Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“So I’ll ask you one more time,” The grip on his shoulders tightened. The voice sent a wave of cold dread over him. 

“Who. Are. You.”

 Tommy’s wings twitched as he tried to keep a calm composure staring into the withering eyes of the city’s number two villain. 

 -freeze frame-

You’re probably wondering how an average civilian got into this kind of situation!

Let me sum it up for you-

Tommy is an idiot. 

Any questions! 

…

Well, if you are still unclear I guess more details could be helpful. I’ll start from earlier that night. The night where everything started to go wrong in the life of Tommy Innit. 

<<<O>>>

When Tommy can’t fall asleep, his go to places were the park or the gym. Two very lit up places where there are at least some people most of the night. Whether that be gym bros, receptionists, security guards, fellow late night walkers, hero and or vigilante patrols. He could zone out in peace with the knowledge that someone was there in case anything went south. Many people did this in the great city of Manburg, where every place could be dangerous. So you just have to find the less dangerous. Tommy knew that, so he stuck with it.

Usually. 

He stared at the ceiling, listening to the obnoxiously loud snores of Tubbo who was spread across him. With his head burrowed into Tommy’s chest and arms wrapped around him like his life depended on it. One of Tommy’s black wings was draped over the both of them, the other stayed spread out on the cushions the two had long ago set up so it wouldn’t cramp in the night. Normally he would fall asleep to his friend sleeping, feeling the warm comfort from him and the wings. But his brain wouldn’t shut up now. Leaving him stuck trying to figure out if it was worth it to move Tubbo, or suffer until sleep finally snatched him.

He stared up at the ceiling, scanning over the glow in the dark stars and planets. The dull glow normally helped his brain to shut down, listening to the sounds around him with his eyes glued on a dot. But it wasn’t enough now. He needed to see actual stars. A hard thing when you live in the city, but not impossible. Especially when he knew the perfect spot. So a half plan formed in his head.

But first he had to escape Tubbo.

He pulled both of his wings in, quickly pulling the weighted blanket up and on his friend. Then came the arms which he maneuvered to one of the pillows that were free as he shifted to sit up. The brown haired boy clung to the pillow, a stuffed bee smooshed between him and the pillow. 
With Tubbo still very much asleep, Tommy grabbed some random clothes and slipped out of their shared room. He left the lights off in the rest of the apartment, the room glowing a bit at each outlet with different animal or space themed nightlights. He expertly dodged the furniture and piles of papers and books with his slightly better than normal night vision.  
At the counter he scribbled a note to Tubbo, hoping he’d be home before the other woke up but not wanting to cause a panic if he wasn’t.

He threw on the hoodie he had grabbed, gray with two giant twin sized holes in the back of it.
With a grin he slipped it on, spreading his wings out behind him. Being careful not to knock over the precariously stacked textbooks on the counter. Next were the pair of black jeans and his red converses. To the side of the kitchen area stood the door, many little hooks held his and Tubbo’s various hats and coats. He grabbed a black hat and shoved it on. Might as well match the fit right? 
Another mistake but what can you do? 

He carefully walked to the large window on the other side of the room. Halfway there he paused at the door to their bedroom, Tubbo snored as peacefully as ever. One of these days Tommy was gonna record it as proof to Ranboo, but he was itching to get moving. Settling to just get a photo of him, you know, blackmail. Always a good thing in the house of Tommy Innit. 

To the window he went, tying the blue curtains up and popping his head out the window. Up, down, left, right, up again. All clear. 

He had zero second thoughts as he jumped out the window, tucking his wings close. 
He let them loose gently to feel the wind through his feathers and ruffle his hair as he fell.
One story. Two stories, three-
His wings opened fully and so did his eyes. 

And Tommy flew.

He kept to the sky, flying high enough to be pretty much out of sight but not high enough where he’d freeze his ass off. He flew south, away from the always bright tower at the city’s center. Away from the always busy hero center, especially when the sun goes down. 
He kept his eyes scanning as he got further and further from the center. Entering the lower districts full of unattended crime. Tommy flew a little higher there, never too safe in the air. 

It’s not like he was the only avian. People would get in trouble just as much in the air as the ground. 
Although, with wings like his maybe no one would bother him.
Not many people share the wing type with the number one villain of the city.

The edge of the city was in sight, leading to yellow grassy fields that Tommy often would adventure to during the day with Tubbo. Not daring to go to it at night, a shame really. Tommy always knew the stars would be so pretty out where the city stayed out of sight. 

His biggest mistake was landing.

His wings ached from being used so much when before he’d only go for short flies. Wanting to be able to fly back, Tommy felt safe enough to walk on the roofs the rest of the way, out of reach from petty crimes that happened on the streets below. 

>>O<<

 Thanatos watched his friend from the roof across the street. The idiot used his wings to cross the jump, scarring the few people in the alleyway below. Shouts of ‘Erebus’ echoed through the streets, Erebus himself was unbothered. Hopping roof to roof, walking with his wings stretching out everyonce in a while. His friend’s normal shiny outfit had been replaced with dark clothing to blend in. The plan was for him to hide his wings for this mission. 
He sighed into his hands, going around the large boar skull to pinch his temple.
He moved his hand to his communicator.

“Erebus.” he kept his voice at a whisper, his monotone voice still echoing slightly.

“Yeah mate?’ His voice was equal volume. At least he could do one thing right for this mission.

“This is supposed to be a stealth mission.”

A third voice snorted. 
“Ooooo Erebus is in trouble”

Thanatos rolled his eyes, getting up from his crouched position to follow his friend.

“I don’t know what you mean mate,” the man finally said, voice almost unhearable. “I’m being as stealthy as possible”
He rolled his eyes again, flicking his pink braid. “Oh of course, using your wings to jump over roofs is sooo stealthy. I apologize.”

Silence. 

Thanatos kept to the shadows, using 404’s power to keep hidden from the stray people below.

“Mate I’m not on the roof anymore. I’m in position.” 

“Hades?”
“He is, I see him.”

Thanatos froze. 

The silence that followed took on a different kind of presence. 

“Thanatos, where are you right now?” Hades asked.

“Following the imposter.”

“Awesome. Great.” He could feel the eyeroll.  “Where is that?”

“5th district heading south. I’ll try to cut them off before the limit.”
“Leave your comms open if you talk to them. Should we help?”

He eyed the person in front of him, arms swinging loose at their sides.

“I got it, carry on the mission.”

>>>O<<<

In went the earbuds, a soft melody drumming in his ears as he walked. Every so often using a pump from his wings to get over the bigger gaps between buildings. Getting bigger and bigger the farther he walked. 
He got so used to the bigger jumps he overshot on a smaller one. 

With beauty and grace he attacked the ground face first. 

He laughed at himself, pushing himself back up. 

Something forced him back down. 

Tommy went completely still.

The weight grew heavier as he felt a shadow over him, someone breathed close to his ear.

“Who are you?” The voice was deadly quiet. That alone would have been terrifying enough if he didn’t know who the voice belonged to. But he did.
He held his breath as the number two villain picked him up by the shoulders and spun him around. His body slammed into the ground, causing an intense pain up his wings. A boar skull stared down at him, a red cape falling down next to him. The color matched the glaring eyes that met him through the mask. 

“What the fuck man?” he said, or more like wheezed, the villain applying most of his weight to keep the boy pinned. 

“I said, who are you?”

His wings dragged over the gravel of the roof frantically. Tommy grabbed the foot on his chest with both hands, desperately trying to get off the weight. 
“Get off- you’re hurting them-”

Erebus’s voice was urgent in Thanatos’s ear.
“I swear to god don’t hurt his wings.” 

He rolled his eyes. Tommy felt himself get picked up once more, his feet off the ground. His wings relaxed, until he couldn’t get down, they tried to fly. The grip on his shoulders tightened

“I just was going on a walk!” He met the man’s eyes. “I- I couldn’t sleep so I wanted to go see the stars. Ok? I’m not doing anything mate.”

Thanatos tilted his head. 

“That’s not what I asked, kid.”
Suddenly it wasn’t hard to act like he wasn’t afraid. He attempted to kick the man.

“Oh shut the fuck up I’m not a kid.”

“Aw the child’s got a temper” Hades cooed. Erebus scolded him. Thanatos ignored both of them.

“Who are you?” Tommy’s body weight shifted as a hand went from his shoulder to one of his wings. 

Tommy panicked.
“Ranboo Beloved.” 

Shit.

He’d apologize later. 

“Right then, Ranboo,” His hand went back to the shoulder, he tightened his grip even more. Almost laughing at the boy's squawks. “Why haven’t we seen your wings around? Seems like something we wouldn’t miss.”
Tommy grabbed the arms. Fighting for some control over his situation.

“Fucking hell man, why does it matter?” 

“Because someone who looks very similar to Erebus, with the same kind of wings just interrupted a very important mission.” he growed. “Someone who we’ve never seen before. Not something we just leave be.”

If Tommy could slap his brain right then he would have. 
Did it really matter that much if they knew? 

“Everyone knows about them, dickhead. I just hide them most of the time.”

Erebus let out a strangled noise. Thanatos and Hades shared a sigh. Seeing a large fuss about the boy’s wings in the near future.

“Why are you out here?”

Tommy glared. “I already told you.”

“Tell me again.”

“Wanted to see the stars.”

“Think he’s telling the truth?” Hades asked. 

Thanatos searched the boy’s face, and eyed the earbuds the were caught on the sweatshirt. Soft music still played, unlistened to. 

“Yes.”

Tommy’s eyes widened.
“Yes? Yes what?”

Thanatos dropped him, sending another squawk and Erebus scolding ‘careful’ in his ear.

“We’ll be in touch Ranboo.”

“WHAT” the glare he got made him lower his volume. “Stay the fuck away from me. I don't want anything to do with you guys.”

Thanatos laughed. The deep sound echoed in the almost silent streets. All other noise from the few people out stopped in their tracks. Tommy froze where he stood with wings open about to fly. The chill that followed was one that came from Hades’s power. Dread curled in Tommy’s chest as he found himself forced to be still.
Thanatos turned again to look at him. Red eyes glowing in the darkness of night. Amused, with a fire as bright as the sun. If he were able to see the man’s face, Tommy was sure a smirk was there. 
“Too late for that now, little crow.”

Thanatos turned to leave, a cloud of shadows absorbing him. By the time Tommy could move again, he was gone. 

<<<O>>>

Hours later, the group got together.

Erebus stood at the end of the table, looking down at the pictures from the camera in Thanatos's suit. Wide blue eyes stared at him, faint scars littered the boy's face. Mostly covered by blond hair that matched his own. But what kept his attention was the wings. Most likely smaller than his own being that the boy was younger, but still quite impressive. He longed to fix up the boy's wings, wincing at every out of place feather. 
Hades cleared his throat.

“Think he’ll work?” he asked.

“If he could trick Thanatos while wearing similar clothing, I’m sure he could trick anyone in the full outfit. I have no doubt about it.” The others nodded.
Erebus sighed, switching the picture in front of him. The boy was angry, wings just blurs of motion in the frozen moment. He shook his head.

“He’ll never agree to it.” 

“He doesn’t have to.” A fourth voice said. Looking at their own pictures of “Ranboo Beloved”.

Erebus paused. 
Not wrong. 
They are the villains after all…

Thanatos leaned forward. “So do we all agree?” 

The other three nodded. 

Hades clapped, a grin under his silver mask.

“Oh this’ll be fun.”

Chapter Text

Erebes closed the meeting after Hades clapped. Trekking out of the room followed by Hades who practically bounced after him. 

The other two left soon after, bumping shoulders and shoving each other playfully as they left leaving one behind in the room. Thanatos sent one last look over his shoulder in his direction before shutting the door silently. 

The man who remained turned his attention back to the boy. 

Eyes wide behind the golden mask that covered the entirety of his face. 

It wasn’t Ranboo in the picture, hell the two boys don’t even look like each other. 

Besides, he would recognise those eyes anywhere. Although never had he seen them just so clearly terrified.

“Oh Tommy,” he whispered. “What did you do?”

---

If Tommy kept a notebook of all the shit days he had, it would be filled from cover to cover.

But the worst out of them all had to be the day the Syndicate first showed their faces to the world. Declaring themselves as the ones who would take the heroes down once and for all.

And sealed Tommy a life of side glances and second looks.

Wariness and judgment. 

Mockery and fear. 

As he flew with stinging eyes and an aching body, with bits of gravel falling from his hair he tasted the smoke and felt the ash that that day had brought. 

---

The three of them decided that morning to take off of work, instead spending the day like they used to. Walking through the city, stopping at little stores they passed by. Looking through the front glass windows at figurines of their favorite heroes, or of pastries of their favorite bakery. 

They had stopped for muffins, and Tubbo was clinging onto the crisp white bag, debating with 

Tommy and Ranboo about stupid things like sprinkle to donut ratio.

The sun shone down on them, high in the sky reflecting off the taller buildings in front of them. 

Tommy had almost run over a cat that day, he crouched down next to it. The black cat remained unmoving, staring up at him with green eyes. 

Ranboo called dibs on naming it. Calling the cat Enderchest.

Tommy rolled his eyes.

“That’s a weird fuckin’ name for a cat,” 

Ranboo reached out, the cat let itself be scooped up into his long arms. The joy in his eyes rivaled anything negative Tommy could say.

“It is a great name for a cat.”

Then the explosion went off. 

Gray smoke filled the sky, waves of dust and ash snaking its way into every nook and cranny. Tubbo half tackled the two of them to the ground, Enderchest letting out a startled yelp before darting out of Ranboo’s arms and out of sight. 

Tommy remembered the way his arms had been pressed into the ground, the stinging in his lungs with his two best friends on top of him. 

Then there were shouting in the streets, screaming and deafening crumbles that started around them. 

A huge gust of air blew the dust away from them, clearing the streets to reveal the destruction. 

A group of heroes appeared in the street, a man in green leading the charge towards the destruction. Tubbo quickly rolled off the two boys as an unfamiliar voice boomed. Freezing everyone in place. 

“What an entrance” they drawed out their words, cocky, arrogant. 

A man snorted. Monotone words filled the space.

“You could say that.”

Ranboo had dragged him next to the alley, Tommy felt a sharp pain in his wings that remained hidden from the world. 

The three crouched, staring wide eyed at the still frozen heroes. Tommy’s attention shifted to the three figures approaching the group.

A large built man led the charge, a blood red cape hanging dramatically from his shoulders, a pristine white poet's shirt underneath. On it two leather belts held multiple bottles, each with a faint glow of a rainbow of colors. A large ax in hand, golden accents marking the handle. A large boar skull covered his face, fangs barely visible just below his mask. 

Braided pink hair flowed behind him, which Tommy would find funny if not for the absolute power the man radiated.

To his left a much smaller in size man, although close to the same height. He wore much simpler clothing, a black turtleneck half covered by the brown trench coat. A silver mask covered the top half of his face, black details spilling down to cover some of the lower half. A cocky grin free to see by the world. 

But that’s not who caught Tommy’s attention.

No. It was the third person.

With obsidian wings much like his own.

Almost exactly like his own.

Dressed in black and green robe, a plague doctor mask along with a large black hat shadowing over blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail. 

He held aloft a large black sword, a faint glow of purple surrounding the blade and wrapping up around his black talons. 

Black wings.

There were many avians in Manberg, but Tommy had not yet met any with the same type as him. Rare he knew, but not impossible. 

The three stopped before the heroes, winged man and boar mask staying behind as the trench coat man waltzed up to the green hero -Dream- Tommy knew.

He leaned in close, tilting his head at the hero.

“Well aren’t you something.”

At his voice the heroes unfroze. A wave of green light sent the villain (he had to be a villain right?) back, sending him stumbling into his partners who caught him without a second glance. The rest of the heroes fanned out in a half circle, arms out. 

Blaze made eye contact with Tommy, the fire hero's eyes widened at the sight of them. 

Ranboo tugged Tommy and Tubbo further back into the alley. Now unable to see the villains, but able to picture it all the same.

He can still feel the rising panic he felt, unable to see the danger.

Blaze and 404 had shuffled over to block the alleyway. 

“That was rude,” trench coat said. 

“Who are you.” Dream demanded, arms outstretched in preparation. 

Tommy heard a chuckle from the trio.

“You can call me,” a long dramatic pause. “Hades,”

The monotone voice that had spoken before spoke up again. 

“Thanatos,”

The third finally spoke, the man with the wings.

“My name is Erebus. You can call us the Syndicate.” Dark shadows spilled across the ground, creeping towards the heroes. 

Tommy felt Ranboo’s hand grasp around his wrist. 

“And we are going to destroy you.”

With a zwoop the world around Tommy disappeared, replaced by purple and black void.

It had been in the news for weeks. 

Four out of the six heroes who had been there were put out of commission for at least two weeks, unseen by the public for three. 

The Syndicate however did not disappear in that time. 

Crime rates rose sky high, building collapsing became normal, mugging had increased as the heroes became too busy fighting the new wave of serious villains that rose up alongside the Syndicate. Large scale fires, robbings, fighting, murder. Everything that could happen, happened. Everything the heroes swore to protect suddenly couldn’t be protected.

Tommy, Tubbo and Ranboo watched it all happen with locked doors and boarded windows. The news channel on the quietest volume it could be.

It stayed that way for three months. Three months where the villains were in charge.Three months that the hero committee worked its heroes to death, trying to get the city back together again. Three months of hiding, of only going out with some sort of protection. Three months of vigilantes, people ranging anywhere from adults to young teens that the committee turned a blind eye to. Anything to get the city in control once again. Anything for peace. 

Three months of destruction.

And they came to an end with a deal between heroes and villains.

A deal not for the public to know. 

Life returned to ‘normal’, or as normal as it could with the average sighting of villains on rooftops in the cover of night. Petty crime rates were higher than before what people called Doomsday. But so much less than they had been.

And Tommy, Tubbo and Ranboo were ok. They went to work like before, found Enderchest and took him home, fell back into the routine they had made before Doomsday.

But it wasn’t exactly the same. Not for Tommy.

Because now when he walked down the street with his wings out, people would stare. Glare.

People would stay away from him and his wings. Even when he hid them, invisible to the world some would still know. The ones who knew him, knew about the weights that weighed between his shoulders, black feathers that matched the one who led the destruction.

He was the boy with wings of death.

And it followed him.

Pounding on the door disturbed the peaceful quiet of the early morning. A steady stream of sunlight lighting the room through the window. 

Tommy burrowed closer into Tubbo’s soft green jumper and the warmth of the delicately arranged blankets around him. His instinct kept him under, uncaring of the increasingly loud noise. Tubbo however, not under the effects of bird brains did hear it. 

He shifted, slowly blinking at his surroundings. No longer on their shared bed but on the floor in front of it. Blankets shifted to make a circle, many more than the few normally kept on the bed. 

He furrowed his brows at them, freezing at the pounding once more, followed by shouting.

“BOYS OPEN THE DOOR”

He relaxed instantly. Shuffling to get up he felt Tommys wings wrap slightly,  talons dig into his shirt.

Wait.

Talons?!?

Tubbo laid back down, letting himself be clung onto by the avion. He craned his neck to try to get a look at the avion. 

Pure blonde hair was instead streaked with black. His wings half wrapped around tubbo after he tried to move.

Welp. 

He reached for his phone, sat just behind the nest. At least Tommy had some mind to him.

He scrolled through his contacts, praying Quackity wouldn’t break down the door. He called him. 

 It didn’t even ring twice before he picked up.

“Tubbo open the door.” calm rage, his favorite in the morning.

“I can’t move at the moment, boss man.”

He heard a sigh. “Tubbo, I really need you to let me in.”

“Big Q I literally cannot move.” 

Instinct Tommy is a clingy bitch.

As if to prove his point further, Tommy let out a soft chirp, his head butting Tubbo.

Quackity heard. He stopped. 

“Bird Innit?”

Tubbo sighed. “Bird Innit.”

Quackity cursed, loud enough that Tubbo heard it from his spot.

“If you can get Ranboo he’ll unlock the door. I was going to call him next anyways.” He rubbed his eyes. 

Quackity sighed again. “Fine.”

He ended the call and Tubbo quickly called Ranboo.

Then he was left alone. Or as alone as he could be with a literal person clinging onto him and his mentor outside his front door.

His mind drifted to Tommy.

From his point of view there was no reason for Tommy to slip, the boy only slipping in times of high stress. He racked his brain for anything that made sense.

He wasn’t in school so that took out the main reason why he used to. As far as he’s aware Tommy’s work life was as fine as ever, did he get fired? Was he worried he would get fired? Sam wouldn’t do that to him with such short notice so probably not. 

Money? 

Unlikely, with the two of them working they were doing pretty alright, along with Ranboo sometimes pitching in.

They had talked about Ranboo moving in, was that it?

But Tommy seemed fine with it, excited even. He wanted to help Ranboo install a cat tree as soon as possible in their living room.

So what the hell was it? He was fine last night.

And he didn’t even want to think about whatever news Quackity had that deemed a visit at seven in the morning without a call.

So he waited, Tommy’s head tucked under his chin as Tubbo watched the closed door.

It took Ranboo ten minutes to get there. He heard the clink of the keys and the sound of the door unlocking. A heavier pair of footsteps basically ran towards the bedroom, stopping in front of the door. 

“Come in,” Tubbo called before he could knock.

Quackity burst in. Eyes scanning the room, landing on the windows, curtains parted. He carefully avoids disturbing the nest and gets to the window. Checking the latch with the lock, flipping it to be locked and pulling the curtains closed. The room descended into darkness, Tubbo squinted.

“Nice to see you too.” he scoffed, leaning to look at the man. He didn’t respond, instead looking under the bed and in their small closet.  Small fluffy wings disheveled and twitching as he moved.

Tubbo paused. Waiting for the older to acknowledge him. He didn’t.

Ranboo came into the doorway, a bottle of water from the fridge. He leans down to hand it to Tubbo, his mismatching eyes not leaving Quackity. 

“Quackity?” 

Quackity does a slow spin, scanning the room once more before slumping down into the nest on the opposite side of Tommy, angled in a way where he can still see the door. 

“Sorry about that.” his wings finally calmed, at least slightly more than before. “Long night.”

“What’s wrong?” Ronboo shuffled in, sitting on the edge of the bed. 

Quackity sighed. 

“Did you see the news yet?” He eyed Tubbo’s phone. 

“Not yet, why?”

“Syndicate was out again. Last night. I got a call that Tommy left the building.” 

If he could move he would have shot up. 

Instead he just shrieked, Ranboo jumped to his feet.

“What do you mean?”

Quackity ran a hand through Tommy’s feathers, fixing the crooked ones and picking out tiny rocks from in between them.

“Someone saw a person fly out of your apartment 30 minutes before the Syndicate was spotted.” Tired eyes looked up and made eye contact with Tubbo.

 Quackity was their friend, he had been for some time now. But he was also a hero, Ace. That never mattered until Doomsday, when the heroes wanted to bring in Tommy. He stepped in on his behalf. Quackity took Tommy along with Tubbo and Ranboo under his wing and protected them. But that meant when Tommy screwed up, Quackity had to fix it. 

“Well shit.”

There had been a few too many coincidences in the past. But that’s what they were, coincidences. Nothing else. Quackity knew Tommy wasn’t a villain, but not everyone on the hero committee believed that. So their neighbors were told to inform them of anything suspicious. Tommy had never been idiotic enough to go out when someone was watching. 

Ranboo sat back down, running a hand through his split colored hair. 

“Ok, so what happens now?”

Quackity sighs.

“Well, I’m doing what I can up at the tower. They’re thinking of putting a closer watch on him. We can make a plan when he is back.” He closes his eyes. “He really hasn’t made this any easier for himself.”

Tubbo snorts

“When does he ever?”

Ranboo moved to join the nest, stepping over them to settle behind Tubbo. Tubbo leans back into him, quietly laughing at the wing that moves to settle over Ranboo as well. Content chirps are muffled by Tubbo’s shirt still. Tubbo closes his eyes. Knowing he wouldn’t be able to get up till the avion woke up. Might as well sleep. 

Ranboo must have had the same idea, because the moment he closed his eyes he heard Ranboo’s breathing level out. He smiled.

His eyes drifted open slightly, looking at Quackity. 

He wasn’t looking at the three, not relaxing the way Tubbo hoped he would. Instead he was alert, eyes on the door. 

The man moves to get up. Tubbo’s eyes close again. He hears Quackity walking around, tapping things. Muttering under his breath as his footsteps soften. 

He doesn’t like it.

He should question it.

But Quackity knows what’s best.

Quackity is safe. 

He would tell us if we needed to know. His tired brain told him. It was impossible not to be tired sandwiched between his two best friends, incredibly warm in the dark room.

So he let it go and fell asleep.

A plan was set into place. Phil signed the paperwork that morning.

He smiled warmly at the owner. She handed him the key and gave him directions.

He looked over his shoulder. 

“Boys! Niki! Let’s start moving in!

Chapter Text

Tommy woke up slowly, feeling the drumming fade. The waterfall of one word thoughts that crowded his brain in the mantra he had relied on in the past slowly tapered off. 

Flock. Safe. Warm. Flock. Protector. 

Warm. Flock. Safe. 

Warm. Safe.

Something was pressed against his face, warm and soft. 

Warm.

Warmth from another person seeped into both sides of him, he felt the itch of blankets beneath him. 

Too warm. 

He squirmed feeling the bodies move slightly. His breathing picked up.

Too warm. His mind told him. His human one. Suffocating. 

His instincts tried to calm him down, drag him back under to the soft lull but his breathing picked up. He curled his hands, feeling dull fingernails instead of the black talons he knew were there before. He squirmed, pushing against the body blocking his view. The darkness of the room kept him blind in his panic. 

All at once what had happened the night before came flooding back. 

Being restless, flying, jumping on the rooftops. 

Thanatos.  

The syndicate.

He shot up, shoving the arm that had been wrapped around him away. A high pitched shriek escaped him. So bird like it made him wince. 

Tubbo shot up as well, along with a startled Ranboo.

“What the fuck” Tubbo shouted. He grabbed Tommy’s shoulders, gently squeezing him. Footsteps were heard outside in the main room, Quackity appearing in the door. He flicked on the light with a raised eyebrow.

Tommy looked around at them, scanning each one looking for something. Tubbo still in the green jumper, his brown hair messed up and sticking to horn. Ranboo with a yellow blanket wrapped around his shoulders, trying to blink the sleep from his concerned filled eyes. And Quackity with dark circles under half covered eyes, searching his own with the s=certian calculation that always was there. He focused on these little things, letting his breathing slow down, letting the pressure on his arms ground him. His wings shook out behind him.

They’re safe, they don’t know. They’re ok. I’m ok.

He closed his eyes and took one more deep breath. 

The three exchange a look. 

“You good Tommy?” Quackity asked. 

He opened his eyes. 

“Uh, yeah,” he looked down at his nest sheepishly. He kicked one of the blankets. Blue with bees.

“Sorry,”  he mumbled.

Tubbo sighed, he moved to pick up the blankets, joined by Ranboo seconds later.

“Don’t apologize, it's ok. Want to talk about it?” 

A bitter feeling crawled in his chest. 

How many times had Tubbo said that same thing? How many times did Tommy fall into the loop, fall into his instincts and wake up panicked? Every time Tommy apologized and everytime Tubbo or Ranboo or Quackity would say it was perfectly fine. Would always listen even though he had inconvenienced them yet again. Let him be their problem yet again. 

The looks of concern fell on someone so unworthy of it.  

Now what? Tell them how much danger he’s put them in? Explain how he went and was an idiot in the most dangerous way he could be?

He groaned, kicking another blanket. Ranboo snatched it from the ground, lightly smacking him with it. They tried to get him to laugh, to smile, anything.

He was met with nothing.

When they spoke it was quiet, worry filling each word. 

“Tommy what happened last night?” 

The concern he didn’t deserve. 

He looked up, keeping his eyes on the ceiling at the glow in the dark stars. Eyes focusing on the one holding on for dear life, the blue sticky tack visible and stretching down sending the star swinging just an inch from the ceiling. It was a good thing Tubbo had bought a strong sticky tack. Otherwise it would just fall on his face.

 He would have to fix it, maybe get Ranboo to press it back in place, the tall bitch. Or maybe Tommy could just jump and like, punch it.

Or something.

What was he doing again?

Oh yeah, last night.

Fuck he really had no choice did he?

So he told them everything, ignoring the lack of shock at him going out. A coldness creeped into his body as he continued. He talked about Thanatos, and about giving him Ranboo’s name. He completely expected each reaction and being right about them was even worse. 

Quackity left the room. Hand covering his eyes. 

Ranboo, eyes wide, sat down, their tall form somehow shrinking into the pile of blankets they made. 

And then there was Tubbo.

Tubbo, who stood in front of Tommy, eyes narrowed. 

“You fucking WHAT”

“I know!” Tommy covered his eyes, hiding the start of tears. You don’t deserve to cry, you idiot. 

“I know I fucked up”

“YEAH YOU FUCKING DID ASSHOLE”

He felt his shoulders grabbed again, this time not at all gentle. Tubbo shaked him. 

The hands were ripped away from him, moving his hands to open his eyes he saw Quackity have a hold around Tubbo’s middle pulling the shorter teen away from him. 

“That’s enough Tubbo.”

Tubbo snarled up at him. 

“Quackity.”

He met his glare with an unimpressed one. 

“Tubbo.”

“Let me go.”

He returned the glare this time, “No I don’t think I will. Come on.”

He threw Tubbo onto the bed, a betrayed scoff coming from the boy. Quackity kept a hand on one of his shoulders to keep him down. 

“Big Q-” Tommy started but he was quickly interrupted.

“Tommy, just stop.” He didn’t even look his way, eyes on Tubbo.

“Now what the fuck Tubbo? Get it together.”

Tubbo scoffed. “Me? Me get it together? Are you fucking serious Q?” He tried to sit up and failed. His voice lowered “You of all people understand how big he messed up,”

“Yes, Tubbo, I understand,” He leans closer to Tubbo. “Do you think yelling at him and trying to hurt him is the way to fix it? Fucking grow up will you?”

“Well how would you suggest we fix this Quackity, please tell me your amazing ideas-” he waved his hands. “-I just can’t wait to hear how we’re gonna fix this.” 

Quackity let him go with a sigh. Tubbo jumped up, crossing his arms he went and sat in the pile with Ranboo who was finally coming back to them. Mismatched eyes looked at Quackity as the older started to pace. He gently pushed Tommy to sit as well, leaving him more walking room. The hero’s eyes flashed a pale yellow. As they returned to their usual brown. 

