Work Text:
"He could see her body from under the bed. He could see a pool of blood. And suddenly, he got grabbed by his hand, got pulled out from under the bed with force. They grabbed him by his throat and held in the air, saying smugly one single thing: "Tom will take care of you."
-the unsettling truth-
Wilbur sat in his cabinet dealing with different documents and papers. Nothing unusual, just another ordinary day of town's mayor. And then he hears knocking.
- Come in.
His secretary enters the room, carrying yet another pile of documents. Wilbur sighs.
- Sir, we collected all important information of the new residents in L'manburg, - Secretary put the documents on wingfolk's table and gave him a serious look in the eyes. - I'm not the one to tell you what to do, but I do insist to take a close look on collected information about Tom Innit Simons right here, right now.
- Why's that? We always organize meetings with people who's species have a bad reputation for a talk anyway, is that demon is any different from the other ones? He did something horrible in the past?
- No, but his family did.
- Why would you bring his family up if we are talking about him?
- Just please take a close look on the documents, it's really important. I'm afraid that he could be potentially dangerous, especially to Tubbo Smith.
Wilbur sighs, irritated.
- Fine.
Secretary nods and leaves the room. Wilbur opens the file named "Tom Innit Simons" and starts looking through it.
- Oh, - He said after a couple of minutes, now understanding why was his secretary so worried about this person. But at the same time Wilbur thought that secretary just overthinked the situation. Nether less, he pulls out a piece of paper and starts writing a letter.
Couple months after Tommy turned eighteen, the boys finally settled down in a small town called L'manburg. They chose this one because they heard on multiple occasions that this town is full of different species and that they all are living in peace and harmony with each other. Even demons, who, like Tommy, ran away from their home in order to avoid the ceremony, are living there. It sounded like a perfect place for them. Maybe, people would finally stop giving them weird looks, talking behind their backs and telling Tubbo how Tommy is just manipulating him in order to kill and eat him because all demons are the same. Maybe Tubbo could finally stop looking after Tommy so the blonde wouldn't get in any fights because of the same people who talk behind their backs...
On -fairly earned- money they bought a small house on the outskirts of the town and everything was just perfect. Tubbo found a job on a market and Tommy... Tommy kept on stealing. And still was getting in fights. But the most important thing is that nobody was talking behind their backs. Well, almost. They still encountered people who couldn't understand that demons and goat hybrids can be friends.
After a week of living there Tommy gets a letter. A letter from the mayor.
"Dear Tom Innit Simons!
I am very glad that you decided to settle down in L'manburg! You're invited to a meeting with me as your species have a bad reputation. Don't worry, we are always having a talk with species that have bad reputation in order to keep our citizens safe from the ones, that came here with bad intentions. The meeting would be on Thursday at 4 pm. Come to town hall and say that you came on a meeting with mayor, you will be escorted to the waiting room.
Best regards,
Wilbur Soot, mayor of the town"
- My fucking god, - Tommy says after reading the letter.
- What does it say? - Tubbo comes up to his friend, being curious.
- Mayor invited me to a meeting or some shit bc my species have bad reputation. - Tommy gives the letter to the brown-haired boy, irritated. Tubbo quickly reads it.
- Well, I don't think it's that bad, it says it's for safety reasons. You didn't came here with bad intentions so everything will be fine.
- Well, I fucking hope it would...
- Oh, come on, - Tubbo nudged his friend. - Do you want me to come with you?
- Don't you have work?
- I have a day off tomorrow.
- Oh. I don't mind then.
It was getting closer to 4 pm, Wilbur sat waiting for Tom. According to his experiences with demons, he needs to get ready for a lot of screaming and swearing. Though sometimes he met a calm ones. But calm demons are rare, and there's a very low chance that this one would be calm.
Brown-haired man glanced at the file with collected information about that demon that he prepared beforehand. Even if that information is a bit concerning, wingfolk still thought that it's all overthinking because if the assumptions were true then...
His train of thoughts was interrupted by the sound of opening door. He rises his head noticing a demon in the doorway.
