Chapter Text
“Just be yourself. You don’t need to be like those kids.”
“But papa… I want to be like them,” he whined quietly.
“Why?” His father asked, confusion sparking in his eyes.
“Because they’re all bigger. And they hate me, so if I be more like them… maybe they’d hurt me less,” he whispered.
He snuggled close to his father’s chest, feeling the deep breath his father took. His five year old was smart, very smart for his age, but he shouldn't need to deal with this.
“Baby, you don’t need to be like the bullies. You are perfect the way you are.”
“Then… how do I stop them from hurting me?” He asked.
“Try to talk to them. If you can’t, fight them. And if you can’t fight them, run and hide until I come get you. Ok kiddo?”
He nodded, eyes bright again. His father kissed him on the forehead before putting him in the bed and turning off the light.
“Good night kiddo. I love you.”
“Love you too papa,” He whispered into the dark.
The night was quiet as he fell asleep.
He woke up to a loud sound just outside his door.
Reason quickly told him to not call out. If it was his father, he would have called out already.
“Where is the child?”
His eyes widened and he looked around his dark room. He could see a dark space in his closet that would be a good place to hide.
“I’m not telling you!” His father roared. He darted to his closet and shut the door. He sat on the floor as he listened to his father roar angrily at who was outside.
He covered his mouth to stop the whimpers from spilling out. He couldn’t give his hiding spot away!
“Watch out! He’s one of them!” Another intruder yelled.
“Damn right I’m one of them! Get out of my house!” His father yelled. They were in his room now. He covered his ears with his hands as his father roared again.
“W-we just want to know where the child is!” A choked voice whispered.
“You’ll never get him.” His father hissed.
They were just outside his closet now.
A crash- no a loud bang and something thudded heavily into the closet door.
“That should take care of that one.”
“This looks like the kid’s room. Start looking.”
He held as still as he could as the intruders threw things around his room.
Where was his father? He was just there!
“Hey. I need your help here. Gotta move the vermin.”
Something was dragged away from the closet door and he shut his eyes tight.
The door was slowly opened and he looked into a masked face.
“Hey-”
The intruder didn’t get a chance to finish as he shot out of the closet.
He caught one look at the thing that was blocking the closet door. His father was sleeping on the floor with a puddle of dark water around him.
And then he was outside, running into the dark forest.
He couldn’t fight these bullies, and he didn’t want to talk to them.
But… he wasn’t sure his father was ever going to come get him.
=🔅=
Tommy shivered as he tried to pull the pitiful blanket over his scrawny shoulders. The cold wind was like a blade as it swept through the night-dark city.
Winter, what a beautiful child killer.
He looked through the raggedy bag he kept on him for pickpocketing reasons for any food he should have saved.
“Half a bagel. Nice.” He muttered, shivering again.
He munched on what was going to be his meal for the day as he watched the people walking outside his alley.
The city was an unforgiving place if you didn’t know how to survive in it, but it was a good thing Tommy did.
He was the biggest man to ever live and nothing would ever try and match him, he was just too powerful.
“Down that alley! There’s a raccoon I swear!” A shrill voice cried. Tommy sat up and looked around, trying to find the raccoon.
Then a police officer walked into his line of sight and Tommy realized that he was probably that raccoon.
In all fairness he shared many things with a raccoon. He had a tendency to bite people that got too close and he had to go through dumpsters to make sure he didn’t starve.
But he was a human, just like the rest of them.
“I’m sorry lady, there’s no raccoo- oh, hey kid…” The officer said. Tommy watched him with wide eyes as he walked closer, tensed to jump away if needed.
“Yes, there has to be a raccoon. Or some kind of animal!” the shrill voiced woman cried.
“No, I’m sorry ma’am, there is no animal here.” The officer said tiredly. The woman huffed and left.
“Ok, kid, I think you should leave. Go home and get a decent meal.”
Tommy narrowed his eyes, but did what he was told. Normally, he would spit back a response, but he earned himself too many scars to do it to a cop.
He grabbed his essentials and ducked out of the safety of his alley. Cop bitch followed him out and walked back to his car.
Tommy spared him a glance before he took off down the cold streets. The cop was resting with his head in his hands, looking depressed.
He should have another safe place a couple blocks over. Hopefully nobody’s gonna disturb him there.
His second hiding place was an abandoned warehouse a couple blocks away. It was a common haunt of a couple other homeless misfits and Tommy made sure he always brought some kind of food whenever he visited.
He ducked into the dark interior of the burnt-out building as he called out to the others.
“Hey big men!”
A small head popped out from around the corner and grinned brightly when he saw Tommy.
“Hi Tommy! We missed you! Do you want me to run ahead and tell Purpled that you’re here?” He asked.
“That would be fucking great, Tubbo. Thanks.” Tommy said. Tubbo nodded and disappeared.
Tommy sighed as he trudged through the warehouse. He shivered, even though the walls blocked pretty much all of the wind.
“Hello Tommy.” Purpled called as he entered the false room.
“Hey Purp. Fancy seeing you again. Been holding up under the cold weather?” Tommy asked. Purpled rolled his eyes.
“What do you want?”
“Wow, so much faith in me, huh?” Tommy said, arms crossed.
“You weren’t followed, right?” Ranboo asked. Tommy looked at them and rolled his eyes.
“No, I wasn’t. You guys are fine, Ran.” He said exasperatedly.
“Good, because I hate to remind you of what happened last time.” Purpled said. Tommy shuddered at the memory.
The reason this was his second place, despite the great benefits, was because these people were shifters.
They could turn into an animal at a moment's notice and were considered criminals if not owned or locked up.
And Tommy had messed up badly early on, when the scars were still open wounds.
But he was charming and they couldn’t keep him away. Besides, He brings food.
“Can I just stay the night? I’ve got some food for you guys and-”
“You can stay, big man!” Tubbo chirped. Tommy smiled at the short teen and shot a look at Purpled.
He rolled his eyes, but nodded anyway.
“Take him to his spot, I guess.”
“Thanks bitch!” Tommy called as Tubbo pulled him away.
“I have got so much to tell you! Tommy, Tommy, Tommy, you need to hurry up!” Tubbo cried. Tommy laughed.
“They made you sleep recently?”
Tubbo nodded and pulled his friend down in his normal spot.
“You know that you don’t need to bring food every time right?” Tubbo whispered seriously.
Tommy glanced away before Tubbo grinned brightly again.
“Oh yeah! Guess what?”
Tommy opened his mouth to answer but was cut off by the overeager teen.
“I finally shifted! I’m a bee!”
Tommy lifted an eyebrow.
“Look, look!” And suddenly there was a small bee in Tommy’s hand. It buzzed its wings against Tommy’s hand before turning back into Tubbo.
“That is so cool.” Tommy whispered.
“Yeah! And Ranboo is a cat! It’s crazy because Purpled sees them as a kit when they shift. It’s so cute and neither of them try to eat me!”
Tommy smiled and hugged his friend. Tubbo leaned in and hugged him back.
“I missed you.” Tommy whispered.
“You can stay longer. None of us mind.” Tubbo whispered back.
“I mind. I don’t want to accidentally hurt you guys again. Besides, who's going to get you food?” Tommy let go and leaned back on his hands.
“We can get food by ourselves just fine, man.” Tubbo said, eyes sad.
Tommy shrugged and pulled his blanket out from his bag.