Chapter Text
"09/04/2032
The Syndicate first appeared around... I don't know actually... Oh well. At first it was just Angel of Death. Now I will not lie and say his debut was not good because it was. I remember I had a different identity and I was at work (ugh) the TV was suddenly switched on by the manager to see Angels debut. It was... amazing??? For this to make sense every person who has powers is born with two but one will be stronger than other and if you want to be a hero you'll have to master both. With that being said, Angel of Death had somehow master BOTH his powers. Unfortunately his powers are kept away from the public.
Anyway, his debut was something like using his shadow powers to duplicate himself into robbing multiple banks, rich mansions, and the hero tower. No one really knows if the real him robbed the HQ but I wouldn't doubt it if someone told me it was the real him who did it. Immediately after his debut he was placed number 10 on the villains ranks, but he didn't stay there for quickly pushing up the ranks until he made it to the number 1 most wanted villain. Honestly it felt surreal the way he made it up there so fast.
After Angel made it to the number 1 rank two more people joined him. Siren and Blade. They both debuted together, Siren easily taking care of the pesky heroes trying to stop them while Blade created the Bloodiest Debut in history. Literally. It was put into history books soon after it happened. Siren barely gets any credit though, he killed so many minor heroes the Hero HQ went into a shortage of heroes! But it barely gets mentioned because he only killed low ranked heroes. Anyway Blade quickly rosed up to the second rank and Siren following shortly after him.
But now more villains have joined the Syndicate. Like Nemesis and Blaze, they used to be vigilantes and were loved by the public mostly districts 8 and 10. But the heroes didn't like that so, of course, heroes started painting them in a bad light. After almost being caught and killed they decided they've had enough of that and joined the Syndicate. Apparently the Syndicate have already been trying to recruit them but the duo had been rejecting them. They to stick with protecting the lower districts the heroes weren't protecting. Personally I think they fit right in with the Syndicate. With Nemesis being able to control and Blaze having fire powers both being able to orchestrate so much chaos on their own but now with the Syndicate, I'm scared but also kinda excited to see what they do."
Tommy re-reads. He sighs and slams his head inside the notebook, dust exploding from said notebook. Clementine stands beside him and pats his back. Tommy groans and sits but up.
"Thanks Clem, can you check on the.. the new potion we're working on?" Clementine gives a series of beeps and runs off to another section in the basement.
'Make sure to have plenty of rest and eat enough okay?' Niki said, Tommy called out of work for.. a week. His manager being pleased that he finally took a quote on quote 'needed break', today is his last day and he's headed back to the small little bakery in district 8.
The Syndicate giving him... more trouble than usual. He's not scared or anything it's just he's more paranoid than scared if we're being honest. Actually, no, Tommy would never be paranoid of something like some dumb villain group.
Someone knocks on the basements door.
Tommy grabs his gun.
Okay. Maybe just maybe Tommy is paranoid.
Tommy points the gun at the entrance.
He holds his breath.
Another series of knocks follow after the first knock, seemingly getting impatient.
Sweat rolls down Tommy's neck.
"Tom are you in there?" Purpled calls out.
Tommy instantly calms down and giggles under his breath, why is he being so paranoid? Tommy sets down the gun and walks over to the door.
Tommy opens the door.
Its Purpled! "How'd you get inside my house?" Tommy asks smiling. "You never lock your doors."
Oh.
"Anyway I was sent here by the Hero Committee to like... protect you??" Tommy nods. "So I'll be stuck by your side for like the rest of your life."
"Thats not possible."
"Okay... then for the rest of this identity?"
"I'm not changing my identity." Tommy deadpans.
Purpled throws his hands up and groans. "Look I was sent to just make sure you're safe. You can stay safe right?" Purpled asks annoyance leaking through his tone. Tommy hums. "Are you annoyed because you need to do your job now?"
"Absolutely."
----
Tommy is now showing Purpled his makeshift basement to him. "Are you even allowed to have this here?" Purpled asks pulling out a brown notebook from a bookcase surrounding the wall. Tommy shakes his head, "Nope! Thats why its a secret." Tommy laughs while looking over the heros shoulder to see what hes reading.
"Your hand writing was way more fancy than now. I can barely read this..." Tommy laughs and reads it out loud for Purpled, adding on some details from his memories for it to make sense. "You really wrote everyday?" Purpled asks flipping through pages not really reading them.
Tommy stares at him. "Yeah, well I mean not every day sometimes I was too busy to write." Purpled raises an eyebrow and puts the book back in its place. "Too busy?" Tommy nods, "Wars and like bloodshed and what not." Purpled takes another book and nods. "Have..." Tommy turns his attention to Purpled. Purpled keeps his eyes dead set on the book. "Actually never mind its a stupid question."
