Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Being a demon on Earth wasn't imposible . Not in this day and age with the many hybrids and creatures of magic roaming around. Someone was bound to come across some ancient ass scripts and summon a demon. You know, an average Tuesday in L’manburg.

But it was very rare. Humans didn’t know how to handle a demon’s volatile summoning, much less the bond that came from it. A bond that would either leave a human with an impossible amount of magic at their disposal or kill them. Luckily, or unluckily depending on what perspective you held, most often the magic involved would just overwhelm and destroy the human’s soul. So most of them ended up dead and the demon could just fuck back off to wherever they wanted. Most often back to their own world.

Tommy was a demon. And he’d been on Earth for just a few decades now. He’d had the misfortune of being summoned by a man who knew almost everything there was to know about demons. He knew what he was doing and how to keep a very young demon under lock and key.

In the beginning it was alright. He was treating him nicely and Tommy thought he could actually make his fellow demons proud or even jealous at the fact he was securing a human’s soul.

But Dream was tricky. He asked vague questions that Tommy sometimes accidentally finished. Early in their friendship Tommy had asked if Dream had a favor or if he would ever release him. It was when the fighting spark had yet to be smothered down into a flickering ember.

He still remembers the silvery words Dream had spoken. He went on a spiel about how they were friends, right?

Right?

Yeah. They were friends. But demons like Tommy didn’t get friends which is why he should be grateful. Tommy was better than all the other ones. Which felt really mean but Tommy refused to cry.

Dream got frustrated pretty often when Tommy didn’t know something just because he was demonic. He seemed to forget he was actually a child in demon years.

He had no problem reminding Tommy that he had the demon under his heel to heed his beck and call. When he couldn’t use Tommy for knowledge he was punished or he used the demon’s magic and demonic blood in the spells he sold to his less than savory customers.

At first he’d expected to simply wait until he died since Dream never had any heirs. Now, even a few centuries was next to nothing for a demon as they aged slowly and lived close to forever. But the man didn’t age . It'd taken a good twenty years before he even realized it with a sinking feeling in his gut. Dream had not even a new wrinkle to show his age.

Tommy swallowed down the realization when he’d had it. It was late at night, and he stared at the stars and did the demon equivalent of dreaming for freedom. Scratching at his horn to stop himself from crying tears of despair. He knew Dream would get mad if he woke him up.

He used to consider his situation hopeless. Tommy was almost positive he would never escape Dream’s control. It felt like he’d have to wait an eternity to leave.

Well.

He used to think that.

Definitely past tense, given the sword in Dream’s chest was currently present tense. Tommy watched as the sword was slid out of his old master’s chest.

Tommy hadn’t even noticed there was something imposing on the wards his magic had been used to make. Which was a terrifying thought. Dream often had others around in their tower, but Tommy could always sense them. It was almost like the intruder was shielded from his demonic magic.

Tommy had only been startled awake from his nap by yelling from Dream and some other person. Panic, not his own, filtered through his emotions and stalked in the shadows until he reached the spot he was rooted in now.

The victorious swordsman stood over his kill, what expression Tommy could sense and see from under the boar mask was grim and borderline regretful. Like he didn’t want to stab Dream through the chest. But there was resolve, a duty like he had to do this. Tommy wasn't even sure if he was human or not. The man didn’t smell like some wicked beast. But he donned the garb of a wizard, the scent of blood magic clung to him.

His nose scrunched in distaste at Dream’s lifeless body, in some wrong twisted way he was mourning. The sight of bodies never sat right with him. Especially not someone he’d known now for decades. Even though Tommy was in the mortal realm he’d only seen Death a few times in passing, never lingering. Ah, there she was now.

A dark shadow filled the room, a figure incomprehensible even to demon eyes. The man though. His eyes, seen through the boar skull mask, followed as Death’s shadow came through then left.

There had been no compulsion to make him help Dream and as much as the bonded part of his mind mourned the untamed wild in his heart cheered. Freedom!

In the next millisecond after that thought occurred something changed. The bonds tying him to Dream in the mortal realm dissolved. It was what he’d been waiting for for so long. Then they shifted and he could feel the crushing sensation anchoring him to the other presence in the room.

Tommy’s eyes widened in horror as the realization of what had happened slammed into him like a brick to the face. Dream had blood-bound him, trapped to either be set free or passed down for the rest of existence by passing blood. Tommy couldn’t do this again. Maybe the demon could escape while the bond was still new and weak.

A burning in his chest snapped him out of his thoughts and he bit down a pained hiss. He squashed down the thoughts of rebellion and that seemed to make the sensation abate. The bond wouldn’t let him leave and would punish him for even debating the idea running. He still hadn’t noticed Tommy’s presence.

The man was very tall, Tommy realized. Taller and broader than Dream, he was looking at the shelves of spell ingredients. Jars of Tommy’s own blood and hair were there. Demons were powerful creatures, and even a strand of their hair held power.

Tommy faltered and wanted to sink into the shadows because he was scared right now. Who’s to say this man wouldn’t give him the same treatment? To be used as some lab rat and take his magic.

Still, Tommy limbs barely obeyed him as he shakily pushed his full height, not even reaching the man’s hips. It was then Tommy stepped out from the dark corner that may have clung around his form a little too much.

The man jumped, eyes darting around, hand wrapping around the handle, Tommy’s heart pitter pattered at the thought of him drawing his sword, before he realized he was staring at a child. Underneath the mask, blood red eyes widened and he stepped to the side, interrupting Tommy’s view of the body on the ground. Like he didn’t want Tommy to see it, despite the growing bloodstain reaching across the floor.

For a very awkward moment the two stood, staring at each other. Thankfully the man let go of his sword and raised his hands placatingly, like he didn’t want to make the demon afraid of him. Far too late for that.

“Who the fuck are you?” Tommy asked. If his true features weren’t locked away under his glamor his tail would be swishing around, betraying his anxiety. He was glad because it kept him from picking divots into the dry flaking patches on his horns like he always did when scared.

The man looked caught off guard. “I’m Techno… Blade. Who are you, weird child?”

“I’m not a child! I’m Tommy, you dickhead.”

Techno… blade- Technoblade?- just rolled his eyes.

Tommy looked up at Techno, brows pinched as he stared at the wizard- he didn’t have a leg to stand on to judge- that was supposedly his new master. “You look fucking stupid,” he said, he tried to steel himself, voice trembling. He knew he looked five or six years old. It didn’t matter if this was practically his actual form. He’d been alive for a long time.

“Excuse me?” Techno’s asked, voice rumbling dangerously. Tommy’s shoulders tensed but that was all he did.

“The boar mask is a bit much, don’t cha think?” He fought down a smile because no, that wouldn’t help. He had to inform this stupid mortal he had a demon attached to him now. Couldn’t he just run away without Techno ever knowing? No, he could feel the bond tugging at him, compelling him to stay near his new master. It would possibly kill him if he didn’t obey.

Techno snorted. “Right, okay. Run along now, runt. Go back home, you don’t need to be here.”

Tommy blinked. “I live here mister.”

Techno’s face looked weird. “Right.”

Tommy tilted his head and stared. He felt an unfamiliar nervousness pool in his stomach. But, no better time than the present.

“I used to be Dream’s demon.” Tommy could just feel the way Techno’s eyes scanned the young demon. Then Tommy turned his unnatural gaze at the man and he seemed to tense.

The supernatural were deceiving, none were to be messed with or offended, especially when you dealt with demons. The young always happened to be particularly volatile when they very rarely found their way to the mortal plane.

“Well. I’m bound to your soul. I’m your problem now, bitch.” Rip the bandaid off. That was the human saying right?

The man’s eyes widened and he took a step back as the realization of what Tommy was seemed to finally kick in. With a bit of reluctance Tommy dropped the glamor. Dream always hated the inhuman features but he needed to get the point across.

Short horns jutted out from his hairline like a goat’s, they were supposed to be bonewhite. They would someday curve around his head like a battering ram. His eyes changed, pupils becoming slitted like a cat’s, getting narrow and betraying his fear. And finally a pointed tail with serrated edges swayed like a whip behind him.

“What do you mean? I didn’t summon you,” Techno clarified, almost panicked. Like Tommy was going to be confused on who exactly he was tied to.

