Work Text:
Tubbo showed up as he was expected to, right on time. His suit looked freshly washed and pressed and his hair was styled a bit more than normal but that's not what caught Scar's eye when he went to meet the kid at the portal.
There were fresh pink scars on what little skin was visible from under the suit. Many of them from what he could tell, though most were fairly small. Some looked like burns, but others looked more like cuts. Some were bandaged, but it was clear Tubbo only bothered with that on the ones that needed it. Otherwise, they were left visible, many still irritated and bruised around the edges, but clearly attended to.
Tubbo showed no sign or symptom of anything that might have happened. The only hint was a slight tiredness which pulled on his features but otherwise, he looked unaffected. He carried himself with the same professionalism he had every time he'd stepped through that portal prior and his face bore the same polite smile. He would look for all the world entirely normal if not for those new scars, barely even old enough to be considered scars if you were going to be literal about it. It was almost surreal.
Though Scar had been accused of being oblivious once or twice, he was confident beyond doubt that those injuries were fresh and that Tubbo didn't have so many blemishes when he had been there just a week before. Something big had happened to cause that many scars to appear all at once, and the thought of it made his stomach turn.
Immediately Scar called to mind a dozen different scenarios: a fire would explain the burns and cuts that looked to be from debris; a nasty fall would account for the scrapes and bruises especially underground - maybe he was mining?; a prank gone wrong, even, could excuse many of them. Tubbo never struck him as clumsy but things happened.
It could also be something worse - something done to him on purpose. A fight. An attack: Tubbo had let slip once a meeting how common griefing was on his server and it wouldn't be a stretch to imagine a server that let griefers run rampant would have other violent types. And considering Tubbo's position of authority...
Ambassador is such a flashy title, isn't it? Especially on a server which, from what the Hermits had found trying to make contact, was severely locked down from the outside world. It would probably make him a target over there. Scar can't imagine everyone on the Dream SMP is thrilled about being apparently trapped there, and Tubbo has a way out.
Scar ached, feeling a flash of guilt. If he weren't ambassador to Hermitcraft, Tubbo would be something else. Some other title to paint a target on his back. Some other reason for someone to come after him - just a kid, with nothing but a stupid title to justify the violence against him. If that’s even what happened, of course. Scar doesn't know what happened, not for sure.Maybe it was nothing. Maybe that's why Tubbo looked so calm, so unaffected.
Oh. Actually, Tubbo was looking at him funny now. He'd gone quiet, hadn't he?
"Is - how are you doing this evening, Ambassador?" Scar asked, smiling, doing what he could to keep the worry from his voice. He really wanted to ask about the scars - make sure everything was okay, that Tubbo was safe - but he knew better than most that scars, especially in great numbers, rarely came from anything fun. He could just be trudging up a traumatic week with that question.
Or maybe asking is the only way he'd put to rest all those thoughts about what could have happened. Either way, he ought to at least greet the kid first.
"I'm alright, sir, how are you?" The response was practiced, which they'd come to expect: a small smile and an even tone which gave no hint of what was going on inside Tubbo's head. It seemed a bit more stiff than usual, maybe. Maybe that was in Scar's head. Suddenly Scar noticed that he was picking at his mayoral sash again, having pulled a thread loose. Oops.
"That's good! Good, glad to hear it." Scar clasped his hands together. “I’m good myself! Had just a bit of a busy week, just started a project. I’ll have to show it to you when it’s further along but it’s going well.”
Tubbo maintained his smile and responded, with his usual excitement at the discussion of Scar’s builds noticeably absent, “I think I would like that.”
Scar paused at that, looking Tubbo over again. Tubbo was almost never neutral when the subject of builds came up and yet he couldn’t look more uninterested. Maybe tired fit the bill better, actually, but it was strange either way and Scar didn’t like it. If it were nothing, why would Tubbo be acting so - so unlike the kid who’d been there the week before?He bit back the beginning of another question, something that would prompt Tubbo to share what was going on to make him revert back to the person he was when he first stepped foot on Hermitcraft.
Scar had a choice to make. He could ask, which was what he wanted to do very badly - (and Tubbo might even answer if he asked now, when they were alone) - or he could ignore it. He could walk Tubbo right up the meeting room and pretend he hadn’t noticed and let things go as usual.
Is that what Tubbo would want? To ignore it? He hadn’t brought it up himself and that was what Scar sometimes liked, especially back when his scars were fewer and from less than recreational activities. And they'd only known the kid for what, a month? If it is something traumatic he certainly wouldn't want to tell someone who's not just an acquaintance but business partner. It'd be wrong to pry, wouldn't it? Because that's what it'd be - prying. If Tubbo wanted it brought up, he'd have indicated it somehow instead of trying to be as normal as possible.
Besides, bringing it up could make Tubbo shut them out even more and that could ruin - well, everything.
