Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Thanks for the help but i probably didn’t need it. I could have totally knocked him out on my own”

Willow said condoscendingly. She actually wasn’t so sure of that considering Tigry was bigger and probably stronger than her, she just happend to have more battle IQ.

“It looked like you were getting into a little trouble there. Are you sure you didn’t need my help?”

Player tilted their head and raised their brow as they recall quite well Willow wasn’t doing that great in the fight.

“Look, i gave you my thanks. I don’t know what more you want from me, buddy”

“How about an essay as an apology?”

Player smirked and crossed their arms on their chest to which Willow rolled her eyes in annoyance although she had to admit it was a bit funny. And stupid.

“Alright, now you’re pushing it.”

Player was having quite a laugh out of Willows annoyance but suddenly a thought popped up in their head.

“Is… Is Tigry going to be okay..?”

The both of them stopped and just stared at each other. Willow was thinking about it for moment before shrugging.

“He’ll be fine I’m sure. I don’t think he’ll wake up untill after we’re out of here though.”

Suddenly, Player felt an unpleasant feeling in their chest. It was strange, especially considering it was Tigry, the guy who tried to get rid of them just a few days ago.

And yet… It didn’t feel right to leave him there. Not while he was injured, not while there was an infected, mutated pig out there.

“Willow..? No offense but i don’t think it’s a good idea to just… Leave him there…”

Player voiced their concerns and Willow seemed a bit dumbfounded at first but quickly shook her head and scoffed.

“I don’t care what happens to traitors alright? He can rot in there for all i care for.”

That wasn’t true at all. But Willow tried to tell herself that it was. If they saved him he would probably just take advantage of them again… Yeah that’s right. It was better to just leave him there

Fuck… Player knew just trying to argue with Willow was pointless. She wouldn’t back down from her position, even if both of them knew she was wrong. So instead they tried a diffrent aproach.

“But just think of it. What if he gets infected? We have enough infected as it is, we don’t need a big, strong tiger running around trying to get us. Atleast while he’s alive he won’t infect any of us.”

Willow growled quietly but had to admit they were right. Tigry wasn’t just a regular guy, he was bigger and probably stronger than both of them, he could cause quite some trouble.

And besides, they might be enemies now but… It wasn’t always like this. They had their fair share of good memories. And even a traitor doesn’t deserve a fate like this right?

“Ugh fine, we’ll get that incompetent tiger out of here but we better do it quick before that thing George calls his ‘sister’ gets us.”

—

So they got to work. Neither of them expected Tigry to weight so much but with a bit of teamwork they menaged to get him out of the lab where their group has been waiting for them.

“Here they are!”

Willow and Player could hear Mimi’s voice from behind the trees and snow. They could make out the faint silhouettes that got more clear as they got closer.

“Hey it’s so good to see you all agai- Woahhh..!”

Giraffy’s extatic voice faded as he noticed the tiger that was carried by the two. For a few seconds that felt like hours they were all just sharing looks of worry, suspiction and curiousity.

“We don’t have much time, we have to get somewhere safe.”

Player states firmly and they all just noded without asking much questions.

Chapter Text

Tigry felt dizziness swirl in his head he started to wake up. Darkness and silence surrounded him and first and he was about to ask himself if he was dead untill his senses came back to normal.

Now he could see more clearly and hear the faint chatter in the distance but with his eyes and ears his nervous system also came back to life and he felt pain go through his entire body making him whimper quietly.

„Look, look! He’s awake! I told you he’s not dead!”

Tigry heard a childlike, enthustiastic voice coming from nearby and as his eyes adjust he makes out two silhouettes of small zebras. He remembers them from after he left the factory.

„He’s awake? Oh great, i won’t have to feel like im treating a corpse anymore.”

He heard the slightly bitter yet fond tone in the distance and he couldn’t belive he was saying it but he was glad to hear Katie’s voice.

Soon enough he saw her but unlike most times it wasn’t in the grey clothing TSP members wore most of the time, it was in some sort of a white, hospital uniform.

Tigry wanted to say something, ask how did he get here, where were they but he couldn’t quite find the strenght to speak. And then a scary thought creeped into his mind.

Was he infected..?

He was weak, likely injured and unconcious where that mutated pig was at, it would be no suprise if it had attacked him in that state.

„Alright, so i see no serious injuries exept a torn tendon near your right ankle and a few larger wounds, you’ll live.”

