Work Text:
The small braid tucked behind his ear burned, it was a promise. A promise that they had long since broken, they sat in a cosy cabin in the arctic, together as a family. A family that he obviously was never a part of, it stung. A choked sob ripped through his throat. He had believed everything they had ever told him.
‘Toms come onnnn, you know we love you. Come home and we can snuggle.’ That was the last thing Wilbur said to him before running off into the arctic with his family, after his recent revival. Tommy had needed space after what they had done, they destroyed the thing he had left of Wilbur, and then Techno and Da- no Phil had destroyed what was left and cost Tubbo a life.
He was so tired of everything. Maybe he should have just left with Dream and done what he had asked but no, he messed that up when he ran to Techno. How wrong he had been, Tommy let out a soft whine. ‘What are you Tommy, an animal. Even techno doesn't love you Look, he left you because you wanted to save little Tubbo. And now even he doesn't want you around’ Dream’s soft voice whispered in his ear. And then with Wilbur’s revival, he had called Dream his hero, he’d admit he was scared. Techno owed Dream a favour and Wilbur thought Dream was his hero. He couldn't stay.
It was nice whilst it lasted right. Yea, it was nice while it lasted. He had missed little ruffles of his hair, the sleepy cuddles with Techo in the morning whilst he seemed to dress Tommy in gold and when Phil would wrap his wings around Tommy hiding him from the world. How he missed and craved that attention again. After exile, he was scared to live with Techno but the smothering love he gave Tommy, after all that happened he still treated him like family. The mornings when Phil came in, they would all be dragged into a nest in the small spare room either occupied by Tommy or Phil. Tommy let out a small sniffle and wiped his coal smudged hands over his face, he had seen how he had been replaced. Ranboo, of all people. The person his best friend had chosen, the person he had taken the fall for and now he was taking the only thing he wanted to keep. His family, Wilby….Techie…. Dad. He supposed he deserved it, after all, that he had done. Maybe they would be happy, Wilbur would be able to be an uncle to Micheal. Techno would have someone else to cover in all his gold and Da- no Phil would be able to take them flying. They could dance across the clouds how Tommy back then had been so naive that it would have ended well for him.
He needed to leave, apologise to them all. ‘What could I give them… Wait… I suppose it’s the only thing I could return to them. They are the original owners of it all.’ the thoughts passed through Tommy’s head, he curled the small braid through his fingers. He weaved his way through the buildings and trees to his small dirt shack. It was never his home, not like the one he shared with his ex-family. He stared into his reflection in the sink, his once bright blue eyes, now a dull grey. Tommy’s fingers wrapped around the small braid, in his other hand was a pair of scissors. ‘Come on.. Do it, Tommy. You’re holding them back for their happiness. They just felt bad for you, they never loved you.’ Dream’s voice whispered in his ear. Tommy shut his eyes, a small snip sounded through the room. He slowly moved both his hands down, he clenched his fist around the small braid. The small woven chain of gold in his hair seemed to burn his palm, he opened his eyes. Staring down at the small braid, he could feel the childhood memories slipping away. He couldn’t back out now, he rummaged through his small amount of belongings. He had never gained a lot of materials since Dream had been put in prison, he was too scared when the man would get out he would blow everything up like in exile. Plus, he didn’t need that much now anyway. He never seemed to leave his little shack. He had no one to see, everyone had left him like Dream had said they would. Tommy was broken from his thoughts when he remembered what he was looking for, right a small box. ‘I might as well return Techno’s axe, it is to belong with.’ his thoughts seemed to reappear. He nodded his head in agreement, his hands pulled out a small box. He wrapped his small tuft of braided hair, in a small white cloth. The hair seemed to be mostly white from the revival, it seemed to make the small gold chain with the emerald glow brighter. He slowly placed the wrapped braid into the box and set off. It would take a while to get to the arctic, and he should probably hurry if he didn’t want to be out after nightfall.
