Work Text:
Techno wasn’t sure why he decided to take in another foster kid, he’d recently adopted Tommy and the seven year old was constantly keeping him on his toes. But he’d received a phone call from the agency about a kid a year older than Tommy who was pulled from his home and needed a place, and it was coming up to Christmas season. Maybe Techno had thought that having another kid would work like dogs and they would tire each other out and be easier to work with. But he is dealing with children, not animals. Maybe it was the empathy that was reserved solely for dogs and apparently foster kids. Either way there was a kid arriving tomorrow morning and he still had to tell Tommy.
“Toms, can we talk for a second?” Techno approached the seven year old who was very interested in the colouring book on the coffee table.
“Are you sending me back?” he asked nonchalantly, still focused on colouring.
“Of course not” Techno snatched up the colouring book.
“Hey, I was working on that” he sulked, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Well I have some important news” Techno started warily.
“You’re getting Floof a friend?” Tommy interrupted.
“No, I suppose I’m getting you a friend” he cringed slightly at his wording “There’s a kid coming to stay tomorrow morning”
“A foster kid? Like me?”
“Yes, it was an emergency placement I hope you’re okay with it”
“So I get a sibling” excitement leaked into Tommy’s expression.
“Possibly, it depends on what the other kid thinks, you don’t know what he’s been through”
Tommy nodded clearly thinking.
“Do you think he’d like a drawing? As a present?”
“I suppose he might”
“Okay, I’ll go do that so he feels welcome”
Tommy darted off to his bedroom Floof followed excitedly.
That was probably the best that situation could have gone. Tommy was a very sociable kid, his foster experience had been smooth in comparison to the kid coming in tomorrow. Tommy’s mom died in birth and his dad wasn’t around, he was looked after by his grandparents until he was five then he ended up in his first home when they couldn’t look after him anymore. The first home worked as a tester to see how Tommy got on in a foster family and so he could understand the system. He ended up with Techno when he was six and was later adopted. He’d had no bad experiences he could remember, yes he had some insecure attachment issues due to his lack of mother but those had been replaced with his grandparents that Techno made sure he saw at least once a month. Overall, Tommy was a relatively unscarred foster kid.
The new kid Purpled, was his name, he was raised by his drug addicted father, his mother had left a few months after the kid was born. Raised was a strong word for his experience he was neglected, he was taken out of his home at two and bounced around home to home. His file said he had a tendency to be angry, shut people out. It seemed like no one had found the kid underneath whatever protection he’d put up, Tommy might help with that.
Techno spent that evening converting his office into a bedroom. It wasn’t too hard, its secondary purpose was being a bedroom for when Phil came to visit anyway. Besides he hoped that eventually the boys would be happy to share, Tommy’s room was big enough. By the time the next morning arrived Techno somehow felt even more unprepared for Purpled. But soon enough a sharp knock on the apartment door signalled the kids' arrival.
“Techno, can I get it? Can I get it?” Tommy started excitedly.
“I need to get it Toms, just this time”
Tommy stepped back from the door and nodded.
Techno held his breath and stepped forward and opened the door to an unhappy social worker and a blonde eight year old wearing a lot of purple. Tommy was practically buzzing with excitement behind him.
“Come on in” Techno stepped aside.
Purpled dragged his trash bag of belongings over the threshold and Floof walked up to it sniffing the bag.
“Ah, Tommy” the social worker greeted Tommy, the boy pointedly ignored her.
“How about you come through to the kitchen?” Techno offered to the social worker.
“Can I show Purpled around?” Tommy bounced on his toes.
“Yes, remember what I told you?”
“Don’t be too excited and don’t touch him without asking” Tommy recited.
“Perfect, off you go”
“This way, I’ll show you your room” and with that the two boys headed down the hallway.
“You’ve done great with Tommy, he was barely manageable in his first home” the social worker, Techno was pretty sure her name was Linda commented. She passed over the paper work Techno needed to fill out for the fostering, he started it straight away.
“It helps that I haven’t tried to squash the neurodivergency out of him,” Techno commented.
“Purpled’s going to be very different to Tommy”
“I know, I’ve read his case” Techno focused on the forms.
“The kid lashes out if you get to close, he holds up very strong walls”
“I would to if I had been through what he has” he passed the papers back over to her.
