Chapter Text
Tommy didn't sleep. He was much too anxious for his upcoming duel against Dream; he was never that good with a bow.
He paced around his room for hours, waiting for dawn to break so he could get this over with.
While left alone, he picked at scabs on his face and on his arms. Blood would flow for a bit before stopping, clotting directly above the reopened wound. He would wipe it off with his thumb and then off again on his pants or his bandages.
He looks himself over in the mirror at what he can only is assume is the halfway mark until he has to fight. He doesn't like what he sees of himself; a small, scraggly boy that's covered in bandages and scabs from picking at his own skin. His ears are flat to his head and his tail puffed out in his own anxiety.
He sighs, pulling at his bandages that wrapped around his torso. Turning around, he could see the outline of the burn mark he received from Dream knocking him down with the flat of his sword. A scar that will forever be on his body in the shape of that bastards sword; the thought makes him sick.
Tommy knew that if he tried to take his bandages off now, by himself, skin would peel and be stuck to them which would only cause more problems.
The raccoon boy sat at the edge of his bed now, looking to the singular window he had. He didn't know how it would be or how it will go but he didn't care.
There was a knock at his door suddenly, causing Tommy to startle. After a minute of staring blankly at it, he slowly approached to open it. He was met with Wilbur staring down at him, face once more unreadable.
"What's your plan?" He asks before shoving past Tommy and letting himself in. Tommy grunts on the impact and simply stares in silence from the doorway. Wilbur sits himself at the edge of the young boy's bed and stares back, unblinking.
After two long minutes of silence, Tommy speaks up finally with a question. "What?"
Wilbur sighs and shakes his head before resting his chin in his hand. "What is your plan, Tommy? For the duel with Dream?"
Tommy stood there in a heavy silence that felt like extra weight on his shoulders. He didn't know what his plan was, he had no clue. His plan only went as far as getting to the duel and that was that.
After a minute, Wilbur cleared his throat. Tommy snapped out of his head, blinking his eyes repeatedly to help himself focus.
"Sorry I, I just don't actually know. I had a plan in my head but I can't remember it now." A lie. A blatant one that could be spotted a mile away, not only because the boy stood in front of the man that knew him better than himself, but also because of his obvious tell of picking at his skin and his scabs.
Wilbur let this slide, sighing and shaking his head. He rose from his seat and stepped towards Tommy, opening his arms for a hug. Tommy stared at him with a look of dumb shock for a second before he smiled and gave his brother a hug.
The two may not be related by blood but the two had a bond that went further than that; the two understood each other. They were a family found in war that had taken ahold of everything in their lives, consuming everything but their brotherly love for one another.
"Just please don't get hurt too badly Toms, okay?" Wilbur whispered into the messy, dirty blond curls that sat atop the small raccoons head. Tommy just nodded, already knowing how this duel would go regardless of how hard he tried.
"You need sleep. I'll be here to wake you up for the duel, I promise." Wilbur gently led him to the bed in corner of the room, ushering him to sleep. He slowly nodded again, suddenly very tired and ready to feel the comfort of his bed once more.
He laid down, his bright blue eyes shutting slowly, watching Wilbur move over to the desk before he slowly fell asleep.
Tommy felt as though he had only slept for five minutes when Wilbur was gently rocking him awake. He ribbed the sleep out of his eyes and shook his head, trying to rid himself of the overwhelming tiredness he felt.
"Why do we always do things at dawn? Eh? Why can't we do it mid day? Or night for fuck's sake! Always dawn!" Tommy whined. Wilbur rolled his eyes and walked over to the desk once more, grabbing two bottles of potions.
Tommy looked at him and the potions in hand, recognizing the sickly green color anywhere; poison potions.
"Woah woah woah, why have you got those there?" The raccoon scrambled to the far corner of his bed, ears down and tail puffy.
"You specified that you both have to be injured so we have got a good way to do that with these here potions. You both take a swig before shooting so that you both have the effect on for the same amount of time." He explained so calmly, pocketing them himself before he walked over, extending a hand to help the young one up to his feet.
"Those taste nasty though Wilbuuuur." He whined. The boar simply nodded, helping Tommy get ready. "Does Dream know about it? What's the green bastard think about this?" Wilbur was silent, handing Tommy his clothes before grabbing new bandages to change the old ones out.
After being shut down, Tommy simply got ready in silence, letting Wilbur change his bandages before dressing himself.
