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During the Events of Season One, Episode Nine: “The Crowfather”…
Tubbo stumbled into the Emergency Center’s showers.
Panting, he staggered to the sink. It was a private bathroom. Thank whoever was listening for that. If someone walked in…well, it was a good thing they weren’t there. Holding onto the sides of the sink, smooth porcelain freezing against his palms, Tubbo looked at himself in the mirror. Swallowed. Reaching up, he jerked the faucet on. Water spilled into the sink. Tubbo cupped some of the water in his hands. Splashing his face with water, he sighed. Watched small drips of reddish-brown-stained water spill against the white.
I’ll need to replace Niki’s makeup soon. Tubbo mused, scrubbing at his face. He still had some other makeup. Some concealer and everything. Good thing Lani taught me how to use it, glancing at himself, he winced. He’d just been looking worse and worse lately. Dark circles marked under his eyes. He’d gone oddly pale. His hair was a fair bit greasier than he would have liked, so at least the shower would do something for him.
Something caught in his throat.
Coughing, Tubbo grabbed onto the sink again. The world spun around him. Closing his eyes, he covered his mouth with his hand. Tried to mute the noise as much as possible. Couldn’t worry everyone. Under his feet, the world dipped, and he dropped to the side. Something clipped his jaw. Wincing, Tubbo sucked in a breath. Curled on his side. Coughs continued to wrack his shoulders. Tubbo couldn’t breathe.
Finally, finally , he stopped coughing. Leaning his head back, Tubbo rested it against the polished wood behind him. Opening his eyes, he looked down at his hand. His heart froze, blood chilling. What? Swallowing, he took a shaky, slow breath.
There was blood smudged all over his fingers.
+++
Current Time…
“You three, stay down!”
Ducking down, Tubbo grabbed Tommy and Ranboo, threw himself over them both. Sharp claws lashed up his back. Crying out, he turned. Grabbed the strip of pipe that he had gotten from an alley. Turning, he slashed back with it. The bird above him was thrown to the side at full speed. Rolling across the dirt, it cawed a few times. One of its buddies swooped down, carried it away.
There was a shriek, and Tubbo raised his head. Watched in horror as the birds changed in front of their eyes. Skeletal fingers sprouted from the wings. Bloody feathers scattered down around them and the birds’ eyes paled to a bright, glowing green. Torn membrane stretched between the blood-streaked skeletal fingers of the new wings. A long, bony tail stretched down twice as long as their old feathers, looking almost like some sort of spine. The feathers on the bird’s belly turned into pale creamy-brown scales, blue taking over the back and heads.
“Phantoms.” Tubbo whispered. Shrieking, one of the phantoms darted down. Embers and smoke streamed from the bird’s wings. It was on fire just like the phantoms were meant to be.
Claws stretching forwards, the phantom reached for one of the three of them. Tubbo felt Tommy spread his wings out, then scream. There were more phantoms attacking them. “Ranboo!” Niki yelled. Turning, Tubbo saw Ranboo stumbling back. Everything was happening so quickly. Panting, Tubbo turned. Spotted everyone trying to fight desperately as they moved around and defended themselves from the new phantoms. Ranboo was on the edge of a cliff. In front of him, the phantoms were attacking and slashing at his face with sharp claws.
Throwing his pipe into Tommy’s hands, Tubbo yelled, “Protect yourself with that!” Then, he charged for the cliff and Ranboo. Yanking off his jacket, he threw it to the side as Ranboo flailed and fell.
Then, he launched off of the cliff after Ranboo.
“Tubbo!” Ranboo yelled. Arms flattened to his side, thanking everything they were on a tall mountain and not a short drop, Tubbo dropped forwards. Wrapped his arms around Ranboo’s waist. “What are you doing?” Ranboo asked as they spiraled slightly.
“Something!” Tubbo yelled back. There was a painful tear at his back. Tugs at the new muscles there. It hurt. It hurt a lot, black spots dancing in his vision. Still, he didn’t care.
Throwing his wings out, Tubbo stretched them out and caught the wind, huffed as they were slammed by the catch.
Feathers scattered after him. Immediately, Tubbo rolled to the side. Threw himself back. Pushed his wings. Pain lashed along his nerves, burning hot and fiery red. Holding Ranboo to his chest, he yelled. Beat his wings harder. Caught more and more height.
Dropping back slightly, he backpedaled. “Come on, come on,” he squeezed his eyes shut. Pulled Ranboo tighter to his chest. His wings were straining.
