Chapter Text
It has been six weeks ever since that fateful day. Six weeks since the course of L’Manburg’s history has been changed forever. Six weeks since newfound President Schlatt was elected into office.
To say that Tubbo was shocked would be an understatement, he was completely stupefied. His confusion was only intensified when Schlatt called him up to the podium so casually, as if he had been a part of their scheme all along, only to be elected Secretary of State.
Tubbo could still remember the hurt and bewilderment in Tommy’s voice when he was called up to stand.
Tommy .
Even thinking about his long-time companion made his heartache with pulses of pain like he never felt before.
He had been banished, that Tommy. Exiled along with Wilbur Soot, the former president of L’Manburg. President Schlatt ordered the two to never step foot on L’Manburg’s grounds, and that the punishment for returning would be the death penalty. Tubbo didn’t even want to imagine what such a punishment would entail.
Despite their expulsion, Tubbo has devised a method of meeting up with the two revolutionists. Every week, the three would meet up under an old oak tree near a small river. It was a nice spot, really. It was just far enough from L’Manburg that it was out of Schlatt’s jurisdiction, but close enough to make it easy for them to converge.
Six weeks have gone by and they were now at the start of the seventh. It was almost time for Tubbo to meet up with his co-conspirators once more.
The walk to their special place was ever tedious, and the suit that Tubbo adorned did nothing to make the walk easier.
It wasn’t as if the suit was too big or too tight. In fact, it fitted Tubbo’s small stature perfectly. It accented his waist and sharpened his shoulders. The short green tie that accompanied the outfit brought out his eyes. Made him look far more regal than the old uniform he previously wore.
Tubbo had originally insisted to Schlatt that a new look wasn’t necessary, but the President was by no means deterred. He said that he wanted ‘Only the best for his right-hand man’. Tubbo had been forced to stand still for hours under Schlatt’s careful scrutiny as the man took measurements of his body. Just thinking about being under the man’s gaze made an unwanted shudder crawl down his back.
Tubbo could recall the first time Tommy and Wilbur had seen his new outfit, and he thoroughly remembered how much he hated their pitying looks.
The rich, green grass, dimmed in the soft moonlight, crunched under Tubbo’s patent leathers. The light gave his shoes a glossy shine. As he walked, the grass became rougher, coarser, over time, signaling to Tubbo that he was getting closer to his destination.
In the distance, Tubbo spotted a familiar oak tree. It’s branches reached over the river like bark hands, hoping that it may touch the water’s surface one day. The leaves were thick and sprawled over the tree like a shawl, created what could almost be considered a roof. The roots dug like knives into the soft soil of the riverbank, creating a tangled mess of roots that grew above ground. Leaning up against the tree’s trunk was no other than Tommy Innit.
The sight of his best friend brought a smile to his lips, as it always did whenever he saw him nowadays. The two weren’t yet used to being far apart so often.
Tubbo brought his arm up and waved it around, speeding up his stride in an attempt to get Tommy’s attention. When Tommy had noticed his presence, he grinned boisterously.
“Tommy!”
“Tubbo!”
Tommy ran from his spot from under the tree to where Tubbo was, his arms spread wide in an inevitable, unavoidable hug. By the time he reached Tubbo, he had nearly knocked him over with the momentum.
“Tubbo, I missed you!” Tommy laughed, wrapping his arms around his middle, Tubbo mimicking his movements.
“I missed you, too!” Said Tubbo, his smile never leaving his face. It wasn’t often that the boy got to smile anymore, not since the election.
Tubbo, however, noticed something curious as he and Tommy parted from their hug.
Wilbur wasn’t here.
“Tommy…” Tubbo started, looking around the tree and river in an attempt to spot the older man. “Where is Wilbur, exactly?”
Confusion flickered across Tommy’s features for a brief second, but it was gone the moment it came. Instead, it was replaced with a look that was almost bashful.
