~ Asylum ~

Chapter Three: Safety Box

! T.W // Sorta-kinda a panic attack, but nothing explicit. !

-

Tubbo gasped when he saw the state of the common room. The white concrete walls were cracked, and the high ceilings were dangerously close to caving in. The brunette glued himself to Tommy, desperate for something that wouldn't collapse. The latter stood protectively by his friend's side, guiding them over to Dream and A6d, who looked ready to bolt.

"What the fuck is going on?" Tommy yelled over more sounds of crashing.

"I don't-" Dream cut himself off when he saw a large chunk of concrete fall from the ceiling, creating an opening to the sky. "SAPNAP, WATCH OUT!"

Sapnap, who was exiting his dormitory to see what all the commotion was about, leaped out of the way just in time to not be crushed. He ran over to the other boys, immediately gripping A6d's hand. "Is this an earthquake? I don't know how earthquakes work, is this normal?"

Tubbo spoke up, his voice shaking, "This isn't an earthquake- it's not natural."

The rest of the patients arrived in the crumbling common room as more light poured in from the collapsing roof. Suddenly, a dark figure jumped down from the summit. They were covered in thin armor, with a hood over their head and a mask over their face. Ejaculating from their back was a pair of wax wings, similar to those described in the tale of Daedalus from old Greek mythology.

"Who are you? Did you do this?" Skeppy bravely stepped forward, waving at the damage done to Unit B, Sector Four. "What do you want?"

Without saying a word, the hooded person grabbed Skeppy by the waist and flew off. Tommy barely had time to register what had happened before Phil yelled "HEY!" and flew after them.

"Geppy!" Bad called out before turning to the rest of the group, who were standing there in shock. "We have to go after th-"

Another hooded figure, who looked exactly like the last except smaller, scooped Bad up and flew away with him too, in the same direction as the other one who took Skeppy.

Everyone silently agreed that Bad was right, and so the troop began to hoist themselves up one by one, using the rubble to follow the flying people onto the roof.

Tommy looked back at Tubbo. "You ready to kick some- are you okay?"

Tubbo was shaking, his eyes wide. His breathing was uneven and he looked like he was about to collapse. "I can't fight- It was them- They came-"

"What-? Tubbo I'm here, what's wrong?"

The brunette looked Tommy in the eyes. He looked like a frightened deer. "Tommy! Tommy I can't fight them- not them... anyone but-"

Tommy was immensely confused, and even more concerned. "It's okay! The others can probably take them down, you can stay-"

"NO!" Tubbo yelped, covering his ears with his hands and tightly shutting his eyes.

"I'm gonna take you somewhere safe, okay? You're okay, they're not here."

Tommy led Tubbo over to an empty cardboard box. It was stupid, but Tommy didn't know where else to go. The walls and ceiling around the box looked stable enough, and it was big enough to fit two people Tommy's size.

Tubbo seemed to see the box as a safe space too. He immediately climbed into it, covering his ears again. Tommy sat down in the box next to his friend, their shoulders touching.

"Focus on me, okay man? You're in the- you're in the safety box. You're okay."

The brunette only whimpered in response, leaning into Tommy as if his life depended on it.

Tommy wondered if Skeppy and Bad were okay. He wished he could be helping them and kick some flying guys ass, but Tubbo needed him right now, and that held priority. "Tubbo... do me a favour and name five things you can see."

Tubbo looked around, "S-Safety box, uhm- sky.."

"Mmhm"

"..you, c-concrete.. a-and- doors.."

"Perfect. Now, four things that you can feel."

"Y-you.. Safety box, th-the dust in m-my eye.. Itchy p-patient uniform."

Tommy nodded as Tubbos breathing became the slightest bit more stable. "Three things you can hear,"

Tubbo removed his hands from his ears. "Crumbling, m-me... scr-screaming?!?"

"Shh, it's okay. I'm here. Two things you can smell."

"Dust, sm-smoke.."

"And one thing you can taste."

"Blood from biting my lip too hard.."

"Pog."

The two boys sat in that box for a while, watching doctors come and go in a panic. They went unnoticed, as one doesn't usually check a box when they're looking for human beings. Skeppy and Bad were brought back safely, as was everyone else, but not without a few scratches.

As the nurses treated the others, Tubbo finally spoke up.

"How did you know what to do? To calm me down, I mean."

Tommy scratched the back of his neck. "I freaked out in a similar way when I first learned to use my enhancement. I made a mouse disappear and it was... unsettling."

Tommy looked over at Philza, whose arm was being wrapped in bandages. "Phil used the same method with me... Minus the box. That's where I learned it."

"Oh." Tubbo said. "Phil really cares about everyone here, huh?"

"I guess.."

"Hmm."

"My turn to ask a question, if you don't mind. How did you know those guys?" Tommy inquired.

Tubbo sighed. "I don't really wanna talk about it... Not here, not now."

"Ah, okay-"

The blond was cut off by Doctor Stewardson, the head of Unit B, barging into the room. His voice was commanding and stern, one of the main reasons he was in charge.

"Alright. Your actions were reckless and disorganized, but it got the job done. HOWEVER! If you pull something like this again, there will be consequences... and where is #7158 and #23110!"

"That's us." Tommy nudged the smaller boy and stood up. "We're here!"

Tubbo scrambled up and waved, then noticed some of the people giving him strange looks.

Doctor Stewardson narrowed his eyes at the duo, "Why were you in that box and not with the others?"

"Tubbo was scared, sir." Tommy spoke with respect, but it was clear that he didn't give a shit about what Doctor Stewardson thought. "I was keeping him safe."

Wilbur huffed, which earned him an angry look from Tommy. Doctor Stewardson walked over to Tubbo. He put a firm hand on his shoulder and shook his head. "You don't have time to be scared in the real world, kid. Get your shit together."

"Y-yes sir!" Tubbos eyes followed the tall man as he walked back to where he was standing.

"Due to the damage that was dealt to the entirety of Unit B, you lot is going to be moved To Unit G, Sector Six."

Doctor Stewardson went to exit the ruin of a room, "Prepare for a big change.."

-

~end chapter~

donut: when i told you to write a fight scene, i didn't realize you would make it so fucking angsty holy shit- pls 😭 (its good tho, don't worry <3)

Dak0ta: i don't know whyyyyy

donut: the tears wont stop flowing :(

Dak0ta: NO DON'T CRY

donut: COMFORT HUG PLS :(((((

Dak0ta: *COMFORT HUGG* <3

donut: *COMFORT HUGG!!* <3