Chapter Text
"Ow!" Tommy hisses as he flinches at the touch on his shoulder. The hand is immediately removed and he feels his muscles relax somewhat.
"Sorry Tommy, but are you sure you should hide this? Your social worker is nice and you said you were going to a new home today so he'll be there." Ranboo walks beside him on his right side as Tubbo is on his left.
Tommy tries not to scoff as they get closer to approaching the group home he stays in, even from where he is, he can see his social worker's car parked out front.
He sighs heavily.
"I'm fine Ranboo, it's just a few bruises, I've been through this shit before. And besides, the quicker I get to this new house and just get through it, the quicker it'll be over."
Tommy sighs at the worried look he knows his friends are giving as they go silent. He knows the hardships he's been through as he's lived through the foster system.
All three boys have lost their parents one way or another. They've been through the foster system but neither have gone as long as Tommy.
Tubbo got adopted early in his childhood, only having been in foster for a year before someone took him in. And the lady is nice too, Puffy is her name and she's great.
Ranboo was in the foster system for only two considering his sister had to wait until she was financially fit and had a stable enough home to be able to have full custody of him.
And Tommy… well he had no one and no one ever wanted him.
Now he's fifteen and all his hopes of having a family were dashed years ago.
Now he's just surviving until he's 18 and out of the system.
That doesn't mean being moved from foster home to foster home isn't tiring.
"Alright, but you know our numbers, call us if you need anything."
Tommy gives them a thumbs up as he trails up the gravel driveway that leads to the group home. Passing the gate, he sees his social worker Sam through the window with a strange look on his face as he talks to the caretaker.
He looks hopeful but worried.
That isn't good.
Tommy opens the sliding door, entering into the noise of the house as small kids run about with the caretakers chasing after them.
But he doesn't care about that, his eyes are on Sam.
Sam meets his eyes and smiles a little wider. Tommy tries to copy but it must look strained as Sam dims a little.
He's glad the majority of his bruises from that fight (as unfair as it was) were hidden. He didn't want to see Sam's eyes any dimmer than that.
"Hey bud, you ready to go?" Sam says, awfully soft for all the screaming that's happening around them.
Tommy only shrugs one shoulder, non commenting.
Sam keeps his smile up and kneels down a little. He's unfairly tall from someone in their 30's.
"Why don't you get packed? We'll leave as soon as you're ready." Tommy knows that look. This will either be really good or really bad.
Tommy turns, not saying a word as he approaches the stairs that lead to all the rooms the kids share.
"Aren't you going to tell him?" Is the last thing he hears from the caretaker Sam was talking to before he's turned the corner.
He enters his room, luckily enough being the oldest, he's got it all to himself.
He packs as quickly as he can, wanting to get this over with as fast as possible and fills the rest of the near empty space in his backpack.
Clothes, his favorite blanket, a pack of crushed chips and an empty water bottle. Plus his books and pencils he needs for school.
And finally and maybe a bit embarrassingly, his favourite toy. A plush cow named Henry.
He stares at the cow for a beat or two before stuffing it in his bag with everything.
Zipping it up, Tommy turns to leave but stumbles as his vision goes blurry.
He wobbles on his feet and tips sideways. But luckily saves himself just in time by using the dresser. It's a bumpy save as he knocks into it and almost knocks everything on it off but it helps keep him standing as he rights himself.
However, he ended up using his bad shoulder and almost screamed as it throbs in pain. Like electricity running through his veins, stemming from his shoulders, he gives himself a moment to collect.
Well, that's what he gets for not eating and also letting those morons take all his lunch.
As soon as he rights himself and lets the pain fade away into a dull throb, he's out the door and down the stairs, trying his best to ignore the lightness of his head.
He manages to make it to Sam's car and only gets a few worried glances from the man so he thinks he might be in the clear.
They hop into the car and it's mostly a silent car ride into the city. Sam must be able to read Tommy's mood, so he doesn't start a conversation until they are in the city limits.
"So, do you know anything about where we're heading?" Sam suddenly questions, sounding a little bit optimistic.
Tommy grunts as an answer. He isn't interested in whatever next foster home he's gonna end up in. And by the look of where they are going, the fucker might be rich.
The area they're passing through is the nicer parts of the city. Where the suburban homes are made of brick and wood and sometimes even marble. They look like mini mansions.
Tommy isn't sure he's ever stayed in a home in this area. He's usually put in the more rural parts. Where the houses are filled with mold that somehow the inspectors never saw.
Tommy raises his head a little, looking around confused at the sudden change in scenery.
"They didn't tell you? I thought they would have, considering who you're staying with." Sam says again, a hint of something in his voice.
