him flat on his back. Panting heavily, he put his foot on Dream’s chest, pointing his staff at his neck.

“Not a hero, eh?” he asked before promptly passing out. 

When he woke up, he was in a familiar room. He looked around him, and in a bed similar to his he saw Tubbo. He quickly jumped out of his bed, nearly tearing out his IV tube in the process. 

He checked his pulse, relief flooding his body when he felt its steady thump thump beneath his finger. 

The door opened behind him. 

Tommy quickly whirled around. 

Wilbur walked in the room, completely unmasked and in normal clothes. 

“Oh, I didn't expect you to be up,” he said, his brown eyes widening in shock, “Tommy right?” 

Tommy narrowed his eyes slightly, “yeah. Wilbur, right,” he said, nodding. 

“I- yeah. How do you know that,” he asked looking panicked.

“You guys weren't as slick as you thought,” Tommy said with a smirk. 

“I told Techno you guys heard us,” he said, rolling his eyes. 

“Wait, backup, Techno ?” Tommy asked. 

“Well, technically it's Technoblade, but we usually call him Techno,” Wilbur told him. 

“Finally, an actually good villain name,” Tommy exclaimed. 

“Hey what do you mean by that,” Wilbur squawked indignantly. 

“Oh please. Wilbur, Phil, you seriously don't see a problem? You’re named after a pig from a kids book for prime's sake. Technoblade on the other hand, terrifying, that's what I call a villain name,” Tommy informed Wilbur. 

Wilbur let out a long-suffering sigh, “how are you worse than Tubbo,” he asked, sounding like he didn't particularly want the answer. 

Tommy just grinned, gently pulling Tubbo closer to him, “that's just how we roll.” 

Wilbur rolled his eyes before walking deeper into the room. He looked them up and down scanning for injuries. 

“Are you feeling alright,” he asked. 

Tommy wiggled a bit in place, scanning for anything that felt especially off. 

“Just a little sore, what happened anyhow, why did I pass out” he asked when he found nothing.

“Exhaustion, malnutrition, dehydration. Did you want me to keep going, cause I promise you the only reason you were able to go on for as long as you did was adrenaline” Sanguine said walking into the room holding a tray of food.

“Ah,” Tommy said grimacing. 

“Do you want to try and wake Tubbo up?" Wilbur asked. 

Tommy nodded and gently shook Tubbo awake. 

“Hey Tubs,” he said softly. 

“What is it Toms,” Tubbo asked blearily before his eyes snapped open and he sat up ramrod straight. 

His panicked eyes took in the room around them, landing on the villain's casual clothes and the tray of food in Techno’s hand. 

“Are we safe,” he whispered softly, only loud enough for Tommy to hear. 

Tommy looked around the room, at the open expressions of the villains, flashes of memories playing in his mind. Memories of being a bird being taken care of under their care. Memories of being seconds away from being nothing more than a decorative pelt. Memories of being scared out of his mind and taking a chance on the villains and dropping Tubbo off with them. 

Memories of Wilbur taking him in as a stray cat, memories of how they gently coaxed Tubbo into eating just one more bite, of keeping them company while also leaving Tubbo with plenty of time to rest. 

He didn't know where they could go from here, but he was sure that the villains would let them rest. 

“Yeah,” Tommy whispered, wrapping his arms around Tubbo, tucking him into his chest, “I think we are.” 

A week later Tommy and Tubbo found themselves tucked up together on a large comfy single chair around the villains planning room. The chairs were really only meant to fit one, but they were large enough that they managed to both be on there. 

“So boys,” Phil started from where he was sitting at the head of the table, “I think we’re all recovered enough to talk about things.” 

They nodded, Wilbur and Techno sitting quietly. 

“Before we start, we need a way to ensure that anything we tell you won’t be used against us,” Phil told them. 

Tommy cut him off before he could start, “I’m pretty sure if I tried to tell Dream anything he would just ignore me and then have me arrested.” 

Phil blinked, “fair point. Still, we’re exchanging delicate information tonight and we need to make sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands.” 

