Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

He heard the monotone clacking of his majesty’s heels. She was, all in her glory, elegantly striding across the smooth reflecting floors, almost arrogantly prideful of her walk. Her jewelry from every available accessorized part of the body twinkling and jingling against each other, shining a beautiful myriad of colors. All the while he keeps up with her pace, and it wasn’t so hard when he has abnormally a big change of growth spurt at a young age. 

For such an immense older age, she is able to act like a poised and properly-ordered Queen. 

Both of them were silent, neither person can be able to rely on their opinions to each other because they don’t want to. He was against her opinion as much as she was against his objection. One can sense the overwhelming suffocation of it too. She was too full of herself, whilst he was silently angry at his immediate acceptance of their fate.

The refugees’ fates, now rest into her own putrid hands. 

He doesn’t know how he will be able to help them, because he couldn’t break his rule of disobeying her. 

Those who have always got dragged into her room, then never came back. In the end, she would return to meet her servants and him, all with a glamorous face and a charming façade without the person who had been ordered to come into her room. He didn’t like her for that, but he never got the chance to make her feel it because he’s scared to do so.

“Have all the refugees arrived at the island, servum meum?” She spoke with a spike of arrogance and too much blinding pride, it frustrates him to no end despite hearing the voice since forever.

He sighed internally; eyes gazed back at the clipping of the list of the people signed up to stay in this forsaken place. 

“Yes, Ma’m. They will get here once the guide shows them the way.” 

“Good.” 

Just as the ride stopped abruptly from hitting the edge of the land, the owners of the ship brought themselves down first before they took care of the rest of the refugees. Slowly stepping down the slanted plank, Tommy breathed the scent of fresh sea breeze surrounding him, a smile graced on his face, and strapped his backpack tighter. Whilst Tubbo tiredly stays by his best friend’s side, staring at the view of their destination.

The grass was scarce and looked almost bare naked with brown wet soil and irregular molded rock formations. The pathway was visible to where they are all supposed to go, although the way they are seemingly going to go was a large cave. The inside of it from an outside perspective doesn’t really look appealing to stay in either. Then again, he had been in the worst places to sleep before. The last time they recently slept in their wasteland of a hometown was the garbage bin, he would be lying if it was at least comfortable lying down at the piles of trash bags that may or may not have shattered ceramics or glasses inside.

“Hey, you two! Stop trying to stray away,” exasperatedly exclaims Tommy and Tubbo’s guardian, Bad. The young blonde turned back at the ship where Bad and Skeppy were just getting down the plank alongside the crowd, whose brown irritated eyes stuck at the two kids. Tommy just snorted jokingly and just walked over to the pathway, their group of refugees already crossing over the dark depths of the murky cave.

“You’re just too slow, Bad. You’re getting old,” Tommy called back once Bad and Skeppy finally caught up on the duo.

Bad huffed, “Only because you two were the first in line to get to the plank.”

“Well, you should’ve been the first in line. You two old-ass people are such heavy sleepers.” 

“First off, Language. Second, I’m a light sleeper, Tommy. This is the one you’re talking about not being able to wake up for signs of danger,” He could hear Skeppy's small protest of a “hey!” in the background when Bad pointed him out. “Lastly, I’m not far from being that old. I’m twenty-two, and Skeppy’s just a couple of years younger.” 

“But doesn’t that mean you’re above the legal age of 18?” Tommy interfered, indignant to keep his old age jokes alive within Bad’s memory.

“Yes, that is true but-“ 

“There you go! Thank you for clarifying!” Tommy sweetly mocked him and Bad just deeply sighed, finally seeing that he couldn’t outright him due to his infamous ego.

Tubbo snickered beside him, tiredly so, due to the time he was the one who recently stayed up in guard for the rest of the three to sleep in the ship, despite the fact they were practically safe since a lot of people were even sleeping in the same boat. Nonetheless, Tommy appreciated the sentiment but worried him all the same. Tubbo should’ve known they were safe from that ship. 

The four went quiet as they approached the cold empty mouth of the cave, with the rest of the people murmuring and criticizing their latest refuge. Some babbled on how this was a little unsanitary, one commented how they saw large crystals worth thousands and few whispers sounded satisfied by their stay that has a roof in case rain comes by. Tommy observed the place from the walls to the ceilings. Sure enough, several large crystals that vividly illuminated the expanse were looking like a meal for the rich, stalactites hung over the ceilings here and there, with rare stalagmites that its points weren’t too dangerous to touch or hold. Besides the crystals' low lighting, torches were implanted on the walls to be able to see a better view of the area. 

The boy was about to run off and explore the whole area, excited to see what awaits him to steal stuff. That until his wrist was held down by the hand of none other than Bad, who seemed verily frustrated by Tommy straying away from their proximity. “Tommy, what did I say about stra-“ 

“I know, I know. Geez, stop babying me,” Grumbled the boy, snatching his wrist back from Bad’s grip. Although, he couldn’t blame for Bad being too protective of his newfound family (though, Tommy wouldn’t try to consider that as such, seeing that they’ve only just met five months ago after the year of apocalyptic extinction), but it doesn’t please him one bit only because he was entirely interested in wandering around this fully-crystal and lustrous cave. Too bad, he also had a pocket knife to pluck out some bits of crystals to sell if need be.

He also saw he was clutching Tubbo from his other hand, who looked disinterested at the new shelter. With Skeppy behind them, who seemed just as bored and tired all the same. Or maybe just completely bored, Tommy couldn’t tell from a commonly hyperactive young adult.

It didn’t matter when he saw the large opening of the narrow path of the cave, and to no one’s surprise was the other groups of the refugees that were from different ships already staying inside here. They are incessantly loud, many ear-splitting cries of babies and toddlers, adults gossiping around, children his age running around like this whole area is like a playground, and so much more. Tommy tuned out the noises and looked at the expanse of the cave. It looked like any normal wide yet irregular formed dome as he always encountered in any insides of caves. It had many small holes around the walls that only seemed to fit an adult’s hand, though it doesn’t really seem to be that deep. There were some big boulders and other rock formations stuck down on the ground, with a group of people occupying it like makeshift seats and resting places. 

The weird part of this kind of cave was that there were no more tunnels to explore. Usually, caverns have complicated tunneling systems when surveying every bit of the place. Some had those holes on the ceiling that shines rays of the sun, receiving diffractions of light into the dark enclosed space. Some caves have tight spaces, and definitely wouldn’t be recommending if diagnosed if claustrophobia.

But that did not happen to meet the circumstances of this cavern. This shelter that they’re gonna live in was just a massive dull and gloomy dome. 

“Alright,” Bad called out, gaining the attention of the raven-haired man and the two boys. That was the voice that Tommy sometimes admired off the man and always listens to, going on all stoic and confident like a composed leader. It was comforting, to say the least, that Bad is capable of such leadership. “The guide gave me what we’ve been accommodated in this place, so we’ll have to ration our supplies whether it is or isn’t necessary, we take no risks in giving into hunger. Big groups like this are hard enough to take care of the supply rates.” He gave one wide glance at the surroundings, probably observing the place, then looked back at them. “Give me what you have left of the supplies then we can start counting.” 

And that they did. The four moved afar from the crowd, making sure that their belongings wouldn't be seen. Bad and Skeppy guided the two kids to take care of their own storage. They sorted through preserved cans and fruits to old chips and sodas. Tommy had gotten the rest of the sodas since he was managing on his low-blood pressure. Tubbo had gotten himself a few chips and crackers, alongside the natural honey he caught from a random beehive in the forest (To Tommy’s surprise, Tubbo did not get a single sting from gaining honey in the beehive, which is completely unnatural, but he hunched it up as some sort of attachment between the boy and his bees). Bad and Skeppy handled all the rest, rationing the many valuables of water bottles and cans that may last them for a month or two. 

After that, they went off their separate ways, but not without Bad still pampering the two with endless warnings of what to do or not to do.  

Tommy ventured off without Tubbo just a few minutes later when he got caught up in a sudden acquaintanceship with an unknown someone. Now, he was chatting with that guy he said he remembered to be his father’s associate back then and the rest of that guy’s crew, only sparing a sincere apologetic look at Tommy that he won’t be able to accompany him for a while. The blonde waved it off, shrugging like he didn’t give a damn and just looked more into the area. Tubbo can have his reunion, for now, Tommy would want to dig into the secrets of the cave. 

If there is a secret at all. 

After an hour of exploration that gave him nothing new to pick on about, he finally gave in to exhaustion. He slumped against the walls of the cave despite its rough texture that could scratch his back that could bleed his skin, but luckily it didn’t. He looked at the people surrounding them once more, face scrunched that these kinds of people who are used to having large groups of refugees and not knowing when to survive alone have a high chance of mortality if they aren’t wary of their situation. Tommy knows how a large community operates, with how sheltered and safe the people in their not-infested-creature homes. Those who live there long enough wouldn’t be able to live longer if they were kept sheltered.

Tommy sighed in exasperation, a little angry at the people chatting with each other like it was just any normal Tuesday in the market. Like they expected the new shelter would be a permanent safe for all of them to stay. For God’s sake, don’t they have any creeping suspicions about it? Tommy was sure as hell skeptical about why would a rich person want to invite hundreds of people to their own abode. Then Bad scolded him about being grateful should be the right term he should be doing than be an ass.

“What’s gotten in you in under the bus?” Tommy’s head snapped up at the source of the low yet naturally soothing voice, suddenly staring his blue crystal on the chocolate ones. A stranger with curly chestnut hair, beanie covering most of it with the excess blocking his one eye. He was dressed in an umber scruffy coat that can closely relate his style of clothing to a homeless man. In spite of his clothing, he still looked young. Though, not that young that was close to his age. With how he had a chiseled chin, slightly worn-out wrinkles on the temple, and baggy eyes that screamed he needs some shut-eye, one could say he was close from the early twenties.

The blond teen furrowed his brows in small skepticism, distrust immediately shown from the look on his face. “I don’t know you,” It was a blunt answer that should signify he doesn’t want to talk to anyone, particularly this guy. Especially that they’re both strangers to each other. He learned enough to know people aren’t that trustworthy as much as Bad and Skeppy. Living in a barren wasteland of a city had taught him people are selfish for the need of their survival.

However, much to Tommy’s chagrin, the brunette shrugged back and relented to his wishes, sitting down beside him despite the glares the teen was sending his way.

