Chapter Text
Dream was traveling. He was on a boat, on his way to L’manburg.
That stupid country, that incredibly reckless nation that thought they could go against his protection. Every time he thought about the land, his eyebrow twitched behind his mask. The anthem as well, has always gotten on his nerves. The brutality and tyranny of their rulers . What tyranny? All he did was protect everyone, help. Somehow, they took it for granted. They wanted war, refused to lift the white banners and went to fight.
The idiots.
They could never win, even now with the so-called ‘independence’ he still remained in control.
Their new president was laughable. Really? What were they thinking? Tubbo, the guy who couldn't get himself out of a box, who did what everyone else wanted because he couldn't decide for himself. It's almost as if they wanted to make it easy on him. Well, nevertheless, it worked out. They could have their country, he could have his control.
Here he was, on his boat, on his way to that forsaken nation. Sure, he could use his admin privileges to teleport there, it would be laughably easy. But when he arrived he wanted to look like what they would describe as ‘in distress’ and ‘human’. So, he had to put up another act.
They needed their admin after all, they needed him if they wanted to survive. He was just looking out for all of them, for the greater good. So what if he didn't want to hold up his moral compass. At least he did what needed to be done. At least he got rid of the trash and trained it into a good dog that listened. All he did was for them. These acts just made sure that they knew that.
He was already prepared for what he was going to do: he would run up to them, exclaiming that he needed help, that something went terribly wrong. Then he would tell them that during his leave Tommy had been taken by force. He needed their help to find the people who did it because he was so lost on what to do.
It would play out so well, he knew that. With running, he would bring a sense of urgency. After all, he was the admin, he was calm. Him needing help? It was unknown over there, that way would make sure they would send him to wherever the president was having his current mental breakdown without trying to hold him back. By telling them that Tommy was taken while he was gone, it would ensure his innocence. Tommy having been taken by force? Well, the beach didn't look all that great, with all the holes from explosions and all, it would explain away everything he did behind their back. Him being oh so lost on what to do will urge people to take his side later on, when possible cracks started forming in his plan.
Telling them that he needed help getting Tommy back from the person who took him, well. He was planning on having an easy win, and numbers certainly made things a lot easier. Especially if he needed to make a sacrifice here and there.
He knew that he had to make plans for if his original plans didn't work, contingency plans. He learned the hard way that someone or something would always mess his perfection up. That just wouldn't do.
His plans, made from his threads that he commands, are perfect. He would command what would happen where, everyone would follow because they know the truth. They and everyone else are better off this way.
In the middle of the sea he started thinking, he could just use his powers and get Tommy back. He could just use commands and the ones that took him would die instantly.
There was a small problem though.
Tommy.
He was uncontrollable, chaos in its purest form. Moros incarnate .
Yet, at the same time, creating affection and attachments everywhere he goes.
The duality confuses Dream.
He didn't like that.
When he took Tommy to exile, he tried so hard. He did everything he could to let Tommy be normal, be molded into what he wanted. To let Dream understand him.
He trained him, used everything he could think of to help. Nothing worked. Everything he got was an ungrateful brat that wouldn't listen and was constantly on edge.
He had finally made a breakthrough. With the wings there was a promising future on the horizon. He could almost reach it. Everything would be perfect
Then Tommy disappeared.
Dream knew that he wasn't in a good enough state to leave himself, that there was no way in the void that he could have left. Even if he physically was strong enough, he had broken Tommy enough in the mind that he would stay where he was. That was his first step and he had succeeded that far at least.
He kept pushing the pedals, kept making them go in circles. It made him sweat, going through the long seas with just a fishers boat wasn't an easy task. He smiled to himself though. It would make his act much more believable.
Possibilities of what may have happened haven't been lost in his mind. Maybe tubbo came by, that would create disaster. Part of the reason as to why he would up the panic, that way the boy would feel guilty and give Tommy back. The same could be said for anyone in L’manburg, it would be simple if it were to be that way.
If it wasn't someone from L’manburg, he would be a bit more troubled. Not much.
The first person his mind came to was Technoblade, Phil following right behind him. They would be the first people to defy him if they got the chance after all. Then he dismissed his worries.
Phil disowned Tommy and Technoblade hated his brother. Even if they decided that for some reason Tommy would be better off with them, Tommy would be fighting them at every chance he gets. He hated the duo. He would probably run back all on his own.
Anyone else didn't care enough for his little Moros.
Dream granted himself a small smile, even if it was behind his mask.
This would be effortless .
It was supposed to be a good day.
That is what tubbo said to himself. Now perhaps he tries telling himself this every day. It didn't work. It never works.
