Chapter Text
Tommy clicks the red SEND button on his phone and doesn’t release the air in his chest until the screen tells him that if his application makes it to the next phase, he’ll receive an email. Tommy can’t believe he actually did it. Hopefully, Tubbo doesn’t murder him, even though he is aware of Tommy’s ridiculous plan. But the two of them need money, so Tommy needs to get a job since Tubbo already works full-time at the second-hand store. And an assistant position at the Hero Headquarters would pay much more than his past job and Tubbo’s current one combined.
Tommy stands up and jumps from the top of the building he’s on to the next and continues hopping from rooftop to rooftop, making the bigger jumps by propelling himself with his enhancement. Yes, Tommy interrupted his nightly patrol to apply to be a hero’s assistant. And Tommy’s a vigilante. There are so many things wrong with Tommy’s plan and he knows that. He doesn’t know why he doesn’t care.
Using his powers to slow his descent, Tommy drops from one of the buildings he landed on into a dark alley he heard yelling coming from. Fortunately, the moon likes Tommy tonight and sheds enough light on the gang beating up two teenagers. Unfortunately, that gang doesn’t seem to like Tommy and proceeds to charge him. Tommy ducks under a fist aimed at his masked mouth and goggles (in his signature color: red) and dodges a knife that was jabbed towards his leg.
“Leave us alone, Kraken!” one of the attackers shouts, Tommy can’t tell which one with their face covered by black masks.
“That wouldn’t be any fun, though!” Tommy says back, the voice modifier in his mask makes his voice deeper and older. Imagine if everyone knew that the popular vigilante Kraken was seventeen. Everyone he’s sent to jail wouldn’t be happy, that’s for sure. Not that they are happy anyway, though.
Another thug rushes at Tommy and he expertly dodges them before grabbing their arm and head and flipping them over onto the ground. They go completely still except for their rising and sinking chest.
“Alright, who’s next?” Tommy asks the six remaining thugs. They all look uncertainly at one another before one of them runs at Tommy. “Guess you are,” Tommy mumbles as he catches their fist.
“You need to shut up,” they growl.
“Well, that’s just rude,” Tommy punches them in the face then twists their wrist.
As they curse in pain, two more come forward and attack Tommy from both sides. He lets go of the thug’s wrist and leans away from a pair of brass knuckles. Tommy hisses when he doesn’t fully dodge a knife and it slices through the side of his white hoodie with red sleeves. He feels blood drip down his side and hopes it doesn’t soak through the t-shirt he wears underneath his vigilante outfit. It’s much more work to remove blood from white than it is to sow a rip.
In retaliation, Tommy kicks the knife wielder’s legs out from underneath them and pushes the person with brass knuckles into them as they fall. Tommy watches amused as the two attackers tumble awkwardly into a pile of limbs and cuss words. Which is why Tommy didn’t notice the four others come closer until he is hit in the back. Hard, Tommy stumbles forward and just as he turns around, is punched in the face by another pair of brass knuckles. Luckily, the blow didn’t damage Tommy’s mask or goggles, but he isn’t so sure about his face.
“Shit,” Tommy whispers. He’s going to be covered in bruises.
“What, can’t handle us?” one of the remaining thugs asks. Tommy sadly notes that the two people that crashed into each other now clumsily stand.
“Nah, just worrying about how the hell I’m going to explain this if I get a job interview,” Tommy stalls.
“Whatever,” someone else mutters. “Doesn’t matter.”
“Kind does,” Tommy curls his fingers into a fist. He swings at the person that thought they were being stealthy as they moved towards Tommy. His fist connects with their chest and Tommy uses his enhancement to propel them into one of the alley’s brick walls. They crumple to the ground. Now Tommy’s knocking people. Things are getting real.
As the thugs attack Tommy, sometimes in pairs or alone, Tommy uses his enhancement to help in his attacks and effectively knock his opponents out. Some people think Tommy has feather falling or super strength but Tommy’s power, or enhancement as they are called, is actually telekinesis. He has a pretty good grip on it but sometimes it can be… unpredictable. Tommy’s luck tonight seems off and on because while he doesn’t lose control of his unruly ability and he manages to render all the people that attacked him unconscious, Tommy received a bat to the back and a blow to the right side of his jaw.
