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It was during pogtopia, when they first slept together. Days of business, stress, work. All non stop. Everyone was stressed, on their last thread. Most of them noticed how Wilbur was devolving. Pacing the halls as he mumbles incoherent sentences. It scared Tommy the most, he was his loyal dog after all. Techno felt he could only watch as he worked to gather more resources. He could never have “too much” was his philosophy.
Tubbo seemed to be having the brunt of it all, techno observed. Tommy and Wilbur were stressed, yes, however he could sense the young ram had it the worst. Constantly running between pogtopia and manburg, all in secret. Trying to keep up with what schlatt needs, what Tommy needs, what Quackity needs, what wilbur needs. His own needs were last on his list of priorities.
It was a stormy day. The heavy rain echoed within the ravine as small leaks made themselves prominent. Not that it was of any concern, it was a ravine afterall. Wilbur and Tommy were out, doing whatever, likely scouting. Tubbo was pacing around, heavy bags under his eyes. Techno stepped out of the potato room to watch him for a few moments.
Tubbo wasn't oblivious, stopping as he looks over, "do you need anything?" He asks, finally giving the pigman a good look at the boy. Visibly tired, his hair a mess. His face red as though he were mere moments from utter destruction. Techno pitied him.
"You should rest."
"I can't, I have to-"
"Whatever it is, it can wait." Techno was more stern with his words this time. Immediately regretting it as Tubbo opens his mouth to begin protesting. "When was the last time you slept?" The boy's mouth shuts. Pursing his lips as his eyes avoid the other's gaze. He was glad Tubbo didn't continue to protest. Following Technoblade into his room.
"I... Can.. can you lay with me? Before- all of this Tommy used to, and.. it's been hard. To sleep."
"Sure." The man needed a break as well. He allowed Tubbo to lay down first, crawling in after him. Initially he felt awkward. Not used to sleeping next to another person. Hesitantly he puts his arm around the boy, noticing how boney his arms were. Yet as Tubbo curls into him his initial weariness dissipates. Even letting his own eyes fall shut.
Tommy and Wilbur's bickering woke them up- presumably hours later. Tubbo took a heavy breath, shaky- as Techno noticed. The larger pulling the ram closer, very briefly, before letting him get up. Tubbo stood for a moment, Technoblade sitting on his bed as they avoid looking at one another. ".. thank you." He mumbles, about to leave.
"Wait," Techno stands up. Walking over to his chest and pulls out a handful of pre-baked potatoes. Handing it to the boy. "So you can say you were gathering these. Eat a few." The boy pursed his lips again, the man wouldn't comment on it, but he looked close to tears. "You should hurry back."
Tubbo nods and leaves, the duo too caught up in their fight to acknowledge him. Techno only sighs and gets back to work.
The second time was after the festival. The following night, actually. Tommy had stormed off to his own room after the fight in the pit- Wilbur following suit with a chuckle. Tubbo was sat next to Techno on his bed, as though he'd been there hundreds of times. The silence was thick between them. Bandages covering most of his body as he sat next to his executor. "I'm sorry." Techno states.
".. thank you." Their voices were soft. "You know... I really don't blame you." Techno didn't respond. "It.. It might be weird to say but I'm glad it was you." Techno looks over, indeed finding it to be a strange statement. “I, don’t have an explanation. It’s just.. fitting. Not sure why.” Tubbo forces out a chuckle. Again the silence settles. “Can you.. can you sleep with me, again?”
Even after I killed you? Techno wanted to ask. However he knew he shouldn’t, so he didn’t. He just nodded as they laid down. Guilt filling him as Tubbo winces. His hesitation to hold him this time was more on fear of hurting the other more. Yet once the boy curls into him he settles with their positions. Techno couldn’t sleep. The echoing of everyone’s voices. Tubbo’s please, Schlatt’s laughter, Tommy’s screaming, his own apologizing. He let out a shaky breath. Listing to Tubbo’s gentle slumber.
They both woke up on their own accord this time. Techno first as his rest was already light. Tubbo following perhaps seconds or hours later. They laid in silence for a while. Tubbo setting his hand on Technoblade’s chest. The man flinches. Ultimately concluding it was his heartbeat Tubbo was focused on. The rhythmic beating that set the ambiance for this time.
It wasn’t until they were together hunting for Micheal that they slept together once again. The sun was falling and despite their restlessness they both decided to call it a night. The time that had past was suddenly very prominent. Tubbo mostly. His scarred skin and dead eyed, his horns fully grown in, his hair much longer, and a wardrobe change. The boy had been through too many pointless wars. Techno now had a few new scars mostly. His hair was already long yet his cape far more worn and weathered. It’s vibrant color greyed by ashes of explosions and edges charred by much the same. Atop his forehead and down his body a feintly golden crack. Beside both of them, was their executor. An eye for an eye it seemed.
They lay down, Tubbo’s eye avoiding the larger man. “Could.. could we cuddle? Again.” That again. The confirmation that neither had forgotten those times. That to this day those memories still take up space in one another’s mind.
“Yeah.” They both move closer. Their hearts beating a thousand miles per second. Ages of history.
“It’s kind of funny.” Tubbo begins. “In the arms of the man who I killed.” Techno let out a light chuckle.
“Holding the boy I killed.” Tubbo laughs.
“Thank you.”
“For killing you?” Techno asks ever so slightly sincere in his confusion, but for sure playing it up. Tubbo laughs a bit more, the noise warming the older.
“Yes, actually. I still don’t blame you, and it couldn’t have been anyone else. For more too. The… the first time we did this. I needed it, oh and that potato it was so good!” Techno smiles. “You’ve.. you’ve been a big help. Thank you.”
“It’s.. it’s something I need too.”
Tubbo leans closer in. “No problem big man.”