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“Shit… This isn’t good…” Tommy staggered into an alleyway. His blood dripped onto the pavement. One hand was on his side, covering a wound. His Hero suit was badly torn from top to bottom. The dried blood on his forehead was definitely not a good sign either.
“Hey… Tubbo…?” He whispered, fidgeting with the communicator in his mask. The wet blood on his hand was making things a lot harder. He was pretty sure he had broken it during the chase. He was just patrolling the city when Marionette jumped on him.
“T~~~~! To- T~~my! Are ~~~ alri~~t?” A voice cracked from his earpiece, followed by static. Tubbo was going to kill him for breaking his communicator again.
“Yeah… Just casually dying out in a fuckin’ alleyway.” Tommy mumbled, wincing at his sensitive leg.
“~~~ TO~~Y! ~~~~, I’ll ~end ~~~boo to co~e ~~t y~u.” The voice sighed.
Tommy could hear the loud clicking of the keyboard, even through the static. The clicking got louder and louder, making it clear that Tubbo either pissed at him, or something else. He hoped it was something else.
“I~ no~ m~d.” Tubbo coughed, trying to break the silence between the two.
“What’s the ETA? Tommy groaned. He could hear a faint snap of strings.
“Fi~e.” More snapping.
“Decibel… Are you hiding again?” Marionette cooed, appearing around the corner of the alleyway.
“Tell em’ to hurry up-” Tommy hissed, closing his mask over his eyes. That too, was cracked down the middle. The left side of his visor smashed against the ground, revealing one of his eyes. “Go fuck off, bitch.”
“Such a mouth for a child.” Marionette tsked, green strings appeared in the air. All of them shot towards the injured Hero. Tommy flinched at the sight of them, there was a very good reason why Techno always dealt with this Villain. Taunting, they stopped inches away from his face.
Marionette tilted his head, taking a few steps forward. The green strings were getting dangerously close to Tommy’s throat. Close enough to do damage, but not enough to kill. Marionette was definitely taunting him.
“Fuckin’ bastard-” Tommy snapped, the words dying on his tongue. Snug against his neck, the stings tightened in warning.
“Shhh...” Marionette laughed, bending down to meet Tommy’s eyes. “Did I break your mask as well, little Hero?” Tommy shrunk away from the Villain. How bad he wanted to slap that grin on his face. How bad he wanted to kick his ass. How he just couldn’t do anything made Tommy furious. “Let’s put on a show, shall we?”
Tommy shut his eyes. The bright green was starting to hurt his brain. Marionette smiled, looking near the front of the alley.
“Release your strings, Marionette.” A familiar voice growled.
“Take any step closer, I’ll chop off his head.” The Villain threatened. The strings around Tommy’s tightened, only to prove his point.
Protesilaus stood with Particle at the front of the alley, a cloud of purple particles floated around them. “You wouldn’t dare…”
“Try me…” He smirked, letting another group of strings wrap around Tommy’s ankles.
The blonde whined, eyes still closed shut. His ankle was definitely sprained, considering he did jump off the roof of a building. Tommy innit, the coolest man alive did not, sadly, land the jump.
Any of his injuries would have clotted by now, but any sudden movement would undo it. He opened one eye, trying to ignore the bright green in his face. He could feel a sudden headache form at the back of his head.
What was left of his mask dropped to the ground. Tommy screamed, blood dripping into his eyes. The strings around his neck disappeared, poking at a pair of slashes across his eye.
Marionette tilted his head, picking up the fallen plastic. “Shame you won’t be needing this anymore.” He tsked again, punching Tommy across the face. The blonde fell to the ground with a yelp, a hand holding his face gingerly.
Particle yelled something, but Protesilaus held out a hand to stop them. He shook his head, turning back to the Villain. “You thought we came alone?”
“No, but you thought I didn’t have an escape plan.” Marionette held up a can of something in his clean hand, his other covered in Tommy’s blood.
“There’s nowhere you can go, mate.” Zephyrus landed on a trash bin. Too close for Marionette’s comfort.
“There’s nowhere for me to go, but there’s somewhere for him to go.” He laughed, tossing the can behind him. As soon as the can touched the ground, it exploded with smoke.
“ZEPH, THE SKIES.” Protesilaus yelled, muttering to Particle to run and sound the alarm. “I know you're still there, puppet.”
No one answered. Particle was gone. Zephyrus was high in the sky looking for someone that wouldn’t be up there.
