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Tommy was back.
He stood in L’manburg- back when it had just begun. Back before it was a crater bigger than the moon, before it was fought over, before it had been burned and before they had died for it. Tommy didn’t hesitate, instead he smiled and ran headfirst into the camaravan.
Tommy saw Wilbur and Tubbo and Eret and Fundy. The four stared at him expectantly and Tommy beamed.
It was board game night. They all brought different games, because that's what they always did. Tubbo brought uno, Eret brought a deck of cards, Wilbur brought monopoly and Fundy brought some dice. Tommy didn’t remember grabbing it, but he had brought Connect Four.
That night was chaotic, but Tommy wouldn’t have it any other way.
Technically, Tommy won all the games because he was sure that everyone else was cheating. However if you asked any of the others, it went a little differently.
…
“And thats another monopoly for me!” Wilbur said, leaning back in his chair.
…
“Uno!” Tubbo shouted excitedly.
…
Fundy’s tail swished behind him, “Go fish,” He told Tommy.
…
“And that, my friends,” Eret said, dropping another chip into the slot, “is four in a row,”
…
“You’re all cheaters anyways,” Tommy declared later, when the moon was high in the sky and everyone's eyes were half closed, “Therefore, I won.” He put his hands on his hips and nobody had the energy to argue.
~~~
A week later, Tommy was still in L’manburg.
Today, he was sitting in the flower field, making flower crowns for his friends.
Tubbo joined him shortly, and they talked about the meaningless things on their minds.
Somewhere during their time together, Fundy joined them. And what was once peaceful flower crowns turned into a competition, which in turn morphed into a game of tag, then to a game of hide and seek, and then to them laying on the grass, staring at the sky.
“That ones a hotdog,” Fundy said, pointing to a funny shaped cloud.
“Ehh” Tubbo mumbled, “looks more like a goat horn,”
“It's clearly a smiley face, you dumbasses,” Tommy insulted.
Fundy giggled, “it's a crown!”
The two boys next to Fundy sighed, this wasn’t going to end for a while was it?
After a few more minutes of cloud-watching, Fundy left to go find a snack to munch on. Tommy and Tubbo sat there for a bit, silently enjoying each other's company before Tubbo spoke up. “You can't stay here forever, you know that, right?” Tubbo muttered.
Tommy ignored him, in favor of watching the clouds morph into different shapes. Now it was a guitar.
“You gotta go home, Tommy.”
A bird.
“You can't give up,” Tubbo reasoned.
A tree. Tommy stood up and left Tubbo to observe the clouds on his own.
~~~
Tommy’s been in L’manburg for a year.
In another life, Tommy might have been lonely on an island struggling to survive and scrambling for any memory of comfort he could muster, but it was a whole different story in L’manburg.
Things change though. Good thing it wasn't for the worst.
A few new people joined, a few new builds were introduced and people grew up.
One of the new people was Tubbo’s new friend, Ranboo.
One of the new builds was the election podium.
One of the people that grew up was Wilbur.
You see, Ranboo lived on Hypixel for a while, and when he heard of L’manburg he thought he could make a name for himself here. He decided to run for president against Tubbo. Originally, when the two met, they weren’t very friendly towards each other, but after a stern talk from Wilbur, the two got along like peas in a pod. Ranboo was still a wrongun in Tommy’s eyes, though.
Wilbur had decided to step down from his position as president because he finally met the girl of his dreams, Sally. They built a home together and even ‘adopted’ Fundy. Wilbur was now an old man in Tommy’s eyes (He always was, just especially now).
Tubbo and Ranboo were happy to fill his position, and although Tommy said he was running it was more of a joke and something he was happy to allow Tubbo and Ranboo to fight for.
It was the day before the elections and Tommy was taking a stroll down the prime path. Tommy enjoyed the feeling of the wind in his hair, and the sun on his skin. It was calming, and something Tommy has made a habit of doing.
“Whacha doin’ there?” Ranboo asked, scaring the shit out of Tommy and ruining the calm he had previously felt.
“None of your business, prick” Tommy said once he regained his posture (which wasn’t much of one, but still).
Ranboo hummed, strangely apathetic to Tommy’s insults, “Well, if you’re not busy, Tubbo and I have something for you…”
Tommy didn’t need time to think about his response, “Why didn’t you say so, bitch boy?” Tommy started running down the path, “let's go!”
