Chapter Text
It was a peaceful day. The bees are buzzing, Edward is vibrating, the turtles are turtling, and he just finished dealing with his moaning zombified villagers he keeps in his basement, not something coming off creepy at all, nope.
The day was going great! Albeit, he did find it hard to wake up this morning for some reason. Was it because of the incessant chattering of the rather unsettled voices today? What even is bothering them? Grunting and barely able to focus enough to understand the variety of things the voices had been yelling these past few hours, he ignored them, glancing down from the villagers to his communicator.
Dream whispered to you: you may wanna get ready
He corks a brow. That's definitely not coming off ominously, not from Dream, Mr I-must-stick-to-the-shadows. His mind wanders off, back to their last encounter on that mountain, a woodland map they both can barely read given to him. Definitely not ominous indeed.
But before he can reply-
Dream whispers to you: your old friend is in bad shape
"Heh?"
You whisper to Dream: ???
Ph1lzA whispers to you: tech
Blinking at the message that popped up so suddenly after him, Techno furiously types back, unable to keep this worry Dream planted in his insides from blossoming.
You whisper to Ph1lzA: what's happening?
Ph1lzA whispers to you: trouble
He could only blink at it once more.
You whisper to Ph1lza: heh???
Ph1lzA whispers to you: big trouble
Ph1lzA whispers to you: they're coming for you techno
"...who's?!" He found himself questioning, baffled. The voices are of no help, screaming at each other to the point where any semblance of actual assistance is drowned out by NO SNITCHING or EEEEEEEEE. For the first time in a while, they are grating at his nerves.
"Chat- Chat." He curses inaudibly under his breath, hands on his head. "Just- Just- Calm down- Who? Who's after me??"
He speaks between gritted teeth. Stepping back, the recently cured villagers' concerned Heeeeeh he could barely hear with the voices still bickering and squabbling in the background in a cacophony of confusion, making his head ring, until a few words did catch Techno's ears. The Nether. Go to the Nether, they say. GO TO NETHER. SAVE DADZA! NETHER NETHER NETHER NETHER!
"Nether- What?! Chat-" He groans, turning and running up his ladders, ignoring the villagers and onto the floor above where he immediately dug his hands into his chests, grabbing for stuff in a frenzy. "Chat. You're making no sense. Who's they? Why Nether???"
He then took a moment, throwing in the air and catching a gapple, when he heard chat respond in a cascade of directions and coordinates that almost made his head spin.
"Yes, I can definitely hear all that, Chat." He grumbles, and chat seemed to positively chirp as if they actually helped. Trying his best to refocus, he has since returned to grabbing what he could when he sees his questions answered by another pop up in his message box.
Ph1lzA whispers to you: quackity
Ph1lzA whispers to you: lmanberg
That explains it. Cursing wordlessly once more, he digs to see no potions already prepared. Damnit Techno, this isn't like you. He could take his time to brew some but- No. Bad idea. Lokey, starting to panic, he's already bagging up his Gapples thinking it'd be enough when his ears twitched picking up the creek of his door behind him, spinning, he threw, a large thunk heard as his sword stabbed through the wall.
Right next to a white hooded man, his eyes widened, somewhat.
"Whoah, Techno-" The man breathes out, Techno narrowing his eyes in an attempt at recognition. "Chill."
Still tense, Techno's narrowed gaze shifted into a glare. "Punz??" His growl sounding more threatening than he could've intended, as his gaze widened enough upon recognizing him, this sword for hire who he could recall ditched them immediately in the last battle they were in. So trustworthy. "How did you even- What are you doing in my house?"
Punz already had his hands raised in a surrendering manner, giving Techno his calmest of smirks. "Dream paid good money on this."
The mercenary pauses, Techno tensing as Punz reaches out into his pocket, into his inventory, Techno immediately reaching in his for any tool, clutching at a pickaxe as Punz throws a potion in the air, it didn't break, casually catching it, and nodding at Techno.
"So, do you want to get to Phil or not?"
Punz didn't had to say anything more.
Quickly, the door bursts open as the pair ran through into the arctic outside. The wind blows in their direction, pushing them forwards with Techno doubting mother nature is actually of any noticeable help. Resorting to sprinting as fast as he could, barely keeping up with the speedrunner, Punz, in his pace, his eyes instead went down and focused on his communicator, at his and Phil's ongoing talking. Techno answering back furiously.
You whisper to Ph1lzA: I'm coming
You whisper to Ph1lzA: wait for me old friend
Ph1lzA whispers to you: can't
There was such a long pause between the last four letters that Techno couldn't help but notice his blood pressure rising with each passing second Phil didn't reply. Can't? Can't?? What does that even mean?! Clawing at his head, he briefly looks up. He hasn't lost Punz yet, the swift sword for hire obviously taking his sweet damn time waiting for him. Damnit, he sped his pace, him stepping onto the plains biome Punz is on was when Techno decides to look down once more, reading a reply that came after what felt like a million years later.