“Scared yet?” The Hero whispered, his favorite axe in hand.
“I’m here, but your Decibel is gone. Gone for good.” Marionette laughed, unfazed by how he was thrown against the wall. The Villain was right. The injured blonde was nowhere to be seen. The only signs of him ever being here was the puddle of blood in the cracked pavement.
“What makes a Hero different from a Villain?” Marionette asked, dodging the raging punch from the pinkette. “In the end, we’re just people with special skills. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“Your intentions.” Protesilaus growled, slamming his foot into the puppeteer's chest. The sound of bones breaking was like music to his ears.
Marionette coughed, blood dribbling from his chin. “Then kill me with your good intentions, Hero.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There was no good reason for Record to be out of the bunker. The best one he could come up with was that he needed fresh air. The chances of Marionette believing that was slim. He would always say it was dangerous. That he could get injured, taken, killed, mugged, anything could happen.
Record rolled his eyes at the thought. He had superpowers. His own chances of getting mugged or stabbed was even lower.
It had been months since he had seen the outside world. There were no windows to the outside. All the doors to the outside were locked with a code only Marionette knew.
How he got out was a different story. One of the doors he happened to pass was open. Drawn by the soft breeze of cool air. Record opened the door wider, waiting for an alarm to go off. Nothing happened.
Opening it to the fullest, Record ran. He didn't know where he was running, but anywhere was better than being in the bunker for who knows how long. Spotting a ladder on the side of a nearby building, he scaled it. Not even out of breath when he stopped at the roof. What stopped him was the view.
The view of the sun setting across the horizon. The tallest building in the city framing the setting sun. The last seconds of light streaming across the lake. The rays basking the city, his city in golden light. It looked like everything was glowing for a second. Soon the sun set, leaving everything in artificial light. The blue light he ever so hated. The blue light greeted him when he woke up after nightmare after nightmare.
Marionette was usually never in the bunker. Said he was busy doing his job or hanging out with his co-workers. But Record knew that wasn't true. What job would cover their employee in blood? Injuries crusted with dirt?
Record knew better than to ask questions. He knew that very well. Unwanted questions asked for trouble. He didn't want to be or cause any more trouble than he was to Marionette.
The wind whispered again, this time telling him to go down on the streets. Why did he listen to the wind? No one knows.
Quietly, Record slid down the metal ladder, making a note to come back to the same spot to watch the sun rise. He had never seen a sunrise before. He wondered if it would be the same as a sunset. He looked left and right out of the small alleyway. There was no one in the streets, except for a few cars passing by. They all looked somewhat fancy and definitely looked like they were worth a lot of money. Not like Record had any on him, so his chances of being robbed, were again, low.
Walking down the street, he had the sudden urge that he had been here before. That was strange. Record had no memory of being outside the bunker before. Nor did he remember anything before the accident. This was a story Marionette had told him thousands of times. So many that he could say it word to word by heart.
“It was a dark night.” He said. Almost like this one.
“You were just hanging and messing around in an empty alleyway. Then a group of drunk people entered. They told you to leave. But you said no, and ignored them. The leader came up to you and punched you in the face. Leaving that bruise.” He pointed at the purple and black circle on Record's cheek. “
"I heard all of this from a distance, and I got curious. So I came, seeing what was up. The drunk group had banged you up pretty badly.” He tapped gently at Record's metal replacement limbs.
“You passed out, but I remember it clearly. Your right arm was chopped off. Laying not far from the leader's kitchen knife on the ground. Your right leg bent the wrong way. And your face.” He tsked, growing as he met Record’s eye. “Your face was so bloody, I almost threw up. It looked like your eyeball was scratched and pulled out. Shards of glass were in your forehead and hair. Your cheeks swollen from being hit.”
Record shuddered at the thought. That was why Marionette trained him. Trained him to be better than just a group of drunk people. To be better than everyone.
He touched the black eye patch on his face, tracing the two thin white lines that stretched across his other cheek. There was a darker patch in the cement, like a stain that never came out.
The wind picked up suddenly, reminding him that he ran out with just a dark red t-shirt and a pair of ripped jeans.
“Fuckin’ cold…” He muttered, turning around to leave. Record stopped, his hands stilling on his arms. There stood two figures. Not just ordinary people, but two Heroes. Specifically, Particle and Radioactive.
Marionette had once made him remember the whole list of Villains, Heroes, and other very important people. It took him hours to remember all of them. But was he glad he had read the fine print.
