Chapter Text
Tommy never really had a home. Of course, he had a place to eat and rest, but that didn't mean much. Tubbo and Tommy were usually on the run constantly, vigilante status immediately placing a bounty on the blonde's head.
Tommy had to hide often, scarred arms and legs hidden underneath baggy hoodies and sweats.
So when he finally found somewhere he felt safe, with the three heroes he loved and looked up to the most, he was terrified. Tommy laid in the scarily familiar, warm bed, Willow's head resting ontop of folded arms, set on Tommy's leg. He stared at the ceiling, eyes heavy with exhaustion.
The window next to him let moonlight stream through. He turned his head and examined the skyline, tips of buildings hidden by the windowsill. There was no way he could jump out and survive.
Tommy carefully pushed Wilbur off, peeling the heavy comforter off and stretching. He glanced back at Wilbur, flinching when he stirred and opened his eyes.
"Tommy?" he asked quietly, voice low from just waking up.
"Hungry. I'll be back."
"Okay." Wilbur yawned, setting his head back down.
Tommy hesitated, draping a blanket around the hero and slipping out of the room. Shutting the door behind him, he shuffled into the hallway, careful to keep his steps light and as quiet as he could.
Using his hand to guide him down the dark hallway, he yelped as he accidentally pushed a door open and fell to the ground.
"Ow," he muttered. A shadow loomed over him suddenly, Techno's face dominating his vision.
"Hey, Toms."
"Hi, Technoblade." Tommy sat up, rubbing the back of his head. Techno offered a hand to help him up.
"You good?"
"Fine."
"Okay. Goodnight." Techno nudges him out of the doorway with his foot, ruffling his hair before shutting the door again. Tommy almost melts against the door, though soon gets up and cautiously resumes navigating the hallway. He sees faint light at the end of the hallway, wide sliding windows leading to an open balcony that Tommy often saw Phil perched ontop of.
He rests his head against the cool glass, moving away from the window and spotting his hoodie - patched up and clean - resting on the arm of the sofa. The vigilante pulls the hoodie over his head, thankful for the familiarity of something other than the heroes penthouse present.
He freezes when he hears someone land on the balcony, knowing it was one person only. Phil stares back at him through the now-open window, tilting his head slightly, illuminated by the bright moon still rising behind him.
"Hey," Tommy manages, retreating back into his hoodie unconsciously.
"Hey, kiddo. It's like, 11pm."
"Yeah. Um." He hesitates, pulling the hoodie tighter around his body. "I want to go home."
"Home?"
"I- It's been a pleasure being here and.. stuff, but.. I miss Tubbo. I miss my - our," he corrects himself, "ragtag apartment. As nice as it is here, he's.." he trails off.
"All you know?"
"Yeah." Tommy avoids looking at Phil, guilt pooling in his stomach. He hears the man adjust on the railing, impossibly balanced.
"Okay." Philza spread his wings, holding a hand out to Tommy. The boy stared at it, hesitantly taking it and freezing when he was pressed to Phil's warm chest.
And then Tommy remembers the fire, the way Phil looked down at him, held him tight to his chest as if he were his own, bathed in light like he imagined an angel would be. It's too much.
Tommy slips out of Phil's grasp, backing up and frantically wiping away tears. It didn't work. He coughs, falling to the ground hunched over his knees as his lungs began to burn.
"Hey, hey, kid, what-" The hero kneels next to the boy, expression morphed in clear concern.
"I'm sorry," he whispers after his coughing died down, rubbing at his eyes only to sob even harder. Phil pulls the boy into a hug, strong arms wrapping around a shaking body. Tommy gently pushes at Phil's chest after a minute, cheeks stained with tears. The man pulled back, hands moving to cup Tommy's face.
"Hey, Toms. It's okay." Phil gently wiped at his cheek with his thumb. Tommy leaned into the touch, too exhausted to fight his body. "It's okay," he repeats.
"Please just take me home."
"Okay. Where do you live?"
Tommy gives him his address, standing with the help of Philza. The winged hero lifted Tommy and held him from the back of his knees and wrapping his arm around his chest. Tommy clung to Phil's neck, resting his head on the man's chest. His breathing slowed and his grasp seemed to weaken, hand sliding down to the hem of Phil's shirt.