The trek through the landscape took longer than he thought, it would long be nightfall when he would return to his dirt shack but he had taken upon star gazing at night instead of sleeping. It was better than sleeping, watching the stars finding shaped and trying to find the other constellations. The cosy house came into view and his heart stopped, he could see them through the window sitting cosy around the fire. Ranboo was nowhere to be seen but his heart clenched, he didn’t want to intrude on their family time.
He clenched his fist and softly knocked on the door if it was anyone else he was sure no one would have heard the door but this was Techno’s house. He rummaged through his inventory not noticing the door had opened. ‘Wait so if I return Techno’s axe if I give Wilbur my other netherite armour that would ensure he would be safe. I know I have some seeds here for Phil’s birds-’
Tommy was broken from his thoughts by a slow growl, “Tommy, what are you doing here?” he cast his eyes up and saw the pink shades swirling in his eyes. He had been hoping that maybe Phil or Wilbur would have opened the door but I suppose luck wasn’t on his side at the moment. “Oh hey Techno, I was just sorting out some things in my shack and I found some of the things I had borrowed. Sorry f-for returning them quite late.” Tommy cased his eyes downwards and begin handing stuff, running through his mental checklist: Gold, check. Golden apples, check. Iron, check. Potions, check.
“I know the potions aren’t as good as yours but I had to use some of them in the nether the other day” Tommy heard someone take a sharp intake of breath, he ignored it and handed Techno the ‘Axe of Peace.’
“O-oh yeah, these are for Phil since I know he is always running low on seeds for his crows. O-Oo and could you give Wilbur this, I know he doesn’t wear armour but I don’t want him to get hurt, and I know he’s under your protection but a little more wouldn’t hurt. Oh and this is for all of-” he was interrupted by a hand grabbing his shoulder, in which he flinched away when the hand came close.
“Tommy, why are you really here?” Now that wasn’t Techno, Tommy glanced upwards and saw Wilbur and Phil standing on either side of him. They had always looked good as a trio, nothing could stop them.
“O-Oh you know, big man Tommyinnit over here doing some cleaning and I just saw some things spare that I could give to you all since I know I had to give Techno his axe.” His hands shook from his nerves, anyone else would have thought it would have been because of the cold.
“Tommy you really don’t have to give us any of this, and Techno has a new axe that Ranboo made him” Tommy curled up inside, of course, how could Tommy have been so stupid. Of course, Ranboo would have replaced the one Tommy had taken.
“O-oh I’m sorry big man -” his teeth chattered.
“Tommy your freezing” Wilbur reached out and placed his palm on Tommy’s curls, Tommy cowered away from the hand, causing Techno to let out a small chuff-chuff sound. The sound was meant to comfort the young piglins. “Tommy would you wanna come inside mate, and we can talk about all this stuff. We don’t really need it and you look half frozen.” Tommy let out a small breath, “Na, I’ve got big man stuff to do. I don’t really need the stuff either and I know you are in more need of it than me.”
“Well thanks, mate, are you sure you don’t want to come in?”
“Yea, Mr Philza Minecraft. I should probably get going I don’t want it getting darker than it already is. Oh before I forget this should be the last thing” Tommy took out the small wrapped box and handed it to Wilbur.
“Oh right, thank you. I’ll see you around Tommy. Are you sure you’ll be okay?” asked Wilbur, Tommy forced a smile and nodded. He turned on his heel and began to walk away.
If only they knew it was the last time they would see their little brother, the last time Techno would have had the chance to dress him up in gold and let the small boy steal his crown. As soon as Tommy was out of their sight they opened the small box and unwrapped the small braid decorated in their emerald and gold. They were the only ones to see Tommy that night, and if Techno was the first to run out of that door to go find his treasure that was his business and no one else’s. If Phil was to send his crows out across the land to find the boy and prepare a nest to hide his hatching and keep him there, that was his business. If Wilbur was to sing to the sea, to spread the word about his little brother and to report anything back to him, that was his business.
Only time would tell if they would see their treasure again, and if he was dancing around in a meadow about the lost memories of the people he could no longer remember, that was his business.