Maybe-Linda was starting to lose patience.
“I know your home is up to code, I will be back to check on him in two weeks”
“Alright see you then” Techno moved to usher her out.
Linda? left and Techno couldn’t be happier. He could hear the excited buzz of Tommy’s voice getting louder until he re-entered the kitchen.
“How did the tour go? Was Tommy any good at being a tour guide?” he asked Purpled.
“I know where everything is, that’s something” the kid commented dryly.
“He liked the picture I drew for him,” Tommy smiled.
“Well, that’s a start, Purpled, your stuff is still by the door you can take it through to your room if you want” Techno started “I was going to make grilled cheese for lunch unless anyone prefers anything else?”
“Can I have barbeque sauce with mine?” Tommy asked “And cut off the crusts”
“Of course, Purpled?”
“Just grilled cheese is fine” Purpled moved to grab his stuff and walked rather briskly through to his room, the door slamming behind him.
“I don’t think he likes me Tech” Tommy commented from his place sat at the island. He was slumped over, arms spread wide in front of him.
“He is probably scared, he needs to settle in a bit more” Techno started, he began to pull out grilled cheese ingredients alongside some carrots and celery for nutrition. “He’s been through a lot okay?”
“Okay” Tommy nodded, propping his head up on his hands “Do we have to have vegetables?”
“Big men eat vegetables”
“I am a big man,” Tommy confirmed.
“That’s what I thought”
Techno resumed cooking. Tommy got distracted by Floof and ended up playing with the dog in the living room. Once he had the food plated up, his on a normal plate and Tommy and Purpled’s on specifically sectioned plates. Tommy didn’t like his food touching and he didn’t trust an eight year old with ceramic. He moved into the living room Tommy was still distracted. He flicked the lights on and off to grab the kids attention, when Tommy noticed him he announced lunch. Tommy darted into the kitchen and Techno moved down the hallway and knocked on Purpled’s bedroom door.
“Lunch is ready” he spoke through the door “It’s yours when you want it”
He made an effort to walk loudly away from the door so that Purpled knew he’d left.
Lunch was a quiet affair, Tommy ate his grilled cheese getting more barbeque sauce on his hands than in his mouth. He picked at his carrots and celery only eating them once Techno offered ranch and Tommy had the opportunity to drown his vegetables in it. Techno was pleased that Purpled spoke up to ask for ranch, it was a step towards him being comfortable.
“Tommy wash your hands and put your plate in the sink before you go off to play” Techno instructed noticing the boys empty plate “Same for you when you are finished Purpled”
Tommy hopped off of his chair and started to follow Techno’s instructions “Will you help me with my homework Techno?”
“Of course, try it on your own whilst I clean up lunch then I’ll come help”
Techno started cleaning up, Purpled loitered behind. He probably wanted to ask something but Techno could wait until he had the confidence. In the meantime he kept himself busy in the space.
“Um, when will I be starting school?” the kid finally spoke up. His voice whilst quiet didn’t shake and was solid.
“Well, it’s Saturday, so Monday if that’s ok, if not no worries the school will let me push it back a day or two if you want”
“Ok, I’ll think about it,” Purpled spoke very adult for his age. Probably due to the fact that he had to grow up too fast.
“Is everything alright for you in your room”
“Yes, I was wondering if I can read the books on the bookshelves?”
“Sure, the bottom left shelves have some more book suited to your age, they’re for Tommy but he isn’t much of a reader, he prefers if I read them to him”
“Ok, thank you” and the kid was off.
Techno didn’t see Purpled all afternoon apart from the odd check in to see if the kid was still alive. The one time the door was open Techno noticed that he was reading, not some of the kids books set aside for Tommy but the Harry Potter series, whilst not entirely adult definitely requires a reading age higher than eight.
Techno approached Tommy’s room and knocked on the door”
“Come in,” the kid chirped.
Techno pushed open the door, Tommy was lounging on his bed playing with his plushies.
“You said you wanted homework help” Techno started.
“I figured it out, well I asked Purpled to help me” Tommy replied nonchalantly.
“That’s good, was he good help?”
“Yeah, he’s like crazy smart Tech” Tommy continued “He said he likes maths, he knows how to do fractions and knows all his times tables”
“That is pretty smart,” Techno continued, cautious of his wording.
