Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

There was something terrifying about living a lie.

“You know what you need to do.”

Dream’s voice was sweet, almost like a melody. Another person might’ve found it kind, might’ve even found it beautiful.

Tommy wished he could hear the beauty in it. It would make what came next so much easier.

As it was, Tommy was sprawled against the stone floor, breathing heavily. Dream had once again beaten him in combat, and Tommy could already feel the fresh throbbing of aches and bruises. Dream’s foot was resting between Tommy’s shoulder blades, but Tommy didn’t dare make any sound of pain.

He knew what he needed to do.

“I do,” Tommy whispered. His words were not sweet, not melodic. They were harsh and gasping, and Tommy wanted to curl away at the sound of them.

“Then tell me,” Dream whispered. He shifted his foot on Tommy’s back, and small gasp escaped Tommy. Dream mercifully did not say anything as he brought his other leg down on one knee and leaned close to the ground, next to Tommy’s ear. “Tell me what you need to do.”

Tommy shut his eyes. “I… I need to kill him.

The words came out as a shudder. Yes, Tommy owed Dream his life, but there was still something terrifying about admitting the deeds Tommy was willing to commit for him.

“Kill who?”

Tommy thought about warm smiles and soft lullabies.

He thought about lies and deceiving hugs.

Tommy gave his answer.

Tommy stumbled down the dirt path worn and confused. Worn, because Dream sent him on his way not long after their fight, and he hadn’t gotten any medical attention. Dream said it was because it would help Tommy gain pity from the target. Tommy didn’t argue with Dream.

Tommy was also confused, because Dream had given him no instruction on where to go. One minute, Tommy was trying not to pass out from pain. The next, Dream gave him a dagger and a strange necklace and told him to get it done.

The necklace had a simple golden chain with a lime green pendant and a strange symbol carved into it. Tommy had no idea what it was meant to mean, but there was this terrible feeling of wrongness about it. He had carefully slipped it beneath his shirt, just in case his instincts were right.

The dagger sat in Tommy’s belt. It was freshly sharpened, and Tommy brought his hand to its hilt. It was a small comfort, but also a terrible burden. Something that could protect.

Something that could kill.

The thought made Tommy want to buckle to his knees, to sit in the dirt path until starvation or some monster took him. There was hardly any civilization in sight. He doubted he would be missed.

He could just be another bug eaten by a bird. Unknown and forgotten.

Tommy didn’t think he’d mind that. Nobody could hurt him if he were dead.

Tommy shook his head and pushed the thoughts out of his mind. What was he thinking? He needed to do this, no, he wanted to do this. Tommy had been betrayed, and he was getting just revenge. For Dream. For the both of them.

It would only take a minute. Only a single minute for Wilbur Soot to die.

Three minutes, if Tommy was unlucky.

Wilbur Soot was a powerful man. Persuasive. Smart. He was the human siren, luring others with pretty tunes and honeyed words. He spun his tales carefully, always seeming sympathetic, always playing the part of the hero.

Tommy closed his eyes and tried to imagine Wilbur’s face. He’d be wearing a cocky grin as people carefully parted way for him. They’d give him looks of hushed awe as Wilbur waved and winked and hid his viper’s tongue behind his teeth.

“You’re a hero,” someone had once told him, years ago, when the sky was still blue and flowers had bloomed.

He was anything but a hero. He was a monster. He was the reason the world was ending.

The sky wasn’t blue anymore. It was a dusky orange, as though they were trapped in an endless dawn. The sun was red, bleeding out into the sky like a twisted gradient. The world still went dark when night came, but no moon or stars ever graced the heavens.

The sky was on fire, but the world was cold.

Tommy shivered, but Dream had been kind enough to loan him a cloak. It had some holes, and the material was thin and coarse, but it was better than nothing. Better than freezing to death in the wasteland that was now the world.

Tommy scowled. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair that Wilbur thought it right to destroy everything that was beautiful for the sake of power. It wasn’t fair that Wilbur thought this was all a game, thought that people’s emotions could be toyed with.

It wasn’t fair that Wilbur didn’t really care, as much as he had pretended he did. That he only enjoyed stringing people along until things got too difficult for him to handle.

The sun was slowly beginning to get closer and closer to the horizon, and Tommy felt no little amount of dread begin to set in. He didn’t want to be outside for nightfall. A dagger was a comfort, but it wouldn’t protect him from the monsters.

Tommy looked around more frantically for some sign of nearby civilization. Surely, surely, Dream wouldn’t put him out here without any immediate safety? Dream wanted Tommy to succeed, and he wouldn’t doom him from the start. Would he?

Maybe it was a test. Maybe Dream thought that if Tommy couldn’t handle a few monsters, how was he expected to manage Wilbur Soot, the one “chosen” to eradicate them?

It was a foolish test.

As soon as the thought entered his mind, Tommy shook it away. Dream wasn’t foolish. He was smart. He knew what was best for Tommy. If Dream thought Tommy needed to prove himself…

Tommy swallowed down the fear beginning to twist in his gut. Night hadn’t come yet. There was still plenty of time to find a safe haven, somewhere to collapse and tend to his already existing injuries.

It was hard to walk with any speed, much less run, with the soreness gnawing away at Tommy’s legs, but Tommy would rather feel like collapsing in the morning than dying a gruesome death. Taking a deep breath, Tommy started jogging down the path, searching for any signs that could point to some sort of town, anywhere to find shelter—

Then, as Tommy climbed a steep hill, a small town came into view. A modest stone wall likely taller than Tommy stood around it, but any town that hoped to survive these times had walls. Tommy didn’t need to worry about that. Nobody would turn away a pitiful looking teenager who had just been traveling for hours on end. No one was cruel enough to let someone die to the monsters.

Well, almost no one.

Screaming, prime, there had been much screaming.

Tommy closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He couldn’t afford to get distracted right now. Hell, he couldn’t afford to ever get distracted, but right now especially. Tommy had a job to do, a role to play, and if anyone knew what he was attempting…

No. Nobody would know. Nobody would even suspect. After all, who would kill such an amazing, loving hero?

The injustice made Tommy shudder.

The dirt path beneath Tommy’s feat slowly became a legitimate cobblestone road, and Tommy glanced wearily at the large sconces already lit aflame standing on both sides of the road. Monsters were afraid of fire, and Tommy could see many more sconces circling the wall of the town.

Two guards stood on either side of the gates wooden, which were firmly shut. Tommy didn’t let that deter him, and he marched right up to the entrance, waiting for one of the guards to let him in.

Unfortunately, things must’ve changed since Tommy had last been in the outside world, or maybe traveling with Wilbur had its benefits, because the guards did not hasten to let Tommy in as quickly as Tommy remembered.

“What’s your business here?” the guard to the left asked, already wearing a firm scowl. Tommy couldn’t imagine that they truly thought Tommy was a threat, but anything was possible.

Tommy swallowed. “I just want shelter.”

His voice was hoarse and slightly pleading, and Dream would’ve praised Tommy for his ability to put on the tragic child act.

At least, Tommy would like to pretend it was an act.

The two guards glanced at each other.

“Strange times invite strange folk,” the other guard said. “You only mean to seek shelter?”

Tommy frowned. “Do I look like I intend to do anything else?”

“You’re scrawny,” the first guard snapped. “You probably think you could get into our food stores? Stir up some chaos? Invite the monsters in?”