“Alright, ok,” he stopped pacing, “Tommy you fucked up but the name doesn’t matter. Ok? Ranboo’s not in any more danger than they’d be if you said, fuck- I dont know? Steve Steverson or whatever other name you could have said. Understand?” He took turns making eye contact with each of them. Lingering on Tubbo still death glaring. 

“When they look up Ranboo they’ll get a picture of him, right? You two don’t look that similar so he’ll be fine. So Tubbo stop glaring at Tommy, and Ranboo don’t worry about that.” 

The tension that had been building rapidly in Ranboo collapsed like a house of cards, he nodded slowly. For once in this situation Tommy had hope. Sure he hated everything else but at least Ranboo wasn’t in immediate danger. Plus sides, he’s got to find the plus sides.

“Ranboo doesn’t legally live here yet so just based off name alone when it comes to easy to get documents, they have nothing.” He ran a hand through black hair. “But that doesn’t mean they can’t find Tommy. There are many ways to find someone in the city so just cause they can’t find you one way doesn’t mean they don’t have many, many more.” 

And would you look at that, the tension returned.

Quackity let out an exasperated sigh. 

“It’s been what? Seven? Eight hours? They could very much already know where you are and have a plan for whatever it is they want you for.” He refused to look Tommy in the eye, not that Tommy would either. His eyes were trained on the curtains blocking the window. Tubbo did in fact look at Quackity. 

“So what do we do now?” 

“I am going to go back to the tower, and see what kind of protection I can get them to agree to. I doubt they’re going to believe the syndicate is after you, but they want to keep an eye on you anyway. Until then, don’t go anywhere, lock your doors, windows, whatever. Don’t draw attention here. Got it?”

Tommy finally looked at him.

“Thanks Quackity.”

 Quackity offered a thin smile. He sighed one last time. 

“Stay safe kid.” He turned and left, leaving the trio to themselves. 

Tubbo got up and followed him. Although he closed the door to the bedroom Tommy could still hear muffled voices of a conversation the two shared without them. He got up quietly and turned off the light. The stars glowed dully, needing to recharge from the night. It brought him back to the night before once again. The dread of it all. It became too much all at once. Tommy looked at Ranboo who had calmed down enough to look at him back. They offered a hand to Tommy silently. He squeezed it twice. 

Tubbo’s voice got louder, 

“For fuck’s sake Quackity you can’t j-” his voice quieted again. 

This went on for a few more minutes before they heard the front door close. Followed by the obnoxiously loud lock. 

The rest of the morning was filled with a tense silence. Tense as in the suspense of waiting for Quackity, along with the fact that Tubbo avoided him like the plague. He refused to stay in the same room as him. Making Ranboo try to play peacekeeper but his heart wasn’t into it and it was obvious. So Tubbo glared and made snippy comments as the day wore on. Of course, Tommy didn’t blame him. During past fights between the two he always thought he was right, always found a way to put the blame on Tubbo but this time he couldn’t. The only one to blame was himself and blame he did. He fully accepted it, accepted Tubbo’s glares, accepted the disappointed looks Ranboo couldn’t hide. Accepted that he was royally fucked.

They did what they could to fortify the apartment. Locked and covered the windows, locked the door and put things in front of it to keep it blocked, dimmed the nights and kept their voices quiet. 

They pretended they weren’t home, hoping everything would just go away. 

All while Quackity fell into some deep trouble.

His final talk (fight) with Tubbo left Quackity angry. The teen was convinced he was in too deep, not caring that he’s just trying his best while being unable to dig himself out of the ever growing hole that trapped him. He just couldn’t understand why it wasn’t simple. Things like this weren’t ever simple and as much as Quackity tried to make him understand, Tubbo just couldn’t get it. 

He shut the door, relaxing with the click of the lock as Tubbo did as he said. At least he listened to reason. Sighing, he pulled out a phone from his gray hoodie. The technology stood out too much for his liking, but the tower insisted the heroes have the best. 

While the rest of the city scrapes by. He thought bitterly. 

He wasn’t even sure who he would call. His list of allies were thin and far in between. At least the ones that would help him in this special little situation. 

He couldn’t go to the Syndicate, they are who he was trying to keep away.

The heroes kept butting their noses where they didn't belong. They would rather lock Tom up then protect him which would just give the Syndicate easy access to him. 

That left the few vigilantes that would talk to him. 

He pocketed the phone. They wouldn’t answer at this time of day anyway, too early for them. He’d just have to take a quick detour. 

He hated the apartment building the teens had chosen as their home. Painted with a dull yellow with stains decorating the walls. Doors littered the hall every few feet with metal numbers labeling the doors. The already small halfway that led ahead was mostly blocked by new movers, a pile of boxes spilling out into the open area. It fell in front of him and he rolled his eyes. Fully intending to walk over it when he heard a voice. 

“God damn it Will!”

“It’s not my fault Techno can’t put them nicely as he goes!”

“Don’t blame me for your lack of skill,”

He instantly started to walk backwards. The shadows across the hall got bigger. A hand followed by a curly mass of brown hair peeked out and grabbed the closest box.

Brown eyes met fellow brown. 

“Quackity?” 

“Wilbur? What are you doing here?” He kept his voice calm, confused but calm. He’s got nothing to hide. No kid he’s hiding. Nope nope nope!

The taller man straightened, the shoe box in hand. Behind him a wild Phil appeared. Smiling at him happily.

“Quackity! Come on in mate.”

He waved him forward. 

Now Quackity was no idiot. He knew why the Syndicate was there. He knew exactly how downhill it would go if the Syndicate knew what he was doing. He also knew he should have found a way to excuse himself and pretend he was never there.

But this was Phil- one of the kindest people on earth- not Erebus inviting him in. And Phil is not someone you turn away. 

So he faked a smile and went on in. Grabbing a box from the fallen pile, he helped Wilbur pull the rest of them out of the hall. The entrance was similar to Tubbo and Tommy’s apartment. A small entrance area leading out into one large room with a kitchen to the direct right and a living room in the rest of the space. The only difference was down the little hall to one of the sides there were three doors instead of one. The wall paper was also different, not the nice light blue the boys had painted and instead a boring white. The white that would return when the boys would eventually move out. 

Inside Phil took one of the boxes from his hands and placed it on the already filling up counter. Boxes and shopping bags took up the space, and behind the clutter Niki stood organizing. She smiled at him. He grinned. 

“ Niki how ya doing?”

She waved at the mess around her. 

“Eh, what brings you to the area?”

Oh you know, checking on the kid you’ve been searching for while I’ve known his exact location for years. Nothing much. 

“My friend lives here,” 

“Oh do they?” Wilbur cut in, a grin. “You should invite them over sometime,” 

They don’t know, they don’t know. It’s fine. You’re fine.

He rolled his eyes. “Yeah right, like you wouldn’t try to stab them.”

Phil snorted in the corner he had moved to by the couch, a couple boxes stacked in a castle-like structure that he slowly dismantled. 

Wilbur leaned on the counter.

“Aw come onnn , that was one time.”

“And Karl will never emotionally recover,” 

Intense uno, you don’t want to know. 

“Anyway,” he moved to help Niki, keeping an eye out for Techno. “Why the move? Surely you could have found a nicer place than this dump.”

Niki and Will shared a look. From his corner Phil looked up at them. His eyes moved to the open door then back to Quackity. He shrugged. 

“Business, you remember the meeting last night?”

 His heart dropped.

“You found him already? Where?”

Enter Techno. The bitch and his dramatic timing.

“Right down the hall.”

 Well fuck. 

Chapter Text

Techno leaned against the doorway with his arms crossed. His red eyes found Quackity with a dark smirk. Quackity knew then that any chances of lying his way out wasn’t going to work. As the man continued to look over him, a flash of recognition crossed his eyes. Pink eyebrows furrowed at him. 

“But you already knew that, didn’t you?”

Unlike the others in the room, Techno had it the roughest in their situation. He couldn’t separate himself from his villain persona as well as the others could. Phil with his wings and black talons could be hidden. Wilbur with his glowing eyes and transparent skin could be replaced by warm brown and normal pale skin. Even Niki who shared his blood was able to hide her blood red eyes, her tusks and tail when she wanted to. Leaving only her pink hair and two twin markings under her eyes as a sign of her piglin heritage. 

Where Technoblade was left with the whole getup. His frown was slightly split by the small tusks peaking out.  His ears pointed, with an emerald earring hanging down, matching the one in Phils ear. A tail peaked out behind techno’s legs, a pink tuft of hair poking out of the end. All of these things screamed Thanatos, making it hard to differentiate the two personalities. 

It was the eyes that were the worst.

Red eyes against a black sclera always staring with a calculated look. So incredibly unhuman. But could be so kind looking when he wanted to.

Techno was different from Thanatos. Techno was just some guy who was quietly considerate. 

Not a skilled killer. A heartless villain,

But Techno has the same eyes as Thanatos. And sometimes it's hard to think of him as just Techno. Especially when he looked at Quackity that way.

“Quackity, did you know he’s here?” Phil asked, casually picking up another box to move it to the side. 

“Nope,” How long could he keep this act before they find out.

Techno kept his eyes on him.

“Uh huh…”

“Techno quit interrogating him.” Wilbur called from the counter. “We’ve got better things to do.”

“Better things than figuring out if we’ve got a traitor who’s been hiding the kid behind our back?”

“We’ve already got the kid anyways it doesn’t matter,” Phil shot an unamused look at Wilbur.

“Shut it there could be people around,”

“Then shut the door old man,” Phil flicked him off, which Wilbur eagerly returned. Niki sighed in her spot. 

“Or, you know, you could help me with this.” 

Techno finally moved, walking the few feet to the counter to help his sister. Eyes flicking to Quackity in accusation every once in a while. 

“I want to make cookies,” Niki announced a few minutes later. Wilbur snorted as he was sprawled on the floor, avoiding helping Quackity next to him who sorted boxes by rooms. 

“Niki we just moved here,” 

“Your point?” She gasped and clapped, reaching out to grab Techno’s arm as she bounced slightly. 

“We could make them for our new neighbors!”

“You mean the kid?” Techno asked. Quackity tensed. 

She paused. “Well they are our neighbors now, so that includes them. I meant everyone though!”

Phil laughed from his spot on the faded couch. 

“Do it Niki, I’m sure they'd like that,”

Techno shoved the rest of the boxes to the floor, making room on the counter. He grumbled halfheartedly about his hard work having to be moved, and progress put on hold. Niki just laughed warmly and pulled out the few things from the box she had been emptying, 

Their relationship made it easy for him to forget everything. When the oven wouldn’t turn on the three boys crowded around it, attempting to get it working so Niki could bake. Spending fifteen minutes pressing buttons, kicking it, yelling at Wilbur to stop kicking it, Wil and Techno kicking each other, trying to light the bottom with a lighter, sweet talking it, threatening it, only to realize it wasn’t plugged in.  

Quackity watched the whole affair with stupid comments and laughter until his side hurt. 

When it had quieted down, and Niki took over the kitchen once more, guilt washed over him. There he was, hanging out and laughing with the people who sort of had it out for Tommy. 

He pulled out his phone, pretending to see a message.

“Ah shoot, I’ve got to go.”

Calls of goodbye came from the room as he made his way to the door.

“Come by again soon!” Niki called.

Phils voice quickly followed “We’ve got a meeting tomorrow mate, don’t forget,”  

His mood soured.

He welcomed the silence of the hallway. 

Taking a few quiet steps towards Tubbo’s door he stopped a few feet from it. No light escaped from under it, no sound came from inside. At least the kids knew when to take what he said seriously. He missed the constant sound that would bombard him when he reached even ten feet of the door. Shouting or cursing, the thump of pillows or insulted noises. Even the shitty music that Tommy and Tubbo both enjoy. He sighed. 

He returned the way he came. Passing the door with happy chatting past it. He entered the dingy elevator pulling his hood down as he pressed the button. 

The lady at the front desk waved at him as always, she sat inspecting her pot of begonias. A small blue watering can in hand as she smiled at him. He nodded in return.

The early morning sun cast shadows on the cracked sidewalks. He ignored the few people out walking, like them he kept his head angled down, not meeting anyone’s eye. Instead he fiddled with his contact list, scrolling down the seemingly endless names. Contacts from every side. Who would be the most useful for what he needed? What do I even need? What is there to do? Ask someone to protect the teens? The Syndicate would find him eventually. 

Do I even want to stop them?

The reason they need him could be justified. It was reasonable. 

Of course he wanted to help Niki, but where would that leave Tommy? Could he really be willing to give up the teen he swore to protect in order to help her? What happened wasn’t fair, but surely there had to be another way?

He turned to the right, slipping through dark alleyways and quiet streets. 

The plan that was made makes sense. Their way of thinking made sense. But Tommy didn’t deserve to be a pawn in their game. To be made into what they were planning to make him. The kid couldn’t handle that. He was skilled of course, he could learn things and adapt quickly. He could be careful most of the time. (Ignoring the situation he got them all in) 

He was everything they needed. But would he agree to it?

What Persephone said rang through his mind.

“He’ll never agree to it” Erubus had said, giving Quackity hope that they would drop it. Thankful that Erubus kept his usual morals 

Persephone just shook her head. 

“He doesn’t have to,”

He doesn’t have to. 

And that’s what scared him the most. 

Tommy would never agree to help the people others always accused him of being. There was the possibility that he could be convinced but it was unlikely. 

What happens when he says no?

Would they even ask?

Would he go to the hideout one day to see Tommy tied up? Oh god would he recognize Quackity?

Would he feel betrayed? Like Tubbo had felt when he found out?

Would he out him? 

He thought back on the casualty Phil had when Techno accused him.

Would they even care if he did?

The thought of blue eyes filled with tears lighting up at the sight of him, despair turning to hope only to turn into betrayal. Confused shouting, pleading for Quackity to help him. Unable to help him. 

Fuck. 

Quackity turned into another alley, falling down. 

He pulled at his hair, groaning. 

He’d dealt with shit before, but he’d never felt so cornered. Both options would end with him hurting someone he cared for. 

Niki or Tommy,

He sat there breathing for what felt like forever. 

A door opened farther down the alley. A soft purple glow illuminating the area blocked by sun. Fluffy brown hair peaked out the door,

“Who goes there,” a low voice called. The purple turned bright, assaulting his eyes. He closed his eyes, still seeing the purple through them but he smiled towards the person anyways.

“Hey Karl,” 

The purple faded and he waited a second more to open his eyes.

“Quackity?” the person called, their voice shifted to something lighter. Karl’s normal voice. His eyebrows drew together.  The now soft glow came from purple eyes. A third, and the brightest one shined from the middle of his forehead. Shining through brown curls. It shone on Quackity, he straightened and the light went out. Instead a phone flashlight was pulled out by Karl. A concerned smile was flashed at Quackity as he stood.

“Want to come in?” 

He huffed, running a hand through his hair. 

“Yes please.”

—

A knock came on the door. The trio exchanged glances. They sat in the living room, everything pushed back so they all could have space on the ground. Piles of blankets with books and their nintendo switch on top of it. The volume muted and their usual chatter non-existent per Quackity’s instruction. It didn’t keep them from jabbing each other or occasionally whispering threats. Successfully keeping their minds distracted for a short while at least. It had been three days of this quiet solitude. Quackity had texted from time to time. Quick little check-ins and questioning what they needed. It felt like Doomsday all over again. 

“Hello?” a soft female voice called. “Anyone home?” another knock. 

Tubbo looked over at Tommy and Ranboo. Both sat burrowed under blankets

Tubbo whispered, motioning for the other two to lean in.

“What do you think?”

“Ignore her-”

“Lets see what she needs-”

Tommy looked at Ranboo.

“Why the fuck would we talk to her?”

“She sounds nonthreatening?”

“Nobody is non threatening!”

Ranboo quietly made Ranboo noises. 

“What if she really needs help?”

“She can go down the hall.” 

Shuffling outside the door made them go still. 

Things rattled as they were placed on the ground outside. Light footsteps only Tommy could hear made him sure of her departure. 

“She’s gone,” he whispered. 

Tubbo stood and walked towards the door. Quietly moving the table, lifting it over his head and ignoring Ranboo and Tommy’s protests and attempts to help. After that he stayed by the door for a few minutes. Listening intensely for any signs of movement outside. 

Hearing nothing, he opened the door. 

A white plate piled high with chocolate chip cookies sat in front of the door. A yellow sticky note sat on top of the clear plastic wrap. With swirly handwriting in pink pen it said

Hello! I’m Niki, one of your new neighbors  :)

We just moved in a few doors down. We would love to meet you!

Stop by sometime!

<3

Tubbo pulled out a cookie, looking it over before pulling it away and smelling it. 

“Seems fine,” He popped it in his mouth. Not kneeling over right away was good enough for Tommy to grab one. 

“What do you think Tubs?” He asked through a mouthful of cookie.

“That you’re fucking disgusting.” he replied.

He rolled his eyes, sticking his tongue out. Ranboo and Tubbo shuttered.

He laughed, quickly swallowing the rest of his food like a classy gentleman. 

“I meant about this Niki person,”

Tubbo flopped back down on the blankets, setting the plate down in the middle. 

“I don’t know,”

“She sounded nice,” Ranboo added, earning a cookie thrown at his head by Tommy. Ranboo glared. “What? Not everyone wants to kill us Tommy.” 

“She could-”

Tubbo waved his hands “Alright alright stop it, we get it” 

“Tubbo, this could be a trap.”

“Tommy I understand that, but we also can’t get too paranoid. A new neighbor brought us cookies, that’s happened before.”

Tommy huffed. He picked up his controller again. When Ranboo and Tubbo picked theirs up he resumed the race. 

“I don’t know, maybe,” But when you've had nothing to go off of, of course he was going to be paranoid. For all he knew the Syndicate could be waiting for the most convenient time to strike. Lurking around the corner, waiting for them to slip up. Opening the door or leaving could be that slip up. 

“I fuckin hate this,” he grumbled. 

Tubbo sighed but refrained from saying the obvious. You caused this. Cause that would be unfair to Tommy. He didn’t know this show would happen. He didn’t know the hole they all would fall in because of what happened. With hardly anything to keep himself busy Tubbo had come to accept the fact that Tommy didn’t deserve all of the blame. The syndicate however, he would completely blame. He almost hoped they would show up so he could punch them. Make them suffer for the anxiety and pain they brought in the last few days. Not to mention how much he would beat them up for… literally everything. 

“I think we could at least return their plate,” Tubbo said eventually after losing the game. 

Tommy started to protest but quickly was interrupted.

“Tom I know, But it’s been a while, one outing down the hall won't expose us.” Probably is what he didn’t add. 

“I don’t like it.”

“Then stay here, I can't keep staying in here with just your ugly face to look at, I’ll go insane,”

“Rude”

“Just the truth bossman,” 

Chapter Text

It had been another four days. Seven days total without talking to anyone but Tubbo, Ranboo and Quackity. 

You could say he was going a little stir crazy.  

Tommy laid on the floor in the middle of the living room. Blankets all over the floor from forts and playing games to distract them in the long hours. His back ached with the mix of floor and crumpled up blanket directly between his shoulders. He long ago lost the motivation to sit up and move it. Instead keeping his eyes closed and praying he would fall asleep. But of course it couldn’t last.

He felt the shoe hitting his thigh before he even heard the person. With a lazy hand he flapped in their direction. Ranboo let out a little shriek.

“Ranboo, big man, leave me alone,”

He felt another kick in his shin. Harder this time.

Ranboo let out an exasperated sigh.

“ Tommy ”

“ Ranboob”

“ Don’t call me that,”

“Don’t kick me,”

He opened his eyes, adjusting to the only slightly lighter area around him. Ranboo’s face covered most of his sight line.

“What do you want Ranboob,”

“Tommy, it's been four days, we’ve got to return the plate eventually.”

He rolled over on his stomach, letting his wings materialize behind him. Ranboo shifted out of the way so he could stretch. 

“Ranboo you know what I think,”

It had been their main subject for the few days. Ranboo or Tubbo nonchalantly asking what to do with it once the cookies had all disappeared. They had been amazing, never going hard in the three days the cookies survived.

The plate was nice, sure, a pristine white with pink and orange flowers decorating one edge. But seriously, not that big of a deal. It’s a plate. Probably even in a set. Niki probably wouldn’t even care if it went missing.

Sure, Tommy wanted to get out of the apartment as the other two, but the internal dilemma kept him from voicing it. Because for all they knew it could be a trap. 

   (Ironic isn’t it?)

      (Don’t you wish we could stop it?) 

          (A pity.)

He rolled his shoulders back, gently moving his wings. 

They had seen better days. 

The worry and stress had led to random feathers shedding all around the apartment. Although Tubbo and Ranboo had preened his wings they still looked a mess, twitching with every noise made outside the door. Every footstep or creak in their apartment that he couldn’t see. 

He made the effort to stretch them more often but they longed to feel the air. Tommy in general wished for fresh air, to see the sun and stars. He spent the nights with the other two watching nature documentaries. Ones that were always somewhere bright and green. 

He wanted to go outside of their apartment. Even if it was just to go down the hall. He’d get to talk to someone new, multiple someones even. If they were lame it would still be something else to do.

“Ok but have you changed your mind yet?” Ranboo asked.

Did he? It never changed but his willpower to not say it seemed to have abandoned him.

“Fine,” he pushed himself up, purposely bumping Ranboo in the face with a wing. He rolled his eyes.

Ranboo practically bounced out of the room. (a key indicator that he was sick of being cooped up) going to their shared one. Not even thirty seconds later a grinning Tubbo peeks out. 

“ So ?”

“Shut it Tubbo,”

—

The door matched every other on the floor. The only difference was the silver numbers saying 213. Standing awkwardly in the hallway, the three could hear the soft strumming of a guitar. A person softly hummed an unfamiliar tune. Tommy stood as far from the door as possible, making one of the other two do it. His wings were gone, a thick red hoodie also covering their absence just in case. He had had troubles in the past keeping them hidden after long stretches of time with them out. 

Over his hair he wore a light gray beanie, bits of his hair still poked out trying to blind him. Tubbo wore his green beanie to hide his horns, while Ranboo simply wore his usual black mask to hide black fangs. He nervously patted his hair down as Tubbo reached for the door. 

The strumming took a moment before coming to a soft end. A girls voice shouted somewhere,

“I’ll get it!”

Loud footsteps neared and the door opened to a smiling pink haired lady. 

“Hello,”

Tubbo shot a look at Ranboo who stood right next to him. He just nodded in encouragement. 

“Uh, hi. We uh, got your cookies.” 

Her face lit up.

“And we just wanted to come say hi?”

Oh yeah he nailed it. That’s our Tubbo. 

“Oh awesome! Want to come in? It’s just me and Wilbur but the others will be home soon,”

Tommy studied her. 

She wore pale blue overalls all scuffed in the knees. Two white powdered handprints marked the sides, more dusting all over it. Short light pink hair settled at her chin, half up in two twin buns. The only thing that stuck out about her appearance was the pink stripe on the top of both cheeks. A sign of a hybrid he couldn’t recall. A rare one no doubt. 

In her hand she twisted a kitchen towel although the rest of her seemed completely calm. She leaned slightly against the door. The guitar in the back had started up again in a new melody. His instinct screamed at him to trust this nice person and go meet more nice people in the calmness of the music. 

Music always seemed to calm his instincts, calm him in general. He kept his mouth shut, trying to keep the content chirps at bay.  

Ranboo and Tubbo had come to an agreement, and Tubbo looked back to get his vote.

He nodded slightly and let Niki lead them into the room. 

It was painfully similar to how their apartment used to be. Empty walls, boxes still lingering in the corners. 

In lazy handwriting names were scrawled in sharpie. He recognized Niki’s with doodles of flowers decorating around one. The furniture was basic, the staple brown couch that the building originally put that Tubbo had replaced. An old tv was pushed up against the wall. But in the middle of the space on the circular rug sat a man bent over a guitar. He looked up and smiled at them with a sharp smile. Brown hair spilled over his forehead, partially blocking circle glasses.

Sunlight streamed into the room with the setting sun peaking over the horizon. Bathing the room in a soft light. Already a few picture frames hung up on the walls. Tommy went to one as the man striked up a conversation with Tubbo.

“I’m Wilbur, nice to meet you!”

“James,” Tubbo offered in return. “Where you from?”  

He tuned them out.

The picture was… nice? Taken at a lake somewhere far away. No lake near Manburg was that clear. 

There were five in the picture. One he recognized as Niki, looping her arm through a taller man with the same colored hair. Tusks poked out of his mouth, making his smile almost menacing. Red eyes looked away from the camera, focused instead on Wilbur and a short blonde haired man who was smiling warmly at the camera ignoring the events next and before him. Wilbur was bent over slightly, his face red. On the ground in front of him laid another guy, bald and a fist in the air. Caught mid shout with sand up in the air. 

Tommy snorted. Wishing he could take it back when the conversation behind him stopped. 

Wilbur laughed from his spot still on the floor. “Oh that one!” He set the guitar down to come up next to him. “Man, that’s a great one,”

He side eyed Wilbur. “What did you do to that guy?”

“ Me ? Nothing!”

Wilbur looked over his shoulder, sharing a grin with Niki.

Ranboo moved to look at it

“Are you guys all related?” 

“Nah only Niki and Tech are,”

“Doesn’t stop us though,” Niki called, rinsing off the plate and setting it in the sink. 

“Tech?” He tried to keep his composure, really he did. A smile slipped out though, which was caught by Wil.

With a grin he pointed to the pink haired man.

“Techno, yes weird name, no we don’t know why either,”

He figured he could laugh, he basically just gave Tommy permission. 

Tubbo snorted.

“At least you're aware,”

A shriek and the sound of something clattering sent them all turning. Niki stepped back from the oven, a tray of cookies toppled in a mess on the floor. She darted to the sink, turning on the water. Wilbur was at her side in seconds, gently grabbing her wrist to look at the burn. 

“Wil it’s fine, it’s fine,” she smiled at the trio. “I’m always forgetting gloves, it’s silly,” she choked out a laugh. 

“Seems kind of hard to forget innit?” Tommy said, earning a jab in the ribs by Tubbo who had moved closer to him.  

The two ignored him. Wilbur sighed.

“Niki, go sit. I’ve got dinner,”

She lit up at that, turning to the boys.

“Would you like to stay for dinner? It’s nothing fancy but we’d love to have you,”

“Our finest, chicken noodle soup” Wilbur drawled 

It was either talking more to these sort of strange but nevertheless kind and talkative people, or go back to the apartment where silence would suffocate them once again. Where they’d be alone until Quackity came to give updates. 

Yeah they chose to stay for dinner. 

After asking to help, Wilbur put the boys to work. He had Tommy cut carrots while Tubbo and Ranboo cut potatoes. Something that apparently was incredibly important and precise. 

“They’ve got to be large but not too large or else they won't cook. But they can’t be too small, ‘ cause then Techno will get all pissy.”

So he spent five minutes showing them exactly how to cut them. After three Tommy was sure he was just pulling their legs. Especially when Tubbo tried the fifth time to get it right and Wilbur just started tsking. To which Tubbo started yelling.

He’d have to admit it was funny to watch while cutting. Hearing Tubbo go on long rants and Ranboo offering little comments to keep him going. Wilbur seemed to understand the way their friendship worked and quickly adapted to keep the ridiculous level up. 

Niki sat on the couch the entire time, her hand in her lap and flipping through a book filled with flowers. Since Tommy’s station was facing her direction he attempted conversation when the yelling was quiet enough that he could be heard. 

Sure flowers weren’t his specialty but Ranboo had gone through a garden phase. He had brought all sorts of flowers for Tommy and Tubbo’s apartment. And everytime he stepped into Ranboo’s he would have to step carefully around the jungle that had been formed.

They talked about all sorts of plants, ranging from aloe and cacti to delicate daisies and lilies.

She kept him talking about all of the random facts he knew, with Ranboo taking breaks from antagonizing Tubbo to offer his knowledge. 

They had just started discussing roses when the door opened. 

The three instantly tensed. Each recovered quickly and the other two didn’t mention it. 

“We’ve got company!” Niki called out, waving to the people at the door. The blonde man from the photo entered first, smile just as warm as it had looked in it. His eyes crinkled at the corners as he looked over the three. Techno came into view and Tommy took half a step back. 

He was large. 

Just shorter than Wilbur but his broad shoulders and muscular arms made Will look tiny. Black and red eyes stared him down as he came closer to the counter. 

It reminded him of that night when black and red glared at him through the mask. 

But this was just some poor guy that shared a hybrid with a villain. He couldn’t judge. 

The man pressed his palms flat on the table, his eyes moving to Ranboo. 

Looking directly at his eyes.  

Fuck. 

Tubbo moved in front of Ranboo, stretching a hand out. 

“Sup bossman? I’m James.”

“Nice to meet you, mate!” the blond man came up and shook it when Techno just looked at it. “I’m Phil,”

Ranboo stepped to the side, waving awkwardly. “Nathan,”

Phil looked at Tommy. 

He ducked his head slightly. He hadn’t come up with a name.

“Uh, Steve,” 

“Steve?” Techno deadpanned. 

“What? You got a problem with Steve, Techno?” Tommy snorted. 

“It’s Dave.”

“W-what?”

The man stared at him. 

“It’s Dave, not Techno.”

Huh?  

Wilbur cackled, 

“Wilbur you bitch.” Tommy glared at the man.

He coughed into his arm, fighting to regain the ability to speak through his laughing fit. 

Phil just sighed, moving into the kitchen and shooing him out. He continued to stir the broth, adding some of the cut up veggies. He side eyed the perfectly cubed potatoes that Tubbo presented proudly.  

Techno… Dave? Just rolled his eyes and broke into a smile.

“Don’t listen to a word he says, he is filled with lies.”

“Untrue! Lies! Slander!” Wilbur plopped down on the couch next to Niki who just snorted. 

It was clear the group had spent some time together. The atmosphere instantly cleared and grew louder than before. It felt like how the trio usually acted, but louder and with two brain cells rather than one (Niki and Phil seemed to split them). Wilbur turned his attention from Tubbo to antagonizing…Dave. Grilling him on details about their shopping trip. Apparently they had gone all around the city searching for soy sauce? Which Dave claimed to be a waste of a day, which, yeah Tommy could agree with.

