Chapter Text
Tommy would have rather been doing anything but work the night shift and all he could think about was the hour he had left and his warm, well-warmish bed at home waiting for him but the night dragged on and painfully slow.
Tommy had taken to re-cleaning the already in Tommy's words immaculate tables, repeatedly for the seventh time as he was never one to half-ass a job even one he doesn't particularly like.
He had taken a job at the little cafe almost a year ago, about two or three months after his fifteenth birthday, he suspected that Puffy knew he was younger than he said he was, which was eighteen.
If she did know he was under eighteen she never said anything about it besides he needed the job and he was a hard worker at this point it would be stupid to fire him seeing as he was, aside from Foolish, the only one that could be pegged as a competent worker.
By the time four AM came rolling around Tommy wanted to pass out. He sat at the front counter on a stool, which he dragged from the storage closet with his head down waiting for five so he could lock up and go home.
He didn't even care to acknowledge the news reporter on the overhead tv too far along in his half-sleep half daze waiting for the doorbell to chime, and after a minute it did. Tommy sat up trying his best to look as presentable as possible to some weirdo getting coffee at almost four AM.
He did not account for the fact that the new customer would be one of the most dangerous villains in Marburg and yet there stood Zephyrus in all his villainy glory, with his large black wing, his strange greyish green robe-like outfit that had fitted sleeves, and his most recognizable asset aside from the obvious black wing was the man's veil.
Tommy had no clue how he saw out of the thing there was no indication of the (now that Tommy looked at him) slightly shorter than Tommy thought he would be, man's eyes.
To say the room was a bit awkward was the understatement of the year, Tommy spoke first “can I help you?” Zephyrus looked a bit surprised that Tommy was the first to speak up but he spoke: “hey sorry about bothering you just need a place to hide for a while”.
Tommy whose attention was fully on Zephyrus switched to the tv [Pro-heros’ Dream, Hypnos, and Inferno are currently still searching for the infamous villain Zephyrus, sources say he was last spotted in district five, occupants between districts 4 through five have been heavily advised to stay inside until further notice].
Tommy slowly banged his head on the counter under him, he now heavily regretted ignoring the news, “do you want some coffee or something? Cause I'm not gonna be harbouring a criminal without some kind of payment for my horrible, horrible luck”.
Zephyrus smiled and shook his head “do you know who I am?” Tommy looked almost annoyed before saying “I think you would be hard-pressed to find someone in this city who doesn't know who you are Zephyrus” The veiled man walked forward looking up at the menu for a moment before looking back to Tommy “ok what do you recommend?”.
Tommy thought for a moment sifting through the items on the menu in his mind, not wanting to give a man who could kill him a bad drink “do you like tea?” Zephyrus nodded “then I recommend the London fog or if you don't like that I can make hot chocolate”.
The man looked as if he were deciding before saying anything I'll have the London fog though I might get a hot chocolate before I leave for Icarus” Tommy just nodded and headed to the machines to start on their drinks.
The silence was killing him “come here often?” Tommy spoke, placing lids on the drinks, Tommy got the bigger cup “yes actually, well I do when I'm in civilian clothes and whatnot but I'm usually just stopping by to grab a pastry and heading to work”.
Tommy paused for a moment, how many times had he talked to Zephyrus without knowing? Has he ever talked to Zephyrus in normal clothes? “I've never seen you before though I'm usually here around-” he stopped himself. “Later than this, I don't work super early but I'm not going to work before like twelve so” he trailed off.
He went to work during Foolish’s shift so between eight and eleven if he had to guess which is a fairly big estimate seeing how that's an almost four-hour time span, Tommy decided he was going to get the morning shift next week just to see if he can find Zephyrus, that is if he lives long enough to go home tonight.
The silence was slightly less awkward when the two were both sipping on warm drinks “so Zephyrus, what brings you here tonight?” the winged man who was previously taping on some kind of watch-type item, that Tommy suspected was like a communicator looked up at the tv which was still boring on about heroes “normal villain things mate” Zephyrus had somewhat of a joking tone.
Tommy smiled he wanted to know what the so-called “villian things” were that brought Zephyrus to his quiet cafe “like?” Zephyrus leaned back in his chair to where his veil wouldn't fall but just enough so Tommy could see his smile “like destroying a government building”.