Tommy gaped, horrified. “People do that?”

“The end of the world invites plenty of trouble,” the first replied. They glanced up at the darkening orange sky. “Alright, kid. Come in. We’ll be watching you, though.”

Tommy nodded, feeling more than a bit shaken. He could understand how raids on the food stores could be a problem. With the strange weather and lack of proper sunlight, very few crops grew the way they were meant to, and it was harder and harder to feed towns, much less livestock. Dream had been one of the luckier ones, having a treasure trove of food for his family, although it was strictly rationed.

Tommy hardly ever saw Dream eat. Dream was kind like that. He’d rather have someone as worthless as Tommy fed than eat the food Dream himself had actually earned.

The guard to right knocked on the gate a few times, and the doors opened just wide enough for Tommy to enter. Tommy gave the guards a polite nod before slipping inside, and the gates shut behind Tommy with a deafening thump.

Tommy almost felt like a prisoner, in this strange town full of buildings and cobbled roads. Already, he was beginning to feel a bit claustrophobic at the sight of so many people returning home for the day, but he knew the streets were sparser than they might’ve been in a different time. There was too much fear, too much caution to be out and about, even when surrounded by flaming sconces and large stone walls.

Tommy stood still for a moment, trying to understand his bearings. There was a sign that looked like it might belong to an inn, but Dream hadn’t left Tommy any money. Tommy was pretty sure Dream expected him to march straight to Wilbur and do the deed, but Tommy couldn’t exactly do the deed if he was dead.

And Tommy didn’t really want to take his chances by sleeping in a dark alleyway.

Tommy might not be able to afford an inn, but he could skulk in the corners of a tavern for the night. That, or attempt to seek shelter at a temple, if anyone even had any faith in any gods anymore.

Tommy took a few hesitant steps forward, still trying to weigh his options. Night was truly starting to settle in, the flames from sconces growing brighter and brighter in contrast to the darkening sky. Up at the walls, Tommy could hear soldiers taking their positions with crossbows and ballistae, ready to shoot down any monsters that tried to approach.

“Are you lost?”

Tommy jumped, his hand flying to his dagger as he spun around to the source of the voice.

Two kids who looked to be around Tommy’s age were standing next to him, looking much less worn out than Tommy felt.

“You scared them,” the taller of the two said to the shorter one.

“Wow, where’d you get that idea,” the shorter stranger said, sarcasm dripping from their tone.

Tommy stared blankly, his heart still beating rapidly. He should probably be alert, but he could barely think past the surprise.

The taller stranger shook their head and focused their eyes back on Tommy. “Ignore him,” they said. “Tubbo’s an idiot.”

Tommy deduced that Tubbo was the shorter one, and that he was likely the one who asked the initial question that scared Tommy out of his mind.

Tommy nodded quietly. He knew he tended to be too loud, but he didn’t want these strangers to start hating him for it.

“You’re the idiot,” Tubbo muttered, but there wasn’t any of the bite to it that Dream would’ve used. “If Ranboo gets to introduce me, I’m introducing him. This is—”

“Ranboo,” Tommy interrupted before he could stop himself. He shut his mouth quickly, embarrassment coloring his cheeks. “Sorry.”

For some prime forsaken reason, Ranboo began to laugh, and Tubbo grinned.

“Guess I deserved that,” he said. “For giving it away.”

Tommy didn’t understand what was so good about Tommy interrupting these two, but he wasn’t going to push his luck by asking. Instead, he just gave them a small smile, resisting the urge to duck behind the hood of his cloak in a pathetic attempt to disappear.

Dream would be so disappointed.

“Well?” Ranboo asked. “Do you have a name, or should we just call you mystery person?”

Tommy swallowed. Right. Duh. It might’ve been years, but one would think Tommy could still maintain his ability to have basic introductions.

“I’m Tommy,” he said.

Tubbo’s eyes lit up at that for some reason. “Hello, Tommy. Now, back to my original question, because we are currently burning what little sunlight is left. Are you lost?”

Tommy almost shook his head, even though that would be a blatant lie.

Don’t show weakness.

“Um… maybe?”

Tommy cringed. That’s your idea of not showing weakness?

“You can come stay at our place, if you want,” Tubbo said, not even blinking at Tommy’s misstep. “I mean, it’s not exactly safe to be out and about at dark—”

“Even though that’s exactly what we were doing,” Ranboo interrupted.

Tubbo waved his hand unconcernedly in Ranboo’s direction. “Not the point. As I was saying, it’s not safe to be out and about at dark, so you could stay with us.”

Tommy frowned. He was beginning to believe he wasn’t the only incompetent one in this town. “I’m a stranger.”

Tubbo nodded. “Yep!”

“Why are you inviting a stranger to your house?”

“Because you’re not just any stranger… you’re a stranger in need,” Ranboo said with equal cheer.

Tommy couldn’t help but to bristle at that. Did he really look that pitiful? Admittedly, that was the entire goal, but Tommy didn’t want to be given pitying looks everywhere he went.

Although, admittedly… Ranboo and Tubbo didn’t look too pitying. They looked fairly casual, as though inviting complete strangers to houses was a completely normal thing to do.

Maybe it was. Maybe Tommy was the fool.

Tommy often was.

“You’re awfully cheerful about this,” Tommy deflected, still thinking.

“These are pretty strange times,” Tubbo said with a shrug. “Some of us have to stick together. Besides, maybe you’ll remember this moment and not kill us if it turns out you’re some shapeshifting monster trying to kill everyone.”

Tommy blinked, unimpressed, at Tubbo. “Shapeshifting monsters don’t exist.”

“A decade ago, I would’ve told you that monsters didn’t exist period,” Ranboo pointed out.

Tommy hated how that was actually a decent point. He shuddered.

“Please don’t put the idea of shapeshifting monsters in my head. I’m not a shapeshifting monster.”

“Great to hear!” Tubbo clapped his hands together. “So, are you taking our offer?”

Tommy huffed, but he could already hear shouting from the walls. Monsters were beginning to be spotted.

“Fine,” Tommy sighed. “Can’t be any more dangerous than out here.”

“That’s the spirit!” Ranboo said cheerfully.

“Don’t think this makes me trust you,” Tommy said.

“Of course not,” Tubbo agreed.

Regardless of Tommy’s reluctance, he still hurriedly followed Ranboo and Tubbo to their home. It was a smaller house near the entrance of the town, which was convenient, since it meant they didn’t have to walk too far to arrive.

They managed some conversation in the short walk, however. Tommy told Ranboo and Tubbo more about himself, not that there was much to say, and they revealed that they were fifteen years old, which was a year older than Tommy.

“Is it just the two of you?” Tommy asked as Tubbo unlocked the door and held it open.

Tubbo nodded. “Yep. Just the two of us.”

Tommy frowned. “No adults?”

“I don’t see any adults with you,” Tubbo countered.

That was technically true, although Tommy had Dream. He couldn’t imagine what it might be like to live in a home alone with only another person your age, struggling to get by.

Still, Tommy didn’t argue, and he followed Ranboo inside the house. It was a cute place. A stone fireplace sat to the side, and rickety old wooden table set for two sat in front of it. A fairly large bookshelf against the left wall only had a few leather-bound books sitting inside it, and the rest of the shelves were filled with small pieces of metal stacked up on top of each other.

