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“Tommy.”
“...I’m sorry?”
“My name is Tommy.”
“Oh. I can’t really-”
“You don’t have to tell me yours.”
“Then why bother telling me yours?”
“Maybe because I just wanted to.”
“You confuse me.”
“Yet you’re still here.”
“Yet I’m still here.”
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Technoblade had been a villain for as long as he could remember. It was in his blood. His entire family had been in the business for years, his father starting the Syndicate after he and Wilbur had turned 18.
The Syndicate was his family. His home. The place he could return to after a long mission in the city and not have to worry about a chance for a gun to his head in his sleep. It was the family he had dreamed of during those cold and empty few years he and Wilbur were on their own.
Sometimes, as the Syndicate hosted their weekly game nights, he’d find himself smiling to himself while the others threatened each other with their weapons. And when he felt comfortable enough, he’d let himself chuckle at his team’s antics.
It was strange how the whole world seemed to soften and warm up in the confines of the Watson family’s living room. How the cruel reality of the outside seemed to melt away with the snow that was his worries.
Maybe he was just delusional, but he’d never felt any safer.
Well, not until that night.
Not until he had met him.
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“ Yeah, no.” Phil sighed, rubbing his temple in frustration.
“Techno, it’s just one night. It’s not like the heroes are gonna throw those parties obnoxious banquets that go on for weeks.” Wilbur seemed far too relaxed in Techno’s opinion.
“No. You’re asking me to dress up in some fancy ass suit and rub shoulders with our enemy, Phil. Besides, why can’t literally anyone else do it?”
Phil gave him an unimpressed look. “Niki’s bakery is catering the party, which helped her gain info from the inside.”
Techno raised his brow. “Why’d they pick her bakery specifically?”
Wilbur shrugged. “Who cares, Niki’s getting some good funding from it so that’s all that matters.”
Techno seemed unimpressed. “Uh huh, totally not suspicious at all...”
Wilbur scoffed. “Phil, Techno’s being paranoid again.” He dragged the name out dramatically.
“You two are going to be the death of me I swear to god-” Phil was interrupted by his phone suddenly ringing.
Phil seemed to relax his posture when he sees the caller ID. “Hey mate, what’s up?”
“Who's that?” Wilbur tried to tilt his head far enough to see a sneak of the caller. Phil bats him away with his hand, mouthing the name “Tubbo”.
Phil turns his attention back to the phone, furrowing his brow further. “Is that so? Okay, I’ll talk to the boys.”
The twins turn to each other, mirroring a confused look. As Phil ended the call, Wilbur spoke.
“What’s wrong?” Phil shrugs.
“Nothing really wrong, just odd. Tubbo got a hold of the guest list for the banquet from hacking their servers. There are 60 attendants who are not heroes, including us. But for the hero's section, or the VIP’s, there is 30. Only 29 names are listed on the list.”
Techno hummed in thought. “Odd. Perhaps a new apprentice?” Wilbur shakes his head.
“Can’t be, each apprentice is listed under their mentors.” Oh, he hadn’t remembered that.
“Is the President and his family listed?” Techno asked Phil, who looked at the list again.
“Yup, under their own category. Seems he is bringing his kid too.” Phil smirks at that.
“Oh, Tubbo’s going to hate that alright. At least you won’t be complaining alone, Techno.” Wilbur grinned mischievously at him
Techno scoffed. “Real funny, Wilbur.”
“Thank you, the ladies say I’m quite the comedian.”
“Kill yourself.”
“Do it yourself, pussy.”
“Boys.” The twins shut their mouths immediately, not wanting to sit through another of their father’s lectures. Phil sighed. “Can we please return to the topic at hand?” The two muttered apologies. “Alright then, here’s the plan.
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“I hate this so much already.” Techno grumbled as they passed through the security, making their way to the main hall. The ceilings were decorated with fairy lights and white ribbons adorned the pillars that were around the room. There were waiters walking around, handing out what looked like mini macaroons and, Holy shit were those golden apple tarts?
Wait, Niki was in charge of the catering. That little shit, she knew those were his favorite. He took one from a waiter who offered, eating it grumpily while planning his next strategy for Uno on Friday. “Enjoying your tart there, mate?”
