take this compass, follow it home

tipping point

CW: self-hatred, self-sabotage, mentions of shitty parents, mentions of dead parent, the fuckedness that comes with the foster system, mentions of periods, mental health issues, briefly referenced past self harm, family issue/struggles

Tommy knows he's walking on eggshells but a week passes, and while Phil continues trying to have a couple more conversations with him, Tommy brushes him off, spending all of his time either out of the house, or in his room.

One of the few times Tommy doesn't stay in the room, he runs into Wilbur and Techno heading towards the bathroom, numerous items in their hands.

Tommy gives them an odd look, but neither of them spare him a glance, Wilbur laughing at something Techno must have said.

Tommy moves past them, to downstairs where he had planned on grabbing some pretzels and to grab his school book that he had left downstairs.

Snack quickly retrieved and 'The Crucible,' in hand, he races back upstairs.

The bathroom door is open when he passes it and he sees Wilbur standing and Techno sitting with his head leaned back. Before either of them can see him, he darts past.

But Tommy's curiosity gets the better of him and instead of slipping into his own room, he sits in the hallway, back pressed against the door, just out of sight of the bathroom.

He can't see them, of course, but he can hear them.

"Are you almost done?" Techno huffs.

Wilbur laughs.

"No," he says, "Tech, we just started."

Techno's distinct huff makes it to him, and Tommy also hears a faint tapping.

"It smells bad," Techno complains.

"We're dyeing your hair Techno, what do you think it was going to smell like? You've done this a million times."

Oh. So that's what they're up to. I mean, it makes sense. Techno's hair is obviously dyed with the bright pink color it is. Tommy just... hadn't thought about it. Bhut now that he thinks about it, he had noticed the brown roots that had steadily started to appear in his hair.

"Smells bad," Techno complains again.

"You're shaking a lot," Wilbur comments, "It takes longer when you shake."

"Tough luck," Techno says.

Wilbur laughs again. Tommy thinks it's one of the sounds he hears most in this house. It's certainly not a bad thing.

"No it's fine," Wilbur confirms, "Stim all you want. Just letting you know it will take longer."

"Hmm."

Tommy doesn't know why he's here, why he's listening in on them do a mundane thing like redyeing hair. But he continues to stay, listening in.

"Want me to braid it after?" Wilbur asks.

"No. Dad has to braid it after it's dyed. But you can help if you want. Or braid it another time."

There's mostly silence after that for a few minutes, and Tommy considers going back to his room. But then Techno's voice breaks through once more, and Tommy has no choice but to stay.

"What do you think about Tommy?" Techno says.

He freezes where he is, heart pounding.

"What do you mean?"

"Like the other day. He took my copy of 'The Art of War.'"

"I know," Wilbur agrees.

"I didn't like that."