While Wilbur ranted about his justifications for wanting soy, Phil put Tommy in charge of stirring. The man went to Niki and whispered quietly with her, gently holding her arm as she showed him the burn that had gone from the harsh red to a less angry pink. Niki eventually got up and left the room. Returning a few minutes later with a bandage over it. 

When the soup was done they all gathered around the counter with Phil apologizing about the lack of necessary chairs. To which Wilbur decided to hop up on the counter and eat there. Like a disappointed father, Phil just huffed. 

Phil did act like a father, at least how Tommy pictured one to act.

“So how are you guys related?” He asked.

Niki grinned “T- I mean, Dave is my brother,”

Phil nodded.

“Rest of us are just friends, mate. You guys?”

Tubbo grinned and threw an arm around Tommy and Ranboo.

“Steve here is my brother and Nathan here is my husband!” He said it loud and proud as 

Ranboo shrunk into himself, face bright red. 

Tommy looked at Tubbo. Tubbo ignored him, grabbing Ranboo’s hand and patting it lovingly. 

Alright then.

“Yep.” he popped the ‘p’ waiting for someone else to say something.

The four exchanged a look.

“Aren’t you a little young?” Dave asked in that same monotone voice. 

Now Tommy was sure Dave's voice never changed pitch. Tubbo just gasped, leaning forward. Ranboo quickly moved the bowl under tubbo out of the way.

“Young? Love waits for no one David!”

Ranboo groans.

“T- no, James. Stop,”

“They question our love Nathan! How can you stand for this!”

“James we aren’t in love,” he stresses. 

Tubbo acts wounded, releasing Ranboo’s hand to pull his own up to his chest.

“WHAT,” He hid his face in his hands and started to sob. Internally Tommy sighs. You know what? Yeah, he does it out loud too. He’s not afraid. “NATHAN DON’T DO THIS TO ME!”

Wilbur was entranced in his performance, watching with a grin. He ate his soup while looking between the two boys. The other three look slightly concerned. Phil raised an eyebrow at Tom.

He whispered while Tubbo continued to make a fool of himself.

“They got married for tax benefits,” 

Which is one of the reasons Ranboo was going to move in with them. 

The more you know.

Phil laughed.

“Wait- fuck- I mean they are wholly in love. No other reason,” 

They love taxes, taxes are great . 

Tubbo finally ended his performance with a long, in audible cry. Making small noises. 

“James they get it,”

He popped up and continued eating his soup as if he didn’t just do something weird. Ranboo sighed into his soup. Wilbur burst out in loud laughter. 

And dinner continued without a hitch.

At least for a little bit. 

An alarm went off on Phil’s phone. 

He sighed and excused himself from the table, going down the hallway out of hearing range.

Wilbur kept them talking while he was gone, but they could tell he was concerned. 

His eyes flicked to the hall, as did Niki and Dave’s. Eventually the conversation came to a lull. A quiet silence followed.

Tommy became painfully aware that his wings wanted to stretch out. He hid his pain behind a concerned smile.

Phil came back with a hand pressed against his temples. He sighed and smiled at them, specifically the boys.

“I’m sorry but we have to go, family emergency,” Wilbur hopped off of the counter, now very concerned. “I’m very sorry, we’ll have to have you over another time,”

“No problem bossman! Thanks for having us over!” They quickly rinsed out their bowls and placed them in the sink. Niki disappeared down the hall along with Dave. 

Phil walked them a few feet out.

“Again, very sorry mate. Hope you have a good night,” 

“Good night Phil, hope everything turns out ok,” Tommy stepped out.

Phil just nodded and shut the door quietly with a little wave. 

They stood in the quiet hall, hearing quick footsteps and half shouting from inside. They exchanged a look and made their way back to their place. 

“So…”

“Yep,”

“We’re gonna talk about how that was-”

“Inside Tubbo.”

“Ok,”

—

(Little did the three know that that would be the last time for a lot of things)

   (The last night of freedom)

      (The last night of joy, at least together)

         (The last time being in their presence and not having to be worried, to be blissfully ignorant of the warning signs)

(the last time talking to him before-)

(stop)

(right)

   (I’m getting ahead of myself)

      (I’m sorry)

      (Forgive me.)

—

Something was very very wrong.

Quackity could feel it as he watched the news from the hero tower. 

All members of the Syndicate that the public knew of (minus him of course) were out fighting. 

The new 'vigilante’ group had been spotted not too long ago, successfully defeating many villains in their time seen by the public. 

It wasn’t a specific person, no it was a group. People dressed in all black or gray or red, appearing whenever a villain attack occurred. And they switched out every time. Never the same person.

It scared the heroes, scared the villains.  

For two very different reasons. 

At least the heroes could have the belief that they kept them on a leash. We help you, you help us. And it had worked.

Except for the few heroes. 

More and more villains had been going missing after attacks. 

And now they were taking on the Syndicate. 

The public and heroes believed it to be the first interaction the two groups had. But he knew better.

He had been there. 

He had felt something was wrong then too. 

And as the cameras cut he knew it was all going to go downhill from here.

And he was proved right later. When he could finally escape the meeting without drawing suspicion. 

His spare phone had three missed calls.

And one text.

They got Wil

Chapter Text

It was just him and Thanatos, fighting the people clad in black and gray. His eyes narrowed at the rose patch sewn onto each of their shoulders. He fought one dressed mostly in gray, stripes of black going down his sides and connecting up at the blade hood that shadowed over their face as they dodged and threw punches. 

He moved around them with ease, not pulling a single punch as he hit them again and again. Another two with much more black stepped in their place, defending the first. Now these two would prove to be a challenge. 

Behind him he could hear Thanatos throwing what was left of Persephone's flames. The grunts of the ‘vigilantes’ made him grin wickedly. Showing his fangs off to his opponents.

Cocky. Confident. 

He had done this many times, but always in a more peaceful way.

Erebus was usually the one with the moral compass, but Hades tried occasionally to do things reasonably.

That had gotten him nowhere.

So he threw his punches with full force, slipped his knife into his fist. The splatter of blood made him smile wilder and his heart race with excitement. 

With his brother behind him, his father further down the road, it gave him permission to just enjoy it all.

It was an easy battle.

It was only when more and more people showed up that the problems began.  

They pooled into the streets. 

Hades always knew they weren’t just some vigilantes as the new had the public believe. No. It had to be some underground organization. The syndicate already knew that. Knew the basics of it but not the whole story. 

But whoever it was, whatever it was, would pay greatly. 

Armed with guns and swords shining with black metal, the kind matching Erebus’ own. Netherite.

They shone in the dark street a soft purple glow, which helped him to see the attack lunging for his face. 

He shifted out of the way, kicking the person in the knee. 

He laughed as they fell to the ground, he turned to the other what was it, five? Ten? People that stood before him. Thanatos never ceased fighting according to the sounds behind him. 

He used his voice. 

“Stab your comrades” He watched with barely concealed glee as they turned on each other. 

He picked up the sword, leaning on it as he watched. 

When he was convinced they all were dead, after ordering the last one to run far away, he turned to his brother.

Thanatos fought with an elegant, almost dance-like style. Dodging and weaving between enemies, throwing fire with his punches that made his enemies fall away in pain. 

His back was turned for just a moment too long.

Turning when Hades shouted, a sword sliced his chest.  

Blood bloomed and spread across the crisp white poet's shirt.

That had never stopped him before.

He continued to fight, ignoring the blood. Hades ran to assist as several more surrounded Thanatos.

His voice rang out. 

“Get away from him”

The people went running. He knew it wouldn’t last long. Too many people. To vague of a command.

Thanatos grabbed the sword from Hades. using it as a crutch. The handle was slick with blood. His blood.

Hades felt a special kind of rage.

No one could wounded his brother and lived.

As more and more enemies came, Thanatos pressed a hand to his earpiece.

“Erebus, we need assistance,”

But Erebus was too far away, fighting his own battles further down the road.

We shouldn’t have split up.

The thought plagues Hades.

“Thanatos go to him,”

“No.”

He couldn’t heal himself. It took so much effort to keep Persphone's power. What little remained of it would be overpowered if Thanatos tried to copy another power. He couldn’t afford to lose it now or they'd lose it forever. 

He couldn’t heal himself.

But he also couldn't use Hades’s power.

He couldn’t deny him.

“We don’t have time for this, you're hurt,” the ones who had been forced to run had returned. He glared at them. 

“Turn on each other”

“Hades stop it,”

Thanatos saw the switch in his brother. The way the otherworldly blue turned cloudy as he commanded the people before them. 

He said he'd never use his voice to hurt people.

He said he wanted to do the right thing.

And maybe it was true once. But he was not that person anymore.

And as his brother turned to face him, he thought; 

Maybe he never was. 

The soft faced child who was scared of blood now bathed in it. Blue eyes narrowed at him.

“Find Erebus,” 

He pushed away the guilt of using his power on Thanatos. It quickly was replaced by anger towards these monsters. He grinned as the increasing number of people, he grinned at the few who approached with swords. He grinned at the gunshots that lit up the area. 

He grinned as he spoke. 

“Die”

He laughed as they fell. 

Blood splattered his face.

The street echoed his laughter. 

He didn’t see them. 

He didn’t know the danger.

Maybe he didn’t care.

A burning smoke enveloped him and his vision went dark.

—

The sound of shoes clicking on the floor woke him up.

He kept his eyes closed.

Something was wrong.

Everything hurt.

The tail of his brown trench coat rested gently on his weirdly bent legs. 

His shoulders were gently curved in, pressed against a freezing curved wall.

He opened his eyes to reveal the glass cylinder he was trapped in. His legs pressed uncomfortable close to him in the small area he could be. 

Outside the glass was dark. A small ring of light from the tube lit up a few feet in front of him. The only thing in the light being a sterile white desk with a rolling stool sat to the right of him, empty of occupant or any signs of life. Not even papers or pens sat on top of it. 

Awkwardly he stood, checking to make sure his mask remained on his face. The silver masquerade mask clung to his face, silver droplets hanging down his face and complimenting blue scales scattered across his skin. 

He turned, noting the holes in the glass above his head. It connected to a tube that led into a large container of something. An eerie glow seeped out of the tall and narrow box of a container. 

The click of heels never stopped.

He pressed his hands on the glass, letting the cold seep into his fingertips. His voice ached from how much he had used it that night. 

Was it the same night?

How long had he been there?

He pounded his fist on it. As he suspected, nothing happened. 

He curled both hands into fists, digging his fingernails into his palms. 

Deep breath in, and out.

He let out a shriek. 

Sirens could lull you in, sing you sweet melodies that could draw you in.

But they are still monsters of the deep.

It made no dent. Instead the force the shriek brought bounced back at him, sending him flying back. 

Or at least he would have flown back if not for the glass.

A loud bang rang out, he cried out. His ear rang and something slick slid down his neck as he collapsed to the floor.

“ It’s not going to work ,” A sing-songy voice called. 

He raised a shaky hand to the back of his head. 

A deep blue stained his hands. Blood. His blood.

A woman stepped into the circle of light. Her black rimmed glasses reflected the light, giving him a glimpse of himself as he shakily stood. 

“Who are you?” He demanded. He stood tall. He was Hades, he’s a part of the fuckong Syndicate . He could rival heroes and cause total destruction, and had. 

He would not be afraid. 

In her arms she held a clipboard, she spun a crimson pen in her other hand. Both she set on the table. He caught a glimpse of the top paper, a photo was clasped in the top, a block of text next to it on the paper below.

“Oh, that seems unnecessary. We have other matters to discuss,” 

He grinned viciously. He placed his fists against the glass.

“I don’t care what you think is important. I want your name,”

She ignored him, popping down on the stool. She gave it a spin, sending her brown ponytail soaring. When she reached the desk again she started flipping through sheets of paper attached to the clipboard.

He raised his voice. “What the hell? what do you think is going to happen when the Syndicate comes knocking at your door.” 

She snorted, standing and walking closer to him. She stands right up to the glass, making eye contact with him. Not as imitating being that she was a whole foot and a half shorter than him.

“Hades, how long do you think you’ve been here?”

He looked down on her. A coldness gripping his edges. He could feel the drip of his blood falling on the tacky remains of the previous drops. 

He took inventory of his body quickly. 

His head hurt like a bitch, and his ears still rang. But those he caused. 

He was tired and sore. Holding his fists up proved to be a challenge given how much his hands and arms shook. But there was something else he couldn’t quite place.

Something else was wrong. 

“What the hell did you do to me?”

“Ah ah ah, one question at a time. Hades, how long have you been under our care?”

“A few hours. A day at most.” he answered confidently. 

She nodded. 

“You have been here for thirteen hours. But we here are a very… efficient company.”

“Company?” He leaned forward against the glass. His breathing increased… 

What was happening to him?

“Yes we are a company. A very good one in fact,” He crouched down and she got on his level. Hazel eyes never left his. 

“We are very good at getting the job done. In fact, Hades, we are all done with you,”

The ringing that slowly was quieting hid the hiss above him. He didn’t know what was happening. 

“What do you-” He felt so weak, grasping at the last of his strength. 

“You serve us no purpose anymore, well. Maybe the shriek could be useful. We thought we had everything so thank you for proving them wrong.”

His voice. 

“Who are you?”

It lacked the power it usually carried. The woman just smiled. 

“Oh you poor thing, powerless as the rest of us,” 

A pink smoke reached the edge of his vision. He flinched away from it, looking up he saw it spilling out from the hole. A thick cloud of deep pink covered the top of it, slowly creeping down towards him. 

“But I am not above giving a shred of mercy.”

He tried, really he did. 

“Stop it” 

He couldn’t keep his eyes open. 

“My name is Raye,”

“T-he syndicate will… hunt you.. d-down,” His last attempt to be threatening slipped away as did the feeling of anything. “Y-you’ll be dead once they find you,”

“Oh darling, it won't matter,”

He slipped away. 

“They will be too late,”

—

“Phil, his tracker is live,”

The car jerked.

“Where.”

“The river curve, south end.”

“On it,”

—

He liked the sounds that flooded him when he woke. 

The soft lapping of water trickling down a river. 

It was peaceful.

If only he wasn’t so cold. 

He listened to the crickets sing and the very distant sound of cars driving down the road. 

One was louder than the others, drawing nearer and nearer. 

He shivered, opening his eyes slightly. 

“Oh my,” he whispered, looking up at the sky. It was mostly dark, but the pinprick of stars mesmerized him as he spotted a few scattered around. He smiled up at them

He raised a hand towards it, waving slightly. 

Unearthly, almost translucent blue skin poked out of ripped black gloves. 

Why was he out there? He didn’t know either. 

He just was.

The bright lights were unwelcomed. 

It brought memories of pain that made him cry, even as familiar voices called out to him.

The tears burned his skin. 

Chapter Text

(Wilbur is gone)

   (I’m- I am sorry. Believe me)

      (This had to happen) 

         (I know it looks bad now but without it-)

(the future could have been a lot worse.)

   (He said I have to make you understand)

(That it would be in everyone’s best interest)

(He said I have to make You understand)

 (I do not understand)

  (Why are you here?)

    (You did not know him)

      (You haven’t even gotten the chance to know if you like him or not)

(And yet we have to make you understand?)

 (You didn’t know him)

(Why should you care what we do?)

(You don't have to live with it. You can move on)

(Why should You get to care?)

( You don't know half of it)

(You don’t know what he did or didn’t do)

(You Shouldn’t Be Here)

(Why Should I Have to Make You Understand)

( YOU -)

(Little Traveler.)

(Stop this.)

(They do not understand yet.)

(They have not built that connection to our world yet.)

(Do not blame them for this, it is not their fault.)

(I lend you this power, I let you step into my realm)

(I let you talk to them )

(And this is how you repay me?)

(The rules are simple yet you continue to toe the line)

(The power I lend can be taken away Traveler)

(...)

  (You’re right.)

    (I’m sorry)

(The pressure on you is great)

(Take a break young one)

(Give yourself, and them time)

—

It was Tommy’s night on the couch. After the first week of solitude they decided it was unfair for Ranboo to be on it for who knows how long. So every two nights they rotated. This was the second night.

Another week had crawled by since meeting Niki and them. They hadn’t heard anything from them but it wasn’t like the trio left the apartment to go talk. 

He hoped everything went ok with their emergency. 

He stared up at the dark ceiling, missing the real stars yet again. He’d have to ask Quackity about getting more glow in the dark ones, that way when he was on the couch he could still have that. 

Quackity’s visits had become short and far between. He looked tired too. Dark bags always seemed to cling under his eyes. He looked… sad. Even as he smiled, even as he joked about the smell and threw febreze at them. Even when he played a few rounds of mario kart or walked in grinning with a bag of McDonalds. His eyes always gave him away. 

Tubbo did the thing again. The thing where he would drag Quackity into the bedroom and close the door. And Ranboo and Tommy out of respect for the two would busy themselves and try not to listen.  Although when Quackity left they would ask about what happened.

Always Tubbo just said Q was stressed and worried about the Syndicate. Which, you know, is fair. 

The longer the wait lasted the more anxious Tommy got. 

But that night he wished it didn’t have to come so soon.

He was listening to Ranboo and Tubbo snoring in the other room. Trying his hardest to fall asleep.

“ Tommy,” A voice whispered. He jumped up, tripping over his blankets and falling on the floor. 

“Tommy?”

He stood and looked around. 

“Where are you?” he whispered back, his voice up an octave.

He knew that voice. 

He never thought it would say his name,”

“In the shadows mate, and I’ll stay here if you’d like,”

“I’ll scream, my roommates and my neighbors will know. The heroes will come here,” He scooted to the door to their bedroom. His eyes scanned every shadow. 

“I’m not here to hurt you Tommy,”

“You’re fucking Erebus,” he gripped the handle. “Why would I trust you,”

The shadow hummed. 

“Fair point I suppose. You open that door Tommy, and we’re going to have problems. I’m giving you an opportunity to chat. No tricks, no harm done to you or your friends. Just talking. Will you take me up on it?”

Oh yeah of course. Just a late night chat with the number one villain. Cool cool cool cool. 

His whole body shook, his wings twitched and he didn’t like that he couldn’t watch every shadow the dark room created. 

“Promise?”

“You have my word, and I don’t go back on that,”

He swallowed hard. 

“Can I turn the lights on?”

“If it would make you feel better mate, be my guest.”

He took a tiny step towards the light switch, checking that the villain was sure. He flicked it on. 

Erebus was leaning against the counter, completely unbothered. The man cocked his head. 

Tommy felt so small then. Dressed in an oversized sweater that covered his hands completely and sweatpants. Compare that to the man dressed elegantly in a deep green suit, his usual hat and veil blocking his facial features. 

“Better?” he asked. Tommy hesitantly shook his head. “Lovely,”

The man pulled up a stool and sat, patting the one next to him. Tommy remained standing by the light switch, in the middle between the bedroom door and front door. 

“What do you want?” His voice shook.

The villain sighed. “I’ll make this quick. The Syndicate- well at least before, were looking to hire someone. A double, if you will. We wanted someone who could pass as us for certain missions where a distraction was necessary.”

The man moved his hand back, undoing the little ponytail in the back. Chin length hair fell. 

“We tried it before and it didn’t work like we wanted it to. We specifically were looking for someone to be me,” he half laughed. “The others joked it was because I’m getting old,”

He sent a look over to Tommy, maybe expecting a joke or maybe even a smile. Tommy just stared back.

The joking tone went away. 

“We were looking for someone with wings close to mine. I don’t know if you’ve notice but ours are uncommon,”

“Why not have Thanatos transfer it then?”

Thanatos had a special power, not only could he copy someone’s power, he could pass it on. 

Making him very dangerous, and very powerful.  

The heroes had been trying to find a way to nerf him for a long time.

“Hybrid powers are a very delicate thing, we definitely tried to do just that. However, he can copy the fact that there is a wing, not the type of wing. When he copies my wings his are some sort of yellow bird. No, don’t ask. I have no clue why either So when we found you, it was perfect. We started planning on how to talk to you,”

Tommy swallowed hard, keeping an eye on the man’s massive sword hanging on his waist. He didn’t like that sound of their planning. 

“There’s a but, isn’t there,”

The man sighed. He curled his hands into fists on the table, black talons digging into his hands in a way that must’ve hurt. 

“Unfortunately. A few nights ago… we had a run in with the new vigilante group, im sure youve heard of them? They call themselves The Rose, although you might not know their name.” 

“They're the ones in the gray and black that you fought? It was on the news a week ago.”

“Correct, that was the night Hades went missing,”

The man went quiet.

Missing?

Sure the Syndicate had been quiet the past week, but surely it would have been mentioned in the news.. Right?

He waited for him to go on. They sat in silence for far too long.

“Hades is gone, they killed him,” 

“W-what?” No, that couldn't-  

The fuck?

“They did something to him, left him a shell. They made a ghost of him, something solid and yet not. Something so painfully him but not. ”

The man's voice shook. He turned towards Tommy. 

“They killed my boy,” and the pain in his voice. 

There were theories about the connection between all of the Syndicate. A strong bond that could be family. 

His voice turned angry. “And they’ll get away with it, they blame us for each death that we try so hard to avoid. They lure it over us. Call us monsters. And yet they support murderers,” 

He had seen the footage. He saw Hades brutally make the vigilantes kill each other. He was there in doomsday watching from cracked blinds as they led the charge on the destruction. 

These people were far from innocent. 

But you don’t say that to a grieving villain who could kill you in seconds.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” he settled on. “How do I, I’m sorry but how do I play in this?”

The man sighed. 

“We are a member down, we need a stand in.”

He already was pale and scared, so his face paling even more could be seen as concerning. 

“N-no!”

The man just sighed.

“Look man, I’m sorry you lost your kid- or friend whatever- but I can’t help you,”

“I get it, you are young but-”

“Look! I can’t be your ‘stand in’ or whatever! My whole life people have been making assumptions that I’m a villain!” Erebus stood, Tommy scooted back until he hit the wall. “I can’t make them true,” 

The villain took another step towards him.

“Tommy,”

“No! I’m sorry I wish I could help but I can’t. I- I’m not built for that kind of thing,”

“ Tommy,”

“Stop, stop saying that,” he was shaking, why was he shaking?

“Look mate, I wish I could just let you go. I do.” Step. “But we have to get him back.” Step. “We can’t let them win,”

“Find someone else,”

“We can’t, we need you. I wish there was another way,” 

Another step.

“RANBOO, TUBBO” 

He and Erebus stood at the same height, the man just a foot away. 

His voice turned in warning. 

“Tommy,”

He did the one thing he was always good at.

He kicked the man in the groin and ran. 

The man groaned and kneeled over which gave him enough time to unlock the door. 

“SHIT, TOMMY” Erebus shouted, running after him.

The elevator wouldn’t be fast enough and he was already running the wrong way to get to the stairs. Going back would be the end. 

He watched the numbers fly by

220, 216, 214..

213.

He grabbed the knob, turning it. 

Thank god . 

It opened and he slipped inside, quickly latching it and putting his weight against it. Knob jiggled. The door shook and he covered his mouth with his hand. Eyes wide and shiny with tears he stood there. 

A light flicked on in the room. 

Quackity sat on the couch, leaned over to reach the little lamp on the round table next to the couch. A new addition. 

“Quackity! Y-you gotta help me. H-he’s gonna g-get me,” Relieved, tears dripped down his face. 

Quackity stood, moving over to him quickly. Concerned, he set and arm around his shoulder guiding him away from the suddenly silent outside. 

He crouched down to look at Tommy.

“Tommy, what are you doing here?”

“Erebus was in the apartment- he wants, he wants me to help him. H-hades is dead and h-he wants me to replace him! Quackity you have to help me!”

There is only one way Tommy could describe the look that fell on Quackity. 

He brushed a hand through Tommy’s hair.

“You weren’t supposed to come here,” Pained. 

“Q-Quackity?”

“Tommy everything is going to be ok. It’s going to be hard but if anyone can do it you can,”

The hands on his arms tightened. 

“Quackity what do you-”

“Tommy, listen, you’re going to see that they mean good. I’m so sorry,”

Tommy turned his neck, a dark shadow covered the room. 

Three figures stepped out. 

He turned to Quackity wide eyed. 

“Quackity-”

“I’m sorry Tommy,” 

The lights went out. 

“Welcome to the Syndicate,” 

Chapter Text

It was late when a knocking sounded at his back door.

He knew what it was about. He knew the job was done. 

Karl opened the door to a crying Quackity. 

He let him inside, opening his arms for the man to collapse in. 

He let him scream and yell and cry his heart out. 

He comforted his friend who had lost so much in the past week. 

“ HE TRUSTED ME, HE ASKED ME TO PROTECT HIM” He yelled until his voice went ragged. 

He threw books and other loose items around Karl’s living room. 

He collapsed to his knees, pounding the ground with his fists.

“ HE WAS SO SCARED AND I DID IT,”

“You had to do it,” Attempts to comfort him were useless. 

There was more pained screaming, more shrieks of the distressed duck hybrid. Telling of his betrayal to one of the kids he swore to protect. 

Quackity curled in on himself. Small fluffy wings attempted to curl around himself. Karl quickly grabbed a soft blanket to wrap around his shoulders. He patted his back, sitting there for hours trying to calm him. 

He coaxed Quackity to sit on  the couch finally. 

“He trusted me,” He had long ago lost the ability to scream, instead the words were a broken whisper. 

“He’ll trust you again,”

“You didn’t see him, how he looked at me,”

“Quackity everything will be ok,”

“I promise,”

—

Techno sat on the floor with his back resting against the wall. 

They were at the base now, having cleaned the apartment thoroughly and disappearing. 

Good riddance he thought. Of all the places they had stayed in it definitely was the worst. It was small, smelt of mold and the showers didn’t work half the time. 

He pitied the trio who apparently had been living there for three years, and who knows how long they would have continued. 

A ball came rolling towards him. He stopped it with his foot. 

He sighed. 

“ Technooooooo ” A voice whined. “I’m bored,”

Wibur- well, Ghostbur as they had been calling him, was sprawled out on the floor. 

“Ghostbur I’m trying to think,”

“Oh! Whatchu thinkin about?” 

You. But he couldn’t say that.

He couldn’t tell this ghost that he was thinking about the real him. The Wilbur who was so much different than the person in front of him. 

They found Ghostbur at the river, crying and screaming as they pulled up. That was the first sign that something was wrong. 

The second was the scars that the tears left on skin that wasn’t right. Nothing was right, his whole body was off. Brown eyes had turned a cloudy blue like Wilbur had when using his powers, everything about him seemed to be cloudy. Everything had been dulled. 

The third was his personality. He wasn’t the menace he used to be. Or at least not in the same ways. 

His Wilbur had turned into a killer, manipulative, angry. Cunning and charming in the best and worst ways. 

And Ghostbur was just the opposite. 

He had adopted almost a childish attitude. Happy and curious. His memories were spotty so he always asked simple questions that should have been common knowledge. He had shown none of the traits Wilbur had. 

He still loved music, loved to poke fun at everyone around him but would apologize. 

It was like a new person. A person who only could remember the good memories. 

He remembered trying to fix the oven in the recent apartment. He remembered the day Techno took him ice skating at the lake. And he even remembered the boy he had adopted years ago. 

But not that the boy hated him. 

“Just stuff Gostbur,”

“Ugh, Technooooooo,”

“ Ghostburrrrr ”

“Where’s Niki?”

“Out getting groceries,”

“Where’s Phil?”

“With Niki,”

“Where’s Quackity?”

“Busy,”

“Doin what?”

“Stuff,” He hadn’t seen Quackity since that night. He knew Quackity knew something. He was taking the situation roughly according to Niki’s call with Karl. 

Karl had briefly explained the relationship between the three kids and Quackity. And ouch. It made sense why he was struggling. Everyone felt a little guilty that he ended up being the one in the end. In their defense, Tommy wasn’t supposed to go to their apartment. 

“We should do stuff,” 

Techno huffed. 

“Like what?”

“Mmmmmm,” The ghost sat up and looked around. They were in one of the living rooms, a less used one because it was the farthest from Tommy. 

Ghostbur didn’t need to know about Tommy yet. 

“We should make something!” 

He sighed, standing in case the ghost decided that was what he was going to do regardless and run. 

“Like what?”

“A cake! Like we did with Niki! With strawberries and-” he started drifting towards the door. “Oo! We should make frosting!”

He tried to think of what they had and what Niki was getting. 

“I think we’re out of berries but I’ll ask Niki to pick some up,”

“Yay! Oh! Or we could make carrot cake! You love carrots!”

“Uh huh,” He followed him out of the room, helping lead him to the kitchen. He remembered the way to the kitchen, running ahead of Techno only to double back, moving not quite right. It was too smooth. 

They made their way to the main kitchen, the automatic lights flickering on. Ghostbur covered his head as they did. A habit he had started when they returned home. 

Techno didn’t like the little habits that kept popping up. Things that made the ghost go quiet or cry for reasons he couldn't explain to Techno or Phil. 

He couldn’t remember anything from his time with the Rose. Only that the color pink is bad.

Whatever that means.

“Can we make the frosting blue?” he asked once he removed his arms. 

“Sure, whatever you want,”

“Yay!”

—

Tommy drifted in and out of consciousness for a long time. Sometimes he would hear a muffled conversation, another time someone was crying. 

A third time there was a bright light that bombarded him. Which, uncool. 

Everything felt fuzzy as he woke up what must have been the hundredth time. 

There was no bright light thank god, and no voices either. His arms were tied down with a rough something, and a quick jiggle of his legs proved the same. He opened his eyes.

Of all the places he thought he'd be, he didn’t think a small bedroom would be one. 

He was tied to a chair in the middle of the room, a small but very nice looking bed to his right. A light colored canopy covered the top of it, a light green curtain lining one of its sides. To the left a fancy looking wooden desk sat empty. 

Light came in from behind him, soft light. So either morning or evening..? Or a bad angle of the sun. 

He craned his neck but couldn’t see it. 

He tried pushing the chair with his feet, trying to jump. It rocked but didn’t move. 

Ok then. What could he do?

He was still wearing his pajamas, which had nothing in his pockets even if he could reach them.  The thick rope was tied in unfamiliar knots. He settled on trying to undo them which proved to be a challenge with their weird angle and the limited movement in his hands. 

The only mercy was the fact it was a low back chair-

Oh! It could end up bad…

Eh whatever. At least he can say he tried.

He tried flapping his wings. 

