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Tommy wasn’t proud of what his nation had done. He wasn’t proud of what other brother had done in his life, and he wasn’t proud of himself. Prince Tommy Innit Craft of the fire nation was not proud of what his family had done. Well— at least now he wasn’t proud. Earlier he was. When he was exiled, scared, alone, and stuck with Techno. All he wanted was to go back home. Wilbur, Phil, his kingdom, they would all appreciate him. Things weren’t as simple as they seemed.
He’d always follow the avatar’s every move. He’d always be one step behind him. Until Wilbur came along— now— he was invited home, restored his honor, thought Ranboo was still alive, (Which he was correct) betrayed his father, and now he’s here.
And he has to figure out a way to explain that to Ranboo, otherwise known as the avatar, for the past year that he’d been hunting him down! How does he apologize for trying to kill a man?
“Hey— Tommy here! No, that's stupid. Who would ever say that?” He grumbled and kicked a rock. “Hi! It’s the guy that hunted you down for several months! I just wanted to apologize and maybe teach you firebending?”
…
“Aren’t you gonna fuckin’ answer me, dickhead!” He shouted at the poor turtle duck. It got startled and ran away from him. “Yeah, I’d do that too if I were you..” He scratched the back of his head and sat on the floor.
—
“Ranboo, We need to have a serious conversation about what happens next.” Niki crossed her arms.
“Yeah-! If you want to defeat Fire Lord Phil, then we need to—“ Jack was cut off by Ranboo blatantly ignoring him and singing gods know what.
“Sorry! I can’t hear you! There’s a pretty cool song stuck in my head right now, it’s a banger dude!” Ranboo shouted.
“What do Those words even mean?” Niki asked.
“Probably some slang from 100 years ago.” Jack shrugged.
“Guys, I think this will have to wait. There’s a bit of a bigger problem.” Tubbo tugged on Niki’s shoulders and they all turned around. They were greeted with a sight they never hoped to see again. A sight littered with burn scars all over his body, and a giant one around his eye. A sight with bright blond hair, and dull gray eyes.
Prince Tommy.
“Hi.” He waved, and everyone got into their fighting stance.
“I know you’re all probably not pleased to see me here right now,” He took a deep breath. “And honestly, I don’t know what I’m doing either, but— I want to tell you I’ve changed, and I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything. For hunting Ranboo, hurting you, Tubbo, for sending an assassin after you—“
The group looked shocked. “That was You?!” Jack shouted. “You sent combustion man?!”
“He has a name… and it’s Drea—“
“Who cares if he has a name!” Tubbo rolled his eyes.
“I— well I came here to ask, if you let me, I’d like to teach the avatar,” He gestured to Ranboo. “firebending.”
“No!”
“No way!”
“No fuckin’ way bud.”
“No.”
All of them had said at the same time. Tommy sighed. “Then if you won’t accept me,” he knelt down. “Take me as your prisoner.” He held his hands out.
All of the Gang had looked at eachother, before Niki spoke up.
“You think you have the right to just walk on in here and— and— expect forgiveness! That’s not how it works!” She stomped her feet on the ground.
Tubbo frowned. “Tommy.. how can I trust you again.” He shook his head.
“Tubbo— I—“ Tommy started, but was cut off.
“Leave, Tommy.”
—
“Are you sure about this, Theseus?” Techno asked, looking up at Tommy.
Yes Tommy was fucking sure. He was extra sure! He had never been more sure in his life! The avatar was out there! He had to be.
Tommy touched the bandaging covering the scar that had been formed from the burn on his eye. A mark of shame. Forever tormented by it. He pulled his hand away. “Yes, Uncle. I am sure. He’s out there somewhere.”
“How do you know he’s out there?” Techno crossed his arms.
“I can sense it. Uncle, I will capture him and restore my honor.”
“Honor is a funny thing, Prince Theseus. Have I ever told you the tale of Theseus by the way?”
Tommy stayed silent, awaiting the story.
“He was exiled from his country. Then thrown off a cliff. Or fell off. Whichever you believe. He reminds me of you, Prince Tommy .”
Tommy took a shaky breath in. “Thank you uncle. I really needed that.” He shook his head, sarcasm dripping in his tone.
“You’re welcome!”
Tommy wiped a tear at the memory. When he was first banished this was the first place he searched. Now he has begged to join the avatar and failed. It was stupid! Why would he tell them he sent an assassin! If he had said Wilbur did it then we’d be fine right now wouldn’t we!
Who’s he kidding? He never even stood a chance.