"I can answ-"
"This." The hero shoves a page into Tommys face, "Can you read this for me please." Tommy searches Purpled for... anything really. "You're nervous." Tommy lowers down the book out of the heros face. Purpled jumps and looks away, "I'm hungry. Theres this place near the citys heart, we should go there. Heards it good." Purpled rambles on flipping pages from the book barely skimming the entrances.
Tommy stares at him for way too long. "We should." Purpled lets a breath. "After you ask me whatever you wanted to ask me."
"Tommy just drop it." Purpled closes the book and sets it in its correct place. Tommy furrows his eyebrows and shakes his head. "Fuck no what did you want to ask me?" Purpled groans and walks away from Tommy who follows him repeating the same question over and over again.
"Grayson-" Clementine interrupts Tommy. Both boys turn around and face the little robot. Clementine tugs Tommys shirt with one hand and points at the potion station with the other. Tommy nods and follows the little robot to the station. Purpled stays in the small living room.
"Whats up?" Tommy asks crouching down to the robots level, she beeps and beeps while pointing at the potions. Clementines huffs and picks up one of the potions and hands it to the blonde, "Oh! Its done?" Clementine nods and goes back to taking care of the potions. Tommy swirls the potion in his hand and watches as it sparkles and creates mixtures of colors. "This potion is...?" "Invisibility!" a small robotic voice speaks up, Tommy smiles and nods.
Tommy stands in front of Purpled holding the potion behind his back. Purpled looks up from his seat and stares at Tommy, "What?" Tommy shoves the potion into the heros hands and sits next to him. Purpled swirls the potion and looks at Tommy. "So... What is this?" Purpled asks taking off the cork and smelling it.
"Its uh an invisibility potion its only lasts for three minutes though."
Purpled nods, "Thank you." Purpled pops the cork back on and sets it down next to him. "So are we going to that small restaurant I told you about?"
"You weren't lying about that?"
"Why would I lie about that?"
----
Tommy takes a big bite of his food. The restaurant ended up being a Japanese place called 'Sushi Ko.'
The place isn't all that busy just a few tables occupied by families. Tommy grabs a dumpling and takes a bite, Purpled talks about what the committee told him to do.
"Okay so I clocked in right and then as soon as I did the same receptionist you met dragged me up to the committee floor and just left me there. Like what?! And then like a whole hour passed until people finally started filling up the room." Purpled takes a sip of his water. "And the meeting was them asking me why the Syndicate wanted you like I knew had the answers to the universe." Tommy laughs at that.
Purpled huffs and crosses his arms, "And then they just assigned me to take care of you and now we're here." Tommy nods and takes another bite of his dumpling, "Thats crazy." Purpled deadpans and sighs. "Anyway you know that new-ish vigilante?" Tommy nods. "Yeah Tubbo is like going crazy over him, why?"
"They've sent off heroes to kill him."
Tommys jaw drops. "What?! its only been a few months since his debut! Plus after his debut the crime rates have been going down especially in the lower districts... oooh." Yeah no it makes sense now. Purpled nods, "Its either some villain group recruits him or he willingly joins the Hero HQ which I highly doubt he'd join neither side." Tommy sips his drink with a frown. "I feel like I should tell Tubbo." Purpled shakes his head, "Maybe its better if he believes his favorite vigilante just quit or something."
Tommy hums and finishes his food quickly and takes out his phone. Its an old thing broken and battered up but it still works so who cares. "I should get you a new phone..." Purpled points at Tommys phone with a face. "But it still works?" Purpled takes the blondes phone, takes the sim card out, and crushes the phone with one hand. "I should get you a new phone."
Tommy stares at Purpled absolutely mortified.
"Yeah... yeah I think I need phone."
Purpled laughs and stands up to go pay the bill.
Tommy mourns his broken phone.
----
Tommy looks at the new phone the hero handed him. Its nice, sleek, and his favorite color, red! "Thank you for breaking my old phone and giving me a new one. How thoughtful." Tommy jokes, Purpled rolls his eyes and shoves Tommy away from him. "Your old phone was only working because of your hopes and prayers."
Purpled grabs Tommy hand and drags him away towards a bench, "Dude I'm fucking tired as fuck." Purpled groans as we sits down. "You were the one who insisted on going out to random ass shops." Tommy points out, "Oh yeah you're right." The hero says with a smile.
Tommy sighs and starts downloading random games onto his phone, "I'll be right back I won't be far." Purpled walks away. Tommy stands up to follow him just to be pushed back down. "Stay here, I won't be far." Purpled pats his head and quickly leaves. Leaving behind a dumbfounded Tommy.
