Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Tommy was doing fine. Dream was in the prison, the server was recovering, and Tommy was too. It had taken Tommy a while to undo all of the mental conditioning he had gone through in exile.

But with his friends at his side, he felt comfortable making his own choices. He felt safe again, he was able to be loud and scream and just… be himself!

He was happy again. He hadn’t been happy for a long time.

(The memories from exile, Pogtopia, L’mamburg, war after war after war, his three canon deaths, and his revival would never go away. But he was able to smile again. Dream was gone forever.)

But nothing ever went Tommy’s way for long.

Tommy was out on a walk, happily taking in nature’s beauty, when the world came crashing down.

The sirens blared and Tommy heard screaming. (Was he the one screaming? He was alone, after all.)

The shrill ringing echoed across the server, a cacophony of sirens mixed with his screams and whimpers overwhelming his brain.

This had happened before, there had been a false alarm before. Maybe the prison was just running a test! Tommy knew this, he knew that Dream could never escape the prison. It was inescapable!

There were so many security measures! (He had seen them first hand when he was locked in the prison with Dream, when Dream beat him to dea-)

Tommy was fine, everything was fine, he knew he just had to run back home! Just calm down, Dream was not out of the prison. He couldn’t be!

It was not possible. (Not probable, but Tommy knew that anything was possible.)

He was just so afraid to see that white mask again, to see the smile, to revert back to the horrible state he had been in during exile.

Tommy slumped over against a tree and sat down on the ground, tugging at his hair with his hands.

He squeezed his eyes shut and took deep breaths. In for- fuck, what was it? In for seven, hold for four, out for eight? Good enough.

After what may have been a few seconds or might have been a couple of hours, the sirens stopped. All Tommy could hear was the soft chirping of the birds and the wind whistling through the trees.

Everything was fine! Dream hadn’t come to get him, to kill him. Tommy was safe.

He took a shuttering breath and stood up on shaky legs. He didn’t want to go home. He didn’t want to be alone.

Tommy decided that he was going to go to Snowchester, to visit Tubbo and Ranboo. They were always there for him, and they must have been scared too.

Tommy was going to check on them. That’s what he was going to tell them anyway. Tommyinnit was a big man, he was brave, he didn’t need to cuddle with his friends to calm down after being terrified that his murderous abuser was out to get him aga-

Shut up. Tommy was doing just fine.

He let out a breath that he didn’t know he was holding and started the walk to Snowchester.

Tommy let his mind drift, taking step after step, one foot after another.

Maybe Tubbo and Ranboo would let him stay for a while. A sleepover. That would be fun! (Tommy hated feeling alone, being alone. Just like in exile when he had a party and no one came, none of them truly cared enough about him.)

No, no, they cared. They just hadn’t known what was happening! They never even got the party invitation. Tommy was not alone. He-

A soft rustling from a bush caused Tommy to flinch. He gasped, and to his surprise, he heard a soft whimper come from the shrub.

“Hello?” he called out.

Tommy did not receive a response. It was just an animal, then. Tommy turned to leave, when he was certain he heard whatever was in the bush cry out. The noise was immediately muffled, cut off as if someone had forcibly stopped themself from making noise, so Tommy was suspicious.

Even though he was completely on edge, he was curious.

“Hello?” he repeated. “Come out here!”

The bush rustled and Tommy whipped out a diamond sword from his inventory.

Slowly, a figure emerged. Tommy braced himself for an attack, but squinted his eyes reflexively.

When he realized no one was running towards him, he dared to open his eyes.

He did not expect to see a person cowering on the ground, tucked into a ball with their head practically hidden. They were covering the back of their head with their hands, which were missing a couple of fingers. The few fingers that the person did have were missing fingernails.

He assumed that their hair was light brown, but he couldn’t confirm or deny that because their hair was so matted with blood and grime that he couldn’t make out very many individual strands.

The clothes they were wearing were crimson with bloodstains, and it reminded Tommy of how his red and white baseball shirts had never stayed white for long during exile.

But it had never gotten so bad that he couldn’t see the original color of the shirt. He was always able to get new clothes before it got that bad.

There were gashes cut all over their sleeves, exposing small amounts of skin. Tommy could see burns and cuts and so much blood that he couldn’t stand to look anymore. Even the dirt where the person was cowering already had a small pool of blood on it.

They smelled like burnt skin. They definitely had broken bones.

“Can- can you look up at me?” Tommy asked gently. He knew he had to help whomever this was, he just-

Bright green eyes met blue and Tommy screamed at the top of his fucking lungs.

It was Dream, he’d escaped, he’d come for Tommy, this was all a charade to trick Tommy, now he was going to die, Tommy was so damn stupid, Dream was going to kill him!

“GET THE FUCK AWAY! GET BACK!” Tommy screeched, breaths coming in quicker and quicker. Tommy flung himself backwards and cowered, waiting for Dream to kill him.

Tommy’s mind swirled, screamed, DREAM WAS HERE-

Tommy realized that Dream wasn’t speaking, nor was he… well, trying to kill Tommy. Dream was a couple of feet further away from Tommy than he had been, and Tommy could see that he had clawed at the dirt to get away.

He was sputtering out an unintelligible stream of words and sobbing.

Tommy tentatively moved towards Dream, to see if he would provoke the older man. Dream didn’t even respond, but Tommy saw him flinch.

Was this really Dream?

“Please, sir, I’m sorry, I’m- sir, please, no,” Dream whimpered, shaking violently.

Tommy froze. All of a sudden, something clicked in his mind. Suddenly, all of this reminded him too much of exile.

But even Dream had never made Tommy call him sir.

Still, Tommy knew what was happening. He knew what it looked like in Dream’s mind.

“Dream, stand up,” he said, his voice shaking too hard for it to come across as stern or a command. Still, Dream obeyed.

What?

Tommy wasn’t sure any of this was real.

As Tommy pinched himself to confirm that he was awake, Dream forced himself to stand. He was barely able to stay standing; Tommy could see how he was about to fall over.

Dream curled in on himself, and his eyes were still shut-

And Tommy was still shocked that he was seeing Dream’s face! His mask was gone. To where, Tommy didn’t know.

During exile, Dream would only take his mask off when Tommy had been especially good. When he was praising Tommy, Dream would reward Tommy with physical contact and Tommy would melt. Dream would tell Tommy about how well behaved he’d been.

So seeing Dream with his mask off brought those memories flooding back. As much as Tommy hated to admit it, they were happy memories. His brain had come to associate Dream’s face with safety, with calmness. Dream only wore the mask when he was hurting Tommy. Or just gaslighting him.

That happened a lot back then.

So that was how Tommy knew this wasn’t a facade. The Dream that he knew would never obey him. Tommy should have already been killed and revived twenty times by now.

Tommy recognized all of this. He knew that in this state, Dream would do anything Tommy said.

He could make Dream hurt himself, kill himself, or sit still while Tommy did anything he pleased. Would Dream even scream?

Tommy opened his mouth…

And promptly shut it again.

He wasn’t sadistic.

He hated seeing people in pain. Let alone being the one to inflict it.

Everyone that Tommy knew was a little bit sadistic. Dream had been, back in exile, delighting in Tommy’s screams and cries.

Whoever had done this to Dream was a fucking sadist too.

All of Tommy’s friends were sadistic, delighting in revenge and seeing their enemies suffer. (Everyone except for Ranboo, but he was kind of a bitch boy and didn’t count.)

Even though Dream tortured him, killed him, Tommy couldn’t bring himself to reciprocate it. He was better than that.

“Come on Dream, come with me.”

Dream flinched at the sound of his voice but attempted to comply. He took a few steps and then collapsed onto the ground. Tommy rushed over to Dream but stopped himself when the older man started to sob violently.

“I’m sorry, no, no, please! Please- sir- sir no, please, I’ll be good! I- please sir, please- I’m sorry- sir-“

“Dream!” Tommy snapped. His face paled when he realized that he had raised his voice, but Dream completely shut down. “Fuck, I’m sorry.”

Dream didn’t respond. He curled back into a ball, his body wracked with sobs.

“Can I touch you?” Tommy asked. Dream gasped softly and stopped moving completely. Tommy was pretty sure he had started to hold his breath. “Okay, I- I’m not going to.”

Tommy took a deep, shuttering breath. He hated how well he knew Dream’s exact thoughts. He knew what would have pulled him out of this state back in exile. He knew what he had to say. Even though he hated to have to say it, he knew it would help.

“Dream… y- you’re- you’ve been good.”

He hated it coming out of this mouth. He remembered being told the same words countless times and positively glowing at the praise, but the thought of saying it himself sickened him. He really felt sick, he was scared that he was going to throw up all over Dream.

But to Tommy’s simultaneous relief and hatred, Dream visibly relaxed. He started to breath again, although he was still shaking.

“I’m sorry, sir,” he whined quietly. Tommy winced.

“Don’t call me that.”

“I- I- sorry- si- I’m sorry- I-“

“You don’t need to be sorry! I- fuck, I suck at this. Dream, I’m gonna need you to answer me, are you able to walk? I’m not gonna hurt you if you aren’t.”

“N- no.”

Tommy was at a crossroads. He didn’t want to help Dream, any normal person would fucking kill the guy or just abandon him in the woods.

But… this wasn’t the same Dream who had blown up the community house, who had killed Tommy three times, who had cut all of his attachments just so he could control everyone else’s.

This Dream was a shell of his old self. He was traumatized and terrified, and he reminded Tommy too much of himself.

So despite all common sense, Tommy made a decision. He just wasn’t a sadist.

“Alright Dream, I’m gonna see if I can carry you home.”

“Home?” Dream asked. Before Tommy could respond, Dream’s hands flew to cover his head like he was expecting Tommy to hit him. For… speaking? Tommy felt sick.

“My house,” he forced out, trying not to show Dream how uncomfortable he was. If Dream heard him, he didn’t show it.

Tommy crawled around Dream and maneuvered his arms under his tremulous body. With a surprisingly small amount of force, Tommy lifted Dream up.

He remembered when he used to cower before the man whom he now held ensconced in his arms. But damn, how much had Dream been eating in the prison? Was he fed at all?

Tommy started to walk back home. He couldn’t let anyone see Dream. (Shit, what had the world come to that Tommy was concerned for Dream? He still didn’t know why he hadn’t slit the bitch’s throat yet.)

Tommy numbly continued in the same direction from whence he had come. With each step, his terror that Dream would lash out at him grew. This had to all be a facade, Dream would never allow himself to be reduced to cargo in Tommy’s arms. He was manipulating Tommy, he had to be!

He was going to kill Tommy, then revive him, then kill him again! Forever! Just like he had said. Dream was lyin-

Tommy tripped over a tree root and tumbled to the ground. He accidentally threw Dream and sent him crashing into a rock.

Fuck, he’d done it now, Dream would be mad! Tommy had broken one of their rules-

Suddenly, in his mind, they were back in exile. Tommy accidentally hurt Dream, and that was against the rules! He wasn’t allowed to hurt Dream because Dream was his only friend. Now he had to be punished! And he deserved it, he fucking deserved it.

But now, Dream wasn’t hurting Tommy. He stayed on the ground, unmoving. Not speaking, not crying, not hurting Tommy! Why? This was Dream! Tommy hurt Dream, now he had to be punished!

“WHY AREN’T YOU HITTING ME?” Tommy shouted. Dream flinched. Tommy picked himself up in a fit of rage. Dream wasn’t supposed to be the one who was scared! It didn’t work that way!

“FUCKING- HURT ME!” he yelled. Dream didn’t move- no! It wasn’t supposed to be that way! Tommy stormed over to Dream and delivered a swift kick to Dream’s abdomen. He still didn’t move, not even a whimper!

Tommy wasn’t supposed to be the one in the position of power! He was supposed to be the one getting hurt, why was the world changing? Why didn’t Dream understand?

Tommy kicked Dream again and again, screaming and crying.

“WHY?” Kick. “WON’T?” Kick. “YOU?” Kick. “PUNISH ME?” He kicked Dream on the back of the head. Dream was curled into a ball now, bleeding from new and old wounds alike.

Tommy sank to the ground, violently sobbing.

“DREAM! Please- it- I’m not the one who- I’m not the- I’m not sadistic- YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO HURT ME!”

He grabbed Dream’s shoulder and pulled Dream onto his back. Aggressively, he shoved his hand into Dream’s mouth. Testing Dream, to see if he’d bite him. Dream’s eyes went wide but he kept his jaw slack, even though it must have been hurting him.

“WHY? Why won’t you just- this isn’t how it goes, Dream! Just fucking bite me- I hurt you! This- you’re supposed to be a monster- WHY DID ANYTHING HAVE TO CHANGE?”

Dream shook his head, eyes watering with tears. Tommy took his hand out of Dream’s mouth slowly.

“Sir-“

Tommy screamed, standing up angrily. Dream was fucking terrified of him! And this was everything Tommy had dreamed of during his recovery, to see Dream cower at his feet.

He picked up a rock and with all his might, he spiked it at Dream. Dream didn’t even move, besides the inevitable flinch from the impact.

“WHY WON’T YOU FIGHT BACK?”

“I-“

“STAND UP!”

Dream shakily complied, and Tommy ran over to him and punched him in the face. Dream fell back onto the ground, whimpering.

Tommy watched as his abuser tried to force himself to stand again. Because Tommy had told him to. He forced back a laugh as Dream shakily tried and failed to get himself off the ground. (Maybe Tommy was a fucking sadist after all.)

The power felt good. It felt good to have Dream whimpering at his feet. He was the one in charge now-

IT WASN’T SUPPOSED TO GO THIS WAY!

“DREAM! JUST- why? H- how? You have to be lying- you’re manipulating! You’re gaslighting me again, this can’t be real!”

He stared at Dream, awaiting a response. Anything! One of Dream’s quips, a snarky remark, maybe Dream would stab him and run. Something. ANYTHING, PLEASE!

“I- I’m sorry, si-“

“DON’T FUCKING CALL ME SIR! I- I just-“ Tommy broke into sobs, collapsing to the ground beside Dream. “This is just so unfair. No one deserves this. I- fuckin’- look at you! You’re- you’re nothing now! You’d do anything that I tell you! I could kill you right now.

“And yet I don’t! What the hell is wrong with me? And none of this- this isn’t how it’s supposed to go! Why can’t things just be easy again? Exile was easy, I didn’t have to make my own choices! I just- I did what you told me to do or I got punished. It was easy!

“Now, I’m being fucking tempted. Taunted. This is cruel, you know that? I could do anything I want to you. I can get revenge! I- y’know what? I could kill you and revive you again and- that! Over and over again, just like you threatened to do to me!

“You’d tell me the contents of the revival book, wouldn’t you? I- maybe I could be this fucking hellish server’s god! You said one time in exile that I was like your pet. Your loyal pet, well trained into submissiveness and well behaved. I fucking liked that too, didn’t I? It- I still get a sickeningly warm feeling whenever I think about those days.

“So what if I turned the tables? You’d be my pet, wouldn’t you? I- you’d obey my every command because you’re fucking terrified and traumatized and you’re right here for me. But- I just fucking CAN’T! Someone did this to you, and you- you fucked me up too. I’m just not like you!

“I hate seeing people in pain. I wouldn’t be able to be the bad guy! I don’t fucking know how you did it, Dream. I- I already hate myself for hurting you- I just did, yeah? I don’t want to do any of that. So I’m taking you to my fucking house now, and for what?

“What the hell am I even gonna do? Fix you? Fix the fucking mess that’s your brain? And if I heal you, if that’s even possible, then what? You’ll be you again, and you’ll- you’ll manipulate everyone again!

“But I’m just a good person? Is that why I feel like I have to save you? Because you’ll fucking die if anyone finds you. Almost everyone on this server wants you dead. Still, y- you’re coming with me. I just- I’m not you! I want to help.”

Dream whined meekly, squeezing his eyes shut. Tommy only now realized what he had done to Dream. What visible skin was showing out of the prison uniform that had grown far too big for the man was bruised and bloody. Had Tommy done that?

But now that he had hurt Dream, (something that he’d wanted to do for so long) he just felt horrible. Morally, he knew he wouldn’t be able to abandon Dream now.

He wordlessly scooped Dream up and resumed the journey home.

Once he made it back to his house, Tommy placed Dream down on the bed and went to find a chest with healing potions in it. He opened the chest and grabbed as many potions as his inventory could fit. Dream was gonna need them.

He gingerly approached Dream who was staring into space, not having moved at all from where Tommy put him.

Tommy uncorked the first potion and Dream was suddenly brought to the present, whipping his head around to look at Tommy. He didn’t make eye contact with Tommy, but instead stared terrifiedly at the potion.

Tommy took another step towards Dream, which caused Dream to immediately start sobbing.

“Please- sir- please don’t- I’ll be good- I won’t squirm! I’ll be good sir, please- please don’t- don’t make me drink it sir- I’d rather wear the muzzle- please- please, no!”

Tommy stared at Dream as his pleads turned into sobs. He couldn’t force any words out. He opened his mouth but couldn’t find the ability to speak.

“Please,” Dream sobbed.

“I- Dream- it’s a healing potion.”

The color drained from Dream’s face. “I’m sorry- please don’t- I- I’m sorry sir!”

Tommy sighed. He walked up to Dream, who froze due to Tommy’s proximity. Holding the potion to Dream’s lips, he commanded him to drink. Tears still streaming down his face, Dream complied.

One potion after another, Tommy watched as Dream’s visible wounds closed, leaving a mosaic of scars all over his body. Dream’s limbs set themselves into place and his broken bones healed. After more than ten potions, Dream fell asleep.

Tommy left the room and allowed himself to break down, to cry on the floor.

Chapter Text

Dream slept for five days before finally waking up screaming. Tommy rushed into the room, terrified that he would find Dream being brutally murdered by any one of the server members.

As soon as Dream saw Tommy, he shut his mouth with wide, terrified eyes. Tommy watched, horrified, as Dream forced himself to smile upon noticing Tommy’s presence.

“S- sir,” he greeted, his voice shaky.

“Please don’t call me sir.”

Dream’s face fell again and he whined softly.

“Hey, so- uh, can I ask you a few questions?” Tommy asked. “And before you think to yourself ‘why is he asking me’ or ‘why is he making it seem as if I have a choice’, let me just tell you that if you don’t want to talk right now, you don’t have to.”

“You can,” Dream whispered, seemingly afraid to talk. Tommy smiled.

“Who did this to you?”

And fuck, he probably shouldn’t have started off like that. It had taken him weeks to open up about what he had gone through in exile, and now he was just expecting Dream to tell home everything right off the bat?

Dream started to hyperventilate, shaking and staring at Tommy.

“Woah- Dream, you- you don’t have to tell me if you’re not able to. Just… they can’t get you here. Honestly, no one’ll expect you to be at my house, big man. This is the last place the server will check to find you. But I- I know what it’s like to have rules ingrained into your brain. If you can’t tell me, I don’t need you to.”

Dream forced himself to nod.

“Do you want to get cleaned up and changed?” he offered.

Dream didn’t respond. Well, it was worth a shot, seeing if Dream would be able to make a decision for himself. It was a long shot.

