Chapter Text
Philza sighed heavily, eyes dancing around the cabin as he cleaned up from dinner.
Part of him still jumped at slight movements in the corner, but deep inside he was resigned. They hadn’t seen Ghostbur since the night they rescued Tommy and Tubbo, and Philza feared he was gone for good this time. He wanted nothing more than to hold a proper funeral, now that there was no ghost to be distressed by his name on a tombstone. But… he held off on suggesting it.
It didn’t seem right to bring it up until Tubbo woke up. If Tubbo woke up. The man grimaced with the dark thought, glancing at Tommy where he sat on Tubbo’s bedside. His son spent most of the day there, talking lightheartedly to Tubbo’s unconscious body. Sometimes he broke into pleading and sobs, Philza could only hold him and whisper half-hearted reassurances.
Wilbur had done a good thing, getting Philza and Techno there in time to save them. Philza couldn’t imagine what his life would be right now if he had instead come across two frozen bodies in the snow.
Wilbur had spent the last echoes of his life helping his family, and Philza would forever be grateful for the sacrifice.
“I’m going out to get some wood.” Philza stepped lightly out the front door, nodding at Technoblade where the warrior sat at the table, polishing and sharpening weapons. He had gathered up a good handful, enough to keep the fire going for the evening, when he heard the crunch of footsteps.
The wood was dropped to the snow instantly as Philza spun, every bone in his body on high alert.
“Why hello.” The voice was oddly disarming for all the history it represented. Dream stood out against the snow, bright green sweatshirt giving him a silhouetted appearance.
“What the FUCK are you doing here?!” Philza growled the words, fiercely stepping between Dream and the house.
“Oh I was going on a walk, I lost… something around here, I thought I’d stop by and see if you and Technoblade had seen anything.” The masked man casually shifted from foot to foot, expression unreadable. “Though, I guess from your expression you must know something.”
Philza noticed Dream fidgeting with something in one of his hands, spinning it around lightly. The man was twirling a blood-stained arrow between his fingers, that smug, arrogant bastard!
“Techno!” Philza shouted at the house, and there was a blur of motion as Dream lunged.
Philza barely had a chance to throw himself backwards as Dream drew and swung his axe in one fluid motion, wedge whistling through the air in front of his chest.
“Alive or dead?” Dream stepped back as if he hadn’t just attacked Philza, giving the man time to draw his own axe, weak and unenchanted, as it was used for cutting firewood, not fighting. It still felt better to have something in his hands.
“What?”
“When you found them, were they alive or dead?” Suddenly Dream was conversational again, and that was more menacing than any show of force.
Philza was spared having to answer. The door to the cabin slammed open with a resounding bang, and then Technoblade was between them, growling as he bared his tusks.
“You’re dead.”
That was all that was said before the fight began in earnest. Philza rushed up towards the cabin, he needed gear if he was going to help, and he wanted nothing more than to help.
Dream hurt his family, and he was going to pay.
Technoblade couldn’t remember the last time he felt this angry, this completely willing to surrender to a bloodrush and just focus on killing whoever stood in front of him.
But this was a good time for it. Dream was going to die and Techno was going to make it happen. Blood would be spilled for the blood god and Technoblade would relish every second of it.
He had started pulling his armor on from the moment he first noticed Dreams presence, and he was ready. Techno grinned as he lunged forward, sword dancing around Dream’s axe. He was almost happy Dream had come here, now he would get to make good on his promise sooner than expected.
Dream dodged and weaved, effectively staying out of the reach of Techno’s blade, but also not able to bring his axe to bear in any meaningful way. The disadvantage of the heavier weapon was that it took longer to get into position, and Techno was using it against him.
“I’m surprised you’re so invested in this, why is that?” Dream somehow managed to keep his voice level while they fought, Technoblade only snorted in response as his sword meet Dream’s shield.
“Is it because Tommy’s your brother?” Dream’s voice was almost mocking, it only served to enrage Techno further. “Or… is it maybe because Tubbo would be fine if you hadn’t killed him at the festival?”
Those was the last words Technoblade was willing to let the other fighter say. The two whirled around in the snow, exchanging blows with a ferocity only the other could match. When Dream finally staggered, an arrow bouncing off his chest plate briefly drawing his attention, Techno took the opportunity. He swept Dream’s legs out from under him with a well-timed kick, the masked man rolled away, but not before Techno landed a harsh blow on his side.
