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Everyone has always told their kids to stay away from the windows when night fell because the monsters that came out after dark would snatch them away, whisking them to their dark lairs. If a monster caught you, you were as good as dead. No one would ever see you again. Tommy had seen several kids at the orphanage disappear like this. One day they would be there, the next day their beds would be empty and everyone would pretend like they never existed.
Tommy wasn’t stupid though. He saw the way some grown ups would stare at the kids. They would stare and smirk and then a day or maybe a week later the kid would be gone, and no one would say a word. The older kids’ shoulders would slump a little more when this happened. They would stop laughing at Tommy’s jokes, and refused to play with him whenever the other kids disappeared.
Tommy wasn’t stupid. He knew who the real monsters were. That is why Tommy decided that the darkness was better than the orphanage. He knew how to be safe out here. He knew that as long as he stayed hidden when night fell, that no monsters, human or otherwise could catch him.
Tommy was poggers at staying hidden and being sneaky. He could walk right up to someone, snag their wallet and skedaddle before they knew that someone was there in the first place. Tommy was the greatest man ever, so there was no way that someone would ever catch him.
“Get back here you child!” The voice of an angry shopkeeper screeched behind him as Tommy sprinted away. There was no way that he was going to let that lazy bitch ruin his perfect streak of never being caught in all the years that he has been on the street. Tommy was way too cool of a man to let that happen. Plus, he needed the bread he snagged. An entire loaf could keep him fed for at least three days, and who was Tommy to say no to a perfect opportunity?
“Take that you bitch!” He yelled as he threw a rock behind him. Tommy darted around a corner and clambered up a drain pipe and onto the roof of the building, out of sight of anyone who might be chasing him.
After a few seconds, the shopkeeper and what was probably a few other self-righteous assholes ran past with no idea that Tommy had escaped them. Ha! The fools! This is why Tommy is the biggest man to ever be born and all others should bow at his feet.
With the sky getting darker by the minute, Tommy decided to claim this rooftop as his home for the night, and sat down to eat his well earned bread. It was delicious, and Tommy was glad that he stole it from that prick of a shopkeeper because he did not deserve this wonderful meal fit for kings.
Sadly he finished his portion for the night way too quickly. Tommy was almost tempted to eat just a little bit more, but he knew that there was no knowing when he could get more food, so he needed to save as much of it as possible for the coming days. Carefully he wrapped it in a spare piece of fabric and stored it in the pocket of his cloak. By time he was done, the lanterns were being lit, signaling that he needed to hide and quickly before the monsters would start roaming the streets. Not that any of them would dare take on the great TommyInnit, but he wanted to spare them their pride.
Once he was sure that the streets would be almost empty, Tommy decided that it was safe enough to head back to his hideout. A quick peek over the side of the building satisfied Tommy that no one was waiting to catch him once he climbed down, so he shimmed back down the drain pipe, and across the alley. The streets were almost deserted now. Everyone would be inside barring their doors and locking their windows.
Tommy frowned as he mentally located where his hideout was and how far a trek it would be. He cursed himself for running in the wrong direction, making the distance between where he is and where he needs to be much longer than it should have been. Not that he was worried of course. Nothing worried the great TommyInnit. And besides, he hadn’t heard of any monster activity in the area recently, so it should be fine.
Making sure not to draw too much attention to himself, he snuck out into the main street, and started his walk back.
It was a beautiful night out. A faint breeze stirred the trees, and the stars seemed much brighter than normal, twinkling down on him. This was always his favorite part of the day: the time where he could just sit and watch the sky. Not many people got to witness it because they were all too scared, but that just made it all the more special to Tommy.
Halfway across town, when Tommy was almost back at his hideout, he heard some rustling in a nearby alley. He froze. Nothing good came from noises at night. It could have just been the breeze, but Tommy didn’t think the breeze made a growling noise too. Deciding that whatever made that sound was best to be ignored and avoided, Tommy glanced around for some cover. Nothing was obvious, but there was a tree that would do for now or at least until he figured out what had made the noise.
As quietly as possible, he made his way over and carefully climbed up the tree to hide in its branches, the breeze masking whatever noise he might have made, but he could still distinctly hear more rustling and a loud bang coming from the alley, followed with what could have been a laugh and a muffled conversation, which was definitely not a small animal or the breeze.
The tree was nice. A very, very nice tree. Tommy thinks that it is so nice that he could probably sleep here tonight. There was no need to go back to his hideout. Tommy had his bread and that was all that he needed in the world.
Tommy waited for any more noise coming from the alley, but all had gone silent. Just as he was beginning to relax, he happened to glance down. Standing just below Tommy staring back up at him was a guy with pink hair and red eyes.
Tommy let out a very manly squeak, and clambered to get higher in the branches.
“What do we have here,” the wrong-un said.
“What did you find, Techno?” another one said, walking up to the tree from the alley.
Even though of course it was not an even match and there would be no way that two wrong-uns would ever be able to defeat him, Tommy decided that he had grown quite attached to this tree and he was a big enough man to know that he didn’t need to prove that he could defeat these two assholes.
“It appears that we have found a treed raccoon,” the pink-haired prick answered.
“I am not a raccoon, you bastard!” Tommy couldn’t help but shriek. Tommy would not let this stand. This was straight up bullying.