“Okay, you’re going to get in the shower and then I’ll give you some clothes. Then we can eat something, okay?”

Dream was barely lucid at this point. He stared into the nothingness that was above Tommy’s head, his eyes glazed over. He had finally stopped trembling, so Tommy left to go turn on the shower. Once it was on, he returned to Dream.

“Follow me, Dream.”

Dream slid off the bed and shakily walked towards Tommy like a baby deer learning to walk for the first time. He continued to follow Tommy, moving very slowly, as they made their way over to the bathroom.

“Dream, you’re allowed to use anything in the bathroom that you want, okay? Any of the soaps, and feel free to take your time.”

He gestured for Dream to go into the bathroom and closed the door once he was in.

He really was harboring a criminal. A man who was imprisoned for what he’d done to Tommy! (Among so many other things.)

He fucking pitied the man, hated the state that Dream was in. He just wanted to know who had done this! Who was sadistic enough to reduce such a powerful person to this shell of a man? (Who was so talented to be able to train Dream, of all people, so well?)

(Who was able to train Dream not to bite when Tommy shoved his hand into his mouth? To not fight back when he was being abused? And Dream had fucking called him sir!)

Tommy numbly started to make soup, trying to push the thoughts out of his head.

But…

Sam couldn’t have been the one who was torturing Dream, right? Sam was kind, Sam was good, Sam had helped Tommy! He was Tommy’s friend. Tommy couldn’t imagine Sam raising a finger to hurt his prisoner. (He also couldn’t fathom Sam allowing any of this to happen to Dream, yet… it had.)

He heard the shower shut off and Tommy realized that he was supposed to have laid out clothes for Dream to wear.

He sprinted into his room and grabbed an outfit out of one of his chests. A red and white baseball shirt and tan pants. He only had one outfit, sue him! He’s gotta stick to the brand.

Dream walked into the room nervously, a towel draped over his body.

“Here, uh- you can wear this,” Tommy said. He almost hoped that Dream would laugh at him a bit for only having the one outfit, but Dream just kept his head down and stared at Tommy’s feet.

“Alright… I’ll leave you to get dressed then.”

Tommy left the room and went back to the kitchen to finish making the soup that he had abandoned. He wasn’t the most organized, really, but he hadn’t been expecting… any of what had happened.

As Tommy poured all of the ingredients into the pot, Dream entered the room. Tommy made the mistake of making eye contact with him, causing Dream to wince and quickly avert his eyes.

Taking in the mess of a human being that was Dream, Tommy only saw a reflection of his past self. Blonde, matted hair, sunken cheeks, a tremor in his hands that may never go away. Now that Dream was wearing short sleeves, Tommy could start to see some of the damage that had been done.

Similarly to Tommy’s own experience, Dream was covered in cuts and bruises, a few of which Tommy assumed were self inflicted. Dream had a lot of burns, too, which Tommy never got probably for the sole reason that he was never around lava.

But that was where the similarities stopped. And it was how Tommy figured out who had been torturing Dream.

His arms were branded, like he was property. A symbol that Tommy would recognize easily, even if he hadn’t seen it before.

He shuttered, staring directly at the cursive letter Q’s burned into Dream’s skin. There was his signature bracket smiley face too, similar yet so different to Dream’s insignia with the parentheses. The symbols were everywhere, up and down his arms.

“Did… did Qua-“

Dream’s eyes went wide and he started to whine, reminding Tommy of how a dog would sound when they were hit.

“Okay! Okay- I- I won’t say it.”

Dream clenched his arms tightly into his stomach and tried to cover as much of them as he could.

“I deserved it,” Dream whispered so quietly that Tommy wasn’t sure if he had spoken at all.

Tommy… wanted to tell Dream that he was wrong, that no one deserved torture, but… this was Dream!

Dream, of all the people in the server, deserved this the most. Right? He’d been forced to experience what Tommy had gone through, to some extent. Dream had manipulated Tommy! Why did Tommy feel like it was so wrong for Dream to have been manipulated himself?

(He remembered a time when he had been talking to Tubbo a short while ago. They had been joking about their trauma, as one does, and Tommy said that he wouldn’t wish what he had gone through on his worst enemy. His worst enemy was here, now, and Dream was fucking terrified. Of Tommy!)

Tommy was conflicted. He knew that if Dream had been his normal self during his escape, Tommy wouldn’t have hesitated to kill him. He’d taken Dream’s first two canon lives, what would stop him from taking the third like he’d tried to before?

Was the fact that Dream was an easier target why Tommy hesitated? Did he pity Dream? Seeing Dream standing there in Tommy’s own clothes, which were huge on his malnourished, broken body, brought Tommy to that conclusion. He was only helping Dream because… pity?

And Tommy was curious, he was curious as hell, he wanted to know everything about how Dream had been brought down to- to this! How had the false god of the server, the man who manipulated everyone, been gaslit so far that he honestly believed that he deserved to be marked like Quackity’s property? No one deserved torture, Tommy knew this.

He ignored the fact that he was taking advantage of Dream’s obedience and fear to get what he wanted.

“Sit down.”

Dream collapsed to the ground, seeming relieved that he was, what, allowed to stop standing? (If Tommy hadn’t escaped exile, would he have gotten this bad? Not doing anything unless he was ordered to? He wondered.)

“N- no, I meant on a chair. You’re allowed to sit on the chairs.”

Dream didn’t respond, he just pulled his knees into his chest.

“Dream, can you sit on a chair, please? I’d like to be on- on the same level as you.”

Tommy knew Dream was interpreting his words as an order. But still, he stood up and listened to Tommy, settling himself into a chair.

“So… before I ask more questions, I just want to let you know about a couple of things. Uh…”

He wanted to tell Dream that he wasn’t going to talk about Quackity unless necessary, that he wasn’t going to say Quackity’s name. He just didn’t know how to phrase it. He wasn’t going to say ‘I won’t say Quackity’s name’, because then he was literally doing just that!

And he didn’t want to say ‘I won’t say Sir’s name,’ for obvious reasons. He didn’t want to think of Quackity as Sir, he didn’t want to have such a disgusting word come out of his mouth. He didn’t want Dream to continue using the word either, and if Tommy used it, Dream would think it was okay.

But also… Dream had called Tommy sir. Did Dream think that Tommy was Quackity? Was he even fully lucid, or aware that he was out of the prison? Or perhaps Dream just been… trained (Tommy fucking hated that word) to call everyone sir.

Or was it possible that the honorifics were reserved for certain people? Tommy had trusted Quackity. Quackity was always kind to Tommy. He was like an older brother to him. (Why did everyone who was an older brother figure to Tommy always turn out to be a bad person?)

Had Quackity made it so Dream would…

Specifically for Tommy?

To- to make things fair?

Fair was a horrible word. A tainted word. A word that had caused bloodshed and death countless times.

Fair was the word that people used to justify revenge. It’s only fair, they would say, as they killed their enemies. After all, their enemies had wronged them first! And then it’s an eternal cycle, and it doesn’t stop until everyone is dead.

Dream had held the world in his hands, had controlled it, but the cycle of revenge and the twisted concept of what was fair and what was right had brought him his downfall.

“Why did you call me sir?”

Tommy could guess all he wanted, make any assumptions about what Dream had been through. But if he could pull the truth straight from the mouth of the victim…

He hated thinking of Dream as the victim. It wasn’t supposed to be that way.

“I- I- I’m supposed to! Sir- si- he said- I- you- Tom- I’m sorry- that’s- Sir said-“

“Dream! I- fuckin’ hell, man! How’s this, you don’t have to call anyone sir. You- we’re equals.”

Saying that felt good, to Tommy. Dream was his equal! He was not better than Tommy. Tommy no longer had to submit to him. And Dream was not lesser than Tommy either. He was still a human being.

“Listen, I’m not a Dream apologist. I- you’ve done some fucked up things. To me, to everyone! But that doesn’t mean you should be fucking tortured out of your mind! And I’m not- I don’t want anyone to have to… to be like this.” He gestured at Dream’s entire body, waving his hands. Dream hugged himself tighter.

“Don’t call me sir, don’t call Qua- uh, don’t call him sir either, no one. Okay?”

Dream nodded, salty tears budding at the corners of his eyes.

“Is there… you don’t have to answer, I just wanna know, but is there a reason he-… okay. He tortured you, right? It’s pretty clear. Why?”

“I-“

“Don’t say that you deserved it, I swear. Did he have a real reason?”

“I wouldn’t tell him about the revival book,” Dream whimpered.

Oh.

The only reason why Tommy had spared Dream in the first place.

The thing that gave Dream the power to bring anyone back to life.

The very thing that had revived Tommy.

“And- and I’m not going to tell you! I burned it, it’s all in my memory now! I’m the only one who can bring people back to life,” Dream cried, his words turning into harsh sobs, “so you can’t kill me! Please- I- I’ll be good, but you can’t kill me!”

“I’m not going to kill you.”

He wasn’t? Hadn’t that been his goal ever since he recovered from exile?

Wasn’t Dream the reason why everything in the server had gone to shit?

“That can’t be why. I mean, come on, he wouldn’t have done this just to get the revival book. Who would he even want revived? No, that’s not it.”

“I’m sorry si-…” Dream cut himself off before the word fully escaped his mouth.

“Tommy.”

“I’m sorry… Tommy.”

“I- why are you sorry? But- but good! That’s good. Good job.”

Tommy remembered how much he had needed praise and validation for the smallest things when he had escaped exile. So Tommy was not surprised when Dream smiled slightly and was visibly less tense upon receiving the kind words.

“So, I have another question for you. This one…” he chuckled sadly. “This one is something that no one ever asked me, but I know firsthand how important it is. Because of you, Dream.”

Dream whimpered, his face paling.

“Yeah. I know. So, Dream, I need you to answer this one honestly, okay? It’s really important so I can try and make- so I can help you. What… what are your rules?”

Dream’s eyes widened and he shot backwards into the chair, pressing in and curling in on himself.

Tommy remembered his rules. He remembered Dream rewiring his brain to obey them. He remembered how hard it had been to go against them, at first.

He was not allowed to return to L’manburg. He was not allowed to leave Logstedshire, he was not allowed to see his friends. They did not want to see him. He was not allowed to disobey any order from Dream. He had to put his items in the hole- put them in the pit- he had to be good! And Dream was his only friend, the only person who cared-

Fuck. Was- was Dream taking advantage of him? Like, now? Was Tommy still conditioned to be Dream’s friend? Dream was his only friend during exile, but that wasn’t real. Tommy knew it was manipulation! Tommy had tried to kill Dream, he had killed Dream! He was recovered; Dream was not manipulating him right now.

He was helping Dream. This was not because Dream had conditioned him to do so. Dream had been a terrible person. Tommy was not his friend. Now, Quackity has… broken Dream? So, Tommy is helping him because Tommy is a good person.

He took a deep breath. He was fine.

“Dream, you have to tell me. If you’re convinced that your rules are still in place, you’re not going to be able to recover. I don’t want you to follow… all? Most? The rules- I- I need to know what they are so-… Dream, just tell me.”

Dream took a shaky inhale.

“I’m not allowed to- I’m not allowed to speak… unless Sir asks me a question or if I’m talking about- about the book. I’m not supposed to squirm when- when he’s helping me g- get better. Punishing me. I- I’m a monster- I deserve it, he’s trying to fix me-“

“Dream, you don’t- how many times do I have to say it? Please, no one deserves that! Not even you!”

No one deserves torture. Right?

But… was Tommy able to refute Dream’s other claim? That Quackity… fixed him? Made him better?

(Did Tommy agree? This Dream wasn’t trying to kill him. This Dream couldn’t manipulate anyone. This Dream was submissive and well behaved. Dream had been a monster! And… he wasn’t much of anything anymore.)

(Was that justifiable cause for Quackity’s actions? Was there really a right and wrong in this situation?)

“I’m- I’m not allowed to eat, or- or sleep, unless I behave. O- only if I have p- permission. I’m not supposed to scream, which I’m really bad at following, because I’m bad. Sir’s going to fix me.”

Tommy released a shuttering sigh, and his visible discomfort caused Dream to shut himself up.

“Is there anything else?”

Dream tentatively nodded. “I- I’m not allowed to use Sir or the Warden’s real names. I’m not allowed to think their names either. Some- sometimes, if I accidentally think Sir’s name, I have to tell him so that he can punish me, because that’s not allowed.”

“But he can’t see inside your mind! How’s he supposed to know, why would you tell him?”

“Because those are the rules!”

Dream looked terrified, and Tommy realized he knew exactly how Dream felt. Sometimes rules and actions were nonsensical when a person was under the impression that they weren’t allowed independent thought.

Tommy still fucking hated the word sir.

“Alright. You don’t have to follow those rules while you’re here, okay Dream? You’re allowed to speak whenever, you can ask me questions, okay? You’re allowed to say no to things as well, and to have opinions. You’re allowed to be hurt and feel pain and scream and cry all you want, although it’s my goal to get you to a point where you won’t need to.

“But, um, you are not allowed to leave, okay? For now, just for a little bit. Once you can survive on your own, you’re leaving. I just don’t want you to get killed like this when I can help. Also, I can’t stress this enough, please don’t call me sir. Please. Tommy is fine, it’s perfect, it is my name and we are equals, okay? You’re allowed to eat and sleep whenever, because those are basic fucking human rights that shouldn’t be questioned.

“Also, neither of us are allowed to hurt each other, okay? I’m not going to punish you or torture you. But you- you can’t hurt me again, okay? No- that’s not happening. I won’t hurt you, you won’t hurt me. Once I’ve- I’ve used my professional experience in recovering from trauma to deem you alright to leave, you’re leaving. You can go live with your boyfriend Gogy or something for all I care. Sapnap, maybe. I don’t know, anyone but me!”

“They hate me,” Dream whimpered. “They want me dead, they’re going to- I’m not allowed to see them- I have to- when- when- no! No, no, I’m not- they can’t-“

“Deep breaths, Dream. Ugh- I always forget what I’m supposed to say for this. Uh, in for four, hold for seven, out for eight? Try and calm down, focus on my voice.”

Dream probably wasn’t wrong, though. Most everyone did want him dead. Tommy included. But that Dream was dead. He was gone, Quackity had made sure of that. (Tommy couldn’t find it in him to decide that what Quackity had done to Dream truly was bad.)

“I’m sorry, Tommy.”

Tommy grinned when Dream remembered not to call him sir. This was good! This was a good thing! (Dream had taken the words ‘don’t call me sir’ as an order and Tommy knew it. He knew that it wasn’t progress until Dream accepted the reasoning behind the ‘not calling Tommy sir’.)

Tommy gently reached his hand out towards Dream’s face. No, he shouldn’t, this was weird, wasn’t it? Was it kinda weirdchamp? Just because physical touch felt like a reward to Tommy-

Tommy made contact with Dream’s cheek and Dream melted. His eyes practically rolled back and he leaned into the touch. Tommy was pretty sure he heard Dream purr. As soon as he did, Tommy recoiled, moving his hand away. This was uncomfortable, this was weird-

Right when Tommy stopped touching Dream, Dream’s eyes flickered shut and he fell asleep, a soft ‘thank you, sir’ dying on his lips as he collapsed. Well… that was something.

“I am not well equipped for this shit,” Tommy proclaimed to no one.

Chapter Text

Tommy sighed and scooped Dream up off the chair, carrying him to a bed so he could rest. The fucker had just slept for like, five days, so how much more sleep did he need? Maybe Tommy had just triggered something, relaxing Dream to the point where he just fell asleep. Or perhaps Dream just hadn’t felt positive physical touch in so long that his body didn’t know how to react.

Also, Tommy forgot to feed Dream the soup. Eh, he’ll be awake again soon. He can eat then.

Tommy, on the other hand, was hungry now. He grabbed himself a bowl of soup and sat down, hoping that Dream wouldn’t wake up screaming again. He ate slowly, successfully pushing all thoughts about his current situation out of his mind.

Once he finished, he stood up to put the empty bowl somewhere to clean it later. As soon as he put the bowl in the sink, he heard a knock at the door.

The sudden noise caused him to flinch, as he was already on edge, but he walked over to get the door. Oh, but Dream! If whoever was at the door saw Dream fast asleep on Tommy’s bed, he would not get enough time to explain before Dream would be dead. (Would that really be so bad, if the blood wasn’t on Tommy’s hands?)

He ran over to his room, slammed the door shut, and sprinted to the front door, opening it.

“Tommy!” Tubbo exclaimed, entering his house. “Ah- you haven’t been answering your communicator! I doubt you’ve even been checking it, bossman. I- do you know what’s happened?”

Tommy shook his head, hoping Tubbo would believe him. So many things had happened that Tubbo would not even understand, but Tommy… he trusted Tubbo with everything, but his best friend might not understand why he’s harboring his abuser.

“They’re saying Technoblade broke Dream out of the prison. Dr- Dream could be coming for you any second! I don’t think he knows about Snowchester, we should go there to hide.”

Tubbo stared at Tommy, fully expecting him to devolve into a full blown panic attack. Tommy blinked a few times, and then realized this (very obvious) fact.

“Oh,” was all he ended up saying.

“Oh? That’s all?- Tommy, we have to go! Dream-“

Tubbo’s protests were cut off by Dream suddenly screaming at the top of his lungs.

“PLEASE! NO- NO NO NO, I WON’T-“

His shouts stopped abruptly, and all the two friends could hear now was a faint crying intermingled with a muffled gasping for breath.

“What. The. Fuck,” Tubbo said.

“Wait, no- Tubbo, I can explain!”

“That was Dream!” Tubbo shouted, pushing past Tommy and storming over to the closed bedroom door.

“No, no, Tubbo, wait one second!”

Tubbo hesitated with his hand hovering above the doorknob.

“You know that Dream is here,” he started warily.

“Well, yeah, but-“

“Tommy! He’s fucking manipulating you! He’s not your friend, remember? What did he tell you?”

“I-“

Tubbo turned the doorknob and burst into Tommy’s bedroom. (With no weapon or plan. If Dream really had been armed and dangerous, so that wasn’t really very bright of h-)

Oh fuck, Tubbo did infact have a diamond sword. The point of which was trained on a cowering, sobbing Dream who had his hand over his mouth to stop his cries from being audible.

“This- this is an act, Tommy! Why’re you allowing him to live? Y- you wanted to kill him more than anyone on this server, what changed?”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry sir- please- I’ll be good- please don’t,” Dream slurred, his eyes glassy.

Tommy took a deep breath and Dream stopped speaking again.

“Tubbo… I- this- it’s not the same Dream. He- oh, Quackity tortured him in the prison. For the same fuckin’ revival book that we spared him for. Sadistic motherfuck-“

“Then just kill him! Or- or torture him yourself! I mean, shit, you’ve been given this perfect opportunity!”

“I can’t. I- before you say that he’s manipulating me… I mean, he fucking might be, for all I know, I’m letting him stay here because my brain’s still fucked up from exile. But he just- he’s too broken for me to want that! Tell me that you don’t see me right there in him. I mean, he’s traumatized. It’s like murdering a puppy or some shit.”

