Imagine if Tubbo found out that Ponk was that doctor by overhearing a casual conversation between Ponk and Sam...
"You're the doctor?!" Tubbo exclaimed, jumping out of the corner where he was hiding, pointing an accusing finger at Ponk.
Ponka and Sam's eyes widened, turning to look at each other. Ponk chuckled. "Uh... no?" He denied weakly, making Sam facepalm.
Tubbo narrowed his eyes. "Bullshit!"
"Language!" BBH warned from where he was sitting on the couch. But the other three ignored him.
Tubbo walked over to Ponk and Sam who were seated at the kitchen table. "Why didn't you tell me? You know who I am, right?" He asked frantically, big blue eyes staring up at Ponk expectantly.
Sam stood up to leave, but Ponk grabbed his arm and forced him to sit back down. "Here we go..." Sam mumbled.
"Well, yeah, you're Tubbo. Am I wrong?" Ponk answered with another chuckle. He was never really one for serious conversations.
Tubbo pursed his lips and slammed his hands on the table, making the couple jump in surprise. "You know who I am, right?" He repeated, staring intently at Ponk who tried his best to avoid eye contact. "Ponk just answer my question!" The kid exclaimed, voice cracking at the end.
Ponk scrunched his eyes and sighed in defeat, he felt Sam's hands intertwining their fingers, he squeezed in appreciation. "Yes..."
Tubbo leaned back, mouth open and eyes watering.
"Look, I'm sorry I wasn't fast enough. If I was just a bit faster I would have saved you, b-but I wasn't and now look at what happened. I know what's in your medical records, you're suffering and it's all my-"
He was cut off when Tubbo tackled him with a hug. "Shut up. Oh my god, I thought you were dead for the longest time. I thought I killed someone, oh god- I'm so glad you're alive..." He mumbled incoherently, his words jumbling together with how fast he was talking.
Ponk, couldn't believe what he was hearing. Tubbo... was glad he's alive? But could have sworn the kid would hate him. He could have sword Tubbo didn't appreciate how shit of a rescue mission he did he could have-
"Thank you. Thankyouthankyouthankyou-" Tubbo repeated like a martha. He sniffled as he buried his face on Ponk's chest.
Ponk looked at Sam in panic. What does he do?! He doesn't know how to handle kids! Let alone crying ones!
Sam let go of his hand and mimed the action of hugging, then pointing at Tubbo. Ponk nodded slowly before carefully wrapping his hands around the kid. Tubbo sighed as his grip on Ponk's hoodie tightened.
Sam smiled with a nod before leaving the room, ignoring Ponk's silent cries of protest. Since he couldn't really do anything, Ponk stayed there, holding a crying Tubbo, for a few minutes. He didn't say anything since he was never really good with words.
"It's not your fault you know." Tubbo mumbled suddenly, making Ponk startle.
"What?" Ponk asked, confused.
"My scars, my permanent disabilities. They're not your fault."
"Ponk I'd rather be deaf than dead, okay?" Tubbo cut him off sternly. "If you weren't there, I would have died. And that would have sucked."
If Ponk hugged Tubbo even tighter, no one else would know. Wouldn't they?
(I couldn't help myself-)