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After that big battle to save the universe - again, apparently. Everything was practically the same as it was before - more so five years ago.
Like Tommy. Tommy was back and was still the youngest.
Purpled was the same, still the second youngest magician, currently five years older than the former.
It was weird to see him. After years of thinking; yeah, he blinked out, I am never going to see him. Never.
And now here he is, eating cheeseburgers and fries - like a starved man. Purpled thinks he is going to cry at the sight. He already might have - which is debatable.
“This is weird.”
Ah, absolutely, Tommy. You are correct, Tommy. This whole stuff is ridiculous.
“Why you think that?” Purpled asked with obvious sarcasm.
Good old Tommy ignored it because he wanted to talk no matter what. Classic Tommy.
Maybe ignoring the sarcasm and the lack of actual humor about it is the thing they need. Maybe that is why Tommy lays this out just now. After everything that had happened - after the lonely nights, after the hug pile and catching up onto this year- It was time to finally talk about it. Reluctantly, yet essential. It was also an excuse to hear the other speak.
“I blink out for five years, yet I still crave the same portion of food like I did on Mars.”
“You were on Mars?”
“Some planet. It was red, thus Mars.”
“You sound like a child.”
“And you sound old.”
Yeah. That was the problem.
Purpled was 21 years old now. Tommy was still a child - sixteen.
Tommy didn’t age for the past five years - still had his child fat and wide eyes. Tommy just disappeared and then appeared years later.
Still young with the childlike wonder. Yet much wiser than any adult.
After the time skip - Tommy was so oblivious of the changes in the temple. Perhaps oblivious to the struggles that occurred for those five years.
Or maybe not. Because the ashen blonde knew that Tommy sees the shift. Saw it after that skip when he came back - feels it in this room. For now he chooses to ignore it, will acknowledge all of this later. Tommy will share the important stuff first, the once that concerns him, his duty to save the world and his decision. Purpled sees that he wants to discuss what became of him and Wilbur in his absence but chooses not to. After all it did leave a big impact on them - visible with a simple gaze from the child.
For his age, Tommy was observant when he wanted to be. And his words often cause a far bigger shift than any natural disaster.
“How lonely were you without me?”
And this is the thing that Purpled forgot about Tommy. Purpled might be a natural empath and Tommy the artificial one - however they still feel.
Purpled gazes pass Tommy - and Purpled knows Tommy wants to help or just - know. Behind Tommy he sees scattered papers, quiet nights filled with silent sobs. Pleas to any formula he knows or the unknown - to Gods and anyone.
Red tinted glasses shattered against the floor, thrown onto it because it has been days, weeks, months since they researched. He sees a criminal case of eye-bags, large and deep in colour with sneers and shouts as it seems that there is no way to help. More cries until there is just regret.
A dying hope in their basement when the young is lost to a fate.
Purpled knows that Tommy is hesitant to speak. Something in ways of I am just teasing you, Purps.
It’s hard to be sentimental after that big battle that happened. They try anyway. Because currently there are locked doors. A pair. One has a key and the other has a lock-pick. One opens instantly, one needs patience and time. A skill that might start a flood or be the cause of a crime.
“What do you think?” Purpled pauses. Tommy isn’t eating anymore. He is playing with his fries but intently listens to what the purple lover has to say. “After a year I had finally peace and silence. I could get stuff down without your whines. It was a freedom to me. However…”
He trails of. Tommy does not interrupt him. Purpled knows he has his undivided attention. Like it used to be.
Purpled is in a state where he doesn’t know if he should scream, cry, be angry or just stay emotionless. Staying without a single trace of emotion in this situation isn’t ideal but looking at the young blonde brings bad memories. Years he wishes for to never happened - forever a damage on his soul and Tommy‘s brother.
Purpled aged, and went through many changes. Tommy came back with no changes on him - no physical ones. But Tommy is going through so many emotions it’s overwhelming. An emotional whirlwind.
Tommy might not went through a change - but the change that is about to come is not pleasing. Will not be pleasing certainly.
“However I’m glad it wasn’t a decade or two. Five years are fine enough - and you’re back, so I am still on babysitter duty. This whole place will not hold your weight, even after those years.”
Purpled is an empath, yet he can hardly express his emotions properly. It’s almost sad. Yet the other blonde knows what he wants to say. And that is enough.
“I did miss you.”
And it’s quiet after that. Although pleasant.
In those five years, Purpled hated himself. He did. Because he made a promise once to this child.
When he first made that promise, he mistaken it as something ridiculous - not knowing about Tommy’s situation and refusing to know. Because he was just a child back then. (Still is one.)