Particle was a Hero with teleporting powers, always left behind a cloud of purple particles. Hence the name. Their partner, Radioactive, could create waves. Electric waves that went through mostly everything and anything. Almost like a taser.
Radioactive looked Record up and down, a frown set on his face. Particle stood next to him, face unfeeling.
The wind had died down, but Record felt like his metal limbs were freezing. He knew that was what the Heroes were looking at. Not one person would look at him like he was normal, Marionette told him a few weeks after he had gotten used to the replacements.
“What are you doing here so late?” Particle asked, their voice loud, but quiet.
Record shook his head. He knew better than to speak to strangers. Let alone a pair of Heroes. His best chance of getting out was to play mute and weak, until either the Heroes leave or Marionette comes and gets him.
“Everyone knows not to be here. Especially this alley…” Radioactive narrowed his eyes, approaching Record slowly.
Record swallowed, his throat feeling tight. Something was screaming at him to speak. To say who he was. The familiar ache to run and hug the both of them.
“Who are you ?” The shorter Hero snapped, walking faster now. More like a demand than a question. Particle walked slowly, worry set on their face now.
Record picked up his pace, slamming his back into the wall faster than he wanted too. He had done nothing wrong, so why were there two Heroes stalking him?
“Scared to shit, huh?” Radioactive glared, looking back from his metal arm, leg and his eyepatch. “Fucker’s not talking, Zeph.”
Record noticed Particle’s eyes were lingering on his scared eye. The white tissue stark against his normal tan.
“Make him talk then. I wanna know why he walked out of Marionette's base.” Another Hero appeared, landing on a nearby trash bin. How did they know where Marionette's bunker was? Wasn’t it supposed to be a secret?
Somehow that action was familiar to Record. In what way, he didn’t know. The newest Hero was Zephyrus. He had wings, who’s feathers could be used as knives.
“You heard him.” Radioactive looked back at Record, watching him flinch.
Record shook his head again, refusing to speak a single word. A cry of pain escaped his mouth, as Radioactive grabbed his wrist.
“You don’t speak, but you can scream, huh?” He grinned, motioning for Particle. They nodded, teleporting out with a pop.
Record groaned, his metal arm charged with unwanted energy. He bit down on his lip as the Hero pulsed again.
“Answer.” Shock. “The.” Another. “Fucking.” Another one. “Question.” A longer shock.
Record screamed the whole time, tears coming out of his single eye. Radioactive let go, his eyes watching him fall to the ground in pain. Trembling, Record held his arm. There were traces of electricity in the metal, giving off little shocks.
“Well. Want another round, mate?” Zephyrus spoke, his voice cold. His black wings folded neatly behind him as he jumped off the bin. “Answer this then. Why did you come into this alley?”
“I-I’m-m-m-m… S-ss-sss-so-sor-r-r-y-…” Record stuttered, shrinking in on himself.
“Why?” The Hero pressed, now standing next to Radioactive. Particle still gone.
“W-wwwanted-d-dd ff-f-ffre-e-sh- ai-r-r-rr…” He mumbled, flinching again as he saw the Heroes look at each other. “Did-d-dd-dn’t-tt kn-kno-ww-w…”
“Zeph.” A deeper voice growled, appearing with Particle. There was a third, but they were hidden behind the other two. “You're not going to get an answer out of Record.”
“Record, huh. That's your name, mate?” Zephyrus looked at him, an eyebrow raised.
Record nodded, trying to see who was behind Particle. He knew the voice belonged to the Blood God, or better known as Protesilaus, Zephyrus’ hero partner.
“Ask the man himself.” Protesilaus threw the mystery person in front of him.
Record blinked, it was Marionette. He was tied up and gagged, shaking furiously at the Heroes.
“Where did you take Tommy?” Zephyrus asked, approaching him now. “TELL ME NOW, YOU FUCKING Villain!”
Villain? As in the Villain Marionette? Record must have made some sort of noise because Zephyrus looked back at him with something in his eyes.
“Maybe this will help loosen your tongue.” Radioactive spat, grabbing Record’s wrist again. He yanked him towards Marionette. As they got closer, the Hero let loose another wave.
“S-SSS-SS-S-SS-ST-STOP-PPP!” Record screamed, crying as the electricity traveled up his arm to his leg and back again.
Marionette stopped shaking, his own eyes going wide as Record screamed. The Villain started laughing through his gag. Protesilaus pulled the cloth down, holding him.
