Chapter Text
It's cold and lonely in the cell, Tommy was thrown in by the hunters after he foolishly decided to trust one. His sire was hurt and he panicked, they offered to take care of his sire if he came too and let them run some… tests.
They dressed him in a hospital gown and left him, vampires couldn’t die from cold the hunters found out so they neglected to give Tommy any blankets. However that didn’t mean he couldn’t feel the cold, it snapped and bit at his skin feeling like little needles pin pricking him over and over, almost aggressively in a way that teetered on the edge of pain and an annoyance. He was cold and lonely and it was dark. He didn't like it.
Tommy didn’t w ant to go with the hunters at first, like hell he’d let hunters get their hands on his sire, but Dream was dying, his sire. He was desperate and stupidly still wanted to trust, to believe in the hunters, see them as the humans he befriended, but they weren’t, not when they saw him as a monster, as an asset.
Dream never saw him like that, even when Tommy was a human, Dream was his friend, offering gentle guidance but never forcing Tommy’s actions. It was nice. But now Tommy was alone and he wasn’t going to get to see Dream again if the hunters had anything to say about it.
His stomach growled, they’d been feeding him raw meat which sure, works for baby fledgelings, but Tommy was almost fully fledged, he needed more than just raw meat. He needed human blood but like hell he’d risk asking the hunters, they’d probably add it to testing so they could ‘see how long a vampire can go without blood.’ They already tried that test, depleting how much meat they’d give him until he was sure he’d die.
Unfortunately he was still alive, he wondered if Dream was too, if the hunters held true to their word and saved him. But Tommy knew that was just wishful thinking, the hunters were cruel and not who Tommy thought they were, they were not his friends.
But they haven’t visited him in days he thinks it’s another test, social isolation, or whatever it’s called. But vampires didn’t need human contact, other than as a food source technically, they preferred to be with others of their own kind but it also wasn’t really necessary. But just because vampires didn’t need it didn’t mean Tommy didn’t. He whimpered in his cell, tucking his knees up to his chest, sitting alone in the dark, starving.
They had cameras set up, that much Tommy knew so maybe if he could get their attention- they’d come down even if it was just to get punished, he wanted to know he hadn’t been forgotten, hadn’t been abandoned. Maybe if Dreams okay, he’ll come back, he’ll hurt the hunters for laying hands on Tommy, but Tommy knows that's not possible. He wanted to cry, he wanted Dream, he wanted anyone.
His heartbeat fluttered as he imagined someone coming to get him, someone coming to visit, even if just to check if he were alive, anything. He fell asleep on the concrete floor muttering prayers full of hope that’ll probably go unanswered but still it’s worth it to try, no ones here to scold him for speaking to the stars he can’t see, no ones here to run tests to see how fast he heals because he spoke, no ones here because the lab is filled with the pungent scent of salt and iron, something happened, and no ones coming to get him.
So he laid his head on the concrete, forced back the tears and apologized to Dream hoping for his sire to forgive him in the afterlife. That’d be enough. If he was forgiven for his stupidity, for trusting people despite Dreams' concerns. Concerns Tommy brushed off ashis sire instincts. Tommy was an idiot and he paid the price, his final moments alone, praying to whatever would listen.
Do prayers even work if you can't see the stars? Tommy wondered, if the sky itself couldn’t see or hear you make the prayer did it know you were even sending one? It didn’t matter, Tommy was already done for. He was starving, alone and locked in a cage he couldn’t escape.
Would Sapnap and George be upset? They were Dream's best friends, they’d be upset if Dream never came home, they wouldn’t care for Tommy though, he hopes they won't- they barely knew Tommy, he was just some street kid who followed Dream home and became part of the coven.
Sapnap once told him he found him annoying, it was said playfully but Tommy knows the tone was probably just to spare his feelings, everyone found him annoying. No one wanted him until Dream. Dream wanted him and he screwed it up, got involved with hunters, got Dream attacked and then ran back to the hunters with his tail tucked between his legs begging for help, afterall they were his friends.
