Chapter Text
Tommy's heart raced as he recognized Phantom under the tree, the villain’s sinister grin barely visible in the dim light. His dark brown leather cape seemed to blend with the shadows, making him appear almost part of the night.
Tommy- Icarus stepped out from his place, his fists clenched. “What are you doing here?”
Phantom’s grin widened. “Ah, look who it is! I remember you.”
“I’m not here for games,” Icarus shot back, taking a defensive stance. “You’ve got something to say, say it now.”
Phantom raised an eyebrow, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “Someone is in a hurry, I was just walking in the park! But if it’s a fight you want…” With a sudden burst of speed, Phantom lunged at Icarus.
Icarus barely had time to react, blocking Phantom’s attack with a swift counter. The two began exchanging blows, their movements a blur of aggression and precision. Phantom was agile, slipping through Icarus’s defenses with ease. He ducked under Icarus’s punch and landed a quick jab to Icarus’s ribs.
Icarus grunted in pain but didn’t falter. “Is this what you wanted, Phantom? A fight?”
Phantom’s eyes gleamed with amusement.
“Actually, I was hoping I could get an autograph!”
Icarus growled and charged at Phantom. He landed a few solid hits, but Phantom deftly avoided the worst of the attacks. The villain seemed to anticipate Icarus’s moves, slipping in and out of his range effortlessly.
“Nice try, but you’ll need more than brute force,” Phantom taunted, sidestepping another of his attacks. He used his cape to block Icarus’s punches and then aimed a sharp kick at Icarus’s midsection, sending him stumbling back.
Phantom’s smirk remained. Before Icarus could react, Phantom landed another punch to his chest. Icarus was just about to take hit him when a new figure emerged from the shadows—Dream
“Jackpot”
Phantom’s confidence vanished instantly, replaced by a look of panic. He glanced at Icarus and then at Dream, clearly unnerved.
“Not now,” Phantom muttered, his voice trembling. “I didn’t expect company.”
With a hurried movement, Phantom retreated into the darkness, his escape marked by the swift flutter of his cape. Dream watched him disappear, then turned to Icarus.
Now it was his turn to run. Icarus quickly took to jumping up and using his ability’s to keep him in the air.
Dream followed suit, not far behind him. His voice cut through the silence, "Running won’t help you, Icarus."
Icarus ignored the warning, pushing his abilities to the limit as he soared higher into the sky. His heart pounded in his chest, not just from the physical exertion but from the overwhelming sense of dread that Dream’s presence always invoked.
Icarus tried to keep himself up but he could feel himself getting weaker, he insisted opted to finde the highest possible rooftop and see if he could lose them that way. Dream pursued him, closing the gap with every moment.
As Icarus reached the highest rooftop, he landed with a heavy thud, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He glanced over the edge, hoping to find some way to evade Dream. The city below was a sprawling maze of lights and shadows, but Dream was relentless, his silhouette cutting through the night sky as he flew upward.
“Why are you doing this?” Dream’s voice echoed, tinged with frustration and anger. “Why can’t you just give up?”
Before Icarus could respond, a new figure burst onto the rooftop. Punz, another hero known for his incredible strength and agility, appeared with a determined look. “Dream, wait! Let me handle this.”
Dream hesitated, his eyes shifting from Icarus to Punz. “Alright, but don’t let him escape.”
Punz nodded and squared off against Icarus, his posture tense but controlled. “You don’t have to do this, Icarus. There’s still a chance to make things right.”
Icarus shook his head, sweat trickling down his face. “You don’t understand. I’m not trying to—”
Suddenly, Icarus lost his footing, slipping on the edge of the rooftop. In that split second of vulnerability, Punz moved to help, reaching out to steady him. But as he did, a surge of uncontrolled energy erupted from Icarus, an involuntary reaction to his fear and desperation.
