Chapter Text

Sam left him in that cell with a sense of nervous confidence and the satisfaction that a monster was locked away, and left him void of many things. His head pounded and his body ached, an all over chill settling in his bones and his muscles burned with every step. His head splitting, the headache getting so much worse now that the sun was stinging his eyes. His senses attacked on all fronts now that he stumbled out the front gate of that hell hole.

Tommy's head thick with fog, half stumbling down whatever path he was on. He honestly couldn't tell where he was or where he was going. He had just stumbled out the gate and picked a direction. 

   --

His head was a mess of thoughts and memories, all clouded and fuzzy. Two months in the afterlife can really make a person forget, he forgot how grass smelled. He forgot how his shoe laces flopped around wildly as he walked. He was back, and it was excruciating.  

He forgot how the sun at its peak, would assault his eyes with blinding light, as it was doing now. He forgot how itchy and uncomfortable his worn out and honestly disgusting clothes were. He forgot how generally loud living was, every sound, smell, and feeling seemed to invade his senses and create a massive knot in his skull. Adding with the pulsing and denseness of his cranium. 

 Dream had revived him, after a week of annoyance and with one final stance, Dream had beat him to death, and Tommy felt every bit of it. Every fucking punch, kick, and slap. All of it.

Thankfully the revival had mended some of his worse wounds, but it didn't completely heal him. This resulted in how he now walked with a limp, his left foot barely of any use to him now. The damage from the walk through the tundra almost took the limb from him in the first place, now he might just have to have it removed for sure. His vision wasn't spectacular anymore either, he sat way too close to the lava for it to be healthy. He tried to avoid his unwanted roommate as much as possible but still ended up with his skull bashed in. That didn't really help his sight either, being one of the things revival couldn't completely fix.  

Tommy already had a bet with himself that migraines were gonna continue to be a very wonderful problem for him in the future. 

A full body shiver brought him back to the present, he really needed to regroup for just a minute. He kept walking as the fuzz clogging his brain started to recede, enough so that he started to make sense of the other buildings around him. He couldn't really see fine details but he can tell he's on the prime path at least. A very tall black and red building being very obviously his hotel was a nice indicator of his location. That meant his house, or dirt hut, or whatever you call the thing, is close.  

(it wasn't a home, his home. It never was.)

Right across from his hotel there was a new building. Tommy had to squint at the small sign outside the gate to make sure he was reading it correctly. He read the words “Bee & Boo Motel.” It had taken a few minutes for Tommy to really understand what had happened but before he could process any of it footsteps started to fade into focus, coming from behind him. Tommy whipped around, arms up in defense only to see Tubbo stopping dead in his tracks.  

They stood a good few feet apart. Tommy tried to take a good look at him, it felt like months since he saw him last, or maybe because it had been months, for Tommy at least. He almost forgot what his eyes looked like, his memory churning and blurring into a shorter boy whose hair had fallen into his eyes. 

He stood stock still, completely lost in himself until the sharp noise of wood hitting wood shocked him back to focus.  

Tommy squinted slightly. He could see Tubbo, but his head hurt and so did his eyes. All the finer details were just a bit smudged, but he could see the crate that had slipped from his friend's grip, he could see the weird shiny band on his horns and the way his hair stuck up in absolutely untameable curls. Also the unmistakable O his mouth was making right now. It's all Tommy could really see now with how fucked his vision was.

 Time stopped as the two boys tried to process what, or who, they were seeing. They stood there for what could have been an hour, or just a few minutes (sure as hell felt like hours). He couldn't know. 

Tubbo was, well he kinda just stood there. Tommy however, he was going through it. His mind whirled through a lot of different things. Tommy missed his friend, so badly. But did he feel the same? Tommy reminded himself that he shouldn't get his hopes up. Tubbo had built the bed and breakfast across from him, not that it was a bad thing. Tommy was actually proud of his best friend(?) for such a nice build, but right across from his hotel?

Had he really moved on so quickly?

His mind started to float away again. A veil thick with doubt, confusion, and pain separated his mind from his body. He watched through clouded eyes, the eyes looked at Tubbo, then the half finished building, to the materials scattered around the half built motel. 

He never even registered that Tubbo was looking a dead man in the eye, and before either of them really had any type of cognitive thought, Tubbo had screamed.

Tommys whole body jerked with the sudden and piercing sound, making frantic movements to cover his ears. He was stumbling back from the shock alone. Tommys mind being pulled sharply and painfully back into the land of the living. His head throbbed. Everything was getting so- damned loud. Squeezing his eyes shut he tried to breathe, in for three and out for three. He tried to ignore how much he could feel, everything. He ignored it, and breathed.  

Soon enough he was stumbling back up to his feet, favoring his good leg. Cracking an eye open to see Tubbo had backed up more and they were now farther apart. He could no longer see the definition in his scars that littered his face and how his chest heaved with shock. Tommy froze. It was unnerving, seeing his friend so scared, scared of him.

He tried to pull himself together, lowering his hands slowly and opening his eyes more.

He tried to offer a truce of sorts, “Hey big T, um, long time no see…” Tommy said casually, waving slightly. There was no response to it, barely a reaction. Scared shitless as he was, Tubbo still wasn't moving. He looked like he'd seen a ghost, a dead man.

And just like that the pieces clicked in place within Tommys head. Tubbo had seen a ghost. It was him. Tommys expression morphed into something of guilt and fear, “Oh, o-oh wait, I was dead. Holy shit, oh shit I'm so sorry Tubs, I didn't even think-, I-”  

He was starting to get tired of this hammer continuously pounding his brain to mush, his senses still being assaulted on all fronts. Tommy huffed out a breath and tried to pull himself together. Trying, and failing, to keep his composure. “I didn't mean to leave like that, It was just supposed to be the last visit. I never expected it to go down hill so fast-” Tommy tried saying, his poor explanation was soon put to rest when a new person entered the picture. It was Ranboo, his large stature and unnatural eyes, almost glowing, catching Tommys attention. Squirrel brain kicking in. 

Walking from a side door of the inn, a place that was completely out of Tommy's field of vision, and dumping a box of supplies from his arms to a workbench somewhere off to Tommy's right. He leaned back a bit to stretch out his back as it popped. Oblivious to the situation at hand he started speaking without looking up from the box at hand, “Hey Bo, where do you want this to go?” The hybrid asked, still ignorant of the boys and what seemed to be a wonderful reunion.

Unfortunately Tommy has a very bad habit of not learning from his mistakes. His attention swiveled, now fully onto Ranboo. He jabbed a finger in his direction, “Ranboo, you’re building this?” He asked rather loudy, the question sounding more of an accusation. Ranboos' head snapped around so fast Tommy could have sworn he heard another pop. His face went through what seemed to be, all the stages of grief at once.  

“Tommy, how are you here?”

There was a heavy pause, Tommy was not really in the mood to explain the situation. Unfortunately he didn't really have a choice, he shook his head cursing himself and his big mouth “It's uh, um. It's a long story,”Tommy sighed. Ranboos' shocked eyes didn't waver, still completely dumbfounded. Still standing half turned from the workbench and mouth still gapping. “But Tommy, you were, you were dead, you had died!” he had said, slowly turning and making his way to stand beside Tubbo, curling his hand around a smaller one.  

That struck Tommy weirdly. He felt it curl tightly in his chest, watching Ranboo try to comfort Tubbo. Thoughts swirled around in his head, things ranging from; ‘ He doesn't need you anymore’ , to,  ‘ get your ugly ender paws off my friend you prick’.  

  --

The tension was palpable, you could practically taste it in the air. “I’m pretty sure I'm aware, Ranboo,” Tommy said after a tense pause, glancing between the pair slowly, he really had replaced him. All it took was a week and two days. Enough time for his friend to have let go, to have moved on. Maybe, maye Dream was right. No one here really loved him, no one had missed him. The thought burned, it struck him across the face and laughed at his bruises.

Tommy took a shaky breath. No one had spoken for a while, a silent standoff, seeing who would break it first. “Um, Dream, that revival book he was talking about? He wasn't,” a broken laugh escaped his lips, “he wasn't lying.” 

 All his words did were tighten the already stifling feeling surrounding the trio. Wrapping them all in shock, fear, and other strong emotions none of them could place. But Tommy could tell when he wasn't wanted, his years on this server taught him enough to know.  

 He shifted on his feet slightly, trying to relieve the pressure that had built on his bad leg. Body tight with tension and mind reeling with too many emotions, Tommy started to turn back to the prime path, “Ok um, well i'm going to go. Uh, yeah. See you guys later.” Neither of the boy's expressions changed as Tommy continued to hobble on unsteady feet, trying his best not to show his limp. 

Tommy, honest to prime, has no idea what to do with himself.

Chapter Text

Honestly Ranboo didn't know how to feel about the whole thing. After the, interaction with Tommy earlier he and Tubbo had both decided to follow him, or more like Tubbo stalked him around like a creeper and Ranboo was dragged along by the scruff. Tubbo was still in heavy denial about his death, seeing him alive almost didn't seem real. It felt too real, or not at all. He couldn't tell.

They followed him at a slow pace, Tubbo dragging him around the SMP silently freaking out. Ranboos stomach was filling with dread, If Tommy was back, that meant, Dream really did have a way to revive the dead. There was living proof, unbelievably, right  in front of them.

They watched Tommy enter his hotel and heard Jack yelling, soon enough Tommy stormed out as well. Throwing his hard hat through one of the front windows. They could definitely hear Jack yelling then. He and Tubbo stalked the poor unsuspecting teen as he made his way presumably to his little dirt hut. 

For the rest of the day they had followed Tommy around, eventually Randoo had to drag Tubbo back to Snow Chester. Tubbo resisted at first but For once Ranboo definitely did not want to give in. It was his turn to drag his husband around. 

Even as they both headed back to their snowy home, neither could truly comprehend what was going on. Going to sleep that night, they dreamt of blond hair and wars.

--

Ranboo had looked literally, everywhere. He couldn't find Tommy, he checked his(?) dirt house, which was now occupied with Conner and his weird sonic obsession already decorating its walls. He checked the hotel, to find Jack was cursing up a storm trying to replace the front window. When Ranboo mentioned Tommy, he was almost physically forced off the property. Jack yelled something about Moana. He was a weird guy.

He checked the creator that used to be L’manburg, and his last stop would be Tubbo and Tommy's bench, next to L’man-tree. I mean he looked everywhere else, it was worth a shot. When he got to the bench, at first he didn't see anyone. As he started to walk closer, he noticed someone leaning onto the L’man-tree. He seemed to be watching the sun, or asleep. Gold hair and a torn, and rather disgusting, red sleeved shirt and old cargo pants facing the cliff. Ranboo might need to go shopping soon.

He started calling out to Tommy the closer he got. “Hey, Tommy. Uh, how's it going?” no response. He tried again, a bit closer this time.  “Tommy? Hey Tom can you hear me?” he had said, waving his hand beside Tommy, catching his attention. His unfocused eyes started to turn and he jumped almost violently. Eyes squinting slightly with disgust(?).

Tommys arms flew up, almost to protect himself, “WhAt the fu- Oh, oh ok its you, hey Ranboo, learn to warn a guy before you scare the shit out of em, yeah?” Tommy said shakily, leaning back against the tree. When Ranboo finally took a good look at the scraggly person in front of him, he was honestly taken back. He looked, well for the lack of a better word, he looked like shit. 

Ranboo decided to hold off from that for a while, instead he sat down in the grass next to Tommy, taking a breath before turning to talk to him. “Tommy, I was calling your name for like five minutes.” Tommy didn't look too shocked at that, just sighed and leaned his head against the bark and nodded, “Yeah, I guess I was spaced out then.” They sat in silence for a while, Ranboo tried to be discreet when he was studying Tommy.

Scars a nasty white, some looking fresher than others. Eye bags that looked a bit more like bruises. Gold hair messy and slick with oil and dirt. Torn and bloodied clothes, that for some reason he hadn't bothered to change out of. His skin took on a greyish tint, and his body seemed gaunt.  Had he been eating? When’s the last time he slept? 

“So you and Tubbo are building that Inn right?” Tommys said, breaking the silence suddenly. Ranboo jumped slightly at the suddenness and turned to face him better. Tommy had done the same and was trying not to look Ranboo in the eye. That made the endermen hybrid soften slightly.

“Huh?? Oh, yeah we are. Um, we both thought it was a nice idea so we kind of just did it, More of an impulse if you may.” Ranboo mumbled, Tommy chuckled and shook his head, “Impulsiveness is what I was known for innit? You guys stole my thing ya bastards.” Ranboo laughed lightly and agreed. “Huh, I guess we did.” Ranboo looked back over the scenery beyond the clif lost to his own world for a second. 

Tommy's voice drew him back once again, he made a face at Ranboo “It's a nice Inn and all, but why right across from Innithotel?”, Oh, oh, o h . Ranboo quickly waved his hands around frantically, “Oh! We just- We didn't mean it like that! Promise, It's just that Jack was being a jerk and Tubbo was really mad at him and he started to build the Inn to spite him I think,-” Ranboo tried to explain in a way that didn't sound like, well, something bad.

Tommy cut him off with a scoff, turning his head back to face the cliff side, “Really? Sounds like the dickhead deserved it then huh.” Ranboo nodded mutely, he hated tense silences, he really did. Stumbling over himself, he tried to fill it, “Oh well after you- uh, um. Well, after you had-” Ranboo had said, well, he tried at least.

“Died, I died Ranboo.” came from beside him. That sobered him up. Glancing back nervously he continued. “After you,” a pause, “passed, Jack sort of took over the hotel? He was being kind of arrogant and rude to whoever tried to approach him about the hotel and Tubbo just got really mad after that. Next thing I know I'm being dragged off to collect a couple dozen stacks of dark oak and other things.”

The corner of Tommys lips twitched up slightly, “Bastards always been fuckin stubborn as an Ox.” Ranboo agreed wholeheartedly to that. Tubbo never, and he means ever, let someone piss him off and get away with it. A silence did finally take over the pair but it wasn't as bad as Ranboo had feared. Thankfully, it was nice, comfortable. No one knew how much time had passed, but the pair didn't seem to mind. Enjoying each other's presence for a while. 

Ranboo couldn't begin to try to remember the last time he and Tommy had just, a good time together. It was either Tommy trying his best to insult Ranboo or Tommy just acting distant and shut off. He didn't want that to happen again. He didn't want to lose his friend again.

Hesitantly Ranboo spoke up, hoping he didn't ruin the moment between the two. “Hey Tommy?” He heard a hum, he nodded slightly and continued, “I'm sorry that we built the Inn right across from your hotel. We didn't mean to be- we didn't mean to, over step or anything-” Ranboo fidgeted with his hands slightly. He really hoped Tommy didn't drift off again. 

Tommy nodded at his words, not looking away from the sky, “Its alright big man, I don't really care about the stupid hotel.” Ranboo lifted his head to look at him again, a simple “Huh?” escaping his lips. Tommy sighed and decided to elaborate, “I mean if the prick wants it so bad he can have it, it’s not like I was going to be a good businessman anyway. Trust me boob boy, I'm fine.” Choosing to ignore the name, Ranboo nodded and looked back out to the dimming sky, “Oh, ok. Um, if you say so.” Ranboo said hesitantly. Tommy laughed and pushed his shoulder, Ranboo jumped from the sudden contact but smiled nonetheless.

“I do say so, that's why I said it idiot.” Tommy said smiling lightly, he seemed so tired recently. Ranboo nodded and looked out along the colors along the sky. He suddenly understood why Tommy and Tubbo used to sit here so often.

“Yeah, uh, yeah definitely.”

Chapter Text

Tommy, he was alive. 

That thought constantly bounced around Tubbos skull like an old TV screen. For a whole week, no matter how much Ranboo talked about it, or how much he remembers seeing the ‘currently alive’ teenager, the fear and emptiness that coated his features, he could not wrap his head around it.

Nothing could distract him, his thoughts always floating back to Tommy. Dread slowly pooled at the center of his gut, the more time passed the worse he felt. Why? He had no clue. He couldn't tell you if he tried. Deep down he knew it was fear, and he didn't know why. That unnerved him even more.

Ranboo, for the past few days, would leave at noon. And each time Tubbo didn't go with him. He had a fear of facing his best friend. He hates himself for it but Tubbo can’t make himself face Tommy. He’s too scared of what he might say. What he himself might say. Guilt and fear eating him from the inside out. He can’t lose his best friend again if he never actually talked to him! Perfect plan.

(it isn't.)

For the past week, Ranboo has been going out at noon with a basket of food and a slightly worried look plastered on his face. First time he left, he had said he was going to visit Tommy, and had invited Tubbo to join him, which he refused. Giving a weak excuse, saying he had to keep an eye on Micheal and meet someone later on. 

Another day Ranboo left with an old red sweater he had stuffed in the back of his close, and another he left a book. The cover seemed to have a constellation on it. Most days he’d just leave with a sword at his hip and a basket with food. Tubbo tried to pay the visits no mind, but his mind wouldn't rest. He hoped Tommy was ok.

--

A week seemed to be Ranboo’s limit, he couldn't stand his husband acting like this. Especially when he could do something about it, “Tubbo I don't like this, I think we should invite him to live here.” Tubbo looked at him, He stood across the kitchen island fidgeting with his hands, contradictory to the firm look on his face. 

Tubbo looked back down at his plate of eggs and toast, he hadn't eaten much of it. He wasn't too hungry, “Why do you say that boss man?” He had said, his mind screamed to avoid, avoid , but it also dug that pit in his stomach deeper. 

Ranboo looked shocked, he honestly couldn't believe Tubbo was acting like this. He smacked the counter with one hand in frustration and gestured to the door with the other, in the direction of Tommy. “Have you even seen him recently? If you saw him even once and actually processed his presence then I'd think you'd be a little more eager to agree.”

“I, i'm not sure if he'd want to Boo, you know how stubborn he gets and I really don't want to start another fight with him ya know?” Tubbo said, scratching the back of the neck, pushing his food around with a fork. You could tell from a mile away the enderman hybrid was frustrated. Purple particles danced around him and his mouth seemed to stretch a bit.

“Tubbo go v i s i t him, please , it's been a week and you don't- scratch that, won’t , even go near him.” He said exasperatedly, trying his best to get Tubbo to listen. Unfortunately, it wasn't working so well. Tubbo was probably one of the most stubborn people he knew. 

Said person stood up from his seat at the island, taking his plate around the counter and placing it by the sink. Half eaten food being ignored, “I've been busy ok? Not everyone's got the time to go and play in the flowers and-” Ranboo cut him off suddenly. “Tubbo!” he exclaimed, Ranboo was wildly confused. He could not understand why Tubbo was acting like this. It was starting to piss him off.

Tubbo felt the guilt swirl deep in his gut, “He's practically your brother! Go see him, for once in your life please face this. He needs us, he needs You!”, Ranboo continued. Tubbo scoffed lightly, shaking his head, “I'm not sure why your getting so worked up for Boo-”

Ranboos eyes widened at that, red and green bright with shock and disbelief, and anger, “ Worked up? I haven't seen him eat a single thing since he's gotten back. The only time I saw him move from that bench was to stare in the direction of pogtopia for two hours. He's. Not. Ok !” anger was starting to lace into his words, getting more and more angry at the completely dismissive audited his partner had dawned that morning.

His husband waved a hand towards the door again, pointing to Tommy, and Tubbo knew he was right. He knew this was stupid. Fighting a worthless battle. Tommy, Tommy wasn't fine, and he was being selfish thinking he didn't have to face his friend. Denying and saying he would be fine. Tubbo wouldn't look him in the eye. Just staring down at his plate of food. He was quiet for a long time.

“Fine, fine I'll go.” Tubbo said reluctantly, Ranboos shoulders dropped, tension slowly draining from his shoulders, “That's all I ask, come on let's get ready”, and they did. Slowly gathering things to bring with them. A thin blanket, a basket, some sandwiches, water, some cookies he and Micheal made earlier that week, and they set off. Dropping Micheal off at Puffys for a surprise play date. (Puffy never minded, she loved watching the kid)

Tubbo silently prayed to Prime almost the whole walk there, for what? He wasn't sure, courage? Patience? Strength? The closer they got to the old bench the more he hoped Prime would listen. The old thing brought back a lot of memories. He hadn't been here in a while..

Blond hair popped into view just over the bench, sitting against a tree and looking out at the sky, just staring. The closer they got, the more he honestly felt the dread fade. A different sense of unease takes its place. Why, why did he look like that?

Pale skin and dead eyed, he was just staring out into nowhere. The only way you would know he was still alive was the slow rise and fall of his chest and the scarce times he would blink. 

“Hey Tommy, I brought us lunch and I also got Tubbo to tag along! I was hoping we could have a picnic!” Ranboo spoke up, just on the other side of the bench, Tubbo just behind him. (no, he was not hiding) Ranboo smiled softly as he spoke, showing off the cliche basket with a blanket sticking out one of its sides. Tubbo had reluctantly stepped out from behind Ranboo to see Tommy’s eyes slowly come into focus again. 

Tubbo shifted his stance and glanced away for a moment, feeling a bit unsure of his presence there, “Hey, Tommy,” he had said hesitantly. Pausing for a moment before looking away once more. Tommy, slow to process his words, answered after an awkward lapse, “Hello” he said simply. Glancing slowly from person to person. 

“Um, I- Im sorry,” Tubbo suddenly blurted He froze, why did he say that? That was so weird and random. Where was he even going with it, why- “Um, why? I mean you didn't do anything,” Tommy questioned, his eyebrows pulled taunt by some invisible string. Tubbo looked at his feet, not really knowing what to say. So he just winged it. 

“It's just, well I just freaked out when I saw you that day and I-” his voice failing him as Tommy slowly stood from his spot under the tree. Stretching his back and dusting off the dirt that clung to his pants. The sweater that Ranboo had left with earlier that week hung rather loosely on him. It made both Tubbo and Ranboo’s chests twinge with an uncomfortable feeling. Tommy was way to thin. 

“Tubzo, man, I literally died. It's OK big man, if we’re being honest here I would have shat myself if you popped around the corner looking like zombie.” Tubbo was suprised slightly at his casual tone with all of this. Watching his best friend(?) dismiss his death as if he just lost track of time somewhere for a while, and hasn't lost his last life to literally the biggest dickhead on the server. 

But despite himself he laughed, light and breathy, exasperated at the tone, “Yeah,” a pause, “Yeah you're right,” (he wasn't) a sheepish smile graced his lips, “so, picnic?”

Tommy's eyes crinkle slightly at the corners, his smile small but there “With you guys?” he thought mockingly for a moment, “Fuck yeah.”

Ranboo was grinning like a mad man, his mouth stretched to an unnatural size. Eyes alight with something like hope and excitement,  “Great, i remember this really nice valley-”

  --

They walk through the woods toward their picnic spot, actually joking around and having fun. It's all a bit hesitant but honest to prime if it didn't lift some of the dread that's been smothering Tubbo since this whole mess started. Tommy is still a little withdrawn, his grey-ish eyes and slightly pale face bright for once in a long time. Tubbo notices Ranboos ears twitch every time he insults him or laughs loudly.

He looked proud.

Chapter Text

The sun was soft, filtering through the trees lining the path, it could have been a scene from a movie. A perfect summer day, and three friends headed for a picnic. It was a moment you know you would never want to forget. 

The sun warm against his skin, a lopsided smile stretched his scars. Tubbo felt peace, maybe not complete, but it was there. It filled him with a small sense of relief, and hell if it was nice. The basket swayed against Ranboo’s elbow, Tommy on one side and Tubbo on the other.

He really hoped this day went well. Tubbo and his best friends, just shamelessly existing. Loudly existing. Being the kids that they were, what they were supposed to be.

The field Ranboo brought them too was full of flowers, the plot of land completely untouched and unaware of the lives these boys held. Only content to be bright and full of life. The trio picked a spot close to the treeline so they wouldn't lose the trail. Spreading a simple red blanket across the grass and Ranboo ploping himself in the middle, Tubbo on a corner and Tommy beside him. Waiting for their lanky friend to bring out lunch. Tubbo had eatin little breakfast that morning and his stomach was making him regret it.

A few sandwiches and a small fight over the last cookie later, Tommy and Ranboo were looking up to the clouds. Tubbo sitting in front of them watching a few bee’s chase each other around in the light breeze. His two friends talking idly, about the clouds and what they see. Light laughter and bickering about different clouds coming from behind him, something about a dog on a bike, or a bunny with a chainsaw.

Tubbo flopped back in front of Ranboo with a puff and looked up with them. “I see a dolphin with a baseball bat.” and as soon as he uttered the words he was ment with faux anger from the both of them, Tubbo busted out laughing and soon enough they all were. Tubbo felt his chest swell at Tommy's laughter. It felt so good to hear it again.

Half an hour of just being led to Ranboo and Tommy both sitting out a few feet in front of Tubbo in the grass surrounded with flowers, both furiously trying to make the best flower crown. Tommy whispering curses every once and a while when he misses a loop and Ranboos ears twitching back when a flower slips from his long fingers.

Tubbo himself was lost in thought, laying back on the blanket and enjoying the moment for however long he could have it. It was a rare day, one of the rarest, a good day, a great day. No managing building, no sleepless nights. Dozing in and out, he listened to Tommy and Ranboos soft words and the feeling of the breeze and grass ticking his calves.

But you know what they say, all good things have to come to an end eventually.

Ranboos frantic and loud yelp pulled Tubbo out of his perfect world, shattering the moment. Tubbo bolted up right and silently mourned the pieces as they scattered to the wind.

Ranboo was already grabbing his bow and nocking an arrow, his shout sharp and abrupt, “Tommy! Get down!” he screamed, scrambling to get a good aim. Tubbos head snapped in the direction of his arrow and his heart instantly plummeted. A creeper had suck up just a few feet from behind Tommy.

Prime knows why one was out and about for early in the afternoon, it couldn't have been past three in the afternoon, the sun didn't even set till seven.