- Oh, Tom! Greetings, come in. - Invited him brown-haired man. Blonde noticeably became uncomfortable after being called "Tom".
- Tommy.
- Sorry? - Didn't understand him Wilbur.
- Call me Tommy, not Tom. I don't like when someone calls me that, - said demon, sitting in front of Wilbur with crossed legs.
- Alright, - Wilbur pulls out a piece of paper, feather and ink. - Tommy, why did you choose this town specifically? - Tommy heavily sighed.
- Because in comparison with other towns, this is the only one in which other people don't treat demons like violent monsters and don't consider my friendship with a goat hybrid as something impossible and forbidden.
- Okay... - Wilbur wrote this down. - Do you have any bad intentions in this town?
- No.
- I'm asking to answer this question with honesty. Are you sure with your answer?
- Oh my fucking god, isn't it obvious from my previous answer? What bad intentions? I just want to fucking finally live like a normal person without hearing people talking behind my back about how bad and awful I am, that I'm just manipulating my friend in order to eat him, which is fucking bullshit, if I really wanted to, I would do that four fucking years ago! - Tommy took a deep breath. - Sorry.
- All good, - Wingfolk made another note. - What's your relationships with Tubbo Smith?
- He's my best friend.
- Alright... Do you know how did his family die?
- Fucking hell, what type of question is that?
- I'm not going to argue with that, but it's for safety reasons. So do you know or not?
- No.
- Are you sure? - Wilbur was getting ready for a backlash.
- If even he doesn't fucking remember how did that happen, that's how traumatizing it was for him, how am I supposed to know?
- Okay... Did your parents tell you anything about it?
- Now, how in the fat fuck they are involved in that? - Wilbur sighed.
- Do you really don't know anything about it?
- My fucking god, - Tommy growled. - With all respect for you, Wilbur, are you fucking dumb? How am I supposed to know this information, ESPECIALLY from my parents? They couldn't even known Tubbo's family because they are that type of demons that eats goat hybrids.
Wilbur takes a deep breath.
- Tommy, your parents killed whole Smith's family in one day, including relatives, only letting Tubbo live for you to kill him in the future.
- Wha- - Tommy freezed, staring at the wingfolk.
- Your whole hometown was talking about it, it was in every single newspaper, do you really know absolutely nothing about it?
- Is this some sort of a sick joke? - Tommy chuckled nervously. - Because if it is, it's not fucking funny.
- Tommy, I'm not joking.
The room was silent. Tommy kept on staring at Wilbur like he was waiting for something. But after some time he started staring at the floor, hand was covering his mouth.
- So... You really didn't know?...
- No. The only thing i remember is that one day my parents left very early in the morning when i was asleep and came back very late in the night. And that I was starving that day. And later there was something going on. And I was six.
- And nobody told you anything?
- No. How do you even know bout that?
- My people collected some data about you, Tommy. One of them was a demon, who managed to talk with your parents, - Tommy got very tense after last few words. - Don't worry, he didn't say anything about your location. - Tommy exhaled with relief, still staring at the floor.
- Are you... Okay?
- Of course I'm fucking not, I just found out that my fucking parents killed my best friend's entire family, - He turned away. - Because of my parents he doesnt have a family, - Tommy sniffed.
- I hate them so much.
Wilbur stood up and approached Tommy and got on his knees. Teen looked at him. It was obvious that he was about to break down.
- It's not your fault that it happened, you realize that, right Tommy? - Tommy nods.
- But it not makes the situation any better knowing that I'm the son of the people who killed my best friend's entire family.
Wilbur sighed and hugged the demon, both with his arms and wings. Tommy got surprised but still let himself relax in wingfolk's arms and close his eyes.
- Do you think I need to tell him?
- Only if you think it's necessary, that he's ready and if you are sure that it won't ruin your friendship.
Tubbo sat in the hall, waiting for his friend. Occasionally he was hearing Tommy screaming, which made him concerned because now Tommy is talking with a mayor, not with a stranger.
