"Dad!" Tommy cried, eyes wide as he struggled to push himself up from his bedroom floor. "Dad, please," He couldn't hear anyone in the house, and tears were starting to well up in his eyes as a sob broke from his chest. Something was seriously wrong, and Tommy knew he needed help, but he felt too weak to push himself up, much less walk around the two story house that he lived in with his dad, two younger siblings, and his uncle. "Uncle…" Tommy gasped as searing pain ran down his back. "Uncle Techno…" He could feel the tears in his eyes, a bolt of surprise that they hadn't already fallen yet.

Tommy shuddered as another rolling wave of pain rushed through him. It felt… quieter almost, like it was dulling before eventually it slowly started to fade away. He started to cry in full as he felt the strength returning to his arms. He didn't want to try and get up yet, despite the feeling that he probably should. Maybe move to his bed before the pain comes back like he knew it would. This wasn't his first episode of pain coming from his back, but it was the one that lasted the longest. Nearly one hour this time.

But the relief of there being no more pain had brought back his tiredness, and he was out within minutes.

Tommy's neck was killing him, and he knew it was absolutely his fault, but it was starting to affect his attitude with his closest friends. He felt terrible about it, but he couldn't exactly tell them that something was wrong with him. He couldn't even think about telling them that the pain was so bad that he was unable to even open his eyes.

He sighed as he rolled his neck, trying his best to get the pain to go away with little success. He frowned as his back started to ache. That wasn't… that wasn't good. He shifted in his seat, ignoring the immediate attention he had of Purpled, and trying to focus on the math sheet that they'd been assigned to do silently.

He wanted to scoff at the 'silently' instruction. It was no doubt a jab at him and Ranboo, both of them struggling to focus on anything relating to math if it was too quiet. It was even worse that they had to turn in these assignments at the end of the lesson. And if they failed to do so, it was a call home.

While Ranboo could have that, with their older sister knowing their limitations with math and the silence, Tommy did not. His dad had never gotten him tested for anything, and he didn't understand why Tommy constantly needed music playing in his room; often telling him to turn it off because the younger two were napping, nevermind the fact that his music was never loud enough to leave the walls of Tommy's room.

He ran one hand through his hair as his leg bounced and the pencil tapped beside the worksheet that he had yet to even start. He'd start humming if it wouldn't get him yet another detention this week.

The pain in his back was getting worse.

He swallowed back a sound of pain, even as tears started welling up in his eyes.

"Mr. Innit, if you cannot keep still, I will have to send you to the office." Tommy winced, eyes glancing up at his teacher who paused. Tommy had no doubt that he looked like he was in pain, but he also knew this particular teacher absolutely didn't like him.

"Sorry," Tommy bowed his head again, forcing himself to stay as still as possible as he started on the first problem. He had another ten minutes before class ended.

"What was that in class?" Purpled asked quietly as they followed Tubbo and Ranboo towards the school cafeteria. Tommy glanced towards his friend, and he could see that Purpled wasn't even trying to hide his concern, which must have been a shock to most of the students passing them.

"What are you talking about?" Tommy asked, brows furrowing. Playing dumb absolutely was the way to go. Purpled's face shifted into one of disbelief with a deadpan expression that felt like judgment. Tommy looked away and found that Ranboo and Tubbo had made their way even further ahead of them. "Come on, I'm starving." Tommy attempted to change the subject.

"Okay." Purpled sighed, and the two of them quickened their pace to catch up. Tommy knew that Purpled wouldn't drop this, he'd caught the other's concern. Purpled just wouldn't bring it up to Tommy again until they had more evidence of something being wrong.

"Tommy," Tommy stopped, turning and finding Tubbo looking nervous as he shifted on his feet. "Earlier, when I gave you a hug…" He paused, glancing at Purpled who nodded in encouragement. Whatever it was, it was a concern for the both-for all three of them. Ranboo was looking nervous and slightly uncomfortable, which already told Tommy that they were expecting a confrontation.

"What?" Tommy asked, his arms wrapping around his midsection as he turned to face them fully.

"You're back." Purpled spoke when Tubbo faltered. "It feels like something is trying to come out of your back. Are you okay?" That was probably the most emotion in Purpled's voice with the most words to match it Tommy had ever heard. Tommy faltered, his face falling as he looked away.

