Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The top three heroes, Siren, Blade, and Crowfather were known to be... unruly to deal with. They did their jobs, saved tons of people, enjoyed saving lives. Everyone in the Heroes Tower avoided them like the plague. Only close friends were allowed on their floor and even the members of the Committee preferred to ignore them as opposed to talking with them. Sometimes they'd get banned from meetings, just so that others wouldn't have to talk to them. However, the interesting new intern doesn't know this. He barely knows anything about the heroes. There are four things he does know.

1. He's an avian, a super rare hybrid, Crowfather, Blade, Siren, and the Crowfather's wife are the only avians alive, Tommy doesn't know that.

2. He has powers. If the heroes find out, he'll be sent to the Vault. His power is something that no one has even imagined.

3. He has no family, nowhere to call home. The last thing he had that was similar was so long ago, he doesn't even remember it. He's homeless, living on the streets.

4. He's sixteen years old.

Tommy POV

Heck yeah! I just applied for an intern position at the Heroes' HQ. I got accepted too! Well, accepted for an interview anyway. Apparently, a group of them wants their own engineer. No one knows why. I don't care though. Why should I? It's a job. Jobs give me money, and money... Well, money helps me get off the streets faster. He looks around before letting his wings loose from behind his cloak. He wears the silly thing to hide his wings better. He doesn't remember his family very well. But he does remember one thing. They didn't have wings because they weren't avian. I stroll into Hero HQ and say that I'm there for the interview.

"Uh, this says you're here for the SBI internship application, are you sure that's the right one?"

"Uhm, yes? I mean it's the one I applied for and it's the one I'm scheduled to have an interview with."

"Alright then. Floor 14, I'll let the Crowfather know you're heading his way." She pushes a button as I step into the elevator. I press the number 14 and the elevator starts to close. The doors close and crappy elevator music starts to play. "Can you play something else?" I say not really intending for anyone to answer.

"Indeed I can, what would you like?"

"Oh! I didn't know there was an AI living in the walls. What's your name?"

"You're an odd bird."

"I'm not a bird."

"Those wings you're hiding say you are."

"Don't tell anyone please, the hunters will find me again."

"Kid, hunters are banned from hunting here."

"Does that stop them?"

"Well, no, but-"

"Promise me you won't tell anyone unless you deem it important to someone's mental or physical safety. Please."

"Alright I promise, good luck young one."

"Thanks, I never got your name." I say as I exit the elevator.

"You can call me Henry."

"Tommy, Tommy Innit." The elevator AI hums a response and I step right into someone. 

"Hey!"

Chapter Text

"What the heck, man? What was that for? Don't you know to stand to the side when an elevator dings in case someone is getting off?"

"I-uh- sorry?" The brown-haired man says.

"It's alright, sometimes people forget, just remember that for next time, alright king? Now if you'll excuse me, I have a very important interview to get to that could cost me my house." Not that I ever had one...

"Uh, good luck?"

"Thank you! Have a good day!"

"Uh you too?" I wave the man off and wait by the door. The lady never said what to do when I got here.

"Hello? I'm Tommy, I'm here for the interview?" Silence. "Uhh, the lady downstairs said floor 14 and I'm here now? I hope I'm not distrubing anyone? She said a 'Crowfather' would meet me?" I hear two groans and two sets of footsteps come my way. "Hi! I'm Tommy. I'm here to interview for the intern position!" I say bubbling with true excitement.

A pink-haired masked man glares at me, "Why?"

"Some of us need money to live. I'm sure you could feed off the evil villains that you keep in your closet. After all, the term 'skeletons in the closet' had to come from somewhere and you seem like the guy who made that phrase." The two sputter, one in amusement and the other, well I'm not sure what the man I just teased is feeling.

"You said you had an interview with me?" The blonde says to me.

"Are you the Crowfather?" They look stupified. "What? Did I say something wrong?"

"No, no, I've never met someone who didn't know who I was."

"Oh, you're some hoity-toity upper-class singer aren't you? Why the heck would someone like you dress like that? You look like you're attempting to imitate a Roman goddess! If that's what you're aiming for, you're not quite hitting the mark. Should trade that bucket hat for a crown and grow out your hair a bit more if that's what you're aiming for." The pink-haired man bursts out laughing.

"Oohhhh, Crow, you just got burnnneddd." He says inbetween laughs.

"I didn't just screw over my interview, did I?"

"No, mate, come on, we'll leave the Blade to lie here in a pit of his own digging." The blonde, Crowfather?, leads me to a room. "So how old are you?" 

"I'm-uh, well, that's a good question."

"Do you not know how old you are?"

"No, I do, it's just-" I sigh, I really screwed this one up, "I'm sixteen."

"Huh. What's your name?"

"Tommy."

"Do you have powers?" I shake my head. "Do you have any hybrid features?" I hear a faint humming. Suddenly, the blonde squawks and I let out a peep!. I pretend like I didn't hear or do anything. The older man turns to look at me. "Did you just peep?"

"What? What are you talking about? I'm trying to figure out why you screeched like an old lady falling off her rocker."

"I did not!" 

"You did indeed Crowfather." Henry says.

"Henry, big man, nice to hear you again." I say.

"You've met Henry?"

"We chatted in the elevator."

"Hmm. Henry what do you think of Tommy?"

"He's a nice kid, treated me like a human instead of a robot like most do."

"What? I appreciate nice tech, besides Henry's treated me better than most humans have. The lady at the front desk glared at me when I walked in."

"Oh? Hmm. Well, how good are you with tech?"

"Depends, if you want me to make another Henry, I probably can't do that, but things like watches or supercomputers are pretty simple."

"If I give you this," he hands me a-

"Oh my gosh, is this what I think it is? A 5T6I8O27 version of Harper's gun? These are so f---ing cool! Oh, it's a bit broken though." I bring out my small toolkit and fix it. "all fixed!"

"How did you-"

"Aha!" I say as I get it to shoot little globs of sticky substances. I switch it to drone mode and to bug mode and all the different things it could do. "It works just fine. Why'd it look like it'd been to hell and back?"

"It- you know what? You're hired! You need a place to stay?" I nod. "You can stay here with us! This is our private floor and as long as you promise to keep our identities secret, you can stay here."

"Here? I was expecting a motel, not your personal living area!"

"Yup, supper will be at six, don't be late."

"Yes, sir!" He shows me to my room and I stare in at sheer size of the room. This room could fit all of my previous bedrooms and still have plenty of room left over. I sit on the side of the bed and glance at the time. It's 4 o'clock. I have time for a little nap. I crawl into the bed and instantly fall asleep.

I wake up a couple hours later to voices outside my door. "I said six. He isn't out yet." I stretch.

"Maybe he fell asleep, Dad, give him time."

"Maybe, that kid-"

"Wil told me he told him off on elevator mannerisms. His face got so red as he was retelling it." I open the door and see Crowfather and pink-haired guy standing just outside. I yawn.

"Sorry for worrying you, I forgot to set an alarm before I fell asleep." Another yawn.

"When was the last time you slept, mate?"

"Before this little nap or this nap?"

"Before?"

"Uhm, I had a small nap... a couple days ago. I've been trying to get full-time jobs for a while. Some of them only accept interviews at night. Some require you to show up on time and then wait in a line for your interview and if you don't check in before or on time, they cancel your interview. That sucked. I- I won't lose my job because of this right?"

"No?"

"Great! Because Big Man Tommy Innit can only go so long on trash can food before he gets extremely sick."

"Wait, what?"

"Come to think of it, that moldy bread I ate this morning isn't sitting well. One sec." I run to a nearby bathroom and throw it up. I cough a couple times and wash my face. I walk back out and Henry is laughing at me. "Henryyy, don't laugh at my midfortude."

"You mean misfortune?" Pinky says.

"Whatever you think, Pinky Pie."

"What?"

"Your face and hair are pink. You clothes are also pink. What else am I to call you?" The Crowfather bursts into laughter.

"This kid has no fear!"

"I don't know who he is."

"Wait, what? Mate, can you name a hero?"

"Err, Endwalker?"

"That's a vigilante."

"Oh, well he saved me several times. Nuke did too. They're always helping around down in the lower places of town. I can't tell you how many times people attempted to kidnap me and either I rescued myself or those two did."

"Go on."

"I think this month's count is six or seven? That one guy just grabbed my arm and started saying weird things. Like how pretty I was and how nice I'd look in his bed. Endwalker happened to pass by and punched the guy for me. I don't know if that counts as kidnapping though..."

"Mate, are they really that bad down there?"

"For us homeless people, yeah. Some of us have no powers to protect ourselves."

"Oh. Hmm. Come on, I'm Philza, but you can call me Phil."

"Technoblade."

"Did you seriously take your middle name and make it your hero name?"

"I didn't pick it!"

"Sure, Pinky Pie."

"Why do I have to be Pinky Pie?"

"I already told you."

"After supper, we have some suits that need fixing, unless you'd rather make new ones."

"Aight. Can't I start now?"

"Uhm, aren't you going to eat first?"