They hit the arms and the legs of the chair, which ouch. Then of course there was the weight of the chair, making him have to work twice as hard and twice as fast. So he hit the chair pretty hard. He managed maybe a few inches? Then he started going towards one side until he hit the ground. Hard. 

He groaned. 

Lovely. Now his face was pressed into the pale green carpet. Thank god it wasn’t hardwood. 

“Fuckkkkkkkkk,” He sighed. 

Awake for not even five minutes and he already got himself stuck. 

What were Ranboo and Tubbo doing? How long had he been missing? Did they call the cops? Did they tell the heroes-

Quackity. 

That motherfucker. 

He grit his teeth. 

That fucking traitor. 

“QUACKITY YOU FUCKER” he shouted. “COME TALK TO ME YOU FUCKIN COWARD” 

He pounded his head against the floor, trying to make a lot of noise. 

Was this the smartest idea? Hell no. But he was angry. And sick of being on the floor, but mostly angry. 

No one came.

“QUACKITY YOU BITCH”

“DID YOU TELL TUBBO YOU TWO FACE FUCK?”

“DID YOU TELL YOUR HERO BUDDIES THAT YOU HANG WITH VILLAIN?”

He didn’t know what the relationship between Quackity and the Syndicate was, but if Quackity would give Tommy up he would expose him to them. 

If they didn’t already know.

“YOU FUCKING SHIT FACED BASTARD”

“Call him a prick! That’ll get him,” A voice said.

He opened his eyes, staring wide eyed up at the man who had entered silently. 

“Wilbur-?”

“Oo! Oo! Pussyhole! That one will really hurt!” 

The man floated closer. He wasn’t Wilbur. Or at least not exactly. He looked like a faded version of Wilbur. Faded hair, skin and eyes. And his voice was lighter?

He held a plate of something he couldn't see from the floor.

“What the fuck?”

“Oh was that too mean? Who are we cursing again?”

“Who are you?”

“Oh! I’m Ghostbur!” He waved, coming closer.

“Like, the ghost of.. Wilbur?”

“Yeah! Here, have some blue!”

He set the plate on the floor next to him. A cake of some sort covered messily with blue frosting stared at him. 

The fuck?

“Ok go back, you’re a ghost?”

“Mhm!”

Erebus had said Hades was dead. 

And Wilbur has a ghost. 

You’ve got to be fucking kidding.

“And was Wilbur… Hades?”

“Mhm!” the ghost smiled at him.

“So that would make Dave Thanatos and Phil Erebus, right?”

“Dave? I don’t know a dave, Techno is Thanatos,” Ghostbur laid down on the floor next to him. 

So he did lie about his name. 

He ran over what he knew quickly.

The new neighbors were the syndicate, Niki must be someone. Persephone maybe? Quackity is a traitor working for the Syndicate, Hades is actually dead… and his ghost is talkative.

“Ghostbur, could you untie me?”

“Sure! I don’t know how to though, I’ll go get Tech to untie you!”

He got up.

Panic. “Wait! Wait, Ghostbur don’t do that.”

“Don’t worry! I’ll be quick!” he vanished through the door. 

“fuck shit” he hit his head on the ground. 

During Doomsday he had pictured his death many times. Every time he had to go out for supplies he ran through many probabilities and ways that he could be killed. 

After Doomsday Tubbo made him go to therapy where he learned how to not do that.

But he felt himself fall back into that habit as he waited and waited for Thanatos to come through the door. 

There was talking outside the door. He braced himself.

Ghostber floated through the door again.

“Tech is sleeping but I found Phil!”

The door opened. 

The anger returned with full force. 

There stood Phil, the man he joked with and helped make dinner, what was it? A week ago? Probably more now. 

He wore a plain black shirt and jeans, dark wings out behind him. Those fucking wings. 

He looked almost sorry as he saw Tommy’s position. 

“Hey mate,”

Tommy glared at him. 

He threw his hands up in surrender. 

“Fair, I deserve that. Want some help?”

He hesitantly nodded. 

Erebus approached slowly, keeping his hands in view. He leaned down and picked Tommy up like he weighed nothing. He set him down back up right. 

He sighed at the plate of cake.

“Really ghostbur?”

“Techno didn’t say I couldn’t bring him some,”

“He didn’t know you knew he was here,” He set the plate on Tommy’s lap. 

“If you promise you won't try anything I’ll untie your hands,” 

Oh he wanted to try more than something. He wanted Erebus to lean a little closer so he could grab his neck. 

But his hands really hurt. 

“Fine.” he huffs. 

With one tug the knot came undone. Tommy stared at it dumbfounded. 

Erebus grinned at him. “It’s a great knot to know, I’ll teach you sometime.” 

“You’ll teach me nothing, bitch.”

“Tommy-”

“No!” He grabbed the little fork on the side of the plate and stabbed a piece of cake. “You can’t just expect me to be ok with this. That’s fucked, you’re fucked,”

“Could you just give us a chance? Please?”

He almost choked on his cake. 

“A chance! Oh of course Phil if that is even your real name,” 

“It is!” Ghostbur chimed. Oh right, he’d forgotten about him. 

Apparently so did Erebus.

“Ghostbur, would you leave us alone for a bit, mate? I kinda left Niki to deal with groceries and I bet she’d appreciate some help,”

“Ok! Bye Tommy!”

“Ghostbur don’t go-” he tried but he already left. Tommy groaned. “Great,”

Erebus sat on the edge of the bed,

“Mate I'm not going to do anything,”

He snorted. “Yeah right, why should I believe you? I couldn’t last time.”

“Tommy, we can explain,”

“Oh yeah of course you can. You think that you can tell me another sob story about your friend dying and being monsters, and then feel justified to kidnap me and try to turn me into mini versions of all of you. Well guess what? I don’t want to be a fuckin Erebus 2.0 or Thanatos 2.0 or a step in for the dude who got himself killed. I don’t care that he’s dead. That’s one less fuckin monster in the world,”

The room had gotten cold while he spoke. The shadows darkened. 

And Erebus just stared at him with dark eyes. Waiting for him to be done. Dark shadows crawled up the man's arms and filled his eyes. 

“You watch your fucking mouth about Wilbur,”

“Why? He killed hundreds of people, traumatized a whole generation, made people with friends and families turn on each other. And you expect me to want to be a part of that? You’re delusional,”

This wouldn't end well for him. He knew it. 

He stopped caring. 

“You call the heroes monsters but you fucking work with one. Did Quackity tell you that while betraying us? Did he mention that?”

“We have always been aware of Quackity’s situation,” 

“And he’s ok with you calling his friends monsters? He must be if he’s friends with you monsters. Must be no different huh?”

Erebus stood. 

“We’re done here. We will talk later,” He took the plate with half the cake still left on it. He set it on the desk. With ease he redid the knot. When his fingers brushed over Tommy’s skin he shivered. 

“You all are cowards and monsters. I’d never help you,” 

He stepped back, shadows disappearing from his eyes. Blue eyes stared at him. 

“Tommy, I don’t blame you for thinking like that. You are young and naive. I hope we can come together but I understand it will take time.”

He turned to leave. 

“Unfortunately I don’t know how much we have,”

Chapter Text

Quackity didn’t answer their calls. 

47 missed calls, over 20 unread texts and 4 facetimes. 

So Tubbo was a little angry. 

He paced back and forth across the room. The boxes that had been covering the windows were discarded on the floor, the lights were turned on and the tv had its volume up for the first time in weeks. 

Ranboo was sitting on the couch trying to call the hero help line after reporting Tommy as missing.

The sun had started to set, marking the end of day three. Three days since they had woken up to Tommy gone, their front door wide open. 

Niki and them had left. He had gone to see if they had heard anything and found the door to be unlocked. Inside it was as if there never was anyone there. 

Ranboo straightened.

“Hello?” 

He waited. The murmur of voices on the phone caused Tubbo to stop and look at him.

“Yes hi, uh..”

“Ask them about Ace,”

“I need to talk to Ace, it’s very important,”

More talking. 

“Ranboo Beloved, please I need to talk to him,”

He watched Ranboo’s face fall. 

“What? Are you sure?”

“But-”

He moved the phone. The call ended. 

“What did they say?”

“He quit,”

It had to be a joke. 

“That's not funny Ranboo!”

“You see me laughing? He quit ,”

No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no

—

God. He was so fuckin bored. 

Eventually Erebus came again and untied him from the chair. Letting him have free range of the room but the door stayed locked. He spent what felt like hours pacing around the little room. 

Once he reached lap 70 he flopped onto the way too soft bed. 

Not that he was complaining about the bed. Of all the places to be held in it could be worse. 

Erebus hardly talked to him, and he hadn't even seen the rest of the Syndicate yet. 

The only person who came by was Ghostbur. 

And you know, he was kind of growing on Tommy. 

He figured Ghostbur was by the most because he didn’t need to unlock the door to get it. The only times he did was when he brought Tommy meals. They must have some sort of cook because the meals were amazing. Even just a grilled cheese was probably the best grilled cheese he had ever had. (and Ranboo could make some good ones)

Ghostbur would lay on the bed or on the floor and talk to him while he ate. He learned a lot about the ghost that way. 

He had a spotty memory, he loves the color blue, he was trying to convince techno to buy him this sheep stuffed animal (because sheep are adorable), he hates anteaters and pink but not because it’s a girls color. He assured Tommy that colors do not have gender and then spent twenty minutes talking about the history of colors. 

It all was stupid but he looked forward to seeing Ghostbur. Even though he hated being trapped and hated who his alive version was. He hated knowing that somewhere out the door were people who wanted to use him. 

But Ghostbur didn’t want to use him. He didn’t want to hurt Tommy. 

He kept trying to let Tommy out which had resulted in Thanatos to come sit in the room while Ghostbur was there. But thankfully that was only for one or two visits. 

It had been something like four days now? Maybe?

He would take naps during the day and wake up not knowing what time or day it was. He stopped taking naps after he apparently slept through a whole day without noticing. 

He was laying on the floor when the door opened. Ghostbur held a plate and a guitar in his hands. From his spot he could see Techno close the door, key in hand. They both ignored each other

“Tommy!”

“Hi Ghostbur,” 

He sat crisscrossed next to Tommy, playing the plate by his head. It smelled great but he waited to eat it. 

He’d been less and less hungry while here, the lack of doing things was finally catching up to him. 

Ghostbur started plucking strings, tuning it with a little device at the top. 

A particularly loud and out of tune one sent him wincing.

“ Why? ”

“Cause I want to play you something! Change it up a little,”

“Couldn’t you have tuned before coming in here?”

“But this is more fun!” He plucked another string causing Tommy to wince. 

Tommy groaned and rolled away from him. He put his hands over his ears. 

An eternity of terrible sounds later, a soft strum filled the room. And then another, and another. 

He removed his hands, not that they had done much, and turned back to Ghostbur. 

A soft smile was on his face as he strummed. Swaying his head with each chord. 

It took a few times of repeating for Tommy to recognize the melody. It was the one Wilbur had been playing when they first met him. 

“What’s it called?” He asked quietly. 

Ghostbur kept playing, his eyes were closed. 

“Ghostbur what’s this song called?”

He hummed, “I can’t remember,” 

“You’ve played it before, it was the song you played when I met you,”

“At the apartment?”

“Yeah,” 

He stopped playing. Looking down at the guitar his eyebrows scrunched together. 

“I don’t- I can’t…?”

He let out a frustrated sigh. 

“Why can’t I remember Tommy?”

He looked up. 

Why did it break Tommy’s heart?

He looked so lost. 

“This is a good one, why can’t I remember?”

“A good one? What do you mean a good one?”

“A good memory, most of the time I can only remember the good memories. That’s what Phil said,” his voice got smaller. “Phil said I was happy meeting you the first time,”

A tear slipped out, burning the ghost’s skin.

“Oh Ghostbur! No- hey! It’s ok, don’t cry,”

“Tommy, why can’t I remember?”

—

Tubbo stood in the closet, leafing through clothes hanging up. On the bed behind him he had thrown one of Ranboo’s extra masks, black gloves and a pair of dark green pants. 

Ranboo himself stood nervously in the other room. IT was his turn to pace. Everytime he neared the bedroom door he let out a warble. Tubbo ignored it.

“Boo what color scheme do you want?”

He sighed. 

Honestly he knew it would be better if he just told him instead of having Tubbo pick out some random color.

“Purple and black,”

He picked out the dark purple sweater that was Tommy’s and threw it onto the pile. Then a pair of black cargo pants that were Ranboo’s. To combat the shorter length of Tommy’s jacket, Tubbo also grabbed a thin black undershirt for him.

“Grab some sort of sunglasses please,”

“Then I won't be able to see anything?”

“Your eyes are beautiful and memorable. Glasses.”

He sighed. 

“This is a dumb idea,”

“If we find trouble you can teleport us out of there,” 

Their plan was shotty at best but they had to do something. Five days was too many, and Quackity was nowhere to be found. The police said they would update the two if they found anything about Tommy, but it had been too quiet. They had put up flyers everywhere with his face on it, only to find them gone the next day. They only remained in Sam’s shop where Tommy had worked. Whether it was because they didn’t bother, or Sam had made more copies and kept putting them up. The latter was most likely.  

Tubbo had thought of the idea roughly the second day, but didn’t voice it until now when he started losing hope that somehow Tommy would turn up again. 

They were going to go out like vigilantes and try to find someone who could help. Whether that be another vigilante or a Syndicate member who would be willing to have a conversation. But of course the thought of trying to Talk to a Syndicate member caused both of them to feel nauseous. The chances of someone trying to fight them were high, but Ranboo could teleport and Tubbo had been working on some weapons for both of them. It would be fine. They both knew the basics of fighting and hopefully they wouldn’t have to use it. 

Ranboo came in with a pair of black sunglasses in hand. Tubbo scooped up his own outfit and left Ranboo to change into his. 

For himself Tubbo had grabbed dark green pants, a black turtleneck and a thick brown bomber jacket he had found years ago. He put on the spare black mask and ran a hand through his hair. He pulled on a black hat to cover the little horns that had started getting bigger. Soon he wouldn’t be able to cover them anymore but that was a future Tubbo problem. 

He looked at himself in the bathroom mirror. It was weird seeing himself like that. But also kind of cool. They were really doing this! They were going to act like vigilantes. 

They were going to get their friend back, or die trying.

Something about his fit was missing. Something he knew he wanted to add to include Tommy somehow. He squinted at his reflection for a moment before letting out a little gasp. 

He knocked on the bedroom door. 

“Ranbooooooo hurry up ,” 

He heard a sigh. 

The door opened and there stood Ranboo in his getup. They looked cool for basic clothing.

“Hey sexy,”

He moved past him. Ranboo spluttered behind him. 

“T-Tubbo! You can’t say that!”

Tubbo just grinned. 

Under the bed sat a few plastic containers of junk. Crap that they still liked but didn’t have an everyday use for. Now, next to those boxes was a little shoebox. Now that was not junk nor crap. He pulled it out. Pictures of the three of them were taped on top of the box in blue painter’s tape. And inside was filled with little things, pictures, nicknacks, you name it. Little things they had collected over the years, going so far back to when it was just Tommy and Tubbo. And during that time when it was just the two of them, Tommy had gotten something for Tubbo, the first thing he ever gave him actually. 

A little bee pin. 

Originally there were two pins, one that Tommy wore and the one for Tubbo. Tommy’s had broken and got lost a few years after he gave them. When he was so crushed Tubbo decided to put it in the box so they could share it and wear it whenever they wanted. 

Now Tubbo clasped it onto his jacket.

He rushed back to the mirror, dodging Ranboo who had moved onto grabbing gadgets from the counter. 

Looking himself over once more he knew it was perfect. 

They started looking on the south side. Tubbo kept his phone in hand, he flipped between news channels for any sightings of anyone. But he knew not all sightings made it there. Hell, Quackity had gone out as Caerus multiple times and Tubbo heard nothing about it on the news. So he didn’t lose hope when he didn’t hear anything. 

He and Ranboo didn’t talk much as they moved. As promised Tubbo stayed within arms reach so Ranboo could grab and teleport instantly. 

They made their way to an active area. A section where vigilantes were commonly spotted. South side was less patrolled making it popular for mugging and petty crime. It wasn’t the greatest spot to find a Syndicate member but they had been spotted there before. The two had agreed that they would see if they could find a vigilante that would help, and if someone from the Syndicate was there hey, two birds one stone. But the Syndicate wasn’t on their list tonight. 

They traveled by rooftop to avoid suspicion from people still out walking. The sun had set a few hours ago, and the warmth it brought had disappeared. Tubbo grabbed the edge of his jacket as a gust of wind brushed against him. 

“We can still go back,” Ranboo offered quietly. But Ranboo sounded unsure. He hadn’t liked the idea but he had agreed it was a start. 

“No, it’s fine,”

A little wind wouldn’t kill him. He zipped up the jacket.

They reached the end of another roof, this time the gap was too big. Ranboo grabbed his hand and teleported both of them to the next roof. 

It took Tubbo a moment to shake off the feeling of nausea it always brought. He closed his eyes but Ranboo hit his chest.

“Nice trick!” A voice called, causing both of them to tense. 

A man approached them, dressed in teal and orange. Orange sunglasses covered his eyes and the top half of his face. A wide smile was shown on the open half. 

“Who are you two?” He called again. He stopped his approach on the other end of the roof. The two exchanged a look. 

“I’m Stinger,”

“Ender,”

The vigilante’s absurd getup made him well known. So Tubbo nodded as he spoke his name.

“Nice! I’m Hawkeye, what are your intentions?”

 “We- well, it’s complicated.”

The smile faded, his hand drifted down to the orange belt with his logo on its buckle.

“Not like that! We are new vigilantes.. But we are mostly looking for help. Like we want to help people, but also becoming vigilantes helps us be able to talk to people, uh, more powerful that can help us out?” 

The man tilted his head a little. 

“You know you don’t need to be a vigilante to get help, right?”

“Well yeah, but there are some other people who aren’t as nice to civilians just coming up to them…”

Should he tell him that they intend to talk to the Syndicate? Maybe not.

“Uh huh, alright. What do you need help with?”

Why did this feel so hard all of a sudden? 

“Our friend- Best friend got taken. We need help getting him back,”

The vigilante stood there. 

Ranboo pressed closer to Tubbo in support. Which he really appreciated because suddenly he felt a lot less confident. 

It felt like an eternity before the vigilante lit up with a smile once again.

“My partners are on the way. Once they come we can get this all figured out, ok?” 

They nodded.

—

The meltdown had led to Thanatos coming in to get Ghostbur. He frowned at Tommy as he helped Ghostbur out. Confused and concerned he got up to stand by the window. He had already tried opening and breaking it. It was strong glass, he wouldn’t be surprised if it was bulletproof. And locked with no way he could find of unlocking it. But that wasn’t why he went there. All he could see was a little fenced-in backyard. He could see over it but it provided no clues on where he was. Just more houses. 

Tonight someone was out in the yard. 

It was Erebus all alone. He sat along one of the edges of the white fence, picking at grass. Tommy watched him for a little while, watched the way his wings swayed with the light wind. He wasn’t in his getup. No one bothered to wear a mask when they came in. It didn’t matter. Tommy already knew their faces. 

After a while the man’s wings drooped, his shoulders shaking. 

What was he doing?

What was Tommy doing? Watching his captor have a private moment obviously not meant for others to watch. 

The man’s chest went down, leaning on his knees almost in prayer. The shaking didn’t stop. 

Phil pulled his hair. A muffled sound came from outside. 

He felt his instincts come alive for the first time since he’d been there. 

A light spilled into the yard, a door opening. A pink head stepped out. 

Techno gently moved over to Phil. The man stood and turned to face him. As Tommy thought, tears ran down his face. He cut the distance between them, launching into Techno’s arms. 

Tommy finally turned away from the window. He couldn’t watch anymore. Shouldn’t watch anymore.

It’s an act, It’s an act, It’s an act.

So why did his heart hurt?

—

They decided to sit on the rooftop, waiting where Hawkeye told them to. The man himself was back on the ground, stopping thieves and walking a lady home. He had denied the two of helping when they asked. Claiming that he had it handled. 

Ranboo knew it was because of one: lack of trust, two: he knew that the two were inexperienced. Which was fair. He made Tubbo sit with him on the roof. He kicked gravel and sent it skidding across the roof.

“What if they don’t want to help us?”

“We go to Plan B,”

Find Quackity was Plan B, finding another syndicate member was Plan C. 

They might have to skip Plan B, if Quackity quit being a hero there was a chance he was taking a break from being a villain too. 

Ranboo was mad at Quackity. Obviously because of everything, but also because he didn’t trust them. Tubbo confessed when Tommy went missing that he knew Quackity was Caerus. Which made Ranboo angry at Tubbo for not telling him sooner. He assumed Tubbo found out by mistake but still. He was supposed to be able to trust him and Tommy. 

The secret talks made a lot more sense. 

Ranboo had wanted to give them privacy, he thought Quackity was just stressed. Quackity was by far the closest with Tubbo so it made sense that he would confide in him. But something that big should have been told to him and Tommy. 

Footsteps startled him out of his thoughts. He was thankful, feeling the spiral start to stop. 

“Ender? Stinger?” A new voice asked. They stood quickly turning to greet the new people.

He forgot how different vigilante’s dressed. 

Unlike Hawkeye, the two wore more muted colors. 

To the right stood a man fully dressed in a classy suit. Black and white with a maroon tie. A black mask with silver designs covered the top half of his face. A large mustache hid his mouth from their view. 

To the left stood a parrot hybrid. Bright wings with red yellow and blue feathers standing out against his dark maroon armor. A simple black mask like their own and black goggles covered his face. 

They seemed much more serious than their bright colored counterpart. 

Speak of the devil, a grapple latched onto the edge of the building to the side of the vigilantes. Very soon after Hawkeye arrived, his smile even brighter than before. 

The parrot vigilante stepped forward, offering his hand to Tubbo first.

“I’m Red, nice to meet you,” Tubbo stared at the hand. 

According to the news Red had no powers. But in the game of heroes and villains of course there were powers that people decide to keep hidden. 

There were many powers that took effect with touch. Thanatos for example, one direct contact and he could copy your power for a period of time. 

Offering his hand was dangerous on a few levels, for both parties.

Red doesn’t know if Tubbo has a contact based power. And Tubbo doesn’t know if Red does. 

Something so harmless in other places but in this world the action came with a heavier implication.

This is a test. 

Tubbo shook his hand. 

Red turned to Ranboo. Offering his hand once again. 

Ranboo tilted his head. Looking at the man.

This is a test.

He shook his hand. 

Re stepped back.

“I’m Circuit,” the other man said. He remained in his spot but offered a little wave. 

“Nice to meet you,” 

Red met Hawkeye’s eye and nodded.

Hawkeye clapped. “Alright, so, I told them you need our help finding your friend. What do you know?”

Ranboo was right. It was a test. But apparently they had passed.

Hawkeye sat down on the roof. Red snorted at the action but sat as well. Well, he perched, simply bending his knees. Circuit looked at them.

“Absolutely not, do you know how much this suit costs?”

“I didn’t say anything,”

Red shook his head. “Focus,” he looked at the two of them, “Go ahead,”

Tubbo and Ranboo exchanged a look. Ranboo nodded to him. 

“Ok, uh, well…”Rip the bandage off.  “Fuck it. Our friend got taken by the Syndicate,” 

And the reaction to that was as expected. 

The joking mood dropped. Hawkeye lost his encouraging smile he had offered when Tubbo struggled. Circuit stared wide eyed. Red however just tilted his head like a bird.

“I’m sorry, what?” Hawkeye choked out. “Come again?”

“Our friend, his name is Tommy. He got taken by the Syndicate less than a week ago,”

“Why on earth would they do that?” Circuit asked.

It was Ranboo’s turn to talk. 

“Tommy has the same wing type as Erebus, we aren’t one hundred percent sure why they were after him but we were hiding in our apartment for what was it, three weeks? Before they took him. Tommy had run into Thanatos before then which is why we started to hide,”

“And you’re sure they got him?”

Tubbo nodded.

“Positive bossman. We have a- had a friend who was a hero, and a part of the Syndicate. He was living a double life. He knew the Syndicate was after Tommy and-” Ranboo heard the anger brewing in his voice. “And he said he would protect us. But Since Tommy’s been gone he quit being a hero and wont respond to our calls. He disappeared,” 

“Wait hold on,” Circuit walked closer. His voice had jumped up. “You knew a member of the Syndicate? And didn’t tell the authorities?” 

“ He was the authorities,” 

“And our friend,” Ranboo cut in. “Me and Tommy didn’t know, I didn’t know until after Tommy was gone,”

“I thought I could trust him, he wasn’t a huge part of the Syndicate, on the more calm side.”

“And who is he?”

“Caerus,”

Red stood.

“He’s hardly even a part of the Syndicate. He’s barely ever there,”

“He’s still a part of the deadliest group of villains, Red,” his voice went up again, honestly it was impressive.

“Yeah yeah,” he waved a hand. Turning to Tubbo, “We can help you find Tommy but it’s not going to be easy,”

A sigh of relief escaped both of them.

“We understand,”

“Hawkeye said you want to be vigilantes?”

“Yeah, we want to help people.”

“Hawkeye, Circuit, circle.” He waved his arms. Hawkeye popped up and went to the other two. They huddled together and started talking in low voices.  

Ranboo hugged Tubbo, feeling him shaking slightly. Tubbo headbutted him. 

Ranboo had a feeling Tubbo would fall into his instincts when they got home. Something he had been fighting since Tommy left. 

Ranboo looked up at the few handful of stars. Praying to a god he didn’t believe in.

The three turned to face them again. 

“We will help find Tommy,” Red told them.

The media always made Hawkeye seem like the leader, with the bright colors and charming attitude. And he always seemed to embrace that role. But apparently Red was the real boss of the trio.  

“We also want you to learn either under us or a friend on how to be vigilantes,”

“Really? That’s awesome!” Tubbo smiled.

Circuit stepped forward towards Ranboo, a little device in hand.

“This is a communicator, we’ll message you if we find anything. If you find anything let us know,” Ranboo nodded, tucking it into his pocket. 

“We will start looking, but tonight you two should go home. Rest up. Someone will be in touch with you tomorrow to start your training,” 

“Thank you,” Tubbo said. 

“Of course, it’s what heroes do!” and with that Hawkeye and Circuit took off back where they had come from. Causing Red to chuckle. He remained in his spot. 

Ranboo grabbed Tubbo, about to teleport but was stopped.

“Stinger, Ender,”

Red took off his goggles. His hair created shadows covering his eyes. 

“Yeah?”

The man sighed.

“I know you are trustworthy. I know you want to help people and find your friend along the way. I know you have good intentions but I have to ask you,” 

He took a step back.

“Are you sure he wants to be saved?”

There was something in his voice, something other.

“What the hell? What kind of question is that? Of course he wants to be saved,”

The vigilante stood in silence.

The world held its breath.

Do you hold your breath?

The vigilante nodded. 

“Ok. We will do what we can of course.”

“Goodnight boys. Be safe,”

He walked to join his partners who had stopped once they realized he wasn’t following. 

—

He let Ghostbur preen his wings. They had itched like the devil since he saw Phil. The ghost was more than happy to help him, mentioning his experience with Phil’s wings and sometimes Techno’s. 

Ghostbur didn’t talk about his meltdown. He didn’t talk about the song although he did hum a different tune. One he did know the name of. So they talked about music a little bit. Mirroring the conversation they had had in the apartment when they had first met. Of course, Tommy didn’t mention that bit.

He sat at the edge of the bed while Ghostbur worked behind him. His hands were cold but quick making the experience pretty pleasant. 

When they had exhausted the talk of music they sat in silence. 

Tommy’s thoughts went spiraling. Mostly about that night and the meltdown. 

Sure Ghostbur was Hades, but Hades was a person. Which was obvious with his meeting of Wilbur and Ghostbur. Wilbur was charming and a little weird. Ghostbur was silly and very weird but in a childish way. And they were close to Phil and Techno and Niki, and apparently Quackity. Who knows who else they were close with. He was loved and cared about. 

And he was killed unjustly. 

“Ghostbur,”

“Hm?”

“Do you-” was this a bad idea? “What do you feel as a ghost?” yeah probably.

“I feel- hm,” he kept working. Tommy let them sit in silence again. 

It was a stupid question. Why was he asking? It would just end in making Ghostbur upset-

“Nothing… everything,” his voice shook slightly.

“You don’t have to-”

“No, no it’s ok. I feel cold. Empty. Like i’m missing pieces of my soul,”

His hands stopped. 

“I’m still me… but I’m not. I’m not real anymore. Just a wisp,”

Ghostbur sounded older. There was sorrow in his voice. A soft hissing sent Tommy turning towards him.

As expected more scars were forming. Ghostbur smiled sadly.

“Do you know what it’s like to be empty?”

“No, I don’t,” he whispered.

“It’s not nice,”

He pulled Ghostbur into a hug. 

Something changed in his mind. A little voice he had been trying to push down since that night.

“Tommy?”

“Yeah?”

“I don’t want to be a ghost anymore,”

“I want you to bring me back,”

And god damn. He felt everything break.

“I’ll try, I’m gonna try for you,”

And it didn’t feel wrong to agree to help Ghostbur. Not like this. 

When Ghostbur dried his tears and finished preening his wings, they sat and talked for a little while longer. As the light outside dimmed yet again, a knock came on the door.

“Ghostbur? Come on mate,”

“Coming Phil!” Ghostbur jumped off the bed. Tommy sighed.

“Hey Ghostbur wait,” this time he stopped to turn back.

“Ask Phil to come in, would you? I’ve got to talk to him.”

Chapter Text

The clock on the wall ticked and tocked. 

He spun in his chair, clicking through youtube videos and wishing the day could be over. Non patrol days were so boring. The young hero was not assigned as many hours as the older, more skilled ones. Leaving him with mountains of paperwork to do for them while they are out. Which honestly wasn’t that much. 

Sapnap had posted a video of himself flipping off a building. He often kept the group chat full of pictures and videos making him jealous of the older hero. He clicked off the photo of the “Dream Team” eating burritos on top of the bridge. Honestly the nerve of some people. Showing off their fun when they were supposed to be working. The amount of crime that had to have been ignored disgusted him. 

But what can you do? 

When the top heroes didn’t really care, and Schlatt wouldn't reprimand them there's nothing to do. 

You just do your damn best to make up for them. 

