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Tubbo sat on the bench.
The space to his right felt like a void. A gaping hole so huge nothing would ever fill it. It just kept growing and growing and Tubbo knew that eventually, it was going to swallow him whole.
I wish you were here, he thought desperately, as though he could somehow send Tommy the message he was too cowardly to deliver himself. I miss you so much it hurts. No one cares about me as much as you do did. They just want to use me - for power, for status, to lead their stupid f*cking armies. Even with Wilbur I was j-just… just a symbol. My scars were just an example of Schlatt’s tyranny.
For you, they were my scars, and they hurt me, so they hurt you.
I wish you were here, even if though you hate me now. I wish you were here - I wish I’d never told you to leave, I wish I’d just taken your hand and run away so far that even Dream would never be able to find us.
Prime, I wish -
“Mr. President?”
Tubbo raised his head, quickly wiping away the tears that had been forming in his eyes, turning to face the messenger behind him. “Y-yes?”
“Uh - Dream is here to see you, sir. He’s at the White House.”
Tubbo swallowed. “I’ll be right there.”
He straightened up, brushed off his jacket the way Schlatt had drilled into him - mess, useless, whiny, lazy, worthless - and tucked the compass away, hiding it beneath his jacket where it lay against his heart.
Aside from that - the cold reminder of his weakness pressing against his chest, his connection to the friend he’d tossed aside - he was every part the President he was forced meant to be.
T&T
“But how is he?” Tubbo pressed anxiously. “Is he eating okay? Is he sleeping?”
Dream shrugged. “He’s… fine. He doesn’t complain.”
That doesn’t sound like Tommy.
Prime, how lonely is he? What have I done?
“Does he want to see me?”
Dream sighed, looking at him pityingly. “He hates you Tubbo, we’ve been over this. You don’t need to keep making it worse for yourself. You threw him out of his home -”
“He can come back!” Tubbo insisted. “He could - tomorrow even, I want him back ho-”
Dream snorted and shook his head. “His punishment isn’t over yet.”
And what about me? Tubbo wanted to scream. Why does it feel like I’m being punished too?
“Then - then take me instead!” Tubbo burst out. “I’ll take his place!”
Dream frowned at him. “Are you serious?”
Tubbo nodded. “I - I’m the president, he was my responsibility,” he said in a rush, becoming more convinced every second he spoke. “I - I deserve to be there, not him - he - he deserves to come back h-home and be ha-happy. Please Dream, it was my fault, it was -”
Dream held up a hand and Tubbo fell silent, heart in his throat. Please - Prime, XD, Lady Kristen, anyone, if you’re out there, please -
I’m miserable here. I can’t do this. I’m falling apart without him.
He hates me now. He doesn’t miss me, not even a little - he doesn’t want to see my face, why would he? I
’m fading without him. I might as well fade for him.
A smile - eerily similar to the one painted onto the mask Dream wore into battle - spread across Dream’s face. “Follow me.”
“What - n-now?” Tubbo stammered, unable to believe what he was hearing.
Dream raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t give Tommy any time to prepare, did you?”
That was a low blow.
Tubbo swallowed down the surge of guilt he felt at the memory of Tommy on his hands and knees in the dirt, staring up at him, pure betrayal spilling from his eyes as Tubbo tore his gaze away from his best friend, letting Dream drag him away…
Tommy hadn’t deserved that. But for doing that to him…
Tubbo gulped and followed Dream in silence.
T&T
They emerged from the Nether and Tubbo looked around, hoping to catch a glimpse of Tommy. There wasn’t much to see, a path, a small fortification and, by the beach, a tent, flapping in the wind.
Dream led him into the forest a little, leaving him behind some bushes, warning him to stay put.
So Tubbo stayed and watched as Dream approached the tent.
And then -
There he is.
Tommy emerged from the tent, arms wrapping around his body in a poor imitation of a hug. He kept his head down as Dream said something to him, nodding in agreement to whatever was said, shrugging every now and then.
It was all… very not-Tommy. Tubbo didn’t like it one bit.
But it wasn’t too late. Tubbo was here, to take the rest of his punishment for him - a punishment that should never have happened in the first place. A punishment that was his fault, one that he should bear.