"I don't know."

"You don't know what could be coming out of your back?" Tubbo asked in confusion, moving to stand next to Tommy. "Come on, talk to us Boss Man." Tubbo sounded a little desperate, and Tommy… sighed as he looked away. By now, Purpled and Ranboo had walked up to them, with the four of them now standing in a small group all huddled together.

"I… don't want to talk about this right now, okay?" Tommy sighed, pulling away from the group. He missed their faces falling as he moved to continue walking. They always walked home together, it was just something that they would do so that they always knew everyone got home safely, with Tubbo and Ranboo finishing the walk together because they were neighbors.

Tommy didn't hear them even attempt to follow him. He ignored the feeling of hurt that flashed through him, as he had no reason to feel that way.

It was night time again, and the pain in Tommy's back had returned again. At least this time he had his phone next to him. He'd been watching a youtube video and working on his homework, laying on his stomach because his back had been sore all day. The knowledge that his back had a bump running up and down his spine was making him uneasy and nervous.

When he'd gotten home he'd immediately gone to the bathroom to pull his shirt off and found that Tubbo and Purpled had been right. There were two identical bumps running up and down his back, framing his spine.

They were uncomfortably big and made his stomach churn uneasily.

He would try to talk to his dad when he saw him next, but Tommy wasn't entirely sure that would be within the next couple days. Chayanne had several soccer games and Tallulah had a couple recitals that were going to fill up his dad's time. Maybe Uncle Techno would know what was going on, but he was off traveling again to try and find some obscure disc that he wanted for whatever reason.

Tommy almost missed being able to go on those with him.

He sighed as he shoved himself out of his thoughts, reaching over to grab his phone to check their group chat that had been blowing up with messages since almost an hour ago. Apparently, Purpled was staying the night at Ranboo's, and then they'd all started talking about sleepovers, trying to entice Tommy too no doubt.

He'd only clicked onto the group chat when the pain became debilitating. He gasped as the tears already started to blur his sight. He didn't even notice that he'd hit the call button when his hand snapped back to try to at least cushion his head when his other arm gave out on him.

There was panic running through his system.

The pain was so much worse and it felt like something was moving in his back. It made his stomach churn as he started to feel nauseous. He whined pathetically as he shuddered. He could vaguely hear voices talking, some in exclamation and the one in a quiet soothing way. He started to cry in earnest as he tried to move.

He hated not being able to move.

He didn't know how much time had passed before he felt hands on him, gently rubbing his shoulders, and he could hear someone shouting at someone else. It sounded vaguely feminine, and greatly familiar.

"Shh, shh, Tommy, we got you." Tommy cried as he was being moved, a strangled sound escaping him when anything pressed to his back. He cried as more tears flooded down his face, when had he gotten water into his system? He knew he had run out of tears at some point before the hands had appeared on his shoulders.

"It's his back." Another voice, sounding vaguely panicked. Tommy cried when he felt air touch his back. Everything was blurring and he couldn't see anything and he felt nauseous which was making his head spin. He wasn't quite panicking anymore, but he still didn't feel well.

He recognized the voices around him. They made him feel safe.

"We need weakening, his back is tearing." Tommy didn't hear much after that, but he did know that at some point; he'd swallowed something before nothing else filtered into his memory.

Tommy woke up slowly.

First, he could feel something soft under his head, it helped with the floaty feeling in his head. It was nice and soft and not at all scratchy like he knew his blankets were. Second, he could smell something sweet with a hint of spice. Maybe cinnamon and pumpkin? Tommy didn't know, but that is what he thought he was smelling. Third, he could taste something… tangy. Or was it citrus? It was something leaning on sour, is all he knew.

And then he could also hear someone humming quietly. That, above all else, is probably what woke him up, other than the fact that he felt like he couldn't really breathe. Something was heavy on top of him.

He groaned, wincing at how loud he sounded.

"Tommy?" Tommy's eyes snapped open, confusion flooring him as he turned his head a little further and found Purpled sitting next to whatever Tommy was laying on. They were nearly level, meaning that whatever Tommy was on was low to the ground, and that Purpled was sitting on the ground.