For his own surprise, that meeting didn't last long and after twenty minutes Tommy came back. But he was kind of... shattered? More specifically he looked like four years ago, when Tubbo had to leave his house because the police found the blonde - his whole body was saying "I'm sorry". It made the goat concerned.
- Are you alright? How did it go? - Brown-haired boy came up to his friend.
- Everything went well, don't worry about me.
- Tommy, I'm serious. Are you alright? Did you get... kicked out?
- Wh- No. I told you, everything went well.
- Then why do you look like you're about to say "I'm sorry" million times in a row? - Tommy sighed, irritated.
- Listen, lets just get back home first and then you can ask your fucking questions.
- Fine.
- So, what happened? - Tubbo asked during dinner. Tommy let out a heavy exhale.
- I just learned about something that made me very sad, that's it.
- Tommy it obviously didn't just made you very sad, I can see it. - Tommy sighed once more and turned away.
- I found out what happened to your family, but I'm not sure if you're ready to hear that, knowing that you completely forgot that moment.
- Oh, - Tubbo looked at his plate. Tommy silently continued eating dinner. - Then why... Why do you look like you was involved in that?... - Brown-haired boy looked back at the demon.
- Well, I was supposed to be involved in that later on.
- Wh- What do you mean supposed to? And what do you mean by later on?
- Okay it sounded weird, I agree, - Tommy put hand on his forehead. - If I won't tell you everything you are not going to understand a thing.
- Well, tell me then!
- But are you ready to hear that?
Tubbo started thinking. Is he really ready to hear about the thing he completely forgot? Because if he forgot that part of his life, then there's a reason for that. He only remembers that he was six when that happened. But he doesn't remember that day at all. He only remembers that he woke up one day, knowing that he had parents , but now he doesn't, that he had nowhere to go because all his relatives were gone too. And he was in a completely different house. In a small house near market, behind the chapel. And he was lost.
Does he want to finally find out, after all these years, what happened to his entire family?
- Yes.
Tommy gave him a worried look. But noticing the confidence in his friend's eyes, he nodded, took a deep breath and said:
- My... My parents killed them. They started with your relatives and finished with your parents letting you live so... so i could kill you in the future.
And then Tubbo remembered. Remembered how they were getting news about their relatives deaths. They were dying like houseflies, one by one. Everyone at home were filled with panic and only Tubbo didn't understand what was happening. But the news kept coming. Until it was their turn. He was hiding under his bed, curled up, and all he heard was screaming and breaking porcelain and glass. And then door in his room wide opens and he hears his mother, screaming "don't touch him" or something like that. And then she starts wheezing until she gets completely silent. He could see her body from under the bed. He could see a pool of blood. And suddenly, he got grabbed by his hand, got pulled out from under the bed with force. They grabbed him by his throat and held in the air, saying smugly one single thing: "Tom will take care of you".
And then they throw him on the floor, leaving him with the body of his mother. He passes out.
- Tubbo! Tubbo do you hear me?!
Brown-haired boy gets out of his trance and notices that Tommy is standing in front of him, holding him by his shoulders with a worried look on his face. He also noticed that his own face was wet. He touches his cheek. Tears.
- Are you okay? You just freezed and then... And then tears just started running down your face.
- I'm... I'm okay. I just remembered everything.
Tommy hugged him without saying a single word. Tubbo hugged him back.
- I'm sorry, - Demon said silently. - And... Tubbo you're not going to, like, kick me out, right?
- What? Tommy, I could've understand that question if it was you who did that, but it was your parents. Not you. It's not your fault that this happened.
Tommy smiled.
That day blonde received another letter. From the mayor, again. But he didn't say a word to Tubbo about that one.
"Hello Tommy,
During that meeting we had I forgot to tell you that that demon who visited your parents also told me that they are still planning to kill Tubbo. Considering that they found every single realtive he had without any problem, I recommend for you to be on guard.
Stay safe you two.
