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When Tommy was a child, he had loved the storms that had ripped the sky open with water, ice and friction alone, creating great echoing booms that shook the little cabin he'd spent his earliest days in and flashed across the sky like streaks of fallen angels.
His father used to say that each lightning bolt was another angel falling, either dead or broken, from the heavens during great battles. He'd sit Tommy in his lap and tell him of when his father had fallen himself, his great white wings being consumed by the darkest black, leaving only small diamonds of white down the bottom, forever waiting for the heavens to welcome back their Angel of Death.
Tommy's mother, the Goddess of Death, forever trapped in a land between heaven and hell, guiding spirits of all kinds between both, was said to be the only thing stopping the skies from coming tumbling down upon the Earth, not able to keep track of so many spirits if that were to happen. Though it's said that when lightning strikes the ground and creates raging flames that devour everything in their paths, those are the ones who slip through the cracks, on the search for souls to drag either up or down.
Tommy used to look up at them with awe, imagining his dark haired mother doing everything in her power to protect those on Earth, her husband and her sons. Tommy himself had wanted to control the storms, though the only thing that he had inherited from his powerful parents were his mother's horns and tail, like a devil's - the end of his tail curling like a spade, a light, pale red rather than his mother's deep purple - and the light chaos magic that seemed to follow him wherever he went, bad luck nipping at his heels like hellhounds.
The golden haired child would stare up at the grey sky, admiring each and every flash and not once flinching at the what would otherwise be catastrophic booms of thunder if his mother had not been there muffling them with gentle hands.
Now that very same golden haired child, though older with mud streaked hair and wide, cerulean eyes that would look up at the very same storms and feel nothing but fear as rain buffered his face, the booms too similar to the explosions that had lit up orange-red-yellow around Tommy as he fought for a country that didn't love him back. When the smoke had cleared and he'd find his brother dead in the rubble, a maniacal grin spread across his still face and blood dripping down Tommy's father's sword, icey eyes blown wide; or the explosions that would destroy the little that Tommy had, burning his palms and leaving his cheek scorched, those were what had made him fear what he had once loved so dearly.
Tommy was dragged awake screaming, hands reaching for a man with curls of brown and a man clad in green, lungs burning and the thunder that opened the skies for rain sending small tremors on the cot Tommy laid on, waiting for Dream to come collect him, to punish him, to give Tommy everything he deserved.
Tommy twisted around in the sheets that clung too tight to his legs, tangled and knotted. His hands clawed for stability as his eyes searched the darkness of his tent for the figure who always promised pain when the explosions came.
Except instead he was staring around a hotel room, recognisable in the flashes of lightning streaming in through the window, and he laid on a plush, warm bed rather than a thin, cold cot.
Cold hands grabbed his wrists and once again he was thrashing, a scream ripping from his lips as Tommy fought against whoever it was.
"Let me go!" Tommy shrieked, loud and high pitched as he wrenched his hands away. Tommy side hit the mattress with a gut wrenching sob as the hands retreated, fingers trembling and legs shaking as he curled in on himself, tears dampening his face as they left trails of shining wet against his cheeks, gathering on the bridge of his nose at this new angle.
Tingles spread down his spine and not the good kind. Not the kind that filled him with pleasant warmth as soft hands with sharp black claws trailed over his body, but the kind where it burnt, like sharp slaps and nails that tore, body anticipating the sting of what is to come.
But instead of a cruel voice and crueller hands, it was a soft, kind of monotone voice that promised all gentle things and whispered promises, promises to the stars.
"Tommy," the voice was a breath against his curly hair, a hand with sharp black claws hovering over trembling fingers. Tommy allowed another sob and tear escape him, forcing his eyes back open. "He's not here."
Tommy shakily lifted his hand, palm turning over to thread fingers through Purpled's, their thumb rubbing the back of his hand. Tommy tensed slightly as he felt Purpled's face press gently into his hair but he welcomed it, Purpled's chest leaning softly against his back.
