To say that life calmed down for Tommy is a flat-out lie. For the past week, Tommy had done just about nothing besides living a life of pure luxury. His day-to-day schedule fluctuated between who was with him usually, but he doesn't mind this fact as much as he thought. Since none of the three villains wanted to leave Tommy alone, especially after Techno had probably blabbed about his past to the others, Tommy was always with someone.
Tommy would have breakfast with Techno and sometimes Phil most of the time. It was easy to always have these two during breakfast since Phil always cooks the meals in this house. The two allow Tommy to eat in his bed, with Tommy graciously sharing his big man bed with Techno (out of the kindness of his heart).
Tommy finds out that Wilbur always oversleeps in the morning unless he had an all-nighter that prevented him from sleeping the night prior. Maybe that was a good thing that the others didn't have to have breakfast with a grumbly and tired Wilbur. Tommy saw that once and will never see that again. What did the anteaters ever do to Wilbur?
Tommy asks if they have any super-cool villain plans soon, but the response he gets is Phil chuckling, and Techno rolls his eyes. As he's told, they are currently just laying low while they collect info from some bugs?
Tommy doesn't understand why insects were involved, but he decided to pretend like he knew what they were talking about. Nodding along while they chat about houses and bugs. Sounds like they need an exterminator.
Though Tommy is sure that it won't take long for society to notice the small break since they have never really taken many days off like this before. Soon it'll be all over the news and net with the usual fuck-ton of rumors and speculations. Tommy wondered if his identity would be exposed or if cops were going to put out a search for him. They could easily tie Tommy to Techno's persona, Blade, since they were seen a lot before Techno brought him home.
Maybe they would think that Tommy is a hostage or a sidekick! That would be so awesome! Not the hostage part but the sidekick part. Tommy immediately decided the design plan for if he were to have a costume. His immediate thought was a bright red suit with white splashes on him. No cape, though. Techno can pull it off, sure, but that's it.
Tommy wonders if he'd ever get the chance to rob a bank or a mall. He would get to see Techno up close doing incredible shit. Just watching from the news was boring, and the news people would say horrible things about The Antarctic Kings.
If there's one thing Tommy has noticed during the past week was that The Antarctic Kings isn't as bad as the news shows make them. Or maybe Tommy just thought that because he's only been at their house and has only ever seen them chill and do stuff with him.
Just yesterday, Wilbur played some songs on his guitar while Tommy and Phil chilled next to him. And the other day, Techno had shown him some cool ways to tie and untie hard knots. Sure they scared a lot of people and were mean to humans. But Tommy didn't see anything wrong with that. As a hybrid himself, he wasn't a super fan of humans either.
But! That's a dark thought for a different day, Tommy decided. He just wants to stay leaning against Wilbur while they work their way through one of Wilbur's playlists. This one was different from the rest of the bands that Wilbur loved. Instead of the sad and sweet melodies of the band Sleeping at Last, this band was Hamilton? Or..maybe that's the singer since the album picture was of someone standing on a star. "I don't get it? What kind of music is this Will?" Tommy asked when the first song came up.
Wilbur gave Tommy a weird are-you-kidding-me look "it's Hamilton? You know, that musical?" Wilbur talked as if he was trying to jog Tommy's memory, but Tommy still didn't recognize it.
"No? Is it popular? I haven't heard of it?" Tommy asked but was quickly interrupted with a dramatic gasp from Wil.
"What?! Tommy! You've never seen Hamilton?!" Wilbur just about screeched when Tommy shook his head no. Wil suddenly stood up and started to vigorously type on his phone. Everything seems to spiral for Tommy, and he's yet to determine if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
As luck would have it, the show was playing in a city near them. Tommy knew his fate was sealed when he saw Wilbur looking at what he imagined was the running times. "Ahhh, and my favorite box is open too. Oh, Tommy, this is gonna be a great kid." Wilbur told him as he looked over at Tommy for a moment and ruffled up his hair.
Annoyed with the kid comment, Tommy batted Wilbur's hands away in a playful tone and gave a smirk. "You have a favorite theater box? What? How many times have you gone to this theater?" Tommy saw Wilbur as a nerd now that he looked at the picture. Cool music taste, but also a nerd? There goes the family's honor and name.
"I think I've seen Hamilton like five? Five or six times now. Phil and Techno have seen it two times now. But apparently, that's their limit because now they just refuse the second I mention the show or theater." Wilbur laughed, slightly embarrassed to actually say that out loud.
Tommy scrunches up his face in disbelief before laughing at Wilbur "wow, you really are a nerd, Wil." He managed to get out while still laughing.
"I'm not a nerd! Just you wait, Tommy! You'll love this show so much that you'll want to see it again!" Wilbur proclaimed as he bought the tickets on his phone for a show soon. "Okay, here's the plan, we'll get some food to kill time and then go to the 8pm showing. Wait, do you have a bedtime?" Wilbur teased as he got up to fetch his keys.
