Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Clutching the kitchen knife, he stood his ground. There was a small girl hiding behind him, and three very drunk men cornering the younger 2. Tommy was at the time 14. The girl looked only 5. The men had guns. He watched a villain run overhead, mumbling something. Tommy shouted for help the villain turned to see what it was, his eyes widened and he reached for his gun, surprised but glad. He smiled, smile fading as the villain cursed at ran once more, grin returning when a hero crossed over, shouting again, the hero shot a sympathetic look at the boy before continuing. Even the villain did more than than. He felt tears well up. His attention fell back the the drunks. He was going to die here and now. Shit. Shit. ShitShitshitshitshitshitshitshi- he was snapped out of his spiralling thoughts when a thud came from the right everyone turned to it. A boar skull, eyeless with tusks protruding from the side, stared back. An axe swung and blood flew up the walls as the girl behind his back dug further into him clutching the shirt. He dropped the knife and turned around then placed us hands over her eyes bending down to reach better he heard “I’ll kill you, bitch!” Followed by a gun shot. She flinched. He never heard the bullet reach the walls, meaning the shot upwards or hit its target. Another gun shot, this one hit the wall. he smiled at the girl. “Are you hurt?” He asked her. She shook her head placing her hands over his. Another gunshot. A sharp pain went up in his leg. He flinched but didn’t pull away his hand.
He looked down to see it only graced his leg, the wound was shallow. He took a shaky breath the sound of the gun shooting still rung in his ears, bouncing around in his brain.
“Kid” “KID!” He heard Cerus shouting he looked up, he seemed worried.
“Deimos said you need a little help,” he said, pulling out a small box with a little Red Cross on the lid from his coat pocket. “You’re lucky we found you. Would hate to know what would’ve happened if you got caught by ‘Em” Tommy nodded as Cerus, not the most wanted , but def the most feared villain, pulled a roll of bandages from his box. He smiled at Tommy and tommy smiled back.

“Tommy!” A voice ringed through his mind. He tried not to flinch. He liked dream, dream was his friend. Friends don’t flinch when they here their friend calling out to them. He could ignore the scars. Dream gave him a apartment (even if it’s trash), dream gave him a job (even if it was as a sucky sidekick). “Tommy we have a mission tonight, get you stuff ready, we go in 5.” Tommy groaned, getting up from the desk he’d been sleeping at in the study of dreams house, despite the pretty shit apartment he’d been ‘gifted’ dream had a awesome house, with 3 large floors and, Like, super cool crap everywhere, it easily beats the 3 room apartment with 1 window in his room. He walked over to his bag, the suit and powered accessories were bought by dream and costed more than his apartment and everything inside. His suit was pretty simple, a bright red hoodie that’s way to big and has enough pockets that, if you tried (which Tommy had NOT), you could fit an entire person (spread out of course). He had a porcelain white face mask to hide is face carved with a black face on it(matching his team, he had a face like :(, Drista’s mask looked like :P, and dream’s face mask looked like :), though the edge of dreams mask was lined with LEDS)though, inside the mask was a air filter for protection against gasses and a voice modifier. He had a pair of skinny jeans today, (despite the fact that they were skinny jean, they were still loose fitting on him) However he tended to just wear whatever pants he wanted. Additionally, reinforced combat boots. Recently he’d got a bit of under amour, because dream wanted to stop him from getting hurt so much. At the start Drista made them all rings allowing them to slightly change their appearance, like hair cut of a new freckle, though they where all cursed. Tommy’s curse was he must make a cringy pun from the time of it being put on to it being taken off, failure with result in immediate being struck by lightning, which would kill him.

He put his clothes on first out of habit, then remembering after he got it his clothes. He stared down at the under amour, that would undeniably rub uncomfortably against his skin. The under amour became over amour and, to be honest, it didn’t look that bad.

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Hero fight on top of an apartment complex !
Hero Oneiroi with his to sidekick Eris are fighting Aether and Cerus! The battle is on the roof of an apartment building, security cameras show that most of the residents have evacuated the building, however, it seems a small piglin hybrid child is still in the building! What will happen to the kid? Who will win? Continuing the batt-
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Tubbo turned off the tv.”Ranboo there’s still a kid in there,” a hand reaches over to holding the suit that Tubbo had grown familiar with. “That’s not to far from here,” Ranboo stated smiling, already wiggling into his suit. “ race you!” Tubbo’s face widening into a massive shit eating grin, Ranboo’s evil grin matching his own.

Momus heard the faint cries before the fight, running of under the excuse of clearing the building, Aether saw it all. Deimos got in place hiding around the child. Momus was the older sidekick to Oneiroi, he cared for children especially, and Eris, the other sidekick to Oneiroi has the power of creating, she would be able to create something to escape.Momus would then be easier to contain.Earlier they’d destroyed parts of the building , resulting in a lot of falling rubble.This boy got stuck in the rumble, they normally would help the boy, then cover it all up like it never happened however, they sprung a plan to catch the sidekick .

Momus saw the boy before anything. He ran to help the kid without noticing the vigilantes the the door way, moving the rubble he cut his hand. He pause and looked down at his hand, oozing slowly with red sticky blood. Sighing, he continued, slower than before. Once he had unburied the boy, he pulled a small box from his pocket. Then pulling out a bandage, he wrapped it around his palm, looking up at the piglin hybrid (based on appearances alone) in front of him “hurt?” He questioned. He shook his head.Tommy furrowed his brows, struggling to bandage his hand. “W-who’s that?” The boy questioned, pointing behind him. Eyes widened and he whipped his head around. Looking like deer in headlights were the vigilante pair, Lethe and Talos.He laughed at the slightly humorous sight. The man that looked ready to fight for a life in a green sweater with an embroidered honeybee on the front, his brown hair covered his eyes. The ridiculously tall illegal hero besides the bee boy in a dual tone black and white suit. “How do you see through your mask?” The tall one, Lethe, if Tommy’s memory was right, enquired. Taking the opportunity make a joke, he simply shrugged, “can’t you see through porcelain?”
“Your not going to arrest us?” The bee boy ,Talos, based on the stupidly casual attire questioned, sounding off edge.
“Nah, I should bit no one really cares wether I do or don’t since you doing good. Just don’t tell k?” The vigilantes muttered some agreements. “Oh also, can you take him home? I should join the fight after this.” A smile was shared between all parties when suddenly a sharp pain flared up from the side of his head and yelling was heard from above from the vigilantes while he blacked out.

