Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Tommy really wasn’t sure how to feel about this. His wings ruffled slightly as Tubbo led him down the Prime Path towards the L’Manberg hole. To celebrate or maybe mourn. Tommy really wasn’t sure.

It had been five years since the tragedy that took their country from them entirely. Since Dream, Technoblade, and Philza blew a crater to bedrock into the earth where the nation stood. It still hurt to think about the incident. It hadn’t helped when Tubbo of all people had reconciled with Technoblade barely a year and a half later, when Technoblade helped Tubbo and Ranboo get their son back from Sam. 

Tommy stopped at the edge of the L’Manberg crater, wings drooping as sorrow filled his chest for more than one reason. Sam had once been a good friend. He’d built Sam Nook for the teen to help build the hotel Tommy and Jack still managed. He’d offered comfort at some point, a place to stay back in exile. Sam had also locked him in the prison cell with Dream, had blamed him for Ghostbur’s death, and then had let Dream escape. The prison had changed Sam and not for the better. 

Tommy still remembered when they finally released Sam three months later, after Tubbo admitted to Tina and Boomer that the former warden was imprisoned. The creeper hybrid had been emaciated and could barely walk out the door. As far as Tommy knew, Sam had gone into hiding somewhere in the mountains and never came back. Another friend lost because of that green bastard Dream.

Tommy clenched his fists, feeling his nails leave marks in his palms. He didn’t want to think about everything that had happened since he’d joined the server all those years ago. Breathe, he told himself. Dream had never returned after escaping, even four years later. Wherever he was, he was either dead in some forgotten ravine or long since left the SMP. He can’t hurt you or anyone else anymore. 

His wings flared behind him as a finger tapped his shoulder.

“You good, big man?” Tubbo asked, concern written on his face.

Tommy sighed and nodded. “Yeah, just… reminiscing, I guess. ‘Bout what could have been.”

Tubbo followed his friend’s gaze out over the glass covered crater. He sighed as well.

“Yeah, yeah, I feel you, boss man.”

The two stood there in silence for a bit, both picturing the land as it had been, unbroken and developed into their beloved country. 

Tommy stepped back first. “Shit, that’s enough sadness for me. Shall we head back to Snowchester?”

Tubbo nodded, and stretched his arms above his head. 

“Yeah, probably good to. Ranboo will get worried if we’re out too late.”

“How’s his shoulder feeling these days?” Tommy asked, turning back to the Prime Path.

Tubbo shrugged. “Better than when Sam fucking stabbed him through it. Still can’t believe that bitch really thought Technoblade had broken Dream out. Like he wasn’t a good thousand blocks away with me and Phil at the time. I think I’d know if they had left and come back with the bastard.”

Tommy winced, already regretting bringing up Ranboo’s injury. He hadn’t realized Tubbo still held such a strong grudge against Sam.

A noise off to their left pulled both young men’s attention to a ruined structure. Tubbo’s ears perked up immediately.

“Did you hear that?”

Tommy frowned, feathers ruffling again. “Kinda, I think. What was it?”

Tubbo’s face softened. “It sounded like a child crying.”

Another noise sounded, this time a little clearer. Tommy’s eyes widened. It was definitely a child.

——

They’d heard him. They’d heard him, oh gods no, please. 

He hadn’t meant to be so loud. 

Please, he would go away. 

He’d leave, they’d never have to see him again. 

He was sorry, he didn’t mean to!

Please don’t hurt him!

——

“What should we do?” Tommy asked, a feeling of uncertainty causing his wings to fold in behind him.

“We help the poor thing, obviously!” Tubbo shouted. 

Tommy should have figured Tubbo’s parental instincts would rear up as soon as he heard someone crying. The other young man was already crawling through the rubble. Tommy stepped back, hoping the structure wouldn’t fall and crush them both. 

“Be careful, Tubbo!” he shouted as the building creaked and groaned. 

Tubbo ignored his friend, focusing on the sound of the cries he’d heard. He called out softly.

“Hey, hey there. It’s okay, we’ll get you out. You’ll be okay.”

——

No, no, please! 

He was sorry, please, he really was!

Please!

“Please don’t hurt me!”

——

Tubbo paused as the cry echoed through the rubble. And then he continued inching forward over several rocks and splintered wood even as his horns scraped fallen beams. Finally, he spotted a small brown hood shaking violently against a nearby wall. Tubbo’s heart melted. The child was so small and probably younger than Michael. 

“It’s okay, little guy. I won’t hurt you, I promise. I just want to make sure you’re okay, yeah?” 

He approached the little hooded bundle cautiously. The last thing he wanted to do was spook them and scare them off. He gently reached a hand forward and laid it out palm up on the ground.

“Here, see? Not gonna touch you unless you want to be touched, okay? Can you look up at me, sweetie?” he asked, allowing his voice to slip into a soft parental tone, like he’d use after Michael had a nightmare.

The hood lifted as a tear-stained face peeked out at Tubbo. The air left his lungs when he spotted a large gash across the boy’s skin. The scar barely missed the child’s left eye. And the longer Tubbo stared, the more scars he noticed. Two green pupils stared back at Tubbo, so filled with fear that there was hardly room for any other emotion in them.

“Oh, sweetheart. Who did this to you?” Tubbo breathed. Despite telling the boy that he wouldn’t touch him, all he wanted was to wrap the little one in his arms and hold him as close as he could. 

The little boy whimpered and curled back in on himself, trembling harder.

