To Each Their Own, and Their Own to Each

Just Relax

Tommy heard voices up ahead that sounded awfully familiar. He slowed his pace until he reached the alley that it came from.

"I'm TELLING you, Dream, I don't think this is going to work."

"Shut up, Sapnap. The only obstacle is that dumb kid. We just need to get him out of here for a little while and then we can set our plan into action."

Dream and Sapnap? Tommy thought Tubbo and Ranboo had said they weren't allowed in the city.

"Tommy is new here anyways. I bet if we started a rumor or something, he'd be out of here in no time."

"Nah, I wanna keep him around. Let's just get him out of here for a few hours until all is done and we'll come up with some story that'll make him stick with us after his new "family" gets destroyed."

Tommy gasped, and maybe a bit too loudly because fire swelled the alleyway with light. He stumbled backwards.

"Tommy!?"

He scrambled upwards and ran as fast as he could, anxiety crawling in his stomach. He could feel the heat lick his heels as he pounded through the empty streets.

"Get back here, Tommy!"

He didn't slow his stride. He'd built some endurance from training so he was almost able to reach the market before-

"oOMF-"

He crashed into another alleyway, air rushing out of his lungs. Dream and Sapnap stood over him, blocking his exit. He scrambled away from them, backing into the dark alleyway further.

"Oh, Tommy, don't make this harder than it has to be."

Tommy shuddered.

"You can't do this!"

Dream shoved him back with his foot and planted it on his chest harshly.

"Listen, kid, we've been planning this for months and you're not about to go and ruin it."

Dream nodded at Sapnap who started creating shapes with his fire that was animated into a story.

"Ever wondered why me and Sapnap were banned from the city?"

Tommy shrugged. Dream hissed at him.

"Because we were stronger than any force on the outside. One of the reasons that humans are so hostile towards gods is because we showed them that we were superior. So they kicked us out and banned us from being here."

Tommy furrowed his brow, trying to shove Dream's foot off of him so he could escape. Maybe if he could decay only one part of his body, he could escape...

"So, if you tell anyone about what you just heard or saw, your entire family will be ripped to shreds."

Tommy widened his eyes.

"You wouldn't."

Dream chuckled.

"But we would, starting with you."

He slammed Tommy's head into the ground with a loud crack. Tommy cried out in agony. Sapnap jumped in front and readied his flames again. Tommy, dizzy and seeing flying colors, rolled out of the way and bounced to his feet. Another wave of dizziness shook him and he almost puked. 5 Dream's were coming straight for him as his vision bounced. The light hurt.

With one movement of his arm, he wrapped his hand around Dream's face clumsily and felt the power run through him. Immediately, Dream fell to the ground with a cry of pain. From what Tommy could see, half his face was melted and black, the skin shredded off his face.

Tommy turned and stumbled out of the alleyway and down the street. He felt really sick and his vision was starting to fade.

Please...! Anybody help me! Wilbur....

A flash of pink filled his vision, somebody said his name, and he was out.

Tommy felt nothing as he slowly regained consciousness. He was laying on a really soft bed that was not his own. The pain he had felt previously was starting to fade out as if he had healed immediately. There was a weight grabbing onto his hand.

He sat up and slowly opened his eyes.

Wilbur had his head laid against the bed, clutching his hand like it was the last part of him to exist. Tommy reached over and shook him gently. Wilbur bounced up, almost knocking his head against Tommy's. They locked eyes, Wilbur stunned.

He surged forward, wrapping his arms around Tommy.

Tommy felt conflicted. If what Dream had said was true, taking out his family shouldn't be too hard, right? He couldn't let that happen...

Tommy shoved Wilbur off of him, putting on an angry look despite the guilt starting to pool in his stomach.

Wilbur looked shock.

"Get off me."

Tommy stood in the mirror before heading out to eat breakfast.

Ever since he started becoming distant, he'd been making... the people he lives with are more and more uncomfortable.

They'd never done anything to him, so they were confused, but Tommy couldn't risk them being close to him if he were to be involved in Dream's plan. He couldn't risk them getting hurt.

He sat down at the table and Wilbur placed a plat in front of the both of them.

"Dad and Techno are out today. Some photoshoot or something..."

Wilbur mumbled.

Tommy just ignored him, which only made Wilbur more sad.

"Y'know, I can't tell if it was my ability that was keeping al this anger out, or if you just hate us for no reason now."

Tommy looked up and stared at him blankly.

"What?"

Wilbur frowned sadly.

"When you first got here, I used my ability to make you accept us faster."

Tommy was shocked.

"So it was all fake?!"

Wilbur looked scared now.

"Of course not! I stopped using it after a couple days!"

"That doesn't make it okay! I thought everything was real! Do you guys even like me? Do you only like your version of me?"

Wilbur was now petrified.

"What? No! We wanted to help you!"

Tommy stared at his hands.

"I didn't want you to be left outside. I wanted you to feel okay! I wanted you to feel welcome. I promise, ever since then I haven't use dit on you once! Not even now!"

"But why? Why waste your energy?"

"You're worth it. We stand...Tommy, we stand together."