Tommy drops his hand and watches Purpled run off to nowhere in particular. The blonde looks around seeing people walk around out-door mall, Tommy faces straight another bench across him occupied by couple... kissing. Tommy looks away.
Tommy has never been one for relationships. Too high maintenance, short lasting, he'll out live whatever partner he dates. Plus theres sharing, talking like everyday, and all that extra stuff Tommy doesn't want to do. But sometimes he craves that closeness. The unconditional love that doesn't leave even after arguments and betrayal. Tommy sometimes wishes he had that. Tommy sighs a bit harsher and looks anywhere but the couple in front of him. Purpled suddenly appears in front of him, his mask is on. "C'mon we gotta go." Purpled grabs Tommys arms and hurriedly walks off. "Whats going on?" Tommy rushes to the heros side, "Got bored." Purpled doesn't spare a glance at Tommy and just continues walking towards the parking lot.
Tommy digs his feet into the pavement.
Purpled mumbles a 'not again' and turns to face Tommy. "Can I help you?" Purpled asks, "You can by telling me whats going on."
Some people gawk at seeing a hero so casually out in public or maybe its because he was seen dragging away some blonde teenager.
"My job right now is to protect you from danger." Tommy nods and squints his eyes, "So I am taking you away from danger right now, Theseus." Purpled starts tugging at Tommy to hurry and start walking. "Whats the danger you're protecting me from?" Tommy asks innocently batting his eyebrows at the hero.
The hero pauses. His antennas twitching every now and then, and even start to glow. Purpled takes his masks off and puts it on Tommys face, "Lets get you to safety." Purpled starts walking away from the crowd that appeared out of nowhere??? Tommy didn't even notice. Tommy reluctantly follows the hero out of the out-door mall and into the parking lot. A black, sleek car with the Hero HQ logo waits for them at the entrance and yet another crowd surrounds the car but this time its a smaller crowd. The hero opens the car door and instructs Tommy into the cars seat thankfully the hero also gets in and sits next to Tommy.
As soon as the car drives off Tommy takes the heros mask off and slaps the shit outta Purpled. "Ow!? What the fuck!" Purpled yells and leans away from the blonde. "Fuck you! Whats going on?!"
The driver speaks up. "Please calm down you two."
Tommy stops trying to slap Purpled and looks at the driver, "Sorry."
"If you want to hit, Nox, please wait until you've arrived home." The driver helpfully advices. An evil grin comes to Tommys face, Purpled jaws drops. "Please, Tommy, I'll get you whatever you what!"
Tommy sits down correctly and faces forward ignoring Purpleds pleads for mercy. Tommy scratches his chin as if he might just give the hero mercy, "Tell me why we left and I just might give you mercy."
Purpled stops his pleading and actually thinks about it. "Someone, a civilian, contacted the Hero SAS and said they spotted the Syndicate somewhere near district 2 and 4."
Tommy stares at Purpled.
Purpled stares at Tommy.
Tommy slaps Purpled.
----
Tommy is inside Purpleds house looking over at all the things the hero bought him. With said hero sharping some throwing knifes, "Wheres your sickle?" Tommy asks while folding a muted blue sweatshirt. "Somewhere out there getting a re-do." Purpled looks at Tommy and the countless shopping bags around him.
"Where'd you get the ingredients to make potions?" Purpled raises an eyebrow. Tommy gulps and looks away. "My neighbors are drug dealers and give me a discount because I don't snitch. And even more because I am... friends with... you." Tommy points at Purpled. "Please don't sell them out." Tommy pleads, "I... won't?" The blonde whoops and the hero rethinks his decision.
Purpled gets a call, he raises an eyebrow but answers it in front of the blonde.
"Nox. The Syndicate has been seen circling your district please head to the Hero HQ with Theseus." Purpled sighs.
'Purpled and I sigh a lot..' Tommy thinks. "I will not be moving. Moving the civilian and I into the Hero HQ is, in my opinion, more dangerous than us staying put. Send higher ranked heroes to lure them away or something." Purpled hangs up not giving the other end a chance to talk.
Tommy stares at the hero wide eyed. "What?" Purpled goes back to cleaning and sharpening his tools, "You can just... do that?" Tommy asks in awe. "Not listen to them? Yeah I do it all the time." Tommy kinda just stares off and laughs, "No way..."
Purpled just smiles and nods. "You just ignore them??" Tommy asks in pure disbelief while Purpled just continues to nod away.