"Oh you're feeding me too? This is the best job ever!" I start down the hall, the other two following after I grabbed their arms. In a massive dining room, there's a table set for five people. A lady sits two sets down from- "You!"

"What? Oh!" The elevator guy looks at me. 

"Do you remember the good lesson I taught you?"

"What? About-"

"Always stand to the side when you're waiting for an elevator because you never know if someone's going to be coming off of it."

"Yeah."

"Good! Maybe you'll use it! Some people just punch me in the face and tell me to mind my business, thankfully you didn't. I appreciate that."

"Oh, no problem?"

"That's Wilbur, and over there that's Kristin. Guys, this is our intern, Tommy."

"Nice to meet you, Tommy!" Kristin says as she directs me to sit on the other side of her. Food starts to float into the dining room from the kitchen.

"Whoa! That's so cool!" I go to stand but Techno, who's sitting on my other side between me and Wilbur, grabs my arm. He pulls me back down. "Who does that?"

"Me." Kristin says. The food sets gently down on the table and the lids lift off the food. Heavenly smells reach my nose.

"If this tastes as good as it smell, I think I might be dreaming this." They laugh and start to get food of their own. I don't grab much, and I can see Techno and Phil's disappointment. I don't care though, I'm not sure how much food my stomach can handle. I've overeaten in situations similar and I'd prefer to have food in my stomach not outside of it.

"So Tommy, how old are you?" Kristin asks.

"Sixteen." She, Wilbur, and Techno freeze for a second and if I hadn't been watching, I would've missed it.

"Do you have any parents?"

"I did a long time ago, I don't remember them or any siblings I had. I remember I had them at one point, but I don't remember why we got separated. May I ask about you guys?"

"You may. I had a son, but he got lost in a tornado several years back. I have Techno and Wilbur as my other two sons, and Phil is my husband." She waits, clearly expecting one of the other three to start talking. When they don't she continues, "Phil has an adopted brother named Schlatt, Schlatt has three sons, Ranboo, Tubbo, and Sapnap. I have an adopted sister named Puffy. Her three sons are Dream, Foolish, and Purpled."

"Whoa! That's a lot to keep track of. Do they visit?"

"Yes, we'll probably also commission you to make presents for them on holidays."

"That's fine! I'd love that!"

"Tubbo and Ranboo are a year older than you though."

"Oh, I know, I've met them before."

"You- you have?"

"Yup. They were at a party that I went to with an old friend of mine. I think his name was Gogy? I'm not sure. Anyway, they were there with Schlatt, Sapnap, Puffy, Dream, and Purpled. They're really nice."

"Yeah they are!"

"Yup. So if I may ask, why are all the staff downstairs terrified of you guys?" Silence. "Nevermind! Uh who made Henry?"

"Sam did." The AI in question answers. Silence still reigns.

"Uh, Henry, did I break them?"

"No, sir Tommy come closer to my speaker and I'll whisper how to make them talk to you."

"Alright!" I get up and go closer to one of the speakers. "I'm here."

He whispers it to me and I stifle a laugh. The other four are still exchanging silent looks, not having noticed that I've snuck out of the room. Henry opens a door and I sneak in. I grab the sword and Henry opens a door that's in the room. I rush in and grab the guitar. I stand just around the corner from the dining room. There's whispering but I can't hear it. "I'm ready!" I whisper.

"Announcing sir Tommy!" The AI starts laughing as I burst around the corner with sword in hand.

"I am Sir Tommy! The bravest knight in the land! I am also an avid guitarist!" I sheath the sword and do a guitar solo. Henry is laughing his computerized butt off, everyone else is confused. I wrap the guitar strap around myself and place the instrument carefully on my back. I unsheathe the sword again. "I have fought foe and traitors alike! Friends of mine are placed in dungeons because they're all evil and drug addicts!" Wilbur snorts. "Come on then! Which one of you is brave enough to take me on?" I jump in place, in fighting position, sword extended. Techno stands and walks towards me.

"Why don't we put the sword down?"

"I'm not a we, I'm a he!"

"Heh?"

"Exactly. Now find a weapon and we shall fight for the title of King! Come on then!" I jab at him from like six feet away. He rolls his eyes and someone wraps their arms around me from the side. "Agh! Cheater! Cheating! I call foul play! Henryyyy." I whine, "Make them stop cheating...."

"Sorry Sir Tommy, I can't." He continues laughing. I hear a small chirp from the chest holding me and I shove my own down.

"How am I to beat the big, bad Technoblade if I myself have no blade?" I ask as they rip the sword from my grip.

"How'd you even get in our rooms?"

"He-"

"Magic." Henry blurts.

I decide to go with it. "Maybe that's my power. Opening doors that have locks on them without knowing they're locked! Let's try it! Where's another locked door I can try?" Everyone bursts into laughter and I join in. I hand the guitar to Wilbur and the sheath back to Techno. "Well, that was fun, got you guys talking again, now I do believe I had some work to do?"

"Oh yeah, but that can wait for tomorrow, you've had a rough day, mate." Phil says as he releases me from his arms.

"What else am I going to do? Besides, you guys probably need new suits and masks."

"This is true. How do we know you're any good at fixing-"

"Mate, he fixed that toy that Sam had before I borrowed it."

"The one that looked like a gun?"

"Yeah."

"But not even Sam could fix it!"

"Well, this kid did."

"Not a kid!"

They jump slightly and look at me. "You talk a lot don't you?"

"Nah, you guys don't talk enough." Henry laughs.

"This is true. I've been trying to tell you guys the same thing for like the last two years."

"They've been like this for two years?"

"Probably longer than that, that's when I first met them."

"Oof. I feel bad for you guys. No social lives is a big problem in the upperclass people these days. Especially in this room. I'll fix that with my amazing charm. You'll have no choice but to be nice. Now show me where my workshop will be and I'll get right to work. Depending on how complicated you guys want your suits, I could finish one before 10." They stop. 

"Really?"

"Maybe, like I said, depends."

"So if I said I wanted mine to be fireproof, waterproof, bulletproof, and have small holes in the back for my costume's wings, you'd be able to do it in-" Wilbur asks.

I mentally start, "9, 9:30-ish. Might be longer if I have to run and get the materials I want to use. I'm thinking maybe blue garnesh made from-" I start rambling on before Henry stops me.

"Sir Tommy, I can have someone deliver the materials you want directly to you, if that's what you want."

"That would be great! I'd have to experiment and get Wilbur's measurements but otherwise, that'd be great! Make sure you warn these hermits before they get here, so they can hide."

"Of course, Phil Jr."

"What?" Phil and I say. Kristin looks at me harder.

"You do look like Phil, don't you?" Although I stand about an inch taller than Phil, I realize we have a lot of similarities.

"Uhm, how about you guys? What do you want for suits?"

"Just fix mine." Kristin says as she hands it to me. I nod. "I've got wings too." I nod. Okay, so-

"And mine needs updated software, if you could also make it blast proof, but also so that my crows can land on my arms if need be." I nod. That'd take a different material...

"And I need a new one entirely. I had to shred the last one."

"Come on, man! Street kids would kill for a shredded jumper."

"Wait, really?"

"Yes, anyway what do you need on it?"

"Er, just make it all of theirs."

"Blastproof, fireproof, waterproof, crow-friendly, bulletproof, and updated software? That's easy enough. Henry have someone bring me-" I start listing off supplies and things I'll need. When I'm finished, Phil shows me to my workshop.

"Try to sleep tonight, mate. Sam sometimes doesn't sleep when he gets too into it."

"Okay dad." Phil snorts and leaves. I hear the elevator dings and three sets of footsteps. Tubbo, Ranboo, and Sapnap walk into my workshop. "Hey guys!"

"Tommy?" They ask. "You're the new intern?"

"Yup!"

"Huh. Cool! We can bully you more often now!" Tubbo says.

"No, no bullying."

"I got to get to work, you guys should probably go home before it gets too late."

"You're right. I'll have to send Gogy down one of these days. He'd be glad to see you again."

"This is where Gogy went off to? Huh. Well, goodnight! I have to get to work." They wave and I get right to it. I have measurements and I start working. I hold up a finished suit for Wilbur. Then I start on Kristin's. I finish hers and add some things to it. I do Phil and Techno's in one go round and finish them. I stretch and yawn. "Henry, what time is it?"

"Oh, Tommy! I meant to tell you five hours ago to get to bed! So sorry! It's four! You'll have to sneak past Techno and Phil's room if you want to avoid detection."

"Alright, thanks Henry."

"No problem, Tommy." I sneak carefully past Phil and Wilbur's rooms. A creak sounds when I step in front of Techno's room. I start to sneak faster towards my room. I'm almost there when arms wrap around my mouth and waist.

"What are you doing up at this hour, Tommy?" My wings flutter and flare. I push them down before Techno can see them behind my cloak.

"Got distracted?"

"Tommy... You were supposed to be in bed by eleven. It's now four. Why?"

"Well, Henry told me he was supposed to tell me to go to bed and I told him five more minutes. Five more minutes turned into five more hours and when I finished, it was four?"

"Who's suit did you finish?"

"Suit? Haha, no, suits."

"Wait, what?"

