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★ ★ ★ ★
The plan had not involved getting punched in the face.
What plan would? Not one of Tommy’s. His usually had mountains of riches and countless villains bested with Tommy himself stood proudly over the rubble, the hero of his neighbourhood, the best that ever lived.
This plan was supposed to be that. Not another punch to the stomach.
He struggled again, yelling strangled curses to the two brutes that held him in place for the third to swing again. The fist met his jaw and a rush of iron pooled in his mouth, stars blinking their way into his vision.
Maybe this plan sucked.
“What’re you looking at?”
Tommy refocused his eyes enough to see his attacker wasn’t talking to him, at least. They were looking further down the alley, maybe at a passerby, maybe a distraction if Tommy could time things right…
“Three vs one is awfully unfair, don’cha think?”
That voice stopped Tommy in his tracks.
He was so dead. If not death by shame and embarrassment, then by something far worse. The brute in front of him scoffed.
“Nah, we’re just messing around! We’re all friends here, right?” They said cheerfully, staring daggers at Tommy all the while. “Right?”
Tommy spat blood on the floor, mostly because the taste sucked. He pointedly avoided so much as glancing at the newcomer.
“Good one, friend-! Oh, this got me good, friend ‘o mine. You can let me go now because we are just oh so good friends-“
The plan was back to being foolproof. These ruffians would have to keep up the ruse and let him go AND Techno would simply think this was a prank among friends? Tommy had never been more of a genius.
“You heard the kid.” Techno said, monotone as ever. “Let him go.”
The brute seemed to consider this. Then they shook their head. “Not until he returns something he stole.”
Tommy bristled. “You stole it from ME-!”
“And you took what is now RIGHTFULLY. MINE.”
They closed the distance and got right up in Tommy’s face, making him flinch of all things. He hated feeling this small. So pathetic that trying to rip his arms free was useless, that the attempt made his attacker laugh, that Techno had to see it.
“You could make this real quick, or real slow, friend. What’s it gonna be?”
“Alright, that’s enough-“
The brute was yanked out of Tommy’s face by an unamused Techno. The way they pinwheeled their arms to stay upright was almost comical, though they quickly realised what had happened and all but snarled at him.
“What the HELL is your problem, freak?”
They swung a fist at his face that was child’s play for Techno to sidestep. He wasn’t even in a fighting stance, didn’t need to be when the opponent was stupid enough, that’s what Techno had said after a couple of his easier fights. The momentum made them stumble into a dumpster with a clang that rang out down the alleyway.
“I don’t like bullies.” Techno shrugged.
Tommy could swear one of the brutes holding him scoffed. When the lead attacker grunted angrily and lunged again, an idea formed in the back of his mind.
No, a plan. A better plan this time.
Tommy put all his weight into stomping on the lesser brute’s foot.
“Agh, fuck-!”
Predictably, he let go of Tommy’s arm. Exactly as planned. He wrenched his other arm forward and shockingly the grip slipped enough for him to make a scramble forward to free himself and-
“Oh no you don’t-!“
Something hard connected with the back of Tommy’s skull and he went down like a sack of bricks.
★ ★ ★ ★
Granted, Tommy couldn’t have been unconscious.
It was more like he blinked and he was on the ground.
He blinked again and Techno had punched the head brute so hard they’d spun around before hitting the floor.
He blinked again and Techno was shouting… something, down the alley.
Tommy forced himself to sit up, though the world tilted so hard that he had to hold his throbbing head to keep it steady. When he blinked again, Techno was beside him, gripping his arm in turn. His knuckles were smudged red.
“What the hell was all that?” Techno asked, about as harshly as expected.
“‘was handling it.” Tommy insisted.
Techno had to scoff. “Yeah. You really seemed like you had ‘it’ handled.”
As pathetic as it was, Tommy shrunk even further under Techno’s gaze. The plan had failed. Not even that, it had catastrophically blown up in his face.
Tommy blinked the stinging out of his eyes and tried to push himself up, though his head thrummed and he found himself slipping back down onto the concrete, Techno’s grip at least softening the drop some. He still couldn’t help but wince quietly.
“Alright, take it easy.” Techno said, frowning slightly. “Lemme see where she got ya’-“
Techno shifted where he was knelt, just to get a better look at the back of Tommy’s head. Tommy himself couldn’t help but reach a hand back there himself, surely he didn’t need Techno for this, though when it stung and he wretched his hand back his fingers were bloody.
“I’m gonna be honest,” Techno said, still inspecting. “There’s no way Phil doesn’t find out about this.”
At that, Tommy’s heart truly sank.
“You can’t tell him! It’s fine, I’m fine, and I didn’t even start it-!”
“Your lip’s busted. Your head might need stitches, not to mention the concussion-“
“I’ll walk it off! That’s what you always do-“
“Literally not true, but sure.”
Tommy scowled into his lap. It wasn’t fair. First he’s made to feel entirely useless, his body hurt badly enough and now he had to get in trouble for it.
Worst plan of the century.
Next to him, Techno sighed.
“If you don’t make me drag you kickin’ and screamin’ to the hospital… I might teach you how to fight.”
Tommy lit up immediately. “For real?”
“Emphasis on might.” Techno said. “And it won’t be some dirty trick, hittin’ people in the back of the head nonsense.”
Tommy folded his arms. He considered this. He’d been begging Techno for years, insisted it wasn’t too dangerous, that he wouldn’t become a villain like Techno was or worse.
“I don’t want pity.” Tommy said quietly.
“Who said anythin’ about pity?” Techno asked. “Now c’mon. My knees are goin’ to sleep.”
Tommy didn’t refuse when Techno helped him up, even though some small part of him cringed. The dizziness was at least minimal enough that he could walk, though he could feel Techno’s eyes on him the whole way out of the alleyway.
Even still… Maybe the plan wasn’t a total failure. Tommy slipped one hand into his pocket, clutching the emerald bracelet he’d stolen back minutes prior. Techno didn’t need to know.
At the very least now he could maybe get stronger.
★ ★ ★ ★