How had he gotten here? Had he been following him? Was Eret going to kill him? No, he wouldn’t have killed the skeleton then. Was he trying to lull him into a false sense of security? Eret put away his weapon and shield holding up his hands showing him that he wasn’t here to attack him. Tubbo sighed in relief at that as Eret came up to him and offered him some bread. “Thanks. But what are you doing out here? Why did you save me? Why didn’t you just ki-” Before Tubbo could finish Eret chuckled. “One question at a time Tubbo. Ok?” The boy nodded his head as Eret led him back to his castle.

Once they got back they sat in one of the rooms and Eret offered him a cup of tea which he said yes to. That left Tubbo alone in the big room so he went to sit on a plush chair and looked around the room.

He wondered if Tommy was worried about where he had gone off to. If anyone was actually worried about where he had gone to.

His thoughts were interrupted by Eret coming back into the room with a tray. He set it down, poured tea into both of their cups and handed it to him.

Tubbo felt like this was going to be a long and uncomfortable night.

“So, Tubbo.” Eret started out his voice put Tubbo at ease. God how much he hated that. “Dream told me you were at your old home today. Is everything ok at L’Manberg Tubbo?” His voice was laced with genuine concern and Tubbo’s mind flashed back to all the times Eret would just help him and talk with. Never interrupting him, always asking him if he was ok. He remembered Eret just being there for him.

That’s why he couldn’t have the same anger towards him as the rest did. Sometimes Tubbo wondered why he had to leave him. Sometimes he wondered if Eret left because he was fed up with them.

“Honestly Eret? I don’t know. Everything was going fine until Tommy and I got into a spat. Which isn’t even unusual but,” He hesitated for a second too long because now Eret placed his cup back down and looked at the young boy in front of him. “Tubbo, you don’t have to tell me everything. Hell you don’t have to tell me anything. I just,” His breath caught for a second and then he sighed, “I just wanted you to have a safe place for the night. To be away from whatever may be bothering you. I don’t want you to feel like you’re betraying them Tubbo. I’d never want to make you feel that kinda guilt.” Eret was so sincere that Tubbo just broke down. He started crying and he just shoved his face into his hands. He could hear him get up and felt hands pulling him to stand. His face in Eret chest as he sobbed and hiccuped.

He was going to dry out his tear ducts at this rate of crying but he couldn’t stop crying. Eret was rubbing small circles into his back telling him to just let it all out. Tubbo wrapped his arms around Eret now and shoved his face harder into the elders chest, the sobbing not ceasing. Eret was used to helping comforting the younger boy. When Tubbo would come to him just crying and Eret would hold him ‘till he stopped.

When Tubbo's body stopped trembling, Eret pulled away and wiped the boy's face. Leaning down and planting a soft kiss on the boy’s head and he finally looked down at the boy.

“Do you feel better?” Even though the boy shook his head he could tell that the younger wasn’t as tense as before. “C’mon I can lend you a guest room Tubbo so you can get some sleep. Okay?” The boy nodded and Eret led him to the room and opened the door letting Tubbo enter the room.

“You can stay here for tonight. If you want to get into something more comfortable the dressers in the back have extra clothes no one uses. Is this alright?” Tubbo smiled at the older boy. “This is brilliant Eret. Thanks for this.” That was the first time he’d seen Tubbo smile since they got to the castle. “Good night Tubbo.” Eret smiled at him and left the room.

Tubbo let his eyes wander around the room and just took it all in before walking over to grab some extra clothes. He shucked off the dirty uniform and put on the clothes; a big loose shirt and sweatpants. As soon as he layed in the bed and closed his eyes it all came crashing down.

His eyes flew open and his thoughts were moving at a fast rate.

What if Eret was just trying to butter him up? What if this was some weird test to see who would betray L’Manberg? What if he did decide to betray everyone? How would that make them feel? How would Wilbur react? Would he try to understand what he did wrong? Would Wilbur hate him? Fundy would be confused. The fox always saw how loyal he was to Tommy. Everyone was. He even talked about how no matter how shit he was to Tubbo he would always be loyal. Jack had said if he treated him like that he’d probably betray them. Why did Tubbo keep sticking around Tommy?

Tommy was his best friend that’s why. Because during their small moments from just enjoying each other’s company or the playful bullying that happened. Tubbo surely couldn’t betray them if this much guilt was swelling up right? Betraying them meant hurting them all. It meant having to witness Niki and Jack be heartbroken for the first time. It meant having to watch all the original members go through the same pain all over again.

Tubbo screwed his eyes shut and when he realized he was crying and his breathing was uneven he turned over to put his face into the pillow and sobbed lightly.