"I finished all of your suits. I gave you all those little holes in the back because I figured you all would want them."

"Why?"

"Dunno."

"Hey, Techno, I'm going to do rollcall 52-34 soon." Henry says. Bird noises erupt not even ten seconds later. I chirp and Techno does too. We give each other side-glances. Phil and Kristin walk sleepily into the room. 

"Henry, you know you shouldn't-" Phil cuts off and gives Techno and I a look. "You two have wings."

"What?" I look at Techno and see flared red wings. My own shiny, golden ones are flared too. "Huh. Nice." I say. I also yawn.

"Weren't you supposed to be asleep by now?" Phil asks.

"I finished your suits?"

"Weren't you supposed to be asleep?" Phil repeats.

"Uhh, haha about that. This is all a dream."

"Yeah, Phil and Kristin are having weird dreams. Can't believe we're in them." 

"I'm too tired for this s--t. I'm going back to bed." Phil and Kristin walk off in the direction they came. Techno and I sigh in relief.

"So you're a bird?" We ask at the same time. "Yup." Henry plays a distressed bird call that sounds like Techno. Not loud, but loud enough I can hear it. I give a trill and my wings flare. Techno's eyebrows raise in question. I yawn and feel my conscious state slipping. "I'm getting tired. Did Henry blowdart me or something?"

"Yup!" Henry says.

"Wait, what?" Techno and I say.

"I got you both! Pretty sneaky, eh? Better curl up on Tommy's bed before you fall asleep."

"We barely know each other!" Techno and I complain. I decide I'm too tired to deal with this and pull Techno to my room. My birdbrain decides that Techno is now flock, whether he likes it or not. "Brothers?"

"Sure." He says as I fall asleep. My birdbrain chirps in contentment.

Chapter Text

I wake up to someone jumping onto the bed. I shove down a squawk. I open my eyes and see Wilbur. "Wilbur..."

"What? Dad told me to come get you. He's not very happy, though, Henry probably tattled on you."

"I did no tattling, whatever that is."

"Henry, you're an AI with access to the internet, surely you can look up the definition." I complain as I crawl out of the bed.

"Why are you two in here anyway?"

"Henry blowdarted us." Techno says as he rolls off the other side.

"Ouch."

"Yeah. It was kind of a cruel joke."

"It was no joke, at least, not for you, for me however, it was quite funny." The AI responds. I stick my tongue out and dodge another dart.

"Henry, Phil is calling us, if you dart us, he'll get mad and if he does, we're pinning the blame on you."

"Fine, fine. Tonight?"

"Please no." Us three plead. We glance at each other and laugh softly. Wilbur leads Techno and I to the dining room and there sits Phil and Kristin, their repaired and new suits in hand.

"Tommy, when did you finish these?"

"Last night?"

"Well, yes, but I thought I told you to get to bed at a decent time?"

"Yeah, but I kinda forgot."

"What time did you get to bed then?"

"Well, four? I don't really remember, Techno was throwing me onto my bed and then Henry... well, he, uh what's the terminology?"

"Darted? Blowdarted?" Wilbur supplies in-between his boisterous laughter.

"Henry... I thought we told you to stop doing that."

"Yes, but the chance to get the new intern and Technoblade? Who in their right mind would pass that up?"

"Understandable." I nod at Techno's sentiment.

"So, breakfast is ready, Kristin if you would?" Phil turns to his wife, who nods and brings the food to the table, dark purple mist dissipating as the food is gently laid on the table. "The suits are very well-made, Tommy, how'd you learn to do that?"

"Well, uh, I- Henry do you know XD?"

"The villain? Yes, I know of him. A smaller villain who hadn't done much harm and was only on the villain listing because he kidnapped civilian children. Why?"

"He had me for a while. That's where I learned all of this stuff. He had me make it, but you know where he is?"

"Is he not in the Vault?"

"Yeah, because I had a safety measure so that those kids and I could escape. He just so happened to be on one of his biggest missions when I initiated the safety measure. It pricked him with a sleeping dart and all of his men had those same suits on, so they were all knocked unconscious. I escaped with the children and got them to safety. I took some back to their parents, some to orphanages and the others to people looking to adopt street kids. One by one, they were all taken to safety except for one. I-I couldn't save him, he got sick and I didn't have the money to pay for his bills, so when he was murdered in the hospital during one of his treatments, the hospital said I didn't have to pay his bills. They would cover it since he was murdered by a nurse. It-I failed him. If I had only been there..." Tears streak down my face and Kristin wraps an arm around my shoulders. I turn and cry into her shoulder. "Shroud, his name was Shroud. I promised him I would save him, and yet-" I cry into Kristin's shoulder, deep sorrowful sobs. I hear a ping in the distance.

"Heroes of floor 14, you are being called into action. A group of villains is taking hybrids off the streets and running off with them. Your intern is requested also."

"Why Tommy?"

"Tommy, get a suit on, you're becoming a hero." Henry says.

"Uhh, I thought this was like a-"

"Don't think I didn't know about the thing. I won't tell anyone but you better sooner or later." I freeze.

"What thing?"

"You know, the thing, I found a little friend under your bed this morning." The crow! Uh oh...

"Ha ha, yeahhh, alright."

"Tommy?"

"Later, I'll show you on route." I run into my workshop and throw together a small mask and cloak. I rush out and see the others dressed in their suits as well. 

"Let's go, Tommy stay out of trouble."

"I was a vigilante for a bit, before Shroud died, I think I can handle this."

"What? Aren't vigilantes-"

"Illegal? They are now they weren't then."

"Right. Let's go." We rush into the streets and I follow close behind Techno, Wilbur by my side.

"I don't trust you by yourself, I don't want you hurt."

"You worry too much."

"Do I?" Wilbur asks as I see a glint, I throw my hands up and a shield of solid light forms between Wil and the bullet. 

"Like that? Come on, worrywart." I drag him to catch up to the others after tying the shooter up, making sure to leave the gun by his side.

We jump on a rooftop and I see- "Who is that?"

"XD! You idiot! I hate you!"

"You shouldn't hate me, little Theseus... I made you into what you are now!"

"No! You experimented on me until I had so many powers rolled into one that if you added any more I'd be too powerful to be stopped."

"Hmm, maybe."

"AGH!" I make a sword and swing at him. "How'd you get out of the prison?"

"Carefully." He summons his sword of darkness and swings at me.

"You should've waited for nightfall, XD."

"I hadn't been expecting you of all people." I duck and swipe at his feet, he jumps. We fight for a while. With the sun shining around us, it's easier to summon light, but there's also plenty of shadows for XD to use as well. I throw nets of light at him, and he, nets of dark at me. We duck and dodge until finally, XD says, "Stop or your companions die." I throw a net on him as I turn. Techno is fighting still, but Wilbur has been shoved to the ground. Where are-

Phil and Kristin descend onto the heads of the people fighting Techno and Wilbur. XD throws a net of darkness on my head and I screech. It starts burning and XD's shadows come closer, hissing and biting at me. I growl and shoot little balls of light at them, XD drags me into a shadowed part of the roof and I can't touch the light around. I growl. "Bye bye Theseus, here's to Theseus' legacy!" XD lifts a foot and pushes me over the edge of the roof, I bite his leg, keeping me on the roof.

"Theseus!" Wilbur shouts as he jumps XD.

"No!" I shout and kick myself out of the net as XD shoves a sword through Wilbur's shoulder. I roar in fury and shove XD over. Ropes of light swirl around me and then XD as I step into the light. I tighten them and rush to Wilbur, "Wil?" I whisper softly.

"I'm alright." He winces and I put my hands on the wound, "Tom-" he stops as I start healing the wound. If only I could heal sicknesses, then Shroud wouldn't have died. He stops and stares at his shoulder. I throw a knife of light over his shoulder and into the one of the man stalking upon Wilbur.

"Get your head in the game"

"Siren."

"Theseus, nice to officially meet."

"Yes." XD throws one last dark knife but I catch it with strands of light. I summon a couple wolves and order them not to hurt anyone who hasn't been touched by the darkness of XD's conniving. They look at me confused, I sigh.

"Don't hurt anyone who doesn't hurt you." They nod in understanding and rush into the fight. Biting at anyone who tries to stab them. I kneel to the ground, hands still splayed to keep everyone tied with light that way. I groan as I feel energy being siphoned by the seemingly gallons.

"Theseus?" Phil asks. I nod sluggishly, "You can let go now." I shake my head and gesture at XD, "Right, power cuff." He snaps a power suppression cuff on the badly burned man and I let go instantly. XD rushes me but Phil catches him, "Nah, you're going back to prison." Police arrive and take the bad guys away. The wolves I summoned earlier run off towards the forest and I fall to the ground.

"Theseus!" Wilbur shouts. He rushes and kneels by me.

"Tired, too much."

"It's alright, we'll take you home. HQ will be wondering about our new intern."

"Good, let them." I say as I fall asleep in Wilbur's arms.

