Under His Dark Wings (Dark SBI)

Chapter Six

Tommy was running, sprinting through the darkened streets as fast as his legs would carry him. The thrill of his daring escape pumped adrenaline through his veins, but the ache in his legs and the burning in his chest reminded him that he wasn't quite the high-flying elytrian he wanted to be- at least not yet. Maybe if he were a bit older, with more developed flight feathers, he could have soared away from his problems, rather than legging it like some common plebian. The thought gnawed at him, fueling his frustration.

He, Thomas Innit Rosales aka the biggest man ever, had just blown up his own bedroom window. He still couldn't believe he'd actually done it. The explosion had been louder than he expected, but it had worked. He'd used his wings to glide from the tenth floor all the way down to the ground, which felt like a triumph in itself. The glide had been exhilarating, but he wished it could have lasted longer. He cursed his 13-year-old self, silently vowing that one day, he'd be able to take off and fly wherever he wanted, whenever he wanted, no legs required.

But for now, he was stuck running, and it was exhausting. His breath came in ragged gasps as he darted through the shadows, sticking to the narrow alleys and back streets where he was less likely to be spotted. He fully expected someone- a nosy neighbor or some well-meaning bystander- to have already phoned his mum or the police. It was only a matter of time before they were on his trail, and the thought made him push himself even harder.

He skidded to a stop in an empty alleyway, doubling over as he tried to catch his breath. His wings twitched restlessly behind him, his legs nearly buckling from exhaustion despite the short amount of time he had been running Tommy clenched his fists, cursing his limitations.  Maybe he should take up jogging as a hobby instead of kicking Tubbo's ass in literally any video game ever. He wasn't afraid of his mum finding him- well, not much anyway- but he wasn't ready to face her just yet. He needed more time, more space to think. The plan was to get away, to be somewhere he could breathe without feeling like he was suffocating under the weight of her resolves.

Prime, he thought, letting out a shaky breath. The name brought a slight restfulness, a ritual he had invented for himself, a small act of comfort. He didn't know if it meant anything, but it was his, and that was enough. He closed his eyes for a moment and sent up a quick prayer to the deity he'd made up in his head. Please, Prime, let something happen to Mum's phone. Let it get pickpocketed by some dickhead or just magic the shitty thing away, let fucking Soot smash it into a wall for all I care. Just... don't let any calls get through to her. Not yet. I'm not ready.

A shiver ran down his spine as he considered the idea of Soot being anywhere near his mum. He quickly corrected himself, not wanting to invite that kind of trouble. "Actually, scratch that," he muttered under his breath, looking up at the dark sky. "Just let it fall in a puddle or something. Please."

The reality of what he'd done started to settle in as he stood there, his breathing finally slowing. He was on his own, no one to rely on but himself. And that was fine, right? He didn't need anyone else, didn't need his mum hovering over him or Tubbo telling him that he lacked "basic survival instincts." He could handle himself, he wasn't helpless. But still, that nagging feeling of uncertainty crept in, gnawing at the edges of his confidence as he thought of places to go.

Tubbo's place was out of the question. It was the first place his mum would check, and Schlatt, with his ridiculously sharp sense of smell, would sniff him out and turn him over to her without a second thought. Tommy couldn't risk it. He needed to disappear, at least for a little while, until he could figure out what to do next.

With that in mind, he picked a random direction and started walking, deliberately avoiding any paths he recognized. The night was dark enough that he blended into the shadows, his black wings almost invisible against the dim sky. He was thankful for the emptiness of the streets, likely due to the ever-present threat of Soot. No one wanted to be out after the sun set, and that suited Tommy just fine. The fewer people who saw him, the better.