Chapter Text
It had been two years since Tommy had been to Paradise again. He and Tubbo still chatted about what was going on in the city, Tubbo helping out slowly convincing the section leaders to relax some of the rules and to take in people from the outside who wanted a safe place. Tommy had been in charge of distributing the cure since Tubbo had recreated it, and at this point, Tommy was sure everyone on the outside had received it. It was hard to tell how spread out everything was.
He, Phil, and Wilbur had also been working together on restructuring the Syndicate base as a hideout for anyone who needed it. The building was busier than ever these days. Tubbo had even sent them a crew to begin planning out how to remove the vines, not just from the base but from other areas as well.
Today, however, Tommy had decided to make the trip into Paradise for one specific reason.
He got off the train in the inner sector. It was nice, being able to walk the street without having to worry. It might’ve also been his imagination but he thought the people passing by were much more relaxed as well, he thought he might’ve seen more groups together and chatting happily. Though it might’ve just been him projecting.
From the outside, Tommy would’ve thought it was the same city when looking at the upper sector. Though then he thought back to the new shops, restaurants, and other things down in the lower sector that certainly hadn’t been there before. There was also the slow addition of color to people’s outfits, the buildings, he thought he even saw some sort of mural on the main government building.
The prison hadn’t changed since he’d been to help save Eret. The building still towered, casting a shadow on the street below that made anxiety ball up in Tommy's stomach. Tommy nervously walked inside.
A guard sat at the desk in the entrance to the prison. Tommy took a shaky breath, he’d been putting off coming back for a while but now… he knew he had to. He couldn’t postpone it any longer, things were finally calming down. Not to mention there were a lot of things he needed to know. Things he wanted to ask.
“Just wait here a moment.” The guard said as he brought him into a small room. It had a glass window with a faint blue glow to it.
After a minute, Dream was brought in. His hair was still short, but scraggly as if it had been chopped hastily. His face was scruffy, though he didn’t have a beard. And his expression was slightly gaunt, green eyes tired. His thin form was covered with a white jumpsuit as he was sat in front of the glass.
“Hi Dream.” Tommy said, waving. He could feel his steady heartbeat, pounding in his ears. He felt tense, it was difficult seeing Dream sitting there so… meek.
Dream didn’t speak, Tommy sighing before speaking again. “I’m not here to, gloat or anything.” He paused. “Sapnap’s doing good. Karl left the city and he’s been living with him and Quackity.”
“I don’t care.” Dream grumbled, Tommy only faintly heard him through the glass.
“Well If I were you, I would.” Tommy shrugged. Leaning back with a frown. “Things got better without you. Everyone’s moved on.”
Dream snorted, not meeting Tommy’s eyes. They sat in silence for a very, very long moment. Tommy glanced around at the rest of the cold concrete room before focusing back on the scraggly man in front of him.
“...I don’t hate you.” Tommy finally said. “Everyone else does. Phil would kill you himself if he could. I don’t think Tubbo even wants to think about you.”
If Tommy ever brought up Dream around Tubbo, Tubbo would change the subject. Tommy didn’t blame him. Tubbo didn’t talk about his time as Dream’s scientist, and Tommy didn’t tell him about his time at the lab. There were certain pains people felt that sat in silence, no matter how tied together they were.
Dream still wasn’t looking at Tommy. Tommy tried not to think about how much it hurt.
“Phil’s great, you know? Having a family is great.” Tommy glanced down at his feet as he sat in the chair. “He doesn’t… get it though.”
That caused Dream to raise an eyebrow, “Get it?”
“It’s weird but-” Tommy sighed. “You’re the only one who, you raised me Dream. Even if you… even if it hurt.” He took a breath before shaking his head. “Part of it was real… right?”
Tommy needed to know. Needed to know he hadn’t just been an experiment to Dream. He remembered how softly he’d look at him sometimes, how he used to smile when Tommy would make a stupid joke, or when he’d talk about something he’d learn. It couldn’t have all been fake.
“I didn’t give a shit about you Tommy.” Dream glared, Tommy looked for something, anything in his expression to say that Dream was lying. “You’re just a clone. An experiment.”
“Yeah. I thought that’s what you’d say.”
He took a breath. Well even if Dream said it, Tommy knew he wasn’t just a clone. Sure that was part of him, but he was his own person. No matter what Dream said, and no matter how much it stung to hear the person he’d once thought of as a father saying it.
Tommy stared forward, not letting the hurt show on his face. At least now he had his answer as to what Dream would say to the question. Tommy was satisfied. He didn’t need Dream’s approval anymore, even if a part of him deep down still wished for his it, and hoped Dream was proud.
