Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Wilbur raced through the corridors of never-ending cells. He turned corner after corner, searching for him, for any hint of golden blonde hair in the endless gray.

He quickly halted when he saw a flash of colour in his eye. He rushed to the cell only to be met with someone vaguely familiar but not who he was looking for. He was a bit shorter, his hair was too dark, more brown than blonde, and he was wearing a white button-up and khaki pants rather than the signature red and white shirt he was looking for. The kid bolted up when he heard the man running towards him.

"Who's there!?" The kid yelled out.

“Hey, calm down, it's ok.” The kid had his eyes squinted. Wilbur guessed he needed glasses. "I’m Nightingale, I’m a hero, I won't hurt you."

"W-" he was cut off by a yell from somewhere deeper in the facility. "Theseus… please Nightingale, I need to get to him."

"How do I know I can trust you?" Nightingale looked at him wearily.

"My name's Thomas, you're looking for someone, right? I heard them dragging someone loud, with blonde hair, by my cell.” Thomas said, sounding surprisingly calm.

“Tommy…” Nightingale was suspicious, but it was his only option, besides running aimlessly around this maze.

"Alright." He picked the lock on the kid's door, just like he had with his own.

"Okay, I'll head back that way, you head this way." And before Nightingale could get another word in, the kid ran down the corridor.

Nightingale began running through the endless Halls of grey again, searching for any sign of someone.

He heard another yell and raced in the direction it came from. He was met with a kid banging on the bars and yelling at the top of his lungs.

The kid met eyes with Nightingale and smiled brightly, his smile strangely familiar. This kid also vaguely looked like the person he was looking for, but his hair was much too bright, more of a bleached blonde, and he wore a red jumper with blue jean shorts.

"Ay, big man! Mind helping me out?" The kids said to Nightingale with an obnoxiously large grin.

"Is your name Theseus?" Wilbur asked cautiously.

The kid's eyes lit up. "Yes, it is! You saw Thomas, please let me out. I need to get to him."

"Alright, but once you find him, you two need to help me find my… brother." He said sternly.

The kid gaped for a second before smiling. “I will, I promise." Nightingale unlocked the cell door and the kid immediately grabbed his hand.

"Huh-" Was all Nightingale could say before the kid started running down the corridors at an inhuman speed.

They quickly reached a large room with cells lining the wall where Thomas emerged from the other side.

"Thomas!" The kids quickly ran and tackled him into a hug, falling to the ground laughing.

"Theseus, gods, I thought I'd lost you." He hugged the kid back.

"Me too, me too. You're okay, right, he didn't hurt you!?" The kid frantically searched his friend for injuries.

"No, no, I'm okay. You're not hurt either, right?" He responded in a calm voice, the complete opposite of the panicked kid.

"No, I'm alright." He chuckled, tears pricking at his eyes.

Nightingale was glad they had found each other and all, but he was still missing someone. "Uh, as sweet as this is, we still have to find my brother." Nightingale said awkwardly.

"Yes, of course. It'd be better if we split up, cover more ground." Thomas explained, standing up and holding Theseus's hand tightly. "As I said, they dragged him past my cell so you should search that way, we can search this way in case he got out or is being held somewhere else."

"Good plan, kid, just yell or have your speedy friend get me if you find him." Nightingale said before they split up.

He ran through the endless grey again, searching for any sign of his brother. When he was pretty sure he'd started going in circles, he started heading in the other twos direction before running straight into someone.

"Ow! Fuck!" Nightingale looked up at who he ran into and immediately pulled him into a hug.

"Jesus, Night, my ribs!" Tommy yelled, but still hugged him back.

"God, I was so worried. How'd you get out?" Nightingale asked while looking over Tommy.

"Oh, uh, some blonde dudes found me and said my "brother" was looking for me over this way and then went to look for an exit." Tommy said, smirking and shrugging.

"Alright, which way?" Nightingale said, rolling his eyes. He didn't want to leave them behind.

"Oh, uh, that way?" Tommy said, pointing behind him.

"Alright." Nightingale said, grabbing Tommy's hand before running in their direction.

Nightingale searched for any sign of them but was interrupted.

“Oh little bird~”

A terrifyingly familiar voice rang through the maze before it melted around them, turning into a long corridor. A terrifying shadow loomed over them, Nightingale acted quickly and with a quick turn let out a powerful screech, sending a powerful wave of sound towards it. He listened for his power to hit, he couldn't be sure which direction was real or not when it came to Dream’s power. All he heard was the sound of his screech fading out, and held Tommy close.

“Oh little birdie, it seems you took the saying “Keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer.” very literally.” His wheezing laugh sounded terrifying as it echoed through his illusion.

“I have no time for your games Dream! Let me and… the kid go!” Nightingale stuttered over his words. Tommy wasn't really his brother, but he trusted him like he was, but Dream didn’t need to know that. He needed to protect Tommy, Tommy didn’t have any powers, and even if he says he’s okay with that, it still makes him vulnerable.