Okay. So he wouldn't ask. He'd take Tubbo straight up to the meeting room and they'd carry on like normal and then Tubbo would go home. Scar could do normal, if that's what Tubbo wanted.
But...
Scar looked again at the amount of irritated cuts and burns still exposed to open air and bit his lip. He wouldn't ask, but that didn't mean he couldn't help.
"I just remembered something I have to do real quick, do you think you could find your way up to the meeting room on your own?" Scar asked and Tubbo nodded.
"Just up the stairs, right?"
"You got it! I'll be riiight back."
And with that Scar took off as fast as he could towards his starter base.
Bdubs had managed to get the meeting rolling by the time Scar made his way in, just starting to discuss the details of Tango sharing some of his farm profits with the Dream SMP as part of a trade agreement. Logistics, what he'd be getting in return, and all that other fun stuff Scar wasn't all too upset about missing the beginning of. They stopped briefly to acknowledge him and Scar nodded to everyone, sliding into his spot at the table. The conversation resumed.
Out of sight Scar's hands fidgeted with the drawstring of the cloth bag he had retrieved. It was full of every medical supply he could scrounge together; yards of gauze and several kinds of bandages, bottles of antiseptic and tweezers were all tucked inside as neatly as he could, creating what he hoped would be a sufficient enough first aid kit for Tubbo to be able to afford to keep all his wounds clean and uninfected - not just the ones that really needed it.
He trusted Tubbo to know what to do with it all. From the bandaged injuries he could see he was proficient enough in first aid and that was a great relief. Scar didn’t want to have to make a thing of teaching him how to handle it - not that he’d mind, of course, but Tubbo might’ve.
The meeting drags on. Tango had come prepared with shulkers full of the promised materials, which Tubbo said he couldn’t bring home without preparations. They insist that he bring at least a bundle’s worth, which Tubbo eventually agreed to, and they set a date for him to return for the rest. They discuss briefly what else they could trade in the future and soon after that the meeting is adjourned and Tubbo makes his way to the portal.
Scar waits a beat before promptly rolling out from the table and after him, giving the other hermits a thumbs up and a nod on his way out. He catches Tubbo at the bottom of the stairs (or ramp, for Scar).
“Hey! Tubbo.” Scar does a quick wave as he continues his approach, quickly resetting his hand on the wheel so as to not lose control. Tubbo stops, then pauses as if steadying himself before turning around. Scar smiles at him.
“Don’t worry, I’m not gonna hold you up too long. I just wanted to give you something real quick and you’ll be on your way.” He says in a casually gleeful tone. With this Scar withdraws the drawstring bag that he’d stashed in his pocket.
Tubbo eyed it, cautious. He was clearly unsure of why Scar would be giving him something and having some kind of internal battle of whether to grab it. Oh gods, what if he didn’t take it? Scar gestured again for him to take it, with a bit more urgency. Tubbo hesitated only a moment more before taking it into his own hands and opening it up.
Tubbo paused, staring at the contents of his gift before gently rummaging through it. As he did so his expression shifted to an emotion Scar couldn’t quite describe, but it was the most genuine he’d looked today. Something about it made Scar want to roll up to him and give him a solid hug. Tubbo probably needed it. He probably didn’t want it, though.
Tubbo swallowed, reset his expression and looked up at Scar before replying, “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.” Scar said, overcome with relief that Tubbo didn’t fight about taking it. He hadn’t thought of a way to change his mind if he did. “And if you ever need more, of uh, that kind of stuff I’ve got a lot. That’s just my overflow supply. You’d be helping me clean out my storage, actually!” He chuckled, aiming to reduce the tension.
Tubbo looked back at the drawstring bag and nodded. “Alright.”
“I’ll let you go, then. Travel safe, Tubbo.” Scar waved at him, beaming, and turned around, allotting Tubbo as much time as he needed to linger there without judgment before completing his journey to the portal.
Bdubs and Tango were still in the meeting room when he returned, their chattering stopping when he came in.
“Where did you run off to?” Tango asked, continuing to pack up the wares he’d brought and failed to get Tubbo to take back. He was struggling to fit it all back into the shulker, even with the small amount Tubbo had taken gone.
“I had to give Tubbo something.” Scar answers, rolling up besides them. At that their expressions shifted to a mix of concern and curiosity.
“Did you - did he say anything about..?” Bdubs asked, gesturing vaguely to his arms. “Because he didn’t say anything to us.”
“Yeah, is everything alright? There were, uh, an awful lot of those, huh?” Tango added on, grimacing. Even though Scar hadn’t expected Tubbo to spill his guts to Bdubs and Tango any more than he would to Scar, he was still a bit disappointed they didn’t know any more than him. Tubbo slipped up before, telling them too much about his home server which he quickly tried to change the subject from, but he’d been so careful today.