Phil glanced back at the living room, spotting Techno spectating. Glowing pink met blue and a spark of understanding seemed to hit both of them. The Blade stepped out and gently touched Tommy's arm.
"Be back soon," Phil whispered. "Keep Wil asleep until I get back."
"Okay. Bye, Dad."
Phil pushed off of the balcony, gliding effortlessly through the air.
After a few minutes, he landed on a fire escape railing, wincing when he felt the metal beneath shift.
That.. can't be safe.
Phil kicks at the window with his foot, hard enough to make noise but soft enough to not shatter the window.
A brunette lifted his head, mouth shaping an o when he spotted the hero and Tommy. Tubbo got up quickly, pulling the window open and gaping at Philza.
"Hey, mate," he said quietly. He folded his wings tight against his back, sliding through the window with Tommy still in tow.
"Uh - just.. set him on the sofa, please."
Phil nodded, setting Tommy down on the small sofa. The boy frowned in his sleep, mumbling something along the lines of "Wilby" while weakly gripping Phil's sweatpants. He sighed, brushing a strand of hair out of Tommy's eyes.
The boy let go, satisfied with the encounter and snuggling into his hoodie.
A tall teenager poked his head out of a room, screwdriver in hand. "Oh, my god," he mumbled. Phil did a half-assed two finger salute towards the teen.
"That's Ranboo. Let's talk somewhere else. He needs to rest."
The three stepped into the apartment complex's hallway.
"Okay, first, holy fucking shit." The brunette ran a hand through his hair with a short laugh. The taller teen placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, hidden with a black glove. "I - What the fuck, okay. Give me a minute."
"Okay. I do need to get home soon, though."
Tubbo nodded, dragging a hand down his face. "Can I ask why you had my best friend clinging to your shirt?"
"Wanted to go home."
"Home," Tubbo repeated. "And not like he couldn't have done that a fuckin week ago."
"No, he genuinely couldn't. Wilb- Willow," he quickly fixed, "literally wouldn't let him go."
Tubbo froze.
The taller teenager took over. "Willow? As in..."
"That Willow."
"I think if I listen to this any longer I'll have a breakdown." Tubbo laughed shortly again, shaking his head. "'boo, please, tell me what the fuck is going on after Philza leaves. I'm going to finish fixing my computer."
"Okay," 'Boo' said. He crossed his arms and watched the door shut.
"Okay. Um. Your next question would be why Willow wouldn't let him go." Phil sighed. "Y'know the whole Tommy getting sick thing?"
"Yeah." Ranboo scowls. "All too well."
"Kid kinda.. ran into Willow? Who wanted to kill him for a solid non-consecutive 27 hours?" He sighed. "Well, no, apparently he ran into a tree first. Anyway, he kinda... Kidnapped is a crude word but its what fits best. Willow fuckin' kidnapped him and took him up to our penthouse to let him rest."
"That doesn't seem too legal." The teen completely disregarded the fact that Willow wanted to kill Tommy.
"Willow's a law-breaking dumbass. He's too stubborn about whats right and whats wrong, no matter if it breaks the law. He has a good heart, though." Phil smiled softly, shifting his weight. "Unimportant. Either way, both Blade and Willow got attached fast. He's.. endearing, in a really odd way."
"And then he came home, got thrown out a window by Tubbo. Yeah."
"Right. Willow tried getting him again maybe a few days later, chased him and caught him after the dumbass almost fucking died jumping off a building and missing another building, manipulated some poor McDonald's worker, and got kidnapped for the second time by Willow. In that order"
Ranboo blinked at Philza. "I.. Yeah." He sighs. "Tommy would do that."
Philza nodded, pain rippling across his face for a brief moment, though quickly softening. "Kid's a fucking gremlin and I love him to death. Did you know he melts if you play with his hair?"
"No," Ranboo laughs. "Interesting."
"It is!" he smiles. He glances at the clock down the hallway, cursing. "Shit. I need to get home or Willow's gonna kill Blade." Boo opens the door and steps out of the way, letting Phil hurry into the apartment.
He pulls the window open, climbing through the window and waving to Ranboo. "I'm sure I'll see you soon. Send Tubbo my regards."
"Yeah. Bye, Philza."
"Call me Phil," he called back, shutting the window and pushing off the fire escape.