Chapter Text
Chayanne was Slain by-
Philza didn't read the rest of that message. He didn’t have to, he had seen it. Right in front of his eyes, he watched as his son was killed. His body was thrown back due to the impact of the axe. Chayanne's armour had already broken, pieces of his chest plate littered the floor, leaving his chest exposed, to which the axe tore through it. With tears in his eyes, Chayanne looked at Phil one last time before hitting the ground, dead.
A cry came from Phil as he rushed to his son's side, falling to his knees to cradle his body. Chayanne’s lips were slightly parted, his eyes dull. He looked nothing like the heroic adventurer he was just that morning, with a gaze that could move mountains and a smile that could make the grumpiest person laugh. All of that joy was drained and gone from Chayanne. He was expressionless, it pained Phil. Truly, he’d rather be stabbed than see Chayanne this way.
He desperately gripped his hand, squeezing it tight, in the hopes that some miracle would happen. That, just maybe, he would feel something back. That Chayanne would squeeze back, that Phil would look at his face to see that he was smiling, ready to get back on his feet and fight. To pick up his sword and face foes once again.
But there was nothing.
His hands were limp. The warmth from Chayanne’s body faded as sobs erupted from Phil.
A silence fell across the room as Cellbit swiftly walked to Tubbo. The criminal who held the axe, the axe that was covered in Chayanne’s blood. Cellbit grabbed onto his collar and lifted him up slightly. Forcing Tubbo's back to straighten and to get on his toes slightly.
“What the hell is wrong with you?!” Cellbit snapped, “Why would you kill Chayanne?” Tubbo dropped the axe, it made a deafening CLANKING sound when it hit the floor.
“Answer me! You knew he only had one life left, so why did you do that!” He added on, not bothering to mask his rage and anger. Still, he didn’t get a peep from Tubbo.
After witnessing what happened, Cellbit was ready to beat Tubbo black and blue. And he probably would have if it wasn’t for a light tug on his sleeve. In the corner of his eyes, he could see pink pigtails and lacy black bows. With little white horns pointing out of her hair, he knew it was Ironmouse. He didn’t have to hear or see her to know what she was thinking. So he lightened his grip on the somewhat terrified Tubbo. But he still held onto his shirt. Making it clear that he wasn't going to let go until he got the answers he wanted.
Ironmouse looked from Cellbit to Tubbo, her expression was a firm one. It was a mixture of confusion, fury, but above all else, disappointment.
When Tubbo was lifted by Cellbit, he didn’t feel ashamed. When he watched Phil hold the deceased body of his son, he didn’t feel guilty. And when he swung his axe into Chyanne’s chest, feeling the blood splatter on his face, he didn't feel much. And yet, Ironmoue’s look dropped all of that onto him, guilt, shame, remorse and nausea. It was only at Ironmoue’s look did he released what he had done.
He wished he could say something, explain the difficult situation he found himself in, the hot water he was in with the Federation. That Cucurucho had held him at gunpoint, telling him if he didn't do what he said he'd be in a grave, buried alive, never to be seen again. But he couldn't, because he knew if he did then Cucurucho would put a bullet smack dab in the middle of his forehead. But besides, it's not like he could physically speak. If Tubbo did he might have just hurled.
So he stayed silent, looking down on the ground, one of a shy child that's just wet the bed, tail between his legs as he told his parent.
Ironmouse’s hand returned to her side before her gaze moved over to Phil. Still on the floor, holding the limp body of Chayanne. She then turned her head and spotted another figure, comforting Phil, Jaiden. Her dark wings mixed with Phil’s creating a blanket of feathers. Ironmouse couldn’t tell which wing belonged to whom if it wasn’t for a splash of blue in Jaiden’s.
Phil stood up, Chayanne’s body in his hand. Jaiden followed after him, standing up, hand on his shoulder. No words were spoken between the two.
What was there to say?
So the only noise that filled the room were their footsteps, then the front door opening, then the door closing. Leaving a heated Cellbit, a regretful Tubbo and a disappointed Ironmouse.
Tallulah stood, back to the wall. She had seen the message, she had heard the screaming from the house. She hoped, she prayed that it wasn’t true. That it was a mistake, that her eyes and ears were deceiving her. That she was due for an ear check, and that she might need glasses. And when she heard the front door to the house opening and saw Jaiden and Phil, she really did think she might be getting those glasses.
But then she saw him, she saw Chayanne. Bloodied up, clothes torn, motionless and cold. She shelved the idea of those glasses, cause her eyes weren’t wonky, no, they were perfectly fine.
But never in her life did she wish that wasn’t the case.
Phil looked to Tallulah, before looking back down at the grass beneath him, continuing to walk. Jaiden meanwhile stopped when she saw the poor girl. She looked to Phil’s melancholy ambering before looking back at Tallulah, still shocked and horrified. Without thinking twice Jaiden bent down and took her in her arms before lifting her up. She then continued after Phil, just a few feet behind him. Giving herself enough room so if he spread his wings she wouldn’t get hit.
