Chapter Text
Boffy doesn't like the nether, like most people. Trudging through soulsand and having to avoid falling into the endless supply of lava everywhere is not fun, not to mention the weird pig things that are too keen on attacking him, and the heat. The heat is the worst part, and it’s not like he can pour water on himself, it will dry instantly. And while fire is great and all, it gets boring after the fifth burn or so. He's only using it for travel, as it's much faster than going through the overworld. Boffy had promised his brother he would visit him sometime, in his land he’d named after himself, SMP something or other.
Their sister has already been, having told him about it. She’s told Boffy about a kid she met there, and about besting him in a fight several times. Boffy believes that, she was trained by their older brother, just as he was, and their brother is a formidable foe.
He pins the pickaxe in his hand, shaking himself out of his thoughts. He mines a few more pieces of netherrack before continuing on, he will need extra pieces of it for later, just in case.
Boffy went on walking for a while, until he sees something in the distance. It looks like… a bridge? It's too light to be netherrack and it isn't as neat as a fortress bridge. As he gets closer, he can guess it's made of cobblestone and can spot the building it is attached to. It seems to be someone’s nether base of some sort. Has he found it?
A smile makes its way across his face and he makes his way up to it. Once on the bridge, he can spot a pale figure sitting on the edge. Curious, he walks closer.
It's a kid, they look pale and tired, and they wear a dark red sweater littered with dark spots, like they've been burnt. And it's most likely the heat, but it's almost as if he can see through him, glimpsing the glowing lava and red stone on the wall past him.
They didn’t notice Boffy walking closer, they were facing the opposite direction and humming a soft tune (chirp, if he remembered correctly). They do eventually notice him, when he is close enough for them to hear his footsteps on the cobblestone path, and their humming halts as they turn in his direction. Boffy gasps when he recognizes the familiar face.
“Tommy?” Boffy whispers faintly, staring at his old friend. Tommy blinks at him.
“Oh, is that my name? I was wondering what is was.” Tommy hums, gazing down at the glowing orange lakes below them.
“Wh- oh very funny, I know that you know your own name, Tommy.” Boffy scoffs, expecting that the boy will laugh and say ‘kidding! I can’t believe you almost fell for that!’ But it never comes, Tommy just looks to the ground with sad eyes. Boffy frowns, this is all so unlike Tommy, the boy usually bouncing off the walls with a devilish grin on his face, his eyes bright and happy. This Tommy is calm and still and seems so tired. He walks closer and sits down on the path next to him.
“Do- do you uh- do you really not remember it?” He tries, hopeful the answer would be no. The boy shakes his head, resting his hands in his lap (which still seem like a weird gray color, this heat must really be doing something to his head) and fiddling with something circular and metal that Boffy hadn’t noticed before.
“I only- I only remember feeling really warm, and some music.” Tommy says, staring down at the object and humming a few notes of chirp. “I don’t remember what the music was called, but I think it came from a music disc? I’m not sure.”
“Chirp?” Boffy supplies. Tommy nods.
“Yeah, that seems familiar.” He says softly, fidgeting with his fingers.
“I- uh, I’m Boffy?” He offers a hand, “You probably don’t remember me, so I guess I’ll introduce myself again.” Tommy smiles at him, taking his hand. It's warm, oddly warm, like he’s just touched something hot.
“Well, I guess I’m Tommy, nice to meet you.” He says with a soft chuckle. “Your name seems kind of familiar.”
“It’s something at least?” Boffy says, hopeful. “Do you know why you’re even in the nether? It’s not usually somewhere people just hang out.” Tommy pursues his lips.
“I- no? I’m not sure.” He says softly.
“That’s okay.” Boffy says, laying a hand on the other boy’s back – it's warm, just like his hand, maybe he’s been in the nether for a while. His gaze drifts to the end of the path – where the base lays – and he spots the portal.
“Do you want to head to the overworld? Maybe we can find more of your friends there.” Boffy suggests. Tommy glances over at the portal – he looks a bit nervous before he nods slowly. They get up and head towards the glowing purple gateway.
They both stand in front of the portal, Boffy steps through first, and Tommy looks back at the glowing lava before stepping through as well.