Chapter Text
Tubbo was stuck walking on the ground next to the horse. Anything they tried to do Carl would refuse to let Tubbo mount him so he was stuck on foot. Tommy had the audacity to just sit happily and laugh at him!
Never in his life did Tubbo think he'd feel such an odd competion with an animal, a horse no less. The horse that chased him and was the cause of him falling off a cliff.
"Stop whining," Tommy laughed, "you're stomping."
"Am not," he was, how embarrassing.
Tubbo spent the next ten minutes trying walk properly again and seem less moody. That horse was going to fucking get it.
Tubbo knew vaguely where the village was but...regrettably the horse seemed to know the way better. Meaning Tubbo was stuck following him with one hand holding Tommys ankle in an attempt to calm himself.
How he got so attached to a human in only two days astonishes him.
Anyway, with Tubbo on foot the way took longer than it would have. But when the trees began to be much sparser and everything was much louder Tubbo knew they were getting close.
He couldn't wait to get in the village and rest his legs, maybe steal some better food if he could. Eating only apples and some berries they found wasn't the most nutritious meal.
There was one thing Tubbo forgot.
"Look!" Tommy pointed in excitement as houses and people came into view. "There it is!"
Tubbo let out a sigh if relief, his feet where fucking killing.
Once they made it to the bridge Tommy dismounted the horse. We are going to ignore how he almost fell into Tubbo while doing that. I mean you really can't expect a boy who's been locked up for his whole life to know how to get off a horse successfully.
"Right," Tubbo clapped his hands togehter, "first course of action is to get food!"
Tommy nodded, then grabbed Carl's reign and began to lead him over the bridge.
It had been a while since Tubbo had walked into the village like this. Usually he'd swim through the lake or cross over a fallen tree into the back streets. Unfortunately with Carl they can't really do either. Tubbo hoped they'd have less trouble because he was a palace horse.
Ah, so that's what he'd forgotten. Tubbo was kinda sorta on the run.
"Tommy," he whispered as they approached where two guards where standing at the front gates, "the guards."
"Oh," Tommy paused for a moment. He then continued to walk to not seem suspicious. "What do we do?"
"I don't know," Tubbo felt sweat form on the back of his neck and in his palms.
"We're getting close Tubbo," Tommy caught eye contact with a guard and tried to smile.
Tubbo moved so he was mostly covered by the horse.
"What business are you here for?" One guard spoke to Tommy.
"We- we have come here to witness the lanterns. We have been told it only happens once a year and wish to witness it with our own eyes."
Tommy was surprised at how steady he managed to get out the sentence.
"Name?"
"I'm Tommy Innit and this is..." Tommy paused, the guard looked a moment away from getting out a weapon.
"TWOBO GOOD TO SEE YOU MAN!" A voice from behind the gate made both Tommy and Tubbo jump.
"Big Q?" Tommy looked at him in shock, barely noticing the very tall man behind him. Was ranboo always that tall?
"You know these two, Quackity?" The guard said bitterly.
"Yeah man, old pals, open up this gate then we got some business to attend to."
Tommy wasn't sure if it was Quackity who got them to open the gate or if it was because of ranboo. Something about him was so intimidating, it sort of reminded him a little of Dream.
As soon as the gate opened Tubbo ran inside and hid behind ranboo.
"Thank you very much sir," Tommy waved, his hand tightening on Carl's lead. Thankfully he received nothing more than a simple nod.
When Tommy walked through the gate Tubbo was animately chatting to Quackity. Ranboo however seemed a little off.
"Hey Ranboo!" Tommy waved, leading Carl over to the enderman hybrid.
"Hello?" Ranboo had an almost empty look in his dual coloured eyes. He was looking at Tommy like he didn't recognise him.
"Nice to meet you again," Tommy held out his hand, "I'm Tommy."
"Hi Tommy, I'm Ranboo," Ranboo took his hand and shook it. Tommy smiled.
Quackity then chose that moment to run over to them, "hate to break up the reunion but we gotta get Tubbo in some cover."
Tommy nodded, grabbing Ranboo's hand and dragging him off to follow big Q and Tubbo.
The group ran off into one of the back alleyways, just nearly missing a large group of guards on patrol.
"We came to check if you guys made it out," Quackity panted, not used to running since he spent most of his days in the inn.
"Don't worry, nothing can stop me!" Tommy smiled then backtracked when Tubbo gave him an angry look, "nothing can stop me and Tubbo!"