Tommy sighs and looks around for the teenagers but finds an empty spot where he last saw them. He sighs again. At least they escaped. Quickly, Tommy ties the attacker’s hands together, either with their own shoelaces or some zip ties he carries around.
Tommy floats himself onto a roof and checks his dollar store clearance watch that works surprisingly well: it’s exactly midnight. Dang, Tommy didn’t mean to stay out here for so long but it appears he did. Tommy blames the gang he just beat up.
Guess I should get back and stitch up my side, Tommy thinks as he jumps across the roofs once again. His body aches and he knows it’ll be especially bad in the morning. Again, Tommy blames the gang. It’s always fucking gangs.
A vibration in Tommy’s black cargo pants pocket makes him pause on a rooftop only a few minutes from his apartment. Less if you take rooftops as a shortcut. Tommy pulls his phone out, types in the password, and opens his email. He almost drops his phone when he reads the message he got: “Thank you for applying for the assistant position at Hero Headquarters. We are delighted to inform you that you have been selected to move on to the next stage: an in-person interview. Please join us at the Hero Headquarters tower at ten-thirty on June fourth. If you cannot make the interview, please send an email beforehand, you will not be able to reschedule. If you can come, further instructions will await you at the reception desk in the lobby. Best of luck!”
June fourth. That’s tomorrow! No, today! In ten hours! Ignoring his injuries, Tommy sprints towards home, boosting most of his leaps with his telekinesis (no, he did not mistime some and almost fall).
In record time, Tommy arrives back at his decomposing apartment and slides the window of the bedroom he shares with Tubbo open. Thankfully it’s silent and Tommy’s roommate is a deep sleeper so he doesn’t stir as Tommy steps in, closes the window, and removes his vigilante gear, which he hides at the bottom of the backpack he takes everywhere. No blood soaked into the sweater and Tommy is grateful. He honestly doesn’t know why he chose white for beating people up. Tommy tiptoes out of the bedroom and into the bathroom where he removes his bloodied t-shirt. It sticks slightly but Tommy carefully tugs it free of his skin and sticks it in the bathtub, Since it’s a black t-shirt, the blood won’t be noticeable if he doesn’t wash it out so Tommy just rinses it in the tub’s faucet. After the quick rinse, Tommy finally pays attention to the gash on his right side. Most of the blood has dried but it doesn’t stay that way when Tommy runs a tissue with hydrogen peroxide they have stored under the bathroom sink over it. Tommy grits his teeth, sending more pain to his bruised jaw. But Tommy sucks it up and rummages around the first aid kit for gauze. Tubbo has barely been making enough money for the two of them so they don’t have stuff for stitches, not that Tommy knows how to do them anyway. Instead, Tommy folds toilet paper and bandages it against his bleeding side with gauze and some medical tape. It’ll have to do.
Tommy returns the first aid kit to underneath the sink and washes his hands, purposely leaving his shirt in the bathtub. He’ll patch it up when he isn’t rushing for sleep. Tommy stares at his reflection in the mirror: the right side of his jaw is already bruising, same with his nose and almost entire back when Tommy turns around. This will be shit to explain.
But Tommy doesn’t want to think about that right now, he wants to sleep, so he goes back to the bedroom, sets an alarm on his phone for nine, and lays on the small air mattress that lies beside Tubbo’s. Tommy gets all comfy, which isn’t very with the numerous injuries, but it’s as close as he gets. Now Tommy just needs to sleep.
…
Sleep.
…
It takes an hour of staring into his dark surroundings for Tommy to fall asleep. Why? Because Tommy is a bit of an insomniac. Why? Who can explain that? Not Tommy.
- - - ~
At nine in the morning, the Able Sisters begins to play and Tommy blinks his eyes open. They are heavy with exhaustion even though Tommy got eight hours of sleep. The blonde yawns, turns off his alarms, and slowly gets out of bed but when he stands, he almost topples over. Fuck, everything hurts! Using the wall for support, Tommy walks to the bathroom and gasps at how dark the bruises got overnight. It looks like someone smeared ink all over his nose, jaws, and back. Needless to say, Tommy looks like crap. Absolute fucking garbage. Feels like it, too.
