The sound of the gunshot was still freshly ringing in Tommy's ears.

Tommy had fallen to the floor and was drifting in and out of consciousness when he heard someone shot. 

It was probably someone yelling out his vigilante name, but the pain from his new and heavily bleeding wound was a bit too much to even think over.

He remembered seeing a blurry familiar face before blacking out.

He was out cold for three days.

-----

Tubbo looked over as Tommy began to sit up and look around. He saw Tommy look down, then begin to freak out when he saw himself covered in bandages.

Tubbo rushed over to him and shoved him back down. "Hey, don't move yet. Your still healing, man." Tommy began to remember everything that had happened then calmed down.

"I was shot." Ranboo walked in and handed Tommy some medicine to take. "Yeah. Could've died. Closest shave with death yet." Ranboo added without seeming to be too worried.

"I'll be fine, right?" 

"In theory. Would've been ideal to take you to a proper hospital, but you know how it is."

"We really should put some money aside for that."

"Would, but we would have too little money. Need that for food, rent, and all that crap."

Tommy sighed and looked down at the bloody disguise that he was still wearing since he was shot.

"You need to take better care of yourself, Tommy."

"I do my best during patrol. These people were more violent than some of the others. We've only ever really faced smaller crimes. These people barely looked like they were trying."

"I didn't mean that specific fight."

"What do you mean, I'm usually fine after patrol?!"

Ranboo sighed tiredly, rubbing his head in hope it would soothe his growing headache. "Tommy that's just simply not true. You always come back hurt. What's your ability again?" 

Tommy rolled his eyes. "How soon do I get out of here?" Tubbo shrugged. "When your wounds are healed enough. In the meantime though, enjoy reading."

And with that, Tubbo got up. "Where are you headed?" Tubbo was already almost out the door. "Work. Ranboo too. Don't worry though, your job thinks your dying of some illness."

-----

Dying in this day and age of their country just simply cost too much. Hospitals were always out of the question. That was meant for the lucky 30% of their society could survive without a second it third person helping out with money issues.

In the country of the DreamSMP, taxes are too high on everything to even leave the place for most people. Especially in a state like L'manberg. Everyone wanted money.

So a couple of teenagers like Tommy, Tubbo, and Ranboo could barely survive on their own with the jobs they had. 

Honestly, the most liveable state was probably the Greater SMP or somewhere near the Arctic. 

But of course, Tommy and Tubbo had been from a town in the Greater SMP, so that place was off-limits. And there was never any crime down near the Arctic. Which would ruin the whole vigilante deal.

About a week after Tommy had healed and was walking to work, he passed by one of those stores that had TVs on and playing in one of the windows of the shop. All were set to the news station.

"Higher ranked heroes are beginning to be deployed to different towns and cities than their original places due to rising crime rate throughout the state of L'manberg. Researchers are investigating the reason behind this issues and have found nothing yet. More updates yet to come. Back to you-"

'Fucking of course heroes are beginning to be shuffled around. Recently the amount of robberies we've has had to deal with as Theseus had skyrocketed. Recently, I'd just recovered from being shot.' Tommy thought to himself.

'And not to mention higher-up heroes are headed to different cities? Fuck... What will we do if they deploy the SBI heroes here?' 

So, panicking is a solution apparently. Doesn't accomplish anything, but it does do something.

Which might be why three of the most active vigilantes in L'manberg are freaking out about heroes, who arrest vigilantes, coming to cities like theirs. Or it could be because their chances of getting in trouble with the law has just significantly raised. 

"Tommy, what the fuck are we gonna do? They probably know about us!" Tubbo said, shaking Tommy by the shoulders.

"Oh nooo... Oh, we're so screwed." Ranboo said, sitting down on their couch and burying his face in his hands. "C'mon, it can't be that impossible. Ranboo, you'll probably just have to go with us for every patrol now. And we'll be safer, we'll head to this less populated part of town." Tommy said. He grabbed Tubbo's hands and moved them from his shoulders to around Tubbo's chest in a way where it looked like he was hugging himself.

Ranboo looked up at them. "But what if they're there too? What if they cover this town?" 

"Then we'll lie low for a bit. C'mon, we've lasted this long." Tommy reassured him. "You know, you should be worried just as much as me and Ranboo. Your family is full of heroes. Yeah, they think you're dead, but they might still recognize you. You barely wear a mask."

Tommy shrugged. "I'll wear a better mask and keep that voice changer we have on me at all times. It'll be fine." Tubbo sighed and sat down next to Ranboo.

"Holy XD and Drista. I guess we've got to upgrade now. Tommy, Ranboo, go search for materials. I'll work on designs."

Ranboo gasped. "You should give my costume some purple bits! The black hoodie I've got is so plain!" Tubbo smiled. "If you can find or afford materials for that."