Work Text:
Blurry.
Tommy’s vision is so blurry, muddy, warped colors swim and for a second he wants to close his eyes. He wants to close his eyes and pretend the weird colors aren’t hurting his head.
Faintly he reminds himself. He needs to stay awake.
Just keep your eyes open.
So he stares at the colors that remind him of fish. He blinks once, and suddenly his vision is filled with vibrant, green leaves on oak trees; there’s colorful flowers all around in the tall grass, and he wonders if he was always standing before he fell asleep.
Feeling dazed, he breathes in to try and focus, he feels his chest move, but no air flows into his lungs. How.. the heck is he alive if he can’t breathe?
“Hello?” A warm voice speaks from behind him.
Turning around, he stares at a man who’s wearing a green, and white bucket hat. Who wears a green robe during the day? Isn’t it the middle of summer?
Tommy doesn’t respond but after a few seconds of silence, he decides- why not talk?
“Hi.” Alright- He could’ve put more effort but why does the man have to stand in front of the sun? It’s like the man wants him to blind himself.
“Are.. you okay mate?” Blinking, he hears what the man says but he just can’t focus. “Uh.. Well if you count my- er- vision being all weird and thing’s far too fucking bright, then yeah- I’m perfectly okay.”
The man frowns, eyes an unnatural bright green- not like Tommy notices- then holds out a hand. “Do you want me to help? It’s dangerous here at night.”
Recalling when the teachers would say- “Stranger danger! It’s dangerous to go to a stranger’s house.”- when he was younger.
He stares at the unthreatening hand.
And he grabs it.
________
He barely remembers that day, he remembers a lot of confusion and a very warm feeling in his chest when he remembers the color of green, yellow, and pink.
He wonders if they’re real, if he could meet them someday, remember their voices; their personalities; and their favorite foods or something. Opening his eyes to his ceiling, he internally laughs.
Yeah right, they’re not real.
Whoever they are.. Or could be.
_______
He.. wakes up?
He looks up to a bright blue sky and familiar green trees.
Ah right, his dream world.
“Innit? Hey!” Tommy turns his head at the sound of his nickname.
“Oh- Soot, hello!” He waves his hand to Soot.
Soot smiles, and points his thumb back. “Dadza and Blade are at the house, want to go?”
“Duh, Big S, what else am I gonna do? Fishing?”
“Innit, you know it’s Big W.”
“Yeah, I just wanted to call you Big S, Big S.”
“Shut up Theseus.” “Hey! I'll hit you with my sticks Soot!”