rest in peace clingy duo. also exile arc my belovedloathed

TRIGGER WARNINGS; manipulation & abuse

HEYYYYY let's just pretend that was a totally planned intermission between pogtopia and exile... yeah :) definitely did not go through a slight slump....

sorry fr tho my spoons have been extra low lately which means they're basically forks at this point but ANYWAYS! back with an 8k word chapter so hopefully u guys forgive me T-T have fun and read the trigger warnings

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

“I’m going back.”

Drista looked up, craning her neck over to where her friend stood on determined legs, his face hardened. She cocked a brow at him, though he couldn’t see through her mask. Sighing, she stood, dusting herself off.

“No, you’re not.” She shook her head, “you’ll do the thing again.”

“I won’t!” Tommy replied instantly, eyes wide, “I swear I won’t!”

She eyed him with an unimpressed stare. He looked even rougher around the edges than when she’d initially brought him in, and that was saying something. The bandages fastened around his right hand were beginning to loosen and it made her frown. His hood was down, showing off the white streak in his ashy blond hair. It was shorter than other bits, having been crudely snipped away, but it just kept growing back. There were large bags under his eyes, and the eyes themselves were a dull grey. Both the scar across his nose and the one beneath his left eye stood out in the dim light. He was absolutely engulfed in Ranboo’s deep red sweater, sleeves bunched up in his fists to avoid the stupid ‘sweater paws’ he loathed so badly. His laces were messily shoved into the sides of his battered shoes and his lip was bleeding where he’d been chewing on it.

“Why do you even want to go back?” She questioned, letting herself lift off into the air and hover a few feet above. She laid back, resting her head against nothing.

“Cause they’re watching it without me,” Tommy growled, glaring up at her, “I need to know what they’re seeing. I need to know what they do and don’t know. And I’m not a fuckin pussy. I can take it.”

“I dunno,” Drista drawled, strands of hair falling out of place as she tilted her head, “you couldn’t take it last I checked.” She floated around, swooping up behind him. He scowled, turning on his heel.

“Yeah well you were a fuckin dickhead for putting that shit in.” He muttered, “And I’ve got it out of my system now, we’re good to go.”

“Is that really how humans work?” The goddess asked, doing a flip in the air before catching herself inches from the ground. Tommy was grimacing, clearly annoyed by her antics.

“Yes.” He ground out, smiling weakly. He had to go back. He had to prove himself. And he had to know . If anyone bothered to stick around after what they saw, well, he wanted to know what they did and didn’t know about him. It wouldn’t be fucking fair for them to just watch his memories pan out without him even in the room.

“If I put you back in I’m not taking you out,” Drista hummed, looking over at him. The bitch was trying to intimidate him into staying.

“That is simply not true.” He huffed, “All I have to do is go Oh Drista! Oh Drista! Meuh meuh meuhmeuh meuh! and you’ll come running, bitch.” He crossed his arms. Drista stopped in her flight, shoulders hiking up as her feet met the ground wordlessly.

“Liar.” She mumbled grumpily, pouting behind her mask. Tommy laughed quietly, grinning at her.

“Just put me in, pussy.” He raised his brows at her, smiling. She glared.

Technoblade had never been… the most sensitive person.

Wilbur had always been the feeler of their duo. As an extraverted feeler he was focused on maintaining relationships and was good with communication. He always looked at a bigger picture when it came to even the smallest actions, and was quick thinking. He was gentle, and agreeable. He knew how to make others feel most comfortable.

Technoblade was none of those things. He was blunt and crude. He didn’t give a damn about relationships or any bigger picture. All he needed was his family, and they understood that no matter how aloof he acted, he still loved them. Communication and expression, well, it was for losers. He didn’t need to tell people he cared about them, because the fact that he stuck around should have been indication enough.

He didn’t care for many, but he had cared for his brothers.

Wilbur had always been so understanding about the nightmares and gory pictures that haunted him, memories of his past lives combined into one fragile skull. Hundreds of people who had lived and died, all crammed inside his head, and he could remember it all . Sometimes, through the mix of reliving horrors they’d seen, or horrors they caused, he lost himself, and something sinister took over, but Wilbur had been accepting of it. He’d told Techno that it wasn’t his fault, and that no one blamed him for the things out of his control. Tommy hadn’t understood it in the slightest. Even at seventeen, Technoblade wasn’t sure if his younger brother would be able to grasp what it meant to have the knowledge and trauma of hundreds in your mind at all times. Wilbur hadn’t actually understood, but he seemed to have a better understanding than almost anyone could. Call it twintuition. Phil knew what it was like to be burdened by centuries and centuries of baggage, and perhaps he really was the only one who could ever truly get Techno. All the piglin hybrid truly knew about his family was that no one, in any of his lives, had ever made him feel as normal as Tommy, Wilbur and Phil had.

When he’d had to leave, had to pack up his things, it had been sad, even for him, but he quickly steeled himself, getting over it. Phil for some reason hadn’t been able to do the same, and that puzzled Technoblade because in another life the man would have been able to move on from anything, including some dumb kids.

The point, however, was that Technoblade did care about Tommy. When he’d raised his blade that fateful day he’d gone tearing into the woods because he was horrified at the thought of his father being even just a second too late. He was horrified at the thought of hurting his baby brother.