"Thank you," Tubbo nodded. "Anyway, that's great of you Quackity. As you can see we are all fine and well."
"Great great," Quackity fished into his pockets and pulled out a small black bag tied with a green string, "I realised I never gave you any money for your town travels so here."
"Quackity no-" Tommy tried to hand it back but was cut off.
"I insist, now I know you're not dead ranboo and I better get back to the inn. Isn't that right boo boy?"
"What inn?"
"Yeah, see exactly. Come on." And with that Quackity was pulling the half enderman away as if they were never there in the first place.
"Right big man," Tommy snapped his head to look at Tubbo, listening catefully, "we've got things to do before tonight."
Tubbo clapped his hands together with a grin, "first things first we need to find some good food I'm absolutely starving."
-
"Technoblade!"
"Wilbur, spit it out already you've been calling my name for thirty minutes and not told me what you wanted." Techno pinched his nose just below his glasses. He was trying to read a very interesting novel about rock formation and wilbur was not shutting up!
"I'm restless, Tech. I need to go out and search."
"Absolutely not," Techno sighed, "with knowledge of the crown being stolen who knows who will try and do something. This is an open opportunity for people to think we are weak and try and do something. You heard Phil, stay inside until a) we get the crown back, or b) this whole thing calms down."
"But Techno-"
"One lost prince is enough, we do not need two," his tone had a finality in it which had wilbur snapping his mouth shut.
"What are you boys fighting about?" Both Techno and Wilbur jumped at the sudden voice just at the door of the library.
"Sorry Phil." Techno sighed, "our associate here is just getting pissy."
"I am not getting pissy! I just can't understand how your- actually both of you, are so fucking calm?! This is our baby brother and son I'm speaking about. And here we are doing shit all like usual!"
"Wilbur," Phil moved to the end of the table and placed his own book down, cover side up. "We are doing all we can, you know that."
"We should be doing more! I can't stand this!" Wilbur slammed his hands on the table, "I want that brat dead."
"Wilbur," Techno drawled, "your bitch is showing."
"Oh you're going to get it-" wilbur went to lunge and strangle techno but was stopped. All thanks to Phil's long wing pushing him back into his chair.
"Wilbur, just calm down a little mate." Phil looked at him sadly.
"I can't." Wil sighed, slumping into his chair, "I just feel useless."
"I'm so sorry wil," Phil sat next to him and wrapped an arm and wing over his shoulders, "we're all upset, which is understandable. Everyone is doing what they can. The crown will be home soon enough."
Wilbur sniffed, quickly trying to rub the tears forming in this eyes. "I just don't get how you're both so- so like this! Not annoyed at all."
"Oh I'm furious" Phil answered immediately.
"I'm absolutely seething," Technoblade replied at the same time.
"Oh." Wil said quietly.
"The thing is wil, until Tech's leg is better we can't have him out there, we have to trust the guards to do their best." Phil rubbed Wilburs back gently while he spoke.
"But what if its out of town?"
"Then we'll look out of town, we're not stopping until we find it." Wilbur almost wished he'd said 'find him' instead.
But that was not possible, their Tommy was gone. Never to be found again.
Wilbur was never going to get to see him run through forests, swim through lakes. Hell he wasn't even going to ever get to see him parade around their kingdoms streets.
-
"Oh my god Tubbo it's so busy!" Tommy was practically bouncing as he walked down the cobblestone path. There were market stalls everywhere, accompanied by people shouting and bargaining.
"I know Tommy," Tubbo laughed, he was inspecting the stalls to see which ones where busy enough to steal from.
"Look, I mean look their selling- oh wow." Tommy had ran off to a little stall seeming to be selling little wooden statues.
He looked at the statues like there were literal stars hanging off them.
"I carved them myself." The vendor smiled. They were a woman with her hair full of red roses.
"They're lovely." Tommy picked up one that looked like a small pig.
Unfortunately, Tommy did not have any money so went place the pig back down. He'd never actually seen a pig in real life, only in the books he used to spend hours reading.
Before he could put it down the lady placed a hand under his. "You keep it."
"No no," Tommy tried to hand it back, "I couldn't possibly-"
She giggled over her next sentence, "Something tells me you have some sort of connection to pigs."
"What-? What do you mean, a connection to pigs?" Tommy gawked.
"Well, out of all the animals you could have chosen, you picked the pig." She moved and plucked on of the roses off her stall. "Here, take this too and look after my pig for me."
