Not Tommy Anymore

Chapter 16 - The Nether.

Trigger Warnings -

(I'm number one in Captain Puffy... dunno how- but I am... I think Puffy is awesome though, she's so pretty! But like- she's been mentioned.. this was written at 6/12/21 just for future reference for me)

Tommy had been wanting to visit L'manburg for a while, he just never brought it to attention with Techno or Phil. He had mentioned L'manburg once or twice but the other two only had distasteful words about it.

The blind child wanted to go to L'manburg to see Ghostbur mostly but he did want to see a few others too, and he'd never admit it. Climbing down the ladder he turned around to see Phil sitting in a chair with a cup of tea and a book, though he really just saw green and white splotches from Phil's familiar bucket hat.

"Phhiiilllllll." Tommy dragged out Dadza's name, sitting down in the chair with his head laying face first on the table. "Can we go somewhere??"

Phil flipped a page in his book, the noise making Tommy perk up ever so slightly. "Depends where do you want to go? I'm pretty sure Techno wanted to continue your training today."

Tommy didn't want to complain but he really wanted to get out of the house, so he resulted to one of his old habits; complaining. "But I'm all sore from training... and I don't want to stay home all day..." He wanted to throw himself against a wall for complaining, maybe even turn himself into Dream, his worst nightmare! Quite ironic really.

Phil placed his book down, the thing Tommy couldn't see was the surprised look on his face to be hearing this complaining, and as weird as it sounds, Phil wanted to encourage Tommy's old self. "You know... maybe I can get Techno to take you? I'll get him over here."

Tommy lifted his hands up in a silent cheer before staring at the table blankly waiting for Phil to put his communicator away. The two sat there while Phil flipped through his book waiting for Techno to arrive.

Technoblade sat down at the table with them, looking at Phil questioningly before looking over at Tommy. "You don't want to train today?" He tested the boy, wanting to hear the old Tommy that Phil heard.

Tommy nodded. "Yeah.. I wanna go out today." He stated, not wanting to push the complaints to far, but Techno was still skeptical and he could tell. "I'm all sore from you pushing me over! Can't we just take a breaakk?" 

Technoblade brightened. "Well where would we go? We could go to the village near by, or we could take a walk-" Tommy smiled and spoke up without realizing he was cutting Techno off, but the pinkette could care less, happy that some of the old Tommy Traits were coming back.

"Can we go to L'manburg?!" He asked, glee and excitement shining off his every word and movement. "I mean- I know it's a lot to ask, especially since I almost died there, and no one really cares about me, but I want to go see Ghostbur, and I don't want to make him travel alll this way into the tundra and then send him back, it'd be unfair, so we should go see him! At L'manburg." Tommy rambled unaware of it. This made both Phil and Techno, surprisingly, smile.

Techno shrugged and let out a small huff of feigned annoyance. "Seriously Toms? I mean... I guess we could go.." He stood up slowly. "But let me grab a few things, then we'll go visit Ghostbur." He climbed up the ladder, listening to Tommy's not so silent, but still quiet, cheers.

"You hear that Phil, old man, bucket hat boy? I'm going to L'manburg for today!" His face shone with happiness as he stood up and walked to the door waiting for Technoblade, who came back down with netherite armor on and iron armor in hand. "Here, Tommy, let me put this on you real quick."

Tommy let Techno put the armor on him before opening the door and rushing out jumping slightly with delightfulness. Techno restrained a chuckle as he followed the boy out the door waving goodbye to Phil.

Techno took the lead, heading for the nether portal, Tommy on his shoes. Tommy had gripped a bit of Techno's gown to keep himself from falling over. Unfortunately as they made it to the nether portal, Techno didn't know of Tommy's fear of the nether.

He took Tommy through the portal and began walking again, Tommy stumbled after him, the overwhelming heat and stale air getting to him. "T-techno..." He muttered, letting out a small cough. "Can-can't we go through the overworld??" Tears start to gather in the corners of his eyes, or they would have if the Nether hadn't been so dry.

"No this way is faster." Technoblade answered, without turning around to see his brother. "I mean if your able to climb it should be easy, but I can help if you need any... I'm sure you won't."

Tommy had been following him for a good minute or so and they were walking down the pathway to the community portal when Tommy collapsed with a thud behind Techno, gaining his hybrid brother's attention immediately.

Tommy wasn't entirely blind, he could still see color, but currently he couldn't see anything, or more precise, he wasn't registering anything he was seeing. A faint buzz in his ear kept him from being able to hear anything else, though he was aware that someone was talking to him. His breathing became shallow and quick, and he felt panic take over his system. What was the thing that triggered it? He remembered the bright orange color that seemed to radiate heat beyond bearable.

Tommy felt someone place a hand on his shoulder but it felt numbed, he was aware that the hand was there but he couldn't really feel it. Tears streamed down his face but they seemed to disappear immediately in the heat. Tommy tried to stay afloat but all the panic and fear was killing him from the inside out.

He could hear, who he assumed to be Technoblade, talking to him trying to calm him down, but he didn't register any of it. He felt arms wrap around him and darkness consume his vision, but it was all numb.

Technoblade had been surprised to turn around to a full on panic attack. Though he tried multiple things to calm the boy down he seemed to be unresponsive to any of it. He wrapped Tommy up in a hug, and brought him close while covering him with his gown, ignoring the heat. Scooping Tommy up in his arms, keeping him covered he walked the rest of the way hoping that he might be able to calm Tommy down in the Overworld. Hopefully the way back would be easier...