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Tommy was sure it started when he was 10.
The neglecting, I mean. Well, not neglecting, per se, just... ignoring.
You see, when Tommy was but a naive but aware child he saw the signs of his family ignoring him. Each time he asked for help in school, Phil calls for Puffy to tutor him. Ask Wilbur to sleep with him cause he feels scared? A recording and a player were sent his way. If he felt hungry and was craving some food, Techno had stopped bothering him as he eats sugar goods.
And it hurts, as much as he hates to admit it.
They think he's dumb, but he knows. Tommy has heard his father's praise for his twin older brothers. He's seen the trophy case present more high school trophies rather than his handicraft ones as they gather dust at the back. He's heard their dismissive reply whenever he "sleeps" right before dinner as they laugh amongst each other, while he flights the urge to shake and cry.
It was when he was 14 did he start his odd rebellious phase. While he did scream more, demanding the whole house's attention at each word leaving his lips, he actively hid them from his family. He'd gotten himself an ear piercing with his friend Linu after growing his hair it reached his jaw. He bought white dye, the kind where it's semi-permanent so if you shower with it, it stays for a week or two, using the excuse that his friends must've pranked him.
Yet he still didn't get anything. A glance whenever his hair blows with the wind, but no comment. When he did get a fake one, they said nothing other than the fact they knew it was. The dye incident was only filled with light teasing and-
He just wants attention. Love, acknowledgment. He's tried doing exceptionally well in his studies as well as being shit but all he got was a small "do better" or "good job" and all that, but still nothing.
16 was when he barely cared anymore.
At this point, hiding his piercings was just so he could stay in school. And with how great he was at hiding them, well, he may have gotten a bit prideful and bold since he had every earing that was near his lobe and helix.
Another thing he's done is get a tattoo, and it wasn't a small one, no. Since he doubts his family cares that much, he got a phoenix on his back that nearly covered him in ink. It was designed like it was the sun itself, curled in itself with its feathers used as the rays of the sun.
He was the definition of a delinquent, the only difference still cared about his studies. Only this time he kept them average to avoid the eyes of those hungry teachers looking for "students with potential" in hopes of getting out of the hell hole called school.
Now, enough about his past, let's talk about the present.
Today was a clear day, nothing special in both the event and academic way so Tommy had decided to tag along with his friends and skip school for the whole day. He was lucky enough to have any of those strict teachers or any school employees to have bad blood with him, so he had no worries about getting caught.
"Tubz! Boob!" Tommy yells as he ties the side bits of his hair. Bangs still fall on his eyes as well as a few strands tickling his face, but his ears are shown to the world around. He wore a simple red hoodie with white sleeves and black pants and changed his shoes from the simple ones to the sports kind.
His two friends, Tubbo and Ranboo, were found under their signature place, a large tree with a bench in the quiet and less dense of a nearby park that they lovingly called "The Bench", Tubbo in casual clothes and Ranboo with the school uniform (that wasn't required), blazer hanging on his shoulders.
Tubbo waves while Ranboo could be seen sighing, palm reaching his face after hearing his friend call him "Boob".
"So, men! What is our schedule for today!" Tommy smiles once he teaches them. He sits between the two, ignoring Ranboo's "hey!" And pout as he digs his bag for the case that contained his piercings. "You mind waiting?" Tubbo asks as he watches the blonde aggressively dig around his bag.
Once he found his case, "yeah, what for?" He opens it and hands the tiny separate box that contained the left ones to Ranboo and the right ones to Tubbo.
" We know this kid, Purpled, and he said he wants to show something" Tommy raises an eyebrow, he knew who Purpled was. A dark blonde teen, with purple eyes, is usually seen with an expressionless face.
From his knowledge, Purpled was equivalent to a mercenary. Ask him to do something and he'll do it for the right amount of money, and they were always seen at quite reasonable prices. Need the answer sheet for a test? Depending on the teacher: 10-30 Primes. Want help in skipping a class? Depending on the teacher (again): 5-45 Primes. He'll do it.
Tommy elbows Ranboo when he misses a hole in placing a piercing, "OW! You sure he ain't scamming you?". Ranboo, after a while, finally decides to be the one to reply. "No, he said we might be the ones getting paid actually"
Now that gets Tommy's full attention, like a raccoon and shiny things. Not that he's a raccoon and that he likes shiny stuff too, fuck you.