Silently except for the not-so-occasional curse or cry of pain, Tommy redresses his knife wound, brushes his teeth, and changes into the most proper clothes he owns: a pair of black jeans and a beige collared shirt. Tommy skips on food, the thought of eating makes him want to throw up and he doesn’t need that. Not today. So, instead, Tommy grabs his backpack with his vigilante gear, phone, almost empty wallet, and house key in it and puts on his shoes. Every movement sends a stab of pain through Tommy’s body and he’s glad Tubbo is already at work. It would both hurt and anger Tubbo to see Tommy like this.
Tommy checks his watch which shows a nine and thirty in digital font. He has an hour before his interview but a train takes about forty minutes to get there and it’s about ten minutes of walking (in total) to and from the stations. So Tommy sets off into the morning sights of Lower L’Manberg. He appreciates the lack of criminal activity and craziness but still passes the common drunk or homeless person and the train carries some shady-looking people. But most people in L’Manberg are shady-looking, especially in the poorer areas of Lower.
When Tommy exits the train after a predicted forty-minute boring ass ride where Tommy just wanted to fall asleep and steps into Upper L’Manberg, he can barely hold in his awe. The buildings vary from modern to cottagecore architecture but they all seem to sparkle in the sun. Tommy wouldn’t be surprised if they did without the giant mass of space fire.
In the distance of maybe a couple of blocks, Tommy sees the massive tower that is his destination. And in a few minutes of speed walking with wide eyes, Tommy arrives at the massive front doors of Hero Headquarters. They are much bigger than Tommy anticipated and he can see everything happening in the lobby through the equally large glass windows.
Tommy takes a deep breath and walks into the tower that holds the very people that want to capture Tommy. There is a huge crystal chandelier hanging from the high ceiling and guards line the sides of the lobby. Tommy walks confidently except for the occasional small grimace or stutter in his step from the continuous pain shooting through his body, Tommy fiddles with the black ordinary face mask that covers his nasty nose bruise and most of the one on his jaw. His slightly messy hair helps cover the latter.
When Tommy makes it to the receptionist's desk, he is greeted by a smiling blonde that can’t be much older than Tommy. Their name tag says Purpled P., He/him/his.
“Hi, I’m here for the assistant interview,” Tommy says to Purpled (weird fucking name).
“Ah, can I have your name?” Purpled still smiles and Tommy wonders how much he hates his job.
“Tommy Innit.”
Purpled turns to a computer monitor and types surprisingly fast. He turns back to Tommy. “If you don’t mind, can I please ask some security questions? Just to confirm your identity.”
“Sure, big man,” Tommy internally curses but thinks he memorized all the information he needed to. He hopes.
“Thanks. First, what is your birthday?” Purpled looks at the computer screen again.
“April ninth, two thousand and three. I’m twenty.” Lies.
Purpled nods. “Who do you live with?”
“My roommate Tubbo Underscore,” truth.
“And how old is he?”
“Twenty-one,” lie.
“Where do you currently live?”
“Lower L’Manberg. 1224 Clementine Street,” truth.
Purpled turns back to Tommy. “Looks good! There’s a door to your right. Just go through that and when you’re called,” Purpled grabs something off his desk and hands it to Tommy, “hand this to your interviewer and you’ll be good to go.”
“Thanks, Purpled,” Tommy smiles and walks over to the mentioned door, holding the notecard that has only his name on it in his hand.
Tommy opens the door and finds a fairly large waiting room with four rows of chairs, most of which are occupied. By adults. With suits. Tommy isn’t confident that he’ll get this job. But he’s still going to try because nothing stops Tommy Innit.
Tommy sits in the closest available seat which is between a masculine person in a red flannel and a feminine person with long brown hair in a nice-looking black dress. The two of them give Tommy a judging look as he sits between them and has to hold in a cry of pain and some aggressive words. Others around the room glance at Tommy as he attempts to sink into the chair without hurting his bruised back. He wants to think that they’re all looking at his mask and wondering why he’s wearing it but it’s not uncommon for someone to be wearing one, either because they’re sick, antisocial (like Ranboo), or their enhancements make physical changes to their appearance. No, Tommy knows it’s not the mask but rather his youth. He might claim and somewhat pass to be twenty but that still means he’s young. The adults are confident they will succeed against someone of his age and scorn him for thinking he has a chance. Tommy doesn’t think he’ll get the job but that doesn’t mean he’ll just give up. He’s a big man. Stubborn, too.
