Chapter Text
The room tommy was in was pretty big and filled to the brim with children.
For those who don’t know; tommy had been in an explosion in movie theatre.
All the parents and kids were separated and taken to the hero tower overnight. Parents on one floor with the employees. And the kids on another floor with the heros.
Why? Tommy had no clue, but he didn’t really care.
You see Tommy’s parents don’t like him very much.
At least he thinks so.
His mom gets drunk a lot and then gets mad when Tommy doesn’t get her more beer. But to be fair on Tommy’s behalf, he’s only 12, he’s not old enough to buy alcohol.
And his dad hits him. Like, a lot.
Tommy’s convinced that he likes to find excuses to hit him.
Like if Tommy didn’t do something he wanted him to. Even though, he never told Tommy to do it.
Or, saying Tommy was home late even though he was early.
His mom also didn’t like when Tommy ate. To her, she buys the food so she decides who eats.
But to be fair, they were pretty poor, and lived in logstedshire. So, not eating was the norm.
But here at the tower, they were giving him food. At home he would have to earn it.
They offered him a full meal.
He was eating his food when he noticed no#3 hero Dream approach him.
"Hey kid, how are ya’ holding up?" He asked, a slight echo reverberating off his mask.
"I’m ok, thank you." He responded. Trying to be as polite as possible.
The man then sat down next to tommy, which put Tommy on a slight edge.
"Sorry that all happened to you kids. And we promise you’ll see your parents soon!"
The man said, clearly having dealt with multiple meltdowns at this point.
Tommy leaned his head back on the wall
"Don’t worry about it." Tommy responded.
Seeing the man clearly relax. "Also I’m not a kid. I’m nearly 13" he added on. Knowing full well that there were sobbing 6 year olds in this room.
A low chuckle cam from Tommy’s right as Dream laughed.
"Ok not-kid" he said after the chuckles died down
But the man still looked sad. Like he was sorry for Tommy "but seriously are you ok kid? That was a big explosion and it’s okay to be scared." Why was he so insistent that Tommy wasn’t okay? Well I guess it’s not normal to have an life like Tommy’s.
"I’ve had worse stuff happen to me don’t worry." He was trying to be reassuring, but Dream just looked more sad.
"What do you mean by ‘worse things’?"
Dream said. As the air around them became tense. His tone wasn’t really gentle anymore.
Tommy’s palms became sweaty, and although the sound in the background hadn’t changed volume, it seemed like the world was just them two.
The man seemed to notice Tommy’s anxiety and said "sorry I didn’t mean to scare you i was just, worried" he said with a hint more gentleness in his tone.
"Just being a hero and all I got concerned and wanted to help" tommy knew that he couldn’t help. All his problems are his fault anyway, so he responded with " its fine, it’s all my fault anyway"
"What do you mean?" Dream said. Seeming not just curious, yet intrigued and slightly sad.
Dream was clearly upset, But they continued to chat about Tommy’s life, the man was extremely concerned but before he said anything, someone called out for Dream so he apologized and left.
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Dream did not expect that interaction.
As he checked on the other kids he couldn’t stop thinking about it.
So when the meeting later at night with all the hero’s he mentioned it.
"Uh hey can I mention something?" He said mid-meeting everyone at the table said he could do he carried on
"I was talking to this kid and I think something might be going on at home."
Everyone was clearly concerned and intrigued so he continued on
The more Dream talked about all the things that Tommy said, the more horror was evident in their features.
Phil spoke up next. "I know it’s late but should I go get him? Just to see if he’s alright. He can come to the meeting and talk to all of us" He said. You see, Phil always had a soft spot for kids, so, when it came to child abuse, Phil took it seriously.
They went up to the kid, he was peacefully sleeping and cuddling a pillow in his sleeping bag.
Dream gave the kid a small nudge and his eyes squinted open
Dream started talking to the kid with the gentlest tone he could to the half asleep child.
Slowly tommy stood up and and Dream took his hand a guided him too the meeting room.
The kid looked amazed at the high-tech
Machines and the sheer size of this building.
Dream reached for the doorknob and revealed most of the hero’s to be in the room.(minus foolish as he had paperwork that had to be done)
All the hero’s were wearing mostly casual clothes or pyjamas which probably made tommy feel better about the fact that he was wearing pj’s himself.
Phil spoke up from behind Dream as he had been in the room with Tommy and him, he said "tommy we have a few questions for you."
This is going to be a long night.