"Thank you," Tommy bowed his head lightly and turned round. Where was Tubbo?
He began to walk down the street again, surely the boy wouldn't go that far? He wouldn't leave Tommy would he? No, Tubbo made a promise.
Dreams voice rang his head, 'You're too naive'
No, Tommy wasn't. He wasn't going to be caught up.
He could trust Tubbo.
"TOMMY!"
"Wahhh?" Tommy looked over his shoulder. There Tubbo was running away from a bunch of guards, with two cupcakes. One was in his mouth, the other he was waving around.
"Come on," He grabbed Tommys arm with his free hand and tugged him into a run.
"Tubbo..."
"Not now." Tubbo hissed, pulling him around a sharp bend and into the alleyways of the city.
They continued to move, twisting and turning through narrower and narrower paths. Suddenly, Tubbo shoved him left and blocked him into a small hole in the wall. Tommy did his best to move as far back as possible and shove himself smaller.
Tubbo squeezed in after him and pulled a cardboard box over the hole.
"Tubbo," Tommy whispered, grabbing his hand.
"Shhhh," he held a finger to Tommys lips, Tubbos ears twitched. Tommy couldn't hear the guards yet but he assumed Tubbo could with his better hearing.
Not long after, sets of footsteps echoed down the alleyway. They were loud and some of the guards were shouting curses.
The two sat there and waited until they passed.
"Tubbo, what the fuck is wrong with you?"
"I was hungry ok," Tubbo whined. He proceeded to then hold out the cupcake for tommy.
"That was so stupid, you could have got us arrested." Tommy angrily bit the cake.
"Well I don't have any money, and we needed food...look you stole Something too!"
"I didn't steal it I was given it you fucking moron." Tommy wacked the palm of his hand over Tubbos head.
"Well so-rry," he dragged out, "It's not my fault."
"May be you should try get a job."
"Not when I'm a fucking wanted criminal!" Tubbo screamed, kicking the box away from their hiding place.
"Tubbo? Where are you going?"
"Come on, I want to show you some more."
Tubbo lead him back out into the main street.
"Ow ow ow, Tubbo." Tommy tried to grab his hair.
"Ah that looks like a problem...hmmmm," Tubbo looked around and spotted a group of kids braiding each other's hair, "perfect!"
-
Tommy really did enjoy running around for with Tubbo. However, he was beginning to get frustrated.
Not with his hair, no. The plaits where beautiful with little flowers and crystal charms intertwined with the style.
No it wasn't that, it was the face that the sun had already set. Which meant the lanterns where going to be out any minute now.
Tubbo didn't seem to worry, continuing to drag Tommy through the street and oh.
He was taking them to a boat.
"Alright boss man, get in!" Tubbo grabbed a random boat off the harbour by its rope.
"Tubbo, did you pay for this?"
"No-" Tubbo seized up when Carl grunted beside him.
"Tubbo." Tommy sighed, it's not like they had the money for a boat anyway. Stealing was just going to have to do.
In the time Tubbo took to shove an apple into Carl's mouth Tommy had already jumped into the boat. Not ever being in a boat before meant Tommy nearly tipped out.
"Alrighty," Tubbo jumped in, much more gracefully than Tommy, "I'll row, you just enjoy the show."
"Ok" Tommy watched Tubbo grab the oars and move the boat.
"I know the perfect spot." Tubbo grinned.
Tommy nodded his attention on watching the little fish he could see in the lake. It was almost too good to be true. He was actually going to see the lights, in person.
"Righhttt here!" Tubbo put the oars down, "this is perfect."
"How long until they're lit?"
"Not long, the king and his sons let off the first one. Then it's all free for everyone else to do theirs." He explained, practically falling out of his seat with excitement.
"I see."
"This is the first time I've stopped to look at them, usually I'd just hit them around a bit then go to bed."
Tommy couldn't wait. He kept his eyes trained on where the castle was. The city was strangely dark which meant he couldn't actually see the place.
It felt like an eternity until a small light flickered in the distance.
"Tubbo," Tommy whispered, pointing at the sky, "look!"
Tubbo wipped his head round following the direction of Tommys finger. There it was, the first lantern released by the royal family.
It didn't take long for everyone else with lanterns to follow. Soon enough the sky was full of bright lights.
"Tubbo I'm seeing them, I'm finally seeing them." Tommy stood up poking one of the lanterns that flew over head.
Tubbo didn't reply, the lanterns seemed to fade away and all he could see was Tommy. He'd never seen him look so happy, so free.
