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Tommy would say he’s a people person, a social butterfly even. That is, with a few exceptions.
‘THUNK’
A large birch tree toppled over and narrowly avoided him, swaying to the left at the last second. He snapped his head over to the culprit in an indignant manner,
“Tubbo! That one almost killed me!” he shouted towards the brunette, who was nervously brandishing a hatchet.
“Well.. it didn’t, right?” he supplied flashing an obviously unapologetic grin. Tommy furrowed his brows for a moment, searching for a proper response, his eyes landed on a small rock next to his sneakers.
“OW! What the fuck!?” Tubbo yelped, clutching his upper arm where Tommy had hit him, who was now brandishing an equally wide smile.
Doubling over in giggles, he was suddenly jolted by a sharp pain that bloomed on his cheek. He considered a retaliation before remembering how good of an arm the other had.
This was obviously turning into a rock fight, so Tommy broke off into a run in the opposite direction, dodging Tubbos alarmed squawks.
Breathing heavily, he ducked under a branch, scanning the forestry for a proper hiding place.
There weren’t many caves or ledges, but there were plenty of trees. He glanced behind him to see if Tubbo was still chasing, but if he was, Tommy sure as hell didn’t see him. He grinned then grabbed onto a branch for support, at that moment a new vine inched its way down his wrist to help steady himself.
He muttered a quick thank you then made his way to the next branch, a few different vines crept down his wrist to go help (sweet, though it made little difference) until he reached the top. The tree shrouded him with a thick plumage of leaves, keeping him hidden from view.
There was no sign of Tubbo though, He hadn’t gone that far, had he? but maybe Tubbo just went back to getting wood. Tommy leaned into the arm of the tree lazily, if he didn’t know the lifespan of trees on this server he would totally turn it into a sick base.
“Gotcha!”
Tommy nearly fell out of the tree, dangling over the edge for a second.
Tommy stared at him distraught while the goat hybrid stuck his tongue out in a way that made his hazel eyes scrunch up mischievously. upon closer inspection, he could see that Tubbo was hanging upside down by his hooves, which were wrapped around a thick branch.
“How’d you get here so fast? I didn’t even see you”
Tubbo crossed his arms and lifted his head dramatically, (well when you’re upside down it looks more like lowering it) “Hmmm.. I climbed a tree and kept moving from one to the other, you only ran for like 30 seconds. Well more so jogged.”
Tommy snapped his head back to see the clearing where they were chopping wood still very much in sight. He scowled then turned back towards his friend.
“You still want to get the firewood?” He asked, trying to effectively communicate with his body language that he didn’t, that being furiously shaking his head.
“Nah, I think Ranboo can wait for a little while longer” Tubbo declared, flipping right side up so that he sat on a new branch
Tommy picked a newly grown leaf off the tree, rubbing it between his fingers, dewdrop residue burst on his fingertips at the contact.
“Soooo..” started Tubbo, attempting to make casual conversation, “How was your day?”
Tommy paused, rolling the leaf across his knuckles, “Hmm.. pretty good I’d say”
“Well I’d hope so” he responded, “you’ve been spending it all with me” Tubbo grinned, playfully kicking at the blonde.
Tommy rolled his eyes, “well it’s been a bit of a challenge, you’re not very good company”
Tubbo raised an eyebrow, “uh-huh..” he drawled unimpressed
“Well I’ve had a pretty good day too” the brunette added, crossing his legs.
He brought an index finger to his cheek, as if in thought “Let’s see, I woke up at 6:30, ate some berries, went to check up on Michael, read a book, Ranboo asked me to get him some firewood, I said ‘gladly my love, anytime’”
“You told her to do it herself and he stared at you until I walked in” interrupted Tommy
“Same difference” Tubbo continued, “And then a certain flea-infested child burst through the entrance tracking all walks of the SMP onto my beautiful hardwood floors”
“Hey! ‘M not flea-infested, I prefer ‘a rehabilitation centre for lost insects’” scoffed Tommy
“Yeah, yeah you tell yourself that” responded the brunette in a patronizing tone, patting him on the shoulder absentmindedly.
Tommy furrowed his brows, huffing, before getting distracted by the flower that had just sprung up right where Tubbo touched him.