Tubbo looked in horror as the sidekick fell to the floor, Deimos standing over him “you killed him!” His startled partner yelled from beside him. “Wha- no! I just knocked him out!” His parter made a little oh sound. “Now, which one will you save her- hang on.”
“Yeah we’re not quite heroes, sorry.” Tubbo was CONVERSING with a WANTED CRIMINAL. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-
Ranboo noticed Tubbo panicking besides him and quite frankly, he was to. “When close enough.” The villain shrugged, cleared his throat. “Well, which one will you save, heroes! The sidekick or the innocent child?” Their eyes bore into Ranboo’s soul and conscience, and the answer screaming in his face, he spoke. “Let us take the child to her home.” Even Ranboo was surprised by the commanding sense in his voice, not an ounce of hesitation. “WHAT? LETHE THAT’S-“
“The right choice for everyone. Deimos obviously wants Momus, so if we bring him to where every he lives, Deimos would most likely follow him back and take him there, additionally if he truly wants that then he would and has the power to kill us both. And with no use for the young one, he might just kill him.” Tubbo opened his mouth but then closed it after. Ranboo squatted down, offering his hand out to the boy, he ran, with a limp and practically trip in a certain direction, and placed his small had into Ranboos out stretched one, leaning close to him he whispered under is breath, “do yo mind if a pick you up?” After receiving approval from the piglin in the form of a small nod, the vigilante scooped the small one into his arms and swiftly walked out of the room, with Tubbo following suit. “Where to then?” He asked the kid, the kid snuggled into a spot below his chin and heard something he didn’t expect “d-don’t ta-“ the kid let out some noise of destress took a few Depp breaths and continued” don’t take me back please mr, they don’t like me much.” He thought for a moment or two before turning to Tubbo and giving him the best puppydog-eyes he could. Tubbo sighed “fine”. Ranboo smiled down at the piglin boy in his arms, ping fluffy hair shot out in all directions. “What’s your name?” The netherborn looks up at him.”They called me Michael.”

Chapter Text

They lost the battle, being pushed back and out, cuts and bruises, Techno had to be carried out by his father. And yet, the young looking boy tied up in there guest room proved to any doubters that they won the war. He wasn’t awake yet, and in the next room over they were discussing what to do. Phil had used a magic book that he had to create a fake. Wilbur argued that they should remove his mask, and Phil pointed out that they had no need to. “Yet.” Techno interjected. “What? What’s the point of taking it of later? If we’re going to take it off anyway, why wait?” Wilbur questioned. Techno rolled his eyes. His brother was stupid. “It obvious dumbass,” he shot a glance at his brother, “When we choose to remove the clone, exposing his identity would be a ADDITION POINT OF LEVERAGE.” he raised his voice to emphasise the point. The table went silent. “That’s pretty good actually,” Wilbur started
. “Well in that case, why wouldn’t we just lie?” Phil interjected.
“Punishment?” Wil asked. “Like as in we threaten to take it off and find out his identity.”
“That seems settled, but what do we do about his costume? He could have things on him that he could use to escape.” Phil was right, that could be an issue
“Could force him to change, or just remove his stuff.” Wilbur said it casually but didn’t notice the underlying issue with that statement.
“YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY?!?”
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Michael and Ranboo were sleeping and Tubbo needed something to keep his mind busy. He couldn’t get the sidekick from last night out of his head.
He watched him hit the ground, wondering what things a villain would do to their enemy’s sidekick. Momus, if Tubbo was correct, was the hero they had seen and was way nicer than any hero else the encountered on the job.
The bar was incredibly low, though.
He flicked on the tv for white noise while he scrolled through recipes of food that piglins could eat. There was no news about Momus, infact they somehow had day-after videos. According to the news, Momus had ran into battle not to long before Deimos, and the group managed to push away the villain trio.
Tubbo stared at the crappy news footage of Momus, he looked exactly the same as he did in the rubble. The day after footage of the hero and his sidekicks played once more slower while talking about something or other that Tubbo couldn’t focus on….
An imperfection in the fake.
No scar on either hand, no bandages either.
The report specifically said that Momus came out unscathed. Tubbo could say first hand that was incorrect.
What was going on.

