Chapter Text
“You-” Tommy cut himself off, gasping for air. “You killed it.”
The man shrugged, like it was no big deal that he managed to do that without so much as an injury. “You’re welcome.” The man grabbed a lantern with his free hand that was clipped to his belt for whatever reason, and lit it, giving Tommy a much better look at the man.
First off, the man was giving him an oddly friendly smile after just killing a wolf. Fucking creepy. He had blonde hair and wore a green and white striped bucket hat, along with a dark green robe.
Tommy, who was still huddled against the tree, slowly moved off of it, only going slightly towards the man. While he did help Tommy from, you know, dying, he didn’t trust the man yet, especially not when the man was still carrying a bloody sword.
“Thanks,” he muttered, and yeah, he didn’t like the weirdo vibes this man was giving him. Something about the guy was radiating power, and Tommy didn’t like that. Not when he was cold-heartedly reminded of the danger lurking in the forest so recently. “Why did you save me?” He asked hesitantly. Tommy didn’t understand why anyone would save him, especially not if they had any idea who he was.
The man raised his eyebrows. “Why wouldn’t I save a kid from death?” He asked back. “That’d just be heartless otherwise.”
Tommy nodded in understanding. Okay, so maybe this guy wasn’t an immortal. Still, he shouldn’t trust the man. There was still something that was just wrong, and the prince wanted no part of it. He should just leave. It was too risky and stupid to be out here regardless, and if he hadn’t found Wilbur yet, he probably never will. As much as that hurt to think about, it was best to just accept it.
He may have learned that Dream was a bad person, but that certainly didn’t mean Dream was an idiot. There was definitely something wrong with this forest and Tommy felt like the man that stood in front of him was a starring example of that.
He opened his mouth, ready to give an excuse to why he should leave but the man beat him to it.
“You’re Tommy, aren’t you?”
He immediately tensed up and, fuck, he really shouldn’t be here. This man should not know who he was. He must know that Tommy was royalty and that was the last thing he wanted a guy with a weapon in a dark forest to know about him. The man could easily hate the royal family and stab him, or he could think that Tommy had some valuables and kill him in order to take it. Maybe he’d kidnap Tommy for ransom.
He considered lying to the man. Perhaps that’d be the safest option. But the man did save his life. Would it be seen as ungrateful if Tommy did lie? He should at least be able to answer a question.
Tommy wondered if the man could tell if he lied. He was never a good liar to begin with, and if the man realized he wasn’t telling the truth… then what? The guy could easily be trigger-happy. And when the man was holding a sword, it probably wasn’t a best idea to be rude to him.
That would also be a great reason to answer any and all questions.
“Yes,” Tommy answered, his eyes not leaving the bloody sword held in the man’s hand.
The man’s eyes followed Tommy’s, as he looked down to his sword and eventually realized that it was intimidating. Without a word, he moved the sword, hopefully not noticing the way Tommy flinched at the movement and put it in a shoulder strap that held the sword. “Sorry about that, mate.” He then held out his hand since he now had a free one. “I’m Phil.”
Phil.
Phil.
That name sounded familiar. Tommy just didn’t know from where.
What was stranger, was that he often didn’t hear many names he hadn’t already heard of. He knew plenty of the workers in the castle, when days felt as slow as molasses, and he spent his time talking to the guards or cooks. And of course, he knew the names of the leaders spread across the nations. So, where would he have heard this name?
Tommy then realized that the man – Phil, he guessed, was waiting on him to shake his hand. He snapped out of his thoughts and moved closer to shake it. “I’m Tommy, but you already know that.” An underlying question was there. ‘How?’
Phil must’ve sensed that pretty easily, because he replied with, “I’m Wilbur and Techno’s father. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“…Oh.” Tommy said, because… what? That was the last thing he expected out of this man. He didn’t look even a little related to either of the two, and it was weird for Wilbur’s father, of all people, to be out in the forest. “How are they?” He asked, not really sure how to steer this conversation. He wanted to leave originally, but now, he wasn’t so sure. He certainly didn’t want to miss the opportunity to potentially see them again, after he thought that he never would.
“They’ve both been worried about you, Wilbur especially, after you haven’t shown up for the past month.”
Tommy nodded, his eyebrows furrowing. “I didn’t mean to worry them.” He really didn’t. He had been terrified to risk going back out in the forest. He still was. He hoped that Dream wouldn’t realize he was gone, in fear of what the consequences would be if he actively went against the emperor’s demands.