" 18/04/2033
The Syndicate is after me I think and Purpled is required to protect me from them. Anyway we went out to like ten billion stores and Purp bought me a shit ton of clothes and little trinkets. I'll be honest I have never seen him like on job. Since he makes sure to never run into me while patrolling but honestly its kinda scary seeing him so... serious???"
----
Purpled is sitting next to the cash register near Tommy, a hot chocolate (paid by Tommy) in his hands. "I thought you were joking about them assigning you to look after me."
Explaining the whole situation to his boss was... nerve wracking. Purpled was the one talking for most of the time, Tommy nodding along and just adding on 'sorrys' and even more apologies. But even then his boss, Niki, the saint she is just accepted it and let the hero look after Tommy as long as he doesn't cause any trouble. Which, the hero assured Niki he wouldn't as long as a villain didn't come in and try to take the blonde.
Niki just laughed.
"I promise you a villain wouldn't dare cause any trouble here!" Is all she said before shooing them both out her office.
Now Tommy stands in front of the register with a civilian Purpled sitting next to him. Tommy looks at the hero and frowns, his antennas and bottom eyes hidden away from the public. The hero looks over to the blonde and raises an eyebrow, the blonde just shakes his head looks away.
A familiar bell rings and Tommy puts on his customer smile on before actually smiling. "Wilbur! How are you doing?"
Wilbur gains a smile before quickly losing it. Tommys smiles slowly drops, "Wilbur?" "Who's that?" Wilbur points at the hero. "Oh thats just Grayson my friend. Anyway... your order?" Tommy tries to very obviously change the conversation but fails. "You seem to keep your friends away from me."
Tommy internally groans. "It just slips my mind, now your order?"
"Just a black coffee."
"That'd be $4.20!"
Wilbur hands Tommy the money and sits down next to Purpled. "So, you're Grayson?" Wilbur strikes up a conversation, Purpled nods. "I am." Purpled tries to end the conversation quickly but Wilbur doesn't let it go, "So how long have you been friends with Tommy?" Purpled holds in an annoyed sigh. "For about three years or so, why?" "Oh nothing..."
Tommy sets down Wilburs coffee down in front of him and takes over the conversation. "You know you should come over to my house, Technos making his signature baked potatoes!" Wilbur claps his hands together. Tommy snorts and shakes his head, "Unfortunately I can't, me and Grayson are going out tonight." Tommy says shoving his hand into Purpleds face. "More like staying in." The hero groans and pushes the blondes hand away. Tommy pouts before getting a mischievous smile on his face, "Well if we're just staying in then I might as well go with Wilbur."
Purpled perks up at that and shakes his head violently. "Theseus..." "You should come over! C'mon its not like I'll kill him or anything." Wilbur slaps Purpleds shoulder. The hero thinks for a minute before relenting and letting Tommy go over to the olders house. "Call me after you're done." "Okay mom." Both Tommy and Wilbur laugh while Purpled wallows in annoyance,
----
Tommy is now inside of Wilburs house. And honestly, he kinda regrets not staying with Purpled. Tommy might just pull out his phone and call up Purpled.
And its not like Wilburs house is bad its just.
"You fucking bitch." Yeah so they might or might not be playing Uno with Techno and Phil. Tommy turns to look at Techno who stares back at him. "Aren't you supposed to be cooking right now?" Slow realization sets into Techno, "You're right." Is all Techno says before Wilbur yells out a war cry and throws his cards onto the coffee table thats littered with snacks and drinks. Phil covers his mouth and laughs out loud as Techno throws his cards at Wilbur and runs into the kitchen to prepare his signature potatoes. Tommy soon joins Phils laughing while Wilbur yells about they all played three hours of Uno just for no one to realize Techno was not supposed to be there.
After the laughs died down Tommy yawns and sets his cards down. Wilbur gasps and slams his hands down, "You could've won?!" Phil sighs and walks out the living room as Wilbur starts at yelling at Tommy on how he could've won as Tommy just watched. Wilbur takes a big breath in and exhales as he sits down on the couch behind him, "Anyway do you have a favorite villain?" Wilbur asks trying to act nonchalant as possible but ultimately failing . "Well its clear you have one." Tommy deadpans and Wilbur pouts. "Is it that obvious?" "Yes, yes it is."
Wilbur smirks. "Well Siren is my favorite..." Tommy doesn't even try to act surprised. "Obviously you'd picked Siren." Wilbur laughs and raises an eyebrow, "What do you mean?" Tommy shrugs. "You just give off Siren vibes." Tommy waves his arms around Wilbur emulating the 'vibes' he gives off. Wilbur stares at him... weirdly? Before laughing and calling Tommy a dumbass. Tommy (very rightfully) gets mad at the older and starts throwing any and every card he can get his hands on.