Tommy's eyes went wide “you destroyed a government building?” The man nodded “sure did, it was fun too” the man leaned back up and turned his chair to face Tommy “was The Blade’s idea but we got separated” Zephyrus’s expression softened and he bore a look as if worried “he should be fine he's The Blade” Tommy nodded tossing his now empty cup of hot chocolate into the garbage.
Tommy grabs his phone and sits down on the floor in front of the counter, puts his hands in his lap, and just stares at the floor for what anyone would call an abnormal amount of time before speaking again “will you tell me about The Blade?” Tommy looked up with wide eyes and smiled.
A hand reached down and ruffled Tommy's hair “you're a fan of The Blade are you” Tommy nodded, for as long as he could remember he liked The Blade. With all the swords, pickaxes, and the rare occasion he uses a scythe, Tommy could be called a fanboy but he would deny it as if his life depended on it.
Liking the Syndicate wasn't a very socially acceptable thing to do, especially with all the Dream team fans who thought that Dream was a god or something. Tommy hated Dream even when he was still in school he hated the lime-green man.
His teachers would tell him that Dream was a great person and all this stuff about him saving people and helping, Tommy wouldn't have it, he had his reasons for hating the lime-green bastard that plagued the city he called home and he didn't care if it was an unpopular opinion.
Zephyrus tapped Tommy who just stared “You ok mate?” Tommy nodded “well you want stories yeah?” Tommy again nodded his head “ok stories let's see, oh! I have a good one, do you know how The Blade got his name?” Tommy was ecstatic with the thought that he was going to learn how The Blade got his name, the name that strikes terror into anyone and anything “no tell me” Zephyrus laughed “ok so when we were first going over names Blade wanted us all to have greek names cause ever since I've known him he's had this obsession with them, right”.
Tommy climbed into the chair beside Zephyrus and placed his chin on his hand waiting to hear more, Zephyrus moved to face Tommy more “his name was supposed to be Perses after the titan god of destruction, which if it means anything I think would have been so much cooler, but as I was saying we go out ready to debut and everything is going great until The Captain asks us for our names”.
Tommy ever immersed in the story still catches something like fondness in Zephyrus’s eyes “I say my name first seeing how making the Syndicate was my idea then when it's The Blade's turn to say his name Erebus goes and almost falls off a building thanks to some weird hero item going off and calls out the name “Blade” and well The Blade runs over and grabs him, and he never got to say Perses because The Captain was already calling him The Blade and we just kind of ran with it” Zephyrus laughed “he was so pissed off because he had his name all planned out and Erebus goes and calls that out, but he's grown into the name and it does go with his whole sharp items thing”
Tommy thinks that “The Blade” is a great villain name but he does agree that Perses would've been cooler “if I was a villain I’d want my name to be like Apollo or something cool” Zephyrus gives him a curious look before abruptly, blankly staring off into space, to Tommy it looked as if Zephyrus’s soul had been ripped from his body and the color and warmth drained from him.
After a minute of pure terrifying staring, the colour came back his once cold body became warm to the touch as Tommy shook the man, and Zephyrus looked over to Tommy For a split second Tommy saw a look of fear but it was quickly gone as the winged-man kept talking as if nothing happened “if you were? I mean yeah you look a bit young but Erebus and The Blade started in their like late teens” Tommy is taken aback by the offer if that's what it was, an offer.
Tommy was beyond baffled and a little scared but above all that Tommy had never seriously considered villainy, vigilantism maybe but never villainy. But now that Zephyrus had said he could be one and the fact that he just brushed off the very scary if Tommy would say so with the whole blanking at the cafe wall.
It was a little more than strange, somehow more strange than the aforementioned man sitting in the small cafe “no I was just saying, I don't actually want to be one, I'm happy in this stupid cafe” Tommy decided against bringing it up as Zephyrus stared at Tommy for a moment “just a suggestion the offers there if you want it” ok so yeah it was an offer and it made Tommy extremely confused “offer?” Zephyrus nodded “offer if you want”.
