Chapter Text
“And just where do you two think you're going?” Phil slid right in front of the door, just in time to close it before either of his kids could go through.
“To find our brother,” Wilbur said, pushing past his father, forgetting the strength he had, he was quickly returned to his place next to Techno. “Dad let us go”
“No”
“Phil” Technos voice was low, a predatorial growl. He had one thing on his mind, Tommy. So right now, he detaches his father. He was just an obstacle.
“Techno, don't.” Both Wilbur and Phil caution in unison. He strains himself at them but takes a synced breath with his brother. “Good” Wilbur smiles, it's gentle. A little bounce to his shoulders, triumphant.
“Neither of you are leaving this house, he is not out there, he's smarter than that” Phil continues, his sons know he speaks honestly, but god they can't just sit and do nothing. “We tear apart this house, that's what we do, until that child is home and safe. You two stay here, look for absolutely anything that might lead to him and Tubbo.” Wilbur examines his father, his shoulders broad and tall.
“And you?” He questions, Phil gives his son a look they hadn't seen in years. A smirk, filled with mischievous youth, his intent clear.
“I'm going out” He breathes, looking out the partly open door. “Out there”
~~~
“Small fox child” Tommy calls out, it feels hopeless, the kid was probably dead. What a morbid thought, but it was all that came to mind for him. He realizes how tired he is once his back hits the cool metal wall of one of the halls, he slides down it, hitting the ground with a sigh.
“Excuse me mister” Tommy had given himself a moment to breathe, his eyes quickly opened again once the small squeak of a voice came through.
“Oh...hello there small child” Tommy greets, he really did appear like a small fox. He had placed what seemed to be a mixture of hands and paws on Tommys knees, giving him the most curious of looks. “You alright?” He asks, watching in wonder as the child's ears twitch with every noise. His ears resemble foxes the most, his fur was a sweet orange with a line of white down.
“Momma!” He says delighted, Tommy sure hopes he's not calling him mother. Though what a funny image, he wonders what Tubbo would say. “Lost”
“I'm not ready for that” He mutters out, a sense of relief, watching the child tilt his head. “Ello! I'm Tommy!” He smiles, making sure it's a welcoming one.
“Fundy” The fox- Fundy, returns excited. Tommy nods, feeling his exhaustion return to him, he stands asking silent permission before picking Fundy up in his arms, taking in the sweet excitement that comes from the child. “Baba!”
“Let's go find your mom kiddo” He states, a nod and point, onwards the pair go. He can tell Fundy isn't finding being lost so fun anymore, small tears fall from his eyes. He had gotten lose before, when he was smaller, easier to hide. Philza took him out into the world, just once, he must have run off because the tight hold of hid fathers safety was gone. At first it was wonderful, he could go where he pleased. But soon enough, just like Fundy, he was missing the familiar squeeze his father would give him to make sure he was there. He was just there. Scrambled thoughts aside, he goes to wipe the tears when he notices the rapid increase of Fundy's breath. He stops his steps, looking at the kid. “Aw hey, you're okay...deep breaths yeah? Count to five, think of your favorite things with every breath” He explains.
“One” Fundy begins counting silently, the gears turning trying to think of his number one favorite thing as Tommy sets their pace again. He feels Fundy begin to play with his unkempt hair, his breathing slowing. A bright smile returning.
Maybe it wasn't so bad here.
~~~
“Don't just idle, come in if you have something to say” Tubbo jumps hearing the voice on the other end of the door speak to him. His hand had been locked in a fist ready to knock for a few minutes now, but never could he follow through.
Suppose now he wouldn't need to.
“Right, sorry” He mumbles, all accentuation gone once he loses the upper hand, he steps through the door. “Are you busy?” He keeps his hand on the door handle, leaning against it.
“Only with a million and one things” She replies, adding a smile. She feels a twinge every time the boy frowns, like all she wants is to see him smile.
“Right, nevermind then” Even with his doubt, there's not a single word that doesn't come out of his mouth with solidity. Just like she had taught Noah and...just like she had taught Noah; ‘No matter how confident, how scared you are, your words must be grounded’
This boy demonstrated it wonderfully.
“I have time” The Captain nodded towards an empty chair. Tubbo, with a click of his tongue, sat down.
For the first time, he had a second to take in the room. The desk sat neatly in front of one of the fabricated windows, a small fridge and coffee machine next to it which directly parrelled the door Tubbo had entered from. This room was notably bigger than the empty one the boys had seeked out earlier. He sat on a chair that had been placed neatly next to a bookshelf in the corner of the wall that narrowed before opening up for the bed area. Everything was extremely neat, just as it was at home. Ocean decor practically swallowed the room. A glass bottle with a small ship sat with pride upon her desk, seashells hung around her walls, instead of curtains she had old tattered masts, an anchor hung just above her bed. It resembled her room at home perfectly, there was not a single doubt in Tubbos mind, this was his mother.
