Chapter Text
Tommy had been in the foster system since he was five. His neighbors reported his parents and he hadn't seen them since, not that he minded. They were never his real parents, they neither cared for him nor barely looked at him.
He didn't remember much about them either. He remembered his mom's hair, as golden as his own, his father’s beatings that were a daily thing, and then of course the wings.
Both his parents had wings and that was his greatest curse, that he also had them.
Tommy was an Avian, or more correctly, an Elytrian (One of the many races of Avians).
He hated his wings. They were nothing but bad omens. Everyone else also hated them and
Therefore he kept them hidden as often as he could.
Right there he had just woken up, three days after his last foster home. He sighed as he hid under his covers, his body still in pain after it.
People think that foster homes were a great solution, that they helped oh so many kids.
They were not. In fact, it was a true hell to go from foster home to foster home. Tommy got there, got beaten up, and got returned after a month or two like a rented punching bag. Plus when he got back, he also got blamed for not trying hard enough. He honestly didn't care, he was used to it after nine years but deep in his guts, there still was a small dying fume that he one day might be lucky.
He stretched his wings as far out as the walls allowed it and looked at the feathers. They were a flaming red color that faded into yellow at the very tips. He hadn't preened them for days and they looked and felt like shit. He didn't care though, he pulled them back in and felt the agony in his back and shoulders as he did so.
It knocked on his door and he groaned, not having the energy to get up.
“Fuck off!” He just hissed but the knocking continued, god he wanted to just ignore it.
“Thomas. Open the door, now.” The familiar voice of his ‘caretaker’ sounded. Mrs. Brown. Tommy hated her and she hated him back just as much. She always blamed him for coming back from each foster home and once in a while gave him a hit or two for prober sake.
“No. Fuck off,” Tommy said, knowing the door was locked, but also that she could easily open it herself.
“Thomas, you're late for your meeting with Mr. Watson.” Her sharp voice rang and Tommy sat up.
What meeting? What was going on? They were sending him into the field again already?
He got up and opened the door, eyes meeting the fierce face of Mrs. Brown.
Mrs. Brown was some sort of lizard hybrid and Tommy often had fun thinking of her as a dragon lady. She had patches of scales here and there and had sharp pupils that stabbed deeper than any blade.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding. You're sending me away already? I barely just got back.” Tommy complained and her eyes looked deadly at him.
“Thomas, you should be more grateful. I use so much of my time on the kids here and I don't like ungrateful brats like you.” She spat and he rolled his eyes in response. Just the usual daily reminder.
“Mr. Watson came yesterday and saw you in the cafeteria. He said he wanted to foster you and he is here for a meeting.” She explained and Tommy wanted to die. He still had unhealed bruises (and a broken rib or two) from his last shit hole and didn’t wanna go to a new one already.
“Get ready and then you come to my office, no discussion. I want you to behave Thomas. This might be a good chance for you.” She said sharply and Tommy couldn't help but roll his eyes at her usual, well-known speech.
“Oh yeah? What's so different about this time?” He asked sarcastically and her eyes drilled further into him. If it wasn't because he was used to it, he would probably have pissed himself.
“Thomas, Mr. Watson is an Avian too.” Mrs. Brown said and Tommy stopped breathing for a moment, shocked with that information.
He had never been fostered by another Avian, not that he thought it would make much
difference.
Before he got to respond Mrs. Brown had turned around and walked down the hallway again, her heels clicking against the floor in a fast rhythm.
The fuck was he supposed to do with this.
He took a deep breath and then pulled his backpack out from under his bed. All his belongings were in that, and he would do anything in the world to keep it safe.
There once was a kid that stole his cow plushie Henry and Tommy was furious for weeks until he found him and got Henry back, only with a little bit of violence if he did say so himself.
He checked everything was there and then walked out of his room, taking one last glance, and already couldn't wait until he got back.
Tommy had been through so many hell holes that he knew this was the most merciful one.
While he walked down the hallways some of the other kids scowled after him or just stared. He hated them all because they all hated him.
He was currently the one that had been there the longest after his only friend, Tubbo, got fostered and adopted five months prior.
Tubbo was also an Avian but he was a bee hybrid so he didn't have feathered wings like Tommy. They were still best friends though.
He could barely focus on what was around him while he thought about the usual. The rules of the game.
Tommy knew the rules well. Always have an escape plan, never let your guard down, never hit first, and never look weak, though with the bruises covering his body and face, he could only imagine he looked like a weak little shit.