Tommy knew it was rude to ask questions, so he didn’t say anything. Instead, he followed Ranboo to a small bedroom with two twin-sized beds.

That was convenient. Tommy had been sleeping on the floor for years now, so it wouldn’t be any trouble for him to do so once again.

“I can sleep on the floor,” Tommy said. “I’m the guest here.”

“Aren’t hosts meant to treat the guests?” Ranboo asked.

“You tell me.”

Tubbo appeared in the door frame, and Tommy yelped. “It’s okay,” he said. “I can take the floor. You can take my bed, Tommy.”

Tommy frowned. “No, I don’t need a bed, Tubbo. It’s fine, really.”

“No offense, but you look dead on your feet,” Tubbo said bluntly. “Take the bed.”

Tommy winced, but he couldn’t exactly argue. Now that he had found a safe place to hide away for the night, the pain from before was beginning to creep back into his whole body, and Tommy wanted nothing more than to collapse.

But… Dream wouldn’t approve if Tommy started accepting things he didn’t deserve. Tommy would get used to things like beds, and then he’d become the same spoiled brat he was when Dream first rescued him…

“Tommy?”

Tommy focused back on Ranboo, who was frowning.

“Yeah?”

“You good?” Ranboo asked. “You looked a bit spaced out there for a second.”

Tommy nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine, I just…” It was rude to refuse a host, but Tommy couldn’t sleep on a bed. “Are you sure you don’t want the bed?”

“Don’t overthink this,” Tubbo said. “Take the bed. Do you want something to eat first, though?”

Tommy shook his head. He was already sleeping on a bed; there was no way he was going to take what little food Ranboo and Tubbo had.

“It’s fine,” he said. “I… already ate.”

A lie, and Tommy was pretty sure he executed it dismally. Ranboo was narrowing his eyes at Tommy, and Tubbo frowned.

“You sure, big man?”

Tommy wasn’t sure where the nickname came from, but he was too tired to think on it. “Yep,” he said. “I’m just gonna… sleep.”

Tubbo was still frowning, but he nodded slowly. “Well… knock yourself out.” He paused. “Not literally.”

Tommy couldn’t help but to let out an undignified snort at that, and he collapsed on top of the bed, grimacing at the creaking sound the mattress made. What was he doing? If he wasn’t careful, he was going to break Tubbo’s bed.

The bed was soft, but not as soft as Tommy remembered beds used to be. Maybe Tommy just had nicer beds when he was younger. As it was, Tommy was glad the bed was firmer, because this bed alone was bizarre to sleep on.

If Tommy hadn’t already been so tired, he didn’t think he’d be able to fall asleep on it.

As it was, the exhaustion and pain was already creeping in, and sleep covered him like a fresh blanket.

Tommy could hear Ranboo and Tubbo’s voices float through the fog of his sleep.

“He’s sleeping on top of his blankets.”

“You really don’t say.”

Chapter Text

Tommy was standing in a field of flowers. The sky was a blue expanse, and white puffy clouds floated above him.

Oh, Tommy thought sadly. This is a dream.

“Tommy!”

Tommy looked down, feeling a bit like he was floating. A man was running toward him, a bright smile on his face. There was no sword on his belt, no scar across his face.

As the man got closer, his face became clearer. And Tommy smiled.

“Hello, Wilbur.”

Wilbur stopped in front of Tommy, his brown hair windswept and his cheeks red from what Tommy assumed was laughter.

“Hello! It’s been a while since I’ve seen you,” Wilbur said. “What have you been up to lately?”

Tommy shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Oh, nothing much.” He glanced up at the clouds. One of them was shaped like a rabbit. “Missing you, I suppose.”

Wilbur flicked Tommy’s shoulder, jostling Tommy’s other wounds, and Tommy flinched.

Wilbur’s smile faded. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Tommy looked away, staring firmly at the green grass.

“It’s not nothing,” Wilbur said. His voice was quieter than it was before. “What’s going on?”

Tommy grinned. “Nothing’s going on, Wilbur. I’m fine.”

Wilbur didn’t look convinced, and the breeze picked up, ruffling Wilbur’s hair. “You know you can trust me, right?”

Tommy exhaled. “Can I really?”

“Of course, you can.” Wilbur’s voice cracked. “Prime, Toms, I’ve missed you so much. I just… I want to make sure you’re safe.”

“I’m safe,” Tommy snapped. “Safer than I ever was with you.”’

Wilbur stumbled backwards, and guilt flooded Tommy. Tommy didn’t want to leave it like this. He was seeing Wilbur for quite possibly the last time, and he was going to waste it yelling at him?

“No, Wilbur, I’m sorry. Please, don’t leave.”

Wilbur was frozen in place, not even looking at Tommy. Tommy frowned, reaching for Wilbur’s hand.

“Wilbur—”

Wilbur tugged his wrist away from Tommy’s reaching hand, and Tommy realized that Wilbur wasn’t Wilbur anymore. Instead, Dream towered above him, and the sky was back to its orange hue.

“You had one job, Tommy,” Dream whispered. He grabbed Tommy by the jaw, and Tommy stayed frozen in place. “Is one job really that hard for you?”

“No, please, I’ll be good,” Tommy gasped. “I’ll be good, I’ll be good, please, please—”

“If you can’t kill Soot, maybe there’s someone else who can.” Dream’s mouth twisted into a grin. “Someone more loyal.”

Dread filled Tommy as Dream wrapped his hands around Tommy’s throat. “No, please!”

And then Tubbo appeared out of nowhere. “Tommy, wake up!”

Dream dropped Tommy, and Tommy was falling, falling—

Tommy landed on the cold floor with a painful thump and the sound of creaking floorboards, and he lay there for a moment, gasping for breath. He grappled with his throat, still feeling Dream’s phantom hands around his neck, but nothing was there. Nothing but his own choking fear.

“Tommy, you’re safe!” Tubbo exclaimed, his voice more panicked than Tommy had ever heard it. Admittedly, Tommy had just met Tubbo the night before, but still. “Take deep breaths.”

Tommy ignored Tubbo, still inhaling frantically. Tears were gathering at the corners of his vision as he thought about the dream he had before. It was an utterly fanciful, foolish, lie, and Tommy hated himself for crying over it. Dream was right to intercede, even if he hadn’t really entered Tommy’s dreams. Dream was right to stop Tommy from pining after Wilbur like a loyal dog.

Someone grabbed Tommy’s shoulder, and Tommy flinched, a guttural cry escaping his chest. Dream would be so horribly ashamed right now, but Tommy couldn’t do anything but curl up on himself as he shook.

Something heavy rested on top of Tommy, but Tommy didn’t know what it was, too focused on his own desperate panic welling up inside of him.

Tommy didn’t know how long he lay there, shuddering and unable to breathe. Eventually, he could begin hear Ranboo’s voice, and he calmed slightly as he listened.

“—went to the bakery the other day and you know what the girl there said to me? She said that they don’t sell baked goods at the bakery anymore and they hadn’t been doing it for years. Well, I told her I really wanted a muffin, because I hadn’t had one in ages, and she again told me she couldn’t make me a muffin, and we both cried over the muffins, because muffins are delicious, and then—”

“What are you talking about?” Tommy muttered.

“Muffins, weren’t you listening?”

