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“That’s enough,” Techno grunted, catching Tommy’s sloppy charge. Techno flipped Tommy onto the ground and dropped his entire body weight onto him. “You’ll hurt yourself. Stop.”
“I’m having fun,” Tommy wheezed.
“You’re too tired. We’ve been going for a long time. We’re done.”
Tommy glared at him, but he slapped the ground three times. Techno ruffled his hair and got up. He hauled Tommy up by the forearm.
“Go sit down, I’ll grab the water.”
Tommy nodded, trudging across the mats to get to the benches. Techno looked back at him and watched Tommy flop painfully on his ass on the ground, like he’d missed the bench. Tommy did not get back up again.
Techno snorted and brought out one Gatorade and one water. He sat next to Tommy on the ground and passed him the Gatorade.
“You have a fight later. I can’t believe you tricked me into sparring for so long,” Techno chuckled.
“Was a warmup.”
Tommy popped the Gatorade top and started chugging it.
“You’ll vomit.”
“You’ll vomit.”
Techno smirked but he grabbed the bottle from Tommy and set it on the ground. He received a glare for his efforts.
Tommy wore a mask to protect his identity in The Pit, Techno had yet to really see the guy. All he knew was that Tommy was eighteen—he’d seen an ID that was a little bit fishy, but he liked Tommy—and he lived with his brother Wilbur.
Tommy’s mask was plain and black, it covered the lower half of his face and that was it. He claimed to be a mob-hybrid—the pit was mobs-only for safety reasons—but Techno wasn’t sure what kind of mob. All Tommy said was that he wasn’t comfortable letting people know, and that he wouldn’t be using any powers in the ring.
Techno had almost turned him away because of it. But Tommy said that he was in danger of being hunted if anyone found out what he was. Techno knew what that kind of paranoia felt like, so he let it slide.
He wondered about it a lot though. Could Tommy be a nether hybrid like Techno? Maybe an End hybrid? Unlikely… but that could explain his stubborn mysteriousness.
He looked over at Tommy when he felt the kid lean against him. His eyes were closed, a Gatorade bottle weakly clutched in his hands.
“Hey.” He nudged Tommy, jostling him. “Once we stretch I’ll get you a room to sleep in for the next few hours. You have to be ready for the fight.”
Tommy grumbled something. Then a little clearer he said, “can I have a sandwich first?”
Techno smiled down at him when their eyes met. “Of course.”
He’d only just gotten Tommy used to asking for food when he needed it. At one point about a month ago he’d gotten Tommy to admit that he was in a tough financial spot—he wasn’t just here for sport. Tommy had admitted to not having much money for food.
That was a long conversation. It was the start of their close relationship. Phil had given Techno permission to fully take Tommy on as an apprentice and provide him with food, medical attention, and everything included in the Pit community.
They got ham and cheese sandwiches from the fridge. Well, Techno got them and Tommy slumped over on the floor. They ate, they drank, then they stretched. By the end of it Tommy was practically sleep-walking. Techno dragged him to the nearest unoccupied room and tossed him onto the bed.
He stayed until Tommy fell asleep and then flipped the sign on the door to read “Occupied”. For the next while he went to watch the fights happening further underground.
**********
Tommy’s back slapped the concrete wall and he landed roughly on his side on the hard ground. His opponent sauntered forward, cocky and slow. Tommy had been winning. Then the creeper exploded at him.
Tommy’s head was ringing. He felt light. He felt off-kilter. When he finally got to his feet, he had to lean back against the wall. His opponent laughed.
“You have to use powers to beat me?” Tommy barked back. “A little embarrassing.”
“Money’s money,” the creeper hissed.
The creeper charged and Tommy dodged away. He dived to avoid another explosion. He rolled back to his feet to attack again before the explosion could recharge. Tommy punched the creeper in the jaw and watched their head whip to the side. Their arms hadn’t come up to defend yet, so Tommy punched again. He hit their throat.
The creeper wheezed and fell down. Tommy immediately pinned them, having learned from previous fights not to give them a chance to continue.
“Aequa Pugna!” Tommy screamed so the crowd and facilitator could hear.
The facilitator—Phil—raised a fist to speak. “Theseus has invoked—”
Tommy's ears popped with the sound of an explosion. He felt heat claw its way across his chest as he was sent soaring through the air. He landed on his neck and shoulders meters away from the creeper with the thud of his skull on stone.
Tommy looked up at the dome ceiling, and blearily around at the raging crowd. Everything was swirling. Tilting. Like water. And he was going to vomit. So Tommy wrenched his eyes shut, forgetting about the creeper still in the arena with him.
Tommy heard shouting. A new voice. Closer than the sea of them that made up the crowd. It was booming, fuming, and not approaching Tommy.
Then a head poked into view above him. Fuzzy pink.
“Theseus?” Techno asked, kneeling and placing a hand on Tommy’s chest. “Can you hear me?”
Tommy tried to nod but it made the world whirr again.
“Easy. The fight’s done, he broke code. He’s being kicked out, alright?”
Tommy hummed.
“I’m going to pick you up now.”
“Do not—” Tommy grumbled, cut off by Techno blatantly ignoring him.
The world spun more, Tommy clenched his eyes shut and gripped a handful of Techno’s shirt fabric. Techno mumbled and cursed under his breath as they walked. The crowd was quieter, questioning. They always loved when Theseus fought, he was supposed to be the next Blood God of The Pit.
He was going to take after Techno.
“How is he?” Tommy heard Phil ask from above.
Opening his eyes, he saw Phil leaning over him in Techno’s arms, looking down with a hilarious amount of concern.
“Y’look stupid,” Tommy slurred.
“Not good,” Techno answered, brushing past Phil to take Tommy to a medroom. “I’m going to kill—”
“No you’re not,” Phil warned. “Remember last time?”
“Hey,” Techno snapped, “Not many people know about that. Keep it down.”
Phil chuckled. He opened the door to a room and Tommy groaned seeing that it was a private room with a hospital bed.
“I have to get home.”
“Your brother will understand, we can call him.”
Tommy’s chest tightened, making him choke on his rebuttal. “I don’t know his number. Just let me go home, he’ll help me.”
“Absolutely not,” Phil said as Tommy was placed on the hospital bed. “You’re burned and concussed. You’re staying here until he can come get you. It’s about time we met him, don’t you think?”
Techno reached over to take Tommy’s mask off, as if Tommy would let that slide. He slapped Techno’s hands as hard as he could and glared.
“Oh come on, that can’t be comfortable. You need to breathe.”
“I can breathe perfectly fine.”
“You really don’t know his number?” Phil asked, crossing his arms. “That’s extremely important, Tommy, what if you get hurt outside of The Pit?”
Tommy shrugged. “He’s too busy to pick up most times anyway.”
At that, Phil and Techno tensed.
“He doesn’t answer your calls?” Techno asked.
Oh. Oh. That’s not what Tommy meant to make them think.
“He works three jobs,” Tommy deadpanned. “He can’t be on his phone at work, he’s not neglectful.”
Tommy was hit by a wave of sudden nausea. He curled onto his side, away from Phil, and closed his eyes.
“Alright, let’s talk about this when you’re not shriveling up with pain.”
“It’s not that bad,” Tommy said, fighting back a blast of vomit.
Techno’s hand landed on Tommy’s shoulder, another wormed its way between his cheek and the pillow to turn his head.
“Let me see your eyes.”
Tommy opened them. Techno leaned down to see and he cringed. He lowered Tommy’s head back to the pillow.
“Scissors,” Phil said, handing them to Techno.
Techno started snipping at something. Tommy craned his neck to see. His eyes widened.
“That’s my shirt.”
“Don’t move,” Techno huffed. “It’s charred and ripped anyway, we need to treat that burn.”
Techno observed the wound, Phil handed him something else as he spoke. “I have to get back to the pit. Contact me if you need anything.”
Techno nodded, Phil squeezed Tommy’s shoulder and walked out of the room.
“You fought well. You would have won,” Techno said, doing something that stung like hell. Tommy bit his tongue. “There is no way you’re getting home like this.”
“I am not calling my brother.”
“Then I’ll take you.”
“No.”
“Why?” Tommy opened his mouth to answer and hissed in pain instead. Techno muttered an apology, but he was starting to wrap the burns loosely. Almost done.
“Don’t want him to worry. He might have stayed late at work, needs to sleep.”
“Your brother would want you to go to him for help.”
That was undeniably true.
Tommy shook his head. “I’m doing this for him. I don’t want him to feel like it’s his fault I’m getting hurt.”
“... You’re doing this for him?”
“Money’s tight. City’s expensive.”
Techno made Tommy meet his eyes again. “You should be working together then. Don’t scare him, don’t hide things from him.”
Tommy refused to keep looking at Techno’s face. “I’ll figure things out. Just let me get home tonight.”
Techno studied Tommy. He didn’t say anything as he packed up the first aid kit. He handed Tommy a water bottle, still thinking.
