Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

You get born to this world with two hearts beating through you, every child is told at one point in their life. The one in your chest and the one you have to find in another person. Yours and theirs are connected, for as long as either will live. Your own, special person.

It’s not as easy as that, Techno thought to himself. The piglin brute hybrid was sitting calmly in one of the many seating areas around the base he built with his own hands. He had no reason to worry, it was quiet, good. And yet he soothed his own wrist, willing for the flutter of the pulse to die down. It worked slowly, as always, the heartbeat jumping more erratically than a spooked off rabbit. But just like the fluffy creature, it finally settled under Techno’s perseverance. The pink haired man smiled softly when he felt a delicate sensation of the fingertips of another on his wrist. Apology for freaking out, a small thank you for the help.

It was not easy at all. Some were born with two hearts pumping through them freely but there were many that didn’t. They had to wait, sometimes a year, two, three. Blissfully unaware till something suddenly appears in their chest, in their ears, which leaves the parents to soothe the suddenly terrified kid. They have to explain that it’s a good thing, a great one!

Technoblade always had his other heartbeat. He remembered that his parents never had to have a talk about the second heart, it was just always there. Techno knew that his soulmate was either his age or older.

He also knew he was an anxious mess from the youngest years.

The thrum of elevated heartbeat accompanied him nearly everyday, small spikes of adrenaline that made no sense.

There was a time when Techno feared if his soulmate experienced abuse. He waited for the surges and counted, wrote the times down, made whole spreadsheets, just to see if anything was consistent.

Technoblade was a very sane and not stalkery person.

Though his careful calculations let him at least assume a few things. Like age. His soulmate had to be a year older at most, his age the least. His soulmate was most probably a male, given his heart rate oscillated around seventy, when he was not anxious.

His soulmate was one of the most precious people in the world and Technoblade could barely wait to meet him. He knew not everyone got to meet their soulmate during their lifetime but the pink haired man knew he would. He wouldn’t allow for anything else.

Finding your soulmate could be challenging but Techno had nothing but determination and drive. There wasn’t a goal he would be incapable of achieving, given enough time. He knew what he wanted and never backed away from the necessary steps. What he wanted, the most, didn’t change much through the years.

Everything.

Everything to be right, everything for himself and his most important people. As a child, it included only himself and his soulmate but years have given him Philza and his son as well. Techno could agree that he was a greedy person, a possessive bastard, as some would call him.

It didn’t really matter, when he had the strength to back whatever claim he laid on the world.

“Heya mate, you doin alright?”

Technoblade looked up and smiled lazily. Philza came closer to him, his great black wings shifting slightly. He must have just come back to the base, seeing as he was still in the protective garb, sans the mask.

“Yep. Just calming my soulmate.”

Philza cooed with understanding. The man obviously didn’t know whose heart beat in Techno’s chest, but that didn’t stop the blond from already adoring the other. It pleased the piglin hybrid greatly, of course, his sounder would be full and harmonious. His jealousy stung only a little, whenever he saw Philza and Tommy interact with each other.

He knew Phil paid for his soulmate with blood but he still got to keep a heart in him. Even after his wife died and left Tommy, one heart for another.

They had each other.

Techno mindlessly rubbed at his wrist more.

Soulmates were connected by pulse and could feel each other’s touch near the veins. Like wrists, neck napes, over the heart. It helped to calm, communicate, and send each other support… recognize each other when the time comes.

Philza sat next to Techno and extended his wing over the hybrid. Technoblade purred with appreciation and let the man gather him closer.

“Is he anxious again? Worse or better day?”

“Eh,” Techno shrugged. “Not as bad. Took only a few minutes.”

“You still up for the plan then?” Phil asked, his claws already sneaking to Techno’s hair.

Avians and their preening. Technoblade purred softly, lowering his head so the older man could reach better. He had no wings to share with his sounder, so he offered what he could, happy to get closer. Techno himself often showered both avians in gold or demanded they stay in his den, so it was only fair.

“Yeah, it’s alright. It won’t take long, anyway,” the pink haired man snorted.

“If you say so mate. I’ll be waiting outside, whenever you’re ready.”

~*~

Wilbur sucked in a breath and held it in his lungs for fifteen seconds. Through the years he had to learn a lot of different anti anxiety techniques, just so he wouldn’t worry his soulmate so much. 

But considering he felt the soothing touch on his wrist again , he still had some work to do on that front. He huffed out a weak laugh and gently rubbed his knuckles on the skin.

Wilbur had normalish life. The brunet was a registered power user, as well as a piglin hybrid.  He didn't meet his soulmate yet, he had been renting an apartment and worked odd jobs here and there.

Until the Hero Commission called him, that is.

They always somehow found the worst possible time to call and 'offer' a contract. And as they were the main leading force that had a say in super power usage, not many dared to say no. The jerks knew they could do whatever they wanted as well, since they called for him willy nilly and offered only a limited time work contract for pennies.

Wilbur knew that his powers were not that impressive but whenever he got called, he wished it was even weaker. His suggestions worked on civilians just fine, and even mildly powerful supers followed his words. That gave the Commission no right however to call Wilbur in and lead interrogations!

It always irked him the wrong way, when some info got… ripped. Just because the people, not always even villains, trusted the allure hidden in his voice. Not even mentioning how nerve wracking it was for Wil if a villain shook himself off and blamed Wilbur .

It's no fun.

Wilbur shuddered again. Just remembering the bad interrogations made him not want to open the letter stamped with the official logo of those bastards. The brunet poked the cream coloured paper and grimaced.

He already got anxious and he wasn't even sure for what or who they sent the contract this time.

Wilbur got up and shuffled to the kitchen. Tea was in order. And tea was a very time consuming chore and not at all  an attempt to delay the inevitable. Wilbur picked the packets, his favourite mug and then debated very in depth about how much sugar would be appropriate. Or honey. He didn't own any sweetener, since it was apparently bad for the health so that option went out of the window.

The tea preparation took him over half an hour and he wasn't sure how to prolong it anymore.

So he blew at the hot beverage and nursed the mug in the kitchen, resolutely looking through the window. Such a nice day shouldn't be ruined by overzealous heroes and their army of lawyers and bureaucrats, spouting the beaten to death spiel about justice and protection. About doing things right . No matter how wrong they seemed, no matter they ignored protests and concerns.

Wilbur sipped at the tea, with his free hand pushing at the radio. Silence didn’t work with him well, he should just always have it on.

“ Another great victory against the Syndicate! After last month scuffle, we received news that a few days ago leaders of the unlawful supers group has been spotted and confronted by-”

Or not, Wilbur thought, quickly switching stations. He hated that station but they played the best music in the evenings and he always forgot to switch it later on. The news about villains tended to either stress him out immensely or irritate him to death. The hosts spewed only propaganda or chilling statistics of what hero’s failures brought. Wilbur sighed heavily and left his tea on the counter.

The brunet reluctantly came back to the living room and the blasted creamy paper. He sat heavily and reached for it.

The contract was written in the ants font as usual. Wilbur swept his gaze through the beginning, his tail idly flicking away. The start as always babbled about secrecy, payment and who the employer and who the employee was. What was interesting, usually laid on page five. It was the estimated level of the detained, and how many hours roughly they expected Wilbur to work.

The man blinked and his heart twisted when he noticed the red ink.

Highly classified. Do not share with anyone.

“Who the hell did they…”

The paper dropped from Wilbur’s hands.

The detainee has been placed as the S tier villain. Carnivor, populus named the Blood God , has been caught and is awaiting interrogation.

Estimated work time three consecutive days.

Wilbur shot up and fumbled for the cellphone. It rang three times before the absolute bastard picked up.

“Ey Wilbur! How’s it going man-”

“Are you fucking joking Quackity?”

Wilbur could just imagine the wince on the hero’s face.

“So you got the contract?”

“Of course I got the bloody contract! I’m not signing, I’m not taking this one-!”

“Soot, I don’t think you understand the situation you are in now.”

“Are you threatening me now?” Wilbur hissed, his heart pounding behind his ribs. He faintly fell a brush against his chest but not even his soulmate could calm him from full blown panic. “You’re threatening me because I don’t want to enter the room holding the most bloodthirsty villain of this century?”

“You are aware now that he is in the custody, that knowledge alone doesn’t allow you to back out-”

“I haven’t signed it! I’m not fucking doing it!”

“Wilbur, you have no choice.”

The brunet squealed in the back of his throat. This was crazy, absolutely bonkers!

“Quackity, you can’t do this to me.”

“It’s gonna be fine man, don’t know why you’re panicking so much.”

