Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Tommy turned around. What the heck was this guy doing? Tommy watched as his shadow ducked behind a dumpster. Tommy would have to shake this guy if he wanted to get out of here. Tommy darted around the corner into the street. He pushes himself backward into a small space between two buildings as he passes by. Tommy watches his shadow walk past him and Tommy jumps him. The other yelps and Tommy pins him down. “Why are you following me,” he hisses.

“I-I-I want you to teach me how-how to be-be a vigilante!” The blonde man stutters. Tommy lets the man up and walks slowly in a circle around the other.

“Maybe. Let’s go somewhere less… visible, then we’ll talk about this.” Tommy tells the other. Tommy actually has very few powers that are actually deadly. He might be able to transfer a current injury that Tommy has onto the other people, but that’s if Tommy’s had a really bad day and he’s in a foul mood. For some reason, in any other situation, it doesn’t work. He thinks that it only works because he doesn’t really care what happens to the other, whereas if he’s in a good mood, he actually somewhat does care.

Tommy leads the man away towards a secret entrance to an alley that few know about. “Why?” is the first question Tommy asks. Great job, you idiot, no context for the man to even answe–

“Because I’ve watched you stop the Syndicate, you’re so heroic. Sure, you’re probably younger than me, but that won’t stop me–” the man rambles on about the things Tommy has done and Tommy realizes that he might be on the heroes’ agenda now. He’s only a simple vigilante that goes out under the guise of Coeus, also known as Metis. Why Greek names, Tommy doesn’t know. Ichor likes to call him Odysseus for some reason though. Tommy honestly liked Coeus the best, if he had to pick another name, however, he would’ve chosen Daedalus. Daedalus could fly -just like Tommy wish he had been able to do when the heroes had him- on wings made of wax (Tommy’s wings weren’t wax though, thankfully) and was super smart.

“What qualifications do you have to do this?” Tommy interrupts the man’s rant. The man hums and sighs.

“I can fly.” Tommy’s bird brain stops. He can… fly?

“So you’re… an avian hybrid?” The lesser of the three, but that’s not the hybrid that is often discriminated against of the three, but few know about the third kind.

“No.” Tommy’s bird brain wants to chirp at the older. “I’m an elytrian.” The man answers truthfully and Tommy nods, pretending that his bird brain isn’t going bonkers over this new fact. Tommy himself isn’t an elytrian but it’s rumored to be close enough to his hybrid species that his bird brain accepts the man as flock. Which, no bad bird, we can’t accept any old man as flock, what if he’s a wrong’un? Tommy’s bird brain of course does not reply, but Tommy shoves it down. 

“Sorry if I made you uncomfortable,” Tommy says instead of whatever his bird brain pushed him to say.

“No, it’s… fine. Most people just get angry or scared when they hear about it.” Tommy nods in understanding. How much should he tell this guy? Tommy decides between two options, 1. Do what his bird brain begs him to do and kidnap this guy, or 2. Kidnap this guy anyway under the guise of training him.

“Do you have anyone you need to call?” Tommy says, his pupils dilating. He’s losing the fight with his bird brain. 

“Uh, I said I might be out for a couple of weeks, but why–”

“Good.” Tommy lets a trill escape and he grabs the older blonde and covers the other’s eyes. Never once did it occur to Tommy that he should’ve asked the man for a name.

–

Phil didn’t think it would be this easy to get the vigilante to train him. Although, if the stifled chirps and warbles that Coeus lets out as he drags me down the street, Phil thinks he somehow set off the vigilante’s instincts. Phil didn’t know if Coeus was an avian or an elytrian. However, Phil did lie to the poor boy. After all, how could Phil tell the younger that he was actually chosen to be the first phoenix? Phil remembers the day that Kristin told him the news that Phil was a phoenix as clearly as if it was yesterday. He’s still married to her and lives so happily with that fact. Together they adopted Techno and Wilbur. They have refused to tell them their ages and Wilbur just picked a day and said that they’re twins. Kristin and him never failed to spoil the two dearly on that date. The two will share a chuckle but say nothing to stop us otherwise.

Phil can’t see where Coeus is taking him, as his eyes are covered, but Phil guesses that the younger is taking him somewhere where the boys won’t be able to find him. Phil knows that his boys are doing something in the realm of heroes and villains, but they refuse to tell him. He even straight out asked them, but they still didn’t tell him. They won’t let him join either, so he decided that he’ll go and be a vigilante with the lesser known Coeus.

He’s just assuming that they’re not going to arrest him. Maybe he should make a mention to them that he’s going to become a vigilante. But not tell them which one though, that’d ruin the fun. However, it would make them more cautious to who they arrest and who they don’t. Phil doesn’t think about how they could be villains. No literally, he doesn’ t. He forgets that they exist.

Phil hears Coeus open a door and he remembers what he’s doing. His boys think that he’s on a work trip, but Kristin knows what he’s doing. She thinks it’s funny but says nothing to dissuade him. Coeus picks Phil up and tosses him onto something somewhat soft. Phil looks down and sees a poorly made nest. Geez, this guy’s nest is so… sad. Phil thinks to himself.

Coeus starts pacing the small, dingy apartment. He hasn’t taken off my DIY mask yet, so he must not be completely under his instincts. Coeus looks up at me. “Flock?” He suddenly sounds… young. Gosh, how old is this guy?

“Coeus, how old are you?” The vigilante turns to Phil with dilated irises. 

“I’m fourteen.” Phil recoils. A fourteen year old is taking down the Syndicate’s jobs with ease?

“Where are we?” Phil asks, reaching towards the younger. Coeus looks towards Phil’s back.

“Preen…wings? Please?” Phil looks up and lets the heartbroken expression on the younger’s face endear him to Phil enough to allow Coeus to preen his wings. A small voice in the back of Phil’s mind whispers, Good flock stock, want, mine, fledgling? The last thought breezes through his mind as Coeus sits behind Phil. Phil gently tugs his wings out through the holes of his shirt so Coeus can preen them.

“Fledgling?” comes out of his mouth as soon as Coeus’ hands touch his feathers. Coeus’ hands still for a moment before continuing.

“Fledgling. Your fledgling?” Phil’s mind whirs at the prospect of having his own fledgling.

“Fledgling mine .” Phil replies. “Preen fledgling?” Phil turns to Coeus.

“Preen!” Neither seem to notice how deep they’ve fallen into their instincts. It’s funny to see how the two literally meant not even thirty minutes ago and yet are already deep in instincts and an imprinting process. Not that either seem to care as they contentedly preen the other’s feathered limbs. Maybe later, after a small nap, the two will realize that something happened while they were in their instincts because neither has their masks on and their wings are out, something that usually doesn’t occur unless they are home without strangers in the house.

–

“Techno, pacing won’t help.” Wilbur says to the pinkette. The pinkette had been stressing over what they were going to do with all these hero organizations and headquarters that were popping up across the district.

“You’re not giving any helpful advice.” Techno retorts. Techno paces some more and Wilbur sits at the desk, pondering. Wilbur suddenly stands. 

“What if we just burn them all down?” Wilbur says. Techno thinks. It’s not a terrible idea but it does have some flaws.

“That one hero has water-bending powers, but as long as we don’t burn down The Badlands HQ, we should be fine. Those new laws stating that heroes can’t interfere with one another’s headquarters without presidential permission will aid us significantly in that.” Wilbur turns to his brother. They both see how that would greatly set behind their enemies.

They weren’t villains for no reason. No. That would just be cruel. And to be honest, they were just vigilantes who terrorized the hero headquarters. The public adored the two. If (and that’s a big if) they ever got captured, it’s more likely that they’ll be put in a zoo with security as hidden but as big and powerful as Pandora’s Vault’s is. As inhumane as that sounds, it would be so that the public would always be able to see their adored villains. The two brothers think that it would be kinder to put them in the Vault.

Kristin was out for several months visiting friends and working for a while, Phil was gone on a work trip for a couple weeks, leaving the brothers a perfect gap to not have to worry about anyone overhearing their plans.