“I told Wilbur that I would take care of it this week. He needs some rest anyways.”
Tommy brought a hand up to rub at the little hairs that sat at his nape. ‘ He’s nervous ’ Tubbo realized.
“That, and it's been awhile since we hang out. Y’know, just good ol’ Tommy and Tubbo.” Tommy said, smiling anxiously.
In reality, Tubbo didn’t know why Tommy was so nervous. He always adored getting to spend time with his best friend.
“I’m fine with that!” Tubbo exclaimed, walking towards the rooted river bank. He prodded around for a bit, searching for the best root to act as a temporary seat. After finding one that was satisfactory, he plopped down and patted a spot beside him, looking at Tommy expectantly.
Wordlessly, Tommy took a seat beside Tubbo, taking special care to not get his uniform too dirty.
“Why don’t we tell each other what we’ve been doing recently? You can start!” Tubbo beamed, propping up his legs to sit criss-cross on the roots. The pose made him look ten years younger.
Tommy hunched forward a bit, a complentative look on his face.
“I’m not going to lie, Tubbo, it’s been rough.” He began, staring intensely into the river’s glistening water, “Wilbur seems to be degrading everyday, falling more and more to his paranoid delusions. He’s convinced that the entire world is against him.” Tommy pauses briefly and looks at Tubbo sadly, “He barely trusts you, Tubbo. Thinks you’re some sort of triple agent.”
Tubbo’s smile dimmed at the words. In hindsight, he should’ve expected it. He didn’t go with Tommy and Wilbur when he had the chance, after all. But had Tubbo not done enough to prove his loyalty to Wilbur’s cause?
Tommy must’ve noticed his smile falter, as we quickly attempted to cheer up his fellow compatriote. “Hey big man, just because Wilbur’s on edge doesn’t mean that nobody trusts you. I trust you! You’re my Tubbo; Tubbo in a box!” He jabbered, waving his hands around sporadically.
Tubbo quickly regained his smile at his friend’s antics, laughing joyously. It didn’t quite diminish the hurt that the statement wrought forth, and Tubbo would most certainly be thinking about it later as he stared up at the ceiling within the privacy of his chambers, but it numbed it for the time being.
Tommy smiled at Tubbo’s laugh and leaned back slightly on the root. “Well, I said my piece, it’s your turn now.” He said, looking at Tubbo patiently.
Tubbo hummed. “I’m okay most days, I think. But sometimes I wish things could go back to the way they were before the war…” He said somberly, an inflection of sadness laced his voice. Tommy looked on sympathetically as he continued.
“But, Schlatt , in the brief times I’ve spoken with him--” Tubbo cut himself off once he caught sight of Tommy’s expression. The boy winced at the mention of Schlatt, briefly glancing at Tubbo’s suit before quickly looking away.
Ah, there goes silly Tubbo, ruining the moment again.
“My bad, Tubbo, natural reflex. You can continue.” Tommy said with a slight, barely noticeable shakiness to his voice. It was so noticeable, that most probably would’ve missed it, but Tubbo didn’t. Tubbo could read Tommy like the back of his hand and vice versa, they couldn’t hide anything from each other. At least not for long.
“Hmm. No, no, it’s fine. Really , it is, Tommy.” Tubbo chirped, smiling wide in Tommy’s direction. The action made Tommy narrow his eyes in doubt, but he didn’t push the other.
The pair sat in silence for a while. Both boys had long since decided to lay down amongst the roots and soil, peacefully gazing up at the moon and stars that they could make out from underneath the tree’s canopy.
As Tubbo gazed up into the sky, he caught sight of a star. The star burnt brightly, easily out-doing the others scattered aimlessly around it. It reminded Tubbo of Tommy, in a way. He shines so brightly and stands out so easily against others. It’s no wonder why Wilbur had chosen him to be Vice President during his Presidency.
Briefly, Tubbo wonders if he’ll get to be a star one day.