“Techno, did you know that this year when we do the nativity I can get a part now because I’m in year three?” Tommy added excitedly.
“Have your teachers already started talking about the nativity?”
“Yes, it’s the first of December the Wednesday after this one” Tommy said.
“What part do you want?”
“I want to be a cow” Tommy nodded “Like Henry” he held up the cow plushy.
“Well I hope that goes well for you”
“It will,”
Techno left Tommy’s room, the sudden fact hitting him that Christmas was so soon and he needed to buy Christmas presents for two kids. Also all the school activities would be ramping up. He went to check the school calendar on his laptop and saw a Christmas fate, Christmas party, Christmas jumper day, Nativity day, when Nativity roles would be given and when the costumes were needed. That was a later problem, Techno shut the laptop and instead decided to start on dinner.
He was about halfway done with cooking when there was yelling coming from down the hallway. He turned the stovetop off and abandoned the food. In the hallway the doors to Tommy’s room and the room Purpled was staying in were open, the yelling coming from the latter room.
Stepping into the room the yelling stopped from Tommy who immediately sucked in a breath and moved away from Purpled who continued to yell. The Harry Potter book lay forgotten on the bed and Tommy’s drawing he’d given Purpled was ripped on the floor. Techno finally got to grasp what Purpled was yelling about.
“Why can’t you just leave me alone?” Purpled finished once he realised Tommy had fallen silent.
The kid pushed past Techno and stormed into the bathroom slamming the door and locking it behind him. Tommy still stood eyes wide.
“Hey, Toms, you aren’t in any trouble alright” Techno started “Do you know that?”
Tommy nodded.
“Can I get verbal confirmation?”
“Yeah, I know” Tommy said “I’m not in trouble”
“Correct, you both just got upset and that’s alright” Techno said “Shall we talk about what happened in your room in a minute,”
“Ok”
“Tell Henry about it, I’m going to check in on Purpled then I will be there with you”
“Alright”
Tommy left for his room, the sticker covered door shutting behind him.
Techno approached the bathroom door and knocked on it.
“Hey Purpled, can we talk about what just happened?”
“No” was the immediate response.
“Why no?”
“You’re just going to yell at me, I’m not going to learn anything” Purpled huffed.
“I’m not going to yell at you” Techno started.
“You are because I yelled at Tommy, I’m in trouble”
“Tommy also yelled at you, and you aren’t in trouble, neither of you are” Techno continued.
“You’re not lying?”
“Not lying” Techno said “How about we go somewhere more comfy? I think it’s still worth having a chat”
“Fine” the boy could be heard getting up, the door clicked unlocked and Purpled moved straight to his room.
Techno followed “Door open or closed?”
“Closed” Purpled confirmed.
Techno closed the door. “So, can you tell me what happened?”
“Tommy came into my room, I didn’t want him in here, he wouldn’t leave” Purpled started “Then I started yelling and he started yelling back, I didn’t know what he was saying, I just kept yelling and I ripped his picture to try and make him leave then you came in”
“So Tommy wouldn’t leave, that's why you started yelling?” Techno confirmed.
“Yes, so he would know I wanted him to leave”
“Did you tell him you wanted him to leave first?”
“I don’t remember”
“Well, Tommy’s usually quite respectful so maybe try asking him next time” Techno suggested “Are you feeling alright now?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Well, you just had a screaming match and decided the best thing to do was lock yourself in the bathroom”
Purpled flushed red “I’m fine”
“Good, I’m going to check in with Tommy, maybe think about an apology, dinner will be soon”
“Ok”
Techno left Purpled’s room and headed to Tommy’s.
“Toms” he said whilst knocking.
Tommy opened the door.
“Techno, I have thought about it, I went into Purpled’s room to ask if he wanted to play, I didn’t knock on the door which wasn’t good” Tommy started. “Then he was upset when I asked and instead of leaving him alone I decided to keep asking that’s why we shouted”
“It’s very good that you understand that Tommy” Techno started “You do also need to know that Purpled didn’t ask you to leave so you wouldn’t have known he wanted that until you were both yelling”
“Yes,” Tommy agreed “I’m sad he ripped my picture up though”
“I think he’s sad about that as well”
“Really?” Tommy perked up.
“I think so, while I finish dinner how about you think about maybe apologising”
“For not knocking and yelling?” Tommy suggested for confirmation.
