A Mockingbird In The Crows Nest

The Return

" Helping? " Raptor wheezes; doubling over as heat rushes to Tommy's face. "You?"

"Yes!" He shoots back; but it sounds uncertain even to his ears. It sounds fragile. It sounds vulnerable. And Raptor digs his claws into that vulnerability.

"I'm surprised they let a pest back into their ranks." He sneers; and Tommy bristles.

"I-I'm not a pest. " He tries; but it sounds unsure. Like he doesn't believe his own words. And truthfully speaking; he does think he's a pest. But Raptor doesn't need to know that. But because of how he responded- Raptor knows.

"You sure about that?" He croons; voice sickly sweet as he takes a step towards Tommy. He stumbles back a couple steps at the movement, and Raptor grins cruelly.

"Can't you see what you're doing?" He asks; voice still sickly sweet. "You came back here as a villain. You could've come back as anything else; but you chose a villain. Can't you see that you were always a villain? That you always will be?"

Tommy shakes his head and takes another step back because he- He's lying. He has to be lying. He just wanted to help. This was the only way he could think of to help without the villains and heroes on his ass. He had to come back as a villain. Someone they wouldn't recognize and wouldn't try and chase down. He had no other choice..

..R-Right?

Raptor coos, but it's wrong. It feels malicious. Mocking in the way that villains are; and Static rolls his eyes before turning back to the door to keep fiddling with it. Raptor steps closer to Tommy.

"You can't escape who you are, Cardinal. But that's ok. I'm here." He croons, and Tommy shakes his head; but he can't move. His powers crackle under his hands- desperate to be released. To protect him. But he just- He can't.

"I know you're a pest. But I can accept that. I can accept that you're a leech." He croons again, stepping just out of arms reach. "You can come home. You can be the villain you know you are."

And Tommy..

..He almost considers going back.

Back to the League.

It wouldn't be pleasant; he knows that much. But he just wants something familiar for once. Everything has been just too much these past few months. It feels like he's aged an entire year since he was given his mission.

He just wants something normal. Something familiar. Something that doesn't keep him up at night warring with himself over what he should and shouldn't do. Something that doesn't send him into fevers from all the stress. Something where he can just do as he's told. Where it's easier.

..But he doesn't want that.

He doesn't want to be locked up in his room all the time and only be let out for heists only to be thrown back in. Doesn't want to go back to his wings being bound and covered in harsh charcoal that sticks and clumps to his feathers like mold. Can't go back to the empty room with a bed that never felt like home. Can't return to the people who brainwashed a child into thinking they were the good guys. Tricking him into helping them.