Entitled bratty child that never tasted a real world.
But then they got close and Purpled found out that the loud blonde with very bright eyes wasn’t just a mere child.
The bratty behaviour just a play because Tommy wasn’t a child at all. Yet felt and lived as much as any other. Not a child- yet lives his years as one - trying to keep up with things he missed out on.
An anomaly he was.
“Would you believe me, If i told you that I missed you too?”
And now that’s ridiculous. Purpled made sure to voice this thought outloud.
“Okay I know, I did blinked out for five years. Which had to be really boring without me and yes I do still think no years passed, for me. Yet I did miss you-“
“Now, Tommy didn’t I tell you, you are a bad liar-“
“I did miss you, because I knew-" A pause. Inhale and exhale. Uncertain and distant look in his eyes - looking somewhere far away. Looking past him, the building, the world. So far away until Tommy focuses back, directly on Purpled - eyes cold and frozen. Clear fear. "Because I knew what was going to happen.”
And that…
For that...
He was too stunned to speak.
“Excuse me?”
“Okay no, you don’t understand. I- the Time Stone, yeah? The Time Stone, Purps. You know? The- the green shiny stone, you warned me about and clearly showed distaste at me of having it in my possession the first time? Yet I was destined to guard it with my life? Even though I was pretty fucking cracked at using it?”
Purpled understands the implication of that sentence. Right before Tommy can explain himself - Purpled knows what he means. He is not surprised.
Yet the fact that Tommy said he knew-
That terrifies him.
“You travelled in time?”
“No- well. Yes. I did. I had a peak at future. I watched- saw how are our chances. If we have any chance of stopping that purple ogre. And I saw many, many versions. And Purps, it felt like years yet minutes watching all of them. I went through every single one, saw the outcomes in every single detail there fucking was- and fuck. There was just one chance, Purpled. One fucking chance…”
Tommy pauses and it’s an invitation. Purpled takes it.
“Out of how many?”
“Fourteen million six hundred and five. Fourteen million six hundred and five outcomes and there was only single fucking one where we won. We won. I knew everything. I knew how it- I knew how it would fucking go.”
Purpled is twenty-one years old. His friend is a child, Tommy. Yet Tommy is the strongest child he knows. Purpled unwillingly saw what Tommy is and what can do. Tommy who is the current master and guardian of their world. Tommy who had zero idea of how most mundane things work. Tommy whose morals are as righteous as they can be - whose life and priorities has been molded from very early age.
Yet when Tommy speaks about the stuff that happened, the ashen blonde who was left behind involuntarily cries. Because Tommy feels so fucking much it’s overwhelming to him.
Purpled is twenty-one years old, his friend is still sixteen, and wonders if what the younger once said is true. If the whole world is against him just for his existence.
Purpled lived five years without the other. Purpled struggled to move on in the first one.
Purpled wonders why the universe decided to put such burden upon a child so young, why was he chosen to be the one to guard the whole world right after he finally started to live his life.
Purpled wondered once, why he had to lose another person he cared for.
“And the fact that I knew was so scary. Purps. Yes, yes we won, yet there was so much room for one mistake and it would fucking end. I- Not that I didn’t trust the Avengers or the self-called Guardians of Galaxy- no. They were capable but I realized- It was just too much. And I didn’t have time to think about it properly. We had to think fast and I- I couldn’t do much. Because I saw all of that and-“
“Tommy, you don’t have to talk about it if you-“
Tommy reaches out for his hand. It’s still greesy from those fries even though the blonde tried to dried it off as best as he could when Purpled formerly spoke about his supposed loneliness.
Blue eyes hold his purple ones and the message is clear.
“I saw all of it and I never thought about it before much because it’s not how I think. But I realized I was only fucking sixteen. And i still fucking am! But when I saw the- that— I was only sixteen. I was finally fucking free and when I finally started to live it all goes down to just hoping for the best. And-“
Tommy breathes in, breathes out. Tommy looks at Purpled but the older knows that Tommy sees something else. Has a distant gaze and whole room is stuffy with the unknown in Tommy’s eyes.
“And I also realized this would be fucking leaving you. I didn’t know much and for how long this would go because– because even after the possibilities that I saw - it all– it all just started to melt together and I- I knew I was leaving you and there wasn’t a chance for me to spent another time with you or tell you a simple fucking goodbye. And also I wasn’t thinking only about you. Even the people at home that I have- that helped me. I just-“
Purpled clearly remembers when the blink happened. He and others were cleaning the mess after the aliens striked and took Tommy. Purpled wasn’t scared about Tommy because he is still competent when he wants to be, yet whenever he thought about it, his head was struck down by so many migraines, he thought he might perish on sight.