But maybe things change without one ever really realizing it. Sometimes people grow in awful ways, not seeing how they’ve strayed from their original path. For Technoblade had been young and afraid of harming a hair on Tommy’s head, but when he was grown that fear had left, and he’d done so much more than just hurting Tommy on the surface.

He’d never really pondered the pit. It didn’t seem like all that big a deal. Tommy had wanted to fight. The number of times Techno had been pummeled into the ground in an arena wasn’t many, but he knew it well. It was… essential for growth, wasn’t it? He wouldn’t’ve been half the fighter he was if he hadn’t learnt in battle. Losing was the first step to winning, right?

Of course, he’d never really meant to go that far, but it was a given that it could have happened. The memory had been… a bit blurry. Losing control like he had always left him slightly disoriented, but watching from the third person he was vividly aware of how brutal he’d been, and it didn’t feel as fine as it had.

He looked over at Phil who was pointedly ignoring him, frowning.

Everyone was mad at him. It wasn’t that he cared, but Phil was mad at him too, and that was new. His father and him had fought, of course, but never had the elder been so disappointed in him, and it left a bitter taste on his tongue. The others could stay mad for all he cared, but the thought of Phil not being proud of him, of Phil not being on his side, well, he’d never known that reality before.

They’d seemed unhappy with his actions in L’Manberg, as well, but to hell with that. His past selves had been oppressed by the regime enough times, repeatedly, for him to know no good ever came from a dictatorship or any form of ruling, really. It was for their own good. Even if he had to be the villain, to destroy the factions before they gave him a reason to, he would do it. Because power corrupts, and he’d seen it enough times over to know that was an absolute.

His methods were crude, they were unorthodox and painted him as a villain, but he’d go along with it. Even if Tommy spat and hissed at him like he was the antichrist, even if his twin fell to their own father’s blade, it didn’t matter because Phil agreed with him still. When Wilbur went mad and left him in the world of the living alone, when Tommy went against everything he stood for and tried to instate a new form of power, it didn’t matter because Phil was with him.

But Phil wasn’t with him anymore.

Techno sighed, running a calloused hand over his face. What was wrong with him? Tommy was fine. The pit hadn’t been some big deal. The Withers hadn’t been some big deal. It wasn’t a big deal because pain adds character. Tommy was stronger because of it. Tommy was better because of it.

...Well, he was supposed to be. While it was admirable that he never backed down, that also meant that he never saw his actions for what they were. He never saw himself as the one in the wrong. Why couldn’t he have just listened when Technoblade had told him power corrupts? Why couldn’t he have just backed down?

It wasn’t his fault. It was Tommy’s.

“Tommy’s coming back.” Drista’s voice came unexpectedly from overhead. The people in the room shared looks, most of them concerned or confused.

“I-Is he okay?” Phil stammered, looking up worriedly.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Ranboo said quietly, frowning. There was a discontented noise from above.

“Look, he asked to come back. Basically forced my hand. So he’s coming back. Okay?” Drista sighed, and they could feel the atmosphere in the room change. There was no verbal reply, and she clicked her tongue.

In a flash of brilliant white light they were coming to loathe, Tommy appeared in the room, standing awkwardly. They looked him up and down, staring nervously. He was scowling at all of them.

“Tommy-”

“Any of you fucks try any of that mushy shit or bring up what happened and I will stab the shit out of you.” He growled, interrupting his father. Phil blanched, extended hand falling back to his lap.

“Good to have you back, boss man!” Tubbo chirped happily, as though nothing had happened. Tommy visibly relaxed at that, moving to sit down. He tried to ignore the stares he was getting, looking down. The stupid looks were painfully reminiscent of his revival. For some reason no one ever looked at him like he was normal.

An awkward silence settled over the room, and the people shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Ranboo looked over at the blond beside him, heart aching but also feeling copious amounts of relief. It was more than reassuring to have a real, safe, and tangible Tommy beside him. It helped him remind himself what he was watching was in the past, and that there was nothing he could do to prevent it all.

The screen flickered to life.

Tommy walked down the prime path, the sun shining down on his back. His hair had reverted back to its usual bouncy self, and his eyes, though tired and sad, looked a little less worn down. His clothes were patched up and cleaned, and there was no more grime coating his face. Ranboo was beside him, following diligently. He had his hands clasped nervously, hunched over slightly. It was bright out, and the grass was a radiant green, flowers poking out from the soil.

Niki felt herself relax into her seat. Things would be easier from that point on. Wilbur was dead and gone, and could no longer tarnish his own name. She could do it. All she had to do was watch Tommy get actual consequences for his actions for once.

A bit of the tension eased up in the room. Tommy looked healthier and happier. The following memories would be fine, right?

“There’s you!” Tubbo pointed excitedly, earning a smile from his husband.

“Ranboo time.” Fundy grinned. “What will he do.”

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Ranboo asked quietly, “I mean I’m new I don’t really know the rules but-”

“Ranboob.” Tommy stopped at once, causing the enderman hybrid to almost walk right into him, “Relax man.”

Ranboo sighed into his hands as the people around him laughed.

Tommy swallowed thickly, knowing where things were headed. Maybe, no definitely, he should have listened to Ranboo. If he had just listened, things would have been fine. Why couldn’t he just be normal? Ranboo was charming and sweet and unconfrontational. People loved him because he was good. He should have been more like Ranboo.

Ranboo nodded, gripping his pickaxe tighter. “Okay.”

