bedrock bros.

trigger warnings: blood, panic attacks, intrusive thoughts

this chapter was originally going to be around 20k words but i ended up splitting it so this is part one!

i'm not a huge fan of this one but i was going back through the first few chapters of this fic and immediately felt better abt it cause nothing can be worse than those LMFAO

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Technoblade had never been good with empathy.

Even during times like when Phil was crying to sleep across the campfire from him, he found it hard to really care.

Sure, he felt bad, and yeah, he wanted his father to stop crying, but not as much as he wanted to stay in his sleeping bag.

Perhaps it wasn’t exactly that he couldn’t empathize with people, but more so that he put himself first and foremost on every occasion. If he had the energy, maybe he’d be more open to giving someone advice or doting on them. If he was tired, though; he’d probably dismiss them without batting an eye.

It wasn’t that he wanted to be like that, but he couldn’t really help it either, and had never tried to work on it.

But seeing himself up on that screen, watching moments he’d much rather keep to himself be broadcasted to everyone, he thought he might’ve truly felt empathetic towards someone for the first time; and that person was Tommy.

He’d never really had shared experiences growing up. He didn’t know how to properly understand other’s emotions or how to put himself in other’s shoes. It was just… not something he was able to do.

Knowing Tommy knew exactly how he felt, however, put things in perspective.

Admittedly, he probably should have felt more bad for the kid because of the terrible abuse and manipulation he’d suffered, but he just wasn’t built like that. What Technoblade did find himself feeling bad for, was the fact that Tommy had to sit there and have his biggest weaknesses shown to such a large audience.

It had only been a select few moments for Technoblade so far, but he was extremely aware of the fact that he did not want certain moments visible to the public. He was the Blood God! He was ruthless! They weren’t supposed to see his eyes crease and frown soften at the sight of his little brother or the mention of his twin.

That wasn’t… that wasn’t supposed to happen.

And more than anything, these people didn’t get him. They seemed to be angry at him constantly, always scrutinizing his actions and acting like he was some sort of brute. He wasn’t. It wasn’t his fault that they couldn’t see it from his side. It wasn’t his fault that even his own father seemed to be upset with him.

Phil had barely spoken to him since the pit, and it left him feeling confused and troubled. His father had never genuinely been upset with him like that. It didn’t make sense. Maybe, after watching it back he could see that he’d taken it a bit too far, but Phil knew more than anyone that he often couldn’t control himself.

It was like everyone was out to get him, and though he wasn’t unfamiliar with the sentiment, it still didn’t feel fantastic.

Still, Technoblade didn’t want these things visible to everyone. He actually actively loathed the idea, knowing there was worse to come and that this God that Tommy had somehow befriended could choose to show anything at any given time.

The worst part was that he really had gotten soft for the kid for a while. He’d really thought that he and Tommy could have had something real like actual brothers did, but… well… the kid had to go back to the very people that hurt him.

Techno didn’t even know why he’d been surprised, didn’t even know why he let himself be taken off guard, Tommy was so clearly a lost cause he didn’t know why he’d even bothered in the first place, but for some reason it had hurt.

He wouldn’t be making that mistake again. He wasn’t some pushover. He wasn’t going to give Tommy another chance. Brother or not, a betrayal was not a word Technoblade used lightly, and his younger brother would have to live that out.

So, yeah, when he watched Dream tower over Tommy and hurt him, it made his stomach do a couple flips, but that was a given. They were family; he’d be a monster if he didn’t feel anything watching Tommy get pushed around like that. And yeah, when Tommy laid down in the dirt and closed his eyes like each individual divot in the ground had been molded to cradle his body it made his skin crawl, but any normal being would have that reaction.

No matter what he saw, he wouldn’t let Tommy come crawling back again. He wouldn’t let himself get close to someone who had hurt him.

He looked over to where the screen had changed scenes.

“We seriously need to deal with your hair.”

Tommy paused, looking up from his spot on the hardwood floors. He was cross legged with his back against the couch, dressed in a set of white cloth clothing and with his regular attire in his lap. He had a threaded needle in between his lips and his brows scrunched up tight as he scrutinized a hole in his red tee.

“Awww,” Fundy cooed, “look at you sewing away!”

“Shut the fuck up,” Tommy replied, not taking his eyes off the screen.

“It’s weird seeing you in anything other than your uniform or your shirt.” Tubbo noted.

Technoblade was in the doorway, staring at him, unimpressed.

“Fuck roes rhat mean?” Tommy wrinkled his nose, needle still in his mouth. His hair was matted with blood and grime, dirtied by months of unsanitary and unsafe living conditions and tied back into a short ponytail, his bangs pinned back by a large clip Techno had found in his junk drawer.

“You probably have fleas or something,” Techno replied, narrowing his eyes, “and you’re using my pillowcases and cloaks. It’s gross.”

A couple of them snorted.

“I personally don’t find it gross at all…” Tommy muttered, spitting out the needle and sticking it in the pin cushion beside him.

“You wouldn’t know gross if it hit you in the face,” Techno rolled his eyes, taking a step forward and throwing a towel at the boy, “go wash off and then I’ll cut out all the mats and unsaveable bits.”

“You’re cutting his hair?” Puffy asked.

The truth was that Technoblade hadn’t exactly trusted Tommy with sharp things at the beginning, especially around himself.

“He would have done an awful job,” Techno shrugged, “I was saving my eyes from that.” It was a weak excuse and he probably could have done better if given just a few more seconds.

“Oh fuck you!”

The blond complained, but complied all the same. He snatched the towel from the floor, stalking off and muttering quietly to himself as Techno watched him go.

Ten minutes later Tommy appeared in the doorway, hair dripping wet and barefoot, dressed in the same white cloth. He was hugging himself tightly, teeth chattering.

A pang went through Phil’s heart at the sigh, and he almost doubled over. He could remember back in their old home near the woods when Tommy was just a toddler, standing and shivering the exact same way in the doorway, wrapped tightly in a bright red towel Phil had bought for him.