Tommy twisted slightly from his half finished flower crown and stared at the hissing creature with slightly shocked eyes and parted lips. Watching the fast approach of a very angry, and very explosive monster.

He kind of just looked mildly surprised. He doesn't even move as a few arrows burrow themselves into its body, or when it dissolved into gunpowder.

Everything went way too fast for Tubbo to react, eyes still glancing from Tommy to the gunpowder and back. Ranboo broke his shock when he fell back on his butt with a shaky breath, letting the bow clatter the the ground beside him. Two toned eyes filled with shock and concern written all over his face.

Tubbo stumbled to his feet, practically falling to Tommy's side. He held onto Tommy's arm, gripping it tightly, trying to get him to focus. “Holy shit, Tommy what the fuck man? Are you ok?” he asked frantically. Tommys eyes slid to his a little too slowly for Tubbos' liking. He blinked once, twice, thrice, and responded hesitantly, “What? Wha- oh, yeah, yeah I'm good, i'm ok big T.” Tommy said, sounding a bit confused at first but becoming more sure as his eyes started clearing up again. He placed grabbing Tubbos arm in the same place his hand was hovering over Tommys.

Tommy starting looking over his friend, “Are you ok?” he asked lightly, both boys assuring themselves that the other was ok, alive, here.

“Why didn't you move? Ranboo spoke up from his spot among the flowers, voice small. He had put his bow away and was looking dead at Tommy. Tubbo couldnt help but feel the same way, staring at Tommy as he looked between the both of them, his face slack with bewilderment.

“I uh, I don't know. I just didn't realize what was happening till it happened. I uh, it caught me really off guard.” he had said, glancing at his friends and back at the small pile of gunpowder to their left. The smell was starting to make Tubbo uncomfortable, it held too many memories for him. He ignored it and shared a glance with Ranboo, he could be telling the truth, he probably wasn't, but still.

Tubbo relaxes slightly, his arms drooping as he sits back on his heels. Sighing deeply, he turned to his friends, “Prime almighty that fucken scared me,” Ranboo huffed, scooting a bit closer to the pair, “No kidding.”

Tommy’s shoulders seemed to absorb the tension Tubbo had let loose and looked between the two with a worried eye, “Im, uh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you like that, honest-” he started to ramble. Tubbo’s hold on Tommy tightened, just a bit, and shook his head. Causing Tommy to pause, his body slightly tense as he tried not to meet Tubbos eyes. 

Tubbos' face softened, “Tommy,” he still wouldn't look him in the eye, “We just wanted to make sure you're ok, big man.” Glancing to the side he caught Ranboos eye, fond and soft, but you couldn't miss the sadness there too. He was worried for Tommy, and so was Tubbo.

“I’m ok Tubs, I- I promise, it just caught me off guard. I wasn't expecting to be sniped by a mob so early in the afternoon.” Tommy huffed slightly, a tired grin gracing his face. Tubbo shook his head again tiredly, taking a shaky breath and lightly tugged his friend into his arms. Tommy let it happen, leaning into his shoulder. They sat there for a minute or two. That ugly feeling, the dread Tubbos been trying to ignore for the past week, started trickling back down and pooling in his stomach again.

Tommy didn't return the hug, but he practically became boneless in his best friend's arms, his head pressed into his shoulder and Tubbos arms cradling him close. He had the feeling Tommy just needed a moment, and he was glad to give it to him.

Slowly, the tension that built up slowly faded away again and they found themselves sprawled out on the blanket once more, flower crowns forgotten. Watching the clouds and the occasional bee float past. Ranboo had fallen asleep to the right of Tubbo. His hand loosely holding Tubbos, his left holding Tommys. The silence was not uncomfortable, but thick with thought and emotion.

Tommy shifted slightly beside him looking to his side to Tubbo, “So you and Ranboo huh?” he said lightly, weary of his sleeping friend. “Wh- huh?” Tubbo sputtered, surprised by the sudden question.

Tommy turned to him fully, giving him a look “You both have matching rings and live in the same house. I may be slow but I'm not stupid Tubzo,” he stated plainly.

Tubbo blinked, nodding slightly. He avoided his friends gaze, “Oh, yeah. We um, got married while you were, uh, in prison...” he trailed off quietly, feeling guilt tug at his insides. He, didn't know why, he couldn't explain it. He knew how it looked from Tommy's perspective and Tubbo kind of hated himself for it. That week was nothing short of surreal for him.

“Tubbo?”

“Yeah?”

“Does he, Ranboo. Does he make you happy?” a pause,

“Yeah, yeah he does.” a breath,

“Then it's ok with me.”

That's all it took, those simple words. Suddenly all the guilt, dread, and fear of facing his best friend faded. Slipping off his shoulders and lifting from his chest. A smile brighter than the fucking sun (According to Tommy at least, he always hated the sappy shit as he says) stretched Tubbos face.

The day slowly passes as they lay there under the sun, air still palpable with emotion, but it's good, definitely good. Tommy took to the flower crowns again, sitting a bit closer this time, Tubbo still laid out with a sleeping Ranboo by his side.

It was Tubbos turn to break the silence, he watched Tommy fiddling with the crowns. Pale but nimble fingers looping and threading the flowers into a line. His eyes focused and his dull blond hair falling into his eyes. “Hey, Tommy?” Tommy nodded in acknowledgment, not looking up from the task at hand, “Yeah big man?” Tubbo turns back up to the clouds, and notices the skies have taken an orange tint, “You wanna move in with me and Ranboo?”

That got Tommy to pause, looking up. His dim eyes looked to Tubbos. Brows furrowed and eyes narrowed, clouded with suspicion. He started to protest but was cut off before he could make his case, “You would be our roommate, you could meet Micheal, even babysit if you’d like. It would be really nice to have you close. We have too much room as it is. Unless you have another place to stay.”

A lot of emotions filled Tommy's dull eyes. Tubbo knew him, he knew Tommy thought this was pity, and it sure as hell wasn't. He just hoped Tommy would catch the hint, that they cared. His voice wavered as he answered, “Yeah, I- I guess it would be nice huh,” he said, looking back at the flowers in his hands. 

Tubbo nodded, “Ranboo makes a mean spaghetti.” he blurted. Tommy looks back up at Tubbo for a second with a bit of confusion at the utter randomness of the sentence, they lock eyes, and both boys burst out laughing. Tommys laugh was wet and horse, genuine. It’s still gotta be the best thing Tubbos’ heard in a very long time.

Ranboo wakes up mumbling something about them being too rowdy, sitting up and rubbing away any last traces of sleep. Another round of laughter fills the air.

Tommys breath was a bit shaky from laughing, but he gets up and lays a crown of flowers of all different colors onto Ranboo’s head. Just behind his horns. Tommy and Tubbo start giggling again at the half asleep and very confused face Ranboo was making. He pats his head trying to figure out what's up but his hand is smacked away by Tommy. He starts complaining loudly, something about how Ranboo was such a prick, trying to mess up all his hard work. 

They laugh and poke fun until the sky starts to bleed orange and pink.

They all pack up the empty containers and blankets. Ranboo proudly sporting his new crown, Chest puffed out standing tall, standing at full height he was a good head taller than Tommy, But considering how lanky and thin Ranboo was, he kinda just looked like a stick bug. 

For once in a very very long time, Tommy knew he’d be warm tonight.

Chapter Text

The move into the mansion was relatively easy. The only thing he really had to his name was his compass and the clothes on his back. He doesn't really bother going back to his hut. There's nothing really worth taking with him, Conner had taken residence in the little dirt shack anyway. Ranboo ended up stopping by there anyway, taking whatever Tommy had left behind.

(Tommy had been sitting under that tree for a while.) 

Within the first week his friends picked up on his eyesight, it's a little hard to hide when you're constantly squinting and bringing things up to your nose to read. Within three days Tubbo had dragged him off to the nearest village to see an eye doctor, who fitted Tommy with these old geezer glasses. 

Tommy examend himself in the mirror provided to him by the doctor. The glasses Tubbo had picked out for him had thin black frames and were a nice square shape. Tommy turned back to Tubbo, hesitantly he started, “Man, this is kind of unnecessary-,” Tubbo put up his hand, stopping Tommy in his tracks. “Nope, I won't hear it. Tommy you can barely see where you're walking half the time. I've seen you run into the wall beside your door, twice.” He held up two fingers for emphasis. 

Tommy still felt that doubt in the back of his head. He drew his brows together, “Ok sure but I don't-” he tried, but was interrupted again by a different voice. Ranboo placed a dark hand onto his shoulder, “Tommy please.” he pleaded, the look in his two toned eyes, something close to puppy dog eyes. It unfortunately, was extremely effective.

He sighed, Tommy turned back to the mirror, he couldn't say no to them could he. “Fine,” he said, “I guess it would be ok.” Tubbos' smile was blinding as he wrapped his arms around Tommy for a quick but tight hug. “Alright alright, clingy bastard.” Tommy chuckled as Tubbos arms tightened around him. 

Tommy never really initiated affection between himself and his friends, the feeling of embarrassment, pride, and fear that burned in his gut kept him from doing so. However whenever he did receive a hug or a high five or anything really he cherished it. And as Tubbo let him go, disappointment constricted his chest. He steeled himself quickly and ignored it.

He decided to keep the glasses, if Tubbo insisted then he'd have to. The guy was as stubborn as an Ox. He wore them too, the guilt of resources being wasted on him kept the glasses perched on his nose. 

(If he could see a lot better and if he ran into things less, if he felt a small fear of being disregarded fade. He wouldn't say)

--

His limp was soon the next target. He tried to hide it he really did, but the more time passed, the more it honestly started to hurt. When he took off his shoes Tommy noticed his toes turning color.  In all honesty Tommy wasn't too upset about this one since his foot had gone numb, it's been causing problems to say the least.

And when Tubbo found that tidbit of information out, Tommy was half prepared to meet an early grave. After maybe a solid hour and a half lecture on “Taking care of himself” and “To stop Keeping important things from them,” and more versions of “he had no self preservation.” 

They ended up at a small hospital in the same village that he got his glasses from.

Tubbo and Ranboo both waited anxiously for a doctor to call them back. Ranboo sitting up rather stiffly in a too small chair in the lobby, wringing his hands. Tubbo having his elbows propped up in his knees and his head in his hands, bouncing his knee anxiously josoling his head.

Tommy felt too detached from this to truly know what to feel, sure he felt a bit bored after sitting in the waiting room for thirty minutes with other people waiting their respective turns with a doctor. “You guys know I'm the one being called back and not one of you two right?” Tommy said lightly, his joking tone easing a bit of tension out of his friends shoulders. Tubbo turned his head to look at him. His eyes are just barely visible from behind his bangs, “We know, Toms. It's just, we have no clue what they're going to say.” he had said anxiously. Tommy nodded in understanding, he had been avoiding this since he left the prison. No one knew how bad it would truly be.

Tubbos' voice caught his attention again, sounding soft and hesitant. Drawing Tommy back out of his head, “Tommy, I-'' he paused, “They may have to take your leg, Toms.”

Now that caused something to stall in Tommy's head. He looked at Tubbo with confusion, “What,” his voice broke, “What do you mean, ‘take’.” A hand enclosed his. Looking down he realized that he was gripping the chair arm so hard his knuckles were white, and that Ranboos' hand was on his. The pale white of his left hand, a stark against the greyish pink of his own. Ranboo peeled Tommy's hand away from the armrest and held it tight, squeezing hard. Tommy returned the force.

“Now, we- we don't know that for sure.” Ranboo had said, his face painted with worry. His ears folded back slightly and brows drawn tight. Tommy really didn't know what to feel, any feelings bleeding out of his body, numb. He didn't really get the chance to process it either as the doctor, a man Tommy didn't bother himself to remember the name of, called him back. Unfortunately neither Tubbo or Ranboo could c0me with him since they weren't imedit family. 

The whole appointment went by in a blur. 

Least to say, Tubbo was right. Anything that was below a third of his shin was gone. He couldn't really look down at his feet for a while after that.

 Thankfully the surgery was successful, and his two best friends did everything they could to help through it. To be honest Tommy doesn't remember much about the months after his surgery. Bits and pieces sure, but that time seemed to have slipped from his mind. 

Tubbo and Ranboo had too many sets of stairs in their house so he couldn't go much farther than the rooms on the second floor for a while, thankfully all four of them slept on that floor so it was never too boring. Every time they had to leave Ranboo always ended up carrying Tommy bridal style down the steps. Least to say you could probably hear Tommy calling his rather tall friend a pussy several houses down.

Each time Ranboo had the overwhelming desire to wear a helmet and oven mitts.

(Although he'd never admit it, Tubbo had set up Tommys room on the second floor because he was too afraid to be any farther from him. He lost his friend too many times already, it wouldn't happen again, not if he could help it.)

 Tommy never really paid any attention to any of the doctor appointments. He didn't want to hear it, the procedures, the recovery process, tests and results, he wasn't really there for those talks. He watched them from far away, through the static and the fog.

Eventually Tommy was deemed fit and was suited with a prosthetic. The one Tommy ended up going with was a weird smuched C looking thing that his leg sat in, it cupped his leg nicely and the schell ended right below his knee. It was made mostly of hard plastic and was a dull grey. Thankfully Physical therapy was ruled out. His friends promised to help him rehabilitate and make him do his exercises so he didn't have to leave the mansion, and so he didn't have to go back to the doctors. 

It hadnt even been a full ten minutes before Tubbo had taken his new prostetic after they finally got back from home after another six hour appointment and disappearing down to his workshop (work shop / bomb shelter, tomato tamoto) And later that night, way after the sun had set, Tubbo emerged and was ready to present Tommys newly decked-out prosthetic to him. 

Tubbo had snatched up Tommy's new limb the first chance that boy got, and he was proud of the results, but he didnt know how Tommy would react to it. Tommy had been really drawn out these few months and honestly, all Tubbo wanted was to see his friend relax, without seeing that dull sheen in his eyes. He wanted so desperately to bring back the blue. 

Tommy himself was sitting up in bed, lights dim and watching the stars through the bedside window, when Tubbo came into his room. He looked ansty, shoulders tense when trying to hide something behind his back. Swiftly, he approached Tommys side of the bed and placed the thing onto his lap without a word.

Tommy was a bit dazed from the doctor's appointment so he didn't completely register what was in front of him for a solid half minute. Tubbo himself was tense, nervous for his reaction. And the more time passed that Tommy didn't react, the worse his anxiousness got.  

 It looked similar to porcelain, the shell was cream with delicately painted flowers, vines, and leaves on it. Soft pink gladiolus, oak blossoms, pastel yellow oenothera, lavender stems and yellow roses were painted onto the sides, with vines twisting around and filling empty spaces. A smile cracked across his face, clumsy and small but he couldn't help himself, it was, well Tommy didn't have the words. But it felt good, warm, safe.

He looked up to his best friend, who was rocking back and forth on his hooves awaiting Tommy’s reaction. “Tubbo.” his friend stilled at his name, “Thank you,” was all Tommy managed to whisper. A bright smile spread across Tubbos face and he nodded. “Anytime Big man, anytime.”

--

Tubbo showed him how to wrap his leg correctly so he could put on the prothstetic, Ranboo helped him re-learn how to walk. He was also given a cane to lean onto so he could get around easier by himself when he needed to. A bright cyan with a black handle, which had soon been assaulted with star and flower stickers after Micheal had gotten his grubby little hands on it, his parents taking it further by adding a bee charm and woven strands and attaching them to the handle. 

(No matter how much Tommy grumbled he never thought about taking them off)

His life was different. In a way Tommy didn't expect, he couldn't get it to make sense in his head. Tommy would rather lose his other leg than waste his friends' (familys) effort and resources. He may not understand why, but he would be lying through his teeth if he ever told them he wanted it to stop.

Good thing he never will.

Chapter Text

Getting used to his new, living predicament was hell. 

Every stumble and mistake was met with care and sympathy. Tommy really didn't understand why, he wasn't really worth all this, how much money they had spent on him was outrageous at this point. How much time they’ve spent trying to help him get better. Even if Ranboo was loaded, it wasn't worth it in Tommy's opinion. It was confusing for Tommy, but if they were going to spend so much on him, the least he could do was not waste it.

The thought of repaying them crossed his mind often, he didn't mention it often however because each time he did mention it he would be shut down. His friends saying things like, “No need, boss man, we want to do this for you.” or “Don't think of it Tommy, you don't have to repay us for anything.”

Even so, he knew he needed to be useful. If he wasn't useful in some way then what was the point of him being here? Of his friends spending so much on him? How much time was wasted in his name? There weren't many things he could do now, not after he lost his leg. He couldn't farm, not without someone with him. He couldn't really clean, that mansion was just too damn big to even try. 

Baby sitting was an option, Ranboo and Tubbo were both constantly busy with their own projects, or with helping someone else with there's. Of course that left Micheal by himself. And if Tommy knew anything, it was that they were the most overprotective parents he had ever known. 

(he didn't know many. The closest thing he ever had to a father was Phil, and it's pretty clear how that worked out.)

Fear had flashed through him at the thought of taking care of Micheal. He didn't know how to take care of someone so young, let alone himself.

At first he tries to avoid the kid, saying he was tired ever other night or saying whatever lame excuse he could come up with to get out of ‘family bonding nights’. He just doesn't want to fuck that up too, to ruin it so early. How he would fuck up? He has no clue, but Tommy ain't risking shit. Unfortunately, life had other plans for him. Said plans took shape in his best friend, poking his head out from behind his door. Giving him a small wave and a nervous grin. 

He immediately knew Tubbo wanted something from him, and Tommy had a funny feeling he wasn't going to like it. 

Tubbo walked into his room slowly, fidgeting with his hands and giving Tommy a nervous smile, “Hey Tommy,” Tubbo said, drawing out the ‘hey’ a little longer than necessary. “Big man, my best friend!” Tommy leveled his friend with a Look™ and sighed dramatically, leaning forward to adjust his prosthetic, an oversized chocolate sweater falling off of him as he leaned down. “What do you want?” He says, jestingly annoyed. He rolled the left pant leg up just over the knee.

A sly smile took over the false innocence as he sat beside Tommy on his bed, he pat Tommy on the back and laughed, “Oh you know me so well, I need you to watch Michael for the day-,”, “What?” Tommy said as he snapped back up to look Tubbo in the eyes, or fringe. Tubbo clapped his hands together in a pleading gesture, “Please boss man? Ranboo’s already out and I have to work on the floor plan of a new build I've been working on and Puffy's out with Foolish and I don't trust anyone else to look after him!” Tubbo rushed, keeping Tommy from cutting him off again.

“What? Tubbo no- I can't, take care of a child? I- I wouldn't even know what to do !” Tommy said, throwing his arms out in frustration. “It'll just be till dinner tonight-” Tubbo continued, ignoring the temper-tanturm. Tommy's head snaps to the small clock on his nightstand to his right. It's currently 11 am, dinner is at 7 pm. Tommy whips his head right back around to start Tubbo, mouth agape, “That's eight hours! I don't know fuckin how to take care of the little bastard! I've never done this kinda thing before! Hell if i know how to take care of a fucking child!”

“I know Toms but it's not that bad I promise! All you have to do is feed him if he's hungry, make sure he doesn't hurt himself, and play with him if he's bored.” His friend assured him, placing a hand on his back and smiling confidently. As if he didn’t know that Tommy wouldn't accidentally end up burning the house down the moment he stepped hoof out the front door.

 Tubbos smile faltered a bit at the sight of his friends, falling to something a bit softer. His tone changed to match, “Please Tommy? I don't trust him with anybody else.”

Tommy took a second to search his friend's face, and all he could find was the kindness and trust he kept trying to convey to him. Sighing deeply he looked down, scrunching up his face in an almost displeased scoff, “Fine, I’ll make sure the brat doesn't implode while you're gone.”

Tubbo pumped his fists in the air, giving a cheer and he bounced up from the bed and hugged Tommy around the shoulders, “Thank you! Thank you so much big man. I'll be back before you know it, don't worry!” Tommy hesitated just a second before he returned the hug, looping an arm around Tubbos waist. Just a few seconds later he practically shoved his friend off of him, giving him a half hatred punch to his shoulder. “Yeah, yeah. Beat it before I change my mind.”

Tubbo smiled brightly, offering a hand to help him stand. Talking as he reached over and handed Tommy his cane. “Right, If you need me just message me. If I come home and I find you teaching Micheal how to swear I will end you.” he said, poking his chest for emphasis, Tommy mock saluted and followed Tubbo to the massive set of double stairs leading to the front door. 

Tommy paused at the top step and watched Tubbo go, “Alright stay out of trouble! There is food in the kitchen for lunch and if Ranboo gets back before me tell him I'll be back soon! Bye!” Tommy waved, “Bye Tubbs,” 

Upon hearing the heavy spruce door click shut behind his friend he turned to the direction of Micheal's bedroom and started hobbling down the hallway, “I'm teaching him so many swear words.”

--

Tommy makes his way to Micheal's room, nerves making him jumpy. He knocks on the door and pokes his head in. Scanning his eyes over the room he admired the luck this kid seemed to have. Huge room, cherry red race car bed covered in blankets and pillows. In one corner a panda teddy bear that had to be twice the size of an actual panda with a pile of more beside it, a small table in the middle of his room with papers and crayons littering the surface, a huge dresser opposite his bed that he knew was filled to the rim. The zombified piglin went from homeless in the nether to this in a matter of a few nights flat. Tommy would be lying if he said he wasn't jealous.

Oh how low, to be jealous of a child.

He spots Micheal at the window opposite of him, standing on a chair he dragged from the table and was waving to Tubbo as he makes his way through the snow. 

Tommy stood nervously in the doorway for a moment, just admiring the room the kid had, before he finally got himself together, “Um, Hey big man. Whatcha doin?” Micheal's head pops round, his pig-like ears flopping around with the motion. His good eye gleamed a bright blue. 

The color was nowhere close to Tommy's eyes. His eyes were dull with war and hurt and death. Shades darker and duller than the kids. It made his chest tighten with logging and soften with affection. 

The little guy smiles brightly, hopping off the small chair and scurrying over to him, he snorts a hello and tugs on the pant leg of his trousers, trying to get Tommy to follow him. Tommy sputters a bit, shocked at the sudden and frantic attempts to drag him over to wherever he wanted them to go.

“Okay whats up? You wanna show me something?” he asked lightly, slowly walking in the direction he was being hauled to. Micheal turns back to him, his smile wide enough to show off the smallest hint of tusks. He nodded and pointed to the race car bed against the wall. Micheal climbs in and starts digging in the mound of blankets and pillows.

Tommy really didn't know what to do with himself, the kid had told him jack squat of what was going on. It was possible that he had assumed Tommy wouldn't be able to understand him. No one else he knew could speak in the same snorts and chuffs he could. Tommy wasn't very good at it either, his vocal cords weren't made for it. But he could understand it well.

  Making a huff of triomf, the kid pulls out a stuffed chicken and thrusts it up in the air. Like he had won a battle and the ratty thing was the trophy. Tommy's has seen this one before, Micheal lugs it with him everywhere, its body swaddled in a red cloth, covering most everything but the head.

Tommy blinked, “Huh? Why do you got your shirt wrapped around the thing?” Michel lowered it and pointed towards the wing. Tommy takes it gingerly, looking back to make sure it was ok, before slowly pulling back the shirt to see the seam had ripped where the wing meets the body and stuffing is popping out the side. 

“Aw sh- ‘ahem’ shot,” a giggle, “That don't seem too good does it? Hold on big M i’ll fix em right up, brand new.” Micheal's head tilts to the side, his ears falling downward, reminding Tommy of a puppy. His chest warms again, and he ignores it. (stubborn) Smiling softly he ruffles the fur on the top of the kids head. He lifts the wing carefully to show two sides of the rip, “I'm going to sew him back up. His wing is ripped open right? So I'm going to get some string and stitch him back together, that good with you?” 

Micheal nodded vigorously and shoves the wrapped chicken in his direction. His eyes bright with excitement. He bounces in place a bit on his bed, excited to see this happen. He can’t even be weary of the kid, he had wormed and weaseled his way into Tommys heart. 

Not that he'd ever admit it.

“Alright, I'm on it.” He tells his nephew, (no he’s not soft shut it) sounding as if he just received important orders and straightens out a bit from bending down to meet Michaels height. As he does so however, his bones and joints crack from multiple spots. Making him wince and pause suddenly from the small but sharp pain.

‘I'm too old for this,’

Somewhere in the heavy snow, a sneeze.

--

He and Micheal walk through the dark halls of the mansion to his room. Tommy couldn't help muttering to himself, “Foolish musta been on drugs when he made this fuckin thing,”

Opening his door there met with a bit of a mess. The door opens in a corner and straight in front of them is a dresser that is covered in small boxes and clothes. Most bought for him in the previous months. On the wall to his right a queen size bed with a four poster bed frame, one made of dark oak, much like everything else was in the house. as extremely disheveld, decorative pillows on the floor in front and thick quilts and blankets. A window on the wall in front of them displayed the front lawn, almost blinding from the snow.

It’s one of the best views in the house, showing a bit of the front lawn and a forest and snow capped mountains in the distance. On particularly clear nights the sunrise and sunsets are breathtaking.

Tommy had rearranged the furniture in the room for prime hidey-holes to stash stuff in. He lifts Micheal up and sits him on his bed. He sets the chicken and gets the sewing kit from his closet and sits on the bed with Micheal. All of his stuff, needed or not, had been brought back in. Old memorabilia from wars of past and keepsakes paired with memories.

The sewing kit was as old as the beginning days of L’manburg, he doesn't know how it survived this long, but he's glad he has it now at least. It'll get some good use, instead of using it for a pointless war. 

He sits on the edge of the bed, Micheal places his two small hands on his shoulder to watch. Tommy removes the makeshift bandage and carefully removes some of the stuffing so he can sew it up without it getting in the way, when there's nothing but a small hole left he puts the stuffing back in and closes up the hole. It's a bit lumpy with the stuffing shoved into one side as it was but that's ok too. 

