Chapter Text
Tommy firmly believed nothing could be worse than the day he was exiled. The day his friend threw him out of his country. The country he started with his brother. The only place he viewed as home. He was wrong though. This was so much worse.
Tommy lays on the ground with a stabbing pain piercing his back. He twitches helplessly unsure of what to do. It was overwhelming, clouding his brain with nothing but sheer pain. Complete agony breaking through the surface of his body. He cries and cries for anyone to help him.
“Phil!” He calls for his dad.
“Wilbur!” He calls for his dead brother. The brother he never stopped mourning.
“Techno!” He calls out for his brother who might as well be dead to Tommy. His brother who made it very clear he stopped caring about Tommy.
“Dream!” He calls out for his tormentor, his best friend. The only person who still cares.
“Dream!” He calls again and again. He screams his best friend’s name until his throat is dry and scratchy and he can’t bring himself to yell anymore. The pain overtaking his need for comfort.
All of a sudden the pain somehow manages to get worse and Tommy absolutely wails. He sobs tears and snot running down his face, which of course makes him cry more. I probably look so young like a little baby and I’m not a child. He thinks, but he can’t find it within himself to stop. It hurts too much to slow his crying. He reaches back even though it causes him extreme pain to do so and places his hand on his back to see if he could tell what's going on. To his horror he feels a cold thick liquid flowing out of two wounds in his back. That’s not the worst part though. Sticking out of these two wounds are what feel like bones.
Now what Tommy didn’t know was those were his wings. The ones he’d wanted so badly since he was three years old and started looking up to his father, wanting to be just like him. But since Tommy didn’t know what was happening he reacted in the way any sane person would.
“Oh my fucking god!” He screams, “My bones are coming out of my fucking body!”
He writhes and tries to move around, but finds he doesn’t have the energy to do anything other than lay there in silence. He wasn’t sure when it happened, but eventually the pain overtook him like a blanket leading into unconsciousness.
He’s soaring through the sky. Strong arms are wrapped around his small torso. The wind catches in his curly blonde hair. He looks up and sees the warm smile of his father. The smile he only gets when he’s flying. Tommy can’t help the smile of his own that forms in response to seeing his dad so happy.
Everything is perfect. He’s secure in his father’s arms and they’re soaring through the sky not a cloud in sight. A gorgeous day the sun shines brightly warming Tommy’s face and Phil’s black wings.
Then Tommy notices where they are flying. He sees the familiar tent, the beach with the abandoned party decorations. He frowns, but tries to ignore it and soak up the comfort his father is providing him, but when he seeks the warmth he can’t find. Suddenly the wind picks up rocking Tommy side to side and when he looks up to Phil he sees the malicious glint in the normally kind old man’s eyes. That’s the last thing he saw before falling. He hits the ground hard and the pain in his back begins to creep back into him.
He watches as Phil laughs as he lands safely and walks over to the boy standing over him.
“Tommy,” Phil says calmly.
“Tommy,” He repeats
“Tommy,” Again.
“Tommy,” And again.
“Tommy! Wake up!” He snaps. Tommy jolts up and sees that it isn’t his father standing over him. It’s Dream, and suddenly he forgets the ache in his back and grins widely.
“Dream!” Tommy exclaims, jumping up to hug his friend. Normally Dream doesn’t mind when Tommy gets clingy, but this time was different. Dream sends Tommy a disgusted look and pushes him causing Tommy to shrink back confused and hurt.
“Tommy, why would you hide this from me?” Dream asks, sounding hurt and offended.
“Hide what Dream? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Tommy cocks his head to the side like a puppy.
“Tommy, I can clearly see them. Stop lying.” Dream says in a scarily even tone, “You know I don’t like when you lie to me.”
“I’m sorry Dream.” Tommy says out of reflex even though he still doesn’t know what he’s apologizing for.
“Thank you for apologizing Tommy, but I’m afraid I’m still going to have to punish you for hiding your wings from me in the first place.” Dream says, sounding apologetic.
“Of course Dream.” Tommy says as he processes everything Dream says.
Wait wings!
Tommy turns around and sure enough two large wings are now sticking out of his back. He frowns though when he sees them. They are ugly and bare and nothing like Phil’s. Why aren’t mine large and majestic like dad’s? Can I not even grow wings right? Tommy sniffles before turning back to Dream.
“Now Tommy I don’t like hurting you. You know that right?” Dream asks sympathetically.
Tommy shrinks back knowing he disappointed his best friend and for some reason that hurts him more than it normally would have. He nods.
“Good. So you know this is necessary right?”
Tommy nods again.
“Good.” Dream motions for Tommy to come closer. Tommy scrambles quickly to comply. Dream stands from his position and pulls out his ax. The dark gray material glinting purple with enchantments. Tommy flinches knowing what’s coming. Dream brings the ax down and hits Tommy in the leg reopening an old wound from one of his past punishments.
Tommy fights the urge to cry out in pain knowing Dream doesn’t like it when he yells. He opts to bite his lip until he feels the cool crimson liquid flowing down his chin, the same way it is on his leg. Just because he doesn't let out a cry doesn’t mean he can stop the flow of tears running down his cheeks. Dream moves on from his leg delivering blow after blow. Some with his ax, some without, some with the sharp end of his ax, and some with the blunt side. All hurting an equal amount. Proving that Dream doesn’t need a weapon to hurt Tommy and that terrifies the boy. He knows Dream would never hurt him without reasoning, but the fear that his best friend could hurt him whenever even though Tommy knows Dream won’t unless he has to.
As suddenly as it started the berating stopped. Leaving a throbbing pain to radiate through Tommy’s body as the tears flow freely down his face. Dream drops the ax far away from the young boy's shaking figure. He lets out a soft coo at the boy before kneeling next to him pulling the crying avian into his arms.
“Shhh. It’s ok. You’re ok. You’re safe now. It’s ok.” Dream croons at the young boy and the boy pushes into the older man’s reassurances immediately melting at the man’s touch. Dream begins to card his fingers through Tommy’s matted and greasy hair cringing at the pieces of dirt and sand that get caught under his fingernails as he scratches the younger’s scalp.
Tommy relaxes more and more into the touch.
His brain screams at him Safe. Safe. Love. Friend. Dream. Safe. Flock.
Tommy would be lying if he didn’t find that last thought strange, but he pushes it into the back of his mind. He finds he starts to lose control of himself. This didn’t matter of course, until it felt like a bubble was building up in his throat. Expanding forcing an unknown sound out of the young boy’s throat. He tries to fight it down but he can’t help himself when he lets out an involuntary
Chirp.
Both Tommy and Dream’s eyes widened at that. Tommy’s cheeks flush bright red and he tries to fumble out an apology, but the only thing to come out of his mouth is
Chirp. Chirp. Chirp.
As the chirps continue they grow more panicked. Tommy wishes they would stop, but they just kept coming, much to Tommy’s horror. Dream however saw this as an opportunity. A mischievous smile forms on his face as he shoots Tommy a condescending look.
“Aww Toms. It’s ok.” He coos loudly with a hint of teasing in his voice and Tommy turns even redder than before.
Dream reaches behind Tommy and touches his wings causing Tommy to flinch before pushing back into his touch. The warmth of Dream’s hand soothing the sore muscles in his back. He lets the comfort lure him into a dreamless sleep in the arms of his best friend.
His mind fades to black as his brain coos.
Safe. Warm. Love. Best friend. Dream. Love. Safe. Safe. Safe. Flock.