We Could Be Heroes, Big Man

11

  "Cool." Was all Tommy responded with. "I do have one question, if you don't mind me asking."

  "Depends."

  "Who was the woman you called your mother?"

  Techno was silent for a few moments, eyes on the floor. His eyes gleamed. Maybe it was tears forming, or perhaps Techno's eyes were just filled with so much sadness it made it look like tears. Tommy didn't know if that was possible but maybe it was, never know.

  "Her name was Kristen. My dad married her when me and Will were three or four. Very. . . Wise and kind. I miss her."

  Tommy didn't push any farther, knowing what it was like to lose a parent. Instead, he spoke on his own behalf, something he hadn't even told Tubbo.

  "My mother was bright woman. Bright blonde hair and bright blue eyes. I look a lot like her. She was, for the most part, kind. She wasn't the greatest mom. There were a few times she locked me in my room as punishment and then forgot about me for hours. I starved a lot." Tommy spared a glance at Techno, who seemed to be listening intently, and Tommy was no body language reader but he was sure he saw Techno's eyebrows slightly furrowed, a worried expression maybe. "It was hard to put food on the table anyway. My family struggled a lot. When she died, I didn't understand it at first. I was five. I watched her jump off a bridge, and my dad had told me she was going to fly."

  "I'm sorry you had to go through that, Tommy." Techno said. "It must be hard to be talking about it."

  It was, but Tommy wasn't going to let Techno see his weak side that easily. "Eh."

A small smile appeared on Techno's face.

—

Christmas was interesting. They didn't exactly celebrate it, but it was a form.

There was no tree, or stalkings or anything of the such, but they had a big dinner and exchanged gifts. Well, Techno, Wilbur, and Phil exchanged gifts and each gave Tommy a gift.

"But I didn't get anything for you guys."

"You don't have to." Phil said. "It's tradition in my family for the youngest to not buy presents for anyone else. That was Techno, but now it's you."

"It's weird getting presents for people." Techno admitted. "But I guess I don't mind."

Wilbur rolled his eyes. "I didn't have to buy presents until I was old enough to get my own job." He elbowed Techno. "You got lucky for years."

Techno only spared a smirk.

Wilbur had given him a music disc that played an older song. Tommy didn't know the song let alone ever hear it, but he suppose the thought count. Techno got him a katana. Worriedly weird but Tommy actually liked the gift. Sure it wasn't sharp enough to do any real damage without strength but it was cool to have. He would definitely be showing it to Tubbo when they got back from break. Phil got him a few pairs of clothes. Tommy especially liked the red and white shirt. Something about it just made him like it. He wasn't the one to fret about clothes but he knew he would be wearing that shirt much more often than any other.

Phil also got Tubbo's phone number so they were able to connect again.

That night, Tommy stayed up late talking to Tubbo on the phone.

At first, he was the one talking away about how cool Phil's house was and how Christmas went before asking Tubbo, "how have you been?"

"Literally want to just leave. Go back to school." Tubbo groaned. "I hate it here."