Putting the Fun in dysfunctional

Chapter 8: Perservere

TW: violence, abuse, manipulation, scars, knifes blood, anxiety

This chapter is pretty graphic

When they arrived inside the humongous mansion, Tommy figured there would be an upgrade from their last home (when did he start calling it that?).
But alas they ended up in the basement.. fuck, Tommy remembered the basement, it may have been in a different house and years ago but it was all the same in Tommy's mind. The final control room, he called it, because it sounded better than a torture room.

The old muscle memory from oh so long ago made itself present again. Sit down, head down, DON'T look at dream, speak only when spoken too, never non-verbally respond to Dream, Dream is always right.

Speaking of Dream he was walking down the stairs now, that sickening grin plastered on his face, but even under mask he could see his sadistic grin.

Voice dripping with sickly sweet venom he gripped Tommy's chin, twisting it to stare him in the emerald eyes.

Tommy panicked *no?! No! These aren't in the rules! Stop it! Stop it!!* Dream sneered as Tommy franticly shifted his gaze to the ground.

"Common Tommy.. didn't you miss me? I missed youu~ where's the gift I gave you?" They yanked down the collar of Tommy's shirt and he flinched.

Abnormally cold hands traced over the now faint scar in the shape of a smiley face. "Oh now Tommy, it's been so long.. we've let it fade"

"Wait! Wait no! Stop! Stop it!" Tommy wailed, breaking the rule cemented into his brain as they flailed, dream 'tsk'ed as his switchblade flipped opened, re-etching the old mark into his skin. Tommy sobbed, flailed, did anything in his power to get away.

But I'm the end Dream won. Dream ALWAYS won.

When would Tommy learn that?

———

Tubbo was on his last nerve.
He had recently gotten a job with his bestie Ranboo at café called the Bee and Boo (they had joked that it was their cafe, due to the managers barely appearing). And it was quite nice, but if he encountered another Karen he was going to simultaneously combust.
It definitely had nothing to do with the guilt that aligned with reuniting with his friend. Although that's what Ranboo seemed to think because ever since they've left Phil's he's had a look; a combination of pity and protection.
He had pulled asked about it while driving here because one of the consistencies in their friendship was their empathy for each other
"What's wrong Tubbo? At Phil's you seemed a bit off. Did something happen?"
To be in denial Tommy would have to be dead, and he was not dead. In fact, if he wanted to he could take a taxi to Phil's and talk to Big Man Tommyinnit right now. But that was too much work, and he wasn't ready to explain to Tommy what he missed. But more importantly he was 3 orders back on this damn coffee and it was getting hard to-
"Tubbo," Ranboo lightly placed his hand on Tubbo's shoulder (he somehow always knew a way to calm him down, no matter the circumstances) "take breath, you don't have to but can you tell me what's bothering you?" Tubbo pondered on how this conversation would go 'oh yeah my best friend who I though was dead suddenly appeared out of nowhere and I'm a traitor because I left him and lost out one true token of friendship' Tubbo didn't think that would go well. "No it's fine, let me just get these macchiatos ready" Ranboo took the cup Tubbo was conveniently holding "I've got you, take 5"

So that's what he did. He sat in an empty break room watching the clouds as they came and went, just like the customers as rush hour passed, just like the tides in the ocean, just like his friends.   

The soft bell of the cafe rang and Tubbo couldn't help but listen in "Hello welcome to Bee and Boo, how may I- oh how may I help you officer?" Officer, oh shit were they there for an inspection?  Tubbo rushed out of the break room. "Ah yes, our managers aren't here right now so you'll have to come bac-"
He was cut off by the cop, that he now noticed was wearing a trench coat, so he must've been a detective or something. "I'm looking for Tuberculosis Underscore" Oh shit what did he do?
"Um yes, that's me... may I ask why?"

"You were one of the last people to see Thomas Innes before he went missing, and from what I've heard, you two have close relations"

If he weren't already stressing about Tommy, Tubbo probably would've been able to hold back the sobs weighing him down. But Tubbo simply leaned into his friend and pretended nothing was happening.
———

The blood dripped from the knife, small splats appearing on the tile floor. Tommy stared at the blood, HIS blood, as Dream brought the knife up to his other hand, rubbing their fingers across the blade he gathered the Remnants of Tommy's blood, spreading it around his fingers as if it was paint.

He made sure Tommy was watching as Dreams finger made its way to his mouth, licking off the blood Dream sneered "it's a good thing I found you Tommy" he ruffled Tommy's mop of blonde hair, the remaining blood smearing into his locks. "You've forgotten everything I've taught you. But it's alright. I'm here..."
And for a split second Tommy could feel any remaining pinch of hope he had drift away

..I'm always going to be here Tommy"

/// So Uh... that happened. This seems like perfect time to advertise my second book! First chapter is out under my acct. this was written by a combonation of me and A(Nishinoya4life ) et wrote the entirety of Tommy's pov so go check it out. Anyways enjoy your day