Chapter Text
Robots and AI, really any big technological advancements, had become a true reality years before Tommy was ever born. With robots, he would see ones that could clean and others that monitored streets and stores. They were typical, something that anybody could find or get a hold of at this point. Hell, some people had jobs where they practically upload their consciousness into the online world, and then return for dinner without ever having to leave their apartment. It was truly amazing. Like most good things though, it had a dark side to it too, as he would soon find out.
It was when he was making his way home from his best friend's house, a walk that he’d taken many times, through many different routes, that it happened. He’d left as the sun was starting to dip over the horizon of buildings, maybe if he’d just chosen to take the long way, the one that didn’t cut through the worst parts of the neighborhood and dingy alleyways, he’d have been fine. But he promised he’d be home before dark that night, and it was already getting hard to see. He wished he’d have just taken the way lit by street lights and in the view of any house that had its lights on, better be home late than never, right? Hindsight however, will always be 2020, and this was not an outcome he could have seen.
Tommy had noticed something amiss when he felt the hairs on his neck stand on end. Quickly he had glanced around, figuring one of the more vicious dogs from the neighborhood had gotten out of its yard. It wouldn’t have been the first time he had to run from one of them. When he glanced around however, it wasn’t a dog that his eyes latched onto, not even a person who looked like they’d be prepared to mug him. No, what he saw was a car, with a dark and pristine paint job and tinted windows. It was far too nice to be in these parts, and he was half certain tinted windows were illegal out here. He bristled when he caught sight of it, but figured he’d pay it no mind and instead turned to cut down a different alley. When he looked up from the cracked and trash littered pavement however, he watched as it slowly pulled around the corner.
He could feel his heartbeat raise in his chest, had someone figured out who he was? Sure, his father and older brothers did everything they could to keep his existence secret from the general public since the day he was adopted, but it wasn’t that hard to hack into a school's files and find him through his last name. Especially one with as low grade online security as where he went. It wasn’t that they lacked the money to send him somewhere ‘better’, they had just figured it would be easier to throw anyone with bad intentions off the trail far better than any high end could. Plus, it was where he’d gotten to meet two of his closest friends.
‘Okay,’ He thought to himself, ‘I can get out of this. I know this place like the back of my hand!’
With a new confidence, he steeled himself, then turned on his heel and bolted back the way he’d come. He could throw them off, and weave through to one of the houses that he knew would let him in. From there, he could call up his dad or one of his brothers to come pick him up, and he’d be fine! A grin spread across his face as he dashed through the alleys and cut through backyards, it was almost fun . A bit of a thrill never hurt anybody, and he was confident in his ability to get out of the situation he’s found himself in.
Then he stuttered to a halt, the car had pulled up to a stop at the end of the alley he was in, ‘That’s fine. I’ll just double back.’ He turned on his heel once again, and felt his breath catch in his throat, ‘Shit!’ At the other end of the alleyway, an identical car was parked. ‘Okay, I just need to find another exit.’ His eyes flicked around the alley, and landed on a fire escape to the side of one of the buildings, ‘Jackpot.’ The ladder wasn’t down, but he was tall enough that he could jump and grab hold, and secretly, he thanked the shitty gym class he was in for making him learn to climb.
He dashed over to where the metal hung the lowest and launched himself up, grabbing hold of the lowest ladder rung and began to climb.He didn’t manage to get far, maybe two or three more rungs, before he felt a hand wrap around his ankle and pull. He hung as tightly as he could to the metal, and started kicking his free foot, feeling it connect multiple times with what he hoped was someone's face. He braved a look down and felt his gut churn, more people were approaching from around, and it was too dark to see their faces.
‘Okay, new tactic.’ He took a breath in, and tread to keep his voice from weavering as he spoke, “Fellas, come on now! I’m sure there's plenty of other things for you all to be doing, I mean, I’ve got places to be and I’m sure you do too. If it’s a ransom you want or some shit, I’m really not worth much. And if it’s just general kidnapping, let me tell you, I have a shit personality and I would hate to be someone who gets stuck with me, especially when I’m bored.” He wasn’t graced with an answer, and instead felt his hands slip from the bars as he was pulled down from the ladder, ‘Curse you, sweaty palms.’
