His Curse of Binding – Chapter Eighteen

Chapter 18. Wilbur didn’t expect to wake up on the sofa with Tommy asleep and tucked under his chin but the daunting sight of techno with a bucket of water in his hands and Phil watching with a bowl of porridge made the wake-up call more interesting and threatening technoblade if you spilled that

Over us I’m canceling Your sponsorship of that polar bear Wilbur muttered loudly as he covered the blanket over Tommy’s back and cupped his hand across the back of the boy’s neck don’t threaten Steve techno said stepping forward with the bucket and it’s tradition anyway Wilbur glared at him

Techno had a running streak of pouring water on people to wake them up when they came home drunk with his first victim being Wilbur himself aged 16. Take the bucket off him or I’m calling childline Wilbur tempted holding Tommy closer to his side as much as he wanted Tommy to wake up

Cussing out techno it was probably not the best time for this to happen childline really Phil said shoveling more porridge into his mouth try me he responded with slitted eyes techno groaned and put the bucket on the coffee table probably annoyed that he couldn’t add another tally onto the white board in

His room yes the bastard had a whiteboard to count this good Wilbur said he would have flipped techno off but Tommy moved a little in his sleep burying his face into Wilbur’s chest Tommy looked even younger when asleep with no creases on his forehead no crinkled nose or exasperation that

Dulled his Bright Eyes the younger boy seemed at peace softer even not that Wilbur would voice any of these thoughts he’d rather die a smile curled onto his lips and he threaded his fingers through the blonde’s hair gently detangling the knots treasure the moment Wilbur he’s been acting weird with you all week

Techno said Wilbur fumed at the reminder he didn’t know what he did well now he knew but it didn’t make sense Tommy’s drunken words only added to his confusion ever since Tommy woke up from that Nightmare and his screaming extended at the sight of him guilts bled through him guilt for the unknown

For what he must have done to get such a reaction from someone he viewed as a younger brother if Tommy told him what he did without sounding insane then the darkness encasing his heart wouldn’t see every time the boy flinched away from him avoided his eyes and looked at Wilbur’s

If someone else stood in his place not knowing what he did to hurt a person he loved was more painful than Wilbur would have liked to admit Tommy leaned into his hand grunting under his breath chuckling Wilbur resumed stroking his hair and Tommy hummed content

He doesn’t look at me the same way as before and I don’t know what I did he whispered the smile on his face fading he’s just getting his dreams mixed up with real life will he told me you were a murderer and something about a war Phil said and techno fidgeted from where

He sat let him figure it out himself he’ll probably talk to Nikki or someone about it techno advised his eyes locked onto Tommy Wilbur frowned why Nikki their friends are they not techno stated his face and voice devoid of emotion just don’t pressure him into giving you answers

Let’s have answers though there must be a reason for why he’s suddenly acting like this to me Wilbur rebutted bitter the brain doesn’t behave logically especially if it’s Tommy techno replied as I said let him do this by himself Wilbur swallowed down the possessiveness that crept over him like the shadow that

Clung to the boy the second he appeared on their doorstep there was something about Tommy that just bloomed yellow roses in Wilbur’s chest the moment he entered the room he felt like he recognized Tommy from somewhere but he could never place it maybe it was just the part of him that

Always wanted a little brother which no longer remained dormant the second Tommy Adele stormed into his life and changed it for the better he didn’t even know how Tommy broke down his wall so quickly made him open up about his mother’s death and finally accept therapy again after the Fest that occurred with

The year 12 school counselor Tommy crumbled down those walls and let the sun shine through the cracks but then he built up his own walls casing Wilbur off with no warning the sunshine wasn’t as warm without Tommy by his side I just want him back he proclaimed

Wishing that Tommy was awake to hear his honest words you’ll get him back techno reassured patting him on the shoulder like he usually did to provide comfort one day you will Wilbur’s sighed and closed his eyes his face resting on top of Tommy’s head he willed himself to sleep hoping that