Tubbo exhaled slowly and lowered the sword. He didn’t put it back into his inventory, though. Dream remained frozen, pressed up against the wall, trying to make himself smaller and be as silent as possible.

“He called me sir,” Tubbo finally said.

“I know. Tubbo, do you remember… my rules? The ones that- that Dream gave me?” Tubbo nodded solemnly. “He has th-“

“Then it’s fucking fair! It’s what he deserves!”

“It’s just not fair for anyone to- Tubbo, no one deserves torture! No one should accept, in the safety of their own mind, that they’re lesser than other human beings! Dream deserved prison, he deserved death. But no one should have to go through anything resembling the shit I went through, not even the man who did it to me!”

“He’s manipulating you. Even if not intentionally, you’re only doing this because you still see him and think you’re safe- you think he’s your friend! He’s not! I am, I- he’s- I don’t care that he’s absolutely terrified right now! He should be, I’m going to kill him!”

“Tubbo, don’t. I- I’m gonna kick him out once he’s capable of surviving on his own. Just- my conscience, I can’t leave him like this! … Can I?”

“Can… can you be sure that this isn’t all an act?”

Tommy hesitated for a moment. “I… Dream, come over here.”

Tubbo’s eyes went wide and he took a step back. Dream whined softly but didn’t have the mental ability to disobey a direct order, so he shakily walked over to Tommy’s side with his head down and eyes squeezed shut. He grasped his arms together and hugged them tightly to his chest, and he was trembling.

“Can you- can you please show Tubbo your arms?”

Dream’s arms shot out in front of him, wrists facing upwards and fists clenched. Tubbo gasped softly when he saw the scars and branding, and Dream flinched at the noise.

“Is it that bad everywhere? I mean, I don’t care much about the cuts and burns and shit, that’s pretty commonplace for everyone on the server…”

“But you’re saying that the fact Quackity’s- he’s fucking signed his work, that’s what concerns you? Huh?”

The sword disappeared into Tubbo’s inventory and he rubbed his temple between two fingers. Tommy turned to look at Dream, who tentatively opened one eye and seemed surprised to see that he wasn’t being hit or cut.

“I don’t want to hear his fucking voice ever again. And I don’t want you around him- you’re not safe! But… if this is your decision… I’ll respect it. I’m not gonna be a part of this, but I won’t send anyone over here to kill him. But promise me that when he’s able to leave-“

“He’ll be gone! I promise. Then I’ll come visit you an’ Boob Boy, and we can have a sleepover for like, a month. I… you can tell him if you want, but please make sure no one comes here.”

“I’m not going to meddle! I’d rather him dead! I can promise that I’m not gonna kill him, but no way in hell am I stopping someone from coming here with an intent to end his fucking life.”

“I- uh, yeah okay, that’s fair to be honest. Th- thank you, Tubbo. You wanna… leave, then?”

“This is so fucking awkward,” Tubbo mumbled under his breath. “Yeah, yes please.”

Tommy led Tubbo to the door and gave him a grateful look as he left.

“But you better murder him or reach out to me as soon as you’re in any danger!” Tubbo shouted, and then he was gone.

Wow. Tommy had just defended Dream’s life! Against Tubbo! What the actual fuck. That… that was his chance to get rid of Dream! Why didn’t he?

Tommy sighed and walked back into the house and sat down in a chair. He just needed a fucking minute to breath. And he was sure Dream would appreciate the time alone to calm down. (He hoped.)

After what felt like an hour, Tommy decided it would be best to go check on Dream again. The soup had long since gone cold so Tommy thought he would ask Dream what he wanted to eat. He got up and walked into his room and froze when he saw Dream.

Dream had not moved from the position that Tommy had put him in.

His arms were still extended, and they were visibly vibrating from the overexertion. Dream saw Tommy come in and tensed more.

It was just because no one had told him that he was allowed to sit down? Or that he was supposed to?

“You can sit down, if you want,” Tommy offered. Dream silently jumped onto the bed and sat down on his hands. Tommy decided that he was going to brush past that for now. “So… Technoblade broke you out?”

Dream nodded.

“He was in the prison with you at one point, wasn’t he? How’d he get out in the first place?”

Dream paled and he started to whimper, but he didn’t respond.

“You know you’re allowed to talk, right?”

“I don’t know how he escaped! I promise- he didn’t tell me! Please, I didn’t have anything to do with it!”

Tommy mentally facepalmed. “Shit, Quackity probably asked that same thing,” Tommy whispered under his breath, talking to himself in a volume hopefully too quiet for Dream to hear. Why did Tommy just ask all the wrong questions?

Or wait, was it better to ask all the hard questions just to get the facts? Then he’d theoretically be able to help Dream better. Right?

“Did Techno know about what… the guy who hurt you… was doing?” Dream nodded tentatively. “Then wait, why aren’t you with him? You can talk, I promise you won’t get hurt for that.”

“He’s not my friend,” Dream whispered. “No one would want to be. We’re just allies- he owed me a favor.”

“Do you think he’d let you stay with him?” Tommy asked, hoping that maybe, Techno would be able to take care of Dream instead. After all, Techno had let Tommy stay after his escape from exile. He was probably better equipped for this, and Tommy would be lying to himself if he said Dream’s voice didn’t still make him nervous. Even if it was laced with submissive fear.

“I like Techno,” Dream said with a wistful, distant voice. “He doesn’t punish me. Even when he’s supposed to.”

Tommy sighed. “Yeah, I know what you mean, big man. I- I’m not going to either, though. If the fact that you’re still alive right now is any indication, I won’t-“

“You already punished me before, in the woods,” Dream interrupted. A split second later, he realized what he had done and slapped his hand over his mouth and pressed against the wall, hugging his knees to his chest.

“Woah, woah-“

“I spoke out of turn- I’m sorry, please, si- Tommy, I’ll be good- I won’t- I’ll be good,” Dream mumbled, rocking back and forth and repeating the words to himself quietly.

“Would you like something to eat?” Tommy offered, trying to deflect the conversation. Dream perked up at the notion but didn’t verbally respond. “Okay, follow me. I’d prefer we not eat in my room, so can we head to the living room?”

The two of them sat in silence for a moment, neither one daring to move. Tommy, after some time, took the initiative to get up and hoped Dream would follow him. Without looking back, he left the room and re-entered the living room. Luckily, he heard light footsteps behind him.

“Here, sit down- in a chair this time, please. I won’t- I won’t touch you this time. Hah, this is like take two, I fucked this up last time. So, d’you want the soup? I can make you something else if you like.”

Dream blinked a few times and then gingerly sat down in the chair that Tommy had gestured to.

“Dream, if you’re not able to make the choice on your own, I’m not gonna be mad.”

Yeah, there was no way Dream was gonna move or speak. Tommy gave him a small smile and got up to grab a bowl of soup. On a second thought, he grabbed a healing potion as well. He placed both down on the table in front of Dream and frowned as Dream stared at the food with nervous, dilated eyes.

“You can eat.”

Dream gave him a faint nod but did not move to start eating.

“Are you not hungry?” Tommy reached over to the bowl with the intent to take it when Dream yelped. “Okay, you’re hungry… but don’t want to eat?”

For once, Tommy was stumped. During and after exile, he had eaten as much as he could whenever he was given the opportunity. He had been known to hoard food as well. Especially with the added knowledge that he was allowed to eat, Tommy didn’t know why Dream hesitated.

It felt bad, not knowing.

Maybe Dream would feel more comfortable eating if Tommy wasn’t standing there? Yeah, that was worth trying. Tommy gave Dream a small wave of acknowledgment and left the area, going into his room and closing the door.

As soon as he left, he heard Dream’s soft breathing turn panicked as it intermingled with sobs. Tommy stood, frozen in his room, as Dream started to fervently ramble in a very quiet voice as he cried, in attempt to calm himself down, Tommy assumed. Or maybe he was just talking to himself so it wouldn’t sound like he was alone.

“The rules are different here- they’re different here. Just keep it together- obey- Sir said you have to obey Tommy. Be a good do- not a person- but the rules! Don’t call him sir- but he said to- no! Sir used to say he wouldn’t hurt me- Tommy will understand soon. It’s gonna be okay- just follow the rules- ah! The- the rules keep changing! Sir doesn’t say when the rules change, just take the punishments and figure it out- try and be good!

“Don’t tell him about the book- he doesn’t care anyway. He just wants to make you good- you have to! Maybe he’ll pet you if you’re good! You can’t- I can’t- I’m supposed to be eating?- Oh no no no. I- I didn’t ask Sir if I was allowed-… Tommy said I was allowed- Tommy owns me now? I am here- I’m real- not a person- bad. Tommy will be back, Tommy has rules and orders, it will be okay. Please- please, it h-.”

Tommy took a step back towards the doorknob and heard a soft sob cut off Dream’s panicked rambling. He stopped moving and a few seconds later, Dream resumed.

“No- bad- bad, you’re not allowed to hug yourself, you don’t deserve comfort. Tommy- Tommy hadn’t stopped you yet, he will-“

Tommy couldn’t bring himself to listen anymore. Not only did he feel like he was listening in on Dream’s private thoughts (he was), it reminded him of something he used to do.

He had called them pep talks, for lack of a better word. Thinking back now, and hearing it from someone else, it had really been his way of remaining submissive and complacent. Tommy and Dream both, now. They spoke in the second person to convince their brains that someone was administering orders.

Having opinions was a constant battle against themselves. Trying to fight to make themselves heard, but also to suppress anything that wasn’t following the rules.

So Dream was trying to keep himself under control. He was trying his hardest to behave for Tommy. Honestly, Tommy would like it if Dream did anything besides kill, hurt, or manipulate him.

(Quackity really had made Dream better. Tommy didn’t want to agree with the part of him that declared that.)

Tommy needed to stop reminiscing about when he was in the early stages of trauma recovery and go help the guy who was currently suffering under his watch. Fuck, how useless could Tommy be?

He took a deep breath and opened the door. He was greeted with silence. Dream was not in the chair.

“Shit. Dream? Are you- are you here?”

“Tommy,” Dream whimpered. Tommy looked around for the source of the noise and finally noticed Dream. He was pressed behind a chest in the corner of the room, his face streaked with tears. His knees were no longer hugged to his chest. Instead, his hands were at his side, itching to be pulled tightly into his chest.

“Yeah, I’m here.”

“Tommy,” Dream repeated. It was less of a cry for Tommy, and more so Dream reminding himself that he was with Tommy. Not Quackity.

“Yeah, Dream. How… how long has it been since you’ve eaten?”

“I… I- I don’t know.”

“You need to eat.”

“I don’t know if I can.” A tear trickled down Dream’s cheek.

“You can. I- I believe in you. Ah, I know that sounds dumb, but sometimes all you need is someone who cares, someone to help, yeah? And encouragement, right? Every step of the way is hard, and nothing ever goes away from- from any of this.

“I mean, even now, I’m hearing your voice and it sends chills down my spine! But- but I’m so proud of you, okay? For- for- you just talked to me! That’s good, that’s good, okay?”

Dream lifted his gaze from Tommy’s feet and met his eyes. “Okay… Tommy.”

Tommy got Dream settled back into a chair and handed him the bowl of soup. Shakily, Dream lifted the spoon to his mouth and sipped.

Tommy watched contentedly as Dream ate slowly, sip by sip. He thought it was funny how different Dream’s first meal after his escape was from Tommy’s own. Dream took every bite slowly, savoring it, hoping that if he ate slowly enough, he wouldn’t get punished for eating too much. For taking more than he was allowed. That Tommy would take the food away when he deserved no more.

Tommy had devoured his first meal ravenously, out of fear that someone would steal it away. Funny, how the same thing Tommy fought to avoid was what Dream waited for with caution. But Tommy had also been so fucking hungry. (Maybe Dream had just forgotten a world where his stomach didn’t beg for more.)

Finally, Dream pushed the bowl away. It was nearly empty, save for a dozen or so chunks of potatoes. Tommy smiled slightly, chuckling.

“Didn’t want that last bit, huh?” he joked. Dream… was not in the mental state to take a joke. Tommy should have known that. Dream’s eyes widened and he quickly grabbed the bowl back and shoved a piece of potato into his mouth.

Tommy watched in horror as Dream forced himself to swallow. Dream shut his eyes as a shiver ran through his whole body. Then, he leaned over and started to vomit all over the floor.

Tommy reflexively jumped backwards and couldn’t bring himself to do anything but stare as Dream coughed and gagged, emptying the contents of his stomach onto the ground.

He could hear Dream throwing up, and when his body had nothing else to expel, he heard him dry heave.

Tommy didn’t know what else to do, so he walked over to Dream and rubbed circles into his back. Dream slowly started to get chances to breathe between the bouts of gagging as they dispersed more and more.

“Shh, it’s okay, I’m here. Dream, you- uh, didn’t have to eat that.”

Tommy remembered how Dream only had potatoes to eat in the prison. (He remembered Dream beating him to death with a potato, too.)

“But- but you said!” Dream choked out between heaves, catching his breath.

“I’m sorry,” Tommy apologized. And… when was the last time he’d apologized to Dream? With the exception of maybe earlier in the day or when he had first seen Dream, if he had and didn’t remember, this was the first time since exile. Since he had spouted out blubbering apologies, begging at Dream’s feet. And now the roles were reversed. And Tommy wasn’t taking advantage of it like he should. (He wouldn’t be able to.)

“You’re gonna drink the healing pot now, okay?” Dream nodded acceptantly. Tommy handed him the potion and when Dream didn’t reach out to take it, Tommy held it to Dream’s mouth and tipped it as Dream swallowed.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why are you sorry? Dream, you haven’t done anything wrong at the moment.”

Dream simply shook his head. “I’m sorry,” he repeated, whispering this time.

“Okay. Do you want to try eating again, since… the uh, food didn’t get down?”

“No s- Tommy.”

“Alright, you’re gonna have to move then so I can clean this up.”

Dream quickly stood up and retreated to the corner that Tommy had found him in. Tommy did not stop him. Instead, he resigned himself to cleaning.

Chapter Text

The next few hours went by entirely uneventfully. Completely, one hundred percent, uneventfully. Meaning, Dream didn’t interact with Tommy at all. He stayed in the corner, and Tommy didn’t force him to move. After a while, Tommy grew tired and decided that he wanted to go to bed.

“Dream? I’m gonna sleep now, okay? In my bed, so you won’t be able to use that anymore. Uh, I’ll build you a bed and put it in here, you’re welcome to use it whenever. If you need me, wake me up, I won’t be mad.”

He knew Dream probably wouldn’t leave the corner, he was just overwhelmed and in sensory overload. Still, Tommy built Dream a bed. He didn’t have any green dye, so he reluctantly left it white. (Tommy knew the importance of sticking to the brand.)

He placed the bed on the floor near Dream and went into his room. He settled into his own bed with a shuttering sigh and drifted off to sleep.

His dreams were fitful and filled with memories of the past. He saw his friends die hundreds of times, whether the deaths had actually happened or were just fabricated by his mind, and he was unable to save them.

He woke up screaming (just like Dream had twice already, but he didn’t make that connection) and his mind was addled with terror and rage.

He ran out of his room panting, hoping to calm down. He knew this had happened before: he had to calm down-

“Tommy?”

Dream.

Dream?

Tommy was in the final control room. Eret had betrayed them. Fuck, he’d trusted Eret! Dream had a sword to his gut, he was about to plunge it in-

Tommy screamed, he wasn’t going to let Dream kill him again.

“Tommy?”

Tommy lost all control, kicking and punching towards the source of the voice. He wasn’t going to let it happ-

Wilbur was counting their ten paces, and he was about to battle with Dream for L’manburg’s independence. Then the arrow was finding its way into his heart-

Tommy screamed, yelled, cussed. He fought as hard as he could, he wasn’t going to let himself or his friends die again.

He was back in exile, he fought tooth and nail- please, please, he worked hard for his stuff! He didn’t want to put his items in the hole, and Dream drew his sword-

He released an anguished noise, half shouting and half sobbing. He didn’t want to relive it! With all the strength he could muster, his fists met flesh and he let the red clouding his vision take over.

He heard soft sobbing but it was drowned out by the blood rushing in his ears. And then he was with Dream and Tubbo, and Dream was showing him how he had taken everyone’s attachments to control them. How Dream was going to keep Tommy, perfect and broken, and Tubbo was going to fucking die-

Then he was in the prison, he was visiting Dream, he was going to take the bitch’s final life! He’d do it, he’d finally be free from the tyranny and the terror would be lifted from his mind. He wasn’t allowed weapons, but that wouldn’t stop him. Kicking and screaming, he attacked Dream. He broke Dream’s bones, reopened wounds, fought as hard as he could-

And then Dream didn’t… beat him to death.

Suddenly, he was home again. … the fog cleared? Now was now, the past was in the past, his memories became just that. He was lucid, his brain was clear, and…

“I can’t fucking do this,” Tommy laughed sadly. It was a hollow laugh, laced with all the terrible things he had been forced to experience at such a young age. “You’ve fucking ruined me.”

Dream was on the ground, huddled in his corner. His previously clean shirt was smeared with blood that Tommy had drawn from him. Tommy no longer believed that he hated having power over Dream. He needed this, he needed it!

Limbs bent in unnatural positions, Dream looked up at Tommy with hope in his eyes. Wide eyes, but not with fear. He stared at Tommy with acceptance, like he expected all of this. Like he wanted it.

“Fuckin’- damn it! This is all part of your plan, isn’t it? You’re manipulating me! You’re making me do this, aren’t you?” Dream stared at him. “DREAM! ANSWER ME!”

“This is all my fault,” Dream murmured. “I- you were perfect. You’ve always been so good, Tommy. And now… this is how it’s supposed to be! I- I’m not allowed- I’ve been b-… you’re unhappy.”

“No shit,” Tommy chuckled depressedly, sinking to the ground.

“I’m sorry.”

Tommy’s gaze shot upwards. “What?”

“For- for L’manburg, exile, all of it. I’m a monster, you know I deserve this.”

Tommy wanted to accept the apology so fucking badly. He knew Dream meant it, but…

He only meant it because the words were drilled into his head. Dream had been trained to act like this. If he had never been tortured, he wouldn’t be sorry.

Quackity had made sure Dream would be better. Dream had probably rehearsed his apology, sobbing, as Quackity threatened him. None of it was real.

“You’re not,” Tommy stated. Dream’s face paled.

“I am! I have to be- I promise- I’m so sorry- I’m better now, at least a bit-“

“Shut up.”

Dream’s mouth clamped shut.

Tommy used to want this so badly. He just wasn’t happy either way, everything was ruined! He needed the villain, everything was changing now, this was all wrong!

Tommy just wanted so badly to be good. He wanted to be on the right side of history. He wanted to help people. He didn’t want to see anyone killed or hurt.

He didn’t need to be the hero. He just wanted to be the good guy.

Why did Dream have to make that so hard? What could Tommy do that was right, in this situation? Everything had horrible ramifications, ethically.

Dream ruined everything.

“I hate you,” Tommy said. Dream nodded, accepting the words. Tommy pursed his lips. “I’m going to leave, now. I’ll be back.”

He stood up and without looking back at Dream, he left. He did not give the man any healing potions.

