Branded for Failure

Chapter4: Family Matters

Tommy was given Phil's sweatpants, Wilbur's graphic tee and Techno's hoodie. He would think that it was just a coincidence, but Phil was the type to pull that short of sentimental crap to prove a point or something.

He couldn't find the towels at first. They weren't in their place in the basket next to the shower. Tommy was about ready to dry himself off with the blue fuzzy rug he had never seen before when he found them under the sink. There was a stack of perfectly good newer white towels, but Tommy picked the ratty old green one with a monkey on it.

Tommy waited at the top of the stairs for a moment and took a breath. Then stumped down the stairs as loudly as he could. Jumping down the last few steps he slid into the kitchen.

Phil was at the stove frying bacon. Sitting at the table was Techno, pressing a glass of ice water to his forehead.

"Whatcha doin big man?" Tommy asked Techno.

"Nothing important." He replied setting the glass aside. Technoblade looked at Tommy swimming in the clothes Phil got him. "You look like a child."

"I'm not a child, I'm a big man." Tommy retorted, a little offended.

"A gremlin then." Techno said. "Come sit, we need to talk."

Tommy laughed nervously and picked at his sleeves. "Do we? I don't think that's really necessary."

"Tommy." Phil sighed. "I picked you up off the street looking like-"

"Like what, Phil?" Tommy challenged.

Techno rolled his eyes. "We could always wait till Wil gets home. You know how he is."

Tommy winced. "No, no, talk is good. We can't talk now."

"Just me glad your brother wasn't the one who picked up the home phone." Phil hummed.

"Who even still has a home phone nowadays." Tommy snorted.

"Tommy." Techno childed

"Technoblade." Tommy echoed. Technoblade gave him a 'I'm not playing this game' look. "I don't know what you want from me. Tommy mumbled. "It all hit the fan. There is nothing we can do about that."

Technology raised and eye brow.

"What?" Tommy asked, agitated.

"Theseus never gives up."

"Yah well, Tommy, knows to quit while he's ahead." Tommy said, picking at the scratches on the wooden table.

"No he doesn't."

"What?"

Techno repeated. "Tommy is an absolute stubborn, impulsive idiot. He would never just lie down and let people walk all over him."

"Yah well maybe you don't know me as well as you thought."

Techno's posture hardened. "Tommy what the heck is going on?"

"Technoblade." Phil started.

"No, Phil. Sh-"

The stove popped.

"-t happened and I don't care if Tommy doesn't want to talk about it. We need to know." He turned to his younger brother. "Tommy what happened."

"I got kicked out!" Tommy snapped. "Is that what you wanted to hear? They effing kicked me out of the program. They- they" Tommy looked away.

Techno grabbed his forearm and Tommy wanted to run. Not that he was necessarily scared of Techno. No, Techo would always do whatever it takes to protect him. And whatever it takes is a scary thought.

"Tommy, did they hurt you there?"

"Who hurt Tommy?"

And he froze, turning around with an awkward wave and chuckle. "Hey Wilby, fancy seeing you here."

Wilbur Soot, the oldest of the Watson children by three minutes. He always held that over Tecno's head. No they were not biological twins. But when Tech was adopted into the family the two of them got into big debates over who was the oldest. So much so both birth certificates had to be tracked down to settle it.

He was shorter than Tommy remembered. Or maybe Tommy simply got taller. He now wore glasses and Tommy had no clue if they were real or not. Some things were the same. He still wore that stupid beanie.

"Tommy!" Wilbur exclaimed and walked around the table the long way to give Tommy a hug that was slightly too tight.

Tommy absolutely loved it.

"What are you doing at home?"

"That's what we are trying to figure out." Techno huffed.

"Oh shut up Tech I wasn't talking to you." Wilbur waved a hand in his twin's direction but kept an arm around Tommy's shoulders.

Tommy stood and shrugged off Wilbur's arm. "Look all you guys need to know is I am not a hero anymore and- but, I think there is something going on with Dream."

"Your mentor?" Phil asked, who apparently still kept up with the news on Tommy's life.

"Yah he-" Tommy ran a hand over his face. "Look I am so effing tired and frankly I just wanna crash for a few days but- I need some help."

"Whatever you need, Tommy, whenever you need it." Phil reassured him.

Techno nodded in agreement. Wilbur just furrowed his eyebrow.

"Thank you." Tommy sighed gratefully.

"You can take my bed." Techno told him. "Will sort of made a mess of your side of the room."

"Just a few clothes and my records." Wilbur rolled his eyes. "I can go clean it off."

"Are you kidding? Last time I checked it was littered in take out boxes." Techno argued. "Nobody can sleep in a bed that smells like orange chicken."

Tommy smiled to himself and rushed up the stairs stomping.

At first Tech got his own room because Phil thought it would help the adoption go smoother. Then it was because nobody could stand rooming with Technoblade, the neat freak who got up way too freakin early in the morning.

Tommy wasn't surprised when he entered Tech's room that it looked exactly the same. Simplistic and neat in its design. The only decoration was two swords mounted to the way and two photos on the dresser. Tommy almost flopped into the bed when he did a double take. There were three photos now.

One of Phil giving Techno holding the adoption papers on Christmas Day. One of Wilbur trying to drown Tommy in the pool by stealing the Dino floaty. But there was a new one he had never seen before that looked very recent.

Tommy marched out of the room and shouted down the stairs. "When did we get an effing dog!"