Chapter Text
The Ace of Spades Casino wasn't exactly the most subtle attraction to grace the lands of Essempi, from how the promises to make more than the top investors or even the government makes. It wasn't exactly a surprise just how busy the place can be when it came to the people coming in to either get away from the mundane life or to just gamble, it didn't matter to the blonde bartender while he put away the shot glasses. He's seen each and every one of them come through those doors, most hopefully to get something back but the majority begging for some excitement. Tommy found it more intriguing than usual how many would show up for excitement at a casino then with the actual heroes outside of the walls of sin, but it was probably due to the sizable reputation Ace of Spades made for itself.
Especially the bosses of the grand casino. The Syndicate was a widely known villain organization amongst the Essempi, from tales about how Siren would mass control the people into forgetting events happened to just second hand accounts about Nemesis cruelty against those who spoke incorrectly. They weren't known for being subtle either, if the tales about Zephyrus broadcasting the death of the old mayor were to be believed. Tommy however, he didn't see why people were terrified of them. He knew them as just a bunch of clingy villains who gave them a job working the Ace of Spades Casino, despite them not believing he was above 18.
Not that he was, his 14th birthday was last week after all
But that wasn't what Tommy cared about, he cared about how they treated their employees. The Suits were loyal to the villains as if they gave them a reason to live, and the cooks treated their opinion to be higher than even a gods. If that's what their treatment caused, then the blonde kid considered himself lucky. 'Toms.' A static voice spoke through his ear piece as the blonde hummed in response, placing the shot glass down besides him. 'See the asshole at Suits 5 table? Yeah, he's here to get dirt on us.'
"Why are you so worried, Bluetooth?" Tommy asked with a hum, grabbing the next one while the villain sighed at his nickname. He thought it was smart, considering the equipment the dramatic villain used. "What, want me to try to reverse the roles?"
'I know you would even if we didn't say anything.' Siren sighed, but Tommy could hear the underlying softness in his tone. 'Act as stupid and naive as you could be, then try to talk to him about his job. About who sent him here.'
"Do I get something extra?" Tommy joked, eyes staring out while he noticed the other masked people at the casino.
'How about you choose the signature for a month if you get it without suspicion?'
"Then consider it done, I better expect some skillet cookies on the menu." Tommy hummed as he tapped out of the mic, the gasp for dramatic effect on the other side being cut out as he began to glance over at Table 5. He could tell from where he stood that the asshole thought he was better than the House, from how he boasted about how much he could win to even trying to announce that he could beat the Syndicate if he wanted to.
He found it annoying. But he knew better than to try to step in about it, Tommys seen how these spies operate with his own eyes. The dickhead was trying to get a rise out of the villains that ran the casino, trying to get them to reveal themselves and to strike out so that the casino would close and the heroes won in this little war of theirs. He couldn't help but roll his eyes at how obvious it was, anyone could've seen it coming if they just knew what to look for.
"Hey!" The bitch barked as he stood up from the table, walking over to the bar where the young boy stood with a snarl on his face. Tommy knew that he was pissed off at how he was getting attention, but at the same time he also knew that this was just a part of his plan. "Why are you staring at me?! Don't you have somethin better to do like getting others more drinks!"
"Well sorry sir but I was a bit fascinated by your skills in gambling." Tommy hummed, making his voice have a softer edge to it then how he normally would speak. "I was hoping you could tell me what you were doing at a casino when you could go make a difference."
"Well my money means more to me than making a change." The asshole growled as he slammed his hands on the bar, Tommys stare immediately going down at where the hands landed.
He hated the noise. He almost jumped at it.
"Well then you must have an important job right? With all this money you have you must have!" Tommy hummed as he looked away from the man, bringing his attention at the suit at Table 5. He could tell by the hand positioning that a button was pushed, the small microphone turning on for the bosses to hear. "You can tell me, I'm just a bartender after all."
"You think you can fool me?! I've seen those shows, you're probably as bad as your boss." The man simply replied, crossing his arms before thinking for a moment. "But you don't look like you have anything against me."
