Chapter Text
Tommy woke with a jolt. A burning pain piercing through his calf. He tried to suppress a whimper that threatened to escape his throat as he pulled his legs to his chest.
After a moment, the wave of pain subsided. Leaving a throbbing sensation in its stead.
His body losing its tension as he laid back, only then did Tommy realise that he was pressed against the softest mattress he had ever felt. Sinking into it felt like he was laying on a cloud, the warmth of the thick comforter covering his aching limbs.
Tommy could not remember the last time he had slept on a mattress or even in an actual bed.
Slowly he traced his fingers over his wrists. Pristine white bandages wrapped delicately over his arms, having been changed recently from how he could make out the smallest splotch of red starting to seep through.
Images of the previous night pulling him out of his sleepy haze. He bolted upright even though his wrists protested at the action. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he took in the room.
It was a bedroom. Walls a darkened blue, posters of bands and poorly drawn pictures littered across it. The strangest part was the lack of any windows, the only light coming from the single lamp on the dresser.
The room was a mess, clothing scattered on the floor, Monster Energy cans left forgotten on the dresser. A boombox laying on the bedside table with cd cases towered aside it. A heater plugged into the wall.
A simple guitar laid against the wall.
Despite his body urging him to lay down in the cloud like bed again and sleep just a little longer. His panicked mind denied him the comfort.
Where the hell was he?
He pulled the comforter off in one quick movement and rose to his feet. Hissing at the pain that surged up his injured leg.
The only exit was a wooden door that sat on the other side of the room. His only option was to hoddle his way across the room. Each time he put pressure on his injury it burned, each step as if he was stepping on flaming hot coals. Using any of the furniture for support was not ideal by how his wrists ached.
He was just about to open the door when it suddenly was opened for him. Tommy recoiled as fear flooded his system, pain being the only reason he did not run back to the bed.
On the other side of the door stood Wilbur, dressed in a simple black shirt and music note patterned pyjama pants. He clearly had just had a shower from how water dripped from his hair onto the towel that laid against his shoulders.
He looked just as shocked as Tommy was.
“Hey.” Wilbur smiled at him, a warm look in his eyes. “I was not expecting you up for another few hours, let alone standing.”
“Where the fuck am I?” Tommy crossed his arms to hide his aching wrists. Wilbur only raised a brow at him.
“My bedroom?” That made sense from the posters and guitar.
“Why am I here?” Wilbur walked past Tommy into the room. Leaving the door open as he took a seat on the bed, rubbing the few droplets of water off his cheek with the towel.
“Well, you passed out in the alleyway. The cops were called due to the fight, we could not just take you to the hospital. So we took you to our home, Phil wanted to put you in the guest room while patching up your leg but I offered mine so you would not wake up panicked.”
Phil? Why did that sound so familiar? And who is we? Tommy had too many questions that rattled around in his head.
“Well you fucking failed that one, of course I was panicked to wake up in a strange room by myself. I thought I was fucking kidnapped or something!” Wilbur only laughed as he dried his hair, brunette curls falling into his eyes.
“I mean, technically I did kidnap you.” Wilbur offered with a playful grin but Tommy only glared at him. “Look Toms, we could not just leave you there.”
“Who the fuck is we?” Tommy spat as he walked over to sit on the bed, trying not to hiss at the pain. Wilbur seemed to notice his distress by how he immediately stood to help. Letting Tommy balance his weight so he could hop on his good leg. Once both were settled into the bed did Wilbur reply.
“Techno and I. After you passed out he refused to let you go, carrying you all the way here. He had almost put you in his room, but Phil would not let him. Guy was guarding the door all night.” Wilbur chuckled as he leaned back against the wall, resting an arm behind his head.
“Techno? Who the fuck is Techno?” Tommy questioned, pulling the comforter to wrap around him. This only caused Wilbur to grin.
“Oh, you call him Blade right? No idea why he got you to call him Blade.” Tommy stared at Wilbur in disbelief, there is no way he could be talking about the Boar Blade. Then again, Tommy could briefly remember the Boar saving them, and Wilbur's hands looked different when he had protected Tommy.
His gaze shifted to Wilbur’s hand, it looked normal. Maybe he had been seeing things?