The forgetful ghost He occasionally saw in his dreams wouldn’t be crying this time though he would appreciate some blue right now in Tommy’s Superior and completely factually correct opinion Phil was overreacting sure it was worrying and broke the house rules for him to get blackout drunk at

The small age of 15 but it was funny well no actually it was the opposite to that from the muddled flashes he remembered from Clementine’s party he had confessed his fear of dying to his best friends had another breakdown over Wilbur and may have used Clementine’s staircase

As a slippery slide at one point it explained to the bruises down his back yet Phil’s punishment for his mild drinking correction heavy drinking wasn’t Justified he knew his human rights and this breached all of them after he had showered and taken enough paracetamols for his headache to finally die down

Phil forced him to sit through the longest lecture he had ever experienced he had been threatened in various ways throughout his many lives but an angry Phil craft took the cake on this one with the disappointment in his face the stern look in his eyes and the finger-pointing it was torture

Because of his so-called Reckless and behavior his curfew was reduced by many hours he was banned from ever going to Clementine’s house again he had to text Phil every couple of hours if he went out assuring the man that he wasn’t doing any illegal substances or activities

And on top of that he was on bin Duty he was responsible for emptying and recycling every single bin in the household even Wilbur’s which was a bottomless pit of Amazon boxes eBay packages and empty water bottles Phil also made Tommy hug him for the sake of the older man’s Mental Health

But that part of the punishment wasn’t so bad even when Phil was pissed he still gave good hugs yet the worst punishment was having to make everyone’s sandwiches for lunchtime using his expert recipe which only he should enjoy eating not the rest of the household the three sat on their designated seats

At the dinner table happily enjoying their meals as Tommy glared at each one of them with every bite of their sandwich they took it was painful to watch so let me get this straight when I came home drunk I had to do all the chores my

Computer was taken away from me and I couldn’t do anything at the weekends for a month but when Tommy does it he just has to empty the bin Wilbur had been complaining for the past 10 minutes much to Phil’s dismay Wilbur I had to pick you up from the

Police station for attempted robbery I think these two are different situations Phil said pinching the bridge of his nose you robbed someone went drunk Tommy gasped he didn’t think Wilbur had that in him no Wilbur exclaimed this random lady took my skateboard away from me and I didn’t even know why she

Was at the park that late it was her son’s skateboard that he left at the park by accident which you stole and claimed yours Phil huffed fed up with his son Wilbur scowled at him not my problem he left it though that mother still glares at me when I

See her in public because of you just say that Tommy’s the favorite you coward Tommy is the favorite techno said agreeing Tommy grinned smug wipe that smile off your face or I’ll take away your turbo time Phil scolded is tone harsh despite the amusement in his face Tommy gaped at him

No you can’t do that that’s illegal and run boo time oh that one’s mine now that’s just cruel muttered shaking his head no do you know what’s cruel techno asked as he faced Tommy who didn’t like the glint in his eyes we’re having MCC practice later today

Please no I have school tomorrow I’m gonna wake up with no bones he begged he could practically feel the aches that he would have later this evening a bone this Monday Wilbur added exactly Tommy said wait what does that even mean well you boys are fun I need to go food shopping

Phil interrupted as if he could already sense the argument that would occur between three of them can you buy some rope from Wix I want to climb a building and jump right off it after today Tommy asked I’ll fund the purchase Wilbur offered narrowly avoiding the banana Tommy threw at him in retaliation

Add another mile until Wilbur’s run for me Tech Phil said prompting Wilbur to slam his head on the table mixing breadcrumbs in his hair it took an hour for a techno to convince Tommy and Wilbur to stop chasing him around the house as they shouted various threats and creative insults

Then another hour for them all to get out of the house in sports clothing on the drive to the football field techno had decided to torment Tommy even further by explaining some of the MCC mini-games in English literature metaphors he had never read The Great Gatsby so he

Had no idea what relevance it had to Sands of Time something about how you couldn’t fight against inevitability techno sat down on the bleacher benches we can’t do hole in the walls since we don’t have the equipment so Parkour Tag and Ace race practice it is Wilbur’s mood fouled at the mere mention

