Chapter Text
Waking up was a slow progress, much slower than usual, Tommy notices. So when he finally gets the energy to open his eyes, he knows for sure, he isn't home.
If he was, he would be waking up to an alarm if it was a weekday, if not, his room would not smell like disinfectant but instead of his mother's morning breakfast cooking. It would also not be this bright seeing as Tommy keeps his blinds closed at all times and his rooms walls are a navy blue colour.
Another thing, his memories clearly state he was caught in a villain vs hero fight and he got trapped under a building.
With the Blade.
Fuck, he got fucking kidnapped didn't he?
They are definitely out of wherever they were trapped unless he's dead and he's in heaven right now. Could explain the brightness.
That is until he hears a door open and someone walking in. He groans, letting whoever entered know he's conscious at least. Maybe it was a mistake but he sort of needs answers right now.
Whoever entered seems to have stopped in their tracks for a moment before faster sounds of feet hitting marble floor echo to his side.
He sees pink and groans again, ending in a sigh. Great, it's this bitch.
"Kid? You awake?" The familiar drawl of a montone voice speaks by Tommy's side.
"Not a kid, bitch," the boy groans, trying to glare in the direction the Blade is but probably fails miserably at it with the amused smirk the man holds on his face.
"Sure kiddo." The man says rather amusedly, and if Tommy could move, he'd middle finger the fucker.
"Well, since you're concious, you probably have a few questions. But I think you probably need more rest but that's up to you kid.'' The man speaks softly enough although it still remains that monotone voice he seems to have as a permanent setting.
"Where am I?" The boy manages to say, stretching his limbs. He shifts to trying to get up and ends up getting help from the Blade. Which is appreciated but also not. So Tommy ends up scowling at him to show his dislike but let's it happen.
The man huffs, a smile dancing on his lips.
This bitch.
"Well, if you look around you can obviously see you're in an infirmary." The man states the obvious and Tommy turns to glare at the man. The guy has no problem with this and continues to grin.
"I can fucking tell asshole. I was asking the location, not the fucking room I'm in." He growls and Blade just chortles.
"I know, I'm just messing with you. If you really wanna know, you're currently in the base of operations of the Syndicate. Welcome kiddo, to the Syndicates hideout."
And Tommy, as amazing as he is, his mind freezes and a wave of anxiety rushes through him.
"You… you fucking brought me to your base?! Why couldn't you just put me somewhere? Why your base? What the fuck?!"
Blade raises an eyebrow. Something he could see because he still isn't wearing a fucking mask.
"You really wanted me to leave you passed out on a random sidewalk with a broken leg? Bruh, why didn't you say? I would have definitely done that." He says quite sarcastically with an eye roll.
Tommy opens his mouth to counter the argument but stops short. Okay yeah, that would be bad wouldn't it?
Tommy shrinks onto himself a little.
"But you're… a villain, why do you care?" It's softly spoken, as softly as the one and only Tommy can get and Blade, who had leaned back and closed his eyes, opens one to look at him almost critically.
"I may be a villain Tommy but I'm not evil," he closes his eye again, "I wasn't gonna leave you."
Which is quite a meaningful thing to say, he says it so seriously too that it stops Tommy from saying anything else. Creating a silence to engulf the air between the two as neither says a word.
A silenced teen and a laid back villain sit in an infirmary. It's a strange commodity.
The silence is broken when the sound of a door opening grabs both their attention.
Both individuals inside snap their heads to it and Tommy's draw drops when he sees the two who enter.
First is a man with wings on his back and straight blonde hair that reaches his shoulders. He's got a plague mask on his face made of black leather and an honestly ridiculous looking green and white striped bucket hat. He's wearing some type of Japanese attire but with sandals.
The second to enter is a tall man with brown curls tucked in a hood, a half black, half white mask with the outline of a black drawn frown on the white side and a happy white drawn smile on the black side. The man wears a long navy coat with a hood and coloured a light blue accented with darker blue and white. He wears long pants that goes up to his torso that are almost black but Tommys pretty sure is just a really dark blue colour and a poet's shirt that's tucked into the pants. Wearing knee high black boots.
They both look ridiculous and intimidating all in one. Tommy can't help the nervous trickle in his gut but as well as the strange urge to laugh.
He lets neither show, just shock as two of the Syndicates leaders walk in.
Jubileum and Zephyrus have entered the room.
"Ah, he's awake, that's good. Hey mate, how are ya holding up?" The man, Zephyrus, asks and Tommy has to blink at the question for a second.
"I… I'm good but… what the fuck?" Because seriously, how else are you going to react to this situation?