“‘M sorry. ‘M sorry. Please don’t hurt me,” the same tiny voice mumbled into thin arms wrapped around the child’s body. 

“I won’t hurt you, I promise,” Tubbo repeated. “Come here, let’s get you somewhere safe, okay?”

The child stiffened. For a moment, Tubbo thought he’d have to break his promise not to get closer, but the boy bent down and slowly crawled forward. Tubbo ignored the alarm bells ringing in his head that the boy wasn’t behaving normally, but he really needed to get him out of the ruins. If they could take him to Snowchester, he could check the child over for other injuries. 

Tubbo gently wrapped an arm around the little boy as he got closer. He pulled him in close and nearly toppled sideways. The boy was so light. Too light. Like he hadn’t eaten in days. Like he barely ate at all. Tubbo glanced down as little fingers grabbed at his shirt. His heart lurched when he noticed the pinky on one hand was partially missing. 

Tubbo crawled back out of the house as fast as he could, not daring to check for anymore injuries. He’d wait till they got back to Snowchester. He felt the boy’s breath against his neck, fast and unsteady. He couldn’t imagine how scared the little one was.

Tubbo broke through the last section of the ruins, showering him and the boy with chalky dust. Tommy still noticed the look of distress on his face.

“Everything all right?”

The child whined in terror, pressing his face to Tubbo’s shirt and trembling so hard Tubbo nearly lost his grip. 

“‘M sorry, ‘m sorry, ‘m sorry,” the tiny voice cried as tears dampened Tubbo’s shirt.

Tommy and Tubbo shared a worried glance as Tubbo gently stroked the child’s back. He could almost feel his spine through his clothes. The boy went still and quiet, as if scared that he’d made noise. 

“Shh, shhhh,” Tubbo hushed, rocking slightly. “You’re okay, sweetie, you’re okay. You don’t need to apologize. We’ll get you somewhere safe, okay? And then you can some nice soup and a warm bed to sleep in. Does that sound good, yeah?”

The boy sniffed, before giving the slightest of nods against Tubbo’s shoulder. Tubbo smiled softly. There was no way to know whether the boy was agreeing because he wanted food or agreeing because he was scared not to. Given how the boy’s body seemed to grow heavier as the child’s eyes closed, he could also be delirious. The sudden onset of terror combined with hunger had probably drained him of energy.

“It’s okay. If you’re tired, you can sleep okay? I’ve got you,” he said, adjusting his grip to stabilize the boy against him. 

The little one’s head nodded again as he slumped against Tubbo. He was out within moments. 

Tommy whistled. “Damn, that was impressive.”

Tubbo smirked. “Comes with being a parent,” he muttered, trying to keep from waking the little one. “He must have been exhausted though. No energy left to be scared or try to fight.” Tubbo sighed softly. “Come on, let’s get back to Snowchester.”

The three started down the path in silence for a bit before Tommy spoke up again. 

“He’s scared of us. Both of us,” he mumbled.

Tubbo nodded. “Yeah, poor thing was terrified.” He paused before taking a shuddering breath. “I think… I think someone tortured him.”

Tommy stumbled to a halt. “W-what?”

Tubbo’s hand cradled the child’s head as he turned to Tommy. 

“He has some really bad scars. A-and I think someone cut off his fingers.”

Tommy’s chest constricted. There was only one person he thought cruel enough to torture a literal child. But that meant….

“He’s back. Shit, shit fuck, Tubbo.”

“Deep breaths, big man. Just… just take deep breaths. Let’s get back to Snowchester, yeah. We’ll figure things out from there, okay?” Tubbo assured, still cradling the child in his arms.

Tommy trailed behind Tubbo as they walked, both quickening their pace at the thought that Dream was back. Tommy’s eyes darted back and forth as they walked and then ran through the Nether portal back to Snowchester. All the while keeping an eye out for the signature lime green against the landscape.

—————

Ranboo had not expected to adopt another child. But the moment Tubbo and Tommy walked through the door to the Snowchester mansion and placed the little bundle of hood and cloak on the couch, his heart melted. The boy was so small and so young. But from what Tubbo mentioned, he’d also been so, so scared. 

Ranboo sat on the couch and brushed a finger against the little boy’s pale cheek, wincing as the still drying tear tracks blistered his skin. He noted the large scar over the boy’s face, among a number of other injuries. The poor thing had been so horribly mistreated. Who could do this to such a young child?

Tubbo was in the kitchen, making a bowl of mushroom soup. Tommy sat on the floor, checking his comm as if it held the answer to life’s greatest questions. 

“Where did you say you found him?” Ranboo asked, keeping his voice low so as not to wake the sleeping bundle.

“Near the L’Manberg crater, in one of the wrecked houses,” Tommy replied, still not looking up from his comm. “Tubbo crawled in to get him.”

Tubbo rounded the corner with a tray. A small bowl and tiny spoon sat on wooden surface. He knelt down next to the couch, and placed the tray on the floor. 

“He was so scared, Boo. Kept begging us not to hurt him. What could have happened to him?” he mused, brushing back a lock of curly blond hair that escaped the hood.

“I’ll tell you what happened. Dream happened,” Tommy spat, glaring up at his friends. “Face it, even Sam didn’t hurt Michael. No one other than that green bastard would have the gall to do something like this.” 

Ranboo paled. If Dream had done this, then that meant he was back on the server. After four years, the monster had returned. But why hurt a child?