Wilbur gnashed his tusks, even if the stupid hero couldn’t see him. He felt too light, like he was a second from passing out.

“You know why the fuck I am panicking. You know my powers don’t work that well-”

“-when there are too many people and the other super is a gap above you, I know. We have prepared for that.”

“What do you mean you prepared?”

“In the room there will be only you, Carnivor and the interrogator.”

“ This is not making me feel better!”

“It should! And you don’t have to lead the interrogation. Your suggestion of calm will be enough, alright? We just need you to be there, calm the bastard, make him go in a buddy buddy mood so we can get a few answers.”

“You want to lock me in a room with a guy and a villain that eats babies for breakfast!” Wilbur screamed.

“Eh, I’m pretty sure that’s an, uh, exaggeration.”

“There are clips, where he boasts that his sword is called Orphan Obliterator and newsflash asshole! I am still technically an orphan!”

“Well don’t tell him that!”

Wilbur fell to the coach, He gripped at his phone and his tail, his heart beating wildly. The hybrid briefly thought about how his soulmate must have been confused. Maybe even worried.

“Don’t make me sign this,” he whimpered.

“Soot, you learned classified information surrounding this case already. Refusing cooperation could be seen as… well. Do I have to spell it out for you?” Quackity’s voice lowered significantly.

“I went to your beck and call every other time! You threaten me because I try to value my own life?!”

“I’m just saying, look at the circumstances man.”

“And I’m saying, I am basically a civilian, you want to put two civilians in a cage of angry tiger with no heroes to protect either me or the interrogator! Q, you know how pissed people get when they clock what I am doing. You heard the threats that were made towards me, you had to subdue the dickhead that actually went for my throat- don’t make me do this.”

The silence stretched.

“Sign the contract Wilbur.”

~*~

Wilbur tugged at his tie. Then fixed his gloves. Messed with the mask.

He was a trainwreck that someone shoved in professional clothes. At least he got a mask to conceal his identity a little bit. The bored representative of the Hero Commision told him that the Carnivor would be in a reinforced, darkened cell. Which was a code for a sponge room but black sponges and we shoved the police table and chair in. It was netherite reinforced and really, Wilbur usually didn’t even get let in far enough to the tower to even smell those rooms, but for the next three days he would be locked. Forced inside one of them.

Quackity tried to come and offer some ‘emotional support’ but when he saw Wilbur barring his tusks at anyone who came close and the bristled tail, he wisely turned tail. Wil wasn’t sure what he would do to the hero. Maybe bite.

They would deserve an infected wound among the ranks.

“The Blood God is a piglin hybrid as well, maybe you will hit it off, eh?” laughed the interrogator obnoxiously.

Wilbur doubted it. Piglins were fiercely protective of what was theirs, they regarded enemies with unrelenting violence and piglin hybrids were similar in that regard. Wilbur wasn’t Carnivors sounder, not even a friend, as much as his suggestions will try to convince the villain otherwise. The kindest thing he expected from the man would be maybe a snort. Ignoring him at best.

The interrogator that was assigned to the case was a short, balding and quite round man. He had beady eyes and a nasty laugh but Wilbur heard he was one of the betters in the tower. The piglin hybrid just hoped it really was the case.

“What's with the mask?” the interrogator asked. 

“I don’t want him to know my face. The folks tend to be angry when I use my power on them,” Wilbur said, fumbling with his coat again. It was long enough that he could easily hide his tail, reinforced as well. 

Fucking heavy though, he was sweating bullets and the waiting room had good AC, he could’t imagine what will happen in the cell. 

It would be hot as hell, plus the nerves of the job…

Wilbur groaned softly to himself. 

“They didn’t give you the fancy-shmancy shit? Only a material face mask? I always knew they were cheapskates.” 

Wilbur laughed. “I mean, they are, but this was... My power works better when I don’t have obstructions on my face.” 

The man scoffed and downed his cup of coffee. 

“Right. So you’ll have to take this off as well, ey?” 

“Hopefully not.” 

“Yeah, yeah. Come on, you walkin’ stick. It’s two o’clock, let’s not keep our princess waiting.” 

Wilbur grimaced. He had no problems with making the villain wait. If he got caught, he could sit and wait forever. Wil felt another brush against his wrist and he smiled softly. 

At least his soulmate was still attentive. 

~*~

Technoblade sat in a dimly lit, black holding cell. The walls were laid with sponges, and the floor also had some strange give to it. His chair stood bolted down near the table that held his wrists captive. The only camera hung from the ceiling and blinked its red eye at the piglin hybrid. 

Technoblade was left alone for three hours now and he was so bored. 

He flicked his ear and sighed deeply. The plan was going smoothly, he let the heroes capture him and lock him in their stupid tower. Techno anticipated that he would have to spend at least two weeks in captivity, he prepared for it, thougth he was ready. 

Three days in, he nearly flipped his lid when his soulmate entered a panic attack. The pulse has not calmed down since then and Techno stayed put only through sheer stubbornness. Philza was supposed to keep an eye on the outside villain activity, if his soulmate got caught in some action, Phil would manage it. Hopefully. 

Technoblade hoped it was something silly. New job stress, maybe. Asshole customer, brutish manager, things like this. When they meet, Techno shall make sure his soulmate wouldn’t ever have to work again. The villain had more than enough for them both. 

The door opened. 

Technoblade looked up. Two people entered, a short, round man and a lanky, covered up probably-man. The shortie must have been the interrogator, as he sat across Technoblade and reciprocated the villain's gaze calmly. The same couldn’t be said about his partner. The brunet hid himself in the corner, cowering before Techno’s red gaze. Lie detector? Note taker? Technoblade hummed. 

The shortie took out a stack of papers and a pen. “Let's start, shall we? I am Cedric Vama. I will ask you some questions during today's session. We hope for your cooperation.” the baldie said in a level voice. 

Techno noticed he mentioned 'today's session'. So the heroes planned at least a couple of days of this theatre play. The piglin hybrid snorted and leaned onto the table, hiding his palms and wrists effectively. His soulmate's heart rate spiked and he wanted to calm him down without letting the hero bastards know. 

“And what if I don’t?” Techno drawled. 

“We hope you do.” 

Cedric pulled the papers up and tapped at the first question. “We will need some basics. We don’t want to be stiff and keep calling you Carnivor, right?” the shortie laughed. 

Techno didn’t, the second man also did not. The interrogator pursed his lips. “Please state your name, age, hybrid status and power.” 

“Hm, tempting,” Techno smirked, his tusks on full display. 

“It's just the administrative mud we have to waddle through at first. I can fill the power and hybrid myself, see? Easy. I would appreciate the name and age now.” 

“Nope.” 

“What harm is there in giving us a name?” 

“You may call me Carnivor. Or Blood God,” Techno snorted. “You’re not very good at this, huh?” He asked, leaning back. 

The shortie glared at him. The heroes took away Tech’s mask but he wasn’t too worried. The idiots were so concerned about potential leaks, the pinkett was pretty sure only a handful knew what his face looked like. 

Though the lack of anything obscuring his facial expression helped now. Mainly in pissing off shortie and apparently scaring the timid one. 

Cedric turned around and looked at the brunet. 

“Do the thing. We need his name at least.” 

The thing? Techno frowned and also let his gaze wander towards the second man. 

The brunet took a visible, deep breath and then looked up. He had goldish eyes, they seemed kind. Techno cocked his head to the side. 

“There is no need to be so wary. We’re just talking, these things are harmless.” 

Technoblade felt his thoughts cloy over, like if the man poured honey over them. He felt his heart slowing, even as his soulmate's pulse sped up. 

“Age and name?” 

Techno frowned. 

“We’re not friends, but maybe colleagues? Can you tell us then?” 

“I'm twenty three.” The villain mumbled. 

His mind reeled violently. Techno told them but he shouldn’t have, but he did! He didn’t trust them but the honey and musical lilt in the brunet’s voice was so pleasant. Techno frowned and flicked his ears, trying to get rid of the overly sweet echo. 

“Thank you.”  the golden eyes creased in a smile. 

“And name?” Cedric's voice grated on Carnivors nerves. 

The pinkett clamped his mouth shut. He hasn’t expected such power in the hero tower. A god damn ratcatcher from Hameln, working for the corrupt and fake.

“I would like to know your name as well.” 

“And who even are you?” Technoblade growled.

The brunet flinched. The villain glared, all the time subtly massaging his wrist. His soulmate was on the verge of panic and Techno couldn’t help him. 

Cedric sighed and scratched something down. 

