Vigilantes are just broke Heroes

Author's note (PLEASE READ)

⚠This chapter mentions possibly triggering things like eating disorders. This topic is not talked about in-depth, but still mentioned⚠

Otherwise, enjoy the story

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Tommy woke up with a pounding headache. That's the only thing he's seemed to have woken up to recently. The rest of the past days had been blurs.

Ranboo and Tubbo had lost their jobs. Their boss had been pulling some illegal stuff and got caught and fired. After that, the diner shut down entirely due to violating too many health codes. And so, a couple of things had to be cut from what they could pay that month. And after a short debate of what it would be, they no longer got water or electricity.

So now, they were using some old candles of theirs for light. They couldn't shower, wash their hands, or even get water from the sink anymore. The closest thing they got to a shower was using sanitizer.

They had to buy bottled water from grocery stores now. Food supply was lower, so Tommy had been increasingly more frequently giving up his share for Tubbo and Ranboo. Hence, the headache. It was due to all the dehydration, stress, and maybe even hunger.

The water thing didn't even really affect Ranboo too much. Since he's part enderman, he's allergic to water. It burns his skin, leaving behind scars when dry. And that apartment didn't supply allergy-safe water for all hybrid types. 

So with no heating, no think blankets, no bed frame (mattress resting on the floor), little water and food in his system, and completely stressed, Tommy had been lying awake most nights. Struggling to rest or take breaks. He had been working the most hours his boss would allow, head constantly pounding. 

It wasn't like Tubbo and Ranboo weren't trying. They had been spending almost the entirety of their days applying everywhere for jobs. The rest of the time they had been doing vigilante work. They had also been lying low like Tommy due to the possibility of being caught by a hero and leaving Tommy to deal with everything alone. 

Right now, Tommy was overworking himself, dealing with a lot of stress, and of course all the money issues at home.

So he really didn't want to have to deal with all the assholes at work today. And right now, the only person who seemed to understand that we're his coworkers and his new frequent customer, Wilbur.

He seemed to be the only decent customer, so secretly the only thing he woke up excited for was seeing him at work. Plus, he might never admit it, but he missed Wilbur and his company.

Like, he really missed Wilbur.

He missed all of their petty little sibling squabbles. He missed Wilbur being excited to share all of his music with him. He missed knowing his own brother.

Now, they were just acquaintances who got along whenever Wilbur tried to order. He might even go as far as saying that there was a chance the two were friends.

It had become routine for Wilbur to go to the coffee shop late, then him and Tommy, or "Thomas" to chat a little before Wilbur left. 

And because of their chats, Tommy had been realizing how much he missed his other brother, Technoblade.

He missed bothering Techno so he would teach him how to fight. He missed Techno rambling on about the latest story he read and all the parallels between Greek gods and people from real life. He missed being able to look up to Technoblade.