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Micheal likes camping. They're far away from Snowchester, in a place that is warm but not hot like the place before. Papa is stroking a campfire, and he has that look. He gets that look sometimes, late at night or on thunder nights.
The piglin doesn't like thunder either, so he's always happy to help Papa. His papa is shorter than Dada, and dada will hug Papa and Micheal when he gets that look.
They're 'camping,' or whatever that means. Papa, when they were packing up, said that dada would meet them there. Well, papa was rushing the packing. He left Micheal's sword in his rush! Micheal would complain, but papa had looked pretty scared when he was packing up. Dada might pick up Micheal's sword before he comes!
But Dada isn't here, at least not for now. Papa said he's coming soon, but Micheal can tell that his other parent was supposed to come by now.
For now, he's in the tent. It's nighttime, so his papa is out protecting the campsite. He has his chicken stuffie, but it's still cold. The boy let's out a whimper. His papa looks over and gives a faint smile.
"Micheal, you can come sit for now. Just don't get too close." He quickly runs over and sits down next to his dad. It's comforting to burrow into Papa's jacket - it's fluffy inside and warm. Papa hums a melody, like he does every night.
"I heard there was a special place," Papa starts. He signs the words too! Micheal has been learning sign language along with his dads. Micheal grinned, and nudged his papa to make him continue.
"Where men could go emancipate,"
Micheal looks to the stars, which seem as if they're crowding in. In Snowchester, there's pretty waves of colours in the sky. Him, papa, and dada would all sit outside and watch them.
"The brutality and tyranny of their rulers." His papa whispers, stroking Micheal's head. Micheal feels his eyelid getting heavy.
"Well worry not, this place is real!" Micheal likes the warm feeling of his papa. Strong arms pull Micheal into Papa's lap, rocking him softly.
"With Wilbur, Tommy, Tubbo, and Eret! It's a very big and not blown up L'Manburg." His papa's voice rises, but stays in that soft rumbling sound.
Micheal doesn't like speaking. Not often, anyways. But he likes to sing, when it comes to this song.
"My L'manburg," he whispers. Papa smiles down at him, brown eyes glistening with tears for some reason.
"My L'Manburg," the two sing together, and Micheal lets out a happy oink. His papa burst out laughing, holding the piglin even tighter.
"Your L'Manburg." A new voice finishes the song, and Micheal squirms to look at the newcomer. There's a white smiley face on the man, but suddenly papa has his sword out. Micheal is pressed even closer into his father, and the sound of a sword being drawn is clear.
His papa is shaking. "You are supposed to be in jail." Micheal has never heard papa sound like that.
A wheezing laugh comes from the man in the mask. "Well, I'm not anymore. After all, I wouldn't be here!"
His papa meets Micheal's gaze. Something passes through his eyes, but his father quickly turns back to the other man.
"Why are you here, Dream?" Micheal hates the feeling of being pressed into armour, but something important is going on.
There's a pause. "I came here for my things, Tubbo."
The Dream man sounds unfriendly. He can feel his Papa's heart beat, and it's super fast.
His papa takes a while to answer. "If I hand it over, will you leave us alone? No harm to Micheal, at all."
"Of course. My things for you and your brat's lives." Mister Dream responds, and he reminds Micheal of the hoglins, all mean and no niceness.
His papa slowly sets Micheal down, and stands in front. He stares at the man in the mask, and notices the green hoodie.
Dada's eyes are green! Maybe dada and Mister Dream are friends. But the man is so mean to his papa - surely they couldn't be friends then!
Papa takes off his armour, and throws his shiny tools toward the man. "You got what you wanted, now leave us be!"
The man gathers his stuff, but he stays. "Ya know, Tubbo, you always get in my way." His papa stiffens.
His papa looks back at Micheal, and then to Dream. "And?" Micheal stifles a laugh. His papa is always so snappy.
The man takes a step towards them.
His papa forces Micheal to take a step back. "I'd kill you, but your husband had done a lot for me."
Micheal is scared now. He doesn't like this man, he doesn't want him here. "Speaking of your husband, Ranboo! Come here." Dream calls out, and there's a voomp sound.
His dada! Micheal goes to run over, but Papa grabs him and holds Micheal close. He tries to squirm, but papa won't let go.
He doesn't understand, that's dada! Yet, dada doesn't look like himself.
His father's multi colored eyes meet his, and Micheal is scared. That's not his dada - that man has to be someone else.
Papa is shaking, and the zombie piglin buries his face into his father's neck. He wants to go home, Micheal doesn't like camping anymore.
