I like to imagine, Punz being told by Dream to not get involved. To not visit the prison or break in, but he keeps an eye on it anyways.
In the beginning, he subtly interrogates those that visit, trying not to be bothered by how few there are. It hasn’t been that long. He tells himself and would believe it more if it weren’t for the memory of Dream begging for his last life to a silent audience.
He’s half surprised it’s Tommy who visits first. After all, he was the one who wanted to kill him just yesterday. He doesn’t bother talking to Tommy about his visit though, knowing he’s an unreliable narrator. He does talk to Bad, who is rather concerned about the conditions. In retrospect, this should have been the first sign that something was wrong, but at time he brushed it off as Bad being extra sensitive and empathetic. Besides, if Dream’s strategy was to be let out, then playing at their sympathy was strategic. George never does visit like Punz figured he would and it’s a long time before Sapnap visits, which Punz tries not to let irk him. Unlike Bad, Sapnap tells him how Dream is fine and up to his manipulation tactics again by going nonverbal. Something feels wrong about that though, despite how Sapnap’s unconcern tries to convince him to be unconcerned.
Finding out about Tommy’s death, he wonders what went wrong. Finding out about his revival, he’s surprised that it worked. Not that he doubted Dream more so he doubted Schlatt.
He watches the prison too. Waiting. And waiting. Trying not to worry. Trying not to wonder how Dream’s doing.
And then he sees Quackity exiting with blood on his clothes day after day after day. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out who’s blood it is and why. And yet, he’s helpless to stop it lest he break the promise he made to Dream. And he can’t do that to him, not after so many have broken their promises. So he stays watching and waiting, a deep ache growing in his stomach as he notices how the new stains on Quackity’s shirts become darker and darker crimson with each visit. Not that he feels any less sick when Quackity exits the prison in pristine condition with the only stains present from sweat.
Punz tries to ask Alivebur how Dream is, but he’s useless. Limbo clearly driving him to madness. Punz can’t help but wonder why Dream brought him back in the first place. Desperation his mind provides. But he ignores it.
Then he sees Techno enter the prison, and plans to ask him how Dream is doing, hoping to finally get some descent answers. Only, he never comes back out. Dream’s get-out-of-jail-free card gets trapped in jail, and Punz starts to wonder if maybe he should break that promise after all.
He watches the prison. Waiting. And waiting. Worrying. Wondering. At what point, is it time for him to get involved.
He tells himself, if he’s still in there by January then he’ll make a move regardless of what Dream made him promise. But then the alarm blares and Dream breeches the surface of the ocean with Techmo somehow at his side and Punz couldn’t be more relieved to see his friend.
He’s so skinny is the first thought that alters his delightful relief as he notices how awkward the armor fits on his thin frame. The relief turns to full on dread when they meet up and talk later.
Punz pulls him into a big hug, pretending he doesn’t notice the flinch or the way he can feel the stiff surprise melt into his grasp. He prompts Dream knowingly, but in return receives little more than confirmation and acknowledgement that it went a “little south” and not according to plan. Dream didn’t tell him about the torture and Punz tries not to be mad at that. That after all this time he doesn’t trust Punz and thinks he’s stupid enough to not notice the scars peaking out of his exposed skin or the limp clearly caused from some poorly healed previous injury.
He fights the urge to interrogate Techno or Sam or hell even Quackity on what they know. But Dream sacrificed too much to secure his safety for him to ruin it now.
So he watches Dream struggle. Waiting. And waiting. Trying not to worry about his poor mental and physical health but failing. Trying not to wonder about the horrid origin of each and every scar and flinch. Wondering at what point will Dream come clean.
When Dream does, Punz realizes he should have gotten involved the moment he saw Quackity covered in blood. Dream’s will be damned.
And so, when Tommy and Tubbo later show up at his house, Dream’s blood staining their clothes and dripping down their swords and armor, he doesn’t hesitate to get involved. Dream’s will be damned…