Tommy finally turns his gaze to Sam and he sees the man smile like usual but his eyes tell a different story.
He's excited about something.
Suspicious.
Tommy takes another glance at the area, his eyes squinted in suspicion.
"Where are we going Sam? Who am I staying with?" He raises an eyebrow in Sam's direction. Trying to convey how curious he is.
Sam sees it, obviously, but the bastard's smile only widens.
"You'll see."
He doesn't say more and Tommy huffs. He slumps back into his seat as he glares outside his window.
"We'll see." He says in return.
5 minutes later, they make it to their destination.
A quaint home that likely costs more than Tommy could ever afford in his life. It's a nice home, two storys made of brick and wood. A chimney coming out from the house, signifying the home, has a fireplace.
Those places are usually nice at night, sitting in front of the fire, Tommy usually liked those moments alone.
There is no car but it's probably in the garage they have.
They park in the driveway and Tommy takes a moment in the car to stake out the exterior of the house. He's seen normal houses, although ones not as nice as this, become nightmares in just one night.
But this time, they might even be rich enough to get away with it.
He takes a deep breath and hops out the car.
Wait, no, he shouldn't have stood up so fast.
Black spots pop out from the corner of his vision and he sways. Luckily with the car being right there, he manages to stay standing and not sway too much.
"Tommy? You okay?"
Shit, Sam is still here.
"I'm fine, just tired. It's been an annoying day." He isn't lying, it has been annoying. Being beaten wasn't exactly his number one favourite event to happen today.
"It has been hot, make sure to drink some water when you get the chance." Sam hums as he approaches the stairs.
Tommy almost sighs in relief. A bullet has been dodged. But a drink of water sounds really great right now, he might take that offer when he gets the chance. Might help with the annoying bruises and whatever is going on with his shoulder.
Tommy follows the man up the three stairs, hit by the sweet smell of flowers that hang from the porch front.
Three knocks follow and it isn't a moment later the door opens.
Tommy is behind Sam, so he doesn't immediately see the person who opened the door, just hears his voice.
"Hey mate, nice seeing you again." The man's voice is light and nice as he speaks to Sam. Very familiar too. Have they met before?
"Phil, it's been so long, how have you been?"
Definitely familiar with each other.
The small talk ends rather quickly as Sam finally remembers Tommy's existence as he moves out of the way. He finally meets the icy blue eyes of his new foster Dad and promptly freezes where he stands.
The man is shorter than him, has blonde wispy hair about shoulder length. He's got an easy smile and a kind face. But what really catches his eye are the impressive black pair of wings on the man's back.
That's not what's got him frozen though and he can see in his peripheral vision, Sam is smiling like an idiot.
"Hey mate, nice to meet you. I'm Philza but you can call me Phil."
The man.
The hero.
The retired hero speaks to Tommy.
Right in front of Tommy is the retired hero Crowfather.
Instead of responding, Tommy slowly turns his head to Sam who's grin is borderline blinding. Tommy knows he's just loving this.
"Aren't you gonna introduce yourself Tom's?" He urges amusedly and Tommy has half a mind to bap him back.
"I-I'm Tommy, Tommy Innes, um…" Tommy stutters in his words. He doesn't think he's been this caught off guard in so long.
"Sorry about him Phil, this is a bit of a surprise for him. Especially since you're his-" Tommy's eyes widen as Sam continues and he flings himself at the man without thinking, clamping his hands over the man's mouth.
"Nothing, nothing, you're my… foster parent. That's… it." He hates himself for even speaking but he hates it even more for being here.
He knows his face is as red as a tomato right now. He hates everything.
Phil looks shocked at his sudden and surprising interruption but he knows Sam is grinning like an idiot. He can feel the fucker smiling.
Nevermind, he thinks he hates Sam even more.
He removes his hands from Sam's mouth and side steps away from the man, his shoulders up to his ears. Sam is still standing there chuckling at him as he wipes his mouth.
He dares not to look at either of them.
He doesn't notice when Phil changes his expression to a smile of adoration.
"Well, why don't you two come inside and we can have a chat?" The proposition is taken as they both enter Phils home.
Tommy looks around as he enters, the entrance is a straight hallway with one door on the right. Said door is slightly open which shows a spacious office.
The flooring is dark wood and most of the house is wooden. When they reach the end of the short hall entrance, it breaks into a huge living room.
There's a kitchen to the right and the living room to the left with the dining table beside the kitchen. What makes Tommy's eyes almost pop out is the huge yard. It's completely open space as the entire back is just glass. Sliding doors that take up the entire back wall that leads to the backyard.
