Chapter Text
For as long as Tommy’s could remember he wanted to be a superhero. A super hero just like hi father, just like his brother was training to be. He was going to be the greatest super hero to have ever lived. He might even live up to the captain, or Zephyrus (his father) (the two previously greatest hero’s too have ever lived).
His plan was full proof. Figure out what his power was (he hadn’t found out what it was yet but he was probably just a little late), start training as soon as he physically could, become amazing, debut as the awesome super hero he would be, become famous. His plan was full proof.
…
Until one peaceful Saturday when a mysterious pink haired vigilante saved his life
He didn’t even know how it happened, just knew that one moment him and Wilbur were getting Wilbur’s over caffeinated coffee that their father had banned but wasn’t there to stop him from getting, and the next there was a strange man clad in black grabbing him uncomfortably tight and Wilbur was nowhere to be found.
“Kid i swear to prime if you don’t stop squirming this knife isn’t just gonna be for show”
The reprimand was accompanied by a too tight squeeze from his captor that did cause him to stop squirming but not without him sending the man a glare that, had glares been deadly would have absolutely obliterated not only him, but also whoever is in the surrounding area…
and also his bloodline for good measure.
Tommy hadn’t know the man had a knife.
“So what? We get the money and just let him go?”
There were five total guys, each clad in almost identical black clothing and face coverings. The one who had just spoken was in between Tommy’s captor and the man in the front. He had a gruff voice and sounded unsure about his life decisions.
“Something like that Jared”
First of all, had Tommy’s mouth not been covered by a large hand pressed firmly over half of his face he would of told them that he was not an idiot and actually they were the idiots and using their actual names was a stupid idea.
Second of all, Tommy really didn’t like the sound of that. something like that. The heck did that mean.
The group of men and hostage were making their way down some back alleyway and honestly Tommy had no idea what their plan was, he wasn’t really paying attention to that, more focused on escaping his hostage situation.
The man beside Tommy’s captor cleared his throat eyes flitting over Tommy as though scanning him. Which apparently he was, as he spoke up.
“Kids got a nice set o’ wings prolly make a pretty penny if ya tried”
It took a second for Tommy to process what he’d just heard. But when he did he felt his blood run cold. He hadn’t considered the possibility that he might actually get kidnapped or even worse- sold!?! Yeah his father had told him to be cautious, warned him that hybrids were at more risk, but what did his wings really have to do with anything? They were just plain white, he hadn’t even gotten his flight feathers yet!
The man was getting uncomfortably close looking Tommy up and down trying to get a good look at Tommy’s wings. Tommy tried his best to lean away from the man pressing his wings harder against his back shifting uncomfortably.
The man at the front paused slightly as though considering. Tommy felt sick.
He cast a glance back at the boy scrutinizing eyes scanning him over. He made as if to speak-
And then he was crumpling to the ground.
It took Tommy a second to process what was happening as did it apparently take his captors. He blinked and suddenly the arms around him were going slack and he was shoving them off and scrambling to get away from them.
Someone grabbed his wrist and tugged him back causing him to let out a very manly shriek .
He tried pulling away, tried planting his feet firmly in the ground and tugging. It was no use the man with the gruff voice was dragging him back with a seemingly inhuman grip strength. Tommy didn’t even think, give it any time to consider. He panicked and suddenly he was biting down on the mans wrist with all the might he could muster. Iron filled his mouth and he resisted the urge to gag.
The man who was to busy trying to drag him back to the other man who was still standing had not been actually paying attention to his captive and so when a small set of teeth were firmly planted into his wrist it startled him so badly that he let go with a loud girly yelp. Tommy quickly scrambled to get away, turning to run and immediately running face first into someone who had the audacity to be standing in his path.
He would have voiced his anger had he not been hastily shoved behind the person. He was not enjoying how much he was being shoved around in this situation. Really it was just rude.
There was a high pitched laugh from the group of men.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the wannabe hero?”
That was the other man. He was tall and had a high nasally voice.