Before he knew it, he was standing outside of Mrs. Brown's office and was listening. He knew it was against the caretakers rules to eavesdrop but he couldn't help it and didn't care.
“Thomas is a problem child and has been for many years. He has a great record of different destructions, vandalizing, and other kinds of trouble he has caused.” Mrs. Brown’s sharp voice was in light fake tones and he could just imagine her fake, way too kind smile.
Tommy didn't know what to expect but a chuckle was definitely not it.
“Don't worry, I don't mind.” A man's voice sounded and Tommy guessed it was Mr. Watson. It sounded kind and comforting even through the door but he knew not to believe that kind of shit.
They all acted nice while around Mrs. Brown but as soon as she was out of sight they let the fake smiles and laughs fall and Tommy met the real people.
He didn't bother to knock and just walked inside, gaining a deadly glance from Mrs. Brown. He didn't look at her though. He stared at the man sitting at the table. He looked kind and warm. He had golden hair like Tommy and almost just as blue eyes. But the thing Tommy noticed was the wings on his back. The black, feathered wings.
No way. He was an Elytrian. What were the chances? Tommy all of the sudden felt a need to let out a chirp but bit it down. He was not gonna embarrass himself like that.
“Thomas, This is Mr. Watson. Mr. Watson, this is Thomas Innit.” Mrs. Brown broke in and Tommy continued over to his chair next to her, placing his backpack on his lap while holding on to it tight.
“Please just call me Phil. It's good to meet you, Thomas.” The man, Phil, said and Tommy snorted at him.
Mrs. Brown elbowed him in the side, which was incredibly painful and he opened his mouth to respond or complain or both but was cut off by the dragon lady who started questioning Phil.
Tommy didn't pay much attention and looked out the window instead. Oh how much he wanted to run, to jump out of the window and run or fly away. It wasn't because he hadn't tried of course but they always caught him and dragged him back. The furthest he had gotten was the other side of the town by a train station, but they found him before he could get away.
He sat in his own thoughts for what felt like hours while Mrs. Brown went through papers and questions.
“-omas. Thomas, for Primes sake, pay attention child!” Mrs. Brown's voice got to him, along with another elbow to the side.
“I'm not a child!” He snapped at her and she scowled at him with murderous eyes. If it wasn't for Watson being there he had probably gotten a backhand by then.
Phil though, chuckled amused and looked fondly at him. It wasn't a fake chuckle like Mrs. Browns. It was comforting and Tommy wanted to chirp again but kept it down with all his will.
“It turns out that Mr. Watson already has two other adoptive sons that he fostered. Isn't that just lovely?” Mrs. Brown smiled wide and fake and Tommy jumped in his seat.
“Seriously? You really want to kill me don't you?” He snarled back at her, to which she seemed to ignore.
“Thomas, i'm sure this could become a great home for you-” She started with a too dramatic sigh and a hand dragging down her face but Tommy beat her to it, if nothing else then just to anger her.
“Another house is not a home.” He gave his usual reply to that exact line that she had been giving through the years. She glared at him, and Tommy was pretty sure he heard a small growl form in her throat, before she returned to her fake smile and chose to ignore him, yet again.
Phil’s eyes twitched with concern for a moment before they were back to their warm aura. Tommy decided right there that he hated the man. He already knew he wasn't gonna like him but what's worse than beating was someone that pitied him. As if he needed it. He could take care of himself.
“I’m sure Thomas will be very happy-” Mrs. Brown spoke over him, towards Phil, as if to assure him that Tommy was a good lad. As if.
“Fuck no.” Tommy cut her off and she returned to staring at him.
“Thomas, what did I tell you about swearing?” She asked, the threat dwelling in the air. Her patience was clearly used and Tommy chuckled internally.
“Not much, you just hit me and told me not to. The same thing you do with many things.” Tommy snapped at her and noticed how she seemed even angrier. Another one of her rules was to not mention her beatings in front of foster families. Tommy didn't care though.
Around thirty minutes passed before they were walking outside of the building. Tommy breathed in the fresh air as he kept his eyes glued on Watson. His black feathers gently moved in the breeze and Tommy wanted to pull out his wings to feel the wind in them. He didn't do it though. He didn't want to look at them.
He kept his distance from Phil who just kept looking at him with a smile. He was expecting anything though.
“Well Thomas, I hope you finally find your permanent family this time -” Mrs. Brown started her usual speech.