"Why would I? After all, I'm just here to serve the drinks."
Oh if only he knew.
The asshole continued to stare him down, almost as if it was to try to pinpoint something to hold over him before straightening his posture. "You have nothing to gain from me talking to you about anything."
"That's true, I don't." Tommy hummed, trying his best to not reveal anything to the guy before noticing how the guards and dealers started to position themselves. "So where's the harm in saying something?"
"He has a point." A melodic voice spoke up as Tommy perked up a bit, frowning as the masked villain took a seat besides the man. Siren always did like to intervene whenever he had to get information, always appearing at the moment where he almost got it and derailing all his attempts. "The bartender of our lovely casino doesn't have something to gain from this, but you wouldn't lie to me would you?"
Tommy rolled his eyes at the villains actions, picking up another glass to pour the Siren a drink while the man started to focus only on him.
It certainly didn't take long for him to start spilling his secrets.
•°•°•°•°•°•
"You're a prick, you know that?" Tommy grumbled as Siren saw the business man out, the brunette villain tilting his head gently side to side to better check on him. The man was always like this during encounters, from the surprise appearances of the Las Nevadas crew across the past few weeks to the undercover heroes that tried to infiltrate the casino and gather information. "I almost had him spilling all his fucking secrets too, asshole."
"Well symphony, he looked like he was about to touch you and you know how I feel about that." Siren hissed as he sat back down in the barstool, picking up his drink to take another sip from the Luck of the Draw. Oh Tommy knew all too well, the villain would be so passive aggressive during their actual heists and more clingy for weeks. "If it makes you feel better, you'd still choose the dessert for the month."
"And you'd save me some too?" Tommy asked, a grin beginning to grow as Siren rolled his eyes at his question. Both knew that answer already anyways, the villain could never say no to him. "Oh shit right, are you still coming by for movie night too?"
"Only if it's not Promare again. Sunshine, I know you love that movie but there's better ones to watch too." Siren scolded, a soft smile hidden behind the glass in his hands. "Actually, don't I get to choose this time? Because I have a list that Blood God and Zephyrus made for you, oh and Nuke has two too."
Tommy wasn't too sure how much he liked that, but they had a schedule for a reason after all to make sure it was at least fair. "Should I start inviting them over? And I'll have you know Promare is an amazing movie."
"You think Sonic is amazing, you have such a childish list of movies." Siren teased, Tommy frowning at his words as he rolled his eyes. "And no need to, it's our thing after all, I'm sure you and then could find something else to do with them like bedtime stories."
"Possessive prick."
"Aww, love you too symphony."
°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°
Amused blood red eyes watched the screens that made up one wall as the static image of Siren interacted with the bartender, an almost soft smile across the villains face while he leaned back on the velvet couch. The Syndicate was always more open about those who are considered close to the family like organization, it sent more of a message than some disappearances of corrupted businessmen or lesser villains going missing. Public appearances of the Siren eating KFC with a blonde teenager sent the message that this kid was his, and by proxy the Syndicates. "Blood God, you've been staring at the screen for a while." A floaty like voice echoed throughout the room, an almost translucent body standing besides him just slightly off the floor. "Oh are you watching Tommy?"
"More like making sure Wilbur doesn't try to steal him on the job." Technoblade huffed as he crossed his arms, the dragon-like skull hiding most of his face besides the vibrant red of his eyes. His 'twin' always did have a tendency to act ahead of the plan, even if the majority of the time it ended up being in their favor. But even he could admit that they had to have some patience when it came to taking the boy back home with them, they had to wait to make sure that the heroes wouldn't try to start something. "Did you already get them, Chorus?"
"Oh yes! Zephyrus had already asked Lethe to bring him to the basement actually." Chorus chirped as he floated around the villain, resting his chin on the taller mans shoulder. The ghost-like man always did have a love for physical touch like this, even if Techno was neutral on such acts of affection. "But shouldn't we be more worried about your little fun here, Blood? They heard Sirens true name after all, it wouldn't be good to let the rat escape u s."