His eyes lead to Blade by his side, giving him the same expression.
Blade shrugs.
"What? Did you not think you'd meet them?" Is his reply. His fucking reply.
"I was still reeling from the fact I'm fucking here Blade! What did you think I was gonna react like?!" He's rather loud, he's always loud but in this small space, it's enough to make a deaf person wince.
It makes Blade wince after all.
"Okay, you don't have to yell at me, prime." He rolls his eyes again and Tommy has the sudden urge to gouge them out.
"You're a dick! I hate it here, you are no longer my favourite villain, Zephyrus has taken that spot." Blade leans forward with an eyebrow raise and a smirk.
"I was your favourite villain?"
Tommy stutters as his ears go red.
"Not anymore asshole." He hears laughing and turns his head to Jubileum being the culprit. Even Zephyrus seems to hold in his laughter as his shoulders shake.
"I like this kid, where did you find him?" Jubileum muses as he calls his laughter and takes his mask off partially to wipe away tears.
"Stuck under some rubble." Answers honestly but with his hint of amusement in his words.
"Blade, I've noticed something else, don't think I'm going to ignore the fact your mask is gone in front of a civilian." Zephyrus says quite firmly even when there is a smile on his face, his eyes are narrowed at the pink haired man.
Blade stiffens where he sits, body freezing in his movements. Jubileum snorts quietly like the fact his friend? Villain partner? Whatever they are to each other, getting in trouble is amusing.
Blade releases himself from freezing as quickly as before and leans back into his chair with crossed arms.
"Well, you see, my mask broke when the roof collapsed on me and kiddo here, a piece of rubble hit the mask and split it open."
He gives the same explanation he told Tommy but a lot more nervous then also time.
Guess it's pretty clear who's usually in charge.
Zephyrus sighs as he drops his head, almost looking like he wants to massage his temple but can't with the mask in the way.
"How did you get out of there without them seeing your face then?" Jubileum inquires curiously with a head tilt.
"Oh, the kid here gave me a bandana to tie over my face. By the way, here."
Blade pulls out from his pocket a red bandana belonging to Tommy. The boy happily takes it and ties it around his neck where he keeps it.
"Huh, so the kid you kidnapped also helped you hide your identity?" Blade cringes at the wording whilst Tommy glares at Jubileum for his overuse of the word kid.
"I wouldn't say I kidnapped him." Blade tries.
"You did."
"Fuck off, you did."
"You definitely did mate."
Blade raises his palms, his face going through levels of surprise. The most emotion Tommy's ever seen him make.
"Alright alright, jeez, so I kidnapped him. Sorry I didn't want to leave him passed out on the sidewalk with a broken leg."
Jubileum snorts while Zephyrus chuckles.
"Yeah, well, I'd like to be unkidnapped and would like to go home, my mum is probably freaking the fuck out." Tommy mutters as he shuffles to the side of the bed, aiming to stand on his own.
Blade immediately stands where he was sat, pretty fast surprisingly enough.
"Ey kid, careful, you wanna make your leg worse? You're supposed to rest it moron."
Tommy lightly glares, mouth forming into a pout.
"Fuck off, I'm fine, I ain't no bitch." The boy spits, one leg, the one not broken, rises, his knees to his chest.
"Kid, he's right, you'll need to rest maybe a week or more until it's healed." Zephyrus steps forward in speaking this time, a taloned hand with fingerless gloves worn on them.
Tommy scowls.
"Fuck that, I can't stay. My mum is definitely freaking out and she'll tear the city apart trying to find me. Plus, she's a doctor, she has the ability to heal, I'll heal way faster if I'm with her." He explains, both points reasonable and very true.
His mum can be scary at times, she could rival all the villains combined.
The Syndicate members pause at this.
"Really?" Jubileum questions and Tommy nods.
"Yes, that's why she's cool." The boy puffs his chest out, a grin climbing on his face in the place of his mother's pride.
Jubileum huffs.
"Well, I guess you can't argue with that. Healers are rare but if your mum is one, I guess it is best for you to go. Which sucks because you being here would have made the place way more interesting."
Jubileum comments whilst Zephyrus looks somewhat thoughtful.
"I knew a healer once, a long time ago. Anyway, if it'll help you heal better then we can take you home. Blade, can you help him walk please?" The man grunts and doesn't hesitate to help Tommy stand, Tommy holding onto the man's arm as he gets to his feet.
The boy does grumble about being helped but let's it happen either way. He wouldn't be surprised if the guy picked him up if he refused. At least this way, he'll be able to walk on his own.
