Chapter Text
Tommy wasn't a bad guy.
Of course not.
Big man was the best man you'd ever meet. Was stealing wrong? I mean, in most contexts, yeah. But he needed the food, deserved it even, and this supermarket had soooo much of it. What's the matter if he didn't pay for anything he put in his basket?
He didn't give a second thought to the security cameras on every aisle as he browsed around. Tubbo had given him a specific shopping list but Tommy couldn't be arsed to check what he was missing. Milk; cereal; Spaghetti; chocolate… and all the miscellaneous shit Tommy had already dumped into his basket.
He paid in mind not to get too carried away, he couldn't risk drawing too much attention to himself. He was already banned from five local supermarkets, and he wasn't sure how long it would take before he'd have to stop stealing all together… and send his friend Ranboo in his place.
Taking a short break from the task at hand, Tommy wandered over to the pet section, tucked in the back corner of the store. He'd always wanted a pet. He didn't think he'd cope with the responsibility of a larger animal, but a rat or a goldfish? Tommy reckoned that they couldn't be that hard to raise. Unfortunately, Tubbo had already set down the house rules years ago, and although Tommy was a little shit, he may lean on the rules but he wasn't going to break them.
No pets allowed.
Shuffling away from the goldfish tanks, he could feel the hair on the back of his neck raise. Someone was looking at him. He tried to remain as natural as possible, keeping an ear out.
"Yes, that's the kid."
"Are you sure a child that scrawny could steal over £100 in product?? Don't you have security over there?"
A customer, who sounded like he was from another supermarket he'd visited, scoffed.
"The little shit somehow figured out how to avoid the sensors!"
"Well he's not leaving here, security is waiting at the doors."
Well shit.
The easy way out was fucked? Plan B it is then. Tommy idly wandered over to the toy section, Now as I said before, Tommy wasn't a bad person. However, he was a disruptive asshat. He picked up a children's learn the animal sounds toy, looking it over briefly before putting it back and walking away as far as he could from that aisle.
That's when all hell broke loose. Honestly, it sounded what hell probably sounds like. What seemed like every toy that could make noise, set itself off at once in a cacophony of noise. Tommy had to contain his devious smirk as even the security made a beeline to the chaos, leaving the exit wide open.
He walked out of the artificial fluorescence and out into the warm sunlight, glad he made it out of there with no trouble-
"Put your hands in the air, don't make this difficult kid."
Fucking coME ON.
The police???
He'd only stolen a FEW things here and there. Maybe a few more than he really should have, but corporations like this could afford to be robbed. He wouldn't dare pinch from family businesses, but a plain old Tesco or Asda? Free fucking game.
"Woah is there someone scary around-?" Tommy faked concern as he looked around. There wasn't really anyone about. "I- Oh you're talking to me big man?"
"This is the last store you're stealing from. We can help you get into a better environment. You won't have to steal, just come with us."
HA, like Tommy was going to fall for that bullshit. You just can't trust adults.
"Sounds fake but okay," Tommy shrugged, taking a fairly unassuming step towards them, before spinning on his heels and legging it as fast as he could. The cops may have cars, but Tommy knew this neighbourhood like the back of his hand, they'd lose his trail fairly quickly and yet again the Great and Powerful Tommy would return home with his spoils of war.
He kind of regretted grabbing so many snacks, the metal basket wasn't the easiest to run with, but as soon as he had a free moment, he ducked into an alley and filled his backpack to the brim, abandoning the basket. Now, he looked less suspicious, and before long, Tommy blended into the general public. Just another average day for Tommy. He was just glad there was no hero run-ins today.
You see, L'manburg wasn't the safest city. It was well known to be host to a plethora of incredibly powerful superpowered individuals. Most people didn't have abilities, but those who did fit into a strict black and white according to the media. Heroes and villains. That was bullshit, but Tommy didn't like either party. They both caused a fuckton of damage, which in the poorer areas, never really got repaired.
Didn't seem like either party liked Tommy either. He hadn't like, sat down to have tea with them and politely discussed what his issues with them were. But seeing as they shared a city, occasionally Tommy had gotten caught close to a fight here and there. One time he'd even been briefly lectured by Phoenix - a villain with massive seemingly bulletproof wings - about a kid his age being out this late, no less. Tommy didn't kick off at this guy for treating him like a child; Phoenix is a fucking villain. As much mistrust as he had, he'd rather not become a human shish kebab by either side. The rudest contact he'd successfully got was flipping off Hellfire in passing, which earned Tommy an eye-roll.
Thank God, his journey home was uneventful. Soon he was out of what he called the danger zone, and into the outskirts of L’manburg and to his house. Tommy liked to call it "my house" and Ranboo liked to call it "our house" but in all technicalities, it was Tubbo's house. His dad paid for all the utilities and fucked off. None of them had met the guy, I mean, bar Tubbo who really didn't like talking about him, and no one wanted to meet him. If Tubbo wouldn't talk, Tommy was sure Mr dad was a wrong un, he may pay for them to have a place to live, but that didn't make him good.
