Let me level with you man, as someone guilty of the game

14. A few new discoveries

In the end, it was probably the sensation of falling that finally pulled Tommy back to consciousness. All he knew for sure was that one moment he was floating in the dark, his head stuffed with cotton, and the next he was plummeting through the sky. Wind whipped his hair into his eyes as Tommy moved to spin in the air, ignoring the burning pain in his back as he moved. Looking down, Tommy could see the lights of the city below him, quickly getting closer and closer as he fell. Even if he could have used his wings, Tommy didn't know if they would've been able to help him in time.

Right before he managed to splat against the cold concrete of a dark street, the wings on Tommy's shoes began to flutter and flap, causing him to come to a jerking stop just a few inches off of the ground. Tommy managed to find his balance right before his shoes gave out on him, dropping him onto the concrete with a thump. Tommy stumbled slightly to stay on his feet, glancing around to try to take in his surroundings.

Tommy realized with a sinking heart that he was almost right outside of Niki's bakery. As quickly as he could, Tommy made his wings shrink back into his back, ignoring the searing pain it caused through his still bleeding shoulder. Tommy reached up, pressing a hand to the open wound with a hiss, squeezing his eyes shut against the pain.

Voices finally pulled him back to reality and Tommy spun around, looking down the street towards where Niki's bakery sat, dark and closed. Except, it wasn't. There were two people standing outside the front door, talking quickly in hushed voices. Despite his condition, Tommy was rather intrigued. He started hobbling down the street towards the cafe, frowning as the two people came closer into view. One was decidedly Niki, her short height and pink hair framing her face as she spoke. The other person was a little harder to identify, but Tommy could probably recognize that trenchcoat anywhere.

Siren sighed, running a hand through his hair as his mouth twisted into a worried frown. Niki wore a similar expression, her eyebrows pulled down in concern as she spoke again.

"He's been missing for a few weeks now W- Siren. Do you think something happened?"

"Icarus is strong," Siren said, sounding only half sure of himself. "I'm sure he's fine."

Tommy realized with a shock that the pair were talking about him. Well, not exactly him at that very moment, but close enough. They were... worried about him? But how would Niki know anything about Icarus? As far as Tommy knew, he had never encountered her as a hero.

His continued footsteps echoed down the street, pulling the pair's attention towards him. Siren jumped, his face twisting into an even more concerned look as he took in Tommy's hunched stance, his unsteady steps as he continued to approach.

"Theseus?"

Tommy opened his mouth to respond, but everything was suddenly tilting to the side, and his hair was flying into his face again, and Tommy was falling again, wasn't he?

Strong arms wrapped around his waist, stopping Tommy before he could hit the ground and lifting him up into the person's arms, someone much stronger than Ranboo had been just the day before.

Voices were echoing over his head, but Tommy couldn't process them over the feeling of being carried, the person holding him walking quickly into a warm room that was suddenly flooding with light. The sound of a door opening and closing reached Tommy's ears and then he was being set down again, his back leaning against a firm cabinet. Warm hands pressed against Tommy's temples, and finally Tommy forced his eyes open.