Micheal watches him intently the entire time. He is ecstatic, snorting and squealing as he jumps up and down on Tommys bed, hugging the stuffed animal to his chest. He smiles at Tommy and he jumps the poor boy. Hugging him fiercely.

He stiffens at the sudden contact but slowly relaxes and hugs him back, resting his palm on the kids back. He was small, Tommy felt like he was holding something fragile, something important. “You're welcome Micheal.” Micheal  gives him an extra squeeze before he shimmys off the bed to run back down the hall.

Tommy smiles widely at the small piglian boy, he wonders if there's anything else that's been ripped and ‘fixed’ by the boy. packing his kit back up, he follows Micheal back to his room, Tommy goes through his clothes and stuffed animals, picking out pieces that have tears or holes that had been stashed away somewhere. Even just picking out pieces he thought would look nice with some color.

--

Halfway into fixing up Micheals clothes, he realizes, he honest-to-prime enjoys this? The repetitive motion of in and out and crossing and not crossing and choosing what color thread looks best with the fabric. It’s- he can't really tell. All he knows is that it feels good to do. Right in his hands.

He pauses and looks at the three or four small sweaters with stitched holes, tears and patches. Small patterns sewn into the collar and sleeves. Bees, flowers and stars litter the edges of his clothes. Trousers and overalls with patches made from an old pair of Tommys jeans sewn into them. Tommy had spent several hours on these without stopping. He kinda just smiles softly to himself and keeps going. Humming Hallelujah to himself as he stitched the small patterns.

Micheal is pretty good at entertaining himself and has gone from one activity to the next with practiced ease. Watching his uncle, drawing with crayons. looking at the pictures in the books that sit on the bookshelf by his closet. At one point he had convinced Tommy to take a break and read a few. Throughout the day, glancing out the window every so often, scanning the snow for a glimpse or either of his dads. 

The day goes on, Tommy finishes up mending the clothes. Micheal reacts with glee with each small flower and patch in the sweaters. Helping Tommy put them back, correctly this time.

Tommy had patched or stitched four sweaters, two pairs of trousers, a pair of overalls, three shirts, and two pairs of socks total. He was happy Micheal liked what he’d done. He wasn't so ashamed to admit he was proud of it. He did well, it left him with a warmth in his chest.

They eat a late lunch, PB&J’s and apple juice at the bar. Tommy feels like he found something good, he's got something and he's determined to make it great.

Chapter Text

The first thing Ranboo noticed was the new patches of Micheals pants. Tiny patterns and little bugs stitched into the corners of socks or on the elbow of one of his sweaters. The next was when Tommy would be shut up in his room for hours at a time. Tubbo was busy with the cookie outpost, or some other crazy project, and would be gone for long stretches of time. So Ranboo was the only one to witness the strangeness of Tommys behavior during the day.

He contemplated asking, but in all honesty Tommys had been looking so much better in the past couple of days than he has in a long time. Sure it was a bit weird that he was shut up in his room all the time but that seems to pale in comparison to how, content he seemed. 

Ranboos saw him smile, actually smile. Not the smug grin he would give when he was screaming something, or the half hearted smile when the situation called him too. But an actual genuine smile. Ranboo couldn't help but beam with pride, he was so proud of Tommy. They all may have a very long road ahead of them, but things were looking up. 

After his last trip to Technoblades, Ranboo had noticed how much calmer Tommy had become around Micheal, and how Micheal seemed to hang on his every word. Once the kid figured out Tommy had a basic knowledge of his language he was constantly talking to him. Teaching Tommy more and Tommy in return teaching him more english, and how to read. It was so nice to see Tommy finally warming up to Micheal.

--

In the last few days that Ranboo had been at the house, Tommy had spent at least a third of that time in his room. Only coming out ever so often to join the small family for family meals when both platonic husbands were at home. Or to spend time with Micheal when the little guy would complain that he wanted to play with “Uncle Ommy!”, Which sounded a very deal similar to “Mommy” which made Tubbo curl over himself with laughter the first time he heard the name the small boy had bestowed his uncle.

Tommy's face was beat red whenever Tubbo or Ranboo would mention it and each time they would receive a stern bird and a glare to go with it. Out of sight of Micheal of course.

With the amount of time Tommy was spending in his room, Ranboo was kind of concerned. He was happy Tommy was feeling more comfortable and seemed a lot better than he did when they first invited him to live with them, but it was still a bit strange for him to start disappearing all day out of nowhere for multiple days with no sign of stopping.

That, it why he finds himself in front of Tommys bedroom door. The dark oak, matching every other door in the mansion, seemed just a bit daunting. Slowly, Rambo raised his hand and wrapped his knuckles on the door, two soft but quick knocks. “Hey Tommy? I made lunch if you wanted to join us.” He calls through the door. He waited for a reply but was greeted with silence. 

“Tommy?” He calls again, knocking a bit harder than before. Tommy might have fallen asleep, he always had a knack for falling asleep anytime, anywhere. He and Tubbo had that in common. 

For the third time, he knocks on the door and is still met with silence.  Ranboo cant help but feel his gut twist slightly, Tommy was a decently light sleeper and would have woken up by the second knock, or would have just told him to fuck off. Not so favorable possibilities start to flash through his brain like a slideshow. 

A week after Tommy had gotten his prosthetic he had fallen in his room. His leg was up on his desk and for some reason he just didn't ask for help; didn't leave his room, didn’t move to the chair in front of his desk, he just sat there. It took a day and a half of Tommy being MIA for him and Tubbo to go look for him. Ranboo found him first, collapsed on the floor of his room. 

If he was honest, it scared the shit out of him. When they woke him up, (he was just, asleep. On the floor) he wouldn't tell either of them why or how it happened. They didn't get more than deflection and getting mildly cussed out. Ramboo knew very well that his friend was stubborn, but this was a new level of thick headedness.

He decides just to poke his head in, just to make sure he is still alive.

Turning the handle carefully, Ranboo knocks again on the door as he peeks in, slightly ducking so he can fit through the door frame, “Tommy? Are you in here?” What he does find is something that surprised him. 

Tommy was sitting in front of his desk, a rather large one he and Tubbo moved into his room after he settled in better, wearing his glasses and hair up in a ribbon, he had pins between his teeth as his hands worked with some cloth’s. He plucks one out every so often to pin the fabric that was bunched in his hands. Ranboo was shocked to say the least. He was vaguely aware of Tubbo off-handedly mentioning Tommy making their L’amanburg uniforms when they were putting stuff away in the attic. Showing the slightly worn red bandana that Tubbo had tucked away in his bedside drawer. 

He watches Tommy for a while, cutting, stitching, and pinning things together. It's only when Tommy turns towards the door to grab something from a basket does he see Ranbbo standing there.

Tommys head jerked up, his glasses a toss away from falling off his face, pressing a hand to his chest, “WHAT- Oh my Prime! Holy shit- What have I told you about sneaking up on me? Boob boy?” Ranboo blinked at him, “First of all, not my name-”

“Is too.”

“ Second of all , I've been standing here for like, five minutes, and I've called your name at least three times before that actually,” Ranboo continued, holding up three fingers for emphasis. Tommys face scrunches up as his cheeks tint pink with embarrassment. He looks down and realizes he still has a bunch of fabric in his hands and quickly shoves them on the desk, almost like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. In the process different fabrics and pieces of paper fall to the food off the side. Tommy looks at the fallen pieces with annoyance and sighs in defeat, “Damn it.”

Ranboos' eyes start to wander around the rest of the room, looking at the mess that Tommy had supposedly been bunkered down in for the past week or so, “What is all this anyway? You've been hold up in your room a lot as of late, has this been what you've been up to the whole time?” he asks, a tilt to his voice. Ranboo looks back with a raised eyebrow and watches and Tommy starts to get defensive, crossing his arms and shrinking back in his seat.

“Maybe,” he says, making what Ranboo can only call a ‘grumpy puppy’ face, “what's it to you?”

“Nothing! It's really cool actually, I've seen Tubbos bandanna and the old L’manburg uniform you made him way back when. Its- it's really impressive. I didn't know you still tailored clothes though,” Ranboos' eyes begin to travel again, looking through his room. He spies a few shirts tossed on his bed, in the basket beside Tommy there were a few spools of different collared thread, rolls of fabric covered the rest of his bed and cut pieces and scraps are littered all over the floor and desk.

What is most interesting, Ranboo spies, is one of his suits, the jacket and a matching pair of pants hanging off the side. He also spots a few more of his clothes and some of Tubbos and Micheals too. He looks away and pretends he didn't see them, but a warmth spreads through his chest and he couldn't help the smile that erupted from his face. 

Tommy's eyes narrow at his expression but continues anyway, “I haven't, or didn't. I- Michel, had ripped his chicken open and I stitched the ratty thing back up, and I just didn't stop I guess.” his fiddled with his hands slightly, no more outlet for his nervous energy and nothing to occupy his fingers now that he has abandoned the project. 

Ranboo perked up at the mention of his son, “Oh, that's really cool! You have been in here a rather long time though, why don't you take a break and come eat lunch with your two favorite people?” Tommy raised his eyebrows in a very smug manner as he leaned back in his chair casually, relaxing his shoulders, “Oh! I didn't know Tubbo was back!”

“Har har, come on you've been in here for hours.” he said, shaking his head.  Tommy started turning back to his desk, waving his friend off over his shoulder, “I'll take a break when I'm dead boob boy”, choosing to ignore the name this time, Ranboo fully stepped into the room and turned the chair to face him again, “Yeah, no. Come on. Lunch time.” 

Tommy squawked as Ranboo picked him up from under his arms, holding him out like a wet cat. Which, to be fair, he was acting like one. Eventually they both made their way to the kitchen on the first floor, Micheal waiting patiently in his seat for his dad and his uncle to join him for lunch. 

Lunch was a humble affair

They sit at the table, a simple wooden thing that only seats just around six people. Nestled nicely in the kitchen so they don’t have to use the big dining room table that seemed way too much for the three, turned four, of them. 

Michel sat in his high chair at the head of the small table, and was thoroughly enjoying his bowl of buttered noodles while Tommy huffed and puffed over his PB&J, Ranboo ignored his childish behavior for a lovely bowl of noodles himself, plus some actual pasta sauce. 

Tommy continued to grumble as he shoved his sandwich in his mouth, aggressively taking bites. ”It would have been a lot easier if you just came willingly, ya know,” Ranboo says, glancing at Tommy with a grin on his face. Tommy bristles slightly and makes a face, “ Screw off, I do what I want boob boy.” 

Rubbing the bridge of his nose, Ranboo just sighs heavily, “Why, do you insist on calling me that?”

“What? Oh! You mean Boob boy?”

“Yes that-”

“Do you mean Ranboob?”

“Oh come on-”

“Boober, Perhaps?”

A third voice chimed in, “Boob Boi!”

Both their eyes widen comedically, one in obvious delight and the other in absolute agony, Tommy locked eyes with his friend. “Oh!” He said brightly, his smile was way too wide and absolutely enjoying this. Ranboo on the other hand, was mourning the loss of his son and slowly accepting his fate, “No, please no,” he sighed heavily into his hands. Micheal again shouting “Boob boy!” as Tommy cheered him on. Both laughing brightly, 

Ranboo looked off into space, a very tired expression graced his face, “Bruh.”

- -

After all of that, Ranboo lifted Micheal out of his chair and left him in the living room. Thanks to the pretty nice open floor plan, you could see Micheal playing on the rug in the living room. 

Tommy's heart softened watching Ranboo set down his son to play, it was terribly domestic, and it left Tommy feeling sorely out of place. He took a deep breath, hoping to steady his shaking lungs and turned back to the sink. Thrusting his hands into the shallow water to scrub any remnants of lunch off their places. Cleaning off any that were already left by the sink.

Unfortunately, his mind wandered. It was easy to imagine their small family, but Tommy doesn't see himself in it. It didn't feel right, they had something good going on here, he had no right to mess it up. He prayed silently to Prime, just trying to settle the unease and guilt that was churning his stomach. 

He felt like their responsibility, the old friend that Tubbo and Ranboo couldn't help but feel sorry for. Bringing in a charity case was everything Tommy despised, but he couldn't find it in himself to be mad about it. He had found that it was far too exhausting to be mad anymore. He did plan to pay them back, with his new hobby he could finally prove his use. He banished the thought of if his debt was paid, he had to focus on the now.

A tap to his shoulder ripped Tommy from his slight haze, causing him to flinch heavily, almost dropping the plate he was currently scrubbing to death. “A penny for your thoughts?” Ranboo asked from beside him, choosing not to mention his reaction. “Ranboo, big man, please stop sneaking up on me like that. I'm a little too young for a heart attack don't you think? And back up, I'm covered in water”

His friend takes a step back slightly and just smiles a bit guiltily, “Sorry.” Tommy can't help but sigh, “It's fine, while you're standing there being ever so useless, can you put up these dishes that I've cleaned?” His smile became more genuine, “Sure,” and soon they fell into a comfortable silence. Both just enjoying whatever small moment of peace they could get. Listening to Micheal play pretend in another room and watching thick snow fall down from outside the windows in front and behind him. 

Ranboo was the first to break the moment, his tail flicking side to side slightly was the only thing that would tell you he was anxious, “Hey Tommy?” Tommy didn't look up from his task but hummed, telling him he was listening. Ranboo picked at his claws slightly, he needs to trim them soon, “W-where did you get all that fabric from anyway? I mean I don’t really know of any villages you could get to by yourself, and, well I'm just a bit confused,” 

Tommy had grown stiff with his words, gripping the plate with enough force that his knuckles were white. His leg was sore. He tried to continue to wash what was in the sink, fighting off shaking hands, “U-um, I was just walking around the mansion and, and well I found a room that was just full of stuff. I- I saw the fabrics stacked in the corner and, um, I took them?”

“Oh yeah! I totally forgot they were in there!” Ranboo said, completely unaware of Tommys internal struggle, “I travel a lot and when I find something that I think is nice or useful I'll stuff it in one of the storage rooms around the mansion.” He turned again to grab another plate to wipe off and put away and noticed the snake in Tommy's hands and how he was heavily leaning on his good leg. 

Ranboos face drew taunt. Taking off his gloves, placing them on the island and walking up carefully behind Tommy, trying to stay in his line of sight. It was slightly hard when he was looking at his frozen hands with slightly dazed and frightened eyes. He placed a hand lightly on Tommys shoulder, trying to catch his attention, “Hey, Tommy?”

He wasn’t prepared for the almost violent flinch he received, he snatched his hand back like the red sweater Tommy was wearing had burned him. The grip Tommy had on the plate doubled as he hunched his shoulders, speaking quietly and fast, as if he spoke any louder he’d break, “I- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to steal them, I- I'm sorry. I didn't know-” He had rattled off before Ranboo interrupted him, softly prying the plate from his hands with a semi dry wash cloth that was discarded by the sink. Placing it to the side and gently drying Tommys hands and arms, carefully working around his scars and numb hands. 

Tommy was silent the entire time, eyes unfocused and complacent, his hands shaking slightly. It honestly scared the shit out of Ranboo, he didn’t know why this was happening, and he didn’t know how to help. “Toms, Hey, can you hear me?” no response, “Hey, let's sit down, yeah? Come’ on.” He led Tommy down, helping him slide down to the floor without falling over his prosthetic. 

He dropped the towel and held Tommys hands still, keeping him from picking at his skin or tugging at his hair. He had a habit of not being aware of his movements like this.

Ranboo rubbed circles into the back of his hands, trying to soothe him, “Tommy, I need you to breathe, in and out big man.” Even though there was no verbal acknowledgement he could hear the ragged breath Tommy was trying to make, breathing in slowly but hitching every few seconds. Ranboo started counting his breaths softly, Tommy tried to copy him in his mind, distracting himself from his swirling and merciless thoughts. 

They do this for a while and eventually Tommy isn't shaking anymore and can get a whole breath in.

The air was slightly tense, Tommy kicking himself for freaking out and Ranboo doing everything in his power to not scoop Tommy up and hide him away from everything. He settled for a simple “Hey, Are you ok?”

Tommy couldn't look his friend in the eyes, feeling ashamed and not because he was a Enderman hybrid like he tried to convince himself. “I'm sorry. I'm sorry for taking the fabrics. I ruined them and I shouldn't have touched them, I- I knew I shouldn't have taken them but I did anyway. I wasted so much of it and-” His voice came out shaky and uneven and wet with emotion. 

“Tommy, I don't mind!” Ranboos' voice came quickly, trying to keep Tommy from going down that hole, “You can have anything you want from here! You live here just like me and Tubbo do. And you didn't ruin them, they were going to waste in that dusty storage room anyway, I promise.” Ranboos' hands tighten around Tommy, trying to convey his words that they were truth. Tommy just looked at him like he grew a third head, “Oh, um o-ok.”

Slowly, they get to their feet. Ranboos arms circle around Tommy, giving him a way out of the hug, but he was met by arms locked around his waist. Tommys weight was shifted mostly to his right and lent mostly onto Ranboo as he curled around his friend. 

Tommys chest was warm, guilt still nibbled the edges of his mind but the burning warmth of Ranboo surrounding him was enough to steady his mind for now. They stood there in the kitchen for a long while, long enough for Micheal to come looking for them. He was slightly upset that he didn't get to join the hug but it was soon rectified when Ranboo hoisted him up and was promptly squished between the two. Giggles and laughs erupted from the three as they ticked Micheal to breathlessness.

Chapter Text

Micheal and Ranboo help Tommy back up the stairs so he could rest. Ranboo knew Tommy would never say it outright but he could tell Tommys leg was getting sore. Upon returning to his room however, he realized that there wasn't any room on his bed. It was completely covered in fabrics and pieces of scrap fabric.

“Where do you even sleep?” Ranboo asked, looking around the bedroom with a faint sense of shock. Tommy was fidgeting with the hem of his blue sweater and was avoiding eye contact, Ranboo wasn't sure if it was because he was part enderman or if he was just nervous. Assuming it was the former, Ranboo appreciated the gesture but he wished Tommy would look him in the eyes, he trusted the boy with his life. 

“Who needs sleep, It's for the weak.” Tommy siad, laughing nervously. Ranboo looked at Tommy for a long second, narrowing his eyes at him, “When was the last time you slept?” he asked slowly. Tommy shifted under his gaze but got no response. “Tommy.” again, nothing. 

Ranboo pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. He turned to Micheal who was running his small hands over the fabrics that were on the floor in front of the bed. They both took a second to appreciate the sight before Ranboo clapped his hands together and promptly declared clean up time. Much to Tommy's dismay. 

He tried not to look at the small projects Tommy had started, he knew how important it was to him and Ranboo avoided it as much as possible. He set Micheal on scrap collecting duty, Tommy pointing out the differences in scraps and pieces for use. Ranboo himself collects and re-rolls the fabrics and sets them against the wall, liening them up beside Tommy’s desk.  

It takes a while but soon enough Tommy can actually walk around in his room again, and you can actually see his bed. There is now a big woven basket sitting beside his desk Ranboo had dragged from somewhere that they dubbed the ‘scrap bin’, the rolls of fabric are nicely lining the wall opposite his bed, trapped in the corner by his dresser on the same wall and the desk beside it. His desk was actually organized with things for measuring tape and scissors and pins. To Tommy's relief, he was able to shove all the unfinished pieces and stolen clothes into his closet while Ranboos' back was turned. 

It was slightly embarrassing to be caught making things for them, but he was going to give them the things at some point anyway so he begrudgingly let it slide. 

After Ranboo finally took an exhausted Micheal off to a nap, after Tommy told him for the hundredth time he was fine, he got to work. As he said before, sleep is for the weak. He didn't promise Ranboo shit anyway, he was a Big Man he could do what he wanted. 

After an all-nighter and a few more days worth of work he had finally finished the last of his projects, and discreetly slid into this friend's shared bedroom. (Apparently being closer helped them sleep better? Tommy didn't really know.) Tubbo was in his workshop and would probably fall asleep down there since Ranboo wasn't there that night. If Tommy could make it down the two flights of stairs he would drag his friend back up here to sleep but unfortunately he was incapable of that at the moment. Tubbo would also probably get mad at Tommy in turn for being up so late himself, but he digresses. 

Ranboo was off on another one of his over-night escapades, Tommy has a vague idea of where he goes. Each time he comes back with white fur stuck to his suit and Tommys seen that kind of fur before. He lets it go regardless, he doesn't care what he does anyway. ( definitely )

Tommy shakes his head lightly, clearing his train of thought, and slowly shuts the heavy spruce door behind him. Turning back to his task at hand, he approaches the massive king size bed. Definitely accommodated for Ranboos height. 

He has three things in his arms, he kind of stated the first one on impulse. Just a fun little thing for his nephew, (when did he start calling him that?) and he kept coming up with ideas. Enough of them that he now has a small notebook half full of ideas. Things he could make, maybe fix, just thoughts jotted down in haste. The thing shoved in a lower drawer of his desk, almost as if it was a secret.

After he finished the first one, he moved onto a different thing, testing his old skills and technique. It took a bit of time to remember but he got it sorted out eventually. The third was the hardest to make. It was for Ranboo and it came with the most challenges. Being too embarrassed to straight out ask, he has been observing him to figure out the measurements for his freakishly tall hybrid friend. Also the fact it was completely new territory.

He really needs to visit a library or something. Some things you can't just teach yourself.

He lays them all out on the foot of the bed. Each neatly, well, decently folded on the soft comforter. The room was dim because he didn't want to turn on any lights, afraid of being caught red handed. The room itself was kind of massive, bigger than the whole of Tommys dirt embassy shack. A four poster bed, just like Tommys but bigger. Bookshelves off to one side with a small seating area, two walk-in closets and the master bath to his right, and a lounge area past a doorway to the left of the door. The whole place honestly seemed almost void of life. Although the bedroom was really big just for Tubbo and Ranboo so it wasnt that shocking.

After a few seconds of squinting in the low light and a nod of ‘Eh, good enough’ he shuffles back out of the room and back down the hall. Treading around Michels room as quietly as he can and then darts back to his own little hobbit hole. 

It definitely wasn't as bad of a mess as before. Most of the scrap pieces found their way to the scrap bin but there were still things on the floor, things strewn all over his desk. Rolls of fabric laid back over his bed, it was a bit of a mess but that was ok. With a bit of effort he was able to re-roll the fabrics and lean them back against the wall. 

Sitting on the edge of the bed he sighs, stretches. Wincing slightly when sore muscles flare up slightly and sighs when his back cracks. Tommy was exhausted, kicking off his shoe and unstrapping his prosthetic he turns off the oil lamp on his nightstand and flops back onto the mass amounts of pillows. Falling asleep immediately.

--

 The next day, it was late when Ranboo had returned home. Tubbo finally emerged from his workshop that morning, finding Tommy passed out cold in his room. Tucking his friend in he left him to sleep. Tubbo had spent the day with Micheal. ‘Father and son bonding’ and all that.

He showed Tubbo the patches on his pants again. One with a simple flower and another with a cartoonish bee. He’d shown both him and Ranboo at least twice already and the kids' excitement never diminished. 

When Ranboo did return, he was welcomed by the sleepy child and one of his best friends. A soft smile and a head bump later they were softly shutting the door to their son's nursery and heading off to their own room. 

It’s then they find the gifts for them both and Micheal. Tubbo approached the bed first in curiosity, Ranboo walking off to his closet to put something on that wasn't a fur covered suit. Tubbo recognized the suit that was laid out to the right, he left it for Ranboo to find himself. Next his eyes fall on the sweater. 

It was green, reminiscent of his green button down he could never wear right back from the early days. It was knitted with a wool of some kind, something soft that wouldn’t aggravate his scars. Tubbo stared at it, gently picking it up off their bed and clutched it to his chest, sniffling quietly to himself. It was perfect.

When Ranboo saw his gift, he all but sobs at the gesture and how nice it was. Tommy had made him a new suit. Almost velvet in look, smooth in texture. It was a dark purple, almost black, with Alliums sewn into where the tag rested, and inside the sleeves. The whole thing was stitched with a golden thread. He must have found it somewhere stashed deep in one of the storage rooms.

Quickly sliding on the jacket and gawks, it fit him like a glove. He knew Tommy was taking his suits, but none of them ever truly fit perfectly, somehow he had taken everything and then eyeballed the rest of the measurements for him. Tubbo laughs at his wide eyes and agrees with him. It's the best suit jacket he owns. 

But looking back to their bed, it seems that wasn't all, oh no no. Last but not least, there was a chicken onesie sitting innocently in the middle of the two other gifts. Big enough for one small boy. 

The small thing white with orange feet, the sleeves adorned with small feathers that look like wings when you stretch the arm out. Its hood had a small beak and red comb sticking out, accompanied by little black button eyes. 

Matching grins adorned Tubbos and Ranboo’s faces and watched their son practically explode with excitement the next morning after they immediately presented it to their son.

Micheal was nothing but ecstatic, practically snatching the thing and quickly pulling it on, he loved the thing, vibrating with happiness and snorting loudly as he bolted to Tommy’s room. Somehow he had climbed up the bed and was jumping up and down to wake up the blonde. Disgruntled after his day and a quarter nap but happy to see his nephew liking his gift so much. 

Ranboo and Tubbo both thanked Tommy profusely for their gifts in turn, Tubbo crushing his best friend in a hug lasting several minutes and Ranboo spilling about all the things he likes about the suit with a flick of the ear and wide, excited eyes. 

That day was spent comfortably, together, Micheal refusing to take his new chicken onesie off even after he had gotten jelly on it and Tommy feeling a million times lighter than he did a few nights ago.

--

Later that day, both Tommy and Micheal were on the floor of the living room. Micheal was hell bent and playing with him. Tommy easily bent to the kids' woes and sat against the couch adding in the kids sharade whenever he deemed fit.

Ranboo sat on the couch just to Tommy's left, a soft sweater pooling over his shoulders and a book in his hand. Tubbo was laying across the couch, head propped up by the armrest and hoves just reaching his husband. Micheal was still in his onesie. Still.

