Chapter Text
Tommy sprinted through the streets, panting hard and fast as he weaved through the people. He saw a park in the distance, grinning as he pushed himself harder. Blade was hot on his heels, practically in arms reach as he snarled in his ear. Tommy kept his wings close to his body as he grew closer to the park, he was not going to get caught by someone catching his feathers.
Finally he broke out into the open green, and took off into the blue sky. He could hear a curse from behind him as he laughed, and flipped himself around just in time to see Blade tapping his ear, talking to someone over the comms as he looked up at Tommy. Two could play that game, he thought as he turned on his comms.
“Red, are you in the clear?” Tubbo's voice crackled out, a bit glitchy with how far up in the sky Tommy was.
“All clear, Eros. Did’ya get the files?” He replied, propelling himself to the outskirts of Esempi. It got more run down as he went, but Tommy was just happy to be back on his home turf. Plus, he had to fly fast if he didn’t want Philza catching up with him.
“Yes, I got the files. Who do you think I am?” An idiot, Tommy thought as he landed in an alley beside their apartment. For someone with hyper intelligence as his power, Tubbo could have very little common sense. For example, just right now, he had hacked into government files before Tommy had even begun to distract the heroes.
He winced as the suit came off, some parts of the fabric sticking to cuts. Throwing a loose hoodie over his head, Tommy made his way into the apartment. Nodding at the woman in the lobby, because he has manners, Tommy practically bounced up the stairs to their place. The closer he got, the more he wanted to be inside, behind several different locks and under the protection of Tubbo and Ranboo.
He was walking through the door soon enough, and face planted onto the couch as Tubbo and Ranboo walked in.
“So, yeah, we got the files, but it’s gonna take me a few days to get through the encryptions on it, because heroes are stingy about their sEnSiTiVe InFoRmAtIoN.” Tubbo said, falling down next to Tommy on the couch.
“How did you manage to say that- Tommy! Are you hurt?” Ranboo asked, flipping Tommy over on his back like he weighed nothing. Which, okay, he was a bit thin, but Ranboo didn’t have to go and humiliate him like that.
“M’fine, boo. Blade only got to swipe me twice with his weird.. claw thingies.” Tommy groaned as he flipped himself back over. He wanted to sleep for a year.
But alas, capitalism was calling.
Him, Ranboo, and Tubbo all worked shifts at Oceans, a nice cafe with an even nicer manager, Niki. It gave them barely enough to cover rent, but it was either this or robbing a bank, so.
The three were all on shift together, a rare thing given their personalities. Often they got paired up with either Dream, George, or Sapnap for a shift, and Tommy was able to get through it without too many injuries. However, this shift was going to be fun.
Why, you might ask?
The #1, #2, and #3 heroes just walked through the door. The ones that Tommy had just fought, not even an hour before.
Joy.
Tommy smiled, practiced, as they walked up to the register. He looked at them, noticing the way Blade glared at him fiercely, only pausing to respond to something Philza said.
“So, what drinks can I get started for you guys? Today’s special is a Cafe Americano, which is a favorite of the regulars.” Tommy smiled, waiting as they looked at eachother.
“I’ll have the special, thanks.” Philza replied, eyebrows furrowing as he looked at Tommy.
“Mate, what happened to your cheek? It looks like you’ve got a bit of a cut there.” The concern was clear in his voice, and Tommy felt himself pale as the other members of the group decided it was now the perfect time to stare at the waiter. He touched the cut lightly, and winced. He forgot to bandage it before he left, and now he has to face the hero who gave it to him? And lie about it to his face?
“Ah, I- um, crashed my bike here, didn’t have time to put a bandaid on it. What else would you like to drink?” Was that a good enough excuse? Even if it was, the stutters might’ve messed it up. Oh god, what if Blade puts the pieces together-
“We’ll just have two glasses of water, thanks.” Ace said, smiling at him. He seems taller in person, Tommy thought as he sped back to the refreshment station and grabbed their drinks. He dropped the waters off, before going back to start Philza’s coffee. He bumped into Tubbo on his way, and subtly nodded to the group of the heroes waiting in the pickup area. The teen’s eyes widened, before following Tommy to the brew machine, both of their backs turned to the heroes.
“What the fuck? What the fuck?”
“I know! They asked about my cut, so I told them it was from my bike. I don’t think strawberry shortcake believed me though.” Tubbo snorted, before taking Tommy’s finished americano and sliding it over to the heroes, grin on his face. Once they made their way to the door, Tubbo snatched Tommy by the wrist and dragged him to the breakroom, grabbing a first aid kit out of nowhere and throwing a face mask at him, effectively covering up the cut.
“There. Better.”
“Are you saying I'm less ugly with my face covered?”
“Yes.”
Tommy grinned, before they went back to the register. The rest of the shift wasn’t very packed, just the regulars and few teens after school, selling out their pastries. A few of them looked like they had bruises for eyebags. Tommy felt that on a personal level.
Once their shift was over they biked home, taking side streets to avoid the traffic. Rushing to lock up the bikes and run up the stairs was a talent, Tommy thought as he raced for the door. Ranboo got there first, because of course he did, leaning on the door just as Tommy and Tubbo reached it, out of breath.
“I don’t know why you guys keep trying to beat me, I can literally teleport.” Ranboo said as they walked inside, flicking on the lights. Tubbo groaned, going to his room as Tommy got on their computer. He was always looking for a second job to pick up, and tonight was no different.
Trash collector, no, library assistant, no. Hero internship? Oh, this was interesting, Tommy thought as he opened the application.
10 minutes later a half assed application was submitted, and he sighed as he shut the computer and joined Tubbo in their room.
It’s been a long day, Tommy thought as he collapsed into the mattress.