Work Text:
The night started out fine. Only Techno and Tommy were on patrol. It was supposed to be calm, nothing ever happens on a Monday. Since it was a Monday it was supposed to be a short patrol, Tommy had school in the morning and Techno had work. Sadly crimes still happen on weekdays and Tommy wasn’t going to miss his chance at a patrol.
Since he was still seventeen his patrols were heavily monitored. Only three a week and he had to have at least one person with him. He must admit that it was better than the old arrangements. When the hero team SBI first caught him they refused to let him go out. He was living by himself at fifteen, fighting crime when he should have been in school. He was quickly picked up by the family, and slowly they let him integrate into their nightly routine. That was only after they realized that he wouldn’t stop just because they told him to.
Since then his life has improved dramatically. He has a home to go to every night, warm food, and a family. Something he never expected. He even got to keep his nightly hobby, this time however as a full-fledged hero.
It took a bit to get used to his family. Phil was overly caring, checking on every bruise and cut he got on patrol, and making sure he ate every meal. Wilbur was kind, always including Tommy in every family activity and joke. He insisted he was Tommy's older brother, not even letting him have a say in it.
Techno was different. It's not that he wasn’t caring or kind, it was more the opposite. He was overly caring, and overprotective. Once Tommy was shot on patrol, it had been small only grazing him, and yet Techno almost killed the man who fired the gun. He was overly kind, always the first to comfort Tommy when he had nightmares. The one to stay up with him when he couldn’t sleep. The one who helped him with his homework. He was Tommy's largest adjustment. But he found his place, slotting his way into the family.
The issue was tonight wasn’t turning out like a normal boring Monday patrol. It hadn’t even been thirty minutes since they went out when something changed. Tommy's nerves spiked, making him jump at every small noise.
A scream rang across the night, startling both Tommy and Techno. They hurried towards the yell, racing into the alleyway it came from.
They didn’t even have time to blink before they were surrounded. At least thirty people circled them glaring the heroes down. All of them were dressed in black, masks covering their faces. It had been an ambush.
They were overwhelmed quickly, Tommy didn’t even feel the needle go into his thigh, he only realized it was there when the dizzy spell hit him. The world blurred as he tried desperately to get closer to Techno. The man's eyes were wide with fear, something Tommy had never seen before.
Tommy falls before he reaches his brother. The world goes dark soon after that.
xxxxxxxxxx
Tommy comes too slowly. His head swims and his neck aches. There is a heavy pounding beneath his eyes, forcing a small groan out of him.
“Red?” A firmaler voice hisses. Tommy mutters nonsense to himself, confused about why Techno would use his hero name when they are at home. Tommy goes to rub the sleep from his eyes, only for his hand to be stopped. A force tugs against him. That shocks Tommy enough to force him out of his sleepy state.
His eyes blow open, only to see a dimly lit concrete room. Techno sits across from him, tied to a chair as well. Power-suppressing cuffs on his wrist too. Techno gives him a small reassuring smile. Techno's thumb presses against his index finger, right where his tracker ring is. It was something Tommy had never had to use before, he thought it was just a precaution, a small tracker set with an SOS message when pressed. Tommy can only hope Phil and Wilbur get here soon.
Tommy glances around the room seeing that they are not alone. A man is standing in the corner, he takes a step forward when Tommy's eyes land on the unknown man. A small vile is grasped loosely in the guy's hands. Swaying gently.
“I’m glad you could join the land of the living Red.” The villain's smile shows too many teeth, making Tommy squirm against his restraints. The man steps towards Techno blocking Tommy's sight of what's happening.
“What are you doing? Get away from him!” Tommy yells, jumping against his restraints, desperately trying to distract the man.
“If you don’t drink this I’ll kill the kid.” The villain's voice is steady and calm. It sends a shiver down Tommy's spine.
“Don’t do it! I’ll be fine! Please don’t!” Tommy screams his eyes well up, anything could be in that vile. Poison, fear gas, sleeping potion. It could do anything to Techno, he wouldn’t take it, he couldn’t. He is more important than Tommy. He is a better hero, a better-liked hero, a more established member of the family.
He can die. They might mourn for a while, but they will get over it. If anything happened to Techno and Tommy had to go home alone, he doesn’t think he could go home. He doesn’t think he would have a home.
But Techno wasn’t stopping the man, in fact, he simply opened his mouth.