“That sounds like a smart plan, Techno. We can infiltrate at the secret entrances using my sizing power–”

“And set everything on fire with my telekinesis powers.” The two talk about how to use their four total powers to set the buildings on fire in a timely manner. Techno’s telekinesis and strength, Wilbur’s sizing and mind manipulation powers, apart, they’re powerful, but together? Together they’re ten times stronger than even their mother. Which is saying something considering the woman is practically an angel. Literally and metaphorically.

She’s the retired vigilante known as the Angel of Death. Not that they ever told Phil (should’ve asked if he wanted to know), but it’s not really all that secret. Kristin told the two brothers -after an intense interrogation after the two arrived home late one night- that she was the Angel of Death, that’s why Phil hasn’t aged in five years. Why she hasn’t aged in about a hundred, why the twins are likely going to stop aging soon as well. At nineteen years old, they’ve been vigilantes/villains for about two years. Reigning terror down on the heroes.

They’ve got a whole system, some thieves who take from the rich snobs who don’t donate to charities, some reformed assassins who sneak into government facilities to get the Syndicate information, and some spies in two of the five hero headquarters. Which, they should remind them of the upcoming events. “Wil, don’t forget to let Chaos and Lethe know.” Wilbur nods.

“We should head to bed though, it’s getting late and Phil always seems to know when to check up on us.” Techno rolls his eyes but grabs his brother’s arm. “We’re gonna go to Phil’s nest tonight, right?”

“Yeah, sure whatever. If it helps you sleep.” It’s Wilbur’s turn to roll his eyes.

“I’m not the one who sneaks a stuffed animal and a blanket into Phil’s laundry so that they will always smell like him.” Techno huffs at Wilbur’s comment.

“And I’m not the one who steals Mom’s capes.” Techno retorts. Wilbur humphs at his brother but they clamber into Phil’s nest without any more complaints.

Chapter Text

Tommy wakes up next to Phil. He snuggles into the older’s embrace. It’s been a couple of days since Tommy took Phil and Phil hasn’t been all that upset. Or at least that’s what Tommy’s assuming because Phil has been calling him ‘fledgling’ basically ever since he saw Tommy’s nest.

Phil preens gently through Tommy’s wings, “I think I’m out of it now.” Phil says to the younger blonde, “Should we introduce ourselves better now?” Tommy nods.

“Tommy Innit, also known as the vigilante Coeus.” Tommy extends his hand towards Phil’s prone form.

“Philza Minecraft, your soon-to-be accomplice.” Phil grabs the younger’s hand as his free hand reaches for the mask. Tommy lets Phil pull the mask off. 

-

Phil’s heart stops as he stares at an almost exact copy of his face but about fifteen years younger. “How old are you?” He asks.

“I’m fifteen. I know I’m young but–” Phil grabs Tommy’s face.

“You really are a fledgling. Okay, no, that’s it. We’re definitely partners now.” Phil follows Tommy to a different, slightly smaller room where Tommy shows Phil different ideas for costumes. They pick one out and Tommy decides to take Phil to an abandoned orchard to begin training.

“I’m assuming that you know basic self-defense?” Phil nods. They’ve started teaching self-defense classes ever since the Syndicate came to power so civilians had at least some way of protecting themselves. Not that the Syndicate ever hurt anybody. “Okay, so-” Tommy and Phil spent the rest of the day training. That night, Phil’s body was incredibly sore. He sits at Tommy’s table with a soft moan. “Sore?” The younger asks. Phil nods silently.

Tommy says nothing but reaches for the older’s hand. Phil takes it and warmth begins to envelop his body. He recognizes the feeling almost instantly. “You’re…a–”

“A healer?” Tommy pulls his hand away and the warm feeling eases slightly.

“I mean, yes, but you’re a phoenix too?” Tommy snaps his head to Phil.

“How do you…” Tommy stops to think for a moment, “Too?” Phil realizes he has opened his stupid mouth large enough to fit his foot now. Phil nods silently. “So… are there any… other powers?” Tommy finally asks, breaking the awkward silence that had settled over the two.

Phil pauses in thought. Not a lot. Healing is the big one. Uhh… “Pyrokinesis obviously, wings, our feathers can be turned into plants and solid healing potions.” Phil stops to think. It’s been a while since Kristin explained everything that went into being a phoenix. About five hundred years, maybe? Phil’s lived way too long already.

Tommy nods in understanding, his eyes wide at the prospect of learning more. “Anything else?”

“I’m sure there is, I just don’t remember it all,” Phil admits. Tommy smacks his forehead. 

“Of course. Philza Minecraft doesn’t remember anything, he is simply too old.”

“OI!”

The two begin light-hearted bickering, ending the night in Tommy’s nest. Phil doesn’t know how he’s going to leave his fledg- not… fledgling behind after a couple of weeks. He’ll call the twins in the morning and tell them that the work trip has been extended by another two weeks. He misses them, but his new fledgling needs more attention right now.

–

Kristin was ready to go home. She’s been at work for a long time but when Clara called in and said she had had an emergency at home and had to go, Kristin knew she had to take Clara’s shift so the other could go home to her newborn babies and newlywed husband.

Kristin’s boss walks up to her. “You know Phil’s become a vigilante with Coeus right?” He says knowingly. She laughs.

“He took this long?” Her boss nods in agreement.

“He’s old, forgive him, he misses cues sometimes.” They laugh as Kristin settles down to do some more work. “Thanks for taking Clara’s shift, Miss Angel of Death.”

“No problem, boss.”

–

Wilbur grabs Techno’s arm. “Tech, do you enjoy the lighting? Perhaps you’d like it a bit brighter? It is quite dark here.” Techno grins behind his mask, Wilbur can tell by the way Techno’s eyes glow a bit brighter color of red.

“Nah, Will, I think the lighting is pretty good already, but your friends are wanting some pictures though.” Techno points out the helicopter hovering nearby taking in the footage of the blown-up headquarters of the SMP Hero HQ. It was the last one on their list tonight. Phil called last week and said his work trip is going to take longer than he’d thought and he’ll be back two weeks later than originally planned. This was perfect for the two because that gave them time to come up with ways to hide their side job from Phil. They loved Phil dearly and they do plan to tell him someday, but… just not right now.

“So… back to the drawing board on how to not let Phil find out?” Wilbur asks as Techno tosses a ball of paper into the trashcan and it lights on fire.

“Yep.”

“We’ll get it, we have time.” Wilbur comforts his brother. They decide to go out and patrol, making sure no other villains have tried to steal any of their property to cool off.

-

“I think we’re ready to go into action, Phil. You need a codename.” Tommy places a finger to his lips in thought.

“Just call me king, if the media wants a different name for me, they can pick it themselves, you already call me king pretty often.”

“That works, I guess. Let’s go then!” They change into their costumes and stop to stare at how good Phil’s costume looks. Phil’s wings look ten times more intimidating with the color choice of dark emerald green and with Tommy’s costume change to match Phil more (so the lower vigilantes and villains would know Phil was with Coeus) they sneak out the window into the streets.

Together they stop three bank robberies, two muggings, one kidnapping attempt, and an assassination attempt. They’ve only been out for like two and a half hours. They’re a pretty invincible duo. Where Coeus had blind spots by himself, with his new partner, he seemed to have none. The two covered the areas the other couldn’t and seemed unstoppable. As if Coeus needed to become any more powerful to be intimidating, now… they’re overpowered.

That’s when they run into Ichor and Orpheus.

“Hey, mate, uhh is that who I think it is?” Phil points to two individuals prowling a nearby rooftop.

“Yeah, we should probably avoid them,” Coeus tells his partner. Unfortunately, they’re spotted.

“Coeus! We haven’t seen you in a while.” Orpheus greets with a smug smile. Ichor stands next to his partner and Phil and Tommy get into a defensive stance.

“I hadn’t been looking for you particularly. If I’d only realized that you missed my presence so much, I would’ve come back sooner.” Tommy retorts. Phil snorts beside him, used to the teen’s manner.

“Coeus, ten-seven” Phil says, Tommy immediately begins to prepare for a fight. He draws his short sword as Ichor swings at him.

“Mate, seven-twelve” Tommy replies as he spots Orpheus swinging at Phil’s head. 

