Archive of Our Own

It's not easy, it's never easy. Being what he is. And what he is, is a vigilante.

And most would think that would be fun, would be justified with how shit the hero system was and how much crime roamed the streets of the lower districts.

It would be courageous and brave and amazing.

Not for Tommy aka Red Bandit.

Because the problem is the Syndicate, the biggest group of villains known to the city.

Or in other words.

His fucking family.

Yes, his family are villains and he's a vigilante.

How ironic, how strange, how ridiculous is this notion. That the youngest member of a villain family would be a mock version of a hero.

Tommy could probably tell you, probably couldn't.

He just… cares.

He cares for people, maybe a little too much. When he sees the crime, sees the hurt in person or on television, his heart aches in sympathy and anger.

Because no one does anything about it.

Not the heroes.

Not the government

Much less the villains.

Not to say his family were bad people. They were great, wonderful. They hated the government, they didn't agree with the hero society and that's something Tommy can relate too.

That's the definition of family.

The difference is however, Tommy wants to save people, even if it's illegal. His family wants to change the world, even if it means hurting people.

The definition of vigilante and villain.

Tommy doesn't want to fight his family. He doesn't want to hurt them or be on opposite sides.

Hell, he tries to actively avoid running into them. If he ever sees them, he goes into the opposite direction.

The issue is however, Tommy has unknowingly thwarted their plans on several occasions. Only to hear about it later through the com he has that listens in on his family's conversations they have in the secret base Tommy had once found when he was 14.

And yes, he knows they are villains but they don't know that he knows. He's a vigilante on top of that which they also don't know.

They don't like him, his vigilante self anyway.

You see how it's all a problem now.

So it turns into a bigger problem when a seemingly innocent or not so innocent drug deal going down in an abandoned warehouse turns out to be a trap.

Yeah, yikes for Tommy.

Because before him donning their dark outfits, powers in display, hybrid features raised to an intimidating level, their stares filled with ice cold anger and apathy, is his family. It's a sight to behold.

They've had this dance before, Tommy has had the unfortunate circumstance in fighting them but he's quick, agile. He always dodges and weaves before escaping.

However this is a trap for a reason, and that reason being, they've surrounded the entire building in an unbreakable shield. Only able to turn it off and on with a single button in the grasp of one of their members that is currently standing outside the shield waiting for the fight to end so they can shut it off in their victory.

Tommy cannot escape, he cannot run. He has to fight and even if he wins, he won't be able to escape.

He's as trapped as a canary in a cage with three cats stalking him.

Tommy doesn't know how he's gonna win.

Tommy had not told a single soul of his nightly duties. Since he's only been doing this for a year and a half, he thought things were going smoothly. It, unfortunately, is not.

Now he wished he did. It would be great for someone to be in his ear, reassuring that they've called the police and will be on their way or heroes. Even with how shit they are, they make good distractions.

But Tommy has none of that, there is only himself and his family that have no idea that they are about to get into a fight with their youngest.

Zephyrus aka his father, steps forward first. His taloned feet, which are usually hidden with magic to give the illusion of normal legs, clicks softly on metal.

His wings are puffed out, raised to intimidate. Tommy's own twitch under his hoodie, seeing the display riddles his bird mind with fear and the urge to comply. While also screeching about the flock since they are aware this is their family.

Tommy ignores it however, he does not want to accidentally chirp while they can hear it. It'll give too much away.

Although they are aware he's an avian like his father at home. They are not aware of his powers. Tommy had discovered them not even a month after he found out about his family. When he was still on the fence on whether to do something, tell them or say nothing at all.

He has kept it hidden, which was believable at the time that he was a no powered avian. He was just a late bloomer but no one else knew this but him.

And he's glad he did, if they knew, they would have known he was the vigilante Red Bandit in less than a heartbeat.

(He also loathes that he never did. That they don't know. Not yet.)

