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Tommy’s dad is the best!
He would chase him around their shitty apartment with limited hot water and peeling paint. Something he loved doing with his dad is curling up on their mattress while his father sung to him, playing his guitar. If Tommy couldn’t sleep after the guitar was put down, his dad went through photos of his mother. His mother was beautiful. She had fiery red hair and freckles spattered across her face with blue eyes perfectly matching his.
Sometimes his dad would break down and start crying about a guy called “Phil” and how this “Phil” dude was going to find him. Tommy would never let that happen though, being five meant he could be his dad’s personal body guard! Tommy loves singing for his dad and helping him just like his dad does Tommy. “Phil” would never find them or their house.
His dad would occasionally sit down and tell him about funny things like how anteaters are bad. He reckons anteaters are kind of sick. They have those long nose things and they look really fluffy (like almost any animal to Tommy).
Another thing that should be mentioned is that Tommy is one of millions upon billions of magic users. So is his dad. Tommy first discovered his magic when he cut his finger. He started crying but his magic numbed the pain and the blood that was dripping off his finger gathered in a blob of coppery dark red liquid and evaporated into thin air then his skin proceeded to stitch itself back together. His dad’s powers come with really good singing. His dad can make people do whatever his dad wants.
Tommy was told by many people on the street that he was a “charming young man”. He would prefer the term “handsome big man” but the first one will do. Sometimes though, Tommy will try and leave the house without his dad but his dad doesn’t allow him as “Phil” might find him. He still doesn’t get who this “Phil” guy is and why his dad’s so scared of him but he listens to his dad anyways. His dad is always right.
___
It’s Tommy’s sixth birthday and his dad’s gone to go and get him his cake! He was told to stay here while his dad left and to hide in their secret closet if anyone other than his father comes in. Tommy happily listens.
The only problem is that it feels like Tommy’s been waiting for hours. He thinks it has been hours as the sun is a lot closer to the horizon now.
He stared at the door for another “long time” waiting for his father to emerge. As the sun started licking the edge of the horizon, he starts getting scared. Is his father actually coming back? Did “Phil” find him?
He really hopes “Phil” didn’t find him. His dad would be super scared and Tommy wouldn’t be there to help him. He craved his dad’s hugs and sweet sound of the guitar right about now. Sadly, he didn’t get that.
He sat there until nightfall, in the dark as he couldn’t reach the light switch.
He cried himself to sleep that night in front of the busted door, hoping this was all a bad dream.
___
His dad never came back. He sat there for four days struggling to get food and water from the high shelves and countertops. His blond hair was a mess as his father wasn’t there to use the brush and his gentle, calloused hands to ease the knots out of his wild hair.
After the third day of sitting in the apartment, the power shut off. The only light at night was when he ran into something and hurt himself causing his powers to heal him and his eyes to glow red instead of the bright blue they normally are.
On the fourth day, he packed the money from his piggy bank, pictures of his mother, clothes, a bottle of water (his dad said he always needed to drink water) and Henry, his stuffed cow. He packed the pictures into his father’s guitar case (which he decided to bring with him as well just in case he finds his dad) and put the rest of the stuff in a shitty old backpack.
He’s heard about kids running away from home in the books his father would read him, but they would normally leave for different reasons. This time, the reason he ran away is because his father left and never came back, not some silly argument or his dad being angry (unlike the stories).
___
See, being homeless isn’t as easy as Tommy thought. He thought he’d be able to sit on the side of the road and ask for money. It worked to start off with but he ended up falling over and hurting himself causing him to heal the scrape on his knee. When the people surrounding him saw the red glow emitting from his eyes, they immediately ran away. He overheard a mother talking to her child while they were walking away. The mother said to steer clear of people like “him” as blood magic is dangerous.
After that incident, he tried to train himself to use his magic only on command. Since he can’t heal in front of people, he takes to the alleyways to heal, where no one can see him. He will always be the forgotten one. He will never be remembered, not even by his own father who left him.
___
Tommy is no longer a six year old. He’s now sixteen living in a shitty old apartment (like the one he lived with his dad in all those years ago) living off his job at the bakery that is known for its royal seal of approval.
He employed at the bakery under a fake ID on which contains the information that he is nineteen and his name is Icarus Ined (no one now knows that his real name is actually Tommy Soot) who lives far from the centre of L’manberg where the castle is.
His employer, Niki, was a nice young woman who makes cream puffs that kick ass. She as well is a magic user, she can produce flames from her fingertips and that comes with fireproofing perks. He remembers the first time watching her use her magic. The embers danced across her fingertips, leaving him in awe. He remembers she asked him if she had magic but he lied and said he didn’t have any. If she figures out the truth, she’ll leave (just like his father) and never have a second thought about him.