“You have wings.” Ranboo whispered. Opening his eyes, vision burning and copper in his mouth, Tubbo tried to weakly grin at him. His wings beat harder and harder. Basically clawing at the air, Tubbo looked around. “Tubbo?”
“I can’t fly for long.” Tubbo forced out. As he flew, he could feel his wings giving up. The muscles were straining. He couldn’t breathe correctly. “I’m going to try and crash somewhere soft. I can’t land.” He forced out. As he spoke, one of his wings gave out. They dropped down several feet.
Screaming, he pulled himself back up. The wind caught under his wings. Some of his feathers were jerked the wrong way. By what, he wasn’t sure. Gritting his teeth, Tubbo glanced around. His vision was blurring. Still, he could see where there was some grass. “What? Tubbo, hold on—“ Something tore in his right wing. Yelling, Tubbo dropped his wings to his side. They dropped to the ground. Then, he spun and wrapped his arms tighter around Ranboo. Flared his wings out again. Tried to catch whatever wind he could.
They slammed into the ground, and everything went dark.
+++
When Tubbo crashed into the ground, Tommy screamed.
Throwing an arm out, George yelled. Shards of ice cut through the air. The phantoms were immediately struck and dropped to the earth. Then, quickly, George sprinted to Tubbo and Ranboo’s side. “Ponk, get over here now! Dream, bus! Get it over here!” He skidded to a stop by the two boys.
Ranboo was curled on his side, clutching one of his arms. Sharp fangs sprouted from his mouth as he hissed. “Ranboo—“ Ponk reached for him. Eyes opening, Ranboo looked up at Ponk. Snarled. Jerking his hands away, Ponk fell back. “Okay, okay. Wilbur, Techno, come secure his arm until I can get to it. I’ll focus on Tubbo.” He said.
George crouched over Tubbo, holding an ear to the kid’s chest. A weak, rasping breath escaped him every second or so, pained and sharp. He was struggling. Definitely hurt. “Tubbo? Tubbo, can you hear me?” Ponk settled at Tubbo’s other side. Gently, he touched his forehead and hissed in a breath.
“Ranboo!” He turned to look at the young man. Glowing eyes swirled with red and green met his. “Do you think you can handle getting that arm secured and fixed at a center hospital?” Ranboo nodded. Quickly, Ponk looked around, “Everyone else, if you have life-threatening injuries, let me know now .” There was a pause. Voice pitching up, Ponk snarled, “ Now!”
“No threatening injuries.” Sapnap confirmed. Sighing, Ponk turned to Tubbo. Gathered the young man into his arms. There was a sharp whimper from Tubbo. Something pained. His head fell to the side, but Ponk held him closer. Closed his eyes, started whispering softly. Sam and Punz moved closer, Purpled limping behind. After checking on Ponk, Punz stood up. Looked around. Dream arrived with the bus, finally. Climbing out, Phil and Kristin moved to quickly help people to the bus.
“Alright. Dream, we’ll need to head to the closest center for medical treatment. Ponk’s going to be out and unconscious.”
“What?” Quackity straightened up. “But what if we—“
Sam focused a sharp gaze on him. Purpled nudged him. Looking over, Sam took a breath. He walked over, quietly whispered in Quackity’s ear. Tommy was being helped into the bus by Phil and Kristin, Purpled aiding Techno and Wilbur in doing the same with Ranboo. Taking a breath, George looked down to Ponk and Tubbo. The signs were obvious enough. Tubbo’s wings were splayed out around him, crooked and blood smearing the golden-brown, bracken-colored feathers. They were broken, if not shattered. And if Tubbo was like Phil and Tommy, a crash like that…
Well, suffice to say that the others would survive whatever wounds they had. If it weren’t for Ponk, George highly doubted Tubbo would make the drive. A few pained huffs escaped Tubbo, his head dropped into the crook of Ponk’s neck and shoulder as his expression eased out. His breathing deepened, and Ponk slumped back against Punz. The others were almost all in the bus by then.
Slowly, George allowed himself to be pulled away by Sapnap and Dream.
+++
During the Events of Season One, Episode Ten: “Up in Flames”…
Tubbo hurried away from the others, excusing himself to go to the toilet.
Yeah, that’s not what he was doing. Limping through the woods, he glanced around. Shadows hung heavy around him. Alright, alright. Come on. Let’s get going. There was a pulse of pain through his back. He had extra clothes with him.