Tommy's eyes fixated on the ever-stained floor “hey I don't just go around asking any random kid to maybe, and this is not definite you'll actually join the syndicate but maybe, one of us could train you maybe Erebus, The Blade, or if like I could” Tommy was beyond baffled, it's not every day one of the most powerful villains in the country go and offer a, he doesn't even know what he would call it, an internship maybe but why was Zephyrus offering him anything.
He wasn't anyone special in the slightest, just some kid in a coffee shop but here he was “why would you want me I'm literally just a barista” Tommy questioned “you seem like a good kid, I just think you could be something besides a barista” Tommy didn't know what to do but sit there “I don't know, I didn't even expect to be in this situation tonight what ifIi don't want to be apart of the world you and the heroes live?” Zephyrus looked understanding as he talked, placing a hand on Tommy's shoulder “you don't have to accept it, really it's just an offer” Tommy nodded.
He didn't understand why Zephyrus of all people offered him a place in the syndicate he quite literally did not understand, there was no reason, nothing he did besides making tea was anything remotely worth noting so why?
He didn't have a chance to ask as the tv started blaring again [Villain Zephyrus has still not been captured however pro hero Dream has reported that it may be safe if only to go home but to not stay out all night with the Syndicate on the loose, in other wor-] Tommy tuned the tv out and looked up at Zephyrus “I think I'm gonna head out, it's been nice talking to you, oh yeah can I get two hot chocolates’ and another tea?” Tommy sighed and made the drinks.
Zephyrus stood at the back door for a moment before turning back to Tommy “hey do you mind if I steal a uniform? It might not be safe to go out as Zephyrus yet “Tommy nodded, walking to the back storage room that was filled with supplies like more tea, coffee, chocolate, and a spare uniform.
He grabbed one and threw it straight into Zephyrus’s head, the man simply laughed and asked Tommy to turn around so he could change “stay facing that way I'm gonna leave now ok?” Tommy just nodded hoping the man could see him “ok also remember, that offer still stands if you'd like it you don't have to take it but it's there, also I saw the schedule and it seems your working the day after tomorrow so I'll be back for more tea” The back door slowly started creaking shut “oh and I'll bring The Blade I think he will like you”
And with that the back door clicked shut, Tommy couldn't have been more ready to go home than at that moment as he made his way around the store quickly closing and locking items, by the time he got outside and checked his phone it was six-forty and Tommy questioned if work had been canceled because of the villain sighting.
Tommy didn't care though he simply made his way down the street heading in the direction of his apartment, it was dark and there weren't many people on the street aside from the rare homeless man or the vigilante he saw now and then he always made sure to wave.
The vigilantes do more for the people in the lower districts than the heroes, the vigilantes’ cared and they weren't rude like heroes were, so yeah Tommy would wave he appreciated them and they knew that sometimes they would stop and talk to him and a few times one of them has walked home with him to make sure he got there ok.
As he neared his apartment he could hear rats scurrying around the dumpster which made him pick up his pace, he didn't like the giant rats in this or any other district.
As soon as his door was locked he shuffled over to his couch and passed out.
The next morning he had woken up to a message from Puffy saying that the shop was closed for today and that he could come back to work tomorrow, which he didn't have any objections to, it meant he could relax for a day without anyone bothering him.
His first order of business was to take a shower which he did, he was lucky because it was one of those days when the water was comfortably warm and he could take a nice long shower without freezing, after he got out he made his way to the kitchen and ate some random cereal he had picked up from the store.
It was called some off-brand name like “charm mellows” or something and it tasted about as good as the real thing which Tommy was sure was the lucky charm cereal but oh well.
He lay out flat on his stomach on the floor right where the natural warm light had started peaking through and he stretched his wings.
He was part avian like Zephyrus was except Tommy couldn't fly, it sucked at least to him it did. He had always liked watching Zephyrus fly around in his fights with heroes and flying had always looked so free, so peaceful, and powerful.
Before he was never allowed to fly, they told him that as long as he was there he would be following their rules, and their rules were no flying so Tommy never got a chance to learn and he was positive he never would, he wanted to.
But tomTommyst couldn’t, he had tried one night, it was almost a year ago when he had climbed onto his roof and attempted to fly but he couldn't get himself off the ground, he still thinks sometimes that maybe he just didn't try enough, however, he swore off ever trying again he hated the hope that swelled in his heart every time he thought about it.
