(Not proofread. Swearing and mild descriptions of violence ahead.
Also, half of this is copy-pasted from a one shot of mine because it's a different PoV.)

Tommy had never seen the Void himself before they finally banned him from the server, but he now understood the fear that's associated with it. The never-ending darkness that wasn't even comparable to the sky at midnight because of its pitch black color, the eerie echo of all sounds that came from everywhere but nowhere at the same time, the pain in the heart of loneliness after floating around aimlessly for... was it days? Weeks? Months?

The Void didn't hurt, he wouldn't allow himself to be a wussy. The Void was just... boring. He couldn't walk around and talk until his heart's content or look at anything interesting. It mocked him, and he wanted out.

But wanting to be unbanned from the server and unexiled L'manberg was as effective as wishing for an elytra on the server.

A tear floated from his eye without permission, floating off into the Void like it's owner. Tommy scowled and wiped his eyes with the rough fabric of his tattered shirt. It's not like anyone would see him, so he didn't know why he cared so much about showing weakness.

Tommy sighed harshly and crossed his arms tight over his chest. He would rather pout like a child than cry like one.

A form appeared in the distance, approaching with surprising speed considering the Void. Tommy waited for it to turn around once they realized he wasn't worth bothering, but he couldn't deny his rapidly quickening heart rate.

Tommy scrambled as it got closer without any obvious intention to leave him alone. He leaned away, foolishly trying to put distance between the two without knowing how to move when his feet can't propel him away. It seems like he tried to run on ice or something of the like, his feet and arms moving while his body floated in the same place.

"Relax, I'm not going to hurt you," the player monotoned, reaching out and tightly holding Tommy's flailing wrists. His restriction of movement and the other player's modulated voice panicked the teen more. He tried to pull away, but the fingers around his wrist tightened to a vice-like grip. Maybe this is what wearing steel cuffs felt like. Maybe this is his true punishment, brought upon him by another player, and the Void was just a façade.

But the tight grasp on his wrists reminded him of Techno or Phil holding him when he got too destructive, not like being cuffed and imprisoned. That fond memory of family only served to push him over the edge, and the tough skin he hoped to keep disappeared as he dissolved into soundless sobs.

The other player briefly looked Tommy over as he cried silently. A few moments passed with the teen's sniffles being the only sound around them.

"Not gonna lie to you, kid, you look terrible," he finally said, holding Tommy's hands away as if he were some kind of dirty paper towel.

Clearly, emotional comfort was not this player's forte.

Tommy bristled slightly at the statement and tried yanking his arms back again. Most of his energy had been spent on sobbing in front of this stranger, and thus he failed (once more) to regain control of his hands.

"Let- go of me- you bitch," Tommy said, his voice thick with snot stuck in his throat. He blinked hard, squeezing the tears from his lids, meeting the other's gaze with a weak glare. The audacity of the other player--grabbing his hands like some wild animal.

The player pursed his lips, held his wrists firmer that earlier, and brought it to his own chest, almost as if someone has done it for him but he himself has never done it. "Really now, there's no need for that language." He eyes through the barely translucent visor, leveling them at Tommy.

"Let go of me you bastar-"

"What's your name, kiddo?" The other sharply cut him off on that swear word purposefully, looking him up and down. Tommy furrowed his eyebrows, shifting uncomfortably at the attention cast upon him.

"Tommy, but don't call me a fucking kiddo," he spat, his voice gruff and defensive as his eyes darted around. He refused to look at the stranger even as he granted him ownership of his hands again. The majority of the other's form reminded him of blood and TNT, resurfacing old memories he locked away for good reason. Each piece of red, no matter the hue, reminded him of the blood that stained his shirt after the duel with Dream, the blood that coated Tubbo's side after Techno shot the firework, the blood that dripped on Phil's--Wilbur's sword after the former ran it through his son. It reminded him of the TNT he made for random pranks and what no, the TNT Wilbur crafted and put under L'manburg but failed to find the button to detonate it, the TNT that revealed itself after the press of a button and blew up the only place he could truly call home...

The player raised an eyebrow, pulling Tommy out of his thoughts. "Don't be so sharp and there's no need for all those swears. But I'm EX," he monotoned, holding his hand out. A frown pulled at Tommy's lips as he pulled his mind through the slush of memories and stared at the peace offering.

Even he knew the rudeness that radiated off his skin and spewed out of his mouth. He couldn't be rude anymore, he guessed.

"EX? That's just a damn letter," Tommy instead deadpanned after an awkward silence, running a hand through his hair and refusing the offered hand.

