Chapter Text
The normal day of Tommy Innit consisted of bothering his friends or getting bothered by them.
Really, there wasn't a "between" in those categories.
He woke up and chose chaos like any other day, fresh out of bed and ate some poorly made breakfast that consisted of stale bread and milk that was 2 days away from being expired. That didn't bother the Innit boy at all, he wasn't the best in making food anyways. How he managed to survive until being close to adulthood was beyond anyone else's knowledge- though some suspected it had something to do with Wilbur being in charge of the cooking 96% percent of the time during their growth.
Tommy left his dirt home and went in search of some more food for himself and his new companion, Shroud. Tommy had two mouths to feed, and meat products were already scarce with the number of people in the server. Or perhaps that was just Tommy complaining to himself for needing to go out in search instead of having a little farm already there for him to use. Either way, he left for a few miles and managed to kill off a few pigs for their pork, returning to what was the remains of L'Manberg and crossing through a familiar path that connected to where his best friend lived with- bleh -Ranboob. Tommy was against visiting his friends at the moment, wanting to at least finish his task before anything else. He will admit, he did feel like changing his mind when he saw Tubbo crossing by with a box filled with mysterious continents inside, but again, he decided against it. Tommy returned home in one piece and halved the meat between himself and his spider-friend, storing the rest of the edibles into a chest by his bed.
Enamored by Shroud's aggressive eating, he failed to notice someone walk up to his door and leave a book along with a boxed gift by the front.
What he did notice was someone knocking- a knock familiar to him after years of knowing this person. Tubbo Underscore-Beloved.
But why would Tubbo knock on his door? It wasn't unusual but it wasn't a common thing for him to do unless he was bothered with something. Curiously, Tommy opened the door and greeted his friend with a raised eyebrow and a smile. "Hey Big T, what uh- why are you here?"
Tubbo simply smiled. "What? Can't I see my best friend on this fine dandy morning? I'm hurt," he joked before presenting a book. The book had already been signed, meaning someone had written something in it and casted the book to be a finished literature. Tommy was further confused by the context of the book but laughed off Tubbo's friendly gesture.
Tommy was sure to close the door behind him before crossing his arms, eyes on the object in his ram-friend's hands. "What's that?" he asked, partially curious.
"It's a book," Tubbo grinned, being way too specific that it triggered Tommy to swear and be loud like the child that he is. "OH NOO ITS A STEAK-- OF COURSE ITS A BOOK YOU DUMB SHIT, I'M ASKING WHAT IT CONTAINS INSIDE," Tommy yelled, huffing red in the face while his best friend began to laugh tearfully, clutching the book close to their stomach while trying to keep himself balanced. "I found it on your porch along with this highly sussy box, dumbass. Thank me for not letting anybody else steal it." Tubbo handed over the objects to Tommy, the blonde teen muttering a small thanks before deciding to read the book first. His ocean blue eyes read over the words before yelling in excitement, "MY THERAPY GIFT!"
Tubbo couldn't hold back a laugh from his friend's usual outbursts. "Wait, do you usually get a gift from your therapy?" he asked, confused over the subject. Was it normal for one to receive a gift after a therapy session? Tubbo had no clue. "Yeah! Puffy began to send me gifts in hopes to help me vent my frustrations into something else or some shit. Whatever that means," Tommy waved off the explanation. He threw away the book aside and began to unravel the gifted box, stripping away the beautiful red string neatly tied in the center. Hand shoved inside, he was confusedly met with soft fabric.
The fuck?
The said object turned out to be yarn and a sewing kit, folded red and beige soft fabric located at the very bottom. Tommy sputtered out confused and offended noises while Tubbo laughed, the realization hitting both boys when they connected the dots on what meant for Tommy. The blonde boy was red in the face, embarrassed at the very most. "You- you actually like sewing?? I can't believe you! No wait, yes I can believe that" Tubbo continued to poke fun at Tommy, "I had a feeling you were into stitching things together from a few years ago but I never actually guessed that you would be up for sewing! I mean- that's pretty great isn't it??" Tommy had pushed the box over into Tubbo's hands, still red in the face but not quite as much as before. "Yeah yeah," his demeanor quickly changed in hopes to change the subject, "say, could you bring these over to your house? I have something to quickly do beforehand."