So he opted to stay grounded, not flying just being human, at least to everyone else he was.
He was bored and so incredibly bored, Tommy got up off the couch and got ready to head outside, this routine included wrapping his wings down to his body with that weird brown bandage wrap people buy at the dollar store, throwing a hoodie on, combing his hair, and double checking once he got outside that his front door was locked.
It was a nice day he had noticed, Tommy made his way towards the district two park which was nicer than any park near five or four and way cleaner too. Once he made it there he stopped by an ice cream stand and sat down on a park bench quietly enjoying nature and the sounds of peace.
That lasted almost as long as Tommy's ice cream that had melted and Tommy threw away,
He was just about to take a walk around the park when the building closest to him collapsed.
Tommy had started backing away from the collapsed area when two hands found their way to him, one going around his waist and stomach pulling him close to whoever the hands belonged to and the other almost entirely around his throat “what the fuck let go of me!”.
Tommy struggled, trying to wrestle himself from the hands of whoever was behind him “stop moving, or ill blast off your face” Tommy recognized that voice, it was one he had heard many times over the years on tv and on the rare occasion he found himself close enough to hear one of the many fights “Erebus?” a menacing chuckle sounds from the man holding him “your smart well kind of look where you are now but still” Erebus rambled Tommy didn't dislike Erebus but the man having a grip on this neck was changing his mind Tommy spoke, “what is this about?”.
The villain tightened his grip on Tommy “that green bastard thinks he can just take what mine, I stole that stuff fair, yeah and now he wants it back I think it's stupid I mean the building is destroyed where is he going to put it now anyway?” Erebus’s grip loosened slightly, “you blew up a building?” Tommy could feel the villain nodding behind him “sure did”.
Erebus’s power was explosion well more like he could concentrate a lot of energy into his hands and send devastating explosions out at will, it made him almost unstoppable if it weren't for the fact that he got distracted very often and against Dream, he could only hold his own for awhile from what the fights on tv showed, Erebus couldn't stop moving if he was fighting dream.
Dream was one of the very lucky few to have an Elemental Link or at least that's what they called it, he could control wind along with the other power he had: Dream if he was close enough to a person in both the literal and emotional sense could speak to people by going into their head, for purple he was close to emotionally he could send messages from across the city.
For other people, the ones he didn't have an emotional connection to he had to be within a six-foot radius of them at all times to be able to talk to them, but his power only went as far as talking he couldn't read minds which were why he relied upon his Elemental Link so heavily and when fighting against Erebus he almost always pinned the villain with wind.
Elemental Links were very rare. Less than one present had them, maybe even less than that, some people were born with a special connection to the world. All that had a Link were imminently put into hero training at least the ones that were caught. There were six different Elemental Links people could be born with the way they were classed went from least to greatest threat.
Earth: the ground, rocks, plants like vines, flowers, trees, the people that had it could make mountains, and from what Tommy had seen some did.
Water: from what Tommy had seen in videos of people who had the Link even the smallest drop of water could expand and become a tsunami.
Wind, like Dream, and from interviews with the hero, it was a very complex Link to control but when someone could fully control it the holder could make an F5 tornado if they so wished.
Fire: the ones that possessed the Link were put into the top three extreme threat categories, the only hero Tommy knew of that had the LInk was Inferno and Tommy hadn't seen his power do too much damage, surprisingly that was Dream’s area of expertise he had leveled more building than Tommy could count, but Tommy had also seen the fire Link out of control, there where many a PSA about fire Links engulfing entire forests.
AOL or absence of light: most called AOL holders' Shades, they were the top two shades that could control as the name states the absence of light or in simpler terms darkness, it was an extremely dangerous power that could be deadly if in the wrong hands not much was known about it seeing how anyone with said Link would vanish off the face of the earth, Tommy had his idea of what happened to those poor people, they didn't even get a chance to become heroes they were from what Tommy guessed eradicated.