Techno grinned at his brothers words, looking over his other shoulder to stare at the bloodied body that struggled to move to the exit behind the two. Chorus lifted his head to look at the man, floating to stand in the way as the pink haired villain made his way to the body. "I doubt he'd make it far if he did try to, besides I still need answers on why Dream decided to turn hero last night." He said as Chorus simply hummed at his words, his ghost-like brothers hands clasped behind his back. "His little betrayal set us back even further on our plans after all, we can't let that go unpunished."
"Then I'll tell Siren that you'll be busy for a while, Blood God. Break a finger for me!" The ghost said with a cheerful smile growing on his face, descending into the floor as Techno brought his attention solely on the man. It wasn't Dream, but this will do.
•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•
Tommy didn't exactly understand why the charismatic villain was always so insistent on staying around the Innit Bar in the casino, the blonde bartender cleaning the last of his shot glasses and sliding them back in the cupboards while the masked villain stayed sitting across from him. He always gave off the vibe that he was more than bored when nothing happens at the bar, but he should've expected that since the casino had closed. "Didn't you have to go help Zephyrus with that prick from earlier?" Tommy asked, squeezing the rag in the sink he used near the back of his little area behind the counter. "Chorus was talking about how the Syndicate needed to handle him and get information about whatever happened last night."
"I should." Siren started as he rested the side of his face in the palm of his hand, slightly leaning on the counter as he watched the kid continue. "But I prefer to talk with you, especially since we didn't get to see each other almost all day while other people did."
"Don't tell me you're actually getting jealous that you gotta do villainous shit and not hang out around here all day." Tommy could laugh at how ridiculous that sounded out loud, he knew that the Syndicate had other responsibilities after all. They were the top villains in the whole Essempi after all, they had more worrying things to worry about than their bartender or spend all their time around soke kid they picked up.
Except, now that Tommy looked over to the masked villain who watched his every move, it didn't seem too ridiculous. "Wait, you're actually jealous about having to do your job? I thought you liked the villainy gig, Bluetooth."
"I do! It's exciting, knowing that almost millions of people fear me and my family. The rush of adrenaline when a hero tries to stop you only to barely succeed again, and again, and again." Siren sighed almost dreamily at the memories, his other hand spinning an ace of spades card. "That reputation though requires a lot of work, and it comes with enemies. Besides, you know how I am with those that are mine. I don't like straying too far from them."
"You could've just said you're possessive." Tommy pointed out the villain, a lighthearted tone lining his voice as Siren rolled his eyes at his words. "Still I guess I can give you this, you do make me feel safer whenever you're around but you're still an asshole sometimes."
"Aww Sunshine, that's probably the nicest thing you said to me today." Siren cooed at his words, Tommy pouting at the pure affection that coated the mans tone. "How much longer do you have to continue closing, just so I can check in with Zephyrus and Chorus before we go over to your little apartment."
"Die." Tommy hissed at the words before thinking for a moment, looking back at the amount he still needed to clean. He still need to sweep up all the excess things from the long work shift, and not to mention also restock on what he needs for the next night. "Probably thirty minutes give or take, still got some shit to do but still need to double check and finish things up."
"Perfect, see you in a bit Sunshine!"
•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•
The Siren was everything Wilbur Soot wasn't if you asked the masked villain, he was more willing to get his hands dirty with wiping a stain off of the earth. Siren was more willing to take whatever and whoever he wanted off the streets and into his house while Wilbur would've been too scared to, not wanting to be left alone again. Siren was more willing to let himself fall into the void he called instincts, to cling and to call another his own treasure. But Wilbur?
Wilbur Soot was a coward. It was simple to Siren at least, the brunette man who dressed in comforting soft yellow sweaters and wrote music wasn't willing to be truthful, he was. It still didn't matter if they were still the same person at the end of the day, it just meant that one side was more himself than another. He thought that was how it would always go, comparing the more peaceful side to the villain he was always so willing to be. Talking about them separately came more casual to him as well, referring to Siren as if he was something akin to the devil when in a conversation at the cafes or when he had to come in for questioning.
