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“Tommy wake the fuck up,” Phil said directly into the sleeping teens ear.
“Mmngdjshdm,” Tommy grumbled at the crow hybrid who was like a father figure to him. He opened his eyes and shook because Phil was hovering inches away from Tommy with a creepy grin.
Out of instinct Tommy kicked out and screamed like the man he was. His feathers were truly ruffled by the elders' need to wake him up so early. The stupid captain and crow hybrid of the Goddess of Death was a menace at times.
“Ough, mate that hurt. I get that though it was a rude way to wake you but the witowl Towmmy scweams are so funny,” Phil laughed through Tommy humiliation. His laugh was coming out as a squawk because of his old age and inability to be cool. Phil felt parental instincts towards everything that looked even somewhat sad because of his avian hybrid type. While the old man said he hated that his instincts made him need to care, Tommy knew that it wasn't just the instincts causing Phil to care for their small crew like a family.
“Stop using that voice, it's cringe,” Tommy rubbed his eyes and stretched his tired limbs. Tommy proceeded to yawn and flip Phil off as he stood up to begin his day out at sea as a pirate.
As he walked onto the deck Tommy stole Phil's captain hat with an evil laugh. Tommy was chased up the stairs by his captain before he was able to stretch his parrot wings and fly into the disgustingly early morning sky. While he loved his life as an evil pirate who kicks names and takes butt, waking up early has to be the singular downside.
“Get back here you brat,” Phil yelled as he flew after Tommy through the sky.
They chased around the clouds zooming in and out of the condensation waiting to fall. His instincts were in full drive as he played around the air with Phil. He dodged every poorly hidden attack and threw the hat so it stayed just out of reach. Bullying one member of the crew is fun but multiple is even better. Dropping the hat as he flew back down caused the chase to head towards the ship and Phil to go after the hat he so desired to have on his head.
Tommy scanned the deck to find his worst enemy onboard. The bitch known as Wilbur Stink (Soot), the ship's navigator and a selkie hybrid. He has been aboard the ship for less time than any of the crew and yet he is one of the most important people on it. Wilbur tends to bargain and learn about goods to steal for their crew.
“Tommy, why do you have Phil's hat?” The selkie asked Tommy who landed behind the slightly shorter seconds ago. The amused smile on Wilburs face from the morning chaos was prominent as Tommy went to answer.
“He woke me up like a bitch so I stole it as an act of revenge,” Tommy explained quickly as he and an angry Phil ran circles around Wilbur the boring.
“Tommy, you asked us to wake you up early so you could go into Snowchester with us,” a monotone voice said as the hat was being stolen from Tommy’s clutches from above.
“Oi Techno what the fuck,” Tommy exclaimed as he jumped to try and grab the hat back from the Kraken hybrid. “Just because you are like the right hand man and the main guns man doesn't mean that you get to take things from poor old Tommy”
Tommy looked up at Techno whose hair was still drying from his last adventure in the sea. Because he is a kraken hybrid, Techno needs to be out in the ocean often or else he will start to get very angry very fast.
“Good point I guess that I won't be giving you this emerald necklace that I found then,” Techno replied as he held out an emerald necklace to Tommy. Tommy's instincts went feral because that necklace was shiny and it was from a person he cared about. Tommy snatched it out of the older man's hand and quickly placed it around his neck. His instincts were calmed slightly now that the piece of jewellery was with him. Tommy knew that Techno's instincts wouldn't settle either until Tommy had the necklace. Kraken hybrids are pod animals but because hybrids are killed constantly and krakens are feared so strongly Techno never got a pod. That's why he stays around the crew despite his protests of not liking them.
“I only took this so our instincts would settle just so you know,” Tommy glared half-heartedly at the Kraken who just smirked and walked away. Tommy gasped in shock at the disrespect that he was facing. “Hey I am the great Tommy Innit, you need to respond to be bitch,”
“I don't actually but you need to bind their wings soon because we are getting close to docking. That is unless you don't want to go into town and just stay on the ship,” Techno replied, voice unchanging. A smirk of winning showed up on Techno's face for a quarter of a second. If Tommy didn't know his other brother figure better he would not have noticed the miniature change.
