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Chapter Text

Silently, Crimson Crusader crept through the pristine halls of pearl reminiscent of a hospital ward. Red and white battered jordons made quite thuds against the tiled floor: he wore black cargo pants, black top skins, a black hood with red stitching and a matching gas mask with a blotchy red 'x' across it's center (hiding his identity).

Flipping a red titanium batton in his right hand, he rounded another corner leading to (you guessed it) another endless corridor:𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘮𝘦,𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘻𝘦. 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘪 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘜𝘚𝘉, he grumbled to himself.

He was snapped out of his brooding by the sound of muffled laughter; he followed the sound, turning down another corridor. 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺, 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦! He grew closer and closer to the sound, the hairs on the back of his neck began to rise, goosebumps skittering over his pale skin. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥.

Apon turning another corner, the muffled laughter became clearer and was accompanied by other voices. In front of Crimson was a sleek black door -not white he noted- with a worn down silver handle. 𝘉𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘰. Creeping up to the door, his bandaged hand turned the rusting handle. Slowly, he pushed it open. Before him (in all their glory), stood Siren, some goons and the leader of the Hermitcraft gang - Mumbo Jumbo.

Siren wore a tattered brown trench coat, the ends of which were covered in soot, a navy blindfold, black DMs with blue lases to complement his dark blue turtleneck and black dress pants. Curly brown hair with a singular streek of frost front and center, gaunt face, standing at 6ft 5, emerald glinting hauntingly on it's golden chain from around his neck; identifying him as a Syndicate leader, the most renound villian group in the city.

Opposite him, lounging on a velvet couch, sat Mumbo Jumbo: thick black moustache, black hair, dark pink engineer goggles, a black suit (sleeves rolled up) matched with a pink tie and gleaming oxfords. He was surrounded by bodyguards wielding redstone powered guns. Like their boss, they all wore black dress pants, shirts and bronze engineer goggles.

In the middle of the table sat his prize: a USB. 𝘗𝘰𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴.

They stared at him bemused for a second, mouths agape like deers in headlights. Suddenly, they snapped back to sensibility pulling their weapons from their holders and aimed them at him; he was dead if he moved.

Slowly, Crimson put his botton away (attaching it at his hip) and raised his hands in surrender. Still, the guns stayed trained on him as he stepped into the room door swinging shut behind him with a resounding bang.

Nobody moved.

"Ow do," he greeted voice coming out as a metallic rasp as his voice changer concealed his real one.

Siren, revolver still trained on the intruder, tilted his head to the side, mouth sealed in a thin line as he tried to decipher where the stranger's loyaltys lay. He came to a decision quite quickly: "Haven't seen you before. You're either a vigilante or a sweeper." He stated, voice dripping with venom.

Scoffing, to conceal the fear that clawed at the pit of his stomach, Crimson replied: "Sure, Sweeper, let's go with that. Wouldn't like to complicate things." Taking a deep breath like he was performing infront of hundreds of people in a theatre, he countinued: "Right, well this has been fun but i best be leaving fellas; I'm a busy man. People to save, women to woo. You know? Crime waits for no man."

"Brilliant! I'll have to agree with this young gentleman here. I've got other things to attend to and this meeting has gone on for too long anyway." Mumbo spoke up in a thick English accent. "However, seen as you have been able to infiltrate this base Sweeper, I suppose you'll have to be disposed of. Can't have heroes hearing about this. I'll leave him to you Siren."

With that he left, taking his goons with him.

Now it was just Crimson and Siren in the eerily silent room.

They stared at each other. Crimson felt a shiver go up his spine.

He was in a room alone with a man, who has the power to control you with honey coated words. A man known for commanding heroes and police officers to kill themselves. A man who had torn a Sweeper's heart out with his bare hand and sent it to the hero agency in a box.

"You're an interesting one Sweeper." Siren stated, curiosity lasing his words as he studied Crimson, circling him like a lion inspecting it's pray. He grabbed Crimson's wrist and lifted his sleeve up, pulling down the bandages to reveal a tattoo: a coin with 'Nox official hero' written in the center.

"It appears your not a sweeper, little hero." Siren huffed letting go of his wrist. "But you are a liar; and i hate when people lie to me." He said cocking his gun and holding it against the young hero's forehead.

Crimson's breath hitched. 𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘵, 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵, 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵. He was terrified. He was used to this type of thing (he had to be, it was his job) but this was different. Sapphire eyes rapidly snapped left and right for a way out. An escape.

"I wonder, if you're a hero, an official hero at that, why have I never heard of you. Your hero mark is 5 years old - if I'm correct." His finger slid into place over the trigger. "You could be an under ground hero; a spy, meaning you have no powers. Though I know a blank wouldn't be stupid enough to face a Syndicate leader without back up due to their lack of powers."

Crimsons eyes locked onto the USB.

𝘙𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘐𝘧 𝘪 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘺𝘦𝘵. 𝘙𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘗𝘰𝘨. 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦.

Zoning back in on Siren's monologue, he took a deep breath. 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰.

"God, shut the fuck up with your wrongun monologue dickhead." He spat.

Siren froze staring at him in shock, jaw on the floor as he tried to comprehend what just happened. "Excuse me?" He said after finally gathering his thoughts.

"You heard me, bitch. You sound like an emo with that speech, mate. Seriously, who do you think you are? Fuckin Hamlet?" Crimson smirked behind his mask. 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨! 𝘐𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵!

After a moment of silence, Siren smiled. A sick and twisted smile, but a smile all the same. Then, he laughed.

Crimson stared at him blankly.

"You're a brave one, little hero." He hummed a high dulcet note before his head tilted to the side. "It's a shame that I have to kill you."

In the corner of his mask, Crimson saw a small smiley face appear. He smirked. 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮'𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘮𝘦 𝘶𝘱. 𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺.

Suddenly, he sprung forward. Siren shot at him. A bang echoed throughout the room.

Crimson slid between Siren's legs. Pulling out his baton and knocking the villian off his feet. He landed on the floor with a thud.

Crimson sprung up, grabbing the USB from the table before darting down the white corridors.

Siren began to say something, power coating his words, but Crimson didn't hear it; his mask was blasting music into his ears - blocking out all sounds.

He scampered into the elevator. Then, he slammed his fist into the ground floor button repeatedly. Siren grew closer with every second. 𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬, 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬, 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬, 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬.

As the doors shut, Siren slid into the elevator.

He threw a puch at Crimson, hitting him in the stomach. The blonde folded over in pain. Charging forward, he slammed his head into Siren's stomach, ramming the pair of them into the iron doors of the lift.

Standing up straight, Crimson punched Siren in the jaw, earning a grunt from the man as his face slammed into the lift.

He went in for another puch but Siren plunged his foot into the shorter's stomach, sending him flying into the opposite wall. Siren grabbed him by the throat, strangling Crimson as he pinned him against the wall.

𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒏, 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏'𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈

Crimson almost laughed when Sweet Caroline began to play, drowning out whatever Siren was saying.

𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒊 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈

Crimson's face snapped to the left as Siren (once again) punched him in the face. He groaned in pain, rolling his head back to face the villain. He couldn't breathe.

𝑾𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓

The lights in the lift began to flicker as he stared Siren dead in the eyes. He couldn't breathe.

𝑾𝒉𝒐'𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈

"That the best you can do, pussy?" He rasped eyes watering as he gasped for breath.

Siren snarled and tightened his hold on the hero's throat. He couldn't breathe. 𝘐𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘦.

𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔, 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔

Crimson clawed at Siren's hand in a futile attempt to get him off.

𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒖𝒕, 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆, 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖

He reached out towards Siren. Hands grasping at the villain's threadbare trench coat as he was violently strangled.

𝑺𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆

A single tear fell from his eye. He stopped struggling. Hands falling to his sides as black spots completely clouded his vision.

With one last burst of strength, Crimson slammed his head into Siren's again and again.

𝑩𝑶𝑴 𝑩𝑶𝑴 𝑩𝑶𝑴

Siren's grip slipped and slackened, causing them both to fall into a heap on the floor.

𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒐 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅

Crimson sucked in air greedily, cool air filling his lungs as he ardently took in rapid breaths.

𝑰'𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅

His throat and neck were sore from being crushed by Siren's iron grip.

𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒊 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎 𝒔𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒆𝒚

He looked down to see he'd collapsed on Siren's chest. The villain's face was slick with passion fruit red, dripping down his forehead from the massive gash made by Crimson's mask and his nose which was obviously broken - bent in a crocked angle that made the blonde want to puke.

𝑾𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒖𝒑 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒘𝒐

The elevator lights began to flash red as it came to a screeching halt. A woman's voice echoed throughout the lift."The building is unstable and will soon calapse." Followed by: "Level -1." The doors slid open.

𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒊 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕

Crimson rolled off of Siren and tried to shake him awake; the villain was knocked out cold.

Standing up, he walked out of the lift and realised what floor he was on: 𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬. 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘳.

There were steps next to the elevator he rembered and began to climb them. He stopped.

Siren.

𝑯𝒖𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒖𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒇𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔

Throwing his head back and letting out an annoyed groan, Crimson dragged his hand down his face. 𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘬𝘦.

He turned around and went back to the elevator. Siren was still unconscious. With a great amount of effort, Crimson picked Siren up and carried him fireman style out of the lift.

𝘐𝘧 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘸. He thought glumly, trudging up the strairs.

𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒊 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖

After what felt like an eternity, Crimson reached the ground floor. It was now that he realised that the building was shaking, walls crumbling, smoke infecting the air and debris falling from above.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘯. He thought, mardy as ever.

Carefully, he navigated through the collapsing building. Reaching the side door, he kicked it open and walked into a side alley that connected to the maze of alleyways that was Pogtopia.

It was dark by now and helicopters circled close by, looking down at whatever villain attack was happening. Graffiti littered the crumbling brick walls. Spotting a large dustbin further into the alleyway, he walked towards it.

Crouching down, he gently propped Siren up against the wall. His communicator started to buzz; it was Dream. Pressing on the call, Crimson sat back on his heels and waited for the storm to come.

"THOMAS WASTAKEN!" Tommy held the communicator away from his ear. "YOU BETTER HAVE A GOOD FUCKING REASON FOR NOT PICKING UP." Dream bellowed down the line.

"Ow do?" He responded.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Where are you?" Dream asked clearly annoyed with him.

Tommy felt something sharp press againts his neck. Looking down, he realised Siren had woken up. Holding a finger to his lips, Tommy turned his attention back to Dream.

"I completed the mission and i'll be back soon so fuck off." He answered, no real venom in his words.

"That's not an answer, Crimson. Tell me where you are, now. That's an order."

"Masquerade, you are a bitch and I hate you. I'll be back soon. I'm going to go get a coffee."

"Crimson, dont hang up on me. Dont you dar-" the line went dead as Tommy hung up on him.

Putting his comunicator back in his pocket, he looked back at Siren. He was definitely awake now, knife at his throat and all. His head was tilted to the side as a frown tugged at his lips.

"Why did you do that?" The villain asked honey coating his words, demanding an answer (with headphones now broken, Tommy could no longer resist).

"I dont know, if I'm honest. Though I suppose it's because it wasn't fair." He answered, words being dragged from his lips.

"How so?"

"You were going to die but you weren't able to escape because you were fuckin unconscious; that gives you a disadvantage. It was my fault you were unconscious in the first place, so I had to be the one to get you, dickhead. What else?" Crimson looked at Siren as if he was crazy - which he supposed he his.

"We were in a fight. One of us wasn't leaving that elevator conscious. If you had been the one knocked out, I wouldn't have thought twice about leaving you. No one in either of our position would." Siren spoke curiosity and bemusement at the hero enclasping him.

"Yeah, well I guess I'm just that good or whatever. You got a communicator?" Crimson responded in a bored tone. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘚𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳? 𝘌𝘩, 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴. 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘪𝘯.

Siren stared at him for a second before pulling out his communicator.

"Got someone to call, prick?"

"Yeah..." Siren opened a contact and rang someone. They picked up after one ring, he told them the location and hung up.

A silence hung between the two while they waited. Somehow, it wasn't as uncomfortable as Crimson thought it would be. However, Siren did keep staring at him:𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘶𝘺'𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮. 𝘐𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦.

After five minutes, there was a thud as Blood God landed in front of them. Immediately, he had his sword at Tommy's throat.

Blood God (being a dramatic fucker) wore a blood red cap with white furr around the edges, a white shirt and black dress pants. Sleek knee high boots gave him an extra inch; he didn't need it in being seven foot naturally. Gold jewellery, that covered him head to toe, glinted in the moon light. His piglin features more magnified than most with tusks protruding from his mouth, which was set in an ever doctile frown of boredom. Long pink hair tied in a dutch braid was slung over his shoulder; a golden crown sat atop his head embedded with jewls and a large emerald in the center (his claim to the Syndicate). 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘺, 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘸𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦. 𝘏𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘙𝘖𝘞𝘕 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘳𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘺 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴. 𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘺𝘱𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘥.

𝘖𝘩 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬. 𝘐𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘦. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘱𝘰𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴.

"Stop." Siren commanded power dripping from his tone. Him and Blood God stared at eachother for a long moment before the sword was lowered.

The pinkette walked over to Siren and helped him up.

"Welp. I'm gonna go before Nox gets suspicious." With that Tommy turned and started to make his way home.

"Little hero, I owe you."

A shiver ran up his spine at that. He held his hand up and flipped off the two Syndicate villains: "That's not my name bitch."

Before Siren could question him more he had slipped off into the streets limping.

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸.

Chapter Text

Beep. Beep. Beep.

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯. Groaning, Tommy flipped over and turned his alarm on snooze. Then, promptly shoved his face into his pillow, drifting off into a restless slumber.

__________

𝙍𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙀𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚'𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙨 (𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙚) 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨. 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙡𝙛𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙋𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚'𝙨 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙥, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙞𝙩 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜; 𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙗𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚.

𝘼 𝙬𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙎𝙢𝙤𝙠𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙬𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙩, 𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙜𝙖𝙨𝙥𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙝 𝙖𝙞𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚. 𝙃𝙖𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜.

𝘽𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙮, 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨. 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜:𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙤 𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙢.

𝙑𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙠𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙖 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙧. 𝙄𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙢, 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙖 𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙪𝙙𝙙𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧.𝙏𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙥𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚. 𝙆𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢, 𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙤𝙛𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧;𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙧, 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢.𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙞𝙙. 𝙃𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢.

𝙋𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙪𝙥 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙖 𝙥𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙮𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙚, 𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙬𝙤'𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨. 𝙎𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙮, 𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙮𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜.

𝙀𝙭𝙞𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩, 𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙝 𝙖𝙞𝙧. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮'𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮.

𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚.

𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙙𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙛𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙙𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢; 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙮. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙤𝙪𝙩.

𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙.

"𝙉𝙤, 𝙣𝙤, 𝙣𝙤," 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚. 𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙡𝙮, 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙣𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙤𝙪𝙩. 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙛𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙚.

𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙩.

𝙃𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙧. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨, 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙜𝙚. 𝘽𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙤𝙗𝙨.

"𝙄'𝙢 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮," 𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙝𝙪𝙙𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨. "𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙨𝙤 𝙨𝙤 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮..."

𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙥 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚. 𝙃𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙'𝙨 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨.

___________

Beep. Beep. Beep.

"To..."

"Ommy"

"TOMMY!"

Thud.

Tommy feel out of his bed, drench in a layer of sweat and shaking violently. Grogily, he blinked his eyes open. A bleary figure with raven black hair and a white bandana took up his field of vision.

Next thing he knew, there was a fireball hurtling towards his face. 𝘔𝘮𝘮 𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘺 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦. Rolling to his left, he narrowly avoided it and jumped to his feet.

"SAPNAP WHAT THE FUCK !!" He screeched. Trying and failing to to tackle the elder.

Sapnap picked the blonde up and flung him over his shoulder. He strutted into the kitchen, marching around the perimeter of the room as Tommy struggled in his grasp, screaming atrocities at the man.

The kitchen was attached to the living room. Where a large blue L-shaped sofa and an arm chair huddled around a flat screen tv that hung on the wall.

George sat by the kitchen island surrounded by cups of coffee and paper work: mission reports long due that the team never got round to doing. Bespectacled with his iconic clout goggles (𝘐 𝘍𝘖𝘙𝘊𝘌𝘋 𝘏𝘐𝘔 𝘛𝘖 𝘞𝘌𝘈𝘙 𝘌𝘔 𝘈𝘕𝘋 𝘕𝘖𝘞 𝘐𝘛𝘚 𝘏𝘐𝘚 𝘞𝘏𝘖𝘓𝘌 𝘍𝘜𝘊𝘒𝘐𝘕 𝘉𝘙𝘈𝘕𝘋. 𝘐 𝘋𝘖𝘕𝘛 𝘌𝘝𝘌𝘕 𝘎𝘌𝘛 𝘊𝘙𝘌𝘋𝘐𝘛! 𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘈𝘜𝘋𝘈𝘊𝘐𝘛𝘠 𝘖𝘍 𝘛𝘏𝘐𝘚 𝘗𝘙𝘐𝘊𝘒. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘵: 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘎𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵?) hiding a pair of chocolate brown eyes. His hair somehow sitting perfectly (unlike Tommy's that stuck up at all angles in a chaotic mess) as he sat in navy joggers and a white hoodie.

"Ohhhhhh Sapnap, seems you've found a feral little gremlin child." George laughed out as Dream entered the room.

The number one hero had his hero gear on already: a neon green hoodie (𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘮𝘦), black cargo pants, fingerless gloves, a white porcelain mask with a creepy smiley face on it in hand and a white and green pair of speed runners.

(Here's some lore for you: Speed runners are a brand of shoes that Dream made because he didn't like fighting in any other shoes; they weren't flexible, streamline, tough, trainer like and grippy enough. If you asked him he'd list you a billion other reasons that you wont give a shit about )

"Dreammm," Tommy whined,"they're bullying me, help."

Instead of helping, Dream reached his arms out and caught the screeching blonde that was flung at him.

𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦...? 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘣𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘦; 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘪𝘮 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘣𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺.

"Put me down you bitc-Ahhhh!"

Tommy and Dream fell to a heep on the floor due to Dream's wheezing session. As the shorter tried to stand up, he was enclasped in a bone crushing hug, letting out a gasp of pain as his bruised ribs were grasped.

Dream's grasp immediately loosened, allowing Tommy to slip from his hold into a coughing fit on the carpeted floor: "Tom, you okay?"

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘴. 𝘚𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘢 𝘯𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘦. 𝘏𝘌 𝘋𝘖𝘌𝘚𝘕𝘛 𝘌𝘝𝘌𝘕 𝘏𝘈𝘝𝘌 𝘈𝘕𝘠 𝘔𝘜𝘚𝘊𝘓𝘌𝘚; 𝘏𝘌'𝘚 𝘓𝘈𝘕𝘒𝘠 𝘈𝘚 𝘚𝘏𝘐𝘛!

"Never better big D." He chocked out, holding up his thumb.

"Don't call me that." Dream sighed in exasperation.

Sapnap and George eyed him warily for a second before they joined their teammates on the floor.

"Are you okay?" George asked worry evident in his tone.

As Tommy sat cross legged on the floor, Sapnap studied his bruised face then the hand print ingraved in black and blue on his neck (how'd he not noticed it before? He's not fucking blind like George). He sucked in a breath: "That from last night?"

He pointed a finger towards the bruises. Immediately, everyone's snapped towards them.

"What the heck?" George whispered hand reaching out but faltering half way and falling back into his lap.

Dream had no such caution.

His hands pattered vigorously over the blonde's body. Drawing gasps of pain as hands abused the youngest's injuries: "It was last night. You haven't told us anything about your mission, what happened."

"I don't get why your so fuckin worried. It's my job to get injured so why does it matter?" The youngest asked, irritated instantly; he was always up for an argument.

"It's important because no one was arrested that night. Meaning, whoever did this to you is still out there for us three to beat the shit out of." Dream explained, grins spreading across the other men's faces at the thought of revenge as they nodded in agreement.

𝘙𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥, 𝘮𝘦? 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘪 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦. 𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘮𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴.

________

"WHAT??!??" Sapnap screeched shaking Tommy.

"Oh come on, it's not that bad-"

"No, no. I'm with Sap on this Tommy. You fought fucking Siren and you didn't think to tell us?" Dream asked in exasperation.

"It's not even that bad. I've had worse injuries." Tommy laughed nervously.

"Dream's right Tommy. This is not very pogchamp of you." George interrupted trying to lighten the mood a bit because of how uncomfortable Tommy looked.

𝘖𝘩 𝘪𝘮 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘬𝘬𝘬𝘦𝘥𝘥. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘪 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦.

"What the fuck gogy." Tommy stated blandly jumping at the chance to change in topic.

"YEAH TAKE THAT WE GOT GOGY! LESS GO!!" Sapnap cheered but was quickly silenced by a glare from Dream.

"Next time i see Siren, i will make sure he knows who's sidekick he messed with." Venom dripped from the sickeningly sweet toned sentence as Dream stood up and stalked out of the apartment. "Make sure Tommy goes to medical." He shouted over his shoulder before slamming the door shut behind him.

"Welp! Siren's dead." Sapnap jested.

"Wooooooo!" George cheered.

"It wasn't even that big of a fuckin deal. Geez man."

__________

The halls in the hero's agency building were almost always busy; today was no exception.

Heroes and office workers alike rushed through the halls, some alone, some in groups.Occasionally, a medic would shout at you to "GET OUT THE WAY" as they wheeled injured heroes and sweepers down the white corridors. The thought made Tommy shudder as he remembered his encounter with Siren last night.

Lively chatter and the click clacking of shoes echoed of the walls bringing him back to clarity: 𝘙𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘪𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘕𝘰𝘹 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘎𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘳 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘦.

𝘜𝘯𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘚𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘦𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵...

Rounding the corner, he entered the medical ward just in time to stop his spiralling.

White hospital beds were pushed up against the walls. There were no curtains for privacy (employees also complained that they were in the way - they wanted company of their coworkers). At the back of the twenty-five meter room filled with beds was a set of double doors, leading to seven separate surgical rooms. Warm lights, that normally lit up the room, were turned off as morning sunrays stretched in through the windows, dust particles dancing in their wake.

Only thirty percent of the beds were filled, most of last nights injured had gone home for rest. He wasn't close with many of them. However, he was very well acquainted with the healers due to the amount of time he spent here: last year he visited medical 56298 times.

𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦. 𝘐'𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵.

"Man for fucks sake! What's he doing here again?!?!"

Tommy snapped his head around making eye contact with Ponk (his favourite healer) and grinned.

Ponk wore his blue medicle suit, white airforces and a red, black and orange mask that covered everything but his spruce coloured eyes. What stuck out the most was his brick red prosthetic arm which in, Tommy's humble opinion, made him cooler than the other healers.

Ponk was on the front lines of one of Pogtopia's biggest battles ever - the 16th. The fight was between all of Pogtopia's heroes (and vigilantes) against Nightmare, the rioters, the Hermitcraft gang, Business Bay and their army of crazed followers. It lasted for three days, caused millions of pounds worth of property damage and resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths.

456,345 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵. 𝘈𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴 19,562 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 34,798 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨. Tommy thought glumly, remembering the day like it was yesterday.

Healers had been brought onto the field to heal heros quicker. Twelve of them had died as they were never trained in combat. Ponk on the other hand was an ex-vigilante which meant he was able to hold his own.

However, he got in a fight with Warden (the creeper villian) and lost his arm to a redstone powered trident. So yeah, he was pretty fucking cool.

"Ay up, PONK! Lovely morning, innit?"

The healers eyes scanned Tommy for injuries, immediately honing in on the bruising circling his neck and littering his face. Sighing, he dragged the blonde over to a hospital bed.

"I tripped." Tommy stated avoiding eye contact as Ponk's hands glowed orange with power; healing the bruises.

"Sureeeeee." Ponk stated, sarcastic as ever.

Pulling back ,Tommy now healed, the man stood up and got a glass of water. Chugged it and slammed the cup on the table. He walked out the room. Only to come back a second later and to throw a gronola bar at Tommy's forehead.

"WHAT THE FUCK MAN!"

"You haven't eaten for twelve hours, that's not healthy." Ponk shrugged. "Now shoo, i have important things to attend to."

As the healer ushered Tommy out of the room, the teenager's communicator buzzed.

"Alright, Alright. I'm going, I'm going. Have a nice date with Sam, was it?" Tommy laughed as he ran out of the room, leaving a screaming Ponk in his wake. He checked his communicator:

𝙈𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙇𝙖𝙨 𝙉𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙨 - 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙗𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝

Chapter Text

Mist blanketed the city, a few lone stragglers roamed it's ghost town like streets. Sky once bright and filling the city with warmth, now replaced by a dismal, gloomy atmosphere as rain clouds filtered above Pogtopia.

A young boy, donned in a red wind breaker, baggy blue jeans, an ashen hoodie that mirrored the sky and a pair of beaten up old airforces, slipped through the streets. Hood securely in place as it shaded his face, keeping the red and black gasmask from the public eye; as per usual.

Crimson Crusader wasn't a well renowned hero: he didn't even make the top 50. 𝘐𝘧 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘨𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘱, 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘯𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 2 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰; 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘎𝘰𝘨𝘺. 𝘖𝘣𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺. There was no media footage of him. Nor was there much on the websites that devote their time to the documentation of heroes. Only the very limited data from the few Nox records that come out each year showing the annual statistics - that being things like arrests made, people saved, losses made et cetera, et cetera.

His lack of media presence wasn't for no reason.

Sure, he'd make more money and get more praise if he put himself in the spot light. But he'd done that already. He'd been one of the most popular vigilantes in the city. Helping those in the lower districts that Nox claimed were 'not their responsibility'. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯.

Districts ten through thirteen used to be his playground: the land of the exiled. Mirrage and Charged (also known by fans as Golden Duo as both of them had blond hair: 𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦.) were an unstoppable team. Focusing on saving people and minimising damage over actually catching the 'bad guy'. Until the 16th...

Grief washed over him as he reminisced on his old life: 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘪 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥.

His feet acted on their own accord as he became lost in thought.

_________

𝙏𝙬𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙠𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙩 𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣. 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙞𝙚, 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙤 𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨, 𝙗𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧; 𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙩 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙞𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚.

"𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙙? 𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙖 𝙗𝙞𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙥𝙪𝙨𝙨𝙮 𝙥𝙡𝙪𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝘽𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙥𝙡𝙪𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙙 𝙥𝙡𝙪𝙨 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤."𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙, 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙪𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧.

𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙪𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙤𝙘𝙠 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙨 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙖 𝙜𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙚 - 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙠. 𝙃𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙧'𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙠."𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣'𝙩 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙩, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝘼𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚? 𝙂𝙪𝙣𝙨?"

𝙋𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙥 𝙖 𝙗𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙠𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙡, 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣.

"𝙔𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙞𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙨,"𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙪𝙥.

"𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙄'𝙢 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮, 𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚,"𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙩, 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙮."𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙄'𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚."

𝙃𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙮𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙪𝙥 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙛𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙠𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙 - 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙧'𝙨.

"𝘼𝙡𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩,"𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙨𝙠𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙. "𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛𝙛."

𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢, 𝙠𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣 - 𝙖𝙡𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛𝙛 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨.

"𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙚, 𝘽𝙤𝙯𝙤. 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚'𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙤. 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙪𝙨𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙. 𝘼𝙨 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙧: 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨."𝙃𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙚𝙛𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙤𝙩, 𝙙𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙗𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙮 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙.

𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧'𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚, 𝙨𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙.

"𝙃𝙊𝙇𝙔 𝙎𝙃𝙄𝙏!! 𝙄'𝙢 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙥𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙧. 𝙊𝙧, 𝙤𝙧, 𝙤𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣.𝙔𝙚𝙨, 𝙮𝙚𝙨! 𝙄'𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙋𝙤𝙜𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙖, 𝙗𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝!"

"𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 -𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩? 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙧." 𝙃𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙, 𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙨𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩. "𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠!"

"𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙗𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙜𝙤. 𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮. 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙖 𝙣𝙪𝙗𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙩."𝘼 𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙠 𝙨𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚.

"𝘿𝙞𝙚."

"𝙎𝙪𝙧𝙚."

"𝙉𝙤. 𝙉𝙤. 𝙉𝙤. 𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙥𝙖𝙮 𝙢𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙣-𝘼𝙃𝙃!!!!" 𝙎𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙗𝙮 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩; 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙥𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙚𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙞𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙧. 𝙋𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙤𝙡 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙. 𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢:"𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙖𝙨 𝙞 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙚. 𝙄'𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙪𝙥 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛𝙛."

𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙪𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚; 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢.

"𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙠!"𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙗𝙪𝙗𝙗𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙢. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚 𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣, 𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙.

𝙊𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙖𝙥 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚, 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙡, 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙨𝙨. 𝙃𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙧, 𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙬𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚.

"𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙, 𝙙𝙪𝙙𝙚?" 𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙙, 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙠𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙨.

"𝙔𝙚𝙖𝙝. 𝙇𝙚𝙩'𝙨 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣!"𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙙, 𝙟𝙪𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙩.

"𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙖𝙨𝙨?" 𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙙. 𝙊𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙜𝙧𝙪𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙. 𝙅𝙪𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙠𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙡𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚, 𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙠.

___________

Being pulled from his thoughts by the crunching on leaves, Tommy looked up in surprise; 𝘵𝘶𝘣𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴...

Dead leaves littered the dewdrop peppered grass, leaving wilting trees in their wake. Trees futilely reached their crooked fingers downwards to grasp at their fading autumn coats as grey skies projected the sorrow that seeped throughout their sagging frames as they failed in their efforts.

Long stone pillars reached up to the skies, supporting ragged tubes that groaned in misery as they travelled closer to the warehouse district on the edge of Pogtopia. The tubes long due for revamping but never given enough funds because no one ever visited the warehouse district: there was no point.

These pillars looked minuscule due to being over looked by decripid, identical apartment buildings that swayed in gusts of howling wind. Sending leaves skittering across the floor and dancing into the sky.

Eroding head stones stood obediently in line, labelled with dates and names of those withering bellow the soil. Now fading flowers and gifts sat propped up against them; gifted to those who will never be able to except. Those who will never be able to thank loved ones, now suffering with grief.

He was in the graveyard.

𝘖𝘩. 𝘐'𝘮 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯...

A gust of wind blew through the desolate place. Windbreaker flapping around him as leaves crawled up his legs. A minute passed. Then another and another.

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘵.

Giving into his swirling thoughts, Tommy slowly made his way over to a familiar area. Three matching graves sat beside eachother, draped in flowers and gifts from the people of the district: there were no names on the graves, just dates. The dates.

2011-2022, 2019-2022 and 2017-2022.

Pictures of survivors and those deceased scattered the floor. Letters from loved ones and strangers sealed away in crumbling paper envelopes. There was something new.

Eyebrows furrowed, he reached out and picked it up.

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚎𝚍,
𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚊𝚞𝚕𝚝. 𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚓𝚘𝚋 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖.

𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚏 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜, 𝚠𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞.
-𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚌𝚝 𝟷𝟹

Silently, Tommy stared down at the graves of those he failed to save. Phantom screams echoed in his mind as a tear rolled down his face. 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴...

__________

Idle chatter and the squeeking of shoes reverberated through the descending staircase of advertisement littered the walls.

As he got further down the stairs, Tommy reached a circuit of tiled tunnels. Turning left, he ventured into the labyrinth. Eventually, the blonde came to his terminal, after brushing shoulders with many a stranger.

Station packed with waiting passengers, Tommy stood among them, hands in pockets with his head down whilst music blasted through one ear; he waited for his train. Tapping his foot to the beat of 'Socks & Sandles' by Dutch Criminal Records. 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘦. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 (𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘯).

An ear splitting screech echoed throughout the station, tube pulling up. Metal doors opened with a hiss as people flooded the already crowded platform. Fighting against the stream of people, Tommy clambered onto the tube. Others huffing and puffing as they fought their way onto the carriage.

Like all tubes, it had the central lines map on the roof, large murky windows and seats with the same city skyline printed on them. The young hero made his way to the back of the carriage, holding onto a hanging handle whilst he stared out the window, city blurring as the tube zoomed forward.

Smoke crawled down his nostrils and burned holes into his lungs. Looking around, he locked eyes with a tall man: curly brown hair, circular wire rimmed glasses, sharp features, ripped black jeans, black hightops and a pale blue sweater with cows on it. What caught Tommy's eyes though was the cigarette that hung out the side of his mouth. Wisp of smoke trailing from the autumn embers that ate away the tobacco stick.

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘉𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺. 𝘖𝘳 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘳...𝘌𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘥.

The brunette's eyes widened and his mouth hang agape as he stared at the hero. Schooling his emotions, the man's face straightened and he pulled the ciggar from his mouth, letting out a new cloud of smoke. His eyes never left Tommy.

Eyeing the man, the blonde furrowed his eyebrows, a pit of anxiety forming in his stomach. 𝘞𝘦𝘪𝘳𝘥...

Lurching forward, the tube came to a stop. So did the weird brunette, except he didn't stop. Slamming into the back of a pink haired brute, his face flushed red as he saw Tommy had seen him. 𝘗𝘧𝘧𝘧𝘵. 𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥.𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺. 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘶𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦. Instincts kicking in, the hairs on the back of Tommy's neck stood on end with alarm. Scanning the tube, the blonde watched as the usual chatter that added to the ambiance of the carriage died off.

Hushed voices filled the silence from the opposite side of the carriage as other passengers noticed the disturbance: rioters. All unique in stature and wealth brought together by a consecutive cause. Everyone of them wearing a white porcelain mask with swirling ram horns on each side: Schlatt's symbol.

Observing the other occupants, Tommy watched all the adults faces contort as they came to the same realisation he had. Fear seeped into their faces as ghosts from a war ridden past (of which they longed to forget) were resurrected before them.

"What? Why does everyone look so scared?" A young dark haired boy asked. He wore a dark green hoodie and a burn scar marred the left hand side of his face. He stood beside the tall man; he got no reply. On his other side, touching shoulders with the red clad hero, was a taller teenager (𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 7 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘣𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺, 𝘪𝘮 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭). Split black and white hair with red and green gem like eyes, wearing black jeans and a purple hoodie. Tommy's eyes lingered on the hoddie for a second until he forced himself to pull his eyes away.

Without garnering any unwanted attention, Tommy slipped his communicator out, taking a picture of the group; he sent it to Dream.

His breathing speed up, hands beginning to sweat. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥.

"You alright man?" The monochrome haired teenager asked as they stared at Tommy. Taller taken a back as a masked face stared right back.

Snapping out of his trance, the hero forced himself to answer: "Yeah, yeah I'm good..."

"You know why everyone here is kinda freaking out or..."

"Oh, yeah, yeah I do." His short friend's eyes focused on him as did the smoker's and the brute's 𝘏𝘶𝘩, 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘞𝘦𝘪𝘳𝘥𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘱 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱. 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘪 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘒𝘢𝘳𝘭 𝘑𝘢𝘤𝘰𝘣𝘴: 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘚𝘢𝘱𝘯𝘢𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘘𝘶𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘺.b𝘎𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵. "Those are Sch-I mean Nightmare supporters - you can tell by the masks. They caused chaos and served under him as soldiers during the war but they haven't been seen since the 16th. No one really knows why they disappeared: in my opinion it was to save their own necks, fucking cowards. So a group of them showing up now can't be fuckin good." He spoke with a forced air of nonchalance.

"Eh, how do you know that kid?" The brute asked eyebrow raised but his voice remained monotone - somehow.
𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱.

"I'm a hero, dickhead. I was there."

Hissing split through the thick tension in the air, doors snapping open. A familiar female voice rang out, reading out an automated message, informing Tommy he'd reached his destination:

𝙇𝙖𝙨 𝙉𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙨. 𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙖𝙥 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢.

______

Stepping off the train, leaving the rioters behind but the weird travelling group followed him off. Tommy's eyes locked with a familiar pair of bespectacled green eyes. A matching bright smiles appeared on each of their faces.

"Crimson Crusader from nowhere! Dap me up!" The man exclaimed bouncing over to Tommy and hugging him. The blonde returned it, laughing bubbly as he drew back, punching his long aquatinted friend in the arm playfully (getting one in return).

The man was shorter than Tommy by about an inch: short dirty blonde hair, skin partly translucent and green, wearing square glasses, grey dress pants with suspenders, a slighty crinkled shirt and a green tie.

"Slime! I've fuckin missed you, man!"

"I've missed you too, Crimson! But you know I'm a guncky, sluncky, spluncky boy! Jester from Las Nevadas can't run Las Nevadas by himself. That's why I'm here."

"Wait, yeah, why the fuck are you here and not with everyone else in the casino, Big S?"

"Jester sent me here! After you sent Dream that message, we all got worried for you! So I'm here to take you to Nevadas for the meeting and to make sure your safe! Which you are?"He said tilting his head to the side.

"Yeah, yeah I'm good Slime."Tommy said with an easy smile on his face.

"Well, come on." Grabbing his hand, Slime dragged him towards Nevadas's casino, a bounce in his step.

___________

Dazzling lights, brighter than all the other neon lights lasing the Nevadas streets, were emitted from the casino. Both blinding and enticing the young hero as Slime guided him towards the grand building.

People of all classes and work sets filtered through the streets. Nevadas night life was like no other, with hundreds of people on the streets every hour of the day.

Everything close to the casino (including the casino itself) looked plastic and pristine. However, as you strayed futher away, it looked more warm and inviting. Where as the casino just drew you towards it with intriguing ideas and people.

Sweet liquor and expensive perfume infected Tommy's nose. So overwhelming that he decided to turn on the filter on his mask. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘬. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘶𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦. Joyful conversation blanketed the city, accompanied by loud shouts from vendors trying to sell their merchandise.

Nevadas was in a man-made desert. Meaning the weather was nothing like a deserts: it snowed regularly in the city without it ever getting too cold. Much different from Pogtopia which in the winter was unbearably cold; hundreds died due to hyperthermia ever year.

It was worse during the war. It made fighting more difficult as everyone was struggling from frostbite. Making it basically impossible to continue being mobile. Some lost limbs. Some lost their lifes. Tommy had seen what it did firsthand (𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨). He'd past out mid battle once due to hypothermia. Purpled had to drag him off the field into their make shift trench and nurse him back to health.

Tommy smiled as he and Slime jokingly conversed - god he'd missed this place. After twenty minutes of walking, they began their ascent up the marble stairs leading to the casino.

"Crim Cru,"Slime said between laughs. A smile forever prominent on his face due to finally seeing an old friend after so many months. Heroes were band from speaking to Nevadas leaders because of a deal Jester had made with the Syndicate. Tommy being Tommy went and spoke to them in secret anyway; he was caught and was banned longer than anyone else because of his disobedience. 𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘴.

Laughing bubbly, the red clad hero chocked out a response: "Slim Icle".

People around them gave the two weird looks due to their loud voices and wheezing laughter, sounding like shouting against the quite lull of conversation between heroes, vigilantes, villian, politicians and gang members alike. 𝘠𝘌𝘈𝘏 𝘚𝘜𝘊𝘒 𝘔𝘠 𝘋𝘐𝘊𝘒 𝘚𝘖𝘊𝘐𝘌𝘛𝘠! 𝘐𝘔 𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘑𝘖𝘒𝘌𝘙 𝘉𝘈𝘉𝘠. 𝘉𝘜𝘛 𝘎𝘖𝘖𝘋!

Entering through the main doors, the sound and smell of the city was amplified ten fold as people lounged by the bar. While others meandered by the machines - gambling their life savings away.

A thought struck Tommy while he and Slime walked towards the backrooms: 𝘐𝘧 𝘪 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘬...𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯. Shaking the thought from his mind, he followed Slime through the labrinth of a casino.

The theme of white walls and high ceilings continued with royal blue carpets. Adding to the aesthetic of the halls were hanging paintings and windows.

"Ay Slime, what's your favourite painting 'ere?" Tommy inquired, twirling around while admiring the ceiling.

"Well, Crimson Crusader from nowhere, i would pick that glupetastical painting over there," pointing at a painting to their left. A desolate swamp land was depicted with mist covering the floor that reached into the sea. Ancient willows bowed over the mirky water, roots diving in and out of the sea choked earth. Dull colours gave the painting a glommy look which confused the hero. 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘚𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘭𝘭𝘭𝘭𝘭𝘭𝘭𝘭𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦?𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩!

"Why would you pick this one? It's not very poggers looking."Tommy asked eyebrows furrowed.

"It's gumpous! All the slimes came from there originally, it's why were so slumpous!" Slime explained shaking Tommy violently whilst gesturing wildly at the painting.

"Okay, okay. Geez man, i get it, i get it. Fuckin hell man, it's poggers."

"Yes poggers!!"

Bouncing down the halls, the two quickly approached the meeting room. Tommy stomach churned, a sickeningly familiar voice came from in front of the red clad hero: "I didn't know you were important enough to know Jester, little hero." Mockery dripped from the sentence as it hung in the (now, tension filled) air. Tommy's breath hitched as he looked up at the villain. He had a twisted smile on his face.

Siren.

Chapter Text

Dread pools into his stomach. All the previous joy that filled the hollow isles dissipated in a single moment; all because of a sentence.

Isn't it strange how a single sentence can make one feel so much. Normally, it's sadness, anger or fear. Other times though, it's happiness. The type of happiness that fills your body with warmth and spreads a smile across your face, staying prominent until it aches.

𝘖𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘬𝘦: 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭. 𝘞𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘺. 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘢𝘱 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘻𝘺 𝘥𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘯. 𝘈𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘯, 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦-𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥, 𝘸𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘢𝘱 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘶𝘴.

The thought released some of the tension wrapping it's hands around his neck. Although he was still terrified of the man before him, he kept telling himself the same things over and over again in a futile attempt to soothe his fear: 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮, 𝘚𝘢𝘱𝘯𝘢𝘱, 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘦'𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶.𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘐𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘪𝘵...

Gulping, he gave the villain a quick nod before turning to the door and pushing it open - infinitely glad to have left the suffocating hallway. Only to be met with something far worse.

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘢 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘦.

Before him, in all his glory, lounged the Blood God. A man known for his brutality, having skewered hundreds of heroes (including Tommy) and leaving them in alleyways for the committee to find. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘯 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘺.

Once, Tommy had woken up from where he'd fallen asleep at the table (he'd stayed up waiting for Dream as he'd promised to eat dinner with the boy) to the door slamming open and a resounding thud. Scampering to the hallway, he found the number one hero passed out on the floor in a pile of his own blood.

Tommy had been so scared that night - terrified even. While stitching up the deep slashes covering his mentor's body, his hands shook with the violent sobbs that raked his form. 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘦. 𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘦; 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘎𝘰𝘥'𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵.

Shaking the thoughts from his head, Tommy scanned the rest of the room.

Opposite Blood God, sat the Dream Team with Jester sitting at the rear of the room behind a large desk covered in documents. All of them had tense shoulders that hitched up to their ears, eyes never leaving the pink haired villain.

Apon Tommy, Slime and Siren -who spread his arms out wide whilst slamming the doors shut behind him (𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳)- entering the room, all eyes snapped towards them. The hero's skin itched uncomfortablely because of the sudden attention. Immediately, he made a beeline for the space on the royal blue sofa that Dream had just patted as an invitation. Siren followed suit and sat beside Blood God, an easy smile on his face. Slime copied the other two, walking to the back of the room and sitting on a sofa beside Jester's desk.

With that, the smothering silence fled.

"The little hero knows you, Masquerade? Never thought you'd stoop so low as to associate with someone who hasn't even made the tier list." Siren snarked, scrutinising gaze never leaving Tommy.

Dream's arm snaked it's way across the young heroes shoulders, pulling him into a side hug. The green clad hero's warmth latched onto Tommy - a familiar thing that felt odd whilst in a hero form; Dream never liked displaying attachments as Masquerade. Blood God raised an unimpressed eyebrow in response. His teammate's smirk turned into a twisted grin, awaiting Dream's response with baited breath.

"Crimson is 𝘮𝘺 sidekick." Anger lased his tone as he (along with Sapnap and George) glared daggers into the Syndicate leader: "If I were you, I would leave him alone before you end up with a knife through your throat."

"Is that a threat, Masquerade?" Blood God's monotone vioce rummbled through the room for the first time, hand resting on the hilt of his sword as he stood up; Dream matched his movements without hesitation.

"Woah, woah, woah, fellas calm down. We're here to discuss a serious issue like civilised people. 𝘗𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯." Jester's voice boomed through the room.

Yet it had no effect. Words instantly dying in the thick tension that grasped the office without assuage. The two rivals drew their swords, bringing them down with a whistle.

Tommy's body moved instinctively. Feet carrying him to the center of the room, where the rivals now stood. Swiftly, he pulled his weapon from holster on his hip. Staff crackling with electricity, it meet the two blades with a clang of metal.

Electricity ran up both swords, startling blue light flooded the room. Both swordsmen grunted in pain as electricity charged through their body's without remorse; they dropped their swords. Hissing sparks of electricity skittered up the blades as they clattered to the ground.

Silence strangled the room. All eyes draw to Tommy (𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯).

"We're in Las Nevadas, dickheads. Abide by the fuckin rules or get the fuck out and fight somewhere else." Tommy heaved, shoving between the two shocked men. Storming over to the back of the room, the blonde sat down beside Slime. Siren's grin widened.

"Right, thank you Crimson. Now that that's over with, I called you all here to discuss Nightmare." Jester filled the silence only to re-instate it immediately.

Tommy's skin began to itch, hands reaching up to scratch at his arms. Only for Slime to hand him a red and black casino checker; the blonde ran his fingers over it.

"Multiple reports have popped up all across the city: people claiming they've seen Nightmare. I'm worried he might be back."

Tommy huffed out a laugh though to him, the situation wasn't remotely funny; it was terrifying. "There's no might about it. The pricks obviously back."

"How would you know that Crimson?" Blood God inquired a bored tone forever lasing his speech.

"Rioters. They've been popping up everywhere."

"I think your exaggerating a bit. You've only seen one group of rioters." George spoke up, words quickly followed by a yawn.

"That you know of." Tommy pulled out his communicator and threw it at Jester - the villain caught it. Immediately, his head snapped up apon inspecting the photos on it.

"When did you take these?" He questioned, there was a slight trembling in his voice though no one seemed to notice.

"You know the rest of us can't see that right?" Sapnap earned an elbow in the ribs for that one.

Jester stood up and walked back over to his desk. Plugging Tommy's communicator into something, the images were soon projected onto the wall.

Twenty images appeared. All from different places with different rioters: "Those are all from this week."

"Fuck off, there's no way." Siren stated in disbelief.

"I think you'll find that Crimson from nowhere is right." Slime chirped happily. "I saw loads on my way to pick him up - they're all over the city."

"There planning something then." Dream realised. 𝘈𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘣𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴.𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 ,𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘥.

"No shit." Siren rolled his eyes. 𝘈𝘩 𝘚𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘯, 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘏𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳,𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦.

"The question is what though?" Jester turned and stared at Tommy. So did everyone else -𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘬𝘦. Siren and Blood God glanced at eachother, sharing a questioning look before turning back to Crimson.

"Fuck meee." Tommy groaned as he dragged his hand down his face.

"You have the most knowledge on rioters, Crimson."Dream shot him a pointed look then jestered for him to continue.

"Fuckin, fine. Alright, based on the rioters past, they only ever get together in groups if something fuckin big is going down: they're more likely to get caught in large groups. So they're probably planning a riot. Which fuckin sucks for you, Jester."

Jester collapsed in his chair, placing his head in his hands and letting out an irritated sigh: "You gotta be kidding me."

"How do you know that, Crimson? Were you one of them?" Siren asked leaning forward in his seat with a crazed smile on his face.

Laughing humourlessly Tommy replied:"They killed my best friend. Why the fuck would I work for them? I fought in the war, bitch. Of course I know alot about it."

Siren opened his mouth to saying something back, a dark smile ever prominent on his face, but never got the chance.

Bang.

An explosion echoed through the building, shaking it violently. Jester flew out of the room, quickly followed by the others of them.

Pushing open the doors, he was met with chaos. Screaming filled the main room, rioters ran rampid. Beating up customers, setting things alight and breaking anything insight.

A group of rioters pointed towards Tommy and started towards him.

𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘨.

"Crimson, is this true." George asked, shoving his communicator towards Tommy. Sapnap and Dream huddled around him to get a look at the screen.

It was a picture of Tommy carrying Siren up a flight of stairs and one of him in the alleyway with Siren and Blood God with the headline:

𝑪𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝑪𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓: 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒗𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓

"You killed Charged and Mirrage..." Sapnap whispered in disbelief.

The rioters got closer.

"You're a traitor." Dream stated in a monotone voice.

"No, no, no, Masquerade you don't understa-"

"You should go. Don't come back unless you want to be locked in Pandora."

"Masquerade...Plea-"

"Go! You fucking traitor!" Venom,of which Tommy had heard directed at him many times before, dripped from Dream's words. Tommy's heart broke. Tears rolled down his face as he stared up at his mentor, his friend. 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦. 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯.

The Syndicate leaders stared at him,bas did Slime and Jester.

"You killed Charged and Mirrage. You fucked up, Crimson." Jester spat with as much loathing as possible. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳. The casino owner pulled out his card shaped throwing knifes but Crimson took no notice of him. He only had eyes for the Dream Team. For his family.

Shaking the thoughts from his head, Tommy slowly turned away from them.

The rioters were running up the stairs now.

𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸. 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.

Sprinting to the nearest window, Tommy barreled shoulder first into it. Glass shattered around him, cutting up his right side as he was greeted with a fifty foot drop.

𝘖𝘩 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵.

Wind, now hot from the raging fires, licked his face as he fell. Seconds away from hitting the floor, Tommy did something he'd sworn he'd never do again. 𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘵.

Spreading his hands wide, he let swirling crimson wisps of power erupt from the tips of his fingers. His (𝘢𝘴 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘵) super charge lessened the impact of the fall. After years of disuse, he was understandably unable to stick his landing. Therefore, he ended up meeting the floor with his face..

Wiping the grime from his face and letting out a shuddering breath to steady himself, the blonde scrambled forwards and darted through the streets. Heading towards the tube station.

Fire illuminated the streets, showing the anarchy that ran rapid in through Las Nevadas. Like in the casino, screams echoed through the streets, rioters breaking windows left, right and centre. Wanted posters and newspapers littered the pavement; all of them spoke of his supposed trechery and a bounty of two million on his head. 𝘖𝘩, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘢 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘦.

White porcelain masks with horns on the side were everywhere. Pointing at the hero as he sprant past; some rioters ran after him, though none caught him. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵?

____

Slipping through the closing doors of the tube, Tommy huffed out a sigh of relief. Walking to the back of the carriage, he slumped down in a random seat whilst his body screamed with exhaustion.

Nobody else occupied the carriage except a few lone stragglers. Said stragglers were rioters; and they all stared at him before rapidly approaching.

𝘖𝘩 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬.

He received a punch in the jaw from the first guy. Drawing his legs up, Tommy slammed them into the man's gut. Sending him crashing into the other side of the tube, a clang echoed loudly as the man made impact with the wall - most definitely leaving a dent. Quickly followed by an automated message:

𝙉𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙩 13.

Jumping to his feet, Tommy settled into a fighting stance and prepared for a fistfight; though not his own stance. Only to realise there were ten rioters, not including the guy gasping at his feet. 𝘖𝘩 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵. He swapped to his staff.

Electricity crackled through the tube, blue light flooding the carriage.

One guy charged forward. Tommy stabbed his staff into his stomach - electrocuting him. The man fell to the ground in a spasiming heap.

"Who's next?"

Five guys charged forward this time. Tommy hit one round the head with his baton, sending him flying into another rioter. A pair of nuckle dusters slammed into the left side of his face and ribs.

Falling to the ground, mask now cracked at the cheek, a rioter swang their foot into Tommy's side repeatedly. 𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸.

Swinging his batton, the hero swept their legs out from under them. All of them falling into a pile on the floor.

Switching his batton to stun, Tommy brought it down on all five rioters - knocking them out.

𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵.

Out of nowhere, iceicles shot at him, embedding themselves in the wall behind him and in his left shoulder that stung as blood dripped down his arm.

Grunting in pain, Tommy tackled one to the ground. Bringing his batton down against their head; their eyes unfocused.

𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵.

Suddenly, he was picked up by the scruff of his neck and pinned against the carriage wall. "Nightmare wants to see you, Crimson." The rioter whispered in his ear.

"Why?"

He got a punch in the gut for that: 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺,v𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴?

"You've got a...how do you put it? Unique set of skills that he needs."

"What you mean this?" Tommy didn't give him time to answer bringing his gun to the man's stomach. Tranquilizing dart immediately knocking the guy out:𝘛𝘸𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰.

Pulling the trigger twice, he knocked the other two out.

Too distracted by the other two, he failed to notice someone creeping up behind him. Tommy screamed out in pain, knife embedding itself into his lower thigh, sending him crashing to the dirty floor.

The first rioter had recovered and now stood over the hero, foot pinning him to the ground. Bending down, so that their face was mere inches from Tommy's, they dug their white clawed fingers into his cheek. Earning a scream of pain from the boy as the knife like claws made contact with his cheekbone. 𝘚𝘬𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘺𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯.

"You'll be taken to Nightmare by choice or by force." They snarled. Crimson could almost hear the rattling of their bones.

They pulled out a communicator and called someone: "Tell Nightmare I've found Crimson. We're on the tube travelling to district two district."

Tommy felt weak and fatigued; he would hardly be able to beat this guy in hand to hand combat. With powers however... 𝘐𝘮 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩.

Super charge erupted through him. Exploding from his cheek bone, where the rioter was still clawing at his face, sending the Schlatt goon flying backwards into the wall at the back of the carriage.

Tommy lay heaving on the floor, surrounded by unconscious rioters. The carriage's walls were now red streaked due to his powers. 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵. 𝘖𝘩 𝘯𝘰, 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘧𝘧. Exhaustion clung to him because of both the injuries he'd obtained and using his powers for the first time in years. Cheek stinging due to the gaping hole in his face.

𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙩 13. 𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙖𝙥 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢.

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺.

Chapter Text

The warehouse district that sat just on the edge of Pogtopia wasn't always a warehouse district. No. Before it was district 14, the most multicultural district in the city. A community where everyone looked out for eachother and it was protected by vigilantes: heroes didn't patrol much in the lower districts, even if they did they weren't allowed into the district as the people despised them. As lively as Las Nevadas (most places were at the time), until after the war when the crime rates rocketed. Villains were still around obviously, heroes and vigilantes wouldn't exist if not.

Now though, it was virtually a ghost town; with the odd gang hiding out in one of the many abandoned buildings. Some of the less fortunate slept in the old run down houses but apart from that the district was desolate.

It's layout was exactly the same as district 13's. However, the buildings were over grown, ragged and scorched kissed from the war. Ash and litter covered the streets. Graffiti painted the buildings with smashed glass laying on freezing cold floors.

Mask sitting in his pocket, the blonde had abandoned his windbreaker and tracker in a random dumpster somewhere in district 13. He'd left his communicator in Nevadas along with his family.

He'd already been left by two families before and managed to survived on his own; mabye he could do it again. 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘩 𝘪𝘮 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘪 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧.

𝘖𝘩 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧𝘧. 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵. 𝘌𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘕𝘰𝘹 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘴. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘪𝘧 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯. A voice that sounded suspiciously like Purpled chimed in.

"Fuck off." Tommy huffed.

He thought Dream would at least listen to his explanation or Sapnap. Sapnap had always been the nicest to him. Not saying the other two weren't but where Dream would shout at him, Sapnap would explain to him what he'd done wrong and how to fix it. Where George would be burried in his work, Sapnap would make time for him - always.

When Dream and George were busy working, it was Sapnap who taught him how to drive. All of them made time for him obviously. Friday night's after patrol was movie night; normaly Up or The Dark Night. Like how Sunday was Chinese take away and game night.

But when Tommy was overwhelmed with work or having a panic attack, Dream or George were hardly ever there to calm him down: it was Sapnap, always Sapnap.

𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘬𝘪𝘥. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳.

Dont get him wrong, Tommy saw them all as brothers and was fearsly loyal and attached to Dream and George. But the look in Sapnap's eyes when he saw that article broke him. He couldn't see Dream and George's eyes earlier.

Though Sapnap was the nicest to Tommy, Dream was the one he was closest to.

After the revolution, Tommy was taken to the infirmary to fix up his wounds and ended up in a bed next to Dream's. They had gotten close after the month they'd spent there; they stayed longer then anyone else because they'd both over used their powers. When they were recovered, Dream asked where Tommy was going to stay. Apon realising he had nowhere to go, he took him in and gave him a place to call home. Tommy had known Dream longer then George and Sap had.

𝘏𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘣𝘺𝘦...

_____

Wondering the streets of district 14, Tommy saw a familiar park. It was completely over grown with the grass reaching his knees yet that didn't faze him. Immediately, he made a beeline for a particular tree. Once scrawny and small, it was now tall and broad with one thing the same as it was years before: a noughts and crosses game with the initials P and T carved scruffily into it. Tracing his fingers over the carvings, a memory hit him.

𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙠, 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙥 𝙤𝙣 𝙖 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙩. 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠, 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙪𝙥 𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙡𝙗𝙤𝙬𝙨. 𝙀𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙚𝙛𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩, 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙠, 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙪𝙚𝙧.

𝘼𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙡 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙨𝙣𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙣𝙩. 𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙪𝙣 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙡𝙚𝙛𝙩 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙨 - 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝.

𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙞𝙧 𝙡𝙚𝙛𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙛𝙤𝙤𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙩. 𝙋𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙, 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙪𝙣 𝙞𝙛 𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙.

𝙎𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙮, 𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙, 𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙣𝙩. 𝙎𝙚𝙖 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙮 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨, 𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙠𝙮 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧, 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙤𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙚: 𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙. 𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙. 𝙉𝙤𝙬 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙖 𝙜𝙪𝙣 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙.

"𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙, 𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚...𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧." 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨.

"𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮, 𝙞 𝙬𝙖𝙨. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚."

𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙪𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙩.

𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮'𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙, 𝙗𝙡𝙪𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙖𝙢 𝙗𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙨𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙.

"𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙛 𝙜𝙪𝙣?" 𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙙, 𝙖 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙪𝙢𝙥𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚.

"𝙁𝙪𝙘𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝." 𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙙, 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧'𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜.

"𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩! 𝙊𝙝 𝙞𝙢 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙪𝙥, 𝙗𝙤𝙯𝙤."

𝘽𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙗𝙤𝙮𝙨 𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙟𝙤𝙮𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮.

________

An abandoned school appeared infront of him, as he turned down the next street. 𝘔𝘺 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭.

A dump was the best word for it in it's current state: the windows were broken in, doors hung off their hinges and graffiti littered the walls. Slowly clambering up the steps, Tommy entered the ancient building. Steps carefully thought out to avoid stepping on school books that lay forgotten on the dust covered floors and broken glass.

Memories hammered down on him with every step further into the building he took: him and Purpled running up and down the halls laughing or cursing due to being late, walking out of detention every other day and discussing their next plan to cause havoc in the school. They were almost suspended once because they started a food fight. Which ended in more property damage than expected as others started involving powers into it. 𝘖𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦, 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘴. 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵.

Before he knew it, the blonde had reached his old English class: the safe house. A single padlock locked the door. 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦...

Taking the key from it's place atop the door frame, Tommy unlocked the door. Creaking open with a groan of old age, it revealed your stereo typical class room. Rows of desks with blue plastic chairs slid under them, a white board and projector for lessons along side a teacher's desk.

At the back of the room, was a blanket and pillow next to two black duffle bags. Walking over, Tommy crouched down and shifted through the fist one: Money, toiletries, clothes and an envelope. Pulling out the clothes, the hero (𝘗𝘧𝘧𝘵𝘵, 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘦𝘹-𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰 𝘢𝘮 𝘪 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵? Purpled mocked him) changed his clothes. A pair of black jeans, battered hightop converse and a purple hoddie - Purpled's hoddie.

Standing still staring at the purple hoddie he had on, Tommy zoned out.

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𝑪𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝑪𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓: 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒗𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓

𝘝𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳. 𝘚𝘦𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵. 𝘐 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦.

𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘫𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵. 𝘔𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥. 𝘚𝘰 𝘪 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

𝘖𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘥. 𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘊𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮. 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘪𝘮 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 (𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺) 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴.

𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘚𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘺𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳: 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘫𝘰𝘣. 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭. 𝘞𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦. 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤, 𝘪𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘪 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘫𝘰𝘣.

𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦 𝘦𝘴𝘤 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘫𝘰𝘣; 𝘢 𝘫𝘰𝘣𝘴 𝘢 𝘫𝘰𝘣 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩. 𝘐𝘮 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘑𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘉𝘢𝘻𝘰𝘴. 𝘉𝘰𝘻𝘰...

Sitting down, Tommy rested his face against the cool wall with a massive blood stain marring it's surface. Closing his eyes, the blonde drifted into a restless sleep filled with memories of the past.

____

"𝙁𝙪𝙘𝙠, 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠, 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠!" 𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙢. 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙪𝙥 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙡, 𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙; 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨, 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙘𝙝.

𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙠, 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩. 𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝: "𝙒𝙚'𝙧𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙗𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙚,𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙨."

"𝙉𝙤, 𝙣𝙤 𝙬𝙚'𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣 𝙣𝙤𝙩. 𝙔𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝘼𝙉𝘿 𝙄 𝘿𝙊𝙉𝙏 𝙆𝙉𝙊𝙒 𝙃𝙊𝙒 𝙏𝙊 𝙁𝙐𝘾𝙆𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙁𝙄𝙓 𝙄𝙏." 𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙩 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙨. "𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙞𝙢 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮. 𝙄𝙢 𝙘𝙧𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙟𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣𝙚."

"𝙁𝙖𝙞𝙧. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙟𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤𝙤." 𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙠𝙮 𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙚, 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙣𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙣𝙟𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧'𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮.

"𝙔𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙞𝙚 𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥!"

𝙎𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙢.

"𝙎𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮. 𝙄 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩...𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣'𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙔𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙. 𝙄𝙛 𝙞 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙞 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥. 𝘼𝙡𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩?𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙞𝙚, 𝙄'𝙡𝙡 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩?"

𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙, 𝙬𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙 - 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩: "𝙄'𝙙 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚."

𝘿𝙧𝙖𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙮 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙪𝙥: "𝘼𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨?"

𝙎𝙘𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧'𝙨: "𝘼𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨. 𝙄'𝙡𝙡 𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙚, 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩?"

"𝙔𝙚𝙖𝙝, 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙝 𝙤𝙠𝙖𝙮, 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙠."

Chapter Text

Once again, Tommy found himself standing in the busy tube station of district eight. 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘫𝘰𝘣 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺, 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘬𝘦 (𝘨𝘰𝘥 𝘪 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥) 𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴. 𝘖𝘩 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘬𝘬𝘬. 𝘐 𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘢 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭. 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩, 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘨.

Originally, he was going to do this in a lower district because it's cheaper. However, everyone hates Crimson Crusader there because he killed Mirrage and Charged. So those districts were off the table. Instead, he opted for district eight. It's cheaper than most districts and heroes actually patrol there. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺-𝘐 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦.𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘳𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘞𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯.

Warden is a strange hero per say. He was a villain during the war but has apparently 'changed his ways' in being morally grey in his methods: he tortures inmates inorder to study their powers, claiming it's for 'the greater good'. Never getting any backlash due to Nox being to scared to confront him; having the power to release every dangerous criminal to ever be entrapped in Pandora at his fingertips made him a powerful man.

The 'hero' was a creeper hybrid with a gold embedded costume of green and black: forest green, floor length cloak with golden armor on top of black skins, green hair, gas mask emitting puffs of toxins as he walked and radioactive eyes with dilated pupils. Most commonly known for his iconic trident and redstone contraptions. It was those redstone contraptions which lead to an infamous rivalry between him and Mumbo Jumbo.

Tommy had met him twice. Once as Charged and once as Crimson. Both had ended with him impaled funny enough.

As Charged, he was impaled due to being one of the two most wanted vigilantes that the heroes mercilessly hunted with no reasonable explanation. The one they gave the public being that vigilantes were all bad - referenceing Schlatt.

His second was when he was mistaken for a vigilante while on patrol with George. Crimson had filled his lungs, choking him brutally. The blonde had drowned in his own blood and was rushed back to medical. It took him five days to become conscious and three weeks to fully recover.

George and the other members of the Dream Team had been furious. All three of them marching up to the committee and demanding Warden be reprimanded. When informed that no such punishment would be enforced apon the creeper, they'd threatened quitting Nox. With the Dream Team being the city's favourites, Nox quickly reconsidered their decision.

When Tommy woke up in the hospital ward, Dream had shoved his mask onto his face which immediately filled the boy with anxiety. That anxiety further fuelled when Warden had waltzed into the room. Radioactive eyes had bore into the blonde as the man towered over him ominously. "Sorry for impaling you." Warden had spat with annoyance before storming out of the room without waiting for a response.

Tommy had only one view of him at the time:𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘳.

Speaking of Warden, Tommy passed a billboard with some random reporter displaying the Warden on screen. Stopping,the ex-hero zoned in on what they were saying.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʀᴅᴇɴ(ᴀʟᴏɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴏꜰ ʜᴇʀᴏᴇꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏɴ ʜᴇʀᴏᴇꜱ)ʜᴀꜱ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴅɪꜱᴘᴀᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ ɪɴᴏʀᴅᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴀɪᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴜɴᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ᴄʀɪᴍꜱᴏɴ ᴄʀᴜꜱᴀᴅᴇʀ.

The picture of Warden flipped to one of Crimson Crusader helping Siren.

ᴄʀɪᴍꜱᴏɴ ᴄʀᴜꜱᴀᴅᴇʀ,ᴡʜᴏ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀ ᴘʀᴇᴠɪᴏᴜꜱʟʏ ᴜɴᴋɴᴏᴡɴ ʜᴇʀᴏ,ᴡᴀꜱ ʀᴇᴠᴇᴀʟᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀ ᴛʀᴀɪᴛᴏʀ,ᴍᴇʀᴇ ʜᴏᴜʀꜱ ᴀɢᴏ.ɪᴛ'ꜱ ʙᴇᴇɴ ʀᴇᴠᴇᴀʟᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ-

Huffing out an annoyed sigh,Tommy countined through the streets heading for a set of apartments he'd seen online last night.

They were rickety seventies style apartments with crumbling walls and graffiti littering the side.Reaching about 100 meters,it looked well lived in but in dier need of repear.

𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴,𝘢𝘺?

Pushing open the door,he walked up to the front desk.A bloke with straight brown hair and mahogany eyes sat behind it-frowning at his phone.Foggy light blue hoddie,black jeans and a pear of white speed runners,name tag on his right breast reading Kit in purple writing.

"How you doing,"Kit drowled in a British accent.

"Hello,is it possible for me to rent an apartment here?"

Stareing at the purple hoddied boy,Kit put his phone down and leaned forward:"How old are you kid?"

"Im 19?"

"No way,no way man,there's no way your 19."

Rolling his eyes,Tommy pulled out his 'real not fake' documents and passed them to the receptionist.Kit read them silently before handing them back and pulling out another clip board.

"Here you go,Tom.This right here is very good.Coz this is how you get your apartment.So what your gonna want to do is read and sign it.Then I'll take you to your room."

Nodding,Tommy took the clipboard and read through it.What unnerved him was that the brunette continued to stare at him the whole time-a spark of recognition in his eyes.Something about him seemed familiar but Tommy couldn't figure out what.

After that,Kit dropped him off at his room.Informing the ex-hero that rent was £875 every month including heating and electricity.One bathroom,a small kitchen which attached to the living room and a bedroom.

The bathroom had a two in one shower and bath with translucent curtains.Next to a basic tiolet and a sink with a mirror on top of it.A flickering light casting an uncanny hue across the room.

Tommy hated mirrors.Of course there was the fact that he could see himself in them.His scars,his bruises like eyebags and any other injuries he'd obtained.

But more so because it reminds him of Purpled.In his vigilante form he was called Mirrage due to his powers.Having the ability to travel through any reflective object:windows,knifes,mirrors that sort of thing.As well as this,he was able to mirror others movements and appearances perfectly.Wiether that be fighting,looking or talking like them;he normally did undercover missions.

Rusting metal with tiled floors and rotting cabinets created his new kitchen.Joining onto a red carpeted living room.Rustic TV sitting infront of a brown sofa with mysterious stains coating its edges.Peeling paint coated every wall,leaving it a mismatched mess of contrasting wall paper.

Surprisingly,there was a mirky glass sliding door that led to a petite balcony.There was nothing there except a rotting bench that overlooked district eight onto district one;Nox headquarters sticking out like a shaw thumb,leaving a sour taste in Tommy's mouth.

Travelling further through the apartment,the blonde walked into his new bedroom.It was bland with a large window,a rack to hang your clothes on,chest of drawers and a matress laying on the floor.

𝘈𝘩𝘩𝘩,𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦.

𝘈𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥,𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳.(A phantom of what Purpled had said when they got thier apartment together years ago whispered.)

____

Quietly,Tommy placed his bag down and left the apartment again:waving to Kit as he left.Transverseing the busslling streets,he searched for shops in need of workers.

After five rejections,the blonde found a vinyl store that doubled as a cafe.𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘵.𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘰𝘶𝘵,𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸.

Pushing the door open,followed by the ring of a bell,he walked into the store.A couple of collage students occupied the mismatched cloured arm chairs and sofas.Wooden tables and floors,led into isles apon isles of records,sorted alphabetically.Coffe and cinnamon hung in the air building on the warm ambiance created by the golden lights.A record player sat off to the side,where customers could pick and chose vinyls to play.

Looking towards the front desk,coffe machines and a menu written on a black chorkboard.A display case filled with delicious pastries attached to the till,were a man sat:black shoulder length hair and facial hair above and under his lip with a bit on his chin;he wore a black beanie,doc martin's and jeans,denim jacket,clear glasses and a black shirt with the name of the shop printed on it-'Kabosu records'.

Making eye contact with the man,the blonde walked over to the counter:"Hey,i saw you were highering."

The man nodded at him smiling.Raising his eyebrow,Tommy handed over his papers."Are you mute?"

The other nodded and read through Tommy's paper before handing them back.The black haired man pionted to his name tag:'Hi,Im Ash!"Then he took the young blonde into the back room and they soughted out the paperwork.

By the end of it,Ash realised the ex-hero could do sigh language(so they were able to communicate easily) and Tommy had a new shirt identical to Ash's and a job.

Smiling,the purple hoddied boy left the shop.His first shift was tomorrow and the pay was enough for rent and food with a little extra. Tommy liked Ash.Even with sign language,he didn't speak much but he was a nice guy anyway.

On his way home,he went to a corner store and brought a calendar with pictures of the ocean on it with a pen;Dream said it was important to keep track of time.

He'd always wanted to go to the beach but never got the chance living in the city.The closest beach was Buissness Bay though even that was hours away.Mabye it was the repetitiveness of the lapping blue waves or the cool breeze on your skin.However,Tommy thought it was because the sky looked like Purpled's eyes on a stormy day.

𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺.𝘞𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴...

Chapter Text

Freezing cold water suddenly battered down on the boy as the water pressure and temperature glitched:"Fucks sake,"Tommy grumbled,washing the sweat from his nightmare off.

Standing in the blue bathtub,the blonde got ready for another day of work.Flinching when callus fingers brushed over scars and oddly textured skin.𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

Huffing,he turned the rusty handle(switching the shower off),stepped out the bath and started drying himself off.Throwing on a pair of beige cargos he'd brought,black converse,work shirt and Purpled's hoddie.

The ex-hero knew he should get another hoddie instead of wearing 𝙝𝙞𝙨 old one.But it brought him a strong sense of comfort that visiting Purp's grave never could.𝘊𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘮 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵.𝘈𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩,𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦.𝘈𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘦...

Sometimes he could imagine that it still smelt like him(𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘥).Purpled used to carry the sent of lilac and vanilla.Which annoyed Tommy as he'd always been told he smelt of rain.Probably because he always went out in the rain without a coat;the ex-vigilante always seemed to have a cold.

____

A cold breeze washed over him apon leaving his apartment building.Perusal,grey clouds hung gloomily over the city;an air of melancholy in clasped the citizens of Pogtopia.People still rushed up and down the streets even though it wasn't rush hour.Meaning it was easier to get to Ash's than normal.

He pushed the door open with a sigh and put his hoodie in the backroom.After that,he went behind the counter-smiling to Ash as he went-and put his apron on;he was ready to prepare orders.

Tommy had been working at Kabosu Records for 35 days now.Ash was way better than his previous bosses-even though he didn't communicate much.However,it was evident that he cared about the blonde.Giving him coffees when he looked extra tierd(due to staying up all night due to tragedy plagued nightmares).Rush hour was hectic but fun for Tommy,keeping him on his feet.It was nice,quite.

A huge juxtaposition to his old job.

As a result,it felt boring to Tommy;he never had been able to live a normal life.He woke up and showered and went to work and came home and crossed off the day on his calendar and attempted to sleep and repeat.

The only thing that spiced up his day was his inconsistent eating habits.Watching his skin slowly begin to strech across his bones as he thinned,stomach growling in hunger.

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘸𝘸𝘸,𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦,𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘴.𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘢 #𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵.

"Fuck off Purpled,"Tommy muttered picking up a sandwich from the display case anyway.𝘕𝘰 𝘪 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥.𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭.𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧𝘧.

Ash tapped him on the shoulder,pulling him out of his thoughts,sighing to him that it's his turn to man the till.

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘸.

Customers came and went as they pleased.None really bothered Tommy or even court his attention.That was until right now.

The bell rung for what felt like the thousandth time with it waltzed in a tall bespectacled man.Brown curls sat atop his head,maroon sweatshirt ,caramel coloured jeans,black dress shoes and a black trench coat.His eyes hazel with golden flakes in them.𝘌𝘸 𝘢 𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳.𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘶𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴.

Walking over to the counter,with an air of authority,his eyes landed on Tommy,head tilting."What are twelve?"

𝘖𝘩 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘸.

Eye twitching,the blonde laughed with an innocent smile:"Im going to spit in your drink,prick."

The brunette's eyes widened in shock before he burst out laughing."Your a gremlin child,"he gasped out between laughs.

𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘥𝘶𝘣 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦.

Rolling his eyes,Tommy switched back to his customer service voice,plastering on a smile:"What would you like to order?"

Humming quietly to himself,Fuckface flicked his eyes up to the menu-looking at it for an excruciatingly long time.

"I'll have a black coffe,child.I'd appreciate no spit in it though;rabies aren't good for my health."

Realising air from his nose angrily,Tommy stared at Fuckface in silence.In return,the brunette raised an eyebrow.

"You spent that long...that fuckin long...only to pick a fuckin black coffee?Your so fuckin basic man.Your-your like a fuckin pigeon.There everywhere and thier fuckin annoying."

"Do you normally swear this much?Because I don't think that's very good customer service,prick."

"I bet you have a gangly bellend."Tommy retorted turning on his heals and staring on Fuckfaces coffe.

A startled laugh escaped Fuckface.He doubled over,clapping his hands as he cackled.

"You got a name bitch?"

"It's Wilbur.What's yours?"

"Mkay Wimbler.Go wait over there or take a seat if your staying;I don't care."

The blonde felt eyes on his back the whole time he was making Wilbur's coffee.Seen as Wilbur was the only one there(apart from Tommy,Ash had left ten minutes ago to meet up with his friends)it had to be him.(𝘖𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴.𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯.𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘺.𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮.)

Once done,he wrote Wilbur's name on the cup,then walked back to the counter:"Wimbler!"

"It's Wilbur."

Getting up from his seat,the brunette walked over to the blonde,stareing at him:"Gunna tell me your name now child?"

"Gunna get better taste buds,dickhead?"Tommy retorted,ringing up Wilbur's order.

"I actually don't have taste buds."

"Did i ask?"

"Yes."

Silence in clasped the two,both deeply committed to thier stareing contest.Wilbur lost(𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘩.𝘐𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵),eyes travelling down to the ex-heroes name tag;a triumphant grin spread aross his face.

"How much for the drink,Tommy?"

"WHAT THE FUCK?HOW?!"The boy screeched using the vanilla syrup bottle as a weapon.

Wilbur becomed him forward with a wave of his hand,whispering in his ear:"It's on your name tag dumbass."

Tommy looked up,ears now a deep shade of scarlet,and quietly answered the man:"Your total is £3,58."

Silence,once again,carpeted the room.A second passed.Then another.Then anoth-

The brunette burst out laughing."Awwwwww,you stupid,you stupid.Little stupid boyyy-"

"IM NOT FUCKIN STUPID!FUCK YOU BITCH.YOU ARE A WANKER AND I FUCKIN HATE YOU.I WILL NOT HESITATE TO HUNT YOU DOWN AND STEAL YOUR WIFE-"

"Little baby man.Little tiny man-"

"OH WAIT YOU DONT FUCKIN HAVE ONE!BECAUSE I ALREADY HAVE HER BITCH!"

"You are tiny."

"And you are a bitch."

The emergency alarm went off:emergency alarms were instated by Nox after the 16th to alert citizens when villain attacks were happening.Every building had them(even Tommy's shitty apartment)and the streets are lines with speakers to alert those outside.

Static interrupted the alarm,before a news reporters voice crackled through the speakers:

𝘾𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙋𝙤𝙜𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙖,𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙩 𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧,𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙉𝙤𝙭 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙘.𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨;𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚.

𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙤 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙮 𝙗𝙪𝙣𝙠𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙢𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙞𝙣.𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙜𝙤 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜.

𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨,𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙢 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚;𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙢 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙜𝙤 𝙤𝙛𝙛 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙗𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙙.

"Oh for fucks sake,"the blonde grumbled,walking round the counter and looking the door.Grabbing Wilbur's hand,he pulled the man into the breakroom;bolting the door shut before slumping into one of the graffitied plastic chairs huddled around the wooden table.Wilbur sliding into one next to him,an analytical glint in his eyes.

"Fuckin Jschlatt.Now im stuck with Fuckface for god knows how long."Dragging his hand down his face,the blonde looked up at the brunette:"The fuck you looking at?I know im sexy as fuck but you don't have to stare..."

The man's gaze made Tommy uneasy.It felt like spiders running up his back.He felt like a fly trapped in the unforgiving prison of a gaunt,jet black spider.A lamb to slaughter except he wasn't so ignorant.

The blonde tore at his cuticles.Skin pealing away like painting leaving a dribbling line of vermillion in it's wake.

"You called him Jschlatt."

Giving the man an unimpressed look,though unease continued to claw relentlessly at his insides,Tommy spat back at the man:"That's his fuckin name,innit?"

Wilbur didn't reply-furthering the ex-hero's discomfort-only inspecting the boy once more.

Mahogany eyes coming back to meet ocean blue,he broke the uncanny silence,leaning towards him:"You fought in the war as a child soldier."

"No.I was a dishonered soldier.A diseserter."

"And why's that?Did you disert your squadron?You were a child;your allowed to run,to hide,to be scared.No not allowed,your entitled to those things."

Though Tommy knew those things,had known them through out the war,it felt different to hear someone else say them.It felt refreshing.

Normally,the boy would scowl in disgust at being seen as child.Due to being treated like lesser,more vulnerable.Weak.𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘥.

However,with Wilbur,this stranger he knew nothing of,it felt different.

Compared to eachother,they were antonyms.One the sun casting sun rays of warmth and joy.One the moon that casted coolness and mystery in twilight beams.

This made Tommy reconsider the man.Taking him in once more,he spotted little imperfections that where once hidden behind a vale of normality.Akin to the blonde,the man looked exhausted.Scars littered his skin,burn scars encompassing his hands in thier entirety.Jagged finger nails and urban eyes that held the glossy look of a veteran.

𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘳.𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘴,𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥,𝘥𝘪𝘦.

"So are you," Tommy finally answered the man.

"I chose to fight."

Each soldier's stubbornness drew thier swords;neither willing to back down.Blonde striking first,blade hissing as it swang through the tension filled air.

"Did you though?Did anyone?I know for a fact that the healers didn't want to fight a war that wasn't thier own.Sent to the battle field unprepared and untrained by Nox.Sent to thier deaths,like thier lifes ment nothing.That thier families grief was a fatuous prospect.Not even given the dignity of a labelled grave."

Breathing coming out short as he spat vile truths at the man.

"You speak of healers as if they were the only ones mistreated,"a snarl ever present on Wilbur's face at the idea."You one of them?"

The boy laughed,a humourless thing:"You think I'd be fuckin here if i was?Nox would have 'recruited' me if that were the case."Mockery coiling around the word 'recruited' with violent intent.

"Where were you stationed then,Tommy?"

"On the front lines.You?"

"Same."

Wilbur's fingers twitched at the mention.They'd done so before at the mention of healers.Both soldiers sat in silence,daring the other to ask the question most were to scared too ask;too cautious.

Tommy had no such caution.

"Who'd you lose,bitch?"

"My partner...Sally.Before the war,she worked in the navy.They called her to the front lines."Wilbur's hands began to tremble where they lay on the table;he didn't try to hide it,didn't see it as a weakness-unlike Tommy."Died during the second wave.Sacrificed herself for a bunch of heroes who couldn't do thier fuckin job.A powered rioter fuck pulled the veins from her body;she died instantly.Didn't find out for three days."

"I lost my best friend,Purpled.He was a dickhead."Both veterans laughed wetly,having teared up due to reminiscing on the past."We weren't forced to fight.We wanted to:Schlatt destroyed our home.Like Sally,he sacrificed himself.For me."

The blonde stopped for a second.Breathing deeply,before continuing.

"A Rioter with fuckin OP powers shot a power blast of sorts at me.Purp jumped infront of it.On the bright side,at least you know it wasn't your fault they died.Didn't have to watch them die.When the life drains from thier eyes.It makes you think that mabye,just mabye,you could have saved them.If you'd been braver or stonger or quicker,mabye they'd still be here."

For some reason,both men felt completely at ease telling the other,a stranger,thier life story.Able to let weakness show without fear of being judged.Knowing the other understood what they'd gone through.That they wouldn't pity them.Like two sides of the same coin.

A comfortable silence fell over the two.A silence neither felt compelled to break.Both,though reluctant to admit it,being to like the other.Stories of the past forming a bond which would remain unnoticed (if noticed at all).

"You wanna play solitaire?"Wilbur inquired,pulling a pack of cards out of seemingly no where.

"The fuck is solitaire?"

"I'll teach you prick.Just stop shredding your cuticles to bits and put these on."

Chucking the blonde a pack of rainbow plasters,Wilbur began to sort out the cards.While Tommy applyed plasters to his blood ensanguined fingers.

"Fuckin clingy."

"Gremlin child."

___

After several hours of playing solitaire(or rather trying to play solitaire,with Tommy and Wilbur going off on tangents and discussing random things),the alarm sounded again.Announcing they could leave there hiding spots;the city was safe.

Looking over at one another,both picked up thier phones to check the time.

"Oh shit,my shift ended an hour ago."

"Oh shit,Tech and Phil called me fifty times."

Apon hearing Tommy's words,tge brunette's brows furrowed in confusion:"What did no one call you?"

"No?"

"What you fuckin lonely or something,you loser?"It was obviously a joke and it lightened the serious mood that had settled over the room;making the blonde more comfortable.

"Not got anyone who cares anymore..."Tommy's mind drifted to the Dream Team.

He missed them.Of course he did,they were the closest thing to family he had after Purpled died.Admitting that they didn't care anymore,to another person,hurt.

Admitting that George,the one who used to patch him up after fights because Tommy didn't want bother the heroes,didn't care.That Sapnap,who spent his free time teaching the younger how to drive and fix up cars,didn't care.Dream,who picked him up after the war and making a seemingly powerless kid his sidekick,didn't care.

It felt like a knife in the chest.Like all his old wounds opened all at once.

Snapping out of his internal conflict,Tommy realised that the taller had nicked his phone and was sliding it back towards him:"The fuck did you do bitch?"

"I got you someone who'd make sure you didn't do stupid shit,"a smug smile settled on the man's face.

Looking at his phone,Tommy realised what he'd done:𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘢 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘦.

In his contacts,directly after 'Time friend :)'(Karl had insisted that it stay that in his phone-𝘒𝘢𝘳𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘨 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘯.𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘱.),was the name 'Wilbur Soot'.Clinking on the contact,he hastily changed the name to 'Fuckface.'

Then,even though the man was right in front of him,Tommy took a picture of Wilbur's feet.Sending it to the man with the caption 'I got feet pics bitch.'

"You absolute weirdo.What is wrong with you."The taller gasped out between laughs.

"Oh fuck.I gotta close up shop.Dickhead you need to get out of here."

Scrambling to his feet,Tommy scampered out the room and began the closing routine.Wilbur left the room calmly,following the shorter as he worked-annoying him to no end.

When he was done,the blonde and brunette left the store.Only to be welcomed with heavy rain and a blistering cold.Forcing them to seek shelter on the door step of the shop;Lip of the building protruding over the door.

Locking the door,Tommy came to the realisation that he would get soaked walking home in this and groaned in annoyance:𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘮𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯.

"What child?"The older asked, jabbing the other in the side,earning a squark of protest from the boy.

"Not a child.I don't have a fuckin coat."

"Why not?"

"Cant afford one."

Mahogany eyes focused on ocean blue,a weird look in the golden flecked ones that Tommy couldn't desphere.Silence hung in the air,only interrupted by the sound of cars and the pattering of rain.Digging his hand into the endless pit of his trench coat,Wilbur produced an umbrella and handed it to the shorter:"Dont you need this though?"

"No,i have a coat.Im buying you a coat tonight and then we'll trade;now you wont get sick."

"The fuck do you care?Also when bitch?"

"I care because im 'someone who'd make sure you didn't do stupid shit'."

"We'll do it tomorrow.I'll stop by and bully-i mean vist you prick."

Pushing the umbrella into the blonde's hands,he stepped into the rain and started down the street.Turning and shouting to the boy:"Bye Tommy,I'll see you tomorrow!You better fuckin text me when you get home."

"Fuck off Wilbur!"

Letting out a tierd sigh,the boy put up his umbrella and started towards his apartment,a grin ever present on his face.

Chapter Text

Standing in the cracking blue bathtub,Tommy turned on the water.Immediately,freezing cold water battered down on him,before quickly turning to a scolding hot drizzle.

The blonde stood unflinching in the boiling water.Focusing on the few droplets that fell from his hair and dribbled down his face.Watching as his skin turned from pale white to red;scars standing out noticeable against his now raw skin,mocking him.

The water changed again.Finally turning a normal temperature and water pressure.

He skin now unnaturally,stretched, tightly against his body due to lack of nutrients.Cuticles a bloody mess of scabs and flacking skin-aching whenever the lukewarm water pattered down on them.With a grimace,he began to wash.

It felt astrange for Tommy to shower in a bathtub.In his orphanage ,they only had a bath.No shower due to lack of funds.And viscera for his and Purpled's old apartment ;they had a shower but no bath.However,for the better half of five years,both separately.

Nox had amazing facilities for heroes-𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘰𝘯.Building housing for the heroes inorder to keep them closer in case of emergency;𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭.

He missed thier apartment.He missed his old life.He missed his friends.

𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦.

Tommy frowned.

The water went cold,again.

__

Wilbur strutted into the cafe,again.Flashing him a smile,the brunette slid into a red couch in the corner of the shop,again.Once done with the remaining queuing costumers,the blonde went over to the red sofa and took the taller's order.The latter ordering a black coffe,again.

An hour passed by,apart from pleasantries(consisting of an exchanging of name calling),the two had yet to speak.

As Ash entered,the bell rang.Throwing him a tierd smile,Tommy removed his apron and handed it to the ravenet.After that,the ex-hero wandered back over to the coach;sliding in next to Wilbur-letting out an exhausted yawn.

"Hello child.You look like shit,"Wilbur gabbed the younger in his side.

"Why thank you Will.You don't look to bad yourself."He huffed scrubbing his face with his hand.

"You sleep at all last night."It wasn't a question.

"Yes...?"

"Nightmares again?"

Tommy remained silent,absently picking at his cuticles again.

"You need to sleep,king."

"It's a bit difficult if i keep waking up in the middle of the night and then proceeding to have a fuckin panic attack."The boy gritted out,eyes now locked with the other.

"I know a therapist if your willing.Sleep is important."

"Mate you just chugged five coffees in the space of an hour.Don't lecture me on my fuckin sleep schedule."The ex-vigilante deadpanned.

Both men stared eachother down,reluctant to look away.Stubbornness only rivalled by the other's.

Wilbur scanned the boy,before standing;warmth abandoning each of thier sides.

"The fuck you going,prick?Can't handle my epicness?"

The man flipped him off.Huffing(again),Tommy pulled out his phone.Realising he'd forgotten to answer an old friend,he opened thier contact,reading the message that had been sent three days ago:

ᴡʜᴀᴛ'ꜱ ᴜᴘ ɴɪᴍʀᴏᴅ,
ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀɴʏ ᴀʟʟɪᴇꜱ.ɪ'ᴠᴇ ɢᴏᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏᴍꜱ.ᴡᴀɴɴᴀ ᴍᴇᴇᴛ ꜱᴏᴏɴ? :)

Smiling brightly at the text,the blonde responded:

ᴋᴀʀʟ,ʏᴏᴜ ᴡʜᴏʟᴇꜱᴏᴍᴇ ꜰᴇʟʟᴀ!
ᴡᴇ ᴄʜᴜᴍᴍᴇʀꜱ ɢᴏᴛᴛᴀ ꜱᴛɪᴄᴋ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ʙɪɢ ᴍᴀɴ(ɢɪɢɢʟᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴍᴘ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ).ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴɴᴀ ᴍᴇᴇᴛ? >:D

Before quickly sliding it back into his pocket at the sound of approaching footsteps:"Why'd you leave me,bitch?"

A muffin and a sandwich were placed on his lap,coach dipping as Wilbur recouped his seat;warmth returned to both of thier sides.Looking up at the man,Tommy stared blankly at the older(waiting for an explanation).

Sighing,the brunette obliged:"You haven't eaten since we last spoke have you?"Once again,the man had read him like a book."Eat.Now.Or I'll tell Ash."

"The fucks Ash gonna do?"He enquiried raising an eyebrow in bemusement.

"He will plan you out an eating plan and berated you until you oblige.Or rather sign."

"You know sign because?"The shorter inquired,reluctantly picking up his sandwich and taking a bite.

While he chewed it,a pit grew in his stomach,guilt eating away at him.Hands trembling,he forced himself to take another bite.

He didn't starve himself because he hated the way his body looked.He did it because he hated himself.Because he saw himself as worthless.Because he believes he doesn't deserve it.

𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥.𝘔𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥.𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸.𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸!

𝘏𝘶𝘨𝘦 𝘓 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪 𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘴.𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘥.Purpled's voice chimed in.

"A picked it up a few years ago:to help my brother."

"You have a brother?"Gaw dropping at the new piece of information.

The two had an odd friendship.They never really met outside Kabosu's Records,although they'd only known eachother for a couple of weeks and Tommy has mayger trust issues.Only meeting on Tuesdays and Fridays because those were the only days Wilbur had managed to figure out Tommy's shift schedule for-𝘴𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘳...

Having text constantly after the Schlatt riots had lead to thier closeness;the younger sending the other cringey hero and villain fam cams(especially Siren's) and getting threatened repeatedly because of it.

However,even with thier constant meetings,they still knew next to nothing about eachother.Not due to lack of interest or anything.No,in actuality both were desperate to learn more about the other.But both too stubborn to open up first.

So moment's like these,were one of the slipped up(which happened alot resently with both beginning to let thier gaurd down),were thier only current crumbs of intell on one another.

"Yeah,"a scowl appearing on the man's face once realising he'd slipped up."His name's Technoblade."

Laughter escaped the boy immediately,echoing through the small shop.Interrupting the quiet lull of conversation and jazz that had settled through the cafe.It took Tommy three minutes to stop weezing his lungs up:"Okay,okay.Let me get this straight.Your brother,is called fuckin Tech-no-blade?"

"Yes,child."

Again laughter rippled through the shop.Only stopped by a squark of pain as the taller elbowed him in the ribs,a fond look on his face.

"Alright,sorry,sorry.Why did your parents name him that?Are they stupid?Or do they just hate him?"

"Oh no,they love him.It's just that he,like myself,is adopted."

"Pffttttt image having dead parents and then getting adopted."

"What's wrong with that?"Wilbur sounded affronted,a scowl was slowly forming on his face.

"Well you see the foster care system is fucked.Foster parents,hell fuckin adoptive parents are shit 99.9% of the time.However,I was pog enough to get emancipated at fuckin 15!!!"

Wilbur's face relaxed,a new found interest in what the boy was saying as he was able to gain more information:"Thought you had to be sixteen,king?"

"You do.We just faked our documents."Tommy commented nonchalantly like he hadn't just admitted to forging legal documents.

"How'd you manage that?"

"I grow up in 14,Will."

Realisation dawned on the brunette.

14 was renounced for its crime rate and lack of hero support.Building a prejudice against it's citizens for being said criminals.𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘢𝘳𝘦,𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦.

Resulting in most kids from the district being highly educated in the criminal world.Though not in typical education.

"I grew up in the pit then I moved to outer Pogtopia."

Tommy had been expecting the same pitying or caution look he got whenever someone realised he was from 14.However,Wilbur did neither.It was refreshing for him;he'd never had that before,almost like an understanding.

"I've been there,the pit i mean.It was alright.Cant say I'd want to live there though."

"No,i agree.It's not the best place but the culture is interesting and the geography of the place."

"You like geography?"

"Yeah i love it.I got a degree in it actually."Wilbur spread his arms out,a proud smile spreading across his face.

"You ever been to the beach before?"

"Hell Yeah!You want to here about it?"Wilbur raised an eyebrow at the kid.

"Fuck yeah,man!"The ex-hero explained joyfully,waving his arms about erotically,erring a warm laugh from the older.

As Wilbur described the beach,a child like look spread across Tommy's face.The interaction feeling oddly domestic.Akin to a boy telling his little brother about an adventure he'd had.

Brunette smiling wildly at the ability to rant about something he was interested in and have the listener share that interest.Blonde boy nodding along enthusiastically as he stared at the older in awe,taking in every word greedily.

___

Discarding his keys on the kitchen counter,Tommy slipped off his battered converse and hung up his new coat;Wilbur had followed through and brought him one,it's red with black details.Though he was happy to have a new coat-he'd been freezing without it in the early October weather-it reminded him a bit too much of his past costume.

Scanning the apartment,his eyes lingered on the fridge for a second.His hand twitched,sweat balling in his palms while goosebumps bit at his scar covered skin:𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘥.𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘳'𝘴.𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦.

Shaking his head,Tommy turned away from the object,pinning his focus onto the,currently off,TV.

Plopping himself down in front of the TV,the blonde turned it on.Watching as it flickered onto a random news station,displaying a villain attack.

Groaning,the ex-hero went to switch the channel:"Oh fuck off-"

Only to falter in his steps due to his ears latching onto a specific word the reporter said:Masquerade.

𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮.

Placing the remote next to him,he began watching the broadcast in earnest.

𝘾𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮,𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 14,𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 14.

𝙎𝙢𝙤𝙠𝙚 𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚,𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘼𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙩-𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙨.𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙤𝙪𝙩,𝙛𝙤𝙜 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙨,𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙞𝙙.

𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙪𝙞𝙩;𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙣𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮.

Apon seeing the latter,Tommy's eyes widened.A weird feeling settled in his gut,remembering one of the Syndicate leaders owed him a favour.On top of this,he realised,in technicality,it's the villian's fault he's in this position.𝘐𝘧 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮,𝘐'𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸.𝘐'𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮,𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘢𝘱.

Quickly debunking that idea with the notion that Sirens a human too.A person with family and friends.No matter what the consequences,he'd done the right thing.The heroic thing. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦.

"Old habits die hard,i guess."He huffed.

If it wasn't for Tommy,the villain's family would be left to grieve for a son they'd never discover what happened to.A missing report called in that would never be solved;left discarded in the police databases with millions of others.

𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘪𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.𝘐 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘔𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦.𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥;𝘪 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

𝘐𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶.𝘕𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙨𝙮𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙮.𝙇𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙠,𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙠𝙚.𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙨𝙬𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙.

𝙊𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙥𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙎𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙣 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙣𝙙.𝙒𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙪𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨(𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙝 𝙘𝙤𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢)𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙚𝙨,𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚.

Dread pooled into the ex-hero's stomach at the sight.He'd been at the mercy of the villain just mere weeks before;he knew what it felt like.To be completely at the sadist's mercy with no way of saving yourself is terrifying.

As a vigilante,he'd been lucky enough to only encounter the Syndicate a handful of times.Wiether it be busting low level drug and arms deals or prohibiting thier hold on 14.

At the time(before the war),the Syndicate,though powerful,was not fully recognised yet.Having a strong hold over most of the lower districts yet still able to remain under the heroes radar made them a threat.

Luckily for 14,they had vigilantes who where able to protect them and keep the gang from taking hold of the district.

Not caring to watch the rest of the broadcast,Tommy turned off the TV.Sighing,he walked over to the door,putting his shoes on and picking up his keys and phone:he left the apartment .

__

Once again,the blonde found himself transversing the city tube stations.He was greeted with the familiar white tunnels that twisted left and right,lacking consistency.

It was 3am,leaving the station basically deserted apart from a couple lone stragglers.

Apon hastily approaching the terminal,the blonde tripped on his neglected shoe lace.Eating shit as he court himself with his forearms.

Letting out a string of frustrated curses,he sat back,propping himself up againts the tilled walls,the ex-hero inspected the damage.

His elbows were grazed,though not bleeding.However there was a hole in one of his sleeves.

The ex-hero was about to start freaking out about putting a hole in his new coat.When he rember that he'd forgotten to pick it up in his haste to leave the apartment .

With a relieved sigh,his attention fell to the stinging sensation coming from his knee.Glancing at them,he noted that there was yet another new hole in his clothing.Crimson leaked from his knee where it stained his pale blue jeans.

Using the wall for support,he clambered to his feet.Most people would be limping with this kind of cut,Tommy did not.𝘐𝘮 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵.He'd had worse.

He reached the terminal and was surprised to find that it was completely deserted.Unconsciously,his feet carried him over to the tracks;stopping just in behind the line.

The ex-vigilante's eyes lingered on the spot just infront of the cracking yellow paint:the tracks.The world around him disappeared as he fell into the hands of a thought that could only lead to that which is oblivion.

𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘴.

𝘛𝘸𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳.

𝘛𝘸𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘯.

𝘛𝘸𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥.

Purpled,the ying to his yang.Purpled who had stiched up his wounds after patrol.Purpled who would sit with his head on top of his best friend's as they watched Up.Purpled who had stuck by his side till his dying breath.A next breath only stolen due to Tommy's incapabilitiy.Purpled who he had made a promise with,of which to follow eachother into death.Purpled the only reason he was alive right now.

𝘐𝘧 𝘪 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.

The blonde was snapped out of his internal spiralling when the ground vibrated as the tube rumbled into the station:he stumbled backwards.

Doors sliding open with a hiss,Tommy gulped down the lump that had settled in this throat.

Suddenly,a person collided with him sending them both reeling to the ground.Propping himself up on grazed elbows,the blonde spat at the person,a snarl ever present on his face:"Watch where your fuckin going prick!"

"Well im sorry dickhead but it's your fault as wel- wait Tommy?"

Making eye contact with eachother,a smile tugged at Wilbur's lips;the younger mirroring him.Before they both doned matching confused expressions .

"King,its 3am,the fuck are you doing here?"The brunette questioned pulling the shorter to his feet.

"Got bored.The fuck are you doing up?"He poked the former in the chest.

"Went for a smoke."

"Your fuckin disgusting."The blonde deadpanned,glaring at the other,who simply shrugged in response.

Thier conversation was interrupted by the tube speeding out the station with urgency.Eyes flicking to the tracks,the ex-hero got an idea:"Hey king,you busy?"

"No?"Wilbur raised an eyebrow,intrest seeping into sharp features.

"Good."

Grabbing the taller's hand,Tommy pulled him forwards.Past the cracking yellow line and over the lip of the platform;onto the tracks.The taller squawking in protest.

"Tommy what the fuck are you doing?Are fuckin stupid or something?"

The blonde did not answer.Only pulling the former further into the net work of rusting,train tracks.

Wilbur,though uncertain ,did not try to turn back.

Instead,following the blonde and taking note of the fact that he did not have his coat.On top of this,he seemed to know exactly where he was going even without a map in the pitch black.

Hands seemingly miniscule compared to the taller's,cold too-unlike the brunette's.Which was odd.Wilbur had always compared him and Tommy to the sun and moon.Himself being the moon and the younger being the sun.

The latter came to an abrupt stop,pulling out a flashlight he revealed a metal gate.Turning to his companion,he flashed him a smirk before placing the torch in his mouth and scaling it in five seconds flat.Jumping down from it's peek to the otherside:"Hurry up old man."

Stareing bug eyed in bemusement,the taller followed suit(though not as elegantly),landing next to the blonde.Triumphant grin on his face earning an eye roll from the younger.

Wondering further into this section of the tube networks,they came to an opening.