“Hey Tom?” Tubbo said, bringing the attention of the three to him. (Micheal was in the middle of some monologue about being the most evil villain or something. Tommy was half paying attention to it) Tommy tilted his head slightly to the right, not taking his eyes off his nephew, “Yeah big man?”

Tubbos ear flopped lazily as he fiddled with the sleeves of his sweater, “How long did it take you to make this stuff anyway? I mean last I checked we don't have a sewing machine,” Tommy shrugged, “Well, I mean by hand? Like you said, I don't have a sewing machine.”

That caused Ranboo to pause for a second, “Oh, oh my prime, how long did it take you?” he said, his eyes a bit wider than before. Tommy paused this time, gathering his thoughts, “I mean Tubbos sweater didn't take me that long, neither did the onesie. They're both fairly simple and were done in like two days max. Your suit however? Just over a week. I had to steal one of your old ones just so I could figure out how to make the damn thing in the first place. Hard as shit.” After he finished talking both Tubbo and Ranboo spared a glance at each other, out of tommys field of vision. 

“And you hand sewn, all of it?” Tubbo said, Tommy turned a bit to actually look at him, laying his elbow on the couch cushion behind him, “I- Yeah? What part of ‘I don't have a sewing machine’ do you two knuckleheads not get?” Both boys blinked owlishly at him for a second before Tubbo remembered to respond, “I, oh. Ok then.”

Tommy gave them a funny look before turning back to their son, raising his arm before a wooden sword wacked him in the head.

Tubbo turned to Ranboo again, an owlish look in his eyes, Ranboo mirrored that exact reaction. They were a little (more than a little) taken aback here. Ultamity, they  silently agreed they had to get him new supplies. They both know Tommy well, and they both know he is a complete dumbass and probably spent the whole week awake and working on the three gifts. 

--

They have no idea what they are doing.

They had left the house under the disguise of “Wanting alone time”. It made Tommy gag excessively in jest and also made him ask the least amount of questions. Leaving him to take care of Micheal for the day and giving Tubbo and Ranboo the whole day to buy anything for sewing they could get their grubby little hands on.

They went back to the village, the one they usually visit for check ups and doctor visits. It was a decent size so there's no reason they couldn't find what they needed! ( if they knew what they were looking for in the first place ) 

It was noon and the town’s small market was in full swing. At first they were just wandering around the stalls, watching the locas haggle with their neighbors for fresh fruit or a bundle of bread. It was nice, just to walk around in each other's company, it wasn't something they did that often anymore. Ranboo appreciated the warm weather and the soft breeze, Tubbo letting the white noise of the village wash over him. With a comfortable silence and a goal in mind they set off further into the streets looking for a store that would have anything they needed. 

Soon enough they finally get directions to a seamstress shop further down the square. The outside was sparse, a large window set out front with a single manikin sitting inside with a simple yellow sundress and sun hat on its blank head. A spiraling white font to the side of it said, ‘Mary’s seamstress shop” across the glass.

The front door rang as they stepped over the threshold. The inside was just like the outside, simple but cozy, the whole store was open and you could see front to back. There was a wooden counter that sat at the back, an older lady sat behind it, focused on a shirt laid out in front of her. She glanced up at them before looking back down and continued working, pushing her glasses back up her nose. She spoke without looking up from her project, “Welcome, take a look around, help yourselves. Come to me when you want to pay.”

It was quaint, fabrics were displayed on the walls and baskets of string and pins. Wooden shelves and white accents and trim. The real color came from the yarn and fabrics all around the store. The walls held rolls of different colored fabrics, few held patterns any more complicated than plaide. The shelves were never taller than Tubbos shoulders, one holding baskets of yarn closer to the door. Another shelf had packs of needles and pin cousins. Some had those wooden circles that held fabric for embroidering that neither Tubbo or Ranboo knew the name of.

The more they browsed the more lost they became, they honest to prime did not know what was needed or not. They ended up picking up a pack of needles they assumed were ok, some simple yarns of all different colors, and what they were hoping were crocheting needles. Once they had that and a few more rolls of yarn and different spools of string. Ranboo made his way up to the counter where the lady ( Mary? ) was sewing up a hole in a pair of pants. He approached awkwardly, giving a small wave and holding the small basket to his side. 

She looked up at him with an eyebrow raised, she glanced down at the basket half haphazardly filled and back up to his nervous shuffling. “Yes?” she inquired impatiently. Ranboo sputtered a bit,  “I- Um, Sorry. Do you happen to have any sewing machines for sale?” She stared at him some more for a moment, “No, not as merchandise. I have a few of my old ones that I don't use but they are older models.” 

“Oh, um, would you be interested in selling one?” Ranboo asked, his tail flicking back and forth slightly. “I could, but don’t you want a newer model?” The lady said, sliding the glasses off her face and facing him more. Tubbo perked a bit, joining Ranboo at the counter with the lady. “We don't really know anything about this stuff. We're getting this for a friend but I'm not sure what he wants or needs,” he said, adding his two cents.

The lady looked at Tubbo for a second, she looked tired. “How much does your friend know about Tailoring?” Ranboo glanced at Tubbo, Tubbo shrugged at the lady. “He can patch clothes and taught himself to make a suit from example. I think he can crochet?” Ok now the lady looked tired, she sighed heavily before standing up and walking through the door behind her. “Don't go anywhere.” She had said over her shoulder, then promptly shut the door. 

A few minutes of stunned silence later she came back down with a few books and an address scribbled on a paper. “These books will teach your friend the basics, needles and stitching patterns and whatnot, This-” She held up the paper, “Is the address where I get my sewing machines from. That will be thirty five emeralds” Ranboo happily paid (rich bastard) Once everything was bagged they decided to head to the shop to check it out. 

When arriving at the address however, it turned out they had to be pre ordered. Tubbo was slightly annoyed but after a info dump from the shop owner, they had their order placed for one redstone powered “hobby sewing machine” or whatever the hell that ment, and another book on them. ‘It would be ready in a week’ the man said, so, in a week they would return to pick it up.

A stack of emeralds later they had supplies, books and a sewing machine on the way.

The moment they stepped back into their home both Ranboo and Tubbo sighed with relief. “That took a long time,” Ranboo said, shrugging off his coat and hanging it on a peg beside the door, Tubbo humed in agreement as he handed his coat off to his husband. The side entrance was a door to the backyard technically, through the kitchen, but it was always easier to use than the front door.

Tubbo made his way across the tiled floor to the island, sitting on the stool and resting his head on the cold marble counter. Spending all day walking around and haggling ( Not really haggling, Ranboo always just paid the price up front, like an idiot with too much money. Which he was.) and learning a lot more about sewing then they thought they would on the trip wiped them both of their energy. 

The week they had to get Tommy a sewing machine was honestly a prime send. It gave them a week to renovate a room for Tommy. A space he could have for himself. Ranboo placed a hand on Tubbos' shoulders gently and laughed. “Come one, let's go see if Tommy kept our child alive.” Tubbo laughed lightly at the joke and joined him as they headed up the stairs, following the sounds of laughing and Tommy screaming something about revolution.

Chapter Text

Hello,

If you didn’t know, it was announced that Technoblade has passed to cancer on June 30th of 2022.

I can’t think of something flowing and profound to say, i can’t really say that i’m ok ether. And that’s ok.

It’s ok to grief him, it’s ok to cry, he honestly put such a place in my heart without even knowing it and i am completely devastated.

I can’t even say i’ve watched most of his content.

I know it’s completely stupid and childish but with all the fanfics i’ve read and all the bedrock duo content i’ve steadily inhaled, i think i was picturing him as My older brother. someone who found me at my lowest and decided i deserved a second chance. Someone who made mistakes but would protect me till the end. and to that i will miss him so much.

We still have so much to remember him by and i think that truly Technoblade will never truly die. He has to fight God remember?

There are links to donations for the charity he was funding and his merch shop where he made farewell merch (it’s only something he would do smh) 

technoblade.com This is his merch site

curesarcoma This was the donation site for the charity

so for ever thing bought on the merch site i believe 10% is donated as well

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE remember to drink water, make sure you eat, hug your loved ones.

in my opinion if you want to make art, make stories, anything you should definitely do it. He was a amazing person and he deserves to be remembered. 

i wanted to end this on a cheesy note like GG EZ or So Long Nerds in memorial but i feel like that’s just too sad so i’ll just say

See ya later <3

Chapter Text

The day passed by calmly.

After Tubbo and Ranboo left that morning, Tommy continued on with his day. Nothing too exciting. 

He made them breakfast and ended up trying to sketch new designs while Michael did his reading. Then lunch

That afternoon Michael had wrapped himself up in a story of Knights and Kings, dubbing Tommy a knight in his kingdom and declaring himself all powerful. And he tried, he really did! But, how can one help himself when there is a revolution to be fought! With his history? He couldn't help himself!

He heard Ranboo and Tubbo entering the house right in the middle of Tommys uprising. Micheal didn't even notice they were home till they opened the door.

Leaving the door wide open upon arrival, Tubbo went and sat in a wooden rocking chair beside Michaels bed. He leaned back, heaving himself a rather long sigh. Ranboo had picked up the kid and was bouncing him on his hip, Michael snorting and squealing up a storm. Trying to talk in a mixture of Piglin and Common. 

When they entered the room Tommy couldn't help but heave a mental sigh of relief. This kid knew how to tire someone out. 

He set down his wooden sword and leaned against the toy chest he was in front of, “A'up fellas, how’s the date?”

Ranboo choked at the question, either from not expecting it or from embarrassment. Both Tubbo and Tommy laughed at Ranboo for a second, both leaning over to give each other a high five. Once leaned back Tubbo responded for him, “It was fine,” was all he said.

Michael's squeals and snorts drew the three's attention back to him. Ranboo’s face broke out in a disgustingly fond grin at Michaels excitement. “Hey little man, you have fun with uncle Mimi?” He asked. Tommy felt heat rise in his cheeks at the nickname, “We had plenty of fun, dickhead.” Tommy snapped, huffing.

Now it was Tubbo and Ranboo who were chuckling. Michael had turned and pointed his sword at Tommy and started talking in a mixture of Piglin and Common, a smug little grin on his face that scrunched up his snout. Tommy gasped, completely affronted, “You did not -”

Tubbo sat up a bit, looking between his son and Tommy, “What? What did he say?” Ranboo looked equally confused. Tommy turns and crosses his arms, slumping further down the toy box and grumbling to himself, “He was saying that we were playing knights and kings.” Tommy sits up again and points his own sword at the kid in Ranboo’s arms and glares at him, “He said he won, which he did not . I over-through the kingdom!” Tommy said, not sounding too far from a whining child. 

Michael shook his head, “No! I won! I beat you!” Tommy made a face, mocking him, “It's only ‘cuz I let ya.” In righteous retaliation Michael takes a deep breath, scrunches his snout, and blows a raspberry at Tommy. Both Ranboo and Tubbo laughed at the pair's antics.

Tommy swallows any urge to laugh and sets his face in a glare, “You better be glad I’m disabled or I'd beat your a-” “ ANYWAYS !!” Ranboo interrupts , holding a hand out. A smile still on his face, “I think it's time for dinner, who's hungry?”

--

Tommy was warm, that's all he could feel. He- he really loves this. In a warm house, surrounded by people he would give his life for hundreds of times over. Having a horribly domestic lifestyle with these people. It makes him think, of the past. Of the time before L’manburg, of Tubbo and Wilbur. 

Even to way before, before this server. Memories flood his brain of his ‘Brothers’, and their life together, no matter how short it was. Sword lessons, guitar lessons, prank wars and petty fights. Late nights and nightmares curled up in each other's sides. It was heaven on earth while it lasted. 

The warm feeling stays with him, from Michaels bedroom and through the house. His heart clenched when he saw Michael say something to his parents in common. His parents' all but cry, all smiles and praises. It saturated his chest as he put dinner together for the four of them. 

He had made cauliflower spaghetti. It was in an old recipe book he found in one of Ranboo’s ‘storage rooms.’ (hoarders closet). Something they all could enjoy, although Michael's did have cut up hotdogs in his. 

Even with the distraction of making dinner, it only took around ten minutes till Tommy and Michael are back at it again. Bickering in a mix of Common and Piglin while the others set the table, which left Ranboo and Tubbo guessing. Yet, Tubbo did laugh everytime Tommy scowled at Michael, he found it amusing that Tommy was losing to a child. 

Tubbo had this funny smirk on his face as Tommy cooked the pasta. “What Tubbo, why are you staring at me like that?” he asked, Tubbos smile widened and Tommy felt his stomach sink. 

“Tommy’s in his housewife arc!”

The housewife in question nearly fell out right there, and then it all devolved from there. 

Tommy started screaming  as Tubbo started cackling. 

Tommy’s face was beat red, “ WHAT ! Bitch take that back right now! You absolute -” Tubbo cut him off , “You are though!” he said pointing to him, “You take care of Michael, and cook for us and make us stuff!” He pointed to his son to emphasis his point. He was chowing down on his spaghetti and cut up hotdogs, lazily kicking his hooves while he shoved the pasta in his face. Completely ignoring the rest of them.

Ranboo had his hand up to try to stifle his laughing even if it didn’t really work. He turned to his gleeful husband with a matching grin, “Tubbo, he's going to launch himself over this table if you keep it up.” He said playfully, side eyeing Tommy, as if Tommy wasn't there. 

Tommy's face was a nice shade of cherry red at this point. He waved his fork around violently, glaring daggers at both of his friends. “ I CAN AND I WILL YOU FUCKIN DICK HEAD. YOU MASSIVE PRICKS! ” Tommy screamed. 

Both Ranboo and Tubbo blinked, glanced at each other, and busted out laughing. Giggles bubbling out of Ranboo behind hands and cackles rolling out of Tubbo who was half out of his seat.

He didn't even try to hide his joy, any embarrassment or playful anger completely melting in favor of savoring this moment. With the people he cared most about. 

Tommy could feel himself smile. Prime, he loved his friends, he’d do anything to keep them this happy. Anything to keep this moment in a crystal ball, something he can shake and watch the glitter fall around the four of them at this table. Forever a happy memory.

--

By the time they had all finished dinner, it was calmer. Sure, Tommy would never show his face to the world ever again, but anything to see Tubbo smile like that.

They continued on, talking about nothing and everything. Tommy was washing dishes, Tubbo beside him with a towel drying, who in turn handed them to Ranboo to who put them away. It was a bit much for dinner. But Prime knew, with a bunch of teenage boys in the house, if it didn't wasn't done, now it wouldn't get done at all.

It's in that comfortable atmosphere that Tommy remembers that Tubbo and Ranboo went out on a ‘Date’. The thought made him snort to himself. He couldn't help but start to wonder, “So,” he said, not looking up from the sink, “how was the date?”

Ranboo stutterd, almost dropping the plate he had in his hands. His black and white tail swishing side to side as he answered, “D-date??” Ranboo asked as he placed it in the cupboard.

Tubbo let out a bark of laughter, “It was fine, wasn't it, Ranboo, ” he said, giving Ranboo a stink eye for some odd reason. A light thump caught Tommys attention, causing him to pause at scrubbing to look up to his friends. He found Ranboo rubbing his upper arm and giving a very confused look to Tubbo.

“Ow??? I- it was fine?” Ranboo said. Tubbo was still glaring at him but Ranboo shook his head and shrugged at him. They continued to have a silent conversation, shrugs and eyebrow tilts and hand movements. As Tommy watched he suddenly felt very out of place. Remembering he was just their sick friend they took in, he wasn’t part of their family. Somehow, he keeps forgetting.

Tommy begam scrubbing the pan once more. Feeling a knot in his chest, lost and confused at the sudden change in atmosphere.

When Tubbo turned back to Tommy he smiled and the moment ceased to exist, as if the weird tension just wasn’t a thing. Tommy glanced from Ranboo to Tubbo and back again before giving up entirely, “O- kay then.”

Tubbo dried off another plate before he handed it off to Ranboo again, “It was, thank you for asking.” Tommy hummed in response, handing Tubbo the pan. “Well, I mean, what did you two even-” he waved a soapy sponge in the air, “do?”

“Went into town / Picnic.” came an overlapping response. All three paused for a split second. Tubbo turned to Tommy again and smiled, “We went into the town, to get some fresh bread, and then went on a picnic-”, “Y- yup! It was fun! Very nice!” Ranboo said hurriedly, cutting him off.

The knot tightens around his lungs. “Isn't it like, freezing outside?” Tommy said with a tilt in his voice. All Tubbo did was shrug, “It wasn’t that cold by the village, plus it was pretty.”

Tommy paused, for what seemed like the hundredth time, “You guys are weird, not very pog of you.”

Tubbo cut him a glance, a grin still plastered on, “Tommy, shut up.”

--

The next few days pass by in normalcy. The moment of what seemed like half truths and heavy confusion was brushed under the rug. If Tommy was being honest, it made him anxious. Every corner he turned, every door he walked through he could almost hear more silent conversation. He knew his friends. (or at least he'd like to say he thought he did.) 

The point is that he trusts them, so, under the rug it went. 

'Your just paranoid!' 

'You need to sleep more, your going crazy.'

'It's nothing Tommy, get your head out of your ass.'

'It's Ranboo and Tubbo, you literally live with them. If they didn't want you here they would’ve kicked you out already.'

Was it something I did?

--

The next few nights he stayed in his room, sketching. Simple ideas for things, a new apron for Ranboo here (it shouldn't be a surprise but nothing fits him-), a pair of kid's overalls there, and more.

Unfortunately they were just sketches. The fabrics that Ranboo had stored ( hoarded ) were extremely nice. Obviously something he picked up from a boutique or some rare insane find, but he couldn't make himself use it. The fabric was exquisite to the touch, and all his designs were simple. Ranboos suit was the most detailed and the hardest thing Tommy has ever done. The fabric reflected that.

He- he shouldn't waste such nice stuff on things so dull, it wasn't fair. To the person who made it or to Ranboo. He wasted so much fabric, even with Ranboos reassurance he felt selfish. The only reason he even used the golden thread was because it was the only one he could find, other than what was in his old sewing kit. That stuff was lower quality than the rest of the suits materials, Tommy feared a seam would tear and then he’d be mortified.

So, he had limited supplies. Which meant no actual sewing.

It was also a no for asking for more supplies. He’s already used up so much of their resources, Tommy still catches himself staring at his leg. The painted flowers and vines. the glasses frames he puts on every morning. He was so grateful for them, he tried his best to show his gratitude too. Cooking, cleaning, mending clothes and stuffed animals. He babysat Michael almost 24/7. He might aswell be their nanny for fucks sake. 

Dr- he always hated it when Tommy didn't repay his favors. He hated it more if he complained about it.

Tommy never did.

Chapter Text

^^^

it's dark, its dark, it's dark, it's dark, it's dark, it's dark, it's dark, it's dark, it's dark, it's dark, it's dark, it's dark, it’s-

Tommy thrashes. Arms wrapped around his waist, chest, and arms. No matter how he tugged or swiped or scratched, nothing worked. Green flashed through his vision, a roaring in his ears, air struggled to pass his lips, and his frantic thoughts started getting foggy. I can't breathe.

It’s dark- a hand on his throat- he can’t breathe -

A crash jolted Tommy back to reality, or a version of it.

Tommy had woken up paralyzed.

If you had asked Tommy what was a part of his nightmare and what wasn't, he wouldn’t have been able to tell you. The room was pitch black, and fear warped his sense of understanding. It took an eternity for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. 

He scanned the room with ragged lungs and a racehorse for a heart. Looking down he realized that the sheets and heavy duvet on his bed were wrapped around him, coiled uncomfortably around his leg, and twisted around his waist. Tommy must have been moving a lot during his dream. 

Looking over to the side, he sees his leg on the floor rather than propped up by the nightstand where it usually was. That must have been what had crashed.

A creak from the window made him flinch, looking outside he realized it was still the dead of night. Clouds covered the sky and the wind was causing the frames to creak and groan. And suddenly, as if a switch had been flipped, the room was too small. Dark walls and an even darker mind began squeezing, his hand drifting to his neck.

It took about five minutes and a shaky breath before he could yank the sheets off his body.

As he tried to stand up, Tommy found himself meeting the floor fairly quickly. Tears immediately spring to his eyes. fuck this, fuck this stupid missing leg, fuck this room, fuck- “ Fuck !”

Prime, he hated this. He couldn't help but feel eyes on him, everywhere. From each and any shadow in his room. In the corners of the walls, beside the dresser, he could almost see eyes peering at him from under the bed. Laying with him on the hardwood floors. He could feel shivers crawling up his back, ice-cold fingers tracing each vertebra.

He couldn't stay in here any longer, the Icey hands were starting to dig into his ribs, making it hard to breathe. It was almost as if he were watching from outside himself as panic started to settle in. His body shaky and vision spotty, he slowly dragged himself up and grabbed his cane, putting most of his weight on it as he dragged himself out of the door. Unready to face the pitch-black hallway.

The moment Tommy had stepped over the threshold the feeling of eyes on him increased tenfold. All the shadows and corners made his whole body shake. His free hand he used to steady himself, leaning heavily onto the wall. Shit, fuck, shit, fuck- You're not breathing big man. It was all a nightmare you fucking idiot why are you like this? Get a grip.

Making it to their door felt like it took years, his movements uncoordinated and slow. When he finally made it to the grand doors he felt so small. Why would they want to deal with Tommy in the middle of the night after a lousy nightmare he couldn't even remember? Why did he have the right to just wake them up for something so trivial?

Eyes, they're watching- they are watching you, Tommy- run run ruN RUN RUNRUNRUNRU-

Yeah no, they can deal with me for one night, they’ll survive.

He could barely even knock on the door, “T-Tubs? hey? Can- can I please see you?” Tommy breathed out, his voice way too weak to be heard. He tried again, knocking three times rapidly, just a bit louder than before. “Tubbo man please- I- 'm sorry, I’m sorry I really didn’t want to wake you up, I’m sorry.” He choked on his breath slightly, “But please I- I need someone, Tubbo please .”

Tommy pleads at the door for what seems like hours, with nothing more than creaky wood and groaning windows as a response. His leg was burning from holding his weight and his arms were stiff from tilting and straining to keep him upright. The longer he stood there the more he could feel himself lose strength.

At one point he gave up and collapsed against the door. Sliding till his knee hit the ground and his head rested against the cold hard door.

He sits there and cries out for his friends, shaking against the spruce and mahogany.

“Tubbo please- ”

The moment he can feel the darkness take over his mind (if it be by sleep or just passing out from hyperventilating he doesn't care) Tommy wonders if the eyes in the dark were finally going to collect their prey.

He had no dreams, or at least he doesn't remember them.

When he does wake up it's still dark outside, but the sun is starting to rise.

He’s not panicking anymore, Tommy numbly realized. So, dragging himself up with his cane on his sore leg and stiff joints. All creaky from falling asleep (passing out) in such an uncomfortable way, he starts walking again.

Slowly, he notes he’s missing points of his walk. Tommy’s head was stuffed full of cotton and his throat felt like he had swallowed sandpaper in his sleep. At one moment he’s walking unsteadily down the hallway, and the next he’s opening the door to his room, with no memories of the pieces between.

He feels the plush fabric of his duvet under his hands and feels himself slip further away.

^^^

--

There are hands on him. Tommy can feel one small hand on his knee. 

What? 

It's so fuzzy, there's ringing in his ears and his eyes clouded. Cotton in his brain.

They are shaking his knee, patting him, and shaking him lightly. 

Tommy slowly blinked and looked down, and there stood Micheal. He had on a little soft blue T-shirt with a daisy embroidered on the front and fuzzy blue pajama pants. A feeling of amusement crosses his mind when recalling how hard it was to embroider without an embroidering ring. 

Micheal's mouth was moving, is he talking? What was he saying? 

He watched as the boy reached out to the nightstand and held out his glasses. Tommy blinked at Micheal for a while. He questioned why the kid was in front of him, waving his small hands in front of his face. Nothing ever came to his mouth. Eventually, the kid must have grown tired of waiting because he stomped his hoof and promptly wattled off. 

Hm, oh, he’s dragging Tommy's desk chair back to him. He watched as the chair was placed beside him and as Micheal climbed up and onto it. 

Now eye to eye, Micheal set down his chicken, beside him on the bed. Tommy’s head tracked the small plush and studied it.

Did he have that earlier?

A small hand guided his head back forward, facing the kid in front of him. A second too late, he registered the glasses that were being gently placed on his head. It was crooked and an arm was resting inside his ear instead of on it but Tommy could barely feel it. He blinked rapidly trying to get used to the change.

Micheal smiled in his little zombie piglin way, giving light chuffs and bouncing lightly beside him. “Wake up! Lunch!” Micheal said in common, flapping his ears in excitement. 

All Tommy could muster was a heavy nod.

Even with Tommy's almost unresponsive state, that didn't scare the small child off one bit! Both Bo and Boo do it too! Micheal knows because sometimes he can find Boo outside his door at night, and he doesn't want to talk much either. That’s ok though! He still loves Boo, Bo, and uncle Mimi! 

Micheal looks to his uncle and then to his other leg, then to the prosthetic and back. “Leg?” he asks, tugging on Tommy's sleeve. Tommy blinked again, looking from the kid to his leg. “Mimi! Leg! Lunch!” Micheal called directly into his ear, Tommy couldn't help the wince.

I- It’s lunch. 

Has he eaten yet today?

That was something that almost brought Tommy back immediately. Has he eaten? Were Tubbo and Ranboo not home? Had they not fed Micheal before they left? Something akin to confusion sparked in his chest, swiftly fading to anger. Who the actual fuck, forgets to feed their kid.

His thoughts were broken once more by the kid in question tugging on his sleeve rather aggressively. “Mimi! Mimi! Wake up! It's lunch!”

Guess plotting murder will have to wait.

Tommy nodded slowly, leading to Micheal squealing in delight, in his ear, again. Micheal climbed out of the chair to grab the prosthetic leg. It was a bit of a challenge for both of them to get it on him, considering one of them is a child and the other was only half there.