“You don’t have to, dum-dum. I’m tied to Dream’s blood. He had no successors and because you killed him, his blood stains you.” Techno looked guilty and concerned. “Because of that I’m your problem now. Dumbass.”

“Is there a way to… Remove that? Stop it from happening? I don’t want you to be forced to be here.” Now, that was interesting. Dream had never even brought up the possibility of removing their bond.

“Yes,” Tommy confirmed, hesitancy in his voice. He waited for Techno to shout psyche and carry on.

“Okay, how do we do it?”

“It’s about intention,” Tommy trailed off. He thought back to how it had been explained to him and all the other demons. “You have to release me of my earthly bindings and our bond.”

“Okay… How?”

Tommy hesitated, he’d never gotten this far before. He was hoping someone else would just know and make it happen. Before shrugging. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“Nope!” He grinned, teeth unnervingly sharp. He’d been summoned before he was ever told that type of thing.

“Okay, okay. We can figure this out. There has to be information somewhere.” Techno could just so easily take his magic like Dream always did. But he was just going to let him go? And put the effort into doing it? He hated mortals. “Oh gods, how am I going to explain this to Philza?” Techno sounded worried.

And well. Techno wasn’t a small guy. He looked like he could take on a fully grown demon and win. If this Philza guy scared Techno that worried Tommy, but only slightly .

 Tommy’s pointed ears twitched and his tail fell still. “Who’s Philza?”

Techno turned toward him, scanning the young demon’s expression, noting his posture before quickly moving to reassure the boy. “He’s not bad. Phil is also a demon. But he’s not bound to us. More like a doting mother hen.”

“Us?”

“Me and my twin. Wilbur. You’ll see.”

The thought of another demon, one older and more dangerous than him made him tense all over. He really hated this. He couldn’t leave or run. Nothing. If this Phil hurt him he wouldn’t be able to do anything. Tommy warbled quietly in distress.

The man was still observing him. “You really have nothing to worry about, kid. We’re just gonna figure out how to free you. Phil and Wil won’t hurt you and if they do, you need to come to me .”

Tommy froze as the command settled in his bones and the spell misunderstood. He darted forward against his will until he stood right next to Techno. He whined at the sickening feeling like a puppet on strings, his magic hissed and popped at the surface.

“Right, sorry, Tommy. Ignore the previous order .” And suddenly Tommy could move again. He almost stumbled as he took a few steps away. Edging around the puddle of blood which he scrunched his face up at.

“Ah. Let’s - Er. We should get out of here,” Techno said, cautious with his words. Like he was trying to not use it to his advantage. It was weird and confusing. He hated it.

Whatever. Tommy could handle weird things. Like Techno and his weird ass ways. He raised the glamor, tucking away his tail and horns and inhuman features away in the void. Ugly, Dream’s voice reminded him, wipe away the evidence of your monstrousness.

But he always used to claim they looked like brothers when he looked human. It was less suspicious if Dream could use that glamor of Tommy’s as a ruse to sneak past guards. No one ever suspected a small child to create such powerful charms and spells.

Tommy knew they were doing bad things deep down. Smuggling spells and dark magic but Tommy could barely bring himself to care about that. The affection he received from Dream, his brother , a small hand squeeze or a hair ruffle, made it worth it. Even if it was one of the painful spells that made his stomach churn in discomfort.

Techno stuck his hand out, perhaps unconsciously because he didn’t even hesitate to put himself so close to a demon like Tommy. An awful thing he knew he was, Dream should’ve been rewarded for a feat such as caring for him.

Tommy let out a confused sound. The only reason Dream grabbed his hand was to take better control of his magic. Was that what Techno wanted? The man looked down between his hand and Tommy before flexing and letting it fall.

“Right, habit. I hold the other kids’ hand when we’re crossing the streets and stuff.”

“I’m not a kid! I’m probably older than you, dickhead!”

“Demons age slower than humans. One of your years is over ten human ones. You’re probably like six or something.”

Tommy flushed in anger and glared, puffing himself up.

“Right well, hand? Take it or not? I don’t want you getting lost or hurt.” His hand looked inviting. Dream had never bothered holding his hand when they went places. Their bond ensured Tommy would never get lost and Dream could always find him.

Tommy would always be able to find Techno. But the hunter didn’t know that right? And what he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. Maybe Tommy was selfish but he was a demon, he did not care. Tommy took his hand and promptly attached himself to Techno’s side.

The witch turned to the enchants lining the door. Easy to enter, difficult to leave. He let his free hand trace the runes carved into the wooden doorway, muttering quietly under his breath.

Tommy knew from experience Dream needed his magic to open and close the door. Before Tommy he had a familiar. George had been his familiar. But they had split off before Tommy had met them. Maybe that’s why he’d seeked someone like Tommy out. George hadn’t been willing enough to hand over the necessary power.

If Tommy didn’t give it up immediately he would reach through the bond and take it . He always hated that. It left him feeling gutted, freezing cold for hours afterward. Before he could wonder even if Techno needed his assistance he was closing his eyes and shoving his energy at the wizard through their newly created bond.

The door almost blew off its hinges with the shared force of their power. Tommy’s eyes were wide, pupils beneath glamor almost nonexistent. He swallowed down his uneasiness and looked up warily to see Techno’s expression.

It was difficult to see but his head was tilted curiously. “Hm, that was something,” was all the man said, gently squeezing Tommy’s hand. It didn’t hurt, more like what someone would do to comfort. He’d seen Dream do it with George before he left.

He could feel a concerned presence prodding the bond Tommy was habitually keeping locked down. He ignored it, not even letting a flicker of acknowledgment show on his face. But he closed it off even further, Technoblade was none the wiser.

They left right after. Techno having to tug the door back into its proper place. But as soon as Techno closed the door, jamming it shut. The magic around the entire tower rippled like water and it began disappearing. A tomb now. Leaving the two of them in an empty wooded area a two hour walk from civilization.

Tommy ignored the loss he felt. It was weird, Tommy didn’t think he’d ever be coming back again. The place he’d lived for so many years. Yet. Nothing he cared about was here, but now he was going somewhere he didn’t know with a stranger.

“Have you ever teleported before?” Techno asked, breaking the silence.

Tommy tilted his head in thought. It had been a long time since. Before Dream had brought Tommy here to this place. It’d been awful and he had felt sick for an hour afterwards. He nodded.

Techno breathed out a sigh. “Good. It’s always worse the first time.” He squeezed Tommy’s hand and it took everything the demon had in him to not stare warily at their joined hands, waiting for the ball to drop and to feel pain. Techno, with his free hand pulled out a wand from his belt, it was a light wood with streaks of blood red sap crystalized throughout it. “Ready? Okay, close your eyes.”

Tommy did as he was asked and there was a quiet chant from Techno that he couldn’t make out the words of. The wind picked up and… Suddenly Tommy’s stomach dropped and he could tell the world around him had changed. He stumbled blindly, almost falling to his knees and would have if not for the hand still in his own.

“Are you alright?” Tommy opened an eye and looked around. They were in some neighborhood, Techno was hovering above him. He looked mariana trench levels of out of his depth. Tommy exhaled shakily and hummed a confirmation.

“Good, we aren’t far.” Once Tommy’s knees stopped threatening to turn to jelly they walked. Passing through streets Tommy had never seen before and he began to lose track of where he’d come from. He was exhausted and the world was becoming more and more strange and unfamiliar.

Finally, a good fifteen minutes later Techno slowed to a stop on the corner of a street. What would usually be an entire neighborhood block was a single house straight down the middle of an unusually barren cul-de-sac.

Techno looked almost calculating when Tommy glanced over. “Right. It’ll, uh, probably be easier if you show your true form. Your glamor is pretty well done for a kid but they need to know you’re a demon to help you out.”

Tommy pouted and opened his mouth to argue but Techno just lifted a hand. The boy couldn’t help the way he flinched. Anticipating a hit like he would from Dream. Techno looked weirdly at him again, before slowly lowering his hand down to rest on Tommy’s blonde hair, Tommy stiffened but relaxed when it became clear there was no force behind the action.

“At ease,” Techno grumbled, avoiding any direct order. Tommy’s shoulders relaxed regardless.