Ranboo spluttered, “You’re going the wrong way!” He shouted after Tommy, but to no avail. The teen wouldn’t stop until he realized he ditched Ranboo.
Ranboo sighed.
…
When Tommy and Ranboo arrived at Tubbo’s house, Tubbo lead the two boys to a table, where a single box was sitting, wrapped in blue “happy birthday” paper.
“If this is a birthday gift,” Tommy said, “You’re a little early,” It was early March.
“Its not a birthday gift, idiot,” Tubbo lightly punched him in the arm, “That was the only paper we had; unless you’d rather have news paper” Tubbo raised his eyebrow.
Tommy chuckled “Eyyyy Tubso, thanks for this great birthday gift for the greatest man of existence!” Tommy threw his arms around Tubbo.
Tubbo laughed, “Dont forget Ranboo helped too!” Tubbo said, pushing Tommy off of him.
Tommy glared at Ranboo, “thanks I guess.” He muttered.
Ranboo smiled, “No problem, it's always a great feeling when you help the poor”
After Tubbo split the two apart, he shoved the box in Tommy’s hands, “Open,” He commanded.
Inside the box was a green bandana. Embroidered with bees and black and white crowns.
“It's shit.” Tommy complained, putting it on.
“It's to remember us,” Ranboo said softly. Tubbo elbowed him.
“To remember you? Its not like I’m going anywhere, Big Man,” Tommy said, finishing putting the bandanna on.
Neither Tubbo or Ranboo made eye contact, “Right?” Tommy mumbled.
“Oh you know,” Tubbo waved his hand, still not making eye contact “presidency might get busy and all”
Ranboo was quick to agree, “Yeah- don't know when we’re gonna get free time,” He added.
Tommy gave the duo a look, “This shit is going to your guys’ head,” He eventually said, “Suddenly you’re being elected president and you’re both like ‘mememe I’m too busy to hang out with friends any more, I have responsibility and shit’” Tommy mocked
“Hey!” Tubbo shouted, and the trio fell into their usual banter.
~~~
It was the day that the president would be announced, and the bench trio were anxiously standing on the stage. Well, if anxious meant they were arguing about who would win, then yes. They were extremely anxious. They were all wearing their casual wear (Besides Ranboo, the fucking prick never took that damn suit off), and Tommy proudly showed off his new bandanna.
Wilbur walked out on stage to read out the results. Slowly he unfolded the paper, and looked through the crowd for dramatic effect.
“The Elected President of L’manburg 2021 is…” Wilbur paused and looked at the trio behind him. He smiled at them and turned back to the mic.
Wilbur opened his mouth to excitedly promote one of the three minors on the stage behind him, but bombs exploded below his feet before he could announce any more. Screams ripped through the audience and echoed through the small city. Tommy’s ears were ringing and memories that weren’t his (They weren’t his, okay! The past was supposed to stay in the fucking past!) played like a movie he was forced to watch.
Tommy wasn’t sure if he was crying or screaming or breathing. All he knew was that something had gone wrong, and he didn’t know what.
Tommy drifted in a state of unknown for a while until he felt himself dragged out of the chaos by his competition. Tubbo sat in front of him, trying to calm him down while Ranboo kneeled awkwardly behind him, rubbing circles in his back.
“-reathe, Tommy. You need to breathe” Tubbo said.
Tommy realized he wasn’t breathing, and inhaled. The air felt like fire coming into his lungs, and he resisted the urge to cough. “You with us?” Tubbo asked. Tommy nodded.
Tommy realized they weren’t out of the battle yet. He could still hear bombs going off and screams somewhere nearby. They were sitting at the maw of the cave, just out of reach from the monster inside.
“Okay,” Tubbo sighed, “Okay,” He looked to Ranboo for courage, then back to Tommy, “You have to go now,” He said eventually.
Tommy whined and clung to Tubbo’s hands. Couldn’t he stay for a little longer? Couldn’t he enjoy the blissfulness of the time he never got to experience? He didn’t want to go back.
Ranboo stopped rubbing Tommy’s back, and instead sat next to him, “it's time for you to go, Tommy.” He whispered.
Tommy’s heart ached at those words, and there was a particularly loud crash sound near them, “I don't want to.” Tommy mumbled stubbornly.
“You have to,” Tubbo said, pulling Tommy into a hug, “You selfish bastard; you’re killing yourself!” Tubbo cried.
“Its not fair!” Tommy cried back, “Why can everyone be happy but me?” He whimpered, sobbing into Tubbo’s shoulder.
