wilbur's villainous tendencies begin to show.

quick disclaimer this fic isn't anti any character other than wilbur dream and maybe a lil bit philza and techno... (as much as i love bedrock bros techno's actions and choices when he was partnered with tommy were questionable at best and i'll delve into that in later chapters) but other than them i'm not anti any characters. they're all extremely ignorant to what tommy's been through for the most part, and they aren't intentionally being THAT malicious. they're being dicks for sure but they don't realize just how bad what they're saying is bc they dont have context and they loved wilbur. they wont just be like "oh this behavior is bordering wrong" theyre going to think back to the now dead man that they loved so much and romanticize the moments where he was alive.

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

Tommy bolted through the rain, zigging and zagging through the trees narrowly. Each step was another loud splashing sound as he raced. He was panting heavily, still going as fast as he could. There was a diamond sword in his hand, gripped so tightly his knuckles were white.

“War’s afoot.” Fundy declared, sort of matter of fact, not exactly a jest but not very serious either.

“Oh Tommyyy.”

Sapnap blinked in surprise, hearing his voice on screen.

The blond swiftly ducked behind a bush, putting pressure on a large wound on his thigh. The rainwater mixed with the blood, trickling down his hands as he pressed.

Above his head, Sapnap and George stepped into the small clearing, looking around for the boy. They were both soaked to the bone, netherite armour clinging heavily to their bodies.

“Did you see which way he turned?” George asked, looking at his friend. Sapnap shook his head.

“You look sexy as hell all wet like that.” Karl commented, head resting on Sapnap’s shoulder. The blaze hybrid smirked, laughing quietly to himself.

Fuck, Tommy thought quietly to himself, gritting his teeth as he ripped part of his coat off and tied it around his thigh as tight as he could.

“I’d burn down the whole area if it wasn’t for this stupid rain,” Sapnap sighed, flexing out his palm and watching the raindrops evaporate on the skin, hissing as they did, “we’d find him a lot quicker.”

“That’d be reckless.” George muttered, squatting down to look for any tracks in the mud.

“It’d be helpful.” The shorter replied, looking down at his partner with a distasteful frown on his face.

“Don’t look at me like that.” George chastised, leaning over and hitting his friend. Sapnap laughed.

Idiots, Tommy rolled his eyes, scanning the area for escape routes. He could make a run for it, but George had a bow and Sapnap had good eyes. When they saw him, and they would, he wouldn’t make it far. It wasn’t until his communicator vibrated in his pocket that he even remembered he had it on him.

He pulled it out swiftly, reading the message he’d just received.

WilburSoot:

Where are you?

TommyInnit:

TRAPPPED

MAJOR DCICKHEADS

LOOK

He craned his neck, bringing his communicator up and snapping a photo of both Sapnap and George discussing what to do.

“Why are you taking pictures of them?” Sam asked, exasperated.

“A picture’s worth a thousand words.” Tommy shrugged, as though it was the most obvious thing.

TommyInnit:

IMG.34

19.56, 65.00, -10.16

WilburSoot:

Ah. I’ll send Fundy.

Knowing help was on its way, Tommy let himself relax slightly, concentrating on staying quiet and avoiding getting caught. He took a deep breath, momentarily closing his eyes before shooting them open at a loud cry.

“Shut up!” Sapnap groaned, holding his head in his hands, “you got him with your bow so he can’t be far. I say we just split up and start looking.”

“If we’d brought Diane she would’ve been able to track the blood and we wouldn’t even be having this discussion.” George mumbled quietly, frowning.

“I am going to kill that dog when we get back.” The pyromaniac declared, and Tommy couldn’t tell if it was a joke.

“You are evil.” Tubbo hissed, eyeing Sapnap.

Groaning silently in pain, the co-founder of L’manberg took a deep breath, closing his eyes once more.

“Wow.” Tommy commented, eyes wide, “I had a really low pain tolerance back then.”

Puffy looked over in concern. That seemed like an appropriate reaction for an adult to have to a wound that deep, nevermind a child. She said nothing, planning to bring it up in therapy.

The scene shifted to a desaturated beach, sun shining brightly.

“Memory inside of a memory,” Ranboo remarked, “cool.”

“Tommy!”

The blond looked up from where he was building, already dozens of blocks off the ground. He looked down onto the sand, seeing two figures approaching his tower. He grinned, waterbucketing down.

“Ow do?” He greeted, braces glinting in the sunlight. Sapnap and George approached him, both smiling as well.

“Building another ugly tower?” George asked, looking up at the cobblestone monstrosity, “you’re gonna get banned from the server if you keep making it uglier, y’know.”

“Oh…” George began softly, “this is…”

“I am not!” Tommy stuck his tongue out at the older man. “Cobblestone is bee-you-tee-full!”

“Anyways,” Sapnap intervened, rolling his eyes fondly, “I wanted to uh… to say thanks. For the other day y’know?” His cheeks went red, slowly heating up enough for both the others to feel it from where they were standing.

“What?”

“I mean like-” the blaze hybrid looked flustered, “we’ve never had a fight that big and serious on the server and you really came in clutch, man. You barely even knew me but we totally kicked Dream’s ass!”

