A Mockingbird In The Crows Nest

Cookie Cloud

Tommy feels a bit useless just sitting up on the counter; but he finds he doesn't really mind.

He's having fun just sitting and talking to the two heroes as he snacks on the leftover chocolate chips. They don't talk about anything specific, but eventually they end up telling stories from when they were younger.

Tommy, of course, doesn't say a word about his childhood because that would be far too difficult to try and remember and keep up with if it ever got mentioned again, and eventually they stop asking and instead tell stories of each other.

Not too young. Wilbur said he doesn't have many memories from before he went to the Academy; and Peleus and Wilbur apparently met in the Academy, so that's where most of their stories come from.

Wilbur tells Tommy about Peleus's greek mythology phase- and the piglin hybrid asks what his favorite myth is. He knows one or two at max, so he says he doesn't know any. Then the man glanced him up and down before returning his focus to the batter in his hands.

"..You might like the Theseus myth. It's a little dark, but I think you'd like it."

Wilbur coos and leans heavily against his teammate, talking about how Peleus is going soft and, "I knew you'd like him!" all while poking and prodding at his sides.

In retaliation, Peleus pulls up old photos of Wilbur's emo phase, and Tommy keels over in laughter as Wilbur sputters out why he still has those.

And as they laugh good-naturedly at Wilbur's expense, Tommy allows the warmth in his chest to bubble up and expand.

He feels..Happy just sitting on the counter and chatting with them as they throw together a recipe. He was a little worried things would get awkward since he doesn't really know Peleus all that well. But much to his surprise, he and Wilbur were actually pretty similar in a weird way.

Where Wilbur is loud, Peleus is reserved. Where Wilbur is dramatic, Peleus is brutally honest.

It's just..Nice, he thinks.

When he's talking with them, he can push away the creeping fingers of guilt as he laughs at the old pictures of Wilbur with way too much eyeshadow. He can ignore the whispers in his mind reminding him this can't and won't last as he listens to Peleus rant about how stupid Icarus was.

Tommy lets himself soak in every ounce of warmth from their jokes and interactions until the timer goes off. He wheezes uncontrollably when Wilbur pulls out a tray of cookies that looks more like a massive half-sunken cookie cloud than anything else. It smells awful, too. Like burnt flour and soggy chocolate. He can't even imagine what it'd taste like- and he's not planning on finding out.

That's when a new voice speaks up.

"What the shit is that smell??" A familiar voice exclaimed, and yep- that's Charon walking towards them. He has a hand covering his nose and a grimace on his face, and Wilbur puts on the sweetest voice he can muster.

"We're just baking some cookies!" he held the tray out. "Won't you try one, dear-old-dad?"

The avian grimaced at the sight of the sunken mess. "I..Think I'll pass, mate. But thank you." Then he looked at Tommy. "Are you feeling alright? I didn't see you leave the photo shoot."

Tommy blinked at the unfiltered concern dripping from the hero's words. "Oh um- yeah, I'm fine. I just..Needed a breather 's all."

Charon hummed and nodded like he understood. "I'm sorry you got overwhelmed. But I'm proud you stepped out to get some air when you realized that." The warmth in his chest nearly doubled in size at the words "I'm proud" and stifled a laugh when Charon turned to glare playfully at the other two.

Tommy watched with a smug, but innocent smile as the hybrids were scolded by their older teammate; stifling another laugh as the avian told them to clean up the mess they made and take the trash out cause the "cookie cloud" smells awful. Which- it does. But it'd be funny if they left it in the trash for everyone else to smell.

But apparently, they're hosting a small party in a couple days, so they're not allowed to leave food rotting in the trash. Which- yeah, that's fair.

Once Peleus and Wilbur set about cleaning up, Charon leans against the counter and lowers his voice.

"Lotus cleared you to go back on patrols." And Tommy snapped to attention. Charon was watching the other two as he spoke, but he had his head tilted towards Tommy so he knew he was talking to him. "But I can tell them you need a bit more time if you don't think you're ready."

He can recognize an out when he hears one.

An option and opportunity to say he's not ready, and have it be listened to. Give himself a bit longer to relax before he has to get back to his job.

His-

Not his job.

Because he's not a hero. He's a villain. He's currently doing his job- sitting here and talking to all of them. When did he forget that? Why doesn't it feel like that?

Besides, the League wants him back on the field as soon as possible so they can do another big heist. Meaning he needs to go back on patrols now that he's been cleared. It doesn't matter if he doesn't feel ready, yet. If his head is too confusing to be able to focus. None of it matters.

Plus..The fact that Charon was giving him an option in the first place was stupid. It's not like Tommy was a hero- in both literal ways of being a villain and masquerading as an apprentice.

It's not like his opinion matters all that much in either circle.

So, he nods. "I'm ready, don't worry."

Charon gave him a proud smile, and his feathers rose slightly in his own pride at the expression. "Well then, would you like to join me on my patrol tomorrow? It's a midday patrol around the shopping district, so it should be pretty relaxed for a return. How's that sound?"

Another wave of warmth roils up in his chest at the knowledge that Charon would consider his opinion on the patrol. But Tommy shakes it off and takes a deep breath before accepting.