Work Text:
Tommy glided through the water, sun warming his glistening tail as the crowd cheered him on. Their voices were coming from all directions, reverberating through the water. He tuned it out though, and focused on Dream. His trainer stood in front of him, slightly to the left as he held up a glimmering hoop a few feet above the water.
Tommy knew it seemed easy to the audience, but things were always harder than they looked. Tensing his muscles, he launched himself out of the water with his tail and maneuvered through the shining hoop, flipping once before diving back gracefully into the water.
He could hear the crowd's screams even under the water, and he heard Dream’s excited yell as well. Letting the success wash through him, Tommy made his way back to the surface for photos and goodbyes, making sure to smile as he sought out different cameras in the crowd. He barely managed to hide his flinch when Dream pulled him to his side, grinning as the locals snapped their photos.
There was a few people who didn’t seem too happy with his performance, and Tommy narrowed his eyes as three members of the crowd talked to each other, brows furrowed and faces tight, gesturing to him every now and then. He was pulled away from them by Dream, who guided him to his tank, where he stayed after shows. It wasn’t big by any means, but it was his home.
“That was great Tommy, I knew you had it in you!” Dream’s voice was giddy from where it rung outside of his tank, and he slumped in relief as the other walked circles outside the glass. It wasn’t hard, since his enclosure was about the size of a bed.
“Thanks, big man. Did you...” Tommy trailed off, thinking of the three men at the show who weren’t cheering. “Nevermind.”
“What is it? Is this about the program length again? People expect a show , Tommy, that means at least an hour of-“
“No no no, It’s not that, I just… there was a few people in the audience who seemed to be pretty angry by the end of the show.. and I was wondering what I did wrong?” Dream was silent for a moment, before sighing and moving closer to the glass. Tommy mirrored him, swimming closer to his coach.
“It was good, but you can do better. They were probably trainers, or have at least competed before.” Tommy’s heart dropped as Dream’s words made his way into his head, wrapping around him like thorned vines.
“You can do better, all you need to do is work with me. No more of that back talk, no more resisting, let me mold you into something great. We’ll take the world, Tommy, and we’ll win it all.” He spoke like the stars were in his reach, and Tommy began to see them as well as he leaned closer, bumping his forehead into the glass. Dream was the only person he had talked to for the past few years, how could he not believe the man?
And so he trained, harder than he ever had before. Any free time he had (which was all of his time) he spent training with Dream, and when Dream wasn’t there he would practice on his own. The crowd began to cheer louder at shows as they did more and more daring tricks, and Tommy reveled in it.
He hadn’t seen those three men since that show, and he hoped it stayed that way.
His hopes weren’t reality, though, and as he started his warmups for the next show they entered, taking a front seat. The tallest out of them had long pink hair, with a scowl that never seemed to cease. Equal with him was a prick with short brown hair, and wire rimmed glasses that he pushed up whenever he talked. The shortest out of them was a blonde, but he seemed to hold the most power when he spoke.
He went through the routine as normal, passing it with flying colors. He had lost weight from the training, and it made it easier to pass through the hoops that Dream presented for him. It was (almost) enough to ignore his weakness, and his constant shivering, even in the burning sun.
That didn’t matter though, what mattered was smiling for the pictures at the end of his routine, wrapping an arm around Dreams shoulders when he didn’t have enough strength to hold himself up, ignoring the three men in the front row that looked at him with worry-
Because Tommy was fine. He was great; even, because Dream was molding him into what he needed to be. Into someone great. Making his way back to his tank, that was the only though that comforted him.
(It wasn’t enough, it never would be.)
Sleep came harder that night, and it was rudely interrupted as the door to the room slammed open, dream and an employee storming in angrily.
“Wh- they can’t just see Tommy, it would upset him!” Dream said, gesturing wildly to his tank. Keeping his breaths even and eyes shut, Tommy furrowed his brows. Who wanted to see him?
“I know, but these people have paid a lot of money. We’re not in a position to refuse.” The worker replied, checking something on their phone.
“They’ll be here soon, you should wake him up and let him know what’s going on.” With that they were gone, leaving him with Dream. Tommy would rather be anywhere else, and his shoulders tightened as silence encased them.
“Tommy, I know you’re awake.” Dream’s said, serious as he neared the glass. Tommy swam closer, looking for anyone entering behind him.
“Remember those three men from the show? The ones who doubted you?” At Dream’s pause Tommy nodded slowly, feeling a sinking stone settle in his stomach.
“They’ve come to see you, one on one.” His voice was low, almost dangerous as the teen shrank before him.
“You need to tell them you’re happy here, that you want to stay. If you don’t, they’ll take you away. Do you understand?” He nodded quickly, fiery red tail flicking below him. Dream studied him for a moment before turning on his heel, making his way to the door.
“Be good, Tommy.” He couldn’t bring himself to respond as the door slammed behind his coach, it was like his mouth was sewn shut. Not long after the men from before entered, Tommy narrowed his eyes as they approached.
“Hey, mate.” The blonde said, walking closer with a small wave as Tommy swam out from behind his decor.
“…Hello.” He replied after a short silence, remembering Dream’s words. Act happy, make sure you get to stay here.
Did he want to stay, though?
“This is Techno,” The man with long rose hair nodded in greeting, “and this is Wilbur.” He grinned, walking closer to stand with Phil.
“Hello Tommy. Do you like it here?” He was blunt, voice unnaturally bright as he leaned into Tommy’s personal space. How did this fucker know his name?
“What does that mean?” He asked, and his chest tightened as Wilbur cocked his head. Why couldn’t Dream be here? That green bastard was always with him for interviews, even if they were short.
“Your.. situation.. is bad, Toms. I noticed you.. getting worse. Your health is deteriorating.” Wilbur's voice wasn’t accusatory, but Tommy took it all the same as he brought himself up to his full height in the tank, glaring at the men who thought that he needed their help .
“Fuck off! Dream cares for me and I'm fine , I train everyday and sleep here every night. I don’t need your help , because nothing is wrong.” He was seething, tail flicking behind him as he stared them down. Phil sighed.
“Oh, mate .” He was distressed, Tommy realized, and against his better judgment he let out a small comforting trill, wincing as Phil’s eyes snapped up to meet him. He seemed to be frozen, but Tommy registered someone else in his peripheral. Techno.
“Kid, most mers have their own lake or aquarium, with live plants and animals so they can thrive. We have an entire reef, bigger than your arena. This- this is just sad , you can do better than this.” Techno wasn’t insulting Tommy like Wilbur, or giving him pity like Phil. He was just telling the truth, and Tommy swam closer to him as he cocked his head.
“You have a reef? As in, a coral reef?” Techno nodded, rolling his shoulders out before looking around the room.
“We could take you there, if you want, and if you don’t take a likin’ to it we’ll just take you back.” Wilbur furrowed his eyebrows but Tommy didn’t notice, deep in thought. On one hand, this was dangerous, he couldn’t know if they were being truthful. On the other hand, he was tired of the training, broken down and exhausted for hours only to wake up the next morning and do the same. He could always go back, Techno said so.
Nodding slowly, he watched as relief filled Phil and Techno’s face, while Wilbur was already on the phone with someone.
“Then let's get you out of here, yeah?” Phil’s voice was strong, and Tommy smiled, genuine for the first time in years.