“I’m going to take you home,” Techno raised a hand to stop Tommy from interrupting, “but, I won’t talk to him, won’t even walk you to the front door.”
Tommy took a long sip of water.
Then he spat it at Techno, who jumped back with yelp.
“Fine.”
**********
“Just take care of your wounds and we won’t have a problem,” Techno reminded Tommy as he unbuckled himself.
“Yeah yeah. He’ll ask how it went though. I’m going to have to hide my pain.”
“Or you could just let him care about you.”
Tommy scoffed. “He’d make me stop fighting.”
“You’re an adult, he can’t stop you. Besides, you rarely get hurt at all. I’ll talk to him if he tries to stop you from coming around.”
Ha! Adult. Funny Mr. Blade.
Tommy grinned widely. “Would you miss me?”
Techno rolled his eyes. “You bring in a lot of money.”
Tommy cackled and got out of the car. He left and headed into the apartment building. He was stiff and sore, clearly injured, but confident he could hide it from Wilbur. He looked back as Techno started driving away, when the car was out of sight he removed his black mask. He made it to the elevator, passing the mean old desk man.
Their room number was, of course, sixty-nine, something Tommy treasured. And he walked in. Well, he tried, but Wilbur had locked the door. Tommy could have rummaged through his bag for his keys, but that would require awkward painful movement.
He started knocking repeatedly instead.
Wilbur opened the door, glaring, then he squinted.
“Are you okay?” He made room for Tommy to get in. “You look exhausted.”
He took Tommy’s bag off of his shoulder. Tommy took his shoes off and sighed. How the fuck was Wilbur already suspicious?
“Rough day at school. Then I stayed for wrestling, remember?”
“Ah, right. Is that why you’re so stiff?”
Tommy hummed a confirmation. “Wrestled a tough one today. He was a bit of a creep.”
Comedy genius.
Wilbur set Tommy’s bag on the bed and went to the fridge. Tommy settled himself on the couch, feet aching, skin pulling.
“You hungry?” Wil asked.
“Don’t feel so good,” Tommy admitted. “Too tired.”
“Okay. How about some juice then?”
Tommy’s eyes lit up. “We have juice?”
“I got a good tip at the café today, a little bit extra in the budget—figured you deserved some after passing that tough test.”
Tommy laughed. “That’s nice, Wil. But you can save the extra money, I’ll survive without juice.”
Wilbur frowned briefly, then he poured the juice. Tommy hated that. Those little frowns, the moments where Wilbur tried to figure out what to say. Some flavour of “you’re a kid” or “don’t worry, I’ll take care of us”.
“Seriously Wil, summer’s coming up, I’m old enough to work—”
“I know. I know you are. And I promised you that I’d let you work in the summer when you were sixteen. But—”
“Only part-time. I know.”
Wilbur brought the glass of orange juice over and handed it to Tommy, he sat next to him on the couch. Thank prime he was able to get the hoodie back on, Tommy needed to hide the light burns on his arms. His palms were alright, not great, but not immediately noticeable.
“I have good news though,” Wilbur said, face soft. Tommy nodded, prompting him forward. “I got promoted at the brewery, they finally noticed how good I am.”
Tommy beamed, reaching over to grab Wilbur’s shoulder and shake it.
“That’s awesome!” Wilbur was amazing with potions. He knew most recipes off the top of his head, and he could make them super quickly. They used to own their own brewing stand—they didn’t have any ingredients to make things, but it was cool. They had to sell it at one point.
“I think I can quit at the other café soon.”
Tommy had to set down his orange juice to lean in for a hug. He laughed maniacally as Wilbur caught him. He fought hard to keep the whine of pain from his burns back. But it was so worth it.
“Yes! Yes! Yesssss!” Tommy cheered.
“We’re getting there, Tommy,” Wilbur laughed. “We’re making it.”
“I always knew we would.”
“You did,” Wilbur whispered, hugging tighter.
**********
“That can’t really happen until we meet him, mate.”
“I know, but Tommy’s working himself to death out here and I can’t get him to take a break,” Techno groaned.
“His brother is more than welcome to come in for an interview, you can tell Tommy that, but I’m not going to just hire him… we don’t know what he’s like.”
Techno nodded. He and Phil had wondered just how good Tommy’s relationship with his brother was before. They got the impression that the man was always busy, at one point they thought the man didn’t even know Tommy was fighting in the pit, and at one point they were pretty sure Tommy was afraid to anger the guy.
But since getting to talk to Tommy more, Techno could hear just how much he loved his brother. He talked about his brother like the man was a god.
“He’s coming in Friday, I’ll talk to him about it then.”
“Okay. And, maybe you should get him to cancel his next fight?”
Theseus’ next fight was supposed to be Tuesday. He might be alright enough to fight by then, but the poor guy needed a break.
“Yeah, yeah I’ll make sure that happens,” Techno said.
**********
“What the hell are you doing here?” Techno asked, crossing his arms as Tommy, in full Theseus costume, strode up in front of him. “I thought we agreed you wouldn’t fight today.”
Tommy shrugged. “Feeling better.”
Tommy tried to walk past Techno into the pre-fight room. Techno swung a hand out to stop him.
“Wilbur smuggled me a healing potion from his work. He gets one free one a week.”
Techno raises an eyebrow. “Okay… but you have to let me check your wounds.”
Tommy grinned and Techno let him in. Tommy untucked his black shirt and lifted it. Techno was pleased to see nothing more than a slightly pink patch of skin.
“Can’t feel a thing,” Tommy chirped, letting the shirt fall back down.
“Okay. You should still take a break, you know.”
“I enjoy doing this. I told you that Friday.”
Techno remembered that very well. Tommy was tired, a bit quiet, and a little angrier than usual when Techno refused to spar with him.
“Speaking of Friday. Did you talk to your brother about working here?”
Tommy tensed. It was the first red flag of many.
“I didn’t.”
Oh. Techno expected Tommy to say that his brother refused. It was good money. And he didn’t even have to fight, he could just clean—gruesome but easy—or he could do paperwork and desk work.
“Why not?”
“I don’t know if I want him working here or not.”
Techno blinked. “It would be super convenient. He could help you home when you're hurt, he’ll make much more money, he’s allowed to use his phone—”
“I don’t want him seeing me fight.”
Red flag number two.
“Tommy.”
“Techno?”
“He does… know that you fight here. Right? He doesn’t just think you’re working a secretary job.”
Almost too confidently, Tommy answers, “Yes. He knows. I just, I know that he doesn’t love that I do this and I don’t want him to see it. I don’t want him to watch me hurt others and get hurt.”
Techno blew out a long breath.
“Aren’t you worried this could drive a wedge between you two? The lack of trust? Lack of communication?”
“He trusts me,” Tommy mumbled.
“But do you trust him?”
“Or course I do,” Tommy hissed.
Techno tilted his head, smiling knowingly. Tommy turned away from his gaze and headed to the frigid for water.
“Just shut up and stretch with me or something.”
Techno chuckled, but he obeyed. He helped Tommy stretch and reminded him of the mistakes he made in the last fight. He made sure Tommy was focused, limber, and mentally ready.
Then they went to the pit. Techno found his way next to Phil at the head seats. They sat together and Phil was giving him a look of muted disappointment.
“Hey, I thought he was staying home today,” Techno said, hands up.
“You didn't check to see if he canceled?” Phil asked.
“Neither did you.”
Phil nodded, smirking. That was a fair point.
The fighters were standing in the middle of the pit. They shook hands. Tommy’s hair was extremely golden in the light, Techno noticed. They stepped back and Phil spoke.
“Ready!”
Tommy hopped from foot to foot, shaking himself out and grinning, he was so cocky, it made Techno snort.
“Fight!”
The two charged forward. Techno recognized the greenish tint of a zombie hybrid. He missed their name being announced, a new fighter.
Tommy dodged their hits effortlessly, Techno could see the difference in style and skill between them. Tommy was easily going to win this one. This fight was going to be more a test of showmanship and sportsmanship.
When Tommy realized that he was above the zombie’s level, he started playing up the fight. He became more theatrical, spinning and lunging. Techno would have to teach him some acrobatics.
The zombie was clearly frustrated. They stopped trying to strategize.
“They’re about to get petty,” Techno grumbled to Phil.
“I was just thinking that.”
The zombie was embarrassed. And Techno learned very quickly that when people were embarrassed in fights they did drastic things. They broke rules.
The zombie said something to Tommy, making him scowl. There wasn’t a lot that got to Tommy. Maybe he was playing it up still.
Tommy retaliated with a blow to the zombie’s jaw. They stumbled backward, and Tommy didn’t follow. He let the zombie reorient themself—which further embarrassed them. They said something else that Tommy laughed at, and he didn’t hold back his next punches.
In three consecutive blows Tommy knocked the zombie to the ground. Techno watched Tommy say something that made the zombie bristle and couldn’t help but think that it was deserved.