It was weird. Nice, it felt good to have touch that didn’t hurt. Demons were tactile creatures. Curling up in large nesting groups, young in the middle. Their caretakers watched over them making sure they didn’t get into too much trouble. He hadn’t had that in so long. And this wasn’t it. But it was nice.

Tommy let his glamor fall, noticing Techno’s hand moved away from his horns so as not to touch them. They ached distantly, but he shoved it to the back of his mind. He bit his cheek and twisted his hands in the hem of his shirt to stop the urge to let his fingers run over them to calm himself. Scratching the itchy flakes of uneven bone wouldn’t do him any favors.

When Techno went to lift his hand away Tommy clung to his sleeve without even thinking. He quickly let go and fought down the urge to bolt, Tommy couldn’t leave. The man didn’t smack him away, just huffed with a faint hint of amusement. And let his arm fall back protectively over Tommy’s shoulder.

They reached the porch and with a snap of Techno’s fingers the door swung open. And they both stepped inside the cozy home.

“Hey Phil!” Techno yelled, before wincing and apologizing under his breath to the demon huddled behind him. Tommy startled and held his breath as footsteps started approaching.

And that’s when he noticed something. There was definitely another demon in the house. A powerful, much older one. Tommy froze, before hiding behind Techno. The man just grunted and looked back questioningly before Tommy jabbed him with his short horns and he sighed before continuing walking forward.

“It’s just Phil, remember?” Techno soothed, guessing Tommy was picking up on the man’s presence since he never cloaked himself at home. Tommy nodded once quickly, his hand moving absently to grip onto Techno’s shirt.

A scent made Tommy stiffen in surprise. Not human, his instincts dug their claws into his racing heart. A vampire if the smell of sickly blood that clung to the house was any indication.

Then finally a man stepped into the room to see what all the commotion was about. He looked about the same age as Techno so Tommy cautiously dubbed him as his brother. What was his name? Womblr? No, Wilbur. That’s right.

Wilbur gasped as he finally seemed to notice the new person in the room. “Hello there, tiny demon man, and who would you happen to be?” Wilbur said, a smile revealing long curved fangs. His eyes were a warm brown, not the bright red or purple in the sickly vampires he’d encountered in the past. But in all it was less threatening than Tommy expected.

Wilbur stepped closer to try and peer around Techno. Tommy hissed, claws digging into Techno’s side in a way that made the man wince.

“Wil, stop it! He’s going to ruin my good shirt.” Wilbur pouted but stepped back. Techno nodded his thanks and let a hand touch Tommy’s shoulder in silent support. “Kid, this is Wilbur, he’s my twin. Wil this is Tommy.” Techno shooed him away, “Now go away. Make sure Tubbo stays upstairs for now. He gets too curious and we don’t want to scare the kid, he’s had a long night.”

Wilbur grumbled his protests but noticed how terrified Tommy looked and backed away. Barely a second after he’d stepped away, out of the hallway came a demon. Phil according to Techno.

He was blonde with large deer antlers branching from his head. They must’ve had some type of phasing enchantment on them because they didn’t come in contact with the wall as he walked. He had the unnaturally blue eyes Tommy also bore. “Hey Tech, how’d it- go-” Phil stuttered to a stop, his gaze on the small demon behind Techno.

“Oh...” Phil breathed out, eyes wide and pupils had rounded. He came closer, slowly. Stopping when a low growl came from Tommy and the demon tried to hide himself further behind Techno. Phil slowly lowered himself to the ground, kneeling without any care of getting his robes dirty. Dream would have never done that. “Hello, mate. Techno brought you to us so I’m guessing you’re in a bit of trouble, ey?”

Tommy stayed quiet, trying to calm his anxious body. He hadn’t been ordered to stay still, but he knew if he made a break for it Dream would’ve punished him. He had no guarantees Techno wouldn’t do the same. He was entirely at their mercy.

“Turns out he didn’t have some demon supplier. He had a blood bond with one to get what he wanted."

Phil’s eyes flickered off of him for a second. As the dots of the situation seemed to connect themselves his eyes narrowed just slightly. “What?” The single word made chills run down his back. A tiny chirp left his lips before he could stop it and he hid his face more behind Techno.

“Later. We’ll discuss this later.”

Phil shifted and Tommy’s eyes flicked up in his direction before folding in on himself with a hiss. “Sorry, mate. I’m going to stay right here okay. Is it alright if Techno goes upstairs? He needs a shower and to put his stuff away. He’ll be back soon.” Tommy didn’t want Techno to go. He was… Not trusted . Far from it. But safer than Phil. The demon in front of him.

Tommy pried his claws out of Techno’s shirt and forced himself to step away. No matter how much he wanted to hiss and snarl his way back into the first safety he’d felt in so long. Techno ruffled his hair and even though Tommy flinched and was behaving badly, Techno still mumbled a promise to come back. Tommy flinched when Phil gave the wizard an absent wave, focused on the young demon.

A part of his mind was still terrified that this was some weirdly vivid dream and he’d wake up back in Dream’s castle. But demons don’t dream , something he felt grateful for after watching Dream wake up gasping for breath on many occasions.

“Oh,” behind him Phil’s tail flicked like a cat’s. “You’re just a youngling. What are you doing out of your nest and away from your caretakers, little one,” Philza asked softly. He’d tucked away the large looming antlers into the void so when he tilted his head the branches didn’t move along with him.

Tommy hesitated and Philza crooned softly at him. A sound that settled his panicking mind and brought some comfort to him. He’d been alone, with only Dream as company for so many years.

“Sorry mate, forgot my manners. I’m Philza, preferably Phil, who are you?”

“Theseus, preferably Tommy,” the boy replied cautiously to the demon mannerisms. It was customary for demons to introduce themselves with their real name and then the one they go by.

“Nice to meet you, Tommy,” the genuineness in Phil’s expression threw Tommy for a loop. No one was ever pleased to meet Tommy. “How did you get here?”

“I w’s summ’n’d,” Tommy muttered, wrapping his arms around himself. One moment he’d been playing with his nestmates and the next there was a sharp pain lacing through his entire torso. His nestmates had described tales of holy water, the way it burned a demon’s very being.

The next he was on Earth, struggling to breath the air. His knees were bleeding and he couldn’t stop crying from shock. He assumed none of his caretakers had noticed one rowdy demon child gone because no one ever came to take him back. He was stubborn. It was only after his fifth year on Earth he resigned himself to not going back home for a long time.

“You’re not supposed to be able to accept summons,” the older demon said quietly. More to himself than him. But he sounded as confused and worried as Tommy was.

“I know that,” Tommy snapped, tension lining every muscle in his body. Like he wanted to run but was holding back. How he’d arrived on Earth had never made sense to him. He’d asked himself the very same questions far too many times to count. “I just want to go back, Phil.”

“Oh,” Phil crooned at him. A low warble that became higher at the end. The one guardians did to settle anxious nestlings. It itched some suppressed need to be around a caretaker. Someone to save him. And maybe Phil and Techno would.

The young demon whined and curled in on himself. He wiped at his face furiously, avoiding clawing his own eyes. If Dream were around he’d punish Tommy for the outburst and for asking to go back. Take away his things or starve him of attention and their bond.

The purring in Philza’s chest kicked up a notch. Tommy wanted his nestmates and caretakers back more than anything. He whined mournfully, shaking in his throat. A call for help. “Oh, Tommy. I’m so sorry, mate. C’mere, you want a hug?”

Tommy nodded and he suddenly felt every part the age he was and not how he liked to claim. He shuffled forward, letting his head thunk against Phil’s chest. The man’s arms curled around him protectively, one settled in his hair between the horns, rubbing soothing circles on his back. The gentle care was something Tommy hadn’t felt from another demon in so long he was starved of that. He let the older demon pull him against his chest.

“We’re going to do everything we can for you, okay?” A raspy purr cut through the tension in Tommy’s body and he relaxed, slowly lifting his arms to return the hug. A finger pausing at the base of his horns made Tommy shuffle to try and get him to keep messing with his hair. He does but there’s a hesitancy now.