"Oi! I'm not a kid! I don't have a bedtime! Big men don't need bedtime!" Tommy said the last part as if he was a caveman, which got a good laugh out of Wilbur.
"Yeah yeah, okay, whatever you say, big man. Hurry up and put on your light-up sneakers. We have to make an hour's drive to the city."
One drive and burger joint later, Tommy finds himself following closely behind Wilbur while holding onto the sleeve of Wilbur's jumper. Just so Wilbur doesn't get lost without him in this ridiculously fancy and colossal theater. Apparently, Wilbur finds the box and opens a door for Tommy to go through.
Inside, Tommy sees a lovely lounge that contains a couch and a few seats around a table. There is a mini-fridge in the far-off corner and a counter space next. Who eats in a theater? Then on the opposite side of the room is an opening to a few seats on a balcony-like booth.
"Home home," Wilbur says as they walk in, and Wil goes to the seats on the balcony. "Literally the best spots, Tommy." He adds as if Tommy isn't already pretty excited to see the show.
It was very rare that Tommy got to leave his group home for anything other than the hospital. So to be able to go to a theater or an amusement park made Tommy very excited, to say the least. He could practically feel his body buzzing with energy now.
"Sure, Wilbur. What did you have to do for this box? Threaten the main man in charge? Or use blackmail? Or like sneak into their system and hack the box to us?" Tommy tried to guess how Wilbur got the beat seats.
"... credit card, you child," Wilbur smirked at Tommy's growingly heated face. Embarrassed, Tommy ignored Wilbur's chuckles and sat down next to him in their seats. Man Wil wasn't lying when he said he got the best seats. From where Tommy sat, he could see the whole stage from the top of the curtain to the slightly filled-out seats in the orchestra pit below the stage. Unbeknownst to Tommy, Wilbur happily watched as Tommy slowly took in the beautiful view of the theater.
As the play starts, Tommy gets a tiny pinprick feeling that he's being watched but passes it off since he's literally in a packed theater. This might be one of the most crowded places he's ever been in, but maybe not since he's in a private box, away from the crowd.
He quickly forgets the feeling as he's thrown into the show and thoroughly enjoys the music. When they started to sing about Alexander flirting with a woman, Tommy figured this was an excellent spot to take a quick bathroom break.
Tommy pokes Wilbur hard in the ribs, asking where the bathroom would be. He gets up and follows Wilbur's direction, and takes a fat shit the second he gets to the bathroom. Tommy steps out of the stall to see a short bitch fidgeting by the sinks, waiting for someone. It's just them in the bathroom. He looks at the kid up and down and decides that this person was why he had that feeling of being watched.
"So. Why were you watching me throughout the play?" At Tommy's sudden words, the kid jumps and whips around, looking at Tommy like he's grown three heads, and the heads are covered in ears. Dirty ones.
He stammers out some half-assed excuses and just sighs. "Y-you're that kid that Blade was last seen with," The kid blurts out like a fan of Blade.
Tommy laughs and smacks the kid on his back, "That's the only reason why you were watching me? I thought you were watching 'cause I'm the most handsome and coolest guy here." Tommy puffs out his chest in an attempt to prove his words right.
The brunet snorts and gives Tommy a look. "No, no, dude. Your picture has been floating around the internet."
"You wanker. No one took any pictures. How do you know that I'm not Blade? Huh? Ever seen Blade and I together? No. Because there aren't any pictures of us anywhere. I don't even like Blade, okay." Tommy glared at the kid, who didn't seem entirely fazed by Tommy's rant.
Instead of arguing back with Tommy, the kid pulled out his yellow and black phone and showed him a picture of Blade and Tommy walking out of the hospital. The image didn't even look like it came from a security camera. Someone actually took this picture.
"Okay, so you've seen a picture of Blade and me together! Big whoop! What, are you a Blade fan or something?" Tommy asked with a raised eyebrow. Was this kid a nerd too? God, he knows too many nerds now.
The kid nodded his head, and a bright blush spread. What a nerd. "Listen. Imma keeps a close eye on you. And you know the best way?" Tommy smirked, just thinking about all the mischief they could get into.
"No?"
Tommy smirked more. Oh, he was gonna get this kid into so much trouble with him. "I force you to be my friend. My name is Big Man Tommy, best friends with The Blade. What about you?"
"My name is Tubbo, and umm. I like bees?" Tubbo stutters out. He was confused as hell, but he had a glint in his eyes that Tommy could tell meant that he was also excited.
"Welp, making friends after a huge shit can be crossed off my bucket list. Let's leave before my shit crawls out of the pipes and attacks us. Just follow me. I'll even get you some pretzel bites."
Tubbo perks up at the promise of pretzel bites and grabs the back of Tommy's coat, trying not to get lost. Tommy walks up to the food stand and slaps some money down. "I need some big man pretzel bites for my short amigo here. And be snappy about it."