Tommy let out a loud laugh at that, one of his trademark sort of squeals and gasps for air that always seemed weird at first.

“No problem big man, I had fun.” he gave a salute, “always a pleasure.”

“I meant it,” Sapnap hummed, looking over at the boy. Tommy looked up with wide eyes, confused.

“Hm?”

“We made a great team,” He said. Tommy nodded silently, and Sapnap frowned.

The screen went back to the version of Tommy reminiscing in the rain. He smiled sadly to himself at the memory before curling in on himself and clutching the wound in pain. The droplets pattered down, making him shiver.

Both George and Sapnap looked over at him, but he was adamant in avoiding their gaze, eyes locked on the screen. The two older men frowned at each other.

Tommy had looked up to them, he’d seen them as good friends, and then the war came.

“Well that’s bittersweet.” Fundy said, trying to keep things less awkward. Thankfully, the scene changed quickly.

Wilbur Soot was sitting quietly at his desk, going over dozens of different parchments intently. There was a lantern on his left, and it was dark and pouring out. He looked up when he heard a knock at his door.

“Come in.”

The door creaked slowly, Tommy entering silently. Wilbur barely spared him a glance, still going over worksheets. The light of the candle in the lantern made both their faces glow ominously.

“All patched up are we?” The general asked. Tommy looked down at his thigh before nodding.

“Yeah…”

They spent a moment in silence, Wilbur working diligently while his younger brother stood there, silently staring him down. Eventually, he looked up, raising a brow.

“Can I help you?” He drawled. Tommy scowled immediately at the tone, flipping his brother off.

“Fuck off ya prick,” but his confidence died down there, “I was just uh wondering if…” He paused, “if…”

“AwkwardInnit.” Karl snickered.

“If?” Wilbur implored, clearly trying to pick up the pace of the conversation. Tommy sighed, dragging both his hands down his face.

“Wilbur,” he began gently, “do you think people on opposing sides can… can still be friends after this?”

Thunder boomed outside, and as lightning came down, the entire office was illuminated in a brilliant white light for just a moment.

Everyone in the room was able to connect the ties between the two most recent memories, and many eyes drifted to George and Sapnap.

For a moment, Wilbur didn’t speak. He stood, turning and looking out the window. The younger watched his back with anticipation.

“Tommy,” the general started, still not turning, “it’s naive childlike thinking like what you’ve just said that sometimes makes me worry about my decision to make you my second in command.”

Tommy had to suck in a breath at that. Hearing Wilbur speak down to him like that again felt like a punch in the gut.

The blond blanched, taking a surprised step backwards.

“I-” He began.

“Are you serious about this war Tommyinnit?” Wilbur turned, pressing the palms of his hands down on his desk and he leaned on it.

“O-Of course Wil I-”

“Then don’t fraternize with the enemy.” The general commanded, eyes stone cold. Tommy nodded shakily.

There was a terse silence before Wilbur broke it with a sigh. He walked around the desk, hands folded behind his back as he approached the boy, getting close enough they were practically pressed up against each other.

“You can’t trust anyone not on our side, Toms,” He murmured, cupping his little brother’s cheek, “even after the war. It’s just not safe.”

Tommy hummed quietly, leaning into Wilbur’s touch as the older gently traced his thumb across his face. “M sorry Wil.” He mumbled.

The screen went dark.

Tommy bit his tongue, turning his head away as his stomach turned. He hadn’t wanted them to see anything like that. Those were the days where it first started; where Wilbur began to sink his claws into Tommy without the latter having a single clue. Would they even notice anything amiss?

They sat quietly for a moment, before a voice spoke up.

“I remember Wil sending me a letter about that day.” Phil murmured quietly. Everyone craned their necks to look at him. He was smiling, though it seemed bitter and somewhat insincere.

“He wrote about how Tommy had almost been caught by Sapnap and George and was acting off when he returned.” The winged man swallowed thickly, “He told me how scared he was when Tommy came to him asking if they could still befriend their enemies.”

The young blond suddenly felt even sicker, realizing where his father’s story was headed. Wilbur had twisted the story. Wilbur had made Tommy seem like a foolish kid when he just missed his friends. Wilbur had made Tommy look like an idiot, and made himself look like the hero.

“It shouldn’t come as a surprise to any of you that Techno and I are well versed in war,” Phil continued, “but seeing Wilbur so mature about the whole thing, cutting friendships ties where he had to, especially with such little experience, well, let’s just say I was proud. He was always so smart. ”

Tommy had to bite back an aggrieved laugh once more. You’re right, he was so fucking smart. Smart enough to make himself the hero even in this situation, it seemed.

“Even if it meant making himself the bad guy in your story, Tommy, he was doing it to protect you.” Phil told him. “You always had such a big heart, y’know? Wilbur had to be the villain, you had room for everyone in there and it just wasn’t safe.”

God, the old man could not have been more wrong. Wilbur had done those things to make him dependent. Wilbur had done those things to scare him into being loyal. Wilbur had done those things because he was a villain.

“Well, room for everyone except Wilbur, I guess.” Niki muttered, arms crossed. Tommy froze.