Before them was a room of about thirth to fourty meters,graffiti littering certain parts of it.Light shone into the room somehow,though there were no lights nor windows.Spray cans lay scattered on the stone floor,a speaker in the corner.

Greenery such as grass and dandelions poked out of the cracks in the ground.The place looked ancient.The only thing indicating there'd been life inhabiting it was the belongings of a spray painter.

Walking forward before spinning around with his arms spread wide,Tommy grinned at the taller.

"Welcome,to L'manburg."

Chapter Text

Mouth agape in awe,the brunette stepped forward spinning around in a circle,inspecting the room.Once done,he faced the younger and stared at him for a moment before questions flooded out his mouth:"What is this place?How the fuck did you find it?"

"During the war,the old government constructed bunkers in the tube networks,incase they couldn't evacuate the city quickly enough
.You can enter them multiple different ways.This is were i come in."Tommy smirked."When i first moved to district eight,i got lost in the alleyways and found a trap door,leading to a network of tunnels.So like any normal person,i went down it and it led me here."

"Your a fuckin idiot you know that?"

"WHAT THE FUCK?"

"I bet if a fuckin villain offered you sweets,you'd follow them."Rolling his eyes,the taller ventured further into the room approaching one of the few bits of graffiti in the room;running his fingers over it.

"I'll have you know that there is nothing wrong with taking sweets from a villian,if you can beat them u-"A hand gabbed his side electing a squwark of protest.

"You of,all people,could not beat up a villain.Your not even powered are you?"Raising an eyebrow but never looking away from colourful splashes of spray paint on the wall.

"I'd do what i like to call a dine and ditch."Spreading his hands wide and moving them as if the words were infront of him.

Finally pulling his eyes away from the graffiti,Wilbur stared at the blonde in bemusement,a laugh escaping him:"You fuckin what?"

A smirk settled on the ex-hero's face."Well big dubbs,a dine and ditch is a very sophisticated craft which takes years to master.To dine and ditch is were one eats food and leaves without paying for it.Leaving normally consists of legging it as quickly as you can and not getting court."

"So robbery."Wilbur deadpanned turning back to the graffiti.

"What?No you have no fuckin faith prick.It's not robb-"

"Who is this?"

Turning to the older,Tommy finally realised what he was looking at.

The wall was littered in a wide pallet of cool colours.Lines smooth and procise like that of an expert.Creating shapes and images that fell together perfectly in a jigsaw esc fashion.What drew the viewers attention though was the person in the centre.A dirty blonde boy with sea grey eyes and a purple hoodie.

Purpled.

Not only was it a picture of his dead best friend.It was a a picture of his dead best friend whom he failed to save.It was his fault there was a memorial.It was also,an accurate painting of him.For Tommy,this is the first time he'd seen the other's face since he did this painting.

Hot tears carved down his face rapidly.Hands shaking,the ex-hero's breathing picked up.Silent and unmoving,all thoughts deserted his mind leaving only a loud ringing in its wake.

It seemed as if the world and everything on it had stopped breathing.

A set of rumbling waves come crashing towards him.No longer peaceful blue and crystal clear.No.These waves were jet black and murky.Eyes crawled through the liquid towards him.Standing out in thier opliqueness.The sky turning sea grey as it mimiced Purpled's.Said dead boy's face began to distort.Something not quite right about it but Tommy couldn't figure it out.

He couldn't remember what he looked like.What he sounded like.

Desperation's faul limbs wrapped around him.Trapping him.His panic only rising as the black waves towered over him.

Next thing he new,the wave was apon him.Crashing down on him and pulling the air from his lungs.
The corners of his vision began to sizzle away into darkness.

He couldn't breathe.Throat now closing up.Gasps come chocking out of him,black liquid flooding his lungs.

It was thick.So thick he could not escape it.It pulled him further into the depths of inky black.The flicking of closing eyelids spilled into his ears.Fingers clawing at his scalp so hard it drew blood.

His hands were pulled away gently by callous hands.Warmth enclasped him tightly,tapping a steady rhythm on the back of his head;giving the blonde something different to consentrate on.

After what felt like an eternity,Tommy's breathing finally evened out,mind focusing.Realising two things apon re-entering the relm of the living:one,he was back in L'manburg with Wilbur;no black waves,no eyes,no nothing.Two,He had just had a panic attack infront of Wilbur.A panic attack of which Wilbur had to help him through.A panic attack he'd had just from looking at a photo.

𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘮 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘺.𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘯,𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨.𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦.𝘋𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘨𝘰 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨?𝘊𝘰𝘻 𝘪 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭.𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

Without his noticing(due to internally pondering whether or not he should square up to the universe),the blonde's breathing began to pick up once more.Slowly transforming steady even breathing to heavy rasping gasps.Each breathe feeling like sandpaper against his lugs.

The tapping started up again.Followed by a voice:"Hey,hey.Your alright,king.Your safe,yeah?It's just us.Nothing can hurt you here.Just focus on the tapping.I got you.I got you,Tommy."

After,yet another,eternity,the ex-vigilante's breathing levelled out.He felt the taller smile into his hair:"There you are,you fuckin dickhead."

The brunette pulled back(hands never leaving the younger's shoulders)and glared daggers into the boy:"You scared the shit out of me.Never do that again or I'll pull you out of it and then kill you with my bare hands."

The Dream Team had only seen him have panic attacks in the months after Purpled's death and after big missions.Thier strategy had always been to wait with him until he came to.Then after,checking he was okay,they'd have a movie night-watching up constantly.Where as Purpled would place the blonde's hand on his chest for him to copy.Once Tommy evened out his breathing,the other stuck to his side for the rest of the day and they'd get takeaway.

In conclusion,the blonde had no clue how to respond to Wilbur.So,in the most Tommy esc fashion,he blurted out the first thing that came to mind:"Sorry."

To which the older's eyes widened in fear,mirrored by the younger.The ex-vigilante immediately went back on his words,having concluded that he'd said something wrong.Only to be abruptly cut off by yet another hug from the brunette,this one being a tad more bone crushing.

"Don't ever apologise for having a panic attack.Got it?"A terrified desperation coated the taller's words as he hugged the boy tighter.

"Yeah.I'm sorry."

A surprised chuckle escaped the man,he pulled back,looking at the blonde before smacking him upside the head:"I thought we said no apologies,prick?"

"Fuck you."

"Much better."

Jumping to his feet,the ex-hero pulled the taller up and dragged him to a blank part of the wall.Before slipping away from him,fetching a black duffel bag;earning an unimpressed eyebrow rise.Then,he left again retrieving the speaker from it's spot in the corner:"What are you doing,king?"

The blonde slipped his hand into the duffel bag and threw a spray can at the other-he caught it.Next,he turned on the speaker and put on 'Grapes' by James Marriot."You are going to do some vandalism!"

The other stared at him blankly,unamusment evident in his body language,arms crossed,putting his weight onto one foot:"Your joking."

"ME?Im not a joking man,big dubbs.Everything i say is fact.Look!Your a bitch.And bomb!It's a fact because i said it.Sorry man."

"So when you said Schlatt could suck your-"

"Woah,woah,woah.We're getting a bit off topic dont you think?Anyway,back to crime."

"No.There's no way im committing a crime infront of a literal child."

"Why,"Tommy whined,dragging his hand down his face."I thought you were a dirty crime boy?I guess your not as cool as I thought you were..."He pouted,turning back around to the duffel bag and shifted through it once more.

An agitated groan came from behind him.The older massaged his temples before turning to the wall and flicking the lid of the spray can off:A loud hissing filled the room,the brunette began to work.

Bouncing over,Tommy watched with a bright smile as the other drew sharp lines of white:"We're like brothers!"

"Don't say that i will cry."Though he contradicted himself;a joyous smile gracing his features.

After twenty minutes of Wilbur painting under Tommy's watchful eyes,the man's artwork was complete.An orca surrounded by an explosion of blues and greens now added to the life that graffiti brought to the baron room.

The blonde punch him lightly in the shoulder:"This is fuckin sick man!"

"You think?"

"Hell yeah!Your like mosark!"He exclaimed gesturing wildly.

"He was a composer you dumbass."

"Your piont?"

The brunette scoffed,slipping his arm around the ex-hero's shoulders:"You ever done graffiti?"

"No.Some random graffiti artists just spray painted an image of my dead best friend."He deadpanned.

"Wait,that's yours!Holy shit!Tommy Innit my right hand man!Your a legend!"

They both laughed bubbly as Tommy shrugged Wilbur's arm off him,taking a seat next to the duffel bag;the older following suit.Pulling a battered old sketch book from it,the blonde flipped to a certain page before throwing it to the other.

"What's this?"The trench coat wearing man picked up the sketch book,examining the sketch work inside.

"That my friend,is supposed to be the centre piece of L'manburg.But something about it's fuckin off."

The sketch depicted the word 'L'manburg' written in spikey blue and gold in the centre.Surrounded by an array of colours representing that of a sunset.Furrowing his eyebrows,Wilbur called for a pen and added to it.A country appeared below the words:towering spruce trees,old fashioned english houses,black and yellow walls,soldiers donned in navy revolutionary uniforms and a flag of red,blue,black,white and yellow flying proudly in the sky.

Handing the book back over to the blue eyed boy,he awaited the former's opinion.

Him and Purpled used to spray paint together.Though they did it during the revolutionary days so it was more properganda then anything.Imagery of Schlatt with devil horns or heroes corrupted by money.

But it had been fun.Fun in the way that they had total creative freedom and were together in thier vigilante get-up without having to be constantly on edge.

Once,Tommy had fallen of the building they were graffiting and didn't catch himself in time.Only to land in a dust bin.Purpled had died of laughter and never let him live it down.Making jokes about him 'still smelling like garbage' or telling not to go 'falling into trash' whilst on solo patrol.(Though the red clad vigilante had gotten his revenge by trapping the other in a dumpster without his realising.He'd been so pissed he hadn't spoken to the other for days afterwards.)

"So.....?"

A toothy grin spread across the boys face,he looked up :"Wanna make it together,dickhead?"

"Fuck yeah,king."

____

Climbing down from the brunette's shoulders,Tommy landed on the concrete elagantly before taking a couple steps back to gaze apon thier masterpiece.A toothy grin spread across his face from ear to ear.Looking to Wilbur,he saw the exact same expression.

𝘞𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥!

The latter's hand ruffled the boy's hair affectionately,his other pulling his phone from his pocket.Lifting it up,he took a picture.The younger mimicking without realising.

"We just popped off and acted like we know nobody!"The elder spread his arm's wide and spun around the room.

The blonde collapsing in a wheezing pile on the floor.Quickly turning to a coughing fit as he banged his fist against his chest.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵...𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩.𝘐 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺.𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯.𝘖𝘣𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵.𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬.

A fond smile settled on Tommy's face as he watched his friend prace around the room joyfully.

Chapter Text

"I'll see you Friday,king.Unless you want to tell me your work schedule?"

Flipping the elder off,Tommy turned away from Wilbur,heading back to his apartment:"I'll fuckin die before i do that."

"At least let me walk you home?"The brunette called to the other.

Middle finger still hanging in the air,the blonde continued down the street;pulling his phone out of his pocket when it buzzed.It was Wilbur:

ᴍɪꜱꜱ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ,ᴋɪɴɢ!ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴀʀᴇ ꜱᴇɴᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴀɴʏᴍᴏʀᴇ ꜰᴜᴄᴋɪɴ ꜱɪʀᴇɴ ᴛʜɪʀꜱᴛ ᴛʀᴀᴘꜱ ᴏʀ ɪ'ʟʟ ᴀꜱᴋ ᴀꜱʜ ꜰᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ꜱᴄʜᴇᴅᴜʟᴇ :)

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘬𝘦.𝘐 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘥.

Groaning,head tilted up towards the star streaked sky,the ex-hero stopped in his tracks,waiting for the other to fall into step beside him.The blonde could practically feel the man's smirk,footsteps mimicking his own;an arm snaking it's way across his shoulders.

A familiar gesture that only survived to remind him of Dream.Something in his stomach twisted at the name.He missed them.Almost as much as he missed Purpled.The only difference being one had chosen to leave him -the other was forced to.The other only left him due to his own selfishness.His slowness.His inability.His failure.

In that moment,he realised that he had no clue whether or not the Dream Team still cared for him.

𝘐 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯...

A tight squeeze to the shoulder pulled him out of his thoughts.Turning to the taller,confused ocean blue met concerned mahogany with furrowed eyebrows.A silent question.Which the boy would not be answering. Turning away,he saw that they'd found thier way back to Tommy's apartment.

"You live here?"Disgust dripped from the words,the brunette's eyes never leaving the decrepit building before them.

"Yeah?Can't afford anything better.I'm not a tory like you,Wil-bur."He spat back pronouncing the last word like it twisted his mouth into precarious shapes,making it impossible to speak.Pulling away from the other,he stalked towards the door.Only to stop.

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘬𝘦.

Turning back,the blonde barrelled into the bespectacled man,clinging to him tightly,the other letting out a surprised groan.Arms wrapping hesitantly around him in bewilderment,returning the hug:"You good,king?"Confusion and concern thickly lacing each word-hands rubbing circles into the smaller's back."Because this is nice and all(if anything it's a welcome surprise),"mumbling the last bit hoping the shorter didn't hear."But you never hug people.Ever."

The younger nodded,pulling away and clearing his throat,unable to meet the other's worried gaze:"Sorry...I uh don't quite know why i did that.Im just gonna go."

With that,he hurried away and pushed the door open.The brunette smiling fondly,eyes never abandoning the other's back.

"Bye Tommy..."

__

"Hey Tommy!"

Wisp sat at the front desk,another man stood beside him.Brown hair,sunglasses,a neon orange t-shirt,black jeans,vans(𝘌𝘸),and a santa hat.

Something about the man seemed odd to the boy but he couldn't figure out what.What he did know was that he'd seen the man before.Something about him feeling oddly nostalgic.A nostalgic that brought his mind to the vigilante days were he and Purp would dart across roof tops.The memory danced infront of his mind like smoke,slipping through his fingers as he grasped at it.The red and white of his santa hat distorted in the wisps;but very clearly there.

Which reminded Tommy,that it was the beginning of October-not December-and the man before him was stood in a Christmas hat like it was nothing.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬?

"Mate,it's only just October.I think you got the wrong holiday,dickhead.Shouldn't you be wearing a pumpkin hat or something?"

"No?I don't think i should.You on the other hand.Who wares converse?"

"I'll have you know converse are fuckin pog your just stupid."

"Oh yeah?Why the fuck do they put the logo on the inside of the shoe, where no one can see it?"The neon clad man exclaimed,gesturing wildly at Tommy's battered converses.

"Well at least there not nonse shoes.I can't be accused of abducting a child in my white vans because i don't have vans,bitch boy!"

Tommy and the stranger glared daggers at eachother,the blonde with a triumphant grin when the receptionist erupted into fits of laughter.Turning on his heels the blue eyed boy left the room:"Fuck you,not you Wisp."

"Love you too!"The christmas hat wearing man called after the boy.

Both him and Wisp making eye contact afterwards;the orange clad man nodding.Pulling out his burner phone and clicking on a contact-the phone rang twice before it was picked up.A voice rumbled down the line,only to be cut off by the orange man saying two words before hanging up:"It's him."

___

Humming,Tommy opened his apartment door.Then,he walked over to his cabinet and pulled out some pot noodle.Peeling back the lid,he put the flavour pack in and filled it with water.After that,he put the pot in the microwave and pressed the button multiple times.

The metallic hum and the eary glow of the microwave filled the room.Illuminating it.

Scanning his apartment as he waited,his eyes caught on the window.His breathing sped up.Falling into his instincts,he lowered himself into a fighting stance and moved silently across the room to were he kept his batton.Picking up it up,eyes never leaving the window,one thought plagued his mind.

Something was wrong.

𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵?

Frost prickled up the window.A scrapping sound filled the air.Footsteps pounding up the creaking metal fire escape.

Sound deserted the room.

Taking what very little warmth that resided in the tiny apartment with it.

One agonising second passed,then another,then another.

The hairs on Tommy's neck rose as pinprick like goosebumps scuttled up his arms.

BEEP.BEEP.BEEP.

Tommy jumped out of his skin;the microwave went off.Mumbling a set of curses under his breath,he turned away from the window,setting the batton down.Pulling the noodles from the machine,the blonde grabbed a fork and stirred it.

Silence filled the room.

A mouth full of noodles,the ex-vigilante pulled himself up onto the counter.𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥.𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘤.𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬!

Creak.

A cool breeze blew through the room.Hushed arguing echoing against the walls.Followed by the two dark figures who climbed through the window.

"Well im sorry Ranboo but it's a bit difficult to do that when there's a whole in my fuckin chest and im bleeding all over the place!"The shorter of the two screeched,gesturing to the blood soaked whole in his torso.The taller(Ranboo apparently)banged his head on the light shade before gently placing his companion on the sofa-Tommy's sofa.

Slurping interrupting the argument as the apartment lights turned on.Both wiping thier heads towards him,looking like deer in headlights.Able to see the two clearly now,the blonde took them both in.

The shorter,currently sitting on his coach,had brown hair and wore copper engineering goggles to hide his face.He wore jean dungeries with a variety of badges and pins on them,a black and yellow armered t-shirt resembling that of a bee and boots with buttons of all sorts covering them.Wings and antenna extending from his body(𝘉𝘦𝘦 𝘩𝘺𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯),an iron plate wrapped around his forearm with a screen on it.Gadgets of all sorts laying attached to his unity belt,stingers hovering at his sides;waiting to inject the blonde with venom.

𝘏𝘪𝘷𝘦.𝘔𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳,𝘌𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳.𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘴.

The taller had a black and white split suit matching their hair that stuck out over a purple full face mask,that only showed his green and red gem like eyes.They,like Charged had,carried two battons; boots matching their partner's.Most noticeable about them being the crown that sat on his head,akin to that of the Blood Gods.

"Uh...Hey man,i think we got the uh wrong apartment...so if you don't mind well just be leaving..."The taller of the two answered.

The stingers clattered to the ground rolling over to the kitchen counter;Hive had just passed out due to blood loss.Ender rushed to his side,hands shaking as they hovered over the wound:"Not good.Not good.Hey Tubbo...can you hear me?...Nope.Okay welp i guess he's dieing now.You know that's just great!"

Huffing,Tommy slipped away from the light switch,grabbing the first aid kit from under the sink before heading back over to the vigilantes;with his pot noodles still in hand.

Shoving the other out the way,Tommy got to work stitching up the bee themed vigilante.A confused sound erupted from the other.

"Look,Ranboob was it,can you help me with your friend Tubbo over here?"

"How'd you know our names?"Ender pulled out his baton,pointing it at the blonde's chest.

"You both just said them when you broke into my fuckin apartment?"The shorter of the two deadpanned,pushing the batton away from his chest using his index finger as if he hadn't just been threatened."You know for being vigilantes,with 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩 identities,your not very good at it."

Ranboo stuttered,trying to come out with a response,that would only land on death ears as Tommy inspected Tubbo's wound.

"Oi,boob boy-"

"That's just not my name-"

"Go get some water in a bowl and a towel from the bathroom that i can help your friend with."

"Op,well alright then!Cool,cool,cool.Yep.Just let this random teenager stitch up your best friend.This will go perfectly."Ranboo muttered,busying themself around the house to fetch the blonde his equipment.

The wound was actually alright -𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦.It hadn't hit anything vital,like an organ,so it just needed patching up.

A clang interrupted his concentration.Turning around,he made eye contact with Ender.

"Sorry..."The greyscale boy whispered,backing away from were they'd placed down a bowl of water and a towel.

Rolling his eyes,the blonde went back to Hive and began disinfecting the wound.Beginning by lifting the other's shirt to reveal a pale chest littered with scars and bruises.𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥.

As he cleaned the wound,the shorter interrogated his intruder:"How'd it happen Ranboob?"

"Still just not my name but alright.Uh mm well we were fighting Corpse,you know Corpse right?This big scary guy who can pull your bones out of your body as a form of torture?"

"Yeah...yeah i know Corpse."The blonde stated numbly,ignoring the memories that threatened to spill into his head.𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙'𝙨 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙮 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙚𝙧𝙪𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮-

𝘕𝘰𝘱𝘦.𝘕𝘰𝘱𝘦.𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵,𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩.

"Yeah,well he was trying to do that to Tubb- i mean Hive-"

"I know your fuckin names already,dumbass.You practically screamed it when you broke into my fuckin house earlier."

"Okay,fair.So me and Tubbo were fighting Corpse when Tubbo fell onto a pole and got impaled."

"Rookie mistake,truly."

"That's what i said!Wait are you a vigilante?I mean that would explain why you can stitch up a wound like this.Unless your a medical man?"

Stopping,Tommy tasted the question in his mouth for a second before answering:"I was.I was a vigilante,once.In the old days.Not anymore though."

Reaching behind him,the blonde picked up a needle and thread and began stitching the unconscious boy up.A groan of pain coming from the brunette with each stitch.

"Wait really?What was your name?"Ranboo questioned the other,shuffling next to him on their knees.Starring intently at the other like he was some kind of diety.

"Not anyone you'd know trust me."Tommy laughed.Not at what he'd said specifically.No he laughed at the irony of his words.Of course this new vigilante would know who he was;everyone did.Probably Ender and Hive more than anyone with having to live up to his and Purpled's legacy;which they'd never be able to.Not because they would bever be as good.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦.

Charged and Mirrage were only as big as they were because they became martyrs after the 16th.On top of this,they were in the spot light during the war,they'd fought Schlatt.𝘉𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵,𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥!Now the fire,which had been created during thier time ruling the street,had been re-lit with Crimson Crusader;the hero in question having killed them.

They were the lower districts favourites.Said to have revolutionised vigilantism and inspired the vigilantes of today.So it's impossible for Hive and Ender to live up to that.They don't have a whole war to fight to help gain thier glory.

𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦.

Pulling back from Tubbo,Tommy wiped his blood covered hands on the towel:"Right,he's all stitched up.You got any injuries to be looked at?"

"Nope.Well not that im aware of anyway.Wait 𝘥𝘰 i have any injuries?!?"The vigilante's voice turned hysterical,their eyes started darting all over his body;searching for nonexistent injuries.

Rolling his eyes(𝘎𝘰𝘥,𝘪𝘮 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺.𝘐𝘮 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥.𝘕𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵),the ex-vigilante picked his dinner back up:"Want some noodles,Boob Boy?"

"Yeah man!"

___

𝘾𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠.

𝘼 𝙘𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙯𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙢.𝙃𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙨.𝙁𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙬.

"𝙊𝙬 𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥!𝙁𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙡!𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙢 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣 𝙙𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚!"𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙.

"𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙙𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜,𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙢 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣,𝙗𝙤𝙯𝙤."𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠,𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨,𝙨𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙛𝙖 𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙛 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙.

𝙒𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙢,𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙟𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙤𝙮 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝;𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙝𝙪𝙩,𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙝 𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙢.

𝙎𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙮,𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮,𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙗𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙠𝙞𝙩.𝙊𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙'𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚,𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙:"𝙁𝙪𝙘𝙠...𝙉𝙤,𝙣𝙤,𝙣𝙤,𝙣𝙤.𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙛 𝙞 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙛𝙞𝙭 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨.𝙉𝙤,𝙞 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩..."𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙,𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮,𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙤𝙠𝙖𝙮.

𝘾𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙠.

𝙎𝙣𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙧,𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮,𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙠𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨,𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙖 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙮 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙤𝙮 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚,𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨.𝘼𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙣;𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙪𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧.

𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙,𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙭𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚.𝙒𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙬𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙣,𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙩 𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮'𝙨 𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙧.𝘽𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙢,𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙇𝙖𝙨 𝙉𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙨,𝙅𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧,𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙣,𝙎𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙘𝙡𝙚.

"𝙋𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣,𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚.𝙒𝙚'𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪."𝙅𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙙,𝙎𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙘𝙡𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚.

"𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙮 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙞 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩,𝙅𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧?"𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣'𝙨 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙨 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚.

"𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙝𝙞𝙢."𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙙,𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙎𝙘𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩.

"𝙎𝙢𝙖𝙟𝙤𝙧!𝙈𝙮 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙!"

𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚,𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙣'𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮,𝙬𝙞𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙,𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚,𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮,𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙮.

"𝙃𝙞 𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮."

"𝙃𝙀 𝙆𝙉𝙊𝙒𝙎 𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝙉𝘼𝙈𝙀?"𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙮,𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙.𝙈𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙,𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙧,𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢.

"𝙒𝙚 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨!"𝙎𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙘𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙙𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙡𝙮.

"𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥,𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙪𝙨."𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧,𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙜𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠.𝘼 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧'𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙬𝙠𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚.𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙚𝙮𝙚'𝙨 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙪𝙢𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧'𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙.

"𝙁𝙪𝙘𝙠'𝙨 𝙨𝙖𝙠𝙚.𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙚.𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣'𝙩 𝙛𝙞𝙭 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙨 𝙪𝙥 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙖𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩."

"𝙎𝙘𝙤𝙩𝙩."𝙅𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙠𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚;𝙎𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙢.

"𝙊𝙣 𝙞𝙩."𝙎𝙘𝙤𝙩𝙩 𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚,𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮,𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙮 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝.𝙏𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙨,𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙘𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧.𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙖𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙢,𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚'𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙬𝙣:"𝙃𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄'𝙡𝙡 𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚'𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙩,𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣.𝙂𝙤𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙎𝙘𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙠?"

"𝙔𝙤𝙪'𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮."𝙅𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙚𝙙,𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨.𝙎𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙮𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙙 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮,𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚.

"𝙄 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙢,𝙗𝙤𝙯𝙤."𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙙,𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙'𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚.𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙:'𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙚,𝙏𝙤𝙢.'

Chapter Text

Tommy was rudely awoken by being roughly pulled off his sofa by the scruff of his neck:"WHAT THE FUCK!" Falling to the floor with a thud,a carpet burn rippling up his arms and face as he was pulled to his knees.He raised his hands in surrender as stingers surrounded him from all directions;Hive.

The vigilante glared down at him,the glare being returned ten fold by the blonde like he wasn't the one unarmed with chest of bandages exposed from last night.

"Wahuay,Tubbo my frien-"

"How the fuck do you know my name?"The brunette spat,stingers gutting forward(though never hitting the taller).

"Well,your friend Ranboob,you know Ranboob right?Vigilante,who's freakishly tall;but i could definitely beat them in a fight.Anyway,told me it."He stated bluntly as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Oh of fuckin course they did!"Looking down at the iron plate wrapped around his arm,he typed away frantically before looking back at his captive."Welp,i gotta kill you know because you know our identities ."There wasn't even a hint of pity in his tone.

𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦.𝘞𝘢𝘺𝘺𝘺𝘺 𝘪 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦.𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵?𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘯!

"Aren't you a fuckin vigilante though,pussy?"The blonde questioned in bemusement.

"Yeah,your point?"Tubbo shifted uncomfortably where he stood at the mention.

In the old days,there was (surprisingly)order in the vigilante world;this was brought forward by Jester.With Las Nevadas originally being a sort of governmental building were the highest ranking vigilantes in the city would meet;like a counsel.It wasn't common knowledge because Nox and the Pogtopian government didn't want the public to believe vigilantes were civilised enough to come together and form this council.It gave the citizens hope in them but also causes suspicion amongst the districts about the vigilante law.Why are vigilante being hunted if thier basically the same as heroes?Is Nox hypercritical in the fact that they believe their council is absolute, where the vigilante one is not?Even when fighting for the same thing?This would light the sparks of revolution.Resulting in spits of fire before it becomes a blistering one which results in either war or tyranny.

The vigilante council(know as MCC),came out with a set of laws of which all vigilantes had to follow.If they didn't,they would not be classified as vigilantes.The laws followed as such:

-𝘼 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡

-𝘼 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩

-𝘼 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣

-𝘼 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙪𝙣𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧.𝙒𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙗𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙤,𝙫𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙧 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚

-𝘼 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚'𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙚.𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡.

-𝘼 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙬

-𝘼 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙨

Charged and Mirrage had been part of MCC though were not like most councillors.They attended every meeting and helped write the laws but they did not take part in the debating;unless deemed completely necessary.And when either of them stepped in,everyone listened.Adding to this,everything single command had pass through them with thier signatures needed for everything-if not it was invalid.

So it surprised him that Tubbo was so willing to kill him.

"Well what about the MCC laws?"

"How'd you know about that,bitch?You know what fuck you.Time to die."Suspicion crawled into his tone,eyebrows narrowing,stingers barrelling forward.

𝘈𝘩,𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦.𝘗𝘧𝘧𝘧𝘵 𝘤𝘶𝘮.𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘮 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤.𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺!𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘮𝘦?𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴.𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦,𝘪 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥.

"WAIT STOP!"Ranboo leapt infront of the blonde from their spot on the sofa where he'd passed out.The stingers came to an abrupt stop.

"Ender get out the way so i can kill this fucker."He growled snarl growing with every second.

"Their like us."

Their conversation became a hum of words to Tommy,who had involuntarily zoned in on the sentence;the world around him becoming but a blur.A sentence of which shocked him to his core.Mind reverting back to the dream,the memory,he'd had last night.Those words having once dribbled from his own mouth in a similar frantic fashion.A melancholy feel washing over him.

A single tear trickling down his face:𝘞𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦,𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘣.𝘐'𝘮 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘭.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦.𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵,𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵.A memory of the past chided in,tone nonchalant.

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥.

Wiping the salt track away,the blonde boy came back into the land of the living,to find the two staring at him.

"What the fuck you looking at?"Tommy(as always)immediately on the defence.

Shaking his head,Tubbo drew back his stingers and sat down beside Ranboo(who had moved from the blonde's side)on the sofa.Promptly changing the subject(acting as if he hadn't just threatened the boy):"You mentioned the MCC laws earlier.They're ain't called that anymore.After the 16th,they were renamed the Charged laws-in honour of the fallen."

Confusion crawled onto his face,taking in the information,he repeated the new name over and over.For most this would be an honour;not for Tommy though.

The counsel had betrayed him.He held nothing but hatred towards MCC.(𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘕𝘰𝘹 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳.)He supposed they returned the feelings.After what he did...

"So why don't you pricks follow them?You are vigilantes."

"Because MCC disbanded after the war,with Charged exposing some of the counsellors to be working with Nightmare.So we don't need to follow the laws."

"Well,most still do.They have to much respect for Charged and Mirrage-like me."Ranboo piped in,a proud smile on their face.

"Right..."The ex-vigilante had never completely got why people romanticised Charged and Mirrage.Other vigilantes had been in the limelight during their time:Hbomb,Smajor,Wallibear, Boomer and amongst others TimeWarp(Tommy's personal favourite).Yet the people chose them.But it felt wierd to hear people talk about it,he hadn't been Charged long enough to experience it.Nor was he big enough of a hero to experience it then.

"Wait,what's your name?"The monochrome boy inquired.

"Yeah.You know our names,so we should know yours."

"Tommy.My names Tommy."

"What?We don't get a last name?Not worthy enough?"Tubbo spat,disgust beseeching his features.

𝘔𝘢𝘯,𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘶𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘦.𝘐 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳.𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.

"Don't have one."The blonde mumbled.Not entirely true.He had his fake one and the one he got from Dream.Although,technically they weren't his last name-not his real one anyway that name would remain hidden at the back of his mind till his death.

Standing up,the blonde walked to the kitchen and poured himself some water.After taking a long sip,he spoke to the others once more(filling the silence)."You guys have to leave soon.I've got stuff to do at three."

"Fine.But how do we know if we can trust you with our secret identities."The brunette inquired,eyebrows narrowed in suspicion.

"He's a vigilante...?"The tallest suggested in a high pitch tone.

"Was.He was a vigilante.If anything,that gives us more of an exuse not to trust this bitch;him being a deserter and all."

𝘍𝘢𝘪𝘳.𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦.𝘐 𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥.

"I watched my best friend die because we were vigilantes.Of course I'm going to be a fuckin deserter!"Tommy spat,anger slowly building up in him.

Anger he would not let out.

𝘐𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭.

"Well maybe if you weren't a deserter he wouldn't have died!"

The words echoed through the now silent room.Silence that shattered the occupants ear drums.It felt as if time it's self had frozen.Everything else,except this very moment,falling into the oblivion that is time.

Blinding rage washed over Tommy.A burning sensation building up at his finger tips that screamed danger.Danger that promised nothing but destruction.

𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘵,𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵,𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵.𝘕𝘰,𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸.𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨.𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦...

Storming over to the door,the blonde grabbed his beat up shoes before leaving the apartment;leaving Tubbo and Ranboo in the tense silence that is his apartment.

𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣'𝙩 𝙖 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙙!

Rain pelted down apon the raging boy as he sprinted to the tube station;taking the central line straight to district 14.Trying desperately to keep the power burning at his fingers from escaping.Sizzling hot furry continued to bash relentlessly at Tommy's skull.

𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣'𝙩 𝙖 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙙!

Apon arrival,he scampered out the tube station and darted to the uninhabited part of the district.Only to be further irked by his lack of coat;resulting in his violent trembling.

𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣'𝙩 𝙖 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙙!

Skidding to a halt,the ex-hero placed his hands on his knees and breathed in the cool night air.It was only him,his rage and the rain alive at that moment.The rain soaked him to his very core,gaining violent trembles as it dripped down from his hair to his face.

𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣'𝙩 𝙖 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙙!

Red sparks scuttled across his fingers:lightning dancing across the night sky.

𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣'𝙩 𝙖 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙙!

An earth shattering scream escaped him,tearing his vocal chords to shreds.Power erupted from Tommy.Lightning cowering in its wake even though it continued to strike,crimson in colour-a tribute to it's summoner.The power surge hitting all the abandoned warehouses in the perimeter,sending them crumbling to the floor;the blonde mimicking them perfectly.

Exhaustion wrapped around the boy's very bones.He lay crying in the rain,loneliness clawing desperately at his heart.

"Im sorry.I'm sorry.I shouldn't of deserted.It should have been me.If it had been you would have reformed MCC.I'm fuckin useless without you.What i have i done,huh?I've made more enemies and fucked off the Syndicate.Man,the whole fuckin city is after me!"The ex-vigilante rambled in shaking whispers as he curled smaller into himself.

𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘪 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶...

_____

After his walk of shame back to his apartment,he entered reception.Three men stood there now;though Tommy didn't look at them he knew Wisp and christmas hat man where there.

Water dripped off him onto the carpet;resulting in darker marks in the material.Gaining the three a muttered sorry,before he disappeared up the stairs.Leaving the men to whisper about the troubled boy.

Once up stairs,he walked slowly into his apartment:Ranboo was sitting on his sofa-Tubbo nowhere in sight.The taller's eyes immediately locked on the blue eyed boy,watching with worry as the latter slid his shoes off.

Checking the phone he'd left on the side,he discovered that it was one thirty in the afternoon,he had work in an hour.Huffing,he pulled two cups from the cupboard."You want some coffee,Ranboo?"His voice came out raspy and quite due the exhaustion from last night.

"Uh,yep,yes please."The other sputtered out in bemusement.

The two sat in a weirdly comfortable silence as the kettle boiled.Whistling loudly,the blonde took the kettle and poured the liquid into the mugs.Stirring the coffe into the liquid,he walked over to the coach;giving one cup to the monochrome boy and kept the other to himself.

Slowly,the ex-hero sank into the coach ,letting out a sigh of relief when settled.The lights were still off except for a single light that sat in the kitchen,leaving the room in a faint yellow hue.

"I...I'm sorry for what Tubbo said.It's not true,neither of us actually believe it.I'd probably do the same if i was in your position."

Tommy didn't respond.He stared blankly at the wall infront of him.

"Hey,you alright man?I mean obviously not.That was a really dumb question.But if i can do anything to held-"

"You have powers Ranboob?"The blonde's eyes finally found red and green.

It took the vigilante by surprise.Asking some who's close to you about powers is a delicate subject.Asking someone who you've known from a day,is unheard of.What confused him the most,however was that other didn't look real.His eyes seemed unfocused,his entire body was drenched,skin ghostly pale and the carpet burns were yet to heal.But he'd turned back to calling them Ranboob and not their real name.𝘚𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯,𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵?

"Errrr,yes?I thought you knew that as it's on TV and stuff?"Both confusion and curiosity lased their tone.

"I know the basics like names and shit.Whose good and whose bad...I don't really keep up with it now,though."

"You stop keeping track after your friend,you know?"The vigilante immediately shut up,face crimson beneath the mask due to his words.

Warm bubbly laughter erupted from the boy at the comment:"Yes,i did stop keeping track when my friend,you know."

A bright smile,one unlike Ranboo had never seen,slid onto the blonde's face.Elbowing the vigilante in the side,he stood from his coach:"Ya know Ranboob,I thought I'd hate you but your actually quite poggers."

With that the ex-hero left the room.

"...Uh thanks?Wait where are you going?"The monochrome vigilante called after the other.

"I'm gonna go shower dickhead!"The blonde shouted back as the door closed.

____

Ten minutes later,when Tommy had finished shower and got dressed for work(𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘪 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘮 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘺),he walked into the kitchen to find Ranboo and Tubbo sat on his sofa.In silence.

Silence which Tommy had to break.It was his birth right-in his opinion.

"Sup bitches."

Both vigilantes starred at him as he collected his phone and shoes,then plopped down beside them-on a different sofa.

"Tommy."The vigilante spat.

Raising his eyebrows,the blonde returned the gesture with less venom:"Tubbo..."

"Go on..."Ranboo tagged in,starring intently at the brunette.

"I'm sorry for saying what i said yesterday.It wasn't your fault.Okay mabye it was we don't know.You might of stabbed him or something-"

Ranboo elbowed him in the ribs.

"Yep,sorry.I shouldn't have said that.I was stressed out yesterday because some dickhead chose to tell a civilian our identities!"

"Yep,yeah that would be me."The vigilante chimed in,guilt emitting from their body.

"So yeah that was my apology.We good?"

"Fuckin course we are.But i still think your a bitch."

"The fuck for dickhead!"

"Who styles their vigilante costume after a fuckin bee?"

"I mean...He's got a point Tubbo."

Two stingers flew to the other's necks:"Take it back."

"I take it back...?"Ranboo practically squealed,hands up in surrender.

One stinger disappeared.

Tommy being Tommy did not apologise.Sitting in complete silence until his alarm went off:"SHIT!"

"What!What is it?"Terror donned on the tallest face as Tommy pushed the stinger away and rushed to the door.

"Not got enough pot noodles?"Hive quirked resulting in the blonde threw him a middle finger.

"Fuck you Tubbo, I am late for work because of you fuckers."

"Fridays."

"The fuck are you on Tubro?"

"Are you free Fridays?"

"I got work till nine first but otherwise yeah?"

"We'll meet up on Fridays to gain trust.Here's my phone number and Ranboo's."The brunette handed the blonde a slip of paper with their numbers on it.

"Wait,you just carry those around?"The tallest inquired.Raising their hands in surrender as Tubbo glared at them.

"So stockhold syndrome."Tommy stated bluntly,pulling his coat on and walking out the door.

"It's called bonding!"Tubbo screamed after him as the door slammed shut.

All three vigilantes,old and new,were left smiling at their new friends.

𝘐 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩!𝘚𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘛𝘶𝘣𝘣𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘣𝘰𝘰!𝘐 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶!

_____

ᴋᴀʀʟ,
ᴄᴀɴ ᴡᴇ ᴍᴇᴇᴛ ꜱᴏᴏɴ?ɪ ᴄᴀɴ'ᴛ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟ ᴍʏ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀꜱ.ɪ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʜᴜʀᴛ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ᴏꜰ ɪᴛ.ᴘʟᴇᴀꜱᴇ

-ʙɪɢ ᴛ

Chapter Text

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙪𝙯𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜.𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙧𝙪𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙨,𝙜𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙡𝙚𝙨.𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩 𝙝𝙪𝙢 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣;𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩.

𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩.𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙬𝙣𝙮 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙡𝙚𝙛𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩,𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙯𝙤𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙘𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙖𝙬𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙪𝙣.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙗𝙞𝙙 𝙖𝙙𝙪𝙚.𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙪𝙡𝙚,𝙥𝙤𝙚𝙢𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨.

𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙥𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙚𝙧𝙪𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙠𝙮.𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙣'𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙟𝙤𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙙,𝙜𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙬𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙.

𝙃𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧,𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙨,𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢,𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚.

𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙨𝙠𝙮.𝘽𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠 𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚.𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚,𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨.𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙣𝙚.𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙣:𝙮𝙚𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨.𝙊𝙧 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙣'𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙣 𝙣𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙣𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨.

𝙃𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩.

𝘼 𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙤𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙠𝙮,𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙮.𝘽𝙪𝙩,𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣'𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩.𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙣'𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙮𝙚𝙩.𝙃𝙚'𝙙 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙩(𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙞𝙖).

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙜𝙡𝙤𝙬-𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚.𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙝 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙯𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙.𝙎𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙨,𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙥𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢.

𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙡𝙚𝙛𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙚.𝘼𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙤𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙮,𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙣 𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜;𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙣'𝙨 𝙖𝙘𝙩.

"𝘼𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙚,𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚,𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙞𝙧 𝙤𝙣𝙚,𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮."𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙,𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙙𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙨.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩.

___

Bolting upright,the blonde awoke in a pool of his own sweat and a thin blanket.His breaths coming out raspy in deep gasps as his mind realised he was no longer in a nightmare.Red sparks shot out of his hands sparaticly,rippling up his arms slowly.

The sound of traffic and city life carried into the room cool room;he'd left the window open.The apartment was lit only by the drab morning outside;now joined by the crimson sparks that danced around his finger tips.

"Please,please,please..."Tommy chanted desperately,putting all concentration on stopping his powers from exploding:"Come on..."

After a couple of minutes of uninterrupted concentration,he was able to get his powers under control.Placing his head in his hands,the ex-hero took a deep breath:𝘖𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮.𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩,𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬.𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 16𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘦?

Ding.

Slowly,Tommy looked towards the sound to find his phone had gone off.Reaching over he picked it up:

1 ɴᴇᴡ ᴍᴇꜱꜱᴀɢᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ꜰᴜᴄᴋꜰᴀᴄᴇ

Raising his eyebrow,the blonde picked on the contact:

ᴡʜᴀᴛ'ꜱ ᴜᴘ,ᴘʀɪᴄᴋ?ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴜʀꜱᴅᴀʏ ᴡᴇ'ʀᴇ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄɪɴᴇᴍᴀ.ɪ'ʟʟ ᴘɪᴄᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴜᴘ.ᴀꜱʜ ɢᴀᴠᴇ ᴍᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ꜱᴄʜᴇᴅᴜʟᴇ :)

Groaning,the ex-hero chucked his phone to the side as he mourned his once secret work schedule.However,this text wasn't his main concern.No his main concern was the one he hadn't received.

It's been a couple of days since he messaged Karl,yet he still hadn't replied.Normally Karl was inconsistent due to his memory(his powers had consequences due to thier importance),but he always replied when it was important or he'd at least read it.But he hadn't.With his powers unpredictability increasing by the minute,the blonde was desperate for a reply.

𝘛𝘸𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴.𝘛𝘸𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘪𝘧 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘦.

___

Thursday was a drab day,as always in October,Pogtopia consistent where it counts with city life continuing like normal.However,being jostled when trying to keep ones face hidden with a hood was no easy task.So to say Tommy was pissed was an understatement;he was seething.None the less,he rode the central line from district eight to the station on the opposite side of the city to Nevadas:Kinoko.

𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘖𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘸.𝘛𝘩𝘦 19𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵.𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘴.𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘰𝘴,𝘪 𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘴.

Stepping off the tube and making his way to the main building,he let his hood fall.

Gasps came from every which way.People drawing back as he headed down the main cobblestone path,towards the library.

Kinoko was a district of mismatched buildings.With towering modern buildings of marble and wealth, standing hand in hand with tiny cottages.What made Kinoko so unique was it's diversity;having the largest hybrid population out of all the districts.On top of this,the city's most iconic feature was thier rooftops.Suntanned mixed with red and white pock a dot mushrooms covered the panorama of the city;blocking out most of the natural sunlight.Instead,the streets were lined with old fashioned street lamps.Ivy,moss and other greenery crawled up the unique buildings,attracting insects of all kinds.Compared to Pogtopia,it was a place from ancient times.Not a single car drove down the cobbled streets,the only thing interrupting the illusion being the tube station.

The library was a rickety,ancient temple that stood in the centre of Kinoko;towering above all the other buildings.Apon walking through the grand spruce doors,he was met with a familiar sight.Endless rows of book shelves filled the hundreds of floors that were lined with an eternal spiral stair case.Lanterns floating lamely in the air,following the book dwellers as they wondered through the wooden bookshelves.Bookshelves of which contained every kind of book.From crumbling books of runes and spells,to the newest releases.

With a pessimistic outlook,Tommy began his assent.

___

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬'𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘬𝘦,𝘮𝘢𝘯.𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦.𝘉𝘦𝘵 𝘒𝘢𝘳𝘭 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵.𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩...𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳.𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦.

He'd reached the top floor and was met with a set of dimly lit,winding corridors.Amethyst engraved into a a certain wall-leading the way.After following the jems for a couple of turns,the blonde came face to face with a set of spruce doors.Knocking thrice on the door and not getting an answers,the boy turned the handle-pushing the door open.He crept into the room,only to freeze suddenly.

The room itself matched the aesthetic of the library.Having Spruce interior,lilac carpets,teal coaches,walls lined with bookshelves,a desk sat at the back of the room with it's back to a massive window which-if the curtains were open-looked out over the entire city and wierdly a mini bar equipped with drinks and food.Candles ,books,thier torn out pages and glowing enchantment table symbols floated in the air.All of them orbiting one thing:Karl.

Karl sat crisscrossed,levitating as his eyes glowed white with purple wisps of power dancing around him.His face was gaunt and pale,different shades of purple splashes littered his poncho that,like his hair,swayed in the artificial wind created by his powers.The vigilante(as well as his poncho)wore brown cargo pants,big clunky boots covered in buckles,an old fashioned pocket watch hung around his neck and a pair of inventors goggles sat on his head.

An ear splitting ticking echoed through the room.

𝘖𝘩 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬.

Time Warp's powers allow him to see into the future and sometimes even travel through time when he has a clock near him.He zones in on the ticking to focus his mind inable to use his powers.Further more,as his powers were of ancient origin,he was able to use certain magic from runes of old.However,due to the magnitude of responsibility that comes with them,they have negative side effects like loss of memory.

Racing forward,the ex-hero checked the older's poket watch.It was unique in it's layers of brass hexagon cogs that both told the time but also kept truths of the past.Identifying the correct cog,Tommy realised the other had been in this chance for five days straight;he began to panic.

𝘖𝘩 𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴.

Grabbing onto the other's hands,the blonde let red sparks ripple from his fingertips and interlink with the violet wisps of Karl's.The two collided and began an elegant waltz as red pushed purple away; consuming the other.Once the crimson reached the brunette's eyes,colour and consciousness started to return to them.A look of frustration and struggle overtaking his face as he tried to retain his trance but eventually his tieredness forced him to an early surrender.

All the floating objects clattered to the ground,Karl slouching forward into the younger's arms.Hoisting his practically unconscious friend up,Tommy helped him over to his desk before abandoning the brunette in it to open the curtains.In being above all other buildings,sunlight was able to get through,leaving the room in a golden hue.

Rounding the table once more,the boy crouched infront of the brunette,clicking his mask out of place;revealing his face.

"Karl,man.You good?"Worry lased his tone with a pinch of his eyebrows.

The older looked around the room for the speaker,eyes guided by the blonde lightly shaking his knee.Linking eyes,cogs visibly turning as he pondered who was infront of him.Once the cogs turned a final time,Karl's eyes widened in shock while he leaned forward,taking the ex-hero's shoulders in his hands:"You can't be here,Tommy."Fear dripped from the words as the older's hands shook.

"Wha-No Karl.How are you?"

"How is that more important then you being in danger,nimrod?"

"Because i can take care of myself.Where as you,dickhead,clearly can't.Your not supposed to be exerting your powers to that degree.What about your memory?"The blonde tried to reason with the other,standing from his crouch and grabbing a coca cola and gronola bar from the fridge-placing it on the desk for Karl to have.

Immediately reaching for the gronola bar,the older got out between chews:"This is more important than my memory,Tommy!This is life or death!If i don't exert my powers,Nightmare may cause another war!"

"Oh,just say his fuckin name you pussy."

"Fine.JSchlatt may cause another war.Which means one thing.We'd need Charged back if we had any hope in saving the city."

"That won't happen and you know that.Charged is dead.It's all over the news.I killed them."Tommy glared intently at the vigilante,unconscious of the red sparks that bolted around his hands.

"Oh don't give me that ballshit."Karl rose from his seat,wobbling a bit,and steadied himself on the table.

"If everyone in the city believes it true,can it be truly false?"

"You just described a rumour,Crimson."

"A rumour becomes truth if it's from a reliable source."Tommy spoke in exasperation,throwing his hands up in the air.Only to stop,as ice blue met crimson;Karl following his gaze.

"Is that why your here,Tommy?"

Sitting on the table,the former stared intently at his hands,struggling for a moment to get control over his powers.

"You didn't answer my text so i got worried.And i was right."

Karl slumped back into his chair and pulled something out of his desk:"This is the last one of these in my reserve.I'll try to get more but you might have to find some of your own in the meantime."

He slid a plastic bag across the table.Opening it,Tommy pulled out a a sleek netherite bracelet engraved with enchantment table runes.Slipping it on,the blonde attempted, in vain,to use his powers;a smile slipping onto his face as the bracelet did it's job.It was a semi-dampner which was the equivalent to a power blocker that only worked for a short period of time:of about a week.When his powers got bad,he would use these until they calmed down.

"What happened in your vision,bitch?"

"I saw...you(as Crimson)and Siren together,both standing on opposite ends of a building;like ying and yang.Then,it flashed to JSchlatt walking with Dream to an apartment building-they were carrying someone...And,the last thing i saw was a dark figure.They stood in a smoke covered plane,rubble and the fallen surrounding them.They said they were after Schlatt;they wanted revenge...I had to watch them fight those people-rioters.There were thirty of them,he took them all on;alone."

A sullen mode of foreboding and doom befell the room as Tommy thought over what he'd just heard:"If that figure is real,we're fucked."

"They were going after JSchlatt though."Karl pointed out.

"The fuckin Syndicate doesn't like Schlatt;that doesn't make them righteous."

"True."

"You said earlier that there might be war.How?"

"Dream and JSchlatt appear to be working together-"

"Dream wouldn't work with Schlatt without reason.He doesn't like his methods nor his vision for the future of Pogtopia."

"That means JSchlatt has something over Dream.Also,he has access to all of Nox's resources;he can pick and chose those with specific powers.People like you and me."

The two sat in silence at the weight of the words.

"Look,he'll come for me.He nows where i am.But he doesn't know where you are."He turned back to his desk and pulled out a letter;handing it to the younger."When the time comes,open it."

"How do i now when the time comes?"The ex-hero enquired,leaning forward from his spot on the table;gazing at Karl like he help all the knowledge in the world.Slipping the letter into his breast pocket.

"You'll now."

"That's the most cryptic bollokes I've ever heard."Tommy huffed,leaning back.

"Come on.We have to get you out of here.Rioters are supposed to come here today to discuss the safety of Kinoko."

"What is Schlatt trying to do what he did to Nevadas to Kinoko?"The taller inquired,falling into step with the other as they approached the office door.

"Exactly.If he takes Kinoko he'll have enterprises on both sides of the city;he'll sandwich us basically,which is dog water."

"So Las Nevadas is Schlatt's HQ?"

"Yeah...No Tommy don't do anything reckless."Exasperation and worry lased his tone as he dragged his hand down his face.

"Ayyyy,Karl don't accuse me bitch!I'm retired."Tommy jested while clicking his mask back into place.

"Your gonna try infaltrate Nevadas aren't you."Karl deadpanned as they reached the door;pushing open the large spruce doors.Expecting a deserted,dimly lit labryrinth of corridors.Only to be met with an unpleasant suprise:Siren and Blood God.

𝘖𝘩 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘮𝘦.

"Time Warp,"Siren greeted spreading his arms wide(𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬)."Oh,and what's this?Crimson Crusader!"He pronounced,slipping past Karl into the room,inable to come face to face with the shorter.

"Siren."Tommy hissed back in response,hand twitching in an attempt to reach out for his powers:𝘖𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵.𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬.

The villian stood towering over the ex-hero in an attempt to break his resolve and make him back down;the blonde remained unbearably stubborn.Meeting the other's dark stare with a glare that,if stares could kill,would have Siren six foot under;an amused grin snaked across the taller's face.

Karl and Blood God got the same idea,grabbing the other's shoulder and pulling the two apart.

"Geez,your like two brother's fightin'."The pinkette grunted pulling his partner over to a sofa on the left side of the room;Karl taking the blonde to the one opposite before heading behind his desk.

"Oh fuck off-"

"Dont say that i will cry-"

"So Blood God,what brings you here?"The vigilante interrupted thier bickering.

Both Crimson and Siren huffed,crossing thier arms as they sank into the sofas;flipping eachother off when noticing the other acting in unison from across the room.Before the piglin hybrid could even utter a word,his partner started up again:"I thought you'd crawled into a pile of your own filth somewhere in the Pit.But apparently not.How's being a villian by the way,I forgot to ask."

"How's life being non-powered,prick?"The blonde immediately quipped back.

"How'd you know about that,dickhead?"The villian leaned forward in his seat.

"Wait your non-powered now?"Karl questioned in astonishment.

"We've kept that quiet for a month now.So how come you worked it out in a matter of minutes?"Blood God inquired,ignoring the vigilante completely.

"It's co-"Tommy didn't get to finish his sentence as he began to choke.His vision swimming as he clenched his fists;the vigilante was at his side in a moment,Blood God and Siren stared on in astonishment.

Turning away from the three other occupants,the ex-hero unclasped his mask a fraction allowing him to cough up what ever had chocked him,before his clicked it back into place.Turning back,the blonde looked down at his hand,blood seeped into the leather of his gloves.𝘐'𝘮 𝘥𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨.𝘏𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘩.𝘖𝘩 𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴.𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘵.The smell of smoke brought his gaze further up his hand to his wrist;his semi-dampener was broken,a flicker of scarlet swirled around it before dissipating.𝘋𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵.

Clearing his throat,Tommy stood from the sofa and grabbed a coke from the mini bar;going back to the coach.Wiping his hand on his trousers,he put a straw in his drink(opening a part of his mask)and took a sip.Looking up to find all eyes on him.𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘉𝘰 𝘉𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴'𝘴 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦.

"What the fuck was that?"Siren spat.

"What was what?"The blonde asked innocently;smiling at the annoyance that crossed the former's face.

"You just coughed up blood and broke the semi-dampener on your wrist.Since when did you have powers?"A gram of interest could be heard in the Blood God's drawling monotone.Tommy was about to question how the villian knew he'd coughed up blood only to stop apon rembering the other's powers.The Blood God could sense spilled blood from a mile away and is able to create weapons from that blood.On top of this,he feeds of fear.As his opponent grows more afraid,he grows more powerful.

"There not useful if that's what your interested in.However,there difficult to control sometimes.So i wear semi-dampeners."

"Thier so useless that thier able to break a damper,of which we've been tryin' to break for the past month?"He deadpanned,raising an eyebrow.

"Why are you here?"Karl question after a begging glance from the blonde.The latter gaining a questionable glance from the piglin before he continued:"We came to ask about your knowledge on dampeners-for Siren-and on Nightmare."

𝘕𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵.

"Welp for dampeners,you will have to go ask an enchance-men or a demon hybrid.For JSchlatt-"(𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘢𝘥)"-some of his rioters are coming to discuss Kinoko's terms of surrender."

"Surrender?!?"Siren and Tommy squawked in unison.

𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦.𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳.

"Yes.He's planning on taking Kinoko in attempts of a sandwich miniver:as he has Nevadas."

"So?"Blood God inquired,"You have enough allies to fight him?"

"Yes.But we're a peaceful nation.I can't protect them and Charged and Mirrage are gone.These people have no protectors;Nox is with JSchlatt."

"I wonder who's fault that is."Siren snarked staring Tommy down like he'd murdered his mother.

"Fair."

"What-Crimson no.We've talked about this.It wasn't you."Karl looked like a dad scolding his son as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Eh-It wasn't?"Blood God interjected.

"Why would he kill the only two people who could end the war?"Karl deadpanned.

"He's evil?"Blood God contradicted.

"No.No he's not."Surprisingly,it was Siren who said this.The other's questioning looks encouraged him to continue:"If he was evil,I wouldn't owe him a favour right now."

"Thanks?"Tommy answered in bemusement.

"I still want to slit your throat for plaguing my existence like an itch that you futility scratch at in an attempt to gain a petty respite."The dark look returned to the villian's eyes;a look of which made him feel like a mouse and Siren the cat who torments him.

"God,your so fuckin dramatic.What are you a theatre kid?"Apon the words dribbling from his mouth,he immediately regretted it but refused to back down.

"Oh,little hero if only you knew how powerless you are compared to m-"

"Crimson."Karl interrupted his tone deadly serious,body full of tension."Thier here.You need to leave,otherwise they'll take you."

"That means you have to come with me because he'll take you too."The blonde immediately shot back.

Screaming could be heard from the city outside.Raging footsteps charging up the stairs;heading for Karl's office.Mushroom rooftops engulfed in flames,sky clouded by smoke.

The rade had began.

"This isn't time to play hero-"

"Im not playing hero,I'm being your friend."Tommy's resolve was strong and unwavering;Karl knew this.

Walking away in frustration(footsteps of hundreds of troops growing ever closer),the vigilante grabbed a book from his desk and began flipping through it.

"Who's coming?"Blood God questioned,rising from his seat.Both Tommy and Siren snorted at the words;the piglin evidently ignoring them.They flipped eachother off with a quick exchange of "dickhead" and "wanker".

The blonde,once done with Siren,answered the pinkette:"Rioters,Schlatt,who else?"

"Wait,Schlatt's here?!?Oh im fucked.Blood we are fucked.By the sounds of it he has troops in the hundreds and,no offence,i dont think even you can take that many on.He's gonna fucking put me Pandora and that'll be the end of it.He'll leach me of my power."

"Clam down."Blood God stated bluntly clearly fed up with his partner's dramatics.

"Oh for fucks sake.He wants you too?"Siren nodded."Nope.No.I refuse to spend the rest of my life wasting away in Pandora with this fucker.Blood Bitch fuckin stab me please and thank you."

"Oh god.Blood Bitch do the same with me.I refuse to stay with this dickhead for the rest of time."Siren added.

"Bruh.I'm not gonna kill you."

Cold air blasted throught the room as the sound of the city echoed against spruce.Turning,the three bickering men saw a portol that opened up to a rooftop in district 3.The rim of the portal emitted a purple glow and enchantment table symbols.Karl stood at the side of it,one hand outstretched the other holding the book he'd collected from his desk.Eyes glowing of opal at the use of his powers.

Shouting could be heard from the outside the office.

"In."He commanded.Siren and Blood God immediately following his orders and slipping onto the rooftop;staring back into office at the others."Now."

"But Ti-"

"Now."

Shutting up,Tommy stepped through the portal onto the rooftop.Cool October wind stinging his face.Gazing back,he waited for the vigilante to follow.

The office door swang open,hundreds of rioters waiting in the hallway following one man as he entered.The man was tall,had a muscular build,wore black cargos,speed runners,a dark green hooded poncho that went down to his knees and a white porcelain mask with a scruffily drawn smiley face on it.

𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮.

Tommy stared wide eyed at the man,making eye contact;his heart dropping to his stomach.The man slowly clenched his fist.Normally, the blonde could tell what the other was thinking,but right now he couldn't.It felt like looking at a completely different person.

Suddenly,he realised the portal was slowly collapsing inwards.Karl wasn't moving towards the portal.

"Time Warp.Time come on your running out of time."He shouted.

"He's not coming with us."Siren realised walking towards the shorter.

"Time!Don't you dare!Don't you fuckin dare!I can't do this again Time!"The ex-hero began running towards the portal,Dream minicing his action.Both boys ran towards the crumbling portal with thier hands out stretched;fingers brushing against eachother,the hero's attempting to grasp his (ex)apprentice's but to no avail.Siren instead grabbed him and pulled the blonde against his chest to prevent him from getting caught.

The portal closed completely.

Leaving Karl on one side,alone in a room with the enemy and a friend who'd betrayed them to be taken to Pandora.Tommy on the other,pressed tightly against Siren's chest as he banged his fists against the mans chest-Blood God waiting beside them.The cold wind biting thier faces as they stood on the desolate rooftop,surrounded by sound but unable to hear.

"I can't do this again..."Tommy sobbed into Siren's chest,hands falling to his sides as the villian squeezed him in a tight embrace.

Chapter Text

Breaking apart from the villian,Tommy composed himself, taking in his surroundings.They were on the roof of some random office block, in the part of district 3 that began to branch into district 4.Pulling out his phone,he checked the time;ignoring the two Syndicate leaders watching his every move.

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬,𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘺?𝘐'𝘮 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘩𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥,𝘮𝘢𝘯.

His exhaustion seemed to deepen at the realisation that he had work in an hour.Deciding that if he leaves now,he'll have enough time to get back and change.

Exhaustion ebbing annoyance due to Blood God deciding to break the fragile silence that had settled over the group:"You should come with us."

Both Siren and Crimson's heads snapped towards him,confused sounds emitting from the two;gaining an eye roll from the pinkette.

"Look,we can protect you from Nightmare and any of the hundreds of bounty hunters perusing you.In return,you'd give us information on Nightmare,as you seem to know alot about him,and you'll help us with Siren's dampener."He stated bluntly.

The blonde contemplated the man's suggestion for a moment.It was a fair agreement and what most people in his position would choose;𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘵.𝘗𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘺𝘴.However,going into a deal with the Syndicate will indefinitely revoke some,if not all,of his freedoms.As they had conflicted beliefs: reflected in thier actions.With the Syndicate being a villain organisation,they were willing to take the lives of others for thier supposed 'greater good'.Tommy was not.Adding to this,joining the Syndicate would further incriminate him and would not help his case when all this blows over and Nox asks him back:he hopes.On top of this,is the issue of trust.They were villians and him a hero.Of course they wouldn't trust eachother,it goes against every fibre in thier bodies.If there is no trust between the two,this suggested partnership is very unlikely to succeed and will result in conflict.Also,he will most likely(in being untrustworthy) be locked up somewhere in thier base and forced to reveal his identity.

𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘩...𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵.

Walking backwards,Tommy reached the lip of the building;climbing onto it.Before the villians could stop him,he gave them a quick salute before falling backwards,addressing them as he did so:"I think im good thanks.Have fun with the dampener, Siren!I would say i hope our paths wont cross again.But unfortunately,it seems inevitable.See you soon,dickheads!"

With that,he was gone.Using his powers to propel himself out of sight.So when the villains rushed to look over the edge,they were met with nothing but the city bellow.

__

On his route to work,one thing plagued his mind:Karl.The wieght of responsibility weighing heavier than ever before and threatening to break his spine into millions of tiny fractions.

A voice sounding suspiciously like Purpled's tried to argue that it wasn't his fault but his reasoning fell on deth ears.Blocked out by thoughts of how he should of been more resilient or more persuasive or even quicker.Mabye if he'd used his powers,Karl would of been on that rooftop with them.Mabye if he'd insisted that Karl went first.Or maybe if he'd stayed behind,Karl,his friend who'd always helped him and believed in him,even after he was accused of murder,would be with him.Instead,he was in the cruel clutches of Schlatt.He would most likely be shipped off to Pandora to waste away in a cell,surrounded by his enemies.Or he'd be used for his powers;giving Schlatt the upper hand.Dooming them all.

The sound of the bell ringing above his head as he opened the door pulled him out of his thoughts.Sighing,he walked to the back,flashing Ash a quick smile,before getting on with his work.It past by normally,with few bumps,until the news flickered on.

The TV displayed live footage from Kinoko with the headline:'The raid of Kinoko.'

The district was in havoc:smoke carpeting everything,mushrooms ablaze as they tumbled down from thier throwns,rioters smashing windows and attacking civilians.It quickly cut to Dream(or well Masquerade to the public)standing amongst the chaos.Two rioters guarding his flanks,accompanied by another pair who escorted a handcuffed Time Warp.However,Dream did not look to the approaching Inforcers.No,his eyes were locked on something infront of him.The camera panned to the subject of his infatuation.Revealing a dark figure,wielding two battons that were wrapped in venom and blood.Stood in the ever present smog,surrounded by thirty unconscious rioters (who he'd taken on alone)and the rubble of fallen buildings.

They pointed thier staff towards Dream,spitting out in a mechanical voice:"This is a message for Schlatt and Crimson Crusader.Im going to hunt you traitors down.And when i find them,I'm going to fuckin kill them for what they did."

The smog covered them for a moment before moving on.By the time it had passed,the figure was gone.The news reporter's voice filling thier place:

ᴡᴇ ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴏ ᴛʜɪꜱ ꜰɪɢᴜʀᴇ ɪꜱ ᴏʀ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜɪᴇʀ ᴀʟʟɪᴀɴᴄᴇ ʟᴀʏꜱ.ʜᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ,ᴡᴇ ᴅᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪᴇʀ ᴊᴏɪɴɪɴɢ ʜᴜɴᴅʀᴇᴅꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ'ꜱ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴜɴᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ᴄʀɪᴍꜱᴏɴ ᴄʀᴜꜱᴀᴅᴇʀ.ᴏɴ ᴛᴏᴘ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜɪꜱ,ᴡᴇ'ᴠᴇ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ʙᴇᴇɴ ɪɴꜰᴏʀᴍᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪᴄ ʜᴀꜱ ᴅᴜʙʙᴇᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴍᴀꜱᴋᴇᴅ ꜰɪɢᴜʀᴇ 'ꜱʜᴀᴅᴏᴡ'.

𝘖𝘩 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬.𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘒𝘢𝘳𝘭'𝘴 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯.𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘺 𝘮𝘦.

𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘻 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘪 𝘢𝘮.

"Shut up Purpled."He grumbled under his breath while switching the channel.

As he was closing up,the door swang open with a ring of the bell.Revealing a disheveled Wilbur,who(like Tommy) looked as if he hadn't slept for weeks.They made eye contact and spoke in unison:"You look like shit."

Both of them erupting into laughter for a solid minute before calming down.

"So big dubbs,what brings you here?"The blonde inquired,turning back to the cloth and spray bottle in his hands-cleaning the counters.

"It's Thursday."He stated like it was the most obvious thing in the world.On getting no sign of recognition from the other,he groaned with a roll of his eyes before elaborating:"It's Thursday.We agreed to go to the cinema today after your shift.Remember,prick?"

"You mean you decided we were going to the cinema today and threatened me into going?"The shorter snarked with a raise of his eyebrow,earning a smack up the head."Ow!What the fuck man?"

"Hurry up!The movie starts in ten minutes.And i can't miss the adverts!There the best part!"The older explained waving his hands wildly in the air,in attempt of furthering his point.

"Jeez man.Your so fuckin impatient.I've just got to lock up real quick and we're done."The ex-hero explained in exasperation.Being ushered out the door by the brunette,who bounced on his heels,hands slapping at his thighs as he watched the blonde intently.The moment the lock clicked and the key left the lock,Wilbur grabbed his friend's hand and began dragging him down the street;to the cinema.

"What movie are we watching anyway?"Tommy questioned,falling into step with the older.

"It's called 'SMP'."

"Which is...?"

Sighing,the older threw his hands up at the cloud covered night sky dramatically,pressing the button at the crossing,continuing to bounce anxiously on his heels while they waited for the light to turn red."Oh my god,your so uneducated!It's a re-make of the original SMP movie that came out decades ago."Due to the silence he was met with,he asked a question of his own."You don't know what I'm talking about do you?"

"Nope."Was the reply-the boy popping the p.

"Have you ever watched breaking bad?"

"Im not a fuckin loser,Will.I've watched breakin bad."

The traffic lights blinked red,blaring out an annoying beeping noise.Hurrying across the road,the two made a beeline for the cinema that stood twenty meters infront of them.It was old fashioned in having a ticket booth at the front.The building itself made of bricks with red carpets leading into the turning doors.White placks with the movie titles displayed on them hung above the entrance,matched with posters on the walls.

The brunette shooting the blonde an incredulous look at his answer,gaining a punch in the arm:"Wait.Hold up.You've watched fuckin breaking bad but not SMP!Have you at least watched Top Gun?"

"What is that about guns?I'm not an American.Thier wrongens!"

Slinging his arm around Tommy's shoulder,Wilbur guided the younger into the cinema.Rustic chandeliers hung from the ceilings emitting golden light down apon them.Red carpets covered the floor leading to a staircase,filled with people, that led to the upper and lower screens.A food stool stood in the corner with a massive popcorn machine surrounded by children.On the opposite wall was the toilets and a secondary ticket booth.

"Oh,Tommyinnit my right hand man!We will shall be having the longest movie marathon ever due to your ignorance in the world of true cinema."

Wilbur went and brought them both popcorn,after waiting in the longest que to ever exist.Then,he took the younger down to the lower screens-opening the door to screen 4.

The room itself was dark already,adverts playing;Wilbur letting out a string of curses about missing his favourite part of the 'cinema experience'.The rows of identical seats were all filled,except two at the very back centre and the seats at the very front(where you have to crane your neck to see the screen).

"Holy shit fuckface!You actually have decent taste in seats!"Tommy whispered,sliding into his seat-his friend following close behind.

After a long commentary of the adverts by Wilbur,followed by a winded explanation on why the 'toothpaste man' is evil,the movie actually began.However,the movie beginning was not a cause for the conversation to stop.No.In fact,the conversation grew more constant and audible.With muffled laughter emitting from the two as they made sex jokes throughout the entire movie.Only shutting up when scolded by a strange man beside them.The pair immediately legging it out of the theatre when the movie ended.

____

"Alright,so next weekend we have a movie marathon prick."Wilbur stated as they waited infront of the cinema for his brother to come pick him up.

"When did i fuckin agree to this?"The blonde shoot at the taller from his spot leaned up against the wall.

The brunette ignored the question.Running into the road with his arms spread wide and spinning in a circle,head tilted towards the sky.Luckily,everyone else at the movie had cleared put and it was around three thirty in the morning so nobody normal was out driving.The street lamps lit up the road dimly;occasionally flickering,before turning brighter than ever and finally settling back to thier normal state of providing just enough light for people to see if driving.

"IF YOU GET HIT BY A CAR IM NOT FUCKIN SCRAPPING YOUR ARSE OF THE ROAD!"

"I'm like the insane President in the movie,Tommy!My ambition,cockiness and greed for power will be my hamartia."

"If your like the mad President,where's your fuckin country,prick?What about your Vice President?"

The brunette turned towards the former,a smirk spreading across his face,he skipped towards him and placed his hands on his shoulders."Your my Vice President.Think about it.A child soldier,stubborn and volitile.Your the same person!And L'manburg will be our nation."He cackled out,a dark glint in his eyes as he pranced to the side of the road,bouncing on his feet while looking to the horizon for his brother's car.

The blonde wondered over to him,taking his spot by the brunette's side.An uncanny atmosphere settling over the two like falling snow.

"I think your my best friend.Which i used to think was really sad seen as your a literal child.But it's not sad.Your a good kid,Tommy."The taller's mahogany eyes stayed fixed on a spot down the street,dark glint never leaving though it was hidden by the light reflecting off his glasses.

The ex-hero felt a shiver run down him at the words and he didn't quite know why.But something about Wilbur in that moment was not just scary in his eyes,it was unhinged.In all honesty,the only things the boy could think of comparing his friend to in this very moment were the crazed President from the movie(as Wilbur himself had identified),Schlatt and Siren.He was the President in how he seemed to radiate the air of a leader yet has no reason to.He was Schlatt in the dark glint in his eye and complete and utter confidence in himself,leading to a narcissistic pride that promised nothing but failure and isolation.Or the quick switch in emotions that shadowed that of an alcoholic.He was Siren in his dramatics and cockiness.In how Tommy could go from trading insults with the man then be terrified as his voice grows dark and serious;promising nothing but violence.

However,he felt completely safe standing beside the man.

Convinced that the man would never hurt him nor try.Mabye it was because everyone he loved had left him and he was desperately clinging to the one person who seems to act as a constant in his ever changing life.Or it was the wierd feeling that seemed to draw him to the man as if thier meeting was fated from the moment of thier births.But something about Wilbur made Tommy feel complete and utterly safe.A safety that he hadn't felt since Purpled's death.

"Yeah?I knew that already,Wil.Im the fuckin best.Are you okay?"Blue eyes stared intently at the side of the man's face,worry evident in his tone.

The latter turned towards him now:"Do you trust me,Tommy?"

The sentence hung in the air for a second.The blonde tasting the answer on his tongue for a moment before replying:"I don't know...I trust you with my safety, address, number,name and part of my work schedule.So in a way yes.But it depends how you describe trust...Do you trust me?"

The brunette stared at him,considering his answer."Yes.I trust you,Tommy.If you told me to walk into the road,I would do it.I trust that you wouldn't let me die."

Silence enclasped the two for a moment,before the older asked another question his voice desperate and small:"Are you scared of me?Everyone else I know is scared of me sometimes..."

"Sometimes.But that's okay."

"How?"The brunette's eyes looked frantic as though Tommy's answer held the key to life.

"Sometimes you get this look in your eyes.It reminds me of someone I knew once.They lost thier best friend.When that happened,they snapped.Spiralling into a cycle of self destruction that came from grief of one's soul.Rageful,they took revenge,took action.Killed the fucker who murdered thier friend.Achieved them and thier friend's original goal and was left with nothing.They'd won.But lost fuckin everything to achieve it.Like you said:ambition is thier hamartia.They died because of it.The anger that brought them to kill another is what scares me."

He let Wilbur take in his words before continuing.

"What's okay about you scaring me sometimes is that i trust you.I trust that you'll never hurt me."He laughed,a humorless laugh."Funny,innit?I've know you,what?Three months?Yet i trust that I've read your character so fuckin well or that you value me to such a degree that you'd never harm me."

He stopped.Wanting to say more but not knowing what to say.Wilbur did it for him.Grabbing his shoulders,he turned the blonde so they were facing eachother:"I would never hurt you,Tommy.I promise."

Apon gaining a thumbs up from the boy,he snorted before pulling the younger into a hug.The uncomfortable atmosphere fading to something warmer.

"You know I'll hold that against you,right?"The ex-hero mumbled into the other's chest,hands curling into Wilbur's hoodie.

"Oh,yeah?"

"Yep.You're gonna push me over or something because you a dickhead and I'll cry and you'll of broke that promise."A smugness seeped into his tone as he said the words.

"Technically that's the ground harming you.Not me-"Before he could continue he interrupted himself with a shout as Tommy's foot went crashing into his shin.The blonde laughed while his friend jumped around in pain;cursing him out.

"Doesn't work both ways,bitch!"He cackled,only to be put in a headlock by the brunette who aggressively rubbed his knuckles against the blonde's scalp:"Apologise you,gremlin child!"

"Fuck you!"

They were interpreted by the beeping of a horn.Both of them freezing and looking up to find a black SUV had pulled up beside them,one window open,revealing the driver.He had long pink hair put up in a bun(𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘬),wore a white shirt,black trousers,glasses and -like Wilbur-had brown eyes.Adding to this,he was hench and could probably bench press him and Wilbur without breaking a sweat.

"Wil,your brothers fuckin hench!What the fuck!I thought he was gonna be a stick like you!"

Wilbur's brother snorted,getting a glare from the brunette as he made his way round the car and slipped into the passenger seat.

"Techno."Wilbur's brother-or Techno apparently-put his hand out the window for the blonde to shake;his voice deep and monotone.

"George."He responded,shaking the other's hand,confused however by how formal it seemed.

"His name's Tommy."The brunette piped in,the pinkette raising an eyebrow at the blonde:"Bruh."

"God!Wil!What if he was a wrongen?He is a stranger."

"What 'stranger danger' and that?"The brunette pondered.

"No.'Friend unsafe'.Of course he ment 'stranger danger',idiot."The pinkette huffed out.The brunette elbowed his brother in the side before turning to his friend with a smile:"Do you want a lift home,king?"

The blonde immediately shook his head."No.It's fuckin late mate.Drive safe."Turning on his heel,the ex-hero hurried home.

"Bye Tommy!"Wilbur shouted before staring intently at his brother for approval.

"I don't know yet.Haven't had enough time to gage his character.But something about him is...off."Techno answered,watching the blonde in the wing mirror.

"But you don't hate him!Which is more than can be said for any of my other friends!"

"Bruh.The other friends you've introduced to me have caused a war."

"Oh fuck off.It was one time!"

___

Tommy's left staring down at the city below.Pebbles fall over the edge of his apartment complex as he shuffles on his feet.The cool October wind hits his skin.The city was silent.Pogtopia waiting on the edge of it's seat.

The sky was blank.No stars.No moon.Just clouds and the occasional blinking of satalights.A calendar sat in his hand-a pen in the other.Pulling it up,he crossed out another day.

October 23rd.

An important day.The most important day.The only day left in his calendar;the other days having been ripped out after that.

Gulping,he looks to the skies.

Tommy had thought it would be raining when he jumped.He,like Wilbur,had always been a fan of the dramatics.So he'd of appreciated some pathetic fallacy:there wasn't any.He thought he'd be crying when he did it.His eyes shed no tears.Instead,they just looked tired.He thought he'd feel something when he did it.Anger at Purpled or Sapnap or Dream or George for leaving him,at Schlatt for taking away his best friend,mabye at Siren for putting him in this position.At himself.He didn't.Mabye he'd feel relief that this all coming to a close.He doesn't.He believed he would realise something when standing face to face with death.He hasn't.

All he can hear is his heart beating wetly in his chest,banging against his ribcage,begging to be let out.Sweat balling at his palms and trickling down his neck.Crimson powers at bay for once,waiting ideally for a summoning that would never come.

He hadn't eaten since the popcorn Wilbur had brought him earlier that day.But that's okay.It wouldn't matter much now.He'd be gone soon.

Looking down,he tentatively placed one foot on the invisible platform infront of him.Other foot remaining securely rooted on the concrete floor.

Did he want this?

Silence.

A minute passed.Then another,then another.

Tommy closed his eyes,tilting his head towards the sky.

𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦.𝘐𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦,𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦.𝘐𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦,𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦.𝘐𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦,𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦.

Did he want this?

The questions ritorical but he longs for an answer.

"Do i want this?"He whispered,voice cracking slightly.

No response.

The silence stretches out.Seconds,mabye minutes,mabye hours,mabye days,mabye weeks,mabye months,mabye years,mabye decades,pass by agonisingly slow.

He moves forward.

"If you jump,i jump."Purpled stated bluntly.

Only to stop.

This wasn't the Purpled that lives in his head.No.This Purpled stood beside him.He looked as he did on that day.Vigilante suit torn and covered in soot.Blood,cuts and bruises littered his skin.A scorch mark painting the centre of his chest,jet-black eating away at his flesh.

"Your dead,dumbass.What does it matter?"Tommy huffed out.

His friend moved back from the ledge;Tommy's eyes following intently.

Suddenly,he blots forward,flinging himself off the building-keeping eye contact with the other as he fell.

The ex-hero watched on in silence.

Tommy stepped away from the ledge.

____

Tommy stepped away from the grave.

A new batch of flowers sits infront of the headstone-there lilacs.It's quite in the graveyard.The only sound being the rustle of leaves as the wind picks them up,only to drop them in a graceful dance.

Slowly,he sits down.Picking a paper bag up from where it sits to his left in the long grass.

___

Silently,Tommy creeps down the hallway,bag in hand,to Purpled's room.Opening the door quietly,he approached his friend's sleeping form.

Suddenly,he pounced.

Jumping on top of Purpled and screaming, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!"

Immediately,the sleeping form groaned,grabbing the other's leg and sweeping his legs out from underneath him.Only to scream i protest as the blonde dragged him down with him;sending them both tumbling to the ground.

They stared at eachother from thier spot on the floor:one smiling,one glaring.

"I'm going to fuckin kill you."Purpled seethed reaching forward for the blonde.

"Wait!Wait!At least open your presents first,bitch!"He squawked out,scrambling away from the elder;holding a colourful bag out towards him.

Huffing,Purpled rolled his eyes,snatching the bag.

The first thing he pulled out was a purple hoodie akin to the other ones he owned,except this one was darker in colour with a lemon embroidered on the breast.Next,he pulled out a red,white and purple beaded bracelet.To which Tommy raised his arm,revealing a matching one on his wrist."Fucking loser."Purpled huffed,slipping the bracelet onto his own wrist.Finally,he pulled out two ruby daggers with netherite handles.

The grey eyed boy looked up in astonishment-mouth agape:"How the fuck did you get these?"

"I called in a favour from a friend."Tommy said with a grin.

"We're broke as shit plus you have no friends,dumbass, and that's the craziest thing of all.You stole them.Didn't you?"Purpled deadpanned.

"Technically yes."

"Fair.But your still a dumbass for it."

Silence hangs in the air for a second.Before Purpled lunged forward,tackling Tommy into a bone crushing hug-who immediately returned it.

"Thanks,Tom."The purple clad vigilante mumbled into his friend's shoulder.

"You've got two hours till work by the way."Tommy cackled,moving so he was cradling Purpled;so the other couldn't attack him.

"Fuck you! I could of slept for another hour and a half.What the fuck!On my birthday too!That's toxic,dude!" Purpled seethed,trying uselessly to attack the other."I'll get you cancelled on Twitter!"

"Noooo,my likes!!"

___

Charged sits in the centre of a crumbling building,cradling a wounded Mirrage in his arms.A rioter lays two meters infront of them,unconscious.Blinding white wisps of sunlight still reflecting off his solor pannle esc finger tips.Smoke trails off Mirrage's chest,the smell of burning flesh infecting Charged's lungs.A large burn emits the smell,flesh charred and crisp.The intensity of the blast causing the depth of the wound to increase:burn digging past the teenager's rib cage into his organs.Other injuries littered his body,yet they stood obsolete to the latest one.

Slowly,Mirrage looks up at Charged,tears threatening to cascade down both their sullen faces.The colour and warmth leaking from the purple clad vigilante's lifeless form,laying in his partner's arms.Grimacing in pain,he croaked out:"Did i do okay?"His tear filled eyes searching blue ones desperately for guidance-his voice impossibly small in the large open space.

"You did good,Mirrage.You did really good."Tommy croaked out,staring into the other's eyes like it was the last time.

Sirens echoed in the distance,gaining a smile from the red clad vigilante as he gazed longingly at the horizon:"You hear that?That's the medics.Your gonna be fine.They'll have you healed in no time."

Rubble scuttled down from it's perch as the wind blew harshly through the room.

"Charged..."The blonde smiled up at his friend,salt rimmed eyes letting tears fall."I love you...you know that right?"Eyes burning holes into his friend's face as he tried desperately to memorise every feature of it.

"No...no,no,no.Mirrage,don't say shit like that.Don't give up hope.Your gonna be fine.Yeah?"

Slowly,the purple clad vigilante reached up and began to play with the beaded bracelet adoring Tommy's wrist,fingers trembling violently as he struggled to hold on to what little life he had left."Your my best friend...and I know I don't say it enough but your all i have,dumbass."

"Your not going to fuckin die,Mirrage.Remember?Your the best bed wars player."

"Real not fake.But strategically,unless the medic is cracked,i lose this fight.Obviously this guy is hacking."They both laughed at that,smiling fondly at eachother,content in knowing they were all eachother needed in this world."This guy is a stupid bitch for believing he could take me down.I'm cracked.Honestly,he shouldn't of even tri-"He interrupted himself with a fit of coughs,Tommy watching on in fear;helping the other sit up to cough properly.Coughing quickly turned to gaging,which turned to puking.Instead of the green vermile that is vomit,the boy threw up something different.

𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥.

A splatter of blood sinking into the concrete floor beneath them;blood which also trickled down his chin.

Terrified,Charged wrapped his arms more securely around his friend,knuckles turning sickly white in his iron grip.As if loosening it would allow for the other to slip away into an early oblivion."Your gonna be fine.Just hold on."

The injured vigilante looking up at Tommy fondly,a smile spreading across his gauntlet face.He stared at his friend like he was the golden sun that brings all life and warmth to the world."When we die,i think we become stars..."

The red hooded vigilante latched onto the topic,wanting to keep Purpled talking and emotive for as long as possible as they waited for the medics to arrive:"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah.My mom told me that all the time near the end of her chemo.Told me she'd watch over me from the skies.When i asked how I'd work out which one she was,she said I'd just know.It was an ominous answer and just stupid.Like what does that even mean?I still can't figure out which one she is."He didn't sound remorseful about this though,having not know his mum very well;she passed away when he was eight.

"You'd be able to figure out which one i was,easily.I'd be the biggest star there because I'm a big man.You on the other hand would be a shooting star.Out shining the sun,screaming 'Fuck you!Your trash!' as you went.Saying 'Trash' because your fuckin American."He said the last bit with fake venom,the running joke bringing a laugh from the injured blonde.

"How'd you know for sure?"Once again,the desperation returned.

"I just do."Purpled shot him an unimpressed look,the other smirking before he continued:"Your a self-centred basturd."

"Oh fuck off!"

A comfortable silence settled over the two.Mirrage's heart beat begging to slow;sirens growing ever closer.

"I'm happy that out of all the losers in Pogtopia,you were my best friend.I wouldn't change it for the world.Even if your a fuckin dumbass."Purpled chocked out between coughs,a sincerity behind his words that was brought forward by the ever closing fear of death.

"Stop acting like this is goodbye,bitch.The medics are almost here.Just hold on man.I'm going to fix this.It's my job."Tommy stated a determined glint in his eyes.

"I never asked you to protect me,loser.You don't need to.Im fuckin cracked.Im literally better then you in every way.You suck."The vigilante huffed out,clutching the other's wrist tightly.

"Yeah,yeah."Charged laughed at this friend's antics,refusing to tair his eyes away from Mirrage in fear of losing him forever.

Said friend's eyes and tone turning ominously serious for a moment as he spoke:"Promise me.Promise that you'll stay alive.If not for them,do it for me..."

The blonde didn't respond.Because he was terrified.Terrified of facing the fact that he could lose his best friend.But mainly because he didn't know if he could keep that promise.

"Promise me,Tommy.Please..."A strange helplessness seeped into the vigilante's tone as he begged the other for his word.

Tears finally fell from salt rimmed eyes,grey meeting blue,Tommy replied:"I promise,Purpled."

A moment passed.Purpled visibly relaxing at the words.Charged turns away from him,searching for medics.Frantically turning his head every which way,looking for an ambulance.

There.

Infront of him were three ambulances.

He fails to notice when the tight grip on his wrist loosened before falling away.

Medics file out the back of the vehicles,running onto the field.

He fails to notice when Purpled slumps slowly in his arms.

"OVER HERE!"He screams.A medic turns and rushes towards them.

He fails to notice when the warmth that once lived in his friend slipped away.

"Purp!Purpled!I see a medic.We're fine,Purp.See?Your gonna be okay!"

He fails to notice as a new star joins millions of others high above Pogtopia.Blazing brighter then any other.

Gazing down at his friend with a bright smile,he freezes,blood running cold as his smile fades.Purpled's once sea grey eyes no longer held the sparkling determination that shone brilliantly against the sullen pigment of his irises.His completion dull and gauntlet.Body lifeless.Heart still.

He was dead.

"Purpled..?Hey,wake up,Purp.Please wake up...I can't fuckin lose you...Please, can't do this without you..."Tommy begged, beating desperately at his friend's chest,in hopes of restarting his heart-to no avail.

Purpled was dead.

"Please...I'm sorry.It's all my fault.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry."He sobbed ,taking Purpled's lifeless form in his arms-clinging to him desperately.

Sobbs raked his body relentlessly.Silence inclasping the battle field,before,suddenly,he screamed.An ear splitting,bone rattling,heart battering scream;that tore his vocals to shreds.His heart collapsing into millions of fragments.Red magic erupting out of him.Lightning crackling down from the heavens and striking him square in the back before his powers took control;turning the bolt and the skies a bloody red.The outburst obliterating everything insite;yet all humans inhabiting the battle field miraculously survived.Tears streamed down his face,dropping onto Purpled's grey one.The vigilante repeating the same thing over and over again as he clutched his friend close to his chest:"This is all my fault..."

___

"I'm sorry,Purp."Tommy whispered to the grave.Pulling a cupckae out of the bag,stabbing a candle into it and lighting it with a lighter Sapnap had given him.A red flame flickered to life,blowing around lamely in the wind.

"I never got to say i love you back...I never got to tell you how much you meant to me...bitch."Adding the insult on as an afterthought;knowing Purpled would of appreciated it.

A tear rolled down his cheek,carving glistening salt trails into it.His eyes golden,reflecting the flame as the couple of fire danced slowly in the wind.

Taking in a deep breath,he blew out the candle.

"Happy Birthday..."

___

Miles away,the newly dubbed,Shadow glanced at the brightest star in the sky.A groan pulling his gaze away,back over to his captive.

"Either you talk,or i make you talk."Thier voice distorted as they threatened the person,tied to a chair, infront of him.Flipping two stolen ruby daggers into the air,catching them and flipping then before throwing one towards his captive.The dagger embedding itself in the wall,directly beside the prisoners ear.

Slimecicle looking up at his captor through heavy lidded eyes;drugs having not quite worn off.

He gulped.

Chapter Text

"Bye Ash!" The blonde shouted to the ravenette as he was hurried out of the shop by his new friends.

"So...where we going?" Tommy inquired, falling into step with the other two as they strolled down the sidewalk.

"We're gonna go bowling!" Ranboo piped in with an enthusiastic smile on their face that matched that of the other boys.

"Bowling pog." The shortest confirmed, the blonde smirking due to the fact his mannerisms were already being picked up; the three of them having a group chat together which they'd been messaging back and forth on throughout the past week since they met.

"Welp, I hate to break it to you guys but I'm kind of the best at bowling. So, this isn't gonna be much of a challenge." The ex-vigilante said cockily, linking his hands behind his head. Unknowingly leaving his ribs open for an attack; which came swiftly from Tubbo, resulting in an offended squawk from the blonde which led to a mock fight between the two. Of which, the tallest had to break up due to the two falling into the road and almost getting ran over: "All right. All right. Break it up. God this is like school."

"I bet you were the kid that fuckin reminded the teacher about homework." Tommy huffed out.

"What- no. I never reminded the teacher when we had homework, man."

"Oh yeah, a hundred percent, he was. He got top marks in every subject." The brunette piped in.

"Yeah, well that's because I actually studied." The monochrome one tried to defend himself.

"Not my fault I'm dyslexic and can't fuckin read. Plus the school systems learning disabilities sector is fuckin ballshit!"

"Tubbo, I literally helped you with all of your homework. You got good grades."

The brunette rolled his eyes before turning to the blonde: "What about you, Tommy? You get good grades?"

"Eh...not really. I got shit tons of detentions though."

"Wait, really?" Ranboo asked, shock evident in their voice.

"Yeah, not gonna lie Tommy, you're a bit of a pussy, boss man."

"What the fuck!"

"Come on, man. That was a bit far." The tallest rubbed at his neck, social anxiety kicking in a bit.

"What- come on! You just said the exact same thing!"

"Yeah but I didn't word it like that."

"Yeah. Boob boy let me keep a bit of my dignity. Fuckin dab me up, Ranboo." Tommy held his fist up for a fist bumb, to which the taller gladly complied.

"Well all right then, what you get detentions for? Swearing too much?" Tubbo jested.

"No, actually. Me and my mate blew up the science lab by mixing all the chemicals together once." He reminisced, fond smile on his face at the thought.

"Wouldn't you have to pay a load of property damage or something for that?" Ranboo asked.

"Yeah but we're orphans so we don't have parents to pay for it or anything. Luckily our English teacher, Mr Sam, had these pog engineering powers that were able to help."

"Whose we?" The shortest questioned. Ranboo asking a different question at the same time: "Mr Sam? As in creeper hybrid, Sam Awesome?"

Tommy, completely ignoring Tubbo's question on purpose, whipped his head towards the tallest, jaw wide open: "You know Sam?"

"Hell yeah, man! He works with my boss."

"Excuse me. I asked a question bitch. Who the fuck is we?" The brunette shouted out in frustration, running infront of the two and waving his arms wildly to gain their attention - now walking backwards.

"Oh, we is me and Purpled." The blonde stated blankly.

"Who is?"

"My best friend. Technically, he's my brother seen as we grew up together. But eh, who gives a fuck about that. He's an annoying bitch."

"Can we meet him? He sounds cool." Ranboo asked, smile ever present.

"He's dead." Was the answer, Tommy's voice emotionless as he stalked forward, leaving two shocked friends in his wake: "This the place?"

The place in question being a large building that sat beside a rickety subway line, stood on large pillars. A neon light sign with a bowling ball hitting three pins and the name of the business on it: 'District 8 Bowling'. 𝘚𝘰 𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭. Two large windows sat either side of the double glass doors - open sign flashing invitingly. The building itself was like any other in district 8: concrete walls carpeted in a thick layer of ash, dustbins lining the alleyway out back with workers stood beside them smoking cigarettes and chatting whilst on their break. Without waiting for an answer, Tommy pushed the door open.

The other two giving eachother a concerned glance before following the blonde into the building.

The carpet had the same city sky line print as the tubes and buses did. The lighting was dim, except for on the five bowling lanes that made up the rear of the building. Directly in front of the door was the till, a short person with long brown hair stood behind it: wearing a red beanie, white shirt, black mum jeans and a name tag which read: 'Hi, I'm Aimsey!'. Behind them, was a curved wall filled with red, white and blue bowling shoes.

Walking up to it, the teenagers payed to play two rounds (splitting the bill) and collected their shoes. After that, they made their way over to lane 3 and began their game.

__

"TUBBO, WHAT THE FUCK!" Tommy screeched apon his brunette friend picking up the heaviest bowling ball and lobbing it down the isle: getting a strike.

"I'm cracked." He stated bluntly, moving out of the way so Ranboo could have a go. The latter turning to the blonde, apon making eye contact, the pair started screaming in panic.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Ranboo we're fucked! Like actually fucked!" Tommy screeched.

"I know, man! This is just unfair really. He has an advantage! Rams are insanely strong, endermen are not! Nor are humans!" The monochrome one agreed.

"Thanks for including me in that Ran. I really appreciate it."

"Hey, no problem, man."

The two nodded to eachother, shaking hands before Ranboo picked up the lightest ball and clumsily rolled it down the isle; it fell into the side drains without even making it half way over to the pins. Tommy and Tubbo collapsed into wheezing piles on the floor.

"I think you got this big man. You ain't getting last place." The brunette confirmed, helping the younger to his feet.

"Yeah. Ranboo mate, you're proper shit at this."

"What- Hey I'm good at bowling. That was a fluke." They tried to defend themself, only to be met with disbelieving stares from the others.

"Alight. You go do it then, Tom. Let's see how good you are. Oh master of bowling." The tallest fumed, hands placed firmly on their hips - looking like a disapproving mother.

Giving Ranboo a pat on the shoulder as he went past, Tommy picked up the red bowling ball. Walking up to the isle, he re-arranged his footing. Looking up through golden locks, he brought his arm back before bringing it forward again; allowing the ruby ball to slip from his grasp and swiftly roll down the wooden lane. Quickly, it took out all the pins, disappearing down a tunnel before reappearing on the rack with all the other balls.

Turning to his friends, the blonde smirked and bowed; his friends stood in shock at the delicatness of their loud and boisterous friend's movements.

Tommy and Tubbo proceeded to have a bitter battle full of twists and turns over the two rounds; both eager to prove themselves the best. Ranboo on the other hand only managed to nock over ten pins throughout the two rounds they'd paid for. Tommy and Tubbo berating the tallest with 'was that one a fluke as well, Big man?' after everyone of their turns. In the end, Tommy won after hitting three pins on his last turn. Tubbo's last turn screwed him over; his ball falling into the side drain both times.

They hurried out after that, all starving and in need of luch, and hurried to Tommy's apartment for pot noodle.

___

"Alright! Scran is served, bitches!" The blonde laughed, his friends joining in at the sight of him trying to juggle all three pot noodles and three Coca Colas. Dropping one which Ranboo caught just before it went crashing to the floor. Once luch was dished out,Tommy sat down at the right end of the old bench (next to the enderman hybrid). A little radio sat beside the teenagers, turned to a random station; they watched the sun set on Pogtopia.

(More lore for you guys: Pogtopia has extremely long winters - from the start of October all the way through May. So, like Antarctica, at certain parts of the year, the sun sets at around lunch due to how the Earth is on it's axis and the position of the place on the globe. Pogtopia, in being near the bottom, is normally on the side of the globe facing away from the sun; it gets less sun light. Yeah, sorry that was really long winded but i do sound quite sciencey and smart now.)

"Why are you good at cooking? That just shouldn't be a thing. You should of burnt this." Ranboo spoke in bemusement.

"Dude. He legit just put water in a pot...How is that 'good at cooking'?" Tubbo raised his eyebrow at his partner whilst slurping up a mouth full of noodles.

"Mate, just admit it, I'm homely as shit." Tommy quipped, elbowing the tallest in the side.

"Sureee." They responded, rolling their eyes.

A comfortable silence settled over the three as the finished up their lunches. Only to be broken by Tommy.

"What's it like being vigilantes?" The blonde questioned, intrigued by what modern vigilantism is like - having been retired for half a decade now.

The two froze before immediately relaxing and rubbing their necks awkwardly; they'd forgotten Tommy new about their secondary occupations. Tubbo answered the question: "It's okay, I guess. A lot of pressure though. Like shit tones. It's fucking terrifying sometimes. Like there's people out there relying on us: what of we don't make it in time?"

"Yeah...There was this one time a woman was being beaten up by these criminals. So I got involved in an attempt to save her but by the time I'd dealt with all five guys and tied them up, she was dead..." The vigilante's red and green gem like eyes grew solemn as they stared at the now lagoon blue sky. "I always thought that mabye, just mabye, I could of saved her if I'd been quicker. Or focused more on the victim then the accused-" They stopped, voice now agitated. The brunette grabbed their hand and squeezed it in an attempt at comfort.

"Ain't a good mind set to have, that boob boy. But ay, at least you can't be accused of breaking law five now. With them being invalid and all now." Tommy tried to lighten the mood, turning to his friend with a smile on his face.

"What about you?" The shortest inquired, genuine curiosity in his voice.

"What about me?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Well, you were a vigilante during the old days! The era of Charged and Mirrage! What was it like?" Tubbo elaborated with enthusiasm.

"Did you ever meet them? If so, what were they like? As cool and awesome and amazing as they seemed?" Ranboo joined their teammate with equal enthusiasm.

"Geez, geez. Calm down, you fucks. What are you? Fangirls or somethin?" He jested - completely joking.

"Yes." The two vigilantes chanted in unison, shocking Tommy to his very core. He'd always known that people had liked him and Purpled but never knew they had fangirls. Especially fangirls of which were the face of the new generation of vigilantes. 𝘐'𝘮 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳. 𝘈 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘭.

𝘈 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵.

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥.

"Well, I met Mirrage twice..."He stopped. 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘦.

"And...?" The two spoke in unison again (𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘺 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘴), impatient in their enthusiasm as they leaned towards the blonde.

"And he was pog. A sarcastic prick but nice. He saved me from being mugged once as a civilian and helped me win a 2 v 13. So yeah, he's pretty sick." He spoke with a fond smile.

"Oh, he is fucking sick! And his powers! He could be walking among us and we wouldn't even be able to tell!" Tubbo practically squealed, shaking Ranboo violently.

𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨.

"No but Charged though." The brunette nodded rapidly in agreement with the monochrome one."Did you see his powers after Mirrage died? It was so cool."

"You lot are fuckin weird, man."

"Alright. Who's your favourite vigilante then?" The tallest inquired, an accusation evident.

"Time Warp, any day. He's op."

"Surely not. There's so many and you pick Time Warp? He's basically a hero at this point." Tubbo crossed his arms, completely unimpressed by the blonde's answer.

"No. That's valid. He fought in the war, right?Giving Changed and Mirrage guidence when fighting Nightmare?"

"Yeah. Who's you guys's favourite hero?" Tommy asked.

"Err, I would have to say Warden. His red stone stuff is cool. I'd love to work with him on some stuff." The brunette answered first.

Swiftly followed by his partner: "I'd say Masquerade."

"You picked green bitch?" The blonde stated in disbelief. Though Dream had a load of fans, he and the dream team weren't popular down these ends.