“You are boring Tech-no-blade,” Tommy flipped the man off and followed Phil to the bunks below so they could bind their wings. Having wings and hybrids being illegal meant that if Phil and Tommy wanted to do anything they had to hide their wings. Wilbur just had to keep his Selkie skin hidden and Techno just had to cover his arms and neck.
The scratchy binding rolls had to be used multiple times because to own a pack of binding tape meant that you had something to hide. For some people it's easy to just say it's for their gender dysphoria but for Phil and Tommy who are two white cis avian hybrids they can't come across this as easily.
Tommy hated how compressed his wings were against his back when they went into the towns. He hated that it made him feel sick the whole time and most of all he hated how much the restrictive binding made him want to fly so much more.
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Being inland was strange for them all because while out at sea the crew tends to forget how to act…well human. They are all too used to letting their instincts win over and just act like a family. But inland if they show any sign of instincts or ‘hybridness’ they would immediately be arrested and sent to jail.
Tommy kept shifting around as they walked because while he loved to go inland and see the markets, people, food, and animals he hated having his wings bound. They were itchy and uncomfortable, usually after going into the market Phil and Tommy had to build a nest in the ship and just indulge in their avian instincts. Otherwise they would start pulling feathers and the entire crew knows how poorly that went last time.
“We need to stay cautious. The enforcers have been a lot more prominent recently so just keep an eye out,” Phil said as the crew started on their way inland. They needed to pick up some food and get a map from Niki who is a mer-hybrid that somehow has been able to live amongst humans for years now. She has a network of people who find information about heists, treasure, and plots. Currently Phil wants to trade her a favor for something special that supposedly will let Phil talk to his wife. Even though he isn't married and his wife is a figment of his imagination they are along for the ride because the crew sticks together.
Tommy looked as they walked through the market at each of the stands. Everything looked so shiny and amazingly needed for his collection. Alas he couldn't show any instincts or that he was a hybrid or he would be unluckily killed.
He could however listen to the people and watch as life happened around him. Being on the ship meant being stuck with the same three people constantly. He could predict everything that would happen but out here there was no saying what could or couldn't happen.
“Hey lady, get back here, you know being a hybrid is illegal. It's impossible to escape the law,” Tommy looked off to his right at the sudden yelling to see a woman with her child running away from the police. They both seemed to be fox hybrids. The woman running had her hood off, Tommy assumed it either fell off during her run or somebody took it off of her. The hood being off revealed two fox ears and orange hair that matched them perfectly.
Her baby seemed to be crying as she was tackled by an enforcer. Tommy wanted to do something or anything to help but he couldn't. Helping a hybrid was nearly as bad as being one. Tommy looked at Phil and Techno who had subconsciously moved to protect Tommy. Knowing they were frozen until he started to move too Tommy lightly pushed the two and they started to walk forwards again. None of the four spoke because they have seen this happen far too many times. Somebody gets hurt because they are a hybrid and nobody blinks.
The crew of hybrid pirates continued to walk and with each silent step Tommy became more and more bored out of his mind.
“Wlby m bred” Tommy said as he shoved his face into the older man's back. Tommy was bored, hot, and uncomfortable all over. He just wanted to get back home. Back to the sea, back to the ship.
“Did you just call me Wilby?” Wilbur laughed lightly. He looked back at Tommy grinning as the teen groaned and rolled around Wilbur as they continued to walk.
“I didn't call you Wilby. My voice was being muffled by your stupid long ass coat.” Tommy said, crossing his arms.
“Do you mean my trench coat, Toms?” Wilbur asked amused.
“If that's what you call this shit then yes,” Tommy replied proudly.
