Chapter Text
! Trigger warning for Abuse and Starvation! Skip if you want, your mental stability is more important than this paragraph. !
“GET YOUR ASS UP HERE, MORON!” Screamed his step father, Derek. Tommy sighed, getting off the basement floor. He hadn’t been allowed food since yesterday night’s shit granola bar. Derek was probably going to beat him, and his step mother, also known as Ava, would be forced to let Tommy starve. He shakily started to walk up the steps, dreading the next two hours ahead. When he got up the stairs, he noticed the bottles of alcohol on the counter. Oh boy. Derek had been drinking, meaning he’d get it much worse tonight. He braced himself as the drunk man turned around and grabbed him by his ratty shirt. ‘Huh, he’s drunker than usual.’ he noted when Derek punched him in the nose. Normally Derek was sober enough to beat him where his clothes would hide it.
TW OVER! If you skipped, just know that I will never expect you to read something you’re uncomfortable with.
After about an hour, Tommy stumbled down the basement stairs, limping over to his sleep corner where he slowly slid to the ground, wincing as his gut protested with a jab of pain, which set off a bout of dry heaving, which in turn jostled the areas of his body forming bruises. “What a joy school is going to be tomorrow…” he whispered with a small, dry laugh. He slowly sank into a nightmare-filled sleep.
—
He woke up to Ava shaking him awake, fearfully looking at the stairs and discreetly handing him two granola bars. He nodded gratefully, and to cover up her secretive kindness, she yelled “GET UP YOU LAZY BEAST!” to throw Derek off. “I’m sorry honey, I promise I’ll try to help you…” She whispered, helping him stand up and handing him a pair of sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt. “I will get you out of here, Thes, please have a good day at school.” She said, afterwards fake storming up the stairs. At least Ava said she’d try. He changed into the clothes, throwing his school bag over his shoulder. He walked up the stairs quietly and snuck out the front, as Derek was watching football on the TV. He quietly slipped out the door and started for school. When Tommy got through the front door, some teachers were staring at him weirdly. He walked into the bathroom, plopping his stuff on the bathroom floor. He looked into the grimy mirror and his eyes widened in horror. He had a black eye and a dark purple bruise on his cheek. Derek had left visible bruises in unhidable places. Well fuck.
After he shoved his bag into his tiny locker, Tommy winced in pain. He shut his locker and walked away, getting into his class just as the bell rang.
When he was called to the guidance office, people started whispering. His friends, Amily and Andrea gave him the ‘Huge Yikes’ look. He walked down to Mr. Henry’s office, where he sat down in the weird chair. “Thomas, where did you sustain these injuries? We’re afraid for your safety.” Mr. Henry said, giving him the look. “And don’t make up lies Thomas.” Mr. Henry added. Tommy sighed. Hopefully the school would do something instead of calling Derek. If they called Derek, he’d surely be beaten to death by the drunk, but if they didn’t maybe he’d get to leave… a difficult decision, for sure. “I’m going to leave, because a man named Dr. WasTaken is going to talk to you.” Mr. Henry said after a few moments of silence from Tommy.
A tall blonde man walked in the room and flopped on the office chair after Mr. Henry left. “Hey kid, call me Clay. None of that ‘Dr. Wastaken’ bullshit.” The man, apparently Clay said. “O-ok I guess?” he replied, unsure if he can trust the dude.
“Look kid, no matter what you say, none of this gets told to your parents. I’m no stranger to abusive parents. I get it.” Clay said, no trace of joking in his voice. “Yeah, yeah. Got it.” Tommy said, still a bit unsure. He started anyway. “So, I was put in the foster system when I was like, seven. After a few people, this dude called Derek was my foster parent. He was a cool guy until it was time for bed. He gave me a ratty pillow and a thin blanket and told me to sleep in the basement. I was only allowed upstairs when his girlfriend Ava was around. Eventually, he decided to adopt me for god knows what reason.” He said, and Clay stared daggers at the desk. “Eventually, Ava moved in with us. Derek stopped trying to hide the whole Tommy sleeps in the basement thing. Then, Derek stopped feeding me. Ava tried to give me food and stuff, but Derek would yell at her. I was only allowed a shitty granola bar every one or two days. When Derek proposed to Ava, she was too scared to say no. There was no wedding or anything, just a legal ceremony. Then, the physical abuse began. By ten years old, I was hungry, miserable, and hurting every day after school. By eleven, I was no longer allowed a pillow or blanket. I don’t know if Ava’s been hit, but I hear yelling when I go to bed. Derek drinks a lot.” He said, before Clay stopped him. “Hey kid, how would you like to live in a community where you are taken care of, and get to do anything you want?” Clay offered, and Tommy, hoping to dear Ex-dee this wasn’t a joke, nodded super fast.