Then some people at temple started disintegrating into nothing. Into pieces swept away by gentle breeze. Purpled that day feared the worst have happened.
Image of the failure still fresh in his mind - Purpled was so scared. And half of the humanity in matter of seconds was gone. And that day he waited for Tommy to come back devastated that he failed but alive.
The problem was that after days and days, Tommy never came back. And at first Purpled thought that Tommy relocated to somewhere else where he feels safe - like his brother.
And after month passed, Purpled stayed calm. Or in better words - tried.
After three months passed though? Purpled was outright worried and angry. Because where the fuck is Tommy.
Although he knew. Back then he was too stubborn and hopeful to accept the reality laid right before him.
And back then, the freshly seventeen year old wasn’t that much worried that something happened to the younger one. Hardly anything can take out Tommy Innit.
So when he decided to visit Tommy’s brother, he didn’t expect the whole world to shatter for second time.
The house was flooded. Dried with old tears and sorrow. When Purpled stepped over the threshold his throat clogged up and he genuinely couldn’t breathe. His stomach hurt and he was sure his heart wasn’t beating. The place was empty yet full. But wrong.
That day Purpled got yelled at and blamed at.
Tommy wasn’t home.
His brother was lonely.
His brother was angry.
His brother was devastated.
Wilbur was numb. Wilbur blamed him. However the brother blamed himself. Because on the day when it all went down - he wasn’t there. Purpled wasn’t there either - he was instructed to stay on Earth because Tommy trusted him to keep it safe in his absence.
Five years ago Purpled waited for Tommy to come home. To come reassure him that he is alive.
Five years ago Purpled sought out Wilbur who also waited for Tommy to come home.
Five years ago both Purpled and Wilbur hoped for someone to come back home - waited for someone that was out of reach, forever lost to fate.
Five years ago the world of Purpled shattered and there was he - hollowed out.
Five years ago Wilbur’s life shattered and he became self-destructive.
The world wasn’t whole after the disintegration of half the population. The world wasn’t whole the second time after the loss.
“For the first time- fuck- for the first time I would be leaving someone behind. Because- so many people left me on purpose and not — but I realized I would be leaving you and Wilbur all alone. And not that- I didn’t want to leave you. But understand there was no other way to- win.”
Purpled can hardly imagine what Tommy went through that instance when all these facts downed upon him.
Purpled and Tommy were friends yes - Tommy however was an enigma to him and the world itself.
Tommy never cared for himself - others always came first because that’s how he was raised to be.
Tommy’s purpose shouldn’t have been defined by these factors alone.
But Tommy knew the stakes on that planet. Tommy made his choice when he saw that Time Stone and decided to break the rules.
The moment Tommy used that Time Stone for the first time - the cogs of the universe of Tommy’s future started moving to that one destined direction.
Purpled was twenty-one years old. Spent five years in hopeless dreams of another world where his close ones were near him. He spent five years in a closed off room with books and old scrolls, looking for a remedy that might chase off the cold.
In those five years, he left the hope buried beneath old papers, opened his soul to reality and let it wash over him.
In those five years he understood the importance of a guardian.
Purpled is twenty-one years old but currently here, in a basement while sitting at a dining table surrounded by fries and lots of burgers - especially cheeseburgers - with his friend, he feels sixteen again.
When the unusually bright blue eyes reflect every turmoil of the others mind and suffocate the heart - exposed to the other — Purpled feels like a child again.
Feels like the first time when Tommy wasn’t just a random entitled child - only Tommy and his secrets - ready to take on the world that wanted to dispose of him.
Feels like the first time when Purpled was also a child. Not unreachable because he grew among the people in the temple. Not some distant boy who only trailed behind his own brother. Just Purpled who only wandered and was lost. Purpled that yearned for something unknown to his knowledge.
It feels like first time when Purpled reminded Tommy and Tommy reminded Purpled that the world itself had so much to offer.
“It was four million six hundred and five chances. Only one outcome where we - as a humanity would win. Small chance, a thin one. Yet me leaving you all - I knew it was worth the risk. Because the chance was there. And honestly, I would do it all again if it meant helping the world. If it meant saving you and Wilbur. One chance wasn’t in that moment much — but even if I would never see any of you- the risk was worth it. And this is not the old little toy soldier Tommy talking- no. I am serious. One chance was better than none.”
Purpled doesn’t sympathize with Tommy. But his statement is nothing but the truth.
If there is chance, a possibility to reach something - someone - people craving it will reach for it no matter what.
If such chance exists, there is always someone searching it, no matter the chances.