Which he did, he really did his best to be the hero he thought they were. He had the support of the other heroes who were good and wanted to help. Together they protected the people that the Dream Team ignored. Although honestly he couldn’t do much. Not many took him seriously yet, but they would.

tick tock tick tock

He spun to look out the large window going from floor to ceiling in his office. High up in the air but only able to see the building across the street. While others could see rooftops and the skyline, he was stuck looking at the silver building or if he was feeling fancy, the road. Watching a rainbow of cars pass by all day. People dressed in business attire coming in and out of the building or into the ones nearby. The occasional hero entering would stick out like a sore thumb against the dull colored people. Some more than others with their bright colors and swishy capes. 

His orange tail swayed behind him while he spun, causing him to have to move his chair back to avoid hitting it on the desk. 

tick tock tick tock

He flipped through the stack of papers soon to be carted off to Schlatt. He double checked some of the numbers and corrected a few miscounts. This meant he had to go through every paper again to make sure they were all correct. His headache grew as he tried to focus. He blasted music while he worked, sending a wave whenever someone passed the glass door. Some would complain about his poor taste in music, to which he would jokingly send a middle finger. 

Tick tock tick tock

At two o’clock on the dot someone in the casual hero uniform of a gray collared shirt and tan slacks grabbed the papers from his desk. They offered some useless chitter chatter that he couldn’t recall later. He sighed as they left to deliver the papers. A small blessing to be rid of the headache of paperwork that probably wasn’t 100% correct but whatever. Someone else would read over it again anyways. Might as well give them something to do.

Blissfully the clock had picked up speed.

Just two more hours. 

What should I get for food?

I should stop by the store to pick up some stuff. 

He let his thoughts drift to whatever.

Tick Tock.

At four forty a knock came on his door. Knocking on his door was a bit of a joke at this point. You know, with it being see-through and all. He could obviously see Eret standing on the other side. A half smile on their face. They waited patiently at the door, staring at him through black sunglasses. 

“Enter,” he drawled, spinning once more. 

“Fundy,” they greeted. 

“Eret, what can I do for you? It’s almost quittin time man,” 

They huffed in agreement. They pulled an envelope from their basic uniform, for once out of costume. The paper was crips white with his name scrawled elegantly on the front. Eret passed it to him, something of a pitying look on his face. One that Fundy had seen given to others but never to himself.

His smile fell.

“What's this?”

Their smile faded to a grimace “Quackity wanted me to give it to you,”

This caused Fundy to snort. He snatched it from their gloved hand.

“Can’t be bothered to come here himself anymore?”

Their relationship had been spotty once he finally separated himself from Wil. Quackity who had once come in every few days to check on him now was never to be seen even close to Fundy’s area. Even going as far as finding a different route so he didn’t ever have to walk past him.

He tried not to be hurt by it.

He had made his choice.

It wasn’t Fundy’s fault. It wasn’t Quackity’s fault.

It was Wilbur’s.

It was always fucking Wilbur’s.

Eret just stared, confused.

“Did no one tell you?”

“Apparently not?” He tried to think of anything that could be important. Nothing in the last few hours. He shrugged.

They drew their eyebrows together, looking him over as if waiting for him to laugh and assure him it was a joke. The wait felt like an eternity but really, he wished it would have lasted longer. Anything to keep the words out of Eret’s mouth.

“Fundy, Quackity quit,”

The note slipped out of his hand.

—

Phil stared at him. 

You know, honestly Tommy thought he would be more excited. Grinning, nodding his head waiting for Tommy to be done. Something, anything. 

Instead the man sat patiently on the desk chair. His hand holding his chin as he watched Tommy.

He finished talking, waiting for him to speak up.

“So, you want to help us? Is that right?”

He glared at the man.

“I’ll help you bring back Ghostbur.”

Phil hummed.

“And you’re aware that he’s one of us, mate?”

“Unfortunately,”

There wasn't excitement in his voice, he wasn’t happy about what Tommy said. Just curious. 

Fuckin’ weird.

“But you still want to?”

“You gonna make me say it again dickhead? Yes.  Want me to say it in French? Oui,”

The man sighed. “You are a strange child,”

“Oi, I’m not a child. Do you want my help or not? ‘Cause you seem like you don’t care,”

Phil spread his hands out in the air, silencing him.

“I’m very happy you want to help mate. I’m just making sure you actually want to. You’ve got no reason to,”

Which was true. Why did he want to? This wasn’t his fight. This wasn't his problem.

He could go home right now and act like this never happened. He didn’t have to take that step towards being the villain like they always claimed he was.

But they would still call him one anyway. No matter what he did.

Why not save someone? 

Even if that someone used to be a villain. 

“No one deserves what happened to Ghostbur, if I can help I want to do it,”

Phil tilted his head. Tommy followed suit, instantly turning back. 

He ignored the screaming in the back of his head.

He wasn’t doing this because of the other hybrid. He wasn’t doing this to stay by Phil. 

But he missed Quackity- he missed Tubbo and Ranboo. He found his instincts trying to reach out for someth- No. Nu uh.

No he didn’t miss Quackity. He was angry with Quackity. 

He shook his head.

“But I want Tubbo and Ranboo, I want to see them,”

Phil hummed thoughtfully.

“I’m not sure about that, we will have to see. I’m sure we could figure something out,”

That's all he needed. Just to see them, be near them for a little bit. Then he’d be fine.

“Then I’ll help you,”

Phil smiled.

“Well that makes all of this a whole lot easier,” He tried not to shiver.

The man had fangs. Little teeth sharper than the rest. A sign of a hybrid.  He didn’t know how he never noticed them before. 

Honestly they should have known when they entered their apartment that these people weren’t all they seemed. Tommy himself had been hiding his wings when they met, but it never crossed his mind that other avions could do the same.

Hell, Techno literally showed all his hybrid features, the same as Thanatos. And Wilbur’s music had a certain magic to it. Which would make sense for the siren.

The only odd ball was Niki. Niki who had to be Persephone because of the people around her and her pink hair. But it didn’t make sense.

Persephone’s thing was fire, and Niki burned herself the first time they met. Persephone had been set on fire before in fights, like when she fought with Blaze. Both of them were fireproof. Exiting the flames with charred clothes but no burns to be found. So why would Niki get burned from something as small as a hot pan?

Persephone hadn’t been reported on the news in weeks. The group of four uncompleted, a fact that had been mentioned off handedly when reports came in. In fact he hadn’t seen her during his time locked up. 

Was something else going on here?

And as Phil stood to leave he couldn’t help but ask.

“What happened to Persephone?”

Phil froze, his wings twitched in every direction. 

Being an avion could be great.

Unless you lose control of your wings when not in use. Especially if you want to keep your feelings to yourself, not the greatest thing.

So something was going on.

“We will discuss this with everyone. There is a lot to fill you in on Tommy,”

The man kept his face turned away from him.

He sighed.

“We have a lot to do Tommy,”

He grabbed the door handle, the tips of his fingers black, bleeding into talons. 

He opened the door and stepped to the side, gesturing for him to follow. 

Once again he smiled. It felt more real, warm. The kind of smile that made his eyes crinkle in the corner. 

Tommy took a step forward. Feeling like he sealed his fate once again.

This was his choice. And he’d continue to remind himself in the days to come.

This was for Ghostbur, to help someone who needed him. He would not let himself turn into one of them. He was better than that.

He followed Phil into the hall. The man closed it and looked him in the eye. 

He would not turn into him. He would stay Tommy.

Phil grinned.

“Welcome to the Syndicate Tommy,”

Chapter Text

“Focus kid,” Thanatos called before chucking more fireballs his way.

If you told Tommy two months ago that he would be attacked, or supposedly trained by Thanatos, he’d have laughed. 

He’s not laughing anymore.

He was tired. So very tired. The past five days the man had dragged him out of bed at ungodly times in the morning (never the same time twice) and trained him. It started off with memory games. Little pictures and icons on squares of cardboard set out in five by five rows. Then another time he had to take things out of a suitcase and put them back in the same exact way. This he struggled with. Often Thanatos would call him on something rotated even slightly.

“If it’s not just how they left it they’ll know. That’ll tip them off. We don’t want that.”

It infuriated him. 

Then they played with dice. Thanatos would roll five dice, and they would have to count them as quickly as they could. The trick was only fives and threes were counted. But there was a catch. The middle dot didn’t count anymore, so instead of five and three it was four and two. Which took him a few rounds to remember but he eventually caught on.

Tommy liked this one. Sure he couldn’t beat Thanatos ever, but finding patterns was fun. A break from the more physical things he had to do. 

While Thanatos had every morning, he and Erebus shared afternoons. 

These lessons were more demanding.

Because he would primarily be Hades' step in, he was taught similarly to how he was trained. And Erebus had trained Hades, so now Tommy was.

Of course since Tommy wasn’t Wilbur, he couldn’t just be trained the same way. He had to think the same way. Which he couldn't do. Not without losing himself. Erebus knew this and tried to accommodate for it, the two of them sitting in the dark half the time watching old videos of fights Hades took part in.

Hades wasn’t often in fights which made things slightly easier, but when he did he was unlike anyone else. His motions were irritatingly graceful, otherworldly almost. Smooth like the deadly voice he carried. The videos were definitely older, Hades himself being thinner and a foot shorter. He stayed on the sidelines as Thanatos and Erebus took on the bulk. His fighting stly seemed to be through sharp words and the occasional bullet. Every now and again he would be seen throwing punches or kicks when the other two got injured. 

Through the days they started getting newer and newer videos, ones from the past few months. Although it was slow, Tommy noticed the shift.

“He’s not pulling his punches anymore,” he said. The older man didn’t look at him, his lips pressed firmly together. 

“What makes you say that?” But it was obvious Erebus knew. He saw the way the man watched Hades knock people unconscious in a single punch. 

In the video as more and more fell Hades tipped back his head and laughed.

Tommy gestured randomly at the screen. 

“Before he would aim to disarm others, hitting their shoulders and legs. He’s aiming for their chests or heads in this one,” Erebus nodded. 

“Good observation.”

“Well, which do I follow?” He turned back to the screen, watching Thanatos appearing from nowhere in his red cape grabbing Hades’ shoulder.

“What do you mean?”

“If I’m supposed to be copying Hades, which version of him do I follow?”

Hades slapped Thanatos’ hand away. The audio was off but he could see the way Thanatos' shoulders tensed, the way Hades spread his hands out in mocking. 

Erebus clicked to the next video. This time it was in a warehouse filled with boxes. It took him a moment to spot the three villains crouched behind boxes. Erebus stayed silent for a long while. Watching himself pull Hades down after a shot of a gun. The gun being pulled out of Hades’ hand.

Watched Hades punch him. 

“We don’t want the change to be too drastic, a mix of the two would be fine.”

After that Erebus limited the videos he watched. Instead focusing on weapon training.

Since Hades didn’t have any power that could create a weapon itself, like fire or light or whatever, his main weapon was guns and knives.

The villain had two pistols that were a part of his costume. Pretty things of silver with gold accents. Erebus told him that he also had many knives hidden in the costume, so he made sure to work with them as well. 

The afternoons were filled with shooting guns and throwing knives. Learning ways to move his body in smooth movement and how to dodge. 

Learning to dodge and defend was the biggest priority to start.

Which is why Thantos was throwing fireballs at him.

The afternoon had started as usual, watching the videos, stretching, shooting(god he was awful at shooting. Which is why they had him do it more) and then Thanatos had shown up.

They started with pool noodles cut up into little chunks. The two villains took turns chucking them at Tommy. Needless to say, he got hit a lot. 

It was frustrating. He’d miss one only to be hit by another again and again. Many profanities were used. To which Thanatos would laugh which only made Tommy angrier.

They didn't let him quit though, making him go again and again until he could dodge most of them.  

Lying on the ground, sweaty and covered with bits of pool noodle that had fallen off he groaned. They had finally stopped, declaring he could have a five minute break. He greedily drank from the water bottle Erebus handed him. As he sipped he looked around the room.

It was a plain thing, high gray walls spread far apart, offering a wide space for training. It was split into four corners, one corner had a wall of different weapons that he had used earlier in the day. But while he stuck to the pistols and knives, an array of swords, axes, tridents, bows, arrows and high tech looking gadgets that he couldn’t name stood waiting for its masters. 

He’d eventually have to learn how to use a lot of them. If they needed him to be Erebus he’d have to learn a whole new set of movements and weapons. A fact that they reminded him constantly. They were just focusing on Hades now because that's who he mainly would be. Cant let the public know he’s dead. 

Apparently people already thought that. The hero tower had made a big announcement that he was dead. 

The Syndicate wanted to use Tommy as a springboard, shock the public, shock whoever killed Wilbur, and use that as a distraction so they could get the real Hades back. 

The two main members themselves stood away from him, by the bench drilled into the wall. An orange water cooler sat on top of it, paper cups stacked neatly next to it. Phil was gesturing with one in hand while Techno nodded. The two were out of their costumes. Instead they wore plain workout clothes, different from Tommy’s only in color. While they both wore black Tommy wore white. Techno had some said bullshit about it reflecting his belt color, something he would get more into after he got the basics of Hades’ style. He would have to learn martial arts next.

Oh yeah. He could wait for that.

Techno caught him staring. He nodded to whatever Phil said and started making his way over to Tommy, still on the ground. 

The man’s hair was tucked up into a bun, decidedly less imitating than the braid. Especially with the fuckin nerd glasses he wore. It reminded him of when he first met the man in the apartment. 

He still wished he could go back to that day, even if he’s decided to help them. 

“Break over, get up.”

Tommy groaned, hitting his head on the padded floor. Techno stood above him. 

“Five more minutes man,” He closed his eyes. 

Everything shifted as he felt hands grab his shoulders and lift him. Immediately he summoned his wings and kicked hard against the man’s middle. Flapping his wings, he broke his grip.

Thanatos glared at him. The man crossed his arms, waiting for Tommy to touch the ground in stony silence. 

Tommy glared back. “I told you not to grab me like that.”

“And I said break is over runt,” He turned his back on Tommy. He took a few steps away from him before turning quickly.

“Dodge.”

Tommy shrieked as fireballs came his way. A very manly shriek of course. Very gracefully, he dropped to the floor right on his face. The whistle of fire flew over him. 

“What the fuck?!?” He yelled. Instead of responding the man grinned, sending one lower. 

Directly at where he was laying on the floor. 

He rolled to the side. Grimacing as his weight went over his wings.

This was it. He was dead. Techno had lost it. 

“On your feet runt, don't let the enemy catch you on the ground,” the man shouted. 

 Ok so maybe not dead. 

What a twisted way to train. 

As more fireballs came his way he jumped up and side stepped. The fire was slow moving but he knew it wouldn't stay that way. Phil watched on from his spot by the bench. 

Tommy ran through his limited options. 

He could fly up and just hang around the roof, but no doubt Techno would just shoot up. Plus it was harder to move around while flying. Something they would have to work on. 

Since his wings wouldn’t be a lot of help he pulled them against his back, willing them to vanish. The extra weight left him just as he had to roll to the side to avoid more and more fire. 

He couldn’t fight Techno. The man out ranked him in every way possible. So that was out.

He figured that running wasn’t the point of this. They wanted him to learn how to dodge. 

So dodge he did.

As he assumed, once he started to get the hang of it the speed began to increase. They got closer and closer to him, making him feel the heat with every one that flew past him. He rolled, he sidestepped, he jumped, he ran and Techno followed him across the room. The man never let him get too far away. When Tommy ran a third time he felt a painful heat on his back that quickly was put out. 

“Don’t turn your back on me,” the man scolded. Tommy turned to face him, dodging two very close to his head. Tommy was panting hard. Soot fell from his hair as he moved. He patted his head, putting out the small flame in his hair. It burned his hand slightly.

“How much longer?” his lungs screamed for air as he stayed in constant movement. 

“Long as I say,” he threw another. He couldn’t move out of the way quick enough, Tommy felt it burn his hand grow and he shouted in pain. Even though the fire went out quickly it still hurt the same.

“YOU MOTHER FUCKER”

The feeling he felt was new. The raw panic and adrenaline was not something the average citizen had to deal with. He’d had his run ins, like when he first was pinned by the man in front of him, but this was different. 

Autopilot kicked in. As the next flew by him, too close, too hot, his wings materialized behind him. Their comforting weight helped him adjust his footing to be more fluid. They flapped on their own, clearing away the light smoke that had started to appear. It knocked the oncoming fire away from him. He felt silly now for putting them away before. His wings were  part of him. His instincts were a part of him. He could use them to his advantage. 

He used them to shift his weight so he was almost floating off the ground. It was exhausting, but he kept out of the way enough not to get too badly hurt. But he couldn’t last forever.

It was bound to happen and Thanatos had to know it.

He had to have been dodging for literally forever. His limbs hurt from too close calls and they began to slow him down even as he tried to push through.

It hit him out of nowhere. He didn’t know how he missed it, but a fireball struck him right in the shoulder. It didn’t go out right away. 

He screamed as flesh melted.

Birdlike screeches tore through his throat. Almost as painful as the fire that was spreading through his skin.

The bright fire went out. All of it, even the few embers that littered around on the ground. Tommy fell to his knees, hands shakily moving towards the injury. 

Phil was there in an instant, pulling him close. 

“You’re ok mate, you're fine,” he was careful of the wound. “We’ve got a healer, she’s coming right now, alright? She’ll be here in a minute,” The man wrapped a wing around him.

A healer was on the way. He would be fine. He’s fine. Everything would be ok.

And Tommy knew this.

Bird Tommy couldn’t understand.

He kept crying out in different calls. Each more painful than the last. 

Flock! Help! Pain! Flock! Where? Help! Where Flock? Please! Flock! Help! Please! Hurts! 

Where was Tubbo? Ranboo? Quackity?

He called for all of them. Begging them to help him.

Phil tried calling back to him but he was inconsolable. As much as he wanted to be, Phil wasn’t the boy’s flock. It tugged at his heart.

Tommy’s hand dug into Phil’s shirt, tearing it. 

Phil looked down to see black talons shredding his shirt. Strips of black darkened the boy’s hair, appearing like magic. 

And Techno? 

Techno walked over to the bench and poured himself a cup of water. Completely unbothered.

He checked his phone, trying to ignore the painful chirps and shrieks coming from the other side of the room.

The door to the side of him opened. He nodded to Kristin as she passed.  He watched the three from a distance.

The healer made quick work of the runt. Running a hand over the burn wound and nudging the skin to stitch back together again. Phil kept a protective arm around him, running a hand through his hair and offering comforting chirps to him. 

She moved to heal another little burn when the runt let out a piercing shriek. 

A black cloud surrounded them. Techno was instantly on his feet, running to them when it dispersed. Kristin let out a gasp as she stumbled away from the runt.

Phil laid dead on the floor. 

Chapter Text

“Quackity, you need to get here right now .”

(Wait, this wasn’t supposed to happen?)

“I don't care about your ‘guilt’ or whatever the hell is going on with you. Get over yourself.”

(What do you mean?)

(He wasn’t supposed to find it until later)

(He’s changing things)

“He needs you.”

(This wasn’t supposed to happen yet)

(I didn’t see this path)

(Techno has never been one to stay on the path)

(Neither has Tommy)

(But this- it couldn’t happen)

(Why wasn’t it-)

(Just because you don’t see something doesn't mean it’s not there)

(...)

(You did this)

(Didn’t you)

(There is much you need to learn)

(Life would be boring, knowing how it will go)

(Why would You do this?)

(You killed him)

(Relax)

(He’ll be fine.)

(Then what purpose does it serve?)

(Sometimes a bit of chaos is good)

(What?)

(That's why they watch)

(Why they read)

(Don’t want them to get bored)

(I get bored sometimes)

(But Phil-)

(He will be fine)

(The story goes on)

(You-)

(Do not tell me how to do my job)

(I’m not I’m not)

(But this seems wrong)

(If it’s suppose to go a certain way,)

(Shouldn’t we step in?)

(I’ve already reached out)

(Told them what will be best for everyone)

(His powers will be disarmed for now)

(Until it is the right time)

(Wait if he is with them)

(And he wants to be)

(Why do you not tell his fr-)

(SILENCE)

(You speak too freely here)

(You speak of things not ready to be shared)

(Leave here traveler)

(Wait)

(I’m sorry)

(You are done)

(No more for today)

(Fine.)

(I just don’t understand how you can do this)

(Give them false hope-)

(LEAVE)

(You are Done for today)

(Do not make me ask you again.) 

(...)

(We will speak of this later)

(I’m sorry, you shouldn’t have seen that)

(He is still young)

(I’ve tried to teach him)

(And yet he insists on breaking my rules)

(I am all for that when the time is right)

(Afterall)

(Who doesn’t like chaos?)

—

Kristin half carried half dragged Phil away from the boy. Ignoring the way her hands grew numb holding onto his lifeless form.

Tommy had collapsed into himself, still screaming his head off. Pitiful sounds mixed in, so high pitched and pure hurt that made tears threaten to spill from her eyes. Looking over she saw Techno glassy eyed and glaring. He grabbed a training sword and stood a safe distance from the boy. He circled around him to get on the same side as Kristin. 

Having the wall of protecting let her put her entire focus on Phil. 

The first thing she noticed were the ink-like streams of tears that had formed. It reminded her of Ghostbur and the scars that lingered on his face from crying. With the sleeve of her shirt she tried to wipe them away. It remained, pulsing as if veins under his skin.

Her hands lit with a purple glow, her power latching onto the wound that wasn’t there. She kept one hand above his face letting it wash over him. With her free hand she moved his shirt to look for something that could have caused his death. His shirt was torn in areas from the boy’s talons. Specks of red freckled his abdomen, but nothing too deep. 

She willed the power to spread throughout his body, concentrating over his heart, lungs and the curious markings on his face. She let it spread until his whole body was encased in the light purple. Then the worst part. She had to wait. 

Focusing was incredibly hard with all the noise behind her. The wailing grew louder and she could distantly hear Techno yelling on the phone. To whom she wasn’t sure, not wanting to direct her focus too much. The purple turned a deeper shade. It sucked more and more out of her and she felt herself draining. He had to wake up. If she went out before he woke they would lose him. 

They couldn’t lose another. Not so soon. 

“Come on Phil,” she whispered. She cupped his cheek and waited. Praying to who she knew was watching from above. 

They answered.

Phil gasped for breath, then coughed as purple filled his lungs. It helped fill them with air so he could breathe easy. He sat up, dispersing the light fog that clung to him. His wings tensed as Tommy let out another shriek. He moved to get up but found himself pushed right back down. 

 “Rest for a moment,” Kristin ordered. “Rest for a moment,” she ordered. She herself felt incredibly dizzy. She closed her hand into a fist, snuffing out what remained of light. “Welcome back”

He smiled up at her.

The bags under his eyes had grown tenfold. To her dismay, the streaks remained fainty. Pale gray now. She gently ran a finger over them. The slightest glow of purple curled around her finger. She pushed it to spread across his skin again. A mistake. 

The world tipped on its side. She was thankful that they were on the ground. Even still, Phil grabbed her as she slumped forward.

“I got you,” he ran a hand through her hair. “Rest for a moment,” she snorted halfheartedly.

Phil looked over to where Techno stood. Techno stood guard, his back to them. Tommy was collapsed on the floor, his wings curled around him in a tight ball.

Flock Help Please Hurt His calls screamed. 

How long Tommy had been suppressing his instincts Phil couldn’t tell, but it had been too long for this to be the way the boy reacted. 

Oh Techno would be in big trouble once they got Tommy calmed down. 

Techno had convinced Phil that getting him to fall into his instincts would be a good idea. Help Tommy not push them away and embrace them in a way that would help him improve the way Phil had. A simple way to get Tommy ready for when he had to take Phil’s place on missions. But of course it didn’t go that way because of Tommy suppressing for who knows how long.

Hybrid instincts were special in that way. You had to let them surface in healthy amounts, otherwise it would come all at once and overwhelm the person. 

Phil knew the boy hadn’t let his instincts show when he was around, in fact none of them had seen it while he was in their care. 

They should have known. 

Phil himself would never let them slip when in enemy territory. It should have been obvious Tommy wouldn't either. 

Techno shouldn’t have pushed it so far, but Phil should have put a stop to it. Phil was as much to blame as Tech. 

Feeling a bit more put together, Phil gently nudged Kristin. She didn’t move from her slumped position over his lap. 

Bringing someone back from the dead would do that to a person he supposed. 

Dead. He had been dead. 

Man, his therapist was going to have a field day.

“Techno,” he called. The man instantly straightened, turning towards them. 

“Phil,” he said with such relief it made Phil feel guilty for putting him through it.

“Help?” Phil gestured to Kristin who he couldn't move in his still weak condition. 

Techno sent a glance at the ball of pain who had not moved or made any more attacks. He quickly assisted Phil in carefully moving the exhausted healer. 

“ [REDACTED] texted, told me what we have to do to ‘keep on the right path’ but Quackity is on his way to calm him down first so we can do it,” Techno said. Phil sighed. He hated when [REDACTED] had to step in as their other self . After all he preferred when (I swear to god) was there instead, although he didn’t like (Shut up) 

They moved Kristin to the bench by the door, carefully circling Tommy. He let out another round of shrieks. Phil winced, his eyes going moist.

“How long until Quackity gets here?” Techno checked his watch. A half grin at whatever he saw.

“Uh, in about 3, 2-”

The door slammed open.

Quackity was panting, wearing his costume minus the golden mask that sat in his hand. 

“TOMMY,” He shouted. The shrieks paused for a second. Thank god. The boy’s wings froze. 

Quackity was already moving towards him. He tossed his mask to the side and half slid on his knees to the boy. He wrapped him in a hug. 

Feeling like they weren’t supposed to be seeing this, Techno grabbed Kristin and he and Phil quietly left. 

Tommy was stuck frozen as a body hit him. Warm hands wrapped around him and a familiar smell flooded his senses. 

He let out a desperate chirp, hopeful. 

A familiar chirp replied. He felt small wings try to encase him. Tommy wrapped his wings around one of his flock. Dismayed at the lack of the other two he let out a dismayed chirp. 

His protector sighed. A hand ran through his hair, playing with the black that had replaced blonde.

“I’m sorry, you're stuck with just me right now.”

Well that was ok! As long as he had one of his flock he was ok.  

He reassured him with a series of noises. The older chuckled softly.

Flock Good Missed You Flock Safe

Quackity deflated, letting out all the worry that had kept him tense since Techno’s call.

Realistically Quackity knew once Tommy unbird-brained he would be so angry. Even so, he cherished this moment where he could be there for Tommy. Where Tommy needed him. Even though Quackity hurt him. 

Tommy quickly fell asleep leaning against Quackity’s chest. Quackity rested his chin on the boy’s head. Blinking away tears that he felt he didn’t deserve to shed.

I’m Sorry  he chirped. The sleeping boy mindlessly chirped back, trying to comfort Quackity. It just made him feel worse.

—

(They just love making things difficult for me)

(I’m sorry I had to cut some things out)

(There are things you aren’t ready to know)

(At least not yet)

—

Quackity sat in a chair he had brought into Tommy’s room from the living room. He had put it right next to the boy’s bed, then thought better of it. So now he sat with a few feet between them, giving Tommy space. His hair had returned to blonde long ago, along with his hands returning to normal. Any signs of bird innit were gone. He had remained knocked out the entire time. A small mercy to the Syndicate as they did what they had to. 

They determined that someone had to be there when he woke up. His memories would be foggy and most likely he would be hurting still. 

Why they decided Quackity was a good choice he had no clue. Tommy wouldn’t remember anything after getting hit in the shoulder. He wouldn’t remember calling out for Quackity and being curled up in his arms. For all Tommy would know this would be the first time seeing him.

It felt like they were putting Tommy through a lot. Doing… what they did, and then instantly having him deal with whatever feelings he had with Quackity? Kind of cruel. But Phil had a good point. Having Quackity there would distract Tommy from the confusion of not remembering things. 

Still, Quackity felt uneasy. Who knew how Tommy would react to him being there? Techno had told him about Tommy shouting and cursing him out. It hurt but was deserved. 

He sat there in his turmoil waiting. 

And waiting.

You know, Quackity was also a little angry with the boy. 

Quackity had tried. He tried to keep Tommy out of harm's way. He tried to distract the Syndicate and he did for a while.

He told the boys to stay at the apartment. Multiple times. But of course they didn’t listen, and who did they instantly go to?

The very people he was trying to keep them from.

Sure he got it, being cooped up for a long time took its toll. Sure, they were teenagers who liked going out and doing things, but he tried. 

He had tried to talk it out with the Syndicate. He succeeded in talking Phil and Niki out of it, even Techno had agreed to let him go after a bit more pushing. Tommy was home free. 

And then Tommy took matters into his own hands. Quackity still couldn’t understand what could have possibly gone through the boy’s head to make him agree. Phil insisted he hadn't said anything to lull him to their side. It was fully Tommy’s choice.

Techno forbade him from seeing Tommy when he decided to go talk him out of it.

“You can’t take away his choice Quackity, didn’t you say that?”

“He didn’t know he had another choice.”

He had been banned from the hideout. On ‘timeout’ as Ghostbur so kindly put it. He’d spent his recent days at Karl’s, helping him with his apprenticeship he was currently doing. They spent long hours studying in Karl’s little library. It helped keep him busy, the hundreds of notebooks they had to search through. 

He had actually been looking through one when Techno called. 

They had been so close but it didn’t matter. 

Tommy needed him.

But that was bird Tommy, he couldn’t help but wonder how regular Tommy would react to him.

He sat and waited. 

It took forever for Tommy to wake up.

He woke up with a gasp that sent himself sitting up. Wild eyes darted around the room and landed on Quackity. Quackity stood with his hands up in peace.

“You’re fine Tommy, you're ok,” he said. Slowly he took a step towards him. Tommy’s eyes cleared as if seeing him for real. It was like a light switch how quick his emotions changed. From panic to anger. He scooted back as Quackity took another step towards him.

“Stay the fuck away from me,” he growled. Quackity stepped back. 

Tommy’s face scrunched up in pain. He kicked himself to the edge of the bed, trying to get off but finding himself tangled up in blankets. 

“Tommy, chill out.”

He sent a glare at the man.

“Chill out? What the fuck did you do to me?”

Again Quackity stepped back. 

“What do you remember?”

He looked like he was going to bite out another response, probably with a curse and a refusal. Instead he took a breath.

