Chapter Text
Sam walked through the obsidian walls of the prison silently. He knew the prison better than anyone else, intimately familiar with the hopeless walls he crafted alone. The walls made for one man, commissioned by one man, the same man it’s cold, unloving grasp now held.
The same man Sam was now visiting, an axe in his hand and no mercy in his heart.
Dream, however, did not see his toothy smile that held no mirth or the bloodlust in his eyes. Sam wore a mask. Just as Dream used to do, before it was stripped away, along with his facade of being God.
Still the unmasked Dream smiled. “Sam! It’s rather late, what’s with the visit hmm? I still have my communicator so I know no one died. Did you just want to visit little old me?” Dream acted confident but it was clear after weeks of staring at obsidian he was losing it, cracking at the seams.
Sam was not a kind warden, and it would not take long for the cracks to break. But Sam wasn’t going to do that. He had a far more effective way to get rid of him.
“You wouldn’t have seen anything” Sam informs him coldly “Eret is updating the communication systems. It will be offline for at least an hour more.”
Dream tilted his head. Sam couldn’t tell if he knew the danger he was in, or if he was just intrigued at something new going on. “Oh? Why’s that?”
Sam chuckled humorously “I suggested it would be a good idea to make our messages a little more secure” He admitted, fiddling with his inventory.
“Well how intriguing!” Dream spoke in a mocking tone “Is there truly so much distru-” Dream froze as Sam pulled out an enchanted book from his inventory.
“Does it look familiar?” Sam asked, holding the red leather into the light. “This is obviously a copy, but George found the real one.” Sam purred, putting emphasis on the name. “He doesn’t trust you anymore, Dream.”
“He wouldn’t…” Dream whispered softly, staring at the secret knowledge he tried to keep for so long.
“Oh I don’t think he was trying to betray you, Dream. I’m not even certain he read it.” Sam admitted sweetly “I think he was scared with how strong the enchantments were. So he went to get help, he got me.” Sam grinned “He trusts me.”
Dream had gotten rather pale at this but Sam wasn’t done. “George is a bit naive, but at least he knows it. When I said I would take it from there he figured it would be best to wash his hands from the entire thing.” Sam chuckled. “So I went to my own friends, something that I have that you don’t, Sapnap and Karl. Of course they got their other fiance, Quackity. We made several copies, far too many really. Would you like one?” He mocked.
Sam didn’t give Dream a chance to respond before continuing. “None of us are that close with Eret, but they’re close with Puffy so I was able convince her to convince them to update the coms.”
Dream seemed to be taking everything in slowly as he tried and failed to keep the grimace off his face. “Do you know why Puffy was willing to help me turn off the coms?” Dream took a step back to try and get away from the green warden. Sam stepped forward, not giving him the space. “Do you even understand the harm you’ve done to those kids?” Another step back, and another step forward. This time Sam pulled out his axe. “And do you know your value alive, if four other people have that book?”
Dream took one final step back before realizing he was cornered “Sam, please, don’t do this” he begged softly, having no other defense.
Sam didn’t hide his mirth as he held up his axe against the defenseless man that caused everyone so much agony. “That’s right Dream, you’re worth nothing.”
Around midnight Sam took Dream’s final life in Pandora’s Vault. He had slain the demons haunting their lives, the man who opened the gates and let everything bad out. He had not slain a Dream, but a Nightmare no one could truly wake from.
And no one even knew.
…...
Of course the four of them who had the book knew, and Sam needed someone in on his lie, so he asked Quackity for some help. The ambitious man was more than pleased to hear about Dream’s pathetic demise, and reluctantly agreed to be a replacement anytime someone wanted to visit.
It was far easier to replace Dream than it had any right to be. Visits were far and few between, and Quackity just needed a mask and hoodie to complete the illusion. They were both nervous at first but Sam quickly learned how talented of an actor he was. In all honesty it was a bit frightening, but Sam was happy he was on his side at least.
Despite Dream being dead Sam was still at the prison quite a bit. He was remaking things. After all Pandora’s vault was a masterpiece, his masterpiece. He wasn’t going to just cast it aside, especially if he could do something good with it.
He didn’t know what that ‘good’ would be, but it didn’t matter. He made Pandora’s Vault a kinder place, a softer place. The obsidian and elder guardians had to stay, but the lava was replaced by water that Sam had blessed by the church of prime. He added fish to make it more pleasant to look at as well. The hallways were also more decorated with carpets and flowers added to offset the grim black.