After more arguing and even more arguing Techno finally finished his signature potatoes and served everyone to eat. And Wilbur wasn't lying when he said Technos potatoes were amazing.
Tommy had a good night.
----
"This is Ranboo!" Tubbo points at 'Ranboo.'
Tommy is currently meeting Tubbo's best friend with Purpled not far off just a few tables over. They're in a restaurant named, 'Space Lullaby' its located in district 6. Tommy nods and gives a small smile directed to Ranboo, "I'm Theseus, nice to meet you."
If Tommys being honest, he isn't all that big on meeting new people but Tubbo had been begging him to meet his friend.
"Uh- Likewise! Nice to meet you!" Ranboo rushes out, he's.. nervous? Well I mean he's been fidgeting ever since he got here. Maybe he isn't all that big on meeting new people too? "So what do you for work?" Ranboo jumps at the question and looks at Tubbo, they talk with their eyes. Tommy's used to this. Everyone he's met they always had that one person they could just look at and know exactly what they were trying to say. Tommy never had that. He.. sometimes wishes he did. No. He's fine just as he is.
"I work... for the Hero HQ.." Ranboo responds quietly looking away from Tommy looking almost embarrassed? Tommy can't really tell "Oh really? That's cool, I have friend who also works that the Hero HQ" Tommy happily laughs ignoring Purpleds pointed stare, Ranboo nods. He's probably worried that'll Tommy asks what position he is, so he won't ask. Maybe he is a little curious but it's whatever he can wait. He's used to waiting.
"Hello guys how are we doing?" The waiter stands in front of the booth.
"Puffy! We're good!" Ranboo smiles, "How about you?" Tubbo adds. Puffy laughs and places her hands on her hips, "The usual you know how it is, and who is this?" Puffy looks at Tommy, Tommy freezes.
He was told he was meeting one person and one person only what the fuck. Tubbo laughs and introduces Tommy, "This is Theseus he works with me at the bakery shop!" Puffy nods and tells them to order up.
Tommy got something small just some water and a strawberry sando. Tommy has never had a big appetite. Tubbo ordered some soup with bread on the side with some water, and Ranboo ordered someone chicken with rice on the side, no drink. Ew. Who the fuck doesn't oder a drink??
The three get back to talking after putting in their orders. "So Theseus what do you in your free time?" Ranboo asks, "Well usually I hang out with my other friend but if he's busy I just stay home and build little robots and what not," Tommy replies and Ranboo asks further questions about these robots he builds. Tubbo also joins in with the questions.
"Can you make me a gun?" Tubbo asks a little too loudly. "Uh- maybe..." Tommy grins and Tubbo whoops while Ranboo groans into his hands.
"Here y'all go with y'all's drinks and food, enjoy!" Puffy sets down the food to their corresponding person and leaves.
a chorus of 'thank you' are heard throughout the booth.
"You're just having that?" Ranboo speaks up looking at Tommy's plate, "I've never had a big appetite a simple sandwich is all I need to function throughout the whole day."
Tubbo's and Ranboo's jaws are on the floor. They stare at Tommy for hours (a minute) "What..?" Tommy finally speaks up. "No way! How often do you eat in a week?!" Tubbo yells slamming his hands on the table almost causing his coke to spill.
"Uhm well I ate yesterday like twice? They were pretty filling meals so you know. I can't remember after that" Tommy explains trying to recall his past meals. "That won't do.." Tubbo says, Ranboo nods in agreement. "What? I've been like this for all 16 years of my life.." Tommy sees Purpled laugh a bit at that. Tommy glares and is promptly ignored by the hero.
Tubbo and Ranboo choose to ignore him and talk about how 'he should eat more' and 'no wonder you're built like a stick!' Like the pricks they are.
"Thats a bit rude.." Tommy speaks up while taking a bite of his sando. It's nice, the fluffy bread with the cream mixed with strawberries, perfect. Tubbo and Ranboo finally let the subject go with a bit of reluctance and go on a rant about marriage? Whatever that means.
Its been.. 3 hours! And Tommy still isn't finished his food. Ranboo had finished first, then Tubbo, and now Tommy is left. "I'll just take this to go.." Tommy says his cheeks flushing, this.. is actually embarrassing. How? Tommy doesn't know but it just is.
"You barely ate anything. It's cut in half and you couldn't even finish one! Theseus are you okay?" Tubbo asks worry painting his face. "I am okay I am just fine. I just have a light stomach." Tommy responds, Ranboo calls over the waiter and gets the bill. "I'll pay, it was nice meeting you Theseus we should do this again!" Ranboo said while standing up, Tubbo follows him and waves at Tommy, "You can get back to your district safely right?" Tommy nods at Tubbos question.