And Tubbo saw the way Tommy changed the moment Dream delivered the news. He must have done because Tommy brightened, arms unfurling, head lifting, posture relaxing.
Tubbo wondered how much of his happiness was because he knew Tubbo would be taking his place. That he could go back to l’Manberg - back to Quackity and Fundy and Niki - without having to see the person that had hurt him most of all.
Tommy practically bounced to the portal, constantly looking back between it and Dream, as though checking that it really was over. Tubbo’s heart warmed at Tommy’s excitement - that was the Tommy he knew. Now he’d be safe - he wouldn’t lose that fire, not with Tubbo taking his place.
Tommy beamed and entered the portal, disappearing in a swirl of purple particles.
And then Dream pulled out his pickaxe, breaking the portal and cutting off Tubbo’s connection to the rest of the SMP.
Tubbo emerged from the bushes and hurried down to the beach. “Uh - Dream? No visitors? That - that wasn’t part of the original agreement…”
“This isn’t the original agreement, is it?”
Tubbo tilted his head. “I said I’d take Tommy’s punishment -”
Dream threw back his head and laughed. “Tubbo…”
Tubbo felt a chill go down his spine and he took a nervous step back while Dream folded his arms - and f*ck, Tubbo didn’t like that at all.
“You still think this is a punishment,” Dream snorted. “Holy sh*t…”
Tubbo felt a drop of panic leak into his chest. “The - Dream, the point of this was justice - it was supposed to be justi-”
“Justice?” Dream laughed, cutting him off. “Tubbo you’re a f*cking moron. This was never about justice. It was always about Tommy… and you.”
Tubbo clenched his fists. “What do you mean?”
“The two of you are the root of every f*cking problem this server has had. Right from the start it was the two of you - Tommy causing problems and you supporting him. His little sidekick, just following him around, right? Doing whatever he needed you to do - you’re a pawn Tubbo.”
“I - I’m not a pawn -”
“You are. You’re Tommy’s whether you know it or not. You were Wilbur’s, the same way he was mine. And you are mine most of all,” Dream smirked. “You seriously thought this was about justice? Over a house? That wasn’t even finished yet? Tubbo, it had dirt walls.”
“Then what is it about?” Tubbo asked, fighting to keep a tremor from his voice. “What was the point in -”
“The point is that the two of you are a liability. Your attachment to each other is… a variable I don’t like. I needed to drive you apart,” Dream chuckled. “It was rather easy - I’m surprised it took you so long to finally snap at him. Even I was getting sick of his bullsh*t.”
Tubbo gaped at him. “So - what, you manipulated -”
“I did,” Dream smirked. “I tore you two apart and I thought that would be enough. Guess I was wrong, hm?”
“What do you mean?”
“He wouldn’t f*cking shut up about you.” He pitched his voice high, mocking. “‘Can I see Tubbo?’ ‘Is Tubbo going to visit me?’ ‘Is Tubbo still mad at me?’ ‘Can you tell Tubbo I’m sorry?’ ‘Does Tubbo hate me?’ ‘Please just tell Tubbo I miss him…’ - it was f*cking maddening.”
Tubbo gasped as tears pricked at his eyes. “You - what? You - you said - you said -”
“I lied,” Dream said simply - too simply, too casually for someone tossing aside Tubbo’s worldview as though it was nothing.
“You - you can’t - what the f*ck?!” Tubbo stammered. “You - you said - you said he hated me -”
“You weren’t any better. ‘Does Tommy want to see me?’ ‘Does Tommy still hate me?’ You wouldn’t just forget about him, like you were supposed to.” Dream waved a hand. “Still his loyal follower, even now. I guess I must have overestimated you - I didn’t think you were that weak. I thought you’d be able to close yourself off.”
Tubbo stared at him, backing away. How was this the same person they’d known at the start of the SMP? When even the discs seemed like a game - before Wilbur and l’Manberg and war -
“Where are you going to run to Tubbo?” Dream asked, throwing his arms out, gesturing at the plains, the sea, the empty beach. “Where are you going to go? You’re trapped here. And the best part? You chose this.”
“I - I didn’t chose this,” Tubbo spat. “Not for Tommy, not for me - this is so f*cked -”
Dream ignored him. “I can’t wait to see -”
Tubbo turned and ran.
