Chapter Text
Tommy was walking down the cold streets of Brighton. Today luck wasn't on his side. He has nowhere to go. No where to sleep. And he's all alone. The air was cold, as he breathes smoke comes out of his nose. All he had was his blue, torn up jacket, a back pack, and a teddy bear. He barely had any money, no job and... a bus card.
Tommy kept walking. He spotted a bridge on the beaches shore leading in to the water. But drowning really wasn't a way he wanted to go. Wow, what an excuse. A pathetic excuse if you will. There's really no excuses for death is there? It's- It's not that Tommy wanted to die. But considering everything, it wasn't that bad of a choice.
In the corner of his eye, he spotted a bench. He wasn't going to sleep on it. Just sit and think. Think about what else can he do. Anything to distract himself from thoughts like those.
The bench was dirty and old. But did Tommy really have a choice? He sat down, looked up at the blinding street lights, laid his head back and closed his eyes.
He sat there like that for ten maybe twenty minutes. Thinking about his day. It rained. And a lot. Tommy could smell the rain mixing with the warm spring concrete. It reminded him of a summer day. When he would wake up and run outside to play with Tubbo. And If Tubbo just lived closer, Tommy wouldn't have to be sitting on a bench, in the cold, rainy streets.
Tommy opened his eyes and it started raining. It was slow, it was almost as if everything in the world slowed down. With each drop of water landing on Tommy's face in beat with his hearts pulse, everything grew quieter.
He sat there for quite some time.
Suddenly the rain stopped and someone tapped him on the shoulder. Perfect fucking timing.
"Hey kid," His voice was soft and sweet. "Everything alright?"
"Y-yeah I'll be fine." Tommy said. Moving to the side so the man could sit down. Tommy immediately noticed the concern on his face. Which was fair, Tommy looked like he hadn't slept in days, he was dirty, skinny and hungry.
"You sure? You don't look alright. I'm Wilbur by the way." The man- Wilbur stretched his hand out to Tommy. He didn't want to take it at first, he didn't trust strangers.
But he shook his hand anyway "Tommy."
Wilbur sat down next to him. Tommy knew stranger danger. But he seemed rather nice, and not threatening at all.
"So, Tommy, what are you doing out here in the cold? It's three am you know?" The man asked. Clearly worried.
Tommy wanted to answer that it was none of his fucking business and that he should just leave him alone. But decided against it, what if this man was dangerous?
"I'm just...waiting." Tommy lied.
"For who?"
God damn it why does he have to be so nosy? "My friend." It was clear that Tommy was lying. He didn't know how to lie. No one ever taught him how to.
"At three am?" Wilbur asked carefully.
Tommy thought for a moment. Does he want to go on with this lie? I mean. If the man were to help that would be nice. But he was also scared, what if he got offended that Tommy lied? What then? Will he get beaten up or knocked out? Why did he even care? He's been knocked out multiple times before. Why did this feel any different?
"Are you going to hurt me?" Tommy asked slightly shifting away from the man. Just incase.
"What? No- no! Of course not. I just want to make sure you're okay. It's freezing and you're sitting outside with a- a ripped jacket." Wilbur chuckled.
"Oh, uh yeah. It's old." Tommy looked at his jacket. It was indeed old. But it was the thing Tommy cared about a lot. He can't remember a moment in his life without this jacket.
"I can see that." The man smiled.
Light wind brushed against Tommy's arm and he shivered a bit.
"It's not as warm as it used to be." He said looking at the ground, shuffling his feet.
"I guess that would make sense. It's ripped in many places." The man looked at the holes is Tommy's jacket. "Do you not have the money to buy a new one?" He asked like a little kid.
"Yes and no. I just- i just love it too much. I can't remember a single moment in my life without it." Tommy sat up. "And yeah...i don't have the money to buy a new one. Jackets are a lot more expensive than I thought they would be, I still need to keep some money for food you know?" He looked at Wilbur who had a concerned look on his face.
"Where are your parents?"
"I- uh- They-" Tommy struggled to get the words out. "I- are you?-" He didn't even finish his sentence, Tommy cut him off. "Yes! God, is it not obvious!" He snapped, and looked back at the ground once again.
"Oh..." The man turned away and just like Tommy, looked at the ground. "Umh, well any relatives or...?"
"None."
"Oh...well uhm. Where are you staying then?"
"Why should I be telling you that?" Tommy asked with zero emotion. He was getting proper pissed off.
"W-what do you mean?" Wilbur quickly turned to Tommy, looking at him like he was crazy or even stupid. Tommy didn't like that look. It was somehow too familiar. "You don't have parents nor any relatives. You're out here in the cold at three fucking am and you're dressed like a homeless person! You are a kid. And alone." he stared at Tommy with a confused and slightly angry face. "Now please tell me, do you have a place to stay at?" He asked slowly, trying to make his voice sound as calm and friendly as possible.