The fight gets intense enough that media copters have shown up and are giving live footage of the fight. Phil at one point flies into the air and summons a ball of fire toward Orpheus. Orpheus ducks and the ball of flames fly toward Ichor and Tommy. Phil winces as Tommy gets hit in the side, taking the brunt of the hit. Although Phil knew it didn’t truly harm the boy as it would’ve to Orpheus, it still probably didn’t feel the greatest. Tommy and Phil make a tactical retreat at the soonest possible moment and hide until Ichor and Orpheus aren’t anywhere to be seen.

They go back to Tommy’s apartment and turn on the news. “-- let’s take a look at Coeus’ new partner! They work almost in a telepathic manner. They make quite the duo! We’ve decided to call them the Archaic Duo to describe their fighting styles, and to name Coeus’ new partner, Metis! An old nickname of Coeus’, but we’ve thought it would make sense to give his new teammate the old, outdated name!” Phil groans and Tommy elbows Phil lightly.

“You’ve stolen my name!” Tommy exclaims with a laugh.

“Take it back, please!” Phil bemoans as they walk towards the kitchen to make some early breakfast. Phil found out recently that Tommy does some online work that barely pays his bills, so Phil asked the boy if he’d like to work as Phil’s secretary instead. Tommy gratefully accepted and they decided to stay here until Tommy’s rent is up.

“Never, Metis, it’s stuck on you fairly well. Look at all those articles that are praising that name.”

“I don’t want to be praised!” Phil drapes himself dramatically over the younger’s shoulders, copying the action that Tommy often does to Phil.

“Very funny. I’m actually starving, can we eat please?” Phil nods and helps the boy make them some food.

One week later…

“Ready to meet my sons, Tommy?” Phil asks, “You got everything you need?” Tommy nods, understanding the older’s hidden meaning. “Okay then, I told them you were coming, they might be a little… much.” Phil opens the door and lets Tommy in first. There stand a brown-haired man slightly taller than the other who had pink hair. Both had tusks poking out of their lips and tails that were thrashing almost nervously.

“You’re Tommy?” The pinkette asks.

“Yeah, are you... ah... Techno?” Tommy questions in return. The man raises a brow but nods. “So that must mean you’re Wilbur?” Tommy gestures to the brown-haired man, who nods at the statement. “Cool, I’m Tommy.” Tommy extends a hand nervously. Phil walked off to grab some food for lunch since Tommy arrived at lunchtime. Techno and Wilbur both reach for his hand so he simply extends the other one. They shake hands as Phil walks into the nearby dining room with an armful of trays, filled with food. “Looks good, Phil. Thanks.” Tommy sits down and waits for the others to begin eating. Phil is used to Tommy doing this, however, and tells the boy he can eat.

Tommy politely does not shovel the food into his mouth. Phil had told him that he had to be a bit more formal because Tommy is supposed to be this upper-class secretary, not a kid who has worked very hard for the past several years. So after lunch, Phil shows Tommy to his room. “Where do I hang my stuff at?” Tommy asks, subtly asking Phil where to hide his suit.

“Over here, mate.” Phil points to a dresser that has a hidden side door. Tommy nods and stuffs his suit in there before Phil’s sons come up to check on the progress. Phil leaves to allow Tommy to put his stuff away but his sons don’t follow their father.

They wait until Phil walks down the steps before stepping toward Tommy. “If you ever harm him, your blood is going to spill.” Techno threatens. Tommy’s heard this stuff before and is unfazed.

“If I hurt him, do worse than that.” Tommy retorts. The twins exchange glances before Wilbur snorts.

“Don’t worry. We will.” Tommy nods.

“Great. Now that we’re all in agreement, will you please not tell Phil about this? He already tries to mother-hen me enough already, imagine if he found out about this.” Tommy turns to finish putting his meager stacks of clothes in a nearby closet. Phil hasn’t taken him shopping yet, so all he has is a few pairs of clothes.

“Are those all the clothes you have?” Wilbur asks. Tommy glares at him.

“So what? What are you gonna do about it, hmm?” Tommy huffs and turns back to the bed. It’s the biggest bed he’s ever seen. Someone grabs his shoulder. On reflex, he jabs an elbow into the person’s side before realizing no one walked in besides Techno and Wilbur. “Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize, that was good reflexes.” Techno says, a hand hovering where Tommy elbowed him, “I was just gonna say that you could steal some of Will’s clothes–”

“Steal some from Techno while you’re at it,” Wilbur mentions. Tommy gives them odd looks.

“Phil’s gonna take me shopping tomorrow, so don’t worry about it, besides, these clothes would last me another two weeks or so.” The twins look doubtfully at the four shirt hangers and three pant hangers that are occupied.

“Nah, we’ll talk to Phil about it,” Techno says, grabbing Wilbur’s arm and leaving in the same direction as Phil. Tommy casts an odd glance at their retreating backs but shrugs it off. Weirdos.

Turns out, he should’ve been more concerned when Phil told him that they weren’t going shopping tomorrow. Tommy assumed that meant that Phil was busy and couldn’t go, but what he didn’t know is that Phil had managed to endear Tommy to them and they both wanted Tommy to wear their clothes now. While Tommy was out in the garden with Techno, chatting away about some topic or other, Wilbur was sneaking his clothes into Tommy’s closet. Of course, while Wilbur was showing off some of his music to Tommy, Techno also snuck in and hung some clothes in Tommy’s closet. To say Tommy was surprised about the number of clothes in his closet after he spent the day attempting to get to know Phil’s sons better was an understatement. He gently fingers a yellow sweater and a fluffy red cape. 

Phil knocks on Tommy’s door, entering with the younger’s permission. “I see they got you some clothes,” Phil says with a knowing grin. Tommy doesn’t understand anything behind it but nods. “If you want, you can leave your wings out when they’re not around. I’ll let you know, or you could leave them out anyway,  they won’t care.” Tommy puts his mouth closer to Phil’s ear.

“I leave my wings out for vigilante stuff, Phil, they’ll notice the similarities.” Phil pauses in thought before nodding.

“Don’t leave them in for too long, ok?” Tommy nods and Phil leaves to go do some work. He told Tommy to not worry about helping Phil at all for a couple of days to settle in, but Tommy’s antsy to do something productive. So he slips on the yellow sweater and the fluffy cape, as well as the comfy sweatpants he found. He probably doesn’t look the best, but he’s comfortable and his wings are hidden. He walks past Techno and Wilbur, who is sitting in the living room reading some books. He’s about to ask where Phil is when he notices that the two are just… staring at him. 

“So.. uh… where’s Phil?” Tommy looks around but doesn’t see any doors or hallways that look like they lead to an office. They say nothing, only standing up, staring intensely at Tommy. Tommy shifts on his feet and slowly backs away, “Oh right, I think he mentioned something about being in his office, so I’m gonna go find him.” Tommy backs up and the twins say nothing, only start to stalk closer. “Alright bye!” Tommy turns and walks away, but a hand grabs his arm. 

Techno and Wilbur make some funny sounds before Techno wraps his big arms around Tommy’s torso, pinning his arms to his sides. 

“Phillllllllll” Tommy complains. He vaguely remembers Phil saying something about how if Phil trusts somebody enough to let the person in, the twins would shower that person with affection. Tommy knows that Phil isn’t a very trusting person. He’s kind, and would gladly help out, but he didn’t invite Tommy to his house until two days before he was going to go home.

Techno carries Tommy to a very large door. The door swings inward and there is a very large room. There are some oddly placed aquariums, almost as if they had pets in there at one point, and nice decor. The ceilings are huge, if Tommy hadn’t known that the house was very large, he would’ve thought that this was the basement, the way that no sun streams from any windows, or the fact that the ceiling is so far above his head.

Techno and Wilbur lay Tommy in a nest on the floor. He can sense some powers that want out but are being restricted by something and wonder if Phil’s sons have powers. He doesn’t remember Phil talking about it, but maybe he did and Tommy forgot.

Phil comes in later to find that Tommy has adjusted well. He’s just glad that his fledgling is where he belongs. With his flock. Now to show off his new fledgling to Kristin when she gets back.