The comfort of having Purpled protecting his back created a shield of safety around Tommy, making Tommy curl closer against them, closer against the cold skin he could feel through the purple hoodie he wore. Tommy made a soft noise, cerulean eyes flicking over his shoulder to take in the tan skin that was usually covered by a shirt.
"Why are you topless?" Tommy mumbled through sniffles, wiping at his eyes with the back of his free hand, droplets soaking into the already dark fabric of the hoodie. Purpled's thumb paused the soothing rubbing for a moment, shifting slightly against Tommy and when they spoke again their voice was closer to his ear, breath cold.
"Because you're hot." A pause. Then a British sounding snicker. "I mean you run hot, sunflower." The nickname slipped out as Purpled's tail came to flick the back of Tommy's shin lightly, the silky tuft at the end brushing tenderly against bandaged skin.
Tommy opened his mouth to respond when another crack of thunder echoed across the sky, sending small tremors through the bed. Tommy felt a whimper clog his throat, shrinking against Purpled, eyes squeezing closed as Tommy's tail instinctively tucked between his legs, a habit Dream had been unable to break.
Purpled didn't even think before their arms enclosed around Tommy's waist, turning him so his face squished against their chest. Tommy's hands flew to grip onto Purpled, holding onto them so tightly it was as if he were afraid that when he let go, the ash blond alien that had exhibited more care for him within an evening than somebody had in months would fade from him forever.
Tommy's legs tangled with theirs, warmth intertwined within cold, crushed impossibly close to one another. These were no longer the fleeting touches Tommy had longed for more than he'd ever realised, these weren't what he'd imagined falling asleep to each night when he had laid on that freezing cot in a callous landscape that once bloomed with the most exquisite of wildflowers, each waking as arduous as the last when he roused alone.
Purpled's hand slid to the back of his neck, thumb tracing over the bone. Tommy let the tension in his shoulders go and when he did, the hand gently tilted the back of his head back to meet Purpled's violet eyes. Tommy leaned forward and Purpled welcomed the kiss like it was the only thing keeping them alive.
It was brief and simply a press of bitten lips against dry ones, but it was enough to soothe the tremor in Tommy's body, drowning out the sound of the storm as Purpled cupped his face.
The next kiss was firmer, tasting of toothpaste and a subtle taste of coffee. Purpled pulled back shortly after, kissing the tip of his nose. "You need to brush your teeth, sunflower."
Tommy mumbled out something Purpled was unable to catch but didn't press, instead they speckled a kiss to Tommy's forehead, tucking Tommy beneath their chin like a warm comfort.
Tommy let his eyes flutter closed, curled against Purpled's cool skin, smushed against his cheek. It wasn't long before the gentle lull of sleep came to claim the golden haired teen once again, this time as soft as the tuft of hair on Purpled's tail.
The smell of burnt butter is what dragged Tommy from his dreamless slumber, the light scrape of wood against metal replacing the lap of the ocean's waves Tommy had grown accustomed to. Tommy's eyes were met with the black fabric of the sleeveless shirt Purpled now wore, tighter fitting than Tommy would expect for Purpled, rather than the pale fabric of his tent wall.
Tommy's gaze wandered over Purpled as they moved around the kitchen corner, scooping the pancake from the pan onto the plate with a plastic spatula. Tommy's cheek was still against the pillow that smelt of Purpled, presumably what they had replaced themself with after detangling from him.
Tommy made a quiet noise to himself as he lingered on Purpled's arms. Of course he wasn't surprised that the alien had muscle; Tommy himself, skinny and lanky as he was, had once possessed muscle. Not a lot, but the typical kind a teenage raised in war would have. But Prime be Damned, was this person fit.
He shifted as the thought crossed his mind, rustling the sheets and causing Purpled to turn curiously, bare feet making an almost missed squeaking noise against the tile.
"Tommy," they stated upon seeing Tommy was awake, a small defiant smile tugging at their lip. "You overslept."
Tommy huffed, rolling away from Purpled in his burrito of a blanket, ending up on Purpled's side of the bed with his face buried in their pillow. Purpled made a noise of amusement, stalking over from the kitchenette and crawling onto the bed to chase after the Tommy burrito.