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When Tommy first woke up all he could feel was the pain in the side of his head and the scratchy ropes. Then it registered that he wasn’t at dreams. He looked around at his surroundings and noticed nothing. The lights were of and there were the windows, if there even were any, were covered with curtains.
“you haven’t already”
A faint shout from down stairs, cerus, if he was correct. He felt something sharp prick his finger, a back up dagger, small and hidden in his coat.
Idiots.
The ropes, despite making Tommy’s body hurt as they rubbed against his skin when he pulled the dagger against the ropes, fell to the floor with a thud. He was upstairs and they were down stairs.
Fuck this.
He tried the door, locked.
He felt the adrenaline rush and body slammed the door, shoulder first near the lock. It stayed in the frame. Tommy used intense chaos after draping a blanket from the bed over his body and the door practically exploded into splinters, he ran through the, now empty, door frame. He heard chair moving against the floor.
He looked around the hallway not knowing shit about the environment he was in.
Deimos emerged from the stairs, closely followed by Aether and then Cerus, who was uncorking a vail of deep red liquid.
Blood.
He couldn’t let him do that. Cerus’ power is bloodbath (at the taste of blood, he gains unnatural ability paralleling a gods, strength, healing, speed, and other abilities earning him the nickname “The Blood God.”)
Unleashing chaos onto the bottle caused it to rush out fast, forcing it to spill everywhere, but the plan backfired when it didn’t prevent the blood from getting in his mouth, infact it made him even more intimidating, he wanted to surrender, to beg for mercy, Deimos’ panic most likely. (Panic causes immense irrational fear. It is known to drive people to take their own life, or give in and surrender.)
erus, ran after him. He felt the floor hit his back. hands holding him down. Tears made his vision blurred, the dam’s building up, so close to breaking and sending it all crashing down. Wether this was pain, natural panic, Deimos or all of the above, it almost broke him.
Almost.
Training involving boiling oil, locked rooms or many of his Dream’s hallucinations telling him that he deserved death forced him to stop the well from over flowing.
“Deimos you fucking dumbass! Why did you not search him!?” Cerus shouted, not directed at him, but his eyes stayed on him, it made him think to what dream would do or say to him. Not scanning the surroundings, not watching out, not, not, not, not, his brain spiralled down into the pit. Scolding himself, tears began to fall and he began shouting in his mind, his heat heated in his brain. It felt like a hot nail was hammered into his skull. WeakstupidpatherticmoronhorridwasteofspaceWeakstupidpatherticmoronhorridwasteofspaceWeakstupidpatherticmoronhorridwasteofspace WeakstupidpatherticmoronhorridwasteofspaceWeakstupidpatherticmoronhorridwasteofspaceWeakstupidpatherticmoronhorridwasteofspace WeakstupidpatherticmoronhorridwasteofspaceWeakstupidpatherticmoronhorridwasteofspaceWeakstupidpatherticmoronhorridwasteofspace WeakstupidpatherticmoronhorridwasteofspaceWeakstupidpatherticmoronhorridwasteofspaceWeakstupidpatherticmoronhorridwasteofspace WeakstupidpatherticmoronhorridwasteofspaceWeakstupidpatherticmoronhorridwasteofspaceWeakstupidpatherticmoronhorridwasteofspace

He heard an incantation from Aether’s magic book. He blacked out.

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“Bee!“ Michael whined, making grabby hands reaching out to Tubbo. Looking up from the laptop to the piglin in Ranboo’s arms. He shifted the laptop off of him and lifted the young hybrid into his lap. “Look bee!” He held up a rock, spiralling gold through a green and blue. “Whoa, did you show boo?” Tubbo smiled at the young boy, Michael looked at him unimpressed. “Oh, Opps..” Tubbo smiled awkwardly. He’d found something. He’d found his family. Fuck his mother that abandoned him and his father, fuck his father that was never sober enough to do anything for or with his child. His family is the smiling faces in the room with him now.
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Even after Wilbur stopped using panic Momus was in shambles, maybe it was being kidnapped, maybe he didn’t like the darkness of the room, maybe… “do we help him or just …?” Wilbur questioned out loud.
When Momus got caught Wil deactivated panic but the kid was still crying, hard. Phil left to cook dinner leaving both Techno and Wil just to stand around in the room Momus just escaped from. “I have no clue.”
Techno’s eyes beyond the boar skull were bearing into Wilbur’s.
Wilbur cautiously walked over to the boy crying on the guest room’s bed. Phil entered the room, holding the book in one hand and a screen floated, what the clone is seeing or hearing.
“Your performance was incredibly sloppy today, it was embarrassing.” A voice that Wilbur semi recognised, the voice was masculine and commanding. If Wil was to guess, he was hearing the unmodified voice of Oneiroi, the hero that was in charge of Momus and Eris.
A sickening crack was heard through the screen, Momus winced but didn’t comment. Techno looked enraged and Phil looked like he was about to throw up. Wilbur stood there stunned, wordless.
A door flung open and the sound of hurried footsteps fade away. Phil, who could see the transmission from the clone looked like he’d seen a ghost. The floating screen fizzled away as Phil slowly closed the book. “S-She was shaking.” Phil was still looking in the spot in the air where the video once was.
“Does that happen a lot?” Techno turned to the boy on the bed. He had brought his head into his knees as if he was trying to hide, and though it was hard to see, he noticed the small nod of his head. “Holy shit.”
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Techno was livid. Who the FUCK does he think he is. Both verbally and physically abused the two. He wondered how old the pair of sidekicks were. From the way they were talking to Eris behind the door, you might have mistaken it as a strict parent scolding a child for failing maths (excluding the crack at the end of the lecture). Never mind if the kid didn’t belong to him, he needed to protect him, there’s no way in HELL he was going to give the kid back after that SPECTACULAR show!
He memorised the sleep schedule of someone once to get the upper hand in an totally rational war online, but he would never go to the extent of physically abusing him. Eris didn’t even do poorly, it was scolding a child for getting 99% on a test, it was pointless and abusive.
However this still left one question that a small part shouted, if that’s how he treats someone that made one, minuscule mistake, how would someone be treated if they made a significant mistake?

Chapter Text

Drista stared at the roof, lying on her back on her bed. Her hand throbbed with pain. Fuck, this hurt. She thought that Tommy was acting off, maybe she’d bring it up? Accusing someone of something irrationally was dangerous. A risk She wasn’t willing to take. She began a list in her mind. He didn’t use his powers in the fight, he hasn’t gone yet, nor changed out of the suit, he wasn’t wearing the ring that allowed them to see through porcelain and mask recognisable features (something even weirder is that he was still experiencing the benefits). She slid of the bed and bent down, pulling out a phone out. She wasn’t technically allowed it, but she was always a fighter. She opened up the phone, thinking about what to point out. There was no way she could prove the point without outing herself. Maybe she could push the notion that something was up? She began to search through day after videos.