Tommy didn’t attack again until the zombie got back up.
They danced around each other for another minute. For the minute after that Tommy pulled his punches.
He was doing amazingly well. And Techno planned on telling him so.
Finally, though, Tommy couldn’t pretend anymore. He knocked the zombie over again and dived for the pin.
The zombie squirmed and hissed. They dug their sickly nails into Tommy’s arms—gods, Techno was going to have to treat that quickly—and spat insults that Techno only caught parts of.
The zombie surrendered. Tommy got off of them immediately and stood. He held a hand out to help them up. The zombie took it with a grumble and hiss, which gave Techno an uneasy feeling.
“Theseus is victorious!” Phil called.
Tommy raised a fist to Techno, then turned and waved to the crowd.
Which was when the zombie decided the fight wasn’t over. Before Techno could shout a warning, the crowd gasped. Tommy turned back to the zombie just as their fist connected.
Tommy hit the ground, clutching his eye.
Techno snarled, standing up to lean into the wire netting with the rest of the crowd. He watched, tense, fists clenched around the metal as the zombie backed away out of the pit again.
“Easy, Techno. They’re leaving, he’s fine,” Phil said, standing to go after the zombie probably.
Techno went the other way to get to Tommy’s gate. He got there as Tommy was talking to someone who’d watched the fight. He waited eagerly for Tommy to stop and practically pounced on him seconds after.
Tommy turned to him and his face lit up. There was a cut on the side of his eye, and a red splotch from the beginnings of a bruise and smeared blood.
Techno hissed in sympathy, raising two hands to grab Tommy’s face.
“Your eye…”
“My eye?” Tommy shrieked. “Is it black? Bruising? Shit. Shit!”
Techno frowned, holding Tommy still and brushing a thumb under his eye lightly. Tommy cringed.
“Let’s get some ice on that and get you some water.”
Tommy nodded, following Techno into one of the after-match lounges. He sat on the couch and stretched out his arms as Techno retrieved the ice, water and first aid kit. Then Tommy unwrapped his hands.
“Wil’s gonna be pissed,” Tommy groaned.
“I mean, what does he expect? You’re fighting a lot of guys bigger and tougher than you. It’s especially hard cause you won’t use your powers.”
Techno was curious. He always had been. He’d be lying if he said he wasn't trying to get at least a little information out of Tommy.
“It’s gonna be the same old lecture. ‘You can’t keep doing this to yourself,’ and ‘you don’t need to worry about us, I’ve got it handled,’ Blah blah blah.”
Tommy used a high-pitched, overly-accented voice to mock his brother. Techno watched him fondly. He passed the ice to Tommy and Tommy pressed it to his eye.
“What, does he try to take care of the bills himself?” Techno asked, finding it odd that the man wouldn't want any help. He tugged on Tommy’s free arm to take care of the claw marks.
“Thinks it’s his responsibility.” Tommy shrugged. He set down the ice for a moment to turn away from Techno, pull down his mask, and take a sip. “He feels bad because I never really ‘got a childhood’ or some shit.”
Techno hummed. Trying not to look as Tommy fiddled with his mask to pull it back up.
“That’s generous of him. But you’ll take care of each other until the end of your lives I’m sure.” Techno picked up the discarded ice and handed it back to Tommy as he turned around again. “You hurt anywhere else?”
“Just sore. Was a fun fight until that one hit. They got me good.”
“They got you dirty, it was a cowardly hit to make.”
Tommy scoffed, waving off the anger. “You and your honour. A hit’s a hit in my book.”
“Like that creeper’s ‘hit’?”
Tommy hesitated. “Okay, no. That was dirty. I invoked Aequa Pugna.”
Techno growled. He didn’t bother hiding his piglin side from Tommy anymore, he didn’t seem to mind the sounds. Not many people in the pit did, considering they were all mobs.
Aequa Pugna was something a fighter could call upon to stop the other from using their power. It was a circumstantial invocation, and one could only use it if they had the other pinned or in a position they otherwise wouldn’t escape from.
Tommy never would have been able to keep the creeper down long enough to win, so invoking Aequa Punga gave the fight equity.
“Phil and I were out of our seats so fast,” Techno said with a chuckle. “Thought you were down for the count. Or in a fucking coma.”
Tommy snorted. “You were worried.”
Techno leaned back into the couch with a jerk of his shoulders.
“So what if I was?”
**********
“I’m back Wil!” Tommy called, kicking off his shoes and keeping his head down.
He scurried toward the bathroom, knowing Wilbur was in the bedroom. He had a bit of concealer just for times like this. He just needed to get it on quickly before Wilbur caught him—
Wilbur grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. “I have some good new—what the fuck?”
Tommy yelped at the sudden touch and motion. He hadn’t even heard Wilbur open the bedroom door. Now they were staring at each other, in front of the bathroom, blinking slowly.
“Wrestling accident,” Tommy said.
“Prime, did they give you ice? Are you concussed?”
Wilbur pulled the bag off of Tommy’s shoulder and set it on the ground. He dragged Tommy toward the living room and stuck him on the couch. Then he went to the fridge.
“I iced it. It’s not that bad.”
“It looks bad.” Wilbur brought ice and water over. He sat on the couch next to Tommy and frowned. “You should have let me come pick you up.”
“It’s a black eye. I can walk.”
“But it’s hard to see and you walk through the city. It’s dangerous out there.”
Tommy grinned, teasing and fond. It had taken a lot of convincing for Wilbur to let Tommy walk home after school. Wilbur understood how capable Tommy was, and that he was old enough to walk alone. But they only had each other. Their worst fear was losing each other. It was easy to get past the annoying clinginess or overprotectiveness when Tommy remembered that.
It was one of the things that made him feel so guilty about fighting in a mob-only pit, underage, without Wilbur’s knowing…
“You can have the bed tonight, you need it,” Wilbur said, standing and ruffling Tommy’s hair.
“What? No, it’s your night. And you work early tomorrow. I’m fine.”
“Oh! Well, that reminds me of the good news I was going to share.” Wilbur opened the fridge back up and pulled out something in a plastic package. “I don’t have to work tomorrow. Cafe’s closed for renovations for the next few days, just some small fixes.”
Tommy couldn’t help but perk up. “You have tomorrow off?”
“Yep. And you are going to spend it with me.”
“I’m getting out of school?”
“Of course.”
Tommy cheered, standing and pacing over to hug his brother—who was holding a rotisserie chicken. Mid-hug, Tommy snorted.
“It was on sale,” Wilbur said with a shrug. “New job means we can afford a bit more now.”
Tommy nodded, leaving the hug to rip off the bird’s leg and dodge Wilbur’s thieving swipe.
**********
Techno grabbed Tommy around his middle and hauled him away from the pit entrance. Tommy flailed and scratched and cursed, but Techno was not going to let him fight that hybrid.
“Are you shittin’ me?” Techno asked, still wrestling Tommy down the hall. “That is an A-class fighter. You are a D.”
“But the—”
“No. Are you stupid? He’ll tear you apart. You can not win that, and you’ll get incredibly sick from the withering touch at best.”
Techno tossed Tommy into one of the hospital rooms and closed the door. It was the nearest private space.
“You told me that things at home were better. That you had more money.”
Techno crossed his arms and leaned back against the door. Tommy crossed his arms too and stood with a furious sneer on his face.
“We do. But, we need more. Wilbur’s getting too tired. I need to pull my weight—”
“Does he tell you that? That you’re not doing enough?”
Tommy bristled. “No! He’s an amazing brother, stop looking for something that’s not fucking there!”
The crowd was probably wondering where the second contender was. Maybe Phil would figure out what was going on and find another fighter. But Techno was not letting Tommy fight a wither skeleton hybrid.
“A few A-class flights would set Wilbur and I up for months.”
“You won’t win them, Tommy.”
“But I get a quarter of the money just for participating, so if I do enough—”
Techno’s jaw dropped and he couldn’t help but step forward, hand outstretched. Tommy shrinked away from it out of spite. Techno laid his hands on Tommy’s shoulders anyway.
“You can’t just get yourself beat up over and over for money. It’s not healthy. It’s not worth it. And if Wilbur loves you, he wouldn't want that.”
Tommy shook his head, scoffing. “Wilbur would get over it if I got us rich.”
“Wilbur wouldn’t get over you being severely and permanently injured.” Techno shook Tommy gently. “Or dying.”
Tommy shrugged. “Maybe I’d be doing him a favour.”
Techno—maybe a bit too harshly—pulled Tommy into a hug. Techno wrapped his arms around him, and tucked Tommy’s head snuggly under his chin. After a few seconds Tommy returned the hug. After a few more, he began to shake.
Techno lowered them to the ground and let Theseus cry and gasp against him.
“Don’t talk like that,” Techno whispered. “He loves you. You tell me yourself, all the time. He loves you.”
“I know,” Tommy choked. “I know. I know.”
