continued from X
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Phil’s embarrassed to be dragged down here. Even more embarrassing is how Bad and Ant had gotten the jump on him and Techno. With a lead binding their wrists together and Ant holding the other end, Phil doesn’t have anything to say that isn’t ‘this is pointless, the egg is disgusting’. That phrase only seems to piss Bad off, he he just keeps his head ducked and marches forward.
When they reach the room, Phil recoils whenever a vine brushes across his shoulder. It’s almost slimy, it’s disgusting, and the very atmosphere makes his skin want to crawl. If only he and Techno had their tridents, they could just make their escape the second the other two left. Unfortunately, all their belongings had been taken from them and stored elsewhere. Phil can’t even reach Ranboo for help.
A sideways glance in Techno’s direction tells him that Techno’s thoughts are probably in line with his own; and no doubt the piglin is feeling just as helpless. Techno’s staring forward, fury etched into the lines in his face.
“Kneel.”
Bad isn’t giving them more of a direction than that. Phil considers just kicking Bad’s legs out from underneath him, but a jab to his back from Ant’s trident has him stumbling forward anyway. He falls down with a pained grunt, nothing louder than that. Breath hitching, he glances around the scenery and is decidedly not amused with the fact that he’s mere inches away from a lava pool.
“You’re probably both wondering why you’re here,” Bad says, turning his back to them. He tugs harshly on Techno’s lead, forcing the piglin to nearly pitch forward into one of the fiery hot bricks. Luckily, Techno maintains his balance and remains upright, though that’s definitely a piggish snort coming from him. Phil recognizes that as Techno ready to slip into his blood rage, so he leans closer and rubs his shoulder against his friend’s, hoping to calm him.
“Not now,” Phil whispers silently. “Just hang on, they’ll leave eventually.”
There’s a faint nod from Techno as the piglin sucks in a breath, holding it in place.
“I don’t want either of you to feel betrayed or scared,” Bad continues. He hadn’t heard Phil say anything. “I just want to tell you my plan and why it’s more important than ever that you’re on my side.”
“Bad, the egg has literally no effect on us,” Phil points out. “It’s just there. You can do your thing and we can do ours. Why the need for all this show? We weren’t in your way.”
“Taking you wasn’t my idea,” Bad says. He turns to face the pair before him, grinning with something twisted in his eyes. More twisted than before, really. “Believe me, I wanted to align with you in the first place. I kept trying to reach out to Techno, but it was your ‘busy’-” He uses air quotes with that word, “-that I had to resort to another way to get you both here and with me. Well, not me, exactly.”
“What even is the point of the egg?” Techno asks. “If it’s not meant to be a giant omelet, why is it here, and why’s everyone going crazy over it? Not going to lie, it’s kind of creepy.”
“So little known fact.” Bad tilts his head forward. “The egg can give you anything you want. Let’s say you want to take down the server. The egg can help with that! Or if you want to start your own empire, for example-” He cuts himself off with a grin.
“...we’d have that kind of power?” Phil asks. The idea isn’t tempting in the least, but he’s not going to let Bad know. If they play along with his crazy, the sooner they can get out of here. Phil really just wants to go back home and spend another while away from this circus.
“Absolutely,” Bad says with a beam. The smile fades a second later. “But I’m not here to tempt you with that. Because I know you have other plans, and while the egg can help with those, that has to come with time.”
“Wait.” Phil scrunches up his face. “Did you say ambushing us wasn’t your idea?” He wonders if Dream is using Bad to call in Techno’s favor. Or...he wonders who else could possibly want the anarchist duo. Did word about the syndicate get out?
“No.” Techno’s voice is low. Whipping his head toward the piglin, Phil wonders what the shocked expression on his face means, or why Techno looks terrified. “Bad, you didn’t!”
“I did,” Bad says. “He really misses both of you, you know. The egg promised.”
Is he talking about Ranboo? Phil has a sinking suspicion that this doesn’t involve Ranboo at all.
Techno lurches forward then, trying to get back up to his feet, so ready to attack Bad. Bad yanks on the lead again, causing Techno to fall forward.
“Keep them under control!” Another voice speaks up. Phil’s head snaps up as he stares straight ahead at this egg. Phil knows that voice, he knows that voice far too well.
“HE’S A CHILD!” Techno yells.
Techno never yells. Techno never shows emotion, he never lets his guard down. The only time he’s ever really shows it was with Tommy.
And it’s Tommy appearing in front of them. Tommy, with blood red eyes replacing his sparkling blue ones. Tommy, with a sinister, broken expression on his face. No smile, no glee, no smugness. Just an angry, broken down child who’d been corrupted and twisted further away from innocence, torn from a childhood he should have experienced.
Phil wants to cry.
“Techno, get up.” Tommy’s voice is short, to the point. There’s no emotion behind his words this time. “I want you to look at me for once.”
“Tommy, Tommy, it’s not too late. You can run for it, I’ll cover you!” Techno’s pleading the same words he’d told Phil he said once before. His pleas are falling on deaf ears; Tommy is too far gone. “Tommy, please. I can help you!”
“You can. You and Phil both can stay here.” Tommy crouches down before the pair, a small grin finally appearing on his face. “You know what I was promised? I was promised a family again. I was told I could have family. That we’d be happy together, and I wouldn’t have to hurt anymore. Techno, I’m tired of hurting. I want peace. I just wanted to build my hotel, I just wanted to be a kid.”
Phil remains utterly silent.
“You’re still a kid, Tommy. Please don’t listen to anyone telling you otherwise. Think of Wilbur!”
“Wilbur’s DEAD!” Tommy snarls. “It doesn’t matter what he’d want or say, he’s dead, gone! He’s a stupid ghost running around with fuckin’ sheep, he doesn’t remember us. He doesn’t care! I could go trap myself in the prison and he’d just throw some dye at me and crack some stupid joke. No, Techno, Phil? You’re my family. I want to be a family, so you’re both going to sit down here until you’re ready to tell me I’m not fucked up in every way, and we can hug and be a family again.”
Tommy backs up and sits down near a vine. His glare says everything, and Phil turns his head away. He knows now that between Bad, Ant and Tommy, the two of them aren’t getting out for awhile yet.
He’s not prepared to see Techno completely break down though, not that he blames him. This isn’t the Tommy they knew and loved before. This is a different Tommy, who’d been eaten alive by his own demons.
Now possessed by one.