With no information, they spend their time in silence after each of his ears has completed its piercing collection.
♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤
Once Purpled came, they talked for like, 5 minutes, and drags them out of the park. Not before making sure Tommy was Tommy.
"Yes, I'm Theseus Craft"
"...dude, you look like a delinquent"
"I know"
"Do you also have a tattoo? Like - nevermind, let's just go"
Tommy just mutters a yeah and jumps up behind Ranboo. The heterochromia-eyed teen was quick to see the sign of the blonde's action and braced himself. He lets out a small oof before straightening his posture and securing his friend's legs with his arms as they follow the other two.
Tommy was expecting a lot of things from Purpled. Was the dude asking them to assist him in his weird school job? He'd understand why, Tubbo was great at hacking, Ranboo was a teacher's pet and Tommy was pretty flexible. Or maybe the guy just found some cool things he needs help in selling?
He's broken off his thoughts when he hears Purpled say "This is it"
In front of them was nothing special, a shitty old Auto Mechanic shop. He knew this thanks to the overgrown sign that had, what he assumed, a Cartoon Raccoon with droopy eyes and a hard helmet.
Tommy had tapped his friend, signaling him to let him down and he walks over to the dark blonde teen. Dropping his arm on his shoulder, he uses Purpled like a stand "Purps, Big P, this looks like a place people make shit, not bank"
Purpled simply shrugs his arm off and walks in.
The three look at each other, silently making a conversation with their eyes that they are misinterpreting.
...
Guess they're going in.
And holy fuck were they glad they did.
Behind the overgrown mess of vines and such, spreading around metal like an intricate design teacup, and all the scrap metal they find an open field. And not just any normal field, no, that would be dumb. Why the fuck would they be happy in seeing a plain open field?
No, what they see parent just that. What they find are numerous sick-looking cars, all lined on one side along with a fable that Tommy assumes are tools. He looks at them all in awe, their design making them look badass.
But two caught his eyes, two Mercedes-AMG GT R and a Jaguar XE SV Project 8.
The two Mercedes had simple, but eye-catching designs once you see them. With a matte black base, its fenders and headlights were a different color. One had a blue shade with vague designs of.. sheep? Odd. The other one, though, really said "let's be badass and cute" with its grey pink shade and a darker shade of it used to make the skulls.
The Jaguar was a nice color green, but that's not what caught his eye, no, it was the tiny crow statue on its front. Even from afar, it looked well designed, wings outstretched and beak open as if the flying creature was scaring off a beast. That and the fact the thing looked clean despite there being, like, 8 crows on top of it.
"I never doubted you a second" Tommy says as he goes and jogs to the cars. Purpled just gave him a "really?" Look before telling his friends to follow the blonde.
Ranboo and Tubbo stood a foot away from the cars as Tommy just inspects them. The crows he had mentioned watched with tilted heads as he looked at the inside and holy fuck were they cool too!
At this point, Purpled had excused himself and his two best friends watch in confusion at the unknown knowledge of cars their friends had. Or maybe they should say it was an obsession with how starry his eyes looked at just looking at some cars.
Personally, for Ranboo, they were just normal cars. Yeah, their designs looked cool, but that's it. He never really understood why people liked cars, with the fact their just moving vehicles.
He also said this to the short brunette who agreed.
They could Tommy mutter excitedly to himself as he looked at the cars, they didn't mind. He wasn't being his usual "do first, think later" self and as much as they enjoy his chaotic side, this one was ok-
Until Tommy opened the hood on the blue/black one.
"Tommy! Dude, you might break that!" They weren't professional at cars, ok? But it's better safe than sorry.
"You won't!" Purpled yells from a distance. The three comically look at the source in sync and find the teen with a companion, clearly an adult.
Once they were in proper hearing distance, "Guys, This is Sam." He introduced his companion.
In a vague and small explanation on how Sam looked would be:
The man was fucking built, that and he was menacing.
For the detailed explanation;
The man had dark green hair with a yellow streak, a gas mask for spray painting hung on his face, essentially hiding the lower half of his face. A simple white tee covers his built body ( like built enough you can ssay the man probably works out 24/7, but also not so much he looks like he'd on steroids.) along with the mechanic pants with the shit ton of pockets and mechanic work boots.
The three are left agape at the man as he simply waves, "Hey, you guys like cars?" He bluntly asked.
"No-"
"Not really-"
"YES!"
