Work Text:
Tubbo grits his teeth as he's slammed into the roof. The Villain he was fighting scoffs and turns away no longer interested in it's game. Ranboo takes that as the cue to get going. He gently grabs onto Tubbo's shoulder, Tubbo's vision blurs in mixes of purple before the familiar blue walls of the living room settle into view.
His back is surely bruised to shit, his knees burn from road rash. The lights are off and Ranboo breathes a sigh of relief that quickly turns into a shriek as the light is flicked on. Tommy blinks in confusion a moment at the scene. Ranboo hunched over with Tubbo, both with shock written across them.
Then Tommy narrows his eyes and groans into his hands.
He looks tired, Tubbo and Ranboo's shoulders slump at the heavy guilt that weighs down at the reminder. Tommy's taken them in off the street for no charge as long as they do their chores. He was even chill with the Vigilante-ing! But he's standing there is his sleep shirt exhausted. The bruises under his eyes are deeper than usual, he looks far older than 24 right now. They all jolt as a baby's cry snips through the silence. Tommy's face crumples as he looks between his room and the two teens on his carpet.
He walks back into the dark hallway. Tubbo sighs then winces as it stabs at something. "We're pushing to much aren't we?" Ranboo whispers, he looks ashamed curled in on himself. "We're taking to much and he's going to think we're not worth-" The light flickers on and off repeatedly which has the duo looking up before turning their gazes back to the hallway. Tommy's back, Clementine is snuggled in the baby sling, now calmer as he bounces lightly in place. Tommy walks over and sets the first aid kit down on the couch then goes into the kitchen. Both rooms are flooded brightly from the fluorescent bulbs. They watch him from the space between the bar counter and the hanging cabinets.
He grabs the milk from the fridge and pours a glass before putting it in the microwave. Turning away he opens the freezer and shuffles through it. He pulls out two bags of frozen carrots and stops the microwave before it can beep obnoxiously loudly. It clicks he's making a bottle when he sticks his finger in the milk before grabbing the powder mix he adds. He mixes it well before pouring it in one of Clementine's purple dinosaur bottles. He angles the bottle to rest in the crook of his neck, Clementine latches on. He grips the slippery vegetables and puts them down by the first aid kit.
Finally done he settles down in the rocking chair by the balcony door. Tubbo knows that chair fucks up your hips completely. "What are you lot staring for? Get icing." Tommy scolds lightheartedly. Ranboo springs into motion opening the kit.
Tubbo shimmies out of his jacket and shirt before rolling his shorts up to expose the red gashes blistering at his knees. Ranboo wipes them clean with alcohol sheets that Tubbo hisses at before wrapping them. Ranboo shows him to lay down on his stomach and ignores the way he squirms at the frozen burning at his flesh.
"Sorry we woke up Clementine." Ranboo finally says after a few minutes of silence (minus Clementine sucking at her bottle). Tommy shakes his head, Tubbo flips his head over to face them. "It was lucky chance I saw you get back, I was already coming out for a bottle. She gets fussy easily." He shrugs, Ranboo clutches at the words to ignore the voice telling him Tommy wishes he's never walked in that alley. It's a quiet again, Tubbo's never been a fan of it so he breaks the peace again. "Random topic change, do you think we're too much?" And of all the things to say he chooses that. He winces as soon as the words leave his mouth, Ranboo folds in on himself. Tommy raises an eyebrow, obviously he's confused by the question but he understands. It's not really random given the situation either but he ignores that. "That certainly is a topic change Tubbo, care to share the thought process?" Tubbo frowns and it contorts with the way his face is smushed into the carpet.
"I just mean, you took us in randomly, why did you even do that?"
Tommy hums and looks to the ceiling in thought. "Well you just reminded me of myself I guess, out trying to prove yourself in anyway you could after the world dealt you such a rough hand at life."
Tommy has told them before of his childhood, not ideal in the slightest. Fighting rings, bars, sketchy alleys just to get the next fix. Tubbo looks at the Tommy he knows. A tired father just trying to raise his children, the man he sees wears a pink apron to cook, and complains about his coworker Jacob who thinks he's primes gift to man.
"I- I want to help someone not go down the path I went down. The life I have now? Told 16 year old me I'd be like this and I'd punch you." Tommy shrugs. "So why?" A raised eyebrow. "I mean, you've already helped us get on track, why are we still here?" Tommy squints at them.
"Well because I love you obviously."
Tubbo's brain melts slightly. Love? He's never been a love kinda guy. Tommy's face crumples at their surpise. "I don't mean to put pressure on you to return it of course, but I'm here for you. I do love you guys."
Ranboo's voice warbles as he says back. "I think I can say for both of us, we love you too Tommy."
The blonde nods. "Thank you darling, maybe don't forget that."
Tommy chuckles to himself but stops when a voice pipes up. "Daddy?" They all turn and standing in the breach of the hallway is Shroud. The little boy is wriggling oddly like he's got bugs in his pants. "Sensory night?" Tommy asks calmly, Shroud nods. Sensory nights happen occasionally with the boy's issues. The feeling of anything on his skin being too much, shower night. "Alright, do you want to try to turn the water on?" Shroud pouts and shakes his head. Tommy nods. "Okay go pick out one of my shirts and I'll be in soon." Shroud's lips twitch strangely into what Tubbo's knows as a smile. It's like he has a little brother, he blinks at the idea. Him? A little brother?
Tommy stands up slowly and resumes his bouncing. "I'll see you guys in the morning, yeah?" They both smile and wish him goodnight.
With the bathroom door closed Tubbo and Ranboo share a look. "Does he seriously just say he loves us?" Tubbo nods numbly. Someone loves him? Someone, loving Tubbo? No. But Tommy's gruff insistence pushes at that. Tubbo melts into the floor with a happy sigh. Oh primes Tubbo has someone who loves him!
"It's like those proper familes we used to watch. Do you think Tommy would celebrate Chrismas with us?" Tubbo asks his counterpart. Ranboo shrugs and pushes the frozen bag back onto Tubbo's back. "He did other holidays why not?" Tubbo huffs and smacks at a lanky leg. "It's different, Christmas is for family." He stresses the word like that would make Ranboo understand.
Ranboo casts a longing look at the hallway.
"Maybe."