Tommy squeezed his eyes shut as his heart fluttered in anticipation, a small giggle of excitement bubbling from his throat, and when he flicked his cerulean eyes back open he was met with the pinky magenta of Purpled's constellation eyes. Purpled's hands cames to rest on either side of Tommy's head, caging him in beneath them.
Purpled leaned down, lips brushing his nose, than his cheeks and lightly grazing against Tommy's eyes, making Tommy squirm beneath the older, more laughter escaping his chest for the first time in weeks. Purpled pulled away enough to peer down at Tommy, gaze sweeping over him before leaning down and capturing his lips in a quick kiss, making Tommy whine against their mouth.
When they pulled away again Tommy wriggled his arms free from his burrito, hands resting on the back of Purpled's head to pull them, tangling in soft locks to drag them down into a deeper kiss. Purpled's lips were dry as usual against Tommy's, tasting of toothpaste still, and when their hands came to frame his face, Tommy's stomach decided to give an unnecessarily loud rumble.
Purpled's huffed a breath against Tommy's lips as they drew away, just enough so that their stubble just grazed Tommy's chin. Tommy glared up at them, cheeks burning with embarrassment that caused Purpled to coo softly down at him.
"Breakfast <em>is<em> ready, Tommy," Purpled murmured, though didn't protest as they were captured in one last kiss. Tommy rolled them so Purpled was pinned beneath him, legs framing their hips as he stared down at them.
"Thanks," Tommy grinned, breaking the kiss to slip off their lap and fall a bit too hard to the floor. Purpled's laughter rang out behind him, sharp and sudden as Tommy remained crumpled on the hardwood floor, bottom lip pushed out in an exaggerated pout.
"Your stupid fuckin' floors are slippery as Primes hell," Tommy grumbled as Purpled pulled him up by the back of his shirt, pinched between two fingers. Purpled was now perched on the edge of the bed like a cat, their long dark purple tail flicking back behind them. Tommy let his lips curl in a smirk, hiding the ache in his knees as he took in his friend staring up at him with dilated pupils.
Never before has he seen Purpled with dilated pupils, as they were more often than not little slits - well except for when he was around Tommy of course. Around Tommy they were always wide, as if they were consuming every part him that they could, their antennae just as attentive, twitching with every small movement.
Tommy found his feet before allowing Purpled to support his weight as they guided him to the table, leg muscles aching after the strain of walking for hours just the previous day. The chair cushions were the kind that felt comfortable at first, but after a while they were bound to become uncomfortable, annoyingly.
Purpled shifted away once Tommy was seated, grabbing the two plates of pancakes off the bench and delivering them straight in front of Tommy, drizzled with maple syrup and topped with a scoop of ice cream. Tommy stared down at them, the hunger that had previously gnawed at his stomach like hungry wolves had squirmed until it felt like bile rising in his gut.
A frown curled Tommy's lips down, something bitter surging across his tongue. He had not a clue as to why Purpled of all people was being kind to him. It wasn't kindness, but pity instead, pity for a teenage boy that had suffered all the woes Prime had turned onto him.
The warmth of the moment had faded, as cold as the ice cream on Tommy's plate and much less sweet. Tommy's shoulders hunched up, tail winding around his own leg as he glared down at the floor.
Purpled's eyes flicked up to him from where they were seated across from Tommy, worry dragging at their lips at the apparent change of emotion, gaze dragging back down to Tommy’s untouched food.
"Are you gonna-?"
"No." The words came out harsher than intended but guilt was absent from Tommy's chest, even if a strange feeling threatened to drag Tommy downwards into a death spiral. "I don't need your fucking pity food. Purpled. Fuck off with it, mate." Tommy hissed, chair screeching as he shoved himself back from the table, the utensils clattering with the force.
Purpled stared at him with wide shocked eyes, breath hitching and their antennae twitching slightly towards Tommy before a bitter look flooded through their features, turning them downwards.
"Pity food?! Tommy, why would I make you pity food? Why would I bring you into my own home, bandage you, let you sleep in my bed and feed you my hard earned food if it was all pity?" Purpled protested, tail lashing hard behind themselves as they rose from their seat, nearly slipping on the tile. Tommy continued to stare them down, his own tail flicking back and forth. "Why would I kiss you?!"