"I can't go with you?" Tubbo raised an eyebrow, shifting the sewing kit on his hold. Tommy shrugged, "you can if you want. But I rather do it on my own for the time being."
"Alright. Suit yourself," Tubbo waved him off with a smile and left the pathetically poorly built dirt home. Tommy had watched him leave for a few minutes before turning over to his spider pal who was staring up at him through the covers of his own little bed, crumbs and small bits of grease-stained at the edge of his small lips. Shroud was quiet a lot of the time, he made up for it by being very expressive and dramatic to get what he wanted. Like right now. Shroud raised up his four hands in a motion of wanting to be picked up, a slight bounce on his little bed added to his adorableness. At this point, Tommy was unsure if his Shroud was even his little friend. If anything, he acted more like his own little brother or child. Tommy didn't think too deep into it, he rather not put a label on it for now. He picked up the little spider and left his dirt home, a new goal in mind that he quickly needed to achieve. It wasn't big, it wasn't serious, but he wanted to get it done. With Shroud on his back, Tommy quickly set over to the largest flower field he came across on his walk.
He picked out different flowers, many with different meanings that Tommy wasn't very sharply aware of. He wasn't brushed on his flowery symbolism as you could tell. He plucked out flowers like horseshoe geranium, blues and pink columbines, red dahlias, and a variety of other long and short colorful flowers. Shroud picked a few himself, the ones closest to him anyways. They left in a span of minutes, a bunch of flowers in their hold that it would be ridiculous if anyone came across to witness a tall child carrying a stack of flowers along with a smaller child being carried on their back. They, Tommy and Shroud, had traveled a path that has been used many times years back before the tragedies occurred. Nostalgia had hit Tommy when the old abandoned buildings came into view, most that haven't been bothered to be rebuilt. In a way, it showed history itself moving on with the new and leaving behind the old. It was bittersweet.
Glassware traveled for many squares, flattening a once L'Manhole with a visible barrier that could still be seen from below. Tommy wasn't at all cautious when he stepped into the glassed floor, moreover he was making quick steps to a man's lonely yet radiant grave-stone. The teenager didn't say much and neither did the spider-child. He placed the flower into his brother figure's grave and walked off, dragging Shroud behind him. He paid his respects whenever he could, keeping most of them to himself because he was a big man.
And big men don't get sentimental.
"C'mon Shroud," Tommy tugged along on the boy, a small smile was all it took to lift up the mood just as quickly. "Let's go see Tubbo, that clingy bitch. Hah, he can never go a day without missing me, can't he? I mean, who wouldn't anyway? I am quite the most awesome person to be around with!" Tommy began to rant along, boosting his own ego so high up that Shroud felt just as happy to agree and hiss along with him. The chattering between the two had been like any other normal circumstance if it wasn't for the fact that the entire time involved with Tommy just being the only one speaking and Shroud only making the same hissing and giggly noises. The trip back was shorter than the trip to the grave- it was more exciting when the Innits were meeting up with Tubbo in Snowchester. It was just as exciting for Tubbo to prep up his son to play with Shroud, the half-enderman watching with a smile from the doorway.
The beeduo sat patiently (one of the three was at least patient) in the living room, awaiting for the front door to make a lovely knocking sound. Ranboo had decided to seat himself closest to the door on the love couch, his head resting on his hand supported by the sturdy armrest. Michael was laying down on his tummy on the floor, colourful crayons and large sheets of paper displayed all around him. Tubbo sat on a single brown leather chair nearby, the hooves of his ram-feet bouncing off the floor anxiously while waiting for his guests to arrive. Time had ticked forever for him but it really was just half an hour for the other two sweeter boys, both not in much worry for Shroud and Tommy. Why would they? There was peace in the land, there was no trouble that would go silent in the lands. If there even was chaos created by Tommy, Tubbo could easily grab the tall blonde child by the back of his shirt and drag him away.
