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"The compass is pointing this way." Sapnap heard Phil but he couldn't really process it. It wasn't like Tommy to be this far away from home. From their home. It took Sapnap days to figure out that he was gone and even when he figured it out he couldn't admit it to himself. Tommy wasn't one to run from their home.
Days before this the sun had woken up Sapnap, he was alone in bed; but this wasn't out of the ordinary. His relationship with Tommy wasn't a normal one, the boy had been through so much and while he wasn't usually one to get so quickly attached to people he almost felt obligated to when the boy had shown up in the Kinoko Kingdom wet and terrified. Sapnap had taken him in, dried him off and offered him comfort and a place to stay for the night. Tommy had accepted his help and just as Sapnap had turned to leave knowing he had left Karl for too long the boy, in what he assumed was a moment of fear asked him to stay.
Again Sapnap wasn't one to do things like that but that night felt different. Maybe it was his increasingly loveless relationship with Karl where he was treated more like a parent than a partner, maybe it was his fight with Quackity, it might've even been his distance with his friends, whatever the case Sapnap walked back into the room and shut the door behind him. They had laid in bed together, neither talking just facing each other. Tommy was fighting off sleep and Sapnap could tell so he did what he had done with his other partners and simply lifted his chin and kissed his forehead and mumbled, "go to sleep."
Once Sapnap had looked back down at the boy he saw tears in his eyes, Sapnap didn't react he simply looked then wiped his tears as he pulled the boy closer. Tommy couldn't see his face but Sapnap knew what he looked like, it was the same look he had with Karl. Robotic concern and care. He went through the motions rubbing the boys back hugging him, but it wasn't the same. Tommy started to squirm so Sapnap pulled back. Tommy looked up at him confused. Sapnap paused once again his brain preparing for a different form of comfort when Tommy put a hand on his cheek. Through the tears Tommy gave him a look of concern so genuine and confused that it made Sapnap almost tip over the edge. But he didn't know why until Tommy said,
"Are you alright Sapnap?" Everything, all the walls he hasn't realized he had been building, all the disregard for his own heath, all the robotic motionless care movements came to his mind as he realized that he wasn't ok. As he realized that he was just giving everything and never getting.
He felt a few tears gather in his eyes, then a hand on his cheek as the boy in front of him had gone to wipe his tear away. That simple gesture was the final straw as tears flooded his eyes. He was crying. Sapnap pulled back and started wiping his own tears but then Tommy's hands were on his face again. Tommy wiped his tears getting his attention, then he pulled the man into a hug kissing his own forehead and stroking his hair whispering words of affirmation to him. This only made the older cry harder.
"I'm sorry, I-" Sapnap attempted but Tommy cut him off.
"It's fine, you don't need to apologize."
Sapnap cried even harder feeling like a child in his father's arms again. He started shaking as he gripped Tommy's shirt, Tommy held him in his arms.
Sapnap felt tears on his hair as the boys voice started to tremble and his hands started to shake. Here where two people so hurt and desperate for affection and love finding solace in each other, and as the tears ran out and Tommy's shirt officially soaks as well as the pillow they laid there. Sapnap took in a breath as he moved himself up to look into Tommy's eyes, and he hugged him properly. Tommy rested his forehead on Sapnap's shoulder. They could've laid there like that all night but eventually Tommy shifted down and ended up on Sapnap's chest. Sapnap also eventually feel asleep but not before snuggling closer.
With morning came a whole new dynamic for the two. Sapnap had awoken first and got straight onto making breakfast for the boy. When said boy woke up the embarrassment was clear on his face but Sapnap played it off. He told Tommy he was welcome to stay in this house, and Tommy kinda nodded along but as soon as breakfast was done he all but ran out the door.
Honestly Sapnap thought he was never going to see him again and continued on with his life, feeling slightly better but still as robotic as ever.
Then similar to last time Tommy came back. He wasn't crying or upset this time but it was raining again. Sapnap took him back to the house they had been in last time and once again after Sapnap had cared for him Tommy had asked him to stay and once again Sapnap had accepted.