He turned to face his father; a clear scowl written on his face. “You planned this didn’t you?”
Phil raises his hands in surrender. “No comment.” He pats Techno’s as he walks past him, going to mingle with other attendees.
Technoblade sighs to himself, presses his finger discreetly against the earpiece hidden by his earrings. “Wilbur, who’re we supposed to avoid?”
The earpiece crackles for a second before it cuts to Wilbur’s voice. “The Dream Team and the President mostly. Oh, and we have to bully Tubbo later! His dad probably put him in some tight suit and everything.”
Techno snorts. “Noted.” Suddenly another voice comes in.
“Are you fucks talking about me?” Ah, speak of the devil.
“Hullo.” Techno answered in a monotone voice.
“Don’t hullo me bitch!” Wilbur could be heard cackling on the other end.
“How’s the suit, Tubbo?”
“Feels like shit, bossman. And the mask is so fucking unnecessary. Literally EVERYONE knows how I look man.”
“Actually, it’s benefitting us quite a lot. This way, there’s a less of a chance of anyone recognizing us.”
“Whatever. Anyways, Ranboo’s taking my place with all the tech stuff, so comm him if needed.”
“Sounds good.”
“Also, try to socialize a bit, Blade. You seriously need it.”
“Am I being given advice by a literal child with like one friend?” Techno smirks to himself as he hears Tubbo scream a string of curses at him.
“As much as I value this very insightful conversation, duty call.” Techno huffs out air as he walks around. It was around a couple minutes later that the sound of a mic being adjusted caught his attention.
Soon all the attention was on the President, who stood tall on stage, a glass of champagne held in his other hand as spoke confidently. It made Technoblade sick to see such a pathetic man in such high power. It was part of why he hated this so called “hero society”.
He mostly hated how the heroes were paid to protect only those with filled pockets. As the rich get the opportunity to live perfectly carefree lives, those less fortunate have to suffer, having to constantly deal with petty crimes such as muggings and abuse.
Call him what you like, he may be a villain, but he genuinely gave a shit about the people in L’Manberg. He despised having to sit and watch as countless homes and lives are lost due to the recklessness of the heroes and the commission.
“For fucks sake, how much longer is this going to go one for?” Techno muttered under his breath. God, he was so bored. So much for “rubbing shoulders with the rich” when the rich barely did shit.
His eyes trailed around the room, searching for a possible exit nearby. His eyes dart to a specific door, leading out to the gardens. Bingo.
As quietly as he could, he sneaked away to the door, letting a breath as he finally felt at peace with himself. God, he forgot how much he hated these gatherings.
Techno walks around for a while, admiring the flower bushes he passes by. He’ll admit, they are pretty. The white roses all glowing in contrast to the dark yet starry night. As he goes to pick one up, he’s stopped.
“Careful, white roses tend to have more thorns than others.” Techno barely hides his flinch, not wanting to lower his guard. He looks to his left, then right. No one.
“Over here.” The voice was in front of him. As he looked forward, he felt his breath get caught in his throat. There stood in front of him a boy with hair that glowed under the moonlight of the night sky. He wore a black satin blouse with navy pants, his matching blazer held around his arm.
As Techno straightens his stance, he tries to look at his face, attempting to decipher who this stranger was. But all he is met with is an electric blue that clashed with the black lace mask covering half his face. The more Techno inspected, the more he noticed about the other.
The boy’s lips looked soft, his cheeks were pink, his stance was elegant and confident. And he was beautiful. Technoblade felt his eyes widen slightly at his own thoughts. He’d never felt so infatuated with someone after meeting them once.
The boy tilts his head. Techno takes note of how his curls move around with the movement. “Does the masked man speak?” His voice was soft and gentle. Techno wanted to hear more of it. He wanted to hear how loud it can go, how gentle it can go.
Technoblade finds himself shaking himself back to reality. “My apologies. I didn’t mean to seem rude.”