Techno cocked a brow, motioning over to the left.

“Come sit by the fire before you catch another cold.” He instructed, making the first move and sitting by the hearth.

Tommy seemed too cold to argue, merely padding over to the fire and sitting with his back turned to his brother and himself facing the fire. He seemed to relax slightly at the warmth, but continued to shiver all the same.

Niki frowned.

She wasn’t sure why someone other than her cutting Tommy’s hair made her so upset, but she tried to ignore it.

Wordlessly, Technoblade began to snip away at the matted hair, pulling bloody chunks from Tommy’s scalp and trying not to make faces.

“Okay maybe it was a little gross…” Tommy muttered.

Ranboo let out a loud laugh.

It was quiet as he worked, Tommy’s breathing shallow as if he was almost afraid. Techno frowned, pausing in his movements to fick his gaze over to the boy’s face.

“Remember how much you hated baths when we were kids?” He all but whispered, voice gruff but somewhat soft.

“That does not surprise me.” Sam said.

“Piss off.”

Tommy smirked slightly, “Yeah, I completely swore them off.”

The fire cracked and popped in front of them as the cold winter air blew harshly on the windows outside in the night.

“Phil had to get me to convince you that they were ‘manly’ and ‘mature’.” A small smile tugged at the corner of Techno’s mouth.

It was… weird for the rest of them. No matter how many times they heard it, no matter how many times they saw it, none of them could truly picture Tommy growing up alongside Technoblade. None of them could really imagine Technoblade being a brother to Tommy.

Phil was completely silent.

They were both quiet for a moment, though much unlike past times, it was a comfortable silence.

“I would have done anything you told me to,” Tommy murmured, uncharacteristically quiet, “I wanted to be just like you.”

Tommy’s cheeks went bright red.

Techno’s face softened just slightly. “I know.” He hummed, “You wouldn’t even call me Techno, it always had to be Technoblade in full.”

“Cause you were the fuckin Blade, man,” Tommy yawned, rubbing at his eyes, “you were so cool…”

“Oh boys…” Phil muttered, eyes wide.

Both of his sons looked mortified.

The elder sibling smirked, snipping away at more hair, “I was just a kid like you, Tommy.”

“Sure,” the blond shrugged, “but you were still older than me. In my mind you were basically an adult.”

Tommy could remember it. Like how younger children saw sixth graders and thought they were the equivalent of seventeen year olds who did hard drugs at skateparks on wednesday nights. He’d always thought Technoblade was untouchable.

“And now?”

“Well now you actually are,” Tommy said, rubbing at his eyes again, “you- you’re an adult and you’re tall and strong and you live on your own!” He thought of all the things Techno owned, of all the treasures and potions and goods. It was remarkable, and it had always just seemed more fantasy than reality.

“I live with you, don’t I?” Technoblade asked very quietly, still working away.

Technoblade had half a mind to unsheathe his sword and plunge it into his throat.

Everyone else seemed completely mesmerized by the unusually tender moment, but both him and Tommy were convinced it was the worst thing that had ever happened to them.

Tommy paused for a second, eyes widening just a fraction before he smiled. “Yeah…” He nodded, “you do.”

Tears welled in Phil’s eyes as he looked over at his eldest.

“Tech…” He reached out a hand, grabbing Techno’s own.

And despite that ever since his father had decided he was mad at him Technoblade had been actively seeking out Phil’s respite, he found that the humiliation of it all was too much to bear, and he pulled away.

Phil frowned.

Everyone else was floored by the display of affection and vulnerability in the moment, even Fundy didn’t make a sarcastic comment about it.

For a moment they were both very silent, and Tommy had stopped shivering, sitting completely still and quiet. The house still smelled of pine and detergent, and the lanterns glowed softly in corners where the fireplace’s light couldn’t reach.

“I mean technically you live with me, though,” Techno added, “it is all my stuff. You’re just a little raccoon. A little leech.”

“Hmmm,” Puffy tilted her head, “I’ve never heard that comparison before.”

“Keep it that way.” Tommy snarked.

“I’m not a fuckin leech !” Tommy scoffed, affronted, “fuck you man!”

The elder merely smirked.

They continued making amble conversation after that, Tommy seemingly less anxious and more talkative like usual.

It wasn’t until Technoblade was halfway through a story about one of his and Phil’s adventures that he noticed Tommy was half asleep. The blond’s head was lolling, dipping and snapping back up at the last second as he tried to keep his eyes open.

Ranboo didn’t know why that of all things made his chest tighten but it did.

Tommy groaned loudly, putting his head in his hands.

Jack stifled a laugh.

The piglin hybrid let out an amused huff, watching for a moment as Tommy tried so desperately to keep himself awake.

“Sadist.” Quackity muttered, though it was much more lighthearted than other gibes normally were.

Technoblade put a hand on the younger’s shoulder, smirking, “I’ll finish another time, Tommy.”

“What?” Almost instantly, Tommy’s eyes shot open, and he seemed a bit dazed, “no man! You can keep goi-”

“You’re practically sleeping, Tommy.” Techno pointed out, placing the scissors down on the floor. He groaned, standing up and brushing some of the hair off of his pants. He reached out a hand for the boy to grab.

Tubbo snorted, smiling up at the screen. Tommy had a tendency to stay awake until he physically could no longer, as though he was afraid of telling anyone he was tired.

Tommy lazily Donstared up, extending his arm.

The elder hefted him up, and he stumbled, wincing and leaning into Techno’s chest.

“Sorry…” He muttered, putting more weight on his other leg, “forgot about my foot.”

Phil took a shaky breath.

“It’s fine, Tommy.” Technoblade assured, letting him go. “Just make sure to get some sleep, yeah? We’ve got a busy day tomorrow.”

The younger hummed, nodding his head. The fire had grown smaller over time, the embers glowing. Techno moved to put it out, kneeling.