“Take off your mask and come closer, we need to get through one page at least.” 

Even Techno could tell the brunet was unhappy with the order. Maybe the man working at the Hero Commision was less of a willing choice and more the work of shameful inside deals. Technoblade wouldn’t be surprised to be honest. 

The lanky man stood up from his corner and came to the table. He shucked off his jacket and Techno saw the bristled tail, so similar to his own. Then the mask went away as well and the pinkett spotted the barest hints of tusks in the man's mouth.

Another piglin hybrid.

The brunet sat down and grimaced slightly.

"Well. I'm here."

Cedric looked back at Techno.

"Please state your name."

"What's his name."

If anything, Techno was stubborn. That was something that would never change or go away. That's why he observed the furrow between the interrogators' brows with such pleasure, knowing his mulishness grated on the shortie so much.

The man looked at the other piglin.

"Just answer him if you can. I'll go to higher ups to give you a raise or something."

"I would rather they stop calling me altogether," the man mumbled. Then he straightened up and with pursed lips looked at Technoblade. " My name is Wilbur and that's everything I'm willing to disclose. Can you offer us the same?"

The voice rang like the sweetest bells in Techno’s ears and he felt himself leaning closer. It seemed so much more difficult to resist the suggestions and questions when the man sat so close.

"You may call me…" Techno choked a little. He couldn't tell them, he couldn't- but Wilbur hummed and the villain found himself breaking, "... Blade."

Cedric wrote the partial name down.

"Unusual name," the man remarked.

Techno snorted harshly. "Ah yes, so weird. Sorry it's not as conventional as Skeppy, Puffy or Foolish. This country is so known for our normal names."

The baldie shrugged.

“Fair enough. Alrighty. Pleased to make you acquaintance Blade.”

The heart rate pulsed like a rapid fire under his finger and Techno sighed. Right, both of them shouldn’t be anxious at the same time.

“Right. You are regarded as one of the leaders of Syndicate. Do you know the other leaders?” Cedric asked.

Technoblade deadpanned. Did they really think this would be enough for him to spill the beans?

“ Can you maybe just hum, yes or no? It doesn’t have to be binding. We won’t tell, ” Wilbur’s voice buzzed out.

“Do you know other leaders?”

Technoblade hummed a small confirmation. He gritted his teeth immediately and closed his eyes. Breath in and out. It was possible to resist Wilbur’s voice, it was just difficult.

“ Thank you, I appreciate it. ”

It was even harder when the words just nestled themselves deep in his mind.

“How many leaders does the Syndicate have?”

Breath in and breath out.

“ Blade, there is no need to- ”

“What rank are you?” Techno interrupted the brunet.

Technoblade needed him to not talk. He recognized that talking to him, acknowledging him, would make resisting even harder but he was afraid that it was too late anyway. He felt as if the other hybrid could ask him anything and he would deliver, answers, actions, results.

Wilbur flinched and Techno felt another spike in his other heart.

“Well, I’m- I’m ranked C, ” the man answered, the charm of the voice wavering slightly.

Technoblade flashed his tusks at the two in front of him. Cedric glared but Wilbur turned his gaze down. Bared his throat slightly. Techno’s instincts purred in delight at the sign of submission. Wilbur knew that he would never win against the bigger hybrid, recognized it. It was good.

“That’s not what I asked,” Techno looked down at him.

“ I don’t want to answer that, ” Wilbur grumbled, his eyes narrowed.

“Then I don’t wanna answer other questions.”

Wilbur’s fists tightened and he retreated into himself. Technoblade felt the honey leave his ears and he sighed silently in relief. He dared to slip a quick glance to Cedric, but the man was furiously scribbling on his papers. The villain dared to raise one of his hands and rub over his heart.

He barely could offer any comfort to his soulmate when the day was especially hard for the mystery person and Techno felt slightly miffed at that.

Wilbur raised a hand to his chest as well and exhaled.

Huh.

“ I’m a gatherer. I assume you’re a brute?”

Cedric looked up. “Huh? What does that mean?”

Wilbur crossed his arms and glared uncertainly at Technoblade.

“Ranks among piglins, they translate into social and… other differences,” Wilbur explained.

“Lightly said. Only a gatherer and you’re playing with big boys?” Techno challenged.

Wilbur cowered more. And… the heart in Techno’s chest beat quicker as well.

Something was wrong.

“Should I write it down?” Cedric asked.

“If you want to be technical about it.”

“What’s a gatherer doing interrogating people?”

“ Well that’s no fair. Shouldn’t it be a question for question? I answered yours.”

“Yes, how many leaders does the Syndicate have?” Cedric jumped on the occasion.

Technoblade tried to swallow the answer down. The voice dragged itself over his thoughts, coaxed his tongue. He wanted to answer so badly. Wilbur deserved to be treated fairly, he did ask a question and Techno tried to dodge his but he shouldn’t, he shouldn’t reveal anything-

“Three, with an open fourth seat.”

Techno nearly banged his head against the table. That went well.

“ Thank you, ” Wilbur said with just the tiniest amount of smugness in the words.

Techno kinda wanted to wring his neck. The pinkett growled lowly and Wilbur flinched back, his eyes going back to the floor, throat bared.

The pulse spiked.

“One of the leaders, Corvid, correct? Can you tell us his name?”

Techno glared at the shortie and he bared his tusks. That was ridiculous.

“I want my question.”

“We are not here for a game of twenty questions,” the round man snapped, clearly annoyed.

But Techno knew that if he was stubborn enough, he could withstand Wilbur’s suggestions. At least for long enough to try and think about a new plan. Something that would allow him to dodge the questions.

“ Blade, please, can you answer the questions? It would be so kind.”

Technoblade closed his eyes again and ignored both interrogators. No answers. No freebies. Nope, nada, blood for the Blood God, no answers for freeloaders.

Wilbur tried to coax him into answering for a few more minutes but even he gave up. Techno looked through half lidded eyes as the brunet rubbed at his throat. The gatherer seemed to be tired, verging on exhaustion. The villain wondered just how taxing his power was.

With Wilbur’s exhaustion, the pulse thrumming alongside Techno’s heart calmed down as well. It… It could have meant nothing.

But Technoblade knew that coincidences liked to be tricky.

“Fine, ask your question,” Cedric grumbled.

Cool, Techno won. He had absolutely no questions though. He raked his brain, looking for slivers of interest.

“What does your sounder think of you selling yourself like this to heroes?” he asked, pushing as much venom into his words.

Wilbur visibly wilted.

Cedric nudged the man’s shoulder.

“ I have no sounder for them to think anything. Now, answer our question.”

“What are the names-”

“I call them Angel and Theseus.”

“Are those their real names?”

“As real as they get, for me,” Technoblade grinned.

Wilbur grimaced even more. His hand went back to his throat, he seemed to be in pain. He leaned towards Cedric.

“I need to tap out,” the brunet whispered.

Technoblade was pretty sure he wasn’t meant to hear that. But he did and his own heart rate spiked up and he saw Wilbur touch his wrist and he thought he felt it-

He panicked. Technoblade didn’t know if Wilbur was his, but he could be his and he couldn’t just let him go without confirming anything!

So he whipped his head towards him and roared .

Wilbur squealed loudly and fell out of the chair, his chest was fluttering and his eyes blew in fear.

And the second heart in him reacted at the same time.

Wilbur was his.

A wave of overwhelming joy and lightheadedness washed over Techno. He found his soulmate. He finally found his other heart, he was right there, so close.

His soulmate was running from him.

Technoblade snapped his head up but it was too late, Wilbur was already out of the door, slamming it behind him. The villain sprung up, ready to chase, just to get stopped by the fucking cuffs around his arms, keeping him by the table.

Cedric also got up and he held his hands out.

“Calm down! Your behaviour will be brought up to the heroes on duty, you do not want-!”

Technoblade roared and yanked on the chains. Just a little flex of muscle and the whole table got ripped out of the floor. Techno swung his arms and the whole improvised wrecking ball smacked into the infuriating man, as well as the locked door.

Previously locked door, now a hole in the wall.

Technoblade leaped outside the cell, the cuffs finally snapping in two.

“Wilbur!”

Chapter Text

Wilbur was no avian but at that moment he flew through the corridors. He trampled over the surprised interns and shoulder checked at least three heroes but he didn’t care! His heart wanted to vacate his body and even his soulmate’s pulse was elevated.

There was a second roar and then the monster yelled his name.

Wilbur jumped over the desk and scattered some probably incredibly important papers, just so he would get to the door quicker.