He fled, sprinting away from Dream, heading into the forest, praying that he was fast enough - quick enough - that it wasn’t too late, that he hadn’t f*cked himself over for good, that he could escape before he was - was trapped here with a liar, a manipulator, a tyrant -
I can’t. I can’t go through that - not like with Schlatt. Not again. Not again - I can’t -
Thunk.
An arrow whistled past him, burying itself into a tree beside his head and Tubbo swallowed a cry of fear and shock as he pushed himself even harder, arrows following him as he raced through the thicket.
I have to - I can’t -
Suddenly a piercing pain erupted in his leg and Tubbo collapsed.
Flipping over as quickly as he could he stared at his leg in horror.
An arrow was sticking out of it, and Tubbo bit down the urge to start sobbing at the sight - he was better than that, stronger than that, he had to be -
Dream pushed his way through the thicket.
“Well that was pointless,” he mused, staring down at Tubbo sprawled on the dirt. “You just made both our lives much more difficult than they had to be.”
“F*ck you,” Tubbo ground out.
Dream’s face darkened. “Alright Tubbo. Let’s set some ground rules, shall we?”
Tubbo glared at him. “One, you don’t try to escape. That’s f*cking simple, even Tommy understood that one.”
Trying to sneak out of the White House late at night, praying that Schlatt wouldn’t see him -
“Two, you don’t talk back. Don’t disrespect me.”
Schlatt, red in the face, screaming at him, calling him disrespectful, whiny, useless, a waste of space, a worthless piece of -
“Three - and this is the really important one - you obey me. Whatever it is, whenever I tell you to do something you do it.”
Putting up decorations for a festival he did not want, for a regime he did not believe in. Giving a speech he did not mean. Dying for a President he no longer trusted.
“Understand me?”
Tubbo squeezed his eyes shut.
“I said do you understand me?”
This can’t be real. This can’t be happening.
“Tubbo…”
“I understand,” Tubbo said between gritted teeth.
“Good." Dream said softly.
Tubbo had no idea what to say to that, and even less idea when Dream started walking away.
“D-Dream! You - you can’t - you can’t leave me here -”
Dream turned around and raised an eyebrow. “Then get up and follow me.”
Tubbo stared at him incredulously. He can’t be serious…
“If you want treatment you’ll have to come back to Logsteadshire,” Dream shrugged. “Besides… I think walking back is a fitting punishment for running away, don’t you?”
“Not with a f*cking arrow in my leg -”
Dream’s face fell. He almost looked genuinely sad. “Oh Tubbo, you never learn, do you? Now you won’t even get a hand up.”
And without another word he turned back around and kept walking.
Tubbo stared at him, furious tears in the corners of his eyes.
He couldn’t go back there. He couldn’t - he couldn’t live under rules like that, not again -
But if he didn’t go…
Tubbo braced himself against the pain and began crawling back to Dream.
T&T
Tubbo refused to look at Dream as he bandaged his leg. He hated this - looking so vulnerable in front of his enemy - but what choice did he have?
He was vulnerable now. l’Manbergians didn’t wear armour, and though Tubbo had a sword he was under no illusions about his ability to match Dream.
He was trapped.
Tubbo tied off the bandage and set it down, pointedly avoiding Dream’s gaze as he wondered what to do now. He felt like a spare part - there was no country to run here and no friend to protect so - what was he supposed to do?
He ignored the small voice in the back of his mind that told him to stay down, to wait for orders, to see what Schlatt Dream wanted -
Dream nodded approvingly. “You know your way around first aid.”
Tubbo raised a bitter eyebrow. “I was on a battlefield.”
Dream shrugged. “And now you’re not.” He peered down at the white bandage on his leg. “You won’t be able to run for a while, that’s certain.”
Tubbo said nothing, choosing to glare at the floor instead. It was wooden but the ends of the tent were exposed on both sides and Tubbo couldn’t help worrying about what shelter - if any - he was supposed to find here. It was a wonder the whole thing hadn’t been blown away.
“You do want to stay here, right?” Dream said softly. “After all, if you’d rather I brought Tommy back instead -”
Tubbo’s head shot up. “No.”
“No?”