So he waits, glaring at everyone who looks at him weirdly and fidgeting with his notecard as the room slowly empties. In a matter of an hour, Tommy is the only one left in the waiting room. He wonders why he was supposed to come so early. Maybe it has to do with the order of something.
An unfamiliar voice interrupts Tommy from his bored and irritated thoughts. “Tommy Innit?”
Tommy looks up and startles at the sight of a light green hologram version of what looks like the hero Guardian: short somewhat messy hair, medium height (shorter than Tommy), and a gas mask that covers their entire face, but instead of Guardian’s usual green armor and gold crown, the hologram dons a safety vest and construction helmet with little raccoon ears on it.
Not really knowing what to do, Tommy stands and grimaces from the flare of pain on his back and side.
“Tommy Innit?” the hologram repeats, looking at Tommy.
“Yeah, that’s me,” Tommy says and walks closer to the hologram who excitedly responds.
“Hello! I’m Sam Noo, he/him or it pronouns! I’m Hero Headquarters AI! Since you are the last interviewee, I will lead you to where you will be interviewed. Please follow me!”
“Okay, thank you,” Tommy says and follows Sam Nook out of the waiting room he’s been sitting in for the past hour,
Tommy feels kind of awkward following an AI named after the Animal Crossing character but he’s mostly in awe. He’s always been interested in technology, like Tubbo, but never had enough money to buy more than a phone or take any classes for. And now Tommy is walking beside a holographic artificial intelligence.
“Uhm, did Guardian design you?” Tommy hesitantly asks, he doesn’t know if it’s rude to ask that.
But Sam Nook doesn’t seem offended. “Yep! He’s very savvy. Many parts of Headquarters are designed by him, as well as Pandora’s Vault.” Tommy shivers at the mention of the high-security prison where the worst criminals and any apprehended vigilantes go.
“That’s so cool. I’ve always wanted to meet Guardian. Learn tech from him or something.”
Sam Nook turns around to face Tommy. “Hopefully you’ll get the position and be able to.”
“Will I get to talk to you more if I get the job, too?”
“Of course, Tommy Innit!”
“Pog,” Tommy likes this AI. Truth.
“I’m not sure what that means.”
“Really awesome.”
“I do understand that,” Sam Nook gestures to the door Tommy didn’t realize they stopped in front of. “This is where I’ll leave you to your interview. I hope it all goes well, Tommy Innit!”
“Me, too,” and Sam Nook vanishes in a blip of light. What an interesting interaction.
Tommy takes a deep breath before knocking on the door Sam Nook took him to. “Come in,” says a voice that is both familiar and unfamiliar. Like Tommy has heard the voice before but can’t place it.
Quickly, Tommy makes sure his mask is still on right and that his hair is covering his bruised jaw. Then he opens the door.
What Tommy expects to see when he opens the door is a Hero Headquarters employee in an ordinary suit or formal outfit with a clipboard and pen at the ready. What he doesn’t expect is the hero Hades in his black and green hero robes at a table reading Tommy’s resume. When Tommy steps into the nondescript office with tall windows that serves as the interview room, Hades looks up and looks at Tommy, although it’s hard to tell with the dark veil and green and white bucket hat covering the hero’s upper face.
“You can sit if you’d like,” the hero tells Tommy kindly.
Tommy closes the door and sits in a dark navy blue chair that feels like sitting in a pile of pillows. It takes most of Tommy’s willpower to not sink unprofessionally into the cushions.
Hades smiles and Tommy’s inner fanboy goes wild. Hades is one of Tommy’s favorite heroes, the others being Zeus, Found, and Guardian. Tommy knows it’s weird for a vigilante to like heroes but they are so goddamn cool and Tommy can’t just stop admiring the people he’s looked up to since he was a kid. Plus, Hades has wings. Literal fucking huge ass wings! That’s so cool!
“Purpled said I was supposed to give this to you,” Tommy hands Hades the simple card with Tommy’s name on it.
