Work Text:
Tommy sighed as he packed up the boy's lunches. He knew Phil had to work and appreciated it, truly, the man was a single dad with three kids and still managed to give them a wonderful life. Tommy would forever be grateful for that.
But acting like a second dad for his younger brothers was hard sometimes.
Every day the eighteen year old woke up, packed lunches (Techno always needed some carrots and a bag of potato chips, Wilbur didn't mind anything), made breakfast, enjoyed the moment of peace before waking up his brothers, fed them, got them ready, tried to pep the teen Wilbur up while calming the feisty Techno down, walked them to their separate schools, walked to work, got home, picked the boys up, made dinner, spent time with them, helped them with schoolwork, got them ready for bed, cleaned, made sure they were sleeping and then finally his dad got home, absolutely exhausted from long shifts at work. All this and he had online school to do.
Tommy loved his family, they were just a bit tiring.
There were moments though.
Moments of peace, fun, laughter and family.
Moments where he was sure his heart would burst of love for his brothers.
Moments that were so wonderful he wished to stop time, put them in a snow globe and watch them forever.
Those moments were why he kept going.
….
"Tommy, Tommy look!" An excited voice and quick steps approached Tommy as he wiped the kitchen counter. Tommy looked down to see a pink haired ten year old staring up at him, hair wild and wide eyed. The boy held a blue cardboard sword and cardboard shield. "I made you ones too! We can have a battle!"
Tommy chuckled light-heartedly at his brother, "Wow and one for me too? So cool! Just let me finish up here and we can battle yeah?" Tommy replied with a wide smile, matching the small boy's excitement.
With a proud smile Techno nodded and scurried up the stairs, leaving Tommy smiling fondly at his amazing little brother.
Once Tommy finished cleaning, he walked up to Techno's room and knocked on the door, grinning as it opened to the pink-haired boy in a cardboard crown and decked out in the badly made 'gear' he had made. The scene made Tommy's heart melt.
He bowed dramatically, "Hello sire, I am here for battle." Techno giggled and handed him the DIY shield and sword.
"Tommyinnit I challenge you!" The boy yelled and raised his sword hand dramatically.
"I accept your challenge, Technoblade!" Tommy replied and waited for his brother to charge forward, blocking his attacks and counter-attacking, careful not to actually hurt the boy.
Technoblade fought valiantly and overpowered the great Tommyinnit, stabbing him through the heart.
Tommy stepped back and fell to the floor with the sword under his arm, faking death in the most dramatic way possible.
As he did that, Techno walked over and placed a foot on Tommy's side in a triumphant pose and announced, "That's right baby, Technoblade never dies!"
Tommy rolled over and got up before gently tackling his younger brother onto the bed and tickling him. Techno squirmed and giggled, "Never dies? Never?" Tommy questioned jokingly, laughing as Techno shook his head through the squirming.
Once the fit of giggles was over, Tommy convinced Techno to go to bed with the promise that they would rope Will into a battle the next day.
….
It had been a pretty uneventful day, Tommy was just doing school work when Wilbur knocked on the door and beckoned him downstairs.
Tommy sat down as the teen turned on something on the family computer. Tommy would be lying if he said he wasn't a little concerned, Will was almost shaking.
He was about to ask if the boy was alright but Wilbur turned around, the computer displaying a PowerPoint presentation saying "Why wilbur soot should get a guitar."
Of course. Will couldn't just ask for something could he?
The boy spoke so factually as he flicked through the slides, as if giving a school presentation. Tommy let him go on for a bit, finding the ordeal very amusing.
"Okay Will you can stop now." He interrupted, placing a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder.
"I still have 10 more slides-" Wilbur spoke with a slight annoyance and panic in his voice, Tommy would laugh but decided against it.
"You want a guitar?" He asked and his brother nodded, "Okay, let's get you one." He smiled softly at the shocked boy, receiving a tight hug.
The next day they went guitar shopping in a local store, it took Wilbur about two hours but he finally found the perfect one. It did cost Tommy quite a bit of money but that's what jobs are for right?
Plus it was all worth it to see the beaming smile on his brother's face as they walked out the store.