“You're such a pain,” Wilbur lightly shoved Tommy, causing the teen to chirp out of instinct. Tommy felt his blood run cold suddenly as the area around them seemed to freeze and become deadly silent. The entire crew looked at Tommy with pure horror as he had done the single thing they all agreed to not do; show that they are hybrids.
The Snowchesters started to whisper and stare at the group of four. Tommy watched in horror as a few of the men and older teens started to swarm around them in an act of catching the hybrids.
“Tommy you need to run,” Wilbur said looking around at the crowd that has slowly started to circle them. He needed to find an out for them all but with there being four of them they would need to split up and meet at Niki’s or the ship.
“Wilbur what the fuck im not running. I need to stay with you guys. We are a family and I can't just leave you,” Tommy felt tears start to well up as he realized he had no say in this. They would make him leave one way or another. Either he left of his own free will or Phil forced him away with a chirp that would command Tommy to leave.
Wilbur looked at Tommy with a pained smile as his eyes shined. “Toms you know I love you, so please don't make this harder than it has to be.” His voice broke as he pleaded with Tommy.
“But no. Techno Phil there has to be something. We could convince them or we could run away together. I can't leave you,” Tommy pleaded to the other two adults.
“Tommy, mate this hurts to say but you have to go, this is final,” Phil said sternly, shattering Tommy's heart into a million unfixable pieces.
“Tommy, you have to go. Trust me we will see each other again. I promise, remember that emerald I gave you this morning,” Techno spoke softly as the crows seemed to thicken. Tommy nodded, “That emerald will always be there to remind you of us. We will be with you no matter what. You have to go though.”
“But,” Tommy wished there was something or someone who could help him.
“Go now,” Techno said loudly as he drew his sword to fight for their lives. The teen couldn't argue as he saw the guards starting to approach them from all angles but the alleyway behind him.
Tommy turned and ran, tears were streaming down his face as his legs carried him through Snowchester. He had to keep his family safe but there wasn't anything he could do. Tommy climbed onto a roof and peaked over to watch the commotion he was forced to leave.
He saw Techno standing in front of Phil and Wilbur, sword drawn. The kraken didn't look happy when he faced the guards. Tommy usually wouldn't be scared of Techno but the kraken hybrid terrified him now. The look in his eyes was one that wished for murder. It was a look that needed to kill and to protect his pod now.
There were twelve guards standing, three of them held handcuffs and the rest had a mix of guns and tasers. One by one the guards shot at Tommy's family. Wilbur went down first with a pained howl. He collapsed onto the ground in a heap of pain and smoke from the tasers hitting his limbs.
Phil was next to go down when they shot at his wings. The crow hybrid sang a song of pain and haltered to the world. He crumbled beside his son and looked up to see Tommy before he passed out.
He could feel the tears streaming down his face as each one of his family members were slowly knocked out. But Techno was fine so that meant that everything would be fine…yeah…he would be fine.
Techno was hit. He fell, Tommy screamed, he ran. He hated humans, he hated them all and he…he started to run again. Only this time he wasn't planning to stop.
Tommy didn't have a plan for where he was headed, he only knew that his family was caught and it was all his fault. He was the one that caused the commotion. He was the one to bother Wil first. He was the one that insisted on going into the town.
He suddenly found himself standing in front of Niki's shop. Tommy shoved his way through the only familiar place in this Gods forsaken town. Tommy looked up through his blurred vision and saw a lady with split dyed hair standing in front of him. He ran towards her and grabbed onto the woman for support.
“Niki, they are gone, they are getting imprisoned and killed because of me. All because I couldn't keep my stupid instincts away,” Tommy rubbed the tears away and looked at the woman who he was clung onto. She…she wasn't Niki. Tommy backed away with a new terror set in his eyes. He watched as the head guard of the enforcers grabbed out her gun and handcuffs. Tommy looked around hoping Niki was here only to find the shop run down. She wasn't here.