“You don’t need to give me that look, kid. I’m just here for secluded corners. Your spot just seemed like the right place to just give me a breather and you seem like the type to not talk that much, which is good enough for me,” The young man waved him off, fiddling something from the pockets of his coat. Tommy softened his angry features, though still wary of him. So, he just ignored him for the time being as long as he does it the same way. 

And he did. He was quiet and not bothersome like most of the people chattering nonsense, only focusing on his business. Tommy glanced to him for a little to see his two fingers balancing a rolled-up paper with an orange tint at the end and a green lighter being lit up. Tommy’s lip raised and crystal eyes pinched in displeasure at the unhealthy habit. Though he really shouldn’t judge on someone’s personal tendencies that Bad had lectured him for about an hour after he gave Skeppy disgusted glances when he was drinking alcohol. It wasn’t his fault he was raised disciplined against any pleasure substances.

Unfortunately, his glance had caught the man’s attention, his tantalizing voice echoed through his ears, taking off the cigarette from his lips without any thick air of grey dust when he spoke up. “What are you looking at? I thought we were minding our own businesses?” 

“Your whole presence is annoying me, prick,” Tommy deadpanned, his emotions walled up into a defensive mechanism. Tommy likes Bad and Skeppy because they were with him and Tubbo for several months of their little adventures through the city wasteland they used to call home. They were good enough to be comfortable with joking around. With strangers, though, he doesn’t talk to them as much after a nuclear explosion happened and supernatural creatures appeared that were only supposed to be seen in fictional stories. Skeppy had told him about the dangers of meeting survivors in the wild: they were ruthless and distrustful, only clinging on to their own needs and wants. The world was already fucked from society, and the nuclear explosion was just the motivator to see some of their true colors.

“Well, that’s just mean. I wasn’t doing anything to you, man,” The beanie shrugged him off, hazel eyes tore off his gaze from the boy, and resumed his activity by putting the cigar back to his mouth. 

Tommy was quite angered at the unconcerned manner of the man beside him, eyes twitching, “You are. This is basically invading my privacy. There’s a lot of your fucking quiet little corners in this cave to be smoking off.”

The beanie guy seemed to be quite offended by the offer, shoulders hunched as he wore his gaze upon straight to Tommy and withdrew the rolled-up paper away from his mouth, blowing out a puff of smoke “Well  sor-ry , for the fact that I, indeed tried that for the past 10 minutes of wandering around people to find a non-crowded area.”

“Go fuck yourself and leave my place.”

“Why didn’t you say that beforehand? I thought you’re cool with it.”

“I never said yes.”

“But you never said no.”

The blonde huffed in irritation by the persistence of the man, feeling his blood pressure starting to boil a little. He seeped the cold musty air of the cave into his nose to clear off a sense of sparking a flame that was beginning to manifest inside his brain. Anger management issues are one thing on the agenda that Tommy hasn’t been set on fixing yet, but he’s learning. Bad said that’s what important if he couldn’t change it for the time being.

“Fuck you,” Tommy hissed with a tinge of venom laced in it, making the tall brunette roll his eyes and stood up in calm haste.

“Alright, kid-” The man brushed off specks of the nicotine ash away from his coat. He then smiled up at him, almost far from being genuine. Almost like a lazy smirk. “Wish granted. Maybe we’ll see each other later.”

“Hopefully not,” Tommy muttered with a tired yet waspish tone, and if the beanie guy heard it, he didn’t comment on it.

With a wave, he trudged inside the horde of gossiping survivors, leaving out of the boy’s view.

Tommy sighed, finally resting his head against the hard moist stone, wanting to just hang out with Tubbo after knowing nothing suspicious of the cave. But then his eyes slightly drooped, slowly recalling the sail toward this island took a couple of days, slept five hours ago, and wandered through a big cave for another hour. It didn’t take him long to close his eyes and drove his conscious deep into his mind, an unintentional shut down dominated his body system.

“Hey, Tommy?” 

A soft worried tone flew through Tommy’s ears, which made him reply with a low grunt of protest He didn’t really want to wake up at a time like this, with how it felt really comfortable just sitting down on the ground and leaning against the wall without a care in the world because there won’t be danger anytime soon.  

The soft voice sighed, now remembering it belonged to Tubbo’s, feeling a warm hand placed on one of his shoulders to shake him off his peaceful slumber. “Come on, the announcer said we have to get moving. We’re reserved for four more people in the boat. And it’s time for us to go.” 

“Reserve us at last then. Tell them to get the others first,” Tommy insists, his face scrunching up in irritation that someone interrupted his beauty sleep. 

“We are at last, Tommy,” He froze when he heard the dripping disappointment of a familiar male adult with the most high-pitched and annoying voice of all. His upper eyelids lifted heavily from his mind’s desire to keep on sleeping, slowly registering the face of reality as he strayed from the comfortable darkness. His head was already tilted upwards to see whoever’s standing upon him, and from that, the first sight he settled on was none other than Bad, crossed arms and his aura stoic. The next was Tubbo kneeling closer to him, his hand on his shoulder while Skeppy was standing beside the oldest with the rest of the bags they have, his head turned somewhere else seemingly searching for something. 

Bad released his tangled arms from each other, relaxing his nerves with a sigh, “We’ve waited long enough to be last since you seemed really tired.” Tommy let his anger issues simmer from them waking him up abruptly and murmured a “thanks” before he let his best friend hoist his arm up to stand while Bad carried half of the bags Skeppy had and gave the kids’ bags to their respective owners. 

The tallest then led them to the cave’s exit, where Tommy just noticed the whole way to the end of the dome was that the entire space of it was barren from what was once a mass of survivors, confirming that they were indeed the last people to get a ride across their refuge. 

But, the blonde couldn’t care any less, yawning all the way there while he was being held by Tubbo and stepping outside the cave to their ride. Bad kept pestering him with more and more lectures after the boy told him about the beanie man; about how he should’ve been nice and welcoming but always keep his guard up whenever someone comes up to him. Skeppy intercepted him with jokes and teasing every now and then (which pisses off Bad since his teasing was mainly all about swearing) that earned the light-hearted laughter of the kids. Being with them eased Tommy’s mind for a while. 

Until they met their other passengers for the ride.

“You’ve got to be shitting me.” 

The curly chocolate locks were swayed by the force of the wind as he swiveled his head to him, eyes widened at the broody sight of the blond and soon gave a cocky smirk. “Well, if it isn’t the killjoy kid.” 

“Says you. You have literal bug eyes and looked like someone just shit on your head with that hat.” 

“Tommy,” Bad reprimanded, making the said boy sigh in displeasure but silently smirked at the offended face of the beanie man. Tubbo snickered beside him while Skeppy gave a small huff of laughter. They all fitted in their seats, making Bad and Skeppy in front of Tubbo and Tommy’s seat while the other three passengers (including the beanie man, apparently. Tommy felt bitter he had to share the ride for another hour with the guy. First impressions weren’t really Tommy’s forte, and he was kind of glad he made a little riff between him and the guy. That way, he’s sure not to trust him in any way.) behind them. 

With a few complaints of the tight spaces and shared glares from the blond and beanie brunette, the boat has sailed. The flag was entirely pushed by the strong wind and let the base of the boat move. The pilot oversees on the front as he was the only one standing up, controlling the sails. It was getting boring without anything to see but a vast blue shining ocean and the island where they were. 

Then a shuffle and a whisper were heard, but Tommy didn’t give it much heed. Until a loud chuckle reverberated from someone behind, who was just sitting beside the beanie man. Tommy turned around in curiosity since he can’t really focus on silence. If something interesting was talked about, then he would gladly be a dick and join in. Or just annoy the hell out of the beanie man.  

His crystal eyes locked at the new stranger. He seemed older than him, wearing a viridescent kimono with a green bucket hat that has green and white stripes. He could’ve looked like a monk for Tommy if it weren’t for the fact the kimono was ripped and scratched everywhere that looked like he had been through hell. The end of the sleeves was cut unevenly and now have been strapped on both of his arms like he had been injured. He might’ve been... or not, since a thick cloth could be used as protection against the bite of zombies. The large loose ribbon wrapped around his hip that was used as a makeshift utility belt, stored with some small boxes, pocket-sized weaponry, and a water bottle that’s been half-filled. 

Tommy, like the annoying extrovert and brat he is, interrupted, “What’re you laughing at?”

The bucket hat man tilted his head at him, hinting a slight surprise at the attention Tommy gave him. “Oh, well mate, what you’ve said about his beanie? Yeah, he’s salty because you’ve insulted his favorite one, y’know.” 

“Dad,” The beanie half-hissed and half-whined, flustered and nudged the other man to stop him from chuckling at his expense. While Tommy paused for a second or two before breaking out a peal of wheezing laughter at the offended look he was giving his so-called father, soon sending him an affronted glare. Tubbo joined in as well, trying to hold back his stifles of laughter. 

“Get a load of this bitch, Tubbo.” 

“I know!” Tubbo laughed. 

“I bet he has a whole wardrobe of ‘em. Imagine being picky for a hat that looks like shit.” 

“You just don’t know style, dickhead!” The beanie man snapped, clearly red-faced by the amount of laughter in the boat about his hat. Even his companions and Tommy’s guardians unified with light-hearted chuckles as well (except Bad. He had a deadpanned look and just didn’t bother to correct him again). 

“Oy! Fuck you, you little gremlin child.” 

Tommy halted his fun, face stilled in shock as he stared upon a now tomato-colored man with his icy yet heated eyes.

The audacity of this tall bitch-

“The fuck did you call me?” 

“Yeah, that’s right. You’re such a gremlin child,” The man challenged, a glint of mischief and victory was evident to Tommy’s gradual annoyance on him. But Tommy's not going to back down that easy.

He huffed in indignation, “You’re a big wanker.” 

“That’s such a lame comeback.” 

“It’s not! Come on, Tubbo, back me up here.” 

The said smaller brunette, who outright let out fits of laughter after the man’s comebacks, just patted him on the shoulder as if to say he would just deal with this on his own. 

“It’s all on you, boss man. Though I admit he looks like he had a massive poop on his head.” 

“You stay out of this, pipsqueak," The man pointed at his best friend, who then gasped at the insult of his small stature.

Soon enough, the boat was loud and lively, just like Tommy wanted.