Incandescence: they were called Shines, even less was known about them only that they could control light and anything that had to do with light, from books Tommy had read about them they were more deadly than Shades and there was no doubt to it that they are killed as soon as signs of a light Elemental link are shown, once Tommy read that they had the power to raise the dead or could burn so bright that anything they focused on would turn to dust, the government was scared of them because they were the one thing the government couldn't control, so they were killed.
Tommy thought Erebus was stupid, not that Tommy hated the strange villain with his stupid get-up. The brown trench coat with black shoes that Tommy had concluded when he got a little too close to a fight was platform boots and big ones at that, Tommy realized that the boots were why he was the tallest member of the Syndicate at seven feet tall.
Erebus was probably around six something, and the mask he was wearing well it wasn't a mask at all it was more likely an extinction of whatever hybrid powers he had but Tommy couldn't be sure, Erebus’s face was smoke literally a black void that if you looked close enough at you could see whips of black around the edges.
A bright green man jumped down from one of the buildings “Erebus let the kid go he's done nothing wrong you're going to hurt him, leave civilians out of this” Dream Tommy hated Dream with every fiber of his being he hated the lime green hero.
If he were to be told he could kill Dream if he would take the offer he would become a Syndicate member in a heartbeat.
Tommy felt anger but he also felt overwhelming fear if he was scared of that building falling on him he was mortified at the sight of Dream, he never liked the heroes “Erebus let me go I can't see Dream let me go seriously let me go” Erebus loosened his grip more than he had the whole time he had ahold of Tommy “why?” The villain hissed at Tommy.
Dream made his way closer to the two as Tommy’s movements got more frantic “Erebus please let me go I can't be seen by Dream seriously” Erebus looked as if he were too considerate for a moment “why?” Tommy didn't answer as he continued to try and fight his way out of Eberus’s grip and tried to turn so he wasn't facing the hero.
Erebus looked beyond confused having a kid push their face into his chest to hide from Dream, and the fact that the kid was acting almost scared of Dream baffled him “I'll let you go but you owe me one if I end up getting killed” Erebus let go just as Dream neared the two and Tommy bolted as fast as he could into an alley just around the corner.
Tommy felt like he couldn't breathe as he slid down the alley wall pulling his knees up to his chest and attempting to breathe in and out to try and control the pace he was breathing at, all of a sudden the feeling of panic and fear hit him like a freight train.
He knew he couldn't stay this close to the fight in case Dream came to look for him, through laboured breathing he stood up having to brace himself against the wall so he wouldn't fall over.
Tommy slowly made his way to the end of the alley and peeked his head at where the fighting had been. Back in the park he could see Dream and Erebus still fighting, Eberus threw an explosion at Dream who nearly dodged it, the hero sent a strong force of wind to force Erebus back and keep him pinned against a wall Erebus yelled something Tommy couldn't hear, Tommy was honestly surprised anyone would be able to hear over the loud almost overbearing sound of wind pushing against the man.
But only a few seconds later, there was a loud crash only feet away from Tommy. Someone had jumped from one of the buildings and made what looked to be a miniature crater in the concrete. When Tommy looked towards the person the first thing he noticed was the braided bright pink hair and the boar skull settled securely on the man's head, The Blade was standing a few feet away from Tommy
The pink-haired man was dressed in what looked to be light armour, a red flowing cape was swaying in the wind behind him. For a split second, he looked at Tommy and simply gestured for him to leave before running over to dream and slamming him into a wall.
Tommy took his cue and ran, he ran all the way back to the fifth district, once the adrenaline wore off he felt exhausted and started his trudge back to his desolate apartment.
After a minute he felt eyes boring into the back of his head, he hated the feeling it made his skin crawl; picking up the pace he finally made it back to his apartment after circling his neighbourhood waiting until the being watched feeling left.
He crawled into bed not caring enough to change clothes, and almost imminently he fell into a deep dreamless sleep.
Waking up at eight PM only to go to work for the next almost nine hours was not Tommy's favourite thing to do but there he was standing in the sad cafe watching as the last customer left, he was a strange one that wanted a triple shot of expresso at three in the morning.
Almost as if they were waiting for just that three syndicate members strolled through the back door Zephyrus, Erebus, and The Blade “oh what the hell do you three want?” Tommy questioned too tired to deal with whatever they were doing, Erebus seemed shocked at Tommy’s blunt question and Tommy.