Of that minigame Ace race are you kidding me don’t make me add another mile to your course techno threatened not to bothered by Wilbur’s tantrum as he handed the two of them velcro tags that they tucked into the back of their shorts let me die just kill me

Wilbur groaned causing Tommy to laugh you’re being dramatic techno said now go chase each other Tommy’s laughter quickly faded as he did not have fun being hunted by a six foot five Madman he was certain that tackling the target deep into the mud wasn’t allowed in the game

But that didn’t stop Wilbur from doing it several times the light-heartedness in the air and also the adrenaline flowing through him ceased the nerves Tommy usually had around Wilbur ever since the nightmare perhaps it had something to do with the moment she had with the man last night

All he remembered was crying into Wilbur’s arms saying some sappy and falling asleep cuddled into his side something techno would probably call cringe regardless those thoughts weren’t things hurtling through his head especially during MCC practice where every muscle in his body underwent a cycle of abuse and pain

Until techno graciously granted him a water break Tommy laid down on the bleacher staring at techno who was amused by Wilbur in the distance as he attempted to climb a tree that was not meant to be climbed on yet techno shoulders were tense and his fingernails were red you doing all right

Tommy asked as he downed his water bottle techno squeezed the body of the water bottle grinning as Tommy choked on the high pressure you know as the responsible adults with a foster sibling who came home blasted last night I should be asking you that Tommy spat the water on the grass

Glaring at him what the you do that just be glad Wilbur stopped me from waking you up with cold water if you didn’t have a breakdown and some emotional moments with him I bet he would have let me do it techno said I am so sorry that I’m not in control of

How I feel Tom equipped thank you Tommy whacked his shoulder do you have no empathy techno narrowed his eyes actually no don’t answer that to answer your initial question I’m fine techno said his voice betrayed his confident words well MCC stresses me out even though I’m not a contestant anymore

Is that the only thing stressing you out Tommy’s eyes glanced down at techno’s bitten fingernails making the other cover his hands I have a fun some tournament soon it’s in two weeks at the beginning of April he finally said after a small pause oh the blade undefeated champion

Tommy repeated the thing he heard from the guys at fencing whenever techno beat him in a match it seemed that techno had created a reputation for himself in this field yep he sighed dispirited Tommy frowned at his tone but stayed silent for once allowing the quiets to Fester so techno

Could gather his thoughts or even reach a decision about whether he wanted to talk about it with him when it became apparent that techno wouldn’t continue Tommy said I’m worried about my maths mock exam he hoped that sharing one of his worries would make it easier for techno to do the same

I can’t do simultaneous equations to swim alive techno’s eyebrows furrowed but those questions are so easy no they aren’t they put so many words in it and give the questions its own law it confuses me Tommy said waving his hands as he spoke I just want to know what it’s asking me

To do and not the entire backstory of why Stephanie has 12 blue t-shirts to begin with techno laughed lightly before looking forward again I used to do fencing for fun with Wilbur at some point but then I progressed too far and Wilbur didn’t like going against me I think I bruised his ego

He exhaled sharply when I started the tournaments and each win created a Flawless streak it wasn’t just a hobby anymore and losing wasn’t an option sounds like you have a lot of pressure on your shoulders Tommy said slightly relating though Tommy had a streak of losing of

Failing to guess his myth instead of winning every incorrect answer added another weight to the force compressing against his chest bingo Tommy set up how can we make it so you enjoyed again we you heard me well it would be more fun if you weren’t involved techno joked

Tommy shoved at his shoulder trying to push him off the bench but techno didn’t budge I hate you techno chuckled no I’m being serious I’ll try to be nice and this is how you repay me this is exportation manipulation banter is bullying you make it fun Tommy don’t worry about me

Techno said interrupting his rant a smile broke out on Tommy’s face I’ll make everything fun don’t try to distract me with flattery all right that’s the last time I say anything nice to you techno muttered go back to training and tell Wilbur to stop assault in that tree it’s embarrassing reluctantly

Tommy stood up and squinted at the sight of Wilbur kicking the out of the tree stump at the end of the field I feel bad that you share a last name with him I’ll use those very words against you someday techno shot back Tommy scowled ignoring the warmth he felt at the implication

