Chapter Text
Tommy spent a few days in that cell, all alone except for the guards standing outside the cellar's door down the hallway. He did get a few visitors here and there, though it was just embarrassing for Tommy as his friends would have to see him behind bars.
Dream and the other guards rarely cared enough to give him food, though he was thankful that the people who visited him would sometimes come bearing gifts. Bad was one of those generous people, often showing up around the same time every day to his cell to give him some water and food. They spent some time together, chatting quietly before the male would have to leave again, sticking his hand through the bars to ruffle Tommy's hair playfully before he left.
Ranboo was another one who visited him often. The male would come visit, sitting down with Tommy and having nice chats with him to keep him entertained. Ranboo would fill him in on the things Dream and the others refused to tell him. One worrisome thing he mentioned was that Quackity and the others were debating on the topic of having Tommy executed, which made the boy cry in fear.
"I'm doing my best to help you. I don't have much power, but trust me, I won't let them kill you, okay?" Ranboo reassured the boy, holding his scarred hands and giving them a gentle squeeze.
It was the hardest when Tommy was alone, with no one to entertain him except the depressing thoughts in his head. Was Techno going to save him? Did he even care enough to come rescue him?
Unbeknownst to the locked up teen, his older brother was actually working hard on a plan to free Tommy. Techno had used many invisibility potions, sneaking in and out of L'Manburg many times to help formalize his plan. He worked in partnership with Phil - who was unfortunately still under house arrest, but they had a plan to get Phil out of that situation already. That didn't stop the Piglin from visiting Phil in the middle of the night with Ghostbur, their father closing all his windows and doors to keep out prying eyes while they discussed their plan together.
Ghostbur, still a rightful citizen of L'Manburg and legally allowed within its walls, had requested to try to see Tommy. But he wasn't allowed by Dream, considering the ghost regularly communicated with Techno, who they knew very well was planning on breaking his brother out. So that left Techno with the only option of sneaking in to observe Tommy.
The long-haired male drank an invisibility potion, stripping off all his armour so he could stay hidden. He slipped in through the front doors of the jail, taking notice of the main room of the jail. He saw a door behind the counter, where a guard was positioned. He assumed that must be where Tommy was being kept, so he sat in the corner of the room, observing the guard and mentally noting what times they left to change shifts.
He repeated this process for the next 4 days, then on the fifth day, he decided he wanted to see Tommy himself. Once the guards were changing shifts, as the guard opened the door to the cellar, Techno slipped inside as well. The Piglin followed behind the guard as they passed rows and rows of cells, none of which looked too inviting. They finally reached Tommy's cell, the guard stopped, pulling out a clipboard and marking something off on the board before he turned again, heading for the exit. Techno waited for him to leave, then glanced at Tommy.
The teen was curled up in the corner of the cell, his back facing the door. He was laying on a cot that looked fairly uncomfortable. Techno felt pissed that Tommy was getting his treatment.
Making sure the guard was out of the cellar and they were alone, Techno pulled out a bottle of milk from his person, drinking it to make the invisibility disappear. He then tapped on the bars softly to draw Tommy's attention to him.
When the boy glanced over at him, his eyes lit up. He probably would have shouted with glee had Techno not quickly put a finger to his own lips to shush him.
"What are you doing here?" Tommy whispered, getting up off the bed and coming over to the bars. The two brothers kneeled on the floor in front of the bars that separated them, and Techno slipped his arms through the bars, pulling Tommy into an hug that was made kind of awkward by the iron bars.
"To rescue you. Not yet but... soon." Techno whispered back, a rare smile on his lips. "We're going to get you out of here."
After that, Techno left again, drinking another invisibility potion and slipping out the door when one of the guards or a visitor came in to check on Tommy.
It was on the 8th day of Tommy staying in the jail that Dream announced to Tommy and the rest of L'Manburg what his punishment was going to be.
A death sentence.
Tommy had cried, begging Dream not to kill him. That he was sorry, that he'd do his best to make up for it. But his pleas fell on deaf ears.
Anger rose up in the streets of L'Manburg. The whole city was divided between those in favour of killing Tommy, and those who weren't. Tommy could hear their cries and shouts from outside the jail. It gave him hope, at least.
Tommy remained hopeful that he'd somehow escape death until the time came for his execution. Dream and his guards came into his cell, and even though Tommy did his best to fight back, they had his hands cuffed behind his back again in no time.
He was dragged out of the jail, and chaos rose up around him. Dream had several guards surrounding him as they walked to the dock by Philza's house, where the execution would be taking place. He assumed they did that so Phil would be forced to watch another one of his son's be murdered despite still being under house arrest. Cries of rage came from the people they passed by, and the other guards would have to shove away people who constantly got too close.