The man in question glared, despite it being hidden by his reflective visor. "With an E."

EX. So the other banished... exiled... person is called EX. It doesn't sound real. EX, if that's the player's actual name, was a horrible name if he's ever heard one, and more of a status than anything.

"... Relationship problems much? Ha, imagine."

EX stared, and Tommy surprisingly met his deadpan gaze. He didn't squirm or seem uncomfortable in the slightest. He didn't try to tear his gaze away or try to make him look away. He just met his gaze, neutral and emotionless.

The look seemed similar to Dream's masked glare or Techno's blank stare. Actually, Techno's stare was far more terrifying than EX's gaze.

"I hate kids," EX finally muttered under his breath to break the silence before continuing in a more clear voice. "Right. Do you know where you are?"

Tommy scoffed, crossing his arms defensively and lowering his head to stare at his feet. "The Void. How stupid do you think I am? Seriously-" Tommy continued in a furious mutter, "-always fucking assuming things, like always, no shit. I can do stuff, y'know, I'm not stupid. Adults are gonna be adults and always assume I'm some stupid naïve child that can't do a single thing in the world by myself, huh? Unfair, aye? Well I'll show you unfair, you little son of a-"

"Is that a habit of yours, to ramble on like that?" EX's voice cut loud and clear through his thoughts. The young player snapped his head up, his jaw clenched so tight his skin became taut.

Tommy snapped, "No." A light red spread across his cheeks. "Maybe. A bit. Possibly." When EX didn't reply, he continued, almost explosively, "What's it to you, huh?" It was almost as if his pride had been hit. "I barely even know you, and you as sure as hell don't know me! Who are you to judge now, you f-"

"Alright. Alright. Please, relax, there seriously is not need to be a bloody scumbag," EX scoffed. He looked like he barely restrained himself from slapping the young player. He closed his eyes. "Got a temperamental child on my hands, good to note."

"Got a bitch with his head stuck in his arse to deal with on my hands," Tommy naturally snarked in response.

"Alright, could you not?" EX finally snapped, his lilac eyes shooting open and his fingers clenching into his palm. "I'm trying to help you, okay?"

"You're doing a shit job of it!" Tommy crossed his arms, defiance sparking a large fire in his eyes.

EX turned his head to the side, and even under the helmet that covered his entire head, he could see the clenched jaw and the clenched eyes.

Good, he pissed the guy off.

"I can't leave you here in the Void. That's cruel, even for me," he begrudgingly decided after staring into the unknown for a moment, saying it in a low mutter that Tommy barely heard. EX then glanced to somewhere above as the teen slapped his shoulder.

"It's just a void! It's nothing much! I'm not a kid or anything, I can handle it. You don't even know me, what'd you know, huh?" Tommy adamantly said, waving his arms around.

EX directed a glare at him. "You haven't done any research on the Void, haven't you? Convince me when you know your facts. And I don't want you to end up like me anyways, so unfortunately, no, there's no talking me out of this."

"Huh?" Despite not using big words, he managed to confuse Tommy anyways. "Bruh- you can't just- holy shit. What the hell do you mean, 'end up like you'?"

"C'mon, kid," EX said, gently but firmly tugging at Tommy's wrist, blatantly ignoring Tommy's question.

"Don't call me kid!" Tommy all but screamed in his ear. He didn't get the satisfaction of a reaction.

"You look like a teenager and talk like one," EX replied, as if Tommy didn't just abuse his vocal chord privileges. "Now stay still and let me get both of us into a server. It'll be far safer there than anywhere around here."

EX snuck in a smirk and a side look. "And also, they won't allow as much swearing as you're doing."

But before Tommy could retort, the familiar sensation of joining a server overtook his senses.

(A/N: Welcome to a crossover fanfiction, crossing over Hermitcraft and the DreamSMP.  I wanted to get this out sooner, but apparently Wattpad was having a mental breakdown or something earlier and I couldn't. Incredible.

For those of you who are knew to my junky writing, please just note that I specialize in writing Hermitcraft stuff, not DSMP stuff. I know the characters of the SMP, but not as good as I know HC.

Anyways, this story is based off the plot outline I posted in my concept book.

Now see listen, I usually plan out every single chapter in my books, but, you know what, I'm gonna turn a new leaf and just freestyle this. Just gonna have fun instead of methodically planning out every little detail.

So if pacing goes brrrr, lmao sorry about that.

Thank you for dropping by to check this out, and enjoy the rest of the book!

-Quill
[Ariyaquila]