“Oh sweetheart, what happened to your horns?” Phil’s voice was so kind. He choked back his fear of Dream, memories of the frustration he felt when he couldn’t even control himself. Dream had tried punishing him for doing it until he realized it was as useless an endeavor as Tommy. “Do you want to tell me about it?” Tommy was tired and it felt- pun intended- heavenly to be held and cared for.

He shook his head. Tommy stiffened, half expecting Phil to raise his voice and yell for Techno to come and make him talk. But he didn’t. He was still calm and quiet. “We can do that in the morning, but I think we should get some stuff on those to stop it from getting infected or hurting. Is that alright?”

Tommy was tired of the headache and the pain it brought. Not even bothering to open his eyes he nodded. “Thanks mate,” he said, like Tommy had done him some favor. “Get some rest Tommy, things will get easier soon.”

Tommy let his body relax fully and fall into a few minutes of blissful sleep.

Tommy woke up, slowly and groggy in a way he could tell though his nap had only been maybe fifteen minutes. Not nearly enough sleep in his opinion.

His ear was pressed against someone’s chest, an uneven skipping heartbeat so similar to his own. A demon, he realized, still too comfortable to wake up fully. Much less dart away. He was vaguely aware that he and the person had moved to the couches in the room. Because… He’d fallen asleep on the floor in Philza’s arms.

There was a soft snort way above him. “Getting too old to keep sitting on the floor, Phil?”

“Oh fuck off,” Phil whispered. “I didn’t want him to be uncomfortable. Hand me the bandages, we need to keep the ointment on for as long as possible.” It was then Tommy realized his horns felt a lot better, the itchiness wasn’t gone entirely but it no longer hurt so bad.

“Suuure,” Techno drawled. There was shuffling as he sat down nearby. He nudged Phil’s arm that wasn’t around Tommy’s shoulders. Techno whistled quietly. “He really did a number on those.”

A hum reverberated under his ear as Tommy’s head was, with delicate movements, shifted to wrap something around his horns. A gentle pressure that made Tommy want to squirm uncomfortably. He kept still though. Surely when Phil realized he was awake, the older demon would put him down. And, well, Tommy didn’t want that to happen. He was content and something in his brain absolutely refused to let him move away.

“What’s bothering you?” Techno’s words.

Phil hummed before beginning to speak quietly. “A demon Tommy’s age isn’t supposed to be summoned. They’re too young and the magic inside hasn’t even settled yet. They need to be around caretakers and older demons or they can get ill.”

Memories of feeling really, really bad and then getting sick filled his mind. He had too much energy and no outlet. It was one of the rare instances he was allowed to see other demons. Either Bad or Sapnap. Something inside of him settled in their presence. Which made so much sense with that explanation. Just a touch and he’d collapse into a purring puddle. They always looked at him sadly.

“That makes sense. Tommy seems like any young human child. The question is how is he here though.” Tommy swallowed down a hiss of defense at being called a child and forced his chest to rise and fall evenly.

Suddenly Philza sounded grim. “Dream would’ve used a specific summoning spell to pick Tommy out. But that would require Dream to have known his true name beforehand. As well as some very forbidden, very illegal magic.” Tommy knew what Dream had done. He always gloated Tommy’s real name and mocked how unnatural it was that he could be controlled by something so dumb .

“The kid mentioned being bonded to Dream and now me. How do we release him from the bond?”

“Oh, that’s the easy part. A bit of your blood, his real name, some latin, bam a freed demon,” Phil explained easily. “But I’m only worried he could get summoned again if we aren’t careful. We’re not playing by normal rules.”

“How do we stop that from happening?”

“Find whoever gave Dream Tommy’s real name and prevent them from ever being able to do it again. That way he can’t be summoned ever again.” Phil sounded terrifying when his voice went low like that. Like the room had dropped ten degrees and it took all Tommy self control to remember it wasn’t at him. It was for him.

“Will Tommy leave?” A voice Tommy recognized as Wilbur came in. Tommy couldn’t stop himself from twitching in surprise. He smelled like blood, probably a recent meal. Something in Tommy recoiled at the thought of being Wilbur’s next one.

The others didn’t seem to notice but one of Phil’s hands rubbed circles on his arm soothingly. Well he definitely knew Tommy was awake now, if not earlier.

“If he wants to, I’ll show him how to return back to our dimension. But now that he’s been here he can come back. He has a place here on Earth too, should he wish,” Phil responded.

Tommy shoved his face into Phil’s robes and the other two seemed to realize he was in fact awake. The conversation ended almost immediately. When Tommy finally got up the nerve to peek open an eye he saw everyone resolutely staring at some show on the television, and definitely not sparing him a glance every now and again.

His head felt heavy, difficult to move so he let it fall back. Tommy’s eyes flicked up, and he could just barely see where his horns had been wrapped in thick bandages. Partly curious, he lifted a hand to scratch then.

“Ah, don’t do that,” a hand gently brushed his fingers away. He let it happen. Too exhausted to care, already he could feel sleep tugging at him again.

“Tired?” An amused Techno asked. He opened his eyes to glare defiantly. There was a certain thrill doing something Dream would’ve never allowed him to do. Tommy would’ve kicked at him too if he wasn’t so sadly out of his reach.

“Nope, too-” he covered a yawn with his fist, “too big of a man to sleep.”

Wilbur began actually giggling and Tommy fought back a smile despite everything. His brow pinched as he worried, perhaps unfounded. How long was it until the ball finally dropped and this kindness left?

Wilbur and Techno talked amongst themselves not noticing when Tommy fell silent. Phil nudged at his shoulder and the younger demon looked at him questioningly. “You’re gonna be alright mate.” A finger came up to brush the hair from his face.

Tommy hummed. He really, really wanted to believe he was safe, but his mind was a chaos between the cautious fear he’d been living in and the starvation of any affection. These people, a mismatch of magical people he wasn’t that out of place in, wanted to free him, and Phil didn’t put him down even when he woke up.

“Right, I think it’s time to get you to bed, Toms.”

Tommy hissed in discontent as he was jostled with Phil’s movements. Techno chuckled at him, and the witch’s emotions brushed against the mental walls. It was diluted but he could feel care, amusement, protect. Confusing.

Tommy closed his eyes and listened to the other demon’s heartbeat and pushed away the emotions in the air. He was asleep by the time Phil pushed open the guest door and tucked him into bed.

Chapter Text

When Tommy woke up there was another face hovering above him. When he’d fallen asleep this boy had not been there. He feels like he would’ve remembered that. In fact he had never seen him before.

With a screech Tommy shot up, all sleepiness abandoned. The brunette boy’s eyes widened a second before disaster struck and tried to scoot back but it was too late. With a clunk their heads collided together and left them both clutching their foreheads in pain.

Then there was a barking laugh and Tommy blinked his eyes open to see the intruder- a boy that looked his age- rubbing at his head and watching him back. Tommy felt amusement stir in his chest despite the adrenaline still racing through him.

“Well, that’s one way to do an introduction. I’m Tubbo.” The other boy sat back and extended his other hand.

Tubbo , he’d heard that name last night. Techno had said something to Wilbur about distracting him. “I’m Tommy.” The demon reached his hands up to the bandages around his horns.

“I bet you can take those off now,” Tubbo mused. “Phil makes some really good medicine. If there was anything wrong I better it’s miles better now.”

Tommy unraveled the bandages. God, Phil put what felt like several rolls of it before bundling up the dirty bandages and setting them in the trashcan next to the bed. “How do they look?” Tommy asked, and he berated himself for letting the words leave his mouth. Basically an invitation to be insulted.

But the expression on Tubbo’s face stomped out every thought in his mind. “They look so cool, big man! I’ve never seen horns like yours. Only Phil’s.” It shouldn’t have made him feel so happy but it was one of the first kind things that had been said to him in a long time.

Knock knock .

Both boys froze. One distinctly more aware he wasn’t supposed to be in the room than the other.

“Tommy? I heard screaming.” It was Phil, Tommy froze in place trying to think of some excuse to get him to go away.

“We’re fine,” Tubbo shouted for Tommy.

There was a moment of silence before the door opened and Phil stepped in. He looked at them both, noting the red foreheads coming to an educated guess on what had happened. Tubbo had done it to Ranboo as well. He put a hand on his hip and set his unamused gaze on Tubbo who sheepishly smiled back.