Tigry almost sighed with relief, maybe he wasn’t infected after all. But that didn’t change the fact that he was weak and in pain. And in the presence of the most sarcastic nurse ever but that was a whole another topic.

„Unfortunaly i fear i will. Also where is my shirt?”

Right. He had just realized that he was shirtless, probably to treat to wounds on his arms and chest but that didn’t make it any less akward, especially with two baby zebras watching from the corner.

„It’s in the laundry, i don’t think it has been washed in a looong while so be grateful it is. But fear not we have a spare one for you.

ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ’ʟʟ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ꜰɪᴛ ɪɴ ɪᴛ…”

Tigry could hear the comment that Katie probably just made for her own amusment rather than a jab at his size but he rolled his eyes in response nonetheless.

He grabbed the shirt that was laying on the nearby chair and put it on, lucklily it wasn’t too tight so it was probably his or Baren’s. Or a shirt that didn’t belong to anyone and they have just found it here.

„Girls, do you mind leaving the room for a small while? I promise you can visit Mr Striped Cat later.”

Katie called out to the two zebras who, after exchanging disapointed looks, followed her order and climbed up the stairs to the hall, leaving the two of them alone.

„Heh… Willow really beat your ass didn’t she?”

Tigry growled, the tip of his tail twitching in annoyance.

„Im fine. Besides, i gave her a damn good beating to alright?”

Tigry hissed back.

„Speaking of which, where is she anyway?”

Right. He hasn’t seen Willow since the fight in the lab. Was she infected? Hopefully not… Just because they were enemies didn’t mean she deserved something like that…

Lucklily his worry was stopped as Katie shrugged and replied.

„She’s on a supply run, should be back any moment.”

…

„Are the others also here..?”

Tigry asked. God, how he wishes he could see more familar faces soon. He wasn’t sure why he was so desperate, maybe it was because he was injured, maybe he just missed them but he wanted to see them again.

„Well Felix, Willow and Camill are on a supply run but yes, the rest is here. You wanna see them?”

„Very much.”

Chapter Text

It has quite the struggle going up the stairs with a freshly torn tendon and ten minutes since literally being unconcious but Tigry menaged to get up to the hall of the building.

He wasn’t sure where they were, it looked like a huge cinema mixed with a restaurant which wasn’t so bad exept the fact it was pretty dark.

They could hear a faint chatter from the distance that soon got louder as they approached the room with some of the members gathered.

„Ohhhh look who’s finally back!”

Baren called out from the table he was sitting on at the time and all the faces turned towards him and Katie. As much as he was glad to see them all he still wasn’t too fond of having all the attention on him.

“Are you okay?! Katie told us you were injured…”

Kitty asked with concern as if he isn’t wrapped up in bandages and other stuff but Tigry decided to just shook his head and mutter.

“Im fine, really, i just have to rest a little.”

Everyone seemed reliefed with that information. He was still a bit upset that he wouldn’t be able to help around their new hideout but maybe resting once in a while wouldn’t be so bad.

„Anywho… I made us dinner! I bet’cha you’re super hungry aren’t you?”

Kitty announced and Tigry realized she was right. He wasn’t sure how long he was out for but he was starving.

„Wait, aren’t we gonna wait for Willow, Camil and Felix?”

Player asked and as if some devine force heard them suddenly they heard the front door open. Tigry stared intesively and soon enough Felix and Camil stepped into the room and right behind them… Willow.

Chapter Text

Tigry wasn’t sure what to think when he saw Willow. On one hand she hurt him greatly, both phisically and emotionaly, but on the other, she used to be his friend and she brought him here, she saved him from that monster back in the lab.

Willow felt simmilar. Seeing him bandaged up because of her was strange, even if she herself was kind of hurt. But this was no time for emotion thinking, logic thinking is needed here and it tells me that tiger is dangerous.

“Willow! Welcome back! Did you guys find anything interesting?”

Kitty’s voice snapped both of them out of their thoughts and Willow was about to reply but then Felix butted in.

“Well I found a limited edition package of cereals that i WILL be keeping. This is a real treasure!”

Of course, Felix wouldn’t be Felix if he didn’t constantly say or do stupid shit but everyone in the TSP was already very used to it.

“Right… Well we also got some fairly decent food.”

Willow patted the bag hanging by her side indicating thats where the food was stored and soon proving it by walking over to one of the tables and taking it out.

