Chapter Text
When Tommy comes to his head is absolutely pounding .
He also has not a single clue where he is.
That’s good.
He blinks, trying to stop his head from spinning.
This sucks.
Concrete walls surround him and Tommy groans.
These kidnappers are always putting him in the most boring places in existence.
“Hello????”
His throat is scratchy. Maybe if he still had his Sprite this wouldn’t be happening.
A door opens on the far right side of the warehouse, a shadowy figure standing in the doorway, back lit by the light that shines through.
Tommy squints at the figure.
“Who are you?”
The person sighs, “It’s Hafu.”
And as she steps into the warehouse Tommy can see that now, “Oh! Cool!”
She looks like she’s highly regretting kidnapping him.
“I—“
“You know, your hospitality sucks.”
Hafu walks closer to him, “It’s not supposed to be good, this is a kidnapping.”
Tommy goes to wave his hands flippantly, and then remembers that they’re tied together.
“Hey, could you untie me?”
Hafu is standing in front of him by now, “No?”
“Why was that a question?”
“It wasn’t.”
“Yes it was.”
“No it wasn’t—“
“Hafu?”
Tommy turns to look at the still open door towards where the voice came from.
Oh, 5up is here.
Great! Now it’s a party!
Tommy smiles, “Sup, 5up!”
5up looks mildly confused.
“Why is he so talkative?”
Hafu shrugs, turning to look at 5up as he walks towards them.
“What’s the kids name anyways?”
Hafu responds before Tommy can, “I don’t know, normally we don’t ask our kidnappees for their names.”
5up walks into view, standing next to Hafu as he evaluated Tommy.
“He looks harmless.”
Hafu looks like she has an opinion about that statement that she will not say.
“I— okay, what’s your name?”
Tommy smiles, “Tommy! What is your name?”
She sighs, “You already know my name.”
“Okay, but it’s only polite to ask.”
“You’re insufferable.”
Tommy just nods along in the same way a therapist has after you’ve dumped all your trauma on them.
Hafu just shakes her head in exasperation, “5up, how can we even be sure that anyone is going to pay money for him back?”
“Well, Ares seemed really upset when he looked back and Tommy was gone.”
Tommy perks up, “Really?”
5up nods, “Yeah, he started threatening me.”
Tommy gapes like a fish.
“That’s so awesome.”
5up seems generally concerned, but makes the wise decision to just not say anything about that.
“Hafu, has anyone responded from the tower about our demands?”
Hafu hums, “Not yet, I’m hoping we get something in response today, but you know they are probably actively searching for him rather than considering complying.”
Tommy frowns, “If you know what they are probably doing then why kidnap me? How do you even know that they are looking for me?”
5up tilts his head, “It doesn’t hurt to try, plus it seemed like Ares cared for you so we figured why not.”
“You just did this on a whim???”
5up nods.
Tommy just frowns, “Well, that seems like a good idea.”
“Your sarcasm is not appreciated here.”
Tommy smiles at 5up, it’s something much lighter than it probably should be, but he has never been great with the seriousness of things.
A sort of silence falls, in which Tommy finds himself trying to figure out how he can reignite the conversation.
“I have a question.”
Hafu looks just incredibly done with Tommy, “What is it?”
“Hypothetically, if you had to choose between saving yourself and saving society, which would you choose?”
Hafu and 5up both seem very perplexed by this question.
“That’s an odd hypothetical.”
Tommy just shrugs, “Answer it.”
Hafu sighs, “I mean I’m a villain, I’m always going to save myself.”
Tommy tilts his head, “But isn’t your goal to better society and fix the problems that are obvious by rebelling against the authorities?”
Hafu just blinks, “I mean, I guess, but I still think I would save myself even if it meant I wouldn’t complete that goal.”
A hum sounds from Tommy as he considers the answer before looking expectantly at 5up.
5up pauses for a moment, seeming to really consider the question.
“I think I would save society, even if it means I die. I will sacrifice a lot to win and I think that sometimes sacrificing yourself is the only way to complete a goal.”
Tommy nods.
“That’s…interesting.”
5up nods and then looks at Hafu, “How long do you think it will take for them to find us?”
Hafu sighs, “Probably not that long. We aren’t that good at kidnapping.”
“Yeah, do you think we should just… return him?”
Hafu looks like she is so over this.
“I don’t know, but I am going to go home.”
5up nods slowly, “Oh yeah… you have work today right?”