(He did not think that he had not given Dream permission to move or speak. He did not know that Dream would spend the entirety of the time until he came back completely still.)

Tommy walked blindly, not thinking about how the last time he walked without a goal, he found Dream.

He did not think at all. He needed to clear his head. He was completely detached from the world and his surroundings.

He should have paid attention to the people around him.

“Ayy, Tomás!”

Fuck.

“Hey Quackity.”

“I assume… you’ve heard that Dream escaped?” Tommy gulped and nodded. “Don’t worry, Sam an’ I have been looking for him. He won’t be able to do a thing to you.”

The fact that his tone was so genuine caused Tommy to shiver. That, or it was the deep purr of his voice sending the chill down Tommy’s spine. He didn’t know how Quackity was able to live with himself knowing what he’d done to Dream. (Everyone has their own side of the story. There are no true heroes and villains in reality.)

“I’ll protect you, Tommy.”

“Thank you,” Tommy replied, his voice sounding small and scared. He hated it.

“Hey, are you okay? I promise, you don’t need to be scared, kid.”

“N- no, I trust you. I think I’m just gonna stay home, alone, until Dream’s back in the prison.”

“He’ll be back,” Quackity said with foreboding definity. If Tommy hadn’t been looking, he wouldn’t have seen Quackity grin, nor him licking his upper lip. Tommy wished he hadn’t been looking. It sent more chills down his spine (also it was a little bit weird, like, who does that?)

“Uh- okay.”

“What, not convinced?”

“No, no no no, I believe you-“

“But you’re scared of him, aren’t you.” Quackity laughed. “You don’t need to be. But here, if it makes you feel better… if you have any idea where he might be, just let me know, and I’ll take care of him.”

Quackity looked at Tommy. Like he was analyzing him, peering into his mind. Tommy blinked.

“Once Dream’s back in the prison, you’ll be the first to know,” Quackity added.

The unspoken words ‘you should come visit Dream in the prison, see what I’ve done to him’ hung in the air as Quackity smiled at Tommy.

“I think I’m gonna go home. Thanks, Big Q.”

“Of course,” he replied. He twirled a poker chip between two fingers, (which, damn, was cool as hell, but where did he get that?) and turned to leave.

Tommy did the same, walking in the opposite direction, back to his house. He could never catch a break, he just wanted a minute without talking to a sadistic asshole who abused people for their own amusement! Was that too much to ask?

(He just wanted to be a good person. He wanted everyone to be happy. These were childish desires that would never come true, and he knew it. Still, he was a child. He could dream.)

He made it back home and was relieved to see that the door was still shut. If Dream had left or if someone had broken in…

But that didn’t happen, so Tommy didn’t waste any more time thinking about it.

He pushed the door open and sighed when he saw Dream laying on the ground in the corner. Dream’s eyes were glazed over and he didn’t react to Tommy’s entrance. He laid in a pool of his own blood. Blood that Tommy had drawn.

Tommy felt so bad, but why? He’d killed Dream before.

The more that Tommy thought about it, analyzing his own mind, the more it all made sense.

When Dream had been abusing and manipulating Tommy, killing him was justified. Revenge was justified. His anger was justified. Dream murdered Tommy, Tommy murdered Dream. All’s fair in murder.

But now, Dream does not want to hurt Tommy. He’d rather that Tommy hurts him. He expects this, he believes he deserves it. So the ramifications of Tommy bringing harm to Dream are worse, ethically.

Tommy stared sadly at Dream.

“I’ll grab a couple healing pots.”

He went into his room and found three of the potions, bringing them to Dream. Just as he’d done before, he pressed the potions to Dream’s mouth and forced the man to drink.

When the warm feeling that came with healing potions sank into Dream, who allowed himself to smile slightly, Tommy got an idea.

“Y’know… neither of us have been sleeping well.” He chuckled. That was an understatement. “But what if we took weakness potions to fall asleep? We probably wouldn’t even dream!”

Dream gazed at him with such innocently fearful eyes, eyes so wide with terror, that Tommy forgot for a moment what the owner of those eyes had done. Tommy realized that maybe…

“Did you have to take weakness potions… back in the prison?”

Dream moved his gaze to the side and nodded ever so slightly. “Just… at first.”

“What do you mean?”

“When I used to fight back.” At this admission, Dream broke. He coiled in on himself and started to sob loudly. Tommy could only watch, since he knew how Dream reacted to physical contact. Salty tears sprung from Dream’s eyes and bathed his face, highlighting all of his scars.

He cried and cried, and Tommy just stared helplessly. Tommy hated seeing anyone cry-

A single tear escaped his eye and drew a line down his cheek as he gasped softly. Fuck, what a pair were they? Two broken, ruined human beings. An abuser and the child he had tortured. But now…

Yeah, Tommy couldn’t do this.

“I’m taking you to Technoblade’s.”

“What?” Dream gasped. His voice broke and was just so filled with betrayal and fear. “No, no, no- please, I- Tommy, I need- I can’t- he-“

“I just can’t fucking do this. I’ve never had to help someone going through all this! I- I’ve only just had to recover from all this shit myself! So I thought that made me qualified, but all I’m doing is reliving the past. Techno broke you out, and he helped me back in the day. He’s literally perfect for this-“

“Please, Tommy,” Dream sobbed.

“Dream-“

“Don’t give me away, please, I’ll be good!”

“I- I’m not fuckin’ giving you away! You’re not property, first of all, but second, I’m trying to help you! I just want you to be a normal, functioning human being! Technoblade-“

“I won’t cry anymore, I won’t use anymore potions, I won’t speak, I won’t be bad-“

“THIS IS THE FUCKING PROBLEM! I- oh, seriously! Dream, I am holding it together, but I am this close to falling apart!” Tommy yelled, holding up his hand and indicating how close he was by the small space between his fingers. “You haven’t been bad- this is the best you’ve literally ever been around me! Because- because you haven’t tried to kill me yet! So you’re going to stay with Techno. That’s final.”

Dream sobbed harder. He covered his face with his hands.

“Dream… can I… touch you? Will you do the- uh, thing again?” Dream nodded. Nodded to which question? Yes, Tommy could touch him, or yes, Dream would overload and faint again?

Ah, fuck it.

Tommy gently reached out and put his hand on Dream’s shoulder. Dream stopped moving, stopped sobbing, and calmed. His breathing steadied and he blinked slowly like a dog (like a person, not a dog) who was about to fall asleep. His pupils dilated and the tips of his mouth curled up into a whisper of a smile.

“You’re okay, Dream. I’m not giving you to anyone. You’re your own person. If you really don’t want to go-“

“I don’t.”

“Then I’m not gonna force you. I just- I’m not good for you, I’m not helping.”

“I- I’m sorry, I’m being pushy, that’s bad. I know you don’t want me, just- I don’t want to have to learn the rules again, I’m not smart enough, this is all too hard-“

“Wait, what rules?”

Tommy had tried to make it seem like Dream could do anything besides leave the house or kill Tommy. Those weren’t really rules, though, so-

Dream readied himself to list off the rules as if he’d done this many times with practiced obedience. “I’m not allowed to call you sir, I have to change it out for Tommy instead. I have to answer all your questions, even if it hurts. I- I’m not allowed to hurt you, but you can hurt me, and I can’t fight back.

“I have to pretend that I understand why any of this is happening- but I can’t ask questions! That would be bad- I can’t. I have to stay here, I’m only allowed to move when you order me to. I have to drink the potions, because I have to look presentable when visitors come. I’m used to that, normally visitors don’t like it when I’m hurt because most people don’t like seeing animals be hurt- it makes them sad.

“So- so you… you’re nicer than Sir- but I always have to say I’m sorry because I hurt you and that’s bad. If something makes you sad, it’s against the rules, because Sir said Tommy should be happy. I- I’m not allowed to be. So I’m not allowed to cry because that makes you sad so I’ve been bad, but no matter whether I follow your rules or Sir’s, you’re sad and angry and you punish me and I just don’t understand! Why- why have I been bad?”

Dream trembled and stared up at Tommy for validation. Hoping he’d said the rules correctly.

Tommy was in utter disbelief. Dream had thought Tommy needed him to adhere to all that?

“The- the only rule is that we can’t hurt each other. I broke that rule, so I’m sorry. You’re- you’re allowed to speak when I’m not talking to you directly! And the potions weren’t because Tubbo was coming, holy shit. No, I was trying to save your life! I’m not sad because you’ve done something wrong- well, currently. You know you were a shit person, I’m not gonna keep drilling it into your head. I’m sad because I hate to have to see you like this.

“The fact that you’re so desperately clawing at some semblance of a rule to follow- this isn’t you! But this is… this isn’t ‘better’, Dream. You’ll be better when you can make your own choices, when you can smile-“

“I did! I remembered that I’m supposed to smile and be polite whenever Sir came, I smiled! I- I’m trying, I’m trying so hard,” Dream cried.

“I want you to be able to smile because you want to! Not because he wanted it or because I do! I don’t want you to be all fucked up, I-… you probably think I’m mad at you right now, don’t you.”

“You’re not mad?” Dream tentatively figured out, hoping that he was correct and wouldn’t be punished for saying so.

“I’m not mad at you, this you, in the present. I’m mad at Quackity,” he started, not missing Dream’s flinch at the name, “and you from before, not now, and honestly? Myself. I hate how- I’m just doing this because I want to be a good person! That- that doesn’t make me good, I’m ruining you! I hate- I can never do anything right!”

Dream looked tense, and Tommy realized that he had started to grip Dream’s shoulder tightly, so he released his hand. Luckily, Dream didn’t immediately fall asleep. He still looked scared, though.

Tommy knew he had to make a decision. He didn’t know whether to take Dream to Technoblade or not. Either way, he felt like he was doing the wrong thing. For the millionth time, he put himself in Dream’s shoes. What would be the best scenario?

Tommy stood up and went to the potions chest, grabbing a few of weakness and putting them into his inventory. He went back to Dream and stayed with him until the sun set, when he could put his plan into motion.

It wouldn’t be safe to bring Dream anywhere without the blanket of darkness covering them, shielding them from view.

Nighttime arrived and Dream believed Tommy now, that he wasn’t going to take him to Techno’s house. He had become innocently trusting. Tommy envied that. But not right now.

“Dream, drink these,” Tommy ordered, holding up a few weakness potions. Dream shivered, gazing at the vials with a hopeless resignation in his eyes.

Dream knew what the potions were. He must have known what Tommy was planning. But still, submissive and obedient as ever, he didn’t fight as Tommy poured the potions down his throat.

A minute later, he fell into a deep sleep. He wouldn’t be waking up any time soon… hopefully.

Tommy sighed and picked him up, bringing him outside. He loaded Dream onto the back of a horse and hopped on as well. He was pretty sure he remembered where Techno lives. So, he set off in that direction. Praying that no one would see him or approach him.

Luckily, against all odds, he made it safely to Techno’s house. He tied the horse to a tree with Dream still on it. Dream shivered in the cold air of the tundra, so Tommy knew he’d have to make quick work of convincing Technoblade to keep Dream.

To help Dream. He was not property.

Tommy approached the door and knocked. A beat of silence passed. Then…

“Hullo?”

The door opened.

“Techno! Technoblade- Blade, my man! How’re you?”

“Tommy?… I’m not harborin’ Dream, if that’s why you’re here. Dream’s somewhere else on the server.”

Tommy laughed suspiciously. “Uhh… about that-“

“I’m not gonna protect you, either. Actually, Dream-“

“Dream is currently on the back of my horse,” Tommy blurted. “I found him in the woods, and I want you to take care of him. He- he needs help.”

Techno’s face paled. “Is he hurt?”

“He was! I gave him, like, a million healing pots! But- you saw his condition, big man. Mentally, I mean. I just… I can’t care for him.”

“Oh.”

Suddenly, a thump could be heard from where Tommy had tied the horse. His eyes widened and he panicked, running over there as quickly as he could. He found Dream on the ground, as he had fallen off the horse. It was just gravity, though. He was still asleep, although his nose was bleeding now.

Tommy smiled slightly and scooped Dream up, carrying him back into view of Technoblade.

“Tommy, did you… hurt him?”

Tommy placed Dream at his feet, a couple yards away from Techno. “Fuckin’ hell, I wanted to. I- I did! I did hurt him- but I can’t kill him because he’s a mess! He’s terrified… and… y’know, why am I telling you? You saw him, you broke him out! Why didn’t you just take him in immediately?”

“He was unconscious when I broke in. I gave him a couple of healing potions, enough that I assumed he could walk. I couldn’t waste ‘em, though. Then I hid him in the woods with a book sayin’ he could come to my house if he needed me, but the favor was paid off. When he didn’t come and there weren’t any death messages…”

“Did you know what Quackity was doing?”

Techno signed. “Yeah. But he didn’t come every day when I was in the prison, and Dream was getting better-“

“Then you’re able to help him again! Just like you have before, just like you helped me! Please, I can’t,” Tommy pleaded.

Techno pondered it for a minute. “Come in, and bring him,” he decided.

“Thank you!”

Tommy grabbed Dream off the ground and rushed into the house after Techno. Technoblade gestured to the couch to put Dream on it, and Tommy did so.

“Before I make any decisions, can you tell me a bit about what’s happened?”

Tommy began to recount how he had found Dream, and each experience he’d had since then. He made sure to mention as many of the things that Dream had said as he could.

“You’ll have to stay here too, for a short while,” Techno said.

“What? Wha- why?” Tommy sputtered.

“He’s scared, you know what that feels like. Seems like you’ve been puttin’ yourself in his shoes this whole time. You said he feels safer with you than Quackity. And that he thinks you’re giving him away! I remember getting the vibe that Quackity was… ‘training’ him for you. So he’s expected you, I don’t want to throw him off, confuse him out of reality. If we can show him that you’ll be kind-“

“I can’t even hear his voice without having flashbacks to exile,” Tommy interrupted. “This arrangement has been shit for the both of us.”

“And now I’ll try an’ help you both heal, okay?”

Tommy nodded. “Okay.”

“So are you okay with sleeping in your old room?” Tommy perked up.

“You still have that?”

“What’m I gonna do, fill it it with stone? Yeah, it’s still there. You stay here with Dream for now, I’m going to make him a room right now.”

“You’re just gonna build an extension onto the house?”

Techno nodded decisively and left without another word.

“Okay then,” Tommy said to no one. Well, maybe Dream could hear him through the unconscious haze he was in.

Probably not, though.

Chapter Text

Tommy sat on a chair staring at Dream, completely bored, as he listened to Technoblade mining and building away.

“Tommy! I think it’s done, come over and see for yourself!” Techno hollered. Tommy thought Techno wasn’t normally much to raise his voice when he wasn’t angry, but maybe the bitch was just too lazy to come get Tommy himself.

Tommy picked himself up and ambled over towards the sound of Techno’s voice. He was surprised to find a trapdoor with some carpet placed over it. For someone who wasn’t specifically looking for it, it would’ve been invisible.

He opened the trapdoor and climbed down, and was immediately shocked.

“Technoblade, you cottagecore simping motherfucker.”

The walls and ceiling matched the rest of the house, as they were the same wood, and were stained the same way. There were paintings on the wall and there was even a shelf with a plant and books!

The one thing that Tommy did not understand is why Techno had chosen to make the floor obsidian. That was the floor of the prison, so wouldn’t it just give Dream flashbacks or make him think it was another cell? Although, it was much smoother and more polished than the prison, not at all jagged.

The bed was, of course, lime green. Technoblade was such a simp. (Was that the right word? Uh… Tommy didn’t fully know what it meant, but it seemed like it fit.)

“Techno, even the green bed?”

Techno blushed. “I had every color of dye, so-“

“Oh!” Tommy interrupted, taking on a high pitched imitation voice that did not sound like Techno at all. “I’m Techno! Let me go into my dye library and pick Dream’s favorite color! Ohoho!”

“Tommy.”

Tommy collected himself. He was being serious. It was time to be a normal person.

He had an important question for Techno.

“Uh… why’s the floor… like that?”

“He’s not going to be used to a bed. I couldn’t sleep in a bed for a few days, and I wasn’t even tortured or anything. So it’s just obsidian that won’t give him bruises as much, until he’s ready for the bed.”

“You’re okay with him sleeping on the ground?”

“We have to take small steps, Tommy. Now, shall we go back up there and wait for him to wake up? I don’t want him to wake up alone again.”

They ascended the ladder and Techno let Tommy pick a seat first. They conversed for an hour or so before Dream began to stir.

Before anyone could stop him, Dream rolled off the couch and hit the ground, hard. With a soft whimper, he sat up and groggily took in his surroundings before noticing Techno and Tommy.

“Oh. Are you… real?” Dream asked.

“Yeah, I’m really here,” Techno confirmed. “Can I touch you?” Dream paused a moment before nodding. Techno sat down on the couch behind Dream and let Dream rest his head on Techno’s leg.

“So you’re giving me away?” Dream slurred, delirious from sleep and human contact.

“No! You and I are gonna stay with Techno for a little while. Both of us.”

Dream slumped over onto Techno’s foot and blinked a few times. He was probably still out of it due to the potions.

“Have I been good?” he mumbled.

“Yeah,” Techno replied. Looking up at Tommy, he elaborated. “I don’t know if you remember, but when you first escaped your exile, I had to tell you that constantly. That, and that you could keep whatever stuff you wanted. So we should make sure Dream knows he’s doing the right things, and be extra gentle. It’s important we ween him off the needing to be good, but at first, we promise he has been.”

“‘M not homeless,” Dream whispered. He was probably half in a dream, now.

“No, you’re not,” Techno said. “You have a home now. You’re living with me and Tommy.”

Dream’s pupils went very wide and he sat up, staring directly at Tommy.

“Techno, you have to leave,” he whispered nervously.

“Why?” Techno asked.

“I don’t- I don’t want him to…” Dream whined quietly. “You have to escape- you don’t deserve… I don’t- you need to leave.”

“Tommy’s not gonna hurt either of us. He’s not in charge here.”

“Yeah, the guy in charge is Tech-“

“There’s no one in charge,” Techno corrected, interrupting Tommy. “Equals, remember?”

“No,” Dream slurred.

“Yes,” Techno contradicted. He took off his cape and with one fell swoop, placed it on Dream’s shoulders. Dream’s mind took the cue that he was safe and he fell asleep immediately.

“Do you… wanna put him in his room, then we can talk a bit, please?”

“Sure. I’ll take him down, Tommy, and you can stay put here.”

Techno picked Dream up and carried him gently down the ladder, careful as not to unwrap him from how he was safely ensconced in the cape.

As Techno climbed back up, Tommy realized that he was more relaxed with Dream out of sight, personally. He just naturally went on edge with Dream’s presence, even if the man was cowering at Tommy’s feet.

“Tommy, do you want to talk?”

“We have been talking.”

“No, I mean… you can rant about this, I know it’s been hard on you.”

“It’s harder for Dream.”

“Definitely! But that doesn’t invalidate everything you’ve gone through.”

Tommy knew Technoblade was being uncharacteristically soft. He’d take this while he could.