As they exit the infirmary room, Tommy gets the privilege of looking at the rest of the place, the apparent secret base for the world's biggest criminal organisation since forever.
The place is sleek with silver and grey metal, the halls long and arduous.
There are many turns and whichways, some even seem to lead to false endings. It's like a maze.
Which he guesses is the purpose because if you don't know the layout and get lost, you won't find anything. Smart. He wonders who came up with that.
But even with the grey look of the place, some rooms they pass have more homely vibes. Like a living room with enough chaos to look lived in but not enough for it to seem like a mess.
Blankets, pillows all over the couch, a few snacks laid about the table and the TV paused on a movie he's pretty sure was Shrek.
They pass training rooms and a lot of locked doors that all say "No access unless authorised".
The place is huge and Tommy can't help it when his eyes look around like a curious mouse.
He doesn't notice the amused looks they all wear as his obvious curiosity is shown before them.
Jubileum however, seems to interrupt it.
"So Tommy," the man begins as he places himself beside the boy, walking beside him now, "what do you think of heroes and villains? Which side do you like more?"
The man asks, as curious as a cat.
Tommy thinks about it for a moment, his mind wandering back to the days he'd spend watching heroes and villains fight each other on TV.
"Heroes are alright I guess, villains are not so bad either. But I think you guys are probably a bit better than most villains. Out of the heroes though? Captain is definitely number one in my books. Same can be said about Royal, they're cool."
Even with the good apples, there are bad apples too. Arrogant, selfish heroes who are too up on their high horses. Ones who came more about money and fame than actually saving lives.
As Tommy grew up, his interest in heroes lessened. And his interest in villains grew a little. Just a little. Definitely.
But still, they aren't earning any brownie points with this whole kidnapping shtick. Even if it is awesome looking around their maze of a base.
But once they make it outside, Tommy's eyes go a little wider.
It's late but in the low light of the setting sun, Tommy is greeted by endless forest and trees.
The exit had gone from man made metal to a cave of rock. They had quite literally built their base inside a mountain.
Honestly, it's pretty clever. Far from civilization where no one would expect them to be. He's probably the first outsider to see it too.
He probably can't but he would definitely boast about this to his friends when he gets home.
"So you guys just have your base under a mountain?" He questions as he takes in the area. It's just all trees for miles. He can't see over them but likely enough the city is pretty far.
"Yep, found this cave system a while ago. Was like a maze so I came up with the idea of making the base be like one. Although some of them did have to be made by hand or by explosives, the majority used to be cave systems." Zephyrus explains. Huh, guess he knows who came up with the idea.
"Yeah, we guessed this mountain was a dormant or extinct volcano, definitely has the signs of being one." Blade continues. Tommy looked up at the cave and beyond in some semblance of awe.
He doesn't notice the looks the three give each other.
"Well," Zephyrus interrupts, clapping his gloved hands together, "we should be getting you back. It's getting late and we don't want your mother to worry any further."
Oh, right, yeah, he's supposed to be going home. Man, his mum is gonna have a heart attack.
"Yeah, cool, we should do that. Uh, do you guys have a car or some shit?" Tommy looks around but doesn't find any sort of transport they use to get in and out of the city. Which there should, the only person he could think that wouldn't need it is Zephyrus. Ya know, because of the wings.
"Yeah, that's the thing. The car we had sort of exploded the other day from a fight we had with some heroes so unfortunately, we don't have that." Jubileum explains rather sheepishly as he rubs the back of his neck.
Blade huffs at his side as he crosses his arms.
"And whose fault is that?" He gruffs, Jubileum immediately whipping his head to the pink haired man with a rather flabbergasted look he somehow portrays even with a mask on.
"Fuck off, it was an accident, I am not to blame for Betty's death. Besides, it's not like you haven't done that before. Remember Carl?" Jubileum speaks rather eccentrically. Tommy's starting to learn how theater kid Jubileum is turning out to be.
"Okay one, do not call that car Betty, that is just sacrilege to all cars in existence. And two, we both promised not to speak of that, Carl died for his heroics and will not be slandered."
"I was not slandering Carl."
"Was too."
"Was not."
"Was too."
"Was not."
Tommy is starting to see where the rumors came from watching these two. The rumors being that they are all a family.
Blade and Jubileum being brothers.
"Boys!"
And Zephyrus being the father.
The booming voice of Zephyrus however, works to quieten the two. Tommy is thoroughly amused at this point but standing there, even with the help of crutches, is making his leg burn.
"Okay, well if you don't have a car, how are you guys gonna get me home?" He looks between the three who all look… apprehensive.
