Chapter Text
Shit shit shit shit shit shit this did not go according to plan.
Plan A: don't fuck up.
Plan B: don't fuck up plan A.
Plan C: WHO THE FUCK USES A PLAN C???
And Tommy, he did just that. He fucked up plan A. Which was surprising, it's rare he fucks up plan A… which isn’t saying a lot.
It was a stealth trip. Get the general vicinity of the creature. Get out.
Simple.
Right?
It was simple, it truly was. Tommy had everything he needed and was getting ready to leave. Tubbo was already starting to give him the directions he needed to get out through the small earpiece. The building he was in was in the Western District of L’Manburg, monsters weren’t uncommon there. If a building was quiet enough and boarded up, the likelihood of a monster deciding that was their home was high probability.
The report he had gotten was an abandoned warehouse. It was shut down for a few years at that point, so, the perfect ground for Lurkers. Tall creatures, void of any color, except for the way their eyes would light up the room with the vibrant red.
Tommy had managed to locate the creature, it was roughly 30 feet in front of him, he had to just stay as silent as he could and mark down if he was able to see another one in the vicinity.
So yes, everything was going according to plan.
Until his phone rang.
Tommy felt his heart freeze when he heard the lyrics that blasted from his pocket. His breath caught in his throat as he glanced down at his pocket.
JUMP IN THE CADILLAC GIRL LET'S PUT SOME—
“Oh fuck.” He muttered. His hands fumbled to his pocket unbuttoning the small triangular piece of fabric that kept it in place and pulling out his phone. His phone case was red with a small moth sticker on the bottom that had started to fade from the nearly two years it hung onto the case …He hadn’t come up with a name for the sticker.
He should do that when he gets home.
He frantically stopped the ringing before shoving it back in his pocket.
Because if he heard it, there’s no way in fuck the creatures in front of him didn’t. Especially as Lurkers rely on their hearing as, despite the glow of their eyes, they are essentially blind.
Rule one of monster hunting; leave your phone on silent.
Rule two: if you don’t. RUN.
The walls moved by fast as Tommy took off, his tennis shoes squeaked from the force. But that didn’t matter, what mattered was staying at least 50 feet ahead of this thing.
He can hear the way it moves behind him. The way every bone snaps as it finds its way back to place to come after him. Its eyes dark, and dead set on the blonde that currently has no idea where the FUCK to go.
And don’t get him started on the clicking the creature is making, it’s as if it was a low gargle and Tommy could feel his skin crawl. It was as if someone was drowning in a loud ass clock. Not a pleasant sound to be running from.
Especially since each footstep could draw more to where he was, because he has NO CLUE how many lurkers… well lurk in this building.
It was going to replay in his nightmares that’s for sure. He thought to himself, before bringing his hand up to his ear. Trying not to jump at the crackling noise the earpiece made as it turned on.
“TUBS I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP MAN!” Tommy screamed into the mic, as he turned the corner. Nearly slipping but quickly regaining his balance. “WHICH WAY TUBBO!”
“I'M WORKING ON IT!” The voice cackled over the com and Tommy heard the tapping of a keyboard. He had 30 seconds before he needed an answer from Tubbo.
Why?
Well, right ahead there was a fork in his fucking path, the creature was catching up, Tommy knew it from the way the footsteps behind him grew louder each moment he was uncertain.
“Tubbo! I'm losing time!”
“Go left!” His friend called out, and Tommy did as he said, quickly turning his heels as he used the momentum to veer left at the final second. “Up ahead should be a window.”
“A window?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, your fucking kidding.” Tommy groaned into the mic, and just as Tubbo said, there it was in all its windowness.
Tubbo, you insane bitch. Tommy thought but he knew Tubbo was right, it was the fastest way out of the warehouse, and the easiest way to lose the creature on his tail. And Tubbo knew damn well Tommy was crazier with his escapes and would go for it.
But.
Fuck.
This was going to hurt.
The thuds of the being behind him were getting louder, he knew he didn’t have time.. so with a deep breath, and a shoulder that’s so going to be bruised after this. He closed his eyes tightly, as he braced his whole being for impact.
CRASH.