She nods and 5up nods too and Tommy nods because he feels left out.
Overall this is a very odd experience that Tommy would not like to experience ever again.
Tommy sighs because this is boring and he felt like sighing.
“Should I interrogate him or something?”
Hafu looks like she wants to be anywhere but here.
“If you want to 5up.”
5up nods, mind obviously turning as he tries to determine the best possible route to take.
“Well, you can go home Hafu, I can take care of the rest of it.”
She nods, “I better not see you on the news tonight.”
5up laughs, “You won’t. When have I ever been caught?”
They share a knowing look and then she turns to leave, “Don’t be stupid.”
“Never have, never will.”
Hafu walks out and then a silence falls over them.
“So… are you going to interrogate me?”
Tommy’s powers thrum beneath his skin, the excitement from the day bubbling under him. He tries his best to ignore them, watching the way his leg bounces instead.
5up shrugs, “Maybe, I don’t really know. I’m expecting Ares to come by soon, I have no doubt he is looking for you.”
Tommy blinks slowly, “Oh.”
His powers reach out, searching for something to hit.
They’ve been thrumming since the beginning of the fight, but it’s only now that the silence has fallen that he has noticed them truly.
5up looks at Tommy and Tommy looks back, his powers swirling in his gut.
“You can still ask me questions.”
Tommy doesn’t know why he says that, he just can’t do the silence right now.
5up nods, “I don’t normally do interrogations, we just want some money.”
Tommy nods, “I’m sure I can get you money.”
5up looks fairly confused, but he doesn’t get the chance to ask a question because Ares comes bursting through the wall.
Yes, through the concrete wall.
5up jumps, spinning around before nodding.
“Ares.”
Ares nods, “5up.”
And then they begin fighting and Tommy just kind of sits there and watches. It’s quite cool in his opinion, most normal people don’t get to sit this close to a villain fight!
Okay, well Tommy isn’t a normal person, but he can pretend.
He hasn’t gotten to fight a villain or anything yet, so this is cool…okay?
Tommy watches in awe before recalling that he should be trying to escape now.
Tommy looks at his roped hands for a moment wondering if he is good enough at life to get out of this.
He then decides that the answer is no.
So he then decides his best option will be to get up and run.
He stands.
And then realizes his ankles are also tied to the legs of the chair.
They were really extensive here.
So, now Tommy just watches as Ares and 5up fight. Well, more like as Ares attacks 5up and 5up runs away.
It’s quite funny.
Therefore, Tommy laughs.
He is very original. Do not fear, because Tommy will always have the most original jokes ever.
Tommy watches the fight and then eventually it ends by 5up running away.
“Bye, Tommy! Maybe I’ll kidnap you again some day!”
Ares does not seem to be a fan of that, but he doesn’t say anything.
“Bye, 5up! It was great knowing you!”
Ares sighs, “Tommy, let me untie you.”
“Okay!”
“Did they hurt you?”
Ares hands touch the ropes, slowly working through the knots.
“No! In fact, we just kind of chatted!”
Ares looks up at him, “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah! They even gave me some advice!”
“About what?”
“Eh, nothing important.”
Ares moves on to untying the knots that bound Tommy’s wrists together and soon enough he is free to roam!
“Yay! I’m free! Can you get me some more McDonald’s? I never got to finish it.”
“No, we have to go back to the tower.”
Tommy frowns, “Not even a McFlurry?”
“No.”
Long story short, Tommy got a McFlurry.
“This tastes great!”
Ares seems so tired.
“Did you sleep?”
Ares looks at Tommy, “Yes…”
“So, that means no.”
Tommy takes another bite of his McFlurry, eyes following Techno.
“Maybe it does.”
A silence falls between them as they walk towards the hero tower.
“Do you…care about me?”
Tommy asks the question in a voice so quiet that it almost is out of character, that it almost gets lost to the winds.
Ares glances at Tommy, “Why do you ask?”
Tommy frowns, looking down at his McFlurry.
“I just— want to know.”
He only just recently got people in his life and something about 5up telling him that Ares seemed to care really got him thinking.
They keep walking, the silence falling between them in a way that makes Tommy wish he had just never said anything at all.
“I think I care about you.”
Tommy falters for a moment, his steps stuttering before he fights himself and continues on.
“Really?”
Ares nods, eyes traveling back to where the tower stands.
“Yeah, I think I didn’t realize it until now, but I think I do.”
