━━ THE BOX OF LETTERS RETURNED TO ITS SPOT IN THE CLOSET. 

The only difference is that this time, you had buried it deep enough. It wouldn't see the light of day again anytime soon.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" You asked, giving Tommy a grave look.

He waves you off. "It'll be fine, (Y/N)! I've visited him before, and you just did a week ago. And nothing happened, right?"

"No, nothing happened," You admitted with a sigh. That was, of course, a lie. You had no way of knowing if Dream really was a god, but it did explain a lot.

For starters, why he never dies. There were plenty of times when he should have, and he hasn't. Second, why his eyes were so mesmerizing despite him being chaos. If Dream really was the god of kalopsia, it would make sense. Wherever he went, he made it beautiful.

He made the Dream SMP look perfect. He lured you here, only to deceive you. It wasn't beautiful; it was broken and bloody.

He was broken and bloody, but his eyes still shined a brilliant emerald green.

"Ah, then stop worrying, yeah? I can handle myself. I am a successful hotel owner who gets all the bitches."

You let out a loud laugh at that, much to Tommy's dismay.

"Sorry," You said. "Be safe, okay?"

"Always."

You give Tommy a quick hug since you were leaving to stay in Snowchester for a bit. You bid Tommy one last goodbye and head towards the tunnel.

You tap on the sapphire, watching as the silver band lights up and displays your trident. You tap on it, and the cold metal handle fills your hands.

"Holy shit," You laugh lightly before propelling yourself through the tunnel.

The temperature change is noticeable. In Snowchester, it wasn't a slight chill in the warm air but a deep freeze. There was snow left on the ground and no signs of flowers. At least the vines hadn't reached all the way out here.

You walk the familiar patch down the land, listening to the soft call of birds and squeaks of squirrels dotting between trees.

In the distance, there's a large clearing with stacks of wood, and a familiar face is quickly scanning them into their inventory.

You continue onward until you find yourself in front of Tubbo's house, the sound of waves crashing over the shore echoing in your ears. You knock on the door.

"Coming!" Someone shouts. A string of curses leaves their lips as something crashes to the floor.

A few seconds later, the door swings open, and Ranboo smiles at you. "Oh, hey (Y/N)!"

"Hi, Ranboo."

"Come inside," He said, stepping aside and letting you in.

"How are you?" You asked, gazing around the house.

"Good, good."

You crane your neck around the tall man, desperately searching for what you were here for. "How's the baby?"

"We haven't dropped him on his head yet, so I think he's good."

You let out a loud laugh at that, which grabs Tubbo's attention as he descends the stairs. In his arms is a swaddled baby. For the last month, Tubbo and Ranboo were in the process of adopting — only you knew at the moment. As of two days ago, he finally came home.

You gasp in delight, rushing over to see your nephew. "He's so cute!"

Michael coos at you, giggling. Half of his face was a natural color with a pink eye, and the other was green — almost transparent with a black iris. His nose was slightly upturned and pressed towards his face like a pig. Even though he was adopted, you could see the resemblance of Ranboo in him. And Techno, for that matter.

"He's a lot bigger than we thought," Tubbo said. "Big enough that we have to move."

Your eyes widen. "You're moving?"

The two of them nod. "Yeah, we got that new guy Foolish to build us a mansion."

"Michael sure is lucky to have two rich dads then," You said.

"He does," Tubbo agreed before passing Michael to Ranboo. "Honestly, I'm glad you're here. You know more about babies than we do."

You smile, "Always happy to help."

Then, Michael begins to cry.

...

"I'm glad you came to visit me. It's been a while," Dream said. "I wished you visit me more. I like having people visit me and then just talking to them, you know?"

For a moment, Tommy feels sympathy. And then he remembers everything that led up to this moment. "This is my last visit, Dream."

There's a pause."You- like- forever?"

Tommy nods, clicking his tongue. "Yeah. Yeah, I think so."

"Well, forever is a long time."