Ph1lzA whispers to you: can't let them
Ph1lzA whispers to you: I can't let them get to you
Techno's mind is already playing various scenarios with each of Phil's scattered whispers. Can't let them get to him? Phil isn't bringing them towards Techno's base coordinates, he reasonably concluded. Which is good. Wait. No. Not good. At least if Phil is running towards them he'd know the general direction but now he could be anywhere. Gritting his teeth with sweat pouring from his brow, he responds lacking his signature stoicness.
You whisper to Ph1lzA: where are you?
Not that it is noticeable via messages.
Ph1lzA whispers to you: nether
And chat cheers. No, don't cheer. This ain't it. It doesn't narrow anything down by much, the Nether is large and the cords don't work properly from the outside, and as good as Techno sees himself as the human GPS, he isn't a Nether calculator. He shook his head, internally cursing, and was about to reply when Phil continued.
Ph1lzA whispers to you: I cant keep running
Ph1lzA whispers to you: I'm fighting
Heh?
Ph1lzA whispers to you: I'm at the bridge
Wait, no-
Techno halted in his tracks, looking up, noticing Punz had been paused for a bit now. He sees himself in what he could clearly recall as Tommy's exile base, oddly empty and quiet but that's not anything that matters right about now. What matters is Phil, his oldest friend. Staring away from Punz he sees the Nether Portal erected a while ago here, the closest connecting thing between here and L'Manberg. It beckons.
Phil should be there.
They wasted no more words nor time and hopped through. The heat slapping them across the face.
First being greeted by a Ghast wailing at them so close by, Techno barely noticed a splash of potion brushing his skin thrown by Punz besides him. Invisibility, he immediately identified by a glance of his hand just as the Ghast shot out its fireball right at them. Techno merely deflects it and proceeds. Neither Techno nor Punz paying the dying Ghast or any other mob attention as Techno's human GPS skills come into play now knowing where Phil should be. His feet digging onto the red flesh like dirt as they rush, the bridge soon becoming visible through the ashy Nether.
As well as a few figures.
Techno's ears twitched as he hops to the side of the bridge, weapons at reach but not equipped. He waits, narrowing his gaze at the people approaching, suddenly, they skid to a halt, one of them spinning around, and there goes a loud clang as sparks flew just inches near Techno's face, Techno not flinching but stepping back with his hand hovering on his blade at the sight of Phil.
There he is.
The older is locked blades, hand being pushed back by the force of Quackity's axe. The younger's weapon raises and Phil could only go on the defensive, Quackity strikes, Phil grunts, and Quackity strikes again and again and again and again, pushing Phil back further and further, parrying and parrying and parrying, Phil's arm buckling at the continuous assault. And Quackity growls, not letting up.
"YOU BETRAYED US! PHILZA MINECRAFT!!!" Clang! "AFTER WE GAVE YOU A HOME- SHELTER-" Clang! "SOMEWHERE TO BELONG!"
"Mate-" Another clang. "I never said I was loyal to you-" Dodge. "Or anybody!" Parry, they paused as their blades locked, a stalemate. "I have no reason to be."
Their blades slide off of each other, Quackity stumbling but still scoffing. "So you chose Techno-" He curls his feet before charging, a loud clash comes once again. "Over us?"
Philza huffs as Quackity pushes him down, almost to his knees. Techno doesn't get it, Quackity isn't the best of fighters, how is he giving Philza Minecraft, a deity he, a conqueror of worlds, deemed his equal, any trouble? It's Quackity. A brief flash of yellow and dancing blades flashes before Techno's mind as he recalls his and his friend's spars, the close wins and loses, and Techno buries his growing urge to help, trusting Phil enough to instead tear his gaze away from him to look around, gritting his teeth as the voices kept yelling in his head. Help Phil, they yell. Save Dadza!
He shook his head.
Where the hell is Punz?
The clashing of blades continued in the background as Techno's eyes landed on the briefest glimpse of Punz, far behind him and dunking another invisibility potion. Somehow, he's surprised HE is surprised the mercenary with no bearing to any of this might be abandoning him. Said mercenary then disappears, leaving Techno alone, to deal with this.
He scoffed as he looked back.
"-ver this country your son built!"
He didn't like what he saw.
Quackity roared as another decisive blow nearly sent his friend flying into the waiting lava below. The older's sandals briefly dangled on the edge, skidding into a halt before managing to parry Quackity off of him. Techno didn't even notice his legs moving after his friend, abandoning his trust and caution, when he heard another yell-
"GRAAAH!"
CLASH
Phil spun to see Techno's blade locking with Fundy's.
The fox's… Eye? Single eye, the other one bleeding profusely, widens, it's once brief burning rage dissipating into immediate fear as Techno notices his hands go back to visibility. His cover blown with invisibility gone, he abandons caution, Fundy yelping as Techno kicks him away, just in time to hear Quackity.
"TECHNOBLADE?!"
The man screamed, as like a bullet he disengaged with Phil, blade sliding off from Phil's own sword in a loud shiiiiiiiing as he leapt at him, axe in the air, Techno's sword already free and ready to block as the axe fell.