“I know,” Tommy said, “gonna get some dogs n shit.”

Technoblade couldn’t help the small grin on his face at that as he stood. “Yeah….” He made his way across the room towards the doorway, waiting until Tommy was making his way down into the basement, “goodnight, Tommy.”

“Night Techno.”

He switched the lights off and the screen went dark.

For a moment, they were quiet.

“Well that was uncomfortably heartwarming.” Ranboo quipped.

“Yeah but then you look at these two in real time and lose all hope.” Fundy muttered.

Phil glared, pursing his lips and looking over at Techno and then to Tommy. He wasn’t sure what to say, but he did know the joy of seeing his boys getting along was nearly overwhelming.

He didn’t want to think of the fact that things hadn’t stayed as perfect as they were in that memory. He didn’t want to think of the fact that he could have actually had something of substance. He didn’t want to think of the fact that he could have had some semblance of a family once again.

He remembered how devastated Technoblade had been when he’d returned from L’Manberg without Tommy by his side, and all he could wonder was Where had it all gone wrong?

Phil saw the gentle way his eldest had carded his hands through Tommy’s hair. He’d noticed how delicate Technoblade had been, and he’d picked up on how his youngest had felt safe.

He felt sick.

The screen switched to a muddy and wet terrain, melted snow dripping from the trees. The sun was high in the blue sky, and the clouds were sparse.

Tommy groaned, grinning wide and stepping out of the snow into the mud. Large boots that had barely been worn were buckled tightly to his feet, looking much too big.

“Hand me downs,” Fundy nodded along, “I know them all too well.”

“Stop acting so hard done by.” Phil laughed, rolling his eyes.

“You know what that smell is, Technoblade?” He asked, basking in the sunlight and stretching his arms out wide.

The man in question looked back from where he was, slightly ahead of the blond, and cocked a brow.

“Fresh air!” Tommy exclaimed, laughing loudly.

Quackity grinned at the open display of joy. It was comforting to see Tommy doing better after everything that exile had been.

Technoblade frowned slightly, looking over at the snow biome. “There was plenty of fresh air back at home, Tommy.” He sighed.

The young boy smirked, jumping up and into a large puddle of murky water in the grass. “Not like that!” He made a face, “this is where it’s at!” He spun in a circle, “the mud! The bugs! The grass! Snow is for pussies.”

“You used to eat mud.” Phil piped up from the back.

“And Wilbur used to eat sand.” Techno added, unperturbed.

“What the hell is wrong with your family?” Jack asked, looking slightly disturbed.

“It is good for hiding the bodies of annoyin children, though.” Techno hummed thoughtfully.

A couple of them laughed.

“Yeah,” Tommy snorted, rolling his eyes and smirking unbelievably, “you’d know.”

Techno didn’t reply, beginning to walk further away. Tommy faltered, eyes growing slightly wider if only by a fraction.

“... Would you know?” He asked, slightly quieter.

Puffy giggled quietly, and even Techno gave a small huff of amusement.

Once again, the elder man stayed quiet, and Tommy laughed nervously, running after him.

Maybe it was beginning to get a bit easier to see the two as brothers. Though it still seemed somewhat… off.

They continued through the forested area, large pine trees creating a sizable canopy above them while the younger of the two made amble chatter. Tommy continued to babble on and on about the most useless things, barely ever even stopping for air as his elder brother hardly paid attention.

George rolled his eyes at all the talking.

It wasn’t until they reached a clearing that Tommy went very quiet.

Before them were dry plains that spread out far into the distance. The grass was long and thick as it blew in the wind, a scarce amount of animals were spread out and grazing upon it.

“Ohhhh shit…” Quackity mumbled quietly.

Tommy seized up almost immediately, eyes going wide. He pursed his lips, hand growing shaky.

“Uh…” He took a hesitant step backwards, breath catching in his throat.

Don’t make him go back there, Tubbo pleaded internally.

Technoblade looked over, face unreadable.

“I don’t… Do we…” Tommy looked over the area once more, “do we have to go that way?” There was a distant buzz in his ears, faint but steady.

“Look Tommy,” Techno sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, “you said you would help me get my things back, and this is how we start getting leverage over them.”

“There’s the apathetic asshole we know.” Fundy hissed.

“If you’d have waited two more seconds you would have seen I had a change of heart, Fundy.” Techno shot back.

The blond breathed shakily, “I- I know…”

There was a moment where Technoblade hesitated, looking down at his younger brother. He frowned slightly at the sight of him.

“If you really don’t want to go, I guess-”

“No,” Tommy interrupted, shaking his head. He took a deep breath, steadying his hands. “I can do this.”

“Shut up no you cannot.” Karl shook his head, looking pained. “I don’t want to go back!” He whined quietly.

Technoblade narrowed his eyes, silent for just a minute, before shrugging. “If you say so.” He relented.

“This is going to end so badly.”

Tommy remained silent.

And so they continued on their trek, scanning every square inch of the area as they looked for any and every wolf they could find. Unfortunately for them, however, there wasn’t much in sight, save for the dog they’d already tamed back in the forest.

By the time Technoblade came back into awareness, Tommy was missing from his side.

“Tommy?” He called, looking up and around. The space beside him felt empty, and he, for whatever reason, felt weary. He found the boy just a couple feet away with his back turned.

Niki frowned.

He was completely silent, tense with his shoulders hiked up. His eyes were wide, hands shaking. Slowly, he was walking off, completely in his own head.

“Tommy,” Technoblade repeated, “Tommy come back here.”

But Tommy didn’t listen, breathing shakily and continuing to walk forwards. Techno’s ear twitched in annoyance, and he made one last call to the boy, but it was ignored once again.

“Oh whatever…” He muttered, waving it off, “I still need to find those dogs.” Turning on his heel, he began his march to the left.

“Techno!” Phil all but yelled, turning to look at his eldest. “What the hell are you doing!?”