"Hello Red, sorry to intrude but unfortunately our little game of cat and mouse must end here. You've caused enough trouble for us so you'll be disposed of here and now. I'd consider surrendering now, to make it easier for us." His father speaks, dark and cold. Tommy clenches his jaw, not allowing himself to respond.

He's gone with the mute schtick since he has no way of changing his voice in a way they won't recognise him. It's been difficult, not gonna lie. Tommy has always been a loud mouthing teen after all.

Zephyrus tilts his head, like a bird, and scrutinises Tommy for a moment. With no response he sighs.

"Alright then, we'll use the hard way instead it seems." And oh god, they are going to fight. Seriously this time.

Tommy can't get out of this, he can't.

It's silent for a beat or two, tension rising in the air as they all prepare for a life or death situation.

But they know, they all know.

The vigilante Red Bandit has no chance of winning.

Protesilaus is first to move, the boar hybrid Tommy calls an older brother at home, rushes forward. His red cape flies behind him, a sword already in his hands. The shadows under his feet ripple like a disturbed puddle as his puppets, also known as Chat, prepare for action.

Tommy dodges his swing as he ducks down, they dance on the floor of the warehouse, surrounded by boxes. Tommy's fingers tingle as his power awakens. Thin webs of red string that shimmer unravel from his hand.

Made from his string and formed in his hand is a dagger, the blade about the length of his forearm. It shimmers like red metal but is made from his strings formed together like tiny fibres stitching into place.

It's the biggest weapon he can manage to make and by the surprised look Protesilaus has for a moment over the familiar practice, no one else had seen it before.

It's a recent thing, Tommy having only mastered it about two to three months ago. But it's the best he can come up with in defending himself against the blade Protesilaus wields, made of his shadows.

It's where Tommy got the inspiration from.

"I see you've gotten a new skill. Damn copycat" He mumbles the last bit in a growl but Tommy can tell the underlying of the impressive surprise within.

Tommy tries to hide the smile threatening to grow, even with the mask on hiding his features. Techno and his habit of mumbling under his breath apparently translates even as a villain.

Tommy shrugs though, and wields the knife the way he was taught. Lowering his body, bending his knees, hands up and close to his body, protecting his face and upper body.

Just like he was taught.

Tommy knows he still needs to keep his wits about him with Zephyrus and Orpheus still in the same room as him. Watching from the sidelines but could probably very easily join the fight and it could end up as a 1v2 or worse, a 1v3.

Both Tommy wouldn't be able to handle.

It would be over in moments.

But for now, his eyes are on Protesilaus. His pink hair both him and Wilbur jokingly changed his shampoo too as a prank but he actually liked and continued to keep the colour now lay to rest on his shoulder, messily braided.

Tommy remembering he was the one who braided his hair that morning when Techno silently asked him.

Metal on metal, or in technical words stitched together magical string on harden shadowed magic clash together.

Doesn't sound as incredible as the first in Tommy's opinion.

The best thing about training with someone you are currently fighting who doesn't know you are someone they know, is their fighting patterns and the way they move is easily predictable. Which is why they've always been almost equal in fighting because Tommy just knows Techno enough with all the sparring and training they've been through. He knows how he moves.

Which makes it easy to dodge and fight using the real blades they have in their hands.

But even Tommy can mess up. He's never won against Techno after all.

Tommy can only register the pain in his bicep before Protesilaus is on him again. One cut that's actually bleeding pretty badly. Well shit.

He's pushing him back into the boxes behind him. Protesilaus strikes down and Tommy blocks it from above him. Protesilaus takes this chance to push him down using his blade.

Pushing hard enough Tommy ends up on one knee. His arms start shaking from the pressure and he knows he can't hold it for much longer.

He decides to dodge left which forces the blade to slide of his own and during the moment of surprise he spins and slashes at his brother's cheek, accidentally cutting parts of his hair as he does so.

And oh…

That is not good.

If there is one thing that pissed his brother off more besides his family being hurt. It's if someone messes with his hair. Especially cutting it.