Shut up Tommy, shut up Tommy, shut up Tommy, you're making them mad.
Tommy shot from his chair, his ankle kicking back and accidentally sending the seat clattering to the kitchen floor. Tommy's fists curled hard knuckled at the loud noise, jaw clenched as the sound echoed like thunder around his skull.
"I came here for Quackity. Not you."
Purpled stepped back, eyebrows furrowed deep and Tommy felt the invisible knife buried in his chest twist tighter, his own mind's hands stabbing and slicing at the already damaged, delicate flesh. He nearly staggered back with the force, instead allowing it to guide him until his back hit the bathroom door, slamming it open and slipping inside.
He could've escaped. Probably should've. Away from the ashen haired alien who looked at him too deeply, who held him when he was afraid. Who had taken care of him so well it wasn't until now that Tommy had remembered the wounds that should've been zipping with pain, deep and agonising as they had been the previous day.
Letting the clatter of Purpled moving around outside the door drone on, surprisingly noisy for a supposedly trained and experienced mercenary, Tommy's fingers dipped beneath his clothes, slipping them off and revealing his banaged thighs beneath. Blood still soaked them red and fulfilling what Tommy had blindly assumed about them, they still held tight even after a shower.
Thank Prime. That was one last thing for Purpled to be disappointed in.
Tommy rubbed the bandage between forefinger and thumb, soft and now that he paid attention, had a slight pinky hue that wasn't visibly caused by the blood that had seeped through patches. His tail gave a small twitch as his hands reached beneath a thigh, nails digging into the knot before tugging, sending it spreading gently across his thigh, slipping away to reveal fresh scars.
Bandages soaked in a health potion. Of course. A slow working solution that was a lot more painless than drinking the potion directly.
Tommy huffed to himself, thumb brushing over the fabric as it fell to the tile. Purpled had been so gentle, so caring, too kind for somebody like himself. Yet, here Tommy was, anger spluttering to a gradual halt in his heart after words Tommy truly hadn't meant had been thrown carelessly at the only person who'd shown him at least an ounce of generosity.
The movement outside had died down, a door slamming shut hard. The only other possible door in the hotel room, the front door.
No, Purpled wouldn't leave him, would they? Even after Tommy yelled at them?
Shuffling around, still on his knees and rubbing uncomfortably against the ground, Tommy faced the bathroom door, hand reaching up to click the handle, door opening just wide enough for Tommy to peek his head out.
An empty room greeted him in a soft brush of wind against his cheek.
Purpled was gone.
Nails curled sharp into the skin of Tommy's thighs as he buried his face in his own knees and screamed.
—
The gentle drip of tap water into the sink was the only sound beside Tommy’s soft breaths, cerulean eyes half lidded as he stared at the ceiling.
He was redressed in the same clothes as before, laid on Purpled's bed as he allowed his mind to take over. Hatred stirred like a lurking beast, snapping at the edges of his mind and threatening to pounce. Tommy didn't deserve this. Didn't deserve to lay in the bed of the same person who had held him through a nightmare, only for Tommy to turn around and tell them that he'd believed that such an intimate act was simply out of pity. Who would pity a boy like himself..?
Tommy's hand ran through his hair, feeling noticeably thinner than less than two hours before. His eyes didn't dare drift to where golden strands lay tattered on floor, a few still tangled between his fingers.
Breathing out a sigh, his hand fell back on the duvet, tail wounding tight around his thigh, making the fresh scars sting with the familiar, mind numbing sharpness. Tommy's fingers itched, itched for something sharp to be slid into his palms and brought down across his already scarred thighs.
He cast a look across the room, towards where he knew knives lay waiting on a draw. But could he truly do it here? Tommy had no idea when Purpled would return, if ever, and Tommy could predict that they would not be happy if they were to find more scars maiming Tommy’s skin, deserved or not.