Before it was like he had such a hollow look in his eyes...now they were so full of life.
Tubbo found himself so proud. He brought this boy here, and made one of his dreams come true.
Tubbo had always thought of himself to be a bad person. He stole, he was selfish, he hurt people. Maybe Tommy was stupid or he didn't know or he overlooked it but he never looked at Tubbo like others did. Like he was some street trash.
Feeling respected was an odd feeling.
Tubbo was so greatful to be Tommys friend.
"Oh!" Tommy sat back down, "that reminds me."
He moved to grab the satchel and fug around inside. "Here!"
"Tommy-? What?" Tubbo held the crown in his hands.
"I told you I'd give this to you when you took me to the lights didn't I?" Tommy smiled, "well here it is."
In his hands was the one thing Tubbo had been desperately trying to obtain for so long. He had spent countless nights without sleep, fretting over plans and the people to execute them with. A good part of his life was dedicated to this...
So why, why didn't he feel like he wanted it anymore.
"Tommy..." Tubbo called for tommy who had moved back to look at the lanterns.
"Yes Tubbo?"
"I can't take this, here." He passed it back into Tommy.
"Tubbo? What?" Tommy looked at the crown in his hands, oh wow.
"I just don't want it anymore," he turned his head to the side, "keep it, or return it I don't care."
Tommy smiled, reaching out to grab one of the lanterns which was about to fall in the lake. "Here."
He held one end with one hand and extended it so Tubbo could hold the other.
"Let's throw this one up together."
Tommy closed his eyes and listened for a countdown from Tubbo.
"Three...two...One!"
"Wooo" they both stood up, letting go of the lantern and watched it float back into the sky.
"Thank you Tubbo, thank you so much."
-
When the two had finally docked Tommy felt exhilarated. Finally after all this time he got what he wanted.
Tubbo was eyeing something off in the tree line.
"Tommy."
"Yeah Tubso?" Tommy turned round to face him.
"I'm gonna go for a second, wait for me a moment." Tubbo grabbed the bag that Tommy had put the crown in.
"Sure Big man." Tommy gave him a thumbs up. Why was Tubbo picking up the bag?
Once Tubbo was out of sight Tommy watched the remaining lanterns pass over the trees.
It was strange really, he felt a sense of contentment. Sure Tommy did feel slightly guilty, he did completly disobey Dream.
But Dream was wrong! Tommys not come across one monster.
Maybe his father didn't know as much as he thought he did.
Tommy tapped the floor beneath him, it made a steady beating sound.
Tap tap tap.
Then...the tapping got deeper....
That was not his hand.
"Tubbo?" Tommy stood up, brushing the dirt off his hands. "You back already?"
However...the shadow was too tall to be Tubbo.
"This isn't funny." Tommy laughed nervously.
"Hello...?" Oh that was two people...
Tommy froze. Every muscle in his body tensed when one of the guys put his hands on his shoulders.
"What are you doing out alone so late hm?" The man had black hair, a white bandanna around his head and dark brown eyes.
"I was-" Tommy gulped, "I was with my friend."
"Your friend?" The other was behind him. The guy wasn't touching him but Tommy felt incredibly trapped.
"Yeah! He's gonna be back any minute!" Tommy tried to sound confident.
"Do you mean...him?" Tommy followed the man behind him's hand- considering they weren't saying their names Tommy was gonna call them dude 2.
Tommys eyes widened, was that Tubbo? It was their boat and the horns were unmistakable.
He wasn't rowing but the boat was moving away.
The crown...the crown was next to Tubbo on the boat.
"Oh dear, shhh shhh," Dude 2 put his hands over Tommys eyes. Was he trying to wipe his tears or kidnap him?
Oh it was definitely kidnapping. Considering the other guy was grabbing at his wrists.
"No no, he wouldn't leave me!" Tommy thrashed, they were so much stronger.
"There's proof right there," now named dude-no kidnapper 2 laughed. It was cruel.
"Stop stop," he was pushed into kidnapper 1's arms and lifted up, "let me go please!"
"No can do," Tommy struggled to get which one was talking. "You'll get us a pretty penny in the market...especially with all that hair"
"No please stop!" The hand stayed pressed over his eyes, tight. "Stop-"
Tommy could no longer speak, Tubbo was leaving, he was alone
Alone
Alone
Alone
"Get your fucking hands off him!"