“They’re putting me in the Institute.” Dream muttered.
Tommy nodded. “I heard.”
Tubbo had told him about their new program. How much they had planned, how deep it had to go, and how careful they had to be at every step.
Dream snorted. “They’re idiots. They should’ve just killed me. They already won. Though, I guess good guys are just bad guys with repackaged labeling, history is written by the victors.”
“They’re not going to brainwash you Dream.” Tommy frowned. “Tubbo told me how they’re setting it up. You’ll be in the more strict rooms, at least until they’ve made sure you’re not going to hurt anyone.” He had seen the newly painted rooms, with calm photos and colorful patterns on the floors. Tubbo told him how they were planning to bring in some genuine therapeutic methods from before the crimson and help the people who had run Paradise before recover, coming as they pleased except for a few special cases like Dream. It had also been agreed on by the people.
Tommy sighed. “I’m not going to make you see you’re the bad guy. There’s no point.”
“I’m not.” Dream tensed. “I did it-”
“For the good of Paradise.” Tommy shrugged. “I believe it. You thought what you were doing was right. I’ve seen the outside Dream, I… know how rough it is. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.” He’d seen how it had affected Wilbur, he still thought every day about those few months. It hadn’t been easy, it had been terrifying. “I’ve also seen Paradise. And… it’s not much better. Sure it’s safer, but at what cost?” Tommy shook his head, “No matter what, you have to hurt someone. But, I’m not going to preach at you. I just wanted to say goodbye, I never got to when I left the lab.”
Dream glanced up as Tommy started to stand. “Wait.” Tommy paused, turning back around to face Dream.
“Yeah?”
“How are Sapnap, Karl and Quackity?” He asked quietly, voice projecting slightly through the window. “You mentioned they live outside now?”
Tommy nodded. “Mhm. The whole Syndicate held a wedding ceremony for them. You should’ve seen the look on Karl’s face when he finally saw Quackity.” Tommy hummed, “I think I’d like someone to love me like that. Sapnap was crying a lot both days.”
Dream went silent again, and Tommy tilted his head. There was that funny feeling in his chest again.
“Eret’s been going between both, they’re a great leader for Paradise according to Tubbo.” Tommy grinned. “Fundy lives at the Syndicate base mostly. He and Wilbur seem to be doing a bit better. You know despite the whole, kidnapping and trying to blow up a whole city thing.” Tommy blinked. “Oh yeah, you never heard about that. Did you?”
Dream didn’t say anything, just sitting in silence again as Tommy rambled. It felt natural to Tommy, as if he and Dream hadn’t missed a day since Tommy had left the lab. Tommy didn’t regret escaping though.
Tommy then glanced down. “You know how I said you get it?”
“You’re going back to that?” Dream rolled his eyes.
Tommy nodded. “Yeah, I am.” He stared into Dream’s eyes. “I just wanted to say thank you."
Dream seemed to pause, staring before he snorted loudly, “What the hell? For what? According to you, I’m the worst person alive. Why the hell are you thanking me!?”
“Without you… I wouldn’t exist.” Tommy muttered quietly. “And not like, a parent way I guess. But you designed the technology so I could be created. Without you, I literally wouldn’t even exist so uh, yeah. Thank you.”
Dream just sat there, not responding as he stared at Tommy. Tommy wasn’t entirely sure what Dream was thinking, but he was pretty sure there was some confusion somewhere in the mix. Tommy just stood up, turning toward the exit. He stepped forward, looking at the guard.
“I’m ready to leave.” Tommy muttered, the guard letting him through as another led Dream through the door behind him. Tommy watched from the doorway for a moment. His eyes met Dream’s bright green and Tommy turned away his gaze as the door closed.
The steel strings of the guitar were harsh against Wilbur's soft plucking. Despite not having played in years, Wilbur had never forgotten the notes of the song. His muscles did the work as his mind wandered.
He'd found the room months ago, it must have been a music room ages before Wilbur had been born. The instruments had been left, collecting dust over the years.
So Wilbur had decided to finally replace the strings on his guitar and was now playing a song.
He used to romanticize the stories his father would tell him. Ones about the past, and how the world used to be. He had maybe hoped to bring that world back for Fundy, to give him everything Wilbur had never been able to experience. It had taken a while, but Wilbur had slowly accepted that would never happen.
He hummed quietly as he strummed, the music playing across the air and echoing gently. Each note fought with the others before coming together and building up the chorus of the song. It echoed Wilbur’s feelings, his grief, and the tension that had finally started to relax.
