Chapter Text
Tommy shifted, tugging on his outer jacket and looking at himself in the mirror. He didn't know if he would ever be used to the fancy outfits that were made just for him. Blue and white lined him while green lingered in the embroidery and the smaller details. Tommy wrinkled his nose and stretched his wings out, watching as they shifted, clean from being preened earlier. Scott insisted they stay up and clean his wings. Tommy is pretty sure he fell asleep while it happened because he hardly remembered the process.
"Tommy?" Purpled knocked while the door opened. Tommy prepared for Purpled to laugh or make a face, or make an indication that he looked ridiculous like this. He always did. His hair a mess still while the rest of him looked like he stepped out from a book.
Tommy turned around, looking at his knight. Purpled stared at him, his mouth slightly open. Tommy stared back. They sort of stared at each other until Tommy's face was pink and he glared. "Can you bloody say somethin? If I look awful that hasn't stopped you before" he snapped. Purpled's face seemed to warm a little and he rolled his eyes.
"You look like…A prince." Purpled cleared his throat. Tommy looked at the mirror, then to Purpled.
"Really?" He frowned. Purpled stepped closer, hands going to his pockets. Tommy ordered that the staff not wear their staff uniforms, including the knights. Aviel and Scott had been apprehensive, but they let it slide. It was Tommy's birthday after all. His crowning.
Tommy looked in the mirror again, straitening his jacket out for the tenth time.
"Come on. You're obsessing." Purpled stepped back, hoping Tommy would follow. Tommy stared in his mirror for another second before sighing.
"Do you think Scott will leave my hair alone?" He asked as Purpled walked with him.
"I'm shocked it's not already done." Purpled admitted, walking out of the room and down the hall. Scott stood talking to people while staff stopped in the residency to ask questions. In some ways it made him think back to when he turned thirteen— his first birthday with them. And now he was being crowned prince.
"Tommy! Happy Birthday!" Scott turned to watch him come down the hall. "You look very dapper." Scott smiled, meeting him in front of their couch. As if proving some sort of point, his hands reached up to brush Tommy's hair back, parting it and making it so you could really see his eyes.
"Are you sure you don't want it cut? We have time…" Scott squinted at the windows before looking at Tommy again. Tommy shook his head. He hadn't cut his hair since he got adopted, and he didn't know if this warranted it.
"Nah. It's all good. Where's Jimmy?"
"He's helping move stuff. Does everything fit okay? You're not too warm or anything?" Scott pulled his hands away from Tommy, but he knows Scott would spend a lot longer fixing him if he could. Tommy looked at Purpled who purposefully looked away as to not share a look while still in front of Scott.
"And you also look nice, Purpled. I'm glad we were able to get you a suit for today…" Scott exhaled, brushing non existent dust off Tommy's shoulder. Tommy looked at Scott and raised his eyebrows at him. By now he was encroaching on his hight. He wasn't quite there, but he was close. He still had to look up just a little with his eyes to meet Scott's. He wondered if Scott noticed at all.
Tommy looked at Scott and smiled a little sideways. "You alright?" He teased. Scott wrinkled his nose and let his cheeks puff out as he exhaled.
"I am…I'm just…It's a lot. I didn't think we'd be here so soon." He admitted. Tommy tried to swallow the emotions a while ago.
"Ew. Don't get all sappy and start crying already" Tommy tried to joke, but Scott just gave him a small smile. His stomach turned just a little.
"I wont. Not 'till later tonight when we do our speeches." Scott smiled, squeezing his arm before turning.
Tommy blinked. "What? Wait! You didn't tell me there would be speeches!" Tommy complained, following after Scott as he caught Ariadne about to leave, carrying a box of decorations.
"I didn't?" Scott smiled. Tommy narrowed his eyes at the other.
"How many people have arrived?" Scott tuned Tommy out. Tommy huffed, looking to Ariadne who just smiled, looking back to Scott to entertain his question.
"Can't believe this." Tommy huffed, moving over to Purpled, motioning for him to follow out the front doors. The only rule was he wasn't allowed to go near the beach until Scott and Jimmy said so. Which seemed like a horrible move. Tommy would very much have liked to be involved in the set up.
"Can't believe what?" Purpled kicked a pebble to the side as they walked across the wooden docs leading into the swamp. There were no rules about not going into town. He just needed to be careful since he already had his suit on. Though…As they walked into the main-land, everyone they passed seemed to be dressed up in some way.