He barely peeked behind himself, trying to gauge how far the villain was from him. Just in time to see the whole goddamn wall go down and the blazing red eyes pinned on Wilbur . The brunet screamed like a pig on a butcher’s knife and jumped through the barrier of the stairs.

He forced himself into another office, weaving and dodging between people. It amounted to shit , when Carnivor just busted through walls and then threw the desks to the side, going after Wilbur like a fucked up terminator.

Wilbur grabbed a bag of coffee from the nearby counter and threw it behind himself.

“What the- Wilbur! Stop!”

Wilbur just screamed when a bit of wall hit him in the back of the head. He forced himself to run quicker, cheat the corners and slide on the corridors. Heroes and bureaucrats alike jumped from his way, just to get trampled under Carnivor’s warpath.

Another snarl ripped through the air and Wilbur squealed sorry sorry sorry not hostile!

Of course it meant shit to the villain. Wilbur yelped when the tuft of his tail nearly got caught. The brunet started grabbing and throwing everything and anything behind him, before he dived for another corner and then stairs again.

The walls crumbled like shitty cardboard under the S tier powered murder machine.

Wilbur was crying, he could barely breathe, this was one of the worst days of his life. If he survived, he would go and really bite Quackity. In fact, he would eat as much junk and maybe even trash, just to make sure the bastard would get a nasty infection.

Maybe he would bite everyone in the tower. Go on his own personal warpath.

Another wall came down and Wilbur laughed hysterically, because was the tower going to collapse? Would Carnivor bring the tower down just by running through the walls trying to get to Wilbur?

Something shattered behind the brunet and he yelped. He jumped to the heavy fire escape door and pulled the alarm on the way out. The sirens blared, sprinklers came to life and people wailed in panic but it was not enough to drown out another snarl from Carnivor. Wilbur grabbed the edge of the wall and swung himself on a tight corner, the stone bursting just seconds later. The villain was gaining on him but Wil was so close to the exit now!

The heroes finally sorted their shit out because they swarmed behind Wilbur. The brunet heard the sounds of the scuffle but he didn’t care to turn around. The panic choked him deeply, he needed to flee, be out, far away!

One of the heroes flew past him, most likely he got hit by the Carnivor all the way towards Wil.

“Wilbur!”

Wil was so close to the exit now. Another snarl made him quicken his pace and he all but shot out of the building. He wasn’t sure where he wanted to go but even a dumpster would be great if it meant being far away from the villain.

Wilbur nearly jumped in front of a speeding car, when something wrapped around his torso and yanked . And kept holding. And suddenly his feet weren’t touching the ground, the air whizzed past him, holy shit-!

“Hiya mate!”

Wilbur screamed even before he looked up. Just as he feared, the one holding him appeared to be the Corvid. The best buddy of the Carnivor.

“You surely pissed him off, huh? Mind sharing your half of the story?” The man asked cheerily.

He acted as if he didn’t just kidnap Wilbur straight from the street, as if they weren’t zooming through air, above even the highest buildings of the city. Wilbur scrambled a little and held the villain's arms in a death grip. He so didn't want to get dropped.

Another beat of wings passed and Wil desperately gulped in breath after breath. The tears kept leaking from his eyes and he was pretty sure the shivers racking through his body were not just because of the cold. Corvid seemed to not mind at all. The man was of course dressed appropriately and probably kidnapped a lot of people in this way. Bastard had enough muscles to fly and grab anyone.

Wilbur whined quietly and he eased up on his struggling. The city seemed terrifying but… also pretty from so high up. As a piglin hybrid he would still very much prefer staying on the ground but he could see beauty in a shitty situation.

"Ready to talk?" Corvid asked.

Wilbur looked up, his tail curled up to his stomach.

"Will you drop me if I don't?" The brunet yelled over the whizz of wind.

The villain cackled. He hoisted Wilbur higher and snapped his wings faster.

"I don't tend to! But if you don't, I will know only Carnivors version and it will probably be bad for you!"

Wilbur gripped at Corvids arms stronger.

"I don't know- okay, I did make him mad but I had no choice!"

"And why is that?"

"Hero Commision threatened me into a contract and I had to come support the interrogation! But nothing really bad came up and I wanted to tap out before the heavy questions!"

The Corvid furled his wings and banked harshly to the left. Wilbur screamed and closed his eyes. He didn't want to die!

"But something did come up then! What did you do?"

Wilbur whined.

"I used my power to make him more agreeable! Carnivor answered questions when I answered his and we learned his name, how many leaders there are, how old he is and- shit!" Wilbur kicked wildly when Corvid dropped a little in the air. The villain had the gall to cackle again, the absolute asshole! Wil gripped at the green material of Corvids suit again. "And what he calls you! But he didn't say true names and my voice was giving out so I tried to leave!"

"And he wasn't mad prior to that?" Corvid asked, while he was lowering his flight.

The city rushed under them. Wilbur saw a few other avians flying on the lower air levels, adults higher and children closer to the ground. Wil sniffled again.

"Not really? More… shit! More grumpy than furious but then when I wanted to leave he suddenly roared and I fled and he went through walls like a tank! I don't know what I did, he just snapped! I'm sorry!"

Corvid hummed and they started circling above some parking lot. Wilbur hiked his legs, suddenly afraid of landing. He was taller than the villain, he didn't know if Corvid accounted for that. Maybe he did, and decided to just drop Wil from semi safe height? Wilbur felt his tail and some of the hair on the back of his head bristling from the sudden stress.

His legs were so getting broken, holy shit.

"Yeah, sounds bit strange for him! Don't worry mate, we will figure it out. Legs up!"

Wilbur whined and pinned his ears back.

"What do you mean 'figure it out'?"

"I'll listen to Carnivor's version and then we will see what happens to you. I'm ninety percent sure it won't be death though!"

That left a whole ten percent though! Wilbur felt himself get lightheaded with worry, that even the strangely smooth landing couldn't shake him out of. The second his legs touched the ground and he felt stable, he tried to run.

A hand on his tail stopped him dead in the tracks.

"Come on, none of that mate. This way," Corvid scolded him, casually tugging him back and gripping the nape of his neck threateningly.

Wilbur wilted and followed after the man. They passed the parking lot and turned to a small, dinky alley. Corvid opened the first door with a little pig sticker on it.

The moment they stepped inside the building, the man pulled out a blindfold out of one of his pockets.

"Do you mind?"

Wilbur sighed miserably. He leaned down and let Corvid tie the blindfold around his eyes.

"Thank you. You're quite polite for a hero scum, I'm sure we can work something nice for you."

"I'm not a hero, just expendable outside worker," Wilbur mumbled.

"Yikes."

Wilbur got tugged along, through a lengthy corridor, a few pairs of doors, some stairs and finally an elevator. He barely heard Corvid punching in some kind of code, before the whole thing moved. Wilbur chewed on his lower lip.

"Um, can you… maybe try to stop Carnivor from murking me?"

"Depends. I don't think you deserve getting killed but I gotta hear what he has to say."

"But if he would be willing to negotiate, can you try to make him not kill me?"

The Corvid hummed. Wilbur felt a gentle pat on his arm.

"I'll try mate. In the meantime, you won't mind waiting in one of the holding cells, right?"

"Well, uh. Since I'm already here," Wilbur said lamely.

Honestly, this day couldn't get much more miserable. Maybe if the villain's decided that they want to torture and or kill him. Maybe then.

"Do you need something? I will have to leave you for a hot minute to call Carnivor."

Lord have mercy. Wilbur whined and pulled his tail under himself.

"Can I get some tea? My voice is dying."

"Side effects from your power?"

"And screaming my head off because of the chase and kidnapping."

"Ah, yeah, that would do. I'll get you some with honey, gods know we have too much of the stuff."

~*~

Technoblade swung his fist again, sending another hero sliding against the concrete. The bastards kept swarming him and he couldn't see anything above their shitty costumes. He no longer knew where Wilbur was and it made him even more agitated.

Techno's pulse beat wildly enough he couldn't be sure which heart raced. Maybe they both were.

He slammed another pest and dove behind a counter.

The reception. In the reception there were-

Another hero ran up to him, this one wielding fire. Technoblade headbutted him and ran towards the abandoned desk.

"Hey, scuse me- I know my rights! I get a phone call- move it!"

Technoblade threw one of the chairs into the crowd and started digging through the abandoned stuff. He finally fished out a cellphone out and he started punching in the number, the other hand pushing an annoying hero away.

"How many of you your mothers sired?! Have you heard of the overpopulation of the world?!"

"Get him!"

Techno ran outside and kicked the first car he saw to the side, and up. With a makeshift barrier he tried to type the number again.