Said yard is a large yawn with oak trees at the way back just before the fence. Under said trees is one outdoor swinging chair with a cover over it.
There is also a deck attached to the house linked to the wooden porch at the back as well. Three stairs down, you'll meet the grass.
Beside the living room however is a set of stairs that must lead to the upper part of the house.
It's a very homely house for a retired hero. Although the place looks incredibly expensive. Even in retirement, he must have been paid handsomely.
"Tommy?" Tommy's snapped out of his gaping and wandering eyes by Sam who looks both amused and worried.
"You okay?" He asks.
Phil stands behind him with a patient but knowing look on his face.
"Yeah, I'm good. It's just… a big house." He doesn't know what else to say to describe his flabbergasted mind but it seems to come clear enough as Phil chuckles.
"It is. Too big in my opinion although the boys don't really complain. They rather like their space."
At the mention of others, Tommy's nerves spike. So the guy has kids. How many? Tommy doesn't know.
Wait, Crowfather has kids???
"Speaking of, where are those two? I haven't seen them in a long time." Sam eyes around like he'll actually find them while Tommy is still working his brain around what he just found out.
"Oh, I kicked them both out for the day. Knowing those two, they would have made this entire situation too chaotic. I didn't want them to overwhelm Tommy."
Sam cackles like it's some sort of hysterical joke Tommy doesn't seem to understand.
"I bet Wilbur didn't like that."
Phil joins in on the laugh.
"Oh he did not. He was whining the entire time up until he got out the door."
Likely whining about adding a new addition to the house. Tommy could probably guess that.
They head further inside until they stop at the dining table where one side has the open view of the yard with the large glass wall.
Tommy sits at the very end of the table as the other two sit across each other. Sam takes some papers out which Phil doesn't look over.
Tommy finds it a bit weird. Usually foster homes are careful when looking it over. Tommy's entire profile is on those papers and Phil just… didn't look at them.
He just signed it and that was it. The movements were all smooth so it was likely he's done this before.
Maybe his sons were foster kids?
Tommy takes this chance to look around and spies a picture on the wall. It's a picture with Phil in it but two others as well.
Two men, one with brown curly hair and another with long straight pink hair, oddly enough.
They both look around their young twenties and both look incredibly happy in the photos.
There's more across the walls Tommy hadn't seen when he walked in. It has them all in it from what looks recent to what looks like from long ago when they were young.
Their smiles look wider as the years pass. They get more healthy. More life leaks into their eyes in each photo. As they grow.
They rather seem… happy.
And maybe, even familiar as well.
"So, do Techno and Wilbur both still live with you?" Tommy hears Sam ask as he tunes back into the conversation he lost considering his distractions but it seems he didn't miss much.
"Well, yes and no. Both have their own apartments and they even have the Hero Towers accommodation to stay in but the fuckers always come crawling back here whenever they feel like it."
Although with the harsh language, the man looks all too happy. Like he doesn't mind at all that they always come by. Like they are always welcomed.
Tommy can't imagine that ever happening to him. Although a small part of him wishes it did.
"Well, you raised them well Phil. They're heroes because of you."
Tommy perks at the word hero.
He knows Phil was a former hero but his kids are heroes as well? Tommy looks back at the photos on the wall, knowing they are somewhat familiar looking.
Is it because they are heroes?
But which ones?
Before he can think too much about it, Phil chuckles.
"Maybe, or they just like causing chaos, who knows. Either way, let's not talk about it too much. They'll have enough time to talk about it next time they see you. And plus, I bet this lad here will want to hear about it himself."
Tommy blinks at the attention on him before looking away. Hunching his shoulders.
He is curious, it's why he's even listening but it's not like he's gonna ask.
They can keep their hero stories to themselves.
….
Maybe Tommy will ask but only if he wants to, not because of anything else.
"Oh definitely. You'll have a great time Tommy. Phil is amazing and his boys used to be foster kids themselves."
Tommy could tell considering where the conversation had led and looked between them.
"That is true. Wilbur, I first fostered when he was 13. Techno arrived when he was 16. Two chaotic teens but I don't regret a thing with them." Phil crosses his arms, leaning back in his chair. His eyes are distant like he's seeing a memory. A small smile on his face.
Tommy never thought he'd see the greatest hero in history so… content.
In the videos he'd see as a child, the man was always the greatest man in his eyes.
Wings spanning across the battlefield like an angel of death but he was kind to so many people. Treated civilians with care and respect and even villains were given similar treatment.
His fellow heroes were like brothers in arms and old friends to him.
To Tommy, he was his hero.
As he grew older, things were too dull to believe in that however.
