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Tommy blinked, once, twice at the creature.
He was at least one feet taller than him, and had glimmering, void-like skin. His eyes were a bright purple, and his teeth were blending in with his skin. Sharp and completely black. His arms ended in clawed fingers, and his feet were similar to a cats. They were wearing a sort of black suit, with fluttering sleeves and multiple golden clasps here and there. His black hair was long, falling down on his shoulders. Tommy could see a tiny bit of gold nestled in it. A crown? It didn't really matter, anyway.
Purple particles swirled around them, a quiet, continuous noise accompanying their movement. Tommy would have almost mistaken it for whispers, but that was ridiculous. Particles didn't speak.
They blinked back, before looking away.
"So?" Tommy said, huffing annoyedly. "Put me down."
The prince? King? Let out an annoyed warble, his cow-like, dark purple tail swishing behind him for a little bit, until he huffed and finally put the avian down.
Tommy brushed invisible dirt off his pants before taking a step back to glare at them properly.
"Finally!" He exclaimed, stretching a little bit, his small wings fluttering behind him. "Who do you think you are, grabbin' people like that?!" He asked, huffing loudly.
The enderian kid frowned, his annoyance showing even more in the cross of their arms and in the swish of his tail.
A warble.
Tommy tapped his foot in annoyance. "No, you didn't save me! I'm an avian, idiot! I don't get hurt from falls!"
Tap, tap, tap.
They looked away, embarrassment showing in the light purple tinting his cheeks. Tommy smiled in amusement, his mood swinging silently.
"It was nice of you, though, I guess…" The enderian looked up at that, an expression of smugness mixed with a tiny bit of embarrassment painted on their face. Tommy had never seen someone so expressive before. Even Phil didn't show his emotions so obviously. "...so I'll allow you to be my friend!"
A blink, and Tommy almost expected him to accept.
Until they turned around and started walking away.
"H-hey, wait!" The avian kid called out, going after him. He caught up almost immediately, his enhanced speed proving itself useful for once. "WAIT!"
The enderian paused, and his left pointed ear twitched, the earring attached to it emitting a soft jingle.
"Listen. Okay, maybe I won't allow you to be my friend." Tommy grimaced. Pompous bitch. Everyone wants to be his friend, usually, for he is just so great. But he'll take it as a challenge. "We can be friends! If you want!"
He winced. Why did he feel so awkward suddenly?
Their ear twitched again, and the enderian made a noise that Tommy could only describe as a strangled meow.
Tommy sputtered.
How fucking dare he?
"What do you mean what do you get in return?! Fine! Don't be my friend if you don't want to! I didn't even like you, anyway!"
And with that, he stormed out, the tips of his ears red from rage and embarrassment. Who did this bitch think they were? Tommy was just being nice! Did they think they were better than him?
He kept on his way, the furious flapping of his wings making his steps slightly floaty. He could feel his eyes start to water up, and cursed under his breath. He didn't want to cry for something so stupid! So what if the weird enderman bitch didn't want to be his friend? He didn't care. He had other, better friends, like Tubbo, Niki, Jack-
Tommy sniffled.
Fuck it! He needed some air.
The Avian ran, his abilities permitting him to arrive swiftly where he wanted to, the tears getting lost in the wind.
The cliff.
He had always hated his powers, seeing them as just a knockoff version of the Elytrians', and so much worse than everyone else's. He couldn't swim well like Niki, or walk into fire with no damage like Jack. He couldn't jump high like Techno, or go through walls like Wilbur. He couldn't even bounce like Charlie, or do whatever the fuck was going on with Tubbo! All he could do was be quick, fall slow, and be a fucking vegeterian , apparently.
But even he had to admit it wasn't all bad. Actually, it had one specific perk. The thing that got him into this situation in the first place.
He stood, his front facing the cliff.
Tommy closed his eyes, some small tears still nestled in his eyelashes, took a deep breath, and let himself go.
The wind hissed in his ears as he fell.
When he was little, even smaller than now, Phil would give him small pointers and tips for flying. Or, gliding in his case. And when his wings were really really tiny, he was so light that Phil often gave him one specific piece of advice..
"Don't stand in the wind, or it's going to pick you up and take you away."
And today, as he swiveled in the cool air, he got to experience it firsthand.
His eyes fluttered open, and Tommy stared at the landscape in front of him. He was falling slowly, his small white wings catching the wind perfectly. He could see it all from here. The trees. Niki's lake. His own home, perched on a hundred blocks.
It was soothing. He felt like he could finally breathe, free from the prison that was land.
And then it ended.
A whoosh, a swirl of purple, arms wrapping around his waist, and it was all over, his feet on land and his wings binded once again.
He was seething, almost blinded by anger. He could feel a hiss building up in his throat, the urge to claw at something, and then, in no time, he was back on the cliff, the Enderian's face popping up in front of him.
The hiss died down, but the anger remained.
"What. The. Fuck."
The creature in front of him smiled awkwardly, the matter that made up their face (it wasn't quite like skin more…something less compact) stretching strangely.
"Hello?"
His voice was the tiniest bit gurgly, but Tommy could recognize that tone anywhere.
Tommy didn't miss a beat.
He immediately struggled against the Enderian, managing to hit him in the face with his wings, and successfully escaping, feet landing safely on the ground.
"Since when can you speak?" Tommy hissed, instead of acknowledging the drumming in his chest. He didn't get scared. He was never scared. That was stupid, and pussy behavior.
The taller blinked.
They seemed to do that a lot.
Oh, wait. Enderman. Makes sense.
"Oh!" He exclaimed suddenly, as if struck by the idea of the century. "My apologies! I had previously forgotten to switch to your language, as you didn't seem to need me to. I am Ranboo."
Tommy squinted, his body still on guard but slightly more relaxed now. "Why do you talk weird?"
His eyebrow raised. "That is called being distinguished."
"I'll extinguish your mom."
"That is not-"
"Fuck you!" Tommy screamed, glaring at him and straightening up. "I'm leaving. I don't like you."
Ranboo winced. "I did not mean to vex you with my words."
"I don't care."
"I was just-" A sigh, as if what he was going to say next was especially painful to them. "I was being foolish."
"Die."
The maybe-prince-or-king let out a frustrated breath.
"I am simply trying to make amends-"
Tommy's foot was stomping in impatience. "I don't like you. I'm leaving."
On that, the avian hybrid turned around, back facing Ranboo, and feigned starting to walk away.
"Wait!" The Enderian called after him, and Tommy paused, satisfaction slowly creeping in on him. "I do- I do wish for us to become acquainted."
A pause.
"Can you say that again, but, like, with less words?"
A sigh. "I do not mind us becoming friends."
Tommy swiveled around, and in the blink of an eye he was in front of Ranboo, beaming at the taller kid with excitement, one hand holding their sleeve.
"So glad you changed your mind! Oh, I have so many things to show you. Like my house! Did you know it's-"
A rare smile appeared on the other hybrid's face. "One moment. You've forgotten to tell me your name."
Tommy seemed slightly annoyed, his pent up excitement making his skin buzz. "It's Tommy. Now come on, I have so many people to introduce to you!"
"Alright, alright- don't carry me don't jump don't-"
"You'll be fine!"
"Tommy there's a lake underneath. TOMMY!"
He laughed. A true, real laugh.
And he was free again, but this time, not alone.