Tommy didn’t say anything, still struggling with his breathing. Tubbo wasn’t in the room anymore, but Tommy had recovered enough of his senses to realize that the heavy weight on top of him was a pile of blankets.

“Why’d you put blankets on me?” Tommy grumbled, slowly sitting up.

Ranboo raised an eyebrow. “I don’t know if you noticed, but you weren’t doing too well when you woke up.”

“I had no idea,” Tommy said sarcastically. He was not reluctant when he pulled the blankets off of himself and chucked them at Ranboo. “I don’t see how blankets are meant to help.”

“We panicked,” Ranboo admitted. “But blankets are very helpful objects. Very comforting.”

“They’re heavy and warm,” Tommy countered.

“And it’s always cold outside.”

Ranboo had a point there. Tommy didn’t pursue the subject. Ranboo had only been trying to help. There was no point in being ungrateful.

“Where’s Tubbo?” Tommy asked. He couldn’t hear any movement from the other room, not that it meant much.

“He’s getting the daily ration.” Ranboo shrugged. “Probably going to be potatoes or leeks. Maybe some flour if we’re lucky.”

Tommy nodded. Miraculously, some foods managed to grow in this eternal cold, and… more magical means provided a rare supply of crops such as wheat. It was good to know that some towns had mayors willing to share the rare crops instead of keeping it all to themselves.

Tommy had seen other towns. Towns where the lords grew fat on bread while their people starved. It wasn’t as surprising as it should’ve been.

“You’re not going with him?” Tommy asked. Last Tommy recalled, the ration was only enough for one person, so whole families had to go up to those long winding lines in the morning.

“Well, someone had to stay with you.” Ranboo shrugged.

Tommy stood up quickly. “You can’t miss your ration,” he said, his voice a bit panicked. “You’re not going to be able to split one ration just the two of you, and for the entire day—”

Ranboo jumped to his feet, shaking his head. “Don’t worry, don’t worry! We know how to make things last. Besides, we have our own little radish garden in the side yard and some other food stored up in the pantry. I won’t starve for missing one ration.”

Tommy felt his heartrate slow a bit at that, and he nodded. “Oh. Good.”

“And we’re splitting food between the three of us,” Ranboo said sternly.

Tommy shook his head. “Don’t be foolish,” he snapped. “I’ll find my own food. Besides, I’ll be out of your hair soon enough—”

“Where?”

Tommy blinked. “Sorry?”

Ranboo grimaced. “Sorry. Maybe that was too direct. I just… where are you going?”

Tommy bit his lip. What should he do? He couldn’t just tell Ranboo that he wanted to kill Wilbur. Any kindness that Ranboo might have toward Tommy would disappear in an instant upon hearing that, even if killing Wilbur was the only way to fix this entire mess.

Dream had told Tommy that the best way to lie was to tell half-truths. To deceive, rather than to lie plainly.

“I’m… I’m trying to find Soot,” Tommy admitted.

Ranboo frowned, and anxiety filled Tommy’s throat. Did Tommy say too much? Could Ranboo see right through him?

“You’re… you’re trying to find the Soot?” Ranboo asked. “Slayer of monsters and restorer of the land? That Soot?”

Tommy nodded, clenching his fists.

“And you… do you even know where he is?”

Tommy looked up miserably, and he spotted a spider making a web in the rafters. “Um… no.”

Ranboo was still frowning. “What do you even need him for anyway?”

Tommy bit back a groan. “I don’t understand. How does this effect you in any way?”

“I’m worried, Tommy,” Ranboo said. “You look like you came out of twenty monster fights, you have a panic attack on our bedroom floor, and now you’re trying to find Soot for whatever reason.”

“Loads of people want to find him,” Tommy muttered bitterly. “Soot, save my land. Soot, my brother is dying—”

“And why do you want to find him, Tommy?” Ranboo asked.

“That’s my business,” Tommy snapped. “What’s the big deal here?”

“The big deal is that nobody has seen him in months, and I don’t want you to end up searching for a dead man until you get killed yourself.”

A pit opened up in Tommy’s stomach. “What?”

Ranboo’s stern expression softened. “Hadn’t you heard?” he asked. “Everybody’s been talking about it nonstop.”

“Nonstop, what… that Soot has gone missing?” Tommy’s head started spinning. Dream would know if Wilbur was dead; he had a way of knowing that sort of thing. Dream would know. Besides, the world wouldn’t still be in ruin. “When? How?”

“It’s possible I’m wrong about this,” Ranboo sighed. “You know how gossipy people get during crisis. But last I heard, a few months ago, Soot went into a cave to clear away monsters that were terrorizing a village, and he hasn’t been seen since.”

“What, and you think he’s dead?” Tommy demanded.

Ranboo shrugged. “I just don’t want you to go on a wild goose chase. That’s all I’m saying.”

“It’s not wild, it’s…”

It’s what? Personal? Important? A mission that held the entire fate of the world in its hands?

Tommy wasn’t willing to say any of those things to Ranboo, so he just stood there, trying to figure out what in hell he was meant to do next. Did Dream know about this? Was there a specific location that Tommy had been meant to go to this entire time?

No, Tommy told himself. Dream liked to test Tommy, sure, but even Dream wouldn’t have hidden the location of Soot if he was easy to get to. Surely, something else was at play, but, what, Tommy couldn’t imagine.

Maybe someone else had figured out that Wilbur was the one to cause the apocalypse. Maybe someone killed Wilbur for Tommy.

But no, if that were the case, Dream could’ve killed Wilbur himself. Wilbur was strong, deathly so, and there was a reason Tommy had been chosen for this job.

Ranboo was staring seriously at Tommy. “It’s what?”

Tommy opened and closed his mouth.

“I… I can’t…”

He didn’t know what to say.

Ranboo furrowed his brows and opened his mouth, but they were interrupted by the door opening rambunctiously.

“I’m back!” Tubbo said, his voice sing-song. He grinned when he saw Tommy. “Feeling better, mate?”

“Um…”

Tommy glanced at Ranboo, who put on a tight smile. Tommy thought himself fairly good at facial expressions, and there was something in Ranboo’s eyes that screamed do not bring this up to Tubbo.

“I’m fine,” Tommy said.

Tubbo narrowed his eyes at Tommy and Ranboo. “Are you keeping secrets from me now?”

“Nope!” Ranboo said, his voice cracking.

Tubbo didn’t look very convinced. “Mhm,” he said. “You know what, I’m going to trust that there’s a good reason you’re keeping secrets, so I won’t begrudge you of it.”

Ranboo nodded quickly.

Tubbo smiled and held up his basket of food like someone coming back with the spoils of war. Like Ranboo predicted, a couple of medium sized potatoes sat inside the basket.

“Not bad,” Ranboo said, taking the basket from Tubbo. “I’ll boil these while you sell the radishes.”

“You sell your radishes?” Tommy asked, frowning. “You don’t keep them?”

Tubbo shrugged. “It’s like taxes. We’re supposed to turn in a fraction of food grown to the town hall for some gold. It helps the food stores stay filled. We don’t have to give all of it away, fortunately.”

“Oh.”

“Don’t worry, though!” Tubbo said cheerfully. “They pay us a fair amount of coin, with the rarity of proper vegetables, and it’s actually rather nice to have a somewhat stable income. Even if we don’t have much of a choice on the matter.”