Chapter Text

Tommy has barely been able to leave these two’s sight in the past two days. He wants out, but Phil told him they’re all better off if he stays until the twins let him out. But he wants out. He wasn’t this bad with Phil, was he? Tommy supposes that it’s easier when they’re all in their instincts, but Tommy can’t afford to fall into his instincts, the twins might catch him unaware and notice the similarities between Tommy and Coeus, and Tommy’s sure Phil isn’t gonna want to save Tommy if that situation happens. I mean, who wouldn’t choose their own children over their ‘work’ partner? Tommy ignores the fact that he doesn’t know what he himself would do either.

Finally, after about another week of Tommy helping Phil from the twins’ nest -something Phil had avoided vigorously- the twins let Tommy out. Sure, they’re a bit clingy when they spot him, especially if he’s wearing their clothes again, but it’s better than nothing.

After about another week, Techno and Wilbur inform Phil and Tommy that they’ve got a trip scheduled with some friends, so Tommy and Phil begin to make plans to do some vigilantism during that week time span because according to Phil, “When they get back, we’re both gonna be in their nest, we might be able to get out of a day’s worth in the nest if we hide in mine or yours, because they will respect the fact that we’re not on neutral territory or their territory, but the moment we’re out of that door, we’ll be pounced.” Tommy looks to Phil.

“So basically, you’re saying that maybe…”

“Yeah, let’s hide out in my nest when they get back.” Tommy nods, agreeing to the plan but he doesn’t see the subtle way that Phil’s wings puff in his self-pride.

After about a week of planning, Techno and Wilbur are leaving. Although, they hadn’t really told Phil exactly what they and their friends were gonna be doing on this trip. Wilbur grabs Techno’s arm and leads his twin towards the car. They wave to Tommy and Phil who stand in the doorway, watching them go. Neither seem too sad but neither are they overly joyous, it’s more like the two blondes don’t want the twins to leave, but they can’t really stop them from leaving because the twins are responsible adults. Nevermind the fact that Wilbur’s sure that if it were the other way around and Techno and him really didn’t want the two to leave, there might be some… slight kidnapping. Send the two into their instincts. Wilbur knows that Tommy has some, because the boy literally chirped at least once during the twins’ small experimental kidnapping session.

To be completely honest, the twins were overwhelmed by instincts for like one day, but decided to see how long they could get away with it. They got bored when a week was up and decided that Phil would probably let them hog Tommy for about two weeks before he would want Tommy back. Next, we’ll see how long we can keep Phil from Tommy, or how long until Tommy wants Phil back. Wilbur thinks to himself. During the car ride, the twins talk about that and many other less… familial things. They talk mostly about what they’re gonna do about this new hero that has been deemed unbeatable.

They talk about how to get rid of Dream.

But there’s also one other thing they talked about. They talked about how they were gonna get their hands on the Archaic Duo.

“So, Phil,” Tommy says to Phil, “can we go?” Phil nods in response. Phil had been oddly anxious to get back in the field, missing the rush of adrenaline that he often got when doing vigilante things.

“Got all your stuff, mate?” Phil asks as Tommy begins to walk out the door, Tommy turns and tugs on Phil’s sleeve. 

“Yes, yes, now let’s go!” Tommy tugs Phil out the door, both are wearing a hoodie and sweatpants, their masks tucked into the hoodie pocket, and their vigilante suits hidden away under the baggy material, so that they could sneak out of the house into the lower districts without being spotted. When they were in Tommy’s apartment, it was easier, because they were already in the lower districts, but now that they’re in Phil’s house which is closer to the middle district rather than where it used to be closer to the central district, it’s a lot harder.

Phil remembers when the twins asked if the Minecraft house could be closer to the middle district, because they didn’t like the rich people. Phil had agreed almost immediately, he too had gotten sick of the rich people very quickly and wanted to move away, but his boys had seemed to like it there so he didn’t do anything. They get to a dark, hidden alley and pack their hoodies and sweatpants away into the secret compartment that Tommy had built long ago for his vigilantism (he’s only fifteen, though, he shouldn’t have done this since he was what? Thirteen? Fourteen?).

“Ready, Coeus?” Tommy nods and the two fly up into the sky. Phil remembers explaining to Tommy what would probably happen to them if they ever got caught.

Tommy turns to Phil in a moment when the twins are both out in the garden, “What will happen if they catch us, Phil?”

Phil thinks for a minute before turning to Tommy, “Well, I think that since we’re really popular with the populace, they might put us in that zoo they just built. It’s got the capabilities to hold us, I’ve seen that supposed ‘Employee-Only’ sign on the big building. I don’t think that’s what that building is.”

Tommy shudders, “I think it would almost be kinder to kill us rather than let us have that fate.”

“Yeah, but at least if we were caught Techno and Wilbur could still come visit us, although, we couldn’t really…” Phil’s sentence trails off as he thinks about how much he would miss his boys.

“Maybe they’ll put us together if, if, they catch us.” Phil nods, not really listening to Tommy. Tommy can tell, so he just gives Phil a hug, “Phil, if we’re together, then it won’t be the worst fate in the world.” Phil smiles down at Tommy before ruffling the boy’s hair.

“No. No, I suppose it wouldn’t be.” 

“Look, Metis!” Phil winces slightly at the name. He’s still not quite used to it, although Metis was like super smart in some way, but Phil can’t remember off the top of his head what it was specifically. Phil looks to where Tommy’s pointing and he sees a man trying to rob an ATM. 

“Let’s go see what he’s up to, you sneak-”

“Behind, I know, Metis.” Tommy and Phil have been super careful about using their civilian names while on patrol, they usually just refer to the other with their vigilante names while on patrol.

“Okay, let’s go.” Phil smiles as he and his so-Tommy work together almost in sync. “Lovely night, isn’t it, mate?” The ATM burglar startles before getting on his knees. Phil stops, “I was just gonna ask what you were up to, no need for that. Why are you trying to take money that isn’t yours?” Phil asks as Tommy stalks closer.

“My wife and son are in the hospital and they won’t give them the medicine they need until I can pay for it! I can’t lose the only family I have left, Metis!” The man begins uncontrollably sobbing and Phil looks up to Coeus before crouching down before the emotional man. 

“Hey, mate, we’ll give you the money you need, but don’t steal from any more ATM’s, go ask for charity next time, that’s what it’s there for.” Phil tries to comfort the heavily sobbing man.

“I suggest Worker’s Greens and Yvette’s Memory Corporation as two starting points, they’re two charities that will actually give the money that they’ve been given.” The man nods and thanks the two before walking off with the $100 that Phil saw Tommy hand to him.

“Where’d you get the money, mate?” Phil asks.

“My savings, I always carry around a bit of cash to see if I can help anyone.” Phil ruffles the younger’s hair and they lift up into the sky. They have earpieces that were made by one of Tommy’s vigilante friends called Riot. Despite the name, Riot is actually pretty tech-savvy and makes some pretty great stuff.

“Coeus, you see that?” Phil points to a bank that looks oddly lit up for being almost one in the morning. Phil didn’t think that banks were open that late.

“That bank is usually closed by 9, Metis, someone’s in there.” The two fly down to the entrance and are jumped by people clothed in black. “Two-four!” Tommy calls to Phil. Phil moves into position, extending the long sword that Riot had just recently made for him and puts his back against Tommy’s. Tommy too draws his staff. Phil aims to block the people with sticks, knives, and batons, while Tommy does everything else. Not that there’s much left besides fists, but there are plenty of those to go around after Phil begins to disarm the group. 

There’s about fifteen people trying to jump on Phil and Tommy and by the end, Tommy and Phil have gotten that count to about two. Scratch that, zero because Tommy knocks the two out with one strike. The two tie up the people and leave them outside the bank. They leave an anonymous tip with the police that there were some people found outside the bank tied up with illegal weapons beside them. While swords, knives, staffs, and fist-throwing weren’t illegal, batons were, and ones with spikes on them? Those were definitely illegal.

The two go and change completely into their hoodies and sweatpants, leaving their suits there for Riot to pick up and clean for them. When they arrive home, sweaty and tired, they see two instinct-driven twins standing there, arms crossed and pupils dilated. “Actually we’re just gonna…” Phil and Tommy begin to slowly back out the door and the twins grab them quickly. No, they just grab Phil, who begins to protest lightly and shares a commiserating look with Tommy. Tommy laughs and sits on the couch, assuming that the twins aren't gonna come back for him. Then the door opens again and a woman with dark hair walks in. “Who are you?” They both ask at the same time.