"Alright bye Theseus see you tomorrow!" "Bye Tubs bye Ranboo!"
Tommy stands up and walks over to the hero. "You look like a stalker." Tommy smiles. Purpled huffs and rolls his eyes. "Whatever." The two boys stand up and walk out the small restaurant, "Their food is really good we should go there some day." Purpled says. Tommy nods and grabs his hand, "Yeah."
Purpled suddenly gets a called.
"Nox, what district are you in right now?"
Purpled grips the blondes hand. "District six is the Syndicate near?"
The hero hangs up and takes out his sickles pointing them right at a villain behind them.
Tommy sucks in a breath.
"Wow you noticed me quite fast." Blade. Blade is right in front of Tommy and the number 8 hero. Tommy is... Tommy is going to kill himself right now. Purpled antennas slowly come into view while his bottom eyes open up, "You aren't exactly the quietest."
The Blade cocks his head to the side, "Not bothering to put on a mask?" Purpled sighs and shakes his head. "Whats your problem with this civilian anyway?" Purpled asks glancing around to make sure any and all civilians have gotten away. The Blade shrugs. "Don't know. Angel whats him though." Blade says before rushing forward with his sword, Nox pockets his sickles, picks Tommy up and jumps out the way.
The hero lands on a nearby roof, looking down at the villain look for them. "... The other heroes will deal with him." Purpled says while standing up readjusting the way he hold Tommy. The hero quickly jumps away making his way back to the blondes house.
The blondes phones alarm starts ringing, Tommy shakily takes it out and turns it off. Tommy ignores the deafening silence spreading through out the city. Tommy ignores the heroes passing by them towards the Syndicate. Tommy ignores the noice of large flapping wings. Tommy ignores the way his hands shake. Tommy ignores it all. Tommy hides himself in the heros hoodie.
Purpled jumps from building to building. Tommy shivers he's kinda cold. "Are you cold? Sorry I'll slow down." Purpled looks at Tommy before stopping on some random building.
Tommy shakes his head, "I just want to get home already," Tommy is tired. Purpled looks at him for a little while then sets him down, he takes his iconic purple hoodie and hands it to Tommy. His antennas glow a bit and Tommy laughs a little. "Why do your antennas glow?" Tommy puts on the heros hoodie, Purpled's antennas stick straight up and glow brighter. Tommy burst out laughing while Purpled sputters out random noises.
"Whatever man, just.. let's get you home." Purpled sighs in defeat. Tommy giggles and lets himself be carried by the hero.
"Thanks Purp" Tommy says with a small smile, Purpled nods and lets himself look around Tommy's house. Clementines repeatedly bumps into his legs, Purpled ignores it. Suddenly the hero gets a call, his wrist watch pulling out a hologram, "Uh.. sorry I have to-" "No no its okay," Tommy says dismissing Purpled's apology the hero nods and walks out the small house making sure the small robot doesn't follow him outside.
Tommy looks at Clementine who beeps sadly in front of the door which Purpled left through. Tommy walks past Clementine into the bathroom. Tommy looks at the mirror and sighs. Dark eyebags hang under his eyes, and his hair is all messed up from the high winds.
Tommy needs a break.
Clementine continuously bumps against his leg. Tommy looks down at Clementine and watches her, "What's wrong? Did something break again?.." Tommy worry start showing on his face. Clementine runs away down to the makeshift basement. Tommy huffs and splashes some water on his face, he needs to.. write.
Tommy walks out and sees Purpled walk back in, "Do you wanna see my basement?" Tommy looks at Purpled who stands next to the door. "The basement you're not supposed to have?" Purpled raises a pointed eyebrow at Tommy. Tommy flushes but nods while walking down to his basement. Looking back time to time to see if the hero would follow, he did.
Purpled looks around the basement taking a particular interest in the potion making section. The basement is.. big to say the least, the walls, floors, and ceiling made from concrete Purpled stares at some particularly large cracks on the walls. Theres a lot of tables filled with papers, pens, cups, and random potions. Purpled remembers the potion Tommy made for him. To his right theres 4 bookcases filling the whole wall, all filled with thick old dusty books, some look newer than others.
Clementine zooms past him making some papers slowly fall to the ground, Purpled picks up these papers and reads them.