And.. oh fuck he’s falling, without another moment, he leaned forward bracing each muscle for impact, within a moment he had tucked and rolled bouncing back up to his feet within a moment. His heart was soaring and he felt the blood rushing through his ears. It was as if his eardrums were drums beating a simple and rhythmic tune. Each breath was a heave as he slowly came down from the adrenaline high and just slowly looked up. The creature on the second story just… stared at him, red eyes just glaring.
But.. not moving, Tommy had never seen that of a being.. it was strange. An unfamiliar glint shone from the neck of the creature, a new variation of creature perhaps? He would have to make a note of that for later...
“Ugly fucker.” Tommy’s gaze shifted to his hands, only a few shards of glass had embedded themselves into his skin… An easy fix when he gets back to the others.
-
“OW!”
“Stop being a baby!” Tubbo hissed a pair of tweezers in his hand. Tubbo had obviously stolen one of Aimsey’s beanies, as the red beanie was covering the back part of his head. He had a dark shirt with a forest green flannel.
Tommy’s palm is gripped firmly by Tubbo’s other hand as he tries (and fails, thanks to Tommy’s constant squirming) to get the few shards of glass from his palm.
It was oddly quiet in the apartment besides the two, which is unusual when four people share a tiny seven-hundred-square-foot apartment, it’s not the prettiest building in L’Manburg, but it was home and that's all Tommy cares about.
The blonde is hoisted from his thoughts by another tug as Tubbo removed the second to last shard from his palm. The tray to their left had a fairly decent number of shards on it at this point, roughly ten from what Tommy had counted.
“Can you at least try to be more gentle?” Tommy huffs, nearly moving his hand only to feel Tubbo’s grip intensify.
“How do you expect me to be gentle? I’m removing glass from your hand.” Tubbo rolled his eyes.
“That’s not my fault!” Tommy ignored the way Tubbo rolled his eyes. “The glass chose my hand as its final resting place.”
“Sure Tommy, the glass that has a consciousness who chose to embed itself in your hand.” The sarcasm was just pooling out of Tubbo’s tone, and truthfully Tommy would not stand such slander.
Not on him or the sentient glass.
“You hurt its feelings, ass.” Tommy couldn’t stop the smirk that crossed his face, which earned a snicker from Tubbo.
“What? Do you want me to apologize to glass?” Tubbo jokingly asked.
“Yes,” Tommy said, trying to force his smile to stay into the straight face he had managed to hold.
“You can’t be serious.” Tubbo just stared at Tommy, who just looked down at the bloodied glass on the table which had already been pulled from his hand.
Tubbo groaned before turning to the glass. A snicker came from Tommy as Tubbo sighed and said “I’m sorry.” The brunette turned his attention back to Tommy “Happy?”
“Oh very.” Tommy chirped happily, finally letting the smile break free.
Tubbo’s eyes narrowed, “Thomas Innes, you are an asshole.”
“I know.”
Without warning Tubbo tugged the final piece of glass free, earning a startled yelp from the blonde and a winning look from Tubbo.
“And I’m the asshole?!” Tommy had over-emphasized the I'm, trying to gain any sort of sympathy from his best friend. Only to find Tubbo staring at him with an eyebrow raised, and a smirk forming on his face.
“Yup.” Tubbo popped the ‘p’ before setting the tweezers onto the tray. Standing up from his seat and picked up the tray of glass and the tweezers.
Tommy flipped him the bird as he walked out of the room.
“Fucking prick” Tommy mumbled, he wasn’t as quiet as he believed he was. His gaze shifted down at his palm. No stitches, this time. But it’ll be a pain in the ass to hold things.
“Heard that!” Tubbo called from the other room, a chuckle following. Tubbo’s head peeked around the corner to look at Tommy. “You just need to not get yourself in stupid situations, and then you wouldn’t have glass in your hand. Now give me a moment to find where Aimsey put the bandages.”
Tubbo quickly disappeared around the wall, Tommy’s eyes landed on a coffee stain that stood out against the wallpaper. Yeah, the wallpaper of the apartment was peeling and should probably be replaced… but- whenever Tommy opens his wallet a single fly flies out... it’s a barren wasteland.
Another sign not to scare the ever loving shit out of Ranboo mid-morning is you may get a coffee thrown directly at your face. Tommy chuckled to himself, maybe that’s how he should say he got his scar. One of his eyes was completely scared over by a single cup of coffee.
