Running Out of Time (Tommy Timetraveler AU)

Chapter 1

The first thing expected when he woke up was not Wilbur shaking the living daylights out of him as he screamed in Tommy’s face about waking up. He had to shove the older off of him as he rubbed the sleepiness out of his eyes, focusing on the scene before him as he wrapped his head around what was happening. Wilbur Soot, his very dead brother, stared back. He blinked, sitting up as he tried to form words.

That is, he was until his brother started to, what Tommy would call if he had his wits about him, glitch, warping in and out of view, another person taking his place every time. A person he wished he’d never see again, actually. Finally the glitching stopped, a very concerned and curious Schlatt kneeling before him instead of Wilbur. “What the fuck Tommy?” He blinked again, finding himself once again looking for the right words to say. “Y’know what? Never mind, I came to wake you up so you could leave before Wilbur realizes you are gone.”

Tommy finally snapped to attention, suddenly aware of who was kneeling beside him, and his eyes widened, his brows furrowed as he crawled away from the drunk ex-president who, by the way, was SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD. "What the fuck yourself? Why are you alive and shaking me awake? Am I dead?!" Schlatt 's eyes bulged at the teen's words, looking at Tommy like he had lost his mind.

“The fuck? Dead?” Both paused. “Did you hit your fucking head? I told Quackity to keep those railings up! Did he take them down again?” Tommy blinked, truly confused now.

“W-What?” Schlatt grabbed the teen's shoulders, his eyes peering into Tommy’s own.

“You seem ok…” The blond pushed the ram hybrid away, finally clumsily standing. Schlatt followed the other's movements, and that's when Tommy noticed what this drunkard of a man was wearing.

It was a black trench coat, very close to Wilbur's own, a Manburg flag sewn into it like Wilbur had done with L’Manburg’s. Fingerless black leather gloves covered his hands, a blue sweater under the trench coat, and black pants and boots finished the outfit. He looked too similar to Wilbur for Tommy’s liking. “IS THIS A JOKE?!” Schlatt himself looked baffled.

“No…?”

Tommy inhaled sharply, refusing to believe for one second that Schlatt was still alive. He scanned the ex-president, sizing up the man's scars, faded blood stains on the sweater, his jacket…

"Tell me what happened," Tommy demanded. "Everything, starting with where we are.”

“Damn, you really did hit your head…”

"Tell. Me. Schlatt."

Schlatt laughed nervously and nodded.

And he began.

“Me and Tubbo came up with a plan to become president and vice president of Manburg, which was to have Manburg just vote for us no problem, as you should know…” Tommy glared. “But, uh, other people decided to join in to become Manburg's leaders which led to Wilbur Soot joining in. He and Fundy decided to put their votes together and won the election. Wilbur then kicked me and Tubbo out and renamed Manburg to… ugh… L’Manburg.” He said the name with so much disgust, a red glint shining in his eyes. “You agreed to become our spy so we knew what Wilbur was fucking up in our country, which leads to now! The festival! It’s tomorrow and we came up with the plan to blow up Manburg- do you even remember that conversation?” It all sounded so similar to what happened back… when Wilbur was alive, but the roles seemed almost mixed up? Before him stood Schlatt, yes, but not the Schlatt he despised. It was a Schlatt that seemed to have taken Wilbur Soot's place, which meant….

“Wilbur… is President of L’Manburg?” Schlatt sighed loudly, hands slapping against his face before dragging them down. Yeah, he was irritated.

“Did you not hear anything I just said? Yes, Wilbur is president of fucking L’Manburg.” Tommy fought back the urge to slap Schlatt for saying the name the way he did, but after a deep breath he looked back towards the ram hybrid. “Do you remember the plan for the festival?” Schlatt raised a brow as he asked his question.

“Uh yeah, explosions 'n other fucked up shit.”

