Tommyinnit's top ten ways to save the world

When the Trauma Comes Back and Hands You A Saviour Complex

"That was- you shouldn't have done that Tubbo." Ranboo sighed, glancing at the still door.

"Yes, I should have. He's a hero Boo, whether he likes it or not. And he's beginning to like it." 

"And you know this how?" Ranboo asked, a hidden edge in his voice. "You don't have mind-reading powers."

"Yeah, that's true, but I swear I'm right!" he began to pace across the floor. "He never complains about going to their stupid 'training' bullshit anymore, and when he comes home with those bruises, he never tells us where he gets them! All he does is either give some shit excuse about how he 'wasn't quick enough' or how 'should've seen it coming'! And his mentor is Dream, fucking Dream of all people!"

"Tubbo," Ranboo cut in, petting Micheal's head. "That doesn't mean he enjoys being a hero."

"No, he's okay with what they do! Remember last week when he came home and was over the moon about Dream saying he's turning out to be a decent fighter?" 

"Yes, I remember that. Someone the entire city loves told him he was good at something. Of course he's going to be happy! None of that means he enjoys it!"

"No, you're right, it doesn't. It means he's a threat." 

He turned to the ender hybrid, whose tail lashing like a frightened snake. Ranboo was looking at Tubbo the way someone would look at a cornered dog. One hand outstretched, eyes filled with horror and pity. He didn't need pity, he needed Ranboo to see how badly Tommy could hurt what they were doing!

"A threat?" Ranboo took a darting step towards him. "Tubbo, I understand your scared, but Tommy's not a threat. The only reason he is in that situation, is because we didn't have enough money. Does that sound familiar? Having to do things you don't want to do thanks to a lack of cash?"

"Don't you compare those two. He was short a dollar. One fucking dollar. He could've just left the store." Tubbo growled, his hand giving off a singular green spark. "And I'm not scared. I'm thinking of the future."

Another step.

"By isolating him and throwing Micheal under the bus?"

"Boo, have you heard the phrase 'you can't have your cake and eat it too,'?"

"Yes Tubbo, I have." 

Another step.

"But Tommy isn't a slice of cake that we can decide whether or not to discard. We might not be able to have our cake and eat it too, but we can continue doing our thing without isolating Tommy."

"Boo, he could hurt us and what we're doing!"

"And we've already hurt him!"

Another step.

Silence.

Ranboo towered over him, Micheal being held eye to eye with Tubbo.

"I didn't mean to hurt him," Tubbo muttered.

Sympathy flashed over his friends face.

"I know you didn't mean to. But you did. And you need to apologise when he gets home, okay?"

He nodded.

"Okay. I will."

Ranboo smiled at him, and plonked the child in his arms. 

"Im going to blow off some steam," Ranboo said. "Maybe, if all goes well in the future, Micheal can join us, like you hope he will."

Tubbo smiled back, watching his friend look under the shitty little couch they had.