Tubbo sighed. “Let’s focus on the little one. Make sure he’s fed and take care of any injuries. I don’t like how that scar looks.” He gently brushed the child’s face before rubbing their shoulder. “Hey, little guy, it’s time wake up, okay? You need to eat so we can take care of your boo-boos.”

Tommy smirked at the baby talk. But the expression died on his face when the boy’s eyes  opened, and he suddenly scrambled back against the couch before realizing he was surrounded. He shook uncontrollably as he stared at the three young men.

Ranboo was the first to react, gently gathering the little one in his arms and holding him close. The boy went completely still in his arms.

“There there, it’s okay. I know, it’s scary to be in a new place. But we can help you, I promise,” he hushed. 

Ranboo brushed back the hood that covered the child’s hair. Mud-covered blond locks fell from the hood, a mess of wild curls almost rivaling Tommy’s, and Ranboo carded his fingers through the hair, hoping it would soothe the little one.

The boy glanced out at the others cautiously. Tubbo smiled as Ranboo adjusted the child in his arms so he was sitting sideways in the ender-hybrid’s lap. He sat frozen, too scared to move or speak. Poor thing really was so young and so light that a good breeze would carry them off. 

“What’s your name, bud?” Ranboo asked. 

The boy flinched and shook his head. Ranboo frowned.

“Do you have a name?”

The child whimpered and nodded. Ranboo sighed, cupping the back of the little one’s head with his hand.

“You don’t have to tell us if you don’t want to. But we’re here to help if you need anything, okay?”

The child nodded, still frozen on Ranboo’s lap. Ranboo rubbed the boy’s back as Tubbo cleared his throat.

“I’m sorry for scaring you, little man. I brought you some soup, if you’re hungry?” Tubbo motioned to the tray. 

The child looked at the food before going pale. He nodded all the same. 

Tubbo picked the tray up and sat on the couch beside Ranboo. “Do you want to feed yourself, or do you need help?”

The child was still pale, staring at the tray as if it was going to eat him. Ranboo gently rubbed his back. 

“It’s okay, bud. Do you want to eat?”

The child’s chest heaved as he tried to breathe. Thin lips parted as he spoke.

“G-good. Be good.”

Tubbo leaned in closer, careful of the food in his lap. “What was that?”

“I-I’ll be… be good b-boy. Please, s-sir,” the child hiccuped.

Ranboo pressed the little boy’s face to his chest. “Shhh, shhhh, it’s okay. You don’t have to eat right now. It’s okay.”

The loud rumble of a stomach paused the boy’s whimpers. Tubbo chuckled.

“Well, it sounds like your tummy wants food. You don’t have to eat all of it, just till you feel full okay?”

The little boy turned around to face Tubbo again. He glanced from the bowl to Tubbo’s smile before nodding slowly. Ranboo smiled, still running his fingers through the boy’s dirty curls.

“Just eat what you want to, bud. And then we can get you a nice bubble bath and some fresh clothes,” he said as his finger caught on a knot. 

The boy stiffened but nodded as Tubbo dipped the kid-sized spoon into the bowl and held it up. The little boy closed his eyes and opened his mouth. And then his eyes flew open as his lips closed around the utensil. Tubbo smiled at the look of wonder on his face.

“Do you want more?”

The boy nodded. He ate several spoonfuls before his face wrinkled and he held his stomach. Ranboo sat the boy up and rubbed his back to help soothe him. Tubbo stood from the couch and gestured to the bathroom. 

“Tommy, can you grab a towel in case he gets sick?” Tubbo asked as he put the tray back on the counter. 

Tommy stood from his spot, eyeing the little boy in Ranboo’s arms, before hurrying to the bathroom to grab a towel. And then grabbed another just in case. He handed them to Tubbo, who knelt beside the couch with a small bucket. 

“Does your tummy hurt, little man?” Tommy asked. “Tubbo didn’t poison you, did he?”

“Tommy!” Tubbo glared at his friend, missing how the boy’s eyes widened as he curled up in Ranboo’s lap.

“It’s okay. Tommy was just teasing Tubbo,” Ranboo hushed, still rubbing the boy’s back. “Too much food will hurt though. You may have eaten too much.”

“You scared him,” Tubbo scolded, glaring at Tommy. “No more babysitting for you, boss man.”

“Aw, come on, Tubs! It was just a joke,” Tommy whined.

“Apologize to the little man then! Don’t complain to me.”

Tommy huffed and turned to the little boy who still clung to Ranboo’s suit. Tommy’s face softened as he watched the boy peek back at him.

“I’m sorry, little man. I was just joking around. Tubbo would sooner die than poison a child.”

“Oh, is that how you’ve survived this long,” Ranboo mused.

“Keep your fucking mouth shut, Ranboob!” Tommy shrieked and then clasped the back of his head as a shoe smacked off his skull.

“Do not fucking swear in front of the fucking kid!”

“Uh, Tubbo, you also just swore,” Ranboo pointed out. 

He was met with an icy glare, and both he and the boy in his lap shivered. 

“You’re lucky you’re the one holding the baby right now,” Tubbo huffed. 

Ranboo conceded that. At least he wasn’t nursing a bump on his head. Unfortunately, that was also the exact moment the little boy’s stomach decided it was done trying to digest the soup. Ranboo barely managed to grab the bucket in time.

