I'm More Me When I'm With You

Retaliation against Manipulation

Dream's done little to nothing wrong compared to Tommy. People, aside from Tubbo and Ranboo, seem to loath Tommy. Deo turns to Tommy, to ask if there's anyone who that would help Tommy out of exile, that would hide him from Dream if he were to escape.
He expected Tommy to be nervously glancing around the area where the audience was seated, not for him to be staring at the ground, as though it was the most interesting thing in the world. Deo sighs, whether it was because he expected something similar to this to happen or if it was because he was disappointed in himself for not noticing sooner is unknown, even to him.
"Tommy, listen to me. I will be fine, okay? Even if they try anything, I'll be fine. I have all three lives, and if it comes down to it, I've killed gods before, Tommy. And so have you."
Deo's right, and Tommy knows it, but that doesn't stop him from panicking. Tommy doesn't nod or make any motion that suggests he understood or agreed with Deo. And that's exactly what eludes Deo to the idea that Tommy is having a panic attack.
"Oh...oH...OH! Oh shit, you're having a panic attack," Deo exclaims in realisation. If Tommy was in his normal mental state, or a semi-decent one for that matter, he'd have shot a look that said 'No shit, Sherlock."
Except he wasn't. He was a traumatised kid, who was worried that his friend would get traumatised because of him. He cares for everything and everyone a bit too much. Of course doesn't know how controlling Dream can be, yet Tommy knew all too well. And Deo hated that.
"No, you don't understand! You've never been through his manipulation before, Deo! He's so much worse when it's you against him, and there's no one there to back you up, to support you! You have no clue what he's actually like! He's so much worse than the stories you've heard about him!"
Deo was only slightly surprised this outburst, and he knew that what Tommy said was true. It shouldn't be. Nothing that has happened to Tommy, none of Tommy's emotions or thoughts should be something that a child of all things, should be experiencing.
"Tommy, listen to me. Breathe in for four seconds, hold for 7 seconds, and breathe out for eight seconds," Tommy does as Deo instructed, Deo counting the seconds as he does so, "Just like that, your doing so good Toms. Focus on my voice, and only my voice," again, Tommy does as he's instructed, the low treble of Deo's voice calming him.
"Let me explain the plan again. Right now, we're gonna get you un-exiled and then, if we're able too, build a house or something in Manberg." Tommy goes to ask why they would do that, that it sounds kinda sus if you ask him, but Deo stops him before he can even answer. " If we build something, correction if I build something and you design it, then we can prove how smart you are, that you are more than a 'child' that they can manipulate, sound good?"
Tommy thought for a moment, then decided that it wasn't too bad of an idea. Which doesn't come as a surprise to him, after all it did come from his right hand man. "Yeah, that's a good plan. It works for me."
Deo smile softly, "I'm glad you do, Sunshine. Glad you do."

A/n
Take care of yourselves, remember to drink water. You're all valid <3
—————sincerely,
Kitty