“Tubbo?” He shakes his head, his hair falling slightly in front of his eyes. He hadn't realized she had been calling his names, lost in his own world.
“Tubbo, hon, you're doing it again” His mother ruffled his hair with such affection.
“Sorry..sorry” He sputters out, recollecting his thoughts.
“Don't be, what were you thinking about?”
And that was the question that started it all. At the small dinner table, one late night, and from then on Puffy would simply have to nod for the boy to share his thoughts. Sucking in a quick breath he pushed every thought aside. They got here, they can get back...somehow.
For now, he needed answers.
“What is this place?” He begins
“We call it the stronghold,” The Captain explains. “It's where we gather, rest. Basically live and breathe this place” She jokes, Tubbo nods, a mental note being written.
“What are the code names?”
“Everyone here has a code name, it's for privacy and safety. We don't use real names out on the field ever, and sometimes we don't use them here either.” She dips her feather pen into ink, continuing her work.
“How do you get a code name?”
“You can create one, or you can ask Muse, he enjoys coming up with them” She smiles.
“Where is everyone?”
“Some out on missions, some are around, some don't come around alot” He hears shuffling outside the door “It all depends” She signs off on her work, neatly putting everything away, Tubbo watches her lock some parchments away with a key.
“Where can we find Muse?” Tubbo stands, getting most of what he wanted for now.
“He, The Blade and The Crow are out on recon, they should be back soon” Puffy informs, ushering them both into the hall, Tubbo follows, hearing his chair scrape the floor. “You can see their rooms here” She gestures as they walk back towards the main pavilion. Tubbo had seen them earlier but he doesn't waste a moment to take in everything around him.
“Do the rooms have a significant order?” His curiosity begins to peak now, everythings less daunting now, a sense of safety washes over him. Puffy smiles, hidden of course, but she can't help it. Something about this boy…
“Typically people who are close will be close in rooming. Noah and I, the three out right now, you know?” Tubbo nods, his eyes wide, he felt like a duckling following Puffy everywhere in close distance. She would constantly check behind her, keeping a careful watch on him.
Maybe he could conjure a room of his own
~~~
“Thank you!” Tommy had gotten sick of the phrase. He smiles weakly as Sally, the woman from earlier, hugs him once more. Fundy sat in her arms now, fiddling with her locks of hair, either tangling or untangling them. Tommy honestly couldn't tell and Sally didn’t seem to care.
All he knows is how grateful he was when Tubbo, accompanied by The Captain, joined them.
“You found the kid” Tubbo whispers, Tommy nods looking at Puffy, she begins speaking to Sally in a hushed manner.
“I guess you made slight amends?”
“Slight, but yeah” Tubbo bounces on his heels, finding his progress satisfactory.
“Pog” Tommy mutters, rubbing his eyes, hoping he can simply wish his exhaustion away. He rests his arm on Tubbos shoulder, they had done this a million times before. He tunes out the hushed conversations, he listens to the low hum of the walls and all the machines that run through them.
He wonders what Wilbur, Techno and dad were up to. Have they noticed he was gone? Do they care? Was it easier? He yawns, wishing he could sleep right here. He felt like a little kid waiting for his parents to stop talking so he could go play.
“You boys-” Sally turns to them, her face softening. They must have spoken about something to do with the two, as The Captain walks away, nodding a quiet understanding to Tubbo. “Probably need some rest” As if on cue, Tubbo and Tommy could feel their muscles relax with exhaustion.
With a set of overlapping noises of agreement Sally leads the boy to a room. Tommy reads the names now, listening to Tubbo talk to Sally. Fundy, out of the corner of his eye, keeps trying to grab Tommys attention. He sends back silly faces but his eyes are focused on the names. Each one seems so familiar. Like they were at the tip of his tongue, except for a specific three.
The Blade
The Crow
Muse
“Are those-” He begins quickly shoved forward into a room, he stumbles onto the bed.
“Rest time boys! You've both done quite a bit today, plus we've got to make sure you're ready for tonight” Sally explains delightfully, ignoring her son playing with her hair.
“Tonight?” Tommy and Tubbo question together.
“Yep! See you in the dining hall, I've already set an alarm to wake you up at 7:00 sharp! Dinner is at 7:40, don't be late! Change of clothes are in the closet! Sleep well kiddos!” And with a mouthful of information, she's off and the two are left to their exhaustion.
Before either drift off, they can't help but wonder what's tonight.
~~~
“Tommy” Its muffled, groggy too. “Tommy” Tubbo tries again. Shaking his friend awake.