“Okay… thanks. It’s- Its not fair that any of this is happening. Dream shouldn’t be able to break! He’s not supposed to be tortured or traumatized! He’s Dream! He’s- just, everything is changing, always, but there were universal constants. Dream was the bad guy. He was powerful and unkillable and then I killed him and-… is this my fault? Do I deserve this?”

“What? No. No one deserves what either of you two have had happen.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

Tommy took a deep breath. “Dream kept saying that he deserved everything, that Quackity was fixing him and making him better. The thing is, Dream- he is better now! For me, for the server! He doesn’t try to manipulate or kill people anymore, so is what Quackity did really in the right? I know it’s not, but- isn’t it?”

“It was wrong, and I can prove why. First, of course Dream’s actions were wrong. But there are better ways to go about rehabilitating him and causing him to see the error of his ways than torture an’ manipulation. And no person should truly believe that they’re lesser than other human beings. Or that they aren’t one themselves.”

Tommy smiled. Techno was right (as usual). (So… everyone was in the wrong? Somehow, that felt better than the alternative.)

A few hours went by of Techno helping Tommy through all of the feelings he’d been having in relation to Dream, clearing things up best he could. Techno was good at that.

After a while, Tommy decided to go down and check on Dream. He asked Techno if he’d like to come, but he declined, saying that he didn’t want to overwhelm Dream.

That made sense.

This was why coming to Techno’s was good!

Tommy descended the ladder. He laid his eyes on Dream, and-

Blood, dripping down his arms. A shard of a broken pot that once held a flower in his hand. A look of desperation for validation in his eyes. Cuts, like open mouths, gaping, spilling out the crimson liquid. Tommy’s actual mouth opened and he screamed.

Tommy faintly registered Dream throwing the shard to the ground. This wasn’t happening, no- not after Tommy had finally stopped. The cuts brought back memories of the scars that littered his own arms- the ones that his deterioration due to Dream had driven him to make.

Techno rushed down the ladder and splashed a healing potion onto a sobbing Dream. Techno took his cape off of the ground and placed it over Tommy’s shoulders to ground him. To comfort him.

“Dream-“ Technoblade started, but Dream cut him off. He rambled quickly and quietly, tugging at his blonde hair.

“I made Tommy mad- Sir always liked it when I cu- when I did that! Sometimes he would reward me if I was good- and Tommy said- he wasn’t gonna punish me, so I had to. I don’t want him to hurt you- but now he’s gonna be mad-“

“Tommy’s not mad, I promise. He doesn’t want you to hurt yourself, okay?”

“But he yelled-“

“He was scared. It brought back some bad memories,” Techno replied, purposefully not going into any detail about what those ‘memories’ were.

Tommy watched the conversation unfold, sinking to the ground with Techno’s cape still draped over his shaking form. He choked back a sob. His emotional state would affect Dream’s, who had more reason to be sad, so Tommy should not cry! He didn’t have enough reason to cry. It just wouldn’t be justified.

He was being so selfish. He didn’t have the right to cry. Tommy wasn’t even hurt, he was just being a baby. Dream had actual trauma, he was self harming because he thought Tommy would like it! Tommy just wanted to fucking sob until he dehydrated into nothingness and withered away.

He felt the sadness encroaching, burning his chest, but the tears that came wouldn’t be real. He didn’t need to cry. He wanted to cry so badly, just in hopes that maybe the sobbing would, what? Validate his problems? Fuck, he just wanted to be comforted. He didn’t need that, though. Dream needed it all. Tommy was selfish, wanting to cry because he felt like he needed to.

His mind raged with rants that would never be verbalized, screaming about all of his problems, no matter what size. Dream’s were bigger, everyone’s were bigger, and Tommy was being selfish. He felt sad, he felt hopeless, and he never really felt true joy anymore except for when he was given the slightest validation.

So that’s it, then. He was doing all of this for validation. He was faking the trauma and responses, he had to be! He just wanted a hug so badly but recoiled whenever someone tried to give him one. What was wrong with him? Why was he so messed up?

But still, not messed up enough, because other people had worse mental issues and his weren’t worth their fucking time of day-

Tommy was spiraling. There wasn’t an end in sight. He shakily shed the cape and tossed it over to Techno, so he could put it on Dream.

Tommy was fine. He was fine. He was fine.

Venting felt nice, even if no one would ever hear it. Words that would never leave the prison of his mind. But the simple concept of thinking them calmed Tommy. Relaxed him.

He could help Dream. He had to. He was fine.

He stood up, walked over to Dream, and crumbled when he saw the blood smeared on his face and tears on his arms.

Nope, nope, not doing this.

Tommy ran up the ladder and into his room, locking the door. He bit back sobs and forced himself to fall asleep.

The next few days were each the same as the last. Tommy tended to avoid Dream, for Tommy’s own sake. But he did notice that Dream had a couple of different modes he went into throughout the day.

The first being that he would break down and not leave the corner of either his bedroom or the living room. He would become completely disrespondant and only move at all if Tommy or Technoblade ordered him to. And they tried to avoid doing that.

Sometimes, Dream would be up and about, but would refuse to leave Techno’s side. When Techno was walking around doing things, Dream would nervously stay by his side all the while, terrified eyes wide and dilated. If Techno were to sit down on a couch or chair, Dream would sit at the ground right at his feet.

Because of this, Techno had taken to sitting on the ground too, so he’d be on the same level as Dream. Once he’d done that, Dream opted to lay down halfway onto his lap instead. Sometimes Techno would braid Dream’s hair during that time. (Tommy was jealous, he wanted Techno to do the same for him.)

A few times, Dream would search the house in a panic until he located Tommy, from whence he would throw himself at Tommy’s feet and sob. He’d beg. He’d curl up into a ball as Tommy watched. (Tommy always just watched, he never could seem to help, he felt so worthless.)

Dream didn’t eat or sleep over the course of those few days. Techno tried to get him to eat, but Dream would just throw up any food that he ate when Techno said he should. He was taking it as an order, yet he couldn’t actually keep the food down.

It must have been because he ate at Tommy’s house. He wasn’t used to getting that much food. (Even if he hadn’t kept that down either.)

And Tommy would have been concerned about the fact that he hadn’t seen Dream sleep once if it weren’t for the fact that Dream always rested on top of Techno, still giving himself a chance to recharge. He was probably just afraid of what sleep would bring.

Dream barely spoke, as well. Despite Techno constantly reminding him that he was allowed to. Actually, Tommy realized, he only heard Dream speak when he wasn’t fully lucid, when he was pleading for the phantom torture to cease.

Sure, Tommy was a little jealous of how kind, gentle, and patient that Techno was with Dream, but he was aware of how selfish that was. Tommy was kept awake at night with nightmares of Dream, per usual, except… it wasn’t the normal nightmares.

For months before all of this had happened, Tommy’s mind was plagued almost every night with images of exile, of L’manburg, or Pogtopia. Every night was another bad memory, another tragedy that Tommy had to relive.

But now?

His nightmares showed his brain’s best guesses as to what really happened to Dream every day in the prison. The gore and suffering was enough to make Tommy gag. And if it wasn’t hard enough to see Dream writhing on the ground, begging for the pain to stop…

Tommy was the one torturing Dream in his nightmares. Or maybe he was just watching from inside Quackity’s head. He didn’t have any control over his own actions, but he was getting a first person view of the torture.

He, or perhaps Quackity, would step on Dream, cut off fingers, pull out fingernails in a painstakingly slow manner. He would break Dream’s bones, heal them, and snap them again. Dream was forced to drink his own blood.

Sometimes, as a cruel echo of when Tommy had first found Dream, he would shove his hand into Dream’s mouth. Slowly, he would train Dream not to bite. These things took time, he realized.

Tommy always woke up screaming or frozen in place, unable to move. The dreams were just his brain manifesting how everything felt so out of his control. How he was never able to help Dream. How he hated hurting defenseless people.

But as much as Tommy hated to admit it, this routine became their normal. Hopefully it wouldn’t stay that way for very long.

Tommy walked into the kitchen where he found Techno baking bread. Dream was nowhere in sight.

“Tommy?” Techno asked.

“Yeah?”

“Dr-“

Techno was cut off by a knock at the door. His face contorted in mild confusion, but he was always quick to react and adapt.

“Tommy, quickly, move the chair to be on top of Dream’s trapdoor- he’s in there right now, and then go hide somewhere. I don’t know who’s here.”

Tommy nodded and quickly did as Techno said.

He ran into Techno’s room and slammed the door, locking it. Through the walls, he could hear Techno open the front door. Muffled conversation, and then-

“Tommy! C’mon out here!” Techno exclaimed.

Oh. Must be safe, then?

Tommy tentatively opened the door and saw the one and only Philza Minecraft.

Now, Tommy had mixed feelings about Phil. On one hand, Phil was the absolute coolest person ever. He was the biggest man, an absolute idol. On the other hand…

(Tommy’s mind flashed memories of Phil fighting alongside Dream and Techno, of Phil killing innocent people, of Phil killing Wilbur-)

But Tommy had mixed feelings about everyone. (Techno, too, had killed Tubbo, had fought against Tommy time and time again, was allies with Dream since the start!)

Except Tubbo. There was nothing not to like about Tubbo. Maybe his choice in husbands was questionable, because really? Ranboob? (Tommy would never admit how happy Ranboo made him.)

But Phil was here. Now. Tommy had decided to trust Techno, but he wasn’t sure if he’d extent the trust to Phil as well.

But… he didn’t really have much of a choice in the matter? Phil was here. What could Tommy do about it? He couldn’t kill Phil, and demanding him to leave would lead to hostility and a fight. Phil and Techno were allies, and Techno… was Tommy’s ally too? Could he go so far to say they were friends?

No, no, they weren’t friends. But Techno wouldn’t let Phil kill Tommy right now. Nor Dream.

Unless- unless Techno had invited Phil here to help him kill Tommy and Dream! Maybe he didn’t want to break his promise not to hurt the two of them, so he found a loophole to have Phil do it! And now Tommy was gonna die, and Dream was too!

No, Tommy, that’s silly. He was well aware that wasn’t realistic. There was no way!

But everyone on the server did want Dream dead at the moment. Phil… could be included in that? Whether he knew Dream was here or not, Phil might have murderous intentions.

Tommy did not want Phil to kill Dream.

“Don’t hurt him,” Tommy said, his voice wavering and showing how close to tears he must have been. Fuck, that was not as intimidating as Tommy had hoped. He sounded like a child!

Phil’s face softened. “I’m not here to hurt anyone, mate.”

“Tommy’s just a bit on edge about the situation with Dream,” Techno elaborated. So Phil didn’t know that they were harboring Dream. Or as Techno would say, harborin’ Dream.

Knowing Tommy’s luck, though, Dream would scream or cry and then Phil would find out. Unless Techno got him to leave as soon as possible.

“You old men should go out to a golf course or something, talk about politics,” Tommy replied. Yes, that was smooth. That would get them to leave. Wow, Tommy was just so good at this! A master criminal-harborer.

Phil cocked his head to the side. “I’m just here to check on Techno. I haven’t heard from you in a few days! There’s… classified information we need to discuss soon.” Techno nodded.

“I’m a little busy at the moment. You guys deal with whatever without me, I’ll only give opinions if you need me. I’ve just got something arguably more important right now.”

Phil seemed to think he understood. He definitely didn’t, though, right?

“Alright, well, I suppose I’ll leave you to it.”

Ahaha, yes! Phil was leaving, they’d done it! Success, he-

“No, you can stay for dinner! I’m making bread,” Techno offered, “and bird brains like you love bread. Also steak, but we all know you’ll stay for the bread.”

Phil smiled. “Okay, thanks.”

Dammit, Technoblade.

Chapter Text

An hour later, Tommy, Techno, and Phil were seated around the table eating. Tommy gripped his steak knife so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Just in case.

Techno and Phil conversed lightheartedly, but Tommy shut them out. Any minute now, Phil would attack, Techno would betray them, or Dream would break down into tears too loudly-

“Tommy, are you alright?” Phil asked.

“Yeah?”

Why was Phil asking him? Why did he care? Did he know something he shouldn’t? Oh no- he knew about Dream, he was going to kill Dream, it was going to be Tommy’s fault!

“Just- what with Dream escaping.”

Phil looked at Technoblade, seeming to be asking a question with his eyes. Techno nodded.

“Really?” Phil exclaimed. Tommy flinched at his raised voice. “Sorry, mate. But… you know that Tech an’ I broke Dream out?”

“Phil helped?” Tommy shouted.

“Bruh, Phil- you cannot take that much of the credit.” Turning to Tommy, Techno continued. “Phil helped me plan the breakout.”

“Does he… know…”

“Only if you want him to.”

Phil was more confused than ever, now. Ha, sucks to be him! Imagine not knowing something!

“Yeah, if you trust him.”

Oh fuck, why the hell did Tommy just say that? He’s actually an idiot, Tubbo was right all along!

“Dream’s actually in my basement right now,” Techno told Phil. Phil… didn’t seem surprised?

“Was he still as bad as when you were in the cell with him?”

Techno sighed sadly. “Worse.”

“Should I leave, then? I assume he’s not dangerous, since Tommy’s here and still- uh, alive. I wouldn’t want to overwhelm Dream-“

“Yes,” Tommy interrupted. He stared at Phil, hoping to communicate that it would be best if he left. Phil looked like he understood.

“Alright, mate. Send me a message if I can help, okay?”

Phil grabbed a bit of bread and put it into his inventory, earning a glare from Techno, and with that, he was gone.

Now Tubbo and Phil had some semblance of understanding and a promise to be remotely helpful.

Tommy was getting lucky. There was no way this was gonna last, nothing ever went right for Tommy.

“I’m sorry if he made you uncomfortable,” Techno apologized. Well, yeah, that was true. Tommy… didn’t really want to accept the apology. He didn’t want Phil to be there.

“I’m gonna go check on Dream. He’s trapped down there, y’know.”

Without giving Techno a chance to reply, Tommy left the room and went over to the trapdoor, putting the chair back where it belonged. Before he opened the trapdoor, he listened carefully to what was on the other side.

He was pretty sure that he could hear a soft whimpering accompanied by Dream pawing at the door. (Had his fingernails grown back yet? Probably not.)

Tommy opened the door. Dream, who had been at it, let go of the ladder and crashed to the ground. He whined and curled up into a ball.

“I didn’t try to escape- I’m sorry- please don’t be mad,” Dream whimpered. Tommy climbed down the ladder and squatted down near Dream, hopefully not too close that he would overwhelm him.

“Don’t be sorry, I’m the one who should be. Techno and I just had a visitor, and we didn’t want him to find you.”

“Why?”

“Uh…” Tommy did not want to answer that question. “What do you mean, why?”

“I just don’t understand,” Dream sniffled.

Oh, now this was something Tommy was supposed to try and help Dream with. “Tell me what you don’t understand, I’ll see if I can clear it up.”

Dream’s body shook as he took a deep breath. “Normally, the visitors want- want to see me. I don’t get a lot of visitors, most people don’t want to be around me, but sometimes. But I- I’m not messy right now, even though I haven’t behaved. And visitors only like it when I’m clean, which I am! So why- why can’t he see me? Did I do something wrong?”

“Well… a lot of people want to put you back in the prison, Dream. Maybe kill you. Techno and I don’t want that; we’re trying to keep you safe. Does that make sense?”

Dream paused for a minute, staring at Tommy’s chin. Not making eye contact. Finally, he replied. “I… think I should go back to the prison. I’m supposed to be there.”

That was… not the reaction Tommy was hoping for. Or expecting.

“No. The idea of prison itself was a fair punishment, definitely, but what you got was not. Solitary confinement and deprivation of going outside is already crossing the line, but I would’ve been fine with that. It’s torture- manipulation- sadism, that’s what’s inhumane, cruel, unnecessary- unacceptable! You’ve gotten more than enough of a fair punishment. You definitely shouldn’t have to go back for round two.”

“It’s where I belong.”

“No. Not anymore- Dream, you’re harmless now. I bet you couldn’t lift a sword, let alone murder someone. And I doubt you have the mental capacity to lie to me, so there’s no way you’re manipulating the server again.”

“That’s all I can do! I’m a monster- I only hurt people! Sir tried to fix me, but it didn’t seem to work, because he always had to punish-“

“Stop saying that he fixed you! You- this isn’t fixed, you keep coming back to that! He broke you. And… y’know what, Dream? Let’s try this.”

Tommy pointed to a book on the shelf that had once held a plant as well. Techno had gotten rid of the shards and hadn’t allowed Dream near anything else sharp when he was alone.

“See the book?” Dream nodded. “Okay, now tell me that it’s actually just a singular piece of paper. Lie to me. Manipulate me, convince me to believe something that isn’t true.”

Dream opened his mouth and shut it again. His eyes welled up with tears for the millionth time and he started to hyperventilate. “I- I- I’m not allowed to- no- Tommy, please- I-“

“Shh, shh, shh, I’m sorry, you don’t need to do that. But… you see what I’m saying, right? You’re not- you can’t lie for the life of you, big man. Not even for something stupid and seemingly pointless. You’re not gonna manipulate anyone.”

“I’m not allowed to lie,” Dream sobbed.

“It’s okay, you’re okay. You’re allowed to do anything,” Tommy soothed. “As long as you’re not deliberately hurting someone. You haven’t done anything wrong. I just wanted to prove that you’re… good.”

“I have been?” Dream asked with hopeful, doe-like eyes.

“Yep,” Tommy replied, popping the ‘p’. Dream smiled, a juxtaposition to the tears that glistened on his scarred face. “Now, would you like to go back up to Techno? Or do you want to stay down here? I’ll stay or come with, or leave you be if you’d rather.”

“Whatever you want, s- Tommy,” Dream cautiously replied.

“Okay, but I want you to pick! There isn’t a wrong answer, I promise.”

“We can… go be with Techno?”

“Alright! I’m proud of you,” Tommy said, remembering to stress how important Dream’s everyday accomplishments were. He extended his hand and Dream tentatively took it, and Tommy proceeded to help him up. The pair climbed the ladder and Tommy was immediately nervous when he didn’t see Techno nearby.

“Techno?” he called out.

“Yeah, I’m coming! One sec.” Tommy breathed a sigh of relief. Techno hadn’t abandoned them. (He realized that he’d already forgiven Techno for Phil’s presence. And… was it really Techno’s fault in the first place?)

Techno entered the room holding a deck of cards. He held them up to show Tommy and Dream.

“Would you guys like to play?”

“Okay?” Tommy had no idea what possessed Techno to come up with this, but he supposed a normal social situation would be good for him and Dream alike. And it would be fun.

Tommy plopped himself down on the couch, and patted the seat next to him for Dream to hopefully take. Please sit on the couch, not the ground, oh this better work.

Dream walked over to the couch and nervously looked at Tommy for permission and approval. Tommy smiled and gestured to the seat again, hoping Dream would understand. When Dream gently sat down beside him, Tommy’s face broke into a huge grin. Dream allowed himself to relax a little bit. It only calmed him more when Techno came up behind the two and placed his cape over the both of them like a blanket.

Did Technoblade just wear that thing to give to people when they needed it? Was it actually just a style choice?

