Chapter Text
Wilbur was right, it turned out, and they took Tommy back to their house. He managed to convince them to let him get Dream’s number, and he promised to message the man who had helped him so much that night. Phil was very grateful towards Dream and they ended up getting along.
The car journey was awkward, but Tommy stayed silent as always and kept to himself, waiting until they got back for disaster to strike.
However, when they got home, Phil asked Tommy if it was okay to touch him and then pulled the boy into a bone-crushing hug, muttering simple words of comfort.
“I was so worried about you. I’m so sorry for pushing you and making you feel uncomfortable in the shop. We’re all going to do better, okay?”
Tommy stood stiff in his arms for a while, until he accepted the hug and welcomed the embrace. The touch brought so much safety and Tommy never wanted to let go.
He struggled to process Phil’s actions and words but right now that didn’t matter.
They weren’t hurting him.
”You gotta promise me you won’t run away without letting us talk stuff out first. I need to know you’re safe, Tommy.” Phil carried on, and just nodded hurriedly with his head pressed against the man’s neck.
He felt himself on the verge of tears and pulled away from Phil. He didn’t want to cry in front of them.
Technoblade made it hard however, when he decided it was his turn for a hug, giving the boy a quick squeeze and pat on the back. Touch wasn’t really his thing. Tommy appreciated it nevertheless.
Wilbur placed a hand on Tommy’s shoulder, smiling and told him how he was glad Tommy was home.
Home. He hated that word.
They scattered across the house after that. Phil to the kitchen to make dinner and the three kids to their rooms.
Tommy lay on his bed for a while, knees bent, staring up at the ceiling. He wasn’t sure what to do now.
Normally, he’d be hiding the bathroom, tending to his wounds but there were none. He felt a bit lost now.
He wondered out his room into the hallway, pausing at the sound of a guitar coming from Wilbur’s room.
He shuffled closer and peeked his head round the door. Wilbur was sitting crossed legged on the floor with his back against the bed, guitar on his lap. He played around with it for a bit, attempting a tune before he found something he liked.
“I know you’re there, Tommy.”
He froze but then meekly pushed the door open and stepped inside.
“Shut the door then, Techno will have our heads if I leave it open.”
Tommy nodded and did as he was told. Wilbur watched the boy and his nervousness, something about it reminding him of how he used to be.
He let out a breath. He and Tommy would have to bond eventually. Plus, he couldn’t stand Techno being the favourite so there was no time to waste.
”Come sit. Wanna listen to what I’ve been making?”
Tommy nodded and sat down in the spot next to Wilbur. He crossed his legs and rested his head in hands, waiting for Wilbur to start.
Wilbur laughed at him and then turned to his guitar. “It’s called Perfume.”
As Wilbur started strumming his guitar, Tommy made himself more comfortable, leaning back against the bed and shuffling closer to Wilbur. Wilbur, of course, noticed, but didn’t say anything, simply smiling as he carried on.
“It's 3:45,
Your taxi's not arrived,
I don't think that he's coming.”
Wilbur chuckled as Tommy let out a sound of glee and bounced up and down.
”Wil, it’s so cool! I love it!”
Tommy’s smile reached his ears as he gushed over the song and Wilbur’s skills, completely falling head over heels with it and begging him to play another.
Wilbur was soft. How could he say no? He played two more songs before dinner which put them both in very good moods, much better than earlier.
Tommy trailed after Wilbur once they had eaten (Techno joining them on fear of missing out) and sat on his floor as Wilbur worked and continued writing.
It was odd, having silent company while he worked, but Wilbur didn’t complain. At least he has the chance of being the favourite now.
Until he saw Tommy curled into Techno’s side, albeit nervously and very stiff, but they were cuddling nonetheless. Henry was clutched in one hand and the other was tucked under his side.
“Fuck you, Technoblade. I want Tommy too.”
”Wil, you’ve done nothing but tell me how much you want him to leave since he got here.” He smirked as Wilbur gasped at the accusation.