The worker looks at Tommy and looks behind him. The worker gets slightly pale with a slight shake but nods towards Tommy. Grabbing some premade pretzel bites for the two. They turn back, not fazed at all with the sudden change of behavior since they got food. Once back at his private box, Tommy lets Tubbo in and waves at Wilbur, who turns around at the sound of the door.
"I grabbed a Tubbo on the way back." That was all Tommy said as he dragged his friend over to the balcony and made him sit down next to him.
"What's a Tubbo?" Wilbur asked with profound confusion. Man if only Tommy had a good camera right now.
"I'm Tubbo, Tommy's new friend. It's nice to meet you" Tubbo smiled warmly at Wilbur while Tommy rolled his eyes. Where were these manners when Tommy was talking with him!
Wilbur seemed to stare at Tubbo for a moment too long before a calm smile made its way on Wilbur's face. "Hello, my name is Wilbur. Did Tommy kidnap you or something? Is there gonna be an angry parental figure looking for you?" Wilbur asked.
"Oh! No, don't worry. I actually snuck into the theater's back door and was listening to the songs in the bathroom" Tubbo smiled as if that entire sentence didn't just solidify the nerd label on his forehead.
"Shush guys, they're rapping about guns right now" Tommy interrupted their pleasant conversation because guns were much cooler. Wilbur chuckled at Tommy but turned his attention back to the show along with Tubbo. As the musical went on, the boys started whispering jokes back and forth between them, and it wasn't long before they became a fitting young duo. Quickly reading each other and slipping into fun banter as things happen in the show.
After the musical was finished, Wilbur and Tubbo yawned while Tommy rubbed his jaw. "Tubbo, do you live around here? I can give you a drive home if you want?" Wilbur asked as he stood up to stretch out finally.
"That's a fine big man. I'm going to go see a friend while he's at work. It's close, so don't worry about it." Tubbo said happily.
"Oh! Tubso, give me your number so we can text later!" Tommy shouted as he pulled out his phone, ready to put in a number. This was the first time he would have a friend's number instead of a doctor's or a caretaker's number. A quick thought passed Tommy's mind, and he wondered if friends text a lot.
Tubbo jumped and immediately pulled out his phone as well. After a quick phone number exchange and a promise to text later, the duo split ways, and Tommy was now in Wilbur's car as they made their way back home. Wilbur was humming to the tune of one a Hamilton song while Tommy was half asleep, watching the quick passing of streetlights as they moved. He could feel a warm tingle in his chest as he thought about this whole week. Every moment felt genuinely amazing. Tommy couldn't believe how polar opposite this week would have been if he was still staying at the group home. The isolation was his preferred treatment back at the group home, but now? Tommy doesn't think he'd ever be okay with being alone again. Sure he was okay with moments alone and could still function properly. But emotionally never again.
Still, in his thoughts and half awake, Tommy noticed that he was being carried to the house. Gentle arms carried him to a destination that he knew all too well now. Tommy was soon laid down on a fluffy bed with a creak of an old door. Immediately identifying the bed as Wilbur's since Tommy's and Techno's bed had fur blankets and Phil's bed had silk sheets with feathers everywhere. A dip in the space next to Tommy pulled him out of his bed thoughts. Wilbur wraps his arms around Tommy and holds him close as if it's just a mandatory routine now for him. Maybe it is now. Tommy gave out a long yawn before he entirely gave himself to sleep. And maybe, just maybe, when Tommy yawned, Wilbur spotted the telltale signs of baby tusks growing in Tommy's mouth.
Somewhere else in the night, Tubbo unlocks the front door to the house. He steps to his room, freezing, when the lights turn on suddenly. A tall silhouette stands in the doorway to the basement. The hero Mask. He stands there with his arms crossed as Tubbo sweats. Even though Tubbo has worked with Mask for 5 long years, he still couldn't get used to Mask's dense and heavy pressure that lingers around the dark green hero. Tubbo felt a shiver run down his back.
"Report. Now."
Tubbo sputters a little before taking a deep breath and word-vomiting everything he had noticed. "The kid seems to be close to all the villains. Speaking highly of The Blade. He seems to be an amalgamation of hybrid traits. With having raccoon, merfolk, even a little bit of demon hybrid traits, ashen complexion.. uh.. walks with a slow pace and leans slightly to his left.. Um. He seems pretty nice but has a kind of thorn bush personality? All prickly at first but nice past all the thorns."
Mask stood completely still before speaking again. "Well, I don't care about his personality. I only care about his connection with the Antarctic Kings. Get close to him, and don't let yourself get caught. You know the repercussions if you do."
Tubbo shies back and ducks his head nodding with a quiet "Yes, sir." He turns to a door that leads to the basement and gets ready for sleep.
Endnotes
Ayeeeeeeeeee we got bee boy! Also keep an eye out for random one shots we might do while in between writing chapters for this story! - GupGup
Guppy sucks - Moo
We have a discord :DDD
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