“Did you forget this is an exchange. It goes both ways. We’re telling you as much as you’re telling us,” Tubbo snapped. 

“Dad,” Wilbur called, “we’re safe. Let’s just start this thing.” 

Phil sighed but ultimately conceded. 

“We’re villains because the heroes are corrupt. They claim to fight for the greater good yet the committee has embezzled millions of dollars from the city. Heroes turn a blind eye because it brings them a better paycheque. The entire system is rigged too

“People with unique powers are picked and trained up regardless of if they want to be heroes. They make them offers they can't refuse. They convince young people to throw their lives out for a goodness that doesn't even really exist,” Phil told them angrily, passion leaking through his words. 

“Thats what happened to me,” Tommy said with a bitter laugh. When Wilbur motioned for him to continue, he elaborated, “I was messing around one day. Just flying around in bord form one day and shifted in front of Dream. 

“He made me all sorts of promises about glory and how good it would feel to be a hero. He trained me in ways that I can now see were… damaging. And I really only fought villains until I started doing my own thing during patrols. But I was punished for it. A lot.” 

After that, the ball started rolling. 

Phil, Wilbur and Techno took turns explained to them all the ways the heroes had wronged them. The way they tried recruiting Techno, the way they tried restricting Wilbur’s access to his powers when he refused. How Techno was punished for failing to do things the way the hero committee wanted him to do it. How Phil had worked as an administrator and had seen all sorts of money laundering and embezzling. 

How Phil had been the one to patch Techno up after his patrols and training sessions since they ended their shifts around the same time and Phil couldn't stand seeing Techno in that state. How Phil had been the one to advocate for Wilbur when they threatened his power since he did the paperwork for it. How he had ultimately failed. 

They learned how the three had become a rag-tag little family. Rejects of society, wanted for believing different things. How together they made it work.

Tommy and Tubbo learned how they came to form SBI, how they fought for true justice, even if it was a long messy process. How they wanted to reform the hero committee, make it true to peace and justice like it claimed to be. 

And in turn, the three of them learned about Tommy and Tubbo. About their beginning, how they met and how it was them against the world. How they ran away together, how they carved out a fragile life in the heart of the bustling city. 

They learned of the vows that only the stars had witnessed thus far. Of how deep the love they had for each other ran. 

Tubbo also confessed to having given SBI the anonymous tip of when the heroes had been moving the hard drive. When Tubbo was asked why, he just shrugged and said he was bored. He always liked snooping in on government files and he was curious as to what would happen. 

After all was said and done, Phil clapped his hands. 

“Tommy, Tubbo. Would you like to join us?” he offered, “you wouldn't have to be villains. But let us take you in, let us keep you safe. I know I speak for everyone when I say that we’ve all gotten a little attached.” 

Tommy thought about the past few days. The first day had been awkward, no one really knowing what to say to each other. But after Tubbo had decided to cause some chaos by pranking Wilbur and shoving his fingers into an ink pad that had stained everything he touched blue, the ice had broken quickly.

Wilbur had an especially soft spot for Tommy, loving his bright boundless energy and constant jokes. 

On the second day, Tommy had shifted into cat form and had been picked up by an invisible force. It turned out Wilbur could turn invisible which explained quite a few things. 

Regardless, Wilbur now used it to scare Tommy and occasionally Tubbo.

They weren't a family yet, but Tommy could feel that they could be. Tommy felt as though he had finally found home. He had Tubbo yes, but they needed more. And looking at Phil, Wilbur and Techno, he knew that this, this was what they had been missing. 

He could see in his mind how they would fit, how Tubbo would build himself a super suit and fight alongside all the others. How they would spend nights playing board games and movies. How they would play pranks and have sweet moments like so many of the ones they had already had.

“Tubbo,” he asked. 

Tubbo nodded, his eyes reflecting all that Tommy had been thinking. 

Tommy looked back to the other three, and nodded, “we’d like that.” 

“In that case, allow me to be the first to say this,” Phil said, grinning widely. 

“Welcome home.”