Chapter Text
The sun raised above the horizon. And despite giving off a warm glow, the morning was cold. It was the beginning of autumn, after all.
The day in Business Bay started like any other.
Bitzel was up fresh, tending to the bay's wheat farm, and preparing it for cold weather.
Luke was on a visit to Loglagoon.
Timedeo was barely awake, having spent all night doing his own business.
The leader, Tommy, however..
He stood in the middle point of his bridge. And in front of him stood Philza, and Technoblade from the Antarctic Empire; His biggest enemies.
He stood proudly in his suit.
"So," Tommy starts. "Why have you wanted me here so early? Are you Antarctic boys just gonna trap me or something?"
Funny enough, Tommy hadn't even thought about this ordeal being a trap at all. Of course, Deo would've told him if he knew. But he was here in secret.
"For once, no. But it would be pretty funny." The piglin hybrid responds nonchalantly.
"Mate, we want to talk to you about your faction member Deo." Philza butts in.
"What about him? You jealous?" The blonde gets defensive. He values his faction members like family. He would do anything for the business boys.
"Not really-" Before Phil can continue, Tommy cuts him off.
"You want him in your faction, right? Well too bad! He's with me, and he'll never betray me."
You don't know that.
Do you remember the last time you trusted someone not to betray you?
The blonde didn't cave into those thoughts.
"Tommy, we don't want him in our faction. We want Deo out of your faction, because he's too dangerous."
Those words sliced through Tommy like a knife. Deo? Dangerous? Sure, the man likes a good sword.. And killing. But this was ridiculous!
"Woah, what the hell? And what the fuck makes you think that?!" How dare they?
Phil sighs. "Mate, don't tell me you've been looking away from what Deo's been doing all this time."
"We have no personal problem with him." Technoblade adds.
"But he kills, and provokes without reasoning. It's for the good of everyone on this server."
Tommy exchanges glances between the two men, absolutely baffled at what he's hearing. It was true that Deo was sometimes.. A little bit too much. A handful, even. The brunette treats the wars and killing like a game. Although, that was no surprise, since he used to spend a lot of time playing party games in the global Hypixel server.
"Gentlemen, please." Tommy smiled cockily. "I don't know how you'll even convince me to straight up exile my best warrior. Seems like a lost cause to me."
To his surprise, Techno steps forward with a sword in hand. Tommy shrinks back a little, but he doesn't want to look scared.
"Let's say," The brute raises his diamond blade, and the blonde gulps.
"If Timedeo isn't exiled, and made a public enemy by tomorrow," He pauses, taking the courtesy of pointing his sword in the direction of Business Bay.
"We will destroy, and kill Business Bay. If you won't let Timedeo go by yourself, we'll use force."
At that moment, Tommy's words fail him. He takes a stuttering breath, and lets out a shaky exhale. He feels lightheaded.
Not only is he being forced to exile his best friend.. He's being forced to make him a public enemy to the whole server. And if he doesn't, his whole family, and himself will be slaughtered.
The blonde goes pale as Technoblade pats his shoulder. His form is frozen with terror.
"We'll be waiting by the western borders of Business Bay in those three days. Consider it, Tommy. You're a leader, so do the best thing for your faction."
With that being said, the two men left the blonde to himself as they walked to their planes.
Only a second later, Tommy snaps out of his trance, and calls out;
"W-Wait you fucking-! What even makes you entitled to think you have so much power over us?!"
They looked back from their planes.
"I think everyone has some sort of power over Business Bay, mate." Phil shrugs. Tommy hates knowing that he's somewhat right.
He knows how easily they crumbled in the New Year's war. He knows how hurt and betrayed he felt when he was a one man faction, and other factions would pick on him, and in the most patronizing way too.
He didn't want to go through all of that again.
With the two flying off back to the Arctic, Tommy stalled for a moment. He didn't want to go back. Hell, why would he? It was him against the whole world right now. He's one step away from being attacked from all sides, and slaughtered like an animal.
The young blonde swiftly untied his tie a little, he took a deep breath.
There's no way out of this one.
Tommy arrived back to the bay in a minecart; he felt like he would crash any plane he was to fly with.
"Hi Tommy!" He's greeted by Bitzel, who was finishing his tending to the farm.
Tommy didn't want to make him worry. He was a good leader..
So he forced a small smile, and waved.
"Hey farmer boy!" He jokes. "All well? Are we thriving?"
"Somewhat." Bitzel shrugs. "You're up early." He motions to the sun that has barely risen.
"Oh please, a leader has to take health walks, you know? Helps the mind!"
"You arrived in a minecart."
Bitzel was a jokester.
"Oh quit being so nitpicky you fuck!" Tommy gets out a laugh.
"Good work today so far. I'm gonna check on the Big D. I mean- Deo! The man!" Tommy is stumbling over his words. Thankfully, it sounds like something he'd say on a normal occasion.
"Yeaah, haha.." The brunette laughs as he gets up. "I'll be in Loglagoon if you need me. Luke wants me over there."
"Wait-"
Tommy stops the brunette before he leaves. He recalls the clear message he's gotten from his enemy.
By tomorrow.
Tomorrow. That's such little time to explain the threat, and make a decision without crumbling.
"Actually, no. Bitzel, you get Luke, and you come back immediately. I need to discuss something important with all of you."
Bitzel raises a brow. "Will we just be praying to your prime shrine again?" He teases, but Tommy grows serious.
"It's life threatening shit, I'm being serious! Meet me by the campfire, I'll go get Deo."
"Uh, okay then. You're the leader." Bitzel deadpans, before he teleports away using an ender pearl.
