Chapter Text
Sunny teleported away, leaving her father with his awful armor and their unfinished home to defend himself. It was her birthday. Things were supposed to be perfect.
Staring intently at her communicator, she waited for the all-clear. She was used to Pa spamming messages when they were separated so the silence was eery until the beat dropped. The death notification sent her flying for the door, even though she wasn’t meant to go outside. Sitting in that black box while her father died was unacceptable. Chay would think her a coward. Llulah would think her a snob, wasting the chance of a Pa when some pas never even show up. Sunny’s first instinct was to get her Pa back up, that was what she always did.
She was between the door and the hidden exit when his voice called out. He had died. She wasn’t fast enough to revive him. He had died but was still alive. The immortality of the parents was so odd to her, especially when she heard rumors of men who had perished.
“Poppet, get back in here.”
His voice wasn’t quite frantic, but his breathing was. She hugged him, but he just grabbed her hand to open the locked door. She looked at him painfully but he smiled the classic Tubbo smile.
“I didn’t kill him, I’ll be right back.” He ran out the door, haphazardly placing the hiding blocks. “Stay put!”
Sunny sat on the ground, not even thinking about the blanket concert dust that would get on her skirt. All she could do was pout, it was keeping her from sobbing. Why couldn’t fit be here to protect her and her dad? He was supposed to be there so that her dad wouldn’t have to die. She hated herself a little for thinking that way. Ramon didn’t deserve to have his dad put at risk either, but the way Fit talked made it seem like that was always the way of things. She barely knew the boy, but she would never wish that pain on someone.
♡ ♡ ♡
Pa was on fire, pulling himself out of the lava after declaring it was safe. Sunny wasn’t so sure of that anymore. She stayed with one hand on the door but he told her it was fine. She was fine. She just needed to come out of the bunker. She took his hand reluctantly and followed him back to the foundation of their house, completely ruined. Outside of her Pa being alive, all she really, truly wanted was a house to live in. She boasted and bolstered about waiting and having access to so much more, but all her heart genuinely desired was a house for her and her Pa. That damn code ruined that.
Tubbo placed a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Poppet. We were just getting started anyway.”
She scrunched her nose. “What if this means we shouldn’t build here?”
“Ay! Nah… This is my land. Our land. Our home.”
Sunny could only manage a nod. She didn’t want to think about the code. She didn’t want to think about anything like that. She saw what it did to people. She tried not to think about the fact that up until recently the only safe space she had was her little trailer. She didn’t want to think about the NINHO. She didn’t want to think about the tiny, concrete box her father made to protect them. She didn’t want to think about the fact that her father was on edge for the first time in the month she had lived with him.
♡ ♡ ♡
“Material girl, it’s time for bed,” Tubbo said as he scooped up the tired girl. “Did you have a good early birthday?”
Tiredly, she nodded. As she curled up in bed, she grabbed his face. He tried his best not to cry, but he couldn’t help the few tears that welled in his eyes. He knew what was coming next. He had only escaped for so long and he was meant to go back to Egg Island in the morning.
“I’ll see you tomorrow cause you ain’t leaving me…”
“Sunny,” He paused. “Poppet, you might not see me tomorrow.”
He hated that he had to say it. After today’s attack. After having her birthday early. His body quickly turned to lead. He never wanted to leave the Rom.
“No. I will.” She said, shaking her head, her curls bouncing almost violently.
He stopped for a second and sat on his own bed. It was all too much for a nineteen-year-old. This was all too much. In the month he had been a father, Sunny had become his life. He didn’t know what to tell her.
“I’ll try to wake you up before they come and get me for Purgatory.”
“No!” She shouted. “You’re staying.”
Tears were rolling down her cheeks and Tubbo’s only viable response was to hug her.
“I- no… ok…” He muttered but it didn’t matter, the little girl had cried herself to sleep.
Tubbo rested her back down on her bed, then went back to sitting on his. He knew he’d be gone by the time she woke. It was that gut feeling that came with everything related to Purgatory. He didn’t want to think about it too much. He had just cleaned himself up… Just gotten the blood and dirt out from under his nails. He just now felt like he was understanding how to be a father. He was just now starting to build his forever home. Nothing was forever though, especially not peace. He drifted off to sleep but he did not dream pleasantly. He only had fears of losing Sunny to the monster that was himself.