"So none of you know where he is?" The four heroes shook their heads and Tubbo took a deep breath, hiding his face in his hands. The receptionist, Niki, was trying her best to get them information but the heroes had no idea what was going on. Thanatos wasn't even paying attention to them. Niki turned to Ranboo with a tired expression.

"Are you sure it was a hero?" Ranboo ran his hand through his hair and sighed.

"At this point no. We were thinking it was Themis or one of you heroes that seemingly adore him but if he's not on call then it can't be him." Niki looked surprised and reached under her desk, pulling out a walkie talkie and speaking into it.

"Niki to SBI, role call." They all waited for a few seconds before a voice came over the walkie talkie.

"The Angel, Wilbur, and Insanity reporting for further instruction." Niki looked at Tubbo and Ranboo and talked into the walkie talkie.

"Status report on Themis." Thanatos hummed quietly and Tubbo shot him a glare. Obviously Thanatos didn't care, Tubbo didn't expect him to, but did he have to be disrespectful about it?

"Walked Tommy home a few hours ago, yet to return or make contact." Niki sighed and rubbed her eyes. Ranboo watched her curiously, intrigued by how annoyed she could be with heroes when she worked with them.

"Well make contact. I've got people here looking for him." Niki set down the walkie talkie and rested her head in her hand. She looked up at Ranboo.

"So how long have you three been friends?" Ranboo looked at Tubbo, noticing his lack of response. Tubbo was staring off into space, unfocused and looking distraught. Ranboo looked back at Niki, all the while avoiding the gaze of the heroes.

"I don't even know how long now. We've been roommates for a few years now though." Niki hummed and nodded, trying her best to look interested.

"That's nice. What do you think about him working here?" Tubbo glared at Niki and scoffed, catching their attention.

"Hate it. When have you guys ever been helpful for West? He's only here still because it makes him happy and we owe him one." Niki frowned and Faux snarled, walking backwards and slamming his back against the wall angrily.

"We're not exactly in control of what city we patrol. I'd run down there and sweep the streets myself if I had the time." Ranboo moved closer to Tubbo subconsciously, uncomfortable with the tension in the air. Thanatos seemed to remember they were there and looked at them, observing the duo silently. A small hum whispered in Tubbo's ear and he thought back to Tommy's interaction with Thanatos. The hum disappeared and Thanatos cleared his throat.

"Is it alright if I talk with the shorter one privately?" Tubbo looked at Thanatos, a sense of dread creeping up his bones. He looked at Ranboo next, who had instinctively put his arm in front of Tubbo. Tubbo took a deep breath and pushed Ranboo's arm down gently, stepping outside the building with Thanatos on his trail. Ranboo watched them talk on the other side of the glass doors but he couldn't tell what was being said. Tubbo seemed ok. Scared, but safe. Thanatos walked back in a few moments later, Tubbo still with shock. He looked at Ranboo and slowly walked through the door, returning close to Ranboo's side.

"He's on his way with Tommy, they're both safe." Niki thanked the walkie talkie and Ranboo rubbed Tubbo's back, wondering if he'd be told what was said out there.

"You can put me down, you know." Themis huffed and Tommy groaned, looking down at the moving pavement. It was fine that he was being carried, he didn't want to move anyways, but it was so humiliating. He thanked the stars that he still looked like a kid. Long fallen tears reappeared in his eyes unwillingly and Tommy rushed to wipe them away. He was done crying in front of Themis. It was awkward and uncomfortable and Tommy hated it. Most importantly he hated how vulnerable and weak it made him. Tommy felt nothing and everything at the same time. He couldn't avert his eyes from the people walking past who stared at him so judgemental, ever watching eyes that questioned what Themis was doing carrying some scraggly filthy kid so gently. The difference between them in that moment made Tommy feel so much more sick than he already did.

"You're going to put me down before we get there, right?" Themis glanced down at him, face appearing indifferent but Tommy knew it was an act for the public. Tommy's voice was weak, desperate for something to go his way and at that Themis sighed. How could he deny Tommy the right to walk back into his roommates arms? He couldn't, so once they were a few buildings away Themis set Tommy down beside him and watched him stagger towards HQ. Themis walked alongside him but didn't help, understanding the need to walk on his own after hours of misery Tommy couldn't even garner the courage to tell him about. As Tommy faced the doors a small smile broke the dead expression he'd worn since Themis got the call telling him to return Tommy. Themis opened the door for him and Tommy shot him the same smile, a silent thank you that spoke louder than words would have. Tommy walked in and Themis followed, sticking close by as Tommy and his roommates reunited. The two concerned boys held Tommy tight and the taller of the two mouthed thank you to Themis, making the stoic hero smile slightly before looking at his fellow heroes.

"Did you seriously kidnap Tommy?" Themis rolled his eyes and walked towards the four, flicking Faux in the forehead.

"I didn't kidnap him, I was making sure he was safe. They could have called at any time demanding him back and he would've been returned." Faux rolled his eyes and kicked Themis's leg. Undying wrapped his arm around Themis's shoulder and rocked back and forth with Themis.

"Aww, look at the big softie." Themis pushed Undying away from him and rolled his eyes. Undying cackled and Themis began walking away, but Thanatos caught his arm and pulled him back. The two stared at each other for a moment and Themis's ears buzzed quietly. Themis yanked his arm away from Thanatos and thought about how much he hated him, the buzzing quickly disappearing and Thanatos punching him playfully in the arm. Themis smirked and went to the elevator, returning to his floor.

Tommy flopped onto the couch of their apartment and sighed, too tired to feel upset anymore. Tommy had known that nothing good could come of Purpled being gone for so long, but he didn't expect the man to have died. The Lost Celebration was in a week. Tommy had to pull himself together in time for that, he had to do his act to respect the fallen vigilantes. There were too many of them gone, Tommy was having a hard time deciding if anything he was doing was worth it. Why was he doing it? For the peace of mind that his community was safe? Was that worth his life?

Tommy had been part of the community he now fights before, back when he was at his lowest point. A child with no home, adapting to live on shady streets that would have betrayed him at any time, he stole from drug dealers to sell himself, to make just enough money to get some bread, because Tommy didn't understand how much what he'd stolen was worth. Sometimes, when walking the streets, Tommy held himself the same way he had before, back slouched and head tilted down to throw caution to any strangers who wanted to mess with him. Tommy knew the dangers of being on the streets, knew that the people he fought daily were just trying to make ends meet. If Tommy were to quit vigilantism before he met a more permanent retirement, he would likely die on the streets anyways. Question was, did he drag Tubbo and Ranboo down with him?

The front door opened and Skeppy, Eret, and Punz walked through. The three stared at Tommy in shock and Tommy sat up, looking at them with the same look before looking around for Tubbo or Ranboo. They both came out of the bedroom and the other three shuffled into the living room after Eret closed the door behind them.

"You're not going to jump out of the window again, right?" Tommy moved to the corner of the couch and shook his head. Ranboo walked over and sat next to Tommy and Tubbo sat on the coffee table in front of Tommy. Eret sat on the couch next to Ranboo and Punz and Skeppy sat on the coffee table. Ranboo rubbed Tommy's back, attempting to soothe Tommy.

"I'm sorry for running off. I just, can't believe he's gone." Tommy stared at the floor, not wanting to face his fellow vigilantes. He was tired of just about everything, he didn't want to be as involved with everything anymore.

The three vigilantes who didn't live there stayed for a few hours, comforting Tommy and telling stories they'd heard about Purpled, since none of them had actually spent time with him. Tommy fell asleep around four in the morning, surrounded by his friends. And Punz.