“Anyways, i heard you made dinner eh? Show me what you got, im starvin’”

Soon enough everyone gathered around the two tables that were set in their hideout and Kitty, with the help of Pearl, set up the tables.

“Eat up everyone! We’ve found enough food to have a real feast!”

Tigry didn’t really like that. It seemed like a real waste of food to eat more than you phisically need but he’d hate to upset her so he got to it.

He wasn’t really focused on his meal, instead looking around to seeing what others were up to, Katie checking up with Girraffy, Baren and Felix joking around and… Willlow. Who didn’t seem to be eating at all.

Tigry knew all too well what that could be caused by and what it could cause and despite the tension between them not lessening he felt uneasy about that.

After some time all the members of the Safe Silver, a name that they apparently came up for the new group, started gettinf up and leaving, thankfully though, Willow seemed to be too deep in her thoughts to go.

“Are you not gonna eat?”

Tigry asked when everyone left. Willow raised her head to look at him and didn’t say anything for quite a while. The air felt suffocating but she finally spoke.

“Im not hungry.”

“Liar, you said you were starving before the dinner started.”

“…”

Willow paused, not expecting Tigry to actually pay attention to what she said.

“I really hate how observant you are. Have i ever told you that?”

“Multiple times. But you’ve also told me how much you like it so i don’t take comments from you too personally. Either way, i know there’s somethings wrong, you never just leave your food like that.”

Willow sighed and looked down at her food. It looked ugly and sickening, the last thing she wanted to do is eat it. Not after everything she has done, not after how many animals she had hurt, not after she hurt Tigry.

A part of her wanted to tell Tigry about it all, how she was sorry, how much she wants this tension to disappear but she couldn’t. They weren’t as close as they used to be before.

“Ugh, stop it will you? Im fine, i’ll eat later.”

Willow got up from her chair and turned to walk away, leaving Tigry on his own. For a second he thought about following her but he figured she wanted to be alone right now.

He kept sitting in his chair for a couple more seconds, just processing everything before deciding to get up and go back to the basement that Katie made her office in.

Chapter Text

“Alright, since it seems you’re mostly fine i think its safe to say you can live in your own room now.”

Katie stated layed back on her chair, looking almost reliefed to have Tigry out of her office.

“There’s an empty room on the first floor, i heard they’ve even prepared a matress for you so you don’t sleep on the floor how thoughtful… Here, catch.”

She swiftly threw the key to the room towards him.

“Thanks i suppose… And thanks for.. You know taking care of me.”

“Its just part of the job, now get out before this gets too cheesy.”

Right. Katie was a nurse that’s… that’s just her job. Tigry sighed and with the keys in his hand he left the office, heading upstairs.

The room wasn’t big but it wasn’t too small, the mattress still easily fit there along with a small table.

Tigry walked over to the mattress and layed down with a sigh. It wasn’t as comfortable as the one in Katie’s office but it would do.

It’s been a day since his talk with Willow and although she wasn’t skipping meals anymore he noticed she did eat less and that made him worried.

‘Ugh grow up Tigry it’s none of your bussienss. She doesn’t even like you anymore why should you be concerned about her?’

He thought but the worry didn’t leave, infact it was starting to get worse with every second untill he finally couldn’t take it anymore and got up to leave the room.

Tigry headed downstairs to the main hall and started looking for Willow but he found… suprisingly noone. Exept Pony.

He still didn’t have any positive feelings towards him. He left them, abandoned them, what a pussy. But he was apart of their group now. Again.

“Where are the others?”

Tigry walked up to Pony who almost jumped in suprise, quickly turning around to face him.

That tiger… He was so stealthy it drove Pony insane. He almost felt guilty that they were basically strangers now. Strangers with memories and yet still strangers.

“Im not sure… If they’re not there then maybe they’re on a supply run..?”

Pony replied, trying to keep his voice calm but Tigry didn’t budge, he just squinted his eyes and huffed.

“Supply runs don’t just take our whole crew away, there’s NOBODY in the building, like they all just disapeared. You didn’t see them heading out anywhere?”

„No…”

The silence between them felt suffocating, atleast for Pony. He looked aroud nervously hoping to see atleast one other member but noone was around.

Not only was the tension uncomfortable but he was starting to get worried. Where did they go?

„But im sure they’ll be back soon.”

