Work Text:
Now Tommy wasn't a stupid kid. Reckless, Maybe, but definitely not stupid. However, his most recent decision was one hundred percent fucking stupid.
Researching cryptids was a passing hobby, a miniature hyperfixation of the teen. Curiosity struck him like lightning when he'd overheard rumours that there's been sightings from locals of a bird man somewhere in the surrounding forest.
What interested him the most, and made him the most suspicious, was when the more insistent people had begun to disappear.
Tommy couldn't even believe his eyes nor his luck when he spotted another one of the louder conspiracy theorists being chucked into the back of a van by a bunch of fucks in suits.
If you were going to kidnap someone in a rundown town, why stick out like a sore thumb and wear suits?
It had been a stupid desicion to follow the van, and it had been an even stupider decision to continue to follow said van, even after it entered the woods, which many claimed to be haunted.
He hid behind a tree as he watched the van enter a gated area in a clearing. Noting down the location on his phone, he mulled over the idea in his head a little longer.
This wasn't a good idea.
He hopped the fence anyways.
Master of stealth, Tommy Innit. He chuckled to himself quietly.
The place wasn't exactly the best guarded, only spotting a few further down the path. He opted instead to smash a window to get inside.
That was stupid.
The alarm went off, he should run.
Tommy clambered inside the building through the broken window.
He should run away.
He started running down the hall when he heard voices come close. Unsure of what he was even looking for he skidded to a halt, diving into the closest room.
He spotted a circuit breaker at the corner of the room, grabbing the nearest hard object and smashing it.
The lights went out, and the alarm shut off.
After a few moments of pure silence, Tommy tried opening the door, only to realise that there was no handle.
It was an electric door, and Tommy had cut out the electricity.
He's a fucking dumbass.
Instead of panicking immediately, he looked around the room. It looked to be some observation deck, with a railing that looked down to lower levels. At the very far end of the room were 3 glass windows, large and dark due to the power outage.
Okay, now time to panic.
He bit at his fingernails, the other hand scratching down hard into his skin until he felt a wet spot form.
A noise came from beyond one of the glass barriers. Tommy froze, not even realising how much he was shaking.
"Humans don't usually come here when the light goes out." A voice murmured, the air of sophistication coming from its tone.
"Small. Young." A gruffer, more monotone one rumbled.
"It's just a little baby… Oh, and it looks so scared." Older, with a hint of an accent Tommy couldn't quite place.
Tommy was terrified, yes, but curiosity forced his body to move. This is what he came here for, to learn about the strange and abnormal, to see the weird and unpredictable.
He shakily walked down the stairs of the observation deck, now only a few feet away from the glass. "Hello?" He rasps, half surprised at how terrified he sounded.
A soft bird-like coo could be heard from the middle. "Hello, mate. " The voice murmured gently.
"How… are…" he had too many questions, but said the first that came to mind. "Are you trapped?"
A happy gasp was heard from the left, causing Tommy to jump. "Yes, little one, the others of your kind locked us up." The middle spoke once again, drawing the boy's attention.
"Why?" It was a childish question, of course there had to be a reason, but did he really want to know what they had done?
"They couldn't understand us, so instead they tried to control the uncontrollable. They harmed me and my two sons."
Tommy felt bad at hearing that, he didn't know much about cryptid families, since not much is known about the creatures themselves, but it would be hard for anyone to see their loved ones get hurt.
"Is…" this was the height of Tommy’s stupidity, "is there any way I can help, like freeing you and shit?"
The coo came out even softer than before. "Oh you're just a darling little thing, aren't you?"
Tommy frowned more, feeling awkward he decided to finally introduce himself. "Uh… I'm Tommy, by the way. I realised I forgot to tell you."
"Tommy." the left voice laughed, a smile almost heard in his words alone.
"There's a key. In the bottom drawer of the main desk. Up there." A voice on the right spoke, words being monotone and even.
The blond glanced up at the observation deck, before rising up onto shaky legs. He didn't even remember sitting down in the first place.
He eventually made his way back up the stairs and found the drawer. But his life decided to be difficult and it was locked. So logically, he did what most people would do in his situation.
He threw the desk over the balcony of the observation deck, the flimsy thing smashing when it hit the bottom. He barely acknowledged the laughs from behind the glass as he rummaged through the debre, finally finding a large key.
Looking around he spotted a door near the left cell, he carefully walked over and tried the key on the door. It unlocked.
It was shoved open as soon as Tommy pulled down the handle, causing the teen to fall back, unable to stifle the cry of pain.
"Wilbur." The middle voice reprimanded. "Careful. Humans are already so naturally fragile, imagine how breakable the nestlings are?"
"Sorry." The soft reply came back, no longer muffled by the separation of glass. Hesitantly, Tommy opened his eyes.
He came face to face with a very tall man, at least 6'5, chocolate brown hair, wore wire framed glasses, a warm yellow sweater and a pair of loose-fitting jeans. That was normal. What wasn't normal was the sharper teeth, more greyish blue skin tone, and a shadow that seemed to appear despite there being no apparent light source.