“Yes yes, we’ve been through it before. Bye-bye, wish me good luck, see you in one or two months (most likely less) where I hope you have the first aid kit ready for once.” Tommy stared at her and she looked absolutely furious. Without any more to say though she walked back inside, leaving Tommy with Watson.
He looked up at the man who only smiled fondly at him. He opened the door to the passenger seat and gestured for Tommy to enter.
Tommy though wasn’t stupid. Like hell, he was gonna sit next to this guy.
“Fuck no.” He said, walked to the other side of the car, and sat into the back seat behind the driver’s seat. The safest one in the car.
Tommy hoped it would piss Watson off but when he got into the driver’s seat he just chuckled and started the car.
___
Some time passed in absolute silence. Tommy was in his own thoughts, mapping the ride the best he could. He knew the town he was going to was named L’Manburg and was far away and relatively small.
Every once in a while he could feel Phil staring at him in the mirror and it made him wanna shout.
“The fuck you staring at?” He snarled after some time and this seemed to surprise Phil.
“I was just wondering,” Phil answered smoothly and smiled. Prime how much Tommy hated when people smiled at him. It was worse than a foot in the face.
“‘Bout what?” Tommy asked, actually a bit curious. He for some reason wanted to contact this person even if he tried not to. It had to be his stupid birdbrain instincts.
Being an Elytrian sucked. His shoulders and back hurt like shit and he had an incredibly big need of chirping like a lunatic when he was around Phil.
Phil seemed to be progressing as if wondering how he could get the most information out of Tommy. As if he was gonna let anything spill.
“I dunno. Just wondering about questions. Like what you want for dinner and that.” Phil said casually and Tommy snorted, annoyed.
“You don’t mind if I just call you Tommy right? Thomas is so formal.” He then said and Tommy looked up for a moment in surprise. Then he corrected his poker face and just shrugged.
“Don’t care.” He said and it was partly true. He really didn’t care and he didn’t want to bond either but he preferred Tommy.
Some more time passed on in silence when Phil then started explaining some stuff about his other sons. Apparently, both of them were nineteen and also hybrids of some sort. Tommy didn’t focus on that though, he was occupied with wondering how he would survive two nineteen-year-olds that probably were looking forward to a new punching bag. Tommy shivered at the thought but hid his concerns.
___
It had been about two hours and Tommy really wanted to pull out his wings with the way his back was hurting. He tried to lean against his seat but it only made it worse so he sat straight and lived with it, while Phil kept looking at him now and then.
“When did you get that bruise, Tommy?” He all of the sudden asked, his voice filled with concern.
Tommy almost jumped at the question. He wasn’t prepared for anything like that. He was quiet for a bit, wondering how to play his cards.
“Why do you care?” He said plainly and shrugged. Phil sent him a warm sickening look but somehow Tommy still felt comfortable with it, even though he tried not to.
“Just curious. It looks pretty bad, you know?” Phil said but Tommy only shrugged this time without answering. He didn’t wanna have that conversation.
He knew it was bad though. He had seen his face briefly in a mirror the day before and he looked like something the cat had dragged in, like a half-dead. torn up bird. His bruise went from his jaw to his cheekbone and was pretty dark. It wasn’t a pretty sight but Tommy really didn’t care. it was nothing compared to the rest that was hidden under his clothes.
___
After what felt like around five hours they drove into a small shitty hole called L’Manburg. It was the definition of nothing. There were small stores here and there and a single mall but that was it. It was nothing big or impressive. It was nothing like Essempi where Tommy was from and used to.
“Our house is on the other side of the town, in the forest. It’s very quiet and we only have a few neighbors.” Phil explained but Tommy didn’t care.
Sure enough, they soon drove down a dirt path and reached a small alley in the forest. There was a house in the middle of it and if it wasn’t like a fairytale hut then he didn’t know what was.
It was two-planned and had yellow rough bricks along with plants up the walls and fancy windows. It was quite charming but Tommy knew better than to get attached to anything here. The garden was literally the rest of the field that was full of bushes, flowers, and other plants.
Phil parked and soon opened the door for Tommy who only looked suspiciously at him. No way he was gonna fall for that.
Watson seemed to be reading his mind and backed away with a slight chuckle. Tommy slipped out of the car and quickly made some distance between him and Phil.
He followed him up to the front door and inside he was met with the warmest, most cozy place he had ever been in. The entrance itself was enough to make Tommy feel like it was all a dream.