Tommy then heard the sound of someone being hit. After that he was dropped, his hands flew too his head so he wouldn't get a concussion.
Now the hand was off his eyes Tommy could see another person. They seemed to be attacking kidnapper 1 & 2
Tommy looked away. He couldnt watch, he was scared.
He wanted tubb- no.
"Tommy!" The unknown person was infront of him now, the kidnappers rubbing across the rocks of the shore.
Hands were grabbing his cheeks pulling his head up and...
Oh god.
"Dad?"
Golden hair, green robes, blue- green eyes.
"I'm here Tommy."
"Dream...?" Tommy looked into the man's...eyes... his mask was off. When was the last time he'd seen him without his mask? "DREAM!"
Tommy threw himself into his arms, clinging onto the back of his clothes. His shoulders shuddered as sobs racked his body.
"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry I never- I never should have-"
"I know Tommy, I know you're sorry." Dream shushed him, gently petting his hair.
"I'm sorry dream." Tommy whispered allowing himself to go limp in the man's hold. He never should have trusted anyone else.
"Come on Tommy, let's get you home."
-
It took five minutes for Tubbos life to turn to absolute dog shit.
So going over to sapcrap and punz was not a great idea. That's what got him knocked out After all.
When he finally awoke, Tubbo was in a cell.
Not just any cell mind you, the Antarctic empires to be exact. The only reason he knew this was because of the royal crest that had been cut into the cell wall.
Those stupid bitches had sent him on the boat right into the guards.
Tubbo wasn't sure what to do, he didn't even know if Tommy was ok. Prime he hoped he was.
Now this may look bad, but Tubbo is an expert lock picker...
Is what he said thirty minutes ago when he first tried to pick the lock.
No luck, it wasn't going to budge. Suppose that's what you expect from a palace jail cell.
In Tubbos moment of defeat he heard the main door to the cells rattle. He sprang up onto his legs and ran to the bars.
The door swung open, yellow light poured into the room and stood in the middle was...technoblade.
Oh Philza have mercy.
"Tubbo Underscore, Seventeen years old, Parents deceased in an unforseen accident, began to steal from the age of 9, even when he found himself financially stable he took up stealing larger more important items such as..." Technoblade was infront of him now, his red eyes shone behind the boar mask, "My lost little brothers crown."
"Ahaha you know a lot about me." Tubbo said dumbly.
Techno maintained an indifferent expression.
"That we do." He sighed with his teeth gritted.
"To be fair, I did sail back with the crown..."
"Nice try, you still stole it. Do you know what your charge is?" Techno leant forward.
"Nope not at all boss man." Tubbo grinned.
"You will be executed." Tubbos smile fell as fast as it had formed, "Today."
"TODAY?!" Tubbo jumped forward and gripped the bars. The bastard didn't even flinch. "No you don't understand not today!"
"That's not up to you." Techno said.
"No please, I need to send a letter to my friend please."
Techno, who quiet honestly had looked bored with the whole situation, seemed to be interested. "Who's this friend?"
"His name is Tommy Innit, I met him recently and I need to know if he's ok. I ran into some trouble and I don't know if they got him." Tubbo didn't waste time trying to breath because he feared techno wouldn't bother to listen if he took to long.
"I'll look into it..." Techno sighed.
"He wanted me to take him to see the lanterns tonight, he's never got to see them in person."
"From out of town?"
"Something like that," Tubbo sighed, "please just- please."
"I'll see what I can do." And with that technoblade was gone.
-
The closer and closer it got to his execution the less Tubbo cried.
Maybe he'd been expecting this. He did remember accounting for the punishment if he failed.
Now this was that.
When the time came they handcuffed him and lead him through the castle. This was it.
He was never going to get to see if Tommy was ok.
He was never going to get to speak to him either.
Tubbo was lead out to a dark courtyard. There stood at the end was the whole royal family...minus Theseus of course.
In Technoblades hands was a crossbow...
With fireworks inside.
Was this how he would die.
They pushed him down to his knees, tying the chains from the cuffs to hoops on the floor.
He knelt there, looking up at the royals in all their glory.
"Tubbo Underscore, you're a traitor to the empire. It has been decided here thay you shall be executed for your crimes." King Philza's voice echoed around the stone of the courtyard.
Tubbos knees were getting wet, the grey fabric darkening under the puddle he was in.
He took some time to look at all their faces. Each one of them had a similar expression.
Emotionless but their eyes swam with grief. That was definitely not for the fact that he was about to die.