“Exactly” Techno said “Dinner will be soon”
Techno sighed and returned to the kitchen. Dinner was finished shortly after. He alerted both boys through a knock on the door. They all took their places at the table.
“Before we start dinner, I want to say sorry Purpled, I should have knocked before coming in and I shouldn’t have yelled” Tommy said.
“Thanks, I’m sorry for yelling as well and ripping up your picture” Purpled replied a lot less emotively than Tommy.
Dinner wasn’t as awkward as Techno thought it would be. He was glad when eight o’clock came around and he made sure both boys got ready for bed and settled into their rooms. Tommy with his colouring book and Purpled with his reading book. Techno practically collapsed on the couch, he pulled his laptop into his lap and opened amazon. He found several colouring books he could get Tommy for Christmas, as well as a set of felt tips and coloured pencils. He also found a set of bed sheets that were minecraft themed which he knew the kid would appreciate alongside some stickers he could add anywhere he pleased. It was a promising start. He also added a bundle of Terry Pratchett books for Purpled, he hoped the kid would still be here at Christmas, he also added a small lego set that was Harry Potter themed. Techno also added a bunch of basics such as clothes knowing both boys lacked stuff, Purpled due to the system and Tommy due to a recent growth spurt. He’d get them some chocolate and other little things but for now with that ordered he felt a bit better about Christmas present purchasing.
It was nearing eleven when Techno headed to bed, he heard noise from Purpled’s room. Techno wasn’t too strict with bed times on the weekend but eleven was late. He stopped outside the room to see if it was noise from moving in sleep but there was a constant shifting. Techno knocked lightly on the door before pushing it open. The room was dark.
“Purpled, you alright?”
“I can’t sleep,” the kid replied, he sounded upset.
“Any reason?”
“It’s too dark,” he concluded.
“Do you want a night light?” Techno asked.
“If that’s ok”
“Completely fine, give me a minute” Techno left the door cracked open and headed into the kitchen, he opened the junk drawer, Tommy had wanted a nightlight when he first moved in but the first one Techno bought was too bright but he’d kept it anyway.
“Here” Techno said, he plugged the nightlight in at the socket next to Purpled’s bed.
The light lit up tears tracks on the kids face.
“Is that everything?”
“Yeah” he sniffed.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure” the kid’s tone was harsh.
“Goodnight” Techno left the room. He felt bad leaving the kid upset but he couldn’t give help to someone who didn’t want it. He was glad to call it a night.
~
The rest of the weekend and week passed in a blink of the eye. They spent Sunday buying some necessities for Purpled, such as school uniform, some extra clothes, a car seat and a pair of school shoes as well as some purple trainers that the kid had fallen in love with. The school week was a challenge, Tommy thank Prime understood that he couldn’t be complaining about school when Purpled was putting up every fight to not go.
“Techno, I am not going” Purpled would state. The kid would cling onto the sofa arm as Tommy waited patiently at the door.
“It will be fine, this school is good”
“Schools are not good,”
Ultimately they would end up at school, Tommy more eagerly than Purpled. They would arrive at the gates and Tommy would dart off to find Tubbo and Ranboo and Purpled would death glare Techno until the bell rang. Despite the kid’s protests Techno never got any phone calls from the school about any poor behaviour, rather the opposite, Techno did get a phone call asking if they could note Purpled as a gifted student and start giving him harder work. But after each school day Purpled would hide in his room until dinner and would frown and scowl at the dinner table.
On Friday Tommy came bounding out of the school gates.
“Techno, Techno, Techno” he chanted excitedly by the time he’d reached the adult he was stimming aggressively and barely able to get a sense filled word out.
“Tommy, let’s take a couple of deep breaths, I don’t quite understand what you’re saying”
They took a couple of breaths together.
“They gave us our nativity roles, Techno” Tommy beamed “Guess what I am”
“I’ll take it from your excitement that you are a cow”
“Yes, I am, Tubbo is a goat so we get to be on stage together and Ranboo is one of kings”
“That’s great Tommy” Techno agreed “Did you see where Purpled went?”
“He was talking to Miss Puffy,” Tommy replied.
“Let’s go find him” Techno offered a hand to Tommy.