“The world is ending,” Ranboo said dryly. “I think it’s fair for the mayor to want some of our food so there’s enough to go around.”

Tubbo rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, sure. Whatever you say, Boo.”

“I’m confused,” Tommy said. “Why doesn’t everyone grow their own vegetables?” Dream didn’t like questions, but Dream wasn’t there at the moment.

Tubbo frowned. “Well… a lot try. Ranboo and I got a bit lucky. Seeds are fairly hard to come by these days, but Ranboo’s mum had been maintaining a garden before the world collapsed, so… And even with seeds, it isn’t easy to keep the vegetables alive, there’s a lot of maintenance involved, but I can manage it. We’re not the only ones with decently successful gardens either, but farmers have better luck yielding good crop, seeing as they have a lot more land to work with and they can afford to have half their vegetables die and still have more to spare.”

“Also, Soot visits them,” Ranboo said absently. “He can’t waste magic on every small garden in every town.”

“We don’t talk about Soot,” Tubbo said, his eyes glinting.

“That should be a song,” Ranboo said.

Tommy wasn’t sure why Tubbo never wanted to talk about Wilbur, but he wasn’t going to push his luck with his new acquaintances and find out.

Hell, maybe Tubbo was the reason Wilbur had gone missing. It was unlikely; Wilbur could defeat enemies twice Tubbo’s size in his sleep, but anything as possible.

“Well, I should probably get going,” Tommy said. “You two are clearly busy, and I don’t want to burden you any further—”

“You’re not a burden,” Tubbo said quickly. “Hell, you’re hardly a burden at all, what would make you say that?”

“Because you want to share what little food you have with me? I stole your bed; I made a fuss this morning; I’m asking you silly questions.” Tommy listed off his points on his fingers. He had plenty more he could say, but Tubbo interrupted him.

“I think you’re being a bit harsh on yourself, don’t you?” Tubbo asked. “I mean, you clearly haven’t had the easiest go of it.”

“I’m fine,” Tommy insisted. The phrase was beginning to feel more and more like a lie. “Besides, I’m just a random person you met on the road. There’s no point in keeping me around.”

Tubbo didn’t say anything, and Ranboo coughed. “I’m gonna… go get water. Bye.”

Ranboo quietly slipped out of the house, and Tommy and Tubbo were alone. Tommy tried not to shrink away from the daunting quiet. Whenever Dream got quiet, it meant he was going to hurt Tommy, or worse. But Tubbo wasn’t moving. He didn’t even look mad.

Tommy’s ears were ringing.

“I knew someone once,” Tubbo finally said. His voice was quiet, and Tubbo looked down at his wrist where Tommy knew at least one heart was printed against his skin. “Not for a very long time, mind you. Maybe a year, at most. He was just… he was a good kid. Bleeding heart, that one.”

Tubbo looked up at Tommy, and Tommy didn’t miss the tears shining in his eyes. “He taught me that we should always help others, and be kind, because kindness is contagious, and maybe we can work together to make the world a little brighter, even while it descends further into darkness.”

A lump formed in Tommy’s throat, and Tommy glared. “So, what? I’m a charity case?”

Tubbo scowled. “You need help, man. You’re injured, and you’re very clearly scared, and you have hardly any money, or you wouldn’t have agreed to stay with strangers, and your self-esteem is so low that it’s sitting at the bottom of the ocean.”

“That’s an exaggeration,” Tommy said weakly. “Besides. We’re strangers. We hardly know each other at all. I’m not someone you can fix to make you feel better about yourselves. And you don’t know a bloody thing about me.”

Tubbo looked hurt, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he inhaled deeply before exhaling.

“You’re right,” Tubbo muttered. “I can’t force you to stay here. As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t dream of it. And you’re right. I don’t know you that well.”

Tubbo rested his hand on the table and leaned forward, his eyes glinting. “But I trust my instincts, and they tell me you’re a good person.”

Tommy swallowed. “They’re wrong—”

“And the world has damn well lost enough good people to this blighted curse,” Tubbo continued, ignoring Tommy. “I don’t want it to lose another one.”

For a moment, the only sound in the room was Tubbo’s furious breathing, and Tommy let out a breathy laugh.

“You practice inspirational speeches?”

“Only when strictly necessary,” Tubbo admitted. His expression was as hard as it was before. “Look… just consider staying until you’re healed up. It’s not safe to leave towns looking like you’re half dead.”

“I’m not half dead,” Tommy muttered, rubbing his wrist.

Tubbo’s eyes flicked to Tommy’s wrist, and Tommy hid it behind his back.

“Think about it,” Tubbo finally said.

Tommy and Tubbo stared at each other awkwardly, and Tommy felt the gears in his mind turning frantically. On one hand, Tubbo was right. Killing Wilbur aside, whatever had captured Wilbur was probably very strong. If Tommy wanted any chance of getting to Wilbur without losing his final life, he’d have to be in his best condition.

On the other hand, Dream wanted the job done as soon as possible.

“Every blighted day Soot lives is another day the world decays,” Dream had snarled once. “Every day I waste making sure you’re ready is another day you are killing the world.”

Dream had only let Tommy leave when Tommy had successfully beat Dream in a sparring match, which had taken Tommy seven years. The mere thought of Tommy’s weakness made Tommy want to cringe. Who took seven years to be able to fight one person going easy on them?

“Soot might be ready for you. I’m not taking any risks.”

Tommy tugged at his long hair tied up in a ponytail. Dream would approve of him being cautious, right? Better to be cautious and succeed than to be brash and fail.

Then again, if Tommy failed, he’d die permanently, and maybe that wasn’t so bad. Dream couldn’t punish him if he were dead.

Tommy opened his mouth, still thoroughly undecided on the matter, and Ranboo entered the house, carrying a large bucket of water.

Water was one of the few things that managed to survive the end times, which was probably why everyone hadn’t died. Less food was one thing; poison water would’ve killed them all.

But, as it was, Ranboo was pouring water into the metal pot above their fire, humming to himself.

“Hi,” Ranboo said.

“Hi,” Tubbo replied, his voice strained.

Tommy glanced between the two of them, and a decision came upon him suddenly.

“I’ll stay!” Tommy blurted out, far louder than he would’ve preferred. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Sorry. I’ll stay. For now. While I heal.”

Ranboo brightened. “Yeah?”

Tommy nodded. “Yeah. Please don’t turn out to be terrible people luring in an innocent child.”

“That would be rough,” Tubbo said. “But don’t worry. We’re too poor to get away with something like that.”

“That implies you would if you could.”

“We wouldn’t,” Ranboo said quickly. “Don’t scare him, Tubbo. He only just agreed to stay.”

Tubbo sighed. “Fine, fine. No, we wouldn’t.”

“I regret everything.”

Chapter Text

Living with Tubbo and Ranboo wasn’t too bad.

They were incredibly patient. Too patient, in Tommy’s opinion. They didn’t get upset when Tommy got too loud, or when Tommy didn’t hear what they said immediately, or when Tommy woke up from yet another nightmare and screamed at the top of his lungs.

They traded off between the beds and the floor, although the person on the floor got an extra blanket to pad the creaky floor boards. Tommy disapproved; he could sleep on any floor without any blankets. But Tommy wasn’t going to deny that the blankets felt nice, and he did like sleeping in the bed, once he got more used to it.