"Well, I just-," Tommy's words hang heavy in the air. "Yeah, I'm sorry. You know what? There is nothing you can do. Anything you want to say to me now, you have to say to me now because I'm not gonna see you again."

Dream tilts his head. "Why?"

"Why, Dream?" Tommy questions, barking out a laugh. "You are the pinnacle of villains on this server. I've been moving on, alright?"

He was so much older now, and he was tired of Dream's shit. He was eighteen when Dream exiled him. He celebrated his nineteenth birthday alone on a beach. He had sent out invites, but no one bothered to show. That was five years ago.

"You had this coming, Dream. Like all of this shit, right? Yeah, I'm not gonna pity you, man." Tommy shrugs.

"I did, but you know... I don't know. Maybe one day, right?"

"No," Tommy deadpans. "No, you've seen the prison? It's kind of the most secure thing ever. You're not leaving here."

Dream leans back. "I'm just saying, maybe one day, you know? Like eventually."

Tommy raises a brow. "Unless you have extreme therapy."

Dream grins. "Maybe one day I'll just walk out of here."

Tommy shakes his head, crossing his arms. There was no way anyone would let Dream walk out of here. The prison was maximum security, and Sam took his job very seriously (maybe too seriously). Plus, everyone hated Dream. "No."

"I feel like I've already changed since I've been in here."

"Why is this obsidian gone all pinky-purple-ly, by the way?" Tommy questioned, kicking at the obsidian at his feet.

"Sam changed it."

"Really?"

"It was just uh... security purposes."

Tommy looks at Dream expectantly. "Really Dream? Because this is called crying obsidian."

"That is true."

"And you don't-"

Dream lets out a sigh. "I like to watch it drip."

Thunder rumbles outside the prison. It snaps Tommy's thoughts back into place. "Yeah, this is my last time here. I don't wanna-"

"But why?" Dream prods.

"But why? You're a villain!" Tommy exclaimed, gesturing to him.

"Well, I mean..."

"This is my- listen, I'm not doing this all 'you are sad, we're all happy' like I've done this now. This is..." He sighs. "Dream, what you're doing now is like exile. Do you remember that? Do you remember exile? I don't know how much you remember with all these tears and shit. This is like exile, man," Tommy pauses, shaking his head. "I don't wanna know you."

"Well, exile wasn't too bad, right? We hung out and stuff."

Tommy backs away, a deep frown etched on his face. "You fucking bastard, Dream! You threw my shit into a hole. I can't go near plain biomes now without getting a little trembly in the fingers. It was fucked! You are absolutely fucked."

When Dream doesn't say anything more, Tommy shakes his head. "Where are the books? I told you to write me some books. Where are they?"

Dream stares straight ahead into the lava. "I burned them."

Tommy mumbles something under his breath and then moves to open the chest in the corner of the room. For a moment, he's scared Dream will make a move on him and beat him to the ground, but he doesn't. He opens the chest to find a note from Bad.

"Bad came to visit? Do you know about the Egg then? Do you know about this Egg?"

"Yeah, he told me. He told me the Egg was 'doing well' or something like that," Dream brushes it off fairly quick, clearly not interested in it.

"Did you know about this Egg? When did it-"

"I don't know much about it," Dream cuts him off. "But... I heard about it. I heard that it's growing. When I first left the area, the egg was pretty small. So, I don't know at all about it."

Tommy is about to ask more questions when he realizes what's happening. Dream was manipulating him again. He was only talking to get Tommy to stay longer; he was just delaying the inevitable. How could Tommy be so stupid? God, every time he's around Dream it's like he forgets what he's done. He acts as if the two of them are friends, and everything is perfect. They have a beautiful friendship.

But they don't.

"Yeah, this is a no. I'm not here to gossip with you, man," Tommy sneers. He narrows his eyes, pressing his tongue to the roof of his mouth. "Listen, when I'm around you, my brain feels like I'm fucking conditioned to be your friend. But also, when I have a knife, I wanna just plunge it into your heart, man. It's like I don't-" Tommy takes a minute to think. What was it about Dream that irked him? What was so bad about him? "You don't make me a good person," Tommy said finally. "You make me bad, Dream, alright? All the shit that has happened has been because of you. And I'm moving on to bigger and better things now, bitch! I'm done!"

