Chapter Text
His return from prison felt pretty… uneventful. It felt like all the action had passed mere minutes after Phil dragged him out of his enderpearl stasis chamber by the back of his shirt.
Obviously, he shouted at the man, baffled at how his best friend somehow managed to misread three days as three months. He made sure to never let the man hear the end of it while the other patched him up.
He’d gotten pretty scuffed up in the cell, burns littering his legs where he’d sat in one spot for too long. That wasn’t even mentioning the scratches his little… altercation with Quakity had caused.
Phil's reaction to all these injuries was exactly as expected, as soon as he saw them he began his fawning. He cooed down at him as if he was a helpless chick and explained every step of the bandaging and healing process as if he hadn’t gone through it a million times before.
In a way, it was nice. Familiar. The steady hum and motions as he wrapped Technos burns and poured potions over bandages were almost comforting.
With Phil, he could relax. He could let himself get tugged around and fussed over without having to worry about being vulnerable to attack or manipulation. After all the betrayal and ‘deals’ he’d gone though on this server, it was a wonderful breath of fresh air.
Speaking of that, he probably wouldn’t be able to go outside for a little while. Turns out breathing in nothing but lava fumes and the dense air that surrounds it, isn’t very good for your health. According to Phil it wasn’t an uncommon issue, many diamond miners would get it back in the day from trying to skim across lava lakes for easy finds.
In short, breathing in so many fumes for so long had his lungs practically begging for a break. They were too used to having to fight constantly to breathe that the actual fresh air outside was a shock to the system that sent him to his knees through coughing fits.
Not being able to go outside after being locked inside for so long drove him more than a little stir crazy.
At least Phl was there for him through it, though. The elytrian had designated himself to be the one to help Techno back on his feet despite all his refusals. He couldn't help but feel like it had something to do with all his jokes about going outside despite his whole… lung situation at the moment.
The stern gazes the man sent his way were more of enough of a sign anyway. The way that the man managed to give him entire lectures with a single look had to be studied. There was no way that was normal.
Either way, he tried to pick up his old routine as best as he could. Wake up, cough, go downstairs to eat, cough, watch Phil do all the chores he should be doing, cough some more.
Honestly his entire day consisted of a lot of coughing. Each time the elytrian would look at him with that overly worried glint in his eye before patting him on the back until his little fit would finish. After that he’d get his daily dose of regen for his lungs and a bit of tea to soothe the raw ache in his throat.
Helplessly, he watched winter continue on outside. Snow fell faster and thicker now, uncaring at how hard it made walking their usual routes. His lungs were a bit better now but still frustratingly not at the point of healing he needed them to be to finally leave the house.
Part of him had half a mind to just chug the closest regen to get it over with but he knew the side effects just weren’t worth it. How he could hide such obvious withdrawal symptoms from Phil, he had no clue.
If his condition didn’t improve by spring he knew he’d down one anyway and damn the consequences. Phil would take care of him no matter how mad he was. He was nice like that.
Even as Techno slept in more and more, exhaustion weighing down at his limbs with every passing day, he’d just smile and promise to be back soon after chores. At some point he just stopped leaving his den entirely, curling up in his furs and blankets all day and only stirring when the elytrian made an entrance.
It took him embarrassingly long to realise that hibernation was the culprit. It wasn’t ideal but he supposed he was long overdue it anyway. At least Phil seemed to have no issue in taking care of him through that as well. He just smiled and joked about Techno’s luck, teasing him for probably not ringing that special bell of his enough to avoid such a fate.
Prime, he was such a good friend. He’d have to carve the man something when he felt better. Maybe a little wooden crow to put on his windowsill. He’d probably like that.
He only grew more thankful as Phil continued to take care of him through the early stages of his hibernation. He brought him all his favourite books and blankets from downstairs, even going so far as to read to him when he was too tired to process the words on the page.
Before he knew it, he started missing days. He’d wake up, hazy and hungry, to his friend brushing his hair or giving him more blankets. Each time the man would grin and say he was glad to see him up and ask him what he needed.
Without any complaint he’d go down and get some food and tea for him. His willingness to take care of him only made that hazy fuzz over his mind grow thicker. The elytrian felt impossibly safe and he took such good care of him.
He really, really liked Phil. He was so nice and kept him safe when he was most vulnerable, the elytrian deserved gold for being such a good friend. Shiny and beautiful when light hit it, just like the blonde hair that sprouted from his head.
Today was one of those days where he just felt so thankful for his winged friend. He woke up, lazily trying to blink through the cotton that stuffed his skull. Groaning and stretching a bit, he scoured his den for him.
A pout very quickly made its home on his face when he realised that he was alone. It felt childish, almost embarrassing if he was honest. He was a grown man, he shouldn’t pout because he didn't wake up to those wonderful head scratches Phil had started doing.
