More bedrock bros :) absolutely nothing could go wrong from here on out

its so funny leaving exile cause genuinely things WERE pretty lighthearted and ok for a while and that's definitely gonna make things hurt more in the future but rn its just funny as hell cause we went from towering up to just bickering for 5k words

anyways sorry its a day late!! hope u enjoy!!

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

Phil had never known much about his youngest’s life on the Dream SMP.

Wilbur was an avid songbird, constantly relaying messages of good tidings and filling Phil in on their day to day lives. His letters were chalkful of personality and charm, and you could always tell who they were written by.

Tommy never wrote, however.

In the letters Phil did receive, there’d often be tales of issues they’d run into, but that had been resolved before Wilbur had even found the time to write the letters. More often than not, it was something Tommy had caused, and though Phil had left him at such a young age, it was obvious that his youngest hadn’t changed.

Things like ‘Tommy fell out of a tree and knocked out a tooth. I used some of the rainy day fund to buy him some ice cream and shut him up, xoxo Wilbur’ or ‘You’ll be quite happy to know Tommy is not allergic to bee stings, even in large quantities. Love, your middle child.’ were the usual comments and tidbits he’d received on his youngest.

So when he’d joined the Dream SMP years later, the things people had told him didn’t seem all that farfetched. He hadn’t seen or heard from Tommy in so long that he had no reason to not believe the things he heard.

It was, admittedly, disheartening to hear that people hated his boy so much, and he might’ve retaliated a little too aggressively to the first people he’d asked, bless their souls, but soon enough the evidence was irrefutable.

Everyone around seemed to think his son was some sort of villain. Apparently he’d made a reputation for himself as a selfish little brat with very little empathy for others. Apparently they thought themselves better off without him.

Looking back on it, however, Phil realized he should have fought them on it. He shouldn’t have believed them. He should have known better than to just believe that the sweet little boy, his little boy that he’d left behind, had somehow become so warped without reason.

It was just so hard not to.

When he’d gone up to Tommy after the sixteenth the boy had been so angry ; not even towards his father, but just towards the world in general. He was sharp-tongued and rough on the edges, lashing out at everyone around him.

Phil should have known he was just grieving in his own way. Phil should have known no one ever taught him how to cope with loss. Phil should have known Tommy had just lost the only family he’d had.

Still, it had been jarring to see, and so he’d assumed that Tommy just needed time and space; and that was exactly what he’d given the boy, busying himself with his eldest son who was retreating somewhere in the arctic, just barely over twenty but somehow having decided he’d had enough of everything.

The next time he’d heard anything about Tommy, it was news breathlessly delivered by a hoard of his crows that his son had burnt a man’s house down without reason . Of course, that had to have been a mistake, so he’d fled the arctic searching for answers.

Tubbo apparently had all of them.

If Tubbo , the boy who Wilbur had described in letters as Tommy’s other half, the boy who was always at Tommy’s side, was telling Phil that his youngest had committed an unprovoked act of arson, that his youngest was selfish and idiotic, well, who was he to disagree? It wasn’t as if he knew Tommy better than the boy.

And then things got complicated.

In a swirl of events he could barely keep track of, Phil found himself under house arrest with Tommy in exile, and just like that he’d had his own things to worry about. For god’s sake his eldest was being hunted like an animal by the government. Surely, if Tommy had dug that hole, he could survive laying in it for a bit.

He almost didn’t, though.

Things had moved pretty fast afterwards, and before he knew it his boys were together again, and he couldn’t have been happier. Techno had always felt so excluded from the three because of how badly he feared hurting them, spending most of his time isolated even before they’d left to find answers.

However good things don’t last, apparently, and he’d watched Techno come back to the cottage one day; downtrodden and defeated, a lack of a certain bubbly blond at his side.

To put it simply, his eldest had been bitter and hurt, and when he’d told Phil that Tommy had betrayed him for the country that exiled him, well, he couldn’t help but be disappointed.

He hadn’t really seen Tommy during doomsday, and if he did he’d blocked it out, but he knew he was doing it for the best. Technoblade had told him about what that country had done to Wilbur.

And then that was it, really. His youngest went off, and Phil offered Ranboo a home.

They didn’t speak until Techno had delivered the news that Tommy was trying to rid them of their one chance at getting Wilbur back.