“What the hell was I doing,” the piglin corrected, “and you all saw me try! You saw that he wasn’t listenin to me!”

“You barely tried!” Jack shot back, though he wasn’t sure what had him so riled up, but he was feeling rather anxious watching Tommy go off on his own.

“I gave it an effort, but I’m not gonna drop everything for him!”

“That’s exactly why he shouldn’t have been with you, asshole!” Quackity cried angrily, “Tommy would have been better off alone than with you and your shitty house!”

“Now that’s just rude… It’s a very nice house.” Techno muttered quietly, which only served to make the duck hybrid angrier. Why didn’t he ever take anything serious?

“Techno!” He cried, “look at what you’re doing!” he gestured towards the screen, “you’re- you’re throwing him to the wolves! You have to try harder!”

“Okay but you’re saying that like I can change anything now.” Technoblade raised a brow, unimpressed.

“No, I'm saying it like you should have known!” Quackity hissed, grabbing at his hair angrily, “Tommy was in such a bad state after exile and I know you knew, we all know you knew! So why didn’t you try harder? Why were some fucking wolves more imporant to you!? Did you not care about him?”

Tommy winced, and both Tubbo and Ranboo shot him a concerned glance.

“It’s complicated…” The piglin hybrid replied, looking slightly uncomfortable.

“Well then you have your answer right there!” Quackity replied, “Tommy should have been with someone who replied that they did and still do without hesitation. You can’t do that. He didn’t deserve to be stuck with you and your mixed signals.”

“Mixed signals?” Techno raised a brow.

“One minute you like him, the next minute some dogs are more important to you.” Puffy interjected, “Even I can’t tell what you’re thinking in half of these memories!”

“I didn’t know what happened to him in exile! This is just how I am!” He tried to reason.

“But you should have tried to know,” Ranboo stressed, “you don’t- I mean like, if someone’s that hurt and that scared of everything, would you not try and help them? Would you not ask them what happened?”

“Tommy didn’t want to talk about it.”

“Of course he didn’t want to talk about it,” the enderman replied, “he’s Tommy! I’m not saying you should have pushed him to a point where he was uncomfortable but you should have at least tried a bit harder.” He paused, “And… And I know it’s easy for us to sit here and judge because it wasn’t us in that position and that maybe we would have made mistakes too, but they still would have been just that. They would have been mistakes. And I want you to know they’re mistakes. I want you to know that you handled this poorly.”

Tommy stared with wide eyes and Quackity smirked proudly.

For a moment, Techno was silent, as if sizing Ranboo up. The enderian didn’t look very angry, but he was a composed person.

“Fine,” He relented, “maybe I could have tried harder.” He scowled.

Ranboo said nothing, only turning back to the screen. Tommy leaned over across him to ‘whisper’ to Tubbo.

“He’s pretty good at his whole monologue thing, huh?” He grinned. Tubbo snickered, nodding along.

Ranboo rolled his eyes fondly.

Tommy paid him no mind.

Slowly but surely, Tommy made his way over the hill. He was breathing heavily, hands shaking in clenched fists.

“And we’re right back to terrible town.”

“Shut up, Fundy.”

And then he saw the tower.

He hadn’t been looking up. He hadn’t been looking very far into the distance either. He hadn’t seen it from afar like he should have.

Taking hesitant steps, he choked back a gasp, forcing himself to go further. He crossed over into what he would have deemed ‘official’ Logstedshire territory, silently assuring himself over and over again that it was fine.

Sapnap put his head in his hands, anxiously waiting for it to be over.

He looked over at the crater in the ground, and then to the bigger crater in the ground. He tried to hold back a gag at the sight of the remains of the tent, pushing back tears.

“Technoblade?” He called out hesitantly, taking a step back. He turned his head, looking for his elder brother and swallowing nervously when he found he was alone.

Techno pursed his lips.

“Uh…” He took a hesitant step backwards, stumbling over a root in the ground and nearly falling. He looked up at the pillar and paled, breathing becoming more erratic. “Technoblade?” He called out again, a hint of panic in his tone.

Farther off in the distance, a creeper went off, and Tommy bit back a scream.

Sam frowned.

The screen switched to much later in the day, a completely haggard and downtrodden Technoblade dragging his feet through the snow. The sun was beginning to set, and he was back in the antarctic.

“Dude, the scene change makes it look like you died or something.”

Tommy laughed loudly, ignoring the pit in his stomach at the words.

He looked down at his communicator, brow furrowed and mouth pulled into a deep frown.

Technoblade:

Where are you?

Did you go back home?

I can’t find you.

Tommy.

This isn’t funny.

I’m going back home,

I can’t find you anywhere.

“I wish you would have gotten lost…” Quackity muttered quietly.

“I am literally the king of navigation.” Techno replied dryly.

He sighed, pocketing the device as he reached the cottage. He slowly climbed up the stairs, opening the front door and peeking inside.

It was dark; the drapes were drawn, the fireplace was off, and not a single lantern or candle had been lit. Just barely through the darkness, he saw a figure hunched on the couch. He entered further in the house, closing the door behind him.

“Tommy?” He called hesitantly, a bit on edge.

Almost instantly, the blond reacted. He snapped his head up, turning as fast as he possibly could and scrambling up from where he was sitting to approach the man.

“Technoblade!” He cried! “I’m so sorry! I- I was supposed to be helping you I know but then I went off on my own and- and I saw…. I saw it. ”

Karl frowned sadly, hating the way Tommy felt like he needed to apologize of all things.

Technoblade didn’t didn’t have a clue what it was. He sighed, putting a hand on Tommy’s shoulder. “I’m not mad, Tommy,” he said, “I got a dog so it's good enough. We’ll just breed it with some L’Manburg dog, it'll be fine.”

Tommy looked hesitant, holding back the shakes and shivers that were trying to crawl up his spine.

Niki’s stomach lurched.