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The room was painfully silent, he sneaked glanced over to his father, his gaze cold and unbreaking. The room smelled vaguely of alcohol, (as opposed to strongly? Shlatt wasn’t normally sober So the scent didn’t surprise Tubbo) The mansion was empty most of the time, Shlatt would stay in his office mostly, then dust caked just about every surface so cleaners it was, a maid would come around. They normally were quite young and working for barely enough despite how rich he was. The clocks ticks mark the seconds.” Your teacher, mr €¥__@&*$ contacted me to Request an interview.How did you fuck up this time.” Tubbo thought back to the lesson, nothing THAT bad happened. He’d been constructing a super hero suit during class as a response to something that could help the world. It didn’t matter though, the batteries were to weak for the machine to function properly, instead, when he tried to adjust it using his power, technokinesis (the ability to manipulate technology for the uninitiated), it went haywire and over pushed it. The slight adjustment to the technology instead short circuited. Then the power cut out. The That was probably it. He tried to explain it but his father looked so threatening, he commanded respect. He voice got caught in his throat. His head was underwater. “If your not going to tell me, your teacher will anyway.” His father was speaking like a judge about to give someone the death sentence. “Go to your room and stay there. Don’t think about asking for dinner, there won’t be a single crumb waiting.” He couldn’t sleep that night, he felt like the word was collapsing around him. He felt a hand on his shoulder. “Tubbo? Are you ok?” He felt his eyes blink open. His face felt wet and his vision was filled with the concerned face of his roommate, Ranboo. Right. He ran. He didn’t live there anymore. He was free. “Y-yeah” Tubbo was shocked at how small and weak he sounded.he tried his hand at a reassuring smile but probably failed miserably. “You were screaming in you sleep, what-, what were you dreaming about?” He honestly looked scared to know. He wiped his face with his sleeve. “Nothing, just a nightmare. I’m fine, I promise. Sorry to worry you.” The smile was fake. He lied about it being ‘just a nightmare.’ He also lied when he said it was fine.He felt like shit.

╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

Aether excused himself from the room. “I need to gather my thoughts.”
Cerus left with an excuse “I have to tend to my horse.” And swiftly walked out of the room
“Do you think she’ll be alright?” Deimos whisper echo’s around in Tommy’s mind.
“She’s strong, she’ll make it out alive.” He said, though he was trying to convince himself more than he was Deimos.
“Would you like something to eat?” Deimos was probably looking for a reason to go but he was still unsure, he spoke without thinking “But I didn’t do anything to earn it?” Tommy bit his tongue, his mouth tasted of blood and he was starving. Deimos wore a thick veil over his face to hide his identity but he could still feel the disbelief as he shook his head and stated that : “food does need to be earned. Food isn’t a reward. It’s a given because we need it to survive.” He was right, Tommy knew he was right, he would admit this to anyone. But it stung when the person that was meant to protect you is hurting you.
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Ranboo absent-mindedly scrolled down the page. It was filled with stuff about heroes and there importance and shit like that, until he found a post from someone about Momus, the sidekick that was kidnapped in front of them. It was a collection of old pictures from the videos taken the day after fight, but zoomed into his hand.he was wearing a ring in all of them, until it reached the last one. He had no rings on. The caption read: “he lost his ring :(“ a small account he didn’t recognise. Shared it with Tubbo. An imperfect copy. He went through old records and found an interview by Oneiroi. The Interviewer ask how he could see through the mask. He said That someone close made an enchanted ring.he was missing the ring. He linked the interview in the comments. It got flooded with likes fast. Maybe he could do something more. He was a witness for gods sake. All he needed was a platform…

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Drista never really wanted to go viral, but it helped. A old interview in the comments that she knew existed was linked and she was through the moon, it was so fucking brilliant. Maybe she could use this to finally move out. Dream insists that she stay in the house. She Knew it was because they were siblings but it kinda sucked. She still remembered the other two, they were vigilantes before they were heroes, Dream was called Maniae. His partners were Prometheus and Lapyx. He cared back then. He make a deal with the devil and left them, they got in an augment and Dream was out. They always were so nice to Her and Tommy. She never truly got to say goodbye. The house felt empty without them and when they moved away into the mansion, it just felt worse. “DRISTA! THERE’S A RAID ON A STORE DOWN TOWN!”

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Sitting on the roof, the vigilante duo was ready to pounce, Ranboo was in the back and, since it was a tech store, Tubbo was taking charge. The trap was set, all they had to do was wait. A rush. People tried to escape from the building. Gun shots. Blood sprayed up the walls. Shit. They couldn’t see inside the building. A man in some kind of suit. Great, a hero. He tried to make out which one. He picked something off the ground, a small stone from what Ranboo could see. He dropped it and upon landing, lit up into flames. Another rock. Once more, fire. The golden embers illuminated the scene. Ranboo wasn’t the best at determining who was who but he was at most %80 sure he wasn’t a hero. The rocks probably had something to do with his powers, most heroes most unique factor was there powers, but he still couldn’t understand why. A figure loosely - at first - appeared fire licked at his body like a exited puppy. Something clicked an old group, Prometheus and Lapynx. Both vigilantes. He only knew about them because Oneiroir used to fight along side him. He rebranded himself and was a shiner better hero.

You know the saying right ‘speak of the devil and he shall appear’? Well… tonight just got more insisting.