“This place is Esempii Mental Institution. I promise it isn’t like a hospital. Think of a strangely laid out neighborhood of houses, each built to suit the person living there. People there have all sorts of problems. You can put in requests for things you want, and you can have the option to stay even after you get better!” Clay explained enthusiastically. “CAN I REALLY GO?!” Tommy exclaimed, in disbelief. “ANd the best part? No school!” Clay said, grinning. “YES!” He yelled, and hugged Clay. “Whoa kiddo, I’ll make sure to register you. See you in two days.” He said, and Tommy just grinned. He silently celebrated until the end of the day, when he begrudgingly walked to his house. Derek was out cold on the couch, and Ava looked at him, smiling gently. Poor lady was married to the worst dude alive.
“Ava! Guess what?” He whispered, still super hyped. “Yeah?” Ava said, happy to see Tommy so excited. “In two days, I’m getting out of here! There’s this mental institute that’s going to take me!” He whispered, grinning. “Oh my Prime! That’s amazing! Oh Thes, you are so lucky you get to leave, you better phone me!” Ava gushed quietly, hugging Tommy. “Now quick, go downstairs before Derek wakes up. Make sure to do all your homework, and I’ll bring you as much as I can.” Ava instructed, smiling at Tommy. “I knew, someday you’d slay the Minotaur, Theseus.” She said, sighing. As he went downstairs, those words stuck in his head.
When Tommy woke up, he felt better than he had in a long time. Ava had managed to get him cold pizza and a coke after Derek lumbered up to his room. He slung his backpack on his shoulder and left the house as quietly as he could. Only one more night at Derek’s house and he’d be free forever! He practically ran down the street. “YO! TOMMY! Dude- slow down-” Amily panted, and Andrea ran up next to Amily. “Wuss. Tommy doesn't even run that fast.” Andrea said, jabbing Amily in the back. “Guys, I’m going to be out of the Minotaur’s house. Forever.” Tommy said, smiling. Amily and Andrea rushed over and hugged him tightly. “FUCK- BRUISES, BRUISES! Chill!” He yelped, and the two girls let go and Andrea looked about ready to cry. “Tom, I am so fucking happy for you right now. Where are you going?” Andrea said, curious where Tommy could possibly live. “Esempii Mental Institution.It’s like this weird thing where people who can’t take care of themselves or are in a shitty spot mentally or physically can live.” He said, knowing full well Andrea was gonna research the fuck outta that place.
The three walked through the doors of the school building and went to their respective lockers. When he heard the school bullies, Purpled and Punz Bedwars, he hid himself as best as he could. Hopefully, Purpled wouldn’t notice him. “Hey dweeb, where’d the bruises come from?” Nope, no such luck. He turned around to face the 6’3” boy behind him. “Go away, Purpled.” He said bluntly. “No thanks, this is fun.” Purpled said, shoving Tommy against the wall. “Dude, screw off!” Tommy said, trying to shove Purpled off of him. “Nahhhhh, I’m good.” Purpled said before kneeing him in the stomach. After he was shoved around for roughly five minutes, he took off to his class when an opening presented itself.
—
Purpled sat in the guidance office as some half bald guy called Jack or whatever read out his sentence at Esempii Mental Institution. Apparently, he was too prone to violence and all the other detention centers hadn’t been enough for his parents. “You better be ready by tomorrow, cuz you gettin on that bus after school. Have a good day, Purpled." Jack said, obviously not meaning it. Purpled walked out of the tiny office, and Punz was waiting out in the hall. “What’s that all about?” Punz said, giving his younger brother a weird look. “Guess who gets to spend the rest of highschool in a mental clink!” Purpled grumbled. “Joyous, how much does it cost?” Punz sighed, wanting to know how many jobs he needs to work. “Surprisingly, free for once.” Purpled said, shrugging his shoulders. “When you leavin?” Punz asked. “Tomorrow, I’m gettin on a bus after school. Probably a few other kids getting toted off.” Purpled said, starting to walk towards his class.
TIme skip cuz Andy is getting lazy!
Purpled climbed on the shitty bus that would take him to the place he’d spent the remainder of highschool in. He looked around at the other kids on the bus. Two random 3rd graders, A senior, and- wait. Why the fuck is whats-his-name on this bus? What’s his behavior issue? He doesn't even talk most of the time! Eh, more fun for him. He plopped in the seat across from him. “Don’t.” Whats-his-name said, his voice steely. “Awwwwww, fine.” He said, pulling out his phone and playing some dumb mobile game he downloaded a while ago. Once he looked over briefly to see the dude grinning to himself and mumbling something about being out or whatever.
—-
Tommy decided even Purpled being at this place wouldn’t ruin this for him. He stared at the rolling hills and the mountains. Everything was bathed in golden light from the setting sun, and for the first time in nine years, things were going up.