Chapter Text
The four of them went on set right after they dropped the boxes off. Wilbur and Techno sent worried looks towards Tommy when they noticed how quiet he was. Every time they asked him something, he would respond with a single word, nod or just hum in acknowledgement. He was nothing like the night they hung out for the first time. The youngest noticed the frown on Wilbur’s face when he flinched at the contact when the older boy tried to put his arm around Tommy's shoulder, but didn’t comment.
Tommy couldn’t help, but go back to every moment his mother neglected him. How could she even pretend his life was good when he wasn’t hugged by her in the last ten years even once. If it wasn’t for SBI, he would still struggle to find time to rest after work. She only cared about his money, not her son, so why did his heart shatter when his mother pretended to not know what they were talking about?
His mother wasn’t a bad person. Well, maybe she is now, but his grandparents remembered her as a nice and lovely person before she cut off contact with everyone. The day her husband died was the day she changed completely as a person.
Tommy hoped for years to see her realize that she does indeed have a son, not a worker. It never happened, not even when fucking strangers showed up with him instead of Puffy or Brian. She didn’t care why he was with them. His mother was worried that they were forcing her to work.
“Everything’s gonna be okay.” Wilbur reassured him after they parked next to the building. Tommy just nodded and opened the door. The air in the car was suffocating, he wanted to run away from it as far as he could. Wilbur caught his hand and turned the boy towards himself. He closed the door. “I mean it. I don’t know what’s going on inside your head, but I promise that we’ll do everything in our power to help you get through it.”
Tommy looked at him with a blank face. Everything was so confusing to him. Why would the most well-known actors in the world even want to help?
After he agreed to star in Quackity's movie, everything started to change and it slowly overwhelmed the boy. After so many years of hard work and practice, SBI of all people who he had worked with started to care if he was overworked and tired. They saw the young boy under all these layers of perfect, little doll shown to other actors, directors and public, created by his own mother and manager. SBI cared, but never walked on the eggshells. They stated things as they were, but also were there to comfort him.
It might be nice, but so confusing for the boy. He liked this behavior, the time he spent with the family on the set and after work, but he still couldn’t understand why they would act like it.
“But why?” Tommy whispered, lowering his gaze. “You don’t know me that well, I’m just a random kid.”
“Because we care about you.” he shrugged and waved off Techno and Phil who stood outside, waiting for them. The father just nodded and went inside, like his son asked them. “You found a place in our hearts, I don’t even know when or why, but you did. You can have doubts, but our behavior won’t change. And one day you’ll get it, I assure you.”
Tommy looked up to see Wilbur’s face and froze. After many hours of being with the man, he knew what the older actor looked like, but with this smile, he looked like a whole new person. Because of… Tommy.
His smile was shy, but oh, so full of clear love and fondness. His face was lit up, like he just saw the best sunset in his life. The singular thought that he was shining like a million suns because of Tommy was enough to make the boy flush.
“We can go now. I’m alright.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
“Thomas, Wilbur!” Quackity greeted them as soon as he and Wilbur walked in. “Go change, do your make-up and we’ll film another scene.”
“Today we’re doing the reveal, right?” the boy asked. This one was nerve-wracking. Theseus would be revealed as Techno’s best friend from the library to the world. And as brother, let’s not forget that one, because holy shit. Phil was supposed to start crying after seeing his baby, all grown up when the heroes announced him dead many years earlier.
“Yeah, Phil, Techno and Dream Team are already getting ready. Now, go, go, go.” the director started pushing him towards the dressing rooms. “I can’t wait to see it.”
“I’ll see you on set.” Wilbur said to him and headed to SBI’s room.
The boy quickly moved to his. He’s fine. Everything is fine. Tommy already knows his every line. There isn’t much, some shouts to his team, a couple sentences directed at heroes. Most of his acting would still be just body language. He just has to go there and act, like he always does. It’s gonna be easy.
And this time, he wasn’t even lying to himself. He was nervous not to fuck up, but the thought that SBI and Dream Team will be close was calming. They will help if needed. He’s not alone, not anymore. In this stupid movie about heroes he found friends and… family? The one that promised to stay with him. The one that loves him for him and not his money.
His costume was easy to put on. At first, Quackity wanted to give him golden wings, similar to Phil’s, but gave up on this idea after seeing how annoying they are. The boy agreed, Phil wasn’t one to complain, but he still did a lot of it when it came to wings. His balance was all fucked up and in the first days, he walked awkwardly slow, just to not fall on his back. Tommy was grateful he could avoid it.
Tommy’s costume was red and black, the mask showing a deep frown. The main idea was to make his and Dream’s costumes as total opposites. Sapnap was the first to suggest naming him Nightmare, but Dream quickly disagreed since his alt Twitter account was named that. The boy put on the suit and went to where Tina is probably already waiting with tons of make-up things. Tommy was never one to understand how to do it himself which is why he was grateful for the girl.
“Today’s a big day.” she noticed while putting on concealer on his face. “How are you feeling?”
“Weirdly calm.” Tommy answered truthfully. “I feel like it’s gonna go great.”
“I don’t doubt it.” Tina agreed. “I’ve seen lots of your movies. You’ll do great, as always.”
“Thank you.” the boy flashed a smile, but winced when she started putting on a blush. “Why do I need that?”
“So you don’t look dead.”
“Oh-”
“Yeah, oh.” she laughed.
~~~~~~~~~~~
“Action!”
“Crowfather, such a surprise to see you here!” Dream laughed as he noticed the hero group.