“You can not fight A-class fighters, alright? You’re not ready to fight anyone from the nether, or the end, or the deep dark.”
Tommy clawed at the back of Techno’s shirt. “I just don’t want to see those dark circles under his eyes anymore.”
“Phil and I are going to help you.”
“You can’t,” Tommy wheezed, forehead pressed into Techno’s collarbone.
“Why not?”
“You just can’t.”
There was a knock at the door that Techno ignored. He pulled Tommy closer, adjusting him more comfortably.
“I’ll still try.”
Tommy didn’t answer for another few minutes as he tried to catch his breath. Techno could tell he was embarrassed, he was trying not to curl on himself, trying not to hang onto too tightly.
“Wil and I spent a whole day together the other day. He got the day off,” Tommy started, frustratedly wiping at his eyes. “He tried so hard to stay energetic all day but I knew he was tired. He should have rested but he spent the day with me.”
Techno nodded and stroked a hand over Tommy’s back.
“Talk to him about coming here again. Give me his number, or give him mine. I’ll answer any question he has, I’ll meet up for lunch and talk about it if he wants.”
Tommy groaned. “He wouldn’t go for it. He’s just… he wouldn’t.”
There was another knock at the door. Then Phil spoke from the other side. “Techno? Are you in there?”
“Yeah,” Techno called back. “Busy.”
“Everything okay?”
“I’ll explain later.”
Tommy tensed at that. Which, Techno felt bad about. The poor guy was embarrassed to hell, but Phil could help with this.
Phil gave a short answer and headed down the hall. The fight had most-likely been postponed. Unless they found a replacement fighter.
Tommy wasn’t supposed to have been fighting at all today, so Techno didn’t bother checking the sing-ups until the last minute, and apparently neither did Phil. So they didn’t catch the name Theseus written under the A-class section of the day.
“Let me take you home. Right now. And we’ll talk to him together, okay?”
“No! No. No, I don’t—I can’t handle this right now—”
Techno made a low rumble, deep in his gut. He let it rumble on until Tommy was too stunned to speak or move. He continued to rub circles into Tommy’s back.
“Okay. Calm down and breathe. You still need to get home, and you need to talk to him eventually.”
“I can’t go home yet, it’s—he has a few hours off and I want him to have them alone.”
Techno’s heart was splitting apart. Every word that Tommy spoke shattered and shook it more than the last.
“Then you and I are going to rest in my room, and when you’ve calmed down we’ll make a plan.” Techno played with the hairs on the back of Tommy’s neck. When did he get so soft for Theseus? “Because I’m not letting you go on like this.”
“You’re so annoying,” Tommy mumbled, hiding his red face in Techno’s chest.
“I just saved your ass.”
“Annoying.”
“You’re the one clinging to me like a child—”
“Die.”
**********
“Promise me you’ll talk to him,” Techno said, catching Tommy’s elbow before he could leave the car.
“I will. I will.”
“I’m serious, I’m not gonna let you keep doing this if you’re gonna be a danger to yourself—”
“Okay. I know, I’ll talk to him.”
Tommy met Techno’s eyes and pulled his elbow away. He closed the door and slung his bag over his shoulder. Techno didn’t start driving, maybe he was making sure Tommy actually went home and didn’t turn just before the doors.
He would have.
But Tommy walked inside and pulled his mask off. He went back to the elevator and thought about what he’d say to Wilbur when he walked in with red eyes and messy hair. He’d probably start with a “hey, don’t worry I’m fine” and then Wilbur would worry anyway.
The elevator dinged and Tommy stepped onto his floor. He walked slowly, calculatingly to his door. He hovered there for a second and took a deep breath before stepping in.
“Wil?” he called, voice croaking slightly.
“Hey Tommy, I have a present for you,” Wilbur answered, voice booming from their shared room.
Tommy held back a groan. Wilbur was happy right now. He was going to ruin it by walking into view.
But Tommy promised Techno.
“What is it?” Tommy asked, croaking worse the second time.
Wilbur’s head shot toward him, eyes wide. He left something on the bed and reached toward Tommy in the doorway.
“What happened?” he asked, pulling Tommy into a hug.
“It’s uh, I have something to tell you but,” Tommy laughed and it turned into a cry, “can I get settled in first?”
“Of course, yeah…”
Wilbur let go of Tommy, leaning back to see his face. Some extra tears had spilt. It was stupid though, he was just telling Wilbur something he deserved. Wilbur was going to be more hurt than Tommy was.
I’m being ridiculous.
Tommy didn’t let Wilbur look at him for any longer and escaped to the bathroom after putting his bag down in the bedroom. He didn’t bother to look at Wilbur’s surprise in case he didn’t want to give it to Tommy anymore.
Tommy washed his face with cold water and gave himself a few minutes to try and recompose. He’d get nothing out blubbering and gasping like he had with Techno.
Embarrassing.
When he came out of the bathroom he found Wilbur standing there, waiting with two steaming mugs in his hands.
“What are those?” Tommy asked, nervously padding forward to see.
“Your present. Careful though, let it cool before you drink it.”
Tommy took the mug, his favorite red one, and was able to smell it. He looked up, holding back slightly happier tears.
“It’s the peppermint one,” Wilbur whispered, as if he were scared to spook Tommy.
“I know,” Tommy said, happily staring down at his favorite kind of hot chocolate.
They didn’t get it very often because it was an expense they could go without and this flavour wasn’t there all year-round. It held a lot of happy memories for Tommy.
“Is this a couch kind of conversation or are you going to pass out after you tell me?”
Tommy snorted. He started toward the couch, praying that he wouldn’t pass out on Wilbur or start heaving with his cries.
They sat on the couch, a small table in front of them for their drinks. Tommy sat back against the couch arm, feet up on the cushions. Wilbur did the same thing.
“I’m not really in a wrestling club at school,” Tommy started. Maybe he could slowly work his way up to ‘I illegally fight underage in mob-only fighting ring.’
“Okay. So what do you do when you stay after school?” Wilbur’s voice was steady, not angry. Not yet.
“I met a friend. He gave me permission to give you his number. He’s been, uh, teaching me how to fight.”
At this, Wilbur’s expression darkened. “The black eye was him?”
“Well—no. No, that wasn’t him.”
“Bullies?”
“No.” Tommy took a deep breath. “I fight. For money. He just—trained me I guess.”
Wilbur was looking at him with poorly concealed horror. He kept opening and closing his mouth. And furrowing his brows before forcing them neutral again.
He was pissed.
Oh fuck.
“I was going to give you all of the money as a gift! For Christmas, but, Techno—that’s my friend—made me promise I’d tell you soon—”
“So every time you came home hurt?”
Wilbur looked near tears and Tommy felt his own beginning to form again.
“I’m good at it, Wil. Techno doesn’t let me fight anyone he thinks I can’t handle.”
“Why is Techno letting a child fight people at all?” Wilbur asked, voice rising.
Tommy had to stop himself from spitting out that Techno didn’t know. He didn’t know just how young Tommy was. But there had to be some strategy to this conversation. What if Wilbur told Techno how young Tommy was after he gave Wilbur the number?
“Nobody dies. There’s free medical care. And it pays a lot. Let me go get what I’ve gathered, I’ll show you—”
Tommy stood to go grab the box of money he’d been hiding but Wilbur shuffled forward to grab him and tug him back onto the couch.
“I’m not concerned about the money,” Wilbur said, taking both of Tommy’s forearms in his hands. “You’ve been fighting for money. To give to me.”
“Yeah… you’re exhausted. I want to help, and this is one way to do it quickly.”
“You’re getting hurt.” Wilbur’s voice cracked.
Tommy blinked. “But it’s… it pays a lot I—I don’t understand why it’s a problem.”
Wilbur shuffled closer, putting his hands on Tommy’s shoulder, seemingly holding himself back a lot. The first of his tears fell.
“Don’t hurt yourself for me, please.”
“Wil—”
“It’s not healthy, it’s not worth the risk. It is my job to take care of you, I’m sorry I’m not doing a good job but—”
“Stop! Stop! Don’t say that,” Tommy cried, flinging himself into Wilbur’s chest. “You are doing a good job. I just want you to be able to rest—I want you to be happy.”
Wilbur choked and hugged Tommy so tight it almost hurt.
“I’m happy, Tommy. I’m happy. I’m tired, but things are looking up. All I need to be happy is you, okay? Just you. And I won’t be happy if you’re hurt. What if you don’t come home one day?”
Tommy shook his head. “Techno wouldn’t let me get seriously hurt. He cares… he—he cares a lot.”
“Then he wouldn’t let you fight in that ring.”
“He understands that we’re in a tough financial—”
“Kids should not be paying bills, kids should not be working their lives away before they’re out of school.”
“I haven’t been a kid since before the foster system, Wil.”
Wilbur hugged him impossibly tighter for a second. He buried his nose in Tommy’s hair and rubbed his back.
“I’m trying to give you those years back.”