CLASH
"Gh-"
Techno would be lying if he says his eyes didn't at least widen a bit when he felt his knees slightly buckle under the weight of Quackity's furious axe. It makes sense now. Briefly, Techno notes the sheer anger in every predictable strike, as he manages to every time, easily, be able block the enraged strikes. Pushing Quackity back, only for him to leap back like a rubber band to attack at almost the exact same place as before. With a "Tsk." Techno simply side steps, aware of how much Quackity is clearly trying to push him off of the edge.
If that didn't work with Phil, then it wouldn't be working on him.
"YOU-"
He only now realized how much he's been tuning out of what Quackity has been saying when a small moment of distraction nearly landed Quackity a hit. Nearly . Maybe that is too generous. Techno parried as Quackity kept going, before hopping back, out of the reach of Techno's weapons.
They pause. Quackity grits his teeth.
"You've done so much- SO MUCH fucking damage to my country- Everything- After everything you did..." His hands gripping his axe shook, along with his form. He kept staring down, fuming in built up steaming anger, almost as hot as the Nether itself.
He tears his gaze off of the ground, looking up with fiery eyes.
"You thought you could just hide from us?" He raises his axe, pointing.
" Technoblade?!"
And just as suddenly, he charges. Sparks flew as Techno's sword blocked Quackity's blade, Techno barely reacting to Quackity's rage twisted expression, the vice's brows scrunched up, glaring at the expressionless far more experienced warrior.
"You're one of the biggest threats to L'Manberg, and-" Their blades are still locked, Techno not having pushed him off yet, a sign of him listening. Quackity pushes further.
"I know you DAMN well Techno."
This time, it is Quackity who pulls back.
"You ain't-" Axe raised. "Just gonna-" It falls, clashing. "Let this go..." It slides off of Techno's sword, the momentum letting Quackity spin for just a moment, he slashes sideways. "...THIS easily!" Techno dodges, nimble for his size, the axe meeting nothing but air.
Quackity shook his head, growling like a wild animal, giving chase to Techno who's gap with the angry vice president widened with each step the Piglin warrior hopped backwards. "Look-" Techno ducks, evading another slashing. "It's an honor you're going out of your way-" Sidestep. "Just to kill me, Quackity."
Techno, having since already given up parrying over and over, with the flat blunt of his blade, also slices sideways. It struck nobody but it succeeded in almost wrapping around Quackity's weapon, striking it to the side, redirecting another of Quackity's attacks away from him.
He ignores the disappointed blood-starved whining of the voices of chat.
"But you gotta understand-" He pleads before Quackity pounces once more. "I've changed..!"
There is a resounding CRACK as Quackity crashes his blade onto cobblestone, burying his axe on the side of the bridge where Techno once was. The man grunts pathetically, trying to pull his precious weapon off of the rock to little to no avail, Techno taking this as his opportunity to speak his mind.
"I've given up violence." The Piglin warrior had his offhand on his chest, the other, wielding his sword, was already lowered. "I was giving peace a chance- I was letting you go your merry way, frolicking in this government of yours." Waving his unarmed hand, he stares into Quackity's fiery gaze.
For a second, he thinks of the futility of the prospect of him truly listening.
And yet he kept going.
"Isn't that what you all wanted?"
He stepped forward, inching towards Quackity who's expression for the briefest moment shifts to panic, as he pulls the hilt of his axe more desperately, the axe barely budging from its stone prison, and Techno just keeps inching closer, almost torturously slow.
He kept going.
"Isn't that what you're fighting for?"
He stopped.
Quackity stopped pulling. He could only stare up at the taller, more intimidating warrior. Techno could've sworn he looked far smaller from this angle. The rage in the vice's eyes had sunk into hopelessness upon Techno's presence.
Techno growled.
"After I fought by your side, after you used me, made me your weapon-"
And with a single hand, he shoved.
"After you betrayed me?!"
And Quackity stumbled back, toppling down with his hand still on the hilt, giving way, freeing the axe as he fell backwards, landing roughly on his behind. His brief look of satisfaction out of getting his weapon back was immediately doused by a sword pointed at his neck. He gasped barely audibly, Techno's ears picking up a gulp as he pressed his blade further onto him.
This time, it is Techno's glare that's burning.
A bit of sweat dripped from his neck, onto the sword pressed against it, as Quackity, quite obviously nervously, found it in himself to chuckle. A strange look of smug satisfaction, one that shouldn't belong to a man in his situation, met Technoblade's glare.
"You don't understand Techno."
He leans forward, with newfound confidence, or is it cockiness? His movement has the blade pressing further into his neck, though Techno cared enough not to draw blood. Not just yet. Ignoring the cursing cacophony of voices in his head.
"What I'm building- What we're working towards, ain't, just peace."
Quackity gripped his axe handle hard, his knuckles almost turning pale.
"The Withers?"
His legs curled up, foot pressing on the ground.
"I don't give a shit."
Steadily, he began to rise, Techno letting him, the sword's edge remaining pressed on his jugular.
"Anarchy?"
Now standing straight, he waved an arm.
"Whatever! I don't care!"
And the axe he held so dear rises, pointing straight at the unflinching Piglin warrior's own neck. Not even moving, nor blinking, Techno does not remove his blade from its place, threatening to slit the government official's throat, as Quackity dares putting him in the same exact position of threat. A Mexican Standoff if you will, the thought having crossed Techno's mind briefly that he had to hold back from chuckling.