Tommy nods, “That’s nice.”
He has never been good at this, feelings and friends aren’t something he deals with, not often.
But, maybe he can. This is his chance and he would be a fool not to take it.
The rest of their walk is quiet, but Tommy doesn’t mind for once.
The tower comes into view and Tommy sucks in a breath, mind coming back to that conversation with 5up and Hafu.
Should he be selfish or selfless?
Tommy doesn’t know, not before and especially not now.
How could he?
He doesn’t have to know today though. Soon? Yes. But today? No.
So he has time and that is all he needs right now.
They enter the tower with, luckily, very little fanfare. It’s a simple thing that puts Tommy at ease. His brief fear that everyone would be watching him put at ease.
He loves chaos and attention brings that easily, but sometimes he just wants to be himself and not a spectacle.
They enter the elevator and Tommy’s heart seizes.
Ares must notice though, his hand coming up to squeeze Tommy’s.
“Just breathe.”
Tommy nods, lungs filling agonizingly slowly. He can do this, it’s just one elevator ride.
“I can do this.”
Ares nods, “You can do this Tommy, just keep breathing.”
Tommy takes another breath, forcing his chest to rise when all it wants to do is fall.
It’s hard, but he does it.
There is something about Ares’ hand on his own, the gentle squeezes of reassurances, that mean so much though.
They ground Tommy and make everything feel just slightly easier for that brief moment when the elevator lifts them to the floor they must be on.
The elevator comes to a halt and Tommy’s breath hitches until the doors slide open.
It’s only then that Tommy finally finds the strength to breathe.
“You did it.”
Tommy nods, “Thank you.”
He takes a breath and then they continue to walk.
Tommy smiles when he realizes they are on the SBI floor. Tommy was afraid he was going to have to answer questions or something, but this is okay. He can do this.
They move over to sit on the couch. His McFlurry is still in his hand, but by now he isn’t quite sure if he wants it.
“Are you feeling okay?”
Tommy nods slowly, “Yeah, just shaken by everything I guess.”
Ares nods, something about him screaming how uncomfortable he is, but Tommy knows it isn’t him , it’s more the fact that there are a lot of emotions happening.
Tommy has slowly come to realize that Ares is not the one to go to for emotional support.
Another thing Tommy has come to realize though is that that is okay. He knows Ares won’t have the ability to thread his words carefully to create something perfect to mend the situation.
That’s not what Ares strives at and Tommy has found that he’s okay with that, because the stilted conversation and muted care is sometimes all Tommy needs.
Ares doesn’t try to console Tommy or fix his problems, he is just there and he cares and it’s nice to not be smothered in pity and advice that he doesn’t know how to use.
So, Tommy moves towards the remote, flicking the TV on and flipping through the channels. The whole thing feels oddly domestic in a way, it makes Tommy feel like maybe he isn’t as alone as he likes to think.
It’s nice and it’s secure. He feels safe.
Eventually Tommy settles on some movie, it’s insignificant in the end. The title won’t ever be important and neither will the plot.
But this moment will be an important one, for, when in years to come, when Tommy thinks about that first day that Tommy realizes Ares cared, he will think of this one.
It’s a nice moment and that’s really all it ever needed to be.
It’s a while later when Aeolus comes rushing into the room, eyes frantic until he lands on Tommy.
“Are you okay?”
Tommy nods, “Yeah, they didn’t hurt me or anything.”
Aeolus lets out a sigh, “How about mentally?”
A frown threatens to take over Tommy’s face, but he stashed it away for another moment, hiding it behind a smile.
“I’m fine.”
Aeolus seems skeptical, looking at Tommy in that way that just says everything about his mistrust.
“I promise you, I’m fine.”
Ares sends Tommy a glance, but he ignores it. His eyes are on Aeolus, praying that he will just drop it. Tommy doesn’t have the emotional capacity to talk about feelings.
But he also doesn’t want to explain that, because that is the number one way for them to tell him he needs a therapist.
Now, Tommy isn’t saying he doesn’t need a therapist because he definitely does, but he can’t have them hounding him to go. He’ll go when he’s ready and comfortable enough to talk, and that time is not now and probably won’t be for a while.
Tommy doesn’t mind though. He is aware his coping methods are lackluster at best, but he is also aware that right now his skeletons are best kept in the closet, even if the bones have begun to decay too.