This time felt different though and so as Sapnap laid in bed with Tommy he was going to ask when Tommy immediately cuddled up to him. Sapnap felt fondness swell in his heart as he held the boy who seemed to make himself seem smaller. Sapnap looked down at him as the boy seemed to debate something. Whatever it was seemed to be vetoed by the boy and they instead talked a bit before Tommy yawned and snuggled closer and fell asleep. Sapnap shook his head as he too moved closer and eventually fell asleep.
That morning too he had woken up first and again he made breakfast, this time though they still talked until Tommy was done and when Tommy went to leave Sapnap reminded him once again he was welcome anytime. Then Sapnap walked him to the door where his sentence was cut short when the younger got on his tippy toes and gave him a peck on the cheek. Sapnap paused and looked at Tommy as the boys face flushed red and he ran off with a goodbye. Sapnap once again felt that fondness as his cheeks colored pink.
Soon after that Sapnap noticed the boy hadn't been back in a while. This bothered Sapnap despite the boy only having been in the Kinoko Kingdom twice. He noticed himself looking for the blonde, listening for his name, asking about him, and feeling irritated that he still hasn't shown back up. Then a week later Tommy was back. His face bright red as he once again was one Sapnap's doorstep.
This time was different though, there was no rain and it wasn't the middle of the night, but here he was anyway. Sapnap felt excitement and joy course through his veins but he reminded himself to calm down. So he played it cool as they went through the motions again until it was once again time for Tommy to ask and ask the boy did. Sapnap laid down in the bed and so did Tommy but the boy didn't make an effort to cuddle with him. This puzzled Sapnap and that whole night was almost completely silent save for Sapnap's attempts at conversation. They fell asleep not touching each other and in the morning Tommy was gone. This would be a trend that would continue for the rest of the time before Tommy leaving. But Sapnap wasn't satisfied with this so he went out and found the boy.
When he did find Tommy, he yelled out to him. The boy had stopped nonchalantly and all but ignored him as Sapnap attempted to talk to him. This was making Sapnap increasingly more irritated with him so as the approached a tunnel Sapnap took the opportunity to pin him to the wall. This made Tommy panic and squirm but Sapnap didn't care.
"Let me go SAPNAP! What's your problem?" Tommy exclaimed, but it didn't feel serious so Sapnap didn't listen.
"What's my problem? What's Your problem?" Sapnap said as he watched Tommy squirm and try and get out of his grasp. Before Tommy could respond though Sapnap started again.
"You come to My kingdom, you cuddle with me, we have a moment, then you kiss me and you ignore me? What the hell man?" Sapnap exclaimed getting just distracted enough so that Tommy could break out of the hold. Tommy's face was bright red as he started studdering.
But Sapnap wasn't having it. He kept pressing the boy until he cracked.
"ITS BECAUSE I LIKE YOU OK?" Tommy exclaimed his entire face red as well as his neck. Sapnap had already had a feeling this was the case but he wanted to hear it and as soon as he did he paused to let Tommy come to terms with it.
"I like you, you're so cool and nice and strong, and you're always so kind to me, even when I'm not nice to you, you take care of me and you make me feel safe." Tommy rambled, as some tears started to form in his eyes. "And your so Hot. Like your attractive and your actually warm and its so nice to be around you and-" but that was enough for Sapnap.
He took the boys chin in his hand and looked down at him. They met eyes and Sapnap could tell Tommy was scared, so he leaned in and gently angled his face right and then their lips touched. Tommy made a little noise when it happened but Sapnap didn't pull back instead releasing Tommy's chin and instead putting his arms around his waist. Tommy shut his eyes and pushed harder into the kiss. Sapnap felt a laugh bubble in his chest at Tommy's enthusiasm so he pulled away unable to stifle it. He put his head on Tommy's shoulder as he started giggling. He felt Tommy stiffen as the boy heated up again in embarrassment. Tommy tried to pull away and started cursing at him, but Sapnap didn't let him instead cupping his jaw and cooing at him. This made Tommy more embarrassed but Sapnap wouldn't let him get away. He pulled the boy into another kiss and kissed his forehead.