Small doodles are seen, random sentences about dreams and random ideas Tommy came up with. Clementine tugs on Purpled's pants to get his attention. Purpled raises an eyebrow at her and she starts beeping way too fast and way too fast, "Wah- Clementine leave him alone.." Tommy appears out of no where setting down a thick notebook held by prayers and hopes. Tommy rushes over to the robot and picks her up, her face switching from a happy smile to an angry face. Purpled huffs out a laugh as he watches a tired and probably traumatized Tommy struggle against a small robot.
Alas, Clementine gives up and goes limp which in turn causes Tommy to fall over flat on his butt. Purpled hides his laugh behind a cough, "Are you okay Tom?" in response he gets a groan. Purpled walks over to get a clearer view of the fallen Tommy, Clementine is sitting crisscrossed with her back facing Tommy while the blonde lays on his back his arms spread out. "Shes not that heavy is she?" Purpled asks, "She's made out of nothing but pure metal." Tommy groans. Purpled hums and sits next to Tommy.
Tommy looks.. hesitant. Purpled doesn't move or do anything actually. Too scared to do anything in case it scares Tommy off into not telling whatever he's going to say.
"Can I.. tell you a secret?.." Tommy whispers sitting up and leaning against Purpled. Clementine notices them huddling together and scoots over to be near them. Purpled nods and continues to look forward.
"I'm.. actually so fucking scared." Tommy whispers a small tear trailing down his face. Purpled puts his arm around Tommy's shoulder holding him tight. More tears come pressing the palm of his hands against his eyes. Purpled comforts him the best he could, he isn't the best at comforting so he just.. hugs him. Clementine sits in front of Tommy and tries to show him her drawings. They're not much just.. constellations and stars.
Tommy looks at the drawings and compliments them his crying calming down after a few minutes. Clementine runs around trying to find more to show him. After a few minutes of Clementine beeping and running around, Tommys tears completely stop, leaving behind a very tired Tommy and a very stressed out Purpled.
"I think I've always been scared." Tommy starts, "I was terrified. When they tried to kill me, I was afraid. I couldn't stop shaking, I was crying like a baby." Tommy scoffs at the memory.
"I was scared when I woke up, buried underground."
Purpled hums.
"I was scared during.. the wars. No where was safe. I was in constant danger I watched so many people die.. I could've prevented to many deaths but I was so fucking scared.." Tommy wipes away tears before they could even fall.
"I was terrified! I was so scared.. the blood the screams the cries the bombs everything was so loud, Purpled, everything was so fast I couldn't-- I couldn't do anything!" Tommy screams out, " I just sat there and watched! I feel so.. guilty. Why?! Why couldn't I just-- Just stand up and defended those were didn't deserve to die?.." Tommy balled up his hands into a fist and hit his head repeatedly. Purpled grabs his wrist and holds it against Tommy's chest.
"Purp, I'm scared."
"I know, Tommy."
Tommy stands up almost falling over, Purpled ready to grab him if he does. Tommy walks over to an open notebook and shows it to Purpled.
Purpled eyes gloss over the words and thinks.
"So.. this is why they're after you?" Purpled asks whispering, Tommy nods looking at the ground his face flushing. This is embarrassing.
Purpled cups Tommy cheek and looks into his eyes. Tommy doesn't look back, his face flushing harder.
"Tommy I-" Purpled is interrupted by a call, they both jump, Purpled sees who it is and scoffs, "Who is it?" Tommy asks trying to look at who's calling. "No one important, anyways I was gonna ask you if.. You... Whatever never mind." Purpled walks away, Tommy doesn't stop him.
"I'll be back in few. Clean yourself up and we'll head to bed." Purpled says looking back at Tommy. Tommy nods his face becoming slightly redder. Purpled hovers around the exit for a second before leaving.
Something bloomed in Tommy's chest.
Tommy ignores it.
----
Tommy 'burns' his hand on some spilled coffee.
Tommy can't get hurt, I mean, to a degree. Haha get it like a degree like first degree burn and second degree- No? Okay. But after he got his immortality simple things like small cuts and burns never affected him, if he was you stabbed or I don't know got impaled then yes he'd be hurt. But he'd die instantly and be revived with a new healthy body. So this 'burn' didn't burn his skin, didn't even leave a tender pink-ish blot of skin behind.
Tommy puts a lid on the coffee and takes out a bag, he picks up a pair of tongs and goes to pick out a donut. "You said glazed, ma'am?" "Oh- yes." Tommy nods and packages the donut, picks up the coffee, and hands it over to the woman. "Have a nice day ma'am," "You too."
Tommy watches as the woman leaves the warm cozy bakery into the now snowing outside. Why it was snowing? He doesn't even know, usually it'd be sunny, but it's not, Tommy shrugs and looks away bored. Tommy's bored. Tubbo isn't in today, he seemingly got 'sick' even though he was perfectly fine yesterday. Wilbur even less, deciding that the bakery was not worth while coming to in the middle of the snowy weather.