For the first few months at the bakery, he learned how to work things around the store and bake deserts and make coffee. He was extremely lucky Niki was there as he may of almost burnt down the bakery the first time he made cookies if she wasn’t.
There were some awfully peculiar customers who came in too. Like there was a guy who came in wearing a mask with a smiley face on it. That guy was pretty nice. He also left and absolutely massive tip after ordering three black coffees, one of them scalding hot. Like really hot, he almost burnt his hand on it.
There were also a plethora of guards who came in once, they ordered so much and also gave him funny looks! Little bitches. He couldn’t say that to their faces as he would probably been thrown on the dungeon of Mr. King Philza, Angel of Death aka biggest bitch in the world. Like, honestly, do you have to live in this massive castle while children like him starve almost every day. If he lived in that palace, he would feed everyone and make the economy suffer by making all stuff free.
___
“Ica!” Niki’s melodious voice rand out his attention. “We’ve got an order for six cream puffs!”
“Okay Niki!” he winced as his voice was scratchy for dehydration. Damn, he needs water.
He quickly speedwalks to the other end of the shop to assist Niki. It doesn’t take long before six cream puffs are made and boxed, ready for pickup. He walks them out to the counter, expecting to give it to Anne, the nice old lady who usually orders. Instead he sees who he assumes to be a man with a cloak on, hood covering his head. If this wasn’t sketchy, he no longer knew the definition of the word.
“What’s a sketchy old man doing around this area?” What? He wanted to say it, so he did. Right of free speech, am I right?
Sketchy Bitch spluttered. Tommy can almost see the shocked look on his face.
“You heard me? Why you going around ordering cream puffs from the most epic bakery in the world?” He wasn’t gonna stop now. To stop insulting a sketchy bitch is something that only losers do.
“Well, I just wanted to buy something for my son’s birthday.” (he remembers it’s his father’s birthday) Who knew Sketchy Bitch could actually talk?
“Are you sure you actually have a son? Are you sure they aren’t an illusion?” good comeback.
“No, I’m sure I have two sons.” Sketchy Bitch was in absolute denial.
“I hate to tell you man, but you’re in denial. They really are an illusion and you have no sons.” Tommy is the biggest genius in this world.
Sketchy Bitch just spluttered in complete shock.
“It’s okay, man. It happens to the worst of us.” Yes, Tommy did just call Sketchy Bitch the worst.
“Now listen here you little shit-“
“Ah! Phil, I see you’ve met Icarus. He’s a new fairly employee, been around for about seven months.” Niki’s voice chirped up from out of nowhere, shocking Tommy.
“Hello to you too, Niki. Icarus here was just insulting me.” Absolute lies, never trust Sketchy Bitch.
“Don’t mind that, he insults almost everybody especially if they’re wearing something that makes them look dumb or suspicious.”
“Oi! I can speak for myself! Yes he is looking like an absolute... Fish! Yes I already hate him by the way. Boom, bitch.”
The man stared for a second then burst out laughing. “You’ve got quite a lot of flame, don’t ya mate?”
Tommy sat there flabbergasted that this man was laughing at him after he greatly insulted him. Tommy is too epic for this person. He ends up grumbling a “fuck you, have a nice day” and giving the cream puffs to the bitch.
“Bye Phil!” Why could Niki like this dude so much.
“Bye! Come back never!” Genius, now he can’t come back.
___
Phil does end up coming back. This time he was wearing his cloak but without the hood covering his face.
The bell chimes as it does like any other customer and before looking up, he puts on his best customer service voice and recites the usual lines. “Hi, welcome to The Ember Bakery. What could I get for you today- oh it’s you.”
“Wow, you sound so excited to see me, one of your valued customers.”
“Well, truth be told, I don’t really like you.”
“Shocker.” Phil says in his most sarcastic voice. “Anyways can I have a chamomile tea?”
“I never said I was going to serve you, bitch, but sure. I’ll make you stupid ass tea, I’ll make sure to mess it up too.”
Phil snorted as Tommy walked away to make the tea.
When Tommy came out of the kitchen, Phil was sitting down at a table. Of course the bitch was staying in. Tommy handed the tea to Phil who was unknowing of what he added to the tea.
“Thank you, Icarus.” Phil was smiling as soon as he took a sip of his tea. His face screwed up in disgust. “Mate, in the nicest way possible, did you add salt to my fucking tea?”
Tommy put on his best customer service smile “Anything to make our customers happy!”
Phil smiled back “You little shit!”
___
While Phil was an annoying bitch whose sons are just an illusion, he was awfully easy to get along with. He was obsessed with chamomile tea though occasionally Tommy would poison it with salt.