They travelled up a steep hill, the rough dirt path made gripping hard for Jaiden, especially with a brittle child in her arms. She felt like her boots would slide off and she would tumble down. But she tried to be as level as possible as she walked, using her wings to steady herself. And if she did end up falling on her back, she could use her wings as a cushion, plan B of sorts. Luckily she never had to come to that plan B as she made it to the top without a fall.
She continued to follow Phil, now on flatter smoother dirt. She regretted not asking him where they were going beforehand, and not just following him like some lost duck. And she wondered if it was right to ask him after walking behind him all this way.
Jaiden looked behind her, she could still clearly see the house, they really hadn’t walked that far. She turned back and was about to ask Phil but he stopped. The spruce trees above them created dappled sunlight. Jaiden could feel the shade, it was cool on her skin. The dappled light made little spots on Jaiden, creating pockets of gold on her clothing. It was quite a contrast, especially with her black hoodie, she then looked up to see that same dappled light in Phil.
She watched as Phil set Chayanne down, back supported by a rock. Jaiden sighed before feeling a small tug on her shirt, she looked down to see a crying Tallulah. She pointed to the ground and Jaiden obliged, setting her down. Tallulah’s shoes hit the ground, and specials of dirt, as fine as dust, came up due to the impact. It created a little brown cloud before she ran to Phil. She grabbed onto his hand and just looked.
Looked at the once brave and kind warrior. The one who protected her till the end of the Earth. The one who took her hand and promised to be her knight until the end. The one whose sword was almost as sharp as his wits and smile. All of that was gone, he was now dead.
Tallulah leaned onto Phil, she squeezed his hand, and he squeezed back. He then bent down and hugged her tight, she didn’t even know she was crying until she was whipping away her tears. Tallulah started the bawl as her little hands grabbed onto Phil's shirt, crying into him. He tried to comfort her as they both looked upon the body.
The air was crisp, just a few hours earlier Tallulah and Chyanne were giggling together. Phil had looked at the two with a sweet smile painted on, watching as the two held hands and talked about what game they would play next. Those games would never be played between them though, no matter how much Tallulah wished.
Chyanne would never hold his sword again, he'd never go on another adventure, he'd never hear another story that Phil had to tell. He'd never be able to do any of those things.
˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚
Cellbit glared at Tubbo, hand still gripping his shirt collar. "Well, I'm waiting arrombado," He frowned, ready to smash the boy’s face to the ground at any moment
"I- Look, man, it’s a long story-" Tubbo fumbled on his words, he was just glad he was able to say those few words without throwing up. Cellbit on the other hand was, less than pleased at the vague answer. He wanted a straight answer, and he wanted one now.
Tubbo could see the fury in his eyes, the rage and the anger. He had to say something, and something quick. So he sputtered something out, “I’m re-really sorry, I wish I could tell you but believe me, you’ll have to wait and stuff…!”
“ Wait ? You want me to fucking wait for why you killed Chyanne! Are you that big of an idiot to think that?” He cried. Tubbo turned his head to the side and shut his eyes, unable to look at Cellbit in the face.
“Cellbit,” Ironmouse said, calling for his attention. “He’s clearly not going to say anything else so let go of him,” Cellbit looked at her mouth slightly ajar, eyes wide in confusion. However that initial shock melted away and it quickly froze up again, becoming anger. Not to Tubbo but to Ironmouse. His eyes narrowed at her, and with a hand still gripping Tubbo he started to yell.
“Are you serious? You and I saw the same thing, sí?”
“Sí Cell,” Ironmouse looked to the side, she had a pretty good idea of what he would say.
“Then why are you letting the criminal off?”
“Because he’s not going to say anything else, he’s not going to give up any information. And besides,” She looked from Cellbit to Tubbo, who looked equally as confused and curious as to where this conversation was going. “Something tells me that the federation put him up to this,” She watched as Tubbo’s face twisted into one that’s been caught. His eyes evaded Ironmouse’s and to the ground, his shoulders relaxing and slumping down.
Cellbit felt his body relaxing and looked back at Tubbo, his face looked numb, a sombre expression is what Cellbit saw. He could feel his face relaxing too as his cheeks and eyes dulled and softened. He looked back to Ironmouse before sighing. The grip he had on Tubbo lightened before finally letting go.
Tubbo stumbled back slightly, gripping the floor for a bit before straightening his back. Glancing at Cellbit before Ironmouse, to which she met his gaze. Something that caught him off guard.
“Tubbo,”
“Mouse…” Tubbo mentally cursed at himself at how squeaky his voice sounded. He felt like some kid just going through puberty, having voice cracks at the most inconvenient of times.
“The Federation is batshit crazy, but why would you kill Chyanne?”
“I… I had no choice,” He choked out, frantic to find the right words.
“Do you not have the backbone to say no?!” She snapped back, that question felt like an arrow to Tubbo’s heart. He was frozen.
