Chapter Text
When he firsts brings home the squirming bundle of warmth and noise, Techno is deep asleep. They had planned to meet before winter truly found it's footing in this quiet valley but Phil had been delayed by his Goddess and the laughing hands of fate. There is plenty of wood ready by the fireplace, though the cabin is chilled through. He goes to check Techno first, his friend laying still in the far bedroom in all the blankets they have. There is no familiar rumble of his snores, the chill of the cabin after the fire went out sending him deep into a slumber he won't truly wake from until spring. Just because the cabin is cold doesn't mean Techno is though, and it's easy enough to awkwardly shove the child into Techno's warm chest and bury it in the rest of the blankets, rushing back a second later to make sure there's enough of a gap they kid can breathe before he goes about the usual cabin check list. The firewood inside is stacked and ready, and he starts the fire in the bedroom first before moving on to the living area. There is a good amount leftover in the living room so he won't have to bring in the stock from outside any time soon, thank goodness. Next he checks the kitchen, the stock of broth and canned goods for when the path to the village is impassible when the blizzards come. Techno and his seeming infinite love of potatoes means that at least is always well stocked, though he's happy to see a good number of greens that Techno must have managed to grab late in the season that should last a while. He's not quite sure what to feed a growing child, but from what he's seen the little gremlin at least has teeth and has been happy enough to take the solid foods Phil shoves his direction. He's going to have to figure out what kids need for a balanced meal if he wants his son to grow up strong though and adds that to his list of things to do in the village when he goes sometime soon.
What a strange thought that is, his son. His son, with the curls of a Goddess that Phil has served for longer than most mortals would live. His son, with burning eyes and a laugh that felt like it stopped his heart the first time he heard it, or maybe started it again. His son, who he claimed on an alter as his own instead of the sacrifice he was clearly meant to be. His son, Wilbur.
The rest of the chores pass far too quickly, the familiar routine stretching as long as he can make it before he has to face the consequences of the decision he's made. When he finally admits to himself that the stain on the coffee table isn't going to come out no matter how hard he scrubs it, he pulls himself back to his feet and returns to the bedroom. Techno has started snoring again, not the full rumble he's used to hearing but a steady rhythm that’s so familiar it almost hurts. He's not alone, isn't going to be the only one struggling to figure out how to keep the little boy thrust upon him safe. He doubts Techno has any more experience with kids than he does, but he'll cave quickly enough with how deeply Wilbur has dug his little fingers into Phil's heart. It might take a while for him to wake fully, but Phil has already kept Wilbur alive this long, it’s just a matter of making supplies last between three people (two and a half?) and bundling the kid up enough he doesn't freeze before spring can come. Wilbur is young, and resilient, and hopefully malleable enough that he'll recover from whatever mistakes they make trying to figure out how to parent a child. His Lady bless him, there are going to be so many mistakes.
When he pulls the covers back to check on Wilbur the kid hisses at him, which honestly is the best sign the kid is meant to be his he's seen so far. Techno learned quickly enough not to try to wake him when he's settled into the warmth of his bed and the sun hadn't passed noon on the few days he hadn’t woken before it. Now angry little eyes and chubby cheeks are pouting up at him after being woken from a nap. It's frankly adorable and he can't quite hold back the coo that leaves him at the sight as the kid scoots back to latch onto Techno like he's afraid he'll be torn away from the warmth he's found in the middle of winter. For all that he's bundled the kid up on the journey he can’t blame him for his reaction, Phil doesn't run warm and he'd done the same thing the first time he'd realized how warm Techno was. Surprisingly his friend's snores stutter for a second before he shifts in his sleep to wrap his arms around his new…nephew? Godson?
It's very cute, but also means he's going to have trouble getting the kid some food now that he's thoroughly trapped. Wilbur's not quite old enough that Phil would trust him to eat in a bed without making a mess. And changing the sheets with Techno still barely warmed enough to snore would be a hassle.
"Are you going to stay there all day or are you going to eat?"
"I'm comfy." and the glare has returned. Precious. He snaps a quick pic on his communicator because apparently he's the type of dad who does that now.
"Alright, but in a bit when dinner is ready you don't get to complain that you don’t like what I made without your help."
That gets a reaction, a quick kneejerk scramble to escape Techno's arms and the confinement of the covers because the kid questions Phil's cooking at the best of times and refuses to let him out of his sight after the salmon incident. Another tick in the box of things he's glad he can rope Techno into, because even he can admit Techno is the better cook between them. He can make do with what he has though, and they have plenty in the cabin. Wilbur still questions the mac and cheese he ends up deciding on, which is frankly insulting, but he seems happy enough to eat it once he gets over his skepticism. After that he gives Wilbur a quick tour of the small cabin, the bathroom, and the storage closet in the hall where they keep blankets and supplies. And a stern warning that the hanging rope will pull the attic ladder down if he tries to grab it like the way Wilbur had been eyeing it suggested he was thinking. He's fairly certain even if he tried that Wilbur is too small to reach it but he was enough of a wild child that he knows the type of mischief that can come with creative solutions. For once he's surprised Techno hasn't lured one of the village strays home with him for the winter, though it's likely a blessing with Wilbur here this winter serving as another mouth to feed. Still, it would have been nice to have some sort of pet to distract the kid and wear out his energy, especially if the winter is particularly harsh and they end up snowed in. By the end of the tour Wilbur is warm, full, and drooping where he stands. He doesn't take much convincing beyond a brief introduction of Techno as a good friend who as a Piglin "gets very sleepy during winter, like you are now" and won't mind sharing a bed so long as Wilbur remembers to be gentle and doesn't wake him. Any hesitance seems to be dashed by the warmth of the covers and the way Techno's snores give a gentle rumble that makes Wilbur giggle when he presses his ear to Techno's chest. Child successfully settled as much as he can be Phil steps back into the living room.
He takes three grounding breaths, drops to his knees, and prays to Kristin for guidance and luck for the coming months.