“But-”

“It’s fine, Tommy.” Techno stressed, his red eyes staring deeply into Tommy’s blue-grey ones. “I’ll go make dinner. You can check up on the animals.” He stripped off his boots and large coat, moving towards the doorway.

The blond nodded wordlessly, watching as Technoblade left the room, anxiously rubbing at the angry red scratches on his neck.

“I’m getting unbearably tired of this shit…” Tommy muttered, angrily glaring at the screen.

“I’m sure it’ll be over soon.” Puffy smiled sympathetically.

“Puffy I love you like a mother but if you smile at me like that again I will…. well I don’t know what I’ll do but I don’t need all that pity shit.”

“It’s not pity, Tommy,” she sighed, “we’ve been over this.”

“Mi mi mi mi~” Tommy mocked in a high pitched voice, “that’s all I hear.”

Puffy’s eye twitched.

When Technoblade walked back into the living room, some of the lanterns were on. He nodded at the change and rounded the couch to tell Tommy dinner was ready.

Almost instantly, Techno went completely rigid. He tensed, eyes widening a fraction. He hadn’t even thought of the memory at hand being one of the ones on display. If not for his sake then for Tommy’s.

What he found instead, was Tommy with his head pressed up against the armrest of the couch, curled up tightly and sound asleep. He had a peaceful expression on his face, mouth open just enough to hear the sound of his slightly strained breathing.

Tommy glared at the screen, while everyone else seemed to think it was adorable.

Techno’s features softened, if only a little, and he leaned down to card a hand through the boy’s hair. He paused in the candlelight, staring down at Tommy’s pale face.

For a moment he was very still.

Phil frowned, confused.

Something felt off.

I could kill you right now, he thought, expression never changing as he watched the younger sleep. I don’t want to, but I know I could.

“Well I was not expecting that. That’s for sure!” Fundy chirped, sweating nervously.

Tommy all but seized, not daring to look back at the man, his brother, behind him, but he felt as though he could feel Techno’s hand in his hair.

Everyone else seemed equally as perturbed, and Techno clenched his fists tightly.

He stared down, running his hands gently through the blond hair.

I don’t want to see you hurt. And even less do I want you dead. He swallowed thickly, tracing a scar on Tommy’s cheek with his thumb, but I can’t stop thinking about how easy it would be to snap your neck. You trust me. You wouldn’t expect it. I could stab you right now and you’d die in my arms.

Tommy had to hold back a gag, shivers running up his spine.

The remainder of the room was silent, completely entranced.

Techno grit his teeth.

I don’t want to do that. I don’t.

Tommy shifted slightly in his sleep, and Techno moved back if only by an inch.

“When you were a baby I thought the same thing,” he murmured, suddenly speaking aloud, “I was so excited to hold you, I was, but that was my first time holding so much power over another living thing and I was just hit with the realization that I could kill you so easily.”

Phil sucked in a large breath, staring with wide eyes.

He sighed, running an exasperated hand through his own long hair.

“I just wanted to hold my baby brother but all I could think about was all the different ways I could hurt you. You were so little it would have been so easy to break your tiny bones.” Technoblade rubbed at his face, looking pained, “I never wanted to hurt you, I don’t want to hurt you, but even now your bones are so brittle and you’re so small I could kill you in seconds.”

“You make me hate myself, Tommy.” He whispered quietly.

The screen went dark.

A heavy silence hung over the room. Tommy was very quiet, trying to ignore the… imagery of past events quite like what Technoblade had been describing.

Even Fundy knew better than to speak. Tommy might’ve found him funny, but his other uncle...

“Oh Tech…” Phil whispered, eyes welling with tears, “why didn’t you ever tell me?”

Because despite his anger and disappointment, Technoblade was still Phil’s son, and his heart still ached for his boy.

“Are you insane?” Techno replied, but everyone could hear the panic laced in his tone and the rough edge that hadn’t been there before.

“I could have been there for you.” Phil tried, looking pained.

“I couldn’t risk that,” the younger scoffed, “you think I’d just tell people how- how messed up my brain is? I’m already The Blood God without all that!”

For a moment his father was very quiet, and then he sighed. “I just wish you would have told me…” He said, quietly.

Technoblade didn’t answer, and the screen switched to the next scene, abruptly ending the conversation.

It was about midday when it happened. Tommy was lounging lazily on the couch, a half eaten golden apple in his hand. The fireplace was up and running, keeping him from freezing to death, and the sun was filtering in through the windows.

Then, Technoblade all but slammed the front door open, looking disheveled with his communicator in hand. He stared over at Tommy.

“You need to hide.” He commanded, “Now.”

Tommy tilted his head, furrowing his brow. “What’re you talking about?”

“Dream’s coming.” Techno replied, peering out the windows to check for the man.

Almost everyone felt a pit grow in their stomachs at that.

Of course the man would have come looking.

“Dream?” The blond almost instantly perked up, hastily finishing his apple and standing. “That’s nothing to panic over, he’s my friend! I… I’ve missed him!”

Puffy wanted to rip her hair out.

“No,” the elder shook his head, “absolutely not. Get in the box, just like we discussed.”

“But-”

“Tommy please.” Techno insisted, still peering out into the distance at opposite ends of the house, preparing for Dream to show up out of nowhere.

Tommy paused, staring as his brother hurriedly checked his communicator. He frowned, but made his way over to the box all the same, uncorking an invisibility potion and downing it before stuffing himself inside the box.

“I hate this.” He muttered quietly.

There was no reply.

Tommy’s elbow hit the corner of the box as he tried to shift and he had to bite back a whine, clenching his eyes shut tight. “I really hate this.”

“Well it’s nice to know there was a plan, at least…” Sam commented.

“Even if it does look super uncomfortable.” Karl added.

Soon enough, however, there was a knocking at the door, and he shut his lips tight, practically holding his breath.

He heard the loud creak of the heavy wooden door and the sound of boots entering the house.

A thick tension washed over the room, and Sapnap held his breath.