Tommy swung his legs off the edge of the bed and his toes had barely brushed the hard wood flooring before a siren spilt through the air, shaking him to his very core. Terror sprung up Tommy's skin, prickly and sharp as his legs gave out, returning them to jelly and sending him clacking against wood to the floor.
No, no, no, no, no, no.
This can not be happening.
He was supposed to be free of him, he was supposed to have escaped and left the green clad man in the dust. Yet the very alarm that Quackity had designed just to warn people of Dream's presence was blaring, vibrating around in his head and curling dread deep into his bones.
"If you ever hear that alarm, Tommy, promise me you will run far far away from here. Promise me."
Tommy had promised, had shook his hand with a grin of sharp teeth and bright eyes and had promised, just days before his exile, that he would run if Dream ever came close to Las Nevadas whilst he was staying there.
Yet now his legs were too heavy to lift, scrabbling against hard wood as he dragged himself into the kitchen area, wood becoming cold tile against his legs as he reached upwards, ripping the cutlery drawer open, hand plunging inside. Tommy had expected to feel the smooth wooden handle of a kitchen knife or the sharpness of a blade but instead his fingers curled around empty space.
The knives were gone.
Purpled - had they..?- removed the knives whilst Tommy was in the other room?
A hiss of irritation bled through Tommy's clenched teeth after a moment, eyes flitting around and not landing on a single useful weapon.
Scrambling forward, Tommy's head and heart raced as he struggled for the bathroom, where a lock would place at least two locked doors between himself and when Dream came to collect him.
Spots danced before his darkening vision as his shoulder hit the door with a heavy thud, pain zinging up before he tried to heave in another breath, hand slapping against the door until his palm curled around the knob. Twisting it open, Tommy tumbled onto the same floor he'd been curled on like a child just hours before.
Though this time round, he had a reason to be scared.
The door slammed shut with a kick of his heel against the wood, a light sting flaring in his freshly healed ankles before hauling himself into the farthest corner, Tommy curling up within the darkness. It felt like a heard of thundering buffalo were trapped in ribs, chased round and round by a faceless predator, safety only available in short, quick intervals before once again the hunt was on.
Tommy's eyes squeezed shut, blood roaring in his ears as his hands clamped over his mouth, trying to muffle his heavy breathing in hopes that if anybody were to pass by they wouldn't hear.
Tommy had no clue how much time had passed until his breathing had grown quiet, the sirens had stopped long ago and Tommy was dragged his mind by a familiar, chilling jingle like a child's bell coming from the main room before the sound of the bed rocking once against the wall with enough force it would surely dent.
Fuck fuck fuck.
That noise was all too familiar to Tommy.
The jingle, that particular jingle that was near impossible to replicate was the key signifier of somebody having lost a life and were currently respawning, the force of the bed rocking making it obvious whoever it was had been killed on impact by a great fall.
There was only one person who it could possibly be. One person besides Tommy who he guessed had slept in said bed. Why Tommy was allowed in such a private person's personal space was still a mystery to him but it was one he could work out later. Now, he had to work on the issue at hand. The fact Purpled had just lost a life.
A scream split through the air after a moment, full of anger and rage and a bitterness and made Tommy's tail curl.
A moment later something shattering against the wall on the opposite side of Tommy sent him flinching back, cowering deeper into the corner before all instincts pushed him forwards and Tommy dove for the door.
Slamming it open, cerulean met violet as Tommy took in Purpled’s rage filled expression, eyes narrowed and lips curled back in a snarling growl, hand pulled back and clutching another fragile thing in preparation to be thrown at the wall.
"What the fuck do you want." Purpled hissed in a harsh whisper, though Tommy didn't miss the slight softening in their gaze.
Tommy couldn't speak for a moment, lips parted soundlessly as only a soft exhale left him, before finally he found his words, a tremble in his voice.
"Purpled- what happened- you-" Tommy couldn't hide the shake of his hands, stuck in the doorway and torn between approaching the angry alien or retreating back into the safe darkness of the bathroom. Tommy gulped down the fear, nails curling into his palms in an attempt to ground himself.