The more Tommy moved around the more aware he was becoming. With each movement of his hands, he could feel just a bit more. The slide of the leather straps on his fingers and the cold metal of the buckles.

Micheal's piglin was registering in his brain, although he still couldn't seem to make himself talk. The child didn't seem to mind all that much. Rambling on and on about how the game he and Micheal played last time Tommy had babysat him. How he would be the best king, and how ‘Bo and Boo’ would be excited to be royalty. 

Tommy's lips twitched at hearing he would be the best right-hand man.

He takes Micheals hand and lets the small child lead him down the staircase. Michael continued to bubble on, not perturbed by the obvious one-sidedness that was present.

When they do inevitably make it to the kitchen, Tommy was able to choke out a ‘Go on.’ lightly pushing his back. Micheal squealed and ran off and plopped himself in the middle of the living room floor surrounded by his toys. Picking up the crayons they had left from the night before and started scribing on the nearest clean sheet of paper.

The air seemed so still with the lack of the boy bouncing around his legs. Even with the voice floating from the room over, it felt as if he was completely stagnant, alone. The feeling was indescribable as he stood and stared into space, today didn't feel real. It felt fake, made up, and redo-able. 

Tommy shook his head violently, he didn't need to slip away again. Leaning heavily on his cane, he hobbled over to the ice box and opened it. Grabbing a few ice cubes he shut the door once more to rest against its door and slide to the ground. He sat there for a while, clenching the ice in his palms and placing his head on his viable knee. 

Only once the ice had melted and the water had dripped down his arms and soaked into his sweatpants, he got back up. A few shaky breaths later he was up and setting two slices of bread in the toaster and setting out the peanut butter and jelly. Within the next few minutes, Tommy had made the kid a late lunch of PB&J, apple juice, cut grapes, and carrots. Along with the beginning of chocolate chip and banana muffins.

He called Micheal over to eat, helping him up onto the barstool and cleaning up after himself as the boy ate. When he was done putting the bowls away, he turned around to find half a sandwich a foot closer than before, and Micheal staring at him with a small smile on his face.

“Micheal, is there something wrong big man?” Tommy asks, resting his forearms on the island across from him. Micheal shakes his head and reaches forward to slide the plate farther toward Tommy. “Are you full?” Micheal nodded his head this time and continues to stare at Tommy, swaying side to side softly.

Tommy’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion, “Micheal you ate half your sandwich and a handful of grapes and carrots, you can finish that bit of bread, peanut and jelly.” Tommy says as he slides the plate back toward Micheal.

Micheal's face contorts heavily and shook his head, sliding the plate hard enough it hits Tommy's forearms. “No! You eat lunch too!” He says loudly. Stunned, Tommy blinks at the kid in front of him mumbling in Piglin and common. “Aren't you still hungry?” Tommy tries again, “No! You have lunch too!”

Tommy sighs and looks down at the plate, it looks like Micheal had torn it apart. His stomach felt heavy just looking at it. He looks back up to plead with the kid but is met with a surprising amount of sternness and confidence.

He eats it. Micheal watched him the whole time presumably to keep him from skipping out. Even if the sandwich felt like ash on his tongue, and if the peanut butter stuck to the roof of his mouth, it felt better to have something to settle his swirling stomach.

As soon as he popped the last of the bread in his mouth Micheal shouted in calibration. Tommy just smiled and shook his head at the kid and turned to clean the now-empty plate and cup. Finding that the muffins were close to being done. “Hey kid, you want a muffin too?” He asked over his shoulder and was met with even louder squeaking and snorting. “Good, they should be done soon, once they’ve cooled you can have one. The rest we can save for your dads. How's that?” Turning back around he could see Micheal nod enthusiastically and smile wide.

“Muffins for Bo an Boo!” He chanted, bouncing in his seat. “Yep! Muffins for Bo and Boo!”

--

Later, when the kid had finally settled back down and his promised muffin was bestowed upon him. Tommy finally sat down to breathe. The day still felt as if he was having one elaborate and crazy daydream but it was going smother.

Sitting on the couch he watched Micheal draw and read books when he was asked to. Letting his eyes wander for a minute, a different piece of paper caught his eye. Walking over, he noticed it was a note. Two actually, two notes with different handwriting. One yellowed note paper and other lined book paper wrinkled on the outer edges.

The first one was from Tubbo. His penmanship was a bit sloppy, and the page had a few grease stains. Must have been from his workshop downstairs . Tommy thought.

“Hey big man, I’m sorry to leeve you like this but I have to be out tonight.

One of the macheans in my builds is going haywire, and it’s been causing shit to go crazy. I have no clue how long it's gonna take to fix so I probably won’t be back till tomorrow.

Thanks :D

-Tubbo”

The second is from Ranboo. His words were shaped lightly and with little swirls and loops. 

“Hi Tom,

I’m super sorry to leave you like this on such short notice but I caught wind of something rare that might be up for sale a few villages east of here. 

I wanted to get to it fast so I could check it out for myself so I’ve got to leave early, and will probably return late as well. 

I’m really sorry, I’ll get you something from the market!

Thank you! ~Ranboo

P.S. - As I set this down I notice Tubbo has also been gone. I'll get you something extra! See you later.”

Holy shit-

Tommy’s mind was whirling.

They weren’t even there?

Relief filled his whole body, lighting his bones and putting air in his lungs. 

His little freak-out was his own, no one else heard it. No one else to see him grovel for attrition he didn't earn. Or deserve. 

They weren’t ignoring him.

Sure, they had left without telling him. They might have been a bit vague about wherever in the fuck they were. But that was ok!

He sat heavily in one of the wooden chairs at the table. Dropping the notes and burring his head in his arms. His breath hitched as he tried to inhale. “Fuck.”

Why didn’t they tell you?

They did tell him! There are two notes right in front of his face!

  No, they left. Didn’t even say when they would be back .

Well, that’s their business. Not his.

You are really fucking annoying. 

Shut up.

Makes sense, I wouldn’t want to spend my time with your either.  

Shut up. Stop.

Prime, you really are worthless-

“Mimi!”

Tommy's head snapped up. Turning sharply he sees Micheal standing just a few feet behind him, holding another book he had brought from somewhere in the house. 

Micheal tilted his head slightly, an ear flopped into his face “Mimi?” 

Tommy hastily wiped his face, “I- I’m fine Micheal.” with a deep breath, he turned and faced the kid a bit more. “Whatcha got there?”

–

That night, Tommy waited on the couch after he had feed Micheal some dinner and put him to bed.

He didn't wait long before he saw the door to the kitchen open and in step Ranboo. He had snow dusting his shoulders and hair. His cloak was thick and just barely brushed the ground. It was familiar. Even the white fur that seemed to stick to it and Ranboos suit.

They exchanged pleasantries, and Tommy didn't press him like he might have. The boy looked absolutely wiped.

He watched silently as he made his way up the stairs and towards his and Tubbo’s room.

The next morning he awoke to Tubbo playing with Micheal in the living room and Ranboo finishing up breakfast.

The sight made his chest cold. He loved them, and he was happy they were so happy.

But standing there on the balcony he couldn't help but just feel alone.

Chapter Text

Chapter 11: I-is this, a misunderstanding? 

They’re avoiding him.

It's the only excuse Tommy can think of. The only reason why his friends have vanished off the face of the earth.

Hurt churns in his stomach each morning he wakes up to an empty house. frustration settles in his mind when he sees them get home well after Michael had gone to bed.

Tommy gave up waiting for them to have dinner, so he has taken to packaging dinners for them and eating with Micheal instead.

Tupperware sits in the ice box, each has a sticky note with their name on the front. Tommy stands in front of the ice box some nights wondering what he did wrong.

– – –

Tubbo and Ranboo were getting closer and closer to finishing the surprise. Each day was a different challenge.

Foolish spent one day trying to get the layout of the room perfect so he can build all the storage and shelves. Others are at Mary’s shop asking her a lot of questions 'She isn't paid enough to deal with' she says. Even though she never turns them away.

The whole this was getting super stressful. Both Ranboo and Tubbo wish they could have had more time, but with other things to do and Tommy in the house. It had to finish fast. Both boys feared if they took too long, Tommy would get suspicious and find it before it was ready.

Finding packages of food with their names on the fronts had to be their highlights from that week. Ranboo couldn't help the happy chirps that left him, and Tubbo would sit and wolf it down in five minutes flat. Much to Ranboo's amusement, he always ended up with a stomach ache. 

Ranboo still felt the guilt that curled in his stomach, no matter how he tried to rationalize it. Yet, Tubbo didn't seem to be bothered with the same issue. Each night he came home late, Tommy and Micheal were already up in their beds. He felt it weigh him down each time he stepped over the threshold.

He tried to suggest taking a break from the planning to spend some time with their son and best friend but was immediately rejected.

“No!” Tubbo hissed. Ranboos head tilted at the aggression, “What? Why not?”

“Because, if we slow down now we’ll never get it done in the next week.” Tubbo huffed, turning back to whatever gadget he had in front of him. 

Ranboo tried not to come down to Tubbos' workshop often. It was dark and smelled of gunpowder, redstone, and gasoline. Tubbo himself was covered in grease. His sleeves rolled up and his pants were marked with black. 

Ranboo sighed and shook his head, leaning back against the wall beside the metal door. “It’s just, I feel bad. We’ve barely been home and I'm worried about Tommy.” he twisted his hands together. The guilt made his whole body ache in a way he never thought possible. 

Tubbos ear flicked, “I know you are, I am too.” He turned back to Ranboo and raised the goggles he had on up to his forehead, “I hate this as much as you do, but we are so close to finishing! It’ll be maybe a few more days! Then no more late nights or days away.” He gave a smile Ranboos way, trying to ease the other's anxiety, “I promise.”

Ranboo mulled it over, chewing his lip and wringing his hands further. “Fine. Just a few more days.” He relented. 

Tubbos smile brightened as he slipped the goggles back over his grease-stained face. “Good, I’m almost done here so I’ll be up soon.” 

“Good, you're overdue for a shower- HEY!” Tubbo laughed, rearing up to through another dirty rag at his friend and smiling as Ranboo ran back up the stairs.

– – –

It was the home stretch now. Just three more days left.

They had Foolish scheduled on a rush job for refurbishing Tommy's sewing room. It would take a few hours but they paid handsomely so Foolish didn't seem too hesitant.

Tubbo had the perfect plan. He was going to surprise Micheal and Tommy with breakfast and then drag them out for a walk and picnic! He thankfully thought ahead enough to make the basket before they had to head out. When he was done it was an easy three am. He set himself an alarm and collapsed right into his massive bed.

The next morning he wanted to impale himself and ask why in primes-name he didn't do any of that earlier. Unfortunately for him, Ranboo and Foolish were waiting for him to get Tommy out of the house soon so it was now or got lectured for three hours by Ranboo for messing up the schedule. 

So, after an agonizing ten minutes of getting himself to function enough to get ready, and then some. He finally found himself in front of Tommy's door. He knocked twice, leaning into the door. “hey, uh, Tom? You in there?”

Silence.

He knocked again. “Tommy?”

He was going to call again but he heard shuffling and soon enough the door opened. What he was not expecting, however, was for Tommy to open the door looking like the undead. Tommy just blinked at him before speaking, his voice raspy. “Tubbo? What- uh, anything you need?”

Tubbo blinked back before replying worriedly, “Holy- Tommy? Are you ok?” He started to reach out to him but seeing the movement Tommy pulled back. Bringing his arms to his side stiffly. 

He paused and awkwardly brought his arm back. There was an even more awkward silence before Tubbo finally spoke up again. “Tommy? Are you ok? You don’t look too good big man.” He said nervously, not expecting this tense energy.

“I’m fine Tubbo, I've just been getting shit sleep is all,” Tommy said, leaning onto his cane heavily and looking at the floor. It certainly looked like it. His skin was pale and sickly, and his eyes were decorated with dark circles. 

“o- oh, um. Well, you haven't been down since I've been home so I was just worried about you. Do- do you want lunch- or breakfast? Well, it's probably a little late for ‘Breakfast’, but you wanna come down and eat? I'm not sure if you've eaten so I just wanted to ask and-” Tubbo said, the jitters getting the best of him and causing him to ramble.

Tom cut him off abruptly, throwing an arm up, “Oh my Prime- fine!”

“Really? Oh, alright! Common! We’ve made some sandwiches so you won't have to cook and-”

Tubbo fails to notice Tom's true tiredness. He felt like a painting on their wall. Tubbo asking him to come down to eat felt weird. Like someone had pulled his frame off the wall and was examining it for cracks. He hopes the varnish is thick enough to keep him together.

Micheal was already downstairs when Tommy joined them, eating eggs and toast. Tommy has a similar plate set in front of them, a cup of coffee, and a wink from Tubbo. Tommy was a bit confused at the wink until he heard him suggest a walk in the forest, and felt all the energy drain right out of his body.

The kid practically dragged them around for hours, looking at bugs and flowers and plants. Tubbo watched fondly as his son explored but stayed close to Tommy. He had made a prosthetic for hiking, less fancy but great for unstable ground. It had a shock system so the springs absorbed any stress of a shift in weight or if Tom had slipped somewhere. 

He was glad it worked, and that Tommy agreed to field-test it.

Later he presented the picnic basket and he could have sworn Micheal was vibrating where he stood. He was bouncing around and flapping his hands, it was adorable.

For a little while, that tension that followed eased. He and Tommy sat and watched Micheal run around the small clearing they had found. Watching sandwiches and Tommy scolding the boy for staining his overalls.

When they finally arrive back, all three are exhausted and Tubbo all but shoves Tommy back to his room, promising to put Micheal down for a nap and put the basket away so Tommy to get some rest.

Tubbo, being too excited and nervous, never saw the confusion or hurt that crossed Tommy's face as he brought him back to his room. Agreeing with whatever Tubbo had said and shutting himself off to try to sleep and ignore the pit in his stomach.

– – –

They finished Tommy’s craft room, thank Prime. 

It took just a couple of hours thanks to Foolish’s skill and ability to work under pressure. Ranboo did try to help where he could, handing him tools and holding up boards. By the time the three returned from their picnic Ranboo all but pushed the poor man out the door, promising to come by his desert temple and pay him what they promised.

When Tubbo saw the room he was so excited, with a bright look in his eyes and a smile in his voice. Ranboo couldn't help the sway in his tail and the way his ears would perk forward, also excited to see Tommy’s reaction to his very own workspace. 

That night they fell asleep with a giddy feeling in their stomachs,

– – –

Tubbo woke up first, dragging a rudely awoken Ranboo down the stairs to make breakfast for their son and their best friend. 

Except they were beaten to the punch. Because there stood their best friend, in front of the stove with his glasses perched low on his nose and a spatula in hand, poking at a pan with small pancakes and a plate of eggs to his side. 

As soon as Tubbo landed eyes on him he spun and pointed, “You! What are you doing up?”

Tommy was startled so badly his glasses fell off his face, he swung around on his good leg and held the spatula out as if it would protect him. “WHAT THE FUCK- Tubbo? What the hell man? What- why are you guys still here?”

Tubbo’s face scrunched up, “Dude, we live here, what's your excuse?”

Tommy just sputtered as the other two took a seat on each side of Micheal, who was just sitting at the bar. He was babbling to them both, smile so wide it looked like it hurt. Excited to have his dad’s for breakfast. 

“I- I- You- ugh, never mind.” Tommy shook his head as he picked his glasses off the ground, cleaning them off with the bottom of his shirt. Setting them back on his face so he can see dumb and dumber more clearly. 

When Tommy had turned back to the stove, not giving a retort or picking on Tubbo for his bedhead, tension grew. 

“So- what are you making?” Ranboo asked, trying to smooth the atmosphere.

“I'm making Micheal breakfast,” Tommy said.

“Oh! Did you already eat?” Tubbo asked.

“I had an apple,” Tommy said, not turning around to look at his friends and nephew.

“Oh, ok.”

The silence was thick, it felt like cobwebs, no matter how they swung their arms around they still kept getting tangled in the mess. Tubbo and Ranboo shared a worried glance before turning back to their friend, gearing up to try again. Only to be cut off.

Tommy had plated the tiny pancakes and scrambled eggs and set them in front of the kid at the counter. His eyes swept over the two before turning around again pouring more ingredients into a metal bowl. “I'll have some for you in a minute, I need to make more mix.”

“Oh no! You don't have to-” Ranboo tried, starting to stand.

Tommy held up his spoon, pointing it at Ranboo, “Shut the fuck up and sit down. Or I'm not making you shit.”

Ranboos mouth clicks shut as he sat back down without another word. The tension melts slightly as they watch Tommy work. Mixing ingredients and cooking pancakes in the frying pan. 

Tubbo notes the shifting in his stance and frowns, Tommy looks so nervous. He just can't wrap his head around why. He knows they have been distant lately but they were really busy. He fidgets with his bangs, hoping that he didn't fuck up too badly.

Ranboo felt the same, but he avoided looking at Tommy, instead entertaining Micheal and having a pleasant conversation with his son as he eats his pancakes and slung his eggs across his plate.

Both are startled slightly when Tommy sets two plates down on the bar rather loudly. Both with three big pancakes and some scrambled eggs on the side. They say their thanks and take a bite. 

Tubbo stares at his plate, mouth still full of food, “Oh my Prime.”

Tommy turns to him, “W- what” slightly unnerved by his tone.

“Oh, my Prime! You made pumpkin pancakes!?” Tubbo exclaims excitedly, a smile spread on his face.

Tommy's brow furrows, “Yeah? Are they bad?”

Ranboo responds, a smile on his face as well, “These are the best pancakes I think I've ever had!”

A slight blush dusted Tommy's ears, “Oh, um, thanks.” He decided to leave them be and clean up the kitchen. Watching them from afar feels bittersweet. He wants to join, to be a part of such a loving family. But can't help but feel miles away from himself and their small family. Just across the counter.

He thinks of his brothers in the snow, and his father's wings.

He shoves it down. 

He cleans up the counters and washes the dishes as Ranboo and Tubbo have a nice breakfast with their son.

He tries to slip back up the stairs unnoticed, although it's in vain. Ranboo spots him and calls out “Tom? Where are you going?”

He rubs the back of his neck awkwardly, “Oh- uh, just- back upstairs?”

Tubbo tilts his head, “Oh? Why not just stay here?”

Tommy waves his hand in dismissal “Oh it’s alright, I've already eaten anyway.”

“But you can still sit with us if you want,” Ranboo says, gesturing to the open seat to his right.

Tommy hesitates, “Are you sure?”

“Oh course big man! Come on!” Tubbo says, waving him to sit in the open seat.

He does, and even with the awkwardness that surrounds them, they are still able to enjoy a decent breakfast. 

After breakfast Tubbo threatens to chain Tommy to his chair so they can just sit and let their food settle, spending the late morning together. Which makes a spark of warmth that Tommy tries to stomp down. He sits on the island with Micheal and talks with the two other boys.

‘Boys’, what an underwhelming word. As Tommy sits at the kitchen island, he's suddenly hit with a wave of regret, or is there another word for it? All he knows is that when he sees his two best friends in the whole world, he does not see boys. Maybe not ‘Men’ either, but not children. 

Tubbo, has fought alongside Tommy in war, has been a president, has died violently twice now, and now is married with a kid of his own.

Ranboo, fuck knows where ever they came from, but he’s suffered under the same hands of this server and things neither Tubbo nor Tommy could ever know.

“Tom?”

Tommy’s eyes slowly fade back into focus, “Yeah?”

Ranboo’s fingers twisted in an anxious dance, drawing Tommy's focus away from their face. “Um, Tubbo and I wanted to show you something if that's ok.”

“Show me something?”

Tommy lifted his head and met Tubbos eyes, he smiled brightly at him and nodded his head in the direction of the stairs, “Yeah, come on!”

“Uh, ok.”

They gather Micheal up, and they all head toward the stairs.

Tommy lagged behind the other three, his cane softly thumping on the hardwood as they passed doors, they were headed to his bedroom. 

A mental picture of all his things in boxed popped in unwarranted, both Tubbo and Ranboo flanking the door and saying something like, “Since you’re healed now, we want to help you move out!” or worse, “Tommy, we have made a decision. You can't stay anymore. We need you to leave.”

And that struck a bolt of fear in Tommy's mind. Why his room? Anxiety started to climb into his brain and seep out, down his throat, and into his gut. The closer they got, each step taken caused more dread to cloud his head. He didn't utter a word, in fear of somehow being right.

All for his friends to pass right by, not even pausing. Both Ranboo and Tubbo strode right past. Tommy himself couldn't help but hesitate at the door, glancing at it before starting to follow his friends down the hall a bit further.

Now, Tommy will admit, he is no GPS. He often finds himself getting lost in the mansion when trying to find a room. This is why he tries to stick to his room, Micheals's room, Tubbo and Ranboos room, and the first floor of the mansion. He doesn't often need anything else so he tries not to stray from his paths. 

So when they Turn down a random hallway further into the labyrinth that is their house, Tommy's confusion multiplies. Walking a bit further till they stop at a random, unassuming door on the right side of the hallway.

Both Ranboo and Tubbo turn to face Tommy now, both looking nervous and looking anywhere but his eyes. Ranboos fingers continue to dance and Tubbo hikes Micheal further up onto his hip. Their nervousness was starting to rub onto Tommy now, the slightly crippling fear slowly being replaced by confusion, and still a little bit of fear.

Ranboo was the first to speak, still twisting his hands together, “So uh, we- I mean- We went out this one time- No, I-” Tubbo placed a hand on Ranboos arm to cut him off, “We loved our gifts, the suit, and the sweater.” He said softly, a small smile on his face. He turned to Micheal, he still had on the chicken onesie.

All Tommy could think to say was “O- oh.” He didn't understand where this was going. 

“However, we honestly were shocked to learn that you did it all by hand. I mean that must have taken hours of work and-” Tubbo continued, rambling on, evidence of his nerves. 

Ranboo sighed, placing his opposite hand on top of Tubbos, clasping it to their arm, “The point is, is that we wanted to give this to you, to make it easier.” After they said that, they both stepped back a bit and reach for the doorknob. 

Watching the door swing open, Tommy had no clue what to expect. They were going to show him some part of the house but he couldn't fathom why they were so on edge. It was kind of freaking Tommy out.

Then he saw the room.

Directly across from him was a big bay window. The type that has a cushion in the windowsill. Under it was a small bookshelf, where he could pull books out if he were to sit down and read. To his left was a massive custom shelving and storage wall, it was almost floor to ceiling too. There was a narrow shelf to the right where baskets full of string, twine, and yarn of multiple colors and sizes sat. There was a wider shelf to the far left that had small dewars. Each labeled with even more, bins, cabinets, and boxes lined the wall either empty or full of supplies Tommy hasn't even seen yet.

The dead center of the storage compartments was a specialized holder for fabric rolls. They all stood straight up, with extra holes to store more or to rearrange them. And special shears that would cut the fabric perfectly when you brought it down. 

When Tommy's eyes wandered to the right, he would have never guessed he could have been more surprised but was proved very wrong.

There was a massive L shape desk in the corner opposite the door, it had multiple built-in holsters and cups for supplies, and there was a sewing machine at the far right, that sat on a piece of the desk that is interchangeable. Under the desk were more buckets and baskets and shelves, along with his woven scraps basket that was in his room.

The wall itself is covered in shelves to hold different tools and supplies. On the same wall as the door to his right, was a shelf that held multiple different machines, things for crocheting and knitting and sewing, and things Tommy had never even seen before.

The entire room had dark wood to match the rest of the house. The bench had a red blanket and pillows, and that rug was a nice cream, that sat on the floor in the center of it all. Making the whole place feel as if it had been a part of the mansion since the beginning.

Tommy didn't realize how long he had been standing there for, his brain too overwhelmed to make any words or even a true thought, he could have been standing there for hours and he wouldn't have been the wiser. 

Thankfully, Tubbo showed him mercy and broke him out of his shock, for the most part. “Tommy?” he said hesitantly, flicking his ears around, “Tom’s? Hey, hey what's wrong?”

Ranboo was becoming equally concerned, “Do- do you not like it? We can have Foolish come and redo the layout if you want. Or are the fabrics? Is it-”

“Why?” 

Ranboo paused in his rambling, “W- what?”

Tommy turned to look at his two friends and their son. His best friends, his family. “Why did you do this?” Tommy asked again, holding his arm out, and waving to the room they were in.

“Make you a sewing room?” Tubbo asked, the confusion and concern on his face evident. Ranboo is close behind with a matching look.

The room went silent. Tommy studied his friends, he looked into their eyes, for pity, obligation, annoyance, anything. Anything that would make this make more sense, anything to make him understand what was happening. But all he got was concern and anxiety, and a little bit of hope.

“Well mostly because we know we couldn't fit it all in your room, plus this way you can't sleep here so we can drag you to bed if we catch you in here after midnight,” Ranboo said, taking his son into his arms, rocking the child slightly as he rested on his shoulder.

Tommy shook his head fervidly, “N- no, why, did you do this for me ?” Tommy stressed the last word, hopefully, to get an answer for his swirling mind.

Tubbo took a step closer to Tommy, hand reaching out slightly toward his friend, “I- I don't understand-”

“Tubbo you've done so much for me! You gave me a room and- and you brought me to the hospital and bought me these glasses.” Tommy practically shouted. “You MADE me a whole prosthetic! Two actually! And all I've done is nothing! Nothing to deserve any of it! So why ?!”

Tubbo looked appalled, tears burning at the corners of his eyes and his ears were pinned slightly to his head, he tried to reach out to Tommy a bit more, being so careful not to spook him. “I-”

The silence caused Tommy to pause, his eyes flicking between his friends frantically, waiting for their response, to scoff or to call him ungrateful. Anything at all.

“Tommy, you remember the final disc war right?”

Both Ranboo and Tommy made confused noises, but Tubbo held up his hand. “Let me finish. Tommy, do you remember what you said? During the ultimatum, before everyone came through the portal.”

“Tubbo, what- Yes? I- of course, I remember. How could I forget that?”

