Chapter Text
"It's nice seeing you again, Toms."
Tommy only let out a small huff, keeping his eyes trained on the waves from the sea.
If you were to tell Tommy before exile had happened that Purpled of all people would be the one to visit him in his lonely days, the current Tommy is pretty sure that Tommy before exile would laugh at you.
He would laugh at you regardless because, exile? Come on, big man Tommy Innit has never gone through exile!
Though that sentence would go down the drain as soon as he got exiled in Pogtopia.
As for Purpled, the two boys had never seen each other after their Hypixel years. Well, probably the last time they actually saw each other was when Pogtopia took L'manburg back from the clutches of Schlatt. The boy with ashy blonde hair probably saw the chances of joining the revolution as a way to stack himself up with Techno's supply.
That being said, the last time they actually did converse with each other was when Purpled tried pulling a lame prank in the meeting house. It didn't work so he had Tommy testing the trap, and that was the last time they actually spoke to each other.
So it was quite a surprise for Tommy that Purpled had stumbled into Logstedshire and saw him sitting idly watching the waves go by. Prime, he had even started the conversation first.
And for Purpled, it was quite a surprise at what he's seeing. The TommyInnit Craft not being loud? The TommyInnit that he knew well enough in his Hypixel years, all quiet watching the ocean? That TommyInnit with a fiery passion inside of him that Purpled himself found admiring Tommy for, now a shell of the boy he was once before?
Purpled might not know the full extent of Tommy's situation, but he's pretty sure that if the loud boisterous boy that would be all up in his space just sat there ignoring Purpled then something had gone terribly wrong.
“You know, it’s good manners to greet your old friend back.” at that, Tommy seemed to straighten then turn towards him.
“Hello, Purpled…” well whatever had happened really fucked Toms up, even Purpled can see the shit his friend has gone through. His eyes were so dull it was practically dead, it made the boy donned in netherite shiver because the sapphire blue eyes that he’s very accustomed to were gone. The boy he had known years ago was gone, in his place was a watered down version of Tommy.
Both boys only stare at each other silently, none daring to speak up what was on their mind. The dull eyes of Tommy's broke first from their staring match, turning around to watch the ocean again mindlessly while patting a spot next to him as if silently asking for Purpled to sit next to him. As if he was asking for his old friend's company.
The other boy only obliged and sat right next to Tommy, joining him in watching the ocean silently. Surprisingly for the mercenary, it was quite nice. Maybe he should do this a lot more.
The silence stretched on, not knowing what to talk about since it had been long enough since they've talked to each other.
"So… how have you been?" Purpled decided that if Tommy wants to keep his mouth shut and dampen the mood with his demeanor, the former would not let it happen. As much as Purpled doesn't want to hang around this creepy shit hole, he at least has the heart to not leave Tommy all alone, lest he wants something happening.
The boy with golden hair didn't answer, still opting to keep quiet. Purpled seriously did not want to continue the conversation by himself.
So it was just another long minute of silence. And seriously Purpled isn't about to stay in the awkwardness for any longer than needed, seeing as Tommy isn't trying to keep up the conversation the older boy tried to stand up before he heard the younger boy's hushed voice.
"I don't know…"
Ah, usually Tommy would've boasted on how great the day was and how great he is, well that's what Purpled envisioned what his friend would've answered with.
He stayed silent after that, not bothering to continue on with what happened to him today. The boy was distant and Purpled didn't really know what to do about it.
Technically speaking it had been long since everything had happened so they don't really know how to converse to each other again. It was fine, he guessrd. It's not like he misses Tommy anyways he just got curious about his exile that he has heard from people on the mainland.
"How is your exile doing?" he settled on being merely curious and asked the great old question.
"I don't know." same old answer.
"Make sense, what do you even do when you're alone anyways?" Tommy tensed at that, did the older boy say something wrong?
"I'm... not alone,"
Ah, okay. But if he's not alone then where's the people at?