Pony continued, reassuring mostly him rather than Tigry who just sighed heavily and settled besides him. The main hall was the closest to the entrance, if they were to come back he wanted to know imidiately… even if it meant spending god knows how long next to a traitor.

———

Time passed quietly, the teo of them searched the whole building but even after the sun started setting there didn’t seem to be anyone around. Tigry was starting to actually get worried and Pony? He was pretty much loosing his mind by now.

“Are you sure they’ll be alright..? Why would they even leave all together? Did we miss something..?-“

“It’s gonna be fine.”

Tigry interrupted Pony sternly. The last thing he needed was the other man spiraling which out loud, would probably end in him doing so to. They needed to stay calm.

However it really wasn’t working as Pony suddenly sat down on the floor and burried his face in his knees.

“No, no, no, no, no! This has to be a bad dream! They-they probably left us or worse! Something bad happend to them!”

His breath started to speed up as he kept rambling his concerns out loud. Tigry just watched, squinting his eyes in annoyance but also… sympathy.

“I’ve already told you, they’ll be fine. And don’t act like leaving is such a big deal. It clearly wasn’t for you when you left us. When you left me.”

Pony glanced over at Tigry, his eyes were glassy from holding back tears and he shook his head in embarrassment. Of course he’d being that up. And out of all moments he had to chose this one.

“Tigry i… I’m sorry okay?! But you’ve seen what Willow is capable of! She’s… she’s not a good person. And i could not stand being around someone this cruel.”

Tigry felt his heart sink and he was left speechless for a moment. Deep, deep inside he knew Pony was right and this wasn’t the first time Willow has hurt others for seemingly dumb reasons.

But the feelings were still there. The grief after Pony’s disapearance, the bittersweet admiration towards Willow… Even if she wasn’t a good person she was still always there for him and before he left to find the cure he could never imagine leaving her side.

“… You could have told me you know? About how you wanted to leave, atleast give me a sign. Not just vanish into thin air.”

“You know you wouldn’t let me leave.”

Damnit he’s smarter than Tigry thought. After loosing Rash to the infection he subconciously became a bit overprotective, not to mention scared of loosing more people dear to him.

“I suppose you’re right…“

Tigry wanted to mention how worried he was about Pony but he decided not to.
The room fell silent for a couple moments before Pony murmured.

“Tigry i… i don’t want to be your enemy. I know it will probably he hard for you to forgive me for what i have done and we don’t have to be friends again but… let’s atleast end things on good terms.”

He pondered for a moment, thinking of how should he handle this. Ever since the silver paw and the safe place started working together he either avoided him or spat out sarcastic comments in his direction.

“No… It’s not fair on your side… You didn’t mean bad, you just did what felt the safest to you. Running away… I can’t say i don’t know how that feels…”

Pony noded silently. He knew a thing or two about Tigry’s past and how he ran away but on the inside he was suprised the tiger didn’t seem to hate him.

“So… I suppose we could, maybe, be friends again… But it’s still gonna take alot to work you know that right?”

Pony’s eyes shined a little brighter at the suggestion and it took alot of self control to not start jumping in happiness. Instead he slowly stood up and replied.

“I know. But i’ll do what i have to do to-“

“Hey yall! We’re back!!!”

Pony was interrupted by a boice coming from the front door and as the teo of them turned around there was Kitty standing there and behind her was the whole group.

“Where the hell were you all?!”

Tigry hissed, trying to hide how anxious he was about their disapearance

“Oh yeah sorry about that but Zee and Zuzy ran out to play outside and got lost so we had to organize a search party. But they’re all safe now.”

Baren explained and Pony felt a pang of anxiety as he mention of the teo foals getting lost but was ultimately comforted by the fact they were found.

“It was SO scary!! Especially for Zee! She was terrified!”

Zuzy exclaimed but Zuzy looked… unfased to say the least, even a bit annoyed at her sister’s words.

“Yeah and we were pretty sure you two were sleeping so we didn’t want to wake you up”

Katie shrugged and walked inside along with the other member who slowly started to go back to their usual duties.

But Tigry wasn’t planning on doing anything else than talking to Willow. After a short moment he spotted her, silently and quickly walking away and he decided to follow her.

Willow headed to the rooftop and sat down beside the edge, just staring up at the sky although the clouds were blocking any sort of view.

“Willow, we have to talk.”