Tommy sprinted away again and nearly dodged the bullets that were being sent his way. Tommy spirited out of fear this time. Everybody he knew on this shit town was gone and he was all on his own. Tommy ducked into an alleyway and sat behind a barrel of what he assumed was garbage. As he waited for the coast to be clear Tommy started to feel woozy. He wanted to fall asleep but it wasn't safe…he was…on hi-...nobody…protect him. Tommy passed out in an instant from the adrenaline rush calming down.
If he was awake he would have felt the people talking above him. He would have felt them look on his back to see his wings. He would have felt them pick him up. He would have felt them carry him to their ship and he would have never been separated for three years from his family.
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Tommy hated the ship. He hated the people here, he hated the way he was treated and he hated being a hybrid. Every day was hell and he wished that he was given the same fate as his previous family. They were the only people who cared for him but clearly not.
It had been three years since they were taken and Tommy was kidnapped. It has been two years and ten months since they were sent a ransom for Tommy and it has been five months since they supposedly escaped the prison.
He was alone and nobody cared for him anymore, the captain of his current ship was cruel to him and constantly taunted him over how his family left and will never return. Tommy knew at this point that they didn't care but he just wanted that day to be back.
The day that he got the emerald necklace from Techno, the day Wilbur and him were joking around, the day that Phil woke him up early because he knew that Tommy wanted to go into the town. He often found himself curled into a ball in the corner of his cell. Either because the beatings for not following directions perfectly were too brutal or he was just trying to find some comfort in their endless voyage.
“Oi lousy hybrid, get up,” Tony loudly announced as he threw a bucket of dirty water onto the now young adult.
“Yes sir,” Tommy replied out of habit. He stood up despite his aching muscles aching from the constant movement and beatings that have given him broken bones in the past.
“You are to mop the entire ship, clean the captains quarters and if you do well we may add some extra food to your dinner tonight,” Tony said with a sickening grin. Tommy knew this meant they would add crackers to his food. They all thought it was so funny that he was a hybrid parrot so they tended to feed him crackers and mock Tommy the entire time he ate.
“May I be let out to clean the ship sir,” Tommy asked with his back painfully straight. He didn't make eye contact with any of them because they saw it was disrespectful.
“I guess, don't touch any of our things though. You know how the captain feels about filthy half breeds touching our things,” Tony scoffed as he opened the human cage they had him placed in. Tommy exited the cage and thanked Tony for letting him help and went to find the cleaning supplies that they had most definitely hidden from Tommy again.
Tommy didn't have to think as he cleaned their ship. It was a rhythm at this point for him. He was the only person to clean the ship and the crew made sure that Tommy had a difficult time doing so. Each time he went by Cole he would push over the bucket causing Tommy to refill the limited water he had to use. Tommy wanted to fly above the ship and get away but the captain made sure that his feathers were clipped and that his wings were fastened to his back the whole time out of the cage.
As he moved across the ship and into the captain's quarters to clean them again his wings started to flair up. They usually were fine except for when Tommy saw a crow or some sort or squid. It reminded him of his past family and his instincts needed comfort from them. He was confused this time because rationally his instincts had no need to act up.
He felt nothing but hatred towards the crew of this ship, they were too far out at sea for crows to show up and Tommy wasn't able to see any squids from where he was. He tried to shake the feeling off and continue to clean but the more he ignored his instincts the worse they became.
Tommy felt a chirp trying to escape his mouth, he had to swallow that down or else he wouldn't get dinner tonight or for the rest of the week. He tried to steady himself and tried to refrain from letting his instincts win but old habits die hard. Tommy felt himself chirp quietly as the boat started to shake.
Usually this would be fine but the sky was clear and last Tommy saw there weren't any shops nearby so he looked outside the window to see an unfamiliar ship floating parallele to theirs. It was firing cannonball after cannonball at them.
