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“Here it is.” Dream said as they approached what Tommy assumed was a… house… of somekind. Well, it was a residence, but “underground bunker” was a better term than “house.”
It had a little garden though. All sorted out in neat rows liek what Tommy would see in villages. Tommy saw some pumpkins growing amongst the green foliage. Tommy squinted as he noticed yellow squash and even a few pre-ripe watermelons.
As Tommy admired the vegetables Dream pulled open the bunker’s door. Tommy’s attention snapped to the low, long groan the steel entrance made. While the door itself was thick metal overgrown with weeds, the inside looked slightly more pleasant. Warm lanterns illuminated a spiraling staircase that dug into the ground.
“Come on.” Dream motioned, stepping aside so that Tommy could pass. Tommy swallowed, hesitant. He didn’t know where this was, and no one knew he was here. Not like anyone would care anyway. No one came to his party, why would they come here?
Nonetheless, Tommy cautiously stepped past Dream and began his decent. His silhouette casted a dark shadow that stretched across the stairwell. However his shadow vanished when a loud clang echoed behind him. Tommy jumped and spun around. Dream had a his back to him, making sure the door was properly sealed.
He was trapped.
But… it was fine. Dream wasn’t going to kill him or anything. He was just letting him spend the night. A night away from Logestshire.
Yet still… something wasn’t right. Why was Dream here? He said he didn’t live near the Greater SMP anymore, but… an abandoned bunker? In the middle of nowhere?
A faint scent pulled Tommy away from his panicking thoughts. Tommy turned to the stairwell, sniffing. It was mixed with the musty smell of old wood and stale air, yet it ewas unmistakable.
“Rabbit stew?” Tommy asked.
Dream hummed as he passed the younger. “I called Punz and asked to have some ready.”
“Wait-- Punz is here?”
“Yeah, he hangs around here sometimes. Mercenary work is pretty dangerous.”
“Why didn’t he come to my party?”
Dream shot him a look over his shoulder, his green eyes reflecting off the torchlight. “You didn’t invite him.”
Tommy looked away sheepishly. “Oh yeah.”
It didn’t take long for them to reach the bottom of the stairs, though it was impossible to tell how deep they were underground. The scent was much stronger now, and Tommy blindly followed the scent as his stomach growled painfully. He quickly found his way into a kitchen. At least, it looked like a kitchen. The walls were wooden planks with a bunk of kitchen maintenance shoved in a corner. In the other corner was a dining table, where Punz was found setting plates and bowls.
The blond mercenary looked up to see Tommy. They made awkward eye contact for about five seconds before Dream came in behind Tommy.
“Is dinner about ready?” Dream asked casually.
“Yeah.” Punz mumbled. He turned to Tommy. Pale blue eyes scanned over him distastefully. “You look filthy.”
Tommy scowled. “Well that’s what happens when you don’t shower, bitch.”
Punz made a face. “Then shower before dinner. I can smell you from over here.”
“No! I’m hungry! I haven’t eaten rabbit stew since--”
“Either shower or don’t eat.” Punz snapped. Tommy jumped back, arms raised slightly. Guilt and fear washed over his face.
“Punz, lighten up a little.” Dream chidded. “But he’s right Tommy, you reek. I’ll show you were the shower is.” He put his hand on Tommy’s shoulder and steered him out of the room. They made their way down another stairway (this one much shorter) which lead to a corridor of rooms. Dream stopped at the second door.
“I’ll put of change of clothes right outside the door. Then you can come eat. Just shout if you need anything.” Dream patted Tommy’s back before turning to leave. Tommy watched the older disappear around the corner while he stayed glued to his spot.
This was strange. Dream was never this… helpful. Or considerate. He never cared how Tommy smelled in exile, yet here he was giving him free clothes?
Tommy sighed. Well, he wasn’t going to challenge Dream’s generosity.
***
“We’re rushing things, Dream.” Punz warned.
“I know-- I know. We don’t have to tell him everything, not yet. I just don’t want him to be alone right now.”
Punz raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t care before.”
“Yes-- I know.” Dream snapped. “But there was a look in his eyes that I didn’t like. I didn’t want to leave him alone in Logestshire.”
“What could he possibly do? He’s got nothing!”
“So did Wilbur.” Dream bit through his teeth. “Yet look what he did. And look at what happened to him. I don’t want Tommy to be another Wilbur.”
Punz looked away, reflecting on Dream’s words. “Still, his loyalties are with L’manburg. He tried to throw a party for them.”
“And now he sees that they don’t care about him.” Dream grinned with his teeth as his eyes twinkled. “But… we do. We care about him. We’re giving him food and shelter are we not?”
“You are giving him food and shelter.” Punz corrected.
Dream rolled his eyes. Punz went back to pouring the stew into three bowls.
“He’s reckless, and a hazard.” Punz warned softly.
“He’s also loyal, hardworking, and smarter than he thinks. Most would have cracked by now, but not him. He went through the same things Wilbur did, and now he’s endured Logestedshire.”
“I don’t like this Dream. He’s the last person I’d consider to join us.”
“Just give him a chance. We don’t have to tell him about the book. We’ll keep him here for a few weeks, get a proper read on him, see if his loyalties shift, and then we can work from there.”
“And if his loyalties doesn’t shift?”
“Then I’ll take him back to Logestedshire.”
“Or kill him.” Punz suggested.
Dream frowned.
“Come one Dream, you didn’t have a problem before.”
“That was for science. I’m not going to kill someone just becuase they didn’t fit the cut.”