——

Tubbo was busy filling up the bathtub as Tommy carefully peeled the clothes off the little boy. They were closer to rags, filthy from the time the boy must have spent hiding in the ruins of L’Manberg. Ranboo was in the other room, going through Michael’s old clothes for the boy to change into. 

Tommy grimaced as he noticed how loose the boy’s shirt hung off his body. Poor thing couldn’t even handle half a small bowl of soup. Just when was the last time he had eaten?

He gently guided the boy’s shaking arms through the holes in the shirt and pulled it over his head. He froze.

“Uh, Tubbo?”

Tubbo turned to face Tommy and had to fight to keep the horror from showing on his face.

The little boy’s body was covered in scars. Burns, cuts, whiplashs, lacerations, bruises and marks on his wrists and ankles, and there was bound to be more under his shorts. To Tubbo’s growing shock, some of the markings looked recent. The boy curled in on himself, hugging his knees tightly.

“Sorry, ‘m sorry,” he mumbled. 

“Oh, baby, what happened?” 

“Was… was punished. W-wasn’t a good b-boy, sir,” the little one hiccuped. 

To Tubbo’s surprise, Tommy reached out and gently scooped the child into his arms. He held the boy to his chest, careful not to press on any of the more recent marks.

“It wasn’t your fault, little man. He was just a fucking dick. He’s never going to touch you again. Not as long as I’m around.” 

The boy stared up at Tommy as if in shock. 

“But—”

“No buts, little man. No one fucking deserves this. I promise he won’t ever do it to you again,” Tommy said, pulling back from the hug to look directly into the boy’s eyes.

The boy was quiet before tears fell down his face again, and he sobbed silently as Tommy hugged him again. Tubbo frowned. The boy had done that back when they’d found him earlier. Kids didn’t cry quietly. Not unless they were taught to. Tubbo squashed the unease building in his gut. Bath first, deal with trauma later.

Tommy gently removed the last of the boy’s clothes and carefully placed him in the water, letting the boy hold on to his arms so as not to fall. The boy clung to anything he could hold, as if he would sink underneath the water and never come up. He seemed scared of the water or perhaps what might happen if he let go.

Tubbo’s heart hurt to watch the boy shake and flinch every time they touched him. Everything they did just seemed to reveal a new trigger for the boy, something they would have to watch out for in the future. Tubbo was just relieved that the bubbles didn’t scare him. 

An idea sparked in Tubbo’s head from a memory of bathing Michael. The young man skimmed a handful of bubbles off the water and carefully placed them on the boy’s head. The little one froze before lifting a hand to feel the soapy texture against his skin. Tubbo laughed.

“Why, it is his Royal Soapiness, King Little Man!” Tubbo cried, pulling out a set of toys from a basket. “My liege, would you like the rubber ducky or the little boat for your royal bath this day?”

Tommy saw the boy’s face go from confusion to something akin to terror as he stared at the toys Tubbo showed him. Notably, the rubber duck. Tommy grabbed the boat from Tubbo’s hand.

“For shame, Minister Tubbo! His Royal Soapiness obviously would like his boat, for the duck doth belong to His Royal Oinkness Michael!” Tommy peeked over to the boy in the tub, who now looked thoroughly confused and distracted by whatever Tubbo and Tommy were doing.

“Ah, I stand corrected, my liege! Minister Tommy is right! Here is your boat, my liege. Now, would you like to set sail?”

The boy nodded numbly still watching the two as if he wasn’t sure how to react.

“Where shall we sail, my liege?” Tubbo asked, holding the boat aloft before presenting it to the little boy. 

The boy was quiet for a moment. And then. “Ar-Arctic. W-want to go to Arctic, sir?”

Tubbo smiled softly. “Then to the Arctic we sail, my liege.” He placed the boat on the water and pushed it towards the little boy.

The three played in the tub for a good while, Tommy focusing on distracting the little one as Tubbo cleaned his hair and skin. By the end of it, the bubbles were nearly gone, and the water was a murky brown. 

Tubbo drained the tub before taking the shower head and rinsing the boy down with clean water. The boy shivered as the water ran down his skin.

“I know, it’s not as warm as the bath. We’ll get you dried off and cozy in no time,” Tubbo assured him. 

Tommy nodded. “And then we can get you a nice bed so you can sleep.”

The boy looked up at Tommy and Tubbo and then back down at his feet, still shaking slightly and still so obviously scared. 

“U-um, c-can we still go… to Arctic, sir?”

Tubbo and Tommy glanced at each other. It was a long trek to the Arctic area from L’Manberg. Had the boy traveled all that way on his own?

“We can, little man. Is there someone waiting for you there?” Tubbo asked softly as he turned the water off and hung the shower head back in its place.

The boy shook his head. “N-no, sir. U-um, w-want to see m-mountains, sir.”

The boy was lying. Tubbo wasn’t sure why, but he was definitely lying about why he wanted to go. The young man sighed and ruffled the boy’s wet curls, now significantly lighter in color without the dirt and dried blood.

“Well, I think Michael’s been wanting to visit his uncle, so we can take a family trip. Sound good to you, little man?”

The boy nodded, still staring at his feet. Tommy lifted the boy out of the tub and onto a towel he’d laid on the bathroom floor. He pulled out a potion bottle and set it on the ground. The boy gasped, shying away from Tommy when he saw it.

“Okay, I’m just gonna rub this on your injuries so they can heal better, okay?” Tommy explained as he uncorked the bottle and poured a bit of the liquid onto a cloth. “Let me know if it hurts anywhere.”