Tommy could hear yelling coming from outside but he was honestly happy that they were finally being taken down. He stepped back onto the main deck of the ship through the oak door and saw hybrid and non-hybrid pirates fighting the crew who held him captive for three years. He didn't want to interfere because on one hand they have fed him for years and on the other they have kidnapped him for years.
He looked across the crowd and watched as his captors fought and started to lose against the attackers. Tommy smiled sadly knowing that he would go down with the sip. After all, he knew that nobody wanted him anymore. Not after he was left behind and forgotten about for so long.
A large hand grabbed Tommy's arm and dragged him away from the captain's door. Tommy looked up to find a man who terrified him. The captain of this ship; Captain John Deadwater. The man was the person who kidnapped him in the first place. He was the one who nearly killed Tommy tome time and time again. He was also the man who was dragging Tommy back to the oh so familiar cage.
Suddenly Tommy realized that he wanted to be free. He wanted to be with the attackers. He wanted to live, he wanted to get out of here. Tommy started to struggle and fight against Captain John Deadwater. He needed to be free, so he could fly again and find a family.
“Let me go!” Tommy screamed at the captain who hadn't stopped moving. They were down the stairs and Tommy could see his cage. The horrendous mold and its rusted silver was something Tommy feared.
“Tommy, where are you?” A single voice roared above all else. He knew the voice better than anything else. Tommy couldn't stop himself before he let out a chirp.
“You filthy half breed,” The captain screamed and hit Tommy on the head so hard he fell unconscious. He must have been out for a while because when Tommy came to his cage was flooding with salt water from the holes in the ship.
Tommy started to bang on the sides of the metal and tried to force the door open. To no ends extent he tried and tried but it was all pointless as when he did finally get the door open the cage was submerged and the ship was sinking to the ocean floor. Tommy started to swim up but quickly ran out of everything he had. Swimming with his wings was nearly impossible but when they were clipped and bound to his back Tommy never had a chance. As he gave up and just let himself fall into the depths of the ocean Tommy saw a figure slowly approaching.
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“Damnit, why isn't he waking up? It's been a week like Tubbo, you said he was fine, I can't lose him again.”
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Tommy woke up alone. He opened his eyes slowly to find that he was in a medical room of some sorts. There was loads of supplies and Tommy felt needles stabbing him. They must have been for giving him the necessary nutrients. He tried to move but found his muscles to ache every time he moved them. Eventually after minutes of struggling Tommy forced himself upright so he was now sitting on the makeshift hospital bed.
He tried to stand up on his own but collapsed when he placed his full body weight on his legs. “Fuck” Tommy cussed to himself as he struggled to be standing again. He slowly made his way up to standing again. He looked around the room but there weren't any windows to tell where he was. Tommy glanced down and saw that he was in some ugly ass red robe. It was made of silk and was comfortable but he hated how it looked.
Tommy wanted to get a new outfit so he decided to go looking for one. He slunk out of the door into the largest ship he has ever come across. It was insane. The ship wasn't even swaying in the waters and Tommy could feel his wings stretching out to take in the fresh air.
He walked over to a nearby window and glanced out of it. Instead of finding a familiar infinite sea he found himself in an unfamiliar town. There were street lamps burning candles along the road. He didn't see anybody but knew that he was in danger. Instead of fighting back Tommy decided to gain more strength and pretend to be sleeping again.
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“His vitals are fine Phil, like Wilbur asked last week he just needs time to rest. We can only assume what we went through.” An unfamiliar voice said above Tommy. These must be the people who captured him and brought him inland. Tommy knew that he could move if needed but he didn't want to risk it yet.
“But how are you sure Tubbo? We left him on that ship for so long and he nearly drowned in the water,” Phil spoke to the voice. Phil being there made Tommy's flight instinct calm down so he could relax and focus more.
He wanted to see Phil but moving hurt again so Tommy opted for trying to talk. Tommy made it look like he forced every will of life that remained in it to speak.