-Time Skip-

I yawn and stretch, expecting to feel cold cement under me but I hit flesh with an arm going forward and a leg going backwards. "Huh?" I sit up and see Wilbur and Techno laying on either side of me, Phil and Kristin on either side of them, all efficiently sandwiching me in the middle. Techno grabs my arm and tugs me back down.

"So you lied?"

"About what?"

"About not having powers."

"Well, I was told that I was going to the Vault if I ever showed anyone my powers, but then again it was XD who told me that, soooo, I don't know if I will or not."

"Not. You're our apprentice, intern, whatever you prefer, if they want you, they're going through the top three heroes and a rank 6 hero. Not to mention that Schlatt, Puffy, Dream, Foolish, Sapnap, George, Tubbo, Ranboo, and Purpled would too. Sam might as well, even if he hasn't met you yet."

"Why?"

"We like you Tommy, we'd like to add you to our family when you're comfortable enough." Wilbur says from behind me.

"Really?"

"Yeah, Tommy." Kristin says on the other side of Techno.

"I have a theory but I'd first need Tommy to give some blood." Henry says from a speaker above my head. I yelp. "Hi, Tommy, I am everywhere. You can't escape me."

"I could leave the tower?"

"Never mind, you can escape me." We laugh and Henry chuckles. I lift my hand to the wall and it opens. Henry jabs a needle into my finger and grabs a piece of my hair with a mechanical arm. They race off. "I should have an answer to my theory by the end of the day, but you all have done well, the Council has said that you may take a day off." 

"Thanks, Henry, and thank the Council for us." Phil says from the other side of Wilbur.

"So, have I been unofficially kidnapped?"

"Nope, you've been officially kidnapped." Techno says, "And I don't think we'll ever let you go."

I snuggle into their warmth. A couple minutes later, Wilbur asks, "How'd you get the name Theseus?"

"XD shoved me off a building once to see if I could fly, but I didn't have flight feathers and crashed. He named me Theseus and after he was sent to prison I used it as my vigilante name."

"Huh." They reply. They start having that silent conversation thing again. 

"Henryyyy." I whine.

"I know, they've trapped you, I can't do anything."

"What's a song they all hate?" For some reason, no one except Henry acknowledges my question.

"With a passion or mild dislike?"

"Hmm, play them both at the same time."

"Alright then." Two different songs come on and the entire family groans.

"Henry!" They shout. I laugh so hard my stomach starts to hurt.

"Henry, anytime they do this and I'm in the room trying to get their attention, just do this."

"We need code names."

"Alright, remind me to tell you when they're asleep."

"Tommy!" They shout at me.

"What? You ignore me in favor of your silent conversations, therefore, I need a way to join in. I will not be silenced, and-" my sentence is muffled as Wilbur shoves a pillow in my face. I scream a muffled, "HENRY!"

"I got you, Tommy, we're in this together, activating wake-up call 52-34."

"NO!" The others shout, but Henry continues on. Birds start chirping and I laugh from underneath the pillow. Chirps bubble out of their throats and I laugh harder. I get off the bed whilst they try and plug their ears. 

"Tommy Innit, why aren't you reacting like they-"

"Shhh! I have learned through years of beatings how to not react. It'll take a lot more than this to get me." I watch and laugh as the family tries to cover their ears so they can stop chirping. I fall to the floor laughing. "Hey, Henry watch this." I summon an eagle, a parrot, a crow, and a dove. "Be as loud as you want, but stay for at least five minutes." They nod and fly around the room, screeching, cooing, chirping, whistling, and talking- in the parrot's case- as loud as they can be. I laugh harder when the birds take the pillows and blankets off the bed. I stop when they drop them on my head. "Hey!" Suddenly, I hear a warning trill and my birds flap away. "Aww, bye I guess." I say as I no longer hear flaps. I do however, still hear chirps and trills. I try to climb out of the blanket pile that I'm trapped in. "Henry! I'm stuck!"

"You won't be stuck there for long, I would be more worried about the people we just birdbrained if I were you, Tommy Innit." 

"What?" Pillows and blankets shift and Wilbur pokes his face in my bubble space. "Wilbur! Bubble space? Remember?" Wilbur grabs my arms and drags me out I see that my legs are tangled in a blanket and reach to untangle them. Phil grabs my left arm and Wilbur gets a better hold on my right arm. "Uh guys? What are you doing?"

"Chick stuck. Chick trapped by bad birds." Wilbur says. I look at him.

"I am not a chick!" They say nothing as Techno and Kristin untangle my legs. Kristin grabs my legs and Techno walks around behind me, "Uhh, Henry?"

"Your problem not mine."

"Henry!" I complain. Techno seems to search for something on my back and I realize... he's searching for my wings! "Tech, hey, look... we don't have to-" Techno lets out a worried trill as he sees my bound wings. I laugh nervously. When Phil and Kristin release me, I bolt.

"Tommy Innit, that may not have been wise." Henry says as I dodge Techno's grab.

"It's either try and escape or be stuck with four birdbrained people. What would you do?"

"Hmm, play more bird noises and get you to join their ranks."

"Like I said, that won't-" I hear several distress trills that sound like Phil, Kristin, Techno, and Wilbur. Instincts cloud my brain but I shove them down, "Henryyy" I complain covering my ears.

"They're coming~" He singsongs.

"Who programmed you?"

"Mm, Sam and Tubbo."

"Tubbo. Right, yeah this makes sense. Chaos is his thing."

"Yup. Have fun, I'm going to go bother Tubbo."

"Noooo" I whine. Techno jumps me. "ACK!" Techno chirps and chirps. "No! Stop!"

"Chick bad, chick stay in nest." Kristin says as she approaches.

"No! Stop! I'm not your chick! I'm not anyone's chick!"

"Our chick. Flock." Techno says from atop me.

"Off!"

"Mr. Henry Chaos back to aid the birdbrains. If you scratch his head, he'll listen."

Phil walks towards Techno and I and I try to shove Techno off. "Betrayed! Traitor! Henry, you're a-" Phil starts scratching my head and I try to jerk away. His hand just follows my head, I start to relax, loving the warmth of Phil's hand. "Warm, want love." I chirp.

"Get love, come nest? Preen?" Wilbur questions. I nod. Techno gets up and Phil scoops me in his arms. I yelp and cling to his neck. Phil just stands there as Techno unbinds my wings.

"Wings hurt?" Techno asks.

"No." I reply.

"Chick ours?" Wilbur prods.

"Maybe. Preen?" I'm not ready to join a flock just yet.

"Preen." Phil says. He carries me to the nest and begins to preen my wings after he sets me down. We chirp and trill contentedly, taking turns preening wings. I sigh and relax in Kristin's arms as she hugs me. I drift to sleep with contented chirps bubbling out of my throat. It would be so nice to join their flock, but don't all good things come to an end? I don't want this to end. Ever.

Chapter Text

"I forgot about the birdbrained ones. Oh well, I'll simply tell them in the morning." An AI says to no one in particular, seeing as how the ones he was talking to are birdbrained and paying no attention whatsoever to him. He thinks that he has done a great job reuniting a family and nods to himself in his database. His personality is based off of one of Sam's passed friends, Henry. Henry was a kind man with a bit too much chaoticness in him that caused him to get in an accident that wasn't his fault. His chaotic nature had him driving to Sam's house in the night to scare him but instead of scaring Sam in a good way, Henry was hit by a drunk driver and killed instantly, and Sam was left scared about how to live without his best friend. Therefore, when he made an AI, he used everything he loved about his old friend and put it into the personality of the AI, even naming it Henry. This is how Henry AI was born, kind, chaotic, great sense of humor, smart, and funny. The AI looks at the reunited family once more before going to bother Tubbo about his greatness of being chaotic.

Tommy POV

I yawn and wake up to find feathers in my mouth. I sputter and spit them out, sitting up as I do so. I find Techno and Phil on either side of me with Wilbur hugging Techno, and Kristin hugging Phil. I stretch and head to my workshop. "Henry, what plans did they have for me?"

"They need new masks, I've sent pictures of their old ones, they also need gear that goes well with their hero personas."

"Ah, and those are?"

"I've also sent you that. Phil will likely be the hardest one to train on how to use the gear, so make it K.I.S.S proof."

"Keep It Simple Stupid?"

"Yes. Techno will likely want weapons, Wilbur will want something to amplify his voice most certainly, Kristin and Phil are both very parental figures and are often only called in when children are involved or their powers are needed."

"Who is the most adaptable?"

"Kristin, most definitely, and go ahead and make some gear and costume for yourself."

"Why? I like my old one, it's iconic."

"It also needs washed." Henry states.

"So?"

"Really? I'm an AI and I can smell it from here."

"You also don't have smell unless it's a foreign substance alarm."

"Oh that smell is poignant enough that I can smell it."

"Hey! Screw you!"

"Be nice to me, I'm your best friend." Henry whines playfully.

"Oh yeah? If I could tackle you, I would."

"Hm, you should be glad you can't."

"I know, but it'd still be fun to try." Henry laughs and I chuckle. "Anyway back on track, bring me-" I list off all the materials I need to do everything and look at the old masks. I wince at the poor updates that the masks have been given. "I can do so much better. Sam could too. Why didn't they update them?"