Quackity's eyes twitched.
"No!"
He roared, pressing the axe further, Techno not reacting even as this time, it did draw blood.
"This ain't about that, Technoblade."
With a "Tsk." Quackity, for some reason Techno couldn't wrap his head around, lowers his axe. Techno lowered his own weapon as Quackity began walking back with his arms wide open. He chuckled, and kept going, to what Techno is assuming is gonna be his villain monologue.
"This?" He gestures to nothing in particular, maybe the magma? Techno however, is correct. "This is just the start." Villain monologue time.
In all his years existing, this isn't the first time a fight paused for talking as a free action, and Techno lets him, folks had to get their words out before they are offered to the blood god. He barely even blinks when in a flash of purple Quackity points his axe right back at him. Eyes on fire, lit in determination he already saw in multiple gazes in multiple lifetimes.
Amusing.
"You're on the hit list Techno, and if your three lives are what's gonna give me- give my country the name it deserves? Then- Then so be it."
Waving his axe back, Quackity marches forward.
"We're gonna fucking kill you."
Techno's ears twitched at the resounding steps. He could almost hear a growl clawing its way out of Quackity's throat as he moved forward, hand already prepped for an axe swing.
Techno prepares his own blade.
"Whatever it fucking takes, we will kill you,Technoblade."
"Pfft-"
And at that, Techno couldn't hold back his chuckle, no, his howls, as he laughed hard, one palm gripping his face. Shaking and almost toppling over by the sheer hilarity he finds in Quackity's proclamation. He tries to calm himself down, only bursting in fits of "Ahahaha!"
Really?
"And who's it gonna be? Quackity?" He giggled, peering through his fingers. "You?"
Quackity for a minute closes his eyes, and chuckles back.
"Oh Technoblade…"
It was only then did Techno, immediately dropping his hand from blocking his sight, noticed where Quackity's gaze was actually looking at. The burning determination not directed towards him, no.
"There's more ways to kill somebody who just won't die."
But behind him.
Techno could not have noticed him until he heard roaring flashing from behind him.
"PHIL!" "TUBBO!"
And Phil spun away from his engagement with Fundy.
STAB
It happened in an instant.
Techno could only watch as Phil's eyes widened in actual shock, a gasp coming from his friend as he pulled back, hands bloody, blade clattering on stone. His eyes sinking from shock to pure agonized regret, witnessing Fundy, his grandson, stumble back, onto the edge of the bridge before the lava below.
"G-Grandpa..?"
The foxfolk gasped as blood pours out of his jaws.
It happened so fast. One moment, Tubbo was charging from behind, taking even Techno off guard. The next, he screamed for Phil's name, and before he knew it, Fundy had shoved his president out of the way, Tubbo landing roughly beside him, looking up with horrified eyes at Fundy.
As a sword skewered him right through his gut.
Staring back at Phil, Techno sees a brief sight of what looked to be remembrance crossing his old friend's gaze.
Techno remembers too.
"Wil-"
The wrong name finds itself out of Phil's mouth as Fundy steps back, the look of betrayal never leaving his face as he falls, right off the edge into the awaiting lava. Phil could only scream as he rushed forwards for his grandson, falling to his knees as Fundy bursts into smoke before even reaching the fiery end below. The universe wept, as everybody felt the loss of another life.
ItsFundy was slain by Ph1lzA using Philza hiasobi benihime
"GRAAAAAH!"
"FUNDY!!!"
SHATTER
Shards of glass and liquid pelted Techno's skin and he blinked to see everybody barring their armor and weapons no longer visible. Panicked screaming from the L'Manbergian's ensued. Techno spinning as he turned back to where the splash potion came from, the exact direction he left Punz, briefly seeing a flash of a trident he recalls the mercenary wielding rushing towards where Phil, now invisible, was last seen kneeling. The emerald earring from Techno Phil had always worn shimmered as it's unequipped, but a roar takes Techno's attention.
"RAAAAAAARGH TECHNOBLADE!!!"
And he had to duck from an oncoming axe bolting straight for his neck.
He could not see where Phil had run off to. Not with who he identified as Quackity, still armored up, waving his axe wildly and slicing nothing but air, far from his target, Techno, who is already unequipped and completely invisible behind the maddened axeman. He should be worried for Phil, his friend, and wherever Punz is taking him but no. Techno held back a growl. He's seeing nothing red.
And the voices began chanting.
Quackity just kept swinging.
"GET BACK HERE- YOU FUCKING COWARD!!! YOU FUCKING SON OF A BITCH I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU! EVERYTHING- I'LL DESTROY EVERY FUCKING THING YOU GODDAMN LOVE YOU FRIEND MURDERING PIECE OF SHIT! WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?! ANSWER ME?!"
And Techno answered.
CLANG
With the first weapon he could grab.
Swish!
Pshew!
Gurgle…
And just as his invisibility fades, Tubbo could only turn to see Quackity, disarmed, his axe having flown out of his hands into the fiery embrace of the lava below. And before the young boy could even really react, Quackity yelps as Techno rams him to the ground, crashing onto cobblestone with his knee slamming the Vice President on rocks, knocking the wind out of him as the knee pressed harder against his chest.