His injuries were slow to heal. Dream had done a number on Tommy, which wasn’t much of a surprise, even though Ranboo and Tubbo kept acting like he looked like some sort of kicked puppy.

Tommy started arriving in line for his own rations, and fortunately nobody questioned the extra child who appeared in line. Some people who knew Ranboo and Tubbo asked questions, but Ranboo and Tubbo waved them off, saying Tommy was Ranboo’s distant cousin.

It felt nice to have someone watching his back. It reminded Tommy of a different time, when he thought everyone could be trustworthy. He could vaguely remember having a close friend who shared his fascination with flowers, although Tommy couldn’t conjure up a name or a face.

“Hey, Ranboo,” Tommy asked five days into his stay. “What’s that bracelet around your wrist?”

Ranboo always wore a lovely bracelet with purple beads, and Tommy wondered if there was any sentimental value attached to it. Ranboo certainly looked at it like it meant something.

Ranboo didn’t say anything for a moment, and Tommy regretted bringing it up.

“You don’t have to say,” Tommy said quickly. “You can forget I ever said anything—”

“It’s from my mother,” Ranboo interrupted.

Tommy froze. Ranboo took another deep breath and continued, fiddling with one of the purple beads.

“She died maybe two years ago?” Ranboo sighed. “She had been traveling to her sister’s town, but she didn’t make it to a safe shelter quite in time. she survived a zombie encounter, but not before she contracted viricorpus.”

Tommy sucked in a breath. Viricorpus was a highly deadly disease that could only be acquired if a zombie drew blood while attacking you. Since zombies were slow and most people stayed inside towns, it was highly avoidable. But when it did happen, the victim didn’t usually survive a month.

“Oh, prime, Ranboo, I’m sorry.” Tommy didn’t know what else to say.

Ranboo shrugged. “This was her favorite bracelet. My aunt offered to give me a home, but I didn’t want to leave, and my aunt was too afraid to travel between towns...”

“Sounds like a coward,” Tommy muttered.

“We’re all secretly cowards.” Ranboo sounded like he wanted to cry.

Tommy didn’t deny it.

About a week after Tommy agreed to recover with Tubbo and Ranboo, Tommy found himself sitting in the tavern, having a heated game of cards with Jack Manifold.

Jack had been the same guard who let Tommy in at the gate, although he was much less intimidating out of uniform. The other guard, funnily enough, was called Tommy, although Tommy didn’t talk with them as much.

“I’m not a betting man,” Jack said. “But don’t tempt me with your honeyed words.”

Tommy also wasn’t a betting man, seeing as he had nothing to bet, but pretending there were stakes to their game added to the fun.

“Oh yeah?” Tommy demanded with a small grin. “What if I put this shiny rock in the mix?”

Tommy placed a pebble on top of their assortment of other rocks and a few broken buttons.

“You can’t win this game,” Jack said as he placed down another card.

Tommy grinned. “Careful, I might get cautious with my rocks. Don’t you want more rocks, Jack?”

“I want all of the rocks—”

“Am I interrupting something?”

Tommy froze instinctively, but it was only Ranboo who was approaching them, wearing an easy grin with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

Jack made an undignified squawking sound. “Ranboo, you are interrupting our game.”

Ranboo frowned. “Are you… even playing it right?”

Tommy shrugged. He didn’t know how to play cards. Jack was the one who taught him the rules.

“Of course, we are!” Jack protested.

Tommy placed down a card, and Ranboo watched carefully as Jack and Tommy silently played for a few minutes.

“No, no, you’re totally playing it wrong,” Ranboo said. “That card doesn’t have that many points.”

“No, I was taught my cards by a very reliable source,” Jack said.

“Tubbo?”

Jack nodded.

Ranboo’s eyes twinkled. “You do know Tubbo teaches other players the rules wrong so he can win?”

Jack wore an expression of indignance. “No,” he whispered.

Ranboo snorted. “Yes,” he whispered back.

Tommy watched this exchange with some amusement, a smile growing on his face, but hot shame filled him soon after. What was he doing, wasting time playing cards with people? He was meant to be making Dream proud, and instead he had wasted a week in this town playing cards and making friends.

Well, Tommy would like to consider Tubbo and Ranboo friends. Tommy wasn’t sure if that was actually the case. He’d ask them, but…

Tommy had always been bad with rejection.

The tavern, which had seemed so fun and welcoming before, was suddenly stifling. Multiple conversations filled Tommy’s ears, and the crowded atmosphere made Tommy feel claustrophobic.

Jack and Ranboo were still debating the rules of the game, and Tommy stood up, his chair scraping against the stone floor. Ranboo looked up.

“Where’re you going?” he asked, no suspicion in his tone.

“I’m just gonna…” Tommy gestured at the exit. “Take a walk.”

Ranboo nodded. “Stay safe.”

Tommy swallowed and started walking away. “Will do.”

Tommy quickly got out of the building, and he let out a sigh of relief at the relative silence that the streets offered. It was quiet enough for Tommy to hear his own thoughts, at least, even if he could still catch some stray conversations and rolling wheels of carts against the road.

Dream’s necklace burned against Tommy’s skin, and Tommy fished it out from underneath his clothing, staring at it. It was the same as it had always been, green and wrong, but Tommy wished he could like it. It was a gift from Dream. Dream thought Tommy was worthy of something that looked so expensive.

Tommy clutched the pendant tightly in his palm, and he shoved it back underneath his clothing. He wasn’t sure why it made him so cautious, but an all-consuming fear overwhelmed Tommy at the thought of anyone seeing it around his neck, as though the necklace alone could give away his mission.

Tommy wandered around town for a while, taking deep breaths and prodding at still unhealed bruises. He was certainly in a much better state than he was before he arrived in town, and Tommy reckoned that he was strong enough to start pursuing Wilbur.

So, what was stopping him?

He just… he really liked Tubbo and Ranboo. Tommy couldn’t remember the last time he had friends, really truly friends. People he could talk to, laugh with, trust. And, admittedly, Tommy had only known them for a week, but in that week, it was as though Tommy had formed a bond that could never be broken.

Tommy snorted to himself. Pathetic. He was growing sentimental for people he barely knew.

Tommy fingered the dagger still sitting on his belt, and his mind continued churning. There was no point in leaving until he actually knew where Wilbur was, which was an issue, seeing that nobody knew where Wilbur was. Tommy had asked around town a few days before, and they all said the same thing Ranboo had.

Wilbur was missing, and nobody knew where to find him.

Tommy sighed. He was going to have to leave this town eventually to find better leads, and he couldn’t exactly afford to waste any more time—

“Your majesty!”

Tommy jumped out of his skin at the sudden exclamation, and he turned around, searching for any sign of a kingly procession. Instead, he saw an elderly person bowing at a pretty ordinary looking dude with pink hair tied in a pony-tail and a red cloak around their shoulders. Their pale skin was marred with scars, but that was the only thing of note that Tommy could think of.

“Please,” the stranger said, “Don’t call me that.”

“But, Prince Techno—”

The stranger, no, Prince Technoblade himself, raised his hand and silenced the stranger. “I’m trying to keep a low profile, here.”

The villager nodded and rushed away, and Tommy stared, mouth agape, as Prince Technoblade strode in his direction.