Purpled's eyes flicked over him for a moment, the raised hand not lowering but beginning to tremble as much as Tommy's as a tear slipped down Purpled's cheek.
Oh fuck, Tommy didn't know how to comfort people like this.
"Fucking Quackity happened," Purpled's voice cracked on the name, another tear escaping the deep black sclera without permission. "He- fucking. I don't know. I had him cornered on the space needle and then somebody pushed me and-" a shaky inhale, the raised hand dropping. "It really hurt." The last three words came out in a whisper, shoulders slumping helplessly as Purpled was unable to blink away more traitorous tears.
Tommy shuffled a single foot forward, body tilting slightly closer to Purpled as the other sniffled again.
Tommy wondered, mind drifting back to the previous few weeks, if Purpled would feel any better if they were to break Tommy rather than any of their own belongings? Dream had felt happier when he hurt Tommy. He'd come back to Logestchire tense and bristling with quiet anger turned towards Tommy and the teenager had simply laid there and taken it, even as his body had screamed at him too fight back, blood soaking grass and sand beneath him.
Afterwards, Tommy would curl into a ball and cry, tears mixing with the blood on his face and pray to whoever was listening that one day Dream would hurt Tommy enough that he would never be angry at him again.
"You-" Tommy swallowed nervously, fingers twitching at the thought of pain once again coating after he thought he was finally somewhere safe. "If you gotta break something, you can break me." The request was so quiet for a second he thought Purpled hadn't heard it until horror struck across the others face, arms dropping and the object slipping from their hand to the hard wood floor.
"No- I- no- what the fuck, Tommy?!" Purpled’s expression, for such a closed off person, shook Tommy to his very core. Was Tommy’s simple request truly so outrageous? It was pretty normal, at least in his books. Breaking objects was permanent, usually unfixable, but breaking Tommy? So what? He'd heal eventually anyway. Even if he didn't, at least he'd die making another person happy.
"Why not?" Tommy's voice was audibly trembling now, Purpled’s four eyes flicking over his face as if they'd seen a ghost before taking a few steps forward, close enough to be able to reach out and touch Tommy's face. And that is exactly what they did.
Their hand hovered slightly against Tommy cheek, brow furrowed as if in deep thought, yet their entire focus also appeared to be on Tommy. He didn't miss the slight tremble of their bottom lip.
Purpled's thumb brushed ever so gently over Tommy's cheek, as if they were to press too hard, both the already fractured teenagers would finally splinter all the way through and they'd crumple like fragile sugar to the ground, except there would be nothing sweet about it.
"Why won't you?" Tommy whined, sounding more pathetic than intended. Tommy Innit wasn't pathetic. He was a big man. A big man with big muscles and a big group of wives and maybe too big emotions to handle this very too emotional situation as a quiet sob escaped him. "I hurt you. I yelled at you. I told you you were wrong for helping me."
Tommy's eyes squeezed shut as he stood there, cheek softly brushing Purpled’s palm as streaks of wet tears dripped like waterfalls of regret and guilt.
"Tommy," Purpled's voice was as quiet as his, forehead tipping to rest so delicately against Tommy's it made his skin tingle. Gentle touch so unfamiliar to such a damaged teenager. It took a moment for Tommy to realise the other was crying in the semi dark room, eyes previously squeezed shut easing open at the gentle caress of his name against his face and found two violet irises gazing into cerulean blue. "I don't think friends are supposed to hurt each other."
Tommy's throat choked up, so suffocating it felt like he could barely gasp in breath as he swayed dangerously, halted by one of Purpled's hand on his arm. "I don't want to be- I don't want to be friends." He finally gasped out after a swallow of breath.
Purpled's mouth twisted into a frown and for one dreadful moment Tommy feared they had gotten it all wrong as hands retreated. Tommy's hands surged forward, knocking clumsily against Purpled’s for a moment before he finally threaded his fingers through theirs, dragging them back against him as tears from both speckled against them.
"No, no Purpled, don't leave," Tommy's voice cracked, legs feeling like jelly as he searched Purpled’s gaze. "Never leave. Not again. Please Purpled. Please. I don't-" A heaving breath. "I don't ever want to feel how I feel with you about a singular other person. Please."
