Characters: c!Tommy, c!Tubbo, c!Techno Word count: 2060 words Content: repairing bonds, lore fix it, mention of death
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“I thought I’d find you here.”
Tubbo’s voice has Tommy straightening up to glance back over his shoulder, ready to lift a hand in greeting. He pauses when he sees how Tubbo is approaching him.
Tubbo may have sounded jovial, but his hunched form, and distraught expression tells Tommy that this isn’t going to be a pleasant conversation.
Grin fading instantly, Tommy hops off the block he’s standing on, lowering the pickaxe in his hand. “Tubs? Are you alright?” Tommy doesn’t want to start small talk, not when something is potentially wrong.“
“I don’t know.” Tubbo gives Tommy a shrug as he moves closer. “I suppose I just need someone to talk to.”
“I’m always here.” Tommy scrunches his face in confusion. “You look like you’ve been through hell, man.” Tommy drops the pickaxe against his wall as he moves closer to Tubbo, resting a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Seriously man, do you want to come inside?”
Tubbo peers around Tommy to peek inside the house. There’s a ton of signs resting there, as if Tommy is paying zero attention to the state of his house. Shaking his head, Tubbo leans against Tommy, glad for the support.
“I saw Ranboo.”
“Oh.” Tommy sighs, closing his eyes. He’s not sure how to approach this conversation. While Tommy’s known for awhile about Ranboo’s ghost, he hadn’t been sure Tubbo knew. Come to think of it, Tommy isn’t sure anyone even told Tubbo Ranboo had died to begin with. He winces at himself, realizing that Tubbo should’ve been one of the first people to approach about everything going on.
“Tubbo, I uh. I knew.” He chews on his lip as the words tumble out of his mouth awkwardly. “I knew he was a ghost, I mean. He came to help me and Phil build this wall, because Dream escaped from prison and I don’t... I don’t-”
“Tommy, chill.” Tubbo pulls back, forcing something resembling a smile onto his face. “I would’ve appreciated the heads up, but all you had to say was ‘Dream escaped’, and I get why you didn’t think about things. Are you okay?”
Exhaling shakily, Tommy shakes his head. “Not really, I’m paranoid. But you-”
“I didn’t say it was a bad encounter.” It’s Tubbo’s turn to bite his lip. “A lot’s happened and I need to clear my head. Can I ramble?”
“Of course you can.” Tommy gestures toward his wall, where there is a ready place for Tubbo to rest. “You look like you need to get a lot off your chest. I can take it.”
“Basically.” Tubbo takes the offered ‘seat’, collapsing into it. He sits sideways, kicking his boots off and resting his feet on the other side of the wall. “My son was kidnapped by Sam.”
Tommy flinches. “That’s harsh. Why would-” Tubbo holds up a hand to cut him off. Pressing his lips together, Tommy sits next to Tubbo to let him keep talking.
“Sam gave a lot of excuses, but basically, we got Michael back, and Techno and Eret-”
Tommy interrupts Tubbo by jerking back and giving him a look of surprise. “Techno? You were with him?” Tommy can’t explain the emotion he’s feeling. It’s not rage, far from it. Instead, a freezing cold anxiety trickles down his chest, pooling into his stomach. Tubbo was with Techno? Just like Ranboo had been with Techno?
It’s not even jealousy. Maybe it’s a little bit of jealousy. He’d been close to Techno for awhile, up until he hadn’t. Things had rapidly fallen apart between them, and even now, Tommy still doesn’t know how to approach the older man.
“Yes, Techno is the one who told me Sam had Michael in the first place.” Tubbo fixes Tommy with a vacant stare. Tommy knows that stare is a result of Tubo’s emotions and not any criticism toward him, but he feels the pang of guilt anyway. “We teamed up with Eret to get Michael back. But we’re staying with Techno. Or rather, in Ranboo’s old house.”
Tommy turns away. The jealousy and guilt is fading into sadness now. “That’s great, Tubbo.”
“He offered it to protect us. Snowchester isn’t safe anymore.” Tommy can hear Tubbo shifting, maybe moving closer. He doesn’t want to look at Tubbo to confirm this.
“That’s great,” Tommy repeats. “I’m happy you have people looking out for you.”
There’s an awkward silence that spreads between them. The same awkwardness that has been eating at both of them for months. Tommy knows they’ve drifted apart, but this is the first time he’s had to actually acknowledge just how much they’ve drifted. It hurts, the whole thing is stupid.
“You could come back with me, you know.” Tubbo’s voice is gentle, completely different from his usual mannerisms. In a time when Tubbo should reasonably be grieving and venting his emotions, he’s trying to comfort Tommy. It’s not a fun feeling, like he’s taking away from other people’s problems. Tubbo has every reason to be upset right now, he deserves this time to vent, and Tommy’s being selfish by being jealous over Tubbo and Techno bonding.
What a lousy friend he is.
“Nah,” Tommy swallows. “You need protection.”
He can hear Tubbo shuffling again. Pulling his shoes back on, then pacing around as he presses his hands against Tommy’s walls. Tommy can hear bits of wall crumbling and hitting the ground as Tubbo pushes against it. “I don’t think I’m the one who needs it most,” Tubbo counters, just as gently.
“But your son...”
“We’re safe right now,” Tubbo says. “Do you really think this wall is going to keep Dream out for long?”
“I want it to.” Tommy slowly turns back to face Tubbo, who’s staring down at him with arms crossed. “Tubbo please don’t look at me like that.”
“I’m going to keep staring at you until you stop being stubborn.”
“This isn’t about me. I need to stop being selfish, when you just went through a lot.”