"YOU-"
Techno snapped.
"YOU THREATENED MY FRIEND!"
The vice president's retorts were muffled, as the pickaxe Techno had grabbed without looking, found itself shoved in his open mouth. He screamed barely coherently, as Techno peered down at him with bloodshot eyes, burning red in anger. The voices are cheering now, drowning him in their cries for blood for the blood god blood for the blood god blood for the blood god BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD with Quackity squirming like the worm he is.
"War… So that's your choice then? So that's what it's gonna be from here on out, L'Manberg?"
The way Techno spoke so elegantly, the way the name of this country dances in his tongue like razor on silk, one finds his words held this sense of finality one could never ignore. And everybody noticed. Techno ignores the muffled screaming of Tubbo behind him, and Quackity's gross coughing as the Blade removes his pickaxe from the vice president's jaws, as he stands up, feet still pressed against his chest. All he saw through his reddened gaze was probably the last "Fuck you" being worded out by Quackity's mouth as Technoblade raised his unconventional weapon-
"I'M GONNA TAKE THIS PICKAXE-"
"TECHNO-"
"FUCK YOU!!!"
"AND PUT IT RIGHT THROUGH YOUR TEETH!"
SWING-
SPLAT!
As Techno felt flesh and bone tear as his pickaxe dug through the butcher's teeth.
---
"Heh?!"
Techno could only blink at him. Is he really baffled? Dismayed?
How could he not be?
There stood, like a ghost but clearly alive, as if these past weeks didn't matter, as if he didn't spend these same past weeks mourning for this kid. Him. His apprentice, his… friend.
No.
Here he is. Just clad in identical-but-not-really clothing of his supposed murderer; identical cloak but red, same mask but frowning and removed, revealing a face still half burnt from what got him killed, bearing eyes that's grey, empty, he could've sworn there was a spark there once. Yet here he is.
Tommyinnit.
Smiling.
"OK so- Hear me out-"
"Nooope!"
Techno couldn't even let Tommy finish, just marching off away from the teen, ignoring his calls as he distanced himself in half dashes. Behind him, he hears Tommyinnit once more.
"Oy- Wait-" Which is of course, ignored.
Until finally, Tommy did catch up, grabbing him by his sleeves. Visibly flinching, Techno spun with gritted teeth and growled, Tommy barely even reacting as Techno's red hot glare met his expectant yet empty gaze as his former master snapped, "no."
"You hear me out Tommy!"
He shoved a finger on the younger's chest, Tommy being pushed back several inches, blinking in response.
"...if that is actually you," Techno added, "which- IS only a possibility." feeling the need to clarify.
And Tommy only snickered at that. "What?" His voice cracked in hilarity. "Who do you think- Who else could I be?"
This only baffled Techno even more.
"TOMMY- YOU WERE DEAD!"
Technoblade cried.
And Tommy does not respond.
A long pause passed.
Taking moments to collect his breath, the hands he only now noticed had grabbed the kid by the shoulders, let go. An awkward pause that Tommy doesn't break came forth. Techno struggling, pondering what he could even say. What could he even say, given the situation?
"Look," he had to start somewhere, "I'm sorry if death not being a thing anymore is just a tad- Just a tad bit to take in." He says, taking the route of honesty. His glare having long since softened into at most a hard gaze. Sure, his eyes betrayed a sense of conflict he'd rather not display, besides maybe Phil. Deep down, he only hopes for Tommy to not notice, which the kid seems to not to.
Seems to.
Tommy answers with a chuckle. "Yeah… That's fair, that's fair, I get that a lot, actually." Tommy admits. Techno sighing, his eyes closing.
It didn't take long for him to open them back up again. "Are we done here?" he says. There is an almost audible groan in his tone, impatience lacing his throat as he spoke, staring Tommy down like he's scorching the kid. His arms crossed. "Cause, you see… I have other things to do than talk to some dead kid whose funeral I just attended." He glances at his wrist where a clock should be.
"I- Wait," Tommy takes a moment. "You- Technoblade, went to my funeral?"
Techno briefly gazes up at Tommy's grey eyes gaining a brief hint of spark before Techno turns and starts walking away. "No no no wait-"
There was a tug as the kid grabbed him by the arm once more.
"Look just- Help a Big Man out will ya?" He noticed that spark once again. "For just one thing, ONE THING ONLY, please?"
Despite those sparkling eyes that reminded him of those anime shows back then, Techno scoffs.
"Woooow," he says, laced with sarcasm. "Just like that." As he placed his free fist onto his hip, head tilted.
"Well- What could I possibly help Tommyinnit with?" Despite his obvious annoyance, Techno couldn't seem to shake the kids hands off of him. His glare however, persisted. "Who, you know- might be forgetting who threw his friend off a cliff Theseus style the last time?" He said, teeth gritted.
"I- I know…" Tommy murmurs. Techno witnessing him deflating, arms wrapping around himself like a thin cocoon. "And- I'm sorry…" Hah, of course he is sorry.