Tommy thought about it for a second. Should he put this much trust in a stranger. Probably not. Did he still do so? Yes.
"Tommy?"
"No." He sighed, eyes a little wet. Tommy put his hands over his stomach. He felt sick telling Wilbur that. He'd never told anyone that before. Not even- not even Tubbo.
It might be hard to believe that Tubbo, nor Tubbo's family know that Tommy is homeless. But again, Tommy isn't good at lying.
Wilbur looked at Tommy's jacket. Then at his shoes. Then at his face again.
"I-I know that you don't know me and-and I was going to offer buying you a hotel. But the hotels around here are awful. "He let out a huffed laugh. "And it would be weird of me offering you a place to stay-"
"It would." Tommy interrupted. "I don't know you."
"I know... but it doesn't feel right leaving you here... you know?"
"Why do you care so much?" Tommy asked. It came out a lot harsher than he intended.
"I- I don't know. But I do care." Wilbur answered.
Tommy said nothing.
"Tommy?" Wilbur said softly.
"Yeah?"
"I have a- uhh- a private office near my house. There's a mattress there...you know incase-" Wilbur took a deep breath, " incase it's too late to go home. Would you want to... stay there?"
Tommy thought for a little. This was a bad idea. But- Wilbur didn't seem that bad of a guy. Yeah they've just met- but- but what if?-
"I don't know." he looked up from the ground to look at Wilbur.
Wilbur just shook his head understanding. First Tommy thought he was drunk or some shit. But the man was genuinely acting like a seventeen-year-old who doesn't know a single thing about the adult world. Or anything about stranger danger-
They sat there for a while.
"My full names Wilbur Soot by the way. Don't think you care just... y'know."
"That's a stupid last name."
Wilbur let out a huffed laugh.
"I don't know what my last name is." Tommy's eyes became slightly more wet. He wanted to know, but he pretended like he didn't. like he didn't care.
"Oh...I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize. Not your fault."
"I know. I just feel bad, that's all." He looked at the ground.
Silence falls over them again. Only the sounds of the waves hitting the beaches sand and rocks. The street lamp they were sitting under, slightly flickering.
"Wilbur."
"Yeah? what's up?" Wilbur looked up at Tommy.
"I-I haven't eaten for three days." Tommy crossed his arms still looking down. "And I don't have much money..." It's not like he was asking Wilbur to buy him food, but that was exactly what he was doing. And maybe it was too early to ask him. Maybe it really was. But that didn't matter. Not a single thought was on Tommy's mind at that moment. Stranger danger, his brain was screaming. But his gut told him otherwise.
Wilbur Smiled. "Well, there's a 24-hour diner not far from here. I could get you something if you'd like?" Of course, Wilbur knew what Tommy was doing, but Tommy was sure he didn't mind. He was more than happy to buy Tommy food. It's not like he's just going to let the poor kid starve, now, was he?
"Yeah, I'd love that actually." Tommy looked up at Wilbur and smiled. For the first time in a while. He smiled.
They started walking. First it was silent. Then Wilbur started to make small talk. They talked about everything. Life, themselves, work.
"No way! Really?" Tommy was almost jumping at how amazed he was. Wilbur is a musician! How cool is that?
"Yeah." Wilbur laughed.
"Dude that's fucking awesome!" They walked in to the diner and found a place to sit down. The waiter brought them a menu. Tommy didn't know what he could and couldn't order though. So, he just looked at Wilbur.
"Everything alright?" He asked.
"I don't know what I can and can't get." Tommy answered looking back down at the menu.
"Anything you like."
"What?"
"I mean, it's my treat, Tommy, get whatever you want." Wilbur smiled.
"That's a lot of power to give to a fifteen-year-old. Especially when he hasn't eaten for three days, Wilbur." Tommy said, looking at him with the 'You're probably going to regret this' face.
"I know." Wilbur smiled. "But I don't mind."
"Oh you're so kind aren't you?" Tommy looked back down at the menu. He could pick anything. But there was just so many options, it was hard to pick one. One thing he really wanted was water. And what he wanted to know was if there is a grilled cheese on the menu.
There was. Okay cool, he would just get the grilled cheese and water. Not the best combination. But he just really wanted some cold, fresh water.
"Do you know what you want?" Wilbur asked, not long after Tommy finally decided what he wanted to get.
"Yep." Tommy gave a quick smile.
"What did ya pick?"
"A grilled cheese and water. It's not the best combo to be honest. But I really want like- fresh and clean water."
"I see. You can get water and-" Wilbur looked at the menu. "A Pepsi?"
"I'd rather die than drink that shit." Tommy answered in disgust.