Suddenly, Tommy was enveloped in a tight hug as Wilbur expressed his gratitude. Tommy would pay anything to keep Will smiling and hugging him with such happiness and light in his eyes.
….
One time, Tommy had been watching a film before bed when Wilbur snuck down with his guitar.
"Tommy, do you want to hear my song?" The boy asked, fiddling with the guitar in his hand.
"Yeah!" Wilbur's eyes lit up as he sat down and prepared his guitar, Tommy leaning closer to listen in.
As the first note was struck, it vibrated through Tommy's heart, the music playing symphonies on his soul. Wilbur's voice was more beautiful than the glimmering galaxies of the evening sky. Song coursing through his veins, striking love in every note. It may have been a flawed performance, a couple misplayed notes, a voice crack or two, but it was Wilbur's performance. Tommy's little brother was amazing. And he couldn't be more proud.
As the final note rang out, Tommy looked up at his brother with teary eyes, "That was amazing." He said with disbelief and walked over to the younger, wrapping his arms around Wilbur, "You're amazing. I don't say that enough."
"Tommyyyy… " Wilbur whined, "Stop being sappy."
"No. I mean it." Tommy said and looked Wilbur in the eyes, "You're amazing. Don't forget that."
Wilbur nodded and hugged his older brother back.
….
Tommy was always very proud of his brothers.
It wasn't hard when there was so much to be proud of.
Techno. Smart, strong, brilliant Techno. All of his beautiful poems that tugged on Tommy's heart. Every good test score. When he won his fencing tournament. When he got the highest win streak in his favourite video game.
The boy never failed to surprise.
Wilbur. Talented, hard working, amazing Wilbur. All of his songs. When he joined a band. Getting into a good college. His first gig at a local pub.
Tommy could hardly comprehend how wonderful Will was.
His brothers were the joy of his life, every one of their accomplishments made Tommy swell with pride and he always let them know. Tommy was good at that, a very vocal person. He tended to tell people what he thought of them.
….
With the good times came the bad of course.
Days where Wilbur would try to shut himself away, refusing to get up from the bed. His lively brother became a tired husk. It broke Tommy's heart to watch.
Times when Techno would be scared of himself. When things got really bad trying to lock himself up to not hurt them. Sometimes Tommy would hear sobbing from Techno's room at night, Techno never cried in front of him. How badly Tommy wanted to go in there and hug his brother's pain away.
Phil had almost fully disappeared, barely ever being home, leaving Tommy to deal with the two.
At first he didn't know what to do so, he talked.
Tommy had always said what he thought out loud, so that's exactly what he did. And that's what he convinced his brothers to do.
They talked through what was going on, found solutions, validated emotions, and helped as best as they could. Tommy felt terrible for not knowing a better way to handle it, but the talks seemed to help. Techno even opened up a bit more.
Tommy also suggested trying therapy and booked appointments for them. It would cost him a bit more but with school finished he could afford it.
After a while things got better.
Wilbur got out of bed and ate even on the worst days.
Techno's voices quieted a lot, and when they were there, they talked about it.
Recovery wasn't linear, Tommy knew that and they still had their bad moments but now he knew they would deal.
….
Now, Techno is off to university. Wilbur is already going but is focused on his band. It's going well for him.
Tommy couldn't be more fucking proud of his brothers.
As he helps Techno unpack in his new room, he gives the same lecture he did to Will: "You can always call me, and come over. If you ever need anything I'm here." Ect ect ect
"Yeah yeah dad I got it." Techno joked. Tommy knew he meant dad jokingly but it still gave him a weird feeling in his stomach. They had been calling him dad for a while now, Tommy wondered when it had started.
"I just want what's best for you, Tech." Tommy replied with a sheepish smile.
"I know, I'm grateful but I'll be okay, I'm not a kid anymore." Tommy nodded and continued unpacking.
When he left the university, Tommy will admit he cried. His little brother was leaving.
It had only hit him in that car ride back home that he didn't know what he would do. His life had been so focused on caring for his brother's, he had forgotten about himself.
Tommy would figure it out. He always did.
In the meantime he could watch as his brother's became adults. It made his heart bubble with pride.
Maybe his life was focused on them. But it wasn't such a bad deal. Not bad at all.
As he parked outside his own apartment, Tommy smiled. It would be okay.