Business bay

Chapter 4: The Mischief Begins

Tommy stretched, his body feeling less heavy than it had in weeks. The bruises of exile were fading, the aches and fatigue slipping away little by little. For the first time since his return, he felt like himself again. And that meant one thing—it was time for some mischief.

Business Bay was peaceful in the early morning light. Luke's construction site was quiet, Bitzel hadn't yet sprung any traps, and even Axel and Deo were still asleep, giving the Bay an almost surreal calm.

Tommy, of course, wasn't having it.

He grinned to himself as he slipped out of his cabin, already plotting. There were just too many opportunities for chaos here. Bitzel's traps were a given—he'd been resetting them all around the Bay for weeks. It'd be a shame if someone—namely Bitzel—fell victim to one of his own creations. A little rigging, and Tommy would have the place in chaos before breakfast.

But first, there was someone else Tommy wanted to talk to.

He found Wisp sitting by the Bay's edge, gazing out over the water, his calm, reflective presence a stark contrast to the trouble Tommy was brewing. Wisp always had a way of grounding the group, keeping the chaos in check. But Tommy knew he hadn't had a proper conversation with him since he got back. There were things left unsaid—about Wisp's departure, his betrayal, and their eventual reconciliation.

"Oi, healer," Tommy called, dropping down beside him. "You've been real quiet lately."

Wisp didn't look away from the water, but a small smile tugged at his lips. "Just thinking."

Tommy crossed his arms, leaning back. "About what?"

Wisp finally turned to face him, his expression serious but calm. "About how things were before I left."

Tommy nodded, knowing where this conversation was headed. "Look, mate, I told you. We're good. You had to do what you had to do. No one's blaming you for that."

Wisp sighed, his eyes flickering with a touch of uncertainty. "I know, Tommy. But I still regret it. Leaving Business Bay... betraying you guys. It wasn't something I wanted to do."

Tommy fell silent for a moment, letting Wisp's words sink in. He had always trusted Wisp, and it had hurt when he left for the Antarctic Empire. But now, knowing the truth about the threats they made against Wisp's family, it was easier to forgive.

"I know, Wisp," Tommy said, his voice softer than usual. "You came back. That's what matters."

Wisp glanced at him, a small, grateful smile crossing his face. "Thanks, mate. It means a lot."

Tommy grinned, pushing himself up from the ground and brushing the dirt off his pants. "Now enough of that serious stuff. We've got more important things to do."

Wisp raised an eyebrow, already suspicious. "Like what?"

Tommy smirked, mischief flashing in his eyes. "Like causing some chaos. Come on, let's have some fun before the others wake up."

It wasn't long before Tommy and Wisp were knee-deep in their plan. They had targeted Bitzel's infamous traps first, modifying just enough of them to ensure that when Bitzel came by later, he'd be the one getting caught in his own web. They didn't make anything lethal—just embarrassing enough to give Bitzel a good laugh at his own expense.

"Mate, are you sure about this?" Wisp asked, watching as Tommy rigged one of the pressure plates.

Tommy laughed. "Trust me, Wisp. Bitzel'll love it. Besides, it's not like we're blowing anything up... yet."

Wisp shook his head but couldn't help the small smile creeping across his face. "Alright, but when Bitzel starts coming after us with one of his crazy contraptions, I'm blaming you."

Tommy winked. "Deal."

They moved quickly, making their rounds through the Bay, setting up small pranks here and there. Tommy's energy was infectious, and even Wisp, usually the calmest of the group, was getting into the spirit of things.

By the time the sun was fully up, Tommy could already feel the anticipation building in his chest. It wasn't war. It wasn't the chaos of battles and conquest. But it was fun. And it reminded him of who he was—a troublemaker, a mastermind of mischief. And today, Business Bay was going to feel it.

Axel and Deo were the first to notice the changes. They had just emerged from their sparring session—this one, thankfully, more contained—when Axel spotted the first trap.

"Oi, what's this?" Axel muttered, his sharp eyes narrowing at a tripwire that hadn't been there the day before.

Deo, ever cautious, pulled his sunglasses down slightly, revealing the glowing white of his Herobrine-like eyes. "Looks like Sunshine has been busy."

Axel chuckled, stepping carefully over the wire. "That little shit. I knew he was up to something."

They often called Tommy that—Sunshine. Deo had been the first to use it, a teasing nickname at first, but it stuck. After all, without Tommy, Business Bay would be nothing but a dark shell of itself. He was the light that kept them moving forward, the energy that kept the gears of the Bay turning. In his absence, it felt like the sun had disappeared. Now, Tommy was back, and the Bay was alive again.

As they made their way through the Bay, more pranks and small traps revealed themselves—nothing dangerous, just enough to keep everyone on their toes. Buckets of water perched precariously over doorways, pressure plates rigged to set off harmless but noisy fireworks, and a few of Bitzel's own traps redirected for maximum embarrassment.

By the time Bitzel discovered what had been done to his precious trap network, Tommy and Wisp were already howling with laughter from the safety of a nearby tree. Bitzel's face turned red, half in frustration, half in begrudging admiration for the effort it must have taken to pull off the prank.

"I swear, Tommy," Bitzel called, shaking his head with a smirk. "You've got a death wish."

Tommy just grinned, leaning back against the tree. "Can't help myself, mate. You make it too easy."

The rest of the day passed in a whirlwind of laughter, jokes, and good-natured chaos. It wasn't the wild, destructive kind of fun that usually followed Business Bay, but it was enough to remind Tommy of who he was, and more importantly, who his boys were.

That evening, as the group gathered around the campfire once more, the mood was light, their spirits high. Tommy sat among them, feeling more alive than he had in months. His strength was returning, not just physically, but mentally.

Axel, sitting across the fire from Tommy, smirked. "What do you think, Icarus? Ready to get back into it?"

Tommy grinned at the nickname. Icarus was what Axel always called him when they were deep in battle. To their enemies, Tommy was a figure they couldn't quite understand—a boy who flew too close to the sun, always reaching for more. They didn't even know his real name. To most, he was Icarus—the one who aimed high and wasn't afraid to fall.

Tommy leaned back, his eyes flickering with that same mischief that had gotten him into trouble time and time again. "The plan? Well, let's just say... things are about to get interesting."

Deo chuckled beside him, shaking his head. "Sounds like something Sunshine would say."

Axel grinned, his red eyes gleaming in the firelight. "Let's make sure the sun never sets, then."