The twins come down the stairs and spot the woman. It seems to snap them out of their instincts as they rush towards her, “Mum!” They shout getting on either side of the woman and curling their tails around her leg. Tommy ignores the spike of jealousy he feels that he isn’t getting any affection, but he’s used to it. Dream did it all the time when he was younger, so he’s used to it. He also ignores the pang in his heart when the twins attempt to coerce the woman- their Mum?- into their nest.

“Boys, boys, what will I do with you?” she giggles. “Boss said I could have two months off for taking Clara’s shift, so you get me for a few more months, but the Boss thinks that it will get super busy within a month and a half so I might have to go back early and then you’ll have me for another three months or so, I think. I shoudn’t have to–” Tommy can’t hear the rest of the woman’s sentence as the twins lead her up the stairs. Tommy sits on the couch, curled up with the book, reading silently.

Tommy falls asleep reading his book and wakes up to a book on his face. He laughs to himself before beginning to make breakfast. He makes breakfast for everybody else and leaves it outside the door he hears Wilbur and Techno’s soft snores before making himself breakfast. He continues throughout the day to cook, clean, do some laundry, tend the garden for Techno, and read. 

The second day that the other four are in Phil’s room, Tommy does some of Phil’s work for him, slipping it under the door for the older man to check when he gets the chance. He repeats the second day’s pattern for a week and a half.

He’s so tired he’s about to drop from exhaustion but he’s got to keep up or Dream will punish him. He hears a familiar trill, one that calls for him, but he ignores it. It’s not really for Tommy, he knows, it’s for Phil’s sons or maybe that woman who is probably Phil’s wife that Tommy had thought was nonexistent until now.

He continues to clean, to cook, to do Phil’s work, ignore Phil’s trills, tend to Techno’s garden, read the dictionary (why? Dream won’t hurt him if he thinks that Tommy’s actually learning something), and do some more cooking. Within this pattern, Tommy takes less and less care of himself as the week drags on. 

He doesn’t really know how he got to this point, but he’s here now and he can’t seem to break himself out of it.

So when a hand grabs his shoulder, he startles and freaks. Tommy ducks out of the hand’s grasp and bolts. He had been downstairs cleaning some pictures so he scrambles up the ladder he had left out and sits at the top of the precarious structure. The person is right on his heels but Tommy grabs onto the light and kicks the ladder over before he shimmies up the light fixture.

“Fledgling! Fledgling-no-climb!” Phil calls. He makes grabby hands for Tommy before he flaps his wings, intent on getting closer. But Tommy’s mindset isn’t in Phil’s house right now. It’s in a house far away in the central district, in the basement, wrapped in chains and freezing, starving, just wanting some nice touch for once. Not one that hurts.

Tommy hears a trill. That’s weird, Tommy didn’t think that anyone besides him was an elytrian, but Tommy knows that he’s not even that. Tommy’s a phoenix. But… that sounded like a phoenix call. 

There’s another one. And another. Tommy slowly starts to see a bright light that isn’t usually in Dream’s basement. He now hears his name called and two sets of chuffs. A hand settles gently on Tommy’s hand and Tommy snaps out of it, realizing where he is. He blushes deeply and grabs Phil’s hand to let the older man help him down to the ground. Phil is instantly wrapped around Tommy as soon as they are on the ground.

“Phil, let me see your fledgling.” The woman says. Phil hisses softly and Tommy tenses. “Philza Minecraft, I will take away your cuddling privileges.” Phil hisses again and tightens his embrace around Tommy. The twins are oddly quiet, although they are looking at Tommy intently. “Philza…” Phil hisses again, beginning to back away. Suddenly, Tommy is ripped away from Phil and is in the woman’s arms. He startles and reaches for Phil. “Nuh uh, sweetheart, Phil’s in trouble. Now let me see you, awww, aren’t you the sweetest thing? Come on then, we’re gonna spend some quality time together, Phil you can have the twins, I’m taking Tommy.” Phil whines, reaching for Tommy. Tommy reaches back but the woman’s tail flicks Phil’s hand away. “No, Phil, you couldn’t share, so why should I?” The twins start to follow the woman but she sends them away, “Go back and snuggle with your dad, he’s lonely, listen to him.” And indeed, Phil is making very pitiful, lonely sounds. The twins share a look but obey and go back to Phil. “Now, where’s your room, sweetheart?” Tommy is slightly afraid of this woman, so he dutifully leads her to his room. “Aww, your nest is so beautiful, it actually looks comfortable, not at all like the twins’ nest, huh?”

“Sure, miss.” Tommy bows his head slightly.

“Now, where are your wings? Phil doesn’t call just anybody his fledgling. Not that the twins know that, but hey, they didn’t ask.” She winks and Tommy finds himself giggling. “Not to scare you, sweetheart, but, I know you haven’t turned fifteen yet.” Tommy’s head whips around to her. “Coeus, I know lots of things, and I’m willing to help you and Phil while I’m here.” Tommy feels a sense of trustworthiness surrounding this woman. He still doesn’t know who she is though. “Oh, I just forgot to introduce myself to you. I’m Kristin Minecraft, Phil’s wife and the twins’ mother. What Phil doesn’t know is that the twins are actually my biological children. When I was younger, I made a lot of mistakes but one of those mistakes was the twins, but my mother-” so Kristin proceeds to tell Tommy how she came to have the twins and how her mother took them and gave them up for adoption but they couldn’t seem to find a home but they somehow made it to Phil and Kristin and Kristin’s instincts instantly recognized the twins as her sons and they recognized her, so now they’re together. By the time that Kristin got to the end of her story, Tommy felt comfortable enough to snuggle into Kristin’s side. Kristin, being a piglin-elytrian hybrid, had summonable wings but appeared to be mostly piglin. Why she was telling all of this to Tommy, he didn’t know, but he was glad that she trusted him.

“You know, you’re a lot nicer than my mum was.” Tommy says after a bit of silence.

“I know.”

“Was it just me or did I hear Phil calling for me a lot?” Kristin nods with a fond smile.

“He was. He really wanted you in the nest, but we didn’t have room for you. He didn’t care though, so I may or may not have distracted him a lot so he wouldn’t just go out and kidnap you. I feel, though, you’re a bit used to them just randomly kidnapping you.” She says with a knowing look and a bright smile.

“Yeah, a bit. To be honest, I felt kind of left out when no one came for me, but I should be used to it right? I mean you probably somehow know why but Dream-” she lets out a growl, startling Tommy.

“He will get the consequences for what he did to you.” She says. Her ears twitch and she looks up from where she had been looking into Tommy’s eyes. “Boys, go back to Phil, you’re not coming in here.” Tommy hears two whines. “They’re so stubborn. Phil will probably be trying to sneak in here later. I just want some alone time with our new fledgling.”

“What-”

“Don’t worry about it, Toms.” She says, then she sends him into his instincts, making him super cuddly. But she also does it so he’ll imprint on her as a mother figure. He’s basically already accepted Phil as a father figure, and the twins just need a bit more time alone with Tommy and then she’ll have her final son.

Chapter Text

Tommy yawns and stretches as he wakes up. He hears Phil coo, but he thinks nothing of it until he hears Phil trill for him. He rubs his eyes and makes a move to go to Phil, used to the older wishing for him to cuddle with. “No, sweetheart, stay here with Mum.” Tommy looks up at Kristin.

“Eh, whatever, I’m too exhausted to try and figure that out. Phil, don’t you have that one report due soon?” Tommy asks, knowing that Phil actually did and one of them needed to get it done. Phil says nothing, only making grabby hands for Tommy while sitting pitifully in the corner. “Why is he in the corner?”

“I pitied him so I told him he could come in but he had to sit in the corner.” Tommy nods confused, “Yeah, I’ll have the twins bring the report materials in and you can work on it. I can bribe Phil with Tommy time later. He’ll forgive me either way.” Tommy giggles, not completely understanding that the bribe for Phil was him, as Tommy was still half-asleep.