"Evacuate the civilians!"

Technoblade ducked further out. He preemptively caught a guy and stole his hoodie before he ran to the alleys. The phone rang.

"Hello, Jessica Myers, who's speaking?"

Technoblade snarled and hung up. He pulled the hoodie over his head and he covered behind a bus stop.

He crouched and punched the correct number.

He waited.

" The number you are trying to call is unavailable. Leave a message- "

"Phil, I swear to-" Technoblade growled.

He tried again but he got up and jogged to the other street. The bus just pulled up and he stepped inside. Techno sat in one of the empty seats and nervously grinded his teeth.

Phil still didn't pick up.

The grandmother next to him scoffed when his tail smacked her by mistake. Techno huddled closer to the window.

Alright, different strategy.

This time the phone dialled only three times, before the call got answered.

"Oi, who is this, you're calling Danger Kraken-"

"Theseus," Techno sighed relieved.

"Blade! You're out already? Weren't you and dad saying it will take like, weeks?"

"Change of plans. Has Phil come back to the base yet?"

"Uuh, let me check," there was some fumbling on the other end before the voice came back, from afar. " Phiiiil?! Are you back?! Or was it Niki?!"

"It's me mate! Give me a minute, gotta lock the cell!"

"Yeah, Phil is back," Tommy's voice returned to the speaker clearly.

Technoblade perked up.

"Does he have someone with him? Piglin hybrid, brunet, in an office shirt, with a tie?"

"I don't know, wait a second," another fumbling. " Dad, Techno is asking if you brought someone with you!"

"Yeah!"

"Who?!"

"The guy he chased off of the tower!"

"A piglin hybrid in nerd clothes?!"

"I don't know about nerd but he has a tie!"

"Yeah, he got the guy. Why? Will you kill him?" Tommy sounded irrationally excited.

"We gotta put a tamper on your violent tendencies," Techno frowned.

"Eff you bitch! Asshole! I will call you a second word for a dog!"

"A puppy."

"Wha, n- no that's not-"

"Aaand moving on. Tell Philza to not harm that guy I'm on my way. Tell him to call me. Or pick up his phone at least!"

"Fiiine. You're coming home today then?"

"Yep, I'm already on the bus."

The bus that was going the wrong way but no one but Techno and that displeased grandmother had to know that.

"Lame, why are you taking the bus?"

"Because Phil didn't pick me up. I'll call you later, gotta change the lane."

"Yeah yeah. When you come home I'm gonna kick your ass in bed wars."

"Highly unlikely," Techno said and quickly hung up.

He sighed with relief and got up. The grandmother scoffed again and Techno tucked his tail closer to himself. He wasn't sure why the old ladies always excluded such mean, negative energy but they did. Maybe it was the marinated meanness from living too long.

Phil was ancient too though. Phil was mean but he was murder mean. Maybe that made more sense than Techno gave himself credit for.

Technoblade exited the bus and he breathed.

Wilbur was safe back at the base. Phil picked him up when the brunet escaped and now he couldn't flee. Techno's soulmate was finally where he belonged.

Well, nearly. Wilbur didn't belong to the holding cells but to the luxury bedroom and apartment floor of their complex. Minor mistake, easy to fix.

Techno dialled up the next number.

"Yo, Skeppy. Can you pick me up?"

"Um, no? Why would I. Also, who is it?"

"You owe me like, twenty dollars."

"Ooh, Techno! I am not paying you that, you cheated."

"My lawyers will contact you. I am on Maple street, uh, sixty one. Pick me up. Or call Halo to pick me up."

"Dude, Bad was just about to make me dinner, can't it waaait," Skeppy whined.

"Half of the Hero Commision is after me and I really need to go back to the base. Also, if you don't, I will send Bad my camera footage from the last challenge and all the compiled swears you threw at me."

"Alright alright, I'm going! No need for anything drastic, jeez! Baaaad, we have to go pick up Techno!"

"What happened to the muffinhead? Why isn't Phil picking him up?"

"I don't know! Let's just go!"

Techno ended the call and he sighed deeply, glad that at least one problem has been taken care of. He would rather not actually go by bus to the hideout, it felt kinda cringe and letting Tommy have such blackmail material was out of the question.

The pinkett sat down on the bench near the bus stop and breathed calmly.

He didn't expect to find his soulmate in such a way. Everything happened so chaotically, Techno had not even a chance to properly think but now such time presented itself.

He placed a hand on his chest and listened in. His own heart was fluttering with excitement but Wilbur's heart danced as well. Irregularly jerking and speeding up and then slowing, the man must have been exhausted, shaken by the adrenaline. Techno hoped the brunet would not crash before the pinkett came back to the base, he really wanted to talk.

Techno grinned. He was right. His soulmate was a man and he was perfect .

His instincts purred in delight at the mere thought. Wilbur was a piglin hybrid, a gatherer at that! Perfect addition to Techno's sounder, he slotted so well with Tech being the Protector and Phil as Caretaker. Gatherers thankfully didn't have to gather to appease their instincts, their role was more social, the filling of the sounder.

Techno could now smother his soulmate in so much luxury, kill the anxiety that thrummed through his veins. Or, well, try. The villain chuckled a little, remembering just how nervous Wil was.

So much must have been prepared. Techno had to find Wilbur's place of living and take all of his old stuff, check for his horde and bring it back. They had to talk, which was absolutely dreadful but Techno was willing to go through. Or make Phil talk with Wilbur in Techno's stead.

That would work.

Techno waited, the hoodie uncomfortably tight. He must have looked ridiculous, a big piglin guy, squeezed on a tiny bench, with too small hoodie, just grinning to himself from time to time. But how could he not when he thought of how much jewellery he had put away for Wilbur, how emeralds would look nicely on him!

A sleek black car pulled in the bus stop and Techno looked up warily. He shed that wariness when the crystal covered face of Skeppy popped from the window.

"Dude, let's goooo, if we wrap this up quick enough, Bad will make me muffins!"

Technoblade snorted as he got up.

"Hi Techno, doing alright? I heard you were planning something recently?" Bad spoke up from the front seat.

"Hullo. Plans got modified on the spot, gotta get back quickly now."

"Oh? What happened? If you can tell, of course."

Technoblade couldn't stop the grin. "Just found my soulmate."

"Yo dude, for real? Congrats!"

"Yeah! Oh I'm so happy for you!"

The pleased purr once more started in Techno's chest. This was good, of course it was. And after the settling period, Techno will be so proud to show off his Wilbur.

The ride to the base went by quickly, filled only with mindless chatter from Skeppy, gentle confusion from Bad and occasional jab from Techno. A pleasant travel and yet the second the car stopped, the piglin hybrid was out and power walking towards Syndicate base.

"Say hello from us!"

Techno just waved his hand. He heard the engine start once more and the wheels rolled away. The man just ran to the door with a pig sticker on, and then through all of the confusing maze towards the elevator.

The phone rang, and the display showed Philza’s number. Techno growled lightly.

"Took you long enough."

"Sorry mate, kept trying to call your usual communicator, forgot you had to leave it. Are you far?"

"I'm in the elevator now, I had Skeppy give me a ride."

"That's nice! So, wanna talk on the phone or tell me what's going on face to face?"

"Phone is good," Techno flicked his tail impatiently. The elevator seemed especially slow right now. "Did you get Wilbur, is he fine?"

"Wilbur's his name? Tall fellow, absolutely terrified of you?"

Techno whined. He knew he scared Wilbur but now the thought of the flutter of his second heart, the fear, the fact that Wil could refuse spending time with him-

No. No, Wilbur couldn't.

A beat of silence passed. "Mate?" Philza’s voice sounded cautious but also oh so curious.

"He's my soulmate," Techno admitted.

"Oh," Philza said. "Oh!" He exclaimed.

Techno’s tail swished a little. His sounder sounded so happy.

"Mate, this is great! Finally!"

"I know," the pinkett grinned.

"He thinks you want to kill him, I had to promise to try and stop you," Phil laughed.

"I wouldn't kill him!" Techno said, slightly offended.

Not only was Wilbur his soulmate, which automatically made him immune to anything forever, Techno wasn't the mindless beast that would just kill a poor, manipulated hero scum worker. The villain pointedly did not think about Dedrick or what's his name and how Techno without hesitation slammed him through the wall. That was different. Because… yes.

Philza hummed a non-committal sound. "I dunno mate, even from my perspective you looked pretty pissed."

"He tried to leave me!"

"In his eyes, a big guy just started chasing him after he forced said guy to slip some secrets," Phil patiently explained.

