Chapter Text
Tommy would say he had a pretty average life. He worked full time at some bakery and coffee shop. When he wasn’t working he was busy hanging out with his roommate. He was a cool freelance android mechanic named Tubbo.
Tommy didn’t know much about where Tubbo came from, but then again, Tubbo didn’t know much about him. Backstories and sad childhoods were off the table between the two. No matter where the two came from, they were lucky to find each other. They fit like glue and got along perfectly. Well, almost perfectly.
Tubbo’s always had this thing with androids. If one needed help, he helped them. If one was broken or hurt, he’d fix them. And that might come from being a freelance android mechanic for the past 6 months, but it never fails to piss Tommy off.
It’s not that he hated androids, even though he kinda does, it was more of the fact that Tubbo put so much time and effort into fixing wannabe human scraps of metal even when he wasn’t getting paid. He tries not to let it get to him too much. Who cares what his best friend does in his free time when he could be watching Netflix with him.
And that’s where we are now, Tubbo in his bedroom working on some home application, whatever android and Tommy on the couch, rewatching the same kid’s show for the fifth time. After about 40 minutes, Tubbo walks out and goes for his coat. Tommy rolls over on the couch and looks at the other, “where’re you going?”
Tubbo is busy zipping up his jacket as he answers, not even sparing Tommy a glance. “I have to go to the hardware store. Need some new parts. The internal-” and Tommy’s tuning him out. He doesn’t care about all this machinery bullshit, that’s Tubbo’s thing. Tubbo’s insanely smart when it comes to anything mechanical. Hell, he could probably build a nuke if he wanted. Tubbo with nukes… It’s a terrifying thought, but maybe in another life.
Tommy is already getting up and going for his coat before Tubbo has time to question it or tell him to stay home. Tommy may hate androids, but he’ll take any excuse to get out of the house and hang out with Tubbo. Tubbo sighs and grabs his keys when he sees his roommate getting up and once they're both outside the apartment he locks the doors. “No complaining, big man,” Tubbo says, to which Tommy scoffs in mock offense. “I never complain about anything. I can handle a fucking shopping trip, prick.” Tubbo smiles and shakes his head, “Whatever you say.”
*****
The line in the hardware store was short so they managed to get the parts Tubbo needed quickly. Practically in and out and they would’ve been home before dark if it weren’t for Tommy wanting to take the back alleys through downtown. A ‘shortcut’ as he called it. Yeah, a shortcut to getting mugged or killed. It wasn’t so bad, Tubbo supposes. They haven’t even gotten held at gunpoint yet! So it was practically a win all around.
Tommy was absently talking while Tubbo got lost in his thoughts. He was only knocked out of his thoughts when he heard yelling and banging. Tommy apparently heard it too, because the younger was silent and looking in the direction of the sounds. Tommy was already walking in the direction when Tubbo grabbed his arm. “Wait- We don’t know what’s going on. We could end up getting hurt or worse-” Tommy was shaking his head. “Someone else is getting hurt!” He whisper-yelled as he pulled his arm away from tubbo and started walking in the direction again.
Tubbo sighs in defeat and follows his friends. It only took a couple minutes to find the alley the noise came from and by the time they got there, the assaulters were gone and the assaulted was pulling himself up on a trashcan. He looked tall, maybe 6 and half feet? Maybe more? It was hard to tell when he was partially slumped against a dumpster. With his back turned to the two teens it was hard to get a good look on him, but one thing was certain. He definitely needed a doctor.
At least that’s what they thought when they first got a look at him, his hand over a bleeding wound in his upper- left abdomen. As Tommy was inching forwards he saw not red- but blue. Blue blood spilling and staining the man- the android’s clothes, the dumpster, and the floor of the alley.
He must’ve heard the other two approaching because he turned around and put a hand up. The android spoke, “wait, I’m not a danger. I’m just trying to be on my way. I’m already hurt, please just leave me alone.” His voice was low, but still sounded young. It was strangely emotive for an android. Every android Tommy had met was all monotone or stoic, unless they were programmed not to be. Never scared though. Even though he couldn’t see the android’s face because of his shitty glasses and mask, he can tell his face is scared too.
Tommy’s cut out of his thoughts by Tubbo walking closer and speaking up, “we’re not gonna hurt you. Are you ok? I’m an android mechanic. I can help you get fixed up, if you want.” Tommy gawked at him but quickly shaked his head and started, “fuck no! I know you like fixing androids or whatever, but we don’t even know who this asshole belongs too! For all we know, he could be programmed to kill teenagers dumb enough to pick him up off the street!”
Tubbo looks at him with a face that’s somewhere between irritation and unimpress. The older teen turns back to the android and holds out his hand. “Ignore my friend. I promise you’d be safe until we get you fixed up and back to your owner, alright?”
The tall android looks between the two boys and slowly shuffles closer to the shorter of the two. “What’s your name, big man?” The one with the green coat asks with a kind smile. The one with the red hoodie huffed and pouted as they started walking into the dark alleys, unknown of the security cameras, catching the whole thing.
“Ranboo.”