“Oh, don’t worry, Nightingale, I’d be happy to let you go, but “the kid” stays.” Dream came into view from the darkness, his smiley mask terrifying as he towered over them. Nightingale’s eyes widened and stepped in front of Tommy.

“Like hell, in what world would I do that?” Nightingale said in a cocky tone. “You must have that stupid ass mask on too tight, Dream.”

Dream chuckled, low and empty. “Very funny.” Dream drawled. “But we both know this isn’t some kid.”

Without warning, Dream’s axe swung down and Tommy pushed Nightingale just in time for it to land in between them.

The battle begins…

~+~

After a long battle, Crow and Blood god arrived and Dream fled heavily injured.

“He should be out of commission for a while.” Nightingale scoffed, wiping blood from his mouth as Techno helped him to his feet. “Thanks, Blood god.”

“Thank me when we get you home and patched up. Hey, uh, kid, are you able to get home on your own?” Techno asked as they left the warehouse.

“Oh uh yeah.” Tommy said, looking a little shaken.

Nightingale’s gaze softened as he watched Tommy shuffle in the direction of the nearest subway station and Blood god carried him to the black car that he and Crow used to get there.

“I hope those other guys got out alright.” Wilbur mumbled as he was set down in the back of the car.

“What other guys?” Phil asked from the driver's seat.

“There were these two other kids in there I think around Tommy’s age, we separated a bit before Dream attacked us. They probably did since we didn’t see them after Dream’s illusion faded.” Wilbur explained.

Techno got in the passenger side as Phil looked back at Wilbur with a concerned look. “Did you ask how long they’d been there 'cause we only got reported that you and Tommy had been kidnapped? What were their names, what did they look like?”

“Um, one’s name was Thomas, and he had brunette hair a white button-up, and khaki pants and the other was Theseus, he had bleach-blonde hair and a red jumper with blue jean shorts.” Wilbur explained.

“Wait who we are talking about?” Techno asked.

“Wil’s saying there were two other kids in there.” Phil started the car and drove off.

“Did you recognize them?” Techno asked, looking back at Wilbur.

“No, all I got was their names, but they seemed close.” Wilbur said, wincing as his clothes pulled against his injuries.

“I’m driving as fast as I can mate.” Phil said apologetically.

“Hmm… I’ll check the database for any people matching those descriptions.” Techno said, turning back around.

~+~

On the other side of the city, Tommy trudged back to his flat, his mind racing as he tried to make a decision. He had a “splitting headache”.

“We need to, we're putting him in danger.”

“No! This is the first time we’ve been able to trust someone for so long we can’t just abandon him!”

“We’re not abandoning him, we just need to avoid him till things die down.”

“No!”

“Theseus you're being childi-”

“Oh, don’t you dare finish that sentence!”

“You know what if you're gonna be that unreasonable how about we just go with my first plan!”

“...”

“Theseus I-”

“Fine.”

Without another word, the two boys separated in the dim light of the drab living room of the flat they lived in as one and without another word one took the couch and the other took the bed.

Chapter Text

Thomas woke up very early, having barely been able to sleep at all, he quietly snuck into the small bedroom to see Theseus sleeping peacefully in the bed. He crouched down and pulled a small dusty box out from under the bed, inside the box was a pair of rectangular, rimless glasses. He walked into the kitchen and solemnly cleaned the glasses before putting them back on for the first time in a long time. He quickly turned around as the bedroom door opened and a drowsy Theseus walked out.

“Hey…” Theseus said quietly.

“Hey.” Thomas replied with a level tone. “Listen I’m so sorry about what I said I didn’t mean to make it seem-” He was cut off by a sudden force as Theseus slammed into him at lightning speed, pulling him into a bone-crushing hug.

“I’m sorry for yelling and not listening and then I unfused us and-” Theseus said loudly, tears streaming down his face. Thomas embraced Theseus back, relief flooding him.

After calming down they sat down on the old couch to talk properly.

“I’m sorry for being so dismissive and stubborn. It's just that Nightingale’s the first person we’ve been able to genuinely trust since Tubs and Ranboo and it feels wrong to just leave him without explanation.” Theseus explained.

“I know and I get that but now that Dream is after us we’re putting him at a major risk. If Dream catches him, who knows what that bastard will do.” Thomas said, gripping Theseus’s hand reassuringly.

“I know, it just feels wrong.” Theseus sighed defeatingly and leaned against Thomas.

“Yeah, but it’s the safest option.” Thomas said, leaning against Theseus’s head in return.

“Yeah.”

And they sat there in silent agreement till time for their job came.

~+~

Puffy knew.

Puffy knew since she met the inseparable boys while being their foster agent. Now she worked at the little café she opened with her retirement fund, and she couldn’t be prouder. She understood, she didn’t understand their power, but she understood that the two felt better as one. So when she saw Thomas and Theseus walk in rather than Tommy, she was very concerned.