"I find it hard to believe when I find you sitting by yourself looking idly at the ocean."
Tommy shrugged, he didn't know where Dream was and frankly he didn't really care (he did but he shook the feeling off when Purpled spoke to him).
"Well, you are here aren't you?"
"Huh, that's a new witty response from the TommyInnit Craft." Tommy only gave him an amused huff, though Purpled would gladly count it as a win since his friend was finally showing a bit of emotion. "I know, I'm pretty funny."
"I don't remember the infamous mercenary that shows up once a blue moon being funny."
Purpled gasp at that, feigning hurt while Tommy only rolls his eyes at his old friend's antics.
He misses this.
When it was just the both of them fighting in Hypixel, against everyone. Against the world.
But truthfully, Tommy himself doesn't know if they can go back to the way they used to be. It had been so long he forgot almost everything about Purpled.
"I can't believe you, Toms. How could you?!"
Tommy giggled at that, the once dull eyes gaining a sliver of its spark back. Purpled smiled at that, as much as he wants to go home this was much more important. Maybe he should bring Tommy back to his UFO and show him all of the little trinkets he has, hasn't it been too long for Tommy to be kept in the middle of nowhere?
"Shut up, Purps. You're annoying you know that right?"
"Did the most obnoxious person in this land just called me annoying?" a weak punch to his shoulder by Tommy only made his grin ever wider. Now this was the Tommy he knew.
The laughters died down as they settle once again to look at the ocean, it was a lot more peaceful than the powerful waves it sent to the beach. Had the both of them sat anywhere near the beach, they would've been hit by the waves. The sun was also at the horizon, trying to hide itself underneath the ocean. Purpled had to admit, if it weren't for the creepiness this beach held, it's a great place as a tourist attraction for sunset watching. But alas, it would be nothing more than this shithole Tommy's temporarily staying.
"Hey Tommy,"
The boy only hummed in response, still not taking his eyes off of the breath taking view. "How about we get out of here?"
At his question Tommy freeze, his body began to shake. "I can't." he managed to choke out, oh god Purpled should really get out of here before Dream (his best friend, his only friend) comes back and kill him. Purpled can't die, he can't lose anything. Tommy won't let it happen, not since he had let his friends die at Dream's mercy. Tommy felt a bile rising at his throat, so he shut his lips tightly as to not throw up in front of his friend.
"T-Tommy?" he thinks he can hear Purpled's voice wavering but he isn't so sure, Purpled wasn't one to really be all caring of other people's emotion (he doesn't remember, it's all too foggy, he doesn't remember much anyways).
Purpled doesn't know what to do, it happened in a blink of time. He should fetch someone that can help Tommy better, he knows that he should but he can't move from his spot as if he was glued to the dry soil of Logstedshire. He's panicking, a mercenary shouldn't panic, he should be calm at all times. Never letting his emotions show, it was now his turn to feel sick to his stomach. This wasn't good, maybe he should just leave Tommy to deal with his shit so he can deal with his own before anything happens.
So Purpled settled with breathing in and out to avoid a panic attack. He couldn't just leave Tommy to deal with his own when he was clearly suffering, at the same time the mercenary doesn't know how he would respond if Purpled forced him to run away with him.
Only now he remembers that he has a communicator that he can use to message people for help. Maybe not with the fact of getting Tommy to move out of this shit hole but maybe to help Purpled with getting Tommy to calm down.
Private Message: CaptainPuffy
<Purpled> puffy
<Purpled> i need help in calming someone down
<CaptainPuffy> it depends on the person, try with the 54321 rule
<CaptainPuffy> it usually helps, but again idk who the person is
<Purpled> yep tyty
<Purpled> wait whats the 54321 rule???