It was for Thesues, the person Tubbo would die before he ever got the chance to meet.
Tubbo held his breath when the cross bow was aimed at him.
A horn was blown somewhere off in the distance.
...
"Sorry boys," Tubbo recognised that voice, "but we'll be taking the old tubster off your hands."
Tubbo opened his eyes, "Big Q?" His mouth fell open in surprise.
"Hey man." Quackity grinned, jumping to pull the cuffs off the ground, "word on the street Tommys in trouble so we need you to go save our boy."
As Quackity untied him Tubbo looked behind to see Ranboo and some of the inn crew had tackled the royals.
"Tommys in trouble?!" He blanched
"Yeah, I saw Punz and snappy crappy a while ago. Said something about their boss taking a boy." Quackity shrugged. One more cuff to go. "Assuming that's Tommy, so considering you know where he lives it's your job to get him."
Quackity patted Tubbos head once he'd undone the restraints. "Carl is outside the walls, start running!"
Tubbo didn't need to be told twice. He jumped up onto his shakey legs and made a mad dash for one of the ladders on the walls. Most of the guards had been taken out but there was soon to be a bit of a crowd behind him.
Thank fully Tubbo spent years running so this was easy. He made it to the border in no time.
"Oh prime have mercy." Tubbo crossed his fingers. Behind him the sound of footsteps grew louder.
Then he jumped. A small feeling of freedom overcame him until he felt madly panicked. He was fucking falling.
"Oof" he had fallen stomach first onto something solid. Not the ground though... "CARL!"
The horse just neighed acknowledging Tubbos presence. He turned around as the horse went to look at the walls.
"GO TUBBO GO!" Quackity called before being tackled by prince Technoblade, "SAVE THESEUS!"
"Theseus?" Tubbo didn't know what quackity meant.
-
"I can't believe you'd fucking disobey me like that."
Tommys face stung.
"After all I do for you, this is how you repay me." Another hit to his jaw. "Going off to this little fantasy dream you've created. You disobedient child."
When Dream finally stopped Tommy spat the blood in his mouth onto the floor.
"I'm sorry-" Tommy mumbled but was interrupted by his hair being grabbed.
Earlier Dream had pulled out every braid and ripped out all the flowers. The petals lay as a scattered mess on his bed covers.
"Sorry doesn't cut it." Dream held his head up so they were making eye contact. Actual eye contact, no mask this time.
Tommy remembered the first time Dream had showed him his face. He had never met someone with green eyes before. The three people in his Dreams had red, brown, and blue.
Somehow, seeing Dreams eyes was scarier than that emotionless white mask.
"Please I'll do anything to make it up to you da-" blue eyes, blonde shoulder length hair, a green and white bucket hat.
Tommy remembered how he used to dream of that man's smile. He had dreamt of a brown hair boy, sneaking into his room when he was crying and playing guitar. Another boy with pink hair poking his face with the handle of a sword.
"Come on Theseus, say daddy." Three faces where over his crib.
"No say Technoblade, Tech-no-blade come on Theseus."
"No no no, say wilbur SAY WILBUR!"
"I NAMED HIM THESEUS SO HE SHOULD SAY MY NAME FIRST." The pink hair boy shouted.
"THAT DOESNT MEAN ANYTHING, IM CLEARLY THE SUPERIOR BROTHER."
"WELL-WELL IM OLDER THAN YOU!" Technoblade spat.
"BY TWO MINUTES!" Wilbur lunged at Technoblade, knocking him to the floor.
Phil didn't have it in him to bother breaking up the fight. Although he probably should have because in an attempt to get wilbur off him Techno punched him in the face.
"Technoblade!" Phil snapped.
"He deserved it!"
"Owwwww." Wilbur held his face in his hands, lying on the floor like a dead fish.
When wilbur had finally got up to punch his brother to the sun he was stopped. Technos eyes were dead set on their brother.
Wilbur turned to look and the kid was giggling quietly.
"Wilby!" He screeched through his spit covered lips. Laughing loudly at his brother.
"Oh my prime." Phil shot up, "What was that son."
"WILBY!"
Wilbur scrambled to get off the floor, in his haste he smashed his knee onto the floor.
Theseus laughed harder.
"He said my name." Wilbur whispered, "dad he said my name."
"Well technically he said a nickname-"
"Shut the fuck up Technoblade." Wilbur turned to give his twin a vicious glare.
"FUCK!" Theseus giggled.