“I’m sure you didn’t,” Phil agreed. Instead of asking any questions to why he was gone for so long, like Tommy expected, he instead tilted his head and said, “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Tommy shifted his feet uncomfortably. “Yeah, well, I’m sure you would have heard plenty if you had a son that talks to a prince.”
Phil frowned. “The last thing my sons care about is status, if that is what you’re implying.”
Tommy blinked. That couldn’t be right. Why else would they spend time with Tommy?
“They do care about you, you know. They wouldn’t meet you in the forest otherwise. Or worrying their heads off since you’ve been gone.” Phil continued.
“Oh.”
That felt… nice. Granted, Phil could be lying. It wasn’t like Tommy knew enough about him to tell if he was a truthful person. But something about it made him want to believe that.
Maybe it was more because Tommy wanted to believe he had friends. Actual friends. Not someone who pitied him like Sam or someone who was manipulative like Dream. Two true friends who genuinely cared for him. Maybe he would rather believe a pretty lie than an ugly truth.
Either way, the thought of that made him feel warm and fuzzy.
“You’re not very talkative.” Phil commented. “I thought you would’ve been.”
Tommy shrugged. He used to be. He used to love talking. Something happened along the lines, but he didn’t know what.
Something to do with Dream, probably. He had realized a pattern of that since the night Shroud died.
“When I’m with the right people I can be,” Tommy replied. His mind flashed to Sam. How he tended to break out of his shell a lot more whenever they were alone.
Phil hummed as a response.
Tommy squirmed. He wasn’t sure how much he liked Phil. It felt mean to think that, since he was a relative of Wilbur and Techno’s, but that didn’t excuse the uneasiness Tommy kept feeling in their conversation. The man looked like he was trying to figure him out. Like if he stared hard enough, he would know every thought Tommy has ever had.
Did Phil think Tommy wasn’t good enough to be talking to Wilbur and Techno?
“So, where’s Wil?” He asked. He couldn’t bear the silence, even if it only lasted ten seconds.
“He didn’t think you would come after the sixth week.”
“Oh. Is he… okay?”
“He’s more worried if you are.”
Tommy looked away from Phil, preferring to look at the floor. “I’m fine.”
“Well, you’ve been stuck with Dream for your whole life, so I wouldn’t be too sure of that.” Phil joked – or maybe he wasn’t. It was hard to tell with Phil’s whole family. There always seemed to be some bitter thoughts when Dream was mentioned.
Tommy also noticed the way Phil didn’t refer to Dream as ‘Emperor Dream,’ which maybe wasn’t a big deal in hindsight, but everyone Tommy knew referred to Dream as his proper title, except Tommy himself. It was likely Phil didn’t take Dream seriously as Emperor, knowing Wilbur’s opinions on Dream, that was logical.
They must be extremely loyal to the Antarctic Empire, to be fair though. With both Technoblade and Wilbur being named after the two.
Now that he was thinking about that, he realized that Phil had an alike name to the Emperor of the Antarctic Empire. Philza, was the guy’s full name.
Maybe that’s why Phil named his two sons that in the first place, because he already had such a similar name to the emperor.
Tommy probably would’ve judged the emperor for being called ‘Philza,’ but then again, he knew both a Technoblade and a Dream, so the standards of names had lowered deeply for him.
Thinking about Phil’s at least mild distaste for Dream probably would have offended Tommy a few months ago. He probably would have defended Dream, in fact. Saying that feeling like a rat in a cage was actually a great way to live his life, because Dream was there.
Instead, Tommy let out an amused huff. “Yeah, well physically I’m intact.”
Phil raised his eyebrows, subtly, but still, nonetheless. “So… you don’t like Dream?”
Tommy’s first instinct was to say of course he liked Dream. A part of him so desperately wanted for him to say that and pretend that everything was fine. That Dream was an amazing person who did no wrong. But it wasn’t true.
He couldn’t let himself think that again. He couldn’t go back to having the mindset of being Dream’s pet. He despised having to pretend that he still adored Dream, but he had to play the long game. He had to wait.
“I don’t know anymore.” Tommy finally confessed. “I thought I did. I thought I knew everything but-” he cut himself off, shaking his head. He not only didn’t know how to finish that sentence, but he also realized that even though this man was Wilbur’s guardian, he was still a stranger. He certainly should be aware of how much information he was sharing with Phil, especially if it was going to go right back to the family, which it sounded like it would be.
Phil then unintentionally confirmed Tommy’s theory. “If it’s any consolation, I’ve never liked that empire.” The blonde sighed, as if the thought of Dream was too much to bear. “Always was too cocky for his own good.”