The door knocked once. Twice. Four times now. Impatient and loud just like Tommy. Despite Ranboo being closer to the door, Tubbo bolted there first and swung the door open, startling every other boy in the vicinity. "Woah Big Man-! Almost gave me a scare there," Tommy chuckled, enamored with the familiar feeling of Tubbo smiling up at him with an excited and amazed expression. He couldn't tell much amazement because of the hair covering his eyes and the years of maturity leaving him more wiser but he could tell it was still there. "Sorry Boss Man, just reaallyyy I needed to show you something," Tubbo beckoned them inside, shutting the door behind the Innits. Shroud was quick to settle himself down by Michael, hissing and making friendly noises that made no sense to the piglin. There was an obvious language barrier between the kids but neither seemed to mind, Spiderling and Piglin languages didn't work well together but the boys managed anyways. They'd both say a word in their own language and wait for the other to repeat it until it was close enough for them to move on. This went on for hours and neither got bored, drawing and pointing things out to one another. Ranboo watched in amusement, had he already been perched down on his couch with a few books in hand now. Most were about random subjects, one in particular that stood out to him was spell making. He knew potions and witches existed, so how could spells be bound as fake? He began to read through the third page before a pair of footsteps quickly clattered down from up the stairs. He grimaced at just how loud the voices were, he wasn't fond of loud noises.
"...what do you mean that you made friends with a god?!"
"It's simple! I became friends with a god!"
"Tommy, I don't think you realize how much bullshit I can smell coming from that mouth of yours."
"EY! If you dare imply that my mouth smells like shit then you're going 'da have to look at yourself in the mirror! Your HAIR-- Tubbo- listen-! YOUR HAIR IS LITERALLY COVERED IN M O S S. In MOSS, Tubbo!"
"That's not- we're not- this isn't about me, you prick!"
Both men shouted and spouted insults at one another, their chaotic levels of shouting always surprising Ranboo at the end. Shroud and Michael temporarily stopped coloring and turned their attention up at the ClingyDuo, curious at what their fathers were playfully arguing about now. Not to their surprise, it was just a simple banter about Tommy's claim in making a god as his friend. More exactly- a mischievous goddess as his friend. Tubbo believed in many things. In prime gods, in magic, in hybrid sorcery, in Dream being secretly being a cat-boy. But Tommy being great friends- or taming -a god was n o t one of them. It was too silly to be real! I mean- aren't gods and goddesses made to be praised?? If Tubbo knew Tommy so well, he would know that the first thing Tommy would do upon meeting an actual god (besides Foolish) is by cursing and swearing them out. Challenging and literally doing the most stupidest things to get himself killed. So yeah, it was pretty difficult to convince Tubbo that his friend had become a goddess's favorite mortal to cause chaos with.
"I SWEAR SHE'S REAL!" Tommy still tried to convince his long-time best friend. Tubbo crossed his arms and remained unconvinced, narrowing his eyes at the tall blonde boy. "That is too hard to believe to be real."
"Ugh!" Tommy groaned, hands over his face in a frustrated manner. He then quickly turned over to the kids, noticing Shroud was taking amusement into their argument. "Shroud! You were there! Please tell Tubbo that she's real! You saw her, he's gotta believe me if it's coming from you!" Tommy beckoned Shroud to defend him. But alas, Shroud was far too small to join on the 'big-boy' talk with the others and didn't want to get involved in any sort of predicament that led him to choose between sides. You could tell that Ranboo has been teaching him some things involving conflict.
Shroud turned away and went back into coloring, avoiding Tommy's betrayal stare while Tubbo began to laugh at the predicament his friend was in. Shroud had to hold back a smug smile in order for Tommy to leave him alone, otherwise he would've bickered more while dragging hm into it. Shroud didn't want that- he wanted Tommy to deal it on his own.