They walked in silence for a small bit, the taller trailing awkwardly behind, before they came onto the outskirts of the SMP. Before them was a little home in a hill, built from wood and mushrooms with lanterns and barrels decorating the outside. A small pond with a bridge overtop of it was just before the house. The two stopped, eyeing the home up and down.

“You little shits…” Phil muttered.

George stared at his house, not sure how to feel.

Tubbo cracked his knuckles anxiously. They had reached a point where things had really started to go wrong. Tommy was silent beside Ranboo.

“Alright boob boy!” Tommy grinned wide, a noticeable absence of his old braces, “let’s grief this bitch!”

The people in the room groaned at the enthusiasm.

Tommy laughed loudly, looking back at everyone. “What?” He questioned, smiling, “It was funny!”

“Okay.” Ranboo straightened out, nodding. They crossed the bridge, Tommy taking a moment to coo at the little fish in the pond. When they got inside, they began rifling through chests, scouring for hidden treasures like little raccoons.

“Look at this!” Tommy cried excitedly, pulling a hat out of the chest and putting it on. He stood, doing a little twirl, and Ranboo laughed. “I’m GeorgeNotFound!”

They continued on, pocketing certain things they found and leaving useless things where they found them, constantly pausing to crack jokes with each other and show off whatever they’d found.

The air in the room shifted as they watched, many people not really understanding what they were seeing. The destruction of George’s house had been an alleged malicious crime. They’d pictured it as something destructive and sinister.

The truth was that it looked like two kids goofing off.

A couple people squirmed in their seats.

Ranboo smiled fondly at the screen, though he knew what came next. It didn’t matter though, because just for a moment, he was going to allow himself to enjoy his first friendship on the server. They’d had fun together.

“Okay okay!” Tommy dusted himself off, pocketing a few more goods, “now let’s put signs everywhere!” He grinned.

“What should they say?” Ranboo asked, already fishing a few signs from his inventory.

“Just stupid shit like ‘you can’t see’ or ‘you are dumb’.” Tommy snickered, moving to the side to start writing things down. Ranboo nodded, heading over to the other end of the tiny home.

“Tommy I can see .” George stressed. “I’m not blind.”

“Okay well then explain colour blind.” Tommy countered, “hmmmm?”

“Oh my god…” The elder put his head in his hands, making the blond laugh loudly.

“Bitch.”

“That’s good! That’s good!” Tommy cried out, backing away proudly from their work. He looked over the signs on Ranboo’s side, laughing at some of them.

Tubbo smiled to himself. He loved seeing the two get along. It had been rough, trying to get the two (Tommy) to be civil around each other. Ranboo obviously cared for the blond a lot, and was extremely patient with him. Even when Tommy was sending death threats and kicking and screaming there was still a fondness in the enderman’s gaze that Tubbo never understood.

“Now for the final touch!” The blond waved his hand dramatically, placing down a block of netherack and lighting it up. Ranboo’s eyes went wide. “Pretty cool, huh? It can be a signature or some shit, y’know?”

Ranboo nodded, still staring at the flame. Tommy moved around placing more, smiling to himself. He turned his back to the house, looking down into the pond, and heard a small yelp from behind him.

“Uh… Tommy?”

Tommy turned around, glancing back at the house before paling. Fire had spread across the wood, setting the little home aflame in just seconds. Tommy’s eyes widened, smile dropping from his face.

“Shit!” He cursed, fishing a bucket from his inventory and filling it with water from the pond, “shit shit shit!” He raced over, pouring out the contents of the bucket over the fire before going back for more. Ranboo was trying to stomp out the smoldering grass in a panic.

When they finally put out the whole thing, they were standing breathlessly before the house. Tommy looked over at Ranboo.

“We tell no one of this.”

The screen went dark.

Karl, Quackity, Tubbo, Fundy and George all went very pale. They’d watched the two teens trying desperately to put out the fire with a dry taste in their mouths.

“...What?” Karl said finally, looking ill and garnering the attention of every room.

“The fire was an accident?” Fundy questioned, frowning deeply.

“No?” Tommy tilted his head, “You saw me put down the netherack I-”

“Burning George’s house down.” Tubbo interrupted, “that was an accident?”

“Well yeah,” Ranboo said, puzzled, “we were robbing him not destroying his house.”

“Oh my god…” George muttered, placing his head in his hands, “oh my god.”

“I don’t get what the big deal is.” Sapnap’s brow furrowed, “he still robbed you. Like, he still committed a crime.”

“Everyone steals…” Quackity muttered, chest tight, “we thought he burnt the place to the ground on purpose….”

“Dream said it was.” George began, goggles hiding most of his expression, “He- He said it was an act of war.”

“It was two kids pulling a prank!” Puffy cried out, “Tommy knows war he wouldn’t just do that!”

“Well to be fair if it was funny enough-”

“Not helping, Tommy.”

Tubbo turned his head, staring at both Ranboo and Tommy. Dream had been furious when he’d found out what the two had done, building the walls around their country without so much as even a simple ‘hello’. The man had always been rational and logical, so Tubbo had assumed whatever had upset him so severely had to have been major. He’d assumed that Dream was well within his rights to be that enraged.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” He asked, locking eyes with Tommy, “why didn’t you tell me it was an accident I- I was on your side Tommy.” He paused, looking sad, “I would have fought for you.”

“We thought you knew-”

“I thought you were fighting for me,” Tommy hissed, interrupting Ranboo, “That was the plan, right? Say no to exile? Fight back against Dream?”