Chapter Text

Flames flickered up the walls, Dream just stared. Drista wanted to run up and hug them, but her older brother would probably throw her out the window. So she stood there, tears welled in her eyes but she refused to let them flow out. That’s weak, she wasn’t weak. The eyes in the flame stared back. The area around George’s eyes was to blurry to see or identify. She missed them. “Well, fancy this.” The fire died down, but not completely, fire swirling around Sapnap’s eye proved effective as a mask.The bitter look on his face hurt, even if it wasn’t directed towards her. “Your rich and famous but we still can’t get you it of out GOD DAMN LIVES!”
“Sorry me doing my job bothers you, maybe you should just SUCK IT UP, IT WAS YEARS AGO.” Dream was angry. This was not good. Argument broke out insults hurled back and forth. George looked at the ground awkwardly. It was no secret that him and Dream are close, but after the fallout they hadn’t spoken. He looked conflicted and hurt. Each new insult caused the fiery mask to grow and dark shadow people to echo each one. A crash was heard from a separate room. Dream sighed and turned his head, “go check that out,” he jabbed a finger towards the noise then turn back to the vigilantes, “I have a bitch to deal with”
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The room was quiet. Deimos left and there was no one and nothing to distract his mind. The bed was soft and the darkness was blinding. There’s a point where you think you’ve cried all the tears you can cry and you’re just… numb. The pain that raked his body just felt numb. He hated the world, he hated his life, he hated how the he didn’t get the chance to grow up like a normal kid, he hated that he still wants to go back. He missed his apartment and he missed dream. Because he just wants to feel less alone. He reminisces on times he never had. Opportunities that were stolen. Like playing in the park without worrying about training until his hand are chopped and raw and holding back tears. Like watching movies on a couch eating popcorn and laughing. Like two sober, present parents.He dug his fingernails into his arm. He wasn’t bleeding, that would notify the villains, but it hurt.

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The criminal was tangled in wires and the trap worked, they ran down to retrieve their catch Tubbo and Ranboo almost forgot about the heroes and vigilantes fighting. “I reckon that Oneiroir really truly needs a criminal dropped on his head,” Tubbo could feel his evil grin growing and Ranboo’s face quickly matched his. “I think so too,” Ranboo started, “but how?”
Tubbo stopped to think for a second and no longer. “Let’s go to the roof, and drop it on his head.” He paused to look at his partner in illegal crime stopping, still Grinning like a mad man. “Help me carry them, Lethe.” So the pair picked the criminal up and ran through a fire escape, giggling all the way.

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While looking out from the roof top Tubbo saw Eris in the ally they were previously in. After a tad bit of looking around they took out a note book hastily wrote something down and hid it under a bin. “Hey did you see that?” Ranboo turn on his heels to face his partner
“See what?” Ranboo turned his head like a cat or a dog would.
“Eris, she wrote a note.” Tubbo stared at the spot she had hidden the note.
“Let’s do this first, notes later.” Ranboo put his hand on his shoulder cause Tubbo to turn his head to meet his roommates eyes.
They smiled at each other and nodded. This will be fun.

“OW! WHAT THE FUCK! WHO—“ Oneiroir protests were stopped momentarily when they realised what had fallen on them. “Whaaa-?” Muffled giggles were heard from Prometheus and Lapyx stared thoughtfully at it. “Isn’t that a wanted criminal?” He remarked.
Prometheus immediately stiffened. “Why’d he fall in you?”

Running on roof tops, the two couldn’t help laughing. “Just a little help, dropping in!” Tubbo laughing do hard he had tears in his eyes. “Hope my jokes don’t fall flat.” Ranboo just kept making puns. “Don’t worry boo, your jokes could never get me down.” Tubbo need to fight back in the pun wars, victory shall be his! And so it was. Puns. So, so many puns.

.　 . • ☆ . ° .• °:. *₊ ° . ☆
A chill ran down his back. Tommy stared past the boar skull into the deep red eyes of Cerus. The vile filled with blood hung at his waist. A bowl of cereal was laid before him. “What if you drugged it, I’m not going to eat anything you give me because I don’t know what you want from me.” Cerus seemed to ponder this for a moment.
“Leverage. You’ll be no good dead.”
“Drugged to the point i can’t move?”
“Look, kid, I don’t know what you want from me but I’m not going until you eat.”
“IM NOT A FUCKING KID!” Tommy knew he was stubborn. He could outlast him. Just be patient. Cerus look at him like he didn’t believe him.
“Just eat the food.”

◁◁ ▐ ▌ ►►

Cerus left in a huff after aether called him away leaving him to just stare into the full bowl. The pressure was gone, no one telling him to. But his body fought his mind still. Arguing that it’s not like he will get any food any time soon. He broke eye contact with the bowl. Listen closely whether or not one of them was coming back. There was no way he would let them be right. He only heard a muffled conversation. He grimaced at the realisation he’d eaten the whole bowl. God damn it.

⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢
The note he clutched only had four words and an email address. It could mean so many things. It was terrifying. ‘I know you know.” Messy scrawled handwriting. Double meaning riddled throughout. Wearily, Tubbo took out his phone. The digital beep echoed through the alleyway. ‘What does that even mean. - Talos.’

Chapter Text

Ranboo stared into the swirling green of the pearls. It reminded him of a churning sea. Tubbo didn’t know his plan. His suit was freshly washed. It should shatter the window and teleport him inside. He’s was warned by the guy that sold him the Ender pearls that it may hurt, more so the further the distance.he hope it wasn’t to far. He stood on the roof of a nearby building where he watched the news on his phone.

‧̍̊·̊‧̥°̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥‧̥·̊‧̍̊ ♡ °̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥ ·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ °̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥ ♡ ‧̍̊·̊‧̥°̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥‧̥·̊‧̍̊

“Hello viewers! Today was an interesting day for hero fans alike.A viral internet chain claims that Oneiroir’s beloved sidekick Momus is actually not who he seems.The tread shows various comparisons between what the media assumes is a fake Momus and the one previously shown. One such peice of evidence is a Missing ring which user #eristalis@experience!, the person who started the chain, and as #boa@baa pulled from an interview, this ring is an enchanted artefact that allowed Oneiroir, Eris, and Momus use to see through their porcelain masks.Who could be behind the mask, a fake? Where is the sidekick now? Who can tell? Tune i at 4:35 for a -“ the sound of glass shattering blasted through the tv.”what the!?” A shining green pearl shot through the window behind the news anchors. “Humans and hybrids alike! Rejoice for i ca answer you question! My name is Lythe! I am a vigilante and WITNESS TO THE KIDNAPPING OF MOMUS! So let me tell you everything that went down the night of the kidnapping. It started with rumours of a boy trapped in the rubble of a building. Me and my partner, Talos, ventured into the building to locate the child. Eventually we found the child and Momus digging to save him under the rubble. We talked, Momus confessing to us that our captor was only optional, and would end negatively for him as he injured himself on his hand. Another thing missing from the fake. Then Deimos hit him in the soft spot behind the head.t caused him to fall unconscious. After that unfolded before our eyes, The villain gave us the option, save the boy or save the hero. Conflicted, we eventually chose the boy and left him with foster parents.we don’t quite know what followed, yet assumptions can be made.With my lines said, i bid you goodbye.” A had reached into a leather bag and retrieved a green pearl swirling with magic. Still facing the camera, he threw the pearl behind him and out the window.the man disappeared as fast as he appeared. Purple particles swirled around the screen. A hand reached out and turned off the tv. “Well, I think the truth’s out.” Philza stated.