"Well, yeah. He has good morals in his no kill rule and has cool powers." The tallest defended themself, looking down at their shoes in embarrassment.

"Mans is literally a tellie tubbie; but fair. I see where you're coming from. He's still a bitch though. Gogy is the best hero. You seen him? He's gorgeous."

The three of them laughed at that before diving into another discussion.

"Favourite villian?"

"Blood God. Has a crown like me, super strong and his voice is cool. Plus his hair is pink!" Ranboo answered immediately.

"Mmmmm, mines probably Mumbo Jumbo. For the same reason as Warden; good at red stone." The brunette addded his opinion.

"Well mines...eh I don't actually know but Siren is probably the one I'm most scared of. He is a bitch and I fuckin hate him." The blonde was serious in his words; his hate for Siren ever present.

"Yeah, he does have a tendency to send people to their de-" The tallest stopped mid sentence, snatching up the portable radio and turning the volume all the way up. The broadcast reported as follows:

ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇᴡʟʏ ᴅᴜʙʙᴇᴅ ꜱʜᴀᴅᴏᴡ, ᴡʜᴏ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ᴋɪɴᴏᴋᴏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴛᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴄʀɪᴍꜱᴏɴ ᴄʀᴜꜱᴀᴅᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ɴɪɢʜᴛᴍᴀʀᴇ, ʜᴀꜱ ᴘɪᴄᴋᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴀʟʟɪᴀɴᴄᴇ: ᴀ ᴠɪʟʟɪᴀɴ.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴠɪʟʟɪᴀɴ ʜᴀꜱ ᴋɪᴅɴᴀᴘᴘᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠɪɢɪʟᴀɴᴛᴇ ꜱʟɪᴍᴇᴄɪᴄʟᴇ.

ꜱᴛᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʟᴀꜱ ɴᴇᴠᴀᴅᴀꜱ ᴄᴀɴ ɢᴇᴛ ʜɪᴍ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴠɪᴀ ɪɴꜰᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏɴ ᴄʀɪᴍꜱᴏɴ ᴏʀ ɴɪɢʜᴛᴍᴀʀᴇ'ꜱ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛꜱ ᴏʀ ʜᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴏᴠᴇʀ. ꜱʜᴀᴅᴏᴡ ʜᴀꜱ ɢɪᴠᴇɴ ɴᴇᴠᴀᴅᴀꜱ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴄɪʟ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴅᴀʏꜱ ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ'ʟʟ ᴇxᴇᴄᴜᴛᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱʟɪᴍᴇ ᴠɪɢɪʟᴀɴᴛᴇ.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴠɪʟʟɪᴀɴ ᴅɪᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ꜱᴛᴀᴛᴇ ᴀ ᴍᴇᴇᴛɪɴɢ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ, ᴏɴʟʏ ꜱᴀʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ: ᴘᴀʟᴀᴄᴇ ᴀʀᴄᴀᴅᴇ.

ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴛʟʏ, ɴᴏx ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇᴠᴀᴅᴀꜱ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴄɪʟ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ɴᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛ.

The trio started at that radio in silent contemplation: the blonde almost laughing as 'Change my clothes' by Masquerade blasted through the speakers seconds later. Turning it off, he turned to the vigilantes, neither of them seemed to know what to do.

"Well..." He prompted them. "You're vigilantes. The top vigilantes. Your job is to save people. You have to save him."

The pair shared a knowing glance before turning their eyes to their shoes: Tubbo wore green speedrunners, one eye of the smiley face missing and Ranboo black nikes, silver skid marks ran up them. The latter speaking for the two: "We can't."

The youngest stared at them in bemusement: "What?"

"We can't go save Slimecicle. Because one, from what we've seen, Shadow is extremely stong; taking down thirty guys in Kinoko - we stand no chance. Two, we don't know where they are. And three, even if we did, we have nothing to trade and we can't fight for him back. Plus! It would be like leading a lamb to slaughter; we have no idea what we're walking into." Ranboo reiterated,unable to meet the blonde's eyes.

"Whether or not your prepared, a person's life is at stake here (a fellow vigilante at that) yet you act like avoiding the small possibility that Shadow can beat you is more important?" He was unable to believe what he was hearing; always thinking so highly of Hive and Ender.

"Look, alright? We're not going to die for Slimecicle. Nevadas has always been crule to us; Jester hates us for taking Charged and Mirrage's place. Slimecicle has committed crimes. Lied. Killed. If it was a civilian, that would be a different fucking story. But it's not. The Charged laws aren't mandatory anymore; we don't have to risk our necks for a supposed 'brotherhood'. I will not let my best friend die for Slimecicle or an anachronistic law that no one else bothers to oblige by. So we can't save him." Tubbo fumed, meeting the blonde's eyes; both hazelnut and sky blue holding an unyielding stubbornness.

"Can't or won't?" Tommy stated, venom dripping from the words as they hung in the air. The tension was now suffocating, collapsing their lungs. The words flooding into the two vigilante's lungs and filling them with shame.

Standing, the blonde stalked inside, grabbed a red backpack from his room and his coat before storming out of the apartment, slamming the door shut behind him; the bang echoing throughout the room.

He choked up blood as he escaped the raging storm of his apartment. He continued to choke up blood while leaving the apartment. He choked up more blood once finding a manhole cover in a back alley and pulled it to the side, revealing the city sewer system. He chocked up even more blood whilst opening a secret passageway in the curved walls and trudging down an endless flight of steep concrete steps. He threw up blood once he reached the bottom, entering the Pit. He threw up buckets full of blood once safely inside Charged and Mirrage's old headquarters.

Hive and Ender were left in the never ebbing tension of Tommy's apartment; to contemplate their morals.

Their new friend's words still hanging in the insufferable atmosphere: "Can't or won't?"

One thought plagued their minds as they recalled the argument: Tommy had looked exactly like Siren in that moment.

Staring down apon them. Spitting words coated in venom that took control of ones mind. Leaving nothing but those words behind.

You cannot think of anything but those words.

Cannot write down scratchy notes without thinking about those words. Cannot lock ones door without thinking about those words. Cannot step in the shower without thinking about those words. Cannot sleep without thinking about those words. Cannot eat without thinking about those words. Cannot drink without thinking about those words. Cannot blink without thinking about those words. Cannot breathe without thinking about those words.

Cannot. Cannot. Cannot.

They are burned into your brain. Your very being.

Can't or won't?

Chapter Text

The district 1 park was desolate this early in the morning.Golden sunlight shone down apon it,casting warmth over the place.The park was like any other place in district 1,perfect:layground frames glimmer in the suns rays,the grass emerald green as were the trees,paved paths trailed throughout the area in a complex system,selected wild life wondered the park in thier respective areas and not a single piece of litter lay on the floor.

Tommy sighed as he ran after Dream.

The latter wore a white tank top with neon green stitching,black running shorts and a pair of black speedrunners.No mask,revealing a freckled tanned face,emerald eyes,sharp features,scars adoring his face and wavy,dirty blonde hair.The other wearing a similar outfit except with a red tank top instead and nikes in place of speedrunners;just to spite the elder.

"Come on man!It's five am,couldn't we of waited until later for this,prick?"The blonde complained, falling into step next to the taller as they continued running through the park.

"If you can can complain,your not working hard enough,Tommy!"Dream called over his shoulder.He picked up the pace,sprinting forward;making a beeline for a bench that sat infront of a sparkling blue lake.

Jumping over it,his mentor sat on the bench:𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘧𝘧.Tommy followed,collapsing next to the man.

"It's important for you to train and not be a little bitch like Sapnap."The elder lectured,arm snaking around his friend and pulling the blonde into his side.

"Yeah.I can train at,I don't know,a normal fuckin time,bitch.Your just a fuckin sweat.Literally,your sweating all over me right now.It's gross."Tommy spat,no real venom behind his words.

He squawked in protest:Dream having wiped the sweat from his forehead onto the blonde.

"What the fuck!Your such a dick!"He screeched,adding on in a more serious tone:"Dream you just got me wet."

"What!"The hero screamed in reply.

The blonde tried to defend himself but his mentor just continued to scream about how weird he was.After a while of bickering,the two fell into a comfortable silence,watching the swans glide across the shimmering lake.

"The reason i train you so hard though is because I don't want you to get hurt."Dream said,his voice was serious,eyebrows furrowed as he struggled to explain what he was thinking.

The two were alike in that respect,both finding it difficult to voice how thier feeling,fumbling feebly with thier words.It was comforting for Tommy to be the one Dream confided with.He knew it was because he felt comfortable with him:having known eachother for years now.It was also because the blue eyed boy was able to understand how he felt without him needing to say anything;reading his familiar features.

"It's bad because it means I'm attached to you.Your like a brother to me.Family.If you get hurt it's my fault.I don't think i could ever forgive myself..."

"I don't need you to protect me."Though he said it to comfort the elder,there was a stubbornness behind his words due to the belief that needing to be protected made you weak.

𝘗𝘪𝘵𝘺.

"Yes, you do.Your human aren't you?"Dream deadpanned,desperation seeping into his tone as he tried to make the blonde understand:"It's okay to need help,Tommy.I know I'm a fuckin hypocrite for saying that but it's true.You've saved my ass hundreds of times during battle."

"That's because your bad."Tommy huffed,the hero laughing fondly at the words.

"But Nox has always said not to have attachments.They say they make you weak.I'm being to see that thier wrong;they make you stronger.You've shown me that."The taller looked at his friend now,finally making eye contact.His eyes took the ex-hero in hungrily,waiting impatiently for an answer.

But he got none.

Tommy remained completely silent.He just waited patiently for his mentor to continue-knowing even before the man himself that he wanted to say something else.

"But they can be used against you.That's why I haven't publicised that your my sidekick.That's why I refuse to let you go on main missions against the Syndicate with us.I can't do that with Sapnap and George;they made thier choice long before we met eachother-signed thier rights away.But i can prevent you from making that choice.I know it's selfish and wrong and controlling and cruel and hypocritical and exactly like Nox.But I can't lose you.You're all i have."By this time Dream spoke frantically,leg bouncing up and down rapidly as tears fell from green eyes.

Tommy'd only seen Dream cry a handful of times.When he was told his family had all died during the war.When Tommy,George or Sapnap got seriously injured.And when hero life became to much;bottled up emotions over flowing all at once.

But,this gave him a decent amount of experience.Enough to know what to do in order to comfort his brother.

Pulling the man into a tight embrace,Tommy's words come out quiet and soft compared to thier normal loud abrasiveness:"Hey,it's okay.It is selfish and semi-hypocritical."He chuckled out;laughter infective,the dirty blonde joining quickly."But that doesn't matter to me because I don't care about being your sidekick publicly.I already know I'm your sidekick I don't need a big announcement for it.I don't want to go on the Syndicated missions because I'm a pussy.I'm fuckin terrified of the Angle of Death,Blood God and Siren."

Moving back,teary green met smiling blue:"I like being a hoax Sweeper.I didn't become a hero because I wanted to be number one nor be the most powerful.I wanted to be with you.I wanted to help people.I wanted to be like a vigilante:focus on civilians's lives."

Dream laughed wetly,pulling the blonde back in for a hug:"I'm so proud of you,Tommy.But i dunno that was quite clingy.You've gone soft."

"Fuck you,bitch!You fuckin started it,you highlighter fuck!"The younger screeched,trying to get out of the hug-his attempts were futile.

The elder tightened his grip-laughing as the blonde struggled.

___

The elder tightened his grip-laughing as the blonde struggled.Only to be forced to let the boy out of the headlock,Tommy's boney elbow making contact with his stomach;winding him.

"Yeah!Fuck you,bitch!"The younger screamed,waving his middle fingers infront of the man.

Rolling his eyes,the man pulled the shorter into a side hug and began down the path.

The brunette wore brown plad trousers,a maroon jumper,black dms,gold rimmed circular glasses,a navy scarf with matching pair of gloves,a beanie,a black winter coat and multiple layers underneath to compensate for the cold weather:he looked warm and cozy.The blonde beside him wore blue jeans(with holes in them),a dark green hoodie,a navy blue gilet and a pair of speedrunners-he looked freezing in comparison.

The district 8 park was buzzing.The sun was out but it was freezing.Snow carpeted the floor and fell elegantly from above.Children run around happily,playing in the snow and having snowball fights,in thick winter clothes.Couples walked dogs,old people fed birds and teenagers smoked cigarettes.The park was like any other place in district 8,underfunded:playground frames peal and rust,icicles handing from thier frames,squeaking as children climbed on them,the grass was over grown and full of weeds and flowers,currently obscured from view,replaced with white icing.Trees looming high above,carved with the promises of partnership,slippy dirt paved paths trailed throughout the area in a complex system,wild life roamed the park and litter lay on the floor.

Wilbur spotted a mirky frozen over lake that sat in the centre of the park and sat down on it's bank;taking the blonde with him.They sat silently looking out at the lake for a time.The older only moving to pull the blonde in closer and wrap the two of them in the warmth of his coat.

"My family laughed at me when I rushed out the house to get here...They'd just got home from work and it was wierd for them that i was so focused on this when we've got bigger shit going on."The bespectacled man huffed out,frosted smoke trailing from his mouth,warm smile unconsciously pulling at his chapped lips.

"Admittedly,you probably looked like a dumbass.You look shit enough now so it wouldn't surprise me."The younger quipped,smirking.

"Yeah.Yeah.You cant say shit,prick.Your cuticles are nonexistent.Your shivering and you haven't slept in like what?Three days?"

The blonde remained silent for a moment,only to shiver uncontrollably,lips turning slightly blue;he didn't complain though,content with leaching the warmth from the elder.

"You know why i think,they laughed?"Wilbur asked,staring down at the blonde,who shock his head in response."I think they laughed because they were happy.Happy that i had something to worry about that wasn't what's going on in our lives.Happy that I've found someone to care about who isn't job related.They think your helping me...There right.You've helped me alot.I care more about the little things now.I notice and help people who appear to be having terrible days.Your the only person who i can truly be myself with.With my family I can't say certain things in fear of appearing weak.But with you..."

"I get that,man...You've helped me too,mabye,still a bitch though.I sometimes ask for help now.I took some of your pity-"

"Not pity-"

"I fuckin even spoke about my 'trauma'!We're like brothers."He smiled,looking towards his friend,waiting for the normal answer;an inside joke that brought smiles to both thier faces.

"Yeah...yeah we are like brothers."Wilbur answered,resting his head ontop of the blonde's,a fond smile on his face,he stared out at the pond.Three children had began ice skating on it now.Tommy looked at the elder in confusion,body tense,before smiling brightly and relaxing;following the brunette's gaze.

"Come on,"Wilbur said,standing from his spot,hand out stretched for the blonde.Taking it,Tommy stood up.

"Where we going?"

"Well king,we are going to go get you some layers.I'm not getting put in prison for giving some gremlin hypothermia.But for now,you can borrow this."He draped the shorter in his winter coat,slinging his arm around the blonde's shoulders.

With that,the two left the park,making a beeline for the nearest clothes shop.

____

When Tommy woke up,the first thing he noticed was that he was not on the cold concrete floor of his old HQ.No.Instead,he was on the sofa in his old HQ.𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯.𝘗𝘰𝘨.Secondly,he noticed that he had no shirt on.𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.Thirdly,the red of his powers was scuttling up his arms.𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘪 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘥.𝘖𝘳 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.Finally,there was a man.There is a man with him.𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵...𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺,𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵...

The man,like Tommy,had a red hoodie on,dark red trousers and pink shoes.The thing that drew Tommy's attention most thought was his mask:it was red(matching his hoodie),covered the entirety of his head,neon yellow lenses for eyes,a thick vermillion line tracing his jaw and a purple stripe circling his forehead-like a crown.A sword was slung across his back.He had lean muscle that was extremely defined;more like Dream than Blood God, who was all muscle.𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘩,𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘯.

The man(𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘯),had his side to the boy,busying himself with the monitor infront of him.

"Ow do?"Tommy questioned:𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘪 𝘢𝘮 𝘴𝘰 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨!

The man jumped ten foot in the air,falling of his chair at the boy's question:sword already in hand and pointing at the blonde.Letting out a releaved sigh,he jumped up,back on to his feet and put his sword in its holster.Leaning against the table,obscuring the shorter's view of the monitor,he crossed his arms over his chest:"Hello."His voice was deep and monotone,similar to that of Techno's-Wilbur's brother-and British...

Putting his hand into his pocket,he grabbed something and threw it at Tommy;the boy caught it easily.It looked like a semi-dampener(𝘕𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘮𝘪 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳)but it had a weird pink block poking out of it.Looking up at the man,the blonde raised his eyebrow.

"It's a power dampener,a permanent one,that doesn't break.You can take it on and off freely dont worry.If you press the pink block,it activates.Click it again and it deactivates."

Visibly relaxing,the shorter slipped it on."Who are you?"

"Could ask you the same thing."

"Yeah but i asked first."

"I'm Sandwich.You are?"The name was familiar to the boy but he couldn't quite work out why.

"Tommy."

"Well,Tommy.I'm very smart and just the best vigilante ever and will commit world domination one day.So i know who you are,Charged and or Crimson."Sandwich stated nonchalantly.

He was unaware of the internal spiral that the blonde was going through.This guy knew he was Charged and Crimson.Which meant he knew he wasn't dead and could easily hand him over to Schlatt.However,he was a vigilante and given Charged's reputation,would most likely respect him a little bit.How Sandwich knew who he was?That was a mystery to him.Actually,he should check that out.

"How the fuck do you know that?"Tommy leaned forward from his spot on the sofa.

"Welp,there's the fact that you have the hero symbol on your wrist and the mask in your bag.But also,the massive burn scar on your back and the fact you used your powers in your sleep kinda gave it away."He replied in a monotone drawl.

"Yeah..."The blonde laughed,rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment: "Wait.How'd the scar help?"

"When Mirrage died,you got hit in the back with lightning so obviously your gonna have that scar.I know that much about Charged because I'm a loser.Also,why are you here,in the Pit,of all places?Not like it's a bad thing or anything coz people here love you."Sarcasm dripped from his tone,drawing a laugh from the blonde.

"Eh,well i got in an agreement with my friends and stormed out of my apartment.Didn't know where to go so i just fuckin ended up here.You know?"Tommy answered recounting the events.

"Errr,no."

Suddenly,the radio went off:

ꜱʟɪᴍᴇᴄɪᴄʟᴇ ɪꜱ ꜱᴛɪʟʟ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ʜᴇʟᴅ ᴄᴀᴘᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɴᴏ ᴡᴏʀᴅ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ʟᴀꜱ ɴᴇᴠᴀᴅᴀꜱ,ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪꜱ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠɪɢɪʟᴀɴᴛᴇ.

ʜᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ʜᴀʟꜰ ᴀ ᴅᴀʏ ʟᴇꜰᴛ ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ʜɪꜱ ᴇxᴇᴄᴜᴛɪᴏɴ.

ɴᴏ ᴏɴᴇ ɪꜱ ꜱᴀᴠɪɴɢ ʜɪᴍ.

Standing,Tommy charged forward;he needed to save Slime.Desperate to escape,only to fall.Luckily,he was caught by a red cube that had appeared infront of him;supporting the frail boy.

"Woah,there Tommy.Your a god and definitely can walk right now but let's get you sat down,yeah?"Ever monotone and sarcastic,Sandwich rushed forward,helping Tommy return to his seat.Now sitting side by side on the blood stained coach,the blonde realised why the name was familiar.

Sandwich,Tommy now recognised as the SandwichLord:the greatest vigilante ever.Tommy had started devoting his time to watching these videos online of which Sandwich could be seen doing intense parkour arcoss buildings and other things, effortlessly.With powers that summoned red,orange and pink cuboids of whatever size he wanted,wherever he wanted them to be;they could be floating in the air or attached to a building.Red being able to move freely in the air while still being stable enough for one to stand on.Orange giving him a jump boost of sorts.Pink attaching to objects.

"I know you!Your the SandwichLord.The greatest vigilante ever and the best person at parkour!"The shorter explained,waving his arms around enthusiastically.

"You know who i am?What are you a stan or something?"He inquired,leaning back on the coach,hands behind his head.

"Yes.You are so cool."The ex-hero was deadly serious in his words.

"Your ligit the most famous vigilante and seen as the most powerful.If you think I'm good then I'm a absolute god."Sandwich's yellow eyes moved,showing that one of his eyebrows had lifted up.

"Which you are."

"Right.You wanna tell me why you were in a pile of blood when i found you but have no wounds that I'm aware of?"He deadpanned motioning to said pile of blood.

"Sandwich,my friend,my hero,you see when i lose control of my powers,i throw up blood.It's a normal thing,truly."Tommy stated nonchalantly.

"Right.Because i do that all the time.It's definitely legit."

"I need to save Slimecicle,though."

"I mean,I'm bored and you are not physically able to do this yourself,loser.I'll help you."The taller shrugged.

"You can be my sensei!"Tommy laughed,practically vibrating as he shock the other;putting his hands together and bowing his head.

"Yes,my student.I am your sensie."Sandwich stated,blocks appearing above where his mouth should be and forming a moustache.They both laughed at this.

Only to be interrupted by gunshot from outside,followed by a choir of voices.Glancing at one another,they waited.

Footsteps could be heard from every direction.Stopping for a moment before continuing.

Bang.

The radio fell from the table,turning back on at full blast:Another one bites the dust echoes against the metal warehouse's walls.Before glitching out and leaving them in silence again.

It's silent.

No footsteps.No choir of voices.No gun shots.Just silence.

"In here!"A man's voice screamed.

Silence again.

Silence.

Silence.

Silence.

BANG!BANG!BANG!

Gunshots rattled the building.Bullets raining down apon them,pearcing the metal walls.One skimming Sandwich's shoulder,another entering Tommy's bicep.They both grunted in pain,the blonde turning off the dampener and creating a crimson dome around them;protecting them.

"What the fuck do we do ?!?"The ex-hero whisper shouted.Sandwich didn't respond straight away,instead opting to get up and retrieve Tommy's bag.Pulling out his Crimson Crusader mask and throwing it to the boy.Then he crouched down infront of him, back facing the blonde.

"Mask.Now.And climb on.We're gonna get nowhere with you in that condition.Now let's show these losers who SandwichLord truly is."The man smirked,standing tall once the ex-hero had climbed onto his back like getting a piggy back from his older brother because he scrapped his knee.

"Yeah!Fuck em up Sandwich!"

Tommy kept the force field up until them reached the door.Sending a red block flying at the metal,the door opened.Sprinting forward,Sandwich began his work.

A red block appeared infront of them,Sandwich jumped on;gun shots continued to follow them as well as the choir of voices and footsteps.It carried them forward to the closest building,pulling up next to it,an orange one appearing bellow them.Stepping of the red,Sandwich let them fall.Tommy screamed clinging closely to the man.

Making contact with the block,the momentum built by the fall,with the added jump boost,sent them flying upwards and onto the closest rooftop.

Running forward,the vigilante began parkouring across the rooftops of the Pit.

The buildings were dishevelled and grim:a concrete jungle.The perimeter was made of dirt ceiling and dirt walls:the Pit sat hundreds of feet under the earth.Neon signs and LEDs lit the streets in vibrant colours,contrasting the drabness of the architecture.Merchants littered the streets,selling weapons and wierd crystals from thier pop up booths.People,mostly criminals,shifted through the streets.All shouting and pointing at the pair as they travelled onwards.

Suddenly,Sandwich missed his clutch.Before catching himself and continuing forward:"As you can see,at this crucial moment,i land the block clutch.Just kiddin."

Tommy laughed before questioning the man:"Where we going?"

"I don't know.That was my house.Unless you count the spot reserved for me in Pandora.I got nothing."He jested,pushing forward,taking twists and turns to avoid predictability:helping them lose thier tailers.

"I got an apartment.Stir left,go to West Side and take the district 8 425 exit."

His partner nodded.

After ten minutes,Tommy spotted something.Five men stood on a building they were approaching:Blood God,Siren,Sapnap,George and Dream.

"Er,hey Sandwich?We got some obstacles coming up..."The blonde pointed out,lifting his finger in thier direction.

"I'm going to make the epic gamer mode decision of running through them."He stated bluntly.

"YOU FUCKIN WHAT!"He screeched as the taller stirred forward.

"Crimson?"Sapnap asked starring in shock at the two approaching figures.Everyone else's heads whipped towards them;jaws on the floor.The cigarette that had hung lamely in Siren's mouth fell to the ground with a his-extinguishing itself.

"I'm an absolute god."Sandwich roared as he charged through the group.Sending Tommy into fits of laughter,though he was okay enough to flipp the group off on thier departure:"Suck my dick!"

___

The two made it to the exit in record time.Slipping into the sewers and onto the streets with ease;masks hidden away safely in pockets.The taller supporting the blonde completely,arm around his waist,the younger's arm slung across his shoulders,the man holding his wrist.

Sandwich noticed how the shorter avoided looking at his face;respecting his secret identity.A fond smile slipping across his face as they hurried to the boy's apartment.

Wisp sat at the front,feet on the desk and a man behind him:christmas hat fucker."Hi Tom!"He smiled kindly at the boy,gaining one in return with a quick wave from Sandwich;which lead to confusion.Which furthered as the men noticed the ex-hero's obvious stumbling.

Hurrying up the stairs,Tommy threw the door open,ushering his friend inside.Closing the door,he collapsed into a pit of coughs;blood splattering onto his carpet.

Sandwich,immediately at his side,pulled him up and helped him to the coach.Fetching a glass of water for the boy.Once the coughing stopped,the blonde reached to his side,turning on the radio.The broadcast said as followed:

ᴊᴇꜱᴛᴇʀ ʜᴀꜱ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴅɪꜱᴄᴏᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ɪɴ ʜᴏꜱᴘɪᴛᴀʟ ᴀɴᴅ ɪꜱ ᴜɴᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴛʀɪᴇᴠᴇ ʜɪꜱ ᴇᴍᴘʟᴏʏᴇᴇ.

ꜱᴏ,ꜱʜᴀᴅᴏᴡ ʜᴀꜱ ᴇxᴛᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ ᴇxᴛʀᴀ ᴅᴀʏꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴏᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ɪᴛ ᴜᴘ ꜰᴏʀ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ.

ɢɪᴠɪɴɢ ɢʀᴏᴜᴘꜱ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱʏɴᴅɪᴄᴀᴛᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ ɢᴀɪɴ ᴀɴ ᴀᴅᴠᴀɴᴛᴀɢᴇ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴊᴇꜱᴛᴇʀ.

"We have three days...We've got this."Sandwich reassured the blonde,patting him on the back.

"You think?"

"Yes.But you need to rest.Let's get you some sleep and we'll start again in the morning,yeah?"The taller suggested,already helping the blonde to his feet.

"Yeah alright.I got work though and i need money for rent so I've gotta go in."Tommy groaned.

"That's alright.Whilst your at work,I'll do research and brainstorm everything.So by the time you get home we'll be half way there."He smiled at the blonde,placing him on his bed.

"Thank you sensei."The ex-hero grinned,calling to the taller as he left the room.

"Teaming with you is the worst idea i have ever had."He called over his shoulder,sarcastic as ever.Smile growing at the sound of the blonde's offended squawks.

_____

The next day,Tommy hurried to work;having woken up late.Sandwich was still sleeping when he left but the blonde had made him breakfast and left it on the side.

His coughing continued.

A pack of tissues sat securely in his pocket;to catch any blood that would inevitably fall from his mouth.

His day dragged on.Filled with annoying costumers and coughing fits.Wilbur coming in five minutes before his shift ended.

"Hey Tommy."He said,voice crocky.The man was crying,glistening cheeks,eyes puffed up and red.

The blonde had never seen Wilbur cry.He'd always seen the man as this untouchable martyr that nothing could break.Of course,he knew Wilbur got stressed and was wierdly scared of himself.But Tommy had always thought the man could deal with it.He spoke about his feelings so freely and elaquentley it seemed impossible for him to struggle with opening up.

Here he was though.

Crying.

So,the ex-hero acted as he would if it was Dream.Rushing over to the man,Tommy hugged him:"Why you crying,big dubbs?"

"Oh,that...works stressing me out a bit.Nothing for you to worry about."He waved it off,stepping away from the blonde,changing the subject."How long till your shift ends,king?"

"Five minute-"The boy interrupted himself with a fit if chesty coughs.Pulling the tissue from his pocket,he waited it out.Once the coughs died down,he crumpled the vermilion stained tissue(so Wilbur couldn't see what was on it)and went to sit down;feeling faint due to the intense coughing.

"You good?"The brunette asked,worry evident in his tone,hands hovering over the blonde's shoulders.

"Yeah,yeah.I'm just a bit sick.It fuckin sucks.But eh I've had worse."The blonde stood once more,shoving past the taller into the break room.

Apon collecting his coat,the ex-hero waved Ash goodbye before strolling out the shop,the elder hot on his heels.

"You free tonight?Because as annoying as you are,I could really use the distraction."The taller rattled on,arm slinging across the blonde's shoulders.

"No,I'm not...Sorry Wil.I've got a friend round."Tommy spoke,voice small and full of remorse.

"Oh."The brunette said,arm dropping from its place apon the younger's shoulders.

"You could ask your brother if he wants to do something with you..."The ex-vigilante suggested,shuffling on his feet uncomfortably at the other's silence.

"I'll see you tomorrow,Tommy."The man said,voice dark,eyes stormy.

"Oh,okay.Bye Wilbur..."The shorter's voice was small and unsure as he turned and hurried to his apartment.

What he failed to notice was the tissue that fell from his pocket.What he failed to notice was Wilbur picking it up.What he failed to notice was Wilbur standing,staring at the tissue in silence for twenty minutes before moving again.

_____

"Alright,so here's what we know.Shadow has Slimecicle and is keeping him in the Palace Arcade-a shop in the Pit.Technically,we could just go there now but I don't really wanna die if I'm honest.Doesn't sound very appealing."Sandwich huffed,sitting across from the blonde on the floor.

The two had been at it for a good couple of hours now-stopping occasionally for Tommy's coughing to die down-yet they had hardly found anything.

"The Palace Arcade probably has a blue print we can use to work out the best place to enter and exit.As well as this,we can try and work out were Slime would be kept."Tommy suggested,the taller nodding in agreement.Pulling out his phone,they got to work.

After a trip to a print shop,they had everything they needed;taking the remainder of Shadow's count down to complete thier research-five hours remaining on the clock.The apartment was now a mess of paperwork.Wall sized blue prints of all five separate floors of the Palace Arcade were pinned up.Yellow sticky notes annotating them and adding extra information.The floor was in a similar state with paper obscuring the carpet from view,mugs of coffe pilled up on the tables and photographs of Shadow on the kitchen island,one word scribbled onto a yellow sticky note sat with the photographs:'Powers?'

"Okay.So we enter from the Southeast window and travel from there.Stick together.We can't take Shadow alone but we may stand a chance together.I'll do most of the heavy lifting.You just get Slime when we find him and get him out of there."Sandwich instructed like a general.

"Got it."Tommy answered.

With that,the two suited up.Both men donned in black:stealth suits.Of course there respective masks gave them away a bit but they didn't have the time nor the funds to fix that.

“Hey,Tommy?”Sandwich asked, all suited up apart from his mask.The blonde made a noise of acknowledgment,still focused on changing.”Could you turn around a second?”

“Uh,yeah sure.Why though?”He asked,confusion lacing his tone.Turning,the blonde shrieked,hands flying to cover his eyes.”I am so sorry.You should of fuckin warned me,man!"

Walking forward with a smile,Sandwich moved Tommy's hands away from his eyes:"If we're gonna be teammates,we have to trust eachother.I know your identity and I've seen your face.Might as well make it even.Plus if I die I need someone to identify the body."He stated bluntly.

Tommy slowly opened his eyes,looking up at his friend's face.He had short brown hair,almond shaped,caramel eyes and soft features.The taller grinned down at the boy mischievously,the blonde copying it perfectly:"Ready to go show those losers not to mess with SandwichLord and Crimson Crusader?"

"Fuck yeah."

____

The Palace Arcade used to be a mall but closed down decades ago.Now,the once grand building was left a graffitied mess of peeling paint and smashed in windows.It was three stories high with two layers of basements.A neon sign stood proudly at the front of the building,finally on again after decades of darkness,casting navy and crimson on the surrounding area.

Crimson and Sandwich sat perched on the building opposite.Watching as the dream team,the Syndicate and the Hermit Craft gang approached the entrance;other less known people following in behind.

A sour taste settled on Tommy's tongue as he looked at the dream team.George and Sapnap trailed behind Dream,whispering to eachother.The green clad man held his head up high,stalking forward with an air of authority,Schlatt's symbol embroidered on the back of his hoodie.

There was no sign of Nevadas.

"If we sneak in the front and keep our heads down,we can get in scot free."Tommy pointed out,turning to face his partner.Sandwich's eyes were still focused on the crowd of people entering the building.

"It's funny memes time."Sandwich states in his British monotone,a smile spreading across his face,including the blonde to do the same.

"Teammates?"

"More like student and sensei."He elbowed the blonde in the side playfully.

"Yes,Sandwich Lord.Oh you are so great and wise.Please continue to teach me your ways."The two laughed joyful,sharing a look filled with excitement and determination before fist bumping.

Silently,they jumped of the roof,Crimson catching them both with his power.Making sure to keep the other at arms length,they joined the sea of people.

Feeling safer,now that they had eachother.

Chapter Text

"I thought you said no splitting up?"Crimson whisper screamed at Sandwich,flailing his arms around frantically.

"We need to know if he has back up.Plus it doesn't seem like Slime is in here,just saying.Unless you count the jelly over there."The taller explained,pointing to the buffet.

"Fine...make sure you keep me updated on coms,prick or I'll start stabbing shit.Imma go investigate the buffet real quick,it looks a bit sus."Crimson huffed,slipping from his partner's side and swiftly making his way to the buffet.Grabbing a can of coke,sticking a straw in it so he can drink with his mask on,he inspected the mall.

The main area of the mall was filled with people:villains,bounty hunters,vigilantes,heroes and mercenarys.High ceilings,blinding artificial lights,a microphone stood at the top of the rustic escalator,pealing wall paper,litter scuttling across the dirty white tiles and a buffet.𝘈𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘺.

Shadow stood at the microphone,higher than everyone else in order to proclaim thier dominance and utter control over this meeting.Sitting on the top step,arms resting on thier knees and hanging down,fingertips almost touching the grated metal of the steps.Thier whole aura was drenched in boredom as they observed those bellow.The thing that irked Crimson the most was how they had no back up in sight.No body guards and no goons.Shadow thought they didn't need them.Completely confident in thier abilities.

𝘚𝘮𝘶𝘨 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳.

Taking a long sip of his coke,the ex-hero followed Shadow's lead and inspected the guests.In the far corner,outside of a closed down clothes shop,stood the Syndicate.But not just Siren,a squadron of goons and Blood God;the Angle of Death stood beside the two.

Angle was short in comparison to the other two.He wore long verdant robes,complemented by a twin bucket hat with white stripes,black trousers and a matching turtleneck,boots specially deigned to take impact and a black feathered mask that covers his eyes.A pair of midnight wings erupted from his back,puffed up to make him seem more intimidating;it worked.Everyone else other than the three Syndicate leaders avoided the group like the plague-not even daring to glance thier way.Glinting in the artificial lights,from where it hung from his hat,was his claim to the Syndicate-an emerald.

The pinkette leaned against the front of the shop,like Shadow, radiating boredom.His ruby eyes stayed trained on the black clad figure at the top of the escalator as he conversed with his teammates.Siren had a cigarette hanging out his mouth,taking it out to either add to the conversation or to let the chemical filled smoke tumble from his lips.His other hand clutched a silver hip flask in nicotine stained fingers;a disgusted look on his face as his eyes raked over the crowd.

A flash of neon green caught his eye.The dream team waltzed over to the villian group and invaded thier space.Acting like old friends as they began to converse.Sapnap and George continued to stay separate from Dream.

"Just sweeped the building.Shadow's got no back up."Sandwich's monotone voice crackled through the blonde's coms."I'm making my way back now."

"Okay,Sensei.You should try this jelly.It's pog."Crimson replied.Garnering a sigh from his partner at the nickname.

Turning his attention back to the groups,he found that both Siren and Dream were staring at him intensely;none of the other's had even acknowledged his existence.The ex-vigilante could tell by thier body language that they were both shocked to see him.

A shiver ran up his spine.

Dampener still clinging closely to Siren's slim wrist.Taking a quick swig from his flask,he made a move to approach Crimson only to be stopped by his teammates to join thier conversation.

Dream,as well as Schlatt's symbol,had changed something else about his costume;his shoes.He'd always complained about nikes and as soon as his brand came out he never wore any other.But now,the man wore a pair of nikes Tommy had brought him as a joke a couple years back.Crimson could tell the hero's eyes(even though they weren't visible)had trailed down to the blonde's own choice in footwear:speedrunners.Tommy vowed to never wear speedrunners when Dream brought him the pair he's wearing.The hero's continued to stare at him;he could feel now that his mentor was staring into his eyes.Fist clenching and unclenching.The boy ignored this thing only one thing.

𝘏𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦.𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩.

Now with two people staring at him,he felt very uncomfortable.It felt like standing infront of a massive crowd about to do a speech.Or laying on the floor of a desert,ravens circling around up above;waiting for him to die.𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘥 𝘫𝘶𝘹𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘯.

The crowd of people fell into a sea of whispers,Shadow stood from thier seat.All eyes turned to them,except Siren's,Dream's and Crimson's.

"That jelly looks shit."Sandwich stated bluntly,appearing beside the blonde and placing a firm hand on his shoulder;squeezing it reassuringly apon seeing the tension in the boy's body.

Both Siren and Dream's eyes moved momentarily to the shorter's teammate;tilting thier heads in unison.Sandwich noticed:"What they staring at?"

"You.Because your very hot."The shorter stated jokingly,laughing as the other gave him a death stare;getting a smack to the back of his head.All the while,the two opposites watched on;thier thoughts unreadable.

"I'm sure your all wanting to get this over with;I am too.So let's get stared.First,is anyone able to hand over either Crimson or JSchlatt?"Shadow's voice echoed throughout the room,eyes scanning the occupants for a volunteer.

"Look,Sandwich.The only way we're gonna get to see Slime is if there's useful information.If I'm fuckin honest I doubt anyone here will have any;these fucks aint that smart."Crimson spoke up,turning to his friend.

"What are you suggesting?"The taller asked,a concerned,confusion lasing his tone.

"Two options.One,we give me up to Shadow-"

"No fucking shot."

"Or we give them information."

"What information?"

"Tell them I'm Charged."He stated bluntly,a nonchalantness in his words that no normal person would have in this position.

"What!Oh my goodness.No.No."Sandwich spoke frantically,hands coming up and holding the boy's arms."The second you do that Nightmare will have his rioters looking for you!"

"So what?I already have Schlatt's men after me.If people find out I'm Charged that could get rid of some of the bounty hunters."Annoyance seeped into his tone.

At his words,the taller stared at the floor for a second before looking back at his friend,yellow eyes furrowed in concern:"Do you want that though?"

"What?Of course i want those bounty hunter fucks off my back.Have you meet Punz!"

"That's not what i meant.What i meant was do 𝘺𝘰𝘶 want to be Charged again?"He stressed,searching ocean blue eyes desperately for an answer he already knew.

"I-..."The blonde cut himself off,unsure of how to answer;he looked at his shoes.Then to Dream and Siren,who were still staring at him.Then back to his shoes.

"If i were you I wouldn't want to.Having to go back to being Charged without Mirrage, who was by your side through it all,would be difficult.It wouldn't feel right..."Sandwich trailed of,voice softer then usual.

Tommy considered this:Would he be able to return to being Charged?He had little control over his powers as of current.If anything coming back would destroy Charged and Mirrage's legacy.

Legacy.

Purpled always went on about the word:legacy.It was important to him.His mother and father had ingrained the word into his skull.The boy would cry as Tommy held him,rambling about how he'd failed to obtain his legacy,he cared that much about it.So focused on what he was going to leave behind that he was unable to focus on the present.But he'd made his legacy;one of the greatest legacies.

He died a hero.A revolutionist.A vigilante.A council member.A martyr.A best friend.A brother.

𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵.

Sighing,he looked at his friend':"How are we going to get Slime back,then?"

"We'll wait for this loser to reveal where Slime is.Then one of us will cause a distraction whilst the other gets him."

Crimson nodded.The pair fist bumped,turning their attention back to Shadow.

"Alright,then.Do any of you know where Crimson or Schlatt are,exactly?"They questioned,annoyance evident in their tone.

Nobody raised their hand but Hive.Crimson's eyes widened,mouth agape as Hive and Ender waltzed through the room.

𝘛𝘶𝘣𝘣𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘣𝘰𝘰.

"They aren't supposed to be here..."Confusion coated his words,eyebrows furrowed.

"Why not?"The taller asked.

"They said they weren't going to.Too much of a risk or something..."

"Hive.Ender."Shadow stated,staring at the two intently,body tensing.

"This is it.The distraction.We could reach the second floor on the elevator.They'll be so distracted by those two that they won't see us.I bet they've got Slime up there.It's the one place I didn't check."Sandwich whispered,tugging the shorter by his sleeve;leading him into the darkest for cover-towards the lift.

"You know we weren't even planning on showing up to this.But then we realised your a dick,you know?"Hive said,stopping in his approach-forcing the villian to descend the escalator.Muffled laughter filtered through the room at his words.Ender stood a step behind their partner,both vigilantes holding their heads high.

"What's the reason you didn't want to come?Your vigilantes aren't you?Your supposed to save people.Why wouldn't you save Slime?He's one of you."Shadow inquired,a mocking hint in their voice,they stopped mid way down the escalator.

Crimson and Sandwich made it to the second floor,crouching low and staying out of the onlookers line of sight.

"There!"The shorter whispered,pointing to the convenience store on the right.

Slimecicle sat propped up against the counter.Dried blood stuck to his face,bruising and scabs adoring his complexion;no dout others littered his skin underneath his suit.

"We weren't going to save Slime because your a wildcard.A loose cannon if you will.It would be suicidal to show up with no foresight.But a friend said something to us.Actually they just guilt tripped us.Their a bit if a dick if I'm gonna be honest..."Tubbo trailed off,only now noting that all eyes were on them.

"Slime...Slime?"Crimson approached the man,shaking him lightly before checking his pulse-though it wasn't quite needed.The vigilante's chest rose and fell slowly,breathes shallow and stuttering."He's alive.Just unconscious."

"Oh yeah?What was it that this friend of yours said that caused this impulsive righteousness?"Shadow's voice was ever mocking as they continued down the stairs,reaching the bottom.

"Can't or Won't."Ranboo this time stepping forward to meet his friend.The words hung in the air like the smoke from Siren's cigarette.Hanging to the occupants and making them listen;silence fills the room.

Shadow scoffs."Right.I just remembered that I don't care.What information do you have that could help?"

"I'll carry Slime.That means you can focus more on doing the parkour thing and getting us the fuck out of here.Also,if any of these bitches tries to intervene,your better in combat."Crimson explains.Him and Sandwich working together to get the vigilante on his back - piggyback style to even out the weight.

"Nightmare is in Nevadas.The casino to be exact.Crimson was spotted here earlier.Hand Slime over."Tubbo commands,crossing his arms over his chest.

"Well thank you,Hive was it?But that isn't worth much.Anyone else got anything?Or was this a waste of my time?"Shadow asks,waving the vigilantes off,turning their gaze to the others.

Silence...

BANG!

"Oh you fuckin bitch."Crimson groaned in annoyance,looking down at his partner who'd just walked head first into the elevator and was now lying on the floor;alerting everyone of their position.

"You saw absolutely nothing.Nothing was seen."Sandwich hissed at his teammate,hands cradling the front of his head.

Everyone's eyes snapped towards the source of the sound.

"What the hell?"Shadow shouted,running up the escalator to the source of the sound;the other occupants following closely behind.To be met with Crimson giving an unconscious Slimecicle a piggyback ride and Sandwich writhing in pain on the floor.

Pulling the taller to his feet then proceeding to push Slime into his arms,Crimson pulled out his staff - electric blue crackling in the darkness."Get him out of here.I'll meet you back at base."He barked out over his shoulder having stepped infront of the two to act as a form of shield.

"Alright...DONT get your ass kicked and die.I don't think imma be able to fix up this dude's wounds very well."Sarcasm dripped from Sandwich's words.

A red block went shooting towards the window taking it out.Next,it came hurtling back.The vigilante jumped onto it(Slime securely on his back).Flying out the window once more,not returning-they'd escaped.Several of the people gathered(including Siren) tried to follow,running to the window only to stop;seeing the two story drop.

"That's fine.I got what I wanted anyway."Shadow stated bluntly,waltzing towards Crimson.

"Ladies,ladies...let's just calm down real quick,yeah?Solve our problems with words not violence."Siren smirked stepping out of the crowd.

"No please.Let them fight.It's more entertainin."Blood God added,steping out next to his teammate.

"The little shit deserves to get his head kicked in for handing Time Warp over to Nightmare."Sapnap snarled,attempting to walk forward.George grabbing his arm and keeping the hero from decking Crimson.

Tommy huffed at the words.𝘚𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴...𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰.The ex-hero didn't stand up for himself.He didn't care,if he was honest,about his reputation at this point.The public would hate him either way.So instead he replied with:"Arson say his fuckin name you pussy."

Sapnap did not,George whispering that it wasn't worth it and pulling the ravenette further into the crowd.Crimson smirked.

Swinging his staff up,it met Shadow's,the other had tried to pull a sneak attack on him.Kicking his foot into the villian's stomach,Shadow went crashing to the floor.From their spot on the cool tiles,they swang their foot out,sweeping the other's feet out from under him.

Instantly,they both scrambled to their feet.Circling eachother,weapons raised.A dance of two shadows.Alike in stature and fighting style.Both agile and swift.The occupants watching on.Cheering as if it were a boxing match.

"Your better than expected,actually."The villian stated bluntly.Jabbing their own staff forward,their opponent twisting his body left-dodging it.

"You have fun fuckin scrapping together what little information there is on my fighting style,bitch boy?"Crimson quipped a smirk ever present on his face.He caught the swing amid at his knees.Twisting his wrist round and redirecting the other's hit to the left.

"Alot.You fight like Masquerade but bad."Shadow snarked,members from the crowd snickered.The villian's back now facing the audience;the two stood still-Tommy's back faced the (now) shattered window.

The blonde laughed to himself at the words because yes he did fight like Masquerade.However,that wasn't 𝘩𝘪𝘴 fighting style.He'd always been quick to take new things up.So when Charged died,he changed fighting styles to mask his identity.Picking Dream's way up in a matter of weeks.Also picking up George,Sapnap,Karl and Blood God's methods too.

𝘓𝘦𝘵'𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘵.𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳.𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵.

"Oh you have no idea."He grinned,darting forward.

Shadow dodged only to get stunned in the back.Crimson's staff,crackling with electricity,slamming into it,sending the other tumbling.Sliding to a sideways stop, facing his partner.

"Bruh.Dude just stole my move."Blood God huffed in annoyance,impressed smile on his face saying other wise.

"This is gonna be more fun than I anticipated."Shadow huffed,once again going back into battle.The crowd singing with rage.

They jumped up,swinging their batton down and clanging it against Crimson's.The villian pressed down using all their body weight to bring the other to the ground.Before they could,Crimson side stepped to the left.Slipping his batton out from under the other's and hitting the them in the face.A wet crack echoed through the room:Shadow's nose was broken,they let out a scream in pain.

Clutching their nose for a second they, looked up at the other,anger radiating from them."Your gonna pay for that."

"What?We'll match now.I broke mine a decade ago though."Crimson quipped innocently.

Shadow sent their staff in a wide arc,onslaughting into the other's ribs-Tommy let out a grunt in pain.The villian pillaged their opponent's side repeatedly;bones shattering,sending them jutting out of his suit, dribbling blood down his side and screaming in pain.Bringing his own batton up to hit the other's shoulder;the villian glissading to the left-avoiding it.

Shadow's fist slammed into Crimson's boney wrist;he'd been able to prodict the blow coming for his jaw.Counterattacking the hit with an upper cut,butt of his metal staff connecting with the lip of the black mask;electricity bolting up the mask and electricating the villian's face.Sending thier body backwards into the air,crumbling to the floor.

𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴,𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥.𝘐𝘵 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘴.𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸.𝘐 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦.

Crimson backed up,breathes coming out raspy due to his ribbs shrieking in pain,cool wind biting at his mangled side.Siren stood beside him at the window,the man staring intently at him.A plan formulated in the ex-hero's brain;not very well thought out, his brain was distracted by his screaming ribs and pushing oxygen out of his lungs.

"Siren..."He rasped quietly,the man in question moving closer to hear the shorter's words."I have a proposal..."

"I'm listening..."He answered though he sounded unsure.

"Here's the deal.I'll break your power dampener."The brunette immediately perked up,fingers subconsciously brushing against his dampener."If,you'll use your powers to make sure this fuck doesn't chase after me when i leave."

"So if you don't make it out,I don't have to do shit.But if you do I'll tell them to freeze for an hour?"He questioned,thinking over the deal as the blonde nodded.

"Deal?"Crimson asked,watching with tense shoulders as Shadow picked themselves off the floor.

"Deal."Siren agreed.

"Your powers might take a couple of seconds to come back so just be ready."

Shadow was immediately on the offence apon regaining their composure.Sprinting forward and barbarically smashing thier batton down on Crimson's,forcing the other to retreat backwards;stopping as his feet reached the edge of the window.Dodging the attacks,the ex-vigilante flicked his wrist,sending vermillion sparks at Siren's wrist;dampener clattering to the floor.

Parrying another brutish attack,the blonde couterstriked the next one.Switching their position so the villian had thier back to the wind.However,Shadow's momentum sent them backwards;sending them out of the window.Defenestrated.

The audience gasped.

Crimson followed his partner,grasping their hand with his left hand,his other clinging to the lip of the window;glass impaling his fingers.Quickly,gaining momentum from the supercharge running through his arm under his suit,he launched Shadow back into the building.A thud shaking the window sill as they made contact with the floor.Cracking tiles,they tumbled into the crowd.

The shaking from the window sent Crimson falling.His hand slipping from the window due to the blood;his middle finger now severed but clutched safely in his hand.𝘕𝘰!𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘪 𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘧!

The blonde tumbled through the sky,flipping onto his front to search for something to latch onto.

He felt the wind wrapping itself around his body.Trying desperately to catch him but lacking the atoms to do so.

Falling.

He always thought this was how he was going to do it.

He'd tried but never quite made it to this part.

It wasn't bad...

It was peaceful.Like listening to the sound of rain.Or the sound of the waves lapping over eachother on the beach.

The beach.Him and Purpled always dreamed of going there.Watching every movie,looking at every photo and reading everybook that had anything to do with the beach.Tommy preferred the beach on stormy days;it reminded him of Purpled's eyes.His best friend prefering sunny days when the sea was crystal clear;it reminded him of Tommy.

Smiling,Crimson spotted something.

A streetlight.

Meters from splattering on the floor beneath,he was able to latch onto it.Hanging there for a moment before his strength gave out.Meeting the dirt floor with a roll that took away most of the impact.

Looking up at the shattered window,he saw Shadow charge towards it,only to freeze as Siren's honey coated words filled the silent night:"𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘻𝘦."

Even though they froze,they were still able to attack.A ruby dagger cut through the air,embedding itself in Crimson's leg-he grunted in pain."I'll be keeping this,bitch!"He shouted over his shoulder,limping into the jungle of alleyways that was the Pit;pain raking his body.

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸.

Chapter Text

Slipping into an alleyway where he and Sandwich had hidden some civilian clothes,Tommy got changed.Taking his time when peeling off the blood soaked hoodie and armered shirt;wrapping the sleeves of both tightly around his middle-stopping the bleeding.Pain racked his entire body,ribbs screaming with the added effort of limping.He pulled a fresh shirt on over the make shift bandages.

Destroying his blood stained hoodie further,he went to wrap the wound in his thigh.Groaning as he realised he needed to remove the dagger embedded in his leg.Biting down harshly on his hand(drawing blood),the blonde yanked the dagger from his thigh;crimson splattering on the alleyway wall.Breathing heavily,he placed the weapon between his teeth,wrapping his wound and pulling on his jeans.

Slipping on his speedrunners,he took the knife from his mouth, inspecting it:a sleek netherite handle,ruby blade and the letter P engraved on it's hilt.The ex-hero froze completely,breathing picking up,vision blurring,hazy blue eyes stared blankly at thier reflection in the blade:realisation hitting in.

𝘔𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦'𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳.

𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥.𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘴𝘦,𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘥.𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.𝘐'𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘪 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.

Placing the dagger in the backpack of torn up clothes,Tommy started his agonising trudge home.

___

Smoke.The first thing he smells apon turning onto his street.

Sirens and crackling and screams and shouts and news reporters and laughter and crying.The first things he hears apon turning onto his street.

Soot.The first thing he tastes apon turning onto his street.

Embers.The fist thing he touches apon turning onto his street.

Fire.The first thing he sees apon turning onto his street.

His apartment is up in flames,smoke leaking into the air above.People and fire engines crowd around the building though no efforts are made to put the flames out.Ambulances sit huddled around the fire,injured occupants laying out on stretchers,medics with glowing hands hovering over them.

Eyes stinging,he watched.Unable to move as his home burnt down.But it wasn't just his home that was being destroyed.This apartment had symbolised a new start.It symbolised hope.Hope that mabye,just mabye,he could get a bit of his old life back.That he could regain some form of normality.A work life separation if you will.He'd made new friends,got a job,an apartment and paid rent every month.Yet here it stood:destroyed.Slipping from his grasp before being gone forever.

But most importantly,it was his chance at being a teenager for once.Working a day job in a cafe.His only anxieties being what he's going to eat to night or when Wilbur is going to respond to his text message about going out that night.The apartment let him be Thomas Innit;a normal teenage boy.Not Crimson Crusader,not Charged,hell not even Tom Simons.

It let him be normal and now it was dissipating before his very eyes.

Panic flared up inside the boy at the sight:𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘩,𝘚𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘦,𝘛𝘶𝘣𝘣𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘣𝘰𝘰.He surged through the crowd,pushing to the front with difficultly-body shrieking in protest.

Suddenly,his leg gave out sending him tumbling to the floor.Before he went face fist into the concrete,somebody caught his arm and pulled him back,he collided with thier chest.Turning around with an awkward scratch of his neck,he thanked them;he was met with silence.

Looking up in confusion,the blonde made eye contact with his saviour.The man in question wore a plain white face mask.Had emerald eyes,sharp features,freckles,tanned skin,wavy blonde hair and a thick scar peaking out from under the mask;running across the bridge of his nose.

𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮.

A wierd feeling tumbled into his stomach.An urge to deck his mentor.The image of his fist connecting with the man's jaw playing repeatedly in his head.Betrayal was the only word he could put the feelings.Betrayal in the fact Dream had blamed him for what happened to Karl.Betrayal in that the hero had abandoned all thier morals and beliefs during the Nevadas raid.But most prominently the fact he'd betrayed the people's trust by teaming with Schlatt.

On the other hand,was an urge to reach out and hug his mentor.He who he'd called brother once still held him in a pitiful grasp.No matter what the man did Tommy would 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 try to save him.He would always sacrifice himself for his mentor.

Arm lifting from his side;mirroring the other's movements.The pair moved slowly,both unsure if thier opposite would expect.The two stared at eachother in equal shock:"Tommy?"

"Dream,I-"The boy was cut off by a shout from his left:the two's long awaited embrace interrupted before it even began.Turning towards the sound,he spotted the apartment residences and receptionists.

"TOMMY!"Tubbo screamed from his spot next to the ambulances.The brunette looked frantic and a bit pink from standing beside the fire but is otherwise unharmed;Ranboo in a similar state beside him.

Glancing back at his brother for a second,the blonde tackled the elder into a hug.The hero wrapping his arms tightly around the younger:neither said a word.Basking in eachother familiarity,the feeling of home finally returning to each man before being ripped away.

Tubbo pulled the ex-vigilante into a bone crushing hug;the blonde struggling to contain a scream of pain,blood that had began to scab at his ribs flowing once more.The brunette was pulled off of Tommy by Ranboo,who hugged the boy too;more gently than their partner.

"What happened?"The ex-hero questioned the two.Dream coming up beside him and placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.Though it was more so for the man's own reassurance.Having the irrational fear that losing contact with the shorter would cause him to be ripped away.

"Nightmare showed up and went welp I'm bored and set the whole frickin place on fire."Ranboo explained waving their arms around frantically,Tubbo nodding along beside him.The two motioning to a spot near by where Schlatt stood,laughing,surrounded by body guards.

Bile rose up in Tommy's throat at the sight of the man.He'd once tried and almost succeeded in killing the ram hybrid.Rage fuelling him to take another's life;abandoning all his morals.The same rage writhed at the back of his brain,longing to slaughter the man for killing his best friend.

Shaking his head,he looked back at his friend's a question sitting on the tip of his tongue:"Is everyone out?"

"Yeah.All residents have been accounted for."Relief filled Tubbo's voice as he replied.Though one word stuck with Tommy.A word that hung in the air selectively for him.

Residents.

"Wait...Is anyone who wasn't a resident out?I had friends round..."He questioned voice dripping with worry,eyes turning to the building.

The vigilante duo turned to eachother with wide eyes."We'll go ask Kit."The monochrome boy replied,voice shaking with worry;the two boys went over to the receptionist.

"Look,I know that I'm a fuckin supposed traitor and all that but setting my apartment building on fire is kinda of a dick move.And teaming with Schlatt?"Tommy confronted the hero,voice hurt as he stared up at the man-a frown on his face.

"Tommy,you 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 to stay out of this.If i was ever your friend,you need to listen to me.I won't tell you this again.I don't allow disobedience.Continue to meddle with something that has nothing to do with you and I'll take you to Pandora myself."Dream seethed,volatile in his feelings-stunning the younger.

"What do you mean this has nothing to do with me,bitch?Schlatt is out for my fuckin head.Plus the basturds just burnt down my house!This has everything to do with me."The blonde met the elder with equal venom,jabbing his finger into the man's chest.

Before Dream could respond,a blood curdling scream rang out.Echoing throughout the burning building,louder then the sirens and the crowd.The scream was heartbreaking,shredding the person's vocals to shredds.The crowd fell silent at the sound all eyes turning to the building.

He knew that voice:𝘚𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦.

Tommy's legs moved without needing to think.Sprinting into the fire,his mentor futilely attempting to hold him back.Dream's voice mixing with Wilbur's(who had just arrived),screaming out for the boy.Both men were held back by firemen and though longing to were unable to follow the boy.

___

The fire was scorching against his skin.Eyes burning,tears running down his face,he squinted at the brightly lit interior.

The whole building was engulfed inflames.A few odd patches remained unlit due to there dampness.The boy's hands quickly numbing in pain as he runs them across the wall to guide himself through the building;thick waves of black smoke blocking his vision.

Tommy's foot met the fist step.

Bringing his shirt up to cover his mouth and nose,he rushed up the stairs.Hacking coughs raking his body,side and leg crying out as he over exerted his already injured body.The blonde tumbled repeatedly in his panicked state.

He couldn't breathe.

Once on the third floor,he bolted down the hallway.Dodging falling debris skillfully,patting out the flames that caught his clothes-grunting in pain.Third,second and first degree burns marauding his already scarred skin.

Flashbacks of Purpled's death resurfacing in his mind.The phantom pains of being struck by lightning haunting his body once more.Awakened by the flames licking his skin;both pains akin to eachother with thier crisping flesh and blistering burns.Flames so hot that apon contact made his skin boil;blisters bubbling and popping constantly-spitting blood and pus out,body disgusted at thier sour taste.

He couldn't breathe.

His hand made contact with the door frame.Slimecicle's tortured screams were so loud the door failed to muffle them.Phantom screams of the three dead from the fire of 2022 bashed around in Tommy's skull.

It was all the same.

Tommy rushing into a building to save people who are unable to save themselves.Friends trying but failing to hold him back.Recklessness over taking reason,screaming that it's a lost cause.Coughing up his lungs as he searches.Hopes lifting when he finds the victims.Only to plummet to the very core of the earth apon realising thiers no escape from the flames.

Everything is the same.

History repeats itself.

𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯.𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯.𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺.𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘬.

The door handle was red hot-boiling to the touch.Instead of making the same mistake as last time,Tommy went shoulder first into the door.Ramming himself against it relentlessly.𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

THUMP.THUMP.THUMP.THUMP.

Squelch.

THUD.

The door and the blonde fell to the floor,sending embers flying into the air.The ex-hero letting out a strangled scream,one of his fractured ribs now digging into an unidentified organ.Coughs becoming more frequent and more gag like,blood erupting out of his capping lips,breathing ever rasping and uneven.

Tommy jumped off the door before it caught on fire;vision spinning,he was losing blood-fast.Snapping his head around back and forth,he spotted Slime:laying on the sofa,T-shirt off to expose his wounds-which hadn't been healed.A mirror shard wedged into his rib cage,bruising slivering up his torso,burns littering his entire body;inflamed bits of skin mixing with ever charring fragments of clothing.

Sandwich was nowhere in sight.An empty first aid kit sat abandoned on the table.

𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴.𝘈𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦.𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘚𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨.

The fire was unbearably hot now,singeing the boy's skin away.Surging forward,he scooped the vigilante up in his arms and rushed to the window.Trying hopelessly to ignore the haunting screams of the other.Tommy's mangled hands shaking violently as they gripped desperately onto the vigilante.Kicking the window open,glass shattered and rained down apon the crowd.

Shocked screams came from bellow,people pointing to the window;hope for the two rising in the citizens.

Looking out,face soot covered and red raw,he saw a matress placed outside the window-to catch them with.Tommy threw the man out of the window,watching as he landed on the matress medics swarming around him.

He couldn't breathe.

A smile spread across his face,relief rushing over the blonde.He'd done it.He'd redeemed himself.The children's souls that clung desperately to his shoulders falling away.Ascending to the stars above,joining all the other souls that shone bright in the night sky.Tubbo,Ranboo,Wilbur and Dream all stared up at him,fear in their eyes;yelling at him to jump.

He couldn't breathe.

He collapsed in a pile of coughing and vomiting on the soldering floor.A pool of crimson quickly forming around the boy.

Crack.

A piece of the ceiling came crashing down apon the blonde;pressing him against the floor.Fire engulfed the debris spreading across to his body.Agonising,tortured screams rattled the building as he burnt alive,skin blistering.

Crimson slowly ate him,powers acting in self preservation.A force field of power engulfing the dying boy,lifting the debis off of him.

Suddenly,the force field exploded.Flames surging outwards,pushing the onlookers back.A tsunami of smoke,debris and embers crashing over the surrounding area of district 8.Washing over the district for miles,spreading out erratically;debris falling from the sky across the district.

A hero and a villian scream in unison,tears streaming down thier faces.Best friends cling to eachother.A dictator laughs gleefully at the chaos he's caused.A boy crashes into a rooftop,chest hardly lifting.A retired vigilante slides to a stop at the sight of a body.

History repeats itself.

Chapter Text

"Don't tell me what to fucking do.Who the fuck do you think you are?"Schlatt's voice boomed through the casino of Las Nevadas.

It had been returned to it's original state by the rioters after the raid:the ram hybrid deciding to make it his headquarters for the time being.Now,he sat at the bar,feet kicked up on the table,cigarette in one hand,bottle of whiskey in the other,paper work sprawled out on the sticky bar.Slicked back mahogany hair leading down into a thick set of sideburns and facial hair,two large ram horns protruding from the either side of his head,giving him the appearance of the devil,blood red tie,a golden ring sitting on his pinkie;crimson power bolting around in it's cage.Rioters stood up straight in the slot machines area-waiting for orders.The villian's most trusted officials crowd around the bar,hanging on his every word with bated breath.

"Sorry,Nightmare.What i meant was that it would be better to wait for Nox or some bounty hunter to find him and them steal him off them."Dolos reiterated with a bow of his head,ginger tail flicking swiftly with caution,hidden behind his overcoat.

"Work smarter not harder."Spy added,stepping forward,up to the fox hybrid's side.

Spy was disguised completely,unrecognisable to all but one.𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥.Donning the enforcers's uniform,except for the mask which was replaced with that of a rioters:the enforcers's uniform consisting of white torousers and a matching shirt with a red collar,sleek knee high boots,a thick vermilion belt and the 16th revolutionary long coat.Nox deciding to wear them in a mocking fashion as they had spare left over from the betrayal.

The betrayal being where the heroes turned on the people once Charged had taken care of Schlatt.Rounding up all the vigilantes they could and chucking them in jail.Nox and the heroes only aiding in the war near the end when the vigilantes were winning,knowing that not helping would lead to a vigilante leadership over Pogtopia instead of thier own.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘺𝘴.

They wore the coats as a constant reminder of thier power.Of the loss of Charged and Mirrage.

𝘉𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘸 '𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶'.𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩,𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭.𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘻𝘰.𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯.𝘐𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳;𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

"That is true,𝘚𝘱𝘺."Schlatt spat the word with venom,a snarl on his face."You got any information worth my time?"

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘣 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳...𝘕𝘢𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘮.𝘗𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘪 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳.

"Nox is planning on using appeasement instead of actually fighting you."Spy replied lamely.

The villian hummed taking a swig from his whisky before answering:"Up until what point?"

"If you invade district 8 they'll start taking action.Nox doesn't care if you take the other ones though.They are considered rebellious in the fact thier still loyal to Charged and Mirrage."The names tasted wierd on his tongue,he swallowed before stepping back into the line of higher ups at Schlatt's signal.

"I suppose me burning down Hive and Ender's building doesn't count as an invasion as of current."He paused taking a long drag from his cigar."I have two fuckers in mind who could potentially get us Siren and Crimson.Connor,get me in contact with Punz and Corpse.The rest of you,get out of my fucking sight."

Turning,Spy began to make his way to the exit like the rest of them.Stopping when Schlatt called him back.

"I need you to hunt down Shadow for me.Thier becoming a problem.I don't care what you do with them just make sure they stay out of my way."The villian stated before turning his attention back to his bottle and paper work.

Spy slipped into the back corridors of the casino,flipping a ruby dagger around in his hands:𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 ?

_____

"Charged?"A Scottish voice called out to him from outside the void of darkness that is Tommy's unconscious state.The ex-hero tried desperately to grasp the voice and bring himself back to the land of the living.Only managing to get out a groan of pain at his futile attempt to move,blinding white hot pain rippling up his body.The person(whoever they were)held him in place:"Go back to sleep.You need to rest."

With that,the blonde fell back into unconsciousness completely oblivious to the fact this man had betrayed him.

____

"Ohhhhh Dream!Ohhhhh Tommy!"Sapnap and George shouted in unison as they chased after the two.

Dream and Tommy stumbling over thier feet in thier haste.Bolting across Pogtopia,aiming to get from the outskirts of district 4 to the Nox tower in district 1 with out being 'captured' by thier other teammates.Captured being when they fought and Dream or Tommy had to yield.

Battered speedrunners and nikes hit the ground hard in unison,lifting off the ground before landing with a thud on hard concrete and repeating the process.

"Alright.Alleyways?"Dream asked,hiding in the fire escape that scaled up the side of a building.The pair's pursuers sliding to a stop on a near by rooftop;oblivious to the two blondes.

"Fuck yeah,bitch!"The younger screamed,jumping into the alleyway without a second thought.The elder scoffed,following the other closely,wheezing continuously at having to tell the shorter to shut up ever time they turned a corner.

Apon getting pretty deep into the jungle of concrete walls,bins and smokers,the two skidded to an abrupt stop;looking up at the dead end before them."You took a wrong turn,idiot."The taller huffed,grabbing the blonde's hand and leading him back to thier last turn.

"What the fuck?You highlighter looking basturd.That was entirely your fault.You were infront of me.Plus I'm never wrong."Tommy whisper shrieked.

Thud.

Sapnap jumped down infront of them-blocking off thier exit-George quickly joining him."Hahah!You got nowhere to run now!"The brunette cackled,raising his fists into position to fight.

"Yeah,bitches!You suck!"Sapnap screamed enthusiastically,mimicking his partner in his stance.

Groaning in annoyance,Dream raised his hands in surrender:"I yield."He was not allowed to participate in the combat due to an injury from the previous night's encounter with the Blood God.

The youngest had other plans.

"Suck my dick,mother fuckers!"Tommy screeched,running straight at the two and,instead of meeting thier punches,dropped to the concrete floor;skidding through Sapnap's overly wide stance.Jumping to his feet and sprinting through the alleyway system:his teammates following in close pursuit.

Turning a sharp corner,he spotted his pathway to the rooftops.Jumping on top of a green dumpster,he leapt onto the fire escape;using the momentum from his initial jump to scale the rusting lader in seconds.His teammates followed.However lost a lot of ground in taking the fire escape without the added momentum from the dumpster.

Tommy laughed freely,wind blowing harshly at his back,pushing him to go faster.Sun rays raining down apon them through cracks in the blue porcelain up above.It felt nostalgic.

A ball of fire sped past him,landing on the rooftop infront of him,forcing him stop:Sapnap.

"Thought we said no fuckin powers,prick?"The blonde inquired,now face to face with the man.

"Yeah,when it's the two of you.Come fight me,pussy.You won't."The ravenette quipped,extinguishing his fists and raising them infront of his face,smirking.

Rushing forward,the younger brought his fist round to the other's left cheek.Meeting the man's forearm instead as he blocked.The ravenette smashing his fist into the younger's ribs,electing a grunt of pain from the blonde.

Fiening a blow to Sapnap's jaw,Tommy kneed him in the balls:the man curling over in pain.

"Tommy,that's the unspoken rule."George tutted,kicking the boy in the back-making him stumble.

Straightening up,the blonde elbowed the brit in the stomach.The brunette grunting before getting the younger into a headlock.Tightening his hold on Tommy he laughed out:"You yield yet,Tommy?"

Instead of answering,the ex-vigilante brought his hand up,grabbing the brunette by the scruff of his neck and yanking him downwards,flipping him over his shoulder:George slammed into the floor with a groan.

Tommy sprinted forward.

𝘛𝘸𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴.

Jump,land,sprint.

𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨.

Jump-

Something wrapped around the blonde's middle,slamming him against a hard surface.Next,he was thrust outward again,towards Nox HQ;dangling hopelessly over the building,unable to save himself.

"You yield yet,child?"Dream's voice mocked him from behind.The man had a firm grip on the back of the boy's suit;the blonde wasn't going to be falling nor getting out of this any time soon.

Huffing in annoyance,Tommy obliged.His mentor plopped him back onto hard concrete,George and Sapnap sitting on the lip of the building,waiting behind the green clad hero.Slinking his arm around the younger,Dream led him over to the other's.All four of them sat side by side on the edge of the building;watching the city bellow.

"Your an idiot.You should of watched your flank.That was like,the first thing i taught you!"Dream explained,elbowing the younger in the side-getting a rough shove in return.

"At least he lasted longer than you!"Sapnap quipped,giving the Tommy a fist bump;the two flipped the green clad hero off.

"But Tommy sustained more injuries."George explained,putting his hands up in mock surrender as the two glared at him.

"Yes!Yes!Get fucked!I got George on my side!I automatically win!"Dream called out smiling widely behind his mask.

"I fuckin hate you,your a green bitch.Next time I'm teaming with Sap.He is superior in every way.Plus he actually gets bitches."Tommy explained,crossing his arms.

"Oohhhh.Fuck you Dream.I'm the favourite."The ravenette explained,pulling the blonde from his mentor's side.

"What!No.I'm the favourite obviously.He's my sidekick!"The eldest blonde shot back,reaching for the boy in question-who'd been stolen from his clutches.

"Ladies,ladies.Lets work this out like civil humans.Whoever gets me takeaway the quickest is my favourite."The youngest suggested,a smirk pulling at the corners of his mouth.

"Done."The two men said in unison,both racing off to get the blonde takeaway.

George sighed,standing up with a groan,about to follow the other's before Tommy interrupted him:"Don't worry Gogs.Your my favourite."

"You just wanted them to get you takeout didn't you?"The brunette raised his eyebrow,falsely unamused at the blonde's antics.

"You know me too well George!"

___

The first thing Tommy felt apon returning to consciousness was the lack of pain.Being replaced with what felt like a dull buzzing running up certain parts of his body.The pain wasn't as prominent as it probably should of been so that means he's been drugged.𝘖𝘩 𝘪 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬!

Groggily,he opened his sleep crusted eyes.He was lying on,yet another,sofa but in a house not an apartment.The walls were teal in colour,white lase curtains drifting in and out of the open window.A TV sits in the far corner,the sofa(which the blonde is lying on) and two chairs huddle around it:coffe table separating the two,a pair of red tartan pajama bottoms and a white T-shirt sit neatly folded on top of it.The back wall is lined with books and a door sits to the boy's left.

Slowly,with great effort,the ex-hero stood from the sofa.Looking down at himself,he realised he was just in his boxers.What he had expected was for the majority of his left side to be wrapped in white bandages;ribbs a mangled mess.However,that was not the case.No instead,his body had zero injuries but a few new scars had popped up:overlapping jagged white lines both new and old on his ribbs,hands a patchwork of newly healed burn scars,along with a massive burn scar where flames had licked his left arm all the way up to his jaw.

"Healer."He mumbled to himself,eyebrows furrowed in confusion:he didn't know any healers.

Something clattered to the ground on the floor directly bellow him.

Turning back to inspect the room,his eyes landed on the clothes on the coffe table.Swiftly snatching them from the table,he got dressed,taking an embarrassingly long time;body not quite cooperating.

Steadying himself with a hand trailing along the wall,much like he'd done the night before,he walked out of the room.The blonde zoning in on the walk instead of limp;someone had healed him completely,not just the major injuries.

Once down stairs,he headed for a slightly ajar door,light shining through into the dark hallway.A waft of pancakes hit him apon entering the room.The kitchen had a black marble island in the top right corner,a fridge, draws,microwave,toaster,kettle and an oven surrounded it in an L shape.Bottom right consisting of a cabinet (filled with food),a washing machine,a drier and a clothes bin.A glass sliding door in the corner leading to a roof terrace,home to greenery of all sorts,a black table and deck chairs,a man sitting on one eating pancakes.

Tommy made a beeline for him,plopping himself down beside the man;Purpled's dagger hovering over his adam's apple.

"Scott."He spat,glaring at the man.

"Tommy."He answered with a smile,cutting another piece out of his pancakes as if there wasn't a weapon at his throat.Scott had changed alot over half a decade:short violaceous hair,pale blue eyes,a white turtleneck,navy trousers,purple boots and a lagoon blue robe with gold lining and shouder pads.The man's mask sitting on the table;a golden gas mask covering up to his nose with what appeared to be galaxies revolving in the filtration parts.

"Give me one good reason not to murder you right here."The blonde commanded,writhing with anger.

"Awww Tommy.You still up set that we kicked you out of the council for killing Mirrage?"Scott mocked,waving his fork at the blonde before taking another bite of his food.

"You of all people would know that I didn't kill him."

"Yeah i do.Which is why I know you won't kill me."The purple haired man stated bluntly,leaning back in his chair and pushing his plate over to the blonde.

Picking up the fork and taking a mouthful of pancakes,the blonde questioned the man:"Why the fuck did you save me?"

"Schlatts back.Your the only one who can stop him.Plus unlike most i still follow the 'Charged Laws' and i think your alright."He shrugged in response.

"The fuck you kick me out the council for then?"The ex-hero seethed.Ignoring the call to action on taking down Schlatt.

"It wasn't my choice.Jester had the entire council against you.One vote against all the others doesn't account for much.Anyway,you didn't even need it in the end.The people rallied when you called.Not when Jester did.You didn't lose anything except for a tile.A tile that doesn't matter anymore anyway because the council disbanded."Scott explained cooly,sliding a glass of water over to the boy once he finished devouring his food."Tommy.When was the last time you've eaten a proper meal and not just take out?"

The blonde smiled awkwardly at that,disappearing into his chair.Sighing in exasperation,Scott slouched in his seat:"For as long as you stay here,I'm shovelling healthy meals down your throat."

The pair sat in a peaceful silence for a moment;basking in nostalgic company and the early morning sun light.

Inspecting the view from the balcony,Tommy saw that they were in apart of the outermost rim of Pogtopia,where it was more town like then city:they were in Origins.A little supermarket sat opposite Scott's house.An old woman walking out of it with a warm smile on her face as she admired the lilacs she had just brought.

𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘴.

The sky was a pallet of warm pinks,oranges and yellows.The colours dancing around eachother gracefully,smiling down warmly at the quaint little town.Slowly,the sun crept up from her spot beyond the horizon,fresh smile on her face at the knowledge that a beautiful day was to come.A couple of the brightest stars still remained;watching over thier dear ones from above.

Tommy looking directly at the same star as always.

𝘏𝘦𝘺 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱,𝘐 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬...

As usual,he got no response.

"Alright.Let's get you up to date."

"Up to date?"Tommy questioned,perking up in his seat.

"You were unconscious for a week."

"YOU FUCKING WHAT?!?"

"Shush.Let me finish."The elder exclaimed,holding a finger to his lips before continuing."Alright so,not much has happened.People are upset that Nox didn't do anything to stop the fire.Everyone thinks your dead.The Syndicate had another run in with the dream team:Siren got Arson to set 404 on fire-he's hospitalised for the time being.But that's about it."Scott stated nonchalantly.

Tommy's first feeling was guilt.Guilt for what happened to George.He'd broken Siren's dampener.If it wasn't for him George would be fine.However there was a more pressing matter then his guilt that he could actually do something about:Sandwich and Slime.

"Slimecicle and SandwichLord,are they alive?"The blonde's tone was filled with desperation,leaning forward in his chair,impatient for an answer.

"Slime is in hospital.I don't know about SandwichLord.Honestly i have no idea who your talking about.But it's been reported that Slime has only had one frequent visitor;a young man with brown hair and eyes.But that's all i know.Oh and also Corpse and Punz have been hired by Nightmare to bring you and Siren in."

Relief flooded over the boy knowing his friends were safe and that they were together.However,the news of his new hunters elected an almost strangled groan out of the boy as he scrubbed his face with his hands:"Fuck me.I'm going to be caught in the next fuckin hour if those dickheads are after me."

"Yeah...Things ain't looking great for you Tommy."The healer added unhelpfully.

"Thanks for the input Smajor your so wise."The blonde rolled his eyes,cringing at his inner Purpled coming out."I need to go see Slime.Do you know what hospital thier in?"

"Yeah.But I'm not telling until you have a shower:you stink of smoke and burning flesh."Scott deadpanned.

"Fuck you."

"I love you too Tommy."

Chapter Text

By the time the blonde had finished getting the stench of smoke out of his hair,it was raining outside.Once having put his clothes back on,he clambered down the stairs and bounded into the kitchen."You got a coat and some shoes i can borrow?Permanently."

"Yeah i probably have some of your old stuff from before the 16th."Scott mumbled,shuffling into the hallway and returning again.He carried a pair of battered white converse which had been doodled on in familiar handwriting and a purple and black nike windbreaker:both belonged to Purpled.𝘜𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥.

(Tommy failed to notice the uncannyness and impossibility of Scott having the one of the objects:the windbreaker.Mirrage had died in that windbreaker.His body,along with all his clothing,had been disintegrated by a bomb that was dropped in district 13.)

He hadn't seen them in years.Tears fogged up his vision as he stared at the familiar doodles on the shoes;depicting a pair of sick figures(Charged and Mirrage)riding skateboards,a noughts and crosses game that both of them cheated on,along with many others.Slowly feeling the fabric with his thumb,smiling slightly at the stitches holding ripps together along with the name tag inside;lovingly labelled 'loser' by Tommy.

"He would of wanted you to have them,not me."The healer dismissed the boy,walking over to the kitchen and taking a seat;tip tapping away on his computer.

The blonde mumbled a quick word of thanks,slipping on his friend's shoes and pulling on the windbreaker.Catching the metal rectangle that was thrown at him with ease:"What the fuck!"

"Your don't have a phone so i got you one.But it's only got my number on it because your lonely."The purple haired man deadpanned.

"Wow.Thanks Smajor.I'll see you on the bright side."Tommy replied,walking to the door;Scott hot on his heels.

"You better text me every week and no more pot noodles or I'll kill you."

"Yeah.Yeah."The blonde waved him off,opening the door.

"Before you go,let me ask you something.When are you going to deal with Nightmare?"The healer's question hang in the air hauntingly.

Mocking Tommy.

Because he knew he had to fight Schlatt.He was the only one who could beat Schlatt.Pogtopia would be doomed to be ruled by a dictator without his aid.The people would not rally together for revolution without his help.

But he was scared.Not scared terrified.

Terrified of facing the man without Purpled at his side,helping him.Terrified that without Purpled he wouldn't be strong enough.Terrified that the people wouldn't follow him without Purpled.Terrified that he would fail.𝘈𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯.

He didn't win last time.Charged didn't kill Schlatt.He'd failed.He'd won the battle but not the war.𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘸.𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩.𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴.

The blonde stayed silent,hands shaking so violently that he feels the need to shove them in his pockets, hiding them from view;a piece of paper sits in the right pocket.Scott sighed,pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Purpled would of wanted you to take down Nightmare.He loved the people of Pogtopia more than anything.If you won't do it for them,do it for him."He said remorsefuly,smiling reassuringly at the boy.

The words are a phantom of those said by a best friend before his death.Words he once took in his stride.Now though,he cannot.It's a different person-not his best friend.The words don't have the same weight as they did when the life was slowly draining from the one constant in your life's eyes.

He failed last time.Why repeat something that only leads to failure?

"Bye Smajor."The ex-hero turned his back on the man,making his way home.Holding his hand up in the air,only the ring finger down:the symbol of the revolutionaries of the 16th-Charged and Mirrage's symbol.

Once on the tube,he remembered the paper sitting in his pocket,pulling it out,he stared at it;a fond smile on his face.It was a poloride of Charged and Mirrage(who's holding the camera)sitting on the edge of a building,watching the sun set over district 13.Charged holds up a middle finger at the camera,blue slushy in his other hand;Mirrage holding one in his left hand.Beneath the picture Purpled had written a note in neat black pen:'Me and Toms getting slushys!'

The use of the nickname dragged a tear from Tommy's eye.He quickly wiped it away,looking to see if anyone had seen.The blonde slipped the photo into the inside breast pocket of the wind breaker.

𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘱 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶,𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱.𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮?𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘶𝘮 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦.

𝘐'𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘺.

___

"Right this way kid."The receptionist instructed,leading the boy through the pristine white tiled corridors;the boy holding his tongue to stop himself from cussing the woman out for calling him a kid.The place was desolate but Tommy didn't expect it not to be;it was currently three am.A handful of nurses hurry down the halls occasionally but that's about it.

The two arrived in the burn unit after what felt like an endless treck.Receptionist abandoning him outside a door,hurrying back to her station.

Quitely,Tommy opened the door,slipping into the room silently and closing the door behind him.The room was basic,white walls and floors,a hospital bed pushed up against the wall,next to a large window that looked over the city.Slime lay immobile in the bed,IV trailing out of his arm,heart rate monitor steady.The vigilante was wrapped in bandages head to toe basically but his face was only semi-covered.Sandwich sat asleep in a chair next to the man.He looked a little worse for ware;hair disheveled and bruise like eye bags.

Sighing,the ex-vigilante took off his coat and put it over the brunette as a form of blanket.Slowly,he sat down beside Sandwich with his back against the bed and closed his eyes.

Slipping into unconsciousness .

___

"𝙎𝙪𝙥 𝙗𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨!"𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙙,𝙙𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙤𝙣'𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙣,𝙗𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨.

"𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙙.𝙒𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨,𝙙𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙨.𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙖𝙨𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙡𝙞𝙣 𝙗𝙤𝙮."𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙗𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧,𝙟𝙪𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙢,𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢-𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙠.𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛𝙛.

𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙧,𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘼𝙞𝙧 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨,𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙠 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙨,𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙤 𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚(𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨).𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚 (𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚) 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧.

𝙊𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙮𝙨,𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙣.𝘽𝙚𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙟𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘼𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣.

"𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙙,𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚!𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝙖 𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙢𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪!𝙒𝙚'𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙙𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙞𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚'𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨."𝙎𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮,𝙨𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙙𝙚.

"𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚.𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙨?𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙚𝙨.𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙟𝙤𝙗 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢."𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚;𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙞𝙯𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙.

"𝙊𝙝 𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙤𝙙.𝙃𝙤𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙨,𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚!𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙬𝙚'𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝘿𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢!𝙃𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙬𝙚'𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩."𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙣𝙪𝙙𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮,𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙡𝙮,𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝.

"𝙃𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙡𝙮,𝙬𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙙.𝙋𝙡𝙪𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙟𝙪𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙝𝙞𝙢."𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙧𝙪𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙙.

"𝘋𝘳𝘰𝘱 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘴-"𝙎𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙,𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙨.𝙃𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧,𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙣𝙤 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙗𝙤𝙮𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙘 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙨.

𝘽𝙤𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣,𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙧 𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨;𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙞𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙮𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧.

𝙎𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙣'𝙨 𝙟𝙖𝙬,𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣'𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙨𝙣𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨;𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙣.𝙃𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙖 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙜𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙧,𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚,𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩;𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙣'𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙡𝙚,𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚.𝘼 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙡 𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣,𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮.

𝘽𝘼𝙉𝙂!

𝘼 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛𝙛;𝙎𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙣'𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙧.𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙞𝙧,𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮'𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧-𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙣."𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙚𝙧."

𝙌𝙪𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙮,𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙤𝙣,𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮,𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙤𝙣.𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙥𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙩,𝙨𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙡𝙩𝙨 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮;𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚.𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚.

𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙂𝙤𝙙'𝙨 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙣.𝙆𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝.𝘿𝙤𝙙𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚'𝙨 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙨,𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙣𝙤 𝙚𝙣𝙙:"𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙖 𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣'𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪?"

𝙎𝙡𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣'𝙨 𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙨,𝙝𝙚 𝙟𝙪𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙧 𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣'𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨,𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙨.𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙂𝙤𝙙,𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝,𝙧𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨.𝙍𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙡,𝙨𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧.

"𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙙!"𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙪𝙧𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙩,𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚.

𝙎𝙣𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙚'𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙'𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥,𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙮 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢.𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙨 𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚'𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙡,𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙.𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙙𝙖𝙮.

𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙜𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙎𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜;𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚.𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖 𝙨𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙬𝙠 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙣,𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙥 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙,𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙧.𝙎𝙠𝙞𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙥𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥;𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙚,𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙧𝙖𝙬 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙙.

"𝙏𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙠."𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙙,𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙗𝙮 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚.𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙡𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙙𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙗𝙞𝙣,𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙣.

𝙍𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙,𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙨𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙡𝙪𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙡.𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙,𝙙𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧 𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧."𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚?"𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚.

"𝙄'𝙢 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙚..."𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙡𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩.

"𝙔𝙚𝙖𝙝,𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙝,𝙗𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝.𝙇𝙚𝙩'𝙨 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚."𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙚𝙙,𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙟𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙥𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙮𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙚.𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙛𝙛 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙜𝙤,𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙚𝙮𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙛𝙛 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙.

(𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙣'𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙗𝙞𝙜 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 16𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣'𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙮𝙖𝙡.𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙧 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙮 𝙧𝙪𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚.)

𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩,𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙮 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚;𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚.𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙪𝙨𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙨 𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙟𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣.

____

Tommy awoke to the air being knocked out of his lungs:"What the fuck?"

Sandwich had woken up a second ago and practically thrown himself into the blonde;wrapping him in a bone crushing hug."Oh my goodness,i thought you were dead."Relief practically dripped from his words,a smile evident in his tone.

Found smile pulling at the corners of his mouth,the ex-hero returned the hug:"It takes alot more than a fire to kill me!I'm the fucking best!"

The pair laughed,the taller finally pulling back from the blonde,sitting beside him."You only lived because you have such a good Sensei."The vigilante deadpanned,reaching for the plastic bag that sat beside his chair.He pulled out two gronola bars,passing one to the blonde.The two ate in silence,content with simply basking in each other's company for the time being.

"How's Slime doing?"Tommy asked once finished with his food,slipping the wrapper in his pocket.

"The doctor said he was going to be fine.Being discharged in two days but we are homeless since your house you know."He explained.

"Shit.Well one of us could go look for an apartment while the other stays with Slime."The blonde suggested,unconsciously pulling out the poloride and fiddling with it.

"I'll find and apartment,you haven't spoken to Slime yet and he keeps asking for Jester."The brunette decided,eyes falling on the picture in Tommy's hands."That you and Mirrage?"

"Yeah..."

"It's a good photo but I thought it would of been destroyed in the fire?"Sandwich was confused which is fair enough.His partner had just shown up after a week of being presumed dead.

"Oh.An old friend of mine found me and healed me at thier place.Which is why I'm not all fucked up like Slime.This healer used to heal me and Mirrage in the old days so he has some of our old shit."The shorter explained.

"Oh,you mean Smajor?"

"Yeah.You know him?"

"Yeah he heals vigilantes sometimes.Did he tell you about Corpse and Punz?"The vigilante's eyebrow raised in question.

"Yep.We're fucked,mate."The ex-hero threw his hands up in the air in explication.

Sandwich chuckled,"Yeah but I'm a literal god.We'll be fineee."

The blonde gave him an unimpressed look before rembering something:"Do Tubbo,Ranboo and Will think I'm dead?"

"Everyone thinks your dead?"Hesitation and confusion clung to the words;he didn't know any of the people his friend had just listed off.

"Welp.At least i memorised thier numbers.I'll message them whilst your out."Tommy decided,pulling out his phone.Taking Sandwich's quickly and adding the man's number to his phone before returning it.

"You do that.I should probably go apartment hunting so we're not homeless in the next couple of days.I'll get some food whilst I'm out and try find a job or something,i dont know."The taller shrugged,standing up and leaving the room,both conscious boys muttering a quick good by to each other.

Unlocking his phone,the boy put in three new contacts using the numbers he'd memorised. Messaging all three people with the exact same text:'Sup bitch'.Before putting his phone back in his pocket.Leaning his head back on the bed,he closed his eyes waiting for Slime to wake up.

After three hours,Sandwich still not back,Slime woke up."Hello stranger!"He beamed down at Tommy,face inches away from the blonde's.

"WHAT THE FUCK!"The boy screeched,scrambling away from the bed and rising to his feet.

"Where's Sandwich?And why are you here Stranger from the Hospital 2?"Slime inquired,sitting back in his bed.

"Wha-Oh!It's me.Crimson Crusader."Tommy explained after a moment of confusion.

The Slime's face lit up suddenly,eyes bulging out of thier sockets."Crimson Crusader from Nowhere!Jester says we don't like you any more because you killed Charged.But that's impossible!How does someone kill themselve and still be alive?It's a gumpous idea that makes no sense!Like Squid game!"

The sour taste of betrayal embedded itself into the blonde's tongue at what Jester had said.The man had been on the council and (using his knowledge of law from his degree) was able to convince the council that Charged had killed Mirrage;𝘋𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥.Jester had seen how close Tommy and Purpled were and knew for a fact neither of them would take another's(let alone eachother's)life.The villian had done it in an attempt to gain power.He wanted to take Charged and Mirrage's spot as the leaders of the revolution;seeking the people's favour.But when he tried to rally them they did not comply.Instead rallying at the red clad vigilante's call.

Tommy looked at the Slime in confusion at the last part;𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘵."Wait,how do you know I'm Charged?"Worry seeped into his tone apon realisation.

"I'm able to become a slime so i take no damage and i can sink into all the damp crevices!"Tommy practically gaged at the word."Jester calls me a spy sometimes.But you already knew that."The vigilante explained.

Tommy felt dumb due to the explanation,knowing that it was obvious.Dream had made him memorise ever hero,villian and vigilante's name,power and threat level.

𝘐𝘧 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘦'𝘥 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨.

"Yeah...Sorry I forgot.Do your burns hurt?"The younger asked,rubbing the back of his neck anxiously.

"Not right now-they put me on drugs.But don't tell anyone:drugs are bad."The vigilante whispered.

"Wait,earlier you called me Stranger from the Hospital 2.Is Sandwich the first one?"The question was supposed to be rhetorical;the blonde believing he was right.However,it was not.

"Nope."Slime poped the the p before continuing."The first one said their name was Shadow.But i don't know anyone called Shadow so their still a stranger."

Tommy froze.The room dropping in temperature,world freezing for a second.Shadow.Shadow,who is after him,has been here.Shadow who'd almost bested him in combact.It felt like the world was collapsing in on itself.Fear taking over all reason.The boy was terrified but Slime looked calm as ever.

"Is he gone?What did he say to you?"The blonde's questions came out frantically,spilling from his mouth before he could think them through.

"Shadow left ages ago.Said they were worried about me.I don't know why.Thier strange.They kept on telling me that they had to find Crimson.When i asked why they just said they wanted to speak with him.Something about a window, killing Charged and saving their life.I don't know though.Their a gumptious fella!"A smile remained on the vigilante's face throughout the story;Shadow obviously hadn't hurt the slime hybrid.

Letting out a sign in relief,the blonde engaged in the pairs normal laughter filled conversations;both happy to see eachother again.But Slime had to get his bandages redone and be pumped with drugs which sent him to sleep.This left Tommy to his own devises without socialisation.

Pulling out his phone he saw an array of messages and calls from his friends.The latest being:

ʙᴇᴇ ʙᴏʏ
ʙɪᴄʜ ᴘɪᴄᴋ ᴜᴘ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴜᴄᴋɪɴɢ ᴘᴏɴᴇ ꜱᴏ ɪ ᴄᴀɴ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴇᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱʜɪᴛ ᴏᴜᴛ ɪꜰ ʏɪʏ

ꜰᴜᴄᴋꜰᴀᴄᴇ
ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ,ᴛᴏᴍᴍʏ?ɪ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴀᴄᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ ᴀʟɪᴠᴇ ᴏʀ ɴᴏᴛ,ᴘʀɪᴄᴋ.

ʙᴏᴏʙ ʙᴏʏ
ᴘʟᴇᴀꜱᴇ ᴛᴇʟʟ ᴜꜱ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ.ᴛᴜʙʙᴏ ʜᴀꜱ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴛᴇɴɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʙʟᴏᴡ ᴜᴘ ᴘᴏɢᴛᴏᴘɪᴀ ɪꜰ ʜᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴡᴀɪᴛ ᴀɴʏ ʟᴏɴɢᴇʀ.ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ꜱᴜʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴀʀᴍᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ʜᴇ ꜱᴀʏꜱ ʜᴇ'ꜱ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ 'ᴄʟᴀʀᴛ' ʏᴏᴜ?ᴡᴇ'ᴇʀ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴘᴀᴛʀᴏʟ ɪɴ ᴅɪꜱᴛʀɪᴄᴛ 8 ɪɴ ᴀ ᴍɪɴᴜᴛᴇ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ ꜱᴏ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴀʙʟᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴍᴇᴇᴛ ᴜꜱ :)

Smiling,Tommy shot Sandwich a text saying that he was going out but a nurse was staying with Slime;he got a thumbs up in reply.With that,the blonde left the hospital,roaming the streets in search of his friends.

Chapter Text

Pebbles of rain dropped from gloomy clouds,creating ripples in the ocean like puddles that lined the streets.Storm drains overflow,bubbling as they spill mirky water into district 8.The streets becoming a painting of metallic rainbow swirls and disfigured reflections.Dim orange light illuminates the desolate streets,revealing a lone figure.Converse filling with water as they wonder through the night:soaked purple windbreaker sticking to their skin,head up,searching for something on the rooftops and in the haunting alleyways that lead only to violence.Shivers continuously onslaught him,attempting to keep him warm-he doesn't care.A grin plasters onto his face,he's spotted them.

"Hive,Ender!"The blonde hollered his friends as they speed across the wet rooftops;the two skidding to an abrupt stop,water jumping up and sinking into thier clothes.The vigilantes looked around frantically before locking eyes with the boy,identical smile appearing on the trio's faces.

Ender dissipates into a handful of purple particles before quickly reappearing at the blonde's side;tackling him in a hug.Hive quickly followed,tackling both boys into a hug with such power that the three ended up in a laughing pile on the floor.

Sitting up,they grinned at eachother,the vigilantes bursting out into laughter when the blonde shivers violently before repeatedly sneezing."Alright boss man,lets get you to a diner for some hot food."The brunette shook his head disapprovingly,helping the other two up.

"Did you miss me?"Tommy grinned,a mocking hint in his voice.

"No."The brunette responded.

"Yes."Ranboo stared at their partner blankly as they got a punch in the arm."What the heck,man?You spent the last three days crying to me over him."

"Tubbo,your so clingy."The blonde jested laughing as the boy in question lunged at him.The two sprinted down the street,brunette attempting to grab the blonde and failing:Tommy had longer legs then Tubbo and was just naturally faster.

"Boob boy!Fucking help me!"The ex-hero screeched out,slipping on the road and skidding down the steet.He quickly regained his footing,sidestepped the shorter and looped back round to the monochrome boy.

"You gotta expect your fate,man."Ranboo shrugged,not helping the blonde in the slightest."There's no escape,trust me.I've tried.For five years."

The blonde screamed as a raging Tubbo fell apon him,playfully beating him up:"Tubbo,Tubbo!I yield!I yield!AHHH-"The brunette got off him."Oh thanks...bitch.Fuck you."

"Wow.That-that actually went a lot better then expected.Damn."The tallest helped the blonde to his feet.

"Let's go get food!"Tubbo cheered bouncing down the street happily.

The two other boys gave eachother a confused look before hurrying after the shortest.

After five minutes of walking,the three bounded into the diner-the two vigilantes slipping on large trench coats,they'd stashed away in an alleyway,to hide thier costumes.There were only three people there apart from the boys,one being an employee.Black and white checkered floor,large rain spotted windows replaced the first three walls,vermillion cracking leather booths and black stools surrounding the counter.The smell of coffe wafted through the air.

"Booth or bar?"Tubbo questioned,though he already knew the answer.

"You know me,Tubbo.Only pussies sit at the bar.It's the one universal rule."The blonde explained,waving his arms around frantically.

"Isn't the universal rule not to look down?"The tallest inquired,slipping into one side of the booth,their partner following.

"No,it's never kick a guy in the balls."Tubbo stated bluntly,picking up the menu and scanning through it with difficulty.

"Not if it wins you the fight."The purple clad boy slid into the seat opposite his friends.He didn't pick up the menu like his friends had;he already knew his order.He noticed one of the other people in the diner putting some money on the table for the bill before leaving;one other customer remained.

"That just shows that your weak."The brunette huffed,putting down the menu-Ranboo followed suit.

The employee started to make their way over to their booth,clicking their pen.

"So,where were you for the last week?And how the heck are you not injured?"The monochrome boy asked leaning forward in his seat.

"I was fucking unconscious for that entire week.Some healer picked me up,healed me and let me stay at his place for a week.They seemed decent."Tommy shrugged,turning to the employee as they approached;sending them a friendly smile.

"What can i get you today?"They asked.

"Can i just get a black coffe please."The blonde answered first,the other to following swiftly after:Tubbo got some waffles with honey and fruit,Ranboo got a cheeseburger and fries.The two were starving after a busy patrol.The employee hurrying back over a couple minutes later with their orders.

"Since when did you drink black coffe?"Tubbo asked,shoving a big mouthful of waffle into his mouth.

"Ughh.Wilbur got me fuckin hooked on it.He's like a fuckin dealer man!The prick gets in your brain and manipulates you into liking everything he likes.Fuckin look at this."The blonde pulled out his phone,clicking on spotify and showing his friends his playlist."These are all songs Wilbur likes!He's fucking manipulating my music taste and everything!"

"Tommy,"The brunette put his hands over the blonde's,"He's a girlboss."

The blonde and monochrome haired boys gasp in unison;drawing the attention of the other shop dwellers.Leaning forward,the trio conversed in whispers.

"How'd you know for sure?"Ranboo inquired,eating a couple of fries.

"Yeah,Tubbs.Who'd you know?"The ex-hero added,stealing some fries-their owner squawking in protest.

"Well,from what you've described it's apparent that this bitch gaslight,gatekeeps and manipulates you.Those are the key characteristics of a girl boss."The brunette stated knowledgeably,lavishing in wisdom.

"How do i stop him?"Fear coated Tommy's words as he stole more of Ranboo's food,gaining a pained:"Aw,come on man!"

