Captain Puffy was much older than she looked. She had seen many things throughout the years of her life. She remembered when Dream- her little duckling- was young and innocent, when he didn't prey on the weak. Captain Puffy remembered when Philza and Freya were getting ready for their third child. She remembered when L'Manberg was formed. The memories came with pain and joy in equal measures.

What she remembered most clearly, however, was Niki. Her sweet, kind Niki who she gave a promise ring to months before. Captain Puffy would remember her face then. When it wasn't struck with pain or sadness. Captain Puffy preferred to remember people at their best. It made dealing with the worst far more manageable.

Puffy couldn't do that now. Nothing remained in the Niki that Puffy clung onto desperately. The features didn't match. This Niki had darker and slanted eyes, while Puffy's Niki had bright eyes that were wide open. Puffy's recollection of Niki was a girl whose biggest worry was the next days sales, but the Niki that stared at Puffy from across the counter had a face of deep worry lines. Puffy wanted to make the wrinkles go away, but her hand froze where it was when Niki glared at her.

"Niki?" Puffy called out, imagining that the person before her was lost in thought, glaring at imaginary numbers, not her. Niki blinked. The hatred faded away, but no emotion rose to take its place.

"Did Tommy enjoy the tart?" Niki asked, voice slow and strained. Puffy knew that it was Niki's voice, but it sounded distorted. It was like Niki put some filter over her voice. Obviously her voice but different enough to make someone second guess who was talking.

"Niki... did you poison the tart?" Puffy asked. Some set up would have been helpful. Easing her way to the question couldn't have hurt. Niki needed to be open and honest. Puffy springing the question early would cause panic and deception. However, Puffy couldn't wait. She needed to know. If Puffy knew, she could do something.

"This establishment doesn't poison our food," Niki said with a sour tone. It was true. The establishment didn't. Niki could have when she was personally baking. No matter how much Puffy wanted to leave it that, pretend that the answer solved every problem, a part of her couldn't leave it alone.

Puffy knew Dream for a long time. She could see his descent. Puffy ignored it, hoping and praying someone would help Dream. No one did. Now, Dream was rotting in prison, put in there by a child soldier he had manipulated not long ago. Puffy could have solved all their problems then. She could have helped Dream. Maybe he would still be her little duckling.

Puffy liked imaging the best in people. So much so that she couldn't see their worst.

"Niki, answer my question. Did you poison the tart?" Puffy said. She hated the tone that the words fell into. Captain Puffy didn't want to use that tone on anyone, especially not someone she cared deeply about. Seeing the turmoil in Niki's eyes told Puffy that she was right in hating that tone.

"I cannot confirm nor deny that statement," Niki replied, confirming her answer. Puffy felt her heart pitch forwards. She stared at Niki a long moment. She wanted to believe the lie so badly.

"I'll believe you didn't. Because why would you? Tommy's annoying at times, but deep down, he's a good kid that's doing the best for our Server. He has done so many good things. Many historical events are tied to his legacy. He made things happen. He brought people together," Puffy said with a smile, pride swelling from deep within like a mother would feel for her son.

"Tommy drove people apart. He hurt people. He abandoned and betrayed people. He caused grief and bloodshed, and never felt sorry for any of it," Niki said with cold eyes. Puffy didn't believe those words were true or that they came from Niki. A moment of silence passed, but the words in Niki's voice still hung in the air.

"I know you don't mean that. Tommy didn't drive people apart. Those people lost interest in each other. He may have betrayed a few people, but he never once abandoned anyone. Tommy cares more deeply about his mistakes than you give him credit for," Puffy argued, trying to push Niki's thoughts far from the edge.

"How much do you really know about Tommy? Not much, I presume. But I tell you what, whenever we were allies in the military, he was a brat. He will never care about anyone other than himself. He didn't do anything for L'Manberg, only those stupid discs of his. Don't get close to Tommy, because he won't get close to you," Niki said, face set in determination. Puffy didn't know what she was determined about.

Puffy didn't respond. She didn't know what to say. Puffy left the bakery Niki ran, heading straight for Sam's place. Tommy was in danger. Niki alone wouldn't dare take on Tommy, not the best PvPers on the Server but still a good one, alone. Someone- maybe a group- was after Tommy. Dream wasn't the only one aiming for the blonde's head.

Even still, Puffy imagined people at their best, because she didn't know how to fight back against their worst.

——

"I don't live alone. I have a few people who crash here whenever they need a place to stay," Sam explained as he talked to Tommy throughout the meal. "I'm going to talk to them. You might... you might not feel safe around them, but I promise you that while you're under this roof, those boys won't hurt you."

