Chapter Text
“Tommy get your fucking ass down here” Wilburs shout was not misheard, Techno groans from his room where his younger brother stayed hidden under his desk, looking almost fearful. He scoots back in his chair to stare his brother in the face.
“What did you do this time, Tomms?” He questions. Tommy, in classic Tommy manner, sticks his tongue out instead of giving a response. “Cmon dork, what did you do?”
“Okay so” He begins, coming out from his hiding spot but still remaining on the floor, his demeanor felt timid. Something he really didn't show much but he'd been around Techno long enough to trust. “You know his guitar..?”
“Oh Tommy you didn't..” Techno tries his hardest not to laugh. He feels a gentle kick at his shin, putting his hands up in surrender. “Sorry sorry”
“I wanted to try it” Tommy continues, Techno nods, ignoring the angry pacing from under his room. “I didnt think…”
“You never do” He interjects affectionately. “OW- Okay okay” Techno clutches his poor knee after the next hit was harder than intended.
“Nobody wants commentary from the peanut gallery” Tommy hisses, Techno gives his younger brother a quick ruffle to his hair before shutting his mouth until Tommy has finished. “So I tried to play a song, and I don't know what happened. It just broke” He looks up, playing on his best puppy eyes he can conjure
“It just broke?” Techno repeats
“It just broke” Tommy shakes his head solemnly
“Uh huh, what actually happened”
Tommy bit this bottom lip before huffing out the truth.
“Tubbo and I were playing around with it, and then we argued about who could hold it and dropped it, then it broke” Tommy smiles
“HAH” Techno cant resist, what a dumb idea, a dumb plan, and dumb brother. All affectionate of course.
“DON'T LAUGH YOU ASS” Tommy stands shoving his brother back. “Help me!”
“Absolutely not, you're on your own here” Techno laughs, he swivels his chair back to his desk, typing away on his assignment, his hand itching to play something instead but alas.
“Teeeeech” Tommy whines, shaking his brothers shoulders dramatically. “Can you help me please” His elongated words annoy the older of the two.
“Listen, I'll try b-”
His words were quickly cut off by the door swinging open. Philza enters, his breathing heavy. Techno knows instantly what this means as he scoops his brother up covering his mouth as whines fall out.
“Thank you” Their father breathes out as he rushes back downstairs. Techno hears Wilbur enter the room soon after. He opens the closet, shoving his brother in gently watching Wilbur enter with him. He takes Tommy in his arms, keeping him quiet.
“I hate this” He whispers out, Wilbur and Techno share a quick look before he shuts the door. “This is ridiculous Will and you know that” He speaks with such soft anger, it's almost impressive.
“I know Tommy, I know, '' Wilbur nods, he knows its routine but he can't help but clutch to his brother each time. “Hey, just stay silent and quiet and I'll forgive you for the guitar, ok?”
“Deal” Tommy says, his last words before burrowing into Wilbur waiting for it to end.
~~~
“You know, you do these everyday” Phil tries his hardest to steady his voice as he speaks to the ...thing in front of him. He refuses to call the green armored man, wearing a copycat mask, anything else. He has stared Dream in the face, this soldier, this minion? Is nothing to compare...so why was he so anxious?
Well, things had changed. The last time he stared down Dream, he wasn't protecting a secret so dear to him. Although, he'd like to return to those days.
“That's the point. Especially with you, Mister Minecraft '' It spits, though there's venom behind his words he's still just a machine following orders to Phil. He grimaces at the name but says not a word. “Let's not waste time shall we?”
“Mhm”
“How many people live in this house?” It starts, like it does everyday.
“Three. Me, and my two children. Techno and Wilbur” He answers, routinely answers.
“Who is responsible for daily trips?”
“Me, I do the shopping and other errands.”
“Do you have visitors?”
“Yes, Tubbo and his family, they come over for Wilbur and Techno as well as myself, family friends.” He lies, well its not a full lie.
“Any others?”
“A few others but none routinely or as much” He admits
“What do the children do?”
“Techno studies, and does classes. As does Wilbur. Both have individual hobbies that abide by Dreams Rules.” he bites his tongue so as to not insult said rules.
“HAH. Sure they do” He checks off marks, and Phil has to stop himself from grabbing his weaponry. The questions continue, he wants to rip out his hair.
“Breathe angel” She says carefully, a sweet kiss to his forehead.