Even if it was a joke was that a joke nevertheless he ran towards Wilbur already thinking of insults to shout at him as he got closer the moment Tommy’s head hit the pillow when he got home he fell asleep techno’s training had burned him out that much however the adrenaline that had been

Running through him for the past couple of hours returned as the void appeared in front of him for sake ahead of him dream sat next to the table with the same board game on it the nasus game he rushed forward anger bursting in him as dream seemed unbothered by his arrival

The last dream visit ended with the letting him fall off the ledge of the maze wall and giving him the existential crisis about his brother you piece of you think you could just play your little Monopoly game and act like the last visit didn’t happen he snapped tempted to knock the board

Off the table dream continued sorting out the 10 playing pieces he bit on his cheek in frustration are you even listening to me the god gestured for Tommy to sit down opposite him I’m not playing any more games with you zagreus At The Mention of his actual name dream looked at him

His lips twisted into a scowl oh that got a reaction out of you sit down dream ordered with malice Tommy did as he said the tone of the God’s voice Awakening his slumbering instincts that developed during exile shifting him back into that complicit pavlovian dog conditioned to do whatever pleased dream

Shiver crept across his back evoking fear into Tommy as he tried to stop his hand from trembling play the game he continued the grip he had over Tommy loosening as he handed him the three dice as Tommy managed to secure his first piece almost back to the land of the

Living one good roll away from safety dreams next words caught him off guard now that I look back on it I may have overcompensated with your punishment the dice faced black swallowing Tommy’s piece into the river sticks into death Tommy glared at him wanting nothing more

Than to rip the mask off his face and look dream dead into the eyes to see what emotion wallowed in them as he spoke such weighted words so casually over compensated Tommy repeated his teeth gritted you weren’t supposed to take this long to guess your myth dream explained as he moved another one

Of his pieces back to the living and your father you were supposed to learn from your mistakes throughout your rebirths and finally figure it out time stopped my dad my dad he pushed back from the table after all these years this is when dream told him this one heartbreaking reveal after another

The man with piercing blue eyes a Stern grip and shadowing Force his father the angel of death they called him on the battlefields before he and his brother were born as he reaped The Souls of those who dared to raise their weapons against him the name returned in full force though

After he spilled his son’s blood on his blade for the world to see my dad’s cursed as well Tommy spluttered the game forgotten about he couldn’t think straight was cursed yes dream corrected he figured it out who was he in his first life Tommy craved to know what drove his

Father in that life the reason why he neglected his sons and left the eldest to do the Dreadful job for him for years he pondered why arrogance and hubris took away the father he should have had what myth caused him to be so unlovable your father was Tantalus

With the role of the Gods dice it all made sense Tantalus a king never satisfied with the family he had nor worthy of the respect the gods had towards him he exploited Zeus’s Hospitality murdered and cooked his son into a meal that he served to the Olympians just to test their omniscience

A punishment so tantalizing followed forced to stand in a pool of water beneath a low-hanging fruit tree forbidden to clench his thirst or satisfy his hunger Eternal denial of fulfillment for not appreciating the greatness you were handed for free in life does he have a family after he broke his goes Tommy whispered

As silent tears ran down his face yes he did his father was dead then he may have died centuries ago maybe with another family a wife that wasn’t taken away from him too soon children he might have loved instead of despised a life that didn’t disappoint him

His lineage still continues to this day you’re familiar with one of his newest descendants dream said and deep down Tommy knew who he was referring to dream really wasn’t lying when he said this Foster family was exciting did you choose he began tired of this conversation

Did you choose the myths in our first lives I chose them all dream said proceeding with his round of nasus I hate you he’s spat you cursed every important person in my life forcing us into a life of tragedy and for what what the did we even do to deserve all that

I told you before with hindsight I see now I overcompensated dream replied a heaviness to his voice blurred vision glowered at the nasus board at his lost pieces is that all I get from you is that the only inkling of an apology I’ll ever get from you I am sorry Tommy