Initially, he’d been livid. The thought of Tommy not wanting Wilbur back, of him actively trying to keep them from getting his older brother back… well it upset Phil.

But now? After seeing what he’d seen? He knew Tommy had his reasons.

He just… wished there was some way to make up for it.

He’d never been a man to break easily, but he’d always had a soft spot for Wilbur, Techno and Tommy, and seeing the way they’d treated each other broke his heart.

He’d spent so much time with Techno he supposed he might’ve gotten used to… his nature; but the truth was that not everyone could handle the way he was, and Tommy was definitely not someone who could cope with the blunt and crude actions of his brother.

So Phil had sat and watched as Wilbur; Wilbur , hurt his baby brother. Wilbur who had held Tommy as a baby and sang to him, who had insisted on being the one to put Tommy to bed, who had practically raised Tommy.

And then Technoblade had followed suit. Techno, who was Tommy’s biggest hero, the person who Tommy looked up to the most in the world, had willingly set foot in that pit.

But of course, the biggest culprit of them all was Phil himself.

Tommy had been through so much, and despite being his father, Phil hadn’t known any of it. Tommy and Wilbur had suffered while he’d tried to help Techno and tried to keep them safe. He had raised two of the people who had hurt Tommy the most.

So by then, he could only sit and watch as things somehow managed to get worse every time, hoping and praying to anyone that it would finally be over; begging for it to finish so he could apologize over and over and over.

More than anything, though, he just wanted to hold his boy and tell him it was okay. He wanted to go back and promise to never leave, to plant a kiss on his forehead and promise to keep him safe.

He never wanted to see Tommy hurt again,

But then, of course, that wretched screen started back up again.

Techno appeared on screen, silently sitting in the armchair adjacent to the couch and watching Tommy sleep. His hair was wet and he had a change of clothes, but he still looked just as tired as he had the moment he’d arrived home.

His eyes flicked over to the fireplace as a loud pop resounded throughout the room before going back to his little brother.

Tommy was coated in sweat, a wet towel on his brow. His hair was stringy and matted with blood, cheeks sunken in and lips pulled into a deep frown, even in his sleep. His arms were wrapped securely, slathered in different ointments and creams, and his foot was propped up on a stack of pillows, bandaged loosely.

It’s about time… Puffy thought quietly. She’d been tired of watching Tommy hobble around on his untreated wounds, no doubt making them worse.

Tommy frowned. He didn’t remember looking that pathetic, and he also didn’t remember it being that serious.

He looked so… small; shivering and curled in on himself.

It was dark out by then, frigid winds blowing harshly on the door. Technoblade had lit more lanterns than usual, he wasn’t quite sure why.

Tommy let out a low keel, shifting slightly, and the elder’s ear twitched almost instantly, gazing intently.

Phil watched, eyes wide.

The blond murmured, rolling over onto his side; or…. attempting to. He let out a gasp of pain, groaning and slowly coming into awareness. He peeled his eyes open, mouth dry.

“Welcome back to the land of the living, Theseus.” Techno muttered, not moving.

Tommy blinked blearily, adjusting to the light and looking to his left. For a moment he only stared at the piglin hybrid, eyes half lidded.

Then, he realized exactly where he was.

“Oh what the fuck?” He whispered, voice hoarse.

Sam winced at the raspy words, sympathizing for how raw and red Tommy’s throat probably was.

The man across from him gave a tiny head tilt, and his eyes grew wide, tensing and quickly trying to sit up. He only made it about halfway before crying out in pain, lying back down as he held his side.

Karl sucked in a breath, rubbing anxiously at his own side as though he could feel it himself.

“I wouldn’t move too much if I were you.” Technoblade hummed, looking the boy up and down, “you’re not in a very good way right now, Tommy.”

Tommy narrowed his eyes, carefully twisting so that he could look at the man.

“Well I was doing just fine before you got your big oaf hands on me,” he hissed, “so what the fuck did you do to me?”

“At least you know he’s still Tommy.” Fundy muttered.

Technoblade sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You weren’t fine, Tommy. You were only standing ‘cause you were hopped up on gapples. My gapples, to be specific.”

Almost instantly, Tommy backpedaled, grinning sheepishly. “Well let’s not point fingers here, Technoblade!” He laughed, sweating bullets, “to each their own, amirite?”