"Dream probably has his own potions but we'll use mine. Just so we know it's safe and if he tries to protest, we can simply say that it's because you suggested the idea." Wilbur spoke in monotone as he turned his back to Tommy. Tommy silently dressed himself and then looked around for his coat, Wilbur handing it to him after a minute of searching.
"I'll be fine, right Wilbur?" His voice was small as he asked the question, almost as if he was scared to ask. Wilbur just stayed quiet and strode over to the door and opened it.
"We need to go Tommy, you know that we need to be there soon." Tommy sighed, trying to calm himself down. He stood up straight and looked in the mirror, staring hard at every imperfection and at his bandages, clean and new.
Wilbur cleared his throat, as he does to get someone's attention after already having told them something. Tommy looked back at him, and nodded. He rushed over to his brother's side, grabbing at his coat sleeve for his own comfort as the two walked out to meet everyone else.
Tubbo, Niki, Fundy, and Jack were all waiting for the two. Tommy gave a small, pathetic wave to the group and received enthusiastic waves back from Tubbo and Fundy but Niki was less excited and Jack had just a solemn look on his face. It did not exactly calm down his growing nerves.
"Are we all ready for this?" Tubbo asked, looking around the group. A soft chorus responded in the affirmative and so they smiled. They began to turn around, to lead the way but Wilbur stopped them.
"Fundy, stay here." He said. The small fox looked up to his father and frowned.
"But why?" He whined.
"You are too young for this." Tommy and Tubbo exchanged a look and the raccoon caught a glimpse of Niki rolling her eyes but there were no comments made.
"I'm not that young! And I want to support Toms!" Wilbur sighed and looked over to a bystander, signalling for them to come over. They made their way over briskly and he pointed to Fundy.
"Make sure he doesn't follow us." The soldier nodded and grabbed hold of Fundy who began to wail and flail. Tommy looked over to Fundy, watching him reach out to him and he started to reach for him as well but Wilbur ushered him out.
The boy looked back and shot his nephew a small smile, hoping to help calm him down before turning back forward and walking towards the battle.
They made it to the designated spot in only twelve minutes on horseback, Tommy and Wilbur riding together, Niki and Jack riding together, and Tubbo by themself. Their enemies were already there, waiting for them.
Tommy dismounted, walking onto the bridge to meet Dream halfway. Wilbur was quiet behind him but Tommy could feel an anger radiating off of him.
"Took you guys long enough," Dream joked "I almost thought we would have to postpone!" Tommy laughed nervously and shook his head. He puffed out his chest and hit a closed fist to it before he spoke.
"No, I just stayed up too late training to beat your ass that I had a hard time waking up!" He heard Sapnap scoff off to his side but he ignored it. Dream chuckled and he opened one eye halfway before he also laughed a little bit to try and help his own nerves.
"Well, are we going to start this then? I'd like to get on with my day." Tommy cleared his throat and nodded, turning and gesturing Wilbur forward. He saw Dream cock his head slightly to the side before shrugging as Wilbur began to speak.
His voice was booming, echoing so that there could be no confusion of who could and couldn't hear him when he spoke, his pronunciation clear.
"This is a duel only between Tommy and Dream, any foul play suspected from either party will instantly deem the results void and the win goes to the other!" He paused, looking over everyone to see if anyone objected. When there was none, he continued.
"The bows that will be used are provided for you in the chest in front if Tubbo, to our right. They are freshly crafted with no enchantments on them, as to make the fight fair!"
Dream audibly sighed, obviously hoping to use his own weapons and Tommy smirked and his dismay.
"Also, as per agreement yesterday, both parties will be under the influence of a poison potion before starting. They are to take it at the same time and then begin! Do I make myself clear?" He recieves a loud chorus of yes' before he smiles.
Wilbur steps back and looks to both Tommy and Dream, urging them to grab their own bow.
"Are we sure they're not tampered with? I mean, you are the one providing them." Sapnap called out, tauntingly. Tommy heard Tubbo groan before they spoke up.
"They're not tampered with you twat. I made them myself before bed last night! And, you'll be happy to know I used the method you taught me Sap, so if you have a problem with it take it up with the tree's wood I used." Tommy laughed and gave his best friend a high five before returning to Wilburs side.
Dream made his way over lazily, clearly taking his time. It's like he knew just how anxious Tommy was and wanted to draw out the anxiety and savor in it. It irked him so much but if he tried to make the green bastard go any faster, it would make his nervousness even that much more obvious so he was stuck; stuck in a hole he dug himself and now just had to wait to get out of.
When Dream finally found his way back, Wilbur handed out the potions.