The guy in front of Tommy didn’t respond just stood there. Tommy backed up a little to get a better look at his… savior? He wasn’t really sure where the man stood in his situation.
He had long pink hair tied up in a neat braid at his back, a red hoodie with what Tommy’s assumed was armor or padding along the joints and chest. He stood taller than Tommy’s, (as adults typically do over a nine year old boy), though he still seemed a little short, maybe a little below his father. He was wearing black cargo pants and had a one shoulder backpack slung across his shoulder.
Tommy’s thought he looked awesome, even from just the back.
That being said it was clear to Tommy’s what he was. Despite his actions he was not a super hero, no hero would be out in a ratty hoodie and worn cargo pants, no fancy gizmos or gadgets, just a knife at his hip and his two balled fists readied in front of him. No, this was no hero, this was a vigilante.
Tommy’s had always been taught vigilantes were just villains who were to afraid to be actual villains. But as Tommy’s watched the man carefully survey the situation, as he shielded Tommy’s when a gun was pulled, as he was shoved behind a wall out of sight of the gun wielding man. He felt his eyes go wide in admiration.
“Stay put, don’t come out until i say”
The man had had some sort of interference with his voice, some cheap voice changer that, while it was probably really crappy and nowhere near the hero guilds quality, worked. He had left off back into what Tommy’s assumed was a very intense fight.
(Though the reality of it was the men were nothing more than a few desperate no good idiots who wanted a little extra cash and had figured ‘how hard can it be?’ )
Tommy heard gunshots, but he didn’t hear anything to say that anyone actually got shot. Then again he didn’t know what it would sound like if some one was shot. This wasn’t exactly his run of the mill Saturday excursion.
He sat there for a few minutes.
There was a lot of cursing coming from the fight, like a lot, the men were swearing like a sailor whose ship was going under. Tommy sat forward, letting his wings breathe after being so harshly pressed against his back. He fiddled with a pebble on the ground.
Man staying put really sucked.
Tommy’s sighed. He flicked the pebble away.
Tommy’s sighed again. He scratched at his leg.
He sighed even louder this time ending with a long muffled groan (he didn’t want to give himself away) leaning back against the brick wall. His feathers were ruffled, wings splayed out slightly as to remain comfortable whilst he leaned against the wall.
He sighed.
…
That’s it. No more staying put.
He hadn’t heard any gunshots in a while which probably meant the vigilante had won… or that he was taken care of and the gun was no longer needed- but Tommy’s was a man of optimism so he chose pointedly to not consider the second possibility. He leaned to the side trying to peek around the corner without actually getting up.
There were four unconscious (?) men propped up against the side of the building opposite Tommy’s all clad in black and wearing similarly colored face coverings. The final man, Tommy saw, the one who had talked of selling him was being dragged over to his buddy’s (none to gently) by the pink haired vigilante. The fifth man was propped up beside his friends head lulling to the side as he was sat. The vigilante gave him a pat on the head.
Tommy felt himself let out a breathe he hadn’t realized he was holding, a cool feeling of relief washing over him
Tommy was pretty sure they were unconscious. That would really dampen his admiration for his savior if he had killed five random dudes who had kidnapped him.
Tommy deciding that he was tired of waiting and now was as good a time as ever emerges from behind the wall. He doesn’t think he makes really any noise at all but the vigilante still swivels around to face him hand drifting towards the knife at his belt. His shoulders sag a little at seeing its just Tommy.
“Thought i told you to stay put”
He says coming closer.
Tommy’s peers behind him towards the five men.
“Are you just gonna leave them here?”
The vigilante glances behind him then returns his attention to Tommy’s.
“Yeah, the police’ll be here any minute, they’ll stay out till then.”
Tommy nodded unsurely. The vigilante and Tommy sat in awkward silence for a moment.
The pink haired man coughs, it sounding a little distorted through the voice changer.
“Uhh, do you know where like your family is or-”
“My brother should be at a coffee shop”
The vigilante nods.