Dre moved forward the action reminding him of when he would have welcomed the touch flourished under the comfort and adoration it used to bring sometimes he wished for exile the simpler time where he was dependent on someone else and he didn’t question why such a vile man’s Embrace didn’t hurt he jerked backwards

Is scarred back stinging let me wake up I don’t want to see your face any longer there was a pattern now every time Tommy woke up after a dream visit his body stuck to his bed sheets with sweat and his head hurt with Revelations school was more painful than usual

Even the song tubbo played during their music lesson in the practice room couldn’t shake the feeling that plagued him since this morning he had been jumpy all day any loud sound or sudden movement had his heart racing and Ice pooling in his stomach but as much as he wanted to go home the

Second the last bell sounded he had promised ronvu he’d help him with his coursework in the library after school the library was empty and the librarian trusted the two alone since ranbu occasionally helped her with sorting out to the bookshelves Tommy sat at the computer with his maths

Homework in front of him and ranbu by his side his regret for agreeing to this only worsened when he realized ronbu’s coursework was about history with his chosen subject of w soot having to read over rondu’s ramblings about whether or not W such was a hero anti-hero or villain

Didn’t help Tommy’s current mental state tubbo kept spamming their group chat begging for them to come over to the science block to see the practicals he was doing with his teacher the occasional videos of tubbo almost lighting his hair on fire distracted Tommy enough so he didn’t lose control of his breathing

Every time rombu tapped him on the shoulder and asked him if this sentence made sense a little bit of Tommy died inside could I word this differently Rambo asked pointing at the screen sets decline as historian Sydney Bradshaw insists was the greatest single underlying cause of the Le manburg Wars

This is supported by how Timmy sutt’s diary entries during the pogtopia era suggested that the man emotionally manipulated and perhaps physically abused him and The Archives of Le manburg include art pieces that hint at w such Madness with the Ravine representing his growing insanity his breath hitched as ranbu read out those words

He thought to keep his tears unshed as a reminder of pogtopia and the ravine he could never forget those sleepless nights with the squeaking of bats and rustling in the walls echoing throughout the darkness the dim Torchlight wasn’t enough to erase his fears so he wrote blindly in that notebook

Until sleep claimed him he didn’t think over his words before writing them didn’t imagine the inferences that could occur by reading his rants of how his day went of what his brother did to him during his maddened States those Ravines ripped the last drop of good Tommy ever saw in his brother

Is that fine or should I explain the art more he tore his eyes away from the screen as rambu scrolled down to the art he thinned his lips to keep himself from whimpering you haven’t referenced the quote or the art piece he said trying to keep the hurt out of his voice

The Lodge in his throat Twisted painfully and you need to link it back to the historian’s quote how’d it how is the abuse to me went through Doan poctopia related to the decline of w circles in the wars oh right yeah thanks rambu replied grateful something wet dripped onto his trouser leg

Blood dripped from his palms he gulped and wiped his hands with a tissue digging the red out from under his fingernails he grabbed his notebook from his bag after cleaning his hands he couldn’t focus on Math’s questions anymore it was mid-march and he still had no definite answer to what his myth was

He peered at the column of every male Greek myth with each name having a cross or question mark written beside it it should be simple with how much experience he had with analyzing his life and attaching vague myths to them but it was hard ER than usual and he didn’t know why

Well maybe it was because he actually had someone to live for in this life people that he cared for and didn’t want to leave behind Tommy how do I say I disagree with a historian because David Stevenson believes that W such didn’t care about Le manburg at all

And even though I hate the guy I still think he cared a little without warning Tommy dashed his notebook against the window his chair fell to the floor and he stopped himself from caving his fist into the closest wall he couldn’t do this he couldn’t listen to one of the people

He cared for loved even analyze and debate his history the world was against him and he didn’t know how to handle it he crumbled into himself biting on his hand to stop the cries that choked him dude what the hell you could have smashed that window does it look like I

Give a about that right now he seethed his face full of anger look if this is about the maths homework I could it’s not he shouted guilt washing through him as Rambo flinched back into his seat I don’t care about that Rondo stood up and approached him slowly