“N-no - leave him alone,” Tubbo said firmly. The thought of Tommy entering this hell - or, f*ck, returning to it - holy sh*t, what did I condemn him to? Was he - all this time, was Dream -
“What, the way you did?” Dream said cuttingly. “Weeks without a visit, a letter, a message -”
Tubbo’s heart cracked. “You - you said -” he protested weakly. You said he hated me. You said he never wanted to see me again. You said -
“And you believed me,” Dream smiled. “You believed me and you left him.”
“I - you manipulated me - you manipulated both of us! You lied -”
“But I didn’t stop you,” Dream countered.
“You - don’t try to twist the truth you f*cking d*ck,” Tubbo spat. “You lied to us and you - this isn’t what -”
There was a whack and a stinging pain erupted on Tubbo’s cheek.
He gasped and raised his hand to his cheek, cradling it gently. “What - what the f*ck -”
“No talking back,” Dream said calmly, flexing his hand. “Rule two, remember?”
“You - c-can’t -” Tubbo stammered, a sinking feeling in his gut.
“Holy sh*t, you’re stupid.” Dream rolled his eyes. “Let me rephrase - you don’t tell me what to do. In fact, just don’t talk at all. I highly doubt I want to hear what you have to say anyway.”
Tubbo stared at him, jaw slack.
He - he can’t be serious. There - he can’t seriously expect me to -
But the hardness in Dream’s eyes, the cold smile on his face, the bruise that was rapidly forming on his cheek -
Tubbo swallowed.
Dream nodded, smile widening.
“I’ll let that sink in. See you tomorrow Tubbo.”
And with that he ducked out of the tent.
T&T
Tubbo spent a long, cold night shivering under the single blanket on the bed. He wondered how Tommy had ever slept in it - why he’d choosen to sleep in the tent at all instead of in the fortification tucked further into the forest.
He was relieved when the sun began to rise. Extracting himself from the blanket he limped outside, shielding his eyes as he took in the area.
It somehow looked even more depressing than before.
But - for Tommy -
Tubbo’s heart twisted. Tommy must be back in l’Manberg now - safe and warm and happy.
Had he gone through this too? Had Dream forced Tommy - Prime, Tommy - to be quiet?
“Morning Tubbo!”
Tubbo blinked, as he registered Dream emerging from the forest.
“Come here,” he beckoned.
Rule three.
Tubbo clenched his teeth and pushed through the throbbing pain in his leg as he shuffled towards Dream, stopping a safe distance away. Out of arms reach.
Dream pulled a shovel out of his inventory and dug a hole into the dirt.
“Stuff in the hole Tubbo,” Dream ordered.
Tubbo stared at him. Stuff - he can’t mean -
Dream tapped his foot impatiently. “Your inventory. Hurry up.”
“Wh-what are you gonna do?” Tubbo asked nervously.
Dream glared at him. “What did I say about the talking?”
Tubbo nodded. I know.
“Whenever I get close to you, it's kinda like a - like a… like one of those conch shells. It's... I can almost hear…”
“You can hear the ocean?”
“I can... Well, no, not the ocean, but I can hear a bunch of... I can hear a bunch of whining toddlers.”
“I’m going to blow it up,” Dream shrugged. “You don’t really think you need any of it, do you?”
My sword -
Well, I can’t use it against Dream, can I? What difference does it make?
My supplies -
I’m not even hungry anyway.
Tubbo closed his eyes and dropped his items into the pit, hearing the dull thuds as they hit the mud.
Dream tilted his head. “Don’t you have a compass?”
No.
Tubbo was shaking his head without even thinking. “I know you have one Tubbo. It says ‘Your Tommy’, right?”
Tubbo shook his head again.
No.
Dream sighed. “I won’t force you to get rid of it. I let Tommy keep his. But you have one, I know you do. Do you really think you deserve it?”
Tubbo’s heart clenched.
Yes - he’s my best friend - of course, I -
Your Tommy…
“You sent him away you know,” Dream said, speaking Tubbo’s thoughts aloud. “You can whine and scream about how it was all my fault, but nothing will change that you did it. You chose the easy way out Tubbo.”
The easy way?
Nothing about that choice - that day, that week, that whole month - had been easy.
Nothing had been easy about dealing with Technoblade and Quackity and all the hidden bullsh*t involved with protecting a country without his friend to rely on.