Instantly, his mouth snapped shut, as if his brain had just caught up, but he’d already said what was on his mind.

Tubbo stared silently, hurt in his eyes, as Tommy glared bitterly. How did the blond not get it? He’d tried so hard to give his friend the benefit of the doubt. He’d done everything he could while remaining unbiased. Did Tommy not understand how fucking hard it was leading a nation? Did he not get how much it hurt having to pick the majority over the person most important to him?

“You wouldn’t get it, Tommy.You don’t understand how difficult some decisions are to make.” Tubbo muttered, crossing his arms and looking down. “just like Wilbur said, right? You could never be president. You’re too immature.”

Tommy’s eyes widened, taken aback by the statement.

“Oh fuck you man!” he seethed, fists clenched and nails digging into his skin, “At least I didn’t gain that presidency through being everyone’s little bitch and yes-man!”

Tubbo sucked in a sharp breath, looking furious.

That was a lie. Tommy regretted it the second he said it. Tubbo was anything but a yes-man. He didn’t mean it.

“Oh yeah? Well at least I wasn’t stupid enough to go and get myself exiled! You did that to yourself, Tommy! I was trying to help you!”

“But you still did it! You decided to exile me!”

“You deserved it!”

Silence fell over the room. Tubbo stared pointedly at his best friend, eyes narrowed. Tommy was ramrod straight, mouth a thin line as his shoulders shook with rage.

“Fuck you.” He whispered, voice uneven. Tubbo said nothing, looking away.

The other people in the room were quiet, unsure of how to proceed. Ranboo looked defeated, unsure of which person to turn to. There was nothing to say that could really…. fix what had just happened.

Tommy swallowed thickly, digging his nails into his palms. Why did I say that? Why did I fucking say that? I didn’t mean it. I didn’t mean it, I didn’t. Why had he even said the first part? Tubbo was being a friend and he lashed out. He’d acted like exile was Tubbo’s fault. It was his own. He did deserve it. That had been made clear enough times. He deserved it.

Tubbo grit his teeth, glaring at the floor. Tommy knew how much he fucking hated being called a yes-man. He hated it. He wasn’t a fucking yes-man. Somehow just not being confrontational and being rational had made him out to be the pushover. He wasn’t. He didn’t like unnecessary conflict and so what if that made him quieter and more agreeable? It didn’t mean he let anyone walk all over him for even a second. And Tommy knew that. So why would he fucking call him a yes-man? Of course he didn’t mean what he’d said about exile. They’d just gone over the fact that the fire had been an accident. But he wasn’t a fucking yes-man and he was no one’s lackey. So as much as he wanted to apologize, he stayed quiet. If he apologized first after Tommy had called him those things, well, it would be proving his point, wouldn’t it?

The silence in the room was deafening, and soon the screen picked back up.

“I’m bloody innocent you pricks!” Tommy cried, gripping iron bars before him, “let me out! I know my rights!”

They stood in the courthouse; Karl, Quackity, George, Ranboo and Fundy to the side, and Tubbo near the podium. Tommy was locked in a little cage, angrily shaking it back and forth and spitting swears at them.

Tubbo looked especially annoyed, glaring at the boy in the cage. His knuckles were white as he gripped the wood foundation beneath him.

“Tommy.” He started, “Shut up.”

The blond stared at him for a moment, head tilted, before going back to rattling the bars and yelling. Tubbo’s eye twitched, and it took everything within him not to scream. Why did no one ever fucking listen to him? He was the president.

“I didn’t do it! You have no proof! Let me go! Let me-”

“Tommy!” Tubbo cried out, “If you don’t stop speaking immediately I will end this hearing here and now, and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The tension in the room grew tenfold as the two teens watched themselves fight on screen. Ranboo fidgeted nervously.

Tommy stopped, eyeing his best friend up and down. Begrudgingly, he relented, backing away and muttering things quietly to himself. Tubbo rolled his eyes.

“Now George,” The president began, “you said there were multiple witness reports?”

“Yes,” George nodded, “Karl, Puffy and Niki are willing to testify on my behalf.”

“What!?” Tommy cried, “I was with Niki! She’s lying!”

Niki glared over at the blond, who unsurprisingly had nothing to say for himself.

“But,” George stressed, “that wasn’t the only important thing of note.”

“Go on.”

Tommy looked puzzled, scanning the room.

“All three witnesses can attest to Ranboo being at the crime scene as well.” George declared, and all eyes turned to the sheepish enderman hybrid. Tubbo’s eyes narrowed immediately as Tommy went stark white. Ranboo locked eyes with the blond, looking terrified.

“Is that so?” Tubbo grinned, “well then… Fundy, Q, please place our newcomer into a holding cell.”

It felt extremely weird; seeing Ranboo look to Tommy for help and to not see Tubbo and Ranboo as, well, Tubbo and Ranboo. It was too difficult to imagine them as anything but.

Tommy’s eyes widened as he watched the two members of the cabinet approach his friend. His grip on the bars tightened, heart beginning to race. It was Ranboo’s first day on the server for fuck’s sake. He didn’t deserve this.

He watched as they corralled the taller boy into a cell, locking him up. Ranboo’s tail flicked anxiously back and forth, and he was staring at Tommy, but not with anger. He just looked scared. The blond cursed silently to himself.

“Wait!” He cried out, “Stop!”

The people in the room paused, looking over to him. He gulped, sweating slightly with his fists clenched. The president raised a hand, signaling for silence.