Then what is this really about Tommy his friend looked at him as if he was a wild animal or an explosive he needed to defuse Tommy huffed out a broken laugh as he realized that that was exactly what he was the tattoo on his wrist acted as a timer

If he squinted hard enough he could almost visualize the number of days he had left until he died until the explosive destroyed him what’s wrong Rambo asked Softly Tommy rubbed at his face his hands shaking and heart rattling he picked up the notebook and slammed it onto the desk read it huh

Read it Rambo hesitated before looking at the opened page the same page that was printed in their history textbook W sets only recorded message the words Tommy read before going to bed how rambi flicked through the notebook how how did you get these passages he ran his gloved fingers over the writing

Is this real it’s my notebook Rambo Tommy waited for his words to settle in I’m him how he repeated in disbelief his masked face covering his reaction he wasn’t sure if this was enough Tommy Shrugged off his Blazer and rolled up his sleeve to show his tattoo this is how you’re

You were Timmy Rambo asked doubt still present in his voice in my first life he said earnestly first this is my fifth before he could stop himself he pulled down the blinds on the window and unbuttoned his shirt he needed to show more evidence tears tugged at his eyes

He just wanted someone to believe him for someone unaware to know Tommy what are you doing he ignored him and took off his shirt look rambu inhaled harshly as he gazed upon the scars on Tommy’s back torso and shoulder scars of different lives he supplied trying to keep his shoulders loose

He took hold of ronbu’s hand Icarus he whispered as he pressed it against the burn scar on his shoulder Orpheus as he trailed over the rips on his torso and Theseus to me his voice wavered as Rambo touched the marks on his back he was thankful Sisyphus was more of a mental scar

Silence settled between them and the lodge in Tommy’s throat finally eased he put his shirt back on and gazed up at ronbu do you believe me he asked vulnerability drowning in his eyes Rambo took his mask and glasses off and pools of gray stared back at him yeah I believe you

Even if it makes zero sense I trust you you were you were him relief flooded through him you went through all that Rambo’s voice ached oh my I made you read about your own brother I don’t want your pity it’s not pity you idiot I care about you

And I forced you to proofread an essay about that Robert reached over and hugged him you are so strong he relaxed into the hold and closed his eyes calm for the first time today how have you kept this all to yourself you’re the first person I’ve ever told from the beginning

His words were true as ranbu was the first non-cursed person he couldn’t tell him about Nikki the hug tightened so every time you die you come back as a different myth or something Tommy pushed his face further into rambu’s shoulder glad for once that the other was taller than him

He didn’t want to tell his friends the reality of the curse that he was on a time limit and had less than a month to figure it all out before he died again he couldn’t put Ron boo through that if I figure out what myth is influencing the events of this life

Then the cycle stops I get to rest after I die no more rebirths just peace was what he went with his voice cracking I don’t want to be reborn again does Tabo know no no he can’t know if tubbo knew he would figure out the meaning of the tattoo and that Nikki was

Cursed as well she hadn’t told him of her curse and he couldn’t take that from her I trust him a lot maybe with my life but he can’t know okay I won’t say anything Rambo squeezed his shoulder how can I help you’d help me he mumbled as he looked up into Rondo’s eyes

They held so much emotion such sincerity and receptivity it was comforting of course I would you’re my best friend Rambo said beaming down at him Tommy’s lips upturned into a smile I didn’t think we were that close he joked ranbu huffed and hugged him again out of spite

I’m not doing this coursework anymore it’s time to research some Greek myths he let go of Tommy and returned to his computer I’m going to make a fact file on every single one of them his heart burned ramboot you don’t have to do this for me I want to Rambo said

I would make PowerPoints as well but as you said we’re not that close shut the up Tommy cut him off whacking his arm the door slammed open and a small brunette boy in a white science cloak with black powder over his fingers rushed into the library goggles messed up dubbo’s hair

Guys I just blew up something and it stinks you have to see this Rambo gave Tommy a look we’ll continue this later hurry up they might put out the fire soon coming