"I will be standing over to the side, on our left. On my command, drink the potion, all of it," He side eyed Tommy as he said this. "and turn your backs to each other. I will count down and on my mark, turn around and take as many shots as it takes to successfully hit the other once. Only once, if there are any more shots fired after the arrow hits the other, it will be considered unnecessary aggression and it will void the win. Do you both understand?"
The duo nodded to him and he nodded back before he went to take his place to the left of the bridge. Wilbur got into place and Dream turned his back to Tommy, to which he did the same.
"Drink!" Wilbur called and the two uncorked their bottles and chugged them down, both making a sound of disgust and pain. Tommy threw his bottle to Tubbo to reuse while Dream dropped it down, letting it shatter. Tommy whispered "Dickhead" and Dream nudged him in the side.
Wilbur then began to count down from ten, the two walking away from each other, one step being taken with each number. Tommy felt so woozy and his world was already spinning but he tried to keep himself composed.
As Wilbur was getting the word nine out, Tommy saw a flash of reddish orange and clocked it as Fundy. He knew he shouldn't be here and before he could say anything, they reached ten.
"Ten!"
Dream spun around, steading himself for a moment while Tommy spun and shot.
He missed, of course. Taking this time, Dream was steadied and aiming but Tommy was fumbling.
He was reloading his bow when he got nauseous. His eyes were blurry but he had to put up a fight.
He shot again, but this time Dream also shot.
The arrow hit him in the chest. He was too disoriented to notice much until he was throwing up onto the bridge before he fell into the lake below.
The cold water was calming and he got to close his eyes so the spinning could stop. He heard screaming but it was so muffled he couldn't tell if it was in celebration or horror.
When he opened his eyes again, he saw red. He wasn't angry, he was just bleeding. He wondered briefly if this was it, if this was the end.
He closed his eyes again, not caring about the concerning amount of water filling his lungs or blood spilling out. He was almost surprised with how calm he was but he chalked it up to just the sheer amount of adrenaline and poison have numbed him.
He accepted his defeat and his loss of life quickly; Tommy never expected to win. He just wanted to make a point.
And suddenly, just as he was beginning to pass out, he was being dragged out. The sun hurt his eyes and he coughed, buckets of water gushing out. He was throwing up again and again until his throat was raw and he was sure he wouldn't be able to keep anything down for a while.
"Please please, Toms, open your mouth again and drink the potion. Please Toms!"
He realized it was Fundy pleading with him and he opened his eyes slightly.
"Fundy? You shouldn't be here,"
"Don't mind that just please take the potion Tommy," He was crying and Tommy nodded, letting Fundy feed him the potion. Once his head stopped spinning, he managed to sit up and look around. He noticed Tubbo standing off to his side while Wilbur spoke with Dream. He did notice Niki and Jack were gone.
"Aye, where'd the other two go to?"
"They went back to get more things to help heal you, oh my gosh Tommy don't do something like that again!" Tubbo finally spoke up. They kneeled down next to Fundy and looked the raccoon up and down, hesitating on the arrow sticking out of his chest.
Tommy noticed and looked down. "Ah, we should probably take this out, shouldn't we?" Tubbo started forward to keep Tommy from doing anything but Tommy just grabbed it and ripped it out. He screamed and threw it off to the side, which caught the attention of Wilbur and Dream.
Tubbo was panicking and Fundy was sobbing with Wilbur now running over to the three. He dropped quickly to his knees and looked at Tommy incredulously.
"Why, why would you do that?!"
"Well I had to get it out somehow didn't I?!"
Wilbur shook his head and quickly put pressure on the hole in his younger brother's chest that was gushing blood. He muttered about how stupid he was over and over as he escorted him back to L'manburg, Tubbo holding Fundy and following behind them.
They reached the base a lot later than what was optimal, rushing Tommy to the infirmary. He was given a regeneration potion this time, causing him to pass out before the nurses went to work.
It took a few hours but Tommy would make it, he just needed to recover.
Tommy woke up hours later, close to noon. He sat up only to get dizzy in the process. He looked around before determining that he can walk around on his own.
He made it out of the infirmary and looked around, hoping to find Wilbur somewhere. Instead, he finds Niki and Jack. He calls out to them and they run over, Niki putting her hands on his shoulder and middle back to keep him steady just in case.
"Tommy! What are you doing out here?" She exclaimed.
"Can I go talk to Dream? Can someone take me to talk to him? I won't fight, I promise, not physically. I just wanna talk." He's rambling and he knows it as he pushes all he has to say out in one breath, but he can't help it. He has to make this right.
