Chapter Text
Tubbo didn’t know how he felt. Recently, he had been feeling a mix of all sorts of emotions. Nervous was one of them, and sad? He definitely felt sad. Schlatt had called him to have a private meeting in the castle. How he managed to get access to Eret’s estate was beyond Tubbo, but he didn’t care. This all made him feel... bad. Not because of his friends' exile, not because L’manburg was no more, he’s over all that. He felt bad because he’s starting to feel comfortable with all this.
Swinging the doors open after climbing the castle stairs, Tubbo entered the room. The long oak table was in the center of the room. Schlatt stood at the end, staring out the large window, his looming shadow obstructing the only light source.
Without turning, Schlatt spoke, “have a seat Tubbo.” Wordless, Tubbo pulled out his chair and sat down on the other end of the table. “Yknow Tubbo-“
Overexcited, Tubbo talked, “Yes Schlatt?”
“Don’t interrupt me.” He was blunt, making Tubbo fear that he had already overstepped.
“Right- yes- sorry.”
“Sorry who?”
He bit his tongue, fingers itching to tug at the hem of his suit, “sorry Schlatt.”
“That’s more like it.” He spun to face Tubbo, piercing yellow eyes stared directly at him. The twisted horns would have distracted from the stern expression coming from the human face staring at Tubbo, but Tubbo found this all as normal, boring even.
“Tubbo there are some people that would love to be in your place.”
To most, Schlatt looked like a god.
“Hell Tubbo there are some people who would kill to be my right hand man. We don’t want that, do we?”
Tubbo nodded his head solemnly, “yes Schlatt.” He was barely paying attention, busy trying to decipher what Schlatt wanted from him.”
“In that case, I need you to do one small thing for me.” He spun his fingers in a circular motion, a small tornado formed. An object was being formed.
Tubbo couldn’t care less.
“Yes Schlatt.”
A grin spread across his face. “I need you to eat this.”
Blinking back into focus, Tubbo realized what had been presented before him. Across from him, in Schlatt’s grasp, was a shiny, golden apple.
“What?”
“Tubbo are you aware of the impact you have on this country?”
“I don’t see how this is relevant- what the hell is that?”
“Answer the question.”
Frustrated, he answered in a huff, “yes Schlatt, I am aware.” His tone was almost mocking himself. “It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Your position has power.”
“Power?” He echoed. “Barely. Every idea of power you’ve given me has been taken away.”
“Now that’s just not true. Tubbo, it has- you have influence.” He sighed, he ran his hand through his hair, grazing by his horns. “I never really cared for politics, Tubbo. What I do care for is being on top. All of this,” he gestures wildly at the window, “ I think of it... as a business, because they both have something in common. Do you know what that is?”
Tubbo shook his head no.
“Postions Tubbo, they have positions. Higher positions mean...”
“They mean more power.”
He clapped his hands together. “See now you’re getting it!” He noticed that Tubbo still wouldn’t revert back to that complacent and obedient expression that he walked in with. Schlatt has to think of something fast.
“You want me to be honest with you?”
Trying to hide his bitter tone, Tubbo answered, “yes Schlatt.”
Schlatt laughed, placing the apple that had been lingering in his left hand down on the table.
“Tubbo I have no idea what I’m doing.”
He was stunned into silence.
“I know nobody here likes me, I’m lucky if I can serve even a year here before I get- well before someone kills me.”
Tubbo couldn’t believe that he was seeing Schlatt being... vulnerable. It would have been sad, he would have felt sorry for him. But as soon as Schlatt showed weakness, he pushed it back down.
“Tubbo I need a successor. And I need that successor, to be you.” He began fiddling with the apple on the table, rolling slightly between his fingers. “The issue is, you’re so nice. No one follows the nice kid.”
“Yes Schlatt.”
“There’s something about power that gets people to listen to you Tubbo. And this,” he held up the apple once more. “this is raw power.”
Nothing but silence filled the room.
“...what happens if I eat the apple?”
Schlatt chuckled, “oh you’re not going to eat it. Just have one bite, any more won’t do anything.”
“And what about Wilbur and Tommy?”
“Remember how we're being honest, Tubbo?”
“Yes Schlatt?”
A smile pulled on his face, “be honest with me when I ask this: you don’t care about them anymore, do you?”
“I...”
“Look at me dead in the eyes and tell me you care about them. After everything they’ve put you through, all the verbal abuse, all the jokes at your expense, the destruction of property, and all the LIES." Schlatt was praying this manipulation would work, he needed this to work. "I want you to look at me Tubbo.”
He tried to retain eye contact with the Schlatt, his glare was suffocating. He tried everything he could, but Tubbo couldn’t look at Schlatt directly. He just kept thinking about how he could convince Schlatt he was right.
“Look at me Tubbo.”
He knows it’s all jokes, but he needs Schlatt to believe otherwise. He needs Schlatt to trust him.
“Tubbo.”
His breath hitches as he makes up his mind.
“LOOK AT ME TUBBO—“
“I CAN’T, OKAY?”
What Tubbo didn’t expect was a look of fear flashing across Schlatt’s face that disappeared as quickly as it came.
“I... I can’t. Because you’re right.” Tubbo held himself in his arms, his voice going into a whisper. It hurt him to lie.
“I don’t care about them.”
It hurt him so much.
“I think it’s been a while since you’ve known this.” Schlatt exhaled, not even aware of the breath he was holding. “After all, you’re here with me.”
Almost robotic, Tubbo spoke, “yes Schlatt.”
“So you want to prove to them you’re better off here, right?”
“Yes Schlatt.”
“Then you have a choice.”
He pushed the apple, moving it across the table. Light bounced off of its uneven shape while somehow managing to roll in a perfectly straight line into Tubbo’s hands. Schlatt noticed the unease in Tubbo’s expression.
“There’s no going back once you eat the apple. Believe me,” he knocked on his horns jokingly, “I know.”
“Yeah...” a small smile turned on Tubbo’s face.
Schlatt muttered to himself, “so he responds positively to kindness.”
“Sorry Schlatt, did you ask me something?”
“No no, that’s my fault.” He folded his hands behind his back, eyes locked on Tubbo.
“Please Tubbo, take a bite.”
Unsure, but he didn’t have a choice. He was doing all of this for his friends. He needed them back.
As Tubbo took the bite from the apple, both men had the same thought in their minds: if I keep this up, he’ll believe I’m on his side.