That should’ve made Tommy feel better. Maybe it should’ve made him feel less guilty about his negative feelings towards Dream. But it didn’t. And he didn’t know why.
“Yeah.” Tommy replied, more so just to say something back out of politeness. He took a deep breath and asked, “what are you doing here?” He then realized that may have come off as rude and said, “it’s just- it’s not safe in this forest. I don’t think you should be out here alone.” It wasn’t a complete lie. Phil shouldn’t be out here alone. But that wasn’t why he was asking.
Phil didn’t answer his question. Instead, he let out a small laugh. “You’re the one who is the child in his pajamas and decided to go out to this forest alone.”
Tommy shrugged. “Yeah, well, I would’ve thought Wilbur or Techno would’ve been here. I can manage being alone for a little bit. I’m not a baby or anything. I’m a man. No child around here, in fact.”
“Right,” Phil said slowly, something akin to amusement in his eyes. “Well, I brought a weapon to protect myself with, and I consider myself to know these woods pretty well. So, while I appreciate your concern, I’m fine.”
Tommy nodded.
A beat.
“You didn’t answer why you’re here.”
Phil stayed quiet a moment. “I’m here because I was looking for you.” He said, as though he was searching for an answer. And Tommy most likely would’ve picked that up, if he didn’t hear himself in the answer.
“You were looking for…me?” He parroted. When Tommy got a nod, his eyebrows creased. “Why?”
“Like I said, my sons have been worried. I can’t have that.”
That was strange. Sure, Wilbur and Techno being worried for him made a little bit of sense. He would be worried if they had been missing for weeks at a time as well. But so worried to the point where the father, who never even had met Tommy, went out searching for him? Tommy didn’t want to burden the dad with that.
And then, if they were so worried, why wouldn’t they search for him? Not that Tommy didn’t think they should’ve, because why would they care enough, but it was inconsistent.
Tommy opened his mouth to ask more about it, but Phil beat him to it.
“Well, I really should get going.” He moved to leave, but then asked, “will you be here next week? To meet my sons? I’m sure they would love to see you.”
Gods, Tommy hoped so. He hoped that his plan didn’t fall through, and Dream was waiting for him, thinking of a far worse punishment than he had already given. Tommy wouldn’t know what that would be.
Perhaps being locked in the dungeon for months? Never seeing Sam again? More math classes? Tommy shuddered to think about it.
Despite all the nasty punishments and the risks of coming back, he found himself confidently saying, “yes.”
Phil smiled at that and gave a curt nod, walking off into the forest.
Tommy watched him leave until the man wasn’t visible, which didn’t take too long, since the man turned left and went into a particularly thick set of trees.
And in that moment, Tommy realized that he should probably make sure it would be the same time as it had always been. So, he quickly followed Phil trail, and started saying, “wait, Phil-” but his voice died in his throat when he realized the man was already gone.
Tommy frowned. He looked around, searching for any light from the lantern Phil held, but there was nothing. There was no shadow. There were only the trees. Uneasiness started growing in his chest, and he quickly decided that the best course of action was to just leave the forest. He would just meet Wilbur and Techno and the normal time.
Once he finally climbed up and reached his bedroom, the pit of anxiety that was in his stomach had grown into a size of a black hole. He was terrified of potentially seeing Dream sitting on his bed, patiently waiting to give him a punishment.
When he finally worked up the courage to open the door from the balcony, there was nobody there. Everything was fine. And once Tommy realized that, the relief soared through him. He was fine. He did it.
He slowly took off Wilbur’s coat that was given to him what felt like years ago. Tommy stared at it and moved his thumb back and forth through the fabric. It was oddly good quality. He wasn’t sure of the wealth Wilbur’s family had, but it surely must be high if the fabric was such good quality. It was warm, it looked good, and was a soft material, despite it not looking like it.
Huh. Tommy never really noticed that.
He then carefully folded it and put it in his closet. He chose a location that wasn’t too obvious, hoping that if Dream couldn’t see it, maybe he would forget that Tommy snuck out.
It was hopeless thinking, and Tommy knew that. Dream never will forget it. He will constantly remind Tommy of how bad he was. He will constantly berate him and shame him for who he was. He already has.
Tommy wondered if Dream truly hated him for who he was, or if he hated him just to hate someone who existed.
Tommy wondered if he hated himself for who he was or because he was a person living inside a body, and that was too much to handle.
It didn’t matter and he was being stupid. He should go to bed. He was always half asleep the next day because of the lack of sleep he got, so he should count every second of it when he actually can sleep.
He got into bed and passed out within seconds of his head hitting the pillow.