Chapter Text
Dan threw the one last potion on Justin and solemnly watched the man fall to the ground, dropping all his items after he disappeared.
He knelt down to the ground inspecting the loot. No pickaxe. He failed Kindness…again. He scoffed, feeling the fire burn in his chest and arm. He then picked up all of Justin’s items.
He stood up and turned. Suddenly, a cold freezing breeze spiked through him, extinguishing the maniacal flare inside him like someone threw a massive snowball at him ruthlessly.
Tommy…
The boy stood there, his feet cemented on the ground. Dan didn’t know if his expression consists of shock or…fear or both.
“Tommy…” He croaked, There’s no denying it. The kid saw him… He saw him under the influence of Kindness. He saw him kill someone in cold blood. “I-I…I can explain-“
“What the hell was that?!”
“Tommy-“
“No, you don’t get to ‘Tommy’-me after you ~bleep~ing killed someone!”
Dan opened his mouth but he was interrupted once again.
“Were you the bad person after all?”
That sent a dagger to Dan’s heart. After all…
After seeing that pure admiration on Tommy’s face when Dan saved him from a hoard of zombies…
After Tommy shyly held on Dan’s arm and hid behind him when he introduced him to the Shady Oaks members like Dan is his stronghold, trusting him completely…
After staying in Dan’s home because there’s no other place he would rather be…
After Tommy bravely stepped in front of Dan during his encounter with SB and his wither statue…
After believing Dan wouldn’t use the wither just to destroy everything…
“What did he mean about leverage? Did you have the wither skulls?”
Dan stared at him.
“You do…but… you wouldn’t use it, right?”
Dan sighed.
“No…No, you can’t. It would destroy everything! I mean look-“
“Tommy.”
Tommy’s mouth snapped shut.
“I’m not going to use it. If I ever did, it won’t destroy everything.”
Tommy’s eyebrows furrowed. “Promise?”
Dan’s lips curled in a small smile. “I promise…”
Tommy shook his head and held his hand out.
Dan was confused.
“Elytra. Mine broke.”
Dan hesitated before taking his enchanted wings off and gave it to Tommy. “Would you give it back?”
“Who’s pigeon?” Tommy asked with a hint of hostility and Dan inwardly cringed and gulped.
“Who?!”
“It’s James’… dead parrot.”
Tommy frowned at him. “And?”
“Who I-I…drowned.”
Tommy stared at the wings, disgust dancing in his eyes. “You’re sick…”
“Tommy…”
“Guess I didn’t really know you after all…”
Tommy reluctantly wore the wings and ran.
“Tommy!” Dan ran after him then halted and watched Tommy fly away. Now, Dan didn’t care if he won’t give the wings back…
“Tommy!” Dan knew he messed up big time.