The Blade acknowledged him for a second as he sat down at the closest table “hey mate sorry but check the news and lock the front door Tommy complied with Zephyurs handing the man the and locking the door.
Only after Tommy sat down did Zephyurs turn the tv on, he handed the remote back to Tommy and walked over to sit with The Blade and Erebus who sat down when Tommy locked the door [syndicate sited in the third district heading to fourth occupants of district three through five are urged to get inside and lock their doors-].
Tommy made four drinks, tea for Zephyrus and The Blade and hot chocolate for him and Erebus, placing the drinks on the table he asked “what the hell did you do this time?” his question was directed to Zephyrus but TheBlade answered instead “killed a lot of people” Zephyrus shook his head and sighed “for god sake Blade, we didn't kill that many people, sorry about him the people that died were collateral damage and it wasn't that many only the ones in the bank” at that moment Tommy was reminded of what the people sitting in front of him were, murderers who called people dying collateral damage “oh um that's not any better” Tommy finally said grabbing losing the grip on his cup “I made you all drinks, I have stuff to do like clean” Zephyrus looked almost apologetic before walked off.
Before Tommy got fully out-of-ear shot he heard “dammit Blade you scared the kid” Tommy just kept walking, he placed his cup on the counter, and made his way into the back storage closet.
He realized that he couldn't act like they weren't killers, even with how nice Zephyrus had been before they were killers and they were in Tommy's cafe, he couldn't get over the collateral damage comment Zephyrus had made, those people that they had killed probably had families, friends, some could have had kids and they were nothing to the villains.
They acted like those people's death was just another obstacle that they overcame, yea Tommy wanted to kill Dream and a few other people in the hero commission and yes he definitely would if given the chance but he had a reason, the people he wanted dead didn't have families and no matter how close Dream acted with the rest of the Dream Team Tommy knew the three hated each other.
After a few minutes, there was a knock at the door “hey mate are you ok in there?” it was Zephyrus “yeah why?” Tommy could hear the man shuffle around outside the door “you've been in there for almost thirty minutes” there was no way Tommy had sat in that dark storage room for that long “hold on I'm coming out” Tommy stood up and opened the door.
It wasn't just Zephyrus outside the door but The Blade also, the pink-haired man looked uncomfortable “sorry if I made you upset with the dead people thing” Zephyrus shot the man a glare before turning back to Tommy ” yeah I'm sorry too, I should have taken into account that we are more desensitized to that kind of stuff” Tommy didn't like hearing two of the most feared and dangerous villains “its fine, don't apologize that's not why I was back here I was organizing stock” Tommy pushed past the two and made his way back to the front of the cafe.
Erebus was standing by the counter and waved Tommy over when he saw him “hey your that kid I grabbed yesterday aren't you?” Tommy nodded as he threw away his now cold cup of hot chocolate “yeah I am why?”
Erebus watched as the other two syndicate members walked back to their table before answering “why were you so scared of Dream, Do you have some kind of history with him?” Tommy stared at the counter for a moment looking over the pastries inside “no, I just don't like him”.
Erebus looked back to Zephyrus before turning back to Tommy “there's no way you don't I mean you were terrified and I don't think anyone who just doesn't like dream would try and hide their face in a villains Jac-” Tommy interrupted “I don't drop it”.
Tommy was done talking about the stupid lime-green hero and at this point, he wanted the villains out of his cafe “are you all gonna leave soon? I want to go home” The three men turned to Tommy before one of them spoke “yeah sorry mate we probably should get going huh?” Tommy nodded as he took the empty cups and threw them away “come on boys I think it's time we go home, thanks for letting us stay for a bit” Tommy hummed in response “oh yeah what's your name?” Tommy turned to Erebus “it's Tommy”.
The three men left Tommy standing in the middle of the cafe, there was a ding at the door, Tommy turned to see Foolish walk in “hey man have fun with the morning shift” Foolish gave Tommy a slight smile before talking “yeah go home and get some sleep I'll see you tomorrow” Tommy waved before walking out the door and leaving Foolish to work.
When Tommy got home he curled up on his bed and fell asleep, he was very much done with this week.