“Well, it’s been a long time, huh?” Puffy said with a raised eyebrow.

“Hey, Miss Puffy.” Thomas said with a small smile.

“Hey, Captain Puffy!” Theseus said with a big, goofy grin that would usually be on Tommy’s face.

“Hey, any particular reason I’m getting two employees instead of one?” She asked in a softer tone.

“It’s a long story, do you mind if we talk in the back?” Puffy nodded and Thomas walked to the back with her while Theseus grabbed their apron. They spared another glance before Theseus took off the Tommy name tag and put the apron on.

While Thomas explained most of their situation, mostly just the being in danger part, Theseus worked the bar. He prayed that Nightingale wouldn’t visit tonight as they worked. Soon Thomas came out the back and grabbed an extra apron as Puffy headed home for the night, she gave a comforting smile to them before heading off.

~+~

As their shift went on and as less and less people came in, Theseus kept glancing at the back door every time he went in the back. A few regulars asked if they were new but other than that no one really noticed, but they knew who would.

“Bye, come again.” Thomas said in his best customer service voice.

“It’s almost time, we should go ahead close.” Theseus said hanging up his apron and going to turn the front door sign around and just as he did someone they had completely forgotten about stepped into view.

“Uh, Tommy?” Wilbur said, peering through the blurry, red-tinted glass of the café door.

Thomas immediately looked up and put his finger to his lips, he quietly took off his apron and pointed to the backdoor. Theseus looked between them conflicted before following Thomas through the back door. They made sure he wasn’t there before emerging on the other side of the alleyway.

“Prime, I feel so guilty, I didn’t even think of Wilbur showing up.” Theseus said, picking at his fingernails.

Thomas grabbed Theseus’s hand and held it as they walked. “I know, but Wilbur would have too many questions that we don’t have answers to. We need to come up with a cover story for Tommy.”

“What would it be, Wilbur knows where we live. If we say that he’s sick or something, he’ll want to visit.” Theseus said.

“Yeah, I don’t know, but we’ll figure something out.” Thomas sighed.

~+~

The rest of the walk was pretty uneventful until they got to their flat. They unlocked their door and walked into the dark living room, but just before they turned on the light, there was a knock on the window.

“Toms, you there?” Nightingale said, looking through the window.

They instantly panicked and Theseus fell over the couch in the dark trying to get to Thomas.

“Uh you okay? I came by the café, but it was already closed.” Nightingale said, sounding more concerned.

“Where the fuck are you!?” Theseus whisper-yelled a bit too loudly.

“Who was that? Tommy!” Nightingale yelled, pressing his face against the glass.

“I’m right by the door, quick.” Thomas whispered back.

“That’s it, I’m coming in!” Nightingale opened the window just as he was blinded by a flash of light, and when he opened his eyes the lights were on and Tommy was leaning against the wall awkwardly.

“Yo, wassup big man? W-What you doing here?” Tommy said with a smile a bit too big.

“Uh, I was coming to make sure you're okay and heard some other people in here.” Nightingale said, looking around the now messy living room.

“Okay, I should’ve worded that better. What I meant was how the fuck did you get my address.” Tommy said, his smile falling.

“Oh uh… I followed you home…” Nightingale replied, his voice wavering slightly.

Well that was a fucking lie, they walked home still separated. Why did he lie? What- That’s when it him or rather hit Thomas. Nightingale said that he stopped by the café, but it was already closed, but they didn’t close that early. By the time he would’ve gotten there it would’ve already been closing time, but someone did stop by when they closed early, someone with fluffy brown hair like Nightingale, someone with an annoyingly large ego like Nightingale. Nope! Nope! Nooope! Shut up! They didn’t want to know his identity, even after he tried to reveal it, they promised to not try and figure it out cause it would put both of them in danger.

Their whole plan was falling through, Nightingale wasn’t supposed to know his address. That was the whole reason for avoiding him at closing time, Well, we didn’t really avoid hi- Shut!

There’s really no point in denying it now, it’s obvious.

Shuuut uup! I don’t caaare! I’m not listening!

“Tommy?”

See this is what I was saying, you're so childish.

No, I’m not! It’s called feeling, you should try it sometime.

I do feel, like right now, I’m feeling really fucking annoyed.

“Toms! What’s wrong? Why are you holding your head? Say something!”

OH! You're calling me annoying?

You said it, not me.

Oh, fuck you! You're the one not shutting up about Night's identity.

Oh, come on, it’s obvious at this point.

No, it’s not cause if he really is Wil that means he lied to us and neither of them would do that.

It’s not lying, he’s keeping a secret.

How's that different?! We opened up to Night about how worried we were about getting close to Wil. If they are the same person, which they aren’t, that’s lying.

It’s not fucking lying dumbass, and they are the same person.

DUMBASS!?

“TOMMY!?” Wilbur yelled as Tommy was engulfed in a bright flash of light.