“Thank you, it’s nice to meet you, Tommy. I’m Hades, he/him pronouns.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Hades said my name! Tommy’s inner fanboy is screaming. “Oh, I use he/him, too.”
“So how this will work is I’ll ask you some questions and you’ll answer. Okay?” Hades asks.
Simple enough. Tommy nods and Hades begins.
“Your resume and application say you’re twenty. Shouldn’t you be in college?” Hades looks Tommy up and down. “Plus, you look kind of young.”
“I did community college because I don’t have enough money to go anywhere else. Full scholarships are rare,” Tommy shrugs. “And I’m not young, I’m a big man.”
Hades grins but it looks a little sad. “What would you have gone to college for”
Tommy thinks for a moment. Technically he didn’t even go to community college. Hell, he speedran high school through virtual courses and graduated barely a few months ago. “Hm, I’m not sure. Maybe something with computer technology or media.”
“You would get along well with Guardian.”
And now Tommy cannot hold back his fanboy excitement. “Sam Nook is so cool. I’ve never seen an AI before, especially one that has a holographic body.”
“You met Sam Nook?” Hades questions.
“Yeah, he said that he was bringing me here since I was the last applicant,” Tommy explains.
“He probably showed up because you’re the youngest applicant. He likes kids,” Hades chuckles.
“Oh fuck off, I’m not young or a kid!” Tommy clasps his hands over his masked mouth, flinching slightly at the touch against his bruised nose and jaw.
Hades doesn’t notice Tommy’s pain, though, and instead bursts out laughing. Tommy smiles even though it hurts and Hades can’t see it under Tommy’s mask. When Hades finally stops wheezing, he continues to ask Tommy questions.
“On your application and resume, it says that you have past experiences working in a department store, Why don’t you work there anymore?”
“They were running out of money so they laid off most of the employees.”
“How recent was this?”
“About three weeks ago. I’ve been trying to find a job but no one really wants to hire me.”
“Why?”
“I’ve been told I’m annoying and loud,” Tommy mumbles.
“You don’t seem to be,” Hades points out and Tommy almost passes out.
“Oh trust me, fuck is one of my favorite words,” this earns another laugh from Hades.
“What makes you qualified for an assistant position?” Hades asks Tommy when he stops laughing.
Tommy pauses. Nothing qualifies Tommy for this job, and he’s already lying about many parts of his life. “My amazing people skills. I can get shit done. Honestly, not much but I’ve had experience working with different people.”
“If you don’t have outstanding qualifications, why did you apply?”
Tommy decides to continue being honest for once, not because he wants Hades’s pity but because he doesn’t know what else to say. It takes too much effort to make up a story when the truth is the better option. “My roommate and I are struggling for money and ever since I lost my job, we’ve barely been able to afford food. This job would help cover more. Plus, I’ve always thought heroes were cool. Since I can’t be one, why not work with them?”
Hades’s mouth is set in a firm line as if what Tommy said upsets him. “Why can’t you be a hero?”
“I don’t have an enhancement,” back to lying, but this one is easy since Tommy’s power is easily hidden, that is if he can keep them under control, “and I definitely don’t have enough money for training programs.”
“Right, your application says you’re enhance-less. If you did have an enhancement, what would you hope to have?”
If only he knew, Tommy thinks.
“Maybe something cool and useful like flight or telekinesis.”
“Interesting. Last question: what do you think of vigilantes?”
A moment of silence. Then Tommy responds, “I think they’re badass. They help parts of L’Manberg that don’t get protected by heroes. I know some vigilantes aren’t as good as others but they still help us.”
“Us?”
“People in Lower L’Manberg.”
“Do you see lots of vigilantes in Lower?”
“That’s more than one question,” Tommy tries to lift the mood but quits when he sees Hades’s serious expression. “Not a lot on a daily basis but more than Upper for sure.”
“Hm, I’ll have to look into that,” Hades murmurs.
Oh shit, Tommy just made things a lot more complicated for himself.
“Well, I have to say, this interview was quite enjoyable,” Hades smiles, although it looks slightly strained. “If you get the job, you’ll be sent an email.” Hades stands so Tommy does as well. “It was nice to talk to you, Tommy,” Hades sticks out his hand.