Tommy groaned in frustration. “Don’t make me stop.”
“Tommy…”
“It’s fun. It works. I’m good at it—I’ll miss Techno.”
Wilbur pulled back, making Tommy meet his eyes. They had completely disregarded their hot-chocolate.
“No,” Wilbur said, making Tommy’s heart drop. “I won’t let you keep doing this. When you’re eighteen it’s your choice. But until then, I need you safe and healthy.”
Tommy hated that he knew it was fair.
“I’ve made ten thousand primes already, Wil. By Christmas I could have given you twenty.”
Wilbur paused, taking in the amount of money Tommy claimed to have made. Then his expression soured.
“I’m not taking that money, Tommy. You’ve earned it. Use it for snacks and clothes and… I don’t know a bike or something.”
Tommy grabbed a fistful of Wilbur’s sweater. “No. No way, I did it for you. I did it for us, use the money for us. Our apartment, our groceries. Please use it for that.”
Wilbur started to shake his head.
“Please. I’m not going to use it for anything personal. Please.”
“Okay. Alright, thank you. I will use it. But no more fighting, okay?” Tommy hesitated and it made Wilbur pull him back into a hug. “You’re such a good kid. Prime, I don’t know how I deserved you. Please, no more fighting.”
Tommy thumped his head against Wilbur’s chest. “You’re so annoying. You’re soooo annoying.”
“No more fighting. I love you too much.”
Tommy grumbled his answer. “Fine. No more.”
“Do you need me to talk to Techno?”
“No. I’ll call him later.”
“Okay,” Wilbur whispered, leaning back to lie down across the couch with Tommy on top of him. “Thank you for telling me.”
**********
Techno left his seat in the pit, crowd cheering behind him, to take a call from one of the only two important contacts on his phone. He stepped outside and the sound-proof doors closed, shutting him into a silent hallway.
He answered the call. “Hey, Theseus.”
“Hi Techno.”
Tommy was quiet, shaky, trying—obviously—not to be. But Techno chose not to mention it, hoping that Tommy would explain in due time.
“Did you talk to Wilbur?”
“I did. He basically just told me everything you said he would… that he cared n’ shit.”
“He loves you.”
“He loves me.”
Techno waited patiently as Tommy seemed to be deciding what to say next, or maybe controlling his emotions.
“I can go to him when I’m hurt and… he says that I should keep fighting if I promise to be safe about it and come to him—or you when I need help.”
The uneasiness, the uncertainty in Tommy’s voice created a pit in Techno’s stomach. He had a feeling that something wasn’t being shared, or that Tommy lied about a few key details. Why did he hesitate so much? This was good news! Unless it wasn’t… did Tommy not really want to fight? Was Wilbur actually making him fight?
But at the same time, Techno felt relieved. It was unexpected. He didn't realize how much tension he’d been holding, waiting for the final verdict, until he let it all out in a huge breath.
Tommy wasn’t leaving.
“That’s good, Theseus. I’m glad that he’s letting you do what you enjoy, and finally you understand that you and him are a team.”
“Yeah,” Tommy laughed. “Yeah yeah. Can I come in a bit earlier for training though? There’s a shift in the schedule.”
“Of course. What time are you thinking?”
**********
Tommy was catching a bus back to school after training with Techno. It was an easier session today, Techno said that Tommy needed to give his body a bit of a break or whatever. Tommy had told Wilbur he’d stop fighting and he lied. Right through his teeth, perfectly and confidently.
So he was skipping the last class of the day to meet Techno at the pit and train. Then he caught the city bus back to school and walked home from there. He lived close enough to not have a bus that would take him to his house. He had to time everything perfectly so Wilbur didn’t get suspicious.
He planned on sneaking money into inconspicuous places. Wilbur’s coat pocket, on the floor outside their apartment, he’d even give money to his friends and tell them to tip Wilbur at the café. And Tommy would use the money to get extra groceries and buy Wilbur things. Like a new jacket or guitar strap—the one he had was getting raggedy.
But he was back. At the school. Then quickly in front of his apartment building. He took the walk slowly so he wasn’t panting. It was like a cool down after the session. Even if they had their own cool down. It was an extra cool down. Tommy was cool.
He swung the door to their apartment open and was instantly greeted by Wilbur doing dishes.
“Hey, how was your day?” Wil asked.
“It was cool.”
“Cool?”
“Cool.”
It was starting not to sound like a word anymore.
“I have some uh, really bad news,” Wilbur said, making Tommy still. Wilbur set a dish in the clean side of the sink and dried his hands.
“Are you okay?” Tommy asked, dropping his bag and stepping fully into the kitchen area.
Wilbur nodded, easing Tommy’s tensing shoulders, “It’ll be okay. I’m fine. The café is just closing. Soon. Like, last minute decision, closing in just a week. Soon.”
Tommy’s stomach dropped. Wilbur used to work at two, then he got promoted at the brewery and quit one… but now he’d lose his job at the good café.
But it was okay. It was fine. Tommy would get more money. He was still fighting. Maybe Wilbur would realize just how good the fighting could be for them.
“I’m going to find another job but my position at the brewery is getting me a lot more than it used to. I might get promoted again soon. We’ll be okay.”
“I know we will.”
Tommy was so glad he didn’t actually quit.
He was ready to take on more than D-class—he’d beaten a C-class before. What’s one or two more classes up? They needed it, he should take a chance. If he lost he’d still get almost as much as he’d make winning a D-class fight.
“I think I’ll apply at the gas station just down the road,” Wilbur said, beginning to dry the dishes.
“This semester’s almost over. You know what that means,” Tommy said, grabbing a second towel to help. “I get to work.”
“Yes. You do. But I don’t want you to feel like you have to. It’s your choice—”
“I want to.”
Wilbur sighed. “I know.”
**********
The very next day Tommy planned on skipping every single class he had. He went to the pit early. Techno wasn’t going to be there until noon, and even then he wouldn’t be expecting Tommy so it would be easy to sneak around unnoticed.
He easily managed to sign his name up under the A-class section of the day. He saw the numbers and his eyes went wide. If he lost the A-class fight he’d still earn almost triple what he’d earn for losing a D-class fight. This was the jackpot. He just had to handle a few hits and pokes? Not a problem.
The schedule for the different classes changed every day in case fighters couldn’t make the time of their class periods. Today the A-class fight period was second, which left Tommy enough time to warm up, find food, stretch, and scope out his potential opponents.
You didn’t get to choose who you fought in the A-class fights, and usually you didn’t get to choose in the D-class ones either. It was randomized so you couldn’t pick someone with an innate disadvantage against you. Like a strider fighting a blaze, they’re immune to a blaze’s fire. Those fights still happened, but nobody could rig them.
On the listings for today Tommy saw a few tough hybrids. There was a piglin, like Techno but not a brute, and there was a shulker. There were some weaker hybrids but they were high-classed because of their skills. There was one husk hybrid that was A-class, and there was a spider one too.
Tommy was just reassured knowing that murder didn’t happen in the pit, at least not on purpose. So. It’d be fine. Tommy had time to kill and he was going to spend it preparing.
**********
When Techno saw the barista’s name tag he couldn’t help but wonder…
“Do you have a little brother? Tommy?” he asked, looking at the name Wilbur on the man’s tag.
This man was human, no doubt about it. But if this was Tommy’s brother, they could be adopted. Or maybe their marks weren’t noticeable. If Techno dyed his hair and kept his mouth shut no one would be able to tell he was a piglin unless they looked a little too closely at his pinkish skin and red-brown eyes.
The man smiled. “I do. Did he get himself in trouble?”
“No. No, we’re friends. I’m Techno, he should have mentioned me once or twice?”
Wilbur’s eyes widened for a second before he forced them back under control. He stopped wiping the counter to look up fully at Techno.
“Yeah he mentioned you.”
That was a bit cold. Did Wilbur have a problem with Techno? Did Tommy tell him something? This was a very crucial good first impression that Techno was butchering.
Techno shook it off.
“He talks a lot about you. You’re his hero, you know.”
Wilbur grinned. There, saved it. This interaction was going splendidly.
“Tommy misses you, I think. He’s been a bit mopy this past week.”
“... misses me?”
“Yeah, wants to fight more and train.”
That was not heartwarming at all. Nope.
But Tommy already trained a lot. He was still supposed to be taking a break after the creeper fight, his breakdown, and the emotional weight and whatnot.
“He’s good. He’s as good as I was when I was his age. He’ll make a fortune in the pit,” Techno said, not missing the way Wilbur’s shoulders tensed.
“I hope you’re not trying to convince me to let him back into the pit.”
Techno’s heart dropped. “What?”
“You two are friends, I know, he’s good and he enjoys it but… it’s just not healthy. He has other things he should be focusing on, he keeps coming home hurt—I just can’t let him do that anymore. And he said he was doing it for me—no way. He’s done.”
Techno doesn’t usually feel nervous.
