Chapter Text
Tommy. He was hugging Tommy.
His little brother.
Techno felt ashamed, he didn't even remember the last time he hugged the young boy in his arms. He felt the guilt eating him alive for taking it this far.
He knew that Tommy feared him and Phil. he knew that the voices had taken over during the pit (when he came back there was so much blood. What had he done?) and during the battle with the Withers. He regretted his words so much, because he was very aware that the shaking boy that he was holding had a very big chance of dying.
He tried to calm himself down, tried to reason with himself. Tommy was safe and Techno would never let him go again.
Protect the child
Blood for the blood god!
What happened to him?
It was that teletubby for sure
Blood
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!!
Guys chill we gotta be there for Tommy
Brotherblade!
BEDROCKBROS :D
Techno had to suppress a hiss. He could feel the headache already but he couldn't risk scaring Tommy any more than he already had. The flinch was very much imprinted into his mind. He may be scared but he was also angry. He was so angry that someone managed to hurt Tommy so badly.
Even now, swallowed in a hug they would normally have to wrestle him into. Techno could feel Tommy holding on for dear life, his fingers digging into the fabric of his poet's blouse. The blonde was shaking slightly, from what he thought to be shock.
One thing didn't make sense to Techno. Why on earth was Tommy even on that beach? Last he heard, he was at L’manburg. Of course, he didn't exactly keep up with the latest news. That still didn't explain why or how he was there. With all of these wounds too, not even mentioning his wings.
The sensible part of him told him to wait, told him to find the answers rather than brute forcing his way through to them. But he had too many questions, too many things in need of answering. He needed to know what happened, what actions were taken to hurt his little brother so he could plot his revenge accordingly.
So, after a few minutes, Techno drew back.
Tommy immediately seemed to panic, silent tears. silent, why were they silent? Forming in his eyes as he opened his mouth to ramble even more apologies.
So, Techno carefully placed his hands on Tommy's face, one on each cheek. With a gentleness he wasn't aware he had, he started brushing away the tears. Tommy bit his lip harshly as even more tears fell. The older of the two was quick to place his thumb with a soft gesture underneath his lip and tugged a little, stopping any harm to be done.
The blonde looked at him with big eyes and Techno bent down so he and Tommy were eye to eye. Then, in a very slow manner, Techno moved forward so that their foreheads could rest on one another. Tommy seemed to pick up on what he was planning, and moved his head forward as well. Their foreheads met and he could feel his younger brother sigh a breath of relief. Techno closed his own eyes. It has been years since they've done this. He and Tommy used to do this all the time, mainly to comfort the younger. When he and Phil left however, he found that that was one of the things he missed the most. This connection that was just between the two of them.
After all, blood and chaos aren't all that far apart from each other.
Techno felt how hot Tommy’s forehead was and made a note that it seemed his fever had gone down a little but they were not out of the woods yet. Techno could hear Tommy’s shaky breath as he calmed down and slumped forward, leaving his brother to catch him into a hug.
He placed one hand behind his head, the other around his torso. The blonde's head rested on his shoulder, tucked away in his neck. Still, Techno could hear 3 words, so soft spoken that they sounded between a breath and a whisper, trembling like the limbs that he was holding together for the boy was falling apart.
“Please don't leave”
Techno’s heart stopped.
It was like the world stopped spinning for a few seconds. When it resumed its course, it was anger and the need for retribution that consumed his mind once again.
Tommy was tired
It had been around two weeks since he returned to stay with Phil and Techno and they’d been their usual selves if not treating him as if he’d shatter like glass, Techno grumpy and aloof but always accepting when Tommy leaned on his shoulder as they sat next to the fire, and Phil always giving a cheerful smile and ‘it’s gonna be ok mate.’
They treated him so well.
So why did Tommy feel so awful? He tried to keep it hidden but he was scared of everything now. Even just getting up from his designated spot in the nest Phil had made taking up half of the living room just to go to the kitchen made his heart start to beat just a bit faster.
Why?
Everything was fine now he’d gotten away from Dream he knew neither his father or brother would allow him to come near. Tommy hated this feeling of just … constant fear.
In all reality Tommy had gotten used to the feeling a long time ago even before exile but today was just a bad one he guessed.