Friends aren’t supposed to hurt your other friends, he reminded himself, that's why Dream, although not trusting the hunters at all let Tommy be friendly with them, maybe Dream wanted to believe the hunters were good people too.
Tommy shut his eyes, breathing slowly, he asked Dream why vampires still breathed and their hearts still beat as a human, Dream explained that because vampires steal the life force of others in the form of their blood it’s turned into magic to keep them living, so they’re not really ‘undead’ just not exactly living either.
He found it fascinating if not a little morbid, stealing others' lifeforce for your own. But vampires didn’t need to kill for that life force, Dream explained further when he saw the panic in Tommy’s eyes - he was always so good at reading Tommy, always made sure he felt safe… - he also told Tommy that his coven didn’t enjoy killing humans, if they didn’t need to then why create more animosity between humans and vampires?
Dream had wished more than anything that vampires and humans could just get along, but humans don't like competition and vampires don’t like not being in control. Dream didn’t like the conflict that elder vampires would start with hunters for a good laugh, Tommy didn’t like hunters who were needlessly cruel to vampires, even if they hurt people they- they didn’t deserve the horrors Tommy heard vampires go through. It wasn’t fair.
Dream passed his ideals onto Tommy, words of peace and co-existence. So Tommy foolishly befriended a group of hunters, it made Dream nervous, Tommy knew it made Dream nervous, but everything would be okay! Tommy knew what he was doing, the hunters were nice, for a little while, they were nice when Tommy asked them questions, told him stories of their travels.
But then they found out what Tommy was, what Dream was and cursed at them, calling them demons, hellspawn, murderers. It hurt, friends Tommy made, and like an instant they switched their tune, Tommy was no longer the kid who’d sit with them around a campfire with his ‘older brother’ requesting stories of their travels, he was now a soulless life-stealing monster in their eyes.
So maybe Tommy was naive to run back to the hunters after they did that, but Dream was dying, some poison apparently and they promised they could help through fake smiles and snobbish smirks, they’d help if Tommy let them run tests on him, he panicked and agreed. Tommy hasn’t seen Dream since, hasn’t felt him since. He used to feel a constant string of love-love-mine-mine from Dreams bond, it fell silent when the hunters took him in.
So maybe Tommy was an idiot to think Dream was still alive, maybe he was an idiot to trust hunters in the first place, he wanted peace, to be friends with humans. Humans didn’t want that, humans didn’t like him when he w as human.
A sob tore from his throat, he wanted Dream, he wanted his sire to card his fingers through Tommy’s hair, wanted the hunters to go back to telling him stories by a campfire with sympathetic smiles. Tommy wanted someone, anyone.
But his prayers went unanswered and they’d go unanswered, Sapnap and George wouldn’t go looking for him, he’d die alone, or maybe, maybe the hunters would come back, asking questions like always, poking at him, slicing his flesh, making his bleed, throwing him raw steaks, talking to him. Sure they looked at him with pure disdain but it was company they gave him food, even if it wasn’t good food and his instincts screamed for the hunter to come just a little closer so he could be properly fed.
So Tommy sat, and Tommy waited, he didn’t know if it was day or night, light didn’t reach the basement where his cell was kept, he couldn’t hear anything outside the room his cell was kept in. But even still he could smell the horrible metallic salty scent of blood, the scent only deepening his hunger.
He blinked slowly, staring at the ceiling and imagined he was seeing the stars, laying next to Dream and Sapnap and George. Sapnap would say a joke in passing, Dream would tell him to knock it off and George would laugh and Tommy- Tommy would lay there pressed close to his sire laughing along but not absorbing any of what they said just happy to be basking in their presence, under the moonlight with his coven.
Dream would run his fingers gently through Tommy’s hair, laugh and call him his little ‘moonbeam’, hold him close and tight, ready to fight the world for Tommy if he so demanded it. It was nice, it felt safe.
