Chapter Text
Tommy doesn’t know how long he stayed on his bedroom floor, his eyes closed as he rested his head on Wilbur’s shoulder, too tired to move it away, his arms resting against the floor, the only sound being his air conditioning and breathing of the four people in his room. It was peaceful, something he needed after the insane amount of stress he just went through in the span of less than an hour.
Of course, like all good things, it didn’t last forever.
When Tommy’s door was thrown open suddenly, he was standing in a second, his hand grabbing his knife from his boot before he could even register what he was doing, turning to look at Techno, Tubbo, and Wilbur, frozen like a deer in headlights as he watched their eyes shift from him to the knife glinting in his hands.
He didn’t have time to say anything before he heard footsteps across his floor, stepping forward so that he was in between the door and his friends, bending his knees slightly and tensing his body; ready for whoever walked through. His hand gripping the hilt of his knife tightly, a steady breath preparing him for whoever would walk through. So far he had only heard one pair of footsteps, but that doesn't mean anything to him; if he can make his footsteps near silent, he knows that others can as well.
When someone finally walked to his doorframe, he pounced before the person could even react, twisting the person’s arm so that it was pressed against their back, his knife to their neck, ignoring the gasp that Wilbur let out in favor of keeping his friends safe, not knowing who could have followed him home.
“I will never learn to not sneak up on you huh” Sapnap’s familiar voice said, scarily calm for the situation he was in. Tommy cursed frantically, letting go of Sapnap immediately and shoving his shoulder as he rubbed his neck, even if there was nothing there (thankfully). He frantically apologized as Sapnap looked around the room, raising an eyebrow at Tommy, a knowing smile on his face that almost made him more upset.
“You jerk! I could’ve killed you” Tommy shouted, putting his knife back in his boot, not wanting to have it out when his friends were watching him carefully. He shoved at Sapnap's shoulder, still shaken up after almost stabbing his friend for what wouldn't have been the first time. As pissed as he was at him right now, he would never intentionally harm him, and they both knew it (despite the frequent threats he made to do just that).
“Sapnap?” Wilbur asked, the first of the three to speak up, the confusion still evident on their faces, all to varying degrees.
Ignoring him, Sapnap turned to Tommy, looking him over with concerned eyes “You didn’t answer when I tried to call you back and I needed to make sure you weren’t going to flee the state on me before I tried to talk some sense into you” he said, having the decency to look a little sheepish.
Knowing just how much Sapnap cares and must have worried, he didn’t even have it in him to be mad at the man anymore… for the most part.
“Well I wouldn’t have needed to if you told me they were going to be here” he grumbled, the anger barely behind his words, as Sapnap only grimaced.
“Yeah I’m sorry. I didn’t want to stress you out anymore than you already were, and I thought maybe that might be a good way to tell them”
“In the future, don’t ever decide that for me.” Tommy said, his words firm, Sapnap nodding seriously in agreement. They reached a quick understanding; something he liked about having conversations with the guy, he was easy to get worked up, but just as quick to forgive and accept his wrongs. Some part of Tommy hopes that he can be the same way eventually.
“Can someone explain what Sapnap knows?” Tubbo interrupted, causing Tommy to smirk.
“Sapnap hires me from time to time, so he knows” Tommy said, letting out a laugh when Sapnap sent him a betrayed look.
“That’s all the explanation I get? I swear I didn’t know how old he was until I met him. I’ve been trying to get him to tell you guys” Sapnap defended, Techno narrowing his eyes at Sapnap as he frantically tried to defend himself. Tommy bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing as Sapnap's face reddened.
“But when you found out he was sixteen and Tommy, you still hired him to murder people, and didn’t think to tell anyone?” Techno asked, his voice low with anger, Wilbur only sharing a glare with his brother, all the attention turning to Sapnap as he looked like he wanted to shrink into the floor.
“Back off, I probably would have never trusted someone the way I do if Sapnap didn’t help me out. I’ve tried to stab him enough times where it levels out” Tommy defended for Sapnap, sending a guilty look at Sapnap’s shoulder, where he knew a scar still was from when Sapnap had confronted him about knowing that he was Theseus.
“That sounds so unreal to hear you say” Wilbur muttered under his breath, Tubbo humming in agreement.
When the silence stretched too long, Tommy fiddled with the sleeve of his shirt before speaking “Sooo I’m not getting arrested?” he asked sheepishly, his face heating at the sharp looks everyone in the room gave him.
“Gosh no, but no more killing people” Wilbur said quickly.
“Most people” Sapnap chimed in, wheezing at the offended look that Wilbur shot his way.