The school was busy at let out time and Techno couldn’t deal with Tommy getting lost in the crowd. He did locate Tommy and Purpled’s classroom door and felt relief at the sight of the other kid.
“Mr Blade” Miss Puffy started.
“Techno is fine”
Miss Puffy nodded “I would like to have a quick chat with you about Purpled if that’s ok?”
“Perfectly fine”
“Great, Tommy, Purpled, can you go and wait in the book corner?” she asked.
Tommy nodded, surrendering his backpack and book bag at Techno’s feet and running off. Purpled followed less enthusiastically.
“So Purpled, he’s struggling to settle in” Miss Puffy started.
“I can imagine, he has had a rough time settling at home too”
“Whilst he is excelling academically he is struggling a bit socially” she continued.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Not so much, I have talked to him and I think he is struggling to find kids who are on the same level as him”
Techno frowned.
“Well take Tommy, he is very sociable and quite loud, Purpled is quite subdued” Miss Puffy continued “There is a programme we run, it would involve Purpled missing a lesson a week”
“I think he will be alright with missing a lesson”
“Me too, the programme basically takes kids like Purpled and encourages them to hopefully find friendships in that group, these kids are often more quiet and we find it has worked” she explained.
“Ok, I think that might help him”
“Amazing, he’ll have his first session next Tuesday, it might be worth explaining the situation to him over the weekend”
“I’ll try,” Techno chuckled.
So it was Friday night, Tommy was playing minecraft on the Ipad in his room. Purpled was sitting on the sofa reading Harry Potter, he was already a chunk through the second book.
“Hey Purpled” Techno started sitting opposite the kid.
“What do you want?” he frowned.
“Just wanted to ask you about something,” Techno said.
“Ask away” Purpled set the book down in his lap.
“Well, when I was talking to Miss Puffy she mentioned a program that the school runs.” Techno started “It brings together a group of kids who aren’t particularly outgoing, like you and it gives you a chance to maybe make a few friends, would you be up for it?”
“I’m fine with my own company” Purpled responded.
“Can you give it a chance?” Techno asked “Just this week and I promise if you hate I will have you taken out of it”
“Pinky swear” Purpled asked with all seriousness an eight year old could muster.
“Pinky swear” Techno nodded, meeting Purpled’s outstretched pinky.
“Also, Tommy got his role in the nativity” Techno began “Do you have a role? Because I have to come up with costumes by next Thursday”
“I’m narrator six, because I am good at reading,” Purpled explained.
“And what do you wear for that?”
“All black”
“Great, thanks Purpled” Techno nodded “Do you want the Ipad later?”
“I don’t know what I would do on it”
“Well, you can watch the first Harry Potter film, since you’ve finished the book”
“They have films of them?”
“Yes, I’ll make sure the Ipad gets to you soon, the film is pretty long”
“Thanks”
“No worries”
Techno approached Tommy’s room and knocked on the door before pushing it open upon receiving permission.
“Ipad time is up in ten minutes ok”
“Ok, do you want to see the build I made in Minecraft?”
“Sure”
It was a cobblestone tower but Techno praised it nonetheless before setting up Harry Potter on the device and handing it over to Purpled. Once the kid was in his room he heard footsteps in the hallway followed by a knock on Purpled’s door. He strained to hear what was going on.
“What are you watching?” he heard Tommy ask.
“Harry Potter”
“Can I watch too?”
“Sure, as long as you’re quiet”
“Thanks, I’ll grab Henry”
Later that evening Techno went to collect the Ipad, both kids were asleep on Purpled’s single bed. Tommy clutching Henry, his arm hanging off the bed. Purpled was curled up next to the propped up Ipad. It looked like Tommy had fallen asleep before Purpled. Techno collected the Ipad, snapped a picture of the kids before covering each boy in a blanket and switching on the nightlight and turning off the other lights.
~
That night was like a turning point in the boy's relationship. Purpled would willingly spend time with Tommy; they would pick a room and sit and do their respective tasks of colouring and reading. Occasionally, Techno would overhear them practicing the Nativity or Purpled reading to Tommy and once caught them both doing some sort of craft. They’d also started begging for sleepovers every night and Techno let them, they would be in bed with lights out at eight so he couldn’t complain. He was hoping to move them both into Tommy’s room over Christmas anyways.
