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Tommy was tired. He was tired and everyone could tell. The war was taking a toll on everyone, he knew, but on him especially. Don’t get him wrong, Tommy loved being Wilbur’s right-hand man, but god, it was so tiring. It was always oh Tommy, do this and oh Tommy, do that, but never what he wanted to do.
So when Tommy was dragged outside by Tubbo who insisted he take a break, Tommy didn’t complain. He didn’t even say a word, which worried Tubbo more than he showed. Tommy was never known to be quiet, he used to be rambunctious and loud and obnoxious and amazing. The planning drained him of who he used to be.
At least, that was true until Tubbo stopped dragging him, causing Tommy to fall, conveniently on top of Tubbo.
“Dude, get off me!” Tubbo said playfully, clearly not mad with his best friend.
“It’s not my fault you fucking stopped in the middle of nowhere and expected me to be prepared!” Tommy spoke for the first time in their journey, which gave Tubbo a small smile.
“Sorry bossman! I just wanted to show you this.”
“What? A bunch of trees and some grass?”
“No, it’s not just trees and grass! I just needed you to walk with me.”
Tommy grumbled but began following Tubbo into the forest. After a few more minutes of walking, they came upon a grotto. The mouth of the cave opened to a field of flowers, lavender and dandelions and water lilies and cornflowers, the water so clear it reflected the clouds above.
“Woah. This is where you run off to?”
“Yep! I found it while scouting and thought it was cool. Now get over here, you need a break.”
Tommy sat down next to Tubbo in the grass and just breathed. Tommy breathed the air that wasn’t ladened with blaze powder, the air that wasn’t filled with fear, he just breathed. For the first time in months, he relaxed his muscles and enjoyed the serene atmosphere.
“Thanks for this, Tubbs. You’re a good pal.”
Tubbo only smiled in response, gazing at the clouds that danced across the sky.
Tommy soon stood, walking around the field, picking flowers he thought were pretty. After gathering a decent bundle, he sat back down next to his best friend and began weaving the stems together to create a flower crown—one for Tubbo, and one for him. The one for Tubbo was made of lavender and cornflowers, and the one for Tommy made of dandelions.
Near the end, he placed a single dandelion on the end of Tubbo’s crown and a single cornflower on his. Placing the crown of lavenders and cornflowers on Tubbo’s head, and the crown of dandelions on his own, the two friends relaxed in the wind, freed of their worries and tribulations.
They finally had time to breathe.