Chapter Text

“Will you three please quiet down? Jack is starting to get annoyed, especially you Tommy,” Bad deadpanned in front of him, who occupied the rest of the boat with three strangers and, apparently, adopted kids. At least, Tommy knows Bad would call them that. 

Tommy pulled a raspberry at him but begrudgingly complied. He heard the beanie’s father also quieted his son and he did the same. 

Bad was pleased about it, much to Tommy’s dismay, and faced their sailor, pirate Jack. "I am so sorry for keeping you in the same boat with us."

Jack chuckled light-heartedly, articulating a pirate-like accent, "No need to, matey. I'm pretty sure it will be inevitable anyways."

The red-hooded man sighs in relief and turns behind him to meet the oldest man from the three-strangers group. “I also sincerely apologize for Tommy’s behavior, sir,” He said with an apologetic smile.

The older man from the two just waved it away with a peal of soft laughter, “It’s alright, mate. Kids are rowdy little fellas. Your kid just fits right into my kind of rowdy kids over here.” He patted the beanie man’s shoulder while his other hand pointed his thumb behind him, which was the quiet man with pink braided hair.

In response to that, the tallest out of the three-membered family scoffed, “Sure, but this kid has more disrespect than I and Tech combined.”

“Hey, don’t try and involve me,” The pink-haired man, or namely Tech from what the brunette spoke of him, grumbled lowly and too quietly for Tommy to really bother with him, so he went all on out with the beanie instead.

“Oh maybe because you’re a dick,” Tommy jibed, glaring at him sideways. 

“You’re the one who started it!” The man yelled.

“No, you are!” 

“You are such a child by just saying that.” 

With that, Tommy fully turned back to scowl at his smug face. “Am not!” 

“Prove it then,” The man crossed his arms with his confident posture, sending a taunting smirk that Tommy twitched in the boiling thrill that was about to pop on his out of his head like a volcano. 

Bad attempted to tame the boy down by pressing his hand onto his shoulder, but Tommy was having none of it. 

“Tommy-“ 

“I will stab you on the knife with the neck in an alleyway soon enough, dickhead. And I will enjoy it, slowly and not so gently, just you wai-“ 

“Wait, wait- you’re gonna stab me with a neck on the knife?” 

It took three approximate seconds of silence for Tommy to process his wordings until he rose to his feet and immediately hurled insults and curses at the man who had to bend over his stomach from laughing. He noticed for a while that the father and Tubbo joined in as well and glimpsed of a ghost of a smile from the man on the very back. Bad fell back onto his trademark “dad-disappointed-sigh", and Skeppy snickering lightly in the background.

“Maybe we should try helping you with grammar, Tommy. It’s the least we could do,” Skeppy interrupted his sputtering, looking at him with full of mirth.

Tommy turned sharply at the tan-skinned raven and morphed his gaze dangerously, pointing his index finger at him. “No, no, no- you shut the fuck up Skepster, and you -” His finger swiftly went back to the tall brunette and his eyes narrowed further with his lip curled into an ugly snarl, nostrils flaring. Although, it didn’t seem to faze the man as he held both of his hands high yet the corners of his mouth subtly twitched diagonally, referencing a taunting smile that betrayed his ‘fear’ otherwise. “It is a promise that I will stab you to the neck at 9 pm GMT in a random alleyway, and I’m making this verily clear, asshole.” 

“Okay, child.”

“Don’t call me that!” 

“Alright, Tommy, stay down or you’ll trip and will have you be soaking wet for the whole ride,” Bad finally admonished and suddenly Tommy felt a strong grip on the side pulling down on him to forcefully situate on his seat. He was about to protest for the interference, but the squinted stare and stiff arms of the man made all sense now that he wasn’t too pleased with the attention he’s unintentionally trying to attain. In addition to that, realizing the fact it wouldn’t be comfortable to walk through the entire way there.

He heard from behind a hushed scolding from the bucket hat man. “You too, Wilbur.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” The beanie man -now finally named Wilbur- huffed and trailed his bored stare upon the surrounding Atlantic waters.

It was then Tech responded after their little quarrel, “You fought over a child? Keep stooping low, Wil.” 

“Oh shut the fuck up, bubblegum. You made a toddler cry because of some petty video game competition,” He retorted petulantly. 

“That was when I was ten, though.” 

“Same concept.” 

“Sure... ‘same concept’.” 

That was the end of their conversation. 

And that was when Wilbur saw Tommy peeking throughout that conversation. Instead of another savage banter, he raised his middle finger with his ever so slightly patronizing smirk that caused the other boy to scrunch up in disdain and stuck out his tongue in response. 

“It’s alright, big man,” Tubbo sighs with a pat on the back after he spotted the short interaction, bringing a begrudging Tommy to pivot back at the front view. “You’ll get him next time.”

“The hell I will,” Tommy muttered, pouting irately and folded his arms in front of his chest. 

The ride wasn’t that too long really. Tommy can already see a new island from the distance, alongside was the rickety old dock where they could park. He could register the effulgent cerulean shore surrounding the tintless sand, the pigmentation of its waters glimmering much more than the water they were floating up against. Contorted rocky hills were the only landforms that his aquamarine eyes could discern from afar, with wooden crates scattered surrounding and being engulfed by the apricot grains. Nothing but another island to inhabit yet again.

The whole way there was just itching for Tommy to scream and just spat out some swears at each other to detract from the unbearable silence. The wooden plank where he sat felt tight for him due to the lack of space between him and Tubbo, and the weather seemed like it was frying him to death. He wasn’t used to the silence that much, despite him being a quiet kid himself. Well, that only happened recently a year ago. It just reminded him of the eerie loneliness he had to live by alone while there was news breaking about an apocalypse and his orphanage got invaded by the monsters that seemed to take out of a child’s worst nightmare. 

For what it’s worth, everything that’s happened in this boat experience earlier felt like a heavy weight lifted off his shoulders. 

By the time they all forcibly shifted forwards from the abrupt stop of the boat, Tommy was really eager to walk out of the ride for a short stretch due to the narrow room that caused him to fidget a lot for the need to keep his nerves stimulated. Luckily his seatmate, Tubbo, didn’t mind him much about it, and easily accepted it with a gentle smile towards him. It relieved him that he didn’t felt judged by acting so strangely, it was one of the reasons he’s his best friend. 

Everyone withdrew away from their seats and stepped on the creaky floorboards of the berth. But before the four got out, Bad was there to intervene in their impatience.

“Hold up, Tommy hold onto Skeppy and you two will go first. Tubbo, hold onto me. This dock ain’t really safe,” Bad tasked, standing on the boat whilst the other three strangers were first to leave the boat. 

“Argh, Why? We’re not babies, Bad. We’re big men,” Tommy whined. 

“I second that!” Tubbo added, having the same sentiment of being mollycoddled. 

Bad feigned ignorance at their wishes and clutched Tubbo’s hand and letting Skeppy shuffle his way to Tommy, who reluctantly took the order given. “Thirteen and fourteen growing boys aren’t that ‘big men’, Toms. Now go on, we’ll be right behind.”

Tommy grouched even harder, aiding to the fact that Wilbur, his back facing to him, snorted when he was in earshot.

He was, positively and absolutely, sick of Bad’s pampering. He had been doing that ever since they had to cooperate in their hometown, making sure him and Tubbo are safe and healthy on the way here. He appreciates his concern, but sometimes it’s just a pain in the ass to deal with, especially since they’re practically teenagers and not toddlers that measly break over anything dangerous.

“Come on, Tommy,” Skeppy encouraged, letting him plant the first step out to the docks, tentative that he and the raven won’t fall or crash all the way to the coarse sand. 

After they were situated on the solid land, the two followed the other three strangers, Bad and Tubbo trailing behind. Tommy watched Jack tip his blue sailor hat in farewell. Though it didn’t seem to reach his eyes when he locked gazes with the blonde, which startled him all of a sudden.

All he gave him was something Tommy made inexplicably unsettled until he finally managed to push and paddle his transportation away from the island. He certainly didn’t know what that meant, but he rose his guard at the thought of that man’s face and twisting consternation rumbled inside his mind. Of course, he should be careful. This is a refuge without any sort of reputation of anything 5 stars, at least, not anymore in these times. Skeppy had told him once about sanatoriums. It used to exist way back in the 1800s, wherein they gave a safe quarantine zone for patients that are outed from society due to their dilemma in diseases. The sanatorium assured that patients could socialize, relax, and make peace with themselves and each other in a quiet and rural environment. Unfortunately, most of these facilities were discontinued ever since modern technology came into play, enabling better service and medical treatment than the nurses would do in the sanatoriums. 

But somehow, he can’t put it to a conclusion on how it would be connected to the man’s warning. 

“Toms, you stopped. Come on,” Skeppy nudged, snapping the boy out of his thoughts and walked at a level pace with him as an acknowledgment. 

“Oh my! Hello fellow travelings!” All heads shot towards the lavish Victorian accent of a woman. Whom to have worn a complete set of a typical nurse outfit and accessories of a couple of thin gold bracelets and a necklace embellished with little green and yellow gems; her hair long and silky black that was perfectly trimmed and her skin is pure pale bronze. She looked like she came from those Egyptian ladies way decades ago.

The lady brought them a big joyous smile and properly bowed in greetings, “Good Afternoon gentlemen, welcome to the Pride de Isle! My name is Sylvia, your valued nurse from the Pride de Isle Sanatorium, and I hope to accommodate as best as I can. I am your very glamorous tour guide and I will help you all lead to our beautiful sanatorium. Please, come!”

The refugees shared both befuddled and wary glances, then continued to obey her wishes. Tommy knew not to trust people too easily. Bad and Skeppy had taught him that. Timedeo had made him learn about it. The Red Strikers had enforced him that. The way her friendly demeanor and a huge smile on her face already sent red flags on his brain, though in any case, this would be pretty normal service courtesy. But this is an apocalypse. People aren’t this too nice. 

Are they?

All of them were in line to follow Sylvia: from the jagged dirty path of rugged terrain with chunks of untilled grasses to the edge of the terra firma with a hanging bridge connecting to another part of the island. And when Tommy neared a bit closer to the entrance of the bridge, he can view the deep depth of the height and at the end of it would be a large stream that likely leads out of the sea. His dark-tanned guardian notices his curiosity and tugged him back just near in the vicinity within Bad and Tubbo’s, which annoyed him in spite he only did that to protect him from falling. Considering his past attempts of not being clumsily wandering around, he could understand his fear. He then observed the other three strangers. The green bucket hat man and Wilbur seemed slightly curious while Tech wasn’t too keen on entertaining its view.