Tommy had seen the prince a couple of times before Dream had taken him in. Wilbur was often invited to fancy parties at the palace, parties Wilbur pretended to resent. Tommy himself had always been enamored by the finery, and Prince Technoblade had always been kind enough to him, whispering funny jokes while the king made long speeches about how honored he was to have the great Soot in his presence.

The king had always given the prince sour looks after that, but Technoblade would always just wink at Tommy, making him giggle.

Times had long changed since then, and Tommy was stunned that Technoblade wasn’t wearing his signature braid. It probably had something to do with the fact that Technoblade was trying to keep a “low profile”, and Tommy had to admit that he was succeeding, if one could look past the hair and red eyes.

Technoblade was getting closer, and Tommy shut his mouth and stepped out of the way. Tommy clearly hadn’t moved fast enough, however, because Technoblade stopped and eyed Tommy.

“What are you looking at?” he asked, narrowing his eyes at Tommy.

Tommy stiffened, feeling like Dream had just dunked a bucket of ice on top of him. “Just, uh, I—”

Tommy grimaced, but all other words had failed him like the traitors they were.

Technoblade sighed. “You saw that?” He jabbed a thumb at the place Technoblade had been recognized.

Tommy swallowed and nodded. There was no point in lying when the truth was staring both of them right in the face.

Technoblade massaged his eyes. “Figures. Look, kid, I’m on an important mission—”

“What mission?” Tommy blurted out.

Tommy cringed at his own rudeness, but he didn’t apologize. It was possible that Technoblade had important information on Wilbur, and Tommy needed that information.

“Okay, I don’t know what it’s like where you come from, but typically, royalty is entitled to classified information—”

“I thought you weren’t royalty.” Tommy took a shaky breath and put on a smirk. He gestured at Technoblade’s lackluster clothing.

What are you doing, what are you doing, you’re going to get killed—

Technoblade raised an eyebrow. “Fair enough,” he said. He frowned. “Do I know you?”

Tommy took the smallest step away from Technoblade, his heart racing. Did Technoblade seriously recognize him? Tommy’s memory from before was spotty, sure, but Tommy thought he had to be at most six or seven the last time he saw Technoblade. Surely Tommy didn’t look anything like he used to, right?

Prime, what if Wilbur recognized him, what would he do then—

“Kid?” Technoblade asked. “You’re looking a bit pale there, did I hit the nail on the head, or are you just nervous around authority?”

Tommy swallowed. “I’ve never seen you before,” he said. Prime, Dream would be so embarrassed for his lying skills. “Must’ve been someone else.”

Technoblade didn’t look remotely convinced, and something in his expression hardened. “Sure. Look, I’m sure you want to kill me, or whatever you’ve been sent to do, but I need to get on my way, so please don’t make your life more difficult than it probably already is.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Tommy snapped without thinking.

“First of all, the world is ending,” Technoblade said, sounding almost bored. “Second of all, you don’t seem the type to be holed up in a nice warm castle like my father, which means that food is probably scarce.”

“Good to know our prince cares about our plight,” Tommy spat. “You’re too high and mighty for us, is that it?”

Technoblade’s expression softened again. “If I were too high and mighty for you, I wouldn’t be here. I sympathize, I do. I just know that everyone’s lives are difficult right now, and you don’t want to add execution to that.”

“I don’t want to kill you.” Tommy rubbed his shaking hands against his trousers. “Why would you think… I’m not…”

“Could’ve fooled me.” Technoblade shrugged. “Look, I’m not telling you my secret plans, so why don’t you leave before you make yourself seem more suspicious?”

Tommy didn’t know what else to do. He had made a mess of this conversation, that was for certain, and Technoblade didn’t seem very eager to share any other information with Tommy.

Tommy nodded and stepped aside, and Technoblade continued down the path, further into town. Tommy watched him go until he was nearly out of sight.

What was he going to do now? The idea of Technoblade knowing about Wilbur was a stretch already, but without confirmation that Technoblade was on some separate mission, Tommy would never forgive himself…

Wait. Tommy was smaller than most adults. And Dream had made sure Tommy knew how to be quiet, even if he didn’t always put it into practice.

Tommy hurried to follow Technoblade, keeping quite a safe distance from him. Fortunately, Technoblade didn’t seem to notice Tommy at all, keeping his gaze focused ahead of him. Tommy weaved in and out of crowds, his mind racing for when Technoblade inevitably went to the well-guarded city hall.

But Technoblade didn’t go to city hall. Instead, he turned right onto a smaller street, and Tommy frowned in confusion. Where was Technoblade going?

Eventually, Technoblade stopped in front of a house. Tommy ducked behind a different house while Technoblade looked around for anyone. He could hear his own heart throbbing against his chest, and Tommy squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for Technoblade to call him out.

But Technoblade didn’t say anything, and Tommy heard him knock loudly against the door.

Tommy peaked his head around the wall he was hiding behind just in time to see the door open. Technoblade stepped inside the house, and the door shut with a loud clatter.

Tommy pursed his lips, his mind racing. He could try to see what was happening through the window, but the chances of that being successful weren’t the best. Someone could see him, and there was no guarantee Tommy would be able to see anything. Was there a back-door Tommy could try to sneak into?

Tommy carefully crept toward the house, pressing his back to the stone bricks as he searched for a different door. He was not successful, unfortunately, and Tommy decided that he might just want to take his chances sneaking through the front.

Tommy walked up to the front door, and tried the knob. To his complete shock, the door was unlocked, and Tommy carefully pushed the door open. The hinges creaked, and Tommy froze, holding his breath.

Tommy could already hear clattering from inside the house, and nobody was making any move to stop Tommy. Still, to be safe, Tommy waited for what felt like an hour before sliding inside and carefully closing the door behind him.

The house was only slightly bigger than Ranboo and Tubbo’s, and Tommy could hear conversation coming from the side room that served as Ranboo and Tubbo’s bedroom. Tommy held his breath and pressed his back against the wall, listening carefully.

“—they are, blaming Wilbur for this damned apocalypse. It’s not too unlikely that they took him,” Technoblade said.

Tommy frowned, trying to press himself further against the wooden wall. Who took Wilbur? Because they blamed him? Tommy felt a certain amount of vindication in knowing that not everyone fell for Wilbur’s lies just as steadily as the rest of the world did.

“Mate,” another voice said, “If that’s the case, it’s possible—”

“He’s not dead,” Technoblade said firmly.

Technoblade was right. If Wilbur was dead, Dream would feel it. Dream wouldn’t have sent Tommy out on this mission. If Wilbur was dead, the world would be right again.

“And how do you know that?” The other voice sounded resigned. “Niki hates Soot. She’d gladly kill him.”

“You’re missing the key detail here, Phil,” Technoblade said. “Niki hates Soot. You know how Niki is, she’d want to draw it out.”

“Draw it out for three months?” the other voice, Phil, asked. “Look, I know he’s your friend, but—”

“I’m not giving up on him. And neither should you. Neither should anyone.”

“I just don’t want you to get your hopes up.”

“Too late, too bad. Are you coming with me or not?”

Phil sighed. “Of course, I’m coming with you.”

“Great.” There was a clapping sound. “Kid, you can come out now.”

Tommy stumbled backwards, his feet sounding obnoxiously loud against the floorboards. He immediately froze and covered his mouth, trying not to make a sound. Maybe Technoblade was talking about a different kid—

Footsteps began to approach, and Tommy pressed himself against the corner of the wall. It was the cowardly thing to do. Tommy should be running, but Tommy couldn’t do anything but try to hide.