“Ranboo wasn’t there…” He sighed, posture slouching.

“And you know this how?” Tubbo questioned, brow raised.

Tommy grit his teeth, nails digging into his palms as he looked down at the ground.

“I was there.” He admitted quietly, “It was just me. Ranboo had nothing to do with it.”

Many people looked taken aback at the scene on screen, sharing confused glances.

“I didn’t know you took the blame.” Phil commented softly, staring at his son.

“Well I’m quite heroic, not that any of you assholes would know,” Tommy rolled his eyes, “you can just call me SelflessInnit if you’d like.” He grinned.

A couple people rolled their eyes, already moving on from the selfless act due to the fact that they weren’t very fond of the one who was behind it. If anyone else had taken the fall like that they’d probably get a medal or some shit. But not Tommy.

Tubbo grinned, though the concern in his eyes was evident, he tried his best to cover it up. He clapped his hands together.

“Well then gentlemen!” He declared, “I think we have our culprit.”

The screen went dark.

Tommy looked over at Tubbo. The boy was sourly avoiding his gaze, eyes trained on the ground.

“Tubbo-”

“If Tommy wants to say something he can say it himself, Boo.” Tubbo interrupted.

“I don’t have anything to say.” Tommy said through gritted teeth, “Not to you at least.”

“Good.”

“Good!”

“Go-”

“Shut up!” Jack hissed, glaring at the two. They went quiet, both stewing angrily inside their own heads.

Ranboo frowned, gaze flicking back and forth between his friends. Neither of them looked very keen on being the bigger person. Tommy and Tubbo were both so stupidly stubborn that Ranboo didn’t know what to do about it. He looked back to the screen, hands clasped nervously in his lap.

It was pouring. A small boat made its way through the large body of water, braving the storm.

Tommy was absolutely drenched in the little boat, knees drawn up to his chest. His shoulders were hiked up, whole body tensed as his hair stuck to his brow. Dream was adjacent to him, rowing quietly. The rain didn’t seem to bother him in the slightest. Behind them, Ghostbur flew above the water, umbrella held tightly over his head.

Tommy instantly went still at the sight of Dream, mouth going dry. He pursed his lips, taking a deep breath.

“I hate you.” Tommy muttered quietly, picking at the flaking paint on the edge of the boat. His nails were raw and bloody, chewed past the beds. Dream only laughed, continuing to row.

“You don’t hate me, Tommy.” He said, grin evident in his tone. Tommy didn’t need the man to take off his mask to know he was rolling his eyes.

They continued on in silence, save for Ghostbur’s happy and oblivious humming. Tommy would periodically look back at the ghost with a sad, longing stare, before going back to picking at paint.

I miss Wilbur, he thought quietly to himself.

Phil frowned, heart clenching.

“Ooh!” Ghostbur cried excitedly, looking off not too far into the distance, “I like it over there! Can we go that way?”

The two in the boat craned their necks to look at where the spacey ghost was pointing.

“That beach?” Dream questioned, “I don’t see why not.” He shrugged, “We’re far enough.”

Tommy glared at him from underneath his sopping wet bangs, seething. They began to make their way over to the sandy shore, and the blond began to anxiously peel the paint back much quicker than he had been. Dream didn’t comment on it.

“This is pretty morbid.” Fundy commented, “Doesn’t feel very PG… y’know?”

“Yeah…” Puffy nodded, “there’s like… like this eerie vibe.”

Tommy stepped out of the boat, hissing at the cold shock of the ocean water that went up to his ankles. He immediately fled further onto the beach, waiting for Dream to anchor the boat. Ghostbur was floating around aimlessly, pointing out certain rocks he liked and speaking to the trees; asking them how their day had been and such. Tommy rolled his eyes.

“It seems nice.” Dream noted, looking around as he approached the younger boy. “We can set up your camp here, if you want.”

Stupid fucking Dream. Tommy curled in tighter in himself. He hated how the man had made him feel like he had a choice. Like the location would have mattered when no matter where he chose, Dream would be there.

“Whatever.” Tommy hissed. “I don’t care. Fuck you. I want to go home.” He was hugging himself tightly, shivering in the rain, teeth chattering. Dream threw back his head and laughed.

“Tommy you can’t go home!” He gestured around, “This is home now!”

The young boy paused, looking around. Ghostbur was happily going about in the dense forestry only a couple feet away, most likely enjoying the extra protection from the rain. There wasn’t much, really. It was rather barren, and there was no one else around for miles.

“Sad.” Fundy commented.

“Fucking die.” Tommy flipped him off.

“Well then I’d like it if you left my home.” He declared, levelling Dream with an unimpressed stare.

“No can do, Tommy,” The masked man shook his head, “I can’t just leave you like this. All defenseless and alone, y’know?”

Tommy looked repulsed, almost gagging. “I’m not fuckin defenseless! And I’ve got Ghostbur! I’m not alone!” He gestured in the vague direction of the ghost before plopping down onto the sand, “Besides, why do you even care?”

Dream sat down beside him, putting a tentative hand on his shoulder. “Because I’m your friend, Tommy. I care about you.”

Puffy had to hold her tongue. Watching a man she’d never known hurt Tommy was one thing, but seeing her duckling as the culprit was an entirely new feeling. She’d long since accepted the fact that Dream was too far gone, but seeing it in person made shivers go up her spine.

