Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A breeze waved through the tree leaves beside rays of a fresh morning sun. Morning dew thickened the air the two breathed as they walk side by side. Gravel crunched as they walked.

“You know, we could add black and yellow to the top of the walls?” Wilbur continued to ponder, " Or what about red and black…?”

“I like the first one more! Tubbo will think you copied his bees though-” the youngsters laughter softened the Presidents expression.

“Yeh.” he smiled back to the blond, who was cheesing a goofy grin. His hand bending down to ruffle Tommy’s hair.

*crunch*

            *SNap*

Wilbur looked over his shoulder with a worried expression. Catching a glance of green and white rushing out of his cautious view.

“You feeling hungry yet Toms? We should be getting back for breakfast.” His pace quickened ever so slightly while he talked.

Tommy paid the action no mind and hurried after his brother in silence. Turning to look back as well but his view was blocked by his brothers wing reaching around and pulling him closer.

“I think Nikki planned on rabbit stew today, I’ve been craving it for weeks.” Tommy could tell from the weakness in his tone that something was off but smiled along doing his best to lighten the mood.

“Same! You really need to get her to teach me soon.” Tommy nodded proudly.

“Sure thing Toms.”

…

Sure thing…

He knew it was a horrible idea to clean.

He had warned himself of what he’d find. That this would be something he didn’t want to uncover.

Even now as he sat on his stale bedroom carpet surrounded by unpacked junk, he couldn’t bring himself to move the lid back on the box.

Reaching down with a trembling hand he pulled out a laminate photo and gripped it between his fingers. Through the heavy tears, he saw old L’manburg. Everyone lined up and cheerful. Wearing unscathed uniforms. The walls were fully built, and the drug van was parked proudly in the centre of the fortress.

He had no idea how this photo had survived so long and ended in his hands. It seemed like a cruel joke from the universe. His lungs were beginning to chock up as he gently placed the first photo beside him, desperately clawing through the box to find anything more.

Underneath the fabric patches, old coins, letters and his old feathers, two photos laid. Parts blurred from years of water damage and wear.

One was of Fundy, as a baby, laying asleep in Wilbur’s arms. His face was out of the shot, but Fundy’s bright orange hair was clear as day. Tommy remembered this, the day he had become an uncle. It was during the first few months of the server. When everything was calm, and disputes were null.

With a deep breath he added it to the picture pile at his side.

Turning to see the last one he paused. He wiped his eyes roughly with his hands.

It was a selfie from two years ago, after Tubbo and him had reunited at their bench. Just the two of them. Just like old times.

Trying not to linger on the thought of his now dead friends and family, he held the photos close and crawled onto his bed. laying on his stomach and letting his wings sprawl out. He stayed there holding the photos as close as he could. Eyes blank of emotion as he stared towards the now even messier room. The clock in the corner was the only indicator that time was passing him by. His light bulb shot white into his vision while he listened to his lungs draw in and push out air.

He had fallen half asleep by the time he heard a knock on his door.

He pried his heavy eyes open to see who it was. Paying no mind to the fact that he already knew it was Lady. The strange ghost/ spirit/ angle lady that seemed to haunt him. She shows up around the place every week or so just to see him, exchange a few words and then just leave.

She always wore the same weird purple dress with some strange ass shoes. Her fashion scene was weird as hell, but he didn’t actually mind. Her company was welcomed. There was no one else left anyway, so he didn’t care where she comes from or why.

She creaked open the door and peered in, her wings visible behind her.

“Oh Tommy… darling…” Her angelic hum filled his ears, giving a sweet distraction from the blurred nothing hanging on his brain.

Ignoring the calming tone he didn’t respond and just stared at her shoes.

“You poor, poor soul… so tormented… It’s well past your bedtime darl, you know this. Come on”

The photos grasped in his palm vanished, reappearing in her own hand to be placed on his bedside table. Tommy just laid there hopelessly as his head was placed to a pillow and the sheets pulled to his chin.

With a few waves of her hands the boxes were once again filled and placed away into their respective places.

Tommy just laid there unable to move and watched.

She looked around for any more things to put away and nodded with her hands on her hips when she founds nothing.

She looked towards him with a caring expression and knelt by his bed side. She slowly moved her hand to his hair to brush stray strands from his face.

He just watched her tiredly.

She knew by the weak look deep in his eyes and shake of his feathers that no amount of sleep will cure his unrest. So, like she had done the first day she had begun to Watch him, she brought it upon herself to hopefully bring him back to health.

“Sleep well owlet.” she whispered with a echo.

As soon as the hand left his hair her presence vanished along with the light in his room.

She never stayed long.

He almost wished for her to come visit more often.

Only very rarely that is.

A few days had passed since she had shown up last, leaving Tommy anxious of what she might have planned. One thing he was curtain on was that she didn’t save him out of the kindness out of her own heart.

His most memorable lesson was knowing NO ONE in this world gives anything for free. Everything is transactional.

She had asked for nothing so far. So, he knew completely that whatever she wanted from him was going to cost him. Big time.

And just like that. She was there.

“Good afternoon, Tommy.” He didn’t know how, but her voice felt different. Her voice had a strange glow to it.

“Hello Lady.” The reply was almost automatic.

She walked over to the same fence Tommy had taken a seat upon and rested her arms on the wood. Her many sets of white and grey wings relaxed as she let out a heavy sigh.