“We- uh- we were in the training room,” he grimaced. “Techno was throwing fire at me like a dick, and-” his eyebrows scrunched together, he leaned back against the wall. “And yeah, that’s it. Now what the fuck happened?”

“You got hit in the shoulder pretty badly, the force of it knocked you flat on your head. Techno sends his apologies.”

Tommy seemed almost satisfied with the answer. He still looked angry.

“And you decide to show your face now why? Guilt finally got to you?”

He tried not to let it get to him. 

“Tommy-”

“Quackity, it’s been almost two weeks.”

He sighed, “Tommy I understand that you’re-”

He started to yell. 

“ Two weeks. Why now? Huh? Done being a coward? Ready to face the consequences of your actions? Or I suppose this is just what you wanted right? Finally came to rub in that you won?” Tommy had moved around the bed to face Quackity. He looked Quackity up and down.

Quackity realized his mistake. 

He was still in his costume. 

The white button down shirt with golden accents embroidered on his sleeves, the black suspenders and red tie, and the brown trench coat wrapped around his waist were well known. 

“Oh well that makes sense! Did your little hero buddies know you're a villain? Are they cool with having Caerus roaming their halls?” Tommy glared. “Bet the Syndicate had a field day when you told them about us huh?”

“They didn’t know about you three. I never wanted you to get dragged into my mess,” He glared back.

Yeah he fucked up big time but that wasn’t the goal. It was never the goal.

“I was trying to keep them away from you but somebody had to disobey me and walk right into their hands!” That shut him up. Tommy looked away with his arms crossed. 

He took a deep breath and continued. “I’m sorry. Tommy, it was never supposed to be you. I intended to make sure it wasn’t, I wasn’t lying when I said I'd protect you,” he tried to take a step towards him but Tommy stopped him with a glare.

“You fucking handed me to them!” He stalked closer, coming within an inch of Quackity. Quackity stood his ground.Looking up at the boy who was a head taller than him. It was unnerving, feeling the boy look down on him in more than one way. 

“You distracted me and didn’t even try to stop them,” he choked up. “Quackity you handed me over.” 

“You think I don’t regret it? I’ve been talking to them,” he threw his hands up, fighting tears himself. “I had made it through. They were going to let you go Tommy.”

He stared blankly at Quackity.

“I was going to come get you but you told Phil you’d help them,” He shook his head. “Tommy, why would you agree to this?”

I didn’t know I had another choice. Tommy’s mind was spinning. 

“I tried to protest that it wasn’t fair for you to make that choice, they kicked me out and banned me from talking to you.”

“But after what happened I’m sure I could get them to let you out of this. This isn't your fight.”

That was good news for Tommy. Quackity was sure treating it as such. The man stood waiting expectantly. Tommy took a small step back. 

He was right obviously, this wasn’t his fight. He didn’t have to get caught up with the hero and villain bullshit. 

So why didn’t it feel like it? 

Why did accepting the out feel wrong?

Why did he still feel bitter towards Quackity?

“What about Ghostbur?” 

Quackity raised an eyebrow. 

“Ghostbur? He’ll be fine.”

“Really? Cause it didn’t sound like it.”

The man spluttered. “Tommy, it’s fine- we’ll figure something out.”

“What about Persephone?”

Quackity tensed. His little wings ruffled behind him.

Oh he hit a nerve. 

“What did they tell you about Persephone.” His voice got dangerously low. Ah, so Caerus was in there. 

“I know Niki got burned when she’s fireproof. I know she stopped appearing in the news for weeks. I know that something is wrong because you’re the second person here who has shut me down on her,” There was something else. Quackity’s wings started to freak out although the man’s face remained stony. 

“And Thanatos has been only using fire since she disappeared on the field. He still has it,” wait. Could it-yeah,  it made sense. 

“Why would he hold onto the fire for no reason? Unless he couldn’t copy it from Persephone anymore,” and he knew he hit it right on the head. 

Quackity stared at him. 

It just made Tommy more confident in his decision. 

“Phil said we don't have time to waste. Something bigger is going on, right? She and Ghostbur play a role in it right?”

There was dread in the way Quackity held himself, something in the eyes. 

Quackity knew how Tommy was. He knew how stubborn he could be. He had witnessed enough fights between him and Tubbo. 

“They need my help.”

“Tommy, they’re villains, the ones that people always accuse you of being,” Quackity sighed. “Do you really want to take that step?”

“They’ll call me it either way.”

“And what about Tubbo and Ranboo?”

And there it was, his weakness. Tommy looked away. The world shifted slightly. 

“Are they safe?” 

“As far as I'm aware,” cause that’s comforting.  

Tommy however was getting really tired. And dizzy, very dizzy. 

“They can handle themselves.” 

“Can you? They’re your flock Tommy, you could get sick without them.”

Tommy sat down on the bed. 

“I’ll live. I have to do this,” ok seriously, what was going on. He put his hand to his forehead. Quackity knelt in front of him, concern flooded his expression. 

“Tommy?” 

“I-” his eyes rolled back and he collapsed.

“Tommy? Tommy!” he shook him. Nothing. 

He pulled out his phone. Phil picked up on the first ring.

“Phil, Tommy-” the man interrupted him.

“Quackity! Thank god it worked. Techno was getting Kristin,” Phils voice was filled with relief. 

To say he was confused was an understatement. 

“What?”

“Quackity, he tried to use his powers. But you’re ok so it worked!”

—

Karl scanned the book Quackity had discarded in his rush to leave. Of course he didn’t blame Quackity for rushing out, however he could have at least left a bookmark where he had already read. He was slightly irritated at having to read what Quackity probably already read. 

Dates, times and locations flew past him. It was a more recent journal, within a year of where he sat. Only a year old yet the dates meant nothing to him. He couldn’t remember what they meant. 

He sat in the middle of the room on the little circle rug. Scattered around him were the purple leather covered books. Each had a different color swirled on the cover, some fades from him nervously rubbing the cover during their time in his pocket. Some were flipped to fraying pages with times that were fast approaching. Certain names highlighted so he didn’t forget their place. 

Names were scribbled next to the locations along with very brief descriptions that not all had. He searched for a few certain names. Taking great care to make sure he didn’t miss it. He made sure to plug each of them into his phone with an alarm. 

Honestly, why did he decide paper was the way to go? Now he was stuck in this mess.

The watch on his wrist beeped at him. 

He cursed under his breath.

The space filled with purple and when it cleared he was gone. Loose papers had floated up then back down to their places. Hundreds of times. Past and Future Karl made sure to keep Present Karl with enough information to help him along. 

The book he had been holding fell flat where he had stood. 

There was a name he had been searching for.

The date was for two months before. Something Karl would have to go back to in order to remember what he had said.

Meeting- Wilbur- alley west 7th St

Chapter Text

Tubbo was many things. A student, a coworker, a friend, a brother, a rock in the hard times. Hardworking, loud, confident, brash, argumentative to a fault. Untrusting, loyal to the end.

But right now? He was depressed. He was so very angry. But most of all he was restless. 

He never was great with waiting. His parents loved to tease him back when he lived with them. His friends would huff as he bothered them for the hundredth time. Finding Tubbo pacing around a room was a common sight that people stopped asking him why he did it. 

That was for little things. Waiting for a vigilante to message him to train him to fight the people who took Tommy?

Pretty fucking big.

Ranboo was pretty sure the floorboard of their apartment would break if he walked his set path one more time.

Not that Ranboo could say anything. He was doing the same thing on the other side of the room.

They waited and waited. 

The apartment was quiet. 

Too quiet. 

But it wasn’t. 

Classmates, coworkers, teachers. People who had a friend of a friend who had gone missing. 

The apartment was filled with people constantly during the day. Bringing food and little gifts, offering their sorrows, empty words and prayers. Constant noise, people trying to cheer the two boys up. It would be touching to know so many people cared about them. Cared about Tommy. It should have been touching. 

But they acted like he was dead. 

After all, it had been almost three weeks without any sort of contact from the kidnappers. 

A death sentance in Manburg.

The two boys nodded along to conversations. Tight smiles and short responses as people told stories about Tommy. Plates of food set in front of them only to get politely pushed away.

And when the people left, when they were finally alone, they sat on the couch together. Every night. 

They stared at the communicator Red had given them. A single message from the first night after they met the vigilantees. 

Do not go out. Wait for us to contact you. It is very important that you do not go out and do not get caught. 

And as much as it killed both of them, they did just that. They stayed in at night. Their lame costumes tucked in the closet. Waiting. 

Ranboo officially moved in as they had planned. However it was Tubbo who helped him install the cat tree in the corner. It was Tubbo alone who helped him put up his video game posters in their bedroom. It was Tubbo and only Tubbo. 

They knew Tommy would be pissed when he returned.

If he returned.

At night they would crawl into the shared bed. Tubbo curlng into Ranboo as the darkness crowded in. Enderchest would pad softly around the apartment. Patrolling around twice before hopping up on the bed and settling in next to Ranboo. Her eyes peared out, shining in the softly illuminated room. Newly installed nightlights lit the entire apartment. Every outlet had one, different flowers and animals accompanying their old ones. They even added fairy lights to keep every shadow at bay. 

It was how Erebus had gotten in. The shadows. 

They wouldn’t let him in twice. 

The news was always on. Suspiciously there was a large lack of villain activity. Even from villains not associated with the Syndicate. Heroes patrolling found everywhere empty. Quiet in a way it hadn’t for a long time. People celebrated the new pack of vigilantes who had declared themselves The Rose. To the heroes’ dismay, the vigilantes were the obvious ones who had dealt with the villains successfully. The fight between them and the Syndicate had been floating around. Thanatos and Hades fighting and failing against them only for the feed to cut before the fight could end. Since then only Thanatos and Erebus had been seen and even then it had been weeks. 

The public was thrilled. 

The two boys were waiting for the other shoe to drop. 

The Syndicate needed Tommy for something. 

They had to be planning something. 

And yet the two couldnt do anything. 

Waiting and waiting. 

They rarely left the apartment. The few times they did they were armed with more posters of Tommy to hang up. They replaced the ones that had been ripped from their places. Sam’s had remained but he took more to hang up in ‘secure’ places. He made him sit at one of the tables and actually eat. It proved to be a good visit being that they hadn’t actually eaten anything in a while. Sam offered kind words and a place to stay if the apartment got too quiet. 

They left with heavy hearts. Making the trek back to the far too quiet apartment.

Waiting. Always waiting.  

But their waiting eventually came to an end.

North End 23rd St. 

9:52 p.m tonight. Don’t be late 

Welcome to our world

-D

Tubbo jumped up from his spot on the couch. He quickly made his way to the bathroom door.

“Boo” he yelled. The water of the shower turned off. 

“Tubbo?”

“Hurry up and get out here. We’ve got a meeting tonight!” He was practically bouncing. He ran to the bedroom pulling out the clothes they had used for costumes. It was only five. They had so much time but he couldn’t help it. 

They could finally do something. 

Ranboo stumbled in a few minutes later. Tubbo just handed him the communicator. 

“D? We didn’t meet a vigilante with a D name?” 

Ranboo shook his head.

“A partner maybe?”

The news liked to keep tabs on which vigilante was grouped up with who. The two scrolled through reports in search of the mysterious D but found nothing.

Vigilantes were strange in how they paired up. There was no strategy to it. Often it was because they were related in real life somehow. Example; Tubbo and Ranboo. For a vigilante to pair up with others outside of their pair wasn’t impossible but uncommon. 

The news told them nothing. The list of vigilantes with D names was short, filled mostly with vigilantes that hadn’t been seen since Doomsday. 

Tubbo tossed his phone away. 

“We’ll meet them later.” 

—

The sun was setting, darkness crept in the corners. Everywhere fought it off with the bright lights of the city but even they could not keep all of it out. At every turn there could be a villain, a mugger, a murderer. Manburg wasn’t safe even with the little big bad activity. Not that the heroes cared all that much. 

But Fundy did. Sue him. 

His tail swayed behind him as he moved silently over the rooftop. The short half cloak fell gently behind him, its coat tickling the edges of his fox ears that poked out in his hair.

It was only almost nine and yet he was already bored. He had stopped several petty crimes already. He had taken these shifts because the commission thought he was ready.

He thought it was a compliment.

Now he realized it was an insult.

Oooo Yeah Fundy we think you can handle it now.

Oooh of course we think you’re ready you're so strong

Danger? Oh of course not! This is what you’re ready for.

Stopping two muggings? Oh no! You might have to come back. Need backup?

He huffed, jumping across the roof and swinging himself down the fire escape. He kept to the shadows, watching and waiting. If he was lucky some bloke would try to mug someone across the street from him. 

Not that he wanted someone to get mugged, he reminded himself. It was good to be bored. No one getting traumatized. 

Only a few people were out anyway. He walked on the edge of the road, keeping an eye out. His form cast a shadow on the dark gray of the street. It was something he had to get used to, straying from the shadows when out. It was drilled into his head constantly. Being in the light. Being seen. 

Sometimes just the sight of any hero could send bad guys running. 

Always be seen. Always be known.

But the early years of training haunted him.

Don’t let them see you until it’s too late.

He hated the training he was subjected to as a child. Appreciating their way of doing things but never stepping over the line. Even in the moment when they needed him the most. He couldn’t be that person for them.

He couldn’t be a villain. 

Lines were redrawn and sides were picked.

He left people and others left him. 

And with some it was complicated.

Quackity.

The letter in his back pocket felt heavy. He shoved his hands in his pockets, whistling an old tune. 

Trying to tune out the words repeating in his mind from the letter.

That goddamn letter.

He had torn it open once Eret left. Reading those cured words over and over again, hoping to make it make sense. Trying to find the lie that had to be there.

Quackity tore his world apart in three sentences and then continued to break it the longer the letter went on.

He tried calling him. Tried calling any of the Syndicate actually. All he got was Techno telling him to stop calling them. For everyone’s sake. 

What about him? What was he supposed to do?

Who could he tell that would actually care? 

He was ripped from his train of thought as two figures appeared from nowhere, the smaller one collapsing on the ground and the taller not far off. Arms out and swaying like a drunk. Getting his bearing, the person crouched over with their hands on their knees.

Fundy approached quietly.

Purple specks floated around in the air, fading out of existence quickly. The shorter figure, a boy in a brown bomber jacket groaned pitifully. He wore sunglasses and a black mask. The sunglasses he pushed up slightly to rub at his eyes. 

“Boo we’ve got to work on that I swear to god,” 

Fundy snorted, announcing his presence. “You’re telling me.”  

Both jumped comedicaly high. 

“Swift?” The taller one squeaked. He too wore glasses and a mask. Dressed in purple and black making him assume he was the one who teleported. 

“Yup. What are you two doing out so late?”

The shorter one looked at his watch and swore.  

“Just meeting with some friends bossman. We kinda have to get going though, like right now,” He held a hand to his friend. Putting most of his weight into his friend’s grip to pull up. 

Fundy stepped closer, baton twirling in his hand.

“You two just appeared from nowhere, wearing what I can only assume is shitty costumes. That right?”

“Fuck off,” the shorter said.

He ignored him. “Who are you? If you’re trying out crime let me tell you, it won't end well for you.”

“We’re not! We’re new vigilantes, I’m Ender,” the teller one gestured to the other. “Stinger,”

He sighed.

“Well then technically I have to arrest you,” cause isn’t that fun? Locking people up for doing the heroes' jobs for them? These two haven't been talked about yet. No one in the public or the hero tower. Very unlucky to be caught the first time going out. Vigilantes were special. No hero had the same opinions on them. Some would arrest on sight even mid fight with a villain. Some would ignore them or arrest them when they passed their path. Others would go as far to team up with them on occasions. 

In majority, you arrest vigilantes if they are new or are causing trouble.

Having new vigilantes that aren't being trained by anyone could end up with that kid dead or messing with the fragile balance between the heroes and villains. It was something they learned quickly after Doomsday. 

Marburg needed vigilantes, it had become a way of support that everyone needed. To arrest all of them (not that they even could) would upset the balance. Which is why it was important for older vigilantes to take new ones under their wing. Tech them the ways to not fuck up the city more.

These two didn’t have any markings. The short one had a bee pin on his hat but no vigilante had previously claimed the symbol. He had to bring them in.

Maybe the heroes would understand if he let them go. Honestly if no one knew about them no one would yell at him about it. 

He took a step closer.

“They’re with me Swift,” A voice called. The two boys straightened. 

He let out a relieved sigh, turning to greet the man.

Hawkeye stood on top of the building, hands on his hips in a power stance. Red is crouched next to him on the ledge, wings flared out dramatically. Circuit was absent from his side however it was not empty. A man in a purple coat stood next to him, orange and green sleeves crossed in front of him. 

“Giving our recruits a hard time, Speedy?” Hawkeye’s grin was as large as always. 

“Aw Hawkeye, Red said my name right before then. Why do you do this to me?”

The vigilante gave a fake salute. 

Fundy rolled his eyes, not that they could see it through the fox mask that covered his entire face

“Should’ve given them patches. You know legally I should still bring them in since you have no proof of claim.” 

Two circle patches fell from the sky, Fundy reached out to grab them as they drifted down.

The group's symbol was a simpler one than some others. An arrow and a feather made an X in its center, swirls of red marked around it. Hawkeye, Red, Circuit. He tossed them to the two boys.

Thank god. He really didn’t want to arrest someone who teleports. Not that the kid looked like he’d make much of a struggle. He nodded and tucked the baton back into its strap. 

“Guess everything’s fine then. Stay out of trouble,” the three on the roof nodded. The short newbie stared at him. 

Red waved a dismissing hand. 

“We know.”

“Stay safe Swift.” 

—

Tubbo watched Swift hesitate a moment longer. Tail swaying idly. The man nodded to the three on the roof and left. He watched the man wander back to the middle of the street, walking with a lazy swing of his arms as he turned round the corner. 

Red grabbed the arm of the stranger, jumping off the building and gliding elegantly down. Hawkeye scaled down the side of the building, the sound of gears whirling in Tubbo’s ear. He landed gracefully next to Red, brushing dirt from his pants. 

“Evening gents!” He came up next to them

Ranboo waved. Tubbo watched the other two approach. 

The second man he’d never seen before. The purple coat with its sleeves a yellow and orange. Teal patches covered the purple, white swirls covering them. His identity was covered by a purple mask. Purple goggles with rainbow glass sat pushed up in brown hair. 

Tubbo glared at him. 

“Who are you?”

The man stared back, mimicking the glare before his eyes creased in what must have been a smile.

“You can call me Drifter,” he offered a hand out. Tubbo hesitantly grabbed it. 

“Never heard of you.” 

Red put a hand on the man’s shoulder. “He’s newer to the field, we’ve kept him in the shadows more. Makes things easier,” Drifter nodded.

There were many who stuck to the shadows, avoiding the public and news like the plague. It helped keep heroes not as updated on what they could do, how they fought. 

“So what do you do?” He eyed the other. “Actually what do any of you do?”

“In a moment, first we should move to a less open space,” Red looked to Ranboo. “How well can you control your teleportation?”

“Uh, I can get the general area? Mostly,”

Originally they were supposed to be further down the street when they teleported from the apartment. It actually took them two jumps, the first stop landing them on the edge of a far too tall building halfway to this point.

The thought of having to jump again so soon made Tubbo sick once again. And he had just gotten rid of the feeling damn it.

The three exchanged a look. Drifter shook his head. 

Red sighed. “Right then, I guess we’ll walk.”

He waved over his shoulder and turned to walk in that direction. The rest followed. 

They walked through the mostly empty streets. The occasional person called out to them, waving with a relieved smile. The group got smaller as Hawkeye left them to walk home two teenagers walking home from work. They were spooked, having seen a mugging not even two blocks away. Red excused himself to go check it out, leaving the two with Drifter.

He stared straight ahead as he walked, muttering under his breath something the two couldn’t hear even with Tubbo straining to listen. 

“So… you’re the one who messaged us?” Ranboo asked. He fidgeted with the chord of his sweatshirt.

Drifter abruptly turned right, leading them down an alleyway. 

“Yup,” it led to another road to which he made another right. 

“How long have you been doing this?”

The man turned around, walking backwards. He skillfully avoided the cracks and divots that plagued the road. He hummed.

“Well, it’s complicated. A long, long time. Although not with the three for long,”

On the street you could tell the line had been drawn. In other places close to the city it was obviously taken care of. As you got further the attempts to keep things nice lessened. This seemed to be the line.

“Why are you with them anyways? If you want to keep in the ‘shadows’ why join up with three of the most popular vigilantes?”

He shrugged.

Tubbo narrowed his eyes.

“Red said you are newer to the field.”

The man turned around again, making yet another right down a smaller alley. They had officially made it back to the road they started on.

“Technically? Yes. Like I said, it’s complicated.”

The two behind him exchanged looks. 

“Uh huh, ok. Where are we going?”

The man turned left.

“To the base. We have to take the long way, being that you two haven’t yet built up enough trust for the easy route,” he brushed off imaginary dirt on the orange sleeve. Tubbo thought he saw red glitter fall but it was gone so quick he was sure he had imagined it.

“I know you two have many questions, however you won't get many answers until we arrive.”

He took another left onto a street that was in much nicer order. Sure there were cracks in the street but they were covered with almost the same colored concrete. The little patches of grass by the sidewalk were mowed. The streetlamps actually worked casting a soft glow on the street and sidewalk they walked. In the road a car drove steadily, a tiny hand reached out of the back window waving at them. Drifter gave a small wave back as they passed. 

They continued on, turning and turning. They returned to where they started. The two boys bit back a groan. Obviously this had all been a waste of time. 

Drifter suddenly stopped, looking down.

Tubbo, who had been angrily walking behind him rammed right into him. His hat shifted up.

“What the fuck man?”

He didn’t answer, looking down at the two bands on his wrist. One held a regular watch that marked the time as 11:55p.m. The other was a timer that beeped at him. 

Drifter stared at it. 

“What’s that mean?” Ranboo asked. He got no response. They stood there, Drifter staring at the still beeping timer, and the other two looking from him to each other. They heard rustling in a nearby alley.

“Drifter?” 

He started muttering to himself again. He did however pull down his goggles and straighten. He pushed past the two boys who had moved in front of him. 

“We’re almost there,” his voice was strangely empty. 

“I can’t help him… no.. can’t… has… he’ll… it’s fine…”

He tried stepping closer to hear him better but it proved pointless as he stopped again at a door. 

They were literally less than a block from where they started.

“What the fuck.” Drifter put a palm on the center of the door. The red glitter Tubbo had seen appeared again. It covered the door, spiraling from Drifter’s hand pressed against dark wood. The dust trailed down and he saw it covered all of their feet. It shifted to create a box around the.

“Cross your arms and ankles,” he ordered. They stared at him.  

The box gave out from under them.

Darkness encased them, the sudden feeling of falling ripping a scream from Tubbo and Ranboo simultaneously. 

Falling.

   Falling.

      Falling.

Now. There were two things that Tubbo was afraid of.

The dark, and falling. 

He was crossed as Drifter had said. His hands squeezed his shoulders with an iron grip as he continued to scream his head off. 

He felt a hand latch onto him. A lanky arm wrapped around him. They fell together in the darkness. They squeezed their eyes shut.

They heard a splash seconds before they hit water. 

This is where we die. He thought. 

They were in it for only an instant before falling through. They began a much gentler descent. Air pushed up around them.

He kept his eyes squeezed shut until he heard ranboo grunt and felt his feet hit the ground. 

He burrowed his head in Ranboo’s chest. His friend tightened his hold, hugging him.

The rustle of wings had them both straighten. Tubbo spun around.

“Sorry, we should have had him give you more of a heads up,” Red sat on a stool in front of them. 

The room was a decent size. Gray concrete flooring and walls. Fairy lights were strung up on its edges, a sorry attempt to make the room warmer. Two doors lined the wall opposite from them.  A coffee table sat in the middle of the room with a little radio and papers littered about. Comfy chairs were spaced evenly around it.

Hawkeye lounged in one of the chairs, Circuit sat next to him. 

“Dickhead, Tubbo muttered. Drifter simply ignored all of them, heading to the lighter of the two doors. Red didn’t turn to watch him. He simply waved to the open chairs. 

“Let’s answer some questions.”

—

They had been leaving him alone a bit more. His head was still a bit fuzzy on what happened with Quackity. However what he did remember just made him more motivated to help. 

Something was happening. 

He could help. So he would.

He heard a knock on his door. A nice change to Techno just barging in when it was time to do something.

“Come in,” he called, continuing to throw one of the training daggers in the air.

Phil entered the room in training pants and a blue shirt. He also wore a grin that made his eyes crinkle in the corner.

“Tommy, I think you’re ready. Let’s answer some of the questions that must be floating around in your head.”

He stood.

—

Red cleared off the table.

“Alright, first things first, we need to know your powers, how good of a grasp you have on them and if you are a hybrid,” he stared at them.

Ranboo nodded. “Teleportation, not very good but I can get a general area like I said,” he eyed Tubbo.

“I’m part enderman, we don’t know what else I am but it isn’t human.”

Hawkeye tilted his head. “You’re part enderman and chose the name Ender? ” 

“We kinda just needed something bossman,” Tubbo snorted. Red ignored them both. 

“And you have no ideas on what else you could be? You’re parents don't know?” 

“They're both dead so no,” Hawkeye tried and failed to hide a gasp.

“Jesus Ender,” Tubbo sighed. 

“He asked!”

“Sorry for your loss, let us know if you need anything. Stinger?” Red moved his attention to Tubbo. He tried not to snort at the quick change in topic.

“Don’t got anything, nothing has come yet.”

“Hybrid?”

“Unfortunately,” he tugged his hat down more.

“Let me guess, a bee?” Hawkeye was grinning.

“I wish! They are so much cooler,” he thought for a moment before sighing. He tugged off his hat. “Goat.”

“Goat’s are cool!” Hawkeye tried. Ranboo nodded along with him. 

“Yeah but bees? So much cooler.”

Red coughed. “I’m assuming you’d like to keep that hidden while out?”

He tugged his hat on. “Yup, secret identities you know?”

The man nodded. “Very smart, thank you for trusting us.”

“Your turn.”

He tilted his head. 

“Parrot.”

Both boys snorted. In their defense, so did Hawkeye. 

“No way.” 

“Red, you never told me that!” 

“Shut up Circuit, he’s part blaze, Hawkeye and Drifter are humans.”

Drifter who had not yet returned from the mystery door.

“So what are your powers? And what the fuck was that entrance?”

“Entrance was my doing,” Circuit leaned forwards in his chair.He looked plenty human, though some hybrids could hide physical traits when they wanted.

“It’s an old water elevator system.”

“But there was only a bit of water?” Ranboo leaned forward too.

“Actually half of it was water, you just couldn’t feel it after you first entered it,” He stood, moving over to the little elevator sided area they had entered. He knelt down and brushed away what had looked solid. Fiery rocks sat under glass, preventing them from touching it. 

“Magma block, it’s what was pulling you down. In olden times you still would’ve been soaked but with a little magic,” his hand lit up with the same red glitter. “I was able to find a way.”

“That is awesome!” Tubbo put his hand on the glass. It was warm but didn’t burn. 

“If you look up-” the man had to duck a little to avoid the water that was held in place above them. 

“Woah,” 

The man smiled under his mask. “That is my power, redstone.” 

“That is so cool,” Ranboo touched the water, it didn’t move.

“He’s got the coolest power, I don’t even have one. He’s the one who makes all of my tech,” Hawkeye told them as they made their way back to their seats. From the ground next to him he grabbed his bow.

“And he made the door, sorry you had to take the long way.”

“You mean we actually had to do all that walking?”

“Yup,” Circuit laughed. “You had to trigger certain things, in some cases multiple times, in order to open the door. It wouldn’t have worked otherwise. It keeps people from guessing how to get in.”

“That is stupid.” Tubbo huffed. He plopped down in his seat. The three chuckled. 

He turned his attention to Red.

“What’s your power then?”

The man shook his head. “You’ll learn another time.” 

Oh he wanted to push. However there was someone else he really wanted to know.

“What about Drifter?”

The three exchanged a glance. Red cast one quick look at the door Drifter had still not returned from.

“It’s… very complicated.”

“Then simplify it.” 

He stared at Tubbo. 

It occurred to him just how bizarre this was.

Here he and Ranboo sat, giving away personal information to these people and expecting them to return it. 

They didn’t have to tell them anything. They shouldn’t tell them anything. Already they knew more about Circuit than the public and maybe even the heroes. 

“Drifter’s power is very complicated but a portion is getting visions. That is all you get.”

He nodded.

“Thank’s for trusting us,” Ranboo said. The three older vigilantes nodded.

They sat in silence. 

A silence that made it possible to hear it.

Loud thuds came from beyond the door.

Exasperated yells followed them, followed by more thudding. 

Red was on his feet instantly. He slipped inside. 

More yelling, a pained scream. 

Hawkeye cleared his throat.

“So, here’s how this is going to work. You two don’t need to give us your identities, it is not required at all,” he shifted. “What we do need is an idea of times you’d be able to come train. Usually we do at night or late afternoon. Occasionally Circuit and or myself are able to in the mornings. We can keep you updated on times and expect you to do the same.” 

The two nodded. 

Circuit’s turn.

“In training we will be doing physical and mental training. Things that will help you even outside of vigilanteing. When we feel like you have a basic grasp on the most important things we will take you out with us on minor things. However if a large fight breaks out we will send you away for your safety and ours. You’ll also-” he stopped.

Red stepped into the room. Drifter followed behind him.

“I’m taking him home, I’ll be back in a few.” The others nodded. Red walked to the other door, leading him through it and shutting it. 

“Is he ok? What happened?”

Hawkeye shook his head.

“Nothing to worry about gents! They’ve got it all figured out.” 

Circuit nodded. “As I was saying, if you’d like, you’ll get new costumes that are better for the field if you are interested.” 

“Wait really?”

“Yes, myself and another friend of ours make our suits,” he gestured to his literal suit and tie. “It looks classy but is actually very practical. Here,” get grabbed one of the papers Red had stacked on the floor. “Write some things you’d like, the size it should be, preferences in color. What kind of mask and or glasses. Anything you can think would be helpful.” he pulled two pens from some hidden pocket.

Hawkeye sat up. 

“Oh! Sorry we forgot, any weaknesses you know you have? Coping mechanisms we should know of? Triggering things?”

Tubbo glared through his glasses.

“The dark, falling,” 

Hawkeye’s eyes widened. 