Quackity shook his head, bemused.

The latter didn’t bother responding, only staring quietly. Tommy squirmed under his gaze, unsure of what was going through his mind. An awkward silence hung over them, and the blond’s eyes flicked over to the corner of the cottage where there were four hooks lined up by the front door.

“What the hell were you thinking, Tommy?” Technoblade said finally, sighing quietly, “walking on your foot when it’s like that? Walking in the snow like that? You had a hole in your shoulder and three broken ribs- not to mention the- the mess that your arms were…” He paused, pursing his lips, “what were you even doing out here?”

“Glad you’re bringing that up.” Puffy commented, eyes never leaving the screen.

“Why wouldn’t I?” Techno asked, tilting his head.

“Well… I don’t know I just- I’m used to watching him get treated like crap.” She replied, “I guess I just expected the worst from you.”

“Thanks.” He said dryly.

Tommy’s shoulders hiked up defensively, and he sniffled; his nose was stuffed. “I don’t have to tell you shit, bitch.” He scowled.

“You’re living in my house,” the elder raised a brow, “you burrowed under my house like a raccoon!”

The blond sucked in a breath, “so you found that, huh?”

Technoblade gave him an unimpressed stare, leaning forward in his chair and pressing his hands together. “You can’t just stay here, Tommy, not if we aren’t working together.”

Phil turned his head, eyes narrowed.

“You find your little brother in that condition and you- you want to kick him out?” He demanded incredulously.

“It’s not like that,” Techno shook his head, “I just- I didn’t want to let him think he could walk all over me! I can’t just let people stick around for free!”

“He’s your brother!” Phil shot back, eyes wide.

“We’ve already had this discussion,” The piglin muttered, worn down, “I’m not doing this again.”

Phil sighed quietly, putting his head in his hands.

Tommy squirmed uncomfortably.

Tommy’s brow furrowed, and he tilted his head. “...Working together?”

“Mhm,” Techno nodded, “see, if we were allies, if we had a mutual goal we were workin towards, then I don’t see why we couldn’t sit and discuss living arrangements.”

“Wow,” Quackity sang, “that’s not at all a dick move!”

“To be fair, I didn’t know what he’d just gone through.” Technoblade pointed out.

“You did know he didn’t have anywhere else to go, though,” Sam added, “didn’t you?”

It wasn’t a question.

The younger was quiet for a moment, as if digesting the words. The fire crackling and the slight rattle in his lungs were the only sounds in the cottage.

“Wait,” he shook his head, “wait, no.” He frowned, “you want me to be allies with you? You? The guy who- who blew up my home? Who killed Tubbo?”

Tubbo cringed.

“You’re always so… pushy about that…” He muttered. Ranboo narrowed his eyes as Tommy scrunched up his face.

“Someone has to be.” The enderman hybrid commented, looking away. Tubbo cocked his head, confused.

“That was months ago!” Techno rolled his eyes, a ghost of a smile on his face.

Sick bastard… Quackity thought to himself.

Tommy looked upon him with disgust, lips curled into a deep frown. Images of colourful flashes and bursts of colour were forever burned into his mind.

“I can’t,” he said finally, “I can’t align myself with L’Manbergs enemy.”

Phil frowned, heart twisting.

Had the country really meant that much?

“L’Manberg’s enemy,” Technoblade repeated, “not yours.”

Tommy stiffened.

“ You aren’t L’manberg, Tommy. You aren’t even a part of it anymore.”

“Alright asshole, that was a low blow.” Sapnap hissed, turning to glare at the man.

“I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true.” Techno shrugged.

And oh how he loathed that statement. How he abhorred even the slightest implications of it. He wanted to stand tall and say with his chest that he was L’Manberg. He wanted to say at full volume, voice carrying across the room that he had no idea where the country ended and he began, that every time it had blown up he had felt it in his chest. He wanted to explain that he was his and Wilbur’s country.

But he didn’t know how to.

“I-”

“What have they actually done for you, Tommy?” Technoblade pressed, staring intently, “other than take from you?”

Tommy furrowed his brow, frowning.

“They took everything from you! After you gave them everything they have!” The piglin hybrid seemed much more awake than he was previously, movements more animated and much more intrigued.

“I gave up the discs and two of my lives for them…” Tommy mumbled quietly, “I gave up Wilbur for them.”