But then he blinked again and he was still stuck in his cell. He sucked in a breath, exhaling it quickly as he stared at the ceiling once again, no stars, no sky, no moon, just ugly, dull grey.
Rolling onto his side he tucked his knees up to his chest, day three of total isolation and he’s acting like a child. He ponders briefly if the hunters - if they’re still alive - are getting the reaction they desire, do they want to see Tommy become undone? Sobbing like a child begging for attention?
The metallic smell suddenly becomes stronger and his ears pick up on footsteps echoing down the steps of the basement, he sits up, staring as where the hunters would come in from waiting patiently like a dog ready to roll over or do anything they ask of him, if only for a few moments.
But in walks a stranger, holding a flashlight to guide him, Tommy had become well acquainted with all of the hunters but this person he didn’t recognise. A man taller than himself with wire frame glasses, curly chestnut brown hair, a yellow turtleneck and brown trench coat which looks like it hadn’t been washed in years.
Tommy moved so his back is pushed against the furthest wall, like he has to do when they throw him food, he sits there watching the man with piercing red eyes, his lip pulled back in a slight snarl. This man doesn’t smell like the other hunters, he doesn’t smell like a vampire either, he smells completely unfamiliar and Tommy doesn’t know what to make of it, he doesn’t trust it.
The man holds out his hands, keys rattling, Tommy’s eyes flicker to the keys, his instincts leaping, if he opens the cage Tommy will attack him, he knows he will, so he digs his claws into the concrete floor, biting his lip hard enough to draw blood as he tries grounding himself.
He lets out a fearful warble as the man gets closer, Tommy doesn’t want to attack him. Dream always said he should only drink from willing humans. Tommy wants to listen to his sire, be good for Dream.
“It’s okay, I’m just gonna let you out,” the man smiled, taking a step closer.
Tommy flinched back, pushing himself impossibly close to the wall, hoping to sink into it. The human is coming closer, Tommy can hear the way the man's heart beats steadily, he’s not scared, even in the face of a vampire.
He shook his head desperately at the man's words, clenching his jaw tightly shut, his own blood leaking into his mouth, it tasted foul, not near as good as animal blood or what he imagined human blood would taste like.
“No? It’s alright, I won't hurt you,” the man promised, taking another step.
The problem isn’t that Tommy is scared of being hurt, he’s scared that he’ll be the one inflicting pain, he shudders, whining wordlessly.
“I can’t let you stay in there,” he insisted, walking right up to the gate that was separating Tommy from the rest of the basement, the gate that was keeping Tommy from this human.
Tommy’s breathing became ragged as he scratched and scraped at the ground with his claws. Another whine clawing its way up his throat and escaping through barely parted lips. Hurting humans who don’t give permission is bad, Dream would say this would make for n exception but Dream wasn’t here and Tommy didn’t want this to be an exception, he was so hungry and a human wouldn’t be able to pull him off, a human wouldn’t be wise to pull a vampire away from their meal.
So Tommy stayed put, shutting his eyes tight and clenching his jaw, fangs burrowed into his bottom lip causing his blood to sluggishly leak from the wound.
“C’mon lets get you out of here,” the man muttered, swinging open the door and taking a step into the cage.
Tommy snarled his head snapping up in an instant, his pupils becoming slitted as he glared at the man, message clear: do not come any closer. He pulled his top lip up, dislodging his fangs and growling.
“Alright, alright, I know, I know,” the man sighed, walking closer to the vampire, closer to Tommy.
His instincts were screaming at him that fresh blood was right in front of him, it wouldn’t take much to overpower this human, he was lanky and didn’t look to be carrying much muscle. It’s be so easy to just-
“What's your name kid?” The man was in front of him, kneeling like he wanted Tommy to attack.
Tommy whined, scrunching up his expression and holding his breath desperately trying to avoid the scent of fresh blood that wafted off the man.