…come again?
"I truly am-" Tommy looks up, "Tech..." His voice cracks as he trembles. For a moment, Techno began waiting for that sarcastic remark afterwards typical of Tommy.
A remark that never came.
Techno suddenly begins doubting his ears.
He blinked once.
Twice.
Three times and more, actually. And Tommy only blinked back, eyes not leaving Techno's own, red staring straight into the kid's grey, barren of anything. Techno doesn't consider himself a good people reader, but this?
Nothing.
There is nothing in that gaze. Nothing that betrays a hint of sarcasm or lies.
...huh.
Left just standing there, baffled, Techno barely kept himself from showing it through his face, his breathing, his movement. No, he stood firm and silent. His blank stare hiding how weirdly taken aback he found himself, shaken even, why? He's beginning to question. His head blurs in thoughts unanswered that it's making him dizzy. This is Tommy. Brash and annoying. Phil's supposed kid and his own former apprentice. Somebody he once considered a friend. Tommyinnit.
Said sorry.
Techno scoffs. "Oh so, you think sorry is gonna cut it?"
God freaking- Dang it.
He didn't even fully comprehend himself speaking. Those words just springing out of him like baking soda to a volcano. It's exactly what he was trying to bottle, to prevent from bursting, this hint of a growing explosion, of anger, of that gurgling hot fire in his chest that's spilling out as a growl, and yet here he is.
Angry.
He sees Tommy's wide eyes, the kid's heart visibly dropping as he sputters. "N-No!" flailing his hands. "But- At least listen to what I have to say-" Then stop, their eyes getting dragged down to their communicators.
A message.
A long pause.
"Goddamnit-" He hears Tommy yell. "Fucking hell, that's like, the worse fucking timing Dream you- You dumbass!"
"..."
"T-Tech?"
He was shaking.
That was the last thing he heard before he was swallowed.
Buzzing in Techno's ears.
NO!
WTF WTF
OMFG
TECHNOMAD
BLOOD BLOOD BLOOD
OOH KILL
OH SHIT
IT'S ABOUT TO GO DOWN!!!
BLOOD BLOOD BLOOD
DADZA?!?!
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
TECHNORAGE
PHIL OMFG
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
BLOOD BLOOD BLOOD
KILL HIM
Inhale-
His eyes closed, his ears ringing at the sound of his heart palpitating against his ribs as he just-
Breathed.
In, out, in, out, in, out, he may have heard Tommy, in, out, he may have felt the worried gaze the kid is giving him right now, in, out, he opened his eyes, in, out he may have noticed the kid's tiny hands reaching before retreating in fear right as he was about to shorten the space between them. In, out, he may be aware just enough still.
But it didn't matter.
Tommy gasped, nearly stumbling as Techno shook his hands off of him, turning around, and marching forward, the regal wearing warrior's boots audibly slamming on dirt with each step. He was still able somewhat to hear "Oh fucking hell- No no no no oh no you don't-" the panic in Tommy's voice as he spun back around.
"Where's Dream?!"
And roared.
To say Tommy was scared shitless by a growing monstrous fist grabbing him by the collar as Techno's mid Piglin shifting snout curled into a snarling scream of bloody rage right at his face, is an amazing understatement.
Tommy is petrified.
Like a deer on headlights that is Techno's scorching red eyes, shrinking into these blank beady pupils on a beast's visage. So close to fully Piglin, so close to a full animal. His fur bristling on edge, almost doubling him in size, as he hears Tommy's trembling breaths through his tusks enlarging, lengthening, sharpening , pressing hard against the sides of the kid's neck, so closely at his arteries, feeling that gulp. "W-wait Techno-" Tommy sputters, having the audacity to chuckle. "Just- Calm down-"
Calm?
Calm?!
He drops Tommy to the dirt, practically slamming him, hearing a pained gasp coming out of the smaller one's throat, but he only stares him down. Merciless. Does he care? Naaaaah. Why would he? This brat has the audacity to- Don't make him laugh! Calm? Seriously?!
Right after what he saw?!
Ph1lzA was slain by Dream using Nightmare
Plain.
Written.
Simple.
It etched in his brain.
The more he thinks about it the more his head is covered in red and screams. Visions of his oldest friend flicker and disappear in quick succession, of tattered wings and blades, of splattering feathers, of seeing death and all other horrors. Of him, clearest of all, the last time he saw Phil, his friend, his dearest.
His emerald earrings glinted as he was dragged away, never to be seen by him again.
…he should've ran after him.
Tommy.
Techno.
Dream.
These names flash by in recollection, Techno knowing they're the only ones present, the only three to know, the only three to blame. An image of Dream tauntingly raising his blade upon his helpless winged partner in some dark room somewhere burned in his head.
And Techno screamed.
"Where the HELL is Dream?!?!"
Slamming his blade, crack goes the stone inches from Tommy's head, earning him a fearful gasp as the kid scrambles away from him. Good. Tommy goes into a full on panicking yell. "L-LOOK I- I- KNOW WHERE HE IS! I KNOW WHERE HE IS! JUST- CALM THE FUCK DOWN!" Flailing like a drowning fish. "CALM THE FUCK Down TECHNO FOR ONCE- FOR ONCE IN YOUR GODDAMN LIFE- JUST- ONE MOMENT TECHNO-"
CRASH!
