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Tommy was.. Tommy was tired. Which, understandable. He was a child soldier and had been fighting for his life- to survive for pretty much as long as he can remember.
(That’s not true- he remembers warm hands and a warm environment and Techno and Wilbur’s chuffs s he would-)
Suffice to say, he deserved some rest. And maybe his body practically demanded him to let his hybrid features out, but he could handle it! He was a Big man, after all. He couldn’t go around ruining his reputation because of something stupid like being a hybrid.
It’s not like Tommy thought that people would make fun of him for being a hybrid! It’s just.. no one knew he was a hybrid. Well. No one he was on good terms with, but he wasn’t on good terms with pretty much everyone.
The point is, the only people that knew of his hybrid features were Techno, Phil, and Wilbur. And unless they’ve suddenly changed their minds, they hate his guts.
It was only a matter of time they’d get tired of him, anyway. It didn’t hurt that much. (It hurt- It hurt so much and the pain was practically consuming him and-)
He bumped into a wall, effectively cutting off his previous thoughts.
Tommy doesn’t.. he doesn’t remember walking here. Wherever here is, that is. He must have been in the nether recently, because his clothes smelt of sulfur, but he didn’t feel any hotter, or even more comfortable, so he must have gotten out a while ago.
It was kind of cold. And everything was white, but not blinding and it also looked like nighttime-
Oh. Wow. He was an idiot.
Fully coming back to his senses, Tommy curses at himself for being so stupid. He was in a snow biome, and judging by the trees littered around, a tiaga.
With a sinking feeling in his gut, Tommy had a feeling he knew where this was. He needed- he needed to get back to the nether and to his house. (Not a home. Tommy’s not sure if it was ever a home.)
“Tommy. What are you doing here?” A gruff voice greets him and Oh Prime-
“H-Hey Technoblade. Lovely weather, am I right? You know, I should really get going-“ He starts nervously, stiff as a board, but is quickly cut off.
“That didn’t answer my question.” Techno says, raising a brow. He gives a disapproving chuff, one that he could usually easily ignore and didn’t affect him at all.
Except Tommy physically reacts, and he can’t help but flinch, the chuff sounding much more intense than was probably intended. It might be a side effect of not letting his hybrid form out but oh well-
Technoblade obviously startles at his reaction, and a concerned chuff leaves him and Tommy-
Tommy whines before he can stop himself, and he can’t help the embarrassment that creeps up his cheeks, ears heating up despite the cold.
“Tommy, when was the last time you shifted?” Techno asks, although it doesn’t really seem like a question and more of a demand.
Tommy’s silence is an answer in and of itself, and Tommy can only wince when the sudden realization hits Techno’s eyes.
Tommy was screwed. Who knows what Techno would do with this knowledge. He doesn’t think Techno would be the type of person to use his instincts against him, but he also didn’t expect Technoblade to ever hate him.
Because surely Techno hates him, after seeing how he was an idiot, brat, useless, worthless-
His thoughts were cut off by Technoblade gasping, immediately starting to refute everything Tommy had previously thought.
“Tommy, I don’t hate you- why would I- how could I-“ Techno stuttered, which startled Tommy. He.. Technoblade didn’t hate him? That wasn’t what he was expecting.
“Let’s.. let’s get you to the cabin. You must be cold.” Techno started, going to put an arm around Tommy to guide him, but Tommy flinched before he even cane close.
Techno’s face flashed with hurt, before it was suddenly gone, replaced with a more conflicted emotion.
Tommy didn’t say anything, and neither did Techno, which he was very grateful for at that moment. He really didn’t feel like having a conversation with anyone at this moment, but judging by the time and how Techno was acting right then, it was probably wishful thinking to hope that he would be let go without having to do or say anything.
The walk to the cabin was pretty quick, and he was thankful that there was the crunch of snow beneath their boots otherwise Tommy was sure he would’ve gone insane at the silence. He never liked the silence, but he learned how to handle it as he grew older. Even if he was technically a baby in piglin standards, in human standards he was almost an adult. He was 17 for Prime’s sake!
So what if his piglin form was only a couple feet tall, he doesn’t need to listen to anyone!
Waiting for Techno to open the door- out of respect, of course, Tommy could’ve barged in at any point- Tommy slowly made his way inside the cabin.