Tommy reached for his pocket, only to find it empty. Shit.
Okay- maybe it wasn’t in this pocket. Although that’s where he always puts his phone.
“Shit.” Tommy hissed, as he quickly searched the other pockets of his vest and pants.. only to come up empty. “Shit!”
He must have dropped it while running from that lurker. Of course, he did, why wouldn’t his day get worse?
“Hello?” A voice peeks in from the front door. As a wave of greasy goodness fills the room. The smell is all too familiar, as it's what the four have been living off of for the past five months.
Groceries are expensive in the Western District, so… McDuffys was the best alternative. Cheap, effective, and…. Okay on the taste.
Okay, maybe Tommy’s day wasn’t entirely fucked.
“Aimsey, you have a key. You live here, you don’t have to say ‘hello’ every time.”
“I know.” They smile, holding up the brown paper bag with a golden M on it. “But I brought food.”
“Did you remember to bring your brother home?”
“No” Aimsey smiled, pushing the rest of the door open and stepping into the apartment. “I had to trade him for dinner.”
“Finally.” Tommy chuckled, standing up from the seat.
“Okay, what the hell.” A voice called from behind Aimsey, Ranboo grumbled and held up another bag. His longer hair rested on his shoulders, a black mask covered the lower portion of his face. One hand in the pocket of his jacket and the other holding a bag he shook as he said. “You’re going to regret those words when you don’t get the fries.”
Tommy’s eyes immediately widened as he started backpedaling “wait, Ranboo please don’t keep the fries you know we love you.”
“That’s what I thought.” Ranboo grinned and shook his head, as he pushes past his sibling and makes his way into the apartment. The tallest’s eyes caught the way Tommy was holding his hand. “What happened to your hand?”
“Intel went wrong.” Tommy looked down at it, his hand still hadn’t been bandaged since, Tubbo was taking forever.
How hard was it to find a wrap in this fucking apartment? The answer was surprisingly very.
“Only you would mess up an intel mission Tommy.” Ranboo chuckled under his breath as he tossed the bag onto the table. “I would wait until you wrap that up, grease and open wounds don’t mix”
“I know that. I’m not five.” Tommy huffs, “Besides, it didn’t hurt that much.”
“That’s a lie.” Tubbo made his presence known to the rest of the group. He was holding a wad of bandages in his hands. Silently tossing it back and forth between his hands as if it were a small baseball. “Tommy literally would not sit still while I was trying to help him.”
Tubbo looks at Tommy expectantly. Only for Tommy to defiantly pull his hand closer to his chest. As if he were the five-year-old he had just claimed not to be. “Well-” Tommy started trying to defend himself but was instantly cut off by a small projectile hitting him in the forehead, only to turn his attention to the very smug-looking Ranboo who sits across the table from him. Tommy forced a look of betrayal. “What the fuck?”
“Shut up and let Tubbo help your hand” Ranboo glares, another chicken nugget in his hand ready to launch. Tommy could hear Aimsey laughing somewhere behind him. “Don't make me waste another perfect chicken nugget on your nonsense.”
Tommy groans as he just held his hand, the wrap wasn't the worst thing in the world. It was more the ego bruise of a chicken nugget. It didn't take very long for his hand to be wrapped up, Tommy clenched his fist lightly, testing the stretch. “Thanks”
Tubbo nodded before lightly punching Tommy’s arm, and saying “Just don’t go jumping through any more windows.” The humor was clear in his tone and the way his nose scrunched up a tiny bit.
“Don't tell me too and we won't have a problem.”
“So, if I told you to jump from a bridge you would?”
“Yes.”
“Well, you're a moron.”
“I never claimed to be smart.” Tommy chuckled, before reaching for the brown paper bag. He pulled out a burger wrapped in paper. The blonde held it up as he was giving a speech, and waited a moment for his friends to follow, it had become a tradition at dinner time. Ranboo held the small cardboard box up, while Tubbo and Aimsey had matching burgers.
“To another day!” Tommy called, forcing his voice out as if he was truly talking to a room filled with people rather than just the three.
“To another day!” The three repeated before crowded the table. The way the room lights up, and laughter easily bounces back and forth between each member of the team, it was.. Nice.