—
“Tommy’s a dumbass if he thinks he’s tricking us like that.” Tubbo huffed. “It’s like back in Ba Sing Se! He tricked me— I thought he had actual emotions for once! Talking about his mother— it was all a trap! He wanted to kill Ranboo all along.”
“He wants to fool us into a trap! I know it!” Niki crossed her arms. They were all setting up for dinner, of course everyone lost their appetites after what happened but it’s good to eat anyway.
“Uhm, if i may add,” everyone looked to Ranboo, awaiting what he would say next. “Remember when you guys were asleep? And I got taken? Tommy— he, he saved me.”
Jack’s eyes widened and he added on, “And didn’t he save enderpearl!”
“A year of torment and crimes but— oh no! At least he didn’t add animal cruelty onto it!” Niki put a hand to her forehead and leaned back a bit to make it even more dramatic and get the point across.
“I don’t know— maybe one of us should go talk to him?” Jack suggested.
“Are you insane!” Niki shouted. “That’s a crazy idea! He’ll kidnap us— or something!”
“Yeah.. kidnap us.” Tubbo said reluctantly, looking down at the forest below the upside down Air Temple.
—
Tommy was asleep— well trying to sleep, on the floor of his sad tent. It wasn’t until he heard rustling from the bush that he opened his eyes, but didn’t look around. Someone was there.
There were footsteps and he shot up. “Who’s there-!” He shot fire all throughout the camp.
“Wait it’s me-!” He held up his arms and protected his face. He took a step back and accidentally stepped into the fire, then tripped on it as well.
“Wait—? Jack? Im sorry— let me help!” Tommy quickly got up and scrambled to get to him.
“No! Stay away!” And there it was. Jack ran off. Tommy sighed and fell to the floor.
“Why am I so bad at being good!”
—
“Hey, has anyone seen Jack?” Tubbo asked, and Niki shrugged while setting up the table.
“Help me!” Came a shout that sounded suspiciously a lot like previously said person.
They both turned around to see Jack running at them, then falling face flat on the floor. “My feet! It hurts to walk! Help-“ he panted “-me!”
Niki helped him sit up and Tubbo earthbended something for Jack to sit on. Niki helped Jack onto it and grabbed some water from her pouch.
“What happened?” Niki asked.
“My feet are burned!”
“Yeah, we see that, what happened?” Tubbo rolled his eyes.
“Oh— well, I may have gone to talk to Tommy last night. They all gasped at the revelation. Tubbo growled, “Now why on earth would you do that! You know how dangerous he is!”
“I thought— well— he was telling the truth! And we could talk somethings out! But— he burned me.” Jack sighed and crossed his arms.
“So he attacked you.” Niki jumped to conclusions.
“No-! Gods no! He— he was just startled.”
Niki and Tubbo looked at eachother, then Jack.
“But he did attack you.” Ranboo stood up and Jack sighed.
Niki and Tubbo both helped to lift him and place him on the edge of the fountain, placing his feat in the water he sighed in relief. “That feels so much better.”
Then. There was an explosion.
Then shouting.
“Stop!” Tommy’s voice boomed from far away. “Stop hunting the avatar!”
There were more explosions, then they all looked up to find Combustion Man being attacked by Tommy. “I— er— won’t pay you!” Many more angry explosions came their way and Tommy panicked. “I’ll pay you double to stop!”
Suddenly, combustion man turned around to look at Tommy and shot at him, blowing him off the air temple and down, down, down. The Gang were shocked. Tommy had— saved them? Or tried to at least.
They fought him off for as long as they could but it resulted in them hiding behind a wall from him. Then— Jack had an idea. A horrible one.
“Stand back guys.” He took his boomerang out from his backpack and threw it at Combustion Man, it temporarily knocked him out, but he just got back up again. The group frowned.
Combustion Man was loading up, and was about to shoot at them when— he just blew himself up! He went to shoot and it didn’t happen. Like spontaneous combustion.
When they turned around all they saw was Tommy climbing up from a vine.
—
“I know I have a lot to learn. And I didn’t explain myself well yesterday, I—“
“I want you to teach me firebending.” Ranboo spoke up, and everyone’s eyes widened. “You were meant to teach me. I know it. And Tommy, if the others are okay with it, you could join us.” Tommy looked around at the others, all of them, including Tubbo , had nodded. He’s been accepted. Finally, This is all he’d ever wanted.
“I won’t let you down!”
Everyone else had already walked away.
—
“Tommy. Are you sure hunting the avatar is your destiny?” Techno said, sipping his usual cup of tea.
“Uncle Techno. I’ve never been more sure in my life.” Tommy sighed.
“Tommy, have some tea with me.”