He groaned again, trying to shift his arms and huffing in annoyance when he found that he could barely twitch his pinky.

"Hey, it's okay." Purpled assured. "Niki will be in soon, and then she will help with everything." Purpled explained. Tommy made a face at him. Tubbo laughing suddenly had a… chirp… escaping him in surprise. Tommy's eyes widened when the sound processed in his ears.

"Hey, it's okay, please just stay calm." Purpled reached forward and ran his fingers through Tommy's hair. Tommy briefly wondered if his hair was oily before that thought, and any other thought he could have had, vanished from his mind.

He didn't even know he was purring until after Niki had come to check on them.

"Hey, how's he feeling?"

"Currently? Content." Purpled sounded amused.

"Let him wake up before you attack his senses and instincts," Niki laughed lightly, and the hands in his hair disappeared. Tommy whined as his eyes fluttered open, before he flushed bright red in embarrassment.

A rumbling sound coming from Purpled erased most of the embarrassment. Instead, he was now curious. Purpled only gave him a small smile before got up and let Niki take their place. He could hear his friends talking quietly nearby, which helped with the building tension running through Tommy.

"How are you feeling, Tommy?" Niki asked, kneeling in Tommy's vision. He thought about answering sarcastically, and then he thought about lying… but Niki had a medical degree. And Tommy knew from experience that lying to Niki would end up with severe consequences. He was pretty sure he still wasn't entirely forgiven for the last time.

"Heavy." Tommy uttered quietly. "I can't really breathe." Tommy told her, closing his eyes as Niki hummed.

"Yeah, you wouldn't know anything about wing care, would you?" Tommy's eyes snapped back open as a noise, a trill maybe, of distress escaped him. "Hey, it's okay, I'm going to explain as much as I can from what I've gathered okay?"

"Niki," Ranboo's voice filtered through the air. Niki hummed, looking towards her brother. "It might help if he was sitting up, when he can't breathe, it can get bad quickly." Tommy loved his best friend, however, there were times where he really wished they didn't know him as much as they did.

"Yeah, okay, will you help me? Tubbo, can you go grab that water I showed you how to make earlier? Purpled, go with him." It sounded like Purpled had tried to protest, but a probable glare from Niki silenced him before they started.

"Okay, what do I do?" Ranboo sounded much closer than before, which helped whatever instincts Niki had mentioned earlier. Tommy didn't quite understand what he was feeling, but there were hands on him and he still couldn't move his arms.

"Okay, lift him up. We're gonna push him back onto his knees for right now." Niki told Ranboo, which was done quickly, much to Tommy's relief. "There we go, Tommy, how do you feel."

"I can't move my arms." They were hanging at his sides, and no matter what he did, he could barely get his pinkies to twitch.

"Yeah, that'll wear off in a few moments now that we have you sitting. I promise." Niki assured as she helped him move to sit with his legs hanging off the bed. By the time that was completed, Tubbo and Purpled had returned.

"Can you explain what's going on before I start looking around and scaring myself?" Tommy asked, his voice sounding a little quieter than he had meant to. Niki rubbed his shoulder comfortingly.

"Of course, okay, you three, out." There were immediately noises of protest from all three, and Tommy let out a sudden chirp from the suddenness of loud noise around him. He swallowed back any other sound as he found himself getting stared at. It took him a moment to realize that the silence that appeared had been because his friends had left the room.

"You okay, Tommy?" Niki asked quietly.

"I, apparently, have wings Niki. And I sound like a bird." Tommy responded, eyes looking back up at her. He could feel movement coming back to his arms, and he could feel the twitching of the wings on his back. It…

It scared him.

"Yeah, your dad was pretty shocked that you'd gotten through almost the entire process without alerting him that something was wrong." Niki sounded questioning, though it was phrased as a statement. Tommy couldn't stop the scoff that escaped him, just like he couldn't stop the tears blurring his vision or the quiet warbles coming from his throat.

"I called out for him, I did, I tried…" Tommy felt the tears beginning to fall down his face. He turned his head towards Niki. "He's almost never home, and when the pain would come at night, I'd call out for him or uncle Techno, and I'd cry. I tried. But-"

"Hey, that's okay." Niki cut him off, her face softening as she sat next to him and rubbed his shoulder closest to her. "I'm going to explain what I can about the entire supernatural world, okay, and you're going to listen before you interrupt me. Understand?" Tommy nodded and Niki nodded with a look of satisfaction.