Get off Get off Get off Get off. Tommy tried to shake the ghost of Dream’s hand from his shoulder, clenching his eyes shut tight.

“This is your fault, Dream.” Tommy muttered, “you aren’t my friend, you’re the fuckin enemy.”

“Tommy what are you talking about?” Dream questioned, laughing slightly in disbelief, “You’re the one that burnt down George’s house! Tubbo’s the one that exiled you! How is any of this my fault?”

“You fucking made him!” Tommy jumped up, a new vigor in his veins, “you twisted his fucking arm! H-He did what was best for L’Manberg!”

“Oh Tommy,” Dream cooed, voice dripping with disgustingly sweet pity, “do you really think that?”

Tommy stared into the blank eyes of the mask, faltering slightly before steeling himself over.

“I know it.” He hissed.

“Tommy,” Dream sighed, standing and brushing the sand off his pants, “They exiled you. I gave them the option not to. I gave them multiple chances to refuse!”

Sapnap shifted uncomfortably. Dream didn’t use that tone with actual friends.

“You made Tubbo choose L’Manberg over me,” Tommy growled, “and now you want me to- to be mad at him for it like it was the wrong choice!”

“But it was, wasn’t it?” Dream tilted his head.

Tubbo always makes the right decision, Tommy thought to himself, fists clenched at his side. He glared at the older man before him.

“If Tubbo thinks this is what needs to happen, then this is what needs to happen.” He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, “Now kindly fuck off.”

Tubbo looked over at the blond, eyes wide. Did Tommy really think that? Was he that fucking dumb? Did he really think Tubbo was incapable of making a wrong decision?

Tommy was staring at the screen, avoiding the shorter boy’s gaze.

“Cute,” Dream tilted his head, “but no. Now c’mon, let’s make you a shelter.” He didn’t wait for confirmation, pulling out a stack of oak wood and moving over to the grassy area so that he could begin building. Tommy sputtered, chasing after him in disbelief.

“Cut it out!” The blond cried, doing circles around the man as he built a tiny home, “Stop that! Stop building!”

After just a few minutes, a small shelter was built, and Dream was standing proudly, staring at it. Tommy had his arms crossed, scowling and glaring daggers at the thing.

“Cool, you did your charity work.” The blond rolled his eyes, “now leave.”

“Juuuuust one last thing.” Dream huffed, pulling out a shovel and digging a small hole in the ground. Tommy watched, perplexed.

Tommy paled, hands flying to his head as he pulled on his hair in an attempt to ground himself. Ranboo turned, concerned. He reached out to comfort the boy, but as they locked eyes he could clearly see Tommy’s entire face screaming stay away. He backed down, glancing over every half second, eyes worried.

The blond was quiet in his panic, and not many others noticed.

“What the hell is he doing?” Quackity asked, staring at the screen confusedly.

Dream straightened out, putting the shovel back in his inventory. His blank stare of a mask smiled at Tommy.

“Put your things in the hole.” He grinned.

“...What?”

They’d heard that before. Almost all of them had heard that before. During the final disc war. Tommy had dug a hole in the ground and said those exact words.

“What?” Tommy backed away, putting his hands up in defense, “I’m not giving you shit bitch!”

“Tommy.” Dream stressed, and he sounded much more serious. “Now.”

The words suddenly held so much more meaning, and everyone around felt shocked at what they were seeing.

“No!” Tommy cried, “What is wrong with you? I-” He blanched, eyes widening as Dream wordlessly unsheathed his sword. His words came to an abrupt stop as he stared. “You wouldn’t.” He growled.

Dream stood silently, sword in hand, as if he was asking Tommy to call his bluff. They stared at each other in a silent standoff, neither of them moving.

Phil stared in horror, not understanding what he was seeing on the screen. Dream was threatening Tommy’s last life.

After what felt like hours, Dream moved to put the sword back, and Tommy’s body practically melted with relief.

“You’re right…” Dream sighed, “I wouldn’t use the sword on you.”

Without another word Tommy’s head snapped to the side, and he was sent stumbling back. Dream stood, hand outstretched as the smaller boy clutched his cheek with wide eyes.

Many people in the room recoiled, and Puffy let out a sharp gasp.

Tommy didn't say a word. He'd gone through it already. They'd seen Wilbur hit him. It was fine. Even if his nails were digging into his skin and he was biting down so hard on his tongue he tasted blood it was fine. He told Drista he wouldn't freak out again. He pushed it all down, swallowing thickly and trying to breathe.

“Put your things in the hole Tommy.” He ordered. “Right now.”

Tommy swallowed thickly, looking at the ground, and Dream raised his hand once more. Instantly, the boy began to empty his inventory, throwing everything down into the hole. Dream’s hand fell back to his side slowly.

Tubbo’s knuckles were white as he clenched the seat beneath him, breathing laboured. What the fuck What the fuck What the fuck

Without a word, Dream dropped TNT down the hole, throwing a lit match down seconds later. Tommy scrambled to get away as it detonated, staring in horror. The man in full netherite didn’t flinch, staring down.

The silence was deafening, and Tommy could only stare in shock.

“I guess we’re done here then!” Dream clapped excitedly, turning around and heading towards the boat, “I’ll be back tomorrow Tommy!” He cheered happily, “Bye bye!”

Tommy didn’t move from his spot, still watching the hole, even after Dream and his boat had disappeared from his sight completely. He was left sitting in the rain, soaked to the bone and freezing cold.