- Wilbur Soot"
-the words i shouldn't have said-
They were living in L'manburg for a couple of months now. Tubbo had a good income and it was enough for living, but Tommy still was stealing, which, honestly, started to annoy the goat. They are no long on the run, they are staying here for a long time, if not for forever. This means if Tommy gets caught, he gets caught. His stealing activity now has consequences and he can easily get arrested.
- So, what you wanted to talk about?
- About stealing.
- Tubbo, I'm not stealing, I'm tak-
- Tommy, - Goat interrupted him. - I'm being serious. You need to stop stealing.
- Why?! - Tubbo rubbed his nose bridge, annoyed.
- Do you really don't understand? We are no long on the run, Tommy. I'm working again, we have money. You don't need to steal.
- But it's just some extra money!
- Tommy you can be arrested for that. Again, we are no longer on the run. It would take much time to arrest you.
- Oh, come on. We live here for a couple of months now, nobody caught me.
- Yet.
- Oh my god, you are no fun. We used to steal together before, why are you playing a good boy now?
- Tommy, for fucks sake, I was stealing back then because I had to. Otherwise we would just starve to death! And now theres no need for that. - Goat exhaled heavily. - Just... Just stop stealing, Tommy, that's all I'm asking for. - Tommy snorted.
- Fine, if you don't like that i steal that much, I'll leave.
- What... Tommy, I'm just asking to stop stealing, is that so hard to do?
- I'm leavi-i-ing, - Tommy defiantly went to the front door.
- Tommy you are acting like a child.
- Leavi-i-ing!
- Fine! - Snapped Tubbo. Tommy got a little bit surprised. - Go! Leave! I don't need a person who's parents killed my family here anyway!
After these words brown-haired boy instantly shut up, having no idea where did that came from. It didn't even bothered him! But he understood one thing - he made a big, giant mistake saying that. Tubbo just stared at Tommy without saying a word with hands covering his mouth. It seemed like something broke in blonde's sky blue eyes.
And then he leaves without saying a word. Running away even.
- Tommy, wait!
Brown-haired boy rushed after his friend, but no luck. Blonde got in the crowded place and Tubbo lost him.
- TOMMY!
"It's okay", he thought. "He will come back. He will come back and I'll apologize". He felt a discomfort in his throat. "I'll explain everything. I'll fix everything".
But the day has passed. Two. Three. A week. Two weeks. He didn't come back.
Tubbo couldn't remember when was the last time he slept well. It was hard to work. All his free time he would spend on asking strangers if they've seen a tall blue eyed, blond demon with a green bandana. But nobody could help him. It all was worthless.
It all was worthless until this day. The day when two demons told him that they know where his friend is and even can even take Tubbo to him. And although their voice was awfully familiar, and just looking at them made something deep inside him curle up in fear, the brown-haired boy didn't care. He finally got a chance to see his blonde friend.
Wilbur was walking around the market. Nothing unusual, he was just buying food. And then he suddenly hears screaming.
- Thief! Catch him! He stole my gold!
Wilbur decided to forget what he was doing and headed towards the noise.
- What happened ma'am? - Wingfolk asked the girl who was screaming.
- Demon stole my gold!
- Demon? What did he look like?
- Tall, blonde, - Girl got lost in her thoughts for a little bit. - Oh! He also had a green bandana!
- Hm, - Brown-haired man frowned. That's Tommy. - Did you see where he went?
- In that direction! - The girl pointed away from the market.
- Alright. I'll figure it out, wait over here. - Wilbur said and soared in the air.
He began to carefully examine people, quickly noticing the blonde running away into alleyways. A couple of seconds and Wilbur is standing in front of the demon.
- W-Wilbur? Ha-ha didn't expect to see you there. - Tommy laughed nervously.
- Tommy what the h- - Wilbur interrupted himself, noticing blonde's appearance. His hair that was usually tied up in a ponytail was loose with a bunch of leaves in it, bags under his eyes, clothes were dirty. He looked like a total mess in general. And he somehow lost his boots and little cape. - Are you alright?
