There was an odd tension around the three as they continued walking in silence. Ever since they had set off no one had said a word, and it had become quite awkward. Tommy was never a fan of awkward silences, they would happen with Wilbur and Techno all the time at home. The three of them would get into a big fight, one of them would go to far, and out came the silence. Either that or they never had anything to say to each other. They never communicated much at home, and that's exactly how he felt now. The fact that he was walking around with two strangers he knew almost nothing about just made it worse.

  Not wanting to walk in silence anymore Tommy spoke. "So, do you two come around here often?" Tommy asked nervously. Tubbo, who was walking in front of him with Ranboo at his side turned his head. "What do you mean when you say around here? This particular area? Or the entire damn forest." the brunette asked sarcastically. "I don't know, the area I suppose." Tommy huffed, crossing his arms. Tubbo let out a loud audible sigh, "We don't come to this area often, around every few weeks." he responded blandly, turning his head back ahead of him. "That's cool" the blonde responded. Tubbo rolled his eyes and stopped walking to turn around an look at the other. 

  "Are you trying to clear the awkward tension in the air?" Tubbo asked in a rude tone. "What's it to you? I don't like feeling awkward, so what?" Tommy scoffed. The shorter hummed, clearly annoyed and raised his axe slightly. Afraid of what the brunette would do Tommy took a few steps back. Only to find he was simply putting it in it's holster. Though he noticed the other's movement and looked back at him. "Jumpy much?" he spat. 

  "I am not jumpy!" the blonde shouted. "Could you guys not argue again? I don't want it to end how it started last time." Ranboo said from the side, only to be ignored by Tubbo. "Really? I saw you back up. Or is it some sort of act? And don't think I didn't notice that sword on your back! Why didn't you try using it when I attacked you huh?" Tubbo once again spat back at him. "Well first of all, you pushed me to the ground, so even if I wanted to use it I wouldn't be able to reach it! And secondly." "Then why didn't you try fighting back with that pocket knife you had?" Tubbo interrupted, surprising the blonde. "Were you afraid?" "No!" "Then why didn't you use it?" Tommy went silent for a minute before he crossed his arms and pushed past the two in front of him. "Hey!" Tubbo shouted. "Forget it! Let's just keep going!" Tommy yelled.

  "But Tommy, you don't even know where were going." Ranboo stated, running to walk along side him. "Oh, right. Well do you mind if I ask where?" the blond asked the taller boy. "Well-" "Were going back to our base." Tubbo interrupted, using air quotes when he said base. Tommy raised an eyebrow and looked to Ranboo who nodded, confirming what Tubbo said. "Okay, well how far is your base?" Tommy questioned. "Um, Tubbo how long have we been walking?" Ranboo asked, turning his head to look back at him. "At least an hour, probably closer to an hour and a half." Tubbo sighed. 

  "In that case it shouldn't be to far, though I'd like to stop by somewhere first to see if we can do anything about your ankle." Ranboo said to Tommy with a soft smile. "Stop by where?" "There's someone not very far from here that's pretty good with injuries, she lives with her friend who we also go to for pastries and some other things she bakes." The taller started to explain. "Wait there are more people in this forest!?" Tommy shouted, stepping in front of Ranboo now walking backwards. "Oh yes! There's a whole bunch of people out here that we are fond of and friends with!" Ranboo told cheerfully. "Really!?" he nodded to Tommy's surprised shout. The blonde hummed and looked at the ground as they continued walking. He wanted to know how many people lived out in this forest and wondered if maybe this was why Phil wanted to keep Techno, Wilbur, and himself away from this place.

  But the more he was hearing the nicer these people sounded. Or maybe it was because of the strange creatures and he was afraid they would get injured. But Techno and Wilbur were skilled with combat. Techno more than the other two, but even then if they were being attacked they would be able to fend these creature off no problem. So why did Phil keep them away from this place for so long? Getting mad anytime they even asked about the forest. "Tommy?" The blonde snapped out of his thoughts and looked up at the one who called his name. 