Chapter Text

Michael sat in the apartment. “We’ll be back later” his father’s said. It was later now! He was hungry! He looked at the ropes in his hands, he’d been weaving a net for his rock to he could thread it on string and bring it everywhere. The clock on the wall was at the 9 with both hands, neat. They’ve been doing this. The tv was still blaring since bee took of running. The man pointed a stick at a colourful map. He Liked boo and bee. Much better than the Netherborne (Michael technically was a netherborne but they never liked him much) that hated him. Boo and bee care. Even though boo cries at night and bee can’t sleep, they never get angry at him. He doesn’t want to go. But they can’t just take him right? It’s much colder in the apartment. There were so many noises surrounding Michael and it still felt silent. He knows how important Boo and Bee are, they save lives like they saved his, but is it selfish that he wants them to stop, he want his dads back. Bruises littered under his sleeves left by the angry Netherborne ached. He shouldn’t think that. Michael wonders what important person things his dads are doing right now.

✧*̥˚ stay hydrated *̥˚✧

The world spun. Maybe the pearls weren’t the smartest idea but still, no regrets. He felt like throwing up. The shards of the glassy green surface dissolved into purple particles. Ranboo missed the roof top so he was lying on the floor of an alleyway. Dust stirred into the world. Everything hurts. Shit. He vaguely heard footsteps. Whoever was walking towards him seemed panicked. His hand rushed to a small knife on his belt. He tried get up. He felt his arms shaking. His arms gave way. Shit. He’s on the floor. Again. Maybe words would be the better idea. “Whose there! I…” he took a moment to avoid throwing up as he warped the knife in his hands. “I’m armed!” He tried again to get up. His stomach did a flip as he hauled himself onto his feet. “R- Lethe?” Tubbo. The knife clattered to the ground. Thank fuck. “Talos! Holy shit I thought,” He didn’t need to finish the sentence. “…are you ok?” Concern dripped from his voice. Ranboo made a weak nod. Tubbo took a deep breath in. “Alright. So, WHY THE FUCK DID YOU DO TH-”. Ranboo’s legs gave way. He felt Tubbo catch him. Tubbo let out a sigh.”we can, AND WILL, talk about this later. But you don’t seem to be in the best state right now.”Tubbo slung his arm over his shoulder and began to walk home with Ranboo stumbling to keep up.

»--•--«

A knock came from outside the newly replaced door. “Hel-“ he paused at the crack in his voice. Shit. He was a mess. “Hello?” The door opened up. It was Aether. He would admit this to no one but the villain’s power was really cool. What was he thinking, no! His is cooler. Aether stared down to the bowl. “T- Cerus,” He corrected “ said you wouldn’t have even touched your food.” He didn’t sound cocky, nor did he sound disappointed, he just stated it. “I… was hungry.” Tommy grumbled. He wasn’t proud of it.
“Did you like it?“ This time his voice sounded vaguely curious. He didn’t know why he kept listening and analysing every inflection of The winged man’s voice. He didn’t even bother answering the question. It didn’t matter. The villain slowly made his way towards his captive, stopping moments from Tommy. “Can I touch you?” Odd question.
“Not much I can do to stop you Big man.” He paused with a weak chuckle filling in the silence. “Do your worst.” He drew his shoulders up preparing for a new bruise. It never came. Instead he felt gentle arms wrap around him. A hug. Tommy practically melted into it. The blonde hair escaping the veil reminded him of the last time Dream hugged him. He’d finish his first solo. A drug bust. Dream smiled from ear to ear and kept telling him how proud he was of his progress.Dream even let Tommy choose the restaurant. A small local ramen shop where the trio spent the like laughing and smiling. He wasn’t crying. He was strong enough not to cry at a good memory. His eyes were leaking. That’s all.
☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ

Phil hugged the boy to comfort him, promise! He didn’t mean to run his fingers across the small crescent moon indents in his arms. That wasn’t the plan. He unconsciously panicked, not letting it show past a furrowed brow hidden under his veil. He checked for blood first. The kid wasn’t bleeding, good. He checked if a few layer of skin were broken. No. It would just hurt a while. He couldn’t help. He noticed warm tears on his jacket. Momus leaned into the touch noticeably. Phil couldn’t help but smile. “You alright mate?” A small nod. The moment eventually ended. The sidekick wiped his face against his shoulder. “Can I get you anything? Water?” He nodded.
“Water would be nice.” Momus didn’t meet Phil’s eyes. They didn’t need to talk now. He tossed up mentioning the nail marks on his arm. In the end, Phil decided not to mention it. It wasn’t important at the moment.
《--¤--¤--¤--》

Drista stared at the message, wondering wether the vigilantes would even see the message, wether they’d even care enough to respond. She hope for the love of fuck that they wouldn’t post it publicly on social media. Her head would literally be paraded on a stick. The news reporters had shown to her that her theories were right, Talos and Lethe knew. And now, they had an enemy to go after.
*ੈ✩‧₊˚