“Oh, you must be hungry huh? Here,” the man held out what looked to be a pouch of blood, Tommy snarled at it, he didn’t trust it, he didn’t know what this man did to it.
“I can’t really trust you with my blood, okay, so take this, I promise it’s not dangerous,” the man urged, extending his arm further towards Tommy holding out the blood bag.
As much as he still didn’t trust the man, he was starving and could deal with the consequences later. He swiped the bag of blood and promptly sunk his fangs into it, gulping down the sweet metallic sanguine fluid.
It didn’t fill him up completely but it calmed his urges to attack the man, his stomach still whispered for blood, his instincts telling him that the man would calm all his urges, he wouldn’t even need to kill him. Tommy shook his head, the man wasn’t willing, that's bad, that's not what Dream would want.
“Have I earnt a name yet?” The man asked.
“No.”
“No?”
“No,” Tommy confirmed, he wasn’t giving his name to some stranger, he wasn’t a complete moron.
The man sighed, standing up and backing away from Tommy, looking down at him with concern? In his eyes. Tommy snarled, it was better than the look of disdain he’d get from the hunters but the man was pitying him, just like when Tommy was human. If people didn’t look his way with disgust in their eyes they’d pity him, he hated both but at least those disgusted in him didn’t have some stupid saviour complex about them.
“I’m Wilbur, can you at least tell me where to find your sire? You don’t seem old enough to be away from a coven,” the man - Wilbur - queried.
“Dead,” Tommy snapped in response, he didn’t know Dream was dead but if he wasn’t then their connection had broken. The coven bond was shattered, he couldn’t even reach Sapnap and George. Tommy didn’t know what that meant in full but he at least understood it made him alone again.
“The hunters they-”
Tommy snarled, cutting Wilbur off, glaring fiercely, his ruby red eyes shining unnaturally when the light from Wilburs flashlight could catch them.
“Okay- I’m gonna make a call alright?” Wilbur uttered, pulling out his phone in full view of Tommy.
The line rang for a few seconds before being picked up, Wilbur moved the phone to his ear not taking his eyes off Tommy, watching him cautiously like the kid was a wild animal.
His instincts cried in outrage that Wilbur didn’t take his attention off Tommy, it’d be so much easier to just- no. Tommy wasn’t going to attack Wilbur like a fresh turn with no sire, he was better than that. He respected humans (even if the feeling wasn’t always mutual).
“Hey, Phil, you remember that abandoned town house? … Yeah the one with the creepy basement, well looks like it wasn’t entirely abandoned … What? No- look I really don’t think that's important right now … Yes I went on my own … Phil just listen, the whole place was covered in blood, they had a fledgeling in the basement Phil.”
Tommy’s eyes widened at the mention of blood, that’d explain the pungent smell, but what the hell happened to cause it- did Dream come looking for him? Was Dream okay after all? His instincts leaped in excitement before remembering the severed bond. A whine tore from his throat and he chirped a pitiful call for his sire that would go unreturned.
“Just a minute Phil,” Wilbur put down his phone, reaching out for Tommy, he flinched back, stiffening at the gesture and Wilbur immediately pulled back, looking Tommy up and down with a worried glance.
He let out a fearful warble, snapping at Wilbur, pulling back his top lip to show off his fangs in silent threat. Wilbur stepped back, allowing Tommy space and muttering a quick apology before grabbing his phone again, pursing his lips into a thin line and furrowing his brow at Tommy.
“Yeah, everything is fine Phil … Yeah that was the fledgeling, poor little guy … No he wont tell me it … I’m not forcing anything out of him, it's a miracle he hasn’t attacked me considering how starved he looked … Yeah I gave him blood … no not from the vein, that might not have ended well … No I don’t know what I’m going to do but I can’t just leave him here … Phil the area is surrounded by hunters, he won’t make it to morning … Tell Techno to suck it up then … Fine, bye dad.”