Techno sat down on a chair across from them and slapped the deck of cards down on the table. Tommy would absolutely deny the fact that he and Dream flinched. The noise was not scary, absolutely not. Tommy was not breathing more quickly now, nor was Dream. Shut up.

“So, what did you want to play?” Tommy asked.

“Uhh… you can pick,” replied Techno, who clearly didn’t have a game in mind. Tommy sighed and shook his head.

“Okay, I have the absolute bestest game. Have you heard of the game War?” Techno nodded and Dream didn’t move from staring at his hands. Tommy took that as a yes. “So, three way War, and we’ve got alliances, and all the rules are different if you can gaslight your subjects! And- and the highest card wins from all three people- unless there’s a tie, and-“

“Is it just War but with three people?” Techno interrupted.

“And with lore! You see, if two people put down royalty, they get into, like, an affair, and-“

“Just War but with three people,” Techno repeated, more forcefully this time. “No lore, no gaslighting.”

“Fine,” Tommy grumbled.

Techno dealt them each an equal number of cards and Tommy absentmindedly picked them up and looked at all of them. Techno stared at him in disbelief as Tommy realized what he’d done.

“Tommy. This game is easy enough for toddlers, Tommy. This game only has two rules, Tommy, and one of them is don’t look at the cards! Tommy!” Oh no, was Techno repeating his name over and over as an attempt to intimidate him into apologizing and being guilt tripped?

“It’s fine, it’s fine! Don’t murder me or something, you don’t have to re-deal, we can just play a different game? Uh… I only know how to play War…”

“You imbecile.” Tommy gave Techno a shit-eating grin. “Fine. We can play Hearts.”

Techno spent the next twenty minutes trying to explain the relatively simple game to Tommy, who just didn’t understand. Dream would silently take the cards he was given, but was mostly disrespondant.

“WHY CAN’T I PUT DOWN A HEART?” Tommy yelled.

“Because- because they haven’t been broken yet!” Techno answered.

“What does that even mean?”

Techno sighed. “It’s honestly easier at this point to just deal again and play War.”

“No, it’s fine! Let’s do something else, teach me Poker or Blackjack- gambling!”

Tommy noticed how Dream’s grip on his cards tightened and his face drained of color. Maybe… not, then.

“Or War is fine,” Tommy amended.

Techno collected all the cards and shuffled, passive aggressively muttering to himself all the while. Tommy offered his hand to Dream, who looked uncomfortable. Dream shook his head, and Tommy absolutely didn’t feel like it was his fault that Dream was constantly afraid. Abso-LUTE-ly not. Tommy was fine.

Techno dealt the cards again and gave Tommy a death stare when he reached for his pile.

“Chill, I’m just neatening the pile. I’m not gonna look this time, promise!”

They started to play, and the game was delightfully uneventful. Tommy swore that he even saw Dream smile as he started to win.

Techno kept the lead for the majority of the game, which was annoying, because it was a game of luck! Tommy would have the highest card once, and then Techno would get it like five times in a row! So his stack was significantly bigger than everyone else’s.

And would it be cheating if Tommy quite literally had an ace up his sleeve? Perhaps. But Technoblade had to be brought down from his egotistical trip. So when Tommy and Techno both played a seven, Tommy knew it was his chance.

Techno flipped out his three cards, two kings and a jack. Tommy broke into a huge grin and played three of his five remaining cards: a two, five, and nine.

Then Tommy counted down from three as they both had to play the tie breaker. Tommy took out his ace as Techno flipped over an eight.

“Dammit, Tommy!” Techno exclaimed in mock anguish. Was it actually mock anguish? Wait- was Techno mad at Tommy? Oh fuck, oh no.

The world suddenly got blurry, and Tommy panicked. Tommy’d done something wrong, Techno was going to hurt him. In his mind, Tommy was in the Pit, he was in L’manburg, he was listening to a cacophony of screams echo around him.

Techno had spawned withers, dropped TNT, had fought Tommy and not held back. And now he was mad, and Tommy had trusted him like an idiot! He’d come to Techno’s house! Why? Why was he such an idiot- maybe he deserved to be hurt?

Salty tears sprung into the corners of his eyes and he took quick, shallow breaths. Techno was mad, Tommy had-

Oh, Tommy had cheated! Sure, his intent was for it to all be in good fun, but why had he thought that? He and Techno were barely on good terms! And Tommy had to protect Dream (even thinking that made him feel a bit sick, but he knew it was true), and without him around, Dream would be killed too!

Or worse, put back in that prison.

(Everything was Tommy’s fault.)

Tommy was vaguely aware of someone talking to him, holding his hand. That… wasn’t right.

“Tommy? Tommy, can you hear me?”

Tommy nodded.

“Okay, can you take deep breaths?”

No, he didn’t think he could. His lungs were filling up with sand, his head was pounding, the walls were closing in on him.

Somehow, he was able to take a deep, shaky inhale.

“Good, you’re doing well. Do you think you can speak?”

“Y- yeah.”

“Could you name five things you can see?”

Oh. Tommy’d done this before. He must be panicking, then. The simple realization grounded him into reality, but still, he did as he was asked.

“You, the- the couch, uh… the cards, the table, and the floor?”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Techno confirmed. It was Techno then, which Tommy should have figured out. Wait-

“Is Dream okay?” Tommy asked nervously, still not fully calmed whatsoever.

“Uh- first, deep breath, okay? Can you name four-“

“WHERE IS HE?” Tommy shouted, standing up angrily. His once blurry vision was now clouded with red. Techno had hurt Dream, or had Tommy? Or he was gone, and it was all Tommy’s fault, and he would never ever forgive himself!

“He’s not hurt.”

“WHERE?”

“His room- Tommy, you need to take a deep breath, okay? Nothing happened, I’m not mad, no one’s hurt.”

Tommy fell back down onto the couch. “No one?” he asked shakily.

“No one,” Techno confirmed. “So… what happened? It’s okay if you don’t know, I just want to be able to help you.”

Tommy hesitated. “You… you were mad. I’m sorry, I think I panicked, I didn’t want you to hurt me.” He blinked his tears away. “Or Dream,” he added as an afterthought.

“I’ve promised that I’m not going to hurt either of you, I’m protectin’ you! You’re safe.”

“Did I- did I make Dream get scared?”

“It’s not your fault.”

“You’re not answering the question.”

Techno nodded and Tommy frowned, accepting it. “He won’t be mad at you,” Techno offered as an attempt at comfort.

“He doesn’t have the mental capacity for that,” Tommy replied snarkily. His eyes widened and he continued, “oh wait- sorry- I didn’t mean to snap-“

“I’m not mad,” Techno reminded him.

“I’m going to get Dream. I- I want to finish the card game.”

Techno smiled, obviously glad that Tommy was confident in the decision. “I’m gonna win, y’know.”

“Not after I got some of your best cards, bitch!” Tommy stuck his tongue out and sprinted over to Dream’s trapdoor, which was open. He peeked down the ladder, expecting the worst, and was relieved to find Dream staring up at him, unharmed.

“Tommy? I’m sorry.”

“Why?” Tommy inquired, climbing down the ladder. He sat down next to where Dream was on the ground. Dream stared at him with huge green eyes.

“You were sad?”

“But that wasn’t your fault.”

Dream opened his mouth and closed it a few times, nervously searching for a response. Tommy wished he could see what Dream was thinking.

“Dream, you’re allowed to contradict me if you don’t understand or agree.”

“Everything is my fault,” Dream whispered. “But… I’m sorry, I was bad.”

“No, you weren’t. Why… do you think that?”

“I ran away, I was scared and I panicked, and I cried- and I talked! And I didn’t wait, I didn’t stay so you could let off steam, I-“

“Let off steam? Did you… did you think that because I- uh… wasn’t doing well, that I was going to take it out on you?”

Dream couldn’t seem to form words, and a small squeak escaped him. (And this was the man who’d killed Tommy thrice.)

“Please, what do I need to do to get it through your head that I don’t want to hurt you? That I’m not going to? You’re not imprisoned, and we’re not going to kill you. You haven’t done anything wrong since I found you!”

“I’m sorry-“

“DREAM!” Tommy shouted, frustrated as hell.

“Tommy!” Techno yelled from above them. Tommy took a deep inhale as Techno quickly entered the room. “What-“

“I’m sorry- I’m sorry, please- I’m trying, I didn’t mean to,” Dream cried.

Tommy put his head in his hands. “I just don’t understand, I want to help him so badly, but how? Everything I do terrifies him, I’m messing everything up, and this is all my fault in the first place.”

Techno looked a little bit overwhelmed, and Tommy was immediately drowning in a wave of guilt. He was being a burden, Techno didn’t want to care for him and Dream. Techno was just too nice to have said no when Tommy was at his door, he felt obliged to take them in.

Tommy was like a stray dog, someone who was kept around until he became annoying and then it was back to the streets! And he fucking ruined everything, he ruined Dream.

“How’s this,” Techno said. “You identify what’s wrong, whether it’s something you believe you’ve done, or anything that makes you feel wrong or bad, and then you tell me. That goes for the both of you. If you don’t understand something, or you think you’ve done something wrong, tell me. I want you both to ask me questions and trust me.”

Well, Tommy didn’t need this talk again. Techno had told him these same things after his escape from exile. Tommy knew that he could ask questions, and he understood everything! Perfectly! Fun fact, Tommy was fine. Bet you didn’t see that one coming.

“So,” Techno continued, “we’re going to talk through this. Dream, can you please tell us what’s wrong? You don’t have to if you don’t want to, but it’s how we’ll be able to not do it again and to help you.”

“Sometimes, when Sir had a bad day, he would want to- to let off some steam. I’m not supposed to protest or speak. So- I thought that Tommy… I thought Tommy would want to do… that. But- but then I got scared. I ran away- I’m not allowed to! I’m sorry, I won’t- I know it was bad, I’m sorry.”

“Dream, when have I hurt you that wasn’t us sparring? You’re under my protection, and if I have to ‘let off steam’, it’ll never be on you. And we’re not gonna get mad at’cha for wanting to leave a room. Okay?”

“Yes,” Dream replied. Tommy knew he was telling Technoblade what he wanted to hear.

“Tommy, can I ask wh-“

“No! No- I’m not in the same situation as Dream. I know that I’m allowed to talk, I’m gonna do whatever the fuck I want! You’re looking at me like you’re so out of depth, but I’m fine! We’re helping Dream recover, you are not taking care of both of us. I don’t need therapizing, I don’t need your help or pity! I only came to you because I couldn’t care for him alone, not because I need you. I don’t need anyone.”

“Would you like to be alone, then?”

No, Tommy didn’t want to be alone ever again. But this wasn’t Techno kicking him out, he was just offering for Tommy to have some time to himself in a separate room. Techno and Dream would still be there.

“Yeah.” He pushed past Techno and left the two of them behind in Dream’s room. As he ran into his own room, he was not on the verge of tears. Actually, he was fine. No evidence to the contrary.

Chapter Text

Tommy ended up falling asleep for a while. When he woke up, he groggily ambled out of the room to find Dream staring at him in the hallway.

“Uh, hi?”

Dream blinked and shook his head violently, seemingly freeing himself from a daze. “Sorry. I… I made you something?”

Dream held up a red and white bracelet with a few stray knots and mistakes in the pattern. On his own wrist was a green and yellow one that looked about the same.

“That’s for me?”

“Techno said- he said that I should concentrate on making something… I don’t remember why. But you were… mad at us? So…” He held the bracelet out to Tommy, his arm shaking. Tommy smiled and took it. He tied it around his wrist as the smile grew contagious and found its way onto Dream’s face as well.

“Thank you.”

Tommy was honestly impressed that Dream had been able to make the bracelet with a few fingers still gone. Apparently healing pots didn’t regrow limbs, they only closed the skin where the finger had been severed. But also…

Dream acted so much more like a child than Tommy had expected. The constant need for validation, the innocent wide eyes, it all contributed to the realization. Tommy had become protective over Dream. He’d normally been the younger brother figure or son in every single dynamic with everyone, but this was different.

Dream was scared and small and needed to be protected. Tommy wanted to give that to him. (He knew how fucked up his brain was, but he was choosing to ignore the fact that his conditioning might be dictating his behaviors and focus on that he was… actually happy! And he wasn’t being hurt or abused, so he was fine.)

“I made one for Techno, too,” Dream continued. Tommy scoffed. Sure, Techno wore jewelry all the time, but he couldn’t picture the fierce warrior in a messy pink friendship bracelet.

Oh. A… friendship bracelet?

(Tommy wasn’t alone.)

(Dream… openly had attachments?)

“Can I see?” Tommy asked. Dream nodded and reached out to grab Tommy’s hand before his eyes widened and he flinched away.

“You can… take my hand if you want.”

“No,” Dream whispered under his breath. Alright then. Tommy had a semblance of a memory point towards Dream finding comfort and solace with physical touch. He’d seen Dream hug himself to calm down, and then-

Dream had reminded himself that he wasn’t allowed the comfort.

“Dream, you know you’re allowed to, like, hug yourself or Techno and me, right? You just have to ask.”

Slowly, Dream lifted both of his arms up to his chest and he held onto himself tightly, warily watching Tommy all the while. When he saw that Tommy wasn’t lashing out at him, he relaxed.

The pair walked down the hall, Dream squeezing his arms tightly. Tommy fully expected the bracelet around Techno’s wrist to be pink or something, but when he saw it, he couldn’t bring himself to laugh at Techno.

It was green and red, the same shades as Tommy’s and Dream’s. They matched.

And Tommy knew that the lack of variety in color wasn’t due to Techno not having enough dye. The motherfucker had all the dye, and Tommy knew it.

“You like it?” Techno said, showing off the bracelet proudly.

“We match,” Tommy observed, breathing out the statement with unexpected awe.

“Yep! Dream worked pretty hard on these. Tommy… since we’re both helping Dream, together, can I speak to you for a second?”

Techno started to walk away and beckoned for Tommy to follow. As Tommy ran off, he heard Dream whimper softly.

“I promise I’ll be right back, Dream,” Tommy said, pointing to the bracelet on his wrist. Dream squeezed his eyes shut.

Once Tommy and Techno were in the other room, Techno spoke.

“So, first, I just want to let you know that I do think of you like an equal. I know you’re doing better, and we’re going to do this together. It’s just- it’s okay to need help, sometimes.”

“Fine. Why’d you force him to make you a bracelet? Needed more jewelry?”

“I didn’t force him!”

“Did you want want’m out of your hair while you made food, or something?”

“No. I dunno, a lot of small reasons. Something for him to do, maybe he could work on his hands shaking less by having to be precise. Show him that he’s capable of doing something good. And so he could strengthen what fingers he has left.”

“Remind him that he can have attachments? Beat the last bit of his past self out of him? Is that what you’re doing?” Tommy decided he was angry. He was on his toxic arc. (He wasn’t sure why.)

Tommy knew that Techno wasn’t going to confirm or deny that one.

“Anyways, Tommy, you know he’s already been talking more in the past day. That’s improvement, and I know you’re struggling with how he doesn’t seem to grasp certain concepts. He’ll get there, okay? These things take time.”

Tommy remembered how long it had taken him to realize that Dream was not his friend. (And now… Dream was his friend, again?)

“You’re right.” Tommy wasn’t sure if he was lying or not.

“Anyways, what I wanted to tell you is that I’m concerned that when I told Dream that he could put all of the string in his inventory so he could switch between colors easily, he just… didn’t. Then I realized that I’ve never seen him put anything into his inventory.”

“So what?”

Tommy was pretty sure Techno was being overly paranoid, and a little bit of a mother hen. That was Phil’s job.

“So, there might be somethin’ in his inventory, or he doesn’t think he’s allowed to put stuff in it.”

“Then tell him that he is! Or ask him! I dunno, why’d you come right to me about this?”

“Because I wanted you to feel like you’re taking care of Dream, rather than me of you!”

Fuck, he was right. Tommy would not admit that.

“Okay, have you come up with any other paranoid ideas? Maybe- what if Dream doesn’t like potatoes because that’s all he ate in the prison? Wouldn’t that be crazy? Or maybe, the fact that the letter ‘Q’ is branded onto his skin in a hundred different places means that Quackity tortured him! Did you think about that? Or may-“

“Tommy, this is serious.”

“Not if you worry too much! That’s just overwhelming. I can tell you from my own personal experience that sometimes a little apathy from your roommate is best.”

Techno seemed to accept that. “I’m still going to ask him about his inventory.”

“Be my guest.”

Tommy didn’t want to be a part of that interrogation. Dream would want some time alone, right? As long as Tommy and Techno didn’t leave him.

It was a delicate boundary, Tommy would admit. Wanting some time to himself but as soon as there was no one he could talk to if he wanted to, the crushing solitude could reduce him to tears.

Tommy decided that Techno wasn’t the boss of him, and Tommy was actually the biggest man. (Not size wise, Techno was taller, but still.) So Tommy left the house and went for a stroll.

It was fucking cold outside.

Who knew that snowy biomes were cold?

But still, Tommy liked the tranquility of it all.

The peaceful chirps of the birds. The wind whistling through the trees. No bushes with Tommy’s ex-abuser in them.

Tommy loved nature.

He walked for what must have been hours before he realized he was hungry. He hadn’t even noticed. So he traced his footsteps back to Techno’s house, and luckily he’d been going in a big circle for a while, so he wasn’t that far away.

Tommy pushed the front door open and tracked some snow into the house. Techno wouldn’t mind.

“‘Ello?” Tommy called out in a very deep voice. Ahaha, yes, so much testosterone because he was very manly.

“Hi Tommy!” Dream exclaimed from the other room. In his voice that was much higher than Tommy’s.

“L,” Tommy muttered under his breath before excitedly going to greet Dream. Tommy was just in one of those moods where he wanted to be off the walls crazy, (he’s in a silly goofy mood) but he didn’t want to overwhelm Dream.

Woah. Tommy was… being responsible?

He smiled. He felt like he truly was becoming a good person.

“Where were you?” Techno asked as soon as Tommy walked into the living room. The question was meant to be intimidating.

But Techno, who was patiently sitting on the couch with Dream shakily trying to braid his hair, was not intimidating. (Dream, who was no longer wearing Tommy’s clothes. Instead, he had a pink crochet sweater of Techno’s that was way too fucking big on him. Tommy knew at that moment that he would be offering Dream more of his own clothes.)

“Outside,” Tommy replied nonchalantly. Techno glared at him. Still not intimidating, bitch. “On a walk.”

“Tell me next time. I didn’t know where you were.”

“Sorry.”

Tommy was honestly sorry. If Techno had really worried about him…

Tommy was being petty for no reason? It’s not like he had a reason to act out, he guessed. Nothing was wrong. He was fine (he was fine fine fine fine) and so he shouldn’t act like this.

“Don’t be sorry,” Techno said. Tommy exhaled loudly and threw himself onto the couch next to Dream. Dream flinched and made a bit of a squeaking noise but promptly resumed braiding.

“Wow, Dream, you’re definitely better at that than I am,” Tommy complemented.