Tommy yells as he push away the brunette and the two-tone haired teens.
"The driving kind or the inside kind?"
Confusion fills Tommy's face. Driving? Wasnt it just that? Liking how the car was modeled or how it was designed nicely, that was how Tommy liked cars. The inside was not something he paid much attention, too many parts and too many things that says "oh you can have this but.." or "odd good but (B) would be better than (A)".
Just shove him in the driver's seat and he'll be drifting around in the dead of night.
Which may be something he does on the regular.
"Driving"
Sam nods at Tommy's answers and pulls out a set of keys, unlocking the blue mercedes, "Wanna take her on a spin?" He says as he throws the key to Tommy, making the blonde stutter as he throws the key around until finally caging it in his palms.
"Can I?"
"Owner threw her away after getting a "better" car but I still think she's great" Sam walks up to Purpled, mumbling a few words and leaves, not before leaving words for the trio. "Just, try not to die, ok?" A teasing and concerning tone fills his words and he makes his leave.
"Uh, Tommy, LETS just go ho-"
"PURPLED! GET IN HERE!" Tommy says in a giddy matter, Ranboo was hunched on the back seat, clearly defeated after a pressured talk with Tommy but a small smile still meets his lips.
Before Tubbo could scold Ranboo for not only having the back bone of an eclair but alsp wanting to fucking die- he's dragged by Purpled to the back seat and the cats engine roars to life.
And the next few hours were like splashing the most beautiful colors on a blank canvas.
It was amazing, laughter filled the air as Tommy makes smooth drifts and turns like he was on a race track, when really, he's mimicking the same path he does when he goes on a racing night. Ranboo laughed louder than his usual timid chuckle, Tubbo screamed in both fear and excitement at each drift and random turn yhe blonde did, Purpled's stoic face was turned to one filled wuth mischief and awe.
And Tommy, just looked free.
Adrenaline pumped in his veins like he was on a race track- and he can see it. Not the one you see on tv, no, he could see the path that he saw once in that wrecking yard they once went.
He could imagine the sandy-like road underneath the rubber tires, making the vehicle do tiny bumps. Wrecked cars on the side to show the road, the ones that somehow had working lights used to light the way as night envelopes the sky, stars assisting in lighting a path only Tommy knew.
"Tommy?"
"Big man-"
"He-hey-"
A ramp, in the distance could be seen, and it was like Tommy was set on auto pilot. He steps on the gas, his friends cries and shouts to tell him to stop falls on his deaf ears as the car accelerates and he's so close if he could go faster he can make thay sick j-
"The fuc-"
Tommy cursed as the car slows and stutters to a stop. The imagined race track gone as he looks around confuse.
"Gas. Out." Purpled pants, hair disheveld from the amount of turning and shaking the car caused.
They stay like that for maybe a minute or ten, until Sam had come up, obviously from running- did they get that far from the entrance?
"Holy shit- Tommy do you race or something?!"
The blonde stutters answers; saying he does but he doesn't, he only goes on midnight drives and that random answer about scooters. He's still calming down from the adrenaline, ok? Leave him alone.
Ranboo leans on the back of Tommy's seat, putting his head on the clear space between Tommy and Purpled "You sure- drive like race-" he mutters, somewhat dizzy from the ride.
Sam makes a thinking face, hand underneath his face with his pointer finger near where his mouth should be style. His eyes shine and he snaps his gloved hand "Stay, I'll tow you back"
♡♡♡♡♡♡
By the time they got back, Tommy had to text his dad he'll be "staying at Tubbo's", not bothering to wait for a reply nor to see the little bubble show his dad's little pixeled face.
Sam had opened a table, various non alcoholic drinks spread through out the plastic piece. The man sat on the wide side , Tubbo, Tommy and Ranboo sitting on the other wide side in that order and leaving to grab a take out order.
Am I in trouble? Tommy thinks to himself as he looks to Ranboo's ponytail in boredom while alternating between a loose hair and his peircing, his arms resting on the back of his seat.
He didn't mean to cause any trouble, on purpose. Sam had said to just stay alive and they did! Tommy made sure to test the Mercedes in a totally but cool matter so what could be the matter? Did he still want the car scratchless? Was the tires damaged from him drifting too much? Did-
"I can see your cogs turning" Sam said before sipping his beverage, probably a beer. His mask had been discarded and Sam.. looked like any other person, save for the gnarly scar on his cheek. It looked like a long cut, starting on the corner of his left eye (the one near his nose) and slowly thickens to his cheek. Another was small, but still big underneath his right eye.