"That they're keeping me out. What am I supposed to do while I wait? Just walk in circles? Talk to you?!" He looked at Purpled who grinned and rolled his eyes.
"Right. Because you just hate talking to me." He hummed, waving as Tubbo and Aimsey came into eyesight.
"I do, actually." Tommy scoffed. "You're awful. Do you know how hard it is to get you to actually have a decent conversation sometimes?" He asked. He never heard Purpled's answer as Tubbo ran at him, almost knocking him over and into the water next to them.
Tubbo remained shorter as they kept growing. He did have horns that started to curl around the sides of his head now, making his headbutting phase much harder to take. Aimsey grinned, joining in on the hug and squeezing them both. Aimsey also seemed to be stunted in their growth…Though Tommy and Purpled had begun to suspect she was not a human, nor an elf. Maybe she was a gnome.
"Happy birthday!" Both of them shouted, squeezing Tommy hard enough his feathers fluffed up and he wheezed, trying to pat them both to get them to let go. Tubbo only squeezed harder, making Tommy squeak.
"Purpled—" He wheezed. The bastard snickered and watched from aside.
"Maybe don't suffocate him before he has a chance to get crowned." Was the only effort he made. Tommy groaned and tried to inhale as much air as he could once he was let go, his wings shaking out as he coughed.
"What the fuck?!" Tommy frowned. "How in the hell are you that strong, Tubbo? You're like…Short. You shouldn't be that strong." Tommy glared. Tubbo smirked and shrugged.
"I guess chopping wood for hours does something to you. I bet I could even lift you!" He moved forward to grab Tommy who stepped back.
"That's not fair! I don't even weigh anything. You say that every time you do pick me up. Which you also know you can do!" Tommy jumped out of the way as Tubbo tried grabbing him, snickering when Tommy moved to hide behind Purpled who rolled his eyes.
"Are you so excited? What kind of cake are you having?" Aimsey asked, clearly excited for the food portion.
"Strawberry. Duh." He rolled his eyes. "With chocolate frosting. Lots of it. I made sure Solstice told them to put lots of frosting on it. Like, frosting inside and out."
"Ew." Tubbo wrinkled his nose. Purpled nodded.
"Agreed. I really tried to talk him out of it, but he refused to listen. Watch, he's gonna throw up before the night ends and it's all going to be chocolate." Purpled laughed. Aimsey frowned and pretended to gag at the scene.
"Don't say that! You'll ruin it!" They whined, Tubbo rolling his eyes.
"It will still be good. But I'll bet you three silver that he throws up before anyone gives a speech."
"So everyone knew about the speeches?!" Tommy looked at Purpled who shrugged.
"I didn't." the other blond promised.
"Oh! Scott asked— Oh wait, that wasn't supposed to be a surprise was it—" Tubbo put a hand over his mouth.
"Scott asked you?!" Tommy whined. Purpled patted his back as he made an effort to get him in front again. "You better not say any weird shit. I know where you sleep." Tommy pointed a finger at Tubbo who snickered, looking back at Aimsey who just smiled.
"Oh my gods!" They gasped. "I just realized! Look how nice you look!" They moved their hands as if they were going to smooth his clothes out before pulling them back in order to just admire. "Gods..I wonder how expensive…Maybe when I've got enough saved up I could get a really nice suit." They looked at Purpled who nodded.
"And you too?! You both got such nice clothes! I didn't even know you could wear a suit!" They looked over the two of them before Tubbo. "We need to seriously step up our game." They beamed. Tommy looked back down the path they came before looking into the town. Everyone seemed in a good mood other than the one toddler who was screaming outside of a cabin. Both Rivendell and the Ocean Empire as a whole were invited to watch the crowning and to celebrate afterwards. Of course, the castle would never have had enough room to fit everyone, so they set up in the beach of the Cod Empire, setting up tents and canopies. Tommy hoped he lasted long enough to stay outside all night.
"That's what happens when you leach off of your friends." Tommy smirked at Purpled who gave him a firm punch in the shoulder.
"He insisted I didn't wear armor. I didn't have a suit with me." Purpled looked down at himself. Tommy rolled his eyes.
