Chapter Text
“B-Boarding school?” Tommy demanded, voice cracking.
Philza was sitting in a chair at the dinner table, and Technoblade was leaning against the counter with his arms crossed. Techno’s glare left no room, but Wilbur, standing next to him, looked more guilty than anything else, staring at the floor. Philza was looking at his youngest son pleadingly, trying to figure out how to make him understand.
“Tommy,” Phil started carefully. “It's complicated. This isn't the first time you've done this. You could end up somewhere that we don't want you to. I feel like- I feel like you're slipping, Toms. I don't know how to get you to understand! These stunts your pulling, they-”
“You're sending me away?” Tommy growled, clenching his fists. Wilbur sighed and Philza almost shrunk back.
“Tommy, it's not like that,” Wilbur started.
“No, no I get it,” Tommy shot back, backing away from them, glaring. “Fine. Just- fine!”
“You're acting like a child,” Techno growled, and Tommy whirled on him.
“Shut up!” he said. “Fuck you. Fuck a,l of you! Fine, i'll- i'll pack my things. Whatever you want.” Tommy turned around and stopped outside, trying to get away from them, but just walked out to face Tubbo standing out there. A new anger built up in his chest.
“I can't fucking believe you turned me in!” Tommy growled on the front porch. Somewhere in the distance, lightning crashed. He could see Tubbo’s angry face glaring back at him.
“It's different this time, Tommy, and you know it!” Tubbo shouted back. “You burnt down somebody’s fucking house!” Tommy clenched his fists.
“You know I didn't mean to do that.”
“Of course you didn't, all you wanted to do was break a few windows. For fuck’s sake, Tommy! You went too goddamn far this time, and you won't even apologize!”
“Because it's not my fucking fault! I didn't start it.”
“I don't care, Tommy. I just don't- i just don't fucking care. I don't want to be your partner in crime anymore! I'm tired of this shit.”
“Of course you are,” Tommy growled. “Everybody just feels like abandoning me, huh? Fine, whatever, i don't fucking care. If you've got no goddamn problem with sending me away like my stupid ass family, then whatever! I don't even- you can side with them, see if I care!”
If he hadn't been so angry, maybe Tommy would have seen the pain and frustration and just plain sadness in his best friend’s eyes, but he was too hurt and pissed off to care.
“Tommy- please!” Tubbo insisted. “Level with me here! Don't you understand? You could end up in juvenile over something like this! Techno would rather die than let that happen, and you know your dad feels the same way. We’re worried about you-”
“Oh, cut all of this worried bullshit!” Tommy shouted. “You're not worried about me! You don't- you don't give a shit about me! I mean, I- I guess I always kind of knew that dad just wanted me fucking gone, but you?”
Tommy only wiped his eyes because he was tired, not because he was crying. Big man Tommyinnit didn't fucking cry. “I didn't expect you to turn on me too. But- but whatever. I don't care. I don't fucking care. Do whatever you want, Tubbo! I'll be gone in a few days anyway.”
With that, Tommy whirled and walked inside his house, slamming the screen door behind him. Lightning flashed again as Tubbo stared at it, wet hair plastered to his head. It used to be so fucking easy to get through to his best friend, and now… now it felt like he was talking to a brick wall. He bit his lip.
A year. They were shipping Tommy off for a year. He just prayed that Tommy would get everything through his head.
Tommy growled curses under his breath as he dragged his suitcase up the stairs.
He hated this. He hated this stupid, dumb boarding school and he hated that he had to be there for a year. A year! For a stupid accident.
He hated his family, he hated that his best friend fucking abandoned him, and he hated that he didn't have anybody else at this new weird place. But he’d be fine, he would. He didn't need his stupid fucking family, he didn't need Tubbo.
Tommyinnit only needed himself, and he’d be just fine on his own. Of course, his family didn't get it. They didn't understand that all he wanted was for Phil to look at him, regardless of the context. Maybe if he acted out a little they would notice him more, even if it was negative attention.
It was still attention, anyway. He hated how stupid they were with stuff like that, and he wasn't going to tell them about it. One of these days, he was going to do something to make them stop treating him like a fucking child. To make them respect him. To reiterate, he hated this.
More than anything, though, he hated how many floors up his room was in the dorm building.
He also particularly hated this scratchy tie and dress shirt he would have to wear every. Single. Fucking. Day. No, he couldn't think about that, or he’d start fuckin’ crying, and he didn't need to do that. No big deal. He was fine on his own. He was a big man, thank you very much.
He finally got to his room and opened the door, pushing his suitcase inside. Somebody else was already there, a few years older than him, sitting on what must have been his bed. He deduced that this kid was probably his roommate, so he analyzed him carefully.
He had blond-brown hair and a pristine uniform, which was kind of weird. Like, Tommy had been wearing his uniform for around an hour and he’d already managed to scuff it up a little. He was also wearing some kind of mask with a smiley face on it, and he could still sort of see the guy’s eyes from behind it. Lime green eyes stared back at him.
“Hi,” he greeted warmly. “Looks like I'm your roommate this year. My name’s Dream!”