It was late in the afternoon and the air around them had begun to cool. All while crickets hidden on the grass fill the still air with hums and chirps.

“Lady, I know you’re here with a reason. Just spit it out.” The blond’s expression was blank, staring off into the treeline.

She was oddly silent today.

“Fine.” she stated.

“Tommy, would you be willing to become my student?” Her tone was hopeful.

The question confused him.

“What for exactly? It’s not like you’ve told me what you do. Not to mention what you even are.” The 19-year-old crossed his arms and eyed her off.

“Oh, yes. I forgot about that. Hmm, all right then.”

“Well dear, how about this. To put it simply, I’m a Watcher. A creature changed by the void to observe and correct worlds.”

Tommy’s face didn’t quite know what to do as he switched between emotions trying to believe that there was basically a god in front of him. And not XD, no. An actual god, someone who actually did something purposeful. Hopefully anyway.

“So, a god?” He questioned her.

She just breathlessly laughed. “No, no my child. If anything, I’d say I’m more of an angel.” With that, the eyes upon her many sets of wings opened, squinting to show a grin.

“Ehhgg… freaky much.” he cringed. Not at all ready for eyes to sprout on the top of her wings.

Then he thought about it. He looks back at his own brown and white wings.

“Can i get extra eyes too?” Lady was about to answer before Tommy added, “But not more wings. These ones are hard enough to put up with.”

“I guess I can make that work for you.” She put her hands on her hips and watched as the teen in front of her brought his own wings forward looking at where he thought his own extra eyes would go.

“It would be pretty poggers…” it was a massive change out of nowhere. Sure, he was a tad bit lonely now and was still trapped on a baron server with no way out. Either from eroded code or Lady no wanting him to leave. But did he really want to agree to a deal from the devil? It all seemed like a bunch of false hope. And boy did Tommy know what that smelt like.

Then again, what more could he loose if this went south?

Not much. He thought.

“Sure…?” He looked at her with a questioning expression.

“Oh.” Surprise stretched along her face. “You actually agreed.”

Tommy jumped down from the fence line to talk to her face to face. “Should I say no or-?”

“Oh of course not! You’ll love it where I’m from, think of it like starting anew.” She sent him a smile.

“It’s a massive cathedral. A bit of a maze, sure, but the library is nice. And we won’t be alone by the way. Think of it like a central hub for me and other Watchers.”

Tommy just stood there dumb founded. He fiddled with the hem of his shirt between his fingers to try and organize all the information. He really didn’t know what to make of it all.

“It doesn’t sound too bad. Just give be a while to think about it.” he looked up to her again to see the eyes on her wings now closed.

“Sure, thing darl. I’ll see you within the next week alright?” a few seconds later, she faded off like mist into the wind, leaving Tommy alone again.

He looked over towards his house and started to walk. Lady’s offer still fogging his mind.

He dragged his hands along his face. “What the actual f*ck-…” he sighed out. Looking at the darkened sky he hurried back inside.

“Weird ass bird b*tch.”

Away from the moral worlds, many old friends gathered within an old cathedral. The building of white had slowly aged and worn over millennia, alien vines filled with strange sick flowers clawed the stained-glass windows trying to reach in. The massive building was mostly empty, save for a few fireplaces, an alter built at the end of the hall and a few corridors hidden behind old hardwood doors. An extravagant mural as old as the stone itself decorated the ceiling above them. Golden chandeliers brought light to their eyes allowing everyone to see each other's faces.

Each individual in attendance was crowned with many sets of wings, dark eyes laid open on each one, everyone in that room breathing in endless information.

Entering through one of the corridors, Lady made her way towards the meeting table in the centre of the room. Gabriel spotting her first.

“Nice of you to finally show Jophiel.”

She snuffed a laugh.

“Just as pleasant as always Gabriel.”

After a short catch up, one voice rose above the rest.

“All right, all right everyone. Get seated.” a demanding tone silenced the room.

Everyone in attendance took to their seats and waited for Micheal to continue.

“This meeting was called in preparation of Jophiel’s new protoshey. Expect to see him around within the next week. It will be best to keep your distance for a while as to not… spook the newcomer.”

Many faces at the table turned to Jophiel in wonder.

“What type of avian is he?” asked Zadkiel who was sitting across from Lady. His demeanor was relaxed, and he held his weight up on his elbows.

“He’s an owl. Much like you Uriel” The owl watcher’s expression calmed at the thought of another owl joining their ranks.

“Now he is a little skittish, but he has a promising nature. In my hopes it won’t take us too long to train him up to become a fully-fledged Watcher.” She spoke to the more reluctant ones at the table.

“Just don’t make Azreal’s mistake.” Gabriel leaned closer and whispered Jophiel a warning. “Xelqua was a lovely lad, too bad he had to go.” He mopped resting his chin on his palm.

“Yeah.” Her expression darkened.

Chapter Text

Hi everyone!

Sorry for the whole no updates and such, and sorry for giving you a false chapter but it's important.

So, as for those who have read the first chapter of A Buried Owl before 10/2/24 (DD/MM/YY) I have rewritten the ENTIRE thing! :D Pls don't be mad!
It's very different from the first direction I took but I did this to involve more watcher insight. Enjoy the new chapter!!
To anyone who is new here, welcome! so happy to have you here!

Enjoy the show <3