"Something about 'I like my old one, it's iconic'." He says in my voice.

"Hey!"

"I can prove that's exactly what they said too, 'I like my old one, it's iconic.'" Henry goes through all the SBI members and I laugh heartily. 

"Alright fine. You proved your point." Sapnap, Tubbo, and a green-haired man, I assume Sam, walk in. "Hey guys! Thanks for bringing this stuff!"

"No problem! We're not busy right now and thought we might be able to help you!" Tubbo says as Sapnap walks back downstairs. I give him a look, "Not Sapnap, he's too important to his bestie DREAM" Tubbo singsongs.

"TUBBO I CAN HEAR YOU!" Sapnap shouts from down the hall we laugh before starting on the masks. 

"So I was thinking filters on the masks and for the full-face masks/veils we do tech that shows how to get to where they need to go and show faces." 

"That's a great idea! What if-" we toss ideas for different masks back and forth. We finish a couple-by we, I mean mostly me speedrunning this sucker- before the two have to leave and I wave goodbye dramatically.

"Henry, do these look good?" I ask of the AI when I finish all the masks.

"Yes, Tommy, they look great, are you going to do your own?"

"Hm, let me do my job first and then-"

"Tommy it's eleven! You haven't had breakfast yet!" Phil scolds as he walks in. "What are you even-" He stops as he sees the four finished masks sitting on my completion table. "You-you did all this in what five hours?"

"Tubbo and Sam helped me make Wilbur and Kristin's, I finished you and Techno's pretty quickly since we had the programming worked out already and I just had to incorporate it comfortably into the design of the mask. Try it on!" Phil carefully walks up to the black bird mask and tugs it on over his face. "As you should see, a map shows up, showing where you are, without showing anyone else where you are. I know that most heroes have tracking devices in cases of emergency, but I figured having a little dot that didn't tell anyone where you were would be nice too. Also, it filters the air for you, AND-" I produce a can of bear spray and direct it at Phil's face. He flinches but it doesn't get anywhere near him, "it protects you from that sort of stuff. TADA!"

"Wow, I'm-I'm impressed." Phil says, "but that's not what I really came here for, little bird. You missed breakfast, so you better eat a lot at lunch."

"Don't you have some hero work to do?"

"Mm, yeah, but I needed to talk to you first. I'll distribute the masks amongst the people for you."

"Like God distributing manna to the Israelites?"

"Sure, mate, sure." We laugh as he picks up the masks and starts to walk out.

"Wait! Tell them to see me before they take them out on patrol! I have to make sure everything's running properly. Yours is good to go though."

"I will, mate, don't worry. See you at lunch. Henry do wake-up call 52-34 if you have to."

"That doesn't work on him, Philza." Henry replies.

"Well, make us do a distress call or something." Phil says to Henry who hums in acknowledgement before turning back to me, "You have until 12:30." He turns and leaves, masks in hand. I sigh.

"Is he always like that?"

"Yeah. He likes to get his way, Wilbur gets that from him. Kristin doesn't mind so long as it eventually happens."

"That's where Techno gets it from."

"Indeed."

"So for Phil and Kristin's gear, I was thinking like some children toys and birdseed boxes, nothing too complicated for Phil, but I might also give Kristin smoke bombs and flashbangs."

"We have those already."

"Yes, but not mine." 

"Oh? How are yours different?"

"I had a reason for making sure the pepper spray didn't infiltrate the masks, and for making sure that no gases could get in either."

"Oh. You're sadistic."

"Maybe so, but I'm pretty great at making good gear." I make little kid toys that everyone loves, little RC cars for Kristin that can get places she can't, that also have microphones on them to coax children and adults out of hiding spots she can't get to. Phil gets toys, birdseed boxes, and tracking devices that he can shoot from his wrists. Nothing too complicated like what I made for Kristin. "Techno and Wilbur. Those two are so different. Amplifiers for Wil, and weapons for Techno? Easy."

"Maybe not, it's 12:29."

"Henry!"

"What? You should've paid attention to the clock."

"Whatever, there's this last thing on the blueprint I need to fix, shouldn't take long." It takes too long apparently because at 12:45, Phil, Techno, Wilbur, and Kristin burst into my workshop, startling me into setting off a delicate crossbow, which fires into the wall and catches on fire.

"I got this." Henry dowses the fire swiftly and I sigh.

"YOU GUYS! DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THAT!!! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?! SOMEONE COULD'VE GOTTEN HURT!!" They look apologetic but still determined.

"Tommy, I said 12:30, it's now-"

"I don't care. Out. I'm mad at you all, now I've got to fix it. GAH! The string's broken, Henry it doesn't look fixable."

"Maybe if you-"

"Henry, he needs to eat."

"Quite right, I apologize." Phil and Wilbur grab my arms and drag me out. I stomp their feet and rush back into the room, locking it.

"You can bring me lunch if that's what's got your undies in a twist!" I shout through the door. "Henry, keep that door locked unless they've brought food and knocked." 

"Alright." I set to work fixing the delicate strings on the crossbow. "That did work, Tommy, great job. Also, Kristin has approached the door with food."

"Tell her she needs to knock first if she starts banging." I set aside the crossbow and arrows and make a mold for a dual set of swords. I hear a knocking, "Come in!" Henry unlocks the door and Kristin comes in with food. "Thanks."

"Sorry about earlier, kid."

"It's alright, Miss Kristin. I just got worried, but I did figure out that the arrow didn't explode like I had originally wanted it to. You bring your mask?" She nods. I eat the food absentmindedly as I run some tests on it whilst it's on her face. The thick purple veil hanging from the crown covers her entire face but moves with her and doesn't seem to inhibit any movement from her. "I tried to keep all the designs as close to the originals as I could while still making it so that I could make much needed improvements on them, how's it feel?"

"Great!" 

"That's good." I spray the bear spray and she doesn't flinch. "Alright, I'm warning you about this one," I get a bright light and shine it in her face.

"Whoa. That's amazing! I can still see around the light and it doesn't blind me."

"Henry turn off the lights." The lights go out as I shut the spotlight in my hands off. "Can you see?"

"Like it's daytime and the lights are on, this is great!"

"Great! Thanks for bringing me food. I'll give you some training on your new gear later, but for now, go do whatever you need to do."

"Thanks, Toms!"

"No problem!" She leaves and I continue working on the new swords for Techno. I put some enhancements into it, such as instantly knocking out whoever is stabbed with it, Sharpness V -I played a bit of Minecraft on Gogy's phone and thought that this would be hilarious to say to a man who probably has never played the game before-, and additional strength. 

"You think that's enough weapons to satisfy the man for a week or two?"

"That's enough to satisfy him for at least three weeks." Henry replies after a bit, "Sorry, Sam and Tubbo were asking me questions. Do you need me right now?"

"Nah, just do whatever you just did and reply to me whenever you're available."

"Thanks, Tommy, I appreciate it as much as a robot can appreciate an act of affection." Henry chuckles after he says that.

"Sure, whatever you think." I laugh softly as I start on mini megaphones for Wilbur. Techno and Wilbur periodically come in and let me test their masks, and by the time I finish Wilbur's last piece of gear, it's like 6:30. "Henry."

I wait a couple minutes before Henry replies, "Yes?"

"Where are the others?"

"In the dining room doing the thing."

"Hmm, code name?"

"Is?"

"A-C-H-I-L-L-E-S, I-C-A-R-U-S, A-P-R-O-D-I-T-E, and A-P-O-L-L-O. Code names for the thing we did earlier. Those are people, you can guess who is who right?"

"T, P, K, W?" 

"Yes! You're so smart."

"I was built that way."

"And programmed that. Be listening for me will ya?"

"Aye aye skipper!" The playful AI says as I leave the room. I turn back and salute, much to the AI's delight, before walking into the dining room.

Chapter Text

I sit at the table, at the other end from everyone as they do their little thoughts-only conversation. "Hey Henry, have you heard the story of Achilles?"

"Oh? No, I haven't, sorry but I've got an errand to do for Tubbo, would you like to hear your song?"

"Yes please, we'll have to continue our storytime later." I say mocking disappointment. No one at the table notices until a song comes on and Techno's face turns to immediate anger.

"SHUT IT OFF!" I laugh and Techno jumps me, I screech and fall off the chair as Techno pins me to the ground. "You did this! Apologize right now brat!" Suddenly, it's no longer playful banter that I see but XD's furious anger at me messing up a piece of technology. I scramble away.

"So sorry XD! I tried but you know that it's hard to get it perfect on the first try!"

"Well try f---ing harder you little brat! I don't think you understand how little anyone cares about you."

"You're right! No one cares, I'm really sorry!"

"You better be. TOMMY!" He shouts. I flinch and hide my face in my knees. 

"Please don't hurt me," I whimper.

"TOMMY!" Someone shouts. Not XD. I whine and trill pitifully, knowing that will make XD's anger more so than before but not caring. "TOMMY!" Someone is wrapping me in an embrace and I smell pinewood. I blink and see pink hair.

"Techno?"

"Tommy, I'm sorry! I would never hurt you on purpose! I didn't know that would trigger you!" Techno apologizes.