“You made him stop?” Techno asked, fearing the worst.
“Yes. He came to me pretty upset about it a week or so ago. We talked, he promised he’d stop. I feel a bit bad but,” Wilbur shrugged, “he needs to understand that he’s my responsibility.”
Wilbur didn’t know that Tommy was still fighting.
“How is he your responsibility?” Techno asked, trying not to sound rude. “He’s an adult.”
Wilbur laughed. Then he realized Techno was being serious.
“He’s sixteen.”
**********
“Welcome to The Pit… Theseus!”
The crowd gasped. Then it cheered. Tommy lived for it, but he was terrified. He still didn’t know who his opponent was.
It was loud, hot, and bright. But he was so ready. This was going to be the start of his and Wilbur’s safe living. They’d be financially stable. It was going to be worth it.
Tommy stopped in the middle of the pit. An announcer was standing in the middle with him and held the microphone out.
“Theseus, what’s a D-class fighter like you doin’ in a fight like this?”
“Just thought I’d try my luck, I reckon I could have any A-class fighter here,” Tommy joked. “Except maybe Philza Minecraft himself.”
Some of the crowd laughed, but Tommy noticed a few concerned faces out there.
Phil wasn’t here right now, which Tommy planned on purpose. There were three pit leaders who ran the show and stepped in when fights got out of hand. There was Phil, Niki, and this other dude that Tommy didn’t know the name of. He was the one judging the fight today.
“Is money a big motivator for you?” the announcer asked.
Tommy scoffed. “Of course it is.”
Some of the crowd chuckled. Idiots, he wasn’t joking.
“Well, let’s see who you’ve got to fight for it then.” The announcer looked toward the pit entrance opposite the one Tommy came out of. “Welcome to The Pit… I’ve never seen this name before… Lycomedes!”
Okay that was a tiny red flag.
**********
“He’s sixteen?”
“One-six. Yes.”
“He’s a child?”
“Yes.”
Techno ran a stressed hand through his hair. He pulled out his phone, instinctively needed to contact Phil and scream a little.
“Oh gods, Wilbur I did not know he was that young—that’s illegal.”
Wilbur blinked. “You didn’t know?”
“No!”
Wilbur slapped the towel down that he was using and called into the back. “I’m going on break!”
Then he came around the corner, snatched Techno by the elbow, and dragged him to the corner booth in the back of the cafe. They sat down, Techno was still internally punching walls and mentally apologizing to Tommy.
“He didn’t tell you?” Wilbur asked again.
“No. No, he said he was eighteen.”
“And you didn’t ID him?”
Techno felt like a terrible human being. He was a terrible human being. He let a sixteen year old get beat up in the pit. He taught a sixteen year old how to get beat up in a fighting ring. “I did. I knew it was sketchy but he said he needed to keep his hybridity a secret,” Techno urged.
Wilbur blinked. “His hybr—he’s a human. We are humans.”
Techno was going to throw up.
“I’m going to throw up.”
“Please don’t.”
Techno clawed his hands through his hair. Wilbur had the decency to ask one of his coworkers walking by for some water.
“It’s a mob-only fighting ring, Wilbur. He’s illegal in two different ways.”
Wilbur also looked sick. “You’re making it sound like he didn’t actually quit.”
Techno looked up and immediately looked back down after meeting Wilbur’s gaze. How the hell could anyone have predicted that this conversation would be happening today. Or ever, for that matter.
“We trained just yesterday.”
Wilbur covered his mouth with his hand in an attempt to, what? Ground himself?
“How? When? He has school and he came right home after that.”
School. Oh prime. The kid is in school and Techno was letting him fight mobs. He was so young. And lying to his brother. And trying to—gods, he was trying to get money for his brother.
“From, like, two to three thirty-ish.”
“He skipped class,” Wilbur said, jaw hanging open.
He skipped class to train to fight underage and very very illegally.
Techno checked the time. It was ten-forty-five in the morning. Tommy was in class. They weren’t even supposed to train today and he had no fights planned for the next week. So. Everything was fine. They’d talk to Tommy later.
**********
It was a vex. That was a vex. Lycomedes was a vex. Oh, the gods hate him. Lady Prime hates him. The gods and his lady hate him. He was going to get absolutely pummeled. And he should have seen it coming. Shit shit shit. Lycomedes? Really? There was no way that the vex didn’t use that on purpose. They had to have found out that they were going to fight Theseus. There was no way that was a coincidence.
Vexes were nasty. They could phase through walls, fly, they were speedy, and they were known swordsmen, good with daggers.
“You have both decided to fight hand-to-hand, weaponless. You both know the rules but let me remind you of the most important one…” the crowd was silent as the announcer spoke. “We don’t kill in the pit.”
Thank fuck.
“Ready!”
I am so ready.
“Fight!”
Tommy rushed forward and the vex slipped through the floor. Tommy grumbled under his breath, waiting for it to reappear. He expected it to grab his ankle.
It tried.
Tommy stomped on the hand that tried to latch onto him. The vex shrieked, shrill and inhuman, and popped back out of the ground a few feet away.
It sped forward and Tommy waited to meet it.
**********
Techno stared down, jaw hanging open to match Wilbur, at the text message in front of him. Wilbur waited anxiously for him to say something, but the words were caught in his throat.
“It’s a text from Phil,” Techno said, mouth dry. He started standing up. “Tommy’s at the pit. He’s in the ring.”
“What?” Wilbur hissed. “Who’s Phil? How do you know?”
Phil wasn’t the facilitator today, he must have gotten a message from somebody else about Theseus. The kid had fans.
“Phil’s a friend, he runs the pit. Let’s go.”
Wilbur didn’t hesitate, leaving his workplace without a word to go after his brother. They took Techno’s car, jumping in and buckling their seats.
“What time is it?” Techno asked.
“Ten-fifty-four. Why?”
Techno slammed on the acceleration and sped down the road.
“This is the A-Class fight period.”
**********
Tommy’s back slapped the concrete and he rolled out of the way of a pinning blow. He stumbled backward onto his ass as Lycomedes charged forward.
This was not like any other pit fighter Tommy had encountered. Maybe it was a D-class thing but usually after knocking the enemy down you let them get back up out of good sportsmanship unless you were ready to pin—and confident they wouldn’t get out of your hold.
Tommy did not have a chance to get back on his feet as they kicked his legs out from under him mid stand-up. The vex landed on top of Tommy, wings flapping and flaring while Tommy struggled.
Tommy bucked his hips and pushed the vex off. He rolled toward them and kicked out, knocking them to the floor. The vex rolled quickly to their feet, faster than Tommy could. As Tommy stood the vex kicked him in the chest, sending him sprawling back again.
Instead of letting himself flail, Tommy rolled backward over his head and onto his hands and feet. He was crouched and ready to move.
The vex sprang at him and Tommy rolled sideways. He started dodging, hoping the vex would get tired and try something other than ruthless charge after ruthless charge.
The vex lunged for him, arms out and trying to catch Tommy against the wall. They pushed Tommy into the wall but didn’t get him pinned. Tommy kicked at their legs and they stumbled. He punched and struck the vex’s temple. He punched again and was blocked.
They started exchanging blow after blow and parrying.
Tommy was quickly losing his rhythm and energy.
**********
“I’m almost there, nobody can get the facilitator to stop the fight,” Phil said, voice echoing through Techno’s car. “He needs to hear it from me or Niki.”
“Can’t you just call him,” Wilbur asked, failing at keeping the panic out of his voice.
“No phones in the pit.” There was a pause. “Who are you?”
Wilbur whined, leaning his head back. Instinctively Techno pressed a hand to his forearm. It startled Wilbur. Hell, it startled Techno. He usually wasn’t so soft with people. Only Tommy and Phil. Maybe it was because he’d heard so much about Wilbur, sees Tommy in him.
“We’re close,” Techno said. “Phil, who’s he fighting?”
“I don’t know. All Quackity said was that it was someone under a new stage name, Lycomedes.”
Techno couldn’t keep his piglin snarl back. “Wonderful. Fitting. Great.”
“If he’s dead I’m suing the pit,” Wilbur said.
“Fair,” Techno agreed. “I’d probably be fired, but fair.”
“Tech, who’s with you?”
“Tommy’s brother. Wilbur.”
Another pause before Phil spoke. “How…?”
“Story for later. Basically Tommy’s underage and human.”
“What?” Phil shrieked, an elytrian accent shining through. In other words, he squawked. “Techno I swear to Kristin—”
“Bye.”
Techno hung up and sped forward. He took a few more turns—way too fast—before driving through a tunnel. Within the tunnel there was another turn, one that closed behind them as they drove straight down in near darkness.
“Are you about to kill me?” Wilbur asked, not sounding like he was joking.
“No! No, gods, no. We’re getting to the pit.”
They pull into a lighter section. The light grows until they come into an open area of orange light. An underground parkade. Techno parks them in his reserved spot by the main entrance and he gets out.
