Operation 'Make a friend'
The three brothers stood awkwardly in the train's corridors; most people had settled into compartments by now, aside from a few lonely strays and 'rebels'.
"You want me to go in there?"
Wilbur and Techno promptly nodded at Tommy.
"Alone?"
Another nod.
"But there's three seats! Plenty of space for us, or I could join you guys with Niki!"
"There isn't room with Niki, Minx is there too, plus we really think itd be good for you to make a friend before we reach school." Wil explained, "I'm fairly sure he's around your age."
Techno added "besides, do you really want to follow us around like a lost puppy the whole time?"
Tommy looked away and shuffled his feet. He would never admit he was anxious, they would tease him relentlessly.
"Gah! Fine, but know that I'm only doing this to prove that I absolutely can make friends. People can't resist the TommyInnit charm!"
"What charm?" Techno deadpanned.
Tommy gasped and held his hand to his chest in offense. Wilbur giggled at his reaction. "I'll have you know-!" He began, but was cut off when a compartment door a little further down opened up.
The three boys turned to see cotton candy hair poking out into the corridor. "You two joining us anytime soon?" Her sarcastic tone almost lost in her sweet voice.
"Sorry Niki, we've just got to deal with an annoying child first!" Wilbur called back. Tommy scoffed while Wilbur smirked at him.
"Well wouldn't want to keep your _girlfriend_ waiting, would you?"
Tommy teased.
"Watch it, prick."
Tommy knew full well that the two were just good friends (as if he could get a partner), but it was always amusing to watch Wil get so defensive.
Once the twins had parted with him, Tommy was left standing alone in front of a boy's compartment. Faltering, he reached out and pulled the sliding door back. The small brunette almost jumped out of his seat. "Hi." Tommy internally facepalmed. Hi? What the fuck was that?!
"Hi." The boy responded, meeting his awkward stare.
"...."
"...."
As first impressions go, Tommy was doing great.
"Uh.. is it alright if I sit in here? All the other compartments are full," the blonde muttered, loosely gesturing to the array of empty seats.
The second he nodded his approval, the door was slid shut once more and Tommy was sat in the seat diagonal from the other boy's.
Neither knew what to say and so sat in a deafening silence. Tommy quickly got bored of staring at the walls and biting the inside of his cheeks.
"I'm Tommy, by the way." He hesitantly reached a hand out.
"Tubbo." He replied, meeting him halfway with his own hand. His grip was firm and his palms were calloused, not unlike Wilbur's fingers were from ruthless guitar strumming.
It was a big contrast to Tommy's own soft and clammy hands. He didn't get to do much physical work, especially not in late years.
"Are you a first year?" Tubbo asked.
"Not exactly- I mean, this will be my first year at the school, but I'm a second year." Tommy fumbled as he tried to explain his situation. At first, Tubbo had looked satisfied with that answer, but then more questions arose in his mind. "So you skipped the first year?"
"Mhm," Tommy confirmed.
"Why?"
A valid question that Tommy would only answer as vaguely as possible. He didn't want to look weak in front of a possible new friend.
"I was sick." He told him flatly.
Tubbo frowned a little, "what, for the whole school year?"
Tommy just shrugged and prayed Tubbo would let it go.
Luckily for Tommy, the compartment door slid open and this time both the boys jumped. An elderly lady stood with a colourfully loaded trolley. It smelt sickeningly sweet, and Tommy saw Tubbo almost drooling at the sight.
"Anything from the trolley?"
Tommy wasn't particularly hungry, just bored and so (regretfully) bought a pack of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. He usually only bought these as gifts to fuck with people- he always got a laugh when his muggle friends tried them, unaware of what they'd gotten into. Tubbo didn't get anything himself, depsite how he'd been unable to take his eyes off the sweet treats. He said he didn't have money the money on him to get anything and Tommy didn't press him further.
"Want one?" Tommy asked, shaking a mix into his palm.
"What.. are they?" Tubbo scratched the base of his neck bashfully, like not knowing was some terrible crime.
Which it was. Tommy froze and let his jaw drop to the floor. "How on earth do you not know what _these_ are?? Do you live under a fuckin' rock?"
"I just don't try a lot of sweets, okay!" Tubbo defended. Tommy grabbed Tubbo's wrist and transferred the beans he held into Tubbo's hand. "You're trying them right now."
Tommy watched with anticipation as the brunette hesitantly brought a greenish looking sweet up to his lips. He quickly chomped down the whole thing. Tommy thought he may have gotten a normal one for a second until Tubbo's face contorted into a sort of confusion.
He pulled back a little from the other beans. Tommy was trying desperately to hold in a laugh, hand over his mouth and leg bouncing.
Tubbo grabbed another one, this one being a bright yellow with red spots and ate it. This time he full-on gagged and Tommy couldn't stop the cackle he let out at the sight. "AUGHH- WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?!" Tubbo half yelled- half squeaked and scrunched up his nose further. He threw the rest of the beans to the other side of his seat and glared at Tommy who was struggling futilely to catch his breath through his own laughter. He had doubled over amidst his hysterics and occasionally choked on the air he breathed. Despite the taste of vomit that lingered in his mouth, Tubbo found himself chortling alongside the blonde boy.