The blast of energy collided with Punz, sending him hurtling backward. He crashed into the rooftop with a sickening thud. Icarus’s eyes widened in horror as he saw Punz lying motionless, a pool of blood forming beneath him.
“No!” Dream’s anguished cry cut through the night. He rushed to Punz’s side, his face contorted with shock and grief. “No, no, no! Punz!”
Icarus stood frozen, guilt and horror mixing within him. He hadn’t meant for this to happen. Icarus’s heart sank as he watched Punz slump to the ground, unmoving. Dream landed beside him, momentarily stunned by the sudden turn of events.
“No… no, I didn’t mean to- oh god.,” Icarus stammered, staring at the fallen figure. His hands shook as he tried to process what had just happened. Dream’s furious gaze turned toward him, eyes blazing with a mix of sorrow and anger.
“You did this!” Dream roared, his voice trembling. “You killed him!”
Icarus, his heart pounding with fear and guilt, took advantage of Dream’s distraction. He darted towards the rooftop’s edge, knowing he had to escape before Dream turned his full wrath on him.
With a final, regretful glance at the fallen Punz and Dream’s devastated form, Icarus leaped from the rooftop. He barely kept him aloft as he fled into the night. Behind him, Dream’s anguished cries echoed through the city, the weight of loss heavy in the air.
Icarus landed in a deserted alleyway, his mind racing. He stumbled through the shadows, desperate to find refuge and escape from the anguish he had just caused. The night was cold and unforgiving, and every sound seemed amplified in his heightened state of anxiety.
He ducked into a narrow, dimly lit storage room behind a row of warehouses. Inside, he shed his tattered hero suit, discarding the blood-stained garments in a haphazard pile. He changed quickly into a simple hoodie and jeans he kept for emergencies. His heart still pounded, but he forced himself to calm down, knowing he needed to be inconspicuous.
Tommy finally made his way back to his apartment, his steps heavy with the weight of what had happened. The night air felt colder as he approached the building, the reality of his actions pressing down on him with each step.
As he entered the apartment, he was greeted by the familiar hum of home, the comforting clutter of their shared space. He moved quietly, trying to avoid drawing attention to himself, but he wasn’t fast enough.
Ranboo, sitting on the couch and engrossed in a video game, looked up as Tommy came through the door. “Hey, Tommy, what- where were you?
Tommy’s heart pounded as he tried to put on a casual demeanor. “Oh, hey Ranboo. Yeah, just uh needed to get some air”
Ranboo noticed Tommy’s disheveled appearance and the traces of blood on his clothes. “You look pretty- bad. What happened? Tommy what- is that blood?.”
Tommy forced a weak smile, trying to appear nonchalant. “It’s nothing. Just had a tough night out there.”
Ranboo’s concern deepened. “You sure? That’s- oh- that’s lot of blood. Oh my god. What happened?”
Tommy hesitated, his mind racing. “No, no. I’m fine. It’s not mine- I just… I’ll clean up and get some rest. Don’t worry about it.”
Ranboo looked at him like he wanted to speak but Tommy interrupted. “I-I went out to get some air and a- a drunk- guy started a fight, i’m fine just shaken.”
Ranboo nodded, though Tommy could see he still had questions. Tommy just forced a smile. “Im fine Ranboo, really, look i’m really tired. i’m heading to bed.” Ranboo just nodded. Tommy could see something in his demeanor shift.
He headed to his room, closing the door behind him with a sigh of relief. Inside, he sat on the edge of his bed, his mind replaying the night’s events. The weight of Punz’s death and Dream’s fury still pressed heavily on him.
As he looked around his room, he was reminded of the normalcy and safety it represented—a big contrast to the chaos he had just experienced. He knew he had to face what he’d done, but as of now, he found a small comfort in the quiet, everyday life that Ranboo’s presence symbolized.
For the first time since the night had begun, he allowed himself a moment of stillness, feeling the exhaustion and emotional turmoil settle in as he prepared to confront the consequences of his actions in the days to come.