“Dream!” Techno greeted, a nervous laugh coming not short after. “How are you?”

“Good, good,” Dream replied, “I assume you are as well.”

Quackity sneered.

The voice sent shivers down Tommy’s spine and a jolt up his neck.

“Oh yeah,” Techno nodded along, “retirement’s a piece of cake, you know? But what have you been up to?”

There was a pause.

“Oh, you know, just a bit of everything.” Dream hummed, “I’ve been… busy.”

Busy abusing a kid… Fundy thought bitterly, scowling.

Tommy grit his teeth, clenching his fists tight.

“Oh really?” Technoblade implored, and it sounded like he was leaning in a bit closer, “does that have something to do with the reason you decided to visit?”

“Perhaps….” There was a bit of a playful lilt in Dream’s tone, but one that implied he wanted the fish to bite the bait only so he could watch it writhe and wriggle when the hook pierced its flesh.

“Well don’t be coy, Dream,” Techno grinned, “I’m all ears. You know I’m always here to help out a friend.”

Dream laughed at that, and the sound of it made Tommy flinch violently, his head hitting the back of the box with a muffled thump!

It was unbelievably nerve wracking to watch. All they could wonder was if Dream would catch on, if Dream would find him.

It was hard to imagine how stressful it must have been in the moment.

All was quiet for a moment, and Tommy clamped a hand over his mouth, tears building in his eyes clenched tightly shut.

“Well?” Techno asked, beginning to rhythmically tap his boot on the floor, “I’m waiting.”

“I’m looking for Tommy.” Dream said at once, voice a little bit more on edge than before.

“Who?”

“Oh my god…” Phil muttered, putting his head in his hands.

Tommy, despite the circumstances, laughed.

If Tommy could have stuck his head out of that box and told his big brother what a fucking idiot he was he would have done it in a heartbeat.

“Your younger brother.” The masked man said pointedly.

“Ohhh,” Techno played along, “yeah that guy… I heard he was exiled. That was pretty funny.”

“Not.” Jack snapped.

Dream paused again before speaking;

“Well he was… He escaped though.” He muttered.

“Escaped?” Technoblade snorted, “What is he, your prisoner?”

“Have you seen Tommy or not, Techno?” Dream demanded suddenly, sounding aggravated.

The blond in question winced, and many of them noted the way the man had danced around the inquiry.

Tommy bit back a whine at the tone. Dream was angry. Dream was upset. It was his fault.

“Can’t say that I have, no.” The piglin hybrid replied, “wait, where are you going? ….Dream?”

Tommy listened as both the voices and the sound of their footsteps slowly became more and more distant. He was left with his own thoughts.

So there he sat, in his little box, with Dream in the same house as him, thinking to himself I hate this over and over again until they returned.

By the time they did, Tommy’s limbs were beginning to protest. It was a cramped space, even for someone like him.

“Next person to put me in a little box is getting the shit beaten out of them, bee tee double you.” Tommy hissed.

“Seems fair,” Tubbo nodded.

“Look,” Dream began, walking into the room, “I’m just really worried about him, Okay? If you see him please tell me. He wasn’t doing too well when I last saw him and I don’t want him getting hurt.”

“That son of a bitch.” Quackity bared his teeth.

Tommy’s breath caught in the back of his throat, eyes widening.

“I didn’t know you two were that close.” Techno replied.

“He’s my friend,” Dream sighed, “and I really care about him so just- just tell me if you see him, okay?”

Techno was quiet for a moment before replying. “Alright, Dream.”

Phil knew he shouldn’t have been so happy that his eldest was covering for Tommy. It was the decent thing to do, but it still made him warm.

“Thank you,” the masked man said, smile evident in his tone, “thank you so much.”

Tommy listened as they exchanged other pleasantries and polite standings before eventually, one of them, Dream, made the move to actually end the conversation and leave. He listened as Dream’s boots in the snow grew further and further from the house, and as Techno shut and locked the door behind him.

Both of them were very quiet for a moment.

“Is he gone?” Tommy whispered, poking his head out of the box.

“Well I’d hope for your sake he is.” Techno snorted, rolling his eyes, “Imagine if you’d done that and he was standing right here.”

A couple of them laughed, ignoring the picture The Blade had painted.

Tommy glared at him, though with the invisibility potion it wasn’t visible, and slowly clambered out of his hiding space. He padded over to Techno who was peering out the window.

“He’s beating the hell out of a creeper on my front lawn right n-” Technoblade blinked as a loud explosion rang throughout the area, “aaand there goes my property value. Oh god it’s so ugly now.”

“I for one think it has always been ugly.” Fundy quipped.

“Yeah that’s why you’re banned.” Techno snarked right back.

The teen at his side was silent, and when he looked down and over, Tommy was staring down at his communicator, clutching it tightly.

“What are you doing?” Techno asked, tilting his head.

Tommy frowned, looking out the window and then looking back down. “...I should call him. I should let him know I’m here. He’s worried.”

Puffy’s heart broke at the words, and she frowned. It was so frustrating watching Tommy struggle like that. She hated seeing him try to differentiate whether or not Dream was friend or foe.

Technoblade’s eyes narrowed, and he spun on his heel, crouching so that he could put both hands on the boy’s shoulders and stare him in the eyes.

“Tommy,” He began sternly, “I might not know you all that well, but I do know Dream, okay? And you do not want to call him. I don’t know what’s going on with you two but he is hunting you, okay? He’s not worried about you.”

Though an uncomfortable statement, it was true. Like a bloodthirsty hound, Dream had been on the hunt for Tommy, restlessly searching for him so he could pin him right back under his thumb.

Karl hugged himself tightly.

The blond swallowed thickly, furrowing his brows, “but he said-”

“He was lying,” the elder interrupted, grip growing slightly tighter, “if you value your safety or your life in this house at all you will not call him. Got it?”