He grumbled, slowly stretching out an aching arm to hit against the little bell the elytrian had put there for him. It was their makeshift way of communication, any time he needed something or had woken up, he’d ring the bell and Phils weird bird hearing would do the rest.
It only took a minute for footsteps to approach his door, his friend's smiling face soon peeking around the wood before laughing when he saw him.
“Hey mate” he cooed “sorry I took a bit, I was trying to sort the chests out.”
A chuff left him as the man approached, lowering himself to sit down right by where he laid. He purred and lifted his head again, letting the other slot his legs under him so he could rest on his lap.
“How’re you doing?” He hummed, hands beginning to scratch at his scalp “need anything?”
He didn’t really feel like talking, only shaking his head and smiling when Phil seemed to understand this.
“Not a talking day, mate?” he wanted for another shake. “That's alright, I can do the talking instead. I got you something while I was waiting for you to wake up.”
A gift? Phil was giving him a gift while he was taking such good care of him? Oh he really was the best. He was so nice to Techno, always being patient and understanding even when he couldn’t understand his issues.
He never wanted the man to leave his den again, if only so he could return the favour and take care of him too.
“Knew that’d get your attention” he chuckled, snapping him out of his hazy thoughts “lets see if I remembered to pick it up on the way here…”
The elytrian began fiddling with the inner pockets of his robe, slapping his hands against the little slots to try and feel for whatever gift he had for Techno. He blinked lazily up at his friend, slightly annoyed that his head scratched had to stop.
That annoyance quickly faded when Phil pulled out something shimmering and gold. He let out an interested squeal before shifting so he could wave an arm up to try and grab it.
“Ah-ah! No Tech you have to be patient” the elytrian tutted “I’ll give you it in a sec, I just need to untangle it first…” his words quickly trailed off in favour of fiddling with the dainty gold chain that hung from his gift.
He frowned up at him at the denial but didn’t try and reach for it again, forcing himself to be patient and make do with watching how the wonderful metal shimmered in the light.
When it finally was untangled, the elytrian smiled to himself and lowered it down into his waiting hands. He could feel his pupils grow huge as he stared at it.
It was beautiful. The telltale redder shade of nether gold shining across the metal, a hanging pendant swaying at the bottom. The chain was dainty, very well made and etched with runes his muddled mind couldn't even begin to decipher.
He knew it was Phils hard work in an instant. Only his friend was so accurate with his runes, it was an artform he pretended to be casual about but Techno could see the way he’d preen under any praise he gave him for his hard work.
He loved it. The pendant had delicate carvings along the surface, the telltale little heart that his best friend loved to carve into anything he could get his hands onto laid there, beautifully etched after what had to be hours of hard work.
It was his. He’d never let this gold leave him, no matter what happened.
The butchers had stolen so much of his jewellery, threatening Carl and forcing him to give up so many of his treasures. When Fundy tried to take away his emerald he nearly bit the damned boy's head off. It's not like they could’ve taken it off of him anyway, he cursed it with a curse of binding just in case of situations like that.
He chuffed up at Phil, the man that had been taking care of him for so long and that was now giving him gold. Not in exchange for anything but as a gift. It made something rise up in the back of his brain, preening under just how much love the other seemed content on piling on him.
“You haven’t even seen it all, silly” the elytrian laughed, gentle hands flicking open a previously unseen latch on the pendent “look inside.”
Clumsy yet eager fingers were quick to push the apparent cover further back, revealing what his friend had hidden away for him. Inside, coloured in a mosaic of precious gems and gold, was a picture he would never be able to forget.
It was the one they took the day they started their empire so many years ago, two beaming smiles carved out of quartz and showing the very start of their friendship.
Tears sprung up in his eyes when he remembered that the original was burned in front of him, right after Quakity had rummaged through his cape and found the precious photograph. He wanted to kill him then and there for destroying such a valuable thing.
He got his vengeance in the end but it hadn’t filled the void that was left. That was the picture he’d look at whenever he couldn't see Phil for a while, carefully unfolding it so he could remember just how far they came.
He remembered crying when he told Phil about them burning it, apologising on their way back from his execution about letting them take it. He’d never seen his friend so angry when he explained what happened.
Phil had pulled him close whispered promises of payback. It felt so nice to have someone so angry for him. It reminded him of just how much his friend cared. Fingers brushed against his cheeks, wiping away tears he didn’t even know were running down his face. Looking up revealed his carer with a sad smile on his face before he spoke.
“I know mate, I saw how much you missed it” his voice was careful and quiet “I saw how you’d pat around for it and get all sad whenever you remembered what happened. I figured I should give you something those awful people can’t burn.”
Phil was so kind to him. So caring. He was such a good friend and he treasured him more than any of his gold. He would make such a good caretaker for him.