"I like you to Tommy." He said simply as Tommy calmed down.
This would kick off a few awkward interactions where they would do coupley things until they remembered that Sapnap had two other partners. This would soon prompt Sapnap into explaining the situation to Tommy where Quackity had all but said he was done with them and that Karl was so lost and had essentially forgotten there real relationship and instead spent all day either asleep or in his library. Sapnap confided in Tommy the stress of it and Tommy seemed to get it. Tommy would also confide in Sapnap his family stresses, how Phil was so distant and Techno was so cold, he told Sapnap how Wilbur had such a weird place in his heart and in his head Sapnap helped him sort out some of his feelings. They made a good team as well, able to fight well together and Tommy even helped him start construction on the eventual defense mechanisms. This was of course a time littered with stolen kisses, thoughts of love and plenty of secret touching.
But this all came to ahead that day. Tommy was in Kinoko Kingdom that morning and had shockingly waited for Sapnap to wake up. Sapnap had smiled at the boy he had started to call his sun in his head. Tommy looked immaculate in the rising sunlight and Sapnap had had to stop and just watch him move. Tommy had turned and caught him and of course teased him. Sapnap had gotten up and pulled him into a kiss causing the boy to giggle as he was lifted and held by his boyfriend. Sapnap carried him into the little kitchen that they had plans to remodel to make it more to Tommy's liking. They actually had plans to remodel the whole house but Sapnap insisted on doing the kitchen first. So Sapnap set him down on the counter as he made a quick breakfast that was almost burned because Sapnap couldn't help himself and had went in for one more kiss that lasted a bit longer than he thought it would. They ate breakfast talking about the future and just basking in the light of the day. Tommy had said he had something to do and so did Sapnap so he bid the younger a good by wand Tommy was gone. Sapnap had also had something he needed to do so he went into the town but it wasn't long after he arrived that he heard the ringing of an alarm and panic filled his body.
That was days ago and after his fight with Dream he had gone back to the kingdom to make sure everyone there was safe, luckily no one was harmed and nothing was destroyed but Karl was very shaken. He stayed with Karl as he waited for Tommy to show up, and though Karl was fine the next day after the alarm Sapnap still stayed with him. Convincing himself that if Tommy needed him he would come to him, just like he had before. But he never did so Sapnap went to Tommy's house and waited. He waited a day that eventually turned into two that turned into three. By the fourth he had gotten everything he needed and saddled up on a horse. He first went to Tubbo and asked him for the compass to Tommy, it took some convincing but eventually Tubbo gave it to him with the condition that he brought Phil with him. So Sapnap ventured into the snow to find Phil who agreed to go with him to find Tommy. So they were off.
That leads to now, Sapnap is following where Phil tells him as they are approaching a village. The village seems to be ransacked and abandoned and Sapnap wouldn’t normally think anything of it if Phil hadn’t just told him to get off the main path of the village and head straight for a large home.
Sapnap knew these homes, he had always thought them weird considering the lack of funeature in the homes but now as he approached he thought it a perfect place for Tommy to hide. The boy was claustrophobic so if he would have picked any of these homes it would be this one. He opened the door and was met with the overwhelming darkness and silence. Sapanp felt confused and upset thinking Tubbo had given him a fake compass and had simply sent him hear to have phil get rid of him. So he reached for his sword and turned around. Behind him stood the old god. Sapnap drew his sword frustration, anger, and hurt bubbling in his chest.
“So you thought you could use Tommy to drag me out here and kill me?” Sapnap almost spat through gritted teeth, sword poised to attack. Phil's face turned from fear to confusion.
“Mate I have no idea what you're talking about.” Phil said, taking a step back. This only served to encourage Sapnap’s insane ideas.