Tommy nodded quietly, removing himself from Technoblade’s hold and taking a few steps back. He seemed to wilt at the words, big blue-grey eyes sad.

“I think I’ll go to my room for a bit.” He muttered, turning on his heel, staring at the ground.

Technoblade watched him go, frowning deeply.

The screen went dark.

“I never want to see that green fucker again in my life.” Quackity spat, brows drawn into an angry scowl.

“You won’t have to.” Sam assured, “he’s in the prison and he’s never getting out.”

Tommy snapped his head to the side, glaring. “Liar.” He snarled.

Sam said nothing, but his body language did become slightly more guarded. He hiked up his shoulders, sitting up straighter.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Quackity asked, confused.

“He’s going to escape,” Tommy told them, turning to face the back rows, “it- it could be any day now! He’s going to escape and he’s going to revive Wilbur! And- and we’ll all be fucked!”

Everyone was very quiet for a moment, before Puffy turned around.

“Tommy-”

“No!” he all but cried, “I don’t want people telling me I’m crazy, okay!? I know what Dream has planned, he told me! And I tried to tell Sam and he ignored me! He brushed me off because he’s a terrible warden!”

Sam narrowed his eyes, “Tommy I’ve already told you that the prison is secure. Dream cannot esc-”

“You’re the reason I died!” Tommy screamed, and many people in the room flinched at the volume, “and now you’re going to be the reason other people die because of your- your disregard for them, Sam!”

“Listen to me-”

“I need him dead,” he seethed, “he’s going to hurt everyone if I don’t stop him! You let me die, Sam. And if you don’t stop fucking around other people are going to die too.”

The warden was silent, staring at the boy. Tommy’s chest was heaving, eyes red rimmed but not a single tear had fallen. Ranboo and Tubbo were staring at each other, concerned, while everyone else just looked majorly confused.

“What do you mean he let you die…?” Phil asked, very quietly from the back.

Tommy turned to stare at him, not saying a word.

“Tommy,” Phil pressed, a sense of urgency in his tone, “what do you mean?”

“Ranboo already told you,” Tommy rolled his eyes, smiling sadly, “you just didn’t believe him.”

Phil went very still, face going white. His eyes widened, and he looked his boy up and down, breathing shakily.

“No,” he shook his head, “no because you’re right here. Ranboo told us you died, Tommy! And you’re here which means you’re not dead! And that means that he was lying!”

“Oh yeah,” Tommy laughed, shaking his head, “because Ranboo’s definitely the kind of guy to do that,” he looked his father in the eyes, making Phil seize up, “I died, Phil. It wasn’t a fucking joke and it wasn’t a fucking lie. I don’t- I don’t want to talk about it and you’re making me talk about it but- but I was dead and Dream brought me back, okay?” He took a shaky breath, “Dream killed me and then used the revive book on me.”

Phil shook his head, tears running down his face, but he couldn’t form the words. Techno was completely silent beside him.

The other members of the room were quietly watching, not daring to utter a word.

Fundy smiled, tears running down his face as he held back disbelieving laughs.

Niki said nothing.

“Now everyone shut the fuck up because we’re getting this over with so I can go kill Dream and never deal with any of this fucking shit ever again, okay?” Tommy commanded, scanning the rows of people with a sour expression.

No one had a reply for him, and Phil began to weep quietly into his hands, but the screen started back up all the same. After all, a god would never wait on an angel.

Ranboo stared at Tommy sadly.

Fire and brimstone surrounded both Tommy and Techno. The heat of the nether making them sweat as they stood at the portal hub. Beneath them the lava bubbled.

They stood before the Nether Portal, staring into the purple swirls, both of them dressed in Netherite.

Tommy sighed, growing ever so tired at the constant sight of the Nether. He never wanted to see it again.

“Now listen to me, Tommy,” Techno said sternly, checking behind him to make sure his dog was still there, “you need to stick close to me this time, okay? If you don’t it could get very messy.”

“I know I know,” Tommy rolled his eyes, “now let’s go already!” He practically jumped, bounding towards the portal.

It was unusually silent in the room. Just the sound of Phil’s muffled cries.

Techno scoffed, following suit. He was consumed by the waves of purple particles, a small bout of nausea overtaking him, before he was met with the clear blue skies of the overworld instead of the brimstone ceilings of the Nether.

He looked side to side for Tommy, but within seconds realized the kid had already descended the staircase, making his way down towards the community house.

He groaned loudly, chasing after the boy.

Quackity smiled softly at Tommy’s eagerness.

“Tommy!” He called out, albeit quieter than usual, “get back here!”

The blond paid him no mind, traversing through the SMP in what seemed like shock. He stared up in amazement at all the buildings, eyes wide with wonder and mouth agape.

“I’m back…” He whispered, “I’m really truly back .”

Tubbo frowned.

It was odd not having verbal reactions, but those who normally commented the most had their lips zipped tight after the last debacle.

Techno ran up to him, tagging him on the shoulder and shooting him a reprimanding look. “We aren’t here for sightseeing, Tommy.”

Tommy glared, crossing his arms. “I think you should be a little bit more sensitive.” He gritted, “this is my home, Technoblade, that I was exiled from.”

No one said a word, but Karl did look sad.

They continued their trekk across the prime path, walking further and further into the area.

“That is exactly my point,” The elder replied, “neither of us are supposed to be here. We have to be discreet.”

Tommy let out an annoyed huff, but diligently followed all the same. He looked down at the dog following them, beaming at it.

Puffy smiled softly at the screen.

Sapnap pursed his lips. He’d never seen someone with such an intense love and fascination for animals and bugs.

The next half hour was spent running amuck on the server, searching through homes and causing general chaos, before they ended up in a tiny hole in the ground that attached to the sewers.

They’d built a tiny stone platform to stand on, and dimly lit the area. The second dog they’d found was doing circles, panting happily.

The two worked in silence, Techno building out further and scanning their surroundings, and Tommy sitting on the ground while the dogs licked his face.