The snow had been falling harder than usual Phil was out stealthily collecting his stuff from new L’manberg, and Techno was out feeding his wolves but only because Tommy had insisted, Techno probably wouldn’t have.They’d been so sensitive around him since his fever had caused them all to cry and Tommy had finally felt safe.
So why didn’t Tommy feel safe?
Why was he so tired from just existing? Tommy sighed and stood up shedding the layers of blankets he’d been under in the nest and carefully stepped out slowly walking into the kitchen. He didn’t really know why he did but he knew he was bored of being in the nest the Phil had created, it was comfortable and soft but … it felt weird
Somehow wrong.
A voicing in his head just wouldn’t stop screaming it and Tommy was just too tired to keep it quiet today.
…
Maybe it would’ve been better if Dream or his fever had just killed him … would that be easier?
Yes ? No? Gods Tommy had no idea anymore he just wanted everything to shut up and let him go home.
But where was home? If it wasn't new L’manberg, and it wasn’t here, where was it?
Tommy looked around the small kitchen at the chests of food and ingredients then the sink, then the counter, then where the knives were kept.
Tommy stared at the kits of the sharp blades. How did he know they were sharp? Do you remember whose house he was in? Of course they were sharp. Techno always hated having to struggle even cutting a sweet potato so Tommy knew those blades would be just as sharp as any sword Techno kept on him.
Meant it wouldn’t hurt much if you get cut from them something Tommy often forgot as a kid and was a cause of many of the small scars on Tommy’s hands and fingers.
Tommy sighed and shook his head pulling back the hand he hadn’t even realized was reaching out for one. It wouldn’t do anything but make it even harder to be alone if he did anything to himself even if it WAS an accident.
Tommy looked at the chests again and slowly opened one, finding a stack of golden apples Tommy took. He didn’t care if Techno would get annoyed, in all honesty he’d probably be happy Tommy took something that was food and wasn’t practically forced on him.
Tommy placed the stack of gapples in his inventory then exited the kitchen as he heard the heavy footsteps outside on the porch. Better to be in eyesight when someone entered so they didn’t freak out.
To Tommy’s surprise it wasn’t Techno but Phil who entered the cabin brushing off the snow from his cloak and wings and quickly shifting his eyes around the room in search of Tommy.
“Mmm Right here Phil … got hungry.”
Tommy mumbled, making his placement known as he wandered back to the pile of blankets.
Phil smiled warmly at Tommy and made a few more of those bird chirps he’d been doing nonstop since he saw Tommy’s wings.
Tommy didn’t say anything else as he just got back under the blankets knowing Phil would soon join him.
Tommy liked cuddling with Phil and always had, it just felt right and safe even now when it was… much harder to allow himself to initiate it. but Tommy was feeling off so maybe he’d be more comfortable with it today.
As soon as Phil had taken off all his winter gear and hung it up he swooped into the nest making sure to slowly wrap himself around Tommy.
Tommy hesitated but snuggled in after a moment and felt Phil freeze for only a moment before carefully hugging his youngest son tightly but not so much Tommy felt trapped.
No Tommy felt safe and warm as the darker thought of earlier began to fade away along with his consciousness.
Techno arrived not long after Tommy had fallen asleep. Phil watched the piglin enter and immediately noticed his tighter expression which send a wave of anxiety through Phil.
“What.”
Was all he needed to ask for the Piglin to know he wouldn’t be able to hide whatever was upsetting him, Techno shook his head.
“It’s nothing I thought I saw tracks in now but … when I got closer the snow covered em up so I couldn’t tell if it was a mob or … someone else.”
Techno said in a hushed tone as to not wake Tommy up, Phil grit his teeth and let out a quiet but sharp chirp or frustration. He hated being so unable to do anything more than keeping a watchful eye around his fledgling.
“How was getting Theseus’ things?”
Techno asked, pushing Phil out of his spiraling thoughts. Although with how Phil’s expression darkened it seems it wasn’t the best question to ask?
“There was barely anything to get.” Phil growled. “Almost everything was gone other than random useless blocks, That teletubby bastard must’ve taken it.”
Phil snarled, pulling Tommy closer to him, being careful now to wake them.
Techno just sighed and nodded looking out the window towards the main SMP frowning.