“Oh! Uh. Sorry!”

He huffed. 

Circuit also apologized before turning to Ranboo.

“How much does the ender side affect you?”

“Uh, I get frozen when people look me in the eye,” they adjusted their sunglasses.

“Ah, so we need more secure eye protection, got it, anything else?”

“I need glasses and a mask,” they gestured to the bottom half of their face. “I don’t go without one anyways so even if it’s just this it’s fine.”

He wrote on his own paper, he looked up. “Is it because of something else entirely or hybrid?”

“Hybrid,”

“Alright then. We can figure out more details for costumes soon. Any more questions for us tonight?”

“How’s the search for our friend going?”

Circuit’s smile dropped. 

“We are doing what we can, we have others also on a look out but the Syndicate hasn’t been active since even before he went missing. We haven’t stopped though.”

Hawkeye kept his smile although it seemed a bit more forced.

“We’ll find him in no time! Nothing to worry about my friends,” he stood. Again Tubbo swore he heard the whirl of things turning. “When Red returns us three will discuss times, you two do the same. Let us know if anything changes. Circuit will show you the way out!”

And that was that. 

They left out the door Red and Drifter had gone, going up another old bubble elevator that Circuit explained while walking. 

He walked them halfway home, giving them advice on how to avoid heroes who didn’t like them. 

Back to the too quiet apartment, lit with the variety of lights that weren’t there when they needed them. 

—--

He had been patrolling for another hour that ticked by slowly. After meeting the newbies it had been silent. It was like crime had hard stopped for the night. He was kind of grateful for that. As much as he wanted to prove himself it was fine if he had to wait another night.

The wind howled as he moved to the fire escape, climbing with a certain swiftness. 

The buildings had begun to get closer together making rooftop travel much easier. He activated his power and zoomed across rooftops. Other heroes made fun of him for the name he had chosen. But really, he was fifteen when he picked out the name. He could go fast, Swift means fast. Come on what was he supposed to go with? He had always wanted to be Hermes but once he left Wilbur it had lost its appeal. 

Wilbur.

Wilbur who was dead. Wilbur who had a ghost. A ghost that remembered him. And there was so much more. So many more horrific things they had been keeping from him. From half the heroes. He supposed the other half most likely knew but didn’t care.

He paused on the edge of the roof. 

The night was passing by too slowly he checked his watch for the hundredth time.

11:50

He heard rustling down below. Slowly he crouched, looking over the side. Yup there were definitely people down there. Probably ones who shouldn’t be there. 

He made his way over to the fire escape. Scaling down with grace. 

He peeked down the alleyway, trying to get a glimpse in the darkness. There was soft talking that he couldn’t hear.

11:51

Step into the light.

Let them see you.

He clicked the flashlight attached to his bracelet on, standing straight and shining it over the group of people clad in gray huddled together. 

“Hey,” He called with as much authority as he could muster. One turned around, black sword in hand.

They wore gray with a variety of black marking the sleeves in stripes. A rose patch sewn on one sleeve. His heart sank as more turned slowly to face him.

11:52

“You’re the new vigilante group, right? Nice to meet you.” He feigned nonchalantce. 

The letter in his pocket felt like a brick.  

The first three sentences burned a hole in his pocket, reaching up and trying to pull him down into a panic.

“I’m assuming you are the reason it’s been so quiet tonight? I gotta say, you’ve been doing a great job,” he complimented. 

The one took a step towards him. 

11:53. 

Wilbur is dead. 

The Rose killed him .

The letter said. 

More drew their swords. He put his hands up and took a step back.

“Hey wait, I don’t mean any harm. I don’t mind vigilantees. You’re fine.”

One lunged. 

He dodged, kicking their chest. With an oomph they went down. The others sprung into action. There were only four, three now that the one was on the ground. Fundy stomped on their back, grabbing their sword. The downed person was a bit smaller than him and yet they had weilded the sword like it weighed nothing. He quickly found that was not the case. He felt the sting of a bullet as he took seconds to try and hold it. 

He swung, missing his target and getting kicked backwards. He rolled out of the way.

11:54

More gunshots. He decided it was better to retreat. Dropping the sword, he turned to run.

“Freeze.” a voice called

Impossible! 

He was stuck. 

It couldn’t be.

There were a few Voices in Manburg. People who could use their power to make people bow to their whim. He had met them. But if someone really tried they could break free. He had done it before.

But there was one person he never could break from. That no one could.

Wilbur.

He heard footsteps approaching, muffled laughter and cheering between the three. He tried even harder to break, to make his limbs move.

“What a sad little fox,”  

Ice curled in his heart as the sharp words invaded his mind.

The person walked around and stood in front of him. 

They held a towel in their hand. 

“Nighty Night.”

He tried to scream as they covered his nose and mouth.

11:55

12:00

An envelope sat in the middle of the road. It’s words scribbled in neat handwriting. 

Wilbur is dead. 

The Rose killed him.

Someone stepped out of the shadows, shoulder shaking as they reached an orange sleeve down to grab it.

They’ll kill you too.

They held it tightly in their hand.

They returned to the shadows where a purple cloud took him away.

Chapter Text

He trailed behind Phil like a lost puppy through the top floor that mimicked a regular house. Down the carpeted stairs. Its walls empty of pictures or paintings or literally anything to say hey someone lives here!

He knew this path well, down the stairs and ducking in the little cupboard under them that led to a much darker staircase to a metal door. Past the door to the right would lead to the training room that he had been dragged to every morning. Well, not dragged being that most mornings now he waited eagerly to train. There was something thrilling about it, although he stuck closer to Phil during it after the whole fire incident. 

Instead of going right they took a left. 

Tommy quickly learned that they had a whole fucking maze under their house. Concrete walls blended together, at first he tried keeping track of the turns but the lefts and rights blended together with each new passage. The only thing differentiating them were the occasional dark wooden doors leading to god knows where. He took note of the few with things like a small carpet in front of the door. He counted three that had them out of the twenty plus doors. 

Phil hummed as he walked. 

He had an annoying walk. Constantly zig zagging all over the place. He swung his arms lazily as he speed walked. They were almost the exact same height and yet Tommy almost had to run to keep up with the man.

Halfway through the walk he noticed that he was copying his walk. He stopped having to run, walking right behind the man. Being so close he could really see every tiny twitch of the wings, making him do the same. 

Phil cleared his throat. Tommy fought a cough off. 

What the fuck.

The tune he hummed changed to one that was almost familiar. 

Phil cast a glance over his shoulder as Tommy hummed with him, a start of a grin. Tommy glared and stopped humming.

They turned the corner and the atmosphere shifted. From dusty and moist smelling to a warmer, sweeter smell. The lights became softer as they turned once more. This hallway was much homier. A light blue carpet ran the length of the hall, muffling the click of their shoes. On the walls watercolor paintings stood between what had to be fake plants. The paintings were splotches of colors, not quite clear enough for him to recognize the settings. 

He stopped at one. Splotches of warm yellows and oranges, blending down the paper to different shades of green. A splotch of dark that must've been a silhouette of a person sat in the middle. It was pretty, almost familiar yet he couldn’t figure out why.

A lighter door sat at the end of the hallway. Loud voices echoed in the hall. Muffled by the door just enough that he couldn’t make out the words, but he could feel the anger that clung to them. Tommy stopped walking, his feet unwilling to keep going towards danger. He could hear the back and forth of two voices, who knew who was behind those doors? How many more were in there? So far in this endeavor he had kept everything together. Yes, he was now helping the Syndicate. Yes, he had been putting trust in the biggest baddest villains of Manburg. Yes, for the past what was it? Week? Two weeks? More? He had been training relentlessly to pass as them. Yes, he was scared.Yes he was anxious. Yes he missed his friends. 

Was he starting to fall apart? Yes Of course not.

He was Tommy Fucking Innit of course he was fine. He could handle a little kidnapping and training. Just meant when he got back he could get away with so much shit.

If they let you go back.

Oh. 

Of course they would. He’d help them get Ghostbur back to himself, and help Persephone with her power or whatever. Then he’d go home. They had to let him go home.

Why would they let you walk away? You know who they are, you’ve seen their faces.

“Tommy? You alright mate?” Phil was right in front of him, he flinched back.

Oh, right he had stopped walking. 

Will I be able to go home? 

He couldn’t bring himself to ask. Not yet. He would be able to go home. They would let him go home once he did what they asked.

Please 

If he thought about it too hard it would shatter him. So he tucked it away for now. He had a job to do and damn it he was gonna do it.

He nodded. Phil stared a moment longer, searching for something. Maybe he found it or maybe he didn’t, either way he turned and kept walking. He glanced over his shoulder only once to make sure the boy was following him.

He stopped just before the door, sending another look at Tommy. A sympathetic smile making him want to find a hole to crawl in. Another yell came from the other side of the door, clearer this time. It was an unknown voice.

“You are under the protection of the Syndicate. No one’s going to harm you mate. Not while under our roof,” he opened the door, letting Tommy enter first. 

What a sight to see. 

Thantos in all his glory stood at the end of the table. Fists pressed into the fancy table that seemed otherworldly. His cape draped behind him elegantly, part being caught on the throne like chair that was pushed behind him. His mask was covering a little over half his face with the pearly white bone of the hoglin skull. His pink ponytail that Tommy had grown accustomed to had turned into an extravagant braid, strands of gold and deep red woven in with pink. 

His white poet's shirt stuck to his arms in odd places, glued in place by a dark red. Thanatos was unbothered by the blood, his eyes narrowed at the figure standing across the table. 

The man was tall. Even slightly leaned down to match Thanatos’ stance. A trident laid before the man on the table. A slight glow from the golden metal of it and of the man’s armor. Both  beautiful things, detail with black tinted blue across the chestplate and the handle of the trident. A light blue gem sat at the base of his neck, reflecting the soft light of the room. Similar gems decorated the top and base of the weapon. 

The man turned to look at Tommy. A black gas mask covered his face, a golden visor covered his eyes but he could see green eyebrows dip further behind them. Green hair covered what little skin was left unprotected. The tiny patches of skin he could see were textured with dark green and gray spots. Most of his neck was covered by light gray padding that stretched under the armor and covered the little spots under the armor. The padding stopped at the black belt and pants tucked into black combat boots.

Thanatos turned to look at Tommy, a slight grin visible. The other man stared at Tommy. 

“Tommy,”

“Tommy?”

“Tommyyyyyy,” a voice wailed. Ghostbur popped up from the couch half blocked by Thanatos. 

Ghostbur’s face is a mess of burning tears. Niki, who had also been sitting there, got up to follow him, a handkerchief in each hand. 

“Ghostbur come here,” she tried softly but he was already in front of Tommy.

“Tommy they took him!” he wailed, more tears forming as his voice cracked. “They took my boy ! 

“He’s gone. Tommy they took him,” he clung to Tommy’s sweater, burying his face in the soft red fabric. It cooled Tommy’s skin in an almost uncomfortable manner.

Tommy stood awkwardly, slowly bringing his arms to wrap the ghost in a half hug. Niki seemed to give up as his sweater gained a wet blue spot. She sighed and sat in the chair next to Thanatos. His head ducked. Sighing, he moved to rescue Tommy. He put a hand on the ghost’s back.

“It’s alright Ghostbur, we’re going to get him back. We need to fill Tommy in though. Could you let him go? We have to fill him in so we can make a plan to save him,” Red eyes met blue. Never did Tommy think he’d see Thanatos on the verge of panic. If it weren’t for the ghost making him uncomfortably cold he’d find it very amusing. The villain looked over his shoulder.“Uh, Niki? Jack? Help?” 

Niki looked over her shoulder to somewhere blocked by Ghostbur and Thanatos. A bald man entered his vision. Niki tossed him the handkerchiefs. The man- Jack- crouched down and whispered something too quiet for Tommy to hear. Whatever it was worked because Ghostbur shifted over to cling to Jack. The man picked up the ghost, handing Tommy one of the handkerchiefs. He then walked behind him to exit with muffled cries from Ghostbur. 

Thanatos returned to his seat, pulling it closer to the table with a loud screech. The golden man cringed at it.

“Well then,” Thanatos waved a hand. “Where were we?” 

Gold man was still staring at Tommy. Quite rudely. 

“Take a picture, it’ll last longer,” he snapped. 

That seemed to get the man out of whatever trance he had been in. 

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” the gold man glared at Thanatos. Something dark and cold creeped into his voice. “He’s a kid . You want to use him ?”

You know, Tommy has learned many things in his not so long life, that includes shutting up and not interrupt two big bads while they are in the middle of an argument. 

Even still he mutters under his breath. “ Not a child”

Phil pats his shoulder sympathetically. He flinched. Yup totally remembered he was right behind him. 

“He’s perfect for this.”

“Thanatos, he’s a child. ” Thanatos stood again. Once again the chair made a horrendous noise going back.

“You’re a little late to this discussion. The plan has already been made, you are just here to help execute it.” Gold man’s grip tightened on the trident before him.

“I’m also here to point out flaws in the plan. This is a huge flaw.”

Again, shutting up. Really he was a master at it. Occasionally.

Phil took over.

“He has already agreed to help us. His decision not ours. He’s already been training under us. You are too late, it is too late to completely scrap the plan now that the Rose is getting bolder. I understand your concern but we have to do something. We have to act now .”  

“But-”

“You’ve never had a problem with something like this before, why now?” Thanatos leaned closer. “What’s the problem, Warden?”

Warden looked at Tommy.

Well shit. 

Warden knew him. He must’ve. Why would he care if not for that? Some other moral compass shining through? For a second he let himself think that maybe the man had a kid, a sibling that looks like Tommy and that's why he was looking at Tommy that way. 

He didn’t know much about Warden. He was an older villain, taking the backseat after Doomsday occurred. He had been spotted once or twice that Tommy could remember since then. Each sighting striking panic everywhere. Warden was ruthless, that was something everyone knew.

And he most likely knew Tommy. Maybe even personally. 

Of course he did. Why wouldn’t he? Why not? Everyone he knew was something apparently. Great. Amazing. Love that for him.

Really he did not need this in his life.

“I don’t care,” he interrupted as Thanatos had moved to say something more. “There’s already a plan right? Might as well stick with it.”

Warden shifted. “Tommy-”

“Nope nope nope, ” he took a step back, hitting Phil who graciously stepped back so Tommy could have space. “I don't care. I don’t want to know who you are, I don’t want to know why you care. So if that’s what your next words were, keep them to yourself bossman. Don’t need another crisis ya know?”

Thanatos laughed. Niki hid a snort behind a cough.

Phil just shook his head, stepping around Tommy to take a seat on the other side of Thantos, the chair had a low back, letting his wings spill behind him. He gestured to the open seat next to him with a similar low back. Tommy stepped up to take it. The man smiled.

“Well said mate. Warden if you’d like to speak to me about this later you can. For now we have to fill Tom in.”

“Tommy. Not Tom,” he muttered under his breath. 

“If you’d like to leave, be our guest. I’d prefer you to be here when we get to the plan but I'm not above saying it twice if needed.”

The man looked at Tommy once more. Tommy glared at him. 

“I’ll stay.”

“Brilliant as always,” Thanatos drawled.

Warden took a seat, visor aimed straight ahead, not straying to look at Tommy which he was ever grateful for. 

You know too much.

How many people will avoid you? How many will know what you’ve done here?

How many will you lose by doing this?

His hands dropped into his lap, tugging at the edges of the handkerchief. Deep breath. 

Phil hummed, tapping his fingers against the table. 

After a few moments of sitting with nothing but that noise, he stood. Tommy flinched at the sudden movement.

“Alright, Tommy, what do you know about the Rose group?” He moved across the table. Behind the table closer to Thanatos was the dark blue couch, from behind it Phil grabbed a decent sized whiteboard. He tossed it to Niki who placed it on the table. He moved onto one of the many bookshelves that decorated the space.

“Uh, not much? I mean people say they’re the newest vigilante group.”

Thanatos nodded. “Do you agree?”

“I guess? They seem to have a lot of numbers though. I’ve only seen the one showing on the news cause, you know, I’ve been here with no news. But that fight with you guys, they had at least twenty people fighting, right?”

Phil produced a handful of dry erase markers.

“Close, in the battle on the news there were twenty, it cut off when many, many more entered the fight. We all were swarmed.” 

“So it has to be something bigger than just a group of vigilantes. In the past having more than seven classified it as an organization. They had a lot out and fought under the same name and who knows how many more weren’t there.”

He recalled long nights when Quackity would drone on and on about classification of different groups. Things that differentiated vigilantes, organizations, mercenaries, rouges. The three boys would be playing video games and there he would be, teaching them.

“Good. They are definitely an underground organization,” Phil drew four circles on the board, each in a different color. “Right, so we have heroes, villains, vigilantes and Rose.” he wrote each in a circle. “Now, for every group they have subgroups, the heroes you have the actual good heroes, the shitty slash greedy heroes, and neutral heroes,” he added three smaller circles behind the ‘hero’ circle. “Of course there are many more but for simplicity we’ll keep it at that. Then you got the vigilantes which is kind of the everything group, all lumped together. Rogues, mercenaries, anti-heroes and then the unofficial heroes that do good,” more circles. “Villain you got the pure evil, the ones who are against the hero committee, enemies in the public’s eye, gangs” even more circles. 

“Each group can be connected in some way, the good heroes team up with good vigilantes. Greedy heroes do not, they do however pay mercenaries to do their dirty work,” he draws lines between a few different bubbles, explaining their relationship. Soon it is a mess of lines and circles. The Rose bubble remains untouched.

“Ok I get it, the world is very complicated,” Tommy huffed. “Already knew that, how does Rose come into this?”

Thanatos snorted. “Yeah, get on with it old man.”

Phil pointed “Not old. Alright fine, so everything can be connected to certain bubbles,” he erased some of the lines to clean it up, leaving just the basic lines. Good hero to Unofficial hero, Greedy to mercenary, Rogue to Public enemy (occasionally) blah blah blah. 

“Now the Rose, we have very limited information on its structure. Currently we know it has two bubbles, field agents and scientists,” who could have guessed, that's right, two more circles. “The field agents go after villains, at least to the public. They have a fight, then the villain isn’t seen again. Any minor villains have gone missing, of the high levels as far as we’re aware only Hades has been caught. Persephone had a run in with them but we’ll get to that in a moment.”

Niki had been looking in the distance for a while now. Not acknowledging anything going on. 

It was strange seeing her without her villain outfit next to Thanatos fully decked out. Her lips drawn in a firm line as the marker continued to squeak across the board. Phil drew some more lines sprouting from the rose bubble. 

“But we’ve found that that isn’t the case anymore. Last night the hero Swift was taken. That sent us searching for more missing heroes. The shifter Twist has been missing in action for weeks, MChill has been gone for five days, a handful of bottom levels have also been reported missing. What do they have in common?” He drew a line from Field to Good Hero. “They are either very vocal in their partnering with vigilantes, or are new heroes that haven’t picked a side yet,” he moved to the vigilante bubble. “I recently heard a few different gang leaders complain about mercenaries going missing after making deals with Rose. 

We’ve also received info from Quackity that there are new weapons being introduced to the hero tower. Very few heroes know about it, the ones who do?” he taps the Shitty/Greedy bubble. 

“An interesting coincidence don’t you think? Heroes who genuinely want to do good go missing while the crappy ones get weapons from mysterious sources?”

“Could be a coincidence,” Warden finally found his voice. Phil nodded.

“Very true. We’ve found a trace from Schlatt's computer to a warehouse on the edge of the city near where we found Ghostbur. It could be some other party giving the heroes weapons,”

Thanatos leaned back in his seat, “Or it could be Rose’s way of buying the heroes for their silence and cooperation.”

“What kind of weapon are we talking about?”

“Quackity couldn’t get much on it but it has something to do with the missing people’s powers, they specified the missing villains but I doubt they wouldn’t use the other powered people.”

Tommy tugged at the handkerchief more. “Why couldn’t he get more information?”

Thanatos huffed, crossing his arms. “He quit.”

“What?”

“He quit being a hero. Idiot put a huge target on his back by doing that. Might as well knock on the rose’s door,”

Phil silenced him with a wave.

“It doesn’t matter right now. We just have to keep pushing forward. He got enough information to get us a decent enough idea. According to the files he got that we were able to get through, there is a transaction happening tonight in the warehouse. Me and Niki will be infiltrating, Techno and Tommy will be out to act as a distraction for anything that could interrupt the transaction. Warden you will be our lookout,” he waited. Tommy’s eyes widened.

“Wait, you want me to what-”

“We will walk you through it, you’ll have Techno. It will be fine.”

Great great great!

“It’ll be good practice runt.”

Amazing.

Warden raised a hand like a fucking child in a classroom. Phil nodded.

“You said Niki had  run in with the Rose?”

“Yes, right. So here is why they are dangerous. Niki? Would you like to explain or should I?”

She sighed. Her eyes closed.

“I got it,” She held up her hand. She wore a large baggy sweater, the sleeve falling down revealing the entirety of her forearm wrapped in white bandage that she delicately unraveled. The skin under had taken on a darker pink tone. Lighter pink skin showed the scars all over the skin.

“A week before the Rose and Syndicate fought I was out with Jack on a very low profile stealth mission. Simple in and out. On the way back we were on the run from the Dream Team, we got separated,” she turned her hand, showing more scarred. It sickened him to realize the pink matched the two stripes that marked her and techno’s cheeks. 

“I had been beaten pretty badly, 404 had messed with my mind and Dream got a good stab in my side. I hid in an alley and that's where the Rose found me. Four of them. One had a syringe full of something and another took some blood. A sword to my throat so I couldn’t do anything,” she shivered.

“I don’t know how but since then my powers haven’t been working.” she flexed her fingers, eyebrows furrowing as she concentrated. 

Thanatos put a hand over hers, bringing it down to the table softly. She huffed.

“When I got back Techno took part of what was left of the flame in me, it was so dim then. Once he took it for a little bit after I could still produce a small flame. And- well you just saw. Nothing. Techno tried transferring it back to me and we almost lost it. He has what's left of it,”

Phil and Warden nodded sympathetically. 

Tommy just stared at the pink. 

“And what uh, your arm? It’s pink?”

She sighed.”I wish it were only my arm.” 

She carefully removed her sweater, a black tank top underneath. 

Her entire arm was the pink, less scarred nearing her shoulder. The pink splattered against the pale skin towards the base of her neck.

“Whatever they stabbed me with has been spreading this from the stabbing point,” she tapped just under her shoulder. “We’re guessing my piglin is coming out more now, hence the color. I’ve also lost all protection from burns, and water now burns so that’s fun,” she put the sweater back on. 

“Holy shit, Niki that’s so fucked I’m sorry,” he knew something was happening to Persephone but this? 

Phil nodded.

“That's why we believe the weapons could have something to do with it. If it is bringing out more hybrid features who says they can’t take it away? They took Hades and now we have a ghost who can't remember a lot and had none of Wilbur’s powers. And now they have Fundy and could do the same to him.”

“Who’s Fundy?”

“Wilbur’s kid, Swift,” Thanatos runs a hand down his hair. “It’s complicated, don’t ask.”

“Right then,” Oh course that brought many questions that he wanted to ask. 

Phil clapped. “Alright that’s what we know. We move later tonight. Tommy, you’ll be training with Techno, he’ll go over the plan. Ask him any questions.” He stood, exiting the room at a fast pace. 

Man really said meeting over, bye. 

Thanatos stood. He clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s go runt,”

“Techno go change, you’ve got blood everywhere,” Niki scolded. He rolled his eyes.

“In my defense half of it isn’t mine.” 

“That arguably makes it worse, big man,” he muttered. Niki cackled and Thanatos steered the boy out of the room. Muttering something about children under his breath. 

He cast a look back in the room, watching Warden pat Niki’s shoulder. She smiled up at him but as he walked away Tommy saw the way everything about her drooped. As the door started to close he swore he saw her wiping a tear.

His heart hurt.

They’re just using you.

He found he didn’t care.

(So righteous )

(So stupid)

Chapter Text

It is dark as Red walks him home. He’s limping, putting half of his weight on Red. His ‘mentor’ 

“Now is not the time to speak your mind Drifter,” the vigilante gently squeezes his shoulder. “I know this is hard on you. It’s hard on all of us.”

He’s not paying attention. The distant ticking of the clock weighs on him.

tick

      tock

             tick

                  tock

The timeline piles on him.

There are many different outcomes from this night.

He saves Fundy, the Rose wins.

He leaves Fundy, leaves the note, the Rose wins.

He stops Fundy from going on patrol, the heroes are destroyed, the Rose wins.

He messages two vigilantes, [REDACTED]

He doesn’t message them, [REDACTED]

He tells them the truth, everything falls apart, the Rose wins.

So he knows. He knows 

He can’t save Fundy tonight. 

He will be saved. 

But for every positive outcome taking this route there is a negative. 

Fundy can’t hold out. Someone new gets hired. Someone important gets taken.

He has to fix it.

He stumbles from Red's grasp.

“Karl,” he warns. 

“I have to fix this,” he mumbles, why must everything spin when he has work to do?

He paws at his mask. A hand catches his.

“You can’t tonight. You’re exhausted,” he lowers Karl’s hands away from his face.

“But I- I gotta, I-? Please?”

“Karl stop, you are going home,” he holds the man's wrist gently yet firmly.

“Home?” 

Where is home? What is home? He’s never had a home before.

People like him didn’t get a home. 

Did he have a home?

Do people care for him now?

That’s silly.

Of course not.

“Yes, home,” the man speaks softly. He half carries the man down the street.

“I have a home?” His voice has also gone soft, higher pitch than before.

“You do have a home. It’s very nice,” it’s very small and stuffed with books but hey Red’s home was very similar. One of them at least.

“That’s nice,” he mumbles. A home! For him! “When did I get a home?” 

“Uh, I’m not sure actually. You’ve had it for a while.” 

He’s had a home for a while? Where had it been hiding? He didn't know he had a home.

He forgets his previous troubles for a moment. Walking down the dark street.

His nose itches, he attempts to scratch it only to be mostly blocked by a mask.

“Why am I wearing a mask?” he tugs at it. 

“Cause you’re a vigilante. You need it to protect your identi- and there you go,” the man half groans seeing Karls unmasked face. “Karl you need that on!”

A vigilante? Why would he be that?

“It’s sticky. I don’t wanna wear it.”

The man sighs. “Your nose is bleeding, that's why,” he leads them into an alley. There's a small staircase leading up to a concrete porch. A yellow light shining down. Karl squints.

“Here is your home.” 

“Really?” it wasn’t much from the outside but that's fine! He has a home!

He holds up a hand to his mouth, hiding a smile. He pulls his hand away, tacky with blood. He looks at it, noting the soft glow that shines on it. 

“Come on bud,” Red says, helping him up the stairs. He knocks on the door. 

Red looks at him. In his red goggles Karl can see himself in it, eyes glowing white. He tilts his head, going to touch his eyeball but Red grabs his hand. 

He knocks again. A voice inside acknowledges them, footsteps hurrying over.

“I thought this was my house?” he asks. Red nods as locks click. 

“Grian? Karl- what happened?” the man asks. 

“Oh you’re cute,” is all he says. Nodding to himself. 

Red sighs. “He had a breakdown, over used his power, now he’s like this.”

The man has black hair peeking out of a blue beanie, a little yellow duck is embroidered on its cuff. Karl reaches a hand out to touch it. The man grabs it softly. What was with everyone grabbing him? The man gently leads his hand to touch the duck. 

“Karl?”

“Hm?”

“You with me?”

He sighs wistfully.”I wish… you’re cute. Dooya have a boyfriend?”

“I-”

Red laughs. “I’ll leave you two to it!” He shakes his wings out. 

The man huffs, pulling Karl close into a hug. Karl nuzzles his sweater, having to lean down ever so slightly. An arm wraps around his middle as the man backs up so he can close the door. He lifts him so he's just off the floor.

The room is warm. He peeks up from the soft fabric to get a look at his home. There are books everywhere. Each with a similar cover. A wall of books block parts of the hallway, making the man navigate around them. The wall lacked pictures. Pale blue walls were plain and cold, making him tuck back into the man’s sweater. He heard a chirp from the man. If Karl was any kind of hybrid he’s sure he’d make a noise back. But he’s not. Which is stupid.

Hybrids are so cool. What he was wasn’t cool. It was stupid.

“Karl? You awake love?”

“Mhmmm”

“Are you sleeping?”

“Nuh uh,” he shoots up, almost making the man drop him.

Love. He called Karl love.

Ok, so Karl should know him?

Uh. 

He stared into the man’s eyes. Soft brown eyes looked into glowing white.

He must look panicked, must look something because brown eyes turn concerned. 

“Karl?”

He is set so his feet touch the ground.

“I’m sorry, who are… um. Sorry, who are you?”

The man just smiles softly. 

But there are tears in his eyes.

“It’s ok love, I know. My name is Quackity. Does that sound familiar at all?” They stand at the end of the hallway, Karl looks into the room it leads right into.

It’s cluttered with books like the hall. In the middle of the room sits a soft orange couch, a little table covered in papers sitting in front of it. There's a blue fluffy pillow and blanket on the couch. 

He pushes past Quackity to curl up in it. He wraps it round his shoulders.

“Karl?” Quackity follows, standing hesitantly at the end of the couch.

“Hm?” His face emerges from the blanket.

He sighs, a smile that can’t quite reach his eyes still on his face.

“Have you eaten anything recently?”

He shakes his head.

Maybe he has? Who knows. Definitely not him.

Quackity hums, going over to where a small kitchen takes up the corner. He hears the clank of pots and pans.

Karl reaches a gloved hand out for one of the papers. Maybe if he read it in the past it could jog his memory now.

It had been torn from a notebook, one side jagged. 

It was a list of scribbles. Very few words make sense, names, locations, times. He reaches for another.

Soon he has a pile of papers around him, none jogging anything but more confusion.

Quackity walks over with a wet rag. He waits for Karl’s approval before dabbing at the blood that has dried making his nose itchy.

“Remember anything yet?”

“No, I’m sorry,” he really is. 

He kissed him on the head, taking the goggles off his hair. “Not a problem, don’t push yourself. Just know you’re ok.”

He nods.The man returns to cooking.

A notebook within reach. He grabs it, flipping through pages. There’s a dent in the pages, as if it had been dropped. He flips to it.

The names are unfamiliar yet he keeps looking. He finds one at the bottom of the page.

Meeting- Wilbur- alley west 7th St and a date and time set for almost three months ago. 