So when the man watches strands of his pink locks fall in front of his eyes. Tommy swears they glow a brighter red when he looks back up at him.

Tommy may or may not be dead now. Or more dead then he was before.

Before he can contemplate his future grave sight, a flash distracts him and he ducks just in time to narrowly miss a knife being embedded in his skull.

A knife shaped like a feather.

Looking up, he sees his father standing with three feather shaped knives being twirled between his fingers.

Another thing to note. Dad does not like it when any of his kids get injured, even a little.

Seeing that small cut triggered Zephyrus' need to step in and now Tommy might be dealing with a 1v2. Fuck.

An angry Techno and Philza is not a good combination that Tommy needs to deal with.

So Tommy does one thing he's good at. Running.

He dissipates his knife back into string and uses said string to latch onto a rail. Pulling himself up, he flings himself up to, unfortunately, a platio where Orpheus is currently standing.

Orpheus turns to him, scowling before opening his mouth.

Tommy dodges just in time to avoid Wilburs sonic boom that breaks the boxes behind him into pieces.

Tommy knows Wilbur can only use the sonics three times before his voice gives out and he has to wait another minute or two before he can use it again.

Another thing Tommy knows about his brother, is taunting him is usually his downfall.

So when Tommy dodges the first and gets up, he tilts his head mockingly. Wilbur narrows his eyes. Tommy flips the bird at him and hears the man growl.

He sucks in another breath before sonic booming again, screaming and Tommy dodging just in time.

More boxes break behind him.

He looks to the boxes then back to the man, letting himself snort. He makes sure Wilbur hears it.

Wilbur growls, Tommy knowing the man's ego is too big for the world to handle sometimes and it's what makes this fight easier.

"Are you mocking me, you sad excuse for a hero?" Tommy leans in one leg, pretending to think about that for a moment before nodding. Putting as much attitude as possible in his body language.

"You fucking bitch, you'll be dead by the end of this." Wilbur snarls, his voice cracking slightly that lets Tommy know he's on his last sonic use. Tommy brings out the big guns and makes a mocking crying motion with his hands then silently laughing over how red the man is getting.

Even with the mask, Tommy can tell his brother is boiling in rage.

He sucks in another breath and Tommy prepares to jump out of the way again.

"Orpheus no-" His father yells from below but it's too late. His brother lets another sonic boom out and Tommy dodges just in time.

Wilbur realises his mistake quickly but Tommy doesn't let him have time to react. He rushes him quickly before raising a fist.

A solid punch to the gut he knows will probably bruise has Wilbur grunting in pain. Tommy knows he'll owe Wilbur later as he has done at random intervals whenever he does hurt his family. At least it's random to them. To Tommy, it's a secret apology.

But he's fighting for his life right now and has to think of a way of getting out of here and fast.

Wilbur recovers quickly however and starts fighting back. Both brothers have trained together and, in their own private times, to hone their skills. Although Wilbur is older, bigger and experienced, Tommy still has enough knowledge to know the weaknesses of his brothers.

Such as the predictable use of the right kick he always does.

Tommy blocks and grabs the leg and in his shock, pulls his leg as well as tripping his left leg, forcing the man to unbalance and fall.

He hits the ground hard which he winces at before getting out of dodge as he hears his father's wings take to air. Having recovered from turning to steal in order to make knives. Protesilaus not too far behind.

Tommy latches his string onto the rails above and climbs on them. Having to run in order to avoid the barrage of steel feathered knives being thrown at him.

He hears Wilbur groan as he runs into the shadows, hiding behind a box of crates to give himself a minute of respite. He hears them talking.

"Fucking hell, how can he hit that hard when he's so skinny?" Wilbur growls, followed by the sound of heaving as he guesses someone helps him up. Most likely Techno.

"He's been doing this for a while now. Kids probably got a good amount of muscle on him." And isn't that the truth. Tommy had to wear longer sleeves because of not only the scars but the muscle mass he's been building.