“Life isn’t fair,” Ranboo said, “I think you know this more than anybody, Tommy” Ranboo appeared over Tubbo’s shoulder in Tommy’s blurry vision. He was wringing his hands, looking at the floor; Tommy grabbed his hands and pulled him into the hug.
“I wish it was fair for a little bit,” Tommy bitterly muttered.
Tubbo laughed dryly, “Dont we all,” He mumbled.
The trio sat like that for a little bit, trying to enjoy each others’ company while trying to ignore the sounds of destruction around them.
Eventually, Tommy was the first to pull apart, he wasn’t clingy and wasn’t going to start now.
Tommy pulled his bandanna off. It was singed and had a few new holes in it.
“You guys are bastards,” Tommy scowled, tears running down his face.
It was silent for a moment. The three boys didn’t want to break this precious moment.
“I guess this is goodbye,” Ranboo slowly said.
Tommy didn’t respond. He just stared into the bandanna that was just the same as his first, but at the same time so very different.
Tubbo coughed, “Would it make it easier if we fixed your bandanna?”
“Yeah” Tommy breathed; not processing the words.
Tubbo took the bandanna from Tommy and handed it to Ranboo, who pulled a needle and thread from his pocket (that overprepared prick). He ripped some fabric off his suit and stitched the holes with the silk.
When Ranboo handed the bandanna back, it was imperfect, but it was Tommy’s, and he liked the bandanna like that. It was kinda like him and his friends, imperfect, but the only way Tommy would want them.
“Keep it safe next time,” Ranboo said, “I won't be there to fix it when you get reckless”
This earned a watery laugh from Tommy, who clutched the bandanna like it was a lifeline. After a second, Tubbo bumped his head with Tommy’s and held it there for a second.
“Its okay, Big Man,” Tubbo said between tears, “I’ll see you in the next life.”
“Why couldn’t it be this one?” Tommy asked.
Darkness consumed Tommy’s vision, as he finally succumbed to his fears and gave in.
~~~
Tommy was cold. It was bright and he was cold.
Tommy opened his eyes, and he was greeted with the tattered fabric of his tent. The wool offered no protection against the elements, and although it was a sunny day the wind made it feel like it was freezing.
Tommy groggily sat up, and the world spun around him. He decided to lay back down.
Putting his hand to his head, Tommy realized he had a fever. That probably wasn’t good.
Bracing himself for the wave of nausea, Tommy stumbled to his enderchest and collapsed in front of it. He was sure he stored some medicine in here a while ago. Opening the chest, he was met with a variety of items.
Iron, tools, some flowers, his bandanna, the medicine!
Wait.
His bandanna?
Tommy took the bandanna in favor of the medicine, and observed the destroyed fabric. It was a simple green, with no design on it. It was riddled with holes and was a wonder it was still intact.
Tommy held the bandanna like it was glass, and couldn’t stop the tears from forming.
Suddenly, Tommy heard footsteps, and he scrambled to put it back in the enderchest.
“What do you have there, Tommy?” Dream asked, slamming the ender chest closed. He wasn’t fast enough.
“N-N-Nothing” Tommy stuttered. His throat was so horse he could barely speak.
Dream took the tattered fabric from Tommy’s hands, “What a shame,” He said, “Here I thought you were a good boy. I even made you some soup as a reward.” Dream spilt the soup on the ground, and Tommy mourned for the lost food.
“I guess not”
Tommy shifted on the floor, “Give that back,” Tommy said pathetically.
“Oh, this?” Dream taunted, holding up the bandanna, “Hmm, this was a gift from Tubbo wasn’t it?” He asked. Tommy’s eyes widened in fear.
“Oh, stupid little Toms, cant let people go even after they’ve made it clear they dont want him,” Dream provoked Tommy. Dream grabbed two ends of the bandanna and began slowly pulling them apart.
“Stop” Tommy croaked.
“I thought I taught you better, Tommy,” Dream said, dropping the torn bandanna pieces on the ground. Dream walked away and left Tommy to his thoughts.
Tommy stared at the remains of the bandanna, and couldn't help but wish he fought with Tubbo and Ranboo more, begging them to let him stay because they didn’t know how much he hated being here.
Tommy sat there, under a feeble tent, fever slowly killing kim, with nothing but broken hopes and broken dreams.
He picked up the bandanna that was nothing more than torn fabric, and he wishes it was meant to be.