“Right. Tubbo, mate, I thought I asked you not to disturb him.”

“Tommy’s not being disturbed. Right?” He nudged Tommy with his elbow and the demon nodded in confusion.

Phil tried to cover his smile but he gave up and started cackling, making Tommy jolt. Tubbo’s serious expression also broke and he grinned widely.

“Okay. I think it’s time for breakfast. Toms, if you want to join us we’d be happy to have you. Or I can bring your food up here.”

Ordinarily Tommy didn’t eat with others. Not really out of choice, but rather because no one was there. Dream was often out and about doing jobs or whatever it was he used to do with his friends.

There were rarely mealtimes when he was around, and no one- even as tolerant as Dream was with him, wanted to eat with a demon around. But when Tommy glanced over, Phil was a demon right? Did demons have to eat together? Phil didn’t seem like he minded either way, but Tubbo was looking at him expectedly. Practically vibrating where he sat.

Phil seemed to notice what Tommy was thinking. “Don’t mind him. He’s just been bored out of his mind since Ranboo went on a trip.”

“It’s been so long, Phil!” Tubbo whined. It may have been Tommy’s imagination but he didn’t remember those vines growing from the walls a second ago.

Philza cackled. “It’s been two days. He gets back soon, mate.”

“I’ll go,” Tommy spoke suddenly, on impulse more than anything. “If it’s not a big deal…”

“‘Course, we’d love to have you-”

Tubbo grabbed onto Tommy’s arm before Phil had even finished speaking and pulled him off the bed. The excitement coming from the other boy- another witch as well?- was contagious. And even though they were only getting breakfast something sharp in his chest seemed to loosen its grip on his heart. He felt happier than he’d been in a while.

Tommy quickly realized breakfast with them- the Crafts, they called their little family- was unlike anything Tommy had ever been in. Techno and Phil were the only ones allowed to cook in the kitchen.

Tubbo leaned over to give him the rundown on why. Wilbur managed to catch noodles on fire on several occasions. And Tubbo had been banned since he was adopted out of caution. Ranboo was suspiciously bad at cooking, almost to the point of faking it.

Point being, the food was the best thing Tommy ever tasted. Techno had filled his plate with a little of everything and assured him he could have as much as he wanted of any of it. Forget women, Tommy wanted to marry this food.

It was during breakfast that the topic was finally brought up again. “Hey Toms,” Phil spoke up. He and Tubbo had already finished eating but Tommy was still nibbling on his waffles. It’d been a while since he’d eaten good human food.

Tommy hummed warily. He couldn’t allow himself to relax too much.

“Are you ready to break the bond today? It won’t take long.”

Tommy could barely remember having freedom. He nodded eagerly.

Phil chuckled good naturedly and stood. “Alright, mates. Techno, Toms, you both need to meet me in the spell room when you’re done.” He patted Techno on the shoulder and ruffled Wilbur’s hair as he passed.

Wilbur’s food looked normal, all meat, but it wasn’t blood. Wilbur seemed to sense his gaze and curious filled the air between the tentative bonds he'd stretched out. He had them on Bad and Sapnap too, but neither knew about them. “You alright, Tommy?”

Tommy’s face flushed and he picked up his fork again. He nodded.

Wilbur’s brow furrowed before glancing at his own plate. “Oh! It’s okay to ask questions.” Wilbur encouraged.

Tommy hesitated but Wilbur looked earnest. “I thought vampires could only drink blood.”

“They do for the most part, it’s our main diet,” Wilbur answered. “It’s a bit more complicated to eat human food. Our bodies don’t digest it well. But if there’s enough blood, all animal don’t worry, mixed in or drunk with it I can eat that. Gets a bit harder when you throw in plant products, but meat is easy enough.”

Tommy nodded along with the explanation. Human food didn’t bother his own stomach since it was close enough to what demons ate. He finished off the last bite of his waffles and a hand reached over.

“If you’re done, I can take your plate and you can go catch up with Phil,” Wilbur said. “You too, Techno. But only this once.”

Techno rolled his eyes and huffed but the two of them handed over their plates and stood. The witch led the way since he actually knew his way around the house. And Tommy scanned the house more thoroughly since he’d been a bit preoccupied last night.

A few paintings hung on the hallway walls. One in particular stood out to him, not because it was old, Tommy could sense it was way older than himself, but because of the figure pictured.

Even with glamor on, the person was unmistakably Philza. The man was in a wooden room and there was an open window behind him. The moon has been replaced with a strange red heart shape casting an eerie red light in the painting.

Philza had to be older than Tommy had even guessed. Tommy turned and nearly crashed into Techno. The witch had stopped and waited for Tommy to admire the portrait.

“Alright?” Techno asked, voice gruff with exhaustion maybe. The man didn’t look like he’d slept at all.

“That’s Phil,” Tommy pointed out the obvious, before looking back to examine it. It was a pretty piece of art. A few hundred years old, not to mention however old he’d been when it was painted.

“Yeup. That’s not the only one, don't tell Phil, but I took down all the other ones.”

“I fucking knew it.” Techno didn’t startle, Tommy on the other hand nearly jumped a foot at the unexpected voice. He turned and saw Phil, hand on hip like he was attempting seriously but it failed because he was struggling to not laugh. “I’ve been looking for those Rococo paintings for a decade, you little shit.”

“Wilbur paid me to take those down.” He leaned down and whispered in Tommy’s ear. “He really hates being reminded of his frilly phase.”

Phil wheezed and Tommy bit down on his own giggling as the older demon tried to catch his breath. “Okay, come on you two. We’ve got a spell to break.”

At that mention a nervous chirp came from Tommy and his tail swayed before wrapping around his ankle like a comfort.

“It won’t hurt,” Phil promised. And that should mean something. But he’d lost count of how many times Dream had fed him that same lie.

Techno held out his hand like he’d done before. Tommy bit his lip and took a deep breath before taking the witch’s hand and following them both deeper into the house.

They went down a set of stairs and there was a pit in Tommy’s stomach. Suddenly breakfast didn’t sound so appetizing the second time around. He remembered how Dream would shove him down in the basement if he had guests over and Tommy didn’t behave. It was always so cold and damp. He would sit in the dark for what felt like days but may have only been a few hours.

But the room they stepped into- it was… Homely was one way to describe it. The warmth of it sunk into his bones and he breathed a little easier. Shelves lined the walls. Some filled with varying crystals lined others with jars large and small filled with herbs and flowers. Bundles hung in the corner by the fireplace.

Phil fussed them towards a very decorated circular rug. He had Techno stand on one of the symbols and had Tommy sit down in the middle of it. With that settled Phil picked up a copper bowl and a vial of some red liquid. Blood, Tommy realized belatedly, Techno’s blood.

“This should work fine,” Phil explained. “The blood doesn’t change, just your soul.” He uncorked the bottle and let some spill into the bowl. Phil set down the bowl in the middle.

“There, now. Technoblade repeat after me.” And then Phil let a long string of latin gibberish fall from his lips. Only a few words Tommy could catch being his own name twice and Techno’s once. “Got it.”

Techno’s eyes rested on the ceiling as he mouthed along to the mantra Tommy’s couldn’t dream of remembering in one go. Finally he nodded. Phil smiled. “Okay Toms, you don’t have to say anything but when Techno finished speaking, put your hand over and think about the binding magic disappearing.”

Tommy nodded as hard as he could to show he understood.

Now! Tommy’s hand hovered over the bowl and the demon could feel the heat rising from it in waves. He thought of how he felt the binding. Like a puppet’s strings. And when he opened his eyes, he could see them .

It was like the chains wrapped around his arms and legs were being blown apart into unrecognizable bits. Ripped away by the energy of the spell. Tommy wavered, he would’ve fallen forward into the bowl if Philza didn’t reach out to stop him.

Then the spell finished as the last chain fell and the lights faded away. The last feeling of imaginary chains around his body went with it. It was gone.

There was no tightening feeling in his chest. He could run now, leave and never obey anyone ever again. When the thought didn’t make his heart convulse he let out a little hysterical laugh. Tommy was free. They’d freed him and now-

He also was hit with a sudden, crushing sensation of loss . Tommy collapsed forward, blocking out the questioning voices. Thankfully Phil had removed the bowl as soon as it was over so he didn’t land forehead first into it. A hand touched his shoulder and he flinched hard. “I’m fine,” he gasped. “I’m fine.”