Wilbur follows him eagerly. Techno leads him—sprinting—down the stone hallways.
**********
Tommy reeled back after the strongest hit he’d taken yet. He slammed into the wall. And for the first time, the vex didn’t immediately charge him.
“You gonna faint, Theseus?” The vex asked, waiting as Tommy swayed on his feet.
It wasn’t exactly a taunt, but Tommy took it like one. He shook his head, throwing away his self-doubt and fear. And he put his fists back up.
The vex smiled, and let Tommy wobble his way back into the middle of the pit. They walked around each other, and this time, the vex had the decency to let Tommy attack first.
They know I’m tired.
They know I’ve already lost.
But there were no forfeits in the pit.
Tommy launched himself forward. He hit the vex’s chest, missing their throat. He parried two of their punches and was knocked back by another. He clutched his gut and readied himself to block the next onslaught of hits.
**********
Techno flung the door open and started toward the entrance to the ring. He turned back to Wilbur quickly.
“The facilitator won’t listen unless Phil is here. I’m going to have to break this up, stay here.”
“What? No, that’s my brother—”
“Stay here, Wilbur. I’m serious. I can handle this.”
Please please please stay here, Techno prayed.
Wilbur nodded and Techno didn’t hesitate to sprint toward the guarded door. The security there stepped out in front of him.
“The fights need to stop,” Techno said. “That kid’s not eighteen and he’s not a mob.”
“Can’t let you in until the facilitator—”
“Mea custodire.”
The guards shared a hesitant look. Techno could feel Wilbur’s eyes burning into the back of his head.
Mine to protect, the right to join the fight and be kicked out forever if it was unlawful.
The guards stepped out of his way and Techno launched himself into the ring as Tommy’s head cracked against the concrete floor.
**********
Phil reached the facilitator just as Techno burst into the ring. The vex hadn’t stopped attacking despite Tommy being unconscious and Phil’s veins were burning with rage.
Techno tackled the vex off of the kid and they rolled.
“Stop the fight,” Phil demanded. “Stop the fight!” The facilitator stood immediately, microphone cracking.
“Stop! Theseus is down,” the facilitator called.
Techno backed off of the vex to turn to Tommy. He started toward the kid at a jog. Phil gasped as the vex sprinted toward him and kicked Techno’s feet out from under him.
“The fight is over Lycomedes!” The facilitator called, standing and ready to follow Phil down to the ring.
Phil’s wings flared as he ran and jumped down the stairs onto the bottom floor. He ran full speed for the doors and heard Techno scream Wilbur’s name when the fight wasn't in view.
**********
Techno rolled into the wall with the force of the vex’s charge.
“The fight is over,” Techno growled. “Stop.”
The vex phased into the ground and Techno got to his feet. From behind him—from the wall behind him, a blow came, sending him back to the floor with a ringing head.
The vex jumped over him and started running toward Tommy, unconscious on the ground and being covered by Wilbur—who he told to stay put.
“Wilbur!”
The vex leaped to tackle Wilbur away from Tommy, but Wilbur turned around and stood lightning fast.
There was a flash of green. Enormous shadowy wings rose behind Wilbur. A whip-like tail sprouted from behind him, lashing wildly. His eyes glowed emerald and pulsed with the terrifying shriek he let out. The pit nearly shook with the force of it.
The vex was propulsed backward with the force of the sonic scream and landed flat on the ground. In a blur of movement, Wilbur pounced on top of them, pinning the vex to the floor. Wilbur continued to hiss and snarl, the vex looked stunned but continued to struggle.
The crowd raged and roared.
Techno, not having time to think, hopped to his feet and wobbled his way toward the wrestling pair.
Phil got there first, talking lowly to Wilbur and the vex. He saw Techno coming and nodded back to Tommy unconscious on the ground. As Techno passed them he heard Wilbur snarling, hissing and shrieking, and he realized that Phil was actually trying to keep Wilbur from tearing the vex apart.
Techno trusted Phil to handle it and jogged toward Tommy. He was bleeding and harshly breathing, eyes closed, pinched in pain.
Techno dropped roughly to his knees in front of the kid—the vex had ripped his mask off and his face was being shown to the whole stadium. Techno blocked as much of it as he could with his body while he knelt over the kid.
“Theseus?” he whispered, nudging the kid’s shoulder. When the boy didn’t move, Techno felt his hands start to tremble. “Kid?”
He checked for a pulse. It was there. And relatively steady. He put a hand on Tommy’s chest and felt for his breathing. It was weak, shaky, and dangerous.
Techno heard more of Wilbur’s shrieking behind him, and he heard the whistles of the vex as they tried to get to each other. Techno glanced back, seeing security take the vex away, and Phil handled Wilbur.
A phantom.
Wilbur was a phantom. And Techno could see it now. The dark navy wings of bones and torn flesh, the carpal tail slapping the air back and forth. The green eyes. That was a phantom hybrid if he’d ever seen one… which he hadn’t.
Techno turned back to Tommy. Taking in the blood and forming bruises. With a shaky sigh, Techno slipped his hands under Tommy’s knees and back. He got to his feet, tucking Tommy’s face into his neck to try and hide it from the crowd.
He started walking, ignoring the calls of the voyeurs around him. He listened only to Tommy’s breathing. And even when they were out of view, out ear shot, he didn’t untuck Tommy’s face from his collar.
He walked all the way to the hospital rooms, quickly but steadily carrying the kid in his arms. He went into the first one he came across and began settling him in the sheets. He pulled out the first aid kit, he readied the IVs, and he cleaned the kid’s face and arms until Phil and Wilbur came in.
When they did, Techno was in the middle of cleaning a gash on Tommy’s temple. Wilbur’s wings were out, wide and held high. His eyes pulsed with green light, and he had long fangs protruding from his top lip.
Phil’s wings were flared too. But they were fluffy. And something Techno learned early on about Phil’s wings was that they got fluffy when he was in his instincts. The paternal instincts.
“Tommy,” Wilbur whispered, voice hoarse and still ghostly. He got to his brother’s side on the hospital bed, Phil followed after locking the door. “Prime.”
“He needs the real doctors,” Techno started, placing a bandage on Tommy’s temple. “It's all head trauma and exhaustion.”
“He’ll be okay though, right?” Wilbur asked, shaking hard.
“I would imagine so,” Phil said, frowning and putting his hands on Wilbur’s shoulders. “Let’s roll the second bed over for Wilbur.”
Techno nodded, taking in the state of Tommy’s older brother. The vex didn’t really do much damage, but Wilbur was exhausted and terrified. He looked ready to pass out. Techno went to grab the bed.
“What? I don’t need one.”
“You should lie down, mate. It’s no trouble.” Phil guided Wilbur toward the bed Techno rolled over. It was pushed flush against Tommy’s.
“No, I want to stay with him—I need to watch him.”
“We’ll take the middle frame off and you can be as close as you want to,” Phil assured, making Wilbur sit. “Where did Lycomedes hurt you?”
“They didn’t. Not really, just a punch here and there.”
Techno took the plastic separating the two mattresses off and it seemed to ease Wilbur’s concern. Just a bit.
“I’m going to call the doctors in a moment. I’m sure there’s a lot you want to ask… and a lot Techno could ask you.”
Techno snorted at that. Phil gave him a knowing look and stepped out of the room to give them silence and call the doctors and nurses.
Techno looked back to Wilbur, who was lying on his side by Tommy, swiping a hand over the kid’s hair. Wilbur was still trembling.
“You should get some rest, Wilbur. It’ll be a while before he’s awake,” Techno said, standing at Tommy’s other side.
Wilbur shook his head. But he looked up at Techno. “Thank you. For saving him. For helping him—he was a lot happier when he started seeing you.”
Techno nodded. “I’m sorry I didn’t look into his age more. Or hybridity.”
“It’s not really okay, but I forgive you.”
Techno sat on the bed behind Tommy. About to rest a hand on the boy when Wilbur’s wing shot out, wrapping around him instead.
Techno pulled his hand back, surprised and wide eyed.
“Sorry,” Wilbur whispered. “Instincts.”
“Ah. They’ll settle, I can wait.” Techno was not about to set off an older brother’s phantom instincts. He’d get shredded. “Does he know?”
“That I’m a phantom? No. He doesn’t. We’re pretty rare, can’t have anyone using him to get to me, can’t have him letting it slip to anyone.”
“But now that the whole pit has seen…”
“I’ll tell him. We—prime—we’re going to have to move again.”
Techno’s heart squeezed. Then a second time when he registered the word again. He had to stop himself from reaching toward Wilbur like he would with Tommy—gods he is getting so soft.
“You don’t have to move. We’re going to protect you. You can work here—not as a fighter. We pay well, you get healthcare, Tommy can keep training and not fight for real… you can have rooms here and not worry about rent.”
Wilbur hesitated and Techno felt the need to persuade harder.
