What happened to you?

Chapter 16

Tommy was always scared of the doctors, and the doctor running tests, taking blood, and shoving needles in him. Tommy was desperate for someone to cling onto now that he had the option. He was dying to say something, anything to get out his words of begging for the comfort he wanted. Ponk sighed, stopping his tests as he looked down at Tommy pitifully and worrying glance. Anyone who wasn't already looking at him definitely was looking now.

"Tommy. I need you to tell me what's wrong, because I can't properly make sure you're okay if you keep fidgeting and looking around." Ponk levelled to his level, face to face to catch Tommy's attention to distract him from the others in the room.

Tommy wasn't sure when he started to prefer Ponk compared to most of the other people in the room, but he was definitely enjoying the genuine softness and care he was doing. Tommy knew this was their job, so he took that to account, but he's met them out of this room to see they really do care about him.

"I just..." Tommy let out a shaky breath, looking up to Ponk. "I think I'm scared." Tommy whispered out, only for Ponk to hear. A frown visibly formed under her mask.

"Do you need someone to support you?" Ponk asked quietly, gaining a nod from Tommy. Pink stood, motioning over to Quackity, who stood and sat next to Tommy.

"It's okay kid, I got you." Quackity rubbed his back, gently pulling him back so Tommy could carefully sit shimmied into his lap halfway, much to Quackity's amusement who just laughed.

~•~

Okay, it wasn't as bad as it seemed. Quackity ended up letting Wilbur stay with Tommy overnight at his place, due to Tommy's condition and Wilbur's incessant begging to do so. Wilbur was busy talking on the phone with someone, which he knew wasn't Phil or Techno, thank god.

He stared out the window, his hunger was setting in as the day was now dark. Tommy pushed himself up quietly so Wilbur wouldn't notice, then he left the room. He wasn't sure who or where he was going to, but he wanted something to eat and to stay with someone who isn't too preoccupied with dumb phone calls.

Tommy walked up the mini fridge that Quackity left in his office, in case he spent too long working. He had shut the office door behind him, not wanting the light to bring attention to him. He shuffled through cans of soda he didn't recognize or able to read, he also couldn't recognize a lot of the foods sitting in containers and in snack bags.

Tommy snatched a granola bar, along with some water and other small snacks he found. Of course he didn't take all of Quackity's food, but he did have a few things. He knew Quackity wouldn't appreciate him eating in his office, no matter how much he would say it was okay.

He turned, coming face to face with Quackity himself. Tommy stood there gobsmacked that anyone would catch him. A snack fell out of his arms as Quackity stood at the doorway, watching him confused.

"Tommy?" Quackity asked, letting go of the door and standing up properly. "Why are you in my office taking my snacks?"

"Um, why are you in your office this late at night?" Tommy asked back, earning a ruffle of wings as Quackity slouched slightly.

"I live here?" He half asked back to Tommy, parroting his tone. "Did you want something to eat? Like an actual meal?" Tommy nodded frantically at that, which made Quackity laugh.

Turns out the food in the fridge was for Tommy anyways, as Quackity made Tommy try his home food for the first time.

~•~

Wilbur walked Tommy home to the cabins that morning.

Wilbur did end up carrying Tommy mostly back home, telling Tommy that he could at least walk from las Nevada's to the portal, which honestly, Tommy felt great after. If he could play up his sickness as much as he could without having to take a visit to Ponk again, you best believe Tommy will.