Through the Deep, Dark Valley

The Valley

It was midday by the time the three made it to where 'Deo' and 'Wisp' had been living. It was a rusted old factory that looked to have been abandoned a decade ago. A sign out front was sunbleached, and the letters weren't even recognizable, so there was no way for Tommy to figure out where exactly he was. The blond watched as the older two men walked through one of the large doors, hesitating when 'Wisp' motioned him forward. "C'mon, Theseus! You gotta meet Bitzel and Luke!"

...

There were MORE???

Tommy let out a breath as he pushed a shaky hand through his hair. He ignored how greasy it was. He ignored how gross he felt. He ignored the fact he hadn't showered in weeks because Dream never let him. He ignored how out of himself he felt. He ignored how his body didn't feel like his own anymore. He ignored the way his scars and bruises burned underneath his hoodie, desperate to breathe and show the world how disgusting they were. Tommy ignored it all because that's what he learned to do. Tommy walked up to the two, a small frown placed on his chapped lips. Blue eyes glanced around before he was swallowed in the darkness that filled the building.

"BITZEL! LUKE! WE'RE BACK!"

Tommy flinched as 'Deo' yelled much too loudly, his voice echoing back to them for a few seconds. Soon enough, the sound of crashing came from further into the building, and two more teens appeared in what little light there was. The tallest of the two wore a dark blue zip-up, with a white undershirt. His pants had dirt and dust covering the knees, and he looked to be a little out of breath, with his brown hair tousled and his dark eyes slightly wild. The shorter teen looked to be a lot more relaxed, his hands in his light green jean pockets. His baby blue shirt was wrinkled slightly, and there looked to be a few stains here and there, but they must have been washed out with how dull they were.

The two teens stopped when they saw Tommy, and Tommy couldn't help but do the same. He was in an empty building in the middle of an unknown area surrounded by people he doesn't know. He ignored the urge to call for Dream. He ignored the idea that Dream could save him. He ignored the way his heart yearned for his father to hold him safely. He ignored the tears that threatened to fall because he was scared. He ignored it all.

'Deo' turns to look at him with a bright smile, snapping Tommy out of his soon-to-be spiraling thoughts. "This is Bitzel," He pointed to the dark-skinned teen wearing the blue zip-up, "and this is Luke!" He pointed to the blond, who gave him a lazy smile. "They live with us, and with you if you choose to stay longer than a few days."

Tommy took a small breath before he gave the four a hesitant smile. "U-uh, pogchamp, I guess?"

'Wisp' snorted softly, hiding a smile behind his hand, but Tommy could see his shoulders shaking with restrained chuckles. 'Deo' looked surprised for a moment before raising a brow. "'Pogchamp'? What does that even mean? "

Tommy grinned, a sense of mischief filling his blood. "It mean's ' pogchamp ', dumbass!"

That's what broke Wisp, and Luke apparently, as the two doubled over in loud laughter that was on the verge of making Tommy want to sob with how loud they were. Tommy smiled tensely, looking away as 'Bitzel' gave his response a chuckle and 'Deo' simply grinned. "Well," 'Deo' placed his arm around Tommy's shoulders, and Tommy had to force himself not to flinch or melt into the touch, "I'll keep that in mind, Theseus! How about I show you some open rooms, and you can take one for the night?"

Tommy nodded, looking at the dark concrete that stood coldly below his feet. As the two began to walk away, the loud laughter of 'Wisp' and 'Luke' faded away, along with the sound of 'Bitzel' trying to get them to breathe again. Tommy relaxed as silence enveloped him, and he almost forgot about 'Deo', who was walking silently ahead of the blond.

They eventually stopped in a hallway that looked much more put together than the rest of the building. "This is where our rooms are!" He gestured to all the doors that lined the walls before he pointed to a few in particular. "Those are the open rooms that you can sleep in. All four of us stay in this hallway, so if you ever need anything, you can call on us real easily."

Tommy nodded slowly before walking forward. He looked at the doors to the empty rooms before he settled on one that was painted in faded pink. Turning the handle, Tommy took in what was inside, and he was pleasantly surprised. A twin-sized bed sat in the far right corner with a small table with a lamp on it. A desk had a rolly chair tucked underneath it, and a fuzzy rug that looked to be freshly cleaned.

Tommy looked back at 'Deo', who nodded encouragingly before placing his back on the dark red bedsheets and sat on the mattress. "You want this to be your room?" The blond nodded in conformation, running his hands across the softest blankets he had ever felt in his life. Out of the corner of his eye, Tommy saw 'Deo' smile. "Alright! Well, my room is right next to yours, on the left, so if you ever need anything or have any questions, feel free to come in!"

And then Tommy was alone.

Tommy looked to the window that was framed in smooth orange curtains before he grabbed his bag again. He emptied what little he had. Food, water, a few extra hoodies, his scissors, and Harold. The pre-teen hugged his stuffed cow close to his chest. The old thing had been with him since his mother left, and had never left him since. Harold had stuck with Tommy after every beating, after every fight, after every alcohol run, after every sleepless night spent talking to the stars. Harold had been with him through it all.

As Tommy ran his fingers over the rips and tears that littered his cow's plush body, the blond couldn't help but let a few tears fall. He was alone again, and Harold was the last string holding him together. The stars watched from behind the too-bright light of the sun as their favorite child cried into the old plush that had seen too much and been able to do so little, and they wept.

The sky began to weep elsewhere for the child that could no longer weep for himself, only those who he had lost.