Niki frowned, making a face.

“You did give a lot, Tommy.” Puffy hummed, turning her head back to look up at him. He scowled, cheeks turning red.

“I fuckin know I did…” He muttered.

“It’s pretty admirable, actually.” George nodded.

Tommy made a choked noise before quickly clearing his throat. He chose to ignore the comment.

Technoblade reacted if just for a moment, eyes widening slightly at the mention of his twin before he was already going back to his persuasive speech.

“And what do they do the moment you aren’t convenient for them? The moment they can’t use you?” He gave Tommy a knowing look, “they exile you. They kick you to the curb.”

Tommy pursed his lips. The statement still stung.

Probably because a part of it was true.

Tommy was very quiet, lips pursed. His eyes trained on the floorboards, fists clenched at his side.

“No,” he shook his head, gritting his teeth, “Tubbo wouldn’t like this. He- He wouldn’t like it.”

There it was again; the thing that grounded him, the person that grounded him. Tommy wasn’t driven by his own moral compass, he was driven by his loved ones. If Tubbo said something was right, it was right. If Wilbur said something was wrong, it was wrong.

Tommy let his own heart guide him, but the issue was that his heart just followed who it loved.

Obviously, Tubbo could never be in the wrong, right?

Everyone around them was starting to realize to what degree Tommy depended on Tubbo.

It was concerning, to say the least. For someone so headstrong it was just… strange to see him completely blinded by his dependency.

Technoblade paused, frowning.

“Okay seriously,” he began, “what is it with you and Tubbo?”

Ranboo shifted uncomfortably, extremely aware of the fact that he was between the two deathly silent boys.

“He’s my friend, dickhead!” Tommy glared, baring his teeth. “My best friend!”

The elder nodded wordlessly, sitting back in his chair. The wind continued to howl outside, and the candles were burning low.

“So he’s your best friend,” Techno began, “but are you his best friend?”

Tubbo went completely rigid, and Ranboo could almost feel the temperature in the room drop.

A couple people in the room looked almost as perturbed, but Tommy was scowling at the ground, tips of his ears red.

Tommy all but froze, eyes going wide. He looked back down at the floor, swallowing a lump in his throat.

“Does Tubbo care about you as much as you care about him?” Technoblade pressed further, face pensive.

Puffy opened her mouth, ready to comment on everything so very wrong with that sentence, but Tubbo beat her to the punch.

“I’m so tired of everyone doing that…” He muttered, shoulders tense and fists clenched. Ranboo looked over worriedly at Tommy, confused.

Tubbo stood, turning around to face Technoblade.

“I could handle it when Wilbur did it,” he laughed bitterly, “and I could cope with Dream doing the same…” he stared into the man’s eyes, “but even I can only take so much.”

Techno furrowed a brow, as did many others in the room.

Ranboo had noticed the boy had been scowling at the occasional comment, that he was growing more tense over time, but he wasn’t exactly sure over what.

“Who are you to tell Tommy how I feel about him?” He demanded, “ why does my name keep getting thrown around like that? Do I- does everyone have that little respect for me?”

They were completely quiet, stunned by the outburst.

Tubbo was so quick to repress things; to internalize them and let them fester, that it almost felt surreal to see it all come bubbling over.

“Technoblade I was president of L’Manberg,” he began, voice dangerously low, “I gave the command for your execution and I would gladly do it again for what you did on Doomsday.”

The man in question blinked, slightly taken aback. He readied himself for a rebuttal, but Tubbo didn’t seem quite done.

“This entire time I’ve sat here and listened to the way everyone tells Tommy Tubbo thinks this or Tubbo thinks that but not a single one of you has a clue what I’m thinking!” He swiveled, eyeing everyone, “Why is everyone always trying to pit us against each other!?”

There was silence, no one knowing what to say.

Tubbo turned, looking over at the wide eyed face of his best friend.

“You are my best friend, Tommy,” he said, smiling sadly, “I never want you to feel like you aren’t.”

Tommy didn’t know what to stay, only nodding quietly as he continued to stare.

Puffy tried hard to hide her smirk.

The blond teen took a deep breath, but didn’t answer. His older brother watched curiously.

After what felt like hours, Tommy finally broke the silence, sighing shakily. He looked up, eyes narrowed at Technoblade.