He closed his eyes, listening to the melody as each note danced with each other across the large space and guided his fingers. It swelled and quieted with the beat of his heart before eventually coming back and creating the cycle over.
“You’re playing again.”
Wilbur stopped, the song coming to a harsh end as he heard the voice in front of him.
Wilbur looked up at Sally. The red had finally come back to her hair, and Wilbur thought it appeared as vibrant as ever. A gentle smile was on her lips as she leaned against the doorframe. After two years, she’d fully recovered, though Wilbur knew even if visibly she had recovered that hadn’t completely cured everything. Some quiet nights, she’d still complain of vague pains and the whispers of the crimson vines. Wilbur could only be there for her, massaging away the pain and letting his own soft murmurs chase away any other noise.
“Yeah.” Wilbur muttered. “Where’s Fundy?”
“Out helping with the gardening. Niki needed some vegetables for dinner.” Sally shrugged. “Need a lot of help with everyone coming in and out these days.”
Wilbur knew he should be with him. Should be helping Fundy and spending time. But he didn’t want to push it, didn’t want to force Fundy to open up to him. Even if it caused Wilbur to feel a twisted envy, that he hadn’t been able to be there for Fundy sooner. That someone else had.
“Right.” Wilbur stared at the steel strings of the guitar, avoiding Sally’s gaze as he ran his tongue over dry, chapped lips.
Sally followed his gaze to the worn guitar. “You should’ve told me. I know it doesn’t matter now, it’s been so long but…” Her expression fell, but the softness in her eyes stayed. “You should’ve said something.”
“I know.” Wilbur’s hands tensed. “I didn’t want to hurt you more, knowing Fundy was out there and we couldn’t get to him.”
“I forgive you Wilbur.” She said, stepping closer and placing her hand on his. “Play me something.” She smiled.
“What?”
“If you’re playing again, play me something.” She smiled brightly. "You wouldn't deny your loving wife a song, would you?"
Wilbur blinked, thinking for a moment before taking a breath. “Alright. I'm a little rusty though, so don't expect a masterpiece.”
He placed his hands to the strings, forming the first chord of the song before the fingers on his right hand began to dance along the strings. His lips twitched up into a soft smile as he heard Sally try to hum along to the tune.
Despite everything, they were still okay.
Tubbo sat quietly, looking out the window as soft music played from the speaker of the car. Even two years later, he still hadn't gotten used to the luxury of his new life.
"Your hair's faded out." Sapnap teased from next to him. "Going to dye it again soon?"
Tubbo chuckled, running his fingers through the mostly brown locks. "Probably not."
Tubbo glanced out the window again as they passed by the lower sector houses. Even though this was different from his own original sector, each house was the same as the one he’d grown up in. At least, structurally. Now however some had been painted with different colors, some had new flower beds, and others were decorated in other ways. The bland uniformity that filled paradise was starting to fade away.
He smiled, seeing a group of kids playing together on a sidewalk. Things weren’t perfect, and it had taken a long time to even get to this point, but Tubbo was still proud of everything they had been able to accomplish in the past few years. It gave him a warm fuzzy feeling whenever he saw how much happier everyone was. Well, most people. A few were still getting comfortable with the new way of things, but it was a minority.
“Are you going to come out with me?” Tubbo asked Eret, who sat in the shotgun seat of the car.
Eret nodded. “Yeah, I’ll be there. I’m going to go visit Fundy.” Eret let out a sigh. “It’s… nice he can spend some time with Wilbur.”
“Hey, he still cares a hell of a lot about you.” Tubbo assured Eret. “It’ll be nice to see him again though, and not just over a screen.” Tubbo chuckled. He couldn't always see his friends face to face. He had duties to deal with after all. Hopefully, as everything settled those would lessen, but for now Tubbo needed to focus on helping Paradise.
“How’s the lab?” Sapnap asked curiously. “Those scientists who used to work with Michael and Tommy, are they still there?”
Tubbo snorted, shaking his head quickly. “No way. They got fired a while ago.” A lot of people had been relieved of their positions, but Tubbo had found a few that had just been silent about their disagreement with how things were run. Tubbo was happy to not be the only one, but the small group did have their own habits to break. Tubbo wanted them to feel more open to voice their opinions, not think he'd get as angry as Dream might.
Eret shook their head. “It took so long to do a full investigation into it. I think that was also the final nail in the coffin to sway the most people over. The first ballot we did had the resignation and arrest of all the scientists involved in the most ethically shitty projects, and I think it was something like 78% of people called for it to go through.”