“No!” Tommy screamed. He fought against the binds, throwing his body weight around, trying to escape. “Stop! Let me do it instead! Please!” Tommy's yells are in vain as he watches Techno swallow the subsites.
“Fuck you!” He screams. The binds break into his skin but he doesn’t stop, he needs to make sure Techno is ok. He kicks and buts like a wild animal, but it doesn’t draw any attention off Techno. In fact, the only thing it gets him is the empty potion bottle thrown at his head. He barely manages to dodge it.
“Shut the fuck up!” The villain screams. His voice pierces Tommy's ears. Making him cringe from the loud noise.
The door behind him slammed open. He could do nothing when the door behind him slammed open and a gag was stuffed into his mouth, silencing his protest. He tried to spit it out, unlodge it, but nothing worked. He had to sit in silence as his brother was tortured in front of him.
He was a failure. There was no way his family would want him back after this. He could feel the tears building in his eyes, but he held them back. Desperate to not act like a baby, despite everything.
“Now that we finally have some quiet.” The man directed his comment at Tommy, hissing in his face. “What is your alias?” The question is strange, one Tommy knows the man is already aware of. Techno seems confused by it as well, but to Tammy's shock, he does answer the simple question.
“Hemlock,” Techno states. He spits out the words rather quickly as if he didn’t even think about it. It's unlike him. Tommy ignores this, however, as they could have threatened him with something while Tommy was knocked out.
“What heroes do you work with?” Another dumb question, one everyone knows. It’s public information, publicized information. Hell, their faces were plastered on billboards from here to China.
“Red, Siren, and Angel.” Techno answers without hesitation again. The questions continue like this. Who else he works with, his favorite place to patrol, and the brands that sponsor him. It's all common knowledge, and then they change.
They become more personal, more closer to Techno’s true self rather than his hero persona. Only then does Tommy understand what is happening.
The thing they made Techno drink is a truth serum.
Tommy can feel his breath speed up as he watches Techno more closely. Watches how he cringes with every answer that unwillingly leaves his mouth, watches how his lips are pressed tight together as if he can hold in the secrets. This is so much worse than anything Tommy thought it was. He knew that sooner or later the villain would ask a question that would give away Techno's civilian identity. He was just dragging it out, using it as a form of mental torture. Tommy felt sick.
His world came crashing down all with one question.
“Are any of the heroes a part of your family?” The man asks.
“Yes.” Techno keeps his answer short and sharp. The villain smiled as if he just reached one thing he was looking for.
“Is Angel your father?” The villain presses.
“Yes.” Techno closes his eyes at that answer taking a shaky breath.
“And Siren and Red are your brothers?” The man goes further, searching for answers.
“Only Siren.” With those two words, Tommy can feel his world crumble. He thought Techno was safe, thought Techno cared. He was closest to Techno, as the man was always there, always watching him carefully, always protecting him. Or at least that's what Tommy thought. Now he knows better.
Techno was protecting someone, he was protecting his real family. His brother and father. Not Tommy. The looks he gave Tommy weren’t out of care or compassion, they were out of wariness. They were out of untrust.
Techno never cared about him. Even though Tommy would give up his life for the man. The worst part is Tommy thinks that if given the chance, he would still sacrifice himself for Techno. He spent most of his time with him. He thought they were brothers, thought he had found a family in Techno. But just like every other time he was wrong. And for some reason, Tommy was still loyal. Still honoring a bond that wasn’t there.
“Not Red?” The villain asks, adding salt to Tommy’s wound. Techno let out a soft sigh, and it felt like a dagger had gone through his heart.
“He is not my brother.” The words twist the dagger deeper. Tommy forces himself not to cry. He is a hero, he can’t wail like a baby no matter how much he wants to. He needs to be strong even if his own family is telling him his greatest fears are true.
“Why work with Red the–” The man doesn’t have time to finish the question as the walls around them fall down. Debris flies around Tommy's head. One hits him hard knocking him and his chair to the ground. He can feel the bone in his ankle crack but he pays it no mind as he stares at the broken walls around him.
He can see the silhouette of Wilbur and Phil standing in the rubble. The dust settles as they step in. Wilbur is quick to force the villain onto the ground, wrapping cuffs around the man. Phil frees Techno first, whispering soft words to his son. Tommy can see the blood pouring from the man's head from here. Techno is hurt. More so than Tommy. Phil props him up on the wall before he heads over to Tommy.