“I will work with you,” he muttered, “you will help me get my discs back and I will help you do whatever it is you do, but I will not do anything that would upset Tubbo. I will not harm L’Manberg in any way.” His voice was firm and unwavering, similar to his stare.

Quackity’s lip curled in disgust. He’d never tried to hide his distaste for The Blade, but knowing that Technoblade of all people had been the one Tommy had found solace in after his exile… well… it worried him.

Even if he was being completely unbiased, what sort of tact did the man have for dealing with someone so fragile?

For a long moment Technoblade only stared back.

“Fine,” he sighed, “that’ll work. I can work with that.”

“But,” Tommy interrupted, a bit of his liveliness back, “this is a partnership founded on mutual agreement. None of that- that friend stuff, yeah?”

Phil glowered at both of them.

“Course none of that friend stuff,” he hissed, “you’re brothers!”

Tommy scowled, looking away. How could he forget? His dad kept bringing it up every two minutes.

“Trust me,” Technoblade snorted, rolling his eyes, “that’s not even an option.”

Both of them seemed satisfied, postures relaxing slightly. The candles were almost at the end of their wicks and the fire was burning down.

Techno stood to go fetch more wax candles.

“Why are my arms so sore?” Tommy hummed quietly, wincing as he tried to raise them, “and heavy?”

“You have the End Dragon of fevers,” Technoblade replied from somewhere on the other side of the room, rummaging through chests, “like, seriously.”

Puffy frowned sympathetically.

“Oh,” The blond whispered, nodding softly. He went to lay back down. “Cool.”

“Not cool,” Techno grunted, standing and making his way back over, “it’s gonna be a pain to take care of.”

Ranboo didn’t like the way the man spoke. It was one thing to be a sort of jaded character in general, but to act like so around someone who had just been so severely abused both psychologically and physically… it didn’t sit perfectly right with him.

Technoblade’s discontent was bound to make Tommy uneasy.

He placed the replacement candles all around. “we’re gonna have to keep you on bedrest for a couple days,” he leant over, lighting a match, “which means you’ll be useless for the time being,” he slowly began to light the candles, “and you probably shouldn’t have solids so I’ll have to ignore the food I’ve already made to make you soup…”

He stood, blowing out the match and wiping his hands off. “But if you’re willing to make up for that I-”

Technoblade paused, looking over at the couch. Tommy was sound asleep, chest rising and falling slowly.

Niki felt a pang in her chest, glaring and trying to ignore it. Seeing him sleep so peacefully was reminiscent of the early L’Manberg days where she’d work the night watch, always watching over her boys.

The piglin hybrid huffed, rolling his eyes.

“You’re lucky you’re my brother…” He muttered, voice quiet.

Without another word he left the room, the screen going dark.

Tommy’s cheeks went red, eyes widening.

Technoblade immediately frowned, turning his head and squirming in his seat.

Phil however, was smiling softly at where his sons had been on the screen, eyes warm.

When Tommy awoke, it was to sunlight filtering in through the windows. Dust was visible floating through the air, and the drapes were drawn open so as to brighten the place up. The fireplace was quiet, nothing but smouldering ash, and all the candles had been blown out.

“That’s uncomfortably cozy.” Jack muttered.

Technoblade was nowhere to be found, but there was a new wet rag on his forehead and a glass of water on the table beside him. He frowned, wincing slightly as he maneuvered into a bit more of an elevated position.

He thirstily downed the glass in one go, setting it back down where he’d grabbed it from and leaving the rag beside it.

“I’ll grab you some more,” a voice came from behind him. Tommy nearly jumped out of his skin, screaming and falling back slightly.

A couple of them laughed at that, Tommy glaring angrily.

Technoblade rounded the couch, a bowl of soup in his hands and a smirk poking at the edges of his mouth. He placed the bowl down, grabbing the glass and shaking it slightly to get Tommy’s attention.

“Excessive amounts of fluid and rest are how we’re going to nip this fever in the bud so that I don’t have to do,” he gestured vaguely, “ this for any longer than necessary.”

“Your host has such excellent manners.” Sam commented dryly.

Tommy smirked at him, cocking a brow.

“You’re a bit like my maid, yeah?” He grinned, a bit of light returning to his eyes, “my bitch perhaps?”

Tubbo grinned at the screen, stifling a laugh.