"It's totally my fault I wanted everyone to look nice and to not scare the citizens. I want as many people there as possible, and having knights in armor and holding spears and swords does not seem very inviting." Tommy crossed his arms. Or maybe he just wanted the knights to be real people. Not just on the job. He told them to eat, even drink. Of course, there were a few who insisted on still being on duty, but Tommy made them follow the dress code either way.
"Well, I think this is going to be amazing. And!" Aimsey looked like she was holding back from jumping up and down. "You're going to be a prince! Like a real prince! Title and all, you'll have your own crown! Do you know what it looks like?" They looked between Tubbo and Tommy. Tubbo nodded along with them.
"I totally forgot about that!" His eyes got wider. "I hope you know we will not be bowing to you. You're still our friend, and technically you're the youngest of us." Tubbo squinted at him.
Tommy scoffed and moved to ruffle Tubbo's hair, laughing as he was swatted at. "I don't want you to bow to me. That would be weird."
"Purpled bows to you!" Tubbo pointed out.
"I do not." Purpled glared. "He's lucky if I even do a favor for him" He reinstated the illusion that he didn't really care. Tommy knew though. Tommy just smirked at him, and Purpled glared back.
"I don't think I ever want people to bow to me." Tommy looked up as Jimmy stood at the top of the path, waving at Tommy and motioning him to come over. Tommy waved back and looked at his friends to signal they should follow. They all started walking back up the path to the castle.
"Really? Like…Even if you're Emperor?" Aimsey asked. Tommy shrugged. He didn't exactly want to think about that part of being crowned. The only way for him to become Emperor was if Scott and Jimmy died or if they passed it on to him. He really hoped neither of those options would land him the title any time soon.
"When did you guys get here?" Tommy asked, looking around. The swamp looked…Actually beautiful this time of year. The more he stayed here, the more he had started to appreciate the land. Maybe Jimmy had also been doing more work to clean it up, adding more colors of flora, and building more cabins as more and more people moved to the quieter area.
"About an hour ago. We've been walking around to check things out. It's been a while since I've been here! It doesn't stink nearly as bad." Tubbo mused. Tommy laughed, motioning for the three to follow as he stepped over a puddle and continued through the walkways.
"Where have you been then?" Tommy asked.
"Well we stopped by the beach, and it looks lovely. They're doing a lot of work just for one party. Like..A lot." Aimsey hummed. Purpled snorted and looked at them.
"It's his only sixteenth birthday and the only time he'd be crowned."
"I know! I'm shocked there isn't more!" They laughed. Tommy rolled his eyes.
"I told them to not go overboard. I can't help set up, but you bet your ass they're going to make me help tear down. You three are also helping." Tommy turned to point a finger at Tubbo.
"Big man, I think I'll end up doing more work than you. No need to get your knickers in a twist." Tubbo teased, Tommy scoffing and gently shoving him as they walked.
"Birthday's should last a week. I mean…Pregnancy lasts what— nine months on average?" Tommy asked. "That's a whole lot of time compared to the one day you get to celebrate. Imagine— We had all week to just do nothing but party and have fun." Tommy beamed. Purpled nodded along.
"Maybe for your next big one. Bring it up like a year before."
"That's in two years! Maybe if I tell them now they'll get it done." Tommy smiled, waving at a mer-folk that waved at him and wished him a happy birthday.
"Two years is a long time." Tommy grinned.
"Tommy?" Jimmy knocked on the wall before he entered. The teens had found themselves on the couch while Tubbo animatedly told them about his dream. Tommy looked back, tilting his head slightly.
"Yeah?" He shifted to sit backwards on the couch. Scott didn't love when he did that— something about messing up the couch cushions and disfiguring the shape. Tommy didn't care too much in the moment. It wasn't like three seconds like this would forever damage their couch.
"Come'er" Jimmy waved Tommy over who pushed himself up and hopped over the back of the couch. He watched Jimmy frown a little at the motion, which he also was not supposed to do, but he didn't comment on it. It was his birthday after all, he could get away with more for the sake of convenience.
Tommy followed Jimmy into the kitchen, which seemed a little odd because if Tubbo stopped talking (which he had not done) they'd be able to hear whatever Jimmy had to say. Not that this was meant to be private, but it was odd to be pulled away when the people he was pulled from were still in earshot.
"What's up, Timmy?"
"Tommy, please." Jimmy frowned, whining dramatically.