The woman swiveled her attention to the refugees. “After crossing this bridge, is where we will be going to our houses for rent. But do not worry, since this apocalypse started, we’ve taken the liberty to provide you rooms from those housings to our sanatorium rooms.”

“Like, we get those houses for free?” Tubbo asked, face brightening with the thought of getting a free house without rent.

The nurse took sight of the brunette boy and eagerly nodded, “Why of course! Who needs money when there are no businesses blooming?” 

Tommy had been waiting the day he becomes old enough to buy one, but he guesses the apocalypse ain’t that bad as long as he doesn’t pay rent and taxes.  

In fact- 

“So, let’s just say, if we make a whole civilization here, can I sell my house with real money? Along with the rent and shit?” Tommy said, grinning like a child that’s about to stir trouble. Which Bad acted on by putting his hand on his shoulder, shaking his head in disapproval. 

Sylvia chuckled, her voice was rich with the Victorian accent. “If my Mistress can help with that, then sure you can.” 

“Oh yeah, time to run business.” The said blonde rubbed his palms together in an evil delight. 

“Wait hold on, excuse me miss, but he is a mere child of eight and children should not do business deals up until they’re twenty-one,” Wilbur raised his own voice, turning to Tommy with his own shit-eating grin, which prickled his nerves hard and practically snatched his hand away from his guardian’s grip.

“Don’t underestimate my business skills, bastard. I can sue you if I became the fucking business manager of this soon-to-be next-generation city. And I am not eight, you prick.”

“Sure, and I’m the prince of the United Kingdom.” To top that off, he walked to him and bent his upper body a little lower to show who was taller between them, which he is by a lot, unfortunately. His growth spurt must have had grown immensely during his teenage years. Bad says that happened to him and the reason he’s taller than Skeppy.

And the thing is, he’s at the start of his puberty and it ain’t yet here to help him out.

“While you are still an eight-year-old little boy, I suggest you better read more about adult stuff before becoming a real man.” Then he received a pat on the head with a condescending face of a man that has crap on his hair. If the looks could kill, he would’ve burned his amber eyeballs right now.  

A clearing of throat interrupted their squabble. “Excuse me, dearies. But we really should be going. You can talk all about business with our Mistress. Although, I must warn you that this bridge is tad bit ruptured and still needs maintenance, though I’m sure we can cross carefully. Now, let us go!” 

After that, both of them separated to their own groups; having his now supposed enemy being scolded by his father and teased by his other pink-haired friend about arguing to Tommy again; and he, himself, having to be held together with Skeppy yet again that comes along with a gleeful snort, a cheeky smile from Tubbo, and the usual small groan from Bad, but he could spot the same fond smirk whenever Tommy does something harmlessly stupid. “I swear, I am going to strap your mouth with duct tape.” 

The said boy breathes out his repressed rage and replied back, “But you love me anyways. Which, by the way, yuck and ew because I only love the ladies.” That earned a horde of laughter from them, the mood lightened exceedingly. 

It made Tommy genuinely smile. 

“Alright, enough with this, guys. We got a bridge to get past,” Bad reminded as he pulled Tubbo close, who didn’t mind. The laughter subsided and went on to catch up with the tour guide.  

It wasn’t that Tommy afraid of heights, in fact, he actually likes the thrill of things. Whether danger comes or he forced it to come his way, he would try his very best to solve it. It’s just that best, wasn’t really the best he could do since he fails a lot. So, cracked or missing pieces of the wooden bridge did not seem to scare him that much. 

What truly unnerved crossing this was the terrifying unknown below. He knew it was just the navy blue liquid flowing. Should the bridge ever collapse, they’ll be okay with the river being their ultimate savior. Although, he wasn’t sure it’s safe. Maybe it’s because of Tommy’s paranoia that was getting him anxious, but who knows? 

… Maybe he’s just freaking out over nothing. 

Leading the way to the end of the bridge, they arrived in a quaint little village. Tommy drunk in the modernized scenery that was covered around with a bright shade of olive green turfs and several Arececae. Milky wattle and daub walls, timbre frames that supported the structures, and old shale roofs were decorated upon these very mediocre-sized buildings. Small glass cyan domes were in some parts of them that made it up to date of their era. Their supposed soil pathway turned into cracked and broken tiled rocks that were cemented together. It would’ve been much like they were walking through the middle ages if it weren’t for the large number of people buzzing around and walking all over the place. 

“Now this-“ The nurse tour guide gestured her hand to the village they were about to walk through. “This was ze Pride de Isle village. Folks from before your time used to live here and live peacefully within the confines of this island. Unfortunately, technology has come a long way and established a new era for them, and thus leaving this place to dust.” Her voice now spouted a somber tone, sparkling eyes staring at the crowd with such longing. “In any case, ever since the nuclear explosion happened, we’ve tried our very best to polish the island for you all to live like the folks we had before.” Sylvia resumed her promenade, the following refugees taking in their surroundings with a plethora of emotions. Tommy felt ecstatic that, for what it feels like the longest time, they finally seem to find a decent civilization where humans could stay and thrive. He felt quite disappointed when in the course of their tour guide babbling about the village, some refugees have already taken the houses that could’ve been his. All that was left for him and the others were the rooms in the sanatorium. 

Passing many sections of the village such as their one beautiful restaurant upfront their entrance through the town, a small stage for entertainment and announcements, and barren market stalls for future sellers. Everything about it looked clean and brand new as if they were really living in the times where phones haven’t existed yet.

“These stalls are about to be stacked with fruits and our plantations are splendidly fresh and well-kept from the radiation poisoning, so there’s no need to worry about the rations. Anyhow, here to our right is the way to our glorified sanatorium,” Sylvia guided them to the green forestry with pasture being swept by the cool breeze.

Just as they were from the low altitude of the mountainside, Tommy spotted a small pond beside the large waterfall that lands below with the fog being created from the fall. Piqued with curiosity, he simply pulled his hand away from Skeppy’s and trampled over the grass to the edge of the hole where the water falls down to. 

“Dearie!” Tommy huffed in disappointment as he sent a grumpy look at the woman that caught him walked away from the team and all the attention of the refugees. “What?” 

“I’m sorry, kiddo, but it is prohibited to go there. It’s dangerous for you children to wander.” 

“I’m not a child! I’m a teenager!” He could from his peripheral the familiar beanie guy rolls his eyes in amusement. 

“Sorry, honey, but teenagers count too,” She gave a sincere smile but he didn’t give two shits about it. Nonetheless, he took one last glance at the hole before trekking back to the raven’s hold.

“Anyways, this right here is our stairs away to the sanatorium!” The nurse exclaimed happily, making their way to the marble-textured staircase up to another one, before seeing the sight of the building that the blonde can slightly see from where he was now. 

“Woah, you have solar panels?” Tubbo said in excitement, to which he pointed out the several solar panels from the left side of the stairway. 

“Why yes! In our facility, we had to adapt to the technological advances of the city dwellers. Now we can have functional lightings and not waste too many candles for emergencies.” 

“Does that mean you have outlets we can use?” Wilbur posed a question, looking intrigued.  

“Of course, we have a pair of outlets in each room of our dormitories.” 

A couple of buoyant whoops from some of the refugees earned a small giggle from the nurse, entertained by the childish antics, particularly the children, beanie, and the blue-hooded man.

After that, they got to the frontal porch of the sanatorium, and all Tommy can think of is that it is massive. It had thick piers, Doric order columns, archways, and many arch windows that reflected the natural light of the sky; smooth and neatly painted walls of snow and champagne blended together in a simplistic but sophisticated representation of the whole structure. It definitely has the Romanesque style of any building in the middle ages. 

“It’s so big…” Tubbo comments, having to tilt his head upwards at the mansion that is the sanatorium. 

Tommy nodded in agreement. “It’s as big as my balls,” He whispered. 

It sent both of them laughing, with Bad and the others leaving confused glances but didn’t raise a comment. Rather they continued on listening to the nurse’s information about the sanatorium and such while they sauntered to the large two-way door. 

“Seriously?” Tubbo playfully punched him by the arm, which received a hum of approval. 

Their giggling fit receded when the woman began to show them the insides of the building. Aside from the wandering survivors, if he were anything to be a designer, he would’ve fallen in love with the intricacy of the architecture in this place. The dazzling golden statue with a circular-spiked clock looking divine and majestic; the stairway to the second floors, long seaweed-tinted carpets leading from every path possible, the humungous spacing of the lobby as it almost looked like a 5-star hotel that Tommy can definitely take advantage of playing tag, and the way the sun shone inside the place that gave the pulchritudinous of its entire being.

Back when everything wasn’t creature-infested and radiated air, Tommy had never encountered a hotel in his whole time. Born and raised in an orphanage doesn’t really get to have privileged needs to satisfy the children. They don’t get the luxury like Tubbo and his adopted family to get to experience other things. The brunette told him about how rich hotels are and how they can have meals to be served in their rooms. How aesthetic their arts are in their lobbies and in other rich buildings, and this may be one of them, which is weird because at this point in time he shouldn’t have seen this place in one piece. 

“Well, Tommy? You like it?” Tubbo softly jabbed, having been anticipated his best friend's open-mouthed expression sinking in the reality that he is in a rich and sophisticated building, whilst surviving in the middle of an apocalypse.

Then he shook his head stubbornly, trying to shrug off the emotion he displayed seconds ago. “Not bad, statues aren’t really much of use in the apocalypse, y’know?”

“I’m afraid that’s where you are wrong, child.” Both boys flinched at the thick rich-accented voice heard from beside, subconsciously stepping back which bumped into the two adult guardians.  

A look-a-like goddess, hell she may probably be a goddess, posing strikingly with the most collectibles of jewels and golden accessories. Like Cleopatra, she had the Egyptian-Roman fashion of an alabaster linen dress; aureate bracelets straps and coils around her arms and tall crystalline heels; short silky dark hair perfectly cut up until to her shoulders adorned with golden strands; her magnificent make-up and a tow-colored crown which ornamented a falcon pendant showing her superiority and power amongst the staff members.  

Tommy almost wanted to date her, but soon realized her small wrinkled temples and skinny cheekbones, not to mention she might be years too old for him spoke louder than words. 

