Chapter Text
It’s been two days since Wilbur came over, and made Tommy’s wings all nice and neat.
Wilbur comes over on his Lunch break to make sure Tommy isn’t dying- or- yknow- sad?
Tommy feels like he’s finally got a flock- till the walks in his kitchen and finds no food. He groaned out loud to absolutely no one- and huffed.
He was feeling better lately.. so he tugged his wings into an oversized hoodie, that was DEFINITELY clean because Wilbur made him wash it- and grabbed his keys.
When he arrived at his favorite supermarket, it took him a while to realize WHY he had no food- it was because of the Diner incident- when he’d run into Wilbur and his father, and they’d taken him to a Diner for some brunch. He grumbled at the memory before grabbing a basket at the front, and walking to the instant noodle section. While walking over to the pop-tart section- again- he bumped into Wilbur’s father- Phil.
Phil looked at him annoyed for a split second before realizing he knew him.
“Oh, hey mate!” Phil looked too chirpy for Tommy’s taste. But the man was kind to buy him breakfast that one time, so he shot him an awkward smile.
Phil just laughed.
“I hope you’re not planning to get that again?”
he scrutinized his basket. Tommy just hid it like he was hiding a toy he stole.
“I dont know what to buy..” he grumbled. It was half true. Tommy knew how to make things- but not buy them. Plus he was too lazy to anyway.
Phil just shook his head, grabbed Tommy’s stuff, put it down- WHERE IT DIDNT BELONG- and grabbed him by the arm. Phil was gentle- but it still made Tommy flinch a bit.
For around 2 and a half hours, he was dragged around the store, Phil asked what he knew how to make, what he wanted to learn how to make, and what he liked to eat, and not like, and also making a pit stop to the medicine isle.
Phil was nice. He never pushed when Tommy stopped to stare at Cookies that he knew tasted too similar to his mother’s, or look at granola bars he knew his dad used to have in his car all the time.
He just patted his back, and waited for Tommy to come back to the real world.
It was embarrassing. But Phil never pushed or even asked why he did that. He just understood.
Tommy liked Phil. He concluded that when he didn’t push too hard. Especially when it came to paying. Tommy payed for his own things. He hated charity- especially when it could be given to someone who really needed it. He always paid for his own things- unless it was by his corporation. Then, he had no say.
So when Phil pushed only once in paying for Tommy groceries, and then backed off when he saw Tommy get defensive. That was when Tommy decided he liked Phil.
He understood tiny things that most gloss over. Like when Tommy stood on defense, he suddenly became gentler and no longer pushing. But like when they went to the diner, and Phil had pushed for Tommy to get the pancakes, and more leftovers- he pushed because he knew Tommy wouldn’t mind it.
Tommy ended up talking to Phil a little, till the older man realized how late he was, rushed his goodbyes and headed out. Tommy huffed, closed his trunk with his 10 bags of groceries, and got in his car. It didn’t take long to get home. The difficult part was Putting everything away.
————— PHIL POV —————
He was driving, and was incredibly behind schedule. Dinner should’ve been in the oven by now.
Phil liked to keep the meals scheduled. Everything else happened when it happened, and it just so happened to work for Phil and his family.
He stopped at a red light. He wondered how Tommy was doing with all those groceries.. Wilbur had told them Tommy’s apartment wasn’t horrible.. but wasn’t exactly well furnished. So he hoped he didn’t have much trouble.
He parked the car and got out. Grabbing all the groceries and walking to the front door. His keys jingled before he slid them into the keyhole, then opened it with a free hand.
“Do you need some help, dad?”
Phil just smiled. His little musician was sitting on the couch. He walked over and ruffled his hair.
“If I did, I’d call your brother.”
He heard Wilbur sputter before starting a rant on how he’s far ‘superior’.
“Oh, Will, I saw Tommy at the supermarket.”
Wilbur stopped and perked up.
“What was he doing?”
Phil chucked at the memory of Tommy walking around, looking so determined- and definitely like a hobo who was gonna steal, before bumping into Phil.
“Grocery shopping. Again. Had to help him.”
Wilbur just shook his head in mock disapproval.
“But, Will.. you have to look after him. He didn’t look too good when I first saw him.”
Wilbur nodded.
“Now come help me make dinner. We’re behind schedule.”