“After today I’m taking a break from being Theseus” Tommy agreed easily, Sapnap raising an eyebrow at the statement, whereas Techno just sat up from his spot on the floor.
“That’s why you were so weird about me calling you Theseus? That’s your killer name or whatever?” he questioned, Tommy noticing the way that the pieces seemed to click into place in his mind.
Tommy nodded. “Yeah, I thought you found out who I was when you first called me it” he admitted, thinking back to that night, to the panic he felt about these very people finding out what he does; these very people finding out what they currently know.
“You scared the shit out of me when you called Tommy Theseus at the restaurant” Sapnap chimed in, laughing softly at the memory.
Tubbo let out a random gasp, turning fully to Tommy with wide eyes. “Wait so when you came home all bruised, did you just get home from killing someone?” he asked, getting a sharp look from all three of the adults in the room, Tommy awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck.
“Yeah” he admitted, voice quiet, looking anywhere but the three intense stares he was now getting from the three adults in the room.
“I thought you were a vigilante, man! Me and Ranboo were putting bets on if you were a vigilante or a villain” Tubbo shouted, throwing his arms in the air as Tommy doubled over in laughter.
“You thought- oh my gosh that’s amazing” he wheezed, well aware that the concerned look from the adults haven’t left. He’s in relief though, the mother henning can wait a little. He can only imagine how worked up Phil will be once he gets around to telling him as well.
“You don’t know how good it feels to finally tell you guys” Tommy admitted, his voice a bit softer than earlier, shifting his gaze to the floor as he fidgeted with the cuff of his sleeves again.
Tubbo scooted a little closer to him, so that their shoulders were touching slightly. “I’m glad you finally told us, even if it wasn’t really by your standards” Tubbo said with a laugh, though Tommy shot up at a sudden realization, causing Tubbo to yelp as he fell slightly.
“Sam probably hates me now, I almost killed his roomate right in front of him” he groaned, pressing his face into his palms as the air seemed to thicken in the room.
“I mean, he’s not super happy with you, but he was the one that told us you probably shouldn’t be left alone right now. I’m sure if anyone knows the affect the Academy has on someone, it would be him” Wilbur supplied as Tommy slumped back against his bed, Tubbo returning to his side.
“So much stuff makes sense now” Tubbo muttered, Wilbur chuckling.
“It really does” the brunette agreed.
“So” Sapnap started, drawing the attention of the room as he gestured towards the bag laying by Tommy’s feet. “Are you still planning on leaving the state and changing your name and appearance?” he questioned, giving Tommy a knowing look as he felt his cheeks heat up at the accusing looks that Wilbur, Tubbo, and Techno sent his way.
“You were going to what?!” Wilbur shouted, his pained expression hurting Tommy to look at, the guilt coming back in force.
“I thought you guys hated me, and my identity is revealed now” he admitted softly, hating that he had to admit that out loud, had to express his fears.
“Well I can assure you that we don’t hate you, and if you try and flee on us now I’ll chase after you” Tubbo laughed out, though Tommy wasn’t entirely sure if he was joking or not. He knew that he couldn't be tracked, he was trained far too well for that, but he also could never put that kind of burden on his friends; to force them into a life of searching for someone who would never be found, having to live the rest of his life avoiding such a meaningful part of what makes up his true identity.
“I don’t think I’ll be leaving now, I think I’m fine staying right here” Tommy admitted, a small smile creeping on his face, as Wilbur audibly aww’ed.
“I think that is the best decision you’ve made all day today” Techno said with a laugh, though his words were fond, a soft smile on his face.
“We’re happy that you’re going to stay Tommy, I’ll get to take you to the carnival” Wilbur said with a warm smile, Tubbo nodding in agreement next to him.
“That sounds fun” Tommy said, the warmth growing in his chest at the idea, at the smile of his friends in front of him, at the comfort he received.
Maybe something he didn’t deserve, maybe something he would never be able to pay back, but in the moment, he was going to take what he could get, and he could relish in the family that he made for himself here and could focus on getting better with people that he trusts at his side. He knew it wasn't going to be easy, after so many years of his life conditioning him to be some emotionless child soldier that couldn't have friends or family, but he was willing to work on it with the knowledge that his friends would be there by his side, actually knowing who he truly is, even if some aspects of him were dark and cold, something that he wishes he could just bury and forget about.
Maybe he doesn’t have to be Tommy [Redacted] anymore, maybe he could be someone else.
Tommy Innit
Tommy Watson
Tommy Underscore
Tommy Beloved
Tommy.