“You said You were My sidekick .”

“I was, I- I am. I-”

“Tommy we are partners. We are a Team. Your my brother, how could I see it as anything else?” Tubbo whispered, his voice shaky. He reached out, trying to comfort him.

Warmth blossomed in Tommy's chest, although he tried his best to shove it down still. “I- Th- That's not enough! How can that equal all the things you've done for me? I- You've wasted so much-”

Tubbo stepped closer again, until he was directly in front of Tommy, placing his hands on the boy's arms, to soothe himself or Tommy neither is sure. “No! Tommy Innit we have never wasted a Primedamned thing, not on you, not for you, or in any other way.” 

The silence was telling, neither side giving ground. Tubbos hand lifted to his face, and softly brushed against his cheek, wiping away tears he didn’t know were falling.

When did he start crying?

“Tommy we did that because we wanted to, Tommy we did that because we love you.”

Loved , him?

Everything freezes. He doesn't understand . Why would they love him? How? He’s not a good friend, never has been. Why would they love him?

Memories flash behind Tommy’s eyes, the first war, fireworks, the control room, presidency, pogtopia, discs, words, fights. The final disc battle. The day Tommy’s world almost cracked in two. The day he almost lost everything.

“What?”

Ranboo smiled, his eyes were watery and his lips wobbled but he couldn’t help but look at Tommy and see his best friend, his first friend in the lands. He could tell Tommy was hurting, although, it seemed to run deeper than just the prison. Even though, he , did cause a solid 75% of it.

Tubbos body was stiff, mostly with the overwhelming amount of emotion swirling in his mind. It was hard for him to truly let himself relax, even with his family here with him.

They both watched Tommy’s face flash between emotion, confusion, shock, disbelief, and back around again. His mouth formed words but no sound came out. He seemed to be at a loss for words. He didn’t seem to understand that they loved him. He didn’t get that he was a part of their family.

Tubbo practically yanked Tommy into his arms, dragging his friend down until he had an arm around his neck and another around his chest. “I’m so sorry Tommy.” He said with shaky breaths, “I’m sorry we didn’t make it clear to you, that we failed so miserably that you didn’t even know you were loved here.”

Startled by Tubbo pulling him in, Tommy flinched when he felt a third hand on his shoulder. Looking up to see Ranboo and Micheal, both looking at him with an affection he couldn’t understand. 

If Tommy wasn’t already crying, he would have burst into tears that second. He was trying so hard to hold back, to keep from embarrassing himself any further, but it was too late now. Both his friends, his brothers, were blubbering messes and Tommy felt the fight to contain himself leave easily.

He gripped Ranboos arm, and he wrapped his other around Tubbo, letting his cane clatter to the floor, thumping against the carpet. He squeezed Tubbo close, “Please,” he said, almost whispering into Tubbos shoulder, “Please don’t leave me here again. I-, I can’t-“

Ranboo nodded, not letting Tommy even finish the thought. “Of course Tommy, we should have known, we- we should have known that just shutting you out was a bad strategy.” 

“And we’re sorry next time, we will just have to get better at lying,” Tubbo says, a tilt to his voice. The poor joke still makes Tommy cracks a smile, “You can’t surprise me Tubbs, I’m too much of a big man.”

They all dissolve into wet giggles and sharp breaths. It takes a while for Tommy to calm down, and for Ranboo and Tubbo to let Tommy go. Which he didn’t seem to complain too much about. Tubbo makes a quick comment about Tommy being clingy and is met with protest pretty much immediately. 

– – –

Transferring the rest of Tommy’s supplies they couldn’t sneak out before was easy, most just being threads and needles. 

The day passes by without much more fuss, Tommy notices his friends being a big clingy-er than normal, but he pretends he doesn't see it at all.

Sitting down at his new desk, clean of marks or scratches, he sketches.

Chapter Text

Life goes on.

Days pass, and Tommy lives a domestic life, something he didn’t think he could settle into before now. He spends most of his time with his family, Tubbo and Ranboo, and their son, his brothers, and his nephew.

He still felt a pang of regret with that word.

Brother.

Well regardless, the second largest chunk of his time is spent in his ‘office’ as Tubbo dubbed it. Even though there isn’t any paperwork being done, it's more like Tubbo’s workshop than anything. Just without the machine parts and obscene amounts of oil, grease, and red stone dust stains all over the floors and countertops.

Every once and a while, any one of them would come and sit in the window seat while he worked. Most of the time with Michael in their arms and a book in their lap. laughing at Michael’s out-of-nowhere comments. Other times they would come up the stairs with a blanket to take a nap in the setting sun. Those days he avoids the sewing machines all together.

- - -

Knitting was very annoying, Tommy has come to learn. When knitting, the yarn kind of travels down the two needles. But with the slight shake that still plagues his hands, he keeps missing loops. He’s had to start over at least three times now.

Tubbo and Michael were with him, they had all finished eating lunch and had moved into the den. Michael had a frozen chew toy in one hand and his wooden sword in the other (lovingly painted as close to gold as Tommy could get it). Tubbo sitting on his knees listening to his son’s Kingly rant. Recently, the beginnings of Michaels tusks were starting to grow, and it wasn’t that bad for the boy. But to say that his parents spoiled him, it wouldn’t be anything less than fact.

After missing for the second loop in a row Tommy sighed heavily and set the needles down. Slowly, he unraveled the unfinished project for the fourth(?) time and with as much care as he could muster, he wound them back into small balls of yarn. It wasn’t perfect but it was better than a tangled mess in his opinion. Tubbo flicked his ear and turned to his friend from across the coffee table, resting an arm on the side of its polished surface. He watched Tommy as he was packing away the yarn, a mischievous glint in his eye.

Tubbos bangs fell into his eyes, “Hey Tom?” he called, a small grin visible from under the fluff.

“Yes, Tubs?” Tommy called back, placing the yarn in just so.

“You want to go, on a little T R I P?”

Tommy looked up, giving Tubbo a face, “Why are you spelling that out?”

Tubbo didn’t say anything but pointed at his son who was currently swinging his sword around the air while chewing on the teething toy. Failing to seem like he wasn’t listening in on the conversation. Tommy smothered the grin on his lips and shrugged.

Another development in the kids life, Tommy had taught him a lot of the common language. Due to being a piglin, zombified or not, Michael’s vocal cords were not truly suited to speaking the language. So he still spoke slightly broken common, and mostly sign language, something Tommy was brushing up on himself. (Ranboo has collected a LOT of stuff OK? Books included)

Currently, Tommy was now trying to teach the kid how to read common. If you wanted proof just walk into the kids bedroom. Any surface that wasn’t already covered in the kid’s stuff was now occupied with stacks of books. Although he wasn’t too good quite yet, hence the spelling out of words. He would still pull piles of books anywhere he could get Tommy to sit still enough to read them. The kid was bright, Tommy couldn’t help but be proud of the little squirt.

Tommy set the basket in his lap after packing everything away, “Not sure, Tubs.” he watched Michael out of the corner of his eye. Smiling slightly to himself watching the boy’s ears flick at their voices. If they went on a trip now, their destinations would be a bit limited.

It constantly snowed in Snowchester, and the local town was lacking severely. While Michael had still never been there, it was no different than walking to a neighbors house and asking for a cup of sugar. The commune was still new, fresh. Lacking the constant smog that gunpowder and TNT leave behind. Free of scars on its surface and still poking out of the snow, new leaves on its stem.

So with walking circles in their front yard off the list, Tommy thought of the hospital. Which, at first, sent shivers down his spine. Pushing past the chills, Tommy realizes that if there's a hospital, there must be a town beyond it. Which reminds Tommy of the shop. A little seamstress shop that both Tubbo and Ranboo raved about. A cozy shop full of good quality supplies and a kind, but sarcastic woman. That was as good a place as any to start.

“S U R E”

- - -

The air has gotten cooler since the last time they had been to town. It was not even close to Snowchester, or anything farther north. But with a fourth in tow, it was now a lot more lively. Michael has very rarely left his parents’ sights (or Tommy’s) for anything. Let alone going to a completely different town for the very first time. To say the least, the kid was vibrating in the saddle.

The ride there, thankfully, was smooth going. They didn’t even tell the kid they were going on a trip until they had the horses saddled up and were physically placing the kid onto Ranboo’s horse. It went as well as the three expected, with Michael losing his marbles. He talked non-stop for the whole ride, asking questions and generally being a little kid, Ranboo had their hands full with the little wiggle worm. So Tommy hopped on with Tubbo and let the shorter guide their little group to the town in the distance.

Michael, to his parents' immense relief, was very shy and refused to approach anyone, refusing to play with some of the local kids that had approached him as soon as they got close to the square. The two had fought with a lot of anxiety to go out with Michael in the first place. They didn’t want him getting lost right out of the gate, so Michael clinging to Ranboo’s pant leg was a prayer answered for all three.

Riding in, Tommy, for the first time, took it all in.

The front gate wasn’t grand, as it isn’t a capital or a major city, but it was for sure a town of trade and commerce. Past the gate there were at least three inns and one or two public horse stables. There could be one or two more farther into town, but they didn’t need to stay long. They dropped off the two mares they had in the best looking stable. Tipping quite heavily, they left quite confident they would be well taken care of for a few hours.

Earlier, before they had left, Ranboo had suggested they stop by the mainlands before heading to the town. But before they could even get out why, Tommy had shot the idea down immediately. A shaky excuse of not feeling up to an extension to the trip rolled off his tongue, changing the subject and asked which horses they were taking.

The other two boys had given each other a very knowing look out of Tommys line of sight, and mentally decided to talk about it later.

Tommy shook off the thought and looked down at Michael, the boy holding his hand. He lifted him up in time with Tubbo to swing him back and forth, putting a lot of his weight on his cane and prosthetic. The porcelain painted one that Tuboo had made was incredibly tough, he’s half sure if he scratched off the paint it would be netherite, though he would rather lose his other leg before he ruined something so precious to him.

The relief that Tommy felt when he was able to convince Tubbo and Ranboo was amazing. The trip may have not been his original idea, but he still couldn’t bear to wave to the kid through the window as they walked away, again. The kid did not show it very well, but Tommy could tell he was hurting. His fathers LOVE that kid, more intensely than Tommy has ever seen them love anything else, but their lives were busy. Busy trying to keep their small family safe and together. But Michael needed to spend time with his Bo and Boo.

They had Michael wrapped up tight, but the town was still as bustling as it usually was. Despite the nipping air, kids ran all around. Some of them kicked a ball across the path, and others crowded around the base of a tree planted in the center of the square. A large and sturdy chestnut oak tree that looked like it was probably there since the founding of the town. It took up a considerable amount of space, but the town seemed to know how to care for it well. The lower and thinner branches had been sawed off to ensure that it wouldn’t get in anybody’s way, and to keep the kids from climbing on it. Though there always was a straggler who seemed to make their way up the trunk every once and a while.

Their first stop had to be the bakery. They all were hungry after their ride to the town, which was at least an hour and a half trip on horseback. After they had gotten their treats, Michael did ask (demand) to try all the pastries they had bought as well. All three boys happily gave a piece away to the kid. An end of an eclair, a strawberry with whipped cream, and a chunk of a chocolate chip cookie. They walked around the square for a few minutes more, browsing the stalls that were open. Each one having something to ogle or inspect. A winter themed cookbook had caught Tommys eye, and before he even could consider buying it Tubbo had swiped it up and paid for the thing. Then they left, dragging a giggling piglin away to a different stall.

Not before long they ran across Mary’s shop again. A warm feeling brushed over the four of them as they stepped through the front door, and heard the chime of the bell above their heads.

Well they were not wrong about the cozy part, that’s for sure. Though the front of the shop seemed a bit lackluster. A single mannequin in the front window and pretty much zero decor to draw the eye. The two prettiest things were the name of the shop painted across the window in cream swirly letters, and a floor length dress with a vibrant floral pattern with a sage green sweater over top. Browns, reds, oranges, and speckles of green leaves almost looked painted on the skirt. It was beautifully crafted. 

The inside was the cozy part. Short shelves were scattered throughout the shop, no more than ten, creating small aisles filled with many things. Pins, pin cushions, embroidery hoops of all different sizes, guides, threads, yarns, he could go on. But what really popped out were the rows of fabrics that lined the walls to the side. There were a few patterned fabrics, but many different colors and many different types. Why in the world the owner would choose to go so all out for such a small town is beyond Tommy, but he sure as hell isn’t going to complain.

The four walk around the store for a while, but not after long Tubbo comes up to his side to drag him to the back. In the back is a small work/check out table. Sitting at the table is an older woman, maybe in her late forties with crows feet and creases between her brows. Frizzed hair was pulled into a loose braid and a few stray grays mixed in with the rest. Her complexion was dark, as was her hair. She reminded him of a librarian if Tommy was honest, though she was currently working on patching a small tear in a kids skirt, so not too much like a librarian.

The glasses on her nose were wired and sliding down slightly. When she looked up to greet them she pushed them farther up her nose. She looked rather tired, but her eyes were sharp. She seemed sharp, he liked her.

Tubbo spoke up first, “Hello, you remember us, right? We were in here only a few weeks ago to get some supplies for our friend?” Ranboo stood just behind his husband, holding Michael in his arms. The kid had his head tucked into his father’s neck, peeking out with his good eye to study the lady behind the counter. She nods, “Yes I remember you two. Is this your friend then?” She looks at Tommy, setting down the skirt.

“‘Ow do? Names’ Tommy innit.” Tommy says, giving the lady a lopsided grin. Her eyes scan him, and then move on to Michael, Tommy stiffens. A small sliver of anxiety crawled up his spine. Michael being a piglin could cause some problems for people, for as fucking stupid as that is there were still people who would hate the child for it. But what really worried Tommy was the fact he was zombified. That in and of itself could be an even larger target on the kids head. But to Tommy’s surprise and relief her eyes soften and glide right past to Ranboo, then to Tubbo, then to Tommy once again.

Her eyes linger on Tommy for another moment, “Your friends are clueless.” There is a pause in the room for a split moment before Tommy doubles over in laughter. His chest hurt with the force. Both Tubbo and Ranboo are left in a gobsmacked state, both trying to grapple with the fact a woman they have only met twice now called them clueless. Michael, understanding just enough common to know that the nice lady called his two dads dumb, is also giggling.

Mary just continues on, “The two of them came in here askin’ me so many questions, they were both so nervous I thought one of them was tryin’ to steal from me.” She drawled, completely nonchalant. Ranboo shook their head fervently, “We would never-”. Tommy let loose another round of cackles cutting off whatever Ranboo was trying to say to defend his family. “This is the funniest thing-” a gasp, “That has happened in months.” Tommy choked out between his giggles and laughs.

“This is betrayal, utter and awful betrayal.” Tubbo huffed, stomping his hoof onto the wooden floors. Tommy just turned his grin to him, slinging an arm over his brother's shoulder, “Awe, big man got his feelings hurt?”. Tubbo looks up at Tommy, his hair a bit disheveled from Tommy leaning on him and messing it up. “Tommy, you will lose this arm if you don’t get off me in the next two seconds.” Tommy is quick to shuffle back just a tad, not without messing up Tubbos’ hair even further. Causing hair to stick out in wild and unpredictable directions. It caused Michael to give a good laugh himself.

He slips down from Ranboo’s hold, his dad letting him down gently, and hop over to Tubbo and tug on his coat. Tubbo grins and squats down to match the kid's height, “What's up Mikey?” Michael squeals in laughter before he reaches up to Tubbos hair and runs his little hands through it erratically, shuffling it up even more. A dramatic gasp comes from the bush that once was Tubbo as he wraps his arms around the kid and starts to tickle Michael, “Not you too! My own son! How will I recover!” He shouts, a big goofy smile on his own face.

Michael is all giggles and laughs as he is attacked, shouting in a mixture of piglin and common, “Bo!” the giggles continue, “Stop! Bo! No!” Tubbo eases up on the poor kid to let him catch his breath.

“So this is Michael then?”

All four boys Turn to see Mary watching them, a small smile and a fond look in her eyes. “I’ve heard a lot about you young man, It’s nice to finally meet you.”

Ranboo perks up, “This is Michael, Say hi Mikey.”

Michael had hid himself behind Tubbo, even after he had stood, the kid was staring from between Tubbo legs. Hesitating, Michael gave a small wave before yanking his hand back to his chest. Tubbo places a hand on his son's head and ruffles it, then in turn reaches up to try to fix his own hair. “He's a bit shy,” He says as he untangles his hair from one of his ears, “We don’t often take him out of the house so he isn't very used to so many new people.”

“Is he your son?”

“Yes, he is, we had adopted him a while ago. I didn’t even really think about it, we had found him alone and neither me or Ranboo could leave without him.” Tubbo says, nodding and looking at Ranboo then their son. “I thank Prime everyday for him, he’s our pride.” Ranboo agrees.

Mary’s smile grows, it's soft and familiar. Tommy wonders if she has any kids of her own. “He is lucky to have you too as dads.”

Tommy smiled, “I agree.” Mary turns her gaze back to Tommy once again, “So, you must be the self taught tailor.”

“He made the sweater I’m wearing!” Tubbo unzips his coat to show off the green sweater that Tommy had sewn. Mary nods, “Really?”

“Yup!"

Tommy sticks his hand out, drawing her attention again, “I- it’s not really up to par, it’s one of the first things I’ve made in a few years-”

“Oh? When did you begin learning to sew?

“I- about three or four years ago, maybe.” A pause, “I didn’t keep track of when I started. It was never an actual class I took or anything. I have been patching my own clothes, and their clothes, ever since. This is the first thing I’ve actually made in years.”

“Impressive, you should be proud of yourself young man.”

Tommy is struck, he doesn’t understand why. All the woman said is that it was impressive. There was nothing truly impressive about it. All he did was sew some pieces of cloth together. “Oh, thank you.”

She hums acknowledgment. “Come closer,” she stands and motions with her hand to follow, “I have some patterns for you to check out, if you want to learn more.” Tommy nods dumbly and follows her behind the desk and into the door off to the left, hidden by one of the shelves.

The back room is a fair bit darker than the store itself, having one small window on the far right wall beside another door, and stairs to its right leading up. Outside it was another alleyway behind the store. The room itself was filled with boxes, too many to count. Rolls of fabrics and baskets of threads and yarns and so much more. Another desk was pushed to one wall on the left with a lamp sitting on it, illuminating it well. It was also covered in supplies, but also papers. But what Mary was leading Tommy to was a bookshelf that sat across the door they had entered from.

The bookshelf was a few shelves taller than Tommy and was just as cluttered as the rest of the room. Smaller boxes take up space on every shelf, with random folders and a sticky note that reads; ‘DO NOT FORGET, WATER THE PLANT’. Which caused Tommy to huff a laugh.

“Don’t laugh at my lack of a green thumb, young man.” Mary said, looking at Tommy out of the corner of her eye as she reached for one of the books. There were genuinely so many Tommy had trouble reading all the labels. There were a lot of history books, surprisingly, stuff about period fashion, and history on specific things like buttons or ribbon ties. What Mary had pulled down from the shelf was another book with simple patterns. She handed it over and then began reaching for another.

Tommy looked down at the book in his arm and started to protest another, “Ms.M-”

“Mary is fine.”

“Mary, I already have a lot of books, don’t you think this is a little overkill?”

All Mary responded with was a simple, “No.” before she placed another book on the growing stack. Tommy almost considered setting down his cane so he didn’t drop them all. Thankfully she started to show some mercy, stopping at the fourth book. She pulled the door open again for Tommy, “You want to learn, right?”

He did, he wanted to learn more. He wanted to get better. To make things.

He's only ever been good for chaos. He was good at it, he stirred up the pot, broke things, caused some issues, and annoyed the shit out of his friends and enemies alike. He was what the people needed of him, he was a soldier, a partner, a scapegoat. Never, has Tommy ever been someone people expected to create. Not something so complex and delicate.

“Yes, I- I want to learn.”

A smile, “Good man. Now tell me, do you have any new projects lined up?”

- - -

They spend a few good hours in that store with Mary. Some customers come and go. Most of the time asking for repairs. Once Tommy asked if he could help but she brushed him off. “It’s what they pay me for.” is all she said.

He goes over some general ideas he's had about things to make. Mostly for others, she gives him a few ideas for himself too. A new cardigan, maybe another bandanna, or a hat. But Tommy still hasn’t come up with anything solid yet. For now he thinks he’ll stick to patching things until he comes up with something good.

Once Michael had complained for the fourth time, the three boys finally gave in and said their goodbyes. Leaving Mary with a wave, a small pouch of gold, and a few emeralds as thanks (again, Ranboo, you rich fuck).

The town was still just as nice as it had been before they went into Mary’s store. They continued to browse, but with their unofficial goal complete, all four were ready to go home.

As the four headed back to the stable that held their horses, both Tubbo and Tommy were swinging Michael between their arms once more. Making swoosh sounds as they swung him up and back down again. Michael of course loved it, saying “Again! Again!” Over and over. Tommy's shoulder was going to be sore tomorrow for sure.

But then-

Red.

Snow, fur, long tusks and even longer hair.

Wood, smoke, screaming, swords.

Books, late nights, steaming cups of tea.

“Tommy?”

“You want to be a hero Tommy?”

“TOMMY!”

Everything rushed back to Tommy at once, where he is and who he’s with. Tubbo, Ranboo, and Michael are all watching him with matching concern on their faces. Michael reached out with his free hand that Tommy at some point had let go of. Ranboo takes a small step forward, “You ok, Toms?”

A woman with a red shawl walks down the street, carrying a basket of bread and is excited to get home. She is none the wiser of Tommy or the things running through his mind. She continues on out of his sight, a slight skip in her step as she rushes along.

“Yeah,” he says shakily, “I just… thought I saw something. It was nothing though.” He grasps Michaels hand and starts forward, “Who wants lemon bars after supper tonight?” Michael immediately agrees, Tubbo and Ranboo share a glance before agreeing as well.

- - -

On their way home Michael begs to ride with Tommy, so he hoists him up in front of him in the saddle and starts off to home. As their trip leads on, his mind drifts to a red cape he has stuffed in the bottom of a chest in his closet. A turtle helmet in his enderchest.

The next day, Tubbo was asleep on the window bench again with Michael on his chest. A book slid out of his hands slowly. It had taken thirty minutes and a bribe with candy later to get Michael to even lay down with him. One of the conditions was to be with ‘Mimi’.

But even with a highly valuable blackmail photo Tommy could be taking right now, he was currently bent over his desk in his office, a pencil and his notebook open in front of him. He couldn’t think of a single good idea. Nothing was coming to mind. The only thing that was on his mind was that damned red cape.

Hm, maybe-

He turned back to his sketchbook, and all the crumpled pages around him, and he starts to sketch

Chapter Text

There was a knock at the door.

Tommy seemed to freeze, were they expecting someone? He didn’t think they were, Tubbo might have mentioned it before but fuck if Tommy was actually paying attention to it. Neither Tubbo nor Ranboo seemed nervous or on edge so maybe he’s just overreacting. Oh yeah probably. Tommy overthinking as usual, even so he sat in his chair in the living room stiff as a board while he watched Tubbo open the back door in the kitchen to their unknown visitor.

Now, Tommy is not sure who he was expecting here, maybe Foolish, because he has worked on the mansion they were currently living in. Or maybe it was Quackity, here to ask some wild favor. Hell, maybe it was a salesman asking about their house’s extended warranty. Or maybe even some scouts to aggressively sell cookies to them.

Maybe it was-

Who does walk through the door, however, is none other than Puffy, and trailing after her is another zombified piglin. One around Michael’s age too. She looked just around the same as she did from the last time he had seen her, save for some deeper eye bags . No extra limbs or missing pieces. Same white hair, same crow’s feet, same polite smile. It was just Puffy. Both Ranboo and Tubbo welcome her with smiles and small talk, opening the door wide.

“Hi! I am so sorry I am late it has been a morning.” She says as she ushers the small piglin girl in before her, walking over to set a backpack onto the kitchen island. Ranboo simply shakes his head, “Don’t worry about it Puffy it’s no problem at all! It’s good to see you!”

For the first time, he’s finally able to see the small clearly, not blocked by either of his friends or the kitchen island. She walked further into their house, small hooves clacking on the floors. Tubbo had turned to her and was smiling, “Hey Michelle, you exited?” She nods hard, her pink hair falling over her shoulders. She had a little red sweater on and blue jeans hemmed so they sat just above her knee joint. She was adorable, Tommy can admit. She didn’t remind him of Michael’s thoughts, Tommy could tell she was just too different from his nephew to compare the two.

Tubbo had nodded too and gestured further into the house, “I’ll go get Mikey, he’s still upstairs-” and just before he could walk away Michelle grabbed his pant leg and started to follow. Tubbo continues to smile as he looks down at her. His laugh was soft as he placed his hand on her head, “Alright you can come too, let’s go”

The two set off to the stairs, walking behind the couch to get to the center stairs in the foyer. Michelle hasn’t spotted Tommy just yet, but he’ll have time to introduce himself later, for now, he turns his attention back to the two left in the kitchen.

Well, it’s now or never huh?

Puffys face changes rapidly as he stands and approaches, Tommy leans heavily on his cane as he gets closer to the island. A little nervous about Puffy seeing him after so long. His smile is awkward while giving a small and stunted wave, “Heyyyy big P, h-hows it going?”

“Tommy? OH MY GOD TOMMY!!” She all but yells in surprise at seeing him. Reaching forward and grabbing onto his biceps to pull him in closer, trying to get a better look at him. “Tommy, how are you here? I mean you were- I mean the whole SERVER saw-” Her eyes were full of unshed tears, voice a little shaky. Tommy cut her off before she could go into the questions. He held her forearm with his free hand and smiled gently at her.

“- It’s a long story puffy, nothing an absolutely massive man such as myself has the time to tell.” He looked into her eyes and pleaded for her not to ask any questions. It’s not something he’d want to bring up, least of all at this very moment.