“Hey mate, are you injured?” Phil asks, gently prying the rag from his teeth. Tommy smacks his jaw open and closed, trying to get rid of the bad taste in his mouth. He glances at his ankle before he thinks better of it.
Techno is their team’s medic, and now not only is he out of commission, but Tommy isn’t sure if the man would even want to heal him. He would just have to deal with the break himself. He should have some supplies in his room, he would just have to deal with the pain until then.
“No, I’m fine.” Tommy chokes out, and slowly Phil cuts the ropes that hold him back.
“Oh thank goodness. I was worried that we accidentally hurt both of you. I told Wilbur we should have gone with a different entry. But you know how your brother is, he loves his explosives.” Phil rambles. Tommy cringes a little at the word brothers, would Phil stop using it when Techno tells the man that Tommy knows it's all fake? Would they make him leave? He doesn’t want to find out.
Tommy braces himself as he stands, trying his hardest not to flinch as he sets weight on his ankle. Phil leaves him quickly, helping his real son stand. Wilbur is already kneeling next to Techno, treating the worst of his wounds. Other than head trauma the hero only seems to have a few bruises and scrapes, much like Tommy.
Tommy takes a deep breath as he moves to take a step. He needs to seem as normal as possible. He can’t limp, can’t wince, can’t stutter a single step. So he grits his teeth and bares the weight.
It's a small crack, one that shouldn’t bother him for long. If he were stronger it wouldn’t even bother him. If he were better he might have had a place in this family. But he wasn’t so for now he had to try his best to keep his pain to himself.
Carefully he walks outside following the heroes towards a large car. Techno was already loaded in, and thankfully Phil and Wilbur's attention was focused on him, rather than the way Tommy was favoring one foot over the other, how he stumbled when he stepped in the car, how his breath hitched at every bump they drove over.
When they got back to the base Tommy was quick to hide away. It was easy to slip out as the others focused on Techno. He toddled up the stairs, relying heavily on the railings. As soon as he is in his room he goes for the med kit. It's small but completely filled. Tommy can only pray it has everything he needs.
He grabs the gauze first, scrambling to find anything to keep his ankle straight in the makeshift cast. Finally, he finds a small metal rod. It's far too thin, something meant to hold up a light like an emergency tent, not all of Tommy's body weight. But it will have to work for now. Maybe when Techno is cleared he can sneak into the med center and steal a splint, but for now, he will live.
Tommy crawls into bed from there, hiding away from the truth like a child. Praying that when he wakes up it will all be a dream.
xxxxxxxxxx
It wasn’t a dream. That much was obvious from the burning pain he woke up to. His ankle is swollen nearly three times the size it should be. But still, Tommy ignores it, placing his tightest boot over the red-hot skin hoping the pressure would lessen the swelling.
From then on Tommy hides out in his room. He ignores every call, every question, every invitation for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. What else is he supposed to do, pretend that he doesn’t know that they don’t think of him as family? Supposed to act like they won’t kick him out soon?
So instead he stays locked up in the only safe room in the house.
Or at least what was the only safe room in the house until Wilbur came knocking. He was persistent knocking for minutes, until finally Tommy got annoyed enough to get out of bed and unlock the door for him.
“What's wrong?” Wilbur demands, shoving his way in. He makes himself at home hopping onto the bed. Tommy stares at the man, his shoulders tense.
“Nothing.” He answers a little too sharply. His voice notches up as he lies. He hides his broken ankle behind his other foot, balancing as best he can.
“That's so clearly not true. Whenever Techno’s hurt we have to drag you from the infirmary, now you haven’t even visited once. Hell you haven’t even left your room, Phil even made curry for dinner and it didn’t work.” Wilbur tosses his hands in the air gesturing dramatically at nothing. “So let me ask again, and this time don’t lie to me, what is wrong?” Wilbur’s voice is clear as he takes special care to enunciate the last bit.
And that's what breaks Tommy. The fact that this man, who must not see him as family, knows everything about him. How he acts, how he lies, his favorite food. Yet none of that matters, because Wilbur Soot sees him as nothing more than some weird kid his dad picked up out of nowhere. Even if it was Techno who was the one to tell him, he knows Wilbur thinks the same, how could he not?