"I Tomathy the glorious have returned to my subjects!" Tommy grinned, swinging the backpack off of his shoulder.
"Did you remember the spaghetti?" Tubbo rolled his eyes at Tommy from the other side of the living room. He was invested in the switch on his lap, knowing Tubbo it was probably Animal Crossing or something. Tommy fished the pack of spaghetti sticks out from the backpack, brandishing it like a sword.
"For a short time only, this premium, I repeat, PREMIUM spaghetti for the low low price of free!"
That earned a snort from Ranboo as he wandered in.
"We should really start paying for things at some point."
"Sure sure big man, with the money appearing out of thin air. Is that one of your powers now tallass?"
"We could just rob a bank," Tubbo interjected, grinning.
"Ah yes, that can't go wrong," Tommy put the backpack down and jumped onto the sofa next to Tubbo. "I can picture the news now: Human tazer apprehended, picked up by the scruff of his neck by fucking uuuuh Evergreen."
"I thought you said yesterday you could take him?"
"Oh I absolutely could! But I don't trust the media not to fuck up my pristine image."
Honestly, the fewer people that knew about his powers, the better. The three of them wouldn't say they were blessed with superpowers, but they sure had powers. And it’d be better if people weren’t taking advantage of them.
Tommy? He could mess with electrical currents, charge your phone in an instant, and even shock you if he tried. Tubbo couldn’t really wear shoes, cause his power he connected to the earth, to move the stone and earth around them. Ranboo had a less obvious power. He wouldn't show up on video or in photos, which meant security cameras never caught him. Oh, and he could also teleport.
Needless to say, the trio recognised the potential in their powers and knew to stay hush. If the wrong people found out, they'd probably be forced to terraform, do reconnaissance and-
Tommy cut that thought short. He did not want to picture what he could power. He was perfectly happy keeping this to themselves.
"You up for spaghetti tonight?"
Tommy pulled a face.
"Again? Nah I'm alright, I grabbed a tin of beans when I was out so I'll heat that up later."
"Your loss Tommy," Ranboo shrugged.
It was another week or so till Tommy had to go grab more food. The day was almost going too well. The bus wasn't late for once, the weather was perfect, and Tommy was on track to rob a grocery further off than he usually went. He couldn't be a regular at any store, so this place was next on the rotation. All the people on the bus kept comfortably to themselves, everyone on this commute just wanted to get to the destination on time. There wasn’t even that much traffic.
And then something had to fuck up.
This was the risk of travelling further out to provide for his friends; the heroes were more active here. And Jubilee and Hellfire's fight was in full swing. Fuckng hell. Tommy could feel everyone's fingers crossed as we drove closer and closer to the chaos, they all had places to be.
And then Hellfire decided to have shitty ass aim and hit the bus with his blast. To his credit, it wasn't his fault Jubilee was so good at dodging, but weren't heroes meant to protect civilians, not melt them alive? Tommy’s luck too; he was on the side of the bus that got hit. It didn’t take long for the heat to spread inside, Tommy muttering under his breath as he leapt away from the danger zone.
Everyone jumped away from the side of the bus that got hit, afraid to get burnt. And then someone tried the door. Stuck. Panic started to arise. People started to hit on the windows, having not found the emergency escape in the five seconds they looked around before they decided to go apeshit.
Tommy just calmly walked to the door and being careful not to burn himself, touched the door. He wasn’t sure exactly what he was looking for, he could feel the electrical currents. The first thing he did didn't work, but with a little concentration the door slid open.
"SINGLE FILE, CALMLY, EVERYONE GET THE FUCK OUT!" Tommy called out, before hopping out of the doors and aside so he wouldn't get run over by everyone exiting. In a matter of a minute everyone was out and making a safe distance away. Tommy was taking his time. He was now having a shit day and he was not going to put the effort in to run when in all likelihood he wouldn't get his while the boys were fighting.
Tommy was a little surprised when the noise of the pair clashing fizzled off fairly quickly. Good, that meant they were doing less damage. He didn't care to look back and check, he was just glad they had shut the fuck up.
Hellfire howled in frustration. Sounded like Jubilee had managed to slip away. Everyone had cleared out the area by now. Everyone but Tommy, who was still clueless to what was about to happen behind him.
Two things happened.
One; Hellfire had basically a tantrum in losing Jubilee, sending a huge wave of fire around him before leaving. A wave that happened to head straight towards Tommy.
Two; his body moved without him thinking, like a puppet. He jerked toward a nearby alleyway.
But he wasn't quick enough.
And the wave of fire hit him.