The boy laughs. Oh fuck, was his laugh heavenly. “You don’t need to be so formal. Seriously, is that like procedure around here? I think this is the most stuck up thing I’ve been to so far.” For some reason the boy flusters from his own words. “A-Ah shit! You’re probably one of those rich guys. Uhm, no offense man. Wait that’s too casual. I apologize for my rashness!”
Techno finds himself chuckle at that. He doesn’t even know why. There was no joke. There was no punchline or anything. All there was a stranger who probably thinks he’s the but of the joke because he was currently laughing at him-
“ I’m not one those guys don’t worry. Just here for the free food really.” At that, the boy seemed to have let himself relax, giving Techno a small grin. And oh, if that smile wasn’t the most ethereal thing he’s seen.
“It’s good right? I made sure they got it from this specific bakery. They have the best golden apple tarts! Honestly, they’re my favorite.” Techno raised his brow at that, for many reasons.
One, this boy had somehow had enough power to make the management get catering from a specific bakery due to his own request. Two, the boy knew about Niki’s bakery, probably a regular too, so maybe he could ask Niki about if she had seen a boy with blue eyes and blonde hair who was a regular and love golden apple tarts. That brings to reason number three, the boy’s favorite was the golden apple tarts, as if he wasn’t perfect enough.
“They’re my favorite too. I get them any chance I get.” The boy looks at him interested.
“You know about Niki’s? It’s in the middle districts, doesn’t seem like your type of joint.” Although Techno wanted to argue with that logic, the boy was technically right. He wasn’t exactly dressed like those in the middle district, neither was he at a event in that nature.
“Well, neither do you. How do you know of the place?” The boy seems to gawk at him.
“I-I asked a question first!” Techno chuckled at that, letting the boy continue. The two walked side by side through the gardens, contempt with the ambience of the night. “I know of Niki’s through a friend. Now your turn. How does some fancy masked guy know about Niki’s?”
“Niki’s a friend of mine. Family friend, actually.” Techno should’ve been more careful with what he was saying, with what he was exposing to this stranger he has no memory of meeting. Yet here he was, saying things that shouldn’t be said during an undercover mission. All because he thought the boy in front of him was beautiful. God, he was down bad wasn’t he?
“Oh, that’s cool. If you don’t mind me asking, why are you out here instead of the banquet? And before you ask, I’m here because I was starting to get tired of the crowd.” The boy looked at him with playful grin.
“Similar reason to yours I suppose. That and I was starting to get pissed at the sight of President Schlatt’s face alone.” Techno mentally slapped himself in the head. Yeah, just go ahead and expose your political viewpoint on one of the most controversial public figures in all L’Manberg, not like you’re at said politician’s party.
“That’s something you and I both have in common, mysterious masked man.” Before Techno could question the odd nickname, he takes note of the boy’s agreement.
“...You do realize we’re at that guy’s banquet, right?” The boy snorts at that for some reason, leaving Techno slightly confused.
“Unfortunately, so.”
“And you helped plan it.” The boy shrugs at that.
“It’s part of the contract, I’m afraid.” Technoblade furrows his brows.
“Contract?” The boy giggles at that.
“You ask a lot of questions, you know? And also, I thought it was clear I work here.” The boy looks at Techno.
“I suppose it was.” Technoblade walks silently with the boy for a while. The two seem satisfied in their wordless conversation. But then Techno spoke.
“Mysterious masked man?” Techno spoke the words, but it came out more as a question. The boy looks at him but then starts laughing. Techno looked at him confused, unsure of what to make of the situation. “W-What?”
“S-Sorry, pfft, give me a sec-!” The boy inhales a breath before exhaling. “Whoo, sorry it’s just that’s not really something you ask out of the blue. Pretty random, ain’t it?”
Techno feels the tips of his ears heat up. Shit, was he blushing? Since when did he blush? “I guess, b-but you still haven’t answered!”
“Well, I don’t exactly know your name, you know? Had to come up with something.” The boy said with a shrug.
“Well, I don’t know yours either.” Techno continues to walk with the boy. He wasn’t sure what was really happening or had happened for the past couple of hours. He doesn’t know what he’s been expecting with the time he has with this stranger.