"Just admit it Big Man, you're lying about this goddess friend of yours," Tubbo crossed his arms once more and with a crack of a grin.
"Whatever..." Tommy grumbled, storming off to sit next to Ranboo with a pout. Michael was quick to join his side, climbing onto his lap and showing off his drawings to the blonde male; Tommy's mood changed quickly to match the excitement of his nephew. Ranboo let out another chuckle, shaking his head at the abssuredity of the situation before standing up- he stretched his long-ass legs and arched his back to pop a few bones much like a cat. Seriously, it made Tommy wonder if Ranboo was half ender and half cat. Otherwise how would he be able to bend himself to do all those crazy illegal stretches.
Ranboo would do a great yoga instructor, that's for certain.
"I'll cook us some dinner," Ranboo mumbled over to Tubbo before heading towards the kitchen, leaving behind Tubbo to watch over Tommy and Michael bond over his drawings. Shroud was left to follow Ranboo, creeping over the tall figure from above a cabinet and watching in silent fascination as the elder hummed and began to turn on the stove. Ranboo was going to make something simple, being thoughtful of everyone's preferences of food and tasking quite a few things all at once. He took out the tomato can and poured it all in a small bowl, peppering in some seasoning and getting a pot of boiled water started. If you've guessed he was making spaghetti then you were absolutely correct. He was going to separate the tomato sauce into a smaller bowl to add more seasoning since it appeared that Michael and Shroud loved it extra spicy and flavorful. Tubbo liked cheese in his while Tommy...asked for no potatoes in his.
Since when did spaghetti consist of potatoes...? Ranboo had no clue. Perhaps it was just another thing Ranboo forgot existed.
Even though he was 100% percent sure that potatoes don't go with spaghetti.
But oh well, if Tommy asked for no potatoes then Ranboo won't put any potatoes in his spaghetti. Whatever the guests wanted then they'll get, Ranboo guessed.
Thump.
"Gah-!" Ranboo warbled out a surprised gasp, holding tightly onto the garlic seasoning as if he was going to drop it at any moment-- which he almost did at some point. He whipped around before catching eye- er...a bunch of eyes coming from a certain spider child. The half endermen visibally relaxed, staring up at the friendly spider-child with a stern look before shifting his attention back to the conduments he was brewing together. "Erm- Shroud, if you wanted to help, you didn't have to stand up on the cabinet. You can just...ask." Ranboo offered, hand hovering in the air with a second wooden clean spoon for like Shroud to hold. Shroud slid down from his spot next to the tall figure, eagerly taking the spoon in his hold and clambering up the stool over the stove. Small giggle-like hisses and a gurgle of hums vibrated from both hybridical mobs, nothing but light noises filled the kitchen with the occasional clutter or swomp of a kitchen utinsil hitting against a surface.
Time went by quickly and with the extra pair of hands had made dinner be done cooking faster. Eventually the other boys were called in and were each individually served plates. It was peaceful for the most part. The occasional witty banter coming from the benchtrio and the snorts and hisses filled with quiet conversation. Of course, Tommy had to make it comical by insulting Ranboo's spaghetti before quickly changing his mind when he realized that Shroud helped for the most part.
Finishing with their plates, the boys threw them over to the dirty sink and bid each other good night. Tommy and Shroud were going to take their leave but it was already nightfall and Tubbo insisted for them to stay the night on the guest bedroom. Figuring no harm would be done, Tommy settled Shroud by his side and covered both himself and his spiderling friend with the large thick blanket provided for them. Unaware of the events to come once he fell asleep- unaware of the echoing words of a goddess friend that were beginning to take affect on him. On his body, as it began to slowly shrink in size. No one in the night had woken to witness the event, not even Shroud who was deep asleep after a long delicious meal and exciting day. Maybe he could ask Tommy to let him stay with Michael a little longer, Shroud wished. He probably wasn't going to expect two surprises left for him tomorrow morning when he woke up to a scream.