“You don’t have to pretend anymore, Techno told me when he was under the truth serum.” Tommy whispers. His voice is weary and rough. The worst part is he knows Wilbur will take that as a sign he has been crying.
“Pretend what Toms?” Wilbur asks, trying to look him in the eye.
“That you care? That you are my brother? That you aren’t going to kick me out now that I know? Take your pick.” Tommy sniffles out. He knows it's not fair to Wilbur. Knows he is being childish and selfish. But he can’t help it. Wilbur is quiet for a moment. And in that moment the world stands still and yet Tommy still feels like he is drowning.
“I don’t know what Techno said. And I really think this is something you need to ask him yourself, as I don’t think he meant it in the way you think. But I do know for a fact that none of that is true. I do care, Tommy, in ways you will never understand. I am your brother. In all the ways that count at least. It pains me that I have made you doubt that, but I will do everything I can to fix that.” Wilbur’s voice never wavers, never breaks. It is clear and crisp.
Wilbur gets off the bed quickly, not allowing Tommy time to get a word in as he yanks him towards the door. Tommy has to focus all his energy on not crying out at the sudden weight on his ankle. By the time he can process what is happening, he is already halfway to the infirmary.
“Wilbur, stop! What are we doing?” Tommy cries out. He is moving far too fast to be safe on his ankle, but if he slows down then Wilbur will know something is wrong. So he fights through the rising pain.
“You are going to talk to Techno.” Wilbur states. Only then does panic set in. Tommy's heart starts racing as he slams his feet into the ground. Pain shoots through his ankle but he ignores it. He refuses to see Techno.
“No!” Tommy yells. He sounds like a child. It grates his ears, making him want to cringe at the immature display he is putting on, but he just can’t do it. He feels betrayed and hurt in a way that physically makes him sick, all while he feels like he is overreacting. He can’t help but blame himself for this, but he can’t own up to that. He is confused and hurt and sick and he feels as if the world is crumbling down on him. Everything he once knew ended with just a simple sentence, and he can’t even bring himself to truly be mad at Techno. Rather he is mad at himself.
“Tommy?” The call is weak and far away. Yet it still has the power to slam into his chest making it hard to breathe. Techno knows he is here. He needs to leave fast, but Wilbur is still holding his arm hostage, keeping him cemented to the floor.
Techno was there before he could run. And now Tommy had no escape. Wilbur pushes him forward towards the hero.
“You two need to talk it out,” Wilbur states. Tommy stumbles as he lands on his ankle, he can’t hold in his hiss as he corrects himself.
Tommy expects a lot of things when Techno steps up to him. He expects to get yelled at. To get kicked out. To get shoved. What he doesn’t expect is for Techno’s arms to wrap around him, pulling him into a soft hug.
“I’m so glad you are ok.” Techno whispers, Tommys not sure if he is supposed to hear it. Techno pulls away from him, checking him over for injuries like he does after every patrol. Tommy is careful to slip his ankle behind his other foot before Techno can see.
“Why are you here? I don’t understand?” Tommy whispers. He hates how small his voice sounds.
“Tommy, all of this is just a misunderstanding I swear. You are a part of this family, I swear.” Techno’s voice is frantic in a way Tommy has never heard before, it's terrifying.
“But it's not. You were under truth serum, you couldn’t lie. You don’t see me as a brother and that's that.” Tommy pushes simple. It hurts to tell the truth so plan and simply as if it hadn’t been tearing him apart.
“That is not the full story though.” Techno argues. “While I admit I don’t see you as a brother, it doesn’t mean I don’t see you as a part of this family. Hell Tommy you're like a son to me.” Techno said it like it was obvious. Like everyone but him knew it.
Tommy didn’t know what to say. It was almost embarrassing that he made a whole big fuss over a miscommunication. But at the same time this would change nothing and everything in Tommy's mind. Techno saw him as a son. And Tommy thinks he sees him as a father.
“Oh,” Tommy answers dumbly, staring at the floor.
“Now do you want to tell me why you kept your broken ankle a secret from everyone?” Techno asks. Tommy gasps at him.
“I would never do that.” He states, crossing his arms over his chest, he straightens his back to stand taller.
“Go do a lap then.” Techno’s deadpans.
“Ok yeah maybe it's a little broken.” Tommy admits, deflating quickly.
“Come on runt, we can fix this.” Techno states, helping him walk towards the infirmary. They can fix this, and maybe after everything Tommy will have a new dad.