Chapter Text
The air is cool, gently flowing through the air. It provides a nice change from the hot summer days, temperatures almost reaching unbearable. The sun had just set, disappearing behind the buildings that made up the city of L'manburg. Cars were lined in the streets, some parked, some not. People getting home from work or going out for the night. The beeping of those cars fill Tommy's ear as he jumps from rooftop to rooftop.
To those visiting, it might just be the most beautiful place you’ve ever seen. But to people who have lived there a while, they knew the truth of the “beautiful” city. Tommy had lived here a majority of his life and he can tell you, L’manburg definitely had its faults.
“ Oi, dickheads!”, he snarls, “can we wrap this up? I gotta get back home.” Jubilee laughs, “Then stop chasing us. There, problem solved.” The rest of SBI laughs with him as Tommy fires as Jubilee, just grazing his arm, stopping the laughter in its tracks.
Jubilee hisses, stumbling from the administered shock. He stutters out a word, S-stop Tommy slows but doesn’t stop advancing to the stationary villains. I said stop!
Tommy's legs give out, catching himself hard on his shoulder. He groans, glancing up at the three villains in front of him. He just couldn't understand why they wouldn't just let him arrest them. They didn’t have to make this harder than it needed to be.
Tubbo would be waiting for him, probably pacing around their apartment wondering where he was. Ranboo was probably there too, trying to reason with him that Tommy was safe, just a little late.
He props himself on his elbows, keeping an eye on SBI who were whispering above him. He slowly moves his legs, Jubilee’s command slowly wearing off. Kali finally looks his way, eyes widening in realization at Tommy getting up.
Tommy quickly blasts himself backward, Ichor grabbing at where his head would have been. He took a couple of wobbly steps back, almost tripping over the edge of the building. He yelps, swinging his arms to catch his balance.
SBI quickly surrounds him, "Well, Sparky you put up a really good fight but as usual, you won't win," Jubilee mocks. Tommy huffs, "It's Nightbolt, actually and as if. Come on gentlemen let's just call it a night, huh?” Ichor stares at him, Tommy not being able to look away, red eyes bearing into his.
He’s finally pulled out of the stare when he feels blood running out of his nose. He gently touches his fingers to his nose and Jubilee can swear he saw a flicker of fear inside Sparky’s eyes before it was replaced with his usual angered gaze.
Shooting out a hand towards Kali, lightning whip flying out from his fingertips, wrapping around his leg. Quickly, Tommy pulled Kali towards him, taking him off his feet. Tommy snaps the power suppressing cuffs on him, grabbing the chain and dragging his hands above his head, hands curled in fists, resting on the back of his head.
Tommy had some height on Kali which he was grateful for. Kali struggled but Tommy sent a small volt through the cuffs, in turn, zapping him. He falls to his knees, Tommy still holding his hands.
He looks at Jubilee and Ichor, both sending him looks that could kill. “Look, fellas. It’s been fun, really but I think I’m gonna wrap this up.” Ichor steps forward but Jubilee stops him, “You really think you’re just gonna walk away, with Phil?”
If Tommy could define pure regret, it would be Jubilee’s, realizing what he said, slapping a hand over his mouth. Tommy chuckles, “Nice one.” The blood from his nose starts to come out a little harder than it had been.
Tommy rolls his eyes, “Can you like, not?” Ichor shakes his head, still staring at Tommy. Tommy had refused to make eye contact, knowing what might happen. He looks down at Kali, or Phil, for a split second, which in hindsight was stupid on his part.
Tommy can barely look up before a body is slammed into his, sending him over the edge of the building. He screams initially but quickly recovers, stopping himself before he hits the ground.
He sat for a minute, catching his breath.
What the fuck?!
They just threw him off a building!
It wasn’t the first time but it still scares the shit out of him. He looks up, Ichor looking down at him, eyes glowing a dangerous red. “Stay down if you know what’s good for you.”
That angered Tommy. He got up, produced two whips, and blasted himself back onto the roof, above Ichor. He’s ready to strike him and regain the control he had.
Don’t use your power
Tommy stays in the air for a second and in that second he attempts to use his power but just a small spark came out. He just stares at his hands as he felt himself fall again, “Shit!” He quickly attempts to grab the building, fingers tip just brushing the concrete.
A hand grabs his wrist, lifting him in the air. He kicks at the villain, he would rather take his luck with the fall than get captured. Ichor just moves his hand to Tommy’s throat, holding him above the alley. Tommy grabs Ichor’s wrist, gasping. It didn’t stop him from kicking at him though, only stopping when Jubille walked their way.
Stop struggling
“P-pricks” Ichor just shakes his head, turning back towards Phil, “You’re call, what do we do with him?” Tommy watches blood drip from his nose, down onto the fire escape below him.
How much would it hurt to just fall?
He starts swinging, linking his ankles; he swings up and kicks Ichor in his elbow. Ichor hisses, releasing him. Still limp, Tommy falls and reaches out for the fire escape.
Miss the bar
Tommy watches in horror as his fingers graze the bar, the metal cool under his fingers. He continues falling, testing out his powers, he exhales in relief at the electricity flicking through his fingers. He catches himself, stumbling to the ground, rubbing his throat.