Wilbur scoffed. And looked back down at the menu. "Alright, alright. How about a Fanta?" He looked back up at Tommy.
"Yeah sure."
"Are you ready to order?" The waiter asked.
"Yeah, I'll just get a water, thanks."
"One water and you?" He turned to Tommy.
Tommy was awkward in most social situations. He didn't like talking to people.
"A water, grilled cheese and... Fanta. T-thank you." He gulped.
"Okay, two waters, one grilled cheese and one Fanta, correct?"
"Yes, thank you." Wilbur nodded.
The waiter walked away. One thing Tommy always noticed when he was talking to people, was their eye color. In this case the waiter had green eyes which were very pretty.
"His eyes look- uh cool?" Tommy turned to Wil.
"Yeah? That's Fundy. One of my old mates."
"Oh, cool." Well guess Fundy wasn't a stranger anymore. "He has an accent." Tommy said. Staring into Wilbur's dark brown eyes, they were sparkling in the light.
"Yeah, they do. He's from the Netherlands. I've actually been trying to learn Dutch!"
"That's nice." Tommy nodded and smiled. "Yeah! I know a lot about like- geography, that's one of my biggest interests!" "Oh that,s actually pretty cool. Damn it, where were you when I was still trying to learn geography?" Wilbur laughed, and Tommy joined in.
They sat in silence for a bit. Not knowing what to say.
"Wilbur why were you outside at three am?"
"Huh?" Tommy knew Wilbur heard him clearly.
"Why were you outside, in the cold, alone, at three am?" Tommy asked once more.
"Well...uh-I- I uhm. Tommy, can we talk about this later?"
"But you know why I was there. So why were you?" That was a lie. Wilbur didn't fully know why Tommy was there. Because Tommy did have a choice of where to go. He could've gone to a shelter again. He could've stayed near the same garbage bin he always did. And he could've jumped of that bridge.
"I don't have to tell you anything. Maybe one day." Wilbur said looking into Tommy's eyes.
Tommy didn't say anything. Just laid back into the chair.
The waiter - Fundy, brought them the two waters and a Fanta.
"The grilled cheese will be out shortly." He said smiling.
"Thanks." Wilbur smiled back.
Tommy stayed quiet.
A little passed and Wilbur finally broke the absolutely killing silence. "Tommy I-" He paused. Then continued. "I am still offering you the- the office you know? You can still sleep there. I'm sure James won't mind."
"James?" Tommy looked up at Wil confused.
"Yeah, uhm, he's my friend. His office is near mine and he always works late."
"Oh..."
"But!" Wilbur was quick to add. "He usually leaves around four so i think we'll be good." He smiled.
Tommy smiled, but said nothing. He was smiling a lot today.
"What's your favorite color?" Tommy asked.
Wilbur let out a small chuckle. "I don't know. Yellow probably."
"yeah, you look like the type of guy that likes yellow. Fucking prick. Mine's red."
"Obviously." Wilbur rolled his eyes and looked out the window. "Fucking child." He whispered to himself.
Tommy fake frowned, and Wilbur laughed even more. They sat silent for a bit.
"Here's your grilled cheese. Enjoy!" The waiter said smiling. He just wanted to go home didn't he? Poor guys.
"Thank you." Wilbur said. Tommy was glad Wil was doing the social interacting for him.
Tommy nodded. He picked up the grilled cheese and took a bite. It was good. Very good. That could just be because he hasn't eaten in three days though.
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Could've been one lonely night. And they both wouldn't be here right now. Sitting, talking, smiling, laughing.
But this was just the start. The start of a beautiful friendship.
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After some time, they said their good byes to the waiter and started walking again.
"I'll- uhh- I'll need time to think about the offer, if that's alright?" Tommy suddenly said.
"Oh, yeah don't worry you have all the time you need! I just- Will you be okay?"
"I'll be okay, don't worry." Tommy smiled at Wilbur.
Wilbur smiled back.
They kept on walking and started chatting. Wilbur promised to play Tommy one of his songs some day. Even though they had just met, Tommy couldn't be any happier to hear that.
"You know," Tommy began. "I'm glad I stayed." He said smiling to himself.
"What do you mean?" Wilbur looked at him confused.
"You were there and well...you distracted me from the thought of..." Tommy was still smiling, but his eyes were watering this time.
"Oh..." Wilbur looked down, "I'm glad i stayed too." Wilbur confessed. "Tommy, the- the reason I was out so late was, because I was- was going to do it... but i found you instead."
Silence fell over them both. Only the sounds of streets lamps flickering were heard.
Five am in the morning, with the sun rising, Tommy and Wilbur were walking down cold streets of Brighton.
Tommy turned to Wil, looked him in the eyes, and hugged him.
"Perfect timing." Tommy said. Tears forming in his eyes.
"Perfect timing." Wilbur repeated.