"Eh, I didn't either to be fair."

"You- you don't know what triggers you?" Wilbur asks, tears wetting his face.

"What. Were you all crying?" I ask seeing the wetness on everyone's face. They nod. "Why?"

"We like you Tommy, you're growing on all of us."

"Uh huh. Wait." I stop, "I-I didn't say anything did I?"

"You definitely did, Tommy." Henry says, receiving dark looks from the SBI. "What?"

"You didn't need to say that." Phil says.

"He would've known the lie immediately anyway, and he told me to refute any lies you guys tried to tell him."

"Yup." I say when they turn to look at me. 

"Also, I have results back, do you-, actually, are you sure you want to know the results?"

"What'd you do?" I ask.

"I did a DNA test on you, Tommy."

"If it's alright with them, I'd like to know the results of your hypothesis."

"We would as well, Henry." Kristin says.

"There is a 74% match to Philza. A 72% Kristin, and 60% match with both Techno and Wilbur."

"Wait-" I say calculating and taking sources I knew from the internet, which probably wasn't very accurate, and guess, "They're my real family?"

"They're your biological mother, father, and brothers." I gape. I feel Techno tense and see Wilbur and Phil follow Techno's action. Kristin however, looks like she was told that she just got the best news of her life. 

"My son!" She cries and steals me from Techno.

"Kristin, I mean Mum, I-I don't really know what to call you now." I tell her.

"Either works fine, even the twins alternate a good majority of the time. Sometimes they call me Mumza."

"Mumza? I like it. I'm going to start calling you that." I say hugging her tight, "Mumza." She hugs me back and tears slip down my face. "I-I never thought that the family I couldn't remember would be the one that I'd end up working for nearly eleven years later." I laugh, Phil laughs too, breaking the palpable tension. We hug on the floor for a while before my stomach rumbles. "Can we eat now?"

"Of course we can." Kristin moves us to chairs at the table and I laugh softly when I start thinking of the code that I just made with Henry. "What is it?"

"Oh ho ho, I have the best pranks planned."

"No fair! Our brother is also the tech guy! He'll get way better pranks than us!" Wilbur whines to Phil.

"You two are adults, Tommy is not." Phil says, ruffling my hair from my spot next to him. I laugh when Techno and Wilbur frown deeply. "Let's eat before we start this again please." Phil begs.

"Fine." The twins say. I laugh before digging in. We joke for a while before everyone heads off to do some work.

"Now what Henry? I have no work to do!"

"Can you play the piano?"

"I-well, it's been a while, Henry."

"Oh? I'll help you find the music room, I'd like to hear you play."

"A-alright." I follow Henry's directions to a room, "I-I don't read sheet music very well, Henry." I say, seeing the sheet music on the electronic screen of the piano.

"I'll switch it to falling notes, can you do that?"

"Yeah." We decide on a song and I follow the falling notes on the keys. As time passes, Henry dares me to do a complex song and I said, "Bet." So, here I am playing a ten minute song on the piano to prove that I can do it after having played for a half an hour already. When I finish, applause ripples through the room. I turn and see SBI- my family- standing there clapping. I blush.

"That was great!" Techno says as everyone moves up closer to me.

"You're pretty good!" Kristin adds.

"You could join Wilbur/my jam sessions!" Phil and Wilbur say. I laugh and shake my head.

"I-I don't think I'm that good."

"Bruh, you just played one of the hardest songs out there on falling notes and didn't even get cramps."

"Well, I have to disagree," I mention flexing the aching fingers.

"Oh Tommy!" They exclaim.

"What?"

"Hmm, sleepover." Everyone says.

"Why? What is a sleepover?"

"You're sheltered." Phil says.

"Uh yeah? So are you? There's literally four walls and a roof, that's ten times better than the worst I've ever seen."

"A. That's concerning, and B. I mean that you haven't had enough social interaction in your life."

"I think I have. I worked a customer service job once."

"You got the customer service voice?" Wilbur asks.

"Yup. 'Hello, welcome to Garbero's Ice Cream, Dairy, Butchery, and Seed Shop, our specials are tomato seeds half-off as well as butchered poultry, rocky road, and cream cheese! How may I serve you this fine day?'" I bow at the end, sending everyone into fits of laughter.

"That's great! Is that where you worked?"

"Before it shut down."

"Why'd it shut down?" I laugh at the memory, not the fact that I no longer had a job but why I no longer had a job.

"Well, the owner got into some illegal markets, selling foreign meat and no one found out until I accidentally gave an inspector the wrong meat. Now the owner kind of has a vendetta against me."

"Whoa. Is he in jail?"

"No. He escaped after giving me the typical villain speech."

"Oh."

"My wings hurt for some reason." I complain. Phil and Kristin instantly starting preening them. "Why do they hurt though?"

"Can you fly?" Techno asks.

"Yes." I say, Techno glances at me, "Just not well. I have a tendency to crash into things."

Chapter Text

"We're going to have to work on that, Toms." Wilbur says to me. "Flying lessons today?"

"Maybe. Can we just take a raincheck on that and cuddle?" I say snuggling into Phil's side. 

"Sorry to interrupt the family session but you are summoned to the field once more. XD has escaped containment and is attacking the Hero HQ along with some brainwashed heroes." Henry says, interrupting the nice day. 

We all systematically swear loudly. "Let's go get dressed, everybody." Kristin says dragging us up.

"Fine..." We others whine. We go get dressed in our hero (technically my vigilante costume) costumes and run outside. I see Sapnap, George, Dream, Tubbo, Ranboo, Sam, Hannah, and Puffy fighting with XD. Everyone else was fighting against them, trying not to hurt their friends. "I'll go for XD, you guys distract everyone else." I say. Everyone except my family, of course.

"No!" Phil says. 

"You need backup!" Wilbur says.

"No guys, you'll be right there, watching, you can help if you think I need it, alright?" Techno nods unsteadily before dragging the others off. I sigh and spread my wings. I unsteadily flap my way onto the roof before I hide them again. "XD."

"Theseus, how grown up you've become." He shoots his hand towards me and I duck under it. Tonight's a full moon. I wonder how this is going to go if the fight lasts that long. I don't think it will though. I shoot strings of light towards XD before making a light sword. I swing the sword at XD and he dodges. We fight for a while, we're both evenly matched. Neither of us are as good at fighting as Techno or Dream, who are fighting to our right. "Theseus, who do you think directed that tornado towards you? I've known that you would morph into this and you know what?" He says as I duck a net and a swing from him. "If you stop fighting right now, I'll release the heroes with no consequences." I hesitate before laying my sword on the ground. XD releases the heroes and snaps a power suppressor cuff on my wrist. Does this idiot really think that this suppression cuff works on me? Idiot.

"THESEUS!" My family yells. XD puts his sword at my throat. Hm, no me gusta.

"Stop or I'll-" I wiggle my fingers and a string of light rips the sword away.

"You really thought that a suppression cuff would work on me in the day? How dumb of you. You forget how I'm not allergic to obsidian nor netherite, since my powers aren't natural. However..." I pause for dramatic effect as I summon a sword. "It does on you because your powers are natural. You were born with them. I have so many different powers that you were afraid of what I could do." I see him concentrating, probably trying to get the heroes under his control again. "Oh, no, that just won't do. You see, when you release them, I put shields on your mind, so your brainwashing power?" I make a cutting motion with my free hand as I stalk closer to the villain. "No go, won't work."

"But it'll work on you." He says. I anticipated his move and echo his movement, his eyes widen before he can retract his move, we're sent under the other's mind control, frozen until we can break free.

Wilbur POV

Tommy's hand remains outstretched towards XD and XD's the same. I rush to Tommy. "Theseus!" I cry out. I grab his arm, not daring to lower his hand in case the mind control breaks. "Please! You can't leave again!" I sob into his shoulder. I grip tightly to his free arm and Techno slings his arm over me, burying his face in my hair. Phil and Kristin are gently touching Tommy's back, probably trying to read his mind and get XD out of his mind. I turn into Techno's embrace when XD crumples to the ground, unconscious. Tommy jerks suddenly and sighs loudly. "Theseus!" I go to grab him but he shoos me away. Heroes place two power suppression cuffs on XD before hauling him away. Tommy just stares as XD leaves. 

"You two could've gotten hurt." He says sadly. Kristin and Phil take him in his arms and I just watch from Techno's embrace. "What if he had used your powers against you and ridden along them into your brains?" Tommy says as he turns to Phil and Kristin.

"What?" Techno and I say.

"He couldn't've." Kristin soothes, "You were bound and determined to shove us out, your powers are very strong, Theseus, stronger than Phil and I's combined. XD couldn't have gotten us anyway, we've always been immune to him."

"He couldn't have, mate."

"But!"

"No buts. We're proud of you mate." Phil ruffles Tommy's hair lovingly before we start preening his wings. "You helped us get him, Toms."

"I'm tired." He says as he drifts asleep.

"We're so proud." I whisper to the boy who has lived through so much pain and trauma. To my baby brother.

