Where are you? (DreamSMP short)

part one

The last thing Tubbo had seen of Tommy was his heartbroken face, staring up at him as Dream led him away.

Well, not the last thing.  Tubbo had also seen the sheer confusion and hurt etched on Tommy's face whenever he found Tubbo hiding behind a tree he was trying to mine, or under a hill, with the other side being Tommy's small home.  They never spoke.  Tubbo just got up and ran, making his exit using the Nether portal.  It had been one month since the last time he had saw his friend.

Honestly, Tubbo was scared of Tommy's reaction.  How would Tommy act if they had a one on one conversation, after Tubbo had exiled him?  After Tubbo had exiled his friend?

Tubbo mentally shook himself and stood, glancing at the window.  Golden, dawn sunlight fell through the glass, inviting a new day.  He stood, fingers brushing the compass around his neck.   The compass next to his beating heart, the needle always spinning, tracking, following Tommy.

The compass was a gift, a precious gift from Ghostbur.  The spirit had called it, 'Your Tommy', and he explained how it always followed Tommy, so that no matter where he was, Tubbo would always know where his friend was.  

Tubbo had never took it off.  When he first started wearing as a necklace, it was cold, it's hard iron fringed against his warm skin.  Soon, though, it was pleasantly warm, like it was a part of him.  A vital organ that he couldn't live without.

Tubbo left his room, walking at a brisk pace down the Prime Path, passing the Holy Lands, walking without a plan.  He found himself outside Eret's castle.

Eret...

Eret, the traitor.  Eret, the one who was king of the Dream SMP nation.  Eret, who...

Tubbo sighed.  He and Eret were on fairly good terms, despite their pasts.  They both were leaders of apposing nations, but Tubbo was sure that Eret saw it too.  None of them were really leaders.  Dream was the one controlling them, pushing them into a mental checkmate, dictating their every move.  They were only the pieces, to be moved at his will.

"Tubbo?"

Tubbo screamed, jumping and shaking his head wildly around to see who had spoken.  He felt a large, warm hand on his shoulder.  "Hey man, calm down, it's just me."  The deep, familiar voice of Eret washed over him.  Tubbo glanced up, seeing pink sunglasses concealing his glowing white eyes.

"Oh, hi Eret."  Tubbo exhaled, stepping back and surveying the man.  Eret was wearing his favorite strawberry dress, swirling around his ankles, which were covered in black high heels.  Tubbo inwardly wondered how Eret could humanly walk so perfectly with five inch heels, but quickly pushed the thought away.  The look was completed with the bisexual pride flag falling from his shoulders.

"Tubbo," Eret greeted again, smiling.  "What can I do for you?"

"What?"

"Well, you were staring blankly at my castle just a few moment's ago."

"Oh yeah..." Tubbo muttered.  "I was just thinking."  Eret's smile fell.

"It's about Tommy, isn't it." Tubbo nodded silently, not trusting himself to speak in fear that his voice would break.  Eret approached him again, gently pushing Tubbo's shoulders back, encouraging him to stand up straight.

"Tubbo, look," Eret began calmly.  "I know you miss him.  And I also know he misses you.  You literally have a tool to find him-" Eret's eyes glanced down at the small circle poking though the fabric of Tubbo's shirt- "and you haven't.  I don't know what Tommy is feeling right now, but I'd guess he would really love to see you.  And talk to you."  Tubbo nodded mutely again, his head angled down and tears pricking in the back of his eyes.

"So here's what I think.  You go find him, right?  And once you do, just talk it all out.  Try to think of a way to get him 'un-exiled', in a sense.  You're close enough with Dream to try to negotiate that, right?"  Tubbo nodded again, trying desperately to not let the tears fall from his eyes.  He really needed this right now.

"Hey, Tubbo, I know you can do this, alright?  I'll be right here when you get back if you need to talk about-" Eret was cut off as Tubbo raised his arms and hugged him tightly.  He didn't try to stop the tears anymore.  He cried into Eret's shoulder, Eret having to hunch slightly to make this movement possible.  He hugged back gently.

"T-thank you, Eret," Tubbo cried, clutching Eret's flag with his small fists, feeling the hard bite of metal against his chest.

"Anytime, brother."

They held the embrace for a few more seconds when Tubbo gently let go, signaling that he was done.  Eret let go accordingly, smiling down at the boy.  "You can do this, man."

"Thanks."  Tubbo grinned shakily, reaching under his collar, pulling out the silver chain with the compass hanging from it.  It pointed due east, Tubbo already knowing that he had to treck though the Nether to get to Tommy's tent, having done it already.  But he needed this to find him once he got there.  

Tubbo waved goodbye to Eret, who waved back, spinning on his heel and pacing back to his castle, pink fabric and flag flying out impressively behind him.

And thus, Tubbo started his treck to find his best friend.