It was dark. Really dark. The apartment only had on bed so Tubbo, Michael and Ranboo all snuggled in close.Tubbo just couldn’t sleep. Michael snuggled close into the middle, his fathers on ether side of the hybrid. Ranboo slept peacefully at last, finally not plagued with nightmares about the past. Tubbo just couldn’t sleep.Ping! His phone buzzed on the floor, connected to one of the shoddy wires they bought from the dollar store.and the tube of paper connected to the peice of a cardboard box that Michael would ‘plug in’ to feel included. He looked at the notification on the Lock Screen. Eris. ‘I think that stung Lethe pulled, we both know. I would like your help, Talos. I want to help Momus and I know you do to. -Eris.’ Tubbo sent a cat meme, then put the phone down and snuggled into The Pile(tm). He smiled as his eyes began to drift closed. As much as he didn’t want to, he dreamed. He dreamed of the mansion. He sat there lonely. It was cold. The his father whisper in the back of his mind. Telling him that he resented him. But suddenly he felt something warm lying at his side. Michael smiling with his rock. Ranboo making cheesy puns. It was still cold. And it still hurt. But the pain numbed. Ranboo looked at him, grinning like at madman. “I just thought of a joke Tubs! ‘What to you call the power generator of a prison?” He looked real happy, an emotion that he never truly felt in the mansion
“What boo?” Tubbo wiped tears from his eyes. He noticed he was now in their apartment reclining on the old dirty couch.
“Mitochondria! Get it?”
“Boo, what’s a mitocn… mit…”
“Mitochondria? My dear beloved Michael, mitochondria is the power house of the cell.”
“I don’t get it.”
Tubbo’s laughter bounced around the thin walls of the house. He loved this memory.

Chapter Text

Phil sat next to the boy, his hands untied so he could drink and eat. But he just held the glass staring. Phil stood watching him. “Am I wrong for missing someone who hurt me?”

“What do you mean, mate?”
“Am I wrong for wanting to go back to being a sidekick even if it I leave every battle aching and in pain? Even if I don’t get sleep because I need to train? Even if I don’t get to eat some days to go on missions?”
“We’ve literally kidnapped you. It normal for you to miss regular life.” Phil wanted to stop and ask about every think there. “Also you don’t get hurt every fight? Your very slippery. I think that was a overgeneralisation.” While Phil couldn’t see the hero’s face, he was certain that his captive was grimacing.
“Yeah. Right.”
“How about you finish your water mate.”
“Ok.” Momus shifted his mask up his face, revealing a pale face with a few scattered freckles, he lifted up the cup and drunk it all. “Can…” he paused “before.. you saw Eris.. And Oneiroir! And I wanted to check on her.. them!” Phil chuckled at this.
“Do you have favourites, mate?” Momus shook his head violently. Then he lifted his free arm over his head in a protective manner.
“I don’t! I-“ he slowly brought his arm down and straightened his posture. “I swear I don’t have favourites, Eris weaker then Oneiroir and I still do care about Oneiroir, I just know that if something bad happened, she would be more hurt and….” He trailed off.
…
Momus was shaking, hard. Phil forced a smile. “Ok mate, let’s check on your friends.”
Phil opened the book always hanging at his side and recited a spell.
“Gúl lúth, gúl lúth, displaui i law -o nin clone!“

…..
“Im telling you, it’s not him! There’s a witness testimony! The vigilantes were there that night to! We need to!…” Eris’ voice cut through the room, she was cut of by the sound of a hand hitting her face.
“Listen to me, Eris-“ a more masculine voice, Oneiroir, spoke.
“Use your sister’s real name, coward!”
“DO NOT RAISE YOUR FUCKING VOICE AT ME. I DO NOT CARE OF IT’S NOT HIM. THE CLONE IS QUIET AND LISTENS, UNLIKE SOME OF MY SIDEKICKS, SO IT DOESN’T MATTER TO ME. UNDERSTAND?”
“You’ll be seen as irresponsible and-“
“Drista, whose word will they believe, a top hero or a dirty vigilante?”
“Yours but-“
“Drista. It doesn’t matter. Go to the training room, don’t worry about dinner, you won’t be eating.” The last words were silky and smooth. Everyone knew that there was nothing more to say.
The door opened and footsteps could be heard.
…..
Phil turned to Momus.
“Ouch.” That all he said. No tears were shed. No more words said.

<^><^><^><^><^><^><^><^><^><^>

Water boiled in the pot, Ranboo reached for the pasta.
Turning back to the water, Ranboo saw Michael staring into the pot.
“Oh! Michael, get away from that! You’ll-“
Michael turned to his adoptive father. Then, slowly, he turned to back tho the pot. Then, he pulled out a small arm, now hovering over the water.
“Michael, please! That’ll-“ suddenly the small hand plunged into the pot.

…

“Michael?” The small Netherborne turned to face the vigilante.
“It’s hot.” Michael noted.
“Y-“ Ranboo stuttered out. “Yeah, it’s boiling. Are you hurt?” Ranboo questioned. The younger shook his head.
An idea popped into the enderman’s mind.
“Do you wanna prank bee?” Michael’s eyes widened and a grin grew on his face.
“Yeah!”
“Ok! All I need you to do is act hurt, got it?”
“Yep!” Michael agreed.
Slowly the grin faded from his face and was replaced by faux fear.
“AAH! MICHAEL NO!”

/\/\/\\/\//\/\/\\/\//\/\/\\/\//\/\/\\/\/

Tubbo heard the screams and ran. When he made it to the kitchen he was greeted with the image of Michael, his SON, arm deep in boiling water.
Someone could think Tubbo flew with how fast he moved. Tubbo snatched the boy up. Michael sniffed, pouting.
Then suddenly frown turned to a evil smile and the arm that was inside the pot, steam still rolling of of it, booped his nose. Well played Michael, well played.

^*~-…_…-~* ^*~-…_…-~* ^*~-…_…-~* ^*~-…_…-~*^
Phil left the room before it registered in his brain. “Holy shit!” He recalled their name Eris’ name was ‘Drista’ and the pair were siblings! From that you might be able to assume that Momus is also related to the pair, wow.
“What’s so exciting?” Wilbur asked. Phil turned to him with a smile like a mad man, and whispered “tell you later.”

