Chapter Text
“And flying is awesome, it was like something I never experienced in my life before” Tommy rambled, ignoring the small detail that he began to cry while he was in the air. Phil didn't notice and he wasn't going to be the one to let someone know that.
His parent’s looked at him, smiling proudly.
“Everything seemed so small from up there and I wanted to touch a cloud so bad, but Phil said it was risky to get that high because I’m not used to the air and whatever”
“But you can try to train yourself for that” His mother said. Both of them knew she wasn’t only talking about flying. The ‘if you go with them’ staying in the air. Words unspoken but still carry a lot of weight.
“I know, I’ve thinking about that a lot”
“Look, we know that we might miss you a lot if you decide to go, but we won’t stop you” His father started the topic, putting a hand over his with a look that said ‘stop me and I won't push’.
But Tommy didn’t stop him, nor his mom that narrowed down something seconds later.
“We will be proud of you whatever you choose, you know? We don’t care if you prefer one thing over the other, we will support you either way.”
“The team also talked to me about that. They said that they would give me an actual contract, a salary, training, even a place to stay if I needed it!” Tommy shared, letting the words slip out without thinking them through first.
His parents listened to it all. His mom massaging his head, messing around with his short hair. A thing she always did when he needed comfort as a kid and, to these days, still helped him to calm down.
“I really want to go” He ended, voice low but admitting, for the first time, what he really wanted.
It might be selfish, choosing to hurry up things instead of his family that gave everything for him to be happy. It felt like asking them more when he can’t even pay his debt.
But he allowed himself some honesty. He did want to go.
“Then do it” Both of his parents said after looking at each other. They both shared a real smile with just a little (almost imperceptible) touch of sadness in it.
“It’s not like we are not going to stay in touch, L’manburg isn’t too far from here, we can visit each other” His father encouraged.
“And technology is a thing, we can have phone calls everyday if we want to” His mother continued.
“Thank you” He answered truthfully, thinking how lucky he was to have them in his life.
It was 22:30 of the day after the proposition, almost 24 hours later, but he knew that, if he kept thinking about it, he would never decide something, always finding another excuse to stay, only to be opposed for another reason to leave.
He hadn't gone to work even if he should. Dream didn’t ask him why either.
So when he got into his room, he was disposed to stop everything from collapsing in front of him. He was going to make a decision.
But first, he messaged Sam. The man was one of the reasons why Tommy was in this situation, who started it all, who opened the doors for him to start building his dreams.
[ Are you free to talk? I would like to call you ]
Sam didn't take long to reply. Not with a message, but with a call.
He sounded worried but Tommy took it upon himself to assure him everything was okay. More than good.
And he told him about the proposal.
“That’s amazing, you are going to have a great time with them” Sam didn't hesitate a second to reply.
Although, Tommy's response was a lamented noise.
“You are not thinking about declining, are you?” The man in the other line of the phone said in disbelief.
“Well…”
“Tommy, you can't be serious. They are offering you all that you wanted and deserve! You can't say no”
“I know, but I don’t want to leave all of you behind…” He replied, now feeling ashamed.
“You are not losing anyone, you are just leveling up, people are not respecting you here, you deserve this. Don’t think about us, just think if you want it”
“Thanks Sam, I will try to talk with them”
“I will leave you then” Sam said gently and trusting that the boy would choose the right thing. He was about to hang up when the other kept talking “And, Tommy, I’m happy for you” and ended the call.
A single tear of joy rolled Tommy’s face.
All the people he cared about were supporting the same side. He was not going to fight against them.
When the lump in his throat settled a bit, he wrote another message that would start one of the most important calls of his life.
Even if he wasn’t sure. Even if he was going to miss his family and friends. Even if the future could give the same results.
His stomach churned at the incoming call.
“I do want to go with you guys, Wilbur” Tommy said once he answered, not wasting time on formalities.
Just saying what he had to say to make things the way they have to be.