“Ah! Why good afternoon, Divine Sister!” Sylvia greeted the new woman, bowing elegantly that was returned with a gentle nod and a wide smile. “Good afternoon to you too, sister Sylvia and to all of you dahlings!” Her eyes pointed to them, the last group to join in the refuge. The welcome was responded with casual greetings and awkward “hello’s” and “hi’s”. Soon enough, the Divine Sister strode to the carmine tapestry of the smooth oak stairs, going in front of the statue and lift her hands up in open arms as she gazed upon the people, who all paid attention after her sudden introduction to the boys.

“Welcome to our humble abode, Pride de Isle Sanatorium! My name is Valindra and I am the manager of this medical facility, so please, enjoy your stay and relax as this will be the beginning of a new generation to come!”

Chapter Text

He strolls around the carpeted halls of their new refuge, mindlessly gazing at the intricately designed ceiling. His awestruck phase soon dwindled when he and his friends got settled in their room for a while. He could still remember tossing his bag to his respective bed and being advised by Bad to be careful not to wander around too much due to his stubborn curiosity at wanting to explore new stuff every possible way. He didn’t really care about the speech Valindra gave earlier but Bad debriefed him that there were rooms that are off-limits so it was best not to get on the owner’s bad side. As much as it is tempting, Tommy reluctantly abides by his rules and walks out of their dormitory to saunter past through the first floor up to the second floor.

That is why he found himself in an enormous room that consisted of a healthily hefty tree that was slightly curved, bearing lime-colored fruits from its branches. There were lushes of fresh leaves floating down to the grassy floor despite seeming like the tree hasn’t been shaved naked from the shrinkage. It was odd, to say the least, with how the tree was kept alive inside this sanatorium, but he sucked it up to having this room as a plantation area where they could sow more in the later period of their stay here. In addition to that, there was also a large skylight window bringing sunlight to the plant, and the nearby shore was enough resource to keep it living in the long run.

Tommy sighed and looked away from the view, irritating thoughts circling inside his head. Because that was the point, wasn’t it? That they couldn’t just stay here and say it’s safe. Not after those multiple refugees that were burned, revolted, and infested. Sure, he could count of how many benefits should they ever stay here in the mansion: Kind and sweet nurses being able to provide their needs; rooms and toiletries; solar panels that generate enough electricity to power their technology and the mansion; and learning mediums in libraries and apparently, a lecture hall. It was pretty much everything they could ever want for them to kickstart a new world of a functional society like the good times.

Wanting to break away from his own conflict, he plucked out the nearest fruit he could reach, the branch was pulled slightly by his force but soon returned to its original position after he successfully retrieved his objective. He was a curious and cautious big man, so he looked around the fruit and tried frisking its smooth texture. It wasn’t too heavy, but the right weight for its large size. The small twig that held the fruit on the branch was crispy and rough. Fortunately, he found nothing, but he couldn’t be too sure.

Thus, Tommy took one glance at his surroundings to check no one watched him steal someone’s plantation that bore their need for survival, before waddling his way to another room. He couldn’t find anything to hide the fruit, so he held it inconspicuously, which isn’t making any better but he could try and manage to hide it for long to hide it somewhere else.

From his far-right side of the room, a door consisted only of crates of varying sizes. Tommy had to guess it must be the seeds or other utilities for the mansion.

There wouldn’t be any discreet spots to hide this humungous fruit unless it was inside of the crates.

That he did.

He started ripping off the nails of the farthest and discreet crate by the tip of his trusty dagger, successfully dismantling the top part of the box without any damage. With the fruit in hand, he shoved it inside alongside the many utensils he couldn’t care to look over. He couldn’t hammer them back to enclose the container, so he carelessly put back the wooden square on the top. Satisfied, he scurried out to the fruit tree room. There wasn’t a single person that visited here.

“Thank God. Hopefully, Bad won’t be too mad,” Tommy breathed a sigh of relief, trying as best as he can to casually walk over the other door.

He entered rows of benches, having them on both sides of the room with a long sleek red carpet towards the front of the room. The chairs were facing a single large blackboard and a small plant stand that held a female head sculpture.

Tommy furrowed his brows and turned to the doorway, his gaze lifted up to read a plate with the text “Lecture Hall”.

He hummed in slight recognition and turned to take a step closer look on the plant stand, “So, this is the Lecture Hall.”

“Indeed it is, child.”

Tommy yelped in surprise from a voice that was not his and swiveled to meet the owner of this fine establishment. Valindra chuckled at the reaction, crossing her arms and giving Tommy a twitch of a knowing smile, “Please excuse my sudden supposition of you, but what are you doing here in the Lecture Hall?” 

“Uhm,” Tommy stammered, certainly not expecting the very manager of the sanatorium to catch him red-handed. For a second thought, maybe being caught by those kind nurses wasn't bad. “I was just exploring the house and stuff, y’know? Gotta get used to all these shits.” 

Valindra snorted without any tinge of anger, the supposed skeptical stance dissipated as she untangled her arms and softly met the golden rings of her eyes onto him, “Dear, this place isn’t meant to be open yet. Haven’t I addressed this at the speech I gave earlier?” 

“Ah, well... I didn’t exactly hear the half of it,” Tommy partly lied, sending her a sheepish shrug and smile. He couldn’t recall her entire speech at all. He droned it all out the moment his eyes started admiring the mansion, imagining the what-ifs and the services he might receive for their sojourn.

“Well, I’m sure you do, dear. Why don’t we walk out of this room and just go to the cafeteria, alright? It’s time for dinner anyways.” She lent him a hand that Tommy soon accepted, who was skeptical and unsure. But then the moment he did, her grip slightly tightened and hastily moved out of the door that made Tommy almost stumble upon his tracks, until he managed. He looked like a child being dragged by a parent to somewhere to take him to his punishment, which may be true considering how his height is a head shorter than her. They padded along the halls until they could see the second-floor lobby, where he raised eyebrows at the sight of the topsy-turvy crowd ushering to the opposite side of their hallway, going through another doorway.

The woman he was with must have noticed his expression and answered him without the need of his question, “That way is our cafeteria, my dear. Come on, let us not keep your family waiting.” She tugged his hand for encouragement to walk forward, to which he responded absentmindedly. “They’re not my family,” Tommy accidentally mumbled, for a moment he hoped she wouldn’t have to hear that. 

Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on his side. Valindra laughed loftily as if he made some sort of joke, “Sure they aren’t, but you might’ve acted like you were a part of it.” 

Tommy bit his lip in contemplation, troubled eyes looking down for her not to scrutinize his face, whilst complying with the order to tread to the cafeteria.

It took a while for Valindra to find their table, and greeted him with a worried shout, “Tommy!” Bad stood up from his chair and spun his direction to him, his footsteps were hard and steady. The said blonde had also spotted his fellow friends alongside the three strangers they had just encountered at the boat. In spite of their bad first impressions, they seemed to be getting along, except for those two strangers that were named to be Wilbur and the bucket hat man. The three strangers had three aligned chairs while Skeppy was positioned from the vertical side of the table, and Tubbo sat on the opposite of the pink-haired man. The two men were arguing for a while on his arrival at the cafeteria until he interrupted the conversation with his presence in front of them. It had resulted in all heads on the table directing their gazes towards him. 

He was lucky that it wasn’t the whole room that was befuddled by Bad’s call, or else Tommy would’ve been blushing red. 

“Where have you been?” Bad fussed, kneeling in front of him to check for any injuries or cuts like the last time Tommy went to go for running out alone and got lost for hours. While he felt comforted by it, he didn’t like to be infantilized like a little child, so he swatted the man’s hands away, puffing in an irritated embarrassment. “I’m fine, Bad. Just went to go exploring.”

“And by he meant exploring, going through places he shouldn’t meddle with.” Valindra’s tone was mockingly sweet and ruffled his hair that elicited a growl of disdain for her, glancing with angry scrunched up eyes. He was starting to not like the owner of this mansion. 

Just as he expected, Bad whipped his attention to him yet again, mouth open to start his repetitive warnings. “Tommy, I had recalled you all of the places you shouldn’t try peeping around. Did you even listen?”

Tommy rolled his eyes. “Obviously.” 

As usual, Bad knew what the answer was, sighing in defeat, “Of course...” 

The man stood up and his eyes went to Valindra. Tommy felt hands shifted closer to the man’s jacket, a movement of protectiveness when he was already beside the adult, one arm wrapped securely up until his shoulder. His apologetic smile went too stretched for Tommy’s liking, and if anyone can deduce that, it would be only those who were close to Bad’s. This meant Bad was undeniably unnerved, due to the fact that it may cause some tension between his family and the owner just for Tommy’s first bad impression on stepping foot to her refuge. “I’m sorry about Tommy, ma'am. He gets a little antsy sometimes when he's bored, but I hope he means no trouble.” 

“Oh no, don’t worry, dear. I already had the notion that kids are just a bunch of bundles of energy," She cooed, bending slightly to pinch both of Tommy's cheeks. He can hear Skeppy snicker from the side, which resulted from him glaring back at the lady. Ignoring his reaction, she removed her hands from the boy and straightened her pose to meet Bad's height. "We have them as our patients from before the apocalypse happened. They can be hard and easy to cope with, but we got them running healthy. He will surely have no problem fitting in with the rest. Just make sure he’ll have to be more disciplined by the end of the day, yes?” 

“Yes, of course, ma'am.” 

With her histrionic walk-out, he was pushed onto their table and forced to sit beside Bad that was across from none other than Wilbur. To his confusion, the said man wouldn’t even try making a conversation as he continued to stare at his empty plate, looking mildly frustrated. He snuck a peek at the people who are with him, looking tense and uneasy themselves.

Between Bad and Skeepy was Tubbo, who immediately lighted up to chat with Tommy. 

“Hey, dude, what was the mansion like?”

Tommy shrugged them off and picked up his own glass of water. “Oh, nothing interesting. Just some plantation and storage shit.” He left the lecture hall unmentioned because it seemed like the lady was serious about it. But knowing how much of a brat he is, he decides to tell to him in secret.

“Aw man, no arcades?” 

“No arcades. Though who knows on the third floor? Maybe there is.” 

“Already checked that one, kid.” A sudden low bored voice came interrupting their chat, and Tech’s fierce scarlet eyes targeted Tommy. “Can safely say it’s just a bunch of libraries.”

