Work Text:
“Good Rain Know The Best Time To Fall”
“Players, welcome to the fourth game.” Comes a woman's voice on the PA, sickly sweet and somewhat patronising. “For this game, you will be playing in teams of two. Please look around and find someone you wish to play with. When two people agree to play together, shake hands to show you have become partners.”
She repeats the announcement again but no one's really listening, all are glancing to their left and right, eyeing who they want to pair with. In their heads they have someone in mind, one they’ve grown close to or maybe one who will provide strength and skill. The last game showed the need for strong teammates. Who knows about this game. The most everyone can do is take from their previous knowledge and add it to this upcoming game.
The still formed players sprung to life, starting to move and chat amongst themselves as the PA quiets. Tommy watches as the players weave their way through the mass to meet with others. He smiled to himself as he elbowed the boy beside. From the very second that it was announced, only one name sprang to his mind. He looked over at the shorter brunette beside him, a wide grin on his face.
“Tubbo! My friend!” He exclaimed. He ignored the side eyed looks he got from the other players as he grinned widely at his best friend. The latter smiled back.
“Tommy! Big man.” The two boys extended their hand and shook, sealing their fate. Number 023 and 409, partners.
The two were a perfect pair. Having known each other since they were little, their bond was extremely strong. Tubbo was the brains of the operation and Tommy was the brawn. Of course there was Ranboo too, but he was just the cheerleader. Several years ago Tubbo thought he would turn their duo into a trio. To say the least, Tommy wasn’t the happiest. At least Ranboo was kinda alright.
Tommy’s breath hitched. It’s strange how his brain still refuses to accept what’s happened. The teens had come into the game as a trio and would be leaving as a duo. Hopefully...
…
The two boys sat, backs to the wall as they watched the other players find their partners.
Tommy took this time to calm himself down, reassuring himself that he and Tubbo could get through anything together. Especially this stupid fuckin’ game. It was unfair, it truly was. When he, Tubbo and Ranboo agreed to join, they didn’t know losing would result in their lives. When the majority agreed to stay, it shattered him. How could someone think that much money was worth theirs and others lives.
“Oh Dream.” Tommy heard, snapping him from his thoughts. He recognised that voice. He scouted out the man who the voice belonged to. George, number 404. A short, dark haired man who was previously a member on Tommy’s team from the last game. He was already shaking the hand of his “boyfriend,” a tall sandy blonde haired man. Dream, number 218. Tommy didn’t actually know if they were a couple but they seemed to flirt with each other quite a bit so he assumed they were together or had feelings for one another.
He watched as they walked over to the other couple and sat beside them. Karl and Sapnap, a confirmed couple. They proudly told Tommy they were engaged on the first night. They had been engaged to one other person too, Quackity, but during the first game...
Tommy looked around at the other teams that had been formed. The clock slowly ticked away. 1 minute left.
…
“Players, please take one bag each from the staff member before you.” The PA sounded again once all the players were brought to a new room. This one quite different from any of the previous ones. This one looked like a neighbourhood. The masked man in front of them held out his arms, each hand holding a small sack. The two teens reached forward and took them.
“There should be a set of ten marbles in each bag. Please check to confirm the number.” Tommy opened his bag and poured the continents in his palm. He counted 10 marbles and looked over to Tubbo who was doing the same.
He smiled at his friend. He remembered when he was little and he had a set of marbles that him and Tubbo would play with all the time. This was perfect. The two would most definitely dominate the other teams at this game. Tubbo seemed to think the same thing as he smiled back.
“In this game, using your set of ten marbles, you will play the game of your choice with your partner. The player who manages to take all ten marbles from their partner wins.”
Tommy’s smile dropped. So did his stomach. He listened carefully as the women repeated the words again, trying his hardest to trick his mind into believing what he heard wasn’t true.
“Tommy?” Tubbo whispered. His voice sounded like it was on the verge of breaking. Tommy turned to look at him. Meeting his sad, brown eyes.
“No- no I don’t want to play.” Tommy turned to the masked man in front of them. “Please don’t make me do this. Please.. I want another partner.” The man just stood there, silent.
“Tommy, we have to.” Tubbo grabbed his arm, turning him away from the unresponsive guard. He held up the marbles in his hand. “One of us has to make it out of here. Okay?”
Tommy shook his head. “I don’t want to do this.” Tubbo ignored him and dragged him over by a wall. They both sat down as Tubbo took both bags of the marbles and laid them out.
“What’re we going to play?” Tommy continued to shake his head. He refused to play against Tubbo. Sooner or later he’ll realise that it’s pointless and he’ll take Tommy’s marbles and continue on.
“We have to play or else we’ll both die.”
“Just take them. I’m not playing against you.” He paused. “You’ve gotta keep going, Tubbo.”
“Tommy-” Tubbo began.
“No Tubbo. I’ve made up my mind. I’m not playing.” He looked down at the ground. It was supposed to be him, Tubbo and Ranboo forever. The three of them were supposed to win the games together but now it’ll have to be Tubbo.
...
“Do you remember when we first met?” The shorter was the first to speak. “I was getting bullied by the older kids in the orphanage and you came over and told them to stop. Of course you got beat up too but it was the thought that counted.” He chuckled lightly as he thought back to that day.
“You were my first real friend there. The first person who thought I was worth keeping around. Thank you.” If Tubbo shed a single tear, Tommy didn’t comment on it.
“Do you remember when you brought home Ranboob? Gods, I was so angry.” Tubbo elbowed him and muttered something along the lines of clingy.
“I miss him.”
“I do too.”
…
“No! Dream!!” The two boys turned to see what all the yelling was about. George was standing in front of Dream, tears pouring down his face. “P-please.. I love you.” The man sobbed.
“Please let me go.” Dream spoke. The pain in his voice was as loud as George’s screams and pleas, the latter trying to push the bag of marbles back into the taller’s hands. Dream then pushed him away and turned to the worker, nodding his head.
Tommy barely turned his head just in time. A gunshot rang out, followed by a heart wrenching scream.
...
During the whole commotion, he hardly noticed something being placed in his pocket. He looked down and reached for it with shaky hands. He looked up at Tubbo as he pulled out a bag of marbles. He looked down at them then to Tubbo’s empty bag.
“Tubso?” He noticed the tear streaks on his eyes. “What?” He watched as his friend glanced at the timer. 3 minutes. He hadn’t realised how much time had passed.
“Tommy, you've got to keep going.” He held up the empty bag. “This is the end.”
“No Tubbo, I need you.”
“All good things must come to an end eventually.”
“B-but what am I without you?”
“Yourself…” He walked over to the worker, showing him the empty bag. “Goodbye Tommy.”
There was one final gunshot that rang the loudest in the entire building.