One thing Tommy noticed was that certain parts of the town appeared to be in ruins. It was clear people had rioted and burned buildings in protest. Tommy would almost laugh because he if he knew Techno, his older brother would be delighted by the chaos and anarchy he caused.
Tommy soon found himself standing on the stage, fear pulsing through his veins. There were people below watching them. He couldn't cry - no, he couldn't, not in front of everyone. He trembled as he stood facing the small crowd, Dream's hand firmly holding onto his shoulder. He glanced back at Dream for a moment, his mouth that was visible showing no empathy for the boy about to meet his demise. His eyes scanned the crowd, begging to catch a glimpse of anyone familiar. When he didn't, he looked over towards Philza's house, where the male could be seen standing on his balcony. He was crying, but when their eyes met, Phil sent him a quick wink before going back to weeping for his "soon to be dead son". Tommy blinked, confused by the wink. Did that mean Techno and Phil had a trick up their sleeve?
Tommy's hands were uncuffed, immediately followed by being cuffed again, only around a post this time. So now the boy was stuck to a post, unable to flee if he even wanted to. He squirmed and struggled, trying to break the cuffs or get his hands out of them, now terrified. Dream moved from his side to the front of the stage, now facing the mix of angry and excited people.
"He's just a boy!" a female voice shouted in anger, which Tommy recognized to be Niki. A chorus of people shouting in agreement rose up, and the guards had to fight with people to keep them off the stage.
"I'm not going to draw this out any longer," Dream spoke into the microphone, addressing everyone in attendance. He drew out his sword from its holster. "Today, Tommy Innit pays for the crimes he's committed!"
Dream turned to approach him, gripping his sword tightly. His heart hammered in his chest as tears began to slip down his cheeks, breath picking up as the male approached. His hearing began to go fuzzy and he had difficulty focusing on the man in front of him due to his vision blurring. He shook like a leaf from fear, all of the things Dream said to him back in Logsteadshire flowing back to him. The words were all he could focus on.
"-mmy? ...Don't do that."
"Tommy, give me all your things."
"I don't give a FUCK about Spirit. Kay, I don't give a fu- ab- -ut anythi-"
"Or... -ill kill you." "...Fully kill me?" "Yes."
His ears were ringing so loud. He sobbed as Dream pulled back his sword, ready to slice it right through the boy. Right then, an object was pressed into the palm of his hands. Tommy couldn't see what it was, but he gripped it like his life depended on it.
The sword sliced through the air. Tommy shrieked from pain as it sliced across his stomach. Blood momentarily poured out of the wound before it somehow stopped bleeding, and he noticed the object dissolve in his hands. Wait - a totem of undying, perhaps? How?
A large blur shot past him, tacking Dream to the floor. Blinking, Tommy realized it was Phil!
Suddenly Technoblade was standing on the stage in front of him, facing the crowd. All the guards were too shocked to do anything immediately.
"Is this the kind of government you want ruling over you? Assholes in armour policing the streets and hunting down a CHILD and sentencing him to death?" Techno roared into the microphone, going off on one of his inspiring 'overthrow the government' rants which he frequently did. The crowd roared in disapproval, and that was all that was needed to start the riot. Citizens of L'Manburg fought against those on Dream's side. Despite them wearing armour, the crowd greatly outnumbered the guards.
Technoblade and Ghostbur were at his side in an instant. Techno wasted no time in breaking the cuffs using his sword, and caught the weak boy in his arms as he fell. Even if the totem of undying had saved him from death, the near-death experience still left him feeling drained.
Tommy glanced over at Phil, who was wrestling with Dream. Just from one glance, he could tell Dream was getting messed up as Philza threw punch after punch, taking all his anger for Dream hurting his son out in that instant.
"We got you, Tommy." Techno murmured, picking him up and hurrying off the stage with him. Ghostbur followed along, concerned for his brother.
"Hey Phil, let's go!" Techno called out, and Phil lifted his head, nodding. He got off Dream, though didn't hesitate to grab the back of his shirt, flying up into the air a couple feet and throwing the man to the ground. They fled down the streets, heading to the spot where Techno had hid Carl. Techno got on Carl with Tommy, and they all left, Ghostbur and Philza flying behind them.
Tommy took one last glance at L'Manburg as they entered the forest, the city fading from view. He was finally safe again. Sure, the whole experience might have been scary, but he believes it was now worth it. After all, he was now the reason the citizens of L'Manburg were actively rebelling against Dream and the rest of his government.
"Now THAT'S what I call a riot!" Techno cackled into the wilderness, the other three beginning to laugh along with Techno.