Everything in him wanted to head back to the others. Wanted to curl up with Tommy and Phil and Ranboo and everyone else. Has to be bird instincts or something, he mused. Laughing, he wrinkled his nose. Broody. Was that what Kristin said? Bloody hell, can’t even, shaking his head, Tubbo kept limping along. He had some new clothes in his backpack, some crappy old ones that he’d bought from a thrift store currently on. Something gave him a feeling that he was going to be getting rid of them. Probably because of blood.
Glancing back, he sat down after deciding he was far enough away the others probably wouldn’t come looking for him. Taking a breath, he covered his mouth and nose with his hands. Glanced at the time. Pain shot through his back and shoulders. Reaching back, he scratched at the skin right above the back of his neck. No one needed to know. Tommy was still recovering. He had literally had his heart restarted. He needed care. At any rate, he needed a whole lot more attention than Tubbo did right at that moment.
Which is what Tubbo kept reminding himself as his back literally tore itself open. Lying in the dirt, feeling pebbles pressing into his cheekbone, Tubbo closed his eyes. Took a slow breath. There was a burst of pain. Something pushed through his left shoulder. Swallowing, he shoved his head into the dirt a little bit more. Sure, he did sort of wish that there was someone with him. His parents, sisters, easily.
Heat soaked into the old shirt. Wincing, Tubbo could feel some of the nerves keying in. It felt like he had laid on his arm for too long. Pins and needles stretched throughout the new limb as he tried extending it. There were wet feathers attached to his skin, little white things plastered by blood and fluid to the wings. Rolling over onto his stomach, Tubbo sighed.
Resting his chin on crossed arms, he closed his eyes and tried to keep breathing evenly.
+++
Current Time…
Tubbo woke to the others talking around him and his body in a hospital bed.
Groaning, he tipped his head to the side. Looked over to find Tommy lying beside him, arms crossed and curled to his chest. He was snoring, but curled up against himself to give Tubbo space. Jack was sitting between Niki and Wilbur, the former of whom was sleeping on his shoulder and the latter of whom was currently holding onto a big breadstick in one hand in a way that was clearly something Ranboo would never have been able to do. Jack looked over to Tubbo. Glanced at the breadstick. Looked back to Tubbo. Quietly, he raised his eyebrows and nodded at the breadstick. Tubbo nodded.
Subtly, Jack started leaning towards the breadstick. Wilbur was gesturing with it slightly. Opening his mouth, Jack went for it, missed, and leaned back. Wilbur kept gesturing, apparently oblivious. Jack continued to go for it. Tubbo bit his lip. Tried not to laugh.
Unfortunately, his heart monitor gave him away.
Of course, this just allowed Jack to strike. So many people jerked upright and looked over to Tubbo. Including Wilbur. Leaping forwards, Jack closed his mouth around the breadstick and took a massive bite. Wilbur stared at him, Tubbo burst out cackling. Flailing, Tommy fell off of the hospital bed and slammed into the floor. Which set Tubbo off hiccupping.
Several nurses hurried into the room. One of them was holding what Tubbo was pretty sure might have been an AED. When they saw Tubbo was laughing and not actively dying, they relaxed. Relief flooded their faces and one of them immediately smiled. “Nice to see you’re awake. All you visitors, asses out of the room. We have to check in on Tubbo and make sure he’s alright and then you can come back.”
“You better not be forcing me to pee in a cup.” Tubbo pointed at them. Shaking their head, the nurse laughed lightly. “I’m not kidding. I will fight you.”
The nurses were being honest. After a quick checkover, Tubbo was discharged from the hospital. Ponk had saved his life, although most of them had ended up needing a quick checkup as well considering their own injuries. After that, they all headed back to the bus.
Tubbo was carried by Techno back to his seat.
Once they started driving the opposite way of where they had been going, Tubbo frowned, glanced over to Tommy, “I thought we were going back to Dream’s home. What happened?”
“It’s not safe in Florida. There’s more phantoms.” Tommy mused. “Plus…” he looked to Wilbur. Sitting forwards, Wilbur cleared his throat.
“Dream got a notification. From his sister. Drista.” Wilbur explained. “She’s closer to California. We’re driving her way, and hopefully…we might be able to meet up with her.” Ranboo launched over the back of the seat, dropping down next to Tubbo and throwing his arms around him. Freezing like a cat stuck inside a sock, Tubbo stared ahead blankly. Tommy joined in, wings wrapping over, too.
Then, Tommy slapped his cheek. Looking over, Tubbo opened his mouth to protest. Instead, he got another tight hug. “Never scare me that much again. You survived the apocalypse and a giant bird carrying us off, you are not dying to something like fall damage.”
Snorting, Tubbo returned the hug, “Sure, Big Man.”