“Whaaat” Tommy groans, carefully rubbing his eyes “Food time” struggling to find his usual excitement for delectable that awaited him
“Yep! So up and at em” Tubbo nudges him harder this time, much to Tommy's dismay. “Come o Sally said we had to be there, we have...12 minutes so get up” Tubbo throws the covers off of Tommy before heading over to his bed. Tommy sits up, blinking the last of his sleep away he catches the end chains of something being stuffed into Tubbos pocket.
“What's that” Tommy questions, he goes to grab a coat on his left but reaches for empty air. “Huh” He mumbles, brushing it off
“Oh nothing” Tubbo finishes packing things into himself “Ready?”
“Reeeeady” Tommy yawns, caring nothing of it.
They leave their “room” heading back through the halls, a chill tickles his spine. Without a second thought he grabs a coat hanging next to one of the rooms “Muse”, he reads. He shrugs it off, he couldn't care less, his now. He wraps it around him, its rough but provides the warm safety he almost craved. He could have sworn this coat and the feeling was so familiar.
“Good, you're both awake!” Sally greets them as they arrive in the main room once more. Tommy leaves his thoughts behind, mind consumed by the smell of food. His mouth practically waters itself, unbeknownst to Tommy but god was he starving. “Come, sit” She guides them over, Tubbo nods at the Captain as they pass her and Foolish at their own table. Tommy takes his seat next to Fundy who seems to be coloring.
“Hemlo” he greets mindlessly, Tommy ruffles his gentle head as Tubbo sits across from him.
“Feel free to grab as much food as you want!” Sally smiles sweetly, turning her focus back to Fundy. The dining hall is quiet, Tommy grabs a small portion for now besides Tubbo who hasn't even looked up from a notebook hes beens scribbling in. Tommy makes a mental note to ask where he got it and maybe take a peek.
Examining the room felt pointless, but he was bored out of his mind at this point. The Captain and Foolish sat just at the next table. Pouring over papers and books, their food had been shoved to the side, a waste but bigger things were on their mind he supposes. It felt empty, such a big room for so many people, yet only 6 occupied it. Unconsciously he cowers in on himself, feeling small once more. He missed his father, and his brothers. He missed being trapped because at least it was predictable...he missed knowing what was going to happen. And even if he didnt know at least he had his family-
“Dey here!” Fundy interrupts Tommys thoughts, he lets out a sharp breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He turns to where Fundy had been looking.
“Who-” Before Tubboo could finish, hes being dragged up by Fundy and Sally rushing out towards a backdoor. It seemed to lead out into a cave, with no time to admire the echoing drips, and careful stone before being rushed out into an opening. His feet met once more with the grass of the open world, the breeze hitting him. He had to wonder, from here to the dining hall, how did Fundy hear it?
Hear them
He hadn't noticed now, but everyone was crowded around. Three hooded figures were unloading bags and supplies from horses. Each horse a unique color, breed and design. Tommy wanted to pet them, he swore these only existed in the books. Every neigh or huff they let out made Tommys smile grow, childlike wonderment filling his chest. He wanted to brush them, he saw one of the figures doing just that. The figure was slimmer then the other two, but held themself with much more grace, and poise. They were the second tallest and everything seemed to flow with them. Carefully ensuring a job well done, gentle and kind to their steed. That was furthest to the right, he checked left to meet a different scene. This one was bulky, heavier in everything. He couldn't make out whether it was just the sizable cape he wore under his hood, Tommy could see little bits of red sticking out, or just his build. They were hunched, movement much more static then the gentle breeze of the first person. They pet their horse once, checking its gear but that was it, the figure had more important business to discuss- He was doing it once more. “Imagining a world, a story that wasnt there” Phil had told him, “Careful Tommy, and you might get stuck right in the middle”
“You alright?” Tubbo barely whispered, Tommy nods unsure of any answer beyond that. “Tomm-” He's sure Tubbo was speaking to him, but once The Captain made her first steps towards the middle figure, a thin veil was placed over him, and all he could focus on was just that.
So much so he barely noticed when the two others had brushed past him, followed by a very excited Fundy and...what was the look on Sallys face? He watched Foolish follow not far behind, soon they had all faded into the caves entrance becoming just small blips in his eyesight. Turning back to Tubbo he goes to make a joke about the way Sallys hair matched her face but stopped upon the glazed shock Tubbo carried. Soon he'd find out why falling his gaze back to where The Captain and-
There he was, Hood undone, his blonde hair in a tight braid. The length of hair Tommy had only seen in photos. The green finally showed through his tired hood, it fell to his feet, moving with him, like a gentle stream through a river. Working with you. He meant it to come out stronger, more abrasive, demanding. But it was him, he'd recognize the man anywhere. But it was so small, like anything could break it at a moment's notice. Honestly, Tommy was sure it could.
“Dad?”