“And I can trust you for that info because…?” Tommy trailed, raising a brow.

Tech hummed, “Eh, whatever you think is true.” 

“Oh yeah! Tommy, I forgot to mention to you this is Techno. Those with him are Mr. Philza and Wilbur,” Tubbo introduced cheerily, hands splaying to point at the three guys sitting across them. Each had their own gesture of greetings apparently, with Techno giving a small dismissive wave, Philza actually saying a normal greeting of “Hi, mate”, and Wilbur grunting in acknowledgment.  

“Wow.” Tommy was tempting to ask what’s the problem with Wilbur but replaced it with riling him up instead. “Now who looks like someone’s under the bus, huh Wilbur?”

Wilbur sent him a look but there was no malice. “Very funny, gremlin. How does it feel like getting babied, huh Tommy ?” 

“Oh you tall piece of shit,” Tommy growled. He wanted to punch this guy right on the jaw and kick his nuts. 

Then again, it held no bite. 

The casual dinnertime went well, all things considered. Tommy found Phil and Bad getting along with the adult talk, which he doesn’t even want to even hear. Skeppy and Techno were awkwardly conversing but changed the moment his brunette friend began reminiscing about pranking people, which surprisingly enticed Techno. He and Wilbur were more interested in annoying each other, which is fine by him as long as he can have fun doing it. But for most of the time, he reeled his attention somewhere else. Tommy waved him off to include Tubbo in the conversation, retelling the experience in the tree room.

The food and service are astoundingly good in Tommy’s opinion. The waiters were incredibly nice and punctual. The food was like it came from heaven. He hasn’t eaten anything decent and well-cooked but nearly expired chips. Beans and other cans weren’t much for taste but for survival either. Eating food like this wasn’t made to be possible in a worldly catastrophic event. For how they could even manage to fit these exquisite cuisines to hundreds, Tommy thinks it’s questionable.  

After that, everyone went their separate ways. The first one to leave the table was Wilbur, who seemed real eager to distance away from the group and hurried outside the cafeteria. Techno left not too long to study in the library for the time being. Tommy heard Phil talk to the other two adults about the beanie’s behavior about rebelliousness and teen angst, but tuned it out when Tubbo peels out more about his acquaintance from earlier.

“So, there’s this guy that I had left you alone to take a little chat. He has been my dad’s associate from his work, for like, four years ago. He was an intern at the time, working for the night shifts as his part-time job since he was struggling about paying his tuition fees. He’s a real good man when I met him. A little cocky like you.”

“Now hey-“

“But that’s besides the point, of course,” Tubbo laughed, shaking his hands in the haste of alleviating Tommy’s temper. 

Instead, he just raised a brow. “I was actually gonna say you’re absolutely right. I’m cocky as hell and I’m proud of it.” 

They made a momentary pause, staring at each other without breaking out of character, before bursting out of laughter. It’s nice to just lay back and talk to someone he could trust. He and Tubbo were too restless to even brag about their accomplishments in their tasks at their previous shelter. Not to mention the amount of people undermining children as liabilities in their groups makes it worse. 

Tubbo dwindled down his laughter, enabling himself to continue his story. “Anyways, his name is Jschlatt. He was a good employee in my dad’s business and also helps me to trick the people on the staff for free food. He’s great at making deals out of them! Just like you wanted to be, right?” 

“Of course I fucking do!” Tommy huffed out a laugh. “Like I said to the beanie man, I’m gonna be a great businessman, he won’t stand a chance against the Law, Big T. I can promise him that.” 

“I bet you can learn a thing or two with him, y’know? He’ll be a great mentor to help you start running a business since he’s been into one.” 

Tommy hummed in contemplation, considering his choices. “I mean, as long as he’s not a bad man, he’s qualified to teach me some good shit.”

“Oh trust me, you two might even be better friends than I could do with him,” Tubbo cheekily winked, which earned with a couple of giggling teenagers, finally feeling the joy and safety radiating from his friend.

It felt good to be a kid again. 

Tubbo had bid off goodnight to Tommy and others when they planned to go to their respective room. He requested to Bad that he would like to go for a short stroll on the mansion, seeing it’s already safe and secluded from wandering creatures and noises due to the majority of people asleep at this hour. He can still remember the way he and Tommy immediately plugged their chargers and phones before Skeppy and Bad would get a chance, though it was really minimal since they didn’t mind having theirs on the dead battery. He can remember Tommy fell asleep during his whispering to Tubbo about the secret, leaving him to where he wants to be right now. While it was unfortunate that Jschlatt was in another room with other people to sleep over, he doesn’t mind the distance they have, since they’ve already done that before the apocalypse happened. 

He searched upon the third floor for what Techno had said about a library. He wasn’t much for reading, especially for the disability he has. But after a year of having to survive through a wasteland, he’s reconsidering his time for stories he wasn’t able to read before. He surfed through shelves and checking their titles to see if it piques his interest. It isn’t much of a labyrinth like those big public libraries. The various books were lined up at the walls of the room, leaving a large straight space for the study tables and sleek red carpet. He thought about that one time where there was no nuclear explosion, Tommy wanted to play hide and seek in their local library. When he became a hider, he wanted to outsmart the game system as he tried climbing up the bookshelves yet failed by tripping one of the books and falling alongside the said shelf. He didn’t know how the caretakers of Tommy’s orphanage had paid for property damage due to the fact it wasn’t just one piece of furniture that was damaged. It fell like dominoes stacked in a line. He and Tubbo were temporarily banned from the place and had Tommy grounded for a week from going outside. 

That train of thought stopped when a loud rude burp echoed not afar. There, sitting lazily on a chair, was the intern Jschlatt, holding a clover-colored bottle that was half empty. He looked so zoned out, eyes unsteadily blinking from the baggy-eyed gaze and breathing leisurely.

“Schlatt,” Tubbo nonetheless called for his attention, in which the said man returned with little consciousness. 

“Whu-huh? Wh-Who’s-- Who’re you?” The drunkard slurred, eyes trying to still onto the source of the voice. Tubbo waited for the confusion to drizzle away momentarily as the man formed an ‘oh’ on his mouth in recognition. Afterwards, he smiled idly at the boy. “Tubbo! What’re you doin’ here?”  

“Oh, uh, I’m just going to get some books to entertain myself,” Tubbo sheepishly said and waved back at the greeting. 

Schlatt grunted in slight disdain, “Ain’t you too old for books?”

“No one’s too old to read books though,” Tubbo bit back a chuckle, knowing well of how drunk the man is. After settling the realization that books are for all ages, Tubbo came up with what was on his mind when he spotted him here. “Mr. Schlatt, I thought you stopped drinking.” 

The older man instantly soured at the statement, snapping at him, “No dad of yours is gonna stop from doing what I want, twerp.”

“Mr. Schlatt,” Tubbo trailed, concerned etching his face as he strode forwards. “What’s wrong?” 

“Nothing’s wrong, kid. Now scram.”

“Dad helped with those problems, right? Maybe I can-“ 

“I said fuck off, Tubbo.” 

In his rational mind, Tubbo would’ve let this go, but his thoughts were running rampant right now. Asking why is Schlatt drinking again. Asking why is he being avoidant. Demanding did he ever change at all. 

So, he pressed on, “Schlatt, please, I just wanna help you.” 

It was quiet between them for a while. The man no longer spoke and Tubbo wanted to reach out, worried he’s getting back into his unhealthy ethics. He’d always know about the man’s alcoholic tendencies ever since his father discovered bottles of alcohol hidden underneath his desk. His dad tried helping him gradually even out his drinking and recommending stuff that should ease it. Schlatt eventually gave in to the likes of his offers and started to heal by the second year of his job. That was the moment they grew closer. 

Tubbo saw now the devoid of happiness that had once filled his friend. He saw the prickle of anger beneath those sleet grey eyes from the mention of his problem. He saw him grab his wrist to shove it away from the reaches of his shoulder. He glared hard at Tubbo, tightening his grip. “Don’t tell me you give a fuck, alright?” His voice was low and dangerous, then pushing the wrist away from him made Tubbo stumble backward. “And don’t tell me what to do about my drinking.” 

Tubbo stared at him with an unreadable expression, and Schlatt couldn’t bother to care when he took another gulp of the liquid. 

He felt immensely deflated tonight, and decided he just wants to sleep instead. 

Schlatt did not change at all. 

He wondered if he wanted Tommy to stay away from him in the meantime. 

Chapter Text

The next morning was nothing but a new ordinary day for the survivors now residing in the Pride de Isle. Tommy follows the others for breakfast and naturally gets to have a squabble with Wilbur throughout (and somehow phone numbers were exchanged). Bad and Phil are getting more friendly by the day, while Skeppy and Techno occasionally share along with their pranking antics. Tubbo, however, seemed distracted, but knew to hide it well under the guises of his adorable attitude. Tommy wasn’t affected by it by any means. He has been friends with him since birth after all. When he tried confronting him about it, the smaller brunette simply waved him off with a smile, “It’s nothing, big man. Just decided that maybe you shouldn’t go talking to Schlatt right now. He said he was going through something. Don’t do anything stupid with him, alright?”

Tommy quieted before moving his head to a nod, sympathetically knowing well that the guy and his best friend seemed to be friends once. He wouldn’t pry further into it. It’s not even his right to interfere. Unless it was some stranger bullying his buddy, that, he could care even less of interfering.

Afterward, they all had free time for exploring the whole island, and Tommy spent all those hours on a playground by the west wing because he missed it, even though he was too old for such activity. It was more embarrassing to the addition of other children younger than him, though they didn’t seem to complain about his tall presence.

It was that day a new event was announced. As they listened to Valindra from the speakers, the rest of the other refugees outside the sanatorium were being led by several nurses for them to also commune for the event. All of them started gathering on the second floor for the said ‘initiation event’. Tommy felt kind of squished from the overbearing crowd, annoyed that Valindra had to call for all hundred people in an area where it’s most likely to be cramped for such a large number. 

He snuck a glance at Tubbo and noticed his discomfort at being too short and overwhelmed by the adults surrounding them both. Sighing, his hand clasped the other boy’s and curled to ensure there will be no separation. It was supposed to be himself that was scared of such small spaces, but he had to be strong for Tubbo. Tommy perceived that he was going through a lot this day and he doesn't want to ruin his mood further with his whining. Bad and Skeppy came up behind them and had their hands squeezing on their shoulders for reassurance that they’re here alongside, together. Tubbo returned him and the adults a relaxed posture and a grateful smile, which Tommy considered worth taking away his shred of dignity (or probably just his plain old ego). 

