Chapter Text
“Tommy, mate, where are you off to?” Tommy knew it would be only a matter of time before he was caught. And here he was, doing nothing wrong but left feeling like a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
“Sorry Phil did I wake you?” He gives a nervous laugh to try and diffuse the slight tension building. “Just headed home, nothing like sleeping in your own bed after a long day.”
Phil took a step forward, moonlight illuminating him and the sad expression on his face better now. Despite spending all night watching various movies and snacking on the stove-popped popcorn Phil had made with just the right amount of butter and salt to make it feel like a movie theater, Tommy would be lying if he said he wasn’t a little scared of this moment. He was sure that this was the moment when Phil would finally say how ungrateful Tommy is and never let him back into the Craft household.
“Why don’t you just stay the night?” is what Phil said instead, as he always offered. Tommy was worried for the day when he wouldn’t offer, when he’d finally stop offering and Tommy would slowly be invited to ‘family’ dinners and movie nights less and less until he faded away in their minds. “Can’t be safe walking home at this hour down to yours.”
“Completely safe Phil, no need to worry!” Tommy stood stiff and gave a short salute before relaxing again to place one hand on the door handle and another on his backpack strap. “Do it all the time, might just be the best at.”
Phil sighed with that look on his face. Tommy knew what was coming next. He hated that look.
“You know you’re always welcome here right? And if something is wrong you can always tell me?” He was holding his hands out as if he was scared to spook a wild animal. “You don’t have to sleep on the couch, we’ve got a spare room and…”
Tommy looked behind him to see Wilbur begin to stir on the couch he had dozed off on during the movie and tuned out the rest of what Phil was saying. He hadn’t been coming over too often, but whenever he did he left after everyone fell asleep, and always ended up with a message from Wilbur when he woke up in his own place. He didn’t want to imagine trying to deny the guy face-to-face. Especially when he tossed around the ‘family’ word a little too easily for Tommy’s liking.
Without another word, Tommy whipped the door open and shut it behind him, running out into the night. Phil didn’t call after him, probably didn’t want to yell and wake his sons, and Tommy was glad for that.
The family had a larger townhouse just outside the heart of the city, though Tommy was pretty sure that townhouses weren’t usually that big and the family actually bought two and turned them into a single unit. Whatever they had done, it sucked to go from the warmth of the home into the chill outside, but Tommy knew to dodge into nearby alleys to miss the spikes of wind and maneuver his way to his apartment nearly on the other side of town.
In a town as busy as this, it was only natural to feel eyes on you at all times, but there was something different about tonight. Maybe Tommy had lied to Phil earlier when he said that walking home was easy, he often got in a tricky spot with unfavorable company but he was able to take care of himself. Tonight as he weaved through, there was a noticeable lack of people.
The feeling of eyes on him didn’t stop until he ducked into a covered alley ten minutes away from Phil’s place, and he wasted no time. As soon as he gave one last check that there was no one around, he felt the warm hug of his powers curtain around, turning him invisible and shielding him from view. It was like breathing with how often he used them, and after spending the night laughing and chatting and masterfully avoiding discussion of powers, it was a huge relief.
He stepped out of the covered alley on the other side, feeling no eyes on him while he finished the trek home. Not even the wind could touch him, and he peacefully watched the first few snowflakes fall from the sky, passing through him on their way to the ground where they melted immediately. He’d like to think it was a secret between him and the sky, witnessing the first snowfall that no one would know happened in the morning.
Finally he made it back into his apartment, falling back onto his bed as he became tangible once more. The warmth was immediately gone, replaced by a stale cold that set into his bones quickly. He flipped under the covers, content to stay in the clothes he wore all day, and began falling asleep. He vaguely recognized the buzzing of his phone, but couldn’t care to move his arm out of the warm cocoon he had created.
***
Waking up in the morning sucked. Waking up in the morning with a call from your boss sucked even more. Which is why Tommy picked up his phone while still half asleep and tried to make it sound like he’d been awake for more than thirty seconds. “Hellooooo, how’re you this fine morning?”
“We need you to come in this afternoon, one o’clock, meeting room C,” was all he got in a robotic voice before the line disconnected.
“Good fucking morning to you too.” Glancing at the time on his lockscreen, he saw the culprit of why he was so tired. The call had woken him up at six in the morning. And after spending another hour in bed trying to fall asleep and failing, mind filled with meaningless worries and desires, he gave up on the hope of getting more sleep. These few hours were probably the most he’d gotten in a week and the most he’d get for the next few days.
And as he rolled out of bed, he knew this was what he signed up for. Or rather what was shoved into his hands, dished out without any care or reason. Impermanence. Of people, of homes, of jobs… of himself. And especially this apartment, where the only major appliance was the second hand toaster currently burning his breakfast.
He of course had his next-to-broken phone, currently scrolling through the various notifications. One from Phil, wishing him a safe time getting home from last night. A few missed calls from Wilbur - the guy called him so often he specifically set Wilbur’s ringtone as the quietest and shortest sound he could find - all from last night that would’ve ensured he got no sleep. A few messages as well, mainly asking him why he left, if he wanted to hang out today, and also what his opinion was on a song linked in the message.