Purpled's breath hitched, eyes flying wide as they flicked over Tommy, their body tilting back and away for a moment, lips parted in a quiet gasp. Tommy was surprised himself by such and expression from such a cold person.
"Tommy, I need to breathe," Purpled's voice trembled, chest rising and falling rapidly as their pupils remained blown, dilated despite the panic clear on their face.
"Do you need space?" Tommy whimpered, already dragging himself away in return, unknowing of the fact it was his own time to be pulled back in.
"No." Firm despite the panic they had seemingly overtaken Purpled. "I don't need space. I come from space, I've had enough of that. I need you Tommy." Was his only warning before he was grabbed and pulled, crushed in an embrace so sudden and tight it pushed all breath from Tommy's lungs. Tommy didn't hesitate before returning it, arms curling firmly around Purpled, face buried deep into their neck, Purpled's tan face pressed into his neck in return, inhaling deeply.
"Ew, are you breathing me in, fucking weirdo," Tommy mumbled into Purpled's shoulder earning a surprised scoff against the skin of his own neck, the older's fingers twitching lightly.
"Give me a break." They muttered in return, holding onto Tommy somehow even tighter. "I just died, Stars Forbid I want a little comfort."
"Gasp? You find comfort in me? The great Tommy Innit?" Tommy cooed lightly.
"No, stop-"
"You love me so so much? And so so gayly?"
"Tommy, be-"
"Wow, you do, you must be a fa-"
"Tommy, shut the fuck up, we're having a moment." Purpled grumbled into his neck in amusement, the brush of lips against the smile scar making Tommy's heart leap into his throat like an excited giggle.
Tommy's head tilted, enough so his lips fall before Purpled's, the smile slips to be soft and gentle as their hands found one another's once again, Tommy's fingers brushing over the new bumps of scars on Purpled's skin, evidence of violence that made his heart ache. Tommy's tail carefully drew against Purpled's, soft like a loom.
"You know," he mumbled in a whisper against Purpled's lips, a soft press before pulling away. "I don't think people are designed to hurt one another."
"What makes you say that?" Purpled returns, just as quiet and eyes drifting to their hands as Tommy presses their palms together. Tommy hummed softly, the pads of his fingers resting lightly against Purpled’s.
"Because of how much it hurts to inflict harm. If we were made for it, I don't think we'd hate it as much as so many people do." Tommy once again searched Purpled’s face, their eyes still fixed on the way their hands were pressed together, bodies so close they could easily feel one another's body temperatures.
"What do you suggest we're made for then?" Purpled whispered. "I seem like I could very easily harm you." Black claws glided lightly down Tommy’s palm, not daring to break the skin. Tommy found that no fear bubbled within in him, instead a calm settled like a blanket upon him.
"Loving." Tommy finished so simply, like it was the easiest thing in the world to say despite it crushing down on him like boulders. One of Tommy's hands drifted upwards tilt Purpled's chin up enough so Tommy's lips could press against theirs and they melted into it as easily as syrup.
The kiss wasn't as hungry as they had been previously, but it was just as passionate, sweeter and softer, brimming with unexpected understanding stronger than anything before. It wasn't perfect, they knew they never would be. They both did. They weren't perfect and in the past, both may have been saddened by that. Though now, with at least a little more understanding, they felt as if they could be happy with what they've got. At least for a little while.
7 years later…
The baby in Tommy's arms cooed softly, her face still held the pinkness of a newborn's and her fingers were curled tightly around Tommy’s. Her blue eyes were shut in sleep, tucked tightly in a soft pink blanket embroided with cartoonish giraffes, a gift from Niki.
Tommy shifted in his fiancés arms, Purpled’s back leant back against the willow tree's thick trunk, cast in afternoon shade. Tommy was settled in their arms, back against their chest with Purpled's arms wrapped loosely around his waist, legs on either side of him and chin resting on Tommy’s shoulder as they peered down at the sleeping infant.
A purr was rumbling softly against Tommy's back, lips occasionally brushing the soft skin of Tommy's neck in the gentlest of kisses.