After five years of failed hope and dried tears, Tommy found Purpled and Wilbur playing cards.
They talked about anything and nothing. Purpled who only knew Wilbur from fond stories of his former friend. Wilbur who only heard about Purpled thanks to late night calls and lots of miss yous. They had nothing in common other than their affilation to Tommy.
Purpled was sorting out artifacts after some newbie knocked them out of place. The ashen blonde willingly took the job of sorting them out.
Wilbur visiting was a coincidence. Purpled like a good host served him tea and unfortunately let the man smoke out his working area.
For three years Wilbur impulsively visited Purpled whenever he had time that is.
For four years Wilbur mourned, went off as insane and vengeful until in the end he was mostly closed off and remorseful.
For three years Wilbur talked the younger boy’s ears off. Rambling about anything and anyone.
On quiet nights and draining days two of them found each other talking about life. And sometimes even Tommy. Wilbur knew Tommy for five years or so more, yet he had so many stories about the strange anomaly - if anyone asked Purpled he would be convinced that the older man knew Tommy for his whole life.
It helped him - them. In the end it did, with bittersweet flavouring.
On some meetings they played cards. Competitive solitaire mostly. And on others they let the time flow - wasting away, wondering. So many what ifs.
That is when the world after five years shifted once more. It was within this familiar meeting that someone striked a match in their room while drinking whiskey. Someone other than Wilbur. Wilbur had his cigarette - he had no need for a match.
That day was a full-blown whirlwind when a figure opened a portal and stepped through it. Dirty and irritated asking for an army. That day was the biggest fever dream that could have occured to them - however it was nothing but a reality.
A kick to a gut when through that portal a blonde curls appeared with unusually bright blue eyes. A kick and no oxygen when that annoying voice spoke about them not having time.
The voice they almost forgot how it sounded like without electric static from precorders and memory videos on their phones.
Tommy after five years was back. Unchanged. Still a child.
After five years Tommy was back and he shattered their hearts a second time. With relief, anger, disbelief but happiness that was foreign. Tommy was back yet there was no time for teary hugs. Tommy demanded army. A help. Every single one that could help at the final stance. Tommy was back to fulfill his duty the second time. Tommy was back and was ready to protect the world like five years back - to protect both of them. Yet demanded help. Tommy was back - unchanged and young.
Back then when Purpled helped an entire army onto that battleground it all felt surreal.
Purpled was too numb to feel anything - it all happened way too fast. He should not have expect anything else from Tommy.
Wilbur broke down immediately - yet waited. Tears streamed down his face as a manic smile took a rest upon his face. So many emotions swirled within his crazed and glazed eyes - eyes that yearned. Yet there wasn’t time.
Until that final snap happened.
Tommy looked distant when that billionaire fell down after snapping the purple ogre out of existence. He stood behind the spider kid who cried their tears out. Tommy was there when the man’s light dispersed - leaving behind only a lifeless corpse.
Purpled knew the man briefly.
Wilbur worked few times with the man.
Tommy was a reassuring anchor for the spider teen that broke down. Gaze distant and not in the present.
Purpled felt too much in that quiet now battleground. His eyes unwillingly filling out with tears that weren’t his. Wilbur was sad and relief coursed through his veins. Wilbur broke down against his brother’s back. Sobs tearing out through his throat reassuring the still young boy that it is over. It’s all fine. Purpled was sure the man openly shared the comfort not only to himself and his brother but also to the tall lanky kid that was choking on his own tears.
Now, as Purpled sits beside Tommy who stares intently at him, his attention only on him after those confusing days - after the last and final stand—
Purpled knows that after that tiresome battle, when everyone’s face was wet not only from the blood and sweat - Tommy who gazed into nothing remembered the chances. That one chance that could save our world - the humanity and bring the long lost back to the hearts of the mourning - Tommy knew it and witnessed it in real time. Yet when it happened the burden, the weight was gone and there was only sadness. Relief but incomprehensible typhoon of emotion that Purpled couldn’t read.
It was too much that it clashed and Purpled wondered if things can still go back after that five year long wait.
As he studies Tommy’s apperance - still same- no change - Purpled can hardly imagine what it was like. Coming back after years that didn’t lapse for you, coming back to the world that changed without your presence - holding the seed of possible freedom and tranquility.
Purpled can hardly imagine what it’s like seeing so many failures, seeing bunch of strangers you just met die and fail.
Purpled can hardly imagine what it’s like to see the strangers succeed in one possible scenario. He hardly can imagine what it’s like to see one stranger die for the whole world to live. One that left an impact on you and that you mourn anyways.