Wilbur ended the call, he seemed… angry. It was never good when humans were angry, Tommy flinched, pushing himself further into a ball.
“I’ll get you out of here,” Wilbur offered, holding out his hand, his voice and demeanor softening as he turned his full attention back to Tommy.
He still didn’t trust this human but still Tommy took Wilburs hand, flinching at the feeling of warmth from a human, the hunters would do everything to not touch Tommy, even when slicing into his skin they only ever let the blade touch him, Tommy never gave them a reason to hold him down after all, if it meant they’d save Dream Tommy would do anything.
But Dream was gone now, and now Tommy had Wilbur… Only Wilbur isn’t a vampire, he’s just some human who seems to be having family troubles if that phone call had anything to say about it.
“Tommy,” he confessed, as he placed his hand in Wilburs.
“Tommy?” Wilbur repeated questionly.
“My name.”
“Oh- hello Tommy, nice to meet you, though not under these circumstances,” Wilbur grimaced.
“Right… Nice to meet you too, Wil-bur,” Tommy replied, squeezing Wilburs hand slightly to convince himself that the man before him was actually real
“Why are you saying my name like that?”
“Like what? Wil-bur.”
“Like- you know what nevermind,” Wilbur scoffed, rolling his eyes fondly.
Tommy followed Wilburs obediently, just like he would the hunters, not that the hunters ever held his hand or responded to his chirps, but Wilbur did and Wilbur was here, leading him out of this place.
Another warble escaped him as they began their ascent up the stairs, he wasn’t meant to leave the basement or the hunters would hurt Dream, but Wilbur wasn’t a hunter- or at least he wasn’t one associated with the hunters Tommy knew.
“Are you okay? What's wrong?” Wilbur questioned, concern flooding his tone that he didn’t even attempt to hide.
“‘M not supposed to…” Tommy trailed off, shrinking back and pulling away from Wilbur whilst tightening his grip on the human's hand.
“It’s alright, you’re with me now, not them,” Wilbur crooned.
Tommy followed Wilbur up the stairs and into the main room where he was met by a strong smell of blood. The scent had trailed down to Tommy’s cell but he didn’t expect the amount of dried blood soaked through the boarded floors. He leaned into Wilbur trying to focus on the man's scent of old leather books and salt.
“It’s alright, you don’t have to look,” Wilbur hummed, placing his free hand over Tommy’s eyes and leading the boy through the old house only uncovering his eyes when they were out.
The outside wasn’t much different than Tommy remembered it was night, the light of town could be seen from through the treeline and the smell of blood was drowned out by several other scents of the forest.
Tommy sucked in a breath, a whine forcing itself into the world, he wanted his coven, he wanted Dream, but nothing hinted to where they were, no scents, no feelings floating through the coven bond. He let out a quiet sad warble followed by a series of weak chirps.
“Hey… it’s okay, we- we have contact with some other vampires who might know something about your coven, we- we’ll try get you back to them, I promise,” Wilbur gave Tommy a sympathetic smile, gently ruffling the guy's hair.
“So- I have to go with you- and- and you won’t hurt me because you have nothing over me I will fight you and- and I’d win!” Tommy growled, staring at Wilbur with ruby red eyes, his pupils in thin slits as his top lip peeled back to reveal his fangs, smaller than the average vampire but he was still very young after all.
“I have no doubt you’d win,” Wilbur chuckled, “But I swear we have no intent to hurt you,” he promised.
Tommy didn’t really trust the words of this stranger but Wilbur hadn’t hurt him yet and he might be able to get Tommy reunited with his coven, with Dream.
He took a shaky breath and nodded, “Alright… I trust you, just- if you do find my coven… and you hurt them- I- I won’t forgive you.”
“It’s alright, I’m not- I wouldn’t hurt your friends, I only want to reunite you,” he smiled.
“Okay… it’s a deal.”