The boy nodded, fixing his eyes on the floor. Tubbo reached down and took his hands, running his thumbs over tiny knuckles. It was obvious now that the boy’s fingers had been brutalized. The one pinky was missing its tip, cut off at the knuckle. The other hand’s middle finger was cut off just before the second knuckle. Red and white scars  crisscrossed the skin, and there were patches that looked like the skin had been peeled off. Tubbo wanted to strangle whoever had hurt the little boy. How could anyone do something so horrible to a child?

The boy flinched as the cloth ran along his back. Tommy paused.

“You okay, little man?”

The boy nodded despite the whimper that left his throat. Tubbo continued to stroke the boy’s knuckles. 

“We can stop if you want. Maybe a good night’s sleep will be good, yeah?” he asked.

“N-no, sir. Sorry, sir,” the boy responded. 

“Hey, hey, you don’t need to apologize, little man. I know it can be scary to trust strangers, but we won’t hurt you, little man. I promise,” Tommy said, gently ruffling the boy’s curls. 

The boy nodded again. 

“Do you want us to stop?”

The boy shook his head, as if unable to speak. 

Tubbo sighed. “Just be more gentle, Tommy.”

Tommy nodded. “Sorry, little man. I’ll be more careful. It’s my middle name!”

Tubbo smirked, still holding the little boy’s hands. “Sure, right next to Danger and Kraken, I’m sure.”

Tommy stuck his tongue out. Tubbo laughed. And he felt the boy’s hands relax ever so slightly. Tubbo smiled. It was going to be okay.

Chapter Text

Ranboo was certain the group made a strange sight wandering through the overworld to Technoblade and Philza’s cabin. He and Tubbo had Michael between them, holding their hands and trying jump and swing with each step. Tommy was carrying Little Man, as they’d taken to calling the boy, wrapped up in an extra coat and blanket. The boy was still too thin to properly hold body heat, and he shivered despite being wrapped in a blanket and two coats.

Tommy held the boy a little tighter, determined to keep him warm. 

“Ranboo, how much farther?”

Ranboo checked the horizon. He smiled. “I can see the chimney smoke from here. We’re almost there.”

Michael cheered and suddenly raced forward towards the smoke in the distance. Tubbo took off after him, shouting at the little piglin to slow down. 

Tommy chuckled. “Well, guess we better keep moving, Little Man. Hold tight, okay.”

The boy shifted to wrap thin arms around Tommy’s neck before the young man raced through the snow to catch up to Tubbo and Michael. He laughed as they ran, leaving Ranboo behind to chase after them.

Just after the cabins came in sight, Tommy felt more than heard the boy gasp as the little hands lost their grip. Tommy felt the boy start to slip and flapped his wings to try and steady himself. Instead, he overcorrected, stumbling in the process. As the blanket bundle shifted sideways, Tommy dove shoulder first into the snow so the boy landed on top of him. He slid past Tubbo and Michael and right onto the path to the cabins.

Tubbo came running over in an instant.

“Tommy! Little Man! Are you okay?” 

“I’m fine!” Tommy called, hiding a wince as his wings protested beneath him. He gently brushed the boy’s head. “You okay, Little Man?”

The boy looked around cautiously before nodding. Tommy smiled.

“Phew! Got a little worried there. Let’s get you inside, okay?” 

The boy nodded again as Tommy carefully gathered the blanket back around him and scooped him back up in his arms. Tubbo hurried to help support the bundle as Michael ran ahead to the cabins.

Ranboo ran up to join them, panting from exertion. Tubbo chuckled at the ender-hybrid as he finally reached them.

“I thought with your long legs, you’d outpace us, Boo,” he teased.

“Yeah, well someone had to be up with the kid all night, give me a break. Not everyone has boundless energy like you do, Bee,” Ranboo remarked as he straightened.

Little Man had woken up screaming sometime in the night. Ranboo had been the first to his room, hushing him and hugging him till the night terrors left. The boy barely slept a wink that night, and Ranboo barely did either. 

Tommy rubbed the boy’s head through the blanket. “Well, we’ll make sure you both get plenty of rest in Phil’s cabin.”

Michael had already run up to the porch and was knocking on Philza’s door before Tubbo could stop him. The door creaked open as Tommy stepped up onto the porch behind Tubbo, with Ranboo trailing at the back. 

Phil raised an eyebrow at the group at his door.

“Well, this is a surprise. I thought you’d already visited a while back,” he remarked.

“Michael wanted to come say hi. And,” Tubbo gestured behind him to the bundle in Tommy’s arms, “we have someone who wanted to visit the Arctic. You might be able to help with him, actually.”

Phil’s face contorted in confusion before he spotted the pale face snuggled in the blanket. His eyes widened.

“Bring him in, quickly. Let’s get him out of the cold,” he said, opening the door so they could enter.

Michael rushed into the cabin, hopping and skipping as he did with excitement. Tubbo chased after him to grab his coat as Ranboo and Tommy followed them inside. Tommy set the bundle in the chair closest to the fireplace, taking cold fingers in his to warm them up. The boy shivered in his seat, staring at the fire with a look of longing and fear. Tommy thought, not for the first time, that those eyes were too old for such a young face.

Phil knelt beside him, glancing over the scars and markings on the boy’s face and hands. He frowned, and Tommy knew from experience that that look meant Phil was holding back a lot of rage.

“What happened to him?”