Technoblade was silent for a long moment, and Tommy watched with an excited expression. Eventually the man turned on his heel, wordlessly leaving the room, and Tommy erupted into laughter; half of it being spent clutching his side in pain.

His pained laughter soon dissolved into coughs, however, and through his hacking he heard a very distinct “L!” from down the hall.

Many of them couldn’t help but smile, Tommy’s laughter was infectious.

Phil’s chest bloomed with warmth.

And as his older brother returned with another glass of water and a healing potion, Tommy, for the first time in what felt like forever, felt safe.

Technoblade glared at the screen, an uncomfortable feeling brewing within him.

The screen switched to a snowy plain, two small figures trudging across it slowly. The sun was high in the bright blue sky, not a cloud in sight, and its light reflected off the snow’s surface, practically blinding them all.

“The arctic is so ugly.” Karl noted, tilting his head.

“The arctic is fine.” Technoblade insisted through grit teeth.

“Pick up the pace!” Techno called back, his large boots creating huge footprints in the deep snow.

“I’m going as fast as I can, you prick!” Tommy angrily chirped back. He was wrapped in a large fleece cloak almost twice his size as he carefully hopped in the snow, following Technoblade’s exact footsteps. “I hate the cold!” He whined loudly, throwing his head back.

It was a comical sight, really, and a couple of them couldn’t help but grin.

Tommy looked like a chick following its parent.

“Imagine how I feel…” Techno muttered, rolling his eyes. He allowed himself a quick moment of respite, fantasizing about the pools of lava and hot coals in the nether.

“That I can agree with,” Sapnap nodded, “overworldies are so whiny about temperature.”

Techno let out an amused huff and Ranboo grinned slightly.

“Oh fuck you,” Tommy rolled his eyes, “just cause I don’t take lava baths doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to be cold, Sapnap!”

Before he’d even realized it they’d reached the side of the mountain, and Tommy was just a couple steps behind him, unbalanced as always. He waited a moment for the blond to reach his side before he leant over, brushing some snow off of the mountain’s stone wall.

“I haven’t even told Phil about this yet.” He grinned, and Tommy gave him a questionable look. “Go on,” he nodded towards the barely visible button, “press it.”

“Do not press it.” George shook his head.

Phil frowned, knowing exactly what was behind that wall.

Tommy hesitated, reaching out but falling short. He looked back at his older brother wearily.

“If I was going to kill you I would have done it already.” Techno sighed, shaking his head.

With all the courage he could muster, Tommy nodded, taking a deep breath and pressing the button.

Almost instantly, the huge mountain wall before him began to lower, revealing a secret room that was dug into the stone. Tommy squinted at the walls, perplexed by their colour and pattern. There was something he couldn’t quite place.

Niki squinted at the screen. “Are those…?”

“Holy shit…”

His eyes widened.

Oh.

All at once he let out a shrill scream, nearly falling back as he stepped away. The huge mouth of the room was completely open, exposing the walls lined head to toe and front to back with wither skulls.

“No fucking way!” Quackity cried out, jaw dropping.

“That can’t be real… Those have to be fake…” Niki’s eyes were wide.

No one should have that much power.

Technoblade only laughed, throwing his arms out in the air excitedly.

“Welcome home, Theseus!” He cried, standing before the secret base.

Without another word the older brother turned tail, stalking inside the room like a kid on christmas. Tommy forced himself to swallow his shock and horror, scurrying after the man.

“I thought you were retired!” The blond cried out, looking the place up and down. He kept to the middle, weary of the skulls.

“I was,” Techno hummed, checking his chests over, “but Quackity and his goons requested my return.”

“We aren’t his goons, asshole!” Fundy hissed, tail spiking up.

“And absolutely no one asked for you to come back,” Quackity glared, “we just wanted you to face, hm, I don’t know… some fucking consequences for your actions!”

“Have you guys not realized that L’Manberg was an active issue on this server?” Technoblade demanded, “has me finally ridding you all of it not maybe proved my point that you’re all so much better off without it?”

Quackity swallowed thickly, looking over at his fiances and best friend. The destruction of L’Manberg had sent him far away, and them even further. He didn’t even know what they were doing because they hadn’t bothered to tell him. He’d been miserable since Doomsday.

Tubbo frowned, gaze flicking towards his husband. He thought back to his son and couldn’t help but wonder if things were better because of Doomsday.