Purpled had also begun to start trusting Techno, he would come to Techno with words he couldn't figure out in his books. He would ask to come on walks with Floof, he also began to become confident in asking for things. Whilst this was a great step there had been no emotional availability, Purpled would still avoid affection and Techno would occasionally hear the kid crying in the night but every time he checked on him he said he was fine.
The school group Miss Puffy had requested was also great for Purpled, he’d met a kid called Walli and said that they both liked reading and Walli was reading Percy Jackson and now he wanted to as well. Purpled even went over the other kid’s house after school once. Walli had also got Purpled into Pokemon, and Purpled in turn got Tommy involved. Techno added the Percy Jackson books and Pokemon cards to his amazon cart.
Despite the positives Purpled still fought about going to school, he’d begun shouting again and at one point had locked himself in the bathroom. Techno couldn’t figure out why he hated it so much. Purpled was smart and being challenged by his work, he had a friend and it was Christmas time and both kids kept coming home with various crafts and colourings from school.
After the weekend of Linda’s(?) visit it seemed that things were going well, but Purpled didn’t care too much for the visit. According to his file he was often removed from a home after the first visit so this must’ve been a welcome change for the kid.
Monday morning at four AM Techno was woken up by Tommy.
“What’s up Toms?” Techno started sitting up, Floof jumped down onto the floor at the movement.
“Purpled wont stop crying” Tommy said.
Techno moved swiftly out of bed and into Tommy’s room where the boys were sleeping. Tommy hovered in the hallway. Purpled sat curled up pressed against the wall tears streaming down his face.
“Hey Purpled, what’s up?”
“I’m not meant to be here anymore” he hiccoughed.
“Why do you think that?”
“Because it’s been two weeks”
“That doesn’t matter, you’re still here because you’re doing great here”
“And we want you here” Tommy chimed in.
“You do?” Purpled’s gaze moved to Tommy.
“Yes, of course we do,” Techno nodded.
“No one’s ever wanted me before”
That sentence broke Techno’s heart.
“Do you want a hug?” Techno offered.
Purpled hesitated.
“Techno gives the best hugs,” Tommy added.
Purpled nodded. The kid melted into the hug.
“How about we have a sleepover in my room?” Techno suggested.
“Yay, sleepover in Techno’s room” Tommy cheered. He ran to collect Henry before charging to Techno’s room.
Purpled followed Tommy out and Techno heard giggles erupt from the room. When he entered both kids were sprawled out on the bed and Floof was licking Tommy’s face causing the boy to squirm.
After that first display of some sort of emotion Purpled started to open up more. During one of his usual defiances towards going to school Techno actually got an answer when he asked why.
“Because, you might not pick me up at the end of the day” Purpled had replied.
“Is that what happened to you before?” Techno asked.
“My dad wouldn’t pick me up sometimes”
“I will always pick you up from school, how else am I meant to hear about how your day went or what you had for lunch?”
“Oh,”
“Come on lets go” Techno gestured towards the door.
They got down to the car and Tommy started to ask questions.
“Techno when are we going to put the Christmas tree up it’s already December?”
“I’ll get it from the storage unit today, we can put it up later alright?”
“Yay” Tommy kicked his legs up and down “Purpled, you can put the star on this year, I did it last year”
“I haven’t decorated a Christmas tree, we didn’t have one at my dad’s house”
“It’s so much fun,” Tommy gushed.
“Cool”
“Techno, can you put on music?” Tommy asked, quickly changing the topic.
Once the boys were in school, Techno had done all his work for the day. He worked from home and was desperately missing having an office. But he headed out to the storage unit and collected the Christmas boxes. A tree in a cardboard box that was ninety percent tape and boxes of decorations that did not match, but it was friendly and nostalgic so he didn’t mind the chaos of it all. Tommy once again was brimming with excitement after school. The tree decorating was a loud and chaotic experience, but Purpled loved it, the kid smiled almost the entire time and seemed to match Tommy’s level of enthusiasm.
“Alright, this is looking great” Techno concluded “How about we order food for dinner?”
“Yes, yes, yes” Tommy bounced excitedly.
“What do we feel like eating?”
“Pizza, please” Tommy threw himself onto the sofa.
“Purpled, you alright with pizza”
“As long as I can get pineapple on it”
“Pineapple?!” Tommy sat up “Why?”