Phil would normally come in himself and order his tea but today was different. Instead of Phil coming in, a tall individual with a stoic build and long, pink hair pulled into a loose bun dressed like he was about to go to some sort of convention with his poet shirt, loose black pants and combat boots. This guy was also wearing the most obnoxious gold earring on his left ear with what he assumed to be an emerald in the centre. It’s was like he’s luring in clueless thieves to try to rob him for him to just turn around and murder them there.
If he thought Phil was a sketchy bitch, this guy was probably the weirdest guy on the whole globe. He looks like he does mass murder for fun, Tommy wouldn’t be surprised if he’s in the military.
“Uh... Hi? Are you Icarus?” Jesus Christ his voice is deep.
Tommy quickly took out his earphones that were blasting the newest Able Sister’s song. “Uh, yes I am. Hence the name tag.’”
“I’m here for Phil ‘cuz he’s off in candy land doing something unknown. He wanted me to give you this.” The dude’s absolutely massive hand reached out and put something on Tommy’s open hand. He looked down to see a silver bracelet with an emerald in the middle.
“Dude, I think there’s been a mistake-“ but when Tommy looked up again, he was gone. He shrugged it off and slid on the bracelet from Phil. Something tingled and it felt like the bracelet tightened but he paid no attention to it.
He swept the floors, took orders and did everything he needed to do before closing up and putting the keys to the store in his back pocket. He walked out and continued home ordinarily.
He spied a corner store so he walked in and grabbed himself can of coke. He felt pity on the employee, he looked so sick of it but there wasn’t much Tommy could do about it so he gave a genuine smile and nod as he walked out.
What he didn’t expect is to be snatched into an alleyway and a needle pricked his neck. He fought the arms restraining him and he started drifting off, he felt gravity shift when someone slung him over their shoulders.
With that he was forced into a dreamless slumber by whatever was injected into his neck.
___
Phil watched as his guards marched into the throne room with his little nestling one of them having him slung over their shoulders.
It’s sad he has to take Icarus this way but after their all talking, Phil knew he would never willingly come home with him. Instead Phil sent his guards to bring his little birdy home to him. His little treasure would look so cute hidden in his wings safe in the nest with Wil and Techno.
Something Phil knows for certain is that Icarus is an avian hybrid but doubts he would have wings yet, he wouldn’t have them yet probably due to stress. Techno guaranteed he was a hybrid due to his smell when he first saw him and he would probably get his distinguishable features soon. After he’s grown his features Phil will announce him as an official prince of the empire
He can only imagine Icarus covered in silken fabrics and gold to the amount of Techno's liking.
“Well, what are you waiting for? Pass him to me.” Phil isn’t very patient. They’re holding his little treasure and not handing him over.
The soldiers muttered an ‘I’m sorry your majesty’ and passed the sleeping boy to Phil. The boy snuggled closer to Phil’s body heat and gave a small trill of contentment.
Phil stood up as the boy stirred lightly in his arms and walked down the hall to the nest still containing Wilbur who wasn’t allowed to leave after he escaped the palace to live with his girlfriend.
___
Everything hurt for Tommy. His eyes were glued shut and his back hurt like hell. He tried to move but something restrained him and pulled him into something warm. He fought the urge to make a weird sound and instead coughing it off.
“Already awake are you? Is it really you after all these years?” a soft melodic voice that the owner Tommy couldn’t pin down, spoke.
He turned around to face the person’s chest but got pulled back and he groaned in annoyance and pain. The voice laughed “C’mon Toms, you can’t be that tired can you?”
Toms...
Nobody has called him Toms since... Since his dad disappeared. That voice belonged to his dad.
He immediately shot up, eyes darting around the room before eventually landing on a familiar figure.
“Dad?” his voice was scratchy from sleep but what he said otherwise was perfectly clear.
The man in front of him nodded and Tommy fell forwards into the man’s embrace. He started sobbing and gripping his dad like he was going to leave again. He couldn’t find himself to currently be upset about the man leaving all those years ago.
“My little sunshine, back home after all these years. All the way home in the nest, in my arms.” His dad sounded on the verge of tears but he continued to speak into Tommy’s shoulder about how he was missed so much.
Tommy couldn’t help but lay there and cry tears of joy that his father’s back. He coughed and let out a noise resembling the chirp of a bird.
“My little baby’s a hybrid, hey? Grown your wings yet? Magic gotten any better?”
“Wings?”
“Your grandfather, my dad, Phil is an avian hybrid meaning you were almost guaranteed to be a hybrid as it skips a generation.”
Tommy slumps back into his father’s shoulder after learning this information. He never knew he was a hybrid. Maybe that’s why everything hurts.