More awkward silence ensued.
“I don’t save a lot of kidnapped people”
Tommy stares up at the vigilante. The vigilante who seemed very uncomfortable and awkward. Did Tommy get saved by a socially awkward vigilante. Of all the vigilantes who could have swooped in.
The vigilante sat there shifting from foot to foot.
This was embarrassing… and kinda sad. Nine year old’s can have sympathy.
“Me neither”
The vigilante seems startled at the joke, before realizing it was a joke and huffing out a sort of chuff that Tommy guesses is supposed to be a laugh.
—————————————————————————————————————
Wilbur realized Tommy was missing about two minutes after he initially went missing. He had been chatting with the cashier, Tommy had said he was going too use the restroom, and then just hadn’t come back. It took about ten more minutes for panic to insure. It took about thirty for the police to arrive.
Wilbur was pacing, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. He couldn’t do anything else to help, he’d told the police what he knew, called his father, and almost cried. Now all that was left to do was wait until the police told him what they knew. It had been almost two hours.
Two hours
His baby brother could be anywhere at this point! What even could have possibly happened that would make him this lost in two hours???
Wilbur was gonna kill his brother if he had just somehow managed to hide in the bathroom somewhere.
He continued his pacing.
—————————————————————————————————————
It had only taken about forty five minutes for Tommy to be kidnapped and then be saved. It did however also take about an hour for both him and the vigilante (who apparently didn’t have a phone) to get lost.
“How do you not know your way around the city” Tommy who was getting kind of tired of this, wings fluffed slightly and spread in as much irritation as the limited sidewalk space would allow.
“I just don’t know where that specific coffee shop is” The insufferable vigilante who apparently didn’t know where the greatest coffee shop ever was
…
“Are you sure we’re going in the right direction?”
“pretty sure” no but there was absolutely no way he was just going to admit that.
The two had been wandering around the city streets for the entirety of the hour slowly becoming more and more lost. Tommy had no idea where they were. He should avoid that topic being brought up. Gosh he was just so smart sometimes.
“soo… how long you been doing this?”
The vigilante cast him a glance. Not sometimes all the times.
“Are you trying to have small talk with me?”
Tommy grinned widely
“What else are we going to do?”
The vigilante paused at an intersection ignoring the few strange glances cast his way. Its almost like its not everyday you see a pink haired vigilante with some avian kid.
“find out how to get you back to your brother?”
The vigilante says it with what sounds like an incredulous heir to his voice. How dare he. Tommy pouts his bottom lip.
“But its taking so long and I’m booooored”
The vigilante pointedly ignores Tommy’s long drawn out ‘ooooooooored’ as he crosses a road that Tommy’s vaguely recognizes. Tommy follows closely behind him.
“You were literally kidnapped like thirty minutes ago and your complaining that your bored?”
“yes”
The vigilante lets out a irritated chuff and mutters under his breath as he steps up onto the sidewalk.
“This is why i don’t rescue kidnapped people.”
Tommy scowls at the vigilante
The two pause again at a cross walk. Tommy shifts from foot to foot. There is a long awkward pause as they wait for the crosswalk light to change. The little crosswalk guy lights up. The pair make their way down the crosswalk.
“What do you usually do?”
The vigilante looks at him, raised eyebrow hovering above his goggles.
“Hmm?”
“You said you don’t usually rescue kidnapped people, what do you do”
The vigilante pauses for a moment of consideration and shrugs.
“Whatever i can… usually petty theft though,”
Tommy’s has no idea what the difference between petty theft and regular theft is. He was amazing at small talk.
“Its almost like a large percentage of l’manburg lives on minimum wage”
Tommy’s grins not entirely sure he understands the joke. He pauses for a moment.
“My dad said vigilantes are just villains who are to scared to actually be villains”
The vigilante stops completely at the end of the crosswalk to stare at him for a second. Tommy’s stares back. He has no idea why he said that. Looking back not his best decision to insult the guy who had single handedly taken out five guys. He hadn’t known what else to say.