Tommy wasn’t. He didn’t know if this was some weird side effect of the spell but he wanted it to stop.

“-my, Tommy. Please, can you hear me, son?” That was Phil. He had just enough wits to nod.

“Breath kid,” Techno rumbled beside him. There was no compulsion behind the words. The bindings were gone. But he followed the voice anyway because Techno showed him kindness when he didn’t have to. He could’ve made Tommy sit in the living room until it was time to remove the demon like the parasite he was.

Techno kept talking. About random stuff, anytime he’d bring up his bounty hunting Phil would shove an elbow in his ribs and he steered away from the topic. The elephant sitting on Tommy’s chest disappeared and his breathing evened out. He blinked and took in his surroundings. He was still sitting on the middle of the floor, legs against his chest and resting his head on his knees.

“Feeling better?” Techno asked. A suspicious amount of concern in his voice Tommy didn’t want to think too deeply about.

“Yeah.” Tommy’s nails dug into his pants. He shook and all he wanted to do was hide in the room he’d been allowed to sleep in.

Technoblade followed his darting eyes and scooted backwards slightly. “You can go,” Techno promises. “But you don’t have to.” That sentence struck deeper. Tommy looked over with alarmed blue eyes. Technoblade understood. Phil tilted his head to the side, not quite getting it. “And you can always come back.”

Tommy flinched away and pushed himself up onto shaking legs. “I’m fine, a big- big man.” The delirious laugh left him again. He felt far too young and scared suddenly. “I’m just- gonna go to my room.”

Both men let him leave with no protest beyond a worried look. As Tommy came up the stairs he looked in the direction he knew the front door was with distaste.

He didn’t want to go. It was almost surprising. He was given freedom and yet here he stood. Wanting them to want him. A stupid foolish thought. Tommy turned and found his room. With a shaky breath he pushed open the door and collapsed onto the bed.

There was immediately a knock at his door. “Go away,” he yelled and threw one of the spare pillows. It landed with a fwomp halfway across the floor. He scowled and buried his head back into his pillows.

“What if it’s me?” Tubbo called out.

Tommy opened an eye. Tubbo was acceptable company. “Fine!”

Tommy could practically see the grin on Tubbo’s face. There was a rattle as Tubbo came in and the witch paused in the doorway.

“Are you okay?”

Tommy groaned and shook his head. “I’m freed.”

“That’s amazing!”

“I don’t want to leave,” Tommy confessed in a whisper, curling further in on himself. “I like it here- I don’t want to go.”

“Wait, why are you going?” Tubbo met his eyes with alarm.

“I’m freed, I don’t need to be here anymore.”

“But you don’t want to go right?”

Tommy wordlessly shook his head. “Then don’t.” Tommy blinked.

“Don’t go then. Everyone wants you here. Not just for the curse thing.”

Disbelief clouded his mind. But… He hoped Tubbo was right. That a vile demon destined for sorrow could have happiness.

“Come on,” Tubbo pushed the blankets off Tommy. “No more sulking.” Tubbo grabbed his hands and dragged him into a sitting position. Tommy made a confused chrrrup in his throat. “We’re going to my room. No offense, but Phil hasn’t taken you decorating yet.”

Tommy just shrugged and followed the witch. He tried not to think of the permanence decorating his room would bring. It made the butterflies in his stomach swarm and his chest feel light and airy.

Tubbo kicked open the door to his room. For no reason at all, the door was already open. Tubbo’s room was what Dream would classify as a mess.

There was a desk and a bed, and a dresser stood against the wall. All of it was covered with stuffed animals or witchcraft trinkets. There was a fucking sword leaning against the wall near the window. An open window with bushes growing into the room.

The witch pulled Tommy into the room, a warmth spread through Tommy’s body as he did so. Tubbo motioned for him to sit him on the bed. Tommy carefully scooted over a few stuffed animals then sat down.

“Stay there,” Tubbo instructed and Tommy chirped but did as he was asked.

He watched as Tubbo walked around his room, going to and from each stash of stuffed animals. Searching for something.

Then with a triumphant ‘aha!’ Tubbo finally found what he was looking for and turned around with something in his hands. He thrust it in Tommy’s direction and the startled demon took it. It was a stuffed animal?

“Is this a sacrifice?” Tommy asked, thumb tracing the stitching. A sacrifice could be anything, not just the living. An object of sentimental value could also give a demon a boost in power.

“Nope!” Tubbo didn’t seem that alarmed. He was very nonchalant about everything. Guess that’s what happened when you were a garden mage that lives with a wizard, a vampire, a familiar- though Tommy had yet to meet him- and now two demons. “It’s a toy.”

“Toy?”

“Something you play with. You can even name it!”

Tommy squinted at the unfamiliar terms. “I get to name it? I’ve never named something before.”

Tubbo pursed his lips and looked at some of his other named toys. “Well, what’s a name you like, Toms?”

Tommy thought about it, looking at the stuffed cow’s shiny eyes. “I like the name Henry. It’s a big man's name.”

Tubbo snickered under his breath, but it didn't feel mean spirited laughter. Not like how Dream laughed at him. A smile tugged at his lips. He liked making people laugh, it made his chest feel warm.

“That’s a good name, boss man.”

“Why are you giving this to me?” Tommy couldn’t help but ask aloud.

“Well, you’re family. I’ve given everyone in the family a stuffed toy. And second, I don’t think you’ve had many toys before.”

Tommy blinked rapidly and they both moved past it. Ignoring Tommy’s sniffles as Tubbo introduced him to all of his other toys. None of them were sacrifices and Tubbo never asked him to perform any spells. And it was better than any of the years he’d spent with Dream combined.

Ranboo was weird. That could’ve been because he too was some extension of pure magic. Vampires and Witches and a few other species were the bridge between humans and magic creatures like Tommy and he supposed Ranboo too. Halfway there and halfway not.

Familiars weren’t born. Even demons came from somewhere. A festival that took place every hundred years where groups of demons came together and summoned raw magic and energy from deceased demons to start new lives. Ranboo just magically appeared one day as the tallest bastard Tommy had ever met.

There was a cat in his bed. It was a black and white ragdoll, halved down the middle. It set off all the alarm bells of magic in Tommy’s head. Laying, sprawled across his pillows. Tommy froze in his doorway, Tubbo who was following not far behind nearly crashed into his back.

“Oof, Tommy why’d you-” He cut off with a sharp gasp. “Ranboo?!” Tubbo pushed past him and towards the cat that looked up with dual colored eyes and meowed.

“Oh, that’s Tommy, he’s new,” Tubbo explained. Tommy’s brow pinched in befuddlement. Why was Tubbo talking to the not-cat like he understood the creature? The creature that was supposedly Ranboo.

“Tubbo, did you forget to mention Ranboo was a cat.”

“No silly, he’s a familiar. Shift back, you dumb bitch.”

The cat yowled offendedly but did so. Suddenly there was one of the oddest people Tommy had ever met sitting on his bed. Familiars looked distinctly not human. They had an animal form and their humanoid one. George was apparently a frog familiar, he had scales on his skin and a sensitivity to the sun.

Ranboo was just… Long. His ears stuck out from the sides of his head, more cat looking than human. They seemed to twitch and swivel with his emotions.

Despite the fact he looked the same age as both him and Tubbo, he was already reaching five feet. He had the same eyes and hair colorations as the cat though.

The other boy waved sheepishly. “Hi, I’m, uh, Ranboo. But- but you already knew that huh.” He jabbed his hand forward like he was afraid to overthink it.

Tommy stared at the hand for a few extra seconds to make the boy in front of him sweat before taking it. “I’m Tommy.”

Ranboo heaved out a sigh of relief. Turns out maybe Ranboo wasn’t the worst person ever. With a twirl of his wrist a flower appeared in his hand. It was round and purple and on closer inspection it was dozens of little flowers clumped together. Tommy had never seen one like this.

“An allium,” Tubbo answered the bewildered expression on Tommy’s face. “That’s a new one.” Still, Tubbo seemed pleased.

