Neutrality Order (TomBoo)

B.F. - Chapter 1

"Welcome back, Crow Father."

Crow Father didn't deign to react to the greeting, instead sitting himself down quietly and folding his hands in front of him as he gave his nemesis a hard glare. Dream simply stared blindly at him, smiling almost genially rather than mockingly. That seemed to mock him nevertheless, and Crow Father was already in a horrible enough mood as it was.

"No costume today," Dream remarked. "Should I call you Phil then? Would it make things more civil if you called me XD? Since you ARE here to speak about our boys again."

Crow Father tightened his jaw, trying not to give the villain any sense of satisfaction. "'Crow Father' is fine, Dream" he replied.

"Very well," Dream conceded. "Before we get into that, I need to know if you thought any about our last conversation concerning Tommy's upbringing." The knowing tilt to his smile made a twitch appear over Crow Father's eye. "I know the old saying, 'questions you already know the answers to needn't be asked', but sometimes it's nice to hear them be spoken anyway."

"Why don't you just say what you want so I can say what I want and we can be done with this," Crow Father said testily.

"Don't be so crass, Crow Father, I genuinely like our conversations despite our past animosity," Dream said. "It's something a little more tangible besides our quirks that binds us together, isn't it? Our boys, growing up and forging their own paths..." He smiled. "Growing into their own desires."

"Now who's being crass," Crow Father bit out.

"Me, but it was more of a tease, Crow Father." Dream's smile remained humored. "So. You finally know."

"...I do."

"And I'm guessing you didn't take it so well. I'm surprised at you, Crow Father, I didn't peg you as one to be prejudiced." He chuckled at the literal growl Crow Father leveled at him. "I'll admit, I was myself a little more than torn when Ranboo told me he was having feelings for Tommy. He almost sounded like a normal teenager." He laughed. "But I told him his desires were his own business and I would not interfere. And so I didn't."

Crow Father scowled. "You APPROVED of that?" he asked incredulously.

"To a degree," Dream replied. "I was honestly surprised when he chose to bring Tommy in along with Wilbur. I may not be able to 'see' as you normally would, but I saw plenty. Heard plenty. Witnessed their conversations about society and quirk theory. I was there listening when Tommy first proclaimed his desire to change things, a direct challenge to Ranboo telling him how badly he was WASTED being another expendable piece in the government hero machine. I was there when Ranboo told him that he would always have a place at his side, promising to piece him back together when YOUR side broke him."

His expression was a tad more serious, nonexistent eyes locked onto Crow Father's face. "Did you know that the Search quirk I took from Shiretoko is a passive one that never turns off? I thankfully haven't observed more than a handful of people with it since I've obtained it, but Ranboo and Tommy are two that I did imprint on. The suppressants here make the 'location' bit dicey, but I can almost 'see' what they are doing at any given time. Feel their weaknesses. And they are oh so weak for one another. It's almost worrisome."

"Is there a rest stop between now and the point?" Crow Father asked, his hands clenching.

"Patience. Relax, Crow Father. YOU came here to talk, remember. Though if YOU can tell me something about Tommy I don't already know, go right on ahead. I have plenty to share with you though. Like how I tracked his descent into becoming a vigilante-"

"Underground hero."

"Same difference. How he grew into his own without your help, right under your nose. A bit of rebellion on his part, but teenagers will be teenagers, yes? It was enough to actually impress me. And entertain me, I'll admit. It was interesting, getting a feel for his little adventure with the yakuza, ending it with his first kill. How fast they grow up."