They pulled up to the main gate. Tubbo tensed slightly, the last time he’d seen this gate he’d seen the curling red vines as they’d snaked toward the entrance. He felt tense, not entirely sure what it would look like this time.
Eret pulled out a phone, speaking in a more formal tone into the speaker. “Punz? Yeah, it’s Eret. We’re at the gate.”
Tubbo watched for a second before stepping out of the car. He cautiously approached the gate as it slowly opened. Immediately Tubbo could tell that the air was much warmer as he stepped through the wall.
This would be the first time he ever left Paradise. Once he stepped over the line that designated where the gate lowered and opened, he’d be out in the real world.
The first thing Tubbo noticed was that the curling crimson vines were now gone, and instead of the harsh yellow color the grass had before it was a faint green. Just beyond the gate, Tubbo also noticed soft sunlight spreading across the landscape. A faint musty smell was on his nose, and Tubbo wondered where it was coming from.
His stomach began to twist as he froze at the line. He knew it was safe, but his mind flashed back to hearing about the world outside, dangerous and inhabitable. Eret stepped up next to him with a gentle smile.
“Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be…” Tubbo sharply inhaled before releasing the breath. He felt like his hands needed to do something as his nerves fired. It would be okay. The infection wasn’t an issue now, the vines were mostly gone.
This was it. Everything he’d been waiting for. His heart pounded, his hands beginning to sweat slightly. Everything he’d done had been leading to this moment when he’d finally get to learn what it was like. Finally, get to see what was beyond Paradise.
He forced himself to stop stalling, stepping across the line, finally leaving Paradise for the first time in his life. He was beyond the wall.
As he walked forward into the open air, he felt something wet fall on him. Tubbo jumped a bit with a small squeak of surprise, looking around for the source before holding out his hand, his eyes widening as more drops fell. It was strange, slightly cold but Tubbo didn’t mind. A smile spread across his face as he looked up to the light grey clouds above him.
It was raining.
“Oh, shit-“ Eret muttered. “Come on, we should probably hurry if you want to head to the Syndicate base before you get soaked.”
Tubbo laughed, ignoring Eret as an elated warmth spread through his chest. It was the best feeling in the world as he stood in the wet and his heart raced excitedly. “Eret! Look, it’s raining!” He only received an amused smile from them.
He didn’t care that it was starting to fall faster, beginning to soak his shirt. It was new .
Then Tubbo saw Quackity and a brown-haired man he didn’t recognize approach them from the road. Next to them, Tubbo's expression brightened as his eyes fell on Ranboo.
He ran forward, grinning at him. "Ranboo! You made it."
"Of course I did." Ranboo chuckled in amusement. "Where's Michael by the way? I wanted to see him."
"Tommy said he'd look after him." Tubbo explained. "Besides, you just saw him yesterday." He teased, laughing at the pout he got in return.
Michael had gotten a lot bigger since Tubbo had first met him, and Tubbo had worked a lot on getting him to be much more verbal in the years since. He now looked like the average four-year-old, and was just as rambunctious as one. Techno had even come to visit a few times, curious about the child that was his genetic twin.
Ranboo adored Michael, and spent half of his time with him over the past years. Part of Tubbo wondered if he should just ask Ranboo to move in soon.
Sapnap suddenly barreled past Tubbo, feet slapping in the mud as he ran to hug Quackity and who Tubbo assumed was Karl.
"You're so clingy." Quackity teased with a laugh, kissing Sapnap's cheek. The scar was still there, and his gaze wasn't as bright as Tubbo remembered, but he could still see the gentleness in the kiss.
"Gotta make up for lost time, don't we?" Karl grinned, wrapping his arms around them happily.
Ranboo glanced over to Tubbo, and Tubbo suddenly felt his hand being taken by Ranboo's own. He was surprised at first before accepting the sign of affection, "Ready to go to the base?"
Tubbo nodded with a smile, swinging their linked hands. "Yeah. Let's go."
The sun still shone softly through the rain and Tubbo's eyes widened as he saw a faded rainbow against the faint clouds.
Of course he'd never have seen one before, not in the sky like that at least. Without rain, they wouldn't have gotten any before in the dome.
He also noticed the tent off to the side where guards stood, signing people in before leading them into a separate entrance. He recognized it as the containment and cure entrance. They'd set it up for any outsiders wanting to come into the city. Some left afterward, returning to their families or communities while others decided to stay.
Tubbo then looked around at the other structures dotted around the wall, smiling as he saw people around them milling about and chatting as they either worked on building or farmed the gardens around.
Things were finally starting to get better for everyone. Finally, Paradise was free.