A Mockingbird In The Crows Nest

The Return

He did this on purpose. He chose this on purpose.

Tommy curls into himself a bit; shame eating at his lungs as he tries to blink tears away.

He thought he could change. Wanted to change. Hoped and prayed that there was a chance he could be better. That he could learn to be a good person worthy of being a Hero.

..But Raptor is right. As much as he hates to admit it to himself.

As soon as things got difficult; he went back to his roots. Went crawling back to the monster at his core and let it bring him here as a villain. He listened to it when it said this was the only way.

He curls his wings in close; shame and embarrassment and guilt so thick in his lungs he's struggling to breathe. He just wanted to help. Just wants to clean up the mess he made and then be on his way. He doesn't really know what he'll do after he cleans this up- but he can't stay here.

He sure as hell can't return to the Heroes after this. Knows they won't accept him back after he ran only to come back as a villain.

..But he can't just leave . Not without doing something to help. He can't- won't -leave a city full of innocent people to fend for themselves while Villains rip it apart. Won't let the Heroes drive themselves into the ground looking for him while trying to hunt down the escaped villains.

There isn't much he can do right now. He doesn't know how to tell the heroes there's a villain here without talking to one of them face-to-face. Doesn't want to explain who he is and that he's a villain as well without them trying to arrest him.

..But he does know one thing he can do. Something no other hero can- not even Techno.

Because Tommy has been a villain his whole life. He grew up with them on these streets. He knows how they think. Where they would go to hide or get supplies. Knows the routes out of the city and the spots for all safehouses.

And most importantly; Tommy knows the rules they play by.

And if he can't stop them by being a hero..

..Then he can stop them by being the monster he was raised to be.

"..Well that's not what I was expecting." Techno deadpans; a little in shock at the sight of Raptor literally melted into the wall. He's been rattling since the moment Techno descended the stairs; and he still hasn't stopped.

"Fuck off , Blood God." He hisses- his words nearly lost in the rattle. "This doesn't concern you."

"Eh, I'm more upset someone else got to you before I did." He scowls; glancing the warped brick up and down. "..Who did get to you? You look like you got melted into there."