But now he's in his presence. The guy, with his wings out, folded like neat paper on his back. Wearing sweatpants and a dark green t-shirt, is contently smiling beside him, talking about his children like a proud father.
It's incredibly surreal.
He can't predict what will happen in this house. And that's what makes a part of him terrified to stay.
But he's got no choice. Maybe this place won't be as bad. But he won't know until later. So for now, he's just going to silently watch and wait.
Besides, running away is always an option.
Can he even run away from heroes?
"Well, it seems like this has gone well. I'll need to be off now though." Sam stands up from his seat. Phil stands with him and both shake hands.
"It was nice seeing you again mate, we should catch up and chat sometime." Phil offers which Sam grins at.
In a blink, the three are at the door, Sam ready to leave. He says his pleasantries and goodbyes to Phil before turning to Tommy.
Tommy tries not to look too downtrodden that Sam is leaving. As much as he thinks Crowfather is great.
He doesn't know Phil.
Sam must see this however, as much as Tommy tries to hide it.
He places a hand on his shoulder. Thankfully, not the one currently covered in bruises. Tommy still winces slightly.
"Tom's, I want you to know you'll be okay here. Phil is a great and kind man, I promise you can trust him with anything."
He leans closer, enough Tommy can hear his whisper.
"And maybe you can ask those questions you've been dying to ask since you were a kid. I know he'll be happy to answer his number one fan."
Tommy's face goes red at that and glares at the man. He leans back and chuckles at Tommy's pout.
"Good luck Tom's and have a good time here." He pats Tommy's shoulder as a last goodbye and heads to his car.
Tommy watches as Sam's ugly green Jeep leaves the driveway and down the street before disappearing around a corner.
"Tommy?" Tommy tries not to jump at the voice and slowly turns to the man who stands casually in front of the door.
"You coming in mate?"
Tommy takes another long look at the house, looking up at the two story home for just a moment.
In his defense, he only hesitated a second before entering the house once more.
Tommy does end up getting a cup of water once inside. He's keeping his head low and just letting the man talk. They are both in the kitchen, Tommy sitting on a stool beside the island counter made of marble in said kitchen. Slowly sipping his water.
But when there is nothing to say, silence falls between them. Tommy thinks it's awkward type silence but he doesn't think Phil feels the same considering he's humming quietly to himself as he makes some tea.
"So," the man begins, turning with a steaming hot tea in his hand, "you got any friends at school?"
A breaking of the ice question. Fantastic.
"Yeah, I've got some friends." He avoids eye contact and stares out the window instead, taking another sip of heavenly water. It's helping in clearing his head but it doesn't unfortunately, help with the bruises dotted all over him.
"That's good, if you ever want to bring them over, they're more than welcomed here. Just let me know if they ever come over, okay?"
This man is making less and less sense as time passes.
With his last gulp of tea he circles around the island table.
"Alright, let's head to your room and I'll give you a little tour as well as tell you about some rules."
Ah, it's the small tour and rule time.
He's familiar with this game.
With a much clearer head, Tommy takes a deep breath. He honestly can't wait for his room, it'll probably be big considering the rest of the house. Or maybe they'll just stuff him in a strangely big closet that's still small for a room but big for a closet.
The man ends up walking behind Tommy, a hand raised.
"Alright, do you want to see your room first or anywhere else?"
The man pats his shoulder, rather gently so as to not startle him but it does because he pats the bruised shoulder.
"Ah!" He cries out, arching forward before ducking his head down. The disturbance of his shoulder makes his head spin.
Now he's sure his shoulder isn't supposed to hurt like this by just a bruise. Did something else happen to it?
"Tommy? Are you okay mate? What's wrong?" Oh, that's Phil, the Crowfather. He sounds worried. Shit, he must have scared the guy.
"I'm… I'm fine, it's… nothing." It's harder to speak than it is to breathe. The pain has his lungs in a choke hold which is odd considering his pain is coming from his shoulder.
"Mate, that isn't nothing. Is something wrong with your shoulder?" Phil hovers over Tommy's injured shoulder but doesn't touch, thankfully.
Tommy grunts as he raises his head, trying not to move said shoulder too much.
"No, it's fine. It's just… it's nothing." He tries but Phil looks less than convinced.
"Mate, please, if something is wrong, we need to treat it right now before it gets worse. If we don't, it'll only get worse and you might end up in a hospital, if we don't need to go already."
His gaze, equal to Tommy, holds a strong pleading look Tommy can't seem to look away from.
"Please mate."
Tommy sighs, heavily.
He looks away finally from the man's gaze but he knows he's already given up.