Tommy felt light headed. He'd never had a memory so intense before.
All he knew was that that was him, he was Theseus. The lost prince...?
"Tommy are you even fucking listening to me?"
Right he was still infront of his fath- no that's not right. Still infront of Dream. So if Phil is his father, why, how is he here?
"Who are you?" Tommy croaked, his throat heart.
"What do you mean 'who are you?' I'm your father so you better start acting like you respect me." Dreams hand was firm on his jaw.
"Are you even my dad?" Tommy whispered.
"I don't know what that boy has done to you but this just proves it." With his other hand dream grabbed Tommys wrists and held them together. He pulled them in a way that it kept him from falling down.
"Dream-"
-
It was dark down in the forest. A storm was definitely on its way.
Tubbo didn't know much about Tommys dad, but he did know about sapnap and punz.
The hours he spent sat in the cell gave him time to think. There plan was pretty obvious.
Tubbo had helped Tommy escape his home and do something he wasn't allowed to do. His dad obviously paid them to help get him back.
He kept riding, following the path he ran from Prince Technoblade. It feels like years ago that even happened.
Tubbo was certain he took a couple wrong turns which consequenced in it taking longer than it should have. Thankfully he had carl. The tower cane into view soon after the Tubbo had to turn back around and change paths.
"Good job Carl." Tubbo patted the horses head and jumped off. "Wait for me here."
In his haste to get to the tower, Tubbo tripped over the overgrown leaves and vines. Back with Tommy the scene looked beautiful and charmingly over grown...now It didn't have the same feeling.
Tubbo knew something was wrong. He was going to save Tommy.
"TOMMY!" He called, punching the cobblestone of the towers base. One stone came loose and fell to the ground with a thud. "TOMMY PLEASE ANSWER!"
He cupped his hands around his mouth "TOMMY!"
Only one thing to do...
For Tommy, for Tommy
There were problems with his method. For one, Tubbo had never rock climbed before, he unfortunatly found out...mid climb.
"I can do this, it's for tommy." Tubbo repeated like they were the only words he knew.
He kept his eyes forward, not daring to look down. It hadn't been this scary when he climbed the tower the first time.
He kept climbing, his nails tearing into the rocks. Blood dripped down his fingers and splattered onto his face.
Finally, Finally Tubbo pulled himself over and into the tower. The window was conveniently open...
"Tommy? Are you here?" Tubbo scanned the room, the lights had all been turned out. A small slice of dark light shone across the floor.
Said light caught something, metal? It was flickering.
Tubbos ears twitched when he heard a loud rustle and the light from the metal object moved. It made a loud banging sound on the wooden floor.
He definitely heard before he saw.
A loud, muffled shout echoed from the other side of the room. Tubbos eyes focused in the dark onto a small siluette in the corner.
"Tommy?"
In the tower there was a large window, Tubbo had never actually seen it open. In his haste he grabbed the curtain and tugged.
The thick fabric fell down, allowing the light of the setting sun to fall down. When the weather had cleared Tubbo had no idea. He wasn't concentrating on that though.
Tommy was sat, thick chains wrapped around his arms and a white cloth tied around his head and in his mouth.
He was tugging, trying to pull his arms sway from where they were tied to the wall. Tommy was screaming at him, spit trailing down the gag and turning the white to a darkened grey.
At the time Tubbo should not have been so distracted.
"TUBBO!" Tommy screamed managing to remove the cloth at last. But it was too late.
White hot pain, sparked from Tubbos stomach. He groaned falling down to the ground with a muted scream.
"See Tommy, this is your fault." Dream had pulled the knife out of Tubbos chest and dropped it onto the ground.
"No," Tommy screamed, trying to break free. "NO!"
"Tommy," Dream stepped over Tubbos twitching body. "I told you this was happen."
"You-you can't." Tommy felt his arms pull. He wouldn't let up, even if he broke them.
Dream ignored him, stepping round to unwind the chains and drag Tommy to the hidden exit.
"Come on now, we've got somewhere to go."
"No." Tommy used all his strength to keep moving closer to Tubbo, "I'm not going."
"Tommy, stop being such a stubborn child. Tubbo is dead, he never should have interfered with you in the first place. Monsters like him, who corrupt you don't deserve to live."
"I don't care," Tommy dropped to the floor when he felt Dream slightly let go of the chains, "I'd rather die with him."
Dream groaned, running a hand down his face. He pulled the mask off along with it.