Nothing had been easy about waking up every morning only for the realisation that Tommy wouldn’t be there to sink in all over again.
Nothing had been easy about watching Tommy be dragged away, hand outstretched as though if Tubbo reached out he could just take it -
But you didn’t.
You let it happen.
You let it all happen.
Dream shrugged. “Well. When you’re ready to face the truth, let me know. Now step back.”
Tubbo took a step back as the ground shook with the force of the explosion.
T&T
Tubbo put his axe down and turned to face Dream. He hadn’t eaten all day and he was so hungry - but he needed Dream to tell him he could stop -
“Uh - D-Dream?” he whispered quietly, not daring to raise his volume any higher, not when he wasn’t supposed allowed to talk at all.
Dream, who had been watching him from where he stood, leaning against one of the trees, raised an eyebrow. “Tubbo? You’ve been following all your rules this week, I didn’t think you would make a mistake like talking.”
Tubbo shoved away the pang of panic he felt - f*ck it, I’m talking now. This is happening. “I - I know, I’m sorry, but - can I ask you a question?”
Dream hummed thoughtfully. “Maybe we should come up with a system for this sort of thing… I shouldn’t have to hear your voice when you’re asking if you can use it -”
“Bunch of whiny, spoiled brats, Tubbo!”
“Tell you what - if you want to ask a question you tap your lips, like this” - Dream demonstrated, tapping his mouth twice with his fingers. “And I’ll decide. Sound good?”
Tubbo nodded.
They stared at each other for a moment.
“Well go on then.”
Tubbo tapped his lips.
Dream nodded approvingly. “Good.”
Tubbo’s heart sank as Dream leant back against the tree. “You’ve talked enough for today. Whatever you want can wait for tomorrow.”
It always does.
T&T
Tubbo wrapped his arms around himself to keep out the chill as he emerged from the tent. His presidential suit wasn’t exactly threadbare - and it wasn’t a t-shirt, how did Tommy survive - but it was made to be breathable.
Besides Dream had taken his jacket a few days ago. He didn’t deserve it. Now Tubbo had the compass around his neck, on display. He felt Dream’s eyes on it every time he dropped the items he collected into a hole and watched them disintegrate before his eyes.
“Things in the hole Tubbo.”
Tubbo moved to obey, dropping the supplies he’d gathered yesterday - a stone pickaxe, a wooden axe and a few apples - into the pit.
“No compass?”
Tubbo shook his head. Never.
But every day he got closer - closer to severing ties entirely, closer to admitting once and for all that Tommy didn’t need him, deserved better than him -
Tubbo didn’t bother stepping back from the explosion anymore. Didn’t bother lifting his hands to protect his face.
After all, what’s a few more scars? I’m already marred for life anyway.
And at least the pain was something.
Dream didn’t touch him, not even not punish him, he hadn’t needed to in days.
Tubbo knew better than to fight back. Not least because if it wasn’t him it would be Tommy here.
Dream peered into the crater. “Nothing left.”
Tubbo clutched the compass, keeping his eyes down. Nothing left.
Nothing left of him, the person he’d been, any of the impact he’d made was just… gone. Dismissed so easily.
He deserved it.
He gripped the compass tightly.
“Come on Tubbo. Let’s go mining today.” Dream spoke casually, but Tubbo knew better than to think it was merely a suggestion and immediately nodded, following behind him in silence.
What was the point in trying to resist?
At the end of the day he was just a pawn.
Made to be pushed around the board.
T&T
Tubbo tapped his lips.
“Really?”
Tubbo nodded hopefully, tapping again for good measure.
Please - I need to know - I need to know -
Dream smiled. “I suppose you can talk. One question.”
“Thank - thank you,” Tubbo croaked gratefully. How long has it been since I spoke? “H-how - how is Tommy?”
Dream’s eyebrows rose. “That’s your question?”
Tubbo nodded urgently. “Yes - please - is he okay? Is he alright?”
Is he doing alright without me? Is he happy? I
s this worth it?
Dream shrugged. “He’s fine.”
Tubbo let out a breath he hadn’t realised he was holding. Thank f*ck.
Although… he wasn’t really surprised. Tommy had never really needed him, not the way Tubbo needed him. Tubbo had no idea what he was without Tommy - he needed him, as an anchor, a map, a compass. Tommy was all of those things and so much more - he could light up a room with his presence alone. Tubbo basked in it.