Technoblade scoffed and decided to masterfully change the topic of conversation.

"I'm nearly down there, where did you bring Wilbur?"

Philza sighed as if he knew what Techno was trying to do but did not admonish him for that.

"I locked him in one of the holding cells and gave him some tea with honey and mild sedative. He should be crashing from the adrenaline and the drug right about now."

Techno listened to his heart and hummed appreciatively. The pulse did slow down, it beat lazily, surely.

"Will I be able to come see him?"

Philza sighed again. "You will freak him out even more, mate."

Techno whined.

"You're just going to be more frustrated if he gets more wary of you," Phil explained gently.

The door to the elevator opened.

"I mean… you said he's out, right?"

" Should be out. Techno, you're not planning to take him to your horde now?"

Technoblade strode quickly towards the holding cells. And just when he turned the corner, he saw Philza’s disappointed face, blocking the way further. Techno grinned sheepishly and hanged the call.

"In my defence, it would be fine."

"Instinct manipulation? Towards your own soulmate?" Philza scolded.

Techno growled lowly. "I know you did it to Tommy when he was younger. We're villain's, Wilbur will understand."

"I did it when he needed to imprint on me, you goof," Phil rebutted, his wings still spread.

Techno tried to look over his shoulder, as if he could spot Wil in the corridor. The brute just realised he didn't know which cell held his soulmate. The pinkett flicked his ear and looked meekly at the older avian.

"Mate."

Techno whined and went ahead to gently butt his forehead to the blond. Philza allowed that but he did not move.

"Tell me at least what you plan to do with the instincts," Philza sighed. "The last time you didn't explain your instincts, you nearly mauled me for trying to take my fledgling away."

Techno winced slightly. Not his proudest moment, he had to admit.

Philza cooed quietly. "Not mad, mate. Just need to know what's gonna happen."

"I'll take him to my den and make it nice and warm. I will take the gold out, drape him in and guard the exit. And… add him to the sounder."

"Will it be safe for me and Tommy to enter? See him? Bring you guys food?"

Techno thought about it. He knew Philza and Tommy were his sounder as well but… he also knew he could get quite aggressive. And Wilbur was very precious to him.

"Better… not. Just leave the food outside. Unless you wanna stay with us," Techno purred at the mental image.

Philza laughed and patted Techno’s snout.

"Tempting but I think we need someone looking after our shit while you're lost in the sauce," the man smiled when the piglin hybrid grumbled. "We will go to your den when Wil assimilates, how about that?"

Technoblade rolled his eyes.

"Fine."

~*~

Wilbur woke up feeling warm. He unconsciously stretched, his legs and arms bumping into something soft and pleasant. Before he could identify it though, someone grabbed his limbs and tucked them close again.

Wilbur frowned and grumbled softly.

He didn't manage to become really upset, since a deep purr broke the sluggish thoughts in his head. Wil slumped and sighed.

Someone nuzzled the top of Wilbur's head and the man tensed again.

Who was…?

Calm-safe-safe

Oh, he was safe? But Wilbur didn't remember anyone who would sleep with him, or purr at him. Or cuddle. Wilbur snuffled a question out. He now felt the arms around him, someone plastered to his back. Wil's head was tucked under someone's else's.

Safe-safe-protected

That was nice.

Wilbur flicked his tail, his brain swimming through molasses, trying to find an answer to his current situation. It was incredibly difficult when the stranger kept purring and chuffing. Wilbur hasn't been around such a nice piglin hybrid in a long time. He had to admit, he missed it.

Safe?

Safe-safe-sounder-love-protected

Well, that was not right.

Wilbur had no sounder.

The brunet forced his eyes open. It didn't help that the room was kept at a pleasant, low light level. And so warm! Wilbur stretched again and bumped his head into whoever was above him, and that someone rewarded him with an even deeper, more pleased purr.

Wilbur blinked a few times, determined to understand what the hell was going on. But when he reached out, trying to shimmy out of the restrictive hold, he became slightly distracted.

His fingers were adorned with gold.

Wilbur pulled his hand back and looked at the multiple rings. They were so pretty! Thin and thick, some complicated and some just solid metal wrapped around his digits. A half of them had some kind of jewels that were glinting enticingly in the light. Wil didn't even notice his own purr.

He noticed the low laugh from behind him though. The stranger pulled him into the hold more and Wil got shaken by the intensity of the vibration.

"Like them?"

Wilbur purred. A hand showed up on the edge of his vision, big, muscular one, with multiple scars and just as many jewels. The fingers encircled Wil's wrist and turned it to the side. Wilbur had bracelets on. 

The brunet felt his tail smacking against someone.

The stranger laughed once more and then his tail was woven with another.

"You had only two holes in your ears so I couldn't give you much up here… Phil chewed me up enough times for making him sleep in crowns for me to remember," the voice grumbled.

Wilbur tried to move his head back, to see who the hell apparently gifted him so much gold.

Safe-love-sounder-love

Wilbur faltered.

Sounder?

Sounder-love-love-mine-protected

Oh. Did Wilbur gain a sounder? Why couldn't he remember that?

A hand landed on Wilbur's nape and the brunet froze.

Sounder-mine-submit

Wilbur whined.

"Come on. I can give you so much, so much more… and you are mine. Come on."

Sounder-mine-safe-protected-submit

The hand did not go away. Wil bared his throat a little more. The purr deepened.

"I'll be so good for you. We're each other's anyway."

Submit-mine-sounder-love-love

Wil shuddered. Something golden entered his vision again and the item was slipped into his hands.

A pretty golden sheep figurine. Wilbur felt his eyes blow wide open and he purred deeply. He received gold!

He was in… den, this must have been den. He was warm and soft and protected. Someone held him! Promised him sounder!

Wilbur craned his neck and looked back.

Deeply red eyes bore into him, everything else drowned in the pleased purr and chuffing.

Protector?

The red eyes nearly drowned in the black of the pupil. Wilbur got crushed to the other piglins chest.

Protected-mine-sounder-love

Wilbur purred and melted into the embrace.

Protector-safe-sounder-happy

Happy-happy-love-mine

Happy-sounder-yours

The hand at his neck no longer felt oppressive now that he knew it was his own Protectors hand! The Protector, well, protected him.

He fell asleep, woke up to more cuddles and fell asleep again. Sometimes the Protector had food for him, sometimes Wilbur woke up to the brute putting more gold on Wil's fingers, tail, ankles… Wilbur never had so much gold. One time he woke and the Protector pushed a soft blue plushie and cheap fake gold necklace into Wilbur's hands. Wil nearly tackled the other man from joy, because those were his! His Protector brought his hoard into the new den!

The days went by quickly and Wilbur was sure now that the other piglin truly wanted for him to be a part of the sounder. His instincts were so satisfied, happier than… well, happiest he could remember since he lost his first sounder.

The knock at the door somewhat raised Wilbur from the instincts cloud. His Protector hadn't reacted badly, he snuffled towards the stranger behind the den.

"How you doin mate? Ready to come out?"

Protector grumbled and Wilbur agreed. They could stay a day or two more, surely. It was nice in the den.

The stranger sighed and laughed quietly.

Protector turned to the door again.

Come-den-sounder-love-come

That stranger was also a part of the sounder? Wil's tail thumped against the pillows.

Sounder-stranger-greeting?

"Was that Wil? Hi Wilbur, happy to hear ya," the voice sounded… pleasant. And really happy.

Both piglin hybrids purred.

Hello-sounder-hello-hello-come-den

Come-den-come-now

"Ah, that one I know. Not a chance, we can stay in your den next time, you both stayed there two weeks now. Come outside if you wanna cuddle."

Protector growled.

"Suit yourself! I'll check on you tomorrow!"

Wilbur stretched and sighed. He had a bigger sounder! Just for some reason he couldn't meet them yet.

The Protector combed through Wilbur's hair and purred again. Wil's head started to feel really heavy with the amount of clips, ribbons and jewels that have been woven in but the brunet loved it anyway. Especially when he was allowed to touch the pink mane of his Protector and do the same.

They were both covered in gold from head to toe.

Wilbur fell asleep and woke up again.

The morning was slow and Wil's head felt lighter. Not in a literal sense, since he was pretty sure the Protector put like five kilograms of gems and gold in his hair, but in the instinct's haze sense. It was blessedly calm and nice. He still felt the Protector's arms around him, big and sure as always.

So nice.

Wilbur stretched a little and decided to try and get up. His instincts had been sated, his memory slightly blurry but he was happy! He had a sounder!