“Thank you!” Dream beamed at him. Tommy was glad that Dream had accepted the praise. And his remaining fingers were certainly getting a workout between the bracelets and Technoblade’s long hair. “Do- do you want to try?”

Tommy did not infact want to try. Techno’s hair was probably all greasy.

“Is his hair greasy?”

Hey, Tommy had to get answers, okay?

“No!” Techno gasped, offended. Dream nodded to confirm.

“Fine,” Tommy relented. Dream slid off the couch onto the ground and Tommy scooted over and took his place braiding. Tommy expected Dream to get back on the couch. He didn’t, but Tommy supposed that was fine.

He braided Techno’s hair as fast as was humanly possible. Just to prove a point. It wasn’t that he enjoyed doing it or anything.

As soon as he was at the bottom of the braid, Techno handed him a hair tie. (How had he known Tommy had just finished?) Tommy tied the braid off and looked at Dream (not to get validation, shut up) but found that the man was fast asleep with his head resting on Tommy’s feet.

“I’m stuck here,” Tommy remarked. Then, the realization. “Wait, when was the last time that he slept?”

“Uhh… I dunno, did he sleep when you had had’m at your house?”

“I- yeah, but- he hasn’t slept since then! Now he is!”

“I see that,” Techno stated.

“Techno, can I put Dream in his bed?”

“Well, he might’ve only fallen asleep because he was on the ground and with the both of us. When I was in the prison, he’d only sleep with my cape or right by me. Since he hasn’t really used a bed-“

“I put’m in my bed when he was at my house! I- I’d feel like a dick tossing him on the fuckin’ obsidian floor and closing the door!”

“You’re the one saying you wanted to move him.”

“Techno, why does everything turn into an argument with you?”

Techno blinked at him in shock. “Bruh, I’m not your newlywed husband. I’m just givin’ my opinion.”

“Well, I guess I don’t want it,” Tommy snapped, despite having asked for it in the first place. He pushed Dream off his legs, hopped off the couch, and picked Dream up bridal style.

Carrying a sleeping Dream in his arms, he glared at Technoblade. “Good day to you, good sir.” Tommy nodded sharply. (Just to be annoying.)

Tommy brought Dream down the ladder and gently placed him on the bed. He turned to leave…

And quickly ran back to move Dream onto the floor. Then he shoved a pillow under Dream’s head. Perfect.

So, Tommy turned to leave?

No.

He didn’t want to go back up to Technoblade, not after he’d been acting like a petulant child.

Tommy threw himself onto Dream’s bed. He’d be there when Dream woke up, just in case he had a nightmare.

(Tommy used to have so many nightmares of Dream. The weakness potions before bed always created a dreamless and Dream-less sleep, now.)

(Dream would get memories of his own torture. Why couldn’t anyone on this server get a happy life? Or any luck whatsoever?)

And wow, Dream had a soft bed. Techno must’ve really put work and care into it. The blankets were so soft, and Tommy could feel himself drifting off…

“Tommy?”

Tommy sat up in bed immediately. What- who- where- (Ah fuck he’d fallen asleep).

“Tommy?”

Dream.

“Yeah? What’s up? Are you okay?” Tommy rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

“Tommy- I need you to kill me.”

“What?” Tommy’s mind went blank.

“Please,” Dream begged. He was sobbing now. “Just kill me, I know you wanted to. I can’t do this anymore, I’m not supposed to be here, it hurts-“

“No! No- I’m not gonna kill you! Dream, you were doing so well, what…”

Tommy would be lying if he said he knew what to say in this situation. He supposed the truth and words of comfort would help. Right?

“I killed you three times, you only killed me twice- just make it fair! Make it even! You’re so kind and good- just please Tommy, I’m begging you.”

“B- wh- why?” Tommy sputtered.

Dream collapsed onto the floor and curled in on himself. “He’s coming- he’s gonna be here soon, I just can’t go back. I just wanted to live! But it’s worse- worse than death there. I just don’t want anyone to have the revival book- not Sir. Please- it’s to protect everyone! I’m a monster- I shouldn’t even be-“

“He’s not coming, I promise, Qua- S- uh, he’s not able to find you. He doesn’t know you’re here.”

“Please, Tommy.”

“No,” Tommy choked out.

Dream sobbed harder. “Why?” he whimpered.

“You haven’t done anything to warrant death. And there’s no way I’m sending you to limbo. For how cruel this fucking world is, your limbo’d be the cell!” Tommy shuddered. “An’ Techno and I are gonna protect you. Quackity will not hurt you.”

“I’m so sorry,” Dream whispered.

“You’re safe. You’re safe. Okay? You’re safe.”

Dream gently rubbed the bracelet on his wrist and took deep breaths. Tommy slid off the bed and crouched on the ground next to him.

“Can I touch you?” he asked, receiving a hesitant nod from Dream. He brushed Dream’s hair, which was damp with tears, out of his face. Tommy rubbed circles on his back, carefully dancing around harsher scars.

“You’re safe.” Tommy lifted Dream’s head off the floor and placed it in his lap. He moved one hand back onto Dream’s back and with the other, he played with Dream’s hair. Dream melted into the touch.

Tommy was content, here. Dream was docile and would never hurt Tommy again. Tommy stared at Dream, who was basically purring at this point.

Dream was Tommy’s. No one would take Dream from him.

“You like this, do-“ Tommy cut himself off and immediately moved his hands off Dream. No no no no no Tommy was being possessive- he was acting like Dream had in exile! Dream was not Tommy’s, he was not a possession or a pet or something to be had.

Tommy wasn’t going to fucking pet Dream while asking him if he enjoyed it as means to justify how wrong it was. (He just about had.) No- no no no no that was wrong-

“Sorry, I’m sorry, did I d- no, no, no- I’m sorry,” Dream whimpered.

“Why’re you sorry?”

Dream tensed. “You- you stopped, so did I do something wrong?”

Tommy shivered and experienced one of those sick, twisting feelings in his gut when something just feels so morally wrong. “No, I was- I’m actually a bad person. I’m falling into that role. I- fuckin’ hell, man.” Dream frowned, considering this.

“You’re not a bad person.”

“I was- it felt natural to me to act just like- like you used to! That was wrong, why aren’t I?”

“You… haven’t hurt me. Not when I haven’t deserved it.” His voice was small and dripping with idolization for Tommy.

Tommy grabbed his hair with his hands and tugged at it in attempt to push the pain out of his chest. He squeezed his eyes shut- this was just all so wrong!

Tommy wanted to run and leave the room, like he’d done whenever interacting with Dream became too hard. When he’d gone out for the walk (and spoken with Quackity) or when he’d run to Techno for help.

But as stupid and selfish as it sounded, Tommy wasn’t used to not being the most traumatized person in a room. And the world wasn’t black and white anymore. There’s wasn’t a hero or a villain.

Tommy wanted to be a hero. And Dream was the villain of his story. Dream had been a villain! He’d been aware of that! But Tommy wasn’t the hero, nor was he purely morally correct. He wasn’t the hero of everyone’s story.

He might even be someone’s villain. (Probably Jack, but that guy was a wrongun and a bald loser.)

But Dream wasn’t the villain anymore. And surely, Quackity wasn’t either! No one was fully in the wrong, no one was the villain to their own story. Even if they were aware of their own mistakes.

Dream had known he was a villain. He’d embraced the role. He’d chosen imprisonment.

Now that Dream was gone.

There was no more black and white.

It was all blended together, swirled up in a mixing pot of conflicting morals and confusion.

It was all grey.

Grey grey grey grey grey.

Grey skies, grey clouds, grey on the horizon. Tommy felt grey. (He wished that he could call himself morally grey but he wasn’t some vampire love interest in a YA novel.)

Everyone had done horrible, wrong things. Everyone had done good. Some more than others. Nothing constituted a villain or a hero. Not anymore.

But Tommy had a conscience. Even if limbo was an eternity of hell for everyone, and nothing he ever did would matter in the eyes of time, he wanted to be good. (Being mean made Tommy feel bad, to put it simply.)

“Back in the cell,” Dream began, causing Tommy’s train of thought to come to a halting stop. Dream had barely opened up about the prison. “When Sir was done, he’d reward me if I’d behaved. He’d suddenly be gentle and kind, and it- it confused me… it never made sense. But then- then I had to say ‘thank you’… I still like how it feels, though.

“Like someone cares about me. It’s warm. It doesn’t hurt, as much. Sometimes it hurts my head because it’s all too much and it doesn’t make sense, but might just be too stupid. That’s what Sir would say. But I- I want to be good.”

“Human contact isn’t a reward,” Tommy replied, echoing words that he’d been told a multitude of times. “It’s necessary to be a happy and functioning person.“

“But I don’t- I don’t always want- it’s too much! It hurts, and my head gets all foggy and I feel warm and safe- but I’m never safe! It’s a false sense of security, I can’t be lulled into it. I don’t deserve it, it’s not okay!”

“You absolutely do deserve it, but only if you want to. Comfort, boundaries, all the stuff Puffy would say. Actually, I might ask Puffy about you if she doesn’t hate your guts and slash or want you dead.”

“Do-“

“Before you ask, I don’t want you dead. You’re going to live and recover and be happy. Okay?”

Dream took a deep breath. “Okay.”

Chapter Text

From then on, Dream improved a little bit every day. The days started to fly by. Dream would eat a little more, or allow himself to sleep. He’d be the one to start conversations, and he started to stutter less. He didn’t cry as much, and the flashbacks and panicking grew scarce.

(Of course, it wasn’t all positive. Sometimes, Dream simply wouldn’t understand any evidence to the contrary of something that had been ground into him in the prison. It was hard, teaching him simple societal kindnesses. An uphill battle that Tommy would always be willing to fight.)

Soon, he was able to express his own opinions, even if they contradicted those of Tommy or Techno. He smiled and laughed. If he still believed that he belonged in the prison or that Quackity was coming for him, he didn’t express it.

And Tommy realized that this was his new normal.

He’d always been quick to adapt to situations. Always ready, prepared for change. And so he’d adjusted to this. He was used to this small world, just Dream, Techno, and him. It was comfortable and safe.

But Tommy wasn’t able to live in this bubble forever. Nor did he want to! He loved his other friends, and-

Fuck. He’d told Tubbo that he was going to visit. To see Tubbo and Ranboo, to stay for a while.

Okay, okay, that was fine. He wanted to see them! But… he didn’t want to be separated from Dream. (He felt like he needed Dream and Dream needed him. He felt protective over him, and didn’t even trust Technoblade alone with Dream.)

No worries. He was the great and powerful Tommyinnit! He had a plan. Per usual.

He just needed to present it in the right way.

“So, Dream, would you want to go somewhere with me?”

Oh fuck yes, Tommy popped off so hard.

“Where?” Dream asked. Tommy smiled, glad that Dream hadn’t immediately assumed he was returning to the prison. Recovery!

“Outside, on a walk, for starters.” Tommy’s plan was to first see if Dream would get sensory overload from being outdoors. He hadn’t been since they’d come to Techno’s.

Once he was sure Dream would be okay, Tommy would ask Tubbo about… all of it. Hopefully…

“Yeah, please! But, um… as equals?”

“Well yeah, of course as equals,” Tommy replied. Hopefully dispelling any images of chains or leashes from Dream’s mind. “We’re friends! Friends are always equals.”

“Not always,” Techno chimed in like the bitch he was. “In the principles of Confucianism, which is based of off relationships based on respect, there’s always one person superior to the other. Respect flows both ways, but there’s someone on the top. It’s five basic relationships, and one of them is friend to friend, where one friend is above the other. The other four are ruler to sub-“

“Techno, I literally do not care,” Tommy interrupted. “No one gives a shit.”

“Hey! I’m sure Dream cares, right?”

Another thing that Techno and Tommy had been doing was giving Dream as many opportunities as possible to practice expressing opinions and making choices.

Dream shook his head no in a way that reminded Tommy of a toddler refusing to eat their broccoli. He then whipped around to give Tommy a grin, asking for approval. Tommy reciprocated the grin, granting it.

“Bruh. Conspiring against me.”

Tommy giggled. “Shall we try the walk then, Dream?”

Dream’s grin widened tenfold and he sprinted over to the door, Tommy following suit. As soon as they stepped outside, Dream froze. Tommy was nervous, and he turned to Dream-

“It’s beautiful,” Dream breathed.

And it was. The sunrise was colorful and the sun glinted off the dewdrops on the grass. There weren’t any hostile mobs. Just pure bliss at dawn.

Their stroll was brief, but just as Tommy liked it in the sense that it was uneventful. Dream stared at each rock and tree with childlike wonder, and even reached his hand into a river to feel the current, but never once was he anything but happy.

Yeah, he’d be fine if they went to Snowchester.

Now Tommy had to worry about his two best friends. Once he and Dream were back at Techno’s house (Tommy did not regard it as ‘home’), Tommy typed out a message on his communicator to Tubbo.

Just asking if he could come soon. Not mentioning Dream.

Tubbo responded almost immediately (clingy bitch) saying yes. Alright. This was the moment, Tommy supposed.

‘Do you trust me?’ Tommy sent. Another immediate yes from Tubbo answered him. Tommy took a deep breath and sent the follow-up. ‘Can I bring Dream?’

He waited for a response.

Against true Tubbo fashion, he did not get one immediately. Tommy knew he’d fucked up, he’d done this wrong. His life wouldn’t be able to go back to the way it had before! He truly regarded Dream as a friend now, and someone he had to protect. Now Tubbo would hate him-

‘I’ll asj Ranboo,’ Tubbo replied.

Tommy pumped his fist in the air. Fuck yes! Tommy patiently waited for the follow up. Perhaps ten minutes later, it came.

‘Can we talk tgis out in perosn? Come to Snowchester and brinh Dream, tie him to a tree with a lead or sumthing. Need to see him,’ the message read.

Alright, so Tubbo didn’t fully trust this. But he did trust Tommy. He cared about Tommy. (Right?)

But this had to work out. Tommy had left Technoblade before, and now he no longer needed the man’s help. And Tommy had made the decision that the next step for Dream would be social interaction.

That wasn’t really an easy thing for Tommy to find. But Tubbo and Ranboo… well, Tommy trusted them more than anyone else in the server. He cared about them (he’d loved Wilbur too, but he wasn’t sure anymore) and so maybe this would work out.

As long as Ranboo and Tubbo would see how far Dream had come. Tommy didn’t think he would be able to go so long without seeing his friends, but there was no fucking way he was abandoning Dream. Not now. Not after everything.

(But it wasn’t that Dream was his or anything, because Tommy was not possessive. He wasn’t! He was being protective.)

“Dream, Techno, can I talk to you?” Tommy yelled.

“Yeah, we’re in here!” Techno replied. Tommy sprinted into the room they were in (the kitchen) and stared at the breakfast they were preparing.

Never potatoes or pork, funnily enough. Today, Techno was making pancakes while Dream cut up some berries. (Ahahaha, let’s fucking go, Tommy loved pancakes!)

“So, uh… Techno,” Tommy began, not sure how to go about saying that he was taking Dream and leaving for a while. Unless Tubbo refused. Or if Techno refused. Or Dream. (Yeah, there was a lot of possibility for Tommy’s plan to fall through. But he was the biggest and most determined man ever, he would get what he wanted.)

“What’s up?”

“I’m taking Dream and I’m going to Snowchester to visit Tubbo and Ranboo,” he blurted.

Techno blinked surprisedly. “Oh. I haven’t seen Ranboo in a while, how’s he been?”

Now it was Tommy’s turn to be surprised. “I… I don’t know? I haven’t seen him in a while. That’s why I’m going.”

“Then why are you bringing Dream? And might I ask if you’ve asked Dream about this? It’s up to him, y’know. Not me.”

“It- it might be selfish, but I really wanted to see them again. And I thought it’d be good for Dream to have some social interaction that isn’t, well, us.”

“I’m not against it. You’re free to do whatever you want. Dream… would you like to go with Tommy or stay here with me until he comes back?”

Coming back wasn’t necessarily part of Tommy’s plan. (He actually hadn’t thought that far. What would he do if Dream wanted to live on his own? Or if no one wanted to live with Tommy? He didn’t want to go back to being alone.)

Dream saw the desperation in Tommy’s eyes, even though he tried to mask it as not to influence Dream. “I’ll… come with Tommy?”

Tommy’s expression did a one-eighty and he practically jumped up and down. He missed how Dream breathed a sigh of relief at ‘making the right decision’.

“Okay, pogchamp, I’ll fill my enderchest with all the shit we’ll need- you don’t need to have anything if you don’t want, and then we’ll go! I’ve already talked to Tubbo, he’s in. I don’t even think he’s planning on murdering you!”

“Tommy,” Techno scolded, but Tommy didn’t pay attention. He had too much faith in Ranboo and Tubbo to think that they’d betray him. They’d never!

Tommy blissfully filled up his enderchest and inventory. He remembered Tubbo’s request and reluctantly put a lead in his hotbar. (That wasn’t poggers, but it was just for a minute. Until Tubbo saw how safe Dream was.)

He found Dream standing by the door. “Ready to head out?” Dream nodded.

“Are you… sure it’s safe?”

“I promise. I trust them both with my life, even Boob boy. I asked them not to hurt you. Uhh, Tubbo just wanted to talk, first.”

Tommy would tell Dream about the item in his hotbar once they were almost at Snowchester.

Now was the time for leaving.

Tommy pushed the door open and for the second time today, they stepped outside. Tommy did not give Techno another thought as they began their journey.

Even though a horse might’ve been faster, Tommy wanted to walk. (He liked nature, haven’t you heard?) So they were on the move for a few hours, making conversation that Dream had become much better at holding his end of. Tommy’s heart swelled with pride.

Finally, Tommy could see his friends’ mansion on the horizon. So… what had Tubbo wanted him to do? Tie Dream to a fucking tree?

Tommy wasn’t really a fan of that.

He understood why it would make Tubbo feel safer, though.

“Dream?”

“Yeah?”

“Uh… Tubbo had a request, just so he’d feel a bit safer… right when he comes out to see us.” Dream’s face paled. “No- no, don’t worry, you’re not gonna be hurt. And I know you won’t kill Tubbo, but he doesn’t know that right now. So this is just to make Tubbo feel safe.”

“Okay. I… I want Tubbo to feel safe.”

“Good. And I- I don’t know if Ranboo’s coming too, but I’m sure if he is, that he agrees with the plan.”

“Am- am I allowed to know the plan?”

“Yeah! Yeah, of course, big man. Uh…” Tommy stopped at a tree right on the edge of the forest. “He wanted you… on a lead.”

Fuck, the words sounded horrible out of his mouth. He hated it, he hated it so much. Maybe he could get Tubbo to change his mind. And surely, Dream would refuse-

“Okay.” Dream averted his eyes to Tommy’s feet and exposed his neck.

“Wh- what?” Tommy sputtered. “No- not around your neck! I was thinking your fuckin’ wrist, man. I’m not choking you with a-… just, no.”

“T- Tubbo won’t like that. I’d be able to escape something around my wrist. I could just pull my hand out. No, y- you have to do it the way that it normally is. That’s just how it works.”