Tommy blanched...Dream looked so much older than he would have thought.
"You know why I'm doing this," Dream threw the mask to the side. It dented the plaster on the walls. "I only want to protect you."
"I'll never let you protect me if he does," Tommy took a deep breath in, "I'll never willingly stay with you again if you don't let me heal him."
Dream opened his mouth to speak then closed it. It was so much easier to read his emotions now Tommy could see his eyes.
It looked as if he was considering it, which left Tommy to hope.
"Please."
"Fine," Dream let go of him completly, "I let you heal him, and you promise to stay with me."
"I promise."
Tommy jumped up, and ran to Tubbos side. Dropping his knees painfully onto the floor.
"Tubbo, Tubbo," he leaves over the boy to put his hair on the wound, "hang on Tubbo, please."
"Tommy," Tubbo groaned, his face pale from the blood loss, "don't."
"No Tubbo, shush let me just-"
"Tommy stop." Tubbo grabbed his hands, "just stop."
"Tubbo..." Tommy whispered, "please, just let me, please."
"I'm sorry Tommy."
If Tommy could see through his tears he would have noticed Tubbos hand move. If Dream hadn't gone over to give them some time to have their final words he could have been able to stop the boy.
But neither of them could.
And in one swift movement, Tubbo grabbed Tommys hair and sliced it clean with the knife.
"Tubbo...?" Tommy repeated, whispering, this time his tone was full of confusion mixed in with his previous sadness. One of his hands left Tubbos to touch his, now short, hair. "What have you done?"
Tubbo smiled, satisfied.
A scream brought Tommys head snapping away from Tubbos face. He's never heard a scream like that before.
"What have you done." Dream staggered over to them. "What the fuck have you done!"
He dropped down to his knees, picking up Tommys hair. The bright blonde strands had turned to a dark brown.
Dreams eyes glowed with rage as he franticly pulled as much of it into his lap as possible. Tommy almost felt...jealous. Dream was willing to hold his hair...But not him?
Apart from all of it. Tommy could see something in Dream changing.
His father-no, the man Tommy realised he barely knew, kept screaming. Loud and full of agony.
Tommy wanted to look away, but was practically mesmerized by the bright red patches that were marking his skin. Blood trickled out of his eyes, nose, mouth, everywhere and fell down onto the wooden floor. Dream was gagging on his own blood.
The red patches continued to spread, covering his neck and parts of his cheeks and forhead. From what Tommy could see, Dreams veins had turned a bright red which matched the marks.
"Dream..." Tommy whispered.
And in a final attempt at...something. Dreams hand stretched out, aiming for Tommys throat.
"I'll kill you, I'll fucking kill you." Dream choked, before he could get anywhere near Tommy though his hand fell to the floor.
Tommy held Tubbo close to himself, pushing them backwards to get away from him.
Dreams hand curled into a weak fist just before his eyes clouded.
A final sigh, was the last thing Tommy was ever going to hear from him.
Tommy looked down at Tubbo in his arms.
He could save him.
-
Whenever Tommy used to look up at the sky there would always be an underlying feeling of dread.
Questions would pile in his mind, for example. What if he never got to see that sky when he wasn't confined to the walls of that tower.
Or maybe, he'd look up when it was night and wonder if he'd ever get to lie on the grass and star gaze like he knew other could.
He had so many worries.
But a certain, strange goat boy changed all of that.
Tommy leant further onto the balcony railing, trying to be as close to the sky as possible.
He did at least try to keep his head high, most certainly he would be killed if the crown on his head happened to fall into the sea.
"Theseus!"
Tommy turned round at the call. Just to be met by his...his brother Technoblade. Tommy never imagined he'd have even one brother.
But there was Technoblade, in his extra fancy garments and his long pink hair tied in a smart braid.
When Tommy had first met him, his hair was not at all long like it was now. And when he asked Technoblade why he decided to grow it out all he would say is, "for you, Theseus."
At first, Tommy didn't know what it meant. However that was before he knew his hair was never going to grow back.
Screw Tubbo for cutting it so damn short.
"Good morning Techno." Tommy waved.
"Morning," Techno sauntered over, handing Tommy a cup of one of his weird tea concoctions. "Wilbur wanted me to tell you that he's expecting you in the library."
"Is he now?" Tommy raised an eyebrow.
"Tubbos also gonna be there...unless he's building another nuke with ranboo."
Tommy laughed, the action accompanied by an eye roll.
"Come on then, big man. Lead the way."