At that moment the door flung open and... Phil walked in. Wilbur glared at him and held Tommy tighter. Wait.. did his dad say grandpa Phil? Jesus Christ, accidental family reunion. “Mate, he needs to eat and I need to check his back, I saw his wings are starting to come in earlier. “
“Go away Phil, it’s you who took me from him years ago!”
“God. This again, Wil? You’re safe from the world in the nest and so is Icar- Tommy.” Phil stated “We can’t have two of my little treasures being hurt by the world, can we?”
Wilbur let out a defeated sigh and his arms unwrapped from Tommy forcing him to stop snuggling. He grumbled and turned to face Phil. He gave Phil a deep scowl and grumbled out curses. Phil let out a coo and motioned for Tommy to come over but Tommy refused. Phil, once again, tried coaxing Tommy with his voice but Tommy refused again. Phil nodded to Wilbur who gave him a pitiful look.
Wilbur let out a sigh before singing out with his powers “listen to me and Phil at every point in time unless we say so.”
Tommy immediately felt the command take a toll on his mind, blanketing it in a thick fog. Once again, Phil called Tommy over, but this time the fog thickened and he vaguely registered his limbs slowly moving as if they were jelly. He fell into Phil’s arms and he immediately started working. Phil pulled up the back of his shirt and pressing on parts of his back asking if it hurt or not, he said yes to almost all of it.
Phil let go of Tommy and he fell backwards onto his back resulting in him letting out a hiss of pain but Phil immediately apologized about the inconvenience of falling on his back. Phil grabbed something from the table beside the bed nest and turned back to Tommy, bowl in hand.
___
One anticlimactic feeding session and clothing change later, Tommy was back snuggled up to his dad’s side and falling asleep. His dad’s fingers played with his hair as he drifted off. He sat there floating in the space between awake and asleep until a sudden stabbing pain in his back awoke him fully.
The pain was unlike anything he’s ever felt before, and that’s saying something. He let out a pained whimper and curled into himself. This action caught the attention of his dad.
“Tommy! Are you okay baby? Please tell me you're okay. Are you manifesting?” Everything his dad said came out rushed and panicked. Tommy let out a chirp and his dad scrambled around the nest looking for blankets to cover his manifesting son in.
Not long after the blankets were thrown over Tommy, Phil rushed in to help. He was holding a pill and a cup of water. He rushed to Tommy’s side in the nest and helped him swallow the pill after some coaxing. Phil them touched his back which sent a flare of pain all throughout his body.
“I’m gonna have to touch your back to help get the wings out, ‘kay mate?” Phil’s voice was gentle and thoughtful causing Tommy to let out a chirp.
Phil waited a second before touching part of his back, bringing the pain back but much worse this time. He felt as if his flesh was being carved open and all of his blood was leaving his body, leaving him to die. He could feel his wings trying to push themselves out but they refused to leave. Phil grabbed part of the new limb that was sticking out and gently pulled. The limb started moving out from under his skin and hitting the cold air. He could feel the cold air biting at his feather less, bony wing. He felt it come out effortlessly in the end, but goddamn did it hurt.
“Good job mate, you have one more to go.” Phil’s voice was soft and encouraging while he reassured him that everything will be okay.
Phil grabbed the other wing and started pulling, repeating the same process. This one hurt more. He could feel the blood rushing down his skin and staining the sheets of the nest. He cried as the wings slowly emerged. He refused to let his powers emerge until the process was finished. He continued sobbing and trying not to move until he felt the rest of his wing leave it’s place under his skin. He let his powers work their magic (no pun intended).
The blood balled up like a piece of paper and evaporated as the skin around his new limbs stitched itself back together. His dad moved over and peppered kisses all over his head. Tommy let out a weak chirp and fell asleep.
___
He sat in the void for a while a feminine voice spoke to him in comforting words. The lady was nice and made the void warm. She said that is the place he would go if he were to ever die or dream of sadness. The lady’s voice fizzled away and turned into his dad’s singing as fingers carded through his hair.
Tommy let out a grunt tell his dad was awake. His dad acknowledged him with a hum and hugged him.
“You did so well, Toms. I’m so proud of you my little birdy.” His dad whispered words of comfort as Tommy moved to inspect his new appendages. They were grey-brown and had parts decorated with red. He remembers seeing the baby cardinals in the nest outside of his house, their wings looked like this.
He chirped at his dad and snuggled in closer. The man happily accepted this action. Tommy whistled out a thanks and buried his face into his dad’s chest.
“Are you still sleepy, Toms? You need to change out of your bloody clothes.”
Tommy grumbled, that could be done later, right now only his dad mattered. The bitch better make up for all the years lost between them. The only way that could happen was to move one step at a time.