Tommy sighs, his shift is almost over just an hour left. Tommy bangs his head against the counter.
"Tommy? You can start closing up now," Niki speaks up behind him. "What why?" "Well, theres no customers coming in and I also wanna go home." She speaks up with a small smile. Tommy nods and starts cleaning up.
Nikis gone, all his co workers are gone, and he is standing right outside a closed bakery. Tommy sighs and locks up the door. Tommy's paranoia had.. calmed down drastically, with the Syndicate going into hiding, and with heroes patrolling his district more. He feels a bit safer.
Tommy rolls his shoulders, grips the handles on his backpack and waits for Purpled to come walk with him. It doesn't take long for the hero to come and get the blonde now usually the hero would stay with the blonde inside the cafe but he had a job to do at the Hero HQ. What the job was? Tommy had no idea. Purpled refusing to tell him the details of it. "You ready to head home?" Purpled asks swinging his arm over Tommys shoulders. "So ready, Im tired as fuck." Tommy laughs and the hero nods agreeing with the blonde.
The two boys talk and joke around while walking back home in the dead of night, one checking over their shoulder while the other tries his best to stay awake. They walk past an alleyway. A normal, regular alleyway.
"Wilbur."
Both boys stop.
'Wilbur?' Tommy thinks. Wait. They should go, "Purp lets g-"
"Blade. Code names remember." Angel spoke up.
Purpled grips Tommy tighter
Tommy shakily breathes in. "What the fuck." Purpled doesn't say anything. Purpled forces Tommy to keep moving. Tommys heart is pounding in his chest, the previous tiredness gone from his body.
----
Tommy is.. NOT home.
Tommy and Purpled are in a park. A run down park. A broken park with a broken bench. A broken park with a dirty pond, a pond filled with life.
Tommy sits down on the snow filled bench while Purpled stands. He watches the pond, it's.. dirty very dirty. The pond is a dark green color, moss growing on whatever stones it can get on, Tommy sniffles his nose turning red.
"So Wilbur is Siren..." Tommy thinks out loud, Purpled nods along. Tommy squints his eyes.
"No hes not." Tommy declares clapping his hands together. "What. We just passed that-"
"Didn't happen!" Tommy yells over Purpled whilst covering his ears. Purpled looks at Tommy, picks up some snow, and shoves it into the blondes hoodie.
Tommy yells and contorts his body to get away from the snow while Purpled just laughs like a maniac. Tommy takes a good look at Purpled and jumps him.
Purpled is sitting down on the snow with a small bruise forming around his lip all while Tommy ignores him.
Suddenly someone taps Tommy shoulder and he jumps, "Whoa sorry dude didn't mean to freak you out," Tommy turns around and faces.. someone they don't know. "Oh uh your fine." Tommy responds and turns back to face the pond and kick a bit snow towards Purpled.
"What're you two doing out here in the snow either way?"
"Just thinking and playing around." Tommy responds stuffing his hands into his jackets pockets. The person hums, "It be like that." They say in a completely serious face, Tommy laughs a little. They smile, "The names Alex, you can just call me Quackity." Quackity says putting a hand on their chest. "Quackity? What type of name is that?" Tommy laughs again.
"Whatever man! How about you? You're probably something stupid like Thomathy.." Quackity teases, "Actually my names Theseus but close enough." Tommy sees fully turning around to face the standing man. "What a pretentious name" Quackity doubles over laughing, Tommy gawks and yells at the laughing man. Purpled stands behind Tommy.
"Hey you're a funny one, wanna come with me? Oh and you too." Quackity asks wiping a tear from his eye. Purpled raises an eyebrow.
"Oh right. Purp lets just go with some random stranger we met out on the street of district 9 to some random location, sure man." Tommy deadpans and Quackity laughs under his breath. "I'll take you two to Las Nevadas!"
"What?!" Tommy yells.
"What.." Purpled says under his breath.
"Well I know you might not believe me but I did create the place and you know own it." Quackity says shrugging his shoulders, both Tommy and Purpled stare in complete shock. "What.. what do I get if I go with you?" Tommy asks hesitantly. Quackity hums.
"A job?"
"I already have a job."
"A better job?"
Well.. "Will it be interesting?" Quackity smirks. "You can say that."
Tommy turns around and faces Purpled who shrugs his shoulders. "If you wanna go, ww can go."
Throughout his years of being alive he knows to not trust those who are vague, but my gosh is his curiosity through the roof.
"We'll go."
"Perfect!"