Sam decided the potions and death would be unnecessary for entry and removed them as well, though he kept the potions in case he needed them later. Just as a precaution.
It was hard work remaking the prison but it was worth it when Tommy came to visit, admiring the fish with a childish laugh.
Sam found himself getting quite attached to the young boy. He was closest to Tommy but had a soft spot for Tubbo as well. The kids were hardly ever apart from each other and it was rather endearing, though also heartbreaking.
He knows how much they’ve gone through, why they’re so close to each other. So many expectations were on their small shoulders, so many burdens. They’ve carried them as well as they could, but it’s never enough. When things inevitably fall apart they’re an easy target for the blame, a scapegoat.
Sam doesn’t like it. Even with Dream gone he finds himself becoming more and more protective of the two boys and he quickly realizes the danger isn’t over.
Jack and Niki tried to kill Tommy, and he doesn’t even know it. They’re going to try again. The badlands are slowly being taken over by the egg, both literally and figuratively, and Bad isn’t willing to leave Tommy out of it.
Sam will never forget the day Tommy came running towards the construction site, dragging a sobbing Tubbo behind with Ant and Bad hot on their heels. He won’t forget how Tommy jumped behind him, begging for his help as Tubbo could do nothing but cry.
Sam didn’t hesitate before stepping in front and declaring them both under his protection. Even in their altered state Bad and Ant decided not to fight him, at least not then.
Tommy spent the day trying to calm Tubbo’s anguished cries. Sam didn’t dare leave their side, his heart breaking as he heard Tubbo repeat the terrible things the egg showed him, how he saw his friends and family bloody and dead, how the egg told him that was going to happen if Tubbo didn’t join his side.
Eventually the young brunette fell asleep in Tommy’s arms. Tommy wasn’t far behind, snoring softly with his arms wrapped tightly around Tubbo almost as if he was scared someone would to wrench him away in the night.
Sam threw a blanket over the two before calling Puffy and setting up a meeting with Bad. He knew something needed to be done, so he tried to appeal to Bad’s better nature. He practically begged the demon to leave the kids alone, reminding him how fragile they still were.
He hoped even in his twisted state Bad wouldn’t be a total monster. He hoped he could be appealed to, pleaded with.
Clearly Sam was too optimistic. When he thought he was finally getting through to him Sam fell into the obsidian shell around the egg, the last thing he heard before being locked in was Ant chasing after Puffy with the intent to kill.
Twenty-four hours he spent locked next to the egg, hearing it’s promises and lies.
‘We can give you what you want’
No, the egg couldn’t
“Just join us. We can protect you.”
Sam didn’t need protecting, Tommy did
“We can protect Tommy”
You can?
“Yes we can. If he joins us, if they all join us, no one would hurt each other. No one would hurt him.”
Sam hesitated before saying no this time. He wanted Tommy to be safe. He needed Tommy to be safe. If the egg could do that it might be worth joining it.
But Sam knew the egg couldn’t take over Tommy. And if the egg couldn’t take him over the egg would want him dead.
So one final time Sam said no. The egg didn’t like this, and quickly changed its tune.
“Take your armour off”
“Give me your weapons”
“Give me your food”
“You’re hungry now, aren’t you?”
“The only thing to eat is your own flesh”
“Take a bite, it might taste better than you think”
“It hurts, doesn’t it?”
“I’ll give you food if you join me”
“I’ll heal you if you join me”
Over and over again the egg kept speaking inside Sam’s head. No matter how loudly he screamed the egg kept repeating things over and over again, all while draining his body and mind.
By the time he heard the sound of a pickaxe chip away the hard obsidian he was surrounded by he was convinced he’d never be rescued, that the egg would tell him to devour himself until there was nothing left besides his hybrid bones.
When he saw the face of a determined Puffy he was overjoyed. He was finally being rescued! But his joy dropped when he saw next to her was the bright and youthful Tommy, so out of place in the realm of corruption.
Unlike Puffy he wasn’t wearing a hazmat suit, and didn’t have bottles of prime water ready in case something went wrong. Sam wanted nothing more than to ask why he was there, why Puffy would let him come along, but he was too tired and worn.