Phil showed him around the first floor. The kitchen was big and clean, with no beer bottles or other kinds of liquor, which was a good sign. There was a large dining table with six chairs all matching in dark oak. On the other side, there was a back door which Tommy noted in case he needed a fast escape.
Next was the living room. It told plenty about Phils two kids when Tommy looked around. There was a big TV with multiple video game consoles attached to it and the couch looked so incredibly comfortable even though it seemed kinda messy. There were lots of throwing pillows and blankets and a few armchairs too. There was left a teacup along with a large stack of ( what seemed to be war history) books on the coffee table. There were a couple of bookshelves and a lot of things on the walls.
“There’s a toilet there and my bedroom is over there,” Phil said and Tommy snapped to attention. “There’s also another bathroom upstairs.” He added and Tommy followed behind him up the stairs. There was a hallway with four doors.
“That’s Wilbur’s room,” Phil said and nodded to one door.
“That’s Techno’s.” He nodded towards the door on the other side of the hallway.
“What kind of a name is Techno?” It flew out of Tommy and when Phil stopped to look at him he took a step back, fisting his hands.
Phil though only smiled kindly and warmly at him.
“Well, I don’t know. His full name is Technoblade.” Phil said and Tommy’s jaw dropped. Who named their kid Technoblade like what the fuck?
Phil seemed to read his mind (and expression) and smiled even wider.
“He named himself when he was a kid,” Phil explained and Tommy nodded understandingly. He himself had done that too. He liked Tommy more than his former name, it was stupid like shit.
“Anyways. That’s your room.” Phil said and gestured to the one next to Wilburs. Tommy carefully stepped past him, eyes glued on the man, and opened the door.
The room wasn’t big but it was definitely more cozy than any room he had ever had before.
There was a comfy-looking bed with white sheets and a desk with a computer on it along with some books. There was a box with some things in the corner and a drawer along with a mirror.
“Goddammit, I told Wilbur to clean up his shit.” It sounded from behind him and even though it wasn’t rough or angry, Tommy still flinched away from the doorway where Phil was standing. He looked concerned at Tommy who looked down. He clearly overreacted. Shit.
“Sorry ‘bout that, mate. Didn’t mean to startle you.” Phil said and Tommy just nodded once while taking another step back.
Phil entered his room, every move slow and smooth as if he was approaching a wild animal he didn’t wanna scare, and gathered the books as well as the box.
“I will let you settle in then. The bathroom is in the bottom of the hallway and you can take whatever you want from the kitchen.” Phil said.
Yeah as if. Tommy knew better than to trust anything this man said to him. He wasn’t an idiot.
Phil then left and Tommy closed the door and locked it with a click. He felt relieved over the fact that there was a lock. The next thing he did was check the window at the end of his room. It could be a great escape route.
It wasn’t even locked and Tommy found himself smiling as he opened it. “Idiots.” He said to himself as he looked down. It was quite a drop but Tommy could fly so it wouldn’t be a problem.
He closed it again and started looking for the best spot to hide his backpack that was glued to his shoulder all the way through the house. First, he checked the drawer but thought it would be too obvious. Then he decided to put it under his bed. That way he would wake up if anyone tried to get it and Prime help them if that happened. Tommy might look weak but he was not willing to give up his belongings without a fight.
He sat down on his bed and looked around for a bit before folding out his wings to inspect them. They had hurt all day.
The feathers were ruffled and dirty looking as if he had rolled them in the dirt. He wasn’t good at preening them himself but did his best anyways. It helped a little and that was enough. Then he pulled them back in and they disappeared into his back, same as before.
He looked at the handful of red feathers that had been loose and threw them in the small paper basket. Once, Tubbo had told him to save them but he didn’t want to.
The next thing he knew, he had fallen asleep on the soft bed.
___
Tommy woke up to someone knocking at his door. Again.
“Go the fuck away!” He growled before realizing where he was. Shit. He wasn’t at the orphanage right now.
He held his breath and waited for some sort of yelling or anything but it didn’t come.
“Sorry. I just wanted to say that we ordered Chinese for dinner. You wanna come down and eat or just stay up here?” Phil’s voice didn’t sound angry at all and Tommy breathed out relieved but still wasn’t too sure about it.
He was about to say no but his stomach growled in protest and he sighed upgiving.
“Alright, fine.” He said after a moment and he swore he heard a chuckle from the other side of the door.