He feels his ear buzzing, Tubbo most likely. Tommy can’t find it in himself to answer, Tubbo didn’t need to know that he was injured in an alley. A loud bang brings him to quickly get up, jumping across the street, running across the rooftops.
He didn’t need to know who was behind him. He could faintly hear SBI arguing with each other. “Go away! Go bother someone else, assholes!”
They laughed. He hears the whoosh of Kali’s wings and Ichor’s surprised yell.
He briefly looks up to see the duo right above him. Ichor drops in front of him, Jubilee behind him and Kali above him. He hits his back on a wall, panic finally setting in.
What the hell do they want?
Are they going to kill him? Capture him?
Why are they just standing-
“Hey, fellas. Nice night, huh?” Kali nods, “Yea, nice breeze.” Tommy kept his powers flickering in his hand, just in case one of them got too close.
Ichor stares at him, ears flicking back and forth. Tommy shakes his head, the last thing he needed was to have his fears make themselves present.
Jubilee seems to notice Tommy intentionally avoiding Ichor’s gaze. He takes a step forward, Tommy immediately turning to him, “Nope, stay back, prick.” He doesn’t stop, still taking steps towards Tommy.
“Get any closer and I’ll fry you.” Jubilee stops then, just a few feet from him. Tommy ignores the other two, Jubilee is too close. He should blast him but he can’t, he doesn’t know why.
That's a lie, he does know why. He’s in a flashback, well partially. He knows SBI are there but all he’s seeing is Quackity. Quackity who . . . Tommy shakes his head, tears pricking his eyes. He needs to pull it together, Jubilee is in front of him, not Quackity. Before he can blast him, Jubilee has him on the ground, hands behind his back.
Tommy panics, struggling to rip his hands away from Jubilee. He doesn’t falter, just tightening his grip with one hand and catching something with the other. The sound of metal knocking together sends Tommy into a further panic.
“Stop! Don’t put those on, please.” Jubilee ignores him, probably looking up at Ichor cause Ichor bends down, grabbing his head, holding it down. He gets in his face, Tommy closing his eyes. “Open them.” “No, fuck off.” Ichor huffs, “We’ll make you, just do it.”
Tommy still doesn’t open his eyes, still trying to get his hands free from Jubilee. He hears the click of the cuffs and feels his powers suppress. He holds back a whimper.
Ichor tightens his grip on Tommy’s hair, “Open your eyes before we make you.” “No! Get off me! Jubilee leans down to his ear, Open them
Tommy just squeezed his eyes harder, “Just go away, dicks.” Jubilee kept trying, Tommy just trying to tire him out and hopefully give up. Well, that didn’t work. Tommy slowly opens his eyes, finally giving in. Ichor holds his head down as he stares, feeling like it was into Tommy’s soul. He cocks his head, looking very focused.
Tommy felt his heart rate pick up, memories he tried so hard to bury away coming back to him on flashes.
You worthless piece of shit!
Just kill him!
You’ll be lucky if you survive this fight
Noo!!!
Ichor pulls back, face emotionless as ever. Tommy is breathing heavily, no longer trying to stop his tears. Jubilee stands up too, walking with Ichor back to Kali who Tommy honestly forgot was there.
He just curled himself in a ball, ignoring the departing villians. He eventually sits up, not being able to do anything. His hands were still cuffed behind his back.
He couldn’t call Tubbo, no not him. Who could he call? He taps his earpiece with his shoulder three times, “Sam?”
“Tommy!” Sam comes onto the roof, frantic and breathing heavily. Tommy just wants to sob at the sight of Sam. Sam quickly comes to him, uncuffing him.
Tommy immediately throws himself in Sam’s arms, sobbing. He was 15 again, just escaped from “that place.” He was 16 again, clinging to Sam in the waiting room of the hospital.
“Can I take you home?” Tommy shakes his head, “Tubbo can’t know this happened. Not yet.” Sam nods, “Call me when you get home, ok? Be safe.”
Tommy does let Sam clean him up before he goes, making sure that he was ok for when he went back home.
Tommy says goodbye, heading home. He walks through the door, face free of tears and blood. His shoulder was still sore but he could play that off. Tubbo immediately starts asking him questions.
Tommy sighs, “I got caught up with some villains, but nothing I can’t handle.” “Well, whose blood is that?” Tommy looks down at his shirt, a faint stain of blood on it. Shit, that was his blood.
“My nose started bleeding, didn’t realize it until it dripped on my shirt.” Tubbo nods, seeming satisfied with the answer. Tommy lets out an internal sigh of relief.
Ranboo appears in the hallway looks Tommy in the eye and asks, "All good?"
Tommy's smile falters before it comes back up, almost fake. "Everything's good Boob boy. Make dinner? Better not be spaghetti again." Ranboo rubs the back of their neck turning away as Tubbo starts laughing.
Tommy groans when pots of plain noodles and sauce make their way to the table. He ruffles Ranboo's hair joking that maybe he'll start calling them Noodle Boy.
Tommy wishes that this moment could last. Him, Tubbo, and Ranboo just chatted away like there weren't three villains outside their door ready to kill him. Like there wasn't a fight that caused Tommy to almost lose
Tubbo.
If Tommy had the power to freeze time . . .
he would. . .