"I believe you," Tommy said with a nod. The people Tommy 'feared' now were Technblade, Philza, GeorgeNotFound, and SapNap. The latter two were allies and close friends with Dream, making Tommy wary around them. Anyone who befriended Dream couldn't be entirely sane.

Speaking of the devil makes him appear. Sapnap darted into the kitchen with Karl at his heels. Sapnap slid to a stop, Karl hitting against his back. The two broke into laughter before turning their backs to Tommy to face Sam.

"Saaaaaaam, we're hungry," Sapnap said dramatically. Karl lightly hit his arm, but whatever he said was lost to Tommy. He felt like he was listening to static. It buzzed in his head, overpowering everyone's voices. Tommy dropped his spoon, the food splattering around. He felt funny. His head felt lighter, colder even. Tommy placed a hand on his chest. Why was his heartbeat so funny? Shouldn't it be slower? Was it beating faster? Why? Was something wrong with him? What if he was dying? Tommy didn't want to die. Not like this.

"Hey! Hey! Deep breaths," A voice cut through the static. It startled Tommy... Was that the problem? Was Tommy not taking deep enough breaths? Tommy tried relaxing, forcing air in and out as slowly as he felt comfortable with. As his body naturally evened out, Tommy rubbed the tears from his eyes to see Sam's concerned expression.

"What-" His voice was barely a whisper, incredibly hoarse and strained. Tommy swallowed, pain blistering all the way down his throat. A cup was pressed against his lips, water sloshing out into his mouth. Tommy forced it down, the coolness alleviating the pain. "What was that?"

"A panic attack, I would suspect. Not a big one, thankfully, since the only problems were how aware of the world you were and you're fast breathing. Did something trigger it?" Sam whispered the question to himself, looking around the room. He tried to figure it out, but he knew instantly when he saw Sapnap. "Tommy, Sapnap won't hurt you. The war is over. It has been for a long time. Sapnap has no reason to fight you."

Tommy passed a glance at the adult. Sapnap seemed concerned instead of hostile. He was mainly keeping Karl from asking too many questions. Tommy wanted to say something, tell Sam that he knew the war was over, but the words died on his tongue. Tommy settled for a nod, picking up his spoon again.

Tommy heard Karl, Sapnap, and Sam whisper amongst themselves. By the looks of the former twos concerned expression and Sam's glances over, Tommy knew it was about him and what happened. Tommy wondered who poisoned him. They had several reasons why to pick from, so Tommy didn't bother speculating about motivation.

"Tommy," Karl spoke softly. The blonde looked up from his breakfast for dinner meal to see Sapnap peeking over Karl's shoulder. "Sapnap wanted to apologize for scaring you. He doesn't regret the war, but he didn't mean to permanently scar you. Since we'll all be living together, let's try to get along?"

"Who said I'm living here?" Tommy asked, words sharp and more directed at Sam than Karl. Karl and SapNap seemed shocked but Sam shrugged. "I have to get back to my hotel in L'Manberg crater. My dirt home is near there."

"Why would you want to live in a dirt shack when you can live with us?" SapNap asked, gesturing around the place. Yes, it was big and fancy with all the added touches that came from the owner being an expert inventor and architect. That wasn't enough to convince Tommy to stay. His home needed to be more than fancy details.

"The hotel. It'll have its opening soon since construction is making progress," Tommy shrugged his shoulders. "I have attachment to the dirt house. It was my first home. It's in L'Manberg's resting place. It has all my stuff. I've been collecting for awhile so it'd be hard to move all that stuff."

"What if you have a panic attack again? No one can help you if you're all alone. L'Manberg crater is frequented but no one resides there anymore. Tubbo is in Snowchester, and Philza-" SapNap tried to argue.

"Don't," Tommy said suddenly, his voice low and dangerous. He stood on his feet, blue eyes staring menacingly from within his narrowed eyes. "Don't say his name. He is one of the last people I want to talk about."

Sam noted another trigger. It seemed odd to him. Philza was Tommy's father. However, Sam realized that Tommy might have been hung up about the third destruction of L'Manberg and Philza killing Wilbur. There could have been more, down the rabbit hole of Tommy's childhood memories.

"Okay, I won't," SapNap said, hands flying up to show his sincerity. "It doesn't matter. L'crater has nothing for you. Not anymore."

"But it once did. A long time ago. It was my world. It was my reason to fight. Even though L'Manberg doesn't stand, I can't let go of those feelings," Tommy whispered, looking far off, like he wasn't in the moment but the past. When Tommy came back, he gave a crooked grin. "If Sam will have me, I might move out here soon. Not now."

"Okay," SapNap gave in immediately. Karl, however, kept a wary glance at the blonde.