“You know I really thought that you guys would actually help me,” Sapnap said as he approached Phil, the elder backing up more to buy himself time. Sapnap's skin was hot, he could feel the flames beneath his armor burning. “I really thought I could trust you guys,” the burning under his armor was reaching a peak but Sapnap wouldn’t acknowledge it. Phil was running trying to find somewhere he could hide until he could get his gear back on. Sapnap continued his walking rant.
“I looked after him, I cared for him, I loved him when NONE of you would!” Sapnap yelled, the steps he was taking were simply burnt ground as he moved forward.
“And you all have the BALLS to Try and Trick me? Well I have some news for you Philza Minecraft, creator of the world and lover to death; I won’t stop until he's back safe with ME '' Sapnap had made it to the house Phil was in as the flames were coming off of him and his sword. Sapnap hit the building and it only took a spark for the very dry wood to catch. In an instant it was covered in flames Phil stood in the rubble finally geared back up and ready for a fight. Seeing this Sapnap felt all his anger and hurt at everything that had been happening come together as he swung his sword at Phil. The swing was sloppy but powerful enough that it almost got through Phil's block. Phil backed up and prepared his own attack.
“You don’t want to do this mate,” Phil said, seriousness replacing all hints of the normally chill man. This only seemed to infuriate the younger more as his flames grew. They stood looking at each other, until a noise was heard. I distracted the younger man only because it was a sound he had grown to know quickly. A sound Tommy made.
Sapnap’s stance was dropped as he looked towards the sound, and though he didn’t notice it Phil had done the same. Sapnap took off in the direction of the sound back to the house that had started the whole fight between the two men in the first place. He fumbled around in his inventory before he had a proper torch and he was able to see the whole house. The scene that met his eyes he wouldn’t soon forget. There in the back of the room was Tommy but he wasn’t just sitting by himself crying. No around him there was what looked to be dried blood and in the middle of it all was a boy with dull blonde hair. He was gripping the hair like a lifeline, eyes buldged as the panic on his face would make anyone scared for him. For a second Sapnap couldn't even tell it was Tommy but once that passed he stopped, confused as to why he was like that. But the light had caught Tommy's eyes and he could see them just as they could see Tommy.
Phil spoke first, "Tommy?" He asked, almost disbelieving and wanting it not to be Tommy. The boy got up and started muttering.
"Where were you?" He started yelling, startling the pair. As he started approaching them. Sapnap took a step back scared. Tommy continued to approach, getting louder as he repeated the phrase. He started stumbling and tripped a bit, shaking with big tears falling down his face. Sapnap noticed and his fear of the boy was outweighed by his love for him. He went to him and reached out, the boy instead grabbed his shirt. He grabbed him, anger and fear mixed with hurt and sadness in his eyes. Tommy tried to shake him but he was so weak and trembling so hard he couldn't. The boy's legs started to give way as his hurt became more apparent. He feel to the ground with bone wrenching sobs still repeating his question. Sapnap was confused but his instinct to comfort out weighed everything else. He dropped to the ground and hugged the boy. Sapnap held him tight as Tommy sobbed.
Sapnap hadn't ever gone to war against someone like this before. Sure he helped Dream in the L'manburg war, and yeah he had been in a few other scuffles but he'd never actually declared war on someone like he'd just done to Dream. The green man had come and tried to threaten Tommy and this time Sapnap was there to defend him. Sapnap’s old friend had stood outside of the door confused but attempting to look in control. When Sapnap noticed he pulled Tommy closer and away from the man. During that small movement though Philza had already reacted. He had armed himself standing between Sapnap and Dream.
"You son of a bitch. I should've known you were going to do this!" Phil said his voice giving away the man's obvious anger and frustration. Sapnap couldn't see Dream well but he knew from experience how the man would've reacted. A second later it was confirmed but the green man's scoff.
"You were the one who helped free me Phil, I really don't know what else you expected me to do but reclaim what was already mine." Dream said cockyness oozing off his words. Phil didn't waver.