“You never even let me finish my story.” Tubbo sits down next to Tommy. “We put Sam in the prison.”
Blinking in surprise, Tommy tries to peer around his house, in the direction the prison would be. “How did you pull that off? How did Techno let you do that?”
“They both gave me complete control. Sam had to talk us through all the security stuff to get us in, but we put him in Dream’s cell. I thought it was fitting.”
“You actually put the warden in his own prison.” Tommy laughs harshly. A fresh wave of conflicting emotions washes over him. Of all the things to happen, he hadn’t expected this. Justice? Revenge? Karma? What is anything anymore?
“I don’t feel great about it,” Tubbo says. “I don’t feel awful, but I don’t feel great. We left him in there without any food but after everything he’s done, I don’t know. I feel vindicated. So much has happened that it feels a little good to get another dub.” Tubbo giggles. “I think I’m fucked up.”
“That makes two of us,” Tommy says with a nod. “But can we rewind the conversation back to the part where you’re now living with Techno?”
“I think you should talk to him. Techno and I talked, and we came to a mutual conclusion.”
“He hates me, Tubbo. I don’t know how I can actually talk to him without him trying to kill me.”
“I’ll stand with you. Techno respects me, and if I’m vouching for you, he’ll have to listen.”
I don’t think it’s going to work that easily.” He wants to say more, but Tubbo is yanking him to his feet now, dragging him toward spawn. “Tubbo wait!”
“Nope.” Tubbo giggles. “I got to vent my frustrations, and while I still have a lot, I’m not forgetting your problems either.”
“My problems aren’t as important as yours!” Tommy protests. “My husband didn’t die and my son wasn’t-”
“Shut up Tommy!” The jovial tone is completely gone from Tubbo now. No trace of humor remains. Instead Tubbo looks irritated as he continues to drag Tommy along. “I’m tired of you trying to put yourself last. Sure, you didn’t lose your family, but you’re literally building the ugliest wall I’ve ever seen from you in a poor attempt to protect yourself from Dream. Who is at large, by the way. I do not blame you for being in distress, and I will not hear you protest this again. We are going to talk to Techno right now, and you are going to stay with Michael and me until Dream is caught or killed, I don’t care which.”
Meekly, Tommy nods. Tubbo doesn’t usually act like this, but it’s nice to have some sort of direction. Tommy’s long since known he functions better with someone to guide him around, and since Tubbo’s taking that role, Tommy is okay with following him.
They remain in silence through the nether, and even coming out the other side into the familiar snowy tundra. They only start talking again when the cabin appears over the horizon.
“I don’t feel so good,” Tommy mutters.
“Shut up and suck it up. You’re talking to Techno.” Tubbo pushes him forward, and Tommy stumbles, nearly falling onto his face.
Just his luck, Techno is walking outside at this very moment. Techno stops at the bottom of his stairs, bow in hand. His gaze is settled directly on Tommy with an air of suspicion evident in his eyes.
“Tommy.”
“This wasn’t my idea,” Tommy blurts. “I have other shit to deal with, so don’t get any funny ideas, you stupid pig.”
“Tommy,” Tubbo warns.
“What are you doing here?” Techno asks. He glances quickly over at Tubbo before returning to staring at Tommy. “I’m busy and don’t have a lot of time.”
“Then I won’t keep you.” Tommy tries to sound cross, irritated. He’s even crossing his arms and stamping his foot in the snow. It’s too cold for this, anyway. “Go on and do whatever it is you do best.”
“What is he doing here Tubbo?” Techno seems as if he’s giving up on Tommy, facing Tubbo now. “Because it seems like he doesn’t want to be here anymore than I want him here.”
“Will you two just hug and make up already?” Tubbo asks. “You’re wasting my time.”
“Why do I owe him that?” Techno waves a hand in Tommy’s direction. “Can’t you hear him? He’s being annoying again.”
“Because you’re annoying!” Tommy snaps. “I like how I heard from Tubbo that he’s off adventuring with you to retrieve his son, when last I checked, you two were at even more odds with each other than you and I ever were!”
Techno’s looking at him again. There’s a slightly softer expression in his eyes, still hidden behind caution and distrust. “Tubbo never betrayed me,” Techno replies bluntly. “Sorry about whatever you were going through, but you take this long to come back just to tell me you’re jealous? I’m not buying it.”
“I’m sorry.” Tommy scowls at the ground, kicking the snow. He’s starting to shiver now. “I’m sorry I betrayed you, I didn’t want my country blown up, alright? Are we cool?”
“We’re not cool, but you’re cold.” Techno lets out a heavy, long-suffering sigh. “I suppose if Tubbo dragged you here, you might as well come inside. Keep your paws to yourself though.”
“I don’t want your shit,” Tommy growls. The idea of moving somewhere warmer is too tempting to resist, so he moves closer to Techno.
“If you need me, I’ll be with Michael.” Tubbo waves and trudges off toward the cabin. Tommy watches him walk away before turning back to Techno.
“Dream escaped.”
“Yeah, uh, we have a lot to talk about later.” Techno shakes his head, waving Tommy back in the house. “You can stay for awhile, I was getting ready to go hunt. Phil should be back tomorrow or something, I dunno. But yeah.”
“Thanks.”
Tommy plops down on the nearest chair, glad to be out of the snow. “I meant it, by the way. I’m sorry I hurt you.”
“I know.” Techno stands in the doorway, staring at Tommy for a moment before closing the door behind him as he takes off.
Tommy’s left alone in the cabin, but for the first time in days, he feels okay.
Protected.