Without the scars he could have just said he's been working out but well, sacrifices are needed to stay hidden.

Tommy breathes another deep breath in and out. This is going to be harder than he first thought. He's not even sure how he's going to win this.

He can only think of how he's gonna lose. With all three of them, there's no way he can.

Only way he can get out of here unscathed is if he-

"Now Red Bandit, I know you think running and hiding is your only escape or that you think you can beat us but here's the truth. You cannot win this, with the three of us here, it's impossible. Plus you can't leave with that shield still outside. You are good Red, your skills are impeccable. But you know you can't win. Come out and surrender now and maybe, we will give you mercy."

He hears someone snort, he thinks it may be Techno but… his father is telling the truth.

Tommy can't win this, no matter how good he is. This is a losing battle since he first stepped in here. In this trap.

Tommy could go out there and surrender.

He isn't afraid of them hurting him, they wouldn't do that if he reveals himself.

He's afraid of disappointing them or angering them. He's been the reason most of their plans have failed.

Their son, little brother; has been the headache they hate so much with passion. Tommy has heard their opinions of him, in his presence and without.

He's ungodly afraid but he has no choice.

His heart thumps hard in his chest. Fear and anxiety crawl up like spiders in his throat.

He's really doing this.

Well, a year and half of vigilantism was fun while it lasted.

He takes another deep breath and rises from behind the crates of boxes.

He latches a red string to the beam above them and swings down. He lands before the three on the platio, sees them ready themselves but not attacking yet.

That's good, he just… needs a moment to compose himself for what he's about to do.

The moment of silence travels and his father straightens.

"So, what's your choice, Red Bandit?"

He clenches and unclenches his fists, it's now or never.

He opens his mouth but is interrupted by a groan from his brother.

"I'm getting impatient, let's just get this over with."

Pulled out from his pocket are two silver rings the size of handcuffs. Tommy knows what they are. How his family was able to get their hands on those things is a shock.

Wilbur clicks on the button and it whirls to life, light flashing green telling everyone it's on. Before he can act or dodge, Wilbur throws the cuffs his way and, attracted by his power, goes straight for him.

They latch onto his wrists and pull him backwards. He flies directly at the wall, crying out as he hits it with a hard force.

The cuffs then latch onto the wall where he is now stuck. He struggles against them but it is futile. These cuffs are extremely special and the only ones able to use them are heroes and special forces.

Sometimes police if necessary and they have the budget for it.

These cuffs were created by the hero Awesamdude, an inventor who makes all sorts of technologically advanced inventions to help heroes and authority figures.

The cuffs were made to subdue people with powers. Blocking their power as well as forcing them still. Either latching to a wall or hard surface or to each other like actual cuffs.

Overall, bad news for Tommy since he can't use his powers nor can he move.

Three shadows loom above him now and he gulps.

"Did you really have to do that? I think he was already surrendering before you had to interrupt." His father spoke exasperatedly.

Wilbur only shrugged, probably grinning under his mask like the asshole he is.

"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't. Either way, it doesn't matter. It's not like we were going to leave him alive. This just makes it more interesting."

"And less bloody." Techno added after which sent shivers down Tommy's spine.

Fuck, if he wasn't already getting nightmares of these three, he definitely would now. And isn't that just sad. Getting nightmares over your own family's villain personas. It is not fun.

Wilbur steps down from the platio to where Tommy is now on the wall. Creeping forward slowly. Tommy knows he's doing it to sike him up and it's unfortunately working.

Tommy just wants to shout his name, tell him it's him to have this over and done with.

But words seem to not be working right now as his brother walks forward, looming over him. Tears gather at the edge of Tommy's eyes and his vision blurs.

He needs to say something, anything.

"Hey Zeph, can you pass me a knife?" Tommy clenches his jaw at that, eyes wide.

His father sighs and turns his wings to steal again, plucking one of his secondary primaries and passing it over to Wilbur.

Wilbur twirls it in his hand, the black feather dagger catching the light and turning silver in some places as he does.