“Awwww. Is Radioactive mad he can’t have his best friend?” Marionette taunted. Radioactive hissed, his grip on Record tightening.
“Shock him again. I couldn’t give a fuck what you do to Tommy.” The Villain shrugged. The Heroes stilled, eyes on Record. Protesilaus stilled before shoving the gag back on. Record whimpered, eye closed shut as he clawed at the ground. Radioactive paled, looking at him.
Zephyrus spun on the Villain, taking the gag off. “You took Tommy.”
“Yep.” He nodded.
“You’re saying that is Tommy.” The Hero pointed to the boy on the ground.
“Yep. Shame you stopped, Radioactive. It was funny to watch him in pain.” Marionette tsked. Radioactive punched him in the gut, spitting out words.
Record froze, the words playing over and over in his head. He whipped his head to his savior- no. His captor. “W-wh-wha-aa-t?”
Marionette laughed again, this time louder. “That story I told you a million times? Yeah, I made it up.” Zephyrus and Protesilaus shared a dark look. Something died in Record. The one person who-
“I saved you. I treated you. I replaced your dead limbs.” Marionette sneered. “You owe me your life.”
Suddenly, his metal limbs felt heavy. His eye another dead weight. Record shook his head. “No… No, never.” He whispered, crawling backwards.
The Villain laughed, eyes glowing a bright green. “Does this jog your memory?” A group of green strings came out of his hands. Something flashed in Record’s eyes, both fear and anger were present. His head was pounding, it felt like a hammer was trying to break his skull open.
“Protesilaus, he’s yours.” Zephyrus waved at the Villain. “You're welcome to join him, mate.” He placed a hand on radioactive’s shoulder.
“My fucking pleasure.” The shorter growled, looking back at Record once more. He shook his head before mouthing sorry.
“Mate… Can you hear me?” The winged Hero walked up to Record. Crouching low to the ground to look less of a threat.
Record whimpered, covering his face with his hands. He didn’t want to be here. He didn’t know how he got here. He-
“Tommy… It’s Phil…” Zephyrus muttered, his wings hiddened now. The ocean meeting the sky.
“D-Dad…?” Record- Tommy sputtered, collapsing onto the ground again. He could remember the night again. It was written more clearly now. Marionette’s story turned into dust as his brain filled with past memories. He could remember the first time he tried ice cream. The first time he went on a mission with Techno. His siblings Tubbo and Ranboo. Wilbur- Where was Wilbur? “W-Wilbur? Where-”
“Shhh… It’s okay, I’m here.” Phil hushed, pulling him into a hug.
“Where’s Wilbur?” Tommy asked again, looking up.
“You don’t remember?” Phil blinked. “Tommy… It’s been three years since Wilbur died…”
“He died…?” He furrowed his brow. One second his memories were straight, now things in his head were blurring. He couldn’t remember if he ever met Wilbur… Was he homeless..?
“Tommy? TOMMY?!” A voice shouted. Phil’s mouth moved, but it sounded distant.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He laughed, watching himself go through pain was always the best. There was a reason why he was put in a dark hole. Around him were thousands of glass mirrors, all leading and showing parts of the same person. Thomas Innit. Or in a lot of them, he was known as Tommy.
“It’s always fun to watch someone go through the pain for you.” The blonde popped a popcorn in his mouth, a smirking pulling at his lips. “I'm getting bored here, y'know.”
The blonde turned around to look at you. “Yes, you. I’m talking to you. The one through the screen. You're the only other person here, I suppose.”
“I’m not stupid.” He rolled his eyes. He munched on another popcorn, mumbled something under his breath.
“The name’s Thomas, or Tommy. Whatever.” He stuck out a hand for you to shake. “Oh right.. You’re not actually here…”
“I guess I am alone after all…” He looked down. “Well, see you again, I hope…” He grinned.
You start to fade, but you notice something wrong with this Tommy. His eyes…
His eyes are white. Like he couldn’t actually see.
You squint, trying to see his face one more time. You notice more.
His face… It was covered in scars. The twin white ones from before.
There’s one across his nose. One going over his lip.
And his arms and legs. This Tommy was walking fine, but remains of scars being cut into his ankles and heels glowed almost. His arms littered with more.
{ERROR}
[ADMIN] : You're not supposed to be here, _______ (Please type your name)
[ADMIN] : Thank you, I will have to send you home now, {ERROR}
[ADMIN] : What was your name again?
[PLAYER ONE] : _______ (Please type your name)
[DISCONNECTED FROM THE GAME]