Scar shook his head. “He didn’t. It was strange, he was so - so…”
“Like he was the first day he got here?” Bdubs suggested.
“Yeah! Trying so hard to be - I don’t know, normal I guess?” Scar said, fingers idly rubbing at the place where the fabric and metal of his armrest met. “But he wasn’t even excited when I offered to show him a new build I’m working on some time - which is fine, it’s just he normally wouldn’t be so uninterested, you know?”
“That’s how he was with us too, before you got here,” Tango corroborated. “Very blunt but polite. And you saw how he was for the rest of the meeting.” Scar nodded. Tubbo was always formal and direct during meetings, but today even more so. All business, no play.
“I don’t like it one bit.” Bdubs said, speaking for everyone in the room.
“Yeah. I hate not knowing what happened. I know I don’t know the kid well but it’s just -” Tango took a breath. Beside him the items he was putting away lie forgotten. “That was a lot of knicks.”
Bdubs nodded solemnly and the three of them fell into silence. Tubbo had certainly gone through the portal by now, well on his way back to his home server. The server where something unknowable had marked him with dozens of cuts and bruises in the span of a week, maybe less. Maybe all at once - they had no way of knowing. They could only guess at what had made Tubbo act all funny, and selfishly that was the worst part.
“Scar, you said you gave him something?” Bdubs said. It was clear he was hoping whatever gift Scar had given Tubbo was something positive enough to shift the mood away from the heavy silence they’d fallen into.
“Yes! It was why I was late. I gave him a bunch of first aid stuff since it looked like he was only bandaging the injuries that really needed it, but the others could still get infected, and you know how his server is so I thought maybe he just didn’t have enough stuff for it all.” Scar explained. He paused before adding: “And I just couldn’t let him go without doing something, you know?”
“That’s good, I’m glad. I wouldn’t have even thought of that.” Bdubs replied, fidgeting with his wristband. “He - I think he’ll be alright.” He added as confidently as he could.
“Yeah, he seems like he knows what he’s doing, right?” Tango said.
“I think so.” Scar agreed, sitting up a bit having noticed he was slouching. Then, he smiled. “I think next time he’s here I’ll bring him some Moo-Pop.” He nodded to himself. It wasn’t like they didn’t have an excess of the stuff and was there anything kids liked more than sugar? “As a treat. For enduring whatever’s going on.”
“That’s a good idea!” Bdubs agreed. He brought his hand up to his chin. “You know, uh, next time he’ll just be in to pick stuff up, right? That won’t take very long, so maybe we could convince him to stick around a bit. Maybe play a few minigames?”
“Ohhh, and I’ve got a new farm in the works. He likes redstone, doesn’t he? I could give him a little tour.” Tango said, making both Bdubs and Scar grimace-laugh.
“He liked seeing Doc’s stuff when I showed it to him.” Scar agreed. Tubbo had been so intrigued by it he’d wanted to stop and stare, but clearly wasn’t comfortable with asking for Scar to pause his tour, so Scar had pretended he wanted to look at it a bit longer. (He did not. He wasn’t sure what it was, even after staring at it for a while. But Tubbo seemed to enjoy it.) “Oh, this is such a good idea. I don’t know if I could endure another full meeting anyway. I need a break.”
“You were only there for half of it!” Bdubs chastised, smiling.
“Aren’t meetings your job, Scar?” Tango laughed.
Scar leaned dramatically against one of the armrests of his wheelchair. “That doesn’t mean I have to like them!” He said, trying to sound exasperated but smiling too.
He really didn’t love the meetings. They’re boring and slow and take up good time that could have been spent on his mega base. But they’re worth it, knowing that they’re the reason a kid from a lawless, stress-filled server is able to come to Hermitcraft and have a bit of fun sometimes.
“Speaking of, I think I’ll go work on that farm now.” Tango said, standing and dusting off his cargo pants. “Do you think it’d be alright to leave this here for a week or two?” Bdubs and Scar both nodded.
“I should get going too. I want to see if the factory’s presentable.” Scar added, releasing the locks on his wheels.
“I as well.” Bdubs said, gathering up the papers he brought with him to meetings to seem more prepared than he was - an idea all his own, but one which Scar was jealous of not thinking of first.
With that the three departed off to their own projects. Scar was hummed to himself as he went, glad about the resolution they'd reached. It did feel a bit like a bandaid on a bullet wound, just something to take the edge off of a much, much larger problem. But they'd known from the start that whatever was going on on the Dream SMP couldn't be solved overnight so there was no use in thinking about it more than he had to. They had a plan - a fun one, one Tubbo would like, and Scar was looking forward to it and that was all that mattered for right now. There was tomorrow to dig deeper, to get answers.
For now, all there was to worry about was how he was going to disable the security features of the Moo-Pop factory before Tubbo's return visit.