Tommy's heart leaps to his throat and he struggles to breathe.

He still can't figure out how to say anything. This whole situation is terrifying. He knows their family. He knows this. But he still can't help but be frozen in fear.

"Now, Red Bandit. We don't have anything against you. This is all business after all. But your little interferences are getting on our nerves and so, we have to get rid of those, don't we? It's nothing personal, just business."

Tommy blinks faster at tears. He opens his mouth but his breath hitches. He just needs to say something, anything.

Let out something and keep going. They'll know his voice, they'll know the second he speaks. He just needs to do it.

The knife is raised and Tommy shuts his eyes and pulls all the strength in him into this one act.

"WILBY WAIT!!" He manages to scream, his voice echoes off the walls of the warehouse and it's silent. A beat or two passes and Tommy opens his eyes to see the end of the blade only an inch from his face. Basically stroking his eye.

It's pulled away quickly and the trio look stunned into silence.

"That's… no, no way, no fucking way." Wilbur stutters as he backs away from Tommy.

Tommy sobs in relief but the stress brings him down and slumps down to his knees. His hands tilted awkwardly above him where they are still locked to the wall by the cuffs.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please I-I'm sorry. Wilbur." He stutters through his sobs, his words not making any sense as his mind races and his body loses its adrenaline of fear.

His father runs forward as Wilbur continues backing away. Until he backs into Techno. The knife slips out of his hand and clatters to the ground. Tommy flinches at the high pitched sound as Zephyrus, his Dad, kneels before him.

Tommy can see his hand shake before he cups Tommy's cheek.

"It can't be, Tommy, mate is that you?" Tommy can see, from how close he is now, his father's icy blue eyes scan Tommy a lot more thoroughly. With how close he is, Tommy can see realization dawn on his face.

"Fuck." He says quietly, choking on emotions.

He draws back and goes for the cuffs on Tommy's wrists. Pressing the button until it flashes red and the cuffs unlatch. When both are removed, Tommy falls forward into his father's arms.

His father cradles him close and Tommy clenches his hands into the fabric of the man's green robes.

He sobs into his father's chest, heaving breaths in and out and soaking his mask and the part of his father's suit he's burried himself in.

Phil holds him tighter, whispering reassurances in the boy's hair as he does. He sounds emotional himself. His breaths are shaky and his voice wobbles as he speaks. Tommy knows however that he's trying to keep it all in for him and his brothers behind him.

Wilbur is stock still but his form shakes and he mumbles under his breath. Something Tommy can't hear from where he is, kneeling on the ground in his fathers arms.

Techno however, decided to move.

He steps around Wilbur, walking to approach both his father and Tommy.

When he's just a foot before the two, his Dad looks up at him.

"Tech." The man says in a small voice although he tries to push confidence into it.

Techno does not respond, only stares intensely at Tommy as Tommy does the same back. Neither break eye contact for several moments until Techno decided to kneel down to Tommy's level.

He raises a hand to Tommy's face. Tommy forces himself not to move as hands with sharp nails come closer. He's filled with shame at the spike of fear that shocks through his system seeing Protesilaus reach for him.

He shouldn't be afraid of his family.

But he unfortunately is.

Techno pulls Tommy's hood off, revealing his golden blonde hair reminiscent of his father's. Next he unclips the clasp at the back of his mask. The plain black mask falling off his eyes. Showing the upper half of his face and his baby blue eyes hidden behind white mesh that allows him to easily see through but not allow anyone else see his eyes.

Finally, he pulls down the gaiter mask that covers his nose and mouth. His face is hit with cold air on his exposed skin as each cloth is removed.

He hears the sharp intake of breath from everyone as they finally are able to see him fully now.

Tommy flushes red at their stares and buries his face back into his father's chest who allows it.

After a moment, he hears someone get up and walk away from them. And by the sounds of their heavy feet on concrete, he knows that's Techno.

Afterwards he hears lighter feet approach and knows that's Wilbur.