"What if you- what if you just, once a month or something," Dream pleads, stepping off his bed.

"No," Tommy said firmly, stepping back. "I don't wanna know you in my life anymore. This is done. You ruined L'manburg. You ruined almost everything. You almost killed Tubbo, man! What is wrong with you? You're a bad guy. You're a terrible person! Alright?"

"I did bad things. But-"

"You're a bad guy. You're a wrong un."

"Well, everyone thinks they are right from their perspective. Like I-"

"That's not true."

Dream scoffs. "Well, I think I'm right. I did bad things, but I did them for good reasons."

"What do you mean 'good reasons'? You're a psychopath," Tommy said. And that was true. Dream was a psychopath. There was no way he could explain trying to kill the entire server, for killing Tubbo over his discs, and quite honestly, for killing Wilbur.

Tommy doesn't want to admit it, but he never believed Wilbur committed suicide, and he never believed Phil killed Wilbur. To him, it was Dream. If Dream had let them be free, Wilbur would still be here. Phil would still be his dad, Tubbo would still be his best friend. But Dream hadn't let them be free.

And Tommy blames him for everything that came after.

But maybe he should humor Dream.

"What 'good reasons'? No, please, please, enlighten us! Enlighten me!"

"I just wanted to bring the server together. Have it be a happy family. You know?"

"Bring- bring the server together?" Tommy asked in disbelief. This guy couldn't be serious. He had done the exact opposite. "You blew up L'manberg, Dream. You tried killing me! You tried killing everyone! You tried hurting people's loved ones, mate! Like what the fuck? You're delusional! And I'm fucking sick of it. And I don't need to go through any of this stress anymore, alright? Because this is me, doing this to me now. Not you. Alright?" 

Tommy takes a step closer to Dream, pointing an accusing finger at him. "You're locked up! You're a bitch! I'm the one who's giving me the stress now. But I'm better than that. I'm better than you! So, I'm done here. You've ruined my past, Dream, but you'll not ruin my future."

"Tommy, I'm trying to change and be better and not be the same person that I was. And you can visit me. Like every now and then, right? It'll help! It'll help! Right? It'll help me..." Dream trails off, searching for the right words, which only proves Tommy's point. "Be better."

Tommy gives him a dry laugh, hand hovering over the call button. "Fuck off, mate. You're a loser. I'm done here."

"Forever?" Dream asked, and there's a certain sadness to his voice that Tommy hates. It feels like it's mocking him.

"This is it. Alright? Goodbye." As Tommy's finger hovers over the button, the sound of TNT is heard, and he stumbles back. Tommy scrambles to his feet, fear written on his face. "What the fuck was that? What the fuck was that?"

Dream sits calmly on his bed. "It sounded like TNT."

Tommy runs a hand through his hair, tugging at the ends. "Why would TNT be- that was a lot of TNT- that was a lot of TNT! What the fuck?" His head snaps up when he remembers he was still in prison. "I'm out." 

He slams his hand on the call button, desperately calling out Sam's name. More TNT begins to sound, and Tommy slams down on the button. "What was that?"

"Sounds like TNT is blowing up."

"Why is TNT- ?"

"I don't know. Sounds like a security issue."

Security issue.

Tommy signed something about what happens when there's a security issue. It said he'd be... removed from the premises immediately. Sam would get Tommy out of there as fast as possible.

"Sam, I'm ready!" He turns to Dream, a look of determination (and disgust) on his face. "We're done, Dream. It hasn't been an honor knowing you, but it will be an honor forgetting you."

Tommy waits. He waits to see Dream disappear from view, but instead, more TNT explodes and rocks the cell. Tommy falls, elbows cracking against the obsidian.

"What the fuck? Holy shit!"

"I have no idea."