Nobody moved, all rooted in shock. Even Jack and Niki were pale. The only people in the room who didn’t look absolutely appalled were Sam, Techno and Tommy himself.

“...He hit you?” George whispered, voice hollow. Tommy turned, confused.

“I-”

“He hit you…” The man in goggles gasped, letting out a pained laugh. Beside him Karl and Sapnap were silently stewing in rage, and the room had heated up considerably.

“It’s fine I-”

“Tommy it’s not fine! He hurt you! He-”

“George-”

“Look at what he did!” George gestured to the screen frantically, “He-”

“He was my friend!” Tommy interrupted, silencing the older man immediately. He had his fists clenched at his side. “Dream was my friend.”

“Tommy…” Sapnap began quietly, eyes sad. Tommy looked over at him angrily.

“Save it.” The younger snapped, “I don’t want to fucking talk about this.” He turned back around, staring at the screen.

“Tommy-”

“I said we aren’t fucking talking about it!” The blond cried angrily, glaring back.

Everyone was quiet. It seemed being speechless was synonymous with what they were going through. Every other memory left them reeling, and they had no idea how to act on it.

So they just stayed quiet.

“Oh hello there Tommy!” Ghostbur greeted cheerfully, floating over, completely oblivious of what had just happened, “You look rather soaked,” he tutted, “would you like to share my umbrella with me?”

Tommy swallowed thickly, taking a deep breath. He forced himself up, gritting his teeth with determination.

“No thanks.” He muttered quietly, walking off into the distance. Ghostbur’s smile dropped.

“Where are you going?” The ghost cried out, following after him. Tommy sighed, runners making gross squelching noises as they soaked up more water.

“Dream took my things, Ghostbur.” He said, barely sparing the other a glance, “I need to go mining.”

“Oh! Okay!” Ghostbur nodded enthusiastically, “I’ll tag along then!”

Tommy didn’t say anything, only continuing in his trek. Ghostbur was happily humming beside him, pointing out the worms in the soil so that Tommy could avoid stepping on them and recounting what he’d done that day.

“He’s such a weird little creature.” Karl hummed, smiling. His eyes were red-rimmed and his nose was rosy, but he was still trying to keep things less awkward.

“That’s the ghost of my dead son. Not a cat.” Phil deadpanned.

Tommy bursted into laughter, clutching at his stomach. Many others seemed to find it somewhat amusing.

“He’s like a little pet rock.” Karl nodded happily, “his head is so empty.”

Phil sighed, putting his head in his hands and Technoblade smirked.

If there was one thing Tommy was thankful for, it was Karl fucking Jacobs. The man was a godsend. Just moments prior the whole room had been near tears and on edge, but Karl was good at chiming in at the right time. He was good at easing the mood. Tommy smiled to himself, making a note to thank the man once they finally escaped the wretched room.

Ghostbur continued to babble on about nothing and everything as Tommy mined. He told the blond about the family of ducks he’d made friends with, about how Quackity had told him that it was good for your eyes to stare at the sun, and how Niki had baked him some cakes. Tommy listened absentmindedly, making sure to hum along every now and then to assure the ghost he was paying attention.

“Quackity, why would you do that?” Sam questioned, looking tired. The duck hybrid erupted into laughter, not giving an answer.

“-nd then Tubbo was like ‘oh but it’ll be fun!’ and I was like well okay if you say so!”

Tommy paused in his mining, looking back at the ghost who was still going on and on. He frowned, wiping at the sweat on his brow before going back to hacking away.

“-yways so I said he shouldn’t do it, but he said- Oh! Hello there Technoblade!”

Tommy froze, mid swing, eyes going wide. Slowly, he lowered his pickaxe, and at an even slower pace, he turned around quietly. Meeting the eyes of none other than his oldest brother and someone he fucking hated.

“Oh fuck no.” Tommy growled, swivelling back around, “not to-fucking-day!”

“Tommy.” Technoblade began.

“I can’t hear you!” The blond cried back, mining away, “I’m mining!”

“Tommy turn around.” The piglin hybrid ordered, and despite what Tommy liked to think of as his iron will, he did just that. He stared up at the much bigger man, arms crossed and scowling. Technoblade merely raised an unimpressed brow at him.

“You look terrible.” The elder commented.

Tommy made a face of disgust before turning back around, going deeper into the cave. For some reason his eldest brother followed him.

“I told you this would happen, Tommy.” The pink-haired man declared. Tommy grit his teeth, digging harder into the iron ore as he swung.

“Okay you got your little jab at me,” He panted, “and you got your ‘I told you so’. You can leave now, Technoblade.”

“You’re such an ass.” Puffy muttered, eyes trained on the screen but tone bitter. Technoblade didn’t say anything back. Quite frankly, the lady scared him. And he was already on her bad side.

“Government corrupts Tommy!” Techno cried out, “look at what it did to you and Tubbo! Look at what it made Tubbo do to you.”

Tommy froze, the sound of water dripping and bugs crawling echoing throughout the cave as he went silent. He swallowed down something vile, trying to school himself.

“Leave.” He ordered, “Now.”

Tubbo couldn’t help the dread that pooled in his stomach at the way Tommy reacted every time he was brought up. He was so…. sensitive about it.

“Or what? You’ll fight me? Kill me, maybe?” The elder tilted his head, amused, “I have full netherite and you don’t even have iron, Tommy. Face it! You’ve been reduced to nothing by everything you fought for! All your sacrifices were for nothing!”