Wilbur only tilted his head with a questioning look as Tommy contemplated, trying to recall all he could through fuzzy adrenaline fueled memories.
“So,” Tommy trailed off as he tried to put his thoughts into words. “You know Blade?”
“Yep, I know him.” Wilbur smiled, looking relaxed. More relaxed than a person should be when admitting they knew a seven foot tall boar Deamon.
“How?” Tommy pulled his legs to his chest, settling his chin in his knees.
“We are brothers.”
“Fucking what?” Wilbur laughed as he rested a hand on Tommy’s curls as if trying to settle the blonde.
“Techno and I are brothers. Phil is our dad. You know,” Wilbur spread his arms to imitate wings. “Big bird.”
“Hold up, your Dad is the giant bird Deamon? How the fuck does a bird adopt a person? I thought Blade being related to him was weird enough” Wilbur dropped his arms and shrugged.
“Actually only Techno is adopted, Phil is my actual Dad.”
“The fuck”
“It's a long story” Wilbur waved it away as if it was nothing, but Tommy gawked at him.
“WHO FUCKS A BIRD!?” Wilbur ran a hand down his face.
“Tommy no-”
“Wait, Does that mean you are a Deamon too?” They stared at each other for a moment before Wilbur shrugged.
“Kinda, My mom was just a regular person. So all the animalistic traits I get from my Dad.” Tommy pointed to Wilbur’s hands, which were now resting in his lap.
“So, your hands last night. That was real?” Wilbur raised his hands, so the palms were facing towards him.
“Yeah, that was real.” Tommy took Wilbur’s fingers in his, inspecting it for any indication that it was anything but human. There was nothing, no claws or feathers in sight.
“Can you do it again?” He gently massaged Wilbur’s hand, looking for any misaligned bone. Wilbur shook his head.
“I would rather not.” His gaze was warm as he watched Tommy inspect his palm.
“Why not?”
“Cause it fucking hurts. Our bodies are not meant to shift like that.” Tommy hummed as he finally let go of Wilbur’s hand, letting it fall back onto the bed.
“Then why did you change last night?” Wilbur only scoffed as if Tommy had asked something absurd.
“You were in danger Tommy, what was I supposed to do? Sit back and watch? You could have been killed.” He sighed as he pulled the blonde close, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. “Remember what I told you that day I went grocery shopping with you?”
“That you would kill anyone who hurt me?” Tommy rolled his eyes
“Exactly!” Wilbur ruffled the teens hair, making him smile. “I fucking ment it!”
He leaned against Wilbur’s side, letting the brunette play with his curls. He relaxed his limbs onto the bed. His leg resting in a particularly soft part of the bed, trying to soothe the pain. Wilbur seemed to notice by how he reached over to the bedside table, retrieving a small pill bottle and offered it to him.
“I have Advil for the pain, it's not much but hopefully it works.” Tommy took the bottle, as Wilbur clambered out of the bed.
“I will be back, I’m going to go get you a glass of water.” He offered Tommy a smile before walking out of the bedroom door.
Then, Tommy was alone again. Which was never a problem in the past but sitting in an unfamiliar house. Was this a house? A strange sense of loneliness set into his heart.
It was always weird how Tommy hated being social but also craved it at the same time. How all interactions felt draining and exhausting. Tommy never felt that way around Blade, he sometimes did with Wilbur. His high energy was something he basked in but also despised.
If he focused, Tommy could make out the faint smell of lavender in the air. It would have been comforting if it had not been for the other scents mixed in. Wilbur’s familiar cedar but others he had not experienced before.
Much more than just the three of them lived here.
Tommy focused on the pill bottle. He tried his best, but that stupid child proof cap would not budge. He cursed under his breath, as he struggled to line it correctly. No matter how hard he pressed down and twisted it refused to open. He wanted to chuck the fucking thing across the room.
A soft knock on the bedroom door drew his attention from the bottle.
There at the door stood the familiar golden septum piercing and red cape.
Blade was looking at him with what Tommy could only guess was pure amusement. Though he was ecstatic to see the boar he could not help the embarrassment that crept up his cheeks.
“Don't tell Wilbur.” He pleaded as he held the bottle out towards the boar, an unspoken cry for help. Blade let out a snort as he walked into the room and opened the bottle with relative ease before handing it back.