- What? - Demon freezed. - Of course I am, why wouldn't be-
- Tommy, you look like you live, I don't know, in a dumpster. What happened?
- Nothing happened.
- Is this something to do with Tubbo? - Demon looked away. - Tommy, did he kicked you out after finding out-
- What the fuck are you saying, nobody kicked me out, - Tommy snapped and instantly calmed down. - His reaction to that was... Normal. I just left. But not because of that. I mean, technically because of that but not really. Anyway, fuck off, I have an important stuff to do. - Tommy turned around and was about to leave, but Wilbur grabbed him by his hand. Demon just closed his eyes, irritated.
- Tommy, I'm serious. What happened?
- Why do you care? We barely know each other.
- We barely know each other, but it doesn't matter. It doesn't make me worry less about you. - Tommy sighed. - So-
- Tubbo and I had a fight, - Tommy interrupted him. - I'm going to be honest, the reason we fought was dumb. He just asked me to stop stealing, but I started acting like a child. Told him that if he doesn't like that i steal that much, I will leave.
- And you left.
- Yes, but not because of that.
- Because of what then?
Tommy let out a sad sigh.
- He snapped and said, like, alright, leave and... - His voice became a little bit shaky. - And that he doesn't need a person who's parents killed his family here anyway. But when I told him about that he told me on multiple occasions that this didn't change his opinion about me at all! And then he suddenly says this! - He said. His voice sounded broken. Wingfolk came closer and put his arm around the blonde's shoulder.
- I don't think he really meant that, Tommy. If he really did he probably wouldn't lie to you about not changing his opinion about you. In worst case, he would stop talking with you. When did
you tell him about that?
- Right after our meeting.
- Okay that was... four months ago or so. And when did you leave?
- I dunno. Two weeks ago?
- Oh. Tommy, I think you should come back.
- I'll think about that.
- Alright. But first, give me the gold you just stole.
Tommy was aimlessly walking around the town thinking about what Wilbur just said. Maybe he's telling the truth and Tubbo really doesn't hate him? Maybe he really didn't mean that? But it felt like a backstab... But the people we hurt the most are our loved ones, isn't it?
Tommy thought about it a bit too hard and didn't even notice how he now was in a very dark and empty part of the town. Suddenly, he hears voices.
- Are you sure he's here?
A familiar voice. Tubbo's voice. He's searching for someone?
- Yes, he's just... hiding somewhere.
Another familiar voice. The voice he would prefer to not hear ever again, especially now, especially here. The voice of his mother. But what is she doing here...
And then something clicked in his brain. The letter. The god damn letter from Wilbur that he decided to not tell about to his friend. They found him.
Fuck.
Tommy started looking for the source of the noise. He needed to act fast. Finding out that the noise was coming from nearest alleyway, he rushed there, finding out that besides Tubbo and his mother, there also was his father. Fucking morons.
The blonde's blood started to boil. Oh no, he won't let them hurt his friend. He's not letting them getting out of here alive.
- STAY WHERE YOU STAND, YOU DICKHEADS! - He shouted.
The demons turn around. The goat turns around as well. After noticing his friends he silently says "Tommy?".
- Oh, Tom! My dear son, it was a while-
- Shut the fuck up. I'm not your dear son. - He growled. - What the fuck are you two doing here?
- You little bitch, first he runs away, now he's-
- SHUT UP! - Interrupted him blonde. - What the FUCK are you two doing here?
- Well, - His mother smiled. - I think it's time to tell you about-
- Ha! About what? - He interrupted her, smiling, but definitely not out of happiness. - About how you killed the entire family of the person behind you? - Smile dropped from his mother's face.
- How you let him live so I could kill him in the future? That?! - His father looked at him in confusion. - Thank you that you let me starve that day by the way!
- How do you... How do you know about all of that? - Father asked him, confused.
- Oh, you know. Read some old newspapers and interviews. Nothing special, - He came closer. - I expected to see you there any time soon actually. Because, you know, your son turned out to be your disappointment, run away just before the ceremony and your plans were ruined. Poor you needed to finish what you started yourself because of that.