The demon blanched, staring at the patch with his mouth agape, he snapped his head to the side but fortunately, Tubbo had looked away to gaze at a particularly interesting herd of livestock in a nearby field.
He hastily brushed the flower under his cardigan, “What are you doing??” he whispered urgently to the dutch clover, “Tubs doesn’t know. You have to stay hidden”
The flower, of course, didn’t respond but instead sat motionless under the wool.
Tommy scowled then let go of the cardigan, returning to his neutral position in the tree.
“Wanna get some McPuffy’s?”
--
‘Ding!’
“Bye Captain” shouted Tubbo and Tommy from the exit, holding a burger and milkshake respectively.
“Oh man this was a good idea, Tommy, I’m so sick of the Las Nevadas burgers” Said Tubbo, tearing a chunk out of his food.
The blonde nodded in response, occupied by his drink, “I never knew he was interested in food” he added, “I knew about the restaurant, ‘course, but I didn’t know he like, y’know, liked that kinda shit”
Tubbo shrugged, “I think Q just wants to corner the market, capitalism yeah?”
Tommy gave an acknowledging hum, “Makes sense, he’s a big nerd about business”
“Yep,” he replied, popping the P, “Oh man, I asked for no pickles” Tubbo grumbled, frowning at his burger.
“I’ll eat ‘em” replied Tommy, holding out his hand casually.
Tubbo stared at him, aghast, with his jaw hanging open.
Tommy looked at him, confused, “What?”
“No!” He exclaimed, seizing the burger close to his chest with similar energy to that of an old lady clutching her pearls.
“Ok, it’s not THAT gross Tubzo” reasoned Tommy, shoving the goat hybrid off the prime path playfully.
“Yes, it is! Pickles are already disgusting with food, but eating them on their own? Freak behaviour!” giggled Tubbo, palms outstretched.
“Look I just have a more refined palette than you” Tommy shot back, grinning.
Tubbo scoffed, crossing his arms before his eyes lit up suddenly and he elbowed the blonde in the side.
“Hey! Screw you too prick” He barked with no real malice behind his words.
“Let’s go sit on the bench, yeah? For old time's sake” the goat hybrid called, already making his way down the path.
Tommy rolled his eyes, “Never took you as the sentimental type”
“Yeah well ‘m feeling nice today,” he said with a shrug.
The blonde scoffed, placing his hands on his hips when he managed to brush a finger by a bouquet of flowers that were now sitting exposed through a hole in his shirt.
Tommy grimaced, clasping the torn fabric nervously, upon closer inspection he could see honey-yellow alstroemeria and sweet pea nesting on his abdomen. Their pristine leaves curled around his scarred, crooked fingers.
“You coming?”
In half a second the demon shoved the patch under his cardigan, buttoning the top as hastily as possible.
“Yep! Yeah yeah just.. Yeah. Got distracted” He replied stiffly and too quick.
Tubbo paused for a moment, eyes scrunched up under his thick hair, “Righttt..” he said, slowly.
Tommy slid into the spot next to him, leaning over to the enderchest and clicking open the golden lock.
“Any requests?” He asked with a flamboyant hand motion
“Such a nerd” Tubbo snickered, “You know my favourite, bossman”
The blonde glared at him, then broke into a sly grin, “Understood” He reached into the inky black inside of the chest and pulled out a red disc with ‘C418 - chirp.’ inscribed into the centre.
Tubbo pumped a fist in the air “Fuck yeahhhh, let’s go” he cheered in a kind of hissing-adjacent voice.
“You are the only person I have ever met who says ‘Fuck yeah” to classical music” Tommy giggled, slipping the disc inside the jukebox.
“Yeah well, I’m an artist” the brunette proclaimed, placing a hand over his chest dramatically.
“Mhm, you tell yourself that” Tommy replied, raising an eyebrow.
The audio started up, playing its typically offputting murky cacophony, the discs had deteriorated slightly with age so the melody wasn’t as clear as it used to be but still undeniably chirp.
“So..” Tubbo started, “How’re you holding up T? With Wilbur being back ‘n all that shit”
Tommy hesitated, pouting for a moment, “I’m not exactly sure yet, I mean he was gone for so long.. And I’m glad he’s back, but it’s just. Weird, y’know?”
Tubbo let out an exhale, slouching into the bench, “Yeah.. Yeah, I know. ‘S fucked”
“Glad you came out with me today though, I’m feeling less stressed out now” He added, grinning.
Tommy, despite his best efforts, smiled back, subtly brushing a new hyacinth that sprouted by his shoulder under his shirt.
“Alright, alright, you don’t hafta’ get all sappy on me loser” He groaned, pushing the goat hybrid away with an eye roll.
“Nope!” Tubbo exclaimed, “You’re stuck with me foreverrr” he said with a sneer, resting his head on Tommy’s shoulder
At the contact, a single honeysuckle crawled down his cheek, taunting. Tommy’s eyes widened in horror.
In one swift movement, a garden-worth of plants exploded out of his cardigan and coated almost the entire left side of his best friend’s body in moss and cinquefoil and ivy.
Tommy stared horrified for a moment, frozen, only regaining his words when Tubbo lifted his bangs to examine a blossom that moved it’s face up to meet his gaze.
“Oh my prime..” the blonde whispered to himself, “I’m.. oh prime- fuck. I don’t, I..” he stuttered, not sure what to do.
Tubbo gasped at the buttercup that was unfolding in the centre of his palm, “Is this..? Are these yours?”
Tommy hesitated, weighing his options, even if he said no it would be very clear he was lying, what with the current situation. Instead, Tommy chose to nod slowly, drawing his knees towards his chest.
“Wow.. these are beautiful” The brunette murmured, cradling his hand delicately.
“Where did these come from? I-I mean I know you like gardening but I’ve never seen you grow plants from.. Well your body I’m guessing” He said, pointing at the now threadbare wool of the cardigan
Tommy carded an anxious hand through his hair, trying his hardest to stop thorns from coming to the surface.
“Are you ok?” Tubbo asked, turning around in his seat to face his best friend, “Hey- hey Tom look I don’t know what’s going on with you right now but it’s fine. I’m not gonna tell anyone” He offered a weak smile.
The other nodded, burrowing his head into his arms and making a sort of ‘ghhrhrnn’ noise
“Ok, come on loser, this is not sad time” Tubbo declared, elbowing him in the side, “Let’s go, we’re on the bench, we’re listening to the discs, It’s impossible to be sad”
Tommy lifted his head pushing the brunette half-heartedly, “You’re an ass” he deadpanned
Tubbo raised an eyebrow, “Yeah, yeah, alright. So what’s all this about?”
The blonde sighed, his leg jumping nervously, “Ok, I swear I didn’t mean to keep this a secret for so long, I just didn’t know how to go about it”
“I think that problem’s been solved now” the goat interrupted in a cocky manner.
“Ok, rude.” Tommy spat, “Uhhh.. back when I visited ‘Him’ and.. I was revived. That’s when it happened. ‘N now I’m plant boy, it’s pretty sick though terribly inconvenient’ he proclaimed.
Tubbo just stared at him, face twisted into some sort of grimace.
“Hey, don’t look at me like that, I don’t need any pity” he grumbled, furrowing his brows.
“Right, my bad” he added, “I just hate that you had to hide It for so long, I mean, I can totally see why, It’s just.. Man.”
Tommy softened, fidgeting with a marigold by his knuckle, “You’re.. Free to tell some people” he said, hesitant, “It’s a pain to hide anyway, imagine fitting a garden under your skin! Shit hurts!” the blonde exclaimed.
“Aww.. Thanks, T I knew you cared about me”
Tommy looked at him as though he had just been shot, “W- Nope no no I’m a lone wolf, you’re just a clingy bastard. I’ll fight you, right now I’ll do it” he threatened, poking the other in the chest violently.
Tubbo just eyed him carefully, unimpressed, “Uh-huh.. You know I always wondered why I kept finding allium petals on the floor after you came to hang out with Ran”
“You what.”
The brunette giggled violently, doubling over on the bench as Tommy stared at him mouth agape, “You’ve got a little friend there” he choked out through laughs.
Tommy closed his mouth to gaze at the other, confused, who pointed to the top of his head
A single daffodil nestled in his hair, almost the same colour as his curls, Tommy took it by the stem and bowed it to reach his eyes, nothing special, just a tiny flower, but it somehow filled him with hope.
Like he was going to be ok.