Tommy stared at the bottle with an offended look as if it had insulted him.
Placing two of the small capsules in his hand before closing the cap, then threw the fucking thing across the room. It clattered to the floor with a rattle.
The bed dipped when Blade sat beside him, the angle forcing him to sink closer to the boar. He looked at Tommy with a raised brow, as if questioning his actions.
“What? The fucking thing is stupid, deserved to be thrown.” Tommy huffed. Blade let out an amused snort, mimicking a small laugh.
Then wrapped an arm around Tommys chest, being mindful of his injuries as Tommy was hoisted into the Boars lap. His head laid against Blade’s arm, legs still pressed against the bed.
“Dont know if I told you this before, but your so fucking clingy.” Blade only shrugged in response as he pulled the blonde closer. Tommy leaned his head into the boar, listening to the steady beating of his heart.
The loneliness melts away with each steady rise and fall of the boar's chest.
“Thank you Blade,” He confesses softly. “For saving me and Wilbur.”
Tommy was glad that Blade could not speak. The Boar could not tease him like Wilbur or belittle him in any way. There was a sense of safety, like he could tell the boar anything and it would never leave the room.
Blade’s expression turned into something soft, he took Tommy’s wrist gently to inspect the bandages. A sad noise escaped Blade’s chest when he could see red seeping through the bandages.
“I’m alright Big man. It does not hurt that bad.” Though Blade clearly did not believe him, he let go of Tommy’s arm and pulled him closer. That strange yet comforting chuff came from the boar as he softly pressed their foreheads together.
Blade clearly had been worried about him.
“Sorry I took so long,” Wilbur announced as he sauntered into the room. “Everyone in the family really wants to meet you but I told them to wait.”
Wilbur paused when he took in the scene before him, an envious look on his face.
“Looks like someone could not fucking wait either.” He held out the glass of water to Tommy, Blade helping the blonde sit up.
Tommy happily took the glass, suddenly feeling parched as he watched the cool water slide down the side. Placing the capsules in his mouth before chugging the whole glass, feeling the instant relief in his throat. Even though his empty stomach lurched.
“Thanks.” He offered the glass back to Wilbur, who took it and placed it on the nightstand.
As soon as Wilbur had made himself comfortable on the bed again. he opened his arms to Tommy, making grabby hands like a toddler.
“Give.” He demanded but it only caused Blade to snort.
“I don't care if you think he is comfortable there, I want a turn.” Wilbur whined.
Huh?
Blade grunted in reply, as if holding a conversation with the brunette. No emotions emoted on the boar’s features.
“I know you found him first but that does not mean you get to harbour him.” Wilbur looked annoyed but still held his arms out.
Huh!?
“Wait wait wait!” Tommy announced, gaining their attention. “You can understand him?”
Wilbur and Blade shared a knowing look before Wilbur finally dropped his arms.
“Yes,” he admitted as he leaned against the wall. “I can understand him, along with the rest of my family.”
Tommys jaw dropped.
“How?! All I can do is get a fucking notebook and read facial features.” Wilbur shrugged but looked contemplative. As if searching for the right words.
“Well, It's kinda hard to explain.” He trailed off. Blade huffing in response, causing Wilbur to nod in understanding.
“My family has an…. odd type of language. It's not spoken, it is more mental understanding.” Wilbur pointed to his own head for emphasis. “Like I can hear the words in my head. Actual sentences and each member of the family has different voices.”
“Like telepathy or some shit?” Wilbur grimaced as he made a so-so action with his hand.
“Kinda?” Tommy tried his best to wrap his head around it all, not only did these beasts exist but they communicated with a form of telepathy.
That would explain the silent conversations Blade was having with Phil when they visited his apartment.
“Wait, That is how you knew I was younger than eighteen!” Tommy flashed Blade a hurt look, the boar only hung his head.
“You promised you would not tell anyone!” Blade chuffed, but it sounded sad and sympathetic. Tommy suddenly did not want to be cradled by the Blade anymore.
He crawled out of the boar’s lap, leaning his back against Wilbur’s chest in a spiteful action. Wilbur only grinned as he wrapped the teen in his arms. A defiant huff escaped Tommy as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Blade stared at Tommy for a moment, before his gaze lifted to meet Wilbur’s. The brunette only rolled his eyes, letting out a reluctant sigh.