Tommy shuttered. “Okay, your waist, then. Not your neck.” Dream nodded and lifted his arms so Tommy could tie the knot. (Haha, he was kind of T posing. Nerd.)

Once it was double knotted around Dream and the tree, Tommy pulled out his communicator.

‘We’re at the edge of the woods and I put the lead on Dream,’ Tommy typed.

“Tommy!” Tubbo exclaimed, running over from out of nowhere immediately. Tommy grinned and sprinted to his best friend. “You’re safe. He didn’t hurt you.”

“Yeah! Yeah, I’m okay. I- did you wanna…”

Tommy pointed over to where Dream was nervously tied to a tree. (A situation Tommy had never expected to find himself in.)

“There he is,” Tubbo breathed.

“Yep. But… he’s actually scared of you, right now, and he won’t hurt you.”

Tubbo took a deep breath and walked over to Dream. Tommy noticed some of Dream’s tells for when he was repressing panic.

“Dream,” Tubbo acknowledged. Dream kept his eyes at Tubbo’s feet and remained silent. Tubbo pulled a sword out of his inventory and raised it above his head before Tommy could react.

“No!” Tommy shouted as Tubbo brought the sword down-

On the lead. Cutting it. Freeing Dream.

Tubbo tossed the sword to Dream’s feet.

“Go on. I bet you’re gonna kill me and run, eh? This is your chance to escape. Now’s the time, Dream.”

Dream let out a pained whimper and sunk to the ground. “I don’t want to.”

Tubbo nudged the sword a little closer to Dream with his foot. Dream buried his head in his arms. Tommy shook himself out of the daze he was in and walked over slowly.

“Tubbs, you’re scaring h-“ Tubbo quickly picked up the sword again and pointed it at Dream’s head.

Dream squeaked in fear. “No- no, please- I’m sorry- please, sir-“

Tommy grabbed the sword out of Tubbo’s hands. (His grip wasn’t very strong on it. But Tubbo had fought in wars, he could hold a sword fine. So he hadn’t been intending to kill Dream.)

Tommy pushed in front of Tubbo and knelt down besides Dream, putting his hand on the panicking man’s shoulder.

“Hey, it’s okay, he’s not going to hurt you. You’re not back there, you’re here with me. We’re safe, okay?”

“Tommy?” Dream whimpered.

“Yep, I’m here. You’re safe.”

Dream took a deep, shuttering breath. “Sorry.”

“D- don’t be. On the other hand…” Tommy stood back up. “Tubbo, man, what the FUCK?”

“I wasn’t going to kill him! I trust you, Tommy, and I wasn’t going to after you said not to. I just didn’t trust him. I didn’t know if you’ve been, like, keeping him locked up or on drugs, I dunno. I had to see if given the chance to hurt us or escape, would he’ve?”

“But- theoretically, you could’ve gotten hurt!”

“Nah, I have one of Ranboo’s totems on me right now. Uh… can we talk about… him?” Tubbo asked, gesturing to Dream. Dream, who was taking deep breaths to calm him from the panic that Tubbo had induced.

“What more do you need to know?”

“A lot! Like, you’ve been living with him now for a while, so the fact that he’s Dream apparently no longer phases you. But what if he’s manipulating-“

“You remember when I first found him. This isn’t an act.”

“But he could be back to his old self at any minute! Dream’s undefeatable! Tommy- I just want what’s best for you.”

A choked back laugh escaped Tommy, sounding distressed. He held up his wrist with the friendship bracelet that had not yet fallen off. “This is best for me! I- I’m protecting him, I’m helping! And I don’t need Technoblade anymore, but I want to be with you, Tubbo.”

Tubbo sighed. “I don’t trust him. I hate him, actually. If he just stays the fuck away from me and Ranboo-“

“AYY, LETS GO!” Tommy rejoiced. “L-“

“Tommy, I have another question. Before you… get all yell-y. Is this permanent? ‘Cause you know I’ve offered for you to come live in Snowchester. It was supposed to be a place Dream would never come to… but uh, among many other people, so it’s okay, I guess.

“But I need to know. What’s your plan for Dream? Because… you promised you’d send him away once he was mentally capable of surviving on his own. Now you’re here with him because you wanna socialize him? So I need you to be honest with me. Are you planning on living with him?”

Tommy hesitated. “N- no.”

“Really?”

“N- I don’t know! Why does it matter? I’m here to hang out with you!”

Tubbo sighed. “Tommy… everything you’re saying is contradicting itself. The only sensible realization is that you’re attached to this mass murderer who manipulated you and you plan on staying with him.”

“Can we just go inside?”

“Fine. I’ll show you to where you guys can sleep. While you’re here… temporarily.”

Tubbo turned and started walking, not waiting for Tommy and Dream.

“C’mon!” Tommy smiled, beckoning for Dream to follow. He tried to keep his demeanor lighthearted so Dream wouldn’t be nervous. And Dream being calm would help Tubbo relax.

Oh yeah, it was all coming together. Tommy was so amazing at this and also fully self aware.

Tubbo showed them to a large room that seemed small in scale of the huge fucking mansion. It wasn’t very furnished, just like the rest of the house, but it had enough.

“I really missed you, Tommy,” Tubbo whispered.

“Yeah, I fuckin’ bet you did! Now where’s Ranboob?”

“I think he’s outside gardening. You wanna go talk to him?”

“Yeah!”

“Go, then. I’m going to stay here and talk to Dream.”

Tommy’s face paled. “Don’t kill him.”

“I won’t! By the way… is that pink sweater he has on yours? Haven’t pegged you for much of an oversized pink sweater kind of guy.”

“Fuck you- I can wear all the clothes and look absolutely poggers in them! But no, uh- it’s not mine.”

Tubbo pursed his lips and nodded. Damn, this was awkward as fuck.

Tommy opted to go in the direction of the garden. Go find Ranboo. (He was an awkward guy in general, but at least he was nice. Tubbo was giving Tommy non-poggers vibes for the first time in forever.)

Tommy ran outside and a huge smile appeared on his face when he saw Ranboo, who was gently pressing seeds into the ground.

“Tommy!” he exclaimed, looking up from his work.

“Hey Boob boy! Can I help?”

What Tommy loved about spending time with Ranboo is that they could sit in silence. There wasn’t any pressure for conversation.

So Tommy and Ranboo gardened, side by side, perfectly content.

Tommy forgot everything that had been on his mind the past while and hyperfixated on the planting. Until Ranboo broke the silence.

“So… Tubbo said you brought Dream?”

“Yeah. I- I don’t know if he told you-“

“He, um, did. That you’re helping Dream recover? He… said that Dream was tortured. So…”

“He really isn’t the same as before, Ranboo!”

“No, I- I know! Okay, well, I’m honestly still terrified of him. But… if he really needs help… Tommy, this is a very nice thing you’re doing. I remember what exile was like for you, and that alone should’ve stopped you from helping Dream. You’re an amazing person, Tommy. If there’s any way I can help you…”

Tommy smiled. “Thanks. Uh… would you like to see him?”

“M- maybe when we’re done with the plants.”

They were not done with the plants for quiet a while. Damn Ranboo and his practically contagious forgetfulness! Seriously, who gave Ranboo the right to be such a vibe to hang out with? Not Tommy!

But Tommy was quite the responsible guy, now. He kind of had Dream who-

“Fuck- uh, we might wanna go inside and check on Dream. He hasn’t eaten- he’s in a new place and I’m just absolutely gone- oh he’s gonna be so fuckin’ scared-“

“Woah- uh, deep breaths. D- do you want to go inside now? We can bring him something to eat from where the plants are already grown,” Ranboo offered. “Although I’m sure Tubbo’d fed him.”

Tommy nodded. “Can we go, please?” Ranboo stood up and the pair went back into the mansion. As they walked through the house to where Tommy remembered ‘his’ room being, he heard Tubbo talking in a fast, panicked tone.

Tommy’s face fell and he sprinted towards the sound.

What if Tubbo was hurt, Dream was hurt-

Tommy slid down the hallway and saw Tubbo nervously standing by Dream, who was shaking backed into a corner. Tubbo, who hadn’t harmed Dream (visibly). Tubbo, who was trying to help Dream.

“It’s okay!” Tubbo said quickly, “Don’t cry, it’s okay!” Dream sniffed loudly, swallowing and blinking back the tears. His Adam’s apple was still moving back and forth, though, and Tommy realized with horror that Dream was probably forcing himself not to cry.

“No, no, you can cry,” Tubbo said, “Just… it’s going to be okay.”

“Dream?” Tommy called out from the doorway. “Are you okay, big man? What happened?”

Dream’s eyes widened with happy recognition and he relaxed slightly, but tears still cascaded from his eyes.

“I’m sorry,” Tubbo fretted, “I fuckin’- I sent him into a panic, I just wanted to get a scope of what- of everything! Then- I don’t even know! I must’ve triggered him somehow, I don’t even know what I did!”

Ranboo only now came running into the room (slow motherfucking loser) and he froze when he saw the fact that two thirds of the other people were close to or in tears.

“What happened?” Ranboo squeaked. His voice was high, not deep and manly like Tommy’s. (He was way taller than Tommy, though. A true shame.)

“I’m sorry,” Dream whimpered in unison with Tubbo’s louder answer.

“Don’t be,” Ranboo replied automatically. “But- uh, what… happened? Sorry to repeat-“

“EVERYONE- fuck, sorry to yell- FUCK! AH! Just- stop being sorry. No more apologies. I don’t think anyone did anything wrong? It’s just an impulsive thing. Don’t. You’re- no one’s in the wrong,” Tommy said.

His three friends repressed the urge to say sorry again. Dream did not move from the corner.

“So… do you want me to leave?” Ranboo asked. “Am- am I in the way of something?”

Then Ranboo read the room. He gazed into everyone’s souls like some sort of mind reader. How in this fucking server was Ranboo such an empath? Why was he so good at interaction with people yet so horrendously socially awkward? (If he were a bit of a bigger man like Tommy, he could’ve gone far.)

(Gone far in what?)

(Maybe Tommy was just tired. Plants’ll do that to him, he supposed.)

What does that even mean?

(What does anything even mean? What-)

“Okay, Tubbo,” Ranboo said. “Will you please help me make… dinner? I don’t know what time it is. Uh- food! Maybe we can… eat? Please?”

A beat of silence. And then…

“Oh! Yeah, sure I’ll help, Boo. Tommy, Dream… we’ll be back with food… if you wanna eat in here.”

Then Tommy was alone with Dream. (Something he used to fear, but now looked forwards to.)

“I’m sorry,” Dream repeated. Tommy sighed.

“Can I… ask what happened?”

“I… um… asked about rules? And then I was really annoying and stupid, I guess-“

“Did Tubbo say that?”

“No- no- Tubbo didn’t, but I figured it out and then he clearly didn’t want me around because no one does- except you- and I- I don’t really remember what else.”

Tommy took a deep breath. “Tubbo does want you here. That’s- that’s why you are here!”

“That’s just because he likes you. My being here is just the one downside of your arrival.”

“No-“

“Oh no- I’m- ah, what’s it called- I’m guilt tripping you, aren’t I? I’m making you feel sad- I’m just…”

Dream trailed off and didn’t complete the thought. As much as it pained Tommy to realize, responding was only going to make Dream feel worse.

After a short while, Dream spoke again. “Tubbo said there aren’t any rules.”

“Yeah?”

“He’s lying. There’s always rules. That’s- that’s okay- I need that. But… does Tubbo, uh, punish people? I- I got used to how you and Technoblade act, I don’t want anything to change.”

“Tub-“

“We have the food!” Tubbo exclaimed. “And Dream, I just wanted to let you know that I actually did make a list of rules because you mentioned it and Ranboo said it was a good idea.”

“Thank you,” Dream smiled. Tubbo’s face brightened tenfold at seeing a genuine smile from Dream for the first time in his life.

“It’s still so weird seeing his face, not his mask,” Tubbo said under his breath.

“Tubbo, do you want me to read the list?” Ranboo said, holding a piece of paper under one of two plates.

Tubbo put the two plates that he had down on the floor and took Ranboo’s out of his hands. He pushed a plate towards Dream and Tommy, respectively, and gestured for Ranboo to read.

“O-o-okay, uh, the rules. One, we don’t hurt each oth-“

“We already have that,” Tommy mumbled with his mouth full of bread. “No hurting and he shouldn’t go far from one of us.”

“Hah… that was rule three, okay. Uh, so don’t hurt each other, don’t hurt yourself, you should let one of us know where you are always, and maybe don’t go outside alone. Don’t manipulate anyone and we promise not to manipulate you. And you’re always allowed to eat or speak, and uh, you can have things if you want.”

“Nice job Ranboo,” Tommy said while shoving more bread down his throat.

Tubbo made good bread, what can he say? Tubbo’s bread was truly the best, made by the bestest of men-

“I’m glad you like the bread I made!” Ranboo said, blushing.

Fuck.

Chapter Text

“Eh, it’s mediocre,” Tommy lied.

“It’s really good, Ranboo. Thank you,” Dream whispered meekly. A huge smile appeared on Ranboo’s face.

“You’re welcome!”

A pang went through Tommy’s chest.

Why?

Was it because Dream was already comfortable enough to talk to Ranboo when it had taken him so long not to cower at Tommy’s presence? Was Tommy actually being jealous?

But no, that was a good thing. Dream should be talking! And he was eating, too! This was good. This was a tangible sign of improvement.

Tommy was fine.

And… everything remained fine! The days flew by and Tommy found himself happier than ever. Tubbo and Ranboo started to actually trust Dream, and he trusted them in return.

Ranboo, who got burns very often due to his aversion to water, had many creams and treatments that Dream could try on the brands.

While nothing worked entirely, the markings were less prominent now. Tommy watched as Dream became comfortable laughing out loud all the time, and starting up conversations. He was able to tease them without the immediate fear of punishment.

While he still apologized a lot, Ranboo did too, so it was just kind of their thing.

After two weeks, Tommy made the decision to leave Snowchester. Just for a few hours! He would come back. He wasn’t abandoning them! He just wanted to make sure the server knew he wasn’t bleeding out in a ditch.

Maybe talk to some people.

(He didn’t plan on getting revenge on Quackity for what he’d done to Dream. Even with Techno’s reasoning echoing in the back of his head, Tommy knew that if Dream hadn’t-)

No.

No.

That was horrible.

Tommy really thought that he was glad Dream had been tortured?

No.

He wasn’t! That was horrible.

H- horrible.

“I’ll be back in a few hours, guys!”

“Make sure you’re safe,” Ranboo told him. “Don’t tell people that Dream’s here.”

“Oh, wow, Ranboo. I didn’t realize that us having Dream was a secret. My plan was to go up to Quackity and invite him over to Snowchester.”

Dream made a noise of alarm, a scared squeak.

“He’s being sarcastic,” Ranboo informed. Tommy saw Dream blush in embarrassment and decided to do what he did best - lighten the mood! (Maybe?)

“My deepest apologies, my liege,” Tommy said in a suave businessman voice. The tips of Dream’s lips turned up into a smile.

“Ah, I forgive you, of course, good man,” Dream replied in his own imitation. “And my own apologies to you, for- uh… not…”

“Not picking up on your sarcastic antics,” Ranboo finished for Dream.

Fuck, Tommy cared about these idiots so much.

“Okay, welp, I’m gonna go now. Be back soon, boys!” And with that, Tommy was out in nature again.

To be quite honest, he fully expected to run into a fuck ton of people that he didn’t want to see.

The only person he saw was Puffy, who he’d been looking for anyway. The trip was uneventful, what can Tommy say?

Puffy therapized him a little bit, although he didn’t tell her about Dream. Mostly he talked about how he was planning on moving in with Tubbo and Ranboo.

He asked her if she could make it generally known that Tommy didn’t plan on being around the main SMP for a while.

Puffy seemed proud of him.

She had that knowing smile and the glimmer in her eyes.

But… yeah! Tommy didn’t get interrupted by anyone or, like, brutally murdered. That wouldn’t be poggers.

And so now… he could live with Ranboo and Tubbo in Snowchester?

(He… wanted to live with Dream, too. Dream was probably ‘healed’ enough to live on his own. Would Tubbo hold Tommy to his promise? Was Dream going to be kicked out?)

Tommy wanted it to be the four of them.

(A small part of him still wanted Dream dead in a ditch. But that part’s voice was drowned out by all the memories that Tommy had made with Dream during his recovery. He wasn’t the same. And Tommy could now say while fully believing it that Dream deserved to be happy.)

Tommy arrived home. (He was allowed to call Snowchester home, now, wasn’t he?) He entered the mansion and found Tubbo standing at the door, just about to leave himself.

“Tubbo? Where’re you going?”

“Oh! I- uh, was just about to go looking for you. Ranboo and Dream were concerned you’d been kidnapped or something.”

“But I’m sure you had faith in me?”

“Yeah! Yeah, hah, I was just… looking for their sakes.”

They stood there staring for a few beats of silence. Tommy closed his eyes and took a deep breath, gathering courage. All in one breath, he blurted, “Tubbo, I would like to stay in Snowchester with you and Ranboo but also I wanna ask if Dream can stay because I feel like he’s our friend and he’s sweet and not gonna hurt us and-“ Tommy took a sharp inhale to continue, “- and if he leaves I think someone will find him and I don’t want him to go back to the prison and-“

“Yeah.”

Tommy blinked. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. I- I’m okay with him staying. You’re right… he’s really just not the same person. Even his body is different, what with all the scars, and I’d never seen his face prior to when I saw him in your house. And his voice is different, lacking all the honeyed manipulations and confidence. And he has a different personality! It’s just… do you think he’d ever go back to… how he used to be?”

“Uh…”

“And if he really did try to manipulate us again- to kill you! Would you… be able to take him down?”

Tommy pondered that. “Well… I honestly don’t think he’ll go back to… that. I mean, we’ve all changed as people, and neither of us are as innocent and non-traumatized as we were before L’manburg, before it all. So… that’s not something I’d worry about.”

Tubbo nodded. “Wanna come in, then? Ranboo’s put Dream and me to work making a cake, and he’s a cruel dictator. I’ve heard him sleep talking about anarchy, so I have no idea what he’s on.”

“Probably drugs,” Tommy answered sagely.

“Probably. But, um, wanna come help make the cake?”

Tommy smiled. “Yeah.”

And cue the domestic fluff! Hah, is that what it’s called? But in all seriousness, Tommy hadn’t been this happy in so long. He hadn’t felt genuine joy since Wilbur had actually cared about Tommy more than anything else in the world (in a non-toxic way). Imagine that!

The cake baking ensued. Flour coated their faces. Ranboo may have cried.

It wasn’t Tommy’s fault, not at all. Shut up.

And watching Dream laugh and squeak with joy as he ran from an angry Tubbo while holding a spoon that they had both wanted to lick, Tommy was proud. He was proud of Dream, for having come so far. He was proud of Tubbo, for having accepted Dream into his home and for being kind.

And he was proud of himself. He really had helped the person who had previously abused him. He could say with confidence that he was a good person. He was happy! Even with bumps in the road to recovery, he’d done well.

None of them would ever truly heal. But they could be happy! They could be better.

So… yeah. Tommy was fine.