“Great to talk to you, too,” Tommy replies and shakes Hades’s outstretched hand.
As Tommy turns to leave after releasing the hero’s hand, Hades asks, “Oh, if you don’t mind me asking, if you are enhance-less, why are you wearing a mask?”
Tommy struggles to find an answer. Suddenly, the door Tommy stands in front of bursts open, and in rushes Poseidon in their hero gear: a navy blue beanie and shirt, black trench coat, jeans, and Doc Martens, and a simple blue mask covering their lower face.
Tommy barely moves out of the way of the door and the hero as they both barrel at him. Poseidon barely notices Tommy is there and instead focuses on Hades.
“Ph-Hades! Zeus got more info on that power enhancement drug,” Poseidon says.
Hades sighs. “Poseidon, I’m ending an interview here.”
Poseidon finally notices that Tommy’s in the room and their eyes widen. “Oh shit, sorry!”
“Just watch where you’re going prick,” Tommy once again slaps his hands over his covered mouth and flinches at the pain he causes on his face and erupts on his side at the sudden movement.
Poseidon bursts out laughing but Hades frowns.
“Hey mate, you okay?” Hades asks, causing Poseidon to stop laughing and look between Hades and Tommy.
Tommy unclasps his mouth. “Uh, yeah. Why?” Tommy innocently asks. But Tommy feels wetness growing under the gauze on his side. All his movement must have opened the knife wound further. Tommy needs to leave.
“You winced,” Hades moves forward and Tommy takes a subtle step towards the open door. But it must not be as subtle as Tommy thought since Poseidon’s eyes narrow at Tommy in suspicion. Then suddenly they widen in horror.
“Is that blood?!” Poseidon practically shouts, their voice changer makes the hero’s voice sound high-pitched.
Tommy looks down and sees that the side of his shirt is turning dark with what is indeed blood. Silently, not knowing what else to do, Tommy nods. Both Hades and Poseidon rush at Tommy.
“What happened?” Hades asks.
Tommy doesn’t answer because either he’s in shock, geeking out over Hades, or struggling to determine what to tell the two heroes.
The heroes notice Tommy’s silence and instead of questioning him further, Hades grabs a shit ton of tissues off the desk and presses them against Tommy’s side. This sends spots all over Tommy’s vision and his legs buckle but don’t collapse from the pain. Poseidon holds Tommy’s shoulders while Hades keeps applying pressure to Tommy’s wound.
“Well, I guess this shirt is ruined,” Tommy finally says.
“Tommy,” Hades says slowly, “we are going to get you to the medical floor. You’ll have to hold the tissues. Okay?”
“Sure big man,” Tommy takes the tissues from Hades and holds them to his now-soaked shirt.
“I’ll guide you,” Poseidon says and places one of his hands on Tommy’s back.
His back. With a giant bruise on it. Tommy can’t help but yelp and his legs finally give out underneath him. Hades catches him with a grunt.
“Sorry,” Tommy mumbles. He doesn’t know if anyone heard it.
Tommy tries to stand but is instead pulled off the ground and into Hades’s arms. The movement hurts a lot but Tommy just winces. Surprisingly, he still has a grip on the tissues and pressure on his side.
Tommy looks up and meets what he assumes to be Hades’s worried expression. Tommy looks away and meets the obviously concerned gaze of Poseidon.
“I don’t need to be carried,” Tommy grumbles.
“Yes you do mate,” Hades bluntly states and carries Tommy out of the interview room, down the hallway they’re in, and to a set of elevators.
Poseidon presses the up button and in a matter of seconds, an elevator arrives and the two heroes and injured Tommy enter a silver elevator. Poseidon presses the button for floor eight. Soon the elevator arrives at the chosen floor and the doors open with a ding. Tommy is carried out of the elevator and into a white-walled room with large windows on the farthest side, very light grey tiled floors, and lined with hospital beds, sinks, and tables of medical equipment.
“Gauze!” Poseidon yells as Hades gingerly sets Tommy on a white hospital bed. Crap, he’s going to stain the sheets. Tommy hopes he didn’t get any blood on Hades’s robes.
Poseidon yells again and a person with darker skin, a red, yellow, and black patterned mask and hoodie, and a doctor’s coat overtop stomps over to them.