“He says he is sorry, but someone had to know that a sixteen year old kid was living alone in this shitty city. He just wanted to keep you safe. That is why he messaged me to go grocery shopping with you.” Blade snorted and Wilbur only laughed, holding Tommy tighter.
“Yeah, but it was fun! He was laughing the whole time! So what if he walked away with a few bruises.” Blade crossed his arms, glaring daggers. Wilbur shrugged it off.
“Blade told you to help me grocery shop?” Tommy asked, looking back at Wilbur who tilted his head to make eye contact with the blonde.
“Yep.” Wilbur said, popping the ‘p’. “I was in town when he messaged me, of course it was more Phil’s idea as a way of saying thank you.”
“Thank you? For what?” Tommy raised a brow. Wilbur’s expression suddenly softened, a strange warmth in his eyes.
“You saved my Brother, Toms. It's not everyday someone risks their lives for beasts like us. If it was not for you.” Wilbur looked up at Blade, Tommy following his gaze to rest upon the boar. “He probably would not be here today.”
Tommy thought back to that night, the police cruisers that had driven past the small corner store. How Blade had suffered from bullet wounds. How even now, the bullet that Tommy had to extract from his leg sat in the small drawer under his tv.
If Tommy had not opened his home to the injured beast, to hide away from prying eyes and treat his injuries. Would he have even survived the night?
There was no doubt Blade was strong. He would have killed countless people but how long would he have been able to survive an onslaught, barely able to walk when Tommy had found him.
He was snapped out of the thought when a hand rested against his curls, Blade looking down at him with concern and curiosity, behind him Wilbur snorted.
“You practically have him and Dad wrapped around your finger.” He teases, “He is never this expressive around anyone but you. Always so dull and monotone"
Blade snorted in reply, but Tommy could see what Wilbur ment. Everytime the boar looked at his brother, any indication of emotions would vanish. It was as if he turned to stone.
But the moment Tommy made eye contact with him, the boar shifted into a novel. So much detail that Tommy could read all that was in his head just by an expression.
"I mean, I can't hear him." He argued. "It makes sense that the only way I could communicate is through body language or a fucking notebook. Which I don't have."
Blade nodded in agreement.
“True.” Wilbur hummed thoughtfully. “I think there should be notebooks lying around. Last thing I want to do is continue to be a translator.”
A snort came from the boar, another silent sentence that Tommy could not decipher. Wilbur nodded in agreement.
Tommy had a feeling this would happen alot. Unable to understand what was being said, a part of him felt left out.
“You gonna fucking talk without me? Or are you going to share with the class?” He did not mean to sound so bitter but it was nearly insulting that they could talk about him while sitting right in front of him. Wilbur only laughed.
“Techno was just saying that I may not always be there to translate for you.” He ran a hand down his face with an exasperated huff. “Fuck, I’m gonna have to translate for everyone.”
Blade only laughed in response before giving Tommy’s head another gentle pat before standing up. His hooves silent against the soft carpet as he walked to the door.
“Where are you going?” Tommy raised a brow as Blade stopped in the doorway. A comforting chuff escaped his chest as his gaze lifted to Wilbur’s.
“He is going to go prepare the family to meet you, as long as you are up for it. You are more than welcome to stay here a bit longer if you need, we can try to keep them at bay for a bit longer. But a new person in the den is always way too exciting.” Wilbur waved his hand. “Instincts and all that.”
As if that was any explanation to what the fuck he was talking about, but if any of them were like Blade it was understandable. A lot of animals did not take too kindly to a stranger in their homes, many were territorial creatures.
Phil was one, a bird of prey whose nest was to be protected at all times by predators who could hurt their young. Tommy just hoped that none of them would see him as a threat.
Last thing he needed was another angry Deamon.
Wilbur seemed to notice the fear starting to creep into his throat by a gentle, almost protective, tug towards his chest.
“You are safe here Toms, they are all going to love you. I promise.” Wilbur spoke so quietly, keeping the conversation between the two of them.
Tommy took a moment to ponder the offer of going back to sleep, but in the end. He made up his mind.
Best to just get this over with.
“Yeah,” he let out a sigh. “Let's go meet them.”