“What are you doing out here this late at night,” the lanky string bean asked, craning his neck up to look at Tommy. “Don’t you know about the monsters that come out after dark? A child like you should be at home in bed.”
Tommy could excuse many things, but this insult was too much. “Fuck you! I am not a child! I am the biggest man to ever walk this earth, and you should bow down in awe of my amazingness.”
The pink prick had the audacity to laugh before a stick smacked him squarely in the face, causing the other one to burst out laughing. “Take that you bastard!”
“Techno, he got you with a stick,” the lanky one wheezed. “You let a child hit you with a stick.”
“Wilbur, if you don’t shut your mouth, I will shut it for you.”
“Just try it, you pink pig.”
Tommy, while wildly amused by the spontaneous wrestling match that started beneath him, decided that he was in fact missing his hideout and should definitely go back now. As quickly and as quietly as possible he slipped down the tree, not wanting to disturb the two’s fight. They seemed like they were having way too much fun to be interrupted.
Once his feet touched the ground, he took off in a sprint toward a place where he knew he could hide for the rest of the night. From behind him, he could hear the fight come to a halt as they must have realized that the most poggers man was abandoning them.
“Child get back here!”
Tommy did not take orders from anyone, especially lankey assholes who looked like a huff of wind could knock them over, so he kept running. They would just have to live with the knowledge that Tommy was too cool to stay with them. Tommy hoped they died of shame for just not being as cool as him.
Tommy skidded around the corner of the next building when a large hand picked him up by the collar of his cloak.
“Child, why did you think you could get away?” It was the one called Techno. Who in their proper mind would ever dare to call their child Techno. It was a stupid name, and Tommy hoped he got bullied for it.
The one called Wilbur ran towards them, huffing like he just finished a marathon instead of just running maybe fifty meters. Tommy was right. He was a twig.
“Let me down you asshole! Let me down right now or I will take out your kneecaps. You will be kneecapless and I will laugh at your misery. Don’t think I won’t because I will and I will watch you fall and mourn your sad pathetic life.”
The man did not let him down. Instead he just gave him a good shake and continued to hold him like a disgruntled cat. The other one looked way too amused by this situation if the small smirk on his face was any indication.
“Techno, I think the child is feral,” he grinned, revealing teeth way too sharp to be human. Tommy was way much of a big man to show fear, so instead he tried to kick the dude. Techno grabbed his leg and gave a sharp tug, sending Tommy sprawling to the ground as Wilbur let him go. The fall knocked the breath out of him, but Tommy wouldn’t let some stupid dirt stop him from showing these two bitches who was boss. He was the great Tommyinnit, and he had survived way too long to let these two ruin that. He needed to get away, and he would.
“Leave me alone!” Tommy yelled as he leapt back up to his feet, trying to look for a way out, but the two just kept getting closer and closer whenever Tommy tried to take a step back, boxing him against the wall.
“Shh child,” Wilbur cooed. “Don’t you know that the monsters take children at night? Even feral children like you. Haven’t you heard the stories?” Tommy felt a shiver run through his spine as Wilbur smiled at him, showing off his too wide grin and sharp teeth. “Children like you should be at home. Why don’t you come home with us?”
Tommy froze as he locked eyes with the monster in front of him. Suddenly his body seemed to lock up and he could not will himself to move. It felt like being dumped in the lake in the middle of winter. Nothing was working right, and all of the thoughts screaming inside Tommy’s mind seemed to go silent. “What do you want with me,” he managed to whisper, not caring if a faint tremor could be heard when he spoke.
“We want what is best for you, little one. It is not safe for someone like you to be out after dark. There are some who would snatch you up and take you to a much darker place.”
“But not you?” Tommy murmured as Techno’s hand came to rest on his back, rubbing soothing circles.
“We would never do that. You are ours now,” Techno said firmly, almost daring anyone to disagree. A wave of reassurance and safety washed over Tommy as he felt his muscles involuntarily relaxing. Techno’s hands reached out to support him as his legs decided to take a small break. A moment later, Tommy was picked up like a small child and cradled against Techno’s chest.
“Tommy,” Wilbur said as he looked Tommy directly in the eyes. The part of Tommy’s mind that could still focus on anything other than the words coming out of Wilbur’s mouth wondered how this man could know his name.
“Tommy,” Wilbur calls again, pulling all of Tommy’s attention towards him. “Come on home with us, Tommy. I promise you will love it there with us. You could be our little brother for all eternity, wouldn’t that be nice? You won’t ever have to run again.” Why had Tommy been running? Why wouldn’t he say yes to Wilbur? His words were so kind and soothing while Techno offered stability and protection. Tommy found himself nodding.
“Go to sleep, little one. We will be home once you wake up.” Tommy allowed himself to close his eyes as he felt Techno starting to walk back in the direction they came. Tommy was so warm in his arms. He knew that his new big brother would protect him. They were taking him to his new home. He wondered if they will have any more bread at their new home as he slowly started to drift off as his brothers talked around him.
“Dadza will be so happy that we have found another one for the flock. The house has been too quiet recently.”
“That shouldn’t be an issue anymore. This child is feral.”
“But so sweet. Did you see the way he caved when we promised family. All he wants is to be loved.” Tommy felt something warm touch his head. “Don’t worry little one. We will love you so much.” With that Tommy fell asleep in his brother’s arms, homeward bound.