“You should go take a shower. God knows you need it, you smell as if you haven’t taken a shower in weeks.” Techno joked- or, well, attempted to. Tommy wasn’t really in the mood that moment.
Instead, he just nodded and went towards where he knew the bathroom was. Taking a lukewarm shower, of course. He didn’t want to waste Techno’s heat or whatever, even if he was positive he could take a hot shower for a week straight before running out of hot water because Techno always found a way.
Once he had turned the shower off, there was a knock at the door.
“Tommy, are you in there? I have some clean clothes and uhm.. we have a visitor.” Techno said from the other side.
Tommy froze for a second, before relaxing. It was probably just Phil. Thankfully Techno had prepared him beforehand then. Opening the door slightly, Tommy quickly took the clothing offered to him (With a towel on, of course). He didn’t want to offend Techno or whatever.
Tommy changed as fast as possible, but he couldn’t help himself from hesitating at the door. He.. Techno would probably just say Phil was there if he was. Or maybe Techno would be kind enough to make Phil go away for the night. Why would Techno say a guest? Ranboo was in Snowchester right now so the only possible person could be-
No. No way Wilbur, the stupid piglin brother of his, would be at Techno’s right now. Although, it would explain how awkward Techno was and-
Tommy didn’t want to face him though.
He didn’t want to confront the newly revived man when he was still getting over the fact that he was dead. There was so much that happened before Wilbur was revived and Tommy wasn’t done processing it yet. He wasn’t ready yet.
Hearing a familiar melodic voice, Tommy knew he had no choice. Well, technically he could just jump out the window or something but he wasn’t risking Techno chasing after him. He could handle a conversation or two.
Making his way downstairs, Tommy was starting to think that maybe the window was the better option. It certainly was more and more tempting the closer he got towards both Wilbur and Techno.
“Hey Tommy, nice of you to finally join us-“ Techno started but cut off, pupils dilating as it fixated on his hair. He quickly snapped out of it though, and Tommy was eternally grateful that Techno didn’t let out a chuff because Tommy did not want Wilbur finding about his.. unfortunate circumstance.
Which didn’t work out anyway because the universe hates him.
“Tommy hasn’t changed into any of his piglin hybrid traits in at least the entire time of me being on this server, unless he had showed in front of you.” Techno drawled, and suddenly Tommy’s anger at the hybrid was flaring up again.
Immediately, Wilbur’s head whipped to Tommy, and his stare was so intense that if Tommy were a lesser man he probably would have wilted at such a stare. Which he didn’t. Obviously.
“Tommy. When was the last time you shifted?” He asked, and it almost sounded like Wilbur was scared.
“I don’t know.” Tommy spoke, his voice shook, but he was telling the truth. He didn’t really know the last time he’d let his traits out.
Suddenly Wilbur was moving towards him, and in a stern voice- “Shift right now. You know that’s not healthy.”
And Tommy would normally refuse, but Wilbur had a disappointed chuff added on and he was pretty sure Wilbur didn’t even know what it would do to Tommy, but it practically hurt his soul.
Without even really thinking about it, he shifted. His tusks growing and snout starting to show. His piglin ears also showed, same with his tail. He felt himself grow smaller. Not as small as his full piglin form but- some inbetween. It wouldn’t be good to do a full shift after so long. It was better to start slow.
Except it- it was still so overwhelming-
He was just getting used to being alive again/ he wasn’t- he wasn’t prepared yet-
A comforting chuff was let out at his distress, and Tommy forced himself to stand, his body immediately wanting to go to the source of the noise and curl up.
He had to be strong right now. He could do that.
Warm arms encircled him, and all of Tommy’s resolve dissolved into nothing.
He melted in the hold, and could barely hear the conversation above.
“-o sm-l I fo-got -ow -ute -as”
“Too yo-ng-“
Tommy decided to just ignore the conversation from then on. He was comfortable. He was warm. He couldn’t be bothered listening.
He distantly registered being taken to a room filled with blankets. (In which the next morning he would discover it was Techno’s as he laid curled up to his chest. They would have a meaningful conversation, but that was not right then.)
With warm bodies encompassing him, Tommy fell asleep, his sounder finally being with him. He didn’t know what else he could possibly need.