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Wilbur had promised.
He had promised.
All that time ago, when Tommy had first been found, not by Wilbur, but by Siren, the man had promised he would never use his powers on him.
Back then, Tommy had witnessed first hand how powerful Siren’s ability was. The villain had been breaking into a lab, the lab that Tommy happened to be captive in. The villain, as Tommy learned later on, had initially been there to take some equipment and blueprints. The lab itself was run by the hero corporation, so it made sense that Siren wanted to try and steal some things from them.
Tommy had witnessed Siren using his powers on the guards and scientists of the place. On a few, ones that Tommy knew didn’t have any powers, Siren simply told them to sleep. On others, he told them to jump out the window. And when a leftover guard pointed a gun at him, Siren told him to shoot himself instead.
Tommy had only just managed to turn away in time but the gunshot had still rung in his ears. And it did nothing to block out the sound of the now limp body hitting the floor. He hadn’t been able to hold back a whimper at the noises and when silence overcame the room, Tommy looked up to see the human staring right at him.
Present day Tommy liked to say he cursed Siren out when that happened. That he hadn’t backed down, even when the villain had reached for him.
In reality, when Tommy noticed Siren start to walk toward him, he had froze. His fear in that moment had been overwhelming and all he could do was back away until his back hit the wall of the tank. He had just watched this man kill other humans and command them with simple words after all. If the villain could do all that to some humans, Tommy didn’t even want to think about what he could do to a borrower like Tommy.
Siren opened his mouth and Tommy expected a command, an order.
Instead, Siren’s words held no power to them. “It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you.”
Siren had then grabbed him in a gentle fist, taking him out of his cage. Tommy had struggled, not believing his words. Why would he? Words meant nothing when he felt helpless in the grip of a human. He fought against the hand until he was exhausted, going limp in the grip by the time Siren had made it home.
That night had been filled with gentle words and light touches. Something that surprised Tommy more than anything. Even the heroes that had captured him hadn’t been so gentle.
And that night, a promise was made. One that calmed Tommy’s heart and opened himself up to the idea that maybe he could trust what Siren said.
“I promise, I’ll never use my powers on you.” Siren, Wilbur, had said that fateful night. And Tommy, despite his lingering fears, had believed him.
He had been a fool.
“Tommy, seriously, you’re being ridiculous.” Wilbur said and it wasn’t hard to hear the annoyed tone in his voice. He was at the opposite end of the table that Tommy was standing on. At the other end was The Blade, or Techno as he preferred to be called by those closer to him. Tommy was still in awe over the fact that he even fit into that category.
But he wasn’t focused on that right now. No, because Wilbur was the one being ridiculous. All Tommy wanted was information and Techno was willing to give it to him. Not Wilbur.
“How am I being ridiculous? I deserve to know what kinds of things you guys do! And since you won’t tell me, Techno graciously offered to tell me himself.” Tommy said with a huff. He was feeling a bit overwhelmed with two humans hovering over him but he remained as calm as he could.
“Tommy.” Wilbur sounded tense now, along with still being annoyed. It made Tommy flinch. “You don’t understand. This sort of stuff…” Wilbur shook his head. “You don’t need to know it.”
“Don’t need to…?” Tommy curled his hands into fists. “I do though! I hate seeing you come back home with whatever new injury you have! We live together, big man, I deserve to know what’s going on with you and the rest of the SBI.” Tommy crossed his arms. “I’d rather have heard it from you but if Techno is more willing to tell me then so be it.”
Said villain was still just standing there and though he still had his mask on, it was easy to see how awkward he was feeling with Tommy and Wilbur arguing. He cleared his throat though, bringing attention to himself. “Seriously Wil, the kid deserves to-”
“Shut it, Techno.” He interrupted him, before turning back to Tommy. “Just come here. You don’t need to know about any of this.” Wilbur repeated and that was the last straw. Tommy turned his back to Wilbur angrily.
“You’re not the boss of me.” Tommy said. If he wanted to learn some things from Techno, he didn’t need Wilbur’s f****** permission.
But turned around as he was, he couldn’t see the expression on Wilbur’s face.
But he did hear the growl.
“Tommy, come here.”
A cold, foreign power washed over his body and panic settled into his gut. Against his will, his body turned and started walking towards Wilbur. Tommy tried to fight against it, but his body wouldn’t so much as twitch against the hold Wilbur had over him. “No no no no.” Came out in short, stuttered breaths.
“Wilbur…” Techno’s tone was unreadable and his voice trailed off. Wilbur himself ignored Techno altogether, eyes focused on Tommy, an unrecognizable look in them.
His feet carried him closer until he was right in front of the villain. But as soon as he made it, the power over him fell away and Tommy took this opportunity to try and run. Even though he knew it was hopeless, he still had to try.
“Stop.”
Tommy froze and tears pricked the corners of his eyes.
A hand wrapped around him, gentle as always but this time Tommy didn’t find comfort in being in the hold at all. He felt utterly betrayed and terrified and as Wilbur turned Tommy over in his hand so they were now face to face, Tommy found he couldn’t meet his eyes.
“You…You promised.” Tommy choked out, close to sobbing. He knew he should have never trusted a human, let alone a villain.
Wilbur’s facade broke a little but he composed himself and opened his mouth again. Tommy flinched at just that.
“Sleep, Tommy.”
And Tommy was powerless to stop the way his eyes closed and darkness took over him.
“Seriously Wilbur?” Techno said as Wilbur held Tommy gently in his hands. “I thought you ‘promised’.” Techno said, eyebrow raised but not quite mad per say.
“I did but…you heard him! He wasn’t going to back down.” Wilbur looked down at the incredibly tiny life in his hands, trying to push away the guilt that was trying to crawl up into his heart. “It’s too dangerous for him to know this stuff, you know that.” Wilbur glared at Techno but his brother only shrugged.
“It’s also dangerous for him not to know.” Techno said. “But fine. If you want to keep him in the dark, then that’s your decision. But I can tell you, after this? He’s not gonna trust you like he used to.”
Wilbur bit his lip and looked down at Tommy again. He looked so peaceful when asleep. He used a finger to gently move some hair out of his face before sighing. “I know.” He looked up to meet Techno’s eyes. “I know, which is why I have to do this.”
Techno looked confused but Wilbur ignored him and brought Tommy a bit closer. “Tommy.” He said, his voice already thick in sweetness and power. “When you wake up, you won’t remember me using my power on you or this conversation.” He felt his power flush out of him and fall around Tommy. He watched the borrower shiver for a brief moment before becoming lax once again.
And there it was. A second chance. A reset. He didn’t have to feel bad because Tommy didn’t remember and that made it fine. It meant that, in the long run, his mistake didn’t matter. Right?
“…How many times have you broken your so called promise?” Techno asked and Wilbur jerked up, looking at Techno with wide eyes. He quickly calmed himself though and held Tommy close to his chest.
“…I don’t have to answer that.” Wilbur said after some hesitation. “Besides, it-it doesn’t matter. Tommy won’t remember this and I won’t do it again. It’ll be fine.”
Techno only hummed. “Right.” He turned around and headed towards the door. “Welp, I’ll let you deal with all that. See you at dinner tomorrow.” And with that, Techno left him alone with Tommy.
“Techno just doesn’t understand.” He muttered to himself, taking a seat on the couch and still cradling Tommy in his hands. He looked back down at him and pushed down the guilt. “I’m just doing this to protect you. Besides, I won’t do it again. Never again.”
And even Wilbur knew he was lying when the next words came out of his mouth. “I promise.”