“We… we don’t know. Tubbo and I found him near the crater in L’Manberg. He was so scared of us, Phil.” Tommy brushed the curls from the boy’s head as green eyes drooped shut from exhaustion despite how much the boy tried to fight off sleep.

Phil noticed the boy’s struggle and reached up to lay the boy down, placing a pillow under his head. He smiled gently. 

“Sleep, mate. We’ll wake you later, okay?”

The boy tried to hold back a yawn before letting his eyes finally fall shut. Phil brushed a thumb over the boy’s tiny cheek, noting how dry and thin his skin felt. Dehydration probably. 

“Poor thing,” he murmured, letting his hand fall from the boy’s face. He pulled an extra blanket from the nearby couch and draped it over the boy. “How is he then? You said I could help?”

Tubbo picked Michael up and sat down on the couch as Ranboo joined him. “Maybe. He’s… really badly injured. Burns, cuts, bruises, you name it. We used a healing potion on a rag to help after his bath last night, but….”

Tommy was staring at the fire, curled up on the floor by the chair. “He’s in bad shape, Phil. We… we don’t know how to handle something like this. Someone tortured him, Phil. Dream tortured him.”

Phil raised an eyebrow at Tommy and then glanced at Tubbo and Ranboo. They both shrugged. Phil turned back to Tommy.

“What makes you certain it was Dream who did this?”

“Think about it, Phil. He’s the only one cruel enough to hurt a child,” Tommy spat, anger filling his voice.

Phil frowned, turning to the child sleeping in the armchair and back to Tommy who sat by the chair like he was guarding it. The older avian sighed. 

“Tommy, you know I worked with Dream before, right? Both Techno and I have.” 

Tommy paused and nodded.

“I don’t think this was Dream. And before you go on about him abusing minors, I’m aware of what he did to you. But you were a minor because you were barely 18. That’s very different from hurting a toddler who can’t defend themselves,” Phil said.

Tommy’s face contorted into a glare. “But I couldn’t defend myself either!”

The boy flinched and whimpered, curling up tightly in the chair. Tommy quieted instantly, cooing and stroking the little one’s hair to help him calm down. 

Phil sighed. “Try to keep your voice down, Toms. If you need to yell, we can go outside.” 

“Sorry, Phil. I just…. I couldn’t defend myself against Dream either. He’s Dream, for fuck’s sake,” Tommy replied, his feathers ruffling with exasperation. “I’m sure that green bitch had something to do with this.”

Phil exhaled softly, reaching a hand up to pat Tommy’s shoulder. The young man hunched his shoulders and then relaxed, still focusing on the sleeping child above him. 

“I know you’re upset. Tell you what, if it was Dream that did this, then I promise to help you take him down. For right now, let’s just focus on the little one. Has he told you his name yet?”

The three shook their heads. Phil frowned.

“What about age? Did he say exactly how old he is?”

Tubbo scratched the back of his head sheepishly. “We, uh, didn’t think to ask. We think he’s younger than Michael though.”

The little piglin perked up at hearing his name. Phil chuckled his excitement.

“And what does Michael think of his new friend?” 

A grin split Michael’s face. “I like him! He’s very sad though. Papa wouldn’t let me hug him either. Said he’s too fra-fragi-fragile?”

“Very good, Michael,” Ranboo applauded. “Yes, Little Man might get hurt if you hug him too tightly.”

“He is more comfortable around Michael though. As soon as Little Man saw him, he calmed down. Even stops crying when Michael enters the room,” Tubbo mused. “I wonder if he was a part of sounder before… whatever happened happened.” 

Phil nodded. “It’s possible. Doesn’t really explain why he wanted to come to the Arctic. I would think it would be too cold for a child raised by piglins.”

Tubbo shrugged. “It’s my only thought there. Or maybe his family had a piglin too. I’m still baffled by what sort of fucker would do all this to a kid.”

The four men turned their attention back to the little boy still asleep in the chair. Tommy’s hand still rested on the boy’s head, his thumb rubbing the boy’s forehead. 

Phil stood from his spot by the chair. “Well, the chair’s probably not the best spot for him. Let me get the guest bed set up so we can move him. And then I think we could all use some tea or hot chocolate.”

Michael giggled excitedly. He jumped down from the couch and ran after Phil as the avian walked towards the guest bedroom.

“Want to help! Let me help! Please!” he shouted.

Phil chuckled. “All right, all right, mate. Just keep your voice down, okay?”

Michael nodded, teeth clicking together as he closed his mouth. The two disappeared into the bedroom. 

———

They exited a few minutes later, Michael holding a pillow in his arms.

“Well, the bed’s made and ready,” Phil stated.

Ranboo yawned, his jaw unhinging as he did.  

“I could do with a nap myself. Think I can share the bed with Little Man?”

Phil laughed. “Go for it, mate. There should be enough room. I’ll bring the little one in shortly.”

Ranboo nodded, stretching long arms over his head. He disappeared into the guest room, and the bed audibly creaked as he flopped onto the mattress. 

“Damn, he really was tired,” Phil remarked. 

Tubbo sighed. “Yeah. Little Man had a night terror last night. Neither of them got a lot of sleep.”

“Sounds like Little Man needs a proper rest, too,” Phil said.

The boy groaned as Phil picked him up, curling against the avian’s chest. Phil chuckled softly. 

“Come on, mate. It’s naptime,” he said. The boy didn’t respond. 