It was so dark without him.
“He doesn’t talk about you much,” Dream continued. “Honestly, I think he might hate you.”
Tubbo’s heart skipped a beat and he stared at Dream in horror.
Tommy hates me?
“You sent him into Exile, remember?” Dream explained, answering the unspoken question. “You didn’t even visit.”
You manipulated me - you lied - you hurt him - you hurt me -
I did. I should have done something different. Anything different.
I’m a terrible friend. No wonder he hates me.
Prime, he hates me.
Tommy…
“He got over you during Exile,” Dream carried on, twisting the knife deeper into Tubbo’s heart. “Sure, at the start he missed you - built a path through the Nether for you and everything, thinking if it was just a little wider, a little safer you might finally show -”
Tubbo was suddenly hit with the overwhelming urge to cry.
“But you didn’t. And now he - well, he despises you, quite frankly. You missed your chance Tubbo.”
You said he didn’t want to see me - you said he hated me the whole time - you said -
I did.
It’s my fault. I’m never where I should be.
“You walked off in the middle of this one, Tubbo! Don't try and tell me you've done nothing wrong! Because everybody knows it! I sees it with my own two fucking eyes, what you've been doing!”
“Do you know what happens to traitors, Tubbo?”
Tommy didn’t want him anymore. Tommy could make the best of anything. He could make a home anywhere - the side of a hill, the bottom of a cavern, the spare bedroom of the White House.
Tommy didn’t need Tubbo.
Tubbo accepted that, even though it made his chest ache.
And if Tommy didn’t care…
When Dream dug the hole that day Tubbo got rid of the compass.
T&T
Tubbo sat on the beach, staring at the ocean, the same way he always did. Every day here was the same - wake up, greet Dream, give up his things, do whatever the man said for a few hours, maybe eat something - if he was good enough - follow a few more commands, then Dream would leave and Tubbo would sit on the beach until it got dark and he went back to the tent.
He liked the beach. It was cold and quiet.
Just like him.
T&T
Tubbo woke up early.
Maybe ‘woke up’ was too strong a term. He simply gave up on pretending that sleep would find him eventually.
He might as well get the routine started.
Pulling the shovel he’d made yesterday out of his inventory he headed outside, trying to find a spot somewhere that would be deep enough to dig a hole. He didn’t have much to throw into it today - just the shovel, a sword, an axe and a few chunks of bread.
“TUBBO!”
Tubbo’s head shot up.
Tommy was staring at him.
Tubbo closed his eyes.
I’m dreaming. I’m hallucinating. There’s no way -
He opened them again.
Tommy was still there.
And then suddenly there were arms around him.
Tommy’s arms.
The shovel fell to the ground.
“Tubbo - I found - oh thank f*ck,” Tommy gasped and Tubbo felt the way his shoulders shook. He was - crying?
Tubbo’s hands hung uselessly by his sides. Haltingly he curled his arms around Tommy. He didn’t deserve it, but it felt so nice - warm and comforting and warm - and Tommy -
When they were younger - before Tommy started hating him - Tommy always wanted to be held when he was upset.
Maybe that was why he was hugging Tubbo right now?
Why was he upset?
“Dream - he destroyed the portal and the path and I couldn’t remember the way and I tried to get here faster, I really did, but I got lost and -”
Tubbo licked his lips. Would Tommy mind if he spoke? Or was he sick of Tubbo’s voice too - his complaining and whinging and nagging…
“It - i-it’s okay -” Tubbo croaked.
“No - no it’s not - Dream - f*cking bastard, if I’d known he’d taken you -”
“You - you were s-supposed to forget about me,” Tubbo explained. “It - you needed to go home - you didn’t deserve th-this, it was m-my fault -”
“Your fault?” Tommy pulled back. “Tubbo if - if this mess has to be blamed on one of us it’s on me.”
“No - Dream, he -”
“Yeah, I know. He manipulated us -”
“No - I chose -”
Tommy lifted Tubbo’s chin. “I know what you’re going to say. That you chose this, or you made the mistake, or whatever. Dream fed me the same bullsh*t. It’s not true. He trapped you between a rock and a hard place.”