.~°~•~.~°

Drista went around the room, shoving random stuff in the bag. She knew tear should be rolling down here face but years of training made her cold. Once the bag was full of things like clothes and a first aid kit her hand hovered over the neatly folded hero costume. Thoughts ran through her mind like a cheetah through the savanna, running, running then suddenly, when it caught its prey, it stopped. Everything stoped. Coldly and with shaking hands, she put it in the bag. Slowly, she slid the window open and climbed out. No more of this shit. She’d have enough. A thought crossed her mind.

She held her hand out. A tingle filled her fingers. A secret she never bothered to tell. Her power wasn’t creation, that’s impossible. It throws off all god damn known science. Her power solidified air and changes elements. A stage of creation known as ‘sketch creation’ is actually solid oxygen. No one truly knows this. Drista thought it showed a little bit of power over herself.

A solid form of oxygen forming a mask, almost identical to her previous one, same smile. However, instead of the regular eyes, they where X’ed out. Another thing started materialising, a costume. It was a cargo patterned shirt and a pair of combat boots, inscribed with images of the mask. As for a curse (a drawback of manipulation of items.) she announced quietly but proudly, “as long as anyone is wearing these clothes, they cannot fight by top hero Dream.” They glowed, affirming that the curse was In place. . Eris was dead. Now, she was Artemis.

Chapter Text

Drista walked into the hotel, knowing no one would recognise her but worried none the less. “Hello! Welcome to the Golden Willow hotel, how can I help?” The receptionist’s voice was sweet but clearly rehearsed.
“I’d like to book a room please.” Drista’s heart raced. Panic set in. She… what if…
“Have you pre booked or do you want a last minute room?” The receptionists name tag read Chloe.
“I haven’t prebooked no.”
“How many people?” Drista paused. She knew that when she rescued Tommy, he’d need to stay here. Fuck! Mind in the present Drista!
“One.” It felt like a lie, but that’s ok, she’ll figure it out later.
“And how long.” Drista’s mind wondered. The hotel’s lobby was brilliant! The branches of a tree start at a spot behind the receptionist and stem up over the roof, all of it painted in a shade gold. How long though…. She never truly wanted to return, but it would be wise to not stay in one spot a lot.
“A week, can you put me as unlisted please?”
Chloe’s eyes widened in shock but she quickly nodded.
“$345, can you do that?” Drista nodded, pulling out roughly enough. She got paid for her ‘old job’ in cash, but did bring a credit card to be used, if need be. Chloe took the money and pulled out change. $20. Drista double checked the math. Should be $5 in change. Chloe must of noticed her quizzical expression and winked.
Her lips quirked upwards, she could get used to this.
.　 . • ☆ . ° .• °:. *₊ ° . ☆
Ranboo stood on the building, fully dressed in vigilante gear, eating 5 minute noodles. Why not at this point, his life was literally falling apart. Ranboo paused and sighed, is this a mid life crisis? Is he old? He’s like 19…. He chuckled with no humour. He barely could remember his age, but his going to be pissed if he dies at 38. He needs to out live all his enemies!
.
.
.
His laughing to him self on a building, he really is going mad. Well that’s shit.
.
.
.
He makes a small whining noise, he’s out of noodles. “Lethe!”
That’s Talos aka his roommate aka Tubbo.
.
.
.
Inner monologue baby! He should play bingo!
Tubbo needed to tuck Michael to sleep so Ranboo left early on patrol but apparently he need ‘food’ to ‘live’ which is rather impolite of his biological functions.

Compromise. He brings food with him. It works.
“Hey, Lethe! How’s it going?” Ranboo smiled, then slurped up the rest of the noodles, then crushed the disposable cup the noodles came in and shoved it into his pocket.
“Good! Wanna go on patrol with me again?” Ranboo asked the question like he didn't know the answer already.
“Yep! Off we go! To crime!” Ranboo laughed at Tubbo’s antics. Unfortunately for them, they never got to crime.

A figure stood on the roof. Their gray camo blew around in the wind. A mask resembling Oneiroi. The eyes were crossed out. “If I may, I’d like to interject.” it wasn't question and the bitter tone in her voice made it clear. “I would like your help getting…’ she paused looking away, thinking, maybe. “Finding-” she corrected herself “-someone. Except they're not missing, I know exactly where they are.” Ranboo looked at her sideways. What did she need them for then? “They’ve,” she paused as her voice cracked, a drop hung from the lip of the mask, threatening to drip onto the floor. “, they've been stolen. I can't get them back alone.”

It probably wasn't a good idea to say yes, but shit man, he isn’t a monster!

Insert border

Tommy sat at a table. Not tied up, though, he definitely could not run fast enough to get out. The village that kidnapped him sat across from him. It was silent, not in an awkward first-meeting way, but in a way that made him feel as if the air was being squeezed out of his lungs. Aether spoke first. “I have a proposal.” his eyes bore into his skull.
“What?” his voice was small and strangled. He inwardly cringed. Fucks sake. He sounded weak.
“Leave Oneiroi. Join us.”. Tommy let out a loud ‘ha!’ at that. He didn't mean to but that caught him way off guard.
“And why would I do that? You’d treat me like shit then leave me to die a fucking ‘treasonous bitch’ in the eyes of the world.”
“I can assure you we won't.” Tommy rolled his eyes at that.
“Yeah, right. Even if I do, what's in it for me?” Cerus butted in at that.
“A baseline pay of $2k every week. With an extra 5k for each job you take.” Tommy’s eyes were 100% blown wide at this. That could be a lot. “Oh, and we could give you a room here, or if you’d like, you can rent out an apartment.”
“And... What would I have to do?” Tension hung in the air.
“Work for us, on call, we’ll talk about how often. At least 3/7 days at minimum.” Aether slid a sheet of paper, then a pen across the table.

“Do I have a deal?”