“Do you know what’s going on? You’ve talked to Valindra before,” Tubbo distractedly asks, his eyes weren’t pointing at him nor their guardians. 

Tommy shrugged, gazing amongst the people around, questioning what is happening. “No idea, Tubs. Never told me about this shit.” 

All of them were ordered to form the line-up to a circle, and the four of them managed to be behind the inner-most part of their shape, which in front of them was nothing but a circular space. If anything, Tommy would guess they’re all formed to be a large donut.

Eventually, they all received the answer. 

“Ladies and gentlemen!” voiced Valindra, stepping fashionably towards the middle of the audience. She widely spread her arms out to them as she spoke out loudly, “Welcome to your first Holy shipment! Wherein we could drink the waters of our Holy Savior and feast on it as it will help you regain your hunger and thirst for weeks on end. These are very special and could potentially remedy anything. So, please, wait for the shipment to arrive as these jars of water are limited. Some of you can leave should you not participate drinking for this due to the shortage of the Holy Water.”

With that speech aside, the royal-like woman stayed inside the circle of people who are eager to wait for the package, gradually chatting nonsense. Tommy looked up at Bad, searching for a response. The said guardian’s face was skeptic and disapproval, which in turn seemed to telepathically lend to Skeppy as they exchanged nods of agreement and moved him and Tubbo out of the nearby center of attention. 

“We’re not gonna get one?” Tubbo curiously peered at Skeppy. 

The raven-haired man shook his head nonchalantly, a lethargic yet fond smile lifted his cheeks. “Nope, seems kinda sus.” Tommy twitches up his lips from the nickname. Skeppy had been so tired of calling ‘suspicious’ as a whole that he decided it would be much fitting for it to be a three-letter word. While it sounds stupid, they didn’t complain. 

“I agree,” Bad added. “There’s no way we are accepting the jars. As much as Ms. Valindra is kind enough to provide us shelter and food, I can’t trust her too much for me to take their Holy Water. Alright, boys? I want you to remember to be always cautious.” 

Both kids acquiesced in his advice, trusting him with every word. 

For a week, rumors began to spread about some mysterious sickness that came out of the blue. Now, Tommy expected that to be mild and a small nuance to be taken care of since they live in a sanatorium where nurses treat these kinds of situations. He sees a lot of those patients being reeled to the west side, where there was a registrar’s office and a recovery room for their stay-in. Despite that, he couldn’t bother to care. The idiots who caught such personal problem on their own ain’t Tommy’s problem.

That was until Bad got infected by the sickness. 

“So when can we see him?” Tommy fumed at the nurse blocking his way through the infirmary’s lobby, anxiously tapping the one front sole of his shoe on the dirty velvet carpet. 

He could already sense Tubbo’s vexation from his stubbornness. “Tommy…” 

“No, really, Tubbo. This nurse hasn’t mentioned jack-shit details about his sickness. So why can’t you tell us?”

It’s been a couple of days since Bad’s sickness came rolling in. Skeppy has been adamant about them two needing to keep a distance away from him to prevent the spread, but Tommy couldn’t help it. He hasn’t seen Bad in days, and Skeppy’s downtrodden mood wasn’t helping him lift his spirits. He tried playing games on his phone, but he felt distracted. He tried igniting Wilbur’s annoyance, but the said man also seemed distracted and rather hung out with the people his age. For most of the time, Tubbo was the only one available to chat with him normally, though he knew he was as easily agitated for Bad. 

Right now, it was when Tommy’s thought process snapped and focused on getting to the infirmary.

The nurse just looked down at Tommy with pity, which fueled his anger even more. “I’m sorry- Tommy, was it?” 

“Yes,” He bit.

“Mr. Darryl is currently under examination right now, unfortunately. His condition was getting worse and I don’t think it is safe to-”

“I thought you know how to cure this?!” Tommy wildly flailed his arms in a frantic gesture.

“Is he gonna be okay?” Tubbo meekly questioned, chocolate eyes seemed to stretch far away from its focus.

The woman breathed out a soft exasperated exhale, barely gave out air due to the face mask strapped on her mouth. “I promise you, we are doing everything we can to attenuate the sickness. But for now, please be patient that we are doing what’s best for both of you two and your other adult guardian Mr. Zak. Children like you two are explicitly, under no circumstances, allowed inside while there is an infection.” 

“B-But what about what kind of sickness he-“

“Excuse me, sister Millie!” All was lost when another staff member politely interrupted their conversation, reminding her about some records for the patients’ cases. The nurse bid the boys a quiet farewell and walked out alongside the staff. Tommy and Tubbo deflated from the fleeting chance of seeing their guardian.

“Tommy,” Tubbo called, hinting at his resignation. “Come on, there’s gotta be a way to pass the time. Wanna go outside?”

Tommy kept his glazed eyes at the busy workers inside the register’s office, indecipherable clinical words were exchanging around the room. He wonders where would’ve Bad been sent into and how he is faring now. But he couldn’t know for sure at all, not after this.

“Tommy?” 

“Alright,” The boy in question huffed, swiftly turning away from the doorway. “I’m gonna go for some peace and quiet. You go outside and do whatever. I wanna be alone.” 

He didn’t wait for Tubbo’s reply and stormed upstairs, the frustration bubbling in his throat, waiting to be ripped out to form angry shouts. He didn’t want for Tubbo to be at the end of that fuse, and he certainly wished Wilbur wouldn’t be where he could vent too. 

Libraries aren’t particularly a safe place for him, but it serves as a time where he could relax without anyone talking loudly all the time, even though he’s like that himself. If he’s lucky, maybe lesser people would be on the third floor and he could have the whole room to himself to calm his nerves with. Or maybe he could throw books off the shelves as a replacement in refraining from the use of his voice. Anything to alleviate his worry for Bad would be better, than having to walk on eggshells every time he meets a nurse or encounter another patient.  

Tommy felt something bump on the side of his shoulder, and that was why he tuned out his jumbled thoughts aside and faced the perpetrator who stumbled upon him.

“Oh, it’s you,” muttered Tommy, his posture relaxing a little from the familiar figure of pink-braided hair. Techno met his stone-faced expression and he airily returned it.  

“Got no place to be than reading. There’s almost nothing here to entertain me so here I am.” 

“You’re a nerd.” 

“Hm, eh. You got nothing to live for than boring insults, loser?” 

The supposed humor in it didn’t sit well as the man expected him to react with. 

Of course, I have someone to live for and he might be dying as we speak-  “No, but you might as well have known that, do you, loser ?” He countered in an obvious venomous tone. 

He didn’t mean to be too harsh on the guy. He reasoned it with having an uncontrollable temper all the time, but that seemed really inexcusable to sympathize. 

So, he sighed and quietly apologized, “Sorry, kind of in the middle of something here.” Tommy was glad Techno didn’t say anything more, and rather hummed in acknowledgment and continued reading on a book he was holding all along. Tommy stepped aside for the man to walk to his destination. It was then registered his visual of his recent position that he’s in the library, well at least one of the libraries in this mansion.

Tommy surfed through the porcelain greek-styled shelves and tried finding a title of his interest. He knows some of the subjects from his local library, but didn’t gain his attention that much. He didn’t particularly like reading, especially since he doesn’t study as much as Tubbo does. Although, if he was to blend in the crowd, he might as well pick randomly and get on with it.

When he did, he padded firm footsteps across the study table where Techno only resided and his tons of stacked books. He glanced at the other tables and found few young adults and old ladies roaming around the rest of the study tables. Silently angry at himself for the only choice he has, he sat on the far end of the table, happy that it was several chairs away from Techno.

For the first few paragraphs of the first chapter, Tommy slowly became disinterested with it. He couldn’t fathom how people were able to read these kinds of literature in a few days, or how Tubbo got to finish his favorite medium-sized book in one sitting. The letters are so small and words that aren’t supposed to be needed yet involved in it just to show sophistication (Or maybe he’s not familiar with expanding his vocabulary).

Irritated, he looked up to Techno, who seemed much more engaged than he is within the fact he flips a page after a minute or two. “How are you able to finish that fast?”

Techno had the audacity to snort and kept an impassive face. “Well, if you were used to studying, you would know.”

“Pfft, studying is for nerds.”

“Is that why you got F in English?” The man finally tilted his head to him, with the same smug look Wilbur gives him every time he counters his argument. Tommy finds these brothers both a pain in the ass, knowing how similar they are from their comebacks. Besides, how the hell did he know he has low grades in English? 

“How would you know?”

“I can tell that you didn’t even get to the second page of your book and you’re already complaining.”

“So, you were watching me.”

Techno plopped the open book on the tabletop and raised both his hands at him. “Ehh yup, you got me. I got bored.”

Tommy huffed in slight satisfaction, “Why? Something that engrosses you?”

“No, I thought you’re not that kind of kid who goes into a library to study at all. Which, I’m right, considering you don’t like to read.” He put his arms down rested them on the book, rose-dyed eyes clashed with blue. “So, what’s up with you?”

“Nothing,” Tommy quickly answers,  his fingers were white, ready to rip the book in half if possible. His own gaze now fixated furiously on Techno’s, daring for another question that will tip off his temper. He wants to challenge him. Wants to fight one-on-one. Wants anything to stomach his vexation against the nurse who shut down the idea of him visiting Bad. 

Instead, Techno didn’t reciprocate the same feeling. “Okay,” He shrugged as if it was nothing and his focus went back on reading.  

It left Tommy fumbled, speechless. He didn’t know how to react in a situation where one didn’t fight back his words. He knows Techno is the introverted type, yes, but he thought he could get a rise out of him. Like his brother.

Thus, the boy settled back on the book, face churned in the indignation of the abrupt defeat and lack of sustenance to satiate his anger issues. He wasn’t reading the words, though. He tried skimming pages, but his thoughts were too far away to comprehend the story. He plans on breaking curfew tonight and probably hide in this library until everyone is asleep. Then, when the coast is clear, he could finally check Bad and see his worsened condition.

Or maybe he just wishes to say goodbye before it’s too late-

“Kid, stop it. You’re sulking and making angry noises it’s really bothering,” Techno spoke, which in turn made Tommy flinch slightly from the sudden voice.

