Just Like Him | TSchlatt AU

Chapter 1

Tubbo couldn't move. All he could do was watch as his friends were thrown out of the nation they had built together. His horror-filled eyes followed the two as arrows rained on them. He was stuck, frozen in place, as an arrow struck Wilbur in the back. Just as suddenly as the attack had started, it finished. He felt himself able to move, but he didn't feel like he was in his own body. He stood slowly, slipping away to the tunnels. He needed to find Wilbur and Tommy, and he needed to make sure they were okay. The brunette walked quickly down the tunnel, his footsteps clacking in the silence. His anxiety grew higher with every step. He could see the light to one of the tunnel's many exits before a booming voice made him jump, still loud enough for him to hear from a distance.

"Hey, where is Tubbo?" Schlatt's voice sent chills down the younger's spine.

"I-I'm coming Schlatt..!" Tubbo said nervously through his walkie-talkie, pulling himself out of the tunnels exit and running back through the walls into L'Manburg.

"Tubbo? Where are you?" Schlatt was getting impatient and Tubbo quickened his pace, reaching the base of the podium. He put his hands on his knees, attempting to catch his breath. \"Yes... Schlatt..?" He asked, still winded. Schlatt frowned at the pitiful sight before his shit-eating grin returned.

"Get up here, Tubbo." Tubbo nodded silently, quickly ascending the steps to stand just behind Schlatt. The horned man flicked the mic off, turning away from it. "Tuuuuboo, buddy~!" He approached the younger cheerfully. Tubbo shrank under the older man's height.

"Y-Yes Schlatt..?"

"Now that those... parasites are gone, how would you feel about being my right hand man~?" Tubbo frowned, not taking the man seriously. One warning look from him confirmed that he wasn't kidding.

"I don't think I can do that, Schlatt." Despite the man's calm demeanor, Tubbo could sense the anger radiating off of him.

"It wasn't a question, Tubbo." He said through a facade of cheeriness, clapping his hand down on Tubbo's shoulder a little too hard. "You will be my right hand man." Guilt filled Tubbo's chest.

"Schlatt, you just threw out my friends..!" He protested, shutting up when he felt Schlatt's grip on his shoulder tighten. The older leaned in to Tubbo's ear.

"And I suggest you comply if you want to keep the remaining ones safe." He hissed, flickering his gaze toward the still horrified crowd. Niki, Fundy, everyone... He gulped.

"Okay, Schlatt.." he said defeatedly, his voice barley above a whisper. The man leaned back, grin returning.

"Attaboy. Now, let's get this show on the road, shall we?" Schlatt turned, waving to the crowd before he stepped down from the podium, signaling for Tubbo to follow, which he did with much reluctance. He lead Tubbo into the White House, which had been built for the winner of the election. Tubbo frowned. It should have been Wilbur. Schlatt lead him through the halls, the man being oddly familiar with the building. Tubbo followed him into what appeared to be an office, and Schlatt made himself at home extremely fast, collapsing into the office chair sat behind the large wooden desk. He put his feet up on the polished wood.

"Tubbo, people aren't going to like me," he started, surprising Tubbo. He gestured for the boy to have a seat, which he did silently. "And I also know people are going to be... untruthful with me, yeah?" Tubbo gulped. Did he know his answer wasn't genuine? He just nodded, bracing himself for the worst. "Well, as my right hand man, I need to solidify our trust, okay?" Without waiting for a response, he stuck out a hand. "Shake my hand, Tubbo. There's no going back now." He looked at the younger with an off-putting grin. Tubbo just froze. It was just a handshake, it didn't mean anything, right? Right? So, why did this feel like such a big moment? He could feel Schlatt growing impatient as each moment passed without response, so Tubbo reached out his hand and shook the other's. Almost immediately, the pain started. A searing pain burst through his head, causing him to squeeze his eyes shut and grab at his hair.

"Schlatt-" he choked out, the pain growing through his body to the point he couldn't even think.

"Just let it happen, Tubbo. It gets better." said Schlatt in an eerily calm manner. "Just let it happen..." That was the last thing Tubbo heard before his vision went black.

AN: Ao3 gets updates first, so if you want to see the story earlier, check out EdenPogs on there! Enjoy :)