Phil entered the room quietly. Ranboo was curled up almost like a cat on the far side of the bed. Phil placed the boy on the bed and tucked him in. The little one snuggled against the pillow as Ranboo uncurled. The ender-hybrid turned over and wrapped his arm over the little boy protectively, still fast asleep. Phil smiled, carefully closing the door before going back to his armchair.

“They should sleep well. It’s been a long day for them both,” he said, plopping down once more. 

Tommy was laying on the floor by the fireplace now as Michael had gone to snuggle with his dad on the couch again. The young man sighed.

“Yeah. I just hope he’ll be okay.”

Phil smiled softly. “We’re here if he needs anything, Toms. He’ll be all right.”

Tommy nodded. And for that moment, the cabin felt like the safest place in the world.

——

Tommy peeked into the bedroom several hours later. Phil was busy in the kitchen, making tea and hot chocolate for the others. The snow outside had started coming down faster and harder, and Tubbo was worried they wouldn’t make it home before the snow got too deep. So Tommy was in charge of waking the two napping in the guest room.

The young man stepped over to the bed. Ranboo was already up, rubbing his eyes and stretching as he sat up on the bed. Little Man was still fast asleep on the bed.

Ranboo looked up as Tommy approached. 

“Hey, Tommy,” he whispered. “We heading out?”

Tommy shook his head. “Not yet. Phil’s making drinks for us. But Tubbo wants everyone up in case we need to leave soon.”

He sat down on the bed and gently rubbed the little boy’s shoulder. 

“Hey, Little Man, it’s time to wake up,” he called softly. 

The little boy stirred and sat up. Tommy smiled as the boy rubbed his eyes.

“Sorry for waking you, Little Man. You okay?”

The boy stiffened as if not realizing where he was. His eyes darted nervously from Tommy to Ranboo and back to Tommy again. Tommy noticed the boy’s hands begin shaking again, and he quickly pulled the boy into his arms.

“Shh, it’s okay, Little Man. I’m here, yeah. Big Man Tommy will protect you,” the young man shushed as the boy went limp in his arms. “You’re safe, kid. You’re safe. We’re gonna take good care of you.”

The boy looked up, peeking his head over Tommy’s shoulder as if he was looking for someone. He glanced back at Tommy.

“Where Phil, sir?” he asked quietly.

Ranboo reached down and ruffled the boy’s hair. He smiled as the boy’s face scrunched up at the contact.

“Phil’s in the kitchen, Little Man. He’s making snacks for us,” he said.

Little Man nodded, still looking around the room. 

“W-where Techno, s-sir?” he asked again, his voice now barely above a whisper.

Tommy raised an eyebrow. “The Blade’s probably at his cabin. We’re in Phil’s right now.”

“O-okay,” Little Man replied, sitting down in Tommy’s lap. 

Ranboo shared a glance with Tommy as he moved to sit in front of them. 

“Did you want to see Techno?” 

The boy froze, tremors overtaking his body. He shook his head desperately as he curled in on himself.

“Sorry, sorry, ‘m sorry,” he pleaded as tears started running down his cheeks.

“Hey, hey, Little Man, it’s okay. We’re not mad, I promise. Shhh, shhh, it’s okay,” Tommy hushed, hugging the boy close and trying not to panic. 

Phil came rushing into the room at the commotion. “Is everything all right?”

“He just started crying. We don’t know what’s wrong,” Ranboo replied as Phil bent down between him and Tommy.

Phil opened his hands as Tommy passed Little Man to his arms. He stood, resting the boy’s head on his shoulder and rocking him gently as he entered the living room. 

“It’s okay, mate. You can cry, it’s okay.” His voice softened as he felt the boy freeze in his arms. The boy pressed his face into Phil’s cloak, tiny shoulders heaving through silent sobs.

Tommy and Ranboo followed Phil out into the main area as Phil paced the room. Tubbo had taken over the kitchen, finishing off the hot drinks and keeping an eye on the commotion in the living space.

Michael jumped off the couch and tugged on Ranboo’s pant leg. The ender-hybrid picked his son up and held him in his arms. 

“Boy’s crying again. He’s really scared, Papa,” Michael said as he snuggled against his dad.

“Yeah, I know, Mikey.” It was all Ranboo could think to say as they watched Phil pace the cabin with Little Man in his arms.

—

It was a good half hour before Little Man calmed down. Phil now sat in the armchair, still holding the little boy close. The child clung to his cloak like a security blanket, and Phil didn’t have the heart to put him down. So he snuggled the boy to his chest and let him rest there against him, feeling warm air hit his neck with every shallow breath the boy took.

Tubbo had distributed mugs of tea and hot chocolate to their small group. Tommy had plopped on the floor near the fireplace, while Tubbo went to sit on the couch as Ranboo finished up in the kitchen. Michael had moved to Tommy’s lap, curled up against his uncle’s chest with his empty mug discarded on the floor. If it weren’t for the circumstances, they would have looked like a picturesque family. But the worry that sat heavy on their faces detracted from that image. 

It was Tommy who finally spoke up again.

“Little Man seems to know you and Techno, Phil.”

Phil tilted his head curiously. “Oh?”

Tommy nodded. “He said your name before we properly introduced you. And he even asked where Techno was.”

Phil felt the boy’s fists tighten on his cloak. He was shaking again. Phil rubbed a hand on his back even as he felt the boy’s spine through his sweater. 