Technoblade came into the room, and Tommy stopped breathing.

Tommy could hear his ears ringing like a roaring tidal wave as Technoblade stared at him solemnly.

“If you’re an assassin, you’re really bad at it.”

That would normally be Tommy’s cue to be snippy with Technoblade, but Tommy couldn’t bring himself to make a sound as Technoblade continued to stare at him accusingly. It was as though someone had grabbed hold of Tommy’s lungs, as though Dream had wrapped his hands around Tommy’s throat.

“Shut the hell up, Tommy,” Dream’s voice whispered, a phantom voice in Tommy’s memories.

Technoblade sighed, and Tommy flinched.

“Alright, I get it. You’re not an assassin. That, or you’re an assassin who is so dismal at their job that you’re more afraid of getting killed by me than I by you.”

The hold on Tommy’s chest loosened ever so slightly.

“Not… assassin,” Tommy gasped. “Just… want…”

Technoblade crouched down in front of Tommy. “Just want what?”

Another person, Phil, Tommy assumed, entered the room. Like Technoblade, their pale face was littered with scars, but their ponytail was blonde.

“Tech, you’re scaring the poor kid out of his mind. Back off.”

“Fine, fine.”

Technoblade raised his arms in surrender and stood up. He took a few steps away from Tommy and behind Phil.

Breathing came slightly easier.

Phil gave Tommy a smile, their eyes crinkling around the edges. The smile didn’t seem like a lie, but Tommy had seen some pretty convincing smiles in his life.

“Hey, mate. I’m Phil. What’s your name?”

“You’re asking all the wrong questions, old man,” Technoblade said.

Phil gave Technoblade a stern look. “Respectfully, shut up.”

Tommy made a small noise of shock at the disrespect, but Technoblade just rolled his eyes. “See what he puts me through?”

Tommy wasn’t sure if Technoblade was talking to Tommy or not, but Technoblade was looking at Tommy. Tommy nodded just to be safe.

Phil shook his head, but he didn’t look upset. “Anyway, back to the original topic. What’s your name?”

Tommy hesitated. Technoblade had actually known Tommy before, but Tommy was a common name. Tommy remembered hating how many other Tommy’s he’d meet, but now, it might come to his advantage. It wasn’t exactly like Tommy could lie now. What if Technoblade met Tubbo and Ranboo? Tommy had already told them his name.

“Tommy,” Tommy rasped. He still pressed himself further against the corner of the room, glancing at the door. Just because Phil was acting all nice didn’t mean that he actually meant well.

“Oh, no you don’t,” Technoblade said, stepping in front of the door and leaning against it.

Tommy’s heart dropped, and Phil made an expression of disapproval.

“You’re freaking him out.”

“Just because he doesn’t plan on killing me doesn’t mean his intentions are good. For all we know, he’s one of Niki’s.”

“Oh yes, because Niki would send a spy this terrible at sneaking around.”

Technoblade expression darkened. “A good spy would know how to play the part of a scared little kid. It’s easy to make people let their guard down around them that way.”

Tommy scowled in spite of himself. “I’m not little.”

“Sure, you’re not,” Technoblade replied, rolling his eyes.

If Tommy wasn’t still terrified out of his wits, and if Dream hadn’t trained him better, he’d have a few choice words to send in Technoblade’s direction.

“Alright, Tommy,” Phil said. “You can leave as long as you’re honest with us, alright?”

Tommy glanced at Technoblade. “If I’m as good of a spy as he says, you won’t be able to tell if I’m lying.”

Technoblade raised both of his eyebrows this time. “And are you a spy?”

Tommy shook his head. “No.”

“You were sneaking around, seems pretty spy-like to me—”

“Technoblade.” Phil’s voice was stern, and Tommy flinched. Technoblade barely batted an eye, but he didn’t say anything else.

Phil turned back toward Tommy, his smile back on his face. He crouched down in front of Tommy, but still a good few feet away, much to Tommy’s relief.

“Why were you following Technoblade?”

Tommy swallowed. Half-truths, Tommy, half truths.

“I, um, I thought he might know something about Wi-Soot,” Tommy admitted, cringing at his mistake.

Phil hummed. “Are you trying to find him?”

Tommy nodded quickly. “I, um, I need his help.”

“A lot of people need his help,” Technoblade said. “Most aren’t desperate enough to tail a prince.”

“Most people aren’t me,” Tommy snapped.

Technoblade opened his mouth, but Phil silenced him with a stern look. “Why are you looking for Soot?” Phil asked.

Tommy searched frantically for a good answer. “I need his help.”

“With what?” Phil’s voice sounded patient, but Dream always hated it when Tommy gave vague answers.

“I, uh, there’s a place,” Tommy said stumblingly. “I’m being followed—”

“You’re being followed, or there’s a place?” Technoblade interrupted. “Places can’t follow you, kid.”

“Both!” Tommy squeaked. “I was at this place, but I ran away, and now I’m being followed—”

“You were being held captive?” Phil asked.

Tommy nodded quickly, even though it wasn’t at all true. Dream wasn’t holding him captive, and Tommy didn’t escape. Dream let him leave.

Still, half truths were the most convincing lies, and Technoblade and Phil were giving each other a knowing look.

“Was it Niki?” Technoblade asked immediately.

Tommy shook his head. “No, I don’t… I don’t know who Niki is.”

“Who was it then?”

Tommy shrugged helplessly. He couldn’t just accuse Dream for something he didn't do. Dream’s fortress was safely hidden from any unwelcome visitors, but if Tommy threw around too much information, Technoblade might use his forces to find Dream.

Tommy shuddered at how angry Dream would be if that happened.

“What do you think, Phil?” Technoblade asked. Technoblade didn’t look as suspicious anymore, which was good.

“I say we trust him,” Phil said. He stood up and walked over to Technoblade, whispering something in his ear.

Technoblade glanced at Tommy, and Tommy felt like he was being studied. After a moment, Technoblade nodded at Phil.

“Fine. We trust you,” Technoblade said. He sighed. “And if you’re lying, you’ve earned our trust by how good of an actor you are.”

Tommy swallowed and nodded, shakily pulling himself to his feet. He could not believe that worked, but he wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

“Unfortunately for you, Soot is currently indisposed,” Technoblade said. “We’ll take him to you when we find him, though—”

“I can come with you,” Tommy blurted out.

Technoblade and Phil stared at Tommy with blatant expressions of shock, and Tommy rushed to explain.

“I can, I can fight,” Tommy said. He pulled his dagger out of his pocket. “I’m not helpless.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” Technoblade muttered.

Phil shook his head. “This isn’t a question of knowing how to fight,” he said. “I’m not letting you potentially die just because you think you can handle this sort of mission.”

Tommy swallowed. “But, I can—”

“No. End of story.” Technoblade opened the door and gestured toward it. “Get out of here, kid.”

Tommy glared, but he didn’t argue. It was miracle enough that Technoblade hadn’t decided to kill him for spying.

Still, as Tommy walked back to Tubbo and Ranboo’s home, a growing sense of unease filled him. What if Technoblade was lying? What if he wouldn’t take Wilbur to Tommy? What then? What if Technoblade could see right through Tommy’s lies?

Tommy needed to get to Wilbur.