“Well at least you remember that!” Schlatt piped. He clapped his hands together, a very forced smile plastered onto his face. “NOW! You should head back to L’Manburg before Wilbur suspects something, yeah?” Yeah, this shithead was definitely just trying to get him out of here.

“Where’s Tubbo?” Schlatt didn’t look pleased with Tommy’s words.

“Probably with Quackity, dunno where exactly though.” That’s all Tommy needed to hear, the teen quickly speeding out of the creepy hallway they had been in to look for his best friend. “YEAH, YOU’RE WELCOME!” Schlatt screamed after him.

“FUCK OFF!” It was many tunnels later that he saw people ahead of him, said people being George and Dream. He skidded to a stop in front of them, looking at them both in disbelief. Why was Dream here? WHY WAS EITHER OF THEM HERE?! “Uhhhhhh…”

“Tommy?” Dream tilted his head at the teen, his hand lifting to take his mask off. Tommy froze at the action, his blue eyes meeting glowing green irises. It was the first time he was seeing Dream’s face, and the fact he was taking the mask off was making Tommy freak out even more. How fucked up is this universe?!

His fingers inched for a sword that wasn't there and Dream raised a blonde eyebrow. "You good, Toms?"

Tommy took in a low deep breath, then smiled trying to hide his fear. "Yeah. Just a little nervous, with the festival coming up and all." Dream frowned, coming closer to the other, sliding his mask to the side. Tommy tensed up as Dream carelessly ruffled his hair and he tried to smile.

“It’s ok to have nerves, you have a lot of pressure on your shoulders right now, going against your brother and all.” Tommy blinked, mouth dry even though he was sure he looked like he wanted to get something out. “I’m always here to talk, yeah?”

“Yeah,” he squeaked out. “D-do you know where T-Tubbo is?” Dream paused, green eyes squinting as he thought.

“I think in the fields with Quackity? I’m not-”

“THANKS!” With that Tommy was once again speeding away.

“Wait- TOMMY!” He ignored Dream, if anything he sped up, and ran to where he thought the fields had been.

Sunlight flooded his vision as Tommy waded through the tall grass of the forest glades. He could see the two silhouettes of his friends.

"Tubbo!" he shouted-

Tubbo turned, and Tommy forgot how to breathe.

Hornless. Scarless. Dressed in a slightly soiled green shirt.

The Tubbo from his nightmares.

Brought to life, only his blue eyes were no longer filled with fear. He smiled at Tommy, a bright, dazzling smile that flooded Tommy’s heart with nostalgia and joy. His best friend, untainted and untouched by the world to come. It was the Tubbo Tommy remembered from before the world truly went to shit. The Tubbo Tommy always held onto and hoped hadn’t truly vanished. His Tubbo now was so different from this one, almost cold and hard to talk to, his smile completely wiped off and eyes always alert as if he was waiting for the next storm to roll in. This Tubbo, the Tubbo he remembered, looked carefree, something he wished he saw more of. “Tommy? Aren’t you supposed to be back in L’Manburg?” The ram hybrid tilted his head as he spoke. Tommy rushed forward, engulfing the other teen in a tight hug. This Tubbo seemed confused at first, but hugged him back anyways. “Tommy? Are you alright?”

“Yeah, yeah I’m great.” Tommy buried his head deeper into his best friend's green shirt, tears welling in his eyes, though he pushed them back with a few blinks. "I just… I just realized how much you mean to me. Don't ever change, Tubbo."

He felt the body he was pressed against stiffened, then relaxed and arms around his waist squeezed tighter. "I promise I won't. But seriously, you should be in L'Manburg."

"I hate to intrude, but I agree with Tubs," Quackity intercepted.

Tommy pulled away, smiling softly before nodding at Quackity and turning. The sun was setting. He waded through the grass, looking back once more at his friend, their brunette hair glowing in the orange light of the sun dimming on the horizon.

He had a second chance.

And by gosh, he was going to make sure Tubbo made it out of that festival alive.