Technoblade remembered that. He remembered being annoyed that Tommy refused to help. The kid was so lazy when it came to actual hard work.

It didn’t seem like such a big deal now.

“You could at least help a little, you know?” The piglin asked, rolling his eyes.

Tommy couldn’t open his mouth, because one of the dogs would surely stick their tongue in it like the disgusting little fiends they were, so he just shook his head, “mhm mhm.”

Ranboo smiled.

Techno sighed, continuing to work while his little brother messed around.

Five minutes later, however, he paused, looking back and cocking a grin.

“You wanna see where I escaped the execution from? It was down here.” He asked, amused.

The blood drained from Tommy’s face.

Absolutely fucking not. He didn’t want to see it. None of them wanted to see it, actually.

Almost instantly, Tommy shot up, grinning wide. “Really?”

“Come on,” Technoblade waved him along, “it’s not too far I don’t think.”

Quackity scowled, and Tommy mirrored his expression, wishing he could tell his former self to wipe that excited grin from his face.

He jumped from the platform, boots splashing in the steady stream of water that flowed through the decrepit tunnels. Tommy followed soon after, telling the dogs to stay. He pulled a golden apple from his inventory, munching on it quietly as he followed his older brother.

George shook his head. Tommy seriously had a problem when it came to those apples, and he couldn’t help the fact that it made him slightly… sad.

Golden apples weren’t something to be meddled with, silly as it may sound. They were enchanted items, they weren’t a substitute for regular food and they weren’t to be depended on. The effects were short-term for a reason.

They continued down the twisty paths and confusing loops, until eventually Techno found a crack in the wall, peering in fearlessly.

“This way.” He ushered, dipping inside.

Tommy followed happily, humming quietly. As they got further in, however, he began to feel a bit uneasy. The walls carved of stone were smooth and finished, proving whoever had mined down that far had been in no rush.

Something felt… wrong.

Oh. Tubbo’s eyes grew wide.

Fundy frowned.

“Ta-da~” Technoblade declared, throwing his arms out as they finally arrived at the end of the tunnel.

Tommy’s eyes widened.

Blackstone came into view, and he stepped into a small room decorated in chests and signs. Each chest was labeled with a name. Wilbur. Tommy. Tubbo. Fundy. Eret.

The floors were decorated with blood.

“Fuck…” Fundy whispered, wincing and forcing himself to look away.

Tubbo closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.

“Tommy?” Techno tilted his head, cocking a brow.

The boy was completely silent, staring in abject horror. His breaths were shaky and short, and his fists were clenched tightly at his side.

“What happened here, Tommy?” His older brother asked, leaning over, concerned and confused.

Well… Now he knew.

Images of pistons activating, of eyes losing their life, of blood spewing from Wilbur’s chest and Tubbo’s neck, they all flashed through his head.

Without another word Tommy whirled around and sprinted, booking it out of the room as fast as he could. Technoblade let out a surprised noise, backing away slightly, but he paid him no mind, running as fast as he could as tears pricked at his eyes and he panted.

He reached the main sewers, turning to the left and continuing to run as his feet splashed loudly in the water. He gasped for air, trying to control his breathing, before finally stopping once he’d rounded a corner.

He moved to the side of the tunnel, towards the elevated ledge out of the water, and slid down with his back against the wall, burying his head in his hands and gripping tightly at his hair.

Puffy’s heart went out to the boy, and she grounded herself with his presence behind her. He was safe. Now that she’d gotten him back she wouldn’t let him get hurt like that ever again.

Tears dripped down his chin as he whined quietly, pulling at his hair fervently and trying not to cry out. He could hear his own heartbeat in his ears, and he gasped loudly, placing a hand over his heart.

Before Tommy could blink, they were all dead, and Dream himself had put his blade through Tommy’s chest. He fell onto the blackstone, gasping for air as fluid entered his lungs.

He choked on his own spit, gargling on it and bending over on his hands and knees to rid himself of it. He took deep breaths, tears streaming down his face as he assured himself over and over again that there was nothing bubbling up in his lungs or throat.

George winced, looking away.

Jack felt a pit growing in his stomach.

A gentle hand was placed on his shoulder.

Tommy looked up, meeting the red eyes of his older brother, that seemed to somewhat glow in the dim lighting of the sewers.

He remembered that. Tommy remembered meeting Technoblade’s gaze in the dark and thinking to himself that he was safe. He could remember believing that his big brother would keep him safe.

“You’re okay,” Technoblade told him quietly, “I don’t know what happened in there but it’s over now, and you’re safe, Tommy.”

Techno frowned.

The teen nodded, sniffling and wiping at his nose with his sleeve.

They sat there in silence for what felt like hours.

“Can we build our hideout somewhere farther from that room?” He all but whispered, looking down at the ground.

“Of course, Tommy.”

The screen went dark.

Normally that would be where Phil cut in with some comment on how nice it was to see his boys getting along, or perhaps commending Technoblade for his rare tender moment, but nothing came.

Phil was quiet, eyes red rimmed and puffy. He didn’t speak, and they felt an unusual lull in the general swing of things.

Tommy wasn’t sure what to say or how to react. To be quite honest, he hadn’t been expecting that level of reaction from his father, but Phil seemed devastated. It was odd to see, without a doubt. He’d spent so many nights crying and begging for his father and Techno to give him the time of day that when they finally did he didn’t even believe it.

Was it… wrong that his father’s tears made his chest feel warm?

He’d wanted for so long for someone to care like that about his death but he couldn’t help but bask in the feeling. Someone cared. Even if Phil had dismissed it at first, it’d been because he didn’t believe it, not because he didn’t care.

Tommy’s father loved him; that was the only explanation.

So he sat there, quietly enjoying the sound of Phil’s cries, as everyone else remained silent.

Ranboo held back a shudder at the smile on Tommy’s face.

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thanks for reading lol sorry i'm rlly tired i didn't mean for it to be this late T-T