“I'm fine old man,” He didn't move or add emotion as both would make him seem better than he wanted to let on at the moment. He needed Phil to know he was ok but with that other one there he wasn't sure it was ok to spring into action.
“Tommy? Wait, did you just speak? Tubbo, he just spoke right?” Phil sounded like he had been crying or was crying. Either way he knew that Tommy was ok.
“Yeah I believe that he spoke. I also think he insulted you Phil,” The other voice spoke out. They sounded young, around Tommy's age most likely.
“Tom, could you try to move your hand? Tubbo needs to know if you are paralyzed from the poorly wrapped and clipped wings they made you have,” Phil worriedly said. He was most definitely crying at this point because his voice cracked and sounded strained.
“Safe?” Tommy asked as he wanted to give the man a hug desperately
“It's safe Tommy, Tubbo is a friend and I'm here” Phil responded.
At this point Tommy felt awake but exhausted. He knew that he was able to move because his muscles were all responding when he slightly moved them. Instead of moving his hand Tommy opened his eyes and located Phil. The man looked nearly the exact same. He had much larger bags under his eyes and if he looked closely Tommy could make out a handful of gray hairs on the man's head. He adorned a shitty looking hat and some sorta robe that Tommy wanted to make fun of. But the man was most definitely Phil. He had a small bracelet peeking out from under his sleeve made of gold and tiny emeralds.
Tommy looked off to the side to see the boy he assumed was Tubbo. The kid seemed to be a ram hybrid with two large horns curling around themselves. He looked to be Tommys age like he assumed only much healthier. Tubbo was looking at Tommy with fascination and genuine happiness. This was odd as he never met him before but Phil was here so Tommy knew he was safe.
He subtly adjusted and hoped they just thought it was him testing out his muscles. But before Phil could congratulate Tommy for shifting he sprung up and wrapped his arms around Phil. His instincts needed contact and the hug calmed them down.
“I missed you Phil,” Tommy said as he felt tears streaking down his face slowly.
“Oh kiddo, I missed you too,” Phil responded as he held onto Tommy like a lifeline.
“But why did you leave me? I waited for three years and you guys never came to get me,” Tommy tried to punch Phil but his attempt to hit the older one was poorly done.
“Toms we tried, we were in a maximum security prison for years. Eventually they wanted to separate Techno, Wil, and I so we escaped with Niki and some other hybrids. The moment we located you we left to go save you. I am so sorry that you had to endure all of that for so many years but I'm here now,” Phil told Tommy as he finally let himself cry after three years of fearing to show any emotion.
“Tubbo could you-”
“They are already on their way Phil. I notified them the second he spoke,” Tubbo responded before Phil could finish his question.
Tommy wanted to ask what they meant but was interrupted by Wilbur and Techno pushing the door open without a warning.
Techno looks fancier with long pink hair done up in a braid covered in small pieces of gold and flowers. He wore a poet's shirt that Tommy would make fun of later and he had a giant ass sword strapped to his side. The man had a bunch of golden earrings, one being an emerald that matched the single thing he had to remember them all by.
Wilbur was wearing an ugly yellow sweater and some black boots. He was carrying a book and a quill that he must have been writing in. Tommy saw calluses on the man's fingers showing years of continuing to play the guitar. He wore circular glasses and Tommy could make out a single gold and emerald ring on his left index finger.
“Hey guys. Glad to see me?” Tommy asked with a crooked smile at his family who grew and changed without him.
“Of course we are Toms,” Wilbur said as his eyes watered slightly
“I missed you two,” Tommy said
“We missed you too kid,” Techno grinned, showing off his sharp teeth.
“I'm not a damn child bitch. I'm a whole ass adult,” Tommy crossed his arms.
“Are you now?” Techno seemed amused by his long lost brother
“Yep, but I am happy to see you guys. I missed you,” Tommy was home finally after three long years and he was happy to be home. With his family. While they changed they were the same and still the people he loved most in the world.