Chapter Text

Tommy POV 

I wake slowly, curling into whoever I'm cuddling with. "Aw, guys, look!" Someone coos.

"Yes, Tubbo, we know, now can you give him back now?" Wilbur says.

"Wil? Tech? Dad? Mum?" I call softly. I'm passed from one person to another.

"Thank you." Techno says forcefully to Tubbo, "It's ok, Toms, Tubbo was just watching over you while we escorted XD to prison."

"Mk, where's Mum and Dad?"

"Bringing food. We guessed on what you like to eat. Y'know when we were guessing your powers, we were no where near the truth, or we got close, I guess."

"You have such a wide range of powers, Toms, it's incredible! Mind control, plant growth, weapon-making, weather control, power resistance, though I s'pose that's not as strong as some of the others but that's cool, you can summon animals????? Which by the way can you make a sheep or a frog for me, like that would be so cool and-" 

"Wilbur, leave your brother alone so he can eat, mate." Phil says as he walks in. The only man ever, Philza Minecraft, just simply so great. They start chuckling and I guess that I said that out loud.

"You definitely did, Toms." Kristin says.

"Guess who's the favorite parent now?" Phil teases.

"I am." Kristin says as I say, "You are." as the twins say, "She is." Phil looks at me in mock sadness. 

"I guess we're alone in our sentiment. Which means I get him, since I'm his favorite."

"Yup." I say as I start to move closer to Phil. 

"Uh we think not!" The twins say as they drag me back towards them. I groan. Really? I give Phil a 'help me' look. He laughs.

"But he said he likes me more."

"Too bad."

"Can I-" a hand slaps over my mouth. I whine. I plead with Phil, while listening to Kristin laugh her butt off.

"You asked for it. Kristin, I do believe the twins claimed you as their favorite parent." Kristin opens her mouth in faux awe.

"That's right!" She exaggerates, "Awww boys, you're so adorable twins-come-want-twins!" She trills to them. They release me to go to her. I laugh until Phil pulls me into his lap.

"Now I've got the golden child." He says as he wraps his wings around us. It's so comforting that I start to fall asleep.

"Phil, can you guys teach me how to fly?"

"'Course mate. Take a nap, you deserved it, son." I chirp loved?-loved.-Dadza to Phil and he responds love-love-safe-safe-nest-flock. I fall asleep surrounded by people who love me for who I am. XD will never stop trying to get rid of me until he or I am dead or incapable of being chased. But at least I know that I'll have my family with me always. As I drift off, I swore I could hear Tubbo and Sapnap laughing and the sound of a camera clicking but I decide that can wait until tomorrow.

Chapter Text

Philza POV

"Okay, Tommy, there is nothing to worry about. It's only ten stories-"

"TEN STORIES???" 

"Yes, this is like half the height I was taught on, suck it up a bit. Now, when-"

"No, no hold on-" I gently keep talking and pushing Tommy towards the edge of the building. "Phil-Phil, n-n--no please! XD! I'm-I'm sorry!" He curls in himself and starts sobbing. I look over at Kristin and Techno and their eyes are on Tommy. Wilbur, however, just immediately kneels next to Tommy, putting his hands in Tommy's hair and gently stroking.

"Shh, Toms, it's okay. Wilby's here, remember? Shhh." Tommy calms eventually and looks up at Wilbur.

"Wilbur..." He whines. Wilbur wraps his arms around him and I share a glance with Techno and Kristin. 

"Wilbur, how do you know how to-"

"Later. He's almost asleep."

"Nu, 'm na."

"You definitely are." Wilbur kisses the top of Tommy's head and lifts him up. I grab his arm when he topples backwards.

"I may not be able to deal with panic attacks, but I can definitely deal with your 'oopses'." I say, dragging him to the door.

"I never-"

"Shh. Tommy's asleep." Techno scolds. I look at the boy in Wilbur's arms and smile fondly. We go back to the nest, only leaving to patrol and gather food. Tommy sleeps the entire day away, much to Kristin, Techno, and I's worry. Wilbur insists that the boy is fine however. So when I hear a screech and Techno's playful growling, I smile, happy that Wilbur knew his little brother so well.

Tommy POV

I wake up and see Techno in my face. "Hullo."

"AGH!" I leap at Techno and wrestle him to the ground. He lets out a playful growl before wrestling with me some more. Wilbur walks in at the wrong time as Techno and I roll into his legs, knocking him, and all the food he was carrying, on top of us.

"GUYS!"

"GET HIM!" I shout, leaping at the Wilbur who was attempting to stand. Techno chuckles and pounces with me. We wrestle with Wilbur until Phil comes in and pulls us apart. Which was a while, judging on how sweaty Wilbur and I are. Techno is barely breaking a sweat. Typical Technoblade.

"Are you ready to try again? We'll start on a smaller structure this time." Phil says, grabbing my arm and tugging me into a side-hug.

"Like a tree?" I ask.

"Like a tree." He confirms. I nod as Wilbur and Techno jump out the window. I screech as they fly off. "They're a bit of a show-off." I nod and follow Kristin to the elevator. Phil went after the twins to scold them for being so reckless. I giggle as we meet up with the others and Phil is still giving them a scolding. Kristin chuckles too and nods towards the tree they're standing under. She and I clamber up it and I stand at the tallest tree branch. 

"Here goes nothing." I jump out and yelp as my wings snap out and glide me towards the ground. Kristin whoops from the tree and I crash into Phil. "Oops, sorry Dad." Phil chirps and I roll my eyes. "Nope, the author has had enough birdbrain, so have I?"

"Wait, what?" Techno asks.

"AGAIN!!!" I hurriedly climb back up the tree and leap off again, crashing into the trio at the bottom of the tree. This time on purpose. I don't apologize. To anyone about this.

Chapter Text

Tubbo walks in my room. "TOMMY!! WE'RE GONNA GO HANG OUT AT A BOWLING ALLEY!" Ranboo and Sapnap aren't far behind Tubbo, all three jumping on me and my bed.

"five more minutes." I groan. My sleep-addled brain rolls me off the bed and I decide to sleep there.

"NOPE!" Sapnap shouts and grabs my foot. He drags me out the door as I squawk indignantly. Techno and Phil run to us and see the chaos.

"Nope." Techno turns around and walks away. 

"Nooo, come back! Save me! What is a bowling alley?"

"That convinces me further to allow this happen. Tubbo, Sapnap, Sam or Puffy is going with you right?" Silence in Phil's question. "Boys."

"Phil, I told them it was a-" 

"Ranboo you probably convinced them to do it, you're not the shy kid anymore who floats about." Phil interrupts. 

"Ooooo" I say. 

"Now. I'm calling Sam up here to get you three in line. I'm not as worried about Tommy."

"Why not?" The other three whine.

"I can just get Wilbur or Techno birdbrained and they'll find him."

"Please don't." I beg. 

"Imagine." Sapnap says.

"Please, Sapnap, you're no better. If Tubbo's gone for more than an hour, you go nuts. He's not even legally your brother."

"So?"

"I need to call Sam. You guys fight this out, why don't you?" Phil walks away and I call after him, begging him to come back and free me. He just laughs and keeps going. I lament loudly about how I've been abandoned again and that brings Wilbur to me.

"Why are you crying out like a clingy kitten?"

"they're kidnapping me to go bawling!"

"BOWLING!!" Tubbo, Ranboo, and Sapnap shout. I wince at the proximity of Tubbo's mouth to my ear. 

"Owww." I whine. "I'm sorry!" I fake cry out.

"I'm not dealing with this. I'm gonna go hang out with Tech." Wilbur leaves as Phil comes back in.

"Sam's on his way up, don't you guys worry. He said to meet him at the door and he'll take you guys and Bad to the only bowling alley that Sapnap and Tubbo haven't traumatized."

"HEy!" The two shout. Ranboo shrugs when I look at him.

"They have an affinity for arsony, what can I say?" I raise a brow.

"Only an affinity, eh? They should bond more with arsony so they can have a better relationship with her."

"Her?"

"Or him, I don't mean to judge."

"Ah yes. Her does make a little more sense. Guys are more calm and collected eh?" 

"Ranboo, women are pog."

"Pog? That's not a word is-"

"GUYS I FOUND SAM!" Tubbo shouts.

"Guys! I found Tubbo!" Sam mocks. Tubbo gasps in light offence.

"hOw DaRe yOu? i aM nOt tO bE MoCkEd."

"Of course not." Sam rolls his eyes fondly, "You boys ready to go?"

"YEAH!" The others shout.

"Nooo" I whine. Sam just looks at me.

"They've got you, you have no chance of escape now."

"NoOoOo" I plead.

Sam loads us up in his car, since none of them can't fly, and I don't know where we're going, and we head to the backing alley. I still don't understand completely what's happening though. All I know is that I have been kidnapped.

I should've been more worried when I saw the multiple fire extinguishers just laying around the place and the exasperated looks the staff gave Sapnap and Tubbo. Been more worried as Badboyhalo (he insists that I call him Bad for short) and Sam grab the biggest balls the alley has. When Sam, Bad, and Ranboo have to wear humongous shoes just to bull. Out of all of us here, I think for once, I'm the most normal. The staff even mentions it after we leave but that's not until later after all the.... events that happened.