He got up but wavered at the door for a moment before pulling it together and opening it, only to find a smiling warm face.
“Hey, mate.” Phil said and Tommy shrugged, taking a step back to keep his distance. Phil seemed to notice and backed away so Tommy could get out.
“What kind of Chinese did you order?” He asked as they walked to the staircase and Phil looked surprised by his question. Fuck. He fucked up, didn’t he?
“Well, we didn’t know what you liked so just some different stuff. Hope that’s alright?” Phil said and Tommy shrugged again. He wasn’t used to people wanting his opinion on anything.
They reached the bottom of the stairs and Tommy stepped out of the way to let Phil past him, who entered the kitchen, and Tommy was left hovering about his decision.
He could still go back to his room, hell, he could actually even make a run for the front door and in any other home, he might have done it. But right here he didn’t want to.
He took a couple of steps closer to the kitchen and looked in there. Two teens were sitting at the dining table, both with their phones, and Phil was at the counter, looking through the many boxes of food.
Tommy didn't make a sound and no one seemed to notice him until one of the teens looked up from his phone and spotted him.
He had brown wavy hair down over his face and a dark gray beanie to hold it down. He wore a dark yellow sweater (that was absolutely hideous, according to Tommy) and black jeans and honestly he looked like a spider. Long, lanky legs and arms with no muscle but damn he was tall.
Tommy guessed he could probably take him out in a fight if he had to but was not interested in trying. After all, he knew from experience that twins stuck together.
The teen elbowed the other who grunted and looked up. He too spotted Tommy and stared, same as the other one.
He, though, was looking rather special. The first thing Tommy noticed was his hair, long and pink, and pulled into a loose braid. The next thing he noticed was his pointy ears and the tusks sticking out from his mouth. They weren’t violent-looking but still quite intimidating. Tommy wanted to keep staring but he was sent a glance that made him shiver. The teen looked at him with curiosity at first but now his eyes looked close to dead and emotionless.
“Tommy, this is Wilbur and Techno. Boys, this is Tommy.” Phil interrupted the sickening silence and even though Tommy would never admit it, he was grateful for that.
Pink-hair let out a snort and returned to his phone, clearly not finding Tommy interesting. That meant he might not be interesting enough to beat up.
Beanie, though, kept looking at him for a few moments before smirking.
“Hey, kiddo.” He said and Tommy felt anger dwell in his throat.
“I'm not a kid, dickhead.” He snarled but it didn't seem to bother anyone in the room. The beanie boy just grinned and chuckled along with Phil.
“Wilbur, be nice.” Phil scolded light-heartedly and ruffled the beanie boy’s, Wilbur then, hair.
Then he turned his attention to Tommy and gestured to a chair. Tommy took the hint and sat down, diagonally opposite Wilbur to make space between them.
Wilbur didn't seem to mind it at all and Phil placed a plate down in front of each of them.
Tommy pulled his legs close and sunk down into his chair.
The boxes of Chinese food were soon going around and everyone poured noodles and rice and shrimps onto their plates.
Tommy looked at the noodle box in front of him and picked it up to take some. He was about to drop it when the pink-haired guy, Techno he supposed, jumped to attention and looked at
him.
“Can I have that when you’re done with it, kid?” He asked and his voice was deep and as emotionless as his eyes. Without thinking, Tommy just passed it without taking any.
Techno looked confused at him for a second before turning his focus back on his plate, barely even shrugging.
Instead, Tommy took the box with fried rice and poured a small bit onto his plate. He had never taken much food because everyone had always told him not to and once in a while proved their point with a swap or two.
He waited to eat until the others also dug in but soon everyone’s eyes were on him and his almost empty plate. He most certainly didn’t like the attention. Had he taken too much? It didn’t look like it but he didn’t know.
“You’re not gonna take more than that?” Wilbur asked and Tommy looked confused at him.
Phil seemed to catch his confused eyes. “You can have more than that, mate.” He said with his warm voice and Tommy was close to nodding but shook his head instead. Think if it was a trap of some sort.
They all shared a concerned glance at each other before they dug in again.
___
Tommy was back in his room, still hungry but he didn’t care. He had eaten half of the already silly small pile of rice on his plate, excused himself, and sought back to his room.
Right at the moment, he was looking out of his window, at the sunset that was happening beyond the forest. Oh how much he wanted to climb out and just run. Just be free and run into the woods.
He dropped that thought when he got too tired and laid down in his bed, wings out, and fell asleep.