It scared him, sure, but he could tell it told a great story amongst friends.
Amongst family (like how Techno did when he was young -)
Long silence filled before Sam pulls out a peice of paper, it looked like a brochure- oh shit was this guy some couch for those minor race car competitions??
Ranboo grabs it, his longs limbs stretching to teach it. He wraps his arm around Tommy, Tubbo leaning on it, as he opens the light material.
"The Pit is back in racing! Bring your rides and gain a chance for money or something special-" the three ignore the weird implication. On the bottom text, " THIS FRIDAY 10PM, DON'T BE LATE!!" was written in red marker.
The three loked up, confuse. Was it an invitation?
Sam, pretty being the weird adult, nods. "You wanna try, kid?"
The two looked at Tommy and they knew, at that moment they wouldn't be able to tell him he shouldn't.
The two knew about his family's neglect, leaving him to the point Tommu could stay at Tubbo' or Ranboo for a month and they wouldn't bat an eye as he comes back home through the front door with a duffel bag. And seeing his star filled eyes and awe-filled looked, how could they tell him he shoudnt?
And so, Tommy's (illegal) car racing career began.
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
Though that looks like it's about to end, as he's kicked for the nth time in a random hidden corner of The Pit.
The trophy was thrown to the side as men in typical "gangster" clothing stare at him wuth judging eyes.
Honestly, he should be the one judging them, who the fuck wheres a jaguar print blazer with no shirt? Like, dude, you look dumb as fuck with your non existant chest hair all puffed out. Not to mention, the other guy just wore his on his shoulder's despite it obviously one for wearing. He looks as dumb as chicken.
Blue eyes scan his surroundings, Tubbo and Ranboo are knocked out and tied, blood drips slowly from Ranboo's nose when Jaguar-Guy broke his nose when he tried to protect him. Tubbo had a black eye forming and a cut bleeding slightly when he was pushed down to the dirt. He could see Sam passed out too, his mask missing and his actually good looking suit battered like his face.
He should help them, but his ear still stings when they took his emerald earing way, so maybe he could just rest for a whi-
A choked cough is sent to his lungs as the Blazer-Guy kick him again, his crunchy? Voice sounded underwater- or like when your ear has water- either way he sounded warped. Jaguar Dude played with the earing he mentioned, spinning it on the hooks end. The green gem making a green circle with how fast he made it spin.
"That's.. my... brother's " he should get that back. Techno said he worked hard to make it and Wilbur made sure it was designed e-lo-quent-ly or whatever. And Phil said it suited him.
Tommy was ready to close his eyes. His body was sore and bruised, maybe sleep would heal him. Like he does when he gets in fights and he doesn't wanna bother his family, who knows, the pink lady might not snitch again about him having broken ribs.
Maybe she will, he only came to her when he has black eyes or cuts.
He's gonna die, huh. In some dark corner of The Pit, with no hope for help and the loud cries of his brothers-
Cries of his brothers?
"YOU PIECE OF SHIT!"
He cracks an eye open and sees Wilbur's fancy shoes along with Techno's favorite pair of boots. The Jaguar and Blazer guy's were after a loud bang echoes.
He's lifted slightly and makes a pained whined, "Shit- Hey, Hey, Sunshine"
Tommy brings in a breath and shakily exhales it, "No- That- Wilby, only call me... that.."
His mind is mushed and everything hurts.
And before he knew it, with loud shouts and harsh movement that makes him whine in pain, he's out like a light.
♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤
When he woke up, he wished he stayed asleep as his brother nearly finish the two guys with a bone crushing hug. Thankfully, Techno was well aware on his twin's antics was quick to grab him from to the collar and stop from inevitability killing his young brother.
Tommy looked around, the place looked like a crossover office and private hospital room. It had a blue monochromatic theme, save for the occasional white and black, the opposite wall to his bed had drawers with labels too far for him to read. To his right were his brothers, chairs close by along with a desk with papers and a pen holder.
To his left, a proper desk with more drawers for, what he assumes, pens and other supplies. It had distantly familiar trinkets on top, some he vaguely remember.. making? Others felt familiar, but nothing clicked in his brain.