He collapsed to the harsh concrete ground and his head knocked against the side of the building beside him. His head pounded and his thoughts became muddled, the world felt like it was spinning and he couldn’t do shit to stop it. The last thing that he was aware of was his phone buzzing in his back pocket and the feeling of being picked up before the world went dark.
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Phil could feel panic bubbling up each time a call rang through. When his youngest was a bit late getting home, he hadn't thought much of it, and simply shot the boy a quick text to be sure he would be getting home soon. He waited a few more minutes, and then tried again, and after the third time he tried calling instead. He decided to call Tubbo’s family, perhaps the boys had just lost track of time, or Tommy had simply left his phone there on accident. They told him that his son had left nearly half an hour ago, and that his phone was nowhere to be found in their house.
It did nothing to calm the man's nerves, if it was true that Tommy had left half an hour ago, he should have been home by now, even if he took one of the longer routes. Phil attempted to call his son again, this time searching around the house to see if the boys phone was left there somewhere. Once again he came up short, and there was still no answer. It was only when his other two sons returned from late college classes that he felt the cold fear really start rippling in his chest.
It was already 9:00 PM when they came through the door, and already the twins could tell that something was off, usually dinner would be done at least half an hour earlier and they’d either hear their younger brother shouting from his room as he played video games, or find him sitting at the table with their dad working on whatever homework he hadn’t completed while hanging out with his friends. The house was eerily silent, and when they stepped into the room they could see their dad's head snap up from the kitchen table, looking almost relieved before his face fell almost instantaneously.
“Oh, you’re back already?” He sounded almost disappointed at the fact that they’d gotten home.
“We’re back when we usually are, dad.” Wilbur spoke up, then changed his tone to something more light and jokey. “Don’t tell me you didn’t miss us, we’ve been gone all day. Truly, you wound me dear father.”
Phil took a sharp inhale, “It’s not that, of course I missed you two, it's just…” He trailed off and his eyes traveled up to the clock, “ Christ, It’s already been three hours.” he has a far off, and almost forlorn look. The twins share a glance, and feel a cold deep dread fall over them, questions upon questions piling up in their minds, finally Techno took full notice of the quiet and how out of place it was.
“Dad…” The younger twin started, voice edging on a nervous seriousness, “Where's Tommy..?”
The two watched as their fathers expression seemed to break, and he buried his face in his hands, “I don’t know. He was supposed to be home hours ago, I tried calling and he didn’t pick up. I called Tubbo’s house, and he had already left, his phone wasn’t there either, and I searched around the entire house so I know he didn’t leave it here either.”
Wilbur tossed his bag on the floor then ran back over to the door, tugging on his shoes. “Let’s go look for him then!” He grabs the key’s off the counter and ushers for his dad to stand.
Phil only shakes his head, “No,” he looks to Wilbur and Techno, “you two go. I’ll stay here and contact the anchorites, see if maybe he got into some sort of trouble. And if not, and if you can’t find him, I’ll file a missing report. Remember to keep tabs on any news involving us as well, see if anything that might have some sort of correlation to him comes up.”
They nodded, they knew that their family was somewhat well renowned in the city they lived in, which was saying a lot for just how big it was. But creating software that could double as both a game and training simulator for self defense would do that for someone. It was an endeavor that their father had taken up long before any of them were adopted into the household, it had gotten popular well beyond what the man had expected, and what was once a small Dev team turned into a large glass windowed building in the section of the city that was always lit up. It wouldn't be the first time that one of them had gotten held for some sort of ransom, and the twins both shuddered at the memory. They all agreed to do everything they could to make sure Tommy stayed far out of the spotlight since they first started fostering him, just so the kid could avoid such a traumatic event.
The two nodded at their father and stalked out of the house with a newfound vigor, and hopped into their car. Wilbur turned the key in the ignition and they set off down the street towards Tubbo’s neighborhood. They drove up and down the streets for hours, looking for any sign of their little brother, but to no avail.
The family searched for days and days, any possible leads coming up short. The days turned into weeks and they began to feel grief start to overtake every moment of their waking lives. Eventually they abandoned their initial want to keep the situation one down low, and took it to the public, talking about how the youngest of their family had disappeared, and soon city screens were plastered with the face of the missing boy asking for anyone with any sort of information to come forward.
They could only pray it would help to bring their youngest home.