  "What?" "Ah, sorry, thought I lost you there for a second." Ranboo said with a smile. "Yeah you did." "Aw-" "Sorry, what were you saying?" "Nothing to important, just talking about a few of the people around here." "Oh, yeah sorry, I'm not really good at paying attention to long lengthy explanations." "Do you get distracted easily?" Ranboo questioned. Tommy shrugged with an annoyed sigh and looked down to the forest floor. "Tree" Tubbo said from behind. The blond looked up at him confused. "What?" Before Tubbo could answer he ran into something and fell to the floor. "Ow! What the heck!" He looked behind him to see that what he bumped into was indeed a massive tree. 

  "I was trying to tell you that you were about to back into a tree but I guess you didn't get the memo." Tubbo said with a grin. "Well you could have been more specific!" the boy shouted. "Are you okay Tommy?" Ranboo asked. He extended a hand out to him only to have it slapped away by Tommy once again. "I can get up on my own prick." he spat standing up. "Hey! The only one who gets to call him a prick is me!" Tubbo shouted, marching up to the tall blonde. "Yeah? Would you like me to call you a prick instead shorty?" Tommy asked in a mocking tone. 

  "You bitch!" Tubbo yelled, obviously becoming angry. He pushed Tommy back into the tree, though the blonde was able to keep his balance this time. "Tubbo no!" Ranboo stepped in between the two, holding his arms out to keep both of them from trying to throw another punch. "I know you two aren't getting along very well but the last thing we need is for Tommy to be even more injured than he already is!" the taller boy shouted at the two, mainly directing his words toward Tubbo. The brunette huffed and backed up, glaring at Tommy as he walked past them. Ranboo sighed angerly and shot Tommy a worried look. He waved him off and pushed himself off the tree, hissing as the impact of being shoved against it hurt his back. 

  The taller stepped forward to help the other but was given a cold look that told him not to help. The brit stood up straight, taking a deep breath before continuing on their path. "How far are we from this place again?" he asked. "Ah, right!" Ranboo once again ran to catch up to him, walking by his side as Tubbo led on. "We should be there any minute now!" he replied smiling. Tommy gave him a weak, yet warm smile back. He wanted Ranboo to know that he was alright and at the least some what comfortable with the situation he was in. 

  Tubbo may have been a thorn in his side but Ranboo was like the sweet rose you got at the end. He was gentle and kind while Tubbo was rude and aggravating. He didn't understand how such opposites could be such good friends. Tommy thought of the two as a puzzle. Finding pieces that you don't think will fit together, but if you try they do. And in that puzzle Tommy was the piece that ended up getting lost under the rug. One that you get mad about because without it you wouldn't be able to finish the puzzle, but eventually give up caring and leave with what you finished. 

  "Speak of the devil." Tubbo suddenly said. Looking around for a moment Tommy found them in yet another open area. It was like the other, filled with flowers and lush green grass. Small critters resting in the area and butterflies fluttering about. At one side of this opening was a house. By estimating Tommy assumed that it was about half the size of his home, but still enough to be considered big. The perimeter was partially surrounded by a white fence, particularly the back half. 

  The air around them smelled of sweet bread and other assorted pastries that might be found in a bakery. The overall atmosphere was, in all honesty, quite nice. It reminded him of home in some ways. "I feel like you should be saying speak of the angel." Ranboo laughed. Tubbo walked closer to the house, not waiting for the other two to follow. "Come on Tommy. These two will fix you right up." Ranboo told the blonde. He grabbed his hand and lead him through the grass and flowers slowly, letting him take in the sight of the place. 

  He really did like it, it felt homey. The caught up to Tubbo at the door and stood their for a moment. Suddenly Tommy felt tense and he didn't have a clue why. It might have been the fact that they were about to go into the house of someone he didn't know, or the fact he had been traveling with two strangers, one of which had attacked him when they first met. Whatever it was the atmosphere didn't feel so nice anymore. He rubbed his shoulder and partially hid himself behind Ranboo, hoping he didn't notice. Tubbo knocked on the door and took a step back. They waited for a minute until there was a gentle turn of the door knob and someone had opened the door.

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I may have gotten a little lazy at the end but I've been working on this chapter on and off for months at this point and I just wanted to get this done. Little do you know I've actually been very active on here. Writing wise and reading wise. I just haven't posted anything lately. But it's summer now! So I'm hoping to post a lot of the stuff I've been working on so stay tuned!