"If you take another step, I'll fuckin kill you mate. I don't give a Shit about that revival book." Phil threatened. The room was silent after that and Sapnap knew that it was going to be a loosing battle. He needed to act fast. He looked around the room and noticed a window, he tightened his grip on Tommy and lowered his hands to the boys bottom. He felt Tommy sniffle and shiver but Sapnap held tighter mentally asking Tommy to forgive him.
"Come on old man, you really think you can defeat me? Just because you used to be a god doesn't mean that your invincible still, or maybe you wanted to test that." Dream taunted as he took a step. Just as Phil had said he lunged forward catching Dream off guard, and this was enough for Sapnap to shoot up and lug Tommy over his shoulder. The boy let out a surprised noise but Sapnap just held him tighter as he broke through the window.
"Sapnap what the hell are you doing?"
He heard Dream say but he wouldn't respond because he started sprinting as fast as he could back to their horses. He mentally hoped that Philza would realize what was going on and make his own escape but he didn't have time to look back. He could hear Dreams fast approaching steps and in one movement he draped Tommy over his horse and then pulled his axe and shield out blocking the others swift attack. This surprised the mask man enough that Sapnap could push him so he fell. They stood there looking at each other, endless words spoken between them until Dream broke the silence again.
"Sapnap you're making a dumb decision, even for you this is stupid." Sapnap flexed his jaw as he gripped his axe tighter. "Just give Tommy back to me and I'll forget any of this ever happened." Dream said as he started to get up, but that was it. All of the emotions Sapnap had felt twords everyone who had hurt him rushed forward and it all came through with a single swing. He swong the ax and almost cut Dreams head clean off. The look of fear and confusion flashed on his face as he started crawling backwards.
"What are you doing Sapnap?!" But Sapnap couldn't hear him anymore. He dropped onto Dream his ax just nearly missing his head.
"Sapnap STOP IT!" Dream begged, but again Sapnap couldn't hear him. He sat on top of Dream and took out his sword.
The wind blew as silence fell over them. Dream looked up to his old friend, his old battle brother as the other looked down at him, years of anger and frustration looking down on him, his fury manifesting in this single history changing moment.
"You're not going to hurt anyone anymore." Sapnap said as he pushed his sword down. Dream let out a terrified noise as the sword lodged itself into the ground beside him. Sapnap looked at him.
"This is the last mercy I show to you. If I ever see you hurting anyone again, I won't miss." He said as he started walking away he pulled his sword out of the ground. He walked back to the horses and saw Tommy sitting on his, Phil was making sure the boy was ok. Phil looked at Sapnap and they shared a look. Then Sapnap got on his horse and they were off.
Going back to Kinoko Kingdom was difficult for him. Ok Phil had told him that Tommy needed to stay with him for a while so he had left Tommy with him. Sapnap went to return the compass and then life was back to normal. He woke up, went to train, went to the library, went back to train, then went home. The motions immediately got old and Sapnap of course got restless. So restless as he was he threw the covers off of himself and walked to his shared closet. He dressed and grabbed his cloak. The he heard a high whine. He turned back to the bed and there was Karl.
"I'm cold," the man pouted. Sapnap's patience had long since run thin and he scoffed. Instead of telling the other something he'd regret he instead walked out the door leaving Karl alone in the bed.
He walked down the path out of Kinoko Kingdom and out of the gates. He passed the mushroom barn, and everything else set on retrieving the boy. He dipped into the nether portal and passed all of the mods set on attacking him, determination in wavering as he foraged through the hell scape, until he was at the other portal. He went through and once he was through was almost knocked back into the portal. He paused as he looked at the other person, and there in front of him was a messy mop of blonde hair. The boy looked up at him supried but happy. Sapnap felt everything negative flee out of his body. He picked up Tommy and once he made sure he wouldn't hurt the boy spun him around and pulled him close. Tommy giggled as he held Sapnap's face. The two had big goofy smiles on there faces as they met in a kiss. There on the mound of snow just outside of a portal to hell Tommy said the words Sapnap had been waiting to hear.
" Take me home ."