It Was for You - Dream SMP AU

Chapter Two - Matted Hearts

[TUBBO POV]
                        (vote iffu want<3)

Lights shifted under my eyelids, bubbling brighter. I groaned, my body buzzing with numbness. My eyes opened, taking in the battered ceiling of the hot dog van. I sat up abruptly, my breath catching in my chest. This triggered a serious of hacking coughs, and I panicked.

A soft voice came from my bed side, choked and full of tears. I caught view of a dark mess of hair, capped with a red beanie. My arm rose to wave.

"Hi Wilbur," I mumbled, my mouth slow from disuse. He clasped my hand tightly, a short laugh emerging from his lips. Wilbur's large round glasses were fogged with hot breath, and I seemed to be laying on a cot.

"W-what happened?" I tried, then stopped. I coughed again, turning on my side. In my hand was a clot of blood, dripping from my mouth. Dread rose in my chest, and my eyes darted at Wilbur's face.

"Is Tommy-" I choked. Wilbur looked away, face shadowed. He turned his body towards another cot, and I briefly caught a glimpse of an arrow shaft sticking out of Tommy. His face was pale and sickly, and dark bags underlined his eyes. I caught my breath, pushing myself up in bed.

My head throbbed, and I pressed my palm against my forehead. Wilbur looked at me quizzically, hands folded in his lap.

"Tommy got hit pretty hard. He went up against Dream. I should've done it. He's just a kid." Wilbur bit his fist, eyes welling with tears. I dragged myself to my feet, stumbling. Wilbur leaned against me, leading me towards Tommy.

Tommy's breathing quickened as we approached, and he started to move. His words came loud and slurred.

"T-Tubbo. Are you okay? I saw your head a-and the blood-" Wilbur stopped Tommy.

"He's fine Tommy. Get some rest," he cautioned, shoving Tommy back onto the cot. The blonde huffed, muttering curses under his breath. He looked weary, and I felt tears threatening to spill.

"Tommy, I can get us some food to heal. I know where a stash is," I said. Wilbur shifted his eyes, evaluating my health. My head throbbed and blood still soaked my side. I held my breath.

"I need to do this, Wilbur. For Tommy." Tommy glared at me. "I can handle myself Tubbo. Wilbur, let me get the food. Tubbo's in worse shape."

I laughed, a sharp pain shooting through my ribs. "There's no way. Wilbur, make the right decision here. Tommy can barely talk," I protested. Tommy's eyes went big and he opened his mouth to let out a stream of curses. Before he could, Wilbur stopped him. He pressed his fingers against his temples, thinking.

"Niki has some food in her home. Those wankers on the other side don't really pay close attention to her. She can bring some. You two grab some sleep before I knock you out." Wilbur gestured to the cots and stepped out of the small structure.

I sank back into the tough cot, my head throbbing. Tommy grunted under his breath and shoved his face against his pillow. A couple hours of sleep would help, I thought wearily. Tommy's snores faded to background noise as I fell asleep.

The smell of fresh-baked bread woke me up. It wafted around my fatigued body, giving me a hunger I didn't know I had. I lifted myself up, ignoring my headache. Tommy was still passed out, limbs stretched out all over the cot. He twitched every few seconds, so I could tell he was dreaming. Movement caught my attention, and I saw Wilbur and Niki preparing food. My stomach roared.

"Wilbur," I rasped, throat dry. He turned to me, genuinely surprised to see me awake.

"Have a good sleep, Tubbo?" He fixed his attention on the bread, slicing it into even pieces.