“Dude shut up,” Quackity stressed, glaring back, “Does it like, make you feel good talking down to people?”

“Yeah pretty much.” Technoblade shrugged.

Tommy said nothing, grip tightening around his pick. He gritted his teeth and swung again as his older brother watched, not giving him the satisfaction of some outburst.

“So answer me this then,” Techno began, leaning against the wall, “here you are, not a dollar to your name. You’ve just been stripped of everything by the people you hold dear. Why this? Why are you still trying? Why are you out here collecting iron armour?”

“Because,” Tommy answered through a short breath, swinging down at the iron ore again, “no matter how many times I get knocked down,” he swung down again, “I always get back up, Technoblade.” The ore shattered, and he wiped once again at the sweat trailing down his face.

Techno said nothing, merely looking him up and down before turning on his heel and leaving the cave. Tommy scrunched up his nose.

“Fuckin weirdo he is, isn’t he?” He asked, watching the elder man disappear from his sight.

“Well I personally am quite fond of Technoblade.” Ghostbur hummed. Tommy gave him an unimpressed look.

“He’d be the only one.” Quackity muttered.

“Right here, Quackity.” Techno commented.

“That’s the point, asshole.”

“You’re fond of everyone, Ghostbur.” He muttered.

“Oh, well I suppose that’s true.” The ghost nodded, smiling. Tommy rolled his eyes.

“We’ve got enough shit.” He said, “Let’s head back.”

“Okay!” Ghostbur beamed, floating up and doing circles around the tired boy as they exited the cave. Tommy stuck his hand out of the mouth opening, noticing it had stopped raining. He sighed, taking a moment to calm himself before setting out and back to the beach. Ghostbur followed along diligently, once again filling in every empty space with a story he had or his opinion on some flower Tommy’d never even heard of.

He slowly tuned the ghost out, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other.

I can do this, he thought to himself, just for a couple weeks I can do this. For Tubbo. He steadied himself, taking a deep breath. The moonlight shone above, and where Ghostbur’s shadow would have fallen on Tommy’s face, the moonlight passed right through the ghost, making the blond glow in the effulgence.

The screen went dark.

Jack stared back and forth between Tommy and Tubbo, smiling awkwardly. He rubbed his hands together. “Wow…” He grinned, glasses slipping down to the edge of his nose, “I’m seeing a lot of miscommunication here.”

Both Tubbo and Tommy turned in their seats, looking properly affronted.

“Oh shove it Manifold!” Tubbo flipped him off.

“Like you can see anything with those stupid fuckin glasses asshole!” Tommy snarked, baring his teeth.

An awkward silence settled over them at that, and Ranboo shuffled nervously between the two. The other occupants of the room were staring intently.

“Tommy?” He began, “do you have anything to say to Tub-”

“No.” The youngest said point blank. “Not even a little bit.”

Niki rolled her eyes. Of course he was choosing to be immature about it. They’d all clearly seen how highly Tommy thought of Tubbo. How, more than anything, it was Tommy who needed Tubbo, and not the other way around. But the blond was still being a little brat.

“O-Okay um… Tubbo? Do you have any-”

“Nope!” Tubbo declared loudly, popping the ‘p’. Tommy glared angrily.

“One of you needs to be the first to apologize...” Sam tried, pleading with them.

“Who said anyone was apologizing?” Tommy questioned, “I’m not fucking talking to him.”

“Tommy he can hear you.” Puffy stressed, messy hair even more disheveled with how stressfully she’d been tugging on it.

“No no if he wants to be immature about it that’s fine,” Tubbo put up his hands, as if in surrender, “that’s what got us into this mess, right? And the one before that? And before that, right? He’s never going to be the bigger person. That’s always on me, right? Because he’ll never grow up-”

“Shut up!” Tommy hissed lowly, “I am so tired of you saying that about me! You’re not even that much older than me, man! You’re just- just a fucking prick! You’re just like everyone else!”

“Oh please,” Tubbo rolled his eyes, “what’s that supposed to mean?”

“You use me being ‘immature’ as an excuse for everything!” Tommy threw his hands up in the air, “You- All of you push this narrative that I’m- that I’m stupid! But then two seconds later you’re claiming I’m manipulative and selfish! As if you even consider me smart enough to know the definition of manipulative!”

“What about you then!?” Tubbo countered angrily, “you don’t even listen to me! Even when I’m trying to help you! I’m starting to think maybe you are stupid because we never do things my way and you always end up losing! Maybe if you listened to me and respected me we wouldn’t be here!”

“Well maybe if you’d just ran away with me when I asked you we wouldn’t be here! Ever think about that?” He paid no mind to the people around them, not even when Ranboo’s head tilted at the last part, “If we’d just up and left maybe we’d still be friends!”

And that was supposed to be the part where Tubbo would angrily scream back that they were still friends. Tommy knew it. Tubbo would yell back and they’d still be mad at each other but at least he’d know they were still friends.

“Yeah…” Tubbo smiled sadly, “maybe we would’ve.”

Tommy said nothing, swallowing back bile and blinking back tears as he looked away. The room was quiet.

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THANK U FOR READINGGGGGGGGGG the support is incredible u guys are truly the best ever i am so thankful for u all wtffff

also i promise u clingyduo doesnt mean it they're just in such a high stress situation being forced to watch their past mistakes With An Audience judging them and they're taking it out on one another