“You done? Or do you wanna vent?” Techno asks, now softening his features while still being dispassionate. Tommy instinctively squirmed under the young man’s analytical stare. He’s familiar with Bad doing it to him because he’s an empath and nice, but uncomfortable when others started noticing his vulnerability.

As expected of his attitude, Tommy declined the chance to rant. “None of your business.”

“Just saying,” He muttered, but surprisingly left him alone to his reading.

He doesn’t trust him. He doesn’t expect him to ask more of it. Hell, none of these people who are new would be trustworthy. At least in his own eyes. He had seen the horrors of what could one trust another. And to Tommy’s experience, it wasn’t a pleasant ending. Timedeo’s death was still fresh on his mind. 

But Techno didn’t probe into it more. He left him alone and even scooted himself further away for some kind of courteous privacy. They both lapsed into a comfortable silence, which felt straining and confusing to Tommy of how he felt too easy on the man. 

Was it because he was Wilbur’s brother? Just the serene and calm aura he emanates? An understanding? 

It didn’t take long for a couple of people to leave the library until Tommy couldn’t handle the provoking tension and blurted it without a care, “Bad is sick.”

“Ah, and you’re worried.” It wasn’t a question, but Tommy answered anyways. 

“Yes, and don’t you dare pity me or Bad. I only said this to vent.” 

“Understandable.”

A prolonged silence later, Techno sighs. “Say, do you want to know more about treating sickness and diseases?” 

That gained a quirk of a brow, yet his piqued interest from his face betrayed his impassiveness. “What for?” 

“For you, duh." The young man turned to him, folding his book to a close. "Thought you might need it for your father in there.”

Tommy bit his tongue from the nickname he called Bad, scowling. “He’s not my dad.”

“Well, okay, if you say so.” The soft scoff of disbelief earned a glare from those blue crystalline eyes. “What will it be? I was not in med school but I know some books that can help you. Heck, I maybe even know basics if you want me to teach it for you.”

He contemplated, then closed the forgettable book and determinedly nodded towards Techno. “Show me, princess bubblegum."

All he gave was an amused snort before he’s on his feet, already turning to the thousands of books of their choice.

“Wilbur, what did we talk about having drugs in the household?” Phil lifted up a couple of zip lock bags to show his son from the other side of the bed.

The younger man groaned, peeling his focus away from his phone. “It’s the fucking apocalypse, Dad. I’m pretty sure laws don’t work anymore. And this ain’t our house.”

“I’m as much as a law enforcer you can get, young man,” Phil firmly reprimands, stuffing them to his pocket for later disposal. “And since we’re gonna stay here for an unknown amount of time, might as well make it homey, y’know?”

Wilbur scoffed, “Sure.” 

“Wilbur,” Phil warned, narrowing his gaze, which gained a begrudging grunt of acceptance from his son. 

Phil scoured more of their supplies. He made sure to place them in the right order of pockets and storage in each of their bags. The three of them have each complete survival kits so it wouldn’t much of a problem for him to get additions, since the two of his sons are fully capable of rationing their needs. Unfortunately, sorting the mess of their bags is a hassle, particularly for Wilbur’s. He seems to get in danger a lot, and running relentlessly out of it can ruin the order of their materials.  

“You should be more responsible for your stuff, Wil. It looked like a hurricane just stormed all over it,” Phil commented, frowning at the dissaray.

“Oh, now you’re judging my bag? I’m not a kid, dad.”

“And yet you’re acting like one.” 

The brunette is ticked off, Phil knows it, seeing the white knuckles curling onto his own phone. “Then don’t tell me what to do like a kid would follow!” 

Phil’s frown even deepened further and crossed his arms to show his displeasure and disappointment. “Son, you know what happened that time you had to struggle finding the right stuff to gain us time to escape-” 

“It was disastrous, I know,” Wilbur curtly cut him off. 

The father sighs, the exasperation inching closer, “You know I care about you and your brother’s safety, right?”

“Oh yeah?” The brunette laughed sardonically. He quickly shifted to stand up from bed and stomped towards his father with the face of repressed ferocity, probably itching to punch him right there. “Maybe mind your own business next time, huh? Christ, Dad, I’m fucking nineteen! I can make all the choices I want. Don’t baby me. And surely don’t tell me what to do!”

That got a hit through Phil’s last patient nerve. He closed his eyes and breathed slowly, frustrated and angry at the unsolvable problem that is Wilbur. He had been trying his best to be a good father throughout the years without his wife’s side. He had been managing financial issues and rentals to pay for his shelter. He had been working hard to get the sustenance they even needed. It was hard being a parent and especially harder with being a single one trying to thrive with it. 

Wilbur, his talented son, has always been a good and disciplined one ever since he got into their family’s lives. He’s gifted in music and writing and has a timid personality when it comes to social interactions. 

He didn’t know where it all went downhill. Maybe it was because of their mother’s death. But he was doing his best to be a better single father.

Wasn’t he?

“I am still your father, Wilbur,” Phil started, unnervingly calm and collected. “And taking care of you and Techno’s safety and health are my number one priorities right now, especially in a world we live in.”

“Well that worked so dandy now, didn’t it?” Wilbur scoffed, bitterness seeping into his tone.

“I don’t get you, Wil.”

“Exactly.”

With one last tense staredown, the younger man shuffled away from the bed and left the room, leaving the phone on the mattress and the older man standing still from where they were arguing.

Servum Meum straightened his black Windsor necktie to show his neatness and formality, something that is needed for the staff to give to their newfound refugees. He brushed his caramel hair to the side of his preference, wore his shades, and strapped his makeshift face mask.

He checked himself upon the body-sized mirror and had presented a tall lanky yet fancy gentleman with a few accessories on his face. He wanted nothing more than to hide in this room forever, but unfortunately, his Majesty will not be pleased by that wish at all. Not that he liked following her orders, but it was an obligation and it is his job. 

“You can do this,” He said to himself, staring firmly at his reflection. 

The servant took in strides just like his Majesty when he pushed open the mahogany door out of his room, methodically walking out of the west wing. There he views a lot of people scattered across the large lobby of the Sanatorium. Children running around to play tag, nurses scrambling in each doorway, and a couple of them writing records in the main reception desk. Servum Meum ventured into the area for anyone to willingly ask for his assistance. His Majesty tasked him with making sure the services of their place are top-tier and he was the best servant to ever provide the right standards of her expectations. It was rewarding to be promoted as such, but at some point boring like it’s a chore to be done with. Exhausting because few people even wanted his help or just wanted to use him as a punching bag for venting. His Majesty did say to be as serviceable as possible.   

He stalked for the higher floors and only a couple or three only hollered up to him but other than that, they’re faring fine. Hence, he stumbled upon outside the mansion for the people living in the village. With new numerous guests, it might be good enough to start their own crops for a living and a society to remake of their own. For how they’ve survived, he was sure those people will know how to thrive. 

His walk towards the path of Pride de Isle village halted when he glimpsed on the side a small teenager near the pond. His back was facing him, verily still and his body rising and contracting slightly from the breathing. Servum Meum frowned, tempting to leave the people in the village for a while and warn the boy from ever going near that body of water.

In which, he did.

“Hey, excuse me, sir?” Servum Meum’s courteous voice startled the boy, swiveling his chocolate brown eyes on him with surprise.

Servum Meum continued, “It wouldn’t be wise to sit beside that pond, sir. It’s not safe.”

The brunette abruptly stood up from sitting on the dirty patch of grass, frantically brushing off specks of dirt left on his pants. “Oh, I’m sorry.” 

Servum Meum graced him with a formal nod, knowing too well that he has a mask and cannot express any more visible feature to show it was alright. “I am glad I could be of help.” 

Satisfied at the conversation, he was about to leave the teen until he asked him, “Wait, can you tell me why it’s not okay to be close on this thing?” The boy gestured to the said pond. “Is it cursed or something?"

He seemed to say it off as a joke, and it kind of amused the taller brunette out of his naivety. “Of the sorts, yes, it is cursed.” 

For a moment, he thought he responded with the wrong answer. That he might have screwed up the whole façade and the boy might be intimidated by the truth, even worse, leave the place due to the unintentional threat. People would believe anything nowadays, with how a variety of weird creatures roaming around the world than just hordes of zombies. It’s even a far-fetched idea that curses are a thing. 

He feared going to the solitary confinement again, from the mistake he made. 

But then the boy blew out a disbelieving laugh, eyes lit up in curiosity. “You’re not kidding, right?” 

The teenager servant paused. “I’m afraid not.”

“Wow… so what’s the curse?” He chirped. “ Was it ghosts haunting this puddle? Aliens? Spirits from the purgatories?” 

The taller boy was now the one who’s startled at the questions fired at him, confusion etched across his face despite it will be futile for the boy to decipher. He had never gotten anyone as far as this kid to be morbidly interested in these kinds of stuff. They’d always tell him that they’re not too keen on ever getting close to researching what the creatures and curses are considering the circumstance. No researcher has gone to their place yet besides the ones who had before the nuke happened. It is a nice change of scenery for someone to like knowing more about it.

“Well,” He starts. “ It’s where the bodies of the dead patients and staff had been thrown out because they don't have any member of the family or associate existing to be able to bury them. It was kept secret due to the probable lawsuits the sanatorium may receive."

He waited for a minute to let the boy, who had his mouth agape the whole time with wonder and a little bit of horror, process the story. 

Until he bursts out a jovial laughter. “Wow, that is dark! Do you know more about this place?! Any dark secrets you wanna share?” The boy challenged, teasing him to urge on.

Half of him wanted to stop this madness, avoid revealing the bits of sorrowful truths to the boy and avoid punishment from his superior. He was probably treading on thin ice here, and his death feels like it’s looming ahead of him. 

Although, within the boy’s childish and mischievous glint; looking at him with friendly interest and the anticipation of somewhat like a puppy begging for food, half of him surrendered to the unfamiliar yet welcoming sense of warmth. For the longest time, he felt something different than guilt, anger, dejection, and sadness. 

“Yeah, actually, but let’s keep this in a more discreet area.” 

The boy gleefully nodded and held out a hand. “The name’s Toby! My friend calls me Tubbo, so you could call me that instead.” 

A flutter of something unknown seeped into his core, and he reciprocated it with a fond smile, even though he couldn’t see. “My name is Servum Meum, but you could call me Servum.” 

For once, he didn’t feel like his job was a chore.