DreamSMP one-shots ||

// Take me home //

TW/CW: Physical abuse, blood, bruises
~

Once a week since the L'Manburg election where Schlatt became the new ruler of L'Manburg (and changed the name) Tommy and Wilbur would meet up with Tubbo in secret, since Schlatt had decided to make Tubbo his 'Right hand man'. Tubbo had agreed to be a spy for Tommy, Wilbur and Techno as he didn't think there would be a way out of his situation, but he refused to truly be on Schlatt's side, as he knew that Schlatt was slowly becoming more of a dictator than a president. Tubbo wanted to help his friends get as much information as they needed so they could hopefully try to get their country back to what it was before.
Things were going well with this plan for the first couple months, they were getting away with meeting up in stealth and Schlatt didn't suspect a thing. Though, the past two weeks Tubbo hadn't been coming; to the tunnels underground where the three would meet that secretly connected the new Manburg and Pogtopia. Tommy was worried, he hadn't heard from his best friend in two weeks and it was driving him insane.
Wilbur told Tommy that he was probably fine, that Schlatt was probably putting him to work and he was just too busy. This made Tommy even more worried. What if Tubbo was being overworked, or he was always going to be too busy now and he'd never see his best friend again unless the two nations went back to war or had a battle? Tommy couldn't just go back into the land he was forbidden from without a good cause, he'd be hunted down and dead before he knew it.
The three usually met around 1 am on early Friday mornings because Schlatt and Quackity would be asleep, and they'd have no suspicion if they didn't know Tubbo was gone.
The third Friday after Tubbo not meeting up with them the previous two, Tommy and Wilbur began making their way down the underground path to wait in their usual spot at around 12:45 am, hoping maybe this time they'd get to see their old friend. Though, Wilbur doubted it.
"You should really work on being more optimistic Will, it would help me out a lot." Tommy said, messing with his friend to try and lighten the mood.
"Hey, I'm just being realistic here." Will said, lightly shoving Tommy's arm causing him to stumble slightly.
A silence fell between the two, Tommy's slight grin slipping from his face as he walked next to the taller brunette. They arrived at a midpoint in the tunnel, and decided to sit against the wall. They made lighthearted jokes and talked like they usually did, Tommy slightly beginning to believe Will's doubts in the back of his head. He tried to be hopeful, but it felt like as the time slowly passed it was just no use.
At 1:30 in the morning Wilbur thought they should head back, as clearly Tubbo wasn't going to show like the last couple weeks he didn't.
Tommy sighed as Wilbur stood above him, putting a hand out for Tommy to take, and Will helped him off the wooden floor. "C'mon" The brunette tried to force a small smile, but he could tell that Tommy was not in the best mood, and probably tired as well.
    The two began walking back, but before they could get far they heard quick footsteps along with a small thump behind them, causing Tommy to jump. What the boy saw as he turned around made his breath catch in his throat.
     It was Tubbo, leaning against the cement wall breathing heavily as if he had been running in a hurry. "T-Tommy?" He panted through a heaving chest, his hair covering his face as he looked to the ground. His left arm rested above his head against the wall, his right hand on his knee as he bent over to catch his breath.
     Tommy was in shock as he didn't think he'd see him tonight. His hair was messy, strands flying out in random directions; his face hidden. The suit that Schlatt made him wear that was two times too big for him was slipping off one of his shoulders and unbuttoned, his green tie loose around his neck. He looked like a mess, and Tommy and Wilbur hadn't even seen the worst of it all yet.
     "Tubbo!" Tommy shouted happily as he moved towards his best friend, but stopped in his tracks as Tubbo quickly looked up at his best friend.
     Wilbur gasped at the sight. Tubbo's face was battered; a bruise blossoming on his left cheek, and another swelling around his left eye. His lip was cut, and his nose had dry blood crusting around one nostril. His hands shook as he looked up at his old friends, eyes bloodshot from crying.
     "Wh-What the hell?!" Tommy couldn't believe his eyes. He stepped closer to the disheveled Tubbo but he just took a step back, tripping over his feet clumsily and falling to the floor and catching himself.
     He shielded his face out of instinct, "I- I'm sorry! Please- I didn't- I didn't-" Tubbo was stumbling on his words out of anxiety. He knew that Tommy would never hurt him, but Tommy's naturally loud voice caused his instincts to respond by trying to protect himself because of the obvious recent situation.
     Tommy turned to Wilbur who was standing behind him, worry and sadness written all over his face. Tommy's chest felt heavy at the sight of his best friend in this state, and his stomach flipped at the thought that Tubbo thought that Tommy might put his hands on him like that.
     Tommy looked back to Tubbo who was on the ground. He tried to soften his voice despite being infuriated at whoever did this to him. "Tubbo what... No... You know I would never hurt you-" Tubbo cut him off.
     "I- I'm sorry," He sobbed, "I tried to come, I tried but he- he just- he kept-" Tubbo wiped his wet face with his jacket sleeve. Tommy didn't know what else to do, he instantly kneeled down and put his arms around Tubbo, who was very clearly in immense amounts of physical and emotional pain. He flinched again, but soon melted into Tommy as he slowly realized that he was safe now, and Tommy would never hurt him like Schlatt did.
     Wilbur kneeled next to the two, making sure that Tubbo was okay, which he clearly wasn't.
     Soon Tubbo's crying turned to small sniffles and he spoke again, "I'm sorry I didn't come, I promise I was going to, I just.. I just..." He said, blinking away tears.
     It took everything in Tommy not to cry with his best friend, he needed answers. "Tubbo.. Tubbo who did this?.." He thought he knew the answer, but he wanted to hear it out loud.
     "It was Schlatt wasnt it?" Wilbur asked, a stern look on his face.
     Tubbo nodded, leaning into Tommy. He could tell that he hadn't felt comfort in weeks, which was even more heartbreaking. "He.. He got mad because I wouldn't take down the camarvan. I- And then he- I-" the boy began to break down again, and Tommy held him closer.
     "Okay, okay, it's okay." Tommy tried to comfort him, his heart feeling like it was being twisted and stabbed and squeezed all at the same time. He hated seeing his best friend so torn down, someone who was so happy and bubbly, now sad and looking utterly broken.
     Wilbur went to reach out to Tubbo's face with his hand to examine the damage, but Tubbo flinched and pulled away again, causing Will to retract his hand as Tubbo apologized. "No, no it's okay." Wilbur said. "Here, let's.." He motioned for Tommy to stand and help Tubbo up off the ground. Tommy bent down and lifted Tubbo's left arm around the back of his neck, his right arm supporting the smaller boy's waist to help him up. He groaned, and Tommy could only imagine how many more explosions of color were under his clothes.
     "Tommy.. Will..." Tubbo wrapped his free arm around his tender stomach. The two looked at him, worry and sadness written all over their faces. "Take me home..."
     Will and Tommy locked eyes, they couldn't believe it. Would it be possible for Tubbo to just not return to Manburg? Would Schlatt send people out looking for him? Tommy knew it would be risky, but he didn't care. All he cared about at this point was his friend's safety, and he didn't want Tubbo going back after this. He knew his best friend deserved a million times better than the treatment he was getting, and when it came down to it, Tommy knew there was no way he was going to let him go back anyway. He was infuriated with Schlatt, and knew he needed to get back at him somehow; but for now, he just wanted to focus on brining his friend back, and making sure he'd be alright.