"Gah!" Techno hears him shriek but his blade does not cease swinging and his disembodied choir that is his chat doesn't stop singing, praises for their blood god went on, until he isn't even sure if he is going for the kill or not. He isn't. He shouldn't.
But his swings only got closer.
Yowling back, "I've been calm for so long-'' as Tommy squealed, some of his locks sliced clean, taking the air. "HOW THE HELL CAN I BE ANY CALMER?!"
"BECAUSE I WANT HIM GONE AS MUCH AS YOU DO OK!!!"
Techno's eyes cleared for just a moment as he was so suddenly halted by Tommy's hard admittance, sword pressed and drawing minimal blood against the kid's heavily breathing throat. And Tommy, for the most part, managed to stand firm.
Not even a gulp is heard as with sudden found courage he stares Techno in the eye.
And spoke.
"I- I'm alive-" His breathing is not quite even, but he's managing to speak somewhat straight. "I was dead and now- Now I'm back and- It should be obvious, Techno, it should be obvious- why, I'm still here… In the first place."
Techno stares, never breaking eye contact, never dropping his sword. And Tommy, just starting to cease his shaking, stares him down, despite the angle, leaning forwards almost against Techno's blade, pressing harder, beginning to draw more blood, seemingly unafraid.
Oh no he is, Techno could smell that still, fear oozing off of him.
Yet Tommy managed to barely outwardly show it, only slightly pushing the sword off of him with his finger. "I know you want Dream dead, I get it." Techno's brow finds itself tilting just a bit, wasn't there blood pouring just now? "But- You can't just fucking kill him." Techno's thoughts were for now buried, his ears back at Tommy. "Not yet, ateast."
He watches the kid stand up straight. Chest puffing, declaring.
"Not when he, and only he, can bring him back."
And Techno witnesses his sudden shift, Tommy slowly raising an arm, stretching it outwards, towards him, opening his palm, reaching, beckoning Technoblade.
"I'm on your side here Techno-" he says, "I really am-" he insists, "But we can't just- Act like fucking dumbasses, not anymore…" For a moment his arm drops along with his tone. "So just listen!"
Tommy raises his palm higher, closer, fingers almost brushing his tusk despite his already far larger, more beast-like form. And for a moment, he doesn't see Tommy. In his eyes, is a toddler, reaching as well, a parallel, the child insisting to be carried to which the younger Techno refused. For a moment he found himself wondering when did this kid get taller?
Tommy gives him a shaky, yet, admittedly warm smile, and Techno, only now realized, he is finding himself deflating, melting at the sight. His insides warm.
Why is he warm?
Tommy whispers. "I only need your favor, Techno, please." Never dropping that smile, never dropping that arm forward, awaiting large hands to grab and wrap around his tiny fingers. Techno's mind flashes back to that toddler again.
"So we can end this…"
He didn't notice the hand lowering and wrapping itself around his large clawed fingers.
"Together."
With that one whisper, for once, chat is silent.
And Techno?
His insides exploded.
His chest finally spilled with that concoction of unresolved colorful emotions that left him feeling warm. It wasn't that magma that bubbled inside and was scorching an inferno within, burning and clawing just to get out, no, it is a different sort of warmth. A familiar, undeniable feeling he had what felt like ages ago, at that moment, forever cherished in his memories. Of his dearest friend's son, that tiny, pathetic mewling thing crying after he hit him a bit too hard, this brown cub's tears dripping onto his chest, soaking his armor, one of the rare few things to truly bring him to tears, his first, actually. When he, a mere half-piglin discovered, for the first time, humanity, and what it meant through his winged former deity of a best friend, a fellow non-human. When he melted within his arms in that embrace unmatched in his years existing, as those still unfamiliar tears wouldn't just stop spilling. That overwhelming sense he barely understood, that completely and utterly consumed him, unlike that familiar inherent rage he always had. No, he felt like he actually preferred this over that craving for adrenaline and blood, this wistful nostalgia, doubting even experiencing anything the same again, no way. This was a revelation. This was once in a lifetime. This was, truly, what he can only describe, as warmth.
And yet here he is.
Hand squeezing Tommy's own, so small, he almost fears he is gonna crush it. It's familiar, rough like Phil and Wilbur before him, calloused to the kid's numerous battles that Techno forgets he's human.
Oh god.
That's when it all began sinking in.
There is a soft shhhh pelting the back of his ears as his fur smoothens and recedes, shrinking back down to his typical human size. His hand started to fit loosely into Tommy's own, trading claws for unsharpened nails, interlocking their fingers into a tighter squeeze. Assuring more to himself, that it isn't painful. That he could not dare damage the skin or draw anymore blood off this kid. This human kid, once his age when he first left, a Piglin causing havoc in the overworld. No, this is not the same. Tommy is human. Young. Mortal. Killable. A mere human child.
Phil is now simply human.