Every day was a bad day.
There was so much work to be done. He wasn't meant for this, he grew up on the battlefield, either that or on a flowerfield, running among the bees with Tommy screaming because “the bees are going to sting me Tubbo! Have mercy!”. Instead, he had paperwork until dawn came and it started up again. It was too much.
He was carrying a big stack of paperwork, moving towards his office when he heard the commotion. Running steps upwards the marble stairs. Tubbo sighs.
Another problem for the president it seems.
When he turned around he saw someone he did not expect. A man, clad in a lime-green hoodie with a mask that had a smiley face. He seemed to be panting, splashes of water coming up his sleeves, some patches that have already dried up overtaken by salt. He was in for a ride, Tubbo could see.
“Tubbo! Oh thank the void! I need your help-” dream cut himself off, bending forward and panting. Tubbo tilted his head in vague concern. Nothing more.
(he was so tired, he wanted to quit every day. He couldn't. He was a founder, the last one left because he sent Tommy away and that was his fault too. He didn't know the last time he slept for longer than 10 minutes. He was so tired, he missed Tommy so much. Ranboo helped but he just couldn't fill the hole inside for his best friend. Everyone had expectations that were higher than he could even dream to reach. But he was a founder. He was the president. He had no choice.)
Still, he tried to remain calm and be sympathetic.
“What’s wrong Dream, do you need anything?” Okay, his tone was perhaps a bit more harsh than intended but to be fair he was running on 20 minutes of sleep over the past 2 days.
Dream, luckily, didn't seem to notice this as he just went on with his rant after catching his breath.
“Someone took him. Someone took tommy.”
The stack of papers fell. A dull thud echoed around the hallway.
“What?” the boy said, almost whispering.
“I was just gone to get some supplies, I swear I didn't leave for that long!” Dream sounded panicked, it sounded wrong. “But when I came back, he was gone! And the whole place was completely destroyed and I searched for ages but I couldn't find anything!”
Dream just kept on ranting, but Tubbo could barely hear a thing.
He isn't allowed to be weak, when you're weak you die, be strong.
“Well, where do you think he is now?” he tried. He tried to be on top of things, to be the leader. But dammit he was freaking out because his best friend that he has already sent away is so much further from home than he had thought and he thinks he might be going insane.
Dream looks to the ground, seemingly in guilt.
“I- I don't know. The best I could come up with was either Phil or Technoblade if i'm honest with you. It's why I came here. If it really is them, I'm going to need your help.”
Tubbo’s eyes sharpened. The soldier in him made his body go straight. He looked at dream, his former enemy, the one he fought for so long and let out his hand.
“Well, it's a good thing we are here then. Tell me what you need.”
Tubbo took Dream to his office and told one of the staff to bring the fallen paperwork to it as well. He would finish that later.
Phil and Techno. The angel of death and the Blade. Tommy’s father and brother.
He put his head in his hands, elbows leaning widely on his desk. It all made sense, at least after Dream explained it in detail. Tommy was sick, probably still is. The angel and blade hated Tommy, they have made that much astoundingly clear. Killing Wilbur, telling Tommy to die. What else could it be?
Tubbo was scared, he was so scared for what fate could be in store for his friend with every second that he was with those terrorists. He didn't know anything. He didn't know what state Tommy would be in, how they got to him, how they took him without leaving a trace to follow, what they were planning.
While all of those questions were nerve wracking and terrifying in their own right, it was the last one that scared him the most. Their possible plans. Before everything, he would say that they wouldn't hurt Tommy, that they would help him.
Now? Now he thought that was out of the question.
They hurt him so much, (the pit, the explosions, killing his brother ) nothing was reliable with them anymore, nothing except pain.
Tubbo grit his teeth as he clenched his fists till his knuckles turned white.
How dare they. Why? Why would they do this, what caused them to kidnap Tommy and take him away to void knows where?
Tubbo looked at his wrist and saw the red bandanna he always wore since Tommy had given it to him even while he … exiled him.
This was his fault.
Tubbo had been the one to exile Tommy, basically causing his kidnapping.
This was his fault.
So he would fix it.
He stood up, every bit the president, the founder, the leader that he was. He would make this work, he would right his wrong. Dream looked startled, then stood up as well. Tubbo extended his hand once again (with the flair one would associate with Wilbur Soot, with the importance another would compare to JSchlatt). He opened his mouth, his decision made.
“Looks like it's a good thing L’manburg is still standing. I will help you with getting Tommy back to us.”
Behind his mask, Dream grinned.
Effortless indeed.