fun fact; potatoes

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"What?" Tubbo asked, running a hand through his hair awkwardly. "What do you mean? He didn't... 'get to me'."

"You see Tommy, don't you?" The Eltryian asked, his eyebrows knitted in worry and sadness. 

"I d..don't know what you're on about, big man." Tubbo chuckled airily and nervously, not meeting Phil's eyes. Actually, he was suddenly interested in the grass below his shoes.

Tommy tried not to show how heartbroken he was, walking shakily over to Phil and brushing the older's wing with his own. He could have sworn Phil moved his wing slightly at the touch, but wasn't sure if his ghost-ness made it feel like wind or not.

Phil sighed, "Go on, then. Just... please think about what you see, and who you're around often, I think Wilbur's trying to get into your heads. He's hopelessly distraught over Tommy." As he spoke, he gestured with his wings.

"Uh, okay." Tubbo backed up a step, "Bye, Phil. Take care."

"Bye, Phil." Tommy said dully, running his fingers through the Elytrian's larger wings, almost forgetting how soft yet sharp each feather was. 

"Bye, Tubbo." Phil's wing flicked at the air twice, once going through Tommy's arm and sending a cold feeling through that area.

Hmm, Phil thought, pure concern and confusion clouding the man's head. Did I just see a bird? In Minecraft?

Tubbo walked away, letting out a huge sigh once he was out of earshot. Tommy kicked a stone absent-mindedly, the pair not walking to any certain place.

"Sorry about that." Tubbo spoke up first, "I uh, didnt know he'd be there."

"No, I'm sorry." Tommy blinked, looking upwards. "I shouldnt be such a bitch over this. It's nothing, really."

"You're not being a bitch over this," Tubbo said, his tone sharper than intended. "You heard Niki. You know how much people care about you. Reacting the way you are isnt overreacting, it's not everyday you die and then have to live with no one being able to see you."

"Well, it is now." Tommy grumbled under his breath. He hummed something, falling silent soon.

"Hey!" Tubbo half-snapped, kneeling down to pick an oxeye daisy. "We will find out how to fix this, just you w- Tommy?"

The older turned around, met with empty space. There was no Avian in the area, and there were no signs of a runaway. Tommy was gone, and Tubbo didn't know where to.

----

Everything was black for the boy.

He was met with pure silence, the only sound being that of his struggling. 

Rope scraped harshly against wood.

His own muffled screams.

The towel that had been tied around his face slipped down, allowing him to scream.

"WHAT THE FUCK!" He cried, "WHO THE FUCK DID THIS TO ME, YOU ABSOULUTE BITCH, LET ME GO!"

"I wouldnt shout if I were you, songbird." Whoever was beyond the darkness said, pausing for a moment.

"Using childish names?" Tommy growled, his bound wings thrashing and coiling. "Why exactly shouldnt I shout, then? BITCH!"

"Tommy!" A new voice chuckled, pure annoyance slithering in it. "You're dead! You can't die again!"

"AND?" Tommy snarled, kicking out his legs. He felt a twinge of satisfaction when he hit the knee of one of his captors. A low growling came from infront of him, soon something large and metal whacking him over the head. Something warm trickled down the side of his head, the familiar feeling of the liquid seeping into his shirt and skin. "OW! GOD DAMNIT- FUCK!"

"You're still awake?" The first voice laughed slightly, the second one continuing. "My bad. Not. Bonk!"

The black welcomed him again, this time blocking out everything around him.

----

"Wilbur! Wilbur!" Tubbo called for the phantom, rushing to find him. As soon as he found the transparent being talking to Jack, he nearly collapsed into the older's arms. "Wilbur, I- where's Tommy?"

"Why, is he missing again?" Ranboo appeared from the bushes, holding a large supply of meat in his hands. He handed it off to Jack, who turned his blaze rods sideways and roasted the meat on top of them. 

"That boy," Wilbur chuckled.

"Yeah but, I'm worried because," Tubbo spoke between pants from running so far. "Last time- he disappeared-  it was not- not good."

Ranboo's tail flicked as he said that, a sinking feeling echoing through the Ender Class. Wilbur fell silent immediately, and even Jack showed some signs of discomfort. 

"So," Tubbo got over his wave of tired-ness, standing up straight. "Has anyone seen Tommy?"

"I haven't," Jack said, followed by Wilbur and Ranboo repeating it, shaking their heads, all eyes reflecting the same worry.

"Let's think about this," Ranboo frowned, clapping his claw-like hands together gently. 

"Should we wait until tomorrow? Maybe we're all just overreacting, y'know? Tommy's strong, he wouldn't do that again, I think. He probably just needs some well-earned space." Tubbo asked hesitantly. The miniature group nodded, each boy thinking carefully.

"Yeah, we should leave him alone for a bit. We've all been on his tail for awhile." Wilbur tilted his head. 

Ranboo sighed shakily, and his words echoed through Tubbo's head. "He died the first time, and I did nothing. I sat, and I watched as he killed himself, over and over, until he killed himself once and for all. I watched. I did nothing to help. I feel like I failed him, Tubbo."

"Anyone hungry?" Jack asked in an attempt to break the uncomfortable silence, holding up some nearly completely done pieces of steak. 

"Starving." Tubbo grinned, stealing a few of the smoking pieces of meat. The group didn't take a long time to dig in, happy to be able to eat dinner without any worry this time. Well, less worry than they usually had.

Before they realized it, Wilbur had gone to his house, Jack returned to the mines and slept in lava, and Ranboo carried Tubbo bridal-style to his room again. It was no secret that the Shulk loved clinging to things when he was tired, no matter what, so as the night carried on, Ranboo fell asleep with the boy curled into his chest.

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again, p l a t o n i c >:(