"Martyn told me he'd give me a hundred gold if I kept it up all day." Tommy smiled. Jimmy scoffed.
"He's not even here yet! He wouldn't know!"
"Honor code, man. It's all in the honor." Tommy crossed his arms. Jimmy let himself smile just enough for Tommy to know he wasn't actually pressed about the name. "Anyways! Timmy, you were saying?"
Jimmy scowled again at the name before it melted into a smile and he grabbed Tommy's shoulder and pulled him in. "Happy birthday, kid." He pressed his cheek against the side of Tommy's head and squeezed Tommy. Tommy felt warmth spread down him and he froze. Scott and Jimmy both showed him affection often. Words, hugs, time spent together. But there was more to this hug.
"Do you remember when we fostered you?" Jimmy pulled back. His eyes looked a little wet. Tommy nodded, looking at Jimmy a little suspicious. He was ready for Scott and Jimmy to be weird and emotional about his age, but he didn't think it would start so soon.
"I was so scared back then. I never actually had parents, I just had Lizzie and advisors—"
"I know this—"
"And I didn't want to mess up. Scott was scared of becoming his mother, while I was scared I wouldn't even know what to do." He looked Tommy up and down. Tommy felt his whole face flush, and suddenly he couldn't hear Tubbo yammering. (He didn't dare check if they were staring at him.)
"I know— I know I'm getting cheesy and sappy on you, and we haven't even started the celebration.." Jimmy reached into his pocket, sniffling. Tommy watched. "But it's been so long since then. And Now you're actually growing up, and I wished we had gotten more time with you. But I also think this would be way worse if we had." Jimmy held out a small box to the teen. Tommy looked down at it.
"What—"
"This is personal. And I want you to know that in the Ocean Empire, we have a tradition of keeping something from our childhood to remember our youth and to remind people we too, were once children." Jimmy's hands were shaking just slightly. He hadn't seen him this nervous since his adoption. "Sometimes it's gills we shed, or scales lost as we grew up. I think Lizzie has a lock of her hair from when she was crowned at just sixteen. Same age you are.." Jimmy presented the box to Tommy, encouraging him to take it. "I have some of my egg shell. It was made into a bracelet I sometimes wear on special events…" Jimmy held out his wrist once Tommy took the small box, not opening it yet.
Tommy had seen the bracelet a few times. He always thought it looked…well it definitely looked like it came from the Cod Empire.
"I have to be honest." Jimmy looked down at the bracelet on his own wrist. "I selfishly am very happy we are hosting your birthday here. I love Scott and Rivendell, but there's…I'm just really happy to be able to share my life with you…And maybe one day let you take over." Jimmy smiled. Tommy was sure his whole face was red and glowing. The box felt heavier in his hand the longer he held onto it.
"That being said!" Jimmy cleared his throat. "Go ahead. Happy birthday, Tommy."
Tommy looked at Jimmy who nodded before he looked down as he opened the box.
A golden necklace rested in it. Two things held off the chain. A white and red ring, and a tear drop shaped golden pendant.
"You'll want to look closer…and the other thing is a locket." Jimmy stood anxiously. By now, he was sure Tubbo, Purpled, and Aimsey were staring at them. Tommy let Jimmy take the box and he lifted the ring closer to his face.
A lump formed in his throat. A feather. His own feather. It looked…frail and sad on it's own, but the whole thing was covered in resin and red stained gold to encompass it and make it wearable.
"Scott held onto one of your feathers from when you first moved in with us." Jimmy started talking again. Tommy didn't really think he heard him. "It's…I know it's not the prettiest. But that's okay! Because it's still your feather, and it's from a very important moment for all of us. And it shows how much you've grown." Jimmy looked at Tommy's wings that shook out a little. His wings, which used to barely allow him to fly, now nearly rivaled Scott's.
Okay…That was an exaggeration. His wings were still small compared to Scott's grand ones. But his were much fuller. The feathers, even though white and often easily dirty, glowed more and reflected sunlight enough to accidentally blind his friends if he wasn't careful.
"And..Oh— The locket. It's a little tricky to open so if you need help—"
The small door of the tear drop clicked open. And Tommy stopped breathing.