“I hate these things” He replies gruntingly.
“I know...but it'll be over soon, just breathe” Her hand squeezes his “For Tommy yeah?”
He nods, returning the kiss.
Thank goodness for Kristen
He takes a deep breath, the memory washing a calm sense over him.
“And finally have you seen any variants?” His breath hitches. Variant, thats what Tommy was. A variant.
“No”
With a hesitant glance and a suspicious look in return the check in is completed. In what feels like seconds, the door closes, and they are once again, just the four of them in their home.
Fuck that.
He runs as fast as his feet can carry him up the stairs and to his first son's room. Techno stands there, unphased as he steps out of the way for his father.
“Tommy” He breathes with relief, as he does everyday.
“Yeah yeah, I'm fine. '' The boy replies, his short temper not something new. “I'm inviting Tubbs over for dinner '' He says, basically a demand. The three older ones sigh with a smile at the boy, they nod and go about their lives. Phil begins his way downstairs to start dinner, Techno begrudgingly returns to his work and Wilbur, though he'd never admit it, watches over his brother, worry filling his stomach even if they were in the clear for the day.
~~~
“Sooooo nice dinner we’re having” Tubbo pokes at the pasta, an awkward silence had befallen the table.
“Its shit, like everything else in my life” Tommy grumbles. Phil drops his fork, groaning into his hands. “No dont fucking give me that dad! How would you feel, I haven't left this house in years! I don't even know what outside looks like, I go to school through Wilbur and Tubbo, I'm not even a person! In a house pet!” He rants, Techno begins to clean up the table, Wilbur stays seated.
“That is not true Tommy, we're trying to keep you safe! And alive!” Phil argues back, clutching his legs, he can't get angry, he can't. “Were just trying to keep you safe”
“From what! I wouldn't even know!” Tommy screams, pushing back on the table as he stands, the ear piercing shriek from his chair not going amiss.
“From the outside! From him!” Phil stands too now.
“From Dream? What's he going to do! Hes a fucking coward” Techno smirks, Wilbur and Tubbo share a gape look. Phils blood boils, not at him, never.
“Tommy watch your words.” he warns, out of fear, who may be passing by. He looks to Wilbur who nods, he stands and begins to shut the windows.
“No! He's a coward! He sits in his ivory tower sending out useless minions to abuse and control innocent people! And you all let it happen!” Tommy retorts
“Tommy” Phils voice is low, Technos smirk fades.
“You're just as much of a coward as he is” Venom drips from the young boy, his eyes searing with fresh tears. Giving his family one last look he departs stomping up the stairs. Phil sits defeated, he doesn't speak and nobody moves for what seems like forever.
Tubbos the first to stand, to move a frightened muscle. He gives a shameful look to the father before following behind his friend. Wilbur nods gratefully, turning his attention to Phil, as Techno sits beside him.
“Tommy” Tubbo knocks on the boy's door, it's not a regular knock, no he's poured his heart into this one. Or rather their secret code, he hears a small ‘come in’ and happily enters. “Hey big man, where'd all that come from?” he asks with a hint of sarcasm. Tommy snorts, a habit he picked up from Techno, quickly he covers it up.
Tubbo examines the room, the one he's been in a million times and yet each time it seemed to get messier. His bed was square against the wall, next to his makeshift window that was closed at all times. Clothes weren't the issue, it was the books, the pencils and crayons, the stuffed animals scattered across the room. You could barely see his desk. Tommy lay across his bed, sighing heavily. “Oi '' Tubbo kicks his feet asking permission to lay with him.
“Fuck off” He says, despite moving anyway.
“What's going on in that pea brain of yours” Tubbo teases
“ITS NOT- Fuck you” He laughs as Tubbo rolls him over. “Its constant Tubbs, Im stuck in that fucking closet more then not, and I havent been allowed outside...for like...ever” He complains, Tubbo nods already distracted by his shoelaces. “I mean at this point” He starts, standing up to move to his closet “I might as well just live here” He plops down with a frown, Tubbo hops up and goes to sit beside him.
“I don't know man, seems kinda small” He jokes
“Yeah yeah maybe it'll grow…'' Tommy looks around, maybe if he just hid here, he'd be fine. He looks quickly to his bordered up window. What would happen, if just for a moment, he opened it, and looked through it. What would it look like? Would it really be as bad as everyone warns?