The ones he knew were strictly for spells or poisons. Belladonna here, some burdock there. Many more than he cared to remember. “What does it do?” Tommy asked curiously.

“It looks pretty?” Ranboo answered, head tilted and not quite understanding what he meant.

“So it’s not for a spell?” His hand twitched to pull the gift closer to himself. To use a preservation spell and make sure it would never wilt.

Tubbo seemed to just live on his same wavelength even after only a few days of knowing Tommy. “Nope, no spell here. You never have to do any magic you don’t want.” Tommy blinked in surprise.

He accepted the flower and his hands grew warm as a pulse of magic ran through the plant. It would now never wilt or rot. “Allium symbolizes good things, if that’s any help. Ranboo likes to give flowers to new friends. I still have the sunflower he gave me when we first met.”

“Wait, you kept that?” Ranboo asked, ears drooping weepily. Tubbo’s eyebrows rose and he sat down next to the familiar and curled up on his side. “Of course!”

Ranboo wrapped one of his freakishly long arms around Tubbo’s shoulders in some side hug. Tubbo seemed content to let the familiar hug him. Tommy’s hands twitched and he took a slight step back, intending to flee before he intruded or they noticed he was still there. A fruitless effort because as soon as he moved, Ranboo’s green eye shot opened and he motioned for Tommy to come closer and suffer the same fate.

Something in his chest blew up into little butterflies and the fondness he felt was almost painful. He stepped closer and plopped down on his bed- was it his? Was this his room by this point? They’d called it Tommy’s room many times now. With enough force to jostle all of them.

But there was barely a second inbetween before Ranboo’s grabby hand caught his shoulder and he was dragged to lay down next to him. Tommy and Tubbo on either side of the yawning familiar.

He could feel Tubbo moving around and then there was one of the warm fluffy blankets Techno had given him being draped over all three of them. Twin purrs came from Ranboo and Tommy, both looking equally embarrassed.

“Aw,” Tubbo said just to watch Ranboo flush deeper and his ear to flick in embarrassment and for Tommy to hiss at him. Tubbo burst out laughing and with a snap of his fingers the light in the room went out. “Nap time,” he declared. Then the witch plopped down, head buried in Tommy’s pillows and Ranboo’s arm clutched in his own.

Tommy yawned- who knew they were contagious to demons too- and pulled the warm blankets tighter around himself. A careful hand fell onto his curls sorting gently through them like it was just a habit for him to mindlessly comfort his friends. Tommy went boneless and his eyes fell shut. Maybe Ranboo wasn’t a total friend stealing prick. A wrong’un, sure. But since when has Tommy cared about that.

A week had passed since he’d met Ranboo. He’d been at the Crafts for nearly two weeks now, and well. He was still here. Phil greeted him every morning. Never seeming annoyed to still see him.

But today was the first time Tommy would actually leave the Craft’s house. Tubbo had taken him on a tour inside the entire place. Then Ranboo and Tubbo had taken him outside to the yard to play in the grass. When Technoblade had come out to till the soil they bothered him.

But he’d never been in a car. Always walking and teleporting with him and Dream. It was just him and Phil, and Tommy thinks he should feel more nervous than he is.

Phil is- he’s nice to him. Nice like the caregivers of him and his nestmates were. Phil wasn’t his caregiver. Was he? He did take care of Tommy, helped him and tried to make him happy. Maybe Phil was his caregiver...

Phil instructed Tommy how to buckle himself up. After a minute of the younger demon struggling, Phil calmly reached over the seats and buckled the clip. Then he did his own.

“We might need a booster seat for you, mate. Don’t let me forget.” Tommy wrinkled his nose. He didn’t even know what that was.

Then Phil started the car and Tommy jumped as it roared to life. But Phil didn’t seem alarmed so he took a deep breath and tried to calm his fluttering heart.

Slowly Tommy began to relax, he rested his head against the door and felt the shaking- more like a rumble, under his head. It was almost soothing. Tommy watched the scenery change as the car was eventually pulled to a stop in a parking lot.

Phil didn’t even try to teach him to unbuckle. He got out of the car and Tommy twisted to watch him walk around to open his door. “Hey mate,” he chuckled. “Miss me?” Tommy pouted, ignoring how hot his face felt.

Phil unbuckled him and lifted him from the car and setting the demon on his hip. Tommy wrapped his arms around Phil’s shoulders, watching everything he did.

Tommy had gone shopping a few times with Dream. But that wasn’t fun. He made Tommy make the cashiers forget. Tommy’s frown deepened.

“What’s wrong Tommy?” The man had pulled out a cart and was about to set him in it.

“I don’ wanna make th’m forget,” Tommy mumbled.

“Make who forget?”

“The people, then we would leave.” Tommy rubbed at his face. He wasn’t upset or crying, the wind was just blowing directly into his eyes. Phil sat him in the cart, his hand rested on Tommy’s curls, gently ruffling them.

"Oh, hun. Toms, you don’t ever have to use your magic unless you want to. Certainly not for this. I’m buying stuff for you. No forgetting, no stealing.”

“For me?” Tommy whispered.

“Yes for you.” Phil’s thumb was gentle as it wiped away the tears on the child demon’s face. Sometimes he was every bit of a human six year-old he looked to be.

Shopping as it turned out was one of the most stressful and fun things ever. The first thing they did was get him clothes. So. Many. Clothes. He’d been wearing Ranboo’s oversized shirts and pants so he wasn’t complaining. But still.

The next was decor for his room, it was apparently essential. According to Phil. But the old man could just as easily be making stuff up.

It was less fun than the clothing shopping because Tommy didn’t know what he wanted in his room. Phil started with bedding. Easy, it should obviously be the funny block animal ones. He also got a rug and a nightlight Phil threw in without looking at him.

Tommy saw a few pretty display records underneath a bunch of wall mounts. He chose a few posters and then an ironic painting of a church. Phil had to stop and laugh because of the shit eating grin on Tommy’s face.

They picked out a car seat and Phil paid for everything. He nor Tommy used their magic. Tommy rode home in his new seat, able to see out of the window now and nearly lulled to sleep by the time they arrived home… Home huh?

Overall, shopping was fun in Tommy’s opinion. And afterwards, when everything had been hung up or laid down, the room felt like his home. And maybe, just maybe. Tommy began to think they wanted him to stay as much as he did.

It’d been a full month at this point. Adjustment was difficult. More often than not he didn’t have his glamor up, only for the faint of heart that came through the shop.

Something different was in the air. The last few days Philza had looked stressed. Techno looked exhausted. But neither would say anything and Tommy knew Wilbur knew because he was a dogshit liar.

“Where are you going?” Even though the magic of the bond between him and Techno had been removed, Tommy kept an eye on all of their emotions. He could feel the anticipation running through the silk thin link he had created between himself and all of them.

Tommy had control of it, mostly used as a party trick between nestmates. It was thankfully translatable and none of them even knew it was there.

Techno seemed to startle the slightest at the child suddenly appearing. It wasn’t a magic ability he was just fucking quiet on his feet. Tommy needed a bell so he couldn’t sneak around like that.

“Uhh, out.”

Tommy didn’t look especially fooled. “Why are you wearing armor?”

Techno stood and ruffled Tommy’s hair on the way out of the room. He ignored the swatting hands and kept walking.

“Technoblade?” Tommy asked, suddenly very quiet.

“Yeah Tommy?”

“Make sure you come back, please.” Don’t leave me, Tommy hoped Techno understood. I just found you all.

“Of course kid. Technoblade never dies.” Techno laughed and felt pleased when he heard Tommy join him.

Then Techno pushed Tommy to go find Phil. He would be fine. After all, Techno had a job to do, a duty to keep his family safe.

Tommy was bored. Bored and worried. Techno had been gone for an hour and Tommy had spent all of it going from person to person in order to distract himself with a healthy dose of anxiously pacing.

Tommy pouted and sat down next to Phil’s chair in order to slam his chin into the older demon’s kneecap. Phil jumped, a bit startled into nearly dropping his book. He hadn’t noticed the younger until it was too late for his kneecaps.

“Hey, mate,” Phil greeted. He slide in the dumb fridge themed bookmark and set the book aside. Tommy was many things and cat-like when he wanted attention was one of them. He wasn’t afraid to lay on a book.