He wasn't sure from where the Protector even came but he was a kind Protector, generous one.

Wilbur looked up with a smile. His Protector was great.

His protector was Carnivor.

Wilbur paled and his breath stuttered. His heart and his mind went to war at once, the image of dangerous, murderous villain and safe, loving Protector clashed with each other.

A whine nearly slipped from Wilbur's lips but he bit his tongue just in time. If he whined, he could be sure that Protector- Carnivor- would wake up. Would try to protect or kill him. Well-

But he… but? Sounder? Could even a monster such as Carnivor fake being a sounder?

Wilbur tentatively touched the rings on his fingers and then looked at the rings around Carnivor's tusks. Wilbur put them there. The villain let him do that.

Why did the villain force him inside his sounder?

The brute moved slightly, his face burying itself in Wilbur's hair. The brunet stiffened even more, and the man must have felt it because soon, calming chuffs filled the air.

Calm-safe-safe-love-mine

But why?

Wilbur swallowed and moved gingerly. Carnivor immediately grumbled and Wil's heart jumped to his throat.

Right.

" Go back to sleep, stay here," Wilbur suggested.

As Carnivor's arms went lax, Wilbur quickly slipped out of the embrace. He cringed a little when he heard the clinking of the jewellery, there was way too much gold on him. The brunet hurriedly took off a handful of bracelets, ankle chains, tail rings… holy shit, how many did Carnivor even have to force so many on Wilbur?!

He kept some gold on. It… maybe it came from a monster but… it was gold. Gold gifted him from a member from his sounder.

Wilbur's head spun wildly.

" Sleep well, I'll… be close by, " he murmured, only feeling slightly bad for maybe-lying.

Wilbur sneaked towards the door and sighed with relief when he realised that the key was still in the keyhole. He looked at the sleeping Carnivor before he slipped outside the den.

It was cold in the corridor. Wilbur shivered but he did not linger.

He didn't particularly hope that he would escape. Wilbur assumed they, meaning Syndicate, held him in their secret base. He remembered through a mist getting led here by Corvid. And the tea. And the general holding cell.

Not much about the corridors or the path towards the elevator and even if he did, he didn't know the code.

What Wilbur hoped to find was some goddamn answers. Maybe he would find some low level goon and rip the truth out of them. Or at least some gossip. What happened when Wilbur and Carnivor were lost in the instincts.

He peered around another corner.

"What are you doing outside?"

Wilbur whipped back. " Don't come closer! "

Corvid raised his hands and even took a step back. Or… it had to be Corvid. The man before him had the same build like the villain, the same hair, and most importantly, the same wings.

The man smiled.

"Well, that's an interesting power. I can see why it makes your voice ache."

" Tell me where I am. "

His power didn't work as well on higher powered individuals or when he was outwardly hostile but Wilbur barely cared. He just woke up in a den of someone who looked ready to mangle him the last time they saw each other. Consciously.

"In our base," Corvid answered easily.

Right. Wilbur expected it.

" Why did Carnivor… keep me in his den? Why am I here?"

Corvid cooed, which made Wilbur's ears itch.

"I told him he needed to talk with you first. Well, no time like the present, are you hungry? I was about to go make breakfast," the man moved back, actually turning away from Wilbur.

Wil blinked. He didn't expect… whatever this was. But after a few seconds, he just sighed and followed after.

"Is the breakfast going to be drugged as well?" He asked, with no suggestion. He'd rather save his voice for something else.

"Oh, you knew? I didn't expect that."

Wilbur snorted. "Why wouldn't I know the tea was drugged? Honey didn't mask shit."

Corvid hummed and turned the corner. Wilbur carefully peered out but the man didn't wait to ambush him, just continued on his path, seemingly unbothered. What a weirdo.

"Then why drink it?"

"I thought Carnivor was set on killing me. Thought it would be nicer to be out of it while he ripped me to pieces."

"Oh mate."

They finally came to a big kitchen area. Corvid showed Wilbur to sit on the stools near an island, while the blond moved towards the refrigerator.

"Scrambled eggs with bacon sound nice?"

"Answers would be nicer."

"You'll get your answers, promise."

Wilbur sat down and frowned. He was hungry and bacon, as ironic as it sounded from a piglin hybrid, sounded heavenly. The brunet watched as Corvid shuffled around the kitchen. The portion the avian was cooking was… monstrous.

"You're, uh… you have a big appetite in the mornings?"

Corvid switched between the pans.

"I eat a lot for an avian, my son is a teenager with an appetite after me, Techno obviously eats a lot… and then there is potion for you as well. I felt your ribs when we were flying here, you're not getting out of the meals mate."

So it was a meal for the whole… family? If that Techno person was a part of Corvid flock, he was family, so breakfast for family plus Wilbur. That didn't feel strange at all, yup.

Soon enough, a plate with a ridiculous amount of food was placed at the end of the table. Corvid smiled and stepped back so Wilbur could reach and pull the eggs towards himself. It was unnecessarily kind and Wilbur eyed the avian suspiciously.

They both sat at the opposing endings of the island and ate. Or at least started eating.

Wilbur barely got through half of his plate before he felt himself getting full. He started to twirl his fork over the eggs. They were tasty, he just wasn't used to so much food at once, as well as just… well, still wanting answers.

He glared pointedly at Corvid.

"Eat some more," the blond said, before he focused on his own plate.

Bastard.

Wilbur managed to eat a few more pieces of bacon before his anxiety spiked again. Welp, time to use suggestions again.

" Please tell me why I woke up in Carnivor's den. "

Corvid blinked and then shook his head for a second.

"Your power works better if you're polite?"

Wilbur growled with a little frustration.

" Please, I would just like to know. "

The blond man sighed and put his utensils down.

"Right, right… I knew it would fall to me anyway. I knew the second Techno dragged you to the den, instead of talking it out."

"Talking what out?"

Corvid sighed and looked up.

"So!" The man clapped his hands. "My name's Philza, nice to officially meet you."

"You kidnapped me," Wilbur deadpanned.

"Eh, that happens. What is important, is what you are, and why are you here, yes?"

Wilbur straightened out.

Corvid, or rather, Philza, why the hell did the villain introduce himself, smiled.

"Your name is Wilbur, yes?"

Wil nodded, unsurely.

"Well, Wilbur. I'm glad to tell you the good news! You and Technoblade are soulmates!"

"What?!"

Soulmates?! With Technoblade. Technoblade. Techno. Philza mentioned the man. The suspected member of the flock.

Technoblade. Techno. Blade.

Blade.

Blade like Carnivor.

Wilbur clenched his fists tightly. This was… cruel. He glared at Corvid, absolutely seething. Even this man shouldn't be allowed to play such a game with soulmates.

"Even for a villain, this is a cruel joke," Wilbur spat out.

"I completely agree! That's why I'm not joking," Corvid assured gently.

"Am I meant to believe that I am soulmates with a man that nearly tore my head off?! " Wilbur yelled as he stood up abruptly.

"He was trying to catch you, as he realised you two were connected. He just… got a little too heated."

"You call bulldozing walls 'a little too heated'? No, wait, don't answer that! I can't believe that guy is my soulmate anyway!" Wilbur shook his head violently.

Philza cocked a brow up and picked his utensils again. He was… too relaxed. Wilbur didn't like it, the avian nearly seemed honest.

"Why not? Do you have someone else synced up to your heart?" Corvid asked idly, nearly mockingly.

Wilbur flinched.

"Well, no but… I and he… I'm a good person," he finished with a whisper.

The villain chuckled. "My wife was good. My son is good, for now. I'm not. Fate does not care for your morality, mate."

Worry churned in Wilbur's stomach.

"My soulmate is kind, " he insisted.

"And you know that from what?" Philza hummed and loosely pointed at Wilbur with a fork. "From the multiple times you freaked out and he calmed you? I've seen him do it."

The piglin's heart sank to his stomach. Philza couldn't know, he was just guessing, after their limited time spent together, surely that was all-

"It often took minutes. Ten, twenty… I took to asking him how anxious you are each day. 'Bad' was when you had panic attacks. Then he palmed at his chest instead of the usual left wrist," the avian continued.

"How did you…"

"I've seen him do it. You two are soulmates."

Wilbur looked down at his plate. He… didn't know what to think. His soulmate was kind. Or that was what he wanted to believe.

Philza cooed lowly. Wil looked up sharply, just to be met with the most sympathetic, gut wrenching stare.

"He cares about you a lot."

"He's a villain," Wilbur whispered.

"That's a technicality. Techno has been preparing for years to meet you."

"I- he did?"