A tentative hand lays on his back, its warmth spreading on his back from beneath his hood and shirt.

"Tommy?" His brother whispers, Tommy not responding for a moment or two before he turns his head back to look at his brother.

"Hey Wil." Tommy greets in a hush and tired voice. Tommy realising while looking at him, his brother had removed his mask. The blue and white mask with a half smile and half frown is gone and now shows half his face as his gaiter is still over his mouth and nose.

But by his eyes, he's shocked and concerned. Maybe scared, maybe sad.

There's just a lot swirling behind the chocolate brown of his brother's eyes.

At the sight and sound of Tommy, Wilburs face scrunches up as tears gather at the corners.

"Oh Tom's." He says in a cracked voice and he leans down and presses his forehead against Tommy's. Those set the tears off and they fall halfway down his cheek before being soaked into the gaiter mask.

His Dad makes a sad sound before removing an arm from Tommy and looping it around Wilburs head to press him close with Tommy. Both brothers having their foreheads pressed together as well as being held by their father.

Wilbur hugs back, both his lanky arms going to his Dad and his brother.

Tommy reaches a hand up and pulls the gaiter mask down and off his brother's face, allowing to see Wilburs face entirely.

Wilbur opens his eyes and Tommy places a hand on his cheek and he smiles a little. "It's okay Will, why are you crying big man?" Although he can guess what it is, he still wants to know what to say to it.

Wilbur continues to look into Tommy's eyes before responding. "Tommy I… I almost-." He doesn't end up finishing the sentence as his breath catches in his throat. But Tommy knows what he means.

"Hey, you didn't okay? I'm okay now, you didn't know who I was. None of you did, I kept it a secret so this is on me, okay?" He whispers to his brother, knowing his father can also hear him.

"We should have known. Why did you keep it a secret? Did we do something wrong?" His brother questions him almost desperately, his voice cracks from overuse as well as the emotions building within him.

"I… no, you… didn't. I just… I couldn't, not yet." Tommy admits. It's not the entire truth but likely enough, they'll have that conversation later.

"I don't think we have any right to say that mate." Their father says above them, making both brothers look up at him.

"We didn't tell him we were villains either." The man tells but Wilbur pouts in response.

"Well, it was your idea to keep it a secret until he was 18." The man whines, his pout looking rather childish.

Tommy rolls his eyes. He's supposed to be the youngest but they end up doing this.

Their father chuckles.

"It was but we don't have to keep that secret anymore, do we?" Their father inquires and Wilbur smiles while Tommy rolls his eyes, knowing he hasn't even told them the big secret yet.

"It's the curse Dadza, we all find out at 16. Just like I did and just like Techno did." The man chuckles but yelps when their father gives him a light smack on the side of the head.

"Shut. It's not a curse, stop saying it is."

Tommy smirks as Wilbur groans at the light tap like the overdramatic bitch he is.

"Well, if it was a curse then I would have broken it considering I found out at 14." The boy smirks but turns into giggles at the gobsmacked expressions on the two.

"You found out two years before us?! What the fuck?! How?!" Wilbur practically shouts and Tommy giggles just a little harder.

"You guys are terrible at hiding your secret base. Like seriously? The pepper shaker as a key? And hiding said keyhole behind a loose tile? You think I'm an amature on not finding shit? You guys insult me by underestimating me."

The boy says quite proudly, puffing his chest a little.

Wilbur glares but the smile on his lips gets wider. "That's because you're a fucking raccoon child." And the man pounces as he goes for Tommy's hair, ruffling it roughly and Tommy fighting against the attack of his brother.

He hears his father sigh.

"Boys please, that's enough now." Their father chastises gently but if not tiredly and both boys break it up if not without a final push against each other with one grinning and other glaring and pouting.

But Tommy's attention is taken away by someone in the distance and he spots pink on the other side of the warehouse.

Tommy sighs.

