In a World Where I Didn't Love You {Platonic Hanahaki AU}

Brotherly Love

Of all the colors it could have been. Out of every color that could've been. They were goddamn pink. He couldn't help but snarl as he crushed the fragile petals in his hands. They were such an annoying color. Just like the bastard's hair. Tommy didn't know whether or not to scream or to cry at this point. The flowers were soggy and pitiful and wet and absolutely infuriating. Somehow despite looking so wet and sad they hurt. Their thorns cut and scratched and he absolutely hated them.

In fact the dumb things were usually supposed to be pretty. Pale pink roses to give to a friend or something equally as sappy. They shouldn't hurt this much. Practically falling over again as another wet cough wracked his body, Tommy couldn't help but contemplate why any of this had happened. He'd won and they were rebuilding L'Manberg, so why did it still hurt? Why was there still a dull, throbbing pain in his chest?

Everything was supposed to be fixed. Everything was supposed to go back to normal. It'd be just like the good old days. Dream would be his normal pompous self and Wilbur would be doing the somewhat responsible thing while he and Tubbo got into some kind of trouble. They'd run around on the wooden walkways, making creeper holes along the way. He and Tubbo would sit on the bench and watch the sunset or mess with someone. After Schlatt was gone, everything should've been fine. It was supposed to be fixed.

But it wasn't.

Somehow everything was just as awkward. Not necessarily broken, like Wilbur used to say. Not quite. It was just off.

Somehow everything felt different. He and Tubbo didn't hang out as much as they used to. He'd kind of just assumed that once Schlatt was gone they'd be able to hang out again. Be pals, run around, maybe set something on fire or goof around. Of course, after Wilbur gave Tubbo presidency he kind of knew that it wouldn't be like before. He'd have to do the paperwork and deal with all of the responsibilities of being president. He'd known this.

But he didn't think it would be quite like this. Yes, maybe there was a lot to rebuild. Yes, maybe running a country took a lot of time. And yes, maybe he'd need some time to himself. He didn't think that would affect their friendship that much.

Maybe that was his mistake. He'd known that being president took a lot of work. Wilbur would always complain about the paperwork and just how much it took to be president. But with Wil it had been fine. Wil might've been his brother but they weren't exactly attached at the hip. Wilbur had his own friends that he'd hang out with and Tommy would have his. In L'manberg, Wil had Nihachu. And Tommy had Tubbo.

It didn't quite feel that way anymore, though. Before, it had just been him and Tubbo. Just Tommy and Tubbo. Now though, somehow all of New L'manberg had wedged itself between him and his best friend. Of course it wasn't Tubbo's fault though. He couldn't blame him. He was actually really proud that his best friend became president. Even though he really wished that they could hang out more, he knew that New L'manberg needed him, especially after the fiasco that was the entire election and onwards.

If it was anyone's fault, Tommy was certain it laid squarely on Technoblade's shoulders.

Oh how he hated him. Him and his stupid smug face. Techno was supposed to help them! Techno was supposed to help him. He'd called his brother precisely because he thought he could help him and Wil take back L'manberg. Now he could see that he was a fool to think so. It had been a mistake to trust Techno.

To think that he'd looked up to him once! He'd thought that the dumb bastard was the coolest. How could he not? He was strong and skilled and smart. He'd been everything he'd wanted to be. The pink haired man had been larger than life. Undefeated in battle, Tommy had really thought that Techno would be their saving grace. With a man that powerful, they might have a chance.