In Hindsight

Three Admins and some Duct Tape

Only a few minutes had passed before the firewall began humming again. Tommy flicked his tail, signaling Ranboo seconds before the dome buzzed and someone new stepped out. 

Tango. Tommy swore. Of course Grian didn't come out. Still, Xisuma began thrashing around again, until a shout from Ranboo made him freeze.

"Don't move!" Ranboo evidently had a knife to Tango's throat. "Either of you try anything and I won't hesitate to kill them."

There was a beat, then Xisuma took a shuddering breath and spoke. "Look, we can negotiate. Whatever— I can give you money, safety, whatever you want—"

"We want Grian," Tommy hissed. "That's it."

"Take me," Xisuma said quickly. "Take me instead of Grian, whatever you want him for, I can go instead, just take me. . ."

"Wha— 'suma!" Tango protested. "What's even going on, who are you guys—"

"Sorry, voidboy, we have orders, and they were pretty clear, we're only here for him, no-one else."

Tommy's mask shocked him again and the radio line crackled on. Don't give so much away, Innit.

"You're not going to be able to get Grian, he's not coming out and we're not gonna call him out," Tango said. "Seriously, what are you guys even doing?"

"Oh my god, shut up," Tommy snapped. He took a deep breath and shifted his weight slightly off of Xisuma's arm, murmuring to him, "move an inch and your friend gets a knife to the throat, understand?"

There was no response, but Tommy took his silence as a yes and carefully moved off Xisuma, ears perked for any sound of movement from the admin. Luckily, Xisuma seemed to get the memo, because he didn't move even as Tommy stood up and walked over to Ranboo.

"Do we move to plan C?" Tommy whispered in Ranboo's ear when he was close enough.

"Skip plan B?" Ranboo said inquisitively.

"Yeah, or kinda mesh C and B into one," Tommy said. He shrugged. "Plan B kinda relied on Grian coming out, and if that's not happening. . ."

"Right. Do you— hey!" Apparently Xisuma had moved, because Tango sucked in a breath as Ranboo's knife bit into his skin. "Move again and I'll paint the dirt red with his blood!

"Anyways," Ranboo continued, "do you want to be the entrant or defendant?"

"Will you—" Tommy groaned in frustration. "I don't know the fuckin' codes, man—"

"Those aren't even codenames, those are just words—"

"You guys are really professionals, huh?" Tango said dryly.

"Okay, here, you take him," Ranboo said, and then Tango was shoved unceremoniously against Tommy's chest. Tommy scrabbled a moment for the knife, receiving a sharp jab and a disgruntled shout from Tango before Tommy was able to secure the man back into a hostage position.

"Are you kidding me?!" Tango cried. "You can't just pass me from one guy to the other like—"

Tommy, thoroughly done with dealing with people, brought the knife closer until the sharpened metal was resting against Tango's adam's apple, effectively shutting him up.

"I'm not as patient as R800 is. So fucking try me and see how it ends," Tommy growled.

"I'll deal with getting Grian, you just handle the admins and make sure they don't touch you or Underscore." Ranboo walked over to Xisuma, then crouched down, murmuring a low threat to the admin as he picked up the communicator again.