“I like it that’s why” Purpled defended.
Techno ordered pizza for them all and was about to put on home alone before realising the possible influence it could have on Tommy and deciding the Polar Express would work just fine.
“I was wondering if you guys would be down to start sharing a room soon” Techno posed to the boys once dinner was finished.
“That would be cool,” Tommy nodded.
“I’d be okay with it, as long as I can still have my own space” Purpled concluded.
“You can always use my office if you need it,” Techno told him.
“Okay, can I have purple bedsheets?”
“Of course” Techno started “Toms we might have to get rid of your display board so we can fit another bed in”
“That’s ok, I’m excited to share a room with Purpled” he sent a smile over to the other boy.
~
The next week was the week of the nativity performances. Tommy and Purpled were doing three performances in total, on three different days. Techno was watching one, Phil was watching one and after attempting to stop his parents from going to prevent overwhelming Purpled, Techno’s parents were attending the third performance. It was a cold and rainy day when Techno walked up to the school, the school itself was covered in decorations including a large christmas tree in the reception of the building. He entered the crowded hall and he found his seat eventually next to another parent. The kids were already on stage getting set up by tired teachers.
“Which one is yours?” the mother next to him asked.
“The cow and the narrator with the purple shoes” Techno chuckled.
“Are they twins?” she asked. “They look very similar”
“Which one is yours?” he tried to avoid the question not wanting to out the kids as being fostered and adopted.
“The third angel along from the right, bright red hair” she pointed out.
“Ahh, well, this hour is going to be long”
The lady chuckled.
The show was long, kids would stumble over their lines and the songs were wildly out of tune at points but Techno filmed Tommy’s line and Purpled’s several. Tommy very much dove into the dramatics of it all and Techno was considering signing him up for theatre, Purpled read out his lines with minimal enthusiasm but was one of the better narrators in Techno’s definitely unbiased opinion. As usual, the kids were allowed to leave after the performance, it was in the afternoon and finished about an hour before school would’ve. He waited with the other parents whilst the kids changed out of their costume.
“Techno, Techno” Tommy ran up excitedly jumping up to hug Techno “How was I?”
“Amazing” Techno responded putting Tommy back on the floor “How do you feel about joining a theatre club?”
“What’s that?”
“A group of people who do acting a singing together”
“Sounds cool, did you like the show?”
“Very much, the mother next to me said you were very good”
“Because I was,” Tommy said proudly.
“Hey, Techno” Purpled waved, approaching them both.
“Hey kid, you were great” Techno side hugged the boy before ruffling his hair.
Purpled half scowled with no menace.
“I can’t believe I have to do it twice more”
“You’ll survive, come on, let's go home,”
“I won’t survive, out of spite” Purpled complained before moving towards Tommy and grabbing the other kid's arm and dragging him down the hallway towards the exit.
Once situated in the car and both kids buckled in Techno spoke up “Phil’s coming to watch you guys tomorrow, and my parents the day after, so unless you feel comfortable being in a car with them Purpled, you’ll both have to stay in school until the end of the day”
He heard whispers between the boys before Purpled spoke up “We’ll stay in school”
“Okay, also the other bed arrived today so we can finish setting you guy’s room up”
“Yay” Tommy cheered “Can I help you build it?”
“Sure”
After that evening it felt like Techno blinked and it was Christmas Eve. And the entirety of Christmas Eve was spent doing Christmassy activities requested by either Purpled or Tommy. They’d watched three Christmas movies, made cookies for Santa, taken Floof on a walk per Purpled’s request and finally ended the day with Tommy hogging Techno’s laptop to watch the Santa tracker.
“I’m going to stay up all night to catch Santa,” Tommy declared.
“Yeah right” Purpled scoffed.
“Trust me” Tommy yawned “I can stay up all night”
Tommy was fast asleep thirty minutes later. Techno had expected it, he started to set up for tomorrow morning, from last year he knew that Tommy would be waking him up at five in the morning so the more sleep he could get the better. He was in the living room setting up the two piles of presents one with red wrapping paper the other purple. He was almost done when he heard footsteps behind him he turned to see Purpled stood in the archway separating the hallway from the living area.
“You got me presents?” his eyes wide with wonder.
“Santa just dropped them off” Techno tried to cover his tracks.