"Hello!" The creature greeted gently, holding out his hand. Instead of taking it, Tommy handed him the key.
The thing laughed gently, thanking him before ruffling his hair. "Stay put, alright Tommy?" The creature murmured.
Tommy obeyed, despite the growing bundle of nerves in his chest.
The next person to be freed was the one in the middle. They were slightly taller than Tommy himself, bird-like talons as fingers and pitch black, feathered skin. Two large wings grew out of his back. His face was the only place that seemed remotely human, still littered with feathers, but also baring bright blue eyes.
The creature wore emerald green robes, with golden and black accents. It almost reached the floor, but everything underneath was pitch black, giving nothing away of what was hidden underneath.
While the taller of the two went to unlock the last door, the bird creature made their way towards Tommy, elegant and unafraid.
Tommy unconsciously lowered himself, in an attempt to make him appear smaller.
"Hello, little nestling." The creature kneeled in front of him, letting out a soft croon.
"Hello…" Tommy whispered, wincing as a clawed hand made its way into his blond hair. It didn't hurt, but it was still terrifying to have the sharp talons carding through his messy locks.
"It's so strange, how does a little thing like this become the scum in white coats that roam this facility?"
Their voice was gentle, but held an underlying dangerous tone to it. Tommy was afraid, but also relaxed at the same time, as the claws scratched lightly at his scalp, undoing knots and cleaning out a leaf that somehow ended up there from when he was wandering the forest.
What is it called when birds clean the feathers of other birds? Preening.
He heard the last door open, followed by heavy footsteps, causing his entire body to stiffen. Before he could get a look at the last one, the bird pulled him into their arms, picking him up.
Tommy yelped in surprise, earning a soft chuckle from the creature holding him. Looking over the bird's shoulder, he saw the final cryptid.
A huge, hulking monster of a creature. They had the head of a boar's skull, with beady read eyes, glowing inside the empty eye sockets. The beast wore an off white poet shirt, with golden accents, along with brown pants. To go with its weird clothing choice was a red cape, with white fur strips at the hem.
They wore jewellery a plenty, despite the boar skull, they still had pig-like ears that had hanging golden earrings, a septum piercing in the nose socket of the skull. The centre piece being a golden crown placed firmly on their head.
Talons still combed through his hair, before a loud banging was heard, coming from the door.
Tommy's heart dropped, the security guards were trying to get in. He struggled slightly in the bird's strong grip, but it didn't seem to bother them. "Hush, little one. You're safe with us." They cooed.
"It's scared of the scum too… poor thing, ran in here, all messy and dirty." The melodic voice called from behind him, he couldn't turn around due to how the bird was holding him.
"Who… What are your names-?" Tommy asked in a small spark of bravery.
"Oh-! How rude of me, we didn't even introduce ourselves." The creature holding him pulled him back slightly, making direct eye contact with the teen. "My name is Phil. These two are my sons, Technoblade-" they gestured at the boar, "and Wilbur" they glanced at the taller man wearing the glasses.
"Nice to meet you… I'm Tommy."
His words earned soft laughter from two of them, and a huff of amusement from the boar. "I know, little one, you already told us." Phil's voice sounded fond, kind and gentle.
The banging grew louder, and Tommy let out an unintentional whimper. Phil tucked him back against their chest, letting him relax his head in the crook of the bird's neck.
A gentle hum came from Wilbur's direction, calming and relaxing. He almost didn't hear the door break down, an army of footsteps entering the room.
The hums grew in pitch, and his eyes felt heavy.
He didn't notice the screaming around him from the people that ran in, only mildly acknowledging the gentle rocking motions Phil was doing.
He didn't notice the wet squelches of heavy things falling to the floor, nor the voices overhead.
By the time he realised that they were walking, they were already heading out of the facility.
"Little lost jewel." A gruff voice murmured over his head, Tommy simply humming in response.
"The humans don't deserve to keep this little nestling, it's clearly underfed and not taken care of." He heard Phil talking, but he couldn't focus on the words.
"Would you like that, Tommy? Us taking you home?" Wilbur's voice was smooth and gentle, whatever they were saying, it had to have been positive. "Oh, of course you would, why did I even ask?"
"Let's go already. This place reeks of humans." A monotone voice murmured above him, it must've been Technoblade. They sounded nice too.
"It reeks of them too." Phil spoke, low and loving.
"We can wash it when we return home, get all that grimy scent of humans out of it and it's clothes." Wilbur. They were right next to him, in front of him maybe?
Tommy subconsciously buried his face into Phil’s robe, revelling in the strange warmth coming off of the bird-like creature.
"Aww… I love you too, little nestling."
"'m not little, 'm a big man." Tommy muttered, slight annoyance in his voice, earning another laugh from Wilbur, a chuckle from Phil and an amused noise from Technoblade.
"Oh, of course, how could I be so silly?" Phil hummed, fondness covering their words like a thick blanket.
"Now, let's take you home."