"Girlboss him back."Tubbo stated,cackling evilly;once again drawing the diners occupants attention.

"Mmmm yes.Murder."The monochrome boy stated,the blonde fist bumping him in approval.

___

The two vigilantes left soon after they'd finished their food.Ranboo had acquired a couple of injuries on patrol and Tubbo had school work to get done;he was doing a engineering and coding course.

Tommy was left alone in the diner with the employee.The other customer had left shortly after the vigilantes.The blonde hadn't seen their face because it was shadowed by their white hoodie.As well as this,they wore black jeans,white Air Forces and a golden chain hung from their neck.

The white hooded person stuck out like a sore thumb to Tommy;they didn't fit in.The golden chain screamed wealth but not drug dealer wealth like most people in the lower districts.No.They were suspicious and definitely participated in illicit activities.The blonde didn't need to see their face to work out where they were from,it was obvious.

Obvious in the way they walked.Obvious in the way they counted their money before handing it to the employee.Obvious in the way they kept their face hidden.Anyone who'd been there would be able to recognise where the person was from:they were from the Pit.

Sighing,the boy scrubbed his face with his hand,ridding the person from his mind:he would most likely never see them again.His phone pinged-he checked the message.

ꜰᴜᴄᴋꜰᴀᴄᴇ
ᴛᴏᴍᴍʏ.

ꜰᴜᴄᴋɪɴɢ ᴀɴꜱᴡᴇʀ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴘʜᴏɴᴇ ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ ɪ ꜱᴇɴᴅ ᴛᴇᴄʜɴᴏ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ʙᴇᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴀꜱꜱ.

Smiling,the blonde sent the man the diners address before slipping his phone back into his pocket and ordering some food.Realising he hadn't eaten since that gronola bar Sandwich had gave him.The employee came over with his order soon after:a can of coke,a burger and fries.

The blonde sent a photo of his meal to Smajor with the caption 'not pot noodle bitch'.Quickly getting reprimanded by the healer as it wasn't 'healthy nor nutritional'.

Before he could text Scott back,the door slammed open,a disheveled man stood in the door way.He wore a pastel blue sweater with cows on it,black jeans,a black waterproof coat,gold wired glasses and weirdly a pair of speedrunners.Brown hair sticking up at all angles paired with bruise like eye bags and inflamed eyelids-he'd been crying.

It was Wilbur.

The second their eyes met,Tommy giving the man a sheepish smile,he was apon him.Wrapping the blonde in a bone crushing hug,hands clutching desperately to his windbreaker as if letting go would cause the blonde to slip away.

Unlike normal,Wilbur was the one providing warmth to the corpse like chill that was their other half.The brunette's tears shocked through his,now dry,clothing,leaving a wet patch.The two sat in silence for a moment just happy to finally be reunited.

"Hey big dubs."Tommy mumbled into the elder's shoulder,the latter's hold tightening apon hearing the other speak.

"Is this real?Or am I having another episode?"Desperation dripped from the words,the man truly believing the younger wasn't really there.

Tommy pinched the man's shoulder:"Seems pretty fucking real to me.I mean the pinch test is never wrong."

They both laughed at how stupid the scenario felt.

"Your so fucking weird,man..."Wilbur chocked out,he pulled back from the blonde,attempting to memorise his features."Your not dead."He laughed out wetly,cupping the boy's face with his calloused hands.

"Are you ready to order?"The employee asked,looking at the two in confusion,pen in hand.Laughing awkwardly,Wilbur ordered a black coffe;Tommy coughing out emo and getting an elbow to the ribbs.Once his coffe showed up,the brunette began his onslaught on questions(never leaving the younger's side):"Why the fuck would you charge into a burning building like that?"

"Wha-I couldn't just leave my friend to fucking die when i could save him!"Tommy explained,confused at the question;the answer seemed obvious.

"Yeah but your life,your safety, is more important.You should of left the heroes to it."Irritation evident in his tone.

"What and have them show up twenty minutes late,carrying out a burnt version of my friend?"

Wilbur seemed to falter at the idea of Tommy not liking heroes nor believing that they were as heroic as Nox let on.

"They would of made it in time."Wilbur's voice was stern,not inviting further discussion.The blonde huffed,crossing his arms,though he never lost contact with the elder.

"Where are your bandages?"The brunette sighed out,sounding like a disapproving farther as he began to chug his coffe.

"I got picked up by a healer."He huffed out,still annoyed at the taller.

Silence enclasped them.The steady rhyme of their breathing and the hum of the machines behind the counter being the only sounds in the silent diner.Wilbur pulled a red stained tissue from his pocket and placed it on the table:"Explain."

Tommy's mind ran at a hundred percent,coming up with a random lie:"I got mugged before i saw you and this fucker kicked my ribs in."

The elder's arm slunk around the blonde's shoulders,pulling him into a side hug.For a second,he actually thought it was Dream there,not Wilbur.

"Why didn't you tell me?"The man's voice sounded hurt but something else underlined it.Tommy didn't notice the murderous underlinings in the words;a promise of death to the mugger,if he ever found them.

"You came in crying...That was more important."The blonde stated stubbornly,refusing to make eye contact with the brunette as he laughed.

"If that's actually what you believe,we gotta get your priorities in check,king."A found smile tugged at the man's lips.

"Yeah,yeah prick.At least-"The ex-hero was interrupted by an obnoxious ringing."Your ringtone is almost as annoying as you.It deserves an award for being capable of reaching that level of annoyance."

"Fuck off, you gremlin."The elder huffed picking up the call."Hello...I'm in district 8 right now.Why'd you wanna know?"Wilbur's eyes went wide with fear at the person on the other lines reply."Oh okay.I'll be there in a minute."

He hung up on them.Turning to the younger and blurting out "I'm so sorry,Tommy.There's a family emergency that i have to get to right fuckin now."

"Okay king,that's fine.I don't mind.I'll see you soon,yeah?"The blonde smiled reassuringly at the taller-who gave one back.

Wilbur pulled the younger into a hug:"Don't go dying on me again or I'll get Techno on you."

Tommy stepped back from the hug,smirk on his face:"Sir,yes sir.Tell Techno i said hello."

"I swear you like him more than you like me."

"I do."

Wilbur smacked him in the back of the head before hurrying out of the diner,shouting over his shoulder:"You don't mean that,prick!"

Huffing out a laugh,the blonde payed the bill before heading back to the hospital.

___

The first thing he noticed was that Sandwich wasn't back yet.The second was the flat line of Slime's heat rate monitor.

The endless bleep of his still heart beat echoed against Tommy's skull.Breathing picking up,hands shaking,he approached the bed.

A bullet sat between Slime's eyes,blood coating his face.A smile still tugging at his lips as glossy eyes stared lifelessly up at the white tiled ceiling.An eye of ender was now embedded in the man's neck;Punz's marker.He'd been here looking for Crimson.

𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵.

Slime,one of the only people who believed that he wasn't a traitor,was dead.Memories of laughter filled conversation in Nevadas plagued his mind.Slime's bubbly laughter echoing in his head.Before becoming distorted and merging into the shear shrieks of agony that had been pulled from the man during the fire.

The blood was still wet.The body still warm.Punz had just been here.If the wound was in almost any other place,he might have been able to save the vigilante.

His soul still lingered in the air,watching as Tommy sobbed over his dead body.Retreating to the stars above.

𝘑𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥.𝘑𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦.𝘑𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦.

Tears streamed down Tommy's face,he closed the vigilante's eyes.Slowly,the blonde pressed his forehead against the man's.Sobs violently racked his figure,hands clutching desperately at Slime's own.Apologies spilling out of his mouth as he mourned.

Slime was dead.

𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵.𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵.

Chapter Text

With shaking hands,Tommy holds his phone to his ear.Choosing to focus on the ringing of his phone over the bounding of his heart beat or the flatline of Slime's heart monitor or his own heartbreaking sobs.

After two rings,there was a beep as Sandwich picked up.Laboured breathing filtered through the phone followed by a choir of blood curdling screams."The city hall in district 7.Please save me,Tom.I...I don't want to die."The brunette's voice was shakey and terrified,an explosion screeching down the mic before the line went dead.

"Sandwich?SANDWICH!"The blonde desperately screamed at the boy,who could no longer hear him.

He threw the windbreaker off of him,making sure the poloride was securely in the breast pocket-he decided to leave it here so it wouldn't get damaged.Though he disliked the thought of having to come back to Slime's corpse,he disliked the thought of losing one of the only things he had left of his best friend more.

Quickly,he pulled a red hoodie on over his white T-shirt and raced out to the doorway.Hesitating in his haste to leave before venturing back to the hospital bed.Tommy moved the thin linin blanket up so it covered the vigilante's face.Raising his hand in the 16th symbol to show respect respect.Head hung low,standing like that for a minute of silence to honour the fallen hero.Evacuating the room shortly after,not wanting to lose another friend today.

Tommy sprinted to the city hall in a matter of minutes,observing the situation from the building opposite;the hospital being close to the edge of district 8,leading into 7.It was an old fashioned building,pre-revolution,ash kissed red bricks making up it's exterior,two windows to each floor,which there were three of,a rusting clock sat at the buildings centre-the hands where missing.Police cars and ambulances swarming the building.Accompanied by a large crowd of people standing behind the police tape.

The dream team stood by the door,waiting for the all clear.If the dream team was this far down the city,it most likely meant something big was going down.

Namely,the Syndicate.

A shudder run up Tommy's spine at the thought.

𝘐 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.𝘐𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦,𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺.

With out being noticed,Tommy slipped around the back of the building,finding an open window and climbing inside.Looking around,he realised it was the toilet-based of the urinals and sinks.Slowly,he crept to the door,stepping into the hallway.

The place was desolate and dark,all the lightbulbs had been smashed,a city of shattered glass transversing the carpet.Heartbroken sobs could be hearded from down the hall;Tommy approached the sound.

The wooden door stood ajar,letting the sound out,a golden sign was nailed into the wood,labelled 'waiting room':Sandwich had come here in search of a job.As stealthy as possible,the blonde entered the room.

It looked like a murder scene because it was one.

Crimson blood was splattered on every wall,dozens of dead bodies left discared like toys on carpeted floor.They'd all been brutally butchered,limbs half hacked off and skulls split in two.All of them purposely disfigured so the victim couldn't be recognised.It was like a slaughterhouse.Reminding Tommy of the war.Especially with the person closest to the door whose corpse was a mangled mess;they'd been blown up.

𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮.

Around fourty hostages,yet to be murdered,sat shaking huddled in the corner of the room;Sandwich on the edge of the group-closest to the blown up man.The room itself was around twenty five meters long,white walls,city skyline printed carpets,lightbulbs also smashed.A single one reminded at the end of the room,illuminating a man on his knees before the Blood God.

An axe formed of blood sat losley in his large pink hand.The man practically glowed with power and rage,gained from the people in the room's fear.His back faced the blonde giving him the chance to slip into the crowd.

Sitting down beside the vigilante,he saw that he was in a state of shock,soot covering the right side of his face from the explosion.Eyes unfocused as they stared unblinkingly at the exploded corpse.Cautiously,not knowing how his friend would react,Tommy placed a hand on his shoulder.The boy's head snapped towards him instantly,taking a minute to realise who was before him.The moment Tommy's face processed in his mind,he clung to the shorter,crying.

"I saw it happen.I watched Blood God throw a granade at his face and i did nothing.I did nothing to save him."The vigilante sobbed out,looking into the shorter's eyes for guidance.

"Silence.Or do you want me to demonstrate what happens to those who disobey the Syndicate?"Blood God's deep voice rumbled through the room.

Everyone in the crowd shook their heads rapidly,a terrible silence incompassing the waiting room.A small child's cries interrupted the quiet.

That was all it took.

The piglin hybrid raised his axe in a sharp arc.The air whistled as it came back down again.A wet squelch echoed through the room.Flying from the kneeling man's neck,his decapitated head lay before the crowd;body falling sideways with a thud.Screams erupted from the crowd at the sight,people scrambling away from it,backing up to the wall.

"𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨."Honey coated words lulled the voices to a stop.Two figures entered the room.

Siren and the Angel of Death.

All hope of saving his friend dissolved into nothing.When the Angel was involved,it meant something big was happening.The man preferring to stay in the shadows for the most part.Skilled in stealth and assassinations;able to kill one with a single touch.

Turning to Sandwich,the blonde asked him (in sign)if he knew sign language-the vigilante nodded.Tommy signed his thoughts on the situation:'We're fucked,mate.'

'Really!'Sandwich replied with,making explosion motions next to his head to say mind blowing.The blonde snorting at his sarcasm.

"Siren.Angel.Took you long enough."The pinkette addressed them,turning to his partners as they came up beside him.

"I was busy,Blood God.You interrupted some very important business."The brunette villian spat out,clearly angery at the taller.

"Siren.Your a loser and you have no friends.Nothing you were doing could of been more important than this."Blood God stated bluntly.His words gained a snort from Angle as the brunette squawked in offence.

The baby shrieked again.The trench coat wearing villian turned to face it,deadly glare over taking his features."𝘎𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥'𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵."He stated bluntly,not even bothering to watch as the mother tore her child's eyes out.

"Establishing dominance by killing children.In my opinion murdering orphans is more classy."The pinkette drawled out,rolling his eyes at his teammate.The winged man snorting at the comment.

Snapping out of the villian's mind control,the woman stared down at her crying child in terror.Then looked at the tiny,blood covered eyeballs that sat in her hands,vermillion staining her nails.Screaming,she threw the eyeballs away from her,grabbing her child and clinging to it.Rocking back and forth,sobbing as apologise spilled from her quivering lips.

The hostages stared on in horror but they stayed silent as to not anger the villain further.

Tommy had always been scared of Siren;he believed the man was the scariest villian there was.He'd witnessed the man force people to commit cannibalism for insulting one of his teammates.The villian had no mercy nor any morals.Killing elderly people and children alike without batting an eye.Unlike most powers,it was very hard to avoid.The only way to defend oneself from his powers is by blocking it out.But the most terrifying part about Siren's powers was that once he used his powers,he had total control over the person's body and mind.It felt like the highest invasion of privacy.

𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴...

Footsteps could be faintly heard but only Tommy noticed them,perking up,head snapping to the door on his left.Blood God clocked the movement,following the blonde's gaze,the grip on his axe becoming less loose.The two observers mirrored eachother unconsciously, pushing the ones they cared about behind them-acting as a shield.

"Hello Masquerade."The pinkette drawled out.

Masquerade,Arson and 404 entered the room,Tommy pulled his hood further over his head to hide his face.

"What do you want for the hostages?"The hero inquired,head turning to work out how many there were as he continued into the room,not even flinching at the state of the room.

"𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘻𝘦."The dream team stopped in their approach,no longer mobile.Siren grinned widely,approaching the trio inorder to mock them,pulling the string out of Dream's hoodie.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘭 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘥 !𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯.

"Masquerade!I've actually been dying to speak with you again!"The villian circled the hero,mock whispering in his ear;not
caring that everyone in the room could hear him."I wanted to know more about that sidekick of yours."

Dream went rigged at the words,fowl expressions spreading across Arson and 404's faces.Tommy gulped,grip on his mask tightening.

"He's not a fucking sidekick anymore.He's a traitor."Arson seethed,flames spitting from his finger tips.

Sandwich grabbed Tommy's hand,giving it a reassuring squeeze,signing to the boy:'Your fine.Your Tommy right now not Crimson.'

"He's more of a hero then you'll ever be."Blood God piped in."Plus the guy has double the height."

The Angel of Death chuckled.It sounded too warm and joyful to have come from such a ruthless man.

"He killed the city's only chance of beating Nightmare.That's not what a hero would do."George bit back at the villians.

Siren's powers wore off a bit,allowing the heroes to move further into the room-away from the door.

"And where's your proof of that exactly?"Siren hummed.

The heroes were unable to come up with an explanation,instead diverting the question:"He's allied with you.That makes him a villain."Sapnap snapped,now inches from Siren-who laughed in his face.

"He's not allied with us!"The brunette cackled."I've only had one full conversation with him!"

"He saved you.He helped a Syndicate leader!"The ravenette retorted.

"No.He did the 'heroic' thing."He spat the word heroic out with venom."You want to know what he said when i asked him why he'd done it?Why he'd saved the enemy?"

The heroes didn't respond.

"Crimson Crusader said that 'it wasn't fair'.He'd knocked me unconscious,it was fair play;anyone would have left their enemy in that elevator.But he didn't.Stating that he 'had to be the one' to get me out because I couldn't save myself.That is what heroism is;saving those that cannot save themselves.The fact that none of you would do that,the most renouned heroes in Pogtopia,shows how utterly flawed your system is."The brunette barked out snidely,stepping away from the heroes,towards his teammates.

"What do you,Siren,know about heroism?"Masquerade said through gritted teeth,indicating to the current state of the room to further his point.

"Nox kicked out,most likely,the only real hero they had."Angel realised,breathe taken away.

"Bet he was a vigilante first.I'm bored now,Let's get back to why we're actually here."The piglin added,swinging his axe over his shoulder and sending it flying into a random woman from the hostage crowd's head-killing her instantly.Blade slicing her brain in half and embedding itself in the wall behind.Blood splattering over those around her,they screamed in terror.

"What do you want for them?"Masquerade inquired,staying calm compared to his teammates who fell into defensive positions.

"Information on Nightmare and Crimson."The piglin stated bluntly.

"I'm afraid I can't do that."The green clad hero said in mock remorse.

Blood God stepped forward,towards the hostages,plucking one from the litter.

Sandwich was no longer beside the blonde.Fear shot through Tommy's system.Hair standing on end as his friend was chucked to the ground.The Blood God slammed his steel toed boot into the boy's side:"What was that Masquerade?"

"Mask,we're heroes.We save people.That's the priority."404 confronted his teammate,hand squeezing the taller's shoulder.

A crack echoed through the room as the villain sent another kick into the boy's ribs.

"...Fine.One question for every five people-that gives you eight."Masquerade relented.

"The number of hostages released depends on how valuable the information is."Angel shrugged nonchalantly,knowing that the hero couldn't argue;they were out matched with him there.

"𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴?"Siren piped in,a triumphant grin on his face at getting the hero to cave.

"Doesn't have any."The green clad hero answered in truth,unable to lie.

All three Syndicate leaders shot eachother a look at the answer,the dream team watched on in confusion.The villians smirked after all coming to an understanding and turned back to the heroes.

Tommy knew exactly what they were thinking:they knew more than Dream.He flicked his gaze back to Sandwich,who lay at their feet clutching his rib cage.

"The five of you,scram."Blood God barked out,a handful of hostages fled from the room:thirty five left.

"Why does Schlatt want Siren?"Angel this time.

"Possibly because of his powers,"was the answer.

"You two."The pinkette instructed:thirty three left.

"Where's Crimson now?"Siren,again.

"Dead."Masquerade said morosely after a moment of hesitation,shoving his hands into his pockets,head hang low.

Blood God signaled ten more out of the room:twenty three remaining.

The silence was suffocating.Everyone except Masquerade was shocked at the news;staring at the hero,jaws on the floor.

Tommy only now remembered his and Dream's conversation at the apartment.The man thought he was dead.This could be good for staying undetected and might stop the manhunt for his head.However,his friend was currently laying in pain before him,he couldn't leave Sandwich at the Blood God's mercy-the villian doesn't have any.

"How?"The piglin prompted the hero,being the first of his team to recover from the news.Slamming his foot down onto Sandwich's ankle-crushing it-when the hero hesitated in his answer.

"Died in a fire.Body was nothing but ash."The hero stated bluntly,voice steely and cold.

Blood God signaled eight more out of the room:fifteen remain.Before asking another question:"Where's Nightmare?"

"Why would I know?"Dream shot back.

"You've been branded like cattle Masquerade;you know where he is."The pinkette mocked.

"Different question."

"What's Nox's plan to deal with Schlatt?"Siren this time.The blonde took notice in that he was the only one to call Nightmare by his real name.

"Appeasement.When he breaches district 8,then they'll do a counter attack."Masquerade answered.

Five more left the room:Ten left.

"Why's Nightmare after Crimson?"Angel,once more.Head tilted to the side in a bird like fashion.

"Does it matter?"The hero gritted out,obviously wanting to stire clear of the subject of Crimson.

A scream of pain came from Sandwich as the Blood God sent his foot flying into the boy's face.Sending him sliding across the floor-back into the crowd.Tommy scrambled towards his friend,shaking hands hovering over the taller."You good?"The blonde breathed out,voice thick with worry.His friend nodded in response.

"Okay,okay!"Dream stepped infront of the hostages,his teammates following,putting themselves between the civilians and the villians."Apparently he had information on Charged and Mirrage.And something about having a contact with some really powerful gang that he needs on his side inable to take Pogtopia."

Blood God sent eight more people out:Tommy and Sandwich were the only civilians left.

Blood streamed down the vigilante's face(nose clearly broken),a deep cut on his left cheek from where it had caught the edge of the steel toe cap.He ignored the vigilante's ankle,knowing that right now it was a lost cause and could not be helped;Tommy would have to carry the boy out of here.Carefully,the ex-hero lifted the taller's shirt up,revealing his ribs,he let out a releaved sigh when nothing appeared broken.

"Why do you sound so releaved,kid?Your not out of this yet.I could just kill you."The pinkette's monotone drawl sounds from directly behind the blonde,who didn't even flinch.

"What's your final question?"Masquerade asked,clearly stressed at how close the piglin was to the remaining hostages.

"Aw,come on Masquerade!You sound like you want to get this over with."Siren cooed.

"What's the final fucking question?"Arson fumed,raising fire dipped fists.

The Angel stalked forward,kneeling down before Tommy and putting his hand on Sandwich's forehead.The heroes making no more to stop him,avoiding the villian like the plague,putting their safety over the boy's life.The villian stood and walked back to his team as if he hadn't just killed someone.The heroes and villains ignoring the hostages inorder to continue to argue about information.

Like Angel's hand had been covered in ink,a grey hand print was left to the vigilante's forehead,the dark colour slowly spreading across his entire body.The brunette reached up and began to fiddle with the red,white and purple friendship bracelet on the blonde's wrist.

Deja vu hit Tommy like a truck,tears slipping from his eyes:he knew what was to come.

"No,no,no...Sandwich.Sandwich look at me."The blonde instructed,cupping the vigilante's face in his hands."Your gonna be fine,yeah?"

Sandwich smiled shaking his head,his skin now an ashen grey.

"I'm sorry.I'm so fucking sorry.This is all my fault.This is all my fault.I've fucking failed,again."Tommy whispered.

"The failures of today are necessary for the successes of tommorow."The taller croaked out,smiling at the blonde,who chuckled wetly at his friends supposed eternal wisdom.His skin began to cave inwards,body disintegrating into nothing but ash,Sandwich managed to say one last thing to his friend."Say hi to Slime for me."

Guilt stabbed threw his heart at the words:𝘏𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘚𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥...

"No,no,no,no,no."Tommy sobbed out ,trying useless to put the ashes back together."I can't lose both of them.Not in the same fucking day."

𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘪𝘵.𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮.𝘚𝘢𝘱𝘯𝘢𝘱'𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.𝘐'𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰.

𝘐'𝘮 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳.𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵.𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦.

His grieving was cut short as the other's address him.

"Let's make this more interesting...The hostage wants freedom?He can win it for himself.If he can't,he didn't deserves to live anyway."The villian looked at the broken boy."Kid,how many people died,were wounded and went missin durin the 16th?"Blood God questioned the blonde,a smug smile on his face.

Tommy cleared his throat,whipping the tears from his face,he looked over his shoulder and stared the villian dead in the eyes."456,345 dead.19,562 wounded.34,798 missing."

The man huffed in amusement.His crimson eyes flashing with recognition apon seeing and hearing the boy.So did everyone else's,except Angel's.

The blonde glared daggers at the Angel for a long moment.Hatred infected the blonde's soul,wrapping it's vial claws around his very being and awakening the murderours thoughts that writhed at the back of his mind.Hand clenching and unclenching into a fist at his side as he fought the bloodlust,stabbing his nails into his palms.

𝘞𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭,𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘴.𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘻𝘰𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶,𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘴.

Tommy scoffed.Even in death,Purpled remands the ex-hero's voice of reason.

𝘚𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦.

He turned back around,picking up a handful of his friends ashes.Hands shaking,bottom lip trembling,tears streaming down his face,Tommy held what little remains of his friend.

Standing,the blonde dragged himself out of the room,ashes clutched tightly in his hands.Ignoring the crowd of people,reporters,police and doctors,heading straight to the the hospital.Collecting his windbreaker and running to the grave where Purpled lay.

Tommy stared up at the stars,body aching with sorrow as two new stars joined the other's.

___

Siren's eyes stayed trained on the spot the blonde had sat throughout the rest of the encounter.

Only tearing them away when Blood God practically dragged him out of the room,nonchalantly leaving the massacre behind:"Alright,that's enough crimes for the day."

A new found anxiety now raged through Siren's body.

Chapter Text

"You getting tried yet,dickhead?"Tommy inquired sardonically,jumping up and down on the sand,fists raised with crimson seeping through his bandages.

His opponent huffs in annoyance,slamming his fist forward,putting all his power onto the punch.Smirking,the vigilante dodges it,sliding to the left but keeping one foot in the place where he once stood.

His opponent's momentum carries him forward,sending him stumbling,tripping on the vigilante's foot and falling on the sand with a thud;granules of sand fly upwards.

The man flipped onto his back on the floor but wasn't quick enough.Tommy was already apon him.Straddling the man,the blonde sent an onslaught of punches into his face.Blood splattered onto the golden sand and further stained the vigilante's bandages.A couple teeth dislodged from the man's gums and embedded themselves into the boy's knuckles;the teeth acting as make shift knuckle busters.

The moment his opponent's eyes unfocused,he climbed off the man.The referee grabbing his wrist and raises it in the air,symbolising the blonde's victory.

A whistle blows,snapping Tommy out of his trance,senses returning.

The metallic taste of blood,the feeling of his stinging knuckles and the teeth biting into his skin.Chears of the faceless betters banging relentlessly against his skull, accompanied by the beating of his heart and a consistent ringing in his ears.He's hurried out of the arena by Wisp to the changing rooms.

The changing rooms were dank places;cool metal walls,sand covered floors,one orange tinted light and a couple benches for the fighters to sit on.

Sitting down on the floor(not the bench),the blonde leaned his head back against the cool wall,staring up at the ceiling.Hastily,he began to unwrap the bandages protecting his hands,throwing the blood stained material at the gang leaders as they waltzed into the room.(Purpled following closely behind,smiling brightly once his eyes land on his best friend.)

Gang leaders consisting of Bitzle,Deo and Luke:the leaders of Busses Bay.All of them wore black suits with varying coloured ties and Air Forces.

Bitzle had tanned skin,chocolate coloured eyes and brown hair;his tie was light blue.Deo had mahogany hair,wore a christmas hat and black sunglasses;his tie was red.Luke had the same colour tie but had emerald eyes,blonde hair and wore black sunglasses on his head.The three stood in the doorway with excited expressions.

"You fucking dumbass."The purple clad vigilante huffed out,pushing past the gang leaders and sliding down beside the blonde,hugging him."Your movement's were to slow but luckily they were unpredictable enough.That bozo couldn't work out what you were doing.Your still bad though."He criticised,flicking the younger in the head.

"Yeah,yeah.At least I actually had the guts to get in the ring."Tommy smirked.

"Oh I'm sorry that I take my emotions out healthy via training.Instead of beating the shit out of inexperienced fighters."The elder snarked,elbowing the blonde in his very bruised ribs.The pair immediately started to fight,playfully hitting eachother.

"Alright,alright!Enough of this bs."Bitzle announced,breaking the two up.

"Yeah,business of the day.We're gonna go fight god."Deo stated casually,everyone in the room watching him with blank expression-waiting for an explanation."For that we need you,Tommy."

"Four of four Business Bay!Go get your suit on.We'll meet you at the car."Luke called out over his shoulder,already heading out the door;teammates following.

Tommy and Purpled were left alone in the room.

The younger stood up,dressing silently.Listening intently while his friend rambled on about the fight,critiquing and analysing it.Tommy smiled warmly at his friend's enthusiasm,beaming at the fact Purpled was happy;the elder hated it at the Bay,only going for his roommate.

"How do i look?"Charged asked,spinning around in a circle to show off his suit.

"Dapper.But stupid with your tie like that.Come here,loser."The elder instructed with a laugh.Undoing the chaos that was the knot Tommy had tied.Tying it properly with ease,tightening it too much on purpose to annoy the blonde.

"What the fuck,Purp!You fuckin American prick,get back here!"Tommy screamed,bounding out the room after Mirrage-futilely trying to catch the elder.

____

Shaking his head of the daydream,Tommy ran faster.

Rain hammered down around him,sinking through his clothes,leaving a deep chill in his bones.Streets flooded,midnight sky cloudy,stars no longer in sight.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.

Thud.Thud.Thud.

His feet continuously slammed into the concrete,puddles splashing upwards due to his speed and licking at his legs-they stung with the added coldness.Speedrunners soaked through along with his tank top and running shorts which clung tightly to his scarred skin.His hair was wet,dripping water down his face and into his eyes.

Tommy's legs burned with exhaustion,he didn't even know how long he'd been running for.

All he knew was that he had to keep running.If he stopped he'd think about 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.Something told him that thinking about them for too long might break him.Considering what happened last time Tommy had watched someone kill one of his friends,it probably would.

When Purpled had died,he'd gone crazy with grief.Losing all control over himself;powers erupting out at any stong emotion,snapping at anyone who breathed too loudly and abandoning all his morals.All he thought about was how he'd never go on patrol with Purpled again.How from there on out he would sit in their dingy apartment eating left over pot noodle from a week ago without his best friend there to reprimand him.How he'd get home from patrol injured and not have his best friend,his brother there is to patch him up.

With Sandwich gone,he also had no one to patch him up when he got injured.No one to plan stupid rescue missions with him.Rescue missions that,in the grand scheme of things,were pointless as Slime died anyway.

Both of them were gone:Slime and Sandwich.

Thinking about it,he had no allies left.He was complete and utterly alone.If he died no one would 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦.No one would even notice.Once again,he would be just another unmarked grave in a cemetery that no one would visit.

Punz or Corpse could easily get him now.He'd be kidnapped,be put through some type of torture and then be handed over to Schlatt on a silver platter.God knows what Schlatt wants with him.Sure,Dream told the Syndicate what Schlatt had told him but how could he know if the ram hybrid was telling the truth or not?

The villian climbed his way to the top through lies and deceit.

Starting off as a well renowned,well liked,vigilante.One of Tommy's heroes!The blonde wanting to be exactly like the man with his well timed quips and righteous ideals.Schlatt was the whole reason Tommy had begged Purple to become a vigilante with him.But in the end,it was revealed Schlatt was working with the Syndicate and was actually a villian-lying to the whole of Pogtopia without a care in the world.Then,he betrayed the Syndicate,lying to them on a detrimental mission and getting one of their members thrown in Pandora;they are still imprisoned there after all these years.

At this point,Tommy realised it all came back to the Syndicate.The terrorist group had killed his friend.They'd killed Sandwich for no reason.Sandwich's death wasn't a nesessariy evil that they claimed all their murders were.They'd got all the information they needed.They'd completed their task but decided to kill the vigilante.

They killed him to prove a point:they hold all the power.

Tommy on the other hand,did not.He didn't even have control over his own thoughts or over his emotions.Unable to stop overwhelming thoughts of grieving and anger and numbness and the feeling of complete and utter isolation.He was doing all he could to distract himself.Knowing that if he fell into the swirling sea of thoughts,he would spiral again.Act rash,impulsively and unpredictably.

He couldn't do that again.

So,he ran.

He ran from his problems and from the city and from the responsibility's.

After a while,the city streets began to disappear,morphing into a kingdom of nature.Greenary stretched high into the sky,blocking out all natural light.Fireflies took the stars place in illuminating the shadows,the place akin to Kinoko but with less mushrooms.The drip dripping of rain drops slipping off leaves echoed throughout the woods.Accompanied by the sound of crickets and the song birds.The smell of wet grass and moss floated up his running nose.

Jogging to a stop,the blonde leaned over,placing his hands on his thighs as he tried to catch his breath,chest raising rapidly.He wanted to cry.God did he want to cry.But he couldn't.For some reason his tears refused fall.

Slime died because Punz had found him and not Crimson yesterday.If Tommy had gotten there earlier(the body having still been fresh when he arrived),mabye,just mabye,Slime would still be alive.

Sandwich died because Blood God didn't pick up the right person.The blonde could of very easily been picked from the crowd insted but he wasn't.Mabye the vigilante would still be alive if Tommy had fought the Angel apon his approach or had sat infront of his friend.Mabye if he'd put on the mask,he could of caused a diversion and saved more people.

Mabye.

But maybe is a pointless word.Mabye is a suggestion.A what could of been.A dream.An alternate reality.

Mabye couldn't change what happened.

Mabye can't bring them back.

Though the boy felt guilty for both deaths,Slime's continued to irk him.The hybrid had died alone with no one to tell him it was going to be alright-no one to hold him.

𝘏𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴.

Sandwich had Tommy at his side in death.He had someone to tell him it would be okay and to hold him.

But he hadn't known.

The vigilante hadn't known about Slime.If he had would be have said something different in death?Would he have begged Charged to kill Schlatt,like everyone else?

Tommy would never know.

The vigilante would never of died if he hadn't joined Tommy.If Sandwich had just left the blonde in that warehouse,he would of lived.He wouldn't of been caught up in Tommy's mistakes.

Sandwich's ashes sat in the bottom of a glass in the ex-hero's new apartment.The blonde had placed it so it was facing the window-he wanted his friend to see the sky.

It's moments like these that make Tommy wish he had some short of money to spare.But he didn't.Because of this,he is unable to give Slime and Sandwich graves.

Sighing,the blonde stood up straight,preparing for his long treck home.

Crimson cackled across the sky sardonically,his powers instantly kicked in;red sparks falling from his finger tips.

"Fuck off."Tommy mumbled,flipping off the sky,he began his jog home.

𝘔𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘴 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵.

____

Tonight,the sky was numb like Tommy.It had emptied all of the brilliant stars and fluffy clouds into the sea.Even the moon didn't feel like showing up to night,being but a slither in the gloom.The sky held a deep ashen grey colour,projecting it's dullness onto the city.

Pogtopia looked akin to one of those old monochrome movies.Towering solid block buildings with squares of white light.White lights acting as stars,illuminating the city.Occasionally,a shadow would walk infront of the light,blocking it out momentarily or distinguish it.Not a soul appeared to be roaming the streets nor was there anyone on the rooftops,except Tommy.

The blonde stood on the rooftop hunched against the railing,staring out blankly at the city.Purpled's windbreaker blowing in the slight breeze aswell as his white T-shirt and grey jogging bottoms.Face gauntlet with bruise like eye bags and salt tracked cheeks accompanied by greasy hair.

It had been a week since Slime and Sandwich's deaths.He hadn't contacted anyone over that time.Phone left discarded and drained on his table.

He hadn't done much since that day.He'd ran the day after,gotten a new job in some boring office,rented a new apartment and cried.

A lot.

Sleep wasn't an option nor was food.Though his eyes were heavy and his stomach twisted with hunger;he couldn't bring himself to do either.

Every time his eyes slid shut,he would see them.Fear would strike him cold and fill him with new found adrenaline at the phantom images of there lifeless corpses.Every time he moved to put food into his mouth,his mind would provide him with a thought:'they should be eating this food,not you.'

"You look emo."Wilbur jested from behind the boy,walking up beside him.

The blonde could feel the man's eyes drinking in his appearance.He knew that the man was donning a concerned expression but he couldn't bring himself to care.

"Are you okay?You've been ghosting me all week."Wilbur asked,standing beside the ex-hero and staring out at the city.

"Yeah.Your annoying,bitch.I needed a break."Tommy joked but his voice came out croaky,joke falling flat.Sighing,he scrubbed his face with his hand before looking back at the dull skyline,mumbling undee his breath:"Tough crowd."

The two were quite for a moment.Tommy engrossed in the pathetic falicy of the night and Wilbur engrossed in his growing concern for the former.

Slowly,as if unsure of himself,the brunette hugged the shorter;posture awkward in a way it wasn't before.When the blonde returned the jestur,wrapping his arms tightly around the elder and burning his face in the man's chest,Wilbur relaxed.

As if Tommy had confirmed something for him.

"I'm so sorry."

"For what?"The blonde mumbled,voice muffled by the brunette's jumper;he didn't get an answer.

"I'm going to protect you from here on out,Tommy.I'll make sure no one hurts you anymore."Wilbur stated,determination evident in his tone,hold on the younger tightening."I promise."

"That's a hard promise to keep..."Tommy countered,though his words were full of relief.

"Yeah...But i have Techno."The brunette joked,smiling as a cackle of laughter escaped from the blonde.

"Yeah...Yeah you do.I bet he could take Masquerade in a fight any day."The ex-hero joked,voice regaining some life.

Tommy smiled brightly for the first time in days while him and Wilbur looked at the starless sky together.Some of his worries ebbing away as he realised something.

𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴.

It felt like he,for the past week,was the main character in one of those old monochrome movies and this was the ending.The colour retuning to the movie to match the protagonist's feelings as they realise life isn't always bad.That there's always colour in the darkness.

Chapter Text

"Go have a fucking shower prick.Your stinky and gross.Oh god,your like a fucking racoon."Wilbur snorted,ushering the blonde into the bathroom.

"I'll fucking bite."Tommy stated bluntly,peeking around the bathroom door.

"You've just proven my point,racoon boy.I'll leave some clothes out here so we can wash the ones your in."He informed the younger,walking away from the bathroom.Squawking in protest as a toothbrush was flung at the back of his head:"You fucking gremlin child!"

Tommy slammed the door shut before Wilbur could retaliate.

𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘭𝘪𝘯.

It's a noun.A simple word.It should hold no emotional hold over the blonde but it does.The emotional hold that is memories of Purpled referring to the two of them as 'feral little gremlin boys' in interviews with the public.

They weren't really interviews more a random civilian running up to the two with their phone and asking questions.Though Charged and Mirrage actively ignored the actual interviews from newspapers and news channels,they didn't ignore the civilians.It's what set them apart from the heroes.Heroes gunning for popularity so actively seeking out interviews.Where as him and Purpled would most likely flip them off.

The only time they sort out media attention was during the revolution.

Sighing,the blonde pulled off his clothes and slipped into the shower;he had the water at top temperature-turning his skin pink.It was a nicer shower than his own.

Most people,from what he's heard,grimace when their fingers brush over scarred skin;Purpled had.

He doesn't.

Scars are like souvenirs.You get them from a certain event and rember what their from.Tommy thinks of them more like places on a map;places you've visited.

For example,he has a cigarette burn on his back from when he first met Schlatt.The villian had been holding a festival of sorts in district 13,a supposably innocent affair to gain the district's favour.However,it quickly turned volatile;Enforcers charging the civilians.

So,Charged and Mirrage stepped in-rightfully so.Mirrage taking the people through the mirror realm to safety whilst his teammate distracted the villian.During their exchange,the man came inches from the vigilante's face and put his cigar out on the younger's back with a sardonic grin.

Thus their fude began.

Tommy also viewed scars are like memories.A scar above his ear from where Purpled had lost control of his powers and accidentally sent a shard at the younger-profusely apologising for the next month.Whenever his fingers brushed over it,the memory flooded back to him.

Drying himself off with a towel before wrapping it round his waist and he opened the bathroom door.Crouching down,he scooped up the clothes,freezing when he felt eyes on him.Looking up,sapphire met ruby.

Technoblade.

The two stared at eachother,in silence,for a prolonged amount of time.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘸𝘬𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥.𝘖𝘩 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘴.

𝘚𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘷𝘦,𝘣𝘰𝘺𝘴.𝘚𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘷𝘦.

Lifting one hand from the clothes and straightening up,Tommy waved at the pinkette,coy smile on his face:"Ow do."

The man raised an eyebrow with a chuckle,looking the boy up and down,eyes lingering on his heavily scared chest;Techno leaned against the wall,arms crossed."Nice scars,nerd.What you do?Get in a fight with a bear or somethin?"

"You could say that..."The blonde rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

"Couldn't be me."Techno huffed out.

Tommy tilted his head to the side,"You never gotten in a fight before?"

"No,i have.Just got thick skin plus i never lose."The man watched the ex-hero curiously,trying to figure him out.

"Okay,big man.I'm gonna go put some clothes on..."The blonde mumbled out turning around and walking back into the bathroom.Knowing for a fact that Techno's eyes lingered on the massive burn scar on his back from being hit by lightning.

When Tommy had put on the spare clothes Wilbur had lent him,he looked at himself in the mirror.Still pale,large eyebags and scarred but it could be worse.

𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦.

𝘒𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵,𝘣𝘰𝘻𝘰.

𝘈𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘐'𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥.

Fake Purpled's voice didn't reply.

Slowly,he placed his hand against the reflective glass.

The lights flickered.

His gaze switched to the lights above in curiosity before falling on his own reflection again.

Except it wasn't his reflection staring back at him.He froze.Breathe taken away,he gasped out:"Purp?"

Before him stood not his own reflection but his best friend's.He looked slightly older now,the same age as Tommy,a burn scar crawling up his neck and licking his jaw.The elder looked tired and pale,mimicking his friend;he was still Purpled though.Their hands were touching,Purpled's warm-not cold and lifeless-familiar callouses and scars reuniting.

"Toms?"The elder breathed out,sounding as shocked as Tommy.

Slowly,Purpled moved his hand slightly,the interlocking hands;they smiled at eachother,tears in both blonde's eyes.

Suddenly,the glass shattered.Cracks splintering across the mirror,distorting the image.The blonde stumbled back with a gasp.

The lights flickered again,the mirror no longer shattered.

Purpled was gone.

Tommy sat on the bathroom floor for a couple of minutes.

𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘻𝘺.

He cautiously opened the door,letting out a sigh of relief when he didn't see Techno there.Silently,he crept down the stairs,entering the living room where Wilbur,Techno and some random bloke sat.He was shorter then Tommy,thin golden hair that reached his shoulders,a little bit of stubble on his chin,icey blue eyes,looked around thirty and had soft features.The man wore green tartan pijama bottoms,a black T-shirt and spotty socks.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘶𝘺𝘴 𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵.

The living room was a large space with comfy green furniture,dark oak floors with fluffy carpets,a large flat screen tv,pale pink walls and bookshelves filled with family photos and random little objects.It was homely but,like the rest of Wilbur's house,showed their richness subtly.Which could be expected with the house being in district 1.

When Wilbur first suggested coming here Tommy will admit he was hesitant:Dream lived here and the Nox tower was here.Dream's apartment was only a block away,filling the blonde with anxiety.Constantly staring out the windows,wondering if his mentor would be roaming the streets.

"Tommy!"The brunette beamed,standing from his spot on the sofa and grabbing the boy's hand,leading him over to his once vaccinated spot."This,"he indicated to the blonde bloke,"is Philza.My father."

"You alright mate?"Philza asked,looking up from his phone and smiling warmly at the blonde.

"Yeah,you?"The younger blonde smiled back.

"Yeah,I'm good!See Wilbur,Techno this is how your supposed to treat your elders."Wilbur's dad joked.

"Enthesis on the elder."Tommy coughed out,Techno and Wilbur laughing at the comment.

"What!"The elder blonde squawked,throwing his arms up in exasperation.

"You don't even know,Tommy.Philza is 34."The pinkette mock whispered to the youngest.

"Ohhhhh,he's on his way out then?"The ex-hero inquired jokingly.

"Yeah.He's started showing signs of dementia lately.He thinks he has a wife!"Wilbur explained dragging the boy onto the sofa with him;Techno sitting on the sofa next to it and Phil lounging in an armchair.

"Phil,don't you remember?We got rid of your wife;ran her over with a lawnmower."Tommy said wisely.

The others cackled at the words,the man in question letting out a bemused "What!".

"Yeah Phil.Wifes don't exist."Wilbur joined in.

"Had to get rid of all those simps."The pinkette added,gaining laughter from the other three.

"Oh,you little shits."Phil scolded with a shake of his head."Let's start the movie before you get rid of my limbs or something,I don't know.Who wants to pick first?"

Tommy raised his hand,the family raising their eyebrows in turn.

"Up."He states hand coming back down.

"You know,you don't have to raise your hand.We're not in school."Techno provided.

Leaning forward in his seat,Tommy stared at the man for a moment."I would like to watch Up,bitch-noblade."

Wilbur and Phil snorted.

"Bruh."

Despite his protests,the pinkette put Up on.The Craft family looking on in shock as the new comer followed along with the movie,reciting it word for word.Wilbur hesitatingly asking the younger the question on all of their minds:"How many times have you watched this?"

Only getting a snide glare from the blonde before he went back to gazing in wonder at the screen;the end credits were playing.

Movie night carried on,the four clicking instantly,throwing jokes around easily.Tommy and Techno conversing enthusiastically over the Princess Bride.Wilbur and Phil crying over Titanic as the other two make relentless jokes on the couple's untimely death.

All of them were asleep by the end of SMP(Wilbur's choice),dozing off in their respective seats;Tommy's legs rested in the brunette's lap,the latter practically poking the boy in the face from how his arm was flung over the back of the sofa.A peaceful silence settled over the once rowdy house.

It didn't last long.

____

𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙢 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚,𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧.𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙣𝙤𝙧 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙'𝙨.𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙨𝙚𝙖 𝙤𝙛 𝙜𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙡𝙪𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙥𝙞𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙯𝙚 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙚𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙝𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙬.

𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧.𝙏𝙞𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚,𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙪𝙧𝙚'𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧;𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙬.𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚𝙙,𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙞𝙭 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙚,𝙎𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙬𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙'𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨.𝙎𝙠𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙨 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣'𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨.𝙒𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨,𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙨-𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙘𝙠.

𝙎𝙪𝙙𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙡𝙮,𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙.𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚'𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙩.

𝙃𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙙.

___

Tommy awoke with a gasp.

Stumbling in his haste,the blonde opened the front door quietly and sat on the steps of the front porch.Breathing settling as he watched the cars driving by,staring up at Dream's apartment which was directly in line with the Nox tower.Sighing,he brought his knees up to his chest and rested his chin on them.

He sat like that for a while,staring out at district 1 with a longing for home-district 13.The lights in Dream's apartment turned on,two figures walking into the frame and sitting at the kitchen table.They stay there for a while,just speaking.

Silent footprints approached him from behind,the owner sinking down beside the boy;they left some space between themselves and the boy.A flash of lilac pink flashed in his peripheral,telling him it was Techno.

"Why you up?"The blonde questioned,eyes never leaving Dream's window,one of the figures kicked their feet onto the table.

"I love waking up at three am in the mornin to sit on my porch with some random child."Techno drawled sarcastically."You woke me up,kid."

"Sorry..."Tommy mumbled.The figure with his feet up stood,patting the one opposite him on the shoulder before exiting the mock stage.Head hug low,the remaining figure banged his head against the table.Tommy went rigid,recognising the action as one of Dream's;one the boy had also adopted.

"What woke you up?"The pinkette asked awkwardly,fiddling with the golden rings on his fingers.

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺.

"Nightmare."Finally,the boy turned his gaze away from the window,lights having gone out.

"Weak."

The two burst out laughing.

"What the fuck man?I could take you in a fight any day."The blonde proclaimed,banging his fist against his chest-Techno snorted.

"Sureeee."The man snarked."Definitely not like i have a sword or anythin..."

"YOU HAVE A FUCKING SWORD!Techno,Technoblade,The Blade.Can i see the sword?"Tommy asked enthusiastically,practically bouncing in his seat.

"Perhaps.It's called the Orphan Obliterater."The pinkette smirked,chuckling as fear filled the younger's eyes.

"Fine.Mabye i can't beat you in a fight,"the blonde huffed,defeated."But I could definitely take Wil."

"That isn't much of an achievement."He snorted with a roll of his crimson eyes.Tommy laughed quietly,agreeing with the man,hitting him playfully in the arm.

"Yeah,Wilbur's a bitch."

"A protective one at that.Which is why we need to get you inside before you get a cold and he blames me for it.He'll also be really annoyin for the next week if you do."Techno stated,standing up and offering a hand for the blonde.

"He's a clingy basturd."Tommy mumbled,grabbing the elder's wrist and standing;taller noting the boy grabbed his wrist and not his hand.The two walked inside,side by side;Techno falling asleep quickly,Tommy going on his phone-Wilbur's head falling onto his shoulder,arm wrapped protectively around the boy.

𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘺 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬.

Looking on his group chat with Tubbo and Ranboo he saw they were arguing about who was better Arson or Masquerade.So he decided to pipe in:

ʏᴏᴜ
404 ɪꜱ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ.

ʙᴇᴇ ʙᴏʏ
ꜰᴀᴄᴛꜱ,ʙᴏꜱꜱ ᴍᴀɴ.

ʙᴏᴏʙ ʙᴏʏ
ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ꜱᴀʏɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ʜᴇ'ꜱ ʙʀɪᴛɪꜱʜ.

ʏᴏᴜ
ᴀʟʀɪɢʜᴛ.ꜰᴜᴄᴋ ᴍᴀꜱQᴜᴇʀᴀᴅᴇ,ʜᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋꜱ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ʜɪɢʜʟɪɢʜᴛᴇʀ.

ʙᴇᴇ ʙᴏʏ
ʏᴇᴀʜ ꜰᴜᴄᴊʙ ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴏᴏ ʜᴇꜱ ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ꜱɪᴅ!!!!!?!?

ʙᴏᴏʙ ʙᴏʏ
ᴏʜ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴏɴ ᴍᴀɴ!ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴡʀᴏɴɢ.

ʏᴏᴜ
ʀᴀɴ ᴄᴀʟᴍ ᴅᴏᴡɴ.ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴍᴀꜱQᴜᴇʀᴀᴅᴇ ɪꜱ ʜᴏᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴇxʏ

ʙᴏᴏʙ ʙᴏʏ
ᴛʜᴀᴛ'ꜱ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ɴᴏᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀꜱᴏɴ

Tommy got a news alert on his phone and moved from the,still on going,argument to his news app.He read the article,rushing out of the house at the words,scribbling down a note for Wilbur before he left.

____

ʙʀᴇᴀᴋɪɴɢ ɴᴇᴡꜱ!
ɴɪɢʜᴛᴍᴀʀᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴛᴀᴋᴇɴ ᴅɪꜱᴛʀɪᴄᴛ 13.ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ʙᴇᴇɴ ɴᴏ ꜱᴛᴀᴛᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ɴᴏx ɴᴏʀ ᴀɴʏ ᴀɪᴅ.

Chapter Text

With laboured breath and racing thoughts,Tommy hurried through the,once deserted,streets of district 13.Weaving between porcelain masked rioters with ease,the blonde wore his Crimson mask,baggy light blue jeans,speedrunners and a too big,neon green hoddie from Dream-shading his mask from the street dwellers.

His phone buzzed wildly in his pocket yet he refused to answer it;he was on a mission.

Apon finding out about district 13's new leader,the blonde had made a decision:Charged would return the minute 12 is taken.District 13 was Tommy's home,it was Purpled's home.But no one lived there after the war so Schlatt wasn't suppressing anyone.Due to this,Tommy was upset though didn't feel the need to take action.

However,if Schlatt takes 12,all the saviours of 13 will be suppressed and likely killed,aswell as all the original residents.On top of this,there will be no aid from Nox so the people will be rendered helpless.Of course,vigilantes would help but they were the new wave of vigilantes;only one or two of the old vigilantes remained.Meaning,they won't have any idea what their up against.

𝘐𝘵'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘩.

Lost in thought,the blonde accidentally bumped into someone.It was a scrawny man,the same height as Tommy,with soft features and slicked back,black hair.The ravenette wore the Enforcer's uniform with an arm band with two ram horns embroidered on it;a high ranking official.

"Watch where your going."A distorted voice growled at the boy,glaring at him.

Tommy tilted his head to the side in confusion.The man's face had an odd shine to it that caught his attention.As if it had been glazed with egg yolks before being stretched taunt over his original one.It looked the same as when Purpled used the part of his power that allowed him to mimic others.Normally this would indicate that this 𝘸𝘢𝘴 Purpled but that power was quite common and alot of the city's spies (good or bad) possessed that power.

Distinguishing Tommy's short lived spark of hope.

Frowning with a sigh,Tommy shook his head,mumbling an apology and rushing deeper into the district.Getting away from the man as he knew that he'd seen his mask.

𝘐'𝘮 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥𝘥𝘥.𝘎𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘢 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘐'𝘮 𝘪𝘯 13.

_____

"Watch where your going."Shadow growled,dressed and looking like Spy.

He glared at the person who had,rudely in his opinion,barged into him.They wore dirty white speedrunners,light blue jeans with holes in them from falling over(they weren't as purposeful nor particulate as ripped jeans) and a neon green hoodie.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘢 𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯...𝘌𝘸.

What struck him was the black gas mask with a red x sprey painted on it:Crimson.

Eyes widening with shock,Shadow watched as the ex-hero tilted their head for a second before hurrying down the street.He stood there stunned for a second before snapping out of his bemusement.Normally,he would of pursued Crimson(he needed to speak to him)but he had a meeting with the other higher ups and Schlatt he needed to get to.

He wanted to know about all the details on Charged's death and the reason behind it.Wanted to know why the ex-hero had sacrificed himself to stop him from falling out of that window.

Then,he would kill Crimson.

It was against his morals and 𝘩𝘦 would despise him for it.They'd agreed to never take another's life.That no matter what someone did,it did not warrant an early death.And even if it did,there was no reason to put more evil into the world by killing them.

𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭,𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥.𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘺?𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘯𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺,𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥.A phantom of 𝘩𝘪𝘴 voice chimed sardonically in Spy's head.The villian snarled,hating that the voice wasn't real but just an allusion created by his mind.

One thought lingered in his mind as he sat infront of Schlatt,beside the other higher ups:

𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 13?

It didn't make any sense.13,as of current,was the most dangerous place for the ex-hero to be.With rioters being the only inhabitants and Schlatt currently being there to enact law and order.

Shadow also had a hunch that Schlatt was there for an unrelated reason.He was searching for something.

𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦...

𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵?

____

Huffing,Tommy scaled the barbed wire fence,wire catching on his jeans and hands.Landing on the concrete with a thud,he straightened up and waltzed into the building:an abandoned prison.

Walking through the abandon halls,cells open and empty,the blonde came to an abrupt stop.Walking into one of hundreds of identical cells,he crouched down in the corner of the room.The wall was made up of dirtied white bricks.In this cell however,some of those bricks were slightly loose.

Carefully,Tommy shimmied the bricks out of their places and created an opening;a duffle bag sat in the wall.He removed it from it's hiding spot,coughing as dust particles assaulted his nostrils,he unzipped the bag.

Carefully,he inspected the contents that he'd placed in there years before with shaking hands and tears in his eyes.At the top,his revolutionary coat(twin to that of an enforcer's)sat folded neatly and covered in ash and blood,holes adoring the once beloved uniform.Wrapped up inside of the coat was his old graffitied battons that Wisp had crafted him.Finally,at the very bottom,was his suit;Charged's suit.

But not his old one.No,it was a new suit that Business Bay had gifted him just before the end of the revolution;he'd never worn it.

The thought of the gang left a sour taste on his tongue.They'd refused to help during the war and even made business deals with Schlatt.Deals that gave rioters the power to temporarily snuff out people's powers;some were left defenceless without their powers and died.They caused hundreds of the thousands of deaths that happened because of the revolution.

For this,Tommy loathed them.

Never once did they apologise.The gang felt no remorse.Because of this,they paid the ultimate price.Luke,Bitzle and all the other members who were apprehended,were publicly executed by Nox.

Tommy,Deo,Wisp and a handful of loyal followers remained.Luckily for the gang,the four dozen followers that were left were all members of the elite force of Business Bay.They went on an international mission during the revolution and returned when it all blew over.

With Deo still being alive,they still had one of the original leaders-who was able to enact control and regain the gang's reputation and power.On top of this,they had Wisp.He made all the weapons and gear for the gang,all they needed was materials;with no short of money,were easy to obtain.

The suit was crafted of sleek red and white spandex.Red encompassing most of his main body and making up the attached hood,with white covering the undersides of his arms,his ribs and the outside of legs.Purple stitching held the suit together and created the embroidered MCC symbol over his heart:two discs(mellohi and cat)over lapping eachother-symbolising how the first Vise President of Pogtopia gave them up to win their independence.Lower districts always viewing him as the one to win freedom for Pogtopia instead of the President;unlike the higher districts.Final was the mask,which was black had white lenses for eyes with red rims,moving to show his expressions;it was the same mask from before the war.

Obviously,his windbreaker was intended to be worn with it howover it was lost to time.Instead,the ex-vigilante decided on wearing Mirrage's.On top of this,he planned on wearing black cargos and Air Forces to stay as closely to his original costume as possible while having good upgrades.

Zipping up the bag and slinging it over his shoulder,the blonde quickly left the building.Stopping at the fence as his phone rang,again.He picked up.

"TOMMY FUCKING INNIT-"Tubbo screamed down the mic,voice raspy-he'd been crying.The boy in question holding the phone away from his ear for a moment.

"Heyyyy,Tubboooo."He dragged the words out,unsure of how the elder would react;cautiousness increasing as he picks up on the elder's tone.

"Please come to my apartment right now.We have a code red.Ranboo's missing..."The brunette answered,voice wobbly,shocking the blonde to his core.

"Wot-Okay.Send me the address.I'll be there as quick as i can."Tommy stated,tone serious with concern.

"Okay,see you soon."

"Bye Tubs."

With that,Tommy practically sprinted to his friend's,duffel bag slung over his shoulder,not caring if the rioters saw him or not.His brain was running wild coming up with ideas and theories as to what happened to the monochrome boy.Had he been arrested on patrol?Had a villian captured them?Had Schlatt got them?

There were so many possibilities,it made Tommy's head spin.

Though he'd only known the vigilante duo for a couple of months,he cared for them-alot.They reminded him of Charged and Mirrage.They reminded him of all the good parts of being a vigilante.The determined,hopeful,naive spark in their eyes brought back memories of a better time that reluctantly pulled a smile onto the blonde's face.

But most importantly,he cared about Tubbo and Ranboo.Tubbo with his enthusiastic rambling about coding,engineering and bees.How the brunette would head but those he cared about in the arm when he was happy.Or how he made bombs and blew things up at any given moment.Ranboo with his rants on conspiracy theories and their weird obsession with bringing clumps of grass home.How they would let off purple particles due to being an Enderman hybrid,which Tommy and Tubbo made fun of-dubbing them fart particles.Or his unhinged habit of putting spaghetti in everything.

A sinking feeling of dread washed over the boy as he realised Ranboo could be dead.

He couldn't let that happen.He'd lost two friends already;he can't lose another.He can't condemn Tubbo to the life he lives.A life as a half of a vigilante pair that will never be whole again.

𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯.𝘕𝘰,𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵.

Tommy's apartment was on the way to Tubbo's so he stopped by and dropped his duffel bag off;hiding it beneath his bed and under the floor boards.Then made went straight to the vigilante's home.

___

Knock.Knock.Knockity knock,knock.Knock.Knock.Knock.Knock...Knock.Knock.Knock.Knock.Kno-

"It's open!"A strongly accented British voice shouted from inside the apartment.A deep 'i got it' rumbled from inside as movement could be heard.Sighing,head hung low with defeat and sorrow at his missing friend,the blonde opened the door and walked into the apartment.

Snapping his head up at the sight of sleek black Oxford shoes,Tommy's eyes widened in shock as a fist came flying towards his face.

𝘖𝘩 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵.

Instinct kicking in,the ex-vigilante dodged the blow.Grabbing the wrist of his attacker,he used their momentum against them inable to fling them over his back.Sending them crashing into the ground with a loud thud and a grunt in pain.Spinning around,the blonde crouched over the person,keys pointed at their throat as a makeshift weapon.

"Not bad,kid."Techno huffed,an almost proud smile on his face,the pinkette pushing the keys away from his throat with his index finger.

Techno,like the english major he is,wore a plain white button up and navy suit trousers.His pink hair sat in a loose bun at the nape of his neck,half-crescent,gold rimmed glasses sitting at the end of his nose.

"What the fuck is going on?"Phil shouted at the two angrily,eyes slit like in anger.Wearing black jeans,a basic graphic tee,white non-branded trainers and had his hair pulled back in a ponytail.Face softening as the ex-hero turned his head around (hood falling down),Techno smiling over the former's shoulder at his father."We're all good!"The man chirped over his shoulder to the other people in the apartment.

Climbing off the pinkette and helping him up,the boy smirked at him:"Told you i could beat the shit out of you."

Techno snorted,following Phil into the apartment,Tommy at his side.The pinkette ruffling the boy's hair as they entered the living room:"Eh.I was goin easy on you,nerd."

"TOMMY!"Tubbo screamed,tackling the taller into a hug.The brunette wearing one of Ranboo's hoodies(that swamped him) and a pair of grey joggers.

Smiling sadly,the blonde returned it."I'm so sorry,Big man.We'll find him.I promise."He whispered to the vigilante.

Saying everything he wished someone would have said to him when Purpled's body wasn't where he was forced to abandon it.At that point he had no allies to help him find the body nor to comfort him.Instead,he had rage at his side to possess him.He couldn't let that happen to Tubbo.

𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘛𝘶𝘣𝘣𝘰.𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘣𝘰𝘰 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘛𝘶𝘣𝘣𝘰 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵.

Pulling back,the brunette lead him over to the coach and forced Tommy to sit with him,hand tightly clutching the younger's.The coffee table was covered in a map of the city and sticky notes of the timeline.

Looking around,Tommy took in those in the room.A woman with long pink hair,similar to Techno's but shorter,who wore a blue over sized sweatshirt and a white tennis skirt-doc martins completing the look.Tommy,immediately for no reason at all,was intimated by her.She sat on the sofa opposite Tommy and Tubbo with Techno.Next,a brunette wearing glasses,a tired expression,a grey sweatshirt,black jeans with matching shoes,stood next to the pinkettes:Wilbur.

"Didn't know you knew Wilbur,Tubbo."The blonde commented,the addressed only shrugging.

Wilbur smiled fondly at Tommy,abandoning the pink haired duo in favour of perching on the armrest of the sofa opposite,next to Tommy.The elder pulled him into a side hug,resting his cheek in golden curls.Only to let out an annoyed whine as the blonde sprung up.

Next to Phil,who was leaned up against the kitchen island was a sheep hybrid.She had curly white hair tied back in a bun,wearing a black suit and heel's.

This was Captin Puffy.

The sheep hybrid smiled at the blonde,stalking towards him.Immediately,Tommy stood at attention,back straight and holding the 16th sign up beside him-grin on his face.She chuckled joyously at the notion:"At ease,soldier.Though your not really a soldier anymore are you,General Innes?"

Tommy scowled at the title,shaking the woman's hand firmly.

"Your a general?"Techno asked,eyebrow raised with a slight hint of interest in his even monotone voice.

The blonde glared at Puffy,who raised her hands as if to say 'what can you do?'.

"Ask Jack.He fought with Tommy.Bet he'll tell you all about it."She said smugly,taking her place beside Phil and motioning towards Jack-he sat in an arm chair beside the pinkette duo.Tommy's head snapped towards the man,grin spreading like wildfire;mirrored by the former.

Jack had a shaved head,sharp features and was short.The man wore blue jeans,a black T-shirt and speedrunners."You betray the people in those shoes,Manifold."

"What do you mean?!?Your wearing the same ones!"The man squawked in offence,standing from his seat.Both of them saluted before flipping eachother off immediately with toothy grins,embracing.

"I'm sorry about Purp,mate."Jack whispered into the taller's ear,remorseful and true in his words.

"Thanks man.Sorry about your brother."The blonde responded,pulling back.

"Your still bold."Tommy spoke with wonder,changing the subject and stroking the man's head mockingly;Jack tried relentlessly to swat him off,the two returning to their seats.

Wilbur instantaneously pulling the younger back into his side when he was seated again.Fingers drumming a pattern into the boy's shoulder;rhythm of one of his new songs.The brunette had become weirdly clingy and protective over the Tommy.Always asking if he was okay,fussing over him and checking for injuries.A frown tugged at the man's lips as he noticed the blood leaking from the younger's leg but he didn't comment.

"You two fought together?"Phil asked in confusion,voicing most people in the rooms thoughts.

The two nodded.

"Jack's was used as a decoy."The younger shrugged.

"This guy just had no self-preservation."The elder shrugged too.

The pair immediately glared at eachother from their seats.

"Alright,alright.As much as it's concernin that Tommy fought in a war,Ranboo is kinda more important.Just sayin."Techno drawled,though he too was intrigued by the new information.

"Yeah,okay.The plan of action is that we need to split up and search different parts of the city as quick as possible:most missing people can't be found after the first 24 hours."Phil explained,walking up to the map."Anyone have a distinct or two that they know like the back of their hand?"

"I got seven and eight."Tubbo piped up.

"I'll have a crack at nigh and ten."Jack this time."I'll take Niki with me."Tommy noted that was the pink haired girl's name-it couldn't be anyone else.

"Tommy?"Puff asked,already knowing the answer.

"Eleven,twelve and I'll try as much of thirteen as i can."The blonde shrugged."Also why are you here?"

"Oh!I'm Tubbo's Aunt and me and Phil used to work together."Puff smiled,filling Tommy in.

"You sure you want to take those districts?The crime rates pretty high,mate."Phil raised his eyebrow as did many if not all the others.

"Like Jack said,got no self-preservation.Also,i was fucking born and raised there.It'll be an in and out kinda thing.Plus I'll only do the outer rim."Tommy reassured,nonchalantly.

"Okay.I'll take three and four with Tech."Phil relented.

"I'll take one and two."The sheep hybrid added,she was a hero after all;they only patrolled there."Wilbur,you good with five and six?"

"Yeah,sure."Wilbur didn't look very optimistic but he got on with it.

"Alright that settles it.Meet back here at-"Puff looked down at her watch."-eight,so it does get too dark?"

Everyone one nodded in agreement,setting off to their allocated districts.Wilbur,holding Tommy back for a second.

"Be safe,yeah?Don't do anything fucking stupid,prick.If you need help or anything just call me.I'll meet you at Ash's before coming back here?"The brunette's voice was filled with worry as he hugged the younger tightly;he had a sinking feeling in his chest.

"Yeah,Will.I'll see you at eight,fifth teen,fuckface.Your fucking clingy,man."Tommy smiled up at the elder."We're like brothers."He added on at the end.

"Don't say that i will cry."He chuckled,shoving the shorter away playfully."Alright,you better meet me at Ash's or I'll kill you,Toms."Wilbur chuckled,ruffling the blonde's hair and heading towards his districts.

The boy smiled fondly at the nickname.If anyone else other than Purpled called him that,normally,he'd tell them to shove it.But with Wilbur?Mabye once,just once,he'd let it slide.

___

Groaning in annoyance,Tommy kicked an empty coke can across the gravled floor,scrubbing his face with his hand."For fucks sake."He grumbled.

Turning on his heels,the discouraged boy started his journey to Ash's from district 13.

He stopped in his tracks.

The hairs on the back off his neck perking up with his ears.

Silence.

Scanning the perimeter,he came up with nothing.

Nothing was there.Nothing was amiss.

So why did he have this sinking feeling of dread like when the music ramps up in a horror movie;indicating a jump scare.

Sweat pooled in his plams.His breathing picked up.Instinctively,he feel into a defensive position.Keys sliding between his fingers.

A thud sounded behind him.

"Good night."A deep voice whispered in his ear.

Then,a sudden pain erupted from the back of his skull.

All he saw was darkness.Tommy walked into it unwillingly,a snarl on his face.

_____

A certain brunette stood infront of a cafe,smoking a cigarette anxiously as he scanned the area.Rage and worry and a lust for blood began to boil up inside of him;eyes contorting into snake like slits.Pulling out his phone with shaking hands,he checked the time:9:01.

He'd been waiting there for forty-six minutes.

𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦...

Chapter Text

Light.

Unlike every story you read about kidnappings, Tommy awoke to light opposed to darkness. He could see the veins in the back of his eyes and a violent orange colour. Smell his own sweat that coated every inch of his body in his feverish like state. Goosebumps scuttled up his arms as shivers racked his body.

Body aching, the boy squinted his eyes open with a groan.

Only for them to immediately be assaulted by blinding artificial lights. Groaning once more, he waited a couple of seconds before his eyes adjusted. First thing he noticed, other than the sickening lights, was that he was tied to a chair, power dampener clamped down on his wrist. Crimson suit still on as well as his mask.

Looking around in bewilderment, Tommy inspected the room: plain white walls arranged in a perfect cube except for the dirt floor, artificial lights beamed down from above. Most noticeably was the pain that haunted the room. Vermillion stained the walls and fought with the dry dirt. Scratch marks dug into the drab walls showing the struggle of those before him.

"Shit. Piss. Wank." He mumbled a string of worried curse words under his breath.

"Crimson."

The person in question jumped out of his skin, head snapping towards the intruder; Shadow stood in the doorframe with their arms crossed.

Gulping, the blonde nodded to the villain, not trusting his own voice.

"You comfortable, loser?" Shadow snarked, tilting his head to the side mockingly, face now inches from Tommy's own.

"No, not exactly. I'd quite enjoy a blanket or something?" The hostage asked in faux politeness, flashing the villain a taunting grin that he couldn't even see.

"Do you deserve it?" Venom dripped from his words, gloved hand clutching Crimson's chin firmly: "After what you did to Charged, do you really think you deserve a single fucking thing?"

"Yep." The younger popped the p, frustrating the villain even more.

Reeling his fist back, Shadow slammed it into Tommy's face repeatedly; the blonde grunting in pain, head hanging low as the metallic taste of blood dribbled from his mouth onto his mask.

Next thing he knew, the ex-hero was gasping in pain, needle thin shards of glass injecting themselves into his body. No blood spilled from his skin; yet it was the most painful thing he had ever experienced. It felt like he was being stabbed repeatedly in every area of his body. Or that something was trying to pull all his organs and veins and arteries and capillaries out of his body, onto the dirt floor beneath him.

"You're going to answer my question or things are going to get a lot more painful for you, bozo." Shadow huffed, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned up against the wall opposite Crimson. "Why'd you save me that night? Why sacrifice yourself for me?"

When Tommy hesitated to answer, the shards of glass jabbed inwards painfully, electing a blood curdling screech of pain. "I don't fucking know! It was fucking instinct, alright prick! I saw you about to fall and swapped us around! There isn't a specific reason, dickhead!" The blonde gritted out in a pained voice, tears welling in his eyes.

𝘐'𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘪𝘦.

"Why would saving me be instinct? Considering what you did to Charged it should be the opposite of your instinct." Shadow snarled, adding more shards to the onslaught.

"It's what your taught in hero training. Save those who cannot save themselves." The younger tore chunks of the inside of his cheek out to stop himself from screaming.

He did not deny the false accusations that the villain continued to throw at him.

Shadow considered this for a moment, ignoring the blonde as he writhed in pain. "Why'd you kill Charged?"

"You discredit me, Shadow." Tommy jested with fake confidence. "You act like I only killed Charged and not Mirrage."

The blonde decided to take the falsehood and run with it. Having the reputation of killing the top two vigilantes, who defeated Schlatt, would make him seem more intimidating.

Crimson screamed as the shards tortured him once more, his breathing becoming erratic. The raking shivers from coldness didn't help with the pain only justling the shards further.

"You didn't kill Mirrage. That sun loser did. Now answer the question before I start doing real damage." Shadow growled, stalking forward a bit.

Crimson didn't respond, head tilting to the side: "How do you know about the sun powered freak?"

It was weird that Shadow knew this information. No one expect Tommy and the light powered person did. So how did the villain know?

𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘔𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦? 𝘕𝘰. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳. 𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘺 𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳. 𝘚𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳?

"Answer my question." Shadow snapped him out if his contemplation.

The shards once again jutted inwards. This time however one came completely out and tore an entire section of skin off the boy, who screeched once again. Enough skin that it would scar (his muscle now being visible) was taken from his middle fingerless left hand, skin quickly becoming a mangled mess of blood clots.

"I didn't fucking kill him." The ex-hero got out through laboured breathe.

"Ballshit." Fury practically radiated from the man as he stalked forward. "I'll torture for as long it takes to get an answer."

"Fucking try me, bitch." Tommy spat back with equal fury.

"I've got all year, dickwad. I advise you to tell the truth. Let's try this again, shall we? Why did you kill Charged?"

"I told that I didn't fucking kill him."

Just as Shadow was about to rip more skin from the ex-hero's hand, the door opened.

"Shadow. I believe he belongs to me." The very deep and gravely voice of the intruder echoed throughout the room.

Standing in the doorway stoticly was Corpse.Adorned in a black turtleneck neck,cargos and combat boots.Like his attire,he had black curly hair that thrashed around in the harsh wind that charged in apon his arrival.Silver jewellery bejewelled the villian,rings sitting on his fingers,multiple chains hanging from his neck and piercings lining the edge of his ears.The man's identity was hidden by a violet metal mask with teeth spray painted onto it in a grin.

Most formidably know for being a skeleton hybrid,Corpse can manipulate anything made of bones,using this power as a form of torture:pulling the bones out of a person's skin in such away that they don't die nor lose their skeleton.Those who have experienced it referred to it as worse than death,some even saying it rivalled Warden's methods.

Which is why Tommy would prefer to stay with Shadow.

"Nope."Both Shadow and Crimson answered in unison.

Shadow fell into a defensive stance between Tommy and the intruder,ruby dagger slipping into his grasp.Although the tied up boy was currently his captive,he wanted the younger to win.Tugging at the rope,he was able to twist so that his twin ruby dagger was in his grasp,throwing it into the villian's empty hand.

Corpse sized up Shadow before shrugging and walking further into the room.Immediately,bone daggers surrounded Shadow,stabbing him in his thighs, arms ,shoulders ,shins, chest and stomach.Letting out a gasp of pain,the villian fell backwards onto the dirt floor,blood joining Tommy's own.All glass shards extracted themselves from the blonde,falling to the floor and shattering.

Nonchalantly,Corpse walked up to the ex-hero,glass crackling underneath his studed boots,grasping blonde hair and pulling the younger's head back.Dark eyes racking his face with a cool expression.

Smirking,the blonde head butted the man,the ravenette didn't even flinch;stern eyes continuing to take in his masked face.Slowly,the man brought his other hand up to Tommy's jaw moving it to the right after tilting it upwards.Coarse fingertips tracing the smiley face engraved there,eyes shining in recognition.

Corpse grinned.

Behind the pair,Shadow stirred,looking up from his pitiful state in the filth and shattered glass.Mustering up as much strength as he could without gaining to much attention,he sent both daggers into the other villian's kidneys.

Clink.

Turning his head over his shoulder to glare sardonically at the injured man,Corpse pulled the blades from himself,throwing them to the ground."Unlike you,Shadow,I'm not fucking naive.Armer is a thing,dumbass."

With that,he turned back to the ex-hero.Pulling a syringe from his pocket and injecting it into the blonde's neck.

"Do you just fucking drug me,dickhead?"Crimson slurred out,vision swimming.

Next thing Tommy knew,his world was once again incased in darkness.

_____

Darkness.

This time,Tommy did awaken to darkness.His body felt heavy and sore,hand burning.Unlike last time,it wasn't cold nor was it warm,no longer did the stench of sweat assault his nose.

Opening his eyes,the blonde sluggishly looked around.This room had incredibly dim lighting and was basically a grey rectangular room.Instead of being bound to a chair,Tommy was hanging from the ceiling by chain,hands bound together above his head in cold metal;his feet no where near even scraping the floor.

His hand was wrapped in a thick coating of bandages;muscle no longer exposed.

Groaning,he realised there was a one way mirror instead of a wall to his left and a door to his right.Relying on the fact that someone was watching (and could hear him),he turned his head to the mirror:"Oi,bitch!Fucking have one!"

A moment passed.

Then another.

Then another.

Then a couple more.

Corpse opened the door,leaning against the doorframe,an unimpressed look swimming in his eyes."Hello,Crimson."

"Where's Shadow?"His voice came out uneven and wobbly as his voice changer tried desperately to cover up his voice crack-keeping his youth from the villian.

Tommy didn't quite know why he was worried for Mirrage.Mabye it was his vigilante instinct kicking in and filling him with the constant need to save others,putting them before himself.Or mabye it was because of the extreme regard the villian had shown for Charged.But there was something there,at the back of his mind,begging him to save the villian.Though considering the fact he couldn't even touch the ground right now,he wasn't going to be saving anyone,anytime soon.

"He's where i left him."The villian tilted his head to the side in curiosity."It's strange.You worry for your past kidnapper instead of yourself.Why is that?"

"Because i already know where the fuck i am and what's going to happen to me,prick."Tommy lied,covering his fear with a facade of unwavering confidence,that unbeknownst to him,would fall in a matter of minutes.

Eying him up and down,the villian approached.Everything the man did seemed so unbothered and bored but had an elegance to it that showed how thought out his actions truly were;precise to no end.He grabbed the boy's chin,Tommy staring back in bemusement:the action feeling uncanny coming from anyone but Siren when he decided to mock the ex-hero."What your expecting will happen eventually;I promise.But first ,let's go back to basics."

Before Tommy could respond,the deep voiced villian was already slipping silver knuckle duster on,slamming his fist into the boy's stomach.Repeatedly assaulting the blonde's chest leaving Tommy writhing in pain,chest moving up and down rapidly.Next,Corpse onslaughted the ex-hero's face,carful not to break the mask.After that,he turned to the beaten blonde's back,hammering into it without mercy;unknowingly striking phantom pains through the boy as his fist met a certain burn scar.

Then,he repeated the battering over and over again.

By the sixth round,Crimson's costume was a bloody mess (much like his body) and riddled with holes.Cuts leaking violent red,cracked ribs and gnarly bruising made up the skin that leaked through the holes.The ex-hero's confident resolve had broken by round four;screams of pain echoing in the tiny room.

Corpse untied the blonde,knowing he was now to weak to try and escape,picking him up bridal style and taking him out the room into the hallway.Before Tommy could get a proper look,he was taken into the room next to his-identical to his own except instead of a one way mirror looking in,it had one looking out(you could see into the room he'd just been tortured in).

Placing the younger on the floor,the villian walked out of the room,locking the door behind him.

"Crimson?"A small,wobbly voice sounded out from the corner of the room.

Turning his head to the side,Tommy made eye contact with a familiar pair of red and green eyes-the rest of the person's face covered by a purple mask.Eyes widening in shock,breath catching,the blonde sat up.

𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘣𝘰𝘰...

"Ender?"

Relief washed over the boy,happy his friend wasn't dead.However,he couldn't voice his joy as Crimson and Ender had no connection;until now.The vigilante looked bad compared to the ex-hero.It was obvious that Corpse's power had been used on him with the haunting look in his eyes and the holes in his suit.On top of this,they were littered with cuts and bruises akin to Tommy's but on a larger scale.

"What are you doing here?"The vigilante asked a pinch of venom in their words.

Moving backwards,Crimson propped himself up against the wall closest to the door."Got napped."He stated nonchalantly as if it were an every day occurrence."You?"

Ranboo eyed him cautiously before replying:"Same..."Silence hang before them for a moment until the monochrome boy spoke again."Why'd you do it?"

"Do what?"The blonde yawned out,tired out of his mind but was willing to grit through it inorder to listen to his friend.

"Kill Charged and Mirrage."Loathing,of which Tommy had never heard before from his friend,seeped into Ender's tone.

"I didn't."Tears clouded in Tommy's eyes at the name Mirrage,hands clenching and unclenching at his sides.

"Yes you did!"The vigilante's voice raised an octave in frustration,throwing his arms up.

"Where's your fucking proof?Mmm?Have you ever actually fucking seen anything that could potentially incriminate me?"The ex-hero exploded,for the first time annoyed at the accusation because his friend hated him for it.

For something he didn't even do.

Ranboo stayed silent,considering the youngers words."Then-Why-Why would they tell the public that?"

"Easy.So they could justify kicking me out and putting a bounty on my head."The blonde huffed,crossing his arms over his chest.

"Why would they want to kick you out though and didn't they already have teaming with the Syndicate for that,anyway?"

"Yeah but the whole murdering the city's favourite vigilantes makes you lose everyone's favour.They wanted me out because Schlatt's spies make up seventy-five percent of the Nox committee."Tommy explained patiently.

Ranboo sat in consideration for a moment,mulling the information over."Ohhh,it all makes sense now!When i heard about the whole Siren thing i thought it was weird as it painted you as a hero in not wanting anyone to die or anything.So it didn't really add up when you were accused of those murders.And obviousl-"

Tommy zoned out through Ranboo's rambling,body weak and tired,he slowly slipped into a restless sleep-unable to keep his eyes open.

____

"𝙔𝙚𝙨!𝙇𝙚𝙩'𝙨 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙤!"𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙠𝙚𝙙,𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙗𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙'𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙘𝙞𝙧𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙨.

"𝙇𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙜𝙤!𝙇𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙜𝙤!"𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙙,𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙚, 𝙨𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙖𝙧-𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚.

𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙,𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙟𝙪𝙣𝙠𝙮𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙛 13.𝘽𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙗𝙤𝙮𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙚𝙩𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙨,𝙗𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙞𝙚:𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧,𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙗𝙡𝙪𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙞𝙚.

𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙢 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙮𝙨,𝙘𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙯𝙚 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙜𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣'𝙨 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙧.𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙,𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙫𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨;𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙡,𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙞𝙩.

𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙤 𝙣𝙤 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙,𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙮𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙨.𝘽𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙮 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙨,𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙣𝙤 𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩.

"𝘿𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣!𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚!"𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙙,𝙬𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮.

"𝙔𝙚𝙖𝙝.𝙔𝙚𝙖𝙝,𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙧.𝙄 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨."𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨,𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.

𝙎𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙮,𝙝𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙,𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙞𝙧.𝙊𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨,𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧.

"𝙏𝙊𝙈𝙎!𝘼𝙍𝙀 𝙔𝙊𝙐 𝙎𝙀𝙀𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙏𝙃𝙄𝙎?"𝙃𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙𝙡𝙮, 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙.

"𝙁𝙐𝘾𝙆 𝙔𝙀𝘼𝙃,𝙋𝙐𝙍𝙋!𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝙋𝙊𝙒𝙀𝙍𝙎 𝘼𝙍𝙀 𝙋𝙊𝙂!"𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙮,𝙟𝙪𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙥 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙩.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮,𝙨𝙬𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮.𝙁𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧'𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙡:"𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮...𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙢𝙚.𝙄-𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣'𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙡 𝙞𝙩!"

"𝙃𝙚𝙮,𝙝𝙚𝙮!𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥,𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙠𝙖𝙮,𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙝?𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙗𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙘𝙪𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢-"𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙛𝙩 𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙣:𝙖 𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚.

𝙁𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙,𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙚𝙠.𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚,𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙝𝙪𝙜.

"𝙄'𝙢 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮.𝙄'𝙢 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮.𝙄'𝙢 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮."𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧,𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚.𝙂𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙨𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙'𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙬𝙣.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠,𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙'𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨,𝙬𝙞𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨."𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝙤𝙠𝙖𝙮 𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥.𝙄'𝙢 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙚.𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙,𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙨𝙤 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙.𝙄'𝙢 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪,𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙧.𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙪𝙡𝙩."

"𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨.𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙚.𝙄 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪!𝙄'𝙢 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧.𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚,𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙜𝙤..."𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙤𝙗𝙗𝙚𝙙,𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧'𝙨 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙩,𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙'𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙠.

𝙒𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙢'𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙤𝙮,𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮 𝙧𝙪𝙗𝙗𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙞𝙧𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠."𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚.𝙄'𝙢 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄'𝙢 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪.𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧,𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥.𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙,𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧,𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙝?𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄'𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪!"

"𝙔𝙚𝙖𝙝,𝙄'𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧.𝙄'𝙢 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩..."𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙙,𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙜𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙥 𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚.

"𝙄'𝙢 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝."

"𝙄𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙮 𝙞 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩?"𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮,𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙥 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙.𝙂𝙖𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙤𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧.𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙩,"𝙒𝙃𝘼𝙏!𝙒𝙀 𝙒𝙀𝙍𝙀 𝙃𝘼𝙑𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝘼 𝙈𝙊𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙏 𝘼𝙉𝘿 𝙔𝙊𝙐 𝙎𝙋𝙊𝙄𝙇𝙀𝘿 𝙄𝙏!"

Chapter Text

Spy scowled from his place among the other high ranking officials in front of district 12's city hall,a stout building made of mirky windows,crumbling brick walls,large oak doors and the MCC logo graffitied messily on it's side;out of the cameras view.Schlatt stood centre stage monologuing to the many cameras before him,the footage being broadcasted all over Pogtopia.

Sun shining down brightly on the city to bring a little bit of joy to the hope destroying,monumental event that was the taking of district 12.One or two thousand dead citizens littered the rioter filled streets,all powered inhabitants brought to the hall.

A sickening grin assaulted the villian's face as he spoke."Citizens of Potopia,once my great nation,soon we'll be united again.I know,i know,that some of you still hold hope that the heroes of Nox will save you."He interrupted himself with a crazed laugh."And want to tell you that you fucking idiots because they won't!They fucking won't!They didn't last time,why would they now?"

He looked to the cameras silent for a moment,as if expecting an answer that he knew wouldn't come.

He smirked.

"Or mabye there's the chance that they saw a lapse in their judgment last time and will try and make emends.But here's the thing,their self proclaimed 'heroes' aren't loyal.No,not in the slightest!Hell even the fucking number one hero isn't loyal!"

As he screamed this,Masquerade emerged from the oak doors,standing beside the villian.

"There is no loyalty.There are no heroes.No one is going to save you.The only people who could are dead."The brunette man snarked,sardonically,tapping the ring on his finger.

Shadow clenched his fists.

"Sure,you have Hive and Ender now.But when the time comes,will they be able to live up to the 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘤𝘺 of Charged and Mirrage?I think not!Niether of these new vigilantes,hell not ever Mirrage himself,could lead a revolution the 16th.I'll admit,Mirrage helped,he did good but it was Charged who lit the spark.

Charged who valiantly,as they say,lead the final push.He killed me that day;he saved you.Sacrificed himself for those who exiled him,tried to kill him and even accused him of murdering his partner.

I watched him die.I watched as a secondary bolt of lightning struck him,power pulsing through his body into mine.Reducing us both to ashes.

He'd done it.

Charged had won the war.He'd saved his people.But here's the fucking thing."Schlatt moved in closer to his microphone.

"I came back.Some pitiful god decided that it wasn't my time to die yet.I died,yes.But i was revived.And that's the fucking difference,baby."He screeched manically,spreading his arms in an oh so Siren like manner.

"CHARGED IS DEAD!BUT IM STILL FUCKING HERE!THE ONLY PERSON WHO COULD SAVE YOU,IS GONE!"

With that,the broadcast ended.

Shadow remained stotic,though his thoughts were in turmoil.The people needed someone to lead a new revolution against Schlatt's tyrannical rule.They needed a symbol of hope.Charged wasn't here to fill that role any more.

He's the next best thing.

𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯,𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯.𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐'𝘮 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨.𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨.𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩?𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦?

𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.

𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘏𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦.𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭.𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦.

Nuke and Ender.Sure,their novices at best and have no experience with the likes of Schlatt.But they symbolises hope,brotherhood and freedom.Both have strong powers and enough determination to face Schlatt with some training.Most importantly,they have the district's support.

Mabye he's being selfish in not doing it himself.Infinitely being the better choice with maturity in being a legal adult now at 18,experience,trust in his abilities and more allies and information-he was perfect for the position.On top of this,the people are more likely to rally behind him as he's one of the original vigilantes.

However,he can't put that suit back on.One because it's destroyed and two because he doesn't want to do this again without 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

Talking about 𝘩𝘪𝘮,Shadow also can't lead like 𝘩𝘪𝘮.The villian isn't good with his words and he isn't very good at speaking to people.The only reason he and 𝘩𝘪𝘮 were friends in the first place was because 𝘩𝘦 spoke to him in that playground,beneath the tree.The only reason they become best friends,basically brothers and moved in together was because 𝘩𝘦 spoke to him.

𝘏𝘦 choose him.

𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘦...

Tommy.The name felt foreign yet welcome on his tongue.The villian taking to no longer saying his name after the boy's death-in constant denial that it ever happened.He missed Tommy,god he missed Tommy.All he wants is to see his face again,hear his bubbly laughter again.He never will though;Schlatt,Crimson took Tommy away from him.

𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘦.

If Tommy were alive,he could lead the revolution.He could face Schlatt.Where as, Shadow can't,Spy can't:the people wouldn't rally behind them.Mirrage can't face Schlatt without Charged.

Purpled can't face Schlatt,not alone.

The main reason he's being selfish and hiding in the shadows(𝘗𝘧𝘧𝘵-𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵?𝘐'𝘮 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐'𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘴.𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘺)is that he's scared out of his mind without Tommy.Of course he was the self-preservation of the pair but Tommy made him laugh and smile and cry and try his best to be better.Tommy made him better.He gave him something to fight for and now he's gone.

Mirrage was nothing without out Charged.

Purpled was nothing without Tommy.

But those years he had spent with Tommy had taught him all soughts of things.But right now,in this moment,a moment,a decision that will change the course of his future for better or for worse,two things comes to mind.

Loyalty and Legacy.

It was his job as Tommy's best friend to be loyal and complete his legacy:stop Schlatt.

Determination's once distinguished flame sparked somewhere deep inside of him.He wouldn't get rid of the villian himself but he would aid those who did.If Hive and Ender were trained by him,someone with experience,they would be able to beat Schlatt.

A grin spread across his face.

𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵.𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘸,𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘴.

_____

"No.The Empire Strikes Back is the best star wars movie,you uncultured fuck."Tommy explained,pointing accusingly at the vigilante who sat beside him.

"That's just not true."Ranboo shook their head in disagreement,movements sluggish due to lack of sleep and food.

"It is though!"

"It's not!It's just not though!Your wrong."The monochrome boy yawned out,eyelids heavy,resting his head on the blonde's shoulder."Revenge of The Sith is the best one,man!"

"Oh.Oh, i get it now.No,I see how it is.Your a prequels kind of guy.Which by the way their all wankers.I bet your favourite character is Jar Jar fucking Binks."Tommy explained in mock offence.

"No.No my favourite character is Mace Windu."The taller slurred out falling asleep for the first time in days.

"...It's because he has a purple shittin lightsaber innit."The ex-hero snarked,turning to his friend with a scrunched up face.Smiling softly when he saw that the elder was finally asleep.

Ender hadn't been able to sleep for the time he'd been here due to his Enderman hybrid qualities not allowing him to sleep when he doesn't feel safe.As the days progressed,the vigilante began to warm up to their cell mate apon figuring out that he hadn't killed Charged and Mirrage.

The moment of peace was interrupted by Corpse walking into the room."Wake him up."The villian demand,voice ever deep and gravely.

When Tommy hesitated,the man tilted him head before humming in contemplation."Unless you would rather take his take this round yourself?"

𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘳.Purpled's voice growled in his mind.

𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳...

But when has he ever listened to Purpled?

Love for his friend exceeding self-preservation,Tommy nodded.Slowly, lowering Ranboo to the ground and walking out of the room with the villian;Corpse huffing in amusement as he walked past.

𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘣!𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥,𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘴.Purpled stated sarcastically-Tommy could almost hear the boy eye roll.

The blonde didn't even struggle as he was chained up,having gone through the process so many times now:he knew that it wouldn't help him.His black skins were destroyed at this point,left discarded on the floor in his and Ranboo's cell,leaving his scarred chest exposed but his cargos and speedrunners were still in one piece.Body a mess of bruises,scabs and dried blood - scars only visible if looked for.The vigilante in the other room was in a similar condition but from this day on,the blonde hoped their state would improve;Tommy was planning on taking all their rounds of torture from this point onwards.

"Alright big man,hit me."The ex-hero sighed.

"Oh Crimson,don't worry.We're switching it up today."Corpse's voice was sickening sweat as he stepped forward,raising his bejewelled hands.

Tommy's eyes widened in realisation."Wait!Before you start,promise me that I'll take all Ender's beatings from here on out."

"You want to take every single punishment I would of inflicted on Ender,from now on?"He inquired,raising an eyebrow-chuckling once he got a nod of confirmation."Your a strange one I'll give you that much.Alright,I promise."

Next thing Tommy knew,his body was a blaze,blood curdling screams and tears being dragged from him instantly.Looking down through blurring vision,he watched in terror as his bones glowed purple.

It felt like his bones were being pulled from his body.Whilst also feel as if they were stabbing inwards,assaulting his organs.

Writhing in blinding agony,the blonde screamed his lungs raw.Cursing his high pain intolerance for keeping him conscious,hot white pain rioting through his body.

Corpse stood opposite him,smiling sadisticly at the ex-hero's pain.

Tommy was once again a comet.Shoring through the sky at the speed of light,burning alive in the furious red flames and screaming in excruciating pain.Torment unending,he went crashing into the earth's crust,bones shattering apon impact;fragments slicing into his skin.

Spinel cord digging into a specific burn scar in the centre of his back,sending a memory to his brain at the phantom pain.

He blacked out.

Waking up in a grey rectangular room with Ender.

The relentless cycle repeats,over and over and over again.

Each time,Tommy blacks out to the same memory.

____

Bang.

A bullet tore through the air,missing Schlatt by an inch,earning a cackle from the man that echoed through the crowded battle field.

"YOU FUCKING MISSED!"The villian screeched,spreading his arms wide before pointing them towards the vigilante,palms up."And they call you the number one vigilante!"

"I missed on purpose."Charged smirked,indicating to the building that began crashing to the ground behind the brunette.

The vigilante had shot one of the construction beams from the building; the only thing holding it upright in it's disheveled state.Bullet's momentum strong enough to break the rusting steel and send the structure tumbling.

Schlatt immediately charged forwarding into the vigilante,tackling him to the ground.The rivals interlocking hands and trying to push the other off.Charged bringing his leg up and slamming his foot into the man's chest;Schlatt groaning as he writhed in pain beside the boy.

Jumping up,the two circled eachother,arms raised with palms facing upwards;Schlatt with all his fingers up.Where as the vigilante's ring finger down in the 16th symbol.

(The symbol inspired by Charged and how the vigilante did the hand gesture when using his powers.)

In an instant,both sent their powers barrelling towards the other,raven flames and vermillion wisps meeting in the centre.Nightmare however was more powerful;Charged still weak from over using his powers two days ago.

Black slowly consuming red.

Taking a deep breath,the vigilante screamed,crimson lightning cracking the sky in half and impaling the centre of his spin;power spreading throughout his nervous system earning a tortured scream.Eyes glowing white as millions of volts of red electricity raged through his body,the boy sent the bolts zipping towards his opponent.

Red completely devouring black.

However,another bolt of lightning unexpectedly tore into his back,breaking the sky further.Crimson consumed the two,both screaming as their bodies turned to ash.Charged refusing to stop,knowing this was the only was to end the war,to end the killing.

The Crimson exploded,shattering windows and sending a tsunami of raging power across the city.

Everyone in Pogtopia watching in awe as wisps of vermillion danced around them before returning to their owner.Dancing around the dull grey ashes that lay scattered in the newly created crater where the two rivals once stood.

The war was over but at what cost?

____

Tommy awoke with a start,Ranboo shaking him violently.

The blonde's hands shook,breathing erratic and a coat of sweat covered his skin."Fuck off,it's too early..."He slurred out,waving the monochrome boy's hands away.

Pain racked his body.Skin covered in bruises and scabs.Violet stained his taunt skin,tracing his bones.Hunger clawed at his stomach desperately from starvation,skin pallor from lack of natural light.

"Crimson!"The vigilante shouted urgently,the blonde cracking open his eyes to glare at the boy.

Bolting up right and scrambling away as he noticed the man standing over his cell mate's shoulder.

Siren.

Chapter Text

Siren.

"Ender...I think I'm fucking dreaming."Tommy breathed out,goggling at the man stood before him.

The villian laughed,stepping towards the blonde and taking his chin in his fingerless gloved hand,nails of chipped black digging into the metal mask."Aww.The little hero sees me in his dreams.I'm flattered,Crimson."He smirked out mockingly,twisted grin on his face."You look more shit than usual."

"You still look like an emo."Tommy shot back.

"At least I didn't get fucking kidnapped."

"That's because no one would want to fucking kidnap you,bitch."The blonde fumed,hitting the man's hand away from his chin.

"Because their to scared too and wouldn't be able to abduct me in the first place."Smugness dripped from his words like sap as he straightened,stepping back from the ex-hero.

"Most would agree that it's due to you holding no value."The comment was fuled by venom.

"And you do?"Tension filled the silence that settled over the room at the words."We both know that's a lie.Masquerade and Nox discarded you on the streets like a used cigarette for people to tred on the first chance they got."The villian snarled in disgust.

"Hey!"Ranboo shouted,interrupting the two's bickering."We need to get out of here before Corpse wakes up.Rember?"

"Wait,your working with this fucking bitch?"Crimson's face scrunched up in disgust.

"Wait,what do you mean us?He's not coming with us."Face mirroring the blonde's.

Ender sighed in exasperation,quickly answering the questions:"Yes,i am working with Siren because it means the Syndicate will protect someone for me."

Tommy's face scrunched up further.

He'd seen what the Syndicate could do,witnessing it first hand:they'd killed Sandwich.The blonde loathed the group.Not just as a hero or a vigilante or even a Buissness Bay leader.No.As a civilian,Tommy Innes (or any of his fake names),he hated them.

The gang had caused hundreds of deaths for a supposed 'greater good':Tommy couldn't willingly like them.

The notion that Ranboo was willingly working with them made him sick.Ranboo was supposed to be a vigilante,one of the vigilantes who many thought would out shine Charged and Mirrage.They told Tommy,to his face,that they still followed the Charged Laws.Yet they were going directly against them by teaming with those who murdered innocent civilians without feeling an ounce of regret.

Tommy felt betrayed.Ranboo had lied to him.

Though it isn't quite fair to criticise the boy for lying about something like this.Tommy's equally guilty of it himself.

But in away,he couldn't blame Ranboo.The vigilante was doing it to protect Tubbo.If Tommy was in Ranboo's position but with Purpled instead,he'd do the same without thinking.The Syndicate was powerful and could provide the highest degree of protection.So of course you would take them up on a deal if it meant protecting those you love.

He didn't hate Ranboo because he would do the same.However,this didn't mean he liked it.It did however mean his trust in the vigilante was destroyed now.

Anything he said to the monochrome boy could be reported to the Syndicate.

The villian snarled before snapping impatiently at his teammate:"You didn't answer my fucking question,Ender.Do i need to remind you whose leadership you work under?"

"No sir."The vigilante wilted at the reprimand."We are taking him with us.As you can see he's been through alot more here then me."He spoke through gritted teeth,indicating to the blonde,the brunette's eyes following."There's a reason for that which isn't that Corpse hates him. Crimson has been taking my beatings on top of his own for ages now.So yes,we are taking him with us.On top of this,he isn't even guilty of killing Charged and Mirrage;he doesn't deserve to be thrown in Pandora."

Siren seemed to freeze at the mention of the prison before his eyes snapped up to meet Crimson's,spitting venom coated words at the boy:"𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦?"

"Yes."The answer was forced from his lips,the blonde scowled once he snapped out of the trance the villian had just put him under."Don't use your freaky mind shit on me,you basturd."

The villian seemed to considered the younger's answer for a moment before huffing,checking his watch impatiently."Alright,we can bring him with us.We need someone to break your dampeners anyway."

Letting out a sigh of relief,Ranboo uncrouched from their place beside Tommy,standing next to Siren;both walking out the door.Tommy tried to get up on his own but apon failing,he resorted to using the wall for support,limping out of the room and grimacing with every step.The ex-hero was extremely slow,the other's being at the end of the hallway whilst he had just left the cell.

The boy watched his feet as he walked,having little confidence that they'd carry him considering the last couple day's events.Whenever Crimson stood and tried to walk to the room over to take a beating,his legs failed him and Corpse would have to help him.

Speaking of Corpse,the blonde's eyebrows furrowed in confusion apon hearing four pairs of footsteps-not three.Looking up and glancing around in bemusement,he spotted the villian.Bejewelled hands duel wielded a pair of syringes as their owner stalked forward on the balls of his feet.

"Watch out!"Tommy screamed when he saw Corpse sneaking up on the pair.