Tommy gives him a taut smile, pulled tight across his face as though that will be any more convincing than his words alone.
Aeolus sighs, “Okay, but just know we are here if you need us.”
He nods, if only to satiate him, for Tommy knows that even if they care, that he can’t jeopardize himself like that.
Tommy turns back to the movie, watching the way the people move on the screen. He doesn’t quite know what’s going on, but anything is better than his thoughts and feelings that bubble up beneath his skin, causing his blood to boil until he finally bursts.
Eventually the movie comes to a close and after a day of doing absolutely nothing due to the whole kidnapping incident, Tommy is sent home.
He waves goodbye to Ares and Aeolus, smiling gently before heading towards the elevator out of habit.
He presses the button before he realizes, already moving to turn and head towards the stairs. As he turns the doors slide open behind him, Tommy glances over his shoulder briefly, eyes locking onto Dolos.
Tommy groans internally, this is the last thing he wanted today. So, he turns promptly and walks very quickly back towards the living room.
Dolos doesn’t seem to get that hint though, for he jogs slightly to catch up to Tommy before slinging an arm over his shoulder as though they are the closest of friends.
Tommy shrugs the arm off his shoulder with a grimace as he turns to face the man.
“What do you want?”
His voice is in a whispered sort of hush in an attempt to keep Ares and Aeolus out of this conversation.
Dolos tilts his head, his eyes telling Tommy that a smile has snaked its way onto his lips.
“Nothing, just heard you went on a little adventure with some villains.”
Tommy walks forward, “Yeah, it was quite boring.”
Dolos matches Tommy’s pace as they whisper back and forth down the hall.
“Oh was it?”
Tommy nods, picking up his pace in hopes that he can get to the living room and finish this conversation.
“Yes.”
He turns the corner, ignoring whatever Dolos wants to say next.
“Ares, will you walk me home? I don’t want to get kidnapped again or something.”
Ares glances up, eyes widening at the site of Dolos for a moment before he nods.
“Yeah, just give me a moment.”
Tommy nods, standing there with Dolos lingering behind him.
Aeolus glances back, “Oh, Dolos, you’re back?”
Dolos nods stiffly, “Yeah, I ran into Tommy in the hallway.”
Aeolus nods, asking Dolos some kind of silent question with his eyes. Dolos shakes his head gently and if Tommy could see Aeolus’ mouth he imagines it would be pulled into a gentle frown.
Ares returns from wherever he went, Tommy hadn’t really been paying attention, “You ready to go?”
Tommy nods and Ares leads them out to the staircase. The walk is generally quiet, it’s just them and the noises of the city. So, arguably it isn’t that quiet, but they don’t speak so in a sense it feels quieter than normal.
And eventually Tommy gets home and he doesn’t get kidnapped so that’s probably a win!
Tommy waves goodbye to Ares before entering the apartment building and making his way up the stairs. He tries to ignore the way everything echoes, something about it making him feel so much lonelier than before.
He gets to the door, ready to just pass out when he hears voices through the wood.
“I’m worried about him.”
That’s Tubbo.
“I mean… maybe this is normal.”
“Ranboo, most people don’t just drop off the face of the planet.”
Tommy chooses that moment to unlock the door and make his grand entrance.
“Hey guys, did you miss me?”
Tubbo whips his head around, “Where were you??????”
Tommy closes the door behind him, scrambling to think of an excuse, because he really cannot say that he got kidnapped.
“I got caught up at work and my phone died so I couldn’t text you guys.”
He’s so good at this whole lying thing.
Tubbo Shakes his head gently, “Okay, just… don’t do that again. I was worried.”
And Tommy tries to ignore how that makes something within him panic at those three measly words.
Maybe it’s just the way he’s gone from no one to one person to a growing number of people that he has begun to realize actually cares about him.
“Oh…okay.”
Tubbo smiles gently, “Good. Now, are you hungry?”
Tommy nods slowly, “Yeah, food would be nice.”
Ranboo smiles as well, “Well good thing I’m a stress cooker.”
Tommy smiles with them and he lets himself feel at ease. He knows it will take him a while to get used to stuff like this, to people that care and worry for him, but he knows it’s something that he wants to get used to.
So he starts trying now, as he smiles and laughs and eats dinner with two people who aren’t quite his friends yet, but Tommy knows will be soon.
It’s a nice feeling and he lets that feeling chase him as he falls asleep that night, with dreams of laughter and friendship lingering the next day.