Chapter 4: The Calm Before
The days passed in a blur as preparations were made. Tubbo had kept his promise and organized small scouting parties to gather intel on the new camp beyond the L’Manberg border. Ranboo, Niki, and Fundy had been keeping a close eye on the unfamiliar faction’s movements, but no direct confrontation had happened yet.
Tommy, however, was growing more restless by the hour.
He stood at the top of the L’Manberg walls, gazing out over the fields toward the distant structures. They were becoming larger, more defined each day, and the sight of them made Tommy’s stomach churn with frustration. He was never good at waiting—never good at sitting back while danger loomed. And now, with an unknown enemy building at their doorstep, the inaction was driving him mad.
Behind him, Tubbo’s voice cut through the stillness.
“Tommy.”
Tommy turned, watching Tubbo approach, his expression serious but calm. He was still dressed in his usual worn-out hoodie, his face shadowed with tiredness, but his eyes were sharp, focused. It was the same look he’d worn ever since he became president, a look that sometimes made Tommy feel like he didn’t quite know Tubbo anymore.
“You’ve been up here a lot lately,” Tubbo said, leaning against the stone wall beside him.
Tommy shrugged, trying to act casual. “Just keeping an eye on things. You know, in case something happens.”
Tubbo studied him for a moment, then sighed. “I get it. You’re frustrated.”
Tommy clenched his fists, feeling the familiar heat of impatience rising inside him. “I just don’t see why we’re waiting so long. Every day we sit here, they get stronger. We should be doing something—anything—to stop them.”
“I understand that, but we still don’t know enough about them. Rushing in blind could get people killed.”
Tommy scoffed, kicking a loose stone off the wall. “It feels like we’re just waiting to get attacked. Like we’re letting them control the situation.”
Tubbo was silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the horizon. When he finally spoke, his voice was softer, more measured. “Tommy, I know this is hard for you. You’ve never been the type to sit still, but… I need you to trust me on this. There’s more at stake than just us.”
Tommy bit his tongue, trying to hold back the flood of emotions surging through him. He knew Tubbo was right, logically. But the thought of standing by while someone else decided the fate of L’Manberg—it grated on him. It wasn’t just about the war anymore. It was about everything that had been taken from them: their peace, their innocence, their friendship.
“Things aren’t like they used to be,” Tommy muttered, his voice low.
Tubbo glanced at him, eyebrows raised. “What do you mean?”
Tommy shrugged, keeping his eyes fixed on the distant camp. “Before all this crap, things were simpler, you know? Just you and me messing around, having fun. Now, it’s all about wars and enemies and decisions that could screw everything up.”
Tubbo was quiet for a long time. When he finally spoke, his voice was soft, almost regretful. “Yeah… I miss those days too.”
The silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken words. Tommy wanted to say something more—wanted to talk about the way things had been shifting between them, about the moment they’d shared just days ago. But every time he tried to bring it up, the words stuck in his throat. He wasn’t sure if it was fear or uncertainty or both, but it felt impossible to confront it now.
Tubbo broke the silence first, shifting the topic. “Ranboo said there’s been more movement at the camp. They’ve been reinforcing their defenses, and it looks like they’re preparing for something.”
Tommy’s stomach twisted. “Then why aren’t we doing the same?”
“We are,” Tubbo said quickly. “But we can’t let them know we’re on to them. If they think we’re preparing for a fight, they might escalate things before we’re ready.”
Tommy let out a frustrated sigh. “You always have to think everything through, don’t you?”
Tubbo chuckled, though there wasn’t much humor in it. “I have to. It’s my job.”
Tommy hated that. Hated that Tubbo had to think like that now. Hated that their friendship had been overshadowed by responsibilities and politics and war. He missed the Tubbo who used to throw caution to the wind and jump headfirst into adventure with him. He missed the simplicity of it all.
But then again, maybe he missed something more than just that.
The thought of what had passed between them—of the night they sat hand in hand on that hill—gnawed at Tommy. He wasn’t good with emotions, wasn’t good with understanding what he was supposed to feel. But he knew one thing for sure: Tubbo was more than just his best friend now. Whether he liked it or not, things between them had changed.
“I’ve been thinking,” Tommy said suddenly, his voice more hesitant than he intended.
Tubbo turned, tilting his head. “About what?”
Tommy swallowed hard, his heart racing. He’d always been impulsive, always said whatever came to mind, but now—now he was nervous. The words that were fighting to come out were too real, too raw. But he couldn’t keep them in any longer.
“About us,” Tommy finally admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Tubbo blinked, clearly caught off guard. “What do you mean?”
Tommy’s heart pounded in his chest. This was it. This was the moment he’d been avoiding, the moment he didn’t know how to handle. But if they were going to face whatever came next, they couldn’t do it with things unsaid between them.
“I mean… I’ve been thinking about what you said that night,” Tommy continued, his voice wavering. “About not pretending anymore. About things being different.”
Tubbo’s expression softened, and he looked away, as if trying to gather his thoughts. “Yeah. I remember.”
Tommy felt a lump form in his throat, his words suddenly feeling too big for him. “I don’t know what this is between us, Tubbo. I don’t know how to deal with it. But I don’t want to lose you. Not to this war, not to anything.”
Tubbo turned back to him, and for the first time in days, Tommy saw the vulnerability in his friend’s eyes. “You won’t lose me, Tommy. No matter what happens.”
They stood there, the tension thick but not uncomfortable, like they were standing on the edge of something important—something fragile. Tommy wasn’t good at this, wasn’t good at being serious, but he knew this moment mattered.
“We’ll get through this,” Tubbo said softly, stepping closer. “And when we do, we’ll figure everything else out. Together.”
Tommy nodded, feeling his chest tighten with something he couldn’t quite name. “Together,” he echoed, the word feeling both comforting and terrifying all at once.
As the sun began to set behind the distant camp, casting long shadows across L’Manberg, they stood side by side, watching the world darken around them. For now, the war could wait. For now, it was just the two of them, facing the unknown together.
And for the first time in a long time, Tommy felt like maybe—just maybe—they’d be okay.
