#au where tubbo is just as much a tommy apoplogist as tommy is a tubbo apoplogist

[lovesupernova25]

I’ll Tell Your Story

Summary: “Oh my gosh he’s dead!” *gangnam style plays*

okay okay: A oneshot involving memories, a grieving Tubbo, and a really cute piglin toddler. Enjoy! (have fun crying)

“Story! Bee! Storytime!” Tubbo jerked awake, startled from his half-dream by a tiny hand tugging on his shirt. 

(That was okay. He could tell it was going to be a nightmare anyway.) He’d dozed off in Michael’s room, lulled to sleep by soft light and the sounds of toddler play.

 “Bee!” Michael pulled at Tubbo’s arm, one eye pleading.

Tubbo took a deep breath. He felt stretched, shattered. His hands hadn’t stopped trembling for a week, and his own tears were responsible for at least twenty of the burn scars on Ranboo’s skin. He barely had the energy to keep forcing air into his lungs and yet- here was Michael, his son, untouched by the same grief. Tubbo figured he could pretend for an evening. 

“Okay,” He swallowed and pulled his face into a smile. “Okay, bud. What story do you want?”

“Ummm…” Michael sat comically back on his hands as he searched the room. “Whozzat?” His eyes landed on something- a picture frame. 

Tubbo’s breath caught. Tommy and his younger self beamed at him from behind the glass, and he could make out a lake sparkling behind them and someone- probably Fundy- making a peace sign behind Tommy’s head. 

He reached for it, feeling something tighten in his chest. 

“This… this was a long time ago, bud,” And it was. Tubbo was shocked by how… different they looked. He traced his younger face with his finger- his smooth, unscarred face, still round with baby fat. Tommy’s hair had still been short, and his eyes… that fearful, haunted look he’d carried- it was gone. Both their eyes were still blue then- brilliant blue. These were the days before the election. Before everything. It was a different world, a different life. “You wanna hear this story?”

“Mmmmm..” Michael hummed his agreement. “Izzat Bee?” He poked a chubby finger at Tubbo’s younger face.

“Yep- that’s me, Mikey. Years and years ago, though.”

“Hmm.. izzat- izzat Phil?” Michael scrunched his face in confusion as he pointed to Tommy. Tubbo swallowed, almost smiling. Tommy would’ve loved to be mistaken for Phil. 

“No, Mikey, that’s not Phil. He’s got hair like Phil, though, doesn’t he?” Tubbo took a deep breath, staring down at the photo in his hand. “That’s someone you don’t know. His name was Tommy.” 

And then once he started, he couldn’t stop. “Tommy is my-” He swallowed. “Tommy was my best friend. We were like how me and Boo are now- we did everything together.” Tubbo smiled, just barely.

“Like what?” Michael yawned. He was getting bored of the story, Tubbo could tell- so he took a deep breath.

“Well, lots of exciting stuff. Tommy was brave,” He leaned toward his son, smile growing. “Brave and strong like a lion.” He lifted his hands in imitation of a lions’ claws, ready to pounce at the toddler. 

Michael giggled. “Stronger than you?” 

And Tubbo was frozen, for a moment. He felt a lump grow in his throat, but smiled gently around it. “Yeah,” he said softly, blinking hard. “Stronger than me.” 

He pulled Michael onto his lap. “Tommy and I fought in wars together- we made a home, and we had to defend it from the bad guys.”

Michael’s eyes widened. “Are bad guys gonna come?” 

“No, Mikey,” Tubbo squeezed the toddler in his lap. “We’re safe here. The bad guys aren’t going to hurt us. Before, though- there were lots of bad guys. And Tommy was-” He laughed, “Tommy wanted to fight them all. He’d just charge into battle with no plan and take on the world.” The smile was creeping onto his face again, even as his vision blurred. “Tommy was pretty stupid sometimes.” Tubbo laughed, and it sounded a little bit like a sob.

“But he was kind.” It was like the dam had opened, and Tubbo couldn’t stop. “He acted like he wasn’t- but Tommy was always kind. He’d do anything for the people he cared about. Did you know, Mikey- he fought Technoblade once?” 

Michael looked up, eyes widening. “Really?” Michael already knew stories about the half-piglin warrior- hearing this was enough to elevate even a stranger to idol status in his mind. 

“Yeah- Tommy’d fight the earth itself if it helped someone he loved.” He huffed out a wet laugh and reached up to stop a tear from spilling onto his cheek.

Deep breaths, Tubbo. 

“That was the thing about Tommy. He cared so much, so deeply- and he’d never give it up. He’d-” Tubbo swallowed, tangling his fingers in Michael’s hair. “He’d always keep fighting- lead armies and start revolutions and refuse to surrender- no matter what, he’d never surrender. Tommy would die before he let the bad guys win.” Tubbo looked down at his son, smiling again. “He was a hero.” 

Michael’s eyes were shining, entranced by tales of glory long gone. “Wowww..”

Tubbo smiled. “Yeah, wow. But people-” He looked away, holding his son tighter. “People don’t always like heroes. They told him he was stupid, or too much, or- or selfish.” Tubbo took a deep breath. He tilted his head to the ceiling. “They were wrong, though.” Tubbo looked back at Michael with an intensity in his eyes that felt like regret. “Tommy… Tommy was the best man I ever knew. He was the best leader, too- and the best friend.” Tubbo closed his eyes and hoped that the only person he wanted to talk to could hear everything he wished he’d said. “And he doesn’t need to worry- because we’re not going to forget him,” he laughed wetly around the crack in his heart, “Anytime soon.” 

Maybe the universe was kind enough to grant him that. 

Michael stretched in Tubbo’s arms. “Mmmm.. I like Tommy.” He giggled. “Imna be like Tommy when I grow up. Big ‘n strong!” He sat up, clenching his tiny hands into fists.

And Tubbo felt something a little like breaking and a little like mending deep within his chest, because it seemed the universe was kind after all. “Yeah,” his voice broke. “Yeah, you’ll be just like uncle Tommy.”

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