(Content warning: abuse, death, suicidal thoughts, copy and paste lmao)

     The lava was being drained, a barrier was pull up.

     A pathway made its way across, a small figure getting on.

     Leaving the inmate in the cell and going back to the sane world.

     The path stopped and the lava fell again.

     Being led out of the labyrinth felt uncomfortable.

     Feeling heavy armor over weak and bruised skin.

     The sickening feeling of the portal.

     Finally seeing sunlight.

     The small gasp and a voice.

     "Tommy?"

     His dead eyes just wandered the landscape without detecting anything.

---

     Sam sighed.

     It had been weeks since he let Tommy out. When he heard the teen had been revived somehow, he immediately rushed back to the cell and let him out. It had been days since Tommy had been resurrected though.

     "Tommy, I brought some food over." Sam put down his bag before walking into the bare bedroom. He could see Tommy just staring up at the ceiling from under the blankets he placed on him only hours before. The blond just gave him a glance before staring back at the ceiling once again. "Come on, Toms. You have to eat, you are skin and bones." Sam put the plate down before sitting Tommy up in the bed, shuddering after feeling sharp bones through the light shirt.

     The blanket fell as Tommy leaned against the wall and watched as Sam handed him the plate. He made no move to feed himself with the fork. It has been minutes before Sam sighed and used utensil to bring a spoon of mashed potatoes up to Tommy's mouth. He just backed up until his head hit the wall with a quiet grunt.

     "Just a few mouthfuls, please?" Sam begged as Tommy shrugged his shoulders. A few seconds later, he opened his mouth and Sam gratefully took the opportunity to place it inside. Only ten bites and Tommy pushed away the plate and shook his head. "Just a few more? I know they are kind of cold now but you need to eat enough." Tommy shook his head again.

     Constant pleading for thirty minutes got them nowhere, Sam just gave up.

     "How about we go outside for the evening? Maybe we can see people wandering around?" Tommy just melted into the bed and turned so he wasn't facing Sam. "We are going to go do something, you have been stuck here this whole time, even if it is just going and sitting by the door of your house. We are going to do something today." Tommy made no effort to move. "You asked for it.

     The hybrid picked Tommy up, the younger clinging onto him and small shrieks escaped his mouth. Sam just let out a hearty laugh.

     "I told you! Anyways, we are going to go sit outside and watch the sunset." Sam used his foot to open the doors before they made it out of the house. The wind was nice, only slightly ruffling their hair. The sky was orange, beautiful and reminiscent of a perfect life. Sam walked up the hill of Tommy's house and set him on the grass before sitting down as well.

     "See? Isn't this nice? Gorgeous day to stargaze." Tommy's head snapped over to Sam and made a noise of alarm at the back of his throat that the creeper hybrid could recognize its meaning. Sam laughed again. "I know, just had to make an excuse to get you out of that smelly room into some fresh air for awhile.

     "Bastard." Tommy quietly muttered as Sam nudged his side. Finally getting the teen to talk after awhile even though it was a rude name still counted as a win in Sam's book.

---

     Taking a nice walk at sunset had become a common thing for the two.

     Afterwards, they would stargaze for hours before Tommy would fall asleep on Sam's chest and the older man would carry him back to his room. It was nice, a routine of sorts.

     Except when it had to change.

     "Tonight, we are going to have Tubbo and Ranboo join us in our walk, they are going to leave us when we stargaze so they can go back home and put their son to sleep." Tommy shook his head before sitting back on his bed and crossing his arms.

     "Why don't you want to?" Sam had gotten used to this talkless communication and practically understood everything Tommy meant. He would rarely speak and when he did, it was soft and quiet words. Sam had quickly found out that Dream had choked and hit Tommy where his vocal cords were in his neck so it still hurt him to talk too much or too loud.

     "Change." Sam raised an eyebrow.

     "Change? It's not that bad-" Tommy just hummed loudly and waved his hands. "You like the routine we set up, don't you?" Tommy nodded his head once he calmed down. Sam knew the humming, mix of random sounds and the waving of hands meant he was stressed or frustrated with something. "How about we just try it for tonight? If you don't like it, we can wait until you are comfortable."