And then he met Tommy, the ball of sunshine that had come up to the casino to ask for a job. The blonde kid met him as Siren, but treated him as if he wasn't just another villain. He treated him like how people treated Wilbur, just with more banter than the normal person. Siren found himself wanting to show the boy everything the world had to offer, maybe even more too. The kid asked for a job as a bartender, despite it being very illegal, the villain and his family found himself agreeing to hire him.
He was selfish after all, both Siren and Wilbur both were. One lived in the shadows of his family while the other forced the spotlight on himself by force, but after he met Tommy? They finally found their sun, the one who will always shine on them. So now that he found his light, he was less than willing to let the boy go.
"Oh good, you're here." The winged villain spoke as Siren rolled his eyes at his words, Zephyrus standing behind a padded wooden chair while his wings folded against his back. The villain was always more inclined to stand behind the chairs to let Siren have full reign when they had hostages, letting his wings uncurled to make the illusion of shadows making up the most of their view. The Blood God tilted his head at the words, his dark red cape discarded to show the dark purple netherite that forged his armor on top of a white dress shirt. "That businessman earlier didn't give us that many issues, but what he did managed to piss off Nemesis and Chorus."
"Oh? Then he must've done something terrible." Siren hummed out as he sauntered into the room, one hand in his coat pocket while taking a seat in front of the winged villain. In front of him was two metal chairs that chained down two men, one just a bit more bloodied and bruised than another but both more than recognizable. "I see Nemesis didn't attend this little event either, nor did Nuke and Lethe."
"Yes well, Nuke and Lethe have school in the morning tomorrow and both needed to still work on some homework while Nemesis has her side project to work on." Zephyrus answered as taloned hands took a place on his shoulders, leaning down to speak right in the mans ears. "But I'm sure you'd want to know why your twin was so pissed off."
"Oh, I'm just dying to know." Siren hummed, one leg crossed with another as he leaned back. Chorus wasn't easily angered unlike him and Blood, he kept himself calm by remembering little things about his life. About he was born with another always at his side, about how they had a family to feel for him. "It would help determine what exact message we'll be sending back to the heroes."
"He said that the little bartender was to blame for his fate, that our little Tommy caused this to happen." The winged villain hummed, loud enough for the two to hear his words. "Now I don't think that should pass, wouldn't you agree? After all, he's your friend."
"Friends too loose of a term I'd say." Siren spoke, a grin growing while Blood joined on the other side of him. His brute brother kept a hand on the top of the chair, a sort of reassurance as well as a known promise for blood just with one word of him. "I'd go as far as to say we're brothers in anything but blood, but that's keeping it simple. He's the sun to me, something more valuable than a mystery."
"So the fact they're blaming someone of so much value to me, to us. Well, that won't stand." He continued after a moment for effect, using his opposite hand to rest his chin on. "So then, let's begin this conversation. Shall we, men?"
•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•
Maybe Tommy shouldn't have gotten used to having a top villain in his house in the dead of night, yet here he was with Siren on his couch while the action and drama of Avengers played on the big screen. He was just a comfortable presence, letting the kid lay against him with a tub of overly buttered up popcorn while he watched Iron Man interact with Loki. It felt safe, like nothing could happen to him while he was watching movies with the masked villain. "You were bloody as fuck, big man." Tommy spoke up, his voice a bit softer than how he normally has it as he tucked himself more into the villains side. "And I'm guessing it wasn't yours."
"Chorus wanted in on the carnage this time, you know how he is when he feeds at their last moments." Siren hummed, one hand gently scratching at the kids scalp while he didn't bother to look down at him. "Were you worried?"
"Obviously, dumbass." Tommy hissed, despite no heat to be found behind it. Those moments when Siren goes to the back before leaving left him alone with only his thoughts and multiple zigzagoon plushies he kept hidden in the day, he didn't know if someone fought back half the time. "You were back there for more than two hours, I had to bargain for one of those vanilla shakes the cooks make."
"Aww, poor little baby." Siren cooed, Tommy whacking his arm with the soft plush of an Eevee. "Don't worry, I won't do that again.
"You better. Prick."