"Go away, Dream. We're leaving the server. Me, Ranboo - we're not playing your game! Let my husband go, you won't have to see us again."
Micheal shuts his eyes tightly as he hears the green man's laughter. What's so funny? There's nothing funny about this.
"Oh Tubbo, did you really think I'd let you guys go? Both of you are too much leverage. But your brat? Who else cares about your brat besides you and Ranboo."
His papa doesn't back down. "I'm leaving, Dream."
There's a thick silence. "You leave, and I'll stick your husband in a pool."
Papa glares, and Micheal can tell that his papa is crying. "Just leave us alone, Dream! I complied with what you wanted, I'm not going to interfere with the discs, just let our family have peace!"
Dream laughs, and it's not the happy laugh that Micheal has grown up with. It's a scary laugh, one that makes his stomach do flips and shiver in fear.
He hides behind his papa.
"That's not what's happening. You, your brat, and your husband are going to follow me, and not a word will come from you."
Papa looks at Micheal, and Micheal looks back.
Dada takes a step forward. "Just agree, Tubbo." Dada has a fake smile. Papa gets so mad at this, he pushes dada away.
"Stay away! You are not my husband - don't you dare try and act like it."
Papa picks him up, and cradles Micheal. He feels safe, but dada is so close to them. Why doesn't dada join in? Is it because of the mean Dream man?
The green man pulls out a crossbow. "Let me say this again. You're following me, and there will be no more argument, alright? Hand the kid to his father, and act like the happy little family you are."
Micheal squirms in his Papa's grasp. Dada reaches out his arms, and there's a long pause.
"I can always let go of the string, Tubbo." His papa makes a growling sound, and gently lets dada take him into his embrace.
Micheal snuggles into his father's chest. He watches from where's he's pressed into dada as papa takes the white hand.
Papa is crying, and Micheal doesn't understand why. They start walking, leaving the campsite behind.
The trip is long. Tubbo cries the entire time, silently walking with his family. Dream's going to kill them all. His baby is in Ranboo's arms, sleeping soundly.
It brings the teenager no comfort. The blank eyes of his husband mocks him, as the white hand grips onto his tightly. There's indents from the hybrid's nails.
"I hate you," Tubbo whispers, while they walk. He knows very well that the enderwalk state is just a different mind, or something. It's not his Ranboo. That's not his friend in there. It's an imposter, some kind of monster.
His platonic husband only gives a hearty chuckle. It's fake. This look of a happy family is ruined by Tubbo's tears. (And isn't that just like him, ruining everything?)
The grip tightens. "I love you too, dear."
Tubbo sobs harder, but dead silent.
He stare at the prison through blurry eyes. Dream does all the work himself, taking all of Tubbo's items.
He doesn't think they're going to maximum security. They, instead, go into a smaller cell. Difference is that it's been combined with another cell. It's big enough for two adults.
And a child.
Tubbo collapses. "Please, please don't do this," he begs. Ranboo holds on to his hand and drags him in.
His partner gently sets Micheal in the bed, and puts Tubbo's hand in a cuff. In a way, both his hands are cuffed. Ranboo holds his hand like a different kind of chain.
Dream gloats. "This is just an insurance. Tommy is sure to not act up if he knows you're trapped here. Ranboo won't either, two birds,"
"One stone." Tubbo finishes.
Ranboo gives him a blank smile, and locks the cell up. Dream pulls up his mask, and gives a smile.
"Tubbox, am I right?" He jokes.
The two leave, and Tubbo sits against the bed that Micheal sleeps in. The piglin stirs, and the mismatched eyes meet Tubbo's.
Their scars are in the same place. "Hi, baby. It's okay."
Micheal sits up, and yawns. He makes the sign for home.
Tubbo wipes his tears, and shakes his head. "No kiddo, we're not home. We're staying somewhere else for a while."
His little boy twists his mouth in that cute way, and he can't help but place his hand on his son's cheek. As long as Micheal's safe.
"So we're camping!" Micheal squeals, with a smile.
Tubbo laughs, wetly. He promised he would be better than Phil, but maybe he's worse. If they left Micheal in the nether - would he be happier?
He wants to cry. "Yeah, yeah buddy we're um. Camping." The teen climbs into bed, and holds his son close.
"Camping. We'll go home any time. Yeah."
Micheal hums, and Tubbo hums in his son's ear as they fall asleep. If they were really camping, there would be stars. The obsidian takes its place.
A melody of a doomed nation echoes in Tubbo's ears.