The Boo and The Boy

Chapter one: A Child in the Forest

It was a dreary, stormy day. Tommy didn't usually like rain, but Captain Puffy, his therapist, is making him take daily walks. Tommy tried to say he would only walk only days with clear skys, but Puffy said he has to walk through rain, too. Only if it's a hurricane, tornado, or other natural disaster is he permitted not to go on a walk. And since Tommy tries to listen to her (for the most part), he grabbed his umbrella and headed for the door.

"Where're you going?"

Tommy glanced over at his older brother Wilbur, who was watching him walk towards the door.

"Just for a walk." Tommy said, trying to smile.

"But it's pouring." Wilbur leaned up against the doorway.

"I know. That's why I have my umbrella." Tommy held up his umbrella, which caused Wilbur to sigh and nod.

"But you hate the rain, umbrella or not."

"Yeah, I do," Tommy put his light blue wool cardigan on. "But Puff wants me to, y'know?"

"Whatever. Don't come back in smelling like a wet raccoon."

"Don't you mean dog?"

"Not in your case."

"Are you guys ever gonna stop calling me a raccoon?"

"No." Wilbur grinned at Tommy, causing him to groan. "Well, just be careful out there, okay? Don't slip."

"I won't, Wil. See you soon."

And with that, Tommy walked out the door. He opened the umbrella and held it over his head, and started trekking through the wet grass and mud. He kicked a few leaf piles, then glanced towards the forest. The forest. Nice place to walk. Plenty of hiding spaces, if need be. Tommy walked into the trees and started strolling through the forest.

A few minutes of walking later, he heard a noise. His hand instinctivly went for his sword, before he moved his hand and started looking around for whatever caused the noise.

"It was probably just an animal. A rabbit or something. C'mon, little bunny, come on out.."

He called out for it a bit before he saw something on the ground.

Blood.

He saw a pool of blood.

He started to panic a bit, as he looked behind the tree near the blood. What he saw gave him pause.

A kid. A baby. Just a little baby, lying on the ground, surrounded by what was surely his own blood. He was unconcious, but he looked like he had been calling out for help. The noise Tommy heard must have been a last ditch attempt to get help from him when he saw Tom.

Tommy dropped down next to him and looked him over. He was bruised, battered, and bloody. This poor kid... Tommy couldn't just leave him there. No, Tommy had get this kid inside where it's warm, dry, and safe. But if this kid is out here, alone, he must have been abandonded, making him an orphan. Techno was at home. That would pose a problem. No matter, Tommy would deal with Techno later. He slowly picked the kid up, making sure to be gentle and careful with him, as not to hurt him. He held him gently, and laid his blue cardigan over him, to keep him warm and dry. Tommy left his umbrella, swearing to go get it once the kid was inside. He started to walk home with the kid, avoiding going too fast, just to make sure not to hit any bumps or anything.

The kid opened his eyes once. Tommy gently brushed the blood matted hair from his face when he did, and saw two blue-grey eyes. He smiled at the kid when his eyes adjusted to look at him. The kid made a small noise of confusion and fear when he found he couldn't move.

"Shh, don't be scared. I'm not gonna hurt you." Tommy reassured him gently, causing the kid to close his eyes again. He sighed and kept walking towards home, when Tubbo ran up to him and made him almost jump out of his skin.

"Tubbo, what the hell?!"

"Sorry, boss man! Just saw you walking and wanted to say hello, haha.. Hey, whatcha got there?" Tubbo reached for Tommy's cardigan, which made Tommy twist away from him.

"Oi, don't touch it!"

"Why?" Tubbo asked, a look of confusion on his face.

"Because it's.. fragile. Yeah. Fragile."

"Hmm.. fragile, you say? Fine. Then just tell me what it is."

Dang it, Tommy didn't think this far ahead. He'd have to think fast.

"It's.. uh.. it's a.."

"Your hesitation is pretty sus, boss man. Just tell me! Pleeeeeease?"

"No, I-" Tommy sighed. "Y'know what? You swear not to tell anyone?"

"I swear! I swear! Just tell me!!"

"Fine.... it's a child."

"Ohhhh, it's a- what?!"

"A child." Tommy moved the cardigan to show the little one's face.

"Wh-Why is it bleeding?! Is it alive?! Wh-"

"Shh, Tubbo, no panicking. Yes, he's alive, I don't know why he's bleeding, and I just found him on the floor in the forest. I'm taking him home to patch him up." Tommy moved the cardigan back to hide the kid again.

"So you're kidnapping him?" Tubbo looked at Tommy as if he had lobsters crawling out of his ears.

"It's not kidnapping if the kid was abandoned."

"Pretty sure it is."

"Whatever, I'm not gonna let the kid bleed out in the mud because it's kidnapping."

"Okay, I'll make sure the police don't know where to look when they go looking for the little boy who went missing suddenly."

"Thanks, Tubs, I owe ya one."

"Of course, boss man. Now get the kid home before he bleeds out."

"See ya, Tubso." Tommy waved to Tubbo and walked away, albeit a bit quicker than before. He took a shortcut out of the forest (even though he was almost out anyways), and squinted when the sunlight hit his eyes. He moved his cardigan to check on the child, and saw his face scrunch up. Tommy quietly chuckled, then looked around. When he saw no one, he kept moving towards home.