My First Adventures Ch. 2
A.N. I'm putting in the story that William's livery choice for Thomas before his teal green livery and NWR livery, is baby blue, with white lining, and Thomas' name in gold cursive letters on his sides.
…
Day: December 23, 1907
This is where I encountered other E2s like me… and where I was told my first lie…
Thomas hummed quietly as he moved down the tracks near the Steamworks. From what he could see, other engines that looked like him were there. Except… they looked a bit bigger.
"Um… um…" Thomas stuttered, not sure how to address William just yet.
"What is it, Thomas?" William asked from his cab.
"These- these other engines…" Thomas whispered. "They look like me… though a bit bigger… why is that?"
William sighed. "I knew you'd notice this sooner or later." He mumbled. "You belong to a class of engines known as the E2 tank engines." He explained. "When I built you, Thomas, I fell a little short on measurements for your parts. As a result, you are a little smaller than all your other E2 companions. I hope you aren't too upset."
"Oh no… no I'm not." Thomas smiled as he moved inside the Steamworks. "After all… you made me. I would expect nothing less nor nothing more."
William chuckled in amusement. "My… how… mature you seem."
Thomas merely blushed, and giggled a bit. Inside, the other E2 tank engines were all being painted in the same colours. The London, Brighton & South Coast livery – teal, with yellow letters and numbers.
When they were fully stopped, William stepped out of Thomas' cab, and walked to face him.
No sooner had he reached his engine however, a worker came up to William. "Excuse me, Sir…" Then he quietly handed him a letter, before walking away.
William read it over. "Hm… I see…" He sighed before crumpling the paper in his fist. "Thomas, I'll have to leave for a while. But don't you worry- I'll be back in time before dark. I won't leave you behind."
"You promise?" Thomas whispered, though smiled a little upon seeing paint cans of baby blue, white, and gold brought in front of him.
"I promise." William smiled. "I'll be back in time, so that I myself might paint your name onto your sides."
"Oh… I can't wait." Thomas smiled. "Bye…"
William nodded once, with a smile still gracing his face before he left.
Though after William left, whispers soon started floating around.
"Oh my gosh, look at how small he is!" Said a female E2 tank engine.
"I know!" Replied another. "I mean, we are small engines yes, but I never have seen one as small as that one!"
Thomas stared at all the other E2s around him in sadness. "I'm not that small, you know." He whispered. "He said he was just a little short on my measurements. I'm not that different from you."
"Oh but you are! How could one as small as you, be useful?"
Thomas stared at them with wide eyes for a moment, completely speechless.
After a moment however, he looked away as tears came to his eyes. But I can be useful, just like you… Sniffling, he bit his lip and shut his eyes, trying his hardest not to cry.
"Oh, fine." Said another male E2, rolling his eyes. "We'll stop. But just remember the one rule we all have."
Thomas looked back up at them. "What's that…?"
"You mean you really don't know?" He gasped. "You can't call your creator by their name! They'll get mad, and they could send you away!"
"He- he wouldn't do that!" Thomas defended swiftly. "He loves me! … I think…"
"Of course he does!" The other E2 quickly assured. "But they all don't like being called by their name, that's all."
"Then what should I call him?" Thomas asked.
"Sir. You must call him 'Sir' and nothing else." The E2 explained. "While he may not send you away, he will get mad- guaranteed. And you don't want that, do you?" He asked, staring at Thomas with firm eyes.
"N-no…" Thomas mumbled, backing away slightly.
He smirked. "That's what I thought." Then he backed away and joined the other E2s as they continued laughing amongst themselves, ignoring Thomas.
Thomas himself just looked away and closed his eyes. He wouldn't get mad… would he? But his thoughts were interrupted when he felt a cool liquid on his body. Gasping, he looked to his right, but sighed in relief upon seeing a workman.
The man smiled. "We're just starting on your paintwork, little one." He explained. "First, a white undercoat, to keep your paint water proof."
"Then what?" Thomas asked.
"Well, we'll do as your creator and you wish: paint you in baby blue, with white lining, and your name in gold cursive letters."
Thomas smiled. "I'm excited."
"I'm glad." The worker smiled. Then he and other workers started painting the small engine.
Thomas smiled more and looked around at all the other E2s being painted. While they were all being painted teal green, he was being painted baby blue.
I guess I am different… He thought. But that's alright…
"All done!"
Thomas snapped out of his thoughts and looked as best he could at himself. From his peripheral vision, he saw his body painted baby blue, and outlined in white. His eyes widened. "That quickly?!" He asked astounded.