“I - I -”
“Tubbo listen. Dream’s been trying to - he’s trying to break you, he did the same to me, but you can’t let him -”
“You were always… stronger than me,” Tubbo said quietly. “You - you - you weren’t supposed to come back. You were supposed to forget -”
Tommy looked devastated. “Tubbo - forget you? How on earth was I supposed to forget about you, you’re my best friend -”
Tubbo shook his head because that wasn’t true, it couldn’t be -
Tommy pulled him back into a hug. “You are. I - you mean more to me than l’Manberg, more than the discs, more than anything.”
Tubbo blinked back tears. “I - I thought - I thought - you should hate me -”
“I don’t - I could never - I’m so sorry Tubbo, holy sh*t -”
“Well, isn’t this lovely?”
Tubbo stopped breathing.
Tommy pushed Tubbo behind him, clenching his fists. “Stay away from him - stay away from us you motherf*cker. Don’t come a single step -”
Dream looked almost bored. “I won’t move a muscle.”
Tommy faltered for a split second before he got over his surprise. “Good. I’m - me and Tubbo are going now and you - you’re not gonna stop us or follow us or - or anything you lying, f*ck -”
“You can go, but Tubbo’s staying right here,” Dream said evenly. “He made a deal.”
“He - he what?”
“Him instead of you. Right Tubbo?”
Tubbo nodded. What else could he do?
“You see?”
Tommy whirled around. “Tubbo - what - why would you - why would you do that -?”
“Come here Tubbo.”
Tubbo took a step forwards.
Tommy grabbed his shoulders tightly. “No - you can’t -”
“I have to,” Tubbo whispered. He wasn’t supposed to talk, but maybe Dream wouldn’t mind, just this once - he needed to explain - “He - I’m a pawn Tommy. I go where I’m told.”
“No - no,” Tommy gasped. “No Tubbo, that’s not - you’re not a pawn, you’re the farthest thing from -”
Tubbo shrugged. “I’m a pawn. It’s okay - I-I don’t mind. You’ll be fine without me.”
“No I will not.” Tommy’s voice was choked. “I will never be fine without you.”
“Here Tubbo.”
Tubbo stepped around Tommy, letting his hands slip away, heart sinking at the crushed look in his eyes.
And he walked over to Dream.
“Good,” Dream smirked as Tubbo fell into place behind him. “You see Tommy? Tubbo isn’t yours. He doesn’t want you anymore.”
Tommy looked shattered. As though his whole life had just splintered apart around him.
Tubbo knew the feeling.
Watching Tommy go.
Living in l’Manberg without him.
“I did it,” Dream said quietly, almost to himself. If Tubbo hadn’t been standing so close he wouldn’t even have heard it. “I finally broke him.”
“Your attachment to each other is… a variable I don’t like. I needed to drive you apart,”
“I told you I was your only friend and you wouldn’t listen,” Dream said harshly, taking a step forwards. “I told you, but you wouldn’t let him go. And now look what you’ve done.”
“I tore you two apart and I thought that would be enough. “
Tubbo was many things. He was a President and a spy, a soldier and a child, a friend and a traitor.
But he was not going to be the reason Tommy was broken.
“You and your selfishne-”
Dream stopped talking, the words dying in his throat as the breath left his body.
Tubbo stepped back, putting his sword back into his inventory as Dream fell wordlessly to the floor and… crumbled away.
A full Life.
“Holy sh*t,” Tubbo said hoarsely.
Tommy barrelled into him, sending them both to the ground. “You killed him!”
“He was - he was being a f*cking d*ck,” Tubbo said shakily. “He - he had it coming.”
“Yeah no sh*t - you scared me - I - please don’t - you’re not - are you okay?”
“I’m f-fine - I - I think - Prime, I can’t believe I did that -”
“I can,” Tommy said softly. “You - you’re a f*cking legend Tubbo. Anyone who told you otherwise…”
“...can f*ck right off,” Tubbo finished. “I know.”
They sat silently in the grass for a while. Tubbo felt much warmer with Tommy’s arms around him.
Tommy chuckled quietly. “For a pawn... you’re a pretty important piece Tubbo.”
“How so?”
“You just put Dream into check.”
Tubbo paused, considering that.
And slowly a small smile spread across his face.