Techno comes in with the things Tommy needed to finish Phil’s report. Tommy fills it out rather swiftly, impressing Kristin with the speed at which Tommy accomplishes it. He looks it over a couple of times before sending it back to Phil’s desk.

“So, me helping?” Kristin asks. Tommy looks at her and sighs.

“Sure. I can’t believe that you somehow managed to get me to think of you as a mother.” Tommy laughs. Kristin laughs as well and ruffles Tommy’s hair. He moves away, but doesn’t fight when Kristin’s hand follows his head. 

So, Kristin and Phil finally let Tommy out of the nest, and about a week after that, the twins say that they’re going out to eat for supper and the others just nod. Kristin hands Phil and Tommy some comms and a wristwatch. “The watch will show a map if you tap it three times.” Phil and Tommy nod and slip it on.

They spent months working with Kristin, and avoiding letting the twins know about their side hobby. Almost every time they went out, they would run into Ichor and Orpheus, they would escape the two villains every single time.

“Let’s go.” They slip out the window and through the alleyways to the lower districts.

“So Metis,” Phil groans, still sick of the name, but kind of used to it by now, “I heard that–”

“You two need to get down to the Badlands HQ.” Kristin says over the comms, cutting off Coeus’ next words. The two nod and respond with affirmation and run towards the Badlands Hero HQ. “Ichor and Orpheus are trying to burn it down and the Headquarters’ water-bender is on medical leave from fighting one of the other Headquarters’ heroes.”

“Why do they fight amongst themselves? It seems counter-productive,” Coeus mentions as he flies beside Metis.

“You would think that they were smart, but I don’t think they are,” Phil replies. When they’re out and about, Tommy and Phil thought it would be a good idea to think of each other as their vigilante names in case they run across any mind-readers. Rare, but not unheard of.

“Anyway, the HQ is on fire and it’s trying to spread, I suggest evacuating the citizens that are trapped in the Headquarters since the heroes are evacuating the rest of the area, be careful, …. Might…..out…..careful!” Then Kristin cuts out entirely. We exchange looks and fly onto the top of the building.

“As the kind of birds, we won’t get hurt too much right?” Tommy asks.

“If we stay in there too long, we might overheat, but I think we’ll be fine, just don’t split too far from me, okay mate?” Tommy nods and Phil and Tommy rush in through the roof door, flying civilians that they find out the nearest window to the street below with a warning to not stick around any longer than they have to. Phil is just climbing back in a window when he hears a desperate chirp from his fledgling. “Coeus!”

“Dad!” Tommy calls back, and Phil rushes to where a bar has fallen on Tommy’s leg, there’s a civilian right there, a tall kid with dark hair with some white streaks running through it. Phil looks between his fledgling and the other kid, “Take him out, Metis, I’ll be here,” Phil nods and hurries the kid to the bottom floor and rushes back upstairs. “Phil…” Tommy chirps softly and Phil trills comfort back to him. 

Techno watches as Coeus and Metis rush into the burning building. He admires their willingness to risk their lives, but messing with Technoblade’s family is a big no-no.

He doesn’t know what they have to do with Phil and Tommy, but he’s going to find out sooner or later. And with Wilbur by his side, no can truly stop him. They’ve armed themselves, but right now, they have to wait for the opportune time to strike.

“It’s okay, I’ll get it off, mate,” Phil stands by the giant bar and lifts, Tommy pulls his leg out and clambers backward. Phil tries to softly put the bar down, but it’s heavy and it plops down hard. Phil and Tommy immediately move into action, nothing good comes from waiting. “Can you walk?” Tommy nods and stands, without a limp, Phil thinks gratefully. Tommy and Phil rush out the window and fly up into the sky. “We got everyone on all the floors, right?” Tommy nods from Phil’s right side. Phil sighs in relief. “Good.”

“Mum, can you hear us?” Static crackles in Phil’s ears, so he shuts it back off.

“Guess not,” Phil replies instead, “Wanna do a normal patrol?” Tommy nods and they fly down to the rooftops, jumping across them. They stop to sit on the side of a rooftop. They talk for a while, relaxing like they always do on the rooftop of some lower-district shop.

After a while, they hear a dark chuckle, “Well, well, well, look what we’ve found, Ichor, two little birdies.” Phil and Tommy snap their heads around but are met with bags over their heads. To be fair, when birds are suddenly put in dark spaces, they relax for a couple of moments, no matter how much control they have over their instincts.

They are quickly restrained and picked up. They exchange chirps past the bags over their heads, trills wondering about the other’s safety. Whoever is carrying Phil, shoves him harshly into a tight space, he feels Tommy shoved against him. He chirps worriedly, receiving an ‘ okay! ’ trill.

Phil must’ve fallen asleep at one point because when he opens his eyes, he sees Tommy tied to a chair across from him. He goes to speak but finds a gag in his mouth, so he makes a trill. “ Fledgling-okay? Fledgling-wake!” Tommy shakes his head and looks up at Phil. They exchange a worried look and Phil panics when Ichor bangs open a nearby door.

“So… Metis and Coeus, two lil birdies who have been causing many problems for my brother and me,” Ichor stands behind Tommy and whispers menacingly in his ear. Phil hisses at the blatant disrespect towards his fledgling. “You don’t like that, Metis? Maybe you wouldn’t like this either!” Ichor drags a sword across Tommy’s forearm, Tommy whimpers and Phil’s vision turns red. An ugly, ear-piercing shriek echoes past the confines of his mask and gag. Ichor jumps back, shock taking over his features before he grins maniacally.

By the end, Tommy and Phil are tired, and they are wondering if anyone has noticed they’re missing yet, Kristin won’t expect them back until the morning, and Phil’s sure that it’s not morning yet, it’s probably barely one in the morning, but Ichor and Orpheus are very awake still. They try to drag information out of Tommy and Phil, but neither is giving in.

“How do you know the Crafts?” Orpheus asks, and neither Phil nor Tommy say anything.

“Why do you always appear around the same time that Phil and Tommy leave, hmm? Are you hurting them? Blackmailing them?”

Silence. Every question they ask gets a reply of silence.

“Okay, I’m tired of waiting, Ichor, I’m pulling the masks off,” Ichor makes some sort of affirmation noise. Phil and Tommy hurt too much to complain. Orpheus pulls roughly at the clasps at the back of Phil’s head and jerks the mask off at the same time as Ichor pulls Tommy’s mask off. At the sight of his fledgling, Phil trills sadly, Tommy returns that trill but Ichor and Orpheus freeze.

“Phil?” “Tommy?” Ichor and Orpheus snap their heads between Tommy and Phil, they snap out of it and start untying Phil and Tommy, catching the two when they slump forward. “Tech, we’re idiots,” Orpheus says. Ichor whines, low and desperate. It reminds Phil of Techno’s whines and so he trills reassurance back.

Ichor and Orpheus pull their masks off and… Wilbur and Techno?!

Phil trills lovingly and reaches for his nestlings. He winces as a wound stretches but continues to reach for all of his nestlings. Wilbur settles under Phil’s arm and Techno lifts Tommy into his arms. Phil chirps for his fledgling, spotting multiple wounds on the child.

Techno winces and eases closer to Philza. Phil chirps lovingly into his son’s face before gently preening his fledgling’s wings. He preens softly, chirping all the while. His other sons talk, maybe to Philza himself, but Phil doesn’t notice, too enthralled with preening Tommy. Wilbur shifts to hold Phil better and rubs harshly against a wound. Blackspots fill Phil’s vision and he passes out.

“Phil!” Wilbur shouts, grabbing Phil better as he passes out. “We need to get them to our med room, now,” Wilbur says, Techno nods and they lift the two blonde birds and rush towards their medical room. They carefully treat the two and wait anxiously for them to wake up.

Tommy trills softly as he opens his eyes. “Tech? Wil? What happened?” The twins exchanged a look. Do they tell the truth? That they had captured two vigilantes who were always in their path and tortured them? Only to find out that they were two of the most important people in the twins’ lives? They nod. Phil and Tommy deserve the truth.

