Chapter Text
Tommy stood high in the sky, wind buffeting his thin frame, providing sensory input he hadn’t felt in forever. With the stars above and below him, it felt like an embrace, sheltering him from the fearful things that lay down below on the ground. Slowly, his feet shuffled in a slow circle around the top of his pillar. If he had more energy he would dance, twisting and twirling around, blessing the sky with his talent. Tommy didn’t have much energy for anything anymore.
He looked down, details on the ground mere specks in his vision. He was high up- perfect for what he planned to do. It was time. He was done waiting, done being afraid, he was terrified, he was finally going to take control. Filling his lungs with the clear night air, he spun once on his heel, a final goodbye to the sky, and fell.
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Phil was a simple man. He would love nothing more than to settle down in a cottage in the middle of nowhere with the people closest to him and live out his infinite days in peace. Fate decided to say ‘fuck that’ and curse him with chaos at every turn. His son turned mad, and murdered. His life partner struggled with hallucinations that plagued every waking day. And the boy that he should have cared for more, falling from a tower that was far too high up in the air.
“Tommy!” A strangled shriek ripped out of his throat, more bird than man. His tattered and useless wings extended on either side of him, unable to do anything but rustle in the wind. Adrenaline and terror coursed through him, agony stabbing his heart. He was unable to do anything but watch.
Tommy was flying. The breeze cradled him like a cold embrace, and for a moment, it was peaceful. When the shriek cut through the air, Tommy’s eyes shot open, limbs flailing as if suddenly realizing that he was falling to his death.
He managed to twist around so he faced the earth that was rapidly plummeting toward him, far too quickly for him to do anything about it. With all of his flailing, he had managed to drift away from the hard ground he had intended to hit. A pool of water opened up beneath him, dark water twinkling with the reflection of the stars. Tommy barely had time to gulp down a breath before he slammed into the pond.
Time slowed as he shot through the water, smashing into the sand that lined the bottom of the pond. His mouth opened wide in response, a wordless scream letting all of the air out of his lungs, drawing water back in. He was going to drown, if the pain in his limbs didn’t kill him first. He had accomplished his goal.
Phil didn’t even think before diving into the pond, wings folded against his back as tight as not to drag him up to the surface. The pool wasn’t that deep, a dangerous thing for someone who fell from so high up. Strong arms grasped around Tommy’s middle, Phil kicking up to the surface, the boy’s limp body barely weighing anything.
“Tommy, please, you’ve gotta talk to me bud.” Phil begged as he dragged Tommy onto the shore, rolling him on his side so he wouldn’t choke on the water in his lungs. Tommy said nothing, eyes closed.
“Shit, shit, shit, Tommy.” Phil whispered, taking his hand and hitting it square between Tommy’s shoulder blades. That seemed to kickstart his reaction, Tommy’s thin body convulsing, hacking up water that lay deep in his lungs.
“Phil?” Tommy’s bleary eyes looked up at the man, confusion warring with fear and relief.
“Hey mate. I’m going to get you out of here, okay?” Phil should’ve come sooner, he should’ve checked up on him more, he shouldn’t have listened to all of Dream’s lies that Tommy was doing just fine.
“I- I can’t leave! What if Dre-Dream finds out? He would be so mad, I can’t disappoint him again, he said we wouldn’t be friends if I did something bad again, Phil, I can’t leave.” Tommy shot up, his face contorting into a mask of pain. It seemed that the fall hadn’t just injured his lungs.
“I won’t let Dream get mad at you. If we leave right now, he won’t even know where you’ve gone.” Phil locked eyes with the scared boy, quietly muffling his own rage. No child should be this scared of an adult.
“You’ll keep me safe?” Tommy whispered, as if he spoke it louder, it wouldn’t become true.
“I’ll keep you safe forever and ever Tommy.” Phil reached out to hug him, but Tommy flinched back before he could make contact. He withdrew, eyes still deep with fear. Phil took a deep breath, realizing he had barely scratched the surface of the kid’s trauma. What had Dream done to him?
“Why don’t we get moving? I left a horse in the forest, it won’t be very long before we’re home.” Phil stood, offering a hand to Tommy. He took it, a ragged gasp of pain leaving him as he stood. A hand clenched around his middle, eyes screwed shut.
“You might have some broken ribs from that fall mate. Once we get home I can check them out.” Phil gently hooked an arm around Tommy’s shoulders, helping him walk up the bank of the pond. Their progress was slow, Tommy’s feet dragged along the ground, his single shoe scuffing up grass and dust. Phil didn’t even want to think about where the other one was.
Once they reached Phil’s horse, he helped Tommy up with gentle hands before swinging himself up behind him. Phil whistled softly to the horse, holding the reins with practiced ease. The horse broke into a quick trot, at this pace they would be home by dawn. They rode through the small forest before breaking onto more plains. Tommy shuddered and leaned back against Phil, ragged breaths still escaping his lips. Phil longed to stop and assess all of Tommy’s injuries, but with the threat of Dream finding them, they had to keep moving.
At the end of the plans, a lone form stood, axe in hand, a white mask smiling down at them. Too late.