Techno ends up shimmying his fingers off of Tommy's, sliding his palms down and tilting it against his, curling his fingers into a hold, to which Tommy does as well, palm sweaty and cold. Techno swallowed back up his pride, as he held back a grumble of some remark he was about to say. Instead, giving his answer straight, watching the kid's eyes lit up. That spark, it's back.
Shaking to it, sealing his fate.
"I'm in."
For you-
The world.
And that's how it's meant to be.
---
Techno would be lying if he said he wasn't expecting things to go south quickly. Sipping his tea on one hand, comfortably patting Steve with the other, his comfort bear leaning further onto his fingers. He reclined back on his chair, the crackling of his fireplace almost tickling his eardrums, a sufficient distraction from chat's low murmuring at the message Ranboo, or was it Janus? Had sent.
Ranboo whispers to you: so
Ranboo whispers to you: tommy got kidnapped
You whisper to Ranboo: tommy?
Ranboo whispers to you: uhhh
Ranboo whispers to you: theo
OK, now that's a bit more surprising. He and the kid don't see eye to eye (pretty literally in Theo's case) but he trusted that with Dream's… 'guidance' he could've handled himself more competently. Then again, he's still Tommy. Unless combat was drilled into his muscle memory then-
Ranboo whispers to you: this is ranboo btw
Ranboo whispers to you: not janus
You whisper to Ranboo: how many were there?
He figured that's good thing to ask first. He leans forward, awaiting, Steve peering up at him with curiosity, while Ranboo, not Janus, he seems compelled to clarify, took a while to respond. Calculating maybe? Sheesh, was it that bad then?
Finally, Ranboo followed up.
Ranboo whispers to you: it was probably all of lmanberg
Great.
Techno falls back onto his sofa. Just great. Sipping the last of his tea, he placed the cup down and with one last Steve pat, he stood up. Well if he were to bust him out like he usually did then might as well get to it, his hound army is hankering for some good old fashion minor terrorism anyways.
Ranboo whispers to you: also he told me to tell you not to bust him out?
Techno stops in his tracks.
Ranboo whispers to you: should we?
You whisper to Ranboo: eh
You whisper to Ranboo: tommy just wants a vacation
You whisper to Ranboo: free trip to the lmanberg gullag is basically that
Compared to Dream, he would've further added in jest, but no, he elected to keep his words down.
And there he stood just steps away from the exit. His hand lingering on the doorknob, no familiar creek of the cabin door opening, wrist not turning, hesitating, a thought crossing his mind.
This is Theo they're talking about, right?
If it was Tommy then by all means, it is understandable. The kid was as stubborn as a brick, Techno is sure some lingering bitterness between them would've gotten in the way of wanting an easy escape. The kid's prideful, irrational, arrogant. He's Tommy.
Keyword; If.
He wouldn't admit it, but he has no idea what to make of Theo.
He's just… Dfferent. Too different. He couldn't get a full read on the boy, couldn't wrap his mind on what his deal is, what he even is. No, Theo is just… Tommy.
But not.
Like, you scraped off a large chunk of him. He's the Tommy that Techno once upon a time thought he'd preferred. Quiet, far more calculated than one might think, determined, better?
Theo has a goal, Techno is sure. He wouldn't just throw that away. There has to be something else. A plan? A different angle he might be overthinking? Is he overthinking? Is he actually listening to this brat? Should he just back off or does he actually go? Is he actually questioning himself? This mighty Technoblade? Why is his thoughts running? Why is he overthinking this? Why-
Knock knock
He flinched, opening the door expecting to be greeted by a mostly fine not mask wearing Ranboo when his eyes widened.
His whites expand, shrunken pupils shook. His jaw hung open, struck with halting dismay, leaving him staggered, dazed, and mostly just… Relieved. Letting out a stuttering noise, barely coherent, a word came out of his throat.
"Ph- Phil-"
"Where's Dream?"
The man before him snarled.
Techno was nearly knocked over by his older friend pressing his hand on him and shoving past him. Phil looks around and Techno peered down to the still warm spot where Phil's fingers contacted with him, placing his own fingers above it, holding it close. At awe as he looked down, at his chest.
Red.
Stained.
He let's out a shuddering breath upon noticing. Raising his head, he sees, for the first time, the still dripping wounds of his friend's fingertips, the shattered nails and the peeling skin. Breathing heavily, Techno rose his gaze once more, higher, following the longer, pure platinum white locks held upon a hat clad head. A face he was so desperately longing to see, yet thinner, pailer. Dread pooling inside him only to meet his eyes with Phil's.
Eyebag heavy orbs on fire, an inferno Techno is all too familiar with, had experienced it, was molded by it, this aura of wrath only having sensed it once in a person other than himself.
His very friend when he was still wearing red.
"Where?"
Says Phil. Low, threatening, a growl.
Techno backs away, why is he backing away? This is Phil! Why should he be scared? They go way back! This fear has no reason. Maybe it's just that gaze? That shadow in his face? Those glowing pupils in his darkened visage, burning, no longer blue.
He's lost another set of blue.
Techno couldn't help but whimper, yet he didn't cared, holding his chest as he felt a frigid cold consume him. It spikes in pain.
He had failed once again.