The Antarctic Empire

9. Secrets

"Techno, come on. I know you know." Tommy said, trying his best to keep up with Techno, who was desperately trying to get away from his younger brother.

"I'm not telling you, Tommy."

"Please, Tech." Tommy was out of breath from moving so quickly on crutches. "Come on, I deserve to know."

"And dad will tell you when he thinks it's the best time." Techno shook his head. "You're not getting this out of me."

"But come on, Tech, don't you think I deserve to know?" He asked.

"Well, yes."

"So just tell me!"

"I can't."

"Why?" Tommy asked, panting now as he kept up with his older brother. Techno shook his head. "Oh come on-shit." Tommy cursed as his crutch caught the edge of a rug, tripping him. He crashed hard to the ground, a groan of pain pulling its way out of his throat.

"Tommy, oh my god." Techno said, turning back and kneeling next to his brother. "Are you okay?" He asked quickly.

"'M fine, Tech." He pushed himself up. His brother quickly took his arm and helped him up.

"Jeez, Tommy, are you hurt?"

"I'm fine." Tommy pushed his hands away as he stood, grabbing his crutches from where they had fallen. He turned and quickly moved in the other direction. He could hear Techno start to come after him, and then turn around and walk in the other direction.

He made his way up to his room and sat on the bed, running his fingers through his hair. He didn't know what to think. He would be running this country, and yet they still didn't trust him enough to tell him the threats.

He sighed and grabbed the leather bound book from his nightstand, flipping open the pages.

Hi Thomas,
It's a beautiful morning here. The sun rose this morning through the window, and I sat on the balcony watching while your father slept. You woke up when I did, and we have been sitting out here for the past few hours. You fell asleep a few minutes ago. I try to soak up as much time as I can get with you and those gorgeous blue eyes.
My dear boy, you will change the world. You will shake the earth wherever you walk. You will take all of the bad things and turn them good, because it's just who you are.
Even now, you are so sweet. William fell and hurt himself the other day, and you heard him cry, and opened your eyes. I was holding you and brought you to him, and you reached out your hands for your older brother. He took you and held you tight, and you laughed.
Take the day for what it is. And change the world around you with every step.

Tommy smiled and traced his fingers around her words. He wished he could remember his mother, and that she was more than a picture in the halls.

He sighed and set the book aside. Take the day, huh?

~•~

Tommy walked out to the gardens where he promised to meet Tubbo.

"Tubzo!" Tommy yelled as he neared the other boy. Tubbo laughed and waved, from his spot sitting on a rock.

"Hi Tommy! How are you?"

"Pretty good, big man." Tubbo moved over so Tommy could sit with him. "Doctors said I can get my cast off soon. I'll have to wear a boot thing still, but I'll be able to walk without crutches."

"Thats awesome!"

"Yeah! No more slowing The Tommy Alaric!" He cheered, hitting Tubbos shoulder with his own. Tubbo laughed at his friends antics.

"Hey, did you ever figure out what the other reason your dad had was?"

"No. Dad won't tell me, and neither will Techno. My last chance is Sally, but I doubt she'd tell me, if she even knows." Tommy shook his head. He was still upset that his family refused to tell him why he was constantly sheltered.

"That sucks." Tubbo sighed. "What if it's something really bad?"

"I don't know, Toby. I just know that it's worrying me."

~•~

Hey guys! Thank you all so so much for all the reads! We just hit 1k!

I hope you're all enjoying. I'm really sorry for the late upload. I suck at this thing.