He specifically missed answering the first message, agreed to meet at Techno’s cafe, and said he’d listen to the song on his walk before they hung out. So he grabbed some beat up headphones he bought a lifetime ago, stuffed the rest of his piece of toast in his mouth, grabbed his backpack, let the warm veil of invisibility encase him, and left the apartment as if it was on fire.
And with the marching drumline of a song called ‘Cold Turkey’ by The Happy Fits, he was weaving through oncoming traffic. He first met Wilbur and Phil through Techno, having visited the cafe on his first day in town. It was close enough to his apartment that he had ventured in, invisible at first to ensure it was safe, maybe stealing a muffin from the back on his way out. The next time he came in he tried to tip the awkward barista serving him, but ended up trying to explain to the guy that he couldn’t call Tommy ‘kid’ cause he was in fact an adult. No matter how true that was, Wilbur had been behind him in line laughing his head off, and asked to pay for Tommy’s order. The two talked through the afternoon until Techno kicked them out for the late-afternoon rush.
But despite the warm atmosphere of the cafe, nothing could beat this. Listening to music while cars fly past. He hums the melody that’s more familiar to him on the third listen, jumping out of the way just before a moving van ran him over. He hummed to himself here, where no one could listen, no one could complain. Sometimes he would mess up his footing, having a car blow through his intangible state.
Of course it was time to make the final move onto the curb, and in doing so he spotted Wilbur, making his way from a back alley and into the cafe. Everytime they hang out, Wilbur seems to show him a new hidden alleyway that gets him around the city faster. Granted, he’s lived there his whole life, but all it seems to do is make Tommy admire the older for his knowledge more and more. Not that it’s something Tommy would admit, he’d rather discuss how the older is lame for still living with his dad, resulting in Wilbur redirecting the conversion to be about how old Phil is.
Tommy watches, unseen, as Wilbur walks in and greets his brother, who looks slightly stressed with the intensity of people getting their morning coffee. He wishes he didn’t have to go into the packed business, but as soon as he saw Wilbur sit down with his coffee and place a hot chocolate on the other side of the table, he was in the side alley making sure no one is around and sitting down on the cushioned chair with a grin on his face and the hot drink already glued to his hands.
“Hello Wil-ba,” he took a sip and watched as Wilbur did the same while rolling his eyes. “Missed me so much you just had to spend money to hang out, can’t say I’m surprised.”
“What you could say is thank you, Tom-ay,” Wilbur said with no real meaning behind the words. “Had to make sure you didn’t freeze to death running home at one in the morning last night.”
“That song you sent me is really good! Had it on repeat on the way here…”
“How did you get home last night Tommy?”
“I walked! Just like I did to get here this morning! I swear it was like the whole world was hearing my song too, seemed like everyone was walking to the beat. I think I even heard a bird in tune with…”
“Did you not have fun last night? Is that why you leave…”
“I did! But wait till you hear about this asshole who cut me off on his bike this morning… I mean who does that? Granted I may have been slightly in the bike lane…”
“Tommy, why were you in the bike lane?” There it is.
“Becauseee the sidewalk was crowded, and I’m easily as fast as a bike is.”
“Obviously not if you’re getting passed by one… though if I was him I probably would’ve ran you over instead.” A quick chuckle suspiciously coming from the front desk confirmed Techno thought the same.
“Wha- He probably couldn’t run over me because of the aura of swag I have from just walking down the street.”
Wilbur laughed at that, nearly spitting out his drink and muttering a quick ‘gremlin’ under his breath, and finally Tommy felt the tension even out to the regular level. It was all too easy with Wilbur, Techno and Phil like to pry a bit more.
“So other than hanging around your brother’s cafe all day do you have any plans?” Despite knowing Wilbur for some time now, he actually wasn’t sure what he did for work… or if he did work at all. The topic always seemed to change before he could get a clear answer. Tommy wouldn’t be surprised if Phil just gave Wil money to get him out of the house during the day.
“No he doesn’t.” Techno had walked over to hand Wilbur another coffee, and give Tommy a holiday themed cookie. He gave a glance over to the counter to see one of the other employees taking over the cash, and quickly pushed Wilbur over a seat to take his place. “But I’m assuming you do?”
Tommy knew he’d have to play this carefully. “Ya, just another afternoon shift.” He finished off the hot chocolate and slid the cup over towards Techno.
“Can’t imagine how excited you must be to go file some paperwork for another busted theft.” Tommy loved Techno, he made the best food, bullied Wilbur almost as much as Tommy did himself, and got Tommy clip-on earrings when he complained about how jealous he was of Techno’s gold chained one.
Tommy did not however enjoy talking about his job in front of Techno. The best lie was one that resembled the truth, and that’s why he told the Craft family that he was here interning at the hero’s tower. Tommy didn’t find out until after that lie that Techno was not in favour of heroes in general. So all he had to do was… “Well then imagine how excited I must be to hang out with your dramatic ass brother!”
