A Guide To Vigilante-ism By Tommyinnit (edited)

10-how to not have a good name for this chapter

TW- Panic attack, abuse, not eating (not an eating disorder), self harm

Tommy curls in on himself tighter, hugging his tail to his chest and ignoring the plate of food in front of him.

He would have taken it the first time, but not now.

Now everything is different, it has to be.

The first time, he had an easy escape route, and he used it. The first time he was guaranteed safety, he could always leave.

Not now. He used that safety up. He escaped. Disobeyed the heroes' rules.

They have to be furious. But.. they aren't. They aren't mad. They don't yell at him, don't hit him. Not the way Dream did.

But he knows how these type of things work.

Everything- the food, the kindness, the tolerance, the promises of safety, everything, is a debt. Everything is always a debt.

"Come on, mate. You need to eat something." Phil says, all too gently, feathers ruffling in what could be worry or anger behind him.

"No. 'M not hungry."

He doesn't know what will make the heroes angrier, taking the food and not repaying the debt, or ignoring the food and seeming ungrateful.

"Tommy. You haven't eaten since yesterday, and you've been running and climbing since then."

That's true. He's really hungry. But he can't take the food.

Phil sighs deeply.

Here it comes, the anger. The punishment.

"Alright. I'll leave it here for you, I'll leave."

And then he.. does.

What the fuck?

These heroes are so confusing.

Tommy uncurls himself a bit, eyeing the plate of food warily.

It's a plate of baked potatoes, and it looks really good.

He's so hungry.

The food couldn't be that big of a debt..

He pulls the plate of food closer to him. He sits up and starts eating. It's really good.

He's almost halfway through the plate when Wilbur walks in.

"Hey, Tommy-"

Tommy cuts him off with a loud hiss, ears pinned and tail puffed up threateningly.

Wilbur smiles apologetically, "Sorry for scaring you. I was just gonna ask if you wanted to watch a movie with us."

Tommy shakes his head.

"Okay. See you later."

Tommy doesn't want to see him ever.

Tommy finishes eating quickly and pushes the plate away.

What now?

He can't escape anymore. The heroes made sure of it.

They locked all the windows and actually hid his bag this time. He doesn't have his slow falling anymore anyways, he used it all in his first escape. Bill almost saved him.

He took the heroes by surprise and his undead were unaffected by Phil's enhancement. Then the heroes beat him.

He can't contact anyone. None of his friends know where he is.