She swallows, seeming to get his hint. “- I- uh- I’m just glad you’re here.” She says, at last, pulling Tommy in for a bone-crushing hug. After finally pulling away, he glances at Ranboo for a moment before waiting a moment to let Puffy recalibrate. It was a little awkward, just standing there while Puffy calmed herself down, but it’s not like he could do anything about it.

“Soooo big P, who was that kid you walked in with?” Tommy said as he scratched his neck, sue him, the air was getting a little too thick for his tastes.

She sniffs a little, wiping at her eyes with her sleeve. “She’s my daughter,” Puffy says, “We had met in a similar way to Ranboo and Tubbo adopting Michael.” There’s a look in her eyes as she pauses, some spark Tommy hasn’t noticed until right now. The way she looks out to where she last saw Michelle, right before she and Tubbo disappeared around the corner. “She just came out of nowhere. Alone in the nether. We spent hours trying to find something. A group, or some kind of bastion, but there was nothing for miles around. Eventually, I just asked if she would like to come home with me and she seemed to like the idea.”

“Oh. Well, I’m glad she found you, she’s lucky.”

Puffy smiles kindly, “Thank you, Tommy. I’m glad to see you’re doing well too. I missed you.” She reaches her hand out, placing hers atop his on his cane. Tommy stares at it for a moment, realizing that this is the first person he’s talked to other than Tubbo, Ranboo, or Michael in many months. He nods, “Yes, thank you. Um, so- why are you here? Not just to bask in my presence in sure.” Tommy jokes.

“Oh!” That makes Puffy jerk a little, remembering why she had come in the first place. She pulls away to rummage through the backpack once more, making sure everything is there, “Michelle and Michael have play dates semi-regularly. we have a deal, whenever one of us needs a babysitter we can drop by and the kids get to play while we get to work! It works really well actually.”

“Plus the kids get someone to talk to. Other than us of course.” Tubbo adds, walking back up to the group. Puffy tilts her head, “Oh are they both upstairs still?” Tubbo stops to stand at Ranboos side, “Yeah, Michael has had this ongoing thing about being a king. I think he just convinced Michelle to be his court wizard.”

That gets a laugh out of them all, the image of the two kids running around their imaginary kingdom was an adorable thought.

Tubbo turns to Tommy, that mischievous grin stretched across his face. “He’s calling for his knight you should go before his highness gets too cranky.” Tommy rolls his eyes but relents, “Har har, Ill-” he’s cut off by feeling a hand grip on his once more, he looks down, then back up to see Puffy holding his hand again. “Here,” She says as she hands him a small white card, it’s got a little rainbow arching across the top ending at a little sheep where a cloud would have been, “If you need anything, Tommy, please call me.”

Her eyes were so serious. Not hard, or cold, or stern. Her grip wasn’t hard, she wasn’t loud either. But something about the way she was looking at him, the way she spoke. It made Tommy pause, “O- ok, thank you.” He stutters before pocketing the card.

Puffy hugs him one last time before finally leaving, saying bye to her daughter and then to the boys before departing. Went off to whatever plans she had for the day. As Tommy walks up to fulfill his duty to his nephew as his loyal knight, he pulls the card out of his pocket. It’s a business card, and in thick black letters it reads “TheraPuffy” and under it in smaller letters are some contact or availability stuff. Something about the whole interaction had shaken Tommy, and he was not entirely sure why.

It’s not like she had missed him, or, well she might have missed him a little considering how she was acting. But, why was she so upset? Tommy didn’t understand. It’s not like they were close, or that she knew, did she know? Did the whole server know?

Did they know he was a dead man walking?

Whatever, it doesn’t matter now. He shoves it back in his pocket and continues up the stairs.

- - -

The day continues on just as calmly as it usually does. Tommy, Tubbo, and Ranboo watching over two small children.

So not that calm- but! They have it handled! Definitely!!

For sure!!

They were in over their heads.

Or at least Tommy was. Tubbo and Ranboo seemed fine, they obviously had a lot more attention diverted to the two than they would if it were just Michael, but neither seemed all that stressed. Tommy on the other hand, well, he was nervous enough watching Michael for the first time. Watching TWO different children was making his hands shake. He was somewhat used to the responsibility of watching Michael now, although he wished his parents wouldn’t spring it on him so last minute (looking at you Tubbo).

Watching someone else’s kid? THAT for sure made Tommy more nervous, thank Prime Tub and Ran were there with him though. He couldn’t do something like this by himself, not that he was going to any time soon. But the anxiety was there all the same.

It wasn’t all that big of a deal, Tommy knew he was being dramatic. He was just in his own head. He knew that he wished the damned shaking would just fucking stop already. He hated how it made him look. He looked weak.

Which of course was all he needed, one more thing to make him look weak. When he looked weak, in came the pity. The looks and the treatment. It infuriated Tommy to no end. He could tell Tubbo and Ranboo saw it, they never said anything. He didn’t know what was worse, the pity or the apathy. Well maybe apathy is a bit strong, he just can’t think of a better word at the moment.

He was right about one thing though, Michelle was a lot different than Michael.

Where Michael was bubbly and so very talkative, Michelle was just a tad more reserved. Michelle was maybe a little shy, which would be understandable considering this is her first time meeting Tommy. She was, however, incredibly curious. She and Michael spent an entire hour looking at all the embroidery and patches Tommy had done to fix Michael’s clothes. She ran her fingers over every stitch and felt every patch. A small sparkle in her eyes reminiscent of her adoptive mother.

It made Tommy a little happy, seeing the two kids marvel over something so simple as some string and fabric. He hid a small smile as Michelle pointed out a butterfly that Tommy had embroidered over a particularly nasty hole in the knee of Michael’s pants.

When Michael had enthusiastically introduced Michelle to Tommy when he first crossed the threshold into Michael’s room it was in piglin. He was speaking so fast that Tommy could barely keep up with what he was saying, and as it looked, neither could Michelle. When Tommy tried to respond in piglish her eyes snapped to his.

She apparently never met someone other than Michael who spoke piglin, and while Tommy’s vocal cords couldn’t mimic all the letters or words she was still just as happy to speak to him in her native tongue.

She seemed to open up a bit after that, it made Tommy’s chest ache. In a good way.

She had especially taken to his games too.

Michael had already introduced Michelle to his and Tommy’s game of knights and kings, as he knew from earlier. Michelle previously declared herself the kingdom’s sorcerer and now has one of Michael’s toy mallets from an old music toy lying around and repurposing it to be her new wand.

They chased Tommy around the house with their spells and swords. Tommy yelled back at them as he swung his cane half-heatedly in their direction. Tubbo joined in on the fight, taking Tommy’s side and causing a standstill.

All heads turned to Ranboo. Who admittedly looked very calm with eight pairs of eyes on him and an expectation to choose a side.

In the end, they didn’t have to choose, because Michael took one look at them and deemed him his prince. This leads Tommy to call him the “damsel in distress” which also causes Tubbo to choke in laughter. Ranboo fakes his distress as he curls up in an armchair while the two kids defend their prize with all their might. While a traitorous spy and a knight try to steal him away.

As Tommy calls himself a timeout to get some water, he watches. It makes him think about his past a bit. He watches Tubbo laugh as he parries a swing from Michael. He’s hit with a wave of nostalgia, seeing a small boy with red fur, and his father outside. Lessons on how to wield the practice weapon. He sees Tubbo beside him, younger, with a smile untouched.

He comes back and catches Tubbo’s eye and sees his friend smile with the chaos around him. He sees the reflection of something in his face, a bit of their past maybe. A blink and it’s gone, now they look at each other and grin.

He sees the look in his best friend’s eye. Just like Tommy himself, he’s sure. They both see it, Tommy thinks. He holds out his hand to Tubbo, a sly smile and tears in his eyes.

“Together.”

It wasn’t a question. It didn’t need to be.

No matter what they always ended up together.

Tubbo’s smile became clearer, the wobble fading to something more present and excited. He clasped Tommy’s’ hand with a firm and grounding grip.

“Always.”

They both turn and dive back into the fray. Heads held high, bellowing a war cry.

— — —

Dinner was about as chaotic as the rest of the night was, Ranboo had made spaghetti and unfortunately, the kids made a mess. It was purely on accident, one of the kids stood in their chair and tipped their plate over and onto themselves.

Puffy was apologetic but not very concerned about her child’s antics, Tommy guessed it was a regular thing.

He still had trouble meeting her eyes, he still didn’t understand why.

He listened to Michelle ramble about their games and the little stitched butterfly as Puffy held her, the bag slung over her shoulder and laughing at something her daughter had said as she softly shut the kitchen door behind her.

Later, Tommy had excused himself to his room. Even with all the excitement in the day; seeing Puffy again, meeting Michelle, having to clean up all that Prime-forsaken spaghetti, having to entertain and sometimes translate for two small children, he couldn’t sleep. Something was thrumming under his skin, an itch he could not scratch. A sensation on his bones nothing could settle.

He tossed and turned for nearly thirty minutes before he had finally gave up and grabbed his cane to hobble over to his workroom. Walking into the room, you could see the full moon through the massive bay windows, casting soft light onto the carpet and hardwood. There was just enough light for Tommy to get to his desk and turn on a lamp so he could see his sketchbook.

So, he sits at his desk with papers and pencils galore and starts to sketch.

His pencil glides across the page, a crown here, a wizard cap there. A small king’s outfit appears on his page without Tommy really trying. A soft white shirt and a blue sash across the chest, sewn in so it wouldn’t come loose after running around too much. He sketches a cape. A bright red cape. He moves on.

A small deep blue poncho appears next to the small king, with golden stitching and it’s long enough to reach the middle of the upper arm, coming to a point in the back. Stars, moons, suns, planets, and comets were set in a dazzling pattern, perfect for a royal sorcerer if you’d ask Tommy. The thing is just short enough to allow more movement for enormous spells to be cast.

Laying his pencil back onto the desk felt almost euphoric, I guess true creativity strikes at midnight after all. Tommy reaches forward to turn the lamp back off and turns in his chair to watch the stars for a moment, before standing and making his way back to his very large, and very inviting bed.

The hum had died for now, so he closed his eyes and dreamed of kings and knights.

Chapter Text

The grass is green, the sky is blue, and Tommy feels like throwing up. 

A hand was placed on his back, “Are you sure you’re Ok?”

“Boob boy if you ask me that one more time, I’ll make sure to throw up on you.”

“Ew, no, please don’t.”

The trio walked on. The wood under their feet was worn with age and use. Planks were browned with time and smooth to the touch. Some planks were newer, the nails not as rusted, and wood still bright in color. Each step felt familiar but nauseating. The cold air helped a little, winter was fading and the snow with it. There were still some piles along the tree line or in the shade, but other wise new growth was sprouting with the changing of the season. Spring making its way back around the corner. In Snowchester the snow was everlasting, but around here it was a different story. Still, Tommy’s stomach rolled. This wasn’t any ordinary path, no. This was THE path.

Tommy was back on the Prime path again. The first time in roughly half a year. The first time he’d walked on these planks since Ranboo and Tubbo convinced him to move in with them. His prosthetic clacking against the wood truly told how much had changed since the last time he had been here.

And Tommy still felt like he was going to be sick.

Earlier that day, Tubbo had announced that he was off to visit Eret at her castle. Something about projects or something. OK, look, Tommy wasn’t paying attention. He had bigger things to occupy his mind. Time passed slowly on the server, and it took a while, but most everyone on the server had made amends or forgiven Eret. By extension so had Tubbo, at some point.

Tommy was not sure when that had happened, one day Tubbo had just walked right through the backdoor into the kitchen and started talking about his trip to the mainland and Eret along with it and Tommy had just put two and two together. The idea played over and over in his mind, it stuck with him. Almost as persistent as the imaginary eyes that bore into him at night. 

He thought about a lot of things at night, when he couldn’t sleep. Trying to ignore the paranoia. He thought of the past, the future, what to eat tomorrow. But mostly the past. Tommy knows a lot of people are still stuck in the past. Himself included. When you grow up on a server riddled with petty wars and Geneva convention violations, you tend to develop some unhealthy coping habits. 

Well regardless, he couldn’t stop thinking about it. The past was very easy to think about. Eret had done some pretty shitty things, and Tommy felt weight in his chest thinking about it. The betrayal, it was a heavy thing to sit with. Even in that dark room, with the button under his palm, Tommy could see Eret eyes behind his sunglasses. He remembers seeing mostly triumph. They were just preforming in their best interest. 

But as the war went on, and more time passed, and more conflict was waged. Tommy saw the same wight in their eyes. Their shoulders set hard, trying not to show how everything they have done and seen rests upon them. 

———

Tommy’s neck strains as he watches Tubbo flit around the living room from the couch, his head hanging upside down from over the armrest. Tubbo picks up stray toys and blankets as he talks with Ranboo, who was cleaning up the kitchen in turn.

They had gotten home after lunch, both spending the night away from the house doing their own thing. Tommy had spent the night before and the morning looking after Michael so Tubbo and Ranboo were helping clean up.

Tubbo then dumps all the blankets he gathered right onto Tommy’s stomach, causing him to make a startled, “Omph!” He sits up to push them out of his face so he can give Tubbo a dirty look, only to met with a smirk from his friend. “Asshole,” Tommy mutters. “Dickhead,” Tubbo shoots back. “Oi! Who you callin’ a dick head?” Tommy says, sitting up further. Tubbo just shrugs with that stupid smile on his face, “Who else could I be talking to?” Tommy props himself on his elbows, all the blankets stacked up just under his chin, “I’ll have you know that I am the nicest man around, so very kind and generous. ”, Tubbos smirk just grows, “Sure big man, whatever helps you sleep at night.”

…. Tommy lets himself fall back onto the couch letting the blankets flop back over his head, covering him from view. “Die.” Tubbo pats the mound and laughs, “Whatever you say big man.”

“Hey where does this go?” Ranboo calls from the kitchen, breaking Tubbos attention away from Tommy,  “In the cabinet to the left.”

Tubbo and Ranboo fall into easy conversation, Tommy listens from under the blankets staying nice and cosy. They talk about a lot of things, the use of cheese shredders and the most painful place to use it on a person, different torture methods, which foods could be considered a war crime, which naturally flowed to the best way to garnish spaghetti. All the while Ranboo cleaned up the kitchen and Tubbo strained out the living room. 

Look, Tommy never said it was a normal conversation.

“Oh yeah! speaking of,” Tommy heard Ranboo perk up, “when were you planing to go visit Eret again?” Because that made sense. “Oh, probably a few days from now, I need to finish the switch mechanism in the top box before I can bring it back to Eret,” came Tubbo’s reply. “Awesome, I was thinking of stopping by-”

“Could I tag along?” 

Both Tubbo and Ranboos heads snap to stare at Tommy, who had dug out from under the blankets again and had dangled his arms and head over the back of the sofa. There was a stunned silence that sat with them for a solid ten seconds, both boys stared at Tommy like he had grown a second head, which- rude. 

Tommy looked right back at them, “What?” he asked incredulously.

Both Tubbo and Ranboo looked back to each other, and then back to Tommy. Ranboo spoke up first, “I mean, are you sure?” Tubbo nodded, agreeing, “Yeah its been, a while. You haven’t mentioned going to the mainland since you moved in with us.” Tubbo set the coffee table back into place after Michael pushed it out the way to make a bigger area to do some board game he and Tommy had been playing earlier. “You sure you’re ready?”

“I’d believe so,” Tommy shrugged, “The people of the mainland have suffered enough time without this handsome face! Who am I to deny the ladies this face?” Tommy finish with a flurry of arm movements and dramatic fall back onto the couch. Tubbos head appeared over top of the couch, looking down at Tommy’s splayed out form, half buried under the many blankets he numbed onto him earlier. He gave Tommy a grin, “If you say so Tom.”

———

And now we’re back here.

The three of them, walking down the prime path together.

That hasn’t happened in, none of them know how long. It was already a rare enough occasion its a miracle its even happening now. The three of them, on the prime path.

Not a single thing has changed, only the passage of time. Some grass being taller and more flora growing along the path, or some planks of the path being a bit more warn than it was before. The last time Tommy remembers being down here himself was when his friends invited him to live with them.

He knows his friends visited the mainland’s, it’s just weird being here in person.

Banter was stilted a little as they walked. Tommy held the sky on his solders, there are a lot of bad memories.

But a lot of good ones too.

Seeing the Innit hotel furthers that tension, Tommy tried to keep his eyes down as he passed, although something else caught his eye. He noticed an unfinished structure on the other side of the path, chests sit out from along with many crates and a few work stations. “Isn’t that the Bee n Boo motel?”

Both Ranboo and Tubbo whipped their heads to look in the same direction as Tommy, pausing for a moment to stare.

“Holy shit, I completely forgot about this.” Tubbo said, scratching his head.

“How the hell did you forget about it? Don’t you take this path like, every other week?”

“Don’t you have somewhere the be? Like the ‘Fuck you station’ or something? I hear they are waiting take off.”

Ranboo just laughed and rolled his eyes In return. Tubbo scrunched his nose at being ignored, “I could divorce you, you know. Take Michael and half your riches with me.”

“Mhm.”

“I could. Leave you in the dust I would.”

“If you say so- Ow! Hey!” Tubbo smiled as if he didn’t just smack Ranboos arm.

Tommy stuck his arm out like a referee, “Ladies! Ladies! Please! Your both very pretty.”

Again, both Ranboo and Tubbo heads turn to Tommy, looking scandalized. They all stood in silence for a second before Tubbo snorted, and all three laughed. The trio moved on.

“You know your stops coming up.” Tubbo flicks his ear.

Tommy suddenly remembers why he even wanted to tag along in the first place.

“Do you want us to wait for you?”

“Nah, I’m good. I’ll head over to you once I’m done here.” Tommy says, smiling to both Ranboo and Tubbo. They both hesitate a little, they look to each other and to him again. Tubbo shrugs and offers a wave, “Ok, we’ll see you later then.”

Ranboo give their own small wave, “Good luck.”

As they both walk away, Tommy takes a moment to look at the world around him for a moment. Everything feels like a memory out here. Even before, everything, he still didn’t like to spend much time around here. A lot happened around the mainland’s. Then again, a lot happened everywhere.

A deep breath, in and out. He turned around.

‘TheraPuffy’ is a small building. Dark oak, polished Andesite, and stone bricks make up the structure. Standing out in front of the front door, dread started building in Tommy’s gut. The longer he stood there, the more eyes he felt digging into his back. He was here, he might as well walk in, right? Whats the harm? He was actually invited to go! Digging the business card out of his pocket, Tommy reads it over again. It was slightly crinkled but still intact. The little sheep stared at him, just another pair of eyes.

A door bell jingled as he walked into the lobby. In the corner in front of him sat couches and a small coffee table in the center with a few puzzles and magazines. The walls are each a different color, the one across from the door is a soft yellow while the two to the sides are sky blue. Looking to his left, the last wall is a moss green. All the trim and furniture were also dark oak, keeping with the theme. It also gave a nice contrast to the soft color of the walls. A collection system sat at the other end of room, signs said something about bookings or availability but Tommy didn’t take the time to read any of it.

Tommy’s sure that Puffys office is a similar shade of rainbow.

Before Tommy could even shut the front door he heard Puffy open the office door from the other side of the room. The regular oak floors creaked just a little under their feet. Puffy was as fluffy as ever, reading glasses perched on her nose as it was buried in papers, “Hello, welcome to TheraPuffy, if you could- Tommy?” Her eyes widened as she finally took the time to look up at her guess.

Tommy gave a meager wave and a small, hesitant grin. “Ayup?”

Her shock quickly gave way to excitement, “Tommy! Oh my Prime!” She exclaimed as she headed over to him, setting down her papers on the desk / collection box. She held out her arms as she approached, a broad smile on her face. Tommy smiled in turn and lifted his arm, mostly on instinct.

The hug she gave only really registered after she had already wrapped her arms around him. One arm under his extended one, the other around his shoulder of his right arm. She was strong, it’s pretty damn obvious. She looks like she could bench Tommy’s weight double over, but her hug wasn’t constrictive. It felt, good. The pressure around his ribs didn’t bruise, but comfort.

He hesitantly put his arm around her to return the hug. The pressure was, nice. As corny as it was it felt really good to get a hug again. But just as quick as she scooped him up, she back away. Her smile was bright as she lead him further in.

“I can’t believe you came all this way! It’s so good to see you Tom, how have you been?”

Tommy shrugged a little, “I’ve been alright. It’s been, good actually.” And Tommy is pleasantly surprised that he actually is telling the truth.

Puffy just gives him that smile again, like she is happy for him, or something. “That’s good to hear, here, follow me into my office. We can talk some more in there.” She said as she grabbed her papers from the desk. When she opened the the oak door, Tommy was only a little disappointed that the walls were not rainbow colors like the rest of the building, but she made up for it in furniture.

The desk that was in the room sat up against the wall to his right, across from the door. A large bookshelf sat on the right wall, full of more thick books and little trinkets, and picture frames. He thinks he sees a picture of Foolish up there but before he can get a closer look Puffy calls him to sit.

Turning around, he’s assaulted with colorful furniture. Three love seats took up the other side of the room, and a really nice velvet green plush chair sat making it almost a little square of chairs. There was a neon blue beanbag in one of the corners and a tall lamp in the other. The actual frames of the chairs were the same dark oak, but each cushion was a different color, pastels were the main color. Pillows shaped like silly things like flowers or dinosaurs or stars sat on all the chairs. A few blankets draped over different arm rests and a coffee table, more dark oak, sat in the center. A small flower vase sat in the center with three white Lilly’s in it, a few magazines, some toy looking things. The walls themselves were a vert nice shade of cream, and a single, but very large window was framed by pastel green floor to ceiling curtains. They looked like blackout curtains too.

The light from the window made the glass from the vase sparkle, the rays casting a glow on the colorful cushions and the lamp made everything seem so soft. It made the whole place very warm to Tommy, it had to be the coolest office he’d ever seen.

“Puffy this place is fucking sick.”

Puffy laughed, she had taken the love seat across from the door and had been skimming over whatever papers were in her had. She leaned forward and placed them down on the coffee table. “Thank you Tommy, I can say it did take me a hell of a while to get it all together. I’d say putting the room together damn near took longer than building the whole office.” They both got a chuckle out of that. Tommy sat across from her, and dragged a little pillow in his arms that was shaped like a small cow.

It only made him a little sad, shut up!

“So, Tommy.” Puffy started, as she got comfortable on the couch. “What can I help you with?” Tommy nodded, he shifted a little side to side. He brought out a notebook, setting the pillow aside, and he’s NOT sad about that at all. He flips to the right page and gives it to Puffy. “See,” Tommy mumbles, “I’ve been, thinking. Or well, meaning to ask, when Michelle’s birthday was. Or does she have a birthday? Since ya know, you found her in the nether and all. But I didn’t know but I figured that she might have one. Or-”

“Tommy, this is, amazing.” Puffy was completely engrossed in the page. Studying the sketches of a little wizard and her king. “I mean, it’s, I don’t even have words!” She looks up to Tommy, stars practically danced in her eyes. “She would adore this.”

Embarrassment bubbled up in Tommys chest, his cheeks heating up and becoming very red. “Well of course? I am the best after all.” Tommy tried to boast, but it came out a little weak. Embarrassment has fully encompassed him now and he pushes up his glasses to hide the blush that is probably all over his face.

The woman across from him gives him a warm smile, taking another look at the sketch before passing it back. “Tommy, I have to ask,” she stars as she leans back, getting more comfortable, “How did you come up with that? It’s such a wonderful design.”

“Well, Michael has this on going game you see. I like to call it knights and kings,” Tommy pauses for a moment and smiles, “I think you can guess who the king is.”

Puffy huffs out a laugh, a smile creasing her face. Tommy finds he mimics her smile and continues, “Michelle, has taken the role of the ‘Wizard’,” Tommy does air quotes around the word wizard, “and so, well, and then that was born.” He waves the notebook in the air to emphasize his point.

“I see, it’s a wonderful idea Tommy. I didn’t know you could sew, when did you learn?” Puffy asked, innocent enough. It was an innocent question, it simply came with a lot of memories.

A long pause filled the room, long enough that Puffy almost retracted her statement but held off when Tommy finally spoke.

“I wasn’t- I- Well, I guess I was never really taught how to sew.” Memories muddles with time and smoke came back, piece by piece. “It was just a skill I had to know, you know? It was essential.” Tommys voice was quite, he was not quite present but remembering. He remembers the moment he ran out of fabric for the L’manburg uniforms so he had to use a lighter fabric for Fundys. He remembered the flag he hastily stitched together from old ratty blankets they had in the back of the van. And the official flag he made with better fabrics later. He remembers that flag burning. He remembers the holes he patched in the knee of Tubbos pants too, and the elbow patches he sewn into Wilbur coat. He remembers the first time he pricked his finger with a needle, and the taste of blood.

“I made the L’manburg uniforms you know,” another pause, “when I was fifteen.”

Puffy leans in a little closer, giving Tommy her full attention, “Really? That is impressive.”

Tommy shrugs.

“Have you made anything else?” Puffy asks him, tilting her head a little to the right.

Nodding, he smiles a little, “I made Michael a chicken onesie. He didn’t take it off for a week and a half, he only allowed Tubbo to wash it cus’ he got a massive stain on it.” Puffy smiles too, she leans back into the couch and motions for him to continue.

“I also knitted Tubbo a sweater, or at least I think I did. I don’t remember if I crochet it or knitted it, I’m pretty sure it was crochet.”

He went on like that for a while. Explaining the suit he made for Ranboo, and the absolute bitch of a time he had trying to figure out his correct measurements. He told Puffy about the patches and embroidery he did in Michaels clothes, and some in Tubbo and Ranboos as well. He told her about more of the things he did in the past too, more clothes and patches and things of the like. He probably rambles for an hour about threads and needle size, and another full thirty minutes about the craft room Tubbo and Ranboo commissioned him.

Puffy nods along and asks questions and smiles at his words, not once seeming like he was being annoying or over explaining. Which Tommy appreciated, because he is definitely over explaining and very annoying but he is glad Puffy is letting him get away with it.