“I’m not dramatic!”
Techno sighed and placed a hand over his face. “You’re right… the ten minute rant this morning on anteaters was a very non-dramatic move on your part.”
“That wasn’t me being dramatic, that was an objective fact!” Tommy laughed, seemingly the wrong move when both their heads snapped in his direction. “And Tommy, what exactly was it about Moana last night that made you give us a whole performance in the living room?”
“That was dramatic and cool Wilbur you’re just dramatic and lame . Know the difference.” He finished by fist bumping Techno, and turning to meet Wilbur’s irritated glare.
Wilbur turned to give his brother a look of betrayal, to which Techno just shrugged. “I mean, c’mon Wil, he even used a broom and a blanket to make a sail.”
And that was how Tommy spent his morning. Eventually Techno had to go back to work, only coming over to give Wilbur yet another coffee and occasionally give input to conversation when there weren’t many customers. When the lunch rush came they got ‘the look’ from Techno and decided to head out and wander the streets until Tommy had to go get ready for his shift.
Hanging out with the Craft family was too easy, felt too natural. It reminded him of the feeling of going invisible, the warmth both things provided him, and the thought made him squirm. The want for something he never had battling with the self-dependence he is used to. Lucky for him, things like this never work out, and the Craft family is another in a long line of people who will forget he exists eventually.
“What time did you say you have to go Tom?” Wilbur had led him through one of the alleys and brought them both onto a less crowded pedestrian street, where bows and strings of lights were scattered above them.
“Uh I should probably get ready around 12:30?” Tommy really wanted to forget about responsibilities for one day, but it was increasingly unlikely that would happen. “What time is it now?”
“12:26, to be exact.” Wilbur shoved both hands back into his trench coat pockets. “Should probably go now then…”
They both exchanged a look, and Tommy immediately burst out laughing. “When have I ever been on time for a shift! C’mon Wilbur we can at least check one more store.” They had spent wandering time going window shopping for christmas gifts for Techno and Phil, with Tommy completely at a loss for what to get either of them. Wilbur was no help, instead pointing out all the stuff he wanted or he thought Tommy would want. Which was usually some obscure object Tommy would never use or wear.
“You’re telling me this isn’t what all the kids are wearing nowadays?” Wilbur said while holding up a shirt with blocky text saying ‘Like, Totally’ on it. “Surely this would go perfectly with those jeans.”
Tommy put on a hat that said ‘Got Fish to Catch’ on it with a cartoon bass and turned to Wilbur. “Now this is what would get all the women. Trust me, I would know, seeing as I have all the women.” The two kept laughing until the shopkeeper gave them a glare that clearly said ‘leave my store’ and they both moved on to the next shop.
“So what are your Christmas plans then Tom,” Wilbur said while checking out a book for Techno. “Want to know when we can plan something for you to join us.”
At this point it wasn’t even an invitation, he was telling Tommy that they would make plans around him. He had to double check he hadn’t gone invisible by accident. “Oh you don’t have to, I’m honestly not too sure what I’m going to be up to around Christmas…”
“Nonsense, I mean I think Techno has already been prepping the menu for the holidays, and I know Phil and myself already got you a few gifts.” Wilbur grabbed the bag and Tommy followed behind as they exited the store. “How do you not know what you’re doing yet? Christmas is so soon.”
“You guys got me gifts?” Tommy suddenly couldn’t focus on the road ahead of them.
“Of course we did?” Wilbur paused his march to turn and look at Tommy, who was frozen in place. His face dropped. “Oh Tom, you didn’t have to worry about getting us anything! In fact I’d rather you didn’t… not because I don’t think you could but it’s more like-”
“It’s cool,” Tommy was set back into motion, skipping ahead of Wilbur and giving him the best look of confidence he could. “Of course you guys got me gifts, I figured my gift to you would be my presence.”
Wilbur rolled his eyes and started moving forward again to catch up with Tommy. “I really would like to return that gift sometimes… but not over the holidays. You’ll text me when you know what your schedule looks like?”
“‘Course Wil, you’ll be the first to know.” He got ruffled hair in response to that, and tried his best to dodge the oncoming attacks. “I better actually go now or I’ll have no money to buy your gifts with.”
He started jogging away from Wilbur. “I’m serious Tom! No gifts!”
“We’ll see!” And with one final look behind, he ducked into an alley, checked for anyone watching, and let the cold bleed out as he became untouchable. He would have to leave the troubles with the Craft family behind, he didn’t come here to play family with some strangers who just happened to treat him like… someone.
So he grabbed a bar from his bag and ate it as fast as possible, leaving the wrapper behind and heading towards the hero’s towers. As the wrapper fell to the ground and became visible once again, the world around it began to shift. No one was around to see as black and deep purple swirls came out of nowhere and began to swim around it, before engulfing it completely and vanishing.