”Well, I like him now. And it’s been like one- two days? I need time to warm up.”
Techno just hummed, blocking out the sound of brother’s whinging and focused on Tommy. He decided he’d do anything to protect the little boy who deserved the world.
—
The twins left at 7am for school on Monday morning, leaving Tommy with Phil until their appointment with the school counsellor.
It was quiet, Tommy would never object to that, and Phil was very good at making simple conversation that required very little effort from Tommy.
Tommy decided he liked Phil today.
Maybe Phil felt bad for the rough start but he was being extra nice to the boy. Tommy was still cautious and treaded lightly but he felt ever so slightly more comfortable around him.
Plus! Tommy had been talking to Dream who was so helpful and friendly and thank god- Tommy needed friends.
Not that he didn’t have any- of course, he had loads of friends- just not close ones. Dream was nice to him. He was good at advice.
Phil kept telling Tommy that school was only one option and he could always drop out if he hated it. (Tommy decided that Phil was a drop-out but the man would never admit it)
They made their way to the reception at 8:15am. The halls were busy, Tommy kept his head down and hood up, sticking close to Phil’s side. Neither of them wanted a repeat of the Shopping Centre Disaster.
“Hi, Thomas Simons- um- a meeting with the counsellor?” Phil had a brief conversation with the receptionist who sent them to the right door and told them to sit down.
Tommy said she was rude and blunt but apparently all receptionists were like that.
He thought that was dumb.
It was a dumb day, he decided, as they sat in the waiting area. Phil hadn’t let him take Henry with him today, which was dumb and he hadn’t seen Techno or Wilbur all day. Also dumb.
“Tommy, how are you feeling?”
He held a weak thumbs up to Phil and shrugged. Contradictory but that didn’t matter. It was a dumb day.
”Hey guys, ready to come in?” A nice looking guy poked his head round the door to the office and beckoned them in. “My name is Mr Jones.”
”Hi mate.” Phil guided Tommy to a seat next to him and gave him a comforting smile.
”So, Tommy, are you excited to be going to school with your brothers?”
“Not my brothers.”
The teacher frowned, but said nothing of that. He gathered some paper work out in front of him, twiddling a pen in his left hand.
Tommy kept his head down, but could see the pen out the corner of his eye. and under the table he noticed the man’s leg shake. It was annoying. Tommy’s leg shook sometimes, people told him off for it. No one was telling the man off.
That was unfair, Tommy thought.
“I’m sure it’s written down somewhere, but Tommy is selectively mute. It’s imperative that the school knows and respects that.” Phil spoke fiercely, leaving no room for arguments.
Mr Jones nodded and hummed in agreement, “I completely agree. As I recall, Technoblade used to be the same? Yes yes, I’m sure we can accommodate to Tommy’s needs.”
”Great.”
Tommy thought that Phil didn’t like this guy.
“There are also ways that we can keep Tommy and your son’s timetables similar, if that’s something that appeals?”
Phil turned to Tommy, “Would you like that? You won’t be in the same classes obviously but same break and lunch times.”
Tommy nodded, hoping to satisfy Phil and the man. They seemed to like that so it was okay. Tommy didn’t really care to be honest.
His phone buzzed in his pocket. It was Dream, replying to an earlier message.
- really? my brother goes to that school too. how old are you again?
— 14
- so is Tubbo! maybe you’ll be in same classes
— nice! theres a rlly annoyinf teahcer that were takling with rn. i think phli dosent like him
- there will be a lot of those teachers, all Tubbo does it complain about them
— LOL
”Tommy, put the phone away please.”
Phil’s voice was calm but it made Tommy nervous. He didn’t want to upset him, or lose his phone.
“Sorry.”
“It’s alright, we’re nearly done here, right?”
The man nodded and let them go a few minutes later, confirming that Tommy would officially start tomorrow.
On the way home, Phil made simple conversation again, trying to fill the silence. Tommy didn’t touch his phone once.