"Fine." He finalizes and with another glance sees a grateful smile lift Phils face.
"Thanks mate, let's see it shall we?"
Tommy slowly takes his hoodie off, grunting as the movement sends waves of pain through his right shoulder. The cause of this mayhem.
He tries to lift his arm but it gets to be too much and he stops.
"I… I can't. It hurts too much." He says through his harsh panting.
Phil hums thoughtfully.
"Okay, is it alright if I feel it to see what's going on?"
Tommy looks confused at Phil.
"What could be wrong with it?" He asks hesitantly.
"Could be a few things. Really depends on what got you injured in the first place."
Tommy takes that moment to think back from earlier that day. What could have caused his arm to feel like this?
"I was… I was pushed into a wall. A sharp corner. My shoulder hit the corner and that's when it starting being a bitch." He grits out, his other hand holding his arm up with his shoulder.
It's starting to hurt really bad now. Which is weird considering the dumb fight happened hours ago.
"Someone pushed you?"
Oh.
Oh shit.
Tommy freezes.
Fuck, he wasn't supposed to say that.
"I-I fell, yeah, I fell… backwards. Complete accident. That's what I was supposed to say." He hates this. He's usually good at lying but this man has caught him off guard multiple times in that hour.
It's hard to lie when you're flustered.
"Okay, we'll talk about that later. It's likely you either broke something in your shoulder or it popped out of its socket."
Both suck equally as much as the other. Maybe having a popped out socket isn't that bad then having a broken arm. But both still suck major ass.
"We'll have to go to the hospital to get it checked properly."
At the word hospital, Tommy's eyes almost pop out of his skull. He'd much rather have a broken shoulder bone than go to the hospital. He hates hospitals.
"No, no hospitals, no doctors. Please, please no hospitals. I can't go there. I can't…Not again. Never….never again." His breath picks up, his heart thumps harder in his chest and he can't think, he's just saying words, begging.
He hates being this vulnerable.
Never in his life has he ever been this open to an adult. Sam barely scratched the surface with him.
No one's ever seen beneath the surface besides his…..
He just can't go to the hospital.
But a soft hand gently grabs his own that he realizes has been clenching tightly to his other arm. Nails digging into the fabric of his hoodie.
"Hey, it's okay, it's okay. We won't go to the hospital. Not now. But we need to get this treated, Tommy. If we leave it, it'll only get worse and you'll feel worse. We can have the hospital as a last option. Does that sound okay?"
Man, he's really good at this. His voice gets low and soft. His eyes meet Tommy's equally and he's open with his words.
Tommy ends up nodding.
He's happy with any other option that isn't a hospital.
"I'm gonna go call someone to come by. He's not a doctor but he's dealt with injuries like this before. He'll be able to tell what it is and we can figure out what to do next."
Tommy continues nodding as Phil goes to grab his phone. Softly instructing him to keep breathing and try not to move.
Tommy doesn't move a muscle besides his own lungs pushing air in and out.
He doesn't bother listening to what Phil is saying to whoever is on the phone. He just wants the pain to subside. To go away entirely. For this entire chaotic day to just get over with.
"Alright, they'll be here in about 5 minutes. Apparently they've been waiting for the okay to come back. Those little shits." Tommy doesn't know who the fuck he's talking about but he cares less about it.
He just wants whoever can help to hurry the fuck up.
Phil honestly does try his best to keep Tommy's mind on other things. He's very good at it. Distracting Tommy with stupid stories of his sons and when he was a young hero.
Tommy even gets some inside stories of heroing which is fucking pog.
"And then the thief runs through wet concrete, almost falling into it. But he made it to the other side. But the dumb bastard didn't think about what would happen when the concrete dried."
Tommy giggles, consciously making sure not to shake his shoulders.
But the story is stopped as the front door makes three knocks.
Ah, they're here.
"Oh, they're here. I'll be right back mate."
Tommy nods, listening as Phil makes his way to the front and speaking to whoever is there.
Three footsteps then enter the household and Tommy takes a peek at who it could be.
The answer may shock you.
A tall piglin hybrid with long pink hair and the beginning of tusk poking out his mouth enters first behind Phil. Behind him, a tall man with brown curly hair and golden wired glasses also enters.
"Tommy, these are my sons. Techno and Wilbur."
Or in other words.
Blood God and Phantom.
Oh, so that's what he meant about his sons. Now he knows why those photos were familiar. God he's an idiot.
"Well, I didn't expect to meet like this but better late than never I suppose." Wilbur, aka Phantom speaks. A wide grin on his face that doesn't speak good news.
Actually, Tommy thinks he'd much rather take his chances at the hospital.