Pandemonium | Dream SMP

48. Ow?

I poke my head through the unlocked door and glance about the dark house. It still smells of dust and mildew from the last time I visited, and many of the home's possessions sit out on the sides or floor, ransacked in search of state secrets.

It's a sad sight, but it was a necessary one at the time.

But I'm not here to dwell on my past actions. I'm here for Tubbo.

No one has seen the boy since he fled from Schlatt's office. We thought he'd be back in time for the speech, but much to our dismay there is only ten minutes left and he is still nowhere to be seen.

I'd been sent out to search for him, since Quackity and Fundy had said it was imperative that the public see all cabinet members in attendance to help our public image.

I checked the old van first, sure that I'd find him in his safe space. But to my surprise the little grotto was empty, with no sign that the boy had even visited.

Which is what lead me to Tommy's house. The only other place I could think of where Tubbo would go.

"Tubbo?" I call out softly, pushing the door further inward.

I move through the front room, looking around the dimly lit space, only to immediately pause at one of the sofas. There's a lumpy, blanketed figured curled up on the cushions, a head of brown hair poking up from one end.

I smile and lean forward, resting my hands on my knees.

"Tubbo, are you in there?"

The blanket grumbles out a, "no," and I laugh.

"Hey, we need you buddy, you think you can come sit through a boring speech for ten minutes?"

"Don't want to."

"Tubbo...." I warn, raising a brow. I see him flinch, and then slowly the blanket shifts, and the boy's head appears from a fold.

"Sorry," he mutters, his eyes dropping to the floor. "I'm not having a good day."

"Yeah, I have those too." I hum, shooing him over to take a seat beside him. "They happen sometimes."

Tubbo nods, and then frowns and reaches up to rub at his head, ruffling his hair. Then to my surprise, he flinches.

"Ow..." he mutters.

My brows furrow with confusion.

"Ow?" I question.

"Headache," he explains, and rubs at his head again.

"Well rubbing your head won't help," I hum, pushing his floppy hair from his eyes.

My hand bumps against something stubby and very solid and Tubbo practically yelps, reeling away to clutch at his skull. I stare, alarmed and even more confused.

Without saying anything I quickly peel the boy's hands from his head and push back his fringe.

Bordering his hairline, two small, stubby horns poke up from his skin. They remind me of a goat's, almost like Schlatt's curved ram horns, but only just starting to grow.

"Are these horns?" I gape, holding the boy's head in my hands as I turn him this way and that, inspecting the peculiarities.

"Mmm, they've been growing a lot lately and it really hurts," Tubbo mutters, pouting a little.

"I can't believe I've not noticed them before!" I say aloud, my voice filled with wonder now that I've gotten over my initial shock. They're actually pretty cute.

"They're usually hidden under my fringe," he says, "I have a tail, too, but I keep that tucked away because it looks weird. Not a lot of people know..."

Wow, I guess I didn't know Tubbo as well as I thought. To think he was carrying around this secret the entire time and nobody has noticed.

"You should show them off more," I say, dropping his fringe back into place. "Maybe not now, but once they get bigger. It's important to be confident in your body."

"Mm, I guess so."

I smile and tug on the blanket wrapped around the boy. "This certainly won't help your confidence."

"But it's comfy..." he whines, rolling back beneath the soft folds.

"Oh no you don't. We need you at the podium, little blanket boy." I laugh lightly, scooping the bundle into my arms and lifting Tubbo up off the sofa. He squeaks and immediately starts to flail.

I'm unable to hold him up for very long, and eventually drop him back onto the cushions.

"You're mean," he pouts, his head popping up, his hair ruffled and unruly.

"Yes, I am very mean." I grin. "Now will you come along with me?"

"Fiiine."

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Short chapter because I am so tired -_-z Z