---

     Sam found it hard to walk with Tommy clinging onto one side.

     "How is Michael?" Sam asked as Tubbo and Ranboo smiled. They both had their hands intertwined as they dangled back and forth between them.

     "He is good, it is taking a bit for him to adjust to the overworld but other than that, perfectly fine." Tubbo explained before it went back to quiet.

     "What have you two been doing?" Ranboo asked to fill the silence as Sam just smiled.

     "We've been taking afternoon walks and then we stargaze with a picnic everynight. Other than that, we play some card games for a few hours between breakfast and lunch. Anything you want to add, Tommy?" Sam asked as he squeezed the younger's hand reassuringly. Tommy was just silent.

     "Is he alright?" Tubbo asked as Ranboo lightly smacked him.

     "Tommy is here and he can answer for himself, stop talking about him like he isn't here." Ranboo hissed as Tubbo shrugged his shoulders. Tommy made a hum at the back of his throat as Sam stopped his walking. He could see the uncomfortable look and the borderline fear.

     "You alright?" Sam asked as he moved his hands to cup Tommy's cheeks. Tubbo and Ranboo stopped behind him and watched.

     "Noise," Tommy whispered so only he could hear. Sam turned to look back at the platonically married couple.

     "Sorry guys, he doesn't like raised voices that much."

     "Well excuse me, it's not my fault he landed himself in prison to be 'traumatized' like this! I should be able to be as loud as I wish because I truly don't believe Dream did anything. Revival is fake! It's all fake and just a ploy for Tommy to get attention like he always has done!" Tubbo shouted as he pushed forewards towards Tommy. Ranboo tried to grab him back and Sam tried to be a blockade but the damage was already done.

     "I... 'orry.... not.... hurt... you... D-Dream... I'm sorry... don't... hurt me... Dream!" His voice was quiet, occasionally a few words wouldn't be heard at all as he spoke. Cracks and squeaks between the pronunciation created a lack of complete understanding of everything Tommy said. His arms were over his head as he crouched into the ground, trying to get away from Tubbo but Sam held him in place as to not run.

     "What the fuck, Tubbo!" Ranboo shouted as he pulled Tubbo towards him. "Isn't it obvious he has been traumatized? He wouldn't stop talking months ago, why do you think he stopped? Leave him alone!" He turned to Sam with concern. "Are you gonna be alright with Tommy? I'm going to take Tubbo home and come back if you would like me to." Sam shook himself out of his shock before nodding his head.

     "Y-yeah, that would be nice if you could come back." Ranboo nodded his head before dragging Tubbo towards their house.

     "Hey, Tommy?"

      "I don't.... pain... leave!" Sam let out a shudder. He didn't know how damaged Tommy's voice was until this moment, he just thought he was being quiet.

     "Shhh, it's alright, I'm here, Dream is in prison, you are here and safe. We are here together and safe." Sam sat on the grass with him and rubbed his back. "Listen to the breeze, feel the grass. Here, feel my breathing and try to match it." Sam took his hand overtop of Tommy's and placed it over his chest. He immediately began to exaggerate slow breathing. Tommy hiccuped and leaned his head against Sam's chest as well. After thirty minutes, Sam could hear the sniffles stop and could see that Tommy was calmer now. His eyes were closed and his hand was still on Sam.

     Ranboo came back and mouthed to Sam, asking what to do. Sam just gave him a soft smile before telling him to go back home, he had it under control. Ranboo gave him a thumbs up and left.

     "Are you still awake, buddy?" Sam asked as Tommy nodded his head slowly. "What's on your mind?"

     "'urt... sad... off 'self." Sam sucked in a breath as he continued to rub his back.

     "I will stay here even after you stop feeling this way." He whispered.

     Sam was right, he stayed with Tommy 24/7 besides for the bathroom, even then he was close by. He stayed there as Tommy learned to communicate with more people again. It showed a sign of hope.

     A sign of recovery.

Words: 1597
Written: Wednesday, March 10th, 2021
Edited:

3 fics, start to finish, in the past 2 days pog?