“What Posei--,” the doctor trails off when they see Tommy sitting and bleeding on the hospital bed. He waves and the doctor hesitantly waves back.
“Tommy just started bleeding. We haven’t checked to see why yet and he hasn’t explained,” Hades summarizes.
“Okay, uhm, Tommy, I’ll need to remove your shirt,” the doctor, who must be Gauze, says.
Shit, Tommy has a bunch of scars and the recent bruises all over his body. They’ll question those and he’ll need a good cover story.
But Gauze doesn’t wait for a response and instead grabs a bunch of medical supplies off a table and plops them on the bed Tommy occupies and lifts Tommy’s shirt. Tommy grimaces, Hades and Poseidon harshly suck in a breath, and Gauze doesn’t react when Tommy’s bloody tissues and gauze fall away to reveal the knife wound. And the giant bruise on his back.
“What- what happened?” Poseidon stares at Tommy’s injured body and the blonde shrinks.
“I… got fucking mugged last night on my way home from the store. They stole my groceries, too,” Tommy lies.
“How did they do this much damage to you?” Hades watches Gauze clean the blood off of Tommy.
“One had a knife, another a bat. There were a couple others but they only watched,” it’s not a complete lie. “The fuckers,” Tommy mumbles under his breath. That wasn’t a lie.
“Why didn’t you get stitches or go to the hospital?” Gauze asks. They’ve finished cleaning Tommy’s side and instead of grabbing stuff for stitches, they squeeze the wound close.
Tommy stifles a shout of pain. “No stitches in the first aid kit and no money or insurance,” he grits through his teeth.
“Does your roommate know?" Hades turns to face Tommy. Gauze squeezes more and suddenly the wound starts healing on its own. Which fucking hurts.
“Of course he does!” Tommy lets out a small scream and only doesn’t curl in on himself because Poseidon holds him in place.
Then the pain disappears and Tommy opens the eyes he didn’t realize he had closed. Gauze is over by a sink washing blood off their hands. Poseidon and Hades stare at Tommy.
“Gauze will heal your bruise but we need to know if there are any other injuries to heal,” Hades tells Tommy.
“They healed me? That’s cool but it hurt like hell.”
“A side effect for my healing enhancement,” Gauze explains from the sink.
Healers aren’t common and for Hero Headquarters to have one is a great advantage. Tommy examines the long scar that is the only reminder of the knife wound. If Gauze could heal Tommy’s bruises, he wouldn’t struggle to smile or move. So Tommy cautiously reaches up and removes his mask.
“Holy shit,” Poseidon breathes.
“You look like absolute crap, mate,” Hades says.
“Thanks, bitch,” Tommy goes to cover his mouth but Poseidon grabs his arms midway.
“Every time you did that, it hurt?” Hades sounds sad and Tommy can’t have his favorite hero be sad.
“Well, I had to stop myself from swearing in every sentence,” Tommy says,
“You don’t need to do that, mate.”
“Oh thank fucking god. That was so goddamn tiring,” Tommy sighs but smiles (albeit painfully) when the three other people in the room start laughing.
After a joyful moment, Gauze heals Tommy’s bruises, which makes the unfortunate blonde emit a couple more (yet softer) screams of pain. Then Tommy is injury free with only a scar to show last night even happened at all. When Gauze gives the go-ahead and a plain white t-shirt, Hades and Poseidon show Tommy to the door. Tommy apologizes for wasting their time and making them worry. The two heroes don’t accept Tommy’s apologies, which they should since he doesn’t do it too often. Tommy then says goodbye and leaves Hero Headquarters, like for the last time. Tommy retraces his earlier path home and almost falls asleep on the train again. It’s weird not having pain shooting through Tommy’s body every time he moves but he’s not missing it.
About fifty minutes after leaving Hero Headquarters, Tommy finishes making a sandwich for lunch and eats it on the couch since he and Tubbo don’t have a dinner table.
A soft bing echoes through the empty apartment and Tommy grabs his phone from his backpack that sits on the floor and sees a notification for email. Tommy unlocks his phone and taps on the notification. His eyes widen. The email is from Hero Headquarters. About the interview.
Tommy stops breathing.
He got the job.