Punz sighed in defeat. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.”
Dream turned away, rolling his eyes. He swallowed the bitterness Punz’s doubts brought. He wasn’t making a mistake. He had worked too hard for it to be a mistake.
***
One shower was night and day for Tommy.
He felt lighter once he was out of the shower. True to his word, clothes were left right outside the door. They were Dream’s clothes, according to the style. A forest-green short with black baggy pants. They were a little big on Tommy, but the pants had a draw string.
He looked at himself in the fogged mirror. His looked so small in the baggy clothes. His hair still looked darkened and matted. His eyes looked… dull. Desaturated.
Not bothering to dry his hair, Tommy made his way to the kitchen. Wet footprints detained the floor as he walked down the hall. If he didn’t stuff his face with rabbit stew in five seconds he was going to faint.
Punz and Dream were waiting for him at the table. They had already eaten and were now munching on some brownies Punz made. Tommy ate silently, too preoccupied with eating. He purposely ignored the inquisitives glares the two men gave him, as if him eating was the most interesting thing in the world.
They were probably just judging his table manners.
After dinner they had him help with the dishes. Once that was done Dream showed him to his room. Well, a room. A spare bedroom the bunker happened to have. It was sparse, but it had the essentials. A small wooden waredrobe in one corner, a desk in another. A small lamp glowing softly on the desk. A small bed with extra blankets. It was plain, but Tommy had learned to manage with little.
“There’s some spare clothes in the wardrobe. Let me know if you need anything. I’m right down the hall.” Dream said as he leaned on the doorway, watching Tommy take the room in.
Tommy wordlessly went to the wardrobe, opening it. Sure enough, a few shirts and hoodies hung on the hangers. Pants and undergarments neatly folded on the floor.
“Do you guys have guests a lot?” Tommy asked.
Dream tilted his head, squinting his eyes. “Not really, why do you ask?”
“It’s just… a nice guest room for a bunker in the middle of nowhere.” Tommy noted, turning to Dream.
Dream’s mouth twisted upwards ever so slightly. His eyes narrowed on Tommy. Tommy swallowed, spiderwebs forming in his stomach. The room shrinked around him, Dream casually blocking the only exit.
“Would you like a weighted blanket?” Dream asked, pulling Tommy back to reality. “You look anxious, it might help you sleep.”
“Uh-- um-- sure.”
***
Tommy slept… surprisingly well, given the circumstances.
Maybe it was the warm blankets and full belly. Maybe it was not having to hear the ocean waves or constantly brush sand out of his bed. It was quiet in the bunker, save for Dream or Punz’s footsteps passing in the hallway. The weighted blanket was like a warm hug wrapped around the touch-starved boy. He could pretend that someone was holding him, like Phil or Techno.
He woke up late the next morning. Dream and Punz already had breakfast, but Dream made some eggs for Tommy. The three of them talked for a bit about everything and nothing. Tommy braced himself for Dream to say “alright, time to head back to Logestedshire.”
He never did. The day passed, and Dream never brought it up. Tommy didn’t ask. He kept waiting for Dream to say something, and praying that he wouldn’t. The only times Dream talked to Tommy was to get him to help with things. Collect eggs from the chicken coop, dust, help cook dinner. Tommy obeyed without question.
Evening came, still nothing. They had dinner, Tommy helped with the dishes.
“So… big man. What exactly is the plan?” Tommy asked hesitantly as they dried plates.
Dream looked over at the younger. He had a faint, alsmot playful smile. Almost.
“What do you mean?”
“Well… am I going back to… to… Logestedshire?”
Dream tilted his head. “Do you want to go back?”
No, he didn’t. But why would Dream care about that?
“What’s going on here?” Tommy asked, muscles tensing. “Why would you ask that?” He looked over at Punz, but the man turned his head and pretended to be putting something away.
“Well, Toms…” Dream straightened. Tommy frowned. Toms?
“I’ve been thinking,” Dream continued, “Punz and I could use an extra hand around here. The Main SMP has been… dealing with issues, and we need allies.”
Tommy awkwardly pointed at himself. “Like me?”
Dream nodded enthusiastically. “I’ve seen your resilience in Pogtopia, and then again in Logestedshire. You’re smart, loyal. We need people like that. People who have our backs, and who we can help in return.”
“What’s going on at Spawn? Is L’manburg okay?”
Punz huffed something under his breath, glaring at Dream. Dream ignored him as he set his jaw.
“L’manburg’s fine.” He said curtly. “It’s the Main Server that’s having problems. Infighting, cults, I can’t keep the peace around there like I used too. Punz is a powerful ally, but he can only do so much. I need someone who can help me restore order.”
Tommy looked away, chewing the inside of his cheek. “I-- I don’t know what I could really do.”
“We can work out details later.” Dream put his hand on Tommy’s shoulder, encouragingly squeezing it. “You can say no if you’re not interested, we can head back to Logestedshire if you want.”
Tommy’s blood ran cold. The hand on his shoulder felt ominous yet comforting as if it was his only source of heat. “I-I… I can help. I don’t know what I could do but I can help.” Please, anything to get him away from that horrible shoreline.
Dream smiled warmly. In one swift motion, he pulled Tommy in for a hug. Tommy froze before wrapping his arms around Dream like a lifeline.
“We’ll take care of you Tommy.” Dream reassured. He put a hand on the back of Tommy’s head to lean him into his shoulder. Tommy didn’t fight him. For the first time in weeks he allowed himself to feel the exhaustion that was deep in his bones.