The avian smiled again. He stood up, his plate apparently empty already, and moved to the sink.

"You're a piglin hybrid as well, yes? You know how important the gold is for you guys, and look at yourself! You're dripping!"

Wilbur moved a finger around the rings. He didn't speak and say there was more when he woke up, it would be… bad. But yes, he did know the gold was important. Receiving and holding gold scratched at his instincts so pleasantly, how could he not know?

But… that would mean that Carnivor really cared for him. Saw him as a member of his sounder.

That would mean Carnivor really was his soulmate.

A sound of crashing and very hurried footsteps made Wilbur whirl in his seat, back towards the entrance.

"Philza, lock the base, Wilbur-!"

Oh. Lo and behold, Carnivor in person, just when they were talking about him. Wilbur blinked. The other piglin crashed to the entrance and cut himself off when he saw Wilbur just sitting on the stool.

The other heart hammered in Wilbur's chest.

And then Wilbur heard it clearer as the brute suddenly was near him, crushing Wil in a very tight embrace. The heartbeat was the same.

Carnivor, the Protector, frantically snuffled out questions, while simultaneously checking for any invisible injuries.

The villain cared for him.

~*~

Waking up to an empty den has been terrifying . Techno vaguely recalled Wilbur's voice, commanding him back to sleep and he, like a fool, listened. When he woke up for a second time, he barely fought off the onslaught of instincts that demanded he immediately find his soulmate.

That was the plan after all but doing it under the haze of instincts would be damn near impossible.

So he swallowed his panic and ran through the corridors of the base. It was morning, so he assumed Philza would be in the kitchen, preparing breakfast. He needed help from the older avian, they needed to lock down the base and seek Wilbur!

But then Techno rushed inside and he saw Wilbur, safe and sound.

If only more scared looking than the brute side of Techno would like.

Safe-safe-hurt? Sounder-love-worry

Wilbur didn't respond. Techno forced himself to move away and check the man over.

And, uh. Wilbur seemed conscious. And not really happy.

That smelled like conversation.

Technoblade dared to look at Philza. The avian somehow had a fresh cup of coffee in his hands and was looking at both piglin hybrids with a smile.

"Technoblade," the man cocked his head to the side, "if you even think about escaping the conversation now, I am not coming to the den for a month. I already told him you two are soulmates," Philza glared at Techno, as if daring him to argue. "Sort your shit out, breakfast is on the stove. Leave some for Tommy and make sure Wilbur finishes his plate."

And then Philza was gone from the kitchen.

So it has come to this. Technoblade pinned his ears back unhappily and awkwardly detached himself from Wilbur. The villain coughed and shuffled to the pans to get a plate of his own.

Wilbur still didn't speak.

Technoblade came back to the island and for a second considered sitting further from Wilbur, just so the man could feel more comfortable. It was a kind thought. Techno was not used to thoughts like these so he dismissed it quickly and then sat right beside his soulmate.

"Uh. Bon appetite."

He very pointedly ignored Wilbur leaning away from him. It ached already not being able to link their tails or to get even an answer to his earlier questions and chuffs. Techno did not need to acknowledge more.

Wilbur was silent. And didn't eat more.

Techno dared to bump their shoulders gently. Wilbur stiffened more and Technoblade nearly whined. He didn't want Wilbur to be scared of him. He was his-his-sounder-love-no-scared.

"Stop that," Wilbur growled out, his ear flicking.

Techno didn't even notice that he sounded that out. Well, it was true though. The villain frowned and coughed.

"Eat."

Wilbur slowly picked up his fork and started shuffling the eggs on his plate. Techno observed him closely, stopping only when he saw the brunet scooping and eating a little.

The silence came back.

Techno swung his tail a little closer to Wilbur's tail. He got only a little upset when the other piglin hybrid took the tail away, tucking it between his legs.

Technoblade bit back a growl. How was he supposed to communicate when his soulmate refused to do so!

Not with the words .

Technoblade saw Wilbur closing his fists. The villain felt the second pulse spiking with each second and he tried to subtly calm him down, like always. It just… didn't work.

Because Wilbur relaxed for maybe two seconds before he became rigid again.

"Stop that!"

"Why?" Technoblade growled. Sue him! He was tired of this already! He wanted to drag Wilbur back to the den and have him be cuddly and nice and not argue over if he was Techno's sounder or not!

Wilbur dared to bare his tusks at Technoblade. The pinkett growled lowly.

"Don't," the villain warned.

Wilbur shot up, banged his fists down and growled. Challenged him.

"You don't wanna do this."

"Yes I fucking do! Maybe then you'll fucking explain shit!"

Bad-gatherer-stop-submit Technoblade snarled.

Wilbur flinched back, his heartbeat spiking up, but he bared his tusks again. A gatherer challenging a brute. How laughable .

Technoblade lunged at Wilbur and quickly grabbed the man by the throat.

Bad-submit-mine

Wilbur whined and clawed at Techno's arm. But the little shit still bared his puny tusks.

"Piss- ah, piss off- I'm not fucking yours-"

Technoblade snarled again, brandishing his own tusks. He shook the bastard a little bit.

Mine-submit-bad-gatherer-step-down

A whine. Wilbur trembled. He at least hid his tusks but still held his stubborn disposition. He wasn't fearful at least. Maybe being a part of Techno's sounder did make some sense to him. Good.

Techno growled again.

Submit-mine-mine

Finally, finally, the brunet whined and bared his neck, as much as Techno's hold allowed. Technoblade sighed with relief.

Yours-yours-sorry-sounder-apology

The villain eased up his grip.

Good-gatherer-forgiven

Wilbur whined again and Techno pulled the man closer.

"That's right. There you are," the pinkett purred.

Sorry-Protector-sorry

"It's fine. Not really mad."

Wilbur melted against Technoblade. The villain was pretty sure that he was the only thing keeping the brunet upright. It didn't bother him that much to be honest.

"You're fine, you're fine. Philza told me to explain, should've done that."

Techno took the hand off from Wilbur's throat and pulled the man back to the island. Wil didn't protest, even when Techno forced their tails together. 

"I just- I just want to know what's going on," Wilbur whimpered.

Techno grimaced a little. Even a dominance scuffle couldn't rescue the villain from having a conversation. He sighed and hugged Wilbur closer.

"Fine. What you wanna know?"

Wilbur pushed Techno a little before he shook his head.

"Why the hell am I here? You forced me into your sounder but… alright, I guess, I am your soulmate but don't you have your own sounder?" Wilbur ranted.

"Well, duh," Techno shrugged. "And you are part of it. Obviously."

"What if I had a different sounder?"

Technoblade squeezed Wilbur tighter. He was a villain and he wouldn't hesitate. Wilbur would either get released by the others, they would get taken as well or Techno would dispose of them. Wilbur was Techno's and that's that.

Wilbur shuddered as he came to the same conclusions.

"I'm not a villain! I'm no hero but I am not a villain!"

"Don't have to be."

"Staying here with you lot will have every hero wanting me dead as well!"

Technoblade growled quietly.

"They won't ever touch you. They won't get inside the base, over my dead body."

Wilbur pushed Techno away. Their tails stayed interlocked though, so the brute allowed the distance to grow. Though he did nudge the brunet to continue eating.

"You won't… just lock me here. Right?"

Techno couldn't say he didn't think about it. Especially with how often Wilbur felt anxious. It would be so easy… The villain sighed.

"Just long enough so you accept Philza and Tommy as sounder and they accept you as flock. I'm not a monster," Techno grumbled.

They were silent for a few seconds.

"This is crazy," Wilbur mumbled.

It kind of was.

"I waited for you a long time and now… now I'm stuck with a bloodthirsty villain."

Wilbur pushed his plate away.

Technoblade frowned.

"Well, I can at least protect you. I can… Wilbur, I waited for you as long as you waited for me. I can give you anything you want and there is really nothing you will want."

"What if I don't want my soulmate to be a fucking villain?" Wilbur snapped angrily.

Calm-love-sounder-calm

Technoblade sighed. "That one is not gonna happen. You should know that the heroes are not the perfect figures they pretend to be."

"As if you are any better."

"Nah. I don't pretend though."

Wilbur frowned. "Doesn't matter when people die anyway."

Technoblade shrugged. "We'll figure it out."

Their hearts beat in harmony.

You get born to this world with two hearts beating through you, every child is told at one point in their life. The one in your chest and the one you have to find in another person. Yours and theirs are connected, for as long as either will live. Your own, special person.

It isn't easy at all , Techno thought. But he mostly didn't care, as long as he had his soulmate by his side.