“Hey, big man, back to earth please” Tubbo nudges him
“I bet I could take Dream” He blurts, earning an almost wheeze from Tubbo. “I BET I COULD”
“Mhm mhm sure sure” Tubbo pats his shoulders. Tommy stretches, he looks to Tubbo taking his arm. “Oh no”
“I bet if I just set up a mattress right here” He pulls them both down, the boys letting out laughs...until something clicks and they dont stop falling. For a moment they're just falling, it's quick and they see what appears to be a ladder. They'll come to learn how to get in and out of this easily but for now, they land with a painful sting to their bodies. After a moment of recovery they scream. Not like anyone could hear them...what a terrifying thought.
“TOMMY WHERE ARE WE?” Tubbo shrieks, Tommy hits him instinctively, shutting his trap quickly. Who knows what could be around, what might be listening?
“Shut up” he whispers viciously “How would I know?” He stands quickly, his stance solidifying as he dusts himself off, examining the dark burgundy room of which they've landed in. “Cool” He mumbles, his eyes landing on the ladder. Its wood, and looks hold, he swears if he tried to climb it he'd fall quickly. But it's the only thing in the room to focus on. Besides the ominous hall behind them, with no end in visible sight, and yet?
Tommy wants to run down it without looking back.
“You've got that look” Tubbo pulls him from his fantasy, brushing himself off. “Like you're going to do something purely out of spite”
“I do not have a look”
“You have a look”
Tommy ignores him, stumbling closer to the hall. It wasn't too big, the walls were cracked to reveal older stone, it seemed a smooth brick surrounded them. He traces the wall, his fingers collecting dust as he pulls away. He takes a glance at Tubbo, turning back to the hall.
“Maybe I do have a look” He smiles, rushing down the hall not taking a moment to look back. He knows Tubbos is following him from a slight distance, his footsteps echo quietly but clearly he shouldn't have been focusing on that as his feet hitch and topple forward into a much muddier room, expecting a hard landing.
“You absolute fuckhead” Tubbo scolds helping the dirtied boy up, he doesn't care about the scene change, he cares about his defeated friend. Tommy tears his arm away from Tubbo, kicking the water. It seems the further down the path he had gone, the walls and floor deteriorated more, and fauna had consumed the room (?) they now stood in, muddy water holding them steady as natural sunlight shone from above through the cracks. A door stood exactly opposite the hall, and what would probably be exact opposite to the ladder from the other room. “You can't be serious”
“Nothing to lose” He says with more frustration than anything. He goes to the door struggling at first to open it. It was heavy, dragging across the floor but eventually, the new world was only a step away from him.
“Tommy…” Tubbos' hesitancy was not amiss.
“Are you coming or not?”
“Obviously” Tubbo grabs his friend's hand and they step through the door.
And god do they grow heavier, not their hearts or stomachs. But them, their...bodies? Tommy looks down, falling back as he sees himself covered head to toe in some kind of armor. Its a purple but when it hits the light it looks almost darker.
The ground below them had completely shifted into grass, it sprung with such vibrancy and care, tommy almost giggled, he had never seen it right here, real, so easy to-
“Tommy, where are we…?” Tubbo questions, clinging slightly to his friend.
“I don't know Tubbs..” He gains a devilish smile, one his friend knew only was accompanied by trouble. “Wanna find out?” He extends his arm but before Tubbo can answer, the branches that scattered the ground from the trees about, breaks. They jump but find themselves too frozen to move.
Fast steps come closer, the volume grows and Tubbo counts how many people.
“Two sets of feet, two people, one is heavier than the other but they are both equal strength..one is female the other is male.” Tubbo recites, Tommy gives him a half-hearted nod, fearful of what's to come.
Finally at its peak volume they see it, just as Tubbo had said, traversing through the woods just a bit further than them, two people. The first, seemingly the leader tumbles alot more then the second, both decked out in armor they reach the boys in their speed and pause. Pure confusion spreads across their faces. Tommy wants to examine them both until he hears a small gasp from his side.
“Mom??” The words left Tubbos mouth, and Tommy sees it. Before them stands a half ram-human hybrid, her white cloud hair pulled tightly into a ponytail, someone Tommy had met a million times for meals and playdates. Someone he swears was just dropping Tubbo off at his house. Tubbos' own mother.
Puffy.