“I know Santa’s not real,” Purpled said.
“How come?”
“I never got presents at Christmas and Santa’s meant to give every kid presents” Purpled started “I still decorated though, left out a glass of milk, it just went bad overnight”
Techno didn’t know that his heart could break anymore.
“I’m sorry kid”
“It’s alright” Purpled shrugged “I won’t tell Tommy either, it’s nice that it hasn’t been ruined for him yet”
“That’s very kind of you”
“That’s what Christmas is about isn’t it” Purpled said.
“Yeah, it is,” Techno agreed “Now, get off to bed, Tommy will be awake early tomorrow”
“Night”
Purpled headed back to his and Tommy’s room.
Techno left for bed with mixed feelings. He was excited to provide an exciting Christmas for Purpled, probably the first one this kid had ever had, but he was also filled with a sadness that this kid was the one bringing Christmas to his home, how it had all rested on his shoulders.
To no surprise the next morning Techno was woken by Tommy jumping up and down on his bed.
“Techno, Techno, it’s Christmas” Tommy cheered.
“Yeah Techno it’s Christmas” Purpled added, he was standing in the doorway to Techno's room.
Techno dragged himself out of bed only to be practically tugged along by Tommy to the living room.
“So many presents” Tommy exclaimed rushing forward to open his.
Purpled looked over to Techno, Techno urged the kid on and he went to open his as well.
The next thirty minutes or so were filled with the tearing of wrapping paper and excited reactions from both boys. Tommy obviously had to show Techno and Purpled each gift he got whilst Purpled opened them with more reservation, he seemed just happy to get something. Once they had opened their ‘Santa’ presents Techno had one that was off him for each kid. He wanted some sort of credit on the money he’d spent on them.
Tommy lay flat on a pile of torn wrapping paper, Floof licked his face aggressively.
“I’ve got one more thing for each of you, off me” Techno said before reaching behind the couch and pulling out two more presents.
“Yay” Tommy cheered, bouncing up to grab the present.
“Thanks” Purpled replied, taking the present as well.
Tommy rapidly pulled off his wrapping paper and was incredibly excited to see the fancy art set of felt tip pens, coloured pencil and a few colouring books.
“There are so many colours” he gasped excitedly “I have so much colouring to do now”
Purpled watched Tommy open it with a smile, Techno had noticed him doing this all morning.
“Purpled open yours” Tommy chanted.
“Okay” Purpled pulled away the paper revealing the sets of books. A smile broke out on his face before dropping soon after.
Techno frowned.
Purpled got up immediately and sprinted to hide in the bathroom.
Tommy frowned and dropped his colouring supplies following after the boy. Techno wasn’t far behind.
Tommy was knocking on the bathroom door.
“Purpled, it’s okay if you don’t like your present” Tommy said.
“Hey Toms, can you move away from the door so I can talk to Purpled?”
Tommy nodded and stepped back.
“Purpled, what’s wrong?”
All Techno could hear were sniffs behind the door.
“Can I come in?” Techno asked.
“Ok” came a response followed by the click of a lock.
Techno opened the door, stepping inside “Shall I leave it open or close it?”
“Close it”
Techno closed the door behind him and sat down on the bathroom floor opposite Purpled.
“So what’s made you so upset?”
“It’s not the presents, I love the presents” he stumbled out the words quickly, hiding his head on his knees.
“I doubted it was”
“When I move homes I won’t be able to take most of this stuff with me” he admitted “I don’t want to leave here”
“Who mentioned anything about leaving?”
“It’s going to happen, I know it will”
“I don’t see you leaving this house anytime soon,” Techno admitted.
Purpled looked up “You mean it?” His gaze was stern.
“Of course I do, Tommy and I love having you around, so I think you will be sticking around for a while, if that's what you want?”
“Yeah, yeah it is”
“Shall we get back out there, I think Tommy wants to play with his new toys with you”
Purpled nodded letting out a sniff and rubbing his eyes with his pajama sleeve.
Tommy with his usual childlike innocence brushed off the entire situation and immediately dove into playing with the new sheep plushy he’d gotten. Techno cooked breakfast watching as both boys played with smiles on their faces, the tear tracks drying onto Purpled’s as he smiled almost as much as Tommy. He was happy and so were both of his boys, that’s all he wanted for Christmas.