Dream was breathing heavily now, his hand came away bloody from where the sword had managed to pierce his armor. Technoblade knew the cut wasn’t deep, but it would slow him down.
As soon as Dream regained his feet Philza fired another arrow, forcing him to raise his shield and parry Techno with the handle of his axe.
“This isn’t very sportsmanlike of you Technoblade.” Dream panted as he spoke, twisting to get a little space and swinging his axe as a buffer.
“I’m going to kill you.”
“Oh, that’s rather hypocritical, don’t you think? Out to kill me for doing something you’ve also done?” Dream bit back a gasp as Techno’s blade found its mark, tearing into the gap in armor between his calf and thigh. The man in green was limping now, increasingly frantic.
“I didn’t leave them to die in the snow when they were on their last lives!”
“You didn’t stop me from doing it either!”
Philza suddenly spoke up, voice filled with unmistakable fury.
“He’s grasping at straws Tech, trying to get under your skin. Finish him.”
“Gladly.”
Techno lunged as Dream suddenly dropped his shield, hand grasping a dark orb that he threw towards the forest.
Oh no you don’t. Technoblade only slightly adjusted his strike, baring his teeth as his sword pierced flesh.
Then Dream popped out of existence, teleported as the ender pearl shattered. The twang of an arrow being released could be heard in the same instant. Techno followed the trajectory with his eyes, watching Dream take a single step, and collapse.
He was in no rush to walk over, both men took their time plodding through the snow. Eventually they stared down at the masked man now writhing in pain on the ground, hands grasped to his chest as he gasped wetly.
Technoblade leaned down and unstrapped the pack of potions on Dream’s side, crushing them all on the ground. It looked like he had already downed one healing based on the empty bottle, but it wouldn’t be enough. The sword had gone through his lung, and the arrow stuck out of his side.
“Phil, you know, I wonder if this is how Tommy and Tubbo felt?” Technoblade intentionally made his voice as mocking as possible, enjoying how Dream flinched at the words. Philza sneered, bending down and ripping Dream’s mask off.
“I think they probably felt worse, knowing they wouldn’t be coming back, all alone and cold.”
“True.” Techno met Dream’s venomous gaze, the man’s green eyes were daggers, but blood dripped from his mouth. “I wonder how many lives Dream has?”
“Well Tech, there’s one reliable way to find out.”
Coughs racked Dream’s body, bloody and obviously painful. Neither of the men standing over him cared.
“Well…” Dream somehow managed to hiss the words between his teeth “kill me then, if you’re going to.”
Technoblade laughed, Phil joining him in his amusement. Finally there was a trace of fear in Dream’s arrogant green eyes.
“You really think I’m just going to put you out of your misery that easily, after what you did?” Techno sneered past his tusks haughtily. “Have fun laying in the snow. When you respawn just know, I’ll be coming for you. As many times as it takes.”
With that the two men turned on their heels and headed back to the house, leaving Dream in the bloody snow. He would die soon, sooner than he deserved, but there was some justice in letting nature take its course.
Technoblade felt fairly calm when he entered the house, maybe more than he should have, but killing Dream was oddly cathartic. Philza seemed to be feeling similarly. When he opened the door Techno almost instinctively drew his sword again, there was the point of another weapon at his throat. But Tommy immediately lowered the blade, dropping it to the floor and retreating from the door.
“Shit! I thought… I was worried you…” The boy, still weak, dropped into a chair heavily. His breathing was unsteady, obviously he had been panicking, but he started to calm down as Philza rubbed his shoulders.
“We’re right here Tommy, we aren’t going anywhere. Dream is dead… or will be soon enough. You’re safe.” Phil continued to murmur comforts as Techno crossed the room, starting to put his gear away. Oh he intended to make good on his promise to hunt down Dream, but it could wait. A little suspense would make it better anyway.
“Hello?”
Everyone froze, complete silence filling the house at the sound of a weak voice. Technoblade slowly, carefully, turned towards the source.
Tubbo’s blue eyes were open, peering around slowly. Tommy was at his side in an instant.
“Tubbo!” A fresh torrent of tears poured from Tommy’s eyes as he clutched his friend close, careful not to upset his wounds. “You’re awake, you’re—you’re…” Though he didn’t finish the thought, everyone knew what he meant.
You’re alive.
“Here, have him drink this.” Technoblade forced Tommy to take a glass bottle, filled with the strongest strength and healing potion he could devise. It was for exactly this, made in hope that Tubbo would survive to drink it. Tommy helped Tubbo weakly lift it to his mouth and propped him upright while he drank.