Niki is hesitant but Jack speaks up. "I'll take him. Niki you can go off and tell the others but let us have a head start so he can talk, alright?" Niki sighs but nods and she walks with the two to a horse.
The two of them help Tommy up as much as possible before Jack gets on and they take off to find Dream. Tommy clings to Jack and as much as he hates it, he has no choice but to do so as he gets dizzy from the ride.
They find him fairly quickly and Tommy dismounts first, soon realizing it was a bad idea. He shakes it off and calls out to Dream.
"OI! You green bastard! I'd like to talk!" Dream looks over to him and saunters over, stopping almost directly in front of Tommy.
"What do you want? You lost, remember? Or did death not treat your memory well?" The masked individual taunted.
"For your information, I did not die! I simply almost died! There is a difference." Tommy smirked. Dream sighed and shook his head.
"Whatever, what is it you want Little Raccoon?"
"I want to offer a trade." He digs into his satchel and brings out two disks. "Although I believe you had an unfair advantage seeing as I was, and still am, injured from our earlier scraps, you won fair to our terms."
Dream nodded, making a noise of affirmation. From just the sound, Tommy could tell the bastard was smiling and it made his blood boil. He composed himself and thrust out his discs.
"I offer these in trade for our Independence. These discs are my pride and joy, I fought so hard to find them but I am willing to hand them over for the freedom of my family and land."
Dream took them and looked the two over in his hands. "Cat and Mellohi? For your Independence?" He seemed to ponder the offer for a minute before he pocketed them himself. Tommy began to panic and it showed on his face, causing Dream to laugh.
"Aww, are you upset? This is such a big sacrifice for you, huh? Those are your discs!" He teased and Tommy went red in the face, ears flat and he tried not to get angry or upset.
"So, so do you accept?" He barely pushed the words out but he managed. Dream sighed and crossed his arms, getting right in Tommy's face forcing the boy to take a step back.
After a long minute of silence, Dream stands up straight again and shrugs. "Sure! You all can be independent now! I think that's sufficient payment." Tommy smiled and turned back happily to Jack, fumbling and holding his head as it began to throb in pain. He recovered and threw him a thumbs up before turning back to Dream.
"Alright! That's great news!!! I'll be going now!" Tommy made his way back over to Jack and got up on the horse happily.
The two set off before Jack finally spoke up. "What was that about?"
"We're freeee!!!" Tommy shouted. "I got our independence!!" He broke into excited laughter, letting go of Jack and throwing his hands into the air. He was so happy; he had done it and they were free!
Jack joined him in laughing and quickly looked back at the boy. "You being serious? You did it?"
"Yes!!" Tommy said, dissolving back into laughter as he grabbed Jack once more. They rode back smiling wildly, both so excited to share the news to everyone back at the base.
The two arrived and Jack got off first this time, helping Tommy down steadily. Once his feet were on the ground steadily, he trapped the older in a tight hug, just so happy to finally be free. Jack wasn't used to hugs but he accepted this one and gave Tommy the best he could.
When they let go, Tommy walked through the gates and scoured for his family, asking around. Jack had left to go find Niki and tell her the good news so Tommy was on his own.
Eventually he found them, and noticed that Fundy was reading a poem aloud. He leaned against a nearby tree, listening to him. Once the young fox finishes, he finally speaks up.
"That was good, is there any more to the poem?" His tone is smug and everyone whips their heads to look at Tommy.
"Tommy!" Tubbo yells, scrambling to get up and charging at him. Wilbur also is scrambling to his feet but he takes his time getting over to the two.
Tubbo crashes into him and Tommy is winded but gives his best friend a hug regardless. Tubbo quickly lets go after Tommy makes a noise of discomfort but they are bouncing up and down happily while Wilbur strolls up to him.
"Where did you go?" His voice is firm and he can tell his brother isn't happy with him but he's too happy to care.
"I got our independence!! I went to talk to Dream and I traded my discs and he gave us our independence!! We're free Wilbur!!" Tommy is jumping from foot to foot now himself, he's so happy. He watches the anger drain from Wilbur's face as an unbelieving smile sneaks up.
"Oh my gosh are you serious?" Tubbo asks. Tommy nods.
"We're free?" Fundy chimes in from behind Wilbur. Tommy nods again, a large toothy grin appearing on his face.
"You fucking did it. You did it! WE'RE FREE!" The group embrace and laugh joyfully, just so happy to finally be free.
They're all so happy, announcing their newfound independence to the rest of the soldiers that no one even noticed a masked individual watching from a far away tree branch.
Just watching, observing, noting.