<CaptainPuffy> 5 things u can see
<CaptainPuffy> 4 things u can touch
<CaptainPuffy> 3 things u can hear
<CaptainPuffy> 2 things u can smell
<CaptainPuffy> and 1 thing u can taste
<Purpled> oh ok gotcha
<Purpled> thansks again puffy
<CaptainPuffy> ofc
Well, here goes nothing. Purpled turns to the blonde boy who was still hyperventilating. "Tommy, can you hear me?" the other boy nodded and Purpled when to ask if it was alright for him to touch his hands. After getting his confirmation, Purpled started with the 54321 method on Tommy not sure that it'll work but if it doesn't he can just ask Puffy again.
Although it seemed to work, Tommy's breathing was still rigid, so Purpled settled with telling his friend to breathe in and breathe out while rubbing his back. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, thank you. Sorry you had to see that, dude…” Purpled stared at him incredulously for apologizing at the fact Purpled had to see Tommy cry. Okay, leaving Tommy alone was definitely not an option at all, so that crosses everything from the list of ‘Leave Tommy to deal with himself while I go and do my own thing’.
Maybe he could stay until Dream comes back? As much as he wants Tommy to make it out all okay from exile, Purpled does not want to subject himself in provoking Dream and getting himself killed, leaving Tommy all alone with Dream in the process.
He could stage an explosion made by a 'charged creeper'? But he's pretty sure that Dream would know well if the explosion was from a creeper or a bunch of TNT.
Maybe, just maybe he could ask Technoblade to get Tommy out of this? He's the boy's kin so it could work out, last he heard that their relationship was pretty strained from what happened on November 16th. So the piglin hybrid won't agree to whatever he has to say.
That leaves with Purpled blowing shit up as if someone had grieved the land when Tommy was mining so he could take the boy far away from the mainland and Logstedshire. Just miles away from any civilization. Just the both of them, like back in Hypixel. But first they both had to get their bearings together before taking that plan in action, or more like Purpled has to find a way to get Tommy out of this shit hole he calls his home and Purpled wasn't exactly prepared for anything to happen today.
"Would..." Tommy glanced at Purpled waiting for him to continue on whatever he was about to say. "Would it be alright if we blow up the whole area?"
Tommy only looked at him with a confused stare, "I mean–– I guess..?"
As much as Tommy wants to ask why Purpled wanted to blow up the whole area, he just shuts his mouth trying not to anger the other boy. "I don't–– what if Dream comes here when we blew it up?"
"I don't think he would, how many days do you think he always leaves you?"
Tommy shrugged, truthfully he hadn't been bothered to count how many days left him like a starving animal asking for food at the nearby village and how they pity him so they gave him their rations.
"Maybe somewhere between three to five days? Dunno, I don't keep track of 'em."
Purpled sighed, he could easily get himself sand right now and speed up the process of Tommy running away from this hell hole.
He did just that while Tommy chow down on the steak that Purpled cooked for him, it had been days since the exiled boy ate anything other than some measly quite moldy bread. It's a nice change of pace that he could get used to.
"Maybe we could raid Techno's shit while we run away, how about that Purp?" while Tommy hasn't really been reluctant to leave the vicinity in fear that Dream would hunt him down, he supposes that it's for the better no matter how much his brain begged for him to just be a good kid and obey his (abuser) friend's order.
"Mmm, sure. He's good at making armors with good qualities, I don't see why not."
"Kay', that's perfect."
"Say, where are we running to anyways?" Purpled turned his head towards the younger boy, he just shook his head because he really didn't have an answer to that. Well he did, sort of.
"Just somewhere far."
They could settle with far. Tommy could settle with far.
"That's all of the TNT I've got."
Both boys had safely retrieved all of Tommy's belongings before standing far away from Logstedshire. "Let's just hope Dream buys the answer and thinks you're probably dead."
Purpled fired off a flaming arrow that lit up the TNT, immediately they fled from the scene as fast as they could towards Techno's cabin. Praying to both Ender and Prime that Techno would be out on a mining trip. With how dark it was, they doubt it.