He already did half the job, anyway. He wrapped his wounds, reminded him to eat and rest and drink water. He showed Techno how he was a person, not a weapon and not something to be used.
He was family in every sense of the word. He was his caretaker and he hadn’t even known. Something clicked in his brain at the thought, a part of him telling him that all was alright and well in the world.
He was in his den with his carer. He was being given gold and having his tears wiped away as if he was something valuable. A purr was running through his chest before he even knew it.
“There you are, mate” his carer cooed “did your instincts finally kick in? I’ve been taking such good care of you after all…”
Chuffs were sent up to him, purr deepening as sharp talons came up to scratch along his scalp again. Below him he could feel his tail weakly trying to wag, trapped under his legs.
“You still with me, Tech? Oh of course you're not… look at those eyes” a thumb swiped under his eyes, dancing along the dark shadows that clung to them “you’re off on cloud nine aren't you?”
He purred and leaned into the hand now cupping his cheek, content to try and suck away all the warmth he provided. His skin almost buzzed under the touch, feeling so so nice after having to go without affection for so long.
In three months he’d forgotten just how wonderful his sounders hugs were. That's what he was, after all, a carer wouldn't be this kind if they weren't family. He hugged him so tight when he could finally stand, arms locking around him as if he would ever try and leave his carers hold.
“But have you latched onto me? That's the real question…” his carer hummed thoughtfully, gently continuing to scratch with his other hand “you’re certainly deeper than before, that's some progress… you’re laying all vulnerable too…”
Why wouldn't he be vulnerable with his caretaker? He’d take care of him and keep him safe, just like he has done while he recovered from that awful trip.
“I suppose there’s only one way to find out but… oh I don’t want to upset you like that, Tech” his sounder muttered, seeming torn as he chewed his lip in thought. He glanced down at Techno, clearly trying to figure whatever it was that troubled him out. “But if it's the only way then… surely it won’t be too bad, right? You’d forgive me, wouldn't you?”
He’d forgive his caretaker for anything. That was the least he deserved for all the hard work he’s been doing lately. He’d forgive him and give him gold until he felt better. Then they could cuddle in his den to really solidify things.
“I’ll take that as a yes” his sounder muttered, hands slowly leaving his head. He send a questioning snort his way and got no real response “it's okay. It’ll only take a sec, I promise.”
He sounded like he was reassuring himself more than anything. Maybe he was going to lay down with Techno. He hadn’t done that yet even though they were sounder… it’d be nice to properly be able to pile up with him. He knew that those wings would make wonderful blankets to sleep under.
But his sounder didn’t lay down with him. He didn’t even move to take off his robe and put it in his den to make it smell better. Instead he rose and tried to leave. He moved before he even thought about it.
With a distressed squeal he shot up from where he laid, ignoring the ache in his limbs and dizziness in his head as he did so. It caused his carer to turn around, twisting to face him with a surprised look on his face just in time for him to launch at him.
Moving fast, he pushed his legs under him and jumped, springing his body up before he latched his arms around his caretakers waist and dragged him down. They fell hard, his sounder making a little ‘oof’ as he landed down on his blankets.
He didn’t let the surprise wash away though, instead he pushed himself up to lay over him. Now he couldn't try to leave again, he was trapped and could only leave if Techno moved and let him.
Something he wasn’t planning on doing any time soon.
It calmed the rapid beating in his heart a little but instead made his lungs strain from the sudden activity. Leaning over to the side, he coughed and sputtered, feeling as if he might retch with the intensity and length that the fit took.
His ears rang a little, heart pumping away in them as he blinked tears out of his eyes. Hands were clutching tightly at his back and he hadn’t even realised they were there. When his brain finally wanted to listen to him, he turned to the panicked face of his sounder.
“-orry! Oh mate I didn’t know it’d be so bad for you! Are you okay? Do you need water?” he clenched his arms tighter and whined at the prospect of him leaving “I know it mentioned a reaction but I had no clue It’d be so strong. Oh I feel so awful, I’m sorry.”
His hands cupped his cheeks again, desperation and guilt swirling in deep blue eyes as he continued to speak down at him.
“I’m sorry” his sounder chanted, repeating it over and over “I’m so, so sorry. I didn’t want to do that I swear, mate. I just really needed to see if you’ve finally recognised me as sounder.”
He whined again, arms tightening around his sounder’s middle. How could his caretaker try to leave him like that when they were having such a nice time? He was calm and his carer was talking, it had been perfect. But then he tried to go and now he was apologising for it. He didn’t want his sounder to leave.
“At least now I know you’ve imprinted… that's good...”
He sounded calmer now, arms tightening around him and returning the bruising hold as he held Techno even closer. It settled something in him, the closeness, a slow purr stuttering out of his chest again.
“Actually…” his sounder grinned, smiling bright as an almost manic look twinkled in his eye “its perfect.”