Not Tommy Anymore

Chapter 18 - Older Sister Figure Niki!

Trigger Warnings -

Tommy dragged Techno down the prime path, before they could get much farther Techno stopped his younger brother, who was now tearing up. He grabbed his brother and hugged him, letting the boy cry into his shirt. Though he thought Tubbo deserved every single word of that berating, he knew that Tommy probably felt guilty for slipping back into his old ways, even if Techno encouraged it.

Tommy pushed Technoblade away after a few minutes. "Can we just go see Ghostbur now?" Tommy muttered, looking away. Even if he had been looking at Techno he wouldn't have been able to see the surprised yet pleased look on his face. Tommy was completely ignoring the fact he had just cried into his brothers chest, like the old Tommy would have done, though Techno still had to be wary because this wasn't Tommy anymore, even if they returned all his old habits and traits, which is virtually impossible, he still has the memory and trauma.

"Yeah, let's go find him. We can check L'manburg first." Techno grabbed his brothers wrist and began walking down the prime path to L'manburg. As they reached the wonderful (ly not blown up) L'manburg they came across Niki.

"Tommy!" She gasped, a smile appearing on her face as she walked over to him. "Haven't seen you in a while!" She ruffled his hair affectionately, and internally awed as he melted into the touch.

Tommy was pleased to see Niki, and to see that she was being nice currently, though it may be an act or a lie, he was going to soak it up while he could because it would come crashing down sooner or later, and he rather enjoyed Niki's company, his older sister figure. "Hello, Niki!" He smiled.

Niki cupped his face in her hands and wiped away the dried tear lines. "How would you like something to eat for your travels? I'm sure I have some cookies or cake at my home. Baked them myself so you should like them."

Tommy smiled wider, slightly saddened that he couldn't look Niki in the eyes, because her facial expressions were always calming to him, but he was glad Niki was being so nice. "I can't. Though I would love to, I'm looking for Ghostbur... with Techno." He glanced behind him to see the pink splotch standing close by, not interrupting the moment between them, like last time.

Niki nodded, pulling away and looking through her inventory. "I think I might actually have some baked goods on me." She pulled a cookie out, Tommy only knew this because he could smell it. "Here, you have it Sunshine." She handed it to him, placing it in his hand. His heart warmed when she used the old nickname that she once used when he was only 10, she stopped using it when he had become older because he had told her he was a big man now, but he was pretty sure she stopped because the war was too stressful, because he had been telling her he was a big man since he was 6 which was when he first met his older sister figure.

Tommy munched onto the cookie, taste buds delighted with it. "It's delicious Niki!" He expressed, his mouth still full of the chocolate chip cookie.

Niki just let out a bubbly laugh, "I'm glad you enjoy it Tommy! But don't eat with your mouth so full!" She reprimanded him lightly, with a playful tone.

Tommy's blind eyes sparkled with mischievousness, something they hadn't done in a few years. Techno had noticed as well and was brimming with pride, but still keeping his usual still face. Not many people knew it, but even though he looked emotionless or less emotional, he still felt them all on the inside, he just wasn't so good at showing them in his actions, words, or motions.

Tommy walked back to Techno and waved at Niki, "we're gonna go now bye Niki!" He smiled, unable to see Niki waving back at him.

Techno stopped Tommy for a moment. "Hey, Theseus, could you ahead a bit I have something to say to Niki." He patted the blondes back as he skeptically nodded and walked ahead a bit, once out of ear shot, Techno turned to Niki. "What changed?"

Niki looked at him, smile falling. "I may have thought he was a nuisance back then, but I thought about it..." She spoke quietly. "After seeing him? He's been through so much... I- and I don't want to kill my little brother.." When she had heard about Tommy going into Exile both she and Jack had been pleasantly surprised, they had found him annoying for quite awhile, starting wars, and being too cocky for his own good, for the servers good. They had expressed this lightly to Techno before, and when Tommy went missing both she and Jack were happy for a while, but the server wasn't the same either way.

Techno stared into her eyes, trying to calculate her words and actions carefully, but all he could see was pure genuine emotion pouring out of her the whole time. Either that, or she was one great actor. "Alright..." he muttered. "But if I ever see one single act of murderous intent towards Tommy, I will cut your head clean off your shoulders... Orphan or not, Niki, you don't mess with my family."

Niki was rather taken back but she nodded, and watched as Techno walked away, looking at her over his shoulders.

Tommy had been waiting for Technoblade to catch up, he had just been following the path slowly, waiting for his Brother to finish up. A cloud of purple particles appeared next to him and he felt a certain hybrid wrap an arm around his shoulders. "Tommy! You shouldn't be walking by yourself! You could get hurt! Or what if you know who had found you?"