Purpled however knows that for the close ones - a one person will do anything. And that unknown is an acceptable truth.
That man - whose coffin will be layed with flowers and tears, lots of thank yous and wordless fond gestures will be muttered, whose presence will be remembered until the end of their time - died for his family. For the spider kid that was like his and for an annoying child that is Tommy. For his friends to live in a world where the purple ogre had no chance of winning, of having the last laugh.
So they could all laugh and live.
All thanks to that pink-haired billionaire.
All thanks to Tommy.
All thanks to all of them.
Here in their little basement, Purpled misses Tommy more than ever before.
“Can you say something, Purps?”
After five years of trying to find peace in any way - be it duties, socializing with Wilbur or other people at the temple, trying new hobbies or food - Purpled wonders if he can still fulfill the promise they made.
“I layed my heart here to you and you don’t even react to it. King, I’m hurt.”
Purpled wonders how things will go from now on.
Tommy did not change at all however Purpled grew older. Five years is a lot. They aren’t the same age.
Everything changed in Tommy’s eyes like it did for Purpled. Tommy is unchanged and the whole world is different. Purpled is older. Tommy is the same. Will they still click?
They will figure it out.
Currently Tommy is distressed from Purpled’s inner turmoil. His hands mixed with greese and sweat.
Purpled’s mouth doesn’t open. Not yet. He takes Tommy in. Still a child.
His friend.
Purpled leans closer, lets go of the others hand and hugs the younger blonde.
Not with bone-crushing grip like he saw Wilbur do once he could have Tommy all to himself again and smothered him with love and took him away into their home, to safety and just exist within each others presence.
This one is reassuring. Strong but not suffocating.
This hug is worth the questions, worth the flood, worth the years of wandering.
Purpled holds Tommy with emotions he can hardly express.
Purpled is in the present when Tommy hugs him back, strong grip on his back, tucking his chin underneath Purpled’s chin and with hidden smile lets himself be held by his friend. With pats on his head, ruffling the blonde curls with fondness, he relaxes underneath the older’s hold and lets the time flow around them.
Purpled is content like this.
Tommy is back.
The world is fixed.
Purpled has no proper reason to be distant anymore.
“You’re an idiot,” Purpled exclaims. A fact. An endearment.
The child - whose head is buried in the purple sweater of the older - snorts. Almost laughs yet stays in the hold.
Basks in the warmth and enjoys the care Purpled expresses through his gesture.
“Love you too, Purps.”
That’s what he says. With no problem.
Purpled nods. A confirmation.
He also cares.
“No, I mean it. You’re an idiot. Self-destructive idiot. Just like your brother. No self-preservation. A child behaviour.”
“Hey!”
“If you decide to do something like this again - next time, I swear to any god, any being and alien- fucking whatever there is in the universe that I will work you to death after you come back. Nah, I will yoink you out of that decision because for fuck’s sake Tommy I don’t need any more wrinkles. I am still young - so do not fucking dare repeat anything like that any time soon.”
“This is the thanks I get-“
“Unless Wilbur grounds you first. I hope you get grounded, you deserve it after this stunt.”
There’s a gasp. Then a shuffle.
Then Purpled can see Tommy’s bright eyes again. Offended.
“Excuse me?! Grounded? Right after all the duty I served to all of you? Nah, I don’t deserve to be grounded. If fuckin’ anything I deserve is to be worshipped and treated to some good fucking food!”
“Like the cheeseburgers that are getting cold here?”
“Pft. Nothing like a good spell or two can’t fix.”
A snort.
“Lazy ass.”
And this small interaction between two old friends is the cue for Purpled to relax.
There is an invisible gap but he knows that this is alright. It’s fine.
There’s still a lot to open. A lot to share. Not today though.
“I should really eat them. Am still hungry. Let go, fat ass.”
“Nah.”
“Dude.”
A sigh and a chuckle is let out into a space between them.
“It’s been five years, indulge me, little shit. Aren’t you supposed to be creative.”
“Kindly fuck off with your smartass mouth.”
Right here, this moment is all what Purpled needed for those five years.
Tommy is alive.
Still a child. Happy. And very hungry.
Purpled still holds onto Tommy, humming and thinking while the younger twists in his hold and eats his well-deserved food. Content.
Nothing slows down. Nothing speds up.
All is tranquill and he is with his family. His family is with him.
(Except Wilbur. Wilbur is god knows where.)
Purpled knows the life does not stop. Time waits for no one. Fate guides you no matter what.
Yet in this small moment they share, Purpled understands. Purpled understands that if coming home back to this was- is worth the sacrifice, he wouldn’t hesitate to do the same.