He barely remembers the two of them dragging him home in his exhaustion, barely remembers curling up with Fran and falling asleep.
But he does know that day was a breaking point, it was when he finally snapped. When he finally woke up twelve hours later he knew he had to do something. Tommy was still in danger. Tubbo was still in danger. So many things wanted to hurt them. Sam couldn’t allow that.
He looked over the contract for the Big Innit Hotel one more time. Namely the first line on the second page.
‘Awesamdude must protect TommyInnit.’
Sam was not one to go against a contract. To go against a promise. When he said he was going to do something he was sure to pull through.
Sam was going to protect Tommy.
He expected the ‘how’ to be a big issue, a problem he’d have to chew on for a while. In reality the answer was almost comically simple: use the prison. It was already empty, void of anyone in its walls. The only person who knew it was empty was Quackity and his fiance’s, and if Tommy 'disappeared’ they'd have no reason to come over. Tommy was Dream’s only visitor anyway.
It didn’t take long to enlarge the main cell and outfit it with anything Tommy and Tubbo could need. He covered the obsidian walls and floors with wool and added an extra bed so the two boy’s could be comfortable. He put a jukebox in the corner along with a chest filled with a complete disc collection. They weren’t Tommy’s dics’s, but hopefully they would make the two young boys happy.
That wasn’t all of course. He was sure to include plenty of paper and pencils for the boys, along with cards and board games. Their were windows so the boys could see the water that surrounded them and the fish that passed them by. There were flowers as well, along with a clock on the wall and a calendar, just so the boys could keep track of time.
He even brought in a bee for Tubbo and a dog for Tommy. He didn’t give them names, figuring the boys could do that themselves when they wanted.
It was perfect for them. They would be together, safe, and out of harm's way. Even if anyone wanted to hurt them they wouldn’t even know where Tommy and Tubbo were to do so.
Not that Sam would let them in. He was still in control of the vault after all.
The only thing that was really an issue was getting the boys there. He may have been over seven feet tall and probably double the strength of any human on the server, but he couldn’t just grab them and haul them to the prison. If they had any weapons they’d fight back, or they could grab too much attention and get someone else to jump into the fray. He didn’t want them to get hurt.
They couldn’t get hurt.
So next time Tommy came to visit ‘Dream’ Sam told him to come back later that night, that he had something important to show him.
The young blonde smirked “You sound so serious. Should I be concerned?” He teased, his demeanor still light.
Sam smiled back “nothing bad, it’s just important. Remember to bring Tubbo with you.” Tommy gave a mocking salute, before running off.
Sam didn’t question where he ran, only hoped he’d be safe on his own for a few more hours as Sam prepared everything. Most of it was set up already, Sam just gave it all a once over and double checked the two potions he’d brewed earlier.
They were weakness potions, but far more potent than normal, plus he mixed in a bit of slowness and healing, though that was more for the physiological aspect of things. No matter how he did this it was going to be greatly distressing for both of them. The mix of healing and slowing should make things a bit muddled, and let them fall asleep easier for the first night.
If they couldn’t sleep later on Sam had something for that specifically, but he didn’t want them too drugged up to even understand what was going on. Unless they were a serious danger to themselves of course.
As the sun set in the ever reaching sky Tommy and Tubbo came to Pandora’s vault, hand in hand. Sam felt his protective instincts swell up at the sight of both of them. How could anyone ever want to hurt them? How could anyone want to separate them?
It’s ok. Sam wouldn’t let that happen to them. Not again.
“Whoa. Sam, this is really impressive.” Tubbo stared wide-eyed as he was let in the prison, taking in the sight of the massive vault. “Honestly it’s a bit scary.”
Sam frowned. He didn’t want to scare them, any more than necessary at least. “You’ve never been here before, right?” He asked, already knowing the answer. Tubbo shook his head, his brunette curls bouncing slight in the wind. He looked so small, so young. Next to the lanky Tommy and cartoonishly tall Sam he was rather short. Not that Tommy looked much older either. He was tall, but very thin with wild straight blond hair that he couldn’t keep tame. Everything about the pair cried their young age, and Sam had no idea how everyone else couldn’t see it.
“Well it can be quite startling at first, but don’t worry. I’ll keep you safe.” Tubbo seemed to calm down a little bit, but he still seemed tense. “How about I tell you a story, of how the Vault got its name.”
