To Be a Hero {SBI Fantasy AU}

10. Shifting Perspectives

The ragtag group later climbed down to the base of the waterfall, but by then the vase was long gone. They'd scoured every nook and cranny that it could've fallen down and the compass only confirmed their worst fears. The vase had been swept down the river, hopefully not in pieces. This was going to difficult to explain to Quackity, to say the least. 

Luckily though, there was a town at the base of the cliff, so that meant that they would all be able to sleep in a bed again. It was a welcome surprise to all of them, since even though the bedrolls made it more comfortable to sleep on the ground, it was still just sleeping on the ground. Usually, Tommy would be celebrating this development, but he was too emotionally occupied. The whole ordeal had left him physically and emotionally tired, and he wasn't in the mood for celebration. 

The fight itself had left him shaken. The realization that one of these days, he could die on one of these missions hadn't really hit him until then. He knew that usually people didn't breeze through battles like they seemed to in the tales, but he'd never thought about death—at least not in that context. 

The idea that he might not come back from a quest. 

The thought that Tubbo might not come back. That he'd have to go back home, alone. What would he tell his parents? And what about the others? He didn't know what he'd do. In the ballads they never talked about it. Legendary heroes were untouchable, undefeatable. They could always save their friends. They had no fear and never worried about if they'd make it in time, or if they would survive. They didn't have doubts or what-ifs. They didn't have to worry about finding their friends lifeless corpse, neck snapped from the impact of the fall, slumped against a tree.

He felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning, he saw his best friend. His lips were moving, like he was saying something. Tommy blinked.

"What?" he asked, his voice wavering slightly. 

The boy next to him gave him a concerned look. "Tommy, are you okay?" his friend continued, "I was talking to you but I think you zoned out or something."

Taking a deep breath and trying to ignore the way his hands shook as he bit into the warm bread, he nodded. Tubbo didn't look convinced though, and Tommy tried to look more relaxed as he sat at the table in the tavern they'd decided to stay in for the night. The bread they'd gotten was warm, and the stew hearty, but they all felt like sand as he struggled to swallow them. 

By then, the others at the table began to take notice of his odd behavior. The second eldest, who teased him endlessly the other night, looked worried. "Is something bothering you?" he asked softly, as if scared that the boy might shatter, "You can tell us, only if you want to." Even Techno seemed worried, but it was hard to tell since most of his face was covered with a mask. 

"I'm fine," he hated that his voice cracked, "I'm just tired, is all. I'll be good by tomorrow." It almost felt like he was trying to convince himself along with the others. Sleep would make him less tired, but it wouldn't chase away the thoughts that haunted him. He continued to stay uncharacteristically quiet, and the others didn't press the matter. 

The rest of the conversation was a blur to Tommy. Technoblade retired to his room first, saying something about the compass and tracking down the vase. The next one to leave was Wilbur, and Tubbo went after him as they decided that the two of them would figure out how to break the news to Quackity. He'd sat there quietly, not quite seeing the wooden walls of the room as he blankly stared straight ahead. 

A callused hand rubbed his shoulder comfortingly and Philza murmured, "Let's get you to bed, Tommy." He was gently guided up the stairs and he walked along mindlessly. A key was pressed into his hands, probably for the room. The eldest bade him goodnight, and began to leave, as he stood motionless with his hand on the doorknob.