The workman chuckled. "We are very good. Everyone else is done as well." He said, jerking his thumb behind him.
Thomas giggled. "You are good… so, I'm done now?"
"Oh, not completely. You're name still has to be painted onto your sides- and William wanted to do that himself."
"Oh yes..!" Thomas gasped. "I remember. Hopefully he'll be here soon."
"Don't count on it, little tank engine…" An E2 mumbled as she went past him.
"What..?" Thomas whispered as he stared at her.
"Oh nothing!" She giggled before she and the others left.
Thomas stared after the other E2s with sad eyes. Why are they so mean to me? Is it just because of how small I am..?
"-omas? Thomas?"
Thomas gasped and was thrown out of his thoughts as he heard his name. "Y-yes? Oh!" He smiled upon seeing William. "H-hello!"
"Are you alright, little one?" William asked, staring at his engine with worry etched into his eyes. "You seem to be getting lost in your thoughts quite often… still only on your first day."
"Oh, I'm fine…" He reassured him. Until he remembered-
You must call him Sir and nothing else.
Sir." Thomas finished quietly after a moment, looking away.
"Sir?" William repeated, confused. "How… formal." He mumbled. "Well, anyway, shall I give you your name?" He smiled.
Thomas gasped. "Oh, oh yes please!" He giggled.
William laughed. "Alright! How about this: we'll do your name in gold cursive letters, then outline it in red."
"I'd love that."
…
William hummed quietly as he carefully wrote Thomas' name on his side in gold. After a moment, he spoke. "Thomas?"
"Yes, Sir?" Thomas asked, looking at him curiously.
William closed his eyes and sighed, pulling the brush away from Thomas' body.
"Sir?" Thomas asked, slowly.
"Why are you doing that?" William asked suddenly.
"Doing what, Sir?" Thomas replied, slightly nervous.
"Calling me 'Sir'." William explained. "I'll bite. We haven't gone over what to call me, so why suddenly 'Sir'?"
"Well…" Thomas stuttered, trying to think of an answer. "It's the… respectful thing to do and…"
"And what, little one?" William asked, walking up to Thomas and placing a hand on his cheek, gently rubbing it.
Thomas closed his eyes and sighed, feeling the warm, gentle touch. "The… other E2s… they said if I didn't call you Sir, you'd get mad and… send me away. I know you wouldn't send me away but… I was worried you'd be mad still…"
William sighed and shook his head. "Never think like that, Thomas. The others were just teasing you. I'd never send you away, you're right; and I'd never get mad at you for that. You don't have to call me Sir- in fact, I'd prefer that you didn't."
"Really…?" Thomas gasped. "Why?"
"I built you because I wanted to care for someone." William explained as he picked up his brush again and went to the other side of Thomas, and started writing. "Now, a thing you must know about me is, I don't like anyone romantically."
"You don't?"
"No, Thomas. I don't." He confirmed with a nod of his head. "For the longest time, I felt like I didn't belong because of that part of me. But over time, I learned to accept that part of me, knowing that I wouldn't be romantically in love with anyone."
"But… you do love others, right?" Thomas asked meekly.
"Yes. Plenty of platonic love." William nodded. "That's a type of love where you don't feel any- ahem- sexual attraction to anyone. But do feel affection for them. Like I do, for you."
"F-for me?" Thomas asked.
"Yes." William smiled, pulling away from Thomas, done with writing his name on the other side of him. Picking up a different, smaller brush, he began to outline Thomas' name in red.
"Another reason I built you because I've seen so many cases of engines being mistreated. And I wanted to change that, at least a little bit, and show an engine what true, real love feels like. Not pain or betrayal. Something nice for a change." He explained as he finished outlining Thomas' name on one side, and switched to his other side.
William finished outlining Thomas' name completely, and put the brush down. Silently, he moved to stand in front of his engine once more.
"Thomas." He said quietly. "I hate that you feel obligated to call me 'Sir' just because of a few teasing engines. It's not right. So, I have a proposal." William said.
Thomas raised an eyebrow. "Oh…?"
He smiled. "Yes. Now, this is all up to you. But if you so choose, you can call me by my name or… Father."
Thomas gasped. "Father..? I-isn't that… what a child says to the man in his life..?" He eyes widened. "Wait… do you mean… you see me as… as…" He couldn't finish.
William chuckled. "I see you as my son, Thomas. Yes…"