The first game wasn't too bad, I learned fairly quickly, but I'm still not great. 

The second game was like watching paint dry. Tubbo, Bad, and Sam tied for first. I got last, Sapnap barely beating me and Ranboo is in the middle. So of course Tubbo, Bad, and Sam had a re-match and.... it took for-r-r-rever-r-r-r. Sam ended up winning with Tubbo in second. Like father like adopted son. I roll my eyes as Sam slings an arm over Tubbo, congratulating him for a good game. Sapnap complains to Bad about why doesn't he get affirmation that he's doing a good job. Bad just chuckles and rubs Sapnap's head affectionately and then tells him he's proud of him. "Ranboo, we forgot our dads."

"I don't have one." I sit there. 

"Not even an adopted one?"

"Nope."

"Phil will fix that if you hang around him too long." I say. I can almost imagine Phil's face if he heard that. He'd deny it, but in reality it's true.

"So will Sam!" 

"But I hang out with Sam a lot!"

"He might beat Phil to adopting you then!" I exclaim. Tubbo jumps excitedly.

"WE COULD BE BROTherS, BOOO!" He grabs Ranboo's arm and drags him to Sam. "Sam, Father dearest, Dad, can you pretty please-"

"Tubbo, what did you do?"

"NOTHING! Can you adopt Ranboo now?" Sam sputters and the staff around them stares at Tubbo. Sapnap and I laugh. Suffice to say, Sam did not end up adopting Ranboo then.

The third game Ranboo accidentally dropped a ball on my foot, absolutely crushing it. I ended up in the hospital. We didn't tell my family because.... well, none of us felt like getting lectured right then. It was decided that they wouldn't tell my family anything. Like nothing at all. If any of them called hours later, we ignored their calls. I send the others home, Sapnap and Ranboo riding with Bad, Sam and Tubbo making a pit stop to McDonald's. Tubbo, in his absolute hilariousness, decided that if Phil was right about the twins and leave me in an alley with a broken foot. I sat there for a long time. Surprisingly, no one attempted to kidnap me. 

At about midnight, I hear three angry chirps and one laugh. I look up at the roof and see Phil, Techno, and Wilbur. They flutter around me and Kristin stands off to the side. "Mumza, help me."

"Nah, I'm good. Sam told me everything. I knew where you were. We wanted to see if Phil's word was true. This is hilarious."

"Have you been in this situation before?"

"Nope. Don't ever intend to be either. Phil was right except for one thing. He forgot himself. He's probably one of the worst of us when it comes to clinginess."

"Who's first?" I ask as Phil chirps worriedly at the cast on my foot and scoops me up with a yelp from his captive. 

"Well, you and Phil certainly tie." She laughs. "Come on then boys, let's take the fledgling home."

"I thought you weren't birbed?"

"I'm not. They are though."

"What?"

"Fledgling-nest-fledgling-needs-nest!" Phil trills. I whine. 

"How long are you guessing in nest time?"

"Until you are able to escape at least." I groan.

"Phil, it wasn't my fault! I couldn't walk home! They ditched me for Mum's entertainment!"

"Don't pin this on me!" Phil chirps confused. He and the twins haven't shut up about me needing a nest and a big meal. A nap sounds better. I yawn and curl into Phil's arms. 

"I'm tired, can you tell the twins to be quiet? They do be kinda loud." Phil chirps harshly and the twins quiet. Phil jumps into the sky and carries us home to the nest.

Let's just say Kristin was right when she said I had to escape in order to leave. Phil was even willing to go against the government and hero HQ to keep me in the nest. He somehow knew when I exited the nest and would be waiting outside the window or door whenever I attempted escape. "Phil, let me out! I'm healed!"

"No."

"WHyyY?"

"No."

"Can you only say 'No'?"

"No." He says this with an amused face. 

"Fine." He raises a brow. "If I have to stay here, I'm not staying alone." I grab Phil's arm and drag him into the nest. I set him in the nest and stare at him while I sit criss-cross-applesauce. "As long as I'm grounded, you're grounded."

"No."

"Yes."

"No, Tommy."

"Yes, Philza Minecraft."

"Tommy."

"Philza Minecraft."

"That's not even my name."

"It is now."

"I'm leaving." He stands and makes a move for the door and I grab his arm.

"No you're not. I'm lonely and you won't let me out, so someone has to stay."

"Are you birdbrained?"

"No. I'm not chirping." I feel a little more birb than usual but it's not enough to be birdbrained.

"Mhm, so if I preen your wings, you won't birb?"

"Nope." He starts preening my wings and I fight for a while, and I make it all the way through without becoming entirely birdbrained. Then Phil chirps happily at the sight of my preened wings and that breaks my dam. I chirp and trill back happily and cling tightly to him. Everyone always think that it's Wilbur and I who are the clingiest. Heck, I've even heard Mumza and Techno be asked if they're the clingiest of the group. But no matter how much it embarrasses me to admit. It's Phil and I who are the clingiest. I hug him koala-style and remain there until Techno walks in. See by this time, Phil had become birbed (did I mention how easy it is to birb Phil?) and he sees us and says, "Nope." He tries to walk back out but I whine, wanting more people in the nest. 

"Tech?" Wilbur calls from outside the door. "What's wrong?"

"They're birdbrained. We tried to warn Phil. Quick we got to go before Tommy convinces Phil to 'nap us!" He pushes Wilbur out the door and I hear Wil and Tech laugh. Flock.... Flock leaving? I trill sadly to Phil and he glances down at me.

"Fledgling-want-brothers?" I nod. He nods in acknowledgement and stands, me clinging on like a little koala. Phil makes a move towards my brothers. They scream and run. Phil gives chase with me hugging his front.

Chapter Text

2 years later....

Dear Diary,

You might be wondering why this is my first entry here. Well, it's because Wilbur and Sally (Wilbur's 'friend' who is a therapist) thought it'd be a good idea and convinced everyone else that it was a good idea.

When it comes to things like this, I'm not very eloquent, or good with words, but I'll try. They told me to write everything traumatizing down where they could see it, saying that if I couldn't tell them, I could write it to them, so I'll try.

I think it all started when XD whisked me away from my family. Away from them to a terrible experimentation center. He and his 'scientists' found a way to make me nearly invincible. I say nearly because the only reason they stopped was because they were afraid I'd get more powerful than XD and cause mayhem for them. I ended up doing so anyway. During my time there, they'd torture me almost daily. Forcing me to heal when I was tired, to make items out of light when my body ached from that day's beating. I have scars that run the length of my back from whippings when I refused to do what they wanted. Scars from when they took their mace to my legs. Scars from when XD burned me with his ropes of darkness and shadows.

After about two years, I turned seven, and I met Tubbo. He was a nice kid and helped me escape from XD. I was ten when I escaped. I injured 90 scientists, fatally injured 85, and killed 2 in my haste to exit. That definitely traumatized me. What 10-year old wants to have deaths hanging over his head? None, I'll tell you now.

After my grand escape, I lived on the streets for a long time. I got my first job at the age of 13 and became a vigilante when I realized that the Hero's HQ was corrupt. That definitely didn't help me. Villains and heroes alike, injuring me in some way.

I think everything started going up for me when I got that internship at the hero tower with SBI. They were really the only heroes I respected. Also, now I know that HQ is terrified of them. Apparently, before I came along, they were borderline vigilantes with how they acted. Only getting paid by HQ and refusing any baloney HQ tried to dish out. After I came along, they all became soft. The people in the Hero's Tower were relieved when SBI calmed down, but the 'authorities' only got more tense. After the big fight with XD, they tried to take me and 'train' me how to be a hero. If it was anyone but SBI caring for me, I would've likely died in 'training' but it was SBI and they refused to let me go through ordinary training.

I became friends with Sapnap, Tubbo, and Ranboo. George and Dream are better friends with Techno and Wilbur than me, but we still hang out sometimes. 

Speaking of Ranboo, Badboyhalo ended up adopting him, much to Sam's disappointment apparently. Of course, Tubbo's the one who tried to convince me that Sapnap cried because he didn't want a brother, but Bad told me that it was Tubbo who cried because he didn't get a brother. I told Tubbo that brothers aren't by laws. He didn't understand. 

I turned 18 yesterday. Phil, Kristin, Techno, Wilbur, and I hung out all day. They took me to so many different things that my brain got overwhelmed. I can't help loving them though. Even if Henry and I agree that they're all socially awkward.

Speaking of Henry, he and I prank my family so much. There are some days where he and I laugh in my hidey-hole as my family runs about trying to get revenge on me. I also prank literally everyone in the Hero's Tower.

Also, we got rid of the bad officials in HQ when they all insulted me and I tried to hide it in telling Henry but apparently my family told him to tell them whenever he hears about me getting hurt. Let's just say that those officials can't get an influential job anywhere in L'manburg or Pogtopia.

Well, I should give this to my family to read since I haven't worked up the courage to tell them any of this yet and I'll sign off until next time. 

Sincerely, 

Tommyinnit Theseus Craft