"What's going on here? Sam!" Tommy begins to shout. He knows. Somewhere deep down, he knows Sam wasn't coming for him. "Sam?"

"He wouldn't hear you the first like 10 times, Tommy. He's not there!" Dream said, kicking at his bedsheets. He was bored.

"But he said... I'm... no."

Dream just hums.

Tommy wrinkles up his nose. "What the fuck do you mean 'hm?'"

"What?" Dream asked, tilting his head to look at Tommy. "It's just interesting."

"What do you mean it's int- what?" Tommy stands up. "What do you mean- What?"

"That is TNT that is exploding. That sounds like a security problem," Dream said.

Tommy ignores him. He stands as close as possible to the lava and cups his hands over his mouth. "Sam! Let me out, Sam! Now!"

"Sam isn't here, Tommy!" Dream begins to laugh.

The sound rings in Tommy's ears, bringing back moments he so desperately wanted to forget. "I'm not - let me out, Sam! Sam, please!"

The more Tommy begs the more TNT goes off. He tries to drown it out. He tries telling himself this is just some horrid nightmare, and he'll wake up soon. This wasn't happening. It couldn't.

Tommy turns to Dream. "Tell Sam to let me out. Do you have an emergency button you can press? For medical emergencies?"

Dream shrugs. Tommy knows he's pulling at loose strings. Besides, Dream wouldn't tell him something like that. Not when Tommy wasn't in that vulnerable position he was five years ago.

"Sam is dealing with the security issue."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that you could be stuck in here for a little bit."

Tommy backs away, feeling the lava graze his skin. "No!"

Dream grins, his mask lifting up. "Maybe even days."

Tommy's eyes go wide, and his heart pounds in his chest. "No!" He turns away from Dream, scared that even looking at him will worsen the panic. "Alright, can you pull up this border! Pull up this border. I want to leave now, Sam! This isn't like funny!" His voice is shaking.

"Tommy. Tommy," Dream's voice comes from right behind him, whispering in his ear. "I know you signed a book because I was the one who wrote it, that said that if there is a security issue going on, then you can- you signed away that you can be in here for up to a week."

Tommy stops breathing for a moment. He turns out pushing Dream back and pressing himself into a corner. "What the fuck? What the fuck!"

" I mean, that TNT there. That sounded like a security issue to me. I don't know if you agree, but..." Dream trails off, stepping closer to Tommy.

"What was it?" Tommy demands, holding a hand out in front of him. This was too much. The TNT, the sizzling of the lava, Dream's still laughing at him, the thunder outside. He was overwhelmed.

"I don't know. A security issue."

"Let me out. Let- How- I can't be in here for a week," Tommy rambles. He can barely get words out as his throat closes up. " I got my hotel to run! I need to go spend time with my- my pals, man!" He grabs his head, violently pulling his hair. "Nonononon."

In a single weak moment, Tommy lets out a whisper, "Dad."

"I mean, if you want to get out, then... let's get out together! We can work it out. We can-"

Dream is leaning in front of Tommy, who had collapsed to the floor. Tommy shakes his head, using his feet to kick Dream away. "Fuck off!"

Dream barely flinches. "Other than there's no way out."

"Dream, what the fuck is going on?"

"I don't know!" He shouts.

"Like hell, you don't," Tommy snorts. He stands up, grabbing Dream's jumpsuit, slamming him against the wall. "What is going on?"

This time, Dream flinches. "I don't know! I know as much as you."

Tommy lets go. Dream isn't gonna tell him regardless.

"What are you saying, Dream?" He asked softly.

"I'm saying I think we'll be spending a few days together."

Tommy takes a shuddering breath, except the relief of oxygen never comes, and he can feel himself falling into a void of darkness.

He lands on the obsidian cell floors with a loud thud. 

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 
wc; 3K
Song inspo: void by the neighbourhood 
Originally published: December 3rd, 2021 6:45pm

a/n: tommy stuck in prison? what could ever happen?
george in florida? we'll never know

have a lovely day and thank you for reading <3