“Phil, what’s a family?”

The older demon blinked in surprise. “What?”

“Tubbo said I’m part of the family a while ago. But… I don’t really know what that means.”

“Alright. I think the best way to describe it would be thinking back. In your groups you have nestmates right?” Tommy nodded and Phil could tell he was hanging on every word. “Well on Earth, humans, witches, etcetera have siblings, brothers, and sisters.”

“Are Wilby and Techno my brothers?”

Phil held back a laugh. This was an important conversation highlighting how far they’d come with Tommy. “You should ask Wilbur that, he might just cry if you called him that. A good type of cry,” he amended, seeing the fear flash across Tommy’s face. “Techno might deny it but he’s a softie, especially when it comes to you. Ranboo and Tubbo have considered you their brother as soon as either set eyes on you. So you’re definitely part of the Craft family, Tom.”

Tommy’s heart fluttered. Too fast and he wanted to stand and move and jump for joy but he wrapped his hands into the knitted blanket on Phil’s lap. “What about you?”

“Me?”

“Yeah. You don’t seem like a nestmate. More like… The caregivers. But I like you a lot more.” Tommy tilted his head to look at Phil better.

It took everything in the elder demon to not scoop up Tommy and brush away every fear he’d ever had. “That’s a good description. On Earth I might be described as a dad to you lot.”

“A dad,” Tommy enunciated every syllable, testing out the new word. “Does that make you my dad?” He asked innocently.

“It can be. You don’t have to call me that,” Phil clarified, reaching out to brush away the blonde fringe in Tommy’s eyes.

“Thanks, Phil, dad,” Tommy beamed at him and this time Phil didn’t stop himself from scooping up Tommy. The younger demon offered no protests and only burrowed underneath the blanket and closer.

Phil picked up the book again. It was a little after the middle but Tommy didn’t seem to mind Phil’s reading aloud as he dozed at his side. Ten minutes in, something changed and Tommy flinched so hard Phil did as well, dropping the book to the ground. But he didn’t care about that.

The boy next to him froze, eyes going wide and glazing over before a pained whine began in the back of his throat. “Tommy?” The young demon recoiled from his side with a short scream. Phil jolted.

“Techno’s hurt.” Is what Phil managed to gleam between the heaving cries. At that same moment the bracelet around Phil’s wrists buzzed lightly, a minor wound. Nothing fatal.

But Tommy shouldn’t have known unless… Oh. Phil should’ve guessed Tommy would make links with them. He used to be guilty of doing the exact same thing. Though he did it more out of fear of being used and betrayed again. It would make sense for Tommy to do the same.

Phil mentally berated himself for not thinking of that sooner. He picked up the inconsolable demon and got to his feet.

“It’s okay, Techno’s gonna be okay, Toms. He’s strong and he’ll get better.” Phil tried to soothe but Tommy only cried harder.

There was a rush of magic through the house and Tommy’s breathing hitched. There was a knock at the door and it was Wilbur. The vampire looked confused, eyes darting between Tommy and down the hall where both knew Technoblade was.

‘Have you got this covered?’ Wilbur seemed to ask.

The older demon just barely inclined his head towards where they had a medical room prepared. Being a bounty hunter for the supernatural was a dangerous job, and expensive if you had to pay to stitch up every wound.

‘Go.’ Phil urges.

Wilbur was on his feet, racing towards Techno to help him. “We’re gonna go and see Techno right after Wilbur’s done helping him out. He was okay enough to teleport, I’m sure he’s going to be just fine.”

“It feels like when Dream would get hurt,” Tommy sniffed. “Or when he died.”

Oh right. Shit. Tommy had been bonded to Dream when he died. He would’ve felt that too. “No, no Toms. Sweetheart,” Phil cooed. “Techno will be alright. We’re going to get him all fixed up.”

Tommy shook his head harshly into Philza’s shoulder. Phil didn’t think he’d be able to pry the child off himself, not that he wanted to. If he could bring any comfort to him he would.

“Listen Tommy, you need to close off the link you have with Techno.” Tommy somehow began shaking harder. “I’m not mad,” he cooed. “But it’s hurting you right now. Techno would never want to hurt you.”

There was a pause before Tommy squeaked out an, “Okay.” And squeezed his eyes shut tight. Phil could tell the second the pain quit filtering over to Tommy with the way the air seemed to flood from his lungs.

“Can we go see him?” Tommy asked, hiccuping from crying so hard. Tommy was worried about his brother- that’s the word Phil had used.

Phil glanced around Tommy’s head and to the doorway, eyes narrowed he prodded at Wilbur’s mind. The vampire sent a few good emotions back to the demon so Phil took that as an all clear.

“Of course, mate.” Tommy struggled in his arms for a moment until Phil got the memo and set him down on the ground. Tommy’s hand was firmly clenching his own and the two set off.

The house was big. Phil happened to have been on Earth a long time. The house wasn’t the first property to have been built on the land. But it felt more and more like home every time someone joined their family.

It was two stories if you count the basement, but enough rooms for each of them to have their own, Tubbo and Ranboo sharing. The basement was divided between a spell room and a library. And the second sitting room had long since been renovated for emergency first aid.

It didn’t take long to reach the white double doors. Phil knocked twice on the wood and Techno’s rough voice echoed out.

“Come in.” Wilbur was talking as well behind the walls. Probably pushing him back down if Phil knew anything about Techno.

Phil opened the door. He couldn’t help but sigh in relief when Techno was sitting and looked only a little banged up. There were crisp white bandages around his sword arm that Phil was sure the witch would ‘accidentally’ unravel. Wilbur’s hands were wet, and he was wearing a different shirt than before.

“Phil. Tommy!” The vampire greeted.

Tommy tugged against Phil’s hand and the elder demon let go and watched as the younger raced towards Techno. “Technoblade!” He was trying to climb up and before he could fall and hurt himself Techno reached down and pulled him up.

Tommy threw his arms around Techno in a death grip. The witch rolled his eyes but didn’t push the kid away.

Wilbur made his way to Phil’s side and the demon wrapped an arm around his son. It’d been a long night. The stress of the past month and it had all come down to this. Phil and Techno’s eyes met briefly and the witch nodded his head just barely in confirmation. Whoever it was that had given Tommy and potentially other nestlings’ true names out was no more.

Phil couldn’t help the small huffing laugh he let out in relief. Techno hugged Tommy just a bit tighter.

No one would ever hurt Tommy and get away with it as long as his family was around.

Techno recovered quickly. Three hours after Wilbur had apparently pulled the medical supplies out of his hands and made him sit down, he managed to weasel out of the medical ward. Techno insisted he hadn’t needed help and Wilbur pointed out he was getting blood everywhere.

Tommy was still shaken, phantom pains shot through his arm every now and again if he thought about it too hard. So Tommy- anxious enough to follow his demon instincts- felt clingy. He’d clung to Techno, then Wilbur when Tommy lost the witch he’d been following around. Then Wilbur picked up Tommy, hunted down Phil and set down the younger demon like he was a bomb about to explode.

Luckily, Phil never seemed to mind his company. Even though he was loud and asked too many questions Phil had the patience of a- pun intended- saint. At times. And mostly just with Tommy.

Tommy was clutching onto Henry in one arm and tugging on Phil’s shirt with the other. The man looked down and the boy let go and reached his free hand out in a grabby motion. He wasn’t tired, his legs were small and he had a harder time keeping up while Phil walked back and forth around the home. Taking stacks of paperwork from one side of the building to be filled out to the other to be processed.

Thankfully Phil seemed to understand what Tommy wasn’t saying. He seemed somewhat amused even. The older demon set down his papers and gathered Tommy on his hip. A small purr escaped Phil’s throat as Tommy hooked his chin over his shoulder and wrapped his arms around his neck sleepily.

Ten minutes later Phil had a snoozing baby demon in his arms and no hope of getting anything done. Thankfully Wilbur, though he’d complain halfheartedly, could cover what Phil usually did. He knew Wilbur would be jealous at the fact he was stuck doing paperwork and not Tommy cuddles.

Phil snorted at the thought, patting Tommy lightly on the back when he stirred. He could torture Wilbur by sending him pictures in a moment. For now he had a demon to get tucked into bed.