A baby laid in the arms of a man. The man was grinning, looking at the capture device. A woman had her arm around the man and a hand on the baby. She too, was grinning, looking like maybe she was laughing. The baby had wide eyes, and even if the photo was black and white, he could tell the babies eyes were bright. It was hard to get actual photos back then. Paintings were much cheeper. But Paintings were reserved for special occasions.
"Is this…" Tommy choked out. Jimmy nodded.
"Mumbo searched through some records and belongings that were left behind during the sickness. There's…There's more of their stuff in the Avianary. We can go check it out at any point, you can take whatever you want, and whatever you don't, you can decide what happens to it." Jimmy clearly didn't know what to do with his hands.
"It was the only photo or painting in the bins. It was already in the locket, so we just…added the ring."
Tommy brushed his thumb over the photo. This had to have been fifteen-sixteen years ago. Tommy didn't look very old. His parents were lively; A version of them he didn't get to see for very long. The older he got, the more those early memories faded no matter how much he tried to hold onto them. He learned to be grateful for the new memories, but there were times when he just wished he could hold onto the old ones for as long as he was alive.
Tommy didn't register what he did as he threw himself into Jimmy's arms.
It had been, what? Four years? Four years since he was under their care. He had let go of his anger for his old foster families so long ago, but there were small moments like this where he reminded himself to be grateful for Jimmy and Scott. Not once had to told him to leave his past behind. Sometimes Scott would ask about his mother and father, or he'd ask Tommy about the food they ate so he could pass it on to Rivendell chefs to make for him. Jimmy took time to learn games that Tommy's father taught him. They were childish and didn't take very long, but he always listened and played along.
They reminded him he did have parents. They were not the first, and they were okay with that. They respected his parents. They didn't try to be them. They didn't replace them.
Tommy knew he was crying as Jimmy held him, squeezing him close. That's all that mattered; Jimmy holding him now.
Scott fixed his shirt and smoothed his curls down. Tommy wasn't totally prepared for whatever was about to happen, so the anxiety he thought he pushed down crawled back up his stomach and made his chest feel tight. They were in front of their cabin. Everyone else had gone to take their positions or seats on the beach while Scott preened the teenager.
"I think my hair can only be so flat." Tommy complained, his shoulders sinking as he looked at Scott. Scott smiled and pulled his hands away, holding them together as if restraining himself.
"I know. I'm just nervous." Scott admitted.
"You're nervous?" Tommy laughed.
"Hey, be nice." Scott scolded gently with a smile. "This is a big deal. I didn't even think this would happen a few years back." Scott reminded. "I just…"
"You want everything to go right and for me to be safe, I know." Tommy put his hand on Scott's shoulder. Scott looked at him with an unreadable expression. Tommy had gotten good at reading them, but every now and then Scott would make his face just flat enough to not know what he was thinking.
"This is a very big deal, Tommy." Scott said softly. "This officially means you're next of kin. Whenever we retire, you are the one who inherits all of this, and Rivendell." Scott didn't pry his hands apart and they still rested at his chest. "That's a lot of weight being put on you. You're only sixteen." Scott frowned.
"You did this at sixteen."
"And look how I turned out." Scott joked. Tommy raised an eyebrow at him. "Look…I just want you to know that we are here for you, and we love you, so, so much. This is a big deal, and if it's too much, you can tell us." Scott searched Tommy's face. Tommy's wings rustled in the silence between them and Scott's mimicked his.
"You don't have to get all sappy on me." Tommy let out air he didn't know he was holding. "I'll be okay. I don't have an overprotective sister, or a doomed narrative set by the gods." Tommy cringed at how that came out, but Scott still smiled. "I know. I love you too, and I think I'm more ready than you were. You could even say I was born ready."
"Okay. You were not, but I will let you think that." Scott finally pulled his hands apart and grabbed Tommy's shoulder to pull him into a hug. Tommy felt Scott's wings wrap around them, encompassing the whole of them as they listened to people from afar.
"I'm proud of you." Scott whispered. Tommy couldn't duck away as Scott grabbed his head and kissed the top of it before letting go. "Ready?" He asked. Tommy felt that jolt of energy in his chest again.
"It's now or in twenty years." He smiled.
"—And Tommy?" Scott asked, looking ahead as they walked. Tommy looked at Scott.
"I wouldn't have changed anything that's lead up to now."
Tommy grinned at him before looking at the crowd of people on the beach. All there for him. All there to support his family.