It was nice. This quiet yet lively background that found its way around them as they held a simple banter with one another. That was, until the boy had halt to a stop. When Techno turned his attention to the building in front of him, his mouth was slightly agape.
In front of them was a giant ballroom, chandeliers hanging above as murals stared down on them as he glanced around them. All of this was in the middle of a garden, hidden away from everyone. Except them.
“This is the Arch. It’s where the previous lineage of royals used to host tea parties and shit. Now though, it’s an abandoned relic forever forgotten. By everyone but me. Now you too.” The boy smiled at him, and Techno found his heart pounding even faster than ever.
“Why...Why did you bring me here?” The boy shrugs.
“I don’t know. For some reason, I don’t think I’ve made a single clear decision all night. I mean, I just showed a complete stranger a priceless ruin. And the thing is, I should feel bad, or guilty. But I just feel, contempt. At peace. Around you I mean.”
Techno stares at the boy as he leans on the ledge of the Arch. The words he said, it was the same as how he was feeling. Techno had never been so at calm with himself. Usually, he’d feel himself ache at the idea of being anywhere near the vulnerability he was showcasing to a stranger.
“Tommy.” He was a stranger.
“...I’m sorry?” Yet why was he so familiar?
“My name is Tommy.” Tommy. The name fit the boy. Techno found himself repeating the in his head. Tommy. But the thing was, Tommy just revealed his name. Did...did he want his in return? Techno shook himself awake. He couldn’t be this open. He needed to at least have some common sense.
“Oh. I can’t really-”
“You don’t have to tell me yours.” And that confused Techno more. Why did he tell him then?
“Then why bother telling me yours?”
“Maybe because I just wanted to.” Because he wanted to. The more he spoke to Tommy, the more his brain malfunctioned.
“You confuse me.” It was true. Tommy was confusing. Who just tells a stranger their name and not expect them to answer back? Why would he expose something so important to him of all people? He wasn’t Tommy’s friend, his anything really. Tommy confused him.
“Yet you’re still here.” Yet he was still there. He was still there. Next to him as Tommy fiddles with the vinyl player. He was still there as Tommy guided Techno’s hand with his own, bringing one hand around Tommy’s waist and the other remained interlocked with each other’s fingers.
“Yet I’m still here.” And here was perfect for him. Here was with Tommy as the two waltzes around the large expanse of the ballroom, keeping each other company under the large chandelier.
“I feel like I’ve known you forever, Tommy.” Tommy looked at Techno in shock, but then his eyes softened.
“I feel so too. I don’t know why. Do you know me? Now that you know my name. Do I know you?” And Techno thought hard, trying to decipher everything and nothing all at once. Yet he found nothing.
“I want to say yes, so this will be less confusing then it already is, but I don’t know, Tommy. I really don’t.” He brought his hand up to cup Tommy’s face. Tommy leans into the touch, which alone sent butterflies through his stomach.
“I want to know you.” And Techno takes that as a sign to finally cave in. He carefully removes Tommy’s mask. Then with slow movements, he removes his own.
“Technoblade.” Tommy looks up at him in shock, but soon smiles at him with a sweet warmth that made Techno fluster slightly.
“It’s nice to meet you, Technoblade.” And Techno found himself not being able to contain himself anymore. With his hand still cupping Tommy’s cheek, he leans down to connect both their lips into a soft kiss.
As they part, the two widen their eyes. Memories of pasts flash through their minds. Memories of a past the two shared together, yet seemed to have forgotten.
“Tommy?” Techno’s voice was hoarse for some reason.
“Techno. Techno!” Tommy wraps his arms around Technoblade’s neck, tears streaming down his cheeks.
Techno tightens the arm around his waist, holding him as though he were afraid that if he’d let go Tommy would disappear from his mind again. “It’s you. It’s really you. Of course, you and those tarts.”
Tommy lets out a wet laugh, “Y-You made me try them! So it’s technically your fault a-asshole.” Techno chuckles and nuzzles Tommy’s cheek.
“I love you, my treasure.”
“I love you too, Tech.”
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“I’m sorry, my treasure.”
“I’m sorry too, Tech.”