“Niki, that wasn’t very-” Puffy began, but was interrupted.

“The fuck did you say?” Tommy demanded, eyes ablaze.

“Oh don’t act like you’re surprised we all noticed,” Niki scoffed, “you don’t care about Wil. I wouldn’t be surprised if you never did.” She was so angry at this kid. This kid who had gotten all of Wilbur’s love and devotion and still chose to resent him. This kid who had gotten to be Wilbur’s everything and didn’t even want to bring the man back.

“Niki that’s uncalled for,” Ranboo said quietly, “you saw how they acted in those memories you don’t get to say something like that.”

“Ranboo I don’t think this involves you.” Jack interjected. The enderman hybrid blinked, not expecting the confrontation.

“This doesn’t involve any of you.” Tommy ground out, trying to keep himself in check.

“Oh right! I forgot! It’s just about you!” Niki laughed, “It’s always about you, isn’t it, Tommy?” she hissed, fists clenched. Tommy stared at her, wondering where it went so wrong. Niki had always been like an older sister to him, she’d always meant the world to him.

He didn’t know when she decided the feeling wasn’t mutual.

He wanted to cry, if he was being entirely honest, but fuck that. It hurt so much seeing someone he cared about say those things to him, but he took that hurt, took that pain, and turned it into anger; something he knew all too well.

“You can go fuck yourself Niki.” He growled, “all of you can go fuck yourselves.”

“And the child lashes out immaturely again,” Techno rolled his eyes, “what a surprise.”

Ready to start screaming and kicking, Tommy was on the verge of just going into a fit of fury when someone else spoke up.

“Oh shut the hell up Technoblade!” Quackity stood, turning to face the piglin hybrid.

The rage Tommy had been feeling suddenly dissipated as he watched his beanie-clad friend snap at his brother. He’d thought Quackity was mad at him, so that made no sense, obviously.

“Or what? I thought you were mad at Tommy anyways.” Techno retorted.

“I’m mad he’s keeping things from me, I’m not mad at him .” Quackity said, angrily gesturing to the blond, “yeah I think I deserve an explanation or something but I also don’t think you need to talk about him like that.”

“Like what?” The pink haired man raised a brow.

“Like he’s not your equal.”

There was another silence, Tommy thought there’d been too many of those since they started watching. He almost wanted to laugh. He’d thought Quackity hated him, but surely someone who hated him wouldn’t stand up for him like that, right?

“I don’t know what you’re talking about Quackity, but Techno doesn’t do that.” Phil spoke up, looking a little too defensive over his eldest given the circumstances.

“Just keep pretending you don’t see it, Phil.” The duck hybrid laughed somberly, shaking his head as he sat back down.

The room fell back into an uncomfortable quiet once more.

A loud siren sounded as Tommy made his way through L’manberg. His eyes were wide with anticipation, practically raring to go.

“Ah,” Fundy hummed, “the final battle.”

“Well… It was supposed to be final.” George muttered.

Arriving at the base of the wall, he was met with the faces of everyone else. Wilbur stood at the forefront, and when he saw Tommy he made his way over. He looked completely composed, his uniform neat and tidy as ever.

Wordlessly, he reached out, straightening Tommy’s hat and smoothing out his uniform. He smiled gently, almost sadly at his baby brother.

“He was always so gentle with you,” Tubbo hummed, “like, like, you were his biggest weakness or something.”

I was his biggest weakness, Tommy thought bitterly, not wanting to voice his opinion to the audience, because he couldn’t bear the thought of me leaving, of me not needing him.

“Gentlemen.” Wilbur began, standing tall and proud, “in my old inapt age I’m not a particular asset in hand to hand combat. That’s why I’ll be on the sidelines, feeding you information through an outsider’s view.”

“Tommy.” He said, facing the youngest seriously, “I’m putting you in charge of these men. I want you to lead them into battle.”

Tommy’s eyes lit up with wonder, mouth hanging agape. He trusts me, he thought incredulously to himself, he actually trusts me.

“Of course he trusts you, what the hell are you talking about?”

Tommy didn’t know how they couldn’t see, how they didn’t notice. Wilbur’s tact was making Tommy feel like Wilbur couldn’t trust him. He made Tommy feel small and helpless, making him dependent. That was why ensuring the men to him was such a big deal. It was such a grand gesture because Tommy finally felt like maybe he’d done something right; that maybe by following Wilbur’s every command he could feel that burst of joy again.

Deep down he knew, he knew exactly why they couldn’t see. They were all blinded by their love for Wilbur. Even the ones who’d never known him that well still knew the idea of him well. Wilbur was a saint, a man who had built a country for freedom, a man who had built a country to keep his little brother safe, and a man who was wrongly ruined by war.

Sometimes Tommy would wonder if war was what Wilbur had wanted all along; if his older brother could’ve truly ever enjoyed L’Manberg if there wasn’t bloodshed in the midst, if it wasn’t a prize of war.

“Nothing,” he bit out, “fuck off.”

next chapter; final control room & the duel :)

tysm for reading hmu @47bats on twitter or @bi0sl on instagram