“I can teach you self defense too, not that you did a bad job with that vex. If anyone threatens you or Tommy, Phil and I will take care of it. The pit is like a family. And everyone in here adores Theseus. I’ve got an army of people willing to keep you two safe behind me.”
“That sounds… good. But I have to think about it.”
“Okay. Just ask anything you want to know.”
“Well, there is one thing.”
“Shoot.”
“Why is he called Theseus?”
Techno grinned. Tommy hated that the name stuck—or at least he claimed that he hated it. Techno had given him that name. It was from his favourite Greek myth, the name was close to Tommy, but fancier.
“I named him that.”
**********
Tommy woke up warm, in darkness, and resting against a slow-breathing chest. Their heart was calm, their arms were gentle around him. It could only be Wilbur. Tommy tried to push the blankets away so he could see, but they tightened.
Those were not blankets.
“Wilbur?” Tommy croaked, starting to panic.
Where the hell was he? What happened? What was tightening around him? He started to struggle, gasping at the thrumming pain in his head.
“Easy! Easy. Careful, Tommy. It’s just me, you’re okay,” Wilbur soothed, hand sliding into Tommy’s hair.
The not-blankets lifted and Tommy watched the leather of wings pull away from him. He gasped but Wilbur shushed him and the wing came back down, resting a little lower on his side.
“I have a bit to explain, but can you look at me?”
Tommy looked up from where his head was snug against Wilbur’s chest. They pulled away from each other and Tommy almost gasped again seeing Wilbur’s face. He had fangs. And scales on his cheeks. And green eyes.
“I’m a phantom. But we can talk about it more later, okay? I won’t sweep this under the rug.”
“What? I—I’m so confused.”
Wilbur tugged Tommy close again as he spoke. “You came to the pit to fight a fight you couldn't win and Techno saved your ass. You are so concussed right now.”
“I don’t remember that.”
“We figured you wouldn’t. Techno just left a while ago to get us some food. He’ll be pissed that you woke up without him here.”
“You met Techno.”
“I… yeah? I did. He’s cool. He cares about you a lot.”
Tommy blinked hard, thinking about how confused Techno must have been. How guilty he must feel. Prime, what did he know? Tommy wasn’t wearing his mask. Wilbur was here. Gods, he knew everything. Techno knew he was human, and younger than eighteen.
“What happened?” Tommy asked, trying to pull back from Wilbur again.
“In short, Techno got notified by Phil who was notified by someone else that you were in the pit so we ran here. That vex—”
“Why were you with Techno?” Tommy asked, still trying to wiggle out of Wilbur’s grip. Wilbur did not let him go.
“He came to the cafe and recognized my name I guess,” Wilbur shrugged. Then he continued, “that vex had some kind of childish grudge against you for being what The Pit called ‘the next Blood God’ or whatever, and they wanted to take you out. I don’t know much more, but the name Lycomedes was fitting wasn’t it?”
“I don’t know what that means.”
Wilbur chuckled. “Techno will tell you sometime I’m sure…”
Tomy stopped trying to escape and melted back into Wilbur, savouring the warmth and safety. He felt the questions and concerns building up in Wilbur’s head. Tommy had a few of his own, but the door to their room opened, making them both jump.
“It’s just me,” Techno said, closing the door behind him. “He awake?”
“Yeah,” Wilbur answered. “Tommy, think you can sit up to eat?”
Of course he could. He wasn’t fragile. Tommy nodded and as soon as the light hit his eyes again his head screamed. He winced, but he tried to sit anyway. Wilbur helped him up. He ended up slumping sideways back into his brother.
Tommy met Techno’s eyes. They were soft, relieved. At least they weren’t angry yet.
“Hey…”
“Hi, Theseus.” Techno handed Tommy a plate of chicken strips with a glob of buttery mashed potatoes on the side. “If this is too much for your stomach I’ll get you some soup or rice or something.”
“Are you pissed?” Tommy asked, looking between Techno and Wilbur. He took the plate in his hands, waiting to see if he should let himself be yelled at before trying to enjoy the meal or not.
“Yes,” Techno answered when Wilbur didn’t. “You did exactly what I told you not to, knowing that you weren’t going to win, for money that it’s not your responsibility to earn.”
Tommy set the plate down, cringing.
“You kept a huge secret from me for months, you lied, you put yourself in danger, and you did it illegally,” Wilbur added. “You lied to both of us. A lot.”
“Phil could have gotten in trouble for this. The pit could have been shut down. I should be fired for this—but that part’s not your fault…” Techno said, ending with a sigh. Then he seemed to notice Tommy not eating. “You… you can eat Tommy, you deserve to eat.”
“I know—” Tommy sputtered, “I was just—it’d be awkward if you started yelling and I had a mouthful of potatoes.”
Techno’s expression softened. “I’m not going to yell at you.”
“Well. You should.”
Techno and Wilbur both shook their heads, but Wilbur spoke up, “I don’t yell at you, Tommy. Why do you think Techno should?”
Tommy was under a blinding spotlight. He just shrugged. He thought Wilbur was the exception. He didn’t think it was possible for that many people to have patience with him, or deem him deserving of it at all.
“We’re mad, Tommy. But we know why you did it, and the reason you did it was so sweet, and pure, and selfless. We’re mad but we love you, and we know you only had good intentions. I’m still going to love you, I’m still going to feed you, and hug you, and stay with you while you sleep, and make sure you get the care that you need.”
Why? Why would they do that? After all of the trouble he caused. Maybe the money did make him worth it. Maybe Wilbur just didn't want to admit it, but the money Tommy made kept him useful.
“No more fights,” Techno said suddenly. “No more. Not until you are of age, and not in this pit.”
Tommy’s head whipped toward Techno, he immediately started sputtering again. “No, no no no, I love fighting—it’s—I love it. You can’t—”
“We can train. And spar, and I’ll keep teaching you things. But you will not fight until you’re old enough. And you will not fight as a human in a mob-only ring.”
Tommy loved the pit. He loved this family. He loved the system, and the complex. He loved the rules and integrity—-and the surprising morality.
“I talked to Techno and Phil a lot while you were out,” Wilbur said, stopping Tommy’s protests before he even got a chance to start again. “I’m going to start working here. I think we’re going to live here… maybe. But no fighting. Not here.”
That was… better.
“I don’t understand. I was doing fine as a human—I never used powers and you didn’t have a problem then,” Tommy said, looking at Techno.
“Mobs are built stronger than humans. When you were taking all of those hard hits I didn’t think you were in much danger. Mobs have higher pain tolerances, tougher skin, tougher bones, stronger muscles—that’s why I was never that worried after a knock-out.”
“That was you ‘not being that worried’? I’d hate to see you actually worried, prime, would you just not let me out of your sight?”
Techno deadpanned. “Spot on. You’re not leaving this room without one of us.”
“I was joking.”
“I’m not.”
Tommy scowled. He crossed his arms, leaving the plate of food in his lap. He forced the anger off of his face when he realized that he deserved it. This was the punishment. He was going to be watched, and something he loved would be taken away.
“Tommy.” Wilbur manually turned Tommy’s head to meet his eyes. “I need you to promise me you’ll let me handle our bills. Let me take care of our money. Let me keep you safe. I know what I signed up for, and I am more than happy to do it.”
Tommy whispered, “But you’re so tired.”
“Sunshine, so are you.”
And then Wilbur wiped a tear off of Tommy’s face. And he hadn’t realized he was crying. Wilbur moved the plate of food off of Tommy’s lap and pulled him into another hug. He played with Tommy’s hair, and Tommy cried quietly for a few minutes. Techno sat on the side of the bed and rubbed his back.
He was tired.
He felt like a child.
But he was tired.
So he let Wilbur, Techno, and Phil monitor him. And he let his wounds be tended to carefully. He let himself be pulled into soft hugs, and he let himself listen to his brother’s reassurances. He let Techno protect him, and he let Wilbur take care of him.
There were a few days even after that, that Tommy caught himself thinking about trying again, finding another ring to fight in—legal or not.
Eventually he learned to talk to Wilbur about it.
And Wilbur ended up forbidding him from working until he was seventeen because he “missed his opportunity to be a teenager in those months of earning fight money” or some bullshit.
It was hard, but it was better at the pit. With no secrets being kept. Wilbur worked fewer hours but got paid well, and Wilbur made friends. He didn’t have time for more than coworkers before. He and Techno got really close. That was nice.
Phil had adopted Wilbur.
“I thought you weren’t going to take extra shifts, Wil,” Phil said.
“It was just a few—”
“You’re supposed to be resting, getting your energy back. I know it’s a hard habit to break—did you eat today?”
Yeah. It was hilarious and wholesome and Tommy was endlessly grateful that it all worked out in the end.
Wilbur stopped hiding his hybridity, and Phil taught him how to take care of himself better as a mob hybrid. From preening to diets to instincts and beyond.
It was okay right now. It was good, even. And Tommy wasn’t sure he’d ever been able to say that with confidence before.