Chapter Text
Tommy held Tubbo in his arms, ignoring the searing pain in his legs. Fire burned on all sides, with no way of escape. He buried his nose in his best friend’s hair, trying not to inhale the smoke. Trying to pretend they were okay.
“...Tommy?”
He paused.
“Yes, Tubbo?”
Tubbo shifted in his arms, whimpering under his breath ever so quietly. His suit, the one Tommy always hated seeing on him, was torn beyond repair.
“We’re going to die, aren’t we?”
Tommy’s heart stopped. He choked, eyes burning from more than just the smoke.
“No, no, don’t say that Tubbo,” he murmured, voice soft, “Think of it as our next adventure together, one where we’re side by side. And I’ll have to tolerate you, even though you’re a pain.”
Tubbo chuckled, but it quickly turned into a wheeze of pain. He winced, trying to breathe amid the smoke. Tommy did all he could, murmuring as his best friend shook in his hold. After a moment Tubbo stopped shaking, smiling weakly.
“I’d like that a lot,” he said, a small grin that Tommy hadn’t seen in oh so long gracing his features, “You know, I wanted to run away with you so badly. Maybe now... Maybe now we can.”
Tommy ignored the tears that were spilling down his cheeks. Ignored the flames that were crawling ever higher, ignored the rubble pinning him and Tubbo to the ground. Instead he cuddled closer, pain wracking every inch of his body.
“Do you think...,” Tubbo said, after a moment of silence, “Do you think that everyone will be there with us?”
Tommy thought for a moment.
Who was left? Not Eret, who’d run away to his kingdom, not Fundy, who’d betrayed them. Not Nikki, who had been forced into running with Eret, screaming all the while.
That left one.
“Maybe Techno’ll be there,” Tommy murmured, chest aching, “Maybe he’ll help us start a potato farm, one of his epic ones that people have written poems about.”
Tubbo smiled again, and Tommy counted that as a win.
“Maybe,” he conceded, voice even softer than before. Blood was pooling beneath them both, making thinking hard and their fingers sticky.
“Y’know,” Tommy said, suddenly desperate, “I’ve always cared about you. I’ve always cared about you so, so much, Tubbo. I’m sorry for being a jerk.”
Tubbo shook his head, even though it seemed to take all of his remaining strength away.
“I always knew that that was your way of showing affection,” Tubbo said, “And I’d... I’d be lying if I said it never hurt... but I know you’re not perfect. Being perfect isn’t in the best friend job description.”
Tommy sobbed, blood coating his lips as he gagged. He wailed, suddenly hit with the realization that this was it. This was his death.
Tubbo wrapped a trembling arm around him.
“Do you know what is?” He asked, voice so quiet that Tommy had to strain to hear.
“No.”
Tubbo chuckled again, even as the heat made his eyes water.
“The only thing I require is for them to be the most awesome alpha male ever,” Tubbo whispered, “Which is you.”
Tommy sobbed.
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It is said that Tommy and Tubbo, two best friends who’d grown up within war after war, died smiling.