Chapter Text
Tommy stood frozen in place, registering but not believing the— the museum in front of him. The labels that stood as placeholders for treasured things in the server line the walls, including a prison for Skeppy, what the fuck?
Tubbo grabbed at his arm, fingers trembling noticeably as he held on tight enough to bruise. It hurt, but Tommy wasn’t about to tell him off. This was… he couldn’t put into words how creepy this was, especially after Dream's monologue.
Obsessive. Psychopathic, even! All over what, a few discs and ‘bringing attachment to the server’?
Tommy loved his discs, fought against Dream every day for them because of what they stood for to him: freedom. The freedom to do what he wants, listen to what he wants, say what he wants— make drugs with Wilbur and not have it go to shit, for example.
But it was never supposed to end this way. When did it get so serious?
Tommy never wanted this. He… he just wanted to go back. He wanted Wilbur and Phil and Techno, and a Tubbo that wasn’t covering his mouth and hyperventilating next to him, Dream heedless of their emotions as he casually talked about killing Tubbo to his face.
He doesn’t care much about those fucking discs right now. Why did they matter so much after everything they’ve started? Everything else that’s at stake?
They were the reason he was exiled. They were how he lost Wilbur. Hell, he almost lost Tubbo once over the discs, and again today!
So why?
Dream laughs, the sound echoing in the vault. He sounds so smug, talking about attachments and power and controlling the server through Tommy. Like he doesn’t have a fucked up display right in this vault. Like he isn’t threatening two defenseless teenagers over an inflated hunger for dominance, a supremacy he doesn’t deserve to have.
Something in Tommy’s head clicks together like a finished puzzle, and he realizes for the first time the gravity of what they’ve done.
This isn’t about the discs at all. Maybe it’s never been about them.
This is about Dream. Dream’s SMP. Dream’s server. Dream’s rules.
Dream, talking like Tommy’s the problem, the crux of all of Dream’s plans, the one who ruined his ideas of the server just because he made something out of practically nothing.
Dream, saying he’s going to lock him up in a prison forever. Only because he was most of why the server changed.
Well, fuck that.
Tommy grabs Tubbo’s elbow, backing up towards the corner near the portal, shielding Tubbo from Dream’s view.
He’s not going to lose Tubbo again over that bastard’s manipulative psychopathy. He won’t.
It’ll break him.
Even if Tubbo was ready to die now, Tommy wasn’t ready to let him go. And he’s tired of Dream holding every single thing he cares about over his head.
Using Tubbo’s life as a way to control him is the final straw. He’s done.
“Tubbo, listen to me right now, and don’t interrupt.”
Tubbo twitches, nodding shakily as Dream backs away, giving them the illusion of privacy. Tommy doesn’t trust it for a second.
But right now there are more important things to worry about. More important people. “You have to get out of here, Tubbo. I don’t care what the fuck Dream is on about, but if you don’t run you’ll die. He’ll fucking axe you to death, Tubbo!”
Tubbo blows out a breath, shaking his head. Something in his eyes makes Tommy’s heart drop.
He looks like he’s accepted it. Like— like it’s just fine that Dream kills him now.
Like Tommy will have to live without him.
Fuck.
Tubbo smiles, paper thin, and Tommy feels himself tearing apart at the seams.
“It’s alright, Tommy. We had some laughs, and it was fun while it lasted. All things must come to an end eventually, you know? And you know we’ll die before we get through the portal. There’s no way out this time.”
It’s not fucking alright. In fact, that’s probably the biggest load of bullshit Tommy’s ever heard exit Tubbo’s mouth.
He— he can’t do this. Tubbo’s everything to him. He doesn’t realize he’s shaking Tubbo by the shoulders until familiar, rough palms wrap around his wrists and stop him.
“Tubbo, no! It’s not alright! It’s the furthest thing from alright! What am I supposed to be without you here?”
“Yourself?” Tubbo’s voice is steady when he says it, but his expression betrays the sad acceptance he’s made with this rigged bout of bad luck.
Tommy can’t look him in the eyes. It hurts too much. His eyes instead stray to the button always placed in the wrong hole in his shirt.
He used to think it was hilarious— annoying, even. Now he’d rather Tubbo buttoned all of his shirt that badly if it meant he stayed. “… You’ve really accepted it, haven’t you? You think we’ll die if we run.”
“As much as I can, I guess. I mean, this is it isn’t it? Checkmate. It’s over for us, Tommy.”
“No! No. Don’t say that, Tubbo. You’re more important than my fucking discs or Dream’s stupid shit plan— you’re the hero to my sidekick! My best pal! My other half! You can’t just leave me like this!”
Tommy catches Tubbo’s arm desperately as he silently moves to walk back to Dream, that smug fucking bastard, and he’s actually willingly about to get himself fucking killed, and at that moment the portal whirls.
All three of them turn to look in shock as Punz steps out, fully stacked in netherite and looking about as serious as the grave.
Tommy’s never seen a better risk to take than this one.
He pushes Tubbo forcefully in front of him in case Dream gets any ideas, running towards Punz and the portal. “Run! This is our best chance, Tubbo!”
Punz looks surprised as they run closer, and then his expression turns calculating. When he puts the— admittedly very obvious— pieces together, his face goes blank and he turns to where Dream is slowly approaching.
“Punz, don’t let them through that portal! They’re escaping!”
“…I’d say I’m sorry, Dream, but you really should have paid me more.”
Dream’s steps falter even as Tommy pushes Tubbo through the portal, and they escape into a mob.
It looks like everyone who sent him and Tubbo off have arrived at the vault, and every one of them is armed to the teeth.
They all jump into defensive positions until they recognize just who’s standing in front of them.
“Wh— Tommy? Tubbo? Are you two okay…? Where’s your armor?” Sam breaks the tense silence, and Tommy feels his shoulders drop.
Tubbo falls on his ass, clutching at his shirt as he lets himself breathe.
“It’s— Dream. He took all our shit and Punz is in there alone.”
That shifts the spotlight to Dream pretty quick, almost everyone hesitating because of Tommy and Tubbo’s surprise appearance finally jumping through the portal.
The only ones who stay are Puffy and Sam. They share a silent conversation before reaching a silent agreement. Puffy goes to crouch in front of Tubbo, and Sam steps forward to gently grip Tommy’s shoulders.
He looks troubled, concern glittering in his eyes as he checks Tommy over for injuries that healing potions have already patched up. “Are you alright?”
Is he?
The question brings everything from the past twenty four hours to Tommy’s mind all at once, and he’s shaking his head before he can stop himself. “No— no. I’m not fucking alright! Dream— he’s gone psycho. He built a, a prison! Just to lock me up like I’m some kind of— of criminal! And a vault that he wants to put Skeppy in! Nobody deserves that, Sam! What am I supposed to do now?”
Sam tightens his grip on Tommy’s shoulders, silently moving to offer his ax. His expression looks thunderous compared to his usual range of emotions, but all Tommy feels is reassured.
It’s a breath of fresh air after Dream. Anything is, honestly.
“You don’t have to do anything, but I’m going to go in there and give Dream a piece of my mind. Want to join me?”
Tommy clenches his fists, studying Sam for a long moment. He looks determined enough for a full army.
In the end, Tommy takes the axe in Sam’s hands.
After all, what better music is there for him to face than Tommy’s? Dream’s worked so hard for it all this time.
Tommy thinks it’s finally time to give it to him. Nobody hurts Tubbo like that and gets away with it.