Sam paused for a moment, giving it genuine thought. The hotel had come from Doomsday and had been good business, but to be honest, he’d never really been affected.

“Oh fuck you!” Tommy hissed, “don’t act like that was anything other than you throwing a big bitch fit cause they tried to execute you! L’Manberg wasn’t hurting anybody!”

“That’s what you think,” Technoblade pressed, “because you’re blind to it; of course you are! You created it!”

“No,” The blond shook his head, “you took the last thing I had left just to prove you were better than everyone. You’re the one who’s blind, Technoblade.”

“I-”

“We are not doing this right now,” Phil interjected, eyes narrowed and arms crossed, “I don’t need my one chance at watching you two get along being ruined by your fighting!”

“But-”

“No.” Phil hissed, tone commanding and stern.

Almost instantly the two quieted, sulking silently.

Tommy glared at the floor angrily.

He didn’t know why he still bothered listening to Phil so readily. He didn’t know why he always did what Phil said, after everything the man had done.

But his dad looked genuinely happy, watching the memories of the arctic, and if he wanted to pretend for just a moment that they were okay, Tommy would let him have that.

God knows he wished someone would have done the same for him.

Tommy gave his brother a nervous glance, swallowing thickly. He shrank back from the walls, spinning in a circle slowly.

“Just what exactly do you plan to… to do with all of these?” He whispered, eyes wide.

“Oh, you know, just ruin everyone’s lives.” Fundy hummed.

Technoblade shut the bottom left chest on the right wall, turning around to look at the boy. “Oh, you know… Minor terrorism, general acts of violence, the usual.” He shrugged.

“I don’t think that many skulls equates to minor terrorism…” Ranboo muttered.

“It’s a spectrum.” Technoblade replied curtly.

Tommy paused for a moment, eyeing his brother up and down, before an inkling of a grin appeared on his face.

Not many of them were expecting that, and for some reason it was almost… comforting to see even just a bit of the annoying Tommy they knew so well come back.

It should have been aggravating, really. They should have been upset that he’d make that stupid face, but they couldn’t bring themselves to feel it.

“You know, Technoblade,” he began, “I happen to be quite the fan of minor terrorism.”

“Can’t deny that I suppose.” Tubbo mumbled, thinking back to how Tommy had been when he’d first joined.

Tommy laughed.

“Well now, Tommy, that’s just what I like to hear.” Technoblade smirked.

The screen faded to black.

For a moment, they were all quiet.

And then;

“So you knew he had all those skulls and did nothing?” Niki asked, brow furrowed.

Tommy blinked, as if he hadn’t been expecting it. “Uh…”

“I’m not even mad,” Karl shook his head, grinning, “I just think it’s hilarious that you actually saw that loaded of an arsenal and believed him when he said minor terrorism.”

Instantly, the blond’s face heated up.

Niki looked perturbed by the subject change. She opened her mouth to divert attention back to what she’d been saying, but was interrupted by a shrill cry.

“Shut up!” Tommy yelled loudly, holding his hands over his ears to hide the red blushing tinge, “what do you know, hm? Oh I’m Karl Jacobs I think I’m sooooo funny,” he mocked, “well you’re not! You’re a pussy and a loser!”

“I too see enough wither skulls to decimate our entire server and think ‘oh boy, can’t wait to do some petty crime’!” Jack chirped, face completely monotone.

For a moment the room was completely silent, and then Quackity erupted into hysterics as Tommy dissolved into angry threats and curses.

“Die.” The blond said, eyes wide and staring into the man’s soul, “actually jump off of a cliff and die.”

The people around him continued to laugh, mocking him and poking fun at him. Tubbo and Ranboo watched, amused as the people in the row behind them continued to make their little jokes and jibes.

Phil smiled to himself, making eye contact with Sam across the room, who also seemed content with just listening to everyone else have fun.

Things were finally looking up.

my twitter

COME TALK TO MEEEE

anyways yeah big plans for the future but of course of course i have to settle you guys in and make you feel comfortable first. it'll be more effective that way

ALSO SHROUD IS BLUE. JUST THOUGHT I'D SAYTHAT I CAN PREDICT THE FUTURE. C!TOMMY WILL LOSE ANOTHER CANON LIFE SOON I'M CALLING IT.