The vigilante tilts his head at him.
“Do you believe that?”
Tommy’s tilts his head at the vigilante. He swore he could make out eyes behind the goggles, through the foggy lenses he could have sworn the pupils were a striking red. It was probably just a trick of the light. He frowned thoughtfully.
They were going to sell him. He could see it in the way the leaders eyes shone slightly as his beady eyes scanned him. They were going to sell him. And he couldn’t do anything about it. He hadn’t seen a single hero in the past two hours. There were meant to be hero’s on patrol here.
Tommy’s shook his head decidedly. Trying to ignore the sick feeling that filled his stomach at the thought of being sold.
“No”
a pause
“…”
“not all of them at least”
The vigilante nodded quietly.
“I do this to help how i can”
The two continued on, walking past a flower store. Bright pink carnations in a pretty little glass vase, light golden mums in a nice woven basket, yellow roses in a old bottle. Tommy’s eyes flick over the flowers as they walk by, a woman inside shuffles through a variety of colorful blooms.
“If you just want to help then why don’t you become a hero?”
The vigilante snorts.
“Not everyone can be so lucky as to be a hero”
Tommy frowns bringing his attention back to the vigilante.
“Whats that supposed to mean?”
The vigilante hums but doesn’t expand farther.
“Surely your strong enough?”
“Its not about my skill or strength”
Tommy’s frown deepens
“You took out five guys without even using a weapon”
“I took out five guys without using a weapon”
“Why are you just repeating me”
“The hero’s guild is full of a bunch of cowards, if they think-”
The vigilante pauses sighing as he considered his next words carefully. Tommy’s hums thoughtfully brow furrowed deeply. The two round a corner. And are met with about five police cars surrounding the best coffee shop too have ever existed.
Tommy’s stands for a moment completely frozen so entirely caught off guard that it takes him a moment to process what hes seeing.
…
The moment is broken and Tommy’s lets out a delighted mix of squeal and chirp.
“I’m assuming that’s the coffee shop?”
Tommy’s wings puff up behind him in excitement. Something about being kidnapped and then being rescued by a vigilante and then getting lost for two hours was making the little bird in his head go absolutely crazy. He would not admit that it was screaming for its flock because he was big and manly and needs no one.
…
darn bird.
The vigilante gives his puffed up feathers a look.
“And that’s a yes”
…
“that’s a lot of cops”
Tommy’s didn’t know why that was important… although he had probably given Wilbur a heart attack. He hadn’t considered him calling the police though.
“Pretty important thing was lost”
Tommy points at himself with both pointer fingers giveing the vigilante a smug grin.
The vigilante chuffs a chuckle.
“You good to go on your own?”
He turns toward Tommy. Tommy raises an eyebrow
“Why?”
“that’s a lot of police”
Oh yeah vigilantes were not exactly legal.
“Uhh- yeah i think so?
The vigilante nods taking a step back.
“It was uhh- nice saving you?”
Tommy snorts.
“It was nice being saved”
Tommy starts off down the sidewalk towards the cafe with a skip in his step.
“Goodbye mysterious vigilante!”
Tommy waves goodbye turning to walk backwards so he could face the vigilante. The vigilante gives a awkward wave in return watching Tommy as he turns back around and sets off towards the cafe.
He sits there for about ten minutes as the blonde child walks unsurely up to a police officer. As a tall brunette bursts out of the cafe. As he is engulfed in a tight hug by the brunette. As hes then scolded by the brunette. As the blonde says something that makes the brunette laugh. As the two dissolve into a light argument that continues even as they got into a rickety old white car and drove off.
The vigilante watched as they drove away.
Something was so… strange about the child. He felt so different… like-
the vigilante shook his head, the car was long gone by now. He took a few steps back and then turned. It was just some kid, he’d probably never see him again anyway. Voices echoing in his mind told him otherwise… but he knew better than to listen to them.