Techno is on the other side of the warehouse, pressing his head against the cold metal wall of the wall. His shadows flicker wildly around him. Even from here, Tommy can hear the shadows whispering frantically. Although he can't hear what they are saying from where he stands, he knows what they might be saying.

Tommy stands there, having broken off from his brother and father's embrace with a small smile and receiving knowing looks from them both.

Techno wasn't always affectionate which is why he didn't join their cuddle pile but he was broody and was currently moping against the wall. Letting his chat and voices run free in his mind, likely enough.

"Are you just going to keep moping over there like a drama queen?" Tommy calls, stepping towards the lashing shadows that lick at his feet but don't touch.

If he weren't family, they would have materialised into spikes and gone through him by now.

But he's no threat to Techno, he never was. Not really.

He gets no answer so he stops and sighs, only a foot behind his brother now.

"If this is about me cutting your hair, I swear that was an accident." The boy weakly jokes but receives nothing.

He didn't expect much.

So the boy turns around and falls backwards until his back meets his brothers. He practically slumps against the older, leaning on his heels with his arms crossed.

"Ya know, I'll have to make you a gift now." The boy begins and it gets a reaction as he feels his brother shift, likely enough looking at him.

And when Tommy turns his head, surely enough, there's his brother's eyes looking at him.

"For the cut and the fact I cut a bit of your hair." He traces where the cut would be on his face and then fiddles with his own hair.

His brother only blinks.

"I could make you something? Maybe a scarf or a new sweater. Would you want a red one this time? Or maybe even a rainbow one. Oh, maybe I could you something for your hair, you always complain about it getting in the wa-"

"Why aren't you scared?" The question makes him jump. He was expecting his brother to get impatient and say something but that wasn't what he was expecting.

The boy falls quiet.

"I was." He answers honestly, it's a whisper but it travels enough, it silences the hush conversation his father and other brother were having.

"I was for a bit, I still am probably. It sucked being scared of you. At least your villain personas. You guys could never scare me, I'm too much of a big man. But sometimes… sometimes I'd get nightmares that had your masks, your villain faces and…"

He doesn't need to say more, they can fill in the empty spaces.

They lull into silence for a moment before his brother shifts and Tommy has to stand back up from his back as his brother turns to him.

His brother towers over him, especially in hybrid form. Normally Tommy is just an inch or two under Techno but like this, he's towered over.

His brother turns to him, looking down at him from above.

Like this, Tommy feels so small as he always is in the presence of the Blood God as they call him.

But with the face of his brother looking at him and now that mask, the urge to look away or cower seems distant.

"And are you scared now Theseus?" Techno questions. And while others would say he's unaffected, Tommy can tell by his eyes, he's scared too.

So Tommy is completely honest when he answers.

"No, I'm not because you have the face of my brother so I could never be scared." And it's the most honest he's ever been that Techno gives him his rare smiles and Tommy beams back in return.

The moment is completely ruined when Tommy is barreled from behind by his annoying and tall brother who drapes himself over Tommy.

"Awww, Tom's, that's the sweetest thing I think I've ever heard you say." His brother coos and Tommy growls.

"Fuck off, I was not being sweet idiot, I was being fucking honest ya prick." Still, his brother locks him into an embrace and rocks him back and forth while cooing.

Tommy tries to fight back but ultimately gives up as Wilbur buries his head in his hair.

Tommy pouts as he's cuddled and as his father unhelpfully chuckles beside them, he's broken off from it when he feels a warm hand ruffle his hair.

Looking up to see the red of his brother's eyes, ones that are gentle and loving only for him, he smiles.

"Let's go home, Theseus." The Piglin brute suggests and they all can't help but agree with tired smiles.

He knows he'll need to talk to them about everything when they get home or when morning comes, about his vigilantism, about how that's gonna work for them.

But for now they're a family again, secrets now fully out there in the world for them to know and see.

"Did you also call my genius secret unlocking system stupid?" Techno questions in playful accusation.

Tommy and the others cackle as they head home.