He was going to live.
Technoblade hastily left the room, ducking into the kitchen.
He scoffed at himself, trying to clear his emotions. Relief filled his chest to bursting. His eyes blinked back tears despite himself. He was surprised to realize how much he cared. He was also vaguely annoyed, but he couldn’t suppress how he felt.
Not when Tubbo and Tommy were going to be okay.
Tommy held Tubbo close to his side, unwilling to be separated from the moment Tubbo regained consciousness. He helped support him as he drank some soup, his friend was still incredibly weak, and in significant pain. But he was on the road to recovery.
Tommy kept having to wipe away tears, and he saw Philza doing the same.
Tommy couldn’t express the amount of pure happiness he felt when Tubbo woke up. If he had lost him, again, after everything…
Tommy would have felt alone no matter who else was beside him.
“So, what happened?” Tubbo’s voice was raspy from disuse, he dropped his head to rest against Tommy’s shoulder as he spoke, Phil gently taking the empty bowl.
How to explain? Tommy was fairly certain Tubbo felt the same way he had when he first woke up, surprised to be alive. Surprised to be breathing and warm. Just explaining that was challenging enough.
The young blond took a deep breath, eyes glancing down at Tubbo’s bandaged chest anxiously, still concerned he would see blood there.
Remembering Tubbo laying across his legs, bleeding out in the snow.
“Philza and Techno found us, they brought us back here.” It sounded so simple.
“But how? It… it was a snowstorm right?” Tubbo sounded confused. Tommy gently rubbed his friends shoulder, looking pleadingly at Philza to explain the rest.
“Wilbur led us to you. He came here and got us.” Philza lowered himself to sit on the foot of the bed, gentle blue eyes fogging with tears.
“But… the snow…”
“We never would have even known to look if not for him. We—you… even if we had searched, without him guiding us, we never would have found you two in time.”
Tubbo shivered lightly, prompting Tommy to wrap the banket around the two of them tighter. He focused on comforting Tubbo, ignoring how his own eyes misted over.
“He’s gone, isn’t he.” Tubbo’s voice was soft, patient blue eyes met Tommy’s.
“Yeah.”
“I thought so.” Philza stiffened at Tubbo’s cryptic words, almost desperately leaning forward for more information.
“What do you mean Tubbo?”
“I just… while I was unconscious I dreamt about him. I dreamt that we were both standing in this… big space. It was really odd. But Wilbur was standing in front of me, and it was really Wilbur, not Ghostbur. I don’t know how I could tell, but I just knew he could remember everything.” Tubbo gripped the blanket tightly, eyes downcast, as if afraid they would think he was crazy.
“The space was dark, and it was like I was falling really slowly, sinking almost. It was like that for a really long time… Then Wilbur grabbed my arms and pulled me out. He didn’t say anything, but I could just tell—I just somehow knew he was happy. Not like how Ghostbur was, all happy because he couldn’t remember sad things, but really happy. Truly… proud almost. Uh then well, the rest is a little fuzzy. Wilbur was carrying me through some sort of storm, but it was all… weird. I can’t really describe it.”
Tommy’s eyes were wide, he didn’t know how to feel, what to think. It could just be a dream, brought on by injuries and blood loss. But…
“As he carried me, he started to… fade, more and more. I could tell it was getting harder for him, but he kept moving. Eventually he was barely visible, more translucent than Ghostbur at his worst. Then suddenly… we were here. Wilbur was just an outline, holding my hand, but we watched the three of you in the cabin. I was thinking I was a ghost too… But Wilbur was crying, like he was just really happy to see you. I somehow knew that he was saying goodbye. Then his tears dripped and he started to… he started melting. But I knew he was so happy, so proud that I… I didn’t feel upset. He was just so joyful. The next thing I remember is waking up.”
Tubbo took several deep breaths as his story finished, almost fearfully glancing up at Tommy.
For his part Tommy could only suppress sobs. He buried his face in Tubbo’s brown hair, snuggling in as Philza squeezed in next to him, holding them both in his arms.
Tommy whispered thanks through his weeping, words of forgiveness and love.
Wilbur, after everything he had done… He had saved them.
He had brought Tubbo back to Tommy.
He had melted.
First he had melted so Tommy could live.
Then he had melted so Tommy wouldn’t be alone.
For the first time in far too long, snuggled close to Tubbo and Philza on the bed, and with Techno nearby, Tommy truly felt safe.