“You want the truth?” Tommy nods, and Techno sighs and lays a gentle hand on Tommy’s curls. “We’re Ichor and Orpheus,” Technoblade motions to himself and then Wilbur, “You’re Coeus, and he’s Metis, we didn’t know until… after… we uhh–” Techno cuts himself and looks away guiltily. Tommy sits up with a wince.

“Oh, it’s okay, Tech, I forgive you, Phil will too, it’s just… we were trying to protect each other and you guys. If we’d done the same thing to you, wouldn’t you have forgiven us?” Tommy asks, Technoblade and Wilbur nod reluctantly.

Phil chirps softly a couple of hours later, after Tommy, Technoblade, and Wilbur had been talking. “Hmm? Oh. I thought that was a dream,” Phil says, yawning, “But it’s nice to know my boys are very protective of us.” Wilbur sits next to Phil and gently brushes away some stray bits of hair that had fallen into the man’s face.

“Sorry, dad, we didn’t know!” Wilbur cries, burying his face into Phil’s shoulder.

“It’s alright, mate, but your mum is going to be worrying if we don’t get home soon,” Phil says. The twins exchange looks and nods, before scooping up the two gently and cautiously. They carry them down various flights of stairs and through doors, many twists and turns until Tommy is confused and isn’t sure he’d be able to find his way back to the room if need be.

There’s a small garage with a fancy-looking car parked in it. The twins load Tommy and Phil into the backseat, buckling their seatbelts and laying the seats as far back as they’ll go. Tommy grabs Phil’s hand and winces as he stretches a painful wound. Phil trills and Tommy responds with a chirp. The twins make a rumble, and Tommy calms. 

“We’re almost home, guys,” Techno says from the driver’s seat. His brow is pinched, indicating that he’s stressed.

“Thanks, Techie,” Tommy says, hoping to calm his nerves. Techno looks at Tommy in the mirror and his brow lift in amusement, while his eyes soften in fondness.

Chapter Text

Phil watches as the house becomes bigger out the front windshield. He was missing his home, he also wonders if Kristin was still home. She might’ve left for work. She did mention something about being on call for emergency duties today. Phil sighs to himself, wondering how he got such wonderful children. He stifles a groan and a wince as he moves too suddenly, pulling at wounds on his sides. He sees Wilbur’s tearful gaze meet his own in the mirror. “It’s alright, you didn’t know, mate,” Wilbur looks away guiltily and gets out of the car as Techno pulls into the driveway. Techno comes around to get Phil and Wilbur gently lifts Tommy. Phil’s wings flare slightly as he’s moved a bit more upwards. He warbles in pain and Tommy trills in response.

“Sorry,” Techno apologizes. Phil coos and pats his face with his semi-good arm. Phil’s mostly just proud of his nestlings’ desire to protect their flock- er sounder- whatever. They were worried about them and hadn’t known it was them all along. If Tommy or Phil had simply just said who they were, this probably could’ve been avoided, but… Phil’s not… the sanest person. Nor the smartest. He just doesn’t notice some things. He's not an observant person, but he is very good at deciphering truth and lies. It’s why no lie has ever gotten past Phil. Half-truths are technically true, so Phil struggles to decipher those. He can catch them sometimes if it’s Tommy telling them, but Tommy hardly ever does it because he is a terrible liar, to begin with.

Phil loves his little fledgling for that though. Such an honest boy, even if he’s trying to lie to Phil’s face. Phil turns his head to look back at Wilbur, who is holding his fledgling. Tommy is curled up in Wilbur’s hold, his golden wings stretching out behind him. They’re in rough shape because of the stress of being hidden away most of the day. Even if they are tucked away behind the fluffiest jacket Phil could get his hands on on such short notice. Tommy loves the jacket that Phil had given him and wore it nearly everywhere. Since they were in the colder months of winter now, Tommy wearing a jacket all the time wasn’t as suspicious as it would’ve been in the warmer months.

Phil knew that there were conditions for Tommy staying with him. He couldn’t have his wings out all the time or the twins would catch on quickly. Tommy couldn’t fall into his instincts very often if the twins weren’t in their instincts. Phil couldn’t have Tommy stay in the nest as much as he wanted and Tommy couldn’t ever take off the coat or cape that Phil and Techno had gifted the younger blond, but Phil was alright with that because Tommy was taking care of himself, the boy could have his wings out more often, and it had seemed like things were getting better.

Now though, Tommy and Phil don’t have to hide anything from Techno and Wilbur. The twins know they’re vigilantes now, they know that Tommy has wings. Techno and Wilbur also know that Phil and Tommy know that they’re villains. Phil will probably have to talk to the twins about that later but still, he thinks they’ll be fine.

Tommy wasn’t entirely certain that he wasn’t about to be murdered by the twins. He knew that they probably wouldn’t murder him slowly, they might make it quick because of their relationship. He accidentally lets a shrill warble loose and Phil nearly tips him and Technoblade over in his attempt to see Tommy. Phil trills comfortingly as Techno kicks the door in. Tommy cowers away from Wilbur’s attempts to kiss his hair and flinches when Wilbur growls. Tommy didn’t know what to do. He didn’t. He could sit there and let Wilbur shower him in affection only to murder him later, or he could just push Wilbur away and make a break for it?

Phil wouldn’t let me get that far though, Tommy thinks bitterly to himself, might as well try though. Tommy sighs and waits for Wilbur to shift slightly before pushing against Wilbur. In his shock, Wilbur drops Tommy, and Tommy scrambles for an escape. Phil warbles at Tommy, calling for his fledgling -nearly getting Tommy to turn back- but Tommy’s survival instincts kick in before he lets himself go back to Phil, Wilbur, and Techno. Tommy hisses when he pulls too hard on a stitch. He feels hot and funny and just wants his nest with Phil and Wilbur and Techno, but… he has to keep running.

Why does he have to run again? Tommy feels like there was a good reason. He stops at the fenceline, confused because… Tommy’s apartment didn’t have a fence around it. There also weren’t flowers planted along the inside of the fence. Tommy gets distracted by the flowers for a bit. He hears footsteps and whines, calling for his protector. 

Tommy has a protector? He doesn’t remember the last time he had one. Surely he would remember, right? Hmmm, oh well, time to go!

Tommy grabs hold of the fence and slides through, ignoring the slight buzz he gets from the metal bars, and walks away from the fence. He hears yelling behind him and-

The fledgling hears a call for him. Tommy nearly sprints back to the call, but he was leaving for a reason. Tommy wouldn’t leave his caretaker behind, would he?

Tommy shakes his foggy head, trying to clear the obnoxious mist. He hears a loud growl and his body freezes. Predator-hide-scared-predator one side of him chants.

Protector-want-protector-hear-protector the other calls. Tommy’s internal war makes him pause as he ponders what to do. Arms wrap around him and he panics. “FLOCK-FLOCK-SCARED-HELP-FLOCK-HELP-SORRY-BAD!” Tommy screams, he hears his caretaker’s calls before he hears his protector’s soft chuffs. He melts into his protector’s arms and curls close. “Didn’t-mean-bad-please-protect” Tommy trills into his protector’s shirt. 

He doesn’t know that his protector doesn’t completely understand. His protector only hears the word protect. His protector gently scoops him up, pink hair flowing over his shoulder. Tommy chirps and tries to move closer to warm-warm-protector-warm-cold-cold. His protector lays the back of his hand on Tommy’s forehead and makes a whine. Tommy’s other protector responds with a snort and Tommy trills a welcome. 

His head hurts.

He’s sleepy.

Maybe… maybe he can just go to sleep….

Technoblade has seen many things and done many things. Not one of them was saving his dad and his soon-to-be younger brother from himself. Then again, he’s never had to before. Technoblade feels Tommy’s fever from about an inch away from the boy’s head. “Dad, snap out of it,” Technoblade calls to his dad. His dad, as expected doesn’t respond in Common, just reaching for his fledgling. Techno rolls his eyes and takes Phil up into his arms from Wilbur’s embrace, letting him coddle the fledgling. Wilbur whines but clings to Techno’s arm. Techno wraps his tail around his brother’s arm.

Techno walks into the house and up the stairs to his dad’s nest, he lays the two birdbrains on the bed and lets his dad demand whatever he wants. Technoblade makes Wilbur help him fetch Phil’s ingredients for a fever-ridden fledgling and the two split up the twenty things between the two of them. 