"Wh.." a cough interrupts his speech, Techno already ready to hand a glass to ehich Tommy quickly chugs on "where are we? What happened?" Questions filled his mind and speech as worried blues face concerned red and hazel hues.
Techno makes eye contact with Wilbur and Tommy instantly knew the two were having their weird telepathic twin conversation. With how concern but desperate Techno looked, and Wilbur looking like he'd done with the pinknette's bullshit, he's guessing Techno was begging Wilbur to do the talking, as usual.
With a sigh, Wilbur looks at Tommy, nervous and scared evident on his pale face, "Tom's we were worried for you" he says, voice filled with a tone he feels like he heard- from a dream that is. It filled him with pain, worry and sorrow but also anger and frustration.
Worried? They've left him in the house for 2 days, no note and Tommy nearly called the police had he not check the inside of the fridge to find a packed plastic box with a wet note on top saying they we're gone for the day and would be back the following day at evening. Tommy still remembers crying his heart out as to why hadn't they just call him? Tell him a day before hand, something confrontational and not by a fucking note-
"-the fact we found you in the Pit! What have you been doing?! You're sixteen for Prime's sake and your already that deep in the crime world?" He scolds, but Tommy tunes him at the mention of The Pit.
How does he know the Pit?
Wilbur freeze, he must've spoken rather than think the question. The brunette looks away, ashamed and-
"Your not telling me something"
"Consider it your light punishment for being involved in such groups-"
"Well, maybe if you lot weren't so neglectful I-" he raises his hands "quote on quote be "involved in such groups", when you think about it" Tommy ends with tucking his hands under his armpits, curling his torso to look smaller as he cross his arms.
Techno decides this might be best to break his introverted shell "We're not neglectful-" he starts, gesturing his hands but pause when Tommy speaks again "Well you sure act like it!"
His frustrations build and bubble and he can't help but pour the venom in his heart. "Whenever I get home late, you guys barely bat an eye. When I get in a figh, Dad just hives me a warning and I'm pretty sure last time was my 23rd "Last Warming!"." He shouts, tears rim his eyes but he wasn't done yet.
"And your all shit at hiding the fact you barely make me lunch, whenever I go by days buying cafeteria lunch, you'd make Techno cook when Dad's busy, and when he isn't, dad just cooks eggs. Oh and how about that time you Didnt bother giving me a heads up you'll be gone? What if I never checked the fridge? Would that mean I'm just blindly waiting for my family to come home from a week long vacation?!"
Tears drip down his face as sniffles fill the room.
Tommy still sat on his bed, only waist down covered by a blanket. He wanted to stand and maybe throw an item or two to express how truly angry he was but all he could do was be engulfed by utter sadness as the realization (and maybe acceptance) that his family only had the bare minimum of love for him. If his life was in danger they'll do this but if it wasn't then it's back to cold shoulders and small glances.
"Did I do something wrong? If I did, just tell me! I'll do anything to make it right.. just.." he fists the blanket as tear drop fell on thw soft fabric.
"Love me.."
"We do love you, mate" he hears his father say, but all he does is turn away from where he presumably was. How did he even get here so quietly?
He feels hands reach his shoulders and he's pull into a hug,one that tickles his brain much like the trinkets on the desk he mentioned. Familiar yet not clicking.
The only difference was the fact he wanted it to click, because this was a hug from his father. The man that was supposed to be his guardian right after his mother, yet Tommy couldn't find the click that made him like the hug.
Phil hush Tommy's cries as he balls into his green shawl, he could hear him whisper soft words that he yearned for years along with apolgies he thought he never needed, it made him cry. There, he said.
"We should tell him." Techno says once Tommy's cries calms, leaving the young blonde a sniffling mess while the older has a snot filled shoulder. Phil looks at Techno in shock as he drops the shawl of his shoulders.
Tommy on the other hand makes a look of confusion. What were they gonna tell him? The reason for their neglect? Cause that wouldn't make him forgive them, not when there were better people out there that treated him better.
He watch as his father thinks to himself before letting a sight leave his lips and speaks "Tommy, we.. well, yes, we were neglectful but we only thought you wanted freedom and because we wanted you safe."
"Safe? What, from the mafia?"
He knows there's rumors of a mafia in their town growing underneath the earth, but it was basically a conspiracy.
Phil wince, Techno turns and Wilbur makes an awkward cough. No- no fucking way.
"You're not saying what I think you're saying"
"Tommy, we work- no, We're the Antartic Mafia"