Tommyinnit Oneshots

The Illusions of Love is More Conceivable Than Veracity of Hate

The days following Wilbur going to the mental institution were hell for Tommy. It wasn't any easy matter for Tommy's emotional state. He had to explain himself to dozens of doctors and law enforcement agents. A CPS agent even asked if he wanted to start the process of being removed from the house, and Tommy adamantly declined the offer. Techno had been a lot colder to Tommy afterwards, assuming that he was warm in the first place. If Phil worked a lot before, it was nothing compared to what he was doing now to distract himself from the disappearance of his son and the guilt of having to send him away. Tommy was laying on his mattress more often that not, cheek pressed against his pillow while his head swam with worries for Wilbur's safety.

School wasn't any better. His teachers had become detached from him. They didn't hate nor like Tommy, and mostly left him to his own devices as long as he behaved. Sam was the only one that shared an ounce of care, but Tommy, in true Tommy fashion, pushed the man away until Sam would just leave little notes of encouragement on Tommy's desk instead of talking to him. Tommy actively avoided Dream, Tubbo, and the others of that group. When he saw Ranboo, he nearly broke down into a panic attack that left him missing an entire class because he was hiding out in the janitor's closet. Tommy felt an intense guilt no matter where he went. Because Wilbur had walked down these same halls, laughing and chatting with his friends. Speaking of his friends, Tommy was on the receiving end of their hatred. Even Niki, who had patched Tommy's wounds up without question when Wilbur first started, could be seen glaring daggers at him when their paths crossed.

Tommy knew that he couldn't deal with this alone. Even if it was as simple as saying 'hi', he should reach out to his new friends. George left plushies in his locker, Bad would wipe down all the hateful slurs written on locker, SapNap would pat his shoulder when he passed by, and rumor had it that Dream had started beating kids up when they said anything out of turn about Tommy or Wilbur. Tubbo and Ranboo were the most active. For every ounce of energy Tommy put into avoiding them, they matched that energy by seeking him out. Tubbo would mostly stay at a distance, but Ranboo would press an allium flower in his hand before walking away. Tommy cried more at school those first days with Wilbur gone than he did his entire life.

But after the first week went by, Tommy felt the creeping numbness. Without Wilbur there to motivate him to be better, Tommy didn't see a point in doing anything with emotion. He focused on his schoolwork, letting the hours drift around him. When someone came to him, either mad or desperately wanting him to be better, Tommy didn't reply. Tommy didn't read Sam's notes anymore. He didn't fight when Bad forced him to eat a muffin for breakfast, and SapNap was dropping a packed lunch on his desk when everyone was leaving for the cafeteria. Tommy would eat what they gave him, but he wouldn't go look for food should they never show up. He didn't have an appetite. He didn't sleep until his body crashed. He didn't feel anything but an all-consuming guilt over what he had done to Wilbur. Tommy should have been stronger. He should have been able to help Wilbur instead of getting others involved. Tommy thought he deserved this pain.

But when Tommy got that message from Niki a month after Wilbur's departure, his entire body craved someone's comfort. Tommy caved instantly. He arranged a meeting with Niki for the next day. She wanted to meet him at the park. Tommy obliged. He didn't care about the long-walk through a dangerous neighborhood because at the end of it, Niki would be there. And she wanted to find some way to forgive Tommy. That was all he could hope for. He wanted someone back on his side. He needed someone to stand with him against the loneliness and guilt he trapped himself in. He might not be worth it, but his soul yearned for the companionship that he had lost with his Mother's death and Wilbur's disappearance from his life. Tommy was raising the white flag.

——

Ranboo ran a tired hand along the side of his face. He could hear SapNap and Dream whisper-arguing about the movie while George shushed them and Bad calling out 'language' every other word. Ranboo saw Tubbo curled up on the couch, half-asleep as he slobbered against the pillow he was hugging. Ranboo had been asleep just a few moments prior. It wasn't the arguing that woke him up, but his phone vibrating in his pocket. When Ranboo tiredly looked at the caller ID, his eyes snapped awake. Tommy was calling him. Ranboo didn't move as he pushed the accept button. Bad looked over curiously, turning the volume of the movie down for Ranboo's sake.

"Tommy? Hello? Are you there? Tommy?" Ranboo said when all he heard was labored breathing. There was another sound, but Ranboo couldn't pinpoint it exactly. It reminded him of crunching up aluminum foil but not as metallic. Ranboo was finally able to place the sound. It was fire. The crackling of flames.

"R-Ranboo...? Wh-where... are... you?" Tommy whispered, his voice away from the phone. There was a strain on his voice that Ranboo immediately thought was from exhaustion. The dazed tone was more like Tommy was drunk, but the lightness implied it was more from pain that alcohol. The breathing also sounded like Tommy had ran a few miles or was rapidly losing blood. Ranboo didn't know what was going on where Tommy was. He had a feeling it wasn't good.

"You called me on your communicator, Tommy. What happened? Where are you? Are you hurt?" Ranboo asked. This drew the attention of the others. Bad paused the movie as they all leaned towards Ranboo. They had all been concerned about Tommy. Since he suddenly called Ranboo, and because some of Ranboo's words to be questioning Tommy's health, they were concerned.

"Don't... know... fire, 'Boo. Lots of fire. Blood. Is it mine? I can't feel it. That's not good," Tommy said, his voice growing more and more quiet. Ranboo leaped to his feet at those words. The others followed suit. SapNap even ran over to grab his keys from the counter. Ranboo nodded to SapNap. The ravenette ran outside to start the truck. Tubbo was dialing 911 to call an ambulance for Tommy. Ranboo waited for Tommy to give them more information. "There's a sign. Green. White letters. F... f-l... flow... flower? Smells like gasoline. Brick walls. Blood."

"That's really good, buddy, but I need you to tell me more than that. What's all around? Can you read any more of the sign?" Ranboo said politely as they piled into the car. SapNap had his hands held tight around the steering wheel while he waited for something that explained where he was heading.

"A-N-N. Her shop. Flowers. I hear... machines... spinning. Ding dong ding," Tommy started laughing to himself. Ranboo pressed his eyes shut tightly. He was trying to piece all the information into a coherent location. Tommy was laughing in his ear, and the car was filled with tension as they all tried not to imagine the worst. SapNap seemed ready to drive all around the city instead of waiting for Tommy to explain or Ranboo to figure it out. That's when it hit Ranboo.

"North Street, just passed Snowchester. Tommy is in an alley between Ann's Flower Shop and the laundromat," Ranboo cried out. That was all SapNap needed to hit the gas. Ranboo slammed against the back of his seat as SapNap broke several driving laws to find Tommy. It wasn't much later when they parked on North street. Tubbo nearly fell out of the truck as he scrambled out. Dream was the first one streaking forwards, always the fastest of the bunch. Dream slid to a stop when he saw what the fire was about.

A destroyed car was left by the side of street, blazing in an inferno and crumpled metal. Right around the corner, Tommy was laying on the ground in a pool of his own blood with burn-marks around his skin and half-closed eyes. Tommy's phone was several feet away from him, cracked but glowing with the minutes of his call with Ranboo. Dream was at his side in an instant. Ranboo followed behind with SapNap, George, and Bad. Tubbo, on the other hand, slowly approached the car. His face paled as he stared into the engine.

"Guys... the fire started because a toy rocket exploded inside the engine. That rocket was the one me and Tommy made for our class project nearly two months ago."