"Well, if you agree Tommy, we were thinking I could fly you there." Zephyrus immediately drops that bomb on Tommy and even lifts a wing to eventuate.
Tommy is silent for a beat, considering his options.
"You want to fly me home? How exactly is that gonna work?" The boy questions, having the urge to sit with how his leg is feeling.
"I'd be carrying you and don't worry, I won't drop you. You'll be safe, I promise."
Tommy purses his lips, thinking about his options.
Which are limited at best. The only way he'll get home in time and an incredibly painless way that doesn't involve walking, is if he lets Zephyrus carry him.
So basically, he's all out of options.
He sighs.
"Fuck it, fine, we're doing this." He stands a little straighter but jumps a little when he feels a hand on his shoulder.
Looking up, he finds it's the Blade.
"You'll be fine kiddo, Zephyrus is the best flier around. He's carried me and Jubileum many times." Jubileum nods in agreement behind him as Zephyrus smiles.
Tommy takes a breath.
He believes them.
"Okay, let's get this shit going then."
Tommy stumbles his way to Zephyrus, walking past Jubileum who gives him a smile. He smiles minimally back before his eyes lead to the winged leader of the Syndicate.
But he stops before he can approach any further, freezing in his tracks.
From Zephyrus' view, he seems to be warring at himself for something.
"You alright mate?" He questions the teen but doesn't get an answer when said teen turns around and races, crutches and all, back to Blade.
Before anyone can question what he's doing, he's fallen into Blades chest, wrapping his arms around the man. Dropping the crutches as he does so.
Blade freezes where he is, Tommy can feel his entire body go tense. Its a little funny.
But either way, Tommy just wants him to know something.
"Thanks Blade for helping me. I don't think I would have gotten out like that without your help." He sounds emotional which he hates but everything is climbing to the surface.
Hes shaking a little and grips tighter at Blades suit to calm his nerves.
"And-and I was lying earlier. Zephyrus isn't my favourite even if he's pog. You are."
Its a sweet and tense moment broken immediately by a gentle pat on Tommys head.
Lifting his head a little, Tommy meets the uncovered eyes of the Blade who's looking down at him. He's got a strangely gentle look in his eyes.
"No problem kid, thanks for making being trapped under debris bearable." Tommy snorts, he guesses that's the best he'll get out of the villain and let's go.
Jubileum passes his fallen crutches back to him and Tommy tucks them under his armpits to waddle to towards Zephyrus.
He doesn't need them though as he gets to Zephyrus, he drops them again as the winged man picks him up bridal style.
"You okay like this?" The older asks and Tommy hesitantly nods.
"Yep, I'm all good to go whenever you are, big man." He tries to put some confidence in his voice but it's not possible. And he would have cringed about it if he wasn't being watched by the three villains.
Still, no one mentions it and Zephyrus turns, head lifted to the sky.
"Bye Tommy, hopefully we'll meet again." Jubileum yells from the short distance they have been given.
"Hopefully bitch, I still got a lot of insults for you." Both the villains snort as Zephyrus chuckles.
"And don't forget our promise Blade." He points at Blade from over the avian's shoulder, confusing both the other villains besides Blade who chuckles with a shake of his head.
"I won't forget kid, don't worry."
And with that, Zephyrus takes off, taking the blonde boy with a loud mouth with him.
Hopefully his mum isn't freaking out too much, he'll be home before his curfew after all.
Hopefully.
—-----
"Well, that was certainly interesting, wasn't it Techno. You bringing home a random kid wasn't what me and Dad were expecting." Wilbur turns to his brother, a smirk on his face Techno knows is there, even if he can't see it beyond the mask.
"Whatever, it's not like I was gonna leave him there." Techno admits, eyes still staring at the sky as Phils figure grows smaller and smaller as he flies.
The sun sets to the east, likely enough the kid won't be home until after dark if Phil doesn't fly too fast.
"Didn't think I'd see the day, the Blade saving someone's life? That's gonna be all over the news."
"Nah, likely enough they'll think I kidnapped him."
Wilbur chuckles as the pair turn back to the cave entrance to their base and home.
"Also, what was the promise you gave the kid?" Wilbur questioned, his voice now becoming an echo as they enter further in the cave.
"Heh, I promised the kid I'd let him spray paint on President Schlatts ugly statue he has outside the Manburg Hall after we take over the Government." Techno explains, forcing Wilbur to start cackling which echoed further until they reached the door.
"HA! Nice, I like that kid, he's hilarious." Techno hums in agreement as both bicker and banter as they enter their home under the mountain.