Duchenne (DSMP Superhero AU)

Chapter 21

It took a whole month for things in the bench trio apartment to calm down. Tommy commonly left the apartment to sit on the roof, staring out over the city and towards the shining skyscrapers in the middle of L'manburg. He wished Tubbo would let him go to the burial of Seirin, half the city had shown up to a shrine outside the president's tower to remember everything Seirin had done for the city. None of them knew Seirin like Tommy did, maybe if the Syndicate had gone they did...

He hugged himself, pretending it was Wilbur, Ghhostbur, hell even Seirin. He sobbed quietly, leaning forward, hunched over the rooftop.

"Come back Will..."

He shook like a leaf, choking on his own saliva. As he sat, he forced himself to take deep breaths.

Five things you can see

"My hands, my legs, the roof, a row of ants, a cornflower."

Four things you can touch

"My legs, the roof, the cornflower, my clothes."

Three things you can hear

"Wind, myself, yelling."

Two things you can smell

"Tar, smoke."

One thing you can taste.

"Ashes."

He let out a breath, silently thanking the voice in his head. Now aware of his surroundings again, he realised that a building across the street was on fire. He swore, covering his face with a dark green bandanna and tugging on some of his strings as he jumped towards the people gathered outside.

First check if there's anyone inside.

"Is everyone here?"

A blonde woman gripped his arm, sobbing.

"My daughter, she's not here!"

Tommy glanced at the emotional strings surrounding the woman, tracing one towards the building.

"Don't worry ma'am, I'll get her for you."

He ran inside, following the string. He coughed, darting around flaming pillars as he watched the string writhing in the heat. His heart hammered in his chest, jumping to his throat as a piece of the ceiling crashed down next to him.

Finally, he reached the end of the string. A young girl, no older than eight, was hiding under a table, curled up into a ball. He scooped her up, dashing towards the nearest window.

"Fuck this is crazy."

He jumped through the window, catching himself in his red strings. He floated a couple feet off the ground, holding the little girl close. Slowly, he let out a breath and touched down in front of the crowd of stunned people.

He gave the kid to her mother, grinning under his bandana as he watched the two hug. This was so much better. He had hated hurting people with Dream, they all looked so scared of him and each other. If he were to continue doing this, saving people and making them happy, maybe he could redeem himself. Maybe Phil could trust him.

He was snapped out of his thoughts as a sword was pressed against his throat, holding Tommy to his attacker's chest.

"Who the hell are you?"

Tommy turned his head, recognizing the voice. Thanatos stared back at him, his eyes widening slightly as he recognized Tommy's eyes. Thanatos let go, looking Tommy up and down.

"Oh Theseus. It's... It's been a while."

Tommy nodded, glancing down at the ground. He tensed, expecting Thanatos to hit him for A: being stupid and running into a fire, and B: for being the reason his brother was dead. Instead, Tommy felt his arms gently wrapping around him.

"I missed you kid. How are you and the others holding up?"

Tommy relaxed into the hug, tugging on a string and flying him and Thanatos to the front door of the apartment. Thanatos jumped, letting go of Tommy.

"Jesus prime- I always forget you can do that."

Tommy snorted, leading the way inside. Tubbo and Ranboo looked up from the kitchen, where Ranboo was baking cookies wearing a pastel pink apron. Ranboo's face lit up as he saw Thanatos.

"Techno!"

Techno took off his mask, nodding to Ranboo and Tubbo. Tubbo frowned at Tommy's burnt appearance, dashing over and checking for any injuries. Tommy whined, not pushing Tubbo away but not liking being examined either.

"Tubboooooooooo I'm fine! There was a kid stuck in a fire but I dealt with it."

Tubbo scowled, causing a scoff from Techno.

"You should let Tommy become a vigilante too, he's got the skills and power for it."

All three of the teens glanced at Techno wide eyed.

Ranboo tried to argue. "He's too young-"

"You started when you were 13."

Tubbo followed Ranboo's thought process. "If he's a vigilante, Dream can find him!"

"Not if he keeps his identity secret."

Tommy ignored Tubbo and Ranboo, staring at Techno with wide hopeful eyes.

"I can finally redeem myself?"

Techno nodded, ruffling Tommy's hair with a small smile. Ranboo glanced away, pulling the cookies out of the oven.

"I'll train you myself."

Tubbo stepped forward, scowling.

"Dude, you're just going to help Tommy now? Why didn't you bother to train Ranboo or I?"

"Tubbo, you were a vigilante for years before we met you, same with Ranboo."

"And Tommy is one of the most feared Villains in the city! I think he knows what he can do, just saying."

Tommy sucked in a breath. Tubbo said is. Techno scowled, pulling Tommy's arm to drag him outside the apartment. Tubbo sucked in a breath, stepping back from Techno as he glared at the younger.

"I'm so-"

"Later, Tubbo. I'll bring Tommy back tonight, he's going to start training with me during the day. You better be acting more mature by the time we get back."

Tubbo nodded slowly. Techno huffed, leaving and leading Tommy by the hand. Tommy followed silently, his thoughts racing.

Did Tubbo still think of him as a villain? They'd been living together for 53 days, 32 if you didn't count the last month of Ranboo and him avoiding each other(He had counted every day, it had started with him thinking Dream would take him back and he could have a certain amount of happy days but eventually turned into habit), you'd think they would have established at least a little bit of trust. Hell, Tubbo and him had been talking and joking for the entire time. Did Tubbo doubt Tommy the whole time?

Techno hit Tommy in the back of the head. TOmmy stumbled, spinning around.

"Oi what the fuck?!?"

"Stop thinking about Tubbo, you can talk to him after you get back to the apartment."

Tommy huffed, crossing his arms.

"Dude the way you read people is so creepy."

Techno shrugged.

"Come on Toms, we have to give you a new identity."