Chapter 14: Fragile Hope
The chaos of battle raged on around Tommy, but all he could focus on was Tubbo, lying pale and motionless in his arms. Blood pooled around them, soaking into the earth, and Tommy's hands, stained red, pressed desperately against the wound. The battlefield had disappeared-nothing else mattered now but keeping Tubbo alive.
"Tubbo," Tommy whispered, his voice raw and trembling. "Come on, mate. Don't you dare leave me."
Tubbo's breaths were shallow, his eyelids fluttering as if he were trying to stay awake. But he was slipping away, and Tommy could feel it. Panic clawed at his chest, his heart pounding so loud he could barely hear anything else.
Then, out of the smoke and the chaos, Niki appeared, rushing toward them with wide eyes.
"Oh God," Niki breathed as she dropped to her knees beside them, immediately assessing Tubbo's wound. "Tommy, we need to get him out of here-he needs help!"
"I know!" Tommy's voice cracked, frustration and fear boiling over. "But how? We're in the middle of a war zone!"
Niki bit her lip, her hands shaking as she pressed down harder on Tubbo's wound to staunch the bleeding. "We don't have much time. He's losing too much blood."
Before Tommy could respond, Ranboo appeared, towering over them with an expression of shock and horror.
"We need to fall back," Ranboo said urgently. "The Syndicate is pulling back, but we have to get him to safety now!"
Tommy's mind was spinning. Everything felt like it was happening too fast, and yet too slow. He couldn't think straight. All he could see was Tubbo's pale face, the life draining from him with every passing second.
"Tommy!" Ranboo's voice snapped him out of his haze. "Help me lift him. We'll carry him back to the medics."
With trembling hands, Tommy nodded, and together, he and Ranboo carefully lifted Tubbo. Niki led the way, clearing a path through the battlefield as best she could. Every step felt like a battle of its own-every moment longer that Tubbo was in danger felt like an eternity.
Tommy's arms burned from the weight, his legs trembling with exhaustion, but he refused to stop. He couldn't. Not when Tubbo's life was hanging by a thread.
After what felt like hours, they finally broke free from the worst of the fighting, finding a small group of medics set up just outside the main battlefield. They rushed Tubbo into the tent, and Tommy stood frozen at the entrance as the medics worked quickly, shouting orders to each other as they tried to stop the bleeding.
Tommy couldn't hear them. His ears were ringing, his head spinning. He felt like he was going to be sick.
He should have been stronger. He should have done something-anything-to protect Tubbo. Instead, Tubbo had taken the hit meant for him. And now...
Tommy's knees gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground just outside the tent, his hands shaking uncontrollably. The weight of everything crashed down on him all at once-the battles, the blood, the fear of losing Tubbo.
"Tommy?" Niki's voice was soft, and she knelt beside him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "He's going to be okay. The medics are doing everything they can."
Tommy didn't respond. He couldn't. His throat was too tight, his chest too heavy. He just stared at the ground, his vision blurring as tears he hadn't realized were falling dripped onto the dirt.
"He has to be okay," Tommy whispered, his voice barely audible. "I can't lose him."
Niki squeezed his shoulder, offering silent comfort as they waited, the seconds stretching into what felt like hours.
---
Inside the medic's tent, the atmosphere was tense as the healers worked frantically. Tubbo's breathing was shallow, his skin pale and clammy as the blood continued to seep through the bandages. Ranboo paced back and forth outside, his face etched with worry, his eyes flicking nervously to the tent every few seconds.
Tommy hadn't moved from his spot on the ground, his arms wrapped tightly around himself as if that could keep him from falling apart.
"Tommy," Ranboo said quietly, sitting down beside him. "He's strong. You know Tubbo-he's fought through so much already. He'll make it through this."
Tommy swallowed hard, his throat aching. "He shouldn't have to fight through this," he muttered. "He shouldn't have to take the hit for me."
Ranboo didn't respond right away, the two of them sitting in heavy silence.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, one of the medics emerged from the tent. Tommy and Ranboo shot to their feet, their hearts in their throats.
"How is he?" Tommy asked, his voice trembling.
The medic wiped their hands on a cloth, their expression grim but not without hope. "He's stable for now, but it was close. We managed to stop the bleeding, but he'll need time to recover. He's not out of the woods yet, but he's fighting."
Tommy let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, relief flooding through him so intensely it left him dizzy. He stumbled forward, grasping the medic's arm.
"Can I see him?" Tommy asked, his voice small.
The medic hesitated but then nodded. "He's unconscious right now, but you can sit with him. Just... be quiet. He needs rest."
Tommy nodded numbly and followed the medic inside. The tent was dimly lit, the air heavy with the smell of herbs and antiseptic. Tubbo lay on a makeshift bed, his chest rising and falling shallowly, his face pale but peaceful.
Tommy approached slowly, his heart aching at the sight of his best friend lying so still. He knelt beside the bed, his hand hovering over Tubbo's for a moment before he gently took it in his own.
"I'm sorry," Tommy whispered, his voice breaking. "I should've protected you."
Tubbo didn't respond-he couldn't-but Tommy felt the smallest flicker of hope. Tubbo was alive. That was all that mattered right now.
As he sat there, holding Tubbo's hand, Tommy made a silent vow to himself. He wouldn't let this war break them. He wouldn't let Tubbo fight alone again. No matter what it took, no matter what happened next, they were going to make it through this.
Together.
---
Hours passed, and the battle outside finally quieted. L'Manberg had held its ground, pushing back the Syndicate for now. But Tommy barely noticed. All his attention was on Tubbo, waiting for any sign of improvement.
As the night wore on, Tubbo's breathing grew steadier, and the color began to return to his face. Tommy stayed by his side the whole time, refusing to leave, even as exhaustion pulled at him.
Eventually, as the first light of dawn broke through the tent, Tubbo's eyes fluttered open. He blinked, groggy and confused, before his gaze found Tommy.
"Tommy?" Tubbo's voice was weak, barely more than a whisper.
Tommy's heart leapt, relief crashing over him like a wave. "Tubbo," he breathed, gripping his hand a little tighter. "You're awake."
Tubbo smiled faintly, his eyes heavy-lidded but warm. "Told you I wasn't going anywhere."
Tommy laughed, though it sounded more like a sob, his throat tight with emotion. "You scared the hell out of me, you idiot."
Tubbo's smile widened just a little, his grip on Tommy's hand weak but reassuring. "Sorry."
Tommy shook his head, blinking away the tears that threatened to fall. "Don't ever do that again, okay?"
Tubbo's eyes drifted closed again, exhaustion pulling him back under, but not before he whispered, "I won't."
And as Tommy sat there, watching his best friend drift back into a peaceful sleep, he felt something he hadn't felt in a long time.
Hope.
Maybe, just maybe, they were going to make it through this after all.