How his dad was sane enough to tell the two of them what he wanted, Techno had no clue, but whatever needs-

Techno hears Phil trill, Wilbur and him hadn’t even gotten down the hall yet. They lock eyes. Oh no, what happened while we were gone? Did someone break in? Did something happen to-

Technoblade opens the door and sees Tommy glowing brightly. Phil’s hand is still resting on Tommy’s arm. Techno watches as the golden glow runs through what seems to be Tommy’s very veins, setting broken limbs, and healing cuts, and when the glow reaches where Phil’s hand lays, it rushes into him too. The glow goes through the two’s wings and Techno approaches slowly. What?

Behind him, Wilbur approaches as well. They share a look. 

Should we touch them?

I don’t know.

I’m going to touch them. Techno rolls his eyes as Wilbur reaches forward. Might as well join him… Techno thinks to himself and lays his hand gently on Tommy’s leg. He feels something tingle in his hand before his brain seems to fall asleep and he drifts into his own mind.

It’s almost like… something is causing him from feeling what’s happening to his body. Technoblade feels three pieces click into what seems to be his very soul and when he blinks next, Phil is sitting by Tommy’s head, gently massaging the boy’s head.

“Curious boys, aren’t you? Go shut the door, Kristin knows how to get in if she comes home while we’re here, so make sure you lock it,” Techno nods absentmindedly. His sore arm feels almost brand new. As if it’s not 20-some years old, Techno huffs to himself. Technoblade shakes his head to clear the last of the slight mist covering his mind and shuts the door, locking it before he heads back to the nest. When he turns back around he sees Wilbur sitting in the nest, Phil’s wing over his shoulder, gently holding Tommy’s right hand. Techno sighs fondly and moves to sit on Tommy’s left side, taking up that hand to hold. 

Phil reaches his other wing around Techno’s shoulders, and Techno feels him and his instincts relax. Sounder-safe-safe-good-brute is the last thing Techno thinks before drifting to sleep.

Chapter Text

Phil hums absentmindedly. He’d nearly forgotten about Tommy’s phoenix status. The downy gray limbs that separate Tommy from a regular human are a stark contrast to the fiery colors that Phil remembers phoenixes having. 

Then again, Phil’s dark wings are also a stark contrast to those colors, so who is he to say anything? Phil vaguely remembers a time during one of their vigilante stunts of a time when Tommy had been badly injured and Phil had used his healing powers on the younger. He’d also gotten the typical–

Typical burns.

That come from healing someone.

The ones that Tommy has now. 

Phil quickly rolls up Tommy’s sleeve, careful not to accidentally whack his other two nestlings in the process of doing so. Sure enough, burns akin to sunburns stretch from Tommy’s fingertips all the way to his elbow on both arms. That’s not… that’s not too bad. 

But if Tommy has learned how to somehow lessen the side-effects via another route, how would I know about that? After all, it’s been about five hundred years since Kristin explained it to me. 

And like the idiot he is, he’d forgotten to ask Kristin about it while she was still here. 

A Gods’ convention or something. When he’d asked about Kristin’s other life, she’d simply said “It’s too complicated to explain and too complex for your mind to comprehend. A simple matter for me is an existential crisis for you, love.”

Phil still doesn’t understand that whole prospect, but he supposes that was the point. He’s also not in the mood to try and have a potential “mid-life” crisis right now. Phil stands and pops his back. He groans and chuckles. He really is getting old now, isn’t he?

He walks downstairs and grabs the sunburn lotion, he can already feel his bond with Tommy beginning to strengthen again as his fledgling begins to awaken. 

The bond between phoenix hybrid parent and fledgling was always stronger than most other bonds a phoenix can form. Phil’s not sure that his sons ever got the chance to bond with him like this. 

Phil truly mourns that experience, he’d completely forgotten that he could do it until today. He really is an idiot, isn’t he? He hears the front door open and he turns with a smile to see his wife trying to quietly shut the door. “Hey, mate,” Phil calls as she turns. She startles before she smiles fondly.

“Hello, Phil, how’re you and Tommy doing? I heard about what happened,” Kristin sets her bag -which Phil lovingly teases is the old Mary Poppins equivalent of a modern day purse- on the rug by her shoes and hangs her veil on the hat rack. She walks up to him and gives him a kiss. She pulls away with a smile, “I also see you’re starting to remember all the powers I gave you,” she boops his nose, “silly old bird forgot about all the neat tricks I gave him.”

“No, I just uhh–” Phil can’t think of a good excuse before she laughs fondly. 

“Don’t worry about it, dear, let’s go take care of our nestlings, shall we?” Her tail swishes as she walks past him. He follows, carrying the sunburn lotion with him. She sits herself on the edge of the nest, Phil decides the best course of action now is to toss the bottle of sunburn cream to her. “Phil!” She scolds, he grins as she catches it easily.

“What?” He smiles innocently, “I haven’t done anything, mate.”

“You sly old dog,” she teases, “banished for a whole minute.” She turns away, her tail flicking playfully on the floor. Giving Phil the cue that she’s not actually mad at him and is feeling playful. 

“Oh no! Whatever shall I do for a whole minute whilst I am banished?!” Phil lifts a hand dramatically to his forehead, looking toward the ceiling as though there was something up there that would aid his troubles. 

“Yeah, yeah, you’re banished from the nest until I get this cream applied, then you may enter you sneaky devil, you,” she points a finger in his direction, a coy smile on her lips, before she turns back to her previous task of applying the sunburn cream to Tommy’s arms. 

She gently massages it into his skin and Phil feels a bit of guilt rise over him as he had been the one to not realize what Tommy’s body was doing. 

His fledgling had felt safe enough to relax and heal itself, but then Phil hadn’t been paying attention and his fledgling began to heal his flock. Phil’s forever proud of Tommy and there’s nothing in this world that can change that, but Phil still feels guilty for the extra bit of pain he’s caused his son. 

“Alright you cheeky chipmunk, get over here,” Kristin teases.

“Not the childish nicknames again,” Phil groans. He remembers when he’d first told Kristin that he’d only ever heard the nicknames used as a term of endearment and they’d never been directed at him in that way, she’d immediately began to use them as compliments for him. Even when his face was as red as a tomato and his face temperature was high enough to be an admissible hospital fever range. 

“Oh, sweetie pie, whatever do you mean?” Kristin smiles slyly at him and Phil groans again, but sits on the other side of the nest from her, raising his wings to cover them all in his wingspan. Tommy melts into the pillows, the twins following soon afterwards. 

With the Greek equivalent of a goddess, two powerful villains, and two powerful vigilantes/phoenixes on a team, that side is bound to win. Before the twins had found out, before Phil himself had discovered that his sons were actually well-known villains, they’d been on two sides, but now they’re on each other’s sides. Forever going into battle for their flock mates. 

Phil remembers the piles upon piles of excuses he and Tommy had created to keep Techno and Wilbur satisfied, but there was only one reason they hadn’t told the truth. 

Fear. 

They’d both been afraid of what the twins would do to Tommy if Phil didn’t have a good reason to let the younger live with them. A live-in intern/apprentice/house-keeper? Perfect excuse for the twins not to kill Tommy. 

Although, Phil knows better than anyone, the only reason the twins didn’t immediately kill Tommy for stepping foot in their house without their permission is because Phil didn’t. 

They’ve still got some talking to do, and Kristin will probably not want to wait a single heart beat to get it done either. She’s efficient like that. It’s one of the reasons Phil fell in love with her. 

She isn’t the type to beat around the bush until it’s broken and there’s nothing left to do but confront the issue. She will dig through that bush to find the issue and if the solution isn’t there, she’ll go looking for it even harder. 

Phil’s not excited to talk about everything his body had been put through, but he’s glad to know that his sons are protective over him and Tommy. 

Maybe a little too much now that Phil thinks about it.

That seems like an issue for later though, right now he’s got three nestlings tucked between him and his mate. 

Four reasons to love, three reasons to parent, two reasons to fly, and one reason to slowly and brutally murder Dream for touching his fledgling ever.