Destroying one of multiple government’s buildings was supposed to be a quick action with four of them involved. No one was supposed to be here on time to stop the villains. So why the fuck top three heroes stood right in front of them? Tommy stepped closer to Flame who tried to cover the younger boy with his body as soon as he noticed Siren’s stare that landed on Red.
“Mask, the four of you are under arrest.” the man said and quickly picked his sword higher when Dream pulled out his axe. “Don’t even try.”
“
Stop using your power!
” Siren called as soon as he noticed what George was trying to do. He was the only one resistant to it. What was deeply annoying is that everyone from the villain group except 404 was resistant to his. This shit was unfair. “
Don’t move.
”
The villain immediately stood still, just looking at him angrily. He was useless now.
When Techno noticed it, he threw himself at Dream. He was the only hero who could stand against Mask without losing immediately. It wasn’t even because of his ability. This one was unknown to the heroes. Mask was just hella talented when it comes to hand to hand combat. Thankfully, Blood God was as well. Their fights were always followed by the eyes of multiple people, amazed by their skills.
Siren moved to fight Flame, leaving Red to Crowfather. The avian hesitated when he looked at the boy, everyone in the Tower knew the strange situation with the villain’s sidekick. The heroes never fought with him, maybe because he never attacked when he was alone. Phil was forced to fight when the boy pulled out his daggers and threw one at the hero.
The fight started. Tommy had to stop himself from laughing when one of the daggers Dream had thrown almost hit Quackity in the head. He could imagine the man cursing under his breath in Spanish after jumping to the side. The weapons were fake, but it was still uncomfortable to be hit with them.
Everything was going smoothly, just like the director wanted. Tommy could feel the sweat on his back when everything stopped. He was lying on his back, Phil’s knee pressed to his chest to keep him from getting back up.
Mask was lying unconscious after Techno hit him in the head with his own axe. Flame was next to him and 404, tied with the ropes and cuffed. Their masks were off, faces revealed. The only one who was yet to be unmasked was Red, but Crowfather already was reaching out to take the material off.
The mask was tugged off, just for Phil to gasp and move away as if Red burned him. Tommy didn’t even notice when the hero took his own mask off. The man covered his mouth with his hand, looking at the boy with wide eyes.
“Theseus?” Blood God looked at him shocked. Without his mask, Tommy recognised the second hero as his friend from the library.
“Techno, hi.” he greeted with an uncomfortable smile, but immediately stopped when coughed. He got hit pretty badly in the chest earlier. Maybe it even broke his ribs. Well, it would be better to say, thankfully, his character’s ribs.
Both heroes flung themself towards the boy.
“Theseus-” Crowfather was close to crying, his eyes shining with tears. “Is it possible?”
“What is going on right now?” Siren asked and honestly that was a good question. He knew Theseus, he met the boy a couple times by his brother, but where did his father’s reaction come from?
“They said you were found dead.” the hero whispered and put his hand on the boy’s cheek like he would disappear the second he was let go. “They wouldn’t let me see the body. I thought-”
“I don’t know you, man.” Red said, trying to move from the hero. He failed as the man held him tightly. “I really don’t-”
“Of course. You don’t remember me, son.” Crowfather smiled sadly. Tommy felt bad when he looked at that broken face, but he couldn’t help it. Quackity was the one to come up with this idea, they had to act like the director wanted them to.
Even if only their characters were family, Tommy found himself clinging to the way Phil called him his son. It was nice, even if not directed to him as Tommy, but as Theseus. Looking outside of the character, Tommy noticed surprised that they do look alike. Phil’s hair was less blonde than his, but their eyes were exactly the same.
“What?” he asked. It was difficult to not go against the script and just hug the older actor. The boy begged Quackity to do something.
“Cut!” Tommy sighed, the relief washing over his body and mind. Gods, bless Quackity for his greatness.
“Fucking finally, I’m all sweaty” Wilbur complained and moved to untie Sapnap. Dream and George were both laughing at their friend instead of actually helping him.
The Dream Team, Wilbur and Techno moved to their dressing rooms seconds after the crew went on their break. Tommy wanted to follow, but Phil stopped him by lying his hand on the boy's shoulder.
“Hm?” Tommy looked confused at the older actor.
“I meant it.” Phil simply said with a smile and pulled the boy into the hug. Tom stood still for a moment before returning the gesture. He pulled away after a moment of silence between them. “Let’s go, the boys are waiting for us.”
Techno and Wilbur were standing outside of the doors. Wilbur praised Tommy’s every movement on the set while Techno just ruffled his hair and smiled. The boy laughed as the twins joked about Phil’s old age. He couldn’t help but smile even wider when Phil called them fondly “little shits”.
Quackity looked at them, from the side, with a big smile and fond look on his face.
“Just don’t start crying.” Schlatt nudged him. “I didn’t bring any tissues with me on set.”
“I’m not going to cry, asshole.” Quackity hit his friend in the arm before looking again at the youngest actor who was explaining something to Wilbur. The big smile on his face, lack of sloppines in his movements told them everything they needed to know. The boy was truly happy and full of energy. Like he was always supposed to be.
“You knew the whole time what you were doing, hm?”
“Just had a little feeling.” the director shrugged, but his smile explained everything. “Tommy needed someone to care for him and SBI needed someone to bring the sun into their family. They were meant for each other, I just helped them get closer.”
“Fucking idiot.” Schlatt laughed, but they knew that they both enjoyed seeing this version of Tommy. The version of himself he is when he is truly
loved
.