And just like that everything came back. 

He stands, instantly falling to the ground. 

“Karl?”

“Quackity,” He gasps. He shakily stands, turning to his boyfriend. “Quackity!” He hugs him.

“Karl?” He hugs back, holding on tightly.

“I’m back, I’m here,” he feels the sigh more than hears.

“Thank god.”

They stand there until the microwave beeps. Quackity sighs dramatically, detaching himself from Karl with many apologies.

Karl runs through the night. Well, the days he had been jumping. 

He had been gone for a week, trying again and again until he could find the timeline where things would be ok.

He did what he could. Going to each date he had plugged in. 

He had been missing something. Something he hadn’t done yet.

A meeting with Wilbur, of course. But why? What did he need to tell Wilbur? 

Quackity pulls him out of his thoughts. He watches Karl eat the mac and cheese he had made. Making sure every bite is gone, then gives him two bottles of water to drink slowly over the next couple hours.

He leaves to grab a pair of pajamas for Karl while he sits on the couch, trying to come up with what needs to happen.

Upon his return he tosses the pajamas at Karl and shoos him to the bathroom to get out of his costume (that he totally remembered he was wearing) 

Fully changed, he looks into the mirror.

Faint bits of blood still cling to his nose. Dark bags hang under his still shining eyes. Sure the brightness has dulled but it's still there.

A faint scar runs through his lip, a constant reminder. He touches it. Quackity calls for him to hurry up if he wants to be the one to pick the movie tonight. He just laughs.

“Yeah right, you’ll let me pick anyway!” 

Quackity just yells, playful as always even though Karl knows he has so much weighing on him as well.

They all do.

He is so tired. 

But life has never been kind to him.

His eyes change. White to purple.  

He sighs. 

He wanted to wait to talk with Wilbur. Wait til he knew what was supposed to happen.

Apparently someone had a different idea.

Chapter Text

“What a sad little kitty,”

“Zara leave him.” a chair screeched as it was pushed back. “If she comes in and you’re doing that you’re going to get both of us in trouble,”

“You’re no fun,”

One eye was forced open, a bright light blinded him. He flinched back, hitting the wall with chains rattling. 

Both eyes opened he stared at the purple haired girl staring at him with a wide grin. Behind her, a tall man sat with his arms crossed.

“Great,” he drawled. “You woke him up. Amazing job.”

Green scars marked his dark skin, the green matching one eye. The other was a light brown, both were narrowed at the lady.

Like him, her eyes were mismatched. One an unearthly blue, the other brown. The edges of her face had the same blue colored scales.

He recognized the lady’s voice.

She had Wilbur’s power. Somehow. She was there. The man he couldn’t remember. 

He tried to move, noting the chains keeping his arms stretched out and up as he was sat on his knees on cold tile. His outfit was unchanged minus the lightness of the pockets on his pants and belt. His half cloak remained although the white was dirtied significantly more than it had been.

His mask was gone which was less than ideal.

He took in the room. 

It was small. A metal door was directly in front of him. A small window up top and a rectangle opening towards its middle. There was no handle of any sorts to open it 

The white walls and white tiles didn't help dim the far too bright lights above.

The room was mostly empty besides the desk and chair that the man occupied.

 His ears flicked back as the girl poked them.

“ Zara.” the man warned. 

“What? I’ve never been this close to a hybrid ‘fore,” she went to poke his nose but pulled back as he tried to bite her.

She laughed, standing. He glared.

“He’s still trying to get out! Fuckin idiot.”

“Who the hell are you?” he growled.

“So he does speak, hey tell me little hero, what does the fox say? I’ve always wondered and the song is so misleading.”

The other man sighed.

Unimpressed, Fundy attempted to stand. It was a bit uncomfortable as his legs threatened to fail him but they were not chained thankfully. The chains forced his arms in an awkward position behind him.

He stood just above eye level with the girl.

“Who are you? What do you want?”

She rolled her eyes. 

“He said so many times, dumbass, the names Zara.”

“And what the hell do you want, Zara, ” he leaned closer, which proved to be very uncomfortable.

 Fundy was never the most intimidating hero. The skinny hero with fox ears and a tail never did strike fear into the hearts of many. As he glared the girl down he knew it was uneffectful.

Her grin widened.

“Little o’l me? Nothin you could give. I’m sure she has a use for you but what do you have? Speed?” she snorted. “I’m sure someone wants speed but it’s kind of lame don’t you agree?”

“Pardon?” 

Someone wanted his power? Scratch that, someone could use his power?

“Don’t tell him anything else Zee. I don’t know what she wants to tell him.” the man tapped a pen against the desk.

Zara sighed. With a grin she poked his ear again. He glared.

When another poke came he lashed out, with not much room to work with he managed to bite the exposed skin of her wrist, not quite covered by the leather sleeves of her jacket. 

The taste of copper and salt flooded his senses in a way he always dreaded. 

The girl let out a screech, then a laugh. 

She punched him hard in the face.

His head lolled to the side as darkness crept in.

“Great Zee, You broke him.”

Someone would find him. 

They had to.

Right?

—

The training room was dark when Tommy entered it.

As instructed he had gone to his room to change into the plain training clothes, promising Thanatos he’d meet him there.

“Thanatos?” he called. His voice echoed slightly off the large empty room. He received nothing but silence.

A red emergency light flashed above the door where he entered, an ominous red reaching to illuminate anything close enough. 

He must have arrived before the villain. Maybe if he could find the lights and get everything ready he wouldn’t beat Tommy into oblivion this time. 

The switch was not next to the door where it would make sense, because why would they try to make things convenient for other people. Phil used shadows and Thanatos had those weird eyes, of course they both could probably see just fine in the dark whereas Tommy’s little human eyes couldn’t see squat. He continued along the wall, feeling it up and down once he exited the red light’s reach.

“Mi mi mi mi, I’m Thanatos, I’m so big and strong, mi mi mi,” he mocked, almost tripping on a mat. “Mi mi mi, I’m Phil, I  can see in the dark just fine you suck tommy.”

Still nothing.

He reached the weapon wall. Peering close he could see the handle of a practice axe. He swung it up on his shoulder. Puffing out his chest as he strut 

“Im Thanatos, mi mi mi, everyone sucks and I am the best,” 

He swung the axe, making whooshing sounds and still mocking Thanatos as he reached the end of the weapons and back to the solid wall. 

Still no fucking switch.

“Mi mi mi. Who needs to fucking see? I’m Thanatos, I’m so big and strong mi mi mi-” he heard a sigh behind him. Swinging around he pointed the axe at the darkness behind him.

“Why do you still call me that?” Thanatos asked in the darkness. 

It was like the meeting earlier had never happened. The tame mood Thanatos had held towards him was gone, replaced by the dark cold the villain was known for.

He lowered the axe, feeling silly.

“What do you mean?”

“Thanatos.” he felt the darkness shift closer. Tommy stepped back.

“It’s your name innit?”

“You know my real name. Ghostbur told you before.”

“Well, I-”

“You called Phil his name, same with Niki. Why not me Tommy?”

He did, didn’t he. 

“Uh-”

The man pushed him back. Tommy fell to the floor, the axe hitting him in the chest hard.

“Stop-”

“Get up. You’ll be out tonight and there’s a high chance sometimes we’ll be in low light,” a hand grabbed his shoulder, yanking him up.

“Than- Techno, stop it.” The name felt wrong. Foreign. He raised his axe, feeling it be hit with another weapon. 

“So you do remember,” another hit sent him back.

“Of course I do, prick.”

“Then why don’t you ever use it?” his voice was darker than the room.

He couldn’t see. If he couldn’t see he couldn’t fight properly. No doubt Thanatos could see him fine as he batted at Tommy. 

He was pushing Tommy away from the wall, hitting the raised axe or sweeping his legs, making him crawl backwards to avoid another hit. Faintly he could see the glow of red shining in eyes above him, making him scramble back further. Over his shoulder he could see he was almost in the emergency lights reach.

He made his wings appear and flew up.

Thanatos let out a snort. 

It was followed by a loud crunch. The man grunted once and Tommy felt the air around him shift as another body joined him in the air. 

He dived for the red, feeling Thanatos not far behind him.

So close. He could see his hand faintly as he reached for it.

A hand wrapped around his ankle, pulling him backwards and then to the ground.

He was kicked in the knees and down he fell. He was thankful that they were still on the mats.

A foot landed on the square of his back, right between his wings. He flapped twice, trying to knock him off before letting them disappear. 

“What’s my name?”

He had many. 

Thanatos. Comrade of Death. The Red One. Blood God. The Blade.

Techno.

Techno didn’t feel right.

“You see me as a monster, right?”

Techno felt-

“Techno feels real to you doesn’t it. A name. A weird name to some but a name all the same.”

“Human. Right?

He knew better than to speak up now. To try to deny what they both knew to be true.

“You look at everyone else and can separate them from a villain but not me. They all get to be human to you where I am seen as a monster day in and day out.” 

The weight on his back lessened.

“And you know what?” with nothing holding him back he scrambled to his feet.

“ I don’t care. See me as a villain. Keep me lumped together into one. Hate me as a villain but do not forget that you agreed to work with me when you agreed to work with them .” 

“I do not let people near my family. You have come the closest yet you are a stranger. A hope, something they are all trusting will do us right but you know what? I don’t have that hope. You get your one chance, but the second you try any funny business? The second you step out of line you are dead. 

You try anything tonight, you stab us in the back, your friends will be dead before you can even tell them you’re alive and not six feet in the ground as they believe you to be.”

Tubbo and Ranboo though he was dead?

“What?” he croaked.

They couldn’t, They knew what happened. They would wait for him.

“Do you understand me?” He felt the man’s breath on his neck.

“Yeah yeah, loud and clear bossman.” 

“Good.” The lights clicked on, blinding him. 

When his vision cleared, Thanatos was already walking towards the weapon wall once again.

“How did you-”

The man held up a small black remote. 

“Of fucking course you have a remote you prick,” his shoulders relaxed slightly as Thanatos snorted.

The air was clearing already, how the fuck could he switch so fast?

Maybe he was just like Phil and Niki. His features just stayed the same.

“Me and Phil don’t need the lights except when we train you. Niki usually has it ‘cause she’s the only one who needs light.”

“What about Had- Wilbur. Could he see in the dark?”

“Meh, half the time, but I figured out of the two of them Niki wouldn’t lose it.”

Tommy nodded. “He seems like a prick who would lose everything.”

“Trust me, Ghostbur is even worse.”

Ghostbur.

He liked Ghostbur. He liked the innocence he presented. 

But it also unnerved him. The burning tears he had shed.

The son he apparently had.

“I was serious about training in the dark. It’ll be night and though we will have light there might be times we have to hide in a back alley or an unlit building. Being able to hold your own in the dark is important.”

The man stopped and reached for a practice sword that shared a similar build to Erebus’.

“So what? That whole thing was practice?”

He tossed the sword to Tommy.

His voice turned dark. “No, that was me getting a point across. You better remember it.”

Tommy took a step back, hands raised.

The man smirked. “Good. Now, let's go.”

For himself he grabbed an axe, one much larger than Tommy’s cast aside on the ground.

They began what had become a routine for Tommy. To start, he would be on the defense until Thanatos got through him. Then they would switch.

He let his wings out, knowing he’d have to fight with them. Calling back Phil’s fighting style was easy now. As Techno advanced Tommy propelled himself into the air, keeping his legs slightly tucked as the man reached for his legs. 

Blood red wings appeared on Techno’s back. 

“What the fuck?!?” 

“You’ll fight all sorts of people. The vigilante Red had wings. I think a couple others have them too. You have to be prepared to fight in the sky.”

He attempted to stab him, Tommy blocked at the last second. 

Techno had more training, but Tommy was more used to moving in the air.

Probably.

“Who’s wings did you take?”

He found Techno to match him perfectly. The pace continued just as fast as it had on the ground, only now Tommy had more room to get away. 

“Not take, borrow. I’ve got both Phil’s wings and his power.”

“Why do you need his power?” He grunted as the axe pushed him back.

“You haven't trained with his power at all yet so I'll have it tonight just in case we have a fight.”

To some he was lucky to have wings, that didn’t stop him from getting excited about the potential of a power.

“I’ll get to use his power? How?”

Techno hit him in the shoulder hard, causing him to fall back. 

“That’s enough of that. Back on the ground. I’m defense.”

They flew to the floor.

Techno gave him a minute to catch his breath.

“I can transfer powers, didn’t Phil tell you?”

He moved into a better fighting stance for attacking. “No? I don’t know shit about your power.”

Round two of their dance began.

“I can copy someone’s power, or borrow it as we call it. I can also give that copy to someone else for a short period of time. They don’t always translate exactly, hence the red wings instead of black.” He blocked Tommy’s hit and kicked him in the ribs.

Lightly of course.

“That’s why we need you. If I transfer Phil’s wings to someone else there is no guarantee they’ll match. If he had literally any other type of wing it would have been so much easier.”

“Why aren’t there more crow hybrids?”

The way hybrids worked were strange already, but the way they were distributed were even more so.

It confused scientists who spent their whole lives looking at data, tracking family trees, DNA. Anything that could point to why some people had fox ears or wings or magic abilities.

Anything that could point to why a family line that had only ever been human could lead to a child with wings.

Orphanages were full of hybrid children who didn’t match their family line.

“Crows often are a symbol of death. Who would want to be connected with that?”

They shuffled in a circle.

He was supposed to be attacking but how could he with all the new questions and information being given to him?

This was the most the man had ever given him.

“What does that have to do with it? It’s not like we could choose.”

“You’re right,” the man’s voice was filled with amusement in a way that ticked Tommy off strongly.

“What are you-”

“You’re supposed to be attacking.”

He glared at techno. 

“Well sorry I just wanted to learn but you’re being cryptic and shit,” he aimed to stab and instead kicked him in the shin, trying to get him back. Techno didn’t even wince as he pushed him back and turned and ran. 

Tommy followed, using his wings to propel him forward faster. 

Gaining ground, he flew up and went straight back down. He landed hard on the man’s back , causing both of them to grunt on impact.

Techno fell into a roll, shoving Tommy off him in a smooth motion. 

Techno didn’t acknowledge the conversation he had shut down. He didn’t say much more during their fight. Only giving pointers and other moves he recommended for similar situations. 

A while later he stopped. 

He left the mat and tossed a plastic water bottle at him.

“That’s enough for now. You have three hours before we will head out.”

Tommy chugged the water. 

He wiped his face and sighed, leaning back on the mat. A white towel was thrown on his face by Techno.

“What’s the plan?”

“Listen to me. Don’t leave my side.” He wiped his hands on his pants. “That’s all you need to know.”

“That’s nice. Love how specific it is, really you should save some details for later,” he deadpanned.

Techno kicked him.

“You don’t need to know more. You just do what I tell you. Understand?”

The threat remained unsaid as he stared Tommy down. 

Your friends think you’re dead.

“Understood.”

Chapter Text

Tubbo sat on the floor in the middle of their main room. An elderly lady who lived a floor above them stood in their kitchen making food for him and Ranboo who had disappeared earlier for training.

Her name was Cheryl. She had two grandsons about his age. She was old as dirt and didn’t understand social cues but damn it, she was the sweetest old lady on this side of Manburg.

She had heard the news about Tommy from one of the grandsons and had come over quickly with the promise of hot food and a clean apartment. Of course her eyesight was going so most of the cleaning was done by Tubbo but the thought counted for something.

She hummed an old song as she poured ingredients with her heart. She had attempted light conversation but was perfectly fine with silence with the less than chatty replies Tubbo gave. There was only so much you could do with one word responses after all.

He flicked through the TV channels, aiming for anything with the Syndicate or vigilantes. Red had promised to keep Ranboo out of the fighting this afternoon, but they all knew that sometimes things just had to happen. Sometimes trainees had to step up to assist.

Not that they couldn’t handle it.

Their training had been going well the past couple weeks. Two months had gone by since the night Tommy was taken.

Two.

Months.

Each passing day felt like another nail on the coffin.

Each day Red promised they had not stopped looking, that they were following a lead.

Each day Tubbo stressed and stirred, practicing fight moves over and over again until he could hold his own in a fight.

His free hand ran through subtle motions Red had drilled into him, picturing a knife, a baton, a stick in his hand. His eyes scanned  the varying channels flicking across the screen.

He stopped on a baking channel.

For a moment he let himself drift to the calmness of the show, the even voice of the chef as they moved step by step through the recipe. It was some fancy pastry that Ranboo would love to make.

For the first time in a while he let himself drift off. 

When he woke tears stained his cheek. 

With the sleeve of his shirt he wiped them away as Cheryl scolded the oven timer for not being patient. The smell of cookies filled the room and Tubbo stood to join her at the counter.

“How was your nap dear?” she asked. Her eyes crinkled with a sad smile as she passed a hot cookie over to him. He took a bite and shrugged, burning his tongue.

With his free hand he swiped the newspapers of the seat next to him and sat. He ignored the sound of them hitting the ground.

Cheryl started to ramble on about random things as Tubbo sat in depressed silence.

“Beth Ann has been so stressed about Jerry, you know Jerry? Well ever since the divorce-”

She had one of those voices that were very comforting and easy to zone out to. He found himself grabbing another cookie and scrolling the news on his phone. Cheryl kept talking and started on gathering ingredients for her next product as she talked. He took another bite of a cookie.

“And of course poor Scotty has been so distressed after Tim’s passing, he asked me to help plan for the funeral, but with the weather turning I don't know where we are going to find the poppies he wants- oh” she paused her baking and looked at him. She set the things she had gathered down and moved over to him.

 “I know it’s hard to think about funerals and things, but if you ever need help getting started I know some good planners who really do a good job,” her hands clasped Tubbo’s. “I really am sorry for your loss dear.”

“What?” The cookie went dry in his mouth.

Cheryl at least had the ability to look uncomfortable.

“I know it’s hard to accept a death of a friend-”

“What the fuck Cheryl?” He stood, pushing her hands away from him.

The fuck???

“Toby,”

“Stop,” he shook his head. “He’s not dead.”

His voice cracked.

He hated it. 

Hated the pity she sent his way. Hated her raised hands in surrender, as if he were an animal needing to be calmed.

He wasn't an animal.

He didn't need any sympathy.

Tommy wasn’t dead.

He knew this, he believed this.

 He was sick of everyone tiptoeing around it.

He hated feeling weak.

He turned away from her. “Please just leave,” He opened the bedroom door and slipped in. The wood of the door frame groaned with the force of the slam. Cheryl let out a yelp.

“Oh honey I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you,” she called, her voice grew louder as her shadow peaked under the door.

He didn’t respond.

Ignoring her further attempts to comfort, he pulled the blankets from the bed in attempts to make a nest.

As he worked he heard Cheryl call out a hesitant goodbye and the front door opened and shut. Quickly he paused his work and went to lock it.

Ranboo wouldn’t be home for a couple of hours.

Back in the room he closed the curtains and collapsed in the pile of blankets.

It wasn’t the same as a Tommy made nest. There were lumps he couldn’t get smooth, patches where the cold ground still seeped through.

It lacked the warmth of two other bodies. It lacked the feeling of something bigger than himself, somewhere he belonged through something like magic.

Tommy had described his instincts as magic once, being a part of a flock. 

Like a blanket wrapping itself around his heart, intertwining them together with some otherworldly power.

What Tubbo would give for that magic. Instead he felt a string tightening around his throat, around his heart and head. 

Maybe he was dying.

Or maybe Tommy was dead and this was how he figured it out.

Hours later a soft whoop told him Ranboo was home. A pair of arms found him and held him in the darkness. 

Tubbo’s cries filled the silence.

“Red wants us to go out tonight with him and Circuit. Do you want me to tell them no?” His voice was soft as he ran a hand through his hair, gently brushing his horns. 

“No. I want to go out.” He rolled over, butting his head into Ranboo and pulling a blanket up over them. 

“I just need a little bit longer.” He hugged Ranboo.

“Ok,” he whispered. He tightened his grip, softly whispering reassurance.

And the string seemed to loosen as the warmth of another seeped into him.

But the lack of one clung to his bones.

—

Erebus’ clothes were comfortable. Sure they were a little big and smelt dusty from the box they were pulled from, but they weren’t terrible.

Techno helped pin the clothes so they hung just right. With a golden pin he secured the grayish green half cloak around his shoulders.

Tommy slipped into black combat shoes with a small amount of padding to add that extra inch or two. On their insides he slipped a small knife into their pockets.

When he straightened in front of the mirror everything felt weird.

They were just clothes. 

The clothes of a murderer.

Techno gently strapped the plague doctor mask and the black bucket hat on, adjusting and patting down fluffy hair till it looked right enough.

Tommy's breath hitched.

It looked so real. 

Erebus stared at him in the mirror.

He reached up to touch the mask. His hand slipped under it and touched his skin.

It wasn’t Erebus.

My name is Tommy. 

It is just a costume.

“Not bad runt,” Techno brushed off flecks of dust from the green robe.

Content with the date of the boy, he disappeared from view.

Moments later the man returned in a new villain getup.

His white poet's shirt had been exchanged for a black one, it's sleeves embroidered with gold leaves. His previously golden crown had been replaced with obsidian metal and purple jewels that glowed. A shadow clung to him, darkening the air around him slightly. In his hand he help the boar skull. 

His eyes were almost comedic with all the black eye shadow surrounding them.

“You going emo now?” Tommy joked. 

He gave him a look.

“My brother is dead. Yes I am going emo.” he deadpanned.

Valid point, have a nice day.

Maybe I should go emo. Prime knows enough shit has happened that could justify it.

“Remember. You follow me. No funny business.”

Tommy nodded. The figure in the mirror nodded back.

“Good. Lets go Erebus.” 

Yep, definitely gonna go emo when this is all over

—

Red stood on the edge of the roof, eyes wandering across the city with a hand raised to his earpiece. Below him on the street a large puddle reflected the streetlight and the faint light of the full moon above him. His silhouette could be seen but he wasn’t bothered. It wasn't like he was hiding from anyone.

“Any updates?” His wings rustled in the slight wind.

Circuit sounded out of breath over the mic. “I got Lunar here with me, he wants a meeting.”

He hummed, flicking a pebble off the roof. “What for?”

They waited as Circuit asked.

They heard his breath catch. 

“They got Jimmy.” 

Red cursed and stood, his wings spread elegantly behind him.

“Fine, tell him we’ll meet at midnight. We still need to patrol. The Syndicate will be out tonight, we need time to recoup after.”

“On it,” Circuit cut the line. Only Hawkeye remained.

“You see the fellas yet Red?”

He sighed. The space around him darkened.

Down below in the water, several glowing purple eyes could be seen in the shadowed silhouette. 

He searched.

With a deepened voice he responded. 

“Two minutes out to you. I’ll make my way over.

“Wonderful, see you soon.” 

—

They chased after the minor villain hopping across the roof. Red led the charge. His colorful wings helped the rest to spot the lead in the darkness. Circuit followed just behind him, his hands flying creating something that shimmered with red.

Tubbo and Ranboo followed after him, dressed in their new vigilante outfits.

Ranboo had stuck with the black cargo pants his first outfit had. Now they were decorated with purple and black swirls on their pockets. A cropped purple jacket covered the thick black turtleneck that protected him from the cold and successfully covered the padded protection he wore underneath. On his face a black mask was secured tightly to the bottom half of his face, decorated with more swirls. Covering his eyes was a purple bit of fabric matching the jacket, it was enough to cover his mismatched eyes yet didn’t limit his vision. His hair was wild from the wind. 

He tugged Tubbo along, muttering encouragement under his breath. 

Tubbo cursed his short legs in his struggle to keep pace.

He had traded green pants for ones similar to Ranboos. Black cargo pants were decorated with bees and flowers along the cuffs and pockets. He had kept the brown bomber jacket, wearing a deep green turtleneck underneath. His mask was the same green, decorated with embroidered leaves and flowers on its edges. Over his eyes he wore a black strip of fabric. Covering his horns was the black hat, the bee pin secured to it proudly. 

They looked badass.

The vigilante patch was sewn into the sleeves of their jacket, marking them as trainees under Red, Circuit, and Hawkeye.

Hawkeye followed behind them, shouting encouragement and giving directions. 

They jumped a few roofs before they realized it would be a dead end shortly, for each one the gaps got larger. Smaller buildings filled in the spaces below as Tubbo jumped.

Of course that only would serve as a problem for three of them. 

Red could fly, Ranboo could teleport, and Hawkeye had an exceptionally large capability to jump. At this point Tubbo was very sure he had some sort of mechanical legs.

The villain had shown no capabilities to fly or jump very far. The man had let them get closer when he hesitated before a large gap. Red and blue glasses looked over his shoulder. A light reflected off them and he grinned.

“Stop!” Red called out as he stepped off the ledge. He lunged, propelled by his wings. He disappeared over the edge.

Circuit stopped at the ledge and looked down. 

“What?” He called, holding an arm out to stop Tubbo and Ranboo’s momentum from sending them over the edge.

Red flew back up, landing on the edge. 

“Gone.” He crouched and brushed a hand through his hair. “It’s a dead end, he wasn’t out in the road, there are no doors or windows anywhere near. He just vanished.”

They stood in silence broken up only by the trainees attempting to catch their breath. The three elderly kept watch. Red kept watch over the edge with his arms crossed.

When their breathing slowed he turned. 

They continued on their patrolling path, nearing the warehouse district. 

Ranboo heard Circuit mutter about the change in their usual patrol path. Red either didn’t hear him or didn’t care, continuing on. 

“How was your first chase Stinger? I know Ender’s been in a couple now, but what do you think?” Hawkeye asked, waking beside him.

He shrugged. “Meh. Wish we caught the dude.”

The man laughed. “Understandable. Wildcard is evasive, not uncatchable but difficult.”

“Have you caught him before?”

“Oh sure. He’s a tricky one though, escaped many times,” he grinned. “We aren’t too concerned though. He mostly steals from other villains. The only problem is that he helps the Syndicate often enough to be labeled as a concern.”

Tubbo nodded.

There was rustling behind them. Hawkeye shoved him behind him, arrow strung in the bow and aimed at the newest target.

“Erebus, keep a lookout. This won't take long.” A monotone voice said. He peaked around Hawkeye which wasn't necessary. He already knew who the bastard was.

And he was pissed.

There stood Thanatos, axe in hand. Erebus hesitated for a moment before flying up into the air, out of sight. 

Red and Circuit moved to join Hawkeye. The three made a line of defense in front of the two trainees.

“Thanatos,”

“Red,”

Tubbo shoved them out of his path.

“Thanatos you bitch,” he growled. Three hands reached out to grab him but he ducked under them in favor of taking another step towards the villain. 

The man was huge. He loomed over Tubbo. The axe glowed softly in the light, swinging menacingly at the villain's side.

Thanatos chuckled.

“Oh? And who are you?” He was too close. 

“Where is he?” He allowed himself to be pulled back slightly.

“Stinger,” Red warned.

“I have no clue who you mean… Stinger. ”

He grit his teeth.

“Tommy fucking Innit. Ring any bells doorknob?” 

“Stinger!” 

He heard several sighs from the three elders. Sure, maybe this wasn’t the smartest move but he was fucking pissed and here was a Syndicate member who had answers. 

Pardon him if he didn’t care.

“Hm. Am I supposed to know who that is?” The man took a step closer.

“Uh yeah, Dave. You are.”

Someone- probably Red- grabbed the back of his jacket and threw him back. 

“Stinger, you are done.” Ah yes, it was Red. Bastard.

“Dave?” Thanatos asked. He straightened. 

Then he laughed.

“Dave. Oh that’s right. So you’re the roommate. What was it, James, right? But that isn’t your real name,” he took a step, sweeping his arms out dramatically. “Tubbo, isn’t it?”

His heart stopped. 

Ranboo grabbed his hand, ready to teleport when the villain laughed.

“Tommy… " the villain hummed.

"Yes.. I remember Tommy now. Blonde hair, blue eyes, curse words made up ninety percent of his vocabulary? Those details sound right? Oh, black wings?”

“Yes.” Red responded. Knowing enough about the boy from the stories the two had told.

“Almost forgot about him, it’s been so long.” the man shrugged.

No.

“The Syndicate had no use for him.”

They couldn’t. 

“Well, that’s not true. We could’ve used him if he had been better. He was useless.”

Thanatos cocked his head.

“Tommy is dead.”

“YOU LIAR,” He shouted. Ranboo grabbed his arms and pulled him to their chest.

“No,” they whispered, holding tight to Tubbo.

“Why would I lie?” The villain huffed. “We had no use for him, he kept stirring up trouble. It was the obvious choice.”

“That’s enough Thanatos,” Hawkeye said. He raised the bow up higher, aiming for the boar mask.

“Then shoot.” 

He let the arrow lose and shadows enveloped the villain, the arrow went straight through it.

Red and Circuit moved into defensive mode, weapons raised.

The hair on the back of Tubbo's neck rose. 

“Tommy is dead,” the deep voice whispered in his ear. He found himself unable to move. “Stay away from our business, Tubbo and Ranboo. There is nothing for you here in the game of heroes and villains.”

The shadows vanished. Thanatos was gone.

Tubbo felt numb as he fell to his knees. Ranboo not far behind.

He was aware someone was screaming. 

If it was him or Ranboo he wasn’t sure.

The three vigilantes tried to talk to them, tried to move them. 

Tried to do anything.

Ranboo wrapped their arms around him, holding tightly.

The world disappeared for a brief moment.

Then they reappeared in the nest on the bedroom floor.

“Ranboo,” he wheezed. 

Ranboo just shook his head, tearing off his mask. Tears burned into flesh. 

He hugged Tubbo. 

Tommy is dead.

The numbness gripped him. 

Below it, something hot was brewing. Something dark.

He was going to kill them all.

—

“Did you get the information?”

“Confirmed what we suspected. Rose agents were crawling all over the place. They had a container of weapons and guess who waltzed in? The Dream Team.”

“Alright then. Any idea on what the weapons are?”

“Dream pulled one out. It was some sort of gun. Persephone didn’t like the look of them, they had this glowy substance in a bottle connecting them. She said it was the same kind of thing in the syringe they stabbed her with. Could be a power diffuser.”

“That’s great.” he sighed.

“How did the distraction go?”

“Didn’t see a single Rose. Ran into Red and his crew. They have two new vigilantes. You remember Tommy’s friends?”

“Yeah?”

“They are going to cause us some trouble.”