Seeing this Ironmouse continued. “Are you now the Federation’s bitch? A dog doing whatever its owner says? Is that you, a dumb dog? A dog doing nothing but chasing its own tail and running after a ball that was never thrown?”
Tubbo looked at her speechless, he wanted to argue back. He wanted to prove her wrong and scold her for comparing him to some stupid mutt in his mind. To ask if she really had the audacity to talk to a person who’d just killed a person moments before, to treat them with such disrespect. He wanted to mock her and ask if she really heard herself, if she knew she was playing with fire. And to maybe threaten her, to ask if she wanted an axe in her chest too.
But he wasn’t holding the axe anymore.
And he didn’t feel like picking it up, instead, he was scared. And if wanted to be frank with himself, he almost felt more silly than scared. Silly to be scared of a girl with massive pink drills and who looked like she’d just taken a dolphin dive into a vat of bright ribbons and dyes. However, he quickly shot that thought down when he took in her face.
She had a hand on her hip, her weight was on her left leg. She stared at Tubbo, and that made all the moister from his mouth disappear. He was dry of any response. And they both knew that.
Seeing the fear Ironmouse had shot into Tubbo if she had to be honest, she was proud of herself. Seeing his shitless look brought a small smug smile to her face.
Then there was Cellbit, he looked on at all of this. He ruffled his hair as his gaze switched from Ironmouse to Tubbo. He felt like he was watching a child getting in trouble with their parent. Like he was trying to sneak out and they’d just been caught and Cellbit had come downstairs innocently only to walk directly into a crime scene. He chuckled to himself slightly as he reminded himself that just a few seconds earlier he was the one that was scolding Tubbo. He shrugged, deciding that Ironmouse could take over the yelling and lecturing.
“Here’s what we’re going to do,” Ironmouse started, “You are going to stay with me and Jaiden, okay?” Tubbo only nodded his head, still unable to get a word out.
“This is so we can keep a close eye on you, I don’t know for how long but at least for a week, we don’t want you killing any more eggs.” Tubbo nodded again, he thought that was the whole thing, that it’d stop at that. And for Ironmouse, he’d be correct. However, Cellbit had other ideas.
“Hey, Rata, can I add something to that?” He asked looking back at her.
“Sure,”
“Alright,” Cellbit took in a breath before making eye contact with Tubbo. “You are going to hand over your backpack,” Cellbit reached out a gloved hand. Tubbo looked at him, he all of a sudden he felt like his backpack was the most pressure thing on earth as if it was of solid gold. He wanted to grip the straps, he wanted to pull it closer to his body, but reluctantly he didn’t. Instead, he took it off, slipping it off his shoulders and handing it to Cellbit. He watched as the man took the backpack in his hands and opened it. He looked through what Tubbo stored, looking at what he had placed in his bag. Tubbo didn’t have anything embarrassing in his bag, it was the very standard items, and yet he couldn’t help but cringe as he watched Cellbit rummaging through.
Cellbit didn’t pull anything out, he simply closed the bag and glared at Tubbo before handing the bag to Ironmouse. She gripped the back before placing it in an ender chest. The sight made Tubbo mentally groan.
“Okay, you’re not going to get your bag back until we can trust you,”
“Alright man,” Tubbo said, finally being able to get a word out. Those words were passive, with a tint of sarcasm and apathy. Cellbit heard those notes of sarcasm, but he chose not to mention them.
“Now, Mouse,” Cellbit looked to Ironmouse, who sat on the ender chest, legs crossed. “Is it okay if I stay the night?”
“Huh? Do you wanna keep an extra eye on him?”
“Yes, yes I do,” He nodded. Ironmouse leaned over and looked at Tubbo. He stood somewhat sheepishly, looking around the house.
“Sure, I don’t see why not,” She shrugged. Cellbit gave a thankful smile before turning around and looking at Tubbo.
“You’ll have three people looking over you tonight, do you know that?”
“Yep…” Tubbo nodded, “I got that King,”
“King? Who’s king?” Ionmouse looked to see Jaiden. She stepped through the door and it closed behind her. She looked at the three, before making her way over to Ironmouse who greeted her with a massive smile.
“Oh my god, Jai!” She greeted with a smile, Jaiden reciprocated that smile and Ironmouse scooted to the edge to make room for her.
“So uhh… What’s happening?” Jaiden asked sitting down.
“Me and Tubbo are spending the night,” Cellbit replied as he took a few steps to Tubbo.
“Ohh, guest? I wasn’t expecting any,” She giggled, Ironmouse gave a grin too.
“It’ll be fine, don’t worry, we’ll behave, right?” He then spun around and grabbed Tubbo’s shoulder. Pulling him closer the two men looked at Jaiden and Ironmouse who sat looking up at them. Tubbo was taken aback by the action, he looked at Cellbit and then Jaiden with confusion before being able to squeak something out.
“Right, I’ll be good-” Not a second after those words entered the air, Cellbit dropped Tubbo. Causing him to trip a bit falling back a few steps. Ironmouse giggled at the action while Jaiden looked to the side.
“I’ll get the sleeping bags out for you two…”