“Pandora was some chick from Greek mythology, right? I feel like Techno told me at some point, but I wasn’t paying enough attention to remember.” Tommy joked.
Sam hummed as he led the children through the prison “Well Pandora was the first woman in Greek mythology. She was made from the Gods and sent down as punishment for man. That doesn’t really matter of course, what’s important is that she had a box. It was called ‘Pandora’s box.”
“You’d think the culture that looked into the sky and saw goat mermaids would be able to come up with a more creative name than that.” Tommy laughed, earning a smile from Tubbo. Sam couldn’t help himself but smirk as he approached an empty chest.
“You guys have to put your weapons and tools down here.” He watched as Tommy placed his tools into the chest, followed behind by a slightly hesitant Tubbo. Neither were wearing armour.
As he led the children through the next corridor he continued the story. “Well Pandora’s world was a good place. There was no war, no deaths, no betrayal. That was all in Pandora’s box. And one day she opened the box, letting it all out.”
Tommy laughed again “that sounds like me.” Clearly he meant it as a joke but Tubbo looked over at him, horrified, as Sam felt his heart twist.
“No Tommy, that was Dream. You are what came next out of the box.”
Tommy furrowed his brow in confusion “What came next?” He asked, clearly expecting Sam to say something even more horrible.
Instead Sam just tilted his head and spoke one word ever so softly; “Hope.”
Tommy sputtered and Tubbo laughed, but Sam wasn’t done. “Hope is the last thing in the box Tommy, something you and Tubbo have brought to the server.” As he made his way to the final room he pulled out the two weakness potions. “Now I know I usually use splash potions, but I figured you guys would prefer to just drink it this time.”
Tommy’s eyes went wide as he took the potion in his hands. “Wait, really?”
Sam nodded “I trust you two.” After all, if anyone would be a Judas tonight it was going to be Sam.
Tubbo looked at the concoction nervously, but Tommy downed it without hesitation and Tubbo chugged it a little slower.
They were both hit with an immediate wave of dizziness and vertigo. Tommy leaned against the wall to catch himself but Sam had to grab Tubbo before he collapsed on the floor.
“Be careful” Sam warned “It’s stronger if you drink it than if you inhale it.” Of course it’s also stronger when you boiled the extra water away to add extra spiders' eyes, but they didn’t need to know that.
Tommy tried stumbling forward but he couldn’t keep his path straight, nearling running into a wall before Sam grabbed him and held him upright.
“Sorry, sorry” Tommy mumbled an apology, making Sam’s heart melt. This wasn’t his fault.
“It’s alright. Lean on me, I’ll help keep you uprint.” Tommy leaned against his shoulder as he got his feet under him. Sam didn’t even bother with Tubbo who was too dizzy to respond. Instead he just picked him up and held him easily, his blue eyes glossing over as clearly the potion was hitting him hard.
“Hey, I think you might have overdone it with the potions big guy, I’m not feeling too hot.” Tommy spoke lightly but clearly staying awake was a struggle.
“Don’t worry, it’s not too far away. Then you can rest.” Sam promised. Tommy was too tired to question where he could possibly rest in a prison, something Sam was quite grateful for.
He pressed a few buttons as the water slowly drained from the main cell. As they were waiting for the water to clear enough for them to walk through Sam continued his story.
“Most people always found Pandora’s story hopeful, but I think it’s a bit shameful.” Tommy looked at him, confused. “It’s not right, no one asked Hope how they felt when they were given the burdens of a better future. Everyone was so reliant on hope, no one asked if they needed help. No one ever asked Hope if they were ok, only ever giving them more burdens and more responsibilities. No one ever thinks that it might be too much for them to handle.”
Tommy just shrugged. “Well it was Hope’s job to carry it all. Someone had to do it, and Hope was the only one who could.”
Sam felt his heart twist. Of course Tommy would think like that. He wanted to tell Tommy that he’d not have to carry such burdens, that him and Tubbo could be cared for without worrying about countries or wars, but that could scare him off.
Instead he told Tommy “I think it would have been better for Hope to have stayed in the box.” As the water drained enough to let them pass but not drown the fish Sam started to pull Tommy and Tubbo behind him to the main cell.