Finding their daughter had been pure chance, a luck of the draw one would say. Despite being just a week ago it felt like an eternity since they'd stumbled across that ransacked medical carriage, blood splattered across the ground and all the paramedics and new mother inside dead, killed meaninglessly for a few drugs. Worthless thieves.
It had been a chance of a million that the baby, cold and screaming, had been left alive. Perhaps the thieves had held some mercy for somebody so new to the world, even if they had none for the mother and doctors.
So, as any couple unable of having their own children would do whilst a child was in distress, they took her in as their own.
Darling Clementine.
Those were the words that had left Tommy’s lips in a whisper, finger tracing over the curls of blonde that had bestowed the baby girls head. Their Darling Clementine, theirs alone and theirs forever.
Now, only a week later, she had become a regular part of their routine. It wasn't like they were unused to raising a child. First, it had been babysitting Michael, Tubbo and Ranboo's son, then moving to a more permanent parental role for the boy once Ranboo had passed and Tubbo had spiralled. Even now, with Tubbo getting better and once again being the father Michael sought, Tommy would always think of the piglin boy as his first child.
Secondly, it had been Shroud. The spider hybrid who had tailed him through the forest before Tommy had scooped up the two year old boy and brought him back to his best friend and boyfriend at the time, now fiance. And yes, Shroud definitely helped in Tommy’s proposal to the ashen haired teen.
Now, three years after that, the youngest they've ever raised was also their first daughter. The day prior, Niki had come over and given them The Talk about what to expect in her later teenage years. Despite Tommy and Tubbo having grown up with women in their lives who didn't shy away from such topics being discussed with young boys, poor Purpled had looked so lost. To be expected from an alien raised in outer space and then raised in a predominantly male community.
"I think dinner will be ready soon," Purpled mumbled into his neck, snuggling somehow even closer. Tommy hummed softly back in response, pressing a kiss to Clementine's forehead that made her squeak and scrunch in displeasure.
"See? She hates you," Purpled mumbled. "Which means you should give her to me."
"You can't cuddle me with her in your arms," Tommy shot back playfully, his tail flicking Purpled’s thigh slightly before their arms slipped from around them, gently lifting the baby carefully away with one hand and pushing Tommy off their lap with the other.
Tommy squawked like a bird in protest as he allowed himself to slide onto the grass, warmed by the evening sun.
"Hey! That's my daughter!" Tommy pouted, waving one of his hands around in the vague direction of the two other blonds as Purpled pressed their cheek gently to Clementine's.
"Our daughter," Purpled purred in amusement, tilting backwards to avoid Tommy’s fingertips brushing them. Tommy scoffed, rolling around as if he were attempting to do something when really it was meaningless rolling that Clementine seemed all too entertained by, big blue eyes fixed on her odd father.
Tommy rocked himself upwards to hopefully play swat Purpled, though unfortunately the momentum wasn't enough and he found himself tipping backwards before he could reach his beloved, thumping back and a sound they did not expect graced their ears like sunshine after rain.
A giggle. From Clementine. For the first time.
Both young adults froze for a moment, eyes fixed on Clementine as her cute babish grin stayed on her little face. The giggle had been small but it had been there, small and perfect and was repeated when Purpled started pressing several light kisses to her cheeks and Tommy found himself eager to join, pressing a kiss to the opposite cheek as she pushed her tiny fist against his face.
"First giggle!" Tommy cheered, pulling away before they could suffocate their poor girl in love. Purpled grinned back in equal excitement, tail flicking back and forth and purring twice as loud as they climbed to their feet, steadying Clementine in their arms. Their hand reached down, offering Tommy a hand up that he happily expected.
Tommy stole a peck on the way up, making Purpled huff fondly yet not let go of his hand.
"Where are you taking me?" Tommy questioned as he was dragged across the late spring grass by his first love.
"To the stars, my love." Purpled hummed back and Tommy's heart bloomed twice as large.
"Hm. Corny."
"Shut up." A hand slipped from his, just briefly before being pulled back in.
"Don't let go of me now."