“Wow, you really have done a lot recently. I think it’s amazing you found something your so passionate about!” Puffy says, with the same kind smile.

Tommy starches the back of his neck, “Yeah, well, it was the lease I could do really. After all they have done for me.”

Puffys eyebrows raised, “Oh?” She asks, asking him to continue.

Tommy took a shaky breath, debating internally how to answer that one, “Well, I- It was really nothing. They just couldn’t live without Big Man Tommyinnit around. They would simply be lost without my guidance.” he sat up and puffed out his chest to prove the point, but Puffy just quirked a eyebrow in response. Tommy gasps in defense, “What!? It’s true! They would be in shambles!”

She laughed lightly and shakes her head as a teasing smile broke out on Puffys face, “Whatever you say, Tommyinnit.”

“I’m offended you do not believe how crucial I am to the dynamic here Cap.”

“Oh, I’m sure your very crucial.”

“I am!”

“And I believe you!”

Tommy huffs and flops back into the couch dramatically, crossing his arms and pouting. Puffy just laughs again and shakes her head. The smile doesn’t leave though.

“What’s the next project? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“Huh?” He turns to face her again, arms relaxing from their crossed state, “I mean, I guess the king and wizard outfit.”

Puffy nods, but doesn’t stop there, “Do you have any other goals? Any more ideas?”

Tommy shakes his head, “No, big P. I usually just scribble down all my banger ideas at three AM like the absolute God I am.” Puffy roles her eyes at that but continues on, “Well, do you have any?” Tommy looks away again, “No…”

“You could always start with the people around you.”

“Puffy, the only people I talk too on a regular are Tubbo, Ranboo, and Micheal.”

“Ok, then branch out. You know more people than that.”

That, actually wasn’t a bad idea.

He tired to think of anyone else he knew he could try to make something for. He could make something for Nikki! Oh, wait she and Jack hated him now. Well there was Quackity? But he hadn’t talked to him in almost a year now. Oh! What about Sam? Last time he saw him was-

Ok, maybe he didn’t know many other people he could talk too right now.

“You know,” Puffy says, getting Tommys attention again, “A gift can always be a good ice breaker.”

Tommy nods, but doesn’t say anything else other than that. They sit in a semi comfortable silence for a few more minutes, Tommys mind running through possibility and trying to form ideas. Only failing a little.

He can think of a lot of things to make, and people to make them for. Each idea is shot down in Tommys head, each person being, difficult. They either hate him, or he hasn’t talked to them in so long they probably forgot his name already.

Ok that’s an exaggeration, but he has a point!

Puffy cuts through the silence, “I, personally, am very exited to see the little wizard in action.” Puffys words startle Tommy out of his thoughts, but he agrees. He smiles at the thought of the two kids causing absolute chaos wherever they were. A king and his court sorcerer.

Oh they were in for a treat.

Tommy ends up saying goodbye to Puffy not long after. He had wasted enough of her time already, but not before promising to come back within the month.

Puffy was a hard woman to say no too.

———

Seeing Eret again after so long felt so weird.

She also seemed, taken aback, at his presence. But she did her best not to show it.

Tommy wondered if it was the glasses, the peg leg, or the cane that set her off.

Maybe it was the grey eyes, or the unnaturally pale skin. Maybe he should get out more. Actually never mind Snow Chester was too cold for that shit anyway.

Though, Tommy was starting to come up with an idea. It was shaky, nothing really was thought out in detail. But an idea none the less.

Tommy studied Eret for a while, before he and his friends left for the day.

If they noticed, they didn’t say.

Keeping his head down, the trio made their way back to their home.

Passing by the hotel, the motel, and-

Tommy imagined different things for different people. Tommy would have to take a trip to Marry’s, probably multiple. He would need the supplies.

Later, once they all had finally gotten home. And Tommy had sufficiently convinced Tubbo and Ranboo he was Fine and No he didn’t need to lay down. He had opened his closet. Digging into the back, and dusting off a chest he had hidden under a pile of junk he had shoved back here a while ago, he opened it to see red fabric.

Maybe he can work with this.

Chapter Text

Tommy’s elbows were sore, he had been sitting at this desk for hours. Glasses pushed up his nose and his hair that had been growing is in a small pony tail at the base of his skull. Courtesy of Tubbo. His pencil taps away at the wooden surface as he stares at the spread of blank notebooks in front of him.

He already has the wizard and king costumes sketched and finalized, he has spent the better part of the morning choosing the correct fabrics and setting them aside to cut for later. He only just escaped Michael and Tubbo after lunch. Michael came close to dragging him into a game of some sort, but he was able to slip away before the kid got any bright ideas.

And now he is here, sitting, tapping, coming up with zero good ideas.

“Why the fuck is this so hard,” Tommy sighs into an empty room, pushing himself away from the desk and spinning the chair around. He stares at the shelves, looking at the fabrics and spools of whatever he has sitting out. He looks out the window, light casting rays across the floor and over his feet. The sun was bright, even brighter when reflected off the snow, almost blinding. Who could he make something for?

There are already a lot of people crossed off his list, people he’s either made enemies with or haven’t talked to in almost a year.

He could try Quackity that’s one! They never really had any falling out. Nikki? No she hates him, so does jack. Hm, he hasn’t talked to Purpled in who knows how long, he doesn’t even know where he went. Eret could be a start, Fundy might still be around somewhere too. He could always make something for Puffy too, just to be nice.

Ok, so far that is like five people.

Tommy groans, placing his elbows on his knees he mushes his face into his hands. How can that be it, four people in ‘possible’ and one on the list. He can’t even use the ice breaker Puffy suggested, he already knows the majority of the server!

Sitting up again, Tommy pulls his glasses out of his hair and starts to clean them with the hem of his shirt. Standing up he wobbles over to the window, staring out into the backyard. Snow sparkles on the ground and on top of trees. Being out in the middle of nowhere does have some perks at least. Incredible views.

Tommy has caused a lot of his relationships on this server to burn, each bridge hanging on by threads. Some were rebuilt, a little shaky and unsteady, but they are there. Others, all that remained are the posts from which they hung. He doesn’t need many icebreakers, but he could try to re-thread the bridges.

Or at least apologize. He was a dumb kid, still is.

Well, it’s worth a shot.

Wobbling back to his seat he scoots back to the desk, pushes the glasses back onto his nose and picks up his pen once again. He jots down a list of everyone he knows, give or take a few people, and crosses out some others.

He adds Nikki and Jack to the list. His pen taps for another minute before he adds Foolish to the list. He doesn’t know the man very well, but hell, it’s not like he’s got much to lose with him. In the same vein he adds Purpled as well. They weren’t friends, but they never hated each other either. He circles all their names out of the list he’s made.

Ok, that adds like four more people, making it around nine. Not bad, not bad at all.

The tapping on his desk becomes rhythmic. He sits pondering, considering, thinking even. Who else…

He tries, he tries so hard not to think about it.

The white fur on Ranboo's  suit jacket.

The snow outside his window.

The chest he has shoved to the very back of his closet.

Even so…

Placing the pen back on his desk and standing. He doesn’t move for a minute, staring at the wall in front of him. Does he really want to do this? The weight of these memories sit in his chest, and for the first time in a long time, he doesn’t ignore it. He lets himself feel the weight. All of it.

The pain, the loss, the betrayal. Each its own thing, but together they hang next to his heart.

Turning, Tommy walks to the closet and opens it. Lowering himself to the floor, he drags a few boxes out, and moves them to the side. Dragging the old, dusty chest to him, Tommy opens it.

A red cape sits in the box, dusty and wrinkled.

“What the fuck man!” Tommy exclaims, ripping it off the fabric that had been thrown over his head. It was a red cape, the neck was lined with thick, white fur and a golden clasp reflected the light from the fireplace.

Techno snorts as he walks past, “You’re gonna freeze to death out there. You need a jacket.”

Huffing, Tommy runs his fingers over the clasps and shrugs, “Whatever. You didn’t have to be a fuckin ’ asshole about it.”

“Too bad, so sad. Put on the cape or I’m locking you in.”

Tommy glares at the pig the whole time he puts the cloak on, clipping the neck together and brushing some of the fur out of his face. The cloak was almost too long, the bottom just barely missing the floor boards. It will probably get wet from the snow but it wasn’t meant to fit him anyway, it was Technos old cloak.

Raising a single eyebrow, Techno stares at the kid as he waits by the door. Tommy shuffles past him, nose in the air and completely ignoring Techno as he walks past. Techno just sighs, but there is a gleam in his eye. He ruffles Tommy’s hair and shuts the door behind them both, cutting off the sound of offense from Tommy from the blatant assault.

The hearth crackles in their absence still. It will have ebbed to embers when they return, but it can be built back up again. Not the same as it was, but just as warm as before.

The cloak in his hands is dusty and faintly smells of mildew from sitting in the back of a chest in his dirt shack, and then shoved into the closet again once he was,,, relocated here. But the fabric is just as thick and strong as he remembers. Tommy brushes his shaking fingers through the fur on the collar, untangling knots and picking out debris. It’s one of the few things he made it out of the dirt shack he used to call a home. Along with the rest of the things in this chest.

Under his cape was the turtle shell helmet that he had on the last time he had seen Techno, it was covered in dust as everything else. Amethyst prayer beads were found in the bottom as well, a bit tangled from sliding back and forth as they were being moved. A few pictures burnt around the edges. Old times and even older memories rise back to the surface.

Old things Tommy would rather not look at right now, he can only stomach one nostalgic trip at a time.

Tommy holds the cloak out in front of him, raising it above his head. He studies it, the fabric, the cut, the stitching. As he’s looking it over, ideas pop into his head one by one. How he could change the stitching to make it stronger, or how he could alter the cut of the fabric to create different folds.

Lowering the cloak into his lap, Tommy’s fingers tighten in the fabric. Gripping it so tight the tremors in his hands grow more aggressive. No, there’s no need for all this. Tommy is not going to make something for Techno of all people. If Tommy even stepped foot onto his property he’d end up with a boot to the ass at least, or an arrow to the head at worst.

Standing up is a lot harder than sitting down, but Tommy is getting better at it. One day at a time! Both Tubbo and Ranboo’s annoying voices echo in his head. He knows that! It’s just a lot harder in practice. Days aren’t linear, which is all he ever hears from anyone. But the hard days are still hard, today was a hard day.

His left hip and knee screamed with soreness, building muscle back in the leg was putting a lot of stress on the joints, re learning how to walk is a pain in his ass. And sitting on the floor like he was sure didn’t help much either. Groaning, Tommy throws the cloak onto the part of the desk that wasn’t covered in crumpled paper and pencils. He leaned down, or it was a semblance of leaning down, to toss the helmet back into the chest and close it.

Straining himself, he hobbled to the bay window, almost falling into the pillows lining the bench. A sigh and a miserable “Ow…”

The bench was warm from the sun, and the sky was crystal clear. The snow storms had lessened since spring had come around. There was still snow on the ground, but the warmth from the sun was cutting through the lingering chill. It reminds him of that snowy tundra he spent hiding from his exile.

Tommy remembers the snowstorms that would blow through without a warning, white powder turning into an ice wall in front of the doors at least two feet high. He remembers bundling up and sitting as close to the fireplace as he could stand. He remembers that red cloak he had stolen for armor against the cold. How it was the best at keeping him warm.

He stole a lot from Techno, didn’t he? It was more of a statement than a question. Tommy turns his head and looks at that red cloak again. It was old, sure. Techno seemed to use different cloaks, he had at least one that was blue in its stead, though Tommy could never be sure. The memories were about as blurry as the sky in a snowstorm. The helmet in the chest that still sat in the middle of his floor was a gift for sure, one he’s sure Techno regretted giving. And then there was that axe, yeah that was definitely stolen.

“Prime, I can’t leave shit alone can I.”

Welp. Guess he knows what his next big project will be.

Soon enough sketches start to pour onto the page. Different styles of cloaks and capes. Hooded with fur, simple sheets, odd cuts with tastes, some didn’t go past the elbow, others reached his heels. It was a little too easy, they practically sprung from the page. He even drew out a poet’s shirt or two.

As more marks filled the page, more memories came back to him. Still blurry, as if a silhouette from far away. The first time Tommy had even met Techno was from when he was very young. Around the time Wilbur had coerced him off the streets.

They had run across both Phil and Techno in the middle of the street market. All he remembers was standing a little behind Will as spoke with Phil and Techno, mostly Phil. Tommy particularly remembers staring at Techno, considering he was the only massive piglin in the square. And also the first piglin Tommy had ever seen at that point. He also remembers how uncomfortable TechnoBlade looked to be full on dissected by an eight year old. The memory brings a grin to Tommy’s face.

A few more memories filter through, though some not as happy. Tommy decided to file them away for another day, not wanting to live through those right now.

He leans back and pushes away from the desk a tad, enough to get a good look at the sketches that he has laid out. He almost stands to go feel the fabrics he has to figure out which would go best, but looking at the red cloak once again.

“Oh my fucking prime, I don’t know that dickheads measurements.” Tommy groans into his hands, he completely forgot. How the ever-living-fuck is he supposed to do this without measurements.

Oh, wait. Tommy sits up slowly, grinning like a mad man. He has an idea.

——

The day was so nice.

A blanket was tossed over Ranboo’s legs and they were curled up on the comfiest chair in existence with a nice book, fire was on its way to dying but the room was still warm. Snow still sat on the ground in some places around Snowchester, but the sun shone through the windows and cast its soft rays upon the back of her neck. Everything was so nice and warm and cozy, and Ranboo was so excited to spend the next few hours here in this chair reading away to their hearts content.

However.

Poor, poor Ranboo never got to even turn to the next page.

“HEEYYY! RANNNBOOOOOOOO!!”

Welp, there goes that.

Ranboo can hear Tommy screaming from upstairs, from the slight echo, they imagine it was from the craft room. And even though it doesn’t sound urgent, they still had that flicker of anxiety, so of course they were going to see what it is Tommy seems to need so badly.

Closing the book, they let out a long sigh. Their eyes shut for a moment before very reluctantly abandoning the cozy afternoon book reading plans to go see what it is Tom wants. If he’s lucky, it won’t be anything too demanding and the book and chair would be awaiting her return.

“RANBOO!”

But she usually isn’t that lucky.

Opening the door to the craft room, provided even less hope that she would return to his afternoon plans than before.

Sitting before them was Tommy in his swivel chair, back to her, and the curtains drawn just enough so that there was only a faint glow coming from the gap between them. A small halo effect shone around Tommy and his chair.

Ranboo blinked a bit, getting used to the darker room “Uh, Yeah?”

At her words Tommy starts to turn, very slowly, around to face them. A red cloak in his lap. Half of it draped over one of his legs weirdly and Tom was petting the white fur collar like it was a cat. Ranboo didn’t even have the words to question it.

Tommy speaks lowly, a weird tone filtering into his words, “Hello, Ranboo.”

Disbelief and confusion flood in, causing Ran to just stare at Tommy for a solid ten seconds before managing to speak again “Hello?”

Tommy just keeps petting the fur on the collar, “How’s your day been, Ranboo?”

“Its been good, um,” She gestures at Tom vaguely, “what is going on here?”

“Oh, nothing much,” Tommy looks down at his hands as he continues to pet the cloak as if it were a cat. “Just, was wondering something.”

“Um, ok? What is it?”

“You definitely head out a lot every week Ranboo, where are you going?”

Oh, oh no. Ranboo knew this day would come. It was bound to happen. One day they would come back and one of his friends would ask too many questions and their secret would be blown. Though today they had decided to double down.

Their face paled as they try to respond without stuttering, “Uuhm,, you know! A little bit of everywhere haha, you know how I like to um, travel?” The whole sentence came out like a question while they flinched internally at the shakiness of her voice.

Tommy raises an eyebrow at them, clearly not believing any of the rambling Ranboo was trying to convince him was the truth.

“It’s true!!”

Silence fills the room as Tom inspects Ranboo, looking them up and down and then just between their eyes.

“Ranboo,” Tommy says, voice light but knowing. “Whats that white hair all over your jacket?”

Ah, welp. There goes that.

They freeze in place. Looking down quickly, sure enough, there were small white hairs littering his jacket and shirt.

“Uhhhhh, well, half’s my hair is white!! So it’s mine?” Ranboo says, incredibly unconvincingly. And if Tommy’s face is anything to go by, he doesn’t believe it either.

From further down the hall both Tommy and Ranboo heard Tubbo laugh loudly. Ranboo looked out the door, exasperated. She spots him turning the corner, holding a basket of laundry he must have been taking to their room. Tubbo just smiled sweetly as he walked past them, as if he didn’t just completely laugh out loud in response to Ranboo’s horrible lying.

Ranboo just sighs, “Really, Tubbo?”

Tommy begins laughing too, Ranboo turns to see him hunched over himself trying to get a breath between the wheezing. A smile couldn’t help but break out on her face as well, even if she was still incredibly confused. Tommy’s laugh was refreshing to both Tubbo and Ranboo. Tubbo sported a more genuine smile as he passed, and Ranboo enjoyed the sound. Tommy was becoming closer to himself again, They both tried to savor the moments when they came.

“Oh come on guys, I- I’m telling the truth here!” Ranboo laughs slightly mid sentence, kind of undermining the wish to convince the two she was in fact, telling the truth. Which she wasn’t.

“Uh huh, and I’m the queen of England.” Tom wipes a fake tear from his eye.

Ranboo just rolls his eyes, “Oh don’t start that again-”

“Anyway, Ranboo. My sweet, naive Ranboo.” Tommy says, cutting off whatever the other was about to say. “You are not as slick as you think you are.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ran, both me and Tubbo know you’re going off to the Tundra. I mean, it’s kinda obvious innit?”

Tubbo makes another appearance from down the hall, “Yeah He’s not wrong. You come back to the house like twice a month covered in fur.” He says, poking his head around the corner that he just walked down.

Tommy continues, “And you’re gone for at least four days each time, boob. Don’t you think we would catch on?”

Ranboo laughs awkwardly and smiles, “No???”

Tommy peers at Ranboo from over the rim of his glasses, both eyebrows raised. Which, if you don’t look too close, kind of reminded him of Ms. Marry. Which is a very silly image Ranboo is sure to try to remember later so they can tease Tommy about it at some point.

They stay like that for a good thirty seconds before Tommy just sighs.

“Look, we’re not mad per say,”

A pause.

“Just disappointed.”

Again, Ranboo can hear Tubbo laugh from down the hall, no longer viable. “You sound like Mary right now boss man!”

Ran perks up too, “You know i was actually just thinking that-”

Tommy throws up his hands, “ANYWAY,” he cuts them off again, “I didn’t call you in here to chew you out, you know. I honestly don’t care.” He leans back in his chair again, going back to absentmindedly petting the cloak, “I mean, it would have been cool if you like, told us, but to be honest I can see why not.”

Ran grimaces a bit at the admission and nods sullenly, “I had sensed some,” a pause, “Tension.” They clasp their hands together and started to pick at her nails, not looking Tommy in the eye, “I don’t know, or don’t remember, what has happened between you and Technoblade. Tubbo has had some history with him as well. and I just- didn’t want to upset anyone.”

There was a silence that fell over the two. Not a heavy one, but just the type of silence when you know a conversation has ended and now neither person knew what to say next. Ok maybe it was slightly awkward.

Deciding to show mercy in that moment, Tommy breaks the silence, “That is fair enough I guess.” He doesn’t sound mad, but it can be hard to tell sometimes. He continues on, “You know I did call you up here for an actual reason, I didn’t want to chew you out for anything.”

A small sigh escaped Ranboo as they finally glanced back up at Tom, “Yeah?” She says, almost hopeful.

“I need your help with something.”

Ranboo nods immediately, ignoring any anxiety they might have had for the vague statement, “Of course! What is it?”

“Oh nothing big,” Oh dear, “I just need you to go to Techno and Phil’s house and borrow a shirt from them! No biggy!”

There is no way. Absolutely no way.

Ranboo is struck speechless at the request, He had to be joking right? It’s a prank! Right?

“So I’m looking for-”

He’s not joking.

“YOU WANT ME TO WHAT!?” Ranboo’s concern was plain as day, both dual toned ears pinned back and their tail thrashed side to side.

Tommy seemed unfazed, “What? It’s just like, two shirts. How hard could it be?”

“How hard-?! It’s TECHNOBLADE AND PHILZA??? Do you think I have a death wish????”

“See, Ranboob, my friend, you’re their friend. They trust you! I would steal them myself but I don’t think I could get away with it as easily as you.” Tommy leans back in his chair again, as if he didn’t just ask Ranboo to commit theft, and from two of the strongest people that he knows of. “Besides! Just don’t get caught! And even if you do, just tell them you were trying to get their measurements for something! Technically it’s not a lie.” A sly smile has crept onto Tom’s face. And if you think about it, it makes sense why Tommy wasn’t as concerned about the idea as Ranboo, if you consider the fact Tom used to steal frequently for shits and giggles.

However, Ranboo did not steal for shits and giggles. In fact, this felt like the opposite.

She points at Tommy and shakes her head, “You have to think I’m crazy, you must be crazy.” She turns away and crosses her arms, facing the door frame so they didn’t have to face Tommy and his absolutely asinine idea. “There’s no way, there’s no way in Nether I’d do that.”

…

He was doing it.

Ranboo was doing it because their backbone is the consistency of a wet paper towel and there was no chance she would have won that. All Tommy had to do was ask him two more times with those Prime forsaken puppy dog eyes and two hours later Ranboo had waterproof boots, his long cloak, and the thickest suit she owned (which, coincidentally was the one Tommy had made). Now she was heading towards the tundra.

Each step forward felt a little like walking toward an early grave.

She likes Phil and Techno! They don’t want to steal from them, it’s, in fact, the last thing that would be on any list ever. The thought of getting caught is making them nauseous, they have no clue how either would react if they caught them. Would they be mad? Would they kick her out? Or yell at him? Or-

The crunching of the snow was like a broadcast of her intentions out into the forest.

Come one! Come all! See the fool set for the gallows! A fool who dared to pillage from the TechnoBlade and Philza! Watch their journey toward their end!

Oh Prime, this is so not what Ranboo planned to do today.

Anxiety festers in the pit of their gut through the whole trip. Ranboo likes Phil and Techno, they know that the pair have a questionable past and they wouldn’t excuse their actions. Especially if she’s remembering the ‘Butcher army’ incident correctly. Quackity wouldn’t tell anyone what happened exactly, but the scar is a story that tells itself.

Regardless, the point is Ranboo chose people. Not sides. Which does sound a little rude, but she has seen so much conflict on this server, and she joined late compared to others. It wasn’t a time they can recall well. But she does remember that Techno enjoys reading by a freshly built fire, and that Phil takes his tea with a little sugar and a lot of cream. Or how on some nights, when the sky is clear, they can see the galaxy above them. It reminds you of how small you are, without a doubt.

Everyone has been so consumed in their violence that they have not stopped to see the human they are attacking. The wars have left behind a different type of destruction in its wake. It has left wounds on a person no one can comprehend. Picking a side to fight for has done nothing but destroy all sides of any conflict. Nothing is solved, no one is better off. All it has done is provide more ways for violence to continue. It has ruined the land and its people.

Ranboo refuses to be complicit. Not to choose a side, or to forgo the idea that these are people too. There is no evil, no good. There are humans, and Ranboo will treat them as such.

Thoughts swirl around, creating a dizzying head space, one Ranboo is consumed by as she walks. The whole trip passing ‘em by without a lick of notice. The crunching slowly peters off to grass as she continues her trek across land on foot. They like traveling on foot, more time to admire things around them, and more time to reflect.

She had the whole day to do so, it was a long walk to the space Techno and Phil called home.

Even with the looming dread of the task that has been set out for him. He knows Tommy, and if he needs these things, then it’s probably for a good reason. Probably. Hopefully…

She didn’t even ask, too caught up in the fact Tommy was practically begging him to go on a suicide mission. Ranboo could be walking into the lion’s den just because Tommy wanted to see if they’d do it. However, trust is something they could never ignore, and she trusted Tommy. She would trust Tom with her life. And if he says he needs two shirts from the scariest men she knows then by Prime she guesses it’s what she’s gotta do.

Realistically it shouldn’t be that bad, Ranboo tries to bargain with herself. Best case scenario, she doesn’t get caught and life goes on, though if he did all Techno would do would be ask for the shirts back! They know Techno wouldn’t do anything drastic! Worst case scenario, though, could be their head-

OK! So just don’t get caught, easy.

…Crap

The whole day passes like this. Going back and forth and back and forth again in Ranboo’s brain. His fingers worried the edges of his cloak and picked at fibers from the fur lining their collar. Every once and a while, they would be knocked from their thoughts for one reason or another, but would always be led back to it. Mulling everything over in her mind till it felt like there was nothing around her but the shirts, the men he was visiting, and the anxiety that was currently eating away at her stomach.

It was so bad she swore they saw the clearing already. The two conjoined cabins in a clearing of glittering white, and a beacon that sometimes Ranboo liked to stick their head in shone between the two. The light from the magic source would make it look like she was flying so fast-

Oh, she was here.

Techno was out front, chopping a collection of wood that probably took him a few hours to collect. No cape, but a light blue coat twisted slightly as he brought the ax into the air. The thunk of the head into the wood caused Ranboo to flinch from behind the tree line, they couldn’t help but imagine their head under-

Deep breath in for four, hold for eight, out for four. The bark under hand was rough and cold, and the air nipping her nose made her blush red. He could smell the pine surrounding her in the forest, and could still taste some of the wild apples they had found just a few hours earlier. The sky was a bit cloudy but the sun still shone through, casting light across the snow and forest beyond, and Ranboo could hear some birds singing around him.

He was ok, no one is in trouble, nothing is wrong. Ranboo is ok. She is ok. It is ok.

In and out. Hopefully Techno can’t hear their heartbeat that has been screaming in her ears as she steps through the clearing in the trees.