When Tommy saw the room he looked around in confusion as he got his feet back under him. It was large, comfortable, and looked so unlike any of the other cells in the prison. There was a bee and a young puppy asleep in the corner. The furniture was nice, too nice, and Tommy was getting nervous.
He didn’t hear the soft click of the door lock behind them, but he did hear Sam place Tubbo on the bed. “Sam?” He spoke nervously. Instead of responding Sam merely tucked the young brunette under the covers.
“Sam, what’s going on? What are you doing?” Tommy asked. Sam smiled as he watched the young blonde pressed himself against the wall.
“How are you feeling Tommy.” He asked sweetly. “You look a little unwell. Maybe you should sleep, lie down next to Tubbo and close your eyes. I know you haven’t been able to rest for awhile, but you don’t have to worry. You’re safe here. You can rest.” Sam meant for his words to be comforting, but it clearly had the opposite effect.
Tommy quickly stumbled to the door, not tearing his eyes away from Sam as he tried to pull the door open, but froze when he realized it was locked. “Sam… What have you done?” He asked in horror, before collapsing on the ground.
Sam walked over slowly and went to pick Tommy up, despite Tommy trying to shove him off. “No! Get away from me! What are you doing! What did you do to Tubbo!” He demanded as he tried to shove the creeper hybrid away. It didn’t work and Sam lifted him up easily.
“I’m just putting you to bed Tommy. I know you’re exhausted.” He spoke softly as Tommy tried to jerk out of his arms.
“You-your kidnapping us!”
“Yes Tommy, but it’s only to keep you safe. I promised I’d keep you safe, remember?” He easily shoved the young blonde into the bed by Tubbo and held him as he slowly started losing the fight to sleep.
“Sam, Sam please let me go. This is just a prank right? Just some joke? You’re going to let me and Tubbo go right?” Tommy asked nervously, still in denial. Sam merely shook his head and denial was replaced with rage.
“Fuck you Sam! You’re not my friend! I hate you! I hate you! Let me go!” He screamed, causing the dog in the corner to wake from its slumber and look up in concern.
“It’s ok Tommy. I expected that.” Sam comforts softly “I don’t care if you hate me, as long as you’re alive to do so.”
This did not calm him whatsoever “So are you just going to keep me and Tubbo here forever? Just to keep us alive?”
Sam nodded in response as Tommy tried to shove him off, failing one more time. “I won’t let you! If you try and keep us here I’ll-I’ll-um” He stuttered, not sure what to say “I’ll find a way to kill myself!” He declared.
Sam knew he was most likely bluffing, but he felt fear rise up. “No Tommy no, I won’t let you. I promised to protect you, right?” He saw Tommy’s eyes flutter open and shut as he fought off the potion. “If you find a way to hurt yourself I’ll take it away. I’ll tie you down if I have to. If you try to starve yourself I’ll force you to eat. I don’t want to, but I’m going to keep you alive.” He smiled sweetly down at the dreary teen who had started losing the battle to sleep. “And if something does happen, which I promise it won’t, I’ll simply use the book to bring you back.”
Tommy looked at him, drowsy and confused. “Don’t you mean Dream?”
Sam chuckled “no Tommy no.” Sam pulled out the enchanted book as Tommy’s eyes went wide. “You don’t have to worry about Dream ever again. He’s dead.”
Tommy looked like he wanted to say more but the potion was taking hold and he finally fell into unconsciousness, right beside Tubbo.
Sam smiled softly as he tucked him under the soft blankets. Tommy deserved some rest, he needed some after everything that he was forced to go through. Frankly his outburst was more than just expected, it was a good sign. It meant the fire that Dream had tried to douse was still there. Flames the winds of hatred, adversity, and betrayal had tried to snuff still glowed. Though it wasn’t as bright as before. That’s why Sam needed to protect him, Sam needed to keep him safe.
As he left the cell and locked it behind him he looked at his reflection in the water, proud of the intimidating figure he cut. From his golden boots and armour to the crown displaying a reflective silver-white stone, he looked terrifying. Everything about him screamed powerful, an appearance he could use to keep people away from the prison, away from his boys.
It might scare Tommy and Tubbo a little, but he was quite certain him locking them up would do that more than his appearance ever would. But that was alright! He knew it would take them a while to understand, and they might never fully get it, but they’d at least know he was only doing this to protect them. They would learn he was a kind warden eventually.
Even if they would never forget he was a warden.