"Okay, so, starting off with the hardest pill to swallow." Niki turned to face him. "Hybrids exist, and obviously, you are a hybrid. That means one of your parents was or is a parent, in this case, Phil has informed me that both he and your mother are hybrids, or were in your mother's case." Tommy could feel his heart hurt at the mention of his mother. He didn't remember much about her, and while Kristin is cool, he did miss his mom.

That and Kristin wasn't home often either, since she was always traveling for work.

"Now, Hybrids hide themselves from the rest of the world with the fear that they'll be hunted and killed for being different." Tommy nodded, he could understand that. The world struggled with accepting different skin tones, someone being a hybrid would only make life harder for-wait… Phil was a hybrid?

Tommy looked up sharply at Niki, firmly keeping his mouth closed as Niki did ask that he not interrupt her. Niki had a flash of amusement pass over her face as she paused. Motioning for him to speak.

"It's okay, what's your question?"

"Phil's a hybrid?" Tommy asked, his voice hushed.

"Yes. Both he and your mom were winged hybrids, Phil being a crow and… And Clementine was a moth hybrid." Tommy felt his heart hurt more. He loved moths, even having several moth stuffed animals, and he had pictures of them on his walls… it would make sense that Phil never really went into Tommy's room then.

"I… Do you know if he has a picture of her?" Tommy asked, eyes wide and for once feeling just like that little kid that was confused on where his mom had gone. Niki's face softened.

"I got some I can share with you," Niki smiled, brushing a stray tear that had slipped down her face. "Now, let's continue with your introduction to the supernatural world!"

"Why didn't you tell me?" Tommy paused in his exercises, surprise on his face as he looked towards the door and found Philza standing there. His dad was actually home, and Tommy knew for certain that he couldn't hear Chayanne or Tallulah running around or playing together.

"I called for you but… you weren't there." Tommy hadn't realized he'd spoken until hurt flashed across his dad's face. He took a deep breath as he felt… anger begin to build up. He could see his dad looking around his room, interest and realization in his eyes as his eyes lagged on the photos on the walls, stuffed animals on the bed, the worn blankets, and the discs that Tommy still had from when he'd go on adventures with Uncle Techno.

"Tommy-"

"No." Tommy felt his wings twitch in response to his agitation. He swallowed when his dad silenced himself. Tommy took a deep breath. "Niki said that… you hid that you were a hybrid because I didn't have wings… she also told me that wings only grow in when the avian feels safe." Tommy stared at his dad. "Chayanne and Tallulah have wings, don't they?" He didn't care for the tears that welled into his father's eyes, and Tommy's eyes caught onto the shadowy black wings, the first time Tommy had ever seen them to his memory.

Niki said she had a picture of Phil, Clementine, and Tommy; and both his parents' wings were visible.

He looked away from his father's wings, letting his own relax when they started hurting. Niki said that they looked like his mother's, though she couldn't tell what sort of moth Tommy's wings were mimicking the appearance of.

"I called for you, but you weren't there." Tommy looked away. "I called for Uncle Techno, too, apparently. I don't remember that. Purpled said that I was calling for you the entire time I was on call with them, crying for you in fact. Tubbo said that it was the first time he ever knew me to cry, and Ranboo said that Niki had never been more pissed than when she found out about my wings and… and…" Tommy shuddered as he looked away from his dad. "About my neglect."

There was a wounded noise from his father, but Tommy refused to look at him.

"I want to-to," Tommy swallowed, eyes catching on his phone. His father couldn't see the screen, but he was on call with his friends, and he had no doubt that Niki was listening in from Ranboo's side of the call. "I want to go to my friend's house, but I don't know how to hide my wings."

"I can teach you," His father nearly jumped at the chance. "I'll teach you anything you'd like me too. I want to fix my mistake." Tommy swallowed as he looked back at his father.

"I may never forgive you." It was a warning, in a sense. His dad's face fell, though there was understanding there too.

"I'd understand."

"Okay," Tommy nodded, taking a breath as a few tears slipped from his eyes. "Okay."