Shut, fuck, shit.
He thinks as he speed walks towards Deo's house. The brunette has a decent taste. Fresh dark oak wood smelled great in the morning, and it all looked so much better with the cobblestone Deo used.
And he would have to let him go?
The young leader thought harder as he invited himself into the brunette's house.
He can't say all of what he's been told directly. Deo will want to fight, but here's the problem, there's absolutely no way in hell they'll win.
Technoblade, Philza, Wisp.
They can forget Pete, he's kind of just there. But the big three?
There's no way they would win, even with Deo's fighting spirit.
There must be a way.
The house is empty, of course. Deo's bed isn't made, and his cat is snuggled up in the sheets.
It was to be expected. The young man has been spending all of his time in his secret bunker lately.
As he dropped down into the bunker, Tommy immediately heard his friend sigh from the villager room.
"Why are you- Why are all of you going into this hole? Get out-- No! Not another one, damnit-"
Well he seemed to have his own problems.
Nevertheless, Tommy entered the familiar room. Villagers stood along the wall chatting in their language. The brunette was standing in front of a freshly mined out entering in one of the walls, and villagers were piled up inside.
The blonde approached him, from behind.
"Timedeo! My friend!"
He got a reaction immediately. Deo turned around so quickly he nearly jumped. His hand almost grabbed his sword, but then he saw who had spooked him.
"Tommy-" He groaned, calming his racing heart. "Don't do that to me." He sighed.
Tommy looked down. "Sorry, sorry. Can I take you outside? We have a meeting." He asked, his blue eyes never leaving the boy Phil and Technoblade had called dangerous.
The brunette tilted his head. "Like, right now? I was just about to start trading."
He was given a stern look from Tommy, convincing him that there was no way out of this.
"Okay fine, let's go."
As the two left the secret bunker, Deo's curiosity outweighed his patience, and he looked down at the slightly shorter blonde. "What's it about?"
But no answer was given. Tommy only eyed him for a moment. The brunette carried a worried frown. An expression that only made the blonde want to hold onto him, and never let go.
Tomorrow.
Exile.
Or else,
Slaughter.
Bitzel and Luke were already waiting in their seats by the campfire by the chest room.
The four business men sat down.
"Okay." Tommy started simply, going over thoughts in his head, and putting together a good enough sentence.
"You're all wondering why I've brought you here today."
"Yeah." Luke deadpanned. "I was helping Grunk."
"You said it was life threatening, of course we're curious." Bitzel butts in.
"Life threatening?" Deo's voice raises as he looks to the leader. "Tommy, what's going on?"
Tommy groaned quietly. Voices, all around him and asking questions. Questions he has no answers for just yet. Well, he does. But how to put it so as to not cause too much commotion?
"Well, gentlemen. Phil and Technoblade spoke to me this morning and told me they want Deo out of my faction."
Probably shouldn't have said so flatly.
A bunch of Whats were heard, but Deo's voice stood out the most, as the situation was about him.
"Listen!" Tommy stood up from his seat swiftly, catching the boys' attention.
"Apparently they want you out by tomorrow, Deo. That's pretty much it."
The teen decided to leave the threat out of that. He can't risk getting the brunette man getting fired up.
Deo shakes his head in confusion, sputtering out incoherent noises that were meant to sound like words.
"It's crazy, I know! But listen, there's no clear threat, so I don't see why I should listen."
"Right?" Luke chuckles. "Let's just say no and get it over with."
Tommy feels awful.
"Yeah. Yeah, you're right." He nods.
"Why'd you have to call us then? It's obvious you have things under control." Bitzel hums, crossing his arms. Deo stares at Tommy, something similar to the feeling of near betrayal in his eyes. But he knew the blonde wouldn't cave to their enemies' commands. He was stronger than that.
Tommy thinks for a moment. He's really dug himself into a hole, and there's no other way to go but deeper down.
"It was.. Just so you know.. You know? I mean, they will be here tomorrow, so at least you know what that'll be about."
"I guess."
The four fell into silence for a moment. Tommy's eyes glazed over each member of his faction. Luke was picking at his suit, Bitzel was drawing shapes into the dirt with his shoe, and Deo was looking into the fire, probably thinking. His sunglasses reflected the element perfectly.
The smallest voice in his mind whispered one word.
Liar.
"Right everyone!" He suddenly blurted out, clasping his hands together.
"That's all, really. You lot are good to do whatever you were doing."
As he said that, Luke and Bitzel left the Business Bay lands again, probably to go back to run some errands in Loglagoon. It was just him and Deo by the fire now.
"Were you for real?" The brunette asks, turning his head away from the fire to let Tommy know where he's looking.
"Very for real, Timedeo! And I'm not going to listen to them. Do you doubt your leader?" A hint of joking around was in Tommy's tone as he tried to lessen the tension.
Deo however, didn't really relax.
"Of course I don't doubt you, sunshine." The nickname slipped out, and Tommy's heart ached a little bit.
"I just got a little worried is all."
Tommy stepped closer to the older boy, nudging his arm.
"Wow, you're a softie." He teased.
Deo giggled. "Shut up!"
"But really though, we'll be okay." Tommy falsely reassured him once again, gently brushing his hand against the other's. The brunette interlocked their pinky fingers. It was something the two did as a reassuring touch.
"Alright." Deo spoke, voice deep, and so trusting.
You need to get him out.
You can keep him safe from afar.
The younger teen's were a jumbled mess of words, but one voice from the outside world made itself known once again. A voice he loves listening to.
"I trust you, sunshine."
I'm so sorry.