“I don’t think we’ve met before. Maybe we met his parents?” Phil asked, gently moving the boy to look at his face. 

The boy stared back with wide green eyes. And for a moment, Phil saw someone else staring back at him. His brow knit in confusion. 

Tommy noticed his expression change. “Phil?”

“How old are you, mate?” Phil asked the boy.

The child flinched before holding out a hand with four fingers extended.

“You’re four?” 

The boy nodded slowly. When Phil didn’t ask more questions, the boy buried his face back in the avian’s cloak.

Tommy frowned. “He’s awfully small for a four-year-old.”

Phil sighed heavily. “That would be the malnutrition. I think it’s pretty obvious he’s been starved.”

“He barely ate last night. And this morning, all he had was half a scrambled egg,” Tubbo said. “I don’t think he can handle heavy foods or anything larger than a small plate.”

“Yeah, that’s normal for starvation,” Phil said. “You’ll need to feed him slowly, small meals spread apart. And keep it to broths and soft vegetables. Maybe small chunks of bread here and there too.”

Tubbo nodded. “I’ll make a note of those. Right next to my note to kick the fucker’s ass who hurt this little angel.”

The boy shot up in Phil’s arms. He stared at Tubbo in shock, mouth agape and eyes wide. Tubbo chuckled.

“What is it, Little Man?”

The boy’s mouth opened and closed before he finally managed to speak. 

“An-angel?”

Tubbo smiled softly. “Of course, Little Man.”

The boy paused and then shook his head. “No.”

“No?”

The boy shook his head again. “Don’t deserve it. Please, sir. Don’t deserve it.”

Tubbo’s heart sank. “Okay, Little Man. I won’t call you that again. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“Sorry,” Little Man murmured, burying himself against Phil once more.

Phil cupped the boy’s head in his hand. “It’s not your fault, mate.”

Ranboo exited the kitchen carrying a sippy cup of water and placed it on the table by the armchair. 

“Here, some water for the Little Man. He should keep hydrated.”

Phil took the cup and handed it to the little one. The boy took it gingerly and held the lid to his mouth, sucking on it as he drank.

“By the way, Phil, when do you think you could take a look at Little Man’s injuries?” Tommy asked. “We want to make sure they’re healing right before we head back.”

Phil nodded, glancing out the window. “Well, looks like you might be here for another day. Snow’s picked up again. I can check him before bed or first thing in the morning.”

Tubbo chuckled. “Hear that, Michael? We’re having a sleepover with Uncle Techno and Grandpa Phil.”

Michael gasped with excitement and dashed to the window to watch the snow that fell in large flakes from the sky. Phil huffed.

“I’ll ‘Grandpa Phil’ you, young man,” he grumbled as he picked up his now cold mug of tea. 

Tommy snorted, and noticed the tiniest grin on Little Man’s face. The boy was smiling, probably his first real one since Tubbo and Tommy had found him. Tommy smiled up at the little one.

“Aw, you can smile, Little Man. Look at those little cheeks,” he cooed. 

The boy’s face went red, and he immediately buried his face against Phil’s chest once more. Tubbo chuckled.

“Aw, Little Man’s embarrassed. You don’t have to be shy, bud. You’re a cute kid.”

Little Man shook his head. Phil patted his hair gently.

“They’re just teasing you, mate.”

Little Man didn’t respond, still sucking on the sippy cup lid as he tried to hide from the others. 

Ranboo sighed. “Let’s leave him be, guys. Do you need any help getting the rooms ready for us, Phil?”

“Just Michael’s room. I’m assuming the little ones will sleep there, and then you and Tubbo will take the guest room. Tommy can have Wilbur’s old room. I never removed the bedding,” Phil replied. The unspoken lament regarding Wilbur’s disinterest in his own family hung in the air.

Tommy stretched his arms over his head as his wings flared out, nearly smacking against Ranboo’s legs. He yawned.

“Works for me.”

Tubbo turned to Michael. “Are you okay with sharing a bed with Little Man?”

Michael beamed at his dad, nodded vigorously. “Yes yes yes! Sleepover with Little Man!”

Phil chuckled. Little Man peeked out at the little piglin, relaxing a little in Phil’s arms.

“Does that sound good, Little Man? Or do you want to sleep in the big bed with Ranboo again?” Phil asked.

Little Man shook his head as he removed the sippy cup lid from his mouth. “No. Michael is okay, sir.”

Phil’s smile softened as the boy curled back up in his arms. He rubbed the boy’s back, ignoring how prominent his shoulders and back were through the sweater. 

Tubbo stood, cracking his back as he stretched. Tommy winced.

“That didn’t sound good,” he remarked.

Tubbo shot his friend a look. “Hush, child. You’ll understand when you’re my age.”

“I am your age, Tubbo,” Tommy replied, crossing his arms.

Ranboo sighed as the two stuck their tongues out at each other. Tommy accompanied his by flipping the bird, which Tubbo returned doubled. The enderman hybrid stepped between them.

“All right, kids, let’s go make the beds,” he declared, grabbing his husband and their friend before dragging them off to help make the rooms for the night.

“Aw, come on, Ranboo. Can’t you give your husband a break?” Tubbo begged. 

“Nope!” Ranboo replied, grinning widely at the two moping young men.

Phil chuckled as the three left the room and Michael came to snuggle up beside him on the chair. His heart felt full as the two young boys snuggled into his embrace. Despite the circumstances, it felt good to have a full house again.