But he was too late.

A syringe dug into Ranboo's neck,sending them crumpling to the ground.Before he could even get a hand on Siren,the brunette had already acted;whispering commands into the man's ear.

Immediately,Corpse pulled a bone knife from his pocket and slit his own throat,a hazy look in his dark eyes.Blood splattered on the walls around him and stained his clothes as he tumbled to the floor-body lifeless.

Tommy froze in his place,leaned up against the wall with his eyes glued to the fresh corpse on the floor.He'd seen death on it's largest scale of carnage:war.Supposedly,he should be used to it-he was used to it.When Sandwich and all those other innocent people died,he was able to deal with the murders in that moment.Allowing him to keep a cool composure and survive the massacre.

But this felt different.

Corpse had just killed himself.Committing suicide without the longing for death.In a way,yes Siren had taken control of his mind and forced him to do it.But Tommy couldn't stop thinking that what if inorder to make the villian kill himself,the Syndicate leader's power had to plant thoughts into the man's head.Thoughts that were so horrific,so self degrading,so heartbreaking that it forced Corpse over the edge.Forced him to make a decision that took those who longed for death months to decide on.

After a moment,the blonde was able to tare his eyes away from the corpse.Instead looking in horror at it's creator:Siren.

A splotch of crimson liquid gripped onto Siren's pale skin,turning a part of his blindfold brown.Staring at the body blankly,the man was completely ignorant to the approaching blonde;lost in his own world.Unlike usual, Crimson swears the man was contemplating the murder he'd just committed.

"Hey,"The blonde placed a reassuring hand on the man's shoulder when he didn't reply.The villian's head snapping towards him instantly."I know both of us hate the thought of working together but we have to get Ender out of here,yeah?"

"...As much as i hate to admit it,your right for once,Crimson."The man mumbled out returning to his usual self.

"What do you mean 'for once'?"Tommy squawked,mocking Siren's voice terribly.

Reaching down,the villian picked up Ender carefully-carrying them bridal style."Your insolent and ignorant but that isn't much of a surprise seen as your Masquerade sidekick."

"Fuck you,man!You call me insolent then go shamelessly disrespecting the top hero.Fucking hypocrite."The blonde argued,mumbling quickly under his breath:"The whole fucking Syndicate are."

"I'm not insolent.Masquerade doesn't deserve my respect.He's a pawn where as I'm a bishop."Siren snarled as the pair made their way out of the prison like place.

"You don't deserve my respect yet you still call me insolent,dumbass. Your reasoning doesn't quite check out there,Siren."Tommy smirked,opening the door to reveal an abandoned alleyway.

"Fine.We're both isolent.Now we're the same,you happy prick?"The brunette relented,stepping into the alleyway beside the blonde.

"We are not the same."Crimson spat back,jabbing his finger into the taller's chest."I'm better.Puls your evil plus your an emo plus ratio."

Purpled cheered in his head as the blonde slipped into one of his dead friend's mannerisms.

"Oh god.I just got ratioed by an idiot."Siren said in mock terror.

"Yeah you did,bitch!"

The two stood in silence for a moment as Tommy realised what exactly he'd just agreed to."Wait...No,no,no,no,no-I'm not an idiot-"

The villian died of laughter as the blonde tried desperately to redeem himself.

"Where are we going?"The brunette asked once his laughter had died down.

"Your part of the Syndicate.Surely,there's a base or something in the Pit."Crimson side eyed the man apon getting a meck no in response."Unbelievable.This is why the Bay is better in every fucking way!Alright,follow me.I'm fuckin slow though."

"Then hurry the fuck up."The villian grunted impatiently,shuffling the vigilante in his arm's so he wouldn't drop them.

"You try walking after being tortured then dickhead.See how fast you can fucking walk."

"Bet.I'd be faster then you."

"I'll take you up on that bet if i can be the one to torture you."Crimson shot the other a shit eating grin.

"𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘭."Siren returned the grin with honey coated words .

"You fucking prick!"

___

Pulling down on the frayed string that hang beside the door,the blonde turned the lights on before stepping aside so the other could enter-closing the door for the villian.Siren's eyes,though not visible,were obviously blown wide with furious curiosity as his head snapped left and right in his thorough inspection of the warehouse.

Bullet holes pierced the rusting metal walls,spilling natural light into the room in a disco ball esc fashion.The warehouse was how Tommy and Sandwich had left it last time apart from the damage to the infrastructure.

"Put him down on the coach.I'll go check if I've got any medical shit."Crimson instructed,walking further into the building and shuffling through the draws under the sink in the corner,next to the bathroom door.

When he turned around,first aid kit,bowl of hot water and a towel in arms,Siren was sat in the spiny chair infront of the monitor and Ender was delicately placed on the sofa;limbs comically hanging off the ends of it due to his hybrid induced height.

The villian pulled a cigarette from his pocket and placed it between his chapped lips,frowning as he ruffled through his pockets in search of a lighter-to no avail.Huffing,the blonde placed his arm full of objects on the ground beside Ranboo before opening one of the pockets in his cargo trousers;throwing a lighter at the brunette who grunted his thanks.

The lighter was made of black stone,a fire proof material and didn't conduct heat-originating from the nether.Battered and old with four letters engraved into it:S,D,G and a T.As well as this,Tomny had added a print of a flame,a smiley face and a pair of clout goggles.It wasn't much nor was it very impressive but the blonde had had it for years now.

When he'd passed the hero test that allowed him to become either a sweeper or a sidekick,the dream team had celibated gaining a new member.Sapnap had gotten him the lighter proclaiming that the two of them would commit arson together one day.

𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺...

"You a Dream Team fan?"Siren's voice called out from beside the boy,the man seemingly unimpressed.

"I was Masquerade's sidekick.The fuckers trained me together."Tommy huffed,dipping the towel in the bowl and ringing it out.

Water dripped into the plastic container,the smell of smoke filling the air.

"Why'd you do it?"

"Do what?"The blonde began carefully cleaning the vigilante's torso,getting rid of the dried blood and grime.

"Save him.Take their punishment.Anyone else in that situation would of tried to avoid torture;especially if it's Corpse.So why?"The taller asked leaning forward in his seat,watching intently as the blonde put the towel aside-he opened the first aid kit.

"I'm getting an annoyingly strong sense of deja vu."

"Oh yeah,"The villian laughed,leaning back in his chair."Let me guess,your heroic instinct kicked in."He mocked in exasperation,throwing his arms up.

"Nope.I like vigilantes and even though he's a fucking bitch and working with the Syndicate,he still has to live.Ender and Hive are Pogtopia's best shot against Schlatt."Tommy replied.Though the last words didn't feel right;they were lie's but he would never admit it.

None of the wounds on the vigilante's body needed stitching which was good.They had major bruising and a couple of broken ribs.The blonde disinfected the wounds covering them in plasters.Next,he wrapped Ender's middle tightly in bandages;he was unable to treat the broken ribs with what he had.

Standing back,the ex-hero shivered,quickly tiding away the objects littering the floor and slumping down in one of the chairs around the table(beside Siren).

"Not gonna look after your own wounds?Or put a shirt on?"The villian inquired,smoke trailing out from his nose and into the air.Mahogany eyes traced the ex-hero's figure noting the violet tattoos that traced his skeleton and the scabs and bruises that harassed his torso.

"One,I don't have a shirt.Two,most of my injuries are on my back where I can't reach them or are these purple shits."The shorter indicated to the amethyst markings on his skin."And three,I can't really be asked."

Silence smothered the room,the two rivals basically drowning in it.

The ex-hero was the one to drag the two of them to the surface.

"Don't you have someone to call to come pick you up?"Resting his head in his arms on the table,turning to the side to stare judgingly at the villian.

"I suppose."He mumbled,pulling out his phone and dialling a number."Hello?"

"Hallo."Rumbled down the line,it was Blood God.Siren being pretentious had the volume at full meaning the blonde could hear everything the other said.

"Come pick me up.I'm in the Pit.I got Ender."The brunette ordered,taking another drag from his cigar.

"Well,there's enforcers and heroes chargin the streets of the Pit right now,as well as rioters.So you and Ender won't be leavin anytime soon.Meanin your going to be stuck there for the foreseeable future,Siren.Get comfy i guess.I'll come pick you up when it dies down."Blood God drawled through the phone,sounding completely unbothered with the situation.

Crimson and Siren groaned in unison,shooting eachother a glare.

"Welp.It sounds like your sufferin.Seems like a good time to leave.See you."

With that the piglin hybrid hung up,leaving the two to wallow in self pity.

"FUCK!"The rivals,once again,spoke in unison.

Chapter Text

The two glared at eachother in silence from their respective sides of the room.

Both refused to sleep,believing the other would try to kill them in their moment of vulnerability or unmask them.They refused to eat as it meant turning their back on the other.

Paranoia running rapid,echoing loudly in the form of a high pitched ringing.

Tommy hadn't eaten in days he found out after escaping.It was mid November when he was kidnapped,now,it's January 2nd.He and Ranboo had admittedly missed Christmas but the blonde wouldn't have celebrated it anyway:his family left him.The upside to missing almost two months of his life is that he missed the 16th's and Purpled's death's anniversarys.

𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘞.

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥.

As you can see,the ex-hero wasn't very happy.Why would he be?He's stuck with Siren,his enemy,for the foreseeable future,he hasn't eaten in ages (apart from half a loaf of bread Corpse gave him mid December),he can't sleep and he doesn't have a shirt.Also,his wounds were likely to get infected and his bones weren't healing making it impossible to breathe but he was too stubborn to do anything about it.

If Bad was here,he'd be telling the younger to acknowledge the fact he'd been kidnapped and tortured for almost two months.Tommy,like always,found comfort in the fact that Bad wasn't here so he wouldn't have to confront his problems.He knew that if he thought about it he'd breakdown,have a panic attack and most likely lose control of his powers.

If he lost control,he would reveal to the man before him that he was Charged.As well as having most of his energy sapped from him during the out burst.The man could use this information to blackmail him like he'd done to hundreds before-including Dream.

Tommy wasn't too keen on revealing his past to Siren;he hadn't even told the dream team and he'd know them for years.

The worst part about the whole situation was that Ranboo wasn't even there anymore to act as the middle ground.Apon waking up,the monochrome boy had been granted their powers back (Crimson breaking their dampener).Shortly after that,he had teleported to the Syndicate base,leaving Tommy and Siren alone.The villian hadn't gone with him as the vigilante wasn't able to take others with him long distances.

In conclusion,Tommy was miserable.Him and Siren hadn't spoken to eachother since Ranboo left.Resulting to simply glare at eachother from opposite sides of the room;too stubborn to break the unceasing silence.

It's been a week.

Now Tommy is stubborn to no end but he's never quite liked silence and that isn't just because he can't seem to keep his mouth shut.It reminded him too much of the bombings during the 16th.Sitting terrified in bunkers under the city,unable to do anything but wait for it to end.With the fighting going on in the Pit,it mimiced the sounds of war:deafening explosions,rapid gunfire and heartbreaking screams.

Drenched in sweat, leg bouncing up and down anxiously which was exhausting to no end due to his lack of energy;he hadn't slept,he hadn't eaten nor had he even attempted to soothe and heal the countless injuries lacing his body.Bloodied hands shook violently,dripping the blood of his shredded cuticles onto the cracked concrete floor.

He knew Siren was watching him intently through dark eyes.Hyper analysing him,eyes lingering on specific things and making well thought out assumptions-some correct(though he'd never know)due to the well practiced skill.

The villian judged him though he mirrored the boy perfectly in almost every way.Instead of shredding at his cuticles to draw his thoughts from whatever dark places they wallowed in,he smoked hundreds of cigarettes from his seemingly endless supply.Occasionally,when mahogany eyes grew distant or scared,the villian would stab the burning embers of the cigar into his fingers or arms.

The atmosphere was one of anxiety and loathing(wiether that be for eachother or the riots outside) and Tommy hated every moment he was forced to languish in it.

So,after a week of living through pent up trauma with no distraction,he finally snapped.

"Please,could you just say something!"He lashed out,anger lacing his shaking words.Siren looked relieved at the outbreak,a little curious with a raise of an eyebrow sure but relived nonetheless."...I-i can't do this anymore...So could you just please-just talk...about anything.I could really give less of a shit about what.Just please say something...Any-anything!Please."He practically begged the elder.

"Orcas,better known as killer whales, are my favourite animals."The man paused as if expecting the blonde to laugh at him.Continuing when he saw the boy listening to him intently as if his words were the key to the universe;he was filled with confidence and glee."They belong to the oceanic dolphin family.Which in my opinion is fucking dumb because they have the word whale in their names.Obviously they should be part of the oceanic whale family-or whatever it's called.Plus,it's the largest member of the fucking elitist dolphin prick society!It's basically a whale.No,it is a fucking whale."

The ex-hero laughed at the man's words,both of them relishing in the new found company though neither would admit.Brunette rambling on about orcas for hours,the other speaking up occasionally to add his opinion.Strangely,the words relaxed the boy and the man,the pairs legs ceasing to shake,no longer sweating profusely or resulting to pain to draw their thoughts from dark places;the other chasing the thoughts away for them.After a while,both were lulled into a deep sleep-out cold for the next day or so.

The warehouse's inhabitants both slept blissfully in knowing that the other would not speak of the prior nights events.Having both slipped into insufferable vulnerability that neither wanted to admit had happened.

____

Tommy awoke to golden beams of light filtering through the bullet holed walls.Siren was still asleep,head tilted over the back of his chair,cigarette having slipped from his grasp as he let out quite snores.The smell of smoke still clung to the air and the sounds of fighting added to the war like ambiance.

Though chaos still raged outside,the warehouse felt oddly peaceful.

Huffing,the blonde stretched,groaning quitly when he reopened his scabbed over wounds,moved sore muscles and jostled broken bones.Hunger still plagued his body and no doubt also effected Siren.So,he wondered over to the makeshift kitchen and scavenged through the cabinets.They contained decades worth of long lasting food that was still edible today.

𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘻𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘦 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘱𝘴𝘦,𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘪𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬.

In the end,he decided on porridge apon finding a bottle of maple syrup.Putting two bowls of porridge in the microwave,he glanced over his shoulder at the distinct loss of snoring.The villian had woken up,slumping down in one of the two chairs huddled around the petite table with a yawn,stretching like a cat in the dancing sunbeams.

"You want some?"Tommy asked after taking the steaming bowl of porridge from the microwave and walking over to the elder.

"Sure."The man's voice was gravely from sleep,he took the bowl from the blonde with a bow of his head in thanks;cursing at the heat of the bowl,shaking his hands rapidly in an attempt to cool his burning fingertips.He scowled at the younger when he cackled at his pain,flipping him off and huffing at the boy:"Die."

"No you,pussy."

Tommy took his own porridge from the microwave,picking up two spoons and the maple syrup before sitting down opposite the brunette.

A disgusted look over took the villian's face as he caught sight of the blonde who was currently drowning his porridge in syrup.

"That is fucking disgusting,stop."He pointed his spoon at the younger accusingly.

"Make me,bitch."Tommy smirked.

Reaching over the petite table,the elder tried to snatch the bottle from the blonde;the two bickering relentlessly during the tug of war.Siren won only to screech as the blonde squeezed the bottle-syrup drenching the porridge.

Tommy slouched back in his chair with a shit eating grin on his face,devouring his breakfast through a sliding rectangular hole in his mask.Grin growing wider as he weezed,catching site of the villian's expression of grief as he stared down at his destroyed meal.

"𝘗𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘺𝘳𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥."The brunette ordered with pettiness,slowly eating his food with a grin.

"Oh you fucking-"Tommy cut himself off,poring the remains of the syrup into his hair.Hissing in pain,sugary substance seeping into his open wounds.

"Serves you right,dickhead."Siren weezed,doubling over as he laughed."Oh shit!"He shouted out,falling off his chair due to laughing with his whole body-Tommy laughed at him.

Standing up,the blonde went to the sink,trying desperately (and failing) to wash the syrup out of his hair.The villian cackled on the floor at his misery:"Yeah,that ain't coming out mate."

Slowly,the syrup was washed from his hair after four minutes.

Siren got up from his spot on the floor,walking to his normal seat by the computer;Tommy sitting on the coach Ranboo used to lay on.Instead of the chair at the opposite side of the room-furthest away from the villian.

An olive branch that openly invited conversation.

Siren smiled,quickly smothering it with a snarl;refusing to acknowledge that it was there in the first place.

"Who's your favourite villian?"The taller asked,putting another cigarette between his teeth and lighting it with ease.

"What?You tryna do fucking small talk now?Never thought you could be civil,Siren."Tommy mocked,side eyeing the villian.Watching from the corner of his eye as he pulled the cigar from his lips with a grin.

"Your interesting,you know that?Anyone else would be too intimidated to even talk to a Syndicate leader but to go as far as mocking one?It's almost unheard of except for a couple of insolent fools;including some of the so called dream team and Schlatt."The villian fell silent,fiddling with the lighter before continuing."I can be civil to those who i deem worthy of my attention-"

"I'm flattered."The boy scoffed.

"You see!You've just done it again.No one else would interrupt a Syndicate leader unless they were (at one point) in a position of power that rivalled that of the Syndicate.Or they weren't scared of us.Or mabye you have a fucking death wish or something,I don't know man.You got to help me out here."He threw his hands up in exasperation,smile still ghosting his lips;he tried desperately to hide it.

"Also,seen as we're so called 'rivals' now,i think it would be good for us to know somethings about eachother.You've got years worth of data on me.I've only got a handful of information;that's not fair,little hero."He announced snidely.

Tommy mumbled something untranslatable under his breath,looking away from the man.

"What was that?"The villian mocked,sounding like a mother encouraging their child to say their first words.

"Look,i hate you with every fucking fibre in my body and hope you die because your a wanker."The younger proclaimed.

"Your stalling."Siren tutted,taking a drag from his cigarette,a couple of embers falling gracefully to the ground.

"It's probably you..."He admitted reluctantly,glancing at the villian when he didn't get a reaction."What?Why do you look constipated?"

The villian's posture was rigid making it obvious that he hadn't expected the answer,face turning red before he exploded,wearing a wide smile:"Awwww,Crimson!I'm your favourite villian!Your the first person to say that!"

"No,no i take it back.I choose Blood God."Tommy whined,burying his face in his hands.

"Awww.Are you embarrassed?It's okay,i can be your favourite villian."Siren continued to coo at the boy.

"Well whose your favourite villian then dickhead,mmmm?I bet it's fucking Warden or something shit."

"It's Grain,actually.But I'm not letting you change the subject,Crimson.Why am i your favourite villian?"The brunette continued to coo at the boy,refusing to change the subject.

"I'm not going to sit here and boost your fucking ego Siren,you narcissistic prick."Tommy snarled,crossing his arms and slouching back in his seat.

"Fine but I'm telling Blood God when i see him.He,for some god forsaken reason,actually likes you.He wanted you to join the Syndicate that day in Kinoko!I fucking don't,your insufferable enough to be around for a couple of minutes let alone having you as a teammate."Siren snarked,blowing wisps of grey smoke into the air.

"That's because he's smart."Crimson huffed,eyes lingering on the smoke that clung in the air.

"That must be a new concept to you."

"Must be for you too as your view wasn't a smart one like your teammates."The blonde shot back eyes lingering on the smoke in the air."You know those things kill you,right?"

The villian cackled,throwing his head back."Forgot you were a hero for a second there.Did Masquerade teach you not to smoke cigarettes?"He mocked.

"No.Someone else did when i stole their cigarettes."

"You stole,little hero?"The man was surprised.

All heroes had clean records and came from the higher districts-no one would need to steal if they lived that far up.Nox claimed it was to keep the image of the perfect hero and to make sure none of the heroes defected.Tommy always thought it was because Nox saw the people of the lower district as a liability.They would rebel if miss treated or if they didn't agree with something;they had a backbone.

Nobody from the lower districts likes to take orders.

"Yep,was pretty good at it as well."The blonde replied,placing his hands behind his head.

"What changed?Nox straighten you out and turn you into a soldier?"

"Joined a fighting ring,made quick money and didn't need to steal."

"You don't fight like a Pit fighter.Plus why'd you need to steal in the first place?Aren't all heroes from the higher districts?"

"I already told you at the Shadow thing with Slime that i change my fighting style alot so no one knows what to expect.I stole because i was a street kid from 13 and yes,all heroes are from the high districts,the tory fucks."He stated nonchalantly.

"How are you a hero if-Oh.You used a fake ID and got in after the war when they didn't do thorough background checks.How'd you get one?"Siren was intrigued,leaning forward in his seat.

"I had contacts in the fighting rings."Tommy answered bluntly,attention on something else."Do play?"

The blonde indicated to the man's hands when he got a confused look at the question.Little dents and callouses littered the brunette's nicotine stained fingertips.

"Yeah,i play guitar.Her name's Samone."Siren smiled,happy to talk about one of his hobbies.

"You named your fucking guitar?I think I'm going to have to change my favourite villian because your fucking insane."The boy proclaimed,smirking when the villian gasped in mock offence before pausing.

"You named your fucking battons,prick."The elder deadpanned.

"Yeah but they have good names not like fucking Samone.That sounds like a thirty year old woman who only drinks red whine."Tommy shot back defensively.

"What are you battons called then,Crimson?"

"Clementine and Henry."He stated proudly.

"...Those are the wankest names i think I've ever heard and you have a go at me for Samone?"Siren shouted."They sound like an old married couple!"

"Don't you dare insult Clementine and Henry,bitch boy.There better than Samone."The younger pouted,glaring at the man.

"Your a fool,little hero."The taller reluctantly smiled.

"Fuck off.Don't call me that,prick."Tommy flipped the man off.

____

"Alright.Get up and sit here."Siren ordered,indicating to the space infront of him on the floor.Around him sat a bowl of hot water,a towel and a first aid kit.

Sitting down infront of the villian with his back to him,the blonde asked what he was doing.

"I'm going to clean and patch up your injuries because your an incapable prick,child."

"I'm fucking twenty four."Tommy corrected with a lie.

"You act like a child."Siren stated bluntly,picking up the towle,dipping it in the water and cleaning the boy's back of dried blood.

"You act like a bad rip off of Schlatt."The blonde snarked back.Hissing in pain when the villian pressed down hard on an open wound.

"At least I'm not a Masquerade rip off.Schlatt actually has power,your owner does not."The brunette mocked,turning the boy around and cleaning the front or his torso.

"He's not my fucking owner.If he was that would make Blood God your owner,bitch."Tommy huffed,hissing as Siren dug the towel deep into the reopened wound in the cetre of his back;memories flooding back.

"Careful.I like you but that does not mean I won't slit your throat the moment you become a liability,little hero."The villian spat sardonically,fingers tapping against the ex-hero's Adam's apple to emphasise his point.

Tommy wacked his hand away.

An uncomfortable silence smothered the two;much like the one that had settled over them for the majority of their time in the warehouse.Siren cleaned,disinfected and wrapped Tommy's injuries.The boy remained quiet,not liking the silence but with no clue how to break it.

Luckily,the villian did it for him:"You want me to do the ones on your face?"

"Wha-No,you'd know what I look like then."The blonde exclaimed in bemusement,head snapping around to face the man.

"Alright,I'll close my eyes then."

"Nope.We're going back to back.Turn around,big man."Tommy ordered.

Siren obliged reluctantly,the blonde's and his back pressing against one another."You don't trust me."The man sounded wounded as he breathed the words out.

"Your a villian and your wearing a one way blindfold so i have no clue if your eyes are closed.Plus you just threatened to kill me,dickhead.So yeah,I don't fucking trust you."Tommy huffed,unhinging his mask with a click;Siren's fingers twitched,body tensing but he remained still and silent.

With no mirror,the blonde had to use his fingers to gingerly work out where the damage lay.Hissing occasionally,fingers brushing against deep cuts.The left side of his lip down to the middle of his chin was entirely split and scraped off.Adding to this,he had two deep gashes in his face,one on his right cheek from where his mask had cut into his skin (matching the one on his left from Purpled) and one above his left eyebrow.He quickly cleaned,disinfected and covered them in plasters;clicking his mask back into place with a sigh of relief.

"Alright,I'm done.You wanna play uno?"Crimson asked turning to face Siren,who grinned wildly at him.

"Oh,I'm going to make you pick up so many cards,prick."

_____

Sapnap stormed down the desolate isles of the District 12 town hall,footsteps echoing loudly beneath him.

The floors where white tiled with one black square in the centre every few steps.High arching ceilings made of mahogany reached so far above that shadows were able to lurk in the darkness.Large church like windows looked out onto the gloomy district,rain hammering down on the glass relentlessly.A large door stood at the end of the corridor:Sapnap's destination.Rioters lased the walls,staring at the hero in intrigue.

Opening the door,the ravenette stepped into the office,slamming the door shut thunderously behind him.

The office was large,books smothering the walls content with infecting the room with the musty stench of old pages.A desk sat in the centre:one chair infront of it,which Sapnap took,and a chair behind it,which Dream lounged in.Papers and pictures of Ender,Siren and Crimson Crusader-who was limping through the Pit covered in injuries and his skeleton was outlined in amethyst-littered the table.The room was dimly lit by a rustic lamp on the table though the sparks that occasionally erupted from the ravenette's fingertips where enough to make up for it.

"Arson,to what do I owe the pleasure?"The blonde inquired though he sounded uninterested,eyes trained on the photos before him.

"When are these from?I don't rember Crimson ever going through Corpse torture."The younger asked,snatching one of the photographers from the table.

"Nine days ago.I think Corpse kidnapped him a couple months back and tortured him.He was probably planning on handing him over once he'd gotten some information from Crimson.The Syndicate probably showed up to get Ender and took Crimson with them."Dream stated bluntly,feigning uninterest though worry lay beneath his words.

"You said he died."Sapnap's head snapped up in shock.

"Why did you come storming into my office,Arson?"The taller's tone was slightly more forceful than before,leaving no room for anything but an answer.

"Your working with Schlatt.Why?"

"He had some interesting proposals that would benefit me indefinitely which Nox couldn't compete with."Dream stated nonchalantly,waving off the question;it wasn't the reason the ravenette was here.

"Where's Karl?"Sapnap demanded,eyebrows furrowing with anger.

"In Pandora."

"In Pandora!Get him the fuck out of there,Dream!"The hero shouted,raising from his chair and slamming his hands down on the desk.

"Or what?Or what Sapnap?What are going to do?"The blonde mocked,leaning towards the other.

"I'll fucking make you,bitch."Sapnap gritted out,bringing his hand up towards his friend's face,fire cackling at his fingers.

"Is that a threat?"The elder asked with a smirk.

"Yes."

Guards stormed the room,restraining Sapnap and dragging him kicking and screaming out of the room;power dampner sat snugly on his wrist.

"DREAM!YOU TRAITOR!I'LL KILL YOU FOR THIS!"

"Your liability two,Arson.You jeopardise my goals and the future of Pogtopia.But don't worry,your on your way to see your husband."Masquerade spat out mockingly,leaning against the doorframe and watching as his friend was dragged away.

A photograph of Crimson,Siren and Ender entering a warehouse clutched tightly in his hands.

Chapter Text

Click,clack.Click,clack.

Purpled stared at his noisy sleek black boots as he stalked down the tiled hallway of the District 12 town hall.It was quite,the only sounds being the annoying click-clacking of his shoes and the peaceful pattering of the rain on windows.Dull grey light casted in through the windows,creating fading shadows.

Since Corpse had taken Crimson from him,he'd been angry at himself.He knew that he should of unmasked the ex-hero so he could easily hunt him down if he ever escaped the villian-though that seemed very unlikely.Purpled had seen what Corpse could do first hand.Considering the fact Crimson didn't appear to have any allies,he's probably already dead.

He wanted to kill him though but he couldn't.

Shadow was supposed to be a weapon.To do that he had to be able to act with his brain not his heart;Charged didn't and it got him killed.

Yet Purpled had failed to play the part of Shadow right.

Shadow didn't unmask Crimson.The ex-vigilante knew why:bloodlust and revenge.He hadn't done it as it would humanise the ex-hero for him meaning he wouldn't be able to kill him:Crimson's a person who probably has family and friends-Purpled doesn't want them to go through what he went through with Tommy.

Purpled wanted,no,needed to kill Crimson to avenge his best friend.

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵,𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴.𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺.𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥.

A crumpled letter was clutched tightly in his hand as he hurried to Masquerade's office with written up order.Purpled,of course,had read it on his way here.It was from Schlatt,demanding the hero to go apprehend Siren and Crimson.

Shadow didn't really understand what advantage Schlatt would gain from having Siren apart from having the villian's powers in his artillery.Adding to this,he also didn't know why he needed Crimson because the ex-hero had no powers,contacts,wasn't very popular and wouldn't have any information the villian didn't already have.

Schlatt knew something Purpled didn't and that scared him.

But Schlatt didn't know that he was creating a new Charged and Mirrage.Shadow had met Hive a couple of weeks back and,hesitantly,revealed he was Mirrage and his plan.The vigilante had jumped at the opportunity,babbling on about how he and his partner were inspired by him and Charged to become vigilantes.

Apparently,Ender like Crimson had been kidnapped and tortured by Corpse.At the time of Purpled and Hive's first meeting,the enderman hybrid was healing and getting their intake of food back up-being extremely malnourished and injured apon their rescue from the villian.Hive had given the villian a handful of new and important insight.Siren had saved Ender 𝘢𝘯𝘥 Crimson from Corpse:the Syndicate was working with one of the pair abducted by the skeleton hybrid.On top of this,from what Purpled can gather,Siren and Crimson are still stranded together in the Pit somewhere:unable to leave due to the fighting.

Mirrage and the two vigilantes were meeting up tonight.

The blonde's plan was finally coming together.

Turning the corner into the hall that lead to his destination,he froze.Eyes landing on a ravenette,wearing black trousers with flames up the sides,black combat boots and a black mask covering his mouth and nose,a white bandana with a matching tight fitting turtleneck with no sleeves:Arson.Normally,flames would cascade up the hero's arms but for some reason they didn't;Shadow frowned.Seven rioters gripped the ravenette's arms,restraining him as he thrashed around.

Purpled,though he'd never admit it being anti-hero and all,was impressed that the man needed seven rioters (all of which were hench) to restrain him.

"DREAM!YOU TRAITOR!I'LL KILL YOU FOR THIS!"Arson shouted in anger,struggling futilely against his handlers.

"Your liability two,Arson.You jeopardise my goals and the future of Pogtopia.But don't worry,your on your way to see your husband."Masquerade spat out mockingly,leaning against the doorframe and watching as his friend was dragged away.

𝘈𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥?

Raising an eyebrow in confusion,the faux-enforcer moved aside,letting the group of men through.Once they'd passed,he walked up to Masquerade,handing him the letter.

The hero's head stayed facing his screaming friend but he took the letter none the less (Purpled was sure his gaze followed Arson as well though he couldn't be sure due to the hero's mask).Once,Arson's screams could no longer be heard,Masquerade turned his attention to Spy,registering him as one or Schlatt's higher ups and giving him a curt nod.Then,he opened the letter slowly,looking down at it's context.

After a moment,he folded it quickly before stuffing it into his hoodie pocket,along with a photograph the villian couldn't quite catch a glimpse of.Then,he took of down the hall,speedrunners squeeking against the tiles.

𝘞𝘦𝘪𝘳𝘥.

____

The Nox tower was cold and annoyingly bright,sun blazing through the glass walls with the air conditioning on full.Pristine walls and floors matched with the perfect people who filtered in and out of the building like clockwork;it felt uncannily fake.Shivers ran up the villian's spine,even with the countless layers of the enforcer uniform.

Guarding the door to the Nox committee meeting room with another enforcer,Shadow could over hear everything discussed by the higher ups.They hadn't discussed anything of much importance,in his opinion.

Crimson was to be obtained as soon as possible for being an enemy of state,a traitor and a liability.They had decided to hold back on acting on Schlatt (𝘗𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘺𝘴) as they were completely out numbered and had just lost the number one and (hours prior) number two top heroes.Wherever the seven rioters had been instructed to take Arson was not a place of freedom.

Schlatt could indefinitely destroy Nox in a single blow but seemed to know they were using the tactic of appeasement to hold him off.So he didn't advance them inorder to gain more and lose less.

Schlatt didn't view them as a threat.

They had to change that and this part of the discussion peaked Purpled's interest.Though that interest quickly dissipated.

Shadow listened to them in irritation as they came up with stupid,impulsive and arrogant ideas of how to win this war.Purpled had his plan of getting rid of Schlatt which was fully thought out in every aspect and prepared for any turn of events.With it already in action,he was step's ahead of the heroes league without the budget or the supposed specialists.

𝘓

One thing did peak his interest though:the suggestion of Captin Puffy.

She was a captain in the revolution.A hero amongst the people.Before the war,she'd been number one hero but quit when Nox refused to help in the battle against Schlatt;going the fight herself in hero form,now counted as a vigilante.Tommy and Purpled had surved under her in civilian form.The villian liked her alot.Being smart,capable and caring she took the civilians into account when making every decision.

Captain Puffy was what a hero was supposed to be.

She was the perfect symbol for Nox to display to scare Schlatt.Puffy would also increase the morale of the districts as she was considered one of the leaders of the 16th-she was apart of MCC.Tactically, bringing her back was one of the best things Nox could do in this war.

But the problem was she would most likely refuse to.

Puffy was retired and had been since the end of the war.If the time came were Schlatt returned,so would she but only if absolutely nesissary.Even them Nox wouldn't know for sure if she'd join them or start up MCC again.It was a risk that could only be taken if there were no other options.

Is the time dire enough?

𝘕𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦.𝘕𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨.𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘬𝘦.

____

The night was still,streets desolate due to the curfew in placed a week ago across all districts controlled by Schlatt.No stars shone in the twilight,pollution clogging the midnight sky with filth spitting clouds.Wind blowing his hoodie around and making the prison gates rattle,Purpled fiddled with the red,white and purple beaded bracelet on his wrist.Sitting on the roof in a purple hoodie,black jeans,airforces and his Shadow mask,he waited patiently for his guests to arrive.

He'd been there for an hour,simply roaming the prison grounds.Stopping at certain points and staring blankly at the dilapidated ground;memories flooding back to him suddenly.Thousands of little emotions flickering across his face under the mask(impossible for even Tommy to have read) before he continued his journey;he ended up on the roof to give the vigilantes a better shot of finding the place.

On queue,just as his phone read four am,the blonde heard two quite thuds behind him.When he didn't move,they took that as an invitation to sit beside him-on his left.

Silence fell over the three.For a moment,the only sounds were that of the city and the howling wind.

Letting out a huff,Purpled spoke:"Me and Charged trained here.We learnt how to use our powers here but most importantly we learnt how to be a team here."The vigilantes didn't interrupt just listened intently,hanging on his every word."You two can work as a team.Your definitely better then me and him were as your older,more mature and have more experience.I won't have to train you much in combat or teamwork,you've done that for me already.But what i can teach is vital if you want to take down Schlatt."

"Got it,bossman.We're gonna beat the shit out of Nightmare."Hive whooped,his partner joining in.

"Cool.Alright,"the blonde stood from his seat."Lesson one:call him Schlatt not Nightmare.Don't be pussies."

Ender pulled out a note pad and pen,jotting down the ex-vigilante's words-the latter raising an eyebrow at him."And don't do that."

"Don't do that-"The monochrome boy mumbled under their breath,starting to write it down before stopping and smiling sheepishly up at their new teacher;rubbing the back of his neck and putting the notes away.

Looking at the two,Purpled saw that both were buzzing with energy.He'd never taught anyone except Tommy before so this would be difficult:him and Tommy knew eachother like the back of their hands so he knew how the younger's brain worked.

"Alright.Let's play some tag.Catch me if you can,losers."With that,Purpled stepped off the roof,sprinting off into the district.

Ender and Hive stood stunned for a second before snapping back into it,chasing after the blonde,smirks on their faces;oblivious to how difficult this was going to be.

They quickly came to realise that they were way out of their depth.Swerving in and out of alleyways with ease,Mirrage easily left the two vigilantes behind-the district being completely foreign to the pair.

"Use your powers to your advantage,dumbasses."Purpled shouted over his shoulder,turning left,dirt clouding at his feet.

"Ender,I'll send my drones up ahead you take the rooftops."Hive barked out orders with hesitation,not used to giving commands.Clicking a couple buttons on the metal plate attached to his arm,the brunette's partner disappeared in a cloud of amethyst particles;reappearing on the rooftops.Bee-esc drones came flying out of a breast pocket of the brunette's dungarees,zooming forward in pursuit of Purpled-filming his every move.A section of Hive's bronze goggles projected the drones feed infront of him,making it easy for him to see.Using this,he was able to transverse the alleyways almost as well as the ex-vigilante,though he couldn't catch up to the elder due to Shadow's height advantage.

Apon seeing the drones following him and the enderman hybrid on the rooftops (his partner no doubt close behind),he turned right.Scrambling up a fire at the end of the alleyway and onto the rooftops.Movement's purposely unpredictable to make Ender's power almost obsolete,sea grey eyes scanned their surroundings.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.

Up ahead stood a window,reflecting the view of the rooftops like a mirror.Purpled could see the two vigilantes (now together) hot on his tail,a grin evident on Hive's features:"Now!"

At the signal,Ender disappeared.Teleporting infront of the purple clad man,hand reaching out to tag him.Smirking,the blonde noticed the wideness of the vigilante's stance.Dropping to the ground,he slid through the taller's legs-Hive running head first into his partner.

Purpled rolled forward onto one knee,jumping up and sprinting towards the window."Awww.You almost got a hit on me."He called over his shoulder mockingly.

A warm smile settling over his features at the words.It felt like he was a vigilante again-Mirrage again.Running away from heroes and villains alike and shooting quips and insults at them.He could almost see Charged running beside him and laughing bubbly.

Gaining their bearings,the vigilantes darted forward.But they were to late.

Mirrage jumped forward,disappearing into the windows reflective surface.

Looking on in awe,the pair watched as the window fogged up,writing appearing on it:'Meet you back at the prison,losers.'Laughing in out of breath giggles,the two beginning their treck back to the prison,babbling on excitedly about what just happened.

Purpled stood in the mirror realm.It was colourful.Mirror shards were suspended in the abyss,reflecting flickering bright colours and sunlight into the space.Stalking forward,shards created a pathway for the boy,leading to a space in the centre of all the chaos:Purpled called it the Fall.

It was an area where no mirror shards lay.Instead,mirror shards surrounded it in a beam like fashion,rain made of shards falling into the endless abyss of the mirror realm.Showing quick flashes of different places all over the world where something was reflected-puddles,windows,jewellery,mirrors and many more.

Standing in the centre,the blonde thought of the prison.Immediately,the downpour of mirror shards stilled,a shard showing the prison bathroom lay infront of him;the ex-vigilante slipped through it.

Climbing out of the mirror,Purpled made his way back up to the roof.Ender and Hive arrived five minutes later,standing out of breath beside him on the roof.

"Good job.You almost got me."The blonde grinned,giving both of them a pat on the back-the pair brightening at the praise."Next time,you should try being more unpredictable.I knew what you were going to do because it was your safest option-the one your used to,right?"

"It always works for us.Though I suppose if we keep doing it people will catch on and find ways to work around it."Ender thought allowed,pulling out their note book and jotting his words down;Purpled rolled his eyes.

"Yeah!Like how Crimson changes his fighting style regularly so no one can work around it properly."Tubbo piped in,his teacher bristling at the mention of the ex-hero but he didn't interject.

"Exactly."He gritted out."Just try mixing things up when you train or are on patrol and see what works best.Also,i want you to rewatch some of me and Charged's old fights.Figure out what made us so effective."

"Will do,man."The tallest answered,Hive nodding along in agreement.

"I guess I'll see you next time,don't wanna keep you from patrol or sleeping.I'm out,bye."Purpled waved,stepping off the building and disappearing into the district.

"Bye!"The vigilantes called after him,watching until he was completely out of site.

"He's so cool."Ranboo breathed out in awe.

"Agreed."

____

His body shook with sobs as he sat curled up in the corner of his room in a red hoodie;hugging it in a desperate attempt to embrace one who could never return it-not anymore.Tears dragged themselves down the terrible limbo that was his cheeks,leaving their own tears behind in the form of glistening salt.

Many would admire their beauty but not tonight.

Midnight fell over the room,city humming mockingly with life.Whispering to him that no one else cared about how he felt anymore.Didn't care about how he was clinging onto the edge seconds from falling.Didn't care how it took all his energy not to think about 𝘩𝘪𝘮 every agonising breathe he took.

Nobody cared that Tommy was dead.

𝘐 𝘥𝘰.𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦.

A heartbreaking sob erupted from him,hugging himself tighter,he stared wide eyed at the tiny writing on the red cuff of the hoodie.It was Tommy's handwriting:big scratchy blue pen,oversized o's with smiley faces in their centre.

Loneliness.He hadn't made a friend since Tommy died.Distancing himself from all his existing ones until he was complete and utterly alone.The boy thinks he's gone crazy with grief.

The idea solidifying in his mind a couple of months ago when he sat in the mirror realm and he saw Tommy.A shard stepping forward with a reflection of his dead best friend.

It was a hallucination,he realises know.

At the time though,it felt so real.He held hands with Tommy!Felt the warmth,well coldness actually,radiating off his friends skin.The younger had new scars new clothes but he also had the same scars and the same eyes.

So,no.Purpled doesn't think he's gone crazy with grief:he knows he has.

But how can that be?

He didn't shed a single tear when Tommy died.When he woke up from his supposed 'death',someone in the medical ward had told him what happened and that the war was over.He didn't really process what happened after that,one minute he was one of the most beloved vigilante's the next he was just some kid.

It was like his best friend's death was only just sinking in for him now;bottled up emotion finally overflowing.

Purpled didn't know what he was feeling right now.Couldn't process the feelings;just felt numb.Tears involuntary welled up in his eyes,spilling over the edge and becoming dribbling waterfalls of 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.Something indescribable,something so heartbreaking that it couldn't just be described with a simple word like sadness or grief or anger or longing.

It isn't as simple as the monochrome colours of black and white or even grey.No.It's an ever swirling bathtub of galaxies and forests and cities and oceans mixing together and spilling over the edge of the porcelain bath.Dripping onto the wooden floorboards;falling to the levels bellow.

He hated his life now.Hate every aspect.All he wants is his best friend-his brother-back.He would give anything to have Tommy back in his life.

Purpled had always been scared of people forgetting him-having no legacy.With Tommy,he was always rembered,didn't need a legacy as right there in those moments with his best friend,he was the most important being on the planet.One that the younger blonde would never forget even when he lies in the earth covered by over grown grass,tombstone withering away.

Purpled hadn't wanted a legacy whilst he was Tommy:he wanted their time together to last forever.He would ramble on about legacies to his heart's content but no matter how many times he said he wanted one,he never truly ment it.

All he ever wanted was to sit in those moments with his best friend for eternity.Those moments only held two known names but they had a one secret one.

Tommy and Purpled.

The secret name being perfect.

Those moments were perfect.Perfect up to every minuscule detail.Purpled would never change a single thing about them.

All he wants is to experience more.

He wants to live again.

Not to live in fear of not having a legacy:leaving a major impact on someone or something after death.

To live again meant having Tommy.

But that would never happen.

Chapter Text

"Okay Tommy.I'm gonna need you to breathe for me."

Tommy nodded,trying to slow his rapid breathing,he stared up at the ceiling.Purpled squeezed his hand reassuringly from where he stood at the younger's side.The latter squeezing his hand back.

The blonde lay on a cool metal slab,supposedly a medical bed according to Luke;neither vigilante believed him.A trolley sat on his left next to Wisp,decorated with a singular syringe with an astrange liquid in it that let off a misty blue hue.The other leaders of Business Bay stood behind Wisp,glancing anxiously between the syringe and their teammate on the metal slab.

Tommy shivered,a cool breeze wafting through the room and sucking all the life from it.Leaving everything stale and dull,metal walls suffocating the inhabitants and collapsing in on the youngest.Blinding artificial lights glaring down on him,ripping his eyes from their sockets and electing crimson sparks to explode from his finger tips.Body spasming,red engulfing his frame and lifting him from the slab,the other occupants backing away-Tommy wonder for a moment if his powers were conscious of what was to come.

His powers quickly stuttered to a stop,dropping him back onto the cold surface as he chocked up blood.

Darting forward,Purpled took his best friend's hand;his own shaking violently at the sight of blood dribbling from the younger's mouth."You got this dumbass.Your cracked,remember?Gotta focus up if your gonna go to Chipotle with me later,dude."Worry leeched into the boy's tone though he tried to mask it.

"I don't even like Chipotle,you dick."Tommy chocked up,smiling up at his friend-blood tumbling from his mouth and down his chin onto his bare chest.

He gasped in pain,Wisp stabbing the blonde with the syringe;mysterious blue liquid filtering through his body.Veins immediately turning neon blue around the skin surrounding the needle,eerily glowing in the bright room.

Everyone froze.

Silences drowning the group.

They waited a minute and then two more and then three more.

Nothing happened.

"What your gonna wanna do is try use your powers."Wisp stated watching Tommy expectantly,pulling the syringe from his arm and placing it down the trolley.

Shooting Purpled a glance,the blonde willed his powers to dance with his fingertips.

His fingertips stood alone before him,only the stale air of the room danced with them.

Eyebrows furrowed,he tried again.

Still,there was no switch in dance partners.

Tommy grinned,wiping the blood from his mouth.

"Now we know the serum works.Time to make some dampener bullets."Deo grinned,the others mirroring his expression;Tommy and Purpled's faces icing over,giving eachother knowing looks.

____

Tommy's face was stoic as he stared down at the syringe in his trembling hand.Shallow breathes rattling his ribs,tears prickling in his eyes,he leaned his head back against the tiled walls,looking up at the bathroom ceiling-icey blue eyes unseeing.

The quite humming and clattering of pans could be heard from the room next door;Siren is making the two of them dinner.It's weird.A few months ago,Tommy and the villian were at eachother's throats.Now,Siren was making the younger dinner like an older brother.

Sighing, the blonde dragged his free hand down his face;a thick liquid covering it as he reached his mouth.

The coughing had started up again.

Siren and Ranboo's old dampeners hadn't worked.He'd tried for days whilst the villian was sleep to fix them but it hadn't worked.

He hadn't tried to fix them with his powers though.

It was getting harder to hide it from the brunette.Sure,he'd seen the blonde choke up blood before but to him it was a one time thing,most likely from an injury.If he saw him coughing up blood now,when he could clearly see his torso,he'd know something was up.

So,Tommy turned to his last option:Manburg.

Manburg is a highly lethal and illegal drug created by Buisness Bay months before the revolution.Used during the 16th by rioters to killed thousands:most unable to cope with their powers being blocked directly.Nox had supposedly wiped it from Pogtopia but what they didn't know was that Wisp(the creator of Manburg)still had the recipe for it and,as of current,was mass producing it for-you guessed it-Schlatt.

Tommy was the only known person who was able to survive it without even passing out.However,the blonde had continued to look into it even as a hero and discovered that the formula had changed.Keeping it's victims (or users in Tommy's case) alive but knocking them unconscious.

As Crimson,he'd dealt with a alot of underground drug deals but didn't want Nox having the dampener drug as they would no doubt use it themselves:the blonde wasn't sure if they had good intentions anymore.After every mission involving Manburg,he'd bring it back here.Which is why he currently had a lifetime's supply of it stored under the bathroom tiles.

Creatively,Tommy had named L'manburg after the drug.There was no reasoning behind it except from the fact the drug was a prominent part of his life.Wilbur hadn't reacted at the name because only the leaders of Buissness Bay,Schlatt and Purpled knew the drug's proper name.

The drug helps with the whole throwing up blood thing by completely blocking his powers.Which is why he's currently holding a syringe full of the stuff.

Holding his breath for a moment,Tommy blew harshly through his nose;injecting himself with the syringe.

Immediately,his hand shot up to his mouth,biting down hard to suppress a gasp of pain.Neon blue veins shot up his arm as his powers were blocked.

Silence.

That was strange.Siren was no longer humming,no longer moving.

Something was wrong.

Pulling the syringe from his arm,Tommy placed it in the sink,approaching the door-opening it with hesitancy."Hey Siren,you good?"

"Hands up."A rioter spat,gun shoved in the boy's face.

He froze,hands held up.

Seven rioters and Masquerade had invaded the warehouse.All the rioters held large,sleek guns in both hands,the hero defenceless with his hands in his pockets.Siren sat on his knees a couple paces from the green clad man,hands in-line with his shoulders with a gun poised at his temple;a scowl sculpted on his face as he glared daggers up at Dream.

Shoving him forward,the rioter with a gun to Tommy's head pushed him onto his knees beside Siren-the rivals's arms touching.

The blonde's eyes were glued to his old mentor,a lump formed in his throat.All he wants to do is throw himself forward into the elder's arms.He missed the man-his brother-unconditionally.Longing for his life a couple of months ago like a blank canvas longing for the colourful streaks of paint that bring it to life.

But he knew that his feelings were unrequited.So he pushed them aside.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦,𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵'𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘮𝘢𝘯;𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮.

Stalking forward with an air of authority,Masquerade snatched the blonde's left arm,inspecting it as he towered over the former.Callous fingers lightly tracing neon blue veins,the man stared down at his ex-student:"Dampener drug...How'd you get this?Nox got rid of it all after the 16th?"

"Clearly the pricks weren't thorough enough."Tommy shot back in an distracted voice,eyes frantically scanning the warehouse.

𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.

Masquerade hummed,letting go of the blonde's arm and inspected him.Eyes instantly locking onto his chest.Amethyst lines still traced his skeleton though most,if not all,of his injuries had healed."I see Corpse had some fun with you.Definitely didn't torture you sparingly seen as the marks are still there.Did you spill?"

Dread pooled into the ex-vigilante's stomach as the hairs on the back of his neck began to rise.

𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.

"How the fuck did you find us?"Siren spat from his spot beside the ex-hero.

Perturbed,wide icey blue eyes continued to scrutinise their surroundings.Sweat balled in his palms and trickled down his neck,flattening the hairs that stood erect against his skin.

Something caught Tommy's eye.

A part of the warehouse wall seemed to ripple,extremely faint shadows casted on the bullet holed walls.

𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.

"CCTV.What I want to know is if Crimson spilled or not."Dream drawled nonchalantly,unthreatened by the villian's venom filled words."Crimson."

All eyes fell on Tommy.

"Crimson,did you spill or not?"Masquerade sounded frustrated now,clicking his fingers in irritation.

"No."Tommy's eyes stayed trained on the rippling wall.

"Good."

"Your nothing but a lapdog for Schlatt,Masquerade."Siren barked with malice,drawing the hero's attention back to himself.

"I could say the same for you six years ago."Masquerade laughed out,revelling in how the villian's face rubberised at his comment."Schlatt's filled me in on everything that happened before and during the war.I know everything about your little friendship and how it costed you the Syndicate a member.Drinking buddies,weren't we?"

"Achilles and you were quite close during hero training.That cost you your mother.Sparring buddies,weren't we?"Siren shot back,unwaveringly-too stubborn and proud to back down.

The two glared at eachother in silent loathing for a moment.Both men holding information over eachother that neither wanted unwelcome ears to fall apon.

"Schlatt's going to be thrilled to see you again.From what I've heard,he has big plans for you.Says your valuable:you know everyone in the Syndicate's identities."The hero grinned,words sickeningly sweet.

"If that drunkard lays a finger on me,the Syndicate will slaughter him in the most painful way possible.I'll listen with glee as the basturd begs for mercy from a god that won't save him."Siren growled,barring his teeth at the green clad man.

"Oh don't worry.He'll put you with an old friend of yours in Pandora.Your teammates won't bother saving you;they didn't with the last one thrown in there."Masquerade talked as though he was speaking with a child.

"I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!"Siren roared,lunging forward and tackling the hero to the ground.

Chaos broke loose.

Rioters flung into action trying desperately to remove the brunette from the hero.

Amidst the havoc,Tommy slipped away from the brawl and crawled to the desk.Opening a draw and pulling out a sword hilt without a blade:it looked highly technologically advanced with wires climbing up it's body,microchips and buttons littering it's surface and motherboards curling around it like ivy.

Standing from his crouched position,the blonde stalked towards the wall.

The rippling stopped,shadows disappearing.

The fight behind him had drawn to a close;Siren now restrained by three guards.Dream stood,a little disheveled,facing Crimson and signaling for his men to hold their ground.The hero knew something wasn't right based off of his ex-student's body language."Crimson,something wrong?"

"If i were you,I'd shut the fuck up."The blonde snapped,eyes never leaving the wall before him.

Dream tilts his head to the side.

Everyone's eyes are on Tommy.

Silence walks into the building,sucking all sound from the room like a black whole.All that remains is an eerie feeling of unease that sent shivers down the inhabitant's spines.

𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.

Following his instincts,they've never failed him before,he turns away from the wall.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘸.

Carefully scanning the room,he retraces his steps.Walking back to the group but paying them no mind.Rioters looking on in confusion whilst Masquerade and Siren watched with building anxiety.

The two knew alot about Crimson;Masquerade basically raising him and Siren having done extensive research on the ex-hero.As a result,they both knew that Crimson specialised in stealth missions.

It was unexpected seen as the ex-hero was considered brash,annoying,impulsive and loud by his superiors at Nox but after a number of times were his instincts kicked in,they trialled him on stealth missions.He was average at first.Working strictly under a Nox higher ups orders,following their every word during missions,but apon getting frustrated and ignoring orders-improvising instead-Crimson quickly climbed the ranks.Not due to his insubordination.No,he climbed the ranks as his improvisation was led souly by instinct.Instinct of which had allowed him to complete stealth missions no Nox employee ever had;gaining the company priceless information.

Instinct was written down as Crimson's powers in his hero documents.However,it wasn't truth.Tommy himself didn't know why his instincts were as heightened as they were.He didn't really care.His instincts had saved lifes whilst also helping him on missions.So he was just happy they were.

Tommy was following his instincts now;they don't act up without reason.Siren and Masquerade know that Crimson has sunk into his 'powers'.Neither of them want to brake the youngest's concentration because it could be the only thing keeping them from an early death.

A part of the wall ripples.

Movement's converting from slow to blurs,Tommy pressed a button on the sword hilt clutched tightly in his hand and throws it in the wall's direction.An almost holographic lagoon blue blade,buzzing with electricity,appears on the hilt.The blade hits something solid(not a wall).

Screaming in agony,a person drops to the ground,desperately holding the charred skin where their arm once sat.Said arm now lay on the ground converted to nothing but ash;lagoon blue blade sat amongst the grey flakes.

The now armless person must of had invisibility powers as when they revealed themselves,folding over in pain,they also revealed five others.One of the standing newcomers bent down and helped their teammate,two of the others pointing their guns,the remaining pointing their hands,at the rioters in the room.

The blonde recognised them instantly.All of them wore black stealth suits and mask covering their mouth and nose:the mask consisting of random blotches of red,orange with light and dark blue.

They were Buissness Bay lackeys.

"Buisness Bay.Why the fuck are you here?Did Deo send you?"Masquerade questioned in bemusement.

"Yeah,Deo sent us.We're here for Crimson."One of the lackeys stated,words crackling with their voice changer.They did not hold a gun,instead holding two hands out infront of them.Knifes took the place of their fingers suddenly:they weren't here to bargain.

"What business does Deo have with him?"The hero asked,ignoring the obvious threat thrown at him.The rioters on the other hands did not,all of them crowding around Masquerade-Siren was left unguarded.

"It doesn't concern you."

Slowly,Tommy sneaks to the desk,taking a gas mask and a smoke bomb from it before retreating to the villian's side.

"It does concern me as i also intend on leaving this warehouse with Crimson."Dream spat,a netherite axe appearing in his hand.He levelled it with the knife handed person's throat.

Masquerade had the power to summon any object at will.This made him an amicable match for Blood God as both of their powers were object based.

Pulling at Siren's sleeve,the blonde handed him the gas mask.Silently putting it on,the villian shot him a questioning glance before nodding when the shorter showed him the smoke bomb.

"Whatever you want with Crimson will have to wait.Deo wants to speak with him stat."Before the two groups could begin fighting,Tommy rolled the smoke bomb in between the two.

Immediately,red smoke exploded from the metal container.Room now a sea of red smog,the blonde grabbed Siren's hand and bolted out of the warehouse.The others didn't follow;they couldn't see nor did they notice the rivals departure.

Outside the warehouse was almost as bad as inside-almost.

The sounds of war still rattled the crime run district.Rubble and debris littered every fight ring of a street.Gun fire,shouting and explosions could be heard from every angle,shattering the two fleeing men's eardrums.Akin to the disheveled warehouse,a thick smog chocked the streets.

They kept running.

Turning into the maze like alleyways,Tommy ran through the winding corridors with certainty.

After darting into the labyrinth of concrete,the blonde came up short,Siren bumping into him,infront of a dead end.Stalking forward-ignoring the brunette's confusion and tugging him along,hands still entwined-the younger reached his free hand up to the weathering cobbled walls.

Silently,with practiced ease,he traced an intricate shape into the stone.The action was met with a hissing sound,part of the wall grating against the floor as it retracted in on itself.Next,the churning sound of rusty gears echoed against the alleyway's walls;the retracted piece of stone splitting in two to reveal a secret passageway.

The sound of advancing footsteps urged Tommy to enter,Siren nervously following closely behind.Once the two were inside,the wall hissed again;closing.

Nonchalantly,the blonde continued into the tunnel,descending a never ending flight of stairs that began a couple paces in.It was almost pitch black except for the dim,constantly flickering and orange christmas lights above.The walls were made of blackstone,floors and ceiling much the same.It was silent,though the musty smell of old buildings and Tommy's racing thoughts spoke volumes.

The tunnels were made during the 16th Revolution by Charged.The vigilante hadn't told anyone (not even Mirrage) of their existence,planning on using them as a last ditch resort of an escape route if anything went wrong.However,he never needed them so they just sat under Pogtopia collecting dust.

All Tommy could think about was Business Bay.The notorious gang had somehow found him.Deo knew he was alive now,that he was Crimson and was actively searching for him.Considering the power the gang held over the city,he'd be caught soon.

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬'𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘬𝘦,𝘮𝘢𝘯.

He didn't even know why Deo wanted to get his hands on him specifically.For all he knew he'd be dragged back and put in the fighting rings.Or Wisp would have his way with him;experimenting on the boy to his heart's content.

Siren cleared his throat behind the boy.

Snapping out of his spiralling thoughts,Tommy wiped his head around staring bug eyed at the elder.The brunette must of read the younger's body language or the look on his face and realised something was wrong because he squeezed Tommy's hand reassuringly.Giving him a very un-Siren like smile.

He got a blank stare in return.After a moment though,the corner of the blonde's eyes scrunched up in a smile.Turning back around,the latter continued to drag the other down the tunnels.The stairs had morphed into a long,eerie corridor.

"Where are we?"The villian asked from behind,glancing around the uncanny passageway with caution.

"I call it the sewers.These passageways were made during the war but no one really uses them.I only used them as an escape during my old stealth missions."

Siren hummed."You took dampener drugs yet your powers were completely fine in the warehouse and you didn't faint.How?"He demanded,tightening the grip on the shorter's hand.

"Didn't do the full dosage plus that whole instinct being my power thing is ballshit.I'm just fucking amazing."Tommy answered,turning another corner.

"I thought it was part of your power but not the whole thing as you can somehow break dampeners.Is that you power,little hero?Being immune to and able to break dampeners."Siren mocked gleefully,a smug look on his face at the thought of guessing the other's powers right.

"Something like that..."The blonde muttered,turning into another corridor that had a door at the end of it.

"Your pretty easy to take advantage of,you know?I get why Masquerade hid you for so long.But i suppose it's good for me."The villian thought aloud,tone ever mocking.

Tommy didn't answer.Pushing forward,he opened the door that moments prior sat paces infront of him.Beyond the door sat a snug room,two tiny beds pushed up against each wall,duffle bags sat on top of the sheets.

Without a word,the blonde released Siren's hand,ignoring how his heart panged at the loss of contact-hand now cold.Opening the duffel bag and picking out a crumpled shirt.Dragging it on over his head,scars and amethyst tattoos now hidden,he flopped onto the bed.Back to the villian,he stared unseeing at the wall infront of him.

Siren still stood in the doorway,watching the ex-hero silently.After a moment of burning holes into the younger's back,he sighed.Taking a seat on his own bed and lying on his side,staring at Crimson's back,watching the shorter's form rising up and down as he breathed.

Something curled in the brunette's stomach.Something he didn't understand nor want to.

Siren turned over.

Chapter Text

"Hey."A soft voice called out to Tommy,shaking him awake gently.

Grumbling at his loss of a lie-in,the blonde dragged himself up,rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.A cool breeze flew through the room,making the blonde shiver.Siren loomed over him,a navy cloak thrown over himself;it covered everything but his face though even that was shaded.The villian handed the younger an identical one as Tommy stood from his bed-he quickly threw it on.

Golden hair now covered by a hood that hung over his eyes,he stared at the brunette-waiting for an explanation.With a sigh,he relented:"Blood God just messaged me.He wants to meet at some place called El Rapids."

Crimson went rigged at the name.

El Rapids.Founded by Jester,404,Timewarp and Arson before the war.All four of them ran the little underground city but when the war started all the leaders left to join the fight.The citizens are all extremely loyal to their community so they maned the fort whilst their leaders were away.

However,when the war finished,none of the leaders returned:404 and Arson leaving to rise up the ranks of Nox with Masquerade,Timewarp creating Kinoko and Jester creating Las Nevadas.A vigilante know as Fruitberries took the place of the absent leaders.

Fruitberries had been a founder of MCC.He'd trained Tommy and Purpled during the war.The blonde had always liked him,even preferred him to the rest of the members-beside Purpled.The vigilante was the only one to not vote to exile him after Mirrage's death.

Before said exile,Tommy had visited the place frequently.He thought it was like the Pit but nicer-more like 13.

The reason the blonde didn't want to go though was because Jester hated him now.Considering the fact Nevadas had been invaded,Jester had indefinitely retreated there.

𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵?𝘐 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘳.Purpled drawled sarcastically in his head.

𝘐 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘳.

On top of the inevitable conflict on the horizon,El Rapids was also the old home of MCC.The town hall being the meeting place;somewhere Tommy never wanted to revisit after his faux-death.It was also the place Charged was falsely accused of being a traitor and exiled from the council.

The first time Tommy had been blamed for his best friend's death.

"Let me guess,you want me to take you there?"The younger drawled in annoyance.

"Yes.The Syndicate wants a word with you,little hero."Siren responded nonchalantly,a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

Groaning in irritation,the blonde shot the taller a glare.Stalking towards the man and quickly closing the space between them,Tommy gabbed his finger into the man's chest:"I'll only take you there if you promise to fucking protect me,dickhead.Jester has it out for me because 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 I killed Charged and Mirrage.Two people he doesn't even like.He fucking betrayed them!"

"I promise to protect.Syndicate's honour;we don't break are word even though we're villains.We have some honour."The taller's tone turned deadly serious,taking Tommy's shoulders in his hands-squeezing them as if to reassure the boy or reiterate his point.

Without a word,the blonde snatched the man's wrist from his side,hands wrapping around the dampener that huged his slender wrist.Red shot from fingers,a spitting sound quickly followed by a crack echoed through the room.Releasing the man's wrist,Tommy took the (now broken) dampener from him and slipped it into his pocket.Turning on his heel,he slipped out of the room,heading further into the tunnels-Siren right behind him.

The blonde didn't catch the conflicted emotions that flushed across the villian's face as he followed.

Two smears of blue pen silently transversed the desolate halls.Footsteps thundering against the walls as they travelled to their destination.

Tommy could practically feel Siren's intense stare and his even breathes from behind him.He was confused about how he felt towards the man.Death threats and scars were mixed with gentle touches and banter over meals making the line between foe and ally unbelievably blurred.

Tommy hated it.

Hated the stench of gunpowder that clung to the man.Hated the sun coloured dye of the nicotine that stained his fingers.Hated his mocking and condescending grin.Hated how he could control the boy with a flick of his tongue.Hated how he made him breakfast every morning.Hated how he patched him up with gentle hands that were volitile,digging deep into his wounds.Hated how he would banter with him in a way so alike to when he had with Wilbur it made his heart ache.

𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭,𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦.𝘐'𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘢 𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶,𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘴,𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘚𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘯.

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧𝘧,𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘴.

𝘐'𝘮 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨!

The blonde huffed,approaching the wall before him,drawing the same intricate pattern and watching as the wall slid open;revealing the streets of El Rapids.Without a word,he slipped into the crowd of passing civilians,heading for the town hall-his mind still lingering on his thoughts of on the villian.

Little did Tommy know that the man in question was indulging in similar thoughts of his own.

____

El Rapids was almost identical to the Pit except less crime ridden and more cared for.Artificial lights cast a warm orange glow onto the city,short,stubby,recycled container buildings smeltered in the lights.Buildings were an array of different colours that matched the Las Nevadas esc street life.Greenery crawled up the containers creating an overgrown feel to the place.

People,not just criminals,filtered through the streets,chatting emotively and in loud voices;Tommy and Siren amongst them.Approaching the city hall (identical to that of all the others in Pogtopia),the villian took the lead in an attempt to further insure the younger's safety.

Soundlessly,they migrated through the lifeless building;stopping short infront of a large set of doors.The brunette stalked through the door with an air of authority,holding it open for the shorter before slamming it shut.Immediately after that,the man slipped infront of Crimson-shielding him from the rooms inhabitants.

The meeting room was as Tommy remembered it.An immense gadiator pit.A place of violence and chaos turned into a council room of order and democracy.Rows apon rows of seats wound up to the high arcing ceiling of cracking,pale stone.Lanterns of sunset hung from above on swaying chains,casting light on the cavonous space.

The only things that had changed were the floors and people inside.In MCC's time the floor was made of dirt but now they were carpeted in quarts tiles.Unlike before,only a handful of people inhabited the space where as the thousands of seats in the area were filled during the war.

As expected,Jester,Blood God and Fruitberries occupied the room.Fruitberries adorned a neon green mask with a black smiley face on it,a matching suit (horrendous in Tommy's opinion) with a black turtleneck in place of a shirt,sleek black shoes and a pistol fastened at his hip.The only defining factors of the man was the brown hair poking out over the top of his mask and his lean build-perfect for agility.

Less suspected was the appearance of Angel,Clone,Empath,Ender,Nuke, Masquerade and Shadow.

Clone and Empath worked in a pair,on top of being members of the Syndicate.

Clone had extremely sharp features,wore a black cap with a pair of red and blue cinema glasses to hide his identity;that was his gimmick.Red and Blue.His hoodie was navy blue matched with red cargoes and black boots.Most important was his powers:he could clone himself twice.One of the clones would be completely red washed,the other blue.Earnings him the name Clone.

Empath had pink hair,wore a cole coloured poncho (embroidered by gold) paired with matching boots,white top skins and dirt brown trousers.Alike her poncho,she wore a black masquerade mask with gold embroidery to hide her identity.She had the power to manipulate other's feelings hense the name Empath.Making them go crazy with grief,rage,fear or any other emotion.

Reasonably,Crimson was terrified of her.

Empath and the rest of the official Syndicate (minus Siren),occupied a corner of colosseum-chatting quietly amongst themselves.All four of them were seated in the first row of seats further into the room.Hive and Ender sat near by the group,leaving a couple seats in-between.Beside them was Shadow,all three of them were deep in a hushed conversation.

Tommy wonders what there talking about.Most importantly though,he wonders if Ranboo and Tubbo have even noticed his absence from their lives.They probably have.The trio messaged eachother daily before all of this so they've definitely noticed his sudden disappearance.He wonders if Wilbur has noticed his disappearance.Once again,the answer comes quickly to the blonde:yes.He was supposed to meet up with the man after searching for Ranboo in 13 and 12th but he didn't show.Wilbur has to know.Tommy knows people know of his disappearance.

What he doesn't know is where or how Wilbur is.

Is he alright?Has he been looking for him?Does he miss him?

Those are questions he cannot answer,though he longs to.

Opposite them,standing in the centre of the room instead of sitting was Jester and Fruitberries.El Rapids new leader looked unbothered by the situation,all of his attention on the twin splotches of ink in the doorway.On the other hand,Jester spoke in a tense manner,shoulders up to his ears-he kept glancing anxiously at the villian group and at Masquerade,who sat opposite the gang.The hero in question only stared at some short of photo in his hand.

"Come on."Siren whispered,advancing into the colosseum with the belief that Crimson was following;the blonde's eyes were trained on something on the wall beside him-he did not follow.

On the wall hung nine photos: Charged,Timewarp,Mirrage,Jester,Fruitberries,Smajor,Captin Puffy,TapL and Seapeekay.The founding members of MCC.Charged and Mirrage's eyes were crossed out crudely.

"Crimson Crusader from nowhere also known as Tommy from the hospital!"A bubbly voice chirped from behind him.

Eyes growing wide,the blonde slowly turned on his heel,staring bug eyed at the man behind him-his breath caught in his throat.

𝘚𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘦.

Immediately,the ex-hero sprung forward,tackling the slime hybrid in a hug.Slime hugged him back,smiling fondly at the younger.

"Your not dead."Tommy chocked out with a laugh,clinging desperately to the man.

Ecstasy flooded through his entire being,painting an ever constant smile on the boy's face.For the longest time he thought he'd lost Slime due to his own stupidity in leaving him in that hospital alone but he was wrong.Proved wrong in the feeling of warmth that radiated off the bespectacled man's body,leeching into the blonde's own.

"I'm so sorry for what happened in that fucking hospital.I'm such a fucking prick for that."Tommy laughed wetly,pulling back from the slime hybrid who laughed alongside him."Wait-how are you alive?I watched you die,man."

"I'm a slime hybrid,stupid.We can't really die from injuries or unnatural causes.We're gloopy boys!Our body can be separated into multiple living parts and put back together to make a whole again-like me!Or,if the whole one dies but a part of it is separated,that part can regrow into a new whole."Slime explained with a smile,grabbing the younger's wrist and dragging him into the room.

"Crimson,you were supposed to be following me,you insolent fool.Get over here."Siren bellowed from his place beside his teammates.

The air left the room.All eyes fell apon the slime hybrid and the blonde.The inhabitants not having identified him.

𝘖𝘩 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘮𝘦,𝘮𝘢𝘯!

Gulping the ex-hero approached the villian,Slime at his side.Icey eyes didn't look to anyone in the room (though they probably should have),they only stared at Fruitberries-who stared back,leaving Jester for Crimson.

Tommy stopped in his advance towards the Syndicate,instead opting to meet the vigilante halfway.

Roughly grabbing the younger's collar,the brunette lifted the boy from the ground.With a smirk,Tommy raised both his hands up in mock surrender.

"Where you been greenie,vacation?"Crimson quipped in a Charged like manner.Using a nickname long forgotten by the world with Charged's departure.

Realisation seemed to dawn on the vigilante's face behind the mask as his grip loosened on the blonde,shoulders falling."Charged..."He breathed out in shock,pulling the younger into a bone crushing hug.

"Ow,ow,ow.Get off me,bitch." Tommy huffed out pulling back from the man.

"Jester said you were dead and that Crimson,well you,killed you-that's really fucking confusing."Fruitberries stuttered out in a hushed voice,hands on the shorter's shoulders.

"I was framed by Schlatt."Tommy hissed out,conscious of the eyes staring at them intensely.

"Why haven't you told anyone?You could avoid all this conflict and hate!"Fruit stressed in bemusement.

"I can't.I can't be Charged without fucking Mirrage.I'm trying to.Alright?I'm fucking trying.The moment Schlatt breaches 12,Charged-I-will return.But I don't want people to know I'm Crimson.After 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 war is over,i want something to go back to.I can't leave this line of work;trust me.I've tried."Tommy explained,voice raising an octave in hysteria.

"The moment Schlatt breaches 12?He took 12 months ago!He's taken district 11 for god's sake!"Fruit practically screamed,unbeknowing to the unwanted ease droppers.

"What?"Tommy croaked,gaze falling to the ground.

Schlatt's taken 12,meaning he's oppressing the citizens there and in 11.Guilt racked Tommy's brain.He'd left those people helpless in their time of need because he was a coward.People had died because he couldn't get over Purpled's death which happened half a decade ago.

𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘬.It wasn't his own voice nor Purpled's.Instead,it was Schlatt's followed by a devilish cackle that banged relentlessly against his skull.

"You have a communicator?"The blonde asked quietly.

Nodding,the elder handed him his communicator.Silently,Tommy opened the notes app,writing down an address and three letters.

"Crimson."Siren called from across the hall.

Sighing, the blonde handed the communicator back hurriedly.Before giving his friend a two fingered salute and trecking over to the villian.Slime had left his side,Jester having called him over during Tommy's conversation with Fruitberries.From what the blonde could see,the slime hybrid seemed to be getting reprimanded for speaking to Crimson.

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬,𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦,𝘩𝘶𝘩.

"You better mean what you said about 12!"Fruit hollered to him,Tommy throwing a middle finger over his shoulder.

Drawing up infront of the Syndicate,the blonde took a seat a row behind the villians.Blood God continued to stare dead ahead at Masquerade whilst the others looked at Crimson curiously.The blonde took no notice,fiddling anxiously with the friendship bracelet on his wrist.

"I didn't intentionally help Siren.I saved myself and him by proxy."The ex-hero stated bluntly.

If he was honest,he didn't see the point in being here nor did he see why the Syndicate was insistent on speaking with him.All he wanted to do was go home and have a shower-he stunk.Of course,he'd had the odd shower his time away from his flat but all he wanted was a warm shower;the warehouse had no hot water.

Speaking of his flat,he'd been away for the best part of three months now:he's most definitely been evicted.He'd probably have to sneak in and get his duffel bag from under the floorboards.

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬'𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘬𝘦.

"By proxy?"Angel hummed,obviously not convinced.

"Mate,you've saved this fucker like three fucking times by now.That isn't by proxy."Clone deadpanned.

"He's saved me.We're even."Tommy shot back.

"One for three isn't even."Blood God added,unimpressed by the conversation at hand.

"Look,as much as i love your company-"Tommy drawled sarcastically.

"Watch your tone."Siren sing-songed.

"I would appreciate you lot getting to what ever point it is your trying to convey.I've got shit to do."Tommy huffed out in frustration,looking up from his bracelet to stare at the group.

He could feel Shadow's gaze on him.

"Your lucky Siren and Blood God think your 'interesting' or I'd run you through on the spot for that attitude."Empath spat,eyes morphing into snake like slits.

Tommy scoffed,reluctantly staying silent so the Syndicate members could speak.Gaze travelling over to Shadow.It was like looking in a mirror.Like the sapphire eyed boy,the villian fiddled endlessly with a bracelet on his wrist,leg bouncing up and down anxiously as he glared back at the blonde.

Both stubbornly held the loathing streaked gaze.

"Crimson,your powers are useful for are next mission.We could easily protect you and pay you."Angel recited in a business like manner,watching the ex-hero intently.

"Do you even know,specifically,what my powers are?"Tommy laughed out sardonically,turning his gaze back to the villians.

"I guessed them in the tunnels."

"No,you guessed my powers and i humoured you,prick."

"It doesn't matter what specifically your powers are.We know enough about them to know they'll work in the Syndicate's favour."Blood God spat,voice ever monotone-he didn't tare his gaze from Dream.

"So,what are you proposing?Right now,it seems like your beating around the fucking bush abit."Tommy hummed out,turning his gaze away from the group to glance at Slime.

The man seemed fine.Speaking emotively with Jester,bouncing on the balls of his feet excitedly,a bubbly smile on his face.The blonde mirroring it,happy Slime was alive and seemingly well.

He'd missed the slime hybrid alot.Though he still missed Sandwich and Purpled woth every bone in his body,at least now he could stop missing Slime-he didn't need to any more.

Sighing,he tore his eyes away from his friend to stare at the dampener in his hands.

𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘧 𝘪 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘹 𝘪𝘵.𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘹𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥,𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵?

"We're proposing that you work with us,little hero."Siren said in exasperation,eyes twitching beneath the mask at the sight of the dampener.

Ignoring Siren's words in favour of inspecting the dampener,Tommy tries to deduct whether or not he can fix it.A crack runs through a single symbol on the netherite dampener like how tough concrete cracks in half when an earthquake hits.Running deep into the earth's crust but instead of stopping,it breaks the planet into splinters.All the other enchantment table symbols that are etched into the bracelet are in perfect condition.

Consider Tommy's powers,he might be able to fix it.

"Crimson."Clone this time,snapping in frustration.The blonde slowly tears his gaze from the dampener."You got an answer,mate?"

Silently,he looks the man up and down before his gaze wonders elsewhere.

From over Siren's shoulder,the blonde could see Masquerade watching the interaction from a far.Though he could not here the group,Tommy knew he didn't need to.The man had worked with Crimson for years.As a result he knew all of his tells and could quite clearly work out the conversation's topic.

He looked like a sniper for Tommy's point of view.A pistol having materialised in his steady hands;he was ready to shoot.Masquerade would know what his ex-student's answer was and depending on what it was,he'd shoot-for the kill.

𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴?

𝘐'𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺.

𝘊𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘨𝘶𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥,𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩.

"I-"Tommy cuts himself off,posture turning rigid,hairs on the back of his neck rising.

Snapping his gaze around the room and scrutinising ever inch of it,electric blue eyes fall to the colosseum entrance.Sweat trickles down his neck and balls in his palms.His hands are shaking violently,dampener rattling like his shallow breathing.

𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨'𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨.

Siren,having seen Crimson fall into his instincts before,recognised something was happening.Pulling out his revolver,he cocked it,aiming for the entrance of which the blonde was infatuated with.

"Something's coming."The brunette announced at the questioning glances he was garnering from his teammates.

Immediately,they were all on edge.Arming themselves and staring intensely at the entrance.

Charged felt something pull at his powers.Something that felt eerily familiar.

Eyes widening in shock,Charged realised exactly what was about to come through that door way.

More specifically who.

The echo of sleek black shoes clicking against quartz tiles sent tantalising fear up the boy's spine.Subconsciously,Charged curled in on himself,hiding behind Blood God's immense form as the villain fed on the terror building up inside of him-doubling in size and power.

The pinkette shot him a confused look.Charged didn't pay him any attention,eyes ever glued to the door.

Footsteps grew closer,with them the deranged cackling of a tyrant.

Siren froze as did Shadow.

Rioters stormed the room,guns raised high.Porcelain masks with ram horns on there sides stared teasingly up at Charged.

Then,the air left the room as their leader entered.

Ram horns,cruel insect coloured eyes with slick backed raven hair,sideburns and facial hair.The villian wore a jet black suit with a blood red tie.A malicious grin painting his pallor complexion.

The panic provoking gaze of a terroist and murderer scand the room,stopping at the sight of Charged.

Spruce meets sapphire as the sky turns black,nightmares raging through the city.

"You fucking missed."The villian spat out with a smirk and a cackle.

Charged shivered at the echo of their last encounter.

"Schlatt."Tommy's voice came out more sure than expected;more Charged like.No one else noticed except Fruitberries.

The villian waved at the boy,purposely displaying the ring on his hand.Ruby gem zapping around with power in it's tiny cage,mocking the blonde.A ring of which was the cause of all Tommy's misery.

During a battle with Schlatt,before the revolution,the villian somehow stole part of Charged's powers.This caused Tommy to start coughing up blood and to lose control so easily.

He doesn't know how Schlatt managed it-he's been trying to work that out for years.His best guess is that the villian found someone with the ability to partially take someone's powers.Then he found something that could contain it,likely in the Pit.

Schlatt moves his hand away,severing Tommy's trance.

"I heard you two were taking up the mantle of Charged and Mirrage."The villian asked,gaze falling apon Ender and Hive.

The two seemed to squirm under the man's gaze.Shadow nudged the taller.In return,they reluctantly stood up and made their way down the seats-the brunette following closely.

Though they looked extremely uncomfortable and ready to run,Tommy had to give them credit where credit's due.The pair stood a couple paces opposite Schlatt-that took balls,especially on the first time encountering the man.

However,for amateurs it was stupidly reckless and suicidal.Schlatt knew this.

Which is why he smiled.

Silently,Tommy slipped down the seats till his speedrunners touched quartz.Siren grabbed his arm,spinning the shorter around to face him.The man shook his head in disapproval-a warning.

"You said to protect you.I'm keeping that promise.Even if it means i have to physically restrain you,dickhead."The brunette hissed,letting go of the boy's arm apon getting a thumbs up.

Reluctantly,Tommy stayed put,watching the disaster waiting to happen from afar.Schlatt stalked forward,eyeing the pair up and down.

"I don't see how you expect to take up his mantle.Mirrage's,sure.Hive can do that easily;you've got similar powers.But Charged's?No.Neither of you can take up that roll.I mean Ender here can't do shit!"Schlatt cackled,face now inches from Ender's.

"Shut the fuck up."Hive growled.

𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥.

"Hive,calm down-"

"You see that's the difference,ladies and gents!That's the fucking difference!Neither of you have the same fire that Charged had.Your reckless like him,i'll give you that much.But your stupidly reckless.He was reckless, impulsive, unpredictable but smart,to a degree,self-sacrificial and has no self-preservation."He paused letting his words sink in.

"That's what you have on him,self-preservation.He'd do anything to save another's life even if that meant dying himself.You two would not.Your not heroes!You work for them!"The villian points over to the Syndicate.

The pair were stunned into silence as was everyone else.

"You want to be the next Charged and Mirrage?Then fucking fight me pussies."Schlatt mocked.

Nobody moved.

"Fine then.I'll throw the first and final blow."The man grinned,arms stretched out infront of him."I'll give you a count down."

"Three."

Nobody moved.

"Two."

Still no one moved.

"One."

Speedrunners silently darting across quartz tiles.Black tendrils of power spiralling towards the vigilantes.Netherite clasping around palled skin.Red sparks fixing a broken symbol.Nightmarish fire spitting to a stop.Callous fingers brushing nicotine and ash stained ones.

"You mother fucker."Schlatt laughed out manically.

"What can i say?I couldn't resist,your mum's a nice woman."Tommy quipped back,smirking.

"I'm going to make you fucking pay for that,you little shit."The villian's tone turned dark,eyebrows narrowing.

Lunging forward,the man throw a punch at the blonde,who dodged it easily.

"Fucking try me,bitch." Tommy grinned,remembering how weak the elder was without his powers.

"Rioters."Schlatt smirked.

At the ex-president's word,the rioters charged toward the blonde.Crimson didn't even flinch.Sure,there was over thirty guards but Tommy was bored.

𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘵.

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧𝘧.

Now that he thinks about it,this is a common occurrence.Even before the war,Tommy would willingly get into fights to let out pent up emotions-he signed up for Business Bay's fighting ring.Purpled used to say boredom was a code word for Tommy.It meant he was bored (yes) but bored in the sense that he was forced to acknowledge his emotions.So,he distracted himself.

But before he could get ahead of himself,Siren fulfilled his promise.

"𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘻𝘦."

All the rioters listened.They had to.

Scrubbing his face in annoyance,the blonde stared at the dampener on the villian's wrist.Stalking forward,face inches from Schlatt's,Tommy whispered to the man:"I don't fucking miss."

"I'm gonna go shower now."Tommy huffed,walking out of the room.

Although he could here the Syndicate's words of objection apon entering the endless corridors,he ignored them.Eyes transfixed on the stolen ring on his finger,crimson power zipping around in it's cage;it would soon to be emancipated.

Chapter Text

"I'm gonna go shower now."Crimson huffed out,waltzing out of the colosseum,leaving it's inhabitants stunned.

The ever fading squeak of the ex-hero's speedrunners dragging sluggishy against tiled floors whistled eerily through the silent building.Accompanied by the mix of erratic and steady breathing from rooms statue like dwellers as they stared bug eyed at the arching doorway.

Frustration and loathing infecting his very being and etching a repulsive scowl into sharp pallad features,Shadow stormed after him.Dirt speckled boots stamping loudly through the room before coming to an abrupt stop.Boots racking the quartz tiles as he's jerked backwards into the enderman hybrid's chest.

"Dude,get the fuck off of me."He spat,pushing the monochrome boy off of him and continuing his pursuit of Crimson.

Efforts quickly snuffed out to nothing but a scorched thread as Ender appears before him in crackle of violet particles-his path was blocked.

Purpled was angry.Rage coursing through his veins,causing an earthquake inside of him that rattled his bones.Jaw clenching as if to try to shatter his teeth and then tear through his gums.Brain itching for a fight in an oh so Tommy like fashion that it killed him.

Schlatt had came here and mocked him and his students.Sure,he'd been some what nice about Charged but his words were sardonic and rotten with fake praise.The villian had only really gone after Crimson which made no sense.Crimson had killed Charged so the two of them should be on good terms with eachother.But the two seemed like enemies.

𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵.

The thought irked him endlessly.He'd realised it weeks ago but now,after what just happened,it seemed more important.At first,he thought it was something little that may give the ex-president a bit of an advantage.Now however,he knew it was something game changing.Schlatt knew something that could quite possibly turn the tides of this on brewing war and it had something to do with Crimson.

𝘚𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘺𝘳𝘴.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘰𝘨 𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘦.

𝘞𝘩𝘢-𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶!

𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘩.𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘨𝘶𝘺...𝘕𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘱,𝘰𝘣𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺.

𝘖𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦,𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘴.

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧𝘧,𝘮𝘢𝘯.

He was snapped out of his infuriated thoughts,still glaring up at Ender,by the sound of shouting.

"Crimson!"Siren shouted the ex-hero's name in a siren-esc song that hummed melodically through the halls,demanding the boy to obey.Darting out of the room in a frenzy,head snapping left and right as he sprant-searching endlessly for his rival.

"Siren,get back here."Blood God's deep voice practically boombed through the building.An echoing explosion of rage and aggravation that haunts the city of El Rapids as he follows hot on Siren's heels.

Angel shoot Hive a look before following after his teammates,the rest of the Syndicate in toe.

If Purpled wasn't so lost in his rage,he would of laughed at the infamous gang chasing after one person in such away.

Although his thoughts were clear enough to observe what was happening amongst the chaos.Schlatt and his men remained immobile,Masquerade seemed unbothered by the situation,looking between the entrance to the room and a crumpled photograph in his hand.Having already deserted the room like cowards,Jester and Slime were nowhere in sight.Fruit however,remained in the room leant up against the wall,cool observent eyes locked on the other vigilantes.

"Hive,Ender."Fruitberries beckoned the two vigilantes,both rushing over to him immediately.

Sighing,Shadow listened in on the conversation,knowing Crimson was most likely miles away by now-he had no chance at catching him.On top of this,the most of the Syndicate was in hot pursuit of the ex-hero;he had no shot.

He liked Fruit,always had.Him and Tommy had collectively decided that he was one of the best members of MCC.However,after the blonde discovered that the council had exiled Charged and blamed him for his best friend's death,he hated all of the members.To Purpled,they all fell under the same section as Schlatt in his mind.If they hadn't exiled Tommy mabye he'd still be alive.

"Charged left me something before he died-"Purpled perked up at that,straining his hearing further to ensure he caught every word."-And i think he would of wanted you to have it.All you need to do is go to this location and it should be there in a duffel bag."Fruit exclaimed calmly,showing the pair something on his phone.

"What the fuck does it mean by USB?"Hive asked in bemusement,his partner jotting down whatever was on the phone into his notebook.

"I don't know.He just said to show this to next Charged and Mirrage if they ever need it."The eldest shrugged,putting his phone away."If i were you I'd get out of here now:Siren's hold on these guys isn't gonna last much longer."With that,the vigilante turned away,heading off to deal with the more pressing matters in El Rapids.

Immediately,Ender and Hive turn to Shadow,handing him the slip of paper silently and watching him intensely as he read the address.From the looks of it,whatever it was that Tommy supposedly left was in one of tube tunnel bunkers,somewhere in 7th.

"Alright,you two busy?"He smiled warmly at the two when they both shook their heads enthusiastically.The duo seemed so in awe of him,looking at him as if he held the secrets to the universe in his hands.He silently cursed himself for letting his walls down.

After Tommy's death and his own faux one,he isolated himself.Slowly withdrawing from civilisation in an attempt to prevent the endless pain that he was submerged in from happening again.He got a job in an office so that he would have to speak to the least people possible.Getting an apartment in the worst part of 12 to surround himself with people he knew he couldn't trust to stop himself from ever trusting again.

He didn't trust Hive and Ender but he was growing attached to them.

"Come on then losers.Let's go see if Fruitberries was capping or not."

___

The stone tomb the trio had just walked into was old and disheveled yet somehow well lived in.Light from the outside shone down apon the deserted area happily,creating a utopia in the hell hole that was the tube tunnel bunkers.Ash and dust assaulted their nostrils as the sound of rattling tubes berated their eardrums.

"Woah..."Hive gasped,spinning around in a circle as he inspected the room in wonder.

What made the room different to other drab bunkers was the walls.Bright,beautiful,bubbly graffiti covered the cracking cobble.Life beaming off of them and creating a lively museum of art and feeling.

Two pieces really caught the eye though.The first depicting a city with towering spruce trees,tall black walls and quaint houses.Soldiers dressed in revolutionary uniform (akin to the 16th's),marched along the top of the walls,looking for threats to their secret kingdom.A sunset of brilliant colours completing the image with one word branded on the painting:L'manburg.

The word made Purpled falter.L'manburg.It was quite clearly a spin on the word Manburg-whoever did this knew about the drug.This thought pushed the idea that what Fruitberries said about Charged leaving something was true.

That point being further proved by the second eye catching masterpiece.An imagine of Purpled had been delicately constructed on the wall,lilacs and mirror shards surrounding the main image.A crudely drawn streak of red sliced through the painting's cheek.

"Who the fuck is that?"Hive again,elbowing his teammate and indicating frantically to the portrait.

"I dunno,man.I think it's a memorial or something."The tallest answered with a shrugged,still slightly entrapped by the image.

"Toms..."The blonde breathed out,gently brushing his fingers against the graffiti in awe.The walls surface felt cool and bumpy under scared fingertips.

Behind him,Ender and Hive shot eachother questioning looks before scanning the rest if the room.

"Hey,Mirrage!We found something,boss man."Hive called out,both him and Ender crouching over a duffel bag in the corner.

Reluctantly tearing his gaze away from the image,Shadow stalked over to the vigilante duo.Crouching down beside them and looking in the battered,black,duffel bag.Giving the brunette the go ahead,Hive tore it open staring at the contents.

At first it just looked like a pile of old spray cans but apon further inspection there seemed to be something hidden beneath them.Taking them out carefully,the trio saw what the colour filled cans concealed.

Purpled's breath caught in this throat.

There,in the bag were four objects.First off was the reason they came here:the USB.Second was a battered red note book.Next being a handful of pressed lilacs which made the blonde smile uncontrollably;Tommy left him his favourite flowers.And finally,there was a red and black,nike windbreaker.

𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺'𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳.

The ode to his old friend brought wasp like tears to his eyes but he refused to let them fall.Silently,he took the objects out.Placing the USB,notebook and the flowers on the floor in favour of holding the windbreaker.

It was as he remembered it.A little name tag on the inside of it's neck telling him all he needed to know: 'Tommy Innit' was scribbled in big,scratchy letters.Purpled smiled fondly at it.Slowly,he rubbed his callous fingers over the material,bringing it up to his nose and inhaling.A small laugh escaped his lips;it smelt like Tommy.The scent of coca cola and spring rain still clinging to the material.

Ender cleared his throat causing Purpled to snap out of his trance."Oh right.Sorry.It's just that this was his."He said sheepishly,rubbing the back of his neck.

Placing the windbreaker with the other objects,he reached for the crimson note book.He was forced to handle it delicately,it felt ancient like the pages would crumble in the wind.Skimming through the pages,a bright smile tugged at his lips.

Every page was filled with well thought out,colourful graffiti ideas written and drawn by Tommy.One really caught his eye though.It was the one the younger never got round to doing.Depicting the two discs (that the Vice President of Pogtopia traded for their independence) overlapping eachother with brightly coloured shapes jumping out around them.A slogan branded front and centre of the image:'Independence or Death'.

Charged used to graffiti important buildings in Pogtopia to spread propaganda and to irritate Schlatt-it did to no end.The vigilante's street art was iconic with some still remaining today whilst other's were recently recreated in light of current events.

"Anyway,do either of you losers have anything we can put the USB in?"The blonde mumbled out,closing the book quietly and packing the estranged assortment of objects back into the duffel bag.

That question is how Purpled found himself sat on the floor beside Ender and Hive in their apartment,a laptop set up infront of them displaying a single video file labelled 'November 15th'-the day before the war ended.

With out a word,Hive pressed play;the video began.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘢 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘰.𝘈 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘢 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.

"𝘏𝘌𝘓𝘓𝘖?𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯?"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘣𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰.

Purpled's breath caught in his throat,eyes blowing wide.He knew this video was from Tommy but he didn't think he would actually he in it.He hadn't prepared himself for this.But as soon as his friend's voice played out of the computer's speakers,he couldn't tare his eyes away.

Tommy had always been able to do that.Stealing everyone's undying attention without trying.

𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴,𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵,𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴.𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘥,𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴-𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘵𝘶𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘳.𝘚𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘳,𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.

It was the bunker the trio had been in hours before though only a painting of Purpled adored the concrete walls,nothing else.

𝘓𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩,𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯:"𝘈𝘺 𝘶𝘱,𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴.𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴,𝘪 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘥.𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪 𝘢𝘮 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥,𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘗𝘰𝘨𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘢.𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦,𝘪 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸.𝘐𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨!"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱,𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵."𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥,𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘰 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵!𝘐 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯,𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦."

𝘏𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥,𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵."𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳.𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘐'𝘮 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘷𝘭𝘰𝘨-𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥,𝘐'𝘮 𝘢 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘷𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘸-"𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥,𝘱𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘨."𝘙𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.𝘕𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺,𝘪 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴."

𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨,𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘦,𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥."𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴,𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴,𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘪 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘰.𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺,𝘪 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘌𝘭 𝘙𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘥𝘴,𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘊𝘊 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪-"𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘶𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘬𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩."𝘚𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺...𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦."

𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵,𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘴.

"𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵,𝘰𝘣𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺.𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥."𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘥'𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭.

Purpled wanted to reach through the screen and hug his friend.He wanted to scream and shout at him that it wasn't his fault until it sunk into the stubborn boy's brain.Chasing the self-blaming thoughts from Tommy's head so only truth remained.

Only now did he realise that in Tommy's last days,all he would of thought about was Purpled.The dead boy tortured himself with thoughts of self loathing,believing they were justified and deserved.

Tommy had spent his final days hating himself for something he didn't even cause.

"𝘈𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘢𝘺,𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥'𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵.𝘏𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳,𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘪𝘤 𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯.𝘕𝘰,𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘥.𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘊𝘊 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧-𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘰𝘨𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘢-𝘪𝘧 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦.𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘺,𝘵𝘺𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬.𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘦."

𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥,𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘴.𝘚𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘳,𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘢𝘳 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥.

"𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦.𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘔𝘊𝘊,𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘑-𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵!𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳!"𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯,𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘢.

𝘈𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘥,𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵.𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘣𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘶𝘣𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.

Gasping in shock,Ender and Hive leaned forward in their seats,hanging on every word that fell from the dead boy's lips.All Shadow could do was stare blankly at the screen;he felt oddly numb.

𝘔𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺,𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦."𝘋𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮-𝘪𝘧 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴.𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸,𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘸.𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘍𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴.𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘱.𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥...𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘬𝘦."𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘳𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘮𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘦.

Purpled joined in,a fond smile settling on his face.Tommy was always able to draw strong emotions from him when he felt numb and empty.He used to hate him for it but now all he wanted was for the younger to do it over and over again.

That wouldn't happen though.

"𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧,𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥-"𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘸𝘦𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩."-𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘔𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦,𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴,𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵'𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶."

Silently,Purpled leaned forward.The world around him seemingly falling into oblivion.All that remains is him and Tommy.

Him and the message Tommy left behind.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘺,𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘵."𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘰,𝘴𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥.𝘐𝘧 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘨𝘰 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘵,𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶,𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥.𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵,𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥."𝘏𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘥.

Purpled did not.

"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸,𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘦𝘵.𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵:'𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦,𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳!𝘐 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶!' 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯'𝘵...𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵."

𝘈 𝘴𝘰𝘣 𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺'𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺.𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦,𝘴𝘰𝘣𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘭.

Ender and Hive were stunned with shock.Charged had never,ever broken down in front of the public.Presenting himself as this unstoppable beacon of hope for the districts.So for them this was strange.

Not for Purpled though.He'd sat there,holding his friend and calming him down from panic attacks and breakdowns thousands of times.

𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.He thought bitterly,a scowl unconsciously making it's way onto his face.

However,it did feel a little strange for him too.He wasn't able to reach forward and hug his friend,telling him everything would be alright because Tommy was dead.

Purpled would never be able to do that again.

Ever.

"𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯,𝘪 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵-𝘪 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵.𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵."𝘏𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘢."𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘪 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮?"

𝘚𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦.

"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘗𝘰𝘨𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘢 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶,𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦."

𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘳.

The two vigilantes stared holes into the blonde but he didn't acknowledge them.Lost in his own world were he and Tommy were still alive.However,one was restricted to an eternity of reading a never changing script on loop whilst the other watched.

"𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪 𝘤𝘢𝘯.𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘴,𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨.𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘱.𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥."

The villian laughed loudly at that,completely taken off guard by the statement about his brother-Punz.

"𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘹𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘮 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪 𝘩𝘶𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶,𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘥.𝘓𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘮𝘯.𝘖𝘩 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵,𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺.𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯,𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘵.𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯."𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘴."𝘐𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺,𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦,𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘵,𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩."

His face began to ache because of the smile that remained constant on the villian's face as he huffed at his friend's antics.

God,he missed Tommy.

𝘚𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯.

"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘐'𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦'𝘥 𝘥𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘩.𝘐𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘯.𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺,𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵.𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺."𝘈 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦'𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴.𝘖𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘢."𝘎𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴-𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦."

Purpled thinks he would of enjoyed that idea more than what he actually did for his 18th.

However,he wanted to go on a sunny day-Tommy was right.He wanted to get vanilla ice cream whilst his best friend got chocolate.They would sit on the hot sand together,talking in soft voices and enjoying the sound of the lapping waves and eachother's familiar company.When they finished their ice creams,the sound would start up again as the two ran down to the sea-splashing eachother and laughing bubbly.

But Charged was right:it didn't happen.

"𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥!"𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘥,𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯-𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘳.

𝘉𝘶𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴,𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘺."𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘐'𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶,𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘯.𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥,𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸?𝘉𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵."

𝘈𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘣 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧.𝘚𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘺,𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭,𝘳𝘶𝘣𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘬.

"𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝙢𝙚,𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘯𝘰 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘺,𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵!𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘮 𝘪 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶?"𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳.

𝘏𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘨."𝘚𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺,𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺.𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳...𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝙄 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘪𝘦.𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵-𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘦.𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥.𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳,𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥,𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦.𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯'𝘵,𝘐 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥.𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘐'𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨,𝘯𝘰 𝘪 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰,𝘸𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘗𝘰𝘨𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘢.𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶."

If only Tommy knew that his friend felt the inverse of that.Sure,Purpled was objectively better in combat but to win that war they needed the people.Tommy was able to get them on his side and that ultimately won them the war.

Nothing less,nothing more.

"𝘞𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺.𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘴.𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩...𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦."

Mirrage knows why they couldn't find his body.He just wished it had been left where it was found so he could of helped his teammate at the end of the war.Could of been with Tommy on his last couple of days and mabye,just mabye,prevented his life from ever ending.

𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵,𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯.𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘺.

"𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥.𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐'𝘮 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧𝘪𝘴𝘩,𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥.𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸.𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘪 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵.𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘪 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘶𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶.𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵."

God if that didn't feel like a punch in the gut.Purpled wanted the exact same thing but he had to live with the burden that he could of made it happen.If his body hadn't been moved their dream would be reality.

𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯.𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮.𝘕𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥,𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦,𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥.𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨,𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦.

𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱,𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘢.𝘖𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵."𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺.𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘢 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳,𝘔𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦."

The screen went black;the video was over.

Charged was gone.

Silence strangled the room.The only sound being that of the city out side though even that was muffled by the windows.A cool blue light casted into the still room as the moon set.

The movie was over.That short moment were Purpled had gotten his best friend back,heard his voice,seen his face was over as quickly as it came.Something inside of him begged him to play the video again.To watch it over and over and over again until he had the words and images burned into memory.But like any movie,he knew it wouldn't feel the same as watching it for the first time.

He wished he could relive every moment he'd experienced with Tommy for the first time again.Whether that be good or bad,it didn't matter to him.

Purpled didn't feel real.He could feel all of his clothes:they were too scratchy and too soft and too tight and too warm and just too much.His ears felt like they were stuffed with cotton,the static hum of the air conditioning drowned through the cotton only to further disorientate him.Copper settled deep in his mouth,tongue now bitter with the words he wished he said.

That video had cut his midsection open and taken his insides out one by one.All of them were laid out neatly on the floor but his heart had been placed in his hand.Beating wetly in his palm,vermillion sulphur sputtering out of it and onto the cream carpet.The thick liquid trying desperately to find a place to store the love he'd felt for Tommy-it was pointless.All the blood from his body pooled onto the carpet;Purpled had loved his brother with every millilitre of blood in his body.A dark hole carved into his left atrium (a place where the dead boy had lived before being tore away) growing further as it consumed the blonde's full heart.

"You alright,Mirrage?"It was Ender,his voice was soft and full if concern as he stared down at the blonde.

Purpled broke.

A raging battalion relentlessly charged at his eyes,an onslaught of tears (that he futilely tried to stop) following in their wake,cascading down his face and leaving a bloody trail of salt behind.Sobs struck his body like bolts of sizzling lightning as he curled in on himself.

He should of been there for Tommy those final days.They should of never moved his body.Tommy would still be alive if they hadn't.Him and Tommy would of gotten a few more precious days.A few more precious days that would of allowed him to explain to the younger that it wasn't his fault.He would of had time to get it into the stubborn boy's thick skull that it wasn't his fault.A few more precious days could of meant better planning that may have lead to a victory without either of the pair dying.A victory were Schlatt didn't come back.

𝘞𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩.

Warm arms wrapped around him and he leaned into them,crying into the vigilante's shoulder.Normally,he would never do this;he trusts no one.But he needed this right now.He needed a hug.Though it wasn't from his best friend,it was close enough and that's all that mattered to him.

Chapter Text

A shadow cut through the silent night.Scouring the empty streets methodologically for someone he would not find tonight-like the other twelve he'd spent patrolling.

Whistling ominously and sending litter skittering down the sidewalks,the cool wind kissed his face.Leaving a stinging bite behind as it rushed lustfully onto another lover.A fickle mist draped itself over the ghost town,suppressing the hum of the quiet traffic and the hushed chatter of those still lingering in the darkness.

Sighing,he took a seat on the lip of a building,staring down at the lonely streets just in case 𝘏𝘦 appeared after two weeks of radio silence.

Rubbing his eyes with the palm of his hands,trying to rid himself of the cursed fatigue that clung to him like morning dewdrops,he yawned.Insomnia seemingly making its life's mission to torment him at the moment,crawling into his body and settling there.In reality,there was no reason for the sudden return of this sleep loathing monster but alas,it would not leave.Hell even his pills weren't working!

Pogtopia,more specifically district 8,looked dull.Everything seemed to wear a similar mask of fatigue and drabness to the villian perched on the rooftop.A deep frown and immense eye bags adoring civilians faces as they trudged,hunched over, to their boring office jobs in twin buildings.Even at night,the little specks of light that polka-dotted every building seemed dim in the ever looming darkness.

However,the darkness that spitefully clung to the city seemed to work in his favour.It was easier for him to stalk the streets unbothered and unchecked by heroes.However it also meant that it was easier for 𝘩𝘪𝘮 to hide.

He couldn't quite wrap his head around 𝘩𝘪𝘮.Emotions and opinions skewed indefinitely after the last couple of months to the extent that he didn't know where he stood.When it came to forming an opinion and taking a prejudice against someone,he was an expert;his views on people decided on first glance.Thoughts on said person set in stone,carved into his brain for all eternity.

But 𝘩𝘪𝘮?His opinions and views were volitile at best.

He couldn't quite figure him out.Most peoples behaviour is lead blindly by two things:selfishness and greed.𝘏𝘦 did not seem to operate in that way.

In a string of christmas lights,𝘏𝘦 was the falty one.It wasn't that he was too bright or too dim.No,instead he wasn't even on.All the lights are the same,nothing different except their various colours that stood as a mock attempt at uniqueness-except 𝘩𝘪𝘮.𝘏𝘦 did not feel the need to shine brightly and garner the attention of everyone.Content with staying undetected but sticking out like a sore thumb because of it.

𝘏𝘦 did not obey the rules of the villian's game.It irked him endlessly.So much so that he almost wished he'd never meet 𝘩𝘪𝘮 in the first place.

𝘒𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵.

This estrange behaviour that ruined his perfect system (a system that defined human behaviour as a whole) was not only irritating but excessively endearing.

It was a completely new concept for the villian.The thrill of not knowing was both scary and addicting.He wanted to find 𝘩𝘪𝘮 and experience more of 𝘩𝘪𝘴 behaviour,figure out why 𝘏𝘦 was so different from the rest of them.

𝘏𝘦 was a game to him-like a puzzle.Most would call the villian cruel for that and they'd be right.But they'd also be hypocrites.

Everyone is cruel,everyone is selfish and everyone is greedy.People do things for their own self interest.Nothing less,nothing more.It's how the game works.

But not with 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

𝘏𝘦 does not abide by the game's rules nor does he play it.𝘏𝘦 watches the game from an outsider's perspective.Only interfering when some part of the game seems unjust-which is all of it.

The villian is the game master and 𝘏𝘦 is the player without an instruction manual.

𝘏𝘦 felt like the villain's opposite whilst being his clone at the same time.

𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘪𝘯.

The villian's addiction to 𝘩𝘪𝘴 behaviour was why he was out here.Why he'd spent every night for the past 13 days on patrol looking for him.It's why he couldn't sleep.

His brain was so focused on analysing ever moment he'd spent with 𝘩𝘪𝘮 and scouring files apon files of information about 𝘩𝘪𝘮 that it couldn't do anything else.

"Siren?"Empath's soft voice crackled through his ear piece."You on your way back yet?"

Siren did not answer.Eyes glued hungrily to the familiar figure slipping through the streets below.The brunette's heart rate increasing rapidly as he watched him.

𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺.

Tommy was infront of him.Tommy who had mysteriously disappeared whilst searching for Ranboo months ago was right in front of him,alive and well.

The boy trudged down the street in a pair of airforces and what appeared to be his pyjamas:an oversized emerald hoodie which looked like it belonged to someone else with blue and white tartan pyjama bottoms.

Wilbur was cold and he had the thermal layers of his suit and a trench coat.Tommy must be freezing.

Although worry stirred at the back of his mind,a brilliant smile broke out on the brunette's face as he watched his pseudo little brother.He missed the boy.Tommy was his best friend,the only person who never judged Wilbur.The pair knew eachother inside and out.Both knowing what the other was feeling and how to help them if needed.

Wilbur loved his family but Tommy?Tommy was his favourite person-though he'd never tell the boy that.

He'd missed going into Kabosu Records and annoying the boy.Since he went missing,all Wilbur had wanted to do was speak to the boy again.

If he could,he would jump down there and tackle the younger into a hug but right now he was Siren.Supervillain who's partner had killed one of Tommy's friends during the massacre of city hall.

That day had scared Wilbur.It made him realise how easy it was for Tommy to be killed.He had been right there in that room and could of been one of the people killed that day.

Siren could of killed him.He could of killed Tommy.

"Siren?"Empath's voice is now filled with worry,the panicked clicking of a keyboard echoing down the line.

"Yeah,yeah.I'm fine.I'll be back in like an hour or two."He muttered distractedly.

"Okay...See you then."Then she was gone.

Tommy had almost disappeared from view.Clambering to his feet frantically,Siren slipped into the shadows.

___

Sighing,Tommy pushed the glass door of the diner open.No one was in there except for two employees so the blonde could sit wherever he wanted.Immediately,he made a beeline for a red leather booth next to the window.

The glass was fogged up by the mist obscuring the view but you could still see the car lights and passing civilians.Distantly,Tommy thought of how the mist reminded him if Purpled's eyes;a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺.

Subconsciously,the boy began to pick at his scabbed over cuticles.

Staring at the menu infront of him to trick the waiter into thinking he was still picking his order.It looked greasy like everything else in the diner,mismatch splotches of spilled food and drink staining the cardboard.All of the corners were ripped in some kind of way,most surrounded by tiny doodles or underwhelming poetry by some depressed hipster.

𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘵 𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴.

Tommy had to admit that he missed the man.He longed for their bubbly banter that had them keeling over with laughter.Wanted some form of normality in his life that segregated the hero and villian world from the real world.The world he fought to protect.

He longed to have someone who cared.

Though he'd only know the brunette for a few months,he took over Dream's role as big brother.He hadn't seen Wilbur since being kidnapped but he had seen Dream two weeks ago.

He missed Wilbur more than Dream.

That wasn't because he cared more about one the other.No,it's because he hasn't had any contact with Wilbur;Tommy doesn't even know if the man's alive.At least he's seen Dream,heard his voice.He knows his mentor is alive.

However,it doesn't really feel like Dream,more like Masquerade.

Gentle touches and soft words replaced by rough punches and soul crushing dismissal.Tea kettle laugh replaced with icey silence.

Dream hadn't even spoken to him last time they saw eachother.

It had been two weeks since he'd been in El Rapids.Apparently,the Syndicate spent hours searching the city and the sewers in hopes of finding him-they didn't.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘶𝘣𝘦𝘴.

He hadn't done much since then,trying to keep a low profile.Though he did get a new job and apartment as being away from your old one for over three months and not paying rent over that period,surprisingly,get's you evicted!

In Tommy's opinion it's absurd but he can't really do much about it.

Now,he lived in district nine which to most wouldn't be smart as Schlatt is slowly taking each district but it also meant the prices went down.It was quite a disheveled apartment with some dodgy characters living there with him;Tommy's pretty sure there's a blood stain on one of his walls.However,it didn't really bother him much-he's dealt with worse in his time.

His new job as a cashier in some random corner shop is quite eventful.All sorts of people go there so you never know how your day will go.Two days ago,a ski mask wearing man pulled a gun on him which was the highlight of the blonde's week so far.

As you can tell he's extremely bored.Luckily though it hasn't gotten to the extent where his bottled up emotions start to take over.The bloodthirsty monster caged up in the back of his brain hadn't escaped yet.Urging him to pick a fight with anything that breaths,uncaring if he wins or loses.

Simply addicted to the thrill of the fight.

Now Tommy isn't pugnacious in anyway shape or form but when things become too much it takes over.Old habits leeching onto him and infecting him with rotten recklessness and deadly decay.

He turns back to fighting because it's all he knows.

"Kid,are you ready to order?"The waiter drawls in an uninterested tone,startling Tommy out of his thoughts.

"Can i have a coca cola,please?"The blonde asked politely.Getting nothing more than a hum in response as the waiter turned on his heel and fled.Quickly returning with Tommy's order before leaving again.

Blood dribbled from every finger on his right hand-he moved onto his left silently.

Admittedly,he had no clue why he was here.Everything was so quite and peaceful as of current that it put him slightly on edge.

𝘖𝘩 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘩 𝘵𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺,𝘵𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺.𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦.𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘺 𝘣𝘪𝘵.𝘋𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘪𝘢.𝘕𝘰,𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘻𝘺.

𝘚𝘩𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘶𝘱.

Schlatt had taken 12 yet no one seemed to care.Not a single thing had changed except for a rise in demand for houses between districts 7 and 3.

It frustrated the blonde to no end.Everyone knew what happened last time but none of them seemed to have learned from their mistakes (they refused to admit they were wrong).

Nox was actively trying to cover up Schlatt's return though it wasn't really working as Masquerade and Arson had mysteriously left the hero company.Instead of actually dealing with the problem,Nox was trying to find replacements for the two top heroes and keep fear from spreading like wildfire.

From what Tommy could gather,it seemed they were keeping the public's attention on the two top heroes disappearances,the Syndicate and Crimson.Surprisingly,it was working but only because Nox was censoring the news and only pushing the former agendas.Their censorship only coming into place when news on Schlatt was coming to light.Tommy doubted anyone in districts 1 to 5 knew about Schlatt's return.

Thud.

Someone had taken the seat opposite the blonde.He didn't look up from his bloody hands as he addressed them:"That seats taken,man."

"Yeah,by me."A familiar voice huffed out.

Head snapping up,Tommy went bug eyed as he stared at the man infront of him.Wavey,dirty blonde hair,lime coloured eyes,tanned freckled skin and a thick scar running across the bridge of his nose-for once he wasn't wearing neon green.Instead opting to wear a black bomber jacket,some American football hoodie and black jeans.

A warm feeling bloomed in Tommy's chest at the sight of airforces in place of the man's usual speedrunners-the airforces the younger had brought him.

"Dream..."Tommy breathed,leaning over the table and poking the man in the face to make sure he wasn't seeing things.

The elder let out an indignant sqwark at the action.Grabbing the boy's wrist and glancing down at his cuticles with a disappointed sigh.

"You know that will make it harder for you to wield a weapon,idiot."Dream tutted,pulling a pack of plasters from his pocket and wrapping them around the ends of the younger's fingers.

Tommy had no doubt that the elder had materialised them using his powers.

Masquerade's was able to create objects by drawing power from others emotions,which is why Crimson was the perfect sidekick for him.Tommy often watched the dream team's fights from afar so Dream could draw power from the boy's emotion to create objects rapidly.When the two blondes had first met,the elder could feel that the boy was practically overflowing with strong emotions.After the couple of months they spent in the medical ward together with no change in the strength of Tommy's emotions,the elder asked him to be his sidekick.

As well as being able to create objects,the hero had increased endurance,speed and agility.Added with his years of training in gymnastics and parkour,it made him formidable in battle and the perfect opponent for Blood God.

"You said to never use your powers in public,you hypocritical green bitch."Smirking,Tommy handed the man his other hand.

"I said that 𝘺𝘰𝘶 should never use your powers in powers in public,Tommy."Rolling his eyes with a scoff as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Why's it different for you then,huh prick?"The blonde retorted,cracking open his coke and slouching back in his seat.

"Because I'm very smart and would never get caught.You on the other hand..."The last part was accusing as he raised an eyebrow at the younger,smile tugging at lips.

"OH SHUT THE FUCK UP!OHHH MY NAMES DREAM AND I THINK IM THE BEST!MEH MEH MEH MEH,I LOVE GOGY AND IM A FUCKING WANKER!"Tommy mocked in a terrible impression of the elder's voice.

The latter wheezed like a tea kettle in response,bringing a bright smile onto the shorter's face-he had missed that laugh.Though the joyful expression fell quickly,settling into a frown as he took Dream in.Anxiety twisting in his gut.

"Why are you here?"

"What?"The man chocked out,gaze snapping up to meet the younger's.Like usual,Dream's features turned icey in an attempt to scare the boy into turning away-losing the staring contest and proving his authority.

Tommy did not back down.

Sky blue glaring into evergreen.

Ignoring the foul feeling of intimidation that stood as an ever present reminder of how out of depth he was,the blonde repeated his question.

"Legally you shouldn't be here without me-I'm your guardian,Thomas Wastaken."The taller answer with a tilt of his head,glare vanishing while a fond smile ghosted his capped lips.

Huffing and throwing his arms up in exasperation,Tommy tore into the man savagely with bared teeth."Your the one who sent me off in the first place.That's fucking child abuse or whatever.It's not fair for you to show up after months of hunting me down and trying to put me in fucking Pandora,dickhead!"

"Tommy.Someone will hear."

Immediately,shame relentlessly stabbing him in the chest,the blonde stopped talking,staring (unseeing) out the window.

A tierd sigh came from across the table,the hero rising from his seat.He places some money on the table to pay for the coke before gently taking his brother's arm and leading him out of the diner.

Arm thrown over the ex-vigilante's shoulders and tucking him into the man's side,the pair walked in a tense silence through the misty streets.Neither appreciated the lack of communication but they were too stubborn to break it.

Regret pooled into one's stomach.Sending him tossing and turning into a world pool of thoughts as he subconsciously pulled his brother closer to him.Contentment and unease settled in the other's.He leeched the warmth Dream provided gratefully,happy to be reunited with one of the people he'd learned to consider family after years of friendship.

However,the feeling of unease was what panicked him and his mentor most;Dream felt those emotions too.

Sweat balled in his palms and trickled sluggishly down his face.Hairs on his arms rising as a result of his instinct's kicking in.

"Feel like digging into your powers and figuring out what the fuck is happening,Big D?"

"I told you not to call me that."The elder blonde hissed though he did as asked anyway.After a moment,his eyebrows furrowed and a frown pulled a his lips.

He dragged the boy down the steps of a tube station,hurriedly heading for the crowded terminal.

"I think whatever it was is messing up my powers.The only reading i got was jealousy..."

Tommy side eyed the man but didn't say anything,slipping onto the tube with him.

Silence,once again,enclasped the two in a tight embrace.The silence seemed to smother everything even though the carriage was buzzing with lively chatter and the rattling of the ancient tube.

"I know it's not fair for me to show up now after everything that's happened but i needed to give you a heads up.Punz is searching for you as well as Business Bay,Nightmare,the Syndicate and the Warden.Don't do anything reckless,Red."

Dream squeezed the blonde's shoulder reassuringly,pulling him into a bone crushing hug.Which was immediately returned by the younger with equal force,hands gripping at the man's bomber jacket.

A sad sigh escaping the hero,hold on Tommy tightening as if the boy was moments away from falling into oblivion."Sapnap and Karl are in Pandora.I thought you should hear it from me and not anyone else,your my brother-it's the least i could do,idiot."

ɴᴏᴡ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴏᴀᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴅɪꜱᴛʀɪᴄᴛ ᴇɪɢʜᴛ.

"Please,please don't go doing anything reckless.I'm serious Tommy.If i find out your anywhere near documents containing information on Pandora i will hand you into Nightmare."Dream's tone was deadly serious,the threat dripping with venom as it hang sickeningly in the sterilised air.

Tommy tensed in the man's arms.Tantalising fear shot up his spine,he'd been ensnared.This whole thing was a set up for the elder to threaten him into staying out of the way.

Dream,a man he trusted with his life,had betrayed him;the blonde did not hand out that trust easily.The man had broken his fickle trust and sided with the villain who had caused his best friend's death.

Bandaged hands met a rectangular shape in the hero's pocket.

"That way,i can keep a close eye on you to insure your safety and we can keep up consistency.Just know,I'm doing all of this for a reason."A subtle layer of concern breached the elder's words as he looked down at the blonde.

ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɴᴏᴡ ʀᴇᴀᴄʜᴇᴅ ᴅɪꜱᴛʀɪᴄᴛ ᴇɪɢʜᴛ.ᴘʟᴇᴀꜱᴇ ᴍɪɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴀᴘ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴀɪɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴛꜰᴏʀᴍ.

Retracting himself from Dream's arms,Tommy stared up at him with a cool,emotionless expression.Rage,fear and sadness assaulted his brain like a blade in the centre of his back that keeps twisting.Tearing deeper and deeper into his ever knotting muscles,sending a singular thought raging through his brain.The thought made him shiver.Hard.

The thought was a single word:fight.

Added onto the foundations of unease created by his instincts,the thought rapidly skyrocketed.He couldn't hold back anymore.

ᴅᴏᴏʀꜱ ᴏᴘᴇɴɪɴɢ.

Drawing his fist back,the blonde swung at his mentor.A loud crack echoed through the carriage,blood spurting out of the latter's nose that now sat at an odd angle.The first hit was joined by another and another and another.Vermillion flowers blooming on the man's face,tears springing to crocodile eyes but he did not fight back-refused to.

All eyes fell on the pair in stunned silence.

Stepping back,Tommy jabbed a finger into his brother's chest,voice steady and level as he spoke."I've never been known for my consistency nor my lack of a reckless nature."

With that he turned on his heel and slipped out of the tube.Knuckles stinging endlessly,open wounds stretching due to clenched fists,his left more so;a USB,embedded with a smiley face,held securely inside of it.

ᴅᴏᴏʀꜱ ᴄʟᴏꜱɪɴɢ.

The smell of cigarette smoke and coffee stalked Tommy from the nightmarish shadows,swirling with jealously and maliciousness.He could sense whoever was watching him but the crawling brat that was his instincts was shoved to the side in favour of embracing the pugnacious need to fight.Though even that diminished in the cold of the night.

Eyes red with both tears and fatigue,he dragged himself into a shabby corner shop.Instantly,the revolting stench of cheap liquor infected his snot clogged nose.Fridges filled with booze lined the walls,isle's of snacks set up in neat rows on the sticky floor below the blaring flourecent lights.A man sat at the counter,cigarettes and vapes displayed behind him.He quirked a brow at the boy but didn't judge,that was a major part of his job.

"Do you have a toilet and some bandages?"Tommy's voice was croaky and quite;he didn't care.

The man looked him up and down once more before turning around.When he turned back,he had a set of keys and a roll of bandages in his hand.Silently,he nodded towards the a door to his left.

Taking the items and heading for the bathroom,Tommy mumbled his thanks.Locking himself in the tiolet,he gripped the porcelain sink,trying to calm his breathing.After a moment he turned on the rusting tap,flinching back in shock as water leaped up at him.Turning down the water pressure,the blonde placed his fists in the sink and watched as crimson spirals kissed the freezing liquid.

His split knuckles mourning for their beloved ruby liquor with stabbing stings of pain that shot up Tommy's hands.Sapphire eyes turned up to stare intensely at their reflection,exhaustion hitting him like a truck.He just wanted to get home and sleep.Not wanting to process what had just happened nor the emotions that plagued his mind.

Slowly,sky blue turned sea grey in the mirror,scars,features and clothes shifting slowly.A flicker of recognition flashing in the reflection's eyes.Focusing back on the real world,Tommy stopped-body immobile.

Purpled stood opposite him in the mirror,expression mimicking that of the younger's.Tears unconsciously welled in both of their eyes,smiles splitting across their faces.

The warmth of reunion didn't last long.

Panic flared up inside of Tommy as his instincts kicked in."Duck!"

A loud crack echoed against the walls of the plasterine box of a toilet.

Instantly,the dead boy obliged,infinite trust in Tommy unwilting through death itself.Ducking out of the way,a bullet tore through the air,hitting the mirror and shattering it completely with a splintering sound that left his ears ringing.

The cracked glass evaporated when Tommy blinked.He shook his head rapidly in an attempt to clear the lingering feeling of disorientation from his mind."I'm off my fucking face..."He muttered,turning the tap off and wrapping soft,white,bandages around his knuckles in silence.

Once again,Purpled had been before him but he wasn't real,he never was.Mabye staying inside for two weeks without human contact had messed him up more than he originally thought.

Rusted keys returning to their owner,Tommy left the shop.The blearing pain from his knuckles was so distracting that he didn't notice that the shadow following him from above had gained it's own shadow though they had the same target.Nor did he notice that the scar on his cheek bone had been reopened by its creator.

Chapter Text

"Citizens of Pogtopia,Nightmare- I mean Schlatt has returned to reinstate his tyrannical rule over you.He has already taken districts 13 and 12 as well as Kinoko Kingdom and Las Nevadas-wait FUCK!"Hive threw his hands up in frustration before burying his face in his hands.

"Hey,it's okay Tubbo.You got further into it then last time which show's that your improving quickly.That's amazing,man!"Ranboo cheered on from below his partner,giving him a thumbs up.

"It took me ages to learn how to do these speeches properly.Just gotta focus up and practice."Purpled offered with a shrug.

"Okay..."Taking a deep breath to clear his mind,the brunette scanned the script once more before trying again.

The trio sat in the abandoned prison again.Tubbo stood above the others on the upper layer of the cafeteria.Black boots covered in hundreds of buttons,buckles and straps squeaked against the bone ceramic that gleamed too loudly as it reflected the vigilante.Ranboo and Purpled were on the ground floor,sitting in cracking plastic chairs they'd stolen from one of the lunch tables.

Said table was now adored with three empty pot noodles,a handful of communicators and twin ruby blades.Beaming rays of light filtered into the large hall through a gaping hole in the ceiling.The early morning sun casting comforting warmth and dancing dust particles throughout the room.Amber light catching on the rose blades of the aforementioned daggers,creating two streaks of red that sliced through the cell before the blonde.

They'd been there since midnight and it was currently six in the morning but they still had two hours left until they needed to leave.Purpled really enjoyed the vigilante duo's company (they felt the same way though he didn't know that) it felt similar to being in MCC with everyone working towards the same goal.

The goal right now was preparing Hive and Ender for the more 'symbols of hope,leaders of the revolution' role which was vital if they wanted this to work.However,it was more difficult than expected:Tubbo had dyslexia making it harder for him to read and Ranboo had memory problems so they couldn't memorise the script.

𝘔𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘵...

"Wait,i got an idea.The whole script thing is working perfectly,no cap.But i think it would be easier for you losers if you improvised."Purpled explained.

The vigilante pair seemed hesitant for a moment before nodding.

"How?"The brunette asked,confusion sparkling in honey eyes as he gazed down at his teacher.

"If i want to romanticise it I'd say speak from the heart but in reality all you gotta go is ballshit your way through it and be genuine.That's what Charged did anyway."The blonde smiled,mumbling the last bit under his breath.

"Okay-Ballshit and genuineness.Yeah,i can do that!"

"Yeah you can!"Ranboo whopped from below,hyping up his friend.

"As most of you know,Nightmare-i mean Schlatt is back.Many of you might think that because Charged and Mirrage aren't here to help this time around all hope is lost.But it's not-"

Ender's phone rattled the table,silencing the speaker.Next,Hive's phone went off.Then Shadow's.

Picking up his phone,Purpled was greeted with a villian alert-he never deleted the app him and Tommy made.

"I think it's time to put you guys into action."He smirked.

____

Bodies lay discarded in the rubble of the apartment complex,inhabitants belongings strewn across the debris,glinting in the golden sunlight of the early morning.Police sirens screeched over the haunting screams of casualties and echoed against the sparkling glass skyscrapers.The stench of blood,fire and petrol crawled into the panicking crowds noses and left an ever present taste of copper on their tongues.

Dynasty basked in the chaos.Wearing a puffy white shirt,tight black pants with matching knee high boots and a red cape akin to that of Blood God's draped over her broad shoulders.They held a golden sceptre littered in jewels in their right hand,twirling it between her fingers as she waltzed through the rubble.Stopping occasionally to bash some unfortunate soul's head in while they whaled and writhed.Locks of curly brown hair cascaded down to their shoulders,a crown sitting firmly on their head.Veil of gold covering her face and hiding their identity from the world.

A cloud of purple particles appeared infront of Dynasty,halting their violent attack on a screaming citizen.Cackling,they addressed the pair:"Hive,Ender!What a pleasure to have you join me for my return!"

Settling into fighting stances,centre of gravity low in Hive's case and high in Ender's-using their heights to their advantage.Stingers rising into the air in a Mirrage like fashion as the monochrome boy drew his battons.

From atop a building,Purpled smiled wistfully.The pair were the spitting image of Charged and Mirrage.So much so that it made him ache with nostalgia.

"Dynasty.Aren't you a little too old to be doing this whole villian gig?"Hive quipped in his best attempt to mimic Charged-it wasn't working.

"Yeah,what if you sprain your back?I don't really wanna carry you off the battle field,man.I'm just saying."Ender joined in with a shrug,grip tightening on their battons as they slowly began to circle the villian-Tubbo mirroring them wordlessly.

An airy laugh escaped the villian,eyes hungrily taking the vigilantes in from beneath the veil."I can tell who your trying to be and it's not working."

"Stay calm.Don't let them get to you.They're only doing it to get inside your head."Purpled's voice crackled down the duo's earpieces.

Darting forward,Hive sent his stingers rippling towards the villian.Drawing a dagger from his belt and slashing at Dynasty's face.The blade was swiftly knocked out of his hand before it made contact with the golden veil that covered the elder's face.Steal clattering to the ground while Hive dropped into a role,righting himself beside his partner.

A handful of stingers were left embedded in the hissing villian's skin,others returning to their master's side.

No blood was drawn,yet.

The vigilantes didn't give her time to think.Both of them charging towards them with unfathomable speed.

Swinging their sceptre up in a wide arche,Dynasty brung it crashing down into the side of Ender's skull.Sending him tossing,tumbling and turning into a pile of rubble with a brutal thud.

However,she was so focused on the monochrome boy that she forgot about his partner.Head snapping backwards as a knuckle buster wearing fist connected with their jaw;the villian lay in a heep on the floor.

Hive stepped back from Dynasty and scampered over to his partner,who was out cold and most definitely had a concussion.Brown leaked through his purple mask,leaving a scar of hardship which would forever be a memory of their first battle as symbols of hope.

𝘖𝘩 𝘯𝘰,𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘩.𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵.𝘛𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘣𝘺 𝘋𝘺𝘯𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.Purpled thought sarcastically though panic flared wildly in his chest-so much so that he summoned his mirror shards.Creating the familiar mask of a vigilante carved in memorials and written about in flowery words by struggling poets formed from conflict.

He was ready to jump in if anything went too far.

𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰𝘰.

Swearing under his breath,Hive's hands shook as he frantically pulled bandages from his pocket and started to messily wrap his friend's wound.

Dynasty spat out a mouthful of shocking scarlet with a menacing laugh.Using the sunlight coloured sceptre for support,they pushed themselves to their feet-arms spread wide in a Siren like fashion.

"You should of done your research before jumping into battle with me little ones."She barked out sardonically,bloodstained veil pressing against her mouth.

Eyes illuminating brilliantly through the mask.The ground,the earth's very core,rumbled violently beneath their feet.Splotch of crimson that had sunken into the concrete glowing stark white.

Crack.

The earth cracked open.Hundreds of burnt skeletons scrambled up from the casum.Contorting,convulsing and thrashing as they formed an unmovable wall of scorch kissed rot and decay infront of Dynasty.The hollow sound of rattling rib cages choked the field of debris.

"I'll be seeing you."Dynasty cackled with a salute,waltzing away and leaving the army,her loyal subjects,of undead to deal with the vigilantes.

"Hive..."Ender rasped from beside their partner,having pushed them self to their feet in a haze."Grab my hand,i can teleport us over there so we can get her."

"No.Forget Dynasty.There is a group of at least one hundred and seventy people behind you,who those skeleton fucks will definitely go after once you've left.Your priority is to protect the people;not catch the villian.Charged law five,dumbasses."Purpled hissed down their earpieces,rolling his eyes so far back that one might think they'd get stuck there.

"HOW THE FUCK ARE WE MENT TO FIGHT AN ARMY OF SKELETONS!THEIR FUCKING DEAD,DICKHEAD!"Tubbo screeched frantically,stingers quivering in fear at his sides.

The army approached at a rapid pace,two meters away now.

"Their heads.Disconnect their skulls from their body."Uninterest practically radiating from the words as the blonde concentrated on picking the dust particles from the red windbreaker he was wearing.

"Ohhh,that way they can't control their limbs or bite people!"Ranboo explained,evidently proud of himself for the revelation.

"Yeah,no shit Sherlock.Now start stabbing shit,pussies."Purpled drawled.A warm feeling spreading through his body at the familiar mannerism.

The ex-vigilante hears a twin pair of huffs down the line.Springing forward,both vigilantes tare through the skeletal army with a lustful hunger for blood raging in their veins.Stingers,battons and daggers cutting down enemies left right and centre.

By the time all the skeletons were terminated,Hive had the odd scratch here and there.Where as Ender,who still hadn't fully recovered from the blow delt to their head,was coated in a thick layer of bruises and cuts that ran deep into their pale skin;blood flowing steadily from a particular gash in his leg that forced him to limp.

"Alright gamers,see if all the civilians are okay and speak to them.You gotta gain their support as your now the peoples heroes."Pride filled the blonde's voice as he beamed down at his students,shooting them an enthusiastic thumbs up when their eyes fell apon him.Silently,he turned off his earpiece,taking it out and fiddling with it-sea grey eyes focused on the crowd bellow.

Unbeknownst to him,this action had consequences.Consequences that continued to mercilessly dragged out the misery and grief that's plagued him for years now.If he had just kept that ear piece in mabye Pogtopia wouldn't of needed a new Charged and Mirrage.

Throwing his friend's arm around his shoulder,Tubbo helped Ranboo towards the crowd.Apon further inspection,it was apparent that all the wounded had been taken care of and were currently in hospital getting treatment.Citizens stared up at them in awe,phones held up to catch a video of the vigilante duo.

"Speech?"Ranboo croaked from beside him,tilting their head to the side in question.

"What-what if i mess up?Or-or say the wrong thing and they all fucking hate me for it?"The brunette whispered,words a scrambled mess of anxiety and remaining adrenaline.

"You'll do great.Just imagine it's you,Mirraged and me,yeah man?"The other encouraged their friend,smile evident beneath his mask.

"And Tommy."Tubbo stated firmly.Posture straightening,chin raised in faux-confidence.

"And Tommy."Fondness lased his words while he pulled his friend closer into his side-attempting to give him comfort.

"Uh...Hi.I'm Hive and this is Ender.We're from district ten and we're vigilantes-you probably already knew that..."Awkward silence fell over the crowd as the vigilante trailed off.Gulping,he hesitantly continued after Ranboo gave his hand a comforting squeeze.

"Okay look,I'm shit at the whole public speaking,speech thing plus this is like my first time doing this-apart from school.So your gonna have to bare with me,boss men."A couple of laughs could be heard from the crowd,filling the brunette with a new found confidence.

"A small percentage of you will already know of Night-I mean Schlatt's return;the majority of you on the other hand will not."Gasps of fear erupted from the crowd,panic running wild as the citizens clung to eachother for comfort and safety.

"Nox has been censoring the news since his return in attempt to stop mass panic and pressure from the public to fight back against him.You would of seen the supposed old broadcast of Schlatt declaring Charged and Mirrage's deaths but it's not old:it was a live broadcast from district twelve."Tubbo paused for a moment,letting the words sink in before continuing.

"So to recap you all,as there's been next to no news coverage on Schlatt's return,here's the run down:He's taken 13-12 as well as Kinoko Kingdom,El Rapids and Las Nevadas;his headquarters is currently district twelve's town hall;the amount of rioters has increased by over 235% and he's planning to take 11 in the next week.

Schlatt's planning to do exactly what he did over half a decade ago during the 16th-without the loosing part,obviously.

Charged and Mirrage aren't here to stop him this time because they sacrificed their lives during the war inable to stop Schlatt's oppressive and tyrannical rule.Adding to this,MCC was disbanded after the revolution because it was viewed as 'no longer necessary'.Which is ballshit by the way as it left vigilantes (such as myself and Ender) vulnerable to what Nox dubbed 'The Cleansing'.Where they basically rounded up all the vigilantes they could get their hands on and threw them in Pandora for doing the heroes fucking jobs from them.This is the reason basically all the original vigilantes from before the war are gone.

Anyway,the loss of MCC,Charged and Mirrage makes Schlatt believe he's already won.Which fair enough,I'd think the same and,if I'm gonna be honest,so do you."

A murmur of agreement washed over the crowd as they nodded,unsure on where this speech was going.

"But that's not true.This war is nowhere near over.The 16th revolution is but the war?It's only just began.

Sure,Pogtopia's main line of defensive is gone and Nox isn't doing anything remotely useful but this isn't over yet.

Everyone thinks,no views it as fact,that the revolution was only won because of Charged and Mirrage-that's not entirely true.The reason we won last time was partly due to Charged and Mirrage's sacrifice,yes,but also because of 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

The people of Pogtopia.

Without your support,without your spirit and strife,we would of lost.If we want to win this war,we have to work together.

Me and Ender?We can't compare to Charged and Mirrage-not in the slightest.However,we're the only people trying to fight back against Schlatt as they once did.

Do I expect you to trust us?Or show even a hint of the loyalty you had for them towards us?

Fuck no.That's absurd.

What I'm asking you to do is help us save this city-our home.If we do nothing,Schlatt will take Pogtopia without breaking a sweat.Then,he'll go back to oppressing people like he's currently doing in our sisters districts.

If we resist,though?If 𝘸𝘦 rebel?

We'll force Nox's hand into giving the lower districts aid and support.Even if they don't,me and Ender are willing to give our lives for this city.To protect Charged and Mirrage's legacies.

To protect you,the people of Pogtopia."

Quite eyes of said people gazed apon him in their various array of colours and shapes.All with one thing in common though:hope.In unison,every single hand raised into the air,holding the sign of the 16th high as the ultimate sign of respect.

𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺.Purpled thought from atop his building.The pride swelling in his chest dampened only by a deep sense of melancholy that seemed to forever plague him,fighting every moment of happiness that reached for him.

Beneath the rubble lay a crumpled duffel bag,containing the suit and revolutionary gear of a fallen war legend-who saved the city.

____

Hanging his keys,which were adored with a UFO keychain,on the hook next to his door,Purpled sluggishly kicked his shoes off.Venturing further into his shabby apartment in district 11,heading straight to the bathroom.

Looking in his mirror at his own reflection,he signed,dragging a hand down his face.Today had been fun for him,he guesses.Hive and Ender had successfully gained the public's favour because of the brunette's speech.Purpled was especially proud of him for that as they'd only started on speeches today and Hive had managed to exceed his expectations.On top of this,they'd managed the fight well for beginners and neither of them were seriously injured- Ender's concussion aside.

The only bad part was who specifically the fight had been against.Dynasty had returned.The villian who had been almost as difficult as Schlatt for Purpled and Tommy to get rid of.

Mirrage's powers were rendered useless against her because drawing blood was the catalyst for their aforementioned powers.Charged's were circumstantial with their effectiveness but all in all,it was grewling business.Hence,the blonde knew it was going to be a pain in the ass for him and his students.

𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘥.

𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘬𝘦.

Dynasty was also just a touchy subject for him in general.She had been a vigilante once however,she betrayed Purpled and Tommy.Trading information with both Schlatt and Nox which almost lead to the vigilantes freedom being taken,resulting in a Schlatt ran Pogtopia.

So yeah,Dynasty's return?

Not good.

But it was another person for Purpled to take his anger out on.So he could appreciate the villian's punctuality in his life.First Crimson shows up when he's cracking,then Schlatt and now D-

His steady but slowly spiralling train of thought was cut off as a cool wind whistled through the room.Carrying with it the stench of cheap liquor,cigarette smoke,coffee and petrol.Ice drenched the tiny bathroom,leaving his hands shaking and clammy.Snapping his head up to the mirror,a thick layer of frost creeping into the centre from the cracking edges,Purpled gaped at what stared back.

𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺.

His dead best friend had puffed up red eyes that stared unseeing into sea grey ones.Eye bags dragging the absence of sleep down pale cheeks as sky blue swam in an ocean of salt crystals.

The blonde buffered in astonishment,trying desperately to take in every detail of the younger's face.He was so distracted that he failed to notice the creek in the floorboards behind him nor the cocking of a gun.

Purpled knew that this wasn't real.He watched Tommy die.The illusion before was lifeless and didn't seem to notice him but something about it's eyes.Sapphire eyes so akin to those they were mimicking that it could almost be real.

However,the mirror realm is a cruel master.

Until it isn't.

Tommy's eyes move,widening in shock and realisation,life spilling into his body-reanimating the dead boy.

Silence filled the room,neither one knowing whether what was happening was real or not.One thing was certain though:both of them didn't want to waste this moment-even if it was synthetic,created by shards of mimicking glass.

Drops of rain fell from their eye ducts,racing down their faces to see who would fall into oblivion first.The corners of the two blondes lips turning upwards,futile in their efforts to stop the sprinters from running themselves to death.

Warmth spread throughout Purpled's chest,squeezing endlessly at his lungs and pulling his heart strings.The Tommy sized hole in his heart,which had been left baron and bare for years now,rekindling as the pairs powers reached for eachother.Embracing in the middle after being separated from eachother for what felt like eternity.

The warmth of reunion didn't last long.

Tommy's eyes became panic stricken,staring at something behind the elder,shoulders tensing up to his ears."Duck!"

A loud crack echoed against the sailing boat wallpaper that clung to the coffin like bathroom.

Instantly,Purpled ducked.A bullet tearing through the air above him and slamming into the mirror.The sound of shattering glass screeching against his eardrums like nails on a chalkboard.

Bolting upright,Purpled summoned the splintered slices of mirror and sent them flying towards his attacker.Pinning them against the wall with a shard hovering dangerously over their Adam's apple.

"Hi Purp."Voice monotone and calm,twin eyes of sea grey staring back at the vigilante.

Identical to him in the shape of his eyes,nose,shade of hair and slight crinkle of his eyes when he smiles.

Different in scars.

The intruder wore a white hoodie,black combat trousers with matching boots and a solid black mask held loosely in his hand.Apposed to the last time they met,the man had acquired a slight stubble on his chin,slightly covering the scar Purpled gave him years ago.

Most importantly though was the gold chain that adored the intruder's neck,a copy of the vigilante's own that lay against his chest,hidden beneath his purple hoodie.The only thing linking the pair back to their roots.

Brothers in nothing but blood.

"Punz."He spat,shard never leaving the man's neck.

"Long time no see."Punz smirked,eye of ender detaching itself from Purpled's red windbreaker and linking onto the man's belt.

"And who's fault is that."The younger snarled,crossing his arms and leaning against the kitchen counter top.

Anger flaring up inside of him at the mere thought of his brother.Punz had left him with their abusive father when he was nine to go off and play mercenary.The man only contacting him during the war because he needed some place to hide:he failed to for fill his end of the bargin with a powerful customer and had to seek refuge.Purpled refused to take in his brother for what he did but Tommy?Tommy convinced him to give Punz a chance and it got him killed.Punz attached an eye of ender to Charged which lead Schlatt and the rioters to his location.If Punz hadn't made that stupid deal with Schlatt,Tommy would be alive.

Purpled would never forgive him for that.Ever.

"Your not still mad about that,are you?"Punz mocked though he sounded unamused by the revaluation.

"You killed him."The younger barked incredulously,eyebrows furrowed he glared at the man in loathing.Not your typical 'if looks could kill Punz would be six feet under' glare.No.Instead,it's the type of glare that if looks could do anything,Punz would be writhing in agonising pain due to shards of glass impaling every inch of his body as his skin and muscle was slowly ripped from his bones.

"No.I saved him."

Purpled gaped at the sheer audacity Punz had to try and twist what happened.Righteous,is what he'd probably call it.Most definitely going as far as calling it mercy.

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘸,𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘴?

𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘩.𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘬𝘦.

"Your full of shit.Why the fuck are you here?"Purpled seethed,mirror shard nicking the elder's throat.

"I thought you were someone else but clearly your not him..."Punz trailed off,clearly uninterested by the situation at hand.Mind more focused on whatever job he was currently working on right now.

"I hear your working with Masquerade now."The blonde drawled,confused as to why he was humouring his brother in the first place by continuing the conversation.

"That's correct.He pays alot.Now that I'm here let me ask you something."

Punz had always been like that:strong beliver in the saying 'an eye for an eye'.He gives you something he and he always expects something back.It made sense;Purpled believed it as well.

Which is why this was his response:"Shoot."

"Have you seen Crimson Crusader anywhere recently?"

Purpled hesitated before responding,trying to figure out the man's reasoning for seeking out Crimson.Quickly realising that the hesitation was unneeded because the answer was obvious:he was after the one million dollar bounty on Crimson's head.

"Ah,your after that bounty like everyone else."

"No.Masquerade is after his sidekick because apparently he's stepped out of line."Punz snarked,words mockingly slow like he was explaining something to a child.

"Crimson is a hard person to find and a pain in the ass to capture.What's he offered you?"Curiosity lacing the vigilante's words at the prospect of the mercenary turning down a one million dollar bounty for something from a hero.

"A favour or two.You want in?"

Ah,that's why he was here.Punz needed help with catching Crimson and he most likely knew that Purpled had caught him before.Normally,he would turn his brother away in a heartbeat but today was different.A couple favours from Masquerade was priceless.He was the number one hero and Schlatt's right hand man;he could be the key to killing Schlatt.

Silence prickled through the room,tension hanging ominously between them in the form of a steady shard.Slowly,that shard fell to the ground,shortly followed by it's brothers.

"Fuck it.Why not."

Chapter Text

Bodies lay discarded like litter on the concrete floor,blood leaking out of cooling corpses and forming crimson puddles.Weak wails and screams of agony echoed against rusting metal.Mixed in with the endless pounding of rain outside and the snappish hum of a hushed conversation.

Stalking forward with a limp,hand cradling a wound on his ribs,blood splashing up beneath his steel caped boots,Shadow gabbed his finger into Masquerade's chest,frustration boiling up in his chest.The ex-vigilante's posture was rigid with anger,irritation clawing hungrily at his skin."You said we were finding Crimson.Not getting our asses handed to us by like fourty powered guys!"

"We 𝘢𝘳𝘦 finding Crimson but as you know he's a very difficult person to track down."The hero bristled,looming over Purpled and staring daggers into him from beneath the mask.

Something about that mask made the younger shiver.Mabye it was because you could never tell what the hero was thinking.A blank slate per say,with no indicator-except body language-of when he'd pounce or what he was feeling.It scared him to no end but it also reminded him of someone.

Tommy.

Tommy was unpredictable.You never knew what he was going to do next nor what he was thinking.Purpled had only just gotten the slight gist of his partner behaviour before his untimely death and that was after years of being together.Tommy had a habit of tensing his jaw and rubberising his face when concealing intense emotions.For some reason,Purpled knew that Masquerade,whoever he was beneath the mask,did the same.

"If you and Punz hadn't killed everyone here we would of had a lead on where he was."Masquerade glowered,turning away from the blonde to look at something on his communicator.

"Oh I'm sorry that I defended myself when some pussy tried to kill me.I won't do it next time!"The ex-vigilante barked out sarcastically,throwing his arms up in exasperation.His eyes brows furrowing further as frustration dragged itself through his mind.Stopping abruptly once it's thick tar coloured cords of vexation had coiled themselves around his brain;they began to tighten,building up pressure that would soon explode in the form of blinding anger.

"Chill Purp,it's not a big deal."Punz spoke up from beside Masquerade,placing his hand on his brother's shoulder.Seemingly unfazed by the bodies surrounding them,the blood staining his white hoodie and the countless injuries he'd acquired.

"So what 𝘪𝘴 your plan for catching Crimson,anyway?Because it doesn't seem like you have one."Purpled drawled,wacking the mercenary's hand from his shoulder and shooting the hero an unimpressed look.

"I was planning on getting a lead from these guys but 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 decided to kill them all before we got any information."The hero bristled,putting his communicator in his pocket and storming towards the exit-the mercenaries right on his tail.

Unlike the others,the green clad man didn't limp:he was uninjured.Whilst the two mercenaries had taken care of (aka slaughtered) the men in the warehouse,the hero had stood to the side.It wasn't out of fear nor spite.Masquerade was known for his morals.Like Charged,he also had a no kill policy.

"I'm going to find Jester and see if he knows anything.You two should head home and get some rest.Call me if you find anything."The hero sighed,a cloak of fatigue settling heavily over his shoulders.With that,he disappeared into the darkness,rain darkening his hoodie.

"I'll see you soon then,Purp."Punz smiled warmly at his brother,getting a hesitant one in return.

After a moment,Purpled was completely alone in the poring rain,blood leaking steadily from his wounds.There was no chance he was getting from 13 to 11 before he bled out completely.However,he could get to Origins.

𝘎𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘺 𝘚𝘮𝘢𝘫𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘵.

___

The journey to the healer's was a tiring affair:he fell over at least ten times,almost fainted twice and he was soaked through even with his windbreaker on.On top of this,the dismal atmosphere that seemed to radiate off every inch of Pogtopia infected him,a deep frown carving itself onto his face.

𝘏𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘶𝘱 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩.𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨.

𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘵 𝘶𝘱.

𝘛𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩.𝘖𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵,𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵!𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥,𝘪 𝘸𝘪𝘯.

𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘦𝘦,𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧.𝘠𝘦𝘱,𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵.

𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥?𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘥𝘰?𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦?

𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴,𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬.

𝘖𝘩𝘩𝘩𝘩,𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘢𝘸𝘬𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥.𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘢𝘸𝘬𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥.𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘢,𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦...𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥.𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘢 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦.

𝘐'𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦.𝘕𝘰𝘱𝘦,𝘐'𝘮 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘣 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥.𝘐𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱,𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘺.

Huffing,the blonde trudged up to the small house.Knocking at the door and taking shelter from the rain beneath the slab that jutted outwards,covering the doorstep.A light turned on in the hallway,slowly followed by a handful of clicks as the door was unlocked.Warmth and light hit the blonde in the face,illuminating Scott in a prophet like fashion.

A confused expression befell the healer's face as his gaze landed on the ex-vigilante.

Purpled pulled his mask off,shooting the man a sheepish smile while he anxiously fiddling with his friendship bracelet.Perplexed with his jaw now unhinged from how much he was gaping at the boy,Smajor silently stepped inside,letting the blonde into his house.

In complete silence,the pair shuffled further into the warm apartment;ascending a flight of stairs that lead into a modern looking kitchen.However,they walked straight through it into a side room.

It was nothing special in the slightest.White walls,the same wooden floorboards as the rest of the apartment,warm orange lights and an examination table in the centre.

A shiver ran up the blonde's spine.

Shooting the elder a questioning glance,Purpled hoisted himself onto the aforementioned table,muscles tense as he eyed the healer wearily.

"This is some suspicious rooming you have here,Smajor.Your not gonna cut me open or something are you,dude?Because that would be kinda awkward.That'd be real awkward..."Purpled trailed off after not getting an answer.

Without a word,the healer approached him;slowly but surely he began to heal the vigilante.Trusting that Scott knew what he was doing,the blonde examined the baron room further.

The place looked eerily similar to the experimentation rooms at Buisness Bay.Memories quickly flashing before him and blocking out the world around him as he fell into his own personal hell.The glowing blue liquid in glass syringes,scarlet stained lips,screams of agony and petrified tears of one long gone.Looking down,he could see the blood dripping sluggishly from his hands as they shook uncontrollably.

"Purpled?"Tommy whimpered,eyes wide with fear while he chocked on phlegm and crimson,tears tumbling rapidly down his hollow cheeks.

"Toms...?"He crocked,heart now pounding in his chest so loudly that it's thunderous beats rattled his bones.A storm raged above him soaking him with freezing rain that darted down his cheeks with earnist.

"Purpled."Scott stated sternly,snapping the blonde out of his internal spiral.

He sat bug eyed,cheeks a battle field of cyristalising salt,hands trembling uncontrollably paired with laboured breathing as he stared at the man before him.Scott looked conserned,blood covered hands hovering beside the blonde's shoulders;unsure if he should comfort the boy or not.Ultimately,he dropped his hands to his sides when the ex-vigilante tore his gaze from the man,opting to fiddle with the friendship bracelet that hugged his wrist- beads clicking together in a soothing,familiar motion.It became obvious that he did not plan on explaining what just happened.

"Glad to see your alive."The man sighed,leaning against the wall opposite Purpled.

"Can't die that easily,I'm cracked."Purpled mumbled,earning a chuckle from the man opposite."Should be Tommy,not me."

The healer didn't hear that last part.

"I see you've taken up the role of a villian.What happened to hero of the people?"The man inquired almost mockingly,raising an eyebrow at the blonde,head tilting to the side in question.

"Mirrage is no longer needed.They have Hive and Ender now;i made sure of that."He recited robotically,words coming easily to him after repeating them to himself for hours now.

"Your also working with the enemy.Masquerade is using you for your abilities.As a weapon."Scott pointed out-noisy as ever.He wanted to get a reaction out of the boy and Purpled was (unwillingly) obliging.

"I am a weapon."Purpled spat,shooting the elder an unimpressed glare as if what he'd said was the most obvious thing in the world.

"To be a weapon is to lose all you love.I recommend that you regain your humanity as much as you can,Shadow."He replied bluntly,the name Shadow coming out sardonically as the healer's eyes dissected the younger.

"I can't and you know that.He's dead."Purpled hissed,fingers stilling were they fiddled with his bracelet.

A flash of emotions rippled across the healer's face before his mouth opened in an 'o' shape,realisation dawning on him."I saw tommy the other day.Didn't look too good."

"Thats because he's a fucking corpse in the ground,Smajor." The blonde barked out,irritated that Smajor was speaking so nonchalantly about his dead best friend.Had he not cared?Did he not grieve as Purpled did-is?

"No,Tommy's not dead."The words were nonchalant like he was simply commenting on the weather but they held unbelievable weight.

"What?"The boy's voice cracked.

"He came by here a couple months ago."The healer shrugged,standing up and strolling out the room like he hadn't just dropped the biggest bombshell ever on Purpled.

The ex-vigilante was too stunned to speak.Too stunned to move,even.Eyes fixated on the blank wall infront of him as he let the healer's words sink in.

"Tommy,who died over half a decade ago,is alive?"He called after Scott,following him into the kitchen.

From his spot on the couch,Scott looked up from his communicator,eyebrows knitting in confusion.He nodded.

"I think your delosional Smajor."The blonde stuttered,so flabbergasted that he didn't know how to act in that moment.Looking idiotic with his mouth open in a goldfish like fashion (in a Tommy like fashion).

"I'm not delosional.He gave me his number,that's proof."Scott reassured,shaking the phone in his hand.

"Alright,prove it to me then.Call him."He dared,certain that the man was bluffing.

"I will."

Faltering,the blonde stared bug eyed at the man.At first,he thought Smajor was joking (had to be) but he had Tommy's number.For the first time in years,a spark of hope flared inside him.Quickly spreading,body now made of straw,elated with the idea that Tommy could be alive.They could help Ender and Hive:defeating Schlatt and stopping the war that was brewing before it even began.Charged and Mirrage could go back to being vigilantes together,eating pot noodles on top of buildings and watching the sunset.Purpled could get his best friend back.They could make up for years of lost time.

𝘞𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺'𝘴 18𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳!

Clicking something into his communicator,Scott held the metal device that could (potentially) be a pivotal factor of the war-of Purpled's life.

The phone rang.

Tension suffocated the room.

The phone rang,again.

Purpled fiddiled with the brackets on his wrist.

The phone rang,cut off by the line going dead.There was no voice message from the dead boy.

Beep.

ɪ'ᴍ ꜱᴏʀʀʏ ᴛʜɪꜱ ɴᴜᴍʙᴇʀ ɴᴏ ʟᴏɴɢᴇʀ ᴇxɪꜱᴛꜱ.An automated woman's voice drawled down the line before the room fell into silence.

Purpled's heart dropped.

Tommy wasn't alive and he was naïve for thinking anything different.It was obvious that Tommy hadn't lived,if he had Charged would be back.Tommy would never let Schlatt back into the position he's in;his conscious wouldn't let him,it never had.In reality though,it wasn't the blonde's conscious,it was his stubbornness and self-sacrificial behaviour.Schlatt used that against him.The villian threatened to bomb the whole of district 13 (which hadn't been evacuated) if Tommy didn't face him.Obviously,the blonde did and he died because of it.However,Schlatt didn't keep his word:district 13 was obliterated.

Tommy sacrificed his life for nothing.

Scott gave him false hope for no reason.What had he ever done to the healer?

Rage swelled up inside the boy,jaw clenched tight to stop himself from screaming-or crying but he would never admit it.Scott had got his hopes up.Given him hope for the first time in years,and now,he had to relive the grieving that had tortured him for years.

He felt like a lamb to slaughter.Fattened up with false ideas of brotherhood and joy before being lead to his brutal end by the hand that fed him-Smajor.The man welding a gleaming cleaver,hacking through the rubbery skin of Purpled's pale neck.Shocking scarlet beginning to clog as it rushed sluggishly from the open wound whilst he squealed and screeched.Once death had it's withered hands of decay and rot wrapped successfully around his cooling body,Scott hung the blonde's carcass up for all to see.Weaknesses and vulnerabilities flouted mockingly.

Or perhaps,it was the other way round?

Rain pounded down on the window.Crimson daggers sliced through the tension chocked air,hovering over the healer's neck.

Gulping,the man looked to the younger with pleading eyes,fear hidden horrifically behind them as he trembled."I thought-thought you had a no kill policy."

"I'm not Tommy."

The cold statement was the last thing Scott Smajor heard before falling into oblivion.Scarlet streaks painting the walls,the healer's body crumbling over itself and onto the floor.

Every inch of the home turned inside out by the villian as he tried desperately to find reasoning for the murder he'd just committed.He'd killed before,many a time now,but this was different.He knew Scott.Had been allies,friends even,with the man and he'd killed him.Every murder he committed had reasoning-solid reasoning.This though?How could Purpled excuse this?He'd murdered the healer over a misunderstanding.Sure Scott had crushed him with the lies about Tommy but Tommy wouldn't of wanted Scott dead.

Scott was a healer,he helped people.This murder had no valid reasoning behind.Purpled had killed Smajor in cold blood.

One thought repeats over and over again in his mind as he flees the town called Origins:𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦?

He was officially a villian.A monster.

For once,he was glad that Tommy wasn't alive.

___

Masquerade would find Scott hours later and carry his body from the raided apartment.The healer's phone clutched tightly in his hand.

___

Frigid wind kissed his face,neon hoodie rippling against his athletic frame as he darted forward.Red and white airforces thudding against the cracking concrete of the roof,the sound lost in the howling wind and the echo of the city's busy nightlife.Sky a canvas of dark navy,littered in splotches of amber that were chained together like pearls on the necklace of some flashy aristocrat.

Skidding to a stop behind a motionless silhouette,Masquerade sat down beside Siren.Fingers twitching over the dagger fastened to his hip,faltering once his powers submerged themselves in the feelings of melancholy,grief and endearment that hung thickly like stars in the twilight.

Siren remained silent,infatuated by something infront of him;Dream followed his gaze.Down bellow stood a black and red hooded figure,lanky frame magnified by the skin tight shirt he was wearing.

Crimson.

Dream's breath caught in his throat,emerald eyes glued to his student,mirrored by the mahogany eyes beside him.

Shoulders hunched inwards,head tilted back to gaze at the memorial before him,Crimson sighed.Stalking forward with a slight limp,hand clutching his side desperately,he gently placed a bouquet of red and yellow flowers at the walls base.The weathered red bricks were vandalised by a graffitied image of SandwichLord-an ode to the fallen vigilante.

Dream didn't know much about the vigilante except that he worked with Tommy for a bit before mysteriously disappearing after the massacre at city hall.The vigilante had interesting powers and was brilliant in combat.Based on the grief and melancholy that practically radiated from Crimson,it was obvious that Sandwich had passed away and that the blonde cared for his deceased partner.

"I never got why you chose him.You never flaunted him to the public for sponsers like other heroes nor did he ever appear by your side.When i finally met him,I didn't even know the little hero was your sidekick!I thought he was another insignificant sweeper that I'd soon wipe my hands of-he didn't even deny being a sweeper when I called him one!But what happened later that night with Mumbo Jumbo and his insolent goons changed my perception of Crimson."Siren suddenly spoke up,eyes never leaving the ex-hero bellow.He let out a huff before continuing:"I think I understand now though."

Masquerade simply hummed in response,not wanting to converse with the villian;he wanted to pretend that he and Tommy weren't heroes for one night,that he wasn't trying to hunt his little brother down.With what appeared to be great effort,Crimson limped away from the wall,carefully lowering himself to the ground and admiring it from a couple steps away,hugging himself with his arms.

"With the right training,he has the potential to become a formidable villain."Chestnut eyes hungrily taking in the scene before him from beneath his ultramarine blindfold."An 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 even."

Leaning forward to rest his chin in his palms,Siren smirked,taking no notice of the scowl that sculpted itself into Masquerade's face:he'd expected it,wanted it.

Of course,Dream knew this but the word 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 irked him to no end.It was obvious to the hero that Siren had only said that to get a reaction out of him.Purposely choosing that moment to infuriate Masquerade as he couldn't retaliate:with Crimson infront of them,he had no back up and he was susceptible to the villian's powers.Or mabye it was because the villian loved to make people squirm and writhe like bugs under his gaze-arms and legs pinned to the ground with spear like needles.

"I've already told you to stay away from him."Dream spat,finally tearing his eyes from his ex-student.Daggers formed of grief and vexation clutched tightly in his hands,aimed threateningly at the villian.

Siren didn't even flich.

"And if i don't?"He challenged,eyes still transfixed on Crimson,who was now typing something into his communicator.

"I'll fucking kill you."Dream seethed,grip tightening on his daggers.

Rage,grief and apathy swirled rapidly in the air like a tornado,flying into eachother with a pugnacious glint in their eyes.

"Your a hero and Schlatt's lapdog:your not allowed to kill me.Puls,he'd never forgive you.Though I suppose that doesn't matter to you anymore seen as your trying to throw him in Pandora for crimes he didn't even commit."Siren motioned to Crimson,tone calm and annoyingly collected even with the blades posed at his neck.

Like he didn't fear death,greeting it as an old friend.

Dream didn't understand why Siren was so set on defending Crimson.It was obvious that Tommy was working with the Syndicate from how he saved Siren on his 3256th mission and how he fled Kinoko during the raid with the villian and Blood God.On top of that,Siren came to his rescue when he was being tortured by Corpse and the pair showed up to El Rapids together.The evidence against Crimson on that respect was overwhelming.

The evidence against him on the murder of Charged and Mirrage was less so-the crime more of a rumour that got out of hand.Pogtopia's citizens in the lower districts wanted someone to blame for their beloved vigilantes deaths and when Crimson was accused,they jumped on the idea.

But the point that Crimson is a traitor still stands and that's all that matters.

"He's working with you and the Syndicate-he's guilty."Masquerade snapped cooly.

The villian had the audacity to cackle,the sound dissipating in the growling wind.After a solid minute of laughter,he calmed down sniggering at the hero."Your more foolish than I thought!Crimson isn't working for the Syndicate.Why would we be searching for him like he's an ancient relic if he was working for us?"

Faltering,the hero's grip on his daggers loosened.He was dumbfounded,Siren caught onto this and snorted.Immediately, Masquerade was on the defensive again,eyebrows furrowed as he tried futilely to untangle his knotting thoughts-turning to Siren for answers."Then why did he save you that night?"

"If I'm honest with,I'm still trying to figure that out myself.What he said was 'it wasn't fair'.He's interesting,he'll be fun to keep around for a bit."

Scowling at the villian,the blonde tried desperately to think of something to threaten the man with.

Crimson put his communicator back in his pocket,slowly raising from his seat on the concrete,taking a second to regain his balance.

𝘞𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘫𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮.

"I'll get Warden on you."

Siren went ridged.Masquerade smirked at the fear that spilled into the air.

𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦.

"Fine.I'll leave him alone for a bit."The villian spat,standing from his spot on the lip of the roof."But if he seeks me out,I can't control that."

Irritation flared up in Dream's chest,for some reason they both knew it wasn't a hyperthetical situation.Nor a question of if but instead when.It would happen eventually.

"However,I can't have you locking him away before i have my fun with the little hero."He drawled,walking away from the hero (Crimson unconsciously mirroring the villian's moment's),words coated in honey tumbling from his silver tongue:"𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘪𝘮."

𝘔𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳.
___

Metal boots clanked imposingly against quartz tiled floors,forest green cloak swaying as he walked,brushing against the pristine floor.Jet black walls etched with amethyst towering high above,delicately holding crimson lanterns of redstone that illuminated the seemingly endless halls bellow.

After minutes of transversing the labyrinth of obsidian,broken wailes began to whistled like the wind from craters in the walls,carrying the foul stench of rotting flesh,sweat and blood with it.Bars of blackstone imprisoning villians,mass murders and terrorists alike.The dampeners that dug into their wrists and the branding carved into their right shoulder blade cementing their place in the vault forever.

New comers,still naïve enough to believe that escape was forsable,rattled the bars entrapping them whilst they shouted threats and profanities at their captor.Others,those with more experience,languished emptily with shattered spirits in the corner of their cell;they knew there was no escape.

The second you enter Pandora's vault,your trapped there forever.

He stopped infront of a specific cell.Not one of a villian,mass murder or terrorist.No,instead one of the many wrongly imprisoned inmates that wallowed in the vault:Ghost.

Glossy eyes of pearl emitting an eerie white glow,revealing lapis tear streaks embedded into his gauntlet ashen face.Mahogany curls,miraculously still short even after half a decade of imprisonment,shaping his sharp features that were left unhidden-mask torn from his face apon capture.Grey skin stretched tauntly over his bones that jutted out painfully as he sat hunched over himself in the centre of the cell.A deep gash that ran straight through his stomach and his back (almost like a stab wound) oozed the same lapis sludge that stained his fingers and cheeks.He wore no shirt,opting to just wear the neon orange trousers from the prison uniform.Proudly displaying the prison's branding,the navy gash through his chest and a singular streak of yellow on his left shoulder blade-connecting him to a soul outside the inescapable vault.

The vigilante smiled happily,ultramarine fingertips brushing gently over the bumpy surface of the obsidian walls.

"Hello,Mr Warden!"Ghost chirped turning his gaze away from the wall to Warden.

Chapter Text

Purpled, Sandwich, Dream, Sapnap, Karl, George, Jester, TapL, Luke, Deo, Bitzle, Wisp, Ponk, Puffy, Jack, Tubbo, Ranboo, Wilbur, his father-the list goes on and on.

These names all have one thing in common;they'd left him.

Every person in his life had left him at one point.

Was he not good enough?

Surely someone wanted him,liked him,loved him.Right?

Wilbur,Tubbo and Ranboo know where he lives so why don't they visit him?Mabye their too busy,everyone has their own life going on outside of Tommy;he knew that.They probably don't mean to ignore him right?

𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬?Schlatt's voice grated through his head.Acting like an axe as it sliced his ever twisting thoughts in half:one side deceitful,the other reality.

𝘕𝘰.

It's been weeks since he'd seen Wilbur,Tubbo or Ranboo.If they actually cared,they would of spoken to him already or at least read his texts.But they hadn't and it was obvious why:Tommy had gotten too comfortable and scared them off.

Foilsick:feeling ashamed after revealing a little too much of yourself to someone.

It wasn't that he was ashamed per say,just that he hated himself for doing it 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯.He should know by now never to reveal too much of himself to anyone.Eventually,everyone leaves-whether it's intentional or not isn't the point.

He deserved this.

Exiled from his old life because of the countless deaths he'd caused (unable to stop,no matter how tirelessly he tried).Imprisoned to room 205,on the fifty seventh floor of the Logstedshire apartment complex.Isolated from all except the occasional check ups from his landlord who practically smashes his door down every week,demanding rent before promptly leaving to pester the other occupants in their cramped apartments.

Having quit his job at Kabosu Records,the blonde went back to his roots,what he knew.Was it 'healthy' for him?He thinks so,though Purpled would've disagreed:𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦,𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥.What matters is that it pays the bills.

What his new profession is?

Ring fighting in the Pit.

At first it was odd,he always thought at the Bay,but after his first couple of fights he got the hang of it.The only major difference between the two fighting rings was that powered people and hybrids could fight against blanks-human,non-powered individuals.If he's honest it's completely unfair because it's like putting a baby and The Blood God in a ring and telling them to fight.Some blanks however are extremely skilled and have given Tommy a run for his money many a time.Spectators love watching blanks fight,everyone likes an underdog;the blonde thinks it's barbaric to bet on fights but he contributes to it so he can't say much.

Fruitberries watches him fight sometimes,giving him advice and pointers on how to improve.It was like a warped version of the old days in MCC's headquarters where Fruit would train him and Purpled.

Now that he thinks about it,he isn't completely alone.Fruitberries (along with Slime and Scott) hadn't left yet;for that he was forever grateful.But he still felt lonely.To loose almost every constant in his life was soul crushing.Now reduced to a shell of his former self.Broken pieces futilely stuck back together over and over again.Never quite fitting no matter how hard the fragments tried.Tommy didn't know how he was meant to feel;what he was meant to do or say anymore.

The only true constant he still has in his life that never seems to leave or be deterred even after they've discovered everything about Tommy-except his identity-is Schlatt.Sure,he'd gone quite for a bit but he always,always came back to torment the blonde.With that in mind,Siren could also be considered another constant.Even if he hadn't seen the villian for months,the cigarette smoker continued to actively seek him out.

Siren the moon and Tommy the sun.Both reaching for the same goal as they shed light on the earth that is Pogtopia.

Tommy embodying the brightness of the sun with golden hair and an infectious smile.Making it his life's mission to make others feel happy and safe.The blinding heat of the sun reflected in his simmering anger when something unjust is inflicted on another-whether friend or foe.Choosing to hide in the shade whilst aiding others,turning down recognition for his actions-favours left forgotten in the warm summers breeze.A hero in every way shape and form apart from a title that was unjustly stripped away from him,given to those less deserving.

Siren the moon with his sharp pale features crafted in stone and dark mahogany curls.Malicious, tyrannical and eerie with his words of cold command as he casts darkness apon the city;nightmares of twirling shadows crawling from their hiding spaces to hunt.Silvery tongue turning the once formidable sea submissive in the twilight;tide in an endless cycle of descent and ascent.Goals forever unclear in attempt to mimic the mysterious nature of the dark side of the moon.Only helping others if it benefits him in future-favours held close to his chest like treasured memories.Forever a villian in definition (or so Tommy believes).

Opposites in so many ways that their collision seemed improbable.

However,solar eclipses exist.

Right now though,they sat at opposite sides of the planet:Siren in some underground lair and Tommy in Logstedshire - alone.

Cramped apartment becoming a fortress of solitude after what happened with Dream.Though he tried desperately to ignore the loneliness that ebbed at his swelling heart by burying himself in his work;he couldn't escape it.

He was currently sitting on the splintering floor of his kitchen,curled up into a ball.Staring longingly out the window and watching as snow silently fell from the glommy clouds.Mind a disorganised mess of depressing thoughts that spitfired around rapidly in the aching cassum of his skull;devoid of any feeling other than a deep furrowed loneliness that sat heavily in his gut because it's somewhere warm to sleep.

The quite rumble of his washing machine and the constant hum of the city outside echoed against the crumbling plaster walls.Dust slowly fell from the ceiling,leaving a strong smell of must lingering in the stale air.It was a new apartment,in nine;Tommy,along with hundreds of others,had migrated to nine and ten with the impending doom of Schlatt looming over district 11.He'd left the place baron and bare,not by choice:all his belongings lost in the rubble of his old apartment-Dynasty destroyed it a couple days ago,he lost Charged's suit.More importantly though,he'd lost Sandwich's ashes.

Hense why yesterday he found himself standing before a memorial he'd graffitied for the deceased vigilante shortly after his death-hand picked flowers wilting from their place on the concrete.Two people were there with him,he knew that much.His instincts having kicked in instantly,alerting him of their presence.As he left he managed to catch a glimpse of something neon green and hear familiar dulcet tones:Dream and Siren.What they where doing there,he didn't know.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘳𝘥𝘰𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩.𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯.

Snowflakes settled on the rooftop opposite his window,suger powdering it in a doughnut like fashion.Tommy had always loved the snow.Years before,him and Purpled would drag their makeshift sledges up to Hypixel's peak just outside 13 and spend hours outside.Sliding down the hill whilst they let out peels of laughter.

A small smile tugged at his lips.

After hours if silence,he'd taken to humming songs under his breath to fill the unbearable silence.He'd always hated silence,it reminded him of sitting in bomb shelters and waiting (terrified) for the explosions to stop so he could get out of the unbelievably cramped space.Unexpectedly good snippets of harmonies buzzing through his ears,head slightly bobbing with the beat.

Knock,knock,knock.

He stopped mid tune,eyes still staring at the snow outside his frost hazy window.

A deep sigh could be heard on the other side of his door.A creek echoing through the minimalistic home,whoever stood in the hallway outside leaned their head against the door solemnly.

"Tommy...?You in there?"

Ranboo.

He sounded sad,defeated even.The word Tommy desperate as the tall boy choked out the words,a weird warble slipping from their lips.He sighs again,banging his head against the door.

A cellphone rings-it's not Tommy's.The blonde's phone,a red and white nokia he'd brought for ten quid after his old one was shattered,sits in the far corner of the room.

"Look,I've got to go.If your in there,i miss you.Please talk to me,man...you and I could both use someone right about now,huh....Bye Tom."

Ranboo didn't move,listening for sounds of life in the apartment;there was none.

"I love you,man.Your one of my best friends.Just-talk to me when you can,yeah?"The monochrome boy practically whispered,voice cracking at the word love.

Tommy's eyes blew wide,head snapping towards the door at the words.Watching in shock while a letter slipped under his door.Footsteps sounded through the apartment,getting quieter and quieter as the vigilante got further and further away.It felt like Tommy had just been deserted on an island,watching helplessly while his only escape sailed away into the horizon.

Tommy sat in complete silence,straining his ears in a desperate hope that his friend would turn back.When Ranboo didn't,the blonde stood up clumsily.Black spots invading his vision,caused by lack of iron and low blood suger,while he stumbled to the door.

Crouching down,he picked up the letter and leaned against the wooden entrance.Fingers brushing against the envelope,pale white paper handled with undying care as if it were an ancient artefact.Sapphire eyes glistening with awe,tracing the name that was neatly scrawled on the front.Opening it with caution,the blonde unfolded the letter,silently reading the words:

𝙀𝙔𝙔𝙔𝙔𝙔 𝙏𝙊𝙈𝙈𝙔
𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜?
𝙃𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡.
𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣'𝙩 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙪𝙝...
𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙤 𝙪𝙨.𝙈𝙚.

𝙈𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙪𝙗𝙗𝙤 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙜𝙪𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙛𝙛.𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝙖𝙬𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚!

𝙏𝙪𝙗𝙗𝙤 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙨 𝙮𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙙𝙖𝙮.𝙃𝙚 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙎𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙚𝙡-𝙎𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙙'𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 :)

𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚'𝙨 𝙖 𝙟𝙤𝙠𝙚:
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙖 𝙗𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙖?

𝙇𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙩𝙮𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙡

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙮 𝙛𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙮 𝙝𝙪𝙝

𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙬𝙖𝙮,𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣'𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙖𝙣.𝙈𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙪𝙗𝙗𝙤 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙩-𝙨𝙤 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙒𝙞𝙡 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙚'𝙨 𝙩𝙧𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙞𝙩!𝙏𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚,
𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙖𝙣
-𝙍𝙖𝙣𝙗𝙤𝙤 (𝙉𝙤 𝙗 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙙)

𝙋.𝙨.𝙄 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙖 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙣𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 :)
+404 6942011

The words,though simple,meant the world to Tommy,a smile spreading across his palled complexion.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦?
____

The Syndicate base was akin to a medieval castle except it was one floor and deep underground.Royal blue carpets lacing the endless halls of mahogany;paintings,swords and statues littering the walls;crystal chandeliers hanging from above like stars of blinding colour.

Ranboo hated it here.They liked most of the members and working with the Syndicate but it was always freezing.Biting cold turning their slender fingers numb,making training even more difficult for him-batons slipping from his grasp due to too stiff fingers.His best friend liked the place for it's workshop:it had unlimited resources for the bee hybrid and a space for him to test out his ever growing collection of explosives.

Speaking of Tubbo,the monochrome boy was supposed to meet him here an hour ago for a Syndicate meeting-with Mirrage.However,they got a bit sidetracked.

Tommy had been missing for ages and Ranboo just really wanted to see the blonde again.He used to be a vigilante before the war,never specifying who exactly.But it was abundantly clear that Tommy wasn't morally grey when it came to vigilante work-unlike Mirrage.Tubbo didn't really consider what was morally right (he was the one who wanted to join the Syndicate) but Ranboo did.So Tommy's input was priceless to them as well as his friendship.

𝘊𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘞𝘰𝘯'𝘵?

That stuck with Ranboo,it was also the first time they realised just how much Tommy could teach him.How much influence Tommy had over Ranboo's decisions after only being in the vigilante's life for a couple of months.

Every time he had to make a decision,an important one at that,he'd repeat those words to himself.When in Corpse's base with Crimson,they were given the choice of saving the ex-hero from that nightmare or leaving him there for either Schlatt or some random mercanary to find.Crimson took almost all Ranboo's punishment for him without batting an eye;he didn't even ask for a favour in future!So he did what he thought was right:saving Crimson.

He thinks Tommy would be proud.

𝘔𝘢𝘣𝘺𝘦?𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘴𝘰.

Muffled chatting could be heard up ahead.Approaching the noise,Ranboo silently opened the door,a click echoing loudly as all eyes fell on them.They scrunched their nose up,the stench of sulphur spreading like wildfire through his nostrils;foul smell so consentrated that it gave them a headache.It was obvious who the stench radiated from-he had blood in his name.

"Took you long enough."Blood God huffed,though a smile ghosted his lips.

Techno had always been surprisingly nice to the boy since he discovered they were a mob hybrid.Teaching him how to defend himself apon seeing him in battle,referring to them as a noob when the vigilante came back dipped in injuries.They were similar in their appreciation of silence which let them spar together as a way of relaxation-side remarks and taunts left for the other members to indulge in.

"You have more important places to be Ender?We called this meeting hours ago,insubordination isn't something we take lightly."Siren spat,cigarette held between shaking fingers as he swirled a glass of vodka around absentmindedly.

His knuckles were split open and smeared with scarlet.No doubt he'd had another 'date' as he called them.Which in short was a pointless flaunt of power where he'd torture some rich citizen from district one because he could.

"That's funny coming from you Siren."He shot back,fatigue beginning to weigh heavy on their shoulders.

Could he really be asked to argue with Siren right now?The man would no doubt win with his silvery tongue and experience in politics but it never hurt to try.The decision was made for them when the eldest member of the Syndicate spoke up.

"Settle down.Ender where were you?"Angel reprimanded,ever the voice of reason in the Syndicate.

"I was patrolling."Ranboo decided to be blunt,not wanting to continue the conversation.

Angel didn't look convinced but he let it go,motioning for the vigilante to take his seat next to Tubbo and Mirrage.The ex-war hero shooting him a questioning glance before going back to fiddling with his dagger.Blade dancing skilfully across his knuckles,expression hidden behind a mask made of mirror shards;Mirrage revealed that he was alive and also Shadow to fill in a couple of holes for the gang members.

This was the second time Mirrage had been in the Syndicate base and his first time in a meeting.From what Ranboo gathered,the other members respected him to a degree except Siren but that's to be expected with how inflated the man's ego is.No one trusted him fully yet;the villian had to be accompanied by a member at all times-which was fair.

For the time being,they were allies:sharing information,helping eachother train,reaching for the same goal-defeating Schlatt- and sitting at the same table without slitting eachother's throats.

𝘠𝘦𝘱,𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨'𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵!𝘊𝘰𝘰𝘭, 𝘢𝘸𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯! 𝘋𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘪𝘳.𝘕𝘰𝘱𝘦!

Taking their seat,Ranboo mulled over the lie that had left a sour taste in his mouth.He didn't know why he was lied,Wilbur obviously wouldn't mind if he knew what the vigilante had been doing.Although,it would cost him an avalanche of question.The brunette had been trying restlessly to find out where Tommy was but he'd been consistently unsuccessful.

Ranboo had stumbled across that information by accident.Deciding to check out the Pit fighting rings after getting an intense history lesson on them from Techno.They'd watched this scrawny blank take on five powered guys at once and win-the crowd going nuts at the unexpected victory.By chance,the vigilante had caught a glimpse of the boy's face as he left the barbaric place-it was Tommy.

He didn't think telling Wilbur that Tommy was fighting in the Pit would go down well.Especially in his current state of insomnia,obsession and unchecked frustration.

The villian had been in an especially foal mood for a while now,notably sinking into it apon Tommy and Crimson's disappearances.Volitile in ways that caused waves in the steady stream that was the Syndicate.Tensions running high as the man came and went as he pleased.On top of,randomly threatening other members for breathing too loudly.

Normally Ranboo would tell Wilbur,wanting to help the man,but the brunette had this idea that Tommy was 𝘩𝘪𝘴.The vigilante had no doubt in their mind that the man would be jealous to find out Ranboo might be the blonde's only support system right now.

As well as this,having a warped perspective on humans as a whole made Wil susceptible to unconsciously hurting others or neglecting their feelings.Considering what Ranboo had seen of Tommy,they didn't think Wilbur was the person for him right now.

"Alright,let's continue.We have to find a way into Pandora.For that,we need Fruitberries."Angel continued,a determined gleam in his eyes.

Chapter Text

One,two,three:breathe in,breathe out.Four,five,six:jump,roll,run.

Aluminium studded boots sink into the sleet covered rooftops,bone white snow falling rapidly from the gloomy sky of melancholy.Stabbing the blonde's skin relentlessly as the howling wind sends snowflakes flying into him like blood thirsty bullets;snow sinking into his clothes and chilling him to the bone.

Perching on the lip of a squat building that hangs heavy over a mangled alleyway,he wipes the snow from his red tinted goggles with trembling fingertips.

Earlier that week,Tommy and Fruit had began equipping his Crimson suit for the suffocating blanket of snow that was going to be sitting over Pogtopia for the foreseeable future.Reinforcing his cargos with warmer material while adding skins beneath them.Ski goggles fixed to his mask so no snow get's in his eyes or sticks to his eyelashes.Fruit insisted on impaling his speedrunners with studds;the blonde reluctant to wear any other shoes-even if they were more suitable.Finally,adding a thick scarlet poncho over his plain black skins,hood forever up.

An ode to a friend imprisoned unjustly:Karl.

He missed Karl.Although he has Fruit and Scott now,Karl was the only one who knew him-really knew him.Tommy had spent hours with the man outside of vigilante life.

Hell he'd even gone to the brunette's wedding!

Karl was the only person to stick by him after he was dubbed a traitor and a murderer.For that,Tommy had to help the man;he owed him that much.Which is why,the blonde had spent the last two weeks trying to translate the information on the USB he'd stolen from Dream-with the help of Fruit and his resources,obviously.

It quickly became clear that the information on the the USB did not belong to Dream.Instead,it was stolen from the owner of Pandora's Vault-Warden.Based of the fact that all of it was written in a subform of the enchantment table language that was created and spoken by the earliest generations of Creeper hybrids.

(Tommy always thought calling the language 'enchantment table language' was stupid.Sure,it describes where the language originates from but they could of came up with a better name for it.)

Both Tommy and Fruit spoke basic enchantment table but some of the words differed.As well as the whole thing consisting of less than primary words that described the intricacies of the inescapable prison.However,they could understand the blueprints so they were getting somewhere.

𝘞𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸.

In all honesty,they were:Schlatt took district 11 two days ago.From what he'd overheard from fighters in the Pit,it was clear that hundreds had died during the hostile take over.Yesterday,the blonde had managed to slip past a handful of rioters and get a quick glance of the place.Bodies littered the desolate streets while rioters marched routinely down cracking roads of tarmac.Like always,Schlatt had rounded up all the non-blanks,picking and choosing the most powerful to convert to rioters;the rest chained with inhumane manacles that left their wrist red raw and scabbed as the enchantment severed their powers.

Speaking of powers,goosebumps scuttled up his neck,muscles knitting tight with tension.His ears picked up on two pairs of footsteps below;one unbothered and sloppy,the other faint and careful.Leaning forward on his heals,the blonde gazed down at the dilapidated alleyway before him.

A figure donned in all black,gun clutched tightly in his pale hands of ice,stalked behind another person.Brunette curls bobbing as they walked with headphones blasting music in their ears.Wearing black dms and a mustard yellow puffer coat that practically buried them.

They seemed familiar but Tommy couldn't place why.More focused on the fact that the black donned man had shifted the gun in their hand,the other grasping the man's collar and pinning him to the grimy brick wall-weapon jabbed into his chest.

"The fuck?"The brunette gasped in surprise,a distinct lack of fear in his voice even with a gun resting between his ribs.

𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘱,𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘶𝘦.

𝘋𝘶𝘥𝘦,𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢 '𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯' 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘍𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

𝘌𝘩,𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘐'𝘮 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦.

Rolling forward,the ex-hero fell,landing with a light thud behind the armed man.

"Hand over your wallet and no one gets hurt."The attacker hissed,pushing the scratched weapon further into the brunette's chest.

Sighing in exasperation,Tommy sweeped the attacker's feet out from under him,gun clattering uselessly to the ground as he yelped.Scrambling back to his feet,almost slipping on the sleet covered ground,the attacker drew back his fist and slammed it into the blonde's jaw.

Now Tommy could of dodged that (his attacker's movements were sloppy and slow-that of an amateur) but he was severely sleep deprived and hadn't eat in three days-since he last saw Fruit.Shaking himself awake,he pulled his batton from his side,bringing the butt of the staff into the side of the attacker's skull;hard enough to nock him unconscious but incredibly careful not kill or causing any long lasting damage.

Stalking forward,Tommy snapped the gun in half like a blade of grass with the heel of his speedrunners before turning to the brunette."Hey, you alright,man?"

"Yeah,thanks."The man stumbled over his words.Rushing to pull his headphones from over his ears to give the younger his full attention,like Tommy was some kind of deity.

Crimson faltered,brain buffering at the man's dulcet voice of honey.Sapphire eyes snapping up in surprise,meeting the mahogany eyes of a familiar face-Wilbur.What shocked the boy more was the salt tracks that ghosted down his friend's pale cheeks and his red rimed eyes,engraved with misery.

"Y-You sure man?"Tommy stuttered,a deep frown settleing on his face.

Wilbur seemed to consider the question,mouth hanging agape as he stared down at the blonde in confusion."Why do you care?"He huffed,eyebrow raised while he mirrored the frown that Tommy himself wore.

"Your in district 10.People here only cry in public for important reasons:most don't feel like being shot."The shorter shrugged,leaning up against the wall opposite.

It felt weird to be talking to Wilbur as Crimson.No not weird,wrong;deceitful even.All he wanted to do was hug the man and assure him that everything would be okay.The last time him and Wilbur had seen eachother was months ago and now the man was right infront of him yet a million miles away.As if Wilbur was the moon and Tommy the sun:eternally opposite eachother,however always apart because of the planet that stood between them,keeping a long awaited eclipse from happening.

"I guess your right but I don't really want to talk about it-especially with a random prick I've never met before-"Wilbur goaded,sadness slowly leaving his face.

"Now hold on dickhead-"Crimson objected indignantly,pointing an accusing finger at the man,a smile ghosting his lips.

"But I uh-can i have a hug,please?"He asked timidly.

Tilting his head to the side in curiosity,Tommy stared at the man in silence.Wilbur was never timid,always confident and assertive in a similar way to the blonde.It made sense that the brunette would want a hug,always one for physical touch.But to ask for it from a stranger,a known murderer even,meant whatever happened to make him cry wasn't something minuscule in the slightest.

"Uh-sorry that must be weird.Don't worry about it.Thank you for saving me,bye!"The brunette rambled,hands poised up in surrender while he quickly turned and attempted to flee.

Key word:attempted.

Grabbing the puffy yellow sleeve of his brother's coat,Tommy pulled the man into a bone crushing hug.Wilbur smelt like cigarettes and alcohol opposed to his usual sent of coffee,worrying Tommy deeply as spiralling thoughts spitfired through his mind.

𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘞𝘪𝘭 𝘴𝘮𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬.𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵.

Even with the new information,unbelievable warmth spread through him in the frigid cold.Arm's slowly raising to return the jesture,Wilbur breathed in shakily,body shivering from the glacial temperature and the sobs that endlessly racked his body.

Both startled out of the tranquil moment as Tommy's phone rang obnoxiously.Pulling back,the ex-hero fumbled with his communicator for a second before answering the call."Hello?"

"Red,where the fuck are you?"The name Red rang like church bells in his skull,pushing all reason from his head.

"I-what,Masquerade?"He stammered,anxiety bubbling up in his throat.

𝘏𝘰𝘸'𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳?

"What?No.It's me.Fruitberries."The vigilante answered in confusion,worry rapidly spreading through his mind at the boy's reaction to the nickname.He made a mental note not to use the nickname again.

"Oh,oh shit.Sorry Fruit.I'll be there in a second."Cursing himself for being so dumb.

"It's okay-don't apologise.See you soon dude,be safe."Fruit reassured,voice ever comforting while the sound of shuffling echoed down the line.

"Yeah,you too."A shaky sigh cut through the silent winter morning as Tommy shoved his phone into his pocket.

"Alright king?"The frown that Tommy loathed had once again returned to the brunette's face.

"Mmh?Oh yeah,I'm fine.I hope you figure things out man.Be safe."The blonde mumbled distractedly,hands fiddling with the bracelet hugging his wrist.

Without waiting for a reply,Tommy scampered up the alleyway wall,travelling towards the outskirts of Pogtopia-towards Origins.Leaving Wilbur to ponder over the phone call that just happened and the direction Crimson had disappeared in.Fumbling in his drunken state,he pulled the communicator and a well used flask from his pocket.

Taking his umpteenth swig of the day,he scrolled through his contacts,finger hovering over his brother's before scrolling further down.Reluctant to call him due to the argument of poisoned words,black eyes and cigarette burns that had left them in a communicationless cold war.Once reaching the bottom of his phone list,he clicked on a contact.Bringing his phone up to his rose coloured ear,mind racing with information.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰'𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘍𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴.

"Clone,we're going on patrol in Origins in ten."He ordered before hanging up,not bothering to wait for an answer.

Endearment coursing through him as he retraced the encounter that just happened.Curiosity for the ex-hero endless as he discovered more about the boy.Every interaction leading to more questions rising to the surface like dead bodies in a rotten lake.

______

By the time he reached Fruit's hideout in Origins,the weather had picked up so dramatically that the streets were completely white washed.Raging snow storm wiping around the blonde,trying vigorously to push him over.Poncho once a deep shade of rose,now turned to porcelain while snowflakes huddled in close to the ex-hero for warmth.The world around him lost in the ever tumbling storm of winter that enclasped the city.

"Crimson!"Fruit's muffled call sounded like a whisper from before the blonde.

Smiling,Tommy reached out to the voice,hand grasping another.Immediately,he was pulled into a side hug by the elder and quickly dragged from the tauntingly bright place of cold into a dimly lit room of warmth.

Tucked into the vigilante's side,Tommy trudged into the main room.Monitors lased the walls,El Rapid's workers tip tapping away at their keyboards,not even acknowledging the pair as they shuffled in.Lanterns hanging from above and adding to the artificial blue glow that radiated from the monitors.A large table was pushed up against the wooden walls,interrupting the line of computers.Above it was a cork board littered in images and red strings,all of which meeting in the centre,where the word 'Pandora' was scrawled out in Tommy's scratchy handwriting.

"You found anything since i last saw you?"He asked,pulling the poncho from over his head and hanging it by the door.Following after the vigilante like a ducklin,Tommy boosted himself up onto the table.

"Welp...Nope,not really man."The vigilante deflated,riflling through a shopping bag before turning back to the boy and throwing him a protein bar."But we did find out what 'hiss hiss thra cla' means!"

"Oh yeah?"Tommy raised an unimpressed eyebrow at the elder's pronounction of the ancient language.Quickly opening the food he was given and savouring it like it was the last food on earth.

"Yep!It means 'good luck,like Pandora this language is unbreakable'."He drawled sarcastically.

Tommy scoffed.

"I know.Warden's fucking toying with us."Fruit groaned,scrubbing his face with his hand.

"You any closer to getting that tracker fixed up?"The shorter inquired nonchalantly,sinking down in the seat next to the table,trying (and failing) to translate any of the paperwork but he was stubborn to an aggravating length.

𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺,𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥.

Thoughts of the earlier encounter continued to swirl in his mind.Concern for his friend bubbling restlessly inside of him like an overflowing volcano.From what Tommy knew of the man,Wilbur didn't drink or smoke.So what pushed him to feel the need to?Not to mention the fact he was crying;the blonde had never seen him cry.All he wanted right now was to see Wilbur but he had no clue whether or not he'd be welcome.So,he wouldn't but he could get Ranboo to.

"Uhhh-yep it's actually done,as is your cosplay."The vigilante smirked,busying himself with throwing a fingernail sized tracker up in the air and catching it.

"ITS NOT A FUCKING COSPLAY,YOU FUCKING PRICK!"The boy screamed,slamming his palms down on the table.Shooting the elder a glare that shot hundreds of shards of glass into him,making him writh with torturous pain until he relented.

"Okay,okay.Disguise then."Fruit chuckled,hands up in mock surrender.

"When do you think we should do it?"The younger questioned,quickly jotting down the translation for 'clack hiis tss' ,which is small box, on his notepad.Doodles of a brunette wearing circle rimmed glasses and splouges of what appeared to be slime littered in the margins of the bage page.

"We need to get some of this information translated-this isn't supposed to be a suicide run.But we can attach the tracker to Warden whenever now;he could lead us straight to the prison."He chucked the tracker to Tommy (who caught it) before strolling over and leaning against the table,watching ideally while the blonde worked.

"Right,bitch.I'll do the tracker tonight-Warden normally patrols the Pit on Wednesday nights."The ex-hero hummed,fiddling absentmindedly with the tracker in his left hand as he skimmed the papers to his left.

"Actually,you'll do it tomorrow:Warden's at that Schlatt meeting,remember?"Fruit ruffled the boy's hair,hand immediately batted away.

"Oh yeah..."An innocent smile painted across his face,futilely trying to hide the fact he'd forgotten that;Fruit had given him the debrief on the meeting last time they saw eachother,which was a couple days ago.

"Sooo...when's Charged gonna be subbed back in for Crimson?"

"When it's absolutely nessesary."Tommy groaned in exasperation,burying his face in his hands.

"Schlatt took 11,that seems pretty nessesary to me."Nudging the younger lightly as he whistled the last bit out.

"Hive and Ender are doing a better job than i ever did.Charged isn't needed.However,their marketing is shit.We had fucking graffiti everywhere and a shittin symbol!"

"That is true.You got any ideas?"Fruit smirked at his victory;the best way to get the boy to talk was bringing up the marketing (the vigilante called it propaganda) of revolutionary or anti-establishment groups.Tommy's obsession with it was what made the 16th Revolution against Schlatt so wide spread.Main things being the graffiti covering important monuments that were always shown on tv and helping the citizens.Tommy never believed that was campaigning,more human decency, but that's 𝘸𝘩𝘺 the districts practically adored him:he was one of them and had no care for recognition,doing things that he believed were right because he cared about people and the city.

"Oh you know me Fruitberries.I've got some plans that people would not agree with!"The boy sing songed,shooting his friend an innocent smile;earning a light chuckle from the elder.

"You know, i was thinking about inviting Slimecicle to help out soon."Emerald eyes skimming over the doodles climbing up the battered notebook's side.

"Really?"Tommy's head snapped towards Fruit,translations long forgotten as a sea of diamonds dazzled in his sapphire eyes,smile reaching from ear to ear under the mask.

Fond look over coming his features,the vigilante nodded.Watching happily while the blonde practically jumped in his seat,rattling on endlessly as he sang the slime hybrid's praises.

____

Slinking down the desolate streets of the ghost town known as Origins,Tommy scowled with every step he took;studded speedrunners sinking into the deep snow before freeing themselves with an insufferable squelch.Jet black sky of coal leeking into the snowman's face,painting an icey frown across his once happy complexion.

Looking up,Tommy's sapphire eyes landed on a familiar apartment.Amber lights of melancholy that seemed to have aged too quickly spilled out onto the streets bellow.Furrowed eyebrows and a thin lipped grimace,the blonde checked his communicator.

2:58,𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘚𝘤𝘰𝘵𝘵 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘳?𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵.

𝘉𝘦𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴.

𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘢 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴.

𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘦.𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.

𝘋𝘪𝘦.

𝘈𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵.

Huffing, the blonde trudged over to the teal front door,knocking three times.The knocker was a silver unicorn of intricate detail that somehow deformed it in such a way that it seemed to be in a state of tortured agony.Wind wailing incessantly through the empty streets catching only on the wilting buildings and three masked figures.

Silence.

No sound came from the house,not even that of Scott's hurried footsteps as he rushed down his stairs to open the door.

"Smajor?"He called,voice wavering whilst his instincts prickled beneath his skin.

Waiting another endless moment,Tommy once again pulled his communicator infront of him.Biting the tip of his glove,he pulled it off,fingers exposed to the artic air.Holding the black piece of fabric between his teeth,the blonde scrolled through his contacts,clicking on the healer's the moment he saw it.

Beep,beep.

He rested his forehead against the man's door,eyes closed as he preyed for an answer.

Beep,beep.

His fingertips were numb.The wind rushed down the static streets once more,carrying flakes of porcelain in it's wake.

Beep,bee-

ʜᴇʟʟᴏ!

ᴛʜɪꜱ ɪꜱ ꜱᴄᴏᴛᴛ,ꜱᴏʀʀʏ ɪ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅɴ'ᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ɪᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʜᴏɴᴇ.ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ᴍᴇꜱꜱᴀɢᴇ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ,ɪ ᴘʀᴏʙᴀʙʟʏ ᴡᴏɴ'ᴛ ʟɪꜱᴛᴇɴ ᴛᴏ ɪᴛ, ᴏʀ ᴄᴀʟʟ ᴍᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ.

ʙʏᴇ-ʙʏᴇ!

The Scottish man's voice drawled down the line,automated message sounding dull and out of tune as it banged against his skull.

Groaning in frustration,he took the glove from between his teeth and threw it on the ground in rage.Communicator securely stuffed in his pocket,he took off his other glove and slammed it down next to it's twin.He crouched down and grabbed two pins that he'd attached to his cargoes.Jamming them into the frost covered keyhole,the blonde picked the lock with ease.

Pushing the door open with the toe of his shoe,he listened carefully for sounds of life.None came.

Tommy slipped off his shoes.Frosted wind pushing him in the apartment and pulling him up the stairs.Dust covered floorboards creaking beneath his feet.

The once well lived in home was still.All the life drained from it.Moonlight dipping the place in cool tones of grey and blue,shadows casted long as he entered the kitchen.

Somehow the temperature dropped further.Scanning the room with scrunched up eyes,he saw the culprit.A window sat wide open in the corner,curtains fluttering inside the room,accompanied by a steady flow of snow that settled in it's mahogany grave below.Stalking forward,he fumbled slightly with cold-stiffened fingers before finally closing the window;the artic breeze did not falter.

Walking over to the sofa,he turned on the lamp to get a better view of the deserted place.Every living thing,even the maggots and the spiders that basked in the eeriness of dilated places,had fled.Objects left ascroon across the room,furniture turned over whilst pillows and light bulbs were scavenged for bugs.

Whistling impatiently,the wind pushed him further into the room;stench of sulphur clinging to it endlessly.Furrowing his eyebrows in consern,Tommy scrutinised the room intensely,completely ignoring the sting of winter that mercilessly stabbed him.Eventually,sapphire eyes landed on the sofa infront of him,taking it in properly for the first time.

Scarlet stained the soft torn fabric that had all it's stuffing pulled out of it.Trailing his eyes over the surrounding area,the blonde tracked the blood up to the crimson splattered cream walls.Stepping forward to touch it,he hesitated.Foot hovering mid way in the air,sea-blue flicking down to a puddle of tacky tar that glistened ominously in the hazy glow of the lamp.His white socks were covered in blood.

Eyes blown wide with panic,the blonde fell backwards.Catching himself on the coffe table behind him-it was made of glass.Like a murder of screeching crows,the table shattered into a million tiny fragments.

Laying there in the remains of the table,splintered glass embedded into his skin,he tilted his head back (eyes closed),groaning in endless frustration.Pain infenetly worsened by the numb sting of the cold that continued to bonbard him.

Scott was missing, however he was probably on patrol or something,the blood on the walls being that of a client's.Explanation for the ransacked house being that he was robbed or something;Tommy had been telling the man to install better security but he never listened.

This is the most reasonable explanation.Tommy was just being paranoid.

But it still didn't feel right.

His instincts pushed through the fatigue that covered him like a thick fog.Bringing panicked thoughts to his mind.Sweat trickled lazily down his neck as goosebumps pummelled insesintly against his skin.

Opening his eyes,Tommy tried to clamber from his torturous position inbetween the table's frame.Abruptly interrupted by the frost that rushed down his throat and squeezed his lungs.There,on the ceiling up above was a symbol sketched crudely with the blood that stained the sofa and the walls and the floor and now Tommy's sock.Staring down mockingly at the ex-vigilante was a pair of devil like ram horns,the words 'i got him too' scrawled between them.

𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵.𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘚𝘤𝘰𝘵𝘵.

Panic flared up inside of him like a raging flame.Taring through his body maliciously like a wildfire and turning his optimistic theories of the healer's whereabouts to chared ash of pessimist that chocked him.Embers and scorch kissed organs spat out of his mouth as he tried to conseal his hysteria.

Scrambling to his feet,Tommy stood there in the rubble of his old friends apartment and silently listened to the wind as it exploded through the room.Pressing his wrists to his forehead,the boy broke.Tsunami's of tears carving ragged trenches down his masked face.A sea of blood flowing steadily from his skin from glass imapaled skin.

He had three people left.Three.Now,he had two.

Spiralling thoughts of what Schlatt could be doing to Scott increased the incessant flow to tears.The villian was known for his brutal methods of gaining information.Scott being one of the last members of MCC alive and free already put a target on his back.However,Schlatt would drain him for information whether it be new or old.When he had that information,he'd either lock Scott in Pandora or have him publicly executed.

Pandora.

Schlatt would most definitely keep the healer there.Tommy needed to get this mission over with.He needed to break into Pandora and emancipate his friends-save them from Schlatt.

Translating it with his and Fruit's very limited knowledge wasn't going to cut it,he needed a bilingual dictionary.Luckily,he knew where to find one but Fruit had said it was too dangerous.However,they had run out if time.They needed these documents translated now.

The only place to find a bilingual dictionary that would translate the documents was a library filled with centenary year old books:Kinoko Kingdom.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘰 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨.𝘋𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨,𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘴.

𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘵.

𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘺?

___

Images of his husbands melting like candles in a ruthless fire flickered through his mind as flames of pure nightmare scorched his brain restlessly-refusing to leave a mark.However,the onslaught didn't stop there,it never did;consistent in it's relentless attacks of suffering.A blonde boy,a boy he cared so much about,limped onto the battle field,a victorious smile on his face.Which quickly fell apon seeing the unearthed graveyard around him.

And then,the images repeated.This was a standard for him now.Every once in a while Schlatt would return and ask if he surrendered:the prisoner never did.So,the death sentence that was the nightmarish flames would once more go on the offence.

Today was one of those days it seemed.

Schlatt waltzed into the room,half finished bottle of vodka in his hand.He didn't ask the question as he already knew the answer.Taking a clumsy swig from the bottle,cheap liquor spilling down his suit,he marched up to the chained man.Stumbling over himself as he smashed the bottle into the side of the vigilante's face;slicing his cheek and forehead open.Earning a scream of pain,alcohol tearing into the fresh wounds.

"You had enough yet,bitch?"The villian hissed,disgusted to even be breathing the same oxygen as the vigilante.Head held high,he rubbed nicotine stained fingers over the scar of white that circled his pinkie.

Karl grinned,a fire that had long been snuffed out reignited by the flame of another that never faltered to burn eternally bright like the sun.Scoffing,he taunted the villian:"He took the ring."

"Oh I know."The grin on his face was cheshire,cackling like he did all those years ago on the day of the betrayal.

𝘏𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.

"What did you do?What the hell did you do Schlatt?"Karl shouted in rage,fear for his friend taking over all reasoning.The fact that he was vulnerable long forgotten as he bared his red dyed teeth at the ex-president.

"I'll tell you...If you surrender."Schlatt bargained,scowl returning in unison with his egotistical tendencies.

"Fuck you."Karl spat,slumping back and sinking into the obsidian wall behind him.Though he desperately wanted to know what Schlatt had done because it could mean that Tommy was in danger,he couldn't surrender.

That's what Schlatt wants.If he gives in,the villian will have access to his powers which could put the whole of Pogtopia at risk.

"You'll crack one day,TimeWarp.They always do."Schlatt barked out sardonically as he left the room.

Closing his eyes,Karl waited for the flames;once again repeating the cycle.

After hours of nightmarish images,he fell into oblivion.One vision replaying over and over again in his mind like a broken record: Crimson and Siren together,both standing on opposite ends of a building;like ying and yang.JSchlatt walking with Dream into an apartment building-they are carrying someone.A dark figure,stood in a smoke covered plane,rubble and the fallen surrounding them.They proclaim their vendetta against Schlatt and battle thirty rioters-winning the fight.

Finally,he is there again-Tommy.Sat in the woods as he stares at a ring overflowing with crimson sparks.New meaning given to the once ambiguous vision.

Chapter Text

A boundless metal sea of filing cabinets bled out around the blonde, who slowly rifled through the millions of documents.Routine sneezes echoing against the walls of shaded plaster,dust meandering lazily down the crowded alleyways.Not a single light hang from the ceiling,the archive left abandoned and lonely until a bright flame creeped around;wax slowly slipped down the candle,flame trying desperately to breathe in the suffocating atmosphere.

He'd been there for hours and he was only on the filing cabinets labelled 'er'.Now Purpled was a perfectionist in every way.In school,he excelled in science and maths.Later going on to take statistics,economics and chemistry in college;he finished the highschool curriculum by himself after the 16th.So the fact that files that began with every other sequence of letters except 'er' were stuffed carelessly in the rusted old cabinets was infuriating to him.

Slamming the draw closed,he groaned in exasperation.Head buried in paper cut covered fingertips as he wallowed in self pity.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵,𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘯.𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵!𝘐'𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬...

"Spy."

Snapping his head up,Purpled made eye contact Dolos,making a mental note of the bandages crawling up the fox hybrid's arms.His face,like the blonde's,was masked by the blank mask of a rioter,ram horns paired with the hybrid's own orange ears.Outfit plain and mixing in with the eternal theme of drabness that clung to the room.

"Dolos,what a pleasure to see you."He lied through gritted teeth.Standing,he moved to the next cabinet,completely aware of the azure eyes baring down on him from behind.

This draw was labelled 'es',the first file he plucked out began with an 'O'.It was a poem.More specifically Ozymandias.

His lips curled downwards.Tommy's best subject was English.When brainstorming ideas for the rebellion,surrounded by MCC members and prestigious vigilantes,the younger blonde kept mumbling quotes under his breath.Silence falling over the room for a moment before the boy practically exploded.Jumping up onto the table,he spread his arms wide dramatically before braking into a speech,reciting the poem word for word.

The phrase 'My name is Ozymandias,king of kings;look apon my works,ye mighty,and despair!' graffitied on walls with ram horns curling like thorns around the words.

He put the file back into the draw.

"This is a lovely conversation.I love being stared at while i try to work by one of my bosses."Purpled drawled,stealing a glance at the ginger-who's eyes had yet to wander from the mercenary.

"Oh,right.What are you looking for?I don't think anyones been in here since the 16th.It's disgusting in here!"The fox hybrid complained,gloved hands clasped behind his back;leather material squeaking annoyingly as the cracks in the fabric overlapped like tectonic plates.

"I was told to look for some files but they weren't on the digital database so I'm looking down here for them."Purpled shrugged-it wasn't a lie.

"Cool,what file is it?"He leaned up against the filing cabinet opposite the younger,rubbing anxiously at the tightly wrapped bandages.

"What do you want Dolos?"The blonde drawled,closing the draw he was rifling through with a clink that echoed ominously through the room.The man beside him flinching at the loud noise as Spy crouched down to scavenge through the bottom draw of the dilapidated cabinet.

"Schlatt wants you to report to his office...Immediately."The hybrid sighed,throwing his hands up in exasperation.

Purpled froze.The sound of rustling old paper ceasing,silence of the ancient room doubling ten fold.He looked up at Dolos with a blank expression,standing up he made his way out of the room;Dolos following him like a loyal dog.

It felt like a death sentence because it was.

Walking to Schlatt's office,thoughts of what was to come ricochet against the sides of his skull.Thin line for a mouth,clenched jaw,thundering heartbeat and shaking hands,he grabbed the door handle and entered the office.

It was Time Warp's old office,books lining the walls,a large window looking out onto the once colourful district and a broken semi-dampener left discarded on the wooden table.Schlatt sat smoking a cigarette in his chair,bottle of whiskey on his right.Glossy insect coloured eyes staring wistfully at a framed photo sitting on his desk.

Pulling the cigarette from between his teeth,smoke slowly falling from his nose,the villian addressed the blonde."Spy.You haven't come through with our deal yet-Shadows still out on the streets.Now,why is that?"

"He's working with Masquerade to capture Crimson Crusader.I thought that terminated the mission."Purpled replied,staring straight out of the window with his hands by his sides,fiddling endlessly with a loose string that dangled from the cuff of his coat.

He hated the enforcer's uniform with a burning passion.Identical in every way to the uniform worn by the revolutionarys during the 16th except from the lack of overlapping discs embroidered on the collars-replaced by Nox's symbol.It was a complete mockery of the soldiers who fought in the revolution and the highest form of disrespect.Even with the intense backlash from most of the city when the designs came out,Nox never changed them.Citizens of the higher,more wealthy districts didn't protest as strongly-they hadn't helped with the war effort instead choosing to cower in bunkers and greedily deplenish MCC's supplies.

"You know what your like,Spy?Your like a half open penknife.You should be useful and sharp but instead your blunt and rusting."

Purpled stayed quiet.Trying to push the memories of war from flooding into his mind.

"I think it's time you proved your loyalty.First,i need you to find out whether or not Captain Puffy is returning to the hero ranks and who exactly is still part of said ranks.On top of that,I'm hosting a party soon.Both heroes,villains,vigilantes and anyone of use will be there;gather intel from them.I don't care how,just get the fucking job done.It's in your name pussy.Are you competent enough to do that without pissing your pants?"Schlatt mocked sardonically,taking another drag from his cigar.

"Yes-"He paused,knowing what was wanted but hating the next word that dribbled from his mouth like burning acid."-Sir."

"Give me your wrist."

Stalking forward,the blonde held his hand out to the ex-president.There was no hesitation because that was what Schlatt wanted.For the ex-vigilante to stay in his position,he had to appease the man-no matter what it took.

Cigarette held between his thumb and his forefinger,the villian stabbed the ember smitten bud of nicotine into the mercenary's arm.Twisting it around painfully in a circle till it's flame was snuffed out,leaving nothing but ash and the stench of burnt flesh in it's wake.

Spy clenched his jaw.

𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦.

"Your dismissed.Disappoint me and I'll get you a date with the firing squad."The villian spat nonchalantly,leaning back in his chair,not even bothering to take the cigarette from where it stood erect in the boy's arm.Instead opting to stare at the photograph next to him,expression stoney.

Silently,the blonde left the room.White and orange death stick still louged in his arm like a needle.Hurried footsteps echoed through the isles till they found the archives once more.Travelling as far in as possible till they reached the end of the seemingly endless alleys;ending abruptly whilst their owner sunk to the ground.

Panic stricken eyes staring down at the burn,the smell racking his mind and bringing fourth the nightmarish terrors of his life.

____

Sliding into their makeshift trench as the world around them exploded with noise,the squadron looked to their captain for guidance.Fatigue weighed down on them after hours of fighting through dusk and dawn.But a spark of resilience ever lingered amongst the group as they watched their brothers fall beside them.Fear and adrenaline numbing their bodies of the sting of their countless wounds and the artic weather.

"Manifold,as always your our decoy.Take a handful of troops and pull a feigned retreat whilst the rest of us flank left through those buildings and hit them from their weak spot.TapL,you stay here with the other sharp shooters and hit as many of their men as you can.Tommy,Purpled do what you do best,just try not to get killed."The sheep hybrid bark out,ever the voice of reason.

Apon getting nods of recognition,Puffy hosted her weapons up so the sleek black machine guns sat more comfortably in her arms.Signaling to her troops,the captain quickly travelled into the abandoned building beside the trench-inconspicuously advancing towards the enemy's flank.

"We'll be seeing you then."Manifold saluted,hurrying off with his own troops.Michael Mcchill creating a shield of ice to protect his comrades from the storm of enemy fire that bonbarded them relentlessly as they fled.

Tricked by the retreat,the rioters began volting over the side of their trench and stampedeing towards Manifold's squadron.Once they were a couple meters away from the lip of MCC's side of the trench,TapL and his teammates started to open fire.

Enemy soldiers falling like hail and hitting the ground with wet thuds,a watercolour of scarlet seeping lazily onto the concrete.Quickly,rioters began trampling over their own members due to the overwhelming amount of bodies that linked together like chain mail.

"You gonna tell us your plan or are you-"TapL was interrupted as the two teenagers disappeared over the top of the trench."-Or are you just going to run straight into enemy fire!Alright,try to avoid those idiots!"

Racing over dead bodies towards the relentless down pour of bullets,the blonde boys grinned with glee,practically radiating with adrenaline.Both using their powers discretely to dodge and move the copper bullets lased with Manburg away from them.Shooting eachother a look that communicated a million words at once with just the clashing of sea grey and sky blue eyes,they hid behind a car that was left discarded on the road;a civilian leaving their vehicle in a hurry at some point during the past months-conflict falling mercilessly over Pogtopia.

Unlatching two smoke bombs from their unity belts,the boy's stopped.Tommy shooting Purpled a thumbs up only to get a middle finger in return.

"You bitch!"The younger screamed over the havoc,standing quickly and throwing both smoke bombs full pelt into the enemy trench.

Purpled huffed in annoyance but quickly mimicked his friend's actions.

Amythest and Crimson seeping into the smog covered sky like a beacon of hope.

Vaulting over the top of the car,Tommy slid gracefully into the trench of bright red smoke and unconscious rioters-the smoke bombs being infused with a sleeping gas.His brother landed beside him and began rifling through the enemy supplies in hopes of finding something of use;he wanted some insight on Schlatt's plans.

Though sound exploded from every direction still and hail like debris fell from the drab sky of melancholy,that bled tundrels of smoke from the earth's nicotine lased lungs of ash,Tommy and Purpled felt calm.

They sat in the eye of the storm.Tranquillity and comfort loosening ever tense muscles whilst the pair worked in the harmony of familiar company.Tommy tending to his wounds before moving onto those of the rioters,doing the best he could with their limited supplies:unwilling to let them die and leave a empty spaces at the dinner tables of their families.A couple metres away was Purpled who rifled through documents and hacked into computers in attempt of finding information that could help gain them the advantage.

A sea of monochrome lapped back and forth against the power made trenches;it's creators still sunk into the wall from where they let out a continuous flow of power to keep the trench from crumbling.Crimson stained the concrete in foaming bubbles of salt.Tommy stood as a healing star amongst the wounded.Though most were unconscious,they subconsciously leaned into the warmth of the blonde's trembling hands-body heat a stark contrast to the freezing weather that annually fell over the city.

After a couple of minutes,TapL and his squadron joined them in enemy territory as well as the utopian atmosphere the vigilantes had created.All the troops falling perfectly into the routine:chatting amongst themselves,smoking cigarettes with trembling hands whilst the steady hands of war veterans cleaned their weapons and stared unseeing into the distance-memories of past conflicts covering their minds in a haze.

Relentlessly drawing his attention away from the computer,Purpled gazed wistfully at his friend.Unlike the other troops who took refuge in the safety of the trench,Tommy stood unapathetic in the unearthed grave yard;anxiety prickled through Purpled at how vulnerable the younger was stood out in the open.All eyes watched with baited breath as the too young boy stood amongst the dying like a golden sunset.Though this was a ritual,the sun sets in the west everyday,people still watched on in a melancholy glee:the forever glowing flame of kindness that was Tommy filling them with a once forgotten spark of hope for the future.

Lowering his crown of golden curls,the boy raised his hand in the 16th symbol-silent as he honoured the dead and begged them for forgiveness.The quite expression of mourning seemed soldem on his restless face that was created for nothing but smiles.

(General Innes was one of the greatest members of the rebellion (though his accomplishments were left unclaimed due to his undying modesty) yet he never had a taste for the futile killing that was war.Somehow,he never did kill anyone,instead saving thousands of lives as a General and a vigilante, whether that be his comrades,the citizens or rioters.)

More eyes fell apon the blonde as both Puffy and Manifold's squadrons arrived.Tommy lowered his hand but remained amongst the fallen.

The moment passed,the sun had set,it was war once more.TapL went back to helping Purpled with the information search while the new comers settled in amongst their friends.

Purpled smiled warmly at his teammates.

Normally,this would be a nice moment that would fill one with nostalgia when looking back on it but Shadow knew better.Seconds later,a bomb would fall on the group and kill three fourths of their men,including TapL.The saviours left with nothing but injuries,the bodies of their friends and the burden of their deaths.

𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘴.

_____

Thick worn leather boots left intimidating footprints in the fresh white snow.Sky the colour of tar mixed with a swirling metallic puddle of petrol that harrowed the desolate plain of the once lively town-turned to ruins years ago by a comet of crimson.Fractions of scorched kissed rubble protruded out of the lifeless earth of rot and bone whilst the withered remains of the community lay discarded and destroyed,abandoned by owners who could not save themselves.

Howling mournfully,the freezing wind meandered through the village in a hazy trance,ruffling the man's scarlet cape whilst strands of coral hair licked his face.Wailing cries of the dead echoed around him,adding to the ever present chorus of voices that served as a reminder of his sins.Although they were killed by the villian's sword,they insistently chanted for the blood of the innocent;death had turned them bitter against the city of Pogtopia,mainly the heroes who failed to save them.

No fear lingered in the forgotten grounds:the plain was lifeless.

Crunch.

Or maybe not.

He didn't move.Most would with a potentially threatening being approaching them in the solitude but he didn't.Scythe of crimson hissing like a venomous snake as he summoned it from the baron snow carpeted earth.Droplets of blood,that had once been sewn into the ground,rising into his hand.

𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙,𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙,𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙.
𝙎𝙘𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙜.
𝙒𝙚'𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙢 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙧.
𝙔𝙊𝙐 𝙎𝙃𝙊𝙐𝙇𝘿 𝙊𝙁 𝘽𝙀𝙀𝙉 𝘾𝘼𝙇𝙇𝙀𝘿 𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙋𝙀𝙍 𝙄𝙉𝙎𝙏𝙀𝘼𝘿 𝙊𝙁 𝘽𝙇𝙊𝙊𝘿 𝙂𝙊𝘿.
𝙏𝙧𝙪𝙚.
𝙉𝙤𝙙𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨.
𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙗𝙖𝙙 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚.
𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙧.
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙.

Blood God huffed,focusing on the person behind him-confusion radiated from the stranger.Their approaching footsteps stopped abruptly.Tension gripped desperately to the air as another empath tuned into the emotions of the land.

"Your not Crimson."Masquerade announced,frustration seemingly boundless as he burned holes into the pinkette's skull.

"Neither are you."Blood God deadpanned,finally turning to face his company-his rival.

Masquerade wore his classic neon hoodie with Schlatt's symbol embroidered on the back (which looked atrocious in Techno's opinion),black cargos with white and green airforces.Lazily slinging his netherite axe over his broad shoulders whilst sheltered his over hand from the cold in his pocket.

Silence fell over the pair as they took eachother in.Boar skull glaring at a creepy porcelain smile.Both were armed and most definitely had the same mission yet neither had succeeded.Tightening their grips on their weapons,the men remained still.

Blood God disliked Masquerade because he was a hero and worked for the very organisation that the Syndicate swore to destroy.However,the hero wasn't afraid of him and was able to match him in combat.For that the piglin hybrid respected the man.

Masquerade also made his job more interesting.

The pair's fights were legendary.Broadcasted religiously on television and seen by all of Pogtopia.Aspiring heroes and villains watched said battles with awe as they tried futilely to mimic the rivals perfect dance.

"Who tipped you off?"The hero spoke first.Conversational tone effortlessly put on even though the pair regularly left eachother with life threatening injuries.

"Jester.I assume that he tricked you into coming here.That's an amateur move,I'm just sayin.Imagen fallin for one of Jester's tricks,could never be me."Blood God drawled sarcastically,leaning against the charred remains of a house.Arms folded over his broad chest whilst his scythe jutted out of white quartz.

"Oh obviously.Definitely not like your here right now with me or anything."Masquerade snarked back.

"Your ex-sidekick-"Masquerade snarled under his mask,loathing bleeding into the sky of petrol and turning the once beautiful metallic colours into a warped city of crimson."-Is doing surprisingly well.I thought he would last a week at most but it's been months now.I'll admit it,the runt has impressed me.Considering all the resources Nightmares been funnelling you with,it's kinda embarrassin that you haven't captured him yet."He mocked sardonically,long fingernails racking over the rough surface of the wall beside him.

𝙇.
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙙.
𝙇𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙧.
𝙃𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙣'𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙮𝙚𝙩?𝙃𝙮𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙣𝙤 𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙙𝙚.
𝙃𝙮𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙣𝙤 𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙙𝙚.
𝙃𝙮𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙣𝙤 𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙙𝙚.
𝙃𝙮𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙣𝙤 𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙙𝙚.
𝙃𝙮𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙣𝙤 𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙙𝙚.
𝙃𝙮𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙣𝙤 𝘽𝙡𝙖-

𝘚𝘩𝘶𝘵 𝘶𝘱.

"It's not like you've done much better.Why are you looking for Crimson anyway?"Masquerade inquired,a suspicious tint in his tone as emerald eyes trailed the villian's nonchalant stature.

𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘥𝘢𝘺.

The only reason Crimson seemed even remotely worth all the trouble the Syndicate,Nox,Schlatt and random mercenaries were going through to capture him was the bounty on his head and the information he supposedly had.The sidekick was interesting, Techno would give him that.He's saved Siren multiple times with the excuse that it was 'by proxy' but it's happened three times now-that doesn't seem like a coincidence.Apart from that though,Blood God deemed him useless-Siren disagreed.

"He's a bargainin chip that i can use for whatever i want.That's valuable."

Rage added to the city of crimson above at the thought of Siren,twisting it until it became more hell like.

Masquerade could sense it,head tilting to the side."To you it's not.Let me guess,Siren want's Crimson and is making you play along?"

The pinkette scowled.Scythe pulled from the earth sending specks of dirt and snow skittering towards the hero and clinging to his clothes.Normally,he wouldn't be so quick to anger but the Syndicate base is like a bomb ready to explode;Siren the ever ticking timer that longed for nothing but a confrontation.

𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.𝘗𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭.

Every time the brunette returned to the base after going under the radar,he'd cause sizmic waves in the somewhat calm that was the gang and leave again as if nothing had happened;he did that two days ago.Blood God and Siren having got into an argument about the brunette's constant disappearing act and lack of competence that ended in multiple Syndicate rules being broken by both parties.

__

"You can't just disappear out of nowhere and then show up like you own the place."Techno barked,slamming his fists on the blackstone table and standing from his seat;chair clattering lifelessly to the ground behind him and laying there like a dead body,thrown around like a pebble in the tsunami of waves.

Wilbur was the reason for the current tension in the tranquil ocean that was the Syndicate.Turning the gentle lapping of crystal clear water into rowing storms.Crashing bottle green waves of navy mirroring the crackling lightning that struck from the ashy grey sky above.

"I can do whatever i fucking want,Technoblade.I'm a member of the Syndicate too.If anything I'm more of a member then you will ever be.I was found first,i was picked first.Just because your a pugnacious little basturd who thinks he's so omnipotent due to playing toy soldier,doesn't mean everyone is fucking scared of you!"Wilbur exclaimed loudly,waving his hands around frantically with a cigarette held firmly between frozen fingers of ice.

"The only reason your not scared right now is because you know I can't hurt you inside these walls."The piglin scowled,blood torn eyes narrowing beneath the skull of his predecessor.

"Let's go back to your home then shall we Techno?Me and you,in the Pit.One on one."The villian spat,words blossoming like a terrible flower as it's wicked petals of hatred and rage entwined the pair in an argument that even death wouldn't dare come near.Words of acid spat sporadically with no thought of what it would do to their relationship;both only caring that the words strike the other in the chest and rip out their beating heart.

"We both know who would win that fight and if you think otherwise your more delosional than i thought you were."The pinkette deadpanned coldly.

"Oh please.I have no doubt you would beat me in hand to hand combat Blood God."The name was spat out with such venom that it sent shivers up the piglin's spine,crimson eyes narrowed with rage as he glared at his brother.

"But here's the thing.That's the only thing you can beat me at.Your just cheap man power at the end of the day,that's the only reason Phil has kept you around and dealt with all your tantrums.Your a weapon Blade,nothing less nothing more."Belittling words spilling from the brunette's tongue of silver in an unnervingly natural way.Voice raising an octave higher as he grew more and more unhinged but he never shouted:he wouldn't give Techno the pleaser of seeing him snap-he'd never stoop that low.

"At least I'm useful.All you do is cause problems.The Syndicate owe fucking Crimson Crusader favours because you couldn't pull your weight like the rest of us.So sure,I'm a weapon but at least I'm not useless."The pinkette growled,sound rumbling through the room and suffocating it further as it smashed into the tension that already resided there.

"𝘚𝘭𝘢𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦."

A crack echoed through the room.Blackstone table shattered into millions of tiny fragments,blood dripping onto it from the gaping wound that spilt through Techno's skull.Nothing stood between the brothers now.

He grinned.

"There you have it.Wilbur Soot causing problems once again!Your meant to abide by a simple set of rules and you couldn't even do that right."He spat sardonically,arms spread wide as he mimicked his brother.

Wilbur charged forward,slamming his fist into Techno's eye.Bringing the other hand up to stab the man's chest with his still burning cigarette;it hissed to a stop immediately.

𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙.
𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙.
𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙.

Techno didn't flinch.

"That's hypercritical,Blade.Those rules were set for you too.But of course the mighty Blood God doesn't have to abide by those foolish rules,i mean who's going to stop him?No one expect Ranboo but they won't get very far,will they?"Wilbur spat,head cocked to the side in a goading fashion.Stepping back away from the other to put space between them;the brunette wasn't too blinded by rage to become ignorant yet.

"Shut your mouth,Soot."The barking command cut through the air like a bullet,booming voice rattling the walls.

Wilbur was not deterred.

"No,Ranboo will try.But alas the almighty Blood God's rage cannot be soothed by a being he's deemed as infinitely below him.The vigilante left in a pool of his own blood and regret."

𝙎𝙡𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙩.
𝙋𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙝 𝙞𝙣.
𝙃𝙚 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙬 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙.
𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩.
𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙂𝙤𝙙.
𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙂𝙤𝙙.

Once voice stood out like a burning flame:𝘾𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩.

"At least I'm not the reason Mum's gone."Techno shouted,finally reaching his breaking point.

The words expolded through the room and left an incessant ringing to suffocate the room.Moment captured in time like a photograph,dust particles stopping their endless dance and coming to a hult mid air as they trapped the words in the space between them.

All too soon,the picture frame shattered.

Slammed doors and clenched jaws.Siren fled without a word,so deep in his furry (or was it self loathing) that he couldn't bare to be in the presence of another.The pinkette abandoned in the meeting room with a black eye,cracked skull,cigarette burn and a shattered table of old.Techno's heavy breathing and the ringing of silence was all that remained.

___

Since then,Siren hadn't come back.

A communicator rang,sound echoing like church bells in the silent night.Masquerade pulled his communicator from his pocket and hummed."Well,i have to get going.Have fun finding Crimson here."

Then,it was just Blood God and the distant snapping of a twig - coming from the opposite direction the hero had fled in.Techno followed it,scythe gripped firmly in his palm.

Wondering further and further away from the village of ruin,he came across a field.Grass that was once made of emerald,now turned to copper,grew tall and wilting until the horizon.Snow sunk into the charred earth restlessly,turning to cobble grey sleet amongst the weeds.

There,trudging through the marshy turf,stood a man.Brunette curls,donned in midnight and clutching a white mask of porcelain.

𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘳.

He stopped abruptly.Head tilted back to stare at the twilight above and basking in the biting darkness of the artic night.Before throwing something as far as he could into the field.

Rustling,the grass whispered and spread stories of what just happened.Clinging desperately to the brunette's legs as he trudged away from his spot,heading north towards Origins.

Techno frowned.Slowly walking into the field and following the path of trampled grass his brother had left for him.

Leaving the trail's safety and continuing straight apon reaching the point at which Wilbur had stood and stared up at the twilight.Thoughts spilling out of his brain and up into the galaxy above, with millions of others he'd left there.Techno had always longed to reach up and grab them,to analyse every thought his brother had ever had to try understand him more.

Wilbur Soot was a mystery to his family.

But he wasn't always like that.Before,he was expressive and extremely close to Techno and Phil,sharing every thought with them.However,since their mum left he hadn't been the same-he was the closest with their mother,Techno closest with their father.

When Tommy showed up,Techno was given hope again that his brother would come back to him.The teenager giving the brunette the same spark that had burned while their mother was around.Newly burning flame quickly extinguished apon the boy's sudden disappearance.

Now,Wilbur was worse then before-a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.

Something glinted in the moonlight before him,he approached it.Crouching down,Techno picked up what his brother had come all this way to discard of.It was a ring.Crimson dancing around in it's jewel,trapped in a netherite cage.

Slipping the ring onto his finger,he frowned.

The voices were silent.

Chapter Text

Mahogany spirals down the sink into the drain like watercolours,quickly followed by wisps of hair.Bending down,the newly turned brunette rinsed his head under the tap,washing out the dye.

Raising his head from the sink and turning off the tap,he stared at his reflection;he looked like Wilbur.Chocolate brown hair laying flat against his head as freezing cold water dripped from the short strands,dribbling down his scared chest and pricking his body with goosebumps.Pale skin further pebbled with the cool metal that hung around his neck,the El Rapids symbol clinging to the chain as it marked the boy as it's own.Said symbol consisted of intertwined, swirling ribs of gold, emerald, crimson and quartz that were held together by a single netherite cross of unity.

Tommy sighed.Grabbing a towel,he scrubbed his hair dry whilst walking through his apartment.The tv hummed lazily in the background,screen lighting the pitch black room and illuminating the piles of paperwork littering his floor:blue prints and documents on Kinoko and Pandora that he'd gathered and mulled over for the past twenty four hours.

ʙʀᴇᴀᴋɪɴɢ ɴᴇᴡꜱ:
ɴɪɢʜᴛᴍᴀʀᴇ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ᴅɪꜱᴛʀɪᴄᴛ 10.ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴄᴏᴍᴇꜱ ᴀꜱ ᴀ ᴍᴀᴊᴏʀ ꜱʜᴏᴄᴋ ᴀꜱ ʜᴇ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ʀᴇᴄᴇɴᴛʟʏ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ 11.ꜱᴏ ꜰᴀʀ,ɴᴏx ʜᴀꜱ ᴛᴀᴋᴇɴ ɴᴏ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ.

ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴍᴀᴋᴇꜱ ᴜꜱ ᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀ,ᴡɪʟʟ ɴᴏx ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴀɴʏ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏʀ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴛʜᴇʏ ꜱᴛᴀɴᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱɪᴅᴇ ʟɪɴᴇꜱ ʟɪᴋᴇ ʟᴀꜱᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇ?

The brunette changed the channel.

He was being too slow.

Wondering over to the kitchen table,he grabbed his black turtleneck and pulled it over his head.Next,he took the ring of crimson power and slipped it onto his pale finger,eyes lingering mournfully on the one thing keeping him from total emancipation.He slung the duffel bag over his shoulder,retreating back to the tv and hastily stuffing the papers into the bag's continuously expanding space.

Before abandoning the house with haste and a letter clutched tightly in his hand,he adored his ever dulling outfit with a black windbreaker.

Closing the door with a quite click that whispered rumours of finality,he stuck said letter on the door before starting down the hallway.Abruptly stopped by the silent patter of another's shoes.Sending a fleeting glance over his shoulder,Tommy's face remained ever docile as his sky blue eyes landed on a familiar figure donned in a purple hoodie;somehow the colour still left a lingering sense of hope in his chest,wishing for someone who would not come.

Monochrome split hair peeking out from beneath their hood,Ranboo reached forward,receiving the letter with a look of sullenness.Duel coloured eyes flicked over the words with ever growing concern,reaching the last word with glossy bug eyed shock.

"Tommy..."The name was breathed out in a warble like fashion,letter trembling in their hands as they held it with an iron grip - paper wrinkling beneath scared fingers.

"Tommy."Cracking voice and forgotten note left discarded on the tacky carpet littered in cigarette burns and suspious stains.

"Tommy!Open the door!"He screamed,banging his fist on the door insesently.

They didn't stop,repeating the process over and over again until their knuckles turned red raw and their throat burned from the shouting.Resting their head against the door,they breathed in and out repeatedly.Eyes closed while salt dribbled down his face with a hiss of burning skin.

Tommy grimaced,regret flooding into his gut like acid,burning his intestines and making his stomach twist painfully.He'd left the people he loved behind and built his life from scratch four times now:leaving the orphanage with Purpled;after the war with Dream;apon being kicked out of Nox;being relocated away from his family.

But somehow it never got easier.

Scrubbing his face with his hand,the brunette lingered.Damp spots and exposed pipes created a frame work of rusting metal and crumbling plaster.Mirky water dripped from a pipe further down the hall.It was probably the plumbing;plumbers had been called in a number of times to fix it but it never worked - most likely because they definitely weren't plumbers.Mournfully, Tommy wondered whether or not the ceiling tiles were screwed on properly.How much pressure would be needed for it to fall on him?Would the whole floor's ceiling tiles fall down or just this section?Would it cause all the floors above to cave in or-?

𝘋𝘰 𝘪𝘵 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘺,𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵.𝘕𝘰 𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴.

Dragging himself back to his apartment,Tommy slid down the wall and sat next to his friend-they didn't notice him,still crying.

"Tough day,innit?"

Ranboo's head snapped up,staring wide eyed at the brunette.Shock quickly turning to confusion then apathy.

"Hey Wil."He mumbled,hastily wiping the tears from his face;red raw skin left in their wake like smudged ink.

"What the fuck,dickhead!That is an insult to my brand!I am way more attractive than that lanky piece of shit!" Tommy screeched in offence,punching the vigilante in the arm with scowl.

Realisation slowly dawned on their face,mismatched eyes of green and red meeting blue for the first time in weeks.Immediately,he launched forward,tackling the younger in a bone crushing hug.Fleeting smiles of childish nostalgia and the comfort that comes with summer rain settled on their once sober faces.

Pulling back,Ranboo slapped the brunette in the face;Tommy squawked indignantly."Don't ever do that again,man.You scared me."

"I'm sorry i just...I've had a lot on my mind."The brunette replied,eyes flicking to the duffel bag beside him before returning back to the ceiling.

"Wait-since when did you have brown hair?"They questioned,reaching out and inspecting the curls of moonlight.

The sun having left to hide amongst the shadows till needed;mysterious and unpredictable behaviour of the night replaced to fill the void of old moons absence in city's time of need.No balance is restored as though the moon has been replaced,the sun is now left dormant.There was no way of helping that until the old moon returned.

For now,the sun would make up for the pair of them.

"Fuck off."Tommy laughed,batting the taller's hand away,mood quickly souring as thoughts of what was to come breathed down his neck like an ever present reminder of failure."Did you read the letter?"

"Yep.You gonna tell me why exactly your leaving?Is it something i did?Was it Wilbur?I swear to god if he did anything i will-i will punt him into the sun."Ranboo's normally joking tone turned antagonistic,emerald eye momentarily flashing to ruby before being quickly turned back once black eyelids slowly peeled back.

"No,no.I uh-i actually haven't seen Wil in a while.Is he okay?"Yearning for his friend seeped hopefully into his words at the thought of the man.

"Your stalling."They deadpanned.

"Fuck you.I-uh I've got to tell you something."

"Okay..."

𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵,𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘴.𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯.𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶.𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰'𝘭𝘭 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨.𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦,𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘴.

"I think it's better if i show you."Sighing in defeat,Tommy looked away from the ceiling.

"What?"

Lifting up his turtleneck,the brunette revealed his scared chest.Most importantly the fading amethyst tattoos that wrapped around his ribs like barbed wire.

Silence raged through the desolate hallway.The brunette watched with nervousness while the vigilante stared unseeing at the markings.Hand lifting from their side to take Tommy's wrist where the dull branding of Nox burned his skin as a vestige of his actions and there consequences.

Ranboo still didn't speak so Tommy spoke for him.

"I know it's difficult to take in.Realising that i, Tommy, your super awesome best friend is also Crimson Crusader-the best hero to ever walk the earth."He pulled his shirt down and covered the mark on his wrist-he felt exposed.

Terror seemed to flood over Ranboo's face with every word the brunette said.Desperation leeching onto him and sucking what little pigment remained in his skin,letting it drip into the matted capet."That's why your leaving:to get away from the bounties and Schlatt."

A small, proud smile ghosted the corners of the ex-hero's lips.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘸.

"No.If anything I'm diving head first into that shit." Tommy smirked,trying futilely to keep the light atmosphere in the conversation.

"By doing what?"Their tone was serious,eyes burning holes into the brunette's skull.

"I can't tell you much boob-boy except that I'll be gone for a while and i need you to go to Fruitberries;take this to him."Tommy explained,shoving the duffel bag into their hands before quickly taking it back and pulling a porcelain mask from it-immediately giving the bag back.

Ranboo however caught his hand.

"Your going into Schlatt territory?"Bemusement weaved through the words and tugged them back with a panicked laugh.It was blatantly clear that they wanted the question to be answered with a no.

However...

"Look,it's not as bad as it seems-"

"Your going to get yourself killed.Take one step in there and woah would you look at that a rioters blasted your brains out!"Hysteria spiralled out of their mouth,hands waved around frantically before he let out a loud gasp-panic crowding the petite hallway."Oh god, how am i going to tell Tubbo?How am i meant to tell Wilbur!He's going to blame me and then kill me because your dead!And-"

"Boob boy,shut up.I won't get fucking killed,I've got a disguise-"Waving the mask around for affect."-The pricks will think I'm one of them so they won't blast my brains out.That way you don't have to tell Tubbo and Wilbur won't kill you."

"Okay,okay.So i just gotta bring this to Fruit and that's it?"They eyed the bag suspiciously,distrust practically radiating from the vigilante.

"No.I'll also send you some photos which you need to to show to Fruit.Okay,bitch?"

"Yep.I can do that."Ranboo clapped his hands together,nodding to himself with furrowed brows.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭.

𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴,𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘵?

"Oh and don't tell Tubbo.Or Wilbur.Or anyone really."The brunette stressed vigorously.

Though he trusted both Wilbur and Tubbo,Tommy didn't want to many people knowing his real identity and Tubbo didn't seem to like Crimson too much:he didn't want to ruin their friendship.

Ranboo frowned but nodded all the less."Which district you going to?"

"Kinoko."Tommy admitted sheepishly,rubbing the back of his neck anxiously.

"Ah the belly of the beast.Yep,nothing can go wrong there.Maybe they'll stab you instead of shooting you."

"Ay,I'd prefer getting shanked over getting shot."

"Oh don't worry I'm sure they'll ask you what way you wanna go out."They drawled sarcastically with a roll of their eyes.

___

District 9,the central line,stop 34-second closest to the border between 9 and 10.Two hours after Schlatt's take over.

Panic flared through the cramped tube station,spilling out the cracks in the tiles and flooding out of the entrance in the form of terrified citizens.Crimson splattered onto the floor from their gapping wounds filled with ash and dirt.Frantic cries banged against the walls for loved ones lost amongst the crowd or left discarded on the concrete less than a mere mile away.

Going against the raging tsunami of desperate people,the brunette pushed through the crowd with his forearm held infront of him as a kind of shield whilst Ranboo held his hand in a death grip.Anxiety and fear laughing mockingly at them with every elbow and shoulder that barged into them.No one noticed the pair:too busy thinking about themselves.

After what felt like an eternity of being pushed around,they reached the terminal and clambered onto the tube.

It was empty.

The only sound that filled the eerily quite tube was the steady sound of Tommy's foot tapping against the floor and the chugging of the rackety vehicle as it approached their destination.

"You never told me how Wil was."The brunette acknowledged,trying to distract the monochrome boy from his spiralling thoughts.

"Oh yeah...He's not doing to good,man.Because your gone,he has no one to talk to about his feelings or thoughts so he just kinda explodes alot.Him and Techno even got in a fight and not just like a screaming and shouting one-it got violent."Their face was stoney,pulled from one set of spiralling thoughts into another.Grip on the younger's hand tightening while memories of foul words of venom that darted off a silver tongue of blades and brought nothing but scarlet terror.

Tommy stayed silent,guilt building up inside of him as he stared at the city skyline print on the chair opposite him.He hated the way the Nox tower loomed above the rest of the buildings like a beacon of hope.He hated the way the pedestal Schlatt had dubbed himself president on still adored some of the seats.Most of all though,he hated the crimson graffiti on the window infront of him.Phrase taunting him with the irony of the words.

𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝘿𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝
𝙇𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙇𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙙 & 𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚.

They got their independence but there was no 'or' in reality.

___

Snow crunched beneath their shoes,the hushed whispers of the wind following them through the deserted streets to the border.Although they hadn't yet entered district 10,the stench of smoke still dragged itself through the streets and clung to them like mud.For once,Tommy's feet weren't wet through due to wearing boots instead of trainers.His hands were numb though as was his nose.

The closer they come to the border,the more thickly solemnity languished in the midnight air.Ashen grey smoke pillared up into the sky in tornado like tendrils.Screams and the wails of both car and fire alarms alike danced through the streets before them.Biting wind whistling ominously at the pair and dragging them forwards.

The border itself wasn't very defined,concrete silhouettes continuing till the horizon,except for the bricks below them and the state of the buildings.With every descending district,the city grew more poor and dilapidated.9 transitioning to 10 went from darkening slabs of white to drab slates of cracking silver.

Tommy stopped at the last white slab,turning to his friend,breaking the silence that had hung heavy on their shoulders since their conversation on the tube."Well,this is me boob-boy."

At the words,Ranboo pulled their friend into a bone crushing hug,clinging to the brunette like a little kid on the first day of school.

"Your going to come back."It wasn't a question and that's why the brunette smiled:someone wanted him to come back.

"I'll try."

"No.Promise me you'll come back.What ever mission your doing is not worth your life,man."

"I promise."The lie was ash on his tongue.

He breathed in more ash.The grey dust travelling down his throat and into his lungs,squeezing them as a sullen reminder that his odds were helpless.Because Ranboo was wrong,this mission was worth more than Tommy's life.It was worth the lifes of so many people who could win the war for Pogtopia,people who were falsely imprisoned.

Pulling away from his friend,the ex-hero shot him one last reassuring smile before slipping on the porcelain mask that mimicked the rioters's leader.Now facing away from Ranboo,he took one last breath of freedom and stepped into enemy territory,stalking forward with his head held high.

He didn't look back.Not at Ranboo,not at his home,not at the only sense of safety he had.

Up above,no stars adored the sky.Purpled wasn't watching him.The thought filled him with dread.

___

On his way to Kinoko,he chose to take the deserted alleyways to avoid as much contact with rioters as possible;he also didn't want to see the aftermath of the harrying.As a result,it took him four hours to reach the distant.By then,dawn stretched on the horizon like a cat,rays of rosy gold illuminating the streets of Kinoko.

Tommy frowned.

The once bustling streets were now occupied by the odd rioter heading to the library.Mismatch buildings of towering marble skyscrapers that stood hand in hand with quaint little cottages where left abandoned,wilting over themselves and spilling tears of isolation onto the drab streets.All the greenery that once thrived,scrambling up the buildings,had died.Left in heaps of colourless decay on the cracking cobblestone floor.Once warm golden hue of the lights had dimmed to a harrowing amber,others snubbed out completely by smashed bulbs and toppled street lights.Mushroom rooftops overgrown so completely that they smothered most buildings and melted onto the desolate streets.

Weeds pocked out from the gaps between the cobblestone path.Stones dotted in soot and crimson,they gazed up at the boy with longing eyes that begged for his help.Like cracking porcelain dolls,the fragile,murky rocks grew nearer and nearer to shattering with every heavy footfall that beseeched them.

The library stood proud and tall amongst the other buildings like it always had but the crimson and jet banner that billowed over it's front killed it's ancient beauty.Dozens of rioters stood guard at it's flanks,tightly gripping sleek killing machines or allowing their power to flow through them.

It was like looking through a greyscale lense of fear and oppression.

Sauntering forward,Tommy relaxed his posture and shoved his hands into his pockets to shelter them from the cold,attempting to take on a more casual air.It worked flourlessly. The brunette had spent alot of time around rioters with Purpled during the revolution so both of them had practically memorised everything about them.

Rioters were pliant in every sense of the word.Practically brain dead to the point of ignorance but that didn't matter.Schlatt intended for that:rioters being mindless gave him absolute control.He only needs them to know how to follow orders and have no self preservation so they blindly throw themselves into battle.One thing that Schlatt loaths is that rioters are selfish and greedy.All of them care for the cause and believe in the ideals that the villian promotes but they will do anything to benefit themselves.The only way he can snuff such behaviour out if through harsh punishment in the form of his powers.

For most it would be an easy role to settle into but Tommy isn't selfish nor greedy nor pliant-far from it.Anti-authoritarian isn't the correct word for it but the brunette didn't like taking orders anymore and he didn't like addressing tyrants with any other name except profanities.

𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵 '𝘚𝘪𝘳'.

𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

𝘖𝘩 𝘯𝘰!𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦.𝘋𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐'𝘮 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.𝘖𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵,𝘪 𝘢𝘮.

𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶,𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵?𝘕𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵.𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘥 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴,𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴.

𝘖𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘸,𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥.𝘐 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦-

"Hey!"

𝘖𝘩 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘮𝘦.

Turning to the left,Tommy watched as an enforcer donned in a rioter mask hurriedly approached him.They were the same height as the ex-hero and carried the same uncaring air that he did.The thing that stuck out most was the artificial metallic haze that seemed to ripple through them;it reminded Tommy of what it looked like when Mirrage used his powers on undercover missions-mimicking another's face perfectly.

Now that he thinks about it,this person was on the news with Schlatt when he took district 12.They'd stood with the higher ups to the side of the villian.He thinks his name was Spy or something but Tommy didn't pay much attention to names just fighting styles,powers and kill counts.

During that broadcast,he'd been dead focused on the graffiti in the far left.Intricate colours that danced together with a resilient passion that screamed rebellion created the MCC symbol on the side of a red bricked wall.By now,it was probably gone,rioters attacking it with acid like water, but it made him smile nonetheless - some people were still fighting.

"Yes?"He immediately straightened his posture and saluted the man.

"You the messenger?"

"Yes,sir."Tommy grinned endlessly behind his mask.

𝘓𝘦𝘵'𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘰𝘴.

"Alright i need you to take this to Schlatt after your done with whatever business you've got to do.He's on the top floor."Spy hastily shoved a letter into the brunette's hand before storming off out of the building.Sleek black boots clicking arrogantly against the cobble.

Letter sitting heavy in his hands,the ex-hero opened it with as much care as if he were opening a packet of sweets.

ꜱɪʀ,

ɪᴛ ɪꜱ ᴄᴏɴꜰɪʀᴍᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴀᴘᴛɪɴ ᴘᴜꜰꜰʏ ɪꜱ ʀᴇᴛᴜʀɴɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇʀᴏ ʀᴀɴᴋꜱ ɪɴ ᴀᴛᴛᴇᴍᴘᴛꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ʟᴏᴏᴍɪɴɢ ᴡᴀʀ.ᴀꜱ ᴡᴇʟʟ ᴀꜱ ᴛʜɪꜱ,ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇ ꜱᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴀᴛʜᴇʀɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ'ᴠᴇ ᴀʀʀᴀɴɢᴇᴅ ꜰᴏᴜʀ ᴅᴀʏꜱ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ɴᴏᴡ ᴀᴛ ɴᴇᴠᴀᴅᴀꜱ.

-ꜱᴘʏ

Communicator at the ready,the boy sent an image of the letter to Ranboo before crumpling the paper and discarding it on the floor.The handwriting was oddly familiar but he couldn't quite work out where he'd seen the neat,even letters that were a stark contrast to his own scratchy letters.

Rage flooded over him at the notion that Puffy would be siding with Nox.This rage quickly subsided due to the realisation that there was no other side for her to pick.It was either Nox or Schlatt.She didn't know about what Tommy and Fruit were doing so she had no options;Nox had done that on purpose.Knowing she would never return to their ranks unless it was the only option.They'd cornered her.

The brunette could only hope Fruit could reach out to her before it was too late.

Tommy continued straight ahead,heading for the boudless rows of books.They were left untouched apart from a few lone books that had fallen off their shelves during the raid.

With the sober expression of a mourner,the brunette went through the familiar motions of putting antique hardbacks back in their snug homes.After the revolution,Tommy worked at Kinoko helping Karl in his free time after the vigilante insisted that the two keep in touch though the ex-hero didn't take much convincing:Karl was the person who new the most about Tommy and the ex-hero's only support system.

Which is exactly why Tommy needed to find this book.

After putting all the books back on the shelves,the boy forced himself to move up to the sixth floor,travelling two steps at a time.It was the language floor which meant it was completely deserted and untouched as most rioters didn't really have a taste for knowledge.

He began the slow process of weeding through the useless books brimming with knowledge in hopes of finding one that held the key to peace and emancipation.Even with the few languages that excised the books travelled on for miles.Now look,Tommy wasn't the most patient guy in the world,far from it,so being faced with a task that would take a painstakingly long time didn't fill him with euphoria.It felt like looking for a needle in a haystack.Occasionally, joy would rush through him as clumsy fingers brushed the spine of a book only to be disappointed apon reading the delicate, swirling letters of gold encrusted on them.

The weirdest book he'd found so far was titled:'Piglins,grunts and oinks'.Considering that Piglins were extremely hostile creatures and their hybrid successors were pugnacious and or seemingly invincible,it was a juxtaposition that made the brunette snort.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘬.

𝘐𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴.𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘢𝘸𝘬𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥.𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘢 𝘢𝘸𝘬𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥.

Tommy hadn't had many encounters with Blood God but from what Dream looked like after his fights with the villian,he was better off for it.Of course,Charged and Mirrage had their odd confrontation with the piglin hybrid but that was before the Syndicate was infamous so they weren't as powerful.However,Blood God was always an amazing fighter and the amount of times the vigilante duo had come out on top was a mystery to him.

The brunette was plucked from his thoughts as his finger ran across a particularly scaly book.Pulling it out from the shelf,he inspected it.Ancient with it's near crumpling yellow pages that would soon be nothing but dust.Cover of emerald scales that glinted ominously in the dim lanterns around them.The title was scratched out in square letters of soot that stretched across the page like shadows:𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘦.

Tommy grinned.

Lowering himself to the ground,he pulled his phone out and promptly started recording,making sure that every page was captured and readable for his friend.Crumpled amber pages practically see though under the light and near crumbling under even the gentlest of touches.Intricate symbols that resembled that of the cryptic blueprints that littered Fruit's base in Origins settled on the pages like freshly fallen snow.

The final page was blank apart from a simple symbol that the brunette did not recognise.Tommy closed it with a thud of dust,sending the video to Ranboo and sliding the book back onto it's shelf.

𝘙𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦.𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘣.

Descending the stairs with haste and reaching the ground floor,the boy took silent,casual steps as he made his way to the long forgotten archives.

Like most of Kinoko,the bottom most floor was deserted.Light was sparse due to lack of demand meaning the brunette had to take one of the few lanterns of the wall.Mahogany floors and navy walls made up the monotonous hallways that twisted left and right in an inescapable maze.

He used one hand to hold the lantern whilst the other brushed the wall with a ghost like touch.Cool and bumpy texture grounding Tommy as he stared dead ahead,following the familiar route until he reached a metallic door.

Pushing it open,he was met with a wave of silence,winter and age;the door slammed shut behind him,sound echoing loudly in the desolate room.Darkness glared at him from the inside but the room welcomed him with open arms.Files of long forgotten documents beam down on their old friend while he ventures further and further into the room.

Tommy's steps were certain and calculated after having done this a million times.Black boots walked through the time capsule of memories that he'd locked away forever in hopes of keeping that part of his life preserved for generations to come-preserving Purpled's legacy.He'd spent hours organising the information his time spent at Kinoko after the war.Karl and him having gone into hiding from the Cleansing,the elder having to make up an excuse to get Tommy excused from his hero duty's during it.

𝘐'𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘒𝘢𝘳𝘭,𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘰.

Thinking about it now,Purpled would curse him eternally if he saw how the brunette had organised the place;saying something like 'This is great,this is so fun.I'm so happy that this loser doesn't know how to fucking file shit'.

Tommy had ordered it by his favourite letter meaning T was at the back and Z is at the front because it's 'weirdly shaped'.

Which is why B is in the middle.

Walking along the aisle he counted twenty draws before crouching down,lantern sitting obediently beside him like a loyal dog.The draw itself took awhile to open but that was to be expected seen as it hadn't been opened in four years.It opened with a disapproving click as it throw Tommy back at the force of it.With a huff,he rifled through the files:

ʙᴜꜱɪɴᴇꜱꜱ ʙᴀʏ - ꜰɪɢʜᴛɪɴɢ ʀɪɴɢꜱ

ʙᴜꜱɪɴᴇꜱꜱ ʙᴀʏ - ꜰɪɢʜᴛɪɴɢ ʀɪɴɢ ᴡɪɴɴᴇʀꜱ

ʙᴜꜱɪɴᴇꜱꜱ ʙᴀʏ - ᴍᴀɴʙᴜʀɢ

ʙᴜꜱɪɴᴇꜱꜱ ʙᴀʏ - ɴɪɢʜᴛᴍᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴛɴᴇʀꜱʜɪᴘꜱ

ʙᴜꜱɪɴᴇꜱꜱ ʙᴀʏ - ɴᴏx ᴘᴀʀᴛɴᴇʀꜱʜɪᴘꜱ

ʙᴜꜱɪɴᴇꜱꜱ ʙᴀʏ - ꜱʏɴᴅɪᴄᴀᴛᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴛɴᴇʀꜱʜɪᴘꜱ

ʙᴜꜱɪɴᴇꜱꜱ ʙᴀʏ - ᴛᴏxɪɴ

With a grin,he plucked the folder from the draw,opening it with haste and a communicator in hand.Pictures of the file taken and quickly sent off,most importantly a certain contract.

Before Warden was a 'hero' and owned Pandora,he was a vigilante known as Toxin.A vigilante who worked for the Bay.He worked on the redstone of the place and helped engineer the Manburg lased bullets.Everyone who joined the Bay as a member had to sign a fixed-term contract (which means they have to work for the gang for a set period of time) and Warden,having thought the gang would stay afloat,signed for an extended contract.Hense,he was still technically an employee of the Bay meaning he had to take orders from the gangs leaders;he had to take orders from Tommy.

The brunette didn't plan on using this any time soon but it could come in handy and now he could use the information as he pleased.

Bang.

The door to the archives slammed open.Quickly followed the the clanking of metal against the floor as the footsteps drew nearer.

Immediately,Tommy blew out the lantern and shoved the file back in draw with his communicator-sim card already taken out and clutched tightly in a white knuckled grip.Closing the draw as quietly as possible,the ex-hero creeped further into the shadows,crushing his sim card beneath his heel and cursing himself for what he did hours prior:If he hadn't been so impulsive he could of provented this.

The footsteps grew closer.

Tommy's back hit the wall.

Dead end.

Fear clawed inside of him and tried desperately to escape his hopeless body and scramble into the shadows that surround it.Embodied in a wispy,tar coloured slug leaving a dark trail behind as it cowered from the monster that approached.

The brunette's eyes darted left and right in hopes of finding an escape but his efforts were futile.

The intruder turned down the aisle Crimson was in.Spitting green toxins from their mask as venomous eyes bore into the traitor.Sapphire crackled through the room as their trident turned to stun,illuminating the figure before the ex-hero.

He couldn't fight his way out of this if he tried.

Crimson Crusader raised his hands in surrender.

Deimos and now Phobos had deserted the night sky.Leaving Pogtopia in eternal twilight.

Chapter Text

Flashing lights in the darkness.Loud noises of metal hitting metal.A distinct murmur up ahead, followed by a crackly response.Laboured breathing surrounds him,matched with the rattle of chains.

Bang.

Pain flares up his side as he smashes into a wall with a tortured groan.He can feel bolts digging into his ribs,cool metal sending spider like goosebumps scuttling up his body.Quickly terminated by the arduous panting that thrashed manically inside the small place,warm air hitting his sweat slick face.

Warm air hitting his sweat slick face.

𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘵.

His eyes snapped open at the thought.

He had no mask.

He was exposed.

Frantically scanning the cramped place,he realised that he wasn't the only one maskless.Ten people are in the vehicle with him.He doesn't recognise them,the people imprisoned by enchanted manacles that let of an eerie violet hue.He wonders about their lives and their crimes.The seat left vacant at the dinner table, children left hungry,their beds with paper thin sheets left unmade.Partners waiting anxiously by the door for a lover who wouldn't return.Family and friends frowning with every missed call and unread message.Missing person cases dumped in the eternal sea of lost souls that grew greater by the second. They never would find out what happened to these people;you could call it mercy.

Lights flickered again.Squares of gold flying past them as they chugged down an underground railway of some sorts.

Looking down,the brunette finds burnt skin in the centre of his chest from where Warden had stunned him.Something on his shoulder blade prickles with every brush against the cool metal.His handcuffs aren't enchanted instead there dull,mirky grey and digging into his wrists.Shirtless with no shoes,leaving his feet to squirm in the filth beneath them.Black and white,striped trousers is all he has.The drab, monochrome symmetry of a prisoner.

He was going to Pandora.

Everyone else on this train had committed an unspeakable crime of some sort - he had not.

The train lurches forward,throwing him against the wall,again.This time,it brings the man beside him crashing into the brunette.

He's a fish hybrid of sorts.Jagged gills and ultramarine scales bleeding into pale scarred skin;scales sinking into the gaps between Tommy's ribs painfully as he's squashed against the wall.Broad and muscular in a way that Tommy could never been but Blood God is.

Lunging forward once again,the train shuddered violently and shoved the man off of the ex-hero before going back to it's boudless journey that promised nothing but misery.

Time slipped between the gaps in Tommy's fingers like sand.Stuttering momentarily with every jarring reel,bodies thrown around carelessly.Seconds refusing to pass until the warm,sweat covered bolders are tossed aside again.

No one else wakes.

It's just Tommy.Surrounded by bodies that refuse to stir even with the salvo of sounds that bombard them relentlessly.

It's a familiar thing.

He's been surrounded by bodies in a war like environment;except this time he is granted the comfort of their shallow breathing and warm skin.

He sighs.Head falling back against the wall whilst his eyes slide shut and he's launched into a restless sleep.Hand clutching the El Rapids necklace that sits comfortably in his palm.

____

Finished with his cigarette,and dropping it hissing into the water with acquiescence,he flushed it down the toilet.Watching it swirl down the drain,he slowly forgot what was bothering him.Glasses pushed up into his hair,Wilbur splashed his face with the freezing water of the tap to try wash the fatigue that stained his hollow face.

Mahogany eyes flickered up to meet their reflection in the mirror.In all honesty,he looked terrible.Hair askew,eye bags becoming less of a subtle lavender and more a deep violet with every hour he put off sleep;insomnia the only consistent thing in his life because it was one of the reasons for his outbursts but never the recipient of his cruel words.

His fight with Techno was a week ago now but still remained fresh in his mind.Put on a loop that is the bane of both his waking and sleeping hours, tearing him from work and slumber into spiralling thoughts of regret. Sure,it was his fault in everyway and he shouldn't of reacted in the way he did.However,his brother had been mocking him-everyone was.Laughing like hyenas at every glimpse they got of the brunette.Pulling at the strings that hung from him and unraveling him till he was nothing more than a pile of thread on the floor.He could see their eyes burning holes into his back.Feel them prodding him in hopes of getting a reaction.𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳 them as they whispered things of deceit and prying pity.

He was weak.They saw him as weak so he was weak.

Shattered porcelain put back together again only to crumble.

He had to prove that he wasn't weak.If not just to spite Techno then to prove to himself that kindness wasn't a virtue he required.Siren was ruthless,calculated and powerful.He didn't need kindness because he was feared. But he doesn't just want to be feared,he wants to be respected. 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯,𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘣𝘰𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺-𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘺𝘭𝘦."𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦'𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘬𝘪𝘤𝘬." "𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶,𝘮𝘢𝘯!𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰.𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘺𝘱𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦."𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 - 𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯,𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹-𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰'𝘴 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯. "𝘐'𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵.𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵.𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘸𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘐'𝘮 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱."𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦. "𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵,𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘴. 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦,𝘚𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘯." What the hero had said was true and had been eating away at the man for months now.Unlike Phil and Techno,only some people respected him but not all;he had to change that.

He didn't need to be Wilbur anymore,no one wanted nor needed that.No,he needed to be Siren.Every good part of him was leeched away by that ghost and then by Tommy when he left, leaving nothing but the rotten core that was Siren in their wake.

Turning off the tap,rushing of water coming to a halt,he stalked out of the bathroom.Water continuing to drip from the tap slowly, it's sole purpose to irritate him endlessly.Immediately, he began to pick at his cuticles.

Picking the skin around his fingernails till they bled was one of his only comforts apart from smoking and drinking.It reminded him of Tommy.Once,he had reprimanded the boy for it but now he was starting to see the appeal for such a habit.

The walls around him were cracked.Blackstone crumbling off of them and wilting in miserable piles on the matching floors.Boot coming forward,he kicked a particularly large chunk.It tumbled, jumped and floundered over itself before stopping,only for the man to kick it again.As he continued down the hallway repeating the action,the stone slowly withered away until it was nothing but a minuscule piece of rock.

Bending down,he picked it up and shoved it in his pocket.

Orange lights flickered above him and casted golden patches on the cramped space.Amber chasing away the cool darkness that plagued the seemingly endless tunnels.Smoke clung to the air,shivering in the artic environment.

Wilbur had been down here since his argument with Techno.Having fled the Syndicate base,this was the only place they wouldn't search for him - if they searched for him at all that is.He didn't think they'd look for him unless they needed him for a job but seen as he was deemed a 'liability' that wouldn't be happening anytime soon:he was safe here.

Here being the 'sewers' as Crimson so lovingly dubbed it.

It took him a while to remember the exact place one of the two openings he'd been shown was.Said time only extended as he tried to rember the symbol the hero had traced on the wall.Eventually,he figured it out after brute forcing his way:randomly drawing shapes on the stone until it opened.

Unlike Crimson,the villian had no knowledge of how to navigate the 'sewers' which made the experience all the more interesting.Wilbur loved geography so getting to map out and explore an entirely new place was like paradise to him.So far,he'd found the bathroom he was just in,the room the pair slept in,a library,an exit that lead straight into the Las Nevadas casino and another that lead to Kinoko.

His favourite discovery was the library.It was cosy with warm lighting and wooden bookshelves.What made it so interesting though was the books.There was poetry of the likes of Percy Shelley,Molly Pitcher,Phillis Wheatly and William Blake;poets who wrote about revolution and anti-establishment.Suggesting that Crimson had similar views to the Syndicate on government and strong opinions on the 16th revolution.Nox states that the hero killed both Charged and Mirrage but based off what Wilbur had seen,it wasn't something the blonde was capable of.

𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘢𝘸 𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯.𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯.

Charged and Mirrage.Now that is an interesting topic.Ranboo,Tubbo and Jack seemed to be obsessed with the vigilantes.Wilbur could see the appeal,they did great work during the war and he would of loved to pick Charged's brain on his campaigning and such but the war-hero was dead.Ender supposedly taking up the deceased vigilante's mantle whilst Hive took Mirrage's;it was a ludicrous idea in Wilbur's opinion.

Ranboo and Tubbo weren't vigilantes of the people and didn't have the same knowledge nor experience as their predecessors.Mirrage,also known as Shadow,was still breathing and trying to help but the mercenary wasn't the main reason for the revolution's success in the villian's opinion.Charged was good at what he did and got the people on his side with a skill far greater than strength in that situation:rhetoric.He was persuasive in his words in a way that inspired people and brought them together.Wilbur, if he so pleased, could do the same and that was why he liked Charged - they were one in the same whilst also being opposites.

Like Siren and Crimson.

Flipping his glasses back down over his eyes,the brunette squinted,taking in the hallway before him.At the end of the jet waste land,there was a door.The weird symbol on it's handle is what set it apart from the other doors and informed him that this was unexplored territory.

He grinned.

Stalking forward with newfound vigour,Wilbur grasped the door handle and flung it open.Head pocking through the doorway, he inspected the cramped space.Crates apon crates were stacked erratically up to the ceiling,in such a disorderly way that a single breath could send them tumbling to the ground.It made the villian anxious just looking at it.

Venturing further into the room,he carefully ran his hand over one of the rough wooden boxes.There was no address nor hints towards what they contained.There was however a blood red stamp on the side of every container,more specifically a warning sign.

Dagger from Techno plucked from it's home inside his trench coat,Wilbur wedged it under the lid and,with strenuous amounts of effort,pulled the wooden slate off.Meet with a cloud of dust that violently assaulted his tar coloured lungs of soot.Coughing achingly, he gazed inside.

𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘦!𝘖𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘦𝘹𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳!

A lifetime's supply of TNT sat in neat packs of four,piled ontop of eachother inside the wooden prison.Unlike normal TNT,the sticks themselves were navy instead of their usual red and white.These were old,most likely pre-revolution.On top of this,they didn't need any elaborate redstone to be be set off;they required a single spark.One stick able to inflict mass damage on anything with in a one meter radius.Modern explosives used gunpowder and redstone whereas the pre-revolution kinds used both ghast tears and firecharges:both banned as it was deemed inhumane to take such things from hybrids,of which half the population consists.

As you can see,Wilbur has scarily extensive knowledge on TNT and explosives in general.While it was one of Siren's main gimmicks to blow things up,it was also because of the war.The villian,though telling everyone he worked on the frontlines,actually worked on artillery behind the scenes (more specifically explosives).Whilst also setting up minefields and dropping bombs on the rioters's side of the trench.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘪𝘵!

He needed to prove to Phil and Techno that he was still Siren - still useful.And what better way then by going back to his roots and causing some chaos?

He always did love harrying.

____

Number seven.He been lugging crates of explosives through the tunnels to the Las Nevadas exit for hours now.Splinters pierced his palms while deep red lines ate into his hand where he had clutched the box.Going through the arduous process of manual labour,thoughts that had been shunned to the side,so he could focus on his spiralling ideas of how to prove himself,began to rise.

Why did Crimson have so many explosives?

They can't belong to anyone else as the hero was the only one who knew of the place - apart from Siren.He could of handed them into Nox after the war but he didn't.

𝘏𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘕𝘰𝘹.

Wilbur didn't find this new development surprising due to Nox throwing the blonde out like a used cigarette.Although they try to cover it up as them abandoning a traitor to both the city and the complex,that wasn't the reason they fiered Crimson.What said reason was,Wilbur doesn't know.

Time Warp on the other hand.

He placed the crate down with the others,though there were hundreds of boxes left,seven would be plenty.Taking his mask from his pocket,he tied it into place before reaching forward.

Odd symbol etched into cool metal pressed against his palm,he opened it.Nothing stirred on the other side.It was the basement of the Las Nevadas casino.Littered in poles and beams that made up the buildings infrastructure.The second these bombs went off,the place would collapse.It was dim in there,not a single light in the desolate room except for the beams of gold that reached in from under the door.Dust frantically scuttled around in the shadows and brought the damp stench of pipes and liquor with it.In the corner on the room,from what Wilbur could see in the sparse light,sat crates of alcohol and tanks of beer.

He grinned.The notion of explosives mixing with alcohol filling him with unfathomable glee:the damage he was about to inflict multiplying ten fold with the new found fuel.

Quickly piling the crates next to the alcohol,he placed a singular stick ontop of the seven crates.Waltzing out of the dim room into the hallways of Las Nevadas and searching the bright aisles of quartz.Above him, on the ceiling,sat a camera.

𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵.

Waving to it with a sardonic grin,Siren returned back into the room;he had to ensure that he got the nesessery credit for his work or what's the point?Pulling a cigarette from his pocket,he lit it with the lighter Crimson had given him,blackstone cool against his skin.Inhaling the death stick of nicotine,he dropped it onto it's grave.Embers spitting off the TNT as the cigarette burned.

Abandoning the room slowly,the villian closed the door and listened.

A low hissing could be heard.

Suddenly,sound bombarded him,ears ringing as the explosives went off.He grinned,stumbling away from the havoc,'sewers' trembling with each explosion.Nicotine stained fingers twitching as he left but he was unable to quench their thirst for smoke until he was safely out of these tunnels and away from the TNT.

Hazel eyes became immersed in his shoes as to distract him from the thunderous applause coming fron behind him.Wilbur no longer needed to pay attention to where he was going after walking the route twelve times now.Originally,his shoes were black but now they were covered in filth:dried blood filled the gaps in the leather,soot and dirt rebuilding a once great civilisation that used to sit on the earth.

He'd been wearing the same clothes for the past week,having not brought any spares apon fleeing the Syndicate.Only venturing out occasionally to see where a door led.Food was stocked up as if Crimson was preparing for a nuclear fallout.

𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸'𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨,𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

Akin to the first time he'd been there,duffel bags filled with supplies were littered around the tunnels.So he had some T-shirts to pick between and a couple of cloaks but that was it.His trench coat was a thing of rags now,still he continued to ware it;it kept him from freezing and that's all that mattered.

Striding back into the room to ensure nothing was amiss,he froze.

There.

Infront of him,on the floor sat a trench coat.He picked it up.It was one of revolutionary ones that MCC members wore.White,navy and red with gold buttons and covered in soot and dried blood,rips and holes littering it lovingly.Unlike the faux version worn by enforcers,it had the two clashing vinyls on each collar.

Inspecting it further,Wilbur found a name tag inside:

𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙄𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙨
𝙍𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 18

Mahogany blew wide as his jaw fell open,eyebrows furrowing as a memory flooded over him.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘩𝘺𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦,𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮.𝘐𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺,𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯,𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 16𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘶𝘱 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 - 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦.𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘫𝘰𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯:"𝘈𝘵 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦,𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘳.𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶,𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘐𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘴?"

His grip tightened on the well used fabric,it's shoulders crumpling beneath the vice like grip.He tried futilely to shake some sense into the boy,clutching his shoulders as he begged Tommy to deny the thoughts that seeped into the villian's brain.It was no use,the blonde slipping through the fabric,leaving the man grasping desperately at nothing but air and fabric.

"𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯,𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺?"

"𝘖𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴.𝘠𝘰𝘶?"

"𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘦."

Wilbur doubled over,falling to his knees with a terrified look on his face.

"𝘗𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘺?"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘪𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘺𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯,𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯.

"𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘩,𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰?"𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘱 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘦,𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦.

"𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘯?"

"𝘚𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘯 18."

"𝘈𝘩,𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴.𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴,𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵."𝘏𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳 (𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵),𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬.

𝘗𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘥,𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺,𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘦.

𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨.

Realisation fell apon him in the form of ice cold sweat that dribbled down his body.Stomach reeling,he threw up,eyes unseeing as he thought of all the times he'd been with Tommy and all the times he'd hurt Crimson.

Tommy goes missing after Ranboo's disappearance,the same time Crimson disappears.Immediately after El Rapids,when Crimson is rescued from Corpse,he shows up again out of the blue acting as if nothing happened.The blonde being able to floor Techno at Tubbo's house.He'd hugged Wilbur when he saw him crying because Crimson knew him and he cared because he's Tommy - Wilbur's brother.

They were one in the same:Tommy was Crimson.

And Wilbur was a fool.

______

Jolting awake,Tommy rapidly scanned the room.It was the same,everything was the same.

Except it wasn't.

Something was different:they weren't moving.All the others were beginning to stir.No lights flickered past them and the train didn't lurch forward.It was dark,the stench of body odor writhing in the small space as the sound of shallow breathing filled his ears.Snapping his head to the left,he was meet with a pair of navy eyes glaring down at him.

Tommy gulped.

The fish hybrid's eyes trailed down and landed on the boy's cuffs,he grinned maliciously."Oi ye guyes."

Everyone in the train looked over,alert and attentive.

"We goot ars'elves a blank."

Howls of laughter echoed through the cramped space,convicts banging their feet against the floor brutishly.Quickly silenced by the door to Tommy's right slamming open.

In the archway stood a broad man, face covered by a silver mask with red circular lenses for eyes.Donned in an evergreen cloak and wielding a steel staff with a crackling peak-where pugnacious electricity danced freely and begged for a fight.

"Alright move it."He barked,moving to the side so the prisoners could get passed.

He was a Hybris guard.

(Lore time for you lot:The guards at Pandora are named after the greek deities of the seven evils trapped inside Pandora's Box:greed,gluttony,lust,pride,wrath,sloth and envy.)

No one moved,so Tommy went first.

𝘗𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘴.

Jumping out of the train,the boy was meet with a blazing heat and what appeared to be a scarlet version of cobblestone that coated the floors,walls and ceiling.The ground scorched his bare feet as he stumbled forward.The Hybris pointed him to the prison.

It was a colossal thing of blackstone bricks that loomed over the boy imposingly.Castle like in it's shape, pillars rising up at each corner with watchtowers ontop,machine guns lined across the roof as Ares guards vigilantly patrolled around it.Said spires ensnared bubbling lava that longed to flud out and engulf the ex-hero.It smelt of smoke,the oppressive heat furthering the sweat that dripped from the boy's scared chest.The only entrance was a large gap in the wall surrounded by dozens of Ares guards.

Another Hybris guard approached the boy,grabbing his arm and shoving him forward.The other prisoners quickly evacuated the train and followed after the brunette;sea of eyes lingering on the lightning scar in the center of his back and the fresh branding of Pandora that was identical to that of their own.

Apon reaching the grand entrance,another Hybris guard escorted them.The inside was a labryth of boudless blackstone halls the only light being that of the sizzling lava that was deep set in the walls.After a while,they reached a handful of guards - Narcissus guards.They were upon the new comers at once and scanned them with weird devises that beeped loudly.One guard approached the brunette,device scanning him but it didn't beep.Grunting,the guard moved onto the next person.

The fish hybrid snuck up behind the ex-hero.

"Neh powers and neh hybrid genes.Yous a blank then.Dere gonna eat yous alive in dere."He drawled with a crule smirk,voice thick with the southside Pit accent."U'less yous in tha un'authorist sec'ion but e dout yous will bees."

Spinning around,Tommy slammed his wrist into the guys face.A loud crack echoed through the room as his metal manacles broke the hybrid's nose,cutting deep into his skin;crimson splattering onto both the brunette and the man's face.

Immediately,a Narcissus guard grabbed the ex-hero and dragged him away from the hybrid,who sat clutching his nose in utter shock.

"Leave him be."Warden's voice boomed through the room as he approached Tommy.The boy recoiling into himself as the creeper hybrid clutched his arm in a death like grip."I have to take him to the unauthorised section anyway."

Now look,Tommy may be in a terrible situation -with being in an inescapable prison and all- but that doesn't mean he's any less himself.Making eye contact with the fish hybrid,he flipped him off with a triumphant grin as he was pulled away by Warden.

The journey to the unauthorised section was silent until the pair reached a set of descending stairs.

"According to the records your name is Thomas Innes,Crimson.However that's not true,is it?"

Tommy didn't answer staring straight ahead as he walked down the stairs.He clenched his jaw.

"So tell me,is it Thomas Innes,Tom Taken as Masquerade is technically still your legal guardian or is it Tom Simons."

This did make the brunette react.Turning around and facing Warden,he stared at the man in shock:Tom Simons was the name he used in school with Purpled.

"How the fuck?"He breathed,a million ticks of emotion flying over his face before he was able to turn it apathetic again.

"English,sixth to seventh grade."

"Fucking-Mr.Sam?"Tommy stuttered after a moment,utter shock hitting him like a tsunami.

Mr.Sam,his English teacher.Who had snuck him and Purpled sandwiches because the orphanage didn't feed them the night before.The man who fixed things around the school with his building powers.Mr.Sam, one of the kindest people Tommy had ever had the pleasure of meeting,was Warden.

It didn't fit.

Though it never does.

"You never said you were a blank.Which is why your going in the unauthorised section so you don't get murdered by your cell mate."

"I get my own room?"

"No.You just get a cell mate who won't maul you to death."He laconically drawled,unconsciously fiddling with the golden armour on his hands.

"Wow,thanks big man."Tommy spat sarcastically.

Sam remained silent.

The brunette didn't want to think about Warden or his real identity at this point.Instead choosing to think about the bullet he'd dodged with his fake identities holding up just enough that his true one wasn't found.Tom Simons wasn't his real name,Sam just fought it was and Tommy had to let the man think he was right for this plan to work.

They'd reached the unauthorised section.Jet black walls of glossy obsidian ingrained with cracks that glow amethyst akin to the tracing of the brunette's ribs.Instead of lava illuminating the desolate halls of endless darkness,redstone lamps swayed high up above and casted a dim ruby hue on the place.Tommy cringed as he walked,filth from his feet both staining and waking the once pristine quartz tiles that tried to sleep soundly beneath him.

Broken wails and broken cries for help reached for him through the craters in the walls where prisoners resided.Many people remained silent and cowered in the corner of their cell,drowning in self pity.His noise scrunched up,the stench of burnt flesh,blood and sweat assaulting his nostrils relentlessly.

Most, if not all, the prisoners stared at the boy as he passed,heads tilted to the side,one thought connecting them:what was someone so young doing here?

Sapphire eyes gazed into each cell in hopes of seeing a familiar face but there was none.

"Tommy?"A raspy voice called out from beside him.

Or so he thought.

Head snapping to the left,he locked eyes with Sapnap.Opening his mouth to respond,he was abruptly stopped by Warden dragging him forward.The brunette didn't try to fight back - he had to preserve his energy.

𝘐 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘪 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘥𝘥 𝘚𝘢𝘱𝘯𝘢𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦.

Distantly,he wonders if Fruit and Ranboo have meet up yet.

A key rattles and his handcuffs are removed before he is roughly thrown into a cell.Obsidian jarring his ribs,the brunette scrambled to his feet,glaring at Warden with as much venom as he could muster.

"Have a nice day,Toxin."He mocked,knowing grin splitting across his face as the hybrid froze.

Warden remained unmoving for a moment.Eyes of poison shifting from Tommy to something on his left.He spat his next words with so much venom that it could of killed everyone in the prison:"He's a blank."

With that,the man left,the clung of metal dissipating with his heavy footfalls.

Sighing,the hero let himself fall to the floor,head resting on his knees.Completely ignorant to the presence beside him that burned holes into his head and the uneven stuttering of a heartbeat that wasn't his own.

He was too transfixed on Warden's words:'𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘬.'

____

𝘉𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨,𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦,𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥,𝘴𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘴.𝘛𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘦.𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯,𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺.

𝘈𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘢 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘴,𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦.𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘳,𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘸,𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘪𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥.𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵,𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵.

𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦,𝘩𝘦'𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴.𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦,𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘴𝘩.𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦,𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯.𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦,𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴.

𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙣'𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙪𝙡𝙩.

𝘏𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥.

𝘈𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘬𝘰,𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘳.

𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴,𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥.𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵,𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨.𝘚𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦,𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵,𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘦𝘳.

𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸,𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘸𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯,𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴.𝘍𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘭,𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳.𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯,𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘢𝘹 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭.

𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘪𝘭,𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘦𝘸𝘭,𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘴𝘬𝘺.𝘖𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱.𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘱𝘵𝘭𝘺,𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺,𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘺.

𝘏𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴.𝘛𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦.

𝘚𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘗𝘰𝘨𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮.𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺,𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘴.𝘏𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯,𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘱.𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴,𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥.

𝘚𝘶𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘭𝘺,𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺.𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨.

𝘍𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺,𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳;𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘦.𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦.𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥.

𝘗𝘰𝘨𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘷𝘶𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳.

𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘭.

Chapter Text

Damp.That was the only way he could think of describing the place.Puddles littered the floor and reflected the dank scenery around them.Oil stained smog that hung thickly over the district left the place with a murky yellow hue.Further complimented by the hazy amber lights that hung from the towering apartment blocks,standing shoulder to shoulder in the cramped place.Layered blocks of concrete were littered with squat windows that glowed flouresent white in the night.Cables,wires,pipes and fire escapes made up the districts canopy,metal and rubber tree branches hanging low whilst others united the buildings.Billboards joined said branches,sitting at eye level so every passerby had to gaze apon the advertisement.

It was boiling,the underground city unable to rid itself of the heat radiated off the denes population.Acrid stench of smoke,alcohol and mold lingered in the humid atmosphere,assaulting the blonde's nose from where he sat,perched, atop a building;he gazed into an alleyway with Masquerade and Punz at his side.

Purpled hated it here:Business Bay.The place held bad memories that he didn't want to relive and he wasn't really in the mood for a confrontation with the gang.

Below them,in the alleyway,there was a drug deal going on between Schlatt and Business Bay.More specifically Dolos with a handful of rioters and Deo who was accompanied by a handful of his best men.

The fox hybrid and his goons looked the same as always:drab black clothing and white porcelain masks.

Deo donned sunglasses, a christmas hat,neon orange tie and a sleek black suit,guns sitting heavily in their holsters.The men behind him dressed similarly to the rioters but with mask littered in random blotches of red,orange with light and dark blue that covered their mouth and nose.Some held their hands poised at the ready to unlease their powers whilst others held big guns which required both hands to be held.

The Bay's gang consisted of brutish members who were strong,qualified hitters making their opponents seem obsolete.However,this meant they were slow in their attacks.The rioters on the other hand,were a rag tag,unqualified bunch of volunteers.For a mission such as this,Dolos must of been issued a set of more able fighters then most but the Bay still had the upper hand.

The two mercenaries and the hero had pretty good odds, in Purpled's opinion.They were quick (countering the Bay) and they were trained (countering the rioters).

Although they didn't know exactly what drug was being traded,the blonde had a pretty good guess:Manburg.

"You took your time."Deo drawled,completely uninterested in the situation,hands stuffed in his pockets.

Normally,the gang leader would never stoop so low as to deal with measly drug trades but since the war,there was no one else to do so:Tommy,Luke and Bitzle dead while Purpled was emancipated from the gang.Wisp was alive but he was more underground than the other leaders,preferring to tinker with his inventions and experiment with chemicals.

"Where's the product?"Dolos sneered,obviously annoyed at the lack of respect shown by the brunette before him;his ginger hair raised like goosebumps as aggravation bubbled beneath his pale skin.

Deo didn't answer instead pulling his communicator from his pocket and typing something before it disappeared from view.

Punz shot Purpled a quirked brow,getting a shrug in return.

Silence fell over the group for a second.Then,the steady sound of an engine slowly tore it apart;a sleek black van rolled up behind the Bay's members,waiting there like an obedient dog.Two lackeys left Deo's side and opened the vans doors-crates of Manburg filling the place.

"I'm gonna go take care of the driver so they can't escape but just to be certain I'll slash the tyres as well."Punz whispered,getting up to leave,eye of ender in hand.

"Don't slash the tyres:we still have to transport the Manburg safely out of here."Came a mumbled reply from Masquerade,eyes never straying from the gangs bellow.

Purpled's brother nodded,silently disappearing off the lip of the roof.

With keen eyes,the blonde ensured that his brother was safe before his eyes flicked back to Deo.

"I've held up my end of the bargin,now you hold up yours.Where's my folder."It wasn't a question more of a demand as it echoed ominously through the desolate streets,bouncing off the concrete buildings and ricocheting high into the air.

Dolos slowly approached the gang leader,stopping in the middle with his arm out stretched - folder in hand.

"All clear.We ready to move in?"Punz's voice crackled down the ear piece;it pitched slightly making Purpled wince.

Leaping off the roof with practiced ease,the ex-vigilante softened his fall with a roll.Rightening himself,he snatched the file out of Dolos's hand and threw it into a random window - information disappearing into the mirror realm.Grin on his face,easily falling into a more Mirrage like persona rather then that of Shadow, the blonde waved at Deo.

"Ohhh,my bad dude.I was going to give you that file myself but my hand slipped and poof!It's gone.That's awkward.That's so awkward not gonna lie to you,that is really awkward."Purpled pronounced,feigning shock and sympathy as he spoke.

"Mirrage.Your supposed to be dead."Gun pulled from it's holster and aimed at the younger with a malicious click.

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘬𝘬𝘬.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨?𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘮!𝘖𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵,𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥.

Heart sinking to the pit of his stomach and being brutally crushed by his diaphragm.The name rings horribly in his mind.It felt like time had stopped at that the use of one word.Buildings shattering as it raged through the city,destroying everything in it's wake.

The name a divider:Before and After.He felt like a little kid again.

Eyes snap towards him in shock,all except Deo and Punz - they already knew.

An upper hand extends,taken instantly by the three intruders.

"Shadow,you get the rioters.Me and Punz will cover the Bay."Masquerade commands, dropping down beside the younger and tackling Deo to the ground - the brunette's gun clattering down beside them.

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘵.𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘐'𝘮 𝘔𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦,𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸.

Like a bullet,Purpled bolted forward.Windows shattered,a salvo of deadly, glass shards rained down apon the fleeing rioters.Immediately,half of them fell to the floor,impaled by glinting daggers that painted the puddles with crimson watercolour.

𝘚𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘴.

Four were left standing:two men whose bodies were completely made of stone,making them impenetrable;a woman who could turn all objects to sand;and Dolos.

Behind him,Punz had already taken out two men.Axe pulled from his back,it swang through the air with a satisfying 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘱,clanging against the Bay lackeys sword like forearm.Leg curling up before slamming into the mercenary's gut and knocking the air out of his lungs;white hoodie stained with filth as he fell to the ground with a grunt.

Following Punz,the lackey pounced - sword like hands aimed for his heart.Shocking scarlet dyed his hoodie as the tip of the blade pierced his skin.

They froze midair.

Eye of ender lodged in their heart and draining the life from them;power seeping into the orb as their eyes and veins glew white,body turning to ice.

Punz didn't linger,moving onto his next opponent instantly.

𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘵.

Footsteps sure,Purpled sprinted towards the sand woman.Upper cutting her and sending her head snapping to the side only to be sweeped off his feet in the same instant.

Both now stranded on the floor,the blonde used his surroundings to his advantage.

Ticking the grime filled water into her face,he sent a shard up to slice through the pipe and wire above her.Water and sparks flew everywhere,momentarily blinding her as the mini stars mixed with the water - slightly electricating her.Her blood curdling scream rang through the streets as she plunged forward blindly.Knife pulled from her belt,she swiped at the boy's face.He blocked with his arm but the swing was true,knife left protruding from his bicep.

In that moment,the back of her neck was exposed.Purpled grinned.A mirror shard hissed through the air and split her throat in two.Blood gushed from the wound onto the mercenary's clothes as she staggered to the floor.

Pivoting, he turned to the other three.Unsurprised that the two men had bolted, leaving Dolos by himself.

Shards uniting to create a staff,the blonde changed his stance,the pair slowly circling eachother.

Masquerade and Deo traded hits skilfully.

The hero would be winning if it weren't for the gang leader's powers.He was able to switch places with his opponent during a fight.Meaning if Masquerade had him in a headlock,he could switch their places - the hero put in a headlock instead.

Luckily,the fear emitted from Dolos topped with his increased endurance was enough to fule the hero,giving him an upper hand;Deo was getting tired, the blonde wasn't.Lunging forward, Masquerade went to tackle the man.Only for Deo to swap their places last second, the hero trapped beneath him as he pounded his bejewelled fists into the his mask.

It broke easily.A glacial-sounding crack reverberating through the streets and sending the buildings trembling at the weight of the action.

Deo froze.Emerald eyes,freckled face with a thick scar over the bridge of the nose pecked out from behind the shattered visage of porcelain.

Taking advantage of the gang leaders stunned state,Masquerade summoned both a tranquilising syringe and a semi-dampener.In an instant, the syringe was stabbed into the brunette's neck and the dampener was locked around his wrist with a finalising click;Deo toppled to the side - unconscious.

"Fuck..."Masquerade muttered,quickly summoning another mask and covering his exposed face.He rose to his feet,hurrying over to join Punz.

"Dolos."

"Shadow.I understand your motives now.The reason you relentlessly defend Charged but never speak out for your own alter ego.Do you blame yourself?"The fox hybrid mocked sardonically,daggers in hand as he circled the younger.

Purpled didn't respond.

Five shards rise behind the hybrid,shaking with rage as they hovered.Their teeth glinted in the streetlights.

"Because it is your fault,in every way.No matter what you tell yourself,they'll always blame you.Heck they'll blame you more when they discover your alive.Nightmare returned and you - Mirrage, vigilante of the people! - did 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 to help them."

𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬.

Five shards cut straight through the air into the hybrid.Blood leaked from the slits in his body and dripped from the shards that hung in the air before the dying man.Dolos crumpled to the ground,laughing.

Looking up to the blonde,a cheshire grin split across his face.Scarlet trickled from his mouth and dribbled down his front."Your too late."He coughed,blood splattering onto the ground before him:"He knows!Oh he knows your alive!"

Bang.

A bullet tore through the man's skull,leaving a grape sized hole in his forehead.Dolos was dead.

"Hey,Shadow.You good?"Punz called out,stones crushing beneath his boots as he approached.

"Yeah."

"Alright.Lets get these drugs somewhere safe."Masquerade approached the two brothers, clapping his hands together as he spoke.

"Where exactly would that be?Nox?"Purpled snarked,eyes flitting up to the rooftops - looking for something or someone.

"Yes.They'll ensure that Schlatt doesn't get his hands on them."

"Have you considered that the drug that can get rid of someone's powers temporarily (sometimes kill them in the process) should, potentially, be kept from organisations that wouldn't hesitate to take advantage of it for their own self gain?"The younger asked,words slow and clear to highlight how obvious his observation was.

"Nox would never do that."The response was blunt and left no room for further discussion.

But Purpled was nothing if not argumentative.

"You and i both know that's not true."

"I worked for Nox,you didn't."The elder deadpanned,arms crossed over his chest as he stared (unimpressed) at the boy.

"Your biased."Purpled spat,glaring daggers into the man

"So are you,Mirrage.What could they possibly do that would be, in anyway shape or form, worse than what Schlatt would do?"

"Oh, so this is a lesser evil kinda thing?If so, I'd suggest that El Rapids is a better option."He snarked,voice ever mocking as if he were speaking to a child.

"Oh come on, we can't give Manburg to El Rapids."Masquerade huffed.

"And why's that?"

"It's run by vigilantes and people from the lower districts."To him,it seemed self explanatory but not to Purpled.

"Your point?"His eyes turned into snake like slits;he could tell where this was going.

"Their unpredictable and dangerous.We have no idea what they'd do with this kind of power.For all we know, they could start using it on heroes!"He threw his arms up in exasperation.

"As you just heard and mentioned,I'm Mirrage.Meaning I'm both a vigilante and from the lower districts.I know what they'd do and it's nothing like what you've so gracefully described with your extensive knowledge:which is a hundred percent more valid then the words of someone of the likes you've described."Purpled drawled sarcastically,arms crossed over his chest as he glared at the man.

"Mabye if you were Charged I'd believe you but your not.Hell,you just proved to me that everything I've 'so gracefully described' is true!You kill people without a speck of sympathy and your the reason for the past revolution.People like you cause trouble wherever they go,your a liability."He barked out.

Thud.

"Wait- isn't your ex-sidekick from the lower districts."Blood God mumbled,having jumped off the roof behind the hero.His axe was slung lazily across his shoulder,crimson cape dragging along the floor behind him.

"Plus he was originally a vigilante!"Ranboo piped in from beside the piglin,spinning their batton skilfully as they approached.

Purpled grinned,Masquerade doing quite the opposite.

"He wasn't from the lower districts,I've seen his records."The hero deadpanned,eyes quickly looking for an escape.

"But if he was from the lower districts it wouldn't be surprising if he was capable of making fake documents,now would it?"Blood God inquired,turning his nose up in disgust as his cape was dampened by the grime filled puddles.

His words stumped the hero.In attempts to think of a comeback,he fell short.Instead deflecting the question with one of his own:"What do you want?"

"I'd like you to leave."

"Fine,move so i can get the Manburg then I'll be out of your hair."

"You see that's the thing,i also want to leave here with the Manburg crates.It seems we're at a standstill."The piglin's tone was conversational even though the situation was tense;he knew he had the upper hand.

"Finders keepers."Masquerade snapped,making to move towards the van.

"But i have more men."He shrugged.

"It's two against three but Ender doesn't really count so we're even."

"What,now hold on-"Ranboo spluttered.

"Actually it's two against fifty."Came the brusque reply from Blood God.

In an instant,the glowing red dots of the Syndicate's hidden snipers fell apon both Masquerade and Punz;they were surrounded.Bullets mere moments away from ripping through their skulls and killing them.Silence washed over the place and engulfed the defeated in an overwhelming sense of fear:one wrong move and they were dead.

Smirking,Purpled walked past the two red peppered men,heading for the van.Meticulously checking every crate,he slammed the doors shut apon confirming that all of them contained Manburg.It felt weird for him to be working with others again.The last time he had,it was during the war in squadron 18;it was a change of pace but not a bad one.

"We're all good."He said,shooting the Syndicate leader a thumbs up.

"Alright.You want any information from them or can i kill them?"The piglin huffed,letting his axe fall from his shoulder.Dragging the blade ominously along the concrete with an infuriating grating sound.

"Nah I'm good,Ender?"

"We're not killing them."The monochrome boy sighed,grabbing the pinkette's arm before he could come with in swinging range of the outsiders.

"Eh?"Blood God squawked indignantly.

"I'm the vigilante of the people now,it's in Pogtopia's interest that they stay alive."They stated matter of factly, shooting the man a scolding look.

"And why's that?Because they seem pretty killable to me,just sayin."

"Schlatt's going to double cross them at one point.Plus,now the Syndicate is owed a favour by the ex-number one hero and one of the best mercenaries in the city."

"Fineeeee."Annoyance practically radiated from the piglin as he tilted his head up to look at the sky in exasperation.

"I'm driving by the way."Purpled called out,sliding into the driver's seat and starting the vans engine.

"Are you even old enough for that?"Blood God's monotone voice rumbled out from behind him.

"Die."

"You first."

____

"Soooo, why an emerald?"Ranboo asked,Techno and them currently meandering through the silent streets of Origins.Their mismatched eyes of green and red flicking up to the emerald that glinted in the moonlight from where it sat in the centre of the man's crown.

"Phil chose them.Apparently they represent truth,love,wisdom and domestic bliss.Well,that's what the Greeks and Romans believed.It was said to be Venus's, who was the purveyor of love and hope.I think it's kinda cringe.However, the Egyptians said it was as sign of eternal life which is way cooler then love and hope."Techno shrugged,gaze flicking up to the moon above him.

His mouth turned into a thin line.

Immediately, the vigilante realised what the hybrid was thinking about:Wilbur.The emerald and mentions of domestic life must of brought forth memories of the man's brother.Ranboo didn't really see much of the two Syndicate leaders,together,outside of headquarters but from what they'd observed, the pair seemed to hold eachother at an arms length for their own separate reasons.

"You know,he'll come back and you'll make up.You always do."Ranboo knocked their shoulder against the other's gently,a reassuring smile on their face.

"I suppose.Why are we going to Fruit's anyway?"Crimson eyes landed on the younger.

They remained silent for a moment,squirming under the intense gaze and hitching the duffel bag further up their shoulder.As much as they hate hiding things from their teammates,they aren't going to break the promise they made with Tommy."I've got a debt to repay."

Ranboo got a grunt in response.

Guilt flooded their stomach,they shouldn't of let Tommy go to Kinoko by himself.The brunette had been MIA for the past three days and there'd been no word of Crimson Crusader;they were starting to worry.Of course,Tommy was capable in every way shape and form but that night he seemed off.A melancholy glisten in his sapphire eyes as he disappeared into the harrowing streets of district 10.

Tommy hadn't turned back once.

"We're here."Ranboo whispered,walking forward and pressing the keycard Tommy gave them against the wall.Unaware of the confused look thrown their way by Techno.

With a hiss,it slid open revealing a slim tunnel of austerity.Without hesitation,the enderman hybrid plunged in further-Techno hot on his heels.A clangour of keyboards echoed against the tunnel walls.Reaching the end,Ranboo gazed into a cramped room:rows of computers laced the walls,El Rapid's members filling in the squat chairs infront of them and a single table in the far corner.Fruitberries looked exhausted as he spilled out over the table,ruffling through the piles apon piles of paper that sat idly near by.

"Fruitberries."

The man's head snapped up,shoulders tensing as his eyes fell apon the piglin hybrid.Fatigue hammered down on the man mercilessly, trying to make his bones shatter beneath the unrelenting weight.

"Crimson sent me."

Now that got both Blood God's and Fruitberries's attention.Ranboo felt like a deer surrounded by a pack of hungry wolves, and they hated it.Gulping,they timidly approached the older vigilante, anxiously wringing their hands together:"He wanted me to give you this."They mumbled,placing the duffel bag on the table.

Unzipping it, the enderman hybrid pulled out a newly added file that was stuffed full to the brim with information.Feebly, they handed it over to the lime clad man,who recived it with hesitancy.To him, only bad thoughts came to mind as he inspected the folder;the Syndicate had shown up,unannounced,to give him a file.To him, the folder was a ticking time bomb;whatever dirt there was on him the Syndicate had found and was planning on using that to blackmail him.

The only reassuring factor in this estranged situation was that Crimson had sent Ender.

Opening the folder,Fruit scanned the pages before freezing.Head snapping up to gape at Ranboo,realisation flooding over him like a horrible dream.

"Please don't tell me he was stupid enough to go to Kinoko alone."He begged with a groan,scrubbing his face with his hand.

"Uhhh, he didn't?"Ranboo chuckled nervously,rubbing the back of his neck anxiously.

"Do you know if he made it out?"Fruit's frustration turned into something deadly serious as he barked out the blunt question-once again a general in the war,soldiers falling left, right and centre.

"That's where I thought you could help."Melancholy smothered them in that moment,the sober reality of the situation, that they had desperately tried to deny, hitting them like a bus.

"How long ago did he leave?"

"Three days ago now."

Fruit went silent.Drawing in a sharp breath and steadying himself on the table."If he's not back by now,that means he's most likely been caught.Did he bring anything with him when he left?"

"No?He just left in a rioter uniform and that was it."Ranboo answered hesitantly,unable to comprehend how this information was relevant as of current.

"No weapons?"The elder asked,firmly grabbing the monochrome boy by the shoulders;he didn't shake them,knowing from experience that it effected a person's ability to form an answer to a questions.

"Yep."

"Shit.Why wouldn't he bring weapons?"He laughed manically,unable to understand Crimson's actions even after years of knowing and working with the kid.

"He's tryin to break someone out of Pandora,right?"Techno butted into the conversation,for once a tint of interest in his tone.Apon getting a curt nod in reply,he continued with his train of thought:"Crimson didn't bring weapons because he wasn't aiming to put up a fight.He never planned on makin it out of Kinoko.If he had,he wouldn't of given Ender that file."

"What your saying is that Crimson Crusader, number one most wanted person in the country, purposely got caught by Warden (who is known for torturing people)?"Fruit exclaimed,waving his arms around frantically.

"Yes."Came Blood God's blunt,uninterested reply.

"And why, in god's name, would he do that?"He exclaimed frenziedly,bewilderment written plainly on his masked face.

"He has a plan."

____

The cramped room Crimson and Siren had shared was a mess.Depressed cigarette buds and scribble covered sheets of paper,filled to the brim with feelings the man couldn't describe any other way,littered the floor.Golden light flickering from above,casting an amber hue on Wilbur,who sat hunched over his guitar.Still burning,the cigarette hanging from his capped and scabbing lips clawed desperately at them to stay in his mouth as he feverishly wrote down lyrics and chords that sprung to mind.

Only to scribble them out and crush the page into a ball in a fit of frustration.

Sighing,Wilbur went back to strumming his guitar,unconsciously playing one of his own.He used to love guitar but at the moment it felt dampened by the whole in his chest.Every song was out of tune and sounded like fingernails on a chalkboard:this song in particular.It was the only song he'd played for someone since his mum left;since his mum was thrown in Pandora.

It was called Perfume.At first,he thought the song was terrible but now he didn't;the song held power.He smiled at the memory it held.

___

"𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘢,𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘢,𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘢."𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘥,𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯'𝘴 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧,𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦.𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦,𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵.𝘏𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘨,𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦;𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦.

𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦,𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 (𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦) :"𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘢, 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘢,𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘢."

"𝘚𝘩𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘱."𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥,𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯'𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵.

"𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦?𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘦,𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘭𝘪𝘯."𝘏𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘥,𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦'𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳.

"𝘞𝘩𝘢- 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴.𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯."𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘥,𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥.

"𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘳𝘺."

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘰𝘧𝘧,𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘥.𝘔𝘢𝘣𝘺𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘰 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢 𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 (𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘩𝘦'𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵).

"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦?"

"𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯.𝘏𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺."𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘮𝘶𝘨𝘭𝘺.

"𝘖𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥."𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘺𝘦𝘥, 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘵.

𝘏𝘦'𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥.𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘥.𝘖𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵,𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘢 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘕𝘪𝘬𝘪 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘎 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮.

"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘳?"𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥,𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦.

"𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘩,𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬."𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘥,𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 - 𝘩𝘦'𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱.

𝘈 𝘨𝘢𝘴𝘱 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳,𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯.

"𝘊𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨?"

"𝘕𝘰."

"𝘈𝘸 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦."𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘥.

"𝘐'𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥."

"𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦."𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬,𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵.𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴,𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘥.𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘱 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺.

𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘯,𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯,𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘮.

𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦'𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘺.𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵,𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘩𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘺 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥.𝘈𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦,𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘶𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦,𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘺𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦'𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘥.𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘩𝘦'𝘥 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥.

𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭, 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘴.𝘚𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮,𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘴.

𝘚𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘥,𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘳'𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦.

𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺'𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘸𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥.

"𝘞𝘐𝘓 𝘛𝘏𝘈𝘛 𝘞𝘈𝘚 𝘚𝘖 𝘚𝘐𝘊𝘒!𝘞𝘏𝘈𝘛 𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘍𝘜𝘊𝘒."𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘥 ,𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘣𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴.

"𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺?"𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘭𝘺,𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘣𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦:𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴,𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘮.

"𝘠𝘌𝘚?𝘏𝘖𝘓𝘋 𝘖𝘕,𝘏𝘖𝘓𝘋 𝘖𝘕!"𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥,𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦,𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦-𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘳.

"𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨,𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬?"𝘛𝘪𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦,𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯.

"𝘐'𝘮 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶,𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯."𝘏𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥,𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴.

"𝘞𝘩𝘺?"𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘳 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥,𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.

"𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘮 𝘐 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘵?"

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘧𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦."𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘵?"

"𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘩!"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵,𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘱𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴:"𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥?"

"𝘐 𝘶𝘩-𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘵.𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘴?"𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘥.𝘏𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 - 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺.

"...𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘮𝘦."𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦.

"𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦,𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘴."𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘥,𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘸𝘬 𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯.

"𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭.𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩,𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩." 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘥,𝘱𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦.

"𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘦𝘦."𝘏𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘥.

"𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶.𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯."𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥,𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘺.

"𝘈𝘭𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵,𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘴."𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘥,𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯.𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸,𝘩𝘦'𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴.𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘺𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴.

Chapter Text

Sighing,the hero let himself fall to the floor,head resting on his knees.Completely ignorant to the presence beside him that burned holes into his head and the uneven stuttering of a heartbeat that wasn't his own.

A rustling from his left brought him out of his scrambled thoughts.

Head snapping up from between his knees,Tommy watched as a greyscale man sat down beside him.Lapis dribbles from their mouth and their mist filled eyes.A long line sliced down the center of their chest which is also covered in the ultramarine substance;it's like blood.Skin like ash with fading mahogany hair and neon orange trousers,they inspect the younger's position with furrowed brows.After a moment,a delighted smile shatters their concentrated complexion as they mimic how the brunette is sitting.

Fog filled eyes flick up to meet sapphire ones.

Tommy's breath stutters.

He knows the man's face,has it engraved in his memory.It's the same face as the man with coarse finger tips from playing guitar endlessly,who smells of coffe and fresh rain.The only person, except Purpled, that he lets call him Toms.

"Wilbur?"He breathes, tears wallowing in his eyes and slipping down his face in a fit on intense melancholy that made the moon itself wheep with sympathy.

"I'm not Wilbur,silly.Well technically i am but not fully.I'm Ghostbur!"Wilb- Ghostbur chirped, voice gentle and quite as he beamed that the younger.

"The fuck?"Tears continued to cascade down his face.It felt like his heart had been ripped out.Hope having returned only for it to dissipate in seconds.His best friend,his brother, was right in front of him but somehow not.

The universe hanging blinding stars of hope above him in the twilight.

Ghostbur ignored him:"What's your name?"

"I- my names Tommy."The brunette answered, confusion lacing his face as he frowned at the man.

He wanted to ask why Ghostbur looked like Wil and what he meant by he's 'technically' Wilbur.Nothing made sense;it never seemed to for Tommy.He wanted to ask questions but he needed to focus on what was really important first-his mission.

"Tommy..."The other mumbled,trying out the name on his ink stained tongue.A strange emotion flashes across his face before vanishing.Then,somehow,the blinding smile on his face grew larger."That's a good name!"

"It's a fucking pog name."Tommy huffed,a smile of his own forming as his tears cleared.

"Pog?...It's a pog name!"Ghostbur grinned,pronouncing the word pog slowly with an air of uncertainty.

A bubbly laugh came from the younger,making the greyscale man's eyes light up.

𝘔𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

𝘏𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸.𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦.

"So Ghostbur, why are you in Pandora?"

"Oh!I got taken here by Mr Warden at the same time Kristen did;I'm supposed to call her Moros."He whispered.

Moros (Kristen).She's a Syndicate leader,emerald and all.Supposedly she can bring back the dead momentarily.Tommy had heard that if she tries enough (though it's extremely draining and is rumoured to potentially put her in a coma) she could bring someone back permanently.This specific rumour coming about after she was captured apon Schlatt betraying the Syndicate.

He hadn't believed it before but Ghostbur literally had ghost in his name and was greyed out like a corpse.

"Why are you here Tommy?"The man asked before the brunette got the chance to question him.

"I tried to steal some shit."Not a lie exactly.

"That's cool.I remember Wilbur used to steal alot."He exclaimed casually.

"What do you mean by that."

"I think he was told to by Phil but I'm not entirely su-"

"No that's not what i meant.How can you know that?What did you mean earlier by your 'technically' Wilbur?"Tommy asked as calmly as possible with the irritation building up inside of him.

"Well,Wilbur got in a fight and you know..."The now sad man trailed off,indicating to the long blue line in his chest."Anyway, his mum, Kristen, brought him back but that also meant she created me!"

"Wilbur's mum is fucking Moros?"Tommy squawked,jaw dropping open as his eyes blew wide.

"Mmph."Ghostbur nodded vigorously.

The pieces began to slot into place,gears turning in his head.

"So if Kristen has a code name,does Wil?"He asked slowly,doubting that his theory was true but it was better to be wrong than remaining ignorant.

"Yep!"

"And that is?"Tommy encouraged,raising an eyebrow at the man.

"It's a secret!"The brunette whispered.

"I'll tell you mine if you tell me his."The ex-hero bargined,leaning towards the man with a faux air of mischief.

"Okay,but you have to pinky promise not to tell anyone."Ghostbur answered after a moment of thinking,pinky raised in the space between them.

"I pinky promise.Mine's Crimson or Charged,which ever."Tommy whispered,linking his pinky with the man's.

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥.

𝘐'𝘮 𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶!

𝘞𝘩𝘢- 𝘯𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰𝘵, 𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘴.𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘖𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘳,𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘈𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘭!

𝘚𝘩𝘶𝘵 𝘶𝘱.

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵.

"Ohhhhh,I know you.Mr Schlatt,he's very scary and I know Wilbur doesn't particularly like him, was shouting about Time Warp not giving him information on you.Anyway,Wilbur's code name is Siren."Ghostbur whispered back,looking around to see if anyone else heard.

Tommy's heart plummeted.The final puzzle piece snapping into place.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬.

It made sense,so much sense.Wilbur disappearing randomly for 'family emergencies'.The fresh scars that the younger had stupidly dismissed as battle wounds from the revolution.The brunette's connection to Tubbo and Ranboo.

One memory rang strong through his mind,pushing past his tornado of thoughts.

𝘚𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘺,𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧,𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 ;𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘸𝘬𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦.𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘳,𝘸𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯'𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵,𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘹𝘦𝘥.

𝘈𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

"𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺."

"𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵?"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘥,𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦'𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳 ;𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳.

"𝘐'𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘵,𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺.𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦."𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥,𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦,𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨."𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦."

That was immediately after the massacre at town hall.After Sandwich's death.After Tommy almost died.

Phil and Techno:Angel of Death and Blood God.Jack and Niki:Clone and Empath.

All Syndicate members in their own right.It was so blatantly obvious,you'd be a fool not to see it.Yet here Tommy is, only realising it now.

Did Wilbur know he was Crimson?Was their entire friendship a ploy to get back at Dream?Were Tubbo and Ranboo in on it?

Uncertainties pilled up inside of him and flooded out in the form of heart breaking sobs and erratic breathing.Once fond memories in warm film corrupting into something cruel and mangled.The man in the memories changing from one of kindness and gentle words to another of malicious intent and treachery.

The sick sense of betrayal sent the perfectly hung stars lurching forward on their nooses,chairs kicked out from beneath them.The horrors of the dark side of the moon finally revealed to the sun.

A grounding frost settles over him.Like a blanket of snow,the cool thing twists around him,stuttering heartbeat echoing in his ear.

After a moment, his manic breathing evens out,sobs stopping;the blanket doesn't move.He sinks into the hold with a deep,raspy breath.

"You know him don't you?"Ghostbur asks from above him,chest rumbling as he speaks.

Tommy nods,not trusting his words in that moment.

"...He isn't the kindest;i'm the best parts of him.He's retained some but until i get my powers back he won't fully be himself."The brunette exclaimed quietly,slowly detaching himself from the ex-hero to show him the dampener.

"What's your power?Is it the same as Wil's?"Tommy croaked,hastily wiping the tears from his face.

"No.I can go through objects which is funny because you get to scare people.Oh and since Kristen made me i have some of her powers."He explained excitedly.

Tommy didn't here the last part,mainly focused on the fact that Ghostbur could go through objects.Wilbur was Siren and Ghostbur was a part of Wilbur.Ghostbur could help him.

"Ghostbur,what do you know about the prison?"The brunette inquired slowly,subconsciously tracing the cracks in the obsidian floors.

"A Narcissus guard takes someone every hour for questioning.It's not very fun,they have these tools that hurt and they hit you."Ghostbur frowned,a far away look in his eyes as he stared at his hands;they were also stained with navy.

"So torture?"

"Yes."For once,the chirpy polite charade was gone,replaced with a brusque reply that was more Siren like - more Wilbur like.

"Fucking hell, i did not sign up for torture when i let that basturd arrest me."Tommy groaned,burying his face in his hands.

"You let Mr Warden arrest you?"Shock dripped from the statement as it hung lazily in the air.

"I'm here to break some friends out."The brunette answered.

"Can you take me with you,Tommy?Oh and Kristen!"Hope filled Ghostbur's soul at the thought.

"Sure."

𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦.

Ghostbur practically bounced in his seat,that being the floor,rambling about everything he was going to do when he left.

Now was agreeing to breaking out two Syndicate members a terrible idea?Yes.Did Tommy care?No.The Syndicate would most definitely join in the war against Schlatt because Ranboo and Tubbo would.Seen as Schlatt's the reason Wilbur's family is separated, he doubts they'll help the villian.

Even if they do,he needs Ghostbur for this plan to work.

What happens after they escape has no effect on Tommy.

"Have you ever seen the sun?"The man asks out of the blue,abruptly stopping in his rambling on life outside the prison.

"Yeah i have,why?"

"I've never seen it."He answered with a melancholy frown,eyes casted down as he fiddled with a loose thread hanging from his trousers.

Tommy's heart shattered into fractions.Ghostbur has never known life outside the hell hole that is Pandora.He has to rely on what little memories he attained from Wilbur before his powers were severed.

"It's fucking cool as shit.The sun makes everything more colourful and happy.Like,it's bright and sunny.You know the lava in the walls?"

Ghostbur nodded,staring intently at the boy as he explained it to him;the man revelling in the new found knowledge.

"It's like that but more yellow and it's like a hug really.But not like your hugs,those are cold.More like mine or someone else's."The brunette babbled,a kind smile smudging his young features like a stain of eternal life.

The elder tilted his head in confusion at that.

𝘖𝘩.𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦.𝘖𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘳'𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘦,𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩.

Sighing,Tommy reached out and hesitantly pulled the other into a tight hug.It wasn't that he was attached to the man, he would never, but he felt sorry for him (it may also have something to do with Ghostbur looking uncannily like Wilbur,who the boy hadn't seen in ages).Everyone should know what the sun and hugs are like.

Ghosbur practically melted in his hold,marvelling in the peculiar feeling of warmth emitted by the other.Eventually,Tommy pulled back,one question burning hot on his tongue:"Do you know what the sea is like?"

The dulled out brunette hummed in thought,hand coming up to hold his chin in an oh so Wilbur like fashion that made Tommy's heart squeeze.Wilbur was a villian,he was Siren - a murderer.But the ex-hero loved him,he was his brother and best friend.He's already lost one of those, he won't do it again - even if that meant fighting till his final, fatal breath.

He couldn't save Purpled but he could save Ghostbur (the best of Wilbur) and reunite him with his family.

"Oh!"Ghostbur started,an epiphany falling apon him,his excitement tore the younger from his thoughts."I do know what the sea is like."

"Can you tell me about it?I've always wanted to go see the ocean."Tommy begged.

"Cold.The waters is cold and it tastes like salt.So do the rocks though if i were you I wouldn't try to eat them."The man's voice was deadly serious at that last part gaining a burst of laughter from the younger.

"How the fuck do you know that?Don't tell me you were at the beach and just started eating fuckin rocks like a dickhead."The ex-hero wheezed.

"Technically, 𝘐 didn't;Wilbur did."Ghostbur giggled.

"No fucking way.Really?"Tommy asked ,voice raising an octave as he spoke.

"Yep?He much preferred sand,something about the grainy texture.He ate so much once that he would just cough it up weeks after they even went to the beach!"Waving his arms around frantically, the man told the boy of his counterpart's indevers.

Both brunettes exploded into fits of laughter.Only for the cheerful atmosphere they'd created to be sucked out the room and instead replaced by a suffocating tension.Loud footsteps echoed down the boudless hallway and stopped outside their cell.

"Tom Simons."The Narcissus guard growled glaring at the pair in the cramped cell with unnecessary venom."Get up.It's time for questioning."

"Aka torture."Tommy huffed,rising from his spot on the floor and walking up to the barred door.

Immediately,the man opened it, yanking the boy out quickly, before it was slammed shut again.Then,he handcuffed the brunette in a pair of rusted, metal chains.Apparently,the Narcissus was in a rush as they sped down the hallway,dragging the ex-hero along behind him.

Tommy tripped.Crashing into the man's side,fingers feather like, before richochrtting onto the quartz tiles below.Roars of laughter exploded all around him as the evergreen clad man pulled him back to his feet,continuing their journey like nothing had happened. Humiliation sunk it's teeth into the boy, the obsidian walls trembling as Pandora collapsed into fits of cackles that left it breathless and gasping for air.

They'd gone the opposite way from Sapnap's cell,meaning they were venturing further into the prison.Soon, they reached a branch in the endless corridor:one way leading right the other left.Tommy's eyes lingered on the perfectly flat wall of obsidian that separated the two paths that could been seen from the corridor they'd just walked down.

The pair go left.It's the same as the last hallway except there are no cells except one.It appeared to be surrounded by lava and half a dozen Narcissus guards.Most notably was the emerald sign above the entrance written in enchantment table language.Luckily,it was two simple words that didn't proceed the limits of the ex-hero's knowledge.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴠᴀᴜʟᴛ

He frowned.

Next thing he knew,he was past it and instead stood infront of two iron doors.

Tommy was roughly shoved inside.

The acrid stench of alcohol,sweat and blood assult his nostrils.It's identical to his own cell in everyway except bigger with a pair of chains hang from the wall opposite him and another from the ceiling.

A Midas guard stands there, waiting for him.Their only attire being black trousers with matching boots and a mask.A thing of mangled, crocked bones that stooped low over their face before curving up like teeth above their upper lip.

The room is suffocatingly silent as the brunette is chained up to the ceiling;his feet barely scrape the floor as he dangles.Tommy tightens the fist he'd made with his left hand and tries not to loosen it.

The Midas guard does not ask questions.They don't utter a single word.Instead,they send their now metal turned fist flying into the brunette's ribs.

___

With trembling hands,he inserted the bobby pins into the door's key whole.Crouching down,the brunette slowly moved them around.

"Fuck."He mumbled,having dropped one of the pins;his hands were shaking too violently to hold it.

Once he'd retrieved it,he started again.

It took only thirty seconds for the man to drop it again.

Groaning in endless frustration,he picked it back up and began again.

If anyone was watching from an outsider's perspective,they'd think him insane (and maybe he was).Brunette curls stuck up sporadically at all angles and cascaded far down his face;he was in dyer need of a hair cut.Mahogany eyes bloodshot and adored with salt trimmed eyebags that frowned down at the bobby pins in loathing.His black jeans were torn now and the white T-shirt he'd found was far too small,stretching tight over his skeletal frame.An emerald hung dauntingly from his pale neck,the thing of aristocracy horrifically out of place amongst the rags that he wore.Most notably though is the coat that he'd wrapped tightly around his withering form.Red,white and blue with two vinyls on each side of the collar:a revolutionary coat from the 16th.

Click.

The door creaked open.Grinning, Wilbur rightened himself before slipping inside the dingy apartment.Said grin quickly falling as he laid eyes on the deserted desert of eternal wreckage.

Not a single light was on,the whole place left to languish in the dull blue of a winter's night.It was freezing,the chill of Pogtopia having crawled in through the shattered windows and settled in the crumbling remains of the house.Furniture was left askew,littered across the floor,destroyed to the point of no return and 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥.

Someone had raided Tommy's house.

Nobody would search the blonde's house for no reason, at least not this maticulously.That meant someone who knew who the blonde was had been here;they came looking for Crimson.

From his knowledge, any member of Nox, Schlatt and potentially Fruitberries could know the blonde's identity but that was it.Meaning one of them had been here.Tommy and Fruit seemed to be quite tight knit (which Wilbur 𝘵𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 isn't jealous about shut up) so Wilbur wasn't concerned about that - Schlatt and Nox on the other hand are a different thing altogether.However, if it was them, it would of been publicised and Tommy would be dead.

𝘌𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺'𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘍𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘥.

It was quite possible that Tommy, in being Crimson, was alerted by his instincts and was able to escape before Schlatt and or Nox arrived.On top of this, the blonde was able to perfectly fit into the role of Tommy who works at Kabosu Records so would definitely have no trouble doing the same again with a different persona.

Obviously, this was great as it meant that Tommy was momentarily safe.But this would make it harder for Wilbur to find him.

Even in the rooms scavenged state, the place had hardly any furniture or decorations,consisting only of the bare nesessities.

The villian hated it.

It felt wrong.

Tommy was a thing of sunshine and life yet his home was so unbelievably plain.Evidently, it wasn't due to lack of trying,a tiny corner of the room was filled with a couple of plants and pictures but that was the extent of the decorations.

His heart warmed as he looked at the photos.In each one Tommy was in, his face was adored with joy,sapphire eyes shimmering no matter how dim the lighting.There were three photos all together.

One was a photo of Tubbo and Ranboo sat on a bench looking out over the city.Rays of golden light beamed in through the gaps in the city skyline,trying futilely to match the happiness radiating off of the two boys who appeared to be cackling with glee.Tommy must of taken it when the vigilantes were at his house.The brunette remembers both the blonde and the two vigilantes rambling to him about that day.Something about pot noodles and the question of 'who's your favourite blank'.

Said question makes Wilbur frown.It was asked with Tubbo and Ranboo then later with Siren.Each instant the question of 'who's your favourite villian' was asked, Tommy's answer had changed but always involved the same person:Siren.

With the vigilantes,there wasn't a direct answer;the blonde didn't have a favourite villian.Only opting to state that Siren scared him the most.

That made Wilbur's skin crawl.Bugs and insects,filth and rot bubbling up beneath his skin and scuttling around inside of him.Eventually,due to famine,they tore at his flesh and muscles and organs and bones.Leaving a dilapidated mess decaying on the concrete paths of Pogtopia.Forgotten.

Tommy had told him he was scared of him before,that time as Wilbur but this felt worse.As Wilbur,sure the blonde was scared sometimes but he believed that the brunette would never hurt him.Siren on the other hand had hurt the younger without hesitation nor sympathy.

When the two reunited,their relationship would be strained or ruined completely.

But then there was the second instant the question came up.Tommy's answer was different.The complete opposite of the previous one.

"𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶..."𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺,𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯."𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵?𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥?"

𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘳'𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘥:𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳.𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱,𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘥,𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘰𝘯:"𝘈𝘸𝘸𝘸𝘸, 𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘰𝘯!𝘐'𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯!𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵!"

"𝘕𝘰,𝘯𝘰 𝘪 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬.𝘐 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘎𝘰𝘥."𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥,𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴.

"𝘈𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥?𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺,𝘪 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯."𝘚𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘰 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺.

It was strange.Siren had almost killed the younger on a number of occasions,threatening to take his life at every chance he got but 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 the answer changed.

The events took place months apart.What happened to changed his mind?

Wilbur brushed it off,turning to another picture.

𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦.

The next was a photo of four people,one of which being Tommy.It appeared to be Christmas,the group gathered around the bejewelled tree playing charades.Specks of red,green and blue illuminated their faces and the mess around them:wrapping paper was left in little shreds of surprise on cream carpet,presents and snacks devouring the coffe table in between them.

Tommy stood before the men,trying to act out what appeared to be a sword fight.A raven haired man sat on the far left, a grin on his face as he gestured wildly at the blonde.Beside him was a brunette with a ghost of a smile tugging at his lips while he shook his head disapprovingly at the previous two.

Closest to the camera was a man with dirty blonde hair who was dying of laughter.Wilbur recognised him:the man from the fire.When Tommy's apartment burnt down and the boy selflessly ran head first into the death trap of a building to save someone,this man had been there.He could only assume that the stranger was Masquerade.By extention,the other two must be 404 and Arson.

Surprisingly,the image flooded him with relief:Tommy had a family at Nox,he was looked after.The brunette could only hope he could do the same.

Turning to the third photo,his chest tightened.It was a photo of him playing guitar.Pale grey light filtered into the room through the blinds as he concentrated on his fingers.Ink danced across his hands from the pen that now sat in his mouth.Torn and navy covered scraps of paper surrounded Wilbur as he wrote lyrics of everything and nothing all at once.You could faintly see the blonde in the mirror sat in the far corner.Once you saw him, the rest of the image was forgotten due to the smile of pure happiness that was embedded into his pale face.

Wilbur remembers that day.It had been early morning and his brain wouldn't shut up;he called Tommy.By early morning he meant 3am so he'd woken the boy up.Apon realising,the brunette profusely apologised and hung up telling Tommy not to worry about it.

The blonde arrived minutes after the call.Worry lacing his face in a peculiar way of which the brunette had never seen.

Once again,anxiety punched him in the gut with more force than ever.

The same thoughts as before returning:What will Tommy do when he finds out that he's Siren?

Wilbur and his team had killed thousands.To Tommy,a hero, Wilbur was a monster.No matter what the villian did,he would always be a monster to the blonde.

"𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶.𝘐 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘮𝘦."𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘥,𝘢 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩.

"𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶,𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺.𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦."

Betrayal.

That is what Tommy will feel.

The one person he put his trust into,trusted would never hurt him, had done just what he feared.Every shred of trust in their relationship would deplenish into nothing but the pathetic, sputtering bud of a cigarette.

Wilbur doesn't want to lose Tommy,he would rather die.But he has died before and even now, he thinks losing the blonde is a worse fate than that.

Silently,he pulls a cigarette and lighter from his pocket with trembling hands.Lightning it,he takes a long drag then lets the ash stained air fall from his nostrils.With arduous effort, Wilbur pushed the negative thoughts away-he was here for a reason.

𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺.

The brunette shivered,pulling the lost boy's matted old coat tighter around his frame.

Investigating the place further, Wilbur went to the kitchen and checked the cabinets for food.What he found was a single can of soup and some out of date bread.He frowned.Realisation hitting him slowly.

Tommy's house wasn't colourful nor furnished;he couldn't afford it.Most indefinitely, the blonde was all by himself - no family, no nothing - since being fired from his job as Crimson Crusader;most heroes lived in the complex.

𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

Guilt dribbled from his cuticles in the form of blood as he anxiously picked at them.His brother had been struggling and he hadn't even noticed.He felt stupid,dumb.

He was the fool,again.Like always when it came to Tommy.

Continuing,he went down a narrow corridor to the last rooms in the house.One on the left,one on the right.

Wilbur chose right.

It was a bathroom,nothing special.A toilet in the far corner next to a shower and a sink with a mirror ontop of it by the door.Shattered and mangled,the brunette's reflection stared hauntingly back at him as he looked into it.Nightmares pooled over him as the worst parts of him seemed to linger in the glinting shards.In some,𝘩𝘦 grinned.Lapis smeared over his ashen skin,misty eyes of marble cackling mockingly at the villian.Then,in the more disfigured fragments was a blurry figure who stood far back;they appeared to be approaching the brunette.

Wilbur looked away.Breathing in the intoxicated smoke of his cigar before letting it trail high up to the ceiling in thick,billowing tendrils of grey.

His attention jumped to what was inside the sink.Mahogany stained the porcelain,wisps of matching hair clung to it's sloping sides.Some remained golden.

𝘏𝘦 𝘥𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳.

A new identity had been taken.A new life beginning.

Face anything but expressive,he put his cigarette out in the sink.

Wilbur left the room.Now,he entered the door on the left.

It was a bedroom with a squat window in the corner that let rays of dusk into the bedroom.More specifically Tommy's bedroom.This too was raided to the point of stupidity.Mainly because the room only contained two objects:a matress and a chest of draws.All the clothes (that being fithteen items including underwear and socks) were left strewn out over the room,crawling desperately towards their old home with the wrinkled faces of tortured souls.One of the draws was left in splinters near a wall,who ever searched the place had grown frustrated at this point.

𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥.𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.

Then,there was the matress.It was just that.A matress.No sheets.No pillows.No blankets.Just a matress with a mysterious red stain.

As if a ghost,Wilbur hesitantly ventured into the room,sitting on the edge of the 'bed'.Slowly,he ran trembling soot stained fingers across the rock like surface.He frowned.Disgusted.

Tommy lived in terrible conditions.Terrible conditions that he could of avoided if he had asked Wilbur for help.The villian had continuously reminded the boy that he could come to him for help.Wilbur was supposed to keep him safe.

He'd failed.

Burying his face in his hands,the man screamed.A gut renching scream of pain and frustration only heard by the paper thin walls of the apartment.

That's the thing.No one else is in the apartment.Not a single soul.There are no onlookers to think him estranged.No one to hear him scream.

The place is deserted because Schlatt had taken district 9 yesterday.

Palming his eyes,Wilbur stood up and walked to the window in the far corner.

Creak.

He froze.

Looking down,the brunette saw the floorboard his foot had just landed on.It looked out of place.

It 𝘸𝘢𝘴 out of place.

In the entire apartment,this was the only floorboard that creaked.

Clunk.

The sound echoed beneath him as he knocked the wood with his foot.

Frowning,he did the same thing with the floorboard next to it.

Thud.

No echo.

He went back to the previous one.

Clunk.

An echo.

Crouching down,Wilbur pulled a dagger from Tommy's old coat.The blade slipped between the gaps in the floorboards easily.Slowly,he eased the corner of the plank up before grabbing it and pulling with all his might.

Suddenly,it came off.Sending the villian falling backwards with a grunt.

Wilbur scooted over to the hole in the floor and gazed inside.

Crimson Crusader's uniform sat neatly fouled in the gap with the addition of a purple wind breaker.Calloused hands took it from it's snug home and held it close to a beating heart.

Tommy hadn't taken it with him.Did he not want to be Crimson?Or did he have to choice?

Something caught Wilbur's eye.

In the bottom of the hole was a polaroid.It had two people on it:Charged and Mirrage.Mirrage holds the camera as the pair sit on the edge of a building drinking slushies and watching the sunset.Charged is flipping off the camera.Scribed in neat black hand writing bellow is a caption that leaves Wilbur breathless.

𝙈𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙨 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙨 !

Images of crimson sparks suddenly explode in his mind.The discs on the collar of his coat weighing down on him as the startling truth pools over him like a tsunami.

Wilbur picks up the violet windbreaker and checks the name tag.

L̸o̸s̸e̸r̸

𝘔𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦

Loser was crossed out, presumably by Mirrage who had written his name beneath it, but the handwriting was overwhelming clear.It was Tommy's.

Toms.

Tommy.

Crimson.

Charged.

𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯.

Tommy called himself a deserter because he didn't kill Schlatt as Charged.He hadn't for filled his 'duty' before retiring from vigilantism.His friend Purpled died and the blonde thought it his fault:Mirrage died and Charged blamed himself.Tommy calling Nightmare Schlatt without hesitation.

"𝘖𝘩 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘩,𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦."𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘣𝘰𝘰 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘹 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘰 𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭.

"𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺?𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘯𝘦?"𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘥,𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘱 𝘩𝘦'𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳.

"𝘋𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘰,𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘺."

That's why Tommy and Fruit were so close;they were two of the only MCC members left.

If Schlatt found Tommy he'd kill him.

Creak.

Wilbur's head snapped up.Someone had just opened the front door.Ghost like in his movements,the brunette snuck out of the room,revolver in hand,and approached the main section of the apartment.

Thud.

𝘖𝘯𝘦.

Thud.

𝘛𝘸𝘰.

Two people were in the house with him.This was child's play.

"𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘻𝘦."Venom disguised as sweetness dripped from the power lased words.

"Siren."Ranboo greeted.

"The fuck?"

Walking into the kitchen,Wilbur was meet with two people:Ranboo and Techno.Both donning their gear,weapons in hand.

"The fuck are you doing here?"He hissed,releasing the pair from his power's hold.

"How'd you find Crimson's house?"Ranboo shot back,confusion evident in his tone.

"None of your business."Wilbur had tried to find the house by tracking Tommy's phone but it lead him nowhere.Then,completely by accident, he traced Ranboo's,they had been continuously coming to this apartment for the last month-there had to be a reason for that.

Techno remind silent.Due him and Wilbur's last encounter having ended badly he was unsure of where they currently stood.

"Are you looking for Crimson?"

"No."The vigilante shot back,irritation racking through their body.

"Then why are you here?"The brunette inquired sardonically,shoving his hands into his pockets.

Ranboo didn't answer so Wilbur did what he did best:cheating.

"𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦?"

"We're looking for anything that could tell us what Tom -Crimson's plan is."They reluctantly sputtered out,stumbling on Crimson's name.

Wilbur's eyes widened.

"You know."He laughed manically."You know that Tommy is Crimson and you didn't once think to tell us!HE COULD OF DIED BECAUSE OF YOU."Wilbur roared,emotions once again consuming him.

Ranboo shrunk in on themself though a confused look over turned his face as he too realised that he wasn't the only Syndicate member who knew Tommy's identity.

"Wilbur."Techno barked,firm and reassuring hand landing on the vigilante's shoulder.

"No,Techno.You almost murdered Tommy at town hall.And now ,for all I know,he could be dead right now!"The brunette shouted hysterically,throwing his arms up in the air.

"We know where he is."The vigilante mumbled,slowly unfurling from his shrivelled form.

Now that shut Wilbur up.Eyes sharp and piercing as they honed in on the youngest.

"He's in Pandora."Ranboo muttered.

"YOU FUCKING WHAT?"

Chapter Text

Tick tock.Tick tock.

Borrowed time.

That's all this is really.

Purpleds been living on borrowed time for over half a decade now.The sunbeam that left a mangled burn scar on his chest should of killed him.But alas,a healer had to drag him back to medbay and heal him.Tommy had been just moments too late in arriving.If the blonde had been there a minute before or the healer had left him, the pair would of been reunited.

And maybe the blonde wouldn't be dead.

Speaking of lateness,he was supposed to be at the El Rapids base in Origins an hour ago.

𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳.

Landing on the sleet covered street with a thud,the mercenary stood infront of a solid wall with an unimpressed look on his face.When informed that he was going to one of El Rapids's (one of the most powerful districts in the city) bases, he'll admit, he was expecting more than just a disheveled wall.

Communicator now in hand,he shot Ranboo a text to tell them he was there.

Sighing,Purpled tilted his head back to gaze past the buildings at something more.Dawn had began to paint swirls of pink and orange in the sky as night broke into day.The peaks of snow peppered buildings glistened in the stretching rays of the morning sun as birds sung merrily from their nests.

He liked it here;it was quite and peaceful in a way his life had never been.Memories of him and Tommy sat atop buildings (that were now mere rubble in the ruins of 13) as they watched the sun rise and set hummed a bittersweet tune in his mind.One in particular rang true and clear.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘬.𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘬, 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘬.𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴,𝘣𝘶𝘻𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨.𝘚𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘶𝘱.𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘩 𝘬𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬.𝘚𝘶𝘣𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘥.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘪𝘳 (𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘵 𝘢𝘴 13 𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭).𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮,𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘰𝘯.𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵.

𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨'𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨.

"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘴?"𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥,𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳.

"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘪 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮."

𝙑𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚,𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮.

"𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰?"𝘏𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘩𝘶𝘧𝘧.

"𝘔𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘥."𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺.𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘺𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺.

𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘥.𝘈 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘵𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘳.𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺'𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴.𝘏𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤.𝘈𝘯 𝘢𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺'𝘴 𝘫𝘢𝘸 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦.

"𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦,𝘮𝘢𝘯.𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥.𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘦."𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘥,𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘣𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥.

"𝘐 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵.𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘗𝘶𝘯𝘻 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵.𝘗𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦.𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘥𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯!𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘳,𝘐'𝘮 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨."𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺,𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘥;𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘥.

𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘥.𝘈 𝘣𝘶𝘣𝘣𝘭𝘺, 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺.𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦'𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵.𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘔𝘊𝘊 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴,𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴.𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 -𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘵- 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘣𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

"𝘐 𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘐'𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯!𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘶𝘮.𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪 𝘪𝘯𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳."𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘥,𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥.

"𝘏𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶?"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘥.𝘐𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦;𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘺 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺.

"𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧...𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵.𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸,𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭."𝘏𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩.

𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘰𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘵.

"𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯."𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥.𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳.

"𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘺 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬."

"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬.𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶,𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘴."

"𝘔𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴,𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩."𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥.

"𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘺."𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺.

"𝘈𝘭𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵."𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦 𝘺𝘢𝘸𝘯𝘦𝘥,𝘶𝘯𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵.

"𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘺'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵?"

"𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘪𝘻𝘻𝘢 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵."𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘥,𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦'𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳.

"𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘺-𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘪𝘻𝘻𝘢?"𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘸𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺,𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥.

𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨.

"𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦,𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬!"𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥,𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘥.

Purpled never did find out who Tommy's dad was.If he had,the man would've been dead years ago.

"Purpled."Ranboo greeted.

The wall infront of the blonde had opened.Concrete sinking inwards before splitting in two,revealing a dim path way.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘥𝘰𝘥𝘨𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭.

"Why'd you text me say saying, and i quote:'Purp get to Origins as fast as you can.Me and Tubbo have found some crucial information.'"The mercenary drawled,an ever unimpressed look on his face.

"Really,man?I messaged you that and yet your still late."They exclaimed in exasperation,arms thrown up as they spoke.

"I'm a busy man,Ranboo."Purpled exclaimed with a what-can-you-do shrug,not looking at all apologetic for his unpunctual behaviour.Normally, he was on time but Tommy's qualities appear to have rubbed off on him.

Huffing,they turned back from which they came and slipped into the tunnel,motioning for Purpled to do the same.

He did.

It was dark.Dim light filled the thin dishevelled path.That was it really.It was too dark to see five steps infront of you, especially with the gaint that is Ranboo towering before you.

However, that changed when they reached the end.Warm lights flickered tiredly in the room as it sluggishly unfolded before them.Computers accompanied laced the walls, letting off a florecient glow.In the far corner was a table covered in a sea of paper and endless cups of coffee.Above, the wall was stabbed with more paper, more specifically blueprints.

What really confused Purpled was the power house that was the people around the table:the Syndicated in it's entirety and Fruitberries.

Tubbo sat hunched over a laptop typing rapidly at the table.Even with the mask on,his eyebags seemed to protrude,fatigue dribbling out from their seams.Though the real spectical was the man beside him.Fruit was overflowing with fatigue,whole body wilting as if he were a plant that hadn't seen the sun in days;mainly because he hadn't.

Then,there was Empath,Clone and Blood God huddled in the far corner, lost in a hushed conversation.Beside them, leaned up against the wall, was Siren, who held a cigarette between his blood stained fingertips, and Angel.

"What the fuck."The blonde breathes."This is gonna be good.Even Angel is here!"

Immediately,Fruitberries was apon him.Engulfing the younger in a bone crushing hug before pulling back and smacking him round the back of the head.

𝘖𝘩 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘩,𝘐'𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘔𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘪𝘵.

"The hell was that for?"Purpled screeched,mirror shards that hid his face momentarily shattering with the impact of the hug.Quickly returning to their former state as the boy straightened himself.

"That's for not telling me you were alive.I missed you dude."The elder beamed, words gentle as his hands momentarily lingered on Purpled's shoulders before hanging limply at his sides.

"Missed you too."The mercenary smiled.

He always liked Fruit.The pair had trained together and strategised for battles during the war whilst Tommy was off working on the more social side of things.The man had taught him everything he knew about war strategies and for that the younger was forever greatful.

"But err-why are we all here,exactly?Coz i kind of have things to do..."The blonde trailed off,eyes scrunching up as he scrutinised the blueprints on the wall;nothing came of it.

"Tommy's alive."

"Oh here we fucking go.Look Fruit,I've already had this with Smajor and let me tell you,I'm getting really fucking sick of people telling me-"

"Shut up and look at this."Fruit snapped,shoving a ring infront of the blonde's face.

It had a gold band with a ruby on top.Said jewel seemed to be buzzing with energy.

Then it hit him.

"This is Schlatt's."He gawked,eyes blown as wide as the ruby sitting mockingly on the ring.

"Yes."

"How the fuck did you get this?He was wearing it at El Rapids,did you use your freaky mind shit to get it?"The question, weirdly enough, was aimed at Siren.

Now here's the thing, Purpled and Siren?They don't get along.Not in the slightest.Neither can figure out why or what but something about the other irks them to no end.

Like a raging sea and a lighthouse,the two were naturally born enemies.Cracking waves of pugnacious nature and venomous words pinned against a towering building of peeling red and white.Lost in an endless cycle of putrid loathing that seemed as though it would never cease unless the sun stepped in.Abruptly stopping the timeless fude by spilling rays of gold over the two and settling their nerves just enough that peace could be maintained.

Right now however,the sun was out of action.

Gone.

A thing of anachronism.

"And what if i did?"Siren spat,taking the blazing cigarette from between his lips,smoke gasping greatfully as it billowed up to the ceiling.

"It doesn't fucking belong to you."Purpled snarled,seconds away from sending a shard through the man's heart.

"Luckily that's a hypothetical.Crimson retrieved it."The villian sneered,head tilted up to stare at the ceiling.

"He stole it more like."

"No.He returned it to it's original owner."The brunette scorned.Cigarette put out on the palm of his hand before it fell into a pile of soldering ash on the floor.Gurgled pleas for mercy lost to the rubber on the bottom of the giant's soot crusted boot.

"As i said before,impossible Tommy's dead."

"Is the power inside the ring dead?"Fruit chided,trying to soothe the brewing argument.

"No."Blunt because he had no further information.

"Has it ever ceased to live?"Fruit asked like he was hinting towards the most obvious thing in the world.

"Not that I know of."

Even though it was 'obvious', Purpled couldn't figure it out.

Stupid.Once again,he was left out of the loop due to his endless lack in knowledge.

"𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳."𝘗𝘶𝘯𝘻 𝘦𝘯𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘯 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 ;𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘬,𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦.

𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘨𝘰𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥.𝘊𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘗𝘶𝘯𝘻'𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘥.𝘔𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮,𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴.𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴.𝘊𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨,𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥'𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨.

"𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨."𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳.𝘎𝘢𝘻𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘰𝘯𝘦.

𝘗𝘶𝘯𝘻 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨.𝘞𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘸, 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘴:𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘳,𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯,𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯.

𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘥𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘩 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮.𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘣𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥'𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦-𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯, 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘢 𝘤𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.

𝘗𝘶𝘯𝘻 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳,𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘧."𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱.𝘐𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘨𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺'𝘴, 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘩?"

𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘥.

"𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳.𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨...𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶.𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘺."𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮,𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

....

.....

........

............

"Oh fucking hell.You really are clueless."

Siren's sharp words brought the mercenary back to reality.

"The power isn't dead meaning Tommys not dead.If you need more fucking proof I've got pictures of him, you dickhead."Siren snapped,breaking the silence that had fallen over them.

Marching forward,he shoved two photos into the boy's hands.It was only now that Purpled realised what Siren was wearing:an MCC members revolutionary coat.

He chose not to comment on it.More focused on the things he'd been given.

The first photo was one of Charged and Mirrage sat ontop of a building drinking slushies.A photo of which he believed was lost to time.The second photo portrayed Tommy (the Tommy he'd seen repeatedly in the mirror) with three others around a christmas tree.

Purpled frowned.It was recent.You could tell by the news coverage on the Tv in the very far corner;it talked about a fight between the Syndicate and Las Nevadas that happened last year.A significant battle as it ended with Jester getting a pick axe to the face.

A feeling that hadn't grasped his chest in a while returned.

The vigilante hated it.

His bottom lip wobbled.Words becoming more of a chocked warble than anything else:"No.No he can't be alive.I watched him die..."

"Schlatt survived the 16th.Why wouldn't Tommy?"Fruit asked,voice quite as he tried to comfort the boy.

"But Tommy would of come back for me if he lived."Purpled breathed, shaking his head frantically;eyes never straying from the photos in his trembling hand.

"He thought you were dead.I only found out you were alive five hours ago."The neon clad man tried to reason but the other was having none of it.Stubborn to the end.

"Then...Then he would of came back as Charged to stop Schlatt!"The blonde shot back,finally meeting Fruit's gaze.

"He didn't want to.Not without you.Plus, he was busy being hunted by the entire city."

"What do you mean?"

"Tommy is Crimson Crusader."It was Siren who broke the news to him.Siren who turned his world on it's head and let all his former knowledge fall into the abyss like it was an insignificant pawn in his game of chess.

The room exploded.

Blinding lights filled his vision as cotton buds were stuffed harshly into his ears.Floor trembling with the impact sending him crumbling into a pile on the floor.He sank down,down,down-so did his tears.Bricks of salt slipping down his face before he could stop them.Calloused hands and ragged breathes shaking miserably in a panic flared waltz.

People flocked around him,hands fleeting over his trembling form tentatively,to no avail.Only one thing mattered.

Tommy was Crimson.

Shadow had tortured Crimson.

Purpled had tortured his best friend.

Tick tock.Tick tock.

The rhythmic sound echoed distantly in his ear.Desperately,he chased after it in an attempt to escape the darkness that clawed desperately at his mind.

Tick tock.Tick tock.

He had tried to kill Tommy.

Tick tock.Tick tock.

He tortured Tommy for no reason.

Tick tock.Tick tock.

If he had just taken off his mask...

Tick...

Tock...

Tick...

Tock...

Tick-

Slowly,not without arduous effort,Purpled's breathing evened out and his vision returned as well as his hearing.

Tick tock.

Tick tock.

Fruitberries stood before him.Hands hovering over the younger's shoulders from where he sat crouched down before him:"You back,dude?"

"Yeah."Purpled replyed though it came out as more of a chocked gasp.

He could feel eyes burning into him from all angles but he couldn't find it in himself to care.

Tommy wouldn't,why should he?

"I- where is he?Does he know I'm alive?"Purpled rapidly shot off questions, brain running at a hundred miles per hour as it futilely tried to make up for borrowed time.

"He doesn't know your alive."Siren answered,stamping out another cigarette as he answered.

"How do you know that?"Purpled snarked.

Again the pair despise eachother with a burning passion.

"Because he's my brother."

The blonde's brain short circuits to the point were his tongue stops working.Siren, one of the most infamous villains, just proclaimed himself as Tommy's brother.A title of which Purpled wore with pride and the belief that he was the only one.

Now either Siren's lying (which isn't something foreign for the brunette to do) or he's telling the truth.

Seen as villains barley advitised their attachments nor weaknesses, there was no doubt in the mercenary's mind that it was truth.

His complete and utter ignorance strikes again.

Jealousy isn't a thing Purpled is known for but it seems to latch onto him.Leaving a shadow of human sin beneath his feet from where he stands.Tommy had replaced him.Either that or Siren was a stand up guy behind all the violence.

𝘋𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘵 𝘪𝘵.

"Right."Purpled scoffs."Where is he?"

"That's the problem.He's in Pandora."Ranboo chuckled awkwardly.

Silence.

𝘈𝘩, 𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦.𝘋𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺'𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘹 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦.𝘕𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘻𝘺.𝘈 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯.

But Tommy's not a rookie.

No,he's self destructive and self sacrificial with enough humanity for generations to come.

"Let me guess he got caught on purpose."The mercenary groaned in exasperation,pinching the bridge of his nose in disappointment.

"Yep."

"We've got a way to get him out."Angel announced,joining the conversation for the first time tonight.The scary thing about Angel was that you could never tell what he's thinking:all emotion hidden beneath a black veil he sinisterly hides beneath.

"Oh yeah?And what's that?Enlighten me on how you plan on breaking into an inescapable prison of which you've been trying to break into for years."Purpled snarked laconically,scowl etching it's way onto his face once again.

"Watch your fucking tone."Siren hissed,eyes slit like as he glared at the younger.

"Schlatt's gala tomorrow.Warden will be there:we can steal his warden key card."A hint of interest spiked in Angel's tone this time.If he wasn't wearing the veil,Purpled would be able to see as the man's calculated eyes of glacier blue scanned over him.

The blonde was admittedly a bit strange.Errie in a way that was difficult to put your finger on.Something ever so slightly off.Just enough that it threw his whole aura off in an unnervingly odd way.

"It gives you full access to the prison."Blood God drawled,arms crossed over his chest from where he stood leaned up against the wall opposite him.

"Yeah no fucking shit sherlock."Purpled snapped.

"Watch your tone."It was Angel who reprimanded him this time.

Now look,the Syndicate may be the most dangerous villian group in the city but he's dealt with Tommy on caffeine before;this is child's play to him.

"Or what?You'll kill me?Considering the fact that you 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥𝘭𝘺 care for Tommy, I wouldn't lay a finger on me if i were you.He's Charged remember.Me and him grew up together,we fought together and we almost died together.Whatever connection you think you have with him is over ruled by mine every fucking time.So I'll address you in whatever tone i like,bozo."

"He doesn't know your alive."The trench coat wearing man grinned,a knowing tilt in his words.

"He'll resent you forever if he finds out."Purpled laughed humourlessly,words sandpaper dry as he glared at the villian.

"I mean,the dudes kinda got a point."The piglin huffed,leaving his hushed conversation with Empath and Clone to but in on the argument.

"Siren, we need him alive to help us take down Schlatt."Tubbo reminded,not looking up from where he sat at the table.Fingers tap-taping away at the laptop infront of him.The brunette was coding vigorously but Purpled couldn't quite work out what.

"Oh please.If you were really going to take down Schlatt you'd need Charged.But he's in prison!"The villian cackled in hysterics,grin stretching far to thin as he pulled at his hair.

"That's not true.He's not the only reason that MCC was able to win the war.Charged was the orator and Mirrage was the strategist - everyone knows that.They're both equally responsible for the fall of Schlatt."Ranboo barked.It was a strange thing, to hear them raise their voice.

Purpled was more shocked that they chose to defend him.Before he could voice his confusion, venom leeched into the air.Like thick tacky oil bleeding nightmarish ink into the ocean as flames burst up around it.

"Schlatt was defeated after Mirrage died.After Charged killed him, alone."Empath answered,eyebrows furrowed in confusion as to why they were arguing over such an obvious thing.

"Hey!"Fruitberries called,his shoulders tense as a knot of boudless fatigue clawed up his spine.Itching sadisticaly at each bone,a phantom pain racking through him as if each one was being plucked out painstakingly slow.

His voice was booming and echoed limitlessly against the crumbling walls:Fruit was an ex-general,it was expected.

"I don't give a shit if you hate eachother;we're working on borrowed time here.Schlatt's gala is tomorrow."He snapped,shoulders sagging as he collapsed into the chair next to Tubbo's.

"Fruit's right.We don't have time for this, lads.There's twelve hours till showtime,we have to get a fucking move on."Clone added,laying a hand on Fruit's shoulder and nodding to the vigilante.

Holding eachother at arms length,the unlikely team began to plot.The notion of borrowed time and the vehemence for the ones they were fighting for was the only thing keeping them from a civil outbreak.

____

Ranboo tilted their head back to gaze up at the mountain of a building before them.It was the library in Kinoko.Ancient deciduous spruce billowing up into the sky in thick tendrils as it tried ceaselessly to reach the sun.It was once a place of ragged beauty that reflected the people of the district but now,that was all gone.

A black and red banner of tyrannie hangs over the entrance.Rioters lined the entrance as heroes, villians, vigilantes, government members and gang leaders alike flooded inwards in a turbulence of muffled excitement.

The group had split up.

Fruitberries,Empath and Clone entered first.All they needed to do was act normal and loiter with other guests.

Tubbo had managed to hack into Schlatt's system and find out almost all the details of the night.

The guests would arrive.They'd mingle.Schlatt would do a speech then join them and gather in tell and allies.

That was all they had found.

There was no doubt in Ranboo's mind that the full picture hadn't been precented to them.A full picture which would be their hubris.

Siren and Angel were next.Apparently,the brunette had history with Schlatt so their aim was to observe from afar and investigate the place.The pair being two of the most suited for the job as Angel could kill anyone with a single bit of contact and Siren could control anyone he wanted.

The only person more suitable for the job would be Purpled but having him and Siren together would end in flames.

Finally was Ranboo, Techno, Tubbo and Purpled - the final wave to enter.Their job,like the first group is to linger in the center except they're more focused on Warden.

Walking through the grand entrance into the main hall was like finally being able to see after years of blindness.

It was bright.Chandeliers draped from the ceilings and twinkling gorgeously in eachother's light.Quartz and gold stretched across the floor in an elaborate pattern of swirls and curls of wealth.The stench if champagne made the busy room even more stuffy as it sunk into the vigilante's skin with unwanted hospitality.Tables of expensive food traced the room's perimeter like toy soldiers,waiting apon orders to grant guests food.

A place of opulence and avarice.

Stiffly stalking forwards,they stayed practically glued to Techno's side while their eyes flicked every which way in attempts to take in the collosal hall.Red and green lingered on two things in particular:a perfectly flat wall without an obstacle infront of it and a staircase directly opposite it.

"Ender."The piglin whispered as best he could."This way."

Whilst the pinkette walked with an air of authority with his chin held high,Ranboo tensely tried to shift through the jungle of people but there was no need.The moment they realised who was trying to get through,they scampered to get out of 𝘩𝘪𝘴 way.Terrified of what the self proclaimed Blood God would do to them if they didn't.

The pair wound up alone next to the flat wall,facing the staircase as others warily avoided them.It was only now that Ranboo realised the other two vigilantes absence:Purpled and Tubbo were no where to be seen.

Scanning the hall,they easily found Fruit, Empath and Clone chatting quietly with some vigilantes the enderman hybrid had never met.

Then, they found the den of vipers:Business Bay.

Deo was escorted by a handful of bodyguards.Most importantly though was the other man with him.Same black suit except with a light blue tie and a matching mask with mechanical eyes that zoomed in and out with eerie metallic clicks.The bottom half of his face was exposed revealing a mangled scar with cracking lines of ruby that shattered his façade of untouchability.

Wisp.

The Bay's engineer who Tubbo longed to meet.

The Bay's engineer who hadn't been seen since the 16th.

Something big was happening.Something that they were not prepared for nor understood.

𝘎𝘰𝘥.𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.

___

Business Bay.Not just Business Bay but Wisp.

Look this mission was important,Purpled would finally be reunited with his best friend again,and he couldn't compromise it but there was no way he was letting Wisp go.The man had created Manburg and he was the one to sell it to Schlatt.

He was responsible for thousands of deaths yet never held an ounce of regret.

"Mirrage!"Tubbo practically shouted,pulling Purpled out of his inner spiral.

Head snapping back to his partner,the blonde sheepishly apologised.

"I can tell you have a plan, big man.Warden isn't here yet so whatever it is I've got your back,dude."The brunette reassured,hand resting firmly on the elder's shoulder.

Purpled nodded:"Wisp is here.He's the reason that Manburg was created and consequently the reason that Schlatt got his hands on it."

"He's the reason for all those deaths."Tubbo breathed out his realisation.

You see, nobody really knows who created Manburg - they just know Business Bay sold it to Schlatt.Wisp was never held responsible for creating the inhuman, oppressive thing that is Manburg;the only people who knew he made it were either his allies, dead or in a position where they wouldn't be believed.

"Exactly.I can't let him get away with that."

"So what your saying is you wanna confront the bitch."The shorter grinned.

"You know me too well."Purpled huffed,beginning his march over to his ex-teammates with Tubbo at his side.

"Hey,Mirrage?How are you completely unfazed by all the fucking eyes on you,boss man?"The vigilante exclaimed,motioning to the onlookers who burned holes into the war hero's back.

"I've dealt with them for years.You get used to it."He hummed, holding his chin up higher as the crowd parted for him.

Admittedly,Purpled hadn't noticed the prying eyes;he was used to it.During the revolution there were eyes on him at all times,it became normal to him.It was alien for a time sure but Tommy always said 'if they're gonna stare,might as well give the pricks a fucking show'.Apon him saying that,the vigilante had fell flat on his face infront of thousands but the point still stood.

What he couldn't stand was the whispers that rang through the room like church bells as every wilting pilgrim reached their destination - unable to fathom what came next.He snarled,though no one could see it.

Wisp had noticed him now.Mechanical eyes whirring as they zoomed in on the blonde before a disfigured smile spread across his face,stretching deformed skin taunt.Deo stood next to him,his face unreadable as ever.Apon a quick muttered word, his bodyguards split.Leaving the gang leaders to converse with the two vigilantes.

"Mirrage,how good to see you again!"Wisp grinned with all his teeth.His voice was coarse and bitter, covered with honey in attempts to hide true emotion.

It didn't work.

Immediately,Purpled barrelled into the man.Slamming him into the wall.Mirror shards hovering dangerously at the man's throat:"Your a fucking coward."

"Ohhhh, we using big boy words now?"Wisp mocked, completely unfazed by the life threatening situation he was in.

"Do you know how many people died because of you?"The blonde spat.

"Do you know how many people have died at 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 hand?"The brunette contradicted, playful tone turning to steel as his eyes narrowed with a resounding click.

Purpled feel silent.

"You're no better than me so don't act all high and mighty.Charged is alive, imagine what he'll think when he finds out that you broke his one fundamental rule."He cackled.

"I only kill those who deserve it."The blonde reasoned with a stern voice.

"Wrong."Deo stated, voice scarily monotone."Two days ago, you killed four people during a drug deal between us and Schlatt.One of which has a four year old at home who is now dead."

"You sick basturds.How can you stoop so low as to kill a child?"Tubbo interrupted with a look of pure disgust smuged across his half covered face.

"We didn't.They died in a fire.Their father died and was unable to rescue them from the building because you killed him."

Purpled's heart dropped,the mirror that covers his face shattering."I didn't know..."

"Of course you didn't.You don't take that type of thing into consideration;Charged does."

A fleeting memory of screaming as Tommy ran head first into a burning building to save people flashed across his mind.He never hesitated, put others above him every time.

Tommy wasn't a vigilante.

He was a hero.Not the Nox type of hero but the very definition of what it is to be a hero.

Purpled is not that.

That doesn't make him a villian;villians kill without remorse.He mourns ever person he kills.He's a general,a strategist.His job is to find their best way at victory while obtaining as little casualties as possible but that only concerns his own men and civilians.

War is a thing of chaos and death that cannot be changed.It's human nature to protect yourself even if that means killing others.

𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘳.

That's the only way to survive.

Tommy never did quite get that.

Purpled's mask unshattered, retuning to it's former glory:"I'm not Charged."

"Damb fucking right you aren't-"

"But that doesn't mean I'm anything less.I grew up.Matured.You kill because it's nessesary, I understand that now.The only reason the Bay is still standing is because you've matured - changed.Adapted.That's the only way to make it in this life."

"That's my boy."Wisp grinned,pulling the younger into a hug.

"Good job."Purpled whispered in the man's ear getting a confused hum in reply."You almost had me there."

"Wha-"

A syringe halted his words.Neon blue liquid bolting into his bloodstream and illuminating his veins with sapphire.

Purpled pulled back from the hug and watched emotionlessly as Wisp crumpled to the floor.Immediately, Deo was at his teammate's side.Hands hovering over the other as he tried to think of anything to help him.

"THE FUCK DID YOU DO?"He shouted.

His bodyguards were at his side in a second,watching with wide eyes as the scene before them unfolded.

Wisp began to spasm.Screaming torturously as the drug burned inside of him.Said screams echoed through the room causing guests to look on in horror though they couldn't see the suffering man;Bay lackeys surrounded their leaders loyaly and sent glares that promised nothing but violence to prying eyes.

"Don't worry, I changed the formular:I won't die."Wisp croaked out between pained gasps.

The mercenary didn't wait to listen to the rest of the conversation nor to watch the suffering of another.Instead, he took Tubbo's hand and made his way over to Ranboo and Techno.

___

Ghost like in his movements,Wilbur slinked down the silent halls of Kinoko.Wide windows lined the walls,allowing the cerulean twilight of the night to paint the walls and floors.The brunette's shadow danced behind him in the moonbeams, alone in it's dance like it's master.

Old books and smoke lingered in the air as the low rumble of the party echoed through the desolate place like a whisper of death.

Slowly,the man inhaled a lungful of ash before letting the storm coloured air escape his silver tongued mouth.Moonlight caught it, reflecting the sorrowful wisps in the pale blue light.

Wilbur and Phil had split up ten minutes ago.The elder going to search the lower floors whilst the brunette travelled upwards.He'd worked from the bottom up and was now on the top floor.

So far, he'd seen no one.

The place was completely isolated.

It was uncanny.Schlatt was smart,he wouldn't leave the place unguarded unless there was nothing to guard.Except there was something to guard:Schlatt's office.

It stood at the end of the hallway.

No guards stood by the large, lonesome spruce door.

Wilbur approached it,revolver pulled from his coat as a precaution.Obviously, he'd use his powers if he ran into any trouble but it was an old habit from the war he was unable to break.

Grasping the icy steel handle, the villian pushed the door open with a creak.

Once again, he was met with silence and isolation.With a tired sigh, Wilbur began to search the room.

Bottles apon bottles of emptied alcohol lay abandoned on the floor.Some still held drops worth of liquor whilst others were smashed,shattered.Shards of sticky glass glinting woefully in the night.Patches of emerald, sapphire and pearl casted on the ceiling like lighthouses in a never ending storm.

Nothing came of his search.

Until, of course, he reached Schlatt's desk.

An ashtray overflowing with used cigarettes was the first thing the brunette noticed.Huffing, Wilbur added to the boudless collection with his own ciggar.Stabbing it into the bowl and rubbing out it's burning end, he froze.

Something was painted on the ashtray.

Picking it up,the villian poured the used cigarettes onto the table before blowing the remaining ash off the porcelain.It was painted a pale light blue with a sun in the centre of it.Golden spirals twisting away from the blinding ball of heat and spilling out over the sides of the tray.

Wilbur frowned.

𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵?

Putting it back,he continued his search of the desk.Every draw was empty but the top part of the wood was covered with crumpled files reading:

ᴄʀɪᴍꜱᴏɴ ᴄᴏᴍᴇᴛ ᴏꜰ ʜᴇʟɪᴏꜱᴘʜᴇʀᴇ

ᴄʜᴀʀɢᴇᴅ

ᴄʀɪᴍꜱᴏɴ ᴄʀᴜꜱᴀᴅᴇʀ

ᴛʜᴏᴍᴀꜱ ɪɴɴᴇꜱ

ᴛᴏᴍ ᴛᴀᴋᴇɴ

ᴛᴏᴍ ꜱɪᴍᴏɴꜱ

Schlatt knew who Tommy was though that wasn't much surprising seen as the blonde was locked in Pandora.Wilbur was tempted to look through them (infinitely curious about his brother, of whom he now realises he knows nothing about) but one file in particular sticks out:ᴄʀɪᴍꜱᴏɴ ᴄᴏᴍᴇᴛ ᴏꜰ ʜᴇʟɪᴏꜱᴘʜᴇʀᴇ.

The Heliosphere was a little village outside of Pogtopia that had been destroyed by a comet years ago.If a file on that is with all these other ones connecting to Tommy it must be related to him in some way.

𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵.𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺'𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘥.

When Charged 'defeated' Schlatt over half a decade ago, he exploded with red energy as he lost control of his powers.It destroyed almost everything in it's path but left those around alive.The Crimson comet did the same except it killed all those in the village.

At the time of the incident, Tommy would of been six - the age at which peoples powers begin to emerge.

The crimson comet was Tommy.

His powers must of developed but because of how powerful they are, he was unable to control them so he accidentally wiped out the whole of Heliosphere.The only reason he didn't kill everyone when he lost control as Charged was because he knew how to control his powers and that was the only thing he was focused on doing - saving people.He hadn't cared if him and Schlatt died nor that thirteen got destroyed.No, he only cared that history didn't repeat itself and the people he swore to protect lived.

Why did that matter to Schlatt?

Sighing, Wilbur moved on.He would love to answer that question but he wasn't Schlatt.He loathed the man.They weren't one in the same - he hopes.

Picking up the files,he moved them to the side to look at the rest of the desk;there was nothing.

"𝘚𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘯."Techno's voice crackled down his ear piece,making the brunette jump out of his skin."𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘸,𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵'𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘤𝘩."

"Right.I'll be there in a minute."With that,he went to leave.

Crunch.

Eyes snapping down, he slowly raised his foot.Beneath it was a file.It was a different one from the previous lot,infinitely thinner and more crumpled.Crouching down,he picked it up.As he read the name scrawled out in splotchy black ink,his heart jumped into the throat.

____

Ranboo waved at Wilbur as he hurried towards the rest of them.The man looked sick to his stomach but before the vigilante could question it, silence raged through the room.

There, at the top of the stairs opposite the group, was Schlatt.More importantly though, beside him stood Warden.Trident clutched tightly in hand a stark contrast to the elegant ballroom as it crackled with blinding electricity.His posture was tense and his gaze kept flicking down to something in his hand;he was worried.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳?

"Good evening and welcome to my gala!"Schlatt boomed.Crowd erupting into a sea of cheers and clapping as they applauded the villian.

When they fell quite, he continued.

"I would like to thank you all for coming here tonight to support me.Me and my team are trying very hard to take my fucking city back and will soon have things under control."

The crowd cheered,again.

"Now I won't keep you too long as I'm sure you want to get back to the fun.First, however, I would like to thank four very special people for being here tonight.The first of which being Captain Puffy!She's just come out of retirement to join Nox in time for my reclaiming of Pogtopia,which i much appreciate."His sardonic tone sent shivers down Ranboo's spine.

They hadn't noticed that Puffy was here but that's because they were focused on whether or not Warden had arrived.

"And of course we have Pogtopia's new 'vigilantes of the people':Ender and Hive."Once again, his tone was ever mocking as he spread his arms wide,a sickening grin on his face.

The crowd,for once, did not jibe with excitement.Instead, they seemed to sneer;most of them were villians or gang leaders who sided with the ex-president.

"We have already been equainted and let me tell you i am looking forward to seeing how you plan on beating me."He was addressing the duo directly now, cool eyes digging into their souls.

"If I recall correctly, the last time we met you only got out alive because fucking Crimson Crusader was there to save your lousy asses.Me and the rioters have a bet you know?I say you'll last two weeks in a war against me.They disagree.They don't think you'll make it two days!"He cackled,the crowd roaring with malicious laughter.

"Anyway, it's time for the last person:Mirrage."He sneered."Admittedly, I thought he was dead but he's here with us tonight.Aren't you Mirrage?"

Insect brown eyes landed on the mercenary with as much venom as any one man could muster.

Ranboo watched on in awe as Purpled met the man's gaze with equal malice.

"I'm surprised you could even bring yourself to face me again after I killed Charged.But alas, you always were the stronger one.Charged was a coward,smart I'll admit but a coward nonetheless.If he were alive, he wouldn't come back to fight me;he would've been smart enough to know he'd lose but also too much of a coward to even try."The brunette chided.

Shink.

Mirror shards nick the villian's throat from where they hover, threatening to test Schlatt's mortality.Said villian looks at the razor sharp splinters with a condescending smirk.

"Ayo,my finger slipped!That's crazy.Not gonna lie,that's kinda crazy."Purpled exclaimed sarcastically with a what-can-you-do type of shrug as he shoved his hands into his pockets.

"Awww,are you upset that I insulted your dead friend."Schlatt taunted with a pout.Obviously trying to get more of a reaction from the blonde than he already had.

"No I'm upset that you slandered his brand.Charged would sue you for that."The blonde scowled as if talking to a child.

"Good thing the basturd is fucking de-"

Amethyst light burst through the room from directly behind Purpled and the others.After stepping to the side,the entire room watched as the spiralling circle of violet began to grow.

Soon,it was no longer purple.No, it revealed the end of a boundless obsidian hallway.Heat spilled from the desolate place,quickly followed by tortured wails and a blaring alarm that rattled the grand hall.

What brought stunned gasps from the onlookers and sent Warden flying down the staircase was the two men and the large hoard that clambered through the portal,leaving filthy footprints on the quartz floor.

The two men being Karl and Sapnap.

Chapter Text

Ringing.

That's all life is in that moment.

As he is jurked back down the boudless corridors all he can hear is the ringing.No thoughts cloud his mind.Only the buzzing of pain.

Moments apon moments of insignificant time, filled with nothing but a prominent ringing and his shuddering breaths, pass by.

Until time slows.

Insignificance slipping into a long awaited fate.

Pushing aside the pain that persistently rakes his body, Tommy forces his mind to focus - to properly focus.

Three more steps.

He adjusts his loose grip on the smooth netherite.

Two more steps.

A quick glance to his left proves that the Narcissus guard is paying him no mind.

One step.

Trip.

Fall.

Thud.

Tommy hits the quartz floor harshly, already cracked ribs digging inwards apon impact.Biting his lip to keep from screaming, the brunette slides the netherite rectangle across the floor, between the two bars and into the cell.

"Fucking brat."The Narcissus guard grunts, not even bothering to set the ex-vigilante back on his feet.Instead opting to drag him by his chained hands like a sack of flour.

The ringing returns.

The grin on Tommy's face goes unnoticed probably because it's covered in shocking scarlet.A centuries year old mosaic paints his body in vivid colour as crooked bones slice out of his pale skin.He looks like a corpse.Anyone who saw him would mistake him as such and immediately call an ambulance with trembling hands but alas terrorists never were that kind.Nor were they chivalrous enough to not laugh at his dilapidated form.

Soon, the brunette is hurled into his cell.Rolling across the cool rock before slamming into the back of the cramped space with the wet sound of raw meat.

Footsteps slowly retreat as he lays there.The ex-hero feels like an object.A piece of scrunched up paper left discarded on the floor for the wind to send tumbling through the city's streets.Only stopping his journey when the rain comes, reducing him to nothing.

He is inanimate:no longer human.

Ice cold hands fleet over his crumpled form and unfold him, flattening out the creases in a desperate attempt to make him normal again.A sweet, dulcet voice echoes somewhere far away;it calls his name with a tone of...worry?

Tommy can't tell.

The ringing smothers the voice's words with a sardonic grin.However, even that becomes distant as the past engulfs him.

𝘙𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦,𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘴𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘦.𝘈 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.

𝘞𝘪𝘴𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦.𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦, 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦.𝘚𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳, 𝘴𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯'𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴.

𝘞𝘪𝘴𝘱 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳.𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳.

𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥.𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘞𝘪𝘴𝘱'𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 (𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯) 𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮.𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮.𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮.𝘛𝘰 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘢𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯.𝘛𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘨 𝘞𝘪𝘴𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵.

𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦'𝘴 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯-𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘫𝘢𝘸.𝘍𝘪𝘹𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘭𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳.𝘈𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘦.

𝘔𝘶𝘻𝘻𝘭𝘦𝘥.

𝘗𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮.𝘏𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘵𝘴 𝘞𝘪𝘴𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥.𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘮𝘶𝘻𝘻𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮,𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮?

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨.𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺.𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴;𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯.

𝘞𝘪𝘴𝘱 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦'𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵.𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘶𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘺.

𝘑𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥.𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭,𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧.𝘠𝘦𝘵 𝘞𝘪𝘴𝘱 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨.

𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘺.𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘻𝘻𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳.

𝘏𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺'𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥.𝘈𝘯 𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.

𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺, 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥'𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭.𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘬.𝘜𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘞𝘪𝘴𝘱.

𝘍𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘱 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴.𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘱 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘞𝘪𝘴𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘥.

𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥.

𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘺 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺.𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘺.𝘉𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 (𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵) 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺.𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩 𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘮 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘞𝘪𝘴𝘱.

𝘚𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘋𝘦𝘰 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘴.

𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺.

"TOMMY!"

Dawn breaks as his eyes crack open.A relived smile spreads across Ghostbur's panic flared face as he looks down at the boy.

"Hey Ghostbur..."Tommy croaks out,immediately falling into a fit of coughs that leave splotches of red paint on his hand.

The man stares at him sympathetically before helping the brunette sit up with the wall's help.His hands are cold as always but it's comforting compared to the younger's buring skin.

Sapphire eyes drift to the cells door.A choir of shouts begin to ring out, bars rattling madly as the prison comes alive with hope.

"I'm sorry.They never usually go that hard on newcomers like you - or anyone for that matter.Don't worry though, your next session will be once you've fully recovered." Ghostbur chirped but his eyes were analytical,taking in every wound that marred the boy's skin.

"Good thing he won't be here for another session."A voice interrupted from the entrance, mischievous grin on their face.

"Ay up Sapnap."Tommy huffed, matching the elder's grin.

"You-"he pointed to Ghostbur, who nodded vigorously."-Help him up and uh- just keep away from the door?"

The ravenette sounded unsure which probably meant he was either going to do something dumb or something stupidly dumb;there was no in between.

Ghostbur looked to Tommy for reassurance.Obviously he got it,the youngest trusted Sapnap with his life, to a marginal degree that is.Slinging the boy's arm over his shoulders, the man helped him up with incredible care and moved to the left of the door.

Pain still stabbed through Tommy with every slight movement but the ringing was gone.He could feel his brain reach blindly for support from his powers.It's fingers wrapping around a hollow casing of what once was, trying futilely to crack the oyster like shell open.Blood beading on it's fists with every single hit but it's action did nothing except make the brunette's head pound more.

Digging his palm into his forehead, Tommy tried to focus on something else:Sapnap.The man looked a little worse for ware.Raven hair now more of a mullet as it cascaded down past his shoulders, amber eyes holding a deep dismal air of defeat that contrasted his practically buzzing body language.Then of course, there was the new wounds:bruises, burns, scars and cuts matched of course with the branding on his shoulder blade.

Tommy had missed the hero on the other side of the bars.Sure, last time they'd been together Sapnap tried to kill him but that was understandable:he just found out the brunette had killed the only thing that could defeat Schlatt.But that does make him wonder...

"Hey Sap, why are you not trying to fucking kill me right now?"Tommy asked, hissing quietly as Ghostbur's hand settled around his waist to give him more support.

"I've managed to get a few moments with TimeWarp."Was all he said.

It was all he needed to say.

"Who's TimeWarp?"The greyscale man whispered in Tommy's ear (it wasn't much of a whisper as the hero could hear it from the other side of the cell).

"You won't know hi- wait if you get your powers back will you get all of Siren's memories?"The ex-hero asked, hope filling him at the thought.

If it was true, he wouldn't have to explain everything to the man.Also, he'd remember who Tommy was.

Ghostbur shrugged,more focused on the ravenette's astranged actions.

Rubbing his hands together,Sapnap blew on them before holding them out infront of him."It might take a moment:I'm a bit rusty."

At first, it was nothing but mere embers.Electing wheezing laughter from Tommy that quickly died out, turning into a sting of curses between coughs as his broken ribs screamed in pain.

"Karam bitch."Sapnap snickered.

Then, flames exploded from his palms and tore through the door with lightning speed.By the time he lowered his hands, a human sized whole dripping with white hot iron was carved into the once inescapable cell.All three of them gaped at the gap,surprised by how much damage the hero was able to do so quickly.

"Must be a kick back.Your powers get blocked so when you use them again they splutter a bit as you get used to them again?"Sapnap tries, not quite trusting himself to come up with explanations - Dream normally did that.

"No...That's not how it works.Have you been coughing up fucking blood or some shit?"The brunette inquirers.

"Fuck no!"The ravenette shrieked a look of horror masking his face.

"When your powers get fucking blocked and you get them back, your powers shouldn't stutter - normally.Your brain should be able to regain control instantly from muscle memory.Eh, mabye that's just me.It's probably different for each fucker depending on their powers."

"We could check with the ghost dude.Wait, is he even on our side?"

"Yeah, he is prick."

He didn't see as said ghost beamed beside him nor did he notice Sapnap's suspicion.

Ghotbur adjusted his hold on Tommy before successfully clambering out the doorway without burning either of them.The man's cold hand against the youngest cracked and bruised ribs felt like an ice pack that slowly numbed his pains.It reminded him of all the times him and Purpled had spent sitting in their cheap apartment holding frozen peas over fresh bruises during their first months of vigilantism.

Too focused on the biting cold on his side, Tommy didn't notice as Sapnap took Ghostur's wrist and slid the rectangular netherite chip into his power dampener.The symbols engraved into it glowed violet as the bracelet began to hiss, steam spiralling upwards.

Click.

It split open,clattering onto the quartz tiles obnoxiously.

Suddenly,a bright light shone from the slash of yellow on the man's shoulder and his once mist filled eyes.Next, he became see through, sending Tommy falling to the ground with a pained scream - broken bones jutting back into clotting skin.

All too quickly, the light show ended though Ghostbur stayed translucent and now he seemed to hover slightly above the floor.

"WHAT THE FUCK!" Tommy screeched, glaring at the floating man whilst nursing his side.He wasn't sitting up nor attempting to because of his ankle.Apon being dropped, he'd landed on it and now it sat at an unnatural angle.

"Holy shit, dude!"Sapnap gaped,staring at the ankle with horror.

"Oh my god!I'm so, so, so, so sorry, Toms.I didn't think my powers would work so quickly.I'm sorry uh-have some blue!"Ghostbur panicked, stuffing his hand inside the gaping hole in his chest and pulling out what appeared to be a marble sized bead of the ultramarine substance that was smeared all over him.

The name 'Toms' slipped out easily for the ghost, Wilbur's memories having flooded back with his powers.However, Tommy hadn't noticed that due to his sole focus being the state of his ankle and the blinding pain that had returned tenfold.

He did take the 'blue' held out to him.The greyscale man sighing in relief.

"It's fine Ghostbur."The brunette held his wrist up, at which Sapnap quickly melted his handcuffs."But i think one of you basturds might have to carry me.Not like i need your help, I'm too much of a big man for that.In fact, I'm th-"

Before he could finish his, likely, long winded speech on why he's the biggest man ever, Sapnap had sweeped him off the floor and flung the brunette over his shoulder (not without a shriek from the boy).With that, the trio began tensely making their treck through the prison,trying desperately to ignore the pleas of the poor souls around them.

"What's the plan exactly?"

"We free everyone who ain't a wrongun and get Karl to open up a portal there-"Tommy nods towards the flat wall at the end of the hall though neither of the two men can see it."Then bamb we're out of this fucking shithole."

"Right.Do you know any healers who aren't 'wronguns' in here?"Sapnap asked,stopping at the end of the hallway infront of the flat wall.

"If he isn't dead, Smajor.Why?"Was the reply.

"That's where we're going first.I can't be asked to carry you around, dude."

"Oh fuck off I'm not even that heavy your just fucking weak, dickhead!" Tommy taunted, absently rolling the blue sphere the greyscale man had given him between coarse fingers.

"Sure....Do you have any idea where Smajor would be?"

"I do!Smajor is really nice, he smiled at me when i walked past his cell once.He healed Wilbur after he got in a fight with Masquerade!"Ghostbur chirped, circling the other two as he reminisced about the healer.

Tommy grimaced at the thought of Wilbur and Dream fighting.

"Lead the way then, Ghostbur."The ravenette pronounced, swinging his arm forward to indicate for the man to go before him.

Immediately, Ghostbur began gliding through the halls whilst rambling on and on about his experiences with Smajor.They hadn't seen a single guard yet.Either they were on break (which Tommy doubts) or there's something else distracting them.Which ever it was, dread pooled into his stomach, the phrase impending doom becoming an ever present reality to the ex-hero.

As they went, prisoners screamed at them, banging on the bars with vigour.

𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦.

The brunette spent his time idly trying not to look at those around him;he focused on Ghostbur's endless drabble.Boring and long widened though it was, he learnt a couple things.Wilbur had been an avid patient of Scott's during the couple months of fallout and chaos after the war, when the Syndicate began to climb.Most, if not all, of the injuries he'd accumulated over that time were from Dream.

Tommy remembers those days well.Spending every waking hour in med-bay waiting restlessly for some kind of update on his mentor's condition.Only to discover he was fine.So fine infact, he was out on patrol again.What hurt most about that is he hadn't even thought about checking in on Tommy nor would he have if said idea crossed his mind.Instead, leaving the freshly turned fourteen year old to pointlessly wonder around medical; he was exposed to all the wounded and the stench of rotting corpses - all without a bed to sleep in.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.

Purple's voice chided in his head;the brunette didn't deny it.

"Arson?"A gravelly voice croaked from behind Tommy.

"Hi Smajor.We got an injury for you.If we get you out this dumbass prison, will you help?"Sapnap asked, grin on his face as he melted the bars before him with ease.

Scott must of agreed because the next thing the ex-hero knew, he was carefully placed on the floor, propped up against the wall.Ghostbur sat down beside him, humming something quietly to himself.

"Hello again Tom."Scott smiled.

It was forced.Tommy knew it was:he'd known the man for years.

But he played along."I thought you were dead."

"And why's that?"The scott asked, raising his wrist up for Sapnap to unlock the bracelet there.

"Your apartment was trashed and there was blood everywhere."

"You want to know why?"His voice had turned steely, the question rhetorical.His hands, now glowing fiercely, hovered over the brunette's chest.

"Purpled showed up."

Tommy's eyes widened, grip on the blue ball sitting in his palm tightening.

Scott had the audacity to laugh, cackle even.

"He shows up and i tell him your alive.You wanna know what happens next?The fucker tries to kill me!He leaves believing he did.But the best part, the crux of it all, is that he's Shadow!"The healer sounded manic now, hands slamming down onto the boy's chest.

Light exploded through the room, Tommy crying out in death like agony as scorching heat charges through his body.

Then, he's living in an echo of death.Body aflame as thoughts ricochet against his skull like gun fire in a decades old civil war.One side the ever present kindling, childish spark of hope that Purpled was alive and the other an overwhelming sense of acceptance, deep rooted with time passed.

Purpled wasn't dead, never had been.If Tommy had looked harder or made it public that he wasn't dead, him and Purpled could of reunited.They could of gone to the ocean if he hadn't been selfish and hidden away from his responsibilities.Leaving them abandoned for others to take up and try carry on their shoulders in a futile attempt to bare the weight of responsibility that is being Charged.Or maybe if Purpled had taken his mask off when he kidnapped him as Shadow.

The nothingness shatters.Realisation thundering down with the true reality of the situation.

𝘏𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦.

His best friend had tried to kill and had tortured him.He broke their one rule of not killing others in becoming Shadow.

Did he feel an ounce of remorse?Did he even fucking care as he watched the life drain out of their eyes?

Did he revel in the sadistic satisfaction of torturing Tommy?

Mabye he did.Mabye he didn't.

Tommy would never know.

For some reason, he knew that Purpled had a way of justifying his actions.Though that didn't make them right, it meant he felt guilt;he didn't kill without reason and that was all Tommy could ask for.

He wanted to be angry (he was angry) but the ex-hero knew for a fact that the moment he saw Purpled, if ever, his resolve would crumble.All he'd wanted for the past five years was his brother back and now he got the chance it was obstructed by the eternal desert of lone and level sands that was mortality and humanity.

As said desert unfolds before him, so does the living plain.His eyes snap open.Sapnap is shouting at Scott, who only grins while the flame snaps at him from the hero's fingertips.An alarm cracks through the hall with a thunderous whirring sound every few beats.Redstone lights flash rapidly from above as the prison goes into lock down, inmates screaming and shouting with glee and misery.

Ghostbur clutches the brunette's hand tightly, eyes flicking over his form while his eyes are blown wide.Apon seeing that Tommy was conscious, his shoulders sag in relief, turning solid for the brief moment he engulfs the younger in a hug.Ultramarine smears the brunette's body now from where he'd made contact with the ghost, replacing the cuts and bruises:Scott had healed him.

Slowly, with the help of the wall behind him, Tommy stands on his own two feet.Every muscle is stiff and aching but his ankle is working.

He can walk.He can move.

He can fight.

He places a firm hand on Sapnap's shoulder and shouts over the deafening alarm:"Oi, whatever the fuck you pricks are arguing about,forget it;we're allies for the time being.We need to go get the others.Give me the key.I'll go right with Ghostbur, you go left with Scott.Find a Narcissus guard and steal their fucking keys.Meet back at the wall.If you find Karl, get him to open the portal and start sending people threw - dont wait for me. I'll be right behind you."

Sapnap falters for a second, surprised by the youger's leadership skills, but quickly obliges."See you on the other side, man."

Handing the key to the brunette, he begrudgingly sets off down the hallway with Scott in toe.

Tommy sighed.A deep long, lung bursting sigh that felt like it could easily be his last.

"Alright, let's do this shit."He shouted over the blaring alarm to Ghostbur.

The elder nodded, following the brunette out of the cell.

Sapnap went left.

Tommy goes right.

Once again, the place is desolate so the pair make distance fast.Prisoners still squeal and shriek like pigs moments from slaughter in their cells.It's drowned out though, the alarms screeching ever louder as it washed the room with darkness and crimson.Blood flooding the room with every second beat before death's cloak fell over it once more.

Tommy hated the sound, it reminded him of the war.Scrambling up from his seat and dashing into the bunkers consumed with panic and fear.Sat, shaking, on the floor as bombs sent trembles through the earth with ease.

Up ahead was a room.With caution, they entered.As always, it was a box of obsidian with flashing red lights and an ear shattering alarm.Weapons lined the wall:guns and knifes and swords and battons and axes - any weapon you could think of was there.A handful of spare Hybris guard uniforms were hung up on the wall.Security footage displaying every nook and cranny of the prison played in the far right from an immense computer.

𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴.

Slouching down in the chair infront of the computer, Tommy began to work.Ghostbur inspected the tiny room as the brunette struggled to shift through the disorganised mess that was the computer storage.It was unbelievably slow, all of the RAM used up meaning the CPU had to fetch data from the hard drive which took about a decade on its own.Adding the factor that the computer had to also find said data in the tangled wire like storage added an eternity to the process.

But 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, after arduous effort, he found the records.

Apon sifting through it, he came to realise that most, if not all, of the people who deserved to be free were along Sapnap's path.The only person not would be Moros or Kristen as Ghostbur called her.

Tommy opened her file.

ɴᴀᴍᴇ: ᴋʀɪꜱᴛᴇɴ ʀᴏꜱᴇ ᴡᴀᴛꜱᴏɴ
ᴀʟɪᴀꜱᴇꜱ: ᴍᴏʀᴏꜱ
ʀᴇᴄᴏʀᴅ ɪᴅ# : ᴀ4589 ʜ69087
ɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟɪᴛʏ : ᴜɴᴋɴᴏᴡɴ
ᴄɪᴛɪᴢᴇɴ : ɴᴏ
ᴀʟɪɴᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ : ᴠɪʟʟɪᴀɴ - ꜱʏɴᴅɪᴄᴀᴛᴇ ʟᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ
ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ : ᴜɴᴋɴᴏᴡɴ ɪɴ ᴅᴇᴘᴛʜ
ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ ᴄʟᴀꜱꜱ : ʜ - ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ᴇɴɢᴀɢᴇ

ɢᴇɴᴅᴇʀ : ꜰ
ᴀɢᴇ : ᴜɴᴋɴᴏᴡɴ - ᴘʀᴇꜱᴜᴍᴇᴅ ᴇᴀʀʟʏ 30ꜱ
ʀᴀᴄᴇ/ᴇᴛʜɴɪᴄɪᴛʏ : ᴄᴀᴜᴄᴀꜱɪᴀɴ
ʜᴇɪɢʜᴛ : 6'7
ʜᴀɪʀ ᴄᴏʟᴏᴜʀ : ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ
ᴇʏᴇ ᴄᴏʟᴏᴜʀ : ʙʀᴏᴡɴ

ᴀʀʀᴇꜱᴛ & ꜱᴇɴᴛᴇɴᴄɪɴɢ ɪɴꜰᴏ
ᴅᴀᴛᴇ : ᴍᴀʏ 1 , 2013
ɪɴꜱᴛɪᴛᴜᴛɪᴏɴ : ᴘᴀɴᴅᴏʀᴀ'ꜱ ᴠᴀᴜʟᴛ
ᴄʜᴀʀɢᴇꜱ :
ᴍᴀꜱꜱ ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ
ᴛᴇʀʀᴏʀɪꜱᴍ
ʙʀᴇᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇɴᴛᴇʀɪɴɢ
ᴀʀᴍᴇᴅ ʀᴏʙʙᴇʀʏ
ᴀʀꜱᴏɴ
ꜰʀᴀᴜᴅ
ʙʟᴀᴄᴋᴍᴀɪʟ
ꜰᴏʀɢᴇʀʏ
ʜᴏꜱᴛᴀɢᴇ ᴛᴀᴋɪɴɢ
ᴋɪᴅɴᴀᴘᴘɪɴɢ
ᴅᴇꜱᴛʀᴜᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏꜰ ʀᴇɢɪꜱᴛᴇʀꜱ ᴏꜰ ʙɪʀᴛʜꜱ ᴇᴄᴛ

𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘳...

Currently, Moros was being held in 'the vault', which was next to the place Tommy had been interrogated.Eyes flicking over to the security cameras, he found that the place was swarming with both Narcissus and Hybris guards.The vault basically a bees nest at that point due to the sheer amount of them.

"Fuckkkkk."Tommy groaned, dragging his hand down his face with a huff before standing.

Immediately he spotted the uniforms, sending a grin spreading across his face and a plan tumbling through his brain.He slipped the 'blue' the man had given him into his pocket, put on the green cloak, which was far to big for him, and slotted the silver mask into place over his face.Then, he took two battons off the wall, twirling them around skilfully due to his overwhelming amout of muscle memory.

"Ghostbur, we're gonna go get Moros."Tommy called over his shoulder, already out of the room and back in the corridor.

_____

Thirty six.

There were thirty six guards outside 'the vault'.

The ex-hero pulled himself back from where he'd been peeking round the corner.

Tommy, undoubtedly, was fucked.

If he had his powers maybe he'd be able to take them but he didn't.He had a pair of battons, an oversized cloak, no shoes and Ghostbur.They had the upper hand in every sense of the phrase.

He was a caveman facing off a medieval army:he had no chance.

𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩.𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘰 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥.Sandwich's voice echoed through his head, repeating the words from one of their training sessions together in the Pit.

Taking a deep breath as if that would calm the raging sea that was his mind, Tommy did just as he was taught.

𝘛𝘸𝘰 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘬, 𝘬𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘎𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘣𝘶𝘳.

𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘎𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘣𝘶𝘳.

A diversion.

"Ghostbur.I need you to fly past these guys and grab one of these."He whispers back to the man, holding up his key for him to see."Once you have it, go straight on as fast as you can.Only come back when you've lost the pricks that followed you, yeah?"

"Okay, Toms."He hummed, waving at the brunette before disappearing round the corner.

Apon hearing disgruntled shouts, Tommy looked back at the guards.

Now there was fifteen.Ten Narcissus guards and five Hybris guards.

It surprised him that so many had gone after Ghostbur but it worked in his favour so he wasn't complaining.

With as much nonchalance as he could muster, the brunette rounded the corner and made his way towards the guards, sending them a nod in greeting."All the Narcissus guards are need in the south side of the prison;two hundred prisoners have managed to get out the main entrance and are making their way down the tracks."

Two guards shot eachother a look.

𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬.𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬.

They nodded to eachother before all ten of them marched off in the direction of the south side - the way Tommy had come from.Once their grating footsteps faded completely, the brunette sighed.Adjusting his grip on his battons, he shifted into a fighting stance.

He knew nothing about Hybris guards, he never thought he'd have to step foot in this prison let alone escape it, but from what he could guess they weren't that slow but depended on their weapons more than anything else.

Darting forward, he slammed his batton into one guards head with a hollow thud.Immediately, they crumpled to the ground.

Four left.

Obviously, they wouldn't be as easy to take out - the first guy only went down because he had the element of surprise.

The lights flicked off before bathing them in vermillion again.Siren still whirring in the background.

Everything went dark.

Spitting electricity filled the hallway as each guard turned on their staff and charged forward like a pack of stingrays.All at once, they swung at him from all angles.The ex-vigilante dropped to the ground and slid between one's legs.Holding his batton above his head, he swept their feet out from under them.

Scrambling back up, he pulled his other batton from where it sat at his hip and prepared for the next onslaught.He jurked right, narrowly avoiding the crackling hit amid at his stomach.However he'd been too caught up with dodging that he failed to notice the staff swinging at his left side that sent him flying into the obsidian wall beside him.

He hit it with a crack and a strangled scream.

Newly healed ribs broken once more.

"Oh you twat!I just got that fixed as well.You know healthcares expensive, right?"He whinnied, quickly jumping out the way as another jab was sent his way.

The next to come his way was aimed directly at his face.Before the staff could make contact with his face, it connected with his batton.Quickly, he brought his leg up and shoved it into the guards stomach sending them back into one of their teammates.

Electricity cackled next to his ear.Ducking, Tommy brought his batton down on their outstretched hand.Their staff dropped as they pulled their hand back and cradled it to their chest.Catching said staff before it hit the ground, the brunette plunged it into the guards shoulder, sending them to the ground like a puppet without it's string.

Three left.

He straightened himself, turning to the remaining guards infront of him.By now, two had dropped their weapons.Instead opting to use their powers.

Obsidian tore itself from the wall and spat at Tommy.Jagged rocks were easily deflected with calculated flicks of the wrist that sent a handful of rocks back at their owner.One hit their head with a clunk, drawing crimson as they stumbled back.

Another guard had taken the moment to stalk forward, hand touching the ex-hero's staff.It dissolved into dirt and fell like snow to the ground.

Tommy was unfazed.Fist swinging around and sending the guys head snapping to the left with so much force that they dropped.Hitting the floor with clink as unconsciousness dragged them to some place better in their dreams.

Two left.

Obsidian imbedded itself into his thigh.Pain shot up his leg but the boy only grunted, limping foward as the room was washed in deaths crule grasp one more.

His staff collided with another.He brought their weapons down so they were almost touching the ground before he flicked his wrist.Crackling staff twisting and catching the other as it travelled upwards, taking it's brother up with it smoothly.It clattered to the floor as Tommy thrusted forward;his jab hitting it's mark and sending the guard backwards as electricity raged through their veins.

One left.

Obsidian hissed foward but he dodged it.Now face to face with the other, the brunette parried a punch they sent his way - their fists coated in obsidian.

He didn't get so lucky with the next.

Rock hard fist slamming into his shoulder with tremendous force.

"Fuck!"He shouted, staggering back as he readjusted his hold in the staff.

They stepped forward to continue their assault.However their foot came first, movements too hasty as Tommy rammed his staff into it.

Sapphire zapped through them.Tripping back, they hit the floor and began convulsing as agony shattered their resolve.Rock casted hands returning to normal as they rived in pain.

Then, they fell still.

None left.

The sirens still bleared unbearably loud while the lights flickered black and red.

Crouching down with a pained groan, the brunette raided the guards pockets.One thing in particular caught his attention:a keycard.Tilting his head to the side, he read the purple symbols engraved into it:

ᴠᴀᴜʟᴛ ᴋᴇʏ

With raged breaths, Tommy rightened himself and limped over to 'the vault', using his staff for support.

The familiar glistening black and purple rock glares at him as he enters.Everything is muffled in there:the sirens and the flashing lights.Hissing before him is a wall of lava with seemingly nothing behind it.Flowing amber and crimson liquid casting shadows on the walls that dance gleefully to the sound of his confusion.

Dozens of leavers line one side on the wall, the only reasonable thing he can think of doing is pulling all of them.

Clutching his shoulder with one hand, Tommy begins the process of pulling each leaver.The fist few don't do anything but then he gets to the third.

Metal scratching metal booms through the room with a vengeance, making the boy clasp his hands over his ears as the defening sound continues.To his left, the direction of the lava, a drain like sound replaces that of the metal.

Glancing over, he watches in awe as the middle of the lava wall disappears, revealing a pathway of sorts.Slowly he made his way over after picking his staff up from were it had fallen.

Unbearable heat washed over him as he walked.Sweat dripping down his back in the buckets full.

Like always, the path was made of obsidian as was the tiny room at the end.

𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭.𝘚𝘢𝘮'𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦!

Limping foward, he caught site of an orange clad figure with long black hair.They hadn't turned towards him.Their cage was bland, boring but had one thing that being a clock which let off an infuriating ticking noise.A reinforced plastic door with a gap in it for food stood as a barricade between them.

A keypad sat next to it.

Now at the end of the path, Tommy pressed the card to the keypad.A click echoed through the room before the door slid open with a hiss.

The person inside's head snapped towards the brunette, eyes blown wide.

"Wil?"Desperation and longing lased her words.Tears floating in her eyes as they flicked over the younger's form.

"Sorry miss.I'm not Wilbur."The ex-hero denied with sympathy as a flash of disappointment infected her face."I'm here to get you out, I think.You are Moros, right?"

The woman stared wide eyed at him for a moment, before seemingly snapping back to the present with a nod.

"Great.I'm Crimson.Me and your son are friends."Tommy told her anxiously, rubbing his neck as he lead her out of 'the vault'.

"Which one?"Moros asked walking slowly next to Tommy.

"Wil but I've met Techno a couple times before."He answered, the whole situation feeling awkward to him.Especially because the woman had to keep waiting for him to catch up due to him struggling to make his way down the hallway.

"What are they like?They must be all grown up by now."She asked voice more of a whisper as remorse filled her tone.

Tommy frowned.The last time she'd seen her sons, Wilbur and Techno were twenty one.She deserved to know what they were like.

"Wilbur's really good at guitar and he's kind.He's one of the kindest people I've ever met.But don't tell him i said that, ever."

"He's played guitar to you?"The woman gasped in surprise, getting a coy smile and a nod in return.

"His favourite movie is SMP.He likes his coffee black, with no sugar because he's fucking emo."That pulled a laugh from Kristen.

"Techno reads a lot of greek myths and he's very competitive.His hair is pink and he's very protective over the rest of the Syndicate members."The brunette said after a moment of deep concentration.He doesn't know Techno very well so he had to add some things he knew about Blood God in as well.

It seemed to have satisfied the villian though as she was smiling.She had a nice smile.It was like spring, flowers blooming and filling the world with colour.

"You must be quite close with Wilbur for him to have told you that his famil is part of the Syndicate.Are you a villian?"The elder asked, brown eyes meeting blue ones.

"Something like that...Oh shit, I forgot."Tommy reached forward and gently took her wrist,slotting the key into her dampener.The runes glowed and the thing clattered to the floor.

Kristen looked at him curiously but he'd already started moving.

"Sapnap should of gotten everyone out by now so we just have to get to the portal.It should be a couple minutes away."He explained.

Kristen hummed behind him.

They fell into an uncomfortable silent.

Both lost deeply in thought.

Something felt off, overwhelmingly so.Like impending doom was following close behind him as he grew closer and closer to freedom.

He was dragged from his thoughts as he spotted a glowing light before him.Panicked shouts came from the light source.Speeding up as much as he could, Tommy gazed through it.

It was a portal to Kinoko.

Karl, Sapnap and all the prisoners they'd saved stood on the other side.Schlatt stood at the top of a grand marble staircase whilst others were scattered throughout the room.

Kristen joined him, gaze flicking over the room before her.

"Hey!"Someone shouted from behind him.

Head snapping over, Tommy spotted three Narcissus guards at the very end of the boudless hallway, starting towards them.

𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘵.

Silence fell over the crowd on the opposite side of the portal.They were indefinitely staring at his back.

"Go through the portal."The brunette whispered to his companion.

She nodded, gently touching his shoulder.

Kristen froze, her eyes glowing purple and her hand ice cold from where it lingered on Tommy.

She stared at the boy with remorse and deathly sobriety filled eyes.Silently, she hugged him.The villian's touch was like that of a corpse's yet it comforted him nonetheless.

After a moment she let go of him.

The guards were closer now.

"I'm so sorry."She whispered to him before slipping through the portal.

Tommy frowned in confusion, watching as those who were free gaped at her.

Karl caught his eye, head tilting to the side as he walked past Kristen.Soon, he was before the younger, frowning.

The guards were steps away now.

The ex-vigilante turned his back on Karl and changed his stance.

"Tommy?What are you doing?"Karl asked, voice raising an octave with worry.

"Ghostbur isn't back yet."With that, he charged forward as best he could.

The Narcissus closest to him brought their sword swinging towards Tommy's left leg - his injured leg.He side stepped it.

Pulling off the green cloak to provent himself from inevitably tripping on it and falling on his face, the brunette breathed.He brought his staff crashing into his knee, splitting it in two.

Instead of falling into someone else's fighting style, he fell into his own - Charged's.

"Let's have some fun, shall we lads?"He asks.Without waiting for an answer, he darts forward - again.He dodges the blow aimed for his head before returning the favour, the guard wasn't as quick.

They stumble back.

"Ohh, sorry fuck face my finger slipped."He swept their legs out from underneath them, they hit the ground with a thund and a groan."And again!"

A well swung blow hits his knee, sending him crumbling.One guard climbs ontop of the ex-hero, repeatedly slamming their fist into his face.A part of his mask breaks, one sapphire eye revealed to the world.

Bringing his knee up, Tommy thrusts it into the guys knuts with as much force as he can muster.They grown, falling to the side with a grunt.

Scrambling up once more, he narrowly avoids being stabbed.Jumping up onto the blade and miraculously balancing on it.

Tommy grins as realisation hits the guard weilding the sword and those behind him in Kinoko.The move being an iconic one of Charged's during his days on the field.

𝘖𝘩 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵.

Quickly, he jumps.Foot connecting with the guards face with the crack of a gun firing.

Landing perfectly, Tommy groans at putting pressure on his injured leg.Hissing, he turns towards the portal and hobbles over.He looks left and right down the hall for Ghostbur.Still, he is nowhere to be found.

"Crimson watch out!"Karl shouts from before him, pointing to something behind the younger.

One.

Snapping around, Tommy sees one of the guards back on their feet.Trident in hand, they throw it like a javelin.

Two

If Tommy ducks, Karl dies.If he doesn't, he'll die himself.

Three.

The trident hits it's mark.

A body sways before crashing to the ground.

The three pronged weapon jutts out of jaw, adams apple and collar bone like a broken bone.Shocking scarlet pools from the punchers like a flooding damb.Hazy mist filled eyes linger on a long lost brother (only prevented from charging forward by those who hold him back).Purpled shouts something the brunette can't hear.

He hadn't understood what Kristen meant when she said sorry;he does now.Her name is Moros,the name of a primordial deity of impending doom, who leads mortals to their deadly fate.

With his remaining strength, Tommy holds up the sign of the 16th:his final act of rebellion.

As he slips from the mortal plain, he thinks only one thing:

𝘏𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦.