Business bay

Chapter 2: Back Among Brothers

Before Dream SMP, before the exile, TommyInnit's world was Business Bay. And within that world, Wisp had once stood by his side. Their friendship was as strong as the others, until Wisp made a choice that shattered it—he betrayed Business Bay and joined the Antarctic Empire. The reason? No one else knew at the time, but now, as the dust had settled and stories had been exchanged, the truth was clear.

The Antarctic Empire had threatened Wisp's family, a threat that wasn't easily ignored. It was either submit, or lose everything. But Wisp wasn't a coward, and after learning what had happened, Tommy forgave him. In the end, Business Bay always found its way back together.

And now, after all that had happened in Dream SMP, Tommy was back where he belonged—on the land of Business Bay, with Axel and Deo by his side. The rest of the faction didn't know he had returned yet, and Tommy could hardly wait to see the looks on their faces.

Tommy followed Axel and Deo down a familiar dirt path, his body aching from the long journey through the portal and the months of exile. The faint sounds of construction echoed through the air, along with the crackling of distant campfires. Business Bay was alive, still thriving.

"Luke's been working on some new builds," Deo said, nodding toward the towering structures in the distance. "Bitzel's set up a whole new series of traps around the perimeter. We're locked down tight."

"And Wisp?" Tommy asked, feeling a strange mix of anticipation and nervousness.

Axel smirked, his red eyes gleaming like embers under the setting sun. "He's around. He'll be surprised to see you."

The truth was, Tommy felt more worn down than he let on. His body still carried the weight of exile—Dream's psychological games, the isolation, the hunger. But he'd never show it. Not to his boys. But Axel, Deo, Luke, Bitzel, and Wisp weren't just any boys. They knew him better than anyone, and if he was going to recover, it'd be with their help.

Deo, wearing his signature sunglasses to cover his white Herobrine-like eyes, glanced over at Tommy. "We'll get you back to full strength, don't worry. But first, let's have some fun. The others are dying to see you."

They reached the heart of Business Bay, where the giant structures Luke had built loomed over the faction's central square. The smell of freshly cut wood filled the air, mingling with the scent of food cooking over the campfire.

"Oi, Luke!" Deo called out, his voice carrying across the square.

Luke's head popped out from behind a newly constructed building, his eyes wide in surprise. His hands, covered in dirt and sawdust, dropped the stack of wood he was holding. "No bloody way..." he whispered, staring at Tommy as if seeing a ghost.

Tommy grinned, stepping forward. "Surprise."

Luke sprinted toward him, wrapping Tommy in a tight hug, nearly lifting him off the ground. "You idiot! You're back! I can't believe it. I was starting to think you'd gone soft in Dream SMP."

Tommy laughed, a real, genuine laugh that he hadn't felt in ages. "Not a chance. You know me."

Behind them, Bitzel appeared from one of his hidden traps, wiping sweat from his brow. "Tommy? Is that you?" His eyes widened, then he smirked. "Guess I'll have to reset the traps for when you inevitably blow them up again."

"Mate, you know I can't resist a good explosion," Tommy replied, grinning.

Luke, still buzzing with excitement, stepped back to get a better look at Tommy. His eyes narrowed, a flicker of concern flashing across his face. "You look like shit, though."

Tommy shrugged, trying to brush it off. "Yeah, well, exile doesn't exactly come with a full meal plan, does it?"

Axel stepped in, his red eyes glowing softly in the dim light, a sign of the power he inherited from his father, Entity 303. "He's getting back to full strength, don't worry. But first, we've got a bit of fun in mind."

"Where's Wisp?" Tommy asked, scanning the square for the one member he hadn't seen yet.

As if on cue, Wisp emerged from one of the nearby huts, his calm and steady presence immediately setting the mood. He had always been the one to keep things grounded. The healer. The negotiator. And now, the friend who had returned after making things right.

Wisp caught sight of Tommy and froze. For a moment, the air between them was thick with unresolved tension. But then Tommy, always the one to break the silence, grinned wide. "Didn't think you could get rid of me that easy, did ya?"

Wisp smiled, a soft, knowing smile. He crossed the square, meeting Tommy halfway, and pulled him into a firm embrace. "Welcome back, Tommy. I'm glad you came."

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Tommy said, pulling back to look Wisp in the eyes. "And Wisp... no hard feelings. I know what happened. And we're good. We're all good."

Wisp's eyes flashed with relief, and he nodded. "Thanks, mate."

For the next few hours, the group sat around the campfire, eating, laughing, and catching up. It was as if Tommy had never left. Luke told stories of his newest builds, showing off plans for even bigger projects, while Bitzel explained the intricate traps he had set up around the perimeter to keep out any unwanted visitors. Deo and Axel talked about their latest PvP conquests, the two of them practically inseparable as always.

Axel sat beside Tommy, handing him a plate of food. "Eat. You're going to need it if you want to survive Bitzel's traps again."

Tommy grinned, but as he dug into the food, he felt the weight of his exhaustion settling over him. His body was weak, worn down by months of exile. But here, surrounded by his brothers, he felt safe. For the first time in a long while, he didn't have to fight. He didn't have to run. He could just be... Tommy.

And the others saw it too. Luke noticed the way Tommy's hands trembled when he lifted his fork. Bitzel kept a close eye on him, making sure he didn't push himself too hard. Even Wisp, ever the healer, gave him a few herbal concoctions to help him regain his strength.

"We've got time," Wisp said softly, his hand resting on Tommy's shoulder. "You don't need to rush into anything."

Tommy looked at the faces around him—Axel, Deo, Luke, Bitzel, Wisp. His boys. His family. He smiled, a real, honest smile.

"I know," Tommy said. "And that's why we're going to win. But first... let's just be Business Bay again. No wars, no plans. Just us."

Axel grinned, his sharp red eyes gleaming beneath the edge of his sunglasses. "Now that, I can get behind."