- Yeah, - His mother spoke. - You let us down, Tom. But you know, you still can fix everything. You can finish what we started, - She smiled. - We can finally have the ceremony that should've been held five years ago.
That was his last straw. The blonde pounces on his mother, knocking her down. His father was about to pounce on him, but Tommy quickly reacts, grabbing him by his throat and impaling it with his claws. The man tried to free himself from son's grip, scratched him, but failed. Tommy throws him on the ground and kicks him in the ribs with all of his force. A crack was heard. The man lets out a scream.
- TOMMY!
The blonde turns around only to see his mother pinning the brown-haired boy against the wall, holding him by his throat. She was taking out a knife. Tommy immediately runs up to her and punches her right in the nose. She releases Tubbo and steps back. The goat falls on the ground and starts coughing.
- Leave him alone, you bitch.
- Why are you so protective of him? - She asks, holding the knife in her hand and wiping the blood with the other.
- Because he's my best friend.
- Best friend? - She chuckles. - Don't be silly. Demons can't be friends with their prey.
- In that case, you need to expand your mind. He's not a prey, he's a person. You on the other hand are a fucking animal that only knows how to kill. - His mother chuckles.
- If only i knew what i did wrong.
After these words she pounces oh the blonde, pinning him against the wall and holding the knife to his throat.
- Any last words?
- Careful, a goat!
Tubbo knocks the woman down. Tommy gets the knife out of her hand and now he's holding the knife to the throat of his mother.
- Any last words? - He mocks her.
- I love you. - She says after a short pause.
- Liar.
And plunges a knife into her throat.
- Tommy...
Tubbo looked at the demon sitting on the dead body of his mother that he just killed, leaning on the hilt of a knife. Not so far away layed blonde's father, dead, killed by his own son.
Tubbo looked for him everywhere for two weeks thinking that the demon hates him, only to see with his own eyes how he kills his own parents just to protect him.
- Tubbo you're an idiot, - The blonde finally spoke. The goat lets out a sigh. - You realize that if I hadn't wandered in here by pure chance, you would be dead?! - The demon straightened up and looked at him. Brown-haired boy looked him in the eyes and felt discomfort. The eyes that were looking at him weren't the ones he remembered. Those were a two pieces of ice filled with rage and pain.
- I do, but...
- But what?
- You went missing for two weeks. I asked every single stranger i could, but no one, no one saw you, no one knew where you were, - It seemed like the ice in Tommy's eyes started to melt. - Tommy, I was devastated. And when I asked the same question to yet another strangers and they told me that they know where you are, of course I blindly believed them, even if everything deep inside of me was screaming to run away from them. - The tears started showing up in brown-haired boy's eyes.
Demon finally stands up, comes up to Tubbo and hugs him. Tubbo hugs him back.
- Tommy?
- Yeah?
- I'm sorry. I don't know where did these words come from and why I did say that because it really doesn't bother me. At all.
- I forgive you, - Demon says silently. - But you're still an idiot. - Tubbo chuckled.
- Yeah. I am.
They let each other go. Tommy looked at the mess that he did.
- This is fucked up.
- I agree. What are we going to do with this?
- No idea. I wanted to suggest to just... Leave them here and come back home. But... - Tommy looked at himself. - I don't think i should show up in town like that.
- I can give you my poncho.
- Aren't you gonna get cold?
- Tommy, it's not even that cold.
- I mean, who knows, you're always cold.
- Oh, fuck off. How did you even lost your cape and boots?
- I left my cape somewhere and with boots... Well, it's a long story.
Finding no better solution, they decided to leave the bodies in this alleyway. Tubbo gave his poncho to the blonde and they went back home. They still got a couple of weird looks, but at this point it didn't bothered them. They